Boris says that the will invasion of Ukraine wiukd echo around the world
The shock of any invasion of Ukraine by Russia would "echo around the world", Boris Johnson has told world leaders.
He said we must be "unflinchingly honest" about the situation in Ukraine and should not "underestimate the gravity of this moment".
In a speech at a security conference in Munich, Mr Johnson said he does not know what Russian President Vladimir Putin intends, but "omens are grim".
"And that is why we must stand strong together," he said.
Western nations have warned Russia could invade Ukraine imminently, with over 130,000 of its troops near the border.
They accuse Russia of trying to stage a fake crisis in a breakaway eastern region of Ukraine to give it a reason to invade.
But Russia has repeatedly denied having plans to invade, saying troops are conducting military exercises in the region, accusing the West of "hysteria".
Mr Johnson stressed the UK still hoped diplomacy and dialogue would succeed in resolving the crisis.
Urging unity among the UK's Western allies, he said: "Every time that Western ministers have visited Kyiv, we have assured the people of Ukraine and their leaders that we stand foursquare behind their sovereignty and independence.
"How hollow, how meaningless, how insulting those words would seem, if at the very moment when their sovereignty and independence is imperilled, we simply look away."
If Ukraine were invaded, Mr Johnson said "we will witness the destruction of a democratic state, a country that has been free for a generation, with a proud history of elections".
Ukraine is a former Soviet republic with historic ties to Russia and shares borders with both the EU and Russia.
Russia has long resisted Ukraine's move towards Western institutions, including Nato, seeing the eastward expansion of the military alliance as a threat to its security.
The prime minister warned that any invasion would also be met with sanctions on Russian individuals and companies.
He said the UK would "open up the Matryoshka dolls" of certain Russian-owned companies and make it impossible for them to raise finance in London.
His comments follow the announcement of new legislation allowing the UK to widen its sanctions against the country.
"If Ukraine is invaded, the shock will echo around the world, and those echoes will be heard in East Asia they will be heard in Taiwan," he told the Munich Security Conference.
Mr Johnson met Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, who said they had agreed "joint next steps" and remained united in the pursuit of de-escalation and diplomacy.
In a statement, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the party was "steadfast in our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine".
"We stand in solidary with the Ukrainian people and in unity with our international partners and Nato allies in warning President Putin that any attack will lead to immediate, severe and extensive sanctions," he said.
He said Labour supported the actions the government was taking to bring about an end to the stand-off, adding that "diplomacy can still succeed".
Writing on Twitter, former Prime Minister Theresa May said Boris Johnson was "right to press the case for continued diplomacy, while preparing the most severe sanctions for Russia if Putin chooses the catastrophe of war".
In a joint statement, foreign ministers from the G7 group of wealthy nations said they had seen "no evidence" that Russia has withdrawn some of its forces, as it has claimed, and that they remained "gravely concerned" by the situation.
"We call on Russia to choose the path of diplomacy, to de-escalate tensions, to substantively withdraw military forces from the proximity of Ukraine's borders and to fully abide by international commitments," the statement said.
"As a first step, we expect Russia to implement the announced reduction of its military activities along Ukraine's borders. We will judge Russia by its deeds."
US Vice-President Kamala Harris is also attending the conference in Munich, and said in a speech that Russia faced "swift, severe and united" economic consequences if it were to invade.
She accused Russia of narrowing the avenues for diplomacy, saying "their simply do not match their words".
Her remarks come after Moscow said some of its troops had moved away from the border in recent days - but Western powers said there was no evidence of withdrawal.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden said he is convinced Mr Putin has decided to invade and that an assault could happen in the "coming days".
Mr Biden said the assessment was based on US intelligence, which suggested the capital Kyiv would be targeted.
Other Western politicians taking part in the three-day security conference include German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US Vice-President Kamala Harris.
But Russia will not be officially represented at the summit for the first time since 1999 amid the rising tensions over the situation at Ukraine's borders.
Source - BBC
Kentish-Rogers sworn in as acting Premier for Anguilla
The island’s Minister of Education and Social Development, Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers has been sworn in as acting Premier.
Kentish-Rogers, 29, a former beauty queen, is the youngest person to ever serve as acting Premier.
In her position as acting Premier, she will be responsible for overseeing government business and the Ministry of Health, while Health Minister Kenneth Hodge will cover ministerial duties for finance.
