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Ukraine fights to hold off Russian advances in south, east as Kremlin seeks to capture Donbas region

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Ukraine fights to hold off Russian advances in south, east as Kremlin seeks to capture Donbas region
KHARKIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces fought Saturday to carry off a Russian advance of their nation’s south and east, the place the Kremlin is in search of to seize the commercial Donbas area and Western army analysts mentioned Moscow’s offensive was going a lot slower than deliberate.

The United Nations continued making an attempt to dealer an evacuation of civilians from the more and more hellish ruins of Mariupol, a southern port metropolis that Russia has sought to seize because it invaded Ukraine greater than 9 weeks in the past.

Residents are “begging to get saved” from a metal plant that has change into Mariupol’s final protection stronghold, Mayor Vadym Boichenko mentioned Friday. “There, it is not a matter of days. It is a matter of hours.” An estimated 2,000 fighters have been holed up within the plant with about 1,000 civilians.

Two Ukrainian girls whose husbands are members of the Azov Regiment of Ukraine’s Nationwide Guard mentioned they feared troopers will probably be tortured and killed if left behind and captured by the Russians. They requested for a Dunkirk-style mission to evacuate the fighters, a reference to the World Warfare II operation launched to rescue surrounded Allied troops in northern France.

“We are able to do that extraction operation … which can save our troopers, our civilians, our youngsters,” Kateryna Prokopenko, 27, informed The Related Press. “We have to do that proper now, as a result of individuals – each hour, each second – are dying.”

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In different developments:

– Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned in an interview that Russian and Ukrainian negotiators speak “nearly day by day.” Nevertheless, he informed Chinese language state information company Xinhua that “progress has not been straightforward.”

– A former U.S. Marine was killed whereas preventing alongside Ukrainian forces, his household mentioned, in what could be the struggle’s first identified demise of an American in fight. The U.S. has not confirmed the report.

– The mayor of the city of Popasna in japanese Ukraine, Nikolai Khanatov, says two buses that have been headed there to evacuate residents have been fired upon and that contact with the drivers has been misplaced.

– Russian air-defense forces detected a Ukrainian army airplane over Russia’s Bryansk area and tried to repel the plane. Two shells fell on a village, regional Gov. Alexander Bogomaz mentioned. Nobody was injured, however an oil terminal suffered some injury, Bogomaz mentioned.

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Getting a full image of the unfolding battle within the east has been tough as a result of airstrikes and artillery barrages have made it extraordinarily harmful for reporters to maneuver round. Each Ukraine and the Moscow-backed rebels preventing within the east even have launched tight restrictions on reporting from the fight zone.

Numerically, Russia’s army manpower vastly exceeds Ukraine’s. Within the days earlier than the struggle started, Western intelligence estimated Russia had positioned close to the border as many as 190,000 troops; Ukraine’s standing army is about 200,000, unfold all through the nation.

However to this point, Russia’s troops and the separatist forces appeared to have made solely minor positive aspects within the Donbas within the month since Moscow mentioned it will focus its army power in japanese Ukraine.

Partly due to the tenacity of the Ukrainian resistance, the U.S. believes the Russians are “at the very least a number of days behind the place they needed to be” as they attempt to encircle Ukrainian troops within the east, mentioned a senior U.S. protection official who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate the American army’s evaluation.

The British Protection Ministry provided an identical evaluation in its day by day evaluation of the struggle, saying it believes Russian forces in Ukraine are probably affected by “weakened morale,” together with an absence of unit-level abilities and “inconsistent air assist.” It didn’t say on what foundation it made the analysis.

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Regardless of the village-by-village nature of the struggle to achieve floor within the Donbas, Russia’s promised offensive nonetheless may materialize. General, the Russian military has an estimated 900,000 active-duty personnel. Russia additionally has a a lot bigger air pressure and navy than Ukraine and possesses tactical nuclear weapons.

In Mariupol, round 100,000 individuals have been believed to nonetheless be within the metropolis with little meals, water or medication. U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq mentioned the group was negotiating with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv to create the situations for protected passage.

Ukraine has blamed the failure of quite a few earlier evacuation makes an attempt on continued Russian shelling.

For individuals who are within the Soviet-era Azovstal metal plant, an unlimited underground community of tunnels and bunkers has offered security from airstrikes. However the scenario has grown extra dire after the Russians dropped “bunker busters” and different bombs on the plant, the mayor mentioned.

Lavrov, the Russian international minister, informed Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV that the actual drawback is that “humanitarian corridors are being ignored by Ukrainian ultra-nationals.”

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Moscow has repeatedly claimed right-wing Ukrainians have been thwarting evacuation efforts and utilizing civilians as human shields. The claims haven’t been verified.

The Azov Regiment serving to to defend the metal plant has its roots within the Azov Battalion, which was shaped in 2014 by far-right activists at first of the separatist battle in japanese Ukraine.

In additional feedback printed Saturday by Xinhua, Lavrov mentioned Russia has evacuated over 1 million individuals from Ukraine because the struggle started, together with greater than 300 Chinese language civilians.

The international minister provided no proof to assist his declare within the interview. Ukraine has accused Moscow of forcefully sending Ukrainians in a foreign country.

