Belarus journalist convicted of treason and sentenced to 9 years in prison

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian journalist Pavel Dabravolski was convicted Monday of treason and sentenced to nine years in a maximum-security prison, activists said, the fifth media worker to be jailed in two weeks in a relentless government crackdown on freedom of the press.

Belarus Crackdown

Dabravolski, who has reported for international and domestic news outlets and won numerous prizes for his work, was found guilty during a closed-door trial at Minsk City Court, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. The 36-year-old most recently worked for BelaPAN, which the Belarusian authorities have designated as extremist.

President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for over three decades, has stayed in power through a relentless crackdown on dissent.

Massive protests broke out following the 2020 elections, which were widely denounced as fraudulent. More than 65,000 people were arrested and thousands were beaten. In the wake of the protests, hundreds of independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were shut down and outlawed.

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said Dabravolski was being targeted by "trumped-up charges."

"Dabravolski's only 'crime' was doing his job and covering the 2020 protests after the stolen elections," she said. "We see that the conveyor belt of repression inside Belarus continues unabated."

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Activists have reported a sharp increase in government pressure on Belarus' media workers.

"Repression is escalating and Dabravolski's sentence shows that the authorities are increasing pressure on journalists in a country that already has the worst freedom of speech in Europe," Andrei Bastunets, the head of the journalists' association, told The Associated Press.

The group says that 28 journalists are imprisoned in Belarus.

"It contradicts the idea that the human rights situation in Belarus has allegedly improved due to the release of prominent political prisoners," Bastunets said.

Under Lukashenko, Belarus has faced years of Western isolation and sanctions for repression and for allowing Moscow to use its territory during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He has recently sought to improve relations with the West by releasing hundreds of political prisoners.

Many more remain behind bars, however, with human rights organization Viasna estimating that there are 1,140 political prisoners.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 09, 2026

Belarus journalist convicted of treason and sentenced to 9 years in prison

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian journalist Pavel Dabravolski was convicted Monday of treason and sentenced to nine yea...

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Ohio State President Ted Carter resigns over inappropriate relationship

After just over two years on the job,Ohio State University President Ted Carterhas resigned from the university after he disclosed an inappropriate relationship to the board of trustees.

Carter, 66, resigned over the weekend after a rare three-hour executive session for the board on March 7.

Carter told trustees in advance of that meeting that he had an inappropriate relationship with "someone seeking public resources to support her personal business," according to a university statement. He offered to resign and the board accepted.

"The Board was surprised and disappointed to learn of this matter and takes the situation and its potential impact on the university very seriously," Ohio State Board of Trustees Chair John Zeiger said in a letter accepting Carter's resignation. "We respect your decision and appreciate your cooperation in supporting an orderly leadership transition."

The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, asked the university to clarify the nature of the relationship that led to Carter's resignation. It did not share additional information.

Trustees have consistently praised Carter during his short tenure for providing steady leadership and being an ambassador for the university's land-grant mission and vision. In August,trustees approved a 4.5% merit raise, totaling $51,233,bringing Carter's new base salary to $1,189,733, as well as a $398,475 bonus, about 35% of his base pay.

In a statement sent to the campus community March 9, Carter said he "made a mistake in allowing inappropriate access to Ohio State leadership."

"I believe we have made much progress during my time at Ohio State, and I'm sorry I'm not able to remain your president longer," Carter said. "The students, faculty and staff at this university are among the very best in the world, and the Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan has Ohio State poised to succeed for years to come."

Carter said he and his wife, Lynda, are leaving Ohio State with "gratitude and appreciation for this wonderful community."

"It has been an honor to serve as this university's 17th president, and we wish the university ongoing success," he said.

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Carter officially began his two-year tenure at Ohio State in January 2024.He succeeded former OSU President Kristina Johnson, who stepped down following two years at the helm in May 2023 in a sudden resignation that revealedconsternation with the board of trustees.

His initial contract was set to run through Dec. 31, 2028.

Before coming to Ohio State, Carter served as president of the University Nebraska system. The bulk of Carter's career was spent in the United States Navy.

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and the Navy Fighter Weapons School − also known as Top Gun − and studied at the Navy Nuclear Power School, the U.S. Air Force Air War College, the Naval War College and the Armed Forces Staff College. He led the Naval Academy as its longest continuously serving superintendent since the Civil War.

Carter spent much of his first year at Ohio State on a "listening and learning" tour, speaking with hundreds of students, staff, faculty and other university stakeholders to craft his 10-year strategic plan. That plan − Education for Citizenship 2035 − was introduced in November 2024 and officially launched in July 2025.

