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Wagner boss Prigozhin claims control of Russia’s Rostov-on-Don, menaces Moscow

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:26 GMT

Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed early Saturday to have taken control of the strategic southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don without a fight, as Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to “neutralize” the threat posed by the renegade Wagner mercenary army.Multiple reports also indicated that Prigozhin’s forces had taken control of military facilities in Voronezh, a city roughly 500 kilometers south of Moscow and around 500 kilometers north of Rostov — giving the mercenary group a foothold in two Russian cities that are key to the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine.Overnight, Prigozhin had said in a series of short voice messages posted to social media that he was leading a “march of justice” and not a military coup, and suggested that 25,000 of his men were en route to Moscow to oust Russia’s military leadership — and were ready to die for the cause.The moves escalate the stakes in an uprising by Prigozhin’s Wagner group against the military leader...

Mix of bravado and access to guns contribute to mass shootings by teens in St. Louis, other cities

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:26 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — A 1 a.m. shooting at a party in downtown St. Louis kills one and injures nearly a dozen. Gunmen open fire during a fight near Florida’s Hollywood Beach, injuring nine, including a 1-year-old. Bursts of gunfire at a Sweet 16 party in Dadeville, Alabama, kill four and wound more than 30. What these and other recent mass shootings share in common is they all involve suspects in their teens, highlighting what can be a deadly mix of teenage bravado and impulsiveness with access to guns.The days when many teens opted to fight out disagreements with fists seem quaint by comparison.“I remember when I was a child and we had fights — somebody got a black eye or a broken nose and (they) lived to tell about it,” St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones told reporters after Sunday’s shooting. Reaching for a gun is the default these days for some teens who are as quick to take offense as to pull a trigger, agreed Rodney Phillips, a 50-year-old former Chicago Black Disciples leade...

Long heritage of Native Hawaiian gender-fluidity showcased in Las Vegas drag show

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:26 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Drag queens donning the white, red and blue of the Hawaiian flag shimmied across the stage to a throbbing techno remix of “Aloha Oe,” a song composed by Hawaii’s last reigning monarch. Spectators roared as a performer shook her hips in a Tahitian-style dance.All were “mahu” — a Hawaiian term for people with dual male and female spirit and a mixture of gender traits. They starred in a drag show this week called “Mahu Magic” on the sidelines of a Native Hawaiian convention in Las Vegas to remind the world of the respected place gender-fluidity has held in Hawaiian culture for hundreds of years, while also making a foray into the national conversation about transgender rights. “It’s a little different from other drag shows because this one has a very specific purpose,” Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, who is mahu, a community leader and a master teacher of hula and chanting, told the audience midway through the event.“It is meant to reinstate the rightful plac...

UK village marks 80th anniversary of fight against US Army racism in World War II

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:26 GMT

BAMBER BRIDGE, England (AP) — The village of Bamber Bridge in northwestern England is proud of the blow it struck against racism in the U.S. military during World War II.When an all-Black truck regiment was stationed there, residents refused to accept the segregation ingrained in the U.S. Army. Ignoring pressure from British and American authorities, pubs welcomed the GIs, local women chatted and danced with them, and English soldiers drank alongside men they saw as allies in the war.But simmering tensions between Black soldiers and white military police exploded on June 24, 1943, when a dispute outside a pub escalated into a night of gunfire. Private William Crossland was killed and dozens of soldiers from the truck regiment faced court martial. When Crossland’s niece learned about the circumstances of her uncle’s death, she called for a new investigation to uncover how he died.The community has chosen to focus on its stand against segregation as it commemorates the 80th anniversar...

Daily horoscope for June 24, 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:26 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Virgo.Happy Birthday for Saturday, June 24, 2023:You are ambitious, hardworking and very independent. You like to call your own shots and run your own show. You are also imaginative. This year is full of beginnings and opportunities. Be courageous and ready to open any door! You might take on a leadership role.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★★For two more weeks, fiery Mars, your ruler, will be in your fellow Fire Sign, which energizes you and makes you feel vigorous and willing to work. It boosts your self-confidence and makes you more effective and more competent than usual. This is a lovely bonus that will be active until July 10. Enjoy! Tonight: Get organized.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★For the next few weeks, increased activity and chaos on the home front might dog your steps. This could be due to renovations, residential moves, visiting guests, broken pipes, an influx of critters — co...

