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Lily Thompson

World Bank cuts 2024 growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa over Sudan

Nairobi —  The World Bank said on Monday it had lowered its economic growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa this year to 3% from 3.4%, mainly due to the destruction of Sudan’s economy in a civil war. However, growth is expected…

Historic Jersey Shore amusement park closes after generations of family thrills

OCEAN CITY, N.J. —  For generations of vacationers heading to Ocean City, the towering “Giant Wheel” was the first thing they saw from miles away. The sight of the 140-foot-tall (42-meter) ride let them know they were getting close to…

‘Africa must continue to rise,’ says General Assembly President

In a speech delivered during a debate on African development, Assembly  President Philémon Yang addressed the continent’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s (AU) related framework, known as Agenda 2063.  “There has never been a…

Gaza: School set for polio vaccine campaign hit in deadly strike, says UNRWA

“Throughout the night, I spoke to a colleague sheltering in the compound who told me, ‘We miraculously survived, the fire caught everywhere even the tent where we were sleeping burnt. The scene is terrifying,’” said Louise Wateridge, spokesperson for the…

Lebanon: Security Council offers ‘unanimous support’ to UNIFIL peacekeepers

Jean Pierre Lacroix was speaking to the media at UN Headquarters in New York after emerging from a closed door meeting on peacekeeping mission UNIFIL, amidst Israeli calls for the force to vacate the area and move further north. The…

Gaza: UN chief condemns rising civilian casualties in the north

Israeli forces struck tents sheltering displaced civilians near al Aqsa hospital, in an area where people from northern Gaza were told to relocate. At least four people were burned to death, and scores of others, including women and children, suffered…

UN refugee chief urges states to drop border controls even as displacement crises worse

Geneva —  The head of the U.N. refugee agency warned on Monday that displacement crises in Lebanon and Sudan could worsen, but said tighter border measures were not the solution, calling them ineffective and sometimes unlawful. Addressing more than 100…

NATO chief vows to support Ukraine despite Russian threats

NATO’s secretary-general said the alliance will continue to support Ukraine, despite threats from Russia. Speaking at NATO’s Ukraine mission in Wiesbaden, Germany, Mark Rutte said Monday that the message for Russian President Vladimir Putin “is that we will continue, that…

Nobel economics prize awarded for research into why countries succeed or fail

STOCKHOLM —  The Nobel memorial prize in economics was awarded Monday to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson for research into differences in prosperity between nations and why some countries succeed and others fail. The three economists “have…

Time with horses is helping some Ukrainian kids deal with war

Since May 2024, heavy fighting has been going on near the village of Hlyboke, some 30 kilometers from Kharkiv, and animals are the victims of active fighting just as much as locals. Volunteers recently rescued four ponies from Hlyboke, and…