Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News on aviation disaster, CCP, disease control, Ukraine, Russia
Image : Researcher's Picture
News (1) to (3) / Reporter : Li Jinfeng / Editor: Li Quan / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/24/a103381983.html
40 minutes after MU5735 crash, no priority call from Guangzhou
Image : In the afternoon of 21 March 2022, China Eastern flight MU5735 crashed in Guangxi. (CNS/AFP via Getty Images)
After the crash of MU5735, a section of air traffic control and nearby crew members "take turns shouting" before the crash came out. However, this recording is already a "propaganda" after the crash but there is no priority call in Guangzhou.
News (2)
Hainan, Shanghai and Zhuhai air traffic controllers call MU5735
On 23 March 2022, the "Economic Observer" reported that a civil aviation radio audio was obtained that day. The audio shows that from 2:33 after the crash on 21 March, multiple crew controllers in Zhuhai, Hainan and Shanghai called China Eastern flight MU5735 but received no response. The audio of the call lasts 40 minutes.
The source of the audio is the official website of liveatc. Several civil aviation experts said that the material of liveatc has high credibility.
In the audio, Hainan Airlines tried to call MU5735 in response to the instruction of Zhuhai Approach (Civil Aviation Zhuhai Approach Control Center of China), "East 5735, Guangzhou is calling you!" About 27 seconds later, the Zhuhai approach (frequency 120.35) was controlled, The staff also called, "East 5735, Zhuhai approach 120.35 call, please answer if you receive it".
Nineteen minutes later, at 2.52 p.m., Zhuhai approached and called China Southern 3764, asking South 3764 to "call China Eastern 5735 for help and see if you can call it out." China Southern 3764 immediately called China Eastern 5735 but received no response. Five seconds later, China Southern 3764 called East 5735 twice. China Southern 3764 reported to Zhuhai that "the China Eastern 5735 could not be called".
At about 2.53 pm, Zhuhai Approach again requested China Southern 3764 to try to call East 5735 at 121.5 (emergency frequency). China Southern 3764: "China Eastern 5735, China Southern 3764, 121.5 call", repeat the call: "China Eastern 5735, China Southern 3764, 121.5 call".
At 2.58 p.m., Shanghai Airlines Flight 1 (Shanghai Airlines 9256) called China Eastern 5735 on emergency frequency 121.5: "China Eastern 5735, Shanghai Airlines 9256 called at 121.5". Shanghai Airlines 9256 repeated: "China Eastern 5735, Dongfang 5735, Shanghai Airlines 9256 called". Then, Shanghai Airlines 9256 called for the third time: China Eastern's 5735, China Eastern's 5735, and Shanghai Airlines 9256 (at) 121.5."
At 3 pm, Shanghai Airlines 9256 called China Eastern 5735 for the fourth time, "China Eastern 5735, Shanghai Airlines 9256, 121.5 calls". It was also the last time a nearby flight called China Eastern 5735.
Image : On 21 March 2022, the China Eastern Yunnan passenger plane crashed and had an air accident. Pictured is a wreckage of the plane. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
News (3)
The audio of the call to MU5735 in Guangzhou is not exposed
However, this audio is not a call during the MU5735 crash, but a call after the crash.
Zhu Tao, director of the Aviation Safety Office of the CAAC, said at a press conference on the accident that MU5735 was cruising at an altitude of 8,869 meters at around 2.17 pm on 21 March but a few minutes later, the controller found that the plane's altitude dropped sharply, and then more Called the crew several times but received no response. Zhu Tao pointed out that at 2.23 pm, the radar signal of the plane disappeared and the plane crashed.
The flight data shared by the flight data platform Flightradar24 showed that MU5735 descended at 2.20 pm on the 21st, dropped significantly at around 2.21 pm, and at 2.22 pm, the aircraft had fallen from an altitude of nearly 9 km to dozens of metre.
The aforementioned "Economic Observer" reported that an aviation operations controller in the southern China region of a mainland airline said that when MU5735 entered the Guangzhou control area at a cruising altitude of 8,900 m at 2.17 pm on the 21st, in theory, no Zhuhai approach call was required but the priority call will be adjusted by Guangzhou District. If it is lower, there will be a Guangzhou approach call. In case of emergency, if the aircraft does not respond, the surrounding units will be notified for assistance.
The aviation operations controller explained that the aforementioned audio was intercepted on the liveatc website of the radio conversation received during the Zhuhai approach (frequency 120.35), so there was no process of calling MU5735 in Guangzhou. The radio command issued during the Zhuhai approach (frequency 120.35) is mainly to assist the Guangzhou area.
According to the report, senior flight enthusiasts believe that because the radar signal disappeared after the MU5735 crashed, the air traffic control on the approach to Zhuhai did not know that the plane crashed and thought it was a short-lived loss of contact, so they used various methods for the remaining half an hour to contact MU5735.
In the afternoon of 21 March 2022, a China Eastern flight carrying 132 people crashed in Guangxi. Image : Video Screenshot/New Tang Dynasty Synthesis.
News (4) to (5) / Sources : The Straits Times, The Star
News (4)
Wreckage of China Eastern B737-800NG found over 10 km away
Rescue workers have expanded
their search area where a China Eastern plane crashed on 21 March in
Teng County in southern Guangxi, and found aircraft parts more than 10 km away.
The
search radius has grown about 1.5 times from the day before, and 183 plane
parts, including that of an engine, as well as the belongings of 21 passengers
have been found, said Zheng Xi, head of the Guangxi Firefighting Corps.
Human remains have also been retrieved, he told journalists on 24 March 2022 but most of the wreckage was found within a 30m radius of where the plane crashed into a valley surrounded by steep hills in a remote mountainous area.
Torrential
rains have complicated search efforts, especially since the eastern side of the
search area is virgin forest.
Rescuers
have also been scouring the rugged terrain for the remaining flight data
recorder of China Eastern Flight MU5735.
One
of two black boxes on the Boeing 737-800, the audio recorder, was found on
Wednesday and transported to Beijing to be analysed.
State
media footage showed firefighters and military personnel in raincoats examining
an orange canister covered in mud.
“Is
this it? Can we have someone verify?” a voice could be heard saying in the
background.
Officials
initially said the recorder had been so badly damaged that they needed several
hours to verify which of the two recorders had been found.
The
black boxes are meant to be crash-proof and virtually indestructible, said Mao
Yanfeng, head of the Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Centre.
The
two black boxes could help investigators piece together why flight MU5735
plunged from the sky with 132 people on board on Monday, while en route from
Kunming to Guangzhou.