Miss Manners: Am I right that it’s disgusting to put eyeglasses on a kitchen counter?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:26 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a relative who wears eyeglasses for certain tasks. When they are not in use, this person takes them off and lays them around my house.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: They got upset when I tried to step out of the photo Advice | Miss Manners: Our dinner guests said everything was fine. Obviously, it was not. Advice | Miss Manners: What I failed to teach my 5-year-old has become a problem Advice | Miss Manners: Why do they text me these boring pictures? Advice | Miss Manners: My party guest criticized my hosting to my face That’s fine in most areas, but I draw the line at kitchen counters.I have repeatedly asked them not to put their glasses on the counter. They scoff and frequently do it anyway. This is unsanitary and disgusting, in my opinion. Am I overreacting?GENTLE READER: Unclear. Because Miss Manners is having a hard time imagining how, exactly, the practice is...

Dear Abby: How do I tell her our dinners are no longer high priority?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:26 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.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: She dressed like a bride at the funeral, and things got worse from there Advice | Dear Abby: My wife demands compensation for housework and sex Advice | Dear Abby: Should I tell her she crossed a line with her behavior toward my husband? Advice | Dear Abby: Must I consent to her odd hygiene requirements? Advice | Dear Abby: Our friendship ended badly. Should I discard his things that I still have? 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...

A un año de que eliminaron Roe vs. Wade: así sobreviven los médicos a la persecución al aborto

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:26 GMT

AUSTIN – Miedo, desconcierto e impotencia son sentimientos que han predominado durante el último año en las consultas de obstetras y ginecólogos en muchos lugares de Estados Unidos por las leyes que han restringido el acceso al aborto, que afectan a los profesionales de la salud que atienden a mujeres.Después de que el Tribunal Supremo del país acabara el 24 de junio de 2022 con la protección del aborto a nivel federal, han surgido numerosas leyes estatales que lo prohíben y amenazan a los médicos con duras penas como la cárcel o la retirada de la licencia para trabajar.“Como médico, tengo las manos atadas. Cuando estoy interactuando con un paciente, no estoy diciendo cuál es la mejor atención médica, sino que tengo que preguntar qué creen mis legisladores que está bien”, cuenta en una entrevista Amna Dermish, ginecóloga obstetra.Trabaja para la organización Planned Parenthood, el mayor proveedor de servicios reproductivos del país, y durante los últimos meses ha e...

Padres host the Nationals, try to continue home win streak

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:26 GMT

Washington Nationals (28-47, fifth in the NL East) vs. San Diego Padres (37-39, fourth in the NL West)San Diego; Saturday, 8:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Josiah Gray (4-6, 3.64 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 72 strikeouts); Padres: Matt Waldron (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -200, Nationals +168; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres host the Washington Nationals aiming to continue a three-game home winning streak.San Diego has a 37-39 record overall and a 20-20 record in home games. The Padres rank fifth in the NL with 92 total home runs, averaging 1.2 per game.Washington has a 28-47 record overall and a 15-20 record in road games. The Nationals have a 22-9 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.Saturday’s game is the fifth time these teams match up this season. The Padres hold a 3-1 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Juan Soto has 19 doubles and 14 home runs for the Padres. Fernando Tatis Jr. is 14-for-38 with six doubles, t...

Mets bring road skid into matchup against the Phillies

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:26 GMT

New York Mets (34-41, fourth in the NL East) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (39-36, third in the NL East)Philadelphia; Saturday, 4:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Max Scherzer (6-2, 4.04 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 68 strikeouts); Phillies: Cristopher Sanchez (0-0, 3.24 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 10 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -130, Phillies +110; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets will aim to end a three-game road slide when they face the Philadelphia Phillies.Philadelphia has a 39-36 record overall and a 20-13 record in home games. The Phillies have gone 16-7 in games decided by one run.New York has a 17-26 record on the road and a 34-41 record overall. The Mets have a 25-5 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Saturday’s game is the fifth time these teams square off this season. The Mets are ahead 3-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Schwarber has seven doubles, a triple, 20 home runs and 41 RBI while hitting .185 for the Phillies....