⏳ Wednesday Fix: Addressing Congress
Morning all,
There's a lot to keep an eye on - President Zelensky addressing Congress, Nazanin-Zaghari Ratcliffe potentially getting home, and Idaho following Texas in passing a ban on abortion after six weeks.
Until tomorrow,
Your Fixers
GOOD LISTENER?
Click the screenshot below to access the podcast version of today's NewsFix.
UKRAINE - WHAT'S THE LATEST?
- More than three million Ukrainians have now fled the country since the invasion began less than three weeks ago. The Guardian described that as "the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war".
- President Zelensky has acknowledged Ukraine will not be joining NATO.
"For years we have been hearing about the alleged open door, but we have also heard now that we cannot enter. This is true, and it must be acknowledged. I am glad that our people are beginning to understand this and rely on themselves and the partners who are helping us." - President Zelensky, as reported in The Times
- Three European prime ministers - Polish, Czech and Slovenian - made the perilous journey to Kyiv on Tuesday to visit President Zelensky. As BBC News noted, they went to send a message Ukraine is "not alone," and are "the first Western leaders to visit" since the invasion began.
- The city of Kharkiv was struck 65 times on Monday alone, with CNN reporting "600 residence buildings have been destroyed so far".
- Russia announced sanctions against President Biden, Hillary Clinton and others. As The Washington Post noted, they are "unlikely" to be affected. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki mocked the move.
MEDIA MATTERS
A Fox News cameraman and a Ukrainian journalist working together were killed in Ukraine.
Pierre Zakrzewski was an Irish citizen working for Fox News. Oleksandra "Sasha" Kuvshynova was a 24-year-old Ukrainian journalist "working as a consultant" for the network.
A British journalist working with the team, Benjamin Hall, was injured and hospitalised.
The Fox News anchor who announced the news live on air described Pierre as an "absolute legend".
As The Irish Times noted, Pierre's mother was French and his father was Polish, "and the family lived in Leopardstown, Co Dublin".
ON TODAY'S AGENDA...
- Ukraine's President Zelensky will address the US Congress today. CBS News said he will "most likely call for more military aid". The address will happen at 9am ET - 1pm UK/Irish time.
- Prime Minister Johnson's trip to the Middle East continues today, with a visit to Saudi Arabia in the hope of securing an increase in oil supply. Many were critical of the trip, which comes days after 81 men were executed over the weekend. The Guardian published the cartoon 👇🏽
KEEPING A CLOSE EYE...
On Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. On Tuesday, reports emerged the British-Iranian - who has been held in Iran for six years accused of plotting to overthrow the government - had her passport returned to her.
A smiley Prime Minister Johnson stayed coy, saying "we should say as little as possible until... unless and until the thing is actually concluded".
As Channel 4 News pointed out, an ongoing dispute between the UK and Iran over an arms deal in the 1970s that fell apart is likely to be at the centre of resolving this case.
Below is an incredibly helpful look at this complex case.
SOCIETAL SHIFTS
A second US state, Idaho, has passed a ban on abortions after six weeks.
The law has not yet come into effect, but follows a similar move by Texas last year, in what has been described as a "heartbeat" law. This would ban abortion after cardiac activity was detected - this is usually at around the six-week mark.
Worth noting: As CNN reported, the bill would "allow the father, sibling, grandparent, aunt or uncle of the fetus to bring legal action against the medical professional who performed the abortion".
According to another CNN report, in the months after the Texas law was introduced, the five neighbouring states saw "a nearly 800% increase in abortion patients" from Texas.
Ever wanted to know more about the abortion debate in Texas? You should, as it is really going to be a big story this summer! Read our recent in-depth piece: Abortion in the US: The Divided States of America.
MOST READ
- BBC News: John Simpson: Putin will search for a way to save face
- The Guardian: Ukraine-Russia war latest: homes in Kyiv and Kharkiv struck by shelling; Zelenskiy to address US Congress
- The Financial Times: Chechen 'wild card' Ramzan Kadyrov joins Russian war effort
- Al Jazeera: Zelenskyy says Russia demands in peace talks 'more realistic'
- The Irish Times: Ukraine may not join Nato says Zelenskiy as Russia continues Kyiv bombardment
BIDEN' TIME?
More than half of Americans do not think President Biden will run for re-election in 2024, according to a poll in The Wall Street Journal.
As The Times noted, both publicly and privately, 79-year-old Biden "has said he is determined to stand" for re-election.
WATCHING OUT FOR...
The Killing of PC Harper: A Widow's Fight for Justice
A documentary about the death of PC Harper aired on ITV last night.
Remember: PC Harper suffered a brutal death when investigating the theft of a quad bike. His foot got stuck in the tow rope of a getaway car. As The Telegraph reported, he was "dragged for more than a mile at speeds of more than 40mph". The three men in the car were convicted of manslaughter rather than murder.
The documentary: According to much of the reviews and reports, this documentary focused more on the efforts by PC Harper's widow, Lissie, to bring in Harper's Law. The law would give mandatory life sentences to anyone who kills an emergency service worker in the line of duty.
You can watch the documentary here.
ALSO WATCHING OUT FOR...
An extraordinary two-part documentary on Channel 4 looks at how the former daytime TV show became cancelled following the death of a guest.
A review in The Times gave it five stars, while The Guardian gave it four stars and described it as "a shocking exposé". You can watch it here.
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ON A LIGHTER NOTE...
No, but, yeah?
