Associated press

As Amber Heard and Johnny Depp 's defamation trial enters its final days, an Instagram account associated with film producer Jennifer Howell has shared a post about "karma." The exes have spent the past several weeks battling it out in court after Depp, 58, sued Heard, 36, for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post , in which she declared herself to be a domestic abuse survivor. Heard, who is countersuing for $100 million, did not name Depp in the article, though his lawyers have argued that it was obvious she was referring to him. Amid the proceedings at Virginia's Fairfax County Circuit Court—where Depp and Heard have denied one another's allegations of domestic abuse—a court declaration allegedly from Howell caused a stir when it resurfaced on social media. Depp fans are circulating the declaration, which alleges that Heard was violent toward her own sister, Whitney Henriquez, as well as her ex-husband, Depp. With the trial days away from ending, a … [Read more...] about Jennifer Howell-associated IG account talks “karma” as Depp trial nears end

The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) has announced it is leaving its membership with the National School Boards Association (NSBA) following a letter the group sent to the Department of Justice asking it to crack down on “threats of violence and acts of intimidation” at local school board meetings which “could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes.” TASB Executive Director Dan Troxell shared the announcement in a press release on Monday following an independent investigation into the letter commissioned by the NSBA. “We have been intently waiting for the release of this independent investigation for nearly two months,” TASB Executive Director Dan Troxell said in the statement . “With this report now available, it’s clear that NSBA’s internal processes and controls do not meet the good governance practices that TASB expects and requires in a member organization,” he added. Troxell added that the NSBA’s new leadership had made some … [Read more...] about Texas School Board Group Leaves National School Boards Association After Report On ‘Domestic Terrorism’ Letter | The Daily Wire

A Ukrainian government official on Tuesday publicly expressed gratitude for what he called "heavy" weapons the U.S. was sending to his country. The message came a day after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin , warned that international efforts to bolster Ukraine's security could result in a "full-scale world war." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that he spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken "to thank the U.S. for its ironclad support of Ukraine." He also said that "[m]ore weapons, including heavy, are headed to Ukraine as Russia continues its devastating attacks in the Donbas." Though Kuleba did not specify the weapons, the U.S. has recently increased the amount of armaments it has been sending to Ukraine. Last week, the Senate approved a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine that The Washington Post reported includes almost $20 billion in Pentagon funding to send additional weapons … [Read more...] about U.S. sends heavy weapons to Ukraine after Putin ally threatens world war

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — The campaign of David McCormick, who is in a neck-and-neck Republican primary contest for the U.S. Senate against celebrity heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, sued in a Pennsylvania court Monday to try to ensure counties obey a brand-new federal appeals court decision that could help him make up ground. McCormick's lawsuit , filed after hours, asks the state's Commonwealth Court to require counties to promptly count mail-in ballots that lack a required handwritten date on the return envelope. It is the first — but likely not the last — lawsuit in the contest between Oz and McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO. "These ballots were indisputably submitted on time — they were date-stamped upon receipt — and no fraud or irregularity has been alleged. The Boards' only basis for disenfranchising these voters is a technical error that is immaterial under both state and federal law," the lawsuit said. McCormick's campaign said at least two counties — Blair and … [Read more...] about David McCormick files lawsuit over counting mail ballots in Pennsylvania Senate race

Workers digging through the rubble of an apartment building in Mariupol found about 200 bodies in the basement, Ukrainian authorities said Tuesday, as more horrors come to light in the ruined city that has seen some of the worst suffering of the 3-month-long war. The bodies were decomposing and the stench hung over the neighborhood, said Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor. He did not say when they were discovered, but the sheer number of victims makes it one of the deadliest known attacks of the war. Meanwhile, heavy fighting continued in the Donbas, the eastern industrial region that Moscow's forces are intent on seizing. Russian troops intensified their efforts to encircle and capture Sievierodonetsk and neighboring cities. Mariupol was relentlessly pounded during a nearly three-month siege that ended last week after some 2,500 Ukrainian fighters abandoned a steel plant where they had made their stand. Russian forces already held the rest of … [Read more...] about About 200 corpses found in a basement in the devastated city of Mariupol, Ukraine says

