WASHINGTON. On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a constitutionality challenge. Indian Child Welfare Act 1978making it difficult to separate Native American children from their parents, their tribes, and their heritage.

The law, which requires special adoption procedures, is based on the sovereignty of Indian nations and a history of cruel child protection practices against Indian children.

Family courts generally base their decisions on the best interests of the child before them. But the 1978 law says there are other factors to consider.

“The tribe has an interest in the child that is different from the interests of the parents, but is on par with the interests of the parents,” Judge William J. Brennan, Jr. wrote in a 1989 decision. Mississippi Gang of Choctaw Indians vs. Holyfield. Justice Brennan added that it was “a relationship that many non-Indians find difficult to understand.”

Three states – Texas, Louisiana and Indiana – and seven people sued the federal government to challenge the law, saying it was an unacceptable intrusion into matters traditionally governed by state law and a violation of equal protection principles. on the race of one of the parties.

State lawyers told the Supreme Court that the law “establishes a child custody regime for Indian children that is determined by the child’s genetics and ancestry,” adding that “this race-based system is designed to ensure that the adoption and rearing of Indian children by non-Indian families in last resort through various legal mechanisms that select favorites on the basis of race.”

Several tribes stepped in to protect the law. In the Supreme Court, they called the states’ argument about racial discrimination inflammatory. They wrote that the 1978 law “is tied to membership in Indian tribes as far as politics, not race.”

The challengers largely prevailed before a federal trial court and a divided three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans. The full Fifth Circuit retried the case, issuing a piecemeal decision that led both sides to seek a retrial in the Supreme Court.

Revealed: Stunning new £ 3 million superyacht-style superyacht with “panoramic hot tub” and private jet-inspired layout

• The Royal Alpha One is a 65-foot (20-meter) ship with a superstructure that consists mainly of glass
• On-board amenities include three bedrooms, a retractable swimming platform and a garage for water toys.
• According to the designers, the building is ready for construction, which will take 16 months

from Ailbhe Macmahon for Mailonline

Published: 15:02 GMT, 28 February 2022 | Updated: 15:02 GMT, 28 February 2022

Advertising

A new £ 3 million spaceship superyacht was unveiled, including a panoramic rooftop hot tub.

The bathtub is one of the outstanding features of the 65ft (20m) Royal Alpha One, which has a dynamic, futuristic look thanks in part to glass surfaces that are photochromic – so they change color depending on light intensity.

The Italian design studio behind him, Lazzarini, says the disposable boat is “configured with a private jet-style layout, luxury chairs and dining sofas.”

A £ 3 million spaceship superyacht has been unveiled, known as the Royal Alpha One – pictured here

The 65-foot (20 m) ship has a dynamic, futuristic look, thanks in part to glass surfaces that are photochromic – so they change color depending on light intensity

There is a spacious main deck with living areas, while the lower living level offers three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. There is also a kitchen and a cabin for two crew members.

At the back there is an open space where guests can admire panoramic views.

And the same views can be offered from the inside, thanks to the large glass surfaces that make up the upper structure of carbon fiber.

Italian design studio Lazzarini says the disposable boat is “configured with a private jet style layout”

The image above shows how the interior of the three-bedroom boat is full of “luxury chairs and sofas with dining area”

Meanwhile, a large sun lounger joins the hot tub on the roof – a place to soak up the sun and even more amazing views.

Guests can glide into the sea to cool off thanks to the retractable swimming platform at the back – and play with water toys stored in the “spacious garage”.

The Royal Alpha One is available with Volvo’s dual or triple drive system, with speeds ranging from 32 knots (36 mph) to 42 knots (48 mph). Alternatively, on request, the yacht can be designed for full electric sailing and powered by hydrogen.

Meanwhile, a large sun lounger joins the rooftop hot tub – a place to soak up the sun and even more amazing views.

The yacht is equipped with a retractable swimming platform and has a spacious garage where water toys can be stored.

The layout of the Royal Alpha One, which can be designed for full electric sailing and powered by hydrogen on request

Full electric autonomy allows 120 miles (193 km), while diesel power would allow 680 miles (1094 km).

Although Lazzarini still has no buyer, he says the building is already available for the construction process, which will take about 16 months.

Speaker Cinzia Ruggeri says: “The hull has already been printed and is available for the construction process, equipped with dual Volvo IPS engines.”

