Today's Summary World News(2023-02-17)

 

Shooting at El Paso Shopping Mall Leaves One Dead

On Wednesday, a shooting at an El Paso, Texas shopping mall left one person dead and three others wounded. Police spokesman Robert Gomez reported that one suspect was in custody and they were looking for another possible suspect. The Cielo Vista mall is located next to the Walmart store where 23 people were killed in a mass shooting in August 2019.

This tragic event is a reminder of the devastating effects of gun violence. It is a stark reminder of the need for increased gun control and safety measures to protect innocent people from the dangers of firearms. The shooting also brings to light the need for better mental health care and support for those who may be struggling with mental health issues.

The shooting in El Paso is a tragedy that has left many people feeling scared and vulnerable. It is a reminder of the need for increased gun control and safety measures to protect innocent people from the dangers of firearms. It is also a reminder of the need for better mental health care and support for those who may be struggling with mental health issues.

Western Countries Increase Military Spending on Ukraine Amid Russian Attacks

Western countries have increased their military spending on Ukraine, including artillery rounds, as Kyiv warns of continued Russian attacks. The Russian Defence Ministry has said the Ukrainians had retreated in the face of Russian attacks in the Luhansk region, although Ukrainian forces have repelled some of the attacks. Six Russian balloons were spotted over Kyiv and most were shot down after being engaged by air defences. Near Bakhmut, Russian forces fired on more than 15 towns and villages, including the city itself. Russia has lost around half its best tanks in the year since it invaded Ukraine and is struggling to replace them. NATO countries are ramping up production of artillery munitions as Ukraine is burning through shells much faster than the West can make them, and have pledged to deliver at least 48 Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv. The EU's top diplomat has urged countries to impose sanctions on Russia and to provide financial assistance to Ukraine.

The situation in Ukraine is dire, with Russia mounting constant attacks on Ukraine's positions in the east and pouring troops into the region. Despite this, Ukrainian forces are holding on and have managed to repel some of the attacks. Western countries are responding to the situation by increasing military spending on Ukraine, including artillery rounds, and providing financial assistance. The EU has also called on countries to impose sanctions on Russia.

U.S. House of Representatives Urge Biden to Rescind $1 Billion Arms Sale to Nigeria

Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Democrat Sara Jacobs of California and Republican Chris Smith of New Jersey, have called on President Joe Biden to rescind a nearly $1 billion arms sale to Nigeria. The lawmakers expressed their concern over the Reuters reports on an illegal abortion program and the targeted killing of children carried out by the Nigerian military. They also called for a review of security assistance and cooperation programs in Nigeria, including a risk assessment of civilian casualties and abuses resulting from the arms assistance.

The United States has provided security assistance to Nigeria with training focused on compliance with international law, but humanitarian workers have reported that Nigeria’s security forces “appear to have a limited understanding of humanitarian law and tools for effective engagement with local populations.” The assistance provided by Washington has done little to quell the 14-year conflict between the Nigerian military and Islamist insurgents in the country’s northeast, and there are reports of weapons captured by insurgents.

Therefore, the Congress members believe that continuing to move forward with the nearly $1 billion arms sale would be highly inappropriate and urged the Administration to rescind it. The White House did not immediately provide a comment. This is a negative sentiment as the U.S. House of Representatives are urging the Biden Administration to rescind the arms sale to Nigeria due to reports of illegal abortion programs and targeted killings of children by the Nigerian military.

Rescuers Shift Focus to Relief Efforts After Deadly Earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Nine days after a deadly earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, rescuers have shifted their focus from saving lives to providing relief to survivors. The combined death toll has risen to over 41,000, and millions are in need of humanitarian aid. Many have been left homeless in near-freezing winter temperatures, and rescues are now few and far between. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern for those in northwestern Syria, a rebel-held region with little access to aid, and asked Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to open more border crossing points with Turkey to allow aid to get through.

The stories of how people survived for days buried under the rubble have also begun to emerge. Huseyin Berber, a 62-year-old diabetic, survived 187 hours after the collapsing walls of his groundfloor were propped up by a fridge and a cabinet, leaving him an armchair to sit in. Two women were pulled from the rubble in Turkey's southern city of Kahramanmaras and a mother and two children were rescued from the city of Antakya on Wednesday. Rescuers could be seen applauding and embracing each other as an ambulance carried away a 74-year-old woman rescued in Kahramanmaras, and earlier in the day, a 46-year-old woman was rescued in the same city.

