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CIA chief: Russia’s elite are questioning Putin’s judgment

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:57 GMT

ASPEN, Colo. — Russia’s elite are showing increasing anxiety about President Vladimir Putin’s judgment, especially following a brief mutiny that appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard last month, CIA Director William Burns said Thursday.The U.S. spy agency is trying to seize on that and other seeming cracks in Putin’s control, which the mutiny exposed, Burns added. A CIA video that has sought to recruit Russian informants was viewed some 2.5 million times in its first week.“What it resurrected was some deeper questions … about Putin’s judgment, about his relative detachment from events and even about his indecisiveness,” Burns said in an appearance at the Aspen Security Forum.The daylong mutiny, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the mercenary Wagner Group, was aimed mainly at Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and top Russian Gen. Valery Gerasimov, Burns said. Prigozhin had been publicly critical of such officials, and he has insisted he wasn’t targeting Putin.But that Wagn...

Orioles take sole possession of first place in AL East with 4-3 win over Rays in extra innings: ‘A great team win’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:57 GMT

In games against American League East rivals, the little things matter more. When those games go to extra innings, they often make the difference.Thursday’s divisional matchup between the Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays — the two best teams in the American League — naturally went into extras. Two Orioles, one veteran and one rookie, came through with sacrifices in the 10th to give Baltimore a 4-3 lead that closer Félix Bautista held in the bottom half.Second baseman Adam Frazier, an eight-year veteran, laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance automatic runner Aaron Hicks to third, and rookie Colton Cowser, playing in his 11th career game, drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left field. Bautista, who pitched a scoreless ninth to send the game to extras, hit the first batter of the 10th but then struck Randy Arozarena and got Brandon Lowe to ground into a game-ending double play.“A lot of guys on this team that are really, really good and know how to get ...

Man involved in fight stabbed in North Park

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:57 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A physical altercation between two men early Thursday morning resulted in a stabbing in the North Park neighborhood, law enforcement said.The incident occurred around 1:14 a.m. at 4095 30th Street, David O'Brien with the San Diego Police Department said in a news release.Authorities say a 36-year-old man approached a woman and man at the location, prompting a physical altercation between the suspect and the man. "The suspect stabbed the victim one time in the upper body, and attempted to stab him a second time in the back cutting him slightly, before fleeing the scene on foot," O'Brien said. Passenger in Polaris Slingshot killed in crash Police describe the suspect as a man around 6-feet tall and 180 pounds wearing a red baseball cap, red shirt and black pants.The victim was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Anyone with information related to the above incident is encouraged to call the listedCommand handling the investigation or Crime Stopp...

B.C. port union local says new tentative deal reached with employers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:57 GMT

VANCOUVER — A union local for B.C. port workers says that a tentative agreement has been reached between a union bargaining committee and employers.A statement on the website of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada Local 502 says that a tentative agreement has been reached with the BC Maritime Employers Association.Rick Hurtubise, president of ILWU Local 502, says in the statement that an “emergency contract caucus” will be held on Friday to vote on whether to send the tentative agreement to the full union membership for ratification.Hurtubise says Local 502 will call a meeting to present the package to its members if the vote passes.There was no mention of a new tentative agreement on either the BCMEA’s website or the union’s main website.The development is the latest in a turbulent week that saw the union voting down a federal mediator’s terms, the union issuing but quickly rescinding a new 72-hour strike notice, and Prime Minister J...

Federal judge blocks Arizona law banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports teams

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:57 GMT

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked Arizona from enforcing a law banning transgender girls from playing on girls’ school sports teams.The judge in Tucson granted a preliminary injunction to allow processing of a lawsuit filed on behalf of two transgender girls against the state’s “Save Women’s Sports Act,” which was passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature last year.The lawsuit argues the law violates federal Title IX, the law barring sex discrimination in schools receiving federal funds, and the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, who is a defendant in the case, said the decision will be appealed.“This will ultimately be decided by the United States Supreme Court, and they will rule in our favor,” Horne said in a statement. Arizona is one of several states and some school districts that have passed laws limiting access to school sports teams or other faciliti...

