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Ukraine says Russian forces kill seven civilians in evacuation convoy

Ukraine accused Russian forces on Saturday of killing seven civilians in an attack on women and children trying to flee fighting near Kyiv, and France said Russian President Vladimir Putin had shown he was not ready to make peace.

Emergency rescue work is seen underway after an attack, where a residential building was reportedly hit by a rocket, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Kharkiv, March 12, 2022, in this screengrab obtained from handout video. State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS

With Russia’s invasion in its third week, the Ukrainian intelligence service said the seven, including one child, were killed as they fled the village of Peremoha and that “the occupiers forced the remnants of the column to turn back.”

Ukrainian officials later said the convoy was not traveling along a “green corridor” agreed with Russia when it was struck on Friday, correcting their earlier assertion that it was on such a designated route.

Reuters was unable immediately to verify the report and Russia offered no immediate comment.

Moscow denies targeting civilians since invading Ukraine on Feb. 24. It blames Ukraine for failed attempts to evacuate civilians from encircled cities, an accusation Ukraine and its Western allies strongly reject.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Moscow was sending in new troops after Ukrainian forces put 31 of Russia’s battalion tactical groups out of action in what he called Russia’s largest army losses in decades. It was not possible to verify his statements.

“We still need to hold on. We still have to fight,” Zelenskiy said in a video address late on Saturday, his second of the day.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/fighting-rages-outside-kyiv-ukraine-says-it-hopes-humanitarian-corridors-can-2022-03-12/

Ukraine war: Poet and Instagram star whose father was murdered in Russia calls for Putin to be tried for war crimes

Russian-born writer Arch Hades tells Sky News the bombardment of Ukraine is “abhorrent” and insists most Russians oppose “Putin’s war”.

A Russian-born poet and Instagram favourite who fled the country after her father was murdered has called for Vladimir Putin to be arrested and tried for war crimes.

Arch Hades, a pseudonym she uses for security reasons, told Sky News the bombardment of Ukraine was “abhorrent” and insisted most Russians oppose “Putin’s war”.

The 29-year-old, whose poetry has seen her amass more than one million Instagram followers, moved to London as a child after her father was “gunned down in an alley” in St Petersburg, she said.

Her father, who she asked not to be named to protect her surviving relatives, was a businessman who embraced “democracy and liberalism”, which the Putin regime “despised”, she added.

She has now voiced fears that Russians have been “sealed in a cage” with Mr Putin as the country becomes increasingly isolated, and he will “take out his wrath on them” if he loses the war in Ukraine.

Hades told Sky News: “I hope to see Putin in The Hague. I hope to see him tried for war crimes.

“I’m afraid that when Putin doesn’t get his way, he doubles down and he might escalate his aggression.

“I really fear for the Ukrainian people. This is survival for them.

“I’m a pacifist but I know if the Ukrainians put down their weapons, there will be no more Ukraine.

“If Putin does take over, I’m afraid he won’t stop there.”

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-poet-and-instagram-star-whose-father-was-murdered-in-russia-calls-for-putin-to-be-tried-for-war-crimes-12563410

U.S. official says Superyacht could be Putin’s

American officials are examining the ownership of a $700 million superyacht currently in a dry dock at an Italian seacoast town, and believe it could be associated with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, according to multiple people briefed on the information.

United States intelligence agencies have made no final conclusions about the ownership of the superyacht — called the Scheherazade — but American officials said they had found initial indications that it was linked to Mr. Putin. The information from the U.S. officials came after The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Italian authorities were looking into the 459-foot long vessel’s ownership and that a former crew member said it was for the use of Mr. Putin.

People briefed on the intelligence would not describe what information they had that indicated the superyacht is associated with Mr. Putin. If American officials know whether or how often Mr. Putin uses the yacht, the people briefed on the information would not share it.

