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Germany sees explosion in cases of bluetongue virus
Germany sees explosion in cases of bluetongue virus
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Germany has seen an explosion of cases of bluetongue virus this year, authorities said Tuesday as fears increase across Europe about the disease affecting sheep and cattle. Bluetongue is a non-contagious, insect-borne viral disease that affects ruminants such as cows and sheep but not pigs or horses.

Starbucks names Chipotle boss Brian Niccol as new CEO
Starbucks names Chipotle boss Brian Niccol as new CEO
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Starbucks said Tuesday that Brian Niccol, chief executive at Chipotle, would be the coffee chain's new CEO -- just over a year after current boss Laxman Narasimhan took over the role. Niccol will start in his new role on September 9, with Starbucks chief financial officer Rachel Ruggeri serving as interim CEO until then. bys/bfm

Senegal media sound alarm with news blackout
Senegal media sound alarm with news blackout
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Senegalese news organisations widely heeded a call Tuesday for a news blackout to protest against economic measures by the new government which they say threaten the industry. At a newspaper kiosk in the centre of the capital Dakar, Homere Badiane said he empathised with the organisers of the protest.

Poland signs $10 bn deal for US Apache attack helicopters
Poland signs $10 bn deal for US Apache attack helicopters
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Poland signed Tuesday a $10 billion deal to buy 96 Apache attack helicopters from US manufacturer Boeing, announcing the latest upgrade to Warsaw's military capabilities. "This is the landmark purchase by Poland for its armed forces of... 96 state-of-the-art AH-64E Apache attack helicopters," Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.