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New US military aid to Ukraine pushes Washington deeper 'into abyss of conflict'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:17 GMT

The new $325 million US military aid package for Ukraine pushes Washington deeper into the "abyss" of the conflict, Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, said early on Wednesday (14 June).The package, which includes munitions for air defence systems, ammunition and vehicles, comes as Ukraine is shaping its long-expected counter-offensive. In the past week, Ukrainian forces lost some tanks and armoured vehicles provided by western allies while making small initial territorial gains."The United States is getting deeper and deeper into the abyss of the Ukrainian crisis," Antonov was quoted as saying in a post on the embassy's Telegram messaging channel."Apparently, the strategists from the United States somehow do not understand that no amount of weapons, whatever involvement of mercenaries, will be able to turn the tide in the course of (Russia's) special military operation."Russia refers to its actions in Ukraine as a "special military operation", rather than a w...

Russia urges 'transparent' investigation into Nord Stream blasts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:17 GMT

A "transparent and objective" international investigation into the blasts at the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines is needed, a high-ranking Russian diplomat to the United States said early on Wednesday (14 June).Commenting on reports that the US reportedly warned Ukraine not to attack the pipelines under the Baltic Sea, Andrey Ledenev, minister-counsellor at the embassy, said the role of the United States in the blasts should also be "clarified"."It would be useful to think about the reasons for the stubborn unwillingness of the collective West to launch a transparent and objective international investigation under the auspices of the UN Security Council in the terrorist attacks in the Baltic Sea," Ledenev was quoted as saying in a post on the embassy's Telegram messaging channel.

Curren Price facing suspension from L.A. City Council amid corruption charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:17 GMT

After councilmember Curren Price stepped down from his responsibilities Tuesday amid charges of corruption by the Los Angeles County District Attorney, council leaders have taken the first steps to officially suspend the representative. Price faces five counts of grand theft by embezzlement, three counts of perjury, and two counts of conflict of interest, the D.A.’s Office announced yesterday.  “Today, I am filing a motion to begin the process for suspension of councilmember Price,” L.A. City Council President Paul Krekorian said.  While Krekorian initiated the process, he added that he wants to consider the constituents of L.A.’s 9th District before the motion goes to a vote.  “We’ll continue to make sure that all the people of this city, including the 9th District, are represented fully and taken into account,” he said.  At Wednesday’s city council meeting, members of the public shared their thoughts on the matter, with many pointing out that scandals...

Santa Monica teen loses leg after DUI driver crashes into him

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:17 GMT

A Santa Monica teenager became an amputee and remains hospitalized after a suspected drunk driver slammed into him.On June 2, 18-year-old Gelvy Ortiz was sitting at a bus stop on Wilshire Boulevard and 26th Street when he was struck by a suspected DUI driver.The collision left Gelvy with life-altering injuries, resulting in the amputation of his left leg.Doctors are still working to save his right leg as the teen remains hospitalized at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.Gelvy is the youngest of four brothers who immigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala together in search of a better life. The siblings became orphaned at a young age when they lost their mother to breast cancer.Gelvy Ortiz became an amputee and remains hospitalized after a suspected drunk driver struck him in Santa Monica on June 2, 2023. (Ortiz Family)Gelvy Ortiz and his brothers in a family photo.Gelvy Ortiz became an amputee and remains hospitalized after a suspected drunk driver struck him in Santa Monica on June...

L.A. Mayor Bass Welcomes Migrants Sent By Texas Governor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:17 GMT

Tex. Governor Greg Abbott sent a bus of asylum-seeking migrants to Los Angeles Wednesday and Mayor Karen Bass welcomed them while condemning the governor’s actions.Bass said the governor’s stunt was not surprising and the city had a plan in place for when it inevitably happened. Anticipating the bus arrivals, Bass said there were LAPD, LAFD and members from nonprofit organizations ready to receive the migrants at Union Station in downtown L.A.“Los Angeles is not a city motivated by hate or fear and we absolutely will not be swayed or moved by petty politicians playing with human lives,” Bass said in a statement Wednesday. “We are a city that seeks to treat all people with dignity and compassion and we will continue to work closely with non-profit organizations, including the L.A. Welcomes Collective, as well as with our County, State and Federal partners.”Abbott took credit for the buses, saying he will continue to transport migrants in Texas to sanctua...