FBI Searches University of Delaware in Biden Investigation

The FBI recently conducted two searches at the University of Delaware in relation to an investigation into President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents. The searches were done with the consent and cooperation of Biden's legal team. Earlier this month, Biden's attorney stated that the U.S. Justice Department did not find documents with classified markings during a three-and-a-half hour search of the president's beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware, but did take some materials for further review. Materials were also found at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, and at a Washington office he used during the time between his service as vice president under Barack Obama and his presidential election. The White House declined to comment and referred queries to the Department Of Justice.

The investigation has created a political headache for Biden, who is expected to announce a re-election campaign in the coming weeks or months. The FBI did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters.

#ElPaso #Texas #CieloVista #Walmart #GunViolence

#Ukraine #Russia #NATO #EU #Sanctions #MilitarySpending #FinancialAssistance #Defence

#Nigeria #ArmsSale #HumanitarianLaw #USForeignPolicy #JoeBiden #ChrisSmith #SaraJacobs

#JoeBiden #FBI #UniversityofDelaware #ClassifiedDocuments #Rehoboth #Wilmington #Washington #Re-Election #JusticeDepartment

Today's Summary World News(2023-02-15)

 

Gunfire Reported at Michigan State University

On Monday, Michigan State University in East Lansing reported that shots were fired on campus, with multiple reported injuries. The university police said that shots were fired in two locations - near Berkey Hall and at IM East, an athletic facility. The university urged students and faculty to “shelter in place” while they searched for the suspect, who was believed to be on foot. The IM East facility was later secured by police.

This is a negative sentiment as it is concerning that shots were fired on a college campus, resulting in multiple reported injuries. The university responded quickly and appropriately by urging students and faculty to “shelter in place” while they searched for the suspect. Thankfully, the IM East facility was later secured by police.

New Zealand Declares State of Emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle Causes Widespread Damage

New Zealand declared a state of emergency for only the third time in its history on Tuesday due to the widespread damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reported that many families have been displaced, homes have lost power, and extensive damage has been done throughout the country. The cyclone is currently located 100 km east of Auckland and is expected to move east-southeast, roughly parallel to the coast.

Kieran McAnulty, Minister of Emergency Management, stated that while the worst of the storm has passed, more rain and high winds are still expected. The country is suffering from extensive flooding, landslides, and damage to roads and infrastructure. Authorities have evacuated beach settlements and are still asking people to leave their homes as rivers continue to swell and the tide rises. Mobile phone services are down and some towns are cut off.   

Parliament will be adjourned until February 21st due to the cyclone and local media are publishing photographs and videos of people sitting on top of buildings surrounded by flood water, of houses swept to the bottom of hills by landslides, and of roads under water. No deaths have been confirmed yet.

In conclusion, New Zealand is facing a national state of emergency due to Cyclone Gabrielle causing widespread damage, flooding, and landslides. The Prime Minister reported that many families have been displaced and homes have lost power. The cyclone is expected to move east-southeast, roughly parallel to the coast, and more rain and high winds are still expected. Parliament has been adjourned and authorities are asking people to evacuate their homes as rivers continue to swell and the tide rises. No deaths have been confirmed yet.

Overall, this is a negative sentiment as the country is facing a national state of emergency and many people have been displaced due to the damage caused by the cyclone.

NATO and Ukraine Respond to Russian Aggression

NATO and Ukraine have been responding to the Russian aggression in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. The Ukrainian military reported Russian shelling all along the frontline and said 16 settlements had been bombarded near Bakhmut. Positions in Bakhmut have been fortified and only people with a military role were being allowed in, while any civilians who still wanted to leave the city would have to brave the incoming fire. The United Nations' human rights office reported 7,199 civilian deaths and 11,756 wounded since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion, mostly from shelling and missile and air strikes.

Ukraine is meeting consumers' energy needs after carrying out repairs to the power network following the latest wave of Russian air strikes. Energy Minister German Galushchenko said emergency repairs had been completed after Russian attacks on Friday that struck energy facilities.

NATO defence ministers are due to meet in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday. NATO plans to increase its targets for munitions stockpiles, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, adding that the alliance had completed a survey of remaining stocks. Moldova's president accused Russia of planning to use foreign saboteurs to bring down her government.

