News Trending War

Ukraine War: Kyiv and Moscow meet for high-level talks

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As Moscow’s all-out invasion of its neighbour enters its third week, the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine are meeting in Turkey.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, stated ahead of his face-to-face meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that his expectations were “limited.” It comes after Ukraine accused Russia of committing a “war crime” by bombing a children’s hospital. The attack in Mariupol killed three people, including a child, according to officials.

According to the local mayor’s office, seventeen people were injured, including staff and patients. A building that once housed a maternity ward has been reduced to a shell, with a massive crater nearby. The Kremlin announced on Thursday that it would seek information from the Russian military about what had occurred.

Overnight, Russian strikes in north-eastern Ukraine claimed the lives of seven more people: four people, including two children, were killed near Kharkiv, and three people, including a 13-year-old boy, were killed on Okhtyrka in the Sumy region.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister announced that seven evacuation routes would open on Thursday, including routes out of Mariupol and Sumy.

Western officials, including the White House, have warned that Russia could use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine or stage a “false flag” operation, in which the other side is falsely blamed and a counter-attack is staged.

Moscow previously claimed that Ukrainian forces had transported 80 tonnes of ammonia to the country’s north-east, but provided no proof.

The US House of Representatives approved nearly $14 billion (£10.6 billion) in aid for Ukraine, as well as a ban on Russian oil and other energy imports. The bills must still pass the Senate, which is expected to vote on them later this week. Meanwhile, US Vice President Kamala Harris is in Poland, a day after the US rejected Poland’s plan to transfer its jet fleet to the US rather than to Ukraine directly.

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News Trending War

Pasha Lee, a Ukrainian actor, killed in a Russian bombardment

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Pasha Lee, a Ukrainian actor, was reportedly killed in a Russian airstrike on the town of Irpin, just outside of Kyiv.

According to the report, the 33-year-old Ukrainian actor and Irpin resident enlisted in Ukraine’s territorial defense force during the war’s early days. In addition, the report stated that Russian artillery bombarded Irpin for days, causing casualties.

Residents of Irpin and the north-eastern city of Sumy were able to leave on Tuesday as part of a Russian evacuation corridor en route to the central city of Poltava, according to the report. Lee has acted in a number of films, and his voice can be heard in the Ukrainian adaptations of The Lion King and The Hobbit.

Lee also appeared in a number of films and TV talent shows, including Star Factory and X-Factor. Lee posted a link to a Ukrainian refugee charity a few days before he was killed, encouraging his followers to contact them for assistance or to volunteer. His most recent Instagram post is a photo of himself and a coworker with the message “we’ll be ok and everything will be Ukraine.”

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News Trending War

Ukraine Russia War: If Oil Ban Remains in Place, May Cut Gas Supplies

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If the West goes ahead with a ban on Russian oil, Russia has threatened to shut down its main gas pipeline to Germany.

The rejection of Russian oil, according to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, would have “catastrophic consequences for the global market,” causing prices to more than double to $300 a barrel. As a means of punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the US has been discussing a possible ban with allies. On Monday, however, Germany and the Netherlands both rejected the plan.

The EU imports roughly 40% of its gas and 30% of its oil from Russia, and there are no easy alternatives if supplies are disrupted.

While the UK would not be directly affected by a supply disruption because it imports less than 5% of its gas from Russia, it would be affected by rising global market prices as European demand grows. Russia is the world’s second-largest gas producer and third-largest oil exporter, and any sanctions against its energy sector would be disastrous for the country’s economy.

Although sanctioning Russia’s oil and gas exports is appealing, “practically it is challenging,” according to Nathan Piper, head of oil and gas research at Investec.

Ukraine has urged the West to impose an oil and gas embargo, but there are concerns that this would drive up prices. Fears of an embargo pushed Brent crude oil up to $139 (£106) a barrel on Monday, its highest level in nearly 14 years.

Brent crude prices were little changed on Tuesday, with a barrel costing $121, up 3%.

Meanwhile, wholesale gas prices increased to 565p per therm from 501p earlier in the day.

Following a volatile Monday caused by US discussions about a potential Russian oil and gas ban, UK stock markets rose slightly in early trading.

