Friday, 24 February 2023

Alex Murdaugh takes the stand: 'I didn't shoot my wife or son.'

February 24, 2023 | VIEW IN BROWSER

This is TODAY

Today marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, and we have a look at the war by the numbers. Plus, former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh testifies in his trial for the murders of his wife and son, and does "reverse dieting" actually allow you to eat more yet keep the pounds off?

The Latest

It's been one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Here's where the war stands.

Today marks one year since Russian forces attacked Ukraine, leading to 100,000 Russian and 13,000 Ukrainian service personnel being killed, according to Western leaders and Ukraine's armed forces. More than 7,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in the last year as a result of war, including at least 400 children, and more than 8 million Ukrainians have left the country and not returned, according to the United Nations. Many military experts have cautioned that there is no end in sight for the war and that it could last many more years. Here is where things stand today.

Alex Murdaugh testifies in his own murder trial: 'I didn't shoot my wife or son.'

Alex Murdaugh, the former South Carolina attorney who is accused of killing his wife and son, took the stand for the first time yesterday at his trial. He admitted he lied to investigators about being at the crime scene minutes before his wife and son were murdered, but maintained he had nothing to do with their deaths. "I did not kill Maggie, I did not kill Paul," he said. He also admitted that during the murder investigation, as well as an investigation into his alleged financial fraud, he tried to hire a man to kill him in order to cash in on a $12 million life insurance policy. "I meant for him to shoot me so I'd be gone," Murdaugh said. Murdaugh will be back on the stand today to testify in his own defense. Here's the latest.

Life-threatening illnesses led to weight loss. These women didn't appreciate the compliments.

Weight loss isn't always a sign of good health, as three women who spoke with Today.com about their experience with serious illnesses can attest. The women described being complimented by their doctors on slimming down and not having their complaints taken seriously after sudden weight loss. They turned out to have stage-4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, stage 2 colon cancer and Crohn's disease, respectively. "My body was incredibly unwell. I was vomiting 30 times a day some days," Victoria, 34, told us. "There's literally nothing glamorous about my life at that point, and I'm still getting comments like, 'Oh, well, you look great.'"

💑 10 signs the new person you're dating might be a good match.

We hear all the time about red flags to worry about in a relationship, but what about the green lights? Maria Sullivan, VP of Dating.com, shared 10 signs that things are going well and it's safe to keep moving forward. If you enjoy their company, they communicate honestly, they consider you when making plans, and you feel your values align, you may be on your way to something special. See all the signs here.

Live Better TODAY

Achieve your life goals with easy tips.

"Reverse dieting" certainly sounds alluring — you eat more food and don't gain weight? Popularized by bodybuilders who lose weight and then use reverse dieting to gain it back, it usually involves adding back about 50 to 100 calories a day, mostly in the form of protein. But does it actually work for those of us who don't look like Arnold Schwarzenegger? We spoke to experts about what reverse dieting does to your metabolism, whether it can prevent gaining pounds back after weight loss, and any overall benefits it may provide.

What's for dinner?

Allow us to do the meal-planning for you.

Take a break from hearty winter foods and imagine yourself on a beach enjoying these light and tasty tamarind-ginger roasted pork lettuce wraps from Food Network star Marcus Samuelsson. The pork is paired with coconut rice and wrapped in lettuce leaves, and Marcus' recipe makes enough that there will be plenty of meat leftover for sandwiches and salads. Get the recipe.

Daily Delight

A little pick-me-up before you go.

If you've ever wondered what life would be like with two sets of twins under 2 years old, we have proof that it's adorable chaos. Parents Britney and Frankie Alba are parents of two sets of identical twins born less than 20 months apart, and the little ones clearly require a lot of energy to keep up with. The Alabama couple had their hands full on TODAY with 4-month-old daughters Lynlee and Lydia sleeping in Britney's arms while 18-month-old sons Levi and Luca played and scampered around Studio 1A. The couple reflected on their hectic life while Sheinelle Jones, a mother of twins herself, chased one of the boys down when he darted away. Britney told Jenna and Sheinelle, "With each other and by the grace of God, we're doing great." See more cute photos and video here.