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5 Things Anyone Dealing With IVF Can Appreciate About Netflix's "Joy"n April 25, 2010, , a , was imprisoned in , almost a thousand miles away from her country, on drug trafficking charges. The situation was delicate, as drug trafficking is punishable by death in this country, so Veloso, although she declared that she was deceived by Filipino recruiters to transport a suitcase full of narcotics, was sentenced to die by firing squad. The case sparked an international outcry, in which , one of the most important figures in his native country, raised his voice from 2015, in his role as a defender of clemency in death penalty cases in , especially for high-profile Filipino citizens. Manny's intervention was so intense that he even wrote a letter to the president of Indonesia and accompanied the work of other amnesty and civil society groups in the Philippines to plead for clemency for his compatriots. Veloso's case went to the limit, as he managed to have his execution suspended. However, this determination by the Indonesian authorities occurred on the same day that he was scheduled to be executed. Unfortunately for Veloso, this suspension did not get her out of 'death row', so her life remained in uncertainty for the next decade. In July 2015, Pacquiao visited Mary Jane Veloso at Wirogunan prison and prayed with her, in a message of support and strength to continue in her fight to avoid the death penalty. Finally, after almost a decade, the Indonesian government listened to these requests and decided to repatriate Veloso to the Philippines on Thursday. As a show of support and solidarity, the former Filipino world champion wrote an emotional message to his compatriot, celebrating her return home. Manny Pacquiao remembered Mary Jane Veloso's tough fight for life With a message on his account, shared a series of photographs during his meeting in Indonesia in 2015, when he was accompanied by his . He wrote: and noted that the last decade they were involved in a game of waiting for justice: On that occasion, talked for almost an hour with Veloso, who thanked them for the gesture by giving them a ring and a blue scarf with the word 'Pacman', made by herself. It should be remembered that at that time, was in the final stretch of his boxing career, while he began to dabble in politics in his country as a congressman, so his visit to had much more influence on the social life of his country. In the images of the meeting, the three are also seen in deep prayer. Finally, she thanked God for listening to their prayers and addressed a message to the , for his efforts to bring Mary Jane back to her country: " Who is Mary Jane Veloso? is a single mother of two children. Before her arrest, she lived in . She traveled to Malaysia in search of employment, but was the victim of a trafficking scheme that ended in her capture in Indonesia, where she was sentenced to death for carrying nearly 5 pounds of narcotics. Analysts estimated that the sentence was due to a legal deficiency during her trial. was sentenced along with eight other people before a firing squad. Fortunately for her, her recruiters, turned themselves in to the Philippine authorities the day before she was to be executed and declared that she had indeed been duped. The execution of the other eight people went off without a hitch.Church of Scientology Food Drive Makes Thanksgiving Special for 300 Local Families
Government secrecy protects sources and methods. And liars and errors. And obsolete military procurement contracts that are too politically important to challenge or change. That may be the story behind government secrecy about UFOs, more recently called Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, or UAPs. On Nov. 13, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, chaired a hearing by two House Oversight subcommittees on UAPs, seeking to determine whether information about them has been withheld from Congress and the American people. One of the witnesses was journalist Michael Shellenberger. He recently revealed in a report for his online news site Public that the U.S. government has an “Unacknowledged Special Access Program” about UAPs. It’s called “Immaculate Constellation,” and it has collected high-resolution images, sensor data and first-hand reports about UAPs for decades without any authorization from Congress, without even informing Congress of the existence of the program. Shellenberger obtained an 11-page report on Immaculate Constellation from a whistleblower and turned it over to Mace and the House Oversight subcommittees. Mace made the report available to the public on her congressional website. “This document is the result of a multi-year, internal investigation into the subjects of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), Technologies of Unknown Origin (TUO), and Non-Human Intelligence (NHI),” the report begins. It’s wild reading. According to the report, the U.S. government possesses full-motion video and forward-looking infrared imagery of a formation of a dozen “metallic orbs,” 3-6 meters in diameter, “skimming the ocean surface at high speed before dispersing in multiple directions.” Their maneuvering was “rapid and agile” and in the infrared footage they were “white-hot against the black-cold ocean.” Then there was a report of a “small-medium oval UAP” flying fast and low over a “sensitive coastal facility.” And there was another report of a “large equilateral-triangle UAP” that was “hovering and slowly rotating” directly over a grouping of ships that