How the Kremlin weaponized Russian history — and has used it to justify the war in Ukraine
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — When Tucker Carlson asked Vladimir Putin about his reasons for invading Ukraine two years ago, Putin gave him a lecture on Russian history. The 71-year-old Russian leader spent more than 20 minutes showering baffled Carlson with dates and names going back to the 9th century. Carlson admitted after the interview that a history lecture in response to a straightforward question about one’s political motives “shocked” him. But in Russia, history has become a propaganda tool. Authorities have sought to magnify the country’s past victories while glossing over the more sordid chapters of its history. They’ve rewritten textbooks, funded exhibitions and suppressed voices that contradicted their narrative.
For many Ukrainians, life is split in two: Before and after the war. This is one family’s story
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — As Russia launched its war in Ukraine two years ago, the lives of millions of Ukrainians were irreversibly changed. They now delineate it into periods before and after Feb. 24, 2022. Tens of thousands have buried loved ones, millions have fled their homes, and the country has been thrust into a long, exhausting war. For Kateryna Dmytryk, a glimmer of light returned to her life when her husband was liberated from Russian captivity, just weeks ago. She hadn’t seen him in nearly two years. She and their 2-year-old son reunited with him and now live in Kyiv. It’s a happy ending to this chapter, but she knows scars will remain. And she thinks often of the soldiers still in captivity.
Live updates | Israeli strikes across Gaza kill 67 Palestinians overnight
Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 67 Palestinians overnight and into Wednesday, including in areas where civilians have been told to seek refuge. The aid group Doctors Without Borders also says two people were killed when a shelter housing staff in the Gaza Strip was struck during an Israeli operation in an area where Palestinians have been told to seek shelter. The group said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that at least two family members of colleagues were killed and six others wounded. The war, which erupted after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel, has displaced around 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, with most people heeding Israeli orders to flee to southern Gaza.
Election officials in the US face daunting challenges in 2024. And Congress isn’t coming to help
WASHINGTON (AP) — With election season already underway, some state election officials are expressing frustration that Congress has yet to allocate federal money they have come to rely on. They need it to help cover the costs of securing their systems from attacks, updating equipment and training staff. Election officials face a long list of challenges this year, including potential cyberattacks waged by foreign governments, criminal ransomware gangs attacking computer systems and the persistence of election misinformation. The last chunk of election-related funding was $75 million in December 2022, and federal budget negotiations since have been mired in partisan disputes.
2 men are charged with murder in the deadly shooting at Kansas City’s Super Bowl celebration
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two men have been charged with murder in last week’s shooting after the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade. Court documents released Tuesday say the men were strangers who pulled out guns and began firing within seconds of starting an argument. Missouri prosecutors said at a news conference that Lyndell Mays, of Raytown, Missouri, and Dominic Miller, of Kansas City, Missouri, have been charged with second-degree murder and several weapons counts. The shooting left one person dead and roughly two dozen others injured. Mays and Miller were shot in the melee and have been hospitalized since.
WikiLeaks’ Assange went far beyond journalism and should face spying charges, lawyers for US say
LONDON (AP) — Lawyers for the American government say that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should face espionage charges in the United States because he put innocent lives at risk and went beyond journalism in his bid to solicit, steal and indiscriminately publish classified U.S. government documents. The lawyers were setting out arguments at Britain’s High Court in response to a last-ditch bid by Assange’s defense to stop his extradition from the U.K. to the United States. Assange’s lawyers are asking the High Court to grant him a new appeal in the long-running saga. On the first day of the hearing on Tuesday, they argued that American authorities want to punish Assange for WikiLeaks’ exposure of U.S. military wrongdoing.
A young man dies as clashes erupt between police and protesting farmers trying to reach New Delhi
SHAMBHU, India (AP) — A protester has died as thousands of Indian farmers resumed their march to the capital after talks with the government failed to end an impasse over their demands for guaranteed crop prices. The farmers began their protest march last week but were stopped some 200 kilometers (125 miles) from New Delhi as police fired rounds of teargas. The 21-year-old farmer, identified as Subhkaran Singh, succumbed to a head injury, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. The farmers are demanding legislation guaranteeing minimum prices for 23 crops and loan waivers.
Robots and happy workers: Productivity surge helps explain US economy’s surprising resilience
WASHINGTON (AP) — Across the United States, chronic worker shortages have led many companies to invest in machines to do some of the work they can’t find people to do. They’ve also been training the workers they do have to use advanced technology so they can produce more with less. The result has been an unexpected productivity boom, which helps explain a great economic mystery: How has the world’s largest economy managed to remain so healthy, with brisk growth and low unemployment, despite brutally high interest rates that are intended to tame inflation but that typically cause a recession?
A pacemaker for the brain helped a woman with crippling depression. It may soon be available to more
NEW YORK (AP) — Researchers are testing deep brain stimulation as a treatment for people with a severe form of depression. Doctors compare it to a pacemaker for the brain. It involves implanting electrodes in the brain, which are attached to a device placed under the skin in the chest. Recent research is promising, and doctors believe federal approval may come soon. However, two past studies showed no advantage to using DBS for depression and temporarily halted progress. Some scientists continue to raise concerns. But DBS has already helped participants in clinical trials. Among them is Emily Hollenbeck of New York. She suffered devastating depression for years and lost both parents to suicide. She says she was desperate for answers and DBS is why she’s alive today.
Can a healthier plant-based burger combat falling US sales? Beyond Meat hopes so
Beyond Meat is revamping its signature plant-based burger, hoping that healthier ingredients will help it boost flagging U.S. sales. The El Segundo, California-based company said Wednesday its new Beyond Burger patties and Beyond Beef grounds cut saturated fat by 60% by switching from canola and coconut oils to avocado oil. The new beef products also have less sodium and more protein. The new products go on sale in the U.S. this spring. Beyond Meat has updated its products before, but Beyond Meat Founder and CEO Ethan Brown said this is the biggest leap forward the brand has made since the Beyond Burger went on sale in 2016.