The Russian and Ukrainian armed forces have been accused of torturing and executing prisoners of war over the past year by the United Nations, which said that such actions could amount to war crimes. A report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) claimed that both Russia and Ukraine have engaged in the summary execution of prisoners of war, which contravenes numerous international human rights laws and treaties on war. The OHCHR said that they documented cases of summary executions of at least 25 Russian prisoners of war (POWs) under the authority of Ukrainian forces. “Such cases amount to gross violations of [international human rights law] and serious violations of [international humanitarian law] that may constitute war crimes,” the report said. The UN body went on to claim to have documented poor treatment of POWs at eight of the 31 transit or permanent camps run by the Ukrainian government, in which they found documented … [Read more...] about U.N. Accuses Both Russia and Ukraine of Potential War Crimes
Reuters report on covid 19 russia
Lana Del Rey slammed after she wears mesh face mask to poetry book signing event
Singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has been slammed for wearing a mesh face mask at a fan book signing event. The Venice B***h singer, 35, real name Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, donned a sparkly fishnet face mask for the event at Barnes & Noble in Los Angeles on Friday. Lana was promoting her new poetry book Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass at the fan meet-and-greet event. The glamorous star, whose blonde locks were swept back for the event, sat in a cordoned off area to read excerpts of her poetry. The singer later appeared to pose for photos for fans whilst wearing the glamorous face mask which clearly had holes in the front. She previously donned a similar one for the cover of Interview magazine in September. Lana's younger sister and photographer Caroline 'Chuck' Grant recorded the event on Instagram with a live feed, but the comments on the footage from fans were quick to complain about her sister's face mask during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lana Del Rey … [Read more...] about Lana Del Rey slammed after she wears mesh face mask to poetry book signing event
Russian brigade destroyed and reconstituted up to 8 times after losses: ISW
Russia's 155th Naval Infantry Brigade has been "destroyed and reconstituted as many as eight times" since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, according to a new report. The claim was made by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington D.C.-based think tank, in its update on the Ukraine conflict published on Friday. Russian troops are continuing to assault the Donbas town of Bakhmut. They have suffered huge casualties in trying to seize it since August 2022, amidst growing speculation that the Ukrainian military is preparing for a major counter-offensive . Russian efforts to seize Vuhledar, a small town to the southwest of Donetsk, are also continuing, with the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade involved in the battle. However, according to the ISW, the operation has been sharply criticized by Russian military bloggers, or milbloggers, who generally support the war but have sometimes been critical of the tactics used. "The milbloggers claimed that … [Read more...] about Russian brigade destroyed and reconstituted up to 8 times after losses: ISW
A Colonoscopy Alternative Comes Home
Most Americans who are due for a colon cancer screening will receive a postcard or a call — or prompting during a doctor’s visit — to remind them that it’s time to schedule a colonoscopy. But at big health care systems like Kaiser Permanente or the federal Veterans Health Administration, the process has changed. Patients who should be screened regularly (age 50 to 75) and who are of average risk, get a letter telling them about a home test kit arriving by mail. It’s a FIT, which stands for fecal immunochemical test. The small cardboard mailer contains equipment and instructions for taking a stool sample and returning the test to a lab, to detect microscopic amounts of blood. A week or so later, the results show up on an online patient portal. Five to 6 percent of patients will have a positive test and need to schedule a follow-up colonoscopy. But the great majority are finished with colon cancer screening for the year — no uncomfortable prep, no need to skip work or find … [Read more...] about A Colonoscopy Alternative Comes Home
Russian charged with “badmouthing” military after private call wire-tapped
A Moscow police officer could face a lengthy prison term after the wiretapping of his phone revealed that he had criticized the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sergei Vedel, who was originally from Bucha, Ukraine, the scene of alleged Russian atrocities last year, had made disparaging comments about the war in conversations with his relatives, according to an indictment that was reported on the Telegram channel of opposition politician Ilya Yashin. He had worked as a driver for one of the chiefs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A month before the start of the war, his phone was wiretapped, which Yashin said could have been as part of an investigation into his boss or because of his Ukrainian origins. It was discovered that during his phone conversations with friends last March, Vedel denied that Ukraine was run by Nazis, a stance that was one of the Kremlin's justifications for its war. He also said that one of the reasons for the war was a bid by Moscow to … [Read more...] about Russian charged with “badmouthing” military after private call wire-tapped
‘Powerful Propaganda Tool’: Bill Maher Panelists React To TikTok Ban Proposals
TikTok is a “powerful propaganda tool” that should be banned, a panelist on “Real Time With Bill Maher” said Friday night, calling the Chinese-owned app “a defense threat.” “Imagine a brain jack inserted into the neural network of two-thirds of our youth under the age of 25, who spend more time on TikTok than every other media source combined,” said Scott Galloway, a professor of marketing at New York University. “And then imagine how easy it would be to put your thumb on the scale of anti-American content and recognize that they would be stupid not to elegantly, insidiously, covertly, raise a generation of American civil, nonprofit, military, government leaders, day by day, minute by minute, who just feel a little shittier about America.” (RELATED: ‘He Won’t Protect America’: Gov. Noem Predicts Biden Won’t Sign Ban On TikTok) “If we had that tool with China, we would do the exact same thing,” Galloway continued. “This is a defense threat, it should absolutely be banned.” … [Read more...] about ‘Powerful Propaganda Tool’: Bill Maher Panelists React To TikTok Ban Proposals
‘There’s nothing left’: Mississippi tornadoes kill 23
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS, MICHAEL GOLDBERG and ROGELIO SOLIS ROLLING FORK, Miss. (AP) — A powerful tornado cut a devastating path of at least 170 miles (274 kilometers) through parts of the Deep South on Friday night, killing at least 23 people in Mississippi and obliterating dozens of buildings as it stayed on the ground for more than an hour. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said in a Twitter post that search and rescue teams from local and state agencies were deployed to help victims impacted by the tornadoes. The agency confirmed early Saturday that 23 people had died, four were missing and dozens were injured. A few minutes later, the agency warned the casualty toll could go higher, tweeting: “Unfortunately, these numbers are expected to change.” Throughout Saturday morning, people walked around dazed and in shock as they broke through debris and fallen trees with chain saws, searching for survivors. Power lines were pinned under decades-old oaks, their roots … [Read more...] about ‘There’s nothing left’: Mississippi tornadoes kill 23
Banks drag European markets lower amid Deutsche Bank woes
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Banks suffered another poor session on Friday as Deutsche Bank became the latest financial firm to start putting traders on edge. Europe’s biggest markets all dropped in value as uncertainty once again rippled through. It came after particular worries about Deutsche Bank caused shares to drop by more than 14% before midday on Friday and credit default swaps – which are used by Deutsche’s bondholders as insurance should it fail – soared. Shares in the company reduced their losses slightly as investors suggested another Credit Suisse scenario was not of the horizon, but sentiment remained dented. Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said: “It looks like the banking crisis isn’t solved. Recommended Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide … [Read more...] about Banks drag European markets lower amid Deutsche Bank woes
Friend of President Admits to Violating Fund-Raising Laws
See the article in its original context from May 22, 1999 Section Page Buy Reprints View on timesmachine TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. A Democratic fund-raiser and longtime Arkansas friend of President Clinton pleaded guilty today in a Federal court in Little Rock, Ark., to two charges related to his political fund-raising, and agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department's long-running campaign finance inquiry. The fund-raiser, Yah Lin Trie, was one of the first major Democratic figures from Mr. Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign to be charged in an indictment in January 1998. Mr. Trie was important because he was one of small group of Clinton associates who used contacts in Asia to help seek money for the Democrats, ultimately raising more than $1 million for the Democratic National Committee and Mr. Clinton's legal defense fund. In the plea agreement, the Government said it would dismiss all charges … [Read more...] about Friend of President Admits to Violating Fund-Raising Laws