San Francisco (AFP) – Snapchat’s owner plans to “substantially” slow recruitment after bleak results Thursday wiped 25 percent off the stock price of the tech firm, which is facing difficulties on several fronts. Snap reported that its loss in the rece…
Lower chamber of US Congress passes bill ensuring contraception rights
Washington (AFP) – The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill ensuring access to birth control nationwide, a month after the Supreme Court struck down federal abortion rights. The legislation, which spells out the right to purchase and u…
Closing arguments set in contempt case of ex-Trump aide Steve Bannon
Washington (AFP) – Closing arguments are to be held on Friday in the case of former Donald Trump aide Steve Bannon for defying a subpoena to testify before lawmakers investigating the assault on the US Capitol. Bannon, who led Trump’s 2016 presidential…
Ex-cop gets 2.5 years in jail over George Floyd murder
New York (AFP) – A former Minneapolis police officer was sentenced Thursday to two and a half years in federal prison for his role in the killing of African-American George Floyd. Thomas Lane was convicted in February of violating the civil rights of F…
Amber Heard appealing verdict in Depp defamation trial
Fairfax (United States) (AFP) – Actress Amber Heard is appealing the jury verdict in the multi-million dollar defamation case she lost to her former husband, “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Johnny Depp. Lawyers for the 36-year-old Heard, who starred in…
Storied Minneapolis venue scraps Dave Chappelle set
New York (AFP) – Minnesota’s famed First Avenue venue canceled comedian Dave Chappelle’s show mere hours before he was set to go on, responding to protests from staff and the community over jokes many people have deemed transphobic. Chappelle’s Wednesd…
Biden positive for Covid, symptoms ‘very mild’
Washington (AFP) – President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, with his doctors saying the 79-year-old leader was experiencing only mild fatigue and would isolate at the White House while carrying out his duties. Biden, who posted a p…
UK spy chief doubts Iran supreme leader will back nuclear deal
Washington (AFP) – Britain’s spy chief voiced doubt Thursday on reviving a landmark 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, saying Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remained opposed despite marathon diplomacy with the United States. “If we can get a deal it…
George Clooney, Gladys Knight, U2 among Kennedy Center honorees
Washington (AFP) – Film icon George Clooney and soul legend Gladys Knight are among this year’s crop of Kennedy Center honorees, one of America’s most prestigious arts awards. Irish rockers U2, Cuban-born American composer Tania Leon and the contempora…
Why Biden’s climate agenda has faltered
Washington (AFP) – President Joe Biden ran for office on a pledge to tackle the global climate crisis. Instead, he has seen his legislative ambitions defeated by Congress, the Supreme Court has delivered a hammer blow to the federal government’s abili…