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Ukraine announced the largest exchange of prisoners of war with 144 soldiers returned to Ukraine, including dozens of soldiers who defended against the Russian siege of Mariupol, became a symbol of Russian repression and Ukrainian defiance. 2,500+ Ukrainian soldiers surrendered after holding out for months in bunkers beneath Azovstal steel factory in Mariupol. Their surrender marked the end of one of the most brutal battles. When the Ukrainian government issued the surrender directive to end the standoff, the government vowed to do all it could to ensure they would be returned home. The Kremlin propaganda machine had long sought to...

Germany and the Netherlands will provide Ukraine with six more Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery units. This was announced in Madrid by German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht and her Dutch counterpart kaise Ollongren, the Censor informs.No with a link to DW. "In Germany, we decided that we could give Ukraine three more Panzerhaubitze 2000s. Together with the Netherlands, it will be six," Lambrecht said. If they say what they need, we do everything possible to provide it. And in this case, Germany and the Netherlands were able to do just that," Ollongren said. At the same time, Lambrecht said that now...

Never let it be said that Newt Gingrich is predictable. As the political world waits to see if the former Georgia congressman and U.S. House speaker gets tapped to be Donald Trump’s running mate, Gingrich teamed up with his former Crossfire partner Van Jones to discuss this week’s shootings in Dallas, Baton Rouge and Minnesota. Speaking on Facebook Live, Gingrich was his typically direct self. But, in this age of polarized politics, whether it be of the electoral or racial variety, Gingrich’s comments were also remarkable. Here is the key quote: “It took me a long time, and a number...

Speak, Fido: Device Promises Dog Translations A dog may be man's best friend, but if people ever figure out what dogs are really thinking, will the friendship sour? That's a risk that a few inventors in Europe are willing to take: They've received funding to develop "No More Woof," an electronic device that promises to analyze dogs' brain waves and translate a few of their thoughts into rudimentary English. It's still a work in progress, but once No More Woof is ready for the market, it will join a wide range of other scientific efforts aimed at "breaking the language...

A federal department ruled last week that the Forest Service violated a Spanish-speaking woman’s civil rights by calling the Border Patrol to help translate during a routine stop, saying it was “humiliating” to Hispanics and an illicit backdoor way to capture more illegal immigrants. The ruling by the Agriculture Department’s assistant secretary for civil rights could change policies nationwide as law enforcement agencies grapple with how far they can go in trying to help the Border Patrol while not running afoul of racial profiling standards. Assistant Secretary Joe Leonard Jr. said calling the Border Patrol automatically “escalates” encounters between Hispanics...

The “unlike some people” part isn’t stated, merely implied. But c’mon. He’s laying it on with a trowel here. ----------- Less than 12 hours after finishing in fourth place in the Iowa caucuses, Newt Gingrich opened a new, more aggressive chapter in his campaign, taking pointed shots at rivals Mitt Romney and Ron Paul, who both finished ahead of Gingrich. At one point, Gingrich hinted he would make Romney’s personal wealth an issue, telling a reporter “I’m not rich.”… When asked why he chose to congratulate Santorum and not Romney on his caucus success, the former House speaker said, “I...

Mingora, 22 September 2011, according to local sources security forces has start search operation in Mingora area early morning. Forces detain 2 terrorist from Malook Abad area, which is surrounding area of Mingora city of Swat. After the detention security forces start search operation in Pathway area of Mingora, which is also the surrounding area of the Mingora, search operation started because terrorist give information to forces , that some terrorist also living there. According to local when forces came there for operation in Pathany area, suicide bomber blow up. In result no casualties confirm, but encounter between forces and...

Yesterday, Howard Kurtz wrote a sad-sack column about the death of the legitimate entertainment critic. “It can be revealing to find out what people like you, uncredentialed as they may be, think about the new Meryl Streep movie, Philip Roth novel or noodle joint down the street. But why does that supplant the need for full-time reviewers?” Kurtz’s column follows hot on the heels of a smiley-weepy piece by A.O. Scott in the New York Times, entitled “A Critic’s Place, Thumbs And All.” His conclusion is that arts criticism will always be around, since “The future of criticism is the...

......And now, with the opening of its 435th branch in Beijing, Hooters is now being touted as a barometer for globalization. With the 2008 Summer Olympic Games just 11 months away, Beijing has set about sprucing itself up for the surge of sports fans, media and tourists refurbishing its airport, updating security systems and launching foreigner-friendly restaurants....... ......Although Hooters Beijing is the Alabama-based restaurant's fourth branch in China, this opening is making waves. It was one thing when the first Hooters opened in the more cosmopolitan Shanghai in 2004, but in conservative Beijing, the "Hooters Makes You Happy" mentality feels...

I have NO idea Why FREEREPUB deleted my last post... It was about non-USA (non-American) citizens and their view on USA... (Being that they have NO right to judge OR view OR tell USA what to do)... FREEPER, I NEVER typed a vulgar word that a child of ANY AGE would not, could not, and SHOULD not be able to read. IF you want to ban me after this message because I spoke against your deletion of my last message (which had NO offensive words to/from/about children)... then I SHALL and WILL label you to the same level as wikkipedia...

Set fire to In Paris: 17 died, 21 wounded PARIS - a fire in a residential building made 17 died and 21 wounded in Paris in the night of Thursday to Friday, according to a provisional assessment of the firemen. A first of the same assessment source made state of 16 dead and 22 wounded. Among deaths, there would be at least four children, one indicated to the ministry Interior. The stair-well burned 2e on the 7th floor of the building located in the 13e district at the south east of the capital. According to habitanst of the district,...

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — A Muslim interpreter convicted of mishandling classified documents from the terrorist detention center at Guantanamo Bay was given a bad-conduct discharge Thursday — but won't have to spend more time behind bars. A military judge announced the sentence after a hearing in which Senior Airman Ahmad Al Halabi , 25, made an impassioned plea for leniency. He told the judge keeping the documents was a mistake and said he would never do anything to hurt the Air Force or the United States. There was no immediate reaction from Al Halabi or military prosecutors to...

<p>Bill Murray Does His Bit for Japan's Economy: William Pesek Jr. June 16 (Bloomberg) -- Seven thousand miles away, in New York City, Chris Alcazar heard Japan's siren song. The 36-year-old hastily booked a flight and visited the world's No. 2 economy for the first time.</p>