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The African Union suspends Niger until ‘the effective restoration of constitutional order’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:45 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — The African Union on Tuesday suspended Niger from all of its institutions and activities “until the effective restoration of constitutional order” following last month’s coup.The council of the 55-nation bloc made the decision after mutinous soldiers overthrew Niger’s democratically elected president last month and quickly entrenched themselves in power, rebuffing most dialogue efforts. President Mohamed Bazoum, his wife and son have been kept under house arrest in the capital, Niamey. This was the council’s first public communication since it met earlier this month to discuss Niger’s crisis. The Council called on all member states and the international community to reject the country’s “unconstitutional change of government and to refrain from any action likely to grant legitimacy to the illegal regime in Niger.”The AU commission and the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS were requested to urgently submit a list of members of the the military junta and th...

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy meets with Balkan leaders in Athens

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:45 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelenskyy met Tuesday with leaders of Balkan nations and the head of the European Commission on the sidelines of a meeting between European and Balkan leaders in the Greek capital.The leaders included Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whose country has refused to join the international sanctions imposed on its traditional ally Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.“An open, honest, and fruitful meeting with the President of Serbia,” Zelenskyy posted on the X social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “Good conversation on respect for the UN Charter and the inviolability of borders. On our nations’ shared future in the common European home. On developing our relations, that is in our mutual interest.”It was the first time Zelenskyy, who arrived in Athens on Monday afternoon, met with Vucic since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.Speaking to reporters, Vucic described the meeting as “good and open.”“I repeated ...

11 killed in explosion at coal mine in northern China

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:45 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Authorities say 11 people have been killed in a coal mine explosion in northern China, in a reminder of the country’s continued dependence on the energy source.The blast occurred late Monday on the outskirts of the historic city of Yan’an in mountainous Shaanxi province, where mining has long been a key driver of the local economy. A total of 90 miners were in the shaft at the time of the explosion, which is still under investigation, the provincial Department of Emergency Management reported on social media. While swiftly adding wind and solar power, China remains dependent on coal for the bulk of its energy and is the world’s largest producer and consumer of the fuel source. The accident was the deadliest since the February collapse of an open-pit mine in the northern region of Inner Mongolia that killed more than 50. Officials as high as Chinese leader Xi Jinping have called for safety improvements, but that seems to have had a limited effect on mining ...

A 17-year-old Palestinian is killed during an Israeli military raid in northern West Bank

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:45 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli security forces stormed into a town in the north of the West Bank on Tuesday, leading to fighting that killed a 17-year-old Palestinian, according to Palestinian health officials, the latest violence to grip the occupied territory. Israel also released on Tuesday the results of a military investigation into the death of a soldier killed during its major raid into the Jenin refugee camp last month, concluding that the soldier was killed by a bullet fired by Israeli forces.The Israeli military conducted an arrest raid before dawn in the town of Zababdeh south of Jenin, local medics said. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 17-year-old Othman Abu Kharj was fatally shot in the head. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group claimed Abu Kharj as a fighter. Meanwhile, Israeli security forces were still searching for the Palestinian gunman who carried out a shooting in the northern Palestinian city of Hawara that killed an Israeli father and son on Sat...

Former Thai PM Thaksin goes to jail as political party linked to him wins vote to take power

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:45 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — A populist Thai party linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra won a vote in parliament to lead the country, hours after the divisive former leader returned from years of self-imposed exile and began an eight-year prison sentence.Real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin ‘s victory ends months of suspense, legal wrangling and horse trading that followed the May elections. After the progressive Move Forward Party, which won the most votes in the national election, was blocked from taking power by conservative senators, the Pheu Thai Party entered a coalition with military parties linked to the coup that removed it from power in 2014.Many observers say that Thaksin is betting that a friendly government will be able to cut his sentence short, although he has said his decision to return had nothing to do with the party’s bid for power. Thaksin’s return was an emotional moment for supporters of the 74-year-old billionaire, who won the loyalty of millions wi...

