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Sultan of Southern California ‘micronation’ visits KTLA, appoints meteorologist as ambassador 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:50 GMT

The Sultan of Slowjamastan, a self-proclaimed “micronation” in the Southern California desert, joined the KTLA morning team to discuss his new country and to appoint a new ambassador. San Diego-based slow jams radio DJ Randy “R-Dub” Williams got the idea to create the Republic of Slowjamastan after visiting every UN-recognized nation on Earth. The Sultan reached out to the KTLA morning team shortly after he was featured on the show, thanking KTLA anchor Pedro Rivera and meteorologist Kacey Montoya for their love and confirming that his tiny nation was actively looking for ambassadors, a position that pays $500,000 a year in the local currency, known as Dubles. Kacey was presented with an “official” plaque commemorating her new ambassadorial role and engagement, as the Sultan declared that the ambassador was now “married” to him. The morning team even received Slowjamastani passports and were invited to a “little dance party” that is set to take place in the “micronation”&n...

A submersible expert who rode Titan in 2019 says he raised safety concerns to operator CEO after trip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:50 GMT

(CNN) — As the investigation continues into how and when the Titan submersible imploded while on a deep-sea voyage to the Titanic wreckage last weekend, a submersible expert says he warned the vessel’s CEO about safety concerns after a trip years ago.When Karl Stanley was aboard the Titan for an undersea excursion off the coast of the Bahamas in April 2019, he felt there was something wrong with the vessel when loud noises were heard.The day after his trip, Stanley sent an email to Stockton Rush, the CEO of the vessel’s operator OceanGate Expeditions, sounding the alarm on suspected defects.“What we heard, in my opinion … sounded like a flaw/defect in one area being acted on by the tremendous pressures and being crushed/damaged,” Stanley wrote in the email, a copy of which has been obtained by CNN.“From the intensity of the sounds, the fact that they never totally stopped at depth, and the fact that there were sounds at about 300 feet that indicated a relaxing of stored energy /woul...

2 killed, 15 hurt after fight at large Michigan street party leads to gunshots

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:50 GMT

(CNN) — Two people were killed and 15 injured after a fight broke out at a large street party resulting in a shooting in Saginaw, Michigan, police say.The party had been promoted on social media, according to authorities, and police had dispersed the crowd “multiple times in different locations,” before the incident, the Michigan State Police said in a news release.“Police were nearby, preparing to disperse the crowd in this new location, when multiple 911 callers reported that people were shooting into the crowd at approximately 12:00 a.m. on June 24,” the release said.Authorities said “a fight broke out between partygoers resulting in gunshots being fired. In response, others in the crowd began shooting into the crowd, striking several victims. As people fled the scene, many were injured after being struck by fleeing vehicles.”According to the release, at least five different caliber weapons were used, and no suspects are in custody.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | ...

Tornado rips through massive Wyoming coal mining site, injures 8 people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:50 GMT

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Wyo. (AP) — A tornado that ripped through the country’s largest coal mining site in northeast Wyoming left eight people injured and halted operations as first responders searched the massive open-pit site for employees and continued to assess the damage, officials said Saturday.The tornado hit the North Antelope Rochelle Mine in Campbell County around 6 p.m. Friday during a shift change, initially complicating search and rescue efforts. But Peabody Energy, the operator of the mine with headquarters in St. Louis and South Brisbane, Australia, confirmed before midnight that all employees had been accounted for.Six employees were still being treated in hospitals as of 11 p.m. Friday, the company said. No deaths were reported.Melissa Smith, a meteorologist and hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Rapid City, South Dakota, said a storm system scattered tornadoes throughout Campbell, Natrona and Johnson counties.“The tornadoes would form, come down, stay...

American teen Krueger to play top-seeded Maria in Veneto Open final

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:50 GMT

GAIBA, Italy (AP) — Ashlyn Krueger won the showdown of American teenagers at the Veneto Open on Saturday to set up a final against top-seeded Tatjana Maria of Germany.The 19-year-old Krueger rallied to beat 18-year-old Robin Montgomery 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2 after 2 hours, 20 minutes.Krueger and Montgomery won the girls’ doubles together at the U.S. Open in 2021.Maria entered the world rankings two years before Krueger was born.The 35-year-old Maria, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals last year, dominated her semifinal against fourth-seeded Olga Danilovic — the daughter of former pro basketball player Predrag Danilovic — 6-1, 6-3.“I really played a great match, staying focused from the first to last point,” Maria said. “I adore playing on grass, because it brings out my tennis. This is always the part of the season I prefer.“I will prepare for the final the best way possible with my husband (coach Charles-Edouard Maria) and I hope I can manage to win the title at a tournament I really ...

