RUSSIAN MISSILES and bombs are battering Ukrainian cities (Shutterstock).

The war in Ukraine is flaring up again as Russian forces aim missile strikes, rockets and bombs at the defenders.

According to the Associated Press, the Russian attacks have so battered the city of Bakhmut that it’s said to be in ruins and almost uninhabitable.

The Ukrainian government reported 20 airstrikes and over 60 rocket attacks on Friday and Saturday, but that the defenders had repulsed Russian ground forces in eastern regions of the nation.

On Friday, the NATO secretary general warned that the war in Ukraine could spread into a wider war. According to The New York Times, Jens Stoltenberg said that a full-scale war between Russia and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was “a real possibility.”

Two Jan. 6 rioters get 4-year sentence

THE JAN. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol (Shutterstock).

Two men were sentenced to four years in federal prison for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol building by right-wing extremists.

According to United Press International, Nicholas Ochs, 36, of Honolulu and Nicholas DeCarlo, 32 of Fort Worth will also have 36 months of supervised release once they finish their prison terms.

They had pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and were accused of illegally entering the capitol and throwing smoke bombs at police.

Sports: France defeats England in World Cup

FRANCE beats England (Shutterstock/Pasko Maxim).

The “final four” of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is set, now that France defeated England 2-1 on Saturday.

On Wednesday, the French will face Morocco, which defeated Portugal, 1-0. Argentina (which beat The Netherlands 4-3) will take on Croatia on Tuesday. The Croatians upset Brazil 4-2.

Williams wins Heisman: USC quarterback Caleb Williams was awarded the Heisman Trophy on Saturday as the most outstanding college football player in the nation.

William led the Trojans to a 11-2 season and eighth ranking in the nation.

Weather: Rainy days ahead

Drought-deprived lawns will welcome rain that starts tonight (Saturday) and continues through Monday in the West Orange County area. The forecast calls for a daytime high on Sunday of 59 with an overnight low of 47. Monday should peak at 58 (42),  Tuesday should see partly cloudy skies with a high of 61 and a low of 40.