International

Joe Biden steps down from US presidential race

United States President, Joe Biden has announced his stepping down from the November 2024 presidential race in the interest of his party and the country.

The president said his decision to step down from the presidential race “it is in the best interest of my party and the country.”

His announcement came amid continued pressure following a disastrous debate performance last month that left many in his party questioning whether he should continue to seek reelection.

He will serve out the remainder of his term.

Biden, on his X handle on Sunday announced his stepping down from the race.

He said over the past three and a half years, America had made great progress as a Nation, saying today, America has the strongest economy in the world.

“We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans, We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances, Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years.

“Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today,” he said.

Biden said he knew none of this could have been done without the American people, saying “together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.”

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.

“I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.

“For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.

“I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do — when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America,” he said.

International

Zelensky cuts short South Africa trip after deadly Russian strike

Ukrainian president says defense is at a ‘turning point’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky abruptly shortened his official visit to South Africa on Thursday following a deadly Russian missile and drone strike on Kyiv that killed at least eight people and left dozens injured.

The attack, one of the deadliest on the Ukrainian capital in recent months, saw Russia launch more than 200 missiles and drones overnight, with over 100 intercepted by Ukrainian air defences, according to military officials.

Despite Kyiv’s relatively robust air defense systems, 13 locations across the city suffered significant damage, including residential areas.

Interior Minister Igor Klymenko reported that more than 70 people were injured in the strike, and rescue efforts were ongoing as emergency services combed through the debris. Punch

International

6.2 Magnitude quake hits off Istanbul coast

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 hit the Marmara Sea near the western outskirts of Istanbul on Wednesday, officials said, with the impact felt across Turkey’s largest city where people rushed onto the streets.

“An earthquake of 6.2 magnitude occurred in Silivri, Marmara Sea, Istanbul,” Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X, adding that it was felt in the surrounding provinces.

The initial quake at 12:49 pm (0949 GMT) was followed by three others of with magnitudes of 4.4 to 4.9, Turkey’s AFAD disaster management agency posted on X.

As buildings shook, people rushed onto the streets where crowds of worried-looking people stared at their mobile phones for information or made calls, an AFP correspondent said.

“I just felt earthquake, I’ve got to get out,” said a shaken-looking decorator rushing out of a fourth floor apartment where he was working near the city’s Galata Tower, who did not want to give his name.

There were no immediate reports of anyone being hurt or killed nor of buildings collapsing in the sprawling city of 16 million people, city authorities and the regional governor’s office said.

“Until now, we have no information about any buildings collapsing,” the governor’s office said, urging people to avoid any structures that might have been damaged in the tremors.

“No serious cases have been reported so far following the earthquake in Istanbul,” the Istanbul municipality said on X.

The tremors could be felt as far away as Bulgaria, according to AFP journalists in the capital Sofia.

Channels/AFP

International

Burkina Faso foils coup, blames Ivory Coast

Burkina Faso’s military junta claimed Monday to have foiled a “major plot in the making” aimed at “sowing total chaos”, saying it believed the masterminds were in neighbouring Ivory Coast.Burkina Faso has been run since September 2022 by military leaders following a coup headed by Captain Ibrahim Traore, who has often blamed Ivory Coast for harbouring his opponents.

Traore promised to restore security but his government has regularly silenced dissenters, and the country has seen an upsurge in kidnappings and extrajudicial arrests, particularly of civilians considered hostile to the junta.

“The meticulous work of the intelligence service (has) revealed a major plot being prepared against our country, the ultimate aim of which is to sow total chaos”, Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said in a statement read out on national television.

“The manoeuvre was to culminate, according to the terrorist plotters’ plan, on Wednesday April 16, 2025 in an assault on the presidency of (Burkina) Faso by a group of soldiers recruited by the nation’s enemies,” he said.

“The brains outside the country are all located in Ivory Coast”, he added, naming in particular two former army officers, Major Joanny Compaore and Lieutenant Abdramane Barry.

A dozen military personnel, including two officers, were arrested last week after being accused by supporters of the junta of planning to “destabilise” the government, security sources told AFP on Monday.

Since 2015 Burkina Faso has been plagued by jihadist violence from groups linked to the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda.

Traore claimed last year that Ivory Coast was a “centre of operations” to destabilise Burkina. Vanguard