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Protests, poisoning and prison: A look at the life of Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:57 GMT

LONDON (AP) — In a span of a decade, Alexei Navalny has gone from the Kremlin’s biggest foe to Russia’s most prominent political prisoner.Already serving two convictions that have landed him in prison for at least nine years, he faces a new trial that could keep him behind for two more decades.Navalny turns 47 on Sunday in prison, where he has been repeatedly locked up in solitary confinement.A look at Navalny’s life, political activism and the charges he has faced through the years:June 4, 1976 — Navalny is born in a western part of the Moscow region.1997 — Graduates from Russia’s RUDN university, where he majored in law; earns a degree in economics in 2001 while working as a lawyer. 2004 — Forms a movement against rampant overdevelopment in Moscow, according to his campaign website.2008 — Gains notoriety for alleging corruption in state-run corporations, such as gas giant Gazprom and oil behemoth Rosneft, through his blogs and other posts.2010 — Founds RosPil, an anti-corrup...

Snoop Dogg Postpones Anniversary Concerts, Shows Support For Writers Strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:57 GMT

Snoop Dogg announced the postponement of his upcoming Hollywood Bowl anniversary show in an act of solidarity with unions in the entertainment industry.The June 27-28 shows were going to celebrate Snoop’s “Doggystyle,” his debut album that shaped the sound of West Coast hip-hop in the 90s, but the “Dogg Father” said those shows will now fall Oct. 20-21.In a Friday Instagram post, Snoop wrote that the change was a show of support for the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who are currently on strike, as well as the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), both of whom are negotiating new contracts in the entertainment industry.“Me and Dr. Dre, we stand in solidarity with the writers,” Snoop said in a video posted to Instagram.Snoop added that he was hopeful that the unions and the entertainment companies “negotiate fair deals as soon as possible.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by sno...

In Pursuit of the Perfect Shot: Justin Abernethy’s Meteoric Rise in the World of Photography & Film

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:57 GMT

For many people, transforming a hobby into a successful career is wishful thinking.  Yet Toronto-based Director and Photographer, Justin Abernethy, not only accomplished this feat but did it in lightning-fast time. Abernethy’s meteoric ascent is a story of audacity and passion. Born with an innate fascination for art and visual storytelling, Abernethy’s journey is an inspiration for anyone seeking to turn a dream into reality.Abernethy’s artistic inclinations can be traced back to his early years. His youthful fascination with comic books evolved into a deep appreciation for the narratives encapsulated in a single, still image. His first steps into photography began with a Nikon D5100, a birthday gift from his parents that accompanied him on a family trip to New York. The city’s dynamic palette of people, places, and textures inspired Abernethy to translate these vivid impressions into still images, which soon found a home on Flickr, garnering him his initial recog...

Las tácticas transfronterizas de Ucrania pretenden desestabilizar a Rusia. A juzgar por la respuesta, están funcionando

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:57 GMT

(CNN) — Ucrania abrió un nuevo frente en su batalla por expulsar al invasor ruso, esta vez en Rusia. Pero es extrañamente tímida a la hora de admitir que ha enviado tropas, disparado artillería y volado drones en el territorio de su vecino.Las operaciones de ciudadanos rusos que llevan identificación militar ucraniana, visten uniformes ucranianos y atacan desde Ucrania siguen siendo oficialmente opacas. Es la contribución de Kyiv a lo que se ha dado en llamar “guerra híbrida” en la “zona gris” del conflicto contemporáneo.Los dos términos dieron lugar a libros y un tsunami de opiniones de un ejército de expertos cuando Rusia invadió Ucrania por primera vez en 2014.Por aquel entonces, aparecieron en Crimea “hombrecillos verdes” vestidos con peculiares uniformes bicolores de cazadores deportivos y atuendos militares rusos.Cuando se sugirió que tal vez, solo tal vez, estos hombres eran en realidad soldados rusos, Vladimir Putin bromeó: “Se...

