Nations won’t recognize new Madagascar leader
Nations won’t recognize new Madagascar leader
MBABANE, Swaziland — Southern African nations declared Thursday they will not recognize Madagascar’s new leader, an army-backed politician who ousted an elected president, and the United States said it would reconsider aid to the island nation.
The stance came as Madagascar’s neighbors held a mini-summit Thursday on the situation in the Indian Ocean nation and after Zambia declared that the power change in Madagascar threatens democracy in Africa.
Representatives of the Southern African Development Community also urged the African Union and the international community not to recognize Andry Rajoelina as president of Madagascar and called for a return to “democratic and constitutional rule in the shortest time possible.”
Astronauts install solar wings on station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Spacewalking astronauts installed the last set of solar wings at the international space station Thursday, accomplishing the top job of shuttle Discovery’s mission.
Steven Swanson and Richard Arnold II struggled with some cable connections, but managed to hook everything up.
The next milestone will be today, when the folded-up solar wings are unfurled.
Manpower was needed inside and out to attach the $300 million segment to the space station. Swanson and Arnold helped their colleagues inside the shuttle-space station complex cautiously move the 31,000-pound, 45-foot-long girder into position with a robotic arm.
Obama sends message to the people of Iran
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama told Iran’s people and leaders that the United States wants to engage with their country and end decades of strained relationship, but not unless their officials stop making threats.
Obama today released a video message with Farsi subtitles that urged the two countries to resolve their long-standing differences. His video was timed to the festival of Nowuz, which means “new day.” It marks the arrival of spring and is a major holiday in Iran.
Palin refuses 70 percent of stimulus money
JUNEAU, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin is refusing to accept more than 30 percent of the federal economic stimulus money being offered to Alaska, including dollars that would go to Alaska’s schools, energy assistance and unemployment aide.
The news drew anger and accusations that Palin is putting her national political aspirations ahead of the state’s interests. But, on the other side, it inspired praise and admiration that she has the guts to turn down money that would expand government.
Palin said she’s accepting the federal stimulus money that would go for construction projects but not funds for government operations.
Charges of abuse by Israeli troops in Gaza
JERUSALEM — Two months after ending its assault on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army was confronted Thursday by the first public allegations from within its ranks of unwarranted killings and other abuses of Palestinian civilians.
The reports in a military institute’s newsletter resembled accounts given by many Palestinians during and after the winter offensive. In gripping language cited by two Israeli newspapers, they appeared to support contentions by some human rights groups that Israel had violated the laws of war.
One squad leader said he argued with his commander over rules of engagement that allowed the army to clear out houses by shooting the residents without warning.
Too old to have sex?
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The new defense lawyer for jailed evangelist Tony Alamo said Thursday that his client’s poor eyesight and diminishing physique would have made it impossible for him to have had sex with underage girls, as federal prosecutors claim.
California lawyer Danny Davis told The Associated Press that “it would be physically impossible” for the 74-year-old man to have sex with girls in showers and buses — accusations lodged by authorities who arrested Alamo on Sept. 25.
“As a younger man, he was a strong bull of a man. At 74, he’s close to half of the weight,” Davis said of his client.
Alamo faces a 10-count federal indictment accusing him of transporting young girls across state lines for sex.
Combined dispatches