Lazarini says construction will take about 16 months, and spokesman Cinzia Ruggeri said “the corps [above] already printed and available ‘

Lazzarini has a form when it comes to designing elegant vessels – last year he revealed plans for Hyper yacht “Ferrari of the seas”. which comes with a garage for the owner’s road supercar.

The company has also provided a superyacht in the shape of a swana A mega yacht inspired by sharks for 450 million poundsand a shiny boat with a gaping hole in the middle.

For more information visit www.lazzarinidesignstudio.com.

Share or comment on this article:

Covid’s cases are reaching a low point in America as the nation begins to move forward from winter Omicron wave and the pandemic in general. The United States registered only 7,464 new infections on Sunday and places with the most stringent measures such as new York and Chicago lift the remaining mandates.

While Sunday is always a day when the United States registers fewer infections than others – many local health departments are closed during the day – this is the first time less than 10,000 cases have been reported in a single day since July 11 last year. The previous “small” Sunday sums so far this year have been over 70,000.

The average daily number of cases in the country has fallen to 66,337 per day, down 34 percent in the past week and a staggering 91 percent drop from a record 800,000 cases a day in mid-January.

As cases continue to dwindle, pandemic-related restrictions on Americans are beginning to disappear. Almost every state in America has either revoked the mask orders or set a day for it in the near future. Even the United States Capitolwhich has a controversial mandate for masks since lawmakers returned in the summer of 2020, repealed orders for masks over the weekend.

Vaccine mandates, arguably the most controversial Covid-related mandates, are also beginning to be a thing of the past. New York Mayor Eric Adams said on Sunday that he would soon cancel vaccine checks needed for many entertainment and fitness venues. However, the mandates of employers will remain in force for the time being.

Masks in schools will become a thing of the past in New York. Gov. Katie Hochul – who had already revoked orders for indoor masks earlier this month – lifted the state’s mandate for school masks over the weekend. The change will take effect on March 2.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (left) has chosen to lift the city’s mandate for a vaccine for indoor nutrition, fitness and entertainment. Gov. Katie Hochul (right) announced over the weekend that the state’s mask for the school mask would be revoked on March 2nd.

According to revised CDC guidelines, 70% of Americans no longer live under a mask recommendation

Chicago, another of the bluest states in America, which had some of the strictest rules during the pandemic, will lift mandates for masks and vaccines on Monday as cases continue to decline indefinitely in Windy City.

Federal officials finally moved on Friday. After weeks of dragging with changing mask orders, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised the way it calculates the risk of Covid for each county. Instead of just counting the cases, the agency will now seriously weigh the hospitalization rate and hospital capacity in each U.S. county.

Previously, 95 percent of U.S. counties, which have almost every U.S. resident, were thought to live in an area with “high” or “significant” transmission. According to the new changes, now only 37 percent of counties containing 28 percent of Americans are under the mask recommendation. The “substantial” classification has been removed and 40 percent of the counties are considered “medium” risk, and 23 percent are considered “low” risk.

In recent weeks, the CDC has been under pressure to remove mask recommendations due to declining cases across the country. However, the agency was moving slowly, with 49 of the 50 states – Hawaii the most remote – making plans to remove face coatings even before the CDC’s revised guidelines.

California, the nation’s most populous state, is even moving to put the pandemic behind it all. Two weeks ago, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California would soon switch to treating COVID-19 as an endemic, moving away from the pandemic, as the state marks two years since the first cases of the virus were discovered in the United States.

Golden State is now the first state in the United States to declare the virus “endemic”, although some others have decided that the pandemic is completely over without any plans to deal with the virus in the future.

Covid’s daily deaths in America also continue to decline. The nation has an average of 1,755 deaths a day, down 19 percent in the past week. Hospitalizations, a largely inaccurate statistic used by the CDC as a basis for risk level calculations, have also fallen 43 percent in the past two weeks, with 52,909 Covid-positive people receiving treatment each day.

Covid cases have been declining in the last two weeks in all 50 US states. Mississippi, one of the least vaccinated states in America, saw the sharpest drop in cases, with daily infections down 86 percent in the past week. Magnolia was one of the last states on the East Coast to be hit by Omicron, and was a longtime leader in Covid mortality. The state now records only 0.83 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

No state records 100 daily infections per 100,000 population, with Idaho leading the way with 82 daily cases per 100,000 population.

