News of the World

[kyonides]

Putin compares Ukraine to Stalingrad battle

Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to rally Russians around the war in Ukraine on the occasion of Nazi Germany's defeat in Stalingrad 80 years ago , at a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Soviet victory.

"We are again being threatened by German Leopard tanks!" Putin said, in reference to Germany's recent decision to supply advanced Leopard battle tanks to Kyiv.

The Russian leader also placed flowers on the grave of the Soviet marshal responsible for defending the city and paid a visit to the main memorial complex in Volgograd, as the city is now called, where he held a minute of silence.
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Until 1961, Volgograd was known as Stalingrad, after then-Soviet strongman Josef Stalin. During World War II, over one million lost their lives in the battle that stretched from 1942 into the following year. It was the deadliest battle of the war, but it halted Nazi Germany's advance into Soviet territory.

Russian officials have gone to lengths to draw comparisons between fighting Nazis in World War Two and Ukraine.

But Ukraine has rejected these comparisons, as the country suffered devastating consequences including a famine induced by Stalin, known as the Holodomor, and a genocide of its Jewish population carried out by Nazi forces, in addition to mass civilian casualties.

On Wednesday, a new bust of Stalin was erected in the city alongside busts of two Soviet commanders, Georgy Zhukov and Alexander Vasilyevsky, one day before the presidential visit and commemoration festivities.

EU readying more sanctions against Russia

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen landed in Kyiv ahead of a major summit to show European support for Ukraine. She told Ukrainian President Zelenskyy the bloc was preparing more sanctions against Russia.
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However, he also expressed disappointment that the pace of EU sanctions against Moscow had "slightly slowed down" in recent months.

At a joint press conference, von der Leyen responded: "We will introduce, with our G7 partners, an additional price cap on Russian petroleum products, and by the 24th of February — exactly one year since the invasion started — we aim to have the 10th package of sanctions in place."

The EU leader was accompanied by a team of 15 other commissioners, including the bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell.
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[Borrell] also promised €25 million ($27.5 million) to remove landmines in areas recaptured by Ukrainian forces.
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the EU has made it clear that it will not admit a country at war — and that it has serious financial and political reforms to make first.

Turkey summons German envoy over consulate closure

Several European countries, including Germany, temporarily shut their consulates in Istanbul this week, citing security concerns. Turkey says they are waging "psychological warfare."
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According to a diplomatic source cited by the AFP news agency, envoys from Germany, Belgium, Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and the United States were called to attend a meeting at the Foreign Ministry.

Germany shut its Istanbul consulate on Wednesday... At least six other countries took the same step as a precaution.

The US consulate remains open, as the complex is not in Istanbul's city center and is therefore considered to be a less vulnerable target. Washington has, however, joined a number of other governments in issuing travel warnings advising citizens to be vigilant and avoid tourist hotspots.
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"They are waging psychological war against Turkey," Soylu told Turkey's NTV news channel. "They are trying to destabilize Turkey."

Soylu, who is known for his anti-Western rhetoric, said the travel alerts and consulate closures were part of a plot to prevent Turkey's tourism sector from rebounding.

Banana Boat Sunscreen Recall Expanded Over Cancer-Causing Chemical

Edgewell Personal Care Co. has expanded the nationwide voluntary recall of its Banana Boat sunscreens because some samples were found to have unexpected levels of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical.

In a recall notice issued on Jan. 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the company’s recall now includes four batches of the Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30.

On Jan. 27, the company, which initially issued the recall in July 2022, voluntarily added one additional lot to the original recall that involved three batches.

The lot code of the latest recalled product is 20301CF. The codes of the previously recalled products, which are found on the bottom of the can, are 20016AF, 20084BF, and 21139AF.
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According to the FDA, people can be exposed to benzene via inhalation, orally, or through the skin. The chemical can potentially result in cancers, including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow, as well as blood disorders, which can be life-threatening.

FedEx, Rivian, DraftKings Join US Companies Cutting Jobs

FedEx sent an announcement to employees Wednesday informing them that the package delivery company is reducing the size of its officer and director team by more than 10 percent and consolidating some teams and functions.
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Rivian said that it is cutting 6 percent of its workforce, or about 840 jobs. The electric truck and SUV maker currently has a headcount of approximately 14,000.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said in an email that teams across the company would be impacted, but that the reductions would not affect manufacturing jobs. The company recently added a second shift at its plant in Normal, Illinois.
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Also on Wednesday, the online sports betting company DraftKings said that some teams within the company are being reorganized in a bid to increase efficiency, leading to about 140 job cuts.