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Serbia and Croatia expel diplomats and further strain relations between the Balkan neighbors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:29 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia and Croatia each have expelled a diplomat from the other country, a move that further strains relations between the two former wartime foes and Balkan rivals.The Serbian Foreign Affairs Ministry said Monday that the first secretary of the Croatian Embassy in Belgrade was proclaimed persona non grata for his alleged “gross stepping outside the framework of diplomatic norms” during his service.In a reciprocal move, Croatia expelled a Serbian diplomat on Tuesday.“We have decided that the adviser of the Embassy of Serbia in Croatia, Petar Novakovic, should be declared persona non grata in Croatia,” Croatia’s Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman said.Media close to the populist Serbian government said the Croatian diplomat, identified as Hrvoje Snajder, is accused of “spying activities” and “recruiting” of people for Croatian secret services.The Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs rejected the grounds for the diplomat’s expulsion a...

A vehicle rams into a victory celebration for Liberia’s president-elect, killing 3 and injuring 17

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:29 GMT

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — A speeding vehicle rammed into jubilant supporters of President-elect Joseph Boakai at a victory celebration, killing at least three people and injuring at least 17 others, authorities said Tuesday.Police made an arrest following the crash late Monday but withheld the name of the suspect pending their investigation, said Col. Melvin Sackor, deputy police inspector general for operations.It was not immediately known whether the crash at the headquarters of the Unity Party in Monrovia was politically motivated. However, it took place hours after election officials formally declared Boakai the winner of a Nov. 14 runoff presidential election.According to the National Elections Commission, Boakai won with 50.64% of the second round balloting while incumbent President George Weah took 49.36%.Weah already conceded defeat several days earlier based on the release of provisional results, and urged his supporters to respect the vote’s outcome.Source

Las primeras medidas anunciadas por Javier Milei como presidente electo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:29 GMT

(CNN Español) — A menos de 24 horas de ganar con más de 11 puntos de ventaja sobre el oficialista Sergio Massa, el presidente electo de Argentina, Javier Milei, comenzó a dar sus primeras definiciones de lo que serán las medidas de su gobierno a partir del 10 de diciembre cuando asuma el cargo.Ya lo había anticipado en su discurso de este domingo por la noche. “No hay lugar para el gradualismo, para la tibieza, ni para medias tintas. Si no avanzamos rápido nos dirigimos a la peor crisis de toda nuestra historia”, advirtió tras los resultados que le dieron el triunfo.¿Quién fue Juan Bautista Alberdi, el pensador liberal en el que se inspira Milei?En declaraciones a medios locales este lunes, comenzó a dar sus primeras definiciones sobre la posible privatización de empresas y medios públicos, un sistema de “voucher” en salud y educación, cepo cambiario, tarifas y también planteó los primeros nombres de su equipo.Además, anticipó que antes de asumir la presidencia, vi...

South African leader accuses Israel of war crimes. Putin and Xi strike more cautious note at meeting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:29 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Israel of war crimes and acts “tantamout to genocide” in Gaza during a virtual meeting of leaders of developing countries including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping on Tuesday. Ramaphosa also condemned Hamas for its attack on Israeli civilians that sparked the conflict and said both sides were guilty of violating international law.“The collective punishment of Palestinian civilians through the unlawful use of force by Israel is a war crime,” Ramaphosa said at the start of the meeting of leaders and top diplomats from the BRICS bloc of countries. “The deliberate denial of medicine, fuel, food and water to the residents of Gaza is tantamount to genocide.”“In its attacks on civilians and by taking hostages, Hamas has also violated international law and must be held accountable for these actions,” Ramaphosa said.Putin and Xi struck more cautious notes, calling for a cease-fire and th...

2 Riverdale Elementary School students fatally struck in Prince George’s Co. crosswalk identified

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:29 GMT

The scene of a crash nearby Riverdale Elementary School on Nov. 20.(Courtesy 7 News/SkyTrak7) The scene of a crash nearby Riverdale Elementary School on Nov. 20.(Courtesy 7 News/SkyTrak7) A 5-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl died Monday after being struck by a van while walking to their elementary school in Prince George’s County, Maryland.During a news conference Tuesday, police identified the children as Shalom Mbah, 10, and Sky Sosa, 5, both of Riverdale.The Riverdale Elementary School students were in a crosswalk at the intersection of Riverdale Road and Taylor Road with a male relative when they were hit by a van attempting to make a left turn at around 8 a.m.Officers provided medical attention to th...

