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Russia extends arrest of US journalist Evan Gershkovich by 3 months

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:32 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court on Tuesday extended the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by three months in a closed-door hearing emblematic of the secrecy that has marked the case against the first United States correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying charges.Gershkovich, a 31-year-old American citizen, was ordered held until Aug. 30. He was arrested in March on espionage charges on a reporting trip in Russia. He, his employer and the U.S. government have denied the charges.Tuesday’s pre-trial hearing wasn’t announced in advance, and the entire case has been wrapped in secrecy.Russian authorities haven’t detailed what — if any — evidence they have gathered to support the espionage charges. Various legal proceedings in the case have been closed to the media. No details immediately emerged about what was said at Tuesday’s hearing. State news agency Tass said the session was closed because the r...

Here’s what to grill for your Memorial Day weekend cookout

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:32 GMT

Hopefully, Memorial Day will be sunny and bright, warm with gentle breezes and hungry guests. It’s a great opportunity to dust off the ‘cue and host an alfresco celebration. I’m going to use it as motivation to spruce up the yard and put out splashy, outdoor party fare. The dishes will be  bursting with flavor, much of which will be fresh off the grill.Ah, come on sunshine. The barbecue needs a refresher.Louis Lamb Chop ‘Lollipops’Ten years ago, Personal Chef Katherine Louis Boucher joined me in my kitchen to show me how to turn lamb chops into irresistible Greek style “lollipop” appetizers. The chops are cut from the lamb rack, and each has a curved bone that is meat-free at the bottom making it the perfect handle for finger food grazing. She told me to offer guests napkins and stand back to watch the chops disappear.Growing up in a Greek American family in Santa Ana, her maiden name was Louis, an Ellis Island adaptation of the original Louizo. Marinated first and then grilled lamb...

Tuesday’s high school roundup/scores: Arlington Catholic’s Anna Corcoran nets 100th career goal in win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:32 GMT

GIRLS LACROSSEAnna Corcoran tallied her 100th career goal (five for the game), and Emma Hirsch added a hat trick for Arlington Catholic (8-10) in an 18-13 Catholic Central League win over St. Joseph Prep.Brooke Waters (three goals), Abby Eichler (two goals, two assists), Avery Laundry (two goals, assist) and Coco Clopton (two goals, assist) paced things offensively for Swampscott (11-5) in a 10-8 Northeastern Conference win over Gloucester.Megan Doyle (eight points, 13 draw controls), Cameron Flaherty (seven points, six draw controls), and Kendall Rogers (four points) set the tone on the attack for Weymouth in an 18-10 Bay State Conference win over Newton North. … Jamie Constantino and Emily Picher buried four goals apiece, and Paige Crowley found the net twice as Tewksbury edged Dracut 12-11 in Merrimack Valley Conference action.BASEBALLIn nonleague action, Jason Kelly went the distance with five strikeouts and Stephen Nardelli went 2-for-4 with two RBI as Cardinal Spellman t...

Dear Abby: Should I get back with my cheating ex?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:32 GMT

Dear Abby: I married a recovering addict, and for years he did great. We made a lovely home and family together.Then one of my husband’s drug buddies (a woman) resurfaced. My husband had an affair, went down that nasty road again and did some very cruel things to destroy our marriage. We have been married 19 years and separated for the last three, with a divorce pending.My husband now wants to make amends. He’s in a rehab program, but I’m reluctant. We have been on a few dates, and I have real concerns about what will happen when we run into the other woman. I asked her at least six times to go away and stay away.How should I expect him to react when we run into her? She’s deeply embedded in his social circle, far more than I ever was because I don’t care for the debauchery lifestyle. He promises he has cut ties with everyone in that circle. But I know it’s only a matter of time until we run into her. — Angry and Hurt in GeorgiaDear Angry: Y...

Carlsbad City Council fails to pass flag policy that would include commemorative flags

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:32 GMT

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Carlsbad City Council decided the city will stick to flying only the United States and State of California flags outside city hall.A flag policy was on the agenda Tuesday night that could have allowed for commemorative flags to also be flown, but that policy did not receive enough votes to pass.“We welcome people from around the state, country and world to our beaches, restaurants and beautiful city. Let’s let them know that Carlsbad is an inclusive city,” Katrina Waidelich said.While the policy would have allowed for the consideration of any commemorative flag, the conversation largely centered around the pride flag.“The city of Encinitas flies it, Vista flies it, Oceanside School District and our own CUSD will be considering it next month as well,” Nikki Faddick said. Carlsbad High assistant principal shares opposition to district ‘diversity, equity, inclusion’ efforts “The flag policy is a no-brainer and any vote to the contrary, is a vote of exclusion.” Sar...

