Snowboarder Makes a Jump From Piles of Snow

NBC News
Wife of U.S. soldier detained in Russia says he was having an affair, not involved in 'geopolitical intrigue'
The wife of Gordon Black, the American soldier detained on theft charges in Russia, said he traveled there because he was having an affair and was not involved in "geopolitical intrigue."
AFP
Ukraine says Russia launches cross-border offensive in northeast
Russia launched a cross-border ground offensive into Ukraine's northeast Kharkiv region and civilians were being evacuated amid the fighting, Ukrainian officials said Friday.Ukraine said that it had repelled Russia's incursion but that "fighting of varying intensity" was ongoing and that Russia had launched aerial strikes into an area near the border.
Reuters
Education board in Virginia votes to restore schools' Confederate names
The education board for Shenandoah County, Virginia, voted early on Friday to restore Confederate generals' names to two public schools in the predominantly white, rural and solidly Republican district, becoming the first in the U.S. to take such an action. By a 6-1 vote, the board overturned its 2020 decision that stripped a high school and elementary school of their original names honoring three military leaders of the pro-slavery South in the U.S. Civil War - Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia; Confederate infantry General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, and rebel calvary commander Turner Ashby.
Associated Press
The Latest | Witness testimony resumes as Trump's hush money trial enters 15th day
When witness testimony in Donald Trump's hush money case resumes on Friday, it will cap a feverish week that saw porn actor Stormy Daniels take the stand, two failed attempts by the defense to have a mistrial declared, gag order sanctions and more. Daniels' sometimes graphic testimony over two days riveted jurors and drew upset from defense attorneys who decried it on Thursday as prejudicial and overly gratuitous. The prosecution defended its questioning and Daniels' details of the alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump and ultimately, the judge denied the requests for a mistrial — chiding the defense for not objecting more during testimony.
Reuters
Iraq requests end of UN assistance mission by end-2025
Iraq has requested that a United Nations assistance mission set up after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of the country end its work by the end of 2025, saying it was no longer needed because Iraq had made significant progress towards stability. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Iraq wanted to deepen cooperation with other U.N. organisations but there was no longer a need for the political work of the U.N. assistance mission, known as UNAMI.
AFP
Pandemic agreement talks near end with deal elusive
Last-ditch talks aimed at striking a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics went into the final hours on Friday with the chances of finalising a deal looking increasingly unlikely.This additional fortnight of talks was crammed in amid hopes of achieving a breakthrough but the negotiations will not stretch even further into overtime if nothing is finalised by the end of Friday.
The New York Times
As Gaza Talks Falter, Negotiators Look for a Deal or a Scapegoat
WASHINGTON — To understand what is happening now in the Middle East, it may be helpful to remember the dead cat. That was a favorite metaphor for Secretary of State James A. Baker III as he shuttled around the region in 1991 trying to negotiate a complicated deal. With each recalcitrant player, Baker would threaten to “leave the dead cat” at their door — in other words, to make sure they were the ones blamed if the whole thing fell apart. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Time
USA TODAY
Attorney for slain airman, sheriff dig in after release of shooting body-camera footage
A Florida sheriff's deputy killed Roger Fortson, a U.S. airman, on May 3 and redacted video of the shooting released Thursday. Here's what we know.
Associated Press
Makeshift shelter saves hundreds of dogs amid floods in southern Brazil
Hundreds of volunteers have set up a makeshift dog shelter in an abandoned, roofless warehouse in the Brazilian city of Canoas, one of the hardest hit by floods since last week. Floods in Rio Grande do Sul have killed at least 107 people. Since Sunday, the makeshift shelter, about the size of a football pitch, has welcomed hundreds of ill and agitated canines from inundated areas.
