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President Macron says France will end its military presence in Niger and pull ambassador after coup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:56 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that France will end its military presence in Niger and pull its ambassador out of the country after its democratically elected president was deposed in a coup.France has maintained some 1,500 troops in Niger since the July coup and refused a request by the new junta for its ambassador to leave. With tensions mounting, Macron said that he told the ousted President Bazoum on Sunday that “France has decided to bring back its ambassador, and in the coming hours our ambassador and several diplomats will return to France. And we will put an end to our military cooperation with the Niger authorities.”He noted that France’s military presence in Niger was in response to a request from Niger’s government at the time.The Associated Press

Jewish group demands apology after MPs honoured man who fought for Nazis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:56 GMT

Several Jewish advocacy organizations are condemning members of Parliament for giving a standing ovation to a man who fought for a Nazi unit during the Second World War.During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Ottawa on Friday, MPs honoured 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka in the House of Commons. Hunka was invited by Speaker Anthony Rota, who introduced him as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division. That division was also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, a voluntary unit that was under the command of the Nazis.Advocacy group Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center issued a statement Sunday saying it’s deeply disturbed that Hunka was invited and says an apology is owed to every Holocaust survivor.FSWC is appalled that Canada’s Parliament gave a standing ovation to a Ukrainian veteran who served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War implicated in the mass murder of Jews and others.An apology and explanation is owed.https://t.co/...

Newcastle equals its biggest EPL win with 8-0 rout at Sheffield United. Tributes for Cusack at game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:56 GMT

SHEFFIELD, England (AP) — Newcastle equaled its biggest win of the Premier League era by beating Sheffield United 8-0 away on Sunday, with eight different players netting a goal each at Bramall Lane. The chastening loss completed a difficult week for United, after the club announced Thursday that women’s player Maddy Cusack died at the age of 27. The Blades paid tribute to Cusack with a moment of silence before the game. Fans also stood up for a minute’s applause in the eighth minute for Cusack, who wore the No. 8 shirt.It was Newcastle’s biggest away league win ever and equaled an 8-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in September 1999 when Bobby Robson was the manager. Sean Longstaff, Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Callum Wilson, Anthony Gordon, Miguel Almiron, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak all scored.It was a display that put to rest any questions about how Newcastle would cope with juggling the demands of the Premier League and Champions League, after drawing 0-0 a...

Woman arrested after 55 dogs are removed from animal rescue home and 5 dead puppies found in freezer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:56 GMT

CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) — A Chandler woman who ran an animal rescue out of her now-condemned home has been arrested after dozens of abused dogs were discovered and five dead puppies found in a freezer, according to police.April McLaughlin, 48, was taken into custody Friday after a search warrant was executed at the house.The search followed multiple calls and reports from concerned neighbors about smells coming from the home and hoarding conditions, police said.They said most of the 55 dogs removed from the home were elderly and special-needs animals. They were without water and many will likely need to be euthanized.The air quality in the home was so bad that firefighters had to wear special breathing equipment. The house is now condemned, according to authorities.McLaughlin was booked into a Phoenix jail on 55 counts of animal abuse, 55 counts of animal cruelty and one count of vulnerable adult abuse because her elderly mother also lived in the home.According to court documents, McLa...

A Kremlin critic was transferred to a Siberian prison and placed in a ‘punishment cell,’ lawyer says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:56 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — An imprisoned Russian opposition figure has been transferred to a maximum security prison in Siberia and placed in a tiny “punishment cell,” his lawyer said Sunday.Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., 42, earlier this year was convicted of treason for publicly denouncing Russia’s war in Ukraine and sentenced to 25 years in prison as part of the Kremlin’s relentless crackdown on critics. On Thursday, he arrived at IK-6 — a maximum security penal colony in the Siberian city of Omsk, his lawyer Vadim Prokhorov said in a Facebook post Sunday. Prokhorov said the transfer from a detention center in Moscow, where Kara-Murza was being held pending trial and appeals, took less than three weeks. Russian prison transfers, usually done by train, are notorious for taking a long time, sometimes weeks, during which there’s no access to prisoners, and information about their whereabouts is limited. Kara-Murza, a journalist and an opposition activist, was jailed in April 2022...

Science paints new picture of the past, when we mixed and mated with other kinds of humans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:56 GMT

What does it mean to be human?For a long time, the answer seemed clear. Our species, Homo sapiens — with our complex thoughts and deep emotions — were the only true humans to ever walk the Earth. Earlier forms, like the Neanderthals, were thought to be just steps along the path of evolution, who died out because we were better versions.That picture is now changing.In recent years, researchers have gained the power to pull DNA from ancient hominins, including our early ancestors and other relatives who walked on two legs. Ancient DNA technology has revolutionized the way we study human history and has quickly taken off, with a constant stream of studies exploring the genes of long-ago people.Along with more fossils and artifacts, the DNA findings are pointing us to a challenging idea: We're not so special. For most of human history we shared the planet with other kinds of early humans, and those now-extinct groups were a lot like us. How will El Niño affect winter? New long-ra...

AISD to implement 1 armed officer at each campus in 5-2 vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a meeting Thursday, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted to determine the appropriate number of police officers for each campus.The recommendation for the board was to approve that one AISD police officer be placed at each of the district’s schools.During the meeting, the agenda item passed with five in favor and two opposed.The recommendation also stated there should be administrative discretion for assigning additional officers based on the size of the campus and the needs of the campus and surrounding vicinity.Prior to the vote, the board had to consider House Bill 3, a school safety bill, which required Texas school districts to determine the appropriate number of armed security officers for each district campus, with the minimum being one armed security officer present during regular school hours at each campus.According to AISD, the district employs about 82 full-time police officers, which include 43 School Resource Officers (SROs).“Full implementation of...

PHOTOS: Art in the Park St. Louis Hills family free event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:56 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Art in the Park St. Louis Hills is at Francis Park today, September 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Photo by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellThis event is celebrating its 16th year. Artists have booths on both sides of the lily pond to display their art. There is live music, delicious food, a classic car show, and an exhibition of vintage baseball. As always, the event is open to the public, admission is free, and several free children's activities are provided by our sponsors and non-profit participants. 

PHOTOS: Missouricon, a pop culture convention, returns to St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:56 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Missouricon, a pop culture event, returns today, September 24, at the Holiday Inn Downtown St. Louis. The event will run until 5 p.m. tonight. Photo by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellPhoto by Liz DowellSome of the attractions include local vendors, anime vendors, local artists, guest comic celebrities, a cosplay contest, and free admission for kids under 11. Exhibits feature a wide range of items, including: Comic books Magazines Retro toys Video games Movies Wrestling Sci-fi Sport...

Dolphins 35, Broncos 13: Denver trails big in Miami at halftime

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:49:56 GMT

Can the Broncos break their slow 0-2 start and win their first game in the Sean Payton era? Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.Live updatesHalftime analysis — Dolphins 35, Broncos 13Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Devon Achane had 10 carries for 74 and a TD and was the fourth-most impressive Miami offensive player behind Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Raheem Mostert. Oh, and Jaylen Waddle’s not even playing. That didn’t stop the Dolphins from steamrolling Denver’s hapless defense in the first half.Mark Kiszla, sports columnist: When I suggested the Broncos tank after loss to Washington, some of y’all told me I was crazy. Really? What do you think of me now?Ryan McFadden, beat writer: At this point, I don’t know what else head coach Sean Payton can say. The Broncos continue to let the same mistakes beat them every week. They watched two touchdowns get wiped away because of penalties. They are 1-3 in ...