were engaged in intelligence collection in the Pacific Ocean. A report in the government’s files described a saucer-shaped UAP that ducked in and out of the clouds as if it “had become aware that it was under observation.” Another report told of a “boomerang UAP” that was observed “rapidly decelerating to a stationary hover, followed by the sudden emission of a sphere of light from the junction of the two ‘wings’ which expands to partially engulf the craft in a rotating sphere of light, at which point the available footage ends.” In 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence reviewed reports of UAPs and concluded that some of the flying objects appeared to have technological capabilities that the U.S. and its adversaries couldn’t match. Congress has been pressing the executive branch for more information. In March, the Department of Defense released a report stating that in decades of investigations, no evidence had been found that these UAPs were extraterrestrial spacecraft piloted by non-human intelligence from another planet. But what are they and why are they here? Former Department of Defense official Luis Elizondo testified at the November hearing that the government has a secret program to retrieve the wreckage of crashed UAPs and reverse engineer them. “Advanced technologies not made by our government, or any other government, are monitoring sensitive military installations around the globe,” Elizondo testified. Last December, swarms of mystery drones buzzed Langley Air Force Base for 17 days, raising significant concerns. A Langley spokesman told the publication The War Zone that the “uncrewed aerial systems” didn’t “exhibit hostile intent, but anything flying in our restricted airspace can pose a threat to flight safety.” U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets are based at Langley, where they are part of the nation’s defense forces protecting Washington, D.C. In March, the Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony from U.S. Air Force General Gregory Guillot, who had recently become the head of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORTHCOM and NORAD. Guillot told the committee that drone incursions over the U.S. southern border numbered “in the thousands,” describing it as “alarming.” Since at least 2017, military experts have been warning of the danger presented by swarms of unmanned drones armed with surveillance equipment or weapons. “Imagine a world where somebody flies a couple hundred of those and flies one down the intake of my F-22s with just a small weapon on it,” General James Holmes said in a speech to the Air Force Association. The War Zone noted that the greater danger might be to fighter jets sitting “idle and vulnerable on the flight line.” One swarm of armed drones could destroy “a whole squadron of tightly packed fighters” without any chance to fight back. Non-hypothetical drone warfare is happening right now in the Russia-Ukraine war, and separately, a Pentagon spokesman acknowledged a series of drone incursions over U.S. air bases in England over the last 10 days. That raises a question: What has the Pentagon been doing all this time while the threat of inexpensive weaponized drones was developing? Is it possible that U.S. presidents, defense contractors, intelligence agencies and Pentagon officials intentionally hid from Congress and the public, for decades, all evidence that military drones were gradually becoming a reality, in order to protect existing defense procurement contracts that otherwise might have been questioned or rejected? To carry out a plan like that, multiple U.S. administrations would have to impose strict secrecy on every report of an unidentified flying object, then refuse to declassify the reports, or release them only with heavy redactions. In addition, the people making the reports would have to be ridiculed and marginalized to the point where they question their own sanity, making others afraid to report what they themselves have seen. If that sounds like a description of exactly what has happened, we may finally have solved the unsolved mystery of Unidentified Flying Objects. Sorry. I was rooting for it to be space aliens, too. Write Susan@susanShelley.com and follow her on X @Susan_ShelleyThe Los Angeles Chargers placed running back J.K. Dobbins (knee) and safety Alohi Gilman (hamstring) on injured reserve Saturday ahead of their Week 13 game at the Atlanta Falcons . Dobbins and Gilman, two starters, were both injured in Monday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens . Dobbins was tackled awkwardly with about five minutes remaining in the second quarter. He did not return. Advertisement Dobbins was having a resurgent 2024, making a case for NFL Comeback Player of the Year after missing most of the past three seasons with two significant lower-extremity injuries. Dobbins leads the Chargers in rushing yards (766) and touchdowns (eight). He had emerged very clearly as the Chargers’ best back. Now Jim Harbaugh will have to move further down the depth chart at running back. Gus Edwards is next in line. But this could be a big opportunity for rookie Kimani Vidal , who has only been active for four games this season. Vidal got his debut regular season NFL action in Week 6 when he caught a touchdown pass on his first career touch. Edwards is a physical back. Vidal could provide an ideal change of pace with Dobbins out. Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. document.querySelectorAll(".in-content-module[data-module-id='scoop-city-newsletter'] .in-content-module-img img ").forEach((el) => { el.setAttribute("style", "pointer-events: none;");}) Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Gilman suffered his hamstring injury in the second half while trying to make a tackle on Baltimore running back Justice Hill . Gilman missed the tackle, and Hill scored a 51-yard touchdown that put the game away. Gilman’s absence will have a substantial impact on the defense. With Gilman and Elijah Molden at safety, the Chargers and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter could move Derwin James Jr. around frequently, most notably to the nickel position. Now James will be forced to play more at safety. The Chargers lost their fourth safety, AJ Finley , earlier this week when they waived him and he was claimed by the Seattle Seahawks . They claimed Marcus Maye off waivers from the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday. The Chargers also signed veteran safety Tony Jefferson to the active roster as part of Saturday’s moves. They are thin at this position heading into an important game in Atlanta. (Photo of J.K. Dobbins: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images) Required readingThe Associated Press
It’s almost time for Spotify Wrapped. When can you expect your 2024 recap?(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump has promised to reduce government waste and employed wealthy businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the charge. So far, spending on federal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies are prime targets for Musk and Ramaswamy, and a recent report shows just how widespread federal DEI spending has become. The report from Do No Harm shows 500 ways the Biden-Harris administration “infused DEI into the federal government.” Those examples include federal agencies starting dozens of equity training programs, doling out federal contracts and jobs based on race and gender, and teaching Americans more about their country’s racism, both past and present. The DEI explosion took off after Biden issued executive orders on his first day in office as well as another in June of 2021. The first executive order “established that affirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our Government.” The second order established “that it is the policy of my Administration to cultivate a workforce that draws from the full diversity of the Nation.” Biden also issued other executive orders, including around gender and sexuality, to the same effect his first year in office. Those orders gave federal bureaucrats not only permission but actually direct orders to embrace DEI policies across the board. And Do No Harm’s report shows they did, full-throttle, citing 80 “Equity Action Plans” submitted by agencies that promised over 500 taxpayer-funded actions. Some of the actions are seemingly mild, such as the U.S. Social Security Administration tracking more racial data. Other examples of DEI policies, though, made the federal government the nation’s teacher. For example, a blog for the U.S. Treasury Department lectures Americans on racial inequality. More directly, the federal government began implementing training programs for many federal employees that fully embrace racial ideology labeled “woke” by its opponents. For instance, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission invested in training for employees to consider equity more in its regulatory decisions. “Training will address how equity and environmental justice involves removing barriers underserved communities may face in the context of the Commission’s practices, processes, and policies,” FERC said in its Equity Action Plan. “Training also will address how, consistent with FERC’s mission and statutory duties, the Commission considers the impact of its actions on such communities. More specific trainings geared toward the responsibilities of different program offices and issue areas also may be identified or developed and offered.” Other actions seem to favor some groups over others. Changing the “percentage” of benefits received necessarily requires giving contracts, grants, or other federal resources to certain groups, almost always at the expense of white Americans, even more often white men. For example, the American Battle Monuments Commissions in its Equity Action Plan called for “expanding the percentage of U.S.-based contracted goods and services awarded to minority-owned, women-owned, and service disabled veteran-owned enterprises.” In fact, the ABMC pledged to pay a worker for this sole purpose. In another instance, the Smithsonian Institute pledged to recruit more Black and indigenous interns. “One of the simplest ways to ensure equity and accessibility in internships is to provide a livable stipend and advertise it clearly in promotion materials,” the federal group said in its Equity Action Plan. “Many units include a statement directly in their internship description about their commitment to equity. They also are intentional about making the application process simple and transparent, offering access services for interviews and allowing for multiple formats in place of a required essay.” The Smithsonian Institution , the federal steward of America’s past, also promised to begin promoting a historical framework that emphasizes American racism in the past and today. The federal group pledged to “Address the historical roots and contemporary impacts of race and racism in the United States and globally through interdisciplinary scholarship, creative partnerships, dialogue, education, and engagement.” The Center Square has reported on other examples of DEI policies and grants becoming the norm in recent years as well, though much of this kind of spending began before the Biden-Harris administration took power. Those include:
Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed a dream start to his reign as Leicester manager after a 3-1 win over West Ham, whose boss Julen Lopetugui is under increasing pressure. Van Nistelrooy has replaced Steve Cooper at the King Power Stadium and saw Jamie Vardy open the scoring after just 98 seconds. Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka added goals after the break to ensure the Dutchman started with three points in style. Starting with a win! 🤩 Delivered by — Leicester City (@LCFC) His task is to keep the Foxes in the Premier League this season and after ending a five-game winless run they moved up to 15th, four points clear of the relegation zone. West Ham’s hierarchy will have seen what impact a managerial change can have as the jury remains out on Lopetegui, with away fans making their feelings clear by chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. Niclas Fullkrug scored a consolation goal at the death but it counted for nothing and forthcoming games against Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton could determine the Spaniard’s future. When Van Nistelrooy went to bed last night, even he would not have dreamt of his side starting as well as they did as they went ahead with less than two minutes on the clock. One of the Dutchman’s first conversations following his appointment was to take Vardy to task for breaking his record for scoring in the most consecutive Premier League games nine years ago. And the veteran striker rolled back to the years as, living on the shoulder of the West Ham defence, he raced clear from El Khannouss’ through-ball and slotted into the corner. The linesman’s flag immediately went up but a lengthy VAR review ruled Vardy had timed his run perfectly and the goal stood. Vardy could have added a second from a similar move but this time Lukasz Fabianski denied him. The Dutchman quickly learned about the frailties of his side as West Ham created a raft of chances in search of an equaliser. Jarrod Bowen forced Mads Hermansen into a stretching save when he cut in from the right before Ings’ header crashed into the post and Max Kilman slipped at the crucial point from the rebound. Bowen, a constant threat, sent a ball across face of goal which evaded everyone before the England international was denied by a reflex save from the busy Hermansen. The Danish goalkeeper needed to be alert to tip over Mohammed Kudus’ deflected effort early in the second half before he was saved by the referee’s whistle after after his attempted punch went into his own goal, Tomas Soucek the man penalised. Leicester remained a threat on the counter-attack and that is how they doubled their lead just after the hour. Kasey McAteer was set clear down the left and his ball inside was perfect for El Khannouss to find the bottom corner from 15 yards. It was almost three as Fabianski produced an acrobatic save from Wilfred Ndidi’s header before Leicester needed a heroic piece of defending to keep their 2-0 lead intact. Crysencio Summerville bundled the ball goalwards and it was heading over the line until Conor Coady adjusted his feet and poked it clear. The Foxes, who also had a goal from substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid chalked off by VAR, wrapped things up in the 90th minute when Daka broke clear and emphatically converted into the roof of the net. West Ham did get on the scoresheet when Fullkrug headed a corner home, but the game was already done.
Dear Eric: We live on a lake and love hosting our great-nieces and nephews on school breaks and the entire family on vacations. My husband and I have no children. Our niece’s families are dear to us. Our 11-year-old great-nephew has been gaming now for about a year. When he comes to visit, instead of reading or playing cards or board games with us, he wants to disappear with his video games. We feel vacated. How do we navigate this with his parents who think his being on a video gaming team at school is awesome and I think it is a bad omen? What is a fair place of compromise and balance? — Game Off Dear Game Off: Let his parents parent their child. The other night I re-watched the movie “Network” from 1977. In it, a character in his 60s dismisses a character played by Faye Dunaway by saying, “She’s the television generation. She learned life from Bugs Bunny. The only reality she knows is what comes to her over her TV set.” People are also reading... Every generation has anxieties about the ways that technology is changing social interactions or altering the minds of the generations below. While some of those concerns are valid, those of Faye Dunaway’s generation (now in their 70s and 80s) would argue that they’ve managed to stay quite well-rounded, despite TV. In moderation, video games have been shown to improve a child’s cognitive function and working memory. While your great-nephew’s gaming might not be your choice, it’s important that you not seek to undermine the research and thinking that his parents have done about it. What you’re really yearning for is a sense of togetherness as a family, so try talking to your niece and her spouse about group activities you can plan to meet your great-nephew where he is. Dear Eric: I eat at a local restaurant a couple times a week and tend to get one of three meals. This one waitress asks me what I want to eat, but then interrupts me