World News

In Old Cairo, residents reconnect with their heritage

For most of their lives, children from historic Cairo's Al-Khalifa district only saw the mausoleums, mosques and madrasa schools that pepper their neighbourhood from outside heavy bronze doors.. In one of the first buildings Athar Lina renovated at the community's request -- an unfinished mosque that is now the Al-Khalifa Community Centre -- the sound of children playing echoes off ancient stone, while their mothers learn traditional embroidery skills.

Sat, Feb 18, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Blind Saudi horseman clears jumps to gain recognition

Badr Al-Sharari refused to let his disability curb his passion, and despite being blind, the Saudi rider has now trailblazed his way to official recognition in horse-mad Saudi Arabia.. "My goal is to one day take part in the Saudi Cup," Al-Sharari said as he dismounted unaided from his horse.

Sat, Feb 18, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Rio holds first all-out carnival since Covid

With a swirl of glitter, sequins and samba, Rio de Janeiro will kick off its famed carnival parades Sunday, the climax of the festival's first full-on edition since Covid-19 and Brazil's bitterly divisive elections.. The parades were often politically charged during the Bolsonaro years, with thinly veiled criticism of the far-right government over issues such as racism, religious intolerance, environmental destruction and Brazil's disastrous management of Covid-19.

Sat, Feb 18, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Concerns and impatience over mining the world's seabeds

The prospect of large-scale mining to extract valuable minerals from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, once a distant vision, has grown more real, raising alarms among the oceans' most fervent defenders.. "It's a real problem to open up a new extractive frontier in a place where you know so little, with no regulations," she told AFP. "It will be a disaster."

Sat, Feb 18, 2023 4 mins read

World News

Ex-US president Jimmy Carter receiving 'hospice care' at home

Jimmy Carter, the 98-year-old former US president who led the nation from 1977 to 1981, is receiving hospice care at home, where he will spend his "remaining time," his nonprofit foundation said Saturday.. "After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention," the Carter Center said in a statement posted to Twitter.

Sat, Feb 18, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Blinken meets China's top diplomat amid balloon spat

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China not to repeat its "irresponsible act" of sending spy balloons into American airspace, as he held rare talks late Saturday with China's top diplomat Wang Yi. The highly anticipated meeting of the two senior officials came on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing.. During their encounter Saturday, Blinken "directly spoke to the unacceptable violation of US sovereignty and international law by (China's) high-altitude surveillance balloon in US territorial airspace, underscoring that this irresponsible act must never again occur," a State Department spokesman said.

Sat, Feb 18, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Dutch expel Russian diplomats, close trade mission

The Dutch foreign ministry on Saturday announced the expulsion of several Russian diplomats and the closure of Russia's trade mission in Amsterdam, accusing Moscow of using it for spying.. The Russian diplomats being told to leave have two weeks to leave the country, while Russia's trade mission in Amsterdam had to be closed from Tuesday, the statement said.

Sat, Feb 18, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Tunisia's Saied expels Europe's top trade unionist for 'interference'

Tunisian President Kais Saied ordered the expulsion Saturday of Europe's top trade union official for "blatant interference" in the country's affairs, the latest escalation in a quickening showdown with labour activists.. "On the orders of President Kais Saied, Tunisian authorities ordered the departure of Esther Lynch," head of the European Trade Union Confederation, the presidency said in a statement.

Sat, Feb 18, 2023 2 mins read

World News

'Rifts' to surface within Iranian regime, says son of last shah

Rifts already exist within the Iranian regime and they will become more apparent, eventually contributing to cutting down Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's power, Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last shah of Iran, said Saturday.. Pahlavi said Khamenei was "trying to push for his son (Mojtaba Khamenei) to basically replace him" -- a move that could eventually backfire.

Sat, Feb 18, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Turkey quake cuts village in two

The small, grey house in southern Turkey that once looked out onto the road might appear untouched by last week's huge earthquake but it is now one floor lower.. "The houses sank four metres (13 feet)," said Mahir Karatas, a 42-year-old farmer and owner of the grey house.

Sat, Feb 18, 2023 1 mins read