Power outages and freezing temperatures: Will Ukrainians have to leave their homes to survive?

Russia's airstrikes targeting Ukraine's power grid have plunged countless people into darkness. Almost half of Ukraine's entire power grid is now offline as a result of Russian attacks. That means millions are without power, water, or heat with winter knocking at the door.

As the war in Ukraine escalates, will NATO soon be party to the conflict?

 

Winter is approaching in Europe, and Vladimir Putin’s Russia is doing what it can to make it an exceptionally difficult one in Ukraine. Russian forces have been striking civilian infrastructure, including water supplies, power stations and residential buildings – sometimes using so-called kamikaze drones.

Frozen Beauty at Dawn and Dusk: Hokkaido in Midwinter - Journeys in Japan

 

Whether it’s the rugged wilderness of Kushiro, powdery slopes of Niseko, or seafood delicacies of Hakodate, here are just a few of the experiences waiting to be had during winter in Hokkaido Prefecture.

Northern lights - Adventures in Winter

Most northern Europeans like winter, even when the mercury falls below minus 40 degrees Celsius. But in the polar regions of Norway, Finland and Sweden even running daily errands in snow and storms can be quite an adventure.

School: No Tights Under Your Uniform Skirt; No Matter That It's Winter

A Japanese high school has refused to allow a student to wear tights under school uniform. Why? Even though its winter and just colder your warmth will distract your ability to learn.  That's right. Freezing your ass off leads to better educational outcomes according to the school. Not that it could lead to hypothermia.  I don't know about you, if I'm busily freezing by ass off the last thing I'm thinking about is my education. 

“My daughter said he legs were cold, so I let her wear a pair of tights under her skirt. But when she got to school, they told her ‘Tights aren’t allowed, because if your legs are warm, you won’t be able to concentrate.’

Can’t help but think they’re the kind of perverts who get off on seeing young girls’ bare legs.”

However, @hanacoppy argues that the school’s policy on tights is completely backward in terms of helping kids learn. “In my entire life, I can’t recall ever being able to concentrate while I was thinking ‘My legs sure are cold,’” the frustrated mom said. “Haven’t the administrators ever heard of zukan sokunetsu?” she went on, referring to commonly held Japanese belief that translates literally as “cold head, warm legs” and holds that it’s the healthiest combination to keep your body in.