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In Niger, the US seeks to hang on to its last, best counterterrorist outpost in West Africa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:09:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten days into a coup in Niger, life has become more challenging for U.S. forces at a counterterrorism base in a region of West Africa known as the world’s epicenter of terrorism.Flights in and out of the country have been curtailed as coup leaders require Americans to seek permission for each flight. Fuel shortages mean the U.S. commander must sign off whenever an aircraft is refueled.And yet, as several European countries evacuate Niger, the Biden administration is showing itself intent on staying. It sees Niger as the United States’ last, best counterterrorism outpost — and until the coup, a promising democracy — in an unstable region south of the Sahara Desert.Abandoning it risks not only a surge in jihadist groups, but even greater influence by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group. In an opinion piece published late Thursday in The Washington Post, democratically elected President Mohammed Bazoum urged the U.S. and others to help Niger restore its constitutional ord...

Damage from clashes could delay start of school year in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian camp, UN says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:09:21 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Damage to the school complex in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp from recent clashes between factions could delay the start of the school year for some 6,000 children, a United Nations official said Friday.The concern arose after heavy street battles broke out Sunday in Ein el-Hilweh between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party and Islamist groups Jund al Sham and Shabab al Muslim. The clashes erupted after Fatah accused the Islamists of gunning down a Fatah military general, Abu Ashraf al Armoushi, in the camp.The fighting has killed at least 13 people, injured dozens more and displaced thousands from the camp, which is home to more than 50,000 people.Although an uneasy calm has prevailed over the past two days, staff from the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have been unable to access the camp to make a full damage assessment or to provide services. Dorothee Klaus, Director of UNRWA in Lebanon, told The Associated Press that...

Montreal home sales on pace with last July, above historical average: QPAREB

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:09:21 GMT

MONTREAL — The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers says July’s Montreal home sales were little changed from a year ago but remained above the historical average for this time of year.The association says sales for the month totalled 3,098, up one per cent from a year prior.The association sees July as a sign that activity is picking up again after a “disappointing” June.It says July was the first time since the summer of 2021 that the Island of Montreal drove activity in the market as sales of small-income and single-family properties picked up.The average price of a single-family home was up one per cent from a year earlier to $555,000 in July, while condos were almost unchanged at $395,000. Plexes dropped six per cent to $735,000.New listing across the market fell nine per cent from last July to 4,354.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2023.The Canadian Press

Landslide hits Georgia mountain resort, killing seven people and leaving more than 30 missing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:09:21 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A landslide hit a resort area in the mountains of the country of Georgia, killing at least seven people and leaving more than 30 missing, officials and news reports said Friday.The landslide hit the Shovi area on Thursday. Shovi, about 140 kilometers (85 miles) northwest of the capital Tbilisi, is popular for its mineral springs and rugged mountain vistas and contains cottages and small hotels.Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili visited the region on Friday and said the death toll stood at seven. Georgian news reports cited officials as saying about 35 people remained unaccounted for.Officials said the landslide apparently was triggered by heavy rainfall, aggravated by recent erosion in the area.The Associated Press

Deadly flooding in China worsens as rescues and evacuations intensify

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:09:21 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Heavy rain and high water levels on rivers in northeastern China were threatening cities downstream on Friday, prompting the evacuation of thousands, although the country appears to have averted the worst effects of the typhoon season battering parts of east Asia. Hebei province, which surrounds the capital Beijing on three sides, issued alerts for several of its cities. The province of Heilongjiang to the north was evacuating entire villages in anticipation of life-threatening deluges. Rescue work remains underway. At least 20 people have been reported killed in Beijing’s outer suburbs and another 27 were missing following the weekend storms that quickly overwhelmed drainage systems. Beijing usually has dry summers, but had a stretch of record-breaking heat this year that broke dramatically over the weekend with almost a week of constant rain and drizzle. Power was knocked out in areas, public transport and summer classes were suspended and citizens of the metropolis...

Man in custody after shooting leads to hours-long SWAT standoff on North Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:09:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Police arrested a man who barricaded himself inside an apartment following a shooting on the city's North Side.Police responded to a 9-1-1 call from a child of a person shot in the 2200 block of West Carmen around 11:25 p.m. Thursday.Upon arrival, officers discovered two men and a woman exiting the residence. The woman was shot in the jaw and transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital where she is listed in fair condition.Police said they believe the man that shot the woman barricaded himself inside the home. SWAT officers attempted to make contact with the man, which turned into an hours-long standoff.SWAT officers entered the home just after 3 a.m. and took the man into custody. Deadly shooting leaves 1 dead, 1 critical in South Shore One officer was seen carrying a baby outside of the building, it is unknown if the child lived inside the home.The circumstances leading up to the shooting are unclear at this time. Charges have not yet been announced.

PHOTOS: Day one of Lollapalooza 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:09:21 GMT

CHICAGO -- Festival-goers raced into Grant Park on Thursday as Lollapalooza 2023 has finally arrived.Lollapalooza 2023 kicked off it's four day music festival on Thursday with headliners Karol G, The Rose, Diplo, and Billie Eilish, along with dozens of artists from rap to electro pop and indie to pop-punk. Lollapalooza 2023: What to know before you go The festival takes place every year in Chicago's Grant Park from Thursday, Aug. 3 to Sunday, Aug. 6. Gates will open at 11 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. each day.Friday tickets are sold out. Get on waitlist here.

Friday Forecast: Temps in mid 80s with isolated showers expected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:09:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Sunshine with increasing clouds Friday. Cooler lakeside and isolated showers. Winds: ENE 5-15 G20. High: 84/78. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly cloudy tonight. Winds: NNE 5-10 G15. Low: 68.Saturday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, 30% rain/t'storm, cooler lakeside, E 5-15. 85/78. PM storms likely.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

5-year-old girl dies after being struck by starting gate at harness race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:09:21 GMT

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (AP) — A 5-year-old southern Illinois girl has died after a starting gate being hauled by a car prior to a harness race struck her while she was sitting in the grandstand at a county fair, authorities said.Harper Finn, of Altamont, died Wednesday evening at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the St. Louis city medical examiner's office said.She was hurt Sunday afternoon at the Effingham County Fair. While attending the race, the girl was struck by the folding arm of the starting gate attached to a car that failed to close when it extended into the grandstand, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office said. Man in custody after shooting leads to hours-long SWAT standoff on North Side She was rushed to a local hospital and later airlifted to the St. Louis hospital.

As heat wave bears down, Greek zoo serves frozen meals to animals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:09:21 GMT

SPATA, Greece (AP) — At first sight, Tiembe studies his frozen breakfast with hesitation: Chunks of red meat and bone packed in a foot-long block of ice.The 15-year-old Angolan lion eventually licks the ice before gnawing pieces of meat-free.Animals at the Attica Zoological Park outside the Greek capital were being fed frozen meals Friday as temperatures around the country reached 40 C (107.5 F) and were set to rise further, in the fourth heat wave in less than a month.Ring-tailed lemurs lick a fruit popsicle, at the Attica Zoological Park in Spata suburb, eastern Athens, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. A large number of animals being fed frozen meals at the Attica Zoological Park outside the Greek capital Friday, as temperatures around the country touched 40C (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and were set to rise further, in the fourth heat wave in less than a month. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)Tiembe, a 15-year-old Angolan lion, licks his frozen breakfast, chunks of red meat and bone pac...