Jerusalem (AFP) March 14, 2021 A year ago, centrist Benny Gantz got a shot at forming a government, but now he faces potential political oblivion, barely a week ahead of Israel’s fourth election in two years. The ex-military chief’s Blue and White political alliance won 33 seats in the March 2020 polls, before he fell just short of cobbling together a coalition in the 120-seat … Continue reading As Israel poll looms, ‘no regrets’ for ex-general in PM duel

Amman (AFP) March 14, 2021 The Arab world’s favourite troubadour Ilham al-Madfai, who last year had to perform in an empty Roman amphitheatre and scrub concert dates across Europe and the Gulf, can’t wait to get back on stage. Unveiling his latest work in Amman where he has lived since 1994, the Iraqi star widely known as simply Ilham has tried to break free of … Continue reading Arab troubadour Madfai longs to get back on stage

Yangon (AFP) March 14, 2021 At least one anti-coup protester was killed Sunday as demonstrators across Myanmar continued to defy military rule, a day after a group of ousted MPs in hiding urged them to overcome the nation’s “darkest moment”. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power in a February 1 putsch, triggering a mass … Continue reading One dead in Myanmar anti-coup protest as ousted MPs urge unity against junta

Yangon (AFP) March 14, 2021 Anti-coup demonstrators pushed on with protests Sunday as Myanmar neared its seventh week under military rule, as a group of MPs in hiding urge them to move with “invincibility” to overcome the nation’s “darkest moment”. The country has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power in a February 1 putsch, triggering a … Continue reading Myanmar ‘shadow’ parliament urges united opposition to coup

Buenos Aires (AFP) March 12, 2021 One person has died and 11 are reported missing as forest fires have blazed through Argentina’s Patagonia region for days, officials reported Friday. Dozens of people have been evacuated from the path of the advancing flames, and some 200 houses have been destroyed. The fires, which authorities suspect were started deliberately early this week, have reached several towns near … Continue reading One dead, several missing in Argentina forest fires

Zokhawthar, India (AFP) March 12, 2021 Scores of Myanmar policemen and their families have now fled to India, security officials said Friday, with one officer telling AFP that the authorities are “beating and torturing” protestors. Myanmar’s military authorities are cracking down with increasing severity on daily protests against their February 1 coup, with at least 70 people killed according to the UN’s top rights expert … Continue reading 200 Myanmar police, family members now in India

Washington (AFP) March 12, 2021 Group of Seven powers on Friday demanded that China honor commitments in Hong Kong and end “oppression” against democratic activists after Beijing forced sweeping changes of the city’s election system. Beijing’s rubber-stamp parliament on Thursday passed reforms that said that only “patriots” can run the city, which was guaranteed a separate system before Britain handed over control in 1997.http://dlvr.it/RvXhGX Continue reading G7 powers urge China to end ‘oppression’ in Hong Kong

Mramor, Kosovo (AFP) March 12, 2021 Having only just woken up from hibernation, a brown bear named Ero lazily strolls between the trees under a snow-capped mountain in central Kosovo, enjoying life alongside his chubby partner Mira. Yet just eight years ago, he was a so-called “restaurant bear” – chained up in front of an eatery, forced to drink alcohol and serve as entertainment for … Continue reading Kosovo’s abused ‘restaurant bears’ move to greener pastures

One of the big marketing decisions confronting e-commerce vendors today is whether current performance is good enough. Online vendors need to consider their customers’ shopping experience in order to assess existing barriers to stronger shopper responsiveness to digital storefronts. For retailers who drop the ball with errors such as inaccurate product feeds and promised products that never arrive, it’s redo time.http://dlvr.it/RvRgRy Continue reading How to Rebuild Trust After E-Commerce Blunders

An increasing number of businesses and even public companies are showing interest in Bitcoin. However, not all chief financial officers of these institutions are convinced to invest in the digital currency as a corporate asset any time soon. According to a recent survey of finance executives by Gartner, 84 percent say they have no plans to purchase Bitcoin as a corporate reserve any time soon.http://dlvr.it/RvR8Bj Continue reading Corporate Finance Execs Still Balk at Bitcoin