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France completes withdrawal of troops from northern base in Niger as part of planned departure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:14 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — France has completed the withdrawal of troops from a northern base in Niger as part of a planned departure from the West African country in the wake of July’s military coup.Nearly 200 troops, 28 trucks and two dozen armored vehicles left the Ouallam military base, which has been handed to Niger, a junta spokesman, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, said Sunday.France’s withdrawal is expected to be complete by the end of the year. Some 1,500 French troops have been operating in Niger, training its military and conducting joint operations.The announcement comes weeks after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will end its military presence in Niger and pull its ambassador out of the country as a result of the coup that removed President Mohamed Bazoum.Bazoum has been under house arrest with his wife and son for nearly three months, and the junta has cut off his electricity and water.Last week, people close to Bazoum were unable to reach him for s...

A US watchdog says the Taliban are benefiting from international aid through ‘fraudulent’ NGOs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:14 GMT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The watchdog for U.S. assistance to Afghanistan has warned that the Taliban are benefiting from international aid through the establishment of fraudulent nongovernmental organizations.The Taliban have exerted greater control over national and international NGOs since seizing power in August 2021. They have barred Afghan women from NGO work and sought to push out foreign organizations from the education sector.A report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, or SIGAR, found that the Taliban benefit from American-funded education programming through the generation of tax revenues and from more “nefarious” methods like the establishment of fraudulent NGOs and extorting and infiltrating existing NGOs to obtain or direct international donor aid. Taliban spokesmen weren’t immediately available for comment on Monday. In May, a SIGAR report highlighted the Taliban’s interference with NGO work in Afghanistan. The economy ministr...

At least 15 killed and many injured when 2 trains collide in central Bangladesh

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:14 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A cargo train hit a passenger train outside the Bangladeshi capital on Monday, leaving at least 15 people dead and scores more injured, fire officials said.Rescuers joined local residents in extracting passengers from the wreckage of the train cars, said fire official Mosharraf Hossain at Bhairab, in the central district of Kishoreganj, where the collision happened at 3:30 p.m.He said the bodies of at least 15 people had been recovered and the number of casualties could increase.“Our people are working there. It’s a chaotic situation,” he told The Associated Press. The crash occurred when two rear coaches of the Dhaka-bound Egarosindur Godhuli Express passenger train were hit by a cargo train heading to Chattogram, Azizul Haque Rajon, a senior fire official, said from the scene by phone. He said it was unclear how many people were still trapped in the wreckage. Train service to other parts of the country remained suspended following the accident, he sa...

Fatal crash on I-55 closes all OB lanes at Central

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:14 GMT

CHICAGO — All outbound lanes of Interstate 55 are closed after a fatal accident at Central Avenue.The accident happened on I-55 between Harlem Avenue and Central Avenue around 3 a.m. Monday. According to Illinois State Police, one fatality has been confirmed. All lanes are closed and traffic is being diverted at Central Avenue.Outbound lanes have been closed for several hours for an investigation. It is uncertain when lanes will open.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

APD officers involved in fatal North Austin shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man is dead after being shot by Austin Police Department officers in north Austin Sunday night. According to Interim Police Chief Robin Henderson, APD got a call around 8 p.m. that a man was threatening his wife and child with a gun inside an apartment in the 9000 block of Northgate Boulevard, between Highway 183 and West Rundberg Lane. Henderson said officers tried to get the man to come out, but he wouldn't. Around 8:30, officers saw the man on the balcony with the gun and fired a "less lethal" weapon at him, then he went back inside. APD called in the SWAT team, but before it arrived, officers were worried the woman and child were in danger and entered the apartment themselves, according to Henderson. Henderson said as officers entered the apartment, the suspect began firing a gun at the officers, who returned fire, hitting the man. Officers tried to save the man's life, but he died. The woman and child were able to get out of the apartment safely without any i...

Building fire at Tower Grove off I-44, crews responding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:14 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Crews are making progress at building fire just off Interstate 44. The fire broke out a little before 7:00 a.m. on Tower Grove at McCree, where our Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX helicopter captured footage of smoke shooting from the building. CVPA remembers anniversary of school shooting So far, the cause of the fire is still unknown, and no injuries have been reported. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Possible fatal crash on Tesson Ferry Road, police investigating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:14 GMT

ST LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Multiple emergency crews are at the scene on Tesson Ferry early Monday morning.Our Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX helicopter is flying over the area, where both northbound and southbound directions on Tesson Ferry are closed from Lakeford Lane to Tesson Creek Estates Road in connection to a crash that was possibly fatal. CVPA remembers anniversary of school shooting Traffic is still being diverted in the area. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Eastbound Colfax closed for seven-vehicle crash, five people injured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:14 GMT

Eastbound Colfax is closed at Interstate 225 after a seven-vehicle crash blocked all lanes of the road.The crash happened just after 6 a.m., according to a statement from the Aurora Police Department on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.From the seven vehicles involved, three people reported minor injuries and paramedics transported two others to the hospital with serious injuries, according to Aurora police.#APDTrafficAlert: EB Colfax is closed at I-225 for a multi vehicle crash. The crash occurred just after 6 a.m. Seven vehicles involved. Five injuries reported, including two people who have been taken to the hospital with serious injuries and three others who have minor injuries.… pic.twitter.com/cAMsAVsp8p— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) October 23, 2023Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | BNSF says it inspected track the same day as deadly train derailment near Pueblo Crashes and Disasters | Broken rail caused fatal tr...

Gardening: Things to consider as you design your xeriscaping project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:14 GMT

Autumn is a great time to work on planning some xeriscaping into your outdoor design.A xeriscaped yard can be as full and lush as you want. Here’s one spotted during a city of Fort Collins xeriscape bicycle tour. (Tamara Yakaboski, Special to The Denver Post)The overall goal of a xeriscaped outdoor space is to reduce water use. Xeriscaping also mimics the more resilient, drought-tolerant ecosystem here along the Front Range that is naturally better prepared for our increasing climate emergency weather patterns.In 1981, Denver Water coined the term xeriscape from the Greek root “xeros” to refer to a dry landscape, to shift away from water-guzzling lawns. A newer trend you may be noticing, though, is a move away from the term “xeriscape.” Both Denver Water and Castle Rock Water now use the term ColoradoScape, while the city of Aurora refers to it as “water-wise landscapes.” Part of this language change is because there are many misunderstandings about xer...

Colorado author Stephanie Barron’s final Jane Austen installment of 15-part series is out

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:14 GMT

“Jane and the Final Mystery,” by Stephanie Barron (Soho Crime)In her last Jane Austen Mystery, “Jane and the Year Without a Summer,” Denver author Stephanie Barron revealed that Jane was suffering from an unknown illness (possibly Addison’s disease).  It seemed the end was near for the Regency-era writer.And so it was. The title of the just-published Jane Austen mystery, “Jane and the Final Mystery,” makes it clear that death will claim Austen — and end the popular series.In this 15th mystery, Jane is plagued with headaches, stomach problems and has so little energy that she is exhausted after a few steps and must ride in a sedan chair. Still, that doesn’t stop her from going to the aid of a close friend, Elizabeth Heathcote, when her son, William, is in trouble.William, 16, is suspected of murdering Arthur Prendergast, a fellow Winchester College student. The victim is found drowned, with a note from William in his pocket. William asserts that the note, asking for a mee...