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When Is a Coup Not a Coup? When the U.S. Says So.

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:38 GMT

Not long ago, President Joe Biden vowed that the U.S. would “counter democratic backsliding by imposing costs for coups” in Africa. But three weeks after a military mutiny in Africa involving U.S.-trained officers, the Pentagon refuses to call the takeover in Niger a coup d’état.After a Nigerien junta, which calls itself the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland, seized power on July 26 and detained the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, France and the European Union immediately called it a coup. But weeks later, in public statements and responses to The Intercept, Pentagon officials have repeatedly stopped short of using that word.“Not calling a coup a coup not only undermines our credibility but harms our long-term interests in these states.”“Not calling a coup a coup not only undermines our credibility but harms our long-term interests in these states,” said Elizabeth Shackelford, a senior fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and l...

Water quality concerns halt Paris Olympics swimming test in the Seine

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:38 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Another Paris Olympics test run in the Seine River was canceled on Saturday because of concerns about water quality, in a fresh blow to Games organizers and the city’s ambitions to reopen the iconic river to public swimming.Triathlon swimmers took to the Seine in competition on Thursday and Friday, but results of water quality tests showed “significant discrepancies” in the hours leading up to Saturday’s scheduled paratriathlon events, organizers said in a statement. The competition was transformed into a duathlon of just running and biking. Water safety officials are trying to determine why two testing systems used for the river produced different results. One indicated too-high levels of bacteria overnight, said Pierre-Antoine Molina, who oversees public policy for the Paris regional administration. Rainfall in recent days may have been a factor.A previous test event had to be canceled this month because heavy rain caused overflows of untreated waste in the Seine, lea...

Leverkusen defeats Leipzig in Bundesliga opener, Stuttgart enjoys 5-0 rout without Endo

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:38 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Jeremie Frimpong scored one goal and set up another for Bayer Leverkusen to defeat Leipzig 3-2 in their opening game of the Bundesliga on Saturday.Victor Boniface, making his league debut after his transfer from Belgium’s Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, set up Frimpong for the opener in the 24th minute.Jonathan Tah headed the second from a corner in the 35th, only for Dani Olmo to reply in likewise fashion for Leipzig five minutes later.Leipzig coach Marco Rose tried to shake things up with three changes in the 62nd, but Florian Wirtz scored two minutes later for Leverkusen with a wonderful lob over goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, in off the crossbar following a fine team move involving Frimpong and Odilon Kossounou.Belgian striker Loïs Openda responded in the 71st with his first Bundesliga goal for Leipzig, but coach Xabi Alonso’s team stayed cool to see out the win.Stuttgart showed no ill-effect from losing captain Wataru Endo to Liverpool the previous day as both Serhou Gui...

El candidato presidencial Otto Sonnenholzner denunció una balacera frente al lugar en el que desayunaba

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:38 GMT

(CNN Español) — El candidato presidencial de Ecuador Otto Sonnenholzner dijo que presenció una balacera en Quito mientras desayunaba con su familia, pero aseguró que tanto él como sus seres queridos se encuentran bien.“Acabamos de sufrir una balacera frente al lugar donde estaba desayunando con mi familia. Gracias a Dios estamos todos bien pero exigimos una investigación de lo ocurrido. Me duele el miedo y la impotencia que vi en los ojos de todos los presentes. No podemos seguir así. ¡Mañana cambiemos el rumbo!”.CNN está intentando contactarse con la policía para conocer más detalles.Acabamos de sufrir una balacera frente al lugar donde estaba desayunando con mi familia. Gracias a Dios estamos todos bien pero exigimos una investigación de lo ocurrido.Me duele el miedo y la impotencia que vi en los ojos de todos los presentes. No podemos seguir así.…— Otto Sonnenholzner (@ottosonnenh) August 19, 2023En medio de un clima de inseguridad e incertidumbre política y so...

