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Biden says Putin has ‘absolutely’ been weakened after revolt in Russia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:34 GMT

(CNN) — President Joe Biden told CNN on Wednesday his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has “absolutely” been weakened by the short-lived mutiny over the weekend.It was his most definitive comment to date on how the rebellion by Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin affected the Russian leader’s stature.Biden and his team have been cautious in commenting on the events, wary of providing Putin pretext for claiming a western plot to oust him. But on Wednesday, Biden expanded on his views of Putin’s diminished stature.Asked whether the Russian president had been weakened, Biden said: “Absolutely.”Later, expanding on the extent of Putin’s weakness, Biden said it was difficult to ascertain.“It’s hard to tell but he’s clearly losing the war,” Biden told reporters on the White House South Lawn, mistakenly referring to the war in Iraq instead of Ukraine.“He’s losing the war at home. He’s become a bit of a pariah around the world. And it’s not just NATO, it’s not just...

US military launches official investigation of disputed drone strike that reportedly killed civilian

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:34 GMT

(CNN) — An official investigation has been launched by US Central Command into the May 3 drone strike in Syria that reportedly killed a civilian instead of the intended senior al-Qaeda target.A statement from CENTCOM on Wednesday said that the civilian casualty credibility assessment recently completed has become an official 15-6 investigation. CNN reported earlier this month that CENTCOM was preparing to launch the formal investigation.“The civilian casualty credibility assessment process has become an AR 15-6 investigation,” the CENTCOM statement on Wednesday said. “Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, commander of [Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve], appointed a general officer as the investigating officer, effective June 23, 2023.”The investigation comes eight weeks after the drone strike which was targeting a senior al-Qaeda leader. Despite confidence from senior CENTCOM officials in the aftermath of the strike that they had killed an al-Qaeda leader, ...

(Test) Chicago White Sox get full Shohei Ohtani experience as Los Angeles Angels two-way star homers twice and strikes out 10

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:34 GMT

The Chicago White Sox didn’t have much success slowing down Shohei Ohtani at the plate.And they didn’t take full advantage of the few opportunities they had to capitalize while hitting against him either.The Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar homered twice and struck out 10 Sox batters in 6 1/3 innings. The Sox got the complete Ohtani experience in a 4-2 loss to the Angels in front of 33,637 on Tuesday at Angel Stadium.“He’s extremely talented,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s probably the best player in the game, so he was tough to hit and he’s tough to pitch to.”Ohtani homered to right in the first against Michael Kopech. The Sox starter struggled with his command, walking seven in four-plus innings. But Kopech got out of a couple of jams, particularly in the second when two Angels were thrown out attempting to steal second.“Can’t give away that many free bases,” Kopech said. “Whether the misses a...

Ukraine accuses a local man of directing a missile strike that killed 11 at a pizza restaurant

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:34 GMT

By HANNA ARHIROVA (Associated Press)KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday arrested a man they accused of helping Russia direct a missile strike that killed at least 11 people, including three teenagers, at a popular pizza restaurant in eastern Ukraine.The Tuesday evening attack on Kramatorsk wounded 61 other people, Ukraine’s National Police said. It was the latest bombardment of a Ukrainian city, a tactic Russia has used heavily in the 16-month-old war.The strike, and others across Ukraine late Tuesday and early Wednesday, indicated that the Kremlin is not easing its aerial onslaught, despite political and military turmoil at home after a short-lived armed uprising in Russia last weekend.There has been no apparent military push by Ukraine to exploit that turmoil, though the government has been tight-lipped about recent battlefield developments as it seeks to gain momentum in its recently launched counteroffensive.The Kremlin reeled from the weekend mut...

