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FILE PHOTO: Joe Kent, who is running for Washington's 3rd congressional district, delivers a speech during a rally in support of defendants being prosecuted in the January 6 attack on the Capitol, in Washington, U.S.,
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FILE PHOTO: Joe Kent, who is running for Washington's 3rd congressional district, delivers a speech during a rally in support of defendants being prosecuted in the January 6 attack on the Capitol, in Washington, U.S.,
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The UN Security Council Monday unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for only three months, until June 17.This short-term extension follows negotiations over the mandate's duration. China initially proposed the usual one-year extension, but the United States pressed for a three-month extension.In the unanimously adopted resolution, the UNSC members commended the ongoing efforts to implement the mission's tasks and priorities, stressing the critical importance of maintaining the presence of UNAMA and other UN agencies, funds, and programs throughout Afghanistan.They also called on all relevant Afghan parties, including the competent authorities and international actors, to cooperate with the UN mission in implementing its mandate and to ensure the safety, security, and freedom of movement of UN personnel and associated personnel.
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Prominent Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk called for fresh talks Tuesday with India's government, just days after being released from prison where he had been held for six months over deadly protests in the Himalayan region.Wangchuk, 59, an environmental advocate who became a key figure in Ladakh's movement for greater autonomy, was arrested and charged in September under India's National Security Act following protests that left four people dead and dozens wounded.On Saturday, India's home ministry said it had decided to end Wangchuk's detention 'with immediate effect' after 'due consideration'.Wangchuk told reporters Tuesday the government had offered 'constructive meaningful dialogue', and that is 'what we wanted right from the start.''Talk(s) are a give and take process, both sides have to be flexible,' the 59-year-old said, adding that it should not be a 'loss' for one side.On Monday, several thousands rallied in Ladakh repeating long standing demands for statehood and the inclusion in the 'Sixth Schedule' of India's constitution, which would allow a local legislature to make laws on land use and jobs.Wangchuk said 'all movements in Ladakh are appealing to start talks and dialogue process', including Monday's demonstrations.An engineer by training, Wangchuk is best known for pioneering water conservation projects in the Himalayas.He received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018 for his environmental work and contributions to reforming local schooling in Ladakh.India's government under Narendra Modi split Ladakh off from Indian-administered Kashmir in 2019, imposing direct rule on both.India's army maintains a large presence in Ladakh, which includes disputed border areas with China.Troops from the two countries clashed there in 2020, killing at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
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A recent photo of President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso (Reuters) Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected with 94.82% of the vote, state television said Tuesday, extending his nearly 42-year rule over the Central African oil producer.Diplomats and political analysts had expected an easy victory for Sassou, 82, who faced six little-known challengers in a race whose run-up was tightly managed by the ruling Congolese Labour Party.The main opposition parties opted not to field candidates, citing a lack of transparency, and two of the best-known opposition figures, General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and Andre Okombi Salissa, have been in jail for nearly a decade.Ahead of the vote, human rights activists were arrested, several opposition parties were suspended and public gatherings were closely monitored, said Congolese human rights activist Joe Washington Ebina.Sunday's voting was marred by late openings at some polling stations and a nationwide internet blackout.State television Tuesday reported turnout of 84.65%, though many polling stations in Brazzaville on election day had short or non-existent lines.Sassou's closest challenger, Mabio Mavoungou Zinga, 69, a retired customs inspector and former member of parliament, won 1.48% of the vote.Defeated candidates have five days to file a challenge, and the Constitutional Court has 15 days to examine them before publishing final results.Sassou is a former paratrooper who took power in 1979. He lost Congo's first multi-party elections in 1992 but seized power again in 1997 after a civil war.A constitutional change in 2015 scrapped term limits and the presidential age cap, enabling him to run for three additional five-year terms.This latest term is meant to be his last, sharpening focus on succession within the ruling party.The economy, heavily dependent on oil, has stabilised in recent years after a decade-long downturn. Congo successfully completed a three-year IMF programme last year.But over half the population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank, and many Congolese lack reliable access to electricity, running water and basic healthcare.Congo has also faced persistent allegations of corruption, with French and US prosecutors investigating assets held abroad by members of Sassou's close family. Related Story
