When the first trial over the Capitol attack begins on Monday, it will set the stage for prosecutors to do more than lay out details about how the defendant, Guy Wesley Refitt, tried to storm the building with a gun on his hip.

For the first time in a courtroom, they will present a broad picture of the violent chaos that erupted that day and attempt to convince jurors that Trump supporters, whom Mr. Reffit is accused of joining, have struck at the very heart of American democracy, violating the transfer of presidential power.

The trial, which will take place in Federal District Court in Washington and begin Monday morning with jury selection, may not be the most high-profile or the most important of the dozens of Capitol riot cases due this year.

But since he is the first to enter the courtroom, he is likely to set the tone for subsequent ones and serve as a kind of evidence base for the charges brought by the prosecutor’s office against hundreds of defendants. (More than 200 people have already pleaded guilty in cases related to the Capitol attack.)

At the heart of Mr. Reffitt’s case is the allegation that the defendant, an oil worker with alleged ties to the Texas militia, obstructed the proceedings of Congress on January 6, 2021, when the House and Senate held a joint session. to confirm the results of the 2020 elections. Prosecutors say he donned a bulletproof vest and a helmet with a video camera and stood “ahead of the pack” that attacked the Capitol.

The charge of obstruction — one of five charges brought against him — was used in place of other crimes such as sedition or rebellion in dozens of Capitol riots to describe the violation that occurred when the mob forced lawmakers to flee.

Enacted in 2002 under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to reduce corporate abuse, the impediment clause was originally intended to prohibit acts such as destroying documents or interfering with witness testimony in congressional investigations.

Several defense lawyers, including Mr. Refitt, have sought to have the charge dismissed, arguing that prosecutors have overreached and are trying to criminalize behavior that closely resembles a regular protest protected by the First Amendment.

But 10 federal judges, including Dabney L. Friedrich, who is overseeing Mr. Reffitt’s case, disagreed and allowed the prosecution to be used. Refitt’s trial will be the first time that a jury will decide whether a charge fits the crime, although Judge Friedrich has said that in an unusual move, she will drop the charge before it goes to the jury if the government can’t prove it right. .

In addition to such technical issues, the trial will feature a panorama of the violence in the Capitol.

Prosecutors said, for example, that they intended to prove their claim that “civil unrest” took place that day by showing jurors the “progress of the unrest” through a compilation of CCTV footage both outside and inside the building. Jurors are also expected to see clips from a 31-minute video Mr. Refitt recorded during the riot, as well as a clip of Vice President Mike Pence rushing down the stairs after the intruders broke into the building.

Three Capitol police officers must testify first-hand about their attempts to stop Mr. Refitt and others from breaching security by shooting pepperballs and spraying tear gas at the crowd. One of those officers, Shauni Kerhoff, is to be the first witness at the trial, prosecutors said.

Mr. Reffitt’s lawyer, William L. Welch III, has said little about the defense he intends to make, but his client openly denies accusations that he took part in any unseemly acts at the Capitol. IN letter received by ProPublica last springMr. Reffit wrote of the attack: “There was no rebellion, no conspiracy, no sinister plan, no reason to think otherwise.”

On Thursday, the J6 Patriot News Telegram channel posted a message purportedly written by Mr. Reffit discussing “the start of 1/6 trials of political prisoners.”

Capitol Riot Aftermath: Key Events

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Ivanka Trump. Trump’s eldest daughter, who was one of his senior advisers, is said to be in talks with a House committee about the possibility sits on an interview with a panel.

“I am ready to look down the barrel of tyranny to receive the bullet of freedom,” the message says.

The case is one of several that will present evidence of an American militia movement. Prosecutors say Mr. Reffitt was a member of the Texas Three Percent, one of several state chapters of a larger organization focused on gun rights and anti-government activities.

While the Three Percent may not be as well-known as other far-right groups such as the Proud Boys or the Oath Keepers, several alleged members of the movement have been charged in connection with the Capitol attack. including at least four from Southern California.

To prove Mr. Reffitt’s ties to the militia, prosecutors must call as a witness his fellow member of the 3%, who plans to testify under a immunity agreement with the government. They say the witness, known only by the initials RH, intends to tell the jury about the arrangements he made with Mr. Refit to travel to Washington, as well as the firearms and tactical equipment, including the assault rifle, that Mr. Refit brought with him. Drive.

Two members of Mr. Reffitt’s family – his son and daughter – are also expected to oppose him.

Prosecutors say the son, who was 18 at the time of the attack, will tell jurors that he and his 16-year-old sister spoke to their father when he returned from Washington after the riots and that Mr. Reffit threatened to shoot them if they complained. to the FBI about him.

In a previous court hearing, the daughter testified that Mr. Reffit threatened to put a bullet in her mobile phone if she posted about him on social media.

A TikTok the musician rewrote the lyrics of Robin TikiThe controversial song of Blurred Lines, which makes it a search for consent during sexual intercourse.

The song, co-written with Pharrell and TI, has been criticized for its misogynistic tone.

