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Putin labels dam attack ‘barbaric.’ The world says he orchestrated it.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

In his first comments since the destruction of a strategic Russian-controlled dam in southern Ukraine, Russia President Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for the extensive damage and called the actions of those responsible “barbaric.”Putin told Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a phone call on Wednesday the blast that destroyed the dam was a “barbaric action” that “led to a large-scale environmental and humanitarian catastrophe,” according to a Kremlin statement.Just one problem: The West says Putin was the one responsible. Both Russia and Ukraine have blamed one another for the alleged explosion that destroyed the dam and forced the evacuation of thousands of people, a rescue effort largely facilitated by Ukraine. Damage to Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka dam, which has unleashed massive flooding in the Kherson region, could be a potential war crime, EU and Ukrainian leaders said Tuesday. Putin, according to the Kremlin’s readout, was undeter...

Sunak kills talk of US-UK trade deal as digital hopes grow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rishi Sunak has admitted an overarching trade deal with the United States — once seen as Brexit’s biggest prize — is not a priority ahead of meeting President Joe Biden in Washington D.C.The U.K. government previously promised a trade deal with the U.S. by 2022, but last year during her brief stint as prime minister, Liz Truss acknowledged it would not happen in the short to medium term.Sunak’s words on the plane to the U.S. capital are the clearest acknowledgement yet that a free trade agreement between the two countries is out of reach.“For a while now, that has not been a priority for either the U.S. or U.K.,” he said. “What we’re both focused on is making sure that our economic partnership reflects the particular challenges and opportunities of the time that we’re in right now.”Talks with Biden will focus on economic security, he added, and “specific and targeted ways to improve trade between our countries.”He declined to say if the promise of a full-fat deal ...

Prince Harry chokes up in witness box, telling court his phone hacking testimony has been ‘a lot’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

London (CNN) — Prince Harry choked up in court as he concluded an eight-hour testimony in his lawsuit against a major British newspaper publisher, admitting he would feel an “injustice” if his claims of phone hacking were dismissed by the judge.Asked by his lawyer how the experience of giving evidence had been, the Duke of Sussex became emotional and, after a long pause, said “it is a lot.”“For my whole life, the press misled me, covered up the wrongdoing, and sitting here in court knowing that the (respondents have) the evidence in front of them and for (opposition lawyer) Mr. Green to suggest I’m speculating… I’m not sure what to say about that,” the duke said.The flash of emotion came at the end of testimony – the first by a senior royal since 1891 – that stretched over two days and touched on extensive coverage of Harry’s childhood, teenage years and early 20s.The duke is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), accusing its titles of phone hacking and using...

Check your tickets! State lottery warns 3 unclaimed Mass Cash, Powerball prizes are nearing expiration

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

If you happen to have some old Mass Cash or Powerball tickets lying around, it might be worth giving them another glance since lottery officials say several prizes have gone unclaimed and are set to expire soon.The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission says two Mass Cash prizes worth $100,000 are set to expire in the next few weeks, as well as a Powerball prize worth $50,000 after all three went unclaimed for nearly a year.First to expire soon is a winning Mass Cash ticket sold at the Seven 86 Market on Blue Hill Avenue in Roxbury. Officials said the drawing took place on June 19, 2022, and that the winning numbers were 01-09-11-21-31.Next to expire is a winning Powerball ticket that was sold at the Sunoco on 422 Main Street in Hudson. The winning numbers for the drawing on June 22, 2022, were 06-10-31-48-56, 12.Also set to expire soon – a Mass Cash ticket that was sold at the Stop & Shop on Lincoln Street in Worcester. The drawing date for that prize was July 10, 2022, ...

Pope Francis undergoes abdominal surgery, will stay in hospital for several days

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

By NICOLE WINFIELD and MARIA CHENG (Associated Press)ROME (AP) — Pope Francis underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a hernia in his abdominal wall, the latest malady to befall the 86-year-old pontiff who had part of his colon removed two years ago.The Vatican said there were no complications after the three-hour surgery, during which Francis was under general anesthesia. The 86-year-old pontiff was expected to remain at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for several days. As a precaution, all papal audiences were canceled through June 18, the Vatican said.While hernia operations are rarely performed on an emergency basis, the procedure appeared somewhat urgent, scheduled just a day after Francis went to the hospital for tests. The pontiff’s doctors no doubt also wanted to give him ample time for recovery ahead of a busy travel schedule later this summer.The pope was suffering from a “painful and worsening” hernia that formed over a previous scar, presumably from h...

