Southern African leaders resolve to keep troops in conflict-torn eastern Congo for another year

Southern African leaders resolve to keep troops in conflict-torn eastern Congo for another year

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Southern African leaders resolved Wednesday to extend for another year the presence of regional troops deployed to fight rebels in conflict-torn eastern Congo, and also pledged to work toward peace in Mozambique, where disputed elections stoked unrest. The leaders were meeting in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, for an extraordinary summit under the…

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These wolves are the first known carnivores with a taste for sweets

These wolves are the first known carnivores with a taste for sweets

The Ethiopian wolf, also known as the red jackal, is one of the world’s rarest canines as well as Africa’s most endangered carnivore. But ongoing conservation efforts for the coyote-like predator might not only help maintain local wildlife populations—their penchant for sweet snacks may also pollinate plants. Ethiopian red hot pokers are perennial flowers of…

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Italy imposes harsher penalties for dangerous driving

Italy imposes harsher penalties for dangerous driving

Italy is toughening traffic fines and penalties to reduce the high number of road deaths, which exceeded 3,000 last year. The Senate approved the reform of the traffic code spearheaded by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, with drug and alcohol consumption coming in for particular scrutiny. The blood alcohol limit in Italy is 0.5…

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The Fantasy of Cozy Tech

The Fantasy of Cozy Tech

At a wide desk in a bedroom somewhere sits a figure, her back facing the camera, supported by an ergonomic white office chair. Her head is bracketed by puffy, white noise-cancelling headphones. Her wrists rest on a foam cloud as she plays a pixelated farm-simulation video game called Stardew Valley on a handheld Nintendo Switch.…

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False alarm over DR Congo hero’s golden tooth

False alarm over DR Congo hero’s golden tooth

The gold-capped tooth of Patrice Lumumba, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s independence hero, is safe and has not been stolen, his daughter has told the BBC. The news comes as a relief to a nation gripped by fear that the only remains of the country’s revered first prime minister had been swiped after his mausoleum…

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Mexico’s president says government is investigating reported ransomware hack of legal affairs office

Mexico’s president says government is investigating reported ransomware hack of legal affairs office

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president said Wednesday that the government is investigating an alleged ransomware hack of her administration’s legal affairs office after what appeared to be samples of personal information from a database of government employees were posted online. The website Cybernews said a group called Ransomhub had posted a sample of apparently…

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Ford to cut 4,000 jobs in Europe

Ford to cut 4,000 jobs in Europe

Auto giant Ford has announced another 4,000 job cuts, concentrated in Germany and Britain (INA FASSBENDER) US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry. “The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said…

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Floods to shave 0.2 percentage points off Spain’s growth

Floods to shave 0.2 percentage points off Spain’s growth

The October 29 floods washed away roads and rail lines, submerged fields and gutted homes and businesses (Jose Jordan) The floods which killed 227 people in Spain last month could shave 0.2 percentage points off its economic growth in the final quarter of 2024, the central bank said Wednesday. Spain’s economy has been growing faster…

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