The New York Times
Stormy Daniels, Echoing Trump’s Style, Pushes Back at Lawyer’s Attacks
NEW YORK — Donald Trump, the onetime president, and Stormy Daniels, the longtime porn actor, despise one another. But when Daniels returned to the witness stand at Trump’s criminal trial Thursday, his lawyers made them sound a lot alike. He wrote more than a dozen self-aggrandizing books; she wrote a tell-all memoir. He mocked her appearance on social media; she fired back with a scatological insult. He peddled a $59.99 Bible; she hawked a $40 “Stormy, saint of indictments” candle, that carried
Associated Press
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in West Virginia's primaries
Republican Gov. Jim Justice, who’s running for Senate, is just one of a handful of high flyers in West Virginia who decided it was time for a change of pace. A former billionaire who owns the Greenbrier Resort, Justice is ineligible to run for reelection in West Virginia due to term limits. Instead of attempting to run for another term in Trump country, Manchin decided to pass, adding another open seat to the map in which the Republican nominee will be the heavy favorite in the fall.
CNN
Encampments cleared from at least 3 university campuses early Friday as pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue
Pro-Palestinian encampments were cleared from at least three college campuses early Friday, marking some of the latest examples of schools using law enforcement to respond to demonstrations that have popped up across the country in recent weeks. Here are the latest developments:
Associated Press
Ukraine says Russia is trying to break through its defenses in the northeastern Kharkiv region
Ukraine rushed reinforcements to its northeastern Kharkiv region to hold off a Russian attempt to breach local defenses, authorities said, a tactical switch by Moscow that Ukrainian officials have been expecting for weeks as the war stretches into its third year. Intense nighttime shelling targeted Vovchansk, in the Kharkiv region and less than 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Russian border, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Then, around dawn, Russian infantry tried to penetrate the Ukrainian defenses near Vovchansk, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said, adding that it had deployed reserve units to fend off the attack.
Associated Press
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Nebraska's presidential and state primaries
Nebraskans will cast presidential primary ballots Tuesday in a reliably Republican state that could nonetheless be a decisive one in the race for the White House. Voters will also decide several contested state primaries, including the U.S. Senate, where both Republican incumbents are on the ballot. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump should easily win their primaries, as they already unofficially secured their parties’ nominations on March 12.
Yahoo Finance
Stock market today: US futures rise, Dow eyes 8th straight win as rate-cut hopes abound
Investors are listening out for a parade of Fed speakers to test a growing confidence that a rate cut is on the way.
CNN
Prince Harry and Meghan arrive in Nigeria for three-day visit
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex landed in Nigeria on Friday, launching a three-day private visit to the West African nation, where they will meet with wounded soldiers and visit local charities, officials said.
AFP
India's top court releases jailed Modi opponent on bail
India's top court on Friday ordered a jailed opponent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be released on bail, allowing him to campaign in an ongoing national election.He was denied bail Friday in a separate court ruling by the same judges who ordered Kejriwal's release.
Associated Press
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in North Carolina’s US House primary runoff
North Carolina's lone congressional runoff, in the state's 13th Congressional District, became a one-person race when former President Donald Trump endorsed Brad Knott this month, leading his opponent to suspend her campaign. Congressional candidate Kelly Daughtry will remain on the ballot because her withdrawal took place too late. Early in-person voting and mail-in voting started before she withdrew.
Reuters
FBI working towards nabbing Scattered Spider hackers, official says
The U.S. FBI is working towards charging hackers from the aggressive Scattered Spider criminal gang who are largely based in the U.S. and western countries and have breached dozens of American organisations, a senior official said. The young hackers grabbed headlines last year when they broke into the systems of casino-operators MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, locking up the companies' systems and demanding hefty ransom payments. From health and telecom companies to financial services, they have hacked a range of organisations over two years, piling pressure on law enforcement agencies to thwart them.
CNN
Zelensky sacks bodyguard chief after foiled assassination plot
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the head of the State Guard Service (UDO) Serhii Rud on Thursday after two officers from the guards were detained in connection with an alleged assassination plot against Zelensky.

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