Lavrov additionally partly blamed the shortage of progress in discussions to finish the struggle on “the bellicose rhetoric and inflammatory actions of Western supporters of the Kyiv regime.” Russian state TV nightly options company suggesting Moscow use nuclear weapons within the battle.

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In his nightly video handle, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of making an attempt to destroy the Donbas and all who dwell there.

The fixed assaults “present that Russia desires to empty this territory of all individuals,” he mentioned.

“If the Russian invaders are capable of notice their plans even partially, then they’ve sufficient artillery and plane to show the whole Donbas into stones, as they did with Mariupol,” Zelenskyy mentioned.

In a neighborhood on the outskirts of Kharkiv that’s commonly shelled by Russian forces, some residents remained of their flats regardless that the buildings have charred gaping holes. There isn’t any working water or electrical energy, in order that they collect exterior to cook dinner on an open flame.

Ukrainian reservists staying in a neighborhood cellar mentioned the Russians have hit the buildings with rockets, artillery and tank hearth.

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“A tank can come at a brief distance and hearth all of its ammunition on residential areas. It would not care the place. And it is inconceivable to determine the place it should hearth,” mentioned Vladislav, who like others within the unit would solely give his first identify.

One other reservist, who goes by the nickname Malysh, expressed frustration that he wasn’t capable of do extra to cease the Russian advance.

“I took up arms, however sadly I can not catch flying missiles with my naked fingers and throw them again,” he mentioned.

Within the close by village of Ruska Lozava, lots of of individuals have been evacuated after Ukrainian forces retook the town from Russian occupiers, in accordance with the regional governor. Those that fled to Kharkiv spoke of dire situations below the Russians, with little water or meals and no electrical energy.

“We have been hiding within the basement. It was horror. The basement was shaking from the explosions. We have been screaming, we have been crying and we have been praying to God,” resident Ludmila Bocharnikova mentioned.

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Philadelphia, Pa

FDA authorizes first COVID-19 vaccines for preschoolers, infants; CDC review is next

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FDA authorizes first COVID-19 vaccines for preschoolers, infants; CDC review is next
U.S. regulators on Friday licensed the primary COVID-19 pictures for infants and preschoolers, paving the best way for vaccinations to start subsequent week.

The Meals and Drug Administration’s motion follows its advisory panel’s unanimous suggestion for the pictures from Moderna and Pfizer. Which means U.S. children below 5 — roughly 18 million kids — are eligible for the pictures, about 1 1/2 years after the vaccines first grew to become out there within the U.S. for adults, who’ve been hit the toughest in the course of the pandemic.

The FDA additionally licensed Moderna’s vaccine for school-aged youngsters and youths. Pfizer’s pictures had beforehand been the one ones out there for these ages.

There’s one step left: The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends how you can use vaccines and its vaccine advisers are set to debate the pictures for the youngest children Friday and vote on Saturday. A ultimate signoff would come from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

At a Senate listening to Thursday, Walensky stated her employees was working over the Juneteenth federal vacation weekend “as a result of we perceive the urgency of this for American dad and mom.”

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She stated pediatric deaths from COVID-19 have been larger than what is mostly seen from the flu annually.

“So I really assume we have to shield younger youngsters, in addition to shield everybody with the vaccine and particularly shield elders,” she stated.

For weeks, the Biden administration has been getting ready to roll out the vaccines. States, tribes, group well being facilities and pharmacies preordered tens of millions of doses. FDA’s emergency use authorization permits producers to start transport vaccine throughout the nation. Vaccinations may start as early as Monday or Tuesday.

Some dad and mom have been anxiously awaiting the prospect to guard their little ones.

Whereas younger youngsters usually do not get as sick from COVID-19 as older children and adults, their hospitalizations surged in the course of the omicron wave and FDA’s advisers decided that advantages from vaccination outweighed the minimal dangers. Research from Moderna and Pfizer confirmed unintended effects, together with fever and fatigue, have been largely minor.

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MORE: FDA committee clears the best way for youths 6-17 to get one other COVID vaccine choice in Moderna

The 2 manufacturers use the identical know-how however there are variations.

Pfizer’s vaccine for youths youthful than 5 is one-tenth of the grownup dose. Three pictures are wanted: the primary two given three weeks aside and the final no less than two months later.

Moderna’s is 2 pictures, every 1 / 4 of its grownup dose, given about 4 weeks aside for youths below 6.

The vaccines are for kids as younger as 6 months. Moderna subsequent plans to check its pictures for infants as younger as 3-months-old. Pfizer has not finalized plans for pictures in youthful infants. A dozen nations, together with China, already vaccinate children below 5.

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Dr. Beth Ebel, professor of pediatrics at College of Washington in Seattle, stated the tot-sized vaccines can be particularly welcomed by U.S. dad and mom with youngsters in daycare the place outbreaks can sideline dad and mom from jobs, including to monetary pressure.

“Lots of people are going to be glad and quite a lot of grandparents are going to be glad, too, as a result of we have missed these infants who grew up while you weren’t capable of see them,” Ebel stated.

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AP Medical Writers Laura Ungar and Carla Okay. Johnson contributed.

