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Russian mercenary chief says his forces are rebelling, some left Ukraine and entered city in Russia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:13 GMT

Associated PressThe owner of the Wagner private military contractor made his most direct challenge to the Kremlin yet, calling for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia’s defense minister. The security services reacted immediately by calling for the arrest of Yevgeny Prigozhin.In a sign of how seriously the Kremlin was taking the threat, security was heightened in Moscow and in Rostov-on-Don, which is home to the Russian military headquarters for the southern region and also oversees the fighting in Ukraine. While the outcome of the confrontation was still unclear, it appeared likely to further hinder Moscow’s war effort as Kyiv’s forces were probing Russian defenses in the initial stages of a counteroffensive. The dispute, especially if Prigozhin were to succeed, also could have repercussions for President Vladimir Putin and his ability to maintain a united front.Prigozhin claimed early Saturday that his forces had crossed into Russia from Ukraine and had rea...

Dear Abby: Relative is now more burden than pal

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:13 GMT

Dear Abby: I have a relative who lives in the same city I live in. Her parents and mine exchanged holiday dinners for decades. Our parents passed away many years ago, and I continued to include her for holiday dinners. I consider her a good friend and we share many interests.During COVID, we started to have dinner every weekend to support local restaurants, and we enjoyed the evenings when nearly all entertainment venues were closed. Now the shows and sports activities I enjoy have resumed, and our weekly dinners are interfering with the outdoor activities I prefer.She’s retired, and I still work, so my free time is limited during weekends. I feel pressured and must leave my events early in order to resume these dinners. Many of her close friends have passed away over the past couple of years, and she seems increasingly dependent upon me for companionship. She suggests many other events and trips during the week.I’m concerned my lack of enthusiasm may eventually offend h...

Dog trapped between two boulders in North County rescued

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:13 GMT

VALLEY CENTER, Calif. -- A months old Australian cattle dog is doing well after being stuck in a scary situation at a Valley Center construction site last weekend, San Diego County officials said. On Saturday, a construction worker heard whimpering when he found a puppy that managed to get himself wedged between two boulders, the County of San Diego reported. The worker repeatedly attempted to pull the puppy out but could not get his hips through and needed to head home for the day, according to County Department of Animal Services Officer Alyssa Moreno. He got into contact with Moreno, sending her pictures of the dog so she could make sure she had the right tools, and placing a tire on top of the boulders to mark the spot where the puppy was located. Crews rescue dog trapped in Los Angeles County storm drain When first responders arrived on scene, a long strap and flat wooden board was used to support the puppy's body while a nearby property owner brought over some soapy water to...

Follow the timeline of the Titan submersible’s journey from departure to discovery

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:13 GMT

The wrecks of the Titanic and the Titan sit on the ocean floor, separated by 1,600 feet (490 meters) and 111 years of history. How they came together unfolded over an intense week that raised temporary hopes and left lingering questions. THE BUILDUPThe Polar Prince, a Canadian icebreaker ship, steamed out of Newfoundland on Friday, June 16, towing the experimental Titan submersible and carrying the five-man team headed to explore the iconic ocean liner’s watery gravesite. Three missions involving other teams had been scrapped due to bad weather in the previous four weeks, but the latest OceanGate Expeditions group was hopeful. “A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow,” renowned adventurer Hamish Harding said Saturday on Instagram. “More expedition updates to follow IF the weather holds!”THE DIVE DOWNMoving about the Polar Prince, mission participants were required to wear water-activated life vests, bright orange jackets, helmets and ste...

Previous passengers recall ill-fated Titan: ‘I 100% knew this was going to happen’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:13 GMT

Talk to someone who rode on the Titan submersible, and they’re likely to mention a technological glitch: the propulsion system failed or communications with people on the surface cut out. Maybe there were problems balancing weights on board.They are also likely to mention Stockton Rush, the OceanGate Expeditions CEO who died on the fatal trip this week. He has been described by past passengers as both a meticulous planner and an overconfident pioneer.In the wake of the Titan’s fatal implosion near the Titanic shipwreck on Sunday, some people who embarked on the company’s deep-sea expeditions described experiences that foreshadowed the tragedy and look back on their decision to dive as “a bit naive.” But others expressed confidence and said that they felt they were “in good hands” nearly 13,000 feet (3,962 meters) below the ocean’s surface.‘Like playing Russian roulette’ “I 100% knew this was going to happen,” said Brian Weed, a c...