Kentish-Rogers will occupy the premier’s chair from February 17 to 27th, while Premier Dr. Ellis L Webster is out of the country.
”Happy to be stepping in as the youngest female Premier (Acting) for 10 days! Signed my oath and swore to act with integrity and in the best interest of the people of Antigua, “ she said in a post on social media to celebrate the occasion.
Source - CMC
Elon Musk says US is trying to 'chill' his free speech
Tesla boss Elon Musk has accused US regulators of targeting him for "unrelenting investigation" because of his criticism of the government.
In a court filing, the billionaire says the Securities and Exchange Commission has engaged in "outsized efforts" to monitor the firm that "seem calculated to chill his exercise" of free speech.
The letter heightens the battle between Mr Musk and financial regulators over his social media activity.
His Twitter posts often move markets.
In 2018, the SEC ordered Mr Musk to submit to increased oversight of his posts about Tesla as part of a settlement into claims that he misled investors in 2018 with a post about taking the electric car company private.
The SEC has repeatedly raised questions since about Mr Musk running afoul of the agreement, in which Mr Musk agreed to give Tesla officials pre-approval of posts about the company.
In November, regulators subpoenaed the firm, requesting information about its governance processes related to the order.
That month, Mr Musk asked his more than 70 million Twitter followers whether he should sell 10% of his Tesla shares, driving shares lower.
In the letter to Judge Alison Nathan, who is overseeing the 2018 settlement, the billionaire's attorney Alex Spiro accused regulators of "weaponizing the consent decree by using it to try to muzzle and harass Mr. Musk and Tesla".
"The SEC seems to be targeting Mr. Musk and Tesla for unrelenting investigation largely because Mr. Musk remains an outspoken critic of the government," he wrote on behalf of Mr Musk and Tesla.
"The SEC's outsized efforts seem calculated to chill his exercise of First Amendment rights rather than to enforce generally applicable laws in even-handed fashion".
He said the SEC had opened "serial investigations" without seeking guidance from the court and that the agency was overdue to distribute to investors the $40m in penalties it collected as part of the 2018 settlement.
Source - BBC
Apple boss Tim Cook faces backlash to £73m pay package
Investors are being urged to vote against a $99m (£73m) pay package awarded to Apple boss Tim Cook last year.
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) said it has "significant concerns" over the size of the award, up from $14.8m the year before.
Mr Cook, whose net worth is reportedly more than £1bn, received the pay in shares, salary, and for other costs.
The BBC has contacted Apple for comment.
In a letter to shareholders, the ISS said there are "significant concerns" over the "design and magnitude" of the package. "Half of the award lacks performance criteria," ISS said.
Mr Cook, 61, who has often spoken publicly about his concerns over equality and human rights issues, said in 2015 that he would give away his entire fortune before he dies.
According to ISS, Mr Cook's pay was 1,447 times more than the wage of an average Apple employee.
His package included $630,600 in personal security costs and $712,500 for personal use of a private jet. ISS said the cost of such perks "significantly exceeded" comparable companies last year.
Last year, a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing showed that Mr Cook donated almost £7.4m worth of Apple shares to charity, without naming the recipient.
The company behind the iPhone, iPad and MacBook became the first company to hit a $3tn (£2.2tn) stock market value in January before dipping to its current value of $2.8tn (£2.1tn).
Shareholder returns are now more than 1,000% since Mr Cook took over in 2011.
Apple is due to hold its annual meeting for shareholders in the first week of March. However, shareholder votes are only advisory, while Apple's board decide on pay packages.
At last year's meeting, 95% of shareholder votes supported Apple's executive compensation programme.
Source - BBC
Tesla investigated over 'phantom braking' problem
The US government is investigating reports of Tesla cars braking unexpectedly on motorways.
The so-called "phantom braking" problem is being looked at by US regulator the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
It received 354 complaints in the past nine months and its investigation will cover approximately 416,000 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from 2021-22.
Drivers say the issue occurs using the Autopilot driver assistance system.
The feature gives the vehicle control over some elements of braking and steering when driving, although it is not a substitute for a human driver.
Despite the name, Tesla recommends drivers remain vigilant and supervise their vehicle, noting the Autopilot ADAS system "does not make the vehicle autonomous".
Tesla is currently under investigation by the NHTSA over two other matters.