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A court in Kenya Tuesday charged two men with transporting wildlife illegally after one of them, a Chinese national, was arrested at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with more than 2,000 live ants last week.Zhang Kequn, 27, was detained last Tuesday while attempting to leave the country, court documents showed. Kenyan immigration officials had flagged his passport with a "stop order" after he evaded arrest in the country last year.Prosecutors arraigned a second person, Charles Mwangi, on Monday, accusing him of supplying live ants to foreign traffickers. Authorities linked Mwangi to a shipment of ants seized in Bangkok on March 10, which originated from the Kenyan port city of Mombasa.Zhang and Mwangi pleaded not guilty to the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi, including dealing with wildlife species without a permit. The court ordered both men to be remanded in custody, pending further directions in the case on March 27.Ant enthusiasts pay large sums to maintain colonies in large transparent vessels known as formicariums, which offer a literal window into the species' complex social structures and behaviours.Four men were fined $7,700 each last year for trying to traffic thousands of ants valuable to Kenya's ecosystem, in a case that experts said showed a move in biopiracy from trophies like elephant ivory to lesser-known species. Related Story
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London Tuesday that "the focus must remain on Ukraine" despite the US-Israeli war with Iran.Starmer welcomed Zelensky to his official Downing Street residence for talks after the Ukraine leader met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace."I think it's really important that we are clear that the focus must remain on Ukraine," said Starmer."There's obviously a conflict in Iran going on, in the Middle East, but we can't lose focus on what's going on in Ukraine and the need for our support," he added.Washington has partly rolled back sanctions against Moscow to cool oil prices sent soaring by the Middle East war, which appears to have scuttled US-led talks on ending Russia's four-year invasion.Tuesday's meeting came after Downing Street had earlier announced that Britain and Ukraine are set to sign a defence partnership aimed at addressing the threat of low-cost drones.Zelensky's visit in London — ahead of a trip to Spain today — comes as his European allies have vowed to keep up support for Kyiv in the conflict with Russia."Our resolve is unbreakable," said Starmer, reiterating the UK's long-standing backing of Ukraine.Earlier, Zelensky and King Charles shook hands during a private audience at Buckingham Palace."I thank His Majesty and the entire Royal Family for their unwavering support and solidarity with Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on X.The Ukrainian leader was later due to meet Nato chief Mark Rutte in London, his spokesman said.He was also expected to address members of the UK parliament. Related Story
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Nato allies and other Western nations pushed back Monday on US President Donald Trump's demand that military alliance members help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical conduit for crude oil Iran has effectively closed.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said London was working with allies to craft a 'viable' plan to reopen the strategic waterway but ruled out a Nato mission, while Berlin insisted it 'has been clear at all times that this war is not a matter for NATO'.'There was never a joint decision on whether to intervene. That is why the question of how Germany might contribute militarily does not arise. We will not do so,' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.Poland, Spain, Greece and Sweden were among the other European nations to distance themselves from any military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of Trump's call.Japan and Australia voiced similar sentiments earlier Monday, with Canberra saying it would not be sending a navy ship to the Strait of Hormuz.Trump over the weekend called on countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain to send warships to escort tankers through the strait, warning refusing would be 'very bad for the future of Nato'.And he stepped up pressure again Monday saying he expected Britain and France to help secure shipping in the key waterway, and criticising US allies for their lukewarm response.'We strongly encourage the other nations to get involved with us and get involved quickly and with great enthusiasm,' he said, adding he believed Britain would get involved in a Hormuz mission.Oil prices jumped after the strait was closed and remained Monday above $100 per barrel as the Iran war moved into a third week.The volatility further underlined the importance of ensuring safe passage for tankers through the vital transport route.Starmer, who had faced stinging criticism from Trump over Britain's refusal to join the US and Israel in offensive attacks on Iran, told reporters he had discussed the waterway with the US leader Sunday.'We're working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impacts,' he said in Downing Street.'Let me be clear: that won't be, and it's never been envisioned to be, a Nato mission,' Starmer said, while also stressing Britain 'will not be drawn into the wider war.'That'll have to be an alliance of partners,' he added of any Strait of Hormuz mission.A Nato official noted that members 'have already stepped up to provide additional security in the Mediterranean'.'We are aware that individual allies are talking with the US and others on what more they might do, including in the context of security in the Strait of Hormuz,' the official said.Following Trump's demand for military support, some European countries sought to appear open-minded while remaining non-committal.'We did not want this war. From day one, we have called for de-escalation,' Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told Danish media in Brussels before an EU foreign ministers' meeting.'That said, I believe we need to keep an open mind and look at how we can contribute,' he said, describing the situation as 'very, very serious'.Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten told the country's ANP press agency that it would be 'very difficult to launch a successful mission there in the short-term'.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has denounced the killing of 14 health workers in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours, demanding the necessity of protecting medical personnel and health facilities at all times.In a press statement, Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that these losses of life represent a tragic development amid the escalating crisis in the Middle East, emphasizing the need for urgent measures to de-escalate the crisis and protect the health of people across the region.Ghebreyesus noted that these incidents highlight the ongoing attack on the healthcare system in Lebanon, which serves as a vital pillar for the population.The WHO confirmed the deaths of 12 doctors, paramedics, and nurses in an attack that occurred last night on the Burj Qalaouiyeh Primary Healthcare Center in southern Lebanon, while two paramedics were killed in attacks on a health facility.Since the situation in Lebanon worsened on March 2, amid continuing Israeli attacks on various areas, the WHO has documented 27 attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in 30 deaths and 35 injuries.According to international humanitarian law, medical personnel and health facilities must never be attacked or militarized. Related Story
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban sought Sunday to mobilise voters for what he called a "historic" vote on April 12, while opposition supporters hoping to end the nationalist leader's 16-year rule turned out in droves at a rival rally.Huge crowds joined rival marches in Budapest Sunday, as both Orban and Magyar push allegations of foreign interference just four weeks before tightly fought elections.Tens of thousands of people attended both rallies, according to AFP journalists on site.Orban faces what could be his toughest bid for re-election after three years of stagnation, a surge in the cost of living and a pro-EU rival seen by many as a viable alternative.Both Orban's right-wing Fidesz and centre-right challenger Peter Magyar's Tisza used Hungary's March 15 national day for a show of force as the campaign enters a pivotal stage.Most surveys put Tisza ahead by a wide margin.Orban has cast the vote as a choice between war and peace, accusing his rivals of plotting to drag Hungary into the war raging in neighbouring Ukraine since Russia's February 2022 invasion, accusations which the opposition denies.Dismissing his rival's poll lead, Orban said Fidesz should aim to exceed its 2022 election landslide."We must win not like we did four years ago but better. We need not as many votes as four years ago but more," he said. "We must score a historic victory, because the next government will have a historic responsibility."Orban said his supporters' rally was the largest of its kind, filling a main square outside parliament.Opposition supporters thronged a majestic avenue stretching from near the Danube River to Heroes' Square in one of the largest rallies against Orban, exposing deep rifts in Hungary.A Fidesz supporter called Orban "Europe's best politician" while some attending Magyar's rally wondered if they had a future in Hungary if Orban gets re-elected."There is unrest all over the world, and here in our little country we want to preserve peace, calm and security. And Viktor Orban ensures that for us," said Sandorne Pista, 60, who came from the southern university town of Pecs.Orban has long been at loggerheads with the EU over a range of issues, including Ukraine.Defying Brussels, he has maintained cordial ties with Moscow, refuses to send weapons to Ukraine, and says Kyiv can never join the EU.While most polls have shown a Tisza lead, Fidesz points to surveys showing it on course to victory, though its opponents say these have mainly been conducted by institutes with financial or personal ties to the ruling party.Magyar has dismissed Orban's campaign as laughable "propaganda", but Tisza has trodden cautiously on Ukraine, saying that it opposes any fast-track EU accession for Kyiv and that it would put the issue to a binding referendum if it wins power.Magyar, speaking in a venue where Orban shot to fame in 1989 by calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country, said Hungary's place was squarely in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato)."Holding onto power at all costs. It is all that matters to him now," Magyar said of Orban. "Provoking with war, threatening with war, stoking war. This is his ultimate weapon against the Hungarian people."Some opposition supporters also thought the election would be a watershed moment."I think this country cannot bear four more years of Fidesz rule," Noemi Szemerszki said. Related Story