American officials said Mr. Putin kept little of his wealth in his own name. Instead he uses homes and boats nominally owned by Russian oligarchs. Still, it is possible that through various shell companies, Mr. Putin could have more direct control of the Scheherazade.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic Mr. Putin has also spent large amounts of time in the Russian resort city of Sochi on the Black Sea, U.S. officials said. The Scheherazade made trips to Sochi in the summers of 2020 and 2021.

Both the Treasury Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis and the Navy’s Office of Naval Intelligence are investigating the ownership of superyachts associated with Russian oligarchs. A spokesman for the Navy and a spokeswoman for the Treasury both declined to comment.

The Justice Department has set up a task force to go after the assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs. In a discussion with reporters on Friday, a Justice Department official said the task force would be investigating individuals who help sanctioned Russian officials or oligarchs hide their assets. Those individuals could face charges related to sanctions violations or international money laundering charges.

In addition, under recently published Commerce Department rule changes, if more than 25 percent of a plane or a yacht is made of U.S.-manufactured airplane or marine parts, it cannot go to Russia.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/11/us/politics/putin-yacht-russia-ukraine.html

Why is the UAE a hot spot for Russians dodging sanctions?

It’s sunny and politically stable, there is little financial transparency and it’s easy enough to invest in a business or property and get a residency visa in return.

In Dubai, a luxury villa comes with a residency visa

On its website, the Dubai-based lifestyle magazine Russian Emirates offers readers a selection of commonly asked questions. They include everyday queries about where to find Russian food in the United Arab Emirates, and whether there are Russian- speaking doctors there. But by far the most popular question on the Russian-language magazine is this one, with over 83,000 views: “Can I get UAE citizenship?”

Over the past two weeks — that is, since Russia invaded Ukraine and Western nations imposed sanctions as a result — the readership of the Russian Emirates website has almost doubled to nearly 300,000 views in a week.

That is a trend that is likely to continue, experts say, as Russians look for ways to avoid sanctions and secure their wealth. Some are likely also trying to escape what they see as an increasingly perilous political situation at home.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/why-is-uae-a-hot-spot-for-russians-dodging-sanctions/a-61099194?maca=en-Whatsapp-sharing

Ukraine says Russian attacks block Mariupol evacuation

Russian troops have laid siege to the Ukrainian port city as US and its allies continue to pressure Moscow to end war.

  • Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine widens, with raids reported on east-central city of Dnipro and airfields in western Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk.
  • Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, braces for an all-out assault as Russian military convoy edges closer.
  • Ukrainian officials say Russian shelling again prevented evacuations from Mariupol, where conditions are critical.
  • US and its top allies are revoking Russia’s “most favoured nation” status amid pressure campaign on President Vladimir Putin to end the war.
  • Ukrainian envoy to UN dismisses Moscow’s accusation that Kyiv is operating US-backed biological weapons laboratories as “insane delirium”.
Guatemala receives first arrivals of Ukrainians fleeing conflict

 Guatemala has received its first arrivals of Ukrainian families fleeing their homeland since Russia’s invasion of its neighbor last month, authorities said.

The eight Ukrainians were the first to arrive in the Central American country “for humanitarian reasons,” an immigration spokesperson told Reuters news agency.

Another flight carrying 10 more Ukrainians is set to arrive later in the evening, officials said. It is unclear how many may have arrived privately to Guatemala since the Russian attacks on Ukraine began.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/11/ukraine-says-russian-attacks-block-mariupol-evacuation-again-liveblog

Reserve Bank of Australia Seeks Urgent Powers to Overlook Growing Crypto Sector

Local media reports stated that the Reserve Bank of Australia’s governor has asked the government to take the plea into urgent consideration. Which will give sufficient powers to the watchdogs to overlook the virtual asset space.

Dr. Lowe commented in an event, “The nature of money changes with technology and technology is quickly changing.”

