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Is Free Basics Really Bringing More Africans Online? [Article]

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Across the world, efforts to increase internet access are wide-ranging — there is everything from public-private infrastructure development, to community-built mesh networks from Oaxaca to Cape Verde, to WiFi-emitting balloons flown by Google. Another effort is Facebook’s Internet.org project, which the Silicon Valley company describes as an initiative to bring internet access and the benefits of connectivity to the portion of the world that doesn‘t … Read more

Trump Slams NY Times For ‘foiling’ Bid To Capture IS Chief

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President Donald Trump on Saturday attacked The New York Times and its “sick agenda,” alleging that one of the paper’s reports thwarted a US bid to take out Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. “The Failing New York Times foiled US attempt to kill the single most wanted terrorist, Al-Baghdadi. Their sick agenda over National … Read more

Tennis Star Venus Williams Allegedly ‘at Fault’ In Fatal Car Crash

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Tennis star Venus Williams is allegedly “at fault” in a Florida traffic accident that resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man, according to a police report obtained Thursday by AFP. Williams, 37, slowed in the middle of an intersection when she was hit by a car driven by the man’s 68-year-old wife, the report … Read more

Nobel Winner Liu Wants Cancer Treatment Abroad, Friends Say

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Terminally-ill Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo wants Chinese authorities to let him get treatment abroad, friends say, as officials said his cancer has spread throughout his body. Prominent Chinese dissident writer Liao Yiwu told AFP that Liu’s wife sent a formal request to China’s state security ministry requesting permission for the couple and her brother to … Read more

Gmail To End Ad-Targeting Email Scans

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Google’s decision to stop scanning Gmail users’ emails in order to target them with personalised adverts has been given a qualified welcome by privacy campaigners. The tech firm revealed the change in a blog at the end of last week. Google promised to make the move before the year’s end to bring the consumer version … Read more

Man Jailed For Dangling Baby From Window In Algeria

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A court in Algeria has sentenced a man to two years in prison for dangling his baby out of a window in order to attract “likes” on Facebook. The father posted a picture of himself holding the baby out of a window in a high-rise building with the caption: “1,000 likes or I will drop … Read more

Man Jailed for Dangling Baby from Window to Attract ‘Likes’ on Facebook

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A court in Algeria has sentenced a man to two years in prison for dangling his baby out of a window in order to attract “likes” on Facebook. The father posted a picture of himself holding the baby out of a window in a high-rise building with the caption: “1,000 likes or I will drop … Read more

Egypt Blocks More Internet Sites

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Egypt, under fire for muzzling freedom of expression, has blocked access to around 60 news websites and service providers since the end of May, rights groups and media figures said Monday. Back in May, around 20 websites based in Qatar and in Egypt were made inaccessible, including the Qatar’s Al-Jazeera and the independent Egyptian news … Read more

Top Career US Diplomat In China Embassy Steps Down

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The top career diplomat at the US embassy in China has stepped down, an American official in Beijing confirmed Tuesday, amid suggestions that he opposes President Donald Trump’s climate policy. Embassy charge d’affaires David Rank was a 27-year veteran State Department officer appointed to serve in Beijing in January last year. “Mr Rank made a … Read more

Research Questions Whether Israel Considered 1967 Atomic Blast

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Research suggesting Israel may have considered detonating an atomic device on the eve of the Six-Day War 50 years ago to deter its Arab neighbours sparked debate and denials Monday. Israel’s presumed status as the Middle East’s sole nuclear-armed nation remains a highly taboo subject for the country, which neither confirms nor denies such capability. … Read more

Ghanaians ‘die of Thirst’ In Sahara Desert

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Some Ghanaians have died of thirst after their truck broke down in the Sahara Desert in northern Niger, the Red Cross has told the BBC. The six survivors, all women, walked to a remote village and are being looked after in Dirkou, Niger, Red Cross official Lawal Taher said. They say several children are among … Read more

Over 40, Including Ghanaians, ‘die of Thirst In Sahara Desert’

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Survivors say 44 people have died of thirst after their truck broke down in the Sahara Desert in northern Niger, the Red Cross has told the BBC. The six survivors, all women, walked to a remote village and are being looked after in Dirkou, Niger, Red Cross official Lawal Taher said. They say several children … Read more

Ghanaians, Others ‘die of Thirst’ In Sahara Desert

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Survivors say 44 people have died of thirst after their truck broke down in the Sahara Desert in northern Niger, the Red Cross has told the BBC. The Ghanaians and Nigerians were trying to get to Libya, according to Nigerien news site Sahelien. The six survivors, all women, walked to a remote village and are … Read more

Over 40 People ‘die of Thirst’ In Sahara Desert

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Survivors say 44 people have died of thirst after their truck broke down in the Sahara Desert in northern Niger, the Red Cross has told the BBC. The six survivors, all women, walked to a remote village and are being looked after in Dirkou, Niger, Red Cross official Lawal Taher said. They say several children … Read more

Question On Saudi Democracy Gives State Dept Pause

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US officials came out Tuesday to praise and defend President Donald Trump’s first Middle East tour, but one question about democracy in the region was met with a diplomatic pause. At the White House, Trump’s spokesman Sean Spicer hailed an “unprecedented” foreign policy triumph that had “united the civilized world in the fight against terrorism … Read more

Trump Keeps World Waiting On Paris Deal

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Donald Trump has said he will decide whether to pull out of a key climate change deal in the next week, having apparently shrugged off pressure from US allies in recent days. The US president tweeted he would make his “final decision” on the Paris accord after his return to Washington. Mr Trump left the … Read more

Nigerian Pastor Kisses Female Congregant To Heal Her

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A South Africa-based Nigerian pastor has thrown South Africans into a state of shock after a short video of one of his church sessions was televised on a local TV station. The pastor, who is said to be based at Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa is seen in the video, kissing … Read more

Nigerian Pastor Kisses Female Congregant To Heal Her [Video]

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A South Africa-based Nigerian pastor has thrown South Africans into a state of shock after a short video of one of his church sessions was televised on a local TV station. The pastor, who is said to be based at Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa is seen in the video, kissing … Read more

Zimbabwe Pastor Talks To ‘God’ On the Phone During Service

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A pastor has claimed to have a direct phone number to heaven, after a video of him talking on the phone during a church service emerged. “I actually have a direct line which I can call Him on and get instructions on how to proceed,” Pastor Paul Sanyangore of Victory World International has been quoted … Read more

Zimbabwe Pastor Talks To ‘God’ On the Phone During Service [Video]

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Pastor Paul Sanyangore of Victory World International has claimed to have a direct phone number to heaven, after a video of him talking on the phone during a church service emerged. ‘I actually have a direct line which I can call Him on and get instructions on how to proceed,’ he has been quoted as … Read more