Both Nebraska and Maryland have almost eliminated Covid from the United States so far, each registering less than ten infections a day per 100,000 residents.

Ohio leads the United States in Covid mortality, averaging 1.33 deaths a day per 100,000 residents. Buckeye, which has vaccinated only 58 percent of its population, is one of five states to record more than one daily death per 100,000 population.

Here’s a look at the top 10 jackpots won in the United States and the states where the winning tickets were sold:

1. $ 1.6 Billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)

2. $ 1.537 billion (mega millions) won on October 23, 2018. The lucky winner lives in South Carolina

3. $ 758.7 million, Powerball, August 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)

4. $ 687.8 million (Powerball) October 27, 2018 Two winning tickets were drawn, one in Iowa and one in New York.

5. $ 656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (three tickets, from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland)

6. $ 648 million, Mega Millions, December 17, 2013 (two tickets, from California and Georgia)

7. $ 590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013 (one ticket, from Florida)

8. $ 587.5 million, Powerball, November 28, 2012 (two tickets, from Arizona and Missouri)

9. $ 564.1 million, Powerball, February 11, 2015 (three tickets, from North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas)

10. $ 559.7 million, Powerball, January 6, 2018 (one ticket, New Hampshire)

The United States will close its embassy in Minsk, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Monday after reports that Belarus may join Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The US government has also warned Belarus that it could risk additional sanctions if it helps Vladimir Putin continue his attack. Last week, President Joe Biden announced sanctions against 24 Belarusian legal entities and individuals for his role in Russia’s attack.

Blinken also gave the green light to non-essential staff at the US embassy in Moscow, citing “security and safety issues” caused by Putinan unprovoked attack on his neighbor.

On the question of the threat of Belarus joining the deadly battle, a the White House said an official CNN it was a “very close observation of these events.”

“We have said that to the extent that Belarus continues to support and encourage Russian aggression in Ukraine, they will also face consequences,” the official said.

“We have already introduced some of these measures. These costs will continue to grow much higher.

DailyMail.com contacted the White House for comment.

The announcements came as Kiev officials representing President Vladimir Zelensky and Kremlin officials held potential peace talks on Ukraine’s border with Belarus.

View of the wreckage after a rocket hit buildings as Russian attacks continue in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on February 28. Fighting continues even as Moscow and Kyiv officials meet for talks

Cars are stopped by a blockade by civil defenders on the road leading to central Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, February 28

“The US State Department has suspended operations at our embassy in Minsk, Belarus and allowed the voluntary departure (” authorized departure “) of non-emergency staff and members of our family at our embassy in Moscow, Russia,” the statement said. Blinken.

“We have taken these steps due to security and safety concerns arising from the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine.”

He added that his department was “constantly adjusting its position” in positions around the world “in line with its mission, local security environment and health situation”.

“Ultimately, we do not have a higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens, and that includes our government staff and their dependents who serve around the world,” Blinken said.

Increased fears that Belarus could join Putin’s war come after Sunday’s referendum approved a new constitution that rejects the country’s non-nuclear status, meaning it could potentially host Russian weapons.

Belarus, which borders both Russia and Ukraine, is ruled by Alexander Lukashenko, who has allied closely with Putin.

Although not directly involved in Russia’s war, Belarus has allowed Vladimir Putin to deploy troops within its borders and even conduct large-scale military exercises there, as in the February 19 photo, days before the invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken says non-essential officials at the US embassy in Moscow could leave on Monday, citing Putin’s “unprovoked and unjustified” actions in Ukraine.

Blinken says the United States will also close the US embassy in Belarus after reports surfaced that strong dictator Alexander Lukashenko could join Vladimir Putin’s military effort.

The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Washington Post, said: “This is very clear [Belarus’ capital] Now Minsk is a continuation of the Kremlin.

The official did not give an indication of how many troops and where they will be stationed.

The new constitution may see nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil for the first time since the country renounced them after the fall of the Soviet Union. On Sunday, speaking in a polling station, Lukashenko he said he could ask Russia to return nuclear weapons to Belarus.

Belarus has supported Russia’s military efforts, but has so far not been directly involved in the conflict. It allows Moscow’s troops to be stationed on its border with Ukraine and conduct large-scale military exercises shortly before Putin personally orders his troops to attack.