Wisconsin Supreme Court questions timing of redistricting challenge seeking new maps for 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:29 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Conservative justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned why it was being asked to overturn Republican-drawn legislative maps in a redistricting case that Democrats hope will result in new, more favorable legislative maps for elections in 2024. The lawsuit was brought by Democratic voters the day after the court flipped to majority 4-3 liberal control in August.Liberal justices, meanwhile, asked for details about how the court would adopt new maps, as they are being asked to do. Four of the six past presidential elections in battleground Wisconsin have been decided by fewer than 23,000 votes, and Republicans have built large majorities in the Legislature under maps they drew over a decade ago.Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley immediately interrupted the first attorney arguing for new maps, questioning why they waited until after August, when liberal justices took majority control of the court. She noted that the newly elected Justice Janet P...

Ford to resume building Michigan electric vehicle battery plant delayed by strike, but scale it back

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:29 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is resuming construction on a Michigan electric vehicle battery plant that the company postponed two months ago during a strike by the United Auto Workers union.But the automaker says that due to slowing electric vehicle sales growth, it will scale back the factory size, cutting the number of planned jobs by about one third from 2,500 to 1,700. The annual battery cell output will drop from enough for 400,000 vehicles per year to about 230,000.Ford put the plant, originally to cost $3.5b, on hold in late September as the union went on strike at targeted assembly plants run by Ford, General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis. The contract dispute ended last week with workers at all three voting to ratify new agreements.Spokesman Mark Truby said Tuesday that the company looked at growth forecasts for electric vehicle sales, its EV product plans and whether it could make a sustainable business out of the factory in Marshall, about 100 miles west of Detroit.“W...

Rwanda surprises South Africa 2-0 to take group lead in African World Cup qualifying

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:29 GMT

BUTARE, Rwanda (AP) — Host Rwanda handed South Africa a surprise 2-0 defeat in difficult conditions on Tuesday to go top of its group in African World Cup qualifying.Rwanda adapted better to the Huye Stadium pitched waterlogged by a heavy downpour before the game to score twice in the first half. Innocent Nshuti held off a defender and slotted into the far corner to open the scoring in the 12th minute. Gilbert Mugisha then took advantage of a defensive mix-up in the penalty area to double the lead after 28 minutes.Lesotho was held to a 0-0 draw by Benin in South Africa in the other Group C game, leaving Rwanda top of the group with four points from two matches. South Africa is second on three points with Lesotho, Nigeria and Zimbabwe all on two points and Benin in last place with one point. In other matches, Tunisia won 1-0 in Malawi, Botswana edged Guinea 1-0 at home, Burkina Faso eased past host Ethiopia 3-0 in Morocco, and Uganda defeated Somalia 1-0 also in Morocco.___AP soccer:...

Runoff looms for Miami Beach mayoral seat amid controversy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:29 GMT

After two Miami Beach mayoral candidates failed to secure the necessary threshold for the city’s top job, Tuesday’s decisive runoff election will determine the winner.Former Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora aims to re-enter local government, while Miami Beach Commissioner Steven Meiner seeks to ascend to the mayoral role.“I’ve been so focused on residents’ quality of life, law, and order being number one,” Meiner said.“I wanna re-brand our city as one of arts and culture; I wanna make sure we have the police presence we need,” Gongora said.The vacancy arose when current mayor Dan Gelber reached his term limit.In the Nov. 7 election, only 242 votes separated the two candidates, each with multiple endorsements.Recently, Meiner lost the endorsement of the Miami Herald, withdrawing support due to allegations of unwanted advances reported by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The advancements, according to the Herald, incl...

Arrest made in assault on elderly man outside Lauderdale Lakes Walmart

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:29 GMT

Sunrise Police arrested a 34-year-old man in connection with the assault on an elderly man outside a Lauderdale Lakes Walmart. The attack occurred just before 10 a.m. on Oct. 11, and Joseph McFadden was taken into custody on Friday, Nov. 17, near the 3300 block of North University Drive in Sunrise, according to detectives from the Broward Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit.Surveillance video captured the disturbing incident as the elderly man exited the Walmart at 3001 N. State Road 7. McFadden, described as a tall and thin male wearing a navy sweater with grey lettering, black pants, and flip flops, punched the victim in the face without provocation. The attacker then fled on foot, heading north towards Oakland Park Boulevard.Detectives confirmed that the victim, who sustained minor injuries, did not know McFadden, and no altercation or theft occurred between them. The motive behind the assault remains unclear.Following an extensive investigation, detectives obtained a warrant fo...