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Rubio plans to visit five Central Asian states in 2026
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday he planned to visit the five Central Asian countries in the coming year, as he met their foreign ministers as part of a Trump administration charm offensive aimed at the resource-rich region. The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday for talks that are likely to include discussions of rare earths minerals and other re
Nov. 6, 2025 -
Mexican leader calls for tougher sexual harassment laws
MEXICO CITY (AFP) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called Wednesday for sexual harassment to be made a crime nationwide after being groped on the street in an attack that underscored the dangers women in the Latin American country face. Sheinbaum, 63, was attacked while greeting supporters near the presidential palace in Mexico City on Tuesday as she was walking to a public event. A drunken man approached her, put his arm around her shoulder, and with the other hand touched her hip and che
Nov. 6, 2025 -
Trump administration orders 10% of flights cut
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday that he would order 10 percent of flights at 40 major US airports to be cut starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached. The shutdown, now in its 36th day and the longest in US history, has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents to work without pay. This has worsened staff shortages, caused widespread flight delays and extended lines at airport secu
Nov. 6, 2025 -
As world leaders enter climate talks, people in poverty have the most at stake
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — When summer heat comes to the Arara neighborhood in northern Rio, it lingers, baking the red brick and concrete that make up many of the buildings long after the sun has gone down. Luis Cassiano, who's lived here more than 30 years, says he's getting worried as heat waves become more frequent and fierce. In poor areas such as Arara, those who can afford air conditioning — Cassiano is one — can't always count on it because of frequent power outages on an overloaded system. C
Nov. 6, 2025 -
Putin requests plans for nuclear tests
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered officials on Wednesday to submit proposals for a possible resumption of nuclear tests in response to President Donald Trump’s statements last week that appeared to suggest the US will restart its own atomic tests. Speaking at a meeting with his Security Council, Putin reaffirmed his earlier statement that Moscow will only restart nuclear tests if the US does so first. But he directed the defense and foreign ministries and other government ag
Nov. 6, 2025 -
Israel says Hamas hands over additional remains
The Israeli military said Wednesday that Hamas has handed over remains believed to be of a deceased hostage to the Red Cross in Gaza, the latest step forward under the US-brokered ceasefire. The military said in a statement that the remains were being brought back into Israel. Ahead of the announcement, Hamas had returned the remains of 21 hostages to Israel under the terms of the ceasefire that began Oct. 10. If the latest remains are confirmed during forensic testing, that would leave the rema
Nov. 6, 2025 -
Trump grapples with political setback after Democrats ride voter fury over prices
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- It's been a year since Donald Trump's decisive win in the 2024 presidential election, and the White House had planned an anniversary rollout on Wednesday highlighting the promises kept by the Republican leader since he returned to office. Instead, the president and his Republican allies were left grappling with a string of Democratic victories in off-year elections, a rare setback for Trump as voters in a handful of states signaled resistance to his agenda. Trump, known f
Nov. 6, 2025 -
Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves 114 dead, 127 missing in Philippines, many in province recovering from quake
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine officials said Thursday the death toll from widespread flooding and devastation caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in the country’s central region has risen to at least 114 with 127 people reported missing, many of them in a hard-hit province still recovering from a deadly earthquake. Most of the deaths were reported in the central province of Cebu, which was pummeled by Kalmaegi on Tuesday, setting off flash floods and causing a river and other waterways to overflo
Nov. 6, 2025 -
France moves to suspend Shein website as first store opens in Paris
PARIS (AFP) -- Shein opened its first physical store worldwide in Paris under the eye of riot police, as the French government said it was suspending the Asian e-commerce giant's online platform following outrage over its sale of childlike sex dolls. Hundreds of shoppers streamed into Shein's permanent physical store on the sixth floor of the BHV department store, a landmark that has stood across from Paris City Hall since 1856. Police patrolled the street and put up barriers, keeping nearby pro
Nov. 6, 2025 -
World on track to dangerous warming as emissions hit record high: UN
PARIS (AFP) -- National commitments to slash heat-trapping pollution would limit global warming up to 2.5 degrees Ceilsius this century -- nowhere near enough to avoid devastating climate impacts despite a sweep of new pledges, the UN warned Tuesday. Scientists are in broad agreement that warming above 1.5 C relative to preindustrial times risks catastrophic consequences, and every effort must be made to stick as close as possible to this safer threshold. But the world is set to blow past 1.5 C
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Parts of Cameroon deserted as opposition calls for a lockdown to protest election results
DOUALA, Cameroon (AP) — Some cities in Cameroon were deserted Tuesday after the main opposition leader asked citizens to stay at home to protest the recent election win of 92-year-old President Paul Biya. The three-day lockdown, which began Monday, was mainly in key opposition strongholds including the economic hub of Douala and in northern cities like Maroua and Garoua, where deadly protests have taken place in recent days. There was partial compliance in the capital of Yaoundé on Tuesday as so
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Trump renominates Musk ally and private astronaut Jared Isaacman as NASA chief
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was renominating Jared Isaacman, the private astronaut and ally of fellow billionaire and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, for the post of NASA administrator, five months after Isaacman's original nomination was withdrawn. Isaacman, an e-commerce mogul who flew to orbit twice on all-private astronaut missions as a customer and collaborator with SpaceX, was removed from consideration to lead the space agency in May amid a high-profile
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Ten killed in Bosnia nursing home fire: police
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (AFP) -- Ten people were killed and around 20 injured in a fire that broke out late Tuesday in a nursing home in northeastern Bosnia, police said. "According to preliminary information, 10 residents of the Tuzla retirement home lost their lives in the fire," a police spokesperson said in a statement. Around 20 people, including firefighters, police officers, medical workers, employees, and residents of the home, received medical treatment at the Tuzla University clinical center,
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Sudan defense minister says army to keep fighting after US truce proposal
PORT SUDAN, Sudan (AFP) -- Sudan's defense minister said Tuesday that the army would press on with its fight against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces after the country's security and defense council met to discuss a US proposal for a ceasefire. "We thank the Trump administration for its efforts and proposals to achieve peace," Hassan Kabroun said in a speech broadcast on state television, while adding that "preparations for the Sudanese people's battle are ongoing." "Our preparations for wa
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Israel says the remains of a hostage have been turned over in Gaza
JERUSALEM (AP) — The remains of a hostage in Gaza, Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, have been returned for burial in Israel, the military said Wednesday, in the latest sign of progress under the US-brokered ceasefire. Chen, 19, of the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade, was abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, after falling from a tank and his death was officially confirmed on March 10, 2024, the military said in a statement on X. “The IDF expresses deep condolences to the family, continues to make every
Nov. 5, 2025