schema:articleBody
| - Duty Editor: Huw Griffith Tel: +852 2829 6211 -- TOP STORIES -- + Trump calls off stimulus talks + Facebook bans QAnon conspiracy accounts + US panel calls for shake-up of tech 'monopolies' + Kyrgyzstan PM resigns after post-election unrest + Chastity belt hack 'could leave users trapped' US-vote-economy-Trump,WRAP WASHINGTON President Donald Trump calls off talks on a new stimulus plan to boost the Covid-ravaged US economy until after the election, sending Wall Street plunging and upending recent progress made in the long-delayed negotiations. 700 words moved by Chris Stein US-IT-politics-Facebook-QAnon SAN FRANCISCO Facebook announces a ban on all accounts linked to the QAnon conspiracy group, as the social network tries to clamp down on misinformation ahead of the heated US presidential election. 550 words moved by Glenn Chapman US-IT-politics-antitrust WASHINGTON A House of Representatives panel says that four Big Tech firms are "monopolies" which abuse their market dominance and calls for sweeping changes to antitrust laws and enforcement. 500 words moved Kyrgyzstan-vote-demonstration,WRAP BISHKEK Kyrgyzstan's prime minister Kubatbek Boronov resigns after widespread unrest pushed the country's electoral body to cancel the results of parliamentary elections. 750 words moved by Tolkun Namatbayeva moved. Picture. Video. Graphic Also moved: Kyrgyzstan-politics,FACTS Kyrgyzstan-vote-politics,COUNTRY-FACTFILE China-internet-tech-security-sex-hacking HONG KONG A security flaw in an internet-connected male chastity device could allow hackers to remotely lock it -- leaving users trapped, researchers have warned. 400 words 0530 GMT -- AMERICAS -- Mexico-weather-US,WRAP CANCUN, Mexico An "extremely dangerous" hurricane bears down on Mexico's Caribbean coast, where the military was mobilized and tens of thousands of tourists were evacuated from hotels in top beach resorts. 700 words 0600 GMT by Yussel Gonzalez. Picture. Video US-vote-health-virus-debate SALT LAKE CITY, Utah For once in their rollercoaster US presidential election, principals Donald Trump and Joe Biden will yield the spotlight to Vice President Mike Pence and the Democrat seeking his job, Kamala Harris, as they debate for the first time. 650 words 0600 GMT by Eric Baradat with Michael Mathes in Washington. Picture. Graphic Health-virus-US-vote-politics-Trump,ANALYSIS NEW YORK How healthy is Donald Trump, really? Contradictory and incomplete information from officials since the president contracted coronavirus confirms that the health of the White House incumbent is a well-kept secret. 750 words 0530 by Catherine Triomphe US-vote-health-virus,WRAP WASHINGTON President Donald Trump defies the Covid-19 virus, disastrous opinion polls, and new economic turmoil in a stormy return from hospitalization, while surging challenger Joe Biden appeals for Americans to unite against the "forces of darkness." 800 words moved by Sebastian Smith. Picture Health-virus-US-defense-security,FOCUS WASHINGTON The US commander-in-chief has Covid-19 and the top military brass are in quarantine as the coronavirus pandemic ravages the national security establishment of the most powerful nation in the world. 500 words moved by Sylvie Lanteaume. File picture US-vote-guns-politics,FOCUS JACKSON, Mississippi From the countryside to the cities, Americans are engaged in a frenzy of gun-buying fueled by the pandemic, protests and politics. 980 words moved by Charlotte Plantive. Picture. Video Also moved: US-vote-Wisconsin,FOCUS -- NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT -- Armenia-Azerbaijan-conflict-Pashinyan,EXCLUSIVE-INTERVIEW YEREVAN Turkey's "full support" motivated its ally Azerbaijan to reignite fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan tells AFP, calling the escalating conflict a "war against terrorism". 650 words moved by Maxime Popov. Picture. Video Armenia-Azerbaijan-conflict-Stepanakert,SCENE STEPANAKERT, Azerbaijan Best known for its pomegranates, vodka and "jangyl" -- a delicious herb bread -- the self-proclaimed capital of Nagorno-Karabakh has been turned into a ghost town after days of shelling. 700 words moved by Herve Bar. Picture. Video Also moved: Armenia-Azerbaijan-conflict-Karabakh,WRAP Armenia-Azerbaijan-conflict-Yerevan,SCENE -- EUROPE -- Greece-trial-GoldenDawn-farright-crime-politics-racism ATHENS Hundreds of police are set to deploy in the Greek capital ahead of a verdict in one of the most important trials in the country's modern political history involving the leaders of neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn. 500 words moved Also moved: Greece-trial-GoldenDawn-farright-homicide-politics-racism,CHRONO Nobel-peace,ADVANCER OSLO The World Health Organization is the bookies' favourite to win the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, though experts say Greta Thunberg or press freedom groups are also strong contenders. 700 words moved by Pierre-Henry Deshayes. File picture -- ASIA -- Health-virus-misinformation-internet-vaccine-Philippines,FOCUS MANILA Online misinformation is leaching out from cheap mobile phones and free Facebook plans used by millions of poor in the Philippines, convincing many to reject vaccinations for polio and other deadly diseases. 700 words moved by Jake Soriano. Picture. Video. Graphic -- MIDDLE EAST -- Saudi-tourism-economy-health-virus,FOCUS ABOARD A CRUISE SHIP OFF SAUDI ARABIA, Saudi Arabia Sailing past pristine islands and turquoise lagoons, the first cruise ship offering Saudi tours serves a twin purpose -- jump-starting tourism despite coronavirus fears and showcasing austerity-defying megaprojects planned along the Red Sea. 750 words moved by Anuj Chopra. Picture Yemen-conflict-culture,FOCUS SANAA "It is lighting a candle in the dark," says Fawzi al-Ghoudi in Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa, of his initiative to reignite people's interest in books, as an escape from the grimness of war. 450 words moved by Jamal al-Jabiri. Picture -- AFRICA -- Nigeria-unrest-displaced,FOCUS KANO, Nigeria Authorities in volatile northeastern Nigeria have been encouraging thousands of people displaced by jihadist violence to return home, even as bloody attacks persist. 700 words moved by Aminu Abubakar -- ENTERTAINMENT -- Entertainment-US-France-television-children-Netflix HOUSTON Netflix has been indicted in the conservative southern US state of Texas for screening the French film "Cuties," which has been accused of hypersexualizing young girls and depicting children in a lewd manner. 400 words moved -- SPORT -- Fbl-WC-2022-ARG-ECU-Messi,PREVIEW BUENOS AIRES Superstar footballer Lionel Messi will take a break from his Barcelona soap opera as he bids to fire Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar and what will probably be his last chance to win the coveted trophy. 600 words moved by Daniel Merolla Cricket-IND-IPL-Jaiswal,INTERVIEW NEW DELHI Teenage batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal sold street food and lived in tents to pursue his cricket dream, and now he is playing with top stars in the Indian Premier League. 650 words 0600 GMT by Faisal Kamal. Picture -- ENTERTAINMENT -- US-music-VanHalen-death LOS ANGELES Eddie Van Halen, the guitar virtuoso whose group is considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time, died following a long battle with cancer, his son announced. 650 words moved by Jocelyne Zablit. File picture afp
|