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Sinead O’Connor’s death at age 56 this week has led to an outpouring of grief from both celebrities and normal people whose lives the iconic singer touched. Neil Gaiman, the English novelist, is the latest, having shared a coincidence that occurred hours before O’Connor’s death was announced. Gaiman was at the Golden Notebook bookshop in Woodstock, New York, the writer said, where employees gave him a signed copy of Why Sinead O’Connor Matters by the journalist Allyson McCabe. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter He said he did not personally select the book, but “[t]hey chose it for me.” That same day, on 26 July, O’Connor’s passing was announced publicly. The synopsis of McCabe’s book is as follows: “In 1990, Sinéad O’Connor’s video for “Nothing Compares 2 U” turned her into a superstar. “Two years later, an appearance on Saturday Night Live turned her into a scandal. For many people — including, for years, the author — what they knew of O’Connor stopped there. “Allyson McCabe believes it’s time to reassess our old judgments about Sinéad O’Connor and to expose the machinery that built her up and knocked her down.” Gaiman's fans have responded to the unusual coincidence in their droves. Why Sinead O’Connor Matters was published in May 2023. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Netflix's hit dating show 'Too Hot To Handle' has fans eagerly anticipating Season 6 as they speculate on its possible return

Two days after mutinous soldiers ousted Niger’s democratically elected president, it was still unclear Friday morning who was running the country and what mediation efforts were underway, as analysts warned that political chaos could set back the fight on extremist groups and increase Russia's influence in the region. On Thursday, several hundred people gathered in the capital, Niamey, and chanted support for the Russian private military group Wagner while waving Russian flags. Later, they burned cars and ransacked the headquarters of the president's political party. “We’re fed up,” said Omar Issaka, one of the protestors. “We are tired of being targeted by the men in the bush ... Down with the French people. We’re going to collaborate with Russia now,” he said. The soldiers have not announced a leader and President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960, has not resigned. Some of the last public communications from the government included a defiant tweet by the president Thursday declaring that democracy would prevail and a call by the Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou, on media outlet France 24, for Nigeriens to stand against the mutiny. Someone close to the president who is not authorized to speak about the situation, told The Associated Press that Bazoum has no intention of resigning and talks were ongoing. However, it's unclear who's involved in these dialogues, the nature of the discussions or how they're proceeding. Analysts say the coup could destabilize the country and threatens to starkly reshape the international community’s engagement with the Sahel region. Bazoum is a key ally in the West’s efforts to battle the jihadists, and the West African nation has been seen as the last major Western partner standing against extremism in a region where anti-French sentiment has paved the way for the Russian private military group Wagner. Neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso have both ousted the French military, which previously provided aid in their fight against jihadists. Mali has contracted Wagner, and it’s believed the mercenaries will soon be in Burkina Faso. Earlier this week, The Economic Community of West African States said it was sending Benin President Patrice Talon to lead mediation efforts, but as of Friday Talon was not in the country. During their first address to the nation Wednesday night, the mutineers urged “external partners” not to interfere. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told French media Friday that President Emmanuel Macron has spoken several times to Bazoum. Colonna said France believes there are still possible exits from the crisis, and that Paris regards the attempted coup as lacking any legitimacy. On Thursday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, said the country's “substantial cooperation with the Government of Niger is contingent on Niger’s continued commitment to democratic standards". Niger could lose millions of dollars in military aid and assistance, which the United States and European countries have recently poured in an attempt to help in the fight against Islamic extremism. The United States in early 2021 said it had provided Niger with more than $500 million in military assistance and training programs since 2012, one of the largest such support programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The European Union earlier this year launched a 27 million-euro ($30 million) military training mission in Niger. The United States has more than 1,000 service personnel in the country. France has 1,500 soldiers, which conduct joint operations with the Nigeriens. The coup has dashed hopes of collaboration between Sahelian countries and Western powers, which offered a more robust response to the jihadist insurrection when compared with the strategies to arm civilians in Burkina Faso or the responsibility given to Wagner in Mali, said Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim, senior Sahel analyst for the International Crisis Group. As uncertainty lingers about who's in charge, insecurity could worsen. “The army officers will be busy positioning themselves in power struggles and abandon the fight against jihadists,” said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Rights groups also warn that civilians always bear the brunt of these mutinies. “During a coup, the first victims are always the same: the most vulnerable, women and children,” said Drissa Traore, secretary-general of the International Federation for Human Rights. On Thursday the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it has paused operations in Niger, where more than 370,000 people are internally displaced and more than 4 million rely on aid. ___ AP writer John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Stock market today: Asian shares mixed, Tokyo falls as Bank of Japan adjusts bond purchase policy India and Japan look to collaborate in building semiconductors and resilient supply chains AP Week in Pictures: Europe and Africa

In one of the more unlikely stories you'll hear this year, Elon Musk has congratulated his ex-wife Talulah Riley on getting engaged to Love Actually child actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Riley and Brodie-Sangster, who are both actors, have been together for two years having met while working on the FX series Pistol. Now after just two years together, Riley announced on Twitter that she and Brodie Sangster were getting hitched. The 37-year-old St Trininan's star wrote: "Very happy to share that after two years of dating, Thomas Brodie Sangster and I are engaged!" Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Riley, who has been married to Elon Musk twice and as a result divorced twice, even chimed in to offer his congratulations as the happy couple shared a wholesome selfie of themselves together. Riley and Musk began dating in 2008 and married each other in Scotland in 2010 only for Musk to end the relationship in 2012 and file for divorce. They then reconciled their differences and in July 2013 got married again but by December 2014 Musk had filed for another divorce only to withdraw. Riley and Musk then lived separately for six months before she filed for divorce in 2016 with the pair finally separating in October 2016. The two appear to still be on good terms with Riley telling Musk in March 2022: "Can you buy Twitter and then delete it, please?" America is going insane. Or can you just buy Twitter and make it radically free speech? So much stupidity comes from Twitter." Some foreshadowing there... Brodie-Sangster is best known for his role as Sam in the Christmas classic Love Actually but has also starred in Nowhere Boy, Game of Thrones and the Maze Runner series. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Hermes’s sales and profit jumped as the maker of Birkin bags stood out from its luxury-industry rivals with

Thirty-six officials in South Korea are under investigation for failing to prevent the tragedy.

Dre and Linzy locked lips on their fiery first date on Netflix's 'Too Hot To Handle'

(Corrects paragraph 3 to show Marin resigned last month) By Steve Holland and Heather Timmons WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Senate Republican leader

The French foreign minister says the coup is not 'final' as Niger's army backs the plotters.

With a tied score and two minutes left to play after a stunning second-half comeback, China's women's soccer team finally scored the goal that had eluded them for 16 years.

Sir Richard Branson and activists have argued that capital punishment is not a deterrent against crime.

Donald Trump's lawyers want to be able to discuss classified information with the former president at his homes as part of his criminal case, for convenience sake, according to a new court filing from the Justice Department -- a proposal that federal prosecutors strongly oppose as out of line with how sensitive information can be handled.