instrument
NewsAFP NewsWhy is part of the Amazon burning?
The thousands of fires burning in the Amazon don't look like the major forest fires of Europe or North America -- instead, they are fueled mainly by branches, vegetation and other byproducts of deforestation in cleared areas, experts say. The dramatic scale of this year's fires is the result
NewsAFP NewsUK consulate staffer returns to Hong Kong after China detention: family
A British consulate employee detained in China has returned to Hong Kong, his family said Saturday. Simon Cheng disappeared after visiting the neighbouring city of Shenzhen on August 8 and was placed in administrative detention by police. "Simon has returned to Hong Kong," his family said
NewsAFP NewsGerman army seeks out gamers in hunt for computer-savvy recruits
With a stand boasting a helicopter simulator and ultra-fast games, the Bundeswehr, Germany's army, has turned to the Gamescom fair in its bid to recruit computer-savvy potential soldiers. The call to arms is clear under a "Centre of Cyber Operations" sign with a keyboard-inspired logo
NewsAFP NewsNishikori ponders mixed doubles with Osaka at Tokyo Olympics
A Japanese dream duo of Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori could come together for mixed doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. World number one Osaka, the reigning US and Australian Open champion, and Nishikori, the 2014 US Open runner-up ranked seventh in the world, could be a formidable combination in the
NewsAFP NewsIn praise of the big pixel: Gaming is having a retro moment
Clunky games consoles with blobby pixels might not be the latest thing -- but they're still cool even if you're no longer at school. Video games producers plying their wares at Gamescom this week in Cologne may primarily be out to push the frontiers of hi-tech and virtual reality as they eye
- NewsReuters
Kentucky clerk who refused same-sex marriage licenses can be sued
In a 3-0 decision, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati said Kim Davis can be sued in her individual capacity, though sovereign immunity shielded her from being sued in her former role as Rowan County Clerk. Davis claimed that Obergefell v Hodges, the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision
- NewsReuters
France's Macron says real 'ecocide' going on in Amazon
The Amazon needs better management to end the "ecocide" that is going on in the rainforest, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday ahead of a G7 summit at the weekend. As forest fires rage in Brazil, Macron told French news website Konbini that the issue would be discussed at the
NewsAFP NewsConservationists urge Mexico trade sanctions over near-extinct porpoise
Conservationists are urging countries to slap trade sanctions on Mexico over its failure to rein in illegal fishing that could doom the vaquita marina porpoise to extinction within months. With only around 10 vaquita believed to remain in their sole habitat off northwestern Mexico, environmentalists
- NewsReuters
Mexican families scour arid plains for graves of disappeared
Fifteen years after her daughter's disappearance, 55-year-old Silvia Ortiz spends day after day raking through arid scrubland in northern Mexico hoping to find her remains. Ortiz belongs to a group of families working to uncover graves of some of the 40,000 people who have gone missing in mounting
NewsAFP NewsNorth Korea fires 'short-range ballistic missiles' into sea: Seoul
North Korea Saturday fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea after vowing to remain the biggest "threat" to the United States and branding Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as "toxin." It was the latest in a series of short-range missile tests the nuclear-armed
- NewsReuters
Norway's Liberals accept PM's ultimatum, preventing government's collapse
Norway's Liberal Party, a junior member of Norway's four-party government, will accept the prime minister's ultimatum on transport policy, preventing the cabinet's fall, Liberal leader Trine Skei Grande said on Friday. Conservative Party Prime Minister Erna Solberg earlier said the three
- NewsMalay Mail
In letters debate, lawyer accuses Singapore of intent to silence Malaysian on death row
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — The letters from Malaysian death row inmate Pannir Selvam Pranthaman and published in the media here were all penned by the convicted drug mule inside Changi Prison, his...
NewsAFP NewsTourism hotspot Barcelona alarmed by crime surge
A surge in muggings and burglaries in Barcelona, mainly targeting tourists, has sparked alarm in Spain's second-largest city, leading local residents to form their own crime-fighting patrols. The US consulate in Barcelona on Wednesday warned its nationals of "an increase in violent crime in
NewsAFP NewsStar Wars and Marvel TV shows lead vast Disney streaming lineup
Disney lifted the lid on three live-action Star Wars series for its much-hyped new television streaming service Friday, including Ewan McGregor's return as Obi-Wan Kenobi, as the company revealed a vast lineup for its Netflix rival. Previously unannounced series set in Marvel's wildly popular
NewsAFP NewsJohnson makes global debut at G7 as Brexit battle looms
Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes his debut on the global stage at the G7 summit this weekend, where all eyes will be on his chummy relations with US President Donald Trump. "What we'll make of this is whether Boris Johnson manages to be a different person on the world stage than he managed
- NewsReuters
'Shock' investment urged to stem flow of Central American migrants
Regional leaders on Friday called for "shock" investment in infrastructure in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to reduce the number of migrants flowing from the three economically fragile countries, bound for the United States. Efforts to stem the flow of Central Americans, many seeking
NewsAFP NewsSerena-Sharapova and Federer play Monday night at US Open
Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will meet in Monday night's first feature match at the US Open with 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer following them on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
- NewsMalay Mail
UKM says accepted child porn ex-convict due to excellent studies, extraordinary capabilities
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — Reported math genius Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin who was convicted of child pornography in the UK is confirmed to be a post-graduate student in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia...
NewsAFP NewsGerman activists stage anti-racism protest ahead of key state polls
Thousands of civil society activists are to mount a march against hate and racism on Saturday in Dresden, a week before state elections when far-right party AfD is projected to make huge gains. Organisers expect at least 10,000 people to turn up at the protest, while about 70 kilometres (40 miles) away
- NewsMalay Mail
Sea sand mining off Selangor, Perak reducing catch, says Fisheries Dept chief
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — The seafood haul from Selangor and Perak has declined sharply as a result of off-shore sand mining activities both legal and illegal, according to the Fisheries Development...
NewsAFP NewsProtests to greet G7 leaders as they discuss Amazon fires, trade
The leaders of the G7 club of rich countries meet in southern France on Saturday, with the burning Amazon, diving stock markets and their own stark divisions giving little grounds for optimism. US President Donald Trump and fellow Western leaders will also face protests as they arrive in the famed surfing
NewsAFP NewsLate birdie lifts Koepka to Tour Championship lead
World number one Brooks Koepka birdied the 18th hole Friday, capping a three-under-par 67 to take a one-shot lead over Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy in the US PGA Tour Championship. Under the "staggered start" format by which players were spotted strokes based on their position in the playoff
- EntertainmentReuters
Ewan McGregor to return as Obi-Wan in new 'Star Wars' streaming TV series
Ewan McGregor will reprise his "Star Wars" role as Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi in a series for the upcoming Disney+ streaming service, the actor announced to fans of the beloved movie franchise on Friday. McGregor surprised the crowd at Walt Disney Co's D23 Expo fan convention, walking
- NewsReuters
Lithuanian human chain links anti-Soviet and Hong Kong protesters
As protesters formed human chains across Hong Kong on Friday, Ramunas Terleckas was out on the streets of Lithuania's capital Vilnius getting ready to commemorate the event which inspired them. Back on Aug. 23, 1989, he was one of an estimated 2 million people who joined arms across the three Baltic
- NewsReuters
Hong Kong airport operating normally despite planned 'stress test' protest
Hong Kong's airport and the roads and railways leading to it were operating normally early on Saturday despite plans by protesters to implement a "stress test" of transport links to the aviation hub early in the day. Train stations feeding the airport, as well as roads to it, were largely
