TRUMP PICKS HANDBAG DESIGNER AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH AFRICA

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has nominated a handbag designer to be the next American ambassador to South Africa. Lana Marks, a Florida resident and member of Trump’s exclusive Mar-a-lago resort, was born and raised in South Africa, where she attended the University of the Witwatersrand and the Institute of Personnel Management in Johannesburg, the White House said in a statement on Wednesday. Marks is known for luxury handbags in exotic animal skins, such as ostrich and alligator, with prices that can hover above $19,000, CNN reported. Described by The Palm Beach Daily as “like Trump, a relentless self-promoter”, Marks speaks Afrikaans and Xhosa, two of South Africa’s languages. AP

Oxford Dictionaries picks ‘toxic’ as word of the year

LONDON: Oxford Dictionaries announced that it has chosen “toxic” as its annual “Word of the Year”, arguing that it was “the sheer scope of its application that has made it the standout choice”. Strictly defined as “poisonous”, Oxford Dictionaries said on its website on Thursday that its research showed that “this year more than ever, people have been using ‘toxic’ to describe a vast array of things, situations, concerns and events”, CNN reported. Oxford Dictionaries said #Metoo has “put the spotlight on toxic masculinity” whereas in politics more broadly “the word has been applied to the rhetoric, agendas and legacies of leaders and governments around the globe”. IANS

African swine fever spreads in China

SHANGHAI: African swine fever has spread to more than half of China’s provinces, the government said, warning that a situation has become “very serious”. The disease has already caused a spike in pork prices in China since first emerging in August, and fuelled growing fears of a major impact on the world’s largest pig producer. “The prevention and control situation is very serious,” said a joint statement by the ministries of agriculture, transport, and public security. AP

Palestinian suspended for helping Israelis fix flat tyre

RAMALLAH: A local Palestinian police chief has been suspended for helping Israeli soldiers fix a flat tyre in the West Bank. Police spokesman Loae Izrekat said on Thursday that Col. Ahmad Abu al-rub was suspended and referred to an “investigative committee.” Earlier this week, pictures emerged of the Hebron district chief helping Israelis change their jeep’s flat tyre. The images were widely shared on social media and sparked anger among Palestinians who considered it collaboration with the Israeli occupation.

Taliban kill 30 policemen, say Afghan officials

KABUL: Afghan officials say the Taliban have killed 30 policemen in a blistering overnight attack in western Farah province. Provincial council member Dadullah Qani said on Thursday that the onslaught on the police outpost in the province’s district of Khaki Safed began late on Wednesday and continued for more than four hours. In Kabul, lawmaker Samiullah Samim said the district police commander, Abdul Jabhar, was among those killed. The Taliban managed to flee with a large amount of weapons and ammunition. Samim says retaliatory airstrikes killed 17 Taliban fighters. The Taliban have in recent months been staging daily attacks. AP