France's Mayotte struggles to recover as cyclone overwhelms hospitals

MAMOUDZOU, Mayotte (AP) — One week after its worst cyclone in nearly a century, and a day after a testy presidential visit, France’s impoverished Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte is still grappling with counting the dead, restoring essential services and aiding a beleaguered population. ...

Today in History: December 21, Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie

Today is Saturday, Dec. 21, the 356th day of 2024. There are 10 days left in the year. Today in history: On Dec. 21, 1988, 270 people were killed when a terrorist bomb exploded aboard a Pan Am Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland, sending wreckage crashing to the...

Crowds in Mayotte vent frustration with cyclone response as Macron tours devastation

MIRERENI, Mayotte (AP) — Crowds in Mayotte vented their frustration at French President Emmanuel Macron, with some booing, as he toured destruction wrought by the strongest cyclone to hit the French territory in nearly a century. Particularly tense scenes on Thursday underscored...

France's military is being ousted from more African countries. Here's why

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — It's been a tumultuous month for France and its relationship with former colonies in Africa, as its influence on the continent faces the biggest challenge in decades. As Paris was devising a new military strategy that would sharply reduce its permanent troop...

France's Macron says tour of cyclone-devastated Mayotte is a day he won't forget

MAMOUDZOU, Mayotte (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte to survey Cyclone Chido’s destruction and was immediately confronted with a first-hand account of devastation across the French territory. “Mayotte is...

Burkina Faso releases four French nationals after detaining them for a year

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Burkina Faso's junta-led government said Thursday that it had released four French nationals it called spies, following Morocco-mediated negotiations with France. The West African nation's information agency said in a statement that Capt. Ibrahim...

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives on Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte devastated by Cyclone Chido

Survivors recount 'very apocalyptic' cyclone that ripped through French territory of Mayotte

MAMOUDZOU, Mayotte (AP) — They clustered around water taps, rare sources of electricity and each other. Four days after the strongest cyclone in nearly a century ripped through the French island territory of Mayotte off the coast of Africa, survivors recalled the horror of the storm that caught...

NATO leader says he wants to put Ukraine in a position of strength for any peace talks with Russia

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO's secretary-general said he wants to discuss ways to put Ukraine in a position of strength for any future peace talks with Russia during a meeting Wednesday with Ukraine’s president and a small number of European leaders. But Mark Rutte appeared frustrated at...

Emotional reunion awaits anti-whaling activist Paul Watson after his sudden release in Greenland

LONDON (AP) — Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson was freed from prison in Greenland on Tuesday after five months in custody, and will not be extradited to Japan where he is wanted on charges of obstructing a whaling ship. Watson is planning to return home to be reunited with his...