Preview: ‘The Crew Motorfest’ takes players on curated trip to Hawaii

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:17 GMT

When it comes to open-world driving games, “The Crew” always took second place to “Forza Horizon.” Although the former’s map was larger by covering a condensed version of the United States, the visuals and content left something to be desired. It was a case of quantity over quality.For its next iteration, Ubisoft Ivory Tower is taking a cue from its rival and focusing on a smaller area. In this case, they’re going to the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The move will remind fans of “Test Drive Unlimited,” a 2006 Atari-published game that was also inspired by the locale. The big difference between that title and this one is that there’s more than a decade worth of gaming trends behind “The Crew Motorfest.” A LOOK AT PLAYLISTSUbisoft’s racing title revolves around the concept of playlists. It’s a curated set of races focused on particular themes and they’re associated with distinct playstyles. With the Motorsp...

Migrants bused from Texas to Los Angeles in move mayor calls ‘despicable stunt’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:17 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A group of migrants who arrived by bus in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday were sent from Texas in a move the city’s mayor called a “despicable stunt” by a Republican governor. Forty-two people, including some children, were dropped off at Union Station around 4 p.m. and were being cared for by city agencies and charitable organizations, Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León’s office said. “They left yesterday and it was 23 hours on the bus and they did not have a chance to eat or to have water,” said Jorge Mario Cabrera of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, who spoke to several migrants.“They are being fed; they’re taking shelters; they’re talking to attorneys,” he said. “These are migrants that have been allowed by the U.S. to enter because they have credible fears. They have not yet received asylum.”Many were from Latin American countries, including Honduras and Venezuela, and one person had an immigration appointment in New Yo...

On board an asparagus cruise with Germany’s leaders after they solve coalition crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:17 GMT

BERLIN — As German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sat in a crisis meeting Tuesday afternoon, 600 guests of the Social Democratic Party were on their way to a boat laden with asparagus during spargelzeit, or asparagus season, worried there would be little to celebrate that night if the meeting did not end well. Meanwhile, Scholz, Liberal Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Green Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck convened to find a resolution to the building energy law, which had led to deep strife in the three-party coalition for weeks.The Greens wanted to ban the installation of gas heating as early as the beginning of 2024 while the Liberals fought for less strict rules. All avenues of discussion had failed to that point, so the three coalition leaders had to settle it once and for all on Tuesday before the summer recess. And they did, to the delight of 150 SPD lawmakers and hundreds of other guests of the Seeheimer Kreis — the influential conservative wing of the SPD parliamentary group — ...

Australia blocks new Russian embassy near parliament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:17 GMT

Australia has passed a law to prevent Russia from building a second embassy near the Australian parliament in Canberra for security reasons.“The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a press conference Thursday according to AP, citing risks of “potential interference with activity that occurs in this Parliament House.”“We are acting quickly to ensure the lease site does not become a formal diplomatic presence,” Albanese added.The new bill will cancel a lease which had been granted to Russia in 2008 to build a second embassy a stone’s throw away from Capital Hill, where the Australian Parliament is located.Australia has provided around $500 million of assistance to Ukraine — including about $350 million in military aid — since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.In February, the Sydney Morning Heral...

UK lawmakers prepare to release their report on Boris Johnson and ‘partygate’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:17 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Lawmakers are expected to release a long-awaited report Thursday on whether former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over COVID lockdown-flouting parties at his Downing Street office.Parliament’s Privileges Committee has spent 14 months investigating Johnson’s conduct over “partygate,” a series of boozy gatherings in his office that broke strict COVID-19 restrictions that his government had imposed on the country. Johnson, 58, angrily quit as a lawmaker on Friday after the committee informed him in advance that he would be sanctioned. He described the seven-member committee — which included both the ruling Conservatives and opposition party members — as a “kangaroo court,” and accused political opponents of driving him out in a “witch hunt.”On Wednesday, the eve of the report’s publication, Johnson also called for the panel’s most senior Conservative member, Bernard Jenkin, to resign over claims that he had brok...