The NATO and Ukraine response to the Russian aggression in Bakhmut is a positive sentiment. The Ukrainian military is doing their best to protect the city and its citizens, while NATO is increasing its targets for munitions stockpiles and surveying remaining stocks. The energy needs of Ukraine are being met and the UN is reporting civilian deaths and injuries due to the Russian invasion. The Moldovan president is also accusing Russia of planning to use foreign saboteurs to bring down her government. Overall, the response of NATO and Ukraine to the Russian aggression is a positive sentiment.

U-Haul Truck Driver Arrested After Deliberately Plowing Into Pedestrians

On Monday, a U-Haul truck driver was arrested in New York City after plowing into pedestrians in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn. The violent rampage left two people in critical condition and two in serious condition, while four others sustained minor injuries. The driver, identified as Weng Sor, was 62 years old. Witnesses reported that the driver seemed to be deliberately targeting pedestrians and told police that he wanted to die when he was pulled over. Video footage showed the truck narrowly missing a pedestrian on the sidewalk, with a police cruiser in pursuit. The incident occurred on the same day that a federal jury began weighing whether to impose the death penalty in the trial of Sayfullo Saipov, who was convicted of intentionally driving a truck down a New York City bike path in 2017, killing eight people.

The sentiment of this paragraph is negative as it discusses a violent incident that resulted in multiple injuries and deaths.

Saipov Sentencing Trial Begins in New York

The sentencing trial of Sayfullo Saipov, who killed eight people and attempted to kill 18 more in a 2017 attack on a Manhattan bike path, began on Monday in New York. A federal prosecutor urged the jury to sentence Saipov to death, while defense lawyers called the death penalty barbaric and urged the jurors to vote for life in prison instead. This is the first time jurors have been asked to vote for the federal death penalty since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, and is a rare occurrence in New York, as the state's death penalty was found unconstitutional in 2004. Prosecutors argued that Saipov deserved to be executed due to his lack of remorse and the threat he still posed in prison, while defense lawyers argued that the death penalty was barbaric and inhumane. The trial is expected to last several weeks, with the government calling multiple survivors and victims' relatives to testify about the harm Saipov has caused them.

#MSU #EastLansing #Gunfire #Injuries

#CycloneGabrielle #NewZealand #StateofEmergency

#NATO #Ukraine #Russia #Bakhmut #Energy #Diplomacy

#NYC #UHaul #PedestrianSafety #DeathPenalty #SayfulloSaipov

#SaipovTrial #DeathPenalty #ManhattanBikePath #JusticeForVictims #SayfulloSaipov

Today's Summary World News(2023-02-14)

U.S. Air Force General Refuses to Rule Out Aliens

The U.S. Air Force General Glen VanHerck, who is in charge of North American airspace, has refused to rule out aliens as the explanation for a series of unidentified objects that have been shot down by U.S. warplanes in the past few days. VanHerck stated that he would leave it to the intelligence and counterintelligence communities to figure out the origin of the objects. He also noted that the military was unable to immediately determine the means by which the objects were kept aloft or where they were coming from. The incidents come as the Pentagon has undertaken a new push in recent years to investigate military sightings of UFOs, rebranded as "unidentified aerial phenomena".

Patrick Mahomes Leads Kansas City Chiefs to Super Bowl LVII Victory

Patrick Mahomes, the NFL's Most Valuable Player, led the Kansas City Chiefs to a dramatic 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. Despite suffering an ankle injury late in the first half, Mahomes put on a heroic effort in the second half, throwing two fourth-quarter touchdowns and engineering a final drive to set up Harrison Butker's 27-yard game-winning field goal with eight seconds to play. Mahomes had a total of 21 completions for 182 yards and rushed for 44-yards. After accepting the Super Bowl MVP award, Mahomes said, "I told you all this week there was nothing going to keep me off this football field. It's the Super Bowl, you can worry about getting healthy in the off-season. I fought through and we were able to win."

The matchup between the Chiefs and Eagles was an intriguing one, featuring two dynamic young leaders in Mahomes and the Eagles' Jalen Hurts, the first two Black quarterbacks to start a Super Bowl. The game drew a Who's Who of industry, entertainment and sports to suburban Phoenix, with Elon Musk, Paul McCartney and LeBron James in attendance.