A cut off
from a nearby highway had to be hastily opened to give rescuers better access
to the crash site, just 2 km off the highway while volunteers hit at stalled
media vehicles with umbrellas in a bid to stop reporters from recording scenes.
The entrance into the crash site is a narrow single-lane village
called Molang. Initially, villagers on motorcycles had to take rescuers to the
site.
News (5)
Possibility of CCP-U.S. joint investigation into the crash
The U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the CCP
authorities had invited the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to
take part in the investigation of the crash.
The NTSB, however, later said it had not yet determined if
investigators would travel to CCP China in light of visa and quarantine
requirements.
News (6)
MU5375 crash: 183 pieces of fuselage and 21 remains of the dead have been found
Following the discovery of the first black box in the crash of China Eastern flight MU5375 on 23 March, it is confirmed that 183 pieces of fuselage debris and the remains of 21 deceased have been found. The main impact site of the accident has also been basically confirmed at the scene.
The crash site of the crashed passenger plane was raining lightly one after another, and the muddy road made the search difficult. Search and rescue personnel use a variety of tools and even dig with bare hands. They also carry thermal imagers, hoping to detect signs of life.
As the search efforts and scope expanded, more aircraft wreckage and human tissue fragments were found at the scene. Most of the wreckage of the aircraft is concentrated in the core area with a radius of about 30 meters around the main impact point. Remnants of engine blades, turbine parts and some wings have been found.
CAAC officials revealed that based on a preliminary assessment, the black box that has been recovered may be a cockpit voice recorder.
News (7) to (12) / Reporters : Zhao Fenghua and Lin Mingdi / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/22/a103380927.html
News (7)
Dead bodies found at the scene of MU5375 crash, all related reports deleted initially
State media CCTV earlier reported that the dead bodies were found at the scene but the related reports were immediately deleted. The families and colleagues of the victims were separated into a separate area for centralized control.
In the evening of Tuesday (22 March), 24 hours after the crash, Chinese officials said at a news conference that the search and rescue work was still in progress and that no survivors had been found.
Zhu Tao, director of the Aviation Safety Office of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said at a press conference that the B737-89P is severely damaged and the investigation is difficult.
The CCP state media CCTV earlier reported that search and rescue personnel found bodies at the scene, but most of the relevant reports have been deleted, which has raised questions.
News (8)
Epidemic suspected to cause disaster
Image : Video Screenshot
At the same time, on 22 March, some family members of those who lost contact in the air crash came to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport anxiously waiting for news. However, they were sealed off from the public eye in the name of epidemic prevention. They were confined to one area of the airport, with barriers erected around them and guarded by personnel in full protective gear.
In the vicinity of the crash site, police checkpoints have been set up to control vehicles entering and leaving, and medical and utility vehicles can be seen entering and leaving the scene.
On 21 March, a Boeing 737-800 passenger plane and flight MU5735 of China Eastern Airlines Yunnan Company crashed in Guangxi on its way from Kunming to Guangzhou. The lives of 132 people on board are unknown.
News (9)
Suspicion of broken fuselage and wings, human factors not ruled out
There are different opinions on the cause of the crash of the China Eastern Yunnan passenger plane.
According to analysis by industry experts and people in the system, according to surveillance video, the crashed flight rushed to the ground at high speed with the nose down. This is very rare in the history of air accidents. It does not rule out that the fuselage and wings of the aircraft are broken and disintegrated when the aircraft is in the air, and human factors are not ruled out.
Yao Cheng, who is familiar with aircraft operations and has served in the Chinese naval command, said the crash of China Eastern was suspicious. He said that American planes have collision avoidance systems, and the nose will automatically climb up in an emergency, even if it is a software problem, it will not cause the nose to plunge down and hit the ground. The content of the conversation between the plane and the ground control center has not been disclosed. If it is a mechanical failure, the authorities will release the flight recorder of the "black box" later. If the recording of the conversation between the pilot and the ground before the crash is not released, it will indicate another reason for the crash.
However, the relevant personnel of CAAC reported that at 14:20, the controller found that the aircraft altitude had dropped sharply, and immediately called the crew several times, but did not receive any reply, and the radar signal of the aircraft disappeared at 14:23.
Some former pilots also pointed out that this may have been a "death dive" caused by a malfunction of the aircraft's sensors.
News (10)
Situation of China's civil aviation deteriorates during the pandemic
On the other hand, information from the civil aviation industry shows that since the outbreak of the CCP virus, the safety situation of China's civil aviation has continued to deteriorate. Whether it is the maintenance of the aircraft or the mental health of employees, the red light has continued to shine.
Information posted online by civil aviation practitioners shows that the Chinese aviation industry has been hit hard by the CCP virus pandemic. The vast majority of frontline pilots have seen their earnings drop by nearly 40% over two years, and for flight attendants, the drop has been even greater.
News (11)
Many Chinese pilots under pressure to repay loans
Civil aviation employment pressure has increased sharply, income has dropped sharply, and many pilots are under pressure to repay loans. Therefore, the whole industry is fluctuating, and the safety situation is worrying.
An anonymous source from the system told Radio Free Asia that for more than two years, the government has not had the money to make up for the loss of the civil aviation industry. But what worries him most is that the enormous pressure could lead practitioners to go to extremes, at least as yet there is no evidence to dispel the suspicion of man-made air disasters.
News (12)
Unverified claims of financial distress
After the crash, online posts said a court enforcement notice indicated that the captain of the crashed plane may be facing financial distress. However, these claims have not been confirmed by the airline, and this station has not been able to independently verify. China Eastern has denied allegations that the planes were not adequately maintained.
News (13) to (21) / Reporter : Zheng Gusheng / Editor: Lin Qing / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/23/a103381779.html
News (13)
Shanghainese: More than 8,000 confirmed diagnoses in Beicai Town are true, the authorities plan to split the report
Image : Health workers in protective gear prepare equipment before testing people for covid at a compound in Shanghai on 23 March 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)
The Shanghai epidemic is out of control, and the authorities are still trying to hide it. It was reported on the Internet that more than 8,000 confirmed cases were found in Beicai Town in Shanghai alone, and the officials immediately "refuted the rumor". Locals confirmed the news from within the police, and broke the news that the authorities were preparing to split it up.
In the morning of 22 March 2022, local time, internal information on the Internet indicated that more than 8,000 asymptomatic infections were found in Beicai Town, Pudong District, Shanghai on the 21st. The official Weibo account of the Shanghai Municipal Government Information Office claimed that it was "false news".