Ex-Florida congresswoman to challenge Republican Sen. Rick Scott in a test for the state’s Democrats

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:45 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell announced Tuesday she will seek the nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Rick Scott in 2024, a campaign that will be a test to see if Florida Democrats can fare better during a presidential election in a state that is increasingly Republican.Mucarsel-Powell beat a Republican incumbent to win her only term in Congress in 2018 before losing to Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez in a seat that has switched parties several times in recent elections.“We are at a moment in time where our democracy is at stake, our rights are being violated,” she said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Everything I know about Rick Scott is that he’s always put himself first. He never looks out for Florida families or anybody else.”Scott served two terms as governor, winning both times with less than 50% of the vote. He was elected to the Senate in 2018, beating incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson by abo...

Turkey says UN lost neutrality after world body condemns Cyprus roadwork, assault on peacekeepers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:45 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s foreign minister accused the United Nations of abandoning its neutrality on Tuesday, a day after the U.N. Security Council criticized construction work by Turkish Cypriots inside the buffer zone dividing Cyprus and condemned their assault on U.N. peacekeepers.In a statement issued Monday, the Security Council described the construction of a road as a violation of the status quo that is contrary to council resolutions. The statement came at the end of emergency closed consultations by the council’s 15 members.Angry Turkish Cypriots last week punched and kicked a group of international peacekeepers that blocked crews working on a road that would encroach on the island’s U.N.-controlled buffer zone. The road is designed to connect the village of Arsos, in the Turkish Cypriot north, with the multi-ethnic village of Pyla, which is inside the buffer zone and abuts the Greek Cypriot south.“We believe that with this move, the United Nations h...

Ethiopia to investigate report of killings of hundreds of its nationals at the Saudi-Yemen border

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:45 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Ethiopian government said Tuesday it will investigate a report by a human rights group of killings of hundreds its nationals at the Yemen-Saudi border.Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry said the investigation will be done “in tandem with the Saudi authorities.”The New York-based group Human Rights Watch released a report on Monday citing eyewitness accounts of attacks by border guards in Saudi Arabia using machine guns and mortars on unarmed Ethiopians trying to cross into the kingdom from Yemen.The ministry called for restraint and advised against making “unnecessary speculation until an investigation is completed,” saying the two countries “enjoy excellent longstanding relations.”A Saudi government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, called the Human Rights Watch report “unfounded and not based on reliable sources,” but did not offer evidence to support the assertion.The United Nations has already q...

Excessive Heat Warning issued Wednesday as dangerous temps enter Chicago area

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:45 GMT

CHICAGO — Dangerously hot conditions are entering the Chicago area starting Tuesday and will last until Thursday evening.An Excessive Heat Warning will go into effect starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday through 9 p.m. Wednesday for the entire area. Temperatures will feel like 105-115 degrees with a 10 percent storm chance. Skilling: Excessive heat to peak Wednesday, Thursday An Excessive Heat Watch has been issued for Wednesday evening into Thursday evening with feel-like temperatures hitting 105-115 degrees. List: Cooling centers in Chicago TODAY: Mainly sunny conditions and cooler lakeside. A Heat Advisory has been issued for LaSalle County. Winds: ESE 5-10. High: 90/82. Feels like: 95-105 degrees.TONIGHT: Partly cloudy conditions. Winds: SSW 5-10. Low: 74.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Take To The Skies: What's coming to Six Flags Great America in 2024?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:45 GMT

We are right in the middle of theme park announcement season. It appears Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL is getting ready to unveil their new attraction for 2024.Over the last few weeks, the park has rolled a teaser campaign with the hashtag #TakeToTheSkies2024. What could it mean? So far, we've seen vague social media posts like this one: Feeling blue? Strike 1 for you. #TakeToTheSkies2024 pic.twitter.com/8mYIV4GfvJ— Six Flags Great America (@SFGreat_America) August 18, 2023That's a picture of their swinging frisbee ride Revolution. The caption reads "Feeling blue? Strike 1 for you." Could that mean Revolution is about to get replaced? I think it's quite possible. Right next door to Revolution is the former location of Dare Devil Dive, the park's sky coaster experience. New signs set up outside the former Dare Devil DiveThe Dare Devil Dive experience has been closed and taken off of the park map. Over the last few weeks, Great America set up some new signage. A closer l...