Construction worker trapped in trench at site in La Jolla Shores

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:34 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores on Wednesday.The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed around 8:55 a.m. that crews are working to rescue the trapped individual in the 8000 block of El Paseo Grande.Fire officials say the construction worker is conscious and alert. 13 live parrots seized at US-Mexico border A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores. (KSWB)A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores. (KSWB)There is no word yet on how long it may take to extricate the person from the trench.At this time, no traffic disruptions have been reported in the area.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

These concerts are coming to Petco Park this summer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:34 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- It's time to kickoff summer concerts at Petco Park, and the lineup is hot.The summer concert series starts Thursday with Logic bringing The College Park Tour and special guest Juicy J to Gallagher Square, the park located just northeast of the baseball stadium.Check out the lineup below and get tickets on the MLB website. Free summer park concerts to attend in San Diego area June 29 at Gallagher Square - LogicJuly 1 at Gallagher Square - Porter RobinsonJuly 2 at Gallagher Square - Chris LakeJuly 14 at Petco Park - Morgan WallenJuly 15 at Petco Park - Morgan WallenJuly 16 at Petco Park - Slightly Stoopid and Sublime with RomeJuly 21 at Gallagher Square - Jimmy Eat World and Manchester OrchestraAugust 1 at Gallagher Square - YellowcardAugust 11at Gallagher Square - Cigarettes After SexAugust 12 at Gallagher Square - Dom DollaAugust 25 at Gallagher Square - Darius RuckerAugust 26 at Gallagher Square - Kodak Black and NLE ChoppaSeptember 3 at Gallagher Square - WeezerSept...

Maltese lawmakers vote to legalize abortion, but only where the mother is at risk of death

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:34 GMT

VALLETTA, Malta (AP) — Maltese lawmakers on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to ease the strictest abortion laws in the European Union, but pro-choice campaigners had withdrawn their support, saying last-minute changes make the legislation “vague, unworkable and even dangerous.”The original bill allowing women access to abortion if a pregnant woman’s life or health is in danger was hailed as a step in the right direction for Malta, an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic nation. It was introduced last fall after an American tourist who miscarried had to be airlifted off the Mediterranean island nation to be treated. Under the amendments, however, a risk to health is not enough. A woman must be at risk of death to access an abortion, and then only after three specialists consent. The legislation approved Wednesday allows a doctor to terminate a pregnancy without further consultation only if the mother’s life is at immediate risk.Thousands of Maltese protested against t...

Former Connecticut Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr., maverick senator during Watergate, dies at 92

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:34 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Lowell P. Weicker Jr., a Republican U.S. senator who tussled with his own party during the Watergate hearings, championed legislation to protect people with disabilities and later was elected Connecticut governor as an independent, died Wednesday. He was 92.Weicker’s death at a hospital in Middletown, Conn., after a short illness, was confirmed by his family in a statement released by a spokesperson.With a 6-foot-6-inch frame and a shoot-from-the-hip style, Weicker was a leading figure in Connecticut politics from his first election to the General Assembly in 1962 until he decided against running for a second term as governor in 1994.He inspired strong feelings among many people he met. In one poll, opinion was split over whether Weicker was “decisive and courageous,” or “inflexible and arrogant.”“I think he was just incredibly genuine, a little unfiltered,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat who considered Weicker a friend, told the Associated Pres...

Mississauga driving instructor facing sexual assault charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:34 GMT

A 55-year-old driving instructor is facing charges following a sexual assault investigation.Peel police say a young female was taking a driving lesson in the area of Tomken Road and Bloor Street on June 25 when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by the instructor. Muhammad Irfan of Mississauga has been charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation. He has been released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to be back in court again in August. Investigators have appealed for anyone with information or anyone else who may have been a victim to contact them or Peel Crime Stoppers.

Federal minister LeBlanc calls changes to N.B.’s LGBTQ school policy a ‘mistake’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:34 GMT

FREDERICTON — A federal cabinet minister says it was a mistake for New Brunswick to change the province’s policy on sexual orientation in schools.Infrastructure Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters today in Fredericton that the changes to Policy 713 complicate things for young people and their families.LeBlanc says he doesn’t think the prolonged and divisive debate in the legislature has been a success for Premier Blaine Higgs.Two members of Higgs’ cabinet resigned this month after the government made it no longer mandatory for teachers to use preferred names or pronouns for transgender and nonbinary students under 16, among other changes to Policy 713.As well, six members of his government voted with the Opposition earlier in June to force a motion through the legislature asking the province’s child and youth advocate to review the changes made to the policy.After the two resignations, Higgs shuffled his cabinet Tuesday, bouncing out two more ministers wh...