His plan included rolling out multiple new scholarships, investments in six specific colleges,an AI Fluency initiativeand a $100 million initiative to attract top faculty to Ohio State.

Ohio State did not immediately announce who would step in as interim president. Zeiger said in a statement to the campus community that the board will share a transition plan later this week. In his statement, Zeiger called on all Buckeyes to help the university succeed during the transition and into the future.

"Our collective dedication to advancing Ohio State's standing as one of the nation's premier public universities is unchanged. The current strength and momentum of Ohio State and its collective leadership team make us highly confident that our momentum will continue to be strong. You play a critical role in that mission, and we will share additional information about the transition in the coming days."

Higher education reporter Sheridan Hendrix can be reached at shendrix@dispatch.com and on Signal at @sheridan.120. You can follow her on Instagram at @sheridanwrites.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch:Ohio State President Ted Carter resigns over inappropriate relationship

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 09, 2026

Ohio State President Ted Carter resigns over inappropriate relationship

After just over two years on the job,Ohio State University President Ted Carterhas resigned from the university after he ...

Read More

Belarus journalist convicted of treason and sentenced to 9 years in prison

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian journalist Pavel Dabravolski was convicted Monday of treason and sentenced to nine years in a maximum-security prison, activists said, the fifth media worker to be jailed in two weeks in a relentless government crackdown on freedom of the press.

Belarus Crackdown

Dabravolski, who has reported for international and domestic news outlets and won numerous prizes for his work, was found guilty during a closed-door trial at Minsk City Court, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. The 36-year-old most recently worked for BelaPAN, which the Belarusian authorities have designated as extremist.

President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for over three decades, has stayed in power through a relentless crackdown on dissent.

Massive protests broke out following the 2020 elections, which were widely denounced as fraudulent. More than 65,000 people were arrested and thousands were beaten. In the wake of the protests, hundreds of independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were shut down and outlawed.

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said Dabravolski was being targeted by "trumped-up charges."

"Dabravolski's only 'crime' was doing his job and covering the 2020 protests after the stolen elections," she said. "We see that the conveyor belt of repression inside Belarus continues unabated."

Advertisement

Activists have reported a sharp increase in government pressure on Belarus' media workers.

"Repression is escalating and Dabravolski's sentence shows that the authorities are increasing pressure on journalists in a country that already has the worst freedom of speech in Europe," Andrei Bastunets, the head of the journalists' association, told The Associated Press.

The group says that 28 journalists are imprisoned in Belarus.

"It contradicts the idea that the human rights situation in Belarus has allegedly improved due to the release of prominent political prisoners," Bastunets said.

Under Lukashenko, Belarus has faced years of Western isolation and sanctions for repression and for allowing Moscow to use its territory during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He has recently sought to improve relations with the West by releasing hundreds of political prisoners.

Many more remain behind bars, however, with human rights organization Viasna estimating that there are 1,140 political prisoners.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 09, 2026

Belarus journalist convicted of treason and sentenced to 9 years in prison

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian journalist Pavel Dabravolski was convicted Monday of treason and sentenced to nine yea...

Read More

Tua Tagovailoa reportedly could sign with Falcons after his release from Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins' reset has evolved into a full-blown rebuild. The teamannounced Mondaythat it will release veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after the start of the new league year.

Tagovailoa also might not be on the market for long: The Atlanta Falcons are making a push to sign him after he is officially released on Wednesday, and a deal could come together quickly, NFL Network reported.

In Atlanta, Tagovailoa would compete with fellow lefty Michael Penix Jr., the team's incumbent starter,who is recovering from a partially torn ACL that required season-ending surgery last year. The Falcons transitioned this offseason toa new leadership structure that includes Kevin Stefanski as head coach.

By cutting Tagovailoa, Miami will absorb an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead money,according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is," first-year Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said in a statement. "On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami.

"As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work toward building a sustained winner."

The Dolphins are reportedly releasing Tagovailoa with a post-June 1 designation, meaning the the team can divvy up that record dead cap hit: $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027,per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Miami still owes Tagovailoa $54 million in guaranteed money this coming season, opening the door to him playing for another team on a minimum deal.

For Tagovailoa, the release offers him a fresh start as his career in Miami had been filled with adversity due to a series of concussions.

Itwas once again in question during the 2024 seasonwhen he suffered a fourth concussion in five seasons. During the 2025 season, his eventual split with the Miami Dolphins became inevitable when Mike McDaniel — who committed to Tagovailoa as the Dolphins' quarterback of the future throughout most of his four-season head-coaching stay —benched the 2020 No. 5 overall pick.

That decision foreshadowed an offseason of change, which picked up speed with McDaniel's firing and continued with the hiring of Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as his replacement.

