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France backs efforts to quash Niger coup ahead of Sunday deadline

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:32 GMT

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on Saturday backed efforts to reverse a military coup in Niger, following a meeting in Paris with the African country’s Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou and Niger’s Ambassador to France, Aïchatou Boulama Kané.France “firmly and resolutely supports the efforts of ECOWAS to thwart this attempted putsch,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement, referring to a group of 15 West African countries that has given the putschists in Niger until Sunday to step down or face a possible military intervention. “The future of Niger and the stability of the entire region are at stake,” the ministry said. ECOWAS issued its ultimatum after Niger’s top military officers announced on July 27 that they had overthrown the country’s President Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically elected in 2021.Asked in an interview with Radio France Internationale on Saturday whether France would play a role i...

Spain thrashes Switzerland at Women’s World Cup despite bizarre own goal, while Japan beats Norway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:32 GMT

(CNN) — Spain overcame a bizarre long-range own goal to thrash Switzerland 5-1 and advance to the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, while Japan continued to impress in a 3-1 victory over Norway.Spain defender Laia Codina’s back pass from close to the halfway line wrong-footed her goalkeeper to give Switzerland a surprise equalizer, but a brace from Aitana Bonmatí helped Spain recover and race to victory.Later on Saturday, a formidable Japan beat 1995 champion Norway in Wellington.Ingrid Syrstad Engen’s own goal gave Japan a well-deserved lead early on before Norway equalized soon after through Guro Reiten’s header.However, Japan regained the advantage thanks to Risa Shimizu’s deflected strike before Hinata Miyazawa, in the 81st minute, sealed her country’s place in the next round.Spain will next face either the Netherlands or South Africa in the quarterfinals, while Japan will take on either Sweden or the US, who play each other in Melbourne on Sunday.Overc...

Simone Biles set to return to competitive gymnastics after two-year absence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:32 GMT

(CNN) — Seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles is due to return to competitive gymnastics on Saturday for the first time since pulling out of several events at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.Biles is registered to compete in all four events at this weekend’s Core Hydration Classic – previously called the US Classic – a spokesperson for USA Gymnastics told CNN.Saturday will mark the 26-year-old Biles’ first competition since August 2021 when she withdrew from the women’s team final in Tokyo after suffering from what is known as the “twisties” – a mental block that causes gymnasts to lose track of their position in midair.Biles opted not to compete in four individual finals at the Games, but she did return to compete in the balance beam, winning bronze after using a modified dismount in her routine.The Core Hydration Classic, which will be held in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, is the final opportunity for athletes to qualify for the national championships in San ...

Woman killed in crash on Route 3 in Weymouth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:32 GMT

A  Weymouth woman was killed in a crash on Route 3 northbound in Weymouth Saturday morning, officials said.The 60-year-old woman died at the scene after a crash around 5 a.m. near Exit 38. Her passenger, a 34-year-old man, was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, according to Massachusetts State Police.The driver of the other vehicle was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.All lanes of Route 3 northbound were closed for about two hours this morning.The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, police said.

‘Something’s changed’: Summer 2023 is screaming climate change, scientists say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:32 GMT

Earlier this summer, two Canadians walked into a party in rural Germany.“Canadians?” joked the host. “I thought you’d smell more like smoke.”It’s been that kind of season. Floods, drought, warm waters lapping three coasts — but mostly wildfire smoke from sea to sea and overseas. Yes, this is climate change, scientists say, and expect more weather weirdness to come.“It’s been a wild ride,” said Danny Blair, co-director of the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg. “It’s been a season and a year of extremes.”Drought is one example. Canada’s a big place and it’s always dry somewhere, but not like this.Agriculture Canada’s June 30 drought map shows most of the country was abnormally dry. Large stretches of the Prairies were under at least a moderate drought, pushing to extreme in southern Alberta.In British Columbia, once the “wet coast,” 28 out of 34 river basins were at...

A fugitive mob suspect in Greece is betrayed by his passion for hometown Naples soccer champions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:32 GMT

ROME (AP) — Hometown passion for this year’s soccer champions from Naples has betrayed the hideout of a longtime crime fugitive from Italy, who was captured while riding a motor scooter on a Greek island, Italian police said Saturday. Naples-based Carabinieri paramilitary police said the man, who was on Italy’s list of 100 most dangerous fugitives, was spotted in a photo of fans in a restaurant in Corfu, who were celebrating after the Napoli soccer squad clinched Italy’s top league championship a few weeks ago. Police then headed to Corfu to tail the fugitive, identified by them as 60-year-old Vincenzo La Porta, who had been on the lam for 11 years.They didn’t specify when his recent arrest was carried out, but said officers blocked him going down a Corfu street on a motor scooter.La Porta, considered close to a crime clan of the Naples-based Camorra syndicate, has been convicted in absentia of criminal association, tax evasion and fraud, the police said.He is now in a Greek j...

Slovenia has suffered its worst-ever floods. Damage could top 500 million euros, its leader says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:32 GMT

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia has faced the worst-ever natural disaster in its history, Prime Minister Robert Golob said Saturday, after devastating floods caused damage estimated at half a billion euros ($550 million). Devastating floods on Thursday and Friday killed three people and destroyed roads, bridges and houses in the small Alpine country. Two thirds of the territory had been affected, Golob said. The floods were “the biggest natural disaster” in Slovenia’s history, Golob said after a meeting of the country’s National Security Council on Saturday. “Luckily, last night was easier than the one before.”After three weather-related deaths were reported on Friday, Slovenian media said on Saturday that one more person was found dead in the capital Ljubljana. Police are yet to confirm the report. The floods were caused by torrential rains on Friday which caused rivers to swell swiftly and burst into houses, fields and towns. Slovenia’s weather service ...

Woman found stabbed to death on road in Oak Forest: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:32 GMT

OAK FOREST, Ill. -- Oak Forest police are investigating a domestic homicide where a woman was found with fatal stab wounds in the road Friday night. Police said 30-year-old Lauren Pikor was found in the road near the 5300 block of Diamond Drive around 10.p.m. with fatal lacerations and stab wounds. She was pronounced dead on the scene. Dior store employee robbed at gunpoint in Gold Coast Oak Fores police are currently investigating the incident. If any information is recovered on the incident, contact Detective Sergent Ryan Burnett at 708-687-1376.

Child found under Florida roller coaster track with traumatic injuries, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:32 GMT

ORLANDO (WFLA) – A 6-year-old was found injured Thursday after an incident at a Florida amusement park, according to local officials.Osceola County Fire Rescue responded to the Fun Spot America amusement park in Kissimmee after a caller reported a child falling from a roller coaster.Firefighters found the child under the coaster's track, which was 20 feet overhead.The 6-year-old suffered traumatic injuries and was rushed to the hospital, officials said. He's currently recovering."I can't even imagine if it was my child," Neverlyn Johnson, a visitor who brought her grandkids to the park, told Nexstar's WFLA."It's been happening. People being stuck. The rides being cracked and damaged, and people falling off … it's unbelievable," Johnson said. Another crack in the coaster? Defect found on Carowinds ride after July repairs On Friday, Fun Spot released a statement claiming all safety procedures had been followed prior to the incident."On Thursday August 3rd, 2023 an unfortunate incide...

Weekend Gardening with Tim Joyce: Reduced pesticides can double pollinator

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:32 GMT

Did you know reducing pesticides can double the number of Pollinator? Check out Weekend Gardening with Tim Joyce for more tips. Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.