News

Ukrainian And Western Leaders Laud US Aid Package While The Kremlin Warns Of ‘Further Ruin’

Published

7 months ago

2024-04-21

Kiara Grace

AP - VOR News ImageKyiv, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian and Western officials praised a badly needed aid package voted by the US House of Representatives, while the Kremlin warned that the bill would "further ruin" Ukraine and result in more deaths. In a rare Saturday session, the House quickly passed $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other US allies, as Democrats and Republicans came together after months of hard-right opposition to increased American help for opposing Russia's incursion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had warned that his country would lose the conflict without US funding, expressed gratitude for the decision of US senators. "We appreciate every sign of support for our country and its independence, people and way of life, which Russia is attempting to bury under the rubble," he wrote on X.com, a social media site. "America has proved its leadership since the beginning of this war. This type of leadership is necessary to keep a rules-based international order and predictability for all states," he stated. The Ukrainian president stated that his country's "warriors on the front lines" will profit from the aid package. One such "warrior" is infantry soldier Oleksandr, who is battling around Avdiivka, a city in Ukraine's Donetsk region that Russia seized in February after months of fierce battle. "For us, it's critical to have this support from the US and our partners," Oleksandr told The Associated Press. He did not provide his complete name for security reasons. "With this, we can stop them and cut our losses. It is the first step toward the possibility of liberating our territory. Ammunition shortages caused by the assistance holdup over the last six months have forced Ukrainian military commanders to ration shells, a disadvantage that Russia exploited this year, capturing the city of Avdiivka and now advancing on the village of Chasiv Yar, also in the Donetsk region. "The Russians attack us in waves, leaving us weary and forced to leave our positions. "This has happened several times," Oleksandr stated. "Not having enough ammunition means we can't cover the area that is our responsibility to hold when they are assaulting us." In Kyiv, residents expressed their opinions on the US aid plan. "I heard our president openly state that we will lose the battle without this assistance. "Thank you very much, and yesterday was a fantastic event," said Kateryna Ruda, 43. Tatyana Ryavchenuk, the wife of a Ukrainian soldier, expressed the need for more weapons, stressing that soldiers "have nothing to protect us." "They require guns, equipment, and other necessities. We always need assistance. Because without assistance, our enemies can move further and reach the middle of our city," the 26-year-old stated. Other Western officials applauded the aid deal. "Ukraine is destroying Russian combat capabilities with weapons provided by NATO Allies." "This makes us all safer, in Europe and North America," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on X. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that "Ukraine deserves all the support it can get against Russia." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed her statement, describing it as "a strong signal in these times." "We stand with the Ukrainians fighting for their free, democratic and independent country," Scholz said in a post on X. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk congratulated House Speaker Mike Johnson for his efforts but also acknowledged the congressional gridlock. "It's better to be late than too late. And I hope it is not too late for Ukraine," he posted on X. In Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the acceptance of aid to Ukraine as "expected and predictable." The decision "will make the United States of America richer, further ruin Ukraine, and result in the deaths of even more Ukrainians, the fault of the Kyiv regime," Peskov said, according to Russian news agency Ria Novosti. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also resorted to social media to criticize the aid package. "The allocation of military assistance by the United States to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan will aggravate the global crisis: military assistance to the Kyiv regime is direct sponsorship of terrorist activities," she stated in an email. "The new aid package will not save, but, on the contrary, will kill thousands and thousands more people, prolong the conflict, and bring even more grief and devastation," Leonid Slutsky, head of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs, wrote on Telegram. The entire aid plan will be sent to the United States Senate, which might pass it as early as Tuesday. President Joe Biden has pledged to sign it immediately. In its most recent assessment, a Washington-based research tank stated that the complexities of bringing US support to the front lines would most likely mean that its impact would be delayed for several weeks. "Ukrainian forces may suffer additional setbacks in the coming weeks while waiting for U.S. security assistance that will allow Ukraine to stabilize the front," the Institute for the Study of War stated. "But they will likely be able to blunt the current Russian offensive assuming the resumed U.S. assistance arrives promptly." On the ground, Russia's Defense Ministry announced Sunday that its troops had seized control of the settlement of Bohdanivka in the Donetsk area. Ukrainian officials have yet to react to the claim. According to the prosecutor's office in Ukraine's partially seized Donetsk area, Russian shelling killed one person and injured four others.

Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukrainian and Western officials praised a badly needed aid package voted by the US House of Representatives, while the Kremlin warned that the bill would “further ruin” Ukraine and result in more deaths.

In a rare Saturday session, the House quickly passed $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other US allies, as Democrats and Republicans came together after months of hard-right opposition to increased American help for opposing Russia’s incursion.

