Today is Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Let's get caught up.
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Ukrainians worry after plane crash that POW exchanges with Russia will end
As Russia and Ukraine trade accusations over this week's crash of a Russian military transport plane, one thing is clear: families' fears that future prisoner exchanges may be in danger and loved ones could stay imprisoned.
Even the basic facts are being debated. Russian officials accused Kyiv of shooting down the plane Wednesday and claimed that 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board as they headed for a prisoner swap. The Ukrainian side said it had no evidence of POWs and that Russia is just playing with Ukrainians' psyche. It did say, however, that an exchange had been due to take place on Wednesday.
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Neither side provided evidence for their accusations, leaving the relatives and loved ones in vulnerable states with no answers.
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Transgender veterans sue to have gender-affirming surgery covered by Department of Veteran Affairs
A group of transgender veterans filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to force the Department of Veterans Affairs to begin providing and paying for gender-affirming surgeries.
The lawsuit from the Transgender American Veterans Association seeks to compel the VA to codify in its regulations verbal assurances the department has made that it would begin providing those services, said Rebekka Eshler, the president of the association.
She said the surgeries are needed to reduce the risk of suicides, depression, and psychological distress for transgender people who live with gender dysphoria.
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The top UN court is set to issue a preliminary ruling in a case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza
Friday's ruling is only an interim one; it could take years for the full case brought by South Africa to be considered. Israel rejects the accusation and has asked the court to throw the charges out.
While the case winds its way through the court, South Africa has asked the judges “as a matter of extreme urgency†to impose so-called provisional measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza.
Top of the South African list is a request for the court to order Israel to “immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza.†It is also asking for Israel to take “reasonable measures†to prevent genocide and allow access for desperately needed aid.
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MORNING LISTEN
Will "Oppenheimer" dominate the Academy Awards? Did Greta Gerwig deserve a best director nomination for "Barbie"? We discuss the nominations on the latest episode of Streamed & Screened.
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TODAY IN HISTORY
In 2020, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed when their helicopter plunged into a steep hills…
In 2020, LA Lakers basketball legend Kobe Bryant dies in a helicopter crash in the hills above Calabasas. See more sports moments from this date.
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