The body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been handed over to his mother, aide says
An aide to Alexei Navalny says the body of the Russian opposition leader has been handed over to his mother. The director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation made the announcement on his Telegram account and thanked “everyone” who had called on Russian authorities to return Navalny’s body to his mother. Navalny’s widow accused President Vladimir Putin earlier Saturday of mocking Christianity by trying to force his mother to agree to a secret funeral after his death in an Arctic penal colony. Navalny’s mother has been demanding that Russian authorities return the body of her son to her for more than a week. It’s not yet clear when or how the funeral will be held.
Zelenskyy hosts Western leaders in Kyiv as Ukraine marks 2 years since Russia’s full-scale invasion
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed Western leaders to Kyiv to mark the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, as Ukrainian forces run low on ammunition and foreign aid hangs in the balance. Zelenskyy posted a video from the Hostomel airfield together with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as the the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Western leaders arrived shortly after a Russian drone attack struck a residential building in the southern city of Odesa, killing at least one. Three women also sustained severe burns in the attack on a residential building. On the front line in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainian soldiers pleaded for ammunition.
Oaths and pledges have been routine for political officials. That’s changing in a polarized America
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Elected officials throughout modern American history have sworn oaths to uphold constitutions and pledged allegiance to the flag without much controversy. But in a handful of recent cases, these routine practices have fallen victim to the same political divisions that have left the country deeply polarized. Disagreements over abortion rights, gun control and treatment of racial minorities are some of the issues that have caused several political leaders to say they can’t take an oath or recite the pledge. Some Republicans point to amendments enshrining abortion rights in state constitutions. Among liberals, saying the Pledge of Allegiance, with its declaration of “liberty and justice for all,” has sometimes been problematic.
Trump enters South Carolina’s Republican primary looking to embarrass Haley in her home state
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is looking to win his fourth straight primary state on Saturday over Nikki Haley in South Carolina. Trump went into the primary with a huge polling lead and the backing of the state’s top Republicans. Haley has spent weeks warning that the dominant front-runner, who is 77 and faces four indictments, is too old and distracted to be president again. Candidates historically struggle to overcome losing their home-state primary. But Haley has said she’ll move forward win or lose. As she voted on Kiawah Island, Haley said he faced the day with “great gratitude.” Trump’s campaign issued a statement saying Haley was “no longer living in reality.”
An attack on a cargo ship in the Red Sea has caused a miles-long oil slick. Things could get worse
CAIRO (AP) — The U.S. military says an attack by Yemeni Houthi rebels on a Belize-flagged ship earlier this month caused a significant oil leak. It also warned of the danger of a spill from the vessel’s cargo of fertilizer. The Rubymar was attacked on Feb. 18 while sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The ship is a British-registered and Lebanese-operated cargo vessel. The U.S. Central Command said Saturday that the vessel suffered significant damage which led to an 18-mile or 29-kilometer oil slick. CENTCOM separately said it launched attacks on Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Friday. It said it destroyed seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea.
Cellphone data cited in court filing raises questions about testimony on Fani Willis relationship
ATLANTA (AP) — A court filing uses cellphone location data to try to raise questions about the testimony given by a special prosecutor who had a romantic relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis while working on the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump. The analysis of the cellphone location data was disclosed in a court filing Friday by Trump’s attorneys. An investigator says it shows prosecutor Nathan Wade had visited the neighborhood south of Atlanta where Willis lived at least 35 times during the first 11 months of 2021. Willis’ team wrote in a filing in response that the records are inadmissible and “do not prove anything relevant.”
Tired of diesel fumes, these moms are pushing for electric school buses
Each day, around 20 million students in the United States ride to school in diesel-fueled school buses, exposed to clouds of exhaust linked to asthma and lung cancer. The buses also contribute to climate change. Parents have been key advocates in the push for cleaner buses, and are finally seeing progress, especially in some communities disproportionately harmed by this exhaust.
Alabama IVF ruling puts spotlight on state plans for tax breaks and child support for fetuses
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are legally protected children is highlighting how support for the idea that a fetus should have the same rights as a person underpins far less dramatic laws and proposals from abortion foes across the U.S. Lawmakers in at least six states have proposals to allow women to seek child support back to conception. Lawmakers in four states have proposals to allow prospective parents to claim a state income tax deduction for dependent children before birth. Georgia already does both, and Utah enacted a pregnancy tax break last year. Abortion opponents have long sought constitutional protections for embryos and fetuses, and even limited proposals are being seen in that light.
Warren Buffett uses his annual letter to warn about Wall Street and recount Berkshire’s successes
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett credited his longtime partner — the late Charlie Munger — with being the architect of the Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate he’s received the credit for leading and warned shareholders in his annual letter not to listen to Wall Street pundits or financial advisors who urge them to trade often. Buffett also recounted how Berkshire’s insurance businesses thrived last year, but its massive utilities and BNSF railroad disappointed. He also told shareholders how he never plans to sell its stakes in nearly 30% of Occidental Petroleum and 9% of five large Japanese trading houses, but he reiterated that he has no plans to buy the oil producer outright.
The SAG Awards will stream Saturday live on Netflix. Here’s how to watch and what to know
Since Netflix launched into original films, the streaming service has been an annual force in Hollywood’s awards season. On Saturday, at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, it will play host, too. The 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards will for the first time stream live on Netflix, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. The ceremony should find a much larger audience than it has in recent years — and not just because it presents another battle between “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie,” the lead nominees. This time, the SAGs are live to Netflix’s 260 million global subscribers. Key races include Cillian Murphy and Paul Giamatti for best actor, and Emma Stone and Lily Gladstone for best actress.