News of the World

Š

Popular detective novels by Boris Akunin were banned by the Kremlin and the author designated a foreign agent Friday after he opposed the war in Ukraine.

Akunin, the pen name for Grigori Chkhartishvili, lives in Britain and is best known for his Tsaristera detective Erast Fandorin. The 67-year-old made light of it on social media, writing: “I feel like Bin Laden who has been given a ticket for parking illegally.”

Mexico’s president unveiled his new TikTok account this week, saying it was an effort to connect to the country’s younger voters.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, 70, opened the account Tuesday, a move that sets him apart from many other foreign leaders who prohibit their officials from using the platform, which is owned by a Chinese company. The account — @presidenteamlo_ — now has more than 445,000 followers.

France may be cutting back on frogs legs after authorities in southeast Asia began cracking down on the hunting of wild frogs.

France, which has its own hunting ban, imports most of its frogs legs from the region. But some high-end restaurants, such as Paul Bocuse in Lyon, refuse to use the Asian variety and are now getting their legs from a local breeder.

Cape Verde has become the fourth country in Africa to eliminate malaria, with no cases reported since 2017, according to the World Health Organization.

The archipelago regularly saw epidemics over its 10-island chain, but has now joined Morocco, Algeria and Mauritius in fighting against the mosquito-borne disease. Africa is responsible for more than 90% of the 249 million cases of malaria worldwide.

The Palace of Aigai, where Alexander the Great was crowned King of Macedonia in 336 BC, has been restored after more than 2,000 years of neglect.

The “Parthenon of Macedonia,” as the palace in the northern part of the country is known, was reopened by Greek authorities this week. Restoration experts had worked since 2007 to preserve the palace.