The Dolphins have a new leadership structure in place, which pairs Hafley with Sullivan, a former Packers executive, and they've cleaned house.

In addition to fostering a mostly new staff, they've expunged the roster of some of its biggest names. Miamicut two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubband, even more notably, eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiverTyreek Hill, who is recovering from a dislocated knee and torn ACL.

The Dolphins also let go of guard James Daniels, whom they had signed to a three-year, $24 million deal less than a year earlier.

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Now the organization has officially said goodbye to Tagovailoa, too. That separation, however, is the least bit surprising, considering it's practically been written on the wallsince his mid-December benching.

Tagovailoa, 28, scattered 15 picks across 14 starts this past season. When he lost his job to seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers, he was leading the NFL in interceptions. Tagovailoa went four straight outings from Weeks 10-13 without registering more than 173 passing yards in a game.

In Weeks 6 and 7, he tossed three interceptions in back-to-back games.

After the first of those two performances, Tagovailoacalled outteammates for showing up late and not showing up at all to players-only meetings during their 1-5 start to the season.While he soon apologized for his postgame comments, they were a stain on an increasingly head-scratching 2025 résumé that warranted skepticism about his viability as a long-term starting quarterback in the league.

Tagovailoa's concussion history is concerning as well.

Following a concussion that the one-time Alabama national champion sustainedduring a "Thursday Night Football" defeat to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 of the 2024 season, he consulted neurologists about the risks of continuing his football career.

He ultimately decided to carry on, just as he did in the wake of a 2022 campaign that saw him land in the league's concussion protocol twice. Back then, he was also knocked out with a scary head injury on "Thursday Night Football," that time against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Tagovailoa has played a full slate of regular-season games just once in his six-season career. That was in 2023 when he threw for a league-high 4,624 yards and made his lone Pro Bowl.

The season prior, he led the NFL in passer rating (105.5) and touchdown percentage (6.3%), albeit in only 13 games because of the aforementioned injuries.

And then in 2024, he was first among all qualifying quarterbacks with a 72.9% completion percentage, yet he played in just 11 games that season.

When he's healthy and on the field, Tagovailoa is capable of putting up impressive numbers. Plus, he's fueled two playoff trips. But McDaniel's quarterback-friendly system and a receiving corps laced with speed undoubtedly gave Tagovailoa a boost. His arm strength deficiencies are well-documented, after all.

Timing and rhythm are his friends. A similar offensive scheme and improved decision-making could help him rediscover the success he's enjoyed in the NFL.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 09, 2026

Tua Tagovailoa reportedly could sign with Falcons after his release from Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins' reset has evolved into a full-blown rebuild. The teamannounced Mondaythat it will release veteran...

Read More

Woman arrested for firing assault rifle at Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s home in Los Angeles

A woman has been arrested after several shots were fired atRihannaandA$AP Rocky's home inBeverly Hills, California.

TheLos AngelesPolice Department (LAPD) confirmed they responded to a report of gunfire at 1.21pm, according to CNN.

Police said a woman in her thirties fired around five to seven shots from her vehicle using an AR-15 rifle at the house, but hit the gate instead. However, theLos AngelesTimesreported that one round penetrated a wall of the mansion.

Police found her vehicle located approximately eight miles away from the "Diamonds" singer's home, at the Sherman Oaks Galleria shopping centre, reported CBS. She was taken into custody at the shopping centre and has not been publicly identified.

Rihanna was home when the gunfire took place, and it is unclear if anyone else was present at the time. No injuries have been reported, said the police.

LAPD captain Mike Bland did not provide a motive for the shooting. He confirmed that the weapon used had been recovered by the police. The department's elite Robbery-Homicide Division is investigating the crime.

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Police also recovered seven "assault rifle casings" from the home.

The Independenthas reached out to representatives of Rihanna for a comment.

Rihanna shares theBeverly Hillsproperty with her partner, rapperA$AP Rocky. The couple havethree children together.

This news comes as A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, wascleared in a high-profile criminal caselast year.

InFebruary 2025, a jury found himnot guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearmstemming from a 2021 confrontation in Hollywood in which a former friend alleged Rocky fired a gun at him.

The Grammy-nominated rapper had been charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Themusician's Los Angeles homes have been targeted before. In May 2018, a 27-year-old man was arrested after allegedly breaking into her Hollywood Hills house and spending the night there while waiting for Rihanna to return.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 09, 2026

Woman arrested for firing assault rifle at Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s home in Los Angeles

A woman has been arrested after several shots were fired atRihannaandA$AP Rocky's home inBeverly Hills, California. ...

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