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Ukrainian drone video provides a grim look at casualties as Russian troops advance toward Avdiivka

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:33 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — As Russian forces press forward with an attempt to capture the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, The Associated Press obtained aerial footage that gives an indication of their staggering losses.A Ukrainian military drone unit near Stepove, a village just north of Avdiivka, where some of the most intense battles have taken place, shot the video this month.It’s an apocalyptic scene: In two separate clips, the bodies of about 150 soldiers — most wearing Russian uniforms — lie scattered along tree lines where they sought cover. The village itself has been reduced to rubble. Rows of trees that used to separate farm fields are burned and disfigured. The fields are pocked by artillery shells and grenades dropped from drones. The drone unit said it’s possible that some of the dead were Ukrainians.The footage was provided to the AP by Ukraine’s BUAR unit of the 110th Mechanized Brigade, involved in the fighting in the area. The unit said that the footage w...

‘Outrageous’: Threats to Ibrahim Ali’s lawyers spur court safety concerns in B.C.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:33 GMT

VANCOUVER — The voice mail threatens to knock lawyer Kevin McCullough’s teeth out, and as for his client, Ibrahim Ali, the anonymous caller says: “I’m gonna cut him.”The Dec 1. recording was provided to The Canadian Press by Ali’s lawyers, who say it is among a litany of threats they have received for their handling of the high-profile murder case. Ali was convicted on Dec. 8 of first-degree murder for the killing of a 13-year-old girl in a B.C. park, and while the trial may be over, the fallout for McCullough and co-counsel Ben Lynskey continues. They are afraid, amid allegations that someone brought a loaded gun to the last day of the trial.“I am fearful for my safety, the safety of my co-counsel, Mr. Lynskey, and the safety of Mr. Ali at all court appearances,” McCullough said last week. In the closing days of the trial, McCullough filed an affidavit describing more than a dozen messages sent to the lawyer, some with graphically violent t...

Ask Amy: I swear we will move without her if she can’t get her stuff packed in time

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:33 GMT

Dear Amy: My father-in-law died about five years ago. My in-laws were married for 45 years.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: Could my mother really believe I owe it to her to have children? Advice | Ask Amy: I was surprised by my brother’s advice about my girlfriend. Was he right? Advice | Ask Amy: I’m uncomfortable about my husband’s DNA test request Advice | Ask Amy: He says I’m not small enough to marry Advice | Ask Amy: I’m a big tipper, and I want to be thanked for it My mother-in-law is 80 and insists on living in her own house. She expects us to help with her house. Anytime anything needs fixing or work needs to be done, she expects us to tend to the issue.We both work full-time jobs and change shifts every six months. We have our own home, four acres of property to maintain, three horses and three dogs to care for. It’s not that we don’t want to help. We ...

WTOP Book Report: ‘What the Taliban Told Me’ reveals lessons from a battlefield translator

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:33 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio Author Ian Fritz talks with WTOP's Terik King $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); if( typeof gtag === "function" ){ gtag('event', 'post_audio', { 'play': audio_filename, 'permalink': window.location.href }); } }); }); This story was written as part of the WTOP Book Report series authored by Terik King. Read more of that coverage. War literature, at its most powerful,...

Un científico africano podría acabar con la malaria editando el ADN de un mosquito

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:33 GMT

(CNN) —  Abdoulaye Diabate enfrentó un ataque de malaria que puso en peligro su vida cuando solo tenía cinco años. Diabate sobrevivió por poco a la enfermedad transmitida por mosquitos, pero sus primos de tres y cuatro años no fueron tan afortunados.Diabate, que ahora dirige entomología médica y parasitología en el Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud de Burkina Faso, está desarrollando una técnica innovadora que potencialmente podría eliminar las especies de mosquitos transmisores de malaria mediante la alteración de sus genes.El científico y profesor nacido en Burkina Faso recibió el Premio Falling Walls de Gestión de la Ciencia y la Innovación 2023 por su investigación, que según los organizadores “ofrece esperanza para el control de la malaria”.Diabate fue nombrado en septiembre como el único africano entre los 10 ganadores mundiales del prestigioso premio de este año y también fue reconocido por la Fundación Falling Walls por “contribuyendo con algunos de lo...

