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Zimbabwe’s president, a former guerrilla fighter known as ‘the crocodile,’ is seeking reelection

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe — ## Scheduled to move Monday August 21 0600 GMT with photos and video. Initial edit by Gerald Imray. ##HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a former guerrilla fighter and bodyguard who responded to being fired as vice president by unseating Robert Mugabe, his own mentor and one of the world’s longest-ruling leaders, in a coup.Mnangagwa is now seeking reelection for a second term as president in a vote this week that could see the ruling ZANU-PF party extend its 43-year hold on power in the southern African nation struggling under international sanctions. Zimbabwe has been governed by ZANU-PF ever since it won independence from white minority rule in 1980.Mnangagwa’s nickname — “the crocodile” — fits well for a man praised by supporters for his political cunning and criticized by others for a ruthless streak.Mnangagwa replaced the autocratic Mugabe as president after a military-led coup in 2017, won a disputed election in 20...

Commission to assess the proposed acquisition of Autotalks by Qualcomm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

The European Commission has accepted the requests submitted by 15 EU member states to assess the proposed acquisition of Autotalks by Qualcomm under the EU Merger Regulation (‘EUMR').These referral requests reached the Commission after it had invited member states to make a referral request. Qualcomm is a global US-based semiconductor manufacturer serving various industries, including the automotive sector where its chipsets enable vehicles to communicate directly with each other and with their surrounding environment (vehicles-to-everything (‘V2X') communications). Autotalks is an Israeli semiconductor manufacturer specialized in V2X semiconductors.The proposed acquisition does not reach the notification thresholds set out in the EUMR, and it was not notifiable in any member state. Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden submitted initial referral requests to the Commission pursuant to Article 22(1) of the EUMR. This provision allows member states to reque...

A bus crashes off the road in central Turkey, leaving 12 passengers dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A passenger bus veered off the road and crashed into a roadside ditch in central Turkey on Monday, killing 12 people and injuring 19 others, officials said.The driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle, which crossed into the oncoming lane and then plunged into the ditch near the central Turkish city of Yozgat, Gov. Mehmet Ali Ozkan said.The bus was traveling from Sivas — some 240 kilometers (150 miles) east of Yozgat — to Istanbul.Ozkan said 11 of the passengers died at the scene of the crash while one died later in the hospital.The injured passengers were being treated in nearby hospitals and one of them was in serious condition, he said.The cause of the crash was under investigation, Ozkan said, adding that it appeared to be the result of “carelessness” by the driver.The Associated Press

Hiding beneath normality, daily life in Kyiv conceals the burdens of war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Life in the capital of a war-torn country seems normal on the surface. In the mornings, people rush to their work holding cups of coffee. Streets are filled with cars, and in the evenings restaurants are packed. But the details tell another story.Numerous buildings across Kyiv bear the scars of Russian bombardment. Sandbags are stacked around monuments, museums and office buildings to protect from possible attack. At nights, streets are empty after the midnight curfew comes into force. In restaurants, diners chat about life, friends and jobs and discuss whether they liked the Barbie or Oppenheimer movie better, or which concert they might attend. But such conversations can suddenly turn to stories about burying loved ones, or how they hid during the most recent missile attack or how they adjusted their schedule to balance sleepless nights and the need to be productive at work.“Death has become a very routine part of our life,” said Aliona Vyshnytska, 29, who wor...

Japan govt makes final plea to gain fisheries’ understanding for Fukushima plant water release

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese government officials sought understanding from fisheries groups Monday for the impending release of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea and pledged to support their livelihoods throughout the process that will take decades. Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura met with the head of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives and promised that the government is doing everything it can to ensure the safety of the release and prepared measures to protect the fisheries industry’s reputation.Nishimura told the fisheries official, Masanobu Sakamoto, that the water release is essential for the plant decommissioning and Fukushima’s recovery and can’t be postponed. He also said the government will stand by the concerns and needs of the fisheries community until the release ends decades later.Sakamoto, at the outset, stressed that his organization as a whole remains opposed to the releas...

