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Russia says it has captured two villages in Ukraine, Ukraine reports heavy fighting
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia's Defense Ministry said on Saturday its forces had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine, including one in Dnipropetrovsk region where Moscow says its troops have begun to make advances. Ukrainian forces made no acknowledgement that the villages had changed hands, but reported heavy fighting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an assessment of the situation along the 1,000-kilometer front line, said the logistics hub of Pokrovsk remained the focal poin
July 27, 2025 -
Ecuador deports hundreds of Colombian inmates as Bogota cries foul
BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP) -- Ecuadoran authorities said Saturday they had deported hundreds of Colombian prisoners via a land border crossing, after Bogota protested that the move came without prior agreement. In 2024, Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa announced his intention to deport Colombian inmates to ease overcrowding in the country's prisons. Small groups were transferred starting in April. But Colombian President Gustavo Petro opposed the move, saying that a joint plan was needed to safeguar
July 27, 2025 -
Syria says meeting with Israeli officials sought to 'contain escalation'
DAMASCUS, Syria (AFP) -- A Syrian diplomatic source said Saturday that a US-mediated meeting with Israeli officials in Paris sought to "contain the escalation" after recent sectarian violence in southern Syria prompted Israeli intervention. Israel launched strikes this month on Damascus and Druze-majority Sweida province, saying it was acting both in support of the religious minority and to enforce its demands for a demilitarized southern Syria. The Syrian diplomatic source told state television
July 27, 2025 -
Over 600 malnourished children die in six months in Nigeria: MSF
LAGOS, Nigeria (AFP) -- More than 600 malnourished children have died in northern Nigeria in six months after failing to receive proper care as foreign aid dries up, a medical charity has said. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said northern Nigeria, which already is struggling with insurgency and banditry, is "currently facing an alarming malnutrition crisis." In the first half of 2025, its teams treated nearly 70,000 children for malnutrition in Katsina state, nearly 10,000 of whom had to be hospi
July 27, 2025 -
Sudan's RSF names PM, presidential council in rival government
PORT SUDAN, Sudan (AFP) -- A coalition led by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces on Saturday named a civilian prime minister and unveiled a presidential council to lead a rival government, challenging the military-backed administration and risking a further push toward the war-torn country's division. The announcement, made during a press conference broadcast from the RSF-controlled city of Nyala in South Darfur, comes more than two years into the war between the RSF and the Army. The RSF appointed Mo
July 27, 2025 -
Israel air drops aid packages into Gaza
GAZA CITY (AFP) -- Israel said Saturday that it air dropped aid into the Gaza Strip and would open humanitarian corridors, as it faced growing international condemnation over the deepening hunger crisis in the Palestinian territory. Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza on March 2 after ceasefire talks broke down. In late May, it began allowing a small trickle of aid to resume. Before Israel announced the delivery of seven aid packages, the United Arab Emirates had said it would restart aid dr
July 27, 2025 -
China urges global consensus on balancing AI development, security
SHANGHAI (AFP) — China's Premier Li Qiang warned Saturday that artificial intelligence development must be weighed against the security risks, saying global consensus was urgently needed even as the tech race between Beijing and Washington shows no sign of abating. His remarks came just days after US President Donald Trump unveiled an aggressive low-regulation strategy aimed at cementing US dominance in the fast-moving field, promising to "remove red tape and onerous regulation" that could hinde
July 27, 2025 -
Mexico City marks 700 years since its founding by Indigenous people
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico City is marking the 700th anniversary of its founding with a series of public events on Saturday, including artistic performances honoring the city's Indigenous origins. Artists in Indigenous clothing reenacted the founding of the Aztec capital in front of the country's top officials in Mexico City's main square. Later, hundreds of dancers dressed in traditional clothing, feather headdresses, drums, and ankle rattles made of seeds performed sacred dances meant to connec
July 27, 2025 -
Thailand says open to 'dialogue' with Cambodia to end conflict
BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand said late Saturday it agrees in principle to entering a ceasefire with Cambodia and beginning a "bilateral dialogue" aimed at ending the nations’ deadliest fighting in more than a decade. The Southeast Asian neighbors exchanged heavy artillery fire for a third straight day Saturday, as a border conflict that has killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 150,000 from their homes spread across the frontier. "Thailand agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in plac
July 27, 2025 -
Tens of thousands flee their homes as Thailand and Cambodia clash
Thailand (AP) -- Tens of thousands of people sought refuge as border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered its third day Saturday, heightening fears of an extended conflict with the total death toll reaching 32. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors late Friday in New York, while Malaysia, which chairs the 10-nation regional bloc that includes both countries, called for an end to hostilities and offered to mediate. The council did not issue a statement bu
July 26, 2025 -
Top UN court says treaties compel wealthy nations to curb global warming
The UN' highest court on Wednesday told wealthy countries they must comply with their international commitments to curb pollution or risk having to pay compensation to nations hit hard by climate change. In an opinion hailed by small island states and environmental groups as a legal stepping stone to make big polluters accountable, the International Court of Justice said countries must address the "urgent and existential threat" of climate change. "States must cooperate to achieve concrete emiss
July 24, 2025 -
Doctor pleads guilty to supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine
LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- A doctor charged in connection with the drug overdose death of actor Matthew Perry pleaded guilty Wednesday to supplying the "Friends" star with ketamine. Salvador Plasencia, 43, one of five people charged over Perry's death, pleaded guilty in a federal court in Los Angeles to four counts of distribution of ketamine. Plasencia is to be sentenced on December 3 and faces up to 40 years in prison. He will also surrender his medical license. Plasencia's attorney, Karen Goldstein
July 24, 2025 -
Thailand and Cambodia recall ambassadors as border dispute flares
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand closed northeastern border crossings with Cambodia and said Wednesday it was withdrawing its ambassador and expelling the Cambodian ambassador to protest a land mine blast in which a Thai soldier lost a leg. Cambodia responded Thursday that it was downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level and recalling all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok. Relations between the Southeast Asian neighbors have deteriorated sharply since May when a Cambo
July 24, 2025 -
French president Macron sues right-wing podcaster over claim France's first lady was born male
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte filed a defamation lawsuit in the US on Wednesday against right-wing influencer and podcaster Candace Owens, centered on her claim that France's first lady is male. The Macrons said in a complaint filed in Delaware Superior Court that Owens has waged a lie-filled "campaign of global humiliation" to promote her podcast and expand her "frenzied" fan base. These lies included that Brigitte Macron, 72, was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneu
July 24, 2025 -
Columbia University to pay $200m in clash with Trump
NEW YORK (AFP) -- Columbia University said Wednesday it will pay $200 million to the US government after President Donald Trump threatened to pull federal funding over what he said was its unwillingness to protect Jewish students. In a sweeping deal that will restore the prestigious New York institution's federal monies, Columbia has pledged to obey rules that bar it from taking race into consideration in admissions or hiring, among other concessions. "Columbia University has reached an agreemen
July 24, 2025