WATCH: What’s behind the Boston Celtics late-season resurgence?

Reuters
Myanmar junta still able to access weapons and money overseas, says UN expert
International efforts to isolate Myanmar's ruling junta appear to have dented its ability to purchase new military equipment from overseas, but the military is still able to access money and weapons for its war against anti-coup forces, a U.N. expert said in a report published on Wednesday. Myanmar has been plunged in turmoil since the military seized power from an elected government in a 2021 coup, which sparked financial sanctions imposed on the military, banks and other associated businesses by Western countries. More than three years on, a protest movement against the coup has evolved into a full-blown civil war, with the military accused of launching air strikes on insurgents and civilians alike as it has lost control of large swathes of territory.
AFP
WikiLeaks founder Assange freed in US plea deal
Julian Assange was on his way back to his native Australia as a free man Wednesday after a plea deal ended years of legal drama for the WikiLeaks founder, who had long been wanted for revealing US state secrets."You will be able to walk out of this courtroom a free man," the judge told Assange, adding she hoped the deal would restore some "peace" to him after his incarceration.
Associated Press
ICC issuing verdicts in trial of alleged Islamic extremist charged with atrocities in Mali
The International Criminal Court is delivering its verdict Wednesday in the trial of a suspect accused of playing a key role in a reign of terror unleashed by al-Qaida-linked insurgents on the historic desert city of Timbuktu in northern Mali in 2012. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted on charges including involvement in crimes including rape, torture, persecution, enforced marriages and sexual slavery committed from April 2012 until the end of January 2013 in the city once known as the “Pearl of the Desert.” Prosecutors say he was a key member of Ansar Dine, an Islamic extremist group with links to al-Qaida that held power in northern Mali at the time.
Associated Press
A US officiant marries 10 same-sex couples in Hong Kong via video chat
Ten same-sex couples got married in the United States over the internet from Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous southern Chinese city that does not formally recognize such unions but offers them legal protections. Family members gathered in a hotel wedding hall in Hong Kong’s Kowloon district as couples exchanged rings, then raised their glasses in a toast.
AFP
Street artist Obey says French far right 'hijacked' iconic image
Having gained worldwide renown for his Barack Obama campaign poster, it was a shock for Shepard Fairey, better known by his tag Obey, to discover his work being used by the far right in France.Coming from the punk rock and skateboarding scenes of the 1980s, Fairey broke into street art with his iconic "Obey" stickers, and graffiti or posters denouncing homophobia and nuclear weapons dotted around New York and later all over the world.
AFP
Gaza war looms over NY's most expensive US House primary
A pro-Israeli candidate beat a pro-Palestinian rival in New York on Tuesday in the most expensive House primary ever, a vote which exposed the Democratic Party's internal divisions over the war in Gaza.The Gaza war dominated the candidates' debate, which became a tug-of-war between the progressive, pro-Palestinian faction of the Democratic Party and the centrist, pro-Israeli front.
NBC News
Entire Hells Angels chapter arrested in California in kidnapping and assault probe, police say
The entire chapter of the Bakersfield, California, Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was arrested as part of a kidnapping, robbery and assault probe, authorities said Tuesday.
AFP
The 500-plus artisans working on Olympics costumes
An army of artisans is racing to complete thousands of costumes for the Paris Olympics ceremonies that the designers say will each be a unique combination of history, sport and flamboyance.Some 15 designers are involved in the preparations, overseeing around 500 craftspeople who are working on the opening and closing ceremonies for both the Olympics and Paralympics.
Reuters
India's Modi wins test of strength in parliament with election of speaker
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi passed the first big political test of his third term on Wednesday as a ruling party candidate was elected speaker of the lower house of parliament, defeating an opposition lawmaker by a voice vote. Om Birla, from Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who was speaker in the last term of the house, was elected again, beating K Suresh, an eight-time MP from the opposition Congress party. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was declared the leader of the opposition late on Tuesday by his party, accompanied Modi as they congratulated Birla on his election, a rare show of harmony between the two bitter rivals.
AFP
US journalist Evan Gershkovich appears in Russian court for trial
US journalist Evan Gershkovich appeared in a Russian court for the start of his closed-door trial for espionage on Wednesday, 15 months after his shock arrest on charges he, his employer and the White House reject as false.- 'He is innocent' - Judge Andrei Mineyev will preside over the court proceedings held behind closed doors, as is typical for espionage cases.
CNN
Russia begins espionage trial of reporter Evan Gershkovich in closed door hearing condemned by the US
The trial of Evan Gershkovich, the first American journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War, began Wednesday morning in a closed door hearing that has been condemned by his newspaper and the United States.
Reuters
UN warns of overdose deaths after Afghan opium production plummets
The Taliban-ordered crash in opium production in Afghanistan, long the world's dominant supplier, could drive up overdose deaths as heroin users switch to synthetic opioids already proving deadly in Europe, a U.N. report said on Wednesday. The cultivation of opium, from which heroin is made, fell by 95% in Afghanistan last year after the Taliban banned the production of narcotics in 2022. Although opium production in Myanmar increased by 36% last year, it still fell globally by 75%, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in its annual World Drug Report published on Wednesday.
NBC News
Plant-based meat substitutes may be healthier for the heart than real meat, new analysis suggests
Plant-based meat alternatives, despite being ultraprocessed, may be healthier for the heart than meat, a new report suggests.
TODAY
‘Love Island USA’ star Hannah Smith on why her relationship with Kendall Washington 'died out'
Hannah Smith also opens up to TODAY.com about a “stigma” she faced in the villa and discusses the dramatic recoupling after her departure.
AFP
First radioactive rhino horns to curb poaching in S.Africa
South African scientists on Tuesday injected radioactive material into live rhino horns to make them easier to detect at border posts in a pioneering project aimed at curbing poaching.Border agents often have handheld radiation detectors which can detect contraband in addition to thousands of radiation detectors installed at ports and airports, the scientists said.
Politico
Trump’s endorsement is starting to show its limits
Trump-endorsed candidates lost Tuesday in Utah, South Carolina and Colorado.
CNN
This North Korean defector sends ‘smart’ balloons back home. Here’s a look inside his secretive assembly room
Beside a desk scattered with soldering pieces, loose wires and electronic parts, Choi’s computer screen tracks wind conditions and the GPS location of some unlikely parcels: massive “smart” balloons he has sent floating into North Korea.
AFP
India's Rahul Gandhi faces new test in revived fortunes
Once dismissed as an "empty suit", perennial Indian premier-in-waiting Rahul Gandhi emerged from his third consecutive election defeat with his reputation enhanced and his party back from the political wilderness.Leaked US embassy cables disparagingly referred to him as an "empty suit", and Modi dismissed him as a dynast more interested in luxury and self-indulgence than fighting to helm the world's biggest democracy.
AFP
Iran picks new president at turbulent time
Iranians vote on Friday to elect a new president from six candidates, including a lone reformist who hopes he can challenge the dominance of conservatives in the Islamic republic.Neda said: "The hijab law will never be lifted since this is the Islamic republic.
NBC News
Growing wildfire in central Oregon chars 1,700 acres, prompts evacuations
A small wildfire in central Oregon quickly spread Tuesday, charring around 1,700 acres by nightfall and triggering evacuations while leaving thousands without power.