Ecuador election council sets presidential vote for Aug. 20

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:32 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador’s National Electoral Council announced on Tuesday that early presidential elections would be held on Aug. 20 after President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly by decree last week and brought forward the vote scheduled for 2025.Lasso’s decision to dissolve the opposition-led legislature came as lawmakers tried to impeach him for not stopping a deal between the state-owned oil transport company and a private tanker company, accusations he denies. In disbanding the assembly, the president made first use of an option available to him under the constitution in conflicts with the legislative branch. Elections had to be called within three months, for both the assembly and presidency, and the winners will serve out what would otherwise have been the remainder of the terms of those elected officials. If there is no outright winner a runoff vote will be held in October. Lasso can choose to run in the presidential election. In the meanti...

Tatum scores 33, Celtics stave off elimination by topping Heat 116-99 in Game 4

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:32 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Down nine early in the third quarter, down 3-0 in the series, the Boston Celtics knew their season was completely on the brink.Three minutes later, everything looked different.Jayson Tatum had 33 points and 11 rebounds, Jaylen Brown added 17 points and the Celtics staved off elimination in the Eastern Conference finals by running away in the second half to beat the Miami Heat 116-99 in Game 4 on Tuesday night.“We were just trying to save our season,” Tatum said.They most definitely found a way to do that. The two big differences: a 30-point edge for the Celtics on 3-pointers, and an 18-0 run in that three-minute, third-quarter spurt that changed the game and — they hope — might end up changing the series.“We can’t relax,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We have to keep the same level of intensity, the same mindset, the same focus in the next game.”Derrick White scored 16 points, Grant Williams had 14, Al Horford added 12 and Marcus Smart scored 11 for the ...

Cambodian land activists arrested for allegedly inciting farmers to hate the rich

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:32 GMT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Three Cambodian land rights activists who were arrested on charges of plotting against the government planned to provoke a peasant revolution by teaching farmers about class divisions between rich and poor, an official said Tuesday.Theng Savoeun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community, and his colleagues Nhel Pheap and Than Hach were charged Monday by a court in the country’s northeast with plotting against the state and incitement to commit a felony, said Am Sam Ath of the local rights group Licadho.He said plotting against the government carries a possible prison term of five to 10 years, while incitement to commit a felony is punishable by six months to two years. He described the charges as sending “a message of intimidation” to civil society groups.The three suspects were not available for comment and their lawyers were not immediately reachable.A senior government official likened their nonviolent activities to what the communist K...

Half of US public approves of Washington’s arms deliveries to Ukraine in war’s 2nd year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Like the blue and yellow flags that popped up around the U.S. when Russia invaded Ukraine 15 months ago, U.S. popular support for Washington’s backing of Ukraine has faded a little but remains widespread, a survey by the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and NORC shows.It found that half of the people in the U.S. support the Pentagon’s ongoing supply of weapons to Ukraine for its defense against Russian forces. That level is nearly unchanged in the past year, while about a quarter are opposed to sustaining the military lifeline that has now topped $37 billion. Big majorities among both Democrats and Republicans believe Russia’s attack on Ukraine was unjustified, according to the poll, taken last month. And about three out of four people in the U.S. support the United States playing at least some role in the conflict, the survey found.The findings are in line with what Ukraine’s ambassador says she sees when she mak...

1st seditious conspiracy sentences in Jan. 6 attack to be handed down for Rhodes, other Oath Keepers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and members of his antigovernment group will be the first Jan. 6 defendants sentenced for seditious conspiracy in a series of hearings beginning this week that will set the standard for more punishments of far-right extremists to follow.Prosecutors will urge the judge on Thursday to put Rhodes behind bars for 25 years, which would be the harshest sentence by far handed down in the U.S. Capitol attack. Describing the Oath Keepers’ actions as “terrorism,” the Justice Department says stiff punishments are crucial to send a message to future possible instigators of political violence. “The justice system’s reaction to January 6 bears the weighty responsibility of impacting whether January 6 becomes an outlier or a watershed moment,” prosecutors wrote in court papers this month. The hearings will begin Wednesday, when prosecutors and defense lawyers are expected to argue over legal issues concerning sentencing and begin he...