In the review dated December 2021, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg had stated that by mid-2022, the Government will complete a licensing framework for crypto platforms. Additionally, a new framework would “replace the current one-size-fits-all payment licensing arrangements with a functionally based framework adopting graduated, risk-based regulatory requirements.”

It is no news that new fintech entrants have turned into crypto service providers amid peaking consumer interest. And, in the new era of banking, regulators globally are asking for a changed approach to keep up with the technology.

Dr. Lowe also stated, “We need that plan, and it needs to be good. It needs wide buy-in. There are also important pieces of legislation that will need to be passed to make sure that Australia is well-placed for the innovations of the future.”

Further, the regulators also asked that the government respond to the Council of Financial Regulators’ “stablecoins” plans. In an earlier speech, Governor Lowe had warned investors of the risks of investing in crypto, including stablecoins.

He had noted that if privately issued stablecoins are ultimately the way things head, it will be crucial that they meet very high standards, adding that, “Council of Financial Regulators is continuing to review the regulatory treatment of different types of crypto-assets.”

Industry needs reforms as market adoption grows

Meanwhile, Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers opined in the paper that the existing system, “lacks coherent oversight to address the complexity of issues and the pace of frequent innovation in the sector,” reflecting on the need for payment reforms by the Labor government.
Reforms that Chalmers believe will be “empowering regulators and facilitating regulation that is as agile as the sector itself.”

Source: https://beincrypto.com/rba-stress-on-urgent-powers-to-overlook-the-crypto-sector/

Biden Warns Direct NATO-Russia Clash Would Trigger “World War 3”

Biden refuted increasingly desperate calls from Kyiv for NATO to intervene against the Russian assault.

We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine, said Biden.

China calls for Russia-Ukraine ceasefire over ‘grave’ conflict

The situation in Ukraine is grave and China is deeply concerned, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday, as confrontations between Russia and the West persisted with no sign of easing.

Ukrainian emergency employees and volunteers carry an injured pregnant woman from the maternity hospital, damaged by shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Doubling down on an invasion that the West says has been losing momentum, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the green light for thousands of volunteers from the Middle East to be deployed alongside Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine.

The move, just over two weeks since Putin ordered the invasion, allows Russia to deploy battle-hardened mercenaries from conflicts such as Syria without risking additional Russian military casualties.

At a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said there were 16,000 volunteers in the Middle East who were ready to fight alongside Russian-backed forces in the breakaway Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3170178/china-calls-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-over-grave-conflict

Ukraine war: Russia forced to rely on ‘stand-off’ munitions, MoD says – as satellite images show craters and houses hit outside Kyiv

New satellite imagery has shown what appears to be Russian forces firing artillery from a village 17 miles northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, as well as damage to Hostomel Airport.

New satellite images show homes on fire as Russian troops advance closer to Kyiv, with long lines of cars trying to flee the Ukrainian capital.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence has also warned that “staunch resistance” from Ukraine means Russian tactical aircraft are relying on unguided “dumb” munitions.

“Such weapons are relatively inaccurate and indiscriminate and their use significantly increases the likelihood of civilian casualties,” a defence intelligence update released on Friday night said.

The satellite images from Maxar appear to suggest that Russian military units are “actively firing artillery towards residential areas” – and in one photograph, a bright muzzle flash can be seen from an artillery gun.

Widespread damage and impact craters have been seen in Moschun, a town northwest of Kyiv, and fires are continuing to burn at Hostamel Airport, which is also known as Antonov Airport.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-russia-forced-to-rely-on-stand-off-munitions-mod-says-as-satellite-images-show-craters-and-houses-hit-outside-kyiv-12563859

Facebook owner defends policy on calls for violence that angered Russia

Facebook owner Meta Platforms (FB.O) said Friday that a temporary change in its content policy, only for Ukraine, was needed to let users voice opposition to Russia’s attack, as Russia opened a criminal case after the company said it would allow posts such as “death to the Russian invaders.”

