Meanwhile In Russia This Month

The Russian president said,” Talks with Ukraine have reached a dead”, end during a speech at Vodtochny Space Centre. The Russian president blamed that Ukraine had derailed because the Ukrainian side had made "fake claims" about war crimes and extra demands for security guarantees. "We have again returned to a dead-end situation for us," he said. He added that Russia would continue its operation to defend the Russian speakers of eastern Ukraine. However, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters that though negotiations were hard, they were continuing.

President Putin has described the events in Ukraine as a "tragedy", according to remarks transcribed by the Tass news agency. The Russian leader reportedly said his country had "no choice" other than to launch what he calls a special military operation. And during a public appearance, President Putin praised Russia's military objectives in Ukraine as being noble. Reports and satellite images suggest Russia is building up troops and equipment in at least three places on Ukraine’s border: Belgorod and Voronezh regions, and around the town of Matveev Kurgan to the south. They might be hoping to encircle the Ukrainian forces. And to response to this development, some of Ukraine’s most experienced and best-equipped units were positioned in key regions to disrupt Russian troop’s advancement. Many people believe that the Russia/Ukraine is now in a slow war of attrition. Slowly but steadily lessening the resources of their opponents while their economy decays. 

Another interesting development is that, a Ukrainian battalion claims a Russian drone flew over and a cloud of smoke was seen. After that its fighters had suffered minor injuries while some experienced breathing difficulties. The US and Britain say they are looking into reports of possible use of chemical weapons by Russian forces attacking Mariupol. Britain’s Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said the incident needed proper investigation. He said that if Russia were found to have used banned chemical weapons then "nothing was ruled out" in terms of Nato's response.

Finally, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) pleads to not make us take food from children that are hungry to give to children that are starving, will likely die without the aid. The crises in Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria among others have only got worse since the Ukraine war. Soaring food and fuel costs, together with budget cuts in some traditional donor countries, have forced the WFP to halve the amount of food it is giving to millions of people living in those countries. In December 2021, the UN made a record appeal for $41bn (£31bn) to help 273 million people this year. Many African countries, while not dependent on UN aid, import grain from Ukraine. Somalia gets more than 60% of its grain from Ukraine and Russia, while Eritrea gets nearly 97% of its wheat from Ukraine, and they need to compete with other European and North Americans on the international market for food. 

Rest of the world is in midst of recovery after the pandemic, yet some people are starving while others are fighting for their lives and country.

Source : BBC

Resignation is not the end of the story for Will Smith

 US actor Will Smith has resigned from the Oscars Academy after slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during the ceremony. "My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable," his statement said. To this the Academy's president David Rubin said it had accepted Smith's resignation, but would continue its disciplinary proceedings.

In an Analysis from BBC Peter Brown said,” Resignation is not the end of the story”. Resigning from the Academy is a big deal. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, is a global organization with around 10,000 members. Membership of this illustrious, invitation-only body is seen as a mark of achievement in itself. Most people cannot apply to join - they must be nominated by at least two existing members. People nominated for an Oscar are automatically considered and do not need to be nominated. And to this day, only a handful of people have ever been expelled: they include Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and Roman. He would have found out in a few weeks. But the actor decided to seal his own fate, and forfeit his esteemed role as an Oscar voter - by quitting now.

The Academy's disciplinary review over the incident was originally scheduled for 18 April but that changed when Smith resigned on 1st April. "The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards," Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a statement on Friday, 8th April,2022. The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said banning Smith was aimed at protecting performers and guests and "restoring trust in the Academy". The Academy said that directly after the slap it did not "adequately address the situation in the room" and had been "unprepared for the unprecedented". It apologized for this. It also thanked Rock for "maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances".

 Source : BBC / CNN