The outcome of Super Bowl LVII was a positive one, with Patrick Mahomes leading the Kansas City Chiefs to victory despite an ankle injury. Mahomes' resilience and determination to play in the Super Bowl despite his injury was inspiring, and the matchup between two dynamic young leaders in Mahomes and Hurts was an exciting one. The game drew a lot of attention from industry, entertainment, and sports, making it an unforgettable Super Bowl.

Lack of Gender Equality in Japan's Bank of Japan

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is set to appoint three men to its top positions, highlighting the lack of gender equality in Japan, which ranks the lowest among advanced economies for gender equality. This is despite several women being considered contenders for deputy roles this time. Momoko Nojo, a prominent campaigner for gender equality in Japan, stated that this is a problem that is not going to change easily. According to a report by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, only 11% of central banks surveyed had a female governor, a record high, while 37% had female deputy governors. The BOJ has promised to improve its gender diversity, pledging two years ago to raise the ratio of female managers from 6% to 10% by 2023 through career support and training. However, the issue is far bigger than the central bank, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida having just two women in his 20-person cabinet.

U.S. Military Shoots Down Octagonal Object Over Lake Huron

The U.S. military shot down an octagonal object over Lake Huron on Sunday, the fourth flying object to be shot down over North America in a little more than a week. U.S. Air Force General Glen VanHerck, head of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Northern Command, said that the military has not been able to identify what the three most recent objects are, how they stay aloft, or where they are coming from. The object was shot down at 2:42 p.m. local time on President Joe Biden's order, according to Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder. The object was travelling at 20,000 feet (6,100 m) and could have potentially interfered with domestic air traffic, and might have had surveillance capabilities. It appeared to be octagonal in structure, with strings hanging off but no discernible payload. The military has not seen any evidence that the objects were extraterrestrial.

Last Chance for Closure: Families of Chosei Mine Disaster Victims Seek Repatriation

The Chosei mine disaster of 1942 left thousands of Korean bodies scattered across Japan, a lasting symbol of the country's colonial past. Now, with renewed diplomatic efforts to improve relations between the two countries, families of the men drafted to support Japan's war effort in the mine are seeing a last chance for closure. 75-year-old Yang Hyeon, whose uncle was among those killed in the disaster, is part of a group of family members and residents urging the two governments to dig up the bodies and send them home. South Korean government estimates suggest that the remains of as many as 10,000 Koreans who died in forced labour are still in Japan, while Japan says it has identified 2,799 remains of Korean wartime labourers. Since taking office last year, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has sought to settle historic issues with Japan and focus on shared, present-day threats. This has resulted in the first talks between the two countries in a decade, giving hope to the families of the Chosei mine disaster victims that their loved ones may finally be repatriated.

#UAP #UFO #USAF #NorthAmericanAirspace #GlenVanHerck #Aliens

#SuperBowlLVII #PatrickMahomes #KansasCityChiefs #NFLMVP #JalenHurts

#GenderEquality #Japan #BankofJapan #WomenLeaders #Cabinet

#U.S.Military #OctagonalObject #LakeHuron #NORAD #JoeBiden

#ChoseiMine #KoreanBodies #Repatriation #YoonSukYeol #Japan #SouthKorea #Closure

Today's Summary World News(2023-02-13)

Title: French Unions Call for Nationwide Shutdown Over Pension Reform

Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated across France on Saturday in opposition to the government's pension reform plans, which include raising the retirement age to 64 from 62. Unions are hoping to match the turnout from the Jan. 19 protest, when more than a million people marched. Delphine Maisonneuve, a 43-year-old nurse, warned that the government should not be surprised if the situation escalates.

The French spend the largest number of years in retirement among OECD countries, and opinion polls show that a substantial majority of people are reluctant to give up this benefit. President Emmanuel Macron says the reform is "vital" to ensuring the viability of the pension system. Early estimates show that the numbers in Paris have increased by about 20% from the last protest on Tuesday.

Unions are hoping for a huge turnout for the weekend protests, and to draw people from all ages and backgrounds to show the government that the anger against the reform runs deep. Anthony Chauveau, a 40-year-old fireman from the central western city of Tours, said that opposing the reform was crucial because the difficulties of his job were not being taken into consideration.

