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Russian mercenaries' short-lived revolt could have long-term consequences for Putin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

Russian government troops withdrew from the streets of Moscow and people flocked to parks and cafes Sunday following a short-lived revolt by mercenary forces that weakened President Vladimir Putin and raised questions about his ability to wage war in Ukraine.The march on the capital by Wagner troops led by Yevgeny Prigozhin and the late-night deal that eventually halted it severely dented Putin’s reputation as a leader who is willing to ruthlessly punish anyone who challenges his authority. That may open the door for others who are unhappy with Putin’s two-decade grip on power, especially after his ill-fated invasion of Ukraine.Under terms of the agreement, Prigozhin will go into exile in Belarus but will not face prosecution and his forces won't either. Neither Putin nor Prigozhin has been heard from since the deal, brokered by Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, was announced Saturday night. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the weekend’s events as “extraord...

Ticker: Feds probing Ford Explorer recall; Comcast to expand in-office work

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating a Ford Motor Co. recall of more than a quarter-million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. after receiving complaints about repairs intended to prevent the vehicles from unexpectedly rolling away even while placed in park.The problem, ascribed to fractures of a rear axle mounting bolt that could lead the drive shaft to disconnect, was addressed by a Ford software update designed to apply the electronic parking brake if the drive shaft failed, the agency said. But according to two complaints from vehicle owners, their SUVs behaved erratically following the repair.In one of those cases, the Explorer would reportedly slam to a complete stop at speeds of up to 30 or 40 miles per hour. In the other, it would reportedly lurch into motion while the driver was attempting to disengage the electronic brake. No injuries were reported in these cases.A Ford representative said the company is working with the NHTSA on the matter.Comcast to...

Record rainfall may set up banner wine year for California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

NAPA, Calif. — As sunlight spilled into California’s famed Napa Valley on a summer day, rows of wine grapes reflected the benefits of this winter’s record rainfall.California has more than 960 square miles of vineyards dedicated to the wine industry, perhaps none as iconic as those growing in Napa Valley just north of San Francisco.This year, wine grapes are thriving after record winter rainfall in California, but cool days of spring that have carried into summer are threatening to keep the grapes from ripening. The longer the fruit has to stay on the vine the more exposed it is to possible wildfires in the fall and rain in early winter.The state’s normally bountiful wine grape harvest had been hindered in recent years by a combination of drought and wildfires.California growers reported $600 million worth of grapes lost to smoke damage after the 2020 fire season, the office of U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla said. California’s wine industry generates $170.5 billion a...

VIDEO: A 'wave' of pride ripples across Snapdragon Stadium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A wave of pride for both the home team and the LGBTQ+ community rippled across the crowd at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday.San Diego Wave FC took on Seattle-based OL Reign in a heated World Cup send-off match that had both sides kicking grass while vying for the "W." SD Wave stars Naomi Girma and Alex Morgan have been named to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with this match being their last ahead of training. Over 50% of players selected to represent USWNT in FIFA World Cup linked to California Saturday also marked SD Wave’s Pride Night, an annual event held by the team to celebrate San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community. A portion of Pride Pack sales, which included a custom bucket hat and ticket, will be donated to San Diego Pride in support of the local movement.An enthusiastic crowd was seen repping the colors of the rainbow while rallying on their squad Saturday. In the video above, many of those in attendance for the SD Wave matc...

Greece’s conservative New Democracy party wins landslide election victory for second 4-year term

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s conservative New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed to speed up reforms following his landslide victory Sunday in the country’s second election in five weeks that granted him a comfortable parliamentary majority to form a government for a second four-year term.Jubilant supporters gathered outside party headquarters in Athens, cheering, clapping, setting off fireworks and waving blue and white party flags. Near complete results show his party has won just over 40.5% of the vote, crushing his main rival, the left-wing Syriza party, which was struggling to reach 18%, 2 percentage points lower than the last elections in May.“With today’s electoral result, Greece opens a new, historic chapter in its course,” Mitsotakis said in a televised statement. Voters, he said, “gave us a strong mandate to move faster on the course of the big changes our country needs. In a loud and mature way they have permanently closed a traumat...