The revelation came hours after Ukraine’s state security service officially announced that a rocket attack on Zhytomyr Airport, about 93 miles west of Kyiv, had been launched from Belarus.

Belarusian special forces have been spotted loading into planes in preparation for an air strike against Kyiv, which could be an extension of the war, military sources said.

Ukrainian intelligence reportedly learned from Belarus that “special” troops had been spotted loading planes for a major attack.

The West has already said it will not recognize the results of the referendum in Belarus, which is being held amid widespread repression against the government’s domestic opponents. According to human rights activists, there are more than a thousand political prisoners in Belarus as of Sunday

Russian forces have met with strong opposition from Ukrainian defenders, and US officials say they believe the invasion was more difficult and slower than the Kremlin had predicted, although that could change as Moscow adapts. .

Speaking directly familiar with current US intelligence assessments, the US official said the decision to bring Belarus into the war depended on talks between Russia and Ukraine in the coming days.

On Sunday night, Lukashenko threatened a chilling threat that Western sanctions against Russia were pushing the Kremlin toward World War III.

What follows is Putin’s order for troops to be ready for a potential nuclear war this morning.

Lukashenko’s comments came when Kyiv and Moscow agreed to hold peace talks on the border with Belarus – although Zelensky acknowledged he was unsure of the positive decision, adding that he owed his people at least a try to get involved.

Deployment could significantly affect these peace talks.

On Monday, the United States tightened economic sanctions against Russia as the Ukrainian military continues to offer historic and unprecedented resistance to Kremlin attacks.

The Ministry of Finance announced that it is applying sanctions against the Russian Central Bank, as well as investment funds

The move was described as the most important action the finance ministry has taken against Russia’s economy, according to a senior administration official who told reporters about the sanctions on condition of anonymity.

This was said by representatives of the Biden administration Germany, FranceUnited Kingdom, ItalyJapan, European Union and others will join the United States in targeting Russia’s central bank.

“The unprecedented action we are taking today will significantly limit Russia’s ability to use assets to finance its destabilizing activities and direct the funds on which Putin and his inner circle depend to allow him to invade Ukraine,” the minister said in a statement. of Finance Janet Yellen.

The Treasury Department said the move effectively immobilized all Russian-owned or US-held assets in the United States and would severely limit Putin’s ability to mitigate previous sanctions.

The Biden administration estimates that the move could affect “hundreds of billions of dollars” in Russian funding.

So much for peace talks: a huge convoy of Belarusian tanks and troop carriers is seen near the border with Ukraine as Kyiv and Moscow begin talks

• Ukraine has said it will demand a ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of the Russians
• Moscow officials remained silent about what the talks could lead to
• A convoy of Belarusian military vehicles was seen heading to the southern border today
• President Vladimir Zelenski has admitted he does not expect a positive result
• Observers have warned that talks could be a pretext for Moscow to step up the attack
• Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko seems ready to join the Russian invasion

from Lauren Lewis for Mailonline

Published: 14:17 GMT, 28 February 2022 | Updated: 2:32 PM GMT, February 28, 2022

A convoy of Belarusian tanks and troop carriers was seen queuing near the Ukrainian border today as Moscow and Kyiv officials began peace talks.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Green he admitted that he was not confident in the positive decision, adding that he owed his people at least to try to get involved.

He was reluctant to agree to conversations Belarusa country used as a base for the Russian invasion and now ready to join the war, offering to meet instead in Istanbul, Warsaw or Baku.

Ukraine has said it will call for a ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Russian forces, but Moscow remains silent on what the noon talks in Gomel, southeastern Belarus, could lead to.

But today, columns of Belarusian military vehicles were spotted heading east from the southwest corner of the country in what appeared to be preparations for joining the invasion of Ukraine.

Observers, meanwhile, have warned that talks could be a pretext for Moscow to step up its attacks on Ukraine if Kyiv officials deny Russian demands.

Ukrainian, Russian officials meet today for peace talks in Belarus, as observers warn that talks could be a pretext for Moscow to step up its attack if Kyiv officials reject Russian demands

Columns of Belarusian military vehicles were spotted heading east from the southwest corner of the country today in what appears to be preparations for joining the invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted he is not confident of a positive decision, adding that he owes his people at least an attempt to commit.

Among those in attendance were Ukraine’s defense minister, chief adviser in the president’s office and deputy foreign minister.