AP – VOR News Image

Ukrainian And Western Leaders Laud US Aid Package While The Kremlin Warns Of ‘Further Ruin’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had warned that his country would lose the conflict without US funding, expressed gratitude for the decision of US senators.

“We appreciate every sign of support for our country and its independence, people and way of life, which Russia is attempting to bury under the rubble,” he wrote on X.com, a social media site.

“America has proved its leadership since the beginning of this war. This type of leadership is necessary to keep a rules-based international order and predictability for all states,” he stated.

The Ukrainian president stated that his country’s “warriors on the front lines” will profit from the aid package.

One such “warrior” is infantry soldier Oleksandr, who is battling around Avdiivka, a city in Ukraine’s Donetsk region that Russia seized in February after months of fierce battle.

“For us, it’s critical to have this support from the US and our partners,” Oleksandr told The Associated Press. He did not provide his complete name for security reasons.

“With this, we can stop them and cut our losses. It is the first step toward the possibility of liberating our territory.

Ammunition shortages caused by the assistance holdup over the last six months have forced Ukrainian military commanders to ration shells, a disadvantage that Russia exploited this year, capturing the city of Avdiivka and now advancing on the village of Chasiv Yar, also in the Donetsk region.

“The Russians attack us in waves, leaving us weary and forced to leave our positions. “This has happened several times,” Oleksandr stated. “Not having enough ammunition means we can’t cover the area that is our responsibility to hold when they are assaulting us.”

In Kyiv, residents expressed their opinions on the US aid plan.

“I heard our president openly state that we will lose the battle without this assistance. “Thank you very much, and yesterday was a fantastic event,” said Kateryna Ruda, 43.

Tatyana Ryavchenuk, the wife of a Ukrainian soldier, expressed the need for more weapons, stressing that soldiers “have nothing to protect us.”

Times – VOR News Image

Ukrainian And Western Leaders Laud US Aid Package While The Kremlin Warns Of ‘Further Ruin’

“They require guns, equipment, and other necessities. We always need assistance. Because without assistance, our enemies can move further and reach the middle of our city,” the 26-year-old stated.

Other Western officials applauded the aid deal.

“Ukraine is destroying Russian combat capabilities with weapons provided by NATO Allies.” “This makes us all safer, in Europe and North America,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on X.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that “Ukraine deserves all the support it can get against Russia.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed her statement, describing it as “a strong signal in these times.”

“We stand with the Ukrainians fighting for their free, democratic and independent country,” Scholz said in a post on X.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk congratulated House Speaker Mike Johnson for his efforts but also acknowledged the congressional gridlock. “It’s better to be late than too late. And I hope it is not too late for Ukraine,” he posted on X.

In Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the acceptance of aid to Ukraine as “expected and predictable.”

The decision “will make the United States of America richer, further ruin Ukraine, and result in the deaths of even more Ukrainians, the fault of the Kyiv regime,” Peskov said, according to Russian news agency Ria Novosti.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also resorted to social media to criticize the aid package.

“The allocation of military assistance by the United States to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan will aggravate the global crisis: military assistance to the Kyiv regime is direct sponsorship of terrorist activities,” she stated in an email.

“The new aid package will not save, but, on the contrary, will kill thousands and thousands more people, prolong the conflict, and bring even more grief and devastation,” Leonid Slutsky, head of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs, wrote on Telegram.

CNBC – VOR News Image

Ukrainian And Western Leaders Laud US Aid Package While The Kremlin Warns Of ‘Further Ruin’

The entire aid plan will be sent to the United States Senate, which might pass it as early as Tuesday. President Joe Biden has pledged to sign it immediately.

In its most recent assessment, a Washington-based research tank stated that the complexities of bringing US support to the front lines would most likely mean that its impact would be delayed for several weeks.

“Ukrainian forces may suffer additional setbacks in the coming weeks while waiting for U.S. security assistance that will allow Ukraine to stabilize the front,” the Institute for the Study of War stated.

“But they will likely be able to blunt the current Russian offensive assuming the resumed U.S. assistance arrives promptly.”

On the ground, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Sunday that its troops had seized control of the settlement of Bohdanivka in the Donetsk area. Ukrainian officials have yet to react to the claim.

According to the prosecutor’s office in Ukraine’s partially seized Donetsk area, Russian shelling killed one person and injured four others.

SOURCE – (AP)

News

Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.

The Prime Minister dances.

This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.

Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf

— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

News

Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

Beluga Whales Dies at Canada’s Marineland

Outrage Erupts After 17th Beluga Whale Dies at Canada’s Marineland

News

Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
Numbers cannot be repeated
Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
Each play buys 3 lines
Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)