Ukraine stages major attack on Russian aircraft with drones, security official says

Ukraine stages major attack on Russian aircraft with drones, security official says

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine conducted a large drone attack on Russian military aircraft on Sunday, a security official told Reuters, saying 40 Russian warplanes were struck. If confirmed, the strikes would be the most damaging Ukrainian drone attack of the war, and would be a significant setback for Moscow. The official said that the strikes were conducted by the SBU domestic intelligence agency, and that they had simultaneously hit four Russian military air bases on Sunday. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more than 40 aircraft were hit, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, which Russia uses to fire long-range missiles at Ukraine. Reuters could not immediately verify the assertions. The source shared video footage, saying it showed the strikes. The images showed several large aircraft, some of which appeared to be Tu-95 strategic bombers, on fire. Ukraine, which lacks Russia's vast arsenal of missiles, has instead built up a large fleet of attack drones which it has used to attack Russian military and oil facilities. Russia had proposed a fresh round of talks in Istanbul on Monday, but Kyiv has thus far neither confirmed nor denied that it will be attending. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth, writing by Max Hunder; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, William Maclean)

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

June 01, 2025

Ukraine stages major attack on Russian aircraft with drones, security official says

Ukraine stages major attack on Russian aircraft with drones, security official says KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine conducted a large drone attack o...

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Stanley Fischer, former Fed vice chair and Bank of Israel chief, dies at 81

Stanley Fischer, former Fed vice chair and Bank of Israel chief, dies at 81

By Steven Scheer JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Stanley Fischer, who helped shape modern economic theory during a career that included heading the Bank of Israel and serving as vice chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, has died at the age of 81. The Bank of Israel said he died on Saturday night but did not give a cause of death. Fischer was born in Zambia and had dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship. As an academic at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Fischer trained many of the people who went on to be top central bankers, including former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke as well as Mario Draghi, the former European Central Bank president. Fischer served as chief economist at the World Bank, and first deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund during the Asian financial crisis and was then vice chairman at Citigroup from 2002 to 2005. During an eight-year stint as Israel's central bank chief from 2005-2013, Fischer helped the country weather the 2008 global financial crisis with minimal economic damage, elevating Israel's economy on the global stage, while creating a monetary policy committee to decide on interest rates like in other advanced economies. He was vice chair of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2017 and served as a director at Bank Hapoalim in 2020 and 2021. Current Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron praised Fischer's contribution to the Bank of Israel and to advancing Israel's economy as "truly significant". The soft-spoken Fischer - who played a role in Israel's economic stabilisation plan in 1985 during a period of hyperinflation - was chosen by then Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as central bank chief. Netanyahu, now prime minister, called Fischer a "great Zionist" for leaving the United States and moving to Israel to take on the top job at Israel's central bank. "He was an outstanding economist. In the framework of his role as governor, he greatly contributed to the Israeli economy, especially to the return of stability during the global economic crisis," Netanyahu said, adding that Stanley - as he was known in Israel - proudly represented Israel and its economy worldwide. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also paid tribute. "He played a huge role in strengthening Israel's economy, its remarkable resilience, and its strong reputation around the world," Herzog said. "He was a world-class professional, a man of integrity, with a heart of gold. A true lover of peace." (Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Frances Kerry)

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

June 01, 2025

Stanley Fischer, former Fed vice chair and Bank of Israel chief, dies at 81

Stanley Fischer, former Fed vice chair and Bank of Israel chief, dies at 81 By Steven Scheer JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Stanley Fischer, who help...

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Tim Walz Tells Democrats to 'Be Meaner,' Calls Trump 'Cruel'

Tim Walz Tells Democrats to 'Be Meaner,' Calls Trump 'Cruel'