But while Ukraine sent its defense minister and other senior officials, the Russian delegation was led by Putin’s cultural adviser, an unlikely envoy to end the war and perhaps a sign of Moscow’s view of the talks.

Meanwhile, ahead of today’s peace talks, Russian military officials ordered heavy strategic bomber flights as part of what appears to be efforts to prevent international aid from reaching Ukraine.

Observers have warned that the order suggests that Vladimir Putin’s forces are preparing to intensify bombing of Ukraine in the coming days.

Richard Nass, president of the Foreign Affairs Council, warned that recent events meant that the most likely development of the conflict was a “conventional” military escalation from Russia, not a diplomatic breakthrough.

He wrote to us on Twitter that he was speculating that Moscow was using the talks to “seem somewhat reasonable” to delay sanctions against Russia, as well as to help Ukraine.

But he warned that Kremlin forces were likely to turn to “more destructive munitions” if peace talks failed, using the failure to negotiate a diplomatic breakthrough as a pretext.

Delegations from Ukraine and Russia, including aides to Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky, hold peace talks in Gomel region of Belarus

Ukrainian delegation leaves Belarusian military helicopter after landing in Gomel region ahead of peace talks with Russian officials on Monday

Russian delegation gets off bus in Gomel region of Belarus ahead of peace talks with Ukraine on Monday

War in Ukraine, day 5: Russian forces are now trying to bypass Kyiv and encircle it from the west. Troops fighting the Crimea continue to succeed and are likely to surround Mariupol soon, while reaching the outskirts of a key Ukrainian nuclear power plant. Fighting in the east continues to be heavy, with no breakthrough for Putin

Kyiv has been fighting for days against Russian attempts to break through the outskirts of the city, with tanks now trying to encircle it and a large column of armor approaching amid fears that fighting could worsen

As superior but determined Ukrainian forces have delayed Russia’s offensive and sanctions have crippled Russia’s economy, the military has confirmed that its nuclear forces are on high alert, following an order from President Vladimir Putin.

Although this raised the unimaginable specter of nuclear conflict, it was unclear what practical effect it had.

Until Monday morning in Kyiv there was a tense calm, explosions and shootings were heard in the cities of eastern Ukraine and terrified Ukrainian families huddled at night in shelters, basements or corridors.

Advertising

Share or comment on this article:

Six US veterans of special operations are on the Polish border, ready to enter Ukraine and join the resistance against Putin’s army after a call for help from the president Green.

The men are joined by three British veterans and a German, all of whom are trained in NATO and are ready to help Ukrainian territorial defense teams.

They are believed to be among the first to join the new former International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, which Zelensky announced on Sunday after a weekend of repulse of the enemy.

BuzzFeed News quoted an unnamed U.S. Army veteran as saying there were two former U.S. infantry officers ready to fly to the region to lead the group.

They will join sixty British volunteers who also plan to travel to Ukraine to help with the battle.

These former soldiers from the army and special forces were gathered by 43-year-old Mamuka Mamulashvili, commander of the Georgian National Legion.

Mamuka Mamulashvili, 43, commander of the Georgian National Legion. He leads groups of international volunteers in the fight against Russia in Ukraine

Sixty British volunteers travel to Ukraine to fight Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces, led by Mamuka Mamulashvili, commander of the Georgian National Legion (pictured training in Kyiv in January)

A Russian tank burning in the Ukrainian city of Sumy, just days after recently discovered footage from a billboard, shows a huge column of tanks moving in

It is unclear whether he has recruited the ten NATO troops already on the Polish border.

British Minister of Foreign Affairs Liz Trass said on Sunday that the United Kingdom would support the British if they traveled to join the resistance movement, which is boldly repelling Russian forces.

The White House has not given such approval.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said he did not “want to see Britons killed more than I want to see Ukrainians” and asked people who were not properly trained or “an experienced member of the armed forces” not to join the war. Ukraine.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “very dangerous,” he told Sky News, and had “better ways” to support the country.

A resident of Kyiv and a volunteer preparing a rear post with trenches, in Kyiv on February 28, 2022.

Soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces patrol the center of Kyiv on February 28, 2022.

In an interview with MailOnline, Commander Mamulashvili said: “I have a very large group of Britons, about sixty, traveling to Ukraine to join my unit of the Georgian National League.

