Botswana will have its first change of ruling party since independence from Britain in 1966. The opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change party won the national election, ending the Botswana Democratic Party’s 58-year hold on power. Incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat before the election result was finalised, with his party trailing in fourth place. Duma Boko, a 54-year-old lawyer and Harvard Law School graduate, will be the next president. The change comes as a downturn in global demand for diamonds, the country’s primary export, led to economic issues and rising unemployment.
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South Korea and Canada have demanded the withdrawal of North Korean troops aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine and referred to the deployment as a significant escalation of tension, threatening security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. The call was made during a meeting of the two countries’ foreign and defense ministers in Ottawa. Both countries denounced North Korea’s increased military cooperation with Russia and its supply of ammunition and ballistic missiles to support Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. They are closely watching what Russia may be providing North Korea in return for its military support. The ministers agreed to deepen regional cooperation and intensify negotiations for a military and defense confidentiality agreement.
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Surviving a month in the wilderness on nothing but mushrooms, berries, and water. The first thought that comes to my mind is sheer disbelief. It’s both astonishing and infuriating to ponder the choices made by a man who set out for what he thought would be a simple 20-mile trail run and instead found himself in a monthlong ordeal. The idea of surviving under such conditions stirs conflicting emotions within me—admiration for his resilience, mingled with frustration at his apparent irresponsibility.
The circumstances that led to this survival story are perplexing. From my perspective, venturing into the wilderness with outdated maps and no survival gear is nothing short of reckless.… Continue reading
A poll by infratest-dimap on behalf of public broadcaster ARD has shown that 74% of German voters prefer US Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to Donald Trump, who polled 11% approval. Harris received 90% to 92% approval from supporters of the Social Democrats, the Christian Democratic Union and the Greens. Meanwhile, Trump received better approval amongst supporters of the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party, with 41% approval. The polling results showed that a majority of Germans felt a Democratic victory would be better for relations and the economy. However, the respondents also expressed concerns about job security and Germany’s economic status.
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Florida bail bondsman, Russell Bruce Moncrief, has been charged with human trafficking and racketeering, accused of offering incarcerated women bond in exchange for sexual favours. Some of the inmates were housed in Orange County jail. Moncrief is said to have exploited his position by preying on women held on charges of prostitution and drug possession. He is also accused of selling women he had bonded out to others. During the investigation into former defence attorney, John Gillespie, for committing similar crimes, victims revealed that they had been forced to perform sexual acts with Moncrief.
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The Instagram-famous squirrel, Peanut, and a raccoon named Fred were euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to test for rabies. The agency seized the animals from their owner, Mark Longo, who had kept Peanut as a pet for seven years and amassed over 537,000 Instagram followers documenting Peanut’s life. According to the agency, it is illegal to keep young wildlife as pets due to the potential risk of spreading diseases like rabies. Longo and his wife run an animal sanctuary named after Peanut, and are appealing for donations to help with legal fees and to keep the sanctuary running.
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The US Supreme Court denied an emergency appeal from the Republican party to prevent thousands of provisional ballots being counted in Pennsylvania. The justices have upheld a ruling by the state’s Supreme Court that demanded election officials count provisional votes from people whose mailed votes were rejected. The ruling has been welcomed by supporters of voters’ rights, who have forced predominantly Republican-controlled counties to let electors cast a provisional vote at the polls if their postal vote is rejected due to an error. By contrast, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court rejected a last-minute plea by campaigners for voters’ rights to ensure postal votes will still be counted even if they lack an accurate, handwritten date on the envelope.
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Puerto Rico’s GOP chair, who has announced a threat to withhold support for Trump unless he issues an apology regarding his past comments about the island, has provoked a mixed bag of reactions from me. On one hand, I can appreciate the sentiment. The audacity of Trump’s disrespect toward Puerto Rican people is undeniable. Since 2017, he has demonstrated a blatant disregard for the hardship faced by Puerto Ricans, particularly during the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. To now have a prominent member of the GOP state that they might not support him unless he acknowledges this only makes me roll my eyes—there’s so much irony steeped in these sentiments.… Continue reading
The recent discovery of a lost Mayan city hidden deep in the Mexican jungle is nothing short of exhilarating. This monumental find, referred to as Valeriana, uncovers a rich tapestry of ancient civilization, complete with pyramids, sports fields, and connection corridors that once facilitated activity in what is now just a thick canopy of trees. I can’t help but feel a rush of excitement thinking about how dense and lush the landscape is, often concealing stories of the past that are just waiting to be unveiled. For those of us who have dreamt of being archaeologists, this serves as a powerful reminder of the potential that lies beneath our feet.… Continue reading
The US Pentagon is sending an additional $425 million in military assistance to Ukraine, bringing total aid since the Russian invasion in February 2022 to $60.4 billion. The latest package includes air defense interceptors, munitions for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155 mm artillery, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons drawn from US stockpiles. The announcement comes as Ukraine faces increasing missile strikes from Russian forces and prepares to confront over 10,000 North Korean soldiers deployed near its border. The city of Kharkiv was recently hit by a 500-kilogram glide bomb, killing three and injuring many.
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John Q. Hosedrinker