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☆ Mount Ruang: Indonesia volcano eruptions force thousands to evacuate as airlines cancel flights
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Mount Ruang, a 725-meter (2,400-foot) volcano on Ruang Island, North Sulawesi, has been erupting in spectacular fashion on and off since mid-April, posing a growing threat to those living nearby and to air traffic in the region. Nearby schools have also been shut to protect children from volcanic ash, BNPB said. Video Ad Feedback Indonesia's Mount Ruang volcano continues to shoot volcanic ash 02:29 - Source: CNNMount Ruang is a stratovolcano, which are typically conical and relatively steep-sided due to the formation of viscous, sticky lava that does not flow easily. Volcanic ash from Ruang has reached eastern Malaysian airspace, Malaysia’s meteorological department said. Mount Ruang previously erupted in April, disrupting more than 200 flights on April 18 and 19 and affecting tens of thousands of passengers, officials said.

Persons: Mount Ruang, Ruang, Sam, BNPB, ”, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah Organizations: CNN, Reuters, National Disaster Management Authority, International, Met Malaysia, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah Regional, Air Asia, “, Malaysia Airlines Locations: Mount, North Sulawesi, Manado, Ruang, Malaysian, Malaysia, Indonesia, Asia

In total, 130 whales were returned to sea after a total of 160 were beached, according to the department of Parks and Wildlife Service Western Australia (DPAW). Also present were wildlife officials from the DPAW, as well as experienced veterinarians, trying to save as many whales as possible. Like other whale species, pilot whales are highly sociable often looking out for each other especially if a member of the pod falls sick or is injured. “That may or may not have been a factor of why these animals got to the point of stranding.”Last year more than 50 pilot whales died in a mass stranding event in Scotland. The same month wildlife officials in Western Australia said they had to make a heart-breaking decision to euthanize dozens of stranded long-finned pilot whales after a frantic rescue effort to refloat them failed to yield results.

Persons: ”, Ian Wiese, I’ve, ” Wiese, ” Weise, “, Busselton Wildli, you’ve Organizations: CNN, Rescue, Geographe Marine Research, Parks and Wildlife Service Western Australia Locations: Dunsborough, Perth, Toby's, Australia, Scotland, Western Australia

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, US funding for Israel, crisis in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

The US Senate has passed a $95 billion package that includes money for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The new legislation includes sanctions on Iran, the seizure of frozen Russian sovereign assets and a measure that could lead to a nationwide ban of TikTok. The bill next goes to President Joe Biden, who said he would sign it into law on Wednesday. “This critical legislation will make our nation and world more secure as we support our friends who are defending themselves against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin,” Biden said. Here are the latest developments in the region:

Persons: Joe Biden, Putin, ” Biden Organizations: Senate Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, Iran

☆ Biden’s controversial ‘cannibalism’ remarks meet pushback in Papua New Guinea
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“President Biden’s remarks may have been a slip of the tongue; however, my country does not deserve to be labeled as such,” Marape said. While cannibalism was documented among remote tribes in the region in the mid-20th century, Papua New Guinea has struggled to shed stereotypes in more recent decades, and Biden’s comments were met with criticism inside the country. “These apparent untrue remarks by the sitting President is a low point in our bilateral relations,” Tkatchenko said. “He got shot down in an area where there were a lot of cannibals in New Guinea at the time. When asked about the remarks, the White House did not repeat Biden’s assertions about cannibals or his uncle’s plane being shot down.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, Ambrose Finnegan’s, James Marape, Biden’s, ” Marape, ”, Justin Tkatchenko, Washington, ” Tkatchenko, Marape, “, Ambrose Finnegan, ” “, Finnegan “ Organizations: CNN, Papua New Guinea, Allied, Australian, Embassy, Moresby, Defense POW, Agency Locations: Papua New Guinea, Pacific, New Guinea, Papua New, Port Moresby, Beijing, United States, ”, U.S, Pennsylvania

Should the Israeli regime commit any military aggression again, Iran's response will assuredly and decisively be stronger and more resolute,” Ambassador Iravani added. Citing self-defense against repeated Israeli military aggressions, Iravani said the strikes were specifically in retaliation to an Israeli attack on April 1 against what Iran says were diplomatic facilities in Damascus. Iran claims the attack violated international law and led to the death of seven Iranian military advisors, including key commanders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The statement also criticizes the United Nations Security Council for “failing to uphold international peace,” allowing Israel to “breach” established international norms and “escalate” regional tensions. However an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told CNN that their intelligence showed the building was not a consulate and was instead “a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building.”

