Saturday, April 25, 2020

Bella Hall Gauld

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Bella Hall Gauld

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'''Bella Hall Gauld''' (31 December 1878-21 August 1961) was a Canadian labour educator, political activist, and pianist.<ref name="Vance">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

Gauld was born in [[Lindsay, Ontario]] and raised on a farm in [[Manitoba]]. She joined the newly-formed Workers Party of Canada, which was known after 1924 as the [[Communist Party of Canada]]. She and [[Annie Buller]] studied at the [[Rand School of Social Science]] in New York City before returning to Montreal and establishing the [[Montreal Labour College]]. When that organisation ended in 1924, Gauld helped form the [[Women's Labour League]].<ref></ref>

==References==




[[Category:1878 births]]
[[Category:1961 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the Communist Party of Canada]]
[[Category:People from Kawartha Lakes]]
[[Category:Activists from Montreal]]
[[Category:Canadian women activists]]



April 26, 2020 at 07:19AM

Cities Angered by Removal of Pro-Kurdish Mayors in Turkey

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Cities Angered by Removal of Pro-Kurdish Mayors in Turkey

The mix of fury and disappointment among residents was palpable inside a cafe in the southeastern Turkish city of Mardin after the government replaced the popular mayor with a trustee.

One year on from local elections, 40 out of 65 municipalities won by the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) are now under the control of government-appointed trustees.

In Mardin, the HDP's Ahmet Turk won 56.2 percent of the vote in March 2019. But in August he was one of the first, along with those in nearby Diyarbakir and Van, to be removed and replaced by the government.

Six months after the move, residents in Mardin, where the governor now runs the city of over 800,000 people, were especially critical of a lack of service and development.

"No one bothers, no one wants to do anything, and no one raises their voice. We're speaking to you now — who knows what will happen to us tomorrow?" cafe manager Firat Kayatar told AFP during a visit late February.

"They may as well not hold elections in the southeast because they had two elections, and after both they appointed trustees," said Kayatar, who lives in the old city.

Complaints unheard

"No one listens anyway," one of the cafe's customers, Abdulaziz, 57, chipped in. "We can't complain to anyone. [The governor] brings bananas but we need bread."

Another man nearby who did not give his name said young people went to university but were unable to find a job.

"This is the problem Mardin faces, too," he said.

The party described the mayors' removals as an "attack" on Kurds but the government has accused the HDP of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Kurds make up around 20 percent of Turkey's overall population.

The HDP accused Ankara last month of making it "even harder for the Kurds to fight the coronavirus" through the "repression of Kurdish democratic institutions, their municipalities in particular."

Such actions are not new. Ankara removed 95 HDP mayors after the party won 102 municipalities in 2014.

"When it comes to the HDP, just slapping trumped-up terror charges is the easiest way to go and it's just a political attempt to destroy their legitimacy," said Emma Sinclair-Webb, Turkey director of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

FILE - Faruk Kilic, city chairman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, speaks during a interview in Mardin, Turkey, Feb. 25, 2020.

Accusation against PKK

The chairman in Mardin for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) defended the government's actions, accusing the PKK of using the HDP mayors to obtain control.

"In fact these mayors were Qandil representatives," Faruk Kilic said, referring to where the PKK leadership and rear bases are located in a mountainous region in Iraq.

"None of the mayors made statements of their own independent will," Kilic added, a claim the HDP strongly denies.

The Turkish government has repeatedly accused the HDP mayors of using the municipalities' money to support the PKK, or hiring relatives of PKK militants.

The interior ministry claimed some mayors attended political rallies, demonstrations and even funerals of PKK militants.

The HDP says 21 of its mayors are behind bars.

The PKK has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, and the group is blacklisted as a terror organization by Ankara and its Western allies.

The government's aim was to "collapse any distinction between the HDP, a legal party playing by the rules of the game in parliament and democratically elected representatives from this party, and an armed organization," HRW's Sinclair-Webb said.

'Economic' reason for dismissals?

Veteran Kurdish politician Turk was acquitted in February in one case cited against him when he was removed as mayor of Mardin the first time in 2016.

The AKP's Kilic said if mayors were later acquitted on the charges against them, they would return to their posts, but added "there's evidence against many" charged.

Eren Keskin, of the Ankara-based Human Rights Association (IHD), believed there was an "economic" motive to the dismissals.

"The first municipalities they appointed a trustee for — Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van — are provinces that are really open to economic development," Keskin said.

Her claim was supported by HDP deputy chairman Saruhan Oluc, who said the government "keeps itself strong through the income and profit from local administrations."

Oluc accused the government of handing out money and favors to its allies as well as companies and foundations close to it through the municipalities' coffers.


April 26, 2020 at 06:44AM

Elizabeth Zetzel

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Elizabeth Zetzel

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'''Elizabeth Rosenberg Zetzel''' (1907-1970) was an American psychoanalyst and physician.

==Life==

Elizabeth Zetzel was born on 17 March 1907 in [[New York City|New York]], the daughter of the jurist and phlanthropist James N. Rosenberg. She gained her first degree from [[Smith College]],<ref name=IDP>Nellie L. Thompson, [https://ift.tt/2VWbc3L Zetzel-Rosenberg, Elizabeth (1907-1970)], ''International Dictionary of Psychoanalysis '', encyclopedia.com.</ref> before studying medicine at the [[University of London]]. She underwent analytic training in the 1930s with the [[British Psychoanalytic Society]] (BPAS). Her training analyst was [[Ernest Jones]], though she was also influenced by the ideas of [[Melanie Klein]] and Kleinians like [[Joan Riviere]], [[Susan Isaacs]] and Donald Winnicott.<ref>Jane Milton, [https://ift.tt/353GLN2 A debate with Elizabeth Zetzel in 1956], ''[[Wellcome Library]]'', 20 September 2018. Accessed 25 April 2020.</ref>

In 1949 she returned to the [[United States]]. She became training analyst and teacher at the [[Boston Psychoanalytic Society]], and from 1961 to 1965 was also secretary of the [[International Psychoanalytic Association]] under [[Maxwell Gitelson]] as president.<ref name=IDP/>

Her papers are held at [[Harvard Library]].<ref>[https://ift.tt/3ay0TrL Papers of Elizabeth Rosenberg Zetzel, 1943-1970], Harvard Library, 82-M259.</ref>

==Works==
* 'Melanie Klein 1882-1960', ''[[The Psychoanalytic Quarterly]]'', Vol. 30, 420-425.
* '96 Gloucester Place: Some personal recollections'', ''[[International Journal of Psycho-Analysis]]'', Vol. 50, pp.717-719
* ''The capacity for emotional growth'', 1970
* ''Basic concepts of psychoanalytic psychiatry'', 1973

==References==




[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1970 deaths]]
[[Category:American psychoanalysts]]
[[Category:American physicians]]
[[Category:People from New York City]]

April 26, 2020 at 02:12AM

COVID-19 survivor Rep. Karen Whitsett decries Michigan's censure attempt: 'I'm not going to be silenced'

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COVID-19 survivor Rep. Karen Whitsett decries Michigan's censure attempt: 'I'm not going to be silenced' As long as there are residents in the state of Michigan who need help and who need a voice, Democratic Congresswoman Karen Whitsett promised Saturday that she will not be silenced. 
April 26, 2020 at 02:05AM

Official: Recent Taliban Violence Harms Hundreds of Afghan Civilians

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Official: Recent Taliban Violence Harms Hundreds of Afghan Civilians

Officials in Afghanistan alleged Saturday the Taliban has "killed or wounded" nearly 800 civilians since signing the February 29 peace-building deal with the United States. A spokesman for the Islamist insurgency swiftly rejected the charges.
 
The allegations came on a day when Washington's peace envoy for the war-torn country, Zalmay Khalilzad, again called on the warring sides to work for peace, saying the U.S.-Taliban agreement "provides a historic opportunity for Afghanistan."
 
A national security council spokesman in Kabul, while releasing details of the stepped-up insurgent violence, claimed the Taliban conducted more than 2,800 "terrorist activities" between Feb. 29 and April 20, killing and wounding "789 civilians during this period."  
 
Javid Faisal went on to say Afghan security forces in counter attacks also inflicted more than 2,700 casualties on the Taliban. "Last week was the bloodiest since the U.S.-Taliban deal, with the Taliban killing 34 and wounding 62 civilians across 17 provinces," he said without elaborating.   
 
Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, when contacted by VOA for his reaction, questioned the veracity of the government claim on civilian casualties.
 
"This is a general claim, can they say where and when?" Shaheen asked.  
 
Battlefield clashes have escalated in Afghanistan as the annual spring fighting season arrives, killing scores of combatants on both sides in the past week alone. Afghan media reported government forces suffered up to 100 deaths.

FILE - Newly freed Taliban prisoners line up at Bagram prison, north of Kabul, Afghanistan, April 11, 2020, in this photo provided by the National Security Council of Afghanistan.

US seeks quick prisoner swap
 
The violence prompted U.S. and NATO allies to urge Afghan leaders to focus on the next steps outlined in the agreement to promote peace and stability in the country.
 
"How urgently and with what conviction the sides respond to these steps will determine whether Afghanistan moves forward or remains mired in war, poverty, and disease," said Khalilzad.
 
Khalilzad was referring to an extremely slow-moving prisoner swap between Kabul and the Taliban, a crucial confidence-building step before parties to the war can come to the negotiating table to discuss peace and a power-sharing arrangement.  
 
Under the U.S.-Taliban agreement, up to 5,000 insurgent prisoners were to be freed from Afghan jails in return for 1,000 government forces being held by the Taliban. But Kabul has so far released around 550 prisoners in phases and the Taliban has freed 60 detainees.  
 
Khalilzad, in his statement Saturday, stressed the need for all sides to "move more quickly on prisoner releases" and urged the Taliban to reduce violence.
 
The Afghan government is demanding the Taliban declare a cease-fire and engage in a productive peace dialogue before all prisoners are freed.  
 
The insurgents, however, have rejected calls for a cease-fire, insisting only a "full implementation" of its agreement with Washington would move the peace process forward.
 
"This is our stance that the prisoners should be released prior to commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations," Taliban spokesman Shaheen told VOA.  
 
He reiterated that his group is determined to deliver on its own commitments outlined in the pact with the United States.

FILE - An Afghan man wearing a protective face mask walks past a mural depicting U.S. peace envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, left, and Taliban chief negotiator Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 13, 2020.

The agreement requires all U.S. and coalition forces to withdraw from Afghanistan by July 2021 in return for insurgent assurances not to allow the country to be used for terrorist attacks against other countries.  
 
"We want good relations with our neighboring countries as well as of the region. As per the agreement, we will not allow anyone to use our soil against any other country. For that, we will make legislation in the future," Shaheen told VOA.  
 
Political crisis  
 
Kickstarting intra-Afghan negotiations, however, is not the only challenge facing the landmark U.S.-Taliban accord. A lingering dispute stemming from the September presidential election in Afghanistan continues to hamper efforts to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table.  
 
Incumbent President Ashraf Ghani and runner-up Abdullah Abdullah both claim to have won the election. The rival Afghan leaders held competing inauguration ceremonies last month, fueling political tensions at a time when Kabul was supposed to present an inclusive negotiating team for the proposed intra-Afghan dialogue with the Taliban.  
 
Khalilzad backed NATO's call this week for the Ghani government to end the political crisis, urging Afghan leaders on Saturday "to put their country and their people first."
 


April 26, 2020 at 12:37AM

The Doctor Will See You Now, But by Phone or Video Chat

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The Doctor Will See You Now, But by Phone or Video Chat

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the United States in mid-March, visits to doctors' offices dropped precipitously as people stayed home to protect themselves from the virus.

But the stay-at-home order has spurred people to seek medical help in another way – talking to a doctor over the phone, email or video, according to a new study.

Now, 30% of all outpatient visits are televisits, up from less than 1% in early March, according to researchers at Harvard University and Phreesia, a health care technology company.

"That's a dramatic change," said Ateev Mehrotra, a professor at Harvard Medical School and one of the study's authors. "Those are the sorts of changes we expect over a decade, not over weeks."

FILE - A patient sits in the living room of her apartment in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Jan. 14, 2019, during a telemedicine video conference with her doctor.

Waiting for the telemedicine revolution

Communicating electronically with a doctor isn't new. With some specialties such as dermatology and mental health, phone or video appointments are common.

In many U.S. rural communities, which have seen a decline in the number of hospitals and doctors, telemedicine has been a lifeline.

But when it comes to primary care, doctors, patients and regulators alike have mostly stuck with how medical care has been delivered forever: in-person meetings.

Some doctors say a lot can be accomplished over video.

"Looking at a rash, looking at a spot on an arm, that's perfect for telehealth, because we have the video capabilities," said Dr. Edward Lee, an internal medicine physician and chief information officer at the Permanente Federation, a consortium of eight medical groups that deliver care to Kaiser Permanente's 12.2 million patients and members.

FILE - A telemedicine hub, run by Avera Health, is seen in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, June 22, 2015.

"If I needed to do an injection, if I need to do a minor procedure, I'm not going to be able to do that over video or a phone," he said. "And so, in those situations where there are urgent needs, we would bring the patient in to see us."

Mehrotra, the Harvard professor, says doctors and patients are embracing telemedicine now, out of necessity, but are also realizing its limits.

"Given what I've heard from clinicians who've tried it, I have to think this will accelerate growth in the post-pandemic period," he said. "But I'm also hearing from a lot of doctors, 'It's cool, but I like in-person visits. I can't do the tests, I can't do the full exam.'"

Paying the same for video and in-person visits

Policy decisions are also driving the adoption of telemedicine. Until the pandemic, government agencies and insurers paid less than half their normal amount for telemedicine visits. Now they have increased the pay for a televisit so it is on par with an in-person one, according to Kaiser Health News.

Federal regulators have also paused enforcing patient privacy rules, so that doctors can use popular applications like Skype, FaceTime and Whatsapp, according to Consumer Reports. The alternative for hospitals and doctors is finding a telemedicine firm that provides secure video calls, a process that can be time consuming.

Mehrotra questions whether widespread adoption of telemedicine, post-pandemic, is the right course for U.S. health care.

But one place where telemedicine might make huge strides, he said, is in rural parts of developing countries, places where access to health care can be difficult.

"Telemedicine has great potential in that context," he said. "It can be life-saving."

 


April 25, 2020 at 08:24PM

Timeline of the war in Donbass (2017)

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Timeline of the war in Donbass (2017)

DagosNavy: /* January-March */ Add source


[[File:Map_of_the_war_in_Donbass.svg|right|thumb]]
This is a '''timeline of the [[War in Donbass]]''', from 1 January 2017. The timeline follows an ongoing conflict between Ukraine and anti-government pro-Russian separatists supported by Russian troops<ref></ref> in the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine.