Meta logo and Russian flag are seen through broken glass in this illustration taken March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Russian prosecutors asked a court to designate the U.S. tech giant as an “extremist organisation,” and the communications regulator said it would restrict access to Meta’s Instagram starting March 14. The company said the decision would affect 80 million users in Russia.

“A criminal case has been initiated … in connection with illegal calls for murder and violence against citizens of the Russian Federation by employees of the American company Meta, which owns the social networks Facebook and Instagram,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said.

The committee reports directly to President Vladimir Putin. It was not immediately clear what the consequences of the criminal case might be.

Meta Global Affairs President Nick Clegg responded after the Russian government action with a tweeted statement saying that the company aimed to protect rights to speech as an expression of self-defense reacting to the invasion of Ukraine and that the policy only applied to Ukraine.

“If we applied our standard content policies without any adjustments we would now be removing content from ordinary Ukrainians expressing their resistance and fury at the invading military forces, which would rightly be viewed as unacceptable,” Clegg wrote.

“We have no quarrel with the Russian people. There is no change at all in our policies on hate speech as far as the Russian people are concerned,” he added.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 100,000 evacuated amid blockade

“They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. He said the Russians began a tank attack right where there was supposed to be a humanitarian corridor.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenksy (File image: Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 100,000 people have been evacuated during the past two days from seven cities under Russian blockade in the north and center of the country, including the Kyiv suburbs.

But he said the Russian refusal to allow evacuations from Mariupol, a port city in the south, was “outright terror.”

“They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. He said the Russians began a tank attack right where there was supposed to be a humanitarian corridor.

The city of 430,000 has been without food supplies, running water and electricity for 10 days. Ukrainian officials say about 1,300 people have died, including three in the bombing of a maternity and children’s hospital on Wednesday.

Ukraine-Russia war: Moscow bans exports of cars, auto parts

Russia has decided to put a ban on exports of 200 items, including cars and auto parts, in response to the sanctions imposed against it for invading Ukraine.

Russia has decided to ban exports of cars and auto parts among more than 200 products after sanctions were imposed against the country for the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. The conflict continues to impact the auto industry, not only in Russia, but across the world. The decision will further worsen the ongoing semiconductor crisis being faced by the auto manufacturers in coming days.

Source: https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/news/ukrainerussia-war-moscow-bans-exports-of-cars-auto-parts-41646965744316.html

Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail in fake attack

A judge sentenced Jussie Smollett to 150 days in jail Thursday, branding the Black and gay actor a narcissistic charlatan for staging a hate crime against himself to grab the limelight while the nation struggled with wrenching issues of racial injustice. Smollett responded by defiantly maintaining his innocence and suggesting he could be killed in jail.

The sentence and Smollett’s post-hearing outburst capped an hourslong hearing and more than three years of legal drama following Smollett’s claim that he had been the target of a racist and homophobic attack.

Smollett didn’t make a statement when offered the opportunity before the judge announced the sentence, saying he was listening to his attorneys’ advice. But after Cook County Judge James Linn issued his decision, Smollett removed the face mask he wore throughout the hearing to proclaim himself innocent.

“If I did this, then it means that I stuck my fist in the fears of Black Americans in this country for over 400 years and the fears of the LGBT community,” Smollett said, standing up at the defense table as his lawyers and sheriff’s deputies surrounded him. “Your Honor, I respect you and I respect the jury but I did not do this. And I am not suicidal. And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. And you must all know that.”

As deputies led him from the courtroom, Smollett shouted out again.

“I am innocent,” he yelled, raising his fist. “I could have said I am guilty a long time ago.”

The judge sentenced Smollett to 30 months of felony probation, with 150 days served in Cook County Jail, and ordered that he pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago and a $25,000 fine.

Special prosecutor Dan Webb asked Linn to include “an appropriate amount of prison time” when sentencing the actor for his conviction on five counts of disorderly conduct.