The music video shows women, including Emily Ratajkowski, jumping around wearing only thongs while the fully clothed singer watches them and whispers in their ears, “I know you want it,” sparking a global debate over whether it undermines consensual sex.

In addition, silver balloons read “Robin Thicke has a big d ***” and verse three of the lyrics is: “I’ll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two.”

The song returned to the titles earlier this year when Emily Ratajkowski claimed that Robin Tick had touched her on the set of the music video in her biography My Body and admitted that she felt “uncomfortable” in the photos.

Now, eight years after the song was released, Toronto-based TikTok user Devon Cole, 23, has rewritten the song from the perspective of a woman who explains the consent rules to a man who is harassing her.

Toronto-based artist Devon Cole, who has more than 146,600 TikTok followers, rewrote Blurred Lines by Robin Tick from 2013 from the perspective of a woman who explains the consent rules to a man who bullies her.

Devon changed the lyrics to explain the agreement, singing “Just reason” I “dressy dressy not mean you can grab be” and “

The 2013 song Blurred Lines received mixed acclaim when it was released, but still topped the Billboard Hot 100. Pictured: Robin Tick and model Emily Ratakowski in the video

The original texts of Blurred Lines …

If you can’t hear what I’m trying to say (hey girl, come here) / If you can’t read from the same page (hey) / Maybe I’ll be deaf (hey, hey, hey) / Maybe I’m going blind (hey, hey, hey) / Maybe I’m crazy, mind (hey, hey, hey)

Okay, now he was close / He tried to tame you / But you’re an animal / Baby, it’s in your nature (meow) / Just let me set you free (hey, hey, hey) / You don’t need catchers hey, hey) / This man is not your creator (hey, hey, hey)

CHORUS

And that’s why I’m going to take a good girl (everyone gets up) / I know you want him (hey) / I know you want him / I know you want him / you’re a good girl (hey, hey) / I can’t let him pass me (oh yes) / You’re far from plastic (okay) / I’m talking about being blown up

What do they dream about / When do you wear them with jeans? (Why?) / What do we need money for? / You the hottest bitch in this place / I feel so lucky (hey, hey, hey) / You want to hug me (hey, hey, hey) / What rhymes with hug me? (Hey, hey, hey) / Hey (everybody get up)

CHORUS

I hate those blurred lines (I hate the lines) / I know you want it (I hate the lines) / I know you want it (I hate the lines) / I know you want it / but you’re a good girl (good girl) / The way by which you grab me (mess group, buddy) / I have to want to get nasty (let go) (I say Rob) / Come on, catch me (let me call them very fast)

… and the virus version of Devon in TikTok

The talented 23-year-old rewrites the text to focus on agreement and experience from the woman’s point of view …

Since you can’t hear what I’m trying to say / It goes in one ear, it goes out in the other / Say you can go right away / But I’m not so inclined / And you don’t change my mind /

Okay, now we start / You note the waiter / Just because you paid for dinner / Doesn’t mean I owe you a favor / I won’t have another round / I probably could do without / Oh, did I disappoint you? / You’re acting stupid

CHORUS

Haven’t you heard? / If I don’t want it / So I don’t want it / And I don’t want it / My body is not something you earn / And I have limits / You will know what I am / If you asked me

Just because I dress screaming / No me, you can catch me / Now you’re trying to blow me up / It’s time for someone to put you in your place / I don’t owe you anything / Remember one thing / It’s not seduction / If it’s not a discussion

CHORUS

There are no blurred lines / If I don’t want it / Then I don’t want it / And I won’t want it / I won’t be convinced that you have to learn again / That I have limits / You will know this about me / If you had asked me

For example, Devon sings “Because You Can’t Hear What I’m Trying to Say” instead of the original song, “If You Can’t Here, What I’m Trying to Say.”

She adds “If I don’t want it, then I don’t want it and I don’t want it” instead of the original “I know you want it.”

IN video TikTok took over with a storm and garnered more than 1.4 million views.

Speaking to FEMAIL, she said: “I was listening to a podcast and the hosts started talking about Blurred Lines and how it perpetuates the culture of rape.

“By this time, I was already doing a series of rewriting popular songs with my own lyrics, so it clicked that Blurred Lines was a song worth correcting.”

Initially, she had only one verse and one chorus, but eventually rewrote the entire song.

The second verse of the original reads: “What do they dream about / When you wear them with jeans? (Why?) / What do we need money for? / You the hottest bitch in this place / I feel so lucky (hey, hey, hey) / You want to hug me (hey, hey, hey) / What rhymes with hug me? (Hey, hey, hey) / Hey (everyone get up). ‘

Devon first rewrote the first verse of Blurred Lines, singing, “Get in one ear, get out the other” and “Say you can go now, but I’m not so inclined” in response to the original text.

The singer, pictured at home, said she did not expect the song to explode after posting it on TikTok

Devon’s version is: “Just because I dress brilliantly / Don’t grab me / Now you’re trying to blow me up / It’s time for someone to put you in your place / I don’t owe you anything” / Remember one thing / It’s not a seduction / If it’s not a discussion. ‘

The lyrics resonated with the people at TikTok.

One said, “Love this !!! I hated the original, it made me shiver, but it’s a fire.

