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Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny missing from prison, says his team

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:46:22 GMT

(CNN) — Lawyers for Alexey Navalny said Monday they have lost contact with the jailed Russian opposition leader, who was last known to be imprisoned in a penal colony east of Moscow, and his whereabouts are unknown.Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in prison in August, after he was found guilty of creating an extremist community, financing extremist activities and numerous other crimes. He was already serving sentences of 11-and-a-half years in a maximum security facility on fraud and other charges he denies.Supporters of Navalny claim his arrest and incarceration are a politically motivated attempt to stifle his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.Lawyers have made several attempts to get access to two penal colonies near Moscow where Navalny, who has suffered serious health issues, was believed to be, spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said on X on Monday. They were informed that the 47-year-old was not at the IK-6 or IK-7 penal colonies, Yarmysh added.“On Friday and throughout t...

Endangered African painted dog pups born at Oklahoma City Zoo

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:46:22 GMT

(CNN) — Six African painted dog pups were recently born at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, zoo officials have announced.The dogs were born on November 5 and 6 to first-time mother Pele, a 3-year-old African painted dog who first arrived at the zoo in October 2021, according to a news release.The pups are the zoo’s first litter of African painted dogs since 2016, the zoo’s curator of carnivores, Tyler Boyd, said in the release.The breed of dogs, also called African wild dogs, is among the world’s most endangered mammals, according to the World Wildlife Fund.Between 2010 and 2022, the species’ population in the wild dropped from around 11,800 dogs to about 5,000, according to the Oklahoma City Zoo. The zoo says it has “a rich history of support” for the endangered animals, both at the zoo and in the wild.“By supporting conservation programs specifically targeting African painted dogs, we can not only increase awareness about this dynamic species to our guest...

Miami Marlins acquire catcher Christian Bethancourt in trade with Cleveland Guardians

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:46:22 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins acquired catcher Christian Bethancourt from the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday, bringing in another player that new president of baseball operations Peter Bendix is familiar with from his days in Tampa Bay.Bethancourt batted .225 with 16 doubles, 11 home runs, and 33 RBIs in 104 games with Tampa Bay during the 2023 season. He also threw out 13 of 57 baserunners. The Panamanian-born backstop has a career batting average of .231 with 113 RBIs and 31 home runs.Cleveland claimed Bethancourt, 32, off waivers Nov. 6 and will receive cash considerations in the deal.This is the second trade that Bendix, the former Rays general manager, has executed since his hiring on Nov. 6. He also completed a trade with his former team in late November, acquiring utilityman Vidal Bruján and right-hander Calvin Faucher from the Rays.

Remains of seventh airman recovered from Osprey crash off coast of Japan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:46:22 GMT

(CNN) — Seven of the eight airmen who were in the Air Force CV-22 Osprey that crashed off the coast of Yakushima Island, Japan, on November 29 have been recovered, the US Air Force said Monday.The remains of Maj. Jeffrey “Jeff” T. Hoernemann, 32, were recovered on Sunday, said a release from Air Force Special Operations Command. Hoernemann, from Andover, Minnesota, commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at North Dakota State University on March 1, 2015, according to the release.He served as a CV-22 instructor pilot and chief of weapons and tactics for the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Hoernemann’s remains were recovered by US Navy divers on Sunday.The other six airmen who have been recovered have been identified as Maj. Luke A. Unrath, 34; Capt. Terrell “Terry” K. Brayman, 32; Staff Sgt. Jake M. Turnage, 25; Staff Sgt. Jacob “Jake” M. Galliher, 24; Tech Sgt. Zachary E. Lavo...

Supreme Court lets stand Washington state law barring conversion therapy for minors

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:46:22 GMT

(CNN) — The Supreme Court on Monday let stand a Washington state law prohibiting licensed health care professionals from practicing “conversion therapy” – a scientifically discredited practice intended to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity – as it applies to minors.Critics say the practice – which attempts to convert people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning – into straight or cisgender people, causes serious emotional harm and can have deadly results.The practice ranges from psychotherapy to medical and faith-based methods that can include talk therapy, hormone or steroid treatment or faith-based consultation.The vote was 6-3, with Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas publicly saying they would have taken up the case.Thomas wrote in a five-page dissent that he would have taken up the case to consider a First Amendment challenge to the law.Under the state law, Thomas wrote, “licensed cou...

