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African economies see reasons for optimism despite crises
African economies see reasons for optimism despite crises
Business and Economy
by  AFP

From Covid-19 to the war in Ukraine, external crises have put pressure on African economies, but many on the continent see opportunities to undertake radical reforms. - 'Opportunity to transform' - The fallout from the war in Ukraine, however, remains a threat as it has driven up prices for wheat and other key agricultural products, sparking fears of famine in some countries.

EU top diplomat bids to 'reverse tensions' on surprise Iran visit
EU top diplomat bids to 'reverse tensions' on surprise Iran visit
World
by  AFP

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is set to travel to Tehran on Friday for a surprise visit that could breathe new life into stalled talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The visit by Borrell, however, could be a determining factor in the fate of the deal.

World's largest bacteria discovered in Guadeloupe
World's largest bacteria discovered in Guadeloupe
World
by  AFP

You can see it with the naked eye and pick it up with a pair of tweezers -- not bad for a single bacteria. Techniques including electronic microscopy revealed it was a bacterial organism, but there was no guarantee it was a single cell.

Thailand relaxes mask rule to bolster pandemic-hit tourism
Thailand relaxes mask rule to bolster pandemic-hit tourism
World
by  AFP

Thailand has dropped rules requiring people to wear masks from Friday, the government says, as Covid-19 cases fall and the tourism-dependent kingdom seeks to lure back foreign visitors. The kingdom has endured a precipitous drop in tourism, welcoming 1.6 million foreign tourists during the first six months of 2022, according to government data.

Singapore eases movement curbs for migrant workers
Singapore eases movement curbs for migrant workers
World
by  AFP

Migrant workers in Singapore no longer need special permission to leave their dormitories from Friday, after two years of coronavirus curbs, but campaigners criticised the decision to maintain some "discriminatory" restrictions. From Friday, the workers -- employed in industries including construction and maintenance -- will no longer need passes to leave their dorms.

Mystery deepens over fate of Hong Kong's Jumbo Floating Restaurant
Mystery deepens over fate of Hong Kong's Jumbo Floating Restaurant
World
by  AFP

Mystery over the fate of Hong Kong's Jumbo Floating Restaurant deepened Friday after its owner stirred confusion over whether the financially struggling tourist attraction had actually sunk while being towed away from the city last week. - Financial woes - The tourist attraction closed in March 2020, citing the Covid-19 pandemic as the final straw after almost a decade of financial woes.