Russia says it captures 3 more settlements in east Ukraine

Russia says it captures 3 more settlements in east Ukraine

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian troops advancing slowly on the eastern front of the war in Ukraine have captured two settlements in Donetsk region as well as one in Ukraine's northern region of Sumy, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday. Since their failed advance on the capital Kyiv in the first weeks of the war, Russian forces have focused on capturing the Donbas in the east, made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In recent months, Moscow has also tried to advance in Sumy region, particularly after Russia's military said it had ousted Ukrainian troops from the Russian border region of Kursk. A Russian Defence Ministry statement said its forces had captured the village of Stupochky in Donetsk region, east of Kostiantynivka, a town under recent Russian pressure. It also said it had taken control of Otradne, a village further west along the 1,000-km front and announced the capture of Loknya, a village inside the Russian border in Sumy region. The general staff of Ukraine's military acknowledged no such losses, referring to Otradne as one of several towns where Ukrainian troops had halted 18 frontline Russian attacks. It referred to Stupochky earlier this week as part of an area under Russian attack. For months, Ukraine has reported attempts by Russian forces to occupy areas of Sumy region, but has never acknowledged the capture of any of them. Reuters could not independently verify battlefield accounts from either side. Ukraine's popular DeepState military blog, which uses open source reports, said Russian forces had for the first time "been able to take up positions" along a line of border villages. Russia's Defence Ministry on Friday announced the capture of Radkivka, a village outside the northeastern city of Kupiansk, which has been under pressure for months. On Saturday, Kupiansk Mayor Andrii Besedin said the attacks were taking a toll, including two city workers killed on Friday. "We are seeing awful losses among our people, our colleagues who give their lives so the city can go on living," Besedin told national television. "Sadly, as of now, the city is 90% destroyed." (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Ron Popeski and David Gregorio)

byDan Dunne

in

May 24, 2025

Russia says it captures 3 more settlements in east Ukraine

Russia says it captures 3 more settlements in east Ukraine MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian troops advancing slowly on the eastern front of the wa...

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Texas woman sues state lottery after not receiving controversial $83.5M jackpot

Texas woman sues state lottery after not receiving controversial $83.5M jackpot

A woman in Texas is suing the state's Lottery Commission for not paying out an $83.5 million award, more than three months after the numbers on her ticket matched the winning numbers in a drawing, according to court documents obtained by CNN. "Every Texan knows what that should mean when it comes to the lottery – if you win, you should get paid," the suit says. "It shouldn't take a lawsuit to get paid when you win the lottery. But that's exactly what has happened here." The woman bought her ticket through a lottery courier service, firms which allow customers topurchase tickets virtually, using a mobile app or other online interface. The woman, identified only as Jane Doe in the suit, purchased a ticket for the "Lotto Texas" lottery game through an app called Jackpocket on February 17, and her numbers matched those of the numbers pulled at 10:12 p.m. CT the same day, according to the lawsuit. Aweekafter Doe won her ticket, then-Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Ryan Mindellannounceda move to ban courier services like the one Doe used, under Texas law. The ban became effective on May 19, according to a lottery commission spokesperson. Mindellresignedin April. "We all know the Commission is not allowed to change the rules after the drawing. But the Commission has apparently tried to do so and relied—at least in part—on this ex post facto announcement to continue to refuse to pay Plaintiff her lottery winnings simply because she utilized a lottery ticket courier service to buy the winning ticket," the lawsuit says. A spokesperson told CNN in an email Saturday the commission "does not comment on pending litigation." The lawsuit also alleges Doe's unpaid winnings could be used to pay other Texas Lottery winners, or may be reallocated and redirected to "other Commission liabilities or purposes," potentially reducing the amount owed to her. Attorneys for the woman have also filed for a temporary restraining order and requested for a temporary injunction to stop Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission Sergio Rey from doling out funds, which the lawsuit alleges Doe still has not received. "If Mr. Rey is not restrained and enjoined from disbursing or diminishing the Plaintiff's jackpot prize winnings, Plaintiff will suffer damages that will be incapable of being measured by any certain pecuniary standard before notice is given and a hearing is held on Plaintiff's Application for Temporary Injunction," a court document said. CNN has reached out to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's office, Jackpocket, and Rey for comment. A lottery courier service acts as a third-party vendor that buys lottery tickets on behalf of customers, coordinates the purchase of physical tickets through brick and mortar stores the services often own, and notifies buyers if they win. Courier services are typically operated online or through an app, offering a convenient way to play games. Some couriers evenoffernational lottery games like Mega Millions and Powerball. Lottery couriers, which had beenoperatingin Texas since 2019, became a focus in April 2023 after a single entity bought 25 million lottery tickets in less than 72 hours using a courier service,CNN affiliate WFAAreported. The entity purchased "nearly every possible number combination," the release from the governor's office said at the time. The investor doubled its money because the jackpot was so high, and the winner took home $57.8 million before taxes, WFAA said. Courier services are operating in 19 states, according to areportpublished in 2024 by the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability. Only three states – New York, New Jersey and Arkansas – regulate the courier service industry, according to a2024 Texas House report. Without such regulations in Texas, couriers are not required to obtain a license or permission from the Texas Lottery to operate, the report found. Purchasing via a lottery courier has two advantages for the customer, said Victor Matheson, professor of economics at College of the Holy Cross. "It allows the buyer to conveniently buy tickets without having to go to a regular lottery retailer and it also potentially allows out-of-state buyers to purchase tickets in any lottery across the country," Mathesonsaidin February. The service can have drawbacks like a fee, legality issues and lack of a limit to how many tickets are purchased, Mathesonadded. Other legal concerns include the regulation of sales across state lines when each state controls its own lottery games, sales tounderage players, ticket buying syndicates and other issues. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byDan Dunne