== January-March ==

* 7 January: The ATO HQ reported in the morning that pro-Russian troops had opened fire on 72 occasions on Ukrainian positions on Orthodox Christmas Day. Six Ukrainian servicemen were wounded.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> In the northern section of the demarcation line, 82&nbsp;mm and 120&nbsp;mm mortar volleys landed in Troitske, while Ukrainian redoubts at Novooleksandrivka and Novozvanivka were struck by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. Around Donetsk city, pro-Russian armoured fighting vehicles, supported by 82&nbsp;mm mortars, opened fire on Ukrainian forces at Troitske. Nearby [[Pisky, Yasynuvata Raion|Pisky]] and Avdiivka became the target of small arms and rocket launchers. The same kind of weapons were used against Ukrainian troops at Luhanske, in the area of Horlivka. Three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded. Another pro-Russian incursion was repelled at Avdiivka.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The official news agency of Donetsk People's Republic said that Ukrainian tanks shelled Leninske and Kominternove late on Christmas Eve.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 8 January: The spokesman of the Ukrainian operational headquarters reported that pro-Russian troops had opened fire on 51 occasions on Ukrainian positions,<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> including on 11 occasions in the outskirts of Donetsk city, on 30 occasions in the region of Mariupol, and on 10 occasions in Luhansk region.<ref name=":20170109nsdc">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO reported at noon that five Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in the Donbass region on 8 January.<ref name=":20170109nsdc" /><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Pro-Russian officials at Donetsk city reported that Ukrainian forces opened fire on 521 occasions on rebel positions using small arms, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, armoured fighting vehicles and tanks. The Ukrainian military attacked Zheleznaya Balka, Zaitseve, Dzerzhinsky, Yasinuvata, Oleksandrivka, Luhanske, Kominternove, Leninske and Sahanka.<ref></ref> Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire two times within the boundaries of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, according to local sources. Armoured fighting vehicles from Luhanske, supported by 120&nbsp;mm mortars, engaged pro-Russian positions at Lohvynove. Kalinivka was attacked with small arms, automatic grenade launchers and 82&nbsp;mm mortars firing from Luhanske.<ref name=":1"></ref> According to the information published by the ATO press-centre in the evening, as of 6:00&nbsp;pm pro-Russian forces had opened fire on Ukrainian positions 28 occasions. Pro-Russian tanks engaged Ukrainian redoubts at Talakivka, in the region of Mariupol. In the same area, 122&nbsp;mm artillery barrages landed in Shyrokyne, which also became the target of small arms and grenade launchers. Mortar volleys hit Hnutove, Vodiane, Shyrokyne and Troitske. Shyrokyne also came under fire from armoured fighting vehicles, while small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire was reported at Pavlopil and Hnutove. In the northern section of the demarcation line, Ukrainian forces at Troitske were the target of 82&nbsp;mm mortar and sniper fire. The rebels fired heavy machine guns at Novozvanivka. Around Donetsk city, the Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka came under small arms fire and was shelled with rocket launchers and 82&nbsp;mm mortars. Nearby Marinka was fired at from armoured fighting vehicles. In the area of Horlivka, Ukrainian troops at Zaitseve were harassed with small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire, while armoured fighting vehicles attacked Luhanske. Three soldiers were reported wounded.<ref name=":1" /> Later in the evening, the ATO HQ reported that three Ukrainian servicemen became missing along the demarcation line.<ref></ref> The servicemen were [[Ukrainian Naval Infantry|marines]] operating in the region of Mariupol. On 12 January the ATO spokesman said, that it is impossible to confirm or deny the deaths of three Ukrainian marines who went missing on 8 January without prior identification and forensic examinations.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The [[Ukrainian Navy|Ukrainian Naval Forces]] revealed the names of three marines [[Killed in action|killed]] on 13 January.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 12 January: According to the information provided by the spokesman of the Ukrainian operational headquarters, pro-Russian troops had opened fire on 78 occasions on Ukrainian positions by the end of the day (including on 16 occasions in the outskirts of Donetsk city, on 36 occasions in the region of Mariupol, and on 26 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name=":170113">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>). Three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded.<ref></ref> The casualties occurred in the area around [[Popasna]].<ref></ref> According to the information published by the ATO press-centre on their Facebook page in the evening, as of 6:00&nbsp;pm pro-Russian forces had opened fire on Ukrainian positions 38 occasions. In the region of Mariupol, pro-Russian armoured fighting vehicles engaged Ukrainian forces at Talakivka. Pavlopil, Hnutove and Shyrokyne came under small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire. Sniper fire was reported at Shyrokyne. Around Donetsk city and Horlivka, rebel troops fired small arms, rocket launchers and mortars at Kamyanka, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Troitske, Luhanske and Zaitseve. In the northern sector of the demarcation line, 82&nbsp;mm mortar barrages landed in Krymske and Ukrainian outposts at Zolote were fired at from small arms and grenade launchers. Ukrainian troops at Novooleksandrivka and Novozvanivka came under small arms fire. Three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 29 January: Beginning of the [[Battle of Avdiivka]]. The press center of the ATO HQ reported later in the morning that Ukrainian troops had suffered losses when pro-Russian forces launched an assault on Ukrainian positions in the industrial area of Avdiivka in the night of 28 January.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The press-centre of the ATO HQ reported in the evening that as of 6:00&nbsp;pm pro-Russian troops had opened fire on Ukrainian positions on 22 occasions. In the region of Mariupol, rebel forces fired small arms and grenade launchers at Hnutove, Pavlopil, Vodiane, Shyrokyne and Talakivka, Shyrokyne was also attacked by armoured fighting vehicles. Around Donetsk city, pro-Russian forces broke through the Ukrainian lines in Avdiivka twice, but their assaults were beaten off. Mortar volleys landed in Kamyanka, Opytne and Avdiivka, while pro-Russian tanks opened fire on Ukrainian redoubts in Pisky.<ref name=":6" /> Hostile tanks also attacked Novhorodske, west of Horlivka. In the same area, Luhanske and Zaitseve came under mortar fire.<ref name=":7">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Four Ukrainian servicemen were killed and five others were wounded amid heavy fighting in Avdiivka.<ref name=":6">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Five Ukrainian servicemen were killed, nine wounded and four injured in total in the Donbass.<ref></ref>

* 30 January: The spokesman of the Ukrainian operational headquarters said that pro-Russian troops had opened fire on 71 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including on 40 occasions in the region of Mariupol, and on 10 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name=":0">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>). The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO, Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, reported at noon that three Ukrainian servicemen were killed and twenty-four wounded and injured in the Donbass region on 30 January.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref></ref> Two of the fatalities occurred in Avdiivka, one in Opytne.<ref></ref> Motuzyanyk also specified, that on 29 January not five but four Ukrainian soldiers were [[Killed in action|killed]].<ref name=":0" /> During his daily briefing to the press, deputy minister of defence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, [[Eduard Basurin]], reported that Ukrainian troops opened fire on 2,411 occasions on their positions on this day According to the statement, the Ukrainian military used small arms, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, armoured fighting vehicles, tanks, 122&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery, 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery and BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launchers to pound pro-Russian positions at Shyroka Balka, Zaitseve, Dolomitne, Mykhailivka, Vasiliivka, Krasny Partizan, Yasinuvata, Makiivka, Spartak, Yakovliivka, Zhabicheve, Oleksandrivka, Staromykhailivka, Olenivka, Signalne, Dokuchaievsk, Novolaspa, Bela Kamyanka, Sakhanka, Leninske, Kominternove, Dzerzhinsky, Trudovske and Donetsk airport. Four pro-Russian soldiers were killed and seven wounded in action.<ref></ref> Two civilians were injured by shelling in Avdiivka.<ref name=":2017-01-30">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> One pro-Russian militant was captured by Ukrainian forces.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Several attacks of pro-Russian forces on Ukrainian positions, that started in the area of Avdiivka at around 5:00&nbsp;am, were beaten back by the Ukrainian military. The fighting between the warring parties continued on 30 January.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Two Ukrainian servicemen were killed and five others wounded on the morning of 30 January.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> According to the information published by the ATO press-centre in the evening, as of 6:00&nbsp;pm pro-Russian forces had opened fire on Ukrainian positions on 37 occasions. Around Donetsk city, pro-Russian tanks engaged the Ukrainian strongholds of Avdiivka and Pisky. Krasnohorivka was shelled with 82&nbsp;mm mortars, while Nevelske, Opytne and Avdiivka became the target of small arms, rocket launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery. The same kind of weapons were used by the rebels to attack Luhanske, north of Horlivka. In the region of Mariupol, 152&nbsp;mm artillery barrages landed in Vodiane, and 82&nbsp;mm mortar volleys struck Lebedynske. Ukrainian troops at Pavlopil, Talakivka, Hnutove, Shyrokyne and Vodiane were engaged with small arms and grenade launchers. Three Ukrainian servicemen were killed, seventeen wounded, and three injured.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> A pro-Russian commander, two subordinates and two civilians were killed in Avdiivka, while a female civilian died to heavy shelling in Makiivka.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 31 January: The ATO HQ reported in the morning that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 86 occasions on Ukrainian positions the previous day (including on 45 occasions in the region of Mariupol and on 22 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name=":2017-02-01">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>).<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO reported at noon that one Ukrainian serviceman was killed (in [https://ift.tt/352CSYI Tonenke]) and eighteen wounded (including 15 in Avdiivka) in action in the Donbass region on 31 January.<ref name=":2017-02-01" /> Pro-Russian sources at Donetsk city reported that Ukrainian forces opened fire on 3,016 occasions on their positions using small arms, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, armoured fighting vehicles, tanks, 122&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery, 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery and B-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launchers. The Ukrainian military targeted Donetsk city, Makiivka, Yasinuvata, Zaitseve, Nikolaevka, Krasny Partizan, Mykhailivka, Ozeryanivka, Shyroka Balka, Dolomitne, Holmivskyi, Yasinuvata, Spartak, Kruta Balka, Staromykhailivka, Oleksandrivka. Vasiliivka, Yakovlivka, Novomariivka, Bela Kamyanka, Sakhanka, Leninske, Dzerzhinsky and Kominternove. Two civilian residents were killed and five wounded.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> In the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, the Ukrainian military broke the ceasefire on eight occasions. Armoured fighting vehicles from Krymske engaged pro-Russian positions at Sokolniki, which also became the target of 120&nbsp;mm mortar fire. Lohvynove and Kalinivka were shelled with 152&nbsp;mm artillery firing from Luhanske and Mironovske, respectively. Smile received 82&nbsp;mm mortar fire from Krymske, while 120&nbsp;mm volleys fired from Novozvanivka landed in Kalynove. Pervomaisk was shelled with 82&nbsp;mm mortars firing from Popasna.<ref></ref> Fierce fighting continued on this date in and around the Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka, where a call for a local ceasefire was largerly ignored by the warring parties.<ref></ref><ref></ref> ATO spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk expressed his "worries" about the right flank of the Ukrainian defences around Avdiivka, which was stormed by pro-Russian tanks. Motuzyanyk described the action as the largest tank offensive in the area since [[Second Battle of Donetsk Airport|the fall of Donetsk airport in rebel hands in January 2015]]. The tanks, gathered at Spartak, charged through the demarcation line at Butivka mining complex and Pisky.<ref></ref> The evacuation of civilian residents from Avdiivka was scheduled for 1 February due to the lack of essential services in the town after the relentless pro-Russian bombardment since 29 January.<ref></ref> The local hospital was already evacuated in the afternoon.<ref></ref> Almost one hundred BM-21 "Grad" artillery rockets landed in Avdiivka throughout the day.<ref name=":8">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Paul Zhebrivskyi, head of the civilian administration of Donetsk Oblast, declared the state of emergency in the war-torn town.<ref></ref>