The peaceful protests in Paris were partly marred by some minor clashes. A car and some rubbish bins were set on fire and police forces used teargas and stun grenades in their attempt to disperse some of the more radical elements in the protests. In a joint statement ahead of Saturday's marches, all the main unions called for the government to withdraw the bill and warned that they would seek to bring France to a standstill from March 7 if their demands were not met.

Kamel Amriou, a 65-year-old retired graphic artist, said that it is important to be vigilant about society and to care for both the elderly and the children. Raising the retirement age by two years and extending the pay-in period would yield an additional 17.7 billion euros ($19.18 billion) in annual pension contributions, according to Labour Ministry estimates. Unions say there are other ways to do this, such as taxing the super rich or asking employers or well-off pensioners to contribute more.

The protests are the first on a weekend, when workers do not need to strike or take time off. They follow the first week of debate on the pension legislation in parliament and the opposition has suggested thousands of amendments to complicate the debate and ultimately try to force the government to pass the bill without a parliamentary vote and through decree.

On Saturday, French unions called for a nationwide shutdown if their demands are not met, in order to keep up pressure on the government over its pension reform plans. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated across France, hoping to draw people from all ages and backgrounds to show the government that the anger against the reform runs deep. President Emmanuel Macron says the reform is "vital" to ensuring the viability of the pension system, while unions suggest other ways to do this, such as taxing the super rich or asking employers or well-off pensioners to contribute more.

Title: Aid Organizations Suspend Rescue Operations in Turkey

Two German aid organizations, International Search and Rescue (ISAR) and Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), suspended their rescue operations in Turkey due to security issues and reports of clashes between groups of people and gunfire. The organizations will resume their work once the Turkish civil protection agency AFAD classifies the situation as safe. ISAR Operations Manager Steven Bayer noted that the organizations would be ready to help if there are any indications of survivors.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency and commented on the general security situation, noting that there had been some looting and that those involved should know that the state's firm hand is on their backs. The Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit (AFDRU) briefly suspended operations and then resumed after the Turkish army took over protection of the AFDRU contingent.

Switzerland is closely monitoring the security situation in Hatay and has increased security measures accordingly. Switzerland has sent 87 specialists and 8 dogs to help in the rescue operation, and have so far recovered 11 people, including two babies since arriving on Tuesday. An extra team of 12 was sent on Friday.

Overall, the security situation in Turkey has caused aid organizations to suspend their rescue operations, but they are ready to resume as soon as the situation is deemed safe.

Title: Devastating Earthquake in Turkey and Syria Leaves Thousands Dead

On Monday, February 10, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, leaving thousands dead and many more injured. The death toll in Turkey alone has surpassed 25,250, making it the country's deadliest earthquake since 1939. In Syria, the death toll has reached 3,500, with many more people left homeless.

Rescue workers in Turkey have been working tirelessly to pull survivors from the rubble, but the chances of finding more survivors are slim. President Tayyip Erdogan has promised to start rebuilding cities "within weeks" and has warned against looting in the quake zone. In Syria, the relief efforts have been complicated by the ongoing civil war, and very little aid has been able to enter the region.

In Turkey, people have been wearing masks to cover the smell of death, and new graves have been dug to bury the dead. In Syria, people are waiting for news of missing loved ones, and many have been forced to sleep in the streets due to the destruction of basic infrastructure.

The U.N. aid chief has praised Turkey's emergency response, but questions have been raised about the soundness of buildings in the quake-zone, and the slow initial response from the government. Erdogan has acknowledged some problems with the response, but has said the situation was brought under control.

The earthquake in Turkey and Syria has been one of the world's deadliest natural disasters this century, leaving thousands dead and many more injured. Despite rescue efforts, the death toll is expected to rise, and the region will need much aid and support in order to rebuild.

Title: Diplomatic and Military Developments in Ukraine

The diplomatic and military situation in Ukraine has been escalating in recent weeks. On Friday, Russian missiles hit power facilities across Ukraine, while the Russian defense ministry reported a "massive strike" on Ukraine's military-industrial complex. Britain reported that Russian forces were making gains north of the city of Bakhmut, while one civilian died in overnight shelling of Melitopol by Ukrainian forces.

In response to the escalating situation, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, Iceland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met to discuss how to help Ukraine defend itself. Additionally, U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to Poland on Feb. 20-22 to meet allies and speak about Ukraine.

