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Ban Wagner Group, demands Russian lawmaker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

A veteran Russian politician and former army commander called for a crackdown on the country’s notorious private military company, Wagner Group, as tensions rise over its role in the invasion of Ukraine.Viktor Sobolev, a former lieutenant general in the armed forces who now sits as a Communist Party MP, branded the mercenary outfit “an illegal armed formation” in a statement on Tuesday. “It is not clear where [the Wagner Group] is registered and what it does,” Sobolev said. He warned regular soldiers defecting into its ranks could face up to 15 years in prison.Moscow outsourced much of the fighting around the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut to Wagner in recent weeks. The group’s founder, oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused top generals of failing to supply his troops in a series of furious attacks on the top brass.The Washington Post reported on Monday leaked documents revealed Prigozhin may have offered to give information on Russian army positions to ...

Russia’s threat to exit Ukraine grain deal adds risk to global food security

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations is racing to extend a deal that has allowed shipments of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea to parts of the world struggling with hunger, helping ease a global food crisis exacerbated by the war Russia launched more than a year ago.The breakthrough accord that the U.N. and Turkey brokered with the warring sides last summer came with a separate agreement to ease shipments of Russian food and fertilizer that Moscow insists hasn’t been applied. Russia set a Thursday deadline for its concerns to be ironed out or it’s bowing out. Such brinkmanship isn’t new: With a similar extension in the balance in March, Russia unilaterally decided to renew the deal for just 60 days instead of the 120 days outlined in the agreement. U.N. officials and analysts warn that a failure to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative could hurt countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia that rely on Ukrainian wheat, barley, vegetable oil and other af...

‘I only operate:’ A Ukrainian trauma surgeon has an all-consuming task during Russia’s war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — As the lead trauma surgeon at a military hospital in Ukraine’s capital, Petro Nikitin has his hands deep in a war churning hundreds of kilometers (miles) away. The 59-year-old doctor’s work to repair the bodies of some of the most badly injured soldiers is all-consuming. “I only operate,” Nikitin said, taking a short pause as his team continued surgery on a patient. “I do nothing else in my life now. I don’t see my children, who have been evacuated, I don’t see my wife, who has been evacuated, I live by myself, and all I do is treat the wounded.”While the Ukrainian military does not provide casualty figures, some Western sources estimate more than 100,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed or wounded since Russia invaded the country almost 15 months ago. Some end up on the operating tables in Nikitin’s hospital, which like other Ukrainian military hospitals, is short-staffed because physicians were pulled away to work in field hospitals cl...

Graduation gift idea: Step-by-step guide to making a candy-and-cash lei

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

Where do people get those festive candy-and-cash lei for graduation ceremonies? You could scour your local stores and Facebook groups for someone who sells them – but you could also make a custom one for your graduate. The materials for a candy-and-cash lei are relatively inexpensive, and you can customize the different elements especially for your loved one.(Photo by Darleene Powells/MediaNews Group)Materials needed:Cash – the newer the bills, the better.Candy – any fun-sized candy works, but you can also use smaller, compact hard candies.Curling ribbon – you can use your graduate’s favorite colors, or match with their school colors.Clear plastic that can be wrapped around the candy – this guide uses 2-inch clear poly plastic tubing purchased from eBay, but clear cellophane or cling wrap can also be used if necessary.ScissorsTapeAn iron, if available(Photo by Darleene Powells/MediaNews Group)Step one: Sort out the bills. Break out an iron for any that are slightly less than crisp, ...

‘Runnin’, gunnin’ Twins,’ collect first Dodger Stadium win since 2005

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES — How’s this for an unbelievable fact?In their entire history — and sure, there hadn’t been all that many opportunities — the Twins had only won one game at Dodger Stadium entering Tuesday night. Ever. That game came in 2005, when most of the players on the current team were just elementary school students.“That blows my damn mind,” designated hitter Byron Buxton said.Buxton and company used a little small ball, some big contributions from relievers forced into different spots and yet another solid start from Bailey Ober to nab the franchise’s second-ever win at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night, beating the Dodgers 5-1 and snapping an 11-game losing streak against them.The win came after a hard-fought loss the night before during which the Twins (24-19) twice battled back in the late innings before falling in the 12th. With a bullpen that was taxed from the night before, the Twins knew that if they were going to win on Tuesday, it was going to look a little different than...