Image : Screenshots of online chats marked by officials as "rumour". (Web image)
News (14)
Policeman confirms covid figures split in batches, reporting partially daily
However, a staff member of a textile company in Shanghai told The Epoch Times reporter on the 23rd that a colleague confirmed the authenticity of the above news through her husband who worked at the police station. The colleague revealed in the work group that the official is reporting in batches in the past two days, splitting more than 8,000 people, and reporting a part every day.
The staff member said that he could not send the chat records to reporters, but many people in Shanghai knew about this.
News (15)
More than 8,000 covid cases in Shanghai alone
He said that the director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission announced at the epidemic briefing on the 22nd that "8,000 cases are rumours", and he was very nervous when he spoke. In fact, the Shanghai virus is spreading very badly. Officials dare not report more than 8,000 cases because Shanghai is, after all, an influential city in the mainland.
The above rumours only involve Beicai Town. In fact, outbreaks have occurred in many parts of Shanghai.
Shanghai reported that 4 new local confirmed cases and 977 asymptomatic infections were added on the 22nd, a new high.
Ms. Zhu from Jing'an District, Shanghai was deeply skeptical of the official figures. She told The Epoch Times that the Omicron variant is characterized by the fact that one person is diagnosed and everyone around is infected but the areas where the officially announced asymptomatic infected people are located are scattered, often only one in a community, which is suspicious and disturbing.
News (16)
The number of square cabin hospitals in Shanghai is rising
She revealed that the epidemic in Shanghai is indeed serious. The Sports Park in Minhang District and the Gymnasium in Jiading District have been converted into temporary makeshift hospitals, where asymptomatic infected persons and mildly ill patients are isolated, and the isolation conditions are a bit like "concentration camps". There are also many hotels that have been requisitioned as quarantine points.
Image : A square cabin hospital is being rebuilt in the Sports Park in Minhang District, Shanghai. (Provided by respondents/The Epoch Times)
News (17)
Jiading District locked again
Ms. Li from Shanghai said that her colleague was in Jiading District, and the community had just been unblocked and an outbreak broke out, and was immediately blocked again.
News (18)
Symptomatic treated as asymptomatic infection, actual covid figures continue to be understated
Most of the infected people officially reported in Shanghai are asymptomatic infected people but RFA's interview reports suggest that may not be the case in reality.
News (19)
Shanghai's medical resources close to collapse
Shanghai resident Ms. Feng told Radio Free Asia on the 22nd that Shanghai's medical resources are close to collapse, and general outpatient clinics in most areas have been closed, and the hospital only treats severely infected patients, and mild cases cannot be admitted to the hospital at all. An 80-year-old man with high fever and complications went everywhere for help, but no hospital accepted him.
News (20)
Shanghai officials fear losses of jobs after reporting covid cases
The report quoted people familiar with the matter as saying that at present, hospitals in various places cannot accommodate so many infected patients, so they have to choose severe patients for hospital treatment, and most of the mild patients are isolated at home. The source also said that local officials have stopped reporting the number of infected people for fear of losing their jobs. Therefore, the number of infected people may be increasing.
News (21)
Some general hospitals become covid hospitals in Shanghai
The report also said that some general hospitals in Shanghai were temporarily converted into designated hospitals for receiving infected patients.
According to The Epoch Times, Zhoupu Hospital has been emptied and converted into an isolation makeshift hospital. Nurses at the hospital started to strike in protest.
News (22)
Is the CCP secretly helping Russia? TikTok intensively pushes the Russian official announcement
Editor : Jing Zhongming / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/23/a103381785.html / Image : The logo of social media app Tiktok displayed on a tablet screen. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images)
The CCP has been providing public opinion support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Studies have shown that TikTok, the international version of Douyin, intensively pushes official propaganda of the Russian government.
The British "Guardian" reported on 21 March 2022 that an investigation by the anti-disinformation agency NewsGuard showed that if you register a new account on TikTok and enter the "Recommended for you" page to search for videos about the Ukraine war, you will be directed to fake or false information within about 40 minutes. The misleading content includes the United States' biological and chemical weapons laboratory in Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim at a press conference that he would "counter the West" with nuclear weapons.
NewsGuard noted that much of the fiction has long been identified as official Russian propaganda. The video provided by the Douyin algorithm has no information on the credibility of the source, warnings, fact checks, etc.
NewsGuard also pointed out that TikTok’s search function is similar, searching for terms such as Ukraine, Russia, war, Kyiv and Donbass, and videos containing false or misleading claims have also appeared.
The Guardian reported that after Russia invaded Ukraine, war-related content on TikTok increased significantly. As of the end of last week, videos with the hashtag #Ukraine had more than 30 billion views.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on 23 March that CCP China had provided Russia with political support, including spreading blatant lies and misinformation, according to Agence France-Presse. Allies are also concerned that China could provide material support for the Russian invasion.
TikTok is known as the international version of Douyin, both of which are affiliated with the Chinese company ByteDance. Former U.S. President Trump accused TikTok of threatening U.S. national security, and was once brewing a blockade. TikTok has been accused of collecting U.S. user information and spreading fake news but TikTok has denied it.
News (23)
NATO meets on 24 March 2022 to discuss the role of the CCP in the Russia-Ukraine war
Reporter : Liming / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/23/a103381839.html
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on 23 March 2022 publicly criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its political support for Russia's aggression against neighbouring countries, including public dissemination of big lies. He also disclosed that NATO members will hold a summit on the 24th to discuss the role of the CCP in the Russia-Ukraine war.
NATO plans to hold an emergency summit on 24 March when the heads of the 30 member countries will gather in Brussels to discuss the role of the CCP authorities in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg disclosed the above news to the media on the 23rd. He bluntly stated at a press conference that when Russia attacked Ukraine, the CCP authorities provided political support to Russia, "including spreading outrageous lies and misinformation." He said that NATO members are worried that the CCP authorities may provide material support for the Russian invasion.
"I expect (NATO) leaders to call on China (CCP) to fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council, refrain from supporting Russia's war, and join the rest of the world in calling for an immediate and peaceful end," Stoltenberg said. this war."
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said publicly that Washington believed Beijing was willing to provide military support to Russia, which had invaded Ukraine. He warned that if Beijing takes any action to support Russia's aggressive behavior, it will pay for it.
On the 18 March, after the current U.S. President Biden had a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House issued a statement saying that Biden clearly told Xi Jinping that when Russia is carrying out brutal attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilians, the CCP will inevitably face consequences if it provides Russia with substantial support. White House press secretary Jen Psaki also said the administration's concerns about Beijing's possible aid to Russia have not been eased.
