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Bridgeport mayor claims win, but do-over looms in election upended by video of ballot box stuffing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

The mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, declared himself the winner early Wednesday of a disputed election, thrown into uncertainty by allegations of voting irregularities in a now-voided primary.With the final vote totals in the race still unannounced by elections officials, Mayor Joe Ganim told supporters that he had won, and called on his strongest challenger, John Gomes, to withdraw from a court fight that has the election probably headed to a do-over “You’ve been rejected twice by the voters. Respect the voters of the City of Bridgeport!” Ganim said, in a speech directed at Gomes, a fellow Democrat. “Withdraw these claims, they have now lost their legitimacy.”The people of Bridgeport cast their ballots Tuesday knowing the results might not settle anything.A judge last week tossed out the results of the Democratic mayoral primary and ordered a new one, citing “mishandled” absentee ballots that left the court unable to determine who won.That set up the most bizarre of the may...

People nombra a Patrick Dempsey como el ‘hombre vivo más sexy’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

(CNN) — La revista People nombró al actor Patrick Dempsey el ‘hombre vivo más sexy’ de este año.La noticia se reveló en el episodio del martes de “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” después de que los miembros del público hicieran preguntas a Dempsey, cuya voz y rostro estaban ocultos, para intentar identificarlo.“Estoy contento de que hayan tomado una decisión y de que haya sido yo este año”, dijo Dempsey a Kimmel.Dempsey bromeó diciendo que a su familia le hizo gracia cuando se enteraron de su nuevo título: “Se rieron mucho. Decían: ‘No, en serio, ¿quién es?”.En cuanto a cómo reaccionó el actor de “Grey’s Anatomy” cuando se enteró de la noticia, dijo a People en una entrevista publicada el martes que estaba “completamente en shock.”“Y luego empecé a reírme, en plan ‘esto es una broma, ¿verdad?’ ¡Siempre he sido la dama de honor!”, dijo. “Lo había olvidado por completo y nunca había c...

Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves wins 2nd term, defeating Democrat Brandon Presley

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves won a second term Tuesday in the conservative state where his party dominates.Reeves defeated challenger Brandon Presley, who raised more money and made an aggressive push to give Democrats a rare statewide victory in the Deep South.“Mississippi has momentum, and this is Mississippi’s time,” Reeves told cheering supporters at a party in the Jackson suburb of Flowood, reflecting the main theme of his campaign.The mood at Presley’s party in Jackson, the capital city, was somber as he said hours after the polls closed: “Tonight’s a setback, but we’re not going to lose hope. … This campaign elevated issues that had to be elevated in Mississippi.” The race was unusually competitive for this GOP stronghold. But Reeves prevailed with a message focused on job creation, low unemployment and improvements in education. He also cast Presley as a liberal backed by out-of-state donors who were out of step with Mississippi.“For yo...

‘Drink water’ says Croatia’s health minister after 4 suspected poisoned with Coca-Cola sodas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

At least four people fell ill after drinking beverages made by the Coca-Cola company in Croatia over the past week, with the country’s health minister advising the public to “drink water.”One person was hospitalized after reportedly drinking Römerquelle, a flavored mineral water, at a café in Rijeka, a city in western Croatia, on Saturday. Three others were hospitalized in the capital Zagreb on Tuesday, Dr Rajko Ostojić, the head of the department of gastroenterology at the KBC hospital in Zagreb told local media.Ostojić, who is also a former health minister, said: “Don’t panic. Avoid all carbonated drinks. Drink ordinary municipal water. Zagreb is great, Dalmatian too … If Croatia has anything, it has great water.”One of the victims reportedly fell ill after drinking a Coca-Cola bought from a vending machine. The Croatian Institute of Public Health is analyzing samples of the drinks to determine what caused the symptoms.Croatia’s Mini...

Russia withdraws from CFE, NATO countries suspend adherence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

Presented by ASD By CALEB LARSON with LAURA KAYALI, JOSHUA POSANER, JOE GOLD, DOUGLAS BUSVINE and CLAUDIA CHIAPPA PRESENTED BY View in your browser or listen to audioSNEAK PEEK— Russia withdrew from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe: NATO announced the suspension of the agreement in response.— Britain and Canada push back against a bill to fund the U.S. government next year, saying it would seriously harm maritime defense cooperation between the three allies.— Europe undermined hopes for strategic autonomy in space by signing contracts with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.Good morning, and welcome to Morning Defense. Tips to [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] or follow us at @joshposaner,  @LauKaya and @calebmlarson.DRIVING THE DAYNATO SUSPENDS CFE: The alliance announced the suspension of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Euro...

Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka sells Streeterville condo for $575,000

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

Hall of Fame former Chicago Bears player and head coach Mike Ditka and his wife, Diana, on Nov. 7 sold their longtime two-bedroom, 1,904-square-foot condominium on the 39th floor of a Streeterville high-rise for $575,000.Known as “Iron Mike,” Ditka, 84, was a six-time All-Pro tight end for the Bears, and later, he also was the team’s head coach from 1982 until 1992, during which he led the Bears to their only Super Bowl victory ever, in 1986. Ditka maintained a presence in the Chicago area even after his time as the Bears’ head coach came to an end, as he kept a 5,121-square-foot house in Bannockburn until selling it in 1997.Also in 1997, Ditka lent his name to a Magnificent Mile steakhouse — the first of several that eventually would open — in which he was an investor. After Ditka’s second and final head coaching stint, with the New Orleans Saints, concluded in early 2000, he and his wife paid $700,000 several months later for their Streete...

A series of powerful earthquakes shakes eastern Indonesia. No immediate reports of casualties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A series of powerful and shallow earthquakes shook a sparsely populated island chain in eastern Indonesia on Wednesday. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.The U.S. Geological Survey said a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit an area 341 kilometers (211 miles) southwest of Tual, a coastal town in Maluku province, at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).It was followed by another 7.0 magnitude quake in the same area and two 5.1 magnitude aftershocks, the USGS said.Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency said there was no danger of a tsunami but warned of possible aftershocks.Villagers in the Tanimbar Islands reported strong tremors for a few minutes but there was no panic, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s spokesperson Abul Muhari said in a statement.He said the epicenter of the quakes was in the Banda Sea near the Tanimbar Islands, with a population of about 127,000.The country of more than 270 million people is freq...

Islamic State group claims responsibility for a minibus explosion in Afghan capital that killed 7

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a minibus explosion in the Afghan capital late on Tuesday that killed at least seven people. The Sunni militant group said its members detonated an explosive device on the bus carrying Shiite Muslims.Twenty others were wounded in the attack in Kabul’s western Shiite neighborhood of Dashti Barchi, according to police spokesman Khalid Zadran.The bombing was the second attack to have struck the area in as many weeks. Four people were killed and seven were wounded when an explosion hit a sports club in the neighborhood on Oct. 26. IS also claimed responsibility for that attack.The Dashti Barchi area of Kabul has been repeatedly targeted by the Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan. The group has carried out major assaults on schools, hospitals and mosques, and has also attacked other Shiite areas across the country.The IS affiliate is mainly based in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province and has been a...

Librarians turn to civil rights agency to oppose book bans and their firings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — She refused to ban books, many of them about racism and the experiences of LGBTQ+ people. And for that, Suzette Baker was fired as a library director in a rural county in central Texas. “I’m kind of persona non grata around here,” said Baker, who had headed the Kingsland, Texas, library system until she refused to take down a prominent display of several books people had sought to ban over the years.Now, Baker is fighting back. She and two other librarians who were similarly fired have filed workplace discrimination claims with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. And as culture war battles to keep certain books from children and teens put public and school libraries increasingly under pressure, their goal is redemption and, where possible, eventual reinstatement.So far, it’s a wait-and-see whether the claims will succeed — and set new precedent — in the struggle between teachers and librarians around the country who oppose book bans an...

China’s Xi urges countries unite in tackling AI challenges but makes no mention of internet controls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that potential risks associated with artificial intelligence are challenges that countries should deal with together, remarks that come against the backdrop of China’s rigid control of free speech on the internet. At the same time, China has also maximized the internet’s economic benefits and social media’s propaganda contributions to the ruling Communist Party’s authoritarian agenda. Xi’s prerecorded speech was broadcast at the opening of the World Internet Conference Summit in the eastern city of Wuzhen.He called for common security in cyberspace instead of confrontation. He said China would work with other countries to address risks brought by the development of AI and expressed his objections to “cyberspace hegemony.” China is ready to “promote the safe development of AI,” he said, with the implementation of the Global AI Governance Initiative, a proposal launched by the Chinese government last month calling for an open ...