Posts

‘Russian-made missile’ crashes into Turkish Cyprus

A suspected Russian-made missile has crashed north of the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, Turkish Cypriot officials said. The explosion occurred at around 1am  on Monday (22:00 GMT on Sunday), in the Tashkent region, also known as Vouno, about 19km north of Nicosia. According to Turkish Cypriot broadcaster BRT, Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said no one was hurt in the explosion and that firefighting crews had contained a blaze that the burning debris had ignited. Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minisiter Kudret Ozersay said it was believed that the missile may have been fired as part of a Syrian anti-aircraft system. “The first assessment is that a Russian-made missile, which was part of the air defence system that took place last night in the face of an air attack against Syria, completed its range and fell into our country after it missed,” Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Ozersay said in a Facebook post on Monday. Cyprus is located around 193km west of Syria, where Israeli warplanes struck Sy

Israel settlements funded by US duty free tycoons

Image
When travelers shop at dozens of duty free shops at airports worldwide, they may be paying for more than a bottle of vodka or box of chocolates. The Falic family of Florida, owners of the ubiquitous chain of Duty Free Americas shops, funds a generous and controversial philanthropic empire in Israel that runs through the corridors of power and stretches deep into the occupied West Bank. An Associated Press investigation has found that the family has donated at least $5.6m to settler organisations in theoccupied  West Bank and East Jerusalem over the past decade, funding synagogues, schools and social services as well as far-right causes considered extreme even in Israel. The Falics’ philanthropy is not limited to the settlements. They support many mainstream causes in the US and Israel. However, they are a key example of how wealthy US donors have bolstered the contentious settlement movement. Critics say activities billed as harmless philanthropy have come at the expense of Pales

Trump’s House allies lie in wait for Mueller

With D-Lo to Warriors, Lakers Playing High-Risk Poker Waiting for Kawhi Leonard

Image
Ben Margot/Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The first night of NBA free agency overflowed with blockbuster deals. One by one, top names came off the board like  Kyrie Irving , Kemba Walker, Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler (assuming the sign-and-trade to Miami eventually goes through ). Not a peep out of Los Angeles on the Lakers. Word that D’Angelo Russell would sign (via trade) with the Golden State Warriors erased the Lakers’ backup plan. At this point, it’s Kawhi Leonard or nothing. The Lakers are playing a high-stakes game of poker. They could have tried to go all-in on Russell or any of the other big names, but they held their cards, hoping that Leonard will choose to leave the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors for Los Angeles. And not just L.A., but the Lakers. Not to the Clippers, the other local team that is in the very same boat. The Clippers hoped to pair another star free agent with Leonard but didn’t get a commitment from Durant, Butler or Al Horford . The Laker

The 3rd Chapter Begins: What Move to Nets Means for Kevin Durant’s Legacy

Image
Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press Seconds after free agency began Sunday evening, Kevin Durant made official what had been reported an hour earlier after gaining momentum for the past week: He and Kyrie Irving will, in fact, team up in New York, as had been rumored for the better part of a year. The curveball is the team. A s first reported by ESPN’s   Adrian Wojnarowski , the two superstars will be joining the Brooklyn Nets , not the New York Knicks . It was the counterintuitive choice based on all the noise that’s been circulating around the NBA for the last year. But it was ultimately the one that made the most sense for the next chapter Durant wants to write. Durant had been linked to the Knicks for most of this past season. For months, Golden State Warriors staffers had operated under the assumption that he was gone this summer. The notion that he would be suiting up at Madison Square Garden next year appeared to be as much of a foregone conclusion in behind-the-scene

Explosion hits Kabul’s diplomatic district: Media reports

Report: D’Angelo Russell Signs $117M Contract with Warriors After Sign-and-Trade

Image
Brian Babineau/Getty Images The Golden State Warriors are close to acquiring point guard D’Angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade with the Brooklyn Nets , according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. Golden State would also receive Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier , per Charania. According to  ESPN’s  Adrian Wojnarowski , Russell will sign for $117 million over four years. Wojnarowski  also reported the Warriors traded  Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies in part to accommodate Russell’s contract. The move comes on the same day Kevin Durant agreed to a four-year, $164 million deal with the Nets, per Wojnarowski . Kyrie Irving is on his way to Brooklyn along with Durant, which meant Russell would be on the move at some point during free agency. Russell took his game to a new level this season, averaging  21.1 points and 7.0 assists while earning his first All-Star selection.  He stayed healthy (81 appearances) and became a leader while helping the Nets finish

Derrick Favors Reportedly Traded to Pelicans; Jazz Receive Draft Picks

Image
David Zalubowski/Associated Press Derrick Favors is headed to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a trade with the Utah Jazz , per Tony Jones of The Athletic. Jones added the Jazz will receive draft picks in exchange for the deal. Favors has $16.9 million remaining on his deal for 2019-20, but the money was not guaranteed until July 6, per Spotrac . The Jazz could have kept him, but they ran out of cap space after agreeing to a four-year, $73 million deal with  Bojan Bogdanovic, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Bobby Marks of ESPN reported the team would have to trade or waive Favors in order to work out the deal. By completing a trade, Utah was at least able to bring back assets in exchange for the talented player.  Favors has spent the past eight seasons with the Jazz. The New Jersey Nets selected him with the third overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft, but he appeared in just 56 games for the organization before getting dealt to Utah in the blockbuster Deron Williams

Report: Ex-Celtics Star Al Horford Agrees to 4-Year, $109M Contract with 76ers

Image
Michael Conroy/Associated Press Al Horford is reportedly joining the third team of his career. The Philadelphia 76ers agreed to a four-year, $109 million deal with the big man Sunday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. “Horford’s agent tried to do a deal in Boston, but the money was significantly less than the Philly deal,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s The Jump . Wojnarowski reported June 18 that Horford declined the $30.1 million player option on his contract for the 2019-20 campaign to become an unrestricted free agent instead of returning to the Boston Celtics . The move turned heads, especially considering Horford rejected such a financial windfall while he is likely on the back end of his career, but Wojnarowski noted there was still “motivation” on both sides to sign a long-term contract that could give the front office financial flexibility. However, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reported Horford stopped discussing a three-year deal with the Celtics an

Report: Jimmy Butler to Heat in Sign-and-Trade; Agrees to 4-Year, $142M Contract