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Ruling party’s sweeping victory in Kazakh elections confirmed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:00 GMT

A landslide win by the Amanat party has been confirmed by Kazakhstan’s Central Electoral Commission. Five other parties will also be represented in the country’s lower house of parliament, the Mazhilis, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.It was a result that vindicates not just the exit polls but President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s decision to propose greater powers for the new parliament (endorsed in a referendum) and then call early elections. The victor, with 54% of the vote, is the Amanat (Commitment) Party that he used to lead, though the new constitution places the President above party politics.Second place, with 11%, has been taken by the social democratic Auyl People’s Democratic Party, suggesting that political debate in the new parliament will be more about the pace of reform, rather than its direction. The newly formed Respublica Party, which is strongly in favour of economic and social reform, came third with nearly 9% of the vote.The Aq jol Democratic Party, the People’...

Russia's hidden threats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:00 GMT

During these recent days of March, the Kremlin has intensified support for its pro-Russian elements in many European cities. Through these actions, under the guise of rallies and protests, Russia is infiltrating militants and extremists into the European space, trying to undermine and destabilize the situation.The almost simultaneous appearance of supporters of Putin's policy on the streets of European cities is as surprising as the number of these supporters. Apparently, this is the number the Kremlin is able to pay for in the context of a full-scale war with Ukraine and under pressure from sanctions.The organised pro-Russian rallies in Spain, the Czech Republic, Moldova, and manifestations of support for Moscow's policy in Switzerland and Poland, according to Putin, should show that Russia has its supporters in many European cities. But, this synchronised manifestation of pro-Russian protests only confirms the Kremlin's long-standing strategy of illegally funding ra...

Southern California can expect rain, mountain snow through Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:00 GMT

Yet another atmospheric river is bringing rain and snow to Southern California on Monday.The National Weather Service is forecasting one to three inches of rain along the coastal areas and valleys, and two to four inches of rain to the mountains and foothill communities before snow begins to fall on Tuesday. Snow will fall as low as 3,000 feet, with two to four feet expected at 6,000 feet and above. There is a “significant threat” of avalanches above 6,000 feet, said NWS. Monday will be cloudy and cool, with strong winds and mountain snow beginning Tuesday.High winds are also in store for high-elevation communities, with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour recorded on Sunday morning in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Those winds are expected to move into the higher elevated parts of Ventura and L.A. counties as the storm moves through.=Click here to view the current radar and weather for your local area.

Man Fatally Injured in Pedestrian Collision on Interstate 8 [El Cajon, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:00 GMT

Male Pedestrian Fatally Struck in Deadly Accident near Main StreetEL CAJON, CA (March 20, 2023) – Sunday evening, one man was fatally injured in a pedestrian collision on Interstate 8.The incident occurred around 8:20 p.m., along the westbound lanes of the freeway near Main Street.Per reports, the driver of a 2016 Kia attempted to switch lanes when they struck a pedestrian.Due to the extent of injuries sustained, medics later pronounced the male pedestrian dead at the scene. Although, authorities have not yet released his identity.Meanwhile, paramedics transported the Kia driver, a 44-year-old man to Sharp Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.Emergency crews closed off the surrounding area for a brief time during cleanup and preliminary duties. At this time, El Cajon Officials are working to determine if alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident.No further details regarding the fatal pedestrian collision on Interstate 8 have been released to the public. Autho...

March Madness Fun Facts About 2023 NCAA Coaches and Other Tidbits 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:00 GMT

You know what else “springs” into action this month? NCAA season! If you’re one of the enthusiasts who eagerly check the scores every now and then, know that it’s not just you who enjoys NCAA — there are even a few more March madness fun facts about the tournament and coaches you might want to know about.10 March Madness Fun Facts — So You Can Know the Tournament and Coaches Better!The first-ever NCAA winner was the University of Oregon back in 1939.“March Madness” became the “unofficial” NCAA phrase when Brent Musburger said it in 1982.UTEP (or Texas Western then) was the first university — to have a lineup that consisted of black men — to win against an all-white team; this was against Kentucky!UCLA is known for championing 11 titles — and 10 of these wins were under coach John Wooden.Coaching seems to be Larry Brown’s calling. He not only led the Kansas Jayhawks to win back in 1988 in the NCAA, coach Brown also had a lot to do with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons winning the cham...