Several EU countries have also publicly appealed to the Beijing authorities in recent days, asking China not to give Russia any form of support.
However, since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the CCP authorities have always refused to publicly characterize the war as Russia’s invasion of neighboring countries, and have never condemned the Russian authorities. Instead, they have tried their best to meet Russia’s needs in international and domestic publicity.
Yuan Hongbing, a jurist based in Australia who has connections with people in the CCP system, disclosed to The Epoch Times on March 19 that he had received information from CCP insiders that the CCP’s military region in the Northeast region is making every effort to produce portable field rations, which will be provided to the CCP. Russian army.
Yuan Hongbing said, "Now the military regions in northeastern China and those factories related to the military regions are producing field rations at full capacity, that is, portable field rations. The label of Russia is affixed on it, and it is sent to the Ukrainian battlefield in an endless stream."
The Associated Press also reported on the 16th that Drew Thompson, a former U.S. Defense Department official, believes that in order to avoid international sanctions, the Chinese authorities may not openly sell weapons to Russia but may provide Russia with some spare parts, consumables, ammunition, and dual-use items, even sharing surveillance information and intelligence with Russia.
News (24)
The global "big translation" movement stings the CCP, and the CCP media publishes an attack
Reporter : Qiao An / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/23/a103381876.html
During the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the CCP government and its supporters sided with Russia and supported the invaders, causing dissatisfaction among many Chinese. A "Great Translation" campaign was launched on social media.
The fuse that gave birth to the so-called "Great Translation" movement was the Russia-Ukraine war that lasted for nearly a month.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, there have been a lot of extreme remarks supporting Russia, belittling Ukraine, spreading rumours about the United States, and clamoring to attack Taiwan on social media in mainland China, inciting and deceiving mainlanders who have no access to foreign media, and following the direction of the CCP’s public opinion.
The CCP’s manipulation of public opinion has aroused strong dissatisfaction among some overseas Chinese-speaking volunteers, and subsequently launched a “big translation” campaign to faithfully translate the articles of the domestic media that fooled the public and the messages of the deceived people into English, so that the world sees the true face of the CCP's manipulation of public opinion.
Recently, the "Great Translation" movement has been slandered and suppressed by the CCP authorities. Not only has its account been subjected to a large number of malicious reports and complaints but the Global Times has also published an article to discredit the "Great Translation" movement as an "anti-China force that accepts foreign funding".
A few days ago, the "Great Translation" campaign platform has reminded volunteers not to disclose personal information to avoid cyber violence from the CCP's little pinkies.
News (25)
The Central Inspection Team went to Shanghai People: The actual number of infected people is astonishing
Reporters : Li Lan, Luo Ya and Gu Xiaohua / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/24/a103381966.html
The number of official reports of the epidemic in Shanghai has increased day by day, but the data disclosed by the private sector is much higher than the report. With the arrival of the central inspection team, locals said that the current situation in Shanghai is tantamount to closing the city.
According to the epidemic notification data of the National Health Commission of the CCP, the number of newly infected cases in Shanghai, including confirmed cases and asymptomatic infections, increased sharply for three consecutive days, with 758 cases on March 20 (24 confirmed cases + 734 asymptomatic infections). ); 896 cases on the 21st (31 confirmed cases + 865 asymptomatic infections); 981 cases on the 22nd (4 confirmed cases + 977 asymptomatic infections).
Image : Video Screenshot
However, the actual number of infected people reported by the private sector is more than 8,000 in Beicai, northeast of Pudong alone, far exceeding the official report. The authorities, as always, responded by calling it a "rumour".
Wu Jinglei, Director of Health and Welfare of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, said on 22 March, "More than 8,000 confirmed cases have been confirmed in Beicai, Pudong. In fact, I also noticed the rumours on the Internet yesterday. I want to explain here that this rumor is untrue. ."
An employee of a textile company in Shanghai said on 23 March, "It was posted on the Internet that there were more than 8,000 cases (infection), and they (the government) said it was a rumor, but it was actually true. In our group, they said that there were 8,000 cases. There are many cases. The husbands of some of their colleagues work in the police station. He said that this is true. In the past two days (epidemic notification), more than 8,000 cases have been scattered, and eight or nine hundred cases are reported every day. We do not If we dare to tell others, we just know what we have in mind.”
Although the outside world cannot know the actual number of infected people in Shanghai, the severity of the current epidemic can be judged from official measures.
After temporarily requisitioning general hospitals such as Zhongshan Hospital South Hospital, Huashan Hospital North Hospital, Ruijin Hospital South Hospital, and Zhoupu Hospital as isolation hospitals, Wu Jinglei, director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, said at a routine epidemic prevention and control conference on the 23rd that the The Minhang Gymnasium and Jiading Gymnasium will be converted into isolation points as places for centralized isolation of mild and asymptomatic infections.
At the same time, the Joint Prevention and Control Supervision Team of the State Council also went to Shanghai to carry out supervision work. On the 22nd, Li Qiang, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and head of the Municipal Epidemic Prevention and Control Team, vowed to take epidemic prevention and control as the current top priority; strictly carry out epidemic prevention and control, strictly resolving the problems reported by the inspection team.
Reporter: "If the central inspection team comes down, what do you think about the prevention and control of the epidemic in Shanghai?"
Ms. Zhu, a resident of Jing'an District, Shanghai (2022.3.23): "It's fake, it's all fake, what is the specific purpose, the central government and that (Shanghai local government) joined forces to deceive the people, I don't know."
Shanghai resident Ms. Zheng (2022.3.22): "The State Council's epidemic inspection team came to (Shanghai), which means that (the central government) is dissatisfied with Shanghai's work (epidemic handling), so they came, then the next step may be to strengthen control of the epidemic.”
At present, the official insists that the city will not be closed but Shanghai people say that in fact, it is like the lockdown of the city. Some places have already seen residents rushing for vegetables.
Ms. Zhu, a resident of Jing'an District, Shanghai on 23 March 2022 said, "I have been closed (sealed) for 4 days before I sent the dishes, and some places haven't served the dishes yet. There are no dishes, no meat dishes, just this little thing, you said you want us. You say how many days we should eat. I have a friend in Chongming. I just contacted him. He is from Changxing Island. He said that his community has been closed for almost a week and are starving. "
News (26)
Tangshan, Hebei, under lockdown, prices of vegetables soar
Reporters : Xiong Bin and Huang Yuning / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/24/a103382319.html
The epidemic situation in Tangshan, Hebei Province, an important industrial city in China, has been severely affected. From 22 March 2022, a temporary global closure and control management will be implemented. Citizens revealed that Tangshan is currently in a state of lockdown, completely shut down, and complained that the price of vegetables has doubled and tripled, and nucleic acid testing is carried out every day, which increases the risk of infection and wastes people's money.
