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A presidential runoff is likely in Ecuador between an ally of ex-president and a banana tycoon’s son

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:42 GMT

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorian voters looking for a new leader to help curb the country’s unprecedented violence will have to head to the polls again in October for a runoff that is likely to see the ally of a convicted former president vie against the principal heir of a banana growing and exporting empire.No candidate in Sunday’s special presidential election received enough support to be declared winner. The election process took place under the watch of tens of thousands of police officers and soldiers deployed across the country, partly in response to the assassination of a presidential candidate earlier this month.With more than 85% the votes counted late Sunday, results from the National Electoral Council had leftist Luisa González in the lead, with about 33% of support. She had been the frontrunner heading into the contest, but the Election Day’s surprise came from former lawmaker Daniel Noboa who received about 24% votes even though he never placed above fifth place i...

Guatemala elects progressive Arévalo as president, but efforts afoot to keep him from taking office

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:42 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — A progressive from outside Guatemala’s power structure was resoundingly elected the country’s next president Sunday in a reprimand to the governing elite over widespread allegations of corruption.Despite preliminary results showing a potential landslide for anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arévalo, the attention immediately turned to whether he would be allowed to assume power as the current administration attempts to suspend his party’s legal status.With more than 99% of votes counted, preliminary results gave Arévalo 58% of the vote to 37% for former first lady Sandra Torres in her third bid for the presidency. The official results will still have to be certified.“We know that there is a political persecution underway that is being carried out through the institutions and prosecutor’s offices and judges that have been corruptly co-opted,” Arévalo said Sunday night. “We want to think that the force of this victory is going to make it clear that there is no pl...

New faces in Cambodia’s parliament as king welcomes incoming lawmakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:42 GMT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia’s king congratulated the country’s new lawmakers on Monday, urging them in his traditional speech to the National Assembly on its first day following elections to promote economic growth and equality. The Cambodian People’s Party under longtime authoritarian Prime Minister Hun Sen won a landslide victory in elections last month, taking 120 of 125 seats in the lower house of Parliament after successfully stifling all credible opposition.The new government is undergoing a generational change, however, as Hun Sen hands off the premiership to his eldest son, Hun Manet, and many key Cabinet ministers are being replaced — most also by the children or relatives of incumbents. In Hun Sen’s nearly four decades in power, Cambodia saw a dramatic increase in its standard of living, though the gap between the wealthy and poor has increased. King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodia’s largely symbolic figurehead, told lawmakers he hoped the next ...

Dentist convicted of killing wife on African safari set to be sentenced to life in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:42 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A wealthy dentist convicted of killing his wife at the end of an African safari in Zambia is expected to be sentenced to life in prison Monday for a murder prosecutors say capped off a lifetime “spent seeking domination and control over others through wealth and power.”At the hearing in a Denver federal court, U.S. government prosecutors will also seek to get an estimated $25 million in restitution, seized property and fines from Larry Rudolph. He was also found guilty in federal court last year for mail fraud for cashing in nearly $5 million in insurance policies for his wife, Bianca Rudolph.Larry Rudolph has claimed throughout the case that his wife’s death in the southern African nation in 2016 was an accident. His lawyers plan to appeal the conviction. Prosecutors say Rudolph, who owned a Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, shot his wife of 34 years in the heart with a shotgun on her last morning in Zambia, and then put the gun in its soft case to make it look ...

St. Louis City strengthens hold on top spot in West after 6-3 win over Austin FC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nicholas Gioacchini and Samuel Adeniran both scored twice, Eduard Löwen had three assists and St. Louis City breezed to a 6-3 victory over Austin FC on Sunday night as the league returned to action after a five-week layoff for Leagues Cup play.Defender Tim Parker scored his fourth goal of the season, using an assist from Löwen in the 22nd minute to give St. Louis City (14-8-2) a 1-0 lead.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersGioacchini stretched the lead to 2-0 at the half when he scored in the second minute of stoppage time with an assist from Löwen.Gioacchini scored his 10th goal of the season — unassisted — five minutes into the second half to push the expansion club's lead to 3-0.Austin (9-10-5) got on the scoreboard in the 61st minute on a penalty kick by Sebastián Driussi. It was Driussi's sixth goal this season.Adeniran answered in the 72nd minute for...