in

May 24, 2025

Texas woman sues state lottery after not receiving controversial $83.5M jackpot

Texas woman sues state lottery after not receiving controversial $83.5M jackpot A woman in Texas is suing the state's Lottery Commission...

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Key cartel member with $1 million US bounty on his head is killed, says Mexican government

Key cartel member with $1 million US bounty on his head is killed, says Mexican government

Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benítez, identified by the United States government as a key member of the "Los Chapitos" criminal organization, died during an operation aimed at capturing him in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, the country's Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Omar García Harfuch said Saturday. The operation against Figueroa Benitez, known by the nickname "El Perris," took place in Navolato, 32 kilometers (19 miles) from Culiacán, the state's capital, according to local media. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was offering up to $1 million for Figueroa Benitez, who was wanted for alleged federal crimes, including conspiracy to import and traffic fentanyl, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and money laundering conspiracy. In 2019, the city of Culiacán was the scene of a violent episode known as the "Culiacanazo," which involved violent armed clashes following the temporary capture of Ovidio Guzmán Lopez, one of the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. Ovidio was later released by Mexican authorities, arguing that it was to "save lives." After being extradited to the US in 2023, Ovidio Guzmán pleaded not guilty to charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, although now, according to court documents reviewed by CNN, he is expected to change that plea. In early May, a US government source told CNN that several of his relatives crossed the border from Mexico into the United States at the San Ysidro port of entry, reportedly as part of an agreement with the US Department of Justice. CNN does not know the whereabouts of these people or whether they entered any witness protection program. CNN has requested comment from US Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Justice. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byDan Dunne

in

May 24, 2025

Key cartel member with $1 million US bounty on his head is killed, says Mexican government

Key cartel member with $1 million US bounty on his head is killed, says Mexican government Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benítez, identified by th...

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Pelosi thinks Rahm Emanuel will run for president

Pelosi thinks Rahm Emanuel will run for president

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a recent interview that she believes former Chicago mayor and U.S. ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuelwill run for presidentin 2028. Pelosi was asked by The Free Press whether Emanuel, a longtime Democratic operative who served as former President Obama's chief of staff, will launch a bid for the White House. "I think so," Pelosiresponded. During the interview, published on Friday, Emanuel seemingly left the door open to launch a bid when asked about his 2028 plans — but did not directly address it. "Before I make a decision, I want to know that I have an answer to what I think ails our country, ails our politics, and ails the party—and they may all be the same answer," Emanuel said. Later, he told the outlet that "I know what I want to do. We've got to get ready to fight for America—and that's what I'm going to do." Emanuel hasstokedspeculation in recent months about an Oval Office run, making constant appearances in the media and being outspoken about thedirection of the Democratic Partyfollowing a series of losses in the 2024 election cycle. He indicated during the sit-down with The Free Press that he still has strong political ambitions. "I'm not done with public service," Emanuel said. "I'm hoping it's not done with me." Former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), who worked with Emanuel during their time at theDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the former two-term Chicago mayor possesses "world-class experience." He noted that that Democrats "need a candidate who can formulate a proactive agenda. We can't be limited to, 'I'm not Trump.'" Israeltold The Hill late last monththat Pelosi and Emanuel "figured out the strategy that won red districts and got the base out in blue and purple districts at the same time." "So, he's done that. He's proven his ability to unite Democrats," he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

byDan Dunne

in

May 24, 2025

Pelosi thinks Rahm Emanuel will run for president

Pelosi thinks Rahm Emanuel will run for president Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a recent interview that she believes ...

