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List of All Articles with Tag 'world'

Catherine, Princess of Wales, sends six-word message to the people of Ukraine
Catherine, Princess of Wales, sends six-word message to the people of Ukraine
The Princess of Wales has sent a message of support to Ukraine saying “we are all thinking of you” as she left her handprint on a picture that marked the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Kate wrote the words on a parcel she filled with food, clothes and toiletries for those affected by the war in the eastern European country, during a visit to a Bracknell centre providing services for Ukrainian families settled in the area. The future queen has attended a number of events in support of the people of Ukraine and their struggle against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime. Her tour of the Vsi Razom – Ukrainian for all together – Community Hub saw her make a Ukrainian ribbon brooch, help a little girl complete some artwork and chat with a Ukrainian psychologist providing support to her fellow countrymen and women. The princess’s visit coincided with the one-year anniversary of the hub, founded by Natalia Vil, originally from Estonia but a UK resident for 25 years who is married to a Ukrainian, and Ashleigh Toomey from the UK. Kate asked “is there a technique?” as she began filling her box at the centre in the Lexicon shopping complex, Bracknell, Berkshire, with a group of young Ukrainians, and was advised to put the heaviest objects at the bottom. When told many Ukrainians have volunteered to help out in the centre she said: “It must feel good for them to be able to do something for the people back home.” The princess was invited to add her handprint to a painting of a tree that marked the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – February 24, 2022 – after putting a disposable glove on her right hand. She lighted the mood by saying “I’ve never done a handprint with a glove on. It will be a bit cleaner, normally the children end up putting paint everywhere.” Later, after trying to tie a bow to make a Ukrainian ribbon brooch, in the national colours of the country, she looked at her effort and quipped: “I’m not sure you’re going to be able to sell this one”. Read More William and Kate meet Windrush veterans Fans call out ‘double standard’ as Kate Middleton sports updo after Meghan Markle’s bun ‘broke protocol’ Kate Middleton grins as she’s sniffed by drug sniffer dog during visit to prison
1970-01-01 08:00
How will Kevin McCarthy being ousted as US House speaker affect US aid to Ukraine?
How will Kevin McCarthy being ousted as US House speaker affect US aid to Ukraine?
Shortly before hard-right Republicans made history by ousting Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Ukraine’s western allies, including the UK, the European Union and Nato, received a phone call from President Joe Biden. Congress may be frozen but support for Ukraine is “ongoing”, Mr Biden told those on the line. It was intended as a message of reassurance but, devoid of any detail, it spoke to an impending issue largely outside of the president’s control. Hardline Republicans in the US, the powerhoue of the West, are threatening to demonstratively derail US aid to Ukraine for the first time since last February. Mr McCarthy was removed as head of the lower chamber of the United States Congress, on Tuesday evening following a dispute over how best to allocate government funds for the next fiscal year. The campaign was spearheaded by a group of eight Republicans – a number of them supporters of Donald Trump – angry the domestic issue of securing the border was not being prioritised over supporting Ukraine. The move has plunged the House into chaos and frozen its ability to allocate money completely, including to Ukraine. Until a new speaker is elected and a new financing agreement is approved for next year – a temporary funding bill takes them to 17 November – those reliant on these funds are living on borrowed time. The US is currently operating a policy of taking equipment from its military stocks and sending them straight to Ukraine under the agreed “President Drawdown Authority”. This circumvents the need to buy new equipment from defence companies, which would inevitably delay military aid to a nation that needs it immediately. Congress last year raised the ceiling on the amount the president can take from these military stockpiles from $100 million (£82.4 million) to $14.5 billion (£11.9 billion) to ensure continued support for Ukraine. The Pentagon subsequently sought to get the most out of its funds. But when the fiscal year