Sunken Philippine oil tanker found – officials

POLA 21 Mar (Online): A leaking oil tanker that sank in the Philippines three weeks ago has been found, officials said Tuesday, as the slick reached waters known for their rich marine life. The Princess Empress was carrying 800,000 liters (210,000 gallons) of industrial fuel […]

Afghanistan school year starts but no classes held

KABUL 21 Mar (Online): Afghanistan’s schools reopened Tuesday for the new academic year, but no classes were held as students were unaware of the start and hundreds of thousands of teenage girls remain barred from attending class. Afghanistan is the only country in the world […]

Saudi announces Ramadan to start Thursday

Riyadh, March 21 (AFP/APP): Saudi Arabia, home of the holiest shrines in Islam in Mecca and Medina, has announced that the fasting month of Ramadan will start on Thursday. The kingdom’s Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday evening that the Islamic calendar month of Shaban, which […]

Macron defiant as anger smoulders over French pension reform

Paris, March 21 (AFP/APP): French President Emmanuel Macron appeared defiant on Tuesday after his government narrowly survived no-confidence votes, telling allies he would stand by his beleaguered prime minister. Ignoring calls from opponents, Macron said there would be no government reshuffle, no fresh parliamentary elections […]

Freed Sahel hostage arrives back in France: AFP

VélizyVillacoublay, France, March 21 (AFP/APP): French journalist Olivier Dubois made an emotional return home on Tuesday following nearly two years in captivity in the Sahel, AFP reporters saw. Family members and President Emmanuel Macron hugged the 48-year-old on the tarmac of Villacoublay air base outside […]

Tear gas, arrests as Kenya opposition stages protests

Nairobi, March 20 (AFP/APP): Kenyan riot police fired tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators and veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga’s convoy on Monday, as clashes flared during anti-government protests over the spiralling cost of living. Running battles erupted between stone-throwing protesters and police in […]

Moroccan villagers keep communal store tradition alive

Aīt Kine, Morocco, March 20 (AFP/APP): Surrounded by olive and palm trees in a Moroccan mountain village, a centuries-old collective granary preserves the ancient practices of the Amazigh culture. “The traditions are vanishing, but not here,” said proud village elder Hossine Oubrahim, in Ait Kine […]

Palestinian PM blasts ‘racism’ of Israeli minister

Ramallah, Palestinian Territories, March 20 (AFP/APP): Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Monday blasted as “inflammatory” remarks made by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Palestinians do not exist. “There are no Palestinians, because there are no Palestinian people,” Smotrich said Sunday, quoting French-Israeli […]

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