Persons: Amir Cohen, Israel, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iravani, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, ” Organizations: Reuters, Islamic, Representative, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, United Nations Security Council, Revolutionary Guards, Israel Defense Forces, CNN Locations: Ashkelon, Israel, Reuters Iran, Tehran, Syria's, Damascus, “, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Iranian, Quds

☆ Tycoon’s death penalty in $12.5 billion fraud case highlights Vietnam’s corruption crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The scale of the fraud was said to be equivalent to roughly 3% of Vietnam’s economy. Though widely considered ceremonial, the presidency is one of the top three positions in Vietnam’s political hierarchy after the CPV’s Secretary General, currently Nguyen Phu Trong. In fact, the International Monetary Fund expects Vietnam’s economy to grow by 5.8% this year, compared to 4.6% for China. Their fate remains unclear, given the highly secretive nature of Vietnam’s political system. But Vietnamese political experts said a permanent appointment would not end the instability.

Persons: Truong My Lan, Van Thinh, siphoned, “, Eric Chu, Vietnam’s, Vo Van, Trong, Thuong, Vo Van Thuong, Richard A, Brooks, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Pham Binh, Le Hong Hiep, Yusof, ” Hiep, ”, Thu, General Trong, Xi Jinping, ” Zachary Abuza, Salt Bae, Lam, ” Abuza, Nguyen Phu Trong, Evelyn Hockstein, Abuza, Bui Thanh Soh, ” Soh, Vo, Xuan, Thuong’s, Le Hong Organizations: CNN, Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, Stock Commercial Bank, Reuters, SCB, Express, Communist Party, Institute, Crisis Group, National War College, Vietnamese Communist Party, Public Security, Vietnam, International Monetary Fund, Companies, Apple, Intel, Vietnam's Communist Party General, Yusof, Brookings Institution, “, Crisis Locations: Vietnam, Saigon, People’s, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Duc, Singapore, Asia, China, Washington, “, London, Turkish, Hanoi, Bangkok

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, Iran attack fears, Gaza Eid celebrations ruined
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The car in which three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh were reportedly killed in an Israeli air strike is pictured near Al Shati, northwest of Gaza City, on April 10. AFP/Getty ImagesThree sons of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza Wednesday, an assassination that threatens to complicate ongoing negotiations aiming to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal. The Israeli military confirmed it carried out the attack, describing the men as “three Hamas military operatives that conducted terrorist activity in the central Gaza Strip.”Haniyeh said killing the sons of leaders would only make Hamas “more steadfast in our principles and adherence to our land.”Israeli officials drew a distinction between the strike and the negotiations aiming to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal. Two other Israeli officials said neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had been told about the strike ahead of time. Here are the other developments in the region:

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, ” Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant Organizations: AFP, Getty, Israeli Locations: Al Shati, Gaza City, Gaza

☆ Searing heat is back across Southeast Asia and it’s not going away anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The death of a toddler from extreme heat highlighted the risk of climate-related illnesses across Malaysia. And in the Philippines, hundreds of schools suspended classes after daily temperatures soared past 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius). Sweltering heat is back in Southeast Asia, one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change. But alongside these natural variations, the world continues to blast through climate records, with deadly heat waves becoming the norm. A resident attempts to pump underground water from a dried reservoir in Vietnam's central Ninh Thuan province during a heat wave and drought on April 6, 2024.

Persons: climatologist Maximiliano Herrera, Herrera, “, ” Herrera, ”, El Niño, Stringer, Adly Zahari, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Aidil Iman Aidid, fasted Organizations: CNN, Getty, El, heatstroke, Education, Philippines Locations: Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Bangkok, Rice, Ninh Thuan, AFP, Asia, Pahang, Kelantan, Sabah, Borneo, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila

☆ South Korea midterms: Opposition wins landslide parliamentary vote in resounding blow to Yoon
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Heather Chen | Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korea’s liberal opposition parties scored a landslide victory in a parliamentary election held on Wednesday, dealing a resounding blow to President Yoon Suk Yeol and his conservative party but likely falling just short of a super majority. A splinter liberal party considered allied with the DP was expected to take at least 10 seats, projections showed. It marked the highest ever turnout for a parliamentary election, though the numbers were down from the 2022 presidential vote that narrowly brought Yoon to power. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, watches election results at his district office in Incheon, South Korea, on Thursday, April 11, 2024. “Given his likely lame duck status, the temptation for Yoon will be to focus on foreign policy where he will still have statutory power,” Richey said.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon Suk, Lee Jae, myung, Lee, Yoon, ”, Kim Keon Hee, SeongJoon Cho, Mason Richey, “, ” Richey Organizations: South Korea CNN, South, Democratic Party, National Election Commission, Dior, People Power Party, Election Commission, NEC, Bloomberg, Getty, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Incheon

☆ Ramadan in Malaysia: Raids and fines for those caught breaking fast spotlight growing religious conservatism
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In many parts of Malaysia, Muslims caught eating or drinking during daytime hours can find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Those caught eating or drinking during daytime hours face fines of up to 1,000 Malaysian Ringgit (about $200) and prison terms of up to a year. CNN reached out to multiple state religious bodies across Malaysia for comment. Complaints were made to the state religious department, media reports said, and the scandal caused a national stir – drawing scorn from conservative politicians and prompting public apologies from the celebrities. “As long as you look Malay, you must fast during Ramadan – those are the rules,” Yusuf told CNN.

Persons: Rahmad Mariman, ” Mariman, TikTok, ” JAIPK, Hadi Awang, ”, MOHD RASFAN, –, Ameena Siddiqi, Siddiqi, ” Siddiqi, Salahuddin Abdul Aziz, Annice Lyn, Anisah Mahmood, Fadhlina Sidek, “, Haji Ahmad Bin Yahaya, Yusuf, ” Yusuf Organizations: CNN, Malaysian, Islamic Religious Department, JAIM, PAS, Malaysia Islamic Party, AFP, Getty, Annice, Education Locations: Malaysia, Malacca, Perak, Gerik, South, Southeast Asia, AFP, Malaysian, Islam, Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Selangor, London, Malay, Johor

☆ Mexico suspends diplomatic relations with Ecuador after ‘barbaric’ arrest of ex-vice president
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Fidel Gutiérrez | Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Ecuadorian police stormed the Mexican embassy in Quito on Friday night to arrest a former vice president seeking asylum there, in an escalation of tensions that Mexico decried as “an outrage against international law.”Mexico’s foreign minister said the country would break off diplomatic relations with Ecuador after the arrest of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas. The rift between the two Latin American countries had been growing since Mexico’s decision to grant political asylum to Glas, Ecuador’s former vice president under leftist ex-President Rafael Correa between 2013 and 2017. “It is impossible for them to violate the diplomatic premises as they have done.”Former Ecuador Vice President Jorge Glas speaks during an interview at his office in Quito on September 12, 2017. Dolores Ochoa/APA spokesperson for Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Bárcena told CNNE that the country is “breaking” diplomatic relations with Ecuador and immediately removing all diplomatic personnel from the country. Mexico plans to lodge a complaint with the International Court of Justice to denounce the Ecuadorian police’s actions, she added.

Persons: ”, Jorge Glas, Ecuador’s, Rafael Correa, Glas, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, “, X, ” Roberto Canseco, ” Canseco, Dolores Ochoa, Foreign Affairs Alicia Bárcena, CNNE, Bárcena, Canseco, Lopez, Fernando Villavicencio’s Organizations: CNN, Ecuadorian, Foreign Affairs, International Court of Locations: Quito, Mexico, Ecuador, Glas, ”, Mexican, Ecuadorian

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, 7 aid workers killed in Gaza strike
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

A Palestinian-American doctor walked out of a meeting with US President Joe Biden before it was over Tuesday evening, underscoring the high tensions, anger and concern from Arab, Palestinian and Muslim-American communities around the Israel-Hamas war. “I said it was disappointing I’m the only Palestinian here, and out of respect for my community, I’m going to leave,” Ahmad said he told the president. Before he left, he handed Biden a letter from an 8-year-old orphaned girl, Hadeel, who lives in Rafah. “I beg you, President Biden, stop them from entering Rafah,” a translation of the letter shared with CNN says. Biden told him he understood that he needed to leave, Ahmad said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Thaer Ahmad, Kamala Harris, Jake Sullivan, ” Biden, “, ” Ahmad, Khan Younis, Al Nasser, Biden, Hadeel, Israel's, Ahmad Organizations: CNN, White Locations: Israel, Chicago, Gaza, Rafah, “

