Month: February 2022

Why a Russian Invasion of Ukraine Would Hurt China, Too 

China’s deepening ties with Russia will come with heavy geopolitical and economic consequences should the Ukraine crisis escalate, analysts say. While the two powers have recently intensified their so-called comprehensive strategic partnership, Beijing has not offered its full support for Moscow’s military encirclement of its neighbor. And there have been signs Beijing is worried that a Russia-Ukraine confrontation might not be in China’s national interest while its relationship with the West is deteriorating and its economy is slowing down. The country called again Friday for a political resolution of the crisis. “Efforts should be made on the basis of the …

READ MORE

У Запоріжжі вшанували пам’ять загиблих у 2015 році під Широкиним українських бійців

15 лютого 2015 року сили АТО атакою з Маріуполя зайняли село Широкине та кілька інших населених пунктів на півдні Донецької області. Під час боїв, що тривали п’ять днів, від російських гібридних сил звільнили п’ять населених пунктів …

READ MORE

3 Trapped, 9 Missing After Flames Engulf Greece-Italy Ferry 

Nine passengers were missing after a blaze engulfed a ferry sailing from Greece to Italy early Friday, and firefighters battled to rescue people trapped on the ship, authorities said.  A total of 240 passengers and 51 crew were on board the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia when the fire broke out, and rescue vessels took most to the island of Corfu where ambulances were waiting.  “It was so unreal. It was a bit like the Titanic, but it was real,” David Waller, 58, a truck driver who was rescued and was staying at a hotel on Corfu, told Reuters.  The Greek fire …

READ MORE

UN Weekly Roundup Feb. 12-18, 2022

Editor’s note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch. UN Chief Calls for Diplomacy on Ukraine U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Russia, Ukraine and the West on Monday to de-escalate tensions, saying “there is no alternative to diplomacy” and warning the cost in lives and destruction would be “too high to contemplate.” UN Chief on Russia-Ukraine: ‘No Alternative to Diplomacy’ Millions of Yemenis in Danger of Losing Food Aid U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said Tuesday that 8 million Yemenis had their World …

READ MORE

West, Russia Dispute Events in Eastern Ukraine

Western leaders and Russia maintained a withering war of words Friday in the weeks-long standoff over Ukraine and amid Kremlin threats to retaliate militarily unless NATO agrees to withdraw the small level of forces it has stationed in the formerly communist countries of Eastern Europe, now members of the Western alliance. Leaders of both self-proclaimed breakaway republics in Donbas called on their citizens Friday to begin evacuations, saying those who are fit enough should pick up arms and the rest should leave — with food and shelter to be provided in the Russian town of Rostov-on-the-Don. In a broadcast, the …

READ MORE

Путін відреагував на евакуацію цивільних із окупованого Донбасу – виділять менш як 4 тисячі гривень на особу

Путін також доручив тимчасовому виконувачу обовʼязків міністра з питань надзвичайних ситуацій Олександру Чупріяну терміново вилетіти до Ростовської області для організації умов розміщення осіб, які прибувають із непідконтрольних урядові України частин Донецької та Луганської областей …

READ MORE

UN Chief Urges ‘Serious De-escalation’ on Ukraine

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday of Russian troops surrounding Ukraine, that it is “high time to seriously de-escalate.”  “I still think it will not happen,” he told Western leaders gathered in Germany for the Munich Security Conference about a possible Russian invasion of its southwestern neighbor. “But if it did, it would be catastrophic.”  Guterres has repeatedly called for de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue, warning that the price of armed conflict in human suffering, destruction and damage to European and global security is too high to even contemplate.  He said that he is often asked if the world is experiencing …

READ MORE

UK Warns People to Stay Home as it Braces for 145 KPH Winds

Millions of Britons were urged to cancel travel plans and stay indoors Friday amid fears of high winds and flying debris as the second major storm this week prompted a rare “red” weather warning across southern England. Storm Eunice is likely to cause significant disruption and dangerous conditions, with gusts that may exceed 145 kph in highly exposed coastal areas, the U.K.’s weather forecasting office said. The Met Office issued “red” warnings – indicating a danger to life – for parts of southwest England between 7 a.m. and noon and for southeast England and London from 10 a.m. until 3 …

READ MORE

Частота госпіталізацій в Україні зменшилася у 2-3 рази порівняно з «дельта»-хвилею – Ляшко

Частота госпіталізацій в Україні через COVID-19 зменшилася у два-три рази у порівнянні з «дельта»-хвилею, повідомив міністр охорони здоров’я Віктор Ляшко. Водночас, за його словами, летальність зменшилася у чотири рази – з 2% до 0,5%, але щодо цього є певні особливості. «Смертність – «відкладений» показник. Показник смертності починає зростати і, відповідно, спадати на 2-3 тижні пізніше, ніж випадки і госпіталізації. Таким чином, зараз у Україні зростає смертність, і, очікується, буде залишатися стабільно високою ще близько двох тижнів», – уточнив очільник МОЗ. Станом на сьогодні, за словами голови МОЗ, у закладах охорони здоров’я перебуває на лікуванні 26 052 пацієнтів з підтвердженою коронавірусною …

READ MORE

US to Sell 250 Tanks to Poland

U.S. officials say the United States will sell Poland 250 M1 Abrams battle tanks to enhance the country’s security amid escalating tensions with Russia over Ukraine. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told reporters in Warsaw Friday he and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have informed Congress of their intent to sell the vehicles.  “The timeframe for delivery of these tanks is currently under discussion,” Austin said. Poland announced plans this summer to buy the tanks from the United States as part of a deal worth approximately $6 billion, but the sale kept getting delayed. Austin said the procurement by Poland …

READ MORE