Six In The Morning Tuesday 22 February 2022

 

Live: Putin says Ukraine peace agreement 'does not exist' anymore

Putin calls for 'demilitarisation' of Ukraine

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has just given a short press conference.

Here are the main takeaways:

• He said that the Minsk peace agreement concerning eastern Ukraine hadn't been valid for a long time, blaming Ukraine for "killing it off". 
• He called to "demilitarise modern Ukraine" and said the best decision that Ukraine could take would be to give up on its ambitions to join the NATO alliance.
• He called a Ukraine that is "armed to the teeth" and "anti-Russia" is "unacceptable".
• He said that the actions of troops in Donbas will depend on the situation on the ground, and added that he never said troops would go there immediately. In a possible dig at Western leaders trying to get one step ahead of the Russian leader, he also said that it was "impossible to predict" what the Russian military will do in Donbas.

Black carbon pollution from tourism and research increasing Antarctic snowmelt, study says

Pollution generated by burning fossil fuels causes snow to darken, absorb more solar energy and melt faster

Black carbon pollution from tourism and research activities in Antarctica is likely increasing snowmelt on the continent by an estimated 83 tonnes for each visitor, according to new research.

Scientists have estimated that the black carbon produced by vessels, planes and diesel generators results in 23mm of additional snowmelt each summer in the most frequently visited areas of the ice-covered landmass.

More than 74,000 tourists visited Antarctica in the 2019–2020 season, nearly double the figures from a decade ago.

How has China used the Winter Olympics to shape its image?

Experts say China has used the Olympics to reinforce political ties and influence its global and domestic reputation. Beijing says it is the boycott that has politicized the games.

After athletes from around the world spent two weeks competing in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, many believe the event offered an opportunity for China to try and reshape its international image.

Earlier this month, the US initiated a diplomatic boycott of the game with other democratic countries and human rights organizations, accusing Beijing of "sportswashing" its controversial human rights record.

How the media failed Japan’s most vulnerable immigrants

By Dreux Richard

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a strange institution. It’s responsible for the way Japan is perceived abroad, and it decides who receives the opportunity to immigrate. But its jurisdiction over the lives of immigrants largely vanishes when they reach Japan. It’s also the most influential agency that does not play a meaningful role in developing the government’s legislative agenda. Senior MoFA officials can only watch in dismay as less prestigious agencies, including some of Japan’s most corrupt, devise legislation that erodes the rights of immigrants and damages Japan’s international reputation.

A proposed overhaul of Japan’s detention system, scuttled in 2021 after the death of detainee Wishma Rathnayake and a resulting wave of protests, was especially unpopular with Japanese diplomats. The Kishida administration has revived it anyway, with parliamentary debate anticipated this summer. Until recently, MoFA relied on the press to guard against legislative aggression toward immigrants, quietly passing sensitive information to reporters who covered the Ministry of Justice, which enforces immigration law.

Uganda's proposed new law will see anti-vaxxers face fines or six months in jail

By Nimi Princewill, CNN

Updated 1554 GMT (2354 HKT) February 22, 2022

Uganda has proposed steep penalties for anti-vaxxers in a new bill being studied by parliament, as the country doubles down on its Covid-19 vaccine mandate.

A parliamentary health committee said Tuesday it was considering proposed legislation to fine or imprison unvaccinated people in the East African country of around 45 million people.

"Parliament's Committee on Health has started the consideration of the Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that among other things seeks to ensure mandatory COVID-19 vaccination," the parliament said in a statement on its website.

US women's national team reach agreement with US soccer over equal pay

United States forward Alex Morgan says a "monumental step forward" has been taken after the women's national team (USWNT) reached agreement with governing body US Soccer on equal pay.

The players will receive $24m (£17.7m) and US Soccer has pledged equal pay for the men's and women's teams across all competitions, including the World Cup.

All 28 squad members filed a discrimination lawsuit in March 2019.

"It is an incredible day," Morgan told Good Morning America.

The two-time World Cup winner added: "This is just such a monumental step forward in feeling valued, feeling respected and just mending our relationship with US Soccer that's really been full of tension.

"It's great to take that step forward. I not only see this as a win for our team or women in sport but for women in general."