“I’ve always liked how playful this song is, but I HATE the lyrics, so it’s great,” said another.

“It’s much better than the original,” wrote another.

“This is the only acceptable version,” added another.

Devon said she was greeted with many positive reactions online.

“I was struck by the answer! “It was amazing to see survivors of sexual abuse share their stories in the comments,” she said.

“I hope that the fact that this rewriting has resonated with so many people is an indication, I hope that the culture is moving towards considering sexual consent as a fundamental human right. Obviously, we still have a long way to go, but I think this is a victory for sure. ‘

People liked the singer’s new version of the consent and some said that if it is better than the original

Russia Today has been criticized for selling Z goods to support the brutal country invasion of Ukraine.

The state television network began whipping articles with the logo – which was on the side of military vehicles – to “support our boys” in the war.

It says that the collected money will go to help the refugees from Donbass and the heroes from RT The Children of War Project.

Westerners have criticized the channel for taking advantage of the war, but some have joked that “Z” means Ukrainian President Volodymyr Green.

It comes as Tories Deputies have asked the TV regulator to take action against RT after calling the invasion of Ukraine a “special military operation” to “liberate” the country.

Culture Secretary Nadine Doris was among those who told Ofcom to take “timely and transparent” action against the channel.

The state television network began whipping articles over the weekend to “support our boys” in the war

It says the money raised “will go to help the Donbass refugees and the heroes of the RT Children of War project.” Pictured: Tank with markings last week

RT posted a link to its Z goods on social media on Sunday morning, saying the channel had a “new product”.

The tweet shows a number of tops in different sizes with the logo, which sell for around £ 12.

The message read: “RT has a new product. Let’s support our boys in Ukraine. We’ll start sending Z to our friends tomorrow.

“All proceeds from the sale will go to help the refugees from Donbass and the heroes of the RT Children of War project.”

The symbol has been widely seen on Russian tanks and other military vehicles crossing the border with Ukraine in recent days.

It is believed to have been painted on the side to avoid friendly fire during the fog of war or to mark where they were headed.

Professor Michael Clark, former director of the Rusi Defense Brain Trust, told Sky: “Often these symbols will be based on location – they will indicate where a unit is heading.

“If you only had to mark the vehicles as Russian, you could only use one symbol.

“The fact that they are different tells you more – these are probably signs that tell you which units are heading northeast or northwest of an area, for example.”

Tactics reflect what UK and US forces used in the First Gulf War, when the Allies sent to liberate Kuwait marked vehicles with a distinctive inverted chevron [^].

Russia also used similar tactics against military vehicles when its army invaded Crimea in 2014.

Westerners have been put off by RT’s new products, with some saying workers for the organization should be “disgusted”.

Francis Scar, who works for BBC Monitoring in Moscow, tweeted: “There is nothing to see here.

“Just a Russian state operator @RT_com, which sells goods supporting the war in Ukraine.”

The Guardian’s Moscow correspondent Andrew Roth wrote: “I hope there are RT employees who are disgusted by their employer who sells goods for the war in Ukraine. This may not be what you want. If not, step forward and say so.

In other words: “Military propaganda has always been the main mission of RT; their employees need to know this.

And one man joked on his Twitter page: “What does that mean? “Does ‘Z’ refer to Zelenski?” RT was asked for comment.

Tory MPs over the weekend called on Russia Today to ban broadcasting in Britain.

Misinformation about the conflict includes the notion that Ukrainian soldiers are “radical nationalists” defending genocide against Russians.

Its reporters also insist that the Russian army is not targeting civilians, despite images of bloodied Ukrainians and bombed towers.

A reporter on Friday night also compared a law signed by Ukraine’s Jewish president Green to the policy of Adolf Hitler.

Culture Secretary Doris told Ofcom last week to take “timely and transparent” action against the channel.

But criticism of RT was rejected by former London Mayor Ken Livingston, who said on the station last week: “I have never seen propaganda. I have never seen a lie.

Despite the expectation that Ofcom will cope with RT, last night a spokeswoman admitted that no new action has been taken.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the municipality’s elected foreign affairs committee, said RT was not an information network but a weapon against us.

“So what is he doing on our screens when the media supervisor Ofcom already has the power to take action?” He added.

The Kremlin-funded news channel, launched in 2005, is run by Putin’s ally Margarita Simonyan, who once said RT would wage an “information war against the Western world.” (Above Putin and Simonyan in May 2019)

Tory MPs have asked the TV regulator to take immediate action against Russia Today after describing Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as a “special military operation” to “liberate” the country.

The Kremlin-funded channel, which launched in 2005, is run by Putin’s ally Margarita Simonyan, who once said RT would wage an “information war against the West.”

On Wednesday, she wrote on Twitter that the invasion was a “standard rehearsal of the parade,” adding: “Except this year, we decided to hold the parade in Kiev.”

Similar outrageous comments about the invasion have been broadcast on the channel over the past week.

The analysis shows that the conflict is called only a “special military operation”, and reporters cite Russia’s claim that it will “liberate the territories of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics”.