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks to delegates at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention on Saturday-May 31, 2025. in Columbia, South Carolina. Credit - Meg Kinnard—AP Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz shared some stark words for Democrats on Saturday, calling for his fellow party members to "be a little meaner" in the pushback against President Donald Trump. "It's because he is," Walz said at the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention, addressing why he called Trump a "wannabe dictator." Walz ran as the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee with then-Presidential candidate Kamala Harris against Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in 2024. Theformer public school teacherwas initially praised during the election for hisrelatabilityandMidwestern appeal. "'Oh, the Governor's being mean,' well, maybe it's time for us to be a little meaner, maybe it's time for us to be a little more fierce," Walz said. "We have to ferociously push back on this…the thing that bothers a teacher more than anything is to watch a bully." When the bully is a child, you teach them why bullying is wrong, Walz explained, but when the "bully is an adult like Donald Trump, you bully… him back." "At heart, this is a weak, cruel man," Walz said of Trump. Walz's comments come amid wider efforts among the Democratic Party to step toe-to-toe with Trump's far-reaching and sweeping changes at the federal government, which have seen him attempt to flex hisexecutive power in unprecedented ways. Other efforts from the Democratic Party and beyond include work by progressives like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat, and Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who are currently holding rallies across the U.S. as part of their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, in an attempt to push back against and highlight the growingpower of wealthy individualsin and around Trump's government. Read More:Sen. Bernie Sanders Issues Stark Warning About Trump During Surprise Coachella Appearance Meanwhile, leaders like Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy are looking for ways torebuild the Democratic Party, leaning further into economic populism in order to win elections, especially after the economy loomed so large during the 2024 campaigns. As the left is rocked by just the first few months of Trump's second term at the White House, Democratic leaders seem eager to embrace new ideas in the hope they can rebound in 2026 and—eventually—2028. Contact usatletters@time.com.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

June 01, 2025

Tim Walz Tells Democrats to 'Be Meaner,' Calls Trump 'Cruel'

Tim Walz Tells Democrats to 'Be Meaner,' Calls Trump 'Cruel' Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks to delegates at the South Caroli...

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As Mookie Betts suffers freak toe injury, Shohei Ohtani progresses toward pitching return

As Mookie Betts suffers freak toe injury, Shohei Ohtani progresses toward pitching return

LOS ANGELES — While theLos Angeles DodgersandNew York Yankeesare embracing the euphoria of their World reunion at Dodger Stadium, limping out of the Dodgers' clubhouse wearing socks and sandals was one of the game's biggest stars not namedShohei OhtaniorAaron Judge. Dodgers shortstopMookie Betts— the MVP, eight-time All-Star, six-time Gold Glove winner and three-time World Series champion — will be missing all of the festivities, thanks to a freak injury. Betts was at home in Los Angeles on Wednesday night after the Dodgers returned home from Cleveland, and sometime during the night while walking in his bathroom, he badly stubbed the fourth toe on his left foot when he bumped into a piece of furniture. The toe turned out to be broken. The Dodgers don't anticipate that Betts will need to go on the injured list, but ruled him out for the Dodgers' weekend series against the Yankees. They hope he can return to the lineup Tuesday when they finish their homestand with a three-game series against theCleveland Guardiansfollowed by theBoston Red Sox, Betts' former team. "It's a fracture at the tip of the toe,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "so it's basically kind of what he can tolerate. And the last couple of days, it's been hard for him to even put on a shoe. "But I still don't believe it's going to be an IL stint. I think day-to-day is fair right now.'' The Dodgers startedMiguel RojasandHyeseong Kimin his place the first two games of the series, and when Betts returns, they don't believe he can make the injury worse by playing on it. Betts, 32, has gotten off to a slow start in 2025, hitting .254 with a .743 OPS and eight homers, but the Dodgers have been pleased with his defense and plans to keep him at shortstop the rest of the season. 'WE LOVE SUPERSTARS':Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge do damage in Game 1 of Dodgers-Yankees rematch Meanwhile, on the pitching front where the Dodgers have 14 pitchers on the injured list, they are encouraged by the progress made by Ohtani. Before Saturday's game, he pitched to hitters for the second time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. Ohtani, facing minor-league hitters and rookie catcherDalton Rushing, threw 29 pitches over two innings, and had no setbacks. His control wasn't as sharp as last week, but everything is on track for Ohtani to pitch again in late July or early August. He will continue to DH for the Dodgers, where he has hit a major-league leading 22 homers, and won't make any minor-league rehab starts. He instead will continue to build his arm strength simply through simulated games, and won't be ready for major-league action until he reaches at least six innings. "I think the thing that's most impressive is his ability to compartmentalize," Roberts said. "I mean, he's essentially doing the work of two players. And to still go out there and perform on the offensive side, it's pretty remarkable." Follow Bob Nightengale on X@BNightengale. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Mookie Betts out with toe injury, Shohei Ohtani on track to pitch

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

June 01, 2025

As Mookie Betts suffers freak toe injury, Shohei Ohtani progresses toward pitching return

As Mookie Betts suffers freak toe injury, Shohei Ohtani progresses toward pitching return LOS ANGELES — While theLos Angeles DodgersandNew Y...