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Ivan Kuliak, a Russian gymnast being investigated for wearing a pro-war symbol

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Ivan Kuliak, a Russian gymnast, is being investigated after wearing a national war symbol on his leotard while competing on the podium in Qatar on Saturday.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) announced that it had initiated disciplinary proceedings against Kuliak for his “shocking behaviour” at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha. Kuliak took bronze in the parallel bars final and stood next to gold medalist Illia Kovtun of Ukraine, who had a letter ‘Z’ taped to his chest. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the letter Z has become symbolic, and it has been seen painted on the sides of tanks and military vehicles, as well as worn by pro-war politicians in Russia.

This weekend was the last chance for Russian and Belarussian gymnasts to compete after their countries were sanctioned by the FIG following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Athletes, officials, and judges from Russia and Belarus will be barred from competing in FIG or FIG-sanctioned competitions beginning Monday.

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News Trending War

Evacuation of Mariupol Halted Due to the Death of Civilians Near Kyiv

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Three civilians were killed while attempting to flee Irpin, a town just outside Kyiv.

A photographer for the New York Times captured a heartbreaking image of three members of a family of four – a mother and two children – lying dead on the pavement, while Ukrainian soldiers try to save the wounded father’s life.

Due to the graphic nature of the image, we are not publishing it here.

According to the newspaper, the children were a teenage son and an eight-year-old daughter.

The family had fled the fighting, carrying a suitcase and a few backpacks, as well as their small dog.

A mortar attack was launched at them.

Russian forces have been firing mortar shells at evacuating civilians, including children, who were using an already-collapsed bridge.

After a railway track was hit and damaged on Saturday, Ukraine accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting the evacuation routes from Irpin.

In addition to Irpin, heavy fighting has recently erupted in the small towns of Hostomel and Bucha to the northwest of Kyiv.

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Entertainment News Trending

John Stahl, Game of Thrones Actor, Has Died at the Age of 68

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Game of Thrones actor John Stahl has died at the age of 68, according to his agent.In two seasons of the popular HBO fantasy show, the Scottish actor played Rickard Karstark.

He was also known for his role as Inverdarroch in the long-running soap opera Take The High Road. According to his agent, Amanda Fitzalan Howard, he is “an actor of remarkable skill and a stalwart of Scottish theatre.”

During his career, Stahl, who was born in Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, appeared in numerous theatre productions, including appearances at The Royal Shakespeare Company and The National Theatre. Peter May, a Scottish screenwriter, remembered the actor and how he had recently attended his online wedding.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of my old friend, John Stahl,” he said. I wrote a lot of scenes for the character of Inverdarroch in Take The High Road. “I only recently went to his online wedding.” I last saw him in Adelaide, Australia, for a fun reunion. John, rest in peace.”

Ian Rankin, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels, expressed his desire to work with the actor again after he appeared in his play Long Shadows, describing his portrayal as “terrifying and charismatic.” David Greig, a Scottish playwright and theatre director, described him as a “truly great actor” and said the Scottish theatre world will miss him.

Mr. Stahl died on the Isle of Lewis on March 2, leaving behind his wife, Jane Paton.

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News War

Russia has taken control of Ukraine’s nuclear plant following shelling

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After being shelled, Russia has taken control of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

A fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, and Ukraine claimed Russian troops shelled it. The facility is now safe, according to authorities, and radiation levels are normal. World leaders have accused Russia of putting an entire continent’s safety at risk, and Ukraine’s president has accused Russia of “nuclear terror.” US Vice President Joe Biden urged Moscow to halt its military activities near the site, while Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Russia’s “horrific attacks” must end “immediately.”

The “reckless” attack, according to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, could “directly threaten the safety of all of Europe.” All three leaders spoke by phone with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky stated that Russia desired a repeat of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. According to Ukraine’s nuclear inspectorate, buildings surrounding one of the plant’s six power units have been damaged without compromising its safety. Workers at the plant said the fire, which has since been extinguished, started outside the plant’s perimeter at a training building, and that only one of the plant’s six reactors was operational.

Despite the harsh international sanctions, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin stated that his offensive was proceeding “strictly according to schedule and plan.”

He has placed his nuclear forces on high alert in response to the West’s “aggressive statements.”

On Friday, Western ministers will meet in Brussels for crisis talks in order to demonstrate their support for Ukraine.

The UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, called it “one of the most important days of diplomacy,” with allies ready to “tighten the vice around Putin’s war machine” by targeting the Russian economy with additional sanctions.

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News Trending War

Ukraine: Russian troops seize control of Kherson, a key city

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According to the mayor, Russian forces have taken control of a key port city in southern Ukraine. Kherson is Russia’s first major city to be taken after heavy fighting since its invasion a week ago.