to make guesses or tell me my choice. I just put my head down and nod yes or no to the guesses. It’s frustrating, but not life-threatening. She enjoys it. I hate it. However, if I were to say something, it would force her to make the choice of being herself, doing something she likes doing, or appeasing me so I can order the way I want to order. I don’t know if this is a big enough problem to have a “high road.” The answer will not change my life. She can easily change, and I can easily suffer. The question is who gets to be themselves? — Speaking Up Dear Speaking Up: I worked in the service industry for more than a decade. I loved it. I loved seeing regulars, meeting new people and carrying a lot of beverages in my hands at one time. The whole bit. I also loved knowing what people wanted, but I would always ask and confirm. That’s part of the job. She may think you’re a regular who likes to be known in this way. So, informing her that that’s not the case won’t be keeping her from being herself. It will be helping her to do her job better. You may not have the kind of temperament that easily or comfortably course-corrects in social situations. That’s just fine. But know you won’t be causing her suffering by saying something like, “I’ve already decided on my meal. Let’s skip the guessing today and I’ll just tell you.” This also clears the path for the two of you to talk about something else, if you want. Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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Richard Flanagan adds Baillie Gifford nonfiction prize to trophy shelfNo. 7 Tennessee extends its season-opening winning streak to 7 games in 78-35 win over UT Martin
PEACE BUILDING Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. confers with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim during a ceremony commemorating the 10th year of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on March 27 at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. —Photo courtesy of OPAPRU COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. has assured the people of Sulu that they will continue to be an integral part of the Bangsamoro peace process regardless of their province’s exclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Galvez issued the assurance before a hearing of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms on Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court ruled with finality that the province of Sulu is excluded from the BARMM owing to its rejection of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the 2019 plebiscite. “The role of the Tausug people in sparking the Bangsamoro people’s quest for self-determination is an undeniable part of the Bangsamoro’s history. In light of the high court’s decision, we reassure the people of Sulu that they are and will always be an integral part of the Bangsamoro peace process,” Galvez said. READ: SC denies motions to reverse ruling separating Sulu from BARMM “The dividends of peace being enjoyed by Bangsamoro provinces will likewise be felt by neighboring areas, including the province of Sulu. In other words, your honors, whether Sulu is part of the BARMM or not, they will always be part of the Bangsamoro peace process,” he added. With the ruling becoming final, House Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman urged the national government to ensure funding for essential services to the people that will no longer be financially supported by the BARMM. Citing BARMM data, Hataman said that would be around P9 billion for 2025. He also urged the national government to involve local officials in determining the immediate priorities for Sulu. On Wednesday, the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms also finalized its decision to reset the BARMM’s parliamentary elections from May 12 next year to May 11, 2026. A substitute bill for House Bill Nos. 4213, 4220 and 11034, will amend a section of the BOL that sets the regional polls to 2025, to coincide with the national and local elections. But the new version of the amendment as approved by the House panel chaired by Mt. Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr. sets it to 2026 and every three years thereafter, which makes the regional polls a separate political exercise from that for the rest of the country. The substitute bill further provides: “Upon effectivity of this Act, the President shall appoint the 80 new interim members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) who shall serve until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. The term of the present duly constituted BTA in the BARMM shall be deemed expired.” Just before the committee decided on the question, BARMM interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim lobbied to reset the polls to 2027, a compromise between the House proposal and that of the BTA parliament that wants it done in 2028. Ebrahim, who was on a video call, said that during a discussion with President Marcos and Senate President Francis Escudero, both leaders agreed on the need for more time to effect the legal adjustments owing to Sulu’s exit from the BARMM. But he said the President “wants it extended but not reaching 2028.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Ebrahim also asked that with the polls finally reset, the current BTA members should remain in order to prevent any disruption to the flow of governance and delivery of services in the autonomous region.Intuitive Machines Announces Launch of Public Offering of its Class A Common Stock and ...
