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Shein says US tariff hit won't stop fast-fashion flood
Shein says US tariff hit won't stop fast-fashion flood
by  AFP

Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration will not eject fast-fashion juggernaut Shein from the US market, its executive chairman Donald Tang has told AFP. The head of the online platform, which has come in for scrutiny over its environmental footprint and allegations of human rights violations, also insisted that the company does not use forced labour.

Latest power outage leaves Cubans struggling to get by
Latest power outage leaves Cubans struggling to get by
by  AFP

Most Cubans were without power for a second day Saturday, but as in the three earlier major outages of the past half year, they are adjusting -- with resignation. Two outages in the final quarter of 2024 lasted several days, one of them during a hurricane.

Telegram founder Durov allowed to temporarily leave France
Telegram founder Durov allowed to temporarily leave France
by  AFP

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been allowed to temporarily leave France, where he is charged with multiple infractions linked to allegedly enabling organised crime, sources told AFP. Durov, now 40, was sensationally detained at Le Bourget airport outside Paris in August 2024 and charged with a litany of violations related to the popular messaging app he founded.

Armed groups covet cocoa in eastern DR Congo
Armed groups covet cocoa in eastern DR Congo
by  AFP

Despite the risks from deadly armed groups roaming the countryside, Judith Kahindo walks alone every day to her isolated cocoa plantation in the war-torn North Kivu region of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. North Kivu is primarily rich in coltan and other minerals that have fuelled the fighting that has ravaged the region for the last three decades.

Cuba suffers fourth nationwide blackout in five months
Cuba suffers fourth nationwide blackout in five months
by  AFP

Cuba suffered a general blackout on Friday caused by a crash of its national electricity grid, officials said, the fourth major power outage on the cash-strapped communist island in five months. "At around 8:15 pm tonight, a breakdown... caused the significant loss of power in western Cuba and with it the fall of the national electricity system," the Ministry of Energy and Mines said.

Trump's champagne threat brings fear and denial to French region
Trump's champagne threat brings fear and denial to French region
by  AFP

US President Donald Trump's threat of 200-percent tariffs on wine, champagne and other alcoholic drinks from EU countries is proving hard to swallow in France's champagne region. But while Trump's threat was "very unfortunate", she said it was hard to believe it would stick.