Vladimir Putin has threatened Ukraine’s allies that if any country intervened in the war, it would be struck with “lightning” retaliation. The Russian president’s statements to lawmakers in St. Petersburg came as the United Kingdom called for a weakening of Moscow so militarily that Putin could no longer threaten European security. “If anyone intends to intervene in the current events from the outside and create strategic threats to Russia that are unacceptable to us, one should know that our retaliation will be lightning fast,” Putin said. He said Moscow had “all the tools for that”, adding that “everyone wanted to know” that Russia would “use them if necessary”.
Minneapolis police involved in a pattern of racial discrimination, the investigation finds
The report said police data “show significant racial inequalities in relation to police use of force, traffic jams, investigations, reports and arrests”. Photo: Ben Brewer / Reuters The Minneapolis Police Department has been embroiled in a pattern of racial discrimination for at least a decade, a state investigation launched after the assassination of George Floyd. After almost two years of research, the report of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights found a trend:
Stopping and catching blacks at a higher rate. The use of violence more often in people of color. A culture where racist language is tolerated.
The report said the agency and the city would negotiate an agreement enforceable by the court – known as the consent order – to address any problems it identified. Rebecca Lucero, the human rights commissioner, said the agreement would remain in place for “as long as it takes to get it right”.
Who will be involved in the consent decree? It will include the contribution of residents, officers and staff of the city, among others. What other immediate changes did the report propose? Stronger responsibility for officers’ behavior, improved training and better communication with the public about critical incidents, such as officer shootings.
Proud Boys member pleads guilty to role in US Capitol attack
Louis Enrique Colon was indicted in February 2021 along with four other members of the Proud Boys’s Kansas City subway division. Photo: Samuel Corum / Getty Images A member of the far-right Proud Boys has pleaded guilty to obstructing police officers during the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Louis Enrique Colon, from Missouri, admitted to crossing police barricades during the uprising and climbing a wall. After entering the Capitol building, he used his hands and a chair to stop police trying to lower the sliding doors to stop the rioters. Colon, 45, was indicted in February 2021, along with four others in the Kansas City Proud Boys chapter. He is the first defendant in this case to plead guilty.
What is the penalty? A maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $ 250,000. He may be given a reduced sentence for cooperation. It comes two weeks after a Proud Boys leader, Charles Donohoe, pleaded guilty to obstructing a formal process and attacking and obstructing police officers.
In other news…
Protesters calling for action against Purdue Pharma in Boston on January 25, 2019. Photo: Boston Globe / Getty Images
The consulting firm McKinsey denied that he was hiding illegal work for the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, while informing the Food and Drug Administration. A report found that consultants worked with the pharmaceutical company, which started the opioid epidemic, while also advising the FDA on drug safety. McKinsey’s global managing partner said the company was protecting customers’ privacy and denied any conflicts of interest, saying it did not provide regulatory advice. The Supreme Court of New York ruled against the new maps of areas of the state Congress, which were widely regarded as pro-Democrats. The party hoped that redefining New York’s suburbs would reduce the expected losses in states that voted for Republicans again. A pile of about 150 skulls found by Mexican police near the Guatemalan border are victims of sacrifices killed between 900 and 1200 AD, according to a decade-long analysis. Police in 2012 thought he was looking at a crime scene.
Statistics of the day: Measles cases worldwide increase by 80% in one year
A child with measles is being treated in Kabul. More than 130 children have died of measles in Afghanistan since the beginning of this year. Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty Images Global measles cases have risen by almost 80% this year amid a pandemic disaster, the United Nations has said. Covid-19 has disrupted vaccination efforts for other diseases around the world. More than 17,300 cases of measles were reported in January and February, compared to about 9,600 in the same period last year.
Don’t miss this: Why is the US withdrawing LGBTQ + rights?
The Florida “Do Not Say You Are Gay” bill bans the discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in schools between kindergarten and the third grade. Illustration: Esme Blegvad / The Guardian Just a few years ago, it seemed to some that the US was steadily moving towards greater legislative rights and social inclusion for LGBTQ + people, from marriage equality in 2015 to the Supreme Court ruling in 2020 that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects them. homosexuals, lesbians and transgender workers. Soon, LGBTQ + Americans are being attacked again, with a host of anti-LGBTQ + rhetoric and legislation. Peter-Astrid Kane records how this happened.
Climate control: The “ruthless” destruction of tropical forests continues despite the commitment of Cop26
The destruction of virgin rainforests continued at a “relentless” pace in 2021, with 11.1 million hectares (27.4 hectares) of trees lost in the tropics last year, including 3.75 hectares of primary forest, which is key to reducing global heating and biodiversity loss. The data have raised concerns that governments will not abide by a Cop26 agreement to stop and reverse deforestation by 2030.
One last thing: KFC launches $ 250 bag to hold its Twister Wraps
Wrapuette is sold as a limited edition through the KFC online store, with the proceeds going to the KFC Foundation. Photo: KFC No, really – KFC has designed a bag for the UK market, which costs £ 198 ($ 248) and is shaped to carry one of its Twister Wraps. The chicken chain claims that there is a waiting list for “Wrapuette”.
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