☆ Argentina and Colombia move to mend ties after Milei calls Petro a ‘terrorist murderer’ in CNN interview
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Marlon Sorto | Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Argentina and Colombia say they have taken “concrete steps” to improve frayed relations between the two countries after far-right Argentine leader Javier Milei called his left-wing Colombian counterpart a “terrorist murderer” in a CNN interview. In a joint statement Sunday, the two nations’ foreign ministries said they had held talks under orders from Milei and Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The measures include the return of both countries’ respective ambassadors after Colombia last week expelled all Argentine diplomats from Bogota following Milei’s comments to CNN. “You can’t expect much from someone who was a terrorist murderer,” Milei said in the interview of Petro, a former guerilla who became Colombia’s first left-wing president in 2022. Colombia recalled its ambassador to Argentina in January following similar comments from Milei, Reuters reported.

Persons: Javier Milei, ”, Gustavo Petro, “, ” Milei, Petro, Colombia’s, Milei, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, ” López Obrador, López Obrador, Argentinians “, Nicolás Maduro Organizations: CNN —, Colombian, CNN, Reuters, Venezuela’s, Español Locations: CNN — Argentina, Colombia, Argentine, Milei, Bogota, Argentina, Venezuela, Caracas, Buenos Aires, Nazi

☆ Luis Rubiales: Prosecutors seek 2.5-year jail term for Spanish soccer boss over unwanted World Cup kiss
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Heather Chen | Pau Mosquera | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Spanish prosecutors are seeking a prison term of two years and six months for former soccer chief Luis Rubiales for giving an unwanted kiss to star forward Jennifer Hermoso after Spain’s World Cup victory. The kiss was televised globally and the scandal overshadowed a historic moment for Spain’s women’s team which was celebrating its first-ever World Cup win. Rubiales described the kiss as “mutual” – a claim Hermoso has strongly denied – and said he faces “excessive persecution” from authorities. Vilda had been filmed seeming to inappropriately touch a female staff member during the Women’s World Cup Final. He was replaced by Montse Tomé, the first woman in Spanish national team history to hold the position.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Hermoso, Spain’s, –, Jorge Vilda, Albert Luque, Rubén Rivera, CNN Rubiales, Spain’s women’s, Vilda, Montse Tomé Organizations: CNN, Public Ministry, Royal Spanish Football Federation, FIFA, Prosecutors, Spanish, Hermoso Locations: Spain, Spanish

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, UN Security Council passes Gaza ceasefire resolution
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Tensions between the US and Israel were further exposed on Monday when Washington stood aside and allowed the UN Security Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The US decision to abstain from the vote prompted Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a scheduled trip to the US by two of his top advisers, two Israeli officials said. US and Israeli officials were expected to discuss alternatives to a planned Israeli military ground offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza. Despite US pressure, Netanyahu is determined to launch a ground offensive into the Gazan city, where about 1.4 million people are sheltering in dire conditions. Here are the latest developments in the conflict:

Persons: Washington, Benjamin Netanyahu, We’re, John Kirby, Netanyahu Organizations: UN Security Council, Israel’s, National Security Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Washington, Gazan

☆ Taylor Swift’s father will not face charges for alleged paparazzi assault, Australian police say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Heather Chen | Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Taylor Swift’s father will not face charges for allegedly assaulting a paparazzi photographer in Sydney last month, Australian police have confirmed. “No further police action” would be taken, the spokesperson said of the case involving Swift’s 71-year-old father Scott, dubbed “Papa Swift” by many of the megastar’s fans. Sharing his account with CNN, McDonald said one of Swift’s security guards had forced an umbrella into his face and camera. Scott Swift punched him after that, he said. In response to McDonald’s claims, a spokesperson for Swift told CNN that threats had been made against a member of her staff.

