Zelenskyy Vows to Defend ‘Fortress’ Bakhmut, Hosts EU Leaders in Kyiv

Ukrainians will fight “for as long as we can” to hold the eastern city of Bakhmut, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed on Friday, as he hosted European Union leaders to discuss further sanctions on Russia and Kyiv’s prospects for joining the EU.

Meanwhile, the United States said it would send more than $2.175 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine, including a new rocket that will double Kyiv’s strike range to reach most Ukrainian territory now held by the Russians.

The head of the EU’s executive Commission and the chairman of the 27 EU national leaders were in Kyiv to demonstrate support for Ukraine as the first anniversary of Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of its neighbor approaches.

As they and Zelenskyy’s government discussed a range of issues, air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv and across the country—a regular occurrence during months of Russian missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure far from the battlefields in the east and south—but there were no reports of new air strikes.

Zelenskyy, flanked by the EU leaders at a news conference, said European sanctions should aim to ensure Russia cannot rebuild its military capability. And he had a defiant message on Bakhmut, the focal point of Ukrainian resistance to Russia’s invasion and of Moscow’s drive to regain battlefield momentum.

“Nobody will give away Bakhmut. We will fight for as long as we can. We consider Bakhmut our fortress,” he said.

Moscow says Russian forces are encircling the city that had a pre-war population of around 75,000 from several directions and battling to take control of a road which is also an important supply route for Ukrainian forces.

“If weapon [supplies] are accelerated, specifically long-range weapons, not only will we not abandon Bakhmut but we will also begin to remove the occupiers from the Donbas [region of eastern Ukraine], occupied since 2014,” Zelenskyy said.

The U.S. military aid announced on Friday included rockets known as Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB), whose 151 kilometer (94 mile) range would put all of Russia’s supply lines in eastern Ukraine within reach, as well as part of the Crimea peninsula, also seized by Moscow in 2014.

No EU Fast Track

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said a 10th sanctions package would hit “trade and technology that supports Russia’s war machine.”

The package, which the EU is preparing for the anniversary of the invasion, is set to fall short of some of Ukraine’s demands, and Kyiv’s ambition to join the EU may take longer than it would like.

Ukraine applied to join the EU days after Russia invaded last year. The EU has embraced the application, but rebuffed Ukraine’s calls for a fast track to membership while the country is at war.

EU officials have listed multiple membership requirements, from political and economic stability to adopting various EU laws. The process is likely to take years.

The EU has demanded Kyiv tackle what is perceived as endemic state graft. Zelenskiy has announced dismissals and investigations of an array of officials in the past two weeks.

Asked at the news conference with Zelenskyy about Kyiv’s membership bid, the Commission’s von der Leyen said: “There are no rigid timelines, but there are goals that you have to reach.”

EU countries agreed on Friday on a Commission proposal to set price caps on Russian oil products from Sunday to limit Moscow’s ability to fund the war. They include a $100 cap on premium oil products such as diesel and a $45 limit per barrel on discounted products such as fuel oil, diploma

https://www.ntd.com/zelenskyy-vows-to-defend-fortress-bakhmut-hosts-eu-leaders-in-kyiv_898595.html

Paedophile who tortured, raped and starved children with his partner is found dead in his prison cell weeks before being sentenced

Andrew Hadwin, 39, and partner Cheryl Pickles, 35, were convicted last month

Hadwin was found guilty of three counts of rape of a child and child neglect

The couple were due to be sentenced in April 28 at Teesside Crown Court

A man found guilty of an horrific catalogue of abuse against children has been found dead in his prison cell while he awaited sentence.

Andrew Hadwin, 39, was found dead at HMP Durham prison yesterday, February 2 - weeks after he was convicted of child neglect and rape.

Hadwin and his partner Cheryl Pickles tormented children over several years - starving them, feeding them soap and pushing them into boiling hot showers and baths.

The couple malnourished the children until they were so hungry that they walked for miles to scavenge through supermarket bins for food. Meanwhile the pair would order takeaways and make the children watch them eat while forced to stand in stress positions for long periods of time.

Other abuse included locking the youngsters in a cupboard and dangling one terrified child over a motorway bridge.

