It's been one year since the forces of Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Disbarred South Carolina attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh denied killing his wife and son but admitted to lying to investigators during his double murder trial. And it's goodbye to two TV staples — Meredith Grey has left "Grey's Anatomy" and "Succession" is quitting HBO. |
Now, here's Friday's news. |
Ukrainians mark 1 year since Russian invasion |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged to push for victory in 2023 as Ukrainians on Friday marked the somber first anniversary of the Russian invasion. Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainians on their resilience in the face of Europe's biggest and deadliest war since World War II. He said they had proven themselves to be invincible in what he called "a year of pain, sorrow, faith and unity." "It was "the longest day of our lives. The hardest day of our modern history. We woke up early and haven't fallen asleep since," he said in a video address. Ukrainians planned memorials, candle vigils and other remembrances for their tens of thousands of dead. President Joe Biden plans to announce sweeping new sanctions Friday against Russia. Read more | Ukrainian soldiers line up during a commemorative event on the one-year anniversary of the war with Russia in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.
AP |
Alex Murdaugh takes the stand after admitting to lying, stealing but denies double murder |
Disbarred South Carolina attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh denied killing his wife and son but admitted to lying to investigators and committing past financial crimes that included stealing money from clients Thursday as he testified in his own defense in his double murder trial. Murdaugh, 54, is charged in connection with the shootings of 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh. He has pleaded not guilty. Murdaugh vehemently denied shooting Maggie and Paul on June 7, 2021, at the family's property. "I would never intentionally do anything to hurt either one of them. Ever. Ever," he said. Cross-examination is expected to continue Friday. Read more | Alex Murdaugh takes the stand during his trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.
Pool photo by Joshua Boucher |
Harvey Weinstein and R. Kelly sentenced to more prison time |
Convicted sex offenders Harvey Weinstein and R. Kelly were each sentenced to more time in prison Thursday for further crimes. A Los Angeles judge sentenced former movie mogul Weinstein to 16 years in prison after a jury convicted him of the 2013 rape and sexual assault of an Italian actor and model, adding on to the 23 years he is already serving as he continues to face repercussions from sexual assault allegations that kickstarted the #MeToo movement. The prison term, along with the 23 years he was handed in 2020 for a similar conviction in New York, amounts to a likely life sentence for the 70-year-old. Read more |
A federal judge in Chicago rejected a call from prosecutors to keep R. Kelly behind bars until he is 100. The judge sentenced the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer to 20 years in prison on another set of sex crimes, including several child pornography charges. But 19 of those years will be served concurrently with his existing prison time, meaning only one year gets added to the end of the first 30-year sentence, imposed on him last year in New York for federal racketeering and sex trafficking convictions. The new sentence means Kelly could make it out of prison alive, when he is about 80. Kelly's defense lawyer celebrated the ruling as a victory, and some of the singer's fans could be heard cheering outside the courtroom. Read more |
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TV goodbyes: Meredith Grey leaves 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Succession' to leave HBO |
The world of television brought one goodbye fans have seen coming and another they probably didn't Thursday. After more than 400 episodes, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) left Seattle's Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, the fictional setting of ABC's medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," to move to Boston. The character will still be the series' voiceover and is expected to make return appearances. Over at HBO, "Succession" fans should enjoy the upcoming Season 4, because it will be the beloved drama's last season, creator Jesse Armstrong said in an interview published Thursday. The final season will begin March 26. Read more | On ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," hospital staffers bid Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), center, goodbye at a surprise farewell party before she leaves for Boston.
ABC | (From left) Onscreen siblings Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin in a scene from HBO's Emmy--winning drama "Succession."
Macall B. Polay/HBO |
📷 Photo of the day: Dancing in the streets — Brazilians celebrate carnival 📷 |
Costumes, check. Face paint, check. Brazilians were back out in force for their world-famous carnival celebrations this month. Brazil's federal government expected 46 million people to join the festivities that officially began last Friday and ran through Feb. 22. The Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro is billed as the world's biggest party, but other cities had plenty of festivities too, including Salvador, Recife and metropolitan Sao Paulo. | A member of the Beija Flor samba school performs during the second night of Rio's Carnival parade at the Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Feb. 21, 2023. - The world's biggest carnival hit peak party level as Rio's top samba schools on Feb. 19 opened their annual parade competition in the giant avenue-turned-stadium known as the "Sambadrome."
CARL DE SOUZA, AFP via Getty Images | 'Ted Lasso' season 3 on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+/Reviewed |
Contributing: The Associated Press. | | | |
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