“His conduct denigrated hate crimes,” Webb said after the hearing. “His conduct will discourage others who are victims of hate crimes from coming forward and reporting those crimes to law enforcement.”

Smollett’s attorneys wanted the judge to limit the sentence to community service, arguing that he had already been punished by the criminal justice system and damage to his career.

Family members echoed those comments.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/jussie-smollett-sentencing-live-updates-dca736b72447363711dbda548f13d79d

Kamala Harris says US and Poland ‘united’ after jets controversy

Speaking in Warsaw, US vice president also supports an international investigation into possible Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

In Warsaw, Harris reiterates US commitment to defend ‘every inch of NATO territory’ [Saul Loeb/Pool via Reuters]
US Vice President Kamala Harris has stressed that the United States and Poland are “united” on policy towards Ukraine during the Russian invasion after Washington rejected an offer by Warsaw to transfer its MiG-29 through an American airbase in Germany.

Harris told reporters at a joint news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw on Thursday that US military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine is an “ongoing process”.

“I want to be very clear: the United States and Poland are united in what we have done and are prepared to do to help Ukraine and the people of Ukraine, full stop,” she said.

Earlier this week, officials in Washington rejected the public Polish proposal to help deliver the Russian-made MiGs to Ukraine, saying that the move risked escalation with Moscow.

“Polish generosity is clearly on display for the whole world to see,” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said on Wednesday. “But at this time, we believe that provision of additional fighter aircraft provides little increased capabilities at high risk.”

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/10/kamala-harris-says-us-and-poland-united-after-jets-controversy

Russia-Ukraine war : Flight carrying 242 Indians from Poland lands in Delhi

An Air India flight from Poland’s Rzeszow carrying students evacuated from northeastern Ukrainian city Sumy, landed in Delhi on Friday morning, officials said. The flight had taken off from Rzeszow around 11.30 pm (IST) on Thursday and landed in Delhi at 5.45 am on Friday, they said.

UN council to meet on Russian claim of US labs in Ukraine

The UN Security Council scheduled a meeting Friday at Russia’s request to discuss what Moscow claims are “the military biological activities of the US on the territory of Ukraine,” allegations vehemently denied by the Biden administration. “This is exactly the kind of false flag effort we have warned Russia might initiate to justify a biological or chemical weapons attack,“ Olivia Dalton, spokesperson for the US Mission to the United Nations said late Thursday. “We’re not going to let Russia gaslight the world or use the UN Security Council as a venue for promoting their disinformation.”

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-march-11/liveblog/90137960.cms?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=iOSapp

Elon Musk and Grimes secretly welcome new child, Exa Dark Sideræl

Grimes and Elon Musk’s Christmas present was a new baby.

The once-and-apparently-future couple secretly welcomed a second child in December, the 33-year-old accidentally revealed to Vanity Fair in a new cover story published on Thursday.

The baby girl, born via surrogate, is named Exa Dark Sideræl, but the new parents call her “Y”, musician Grimes said. Son X Æ A-Xii, born in May 2020, goes by X.

It is unclear if they ever intended to reveal their new family member, as Vanity Fair got the scoop only when reporter Devin Gordon heard her crying upstairs during the interview.

Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3170040/elon-musk-and-grimes-secretly-welcome-new-child-exa

Ukraine war: Boris Johnson tells Sky News it is ‘deeply upsetting’ to refuse Volodymyr Zelenskyy a no-fly zone

The prime minister and the Ukrainian president have been having almost daily phone calls in which Boris Johnson has had to say he cannot support a NATO no-fly zone.

Boris Johnson says it has been “deeply upsetting” and “absolutely agonising” to refuse President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

The prime minister, speaking to Sky News’ Beth Rigby Interviews programme, said the pair have had some “very frank conversations” but the UK and NATO cannot cross that line.

On Wednesday, Mr Zelenskyy told Sky News’ special correspondent Alex Crawford, in Kyiv, that Western countries were being indecisive on the issue of “closing the skies” against what he called “the Nazis”.

