Matchup roundup: New UFC fights announced in the past week (Feb. 1-8)

AFP
Is Musk's million-dollar US voter lottery legal?
Donald Trump surrogate Elon Musk's offer of a million dollars to one registered voter in a swing state every day until the US Election Day on November 5 has raised questions about the legality of such a move."As the terms of this 'contest' to win $1 million require the recipient to be a registered voter in one of seven swing states (or to register if they have not already), the offer violates federal law," she continued.
AFP
Britain seeking EU trade reset: minister
Britain is urgently looking to reset its trading relationship with the European Union, and sees international commerce as key to reviving UK growth, trade minister Douglas Alexander told AFP. Alexander said Britain's 2016 vote to leave the EU caused "significant disruption" to its trade policy and the country needed to recalibrate its global trade outlook.- Formulating new trade strategy - Alexander said trade growth had a "critical role" to play in the Starmer government's "defining mission" of
CNN
Sapelo Island ferry resumes operations after deadly boat dock gangway collapse
A ferry connecting an island off the coast of Georgia resumed operations Monday while the investigation to see what might have caused a deadly dock collapse that killed seven people continues.
AFP
Most Asian markets drop as traders weigh US rates outlook
Most Asian markets turned lower Tuesday after a negative lead from Wall Street fuelled by profit-taking, while traders try to ascertain the outlook for US interest rates.After the tepid lead from Wall Street, Asia struggled.
AFP
Wealthy Israelis offer rewards for release of Gaza hostages
Frustrated with the dwindling prospect of reaching a ceasefire deal in the year-long Gaza war, some Israeli entrepreneurs have sought a different avenue to release hostages -- offering a financial reward for those who choose to free them.Najjar, 33, said he believes that "Hamas will not agree to release the hostages without something in return" and pointed to the necessity of a negotiated ceasefire deal to guarantee that the captives are freed.
AFP
China launches live-fire exercise in Taiwan Strait
China's military began a live-fire exercise near Taiwan on Tuesday, maintaining pressure on the self-ruled island after staging large-scale drills and President Xi Jinping called for troops to prepare for war.In a visit to a brigade of the Chinese military's Rocket Force in the wake of those drills, President Xi urged them to strengthen their preparedness for war, state media said. ehl-oho/je/fox
AFP
Putin seeks to rival West with high-profile summit
Two dozen world leaders are gathering in Russia on Tuesday for the opening of a summit of the BRICS group, an alliance of emerging economies that the Kremlin hopes will challenge Western "hegemony".The Kremlin has touted the gathering as a diplomatic triumph that will help it build an alliance to challenge Western "hegemony".
Reuters
Taiwan says live fire China drills may be part of a 'deterrence' effect
Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday that live fire Chinese drills in a province facing the island are part of routine annual drills but also possibly part of China's "deterrence effect" in the waters of the Taiwan Strait. China's Maritime Safety Administration, in a notice late Monday, said an area around Niushan island in Fujian province would be closed off for four hours from 9 a.m. (0100GMT) on Tuesday for live fire drills. Taiwan's defence ministry said in a statement that those exercises were part of routine Chinese training and it was keeping a close watch.
AFP
Rwanda orphans build hope from horror 30 years after genocide
Jeanne Allaire Kayigirwa was sure she was going to die three times during the Rwandan genocide in which most of her friends and family were massacred.Jeanne lost her father, sister, friends, cousins, aunts and uncles -- "I try not to count".
CNN
At least 2 dead and hundreds rescued in severe New Mexico flash flooding
At least two people have died and hundreds have been rescued in Roswell, New Mexico, after extreme overnight rainfall brought severe flooding, stranding motorists and sweeping away cars.
TODAY
Which weight loss program is best for you? Dietitians and doctors share guidance
Experts share which weight loss programs are most effective for achieving a healthy lifestyle. Learn more on what doctors and dietitians look for in a program.
NBC News
Navy identifies 2 fighter jet pilots who died after crash in Washington state
The U.S. Navy said Sunday that two pilots who went missing after a fighter jet crash near Mount Rainier in Washington state last week have died.
CNN
Blinken heads to Middle East with hopes receding for a quick diplomatic breakthrough following Sinwar’s death
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed Monday for Israel and other unspecified countries in the Middle East as the United States seeks to move forward on efforts to resolve the conflict in the wake of the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
AFP
Venezuela arrests ex-oil minister accused of US links
Venezuela on Monday announced the arrest of a former oil minister accused of links to a firm controlled by US intelligence services -- the latest scandal to shake the crisis-hit country's energy sector.They are accused of crimes including "the delivery" of PDVSA's automated control system "to a company controlled by the US intelligence services," it said, without naming the other detainees.
AFP
US condemns killings of Mozambique opposition figures after election
The United States on Monday condemned the killings of two associates of Mozambique's leading opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane, who were gunned down on the weekend as they prepared to challenge this month's contested election."The United States condemns the killings of lawyer Elvino Dias and Podemos parliamentary candidate Paulo Guambe in Mozambique," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
CNN
Texas lawmakers hear testimony supporting death row inmate Robert Roberson – but despite subpoena, he does not appear
Death row inmate Robert Roberson will not appear Monday to testify before the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence – in person or otherwise – despite a subpoena lawmakers issued last week that halted his execution for a crime he and his attorneys say did not occur.
USA TODAY
Dr. Phil, John Grisham testify for Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson, who won reprieve
Phil McGraw of TV fame said Roberson’s jury did not get the full picture, that Roberson was wrongfully convicted and that the case could jeopardize the death penalty.
Reuters
South Korea team showcases drone that serves as 'flying shopping cart'
South Korean researchers have developed a transport drone flying on multiple flexible rotors that self-correct to stay level in flight and can be used as a "flying shopping cart" to carry goods over uneven terrain such as stairs. The prototype developed by a Seoul National University of Science and Technology team has a cargo platform mounted on top of a multi-rotor drone and is handled by a person using gentle force to guide the hovering aircraft. Members of the team demonstrated the hovering platform with a handle bar much like one on a push shopping cart moving objects up and down stairs and loading boxes on top as it hovered mid-air and maintained its balance by using a centre of mass estimation algorithm.
Politico
Prosecutors: No basis for Cannon to recuse from Trump attempted assassination case
Defense attorneys said that an unusual combination of factors pushed them to argue Cannon should step aside.
Reuters
Blinken heads to Israel to revive Gaza ceasefire talks after Sinwar death
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel on Tuesday, the first stop of a wider Middle East tour aimed at reviving Gaza ceasefire talks and discussing the enclave's future following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, but any breakthrough ahead of the looming U.S. election looks elusive. The top U.S. diplomat's latest trip - his eleventh to the region since Palestinian Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7 triggering the Gaza war - comes as the Israeli military has intensified its campaign in the Palestinian enclave as well as in Lebanon against Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia. Blinken's planned week-long trip, which will include a stop in Jordan on Wednesday and Doha, also comes as the region braces for Israel's response to Iran's Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel.

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