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Daniel Noboa, political neophyte and heir to fortune, wins presidency in violence-wracked Ecuador

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Daniel Noboa has managed to do what his father failed at five times: Getting elected as Ecuador’s president.And he did it Sunday on his first attempt, winning a runoff election against a leftist lawyer on the resume of a 35-year-old who belongs to the South American country’s elite, which means some schooling in the U.S., some entrepreneurial work, some dabbling in politics.Now, he must answer the universal demand to make Ecuador safe again, which voters urged on all the candidates who originally jumped into the race amid a surge in unprecedented violence tied to drug trafficking. Noboa’s proposals to tackle the crucial issue have run the gamut. At one point in the campaign, he proposed turning ships into floating jails for the most violent criminals. At another, he simply promised more gear for police.Voters are increasingly frightened by the escalation of drug violence over the past three years. Killings, kidnappings, robberies and other criminal activi...

Major US pharmacy chain Rite Aid files for bankruptcy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Major U.S. pharmacy chain Rite Aid said Sunday that it has filed for bankruptcy and obtained $3.45 billion in fresh financing as it carries out a restructuring plan while coping with falling sales and opioid-related lawsuits. In 2022, Rite Aid settled for up to $30 million to resolve lawsuits alleging pharmacies contributed to an oversupply of prescription opioids. It said it had reached an agreement with its creditors on a financial restructuring plan to cut its debt and position itself for future growth and that the bankruptcy filing was part of that process. The plan will “significantly reduce the company’s debt” while helping to “resolve litigation claims in an equitable manner,” Rite Aid said. In March, the Justice Department filed a complaint against Rite Aid, alleging it knowingly filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances from May 2014-June 2019. It also accused pharmacists and the company of ignoring “red flags...

European Commission will immediately triple humanitarian assistance for Gaza to over €75 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

President Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) spoke to the Secretary General of the UN António Guterres, in the context of her on-going contacts with regional leaders.Following this call, she said: “The Commission will immediately increase the current humanitarian aid envelope foreseen for Gaza by €50 million. This will bring the total to over €75m. We will continue our close co-operation with the UN and its agencies to ensure that this aid reaches those in need in the Gaza strip. The Commission supports Israel's right to defend itself against the Hamas terrorists, in full respect of international humanitarian law. We are working hard to ensure that innocent civilians in Gaza are provided support in this context.”Commissioner Lenarčič said: “The Commission is doing everything in its power to provide humanitarian support to civilians in the Gaza strip. This tripling of EU humanitarian assistance will help ensure that civilians in Gaza can be provided with the basic necessities required. ...

Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams score 2nd-half touchdowns in Rams' 26-9 win over Cardinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Although the Los Angeles Rams have played plenty of stellar offensive football over the past seven seasons, Sean McVay's team hasn't usually done it by simply squaring its shoulders and running the ball straight through opposing defenses.The Rams ran it relentlessly in the second half against Arizona on Sunday, and the result was a runaway win.Kyren Williams rushed for a career-high 158 yards and a touchdown, and Cooper Kupp made seven receptions for 148 yards and his first TD of the season in the Rams' 26-9 victory over the Cardinals.Williams produced the Rams' best individual rushing performance in nearly three years despite getting just 4 yards on two carries in the first half. McVay dramatically leaned into the running game after halftime, even calling eight consecutive runs to begin the third quarter, and his players responded superbly to the test of their toughness.“It's awesome. I love it,” said Matthew Stafford, who passed for 226 yards. “I was so fired up, stepping back int...

MLB playoffs 2023: Rangers take ALCS lead over Astros; Phillies, Diamondbacks prep for NLCS

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

After winning the AL Championship Series opener, Texas will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound in Game 2 on Monday against Houston’s Framber Valdez.Zack Wheeler will be on the mound when Philadelphia opens the NL Championship Series against Arizona on Monday night.Jordan Montgomery outdueled Justin Verlander in Sunday night’s opener, combining with Josh Sborz, Aroldis Chapman and José Leclerc on a five-hitter in a 2-0 victory. Jonah Heim hit an RBI single in the second and Leody Taveras homered in the fifth. Evan Carter, at 21 the youngest player in the matchup, made a pair of sparkling catches in left field.“Oh, my gosh. This is so much fun,” Carter said. “That’s just all I think about. Where else would I want to be. This is awesome. I’m just trying to keep my feet grounded and just keep rolling with this team . It’s been a lot of fun.”Wheeler pitched into the seventh inning in both of his starts for Philadelphia and has struck out 18 and walked one. He has thrived in fro...