On Thursday, news anchor Rory Suche, the son of ITN journalist John Suche, reiterated claims by the Russian Defense Ministry that “direct fighting with Ukrainian troops has been largely avoided,” despite clear evidence of clashes.

And on Friday, the voice of the package, which allegedly explains the origins of Russian aggression, described a law signed by President Zelensky last July as “almost a direct copy of Hitler’s 1935 Reich citizenship law.”

The Mail on Sunday may also reveal that at least 20 current and former British MPs have received almost £ 100,000 from the channel to talk about its programs since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Those who showed up included Tory MP Quasi Quarteng, who was paid £ 750 to participate in February 2017 before being appointed business secretary.

On Wednesday, Simonyan (above) wrote on Twitter that the invasion was a “standard rehearsal of the parade,” adding: “Except this year, we decided to hold the parade in Kiev.” Similar outrageous comments about the invasion have been broadcast on the channel over the past week

European Minister James Cleverley appeared on RT in 2016 to discuss the Tory leadership campaign, but said he did not accept payment.

“Since then, RT has become significantly more partisan and is now a regular mouthpiece for pro-Kremlin disinformation,” he added. I wouldn’t show up now.

Labor MP Richard Bergon has appeared 11 times, and former Tony Blair spin doctor Alistair Campbell has appeared at least three times since 2014. Labor David Lamy won £ 2,000 for two appearances.

Mr Campbell said he had “turned down many invitations to participate after these interviews because I think it has become much clearer in recent years to what extent it has become Putin’s personal propaganda tool”.

An Ofcom spokesman said: “All licensees must comply with Ofcom’s rules, including due diligence and impartiality. If broadcasters break these rules, we will not hesitate to intervene.

Last night, a number of Russian TV channels appeared to have been hacked, with Ukrainian songs replacing regular programs. The Russian government’s website did not work while RT was offline for several hours.

It was not clear who the hackers were, but the Anonymous group said they were at war with Russia.

TOM TUGENDAT: Russia Today is nothing but poison, slander and anti-British propaganda and should have been banned by Ofcom

by Tom Tugendhat for Mail on Sunday

It has been years since the Russian state even vaguely pretended to be honest. By lying about invasion, genocide, and war, Moscow has perfected the art of deception to the point where the only right thing to do is to ignore what comes out of the Kremlin.

However, Putin’s propaganda is being pumped into homes across the UK by his official cameraman, Russia Today (RT).

During the early stages of Covid, the channel spread fear and panic, trying to tear our community apart and undermine our reaction.

When British companies discovered the vaccine, RT spread lies, trying to persuade people not to accept it, which cost lives.

During the early stages of Covid, RT spread fear and panic, trying to tear our community apart and undermine our response.

Over and over again, the English-speaking service is doing its best to confuse and undermine the British at a time when clarity was so important. This is not an information network. This is a weapon against us.

Our media supervisor Ofcom had to ban RT. If so, viewers would not be exposed to a reporter named Rory Sushe (who began his career as a pop DJ on the radio) who claims to be reporting from eastern Ukraine while lying that Russian tanks are helping to “liberate” region and that the Ukrainians who defend their homes are nationalists and neo-Nazi battalions.

The channel shamefully allowed a Russian military commander to claim that the Ukrainian army was using civilians as human shields. They are not.

RT is trying to apologize to the Kremlin for Putin’s war crimes. He gives a platform to charlatans and liars – people like Alex Salmond (above), the leader of the Scottish independence movement in the last referendum, who is happy to take money from RT until this week

Make no mistake, RT is trying to apologize to the Kremlin for the war crimes committed by Putin.

It provides a platform for charlatans and liars – people like Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish independence movement in the last referendum, who is happy to take RT’s money until this week.

Ken Stone of Stop the War in Canada continues to accuse Ukrainians of being in front of Putin’s tanks.

There is nothing anti-Russian in the desire to stop this modern version of Lord Howe’s propaganda broadcasts during World War II.

Russian poets and scholars have long shared deeper truths with us and worked to build understanding.

RT does the opposite. Even his name is a lie.

This channel is not about a nation, but about one person.

This is Putin’s propaganda and it is poison. It’s time for Ofcom to act.

Just A-PAW-capable! Social media users share photos of cute animals to warm the heart – from a newborn lamb to a “nurse dog” who checks other dogs at the vet

• Bored Panda has collected photos of adorable animals from around the world
• Cute photos will surely bring a smile to your face and pull your hearts
• One shows a mare who has lost her baby colliding with an orphaned foal she has adopted
• Another involves a “nurse” dog who helps around a veterinary clinic

from Maria Kiorando for Mailonline

Published: 15:15 GMT, 27 February 2022 | Updated: 3:16 PM GMT, February 27, 2022

From tiny woolen lambs to an orphan horse, these adorable pictures of animals are sure to warm the heart.

The images were shared on social media by people from all over the world and collected in a gallery by Bored panda.

Among the animals shown in the photos are a dog celebrating a cancer survivor and a small kitten hugging a baby.

Another photo shows a foster dog, rescued from a bad situation, finally sleeping on a cozy bed for the first time in his life.