ended on 1 October without an agreement in the House over how to finance next year, that drawdown authority went back to $100m. Given the burn rate per month for Ukraine of military aid, including artillery and heavier equipment lost in battle, is about $2.5bn, the lowered ceiling of $100m is “basically nothing”, according to Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Asia programme at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. US aid to Ukraine has nearly three months worth of funds (up to $6 billion) to keep feeding its military needs but after that, without a resolution in the House, the stockpiles will run dry. The ousting of Mr McCarthy has made hopes of a resolution evermore difficult. Without a speaker, no decisions can be made. “There is no way to sugarcoat how bad it would be if US security assistance [to Ukraine] stops,” Mr Bergmann said. “A lot of Ukrainians will die and their ability to fight on will be severely compromised.” Russian strikes on critical infrastructure across Ukraine has already begun ramping up, making Kyiv’s need for more air defence systems to protect its civilians more acute. If US funding slows or stops this task beomes far more difficult. Along the frontline, a winter Ukrainian offensive, or the continuation of the current summer counteroffensive, will become exponentially harder the more foreign military aid dwindles. Ukraine’s Armed Forces have become used to attritional warfare, which involves bombing enemy positions before advancing in small groups, retaking small chunks of territory in the process. This requires a continual supply of artillery and shells. Without this, not only are advances more difficult but the threat of a Russian counterattack is heightened. There is also the geopolitical implication of reduced support: it would prove correct the Russian belief that their deep military and personnel resources can outlast Western resolve. “Such a lapse in support will make [Russian President Vladimir] Putin believe that he can wait us out,” US national security council spokesman, John Kirby, said on Tuesday, describing this issue as “just as critical” as the impact on the frontline. European aid will go some way to slowing a potential dilution of US support but they have their own long-term problems regarding arming Ukraine. “The continent collectively has underinvested in defence,” Mr Bergmann said. “There is not as much in the warehouses; there is less ammunition and less mortar rounds.” The House of Representatives, ruled by a razor-thin Republican majority, will now have to vote for a new speaker. Representative Steve Scalise, the number two House Republican, has long been favoured to take over as speaker and enjoys wide support from across his party, but he is currently undergoing chemotherapy for blood cancer. The House, then, must elect a new speaker from a pool of options that are either in the middle of treatment or will struggle to earn enough support to secure any form of sustainable leadership in the House. While they debate and jostle, Ukraine will get closer to losing its most significant military supporter. Read More Kevin McCarthy ousted as US House speaker by Trump supporters – everything you need to know White House says ‘time not our friend’ on Ukraine funding as all eyes on next House speaker Ukraine-Russia war – live: Kyiv launches 31 drones on Putin’s territory as offensive gains momentum
1970-01-01 08:00
How Allyson Felix Used a Nike Snub to Build a Shoe Empire
How Allyson Felix Used a Nike Snub to Build a Shoe Empire
Allyson Felix is not a loud person. Despite being the most-decorated US athlete in track and field history
1970-01-01 08:00
Former Russian state TV journalist gets 8 1/2-year sentence in absentia for Ukraine war criticism
Former Russian state TV journalist gets 8 1/2-year sentence in absentia for Ukraine war criticism
A court in Moscow on Wednesday handed a former state TV journalist a 8 1/2-year prison term in absentia for protesting Russia's war in Ukraine, the latest in a months-long crackdown against dissent that has intensified since Moscow's invasion 20 months ago. Marina Ovsyannikova was charged with spreading false information about the Russian army, a criminal offense under a law adopted shortly after the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine. She held a picket in the Russian capital in July 2022, and held a poster that said “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is a killer. His soldiers are fascists. 