Thursday, March 10 top stories
It is Thursday, March 10. Here are today’s top stories.
Updates on Ukraine war
Here are several updates on the war in Ukraine.
Today the foreign ministers from both Russia and Ukraine met for talks in Turkey, but there was no deal on a cease-fire or any kind of agreement for safe routes for civilians to leave cities under bombardment. Ukraine’s foreign minister said Russia said they would continue their attack until Ukraine surrenders. Russia’s foreign minister made false claims that they “did not attack Ukraine” and was only doing a special military operation for Russia’s own security.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met the President of Poland and said that the U.S. is united with Poland and that they would defend every inch of NATO territory, but did not provide an explanation on what the U.S. would do with Poland’s offer to give their fighter jets to Ukraine. Polish President Duda said this situation is extremely complicated. On a separate topic, the Vice President said Russia should be investigated for war crimes.
The leaders of the European Union will be meeting today in Versailles, France to discuss Ukraine’s request to become an EU member.
Ukrainian President Zelensky said three people, including a child, were killed in a bombing targeting a hospital complex in Mariupol. The hospital had a maternity ward and a childcare clinic. That bomb caused a huge crater in the ground that appears to be at least 10 feet deep and wide.
The New York Times explained that a few hours before the strike, the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman made claims that Ukrainian fighters took over a maternity ward in Mariupol and removed patients.
Zelensky said Russian media lied by saying that there were no patients in the hospital. He said it’s so Russia can cover up war crimes.
The White House issued a warning that Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine. White House Press Sec. Psaki said Russia has been making false claims about U.S. biological weapons labs and chemical weapons development in Ukraine, and said Russia has a pattern of making accusations that it itself is perpetrating. Psaki also said China has been spreading the same misinformation coming from Russia.
An economic official with the Ukrainian government said the country has lost about $100 billion worth of infrastructure and assets as a result of Russian bombings.
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TSA mask mandate extended
The TSA said it would extend its mask mandate by a month — through April 18. The TSA said it is expecting a busy spring season and are doing their part to ensure the traveling public is safe. The TSA said they would consult with the CDC on the duration of the mask mandate.
Ryan Coogler mistakenly detained at bank
In January, Ryan Coogler, the director of the “Black Panther” film, was at a Bank of America in Atlanta to make a withdrawal for over $10,000 in cash. He passed her a note for the teller to be “discreet.” The teller felt that it was an attempt at a bank robbery and notified her manager, who then called the police. Officers handcuffed Coogler and placed him in a patrol car, and then determined that he was not a bank robber. Coogler told the officers that the teller “got scared when a Black dude handed her a note.” News reports explained that the teller was also Black. Bank of America said they deeply regret the incident and have apologized to Coogler.
Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill
Both chambers in Florida’s legislature have passed a bill that aims to ban classroom lessons on LGBTQ topics such as sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten up to the third grade. The bill would allow parents to sue schools or teachers if they teach about these topics. Florida’s Gov. DeSantis said he supports the bill but hasn't said if he would sign it.
Critics of the bill have called it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and say it would harm LGBTQ youth and send a message that their gender identity or sexual orientation should be suppressed, which can lead to bullying, depression, and suicide.
Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones, the first openly gay person in that role, said the bill’s language should be changed to say that “instruction should not be intended to change a student’s sexual orientation or gender identity” instead of putting a general prohibition on these topics.
LGBTQ activists criticized Disney, one of Florida’s largest companies and employers, for being silent about the bill and for donating to lawmakers in the past that are current supporters of the bill.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek recently said the company opposes the bill and that he phoned the Florida governor about it, and that the company would donate $5 million to LGBTQ organizations.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/03/10/world/ukraine-russia-war
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/world/europe/ukraine-mariupol-hospital-strike.html
https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1501676230617321480
https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/russia-ukraine/?id=83184729
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/arts/ryan-coogler-bank-america.html
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dont-gay-bill-passes-florida-senate/story?id=83301889
https://www.axios.com/disney-ceo-oppose-dont-say-gay-5121ce83-f499-4cd5-aea0-5777c3312249.html