* 2 February: The ATO HQ reported in the morning that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 114 occasions on Ukrainian positions the previous day (including on 72 occasions in the region of Mariupol and on 15 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name=":2017-02-03">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>).<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO, Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, reported at noon that three Ukrainian servicemen were killed and eighteen wounded in action in the Donbass region on 2 February. One employee of the [[State Emergency Service of Ukraine|State Emergency Service]] was killed and another wounded, Motuzyanyk added.<ref name=":2017-02-03" /><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> According to him, the fighting in all fronts was the most intense since 2014.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Pro-Russian sources in Donetsk city reported 14,348 Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire over the last week, 8,103 of them involving mortars, tanks, artillery and multiple rocket launchers. There were 18 pro-Russian soldiers killed in action and another 26 wounded over the same period, while 6 civilians died and 34 were wounded by heavy shelling on residential areas.<ref></ref> Officials from the self-styled Luhansk People's Republic said that Ukrainian forces broke the truce on 11 occasions within the republic borders. Pro-Russian positions at Kalinivka were shelled six times from Luhanske and Svitlodarsk with automatic grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars and 122&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery. Kalynove was struck four times by 120&nbsp;mm mortars and 122&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery firing from Troitske, while 120&nbsp;mm mortar volleys fired from Krymske landed in Slavyanoserbsk.<ref></ref> By 2 February in the morning at least 145 civilians,<ref></ref> and as of 5:00&nbsp;pm 183 civilian residents, including 107 children, had been evacuated from Avdiivka.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> According to the information published by the ATO press-centre in the evening, as of 6:00&nbsp;pm pro-Russian forces had opened fire on Ukrainian positions on 54 occasions. Incessant shelling continued on Avdiivka, where Ukrainian forces were repeatedly engaged by the rebels with small arms, rocket launchers, mortars, tanks and "Grad" multiple rocket launchers. Armoured fighting vehicles opened fire on Ukrainian redoubts in nearby Pisky, while Opytne and Marinka were shelled with 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars and 122&nbsp;mm guns. Sniper fire was reported at Marinka. Meanwhile, mortar volleys landed in Luhanske, north of rebel-held Horlivka. In the region of Mariupol, "Grad" single tube rocket launchers were fired at Shyrokyne, which also became the target of 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars and 122&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery along with Vodiane and Chermalyk. Chermalyk was also hit by antitank guided missiles. Berezove and Vodiane were fired at from small arms, grenade launchers and antiaircraft artillery. In the northern front, the rebels fired mortars at Krymske and small arms and rocket launchers at Novozvanivka. Two Ukrainian servicemen were killed, nine were wounded.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Two civilians were killed<!--2 refs combined--> by shelling and two injured in Avdiivka at around 7:30&nbsp;pm.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> One female civilian was injured by shelling in [[Marinka, Ukraine|Marinka]].<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Separatist sources claimed that a [[OTR-21 Tochka]] struck a rearguard area in the outskirts of Donetsk city, killing one civilian and wounding another two.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 3 February: The ATO HQ reported in the morning that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 115 occasions on Ukrainian positions the previous day (including on 65 occasions in the region of Mariupol and on 29 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name=":2017-02-04">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>).<!--3 KIA, 7 WIA--><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO, Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, reported at noon that three Ukrainian servicemen were killed and eight wounded in the Donbass region on 3 February.<ref name=":2017-02-04" /> Two of the fatalities occurred near Halytsynivka, the third serviceman was killed at [[Troitske, Yasynuvata Raion|Troitske]].<ref name=":2017-02-04" /> As of 7:00&nbsp;am, 4 February, 244 civilians, including 114 children, were evacuated from Avdiivka, Motuzyanyk added.<ref name=":2017-02-04" /><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Separatist sources at Donetsk city reported that Ukrainian forces opened fire on 1,912 occasions on their positions using small arms, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, antiaircraft guns, armoured fighting vehicles, tanks, 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery and BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launchers. The main targets were Donetsk city, Makiivka, Zaitseve, Holmivskyi, Mykhailivka, Yasinuvata, Spartak, Kruta Balka, Zhabicheve, Oleksandrivka, Dokuchaievsk, Novomariivka, Sakhanka, Tavrya, Kominternove, Leninske and Bezimenne. One pro-Russian soldier was wounded.<ref></ref> According to local officials, Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire ten times within the borders of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic. Kalinivka was sheled from Luhanske with 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm artillery, while Kalynove was fired at from Troitske and Novozvanivka with 120&nbsp;mm mortars. Pro-Russian positions at Lozove were also hit by 120&nbsp;mm mortar volleys fired from Luhanske. Veselehorivka became the target of 82&nbsp;mm mortars firing from Troitske and the village of Kalynove-Borshchevate came under 120&nbsp;mm mortar fire from Popasna.<ref></ref> The press-centre of the ATO HQ reported in the evening that as of 6:00&nbsp;pm pro-Russian forces had opened fire on Ukrainian positions on 66 occasions. In the disputed area surrounding Donetsk city, BM-21 "Grad" artillery rockets landed in [[Halytsynivka]]. Pro-Russian tanks attacked Pisky once again, while Avdiivka and Troitske were shelled with 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm artillery. Krasnohorivka and Marinka came under 82&nbsp;mm and 120&nbsp;mm mortar fire. North of Horlivka, Ukrainian forces at Luhanske were engaged with mortars, tanks and artillery. In the region of Mariupol, pro-Russian tanks opened fire on Shyrokyne, and Vodiane was fired at from armoured fighting vehicles. Chermalyk was struck by antitank guided missiles. "Grad" multiple rocket launchers, 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery pounded Ukrainian redoubts at Talakivka, while 82&nbsp;mm and 120&nbsp;mm mortar barrages landed in Novotroitske, Lebedynske, Pavlopil, Shyrokyne and Chermalyk, and rocket propelled grenades in Hnutove. Sniper fire was reported at Vodiane and Pavlopil. In the northern sector of the demarcation line, rebel forces shelled Novozvanivka with 152&nbsp;mm artillery, 82&nbsp;mm mortars and 120&nbsp;mm mortars, Troitske and Popasna with 82&nbsp;mm and 120&nbsp;mm mortars and Krymske with rocket launchers. Two Ukrainian servicemen were killed, five wounded.<ref></ref> A British photographer was wounded by shelling in Avdiivka at around 4:00&nbsp;am.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Ukraine awarded 94 servicemen of the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine|Armed Forces]] and the [[National Guard of Ukraine|National Guard]]—34 of them posthumously—for personal courage and selfless performance of military duty.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 4 February: The head of the Luhansk People's Republic militia, Colonel Oleg Anashchenko, was killed along with another person while riding on an official car in Luhansk city when the vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Pro-Russian authorities accused "Ukrainian intelligence agents" for his death.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 8 February: Colonel [https://ift.tt/2zlXr6H Mikhail Tolstykh], better known by his callsign Givi was killed early in the morning in Makiivka when his office was hit by an [https://ift.tt/2x6zm34 RPO-A Shmel] incendiary rocket.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref></ref> Military spokesman Eduard Basurin blamed Zorian Shkiryak, an adviser of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine for his death.<ref></ref>