Massacre of 11 in pool hall in Honduras prompts president to impose security measures

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Gunmen burst into a pool hall in northern Honduras and opened fire, killing 11 people and prompting President Xiomara Castro to announce security measures including curfews in the area amid a wave of drug trafficking-linked violence.The attack occurred in the city of Choloma in Cortes province late Saturday night. It left 10 men men and one woman dead.The massacre followed the killing of three people Thursday in a bakery in the city of San Pedro Sula. Among the victims was Ericka Julissa Bandy García, wife of an alleged associate of former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who is imprisoned in the U.S. awaiting trial for drug trafficking-related charges.In central Honduras, 46 inmates were killed Tuesday by Barrio 18 gang members in a women’s prison in Tamara, north of Tegucigalpa.“SPS (San Pedro Sula) and Choloma: I have taken measures to give you security in the face of the brutal and ruthless terrorist attack you face by hired thugs trained and direct...

New Mexico has telephone hotline for women seeking access to abortion clinics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says her administration has set up a new telephone hotline for women seeking access to abortion clinics plus transportation and other assistance.The hotline is already live but is still being built out, according to Lujan Grisham. The number is (833) 767-3776.It will be staffed by registered nurses with the state Department of Health and paid for using existing resources.New Mexico has seen a surge in abortions, driven largely by residents from Texas and other states that have enacted abortion bans.New Mexico is currently one of the states that has legal access to abortions.According to state data, there were more than 11,000 reported abortions statewide last year compared with nearly 4,900 abortions reported in 2021.So far this year, there have been almost 5,300 abortions performed in New Mexico, which currently has 19 abortion providers.Six of those providers offer surgical abortions, with the rest providing medical abor...

Sarah, Duchess of York, undergoes surgery following breast cancer diagnosis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Sarah, the Duchess of York, underwent surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer, according to a spokesperson.The 63-year-old was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer following a routine mammogram. The surgery was a success and Sarah’s prognosis is good, the duchess’s spokesperson said. She was released from King Edward VII’s Hospital in London on Sunday to recuperate at home in Windsor.Sarah, the former wife of Prince Andrew and the mother of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, spoke about the diagnosis on her new podcast, “Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah,” set to be released Monday. She recorded the segment before her operation.Once a favorite target of Britain’s tabloids, the former Sarah Ferguson has previously published her memoirs and authored a number of children’s books as well as a historical romance for adults.The Associated Press

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ slings back into box office top spot while ‘The Flash’ drops

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” slung its webs back atop the box office ranks while “The Flash” saw a drop faster than the film’s speedy character. The Spidey animated sequel — starring Shameik Moore as the teenage webslinger Miles Morales — reclaimed the No. 1 spot in its fourth week in North American theaters, scoring $19.3 million. The latest number helped the Sony film reach $317.1 million domestically and an impressive $560.3 million worldwide. “Spider-Verse” beat out “Elemental,” which took second place for the second week in a row with an estimated $18.5 million. The film held on to the spot after experiencing Pixar’s worst three-day opening last week. No other film had such a dramatic drop than “The Flash” with $15.2 million for the big-budget offering. The second week output for the DC and Warner Bros superhero film, starring Ezra Miller, fell off by 72% after opening with a subpar $55 million. So far, the numbers “The Flash”...

Guatemalans choose new president after a tumultuous electoral season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalans voted Sunday to elect a new president and vice president as well as fill all congressional seats and hundreds of local posts after one of the most tumultuous electoral seasons in the Central American nation’s recent history.Many Guatemalans expressed disappointment with their presidential choices after three opposition candidates were excluded by authorities. A large number of null ballots were expected, and experts said it could depress turnout.With none of the 22 presidential candidates polling near the required 50% threshold for winning outright, a second round of voting on Aug. 20 between the top two finishers was almost certain. At the Mixed Urban School No. 2, a combined elementary and middle school in Sumpango, voters began lining up outside its muralled wall an hour before voting was scheduled to begin. The town of about 37,000 sits in the mountains less than an hour west of the capital. Voting appeared orderly.Walter Alfredo Hernández...