WASHINGTON: The United States and its European allies clashed Thursday over what to do with thousands of jihadists jailed in Syria, with Washington calling a French proposal to try fighters in Iraq “irresponsible”. Senior officials from more than 30 countries pledged greater coordination in the campaign against the Islamic State […]
AFP
EU bank to stop funding fossil fuels
BRUSSELS: The European Union’s investment arm said Thursday it will stop funding fossil fuel projects from 2022 as part of a new strategy aimed at fighting climate change, in a decision environmental campaigners hailed as a “significant victory”. The European Investment Bank, the world’s largest multilateral lender, had been criticised […]
Alibaba confirms Hong Kong IPO worth $13 bln
HONG KONG: Chinese technology giant Alibaba yesterday confirmed plans to list in Hong Kong in what it called a $13 billion vote of confidence in the turbulent city’s markets and a step forward in its plans to go global. The enormous IPO, which Hong Kong had lobbied for, will come […]
Havan at 500 – a city in four potraits
Half a century since its founding by Spanish colonists, the Cuban capital Havana has become a byword for Latin American romance and revolutionary nostalgia. As the city prepares to celebrate its 500th anniversary on November 16, AFP interviewed four Havana residents, whose lives reflect its history and its recent changes. […]
Climate worry driving ‘cli-fi’ boom
Imagine a world where storms inundate coastal megacities, entire species become extinct in the blink of an eye, and conflicts are fought over dwindling natural resources. Perhaps, not so difficult in 2019. After a year of devastating extreme weather and worldwide unrest over the emergency posed by climate change, topics […]
Bierhoff hopes ‘power football’ by Germany can boost home crowds
BERLIN: Oliver Bierhoff says Germany want to brush aside minnows Belarus with a display of “power football” in their bid to wrap up Euro 2020 qualification on Saturday and also boost flagging ticket sales. Germany host Belarus in Moenchengladbach on Saturday when main Group C rivals the Netherlands also play […]
Russia snub new Adidas shirts with upside-down flag
MOSCOW: Russia’s football authorities said Wednesday the national team will not be wearing new Adidas-designed shirts in upcoming Euro-2020 qualifiers after some pointed out they reverse the colours of the Russian flag. “In the upcoming games, the Russian national team will continue using the kit in which it began the […]
UAE’s first astronaut urges climate protection on Earth
Wearing a blue space suit with a UAE flag on one sleeve and a spaceship on the other, the first Emirati astronaut said Tuesday his mission highlighted a crucial issue — climate change. Witnessing Earth and its beauty from space made him realise the importance of preserving it, said Hazzaa […]
Vietnam deer rediscovered after nearly 30 years
A very rare species of small, deer-like animal thought to be on the verge of extinction has been spotted in the northwestern jungle of Vietnam for the first time in nearly 30 years. Known as the Silver-backed Chevrotain or Mouse deer, a specimen was last recorded in 1990, according to […]
National parks a boost to mental health worth trillions
Spending time outdoors is long understood to offer mental health perks, including reduced stress, improved sleep and enhanced cognition. But these public spaces might also benefit the global economy, new research suggests. Visits to national parks around the world may result in improved mental health valued at about $6 trillion, […]