Russia has also taken steps to weaponize energy, cutting oil production by about 5% in March. In response, the White House has expressed its disapproval. Furthermore, Moody's downgraded Ukraine's sovereign debt to "Ca" from "Caa3", meaning it is "highly speculative and ... likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest".

In addition, Russia's Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said on Saturday that calls from ministers of more than 30 countries to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Olympics were unacceptable. Meanwhile, thirty-five countries backed calls by Ukraine for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be barred from participating in the summer Olympics next year. International Monetary Fund staff will also meet with Ukrainian officials in Warsaw next week.

Overall, the diplomatic and military situation in Ukraine is escalating, with both Russia and Ukraine taking steps to defend their interests. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, Iceland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg have met to discuss how to help Ukraine defend itself, while U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to Poland to meet allies and speak about Ukraine. Russia has also taken steps to weaponize energy, while Moody's has downgraded Ukraine's sovereign debt. In addition, Russia and Ukraine have both called for a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Olympics. International Monetary Fund staff will also meet with Ukrainian officials in Warsaw next week.

#PensionReform #FranceShutdown #Solidarity #Vigilance #MacronReform

#Turkey #Earthquake #Rescue #Security #Looting #Kidnapping

#Turkey #Earthquake #Rescue #Security #Looting #Kidnapping #AFAD #AFDRU #ISAR #THW #Erdogan #Switzerland #Turkey #Armenia #EarthquakeAid #BorderGate #Ankara #OttomanEmpire #WWI #Genocide #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #Diplomacy #Military #Economy

Today's Summary World News(2023-02-10)

Chinese Health Official Urges Bold Steps to Lower Cost of Childbirth

In response to China's population decline for the first time in six decades, Yang Wenzhuang, director of the Department of Population Monitoring and Family Development under the National Health Commission (NHC), has called for local governments to take "bold" steps to reduce the cost of having babies and raising children. This is in order to reduce the burden on families and boost fertility. The one-child policy, high education costs, and worries about money and career development among women are all factors that have contributed to the low fertility rate.

Yang suggested that local governments should explore and make innovations to reduce the cost of childbirth, childcare, and education in order to promote the balanced development of the population. He also emphasized the importance of family support for improving the fertility rate. In addition, the Sichuan province has allowed unmarried people to raise a family and enjoy benefits reserved for married couples, and some provinces such as Shaanxi have offered up to 5,000 yuan to sperm donors to boost sperm banks.

Despite these efforts, the United Nations experts predict that China's population will shrink by 109 million by 2050. In order to prevent this, it is essential that the Chinese government continues to take steps to reduce the cost of childbirth and childcare, and provide family support in order to increase the fertility rate.

Ukraine Expects Weapons and Aircraft from Allies Amid Russian Offensive

With the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine looming, Kyiv is expecting to receive weapons and aircraft from its allies in order to combat the Russian offensive. French President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out sending fighter jets to Ukraine at some point, but that Kyiv was in need of more immediate military firepower. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has long urged Ukraine's allies to send jet fighters and on Thursday said that several European leaders were ready to supply aircraft. Macron said the current priority was to help Ukraine in the weeks and months ahead, and fighter jets could not be delivered in that timeframe and it would take time to train Ukrainian pilots to fly them.

Macron said the priority should be on items such as artillery, which had proven to be effective and on which Ukrainian forces were already trained. He said it might be necessary to intensify delivery of such items and Ukraine’s allies would examine this possibility in coming days. Ukrainian officials have said a fresh Russian offensive was underway, and Pavlo Krylenko, governor of the eastern Donetsk region, said on Thursday that "the enemy's forces and means are escalating there with daily intensity."

Ukrainian forces have been bolstered with tens of thousands of freshly mobilised recruits, and Russian forces launched a series of overnight strikes that knocked out power supplies in parts of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city. Western countries that have provided Ukraine with arms have so far refused to send fighter jets or long-range weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia for fear of being drawn further into the conflict.

Zelenskiy began a European tour on Wednesday with a meeting in London with Britain's Rishi Sunak and dinner in Paris with France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Olaf Scholz. Sunak promised to train Ukrainian pilots to fly advanced NATO fighter jets, but stopped short of offering to supply the planes. Zelenskiy said that some of what he had been promised in Paris by Macron and Scholz was still secret. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it would be Ukrainians who suffered if Britain or other Western countries supplied fighter jets to Kyiv, and that the line between indirect and direct Western involvement in the war was disappearing.