A new wave of the epidemic in Tangshan broke out in shopping and farmers markets with a lot of people. Since the 19th, the epidemic has been found in many districts. As of the morning of 24 March, there are two medium and high risk areas. Since 22 March, the temporary closure and control management of the whole region has been implemented. A citizen of Tangshan told NTDTV on the 24th that Tangshan is currently in a state of lockdown. All roads and communities in the urban area are closed. Work, business, and classes are suspended, and all traffic is stopped.
Ms. Zhu, a citizen of Tangshan, said, "We have a very serious epidemic here, we have stopped, we are isolated at home, if we don't go to work, then we have no income, and we don't know what to do in the future? Now it is a problem, we must do nucleic acid every day. Buying groceries is bought online, you can't go out to buy groceries, it's doubled."
Tangshan citizens mentioned that after the city was locked down, the shortage of living materials and the skyrocketing prices were caused by the government's incompetence, because the trucks carrying living materials had to go through many checkpoints. .
Mr. Gao, another resident of Tangshan, said, "Many intersections have gates. People in the living material supply industry can barely get out, but sometimes they are blocked. Depending on whether the people at the gates are happy or not, they will become a mess. Their ability to govern is amazing."
Tangshan is an important coal production area and steel base in China, and the lockdown of the city has caused huge losses to all walks of life.
Mr. Gao said, "The steel mill has been shut down since the Winter Olympics. How much is the loss to other service industries and agriculture? The agricultural products cannot be shipped out, and they all rot in the ground."
Citizens also complain that nucleic acid testing every day poses a risk of infection and wastes people and money.
Mr. Gao added, "The nucleic acid community does it every day. I don't know how many rounds it does. Basically, there is no safety. Doing nucleic acid is to make money. Who cares if the risk is not risky? Since the community is blocked, why do you still do it? Yeah? Where does this money come from? Isn't this all wasted?"
News (27)
From 29 March 2022, the number of gatherings will increase to ten people, and masks may not be worn outdoors in Singapore
Image : Researcher's Picture
From next Tuesday (29 March 2022), the Singapore government will no longer force people to wear masks outdoors, and the limit on the number of people in gatherings has also been increased to ten.
From 29 March, the government will no longer force people to wear masks outdoors, and the limit on the number of people in gatherings has also been increased to ten.
In his national address, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that people could choose not to wear masks when outdoors because the risk of spreading the virus outdoors is much lower than indoors. However, the safe distance rules remain unchanged for the time being: As long as you are not wearing a mask, you must maintain a safe distance of 1 m in order to minimize the risk of transmission.
In addition, the government will also allow up to 75% of home workers to return to the workplace. Capacity restrictions will also be eased for large events and venues, up to 75% capacity when there are more than 1,000 people.
The Prime Minister said that Singapore has now ushered in an important milestone in its anti-epidemic journey. Most people have completed vaccinations, and almost all eligible people have also received supplemental doses. At the same time, the epidemic caused by the Omicron strain has reached its peak and has begun to ease. In addition, many people have also been infected and have recovered, and Singapore's herd immunity has improved. More importantly, Singapore's medical system has always remained resilient.
The Prime Minister said that after considering various factors such as the pressure on the medical system, the impact of epidemic prevention measures on businesses and the economy, student learning, and community interaction, the government believes that Singapore is ready to move forward decisively towards the stage of coexistence with covid. Therefore, it was decided to adjust the safety management measures.
Ref: https://www.8world.com/singapore/sg-relaxing-covid-measures-mask-not-compulsory-when-outdoor-1762771
News (28)
The epidemic has reached an important turning point, and Singapore will resolutely move towards co-existence with covid
According to Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered a national speech titled "Entering a New Stage" in the morning of 24 March 2022 as he talked about the local covid epidemic and Singapore's next actions.
It has been more than two years since the outbreak of the epidemic. Lee Hsien Loong pointed out that from the beginning, the most important goal of Singapore was to protect lives and minimize avoidable deaths, and resolutely prevent Singapore from falling into a severe situation where no one can get treatment.
Looking back at the anti-epidemic stage in the past two years, Lee Hsien Loong said that in the early stage of the epidemic, Singapore took strict epidemic prevention measures because it did not know much about covi. Then the Delta strain hit, and Singapore continued to implement strict anti-epidemic measures to slow the spread of the virus until most people were vaccinated. After Delta variant, there is a more powerful Omicron variant strain. Although Singapore had achieved a high vaccination rate and a sound medical system at that time, in order to allow the medical system and medical staff to have enough time to respond, Singapore still chose to tighten border measures and postpone the relaxation of security management measures.
However, now that the peak period of Omicron has passed, Lee Hsien Loong believes that it is time to move decisively towards the stage of coexistence with covid. "In the past two weeks, the number of new daily cases has decreased," he said. "The weekly rate of cases is now about 0.8, and if the trend continues, the number of new daily cases will halve in about three weeks."
Source: Lianhe Zaobao
News (29)
As long as there are vaccinations, there are almost no restrictions on entry
Singapore will greatly simplify the covi testing and isolation procedures that travelers must follow. Lee Hsien Loong said with the introduction of the Vaccinated Travellers Framework, Singaporeans will be able to travel abroad more easily, almost as if they were back before the pandemic.
Under the new framework, Singapore will also ease most of its entry restrictions to make it easier for travelers who have completed vaccinations to enter.
"This will reconnect Singapore with the world, provide a boost to businesses, especially the tourism industry, and help restore Singapore's status as a business and aviation hub."
News (30)
Taking big strides to coexist with covid does not mean easing measures across the board
Lee Hsien Loong reminded the public to remain vigilant as the Covid-19 outbreak may develop unexpectedly. Singapore will wait some time for the outbreak to stabilize after taking this major step. If the situation develops well, restrictions will be eased again.
Lee Hsien Loong said that the public should be mentally prepared for more setbacks in the future. "Because people have more interactions, Singapore may also usher in a new wave of epidemics." He also emphasized that the Omicron virus will not be the last mutant strain we face, and the virus will continue to mutate. "Hopefully, new mutant strains will become less powerful and more like influenza viruses but it is also possible that more infectious and more dangerous mutant strains will emerge, like the Delta variant. If that happens, we may need to go backwards and tighten the containment measures again."
