Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said in an end-of-year speech that French forces will withdraw from the West African nation in January, making it the latest country to weaken military ties with the former colonial power. Ouattara said late on Tuesday that Ivory Coast could be proud of its army “whose modernization is now effective. … Read more
US President Joe Biden is set to confer the country’s second highest civilian honor on 20 people at a ceremony at the White House on Thursday. Presidential Citizens Medal recipients include Congressman Bennie Thompson and former Congresswoman Elizabeth Cheney, who led the congressional investigation into the attack by a mob on the U.S. Capitol on … Read more
Friedrich Merz, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) candidate for chancellor and an obvious contender in Germany’s early elections in February, has called for a “positive agenda” on trade with the US and withdrawal from President Donald Trump. “We need a positive agenda with the US that benefits American and European consumers alike,” Merz said … Read more
Tokyo— Asian shares mostly slipped on Thursday as the region’s main stock exchange was closed for New Year holidays in Tokyo. Investors remained cautious amid concerns about policy changes from incoming US President Donald Trump, while political uncertainty in South Korea heightened a wait-and-see mood. Australia’s S&P/ASx 200 rose 0.4% to 8,193.90 in early trading. … Read more
Space science and exploration has reached exciting new heights in the last 12 months. We learn that galaxies are much bigger than we thought, how Europe is building its new flagship rocket, Ariana 6, and what being stuck in space does to astronauts’ bodies. Germany’s first female astronaut will also go to space in 2025. … Read more
China’s average national temperature for 2024 was 1.03 degrees higher than average, making it “the warmest year since the start of full records in 1961”, China Meteorological Administration said Wednesday night. The world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, China also experienced devastating floods last year. Source link
A US Army veteran with an Islamic State flag and “hellbent” on carnage steered a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year revelers in New Orleans on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens. FRANCE 24’s Wassim Cornet reports from New Orleans. Source link
The New Orleans truck attack suspect, identified by the FBI as 42-year-old US citizen Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was an army veteran who served as an IT specialist before earning a bachelor’s degree in computer systems. He was twice-married and experienced financial difficulties, according to divorce papers. Source link
Seoul, South Korea – South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol remained inside his residence for a third day on Thursday, resisting arrest, after vowing to “fight” authorities seeking to interrogate him over his failed martial law attempt. The embattled leader issued a hung declaration in December. 3 which led to his impeachment and facing … Read more
“I will fight with you to the end to protect this country,” impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol told supporters in a letter made public Thursday, the third day after a warrant for his arrest on rebellion charges was issued. “I’ve been watching all your hard work live on YouTube,” Yoon wrote. Supporters resisted attempts to … Read more