San Diego opens first 'all-inclusive' park in Mission Bay after $4M makeover

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:46:22 GMT

SAN DIEGO — The first "all-inclusive" playground in the city of San Diego was opened to the public earlier this week, bringing the city one step closer towards its massive redevelopment of Mission Bay Park.Elected officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new playground, known as Tecolote Shores South, on Thursday. The new $4.1 million play and fitness area features modern equipment and practical upgrades to help accommodate park-goers with disabilities. The local firm behind the design of the space, the Schmidt Design Group, describes it as the "most accessible playground in the City of San Diego park system." City of San Diego moves forward with plan for De Anza Cove "Today it's a wonderful day, because we were able to open this park, which is a playground specially made for children of all abilities," District 2 San Diego City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell told FOX 5 during Thursday's ribbon cutting. "I want everyone to come and enjoy (it)."The playground is the second...

Zelenskyy will address the US military in Washington on Monday as funding for weapons runs out

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:46:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address U.S. military officers at the National Defense University on Monday as part of a last-minute push to convince Congress to provide more money for weapons before funding runs out. President Joe Biden has asked Congress for $61.4 billion for wartime funding for Ukraine as part of a $110 billion package that also includes money for Israel and other national security priorities. But the request is caught up in a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security. The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight against Russia’s 2022 invasion. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy is expected to go to Capitol Hill and to meet with Biden at the White House.With Congress in its final work week before leaving for the holidays, questions remain as to whether Republicans will be able to come to an agreement on any rounds of future funding for Ukraine or Israel without White House concessions on additional border securi...

Leaders of Guyana and Venezuela to meet this week as region worries over their territorial dispute

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:46:22 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — As the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela prepare to meet this week to address an escalating dispute over a region rich in oil and minerals, Guyana’s president said he is coming with “goodwill’ but insisted that his country be respected and the case be heard at the International Court of Justice.President Irfaan Ali spoke to reporters late Sunday, while his security detail wore shirts reading “ESSEQUIBO BELONGS TO GUYANA.”The dispute over Essequibo, which represents two-thirds of Guyana and borders Venezuela, worsened after Venezuela held a referendum earlier this month on whether to claim sovereignty over the region located near massive oil deposits.Venezuela maintains that Essequibo was within its boundaries during the Spanish colonial period, and it rejects the border drawn by international arbitrators in 1899 when Guyana was under British rule.Guyana’s president is scheduled to meet Thursday with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro behind close...

Man charged with terrorism over a fire at South African Parliament is declared unfit to stand trial

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:46:22 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A man charged with terrorism and other offenses over a 2022 fire that badly damaged South Africa’s historic Parliament complex in Cape Town was declared unfit to stand trial by a court on Monday.Zandile Mafe was diagnosed with schizophrenia by an expert panel in a report, and a judge in the Western Cape High Court ruled that he agreed with the assessment. Judge Nathan Erasmus said that Mafe wasn’t able to understand the charges against him.Mafe has said he’s fit to stand trial and has admitted in previous court hearings to starting the blaze in January 2022. He said he did it in protest against Parliament, the local government in Cape Town and the national government. He said all of them have failed South Africa’s people.In a previous court outburst, he threatened to burn the Parliament building again and challenged the court to send him to prison, saying he wasn’t afraid of a life sentence.Mafe’s lawyer said at Mond...

Wisconsin secretary of state calls for removal of fake Trump elector from elections commission

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:46:22 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s Democratic secretary of state on Monday called for a Republican who served as a fake elector for former President Donald Trump and admitted trying to overturn the 2020 election results to be removed from his position on the Wisconsin Elections Commission.Bob Spindell was one of 10 Republicans who signed certificates in 2020 falsely stating that Trump had won Wisconsin. President Joe Biden won the battleground state. Spindell and other nine fake electors conceded in a legal settlement last week that Biden had won the state and agreed to not serve as electors in next year’s election or in any in which Trump is running. They also agreed that their actions were “part of an attempt to improperly overturn the 2020 presidential election results.”But they also avoided paying any damages and didn’t accept any liability or admit any wrongdoing for their actions.Spindell, who didn’t respond to voicemails or text messages left last week a...