News (31)
From 1 April 2022, vaccinated passengers do not need to be quarantined or tested for entry by land to Singapore
The governments of Singapore and Malaysia jointly announced that from 1 April 2022, people who have completed the covi vaccination, as long as they travel between Singapore and Malaysia through land checkpoints, no matter what means of transportation they take, they do not need to be quarantined or tested.
This announcement was made in a statement issued by Malaysia and Singapore in the afternoon of 24 March. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also had a phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri today, saying that the two countries have agreed to open land borders as both sides have made good progress in vaccination and control of the covid epidemic.
“From April 1, 2022, the governments of both countries will allow those travellers who have completed vaccinations to travel between Singapore and Malaysia by land without the need for quarantine or testing, including pre-departure testing and arrival Post-arrival inspection.”
The governments of both countries said the new guidelines would apply to all categories of travelers, as well as all types of transport using land checkpoints. This measure also includes truck drivers who transport supplies to and from Singapore and Malaysia.
Eligible travelers also no longer need to apply for a vaccination travel pass, they only need to hold a valid passport and a vehicle entry pass to enter the country. However, all passengers still need to fill in the Singapore Arrival Card online within three days before arrival.
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri said, "With Malaysia opening its borders to international travellers on 1 April, we will reach another important milestone in cross-border travel with our close neighbour, Singapore." He also said , today's announcement reflects the long-term relationship between the two countries, cooperation in all aspects, and the close relationship between the two peoples, and will also have a positive impact on the efforts of the two countries in economic recovery and people's livelihood recovery.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also said, "Singapore and Malaysia have a deep, warm and multifaceted relationship with strong people-to-people ties. Today's announcement is an important milestone in our transition to coexistence with covid. It reflects the strong bilateral cooperation during the epidemic and helps Both countries emerge from this crisis stronger."
News (32) to (38) / Host : Li Muyang / Publisher : News Insight / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/24/a103382147.html
News (32)
International covid data as of 23 March 2022
As of 23 March 2022 at 1 pm EST, including the reporting figures from several opaque countries such as the CCP, 1,877,161 people were newly diagnosed with covid in the world, and the total number of confirmed cases reached 474,069,290. On a single day, there were 16,673 deaths, bringing the cumulative total to 6,121,806.
News (33)
U.S. experts invited to investigate the truth of the crash
This afternoon (23 March) local time, search and rescue personnel found the first "black box" in the surface soil about 30 meters southeast of the crash site of China Eastern Airlines. The preliminary determination is that the cockpit voice recorder has been sent to Beijing overnight, and the professional civil aviation agency is requested to decode it.
According to Reuters, U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg said today that China has invited the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board to participate in the crash investigation. Buttigieg was encouraged by being invited to work on the ground in China.
ICAO-certified safety expert and senior air crash investigator Daniel Ajkum told the official China News Weekly, "The cockpit voice recorder can tell us the crew's mental state and their first reaction to specific situations. What it is, how to deal with it, whether there is adequate communication, whether the checklists are executed according to the process, and can also tell us if there is any other unexpected situation in the cockpit.”
That is to say, through this "black box", it should be possible to mostly know whether there was any accident in the cockpit before the crash. If the authorities truthfully release the "black box" data, then people will also know the truth about the crash. But will the authorities reveal the truth?
At the second press conference held this afternoon (23rd), Mao Yanfeng, director of the Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Center, said that the weather on the route before the crash was airworthy and there was no dangerous weather. According to the call records between the crew and the ground crew of the air traffic control unit, normal communication was maintained from Kunming takeoff until the sudden drop in altitude.
Sun Shiying, chairman of China Eastern Airlines Yunnan Company, said at the meeting that the flight licenses and health certificates of the three pilots of the flight are all within the validity period, and they are in good health and have complete flight experience. The captain was hired as the captain of the B737 model in January 2018, with a total flight experience of 6,709 hours. The total flight experience of the first co-pilot is 31,769 hours, and the total flight experience of the second co-pilot is 556 hours. At present, it is understood that the three pilots usually perform well, and their family conditions are relatively harmonious.
Attention everyone, from what Mao Yanfeng and Sun Shiying said, we learned the following. The weather during the flight was normal and there was no danger. That said, this has ruled out the possibility of a crash due to weather.
Before the crash, the aircraft maintained normal contact with the tower, and the three pilots all have pilot licenses and have rich flying experience. Moreover, the three pilots are all healthy, all have health certificates, and their families are relatively harmonious. This seems to imply that the problem is not with the pilot, that is, it seems to imply that the pilot is not suicidal.
According to this analysis, it seems that there are only two possibilities. One is that the plane was suddenly hijacked, and the three pilots were instantly controlled. But the three pilots are controlled at the same time, which should be relatively difficult. If so, the hijacker may not be alone.
The other is that the aircraft itself suddenly failed in a large area, unable to respond to the tower, and at the same time, it fell rapidly and crashed. But if the plane itself fails, the plane is less likely to fall head-down and almost vertically, and more likely to spin like a spiral.
Which do you think is more likely? Or what answers will the authorities announce? Will it put all the blame on the Boeing plane? I hope this statement of mine is nonsense, and I hope there is real truth. But I still say that, I am skeptical that the authorities will reveal the truth.
If American experts were not involved in China's on-the-spot investigation, there would have been the truth. Dozens of WHO experts have visited China to investigate the origin of covi, but what happened in the end? It is impossible for the outside world to know whether American experts are allowed to see the truth, whether American experts will be bought by the CCP, and so on. So I said I hope there is truth, but not optimistic.
News (34)
Russia threatens nuclear attack again, NATO warns unacceptable
On the 28th day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. CNN quoted the Ukrainian government as saying that a convoy of 11 buses was intercepted and requisitioned by Russian troops on its way to Mariupol to rescue Ukrainian civilians.
The Russian government said 11 buses and their drivers, along with several accompanying emergency services, were taken to an undisclosed location.
This news is surprising. Because of the war between Ukraine and Russia, humanitarian aid should not be hijacked. It is not clear what the real intention of the Russian army in recruiting rescue convoys and rescuers is. Is it because Russia does not allow rescue organizations to go to Ukraine for rescue, or is it because of the shortage of Russian military supplies? Whatever the reason, suddenly bringing a rescue convoy to an undisclosed location is disturbing.
Meanwhile, the Russian bombing of Mariupol continued. Satellite images showed fires raging across the city and more buildings destroyed. A senior U.S. defense official said that in addition to the continuous bombardment of artillery outside the city, about 21 Russian ships deployed in the Black Sea were also firing long-range missiles at the city. A video shows cruise missiles fired by Russian forces heading towards Ukraine from a boat off the Crimean peninsula.
