Yulia Navalnaya calls on Russians to join election protest
NewsFeed Yulia Navalnaya, widow of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, called on Russians to join an election day protest by voting against President Vladimir Putin or spoiling their ballots. Published On 6 Mar 20246 Mar 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Russia takes more ground in east Ukraine but loses another ship at sea
Russian troops continued a relentless march in eastern Ukraine for a third straight week, giving defenders no respite since seizing Avdiivka on February 17. Geolocated footage on February 29 showed Russian troops had advanced 5km (3 miles) west of Avdiivka to the outskirts of Orlivka and Berdychi. The following day, they were in central Orlivka. By Monday, they were spotted close to a road that connects Orlivka to the village of Tonenke to its south. By the estimate of the Russian Ministry of Defence, it took Moscow’s forces four months to advance 9km (5.6 miles) through the Donetsk region before seizing Avdiivka. By that standard, 5km in three weeks – including 3km (nearly 2 miles) in the past week alone – was fast progress. (Al Jazeera) It was a similar story west of Bakhmut, another city in Donetsk, which Russian forces captured in May. Ukrainian forces said on Sunday that they were fighting fierce battles to hold onto Ivanivske, a village 2km (1.2 miles) west of Bakhmut. Geolocated footage showed Russian troops making their way into the village centre that day. “Our military is heroically resisting and trying to repel the enemy from the occupied lines,” said Captain Ilya Yevlash, a spokesperson for the defenders in the area. A spokesperson for the Tavria group of forces fighting there said they were managing to build tank trenches, ramparts and bunkers but these were isolated, not contiguous. It may not have been a coincidence that Ukraine’s military on Sunday announced record spending on fortifications in the Zaporizhia region on the southern front. Russian troops claimed to have advanced marginally at many points along the battlefront in Donetsk. Another advance was confirmed in the village of Novomykhailivka. Geolocated footage published on Tuesday showed Russian forces in the fields south of the settlement “I don’t buy … that this is going to shift the course of the war,” retired US Colonel Seth Krummrich told Al Jazeera. “Show me the map. Show me what’s been achieved in two years. … I see maybe one-eighteenth [of Ukrainian territory] in Russian control at the cost of 250,000 to 500,000 casualties. I don’t see imminent victory by the Russians,” said Krummrich, now vice president of Global Guardian, a security consulting firm. (Al Jazeera) Yet the situation was worrying enough to bring Ukraine’s newly installed commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskii, to the eastern front for three days. On Friday, Syrskii revealed he had made command personnel changes and reinforced decision-making in some brigades around Avdiivka. “I have sent groups of specialists to individual brigades where there are problems … to transfer experience and provide assistance,” he said. “In some cases, when … the actions and commands directly pose a threat to the life and health of subordinates, I am forced to make personnel decisions.” There appear to be qualitative changes in Russia’s tactics that could spell trouble for Ukraine. The Russian assault on Bakhmut last year relied heavily on pardoned prison inmates who were thrown into battle in continuous waves with little training and suffered heavy casualties. A number of Ukrainian soldiers who fought in Avdiivka recently told The Washington Post that the Russian assaults were well-prepared and the units well-manned and mostly well-trained. They also said Russian artillery targeting was accurate and fast. Ukrainian fallback positions were being shelled soon after Ukrainian defenders reached them, and a column of retreating troops was decimated, they added. “It was … a convoy of the best men ever. And in front of our eyes, this convoy was destroyed by artillery,” one survivor said. (Al Jazeera) Perhaps most worrying was Russia’s effective use of air support to drop satellite-guided glide bombs – inertial bombs fitted with flight surfaces to achieve greater range and accuracy. Ukraine’s air force has been taking out the Sukhoi-34 and Sukhoi-35 fighter-bombers that deliver those bombs in increasing numbers, including six Su-34s on February 28 and 29 alone. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv’s forces had shot down 15 Russian military planes from February 1 to Sunday, an unusually high number. Russia may have decided to accept higher losses for increased firepower on the ground. Forbes and The New York Times have reported that Russia was adopting more aggressive air tactics, conducting an increased rate of 100 or more sorties a day on the eastern front. Observers have blamed Republicans in the United States Congress for holding up aid to Ukraine as the biggest cause for Russian advances. “The collapse of Western aid to Ukraine would likely lead to the eventual collapse of Ukraine’s ability to hold off the Russian military and significant Russian advances further west, likely all the way to the western Ukrainian border with NATO member states,” wrote the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank. Zelenskyy