Key issues of strengthening political and economic co-operation discussed with EU ambassador

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu held a meeting with the Head of the Representative Office of the European Union (EU) in the Republic of Kazakhstan Ambassador Kestutis Jankauskas (pictured). The interlocutors discussed further steps to fully realize the potential of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the EU (EPCA). Kazakh Foreign Minister highlighted the effective work of the dialogue platforms established under the EPCA, as well as the dynamically developing engagement at the inter-regional level. In this context, the parties discussed preparation works for the Central Asia – EU Economic Forum that will be held on May 18-19 in Almaty. Special attention was given to the deepening of cooperation in the fields of transport, logistics and infrastructure that have become especially important in the light of the EU Global Gateway strategy. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on relev...

Navigating the mental health epidemic: Challenges and solutions for a connected world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

Today, we are confronted with the alarming threat of mental health disorders and a growing social divide worldwide. Shockingly, one out of every eight individuals on the planet is affected by some form of mental health issue, and tragically, every 40 seconds, someone takes their own life, writes Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (pictured).An increasing number of individuals are experiencing feelings of being lost, lonely, or invisible. People are becoming more disconnected from one another, as well as from their own inner selves. This leads to heightened stress on an individual's nervous system, which can ultimately lead to a downward spiral of discontent, depression, and even suicidal ideations. Such a negative outlook on life only serves to contribute to further societal polarization and violence.As the world oscillates between extremes of aggression and depression, the growing impact of this endemic is causing widespread socio-economic disruptions. The challenges have only intensifie...

LAPD volunteer identified, recovering after being swarmed by bees in Encino

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

A Los Angeles Police Department volunteer is on the mend and recovering in the hospital after he was attacked by a swarm of bees in Encino Monday.The volunteer identified only as "Gary" was stung anywhere from 50-100 times as he tried to help with traffic control in a residential neighborhood that was actively being terrorized by a swarm of aggressive bees.Gary is an Air Force veteran who has been an LAPD volunteer for nearly 18 years. The terrifying attack happened around 5 p.m. on the 17100 block of West Adlon Road. "It was gut-wrenching," said his son, Daniel, who watched the events unfold on live TV. "I couldn't even believe it. It looked so painful. It’s easy to criticize after the fact, but at the time, I'm sure everyone was doing the best they can or was not sure what to do, but it was just horrible. I was yelling at the screen going, ‘Why aren’t people helping? This is ridiculous. Go out, please help.’"The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene for a report ...

Athletics tie it on Ryan Noda’s grand slam in seventh, win it in 12th against Diamondbacks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

OAKLAND — The Athletics tied it in the seventh inning on a two-out grand slam from Ryan Noda and Esteury Ruiz singled home a run in the 12th for a 9-8 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Coliseum before what was left of a crowd of 3,261.Austin Pruitt (1-1) was the winning pitcher with three scoreless innings of relief despite the presence of a free lead runner. Scott McGough (1-1) took the loss for Arizona. matching Pruitt until the 12th.Ruiz lined a one-hopper off Nick Ahmed with one out, bringing in Ramon Laureano with the winning run.Laureano opened the inning at second and after Shea Langeliers struck out, Jace Peterson was walked intentionally. Nick Allen then reached on an infield single to load the bases, and a Ahmed couldn’t field a smash by Ruiz, allowing the game-winning run to sore.Allen and Laureano also had solo home runs for the A’s, the first for Allen and the fourth for Laureano. For Arizona, Christian Walker hit a two-run shot in the first (hi...

Noda hits tying grand slam in 7th, A’s beat Diamondbacks 9-8 in 12 innings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:00 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Noda hit a tying grand slam in the seventh inning, Esteury Ruiz drove in the winning run with an infield single that bounced off Arizona shortstop Nick Ahmed in the 12th and the Oakland Athletics beat the Diamondbacks 9-8 on Tuesday night.The A’s came back from deficits of 2-0 and 8-4, winning on a walkoff hit for the second time in five days. Austin Pruitt (1-1) pitched the final three innings for the victory.“We just keep coming in every day believing that we can beat anybody who comes out on that field against us,” Noda said.Both teams wasted scoring opportunities late.Arizona had two on in the eighth and one on in the 11th but couldn’t cash in. The A’s had two on in the 10th and 11th but also failed to score.With Ramón Laureano starting the 12th at second base, Scott McGough (0-4) struck out Shea Langeliers before an intentional walk to Jace Peterson. Nick Allen, who homered in the fourth, then reached on an infield single before Ruiz’s winner in fron...