The Russian military said on 23 March that it fired a missile last night that hit an arsenal in the village of Orzhev, 14 km northwest of the city of Rovna, Ukraine. However, CNN said it could not immediately confirm the news of the Russian army.
However, some experts have analyzed that the Russian army was hit too hard on the ground, which may be one of the main reasons for Russia to strengthen its aerial bombardment. The purpose is to minimize the loss of Russian soldiers. In order to achieve this, CNN quoted experts warning that Russia may use other "confrontation weapons".
Other "confrontation weapons", I don't know if the experts are referring to nuclear weapons. Yesterday (22nd), Putin's spokesman Peskov admitted that so far, Russia's actions in Ukraine have achieved nothing, and have not achieved their plans and goals. Peskov repeated Putin's nuclear threat in February, saying "the use of nuclear weapons is possible if Russia's security is threatened."
Ukrainian Pentagon spokesman Kirby and former CIA director Panneda both believe that Russia "does not rule out the use of nuclear weapons" is quite dangerous. Kirby said Russia's threatening remarks are responsible for the country's actions. He emphasized that the United States is monitoring Russia's movements every day.
On 23 March, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg warned before the NATO summit that Russia's use of any chemical weapons is completely unacceptable and will "completely change the nature of the conflict in Ukraine".
News (35)
The Russian army wants to besiege the British-aided Ukrainian Starlight missile
The latest intelligence from the British Ministry of Defense on 23 March said that the invasion war has been going on for nearly a month, and the Russian army, which has suffered heavy losses, seems to have adjusted its strategy.
The BBC quoted the latest battle situation of the British Ministry of Defense as saying that the Russian army is currently planning to advance from the city of Chernihiv in the north and Mariupol in the south. The Russian army also tried to bypass the southern city of Nikolayev and advance westward to the southwestern port city of Odessa. Then a north-south attack was formed, encircling the Ukrainian army in the east.
The British Ministry of Defense pointed out that in order to seize the capital Kyiv, the Russian army's attack in northern Ukraine is basically at a standstill. The British military speculates that the Russian military may undergo a period of reorganization before resuming large-scale offensive operations.
From the intelligence of the British military, the Russian army is likely to be brewing a more violent attack, and the scale may be larger. To help Ukraine defend against aggression, NATO allies continue to deliver defensive weapons. In particular, the United Kingdom, which has reacted strongly to the Russian invasion, announced another piece of news today (23rd) that may make the Russian Air Force hesitate.
The Times quoted Colonel Taylor, who is in charge of air defense for the British army, as saying that the British army is already in a secret location in Eastern Europe, training Ukrainian soldiers to operate the "Starlight missile". The high-speed missile will effectively strike low-flying enemy fighter jets and helicopters.
Taylor revealed that the man-portable air defense missile system flew at more than 2,000 miles per hour (about 3,220 kilometers per hour) after launch. This missile has one of the biggest features, it will be divided into three in the air, separated into three independent warheads. Then under the guidance of the ground personnel's laser, destroy the enemy's fighter aircraft.
Taylor said that the separated tungsten alloy warhead can easily attack aircraft and is "the best short-range air defense missile in the current situation." "Any target flying at Mach 2.5 would be hit hard."
What is the flight speed of Mach 2.5? Mach 2.5 is 2.5 times the speed of sound, or 850 m per second. That is, flying 3060 kilometers per hour.
The Russian military's MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets have a top speed of less than Mach 2.5 per hour, which is less than 3060 km per hour. Then the Starlight missile with a speed of 3,220 km per hour can completely catch up with these two Russian fighters. In other words, this Russian military's best fighter plane is also quite dangerous in front of the Starlight missile.
However, the report also stated that Starlight is different from the US Stinger missile. It requires a lot of training for soldiers to use it effectively. 1000 successful hits must be made on the simulator to be eligible to fire live ammunition. Hopefully after two or three weeks of intensive training, they will be able to use it proficiently.
Expert Katie Stoker pointed out that the stinger is very vulnerable to countermeasures, because it is impossible not to blink, which can lose the sight. But the Starlight missile is guided to its target, so it's hard to beat. That is to say, once the launcher locks on the target, the Starlight missile is likely to destroy it.
News (36)
The CCP safeguards Russia’s interests, and Beijing is reluctant to mediate a truce
Despite the aid of sophisticated weapons from NATO countries, the war is a huge loss for both sides. As the saying goes, if you hurt the enemy by 10,000, you will lose 8,000 by yourself.
On 22 March, Zelenskyy's top aide Andrei Yemark said that China should play a more "obvious role" in bringing about a ceasefire in the war. In an online news conference, Yemark said that so far, Beijing had played little role and appeared to be taking a "neutral stance."
According to Reuters, Yermak said through an interpreter that Ukraine expects China to "make a meaningful attack on the new security system and expect China to become one of the guarantors within the framework of this security system." He said that "Ukraine treats China with the utmost respect and hopes that China will play an active role in this regard."
Ukraine's wishes are good, and it is hoped that the world's second largest economy can properly exert its influence to broker a ceasefire in the war and allow Russia to withdraw its troops.
Wang Huiyao, founder and chairman of the globalization think tank, also believes that China should mediate to give Putin a way out. "This is exactly what is missing now."
That is to say, in Wang Huiyao's view, now Putin needs a step to step down, and then he can borrow a donkey. Because the Ukraine-Russia war has been fought so far, neither side can afford to lose, and Putin has a feeling that it is difficult to ride a tiger. Therefore, a third party needs to intervene and mediate, so that Russia can cease fire and withdraw troops, and Putin's face will not be ugly.
From the current point of view, there are only a handful of politicians who can influence Putin, but the international community generally believes that the leader of Beijing is the obvious one. In fact, if Xi Jinping really mediates the ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops, it will be a bonus for Xi himself, both at home and abroad.
At home, it will suppress the challenges of those anti-Xi forces and achieve re-election at the 20th National Congress more smoothly. In the international community, the world will see him differently because of this. Especially as the international community gradually isolates China, a new situation may be opened up. That said, if Beijing does this and achieves its goals, it can serve multiple purposes.
The key is whether the leaders in Beijing have the will and will do it. In fact, Beijing's performance has disappointed the international community. The CCP always tries to keep a distance from the war, and only calls for peaceful negotiations between the two sides, but does not mediate or organize negotiations, and even speaks for Russia.
Reuters revealed on 22 March that the United States and its allies are evaluating and preparing to kick Russia out of the G20. Because some G7 executives said that if Russia stayed in the G20, its role in the G20 organization would be weakened.