FEMAIL collects the most adorable pictures of animals you will ever see …

After giving birth to a stillborn baby, this mare from the Netherlands was compared to an orphaned foal. This image, taken an hour after they met, shows how quickly they connected

This little lamb baby is only 15 minutes away in this photo and is learning to stand on its little baby feet – too adorable!

A veterinary clinic in the United States knows how to make its patients uncomfortable: there is a special “nurse” dog that calms sick animals

Incurably ill patients in a hospital in France are comforted by Peyo, a 15-year-old stallion. Scientists are studying its ability to reduce patients’ anxiety and comfort sufferers

Dogs are said to be man’s best friend, but this Colorado donkey who reunited with his man after the couple was separated by a fire that engulfed their city is just as friendly.

This cute rat, who lives in sunny California, just can’t stop smiling after receiving a delicious pasta to enjoy!

Looking for a friend: This fox puppy from the United Kingdom is a regular visitor to this house, tapping the window with his paw to attract attention

This charming German shepherd got cancer and overcame the chances of overcoming the serious disease before going to social media to share the good news

Radiant: This US puppy was delighted when his man bought him his own armchair so he could have a comfortable place to relax – but the cat looked less than impressed.

A charming, tiny, ginger kitten from the USA loves to snuggle on a deck chair with her human brother and sister whenever possible. This couple will surely grow up to be great friends

This puppy, which looks proud as a blow with his new prosthetic leg, which he had installed in a specialized animal hospital in Colorado, was smiling everywhere

After being rescued from an accumulation situation in the United States, this eight-year-old dog finally managed to snuggle in bed, indoors, for the first time in his life.

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Former President Donald Trump echoed the familiar boast and displeasure in a keynote speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday.

Mr. Trump has repeatedly invoked the lie that the 2020 election was “rigged” and made exaggerated attacks on President Biden. Despite denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an “atrocity” and praising the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, as a “brave man,” he repeated his misleading statement that the Obama administration has simply provided Ukraine with blankets.

Here’s a fact check.

What Mr Trump said

“The wall will quickly compete. We will build the wall and complete it in three weeks. It took two and a half years for the wall, two and a half years just to win all the lawsuits, more than 11 lawsuits they threw at us. And we were almost done and I said they can’t be serious. They don’t want to close the little loops.”

Lie. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Mr. Trump promised to build a 1,000-mile border wall that would paid by Mexico. By the time he left office, his administration had built 453 miles of border wall, most of which have replaced or strengthened existing barriers. In places where previously no barriers existed, the administration has built a total of 47 miles of new main wall.

Mr. Trump’s promise that he could complete the wall in three weeks also fell short of the original pace of construction. Construction of new fences in Calexico, California, started in February 2018, the first border wall project under Mr. Trump. The construction of the first new section of the wall in the Rio Grande Valley began in November 2019. This equates to 12.9 miles of wall replacement and 3.3 miles of new wall per month.

What Mr Trump said

“Just a year ago, we had the most secure border in US history, record low gas prices.”

Lie. When Mr Trump left office in January 2021, average price of a gallon of gasoline in the country for that month was $2.42. This is not a record low. Gas prices fell to $2.21 in January 2015 under former President Barack Obama, $1.13 under former President George W. Bush, and $0.96 under former President Bill Clinton.

What Mr Trump said

“I am the one who finished his pipeline. He said you’re killing me with a pipeline. No one else completed his pipeline. Biden has arrived. He approved of it.”

Updated

February 27, 2022 10:16 AM ET

It’s a delusion. Mr. Trump was referring to the status of the gas pipeline between Russia and Germany under his and President Biden’s administrations. In fact, the presidents of the United States and most European countries, except Germany and France, consistently opposed project, but they have a limited say in whether the pipeline will be built.

Mr Trump signed the law the imposition of sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in December 2019, which led to the suspension of construction. But by that time, most of the pipeline had already been built, and 2100 kilometers laid as well as 300 kilometers left. Construction resumed after a year in 2020.

Current White House press secretary Jen Psaki called Nord Stream 2 “bad deal” it divides Europe and makes Ukraine and Central Europe vulnerable to Russian manipulation. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said opposition to the Biden administration “unshakable”.

Understand Russia’s attack on Ukraine

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What is at the heart of this invasion? Russia considers Ukraine a part his natural sphere of influence, and is unnerved by Ukraine’s proximity to the West and the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO or the European Union. Although Ukraine is not part of either, it receives financial and military assistance from the US and Europe.

Are these frictions just beginning now? Antagonism between the two countries has simmered since 2014, when Russian troops crossed into Ukraine after an uprising in Ukraine replaced a Russian-friendly president with a pro-Western government. Then, Russia annexed Crimea and inspired separatist movement in the east. A ceasefire was signed in 2015but fighting continued.

How did Ukraine react? February 23, Ukraine declared a state of emergency for 30 days. how cyberattacks disabled government institutions. After the attacks began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky martial law declared. The Foreign Minister called the attacks a “full-scale invasion” and called on the world to “stop Putin.”