After years of threats, a feud ends with a Black mom dead and her white neighbor arrested

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

By CURT ANDERSON and FREIDA FRISARO (Associated Press)OCALA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida woman accused of fatally shooting her neighbor last week in the violent culmination of what the sheriff described as a 2½-year feud was arrested Tuesday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.Susan Louise Lorincz, 58, who is white, was arrested on charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery and two counts of assault in the death of Ajike Owens, a Black mother of four, Sheriff Billy Woods said in a statement.Authorities came under pressure Tuesday to arrest and charge the woman who fired through her front door and killed Owens in a case that has put Florida’s divisive stand your ground law back into the spotlight. In a video posted on Facebook late Tuesday night, the sheriff said this was not a stand your ground case but “simply a killing.”“Now many of you were struggling to understand why there was not an immediate arrest,” the ...

Naperville mayor defends meeting with Bears about stadium, stressing protocols will be followed if proposal’s made

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

Mayor Scott Wehrli said conversations he’s had with the Chicago Bears about potential business opportunities in Naperville are just that, conversations.At the start of Tuesday’s Naperville City Council meeting, Wehrli said he reached out to the football franchise and met with team officials last week about building a new stadium in Naperville to explore a possibility that could benefit the city economically.“Discussions like this are standard and principled economic development practice, especially in a competitive regional environment like ours. … No development proposal was submitted to the city. No incentives were discussed, requested or offered by either party in these meetings,” Wehrli said.The Bears issued a statement June 2, the days officials met with the mayor, that said plans to build “the largest single development project in Illinois history” in Arlington Heights are “at risk” and they are exploring other options.Many...

An uncertain trade deadline status awaits the Chicago Cubs. Will they be buyers or sellers?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

Any hope the Chicago Cubs would start stacking wins to move closer to .500 during their West Coast trip has not gained traction.The Cubs’ 7-4 loss at Angel Stadium Tuesday night featured a little bit of all the things, big and small, that have plagued the team en route to a 26-34 start in what was supposed to be a more competitive season.At the 60-game mark, the 2023 iteration of the Cubs is only three wins better than their 2022 counterpart, though last year’s group was seven games into a 10-game losing streak at this point. Go back to the team’s last win before the double-digit skid — through Game 53 — and the two squads share a 23-30 record.A challenging stretch of the schedule hasn’t helped, however, this roster is much more talented than last season’s with Frank Schwindel as the 2022 cleanup hitter.The Cubs squandered a 4-0 lead in the second, mashing as usual off a left-handed starter, when a disastrous mistake-filled and poorly-execut...

Wrestling legend The Iron Sheik passes away at 81: WWE

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

Wrestling legend The Iron Sheik has passed away at the age of 81, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has confirmed in a statement.“Today, we gather with hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling,” the WWE wrote in a statement Wednesday.“It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik, but we also take solace in knowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come.”The WWE said when he wasn’t punishing opponents in the ring, The Iron Sheik, whose real name was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, was a “devoted family man” to his children Tanya, Nikki, Marissa and his son in law Eddie.“He cherished the love and support of his wife of 47 years Caryl, who stood by his side through thick and thin, offering unwavering encouragement throughout his life.&...

Nevada revisits Oakland Athletics stadium plan in special legislative session

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Legislature is set to convene Wednesday for a special legislative session to consider whether to provide $380 million in public financing for a $1.5 billion stadium that would host the Oakland Athletics on the Las Vegas Strip.The public funding would mainly come from $180 million in transferable tax credits and $120 million in county bonds. Backers have pledged that the creation of a special tax district around the proposed stadium would generate enough money to pay off those bonds and interest. The plan would not directly raise taxes.The A’s would not owe property taxes for the publicly owned stadium. Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, would also contribute $25 million in credit toward infrastructure costs.The proposed 30,000-seat stadium would be the smallest in Major League Baseball.The Legislature adjourned Monday after its 120-day, biennial session with disputes over one of the five major budget bills that funds capital improvement proje...