In response to this news, the CCP spoke on 23 March. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that Russia is an important member of the G20, and "no member has the right to expel the membership of other countries."
Obviously, the CCP is fighting for the pockets of the Russian father. It can also be seen from this that the CCP will not sincerely help Ukraine and will not persuade Moscow to withdraw its troops during the Ukraine-Russia war. Maybe it will be pretentious, but it must be not working hard. Because the CCP believes that mediation is risky.
The New York Times pointed out that if Beijing intervenes vigorously, it will be full of "political and economic risks" for Xi Jinping, which Beijing does not want to see.
The article stated that the CCP “has been treading carefully between the two options of the international community’s anger at the Russian invasion and supporting one of its most powerful partners.” The CCP has always been on both sides, placing itself on the diplomatic brink of the conflict. . But doing so is completely "incommensurate" with the CCP's growing economic and military power.
"If Xi really wants this crisis to end, China's unprepared response proves that despite decades of rising to great power status, China is inept in world politics," said Professor Noh Lehan, a China expert at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea."
News (37)
Zelenskyy urges France to defend Europe's values of freedom and equality
Zelenskyy made a 13-minute video speech at the French parliament on 23 March, following speeches to the British, Israeli, Canadian, American and Japanese parliaments. He used the "Battle of Verdun" in World War I to describe the tragic situation in Ukraine, and called on France to show leadership and defend Europe's "freedom, equality and fraternity".
News (38)
The U.S. and UK to jointly fight against the CCP
The United States and the United Kingdom reached a trade agreement on 22 March. The U.S. will relax import tariffs on British steel and aluminum products, and the United Kingdom will also cancel retaliatory tariffs on $500 million of U.S. goods. The two sides promised to jointly fight against the CCP.
News (39)
Russia using nuclear weapons? White House 'Tiger Team' is ready
Reporter : Li Zhaoxi / Editor: Zhang Jie / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/24/a103382406.html
The Russian army suffered heavy losses in the Russia-Ukraine war, and Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to use nuclear weapons. A "tiger team" of U.S. national security advisers has been quietly conducting mock exercises to examine potential responses to Russia's chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
According to The New York Times on Thursday (24 March), the existence of the "Tiger Team" proves that the United States has not ruled out the possibility that Russia may release nuclear and biological weapons because of the month-long Putin is dismayed that only a little progress has been made in the war.
Led by Alexander Bick, director of strategy for the U.S. National Security Council, the Tiger Team includes members from the Intelligence Community, State Department, Treasury Department, Homeland Security, Secretary of Defense, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Energy Ministry and Agency for International Development officials and experts.
The "Tiger Team" was set up on 28 February 2022, four days after Putin authorized the special military operation, to deal with the Ukraine crisis and to develop a multi-step response strategy based on Russia's actions. Group members hold confidential meetings 3 times a week.
The team's mission focuses on how an attack from Russia can be prevented and a chain of responses following the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, including sanctions, diversion of troops, diplomatic information, security of embassy staff, humanitarian aid and cyber warfare.
The Tiger Team is also reportedly studying how to prepare European countries for an influx of refugees if Russia tries to extend the war to neighboring countries, including Moldova and Georgia.
Whether Putin will actually use nuclear weapons, according to the New York Times, White House officials actually have two views on the direction of Putin's future actions. They see little chance of Putin doing something so desperate, but the standoff could trigger Putin's use of nuclear weapons.
A senior administration official told The Times that if Russia uses any "small" tactical nuclear bombs (probably not against NATO members), it means "all guesswork bets are over." However how the U.S. would respond to such a situation has not been made public.
With President Biden making it clear that the U.S. will not send troops to Ukraine, another major question before the "Tiger Team" is how to plan a U.S. response in the escalating war.
According to Independent Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, Putin can now do four things: 1. Try to reach a diplomatic deal; 2. Step up the attack, bombing Ukrainian cities; 4. The last item will be the escalation of combat readiness and the deployment of nuclear bombs, with the aim of de-escalating the situation and negotiating.
News (40)
Full of humour, Ukrainians' invisible resistance
Reporter : Li Zhaoxi / Editor: Zhang Jie / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/24/a103382389.html / Image : Smiley on the rainbow. (Pixabay)
War is usually accompanied by suffering, exile and deprivation of rights. However, humour has always been a weapon of resistance to war. The humour displayed by the Ukrainians during the war seems to bear this out.
In a recent interview with the online magazine Slate, Odessa-born poet Ilya Kaminsky said that sarcastic black humour defines Ukrainian resistance culture.
Kaminsky said the most important holiday in Odessa is not Christmas, but April Fool’s Day, “We call it Humourina. Thousands of people take to the streets to celebrate their goodwill and humor. Days. All Ukrainians have a great sense of humour".
"Humour is part of our resilience," Kaminsky said.
"In Odessa, it helped people cope with the Soviet era," Kaminsky said in an email interview with author Ana Menéndez, a professor at Florida International University. , "It helps to have its own language, with its own jokes and intonations, quotations and insinuations, that the authorities don't always understand."
As the daughter of a Cuban exile, Menendez well understands the role of humor in making a (unsatisfactory) life bearable, living with a dictator, and sometimes laughter is the only way to tell the truth.
One of Menendez's early short stories, "In Cuba I was a German Shepherd," tells the story of a group of old men at a domino table telling jokes to soothe the pain of exile. Life in the communist era just got easier.
Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukrainian writer Andrei Kurkov tweeted a sarcastic warning: "Kyiv/Kyiv weather forecast. 5C, windy, 30% chance of Russian attack, feeling It's 95 percent."
A few days later, he posted pictures of heavily armed soldiers on the side of the road and tagged "Ukrainian mushroom pickers." A photo of the building that was bombed on March 2 was tagged: "A school visit by Putin."
"Putin died at 5 am Kyiv time on 24 February 2022," Kurkov wrote on 6 March. "He did not know this yet."
From the women who sent sunflower seeds to Russian soldiers, the farmers who stole Russian tanks, to the soldiers who gave 30 silver coins to the Belarusian ambassador, Ukraine's humor and strength have won the admiration of countless people.
Belarus has withdrawn all diplomatic personnel from Ukraine. When the Belarusian ambassador left on 18 March 2022, a Ukrainian border official handed him "30 silver coins." This refers to the biblical story of Judas betraying Jesus. Belarus has been accused of aiding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Jokes won't stop the bomb", Menendez said, but "we can provide life-affirming laughter. We can reject the ruthlessness of history's butchers. We can do it by embracing all that makes life worth living: Friendship, love and humor continues to resist, even in the face of annihilation."
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