The Ukrainian president had said: “If you are united against the Nazis and this terror, you have to close. Don’t wait for me ask you several times, a million times. Close the sky.

“Close the sky and stop the bombing.”

He also made the plea during a historic live video address to MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

But the UK, the US and NATO have continually rejected Mr Zelenskyy’s calls for a no-fly zone over Ukraine as they say it would mean having to shoot down Russian planes, which would likely start another world war.

Mr Johnson and the Ukrainian leader have been having almost daily conversations in the 15 days since Russia invaded.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-boris-johnson-tells-sky-news-it-is-deeply-upsetting-to-refuse-volodymyr-zelenskyy-12562635

Ukraine-Russia updates: Ukraine accuses Russia of nuclear terrorism after bomb lands near reactor; UN to meet over Russian allegations of biological weapons

Ukraine latest as Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov meets Ukrainian counterpart in Turkey but talks end without progress; the UN says 2.3 million refugees have now fled Ukraine; Vladimir Putin admits Western sanctions have “created problems”.

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Besieged Ukrainians endure bombardments, with no breakthrough in talks

Dima Kasyanov, an 8 year-old boy, is seen at a bed in a hospital after being injured during shelling, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Oleksandr Lapshyn

Hundreds of thousands of civilians remained trapped in Ukrainian cities on Thursday, sheltering from Russian air raids and shelling as talks between Ukraine and Russia’s foreign ministers made little apparent progress.

With Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine entering its third week, officials in Mariupol said Russian warplanes again bombed the encircled southern port city where a maternity hospital was pulverised on Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian authorities had managed to evacuate almost 40,000 people from the cities of Sumy, Trostyanets, Krasnopillya, Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel and Izyum, but Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said not a single civilian was able to leave Mariupol on Thursday as Russian forces failed to respect a temporary ceasefire to allow evacuations.

Efforts to send food, water and medicine into the city failed when Russian tanks attacked a humanitarian corridor, Zelenskiy said.

“This is outright terror … from experienced terrorists,” he said in a televised address.

Russia’s defence ministry said earlier that it would declare a ceasefire on Friday and open humanitarian corridors from Mariupol as well as Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Chernihiv.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has so far failed to reach its stated objectives, but has caused thousands of deaths and forced more than 2 million people to flee Ukraine, where several cities are under siege.

It has also hit the world’s economy, still emerging from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the war and the massive sanctions imposed on Russia as punishment have triggered a contraction in global trade and sent food and energy prices sharply higher, which will force the IMF to lower its global growth forecast next month.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-accuses-russia-genocide-after-bombing-childrens-hospital-2022-03-10/

US asks China to allow UN rights chief ‘unhindered’ access to Xinjiang

The United States has asked China to provide “unhindered and unsupervised” access to all areas of Xinjiang to United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, during her visit in May this year.


Bachelet announced this week that she is set to visit China in May, including a trip to Xinjiang, after reaching an agreement with Beijing.
“The United States is aware of High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet’s announcement of her intent to visit Xinjiang. We call upon the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to ensure that her visit is accorded unhindered and unsupervised access to all areas of Xinjiang and to private meetings with a diverse range of Uyghur individuals and civil society groups,” said Sheba Crocker, US Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
In a statement, Crocker said that any credible visit should include access to the locations where atrocities and human rights violations and abuses, including forced labor, and should be followed by a timely, candid, and complete report on the visit’s findings.

Source: https://www.aninews.in/news/world/us/us-asks-china-to-allow-un-rights-chief-unhindered-access-to-xinjiang20220311075213/#.Yiq0qliCHHk.whatsapp

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich sanctioned by UK Government

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK government; banned from transactions with UK individuals and businesses; Chelsea given special licence to continue to operate; only existing ticket holders can attend games

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK government – meaning he is now unable to sell the club.