warned on February 25 that Russian forces were planning a major new offensive as early as May. War in the air Russia’s war on Ukraine’s will to fight scored a direct hit on Friday when a Russian drone demolished a nine-storey apartment building in Odesa, killing at least 12 people. It was the deadliest attack of the past week and one of the worst this year. “The delay in the supply of weapons for Ukraine, air defence systems for the protection of our people leads, unfortunately, to such losses,” Zelenskyy said after the attack. (Al Jazeera) Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuri Ignat said on Tuesday that it was not possible to protect Odesa from all missiles and drones. “Odesa is … a densely populated city bordering the coast, large buildings, infrastructure. The location of air defence in the Odesa region is built in such a way that it is not always possible to intercept both drones and missiles on the approaches to the city itself,” Ignat said. Another drone struck Odesa on Wednesday as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Zelenskyy in the city. Ukraine’s air defences downed 36 of 43 drones that Russia launched from February 29 to Tuesday, but officials have warned that
Blackburn moves to allow local law enforcement to capture, deport illegal immigrants
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is introducing legislation that would give states and local authorities the power to enforce federal immigration law, including helping deport illegal immigrants in the wake of a slew of crimes allegedly committed by illegal immigrants. Blackburn’s Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal (CLEAR) Act would give explicit authority in statute that states have “the inherent authority of a sovereign entity to investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain, or transfer to Federal custody aliens in the United States (including the transportation of such aliens across State lines to detention centers), for the purposes of assisting in the enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States in the course of carrying out routine duties.” The bill would also limit certain federal funds to those states and localities that are “sanctuary” jurisdictions and refuse to work with federal law enforcement, similar to a move by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) and reversed by the Biden administration. WHICH CITIES, COUNTIES AND STATES IN THE US ARE ‘SANCTUARY’ JURISDICTIONS? The bill would also require the Department of Homeland Security to provide the DOJ with information about any illegal immigrant with a final order of removal, a voluntary departure agreement, a visa overstay or a revoked visa. It would also require states and localities to provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information about the illegal immigrants apprehended in their state. In turn, DHS must provide support to states, including quick custody of illegal immigrants, training, detention space, and grants to help them enforce immigration law. Blackburn highlighted two recent crimes allegedly committed by illegal immigrants as proof of why the bill is needed. “The recent murders of Laken Riley in Georgia and a 2-year-old in Maryland by illegal immigrants with previous criminal arrests were tragically avoidable, as was the abuse of young boys in Tennessee by an illegal immigrant with a prior record,” Blackburn said in a statement, saying her bill would help protect communities and encourage deportations. JOHNSON’S STATE OF THE UNION GUESTS INCLUDE MOTHER OF WOMAN ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY MS-13 GANG MEMBER The deaths have increased scrutiny of the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which has already been a top political issue in the country. Both President Biden and former President Trump visited the border on Thursday. Republicans have blamed the crisis on the administration’s policies, with Blackburn saying President Biden’s “open border policies and refusal to enforce rules on the books have permitted lawlessness across the country.” Republicans in the House recently impeached DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for an alleged dereliction of duty and that now goes to the Senate for a trial. Biden and Democrats have instead said the border needs more funding from Congress and reforms to fix a “broken” system. Biden on Thursday backed a bipartisan Senate bill which has so far failed to gather enough support. BIDEN, DURING VISIT TO OVERWHELMED BORDER, URGES REPUBLICANS TO BACK SENATE BILL: ‘TIME TO ACT’ The deal includes $1.4 billion in funding to cities and NGOs receiving migrants, action to tackle fentanyl smuggling and a limit on asylum claims. It would also increase detention beds to 50,000 and provide additional immigration judges. However, conservatives have opposed it, saying it is insufficient to stop the crisis, and that it would normalize high levels of illegal immigration at 5,000 encounters a day. Biden has accused the opposition to the bill of giving into politics, and said on Thursday that senators who oppose it “need to set politics aside and pass it on the merits, not on whether it’s going to benefit one party or another party.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and DHS for comment.