352 children have been killed (in Ukraine). How many more children need to die for you to stop?” Ovsyannikova, who until March 2022 worked at for Russia's state-run Channel One, was detained and placed under house arrest, but managed to escape to France with her daughter. Russian authorities put her on a wanted list and prosecuted and tried her in absentia. In March, 2022 Ovsyannikova made international headlines after appearing behind the anchor of an evening Channel One news broadcast with a poster that said “Stop the war, don’t believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here.” She quit her job at the channel, was charged with disparaging the Russian military and fined 30,000 rubles ($270 at the time). Thousands of Russians have been fined and hundreds have faced criminal charges over publicly speaking out or protesting against the war in the last 20 months. The Kremlin has used legislation outlawing criticism of what it insists on calling a “special military operation” to target opposition figures, human rights activists and independent media. Top Kremlin critics have been handed lengthy prison terms, rights groups have been forced to shut down, independent news sites were blocked and independent journalists have left the country, fearing prosecution. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide
1970-01-01 08:00
Germany Brings Back Mothballed Coal Plants to Help Keep Lights On
Germany Brings Back Mothballed Coal Plants to Help Keep Lights On
Germany will bring several mothballed coal plants back to the market this winter to ensure that Europe’s largest
1970-01-01 08:00
Sweden Bank Shares Gain as Windfall Tax Proposal Blocked  
Sweden Bank Shares Gain as Windfall Tax Proposal Blocked  
The second biggest party in Sweden’s parliament has effectively blocked a proposal by the Social Democrats to impose
1970-01-01 08:00
At least five foreign nationals among 21 killed in ‘apocalyptic’ Venice bus crash – latest
At least five foreign nationals among 21 killed in ‘apocalyptic’ Venice bus crash – latest
At least 21 people have been killed after a passenger bus plunged from an overpass near Venice in an “apocalyptic” accident, according to Italian authorities. The vehicle was travelling from Venice to Marghera when the shocking accident took place at the overpass in Mestre on Tuesday evening. “It completely went off the road, it flew off the bridge. It was a bus; it was a highway. We are in mourning,” Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro told Italy’s national broadcaster RAI. At least four Ukrainians and one German tourist were among the dead, local authorities said. Morris Ceron, general director of the municipality of Venice, told RAI that children were among the victims of the crash and that the bus was believed to have foreigners aboard as it headed towards a campsite. Luca Zaia, president of Italy’s Veneto region, called the bus crash “a tragedy of enormous proportions” and also confirmed that “the victims and injured are of various nationalities, not just Italians.” He said that more than 20 ambulances had been used at the scene and also the Treviso air ambulance. The injured were taken to hospitals in Mestre, Mirano, Padua and Treviso. Read More At least 21 dead after passenger bus plunges off overpass near Venice A bus crash near Italian city of Venice kills at least 21 people, including Ukrainian tourists
1970-01-01 08:00
Iceland Takes Surprise Rate-Hike Breather After 14 Straight Increases
Iceland Takes Surprise Rate-Hike Breather After 14 Straight Increases
Iceland’s central bank unexpectedly kept western Europe’s highest borrowing costs on hold as two and a half years
1970-01-01 08:00
Steve Cohen’s Mets Flop While Orioles Win With New Breed of Moneyball
Steve Cohen’s Mets Flop While Orioles Win With New Breed of Moneyball
The 2023 Major League Baseball regular season marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of Moneyball, Michael Lewis’
1970-01-01 08:00
As Student Loan Payments Resume, Biden Cancels $9 Billion in Debt
As Student Loan Payments Resume, Biden Cancels $9 Billion in Debt
President Joe Biden is canceling an additional $9 billion in student-loan debt, his latest action to aid borrowers
1970-01-01 08:00
September Broke the Global Heat Record by a ‘Gobsmackingly Bananas’ Margin
September Broke the Global Heat Record by a ‘Gobsmackingly Bananas’ Margin
The global average temperature for September broke records by such an absurd margin that climate experts are struggling
1970-01-01 08:00
German Companies Plan Office Cutbacks as Remote Working Sticks
German Companies Plan Office Cutbacks as Remote Working Sticks
Almost one in 10 German companies plans to reduce office space in response to remote working habits, adding
1970-01-01 08:00
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