Igor Kolykhaev, the city’s mayor, said Russian troops had stormed the city council building and imposed a curfew on residents. Several cities have been heavily shelled, with Wednesday being one of the most destructive days of the fighting. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has opened an investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.

According to Ukraine, over 2,000 civilians have died since the invasion began last Thursday. According to the UN, the conflict has also forced over a million people to flee Ukraine.

Mr. Kolykhaev said on Facebook that Russian forces had taken control of Kherson, a port on Ukraine’s southern Black Sea coast with a population of more than 280,000 people. He urged Russian soldiers not to shoot at civilians, claiming that no Ukrainian forces were present in the city.

Mariupol, a key Ukrainian port city, is “nearing a humanitarian catastrophe” after more than 15 hours of continuous bombardment by Russian forces, according to the city’s deputy mayor.

“The Russian army is testing all of its weapons here, including artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, aeroplanes, and tactical rockets. They are attempting to demolish the city “Serhiy Orlov stated

According to Mr. Orlov, Russian forces were several kilometres away from the city on all sides and had launched strikes on key infrastructure, cutting water and power supplies to parts of the city. He claimed that one densely populated residential district on the city’s left bank had been “nearly completely destroyed.”

Ukraine’s army has so far held off Russian forces in key areas of the country, but increased aerial bombardment of cities has raised fears that Russia is changing tactics.

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Netflix has put future projects in Russia on hold

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Streaming behemoth Netflix has announced a halt to all future Russian projects and acquisitions.

The company stated that it was assessing the impact of Ukraine’s current invasion. The production of the Russian language series Zato will be halted. Oracle, a cloud computing company, has also announced the suspension of its operations in Russia. The two companies are the most recent US technology firms to take action against Russia as the number of attacks on Ukrainian cities has increased.

Apple also announced on Tuesday that it would suspend sales in Russia. Oracle’s Twitter announcement came three hours after Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation tweeted the company, requesting assistance. In recent days, global brands such as Shell, Nike, H&M, and Boeing have severed ties with Russia or temporarily suspended sales.

Moscow has responded to foreign companies withdrawing from Russia by temporarily restricting foreign asset sales in Russia.

On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin met with the president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs to discuss how the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs would attempt to mitigate the impact of the sanctions announced thus far.

Netflix declined to comment on the number of people who use its streaming service in Russia.

However, it confirmed earlier this week in a Hollywood Reporter report that it would not carry Russian state channels.

“Given the current situation, we have no plans to add these channels to our service,” said a Netflix spokesperson in a statement to the magazine.

According to a law that took effect on March 1, “audiovisual services” in the country with more than 100,000 users will be required to carry 20 major state television channels.

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News Politics Trending

Ukraine Crisis: Biden Declares That “Freedom Will Triumph Over Tyranny”

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US Vice President Joe Biden told Congress that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, miscalculated how the West would respond when he invaded Ukraine.

Mr. Biden promised in a primetime speech that “freedom will always triumph over tyranny.” His State of the Union address comes at a time when pandemic-weary Americans are grappling with skyrocketing inflation. At this point in his presidency, Mr. Biden is almost as unpopular as Donald Trump.

Mr. Biden announced that the United States would prohibit Russian aircraft from flying in American airspace, following similar bans imposed by Canadian and European authorities.

The US president threatened Russia with more economic retaliation, saying, “He has no idea what’s coming.”

Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova, who was sitting in US First Lady Jill Biden’s VIP box for the event, was also welcomed by the US president.

Mr. Biden’s State of the Union address, an annual event that pushes a president’s agenda, comes at a time when his personal popularity is at an all-time low.

According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, only 40.6 percent of Americans approve of the job he is doing. Despite the fact that the unemployment rate in the United States has fallen to 4%, inflation has reached a 40-year high.

The homicide rate in the United States has reached a 25-year high.

According to polls, Americans are dissatisfied with Mr. Biden’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan last year.

On Tuesday night, the president attempted to empathise with hard-pressed working families, saying: “Inflation is robbing them [Americans] of gains they thought they would be able to feel otherwise. I understand.”

However, the invasion of Ukraine, his most serious foreign policy crisis, dominated the opening of his speech.

Mr. Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hours before his speech to discuss what US assistance he could provide his country after six days of a Russian assault.

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