South Carolina gun laws expected to relax as open carry bill advances
South Carolina lawmakers appear close to approving a bill that would allow anyone who can legally own a gun to carry the weapon openly. The proposal includes stiffer penalties for people who repeatedly carry guns in places where they would still be banned, like schools or courthouses, or commit crimes while armed, whether they use the weapon or not. It also would provide millions of dollars for free gun training across the state needed to get a concealed weapons permit for any adult who wants it. The House, which had been the sticking point for the proposal, voted 86-33, with most Republicans voting for it and Democrats against it. The Senate agreeably discussed the bill at the same time, but it delayed a possible vote to take up changes on how to elect judges. SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE FATALLY SHOOT SHOWERHEAD-WIELDING DOUBLE HOMICIDE SUSPECT The governor is expected to sign the bill, allowing South Carolina to join nearly 30 other states that allow open carry of guns without a permit, including nearly every state in the Deep South. The House and Senate passed different versions of the bill this year, with a number of Republican House members unhappy about another proposal that would add punishment for people who don’t take the training and are convicted of not following the rules about where guns are banned. But a conference committee of three House members and three senators agreed Tuesday to much of the Senate’s language, conceding the bill likely wouldn’t pass the Senate without it. “You don’t have the votes, you don’t have the bill,” said Republican Rep. Micah Caskey of Springdale. Most of the compromise leaned toward the Senate, although House members insisted the committee remove allowing legislators to be able to carry a gun nearly anywhere they want any time. Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey reminded House members several times the reason the bill hasn’t passed earlier is supportive senators didn’t have the votes without the extra penalties, especially for people who repeatedly carry guns where they aren’t allowed to do so. “If you do the same thing three times, it’s not an accident anymore,” the senator from Edgefield said. “At some point, there’s got to be a graduated level of penalties to get people’s attention.” Offering the training classes would cost about $5 million a year, House members promised to revisit how many people took advantage of the classes after a few years to see if it is worth continuing the classes. A number of law enforcement leaders weren’t happy with the proposal, worrying about their officers encountering armed people at shooting scenes having to make a split-second assessment about who is a threat and who is trying to help and a lack of required training for people to carry guns in public. Currently only concealed weapons permit holders can openly carry pistols. To get law enforcement to at least remain neutral, the bill includes a proposal that would create a state crime for a felon to possess a weapon, with penalties similar to federal law. Gov. Henry McMaster said that provision was crucial to his support. “What happened to supporting our law enforcement? What happened to listening to what they say?” asked Democratic Rep. Jermaine Johnson from Columbia. “This thing you are going to do is going to have repercussions.” Part of the struggle to get the bill passed were gun-rights groups that didn’t want the extra penalties. The groups have been vocal and put pressure on lawmakers, especially Republicans, who are against the bill. “They have been successful in kowtowing us to pass this bill that the people don’t want and law enforcement doesn’t need,” said Democratic Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto of Orangeburg.
McConnell endorses Trump for president after Super Tuesday results: ‘He will have my support’
Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell endorsed former President Trump’s re-election campaign on Wednesday after he collected nearly 1,000 delegates from a thunderous performance on Super Tuesday. “It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States. It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support,” McConnell said in a statement. He continued: “During his Presidency, we worked together to accomplish great things for the American people including tax reform that supercharged our economy and a generational change of our federal judiciary – most importantly, the Supreme Court.” “I look forward to the opportunity of switching from playing defense against the terrible policies the Biden administration has pursued to a sustained offense geared towards making a real difference in improving the lives of the American people,” McConnell added. NIKKI HALEY DOES NOT ENDORSE TRUMP, SAYS HE NEEDS TO EARN SUPPORT OF HER VOTERS The endorsement comes after Trump’s only primary opponent, Nikki Haley, suspended her presidential campaign on Wednesday morning. McConnell, who announced in November that he would step down from the Republican leadership, was the most senior member of Congress that had yet to endorse Trump. He will serve the remainder of his term, which formally ends in January 2027.
Sandeshkhali case: Sheikh Shahjahan handed over to CBI after Calcutta HC’s order
The CBI team arrived at Bhabani Bhaban Police Headquarters in Kolkata to take custody of Sheikh Shahjahan.
