Regional leaders urge immediate cease-fire in eastern Congo
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Regional heads of state have called for an immediate cease-fire by all parties in eastern Congo, where tensions have grown amid talk of war as Congo and neighboring Rwanda trade allegations of backing armed rebels. The communique issued Saturday at the end of an East African Community summit also directed troop-contributing...
Column: Asia's crude oil imports hit record high, but it's not China: Russell
LAUNCESTON, Australia, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Asia's imports of crude oil reached a record high in January, but the strength wasn't driven by China, with the world's biggest buyer actually recording a decline. Asia's total imports were 29.13 million barrels per day (bpd), up 11.1% from December's 26.22 million bpd and eclipsing...
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- Global Trading
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- Oil
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Why is Pope Francis visiting DRC and South Sudan?
Pope Francis next week will visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation to two countries hit by conflict. The pontiff will start his trip on Tuesday in the Congolese capital Kinshasa, where he will stay until Friday before heading to Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The leaders of the...
Russian foreign minister calls BRICS 'embodiment of global multipolarity'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday called a group of five leading emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – also known as BRICS, an "embodiment of global multipolarity." Speaking at a news conference in Eritrea's capital Massawa, Lavrov said NATO started making its claims on the Asia Pacific,...
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Nearly 900 Million Worldwide Wanted to Migrate in 2021
Story Highlights Decade-high 16% of adults wanted to migrate permanently in 2021 U.S. still most desired destination, but less attractive now than before 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted people’s mobility worldwide, but it didn’t stop them from wanting to move. In fact, Gallup surveys show that in the...
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- United Nations
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What's the Message to 46 Million Latin Americans?
During the 2022 fiscal year, the U.S. Border Patrol apprehended nearly 2.4 million migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally -- shattering the previous year’s record high. Migrants from Mexico and the Northern Triangle -- El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala -- accounted for more than half of all apprehensions. But the latest surge...
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- Latin America
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China FM in Egypt as part of multi-leg trip to Africa
CAIRO - China’s chief diplomat was in Cairo Sunday for talks with Egyptian and Arab League officials, marking his last stop in a multi-leg trip to Africa that aims to consolidate Beijing's footprint across the resource-rich continent. Foreign Minister Qin Gang met separately with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Arab League...
Czech Election Could Be Bellwether for Populism
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Czech Republic’s presidential election this weekend is the first of several political showdowns in Central Europe this year that could either stem the tide of populism or turn it into a flood. As Czechs prepare to replace longtime populist President Milos Zeman, Gallup surveys in 2022 suggest many are ready for some...
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- The European Union
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New Chinese foreign minister heads to Africa for first trip
China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang is starting his term with a weeklong trip to five African countries, its foreign ministry announced. Qin, who until recently was ambassador to the United States, will visit Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin and Egypt from January 9 to 16, spokesperson Wang...
Social Media Users More Inclined to Browse Than Post Content
Story Highlights Less than half of social media account holders post content at least occasionally Facebook, Instagram users most likely to post content Facebook and YouTube are used more frequently than other platforms WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. adults commonly engage with popular social media platforms but are more inclined to browse content on...
All of the moments and discoveries that provided us with wonder in 2022
This year was full of moments that remind us why we look at the stars and dig into the past. Wonder and curiosity are some of the most powerful traits humans have, and together, they drive us to ask questions that lead to untraveled roads filled with revelations. Researchers, explorers and innovators found previously unknown species across the...
- James Webb Space Telescope
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- NASA
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The 64th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution: An Unprecedented Chapter in World History
First published on January 1, 2019, minor edits Today, Cubans are commemorating the 64th anniversary of their independence. On this day in 1959, the Cuban Revolution was successfully conducted by Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement and became an enduring symbol of resistance to neo-colonialism, capitalism, and hegemony. As a result, Cuba’s corrupt...
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Cedi to depreciate by about 22% in 2023 – EIU
UK based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)is predicting about 22% depreciation of the cedi to the dollar in 2023. This will rank the local currency as the 3rd weakest performing currency on the African continent, according to its Africa Outlook 2023 Report. The EIU expects the exchange-rate weakness to...
Abduction, Torture, Rape: Conflict in Congo Worsens, UN Says
The accounts are haunting. Abductions, torture, rapes. Scores of civilians, including women and children, have been killed by the M23 rebels in eastern Congo, according to a U.N. report In addition, the M23 rebels have forced children to be soldiers, according to the report by a panel of U.N. experts. The 21-page document — based on interviews with...
Rebels kidnap civilians in DR Congo clashes: local sources
GOMA, DR Congo – M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are holding civilians hostage for suspected collaboration with enemy militias as fighting erupted despite recent peace efforts, local sources told AFP on Monday. The group — one of scores in the volatile region — has conquered swathes of territory from the army and allied militias...
Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2022
One would have to go back hundreds of years to find a monarch who reigned longer than Queen Elizabeth II. The video above is about ABC13's anchor Melanie Lawson remembering when she met the queen in Houston. In her 70 years on the throne, she helped modernize the monarchy across decades of enormous social change, royal marriages and births,...
Australia’s foreign minister to meet counterpart in China
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday opened the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington by spotlighting Africa's youthful population — making the case that the continent's demographics will inevitably lead it to become a key global player in the decades to come. Harris offered the optimistic thread at the start of the Biden...
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‘Tired of this war’: Congolese cope with M23 rebel violence
BENI, Congo (AP) — Kavira Mathe was making dinner for her two sons when bullets began flying. Eastern Congo’s M23 rebels had attacked her village, killing scores of civilians. She and others fled for their lives, she said. “I lost several friends,” said Mathe speaking to The Associated Press by phone from Kanyabayonga where she now shelters....
U.S. trade chief Tai says African trade program needs to foster more investment
WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - The duty-free access for nearly 40 African countries in a 22-year-old U.S. trade program is no longer enough to boost their development and a focus on improving investment is needed, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Tuesday. Tai, after a meeting with African counterparts at the start of a Sub-Saharan...
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- Global Trading
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- US States
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Column: Australia's gas and coal price cap needs sober debate, not emotion
LAUNCESTON, Australia, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The Australian government's plans to cap the price of natural gas and thermal coal for domestic consumers has provoked the predictable howls of protest from the industry and warnings of dire consequences. As usual in cases where powerful vested interests are involved, there are plenty of emotions and...
- Australia
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- Gas
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- Global inflation
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