AP News Digest at 12:19 p.m. ET

BEIRUT (AP) — An investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series “Frontline” documents a sophisticated Russian smuggling operation that used fake lists and maritime ruse to steal at least $530 million worth of goods. Ukrainian food. The Associated Press and Frontline used satellite imagery and maritime radio transponder data to track three dozen ships that made more than 50 voyages carrying grain from Russian-occupied Ukraine to Middle Eastern ports. Rich businessmen and state-owned companies in Russia and Syria are carrying out theft. Some of them already face financial sanctions from the United States and the European Union. Legal experts say theft is a potential war crime.

Oath Keeper trial: ‘Armed rebellion’ plan, prosecutors say

WASHINGTON (AP) — The founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group and four associates plan an “armed insurrection” to stop the U.S. Capitol attack, prosecutors said in the worst case in the U.S. Capitol attack. transfer of presidential power. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler made opening statements Monday in federal court in Washington against Stewart Rhodes and others charged with inciting the conspiracy. They are accused of a week-long conspiracy to prevent Republican Donald Trump from transferring power to Democrat Joe Biden. The stakes are high for the Justice Department, which last won a seditious conspiracy conviction in a trial nearly 30 years ago.

Ukraine regains more territory in South Kherson region

Kyiv, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian troops have broken through Moscow’s defenses in the strategic South Kherson region. The move, acknowledged by the Russian military on Monday, dealt a heavy blow to one of four regions of Ukraine annexed by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week. Kherson has always been one of the toughest battlefields for the Ukrainians, with open terrain exposing them to Russian fire. The Russian military said its forces had moved to “pre-prepared lines of defense and continued to inflict heavy fire damage on Kyiv’s forces in the Kherson region”. In Moscow, Russia’s lower house of parliament quickly rubber-stamped the deal on Monday. Four regions of Ukraine acceded to the treaty with Russia.

After Hurricane Ian, danger persists, worse in parts

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Days after Hurricane Ian wreaked havoc from Florida to the Carolinas, danger persisted and even worsened in some places. Clearly, the road to recovery from the monster storm will be long and painful. Search and rescue efforts were underway on Monday. And Ian wasn’t done yet. The storm brought heavy rain to Virginia on Sunday. It was dissipating as it moved offshore, but officials warned severe flooding was still possible off the Virginia coast, with a coastal flood warning in effect on Monday. Ian was one of the strongest storms to make landfall in the United States.

Bolsonaro is surprisingly powerful, forcing Brazil to win

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Jair Bolsonaro’s far-right surge in the presidency is still a force as he outpaces the polls by a wide margin in Brazil’s presidential election. Multiple opinion polls show leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva by a wide margin, and some believe he can even claim a first-round victory on Sunday and show a near- or over-double-digit advantage. In the end, Bolsonaro was only five percentage points short – less than half the gap shown by several surveys before the election. He will face Da Silva in a high-stakes match in October. 30 presidential runoffs.

Alabama’s Black Representatives Tested in Supreme Court

Montgomery, Alabama. (AP) – A federal court panel has called congressional districts unconstitutional because they dilute the representation of black Alabama voters, but they are still being used in November’s election after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed them. The High Court hears arguments in the case on Tuesday. Crowding black voters into one of the state’s seven congressional districts left many of them without a voice and gave Republicans one more seat than they should have based on the state’s demographics and voting patterns. For decades, gerrymandering has diminished the influence of black voters in a state synonymous with the civil rights movement.

Actor Sacheen Littlefeather, who rejected Brando’s Oscar, dies

The actor and activist who rejected Marlon Brando’s 1973 Oscar for “The Godfather” in an indelible protest against the way Native Americans were portrayed on screen, has died. Sacheen Littlefeather is 75 years old. Littlefeather died peacefully on Sunday surrounded by loved ones at her California home, her niece confirmed. The family said the cause was breast cancer. Littlefeather’s appearance at the 1973 Oscars would go down as one of the most famous moments of the ceremony. Littlefeather said she was later “red-listed” by the industry. Earlier this year, the academy apologized to her, and she said she would do it again.

Sweden wins Nobel Prize for uncovering secrets of Neanderthal DNA

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish scientist Svante Paabo won this year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discoveries about human evolution, the award’s panel said Monday. Paabo pioneered new technology that allows researchers to compare the genomes of modern humans and our nearest extinct relatives, Neanderthals and Denisovans. While Neanderthal bones were first discovered in the mid-19th century, it was only by unlocking their DNA, often referred to as the code of life, that scientists could fully understand the connections between species. This includes when modern humans and Neanderthals diverged as a species, and when mixing between them occurred at a later date. The Medicine Prize kicks off a week of Nobel Prize announcements.

It’s Flu Shot Time, Seniors Need Speedy Shots

Doctors have a message for vaccine-weary Americans: Don’t miss a flu shot this fall. And for the first time, older adults are being urged to get a special extra-strength child. There’s no way to predict how bad this flu season will be. Australia has just come out of a bad situation. In the United States, annual influenza vaccination is recommended starting at 6 months of age. Because older adults also don’t respond, the U.S. now recommends that they choose one of three types made with higher doses or immune-boosting ingredients. Meanwhile, the companies that make two of the most widely used COVID-19 vaccines are now testing flu vaccines made using the same technology.

Kim Kardashian settles with SEC over crypto promotion

Kim Kardashian will pay $1.26 million to settle SEC allegations that she promoted cryptocurrencies on Instagram, but did not disclose that she was paid $250,000 for it. The reality TV star and entrepreneur has agreed to cooperate with its ongoing investigation, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Monday. The SEC said Kardashian did not disclose that she was paid for posting on her Instagram account about EMAX tokens, a cryptoasset security offered by EthereumMax.