In December 2021, it disabled its Passenger Play feature that allowed games to be played on its touchscreen while the car is in motion, leading to an open investigation covering an estimated 580,000 vehicles.
And last August, the NHTSA started to look into the role of the Autopilot system in 11 crashes involving emergency vehicles, covering approximately 765,000 Tesla cars.
The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has begun a "preliminary evaluation" into Tesla over the complaints. This is the stage before the agency could officially issue a recall of the vehicles.
It says there have been no crashes, injuries or fatalities as a result of the incidents.
"The complaints allege that while utilising the ADAS features including adaptive cruise control, the vehicle unexpectedly applies its brakes while driving at highway speeds," the report says.
"Complainants report that the rapid deceleration can occur without warning, at random, and often repeatedly in a single drive cycle.
"ODI is opening this preliminary evaluation to determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues."
The NHTSA makes customer complaints publicly available on its website, so consumers can compare vehicle safety.
In one complaint from 11 February 2022, the driver says: "Heavy braking occurs for no apparent reason and with no warning, resulting in several near misses for rear end collisions... this issue has occurred dozens of times during my five months and 10,000-mile ownership."
In another dated 3 February 2022, the user complains of "phantom braking for no apparent reason", stating that their car suddenly decelerated from 73mph down to 59mph "in two seconds".
Source - BBC
Stephen Curry sets record as Team LeBron win 163-160
Stephen Curry scored 50 points and set an All-Star Game record as Team LeBron claimed a 163-160 win over Team Durant.
Curry, 33, finished with 16 three-pointers, setting a record for the most in an All-Star quarter (six), half (eight) and game (16) in the process.
The previous record in an All-Star game was nine, set by Paul George in 2016.
Curry, who was two points short of the scoring record set by Anthony Davis in 2017, won the Kobe Bryant Trophy as the All-Star Game's most valuable player.
The All-Star MVP Award was permanently renamed in honour of LA Lakers legend Bryant, an 18-time All-Star, after he and his daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in 2020.
LeBron James also played in his 18th All-Star Game to sit one short of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record.
The Los Angeles Lakers star made the game-winning shot on Sunday after his team had been set a target winning score of 163 in Cleveland.
That target was determined after Team Durant held a 139-138 lead heading into the final quarter and, for a third consecutive year, 24 points were added to the leading total to reflect Kobe Bryant's jersey number.
Curry surpassed Ray Allen at the top of the the all-time list for threes made and was honoured as a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team at half-time.
James made 24 points for his side and Giannis Antetokounmpo, of the Milwaukee Bucks, added 30 points and 12 rebounds.
Team Durant were led by the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, who recorded 36 points and 10 rebounds, while Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns contributed 20 points.
Source - BBC
Kevin Hart introduces real-life Olympic Jamaican Bobsled
Kevin Hart teamed up with Olympic Jamaican bobsled team as part of his Winter Olympics Tailgate Party, chatting with the team via remote from Beijing.
Shanwayne Stephens, a groundbreaker as the team's female driver, joined Hart along with her teammates Rolando Reid, Ashley Watson and Matthew Wekpe for the remote segment.
It's Jamaica's first Olympic bow in 20 years -- so who better to join Kevin and the team than Leon Robinson, the actor who helped tell the Cinderella story of the 1998 Jamaican Olympic Bobsled team in the 1993 movie Cool Runnings?
The team shared with Kevin that, like their predecessors -- and their movie counterparts -- tropical Jamaica proves challenging to train for a winter sport. So without sleds to train on, they push cars.
Hart surprised the team with Leon's appearance. For his part, he said, "We're so proud of you! It's not just Jamaica who loves you, everybody loves you!"
The actor was so inspired, he joked, that he tore off his stylish trench coat to reveal an official Jamaican bobsled uniform.
Source - ABC
Mexican army moves in on drug lord's home town
The Mexican army has taken control of the hometown of a powerful drug lord in the state of Michoacán, west Mexico.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes - known as "El Mencho" - was born in the town of Naranjo de Chila, Aguililla, and is wanted in Mexico and the US.
Landmines planted by rival gangs in the surrounding area killed one person and injured others in recent weeks.
Army vehicles and landmine detection teams are patrolling the town.
"El Mencho", who leads the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has been on the run for years.
