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Madagascar’s main opposition candidate files a lawsuit claiming fraud in the presidential election

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:17:19 GMT

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — The main opposition candidate in Madagascar said Monday he has filed lawsuits with the country’s highest court seeking to have the results of this month’s national election canceled and incumbent President Andry Rajoelina’s victory declared invalid, claiming fraud.Rajoelina, 49, was announced Saturday as the winner of the Nov. 16 election with 58.95% of the votes, giving him a third term as leader of the Indian Ocean island.Rajoelina’s victory was announced by the national electoral commission but needs to be ratified within nine days by the High Constitutional Court.The runup to the vote saw protests led by a coalition of opposition candidates and the burning of some ballot stations on the eve of election day. Ten of the 12 opposition candidates called for a boycott of the vote, although their names appeared on ballot papers.Some Rajoelina supporters have claimed they were promised money to vote for him.Main opposition candida...

Book Review: Lauren Grodstein’s masterpiece of historical fiction set in Warsaw Ghetto during WWII

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:17:19 GMT

The Oneg Shabbat archive was a secret project of Jewish prisoners in the Warsaw Ghetto to record their histories as they awaited deportation to Nazi death camps during World War II. Lauren Grodstein has used this historical fact as the basis for her mesmerizing new novel, “We Must Not Think of Ourselves.”It is narrated by a fictional schoolteacher, Adam Paskow, who conducts interviews for the real-life archives as he falls in love with a married woman, Sala Wiskoff, with whom he shares overcrowded quarters.Grodstein, who was inspired to write the book after a Jewish family heritage trip to Warsaw, where she first encountered the diary entries, propaganda posters and other materials that comprise the archives, excels at character development and naturalistic dialogue. In Adam, she has created an immensely appealing protagonist, notwithstanding his adulterous affair with Sala, who is equally charismatic.Before the war, Adam was living a quiet, bookish life in a prosperous neighborhood...

Hiam Abbass’ Palestinian family documentary ‘Bye Bye Tiberias’ applauded at Marrakech Film Festival

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:17:19 GMT

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Thirty years ago, Palestinian actor Hiam Abbass left her home to pursue her dreams of being in the movies, joining generations of women in her family who were shaped by exile and “learned to leave everything and start anew.”That’s one of the stories told in her director daughter Lina Soualem’s documentary “Bye Bye Tiberias,” which received a standing ovation and shouts of “Long Live Palestine” on Saturday night at the Marrakech International Film Festival for the film’s first screening in the Arab world.The documentary, the Palestinian entry for next year’s Academy Award for Best International Feature, follows Abbass and Soualem as the mother-daughter pair laugh, cry and tell the story of four generations of women in their family.“Bye Bye Tiberias” first premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, more than a month before the start of the latest Israel-Hamas war, sparked by the militant group’s deadly incursion into Is...

Defence begins its case in criminal trial of high-profile ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:17:19 GMT

OTTAWA — Defence lawyers for “Freedom Convoy” organizers Chris Barber and Tamara Lich have started laying out their case in an Ottawa courtroom.Eric Granger, a lawyer for Lich, is arguing today that there is no direct evidence linking her to any unlawful activities that took place in downtown Ottawa during the protest.The two are co-accused of mischief and intimidation, among other charges connected to the massive demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions that gridlocked the area near Parliament Hill for weeks in early 2022.The Crown wrapped up its case last Monday after weeks of testimony about the disruptive nature of the demonstrations, arguing that Barber and Lich exerted influence over protesters’ behaviour.The defence filed a motion last Tuesday arguing that Lich and Barber shouldn’t be viewed as co-conspirators because their actions weren’t criminal. Judge Heather Perkins-McVey says she doesn’t expect to make a ruling on the motion this w...

Ontario to upload DVP, Gardiner costs in new deal with Toronto

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:17:19 GMT

The province of Ontario will be uploading the costs of the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway in a new deal with the City of Toronto.In exchange, the city will back down on the fight over Ontario Place, a move that would clear the way for the Ford government’s redevelopment plans for the Crown lands.The details of the fresh agreement were unveiled in a Monday morning joint news conference at Queen’s Park with Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.“This historic new deal will help support the future growth of Toronto, delivering shared priorities like building homes, public transit and infrastructure,” said Ford in a statement. “Toronto is critical to Ontario and Canada’s economic success, and we need all levels of government working together to deliver solutions that protect services and put the city on a path towards long-term financial sustainability.”#BREAKING – Premier Ford confirms the province will take control of the DVP and Gardi...

Person fatally struck by Metra train near Norwood Park

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:17:19 GMT

CHICAGO -- A person is dead after they were struck by a Metra train the Norwood Park neighborhood Monday morning, Metra said.According to the Metra UP-NW post, the inbound and outbound trains stopped near Norwood Park due to a train striking a pedestrian. Work to begin on winterized tent camp in Brighton Park despite resident pushback They say extensive delays are anticipated. There is no information on how the pedestrian was struck. WGN is actively following the incident and will update as more information is recovered.

White House unveils holiday decorations

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:17:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – First lady Dr. Jill Biden, is announcing this year’s holiday theme at the White House. She said the theme, “Magic, Wonder and Joy,” is designed for visitors to see the holidays through the eyes of a child.The White House says the décor includes 98 Christmas trees, more than 142,000 lights and nearly 34,000 ornaments. There are also numerous tributes to the 200th anniversary of the publication of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”The first Christmas tree displayed inside the White House is decorated with wooden Gold Star ornaments that are engraved with the names of fallen service members.The 18.5-foot-tall official White House Christmas tree, located in the Blue Room, celebrates cheerful scenes, landscapes and neighborhoods from across the country.The East Room features Advent calendars counting down the days to Christmas with a surprise behind each number.The official White House Menorah is on display in the Cross Hall, which runs between the State Dining Roo...

Rosalynn Carter remembered as family begins three days of memorials

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:17:19 GMT

AMERICUS, Ga. (AP) — Rosalynn Carter embarked on her final journey Monday to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center as her family began three days of memorials for the former first lady and global humanitarian who died Nov. 19 at the age of 96.Family members watched as Rosalynn Carter’s casket was transferred to a hearse Monday morning outside Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in the Carters’ native Sumter County in south Georgia. Onlookers huddled beside the road on a breezy, chilly morning.Former and current U.S. Secret Service agents carry casket of former first lady Rosalynn Carter at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Ga., Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. The former first lady died on Nov. 19. She was 96. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)From there, the motorcade left for a stop at Rosalynn Carter's alma mater, the nearby Georgia Southwestern State University, before beginning its trip of more than 140 miles (225 kilometers) to Atlanta, where Rosalynn Carter will lie in repose at T...

Israel and Hamas agree to extend truce for two more days, and free more hostages

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:17:19 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days past Monday, the Qatari government said, bringing the prospect of a longer halt to their deadliest and most destructive war and further exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinians captured by Israel.The announcement, made by Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al Ansary in a post on X, came on the final day of the original four-day truce between the warring sides. A fourth swap of hostages for prisoners under that deal was expected later Monday. Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been the key mediator in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. After the Qatari announcement, Hamas confirmed it had agreed to a two-day extension “under the same terms.”But Israel says it remains committed to crushing Hamas' military capabilities and ending its 16-year rule o...

Dean's Reviews: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:17:19 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards reviews Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Paramount Theatre.For more info and tickets, go to: paramountaurora.comGet Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!