Abramovich has had “his assets frozen, a prohibition on transactions with UK individuals and businesses, a travel ban and transport sanctions” imposed on him.

The sanctions are intended to stop the 55-year-old from making any money in the UK – and this includes from Chelsea. An application to the UK government can be made to sell Chelsea in the future as long as Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich does not profit or make any money from the transaction.

The government has granted Chelsea a special licence to allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches.

Nadine Dorries, the minister for Sport and Culture, tweeted: “I know this brings some uncertainty, but the Government will work with the league & clubs to keep football being played while ensuring sanctions hit those intended. Football clubs are cultural assets and the bedrock of our communities. We’re committed to protecting them.”

Trump plane made emergency landing after weekend speech to GOP donors

The plane was in the air between 20 and 30 minutes before one of the engines failed.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Perry, Ga. | Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump’s plane made an emergency landing on Saturday evening following his speech at a Republican National Committee-hosted donor retreat in New Orleans, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The plane was in the air for between 20 and 30 minutes before one of the engines failed and the pilot of the private plane decided to turn around and return to the New Orleans airport, one of the sources said. The plane was en route to Palm Beach, Fla., where Trump resides at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Audio of the communications between the pilot and the air traffic control tower revealed that the landing was described as “emergency in nature,” according to the source, who had been briefed on the recording. However, another person familiar with the recording disputed that the word “emergency” was used.

South Korea election: Yoon Suk-yeol wins mandate to tackle inequality, US-China relations and Kim Jong-un’s nuclear ambitions

Former prosecutor Yoon Suk-yeol has emerged the winner of South Korea’s bitterly contested election on Thursday, after a neck and neck race against ex-mayor and lawyer Lee Jae-myung.

After close to all of the ballots had been counted as of 5.30am local time on Thursday, Yoon, the conservative opposition candidate, edged out Lee with 48.6 per cent of the vote to 47.8 per cent. A formal announcement is expected later.

Lee of the ruling Democratic Party conceded defeat soon after.

“I congratulate the president-elect Yoon on his election,” he said. “I hope the president-elect will get over division and conflicts and open a new era of national unity and harmony.”

“This is a great victory by the people,” Yoon said on Thursday, adding he would work towards national unity and cooperate with the National Assembly, which is dominated by liberals.

source: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3169890/south-korea-election-yoon-suk-yeol-projected-win-mandate-tackle

This Indoor Nuclear Shelter Fits Even in a Tiny Apartment

A Japanese company is selling metallic shelters that can be installed in apartments and small houses, for protection against natural disasters and even radiation and missile strikes.

You’ve probably heard of millionaires and doomsday preppers building their own luxury underground bunkers, but one Japanese company claims you can ride out the nuclear apocalypse from the comfort of your own home, with one of their indoor shelters. WNIshelter specializes in compact shelters designed to resist anything from natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, to missile strikes and radiation. They come with their own air filtration system and come in a variety of sizes, to accommodate anywhere from one to seven people.

The current situation in Ukraine has once again brought into question the possibility of nuclear war, and companies are using it as a pretext to advertise their products. Take Japanese shelter manufacturer WNIshelter, which promotes its indoor metallic shelters by referencing the Ukraine war and the so-called “zigzag” missiles developed by North Korea.

Source: https://www.odditycentral.com/news/this-indoor-nuclear-shelter-fits-even-in-a-tiny-apartment.html

US Says Russia May Use Chemical Weapons in Ukraine; UK to Send More Military Aid

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its fifteenth day, the White House warned on Thursday, 10 March, that the Kremlin could be planning to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Russia was making “false claims about alleged US biological weapons labs and chemical weapons development in Ukraine”.

Additionally, in light of the ban imposed by the US on Russian oil imports, the United Arab Emirates will reportedly encourage OPEC members to bump up oil production, as oil prices surged after the ban was announced.

Ukraine has accused Russia of violating a ceasefire and destroying a hospital in Mariupol.