Willem Dafoe Delves Deep Inside the Soul of an Art Thief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:00 GMT

Tell the truth– the last time you broke into a penthouse apartment in Manhattan to steal million-dollar art, you took your cell phone with you, just in case your brilliant plan went awry. You’re smart that way. But alas, Nemo, the thief Willem Dafoe portrays in the cerebral new film, Inside, isn’t as organized. When security systems unexpectedly engage, sealing him inside the apartment as tightly as a pharaoh in a tomb, he can’t call for help, a plot improbability it’s best not to dwell on for long.Director Vasilis Katsoupis, a Greek documentarian making his feature debut, and screenwriter Ben Hopkins sidestep the big markers of plot logic in favor of immediately narrowing Nemo’s world. A pro, he does not panic. The water and gas are turned off but there’s a decorative wading pool filled with water, and though the refrigerator is empty, there are tins of caviar, and vodka, and for a day or two, that’s sufficient.The freezer is timed to the apartment sound system, which breaks ...

Police identify East San Jose man allegedly connected to wife’s death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:00 GMT

Police arrested a man Tuesday after his wife was found unconscious and not breathing at a home in the 1300 block of Foxdale Loop in East San Jose, according to authorities.The woman was later pronounced dead at the scene, and her death was deemed the city’s fifth homicide of 2023, according to San Jose police. After an investigation, police arrested 46-year-old Alejandro Mozo-Crisostomo, the victim’s husband, on suspicion of murder.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | San Jose police investigate city’s 6th homicide Crime and Public Safety | Mountain View art studio owner arrested on suspicion of molesting teen girl Crime and Public Safety | Feds charge San Jose man in deadly fentanyl overdose in Fremont Crime and Public Safety | San Jose restaurant owner accused of forcing waiter to house co-workers, then threatening to get him deported Crime and Public Safety | Authorities identify Gil...

Sweet 16 power ratings: Alabama’s the team to beat, but San Diego State’s timing is impeccable

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:00 GMT

After years of gut-punch losses, stumbles against lower seeds or missing March Madness altogether, San Diego State has broken through to the second weekend.The Aztecs might be steep underdogs against top-seeded Alabama, but they’re No. 1 in tournament timing.SDSU could not have picked a better year to advance to the Sweet 16, with the Pac-12 in the final stages of negotiating a media rights contract and determining whether the Aztecs are a suitable expansion option.While a single weekend of results won’t make or break SDSU’s case for membership, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Optics matter, and the Aztecs look like a program that can solidify what will be a depleted basketball product once UCLA departs for the Big Ten in the summer of 2024.In the past 15 years, SDSU has qualified for the NCAA Tournament 10 times, averaged a No. 7 seed on those occasions and advanced to the Sweet 16 three times (2011, 2014 and 2023).Other than Arizona and Oregon, none of the remai...

Opinion: Senior year is a costly high school rite of passage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:00 GMT

Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic Vision, an independent journalism training program for high school students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.For seniors, their final year in high school is the culmination of what they have been working toward for their entire lives. But many students may not realize the joys of graduation come with a steep price.As a college-bound senior, I’ve learned that prices can leap by the hundreds of dollars — from entrance exams to graduation pictures to prom expenses. Here are the costs I confronted and how they skyrocketed.One of the highest costs of being a senior is applying to college. I applied to nine schools, and it cost me $630.Depending on which school you apply to, it could cost anywhere from $60 to $90 just to submit an application. This doesn’t even factor in what comes later — your deposit once you get accepted, tuition and housing.There is an option for a fee ...

Wine Country Adventures: 10 ways to eat, drink and play in Sonoma Valley in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:00 GMT

Spring has arrived in Sonoma’s wine country, painting the hillsides in shades of green and the sunny yellow of mustard blossoms. It’s bud break season in the vineyards, and there’s a sense of possibility everywhere you look. After staying close to home for so long, everything feels new these days, as we ramble through The Barlow and stroll Sonoma streets, explore new eateries and gambol through winery sculpture gardens.Whether you go now or wait for one of wine country’s big events, the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience in May, say, or Taste of Sonoma in June, fresh opportunities to eat, drink and play abound. Here are 10 possibilities to while your weekend away.Troubadour’s sumac-roasted carrot and burrata sandwich is laced with pesto and arugula. (Troubadour Bread & Bistro) EAT: Troubadour Bread & Bistro, HealdsburgWhen in wine country, who doesn’t need a damn-good gourmet deli sandwich? Reasonably-priced meals are an absolute m...