However, in May 2021, the State Department lifted sanctions on the company building the pipeline. According to the non-partisan Congressional Research Servicethis may be because “the administration’s ability to interfere with the pipeline’s launch is limited” and sanctions “could jeopardize US-German and US-European cooperation in other areas, including countering Russian aggression.”

Mr. Biden new sanctions on the pipeline this week after Germany announced it was suspending pipeline certification in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

What Mr Trump said

“The reason for the sharp rise in gas prices is that Biden turned off American energy, canceled our oil and gas lease agreements just two days ago. Two days ago they canceled many oil and gas leases because of the environment.”

It’s a delusion. Biden administration stopped indefinitely new federal oil and gas leases and permits in response to the court ruling. He did not cancel existing leases. A federal judge blocked the administration’s way of calculating the cost of climate change, causing the administration to suspend regulatory decisions that were based on the metric.

A prominent Russian TV presenter, known for spreading anti-Ukrainian sentiment and propaganda, has publicly complained that he has lost access to his two Italian villas for millions of dollars on television due to sanctions imposed by Russiathe invasion of the neighboring nation.

“Is this the Iron Curtain?” Putin’s journalist and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov said on the set of his late show “Evening with Vladimir Solovyov” on Friday, after learning that new sanctions imposed by Italian officials would prevent him from accessing a couple of properties he owns by the lake. Como – down the river. path from A-list George Clooney.

“I was told that Europe is a citadel of rights, that everything is allowed, that’s what they said,” said the Russian-speaking leader, who has been one of Putin’s most prominent mouthpieces for years, to a group of pro-Russian experts.

“I know from personal experience of so-called ‘sacred property rights,'” Soloviev, 58, told the commission, which discussed the aftermath of the ongoing conflict – which reached its fourth day on Sunday and left at least 245 Ukrainians dead – in Russian citizens.

However, after learning that the conflict would affect him and his assets personally, after being sanctioned by Italian officials denying him access to his holiday homes – two large complexes estimated at tens of millions – the TV presenter continued passionately on the air tirade.

“In each transaction, I carried documents showing my salary, income, I did everything,” said the host, known for condemning Europe and the West for their alleged perversion and disintegration.

“I bought it, I paid crazy taxes, I did everything. And suddenly someone decides that this journalist is now on the sanctions list. And it immediately affects your real estate. Wait a minute. But you told us that Europe has sacred property rights!

Scroll down for video:

“Is this the Iron Curtain?” Putin’s journalist and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov said on the set of his late show “Evening with Vladimir Solovyov” after learning that new sanctions imposed by Italian officials would prevent him from accessing two properties he owns near Lake Como.

Pictured here is one of Soloviev’s properties, probably valued at tens of millions. The property has 14 rooms, five bedrooms, five bathrooms, living room, kitchen, entrance hall, boiler room and closet, as well as a guest house of 90 sq.m with three guest rooms, two bathrooms, bathroom with toilet. cellar and private veranda of closed type

Pictured here is Soloviev’s second million-dollar Italian estate, also on Lake Como.

Astonished by the restrictions that officials say could lead to the loss of the journalist’s property if the conflict escalates, Solovyov became angry: “Suddenly now they say, ‘Are you Russian? Then we will close your bank account if this is in Europe. “

He continued: “And if he is in England, you have the right to keep no more than a certain amount there. Why? Because you’re Russian

The famous Russian economist Mikhail Khazin, 59, intervened: “And this is if you have an old account. They will not open a new one.

Soloviev then offered the panel a dramatic comparison between the consequences for Kremlin propagandists from countries against Russia’s occupation of Ukraine and the Cold War.

“Is this the Iron Curtain?” Asked the presenter, who appeared visibly emotional during the strange call.

German-based expert Alexander Sosnowski said: “Yes, absolutely” before proposing a controversial reclassification of the reaction facing Kremlin supporters following their full-scale military invasion of Ukraine.

News anchor Soloviev, one of Putin’s most used mouthpieces, complained on Friday that he had lost access to property as a result of sanctions imposed by Italian officials since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – which has already led to 245 deaths of Ukrainians

“The Iron Curtain at its worst,” the commentator said. “Painted in LGBT colors.”

Soloviev and other participants in the discussion continued to nod in agreement, without mentioning the effects of the ongoing military occupation on Ukrainian citizens.

In 2019, Soloviev and other Kremlin propagandists came under scrutiny after a report by Putin’s prominent rival and Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny revealed that the longtime NTV presenter owned not one but two million-dollar properties just down the road. Clooney’s mansion for $ 100 million on the historic Italian lake.

In 2019, Soloviev and other Kremlin propagandists came under scrutiny after a report by an opponent of Putin and a Russian anti-corruption activist revealed the existence of the multimillion-dollar estate of the longtime NTV presenter.

Last Christmas, Navalny’s FBK investigative team videotaped the state-run host’s luxury homes using a combination of drones and a lensman’s leg, leaving the host with Ukrainian chocolates – a blow to Soloviev’s repeated use of anti-Ukrainian propaganda.

Soloviev was later outraged by the mass activist’s report on reputational damage, publicly calling it an “outrageous breach of confidentiality.”