Eyewitness accounts appear to support Palestinian claims that Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by a bullet fired from an Israeli gun. Ms Abu Akleh was shot in the head while covering an Israeli raid at a West Bank refugee camp on Wednesday, 11 May. Palestinian authorities say the 51-year-old was killed by Israeli forces, while Israel's foreign ministry claims she was shot dead by "Palestinian terrorists" who were "firing indiscriminately". Associated Press reporters have visited the location in Jenin where Ms Abu Akleh was killed, as well as the scene of a nearby battle with Israeli forces captured in a video shared by the Israelis. Interviews with five Palestinian eyewitnesses corroborate analysis by the Dutch-based Bellingcat research group indicating Israeli forces were closer to Ms Abu Akleh than Palestinian militants and had a better line of sight. Advertisement The group, which specialises in geolocating events in war zones by … [Read more...] about Shireen Abu Akleh: Eyewitness accounts appear to support claims Al Jazeera journalist was killed by Israeli gun

One of Putin’s top diplomats has resigned saying he has never been so ‘ashamed’ of his country. Boris Bondarevsent sent his colleagues at the United Nations in Geneva a damning letter denouncing the ‘aggressive war unleashed’ by the Russian president. The veteran bureaucrat’s outburst is a rare public expression of opposition to Putin from the ranks of the Russian elite. But it follows a trend of brave Russians speaking out, three months to the day Putin sent his troops into Ukraine . Just last week, thousands of people suddenly began chanting ‘f*** the war’ at a packed concert hall in St Petersburg. Mr Bondarev told the Associated Press: ‘It is intolerable what my government is doing now.’ He said those who conceived the war ‘want only one thing – to remain in power forever, live in pompous tasteless palaces, sail on yachts comparable in tonnage and cost to the entire Russian navy, enjoying unlimited power and complete impunity’. Mr Bondarev also said … [Read more...] about Russian diplomat quits with crushing letter saying Putin ‘wants power forever’

Lorenzen Wright’s ex-wife will not be granted early release from a 30-year prison sentence she received after pleading guilty to plotting the retired NBA player’s 2010 slaying, the Tennessee Board of Parole said overnight (NZ time). The board voted to deny parole for Sherra Wright, who entered a guilty plea in July 2019 to facilitation of first-degree murder in her ex-husband's killing. The decision was reached after three of seven board members agreed to deny her release based on the seriousness of her offense, board spokesman Dustin Krugel said in an email to The Associated Press. Sherra Wright appeared at a parole hearing May 11 at the prison in Nashville where she is being held. Wright said she has done well in classes she is taking from prison and has a support system to help her when she is released. Two of her children gave statements on her behalf. Among those speaking against her early release was Lorenzen Wright’s mother, Deborah Marion. She said Sherra Wright … [Read more...] about Slain NBA player Lorenzen Wright’s ex-wife denied parole from 30-year sentence

A powerful explosion rocked Havana on Friday, destroying a historic five star hotel frequented by celebrities and diplomats, killing at least 22 people, including a pregnant woman and a child. Flames and smoke billowed out of the Hotel Saratoga in Old Havana, Cuba, as rescue teams continued to search for more than a dozen people who were feared to be trapped. Some 50 adults and 14 children were taken to hospitals after the explosion, which Cuban state TV reported was caused by a natural gas leak. The 96-room hotel, with a spa, gym, two restaurants, two bars and a rooftop pool is one of the most famous in Havana, and a popular retreat for government officials and celebrities. Beyonce, Madonna and the King of Morocco are all known to have stayed at the venue, in a prime location in Old Havana, just across from the Congress building. The explosion came as the island was preparing to reopen to tourists after being shut off during the pandemic, plunging Cuba into one of its … [Read more...] about Twenty-two killed in huge explosion at Havana’s 5-star Hotel Saratoga

US says 20 countries to offer more weapons to Ukraine UK says Russian losses likely rival those of USSR in Afghanistan Zelensky opens World Economic Forum calling for maximum sanctions on Russia Ukraine sentences Russian to life in prison in first war crimes trial Russian diplomat quits Geneva post, slams Sergey Lavrov and Ukraine war This live updates article is now closed. For our latest from May 24, click here. Zelenskyy says Ukrainians have no choice but to fight and win In his late-night speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of difficult weeks of war ahead. According to Zelenskyy, the most difficult military situation is currently in Donbass. "Bakhmut, Popasna, Severodonetsk - in this direction the occupiers have concentrated the greatest activity so far. They organized a massacre there and are trying to destroy everything living there," he said. Zelenskyy said the Russians were trying to demonstrate that they would not give up the … [Read more...] about Ukraine: Russian soldier sentenced to life in first war crimes trial — as it happened