Ukraine in mind, US frantic to avert Mideast showdown at UN
The Biden administration is scrambling to avert a diplomatic crisis this week at the United Nations over Israeli settlement activity. At issue is a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an immediate halt to the settlements. The conflict threatens to overshadow and perhaps derail what the U.S. hopes will be a solid five days of focus on condemning Russia’s war with Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made two emergency calls to prevent such a showdown. Blinken’s calls with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are inconclusive. And diplomats familiar with the ongoing discussions say it remains unclear whether another last-minute intervention might salvage the situation.
Illinois poised to mandate paid leave for nearly all workers
East St. Louis-area hotel restaurant server and single mother of three Joan Van said she works doubles, sometimes triples, to make up the money when she or one of her children gets sick, or she needs to call out. She may not have to much longer. Expansive paid leave legislation requiring Illinois employers to give workers paid time off based on hours worked, to be used for any reason, is ready for action by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who said he looks forward to signing it. Requiring paid vacation is rare in the United States — just Maine and Nevada have similar laws in place — although common in other industrialized nations.
Ukrainian grain shipments drop as ship backups grow
The amount of grain leaving Ukraine has dropped even as a U.N.-brokered deal works to keep food flowing to developing nations nearly a year into Russia’s invasion. It comes after inspections of ships have fallen to half what they were four months ago and a backlog of vessels has grown. The Joint Coordination Center says Ukraine’s food exports have dropped from 3.7 million metric tons in December to 3 million in January. The hurdles come as separate agreements to keep supplies moving from the warring nations are coming up for renewal next month. Less grain getting out of Ukraine raises concerns about the impact to those going hungry in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
North Korea fires short-range missiles after making threats
North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters. The firings Monday rekindle animosities over U.S.-South Korean military drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal and that the allies say are defensive. The firings follow an intercontinental ballistic missile launch Saturday and North Korea’s threats of an unprecedented strong response to the drills. South Korea said the two missiles were launched from a western coastal town, and Japan said the missiles fell into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. North Korea said it fired artillery with a weapon some experts consider a short-range ballistic missile.
Drama of McCarthy’s election may open House to more cameras
Since the drama of Kevin McCarthy’s election as House speaker, there’s been some movement toward opening the chamber to more public view. His office has signaled a willingness to broaden access for television cameras, although how much is still being debated. It was an odd quirk that allowed the public to see on television what was happening that night in January when McCarthy was elected speaker, including the moment when one congressman had to be held back from attacking a colleague. Some in Congress and C-SPAN are asking that the House floor be more fully open to cameras in the interest of transparency. McCarthy, as House speaker, has the final word.
Indonesian police to deport mafia fugitive back to Italy
Indonesian police say they will escort back to Italy an Italian-Australian fugitive who was arrested on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali after seven years on the run in connection with drug trafficking and organized crime. Antonio Strangio appeared on Interpol’s “red notice” list when he was stopped and detained in Bali on Feb. 3. The Bali police cited safety reasons in refusing to say when he’ll be sent to Italy. He’s allegedly connected to the ‘ndrangheta mafia, considered by Italian prosecutors to be the most important criminal organization in the Western world.
By wire sources