Quién es el jefe de mercenarios rusos que puso a temblar a Vladimir Putin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:50 GMT

Yevgeny Prigozhin, jefe del contratista militar privado Grupo Wagner, llamó el viernes a una rebelión armada para echar al ministro de Defensa de Rusia, ante lo cual los servicios de seguridad rusos reaccionaron de inmediato, abriendo una investigación penal a Prigozhin.A pesar de que este sábado los combatientes del grupo mercenario se acercaba a Moscú, Prigozhin ordenó detener el avance a la capital rusa para evitar un “derramamiento de sangre”‘.Anteriormente había criticado a la cúpula militar del país por fracasos en la guerra en Ucrania, y se sabe que está enemistado desde hace tiempo con el Ministerio de Defensa. Crisis en Rusia: jefe de mercenarios detiene avance a Moscú para evitar un baño de sangre Putin responde desafiante a rebelión del Grupo Wagner: “Una puñalada por la espalda” A continuación presentamos un vistazo a las acciones de Prigozhin, de 62 años, y al papel del Grupo Wagner en la guerra.QUIÉ...

Wagner forces pull back from Moscow as Prigozhin’s rebellion fizzles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:50 GMT

Rebel fighters loyal to Russia’s Wagner mercenary group will stop their advance towards Moscow to avoid a devastating civil conflict, their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday.In a voice recording posted to his Telegram channel, Prigozhin said his troops would turn back after advancing within 200 kilometers of Moscow on a day when Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Wagner’s uprising as “treason” and warned that the country risked tipping into civil war.Prigozhin, smarting over the Kremlin’s inept handling of the war in Ukraine, announced early on Saturday that his mercenaries had seized the major southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, a logistics hub for Putin’s war, and threatened to push on to Moscow.  Wagner forces also appeared to be well established in the city of Voronezh, 500 kilometers south of the capital.  After a day of heightened military tensions — with shells fired in Voronezh and Chechen fighters being dispatched to take on Wagner in Rostov — ...

Boston bike lanes plan draws opposition: The proposed routes would be ‘deadly’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:50 GMT

The City of Boston is moving forward with plans to add bike lanes and reconfigure streets in two neighborhoods, despite heavy opposition from residents.Two heated community meetings and a flurry of emails shared with the Herald point to safety concerns among residents living in both Back Bay and West Roxbury, where plans to install bike lanes on Berkeley, Beacon and Boylston streets, and Centre Street, respectively, were presented in the past several weeks.“We understand and support the concept of a system of bike paths connecting all parts of the city,” wrote Elliott Laffer, chair of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, in one such email. “However, we believe it would be irresponsible to implement such a plan in an area where an unsuspecting bike rider or pedestrian would be placed in peril.“The proposed routes on Berkeley and Beacon streets would be deadly. We ask reconsideration of this deeply flawed plan.”Another resident, Judy Settana, wrote that she and her husband we...

Rebellious Wagner Group leader orders troops back to Ukraine after stunning march toward Moscow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:50 GMT

By The Associated PressA rebellious Russian mercenary commander said Saturday he ordered his troops to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to field camps in Ukraine, appearing to defuse a dramatically escalating crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power.Moscow had braced for the arrival of forces from the Wagner Group, a private army led by Yevgeny Prigozhin that has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine, by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city’s southern edge. Red Square was shut down, and the mayor urged motorists to stay off some roads.But Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he decided to turn them back to avoid “shedding Russian blood.”He did not say whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. There was no immediate comment from Putin...

Top 10 players available on NBA’s free agent market from James Harden to Bruce Bown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:50 GMT

We’ve written about this before and the trend has remained true: free agency in the NBA ain’t what it used to be.The stars have learned that it’s better to secure the extension through Bird Rights — thereby maximizing their contracts — and pick the destination later by requesting a trade. Kevin Durant did it. Bradley Beal did it. Dame Lillard could do it next.As a result, the upcoming free agency won’t include a franchise player changing teams for a fourth straight year. The 2019 class was a doozy and we may never see it again.But there are some game-changers available, even if most of the top free agents will likely re-sign with their current squads.Below is a ranked list of the top-10 free agents. The negotiation period begins at 6 p.m. on June 30 — although we know tampering is commonplace beforehand — and deals can become official July 6:1. JAMES HARDENAge: 33Incumbent team: SixersLast season’s salary: $33 millionThere have b...