Cameron and Baerbock call for ‘sustainable cease-fire’ in Gaza

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:33 GMT

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Sunday called for a “sustainable cease-fire” in the Middle East, lamenting that “too many civilians have been killed” in the Israel-Hamas war.In a joint article in the Sunday Times, Baerbock and Cameron made clear that: “We do not believe that calling right now for a general and immediate cease-fire, hoping it somehow becomes permanent, is the way forward.” “We must do all we can to pave the way to a sustainable cease-fire, leading to a sustainable peace,” they said.The article represents a significant shift in the U.K.’s stance on the conflict in Gaza. The British government has called for a “humanitarian pause” in the fighting, but has stopped short of urging a cease-fire. Germany has staunchly defended Israel’s right to defend itself since the attacks by Hamas on October 7.Last Tuesday, both Germany and the U.K. abstained from voting on the U.N. General Assembly...

Trump quotes Putin in bid to portray Biden as authoritarian

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:33 GMT

DURHAM, New Hampshire — Donald Trump on Saturday turned to the words of an authoritarian in his latest effort to paint President Joe Biden as one.“Even Vladimir Putin … says that Biden’s, and this is a quote, politically motivated persecution of his political rival is very good for Russia because it shows the rottenness of the American political system, which cannot pretend to teach others about democracy,” the former president told a packed stadium in New Hampshire.Trump also basked in praise from Hungary’s authoritarian prime minister Viktor Orbán.“Viktor Orbán, the highly respected prime minister of Hungary said Trump is the man who can save the western world,” Trump said. Later on he touted his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, “who is very nice.”“He’s not so fond of this administration, but he’s fond of me,” Trump said.During his time in the White House, Trump cozied up to authoritarian leaders like Putin and Kim, praising both at turns and infamously si...

Jimmy Butler’s buzzer-beater denies the Chicago Bulls a sweep in Miami. 6 takeaways from the 118-116 loss to the Heat.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:33 GMT

The Chicago Bulls could not escape the inevitability of Jimmy Butler in the final seconds of Saturday’s 118-116 loss to the Miami Heat.The Bulls overcame two double-digit deficits, surging back to regain a seven-point lead in the third quarter. But several critical mistakes in the final minute dropped them Bulls into another loss.The Heat grabbed four offensive rebounds in the final three minutes, scoring off three of them to tie the game. Then DeMar DeRozan — who finished with a team-high 27 points — turned the ball over with 34 seconds left after the Heat utilized a trap to force the ball out of his hands.Butler hadn’t made waves in the fourth quarter, scoring only two points in the frame before the game-winner. But with the ball in his hand, the score tied and 12 seconds left on the clock, Butler targeted Coby White, a matchup the Heat had been fervently attacking all night. The Bulls failed to spring a trap, leaving White to guard Butler on his own.“...

Patriots mailbag: Another free-agent spending splurge should be coming in 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:33 GMT

The Patriots’ 2023 season has been a slog, but this upcoming offseason should be one of the most exciting in franchise history.Even dismissing potential changes the Patriots could be making on their coaching staff, they have a ton of salary-cap space, needs across their roster and a requirement to spend cold hard cash.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Four under-the-radar Patriots players to watch Week 15 vs. Chiefs New England Patriots | Patriots-Chiefs preview: Can the Pats upset Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid? New England Patriots | NFL notes: Inside the Dirty Show, one of the last hallmarks of New England’s dynasty New England Patriots | Patriots-Chiefs injury report: Bill Belichick adds 2 starters to 7 questionable for Sunday New England Patriots | Bill Belichick explains Patriots veteran running back’s lack of playing time For more on what the Patriots need to spend this offse...

Stephen L. Carter: Activist nuns aren’t likely to outduel Smith & Wesson

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:33 GMT

The internet is buzzing with the news that four orders of Roman Catholic nuns have filed a shareholder derivative suit against Smith & Wesson Brands, seeking to force the company to impose stricter standards for manufacturing and marketing the M&P15 rifle, which is similar in style to the AR-15. What seems to be getting less attention is the question of whether the lawsuit will succeed.(Spoiler alert: almost certainly not.)The shareholder derivative suit has long been the bête noire of boards of directors. But plaintiffs in such cases face a tough slog. Although details vary from state to state, as a general proposition the board will prevail as long as its actions, even if mistaken, were business judgments made in good faith. True, the rule has exceptions, but even plaintiffs asserting more traditional governance claims rarely prevail.For social activists, the slog is tougher still.Consider: Over the past three years, at least 40 shareholder suits have been filed challengin...