Living fossil returns to life in Illinois

Ancient alligator gar fish is being used to keep other fish in check.

Secondhand book stores thrive during South Africa recession

With the country’s unemployment rate nearing 30 percent, frugal readers get more bang for their book by not buying new.

I’ll have a latte and a million bucks

In Silicon Valley, the nexus for startup wannabes and venture capitalists might just be a café where the buzz in the air isn’t coming from the cappuccino machine.

In Tarzan-like loinclothes, India farmers protest with human skulls

The worst drought in more than 100 years leaves India’s farmers mired in debt.

For US foreign visitors, a short walk to a new life in Canada

In the last 6 months, more than 5,000 people took a taxi to the US-Canada crossing, rolled their suitcases across the border, and walked right into Canadian custody.

‘Valley of Riches’ could entice Trump deeper into Afghanistan

A trillion dollars worth of untapped mineral deposits could give President Trump a reason to commit more US troops to what some see as an unwinnable war.

93 & not stepping down

The world’s oldest living head of state, Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, says he is fit enough to run for re-election next year.

 

Political time bomb?

Allowing mainland Chinese police to patrol the station of a new high-speed rail line is expected to meet strong opposition when it next goes through a review by the Hong Kong legislature.

Surprise!

Toymakers are betting on unwrapping, cracking, and hatching: small inexpensive toys enclosed in packaging so that kids can’t see what they’re getting until the package is opened.

 

Open warfare?

The president of the United States is being accused of trying to bully his attorney general into quitting, while the new White House communications director is taking verbal shots at President Donald Trump’s chief of staff.