* 18 February: The ATO HQ reported that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 105 occasions on Ukrainian positions the previous day (including on 41 occasions in the outskirts of Donetsk city, on 50 occasions in the region of Mariupol, and on 14 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name=":2017-02-19" />)<!--6 WIA, 3 injured-->.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><!--censor.net contains link to relevant ATO Facebook page--><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO, Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, reported at noon that nine Ukrainian servicemen were wounded and injured, one serviceman went [[Missing in action|missing]] in the Donbass region on 18 February.<ref name=":2017-02-19">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Two major clashes between the warring parties took place around Avdiivka, Motuzyanyk added.<ref name=":2017-02-19" /> During his daily briefing to the press, deputy minister of defence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Eduard Basurin, reported that Ukrainian troops opened fire on 2,453 occasions on their positions over the past 24 hours. According to the statement, the Ukrainian military used small arms, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, antiaircraft guns, armoured fighting vehicles, tanks, 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery to attack pro-Russian positions at Mikhaylivka, Dolomitne, Ozeryanivka, Dokuchaievsk, Starolaspa, Novolaspa, Belaya Kamyanka, Novomariivka, Staromariivka, Telmanove, Leninske, Sakhanka, Kominternove, Oktyabr, Bezimennne, Nova Tavrya, Yasinuvata, Krasny Partizan, Yakovliika, Zhabicheve, Spartak, Novonikolaevka, Novozhilivka, Olenovka, Luhanske, Staromykhailivka, Oleksandrovka, Petrovsky district and Donetsk airport.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The same source claimed that a Ukrainian assault on Spartak from Pisky and Opytne was repulsed by pro-Russian forces. Three attackers were killed and ten wounded.<ref></ref> Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire ten times within the boundaries of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, according to local sources. Ukrainian BMP-1 armoured fighting vehicles from Novozvanivka and Troitske opened fire on pro-Russian positions at Kalynove, supported by automatic grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars and 120&nbsp;mm mortars. BMP-1 armoured fighting vehicles also shelled Sokolniki and Almazne, which also became the target of automatic grenade launchers, 73&nbsp;mm antitank recoilless guns and 82&nbsp;mm mortars. Rebel forces at Lohvynove were engaged three times with small arms, automatic grenade launchers, 120&nbsp;mm mortars and BMP-1 armoured fighting vehicles.<ref></ref> In the area of Donetsk city, an engagement involving mortars, tanks and artillery between the warring parties was reported at Avdiivka, where Ukrainian forces were also fired at by small arms, heavy machine guns and grenade launchers. The same kind of weapons were used to attack the Ukrainian strongholds of Pisky, Troitske, Opytne and Nevelske. In the area of Horlivka, Ukrainian troops at Novoluhanske received sniper fire, while Zaitseve, Luhanske and Novoluhanske were the target of small arms, heavy machine guns and rocket launchers. In the region of Mariupol, pro-Russian armoured fighting vehicles opened fire on Ukrainian redoubts at Shyrokyne, while mortar barrages landed in Pavlopil and Vodiane. Rebel forces fired small arms and grenade launchers at Hnutove, Talakivka, Shyrokyne, Pavlopil and Vodiane. In the northern sector of the demarcation line, 82&nbsp;mm and 120&nbsp;mm mortar volleys landed in Novooleksandrivka and Krymske, which also became the target of antitank guided missiles. Rocket propelled grenades hit Ukrainian positions at Stanytsia Luhanska.<ref name=":2017-02-192">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Later in the night, a 36-rocket barrage from a BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launchers struck the surroundings of Vodiane. The strike lasted 30 minutes.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 28 February: The ATO HQ reported that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 117 occasions on Ukrainian positions the previous day (including on 44 occasions in the outskirts of Donetsk city, on 47 occasions in the region of Mariupol, and on 26 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name=":2017-03-01">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>).<!--2 KIA, 2 WIA, 1 injured--><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO, Andriy Lysenko, reported at noon that two Ukrainian servicemen were killed and four wounded in the Donbass region on 28 February.<ref name=":2017-03-01" /><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> During his daily briefing to the press, deputy minister of defence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Eduard Basurin, reported that Ukrainian troops opened fire on 1,774 occasions on their positions over the last 24 hours. According to the statement, the Ukrainian military used small arms, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, antiaircraft guns, armoured fighting vehicles, tanks, 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery to pound rebel positions at Zaitseve, Dolomitne, Ozeryanivka, Verkhnyotoretske, Vasiliivka, Zheleznaya Balka, Mykhailivka, Yasinuvata, Spartak, Kruta Balka, Oleksandrivka, Dokuchaievsk, Sakhanka, Leninske, Kominternove, Oktyabr, Petrovsky district and Donetsk airport. Sources from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic reported 20 Ukrainian violations of the truce inside the republic borders. Ukrainian forces used small arms, automatic grenade launchers, 73&nbsp;mm antitank recoilles guns, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars and armoured fighting vehicles to engage pro-Russian positions at .Lozove, Nyzhne Lozove, Lohvynove, Kalinivka, Mariivka, Molodezhne and Kalynove. Two Ukrainian servicemen were killed, one was wounded. In the outskirts of Donetsk city, pro-Russian tanks engaged Ukrainian forces at Butivka mining complex. Avdiivka, Troitske and Kamyanka came under 82&nbsp;mm and 120&nbsp;mm mortar fire. The rebels also fired small arms and rocket launchers at Avdiivka, Nevelske and Verkhnyotoretske. In the area of Horlivka, 82&nbsp;mm and 120&nbsp;mm mortar volleys landed in Zaitseve, Luhanske and Novoluhanske. Zaitseve and Luhanske were also fired at by small arms and grenade launchers. In the region of Mariupol, the separatists shelled Vodiane with mortars and 122&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery. Mortar fire was also reported at Hnutove and Shyrokyne, while Ukrainian troops at Pavlopil, Talakivka and Hnutove became the target of small arms, heavy machine guns and rocket launchers. Sniper fire was reported at Shyrokyne and Novotroitske. In the northern front, Krymske was pounded by 152&nbsp;mm artillery, while Ukrainian troops at Stanytsia Luhanska and Novooleksandrivka were harassed by small arms fire.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 1 March: The spokesman of the Ukrainian operational headquarters said that pro-Russian troops had opened fire on 118 occasions on Ukrainian positions the previous day (including on 46 occasions in the outskirts of Donetsk city, on 52 occasions in the region of Mariupol, and on 20 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name=":2017-03-02">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>).<!--1 KIA, 9 WIA--><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO reported at noon that one Ukrainian servicemen was killed and nine others were wounded in the Donbass region on 1 March.<ref name=":2017-03-02" /> Pro-Russian sources at Donetsk city reported that Ukrainian forces opened fire on 1,520 occasions on their positions using small arms, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, antiaircraft guns, armoured fighting vehicles, 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery. The main targets were Staromykhailivka, Yasinuvata, Kruta Balka, Vasiliivka, Zaitseve, Dolomitne, Dokuchaievsk, Styla, Yasne, Sakhanka, Leninske, Kominternove, Bezimenne, Naberezhne, Oktyabr, Spartak, Petrovsky district and Donetsk airport. Authorities from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic reported 19 Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire inside the republic boundaries. The Ukrainian military used small arms, automatic grenade launchers, 73&nbsp;mm antitank recoilles guns, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars and armoured fighting vehicles to target rebel positions at Frunze, Lozove, Nyzhne Lozove, Lohvynove, Kalynove, Kalynove-Borshchevate, Mikhaylivka and Kalinivka. The press-centre of the ATO HQ reported in the evening that as of 6:00&nbsp;pm pro-Russian forces had opened fire on Ukrainian positions on 58 occasions. In the surroundings of Donetsk, rebel forces kept up their pressure on Avdiivka. Pro-Russian tanks and armoured fighting vehicles opened fire on the Ukrainian stronghold, supported by rocket launchers.and mortars. Novoselivka, Kamyanka and Pisky became the target of small arms and grenade launchers. The same kind of weapons were used by the separatists around Horlivka to pound Zaitseve and Novhorodske. In the region of Mariupol, 122&nbsp;mm artillery barrages hit Vodiane and Shyrokyne, while at Novotroitske, Bohdanivka, Pavloipil and Chermalik came under mortar fire. The separatists also fired small arms, and rocket launchers at Talakivka, Pavlopil, Lebedinske and Shyrokyne. Heavy shelling was reported in the northern sector of the demarcation line. Troitske was shelled by 152&nbsp;mm howitzer, and Krymske by 122&nbsp;mm artillery. Novozvanivka, Zolote, Orekhove and Troitske were shelled with 82&nbsp;mm mortars .<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 2 March: The ATO HQ reported in the morning that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 116 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including on 30 occasions in the outskirts of Donetsk city, on 59 occasions in the region of Mariupol, and on 27 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name=":2017-03-03">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>).<!--1 KIA, 15 WIA, 7 injured--><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO, Andriy Lysenko, reported at noon that one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and twenty-two were wounded and injured in the Donbass region on 2 March.<ref name=":2017-03-03" /> One civilian was injured by shelling in [[Zolote]] on 2 March, another civilian, a seventy-year-old female was injured in [[Krasnohorivka]] on 1 March.<ref name=":2017-03-03" /> The [[National Police of Ukraine|National Police]] reported that that five civilians had been killed and thirteen wounded in Avdiivka during the first two months of the year.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Pro-Russian officials in Donetsk city reported 11,480 Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire over the last week, 3,994 of them involving mortars, tanks and artillery. One pro-Russian soldier was killed and another wounded. The same sources said that Ukrainian troops opened fire on 1,859 occasions on their positions over the past 24 hours. According to the statement, the Ukrainian military used small arms, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, antiaircraft guns, armoured fighting vehicles, tanks, 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery. Sources from the self-styled Luhansk People's Republic said that Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire on 18 occasions within the republic borders. Pro-Russian positions at Smile, Molodezhne, Lohvynove, Kalinivka, Kalynove, Zholobok, Berezovske, Kalynove-Borshchevate and Pervomaisk became the target of small arms, grenade launchers, 73&nbsp;mm antitank recoilless guns, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, BMP-2 armoured fighting vehicles and 152&nbsp;mm artillery. The same sources reported 94 Ukrainian violations of the truce over the past week. According to the information published by the ATO press-centre in the evening, as of 6:00&nbsp;pm pro-Russian forces had opened fire on Ukrainian troops on 78 occasions; one Ukrainian servicemen was killed, eight were wounded. West of Donetsk city, pro-Russian tanks continued their attacks on Ukrainian redoubts at Avdiivka and Butivka mining complex, supported by 82&nbsp;mm and 120&nbsp;mm mortars. Troitske and Avdiivka also became the target of antiaircraft guns, while rocket propelled grenades landed in Kamyanka, Opytne, Marinka and Pisky. Sniper fire harassed Ukrainian troops at Kamyanka and Marinka, and small arms fire was reported at Nevelske. In the area of Horlivka, armoured fighting vehicles, supported by heavy machine guns, opened fire on Ukrainian forces at Luhnaske. Ukrainian troops at Novhorodske received sniper fire. In the region of Mariupol 20 BM-21 "Grad" artillery rockets struck Ukrainian positions at Vodiane. Mortar barrages landed in Hnutove and Vodiane, while Shyrokyne, Starohnativka, Lebedinske, Talakivka. Sniper fire was reported at Shyrokyne and Lebedinske. Armoured fighting vehicles opened fire at Shyrokyne, Novohryhorivka and Hnutove. In the northern sector of the demarcation line, rebel forces shelled Novozvanivka with 152&nbsp;mm artillery, while 82&nbsp;mm and 120&nbsp;mm mortars landed in Novoaleksandrivka, Novozvanivka, Katerinivka, Krymske and Malynove.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 3 March: The spokesman of the Ukrainian operational headquarterssaid that pro-Russian troops had opened fire on 115 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including on 39 occasions in the outskirts of Donetsk city, on 49 occasions in the region of Mariupol, and on 27 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name="LN2017-03-04">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref name=":2017-03-04">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>).<!--2 WIA--><ref name=":17">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO reported at noon that one Ukrainian serviceman and one border guard were wounded in the Donbass region on 3 March.<ref name="LN2017-03-04" /><ref name=":2017-03-04" /> Separatist officials in the city of Donetsk reported that Ukrainian troops opened fire on 1,948 occasions on their positions over the past 24 hours. According to the statement, the Ukrainian military used small arms, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, antiaircraft guns, armoured fighting vehicles, 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery to attack pro-Russian positions at Zaitseve, Horlivka, Yasinuvata, Kruta Balka, Spartak, Kominternove, Telmanove, Sakhanka, Dokuchaievsk, Bezimenne, Oleksandrivka, Trudovske, and Donetsk airport. The press-centre of the ATO HQ reported in the evening that as of 6:00&nbsp;pm pro-Russian forces had opened fire on Ukrainian positions on 62 occasions; one Ukrainian soldier was wounded. Around Donetsk city, heavy artillery rounds hit a Ukrainian outpost part of the combined center for control of the ceasefire in Avdiivka. The artillery fire also damaged an OSCE observation post. Pro-Russian tanks opened fire on other areas of the town, Earlier in the day, Avdiivka had been pounded by small arms, rocket launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars and 120&nbsp;mm mortars along with Butivka mining complex, Pisky, Krasnohorivka, Nevelske, Opytne and Verkhnetoretske. The same kind of weapons were fired at Luhanske and Zaitseve. In the region of Mariupol, Lebedinske was shelled by 122&nbsp;mm artillery, while 120&nbsp;mm mortar volleys landed in Vodiane and Shyrokyne. Pro-Russian armoured fighting vehicles engaged Ukrainian redoubts at Shyrokyne, and rebel troops fired small arms and heavy machine guns at Vodiane, Novotroitske, Shyrokyne, Talakivka and Novohryhorivka. Snipers fired at Ukrainian troops at Novotroitske and Vodiane. In the northern section of the demarcation line, mortar fire was reported at Katerinivka, Krymske and Novoaleksandrivka, while heavy machine guns, grenade launchers and antitank guided missiles were fired at Krymske, where Ukrainian positions were engaged by Pro-Russian tanks.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref name=":17" /> The prime minister of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, announced thet the republic will impose their own "trade blockade" on Ukrainian goods. He said they will give preference to Russian products, specially coal. Zakharchenko also declares the nationalization of all private companies within the jurisdiction of the republic.<ref></ref><ref></ref>