Persons: CNN — Taylor Swift’s, “, ”, Scott, “ Papa Swift, Ben McDonald, Scott Swift, McDonald, Swift’s, ” McDonald, Swift, Taylor Organizations: CNN, New, Police Force, NSW Locations: Sydney, New South Wales, NSW, Sydney Harbor, Australia

☆ China is trying to connect Southeast Asia by high-speed rail. Here’s how that’s going
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Imagine jumping on a train in southwestern China, traveling some 2,000 miles and arriving in Singapore – less than 30 hours later. Southeast Asia is the “obvious” choice because of its “proximity to China,” Bowerman adds. “Beijing, I think, ultimately wants to see Southeast Asian countries within its sphere of geopolitical influence. A staff member waits for passengers to board the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train during a week-long public trial phase at the Halim station in Jakarta on September 17, 2023. “In the example of a high-speed railway line between Malaysia and Singapore, Singapore would likely have just one stop – Malaysia would have more,” Wong told CNN.

Persons: China’s, Gary Bowerman, ” Bowerman, ”, Pon Souvannaseng, Peerapon Boonyakiat, Bowerman, Pan Wenbo, Pan, Mei Wei, Wei, “ I’m, Xi Jinping’s, Souvannaseng, Hong Kong –, Hong Kong’s, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Wong Muh Rong, ” Wong Organizations: CNN, Initiative, China Railway, Reuters, East Japan Railway Co, Malaysian, Bentley University, of, Communist Party, Laos Railway, Laos Railway cumulatively, Orient Express, Getty Locations: China, Singapore, Asia, Laos, Kunming, Vientiane –, Indonesia, Jakarta, Bandung, West Java, Thailand, Bangkok, Thai, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Southeast Asia, “ China, Peerapon, Cities, Penang, Malacca, Phuket Old Town, Beijing, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Wat, Siem Reap, ”, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Halim, AFP, “

☆ Live updates: Moscow concert venue shooting latest
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Heather Chen | Andrew Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN has geolocated it to the concert hall and notes that its identifying metadata has been erased. The video shows one attacker signaling to another gunman, who then walks past a door where people are hiding and opens fire on them. The video also shows one of the attackers slitting the throat of a man lying on his back. The video ends with the four attackers walking away inside the building as smoke can be seen at a distance. On Friday, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a short statement published by Amaq.

Persons: Amaq, Vladimir Putin, “ Organizations: ISIS, CNN Locations: Moscow, Crocus, Russian, Ukraine

People line up at a makeshift memorial outside Crocus City Hall near Moscow on March 24. Maxim Shemetov/ReutersAll four suspects in the Crocus City concert hall attack case have been remanded into pre-trial detention until May 22, the Moscow City Court said via Telegram. The names of the four accused in the case are Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, Shamsidin Fariduni and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, Moscow City Courts announced via Telegram. All four are from Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic, and had been in Russia on either temporary or expired visas. The attack also came barely a week after Putin secured his fifth presidential term.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Saidakrami, Shamsidin, Mukhammadsobir Faizov, Putin Organizations: Reuters, Telegram Locations: Crocus, Moscow, Crocus City, Tajikistan, Soviet, Russia

☆ Poland activates aircraft after Russia attacks Ukraine’s west
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Poland said it had activated aircraft Sunday morning to “ensure the security” of its airspace after Russia launched missiles and drones targeting Ukraine’s western Lviv region. Lviv mayor Andrii Sadovyi said the missiles had targeted critical infrastructure, but that no hits were reported in the city. Meanwhile, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that a series of blasts had occurred in the Ukrainian capital, with missile fragments falling in the Desnianskyi district. He added that fire and rescue units were heading to the scene. This is a developing story and will be updated.

Persons: CNN —, Andrii Sadovyi, Vitali Klitschko, ” Klitschko Organizations: CNN, Operational Command, Russian Federation, Lviv, Command Locations: CNN — Poland, Russia, Lviv, Polish, Russian, Kyiv, Desnianskyi

☆ Nearly 300 abducted schoolchildren released by gunmen in Nigeria, governor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Sophie Jeong | Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Nearly 300 schoolchildren kidnapped in Nigeria earlier this month have been released, the governor of the country’s Kaduna state said in a post on X on Sunday. “The abducted Kuriga school children are released unharmed,” Uba Sani said, without providing further details. Some students were rescued but 287 of them had remained with the kidnappers – around 100 were from primary school and the rest from secondary school. Kaduna state, which borders the Nigerian capital Abuja to the southwest, has grappled with recurring incidents of kidnappings for ransom by bandits and has witnessed several mass abductions in recent years. This is a developing story and will be updated.