The Department of Justice confirmed Hadwin had died, telling MailOnline an investigation was underway.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11709213/Paedophile-tortured-raped-starved-children-partner-dead-prison-cell.html

China Spy Balloon Spotted Over Metro St. Louis – Miles from Scott Air Force Base

China Spy Balloon Spotted Over Metro St. Louis – Miles from Scott Air Force Base

These photos were taken in west St. Louis County.

The spy balloon is heading southeast.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/02/china-spy-balloon-spotted-metro-st-louis-miles-scott-air-force-base/

Listen to VLADIMIR PUTIN

https://www.bitchute.com/video/5e50kRYVD4Hs/

>>18279649

>>18279664

no it was a power plant issue

More of this shit while the Gov protects high profile pedos with suppression orders!

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews set to formally apologise to child sexual abuse survivors in parliament

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-04/vic-daniel-andrews-to-apologise-to-child-sexual-abuse-survivors/101930260

Indian parliament adjourned amid Adani crisis

Financial contagion fears have spread in India as the Adani Group's crisis worsened, with ratings agency Moody's warning the conglomerate may struggle to raise capital and S&P cutting the outlook on two of its businesses.

Key points:

The India government has begun a preliminary review of Adani Group's regulatory submissions

A US-based short-seller last week accused the Adani Group of stock manipulation

The Adani conglomerate includes Queensland's Carmichael coal mine

Both houses of India's parliament adjourned on Friday as upset MPs demanded an inquiry after a meltdown in the stock market values of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani's companies.

Mr Adani has built a conglomerate spanning ports, coal mines — including Queensland's Carmichael coal mine — food businesses and airports.

The crisis was triggered by a Hindenburg Research report last week in which the US-based short-seller accused the Adani Group of stock manipulation and unsustainable debt.

Adani Group, one of India's top conglomerates, has rejected the criticism and denied wrongdoing in detailed rebuttals, but that has failed to arrest the unabated fall in its shares.

Firms lose about half their value

In the latest sign of the crisis widening, India's ministry of corporate affairs has begun a preliminary review of Adani Group's financial statements and other regulatory submissions made over the years, two government officials told Reuters.

Although shares in Adani companies recovered after sharp falls earlier on Friday, the seven listed firms have still lost about half their market value, totalling more than $US100 billion ($144 billion) since Hindenburg published its report on January 24.

Moody's warned the share plunge could hit the Adani Group's ability to raise capital, although fellow credit ratings agency Fitch saw no immediate impact on its ratings.

"These adverse developments are likely to reduce the group's ability to raise capital to fund committed capex or refinance maturing debt over the next 1-2 years. We recognise that a portion of the capex is deferrable," Moody's said.

For Mr Adani, a former school drop-out from Gujarat, the western home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the crisis presents the biggest reputational and business challenge of his life, as his firm struggles to assuage investor concerns.

Amid fears the turmoil could spill over into the broader financial system, some Indian politicians have called for a wider investigation, and sources have told Reuters the central bank has asked lenders for details of exposure to the group.

"Contagion concerns are widening, but still limited to the banking sector," Charu Chanana, a market strategist with Saxo Markets in Singapore, said on Friday.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-04/indian-parliament-adjourned-amid-adani-crisis/101931080

Four Arab Israelis murdered on Friday in separate incidents

All of the murders occurred within a span of 16 hours in mostly Arab-populated areas.

Four Arab Israelis were murdered in separate incidences on Friday, Hebrew media reported, all occurring in Arab-majority cities and towns.

Muhammad Amash, 24, was shot dead in Jisr e-Zarka on Friday night. Sources state that Amash was shot while crossing the street by someone who was waiting for him on a roof. He was pronounced dead at the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera after being evacuated by MDA paramedics.

The background of the incident is likely a dispute over drug trafficking, Maariv reported.

Earlier that day, Ha'am Abu Zarqa, 26, was shot dead in Umm al-Fahm. Zarqa's death was confirmed by MDA paramedics who immediately arrived at the scene of the incident.

All incidences occurred within 16 hours. A suspected connection between all the murders is being investigated by police, Ynet reported.

The murders in Nazareth

It is suspected that Zarqa's death was revenge for the double murders in Nazareth hours earlier, where two brothers from a criminal organization were shot.

