OFFICIAL SAYS 300 ABDUCTED SCHOOLBOYS ARE FREED
MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA » More than 300 schoolboys abducted last week by armed men in northwestern Nigeria have been released, the Katsina state governor said Thursday.
Gov. Aminu Bello Masari made the announcement on Nigerian state TV, NTA. More than 800 students were at the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara when it was attacked Dec. 11 by armed men. Hundreds escaped, and it was believed that more than 330 had been taken captive.
“At the moment, 344 of the students have been released and handed over to the security operatives. I think we can say at least we have recovered most of the boys, if not all of them,” he said.
Arrangements are being made to transport them to Katsina, he said.
“The news reaching about an hour ago indicates that all of them have been recovered and they are on their way from the forest area to Katsina, Masari said, adding that they would be examined by doctors Friday and then arrangements would be made to reunite them with their families.
The government will be “working with the police and to engage private security firms to safeguard schools” to prevent the “ugly experience of the last six days,” he said. The government had said it was negotiating with the attackers.
U. S. gives Florida wider authority over wetlands development.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. » The federal government granted Florida’s request for wider authority over wetlands development, a move announced Thursday that came under immediate fire by environmentalist who worry that the country’s largest network of wetlands could be at risk of being further degraded.
The announcement by U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler was long sought by developers and Republican allies, who argued that the layers of regulatory scrutiny were cumbersome, expensive and unnecessary. Supporters touted the move as a step that would streamline the permitting process when property owners seek to develop wetlands.
During a news conference in Washington, Wheeler said the state had met the high bar necessary to assume the role of handling the permitting process.
“This action allows Florida to effectively evaluate and issue permits under the Clean Water Act to support the health of Florida’s waters, residents and economy,” he said.
“By taking over this permit program, Florida will be able to integrate its dredging and fill permitting with their traditional water quality and monitoring programs,” he said.
France’s Macron tests positive for the coronavirus.
PARIS » President Emmanuel Macron of France has tested positive for the coronavirus and will work in isolation for the next week, prompting other European leaders he has met to take precautionary measures and complicating Europe’s efforts to overcome a crippling second wave of the pandemic.
The presidential Élysée Palace announced the illness Thursday without clarifying Macron’s symptoms or the gravity of his condition.
As one of Europe’s youngest leaders, at 42, the president is not among the most vulnerable to the virus, but its effects are unpredictable. How open the presidential office will be about his condition as it evolves remains an open question.
Gabriel Attal, the government spokesman, said: “Late last night, the president began feeling COVID- 19- like symptoms. He immediately isolated himself and took a PCR test. The result was communicated to us this morning.”
He added that efforts were underway through contact tracing to identify anyone who met recently with Macron.
Jeremy Bulloch, Star Wars actor who played Boba Fett, dead at 75.
Jeremy Bulloch, the English film star who suited up as the fan- favorite bounty hunter Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy, has died, according to another actor who played the character.
He was 75. Bulloch’s death was announced Thursday by Daniel Logan, who portrayed a young version of Boba in the 2002 Star Wars prequel movie “Attack of the Clones.”
“IT BRINGS ME TO TEARS TO ANNOUNCE JEREMY BULLOCH HAS PAST AWAY,” Logan wrote Thursday in an Instagram tribute.
“RIP LEGEND ILL NEVER FORGET ALL YOU’VE TAUGHT ME.!! I’LL
LOVE YOU FOREVER.!! CONVENTIONS WONT BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU ALWAYS.”
Bulloch first wore
Boba’s weathered greenandwhite helmet and armor in 1980’ s “The Empire Strikes Back” and returned as the character for 1983’ s “Return of the Jedi.” Despite the character’s lack of screen time in those 1980s movies, Boba became wildly popular among fans due to his cool looks and reputation as a fierce bounty hunter.