Persons: “, ” Uba Sani, Sani, Bola Tinubu, ”, Mansur Hassan, Nuhu Ribadu, ” Sani, Mariya Knight Organizations: CNN, Secondary School, country’s National, Nigerian Army Locations: Nigeria, Kaduna, Kuriga, Kaduna’s Chikun, Abuja, Princewill

Port-au-Prince, Haiti CNN —A container carrying essential items for newborn babies and their mothers – including resuscitators and other critical supplies – was looted in Port-au-Prince on Saturday, aid agency UNICEF said in a statement, as gang violence and a humanitarian crisis worsen in the Haitian capital. In addition to maternity and neonatal supplies, the looted container also held “early childhood development and education and water equipment,” UNICEF said. The theft of the supplies “occurs at a critical moment when children need them the most,” said UNICEF representative Bruno Maes in Haiti. Three out of four women and children in the Port-au-Prince area do not have access to basic public health and nutrition, according to UNICEF. Meanwhile, the first flights of a UN air bridge between Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic have been completed, UN sources told CNN.

Persons: ”, Bruno Maes, ” Maes, Ariel Henry, Guerinault Louis, Jimmy “, Cherizier, Maes, “, – Organizations: Haiti CNN, UNICEF, Haitian, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Haitian National Police, Authorities, ” Police, CNN, CNN Haiti, National, UN Locations: Prince, Haiti, Port, Haitian, Lower Delmas, ”, Dominican Republic

CNN —A major fire ravaged the 80-year-old iconic Al-Ahram Studio in Cairo, causing extensive damage and spreading to adjacent buildings on Saturday morning, according to the Egyptian state news website Al-Ahram. The fire, which took firefighters over five hours to extinguish and prompted an evacuation of nearby residential buildings, erupted just hours after the completion of filming for a Ramadan television series, Al-Ahram added. Videos circulating on Egyptian media sites showed the studio site and the buildings around it fully affected by the fire. The studio had been instrumental in producing countless Egyptian films and television series, marking it as a significant cultural asset. Egypt’s Public Prosecutor has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire at one of the Arab world’s oldest film production houses, state media outlets report.

Persons: Ahram, Momen Samir, ”, Omar Sharif, Youssef Chahine, Mostafa Madbouly, Nevine, Kilany Organizations: CNN, Ahram, Getty, Hollywood, Egypt’s, Madbouly, State Information Service Locations: Cairo, Ahram, AFP, Egypt, Al

☆ Niger ends military agreement with US, calls it ‘profoundly unfair’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Mitchell Mccluskey | Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Niger’s military government announced that it has ended an accord with the US that allowed military personnel and civilian staff from the Department of Defense to operate in Niger – days after holding high-level talks with US diplomatic and military officials this week. “This agreement is not only profoundly unfair in its substance but it also does not meet the aspirations and interests of the Nigerien people,” he said. Senior Pentagon officials believe that keeping a presence in Niger is vital to efforts to tackle terrorism in the region. In a letter sent to Congress in December 2023, President Joe Biden noted that approximately 648 US military personnel remain deployed to Niger. During meetings, Nigerien and American officials discussed the military transition in Niger and military cooperation between the two countries, Abdramane said.

Persons: CNN —, Major Amadou Abdramane, –, ”, Joe Biden, Abdramane, “, ” Abdramane, Niger “ Organizations: CNN, Department of Defense, American Department of Defense, Nigerien, US, Niger . Senior Pentagon, Pentagon, American, US Department of Defense Locations: Niger, United States, Republic of Niger, CNN Niger, Niger ., US, Nigerien, Russia, Iran

☆ Live updates: Devastation in Gaza as Israel wages war on Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

More than 100 people were killed in northern Gaza where Israeli troops opened fire Thursday, triggering panic as hungry Palestinian civilians were gathering around food aid trucks, Palestinian officials and eyewitnesses said. CNN is unable to independently confirm the death toll, and the Israeli military has given a different account of the circumstances. People had swarmed around the newly arrived aid trucks when Israeli forces started shooting, according to witnesses. As the aid trucks tried to escape the area, others were accidentally rammed, causing further deaths and injuries, an eyewitness told CNN. Israeli government spokesperson Avi Hyman also told reporters the incident was "obviously a tragedy, but we're not sure of the specifics quite yet."

Persons: Haroun Al, Khader Al Za’anoun, Avi Hyman, we're, Izzat Al, Risheq Organizations: CNN Locations: Gaza, Haroun, Gaza City, Sheikh, People

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