Meta disrupts social media misinformation campaigns targeting Ukrainians
A pair of social media misinformation campaigns exploiting tensions in Russia and Ukraine were identified and disabled on Facebook over the weekend, according to two senior leaders at the social network's parent company Meta.
One operation thwarted by Meta's security team involved about 40 accounts described as "inauthentic," with some profile pictures suspected to have been generated artificially, Threat Disruption Director David Agranovich said Sunday night. The fictitious personas operated across the internet, the Meta employees said, including on Twitter, YouTube, Telegram and two Russian social media networks.
The campaign also included fake websites resembling news outlets that claimed to be based in Kyiv, with the people behind the sites posing as news editors and expert sources.
Source-ABC
FIREARMS & AMMUNITION AMNESTY OPEN FOR MARCH 2022
Statistical evidence, and data from other open sources have clearly supported the fact that too many residents and visitors in the Turks and Caicos Islands have over the years suffered as victims of violent crimes where firearms were used during the commission of these horrific acts against humanity. This unfortunate steady proliferation of illegal firearms and firearm-related crimes in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is a major concern to all law-abiding citizens and visitors to our shores.
The propagation of illegal firearms has the potential to destabilize the TCI economy should this continue; while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have had some measure of success in recovering some of these weapons, it is evident that a number of weapons are still in the possession of individuals illegally and in some cases, they are ending up in the hands of persons that are willing to use them to commit serious crimes.
We must agree that there are far too many illegal firearms readily available within our communities. As members of this society, we all have a responsibility to do something about it by encouraging persons holding unregistered firearms to do the right thing and surrender these weapons to the Police.
We do realize that there may be firearms and ammunition in some households where the owner of the weapon no longer resides in the Islands, but because the firearm(s) were held illegally the current occupants of the house or relatives do not know how to dispose of the firearm or ammunition appropriately.
I wish to let these persons know it is a danger to the entire community to keep firearms and ammunition illegally in any home or business. These weapons can be discovered by a burglar. Thus, you have in effect armed a criminal, or the weapon can fall into the hands of children or young persons, who in their immaturity can injure or kill themselves or others.
As acting Commissioner of Police I am pleased to announce that in partnership with Her Excellency the Acting Governor, The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, pastors, and other stakeholders across the Turks and Caicos Islands a firearm and ammunition amnesty will commence from Tuesday 1st March to Thursday 31st March 2022. All residents or visitors with an unregistered firearm and or ammunition are encouraged to surrender them to the Police during the amnesty. In return, you will not be prosecuted for possession of these illegal weapons during the amnesty period. You can also qualify to claim a voucher value up to $500 for firearms surrendered. You have an opportunity to help remove illegal guns from our communities.
Let’s together build safer communities across the TCI. Please embrace this opportunity as we work together to reduce the number of illegal firearms in our communities. We all have a duty to play our part.
Antigua PM warns of increased price for goods and services as a result of Russia-Ukraine war
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has told Antigua and Barbuda to brace for increased prices for goods and services as oil prices soar past US$100 a barrel as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week.
Oil prices jumped on Monday as Western allies imposed more sanctions on Russia and blocked some Russian banks from a global payments system, which could cause severe disruption to its oil exports.
Brent crude rose US$4.82, or 4.9 per cent, to US$102.75 after reaching a high of US$105.07 a barrel in early trade.
“Now, I believe that within the last few days petroleum prices are about US$100 per barrel and potentially it could get up to maybe US$120 within the next week or two, especially if this conflict continues,” Browne said.
“So, there is the implication of potentially where we have been subsidising the pricing and would have kept the pricing of petroleum products stable for the last few years, we could have a situation where we are forced to increase the price at the pump.”
Prime Minister Browne told listeners to his radio programme that the economic fallout which could arise out of the emerging conflict could mean that his administration may find it much more difficult to protect consumers from high prices at gas station pumps across the country.
“If petroleum prices continue to increase, then there may be a time when we cannot continue to hold the price of EC$12.50 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) or whatever it is for gas and then in that case, they may have to be a pass through at some point.
“Again, the whole idea is to reduce the price at the pump but if it gets to the stage in which the government consumption tax is totally wiped out and then it’s going into negative ground then we may have to pass on the increase in price to consumers,” he said.
“Petrol and food, those contribute to co-inflation and the thing about it is that these increases in those prices affect the poor disproportionately and that is why Antigua and Barbuda has had this price equalisation mechanism in place to control the price at the pump.”
Prime Minister Browne told listeners that larger countries tend to throw democracy out of the window due to sheer power and size of both land mass and economy.