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The NBA Finals are set: It'll be Thunder vs. Pacers, starting Thursday night

The NBA Finals are set: It'll be Thunder vs. Pacers, starting Thursday night

The seeds for the 2025 NBA Finals began getting planted unknowingly in 2017, back when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was about to enroll at Kentucky and Tyrese Haliburton was getting ready for his senior year of high school in Wisconsin. That was the year the Indiana Pacers traded Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers landed Domantas Sabonis out of that deal. The Thunder would trade George in 2019 to the Los Angeles Clippers for a package that included Gilgeous-Alexander. The Pacers would trade Sabonis in 2022 to Sacramento for a package that included Haliburton. And here we are. Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA's MVP and Oklahoma City's best player. Haliburton is an Olympic gold medalist and Indiana's best player. They'll lead their teams into Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night — Indiana at Oklahoma City, the start of a series that will decide who hoists the Larry O'Brien Trophy. "Man, I'm just so proud of this group," Haliburton said in the on-court televised interview with TNT after the Pacers' 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. "I don't even have words right now. It's really exciting. We'll enjoy this one for now. There's four more, there's a lot more work to do, against a really tough team." The Thunder — depending on how you count — are in the finals for either the second time or the fifth time. The franchise, when it was in Seattle, lost what was then called the NBA World Championship Series to Washington in 1978, then won the title in a rematch against the then-Bullets in 1979 and lost in the NBA Finals to Chicago in 1996. Oklahoma City got to the finals in 2012, losing to Miami. The Thunder are 80-18 this season, after going 68-14 in the regular season and then 12-4 in the playoffs — sweeping Memphis in Round 1, surviving seven games against Denver in Round 2 and then ousting Minnesota in five games for the Western Conference title. "When you win, that's a special thing," Thunder forward Chet Holmgren said. "It's not guaranteed in this league. If everybody was guaranteed to win, it'd be a participation trophy instead of a Larry O'Brien. So, you have to kind of take it in and understand what you've accomplished to that point, but then the next day you have to start turning the page, get rid of the emotions and start focusing on preparation and what you have to do to conquer the next step. And that's where we're at." Indiana is in the NBA title round for the second time, having lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. The Pacers franchise won ABA titles in 1970, 1972 and 1973. They got out of the Eastern Conference as the No. 4 seed, beating Milwaukee in five games in Round 1, beating top-seeded Cleveland in five games in Round 2 and then beating New York in the conference finals. The Pacers were 10-15 through the first 25 games of the season — then went 40-17 to finish the regular season. They are the fourth team to start 10-15 or worse and go on to win a conference title, joining Seattle in 1977-78 (8-17), the 1956-57 St. Louis Hawks (10-15) and the 1958-59 Minneapolis Lakers (10-15). None of those teams went on to win the NBA title. "In 49 states, it's just basketball," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "But this is Indiana. ... Our guys earned this. Congratulations to our guys." Oklahoma City swept the season series with Indiana 2-0, part of a regular season where the Thunder — who finished with the NBA's best record — went 29-1 against the Eastern Conference. That doesn't include a loss to Milwaukee in the NBA Cup final, a game that didn't count in any standings. So, the matchup is set. It's the Paul George finals, albeit without Paul George — who had arguably the best season of his career with the Thunder, averaging 28 points and finishing third in the MVP voting for 2018-19 — starting at OKC on Thursday. "Obviously, he wasn't here long but he had great years here," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Saturday when asked about George's impact. "I mean, one of the best years of his career was here, one of the best individual seasons a player's had here — which is saying something here with the guys they've had. So, I have a lot of respect for him." ___ AP NBA:https://apnews.com/nba

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

June 01, 2025

The NBA Finals are set: It'll be Thunder vs. Pacers, starting Thursday night

The NBA Finals are set: It'll be Thunder vs. Pacers, starting Thursday night The seeds for the 2025 NBA Finals began getting planted unk...

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