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Quarterbacks in spotlight when No. 6 Miami visits SyracuseThe Kremlin fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday in response to Kyiv's use this week of American and British missiles capable of striking deeper into Russia, President Vladimir Putin said. In a televised address to the country, the Russian president warned that U.S. air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile, which he said flies at ten times the speed of sound and which he called the Oreshnik — Russian for hazelnut tree. He also said it could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia. “We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities,” Putin said in his first comments since President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the green light this month to use U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike at limited targets inside Russia. RELATED STORY | Russia says Ukraine fired 6 US-made missiles at the Bryansk region, days after Biden policy shift Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that Russia’s missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. “This was new type of lethal capability that was deployed on the battlefield, so that was certainly of concern," Singh said, noting that the missile could carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. The U.S. was notified ahead of the launch through nuclear risk reduction channels, she said. The attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro came in response to Kyiv's use of longer-range U.S. and British missiles in strikes Tuesday and Wednesday on southern Russia, Putin said. Those strikes caused a fire at an ammunition depot in Russia's Bryansk region and killed and wounded some security services personnel in the Kursk region, he said. RELATED STORY | Biden authorizes Ukraine's use of US-supplied long-range missiles for deeper strikes inside Russia “In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond decisively and in kind,” the Russian president said, adding that Western leaders who are hatching plans to use their forces against Moscow should “seriously think about this.” Putin said the Oreshnik fired Thursday struck a well-known missile factory in Dnipro. He also said Russia would issue advance warnings if it launches more strikes with the Oreshnik against Ukraine to allow civilians to evacuate to safety — something Moscow hasn’t done before previous aerial attacks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov initially said Russia hadn’t warned the U.S. about the coming launch of the new missile, noting that it wasn't obligated to do so. But he later changed tack and said Moscow did issue a warning 30 minutes before the launch. Putin's announcement came hours after Ukraine claimed that Russia had used an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Dnipro attack, which wounded two people and damaged an industrial facility and rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, according to local officials. But American officials said an initial U.S. assessment indicated the strike was carried out with an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that the use of the missile was an "obvious and serious escalation in the scale and brutality of this war, a cynical violation of the UN Charter.” He also said there had been “no strong global reaction” to the use of the missile, which he said could threaten other countries. “Putin is very sensitive to this. He is testing you, dear partners,” Zelenskyy wrote. “If there is no tough response to Russia’s actions, it means they see that such actions are possible.” The attack comes during a week of escalating tensions, as the U.S. eased restrictions on Ukraine's use of American-made longer-range missiles inside Russia and Putin lowered the threshold for launching nuclear weapons. The Ukrainian air force said in a statement that the Dnipro attack was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, on the Caspian Sea. “Today, our crazy neighbor once again showed what he really is,” Zelenskyy said hours before Putin's address. “And how afraid he is.” Russia was sending a message by attacking Ukraine with an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of releasing multiple warheads at extremely high speeds, even if they are less accurate than cruise missiles or short-range ballistic missiles, said Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. “Why might you use it therefore?” Savill said. "Signaling — signaling to the Ukrainians. We’ve got stuff that outrages you. But really signaling to the West ‘We’re happy to enter into a competition around intermediate range ballistic missiles. P.S.: These could be nuclear tipped. Do you really want to take that risk?’” Military experts say that modern ICBMs and IRBMs are extremely difficult to intercept, although Ukraine has previously claimed to have stopped some other weapons that Russia described as “unstoppable,” including the air-launched Kinzhal hypersonic missile. David Albright, of the Washington-based think tank the Institute for Science and International Security, said he was “skeptical” of Putin’s claim, adding that Russian technology sometimes “falls short.” He suggested Putin was “taunting the West to try to shoot it down ... like a braggart boasting, taunting his enemy.” Earlier this week, the Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use the U.S.-supplied, longer-range missiles to strike deeper inside Russia — a move that drew an angry response from Moscow. Days later, Ukraine fired several of the missiles into Russia, according to the Kremlin. The same day, Putin signed a new doctrine that allows for a potential nuclear response even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power. The doctrine is formulated broadly to avoid a firm commitment to use nuclear weapons. In response, Western countries, including the U.S., said Russia has used irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and behavior throughout the war to intimidate Ukraine and other nations. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that Russia’s formal lowering of the threshold for nuclear weapons use did not prompt any changes in U.S. doctrine. She pushed back on concerns that the decision to allow Ukraine to use Western missiles to strike deeper inside Russia might escalate the war. ′′They’re the ones who are escalating this,” she said of the Kremlin — in part because of a flood of North Korean troops sent to the region. More than 1,000 days into war, Russia has the upper hand, with its larger army advancing in Donetsk and Ukrainian civilians suffering from relentless drone and missile strikes. Analysts and observers say the loosening of restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western missiles is unlikely to change the course of the war, but it puts the Russian army in a more vulnerable position and could complicate the logistics that are crucial in warfare. Putin has also warned that the move would mean that Russia and NATO are at war. “It is an important move and it pulls against, undermines the narrative that Putin had been trying to establish that it was fine for Russia to rain down Iranian drones and North Korean missiles on Ukraine but a reckless escalation for Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons at legitimate targets in Russia,” said Peter Ricketts, a former U.K. national security adviser who now sits in the House of Lords.Chewy: An Underwhelming Value Proposition
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