Ukraine is hoping to receive weapons and aircraft from its allies in order to combat the Russian offensive, and Zelenskiy's European tour has been a step in the right direction. Western countries have so far refused to send fighter jets or long-range weapons, but have promised to train Ukrainian pilots to fly advanced NATO fighter jets. The Kremlin has warned that supplying Kyiv with weapons would lead to an escalation of tension and prolong the conflict, but Ukraine is hoping for the best as the anniversary of Russia's invasion approaches.

Career Highlights of Pulitzer Prize-Winning Reporter Seymour Hersh

Seymour Hersh is a Pulitzer Prize-winning U.S. reporter who recently reported that U.S. Navy divers, in a CIA operation ordered by President Joe Biden, planted explosives that destroyed three Russian gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea last September. The White House dismissed Hersh's report, which relied on a single source to support its claim about the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines, as "utterly false and complete fiction."

Hersh's career began in 1969 when he exposed the massacre of South Vietnamese villagers by U.S. troops in the hamlet of My Lai. His syndicated report was credited with helping end the Vietnam War and his subsequent book "My Lai" won a 1970 Pulitzer Prize. His reporting for the New York Times on President Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal led to an award-winning book on former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Hersh wrote critically acclaimed books on the 1983 Soviet downing of a South Korean passenger jet, Israel's nuclear arms program, and abuses of inmates at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison by American soldiers during the U.S. occupation of Iraq. He also ignited a storm of controversy with a 2013 article in the London Review of Books blaming a sarin nerve agent attack that killed hundreds of Syrian civilians in a rebel-held Damascus suburb on rebels acting under Turkey's direction.

In 2015, Hersh attracted more controversy with a London Review of Books article quoting Pakistani and U.S. sources as saying the U.S. and Pakistani governments lied about details of the 2011 U.S. commando raid that killed al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden at his hideout in Pakistan. Both governments denied Hersh's allegations that Pakistan had been holding bin Laden prisoner and knew about the raid in advance.

Seymour Hersh is a Pulitzer Prize-winning U.S. reporter who has made a career of exposing the truth. His 1969 report on the massacre of South Vietnamese villagers by U.S. troops in My Lai was credited with helping end the Vietnam War, and his reporting on President Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal led to an award-winning book. Hersh has also written critically acclaimed books on the 1983 Soviet downing of a South Korean passenger jet, Israel's nuclear arms program, and abuses of inmates at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison by American soldiers during the U.S. occupation of Iraq. He has also caused controversy with articles blaming a sarin nerve agent attack in Syria on rebels and alleging that the U.S. and Pakistani governments lied about details of the 2011 U.S. commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Hersh's latest report, which claims that U.S. Navy divers planted explosives that destroyed three Russian gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea last September, has been dismissed by the White House as "utterly false and complete fiction."

Blue Origin Awarded First Interplanetary NASA Contract

Blue Origin, the private space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, was awarded its first interplanetary NASA contract on Thursday to launch a mission next year to study the magnetic field around Mars. The mission, called ESCAPADE, will be launched in late 2024 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, and will take 11 months to reach Mars orbit. The mission will be carried out by Blue Origin's recently developed New Glenn heavy-lift rocket, which is named for pioneering NASA astronaut John Glenn.

Blue Origin has flown previous NASA missions with its smaller, suborbital New Shepard rocket, and is one of 13 firms NASA chose last year for its Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare missions (VADR) program. This program is intended to spur private development of private space launch vehicles by assigning lower-cost NASA science missions to new rockets with an unproven record and higher chance of failure.

Although ESCAPADE marks NASA's first flight on New Glenn, that booster has been selected to carry payloads to orbit for three leading satellite operators: Eutelsat, JSAT and Telesat. Additionally, Amazon's Project Kuiper satellite constellation has chosen New Glenn for 12 launches over five years.

#SeymourHersh #PulitzerPrize #MyLai #Watergate #AbuGhraib #Syria #OsamaBinLaden

#Ukraine #Russia #Weapons #Aircraft #Allies #Offensive

#China #Fertility #FamilySupport #Childbirth #Childcare #Education #PopulationDevelopment #OneChildPolicy #DemographicDownturn #Sichuan #SpermDonors

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