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Florida GOP chair under investigation related to sexual battery allegation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:22 GMT

(CNN) — Christian Ziegler, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, is under investigation by the Sarasota Police Department related to an allegation of sexual battery from October.An attorney for Ziegler, Derek Byrd, said in a statement that his client has been “fully cooperative with every request” from the Sarasota Police Department.“We acknowledge the reports that there is an investigation being conducted by the Sarasota Police Department regarding Mr. Ziegler,” he said.“We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated,” Byrd said. He did not disclose any details about the investigation.The report Byrd referenced is from a local Florida watchdog website that first outlined the investigation, along with alleged details about Ziegler’s sexual relationships and the alleged assault. CNN has not independently verified those allegations.However, CNN on Thursday morning obtaine...

Callahan: Bill Belichick made the right — and only — QB call he could

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:22 GMT

FOXBORO — One week late, maybe a loss too late, whatever.Bill Belichick finally made the call.Mac Jones out. Bailey Zappe in. The Patriots are moving on.Zappe has taken the majority of reps in practice this week at quarterback, according to the Herald’s Doug Kyed, and is being prepared to start Sunday against the Chargers, per The Athletic.Zappe was last seen trailing by three and handing the ball off on third-and-8 during the final seconds of the Pats’ last loss to the Giants; a scared decision Bill Belichick later claimed was aggressive despite its being obviously reactionary to playing a backup quarterback. Again, whatever.Belichick is sitting Jones, a broken player, in favor of a worse passer whose confidence is intact. Zappe represents a bridge from the basement to wherever this treacherous season leads next. Now it’s time for fans to rally behind the change.Not because Zappe’s necessarily earned your cheers or to settle a tired Mac-versus-Zappe debate o...

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow on cutting deals with Doug Ford, fixing a broken city and putting pressure on Ottawa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:22 GMT

When Olivia Chow was running for mayor, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said a Chow victory would be an “unmitigated disaster”. Almost six months later, he was on stage with her, thanking her for working with him on a historic deal between the city and province. He called their collaboration “amazing” and the deal “one-sided” in the mayor’s favour.In a sit-down interview with The Big Story, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow explained how she was able to come together with Premier Ford over shared goals, despite their political differences. “[Premier Doug Ford’s] way of dealing with [work as a politician] is of course slightly different than my way, but the desire to serve you could see that from the Ford family.”Mayor Chow served as a city councillor with Doug Ford’s late brother, the contentious Toronto city counsellor turned mayor, Rob Ford.The deal offloaded two highways, the Gardiner and Don Valley Parkway, back to the province and saw the small portion of the Ontario place land held by the c...

Madagascar’s top court ratifies president’s reelection in vote boycotted by opposition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:22 GMT

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — Madagascar’s top court on Friday ratified the victory of incumbent President Andry Rajoelina in last month’s election, giving him a third term as leader following a boycott of the vote by opposition candidates.The High Constitutional Court said Rajoelina received 58.96% of votes in the first round and was reelected without the need for a runoff. The results had already been announced by Madagascar’s electoral commission but the constitution requires they are ratified by the top court.Rajoelina, 49, first served as president of a provisional government from 2009-2014 following a political crisis and a coup in the Indian Ocean island. He won a vote in 2019.The Nov. 16 election was marked by trouble. It was delayed for a week because of a series of anti-Rajoelina protests led by the opposition. A curfew was announced on the eve of the election after protesters torched some ballot stations.A coalition of opposition candidates called for ...

A UN court is ruling on request to order Venezuela to halt part of a referendum on a disputed region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:22 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United Nations’ top court is set to announce Friday whether it will order Venezuela to halt parts of a referendum planned for Sunday on the future of a disputed territory that makes up two-thirds of Guyana.Venezuela does not recognize the International Court of Justice’s jurisdiction in the decades-old dispute over the Essequibo region and is expected to press ahead with the referendum regardless of what its judges decide.At urgent hearings in November, lawyers for Guyana said the vote is designed to pave the way for annexation by Venezuela of the Essequibo — a territory larger than Greece that is rich in oil and minerals. They called on the world court to halt the referendum in its current form.But Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez defiantly told the court: ” Nothing will prevent the referendum scheduled for Dec. 3 from being held.”Venezuela has always considered Essequibo as its own because the region was within its bound...

