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AFP on May 4, 2017, 3:15 am

Five killed in Ukraine's deadliest 24 hours since Easter truce

Kiev (AFP) - Four Ukrainian soldiers and a civilian were killed in the deadliest 24-hour period in Ukraine's eastern separatist war zone since the start of an Easter truce, officials said Wednesday.

The military campaign's headquarters in Kiev said three soldiers had been near the town of Debaltseve, a transport hub connecting the Russian-backed separatist fiefdoms of Lugansk and Donetsk where intense clashes raged in early 2015.

It said one of them died after being wounded by a grenade he had thrown at advancing Lugansk fighters as he tried to avoid being taken captive.

Kiev said two other soldiers were killed in a nearby firefight.

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the fourth combat death occurred in Avdiivka, a flashpoint suburb of the rebels' de facto capital of Donetsk controlled by Kiev.

The insurgents said separately that a civilian had died from wounds she sustained Tuesday in an alleged attack by Ukrainian forces 15 kilometres (nine miles) south of Donetsk.

Ukraine has now reported losing 19 soldiers in fighting since the latest temporary truce agreement went into effect on April 1.

The separatists reported 10 combat losses last month, which was one of the most peaceful in over three years of fighting that has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

But April was also punctuated by the death in an apparent mine blast of an American paramedic who worked with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) while on a mission in Lugansk.

The loss was the security watchdog's first in the former Soviet republic, prompting it to limit its patrols to safer paved roads and avoid dirt lanes leading to various Ukrainian and separatist positions.

The OSCE mission has been monitoring the implementation of a largely-ignored broad peace and political reconciliation agreement the warring sides signed in February 2015.

It is the only organisation that provides daily reports from the front about ceasefire violations and progress in the sides' promise to withdraw their arms.

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Five killed in Ukraine s deadliest 24 hours since Easter truce - Yahoo7 - Yahoo7 News

History somewhat repeated itself in Tahlequahs regional tournament Thursday, but not entirely.

A year removed from upsetting a top-seeded Collinsville team on the first day of last seasons regional tournament one that the Tigers ultimately won by beating CHS a second time in the championship Tahlequah made lightening strike twice by knocking off the top-seeded Cardinals again, 2-1, in the first game of the 5A-8 Regional at the THS baseball complex.

But unlike last year, the Tigers werent able to secure their spot in the championship by the end of Day 1.

After suffering a 2-0 loss to Durant in Thursdays nightcap, THS drops to the losers bracket to play an elimination game Friday afternoon against Collinsville. The winner of that game will have to beat Durant twice to advance to next weeks Class 5A State Tournament.

The loss to Durant puts us in a tougher situation than what were hoping to be in [Friday], but weve made it happen before with a loss, THS head coach Lance Jeanes said. I really liked our defense today, and thats what carried us to the win in that first game, for the most part. Im sure [Collinsville] is tired of seeing us at regionals, but well have to get it done again tomorrow...

The Cardinals (22-10) played an elimination game Thursday night against Bishop McGuinness (8-26), which lost 15-2 to Durant (22-13) in its opening game, and picked up a 7-0 win to advance to Fridays knockout game against Tahlequah (12-14).

The Tigers first game Friday will start at 4 p.m. at the THS baseball complex.

The 5A-8 Regional Tournament was originally supposed to be hosted by the Cardinals, but was moved to Tahlequah after heavy rains flooded Collinsvilles field earlier in the week.

THS 2, CHS 1:

A breakout game at the plate for Cole Goodnight and a steady outing on the bump for starting pitcher R.J. Pearson lifted the Tigers in their upset win over the regionals No. 1 seed, Collinsville.

Goodnight, who went 3 for 3 in the game, accounted for both of Tahlequahs RBI, with one coming off a double in the top of the fourth inning and another off a triple in the fifth.

I was just trying to put the ball in play and help the team out however I could, Goodnight said.

When asked why Tahlequah seems to always bring its A-game against Collinsville, Stacy had a simple answer.

Its a rivalry game, he said.

Dustin Hicks (1 for 3) and Seth Stacy (1 for 3) each crossed home plate for THS, which finished with seven total hits.

Pearson tossed all seven innings of the game to pick up the win, dealing five strikeouts and two walks while limiting Collinsville to just four hits and one unearned run.

R.J. dealt today, Jeanes said. He had a lot of stuff working for him, and he could pitch with confidence because his defense was backing him up pretty well for most of the game.

Pearsons backup played error free for six innings, but suffered two miscues in the fourth that translated to Collinsvilles lone run.

THS 0, DHS 2:

A cold night at the plate resulted in just four total hits for Tahlequah as it was shutout by Durant starting pitcher Connor Roberts.

Roberts pitched all seven innings and tallied two strikeouts and three walks to earn the win.