Hong Kong and Macao: EU publishes annual report on political and economic developments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:42 GMT

The European Commission and the High Representative have today adopted their latest annual reports on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in the Macao Special Administrative Region during the year 2022.The annual report on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region illustrates the continued erosion of Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, democratic principles, and fundamental freedoms that were supposed to be protected until at least 2047. These developments cast further doubt on China's commitment to the “one country, two systems” principle. In 2022, the EU was Hong Kong's third-largest trading partner in goods.The annual report on political and economic developments in the Macao Special Administrative Region shows a growing focus on national security that bears the risk of undermining fundamental freedoms in Macao and eroding the “one country, two systems” principle and Macao's high degree o...

Massive mudslide sends firefighters running for safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:42 GMT

Firefighters in San Bernardino County found themselves running to safety after encountering a massive, boulder-filled mudslide barreling towards them Sunday as heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Hilary battered the area.  KTLA learned that crews at Fire Station 99 in the Forest Falls area heard a loud noise that they went to check out.  Video then shows the fast-moving debris field racing down the hill, taking out trees and anything in its path as crew members turn and run back down the rocky terrain to safety.Video captured a massive mudslide in Forest Falls that temporarily trapped firefighters at the station on Aug. 20, 2023. (OnScene TV)Firefighters seen running from a massive mudslide in Forest Falls brought on by heavy rains on Aug. 20, 2023. (OnScene TV)Fortunately, no one was injured but the mudslide, which can be seen winding its way down the hillside and across the road stranded firefighters at the station until the road can be cleared.  

Trio leads St Louis City to 6-3 romp over Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nicholas Gioacchini and Samuel Adeniran both scored twice, Eduard Löwen had three assists and St. Louis City breezed to a 6-3 victory over Austin FC on Sunday night as the league returned to action after a five-week layoff for Leagues Cup play.Defender Tim Parker scored his fourth goal of the season, using an assist from Löwen in the 22nd minute to give St. Louis City (14-8-2) a 1-0 lead.Gioacchini stretched the lead to 2-0 at the half when he scored in the second minute of stoppage time with an assist from Löwen.Gioacchini scored his 10th goal of the season — unassisted — five minutes into the second half to push the expansion club’s lead to 3-0.Austin (9-10-5) got on the scoreboard in the 61st minute on a penalty kick by Sebastián Driussi. It was Driussi’s sixth goal this season.Adeniran answered in the 72nd minute for St. Louis City, scoring unassisted for a 4-1 lead.Will Bruin used an assist from Jon Gallagher to score for a second time this season t...

Espinoza scores lone goal in Earthquakes’ 1-0 win over Whitecaps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:42 GMT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Cristian Espinoza scored late in the first half and Daniel de Sousa Britto made it stand up as the San Jose Earthquakes edged the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 on Sunday night as the league returned to action after a five-week hiatus for Leagues Cup play.Neither team scored until Espinoza found the net in the 43rd minute, using an assist from Jeremy Ebobisse to score his 12th goal of the season. Espinoza is in a four-way tie for second place in the race for the Golden Boot, one behind the 13 goals of reigning MVP Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC.San Jose (9-7-8) also beat Vancouver (8-8-7) 2-1 in March and has won three straight in the series. The Earthquakes are 7-2-3 in their last 12 matches with the Whitecaps with both losses on the road. San Jose is 2-0-2 in its last four on the road after going 0-11-4 in its previous 15.Daniel totaled seven saves to earn the clean sheet for the Earthquakes. Yohei Takaoka did not have a save for the Whitecaps.The Whiteca...

This Week: US home sales, Nvidia earns, durable goods orders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:42 GMT

A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week:HOUSING MARKET BAROMETERThe National Association of Realtors releases its July tally of existing U.S. home sales Tuesday.Economists project that sales of previously occupied homes slowed slightly last month from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.12 million. A near-historic low number of homes on the market nationally and rising mortgage rates have kept many would-be homebuyers on the sidelines this year. Sales in June slowed to the slowest pace since January.Existing home sales, in millions, seasonally adjusted annual rate:Feb. 4.55March 4.43April 4.29May 4.30June 4.16July (est.) 4.12Source: FactSetON A ROLLWall Street expects another strong quarterly snapshot from Nvidia.Analysts predict the chipmaker will report Wednesday that its fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue rose sharply compared to the same quarter last year. Nvidia, which in May hit a $1 trillion market capitalization...