The brothers, 28-year-old Khaled Saadi and his 31-year-old brother Ali Saadi, were shot to death at their home. Five assassins knocked on the door of the house and identified themselves as "police." Their mother opened the door, and the assassins entered and shot the brothers at point-blank range, according to the Ynet report. The investigation was transferred from the police to Lahav 433, Walla reported.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived in Nazareth after the murders, and told the city's mayor that "the State of Israel also includes this city. We understand that there are crime families here who murder each other, but we must control the rule of law here in Nazareth," he said.

"I worry about the residents here. In the end, we must wage a brutal war on crime. The Israel Police lacks many things - it lacks budgets and policemen," Ynet reported Ben-Gvir as saying. "There are excellent people here, police officers whom I only praise, and I know they lack the tools, so I intend to act in the coming months so that they get tools to deal with crime."

“There are excellent people here, police officers whom I only praise, and I know they lack the tools, so I intend to act in the coming months so that they get tools to deal with crime.”

Itamar Ben-Gvir

Twelve people have been murdered in mostly Arab areas since the beginning of the year, the report said.

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-730547

Biological male 'mother' of 2 'trans kids' tells Minnesota legislature child sex changes are 'life saving' care

A trans-identified male who claims to be the “mother” of two “trans kids” testified before a Minnesota House Committee in favor of Minnesota becoming a trans refuge state for people seeking out-of-state medical sex changes.

A trans-identified male who claims to be the “mother” of two “trans kids” testified before a Minnesota House Committee in favor of Minnesota becoming a trans refuge state for people seeking out-of-state medical sex changes. The biological male has a trans partner as well as two children who are involved in gender identity.

“My name is Amber Mom; I use she/her pronouns,” began the male who identifies as a woman and a mother. “I am also a proud transgender woman. But more importantly, I am the mother of two wonderful transgender and gender-expansive children.”

Amber described the “torrent of damaging, ill-informed, and outright malicious legislation being introduced across the country” as reason for Minnesota to become a “safe haven” for transgender individuals and parents seeking experimental sex changes for their children. This would align Minnesota with California in being a "sanctuary state" for "trans kids."

The proposed bill to turn Minnesota into a trans refuge state was put forward by trans-identified male Rep. Leigh Finke. The legislation seeks to prevent “out-of-state laws from interfering in the practice of gender-affirming health care.”

“Minnesota is a state that prides itself on providing world-class health care, but as extreme anti-trans legislation appears in numerous states, including our neighbors, Minnesota must also become a safe harbor for those seeking gender-affirming care,” said Rep. Finke.

House File 146 would turn Minnesota into a trans refuge state by protecting trans people, their families, and medical practitioners from legal repercussions for traveling to Minnesota to receive sex change interventions including experimental puberty blockers for children.

The testimony went on to reveal that Amber’s partner is also transgender.

“My trans partner and I frequently discuss plans to flee the country, if these targeted, hateful bills keep being introduced or passed,” said Amber.

Like many transgender adults who transitioned later in life after becoming parents, Amber advocates for gender-confused children to have their puberty blocked and their fertility destroyed.

“As someone who started transitioning well into…adulthood, I know better than most how essential and life-saving gender-affirming medical care is,” Amber testified. “Going through natal puberty was a traumatizing experience for me. I am so grateful that trans and gender expansive kids have access to the knowledge and medical care to be their full selves and thrive.”

Amber felt that legislation that prohibits doctors from performing experimental sex changes on children was “barbaric and morally repugnant.”

However, several nations have now banned medical sex changes for minors after systematic reviews of the evidence for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones found that the risks far outweigh any perceived benefits. Sweden and Finland now only offer puberty blockers and hormones in the strictest of research settings and England is expected to follow suit upon completion of an independent review of its gender services.

The president of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) recently admitted that social contagion is a factor driving many young people to adopt a transgender identity, and soon-to-be published research shows that the rate of detransition and regret is far higher than gender-affirming care proponents claim.

https://thepostmillennial.com/biological-male-mother-of-2-trans-kids-tells-minnesota-legislature-child-sex-changes-are-life-saving-care

Pedo child abuser