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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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Ukraine Conflict: Disney, Warner Bros., and Sony have halted the release of films in Russia

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Following the invasion of Ukraine, Warner Bros., Disney, and Sony have halted the release of films in Russian theatres.

The announcements mean that major films such as The Batman, Turning Red, and Morbius will not be released in the country as planned. They come at a time when governments around the world are tightening sanctions against Moscow.

Global corporations, including automakers and energy behemoths, have severed ties with Russia in recent days.

The Batman, a Warner Bros. blockbuster, was set to be released in Russia on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Russian release of the Pixar animated film Turning Red has been postponed by Disney.

The entertainment conglomerate also stated that it would collaborate with its non-governmental organisations to provide “urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees.”

Sony has also halted the release of Morbius, its Marvel adaptation, in the country.

Meanwhile, Netflix has stated that it will not comply with new Russian regulations requiring it to carry state-sponsored channels.

Tech platforms Twitter and Facebook have also moved to limit the presence of Russian state-backed news outlet information on their platforms as these have been accused of spreading misinformation about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Meta, which owns Facebook, said it would restrict access in the European Union to state-owned media outlets RT and Sputnik.

Twitter also said it would add warnings to tweets that share links to Russian state-affiliated media.

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Why Ukraine: Know The Back Story…..

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By invading Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has provoked one of Europe’s worst security crises since World War II, with missiles and artillery barrages accompanying troops as they entered the nation from various directions. In a video by WION YouTube Channel, Palki Sharma Upadhyay pointed out her view point about the matter ‘Why putin wants Ukraine’.

The Ukraine-Russia problem does not begin in 2021 or 2014; rather, it begins in the ninth century. Once these two countries were united. Ukraine used to hand over its nuclear weapons to Russia. But what happened now that they ready for the war.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a military assault against Ukraine. The armies entered Ukraine from multiple routes, sparking fears of a European conflict over Russia’s demands for a stop to NATO’s eastward expansion.

WHAT IS NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, often known as the North Atlantic Alliance, is a military alliance made up of 28 European and two North American countries. The organisation was founded in the aftermath of World War II to carry out the North Atlantic Treaty, which was signed on April 4, 1949.

For months, Putin denied that he was plotting an invasion. In a televised statement, he said he had ordered “a special military action” to safeguard Russian citizens who had been victims of “genocide” in Ukraine.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have existed for many years. Tensions rose in 2021, however, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed US President Joe Biden to allow Ukraine to join NATO. Ukraine is a democratic country with a population of 44 million people and a history dating back over 1,000 years. It is also, after Russia, the largest country in Europe by area.

It voted for independence from Moscow after the demise of the Soviet Union. Putin sees Ukraine as a man-made country ripped out of Russia by adversaries. He has also referred to Ukraine as a Western puppet. Russia was enraged by Zelensky’s request to join NATO, and it began stationing troops along the Ukraine border. The US observed unexpected Russian army movements near the Ukrainian border on November 10, 2021. On November 28, Ukraine announced that Russia has amassed about 92,000 troops in preparation for an attack in late January or early February.

Moscow, on the other hand, denied it and accused Kyiv of conducting its own military build-up. President Biden warned in December that if Russia invaded Ukraine, he would face heavy consequences. Putin has insisted on assurances from the West and Ukraine that the country will not join NATO.

This isn’t the first time that relations between Russia and Ukraine have risen. In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine and occupied the Crimean peninsula. President Putin’s backed rebels captured significant swaths of eastern Ukraine and fought the army. When its pro-Russian president was overthrown, the attack began. Since then, the battle has taken the lives of over 14,000 people.

He claims that contemporary Ukraine was totally built by communist Russia and that it is now a puppet state under Western influence. President Putin has also said that if Ukraine joins NATO, the alliance will attempt to reclaim Crimea.

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Ukraine Invasion: Facebook Access Restricted by Russia

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During the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has restricted access to Facebook due to the platform’s stance on the accounts of several Moscow-backed news outlets. Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications regulator, accused the network of “censorship” and violating “Russian citizens’ rights and freedoms.”

Facebook stated that it would not stop fact-checking and labelling content from state-owned news outlets. The announcement came just one day after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine. It’s unclear what the regulator restrictions mean or how much Facebook parent company Meta’s other platforms – WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram – are affected. The regulator had demanded that Facebook remove the restrictions it imposed on state news agency RIA, state TV channel Zvezda, and pro-Kremlin news sites Lenta.Ru and Gazeta.Ru on 24th February.

Many state-owned Russian media outlets have painted a largely positive picture of Russia’s military advances in Ukraine, describing the invasion as a “special military operation” forced on Moscow. On 24th February, Meta announced the establishment of a “special operations centre” to monitor content related to the Ukrainian conflict.

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Ukraine: Russia Accused of Imposing Sea Blockade

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Ukraine has accused Russia of obstructing its access to the sea, as Russia prepares for naval exercises next week amid rising regional tensions. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Russian forces have completely blocked the Sea of Azov and have cut off almost all access to the Black Sea.

Despite amassing more than 100,000 troops at the border, Russia has repeatedly denied any intention of invading Ukraine. However, it has only recently begun massive military drills with neighbouring Belarus. Belarus is a close Russian ally with a long border with Ukraine. The drills, which are believed to be Russia’s largest deployment to Belarus since the Cold War, were dubbed a “violent gesture” by France. Ukraine claims they are the result of “psychological pressure.”

