Hilary makes landfall over Baja California peninsula, set to pummel US Southwest
By Drazen Jorgic MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Tropical storm Hilary made landfall over the Baja California peninsula on Sunday, pelting the
2023-08-21 02:57
Putin in Kyrgyzstan for first trip abroad since court arrest warrant
Vladimir Putin arrived in Kyrgyzstan Thursday, visiting abroad for the first time since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest...
2023-10-12 12:00
Somalia joins East Africa trade bloc in 'milestone'
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Elijah McClain: Trial of paramedics charged in death begins
The trial has begun for two paramedics charged over the 2019 death of the 23-year-old Colorado man.
2023-11-30 04:16
2023 Women's World Cup: Australian football suffers despite Matildas
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2023-07-25 23:55
Volunteer medical students are trying to fill the health care gap for migrants in Chicago
A group of volunteer doctors in Chicago is spending their Saturdays providing street medicine for the growing number of migrants
2023-11-02 16:20
Virgin Galactic to launch second commercial space flight next month
Virgin Galactic Holdings said on Thursday that the space tourism startup will launch its second commercial flight in
2023-07-13 20:26
Thai and Filipino workers filling labor gap in Israel get caught up in war between Israel and Hamas
The first group of Thai workers evacuated from Israel after the past few days’ bloody events in southern Israel and Gaza have arrived in Bangkok, greeted by anxious relatives and senior officials
2023-10-13 09:23
No clarity about who's in charge in Niger, 2 days after mutinous soldiers ousted the president
Two days after mutinous soldiers ousted Niger’s democratically elected president, it was still unclear Friday morning who was running the country and what mediation efforts were underway, as analysts warned that political chaos could set back the fight on extremist groups and increase Russia's influence in the region. On Thursday, several hundred people gathered in the capital, Niamey, and chanted support for the Russian private military group Wagner while waving Russian flags. Later, they burned cars and ransacked the headquarters of the president's political party. “We’re fed up,” said Omar Issaka, one of the protestors. “We are tired of being targeted by the men in the bush ... Down with the French people. We’re going to collaborate with Russia now,” he said. The soldiers have not announced a leader and President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960, has not resigned. Some of the last public communications from the government included a defiant tweet by the president Thursday declaring that democracy would prevail and a call by the Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou, on media outlet France 24, for Nigeriens to stand against the mutiny. Someone close to the president who is not authorized to speak about the situation, told The Associated Press that Bazoum has no intention of resigning and talks were ongoing. However, it's unclear who's involved in these dialogues, the nature of the discussions or how they're proceeding. Analysts say the coup could destabilize the country and threatens to starkly reshape the international community’s engagement with the Sahel region. Bazoum is a key ally in the West’s efforts to battle the jihadists, and the West African nation has been seen as the last major Western partner standing against extremism in a region where anti-French sentiment has paved the way for the Russian private military group Wagner. Neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso have both ousted the French military, which previously provided aid in their fight against jihadists. Mali has contracted Wagner, and it’s believed the mercenaries will soon be in Burkina Faso. Earlier this week, The Economic Community of West African States said it was sending Benin President Patrice Talon to lead mediation efforts, but as of Friday Talon was not in the country. During their first address to the nation Wednesday night, the mutineers urged “external partners” not to interfere. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told French media Friday that President Emmanuel Macron has spoken several times to Bazoum. Colonna said France believes there are still possible exits from the crisis, and that Paris regards the attempted coup as lacking any legitimacy. On Thursday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, said the country's “substantial cooperation with the Government of Niger is contingent on Niger’s continued commitment to democratic standards". Niger could lose millions of dollars in military aid and assistance, which the United States and European countries have recently poured in an attempt to help in the fight against Islamic extremism. The United States in early 2021 said it had provided Niger with more than $500 million in military assistance and training programs since 2012, one of the largest such support programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The European Union earlier this year launched a 27 million-euro ($30 million) military training mission in Niger. The United States has more than 1,000 service personnel in the country. France has 1,500 soldiers, which conduct joint operations with the Nigeriens. The coup has dashed hopes of collaboration between Sahelian countries and Western powers, which offered a more robust response to the jihadist insurrection when compared with the strategies to arm civilians in Burkina Faso or the responsibility given to Wagner in Mali, said Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim, senior Sahel analyst for the International Crisis Group. As uncertainty lingers about who's in charge, insecurity could worsen. “The army officers will be busy positioning themselves in power struggles and abandon the fight against jihadists,” said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Rights groups also warn that civilians always bear the brunt of these mutinies. “During a coup, the first victims are always the same: the most vulnerable, women and children,” said Drissa Traore, secretary-general of the International Federation for Human Rights. On Thursday the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it has paused operations in Niger, where more than 370,000 people are internally displaced and more than 4 million rely on aid. ___ AP writer John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Stock market today: Asian shares mixed, Tokyo falls as Bank of Japan adjusts bond purchase policy India and Japan look to collaborate in building semiconductors and resilient supply chains AP Week in Pictures: Europe and Africa
2023-07-28 15:51
Taiwan's new MeToo laws are welcome but activists wat more
New sexual harassment laws target workplaces and schools, but critics say they still fall short.
2023-08-04 09:46
A man showed up armed at the Wisconsin Capitol twice in one day asking for the governor, officials say. Here's what we know
A man who showed up twice to the Wisconsin Capitol with a gun demanding to talk to the governor this week made a "concerning statement" during at least one of the visits and was twice detained by authorities, state officials said.
2023-10-06 13:15
'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings reveals reality behind his relationship with on-screen rival James Holzhauer
Ken Jennings couldn't help but acknowledge James Holzhauer's contributions the game show
2023-10-22 15:28
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