His gang is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico is believed to be behind attacks on Mexican security forces, such as a 2015 ambush in Jalisco which left 15 officers dead and the attempted assassination of Mexico City's police chief in 2020.
The cartel has spread from its original power base in the state of Jalisco to have an almost nationwide presence.
In the municipality of Aguililla, the CJNG has been fighting the rival Los Viagras Cartel for control of the area for years.
In the fight for control, drone-carrying explosives and landmines have been planted across the area, according to the Associated Press.
The landmines have proven deadly, after two devices exploded in the last few weeks. The first explosion injured a number of soldiers, and the second killed a local farmer.
In response to the explosions, Mexican troops entered the area, reports Spanish news agency EFE.
Michoacán state's seaport and smuggling routes mean that it is a coveted place for drug cartels.
Rival drug gangs fight over the control of illicit activities such as the production and trafficking of drugs.
Due to the violence and instability in the area, hundreds of families have left in the hope of migrating to the US.
Source - BBC
US Coast Guard repatriates Caribbean migrants
The United States Coast Guard says it repatriated four Dominican Republic nationals and nine Haitians to the Dominican Republic between Monday and Wednesday, following the interdiction of an illegal voyage near Rincon, Puerto Rico.
The US Coast Guard said the interdiction is the result of ongoing local and federal multi-agency efforts in support of the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG).
“This successful interdiction is the result of the strong partnerships between the Coast Guard and our fellow Caribbean Border Interagency Group partners who work daily to safeguard the nation’s southernmost maritime border,” said Captain Gregory H. Magee, Sector San Juan commander.
“Many people do not realize how close they come to losing their lives during an illegal voyage, and they also may not realize that, if they are caught, they may face prosecution for migrating illegally to the United States,” he added.
The US Coast Guard said a Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit interdicted an illegal voyage transporting non-US citizens aboard a 22-foot blue colored makeshift boat Friday morning, just off the coast of Rincon, Puerto Rico.
Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez that arrived on scene and safely embarked the migrants, the US Coast Guard said.
During Fiscal Year 2022, from October 1, 2021 through January 21, 2022, the US Coast Guard said it interdicted 44 illegal voyages near Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands with 798 Dominican Republic nationals, 253 Haitians, 14 Venezuelans, one Ecuadorian, and 35 others of undetermined nationalities.
The US Coast Guard said CBIG “unifies efforts” between US Customs and Border Protection, the US Coast Guard, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action in their “common goal of securing the borders of Puerto Rico against illegal migrant and drug smuggling.”
Source - CMC
CDEMA hosts the Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (DANA) Orientation/Training in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The Preparedness and Response Division (PRD) of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), through its Regional Training Centre (RTC), commenced a three day Damage and Needs Assessment (DANA) Orientation/Training workshop for the St. Vincent & The Grenadines National Emergency Management Organisation (SVG NEMO) on February 15 th , 2022. The training is intended to present a systematic approach for conducting damage assessment in an effective and time sensitive manner to influence response and recovery actions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Ms. Michelle Forbes, Director of NEMO SVG, in her opening remarks, thanked the over sixty (60) participants attending the virtual event (representing the DANA Subcommittee: including housing, health, critical utilities and lifelines and agriculture, as well as other Public and Private sector interests, Non-Governmental Organisations and Community Groups) for their attendance and indicated that “the National Emergency Management System of St. Vincent and The Grenadines will be in a much stronger position to provide critical assessments of both human and sector needs in a post-hazard environment which would lend to the more effective and efficient management of response resources at such critical times”.
The DANA Continuum, which is a tool that allows an Impacted State to describe, as quickly and objectively as possible through various assessment tools, the impact of a severe hazard on its human population and economic sectors, with a view to determining best approaches for response and additional resources required for immediate and future needs, has been a significant pillar within the CDEMA 2014-2024 Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy. Ms. Joanne Persad, Programme Manager Preparedness and Response, CDEMA, indicated in her opening remarks the importance of all the stages within the DANA Continuum in supporting evidence-based decision-making, priority setting and establishing updated needs list.
Participants in the training will be oriented on the use of the resource tool at each stage of the Disaster Management Cycle, as dictated by the type, scale, and unique characteristics of
particular hazard impacts.
At the end of the training, SVG NEMO will have DANA teams to be deployed within country (or within the region in support of the CDEMA System) to conduct any aspect of the DANA
Continuum once it becomes necessary.