World

Putin in self-isolation due to COVID cases in inner circle

Published on Tue, 09/14/2021 - 4:54pm
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MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin entered self-isolation after people in his inner circle became infected with the coronavirus, the Kremlin said Tuesday, adding that the leader himself tested negative for COVID-19.

Putin, who is fully vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V, held several public engagements indoors Monday and even said that he may have to quarantine soon. An aide at the time sought to suggest he was speaking generally and insisted Tuesday that no one’s heath was endangered.

Report: Climate change could see 200 million move by 2050

Published on Mon, 09/13/2021 - 12:00am
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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Climate change could push more than 200 million people to leave their homes in the next three decades and create migration hot spots unless urgent action is taken to reduce global emissions and bridge the development gap, a World Bank report has found.

Saudi Arabia, 20 years after 9/11: ‘A country in the making’

Published on Fri, 09/10/2021 - 3:51pm
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Saudi Arabia of today is far different from the Saudi Arabia of Sept. 11, 2001. 

All but four of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudi citizens, and the Saudi kingdom was the birthplace of Osama bin Laden, the head of al-Qaida and mastermind of the attack 20 years ago. In the two decades since then, Saudi Arabia has confronted al-Qaida on its own soil, revamped its textbooks, worked to curb terror financing and partnered with the United States to counter terrorism. 

About 200 foreigners, including Americans, fly out of Kabul

Published on Thu, 09/09/2021 - 5:04pm
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By KATHY GANNON Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An estimated 200 foreigners, including Americans, left Afghanistan on a commercial flight out of Kabul on Thursday with the cooperation of the Taliban — the first such large-scale departure since U.S. forces completed their frantic withdrawal over a week ago.

Blinken, German minister talk Afghanistan as gov’t unveiled

Published on Wed, 09/08/2021 - 3:24pm
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RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken conferred with his German counterpart and others Wednesday about how to handle Afghanistan as the Taliban’s announcement of an interim government line-up received a skeptical Western response.

New Zealand police kill ‘terrorist’ after he stabs six people at market

Published on Fri, 09/03/2021 - 2:08pm
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand authorities were so worried about an extremist inspired by the Islamic State group they were following him around-the-clock and were able to shoot and kill him within 60 seconds of him unleashing a frenzied knife attack that wounded six people Friday at an Auckland supermarket.

Three of the shoppers were taken to Auckland hospitals in critical condition, police said. Another was in serious condition, while two more were in moderate condition. 

Qatar says it’s not clear when Kabul airport will reopen

Published on Thu, 09/02/2021 - 4:06pm
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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Qatar’s top diplomat said Thursday that experts are racing to reopen Kabul’s airport but warned it was not clear when flights would resume, with many still desperate to flee Afghanistan’s new Taliban leaders amid concerns over what their rule will hold. 

Vintners despair after French wildfire ravaged grapevines

Published on Thu, 09/02/2021 - 4:05pm

LE CANNET-DES-MAURES, France (AP) — After a wildfire blazed through a once-picturesque nature reserve near the French Riviera, winemakers who grow the region’s celebrated crop are taking stock of the damage. 

Rows of charred grapevines stand next to a vast expanse of steaming black vegetation devastated by the fire, which raged for a week in late August. The blaze left two people dead, injured 27 and forced some 10,000 people to evacuate around the Var region, not far from the famed coastal resort of Saint-Tropez.

Qatar emerges as key player in Afghanistan after US pullout

Published on Mon, 08/30/2021 - 4:04pm
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar played an outsized role in U.S. efforts to evacuate tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan. Now the tiny Gulf Arab state is being asked to help shape what is next for Afghanistan because of its ties with both Washington and the Taliban, who are in charge in Kabul.

US airlifts aid to Haiti to reach areas hardest hit by quake

Published on Mon, 08/30/2021 - 4:03pm
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JEREMIE, Haiti (AP) — U.S. military aircraft are now ferrying food, tarps and other material into southern Haiti amid a shift in the international relief effort to focus on helping people in the areas hardest hit by the recent earthquake to make it through the hurricane season.