Local Roundup: PCGSL advances to Little League Softball World Series in Greenville

Foreign analysts say Russia may be temporarily easing its offensive in Ukraine as it attempts to reconstitute its forces for a renewed assault. A Washington-based think tank said Russian forces made no claimed or assessed territorial gains in Ukraine “for the first time in 133 days of war.” The Institute for the Study of War suggested Moscow might be taking an “operational pause” that does not entail “the complete cessation of active hostilities.” Ukrainian officials say shelling continues in Ukraine’s east, where at least nine civilians were killed in 24 hours. Most of the civilian deaths occurred in Donetsk province, which Russian troops and separatist fighters are trying to capture.

Boris Johnson was the mayor who basked in the glory of hosting the 2012 London Olympics, and the man who led the Conservatives to election victory on the back of his promise to “get Brexit done.” But Johnson’s time as prime minister was marred by his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and a stream of ethics allegations. That ranged from “Partygate,” the illegal government parties held in violation of COVID-19 restrictions, to how he handled  a sexual misconduct scandal involving a senior party lawmaker.

Jailed American basketball star Brittney Griner is returning to a Russian court as calls increase for Washington to do more to secure her release. Griner was detained in February at a Moscow airport after vape canisters with cannabis oil allegedly were found in her luggage. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of large-scale transportation of drugs. The trial of the Phoenix Mercury star and two-time Olympic gold medalist began last week but the second session was adjourned because two scheduled witnesses did not appear. President Joe Biden assured Griner's wife in a phone call on Wednesday that he's doing everything he can to try to obtain the athlete's release.

Artisanal fisheries on Kenya’s coast say climate change, overfishing by large foreign vessels and a lack of other job opportunities for coastal communities is draining the Indian Ocean of its yellowfin tuna stocks. The removal of subsidies for large fisheries and stricter fishing catch limits have been discussed by major international regulatory bodies for over a decade, but conservation groups have criticized their lack of action. A study commissioned by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission at their last session in May hopes to inform future regulations for tuna fisheries and inform adaptation and mitigation measures. But for those on Kenya’s coastline already facing severely depleted stocks, it’s feared it may be too late.

Boris Johnson wanted to be like his hero Winston Churchill: a larger-than-life character who led Britain through a time of crisis. He was felled by crises of his own making, as a trickle of ethics allegations became a flood that engulfed his government and turned his Conservative Party against him. Johnson agreed to resign Thursday after the chorus of disapproval became too much. It lowers the curtain on the career of one of the most divisive politicians Britain has ever known. Biographer Andrew Gimson called Johnson “the man who takes on the Establishment and wins.” But for Rory Stewart, a critic and former member of parliament, he was “probably the best liar we’ve ever had as prime minister.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has agreed to resign, ending an unprecedented political crisis over his future. Johnson had rebuffed calls by his Cabinet to step down in the wake of ethics scandals. He gave in after more than 50 ministers quit his government and told him to go and one of his closest allies, Treasury Chief Nadhim Zahawi, told the prime minister to resign for the good of the country. It was not immediately clear Thursday whether Johnson will stay in office while the Conservative Party chooses a new leader, who will replace him as prime minister.

The first bull run at Pamplona’s San Fermín festival in three years has taken place after previous events were canceled due to the pandemic. No one was gored but several runners endured knocks and hard falls. The six bulls, guided by six tame oxen, charged through Pamplona’s streets in around 2 minutes, 35 seconds. The Pamplona hospital said that six people needed treatment including one American man with a broken arm. The bulls that run each morning are killed in bullfights in the afternoon by professional bullfighters. The incredibly popular festivities that draw tens of thousands of visitors from around the world were canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.