Lillard scores 14 points in Milwaukee debut as Bucks beat Lakers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 16 points, Damian Lillard had 14 in his Milwaukee debut, and the Bucks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 108-97 on Sunday night.Lillard, part of a three-team blockbuster trade that sent him from Portland to Milwaukee, finished 3-for-10 shooting including 2 for 7 from 3-point range. Lillard’s night ended with 4:41 left in the third quarter. He played 22 minutes. Antetokounmpo, who shot 7 for 10, played 15 minutes.Anthony Davis scored 16 points for Los Angeles in 19 minutes. Davis also had seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks. LeBron James did not play.HORNETS 117, THUNDER 115P.J. Washington scored 31 points shooting 13 for 18 and Terry Rozier scored 19 and host Charlotte beat Oklahoma City.LaMelo Ball scored 16 points as the Hornets shot 52.3%.Jaylin Williams scored 18 points and Aaron Wiggins had 16 for Oklahoma City, which did not play its starters.RAPTORS 134, TAIPANS 93Scottie Barnes scored 14 points, and Chris Bo...

EU-led military exercises begin in Spain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Presented by ASD By CALEB LARSON with LAURA KAYALI, JOSHUA POSANER, VERONIKA MELKOZEROVA and PIETER HAECK PRESENTED BY View in your browser or listen to audioSNEAK PEEK— Nine European countries kicked off week-long military exercises in Spain, the first lead by the EU independently of NATO.— EU countries and the European Commission will assess semiconductor technology, AI, quantum and biotech, but EU insiders tell POLITICO the Commission risks a rushed evaluation process.— Steadfast Noon, NATO’s annual nuclear exercise, begins today. 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 DAYMILITARY EXERCISE IN SPAIN: As of today, 31 military units and 2,800 military personnel from nine EU countries — including 1,800 from Spain, 600 from France and 200 from P...

Poland waits for final election result after ruling party and opposition claim a win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland faced a period of political uncertainty Monday after Poles voted in huge numbers in an election in which opposition parties appeared to gain a combined majority. But the ruling nationalist conservative party won more votes than any single party and said it would try to keep governing.The final results have not reported by the state electoral commission. But the polling agency Ipsos released a so-called late exit poll on Monday morning, which combines the results of an exit poll carried out during Sunday’s election and 50% of the votes counted.It showed that the ruling nationalist conservative Law and Justice party with 36.6% of the votes cast, the opposition Civic Coalition led by Donald Tusk with 31%, the centrist Third Way coalition with 13.5%, the Left party with 8.6% and the far-right Confederation with 6.4%.In order for a government to pass laws, it needs at least 231 seats in the 460-lower house of parliament, the Sejm.According to Ipsos, the...

2026 Olympic organizers forced to look outside Italy for ice sliding venue after project funds cut

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

MUMBAI, India (AP) — A big-ticket project for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics has been dropped because the Italian government no longer wants to help fund it, organizing committee officials said Monday.Bobsled, luge and skeleton events now need to be held outside Italy, likely either at the sliding track in Igls, Austria or St. Moritz, Switzerland.The historic Eugenio Monti track at Cortina d’Ampezzo – built 100 years ago, used for the 1956 Winter Games, and shut down 15 years ago – was planned to be rebuilt but expected costs spiraled from the original 50 million euros ($53 million) estimate.“Recent years’ dramatic international scenario has forced a reflection on the resources regionally allocated by the Italian government as investment for this specific venue,” organizing committee leader Giovanni Malago said at the International Olympic Committee’s annual meeting being held in Mumbai, India.“This venue has been at the center of a long and controversial process,” Malago ack...

Stock market today: Asian shares sink as investors brace for Israeli invasion of Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares fell in Asia as investors braced Monday for an expected invasion by Israel in the Gaza Strip.U.S. futures edged higher while oil prices were little changed. Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region and the call-up of some 360,000 reservists, have positioned themselves along Gaza’s border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. More than a million people have fled their homes in the besieged enclave in the past week, ahead of the expected invasion meant to eliminate Hamas’ leadership after its deadly Oct. 7 attack. “Who can blame markets for being jittery,” RaboResearch Global Economics and Markets said in a commentary. “The world now holds its breath as Israel prepares for a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza, with only unseasonal torrential rain delaying the seemingly inevitable.”The conflict has jolted oil markets, adding to uncertainties already hanging over th...