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Inside House Speaker Mike Johnson’s ‘tooth and nail’ fight to pass Trump’s ‘big beautiful’ bill

Inside House Speaker Mike Johnson's 'tooth and nail' fight to pass Trump's 'big beautiful' bill

WASHINGTON — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had to bring in the big gun last week — President Trump — to pressure House Republican holdouts into passing one of the largest tax cuts in US history. "There were many points in the final couple of weeks where the entire thing appeared that it would fall apart," Johnson told The Post in a phone interview Friday, before touting Trump's influence. "He's the ultimate dealmaker. He literally wrote the book on it. So when he speaks, people listen, and that's been a great benefit to us." The nearly$4 trillion budget reconciliation package— which will avoid a massive tax hike next January and make Trump's 2017 individual rate cuts permanent if passed in the Senate — was the culmination of a year's work with 11 committee chairs but wrapped up in the last 48 hours before a vote following high-stakes, round-the-clock negotiations with the Republican conference's so-called "Five Families." "I think it was Vince Lombardi that said, 'Victory loves preparation,' right?" Johnson paraphrased. "It required a long thoughtful plan, and that's what we did." Deals struck with blue-state Republicans fora $40,000 state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap, aWhite House showdownwith fiscal hardliners in the Freedom Caucus and a final agreement implementing rescissions of green-energy tax credits and new work requirements for Medicaid helped the speaker send the legislation to the Senate. Sources with direct knowledge of the 11th-hour White House and speaker's office meetings before the changes said Trump's "colorful" rhetoric was key, with one noting how holdouts recognized "the gravity of that moment when the most powerful man on the planet knows you're the problem." "Don't blow this opportunity," the president fumed in the meeting held in the cabinet room of the executive mansion. "Get it done." Johnson and he deployed something of a good cop-bad cop dynamic initially, though the speaker became far more "forceful" in the hours before the final vote, with one source saying it became "very clear early on that the time for negotiation was over." "I know about their districts to a granular level," the speaker said Friday of his colleagues, adding in his understated way: "It was certainly a dialogue." The "tooth-and-nail fight," as one source put it, came after the initial budget blueprint didn't account for potentially costly expansions to Medicaid in states and failed to chip away at hundreds of billions of dollars in tax incentives for solar and wind items approved under former President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. Those additions later had to be written into a manager's amendment, which was placed on the bill as it was moving through the House Rules Committee, run by Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) for more than 20 hours straight to get the bill to the floor in the early hours of Thursday morning. "If they gave something to the moderates, they had to give something to the conservatives," said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who's been in touch with Johnson's team since the Louisiana Republican wasunanimously elected to the speakershipin October 2023. "The Freedom Caucus in the end said, 'OK, we don't like it on principle but you'll get us a few more spending cuts. We'll live with it.' It was a great victory for … cheerful persistence." Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.) was the only lawmaker to vote "present" on the bill, adding later in a statement that he was still hoping for more cuts to end "waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program." Sources noted that some plan now to "continue fighting this in the Senate," with one claiming "there is gnashing of teeth among the wind and solar lobby right now and they are going to be descending on Congress and the White House" to pull back some of the changes before it reaches Trump's desk. "It is undeniably true that we held out and got massive reforms," Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who was part of the discussions, told The Post. "I think the Senate needs to do an even better job. The things that we got; we're going to fight to keep — I mean hard." White House officials and many Republicans have telegraphed optimism about the final product'smore than $1.5 trillionin spending reductions along with tax relief and deregulatory provisions being enough for 2.6% year-over-year economic growth and increased revenue — averting the up to $3.8 trillion deficit hikeprojected by independent budget analysts. Democrats like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have been panning the measure as a "scam" giving tax breaks to billionaires while ripping health care coverage away from millions of Americans — and some Republicans also think the growth projections are a pipe dream. "It's not fiscally responsible," said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of two Republicans who voted against the bill. "Moody's changed the bond rating for the United States. …The markets responded. US Treasury's at 5% now for a 30-year note." "I'm concerned about my children, my grandchildren and the fact that we are stealing from them," Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)ventedThursday. "$37 trillion in debt and we're gonna add to it as Republicans? That is unacceptable, and that's why there's no way I'm going to vote for this bill in its current form." Beginning in March 2024, the House speaker and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) met with committee chairs to hash out a reconciliation bill they believed Trump would sign after winning back the White House. Things got more complex in the following months as the Budget Committee sought to balance spending and revenue levels in the legislation — and the former president floated new items on the campaign traillike eliminating taxes on workers' tipsandovertime pay. "With each new promise [from the president] … we needed to fulfill it," Johnson said. "The load got a little heavier, but we went to work and got the necessary parties involved." Sometimes the "delicate balance" of pacifying the Republican factions made it seem like he was "crossing the Grand Canyon on a piece of dental floss," he said he told GOPers in a Senate luncheon last week. In between Election Day and Inauguration Day, the speaker also began losing lawmakers from his narrow House majority to admin posts. New York Rep. Elise Stefanik was even withdrawn from consideration as US ambassador to the UNto ensure Republicans would have enough votes. Stefanik's return to the House — which averteda potentially prolonged special electionfor her upstate district — ended up being one of several moves in the past year that proved crucial: Republicans voted the reconciliation bill through the House by a single vote, 215-214.

byDan Dunne

in

May 24, 2025

Inside House Speaker Mike Johnson’s ‘tooth and nail’ fight to pass Trump’s ‘big beautiful’ bill

Inside House Speaker Mike Johnson's 'tooth and nail' fight to pass Trump's 'big beautiful' bill WASHINGTON — Speaker...

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