“We have to be careful not to get involved in their rhetoric but at the same time stand on those principles that will defend our interests. These powerful countries, whenever it is convenient for them, they speak about defending democracy but whenever they believe their so-called national interest is at stake, then might becomes right and that is precisely what is happening right now in Russia,” he said.
Source-CMC
Zelenskyy says Ukraine will not concede any ground
As of Sunday evening, there is growing evidence that Ukraine is managing to inflict significant casualties on Russian forces as they try to advance deeper into the country and that the lightning strike Russia hoped to carry out on the capital Kyiv has been slowed by intense and popular resistance.
According to a U.S. senior defense official, Russian troops appear to be having fuel and logistics shortages near Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine but also credited the slowdown of the invasion to the resistance, saying that it is believed the advance was slowed in part "by resistance by the Ukrainians who have been quite creative in finding ways to attack columns."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy provided an update to the invasion on Sunday giving a pessimistic outlook on possible diplomatic solutions with Russia.
In a three-minute televised speech, Zelenskyy said he talked with Belarusian leader Alexandr Lukashenko for the first time in two years. Lukashenko suggested that Russian and Ukrainian delegations meet at the Belarus-Ukraine border for negotiations -- something Ukraine agreed to earlier Sunday but Zelenskyy said he told Lukashenko he does not believe there will be a breakthrough or tangible outcome in talks with Russian representatives.
Source-ABC
White House, allies announce disconnecting "selected" Russian banks from SWIFT
The White House announced over the weekend further sanctions on Russia, saying that along with the European Commission, it will be disconnecting some Russian banks from SWIFT and are “imposing restrictive measures that will prevent the Russian Central Bank from deploying its international reserves in ways that undermine the impact of our sanctions.”
“This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally,” the White House said in a statement. The US and partner nations are also limiting the sale of “golden passports” and in the coming weeks will launch a transatlantic task force “that will ensure the effective implementation of our financial sanctions by identifying and freezing the assets of sanctioned individuals and companies that exist within our jurisdictions” and will “step up” coordination against disinformation and “other forms of hybrid warfare.”
A senior administration official said that this move to sanction the central bank will show that Russia’s defense of claiming that sanctions don’t hurt their economy “is a myth.”
“The 600 billion+ war chest of Russia's foreign reserves is only powerful if Putin can use it. And without being able to buy the ruble from Western financial institutions, for example, Putin and the central bank will lose the ability to offset the impact of our sanctions. The ruble will fall even further, inflation will spike, and the central bank will be left defenseless.”
On Sunday, Japan announced it too would join the United States and other allies in the sanctions, a move praised by the White House. Press secretary Jen Psaki said in a written statement that the U.S. welcomed Japan’s announcement, and she praised Japan for being “leaders in condemning President Putin’s attack on Ukraine.”
Source-ABC
EU shuts airspace to Russian airlines, will buy Ukraine arms
The European Union announced major moves against the Russian government and businesses over the country's invasion.
In a first, the EU will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is under attack, officials said. The EU will also shut down its airspace for "Russian-owned, Russian registered or Russian-controlled aircraft."
"They won't be able to land in, take off or overfly the territory of the EU," Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, announced. In addition, the EU said it would ban the RT and Sputnik news agencies and would develop "tools to ban their toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe."
The EU also announced it would be stopping exports of products to Belarus, including mineral fuels, tobacco, wood and timber, cement, iron and steel. It will also sanction Belarusians who are supporting the Russian war effort. Von der Leyen also said the EU will "welcome with open arms those Ukrainians who have to flee from Putin's bombs" and is encouraging efforts to support refugees.
Canada also announced that it will prohibit "Russian-owned, chartered, or operated aircraft" from entering its airspace, effective immediately
Source-ABC
Barbados bracing for impact from Ukraine, Russia unrest
Prime MinisterMia Mottley says her administration will be taking measures to brace for the possible impact of the unrest in Ukraine and Russia.
According to Mottley, the unrest could have I’m plications for the cost of fuel and food, the supply of food and result in disruptions in the supply chain globally.
Speaking during Saturday’s COVID-19 update, However, she noted that Barbados’ reserves stood at over US$3 billion, representing about 37 weeks of import cover, giving the country the ability to have adequate buffer to deal with the capacity to manage any increased prices.
Mottley assured Barbadians that the situation was being monitored for some time, and meetings with the private sector had already taken place since last year.
In addition, she noted that efforts were being undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security to boost food production in the country to ensure Barbados was in a better position to feed its citizens.
The Prime Minister also said that during her recent trip to Guyana, discussions were held about the urgent importance of having the Barbados/Guyana Food Terminal established.
She further noted that a recent Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) meeting also examined plans that would allow Barbados to produce 25 per cent of food that was currently being imported by 2025.
“The urgency of the moment with the Ukraine crisis is undoubtedly there. But we have been preparing for some time for this unstable world, which has led to increases in food prices….”