“They are traveling by car from the United Kingdom and will cross the Polish border. I expect them here with equipment and supplies in the next few days.

“They are mostly boys who have fought with me in Ukraine before, but there are also recruits.

“We will provide them with training and weapons, and they come from London and all over Britain.

“Their origins are the former British army and special forces and they are good fighters, they can be trusted to deal with the Russian aggressors and most importantly to win.

Vladimir Zelensky warned that Ukraine faces a “decisive” 24 hours as Russia throws even more ground forces at Kyiv

Clouds of smoke rise from a building caused by a cruise missile, according to local media, in Kyiv, Ukraine

Smoke rises above the city of Vasilkov, which is right next to Kyiv on February 27

Public Chernihiv reports that a rocket hit a residential building in the center of Chernihiv, north of Kyiv. A fire broke out on two lower floors. The number of injured is currently unknown

“What I want to emphasize is that none of them get paid, they are not mercenaries, they are all volunteers.”

Commander Mamulashvili is a veteran of the 2008 war against Russia in Georgia and a mixed martial arts expert and founded the unit in 2014 to provide foreign fighters in Ukraine’s war against Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region.

He added: “The boys from the United Kingdom only wear basic equipment with their uniforms and rations, they will receive weapons when they arrive.

“Putin is very mistaken, if he thinks he will take over Ukraine, he will face a battle to the death, because the Ukrainian army has shown how brave and strong it is.

“They have experience and now have good equipment from the rest of Europe and the world, and now we have the support of some of the best foreign volunteer soldiers in the world.

“We know that some of us may die, but unless we fight Russia, Putin will simply go on and try to take over countries.

“When he went to Georgia in 2008, the then president of my country said that Ukraine would be next, and he was right.”

The father of two, Mamulashvili, added that he “expects” the number of volunteers from Britain and elsewhere to exceed 500 over the next few days, after receiving dozens of requests for details on how to join.

Georgian Legion members train civilians to adapt to January’s self-defense capabilities

The paramilitary unit, formed mainly of ethnic Georgian volunteers to fight Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2014, now includes people of different nationalities

Commander Mamuka Mamulashvili told MailOnline: “Anyone in the UK who wants to come and fight should contact the Ukrainian embassy in London and they will advise how to get to our base. If this is not possible, the volunteers have to make their way to Poland and cross the border with Ukraine and head to the city of Lviv, where we have a mobilization base and report to the local authorities.

He added: “My advice to anyone in the UK who wants to come and fight is to contact the Ukrainian embassy in London and they will advise how to get to our base.

War in Ukraine: the latest

• Ukraine’s defense ministry says Russia has lost 5,300 troops, 29 planes, 29 helicopters and 151 tanks
• Russia’s Defense Ministry admitted for the first time that it had suffered losses, but declined to say how much
• Russia’s economy plunged into free fall as Western sanctions imposed over the weekend took effect, with the ruble falling to its lowest level ever
• Moscow’s central bank has more than doubled interest rates to 20 percent
• Russia orders people and companies to sell 80% of their income in foreign currency, forcing them to buy the ruble to help maintain it
• Moscow Stock Exchange will not open at least 15:00 in an attempt to prevent a total collapse

“If this is not possible, the volunteers have to make their way to Poland and cross the border with Ukraine and head to the city of Lviv, where we have a mobilization base, and report to the local authorities, but for obvious reasons I can’t tell you I give the exact address. ‘

Earlier this year, it became clear that at least two Britons were fighting in Ukraine, Aidan Aslin, 28 from Newark, Nottinghamshire and Sean Piner, 48, from Bedfordshire.

Harry Jackson, 27, who founded UK Aid for Ukraine and appealed on Facebook for volunteers and equipment, said he had been “flooded with offers of help”.

Harry said: “I connect the people with Mamuka Mamulashvili, commander of the Georgian National Legion.

“I have helmets, bulletproof vests and medical supplies, as well as a group of volunteers.”

On Sunday, President Zelensky urged foreigners to head to Ukrainian embassies in their home countries to enlist in an “international brigade” to help fight Russian invading forces.

He said: “All foreigners who want to join the resistance against the Russian occupiers and protect global security are invited by the Ukrainian leadership to come to our country and join the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces,” Zelensky said in a statement. on the presidential website. .

“A separate unit is being formed from foreigners – the International Territorial Defense Brigade of Ukraine. This will be a key testimony to your support for our country. “

Since 2016, it has been legal for foreigners to join the Ukrainian army.