The Philippines opens a new monitoring base on a remote island in the disputed South China Sea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:22 GMT

THITU ISLAND, South China Sea (AP) — The Philippines inaugurated a new coast guard monitoring base Friday on an island occupied by Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea and plans to expand joint patrols with the United States and Australia to counter China’s “pure bullying” in the strategic waterway, a Philippine security official said.High-seas faceoffs between Chinese and Philippine ships have intensified this year in the contested waters, fueling fears of a larger conflict that could involve the United States. The U.S. has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.China has accused the U.S. of meddling in an Asian dispute and sowing discord in the region.National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano and other Philippine officials flew to Thitu Island on an air force plane Friday and led a ceremony to open the newly constructed, two-story center ...

Live updates | Israel and Hamas trade blame for cease-fire's end as combat resumes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:22 GMT

Israel resumed fighting in Gaza minutes after a temporary cease-fire deal ended, and accused Hamas of having violated the truce. Hamas blames Israel, saying it declined offers to free more hostages. Mediator Qatar said Friday that efforts are ongoing to renew an Israel-Hamas cease-fire and expressed “deep regret” over the resumption of Israeli bombardments.Over 100 hostages were freed during the seven-day truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken. Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage. The 240 Palestinians released under the cease-fire were mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. The deal that began Nov. 24 ended after a week and multiple extensions, despite international pressure for the truce to continue as long as possible. Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left more than three-quarters of Gaza's 2.3 million residents uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis. More than 13,...

Fonda-Fultonville football seeks to bring home first state title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:22 GMT

FONDA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Football in Fonda is a rite of passage. And to be the first team in Fonda-Fultonville history to reach the JMA Wireless Dome is an achievement this year's group is not taking lightly. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "2014 Fonda played a preseason game in the Dome, and I went," said senior wide receiver Brady Melious. "I was a kid; I was eight years old, and I went with a couple buddies on this football team. But…(I) would've never believed I would be in the position to play on that field. It's unbelievable."Fonda awaits Waverly in Saturday's Class C state title game. And the Braves feel they know what to expect out of the Section IV foe that's also making its first appearance in a state championship game."It's like looking in a mirror kind of. They do a lot of the same stuff we do…you know, offensively - their play calls, their formations," said Fonda-Fultonville head coach Mike Mancini. "So, you know, i...

Commission sends Statement of Objections to six companies and one trade association in automotive starter battery cartel case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:22 GMT

The European Commission has informed automotive starter batteries manufacturers Banner, Clarios (former JC Autobatterie), Exide, FET (and its predecessor Elettra), and Rombat as well as trade association Eurobat and its service provider Kellen of its preliminary view that they have breached EU antitrust rules by colluding to increase the prices of automotive starter batteries sold to car producers in the European Economic Area (‘EEA').The Commission has concerns that between 2004 until 2017 the five starter batteries manufacturers created, published and agreed to use new indices in their price negotiations with car producers (the so-called ‘Eurobat Premium System'). The aim of this alleged conduct was to fix an important element of the final battery price. The Commission is also concerned that Eurobat and its service provider Kellen were aware of the alleged conduct and actively contributed to it by assisting the battery manufacturers in creating and running the Eurobat premium syst...

Horoscopes Dec. 1, 2023: Bette Midler, charm your way forward

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:22 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Vance Joy, 36; Sarah Silverman, 53; Nestor Carbonell, 56; Bette Midler, 78.Happy Birthday: A financial change is heading your way. Be innovative, let your intuition guide you, expect the unusual and learn to accept and embrace whatever comes your way. Take responsibility and focus on achieving what you want to pursue. Keep an open mind and listen to experts, but be sure something is a good fit for you before you get involved. Charm your way forward, but don’t sugarcoat what you have to offer. Your numbers are 9, 14, 22, 26, 30, 37, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Participate and show everyone what you can do. An innovative approach to life, love and happiness will create a stir among your peers and help you attract support. Self-improvement will not go unnoticed; love and romance are in the stars. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t take on more than you can handle. Your reputation is at stake, and how others perceive you will determine the...