February 25, 2022

Putin tells Ukraine military to 'take power into your own hands'

Source: BBC

Here's more from Vladimir Putin, who is addressing the Russian Security Council - and, indirectly, the Ukrainian military.

He says Banderites - a reference to World War Two anti-Soviet fighter Stepan Bandera - and so-called neo-Nazis "have put up heavy armaments including multiple rocket launch systems" in cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv.

"Neo-Nazis" is a regularly used by President Putin to deride the Ukrainian government. Ukraine's President Zelensky, who is Jewish, has dismissed the term.

Putin says: "They are acting like terrorists across the world, shielding behind people in order to accuse Russia of causing casualties among the peaceful population.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60517447

February 25, 2022

Drug distributors, J&J agree to finalize $26 bln opioid settlement

Source: Reuters


Feb 25 (Reuters) - The three largest U.S. drug distributors and drugmaker Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) have agreed to finalize a proposed $26 billion settlement resolving claims by states and local governments that they helped fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic.

Distributors McKesson Corp (MCK.N), AmerisourceBergen Corp (ABC.N), Cardinal Health Inc (CAH.N) along with J&J had until Friday to decide whether enough cities and counties nationally had opted to join the landmark settlement to justify moving forward with it.

The deal aims to resolve more than 3,000 lawsuits largely by state and local governments seeking to hold the companies responsible for an opioid abuse crisis that has led to hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths over the last two decades.

The announcement paves the way for the companies to begin making payments to the governments in April, money that officials say will be used to fund treatment and other programs aimed at addressing the health crisis.


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/drug-distributors-agree-finalize-opioid-settlement-2022-02-25/

February 25, 2022

France will provide defensive equipment to Ukraine

Source: https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russi

France will provide defensive equipment to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a written speech to the country’s two legislative bodies Friday. The speech did not detail what the equipment would be.

Macron wrote that France will provide Ukraine with a “additional budgetary assistance of 300 million euros” and “will provide the defensive material they need."

France has not previously provided arms to Ukraine but has provided humanitarian aid and budgetary support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed for citizens to take up arms against Russian troops and have been distributing guns and ammunition to reservists.

Read more: CNN

February 25, 2022

Another 1986-scale Chernobyl disaster 'extremely unlikely', experts say

Source: BBC News

A radiation spike has been recorded around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Data from monitoring stations suggests the levels of radiation

increased about 20-fold on Thursday.

“Around the reactor you would normally receive a dose of around 3 units (called microsieverts) every hour - that’s jumped to 65,” explains Sheffield University nuclear materials expert Prof Claire Corkhill.

“That’s about five times more than you would get on a transatlantic flight.”

The most likely explanation, she says, is increased movement of people and vehicles in the 4,000 square km Chernobyl exclusion zone has kicked up radioactive dust that is usually undisturbed on the ground.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60517447

February 25, 2022

Ukrainian president says 'enemy sabotage groups' have entered Kyiv as forces close in

Source: Washington Post

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says "enemy sabotage groups" have entered Kyiv, the capital, as Russian forces close in.

Two loud booms were heard from the city at around 4 a.m. local time. In an address to Ukrainians, Zelensky did not specifically say Russian forces had entered Kyiv, but his reference to "sabotage groups" was interpreted as a sign that the city was in peril. He also said the country has been left to fight alone by NATO despite appeals for help from the alliance. But he remained defiant and urged Ukrainians to fight on.

President Biden has announced sweeping sanctions against Russia for its full-scale attack, saying in a Thursday White House address that the aggression "cannot go unanswered." The sanctions, coordinated with allies, target Russia's elites, its largest state-owned banks and companies throughout its economy.

A senior U.S. defense official said Russia's moves were "clearly designed to take key population centers" and topple Ukraine's democratically elected, pro-Western government.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/24/russia-ukraine-attack-news/

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Meanwhile CNN is reporting:

A senior U.S. defense official said Russia's moves were "clearly designed to take key population centers" and topple Ukraine's democratically elected, pro-Western government.

Officials in the country believe Russia's plan is to overthrow the Ukrainian leadership and install a pro-Russian government.

In a video statement late Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky said he believes "enemy sabotage groups" had entered Kyiv and that he was their No. 1 target. His family, he said, was the second target.

"They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state," he said, adding he was staying in the government quarter.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/24/europe/ukraine-russia-invasion-thursday-intl/index.html

BBC is reporting similar information

February 24, 2022

Hundreds of people detained in anti-war protests around Russia, according to independent monitors

From CNN's Nathan Hodge in Moscow

As of Thursday evening Moscow time, at least 850 people have already been detained in at least 44 cities across Russia, independent monitoring group OVD-Info reported.

Russia bars demonstrations without a permit, but Russians may stage individual, single-person protests.

Authorities on Thursday warned citizens that participating in anti-war protests could lead to prosecution and criminal charges.

https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-24-22-intl/index.html

Just now the Washington Post is reporting "More than 1000 people were arrested in 47 cities across the nation, according to rights group OVD-Info."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/24/russia-ukraine-attack-news/

February 24, 2022

CNN: Russian riot police tell protesters to disperse in Moscow

From CNN's Anna Chernova and Nic Robertson

Russian riot police are urging protesters to leave Pushkinskaya Square in Moscow, saying over loudspeakers that the “[protest] action is unauthorized.”

CNN’s Nic Robertson and team on the ground have witnessed people being detained by police. Some are carrying signs with messages, including multiple signs saying “no to war.”

Russian authorities on Thursday warned citizens that participating in anti-war protests could lead to prosecution and criminal charges.

https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-24-22-intl/index.html

February 24, 2022

Horrifying Photos Show Immediate Effects Of Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

Huffington Post has posted a large number of photos of the invasion. Go to the link below


Firefighters at a building in the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Thursday as Russian armed forces try to invade Ukraine from several directions. ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images


https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ukraine-russia-bombings-photos_n_6217953de4b0f800ce1d42e7

February 24, 2022

Putin doesn't care about peacekeeping in Ukraine

He cares about keeping a piece of Ukraine.

February 24, 2022

CNN: Map of locations where Russian attacks have been reported

https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-24-22-intl/index.html