Heat Stages Comeback this Week; Hilary's Impacts on Southwest; Monitoring Tropical Atlantic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

"Hilary" grew into a powerhouse "Cat-4" hurricane with 145 mph sustained winds between Wednesday and Thursday last week—then, moving up and over the much cooler waters off Baja California Saturday and Sunday—weakened to its current tropical storm statusThe satellite "presentation" of "Hilary" in this multi-day sequence of image, frames of which you can "click through"and watch the progression on the series of true color GOES WEST satellite images I'm posting, is quite stunning.The sequence begins with a 9:40am CDT Wed GOES WEST image, then progresses day by day through Thursday, Friday, Saturday--and finally 9:40am CDT this (Sunday) morning 8/20/2023.9:40 am CDT Wed 8/16/20235:40 pm CDT Thu 8/178:50 am CDT Fri 8/185:40pm CDT Sat 8/199:40 am CDT Sunday 8/20Intensification over the warm waters off western Mexico was explosive between Wednesday and Thursday. Ocean temps there are running 3.6 to 7-deg F above typical August levels—and in the mid 80s F.Equally impressive has been the sto...

Commission clears acquisition of BPS by Advent and Warburg Pincus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Baxter Pharmaceutical Solutions LLC of the US and Baxter Oncology GmbH of Germany ('BPS') by Advent International Corporation and affiliated funds (‘Advent') and Warburg Pincus LLC and affiliated funds (‘Warburg Pincus'), both of the US.BPS provides contract development and manufacturing organization services for finished dose pharmaceuticals. Advent is a private equity investor focusing on the acquisition of equity stakes and the management of investment funds in various sectors, including healthcare. Warburg Pincus is a global private equity firm active in a variety of sectors, including healthcare.The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the companies' limited combined market position and the limited vertical relationships resulting from the proposed transaction. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger ...

Japan govt makes final plea to gain fisheries’ understanding for Fukushima plant water release

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese government officials sought understanding from fisheries groups Monday for the impending release of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea and pledged to support their livelihoods throughout the process that will take decades. Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura met with the head of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives and promised that the government is doing everything it can to ensure the safety of the release and prepared measures to protect the fisheries industry’s reputation.Nishimura told the fisheries official, Masanobu Sakamoto, that the water release is essential for the plant decommissioning and Fukushima’s recovery and can’t be postponed. He also said the government will stand by the concerns and needs of the fisheries community until the release ends decades later.Sakamoto, at the outset, stressed that his organization as a whole remains opposed to the releas...

Washington hosts Connecticut following Thomas’ 22-point game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

Connecticut Sun (22-10, 12-3 Eastern Conference) at Washington Mystics (15-17, 8-9 Eastern Conference)Washington; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Connecticut faces the Washington Mystics after Alyssa Thomas scored 22 points in the Sun’s 79-73 victory against the Chicago Sky.The Mystics are 8-9 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington ranks fifth in the WNBA allowing 82.3 points per game while holding opponents to 44.5% shooting.The Sun are 12-3 in conference games. Connecticut ranks second in the Eastern Conference shooting 35.8% from 3-point range.The teams meet for the fourth time this season. In the last meeting on July 9 the Sun won 92-84 led by 28 points from DeWanna Bonner, while Tianna Hawkins scored 24 points for the Mystics.TOP PERFORMERS: Brittney Sykes is shooting 44.1% and averaging 15.6 points for the Mystics. Natasha Cloud is averaging 13.5 points over the last 10 games for Washington.Tiffany Hayes is averaging 12.1 points for the Sun. Bonner is averaging...

Atlanta hosts Las Vegas after Parker’s 29-point game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:53:39 GMT

Las Vegas Aces (28-4, 15-2 Western Conference) at Atlanta Dream (16-16, 10-8 Eastern Conference)College Park, Georgia; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Atlanta hosts the Las Vegas Aces after Cheyenne Parker scored 29 points in the Atlanta Dream’s 78-67 victory against the Chicago Sky.The Dream have gone 9-6 in home games. Atlanta gives up 83.7 points and has been outscored by 1.6 points per game.The Aces are 12-3 on the road. Las Vegas is second in the WNBA with 28.6 defensive rebounds per game led by A’ja Wilson averaging 7.4.The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Aces won the last meeting 86-65 on Aug. 14. Wilson scored 21 points to help lead the Aces to the victory.TOP PERFORMERS: Allisha Gray is scoring 17.5 points per game with 5.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Dream. Parker is averaging 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and two blocks over the last 10 games for Atlanta.Wilson is averaging 21.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.1 blocks for the Aces. Kel...