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Leaked US strategy on Ukraine sees corruption as the real threat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:38:40 GMT

Biden administration officials are far more worried about corruption in Ukraine than they publicly admit, a confidential U.S. strategy document obtained by POLITICO suggests.The “sensitive but unclassified” version of the long-term U.S. plan lays out numerous steps Washington is taking to help Kyiv root out malfeasance and otherwise reform an array of Ukrainian sectors. It stresses that corruption could cause Western allies to abandon Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion, and that Kyiv cannot put off the anti-graft effort.“Perceptions of high-level corruption” the confidential version of the document warns, could “undermine the Ukrainian public’s and foreign leaders’ confidence in the war-time government.”That’s starker than the analysis available in the little-noticed public version of the 22-page document, which the State Department appears to have posted on its website with no fanfare about a month ago.The confidential version of the “Integrated Country Strategy” is abo...

Trump denounces fraud case as a ‘scam’ as he arrives for New York trial over his business practices

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:38:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump denounced the civil fraud case over his business practices as a politically motivated “scam” as he arrived defiantly for a trial in the lawsuit, which could cost him control of Trump Tower and other prized properties.“This is a continuation of the single greatest witch hunt of all time,” he said as he made a voluntary trip to a New York court for a trial that has high stakes for him.“It’s a scam. It’s a sham,” the Republican said, reiterating claims that New York Attorney General Letitia James’ suit is a politically motivated attempt to thwart his return to the White House.“What we have here is an attempt to hurt me in an election,” he charged, adding: “I don’t think the people of this country are going to stand for it.”He looked away from James, a Democrat, as he passed her on the way into court, with a disgusted look on his face.The suit accuses Trump and his company of deceiving banks, insurers and others by habitually...

Lucas: Hey Red Sox, why not open up Fenway Park for addicted, homeless

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:38:40 GMT

Forget Widett Circle.If Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants “a temporary new approach” to alleviate the Mass and Cass drug and homeless nightmare, she should consider utilizing Fenway Park.The ballpark is empty and will remain empty until the spring when the hapless Boston Red Sox return for another dismal season. The last placed hometown team’s last 2023 game was Sunday in Baltimore.Not that relocating the tent dwelling for down and out drug addicted souls from Mass and Cass is a solution to the problem. But relocating them to Fenway Park for the winter would give Wu time to come up with a better idea.It would also bring the homeless in from the cold.  It would end the practice of tearing down the tents only to have them shortly reappear and give Boston time to clean up the crime-ridden area.Pitching their tents in the enclosed structure of Fenway Park would at least provide some relief from winter storms as well as a sense of security. Crime and violence at Mass and Cass has been an on...

Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts backs manager David Ross as team finishes 83-79: ‘He’s our guy’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:38:40 GMT

The Chicago Cubs will have plenty of time to ponder the “what ifs” of a season that fell short of their postseason goal.Adding to the sting of finishing one game out of playoff position: the Cubs received the help they had needed coming into the weekend with the Arizona Diamondbacks getting swept by the Houston Astros. The Cubs, though, didn’t take care of business by dropping two of three games to the Milwaukee Brewers, including a 4-0 loss in Sunday’s season finale.They closed the season by losing 15 of their last 22 games. Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts described the up-and-down 83-79 year as “four different seasons” from getting off to an OK start and the subsequent slump that nearly derailed the season to rallying back over .500 and the rough final three weeks in September.“It’s tough to not achieve your goal,” Ricketts said Sunday. “It’s tough when you’re just a couple of games away from making the...

Man killed in Vista

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:38:40 GMT

VISTA, Calif. -- Authorities on Monday were investigating a homicide in Vista that left a man dead.Around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, deputies received a call about a fight near North Santa Fe and East California avenues, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said. When deputies arrived, they found a man with trauma to his upper body.Paramedics arrived and took the man to a hospital, where he died. Suspect barricaded in home in South Bay Authorities were not yet able to provide a description of the assailant.Deputies were assisting residents who needed to leave the investigation area.Check back for updates on this developing story.FOX 5's Elizabeth Alvarez contributed to this report.