Minnesota plays Washington after Collier’s 30-point showing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:57 GMT

Minnesota Lynx (0-6, 0-3 Western Conference) at Washington Mystics (3-2, 2-2 Eastern Conference)Washington; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Minnesota faces the Washington Mystics after Napheesa Collier’s 30-point outing in the Lynx’s 89-84 loss to the Connecticut Sun.Washington went 12-6 at home a season ago while going 22-14 overall. The Mystics shot 43.9% from the field and 33.8% from 3-point range last season.Minnesota finished 14-22 overall a season ago while going 7-11 on the road. The Lynx averaged 82.4 points per game last season, 15.2 from the free throw line and 20.4 from deep.INJURIES: Mystics: Myisha Hines-Allen: out (knee).Lynx: Diamond Miller: out (ankle), Natalie Achonwa: out (personal).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Connecticut hosts Dallas in non-conference action

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:57 GMT

Dallas Wings (3-2, 2-0 Western Conference) at Connecticut Sun (5-1, 4-1 Eastern Conference)Uncasville, Connecticut; Sunday, 1 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Connecticut takes on Dallas in non-conference action.Connecticut finished 25-11 overall last season while going 13-5 at home. The Sun averaged 85.8 points per game while shooting 46.2% from the field and 35.4% from 3-point range last season.Dallas went 18-18 overall with a 10-8 record on the road a season ago. The Wings gave up 82.8 points per game while committing 18.8 fouls last season.INJURIES: Sun: None listed.Wings: Lou Lopez Senechal: out (knee), Diamond DeShields: out (knee).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Boston leads Indiana against Las Vegas after 20-point game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:57 GMT

Las Vegas Aces (4-0, 4-0 Western Conference) at Indiana Fever (1-3, 1-3 Eastern Conference)Indianapolis; Sunday, 4 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Indiana plays the Las Vegas Aces after Aliyah Boston scored 20 points in the Indiana Fever’s 81-78 loss to the Connecticut Sun.Indiana went 5-31 overall last season while going 3-15 at home. The Fever gave up 89.1 points per game while committing 20.0 fouls last season.Las Vegas finished 26-10 overall with a 13-5 record on the road a season ago. The Aces averaged 90.4 points per game last season, 16.3 from the free throw line and 28.5 from 3-point range.INJURIES: Fever: None listed.Aces: None listed.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

New York plays Chicago, seeks 5th straight victory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:57 GMT

Chicago Sky (3-3, 0-3 Eastern Conference) at New York Liberty (4-1, 3-1 Eastern Conference)New York; Sunday, 2 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: New York is looking to keep its four-game win streak going when the Liberty take on Chicago.New York finished 16-20 overall and 10-8 in Eastern Conference play a season ago. The Liberty averaged 79.6 points per game while shooting 43.1% from the field and 35.1% from deep last season.Chicago went 15-3 in Eastern Conference play and 26-10 overall during the 2022-23 season. The Sky allowed opponents to score 81.3 points per game and shoot 43.8% from the field last season.INJURIES: Liberty: None listed.Sky: Ruthy Hebard: out (personal), Isabelle Harrison: out (knee), Rebekah Gardner: out (foot), Morgan Bertsch: out (ankle).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Loyd leads Seattle against Los Angeles after 26-point showing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:57 GMT

Seattle Storm (0-3, 0-2 Western Conference) at Los Angeles Sparks (1-2, 2-2 Western Conference)Los Angeles; Saturday, 10 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Seattle faces the Los Angeles Sparks after Jewell Loyd scored 26 points in the Storm’s 86-78 loss to the New York Liberty.Los Angeles went 7-11 at home and 6-12 in Western Conference games during the 2022-23 season. The Sparks gave up 86.6 points per game while committing 18.3 fouls last season.Seattle went 22-14 overall and 10-8 in Western Conference play during the 2022-23 season. The Storm averaged 82.5 points per game last season, 12.4 from the free throw line and 27.9 from beyond the arc.INJURIES: Sparks: Azura Stevens: out (back), Jasmine Thomas: out (knee), Katie Lou Samuelson: out (personal).Storm: None listed.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Fitch warns it could still cut US debt rating even after deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:57 GMT

Fitch Ratings on Friday warned that it could still downgrade the U.S.’s credit rating even after Congress passed a bill that averts an unprecedented default on government debt.While the deal to raise the debt ceiling and cut spending are “positive considerations,” Fitch said “repeated political standoffs” over the federal government’s borrowing limit “lowers confidence in governance on fiscal and debt matters.”Fitch issued its negative credit watch for U.S. debt last week. The company said it intends to “resolve” its negative watch by the end of September.President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation later today.Treasury securities are the lifeblood of financial markets and a benchmark for how everything from municipal debt to credit card rates are priced. A downgrade, which would mark only the second time a ratings service has knocked U.S. bonds from top-tier status, could drive up borrowing costs for consumers, businesses and governments — tightening credit con...