WATCH: What’s behind the Boston Celtics late-season resurgence?

Related

Marcus Smart says 2018 Celtics believed they would have beaten the Warriors in the NBA Finals

WATCH: Can the Boston Celtics' 2022 NBA trade deadline moves make them into the San Antonio Spurs of the East?

Celtics injury update: Boston will not see newest Philadelphia 76er James Harden on Tuesday

Celtics Lab 89: Taking stock of the Celtics, Eastern Conference after a VERY busy trade deadline with Yossi Gozlan

List

The Boston Celtics possess 10 traded player exceptions, and these are all of them

Latest Stories

Myanmar junta still able to access weapons and money overseas, says UN expert

WikiLeaks founder Assange freed in US plea deal

ICC issuing verdicts in trial of alleged Islamic extremist charged with atrocities in Mali

A US officiant marries 10 same-sex couples in Hong Kong via video chat

Street artist Obey says French far right 'hijacked' iconic image

Gaza war looms over NY's most expensive US House primary

Entire Hells Angels chapter arrested in California in kidnapping and assault probe, police say

The 500-plus artisans working on Olympics costumes

India's Modi wins test of strength in parliament with election of speaker

US journalist Evan Gershkovich appears in Russian court for trial

Russia begins espionage trial of reporter Evan Gershkovich in closed door hearing condemned by the US

UN warns of overdose deaths after Afghan opium production plummets

Plant-based meat substitutes may be healthier for the heart than real meat, new analysis suggests

‘Love Island USA’ star Hannah Smith on why her relationship with Kendall Washington 'died out'

First radioactive rhino horns to curb poaching in S.Africa

Trump’s endorsement is starting to show its limits

This North Korean defector sends ‘smart’ balloons back home. Here’s a look inside his secretive assembly room

India's Rahul Gandhi faces new test in revived fortunes

Iran picks new president at turbulent time

Growing wildfire in central Oregon chars 1,700 acres, prompts evacuations