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6 soldiers killed in attack in Indonesia’s restive Papua

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:50:49 GMT

JAYAPURA, Indonesia (AP) — Separatist gunmen opened fire on a military post in Indonesia’s restive Papua province, killing at least six soldiers and leaving dozens of others missing, the army and the rebels said Sunday.Attackers from the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, carried out the assault against Indonesian soldiers on Saturday in the hilly district of Nduga, a stronghold of separatists who have battled Indonesian rule in the mineral-rich but impoverished region since the early 1960s.Papua military spokesperson Col. Herman Taryaman said the soldiers at the Mugi army post were part of a group deployed to search for Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a New Zealand pilot for the Indonesian aviation company Susi Air who was abducted by the rebels in February.He said authorities are still searching for about 30 other soldiers still missing after the attack, including nine believed to be held by the rebels.“It’s still unknown exactly how many Indonesian army...

Young people drive bullfighting’s resurrection in Spain

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:50:49 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Álvaro Alarcón plays out the moment when he will enter Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring for his final challenge as a “novillero,” or apprentice bullfighter.The 24-year-old has been training in the dusty countryside outside the Spanish capital, and his skintight suit, delicately woven with beads and gold embroidery, is back from the tailor. If he can triumph this last time, he will be considered for the highest rank of “matador” — bullfighters who take on beasts weighing more than half a ton.“From the moment you get up until you go to bed, and even when you are asleep, you are dreaming about what you want to do in the bullring,” he said. “Being a bullfighter is a way of life.”The death of Spanish bullfighting has been declared many times, but the number of bullfights in the country is at its highest level in seven years, and the young are the most consistent presence as older groups of spectators drop away.On a Sunday afternoon, Alarcón must kill two young bulls...

OL Reign, Gotham FC win in stoppage time in NWSL

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:50:49 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Olivia Van der Jagt scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give OL Reign a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Wave on Saturday night. OL Reign’s first home match of the National Women’s Soccer League season was played in front of 9,219 fans at Lumen Field.Van der Jagt grew up in Seattle and played for the University of Washington before getting drafted by OL Reign in 2022. It was the second winning goal the midfielder has scored in stoppage time.After a scoreless first half, both teams had good chances but couldn’t find the back of the net due to some quality saves from both goalkeepers. Early in the second half, San Diego forward Alex Morgan had a shot in the box that was blocked by goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. The rebound fell to Jaedyn Shaw, and Tullis-Joyce dove backward to save her second attempt. Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan finished with four saves, including two big stops in the 74th and 78th minutes.The Reign improved to 2-1-0, and San Diego ...

Sudan doctors’ group says at least 56 killed, close to 600 wounded in two days of Sudan fighting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:50:49 GMT

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Sudan doctors’ group says at least 56 killed, close to 600 wounded in two days of Sudan fighting.Source

Ukraine criticizes Poland’s move to ban all its agricultural products

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:50:49 GMT

Ukraine criticized a decision by the Polish government on Saturday to ban imports of Ukrainian agricultural goods, including products intended for other countries, saying it violated a prior agreement between the two countries.The measure was announced by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki following an emergency cabinet meeting on the influx of Ukrainian goods into Poland. “We will never leave farmers without help. That’s why we have specific measures [including] a ban on grain entry from Ukraine to Poland,” Morawiecki said in a tweet.Ukraine’s agriculture ministry said it regretted Poland’s decision. “The Ministry of Agrarian Policy, for its part, has always been sympathetic to the situation in the Polish agricultural sector and responded promptly to various challenges,” the ministry said in a statement. “At present, unilateral drastic actions will not accelerate the positive resolution of the situation.”Last week, Poland ...

Dozens killed as army, rivals battle for control of Sudan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:50:49 GMT

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — The Sudanese military and a powerful paramilitary group battled for control of the chaos-stricken nation for a second day Sunday, signaling they were unwilling to end hostilities despite mounting diplomatic pressure to cease fire.A doctors’ group said at least 56 civilians were killed and that it believed there were dozens of additional deaths among the rival forces. The Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate said close to 600 people were wounded, including civilians and fighters.The clashes capped months of heightened tensions between the military and its partner-turned-rival, the Rapid Support Forces group. Those tensions had delayed a deal with political parties to get the country back to its short-lived transition to democracy, which was derailed by an October 2021 military coup.Heavy fighting raged early Sunday morning in the capital of Khartoum and the adjoining city of Omdurman, There were fierce clashes around the military headquarters, Khartoum International Airpor...

EU leaders beat a path to Xi’s door seeking China’s help

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:50:49 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — In the weeks since Chinese leader Xi Jinping won a third five-year term as president, setting him on course to remain in power for life, leaders and diplomats from around the world have beaten a path to his door. None more so than those from Europe.French President Emmanuel Macron made a high-profile state visit to Beijing last week accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, just days after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived in the northeast port city of Tianjin on Thursday, following a visit by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in November. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, would have been in China this week, too, but he tested positive for COVID-19.For the 27-nation trading bloc, the reasons to head to China are clear. As an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi could play a pivotal role in helping to end the war in Ukraine. The conflict has dragged on for over a ...

More than 6,000 troops to play role in Charles’ coronation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:50:49 GMT

LONDON (AP) — More than 6,000 British military personnel will take part in the coronation of King Charles III, the U.K. forces’ biggest ceremonial deployment in seven decades, the government said Sunday.The Ministry of Defense said thousands of soldiers, sailors and aviators will escort the king and Camilla, the queen consort, between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey on their way to and from the May 6 ceremony. Gun salutes will ring out from British warships and army bases across the country, and later military aircraft — from World War II Spitfires to modern fighter jets — will perform a flypast over the palace.Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said it would be “a spectacular and fitting tribute” to the monarch, who is also commander-in-chief of the U.K. armed forces.Admiral Tony Radakin, chief of the defense staff, said the military side of the coronation “reflects centuries of tradition, but is indicative of the integral role the armed forces play in modern Britain and the ext...

Ebobisse’s brace leads Earthquakes over Sporting KC

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:50:49 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Jeremy Ebobisse scored a goal in each half and the San Jose Earthquakes rolled to a 3-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night.The Earthquakes (4-2-2) beat Sporting KC (0-5-3) for just the second time in the last 15 matchups. San Jose improved to 4-0-1 in its last five matches at home, its best effort since a six-match unbeaten run to begin the 2017 season.Cristian Espinoza staked the Earthquakes to an early lead when he scored in the ninth minute with assists from Cade Cowell and Jamiro Monteiro. Espinzoa has scored the first goal in a match four times this season — tops in the league.Sporting KC was forced to play a man down after Robert Castellanos received a red card in the 38th minute. Ebobisse followed with a penalty-kick goal to make it 2-0.Ebobisse found the net again in the 51st minute with assists from Paul Marie and Cowell to cap the scoring.Sporting KC entered play with just two points through its first seven matches — something only ...

Game 1 loss to Kings a ‘feeling out process’ for Warriors

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:50:49 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Even after a rocky regular season, the Warriors weren’t sweating the rare Game 1 loss Saturday night.“It’s what the playoffs are about — guys making plays,” Stephen Curry said after the Sacramento Kings beat the Warriors 126-123. “The first game is kind of a feeling out process.”The Warriors are the more experienced playoff team, having gone to six of the last eight NBA Finals, but the Kings, playing in their first playoff series in nearly two decades, managed to hold on to take Game 1 of the first-round Western Conference series.Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green jaws with Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round playoffs, Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Golden One Arena in Sacramento, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Sacramento used its 16 years of pent up playoff-basketball energy to ensure the Kings had home-court advantage, rattling their...