## Putin Is Not Winning

Authored by theatlantic.com

After taking over from the ailing Boris Yeltsin a quarter century ago, Putin started his presidency by projecting a near-comical image of manliness and invincibility.

If you Google phrases such as victory for Putin and big win for Putin, you find news stories stretching back years: Brexit, Syria, Donald Trump’s presidential victories in 2016 and 2024, Marine Le Pen competing in France’s presidential election, the Israel-Hamas war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is now the public face of opposition to Russian imperialism, but even his election in 2019 was interpreted as a win for Putin.

Putin, a ruthless septuagenarian bent on restoring Russia to its imperial glory, is simply too good a villain for Western politicians and media commentators to ignore.

On Thursday, nearly a year after the jet incident, Putin publicly acknowledged that Russia had shot down the airplane, apologized, and promised compensation.

Underestimating Putin is dangerous, but ascribing dark powers to him makes the Russian leader mightier in Western minds than he is in reality.

A realistic view of his power would strip Putin of his biggest leverage: the perception of his invincibility. »

### Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones’ appeal of $1.4 billion defamation judgment in Sandy Hook shooting

Authored by apnews.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and left in place the $1.4 billion judgment against him over his description of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting as a hoax staged by crisis actors.

The justices did not comment on their order, which they issued without even asking the families of the Sandy Hook victims to respond to Jones’ appeal.

A lawyer who represents Sandy Hook families said the Supreme Court had properly rejected Jones’ “latest desperate attempt to avoid accountability for the harm he has caused.”. »

### University of B.C. launches mushroom-powered toilet, turning waste into fertilizer

Authored by cbc.ca

The toilet turns human waste into compost using mycelia, the root network of mushrooms.

Dahmen said that during his classes, he would ask students about what happens to their waste after flushing, most didn't know the answer.

The toilet uses mycelium, the root system of mushrooms, to break down human waste into compost (Ben Nelms/CBC). »

### Madagascar’s president is ousted in a military coup after weeks of youth-led protests

Authored by apnews.com

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina was toppled Tuesday in a military coup that capped weeks of youth protests over poverty, power outages and a lack of opportunity in the Indian Ocean island country.

The turning point came Saturday, when Randrianirina and CAPSAT troops joined the protests and turned against Rajoelina, which led the president to go into hiding.

CAPSAT commanders previously denied that they had carried out a coup, and said Madagascar’s people should decide what happens next. »

### Londonderry: 90-year-old woman graduates from university

Authored by bbc.co.uk

Ms McFarland had originally started university in Dublin back in the 1960s, but love intervened before she finished her degree.

Although it took a few years, she decided to study again with the Open University while recovering from a car accident.

"I had a bit of time to spare and I thought I'd like to do something," Ms McFarland told BBC News NI. »

## In pictures

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