* 6 March: The ATO HQ reported in the morning that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 122 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including on 35 occasions in the outskirts of Donetsk city, on 64 occasions in the region of Mariupol, and on 23 occasions in Luhansk region<ref name=":2017-03-07">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>).<!--1 KIA, 4 WIA, 1 injured--><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The spokesman of the Presidential Administration on issues related to ATO reported at noon that one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and five others were wounded and injured in the Donbass region on 6 March.<ref name=":2017-03-07" /><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Pro-Russian sources at Donetsk city reported that Ukrainian forces opened fire on 2,927 occasions on their positions using small arms, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, antiaircraft guns, armoured fighting vehicles, tanks, 122&nbsp;mm and 152&nbsp;mm self-propelled artillery and BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launchers. The main targets were Staromykhailivka, Trudovske, Signalne, Luhanske, Kruta Balka, Yasinuvata, Dokuchaievsk, Holmivskyi, Zaitseve, Telmanove, Sakhanka, Bezimenne, Kominternove and Leninske. Local sources recorded ten Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire within the boundaries of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic. The Ukrainian military engaged pro-Russian positions at Kalinivka, Prvomaisk, Kalynove, Frunze, Annivka and Smile using small arms, rocket launchers, automatic grenade launchers, 73&nbsp;mm antitank recoilless guns, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars, Zu-23-2 antiaircraft guns and armoured fighting vehicles. According to the information published by the ATO press-centre in the evening, as of 6:00&nbsp;pm pro-Russian forces had opened fire on Ukrainian positions 40 occasions; one Ukrainian serviceman was wounded. Around Donetsk city, fighting continued in Avdiivka for the ninth consecutive day. Pro-Russian tanks opened fire on the Ukrainian redoubts in the town, which was also pounded by small arms, snipers, grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars and 152&nbsp;mm artillery. Shelling was also reported at Opytne and Marinka, while Ukrainian troops at Kamyanka were harassed by sniper fire. In the area of Horlivka, Zaitseve and Luhanske came under rebel fire. In the region of Mariupol, Lebedynske, Shyrokyne, and Novohryhorivka were shelled by grenade launchers, 82&nbsp;mm mortars, 120&nbsp;mm mortars and 122&nbsp;mm artillery. Shyrokyne was also attacked by pro-Russian tanks and Novotroitske by heavy machine gun fire. In the northern section of the demarcation line, pro-Russian tanks engaged Ukrainian forces at Novozvanivka, while rocket propelled grenades landed in Zhovte and Krymske.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> A civilian was killed by shelling in [[Kurdiumivka]].<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