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The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Division of Science Training. The AP is solely liable for all content material.

Copyright © 2022 by The Related Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Philadelphia, Pa

Amazon Prime announces 2022 Prime Day dates

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Amazon Prime announces 2022 Prime Day dates
Amazon’s Prime Day income event will be presented on July 12 plus 13, the company claimed Thursday.

Last year’s income spectacular, which returned to be able to its usual summer set, was the biggest two-day sales period for thirdparty sellers in the carrier’s history.

Online spending over the event surpassed $11 thousand, a 6.1% raise compared to Prime Moment 2020, which was presented in October, as outlined by Flag Analytics.

The event commences at 3 am OU on July 12 plus continues for 48 a long time spanning several countries, which includes for the first time frame Poland and Sweden.

Discounts are offered on electronic devices, toys, home goods plus clothing among other things.

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“With the small corporations and national brands all of our members love and have confidence in, we’re excited to present a few of our best Leading Day deals yet to be able to even more customers all around the world,” Jamil Ghani, vice president connected with Amazon Prime, said throughout a press release.

Amazon holds the event every year to construct loyalty having its Prime subscribers plus hook new shoppers straight into the program.

Prime Moment, which has taken position since 2015, accounts with regard to roughly 1% to 2% of Amazon’s annual income, analysts say.

Sales throughout the Prime Day celebration expand beyond Amazon likewise. Rivals including Walmart, Concentrate on, Best Buy and Macy’s also hold sales connected with their own to utilize on the surge throughout online traffic driven by simply Prime Day shoppers.

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Philadelphia, Pa

Revlon files for bankruptcy protection amid heavy debt load

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Revlon files for bankruptcy protection amid heavy debt load
NEW YORK — Revlon, a cosmetics maker that broke racial limitations and dictated magnificence tendencies for a lot of the final century, has filed for Chapter 11 chapter safety.

The corporate has been a mainstay on retailer cabinets since its founding 90 years in the past in New York Metropolis because it oversaw a steady of family names, from Almay to Elizabeth Arden.

Revlon did not hold tempo with altering tastes, nevertheless, gradual to comply with ladies as they traded flashy purple lipstick for extra muted tones within the Nineties.

Along with shedding market share to massive rivals like Procter & Gamble, newcomer beauty traces from Kylie Jenner and different celebrities efficiently capitalized on the large social media following of the well-known faces that fronted the merchandise.

Already weighed down by rising debt, Revlon’s issues solely intensified with the pandemic as lipstick gave option to a brand new period in style, this one that includes medical-grade masks.

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Gross sales dropped 21% in 2020, the primary 12 months of the pandemic, although these gross sales rebounded 9.2% in its most up-to-date reporting 12 months with vaccines widespread. Within the newest quarter that led to March, gross sales rose practically 8%, however nonetheless lag pre-pandemic ranges in extra of $2.4 billion a 12 months.

The worldwide provide chain disruptions which are hobbling a whole bunch of worldwide corporations in current months had been an excessive amount of for Revlon, which barely escaped chapter in late 2020 by persuading bondholders to increase its maturing debt.

There could also be extra company restructurings within the client merchandise sector forward with the specter of an financial recession and the rising prices of borrowing cash.

Revlon mentioned Thursday that upon courtroom approval, it expects to obtain $575 million in financing from its present lenders, which is able to enable it to maintain its day-to-day operations operating.

“Right now’s submitting will enable Revlon to supply our customers the long-lasting merchandise now we have delivered for many years, whereas offering a clearer path for our future progress,” mentioned Debra Perelman, who was named Revlon president and CEO in 2018.

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Her father, billionaire Ron Perelman, backs the corporate by means of MacAndrews & Forbes, which acquired the enterprise by means of a hostile takeover within the late Nineteen Eighties. Revlon went public in 1996.

Perelman mentioned that demand for its merchandise stay robust, however its “difficult capital construction” provided restricted capacity to navigate.

Throughout its heyday within the twentieth century, Revlon trailed solely Avon in gross sales. It now holds the twenty second spot amongst cosmetics makers, in keeping with a current rating by style commerce journal WWD.

Revlon grew to become the primary magnificence firm to characteristic a Black mannequin in 1970, Naomi Sims. Within the Nineteen Eighties, the corporate energized the cosmetics business by placing each well-known and yet-to-be-discovered fashions like Iman, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington entrance and middle, promising to make all ladies “unforgettable.”

Perelman, in an interview with The Related Press late final 12 months earlier than international provide chains locked up, mentioned she was optimistic in regards to the future. The corporate doubled-down in the course of the pandemic to get extra on-line with companies like one-on-one digital consultations by means of its Elizabeth Arden line, she mentioned.

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Perelman additionally mentioned that the corporate was studying from superstar launches to be extra nimble and that Revlon had regained market share.

None of Revlon’s worldwide working subsidiaries are included within the proceedings, apart from Canada and the UK. The submitting was made within the U.S. Chapter Court docket for the Southern District of New York,

The corporate listed property and liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion, in keeping with its chapter submitting.

Copyright © 2022 by The Related Press. All Rights Reserved.

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