Librarian gathering in Chicago includes training to battle book bans in communities and schools

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:13 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Book bans and how to fight them will be a major focus of the American Library Association’s annual meeting this weekend in Chicago.Librarians may attend sessions aimed at helping them confidently counter book challenges, fight legislative censorship and ensure “access to information and the freedom to read.” All day Saturday, attendees are invited to climb atop a giant chair to read their favorite banned book. “With an unparalleled rise in challenges and bans and legislation suppressing access to books and learning materials in libraries, schools, and universities, it is more important than ever to join forces in the fight against banning books!” the event description reads.The conference brings together authors, educators and librarians as several states push to restrict access to books in schools and libraries, overwhelmingly those about race, ethnicity and LGBTQ+ topics. The association in March released data showing a record 1,269 demands to cens...

11 passengers injured evacuating Cathay Pacific jet after aborted takeoff in Hong Kong

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:13 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A Cathay Pacific jetliner aborted its takeoff at Hong Kong International Airport early Saturday, and 11 passengers were injured while evacuating the aircraft, the airline said.Flight CX880, bound for Los Angeles, returned to the gate after a “technical issue” caused the crew to abort the takeoff and “a precautionary passenger evacuation” was initiated, the airline said in a statement. It said those on board used five escape slides to exit the plane.Cathay Pacific gave no details on the problem. Public broadcaster RTHK reported one of the plane’s tires had overheated, causing it to burst, citing police.The flight was carrying 293 passengers and 17 crew members.“We understand that 11 passengers are being treated at the hospital with injuries sustained during the evacuation process,” Cathay Pacific said. “Our priority is to look after all affected passengers and crew.”By 10:30 a.m., nine of the injured passengers had been discharged from the hospital, the airline ...

US and Canada start the process of determining how the Titanic-bound submersible imploded

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:13 GMT

Authorities from the U.S. and Canada began the process of investigating the cause of the fatal Titan submersible implosion even as they grappled with questions of who was responsible for determining how the tragedy unfolded.A formal inquiry has not yet been launched because maritime agencies are still busy searching the area where the vessel was destroyed, killing all five people aboard, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday. Debris was located about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) underwater, several hundred feet away from the Titanic wreckage it was on its way to explore. The U.S. Coast Guard led the initial search and rescue mission, which was a massive international effort that likely cost millions of dollars.It was not entirely clear Friday who would have the authority to lead what is sure to be a complex investigation involving several countries. OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owned and operated the Titan, is based in the U.S. but the submersible was registered in the Bahamas. ...

Analysis: Donald Trump’s war on truth confronts another test with voters

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The cherry tree folklore is too good to be true, but it’s no lie that George Washington had a thing for the truth. “I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is the best policy,” he wrote in his farewell address.A few decades later, another future president’s reputation for veracity earned him a well known nickname: Honest Abe Lincoln.Then there’s Donald Trump, who during his presidency faced questions about business dealings in Moscow. “I have nothing to do with Russia,” he said in 2016. He switched stories when the facts of his decades-long effort to build a luxury tower there emerged. “Everybody” had always known about the project, according to Trump, who suggested only a sucker would drop such a proposal just because they wanted to serve their country as president.“Why should I lose lots of opportunities?” Trump said.America has had prevaricators in the Oval Office before, but never one who has been at...

Taylor Swift’s awe-inspiring Eras Tour never failed to amaze at the Vikings stadium

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:13 GMT

For those wondering, there are many reasons why Taylor Swift’s pair of weekend U.S. Bank Stadium concerts have dominated the news cycle this week and they were all on display during her magnificent opening night performance Friday.For starters, she’s one of the most accomplished, thoughtful and savvy entertainers of the century. It’s easy to appreciate her merely for her strong songwriting, but she’s also a powerful performer who has always given her audiences more than they had ever imagined.Taylor Swift performs during her ‘Eras Tour’ concert at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, June 23, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)Friday, she went the extra mile once again, and then kept on driving. With a running time of more than three hours and an audience of about 64,000, it was epic on a scale never before seen in a pop music concert. It’s easily the most spectacular stadium tour ever. Yes, I said ever.Her current outing — dubbed the Eras T...