The Tigers stranded nine baserunners in the game, including three in the bottom of the third. With one out and bases loaded in the frame, a line drive was hit by Stacy to the Durant shortstop, who caught the ball momentarily before dropping it during his throwing transition, as explained by umpires who called Stacy out on the play.

Meanwhile, Corbin Candy, who was on third base, thought the catch wasnt made and ran home, but was thrown out to end the inning.

We just left too many guys on base, Jeanes said. I mean, our guys were there but we just didnt capitalize. We had some bad breaks on some calls that were questionable, but other than that, we should have drove them in. That was our game to win.

The loss spoiled a stellar outing for starting pitcher Stacy, who had nine strikeouts while allowing four walks and six hits.

Stacy really did well and worked out of some jams, Jeanes said. He pitched his heart out, but he just didnt have the run support.

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Baseball Regionals: Tigers upset Collinsville, fall in nightcap - Tahlequah Daily Press

Former President Obama and Bruce Springsteen, campaigning together in Madison, Wisc. in November 2012, a day before the presidential election. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

Former President Obama and Bruce Springsteen, campaigning together in Madison, Wisc. in November 2012, a day before the presidential election.

Yesterday, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama unveiled ambitious architectural plans for the Obama Presidential Center, a three-building complex slated for completion in 2021, to be located in the Jackson Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side.

Along with the presidential library itself, the plans include an auditorium, a restaurant and a public garden, as well spaces for exhibitions, education, meeting rooms, and, according to the Chicago Tribune, "a vibrant park around the center, where children would sled down newly created hills, where people would barbecue and where activity would spill over to nearby stores and restaurants."

But for music and film fans, the most exciting elements of the complex might be a planned recording studio where, as former President Obama said in comments quoted by the New York Times, "I could invite Chance [the Rapper, a Chicago native] or Bruce Springsteen, depending on your tastes, to talk about how you could record music that has social commentary and meaning," and "a studio where I can invite Spike Lee and Steven Spielberg to do workshops on how to make films."

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On Deck For The Obama Presidential Library: A Recording Studio - NPR

As former President Barack Obama hits the speaking circuit, Republican lawmakers say they plan to reintroduce a bill that would directly target pensions for ex-presidents raking in more than $400,000 after leaving the Oval Office.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, plan to dust off the Presidential Allowance Modernization Act later this month, according to USA Today.

The push comes after Obama decided to accept a $400,000 speaking fee the same amount as his White House salary for a speech at a health care conference run by Wall Street investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald in September.

The Obama hypocrisy on this issue is revealing, Chaffetz told USA Today.

He also tweeted the USA Todays headline, Obamas $400,000 speech could prompt Congress to go after his pension, with the vow, Yes, it will.

The legislation would cap presidential pensions at $200,000 (theyre currently slightly higher), but reduce that amount dollar-for-dollar once their outside income tops $400,000, according to the report.

In 2016, Chaffetz authored the original bill, which Obama vetoed.At the time, Obama reasoned that he had consulted living U.S. presidents who agreed the bill would have unintended consequences and would unfairly prevent staffers from immediately receiving pay and benefits.

Chaffetz reportedly called that veto self-serving.

Obama accepting the speaking fee from Cantor Fitzgerald hasnt sat well with some of his closest supporters in Congress.

Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have both publicly criticized Obama over the past few days.

Warren said she was troubled by the speaking fee, while Sanders said, Wall Street has incredible power, and I would have hoped that the president would not have given a speech like this.

Obama is hardly the first U.S. president to capitalize on his time at the White House.

Former President Bill Clinton earned more than $200,000 per speech over the course of a decade.

Former President George W. Bush didnt mince words when asked what hed do out of office.

Ill give some speeches, just to replenish the ol coffers, Bush told The New York Times in 2007.

One week worth of speeches in Japan netted former President Ronald Reagan $2 million in 1989.

In response to criticism last week, Obama spokesman Eric Schultz issued a statement saying that while Obama will deliver speeches from time to time, he will be true to his values, his vision, and his record.

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Obama speeches revive GOP bid to target his pension - Fox News

Story highlights

"I have admired the campaign that Emmanuel Macron has run," Obama says in a video, which Macron shared Thursday. "He has stood up for liberal values, he put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world. And he is committed to a better future for the French people. He appeals to people's hopes and not their fears."

"I'm not planning to get involved in many elections now that I don't have to run for office again, but the French election is very important to the future of France and to the values that we care so much about," Obama says in the clip.

"Because of how important this election is, I also want you to know that I am supporting Emmanuel Macron to lead you forward."

"The main message that I have is to wish you all the best in the coming days," Obama said in the phone call.

CNN's Allie Malloy contributed to this report.

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Obama endorses French presidential candidate Macron - CNN