US tells Americans in Russia and Ukraine to leave immediately

State Department says Russia is targeting Americans after basketball star is jailed on drug charges

All Americans currently in Russia and Ukraine should leave right away, as they may be singled out by Russian security officials on account of their citizenship, the State Department said on Thursday.

“All US citizens in Russia and Ukraine should depart immediately,” State Department spokesman Ned Price announced at the daily press briefing at Foggy Bottom.

Price said the US travel advisories have been updated to reflect “reports” that Russian security officials have “singled out and detained” US citizens, both in Ukraine and in Russia itself.

In addition, Price claimed the US has seen Russian President Vladimir Putin “denigrate equality, free speech and human rights for all.”

While the State Department travel advisory for Russia was updated on Wednesday, urging American citizens residing or traveling in the country to leave right away, the one for Ukraine was last updated on March 29 and still urges Americans there only to register with the US embassy.

The Russia advisory cites the “invasion of Ukraine” as the chief reason. Both Russia and Ukraine have been under the “Level 4 – Do Not Travel” US advisory for over a year, on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In his introductory remarks, Price did not elaborate on “reports” that led the US government to announce the change. The only American known to have been detained by Russian authorities in recent weeks is the WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner.

Griner was arrested on February 17 – a week prior to the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine – at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport, for possession of illegal narcotics. A drug-sniffing dog alerted to her luggage and police found carrying cannabis oil cartridges for a vaporizer inhaler, according to the Russian police. Griner has been charged with drug smuggling, and a court ordered her held in jail until May 19.

https://www.rt.com/russia/553074-state-department-americans-leave-immediately/

Russian Foreign Ministry: Moscow Will Not Leave Hostile EU Actions Unanswered

The EU sanctions against Russia are negatively affecting lives of Europeans, and Moscow hopes that Brussels will understand that the confrontation with in bilateral relations is not in its interests, Director of the Department of European Cooperation of the Russian Foreign Ministry Nikolay Kobrinets told Sputnik.

"The EU actions will not be left without response. Hopefully, the EU countries will understand that the confrontation is not in its interests. Brussels' irresponsible sanctions are already negatively affecting the everyday lives of ordinary Europeans," Kobrinets said.

Furthermore, the diplomat rhetorically asked whether the European nations were "ready to pay from their own pockets for further killings of civilians in Ukraine," thus turning Europe from a "region of cooperation and stability" into a zone of conflict.

"I don't think so," he added.

Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin said back then that the ultimate goal was to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine in order to provide "the protection" to "people who have been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years."

In light of this ongoing special military operation, a number of Western countries introduced new comprehensive sanctions against the country. According to the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the Western sanctions are very serious, but Russia was preparing for them in advance.

https://sputniknews.com/20220401/russian-foreign-ministry-moscow-will-not-leave-hostile-eu-actions-unanswered-1094376024.html

China to restrict visas for US officials

The tit-for-tat move comes after Washington placed similar restrictions on the Chinese, citing “human rights abuses”

China has decided to restrict visas for a number of US officials in response to similar measures introduced by Washington earlier this month over alleged human rights abuses.

"The Chinese side decided to impose retaliatory visa restrictions on certain US officials who spread lies on the issue of human rights, imposed sanctions against China and harmed China's interests," stated Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Thursday. Wang said the move was made "to protect the sovereignty, security and development interests of the PRC.

The spokesperson claims that the US used, what he called, the false pretext of human rights issues to interfere in the internal affairs of China, discredit Beijing, and put pressure on Chinese officials. Wang stated that such actions are a serious violation of the basic principles of international law and international relations.

China’s foreign ministry has so far not confirmed which exact officials will fall under these new restrictions, but the spokesperson said that those who invented the “lies” surrounding the issue of human rights and harmed China’s national interests already know who they are themselves.

The announcement comes after The US State Department imposed visa restrictions on Chinese officials who Washington claims are responsible for the intimidation and harassment of human rights activists and dissidents in China and around the world.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken cited the alleged “genocide” of Uighur muslims and repression of dissidents in Hong Kong and Tibet, saying the US “rejects efforts by [People’s Republic of China] officials to harass, intimidate, surveil and abduct members of ethnic and religious minority groups, including those who seek safety abroad, and US citizens, who speak out on behalf of these vulnerable populations."

The US urged China to “end its ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, repressive policies in Tibet, crackdown on fundamental freedoms in Kong Kong,” and other abuses elsewhere.

https://www.rt.com/news/553035-china-restricts-visas-us/

A ransomware attack on a Pfizer vendor triggered overpayments to hourly staffers — and now the pharma giant wants most of that money back

Pfizer employees say they're frustrated and angry over a payroll mistake that could force them to give back money some have already spent.

"I think everybody is just really disheartened with how all of this was handled. To ask for this money back, is just I think morally wrong,” said one employee who requested anonymity, over fear of retribution from Pfizer.

One employee provided WWMT with a letter and documents received last week that showed Pfizer telling the employee they owed more than $800 in overpayment. Another employee said the issue is affecting hourly workers all across the company.

Pfizer said the overpayments happened following a ransomware attack on Ultimate Kronos Group in December 2021. Pfizer uses Kronos to track the hours employees work and pay them.

“We all feel that this is Pfizer’s payroll mistake. We never asked for this money, we were never consulted on whether we wanted extra money,” the anonymous Pfizer worker said.

The employee said they had no idea they were being overpaid and the money Pfizer is asking for has already been spent.

“We feel very much taken advantage of. We feel the stockholders are the only ones benefiting and we were kind of just gone to the wayside,” the employee said.

According to Pfizer's letter, affected workers can choose to repay the money over one, three, or six months. The letter went on to say the company will not take money from future paychecks without notice.

Pfizer also said it would pay $250 towards each worker's overpayment balance.

Pfizer, which produced one of the three COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S., reported more than $80 billion in revenues for 2021 and 92% operational growth. It was also the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

https://endpts.com/a-ransomware-attack-on-a-pfizer-vendor-triggered-overpayments-to-hourly-staffers-and-now-the-pharma-giant-wants-most-of-that-money-back/

https://katv.com/news/nation-world/pfizer-tells-michigan-workers-to-refund-company-after-hack-causes-some-to-be-overpaid-kronos-ransomware-attack

Cover for the payoff, lots of people have the goods on pfizer

Iowa House passes bill requiring schools to post curriculums, materials online for parent review

The bill will now go to the state Senate.

The Iowa House voted 60-30 in favor of passing a bill that would require Iowa public and charter schools to post their curriculum and books online for parents to review.

Some educators have argued that the bill (HF2577) will limit their ability to "adapt and meet the individualized needs of their students."

The bill will give parents the ability to review instructional materials and request that their children opt out of certain reading materials. If the schools materials do end up changing, teachers will be required to update the information online by week's end or be subject to a fine between $500-$5,000.

The bill will now make its way through the state Senate.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/education/iowa-house-passes-bill-requiring-schools-post-curriculums-materials

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=HF2577