* 31 March: Deputy chief of the counterintelligence department in the Donetsk region, [[Security Service of Ukraine|Ukrainian Security Service]] (SBU) Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Kharaberiush, was killed by an improvised explosive device while driving his car in the streets of Mariupol. Intelligence sources blame pro-Russian separatists for his assassination.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>

== References ==



== External links ==

* [http://mediarnbo.org/ INFORMATION ANALYSES CENTER] of the [[National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine]], provides daily updates, maps, etc., on the current situation <small>(in Ukrainian, Russian, and English)</small>
* [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, [https://ift.tt/1GTMpDj Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine]


[[Category:Timelines of the War in Donbass]]

April 25, 2020 at 01:05PM

NEC Director Kudlow on push to reopen state economies: 'You've got to meet the guidelines'

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NEC Director Kudlow on push to reopen state economies: 'You've got to meet the guidelines' National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow joined "The Ingraham Angle" Friday to discuss expectations for the economy and the possible creation of liability safeguards for businesses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
April 25, 2020 at 01:04PM

Elizabeth Hurley sizzles in bikini top and denim shorts during quarantine: 'Spring has sprung'

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Elizabeth Hurley sizzles in bikini top and denim shorts during quarantine: 'Spring has sprung' Elizabeth Hurley is taking some time to soak up the nice weather as she self-isolates. 
April 25, 2020 at 10:54AM

Michelle Money’s daughter released from hospital 26 days after near-fatal skateboarding accident: ‘Grateful’

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Michelle Money's daughter released from hospital 26 days after near-fatal skateboarding accident: 'Grateful' Michelle Money's daughter Brielle is out of the hospital after spending three weeks in intensive care following a skateboarding accident that nearly ended her life.
April 25, 2020 at 09:55AM

Senior Official Cited by Trump Is Subject of Investigation

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Senior Official Cited by Trump Is Subject of Investigation

The senior Department of Homeland Security official who was thrust into the spotlight by President Donald Trump to describe the effects of temperature on COVID-19 has been the subject of misconduct allegations for his previous government work.

A Department of Energy Inspector General investigation was still pending Friday based on evidence submitted by a whistleblower that William Bryan abused his government position with energy consulting work in Ukraine.

It's unclear if Trump was aware of that investigation when he called on Bryan at his daily briefing Thursday to explain DHS research that prompted a presidential riff on the potential to cure the virus with disinfectant and kill it with sunlight.

Bryan has been acting undersecretary for the DHS Science and Technology Directorate since May 2017. Before that, he was president of ValueBridge International's Energy Group, a consulting firm in Virginia, following previous work with the Department of Energy.

Trump nominated him to be the undersecretary of the directorate, which is charged with developing technology for the components of DHS. But days after his Senate hearing in August, a government whistleblower and his attorneys received a letter from the Office of the Special Counsel that information they provided about Bryan showed a "substantial likelihood of wrongdoing."

The letter, first reported by The Hill newspaper in September, said the Office of the Special Counsel, an independent federal investigative agency, had referred the matter to the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General, which opened an investigation.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, said the IG would conduct an investigation to see if his allegations could be substantiated and would inform Congress and the president.

Bill Bryan, head of science and technology at the Department of Homeland Security, speaks about the coronavirus April 23, 2020, in Washington, D.C.

The allegations against Bryan, which were reported by The New York Times in October 2018, center around his time as a senior adviser in the Office of International Affairs in 2016. He was designated a "special government employee," which allowed him to do limited private sector work.

The whistleblower, Robert Ivy, alleged that Bryan used his DOE position to develop his business interests with ValueBridge, including by providing money to foreign officials with the goal of influencing their actions and improperly sharing proprietary information.

The allegations reference players who featured prominently in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.

The complaint, which was also obtained by AP, describes Bryan's dealings with Rinat Akhmetov, the Ukrainian energy oligarch who hired Paul Manafort as an adviser years before Manafort became chairman of Trump's presidential campaign. According to the complaint, Bryan denied ever interacting with Manafort, who was convicted in Mueller's Russia investigation related to Manafort's work in Ukraine — though they did stay at the same Hyatt Hotel in Kyiv on one occasion recounted by the whistleblower.

It says Bryan, as the head of an international Energy Department team that traveled to Ukraine with the goal of stabilizing the country's energy security, aligned himself with Ahkmetov, became manipulated by the oligarch and his lieutenants and cashed in "personally on the cowboy capitalism that has driven so much of the former Soviet Union."

FILE - The Department of Energy is seen in Washington, D.C., May 1, 2015.

Ivy, a former DOE official who now works in the private sector, and his attorney said Friday that they provided information to the IG investigation but have not received any notice of a conclusion. Both expressed surprise that Bryan, who has a military background but is not a scientist, was called upon by the Trump to discuss the research.

"Bill Bryan should not be in that position in the first place," said John Tye, Ivy's attorney and the founder and CEO of Whistleblower Aid. "The U.S. government found a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing by him on both the corruption and security violation matters."

The Department of Energy referred questions about the investigation, which remains open, to its Inspector General's office, which did not respond to a request for information. DHS also did not respond to questions or make Bryan available for an interview.

Bryan presides over an organization that has had its budget cut by the Trump administration, despite the prominent role the president gave it during his briefing to discuss how work done at an agency lab in Maryland showed the virus breaking down when exposed to light and humidity.

Under the final year of President Barack Obama, the agency had a budget of $841 million, more than half of which was for research and development. The Trump administration cut that to around $583 million in its first budget to fund other priorities. It proposed restoring some of that this year and raising it to $643 million. 


April 25, 2020 at 09:44AM

US Deficit Projected to Soar as Pandemic Wreaks Havoc Around World

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US Deficit Projected to Soar as Pandemic Wreaks Havoc Around World

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office said Friday that the economic hardship caused by the coronavirus in the United States would last through next year, as the pandemic wreaks havoc on the financial health of countries around the world. 

The nonpartisan agency said the U.S. budget deficit would grow from $1 trillion to $3.7 trillion this year and said the unemployment rate would rise from 3.5% in February to 16% in September. It predicted that unemployment would fall after that time but would remain in double digits through 2021.  

The report put pressure on the U.S. government as it tries to balance the concerns of the growing federal deficit with the approval of stimulus money meant to combat the outbreak's economic effects. 

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a $484 billion relief package to extend additional support for small-business loans and to help hospitals expand COVID-19 testing. The money is part of more than $3 trillion the U.S. government has spent to boost the economy. 

G-20 calls for cooperation

Earlier Friday, the G-20 called on "all countries, international organizations, the private sector, philanthropic institutions and individuals" to contribute to its funding efforts to fight COVID-19, setting an $8 billion goal.

An international forum for the governments and central bank governors of 19 nations and the European Union said Friday that the G-20 already had raised $1.9 billion. Saudi Arabia, the current holder of the G-20 presidency, contributed $500 million.  

"Global challenges demand global solutions, and this is our time to stand and support the race for a vaccine and other therapeutic measures to combat COVID-19," Saudi G-20 Sherpa Fahad Almubarak said.  

"We commend the existing funding efforts from around the world and underscore the urgency to bridging the financing gap."  

Some businesses reopen

The death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 50,000 in the United States on Friday. Despite the tally, several states took steps to reopen their economies, with Georgia and Oklahoma allowing salons, spas and barbershops to reopen. Some business owners said it was too early to open and that opening anyway could spark a new surge in coronavirus infections, despite facing financial collapse if they do not. 

Gym co-owner Mike Martino wears a mask to protect against the coronavirus at Bodyplex Fitness Adventure in Grayson, Ga., on April 24, 2020.

In Alaska, officials allowed dine-in restaurants to resume service along with allowing retail shops to again open their doors. 

In Italy, health officials reported 420 deaths Friday, the lowest daily fatality rate since March 19. However, officials also reported a rise in new infections from 2,646 on Thursday to 3,021 new cases on Friday. Authorities say the country has passed the peak of its outbreak.  

Vaccine trials offer hope

Britain said it had performed the first human trial of a coronavirus vaccine in Europe. Two volunteers were injected Thursday in the city of Oxford where a university team developed the vaccine in less than three months.  

FILE - A pharmacist in Seattle opens a package taken from a freezer that contains a potential vaccine for COVID-19, on the first day of a first-stage safety study clinical trial of the vaccine, March 16, 2020.

The United States conducted the first vaccine test in March in Seattle, Washington. Canada, Russia and other countries also are working on developing vaccines, but experts say even if a successful one is developed soon, manufacturing and distribution would take a year or longer.  

The vaccine trials offered new hope just as an antiviral drug was reported ineffective against coronavirus in patients in China. In a randomized trial, remdesivir, a drug made by California-based Gilead Sciences, did not show any benefits for COVID-19 patients, and it failed to reduce the presence of the virus in their bloodstreams.  

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Friday that the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine could cause heart problems when used to treat COVID-19 and said further studies were needed. Trump had previously said the drug could be an effective "game changer" in treating the disease. 

With no proven remedy for the coronavirus, health officials worldwide are recommending protective measures such as good hygiene practices, social distancing and use of masks and gloves. But people in many places are growing tired of restrictions, even as the number of cases grows.  

Several European countries have seen a decrease in new cases and are preparing to gradually reopen businesses and ease restrictions.  

As of Friday evening EDT, there were nearly 2.8 million cases of the virus worldwide and nearly 196,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.  

The coronavirus has had a devastating effect on the global economy, but the International Monetary Fund and other organizations warned that developing countries would be the worst hit.  

The United Nations food agency projected that 265 million people could experience acute hunger this year, twice as many as last year. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on governments to ensure health care is available to all people and that economic aid packages help those most affected.


April 25, 2020 at 08:50AM

 Protesting in the Age of Coronavirus 

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 Protesting in the Age of Coronavirus 

How do you protest in the era of the coronavirus?  

In Russia, "virtual protesters" have clustered outside government buildings, at a safe social distance, and they post messages online demanding more financial assistance from authorities. 

Young climate change activists have heeded the call by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, the founder of the global school strike movement, to avoid big protests to help contain the novel coronavirus.  

"We have to adapt. That is what you have to do in a crisis," she told activists last month. She encouraged her followers to move their climate action protests online and use the hashtag #DigitalStrike. 

2019 was a revolutionary year, with 12 months of protests and mass mobilizations from Hong Kong to Bolivia, and from France to Lebanon, rocking political establishments as they unfolded.  

Few parts of the world were unaffected. 

FILE - Volunteers give a face mask to a food delivery courier during an action for free distribution of masks protesting against price increases for viral protection masks in pharmacies in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 1, 2020.

In Russia's capital, Moscow, protesters were outraged by rigged elections. In Britain, people rallied against Brexit. Serbia, Ukraine, Albania and the central European states all experienced major demonstrations. Separatists battled police in the restive region of Catalonia. Dissent in the Middle East prompted talk of a new Arab Spring. In Sudan, President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown by the military following months of mass protests. 

In the Americas, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela all experienced popular unrest. 

But 2020 has become the year of house confinement.  

Protesters who want to keep within lockdown rules — either out of a sense of social responsibility or fear of punishment — must navigate social distancing and travel restrictions to make their voices heard. Many fear contracting the potentially deadly coronavirus if they congregate.  

Many movements are determined not to be silenced, although they acknowledge they can't be as effective now as they were last year.  

"It is quite challenging to continue striking and organizing, if people cannot meet physically," climate action activist Linus Steinmetz told German broadcasters.   

As in other European countries, climate change activists in Germany have gone digital, blanketing the internet and social media with demands for deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, sometimes focusing on government institutions with tweets. German branches have launched a YouTube learning module for children not attending school. 

"We're trying to figure things out now," Luisa Neubauer, a German activist, told Yale e360, an American online environment magazine. "Beating the coronavirus is the first thing we have to do, but the fight to save the climate can't stop. It will continue in other ways and when this crisis is over, the climate crisis will look different. We may even have a better chance. We know that political will, when it is there, can move mountains. We are experiencing this right now in the corona crisis." 

Other protest movements are also exploring alternate ways to mobilize support and promote their causes — as well as to oppose government measures.  

FILE - Women's rights activists, wearing masks to guad  against the spread of the coronavirus, protest against a draft law tightening Poland's strict anti-abortion law near the parliament that was debating it, Warsaw, April 15, 2020.

In Poland, women activists last week used their cars to defy Poland's lockdown and blocked the main roundabouts in the country's capital, protesting against legislation to tighten Poland's abortion laws, which are already among the most restrictive in Europe.  

Others, dressed head to toe in black, weaved through streets on bicycles, maintaining distance but provoking police to warn that assembling was illegal and in breach of coronavirus restrictions. Women protesters also hung banners from balconies. Another protest this week saw women — wearing face masks — lining up 2 meters apart outside government buildings, complaining that the right-wing populist government was trying to exploit the pandemic to get the legislation passed.  

The country's lower house of parliament delayed the vote and asked a parliamentary commission to consider the amended abortion restrictions to give more time for consultation. Marta Gorczynska, a human rights lawyer, said if there had not been a lockdown, more women would have taken to the streets.  

"We were using other tools, especially online ones," she said.  

FILE - An anti-government protester stands in front of the Lebanese riot police who wear masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, during a protest over the deepening financial crisis in Beirut, Lebanon, April 23, 2020.

This week in Beirut, hundreds of Lebanese demonstrators used the Poles' model, reclaiming streets emptied by the coronavirus lockdown. They stayed in their cars to observe social distancing rules, honking horns and waving Lebanese flags out of their car windows, hoping to revive a cross-sectarian protest movement that flared in October but was unable to push through the radical reforms demonstrators want. 

"It's so good to be back. There's no better feeling," protester Hassan Hussein Ali, 22, told AFP. "Corona has killed everything, but it hasn't stopped the corruption of our politicians, so it will not stop us either." 

FILE - People keep social distancing amid concerns over the country's coronavirus outbreak, during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 19, 2020.

In neighboring Israel, this week also saw anti-government protests. In Tel Aviv, a few thousand gathered to express their disapproval of a new unity government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The protest was given the go-ahead by authorities with organizers promising that attendees would observe social distancing restrictions and wear face masks. They marked up a square for the protest to ensure physical distancing rules were followed.   

Police said in a statement, "Protests are regarded as an essential right that should be reserved for every citizen, as long as all restrictions and instructions are obeyed." 

FILE - In this March 30, 2020, photo, ultra-Orthodox Jews gather during a protest against government's measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem.

But in Jerusalem, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox adherents gathered to protest the lockdown of Mea Shearim, one of the oldest Jewish neighborhoods in the city, populated by Haredi Jews. The protesters ignored social distancing regulations and clashed with police. 

With anger and frustration simmering in many countries in Europe and the Middle East, and people tiring of state-ordered lockdowns, authorities worry the overall interruption in physical political protest will amount to a lull before the storm. Poverty, economic hardship and bankruptcy in many cases are compounding pre-coronavirus grievances.  

FILE - Activists install a banner reading "More beds can save lives, a hospital not a commercial center, requisition of the Hotel Dieu" to protest against a project next to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, April 21, 2020.

In France, police fear a coming explosion of violence in the troubled working-class suburbs of Paris following several nights of small-scale rioting against police enforcement of the lockdown. 

The leader of France's largest police union said Wednesday that he was worried the country could explode in violence. 

"It may get very difficult," said Yves Lefebvre, head of the SGP Unite police union. "If tomorrow we are confronted by widespread urban violence, we would have trouble keeping on top of it unless a curfew was put in place, and the army called in to help enforce it." 


April 25, 2020 at 08:17AM

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