Later that year, Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent he blamed on the Kremlin. Russian authorities have denied any involvement.

Navalny subsequently spent five months recovering in Germany, but was arrested on his return to Russia and sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for what Russian officials say violated the terms of a suspended sentence resulting from 2014 fraud sentence

He is currently serving his sentence and has since been declared a “terrorist” by the Kremlin.

After revealing the existence of the two extensive properties – located a few miles apart – neighbors are demanding Soloviev’s expulsion from the extremely exclusive resort area, where properties like Soloviev’s are usually valued at tens of millions.

In 2019, residents launched a petition to get local authorities to ensure that the TV presenter will not receive Italian citizenship through his residence.

Soloviev now says sanctions imposed by Italian government officials against the Kremlin following a full-scale military invasion could lead to the loss of ownership of both properties if the conflict worsens.

Russia entered the fourth day of its military operations in Ukraine on Sunday amid reports that the country’s invasion is lagging behind schedule and losing strength amid sanctions imposed on the nation by several countries that have expressed determination to stand with Ukraine during of the conflict.

Ukraine’s Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said in a statement posted on Facebook on Saturday that a total of 198 Ukrainians had been killed in the fighting, up from 137 a day earlier, with more than 1,000 wounded. Three children, he said, were among the dead.

President Putin today praised his special forces for “heroic military service” in a new televised address, as the British minister said his invasion was “far behind” the planned schedule and the autocrat could lose power if he fails.

To mark Russian Special Forces Day, Putin thanked soldiers for “heroically fulfilling their military duty” in Ukraine before repeating his propaganda line that his armies were helping the “People’s Republics of Donbass” – given two controlled by rebels region in eastern Ukraine, which Russia recognized as an independent state before its invasion.

Activist Alexei Navalny (left) was poisoned by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin

“I want to thank the command, the personnel of the special operations forces, the veterans of the special forces for their loyalty to the oath, for their impeccable service in the name of the people of Russia and our great homeland,” he said.

Russian forces today entered Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, after failing in a night-long effort to take control of the capital, Kiev. The Kremlin has so far not announced any deaths from the fighting, although the head of Dagestan’s regional government recently expressed his condolences to the family of a dead paratrooper in the event of a deviation from the scenario.

UK Armed Forces Secretary James Happy has insisted that “Putin’s days are numbered” if he fails in Ukraine, with his campaign lagging far behind schedule and facing several strong headwinds.

Happy, a former shooting major, said Putin’s forces had failed to capture key cities in the first few days of fighting, as had been planned, and left pockets of “well-armed” Ukrainians in the back of their front lines.

Russian military car seen set on fire in Kharkiv on Sunday morning after troops entered an eastern Ukrainian city

View of a residential building damaged by the recent shelling in Kharkiv on February 26th. Russia has ordered troops to advance into Ukraine “from all directions” as the Ukrainian capital Kiev imposed a full curfew and officials reported 198 civilian deaths.

This map shows the strikes that Russia has so far been known to have inflicted on Ukraine, with more explosions rocking the country in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A picture emerges of an accidental and disorganized invasion effort, with armored columns running out of fuel or lost, and some having to advance without air cover. Happy wrote the telegraph: “After three days of intense fighting, fueled by stubborn Ukrainian resistance, Russia is well behind schedule.

“Progress towards Kiev has been much slower than expected, they failed to capture key cities early and must now try to bypass them.

“This leaves pockets of well-armed and well-trained Ukrainians in the back of the Russian front line, revealing a vulnerable logistical queue – a sign of what Putin expects.”

At the same time, Ukrainians are volunteers in their crowd with “long queues” at recruitment centers, the minister wrote.

Meanwhile, footage from the town of Koryukivka, near the Russian border, shows hundreds of locals crowding the road to block the advance of a Russian tank column. Happy believes that if Putin fails and ordinary Russians realize “how little he cares about them … [his] “The days as president will certainly be numbered, as will those of the kleptocratic elite that surround him.”

“He will lose power and will not be able to choose his successor.”

Mitt Romney was upset Vladimir Putin on Sunday as a “wild” and “evil” man as the Russian leader continues his attack on Ukraine as President Vladimir Green reaffirmed that the nations are ready for peace talks.

“John McCain was right. He said he had looked into Vladimir Putin’s eyes and seen the KGB, “Romney said of a previous description of the Russian leader by the late Senator John McCain.

“This is what we see – a small, evil man with wild eyes, who is trying to shape the world in the image in which Russia will be an empire again,” Utah republican the senator added.

Zelensky said Kiev and Moscow will hold peace talks on the border with Belarus – even when Putin ordered the forces in charge of Russia’s nuclear deterrence to be vigilant amid boiling tensions with the West.

The Ukrainian president’s office has announced that his delegation and Putin’s delegation will meet “without preconditions” near the Pripyat River, north of Chernobyl, in a deal reached during a telephone conversation with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

“Alexander Lukashenko has taken the responsibility to ensure that all aircraft, helicopters and missiles stationed in Belarus remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation’s travels, talks and return,” the statement said.