Click here for the DailyMail.com live blog with the latest updates on the crisis in Ukraine

As the Omicron variant recedes across much of the country, federal officials on Friday gradually moved closer to the new normal of the pandemic by easing their coronavirus protection advice.

Based on the new criteria for measuring the risk of Covid-19 in the community, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 70 percent of Americans could stop wearing masks and no longer need to practice social distancing or avoid crowded spaces.

However, perhaps unsurprisingly, this means things are not so simple for Californians.

The federal government is just the foundation upon which the local rules are imposed. In other words, even if CDC officials say masks aren’t needed where you live, your city mayor can still ban you from going to the grocery store naked.

These rules can be confusing, so today I’m going to walk you through the latest federal, state, and local guidelines and how they might apply to you.

Keep in mind that public health guidelines are constantly changing and major changes to California school mask requirements are expected to be announced later today. (More on this below.)

New federal leadership

Until last week, the CDC calculated the risk level of Covid-19 in a community based on the number of new cases. But given that Omicron spreads easily but causes mostly mild illness, the new calculations are based more on the possibility that hospitals could be overwhelmed.

With revised figures, the CDC has reduced the proportion of counties in the US that recommend wearing masks indoors from 95 percent to 37 percent. (The only exception: no matter where you live, masks are required on public transport and airplanes.)

These softer recommendations are not necessarily permanent, but are an acknowledgment that our situation with the pandemic appears to be improving.

“We want to give people a break from things like disguises when our levels are low and then be able to turn to them again if things get worse in the future,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters Friday. . “We have to be ready, and we have to be ready for whatever comes next.”

In California, 30 of our 58 counties fall into this high-risk category, where masks are recommended. These include Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, and Fresno counties.

So while you can always wear a mask if it makes you feel safer, the CDC says you should definitely wear a mask in these high transmission areas, regardless of your vaccination status.

You can check your county’s risk level as determined by the CDC. here.

California disguise law

If the place where you live is considered high risk, you don’t need to go deep into state and local regulations: just wear this mask.

But if your county is listed as a medium or low risk county, such as San Francisco and Ventura counties, you need to pay attention to statewide rules.

California regulations require that if you are not vaccinated, you must wear a mask in enclosed public places. And even if you have your shots, you still have to disguise yourself in certain settingssuch as doctors’ offices, homeless shelters, and prisons.

Let’s say you’re not in a high-risk county and you have all your vaccinations. Can you go to the cinema without a mask?

Yes, unless your community has its own additional rules for the use of masks. (I warned you this was hard.) Counties with mask-wearing ordinances include Santa Clara, Los Angeles as well as Mendocino.

Latest News about School Disguises

This brings us finally to the wearing of masks in schools, which has become a particularly contentious issue in California.

Just yesterday, 200 parents and children gathered at Golden Gate Park to protest the state of California’s requirement that teachers and students wear masks indoors. It is reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. There have also been protests in favor of masks in recent weeks.

But change is coming soon.

On Friday, the CDC announced that it was no longer endorsing the wearing of masks in schools across the country, but only in districts deemed to be at high risk. California officials are expected to announce a timeline for easing their school mask mandate later today.

“Mask requirements were never set in perpetuity,” said Dr. Mark Galy, the state’s secretary of health and human services. reports The Los Angeles Times.

For more:

Where are we going

Today’s travel tip comes from Jerry Brag:

“Armstrong Woods is a state park north of Guerneville in Northern California, about an hour and a half north of San Francisco. This is a wonderful sequoia grove and much less crowded than Muir Woods. There are hiking trails and a picnic area, and it’s a quiet and beautiful place.”

Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Send your suggestions to [email protected]. We will report more in future editions of the newsletter.

And before you leave, good news

For decades, heart valve replacement was banned for people over 90 because they were considered too weak to survive the required invasive surgery.

But that all changed in 2012, when a replacement technique that did not require open-heart surgery received federal approval. The new procedure has helped extend the lives of some of the oldest Americans.

Welwyn Bill, who lives in the San Diego area, received a high-tech heart valve two years ago when his original equipment began to fail.

He turned 100 this month.

Read more from San Diego Union Tribune.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Soumya

PS Here today’s mini crossword puzzleand a hint: birds that can fly almost silently (4 letters).