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Madagascar’s top court ratifies president’s reelection in vote boycotted by opposition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — Madagascar’s top court on Friday ratified the victory of incumbent President Andry Rajoelina in last month’s election, giving him a third term as leader following a boycott of the vote by opposition candidates.The High Constitutional Court said Rajoelina received 58.96% of votes in the first round and was reelected without the need for a runoff. The results had already been announced by Madagascar’s electoral commission but the constitution requires they are ratified by the top court.Rajoelina, 49, first served as president of a provisional government from 2009-2014 following a political crisis and a coup in the Indian Ocean island. He won a vote in 2019.The Nov. 16 election was marked by trouble. It was delayed for a week because of a series of anti-Rajoelina protests led by the opposition. A curfew was announced on the eve of the election after protesters torched some ballot stations.A coalition of opposition candidates called for ...

A UN court is ruling on request to order Venezuela to halt part of a referendum on a disputed region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United Nations’ top court is set to announce Friday whether it will order Venezuela to halt parts of a referendum planned for Sunday on the future of a disputed territory that makes up two-thirds of Guyana.Venezuela does not recognize the International Court of Justice’s jurisdiction in the decades-old dispute over the Essequibo region and is expected to press ahead with the referendum regardless of what its judges decide.At urgent hearings in November, lawyers for Guyana said the vote is designed to pave the way for annexation by Venezuela of the Essequibo — a territory larger than Greece that is rich in oil and minerals. They called on the world court to halt the referendum in its current form.But Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez defiantly told the court: ” Nothing will prevent the referendum scheduled for Dec. 3 from being held.”Venezuela has always considered Essequibo as its own because the region was within its bound...

The Philippines opens a new monitoring base on a remote island in the disputed South China Sea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

THITU ISLAND, South China Sea (AP) — The Philippines inaugurated a new coast guard monitoring base Friday on an island occupied by Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea and plans to expand joint patrols with the United States and Australia to counter China’s “pure bullying” in the strategic waterway, a Philippine security official said.High-seas faceoffs between Chinese and Philippine ships have intensified this year in the contested waters, fueling fears of a larger conflict that could involve the United States. The U.S. has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.China has accused the U.S. of meddling in an Asian dispute and sowing discord in the region.National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano and other Philippine officials flew to Thitu Island on an air force plane Friday and led a ceremony to open the newly constructed, two-story center ...

Live updates | Israel and Hamas trade blame for cease-fire's end as combat resumes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

Israel resumed fighting in Gaza minutes after a temporary cease-fire deal ended, and accused Hamas of having violated the truce. Hamas blames Israel, saying it declined offers to free more hostages. Mediator Qatar said Friday that efforts are ongoing to renew an Israel-Hamas cease-fire and expressed “deep regret” over the resumption of Israeli bombardments.Over 100 hostages were freed during the seven-day truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken. Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage. The 240 Palestinians released under the cease-fire were mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. The deal that began Nov. 24 ended after a week and multiple extensions, despite international pressure for the truce to continue as long as possible. Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left more than three-quarters of Gaza's 2.3 million residents uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis. More than 13,...

Fonda-Fultonville football seeks to bring home first state title

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

FONDA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Football in Fonda is a rite of passage. And to be the first team in Fonda-Fultonville history to reach the JMA Wireless Dome is an achievement this year's group is not taking lightly. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "2014 Fonda played a preseason game in the Dome, and I went," said senior wide receiver Brady Melious. "I was a kid; I was eight years old, and I went with a couple buddies on this football team. But…(I) would've never believed I would be in the position to play on that field. It's unbelievable."Fonda awaits Waverly in Saturday's Class C state title game. And the Braves feel they know what to expect out of the Section IV foe that's also making its first appearance in a state championship game."It's like looking in a mirror kind of. They do a lot of the same stuff we do…you know, offensively - their play calls, their formations," said Fonda-Fultonville head coach Mike Mancini. "So, you know, i...

Commission sends Statement of Objections to six companies and one trade association in automotive starter battery cartel case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

The European Commission has informed automotive starter batteries manufacturers Banner, Clarios (former JC Autobatterie), Exide, FET (and its predecessor Elettra), and Rombat as well as trade association Eurobat and its service provider Kellen of its preliminary view that they have breached EU antitrust rules by colluding to increase the prices of automotive starter batteries sold to car producers in the European Economic Area (‘EEA').The Commission has concerns that between 2004 until 2017 the five starter batteries manufacturers created, published and agreed to use new indices in their price negotiations with car producers (the so-called ‘Eurobat Premium System'). The aim of this alleged conduct was to fix an important element of the final battery price. The Commission is also concerned that Eurobat and its service provider Kellen were aware of the alleged conduct and actively contributed to it by assisting the battery manufacturers in creating and running the Eurobat premium syst...

Horoscopes Dec. 1, 2023: Bette Midler, charm your way forward

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Vance Joy, 36; Sarah Silverman, 53; Nestor Carbonell, 56; Bette Midler, 78.Happy Birthday: A financial change is heading your way. Be innovative, let your intuition guide you, expect the unusual and learn to accept and embrace whatever comes your way. Take responsibility and focus on achieving what you want to pursue. Keep an open mind and listen to experts, but be sure something is a good fit for you before you get involved. Charm your way forward, but don’t sugarcoat what you have to offer. Your numbers are 9, 14, 22, 26, 30, 37, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Participate and show everyone what you can do. An innovative approach to life, love and happiness will create a stir among your peers and help you attract support. Self-improvement will not go unnoticed; love and romance are in the stars. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t take on more than you can handle. Your reputation is at stake, and how others perceive you will determine the...

Word Game: Dec. 1, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — ABATEMENT (ABATEMENT: uh-BATE-ment: A reduction or decrease.)Average mark 33 wordsTime limit 45 minutesCan you find 44 or more words in ABATEMENT? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — OCULIST oust clot clout coil colt cost coulis cult list locus locust lost lotic lotus lout lust scout silo silt slit slot soil soul stoic suit toilTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Six-bedroom home sells for $7.2 million in Palo Alto

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

4148 Old Trace Road – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 4100 block of Old Trace Road in Palo Alto was sold on Nov. 9, 2023. The $7,200,000 purchase price works out to $1,922 per square foot. The house, built in 1949, has an interior space of 3,747 square feet. This two-story house provides a generous living space with its six bedrooms and four baths. The home’s outer structure has wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, there is a fireplace. Additionally, the home is equipped with a one-car garage.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:A 2,820-square-foot home on the 900 block of Mockingbird Lane in Palo Alto sold in May 2023, for $6,235,000, a price per square foot of $2,211. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Mesa Court, Palo Alto, in December 2022, a 2,639-square-foot home was sold for $3,500,000, a price per square foot of $1,326. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In August 2023, a 2,120-square-foot home on Moana Court in Palo Alto...

Ask Amy: He has resurrected this wedding drama and is using it against me

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband and his cousin, “Jerry,” are like brothers.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: Should I tell my neighbor about her child’s bullying behavior? Advice | Ask Amy: My wife has big-league dreams for our son, but I think he should give up the sport Advice | Ask Amy: We’re not inviting her, but it will be hard to tell her why Advice | Ask Amy: This teen mom is trying to manipulate my son Advice | Ask Amy: I’m being punished for refusing to give in to my child’s spouse Jerry and I got off on the wrong foot. After agreeing to be best man at our very small wedding, he backed out because his sister – whom I had never met – hadn’t been invited. We quickly extended an invitation to the sister, but Jerry still refused to stand up at our wedding.My husband forgave Jerry, and I let the matter go. We’ve seen him only a handful of times since, usually at family events.A few years...