The United Kingdom announced on 9 March that it will be send more weapons to Ukraine to help defend itself against Russian aggression.

Source: https://www.thequint.com/news/world/ukraine-russia-live-updates

Rights body raises concern about human, sex trafficking in Pakistan

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has released a study that identifies Pakistan as a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking.
The study titled “Modern slavery: Trafficking in women and girls in Pakistan” reveals how economically vulnerable women and under-age girls are targeted in particular.
An HRCP press release issued on Wednesday said, “Although it is difficult to determine the magnitude of the crime–given lack of reliable data–HRCP is particularly concerned over the network of trafficking that exists internally, spanning sex trafficking, forced child labour, bonded labour, forced begging and forced marriage. Economically vulnerable women and under-age girls are targeted in particular.”

source: https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/rights-body-raises-concern-about-human-sex-trafficking-in-pakistan20220310075844/

Ukraine’s first lady emerges as a staunch defender of her nation on social media

Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, posted an open letter addressed to the world’s media on Tuesday, detailing what she described as the “mass murder of Ukrainian civilians.”

In recent weeks Zelenska has repeatedly used social media to highlight the plight of her nation, yet none have been quite as direct as her recent post, which ends with the rallying cry: “We will win. Because of our unity. Unity towards love for Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!”
As her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky, has emerged as the face of Ukrainian defiance of the Russian invasion, Zelenska has become increasingly vociferous online as a means to support him and bolster international awareness of their country’s plight.
When Russia first invaded Ukraine on February 24, Zelensky declared in a video statement that he believed “enemy sabotage groups” had entered Kyiv and that he was their number one target. His family, he said, was the second target.
The whereabouts of his wife and two children are secret, for security reasons. Nonetheless, Zelenska has been playing an active role on social media, inspiring her people and backing resistance to Russian forces, while garnering support from the rest of the world. On Instagram alone, she has 2.4 million followers.
The 44-year-old published the open letter Tuesday on her various social media platforms, as well as on the President’s official website, in response to what she said was the “overwhelming number of media outlets from around the world” that had requested an interview with her.

Australia Pledges $28 Billion to Expand Defence Personnel by a Third

Australia will spend about A$38 billion ($28 billion) out to 2040 to expand its active defence personnel by a third to keep the country safe “in an increasingly uncertain global environment”, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday.

Australia has been boosting its defence spending over the past few years as China looks to step up its presence in the Indo-Pacific region. Last year, Australia entered into a deal to buy nuclear submarines from the United States and Britain.

“This is a significant investment in our future force,” Morrison said during a media briefing on Thursday. The planned expansion would see the number of defence personnel rise to 80,000, a level not seen since the Vietnam War.

Morrison, behind in opinion polls in an election year, has made national security a core issue and has attacked the opposition Labor party as being “soft” on China, viewed by two-thirds of Australians as more of a security threat than an economic partner.

Source: https://www.news18.com/news/world/australia-pledges-28-billion-to-expand-defence-personnel-by-a-third-4858568.html

Russia admits it sent young conscripts into its Ukraine war after Putin denied those troops were involved

Russia’s military admitted on Wednesday that young draftees were sent to fight in its war against Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin denied that conscripts were involved in the attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin.MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

“Unfortunately, some facts have come to light about the presence of conscript servicemen among the Russian armed forces conducting the special military operation on Ukrainian territory,” said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov.

“Practically all of the conscripts have been returned to the territory of the Russian Federation,” Konashenkov added.

Konashenkov said, however, that some of the conscripts have been captured.

“In addition, one of the divisions operating toll security has been attacked by a diversionist group of the national battalion,” he said, adding, “A number of military personnel, some of which conscripts, were captured in this attack.”

Source: https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/russia-admits-it-sent-young-conscripts-into-its-ukraine-war-after-putin-denied-those-troops-were-involved/articleshow/90109450.cms

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