A second UK police force is looking into allegations of sexual offenses committed by Russell Brand

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:38:40 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A second British police force is looking into sexual offenses allegedly committed by actor and comedian Russell Brand, British media reported Monday.Thames Valley Police is taking a fresh look at harassment and stalking allegations previously made by a woman against Brand between 2018 and 2022, the BBC and PA news agency said. The police force declined to name Brand — as is usual in the U.K. for people who have not been charged — but issued a statement when asked about the news reports. “Thames Valley Police in the past two weeks, received new information in relation to harassment and stalking allegations dating back to 2018,” it said. “This information is being investigated; as such it would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation.”London’s Metropolitan Police said last week it was examining “a number of allegations of sexual offenses” relating to Brand following a television documentary and newspaper investigations. Brand, 48, denies...

Clergy abuse survivors propose new ‘zero tolerance’ law following outcry over Vatican appointment

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:38:40 GMT

ROME (AP) — Clergy sexual abuse survivors on Monday unveiled a proposed new church law calling for the permanent removal of abusive priests and superiors who covered for them, as they stepped up their outrage over Pope Francis’ choice to head the Vatican office that investigates sex crimes.The global advocacy group End Clergy Abuse unveiled the draft law at a press conference following days of protests around the Vatican, and before taking their complaints to the U.N. in Geneva. They are seeking to draw attention to the ongoing scandal in the Catholic Church and the failure of Francis and the hierarchy to make good on years of pledges of “zero tolerance” for abuse.Specifically, the survivors have expressed astonishment at Francis’ nomination of an old friend and theologian, Cardinal Victor Fernandez, to take over as prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, given Fernandez’s record handling cases as bishop in his native Argentina.When Fernández was bishop of La P...

Cambodian court bars environmental activists from traveling to Sweden to receive ‘Alternative Nobel’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:38:40 GMT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A court in Cambodia on Monday barred three environmental activists who are serving suspended prison sentences for their advocacy work from traveling to Sweden next month to receive the prestigious Right Livelihood Award.A copy of a letter from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s chief prosecutor, Chreung Khmao, said the trip by the members of the group Mother Nature Cambodia was “not necessary.” The letter, seen by The Associated Press, came in response to a travel request from the activists. Thon Ratha, 31, Phuong Keo Reaksmey, 22, and Long Khunthea, 25, asked for permission to make a Nov. 24- Dec, 1 trip to receive the award, which is sometimes characterized as the “Alternative Nobel.”Mother Nature Cambodia was co-winner of the award this year along with Phyllis Omido, a Kenyan community activist, and SOS Mediterranee, a humanitarian group that rescues migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.The Stockholm-based Right Livelihood Foundation said the winners “stand...

The UAE holds a major oil and gas conference just ahead of hosting UN climate talks in Dubai

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:38:40 GMT

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Emirati president-designate of the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks urged oil and gas companies Monday to be “central to the solution” for climate change, a message delivered even as the industry boosts its production to enjoy rising global energy prices.The appeal by Sultan al-Jaber highlights the gap between climate activists suspicious of his industry ties and his calls to drastically slash the world’s emissions by nearly half in seven years to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with pre-industrial times. While addressing a major international concern, his remarks came at a marquee oil industry event highlighting the state oil company he oversees — feeding the concerns of those already critical of his appointment while also drawing applause from the same energy firms he wants to court at the upcoming COP28 talks starting in November.“That is our North Star. It is, in fact, our o...

Rebels in Mali say they’ve captured another military base in the north as violence intensifies

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:38:40 GMT

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Tuareg rebels in Mali said Monday they captured another military base from the army in the country’s north as fighting intensifies. Attaye Ag Mohamed, spokesman for the Azawad armed movement, told The Associated Press that the rebels seized the military base in the city of Bamba between Timbuktu and Gao on Sunday, as part of a broader strategy to weaken the Malian army. Mali’s ruling junta didn’t comment on whether the base was taken but posted a statement Sunday on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying there was intense fighting between its forces and “terrorists” in Bamba and that details would follow. Mali’s government refers to the Taureg rebels as terrorists.Mohamed said the rebels also had stolen 11 vehicles. Taking the position in Bamba was aimed at depriving the Malian army of a base it can withdraw to as it seeks to advance on the Tuareg stronghold of Kidal in the north, he said. The violence is the latest in a string of increasing atta...