DNA Women Achievers Awards 2024: BJP’s Bansuri Swaraj praises PM Modi, talks about schemes for women empowerment
Bansuri Swaraj is the daughter of former Union minister Sushma Swaraj. She will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the New Delhi seat on BJP ticket.
Dallas County sheriff to face predecessor Lupe Valdez, who ran for governor in 2018, in runoff election
Valdez ran the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department until 2017, when she stepped down to run against Gov. Greg Abbott.
‘Uncommitted’ protest vote against Biden draws tens of thousands on Super Tuesday
Tens of thousands of Super Tuesday voters sent a message to President Biden, after they chose to mark “uncommitted” on their ballots over voting for him. With 99% of the expected votes counted in Minnesota, nearly 1 in 3 voters backed someone other than the president, with nearly 46,000 voters, or nearly 19% of Democrats, marking their ballots “uncommitted,” or willfully deciding not to back any named candidate, to protest his support for Israel. The sizable protest vote in Minnesota extended to six other states — Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Tennessee — where tens of thousands of voters also refused to support Biden, undoubtedly raising questions for his re-election campaign. The votes come just a week after Arab American and Muslim community leaders in Michigan, home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the U.S., urged voters not to support Biden. 2024 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES & CAUCUSES Progressive groups have backed the “uncommitted” vote to protest Biden’s support for Israel and its continued war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza, which has resulted in millions of Palestinians becoming displaced from their homes and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. The “uncommitted” option appeared on the Democratic ballot in six other Super Tuesday states, and each took a chunk of support away from the president. In Alabama, over 11,000 voters, or roughly 6%, voted for “uncommitted.” The option collected the second-most votes in the state. In Colorado, over 43,000 voters, or roughly 8% of the vote, marked “Noncommitted Delegate” on the ballot. In Iowa, 4% of the total vote backed “Uncommitted.” In Massachusetts, over 54,000 voters, or just under 10%, backed “No Preference.” In North Carolina, a whopping 88,000 voters, or nearly 13%, backed “No Preference.” Finally, in Tennessee, approximately 10,450 voters, or nearly 8%, voted “Uncommitted.” In these states, the non-declared option was usually the second most chosen, earning more than Democratic presidential candidates Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson. MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS, COMMUNITY LEADERS SOUND ALARM BELLS AFTER THOUSANDS OF VOTERS PROTEST BIDEN IN SWING STATE The vote is a message for Biden and one that could cause his campaign to reassess ahead of the 2024 general election, where the president is expected to face former President Trump, a voter said. “That is a powerful way to send the administration a message,” Christian Peterson, 22, a law student at the University of Minnesota, told Reuters. “Biden needs to stop sending military aid to Israel.” Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have defended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s right to defend itself but, facing internal pressure, have called for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military invaded Gaza after Hamas-led forces carried out the deadliest terror attack in Israel’s history as a country. The ensuing conflict has created a humanitarian disaster and has resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 Palestinian people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 left more than 1,200 Israelis dead, according to Israel. Reuters contributed to this report.
Trump invites Nikki Haley supporters to join MAGA movement, celebrates Super Tuesday victories
Former President Donald Trump reacted to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s suspension of her campaign by inviting her supporters “to join the greatest movement in the history of our nation,” while stressing that President Biden “is the enemy.” Haley suspended her campaign Wednesday morning after Trump was victorious in nearly all Super Tuesday primary contests. “Nikki Haley got TROUNCED last night, in record-setting fashion, despite the fact that Democrats, for reasons unknown, are allowed to vote in Vermont, and various other Republican Primaries,” Trump posted on his Truth Social. “Much of her money came from Radical Left Democrats, as did many of her voters, almost 50% according to the polls.” FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: TRUMP LEADS A DISSATISFIED ELECTORATE Trump, prior to Haley dropping out, said “at this point, I hope she stays in the ‘race’ and fights it out until the end!” “I’d like to thank my family, friends, and the Great Republican Party for helping me to produce, by far, the most successful Super Tuesday in HISTORY, and would further like to invite all of the Haley supporters to join the greatest movement in the history of our Nation,” he said. “BIDEN IS THE ENEMY, HE IS DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY,” he continued. “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” Haley, upon suspending her campaign, did not endorse Trump. Instead, she said it is “now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. And I hope he does that.” “At its best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away,” Haley said. “And our conservative cause badly needs more people. This is now his time for choosing.”