Arrestan en Louisiana al acusado de violar y estrangular a niña guatemalteca en Texas

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:38 GMT

HOUSTON – Juan Carlos García Rodríguez, el joven que en las últimas horas fue acusado de violar y estrangular a la niña María González de 11 años en la ciudad de Pasadena el sábado de la semana pasada fue arrestado en el estado de Louisiana.De acuerdo con el Departamento de Policía de Pasadena, García Rodríguez fue detenido en la ciudad de Shreveport (Louisiana), luego de que la fiscalía del Condado Harris aceptara el cargo de homicidio agravado en su contra.Hasta el viernes en la tarde, García Rodríguez era considerado una persona de interés en la investigación, pero luego las autoridades obtuvieron los resultados de los exámenes forenses a la evidencia que se obtuvo en la escena del crimen y que lo comprometieron. “Nuestro investigdores obtuvieron información que corroboró, así como evidencia que implicó a García Rodríguez”, dijo el Departamento de Policía de Pasadena, en una comunicacion emitida este sábado 19 de agosto en la mañana.Ahora, las autoridades de Pas...

Group of Lizzo’s dancers release statement defending singer

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:38 GMT

Watch Video: “I was mortified”: Former dancers suing Lizzo describe moments with singerA group of dancers who worked with Lizzo on her TV show and tour are defending the singer after three other former backup dancers accused her of sexual harassment and a toxic work environment in a lawsuit filed earlier this month.A post was shared on the Instagram account for “THE BIG GRRRLS,” which is dedicated to Lizzo’s TV show about choosing backup dancers. “Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Girls” aired on Amazon Prime in 2022, and won the Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding reality competition program.“We have had the time of our lives on The Special Tour,” the post reads. “We have been so honored to share the stage with such amazing talent. This tour experience has been beyond just #Special! The commitment to character and culture taking precedence over every movement and moment has been one of the Greatest lessons and Blessing...

2 dead after downtown Denver shooting

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:38 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Two people died after a shooting in Denver's Five Points neighborhood early Saturday morning, Denver Police said.DPD told FOX31 the call came in a little after 4 a.m. and occurred in the area of 28th Street and Welton Street.Three victims were located, and two were later pronounced dead. Police said officers were working to develop suspect information.FOX31 is working to gather more information and will provide updates as they become available.

Seven dead including six-year-old girl as Russian missile hits center of Ukraine’s Chernihiv city

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:38 GMT

(CNN) — At least seven people died including a six-year-old girl and nearly 130 others injured after a Russian missile strike hit a central square in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, Ukrainian officials said.Saturday’s strike – in a city close to the Russian border and far from the frontlines – hit a university and a theater, where an event involving drone manufacturers was taking place.The girl killed died from her injuries in hospital, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko said.“Her mother is in grave condition. The police officers provided first aid to the girl. Unfortunately, doctors were unable to save her upon arrival at the hospital due to a heavy blood loss,” he added.Klymenko said the strike happened while people were leaving church with “baskets of blessed apples.” Saturday is a major holiday in the Orthodox calendar: for The Feast of the Transfiguration, apples and honey are consecrated in churches.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky s...

Aaron Boone delivers message to Yankees after ugly series-opening Red Sox loss

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:38 GMT

Fresh off their sixth loss in a row and with his Yankees two games under .500, Aaron Boone talked to his struggling team on Friday night after the Red Sox beat them, 8-3.“Acknowledging what we’re going through and making sure that we’re controlling how we come in each day and how we prepare,” Boone said Saturday morning when asked what message he sent. “And also remembering to make sure [we] don’t lose sight of the fact why you start playing this game, either. And that’s because it was fun and you’re probably pretty good at it. Don’t lose sight of that, especially when it’s hard and different guys are feeling it in different ways. Come in with that edge and that little chip on your shoulder ready to prepare and work. But when it comes time to play, go out there and have fun playing the game.”The manager went on to say that he believes his message is getting through to the team, though the results have not shown that. ...

Greater Boston blockbuster cases and where they go next: From Karen Read to Brian Walshe

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:38 GMT

The husband accused of murdering and dismembering his wife in their Cohasset home on the first day of this year and then hiding her body, which has never been found, is back in court this week.It’s one of several big cases that have made this year such a newsy one.Brian Walshe, 48, was indicted for the murder of his wife, Ana Walshe, 39, in March, and was arraigned on the charge in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham on April 27. At that time, Judge Beverly J. Cannone denied him bail and set a next court date for Aug. 23, this Wednesday, a date confirmed by the clerk’s office last week.The case has been largely dormant since that time, minus a treasure trove of District Court-level filings that were released when the case was kicked up to the Superior Court, as the defense and prosecutors build their cases.The grisly case has garnered national attention with its details, including alleged Google searches found in the days following Ana Walshe’s disappearance, including “How long ...