The US urged Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately due to “increased threats of Russian military action” on 10th February. Meanwhile, amid the tensions, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared that Europe was facing its worst security crisis in decades.

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Iran gives back black box of downed Ukrainian plane

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The Middle East country of Iran has given back the black box of a Ukrainian plane downed accidently in early this year as Tehran mistakenly identified the plan as a missile.

The incident happened at the time the rivalry between Tehran and Washington was at its peak. Initially, Iran denied any involvement in the attack. Later, when the western intelligence agencies confronted the country with undeniable evidences suggesting the involvement of the country in the crime, Iran admitted the wrong doing and apologized publicly describing it as an unforgivable mistake.

As many as 176 persons was killed in the accident. The fight was travelling to the European country of Ukraine. The incident happened shorty after the take off of the flight.

The black box may help to determine the actual cause of the attack.

The accident has tainted the image of the Middle East country of Iran badly. It has deteriorated the relation between the west and Iran.

In a sense, it has helped the United States to push through its strategy of isolating Iran.

The incident has weakened the strength of Iran considerably.

The latest develop will reopen the discussion around the tropic – which is hiding in the pit of history.

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Tension returns in Ukraine

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A solider has been killed and at least four injured when the Ukrainian force has come under the attack of the rebel force which has the support of Russia.

What the attack threatens is the deal the Ukrainian government recently reached with the rebels with the blessing of Russia.

The Ukraine government has convened an urgent meeting to evaluate the situation. The government may adopt from strong measures to bring the situation under its control.

Meanwhile, the Russian backed rebels have dismissed the allegation that they have consciously carried out a provocative attack against the Ukraine government defaming the deal they earlier reached with the government.

The attack has happened in an area controlled by the rebels force.

As per the opinion of the rebel force, the Ukraine force has stepped into a minefield established by the rebel force.

The situation is at present under control.

Whether the situation will escalate or not depends on what decision the government takes in this matter.

Russia has not yet responded about the issue. Since the inception of the new President in Ukraine, Russia is in a good relation with its neighbour.

The deal the Ukraine force reached with the rebel force lately was the reflection of the European superpower’s changed attitude against Ukraine.

At this moment, it remains unclear how the present development is going to impact the European political hemisphere.

Ukraine has the support of the west especially the European Union. It also enjoys the backing of the United States.


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Ukraine Passenger Plane Crash: No Link With US-Iran Crisis

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Nothing that can prove the relation between the Ukraine passenger plane crash and the ongoing crisis between the US and Iran has been recovered yet.

A Ukraine plane carrying at least 170 persons has crashed, minutes after it flew to Kyiv from Imam Khomeini airport, Iran.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his deep sorrow about the incident. He has even cancelled his scheduled official trip to Oman.

Ukraine has also constituted an investigative team to investigate the reason for the crash of the plane.

At this moment, it remains unclear whether anyone has sustained the crash. As per a preliminary assumption, no one has survived the crash.

Iran also has supported the argument that there is no possibility for the existence of any survivor.

The depressing footage of the crash is circulating in the social media like a wild fire.

As the crash has happened at the time the crisis between the US and Iran was at its peak, it is important to do a thorough investigation to unveil the real reason that has led to the crash of the plane.

The identities of the victims are expected to be released in the near future itself. The latest is the worst crash that has happened in the region in the near history.


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Ukraine breaths relief

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As a high-level conference between Russia and Ukraine has concluded positively, Kyiv has breathed relief.

In the crucial meeting, Volodymyr Zelensky has represented Ukraine and Vladimir Putin his country, Russia.

The meeting has been mediated by France and Germany. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron have represented their countries respectively.

Both Russia and Ukraine has agreed to sign a cease fire agreement. The agreement is expected to bring peace to the eastern region of Ukraine, which is at present under the clutches of a rebel force supported by Russia.

Moscow and Kyiv have also decided to swap all those who have been booked in connection with the military action in the eastern region of Ukraine.

Despite all these, the meeting has remained silent on some of the very sensitive issues, like the Ukraine’s longstanding demand of making the eastern region of the country free from the clutches of Russia.

Ukraine has also refused to comment on the Russian demand that a key rebel held territory in the eastern region of Ukraine should be declared as a special territory. It has also declined to speak on the demand that the members of the rebel force who has secured the control of some regions in the eastern region of Ukraine should be awarded amnesty.


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Crime News Sports

Austrian Olympic champion awarded five years imprisonment for child abuse

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A renowned Austrian Olympic judo champion, Peter Seisenbacher, who won two Olympic gold medals in the year 1984 and the year 1988, has been awarded a tough sentence of five years imprisonment for abusing two of his students while working as a coach.

The incidents led to the cases happened in 1990s and 2000s. The victims were children then.

The court has found no reason to disbelief the statements given by the victims.

The trial was supposed to begin in the year 2016 itself. But, it was delayed as he briefly disappeared prior to the scheduled date. Later, he surfaced from his hiding in Georgia and fled to Ukraine. Only few months has passed since he was handed over to Austria by Ukraine.

He denied all allegations triggered against him.

As per the judgement, the Olympian will have the right to approach a higher court challenging the verdict delivered by the present court.


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