Japanese, US and South Korean officials condemn the North’s weapons plans but urge dialogue

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:57 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Senior officials from Japan, the U.S. and South Korea condemned North Korea over its recent ICBM-class ballistic missile launches and vowed to step up their trilateral cooperation to strengthen deterrence and sanctions against the North, while stressing the need for dialogue with Pyongyang.Their meeting Thursday in the central Japanese city of Karuizawa comes days after North Korea’s solid-fuel ICBM launch last week, which landed in the water off the western coast of Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido and one day after the launch of two missiles on Wednesday. The U.S. special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, also said that the United States was “working hard” to gather information about an American soldier who fled to the North earlier this month. The U.S. was seeking to ensure his safety and return him home, Kim said. Pvt. Travis King, 23, had been held in South Korea on assault charges and was released on July 10 after serving his time. He was taken to ...

Canadian rapper Drake, actor Michael B. Jordan invest in pickleball team

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:57 GMT

The pickleball craze is real, folks.Canadian rapper Drake and Creed actor Michael B. Jordan announced on Thursday they have both invested in the Brooklyn Aces, an organization part of Major League Pickleball (MLP).“We’re thrilled to have this incredible group of investors join the Brooklyn Aces as we continue to grow the team and raise the profile of Major League Pickleball as a whole,” Aces majority owner Rich Kleiman said.“It’s the idea of bringing people in that we could share in this with and utilize resources as the Aces evolve. Our investor group includes some of the savviest entrepreneurs in the business, and having this network on our cap table positions us to be successful.”RELATED: Pickleball popularity continues to grow in TorontoCurrently, MLP consists of 24 geography-based teams and is split between two categories: MLP Premier Level and MLP Challenger Level.Premier Level is described as being home to the top 48 players drafted, while ...

Chicago captain to set sail on Race to Mackinac

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:57 GMT

CHICAGO — This weekend’s Race to Mackinac will be another showcase of strength and endurance. A Chicago captain who’s gearing up for the race and highlighting the importance of representation in the sport of sailing. South Side native David Ward is 68-years-old. His occupation is biologist and his avocation is competitive sailingWard was first introduced to sailing at 12-years-old at summer camp.“It was like being free,” he said. “The freedom of that, just being out there and being able to go where we wanted to on the lake. That was a lot of fun and something I really appreciated.”Decades later, he’s the captain now. “Racing is not easy. It takes a commitment. And if you’re not going to do it right, you’re wasting your time,” he said. “Most of my crew they go to Florida or other places in the winter to race and work on their game.” This weekend, Ward will once again take on the Race to Mackinac. More from Gaynor Hall: ‘Leaders for a New Chicago’ program ho...

Austin FC treating first-ever Leagues Cup match as must-win against Mazatlan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new era of soccer in North America begins Friday.The Leagues Cup, which pits Major League Soccer against Liga MX in a month-long World Cup-style competition, is in its inaugural year and part of an even bigger revamp at the Concacaf level. The Leagues Cup champion, runner-up and third-place teams qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup (formerly the Champions League), but perhaps the most important prize is continental bragging rights.VERDE LIGHTS: Miss the latest show? Watch the replay on Austin FC's website, but remember to tune in for the next show at 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturdays on The CW AustinAustin FC takes on Mazatlan FC on Friday and then FC Juarez on July 29 in group play, and head coach Josh Wolff said while there's a lot of unknown about other Liga MX clubs, the coaching staff has studied their group-stage opponents."We've prepped for Mazatlan and we'll look at Juarez as the week goes, but Mazatlan is a good opponent," Wolff said. "We know it's going ...

Napheesa Collier, rookies rally Lynx to 73-70 victory over Sparks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:57 GMT

For the second time in three days, the Minnesota Lynx again played one dominant half of basketball.A late 12-0 run saved them from an embarrassing loss.Napheesa Collier scored eight of her game-high 22 points during the late surge and Minnesota rallied past Los Angeles 73-70 Thursday to end a three-game slide.“That’s what the greatest players do. Whenever the team needs them, they show up, and Phee’s definitely that person for us,” said Lynx center Dorka Juhász. “… She’s been playing like an MVP.”Minnesota blew a 20-point first-half lead and an 18-point advantage late in the third quarter, finding itself down by seven with 4:07 to play as Los Angeles capped a 31-6 run.Collier said overcoming the bad stretch had to happen in Minnesota’s own end. “We weren’t playing defensively like we needed to. So, we were just, ‘We have to lock down and defend the three, which they were killing us on.’ ”It’s next five times with the ball, Los Angeles missed three shots and turned it ove...