The Prime Minister also disclosed that she would address the public in another two weeks on how Government intends to help contain cost of living issues, particularly as it relates to food. “It is not the worst news, but we are prepared to do what has to be done at the macro level and also with respect to cost of living for households as we go forward,” Mottlely stat
Source-CMC
2022 SAG Awards: CODA, Squid Game among night's big winners
The 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were presented Sunday night at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California and broadcast live on TBS and TNT. Here are the winners:
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
CODA
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Will Smith, King Richard
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Troy Kotsur, CODA
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
No Time to Die
Television
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Succession
Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Ted Lasso
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
Squid Game
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Michael Keaton, Dopesick
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Jean Smart, Hacks
Lifetime Achievement Award
Helen Mirren
Chelsea's Russian owner 'speaking with Ukraine'
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been asked by Ukraine to help support their attempts to reach a "peaceful resolution" with Russia.
The Russian billionaire's spokesperson said Abramovich was contacted by Ukrainian officials and "has been trying to help ever since".
Ukraine has called for a ceasefire before peace talks in Belarus.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine on Thursday.
Ukraine's health ministry said on Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since Russia's invasion began.
Abramovich announced on Saturday that "stewardship and care" of the club was being given to trustees of Chelsea's charitable foundation.
Abramovich - who remains Chelsea's owner with £1.5bn loaned to the club - did not reference Russia's invasion of Ukraine in his statement.
The 55-year-old is one of Russia's richest people and is believed to be close to Russian President Putin.
Ukrainian film director and producer Alexander Rodnyansky confirmed the Chelsea owner's involvement in attempts to reach a peaceful resolution, but added he is unsure of the impact it will have.
"I can confirm that the Ukrainian side have been trying to find someone in Russia willing to help them in finding a peaceful resolution," said Rodnyansky.
"They are connected to Roman Abramovich through the Jewish community and reached out to him for help. Abramovich has been trying to mobilize support for a peaceful resolution ever since.
"Although Abramovich's influence is limited, he is the only one who responded and taken it upon himself to try.
"If this will have an impact or not, I don't know, but I am in contact with [Ukraine President Volodymyr] Zelensky's staff myself, and know that they are grateful for his genuine efforts."
It is not known yet if Abramovich will be sanctioned as part of the UK government's measures against Russia, and the trustees of Chelsea's charitable foundation have not yet agreed to take control of the club.
Members of the charitable foundation met on Sunday to discuss the situation, but some have concerns over whether Charity Commission rules would allow them to run the club and the foundation's lawyers are exploring what can be done.
Football's world governing body Fifa has ruled that Russia must complete their upcoming games in neutral territory, under the title Football Union of Russia, and without their flag and anthem.
However, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland have joined several other nations, including England and Wales, as well as Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden, in refusing to play against Russia.
On Monday, Scottish FA president Rod Petrie wrote to his Ukrainian counterpart "to send a message of support, friendship and unity", with those two nations due to meet in their World Cup play-off semi-final on 24 March.
Russia are scheduled to face Poland in the play-offs on the same day, followed by a final meeting with the Czech Republic or Sweden on 29 March should they win.
Source-BBC
COLD FRONT TRAVELS IN THIS WEEK TO THE TCI
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT MONDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2022 ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 6 AM
GENERAL SITUATION: A WEAK PRESSURE PATTERN ALONG WITH PREFRONTAL TROUGHING, WILL SUPPORT LIGHT WINDS AND SOME SHOWER ACTIVITY THROUGH TO TONIGHT.
FOR ALL AREAS
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY AND VERY WARM WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THE CHANCE OF AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM ACROSS THE EXTREME NORTHWEST AND PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS. TURNING VARIABLY CLOUDY TONIGHT.
WINDS: VARIABLE AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS. EASTERLY AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS FALLING LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT TIMES IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 1 TO 3 FEET BUT SLIGHTLY HIGHER ALONG ATLANTIC EXPOSED SHORES IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS. 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE TURKS & CAICOS.
TODAY’S HIGH TEMPERATURE 86°F 30°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 64°F 18°C
SUNRISE: 6:32 AM
SUNSET: 6:10 PM
MOONSET: 4:12 PM
MOONRISE: 6:01 AM TUE
LOW TIDE: 12:12 PM & 12:14 AM TUE
HIGH TIDE: 6:05 PM & 6:35 AM TUE
EXTENDED FORECAST: A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST OFF OF NORTHERN FLORIDA, WHERE A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS ANTICIPATED TO FORM AND DRAG A FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVER THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. BY WEDNESDAY, HIGH PRESSURE WILL REBUILD ACROSS THE BAHAMAS AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE.