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  Russia’s Avdiivka offensive is failing, says top Ukrainian officer Major assault in Donetsk launched on Tuesday said to have resulted in serious losses for Moscow’s forces

  Raids targeting Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin and Alexei Liptser are an attempt to ‘isolate’ Navalny, according to his allies Russian authorities have detained three lawyers representing imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny after searching their homes, his allies have said. The move was an attempt to “completely isolate Navalny,” his associate Ivan Zhdanov said on social media. Navalny has been behind bars since January 2021, serving a 19-year prison sentence. The raids targeting Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin and Alexei Liptser are part of a criminal case on charges of participating in an extremist group, Zhdanov said. All three were detained after the search, apparently as suspects in the case, Navalny’s team said on Telegram. All three later in the day appeared in court and were ordered to pre-trial detention pending investigation and trial. Independent Russian media also reported a raid at a law firm that employs another of Navalny’s lawyers, Olga Mikhailova. According to repor

Republicans nominate Steve Scalise to replace McCarthy as House speaker

  Microplastics detected in clouds hanging atop two Japanese mountains Findings regarding clouds above Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama highlight how microplastics are highly mobile Microplastics have been found everywhere from the depths of the ocean to the ice of Antarctica, but a new study shows they've been discovered in a surprising new place: in clouds hanging over two mountains in Japan. Ta.    The clouds surrounding Japan's Mt. Fuji and Mt. Daisen contain alarming amounts of tiny plastic particles, revealing how pollution can spread over long distances and potentially contaminate crops and water around the planet with "plastic rain." It highlights what is there.    The samples taken by the researchers were so concentrated in plastic that it is thought to cause cloud formation while emitting greenhouse gases. "If we do not proactively address the problem of plastic air pollution, climate change and ecological risks

  Hamas attack has abruptly altered the picture for Middle East diplomacy Iran wants to make it impossible for Saudi Arabia to strike deal with Israel, while others in region cannot afford mayhem in Gaza As the death toll rises, and the security consequences multiply, Israel is pointing its finger of accusation at Tehran for orchestrating the attacks by Hamas. The attacks may have been born of anger, specifically at the months-long behaviour of the Netanyahu coalition, including the provocations at al-Aqsa mosque, but Iran and the forces it supports have a longer-term strategic goal: to thwart the US-led effort to achieve a normalisation of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, a move that would entrench the US in the Middle East – and in Iran’s eyes deprive the Palestinians of their last influential sponsor. Iran’s goal is to denormalise the region, and make it near-impossible for Saudi Arabia to strike a deal. Israel, by contrast, wants to shrink the Palestinian conflict diploma

  Border walls and deportations: Biden’s migrant plans prompt outrage UN says estimate of 320 fatalities is being verified, although local authorities put the death toll at 100, with 500 injured A series of violent earthquakes in western Afghanistan have killed hundreds of people.    The United Nations said more than 320 people had lost their lives, but later said the number was still being confirmed. A local Taliban official told the Guardian that the death toll was "much higher."     "The number of martyrs is huge, and many are still lying under the rubble," said a local Taliban official. “The Islamic Emirate is doing its best to help its people, but we need help.”      A preliminary report from the US Geological Survey (USGS) said that "significant losses are likely to occur and the disaster could be widespread." “Past events at this alert level required a regional or national response.”      Maps posted on

  North Korea’s halt of nuclear reactor suggests bid to obtain weapons-gradplutonium – report