Daily Briefing
Trending
Nation
district of columbia
Marine held in Russia released
WASHINGTON -- Russia has released an American military veteran, allowing his return to the U.S. after four years of what his family and U.S. officials allege was wrongful incarceration and abusive treatment that left him near death.
Robert Gilman was freed after President Donald Trump said he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said Gilman was released on humanitarian grounds and Russia asked for no one in exchange.
georgia
Haddish avoids jail time
FAYETTEVILLE -- Actor and comedian Tiffany Haddish has pleaded guilty to a charge stemming from a 2022 traffic arrest in Georgia.
Haddish entered the plea Tuesday for a misdemeanor alcohol-related driving charge. Other charges were dropped. A judge placed Haddish on 12 months' probation and told her to avoid drugs and alcohol and complete a substance abuse evaluation.
alabama
Three states to hold executions
MONTGOMERY -- Tennessee, Alabama, and Oklahoma plan to execute inmates on the same day this week.
That would make Thursday the first time in nearly 16 years that three executions occur on the same day in the U.S. Robin Maher from the Death Penalty Information Center notes that a small number of states drive execution numbers.
World
canada
Wildfire has forced 20,000 to flee
WEST KELOWNA, British Columbia -- A deadly wildfire in Western Canada that has forced about 20,000 people to flee grew overnight.
Authorities are still fighting to contain the blaze that's destroyed homes and other properties near Okanagan Lake in British Columbia. An 80-year-old woman has died, and the fire is burning toward Summerland, a community east of Vancouver. Provincial officials have ramped up evacuations, securing hotel rooms and group-lodging spaces for evacuees.
lebanon
Country abolishes death penalty
BEIRUT -- Lebanon's parliament has abolished the death penalty, becoming the first Arab country to replace it with life imprisonment and aggravated hard labor.
The country has had an unofficial moratorium on executions since 2004, but death sentences were still issued and later suspended. Most of the 128-member parliament voted for the change, except Hezbollah's bloc. Justice Minister Adel Nassar called it a "historic step."
nigeria
Ten police officers killed in gunbattle
ABUJA -- A gunbattle between rebels and Nigerian security forces has left 10 police officers dead.
Authorities reported the clash occurred Monday in the Sakaba council area of Kebbi state. The incident also resulted in the deaths of two civilians and 17 rebels.