Republican Sen. Rob Portman warned that Ukraine “must be careful” in Belarus’ talks.

Senator Mitt Romney pitted Vladimir Putin on Sunday for being “a small, evil man with wild eyes”

Russian armored personnel carrier (APC) burns to the body of a soldier during a battle between Russian and Ukrainian ground forces in Kharkov, Ukraine on Sunday, February 27

“Belarus is the place where the Russians wanted to hold the meeting,” he told NBC Meet the Press on Sunday morning. “Belarus is helping and supporting the Russian attack.”

Romney sat down with The Atlantic for an interview published Sunday and said: “President Zelensky is one of the bravest people of our century. He is the face of good, and Putin is the face of evil.

In a televised address, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said peace talks had been convened after Belarus prepared its forces to join the Russian invasion.

“Today we were so close to the entry of the Belarusian armed forces into the war. That is why President Zelensky and President Lukashenko spoke today, “he said in a statement.

“We need to defend our northern flank and we need to minimize the threats coming from there. That is why we agreed to send a delegation to the place on the border between Ukraine and Belarus and go there to hear what Russia has to say.

“We are going there without prior agreement on what the outcome of these negotiations could be. “We are going there to say what we think about this war and Russia’s actions,” he added.

Vladimir Zelensky (left) reaffirmed that talks between Kiev and Moscow on Sunday would take place on the border with Belarus – as Vladimir Putin (right) ordered Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces to be on alert amid heightened tensions with West

Kuleba said Belarus had assured Ukraine that Belarusian military force would not be used against Kiev while negotiations were under way, but he insisted that the Ukrainian military would continue to “fiercely defend” the country from Russian attacks in the meantime.

“I think the fact that Russia wants to speak without any preconditions or ultimatums, without any demands on Ukraine, is already a victory for Ukraine,” he added.

This came when Putin announced in his own televised address that he had ordered troops to act with nuclear deterrence to introduce a “special duty regime” in light of “aggressive statements” by NATO leaders and “hostile economic action”.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has filed a lawsuit against Russia in The Hague, with Mr Zelensky asking the UN International Court of Justice to order Russia to stop its attack on Ukraine and launch trials soon.

Earlier today, in a speech marking Russia’s Special Forces Day, Putin thanked soldiers for “heroically fulfilling their military duty” in Ukraine before reiterating his propaganda line that his armies were helping the People’s Republics of Ukraine. Donbass “- targeting two rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine that Russia recognized as independent states before the invasion.

“I want to thank the command, the personnel of the special operations forces, the veterans of the special forces for their loyalty to the oath, for their impeccable service in the name of the people of Russia and our great homeland,” he said.

Russian forces stormed Ukraine’s second-largest city, Ukraine, today after failing in a night-long effort to take control of the capital, Kiev.

However, reports in Ukraine show that troops have successfully repulsed a Russian offensive near Kharkov, which is close to Russia’s border, with a British reporter on the ground confirming that the city remains under Ukrainian control despite the attack this morning.

Every time I write an article that touches on a group of people with a certain disease or disability, I always reach out to a few people living with that disease and include their voices in the story. This ensures that there is room for differences of opinion or experience – disability should be inclusive, including people of different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, ages and economic backgrounds. It’s like a core principle of journalism to include the voices of groups affected by any issue you write about, but I often see stories about issues affecting people with disabilities that don’t quote a single person with disabilities. People with disabilities are sometimes marginalized as sources in favor of healthy researchers or physicians. While these voices can improve the story, they should not replace the voices of people with disabilities in the story that their community is involved in.

I am sometimes asked, “What is the best way to interview a person with a disability?” I do not treat a person with a disability differently than a person without a disability. The only thing that can change is my communication style, depending on the disability of my source. For example, I make sure the source with an intellectual or developmental disability knows what the person is agreeing to through the interview, and I make sure my questions are easy to understand. If I’m interviewing a source who can’t speak, I email my questions rather than doing the interview in person or over the phone.

Journalists also tend to ask for interviews “as soon as possible” if they are on a tight deadline, but for some interview sources, exacerbations of chronic conditions may make it impossible to be interviewed on the same day the request is made. I try to give my sources as much time as possible and make it clear that I understand that their health is a priority.

When I write, language is important: when I interview people with disabilities, the first thing I do, if their disability is relevant to the story, is ask them how they prefer to be described. Some people, like me, prefer person-centered language, such as “disabled”, while others prefer person-centered language, such as “person with a disability.” (Preference can depend on a number of complex factors, including what kind of disability they have and how they relate to their disability.) I don’t use terms that sound like someone is a “victim” of a disability. I am not saying that someone is “suffering” with a disability; I’m just saying they “have” a disability. I also don’t use terms like wheelchair bound, birth defect, or housebound.

While disability in and of itself is not a bad thing, some people do not want to be identified by their disability, while others may consider it an essential part of who they are.

One of the hardest parts about reporting on people with disabilities is that there are so many different types of disabilities and their experiences vary so much. I’m not an expert on every disability, but the key to being a disability reporter is to acknowledge it and listen to those who understand it.