Author: chicagoinquirer

by Agency reports They’re known as “family photos,” the images of world leaders posed in faux relaxation during global summits. And like portraits of a family that has isolated a dysfunctional member, recent “family photos” from the G7 and G8 — the world’s most industrialized nations — show how Russian President Vladimir Putin has been outcast. The Russian president has faced unprecedented international isolation since his nation invaded Ukraine in February 2022. An International Criminal Court arrest warrant hangs over his head and clouds his prospects of traveling to many destinations, including those viewed as Moscow’s allies. It was only…

by Emeka ObasiCoal City, full of Black Rocks turned red for Paul Okoku on a day his eyes were on a national silverware. It was in the grand finale of the 1981 Ramat Cup between Lagos and old Anambra State.Okoku was in the Lagos team of future superstars. Tajudeen Disu, Chris Anigala, Raymond King, Alphonsus Akahon, Segun and Femi Olukanni, they were just too good.Anambra, represented by Enugu Black Rocks, was also star studded with Charles Okonkwo, Christian Obi, Benedict Ugwu, Ikechukwu Ofoje, Kingsley Onye, Ejike Ekwueme, Ben Okaro and Joe Oha.Anambra State governor, Jim Nwobodo, was at the Enugu…

by Joseph Omoremi A-year long action plan to reverse  the hostilities against Blacks in the United States and around the world was advocated in Chicago  yesterday as Bishop Tavis Grant 11 of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition wondered how the world would look like inadequate without the fortunes and resources of Africa. “Each of you have a phone and a tablet but we cannot make it without Africa. We need investment and economic development in Africa,” said Bishop Grant 11 who doubles as the Acting Head of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition at a seminar on the state of Black Asylum Seekers…

by Stephen Groves, ZekeMiller and Josh Boak WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will meet in person Monday with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy about averting an economy-wrecking federal default, and the Republican leader expressed cautious optimism about a possible debt ceiling compromise as Washington races to raise America’s borrowing limit before the funds could be depleted early next month. The leaders spoke by phone Sunday while the president was returning home on Air Force One after the Group of Seven summit in Japan. McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters at the Capitol that the call was “productive” and that the on-again, off-again negotiations between his…

by Mike Schneider ORLANDO, Fla.  — The NAACP over the weekend issued a travel advisory for Florida, joining two other civil rights groups in warning potential tourists that recent laws and policies championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.” The NAACP, long an advocate for Black Americans, joined the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Latino civil rights organization, and Equality Florida, a gay rights advocacy group, in issuing travel advisories for the Sunshine State, where tourism is one of the state’s largest job sectors.…

by Zeke Miller, Eloise Morton and Susie Blann HIROSHIMA, Japan  — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russian forces weren’t occupying Bakhmut, casting doubt on Moscow’s insistence that the eastern Ukrainian city had fallen. Responding to a reporter’s question about the status of the city at the Group of Seven summit in Japan, Zelenskyy said: “Bakhmut is not occupied by the Russian Federation as of today.” “We are not throwing people (away) to die,” Zelenskyy said in Ukrainian through an interpreter. “People are the treasure. I clearly understand what is happening in Bakhmut. I cannot share with you the…

by Mathew Lee WASHINGTON  — Sudan’s warring factions have agreed to a new short-term ceasefire, U.S. and Saudi mediators announced on Saturday, after several previous attempts to broker a truce that holds have failed. Meeting in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces signed off on a seven-day ceasefire that is due to take effect on Monday 9:45 p.m. local time in Sudan, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia said in a joint statement. The ceasefire could be extended if both sides agree. “Both parties have conveyed to the Saudi and U.S. facilitators their…

by Zeke Miller and Josh Boak HIROSHIMA, Japan  — President Joe Biden planned on Sunday to speak directly with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, hoping to salvage talks to raise the debt limit that have stalled in recent days while he was abroad at the Group of Seven summit. GOP lawmakers are holding tight to demands for sharp spending cuts, rejecting the alternatives proposed by the White House for reducing deficits. Biden and world leaders at the gathering for industrial nations in Japan had been closely tracking the negotiations, looking for signs of a compromise that would ensure the federal government can keep paying…

by Greg Beacham LOS ANGELES  — Nikola Jokic was far from his usual dominant self while mired in foul trouble, and Jamal Murray cooled off after his scorching first half. The Denver Nuggets’ big early lead disappeared entirely in the fourth quarter of Game 3, and the Lakers’ home crowd was in a frenzy. The Nuggets weathered every setback and calmly, methodically took control with a poise worthy of champions. With one more victory, they’ll finally get the chance to play for their first rings. Murray scored 37 points, Jokic added 24 points and eight assists and the Nuggets rolled…

by Jimmy Golen BOSTON  — Jimmy Butler went forehead-to-forehead with the Boston Celtics and came away with another decisive victory. Butler scored 27 points, hitting back-to-back buckets to tie the game and give Miami the lead, and the eighth-seeded Heat left Boston with a 111-105 victory Friday night and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Butler added eight rebounds and six assists. When Grant Williams started jawing with the Miami star — with both players drawing technical fouls for the double head-butt — Butler stared down Williams and the Heat refused to relent. “I love that gnarly version…