Maiduguri’s Recovery from Historic Flooding ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At the heart of Maiduguri’s busy central market, Elizabeth Felix takes in the familiar chaos — vendors arranging their goods, shoppers bargaining energetically, and vibrant fabrics flapping beside rows of fresh vegetables and salted fish emitting a pungent scent. Just half a year earlier, none of this was possible. Heavy rainfall submerged the market in water, part of widespread flooding across Central and West Africa. Experts

• Military leaders from over 30 nations backing Ukraine are set to gather in the UK on Thursday to strategize on forming a "coalition of the willing" that might deploy forces to Ukraine if a ceasefire takes place—without the participation of the United States. A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted on Monday that while contributions will differ among countries, the alliance is expected to include a sizable force from numerous nations. This initiative follows

A New Era for Mürren Tucked high in the Swiss Alps, this centuries-old village once felt worlds away from modern life. But now, thanks to an engineering marvel—the steepest cable car on the planet—visitors can swiftly reach the secluded town of just 430 people. On a chilly morning in December 2024, I boarded a picturesque train for a three-hour journey from Geneva to Lauterbrunnen, a charming alpine village nestled between Interlaken and the majestic Jungfrau range. From here, I was only one

Springtime bursts into life on Cornwall's cliffs As spring progresses, the Cornish coastline begins to dazzle, especially along the Lizard Peninsula. From late April onwards, vibrant clusters of bluebells, pink thrift, and golden gorse compete for attention across the dramatic clifftops. An easy and scenic stroll from Kynance Cove to Lizard Point rewards walkers with views of stunning, and at times unique, plant life — including the area’s signature heath, Erica vagans, found nowhere else

Придбання житла в одній із найбільш сонячних і привабливих для туристів країн Європи пов’язане з суттєвими ризиками. І справа не лише у високій вартості чи складних економічних умовах. Найнебезпечніше — це можливість втратити свою нову власність через так званих "окупасів". Хто такі іспанські окупаси, як вони виникли та чому влада країни схиляється на їхній бік — розповідаємо далі. Раніше ми вже розбиралися, звідки походять назви різних країн світу. Хто такі окупаси та як виникло це

Agavedzi Coastal Erosion AGAVEDZI, Ghana (AP) — The shoreline of this seaside town in Ghana is being steadily consumed by the ocean. Violent tides gnaw away at Agavedzi, toppling homes, claiming land, and even threatening gravesites where families have buried their loved ones for generations. Residents say climate change is fueling these harsher tidal patterns and sea level rise, drastically shifting the coastline inward. They’ve repeatedly appealed to the government for protective sea walls —

March 6 (Reuters) – SpaceX’s colossal Starship rocket suffered a mid-flight explosion during its test mission on Thursday, just minutes after blasting off from its Texas launch site. The incident triggered a temporary suspension of air traffic in some regions of Florida by the FAA, marking the second consecutive failure this year for Elon Musk’s ambitious Mars-bound spacecraft initiative. Clips widely circulated on social media captured blazing fragments streaking across the twilight skies near

Nearly 1,000 civilian lives have been lost and many more injured due to military drone operations across Africa, highlighting a troubling trend linked to the growing presence of unmanned aerial vehicles on the continent, a new report has revealed. According to the findings, at least 50 lethal drone strikes have been carried out by African military forces between November 2021 and November 2024. Analysts noted a “disturbing consistency in civilian casualties,” often occurring without proper

MOSCOW, March 9 (Reuters) – In what appears to be a calculated maneuver, Russian special operations units infiltrated a major gas pipeline near the town of Sudzha, intending to catch Ukrainian troops off guard as part of a broader campaign to drive them out of the western region of Kursk, according to pro-Russian military commentators. Last August, Ukrainian forces advanced into roughly 1,300 square kilometers of Russia’s Kursk territory. Kyiv described the move as a strategic ploy to

• Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers who crossed into Russia's Kursk region last August now face near-complete encirclement by Russian troops, according to Reuters, which cited data from publicly available maps. The advance that Ukraine hoped would shift leverage in talks with Moscow has instead led to a deteriorating situation. Over recent days, Russian counterattacks have regained ground, splitting the Ukrainian forces and severing major supply routes. This escalation follows the United

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Trump administration’s decision to suspend USAID funds has disrupted hundreds of millions of dollars in aid contracts, forcing humanitarian organizations to front their own resources to maintain a delicate ceasefire, according to U.S. aid officials. The funding freeze puts at risk the incremental progress made by relief groups in easing Gaza’s humanitarian emergency during the ongoing Israel-Hamas truce. It may also jeopardize the ceasefire itself, which was brokered with

European Union leaders are convening in Brussels on Thursday for an extraordinary summit centered on defence strategy, as French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Europe stands at a "historic crossroads". Beyond discussions on military build-up, leaders will examine ways to increase support for Ukraine, particularly in light of U.S. President Donald Trump's recent announcement halting American aid to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is slated to attend the

Ukraine One-Month Truce and Geopolitical Shifts Following the summit in London, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the UK and France are proposing a one-month ceasefire in Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also declared that they are working with Ukraine on a plan to halt hostilities. In an interview with UNIAN, Alexander Khara, an expert from the Centre for Defence Strategies, shared what such a ceasefire could mean for Ukraine, whether U.S. President Donald Trump

LONDON, March 3 (Reuters) – A unique artwork by the enigmatic street artist Banksy, personally painted and currently owned by American musician Mark Hoppus, is set to go under the hammer this Tuesday. The estimated auction price could reach as high as $6.35 million. The piece, titled "Crude Oil (Vettriano)," offers Banksy’s reinterpretation of "The Singing Butler," a 1992 painting by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, whose recent passing was confirmed on Monday. While the

Over a dozen European leaders will convene in London on Sunday to deliberate on enhancing joint security efforts and reinforcing unified backing for Ukraine. This gathering comes in the wake of a sharp disagreement between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former U.S. President Donald Trump during a high-profile meeting at the White House on Friday. The main focus for European officials will be on extending military aid and intensifying economic sanctions against Russia, aiming to

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) — A highly anticipated meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and former U.S. President Donald Trump exploded into a diplomatic fiasco on Friday, as tensions over the Russia-Ukraine conflict reached a public boiling point in front of a global audience at the White House. Zelenskiy had entered the Oval Office expecting to bolster support and dissuade the U.S. from siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who spearheaded the ongoing assault on

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the country’s nuclear strike capabilities to be fully primed for action. According to Reuters, citing state-run media, North Korea recently conducted missile tests aimed at sending a warning to "hostile forces who seriously threaten security and heighten tensions," while also showcasing the nation’s "readiness across various nuclear operations." "True deterrence and defense lie in overwhelming strike power," Kim stated.