‘No, No America’: Iraq protesters demand expulsion of U.S. troops
Tens of thousands of Iraqis rallied in central Baghdad on Friday calling for the expulsion of U.S. troops, but the protest mostly dissipated after a few hours despite a cleric’s call for a “million strong” turnout.
Philippine artist paints images of volcanic devastation using ash
Ash from a rumbling Philippine volcano has inspired an artist and instructor to paint watercolors using the gray powder that had covered the plants in her backyard.
Angola’s Isabel dos Santos to relinquish stake in second Portuguese firm
Angolan billionaire and former first daughter Isabel dos Santos, who is a suspect in a fraud investigation at home, will offload her controlling stake in Portuguese engineering firm Efacec, the company said on Friday – her second such move this week.
Trump’s peace plan may polarize the Middle East it seeks to calm
As U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to host Israeli leaders in Washington to reveal details of his long-delayed Middle East peace plan, Palestinians warned on Friday that no deal could work without them on board.
Ireland’s Fianna Fail pledges early preparations for unification vote
Ireland’s main opposition party, Fianna Fail, leading in opinion polls ahead of a Feb. 8 election, pledged on Friday to start preparations on how Dublin should approach a possible referendum on the unification of Ireland.
Lam courts Davos elite with dim sum, as Hong Kong scrambles to contain virus
With dim sum, cocktails and gold chocolate coins, Hong Kong wrapped up its Davos charm offensive confident the financial hub is back on track, even as officials fly home to tackle a deadly flu-like virus.
Yemen’s frontline port struggles to fight deadly fever
In the grounds of a bombed-out building in the port that has become the main front of Yemen’s war, workers use a hose mounted to a truck to suck up a green, insect-filled expanse of stagnant rainwater, then shovel in soil to fill it, trying to save liv…
Angola’s beleaguered Isabel dos Santos to offload stake in Portugal’s Efacec
Portugal’s engineering firm Efacec Power Solutions said on Friday Angolan billionaire and former first daughter Isabel dos Santos, who owns a controlling stake, had decided to withdraw from the company’s shareholding structure.
Police to roll out live facial recognition cameras in London
British police are to start operational use of live facial recognition (LFR) cameras in London, despite warnings over privacy from rights groups and concerns expressed by the government’s own surveillance watchdog.
French unions warn Macron pension strikes will drag on for months
France’s hardleft trade unions on Friday threatened industrial action for months to come, as they searched for a way to force President Emmanuel Macron to ditch the biggest overhaul of the country’s pension system since World War Two.
