Friday morning news - February 18, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Biden: ‘Every indication’ Russia prepared to attack Ukraine » The U.S. government says all signs point to a Russian invasion of Ukraine very soon. President Biden described the threat this way…

BIDEN: It’s very high. It’s very high because they have not moved any of their troops out. They’ve moved more troops in.

He added that the Russians appear to be planning a “false flag operation to have an excuse to go in.”

And the president said—quote—“My sense is it will happen within the next several days.”

Speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Russia’s claims that it has no intention of invading are not credible.

AUSTIN: You know, I was a soldier myself not that long ago. And I know firsthand that you don’t do these sort of things for no reason. And you certainly don’t do them if you’re getting ready to pack up and go home.

Meantime, Secretary of State Tony Blinken pleaded his case to the UN Security Council on Thursday. He revealed some conclusions of U.S. intelligence in a strategy that the United States and Britain hope will expose and pre-empt any invasion planning.

BLINKEN: I am here today not to start a war, but to prevent one. The information I’ve presented here is validated by what we’ve seen unfolding in plain sight, before our eyes, for months.

Russia is believed to have built up some 150,000 military forces along Ukraine’s borders.

Biden: Infrastructure plan gives $1B for Great Lakes cleanup » The president also turned his attention to domestic matters on Thursday. Speaking in suburban Cleveland, he declared that a $1 billion infusion from the bipartisan infrastructure deal would restore polluted Great Lakes harbors and tributary rivers.

BIDEN: We’re going to accelerate cleanup of sites across six states in the Great Lakes basin from Duluth, MN to Milwaukee, WI, Gary, IN, Buffalo, NY and everything in between.

Biden vowed the biggest restoration of the Great Lakes in history.

The lakes provide drinking water for 40 million people and underpin the economy of eight states and two Canadian provinces.

Biden's trip to Ohio comes at a crucial political moment as the state's Republican Sen. Rob Portman is retiring. That will leave a Senate seat open this year that Democrats hope to claim.

Trump must testify in New York investigation, judge rules » A New York judge ruled Thursday that Former President Donald Trump must answer questions under oath in the state’s civil investigation into his business. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump and his two eldest children, Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. to comply with subpoenas issued by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

James, a Democrat, accuses Trump’s company of dishonest business practices. She said her investigation uncovered evidence that the company used “fraudulent or misleading” valuations of assets like golf courses and skyscrapers to get loans and tax benefits.

The company says James’ probe is politically motivated and that her accusations are false.

The judge ruled that Trump and his two children must sit for a deposition within 21 days. Trump’s lawyers are highly likely to appeal the decision.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Canadian protesters prepare for crackdown » Busloads of police poured into downtown Ottawa, Ontario over the last two days, handing out letters to protesters ordering them to leave downtown.

Hundreds of big rigs remain parked in the streets of Canada’s capital city protesting vaccine mandates for truckers and other restrictions.

And many protesters say they have no plans to leave until the government lifts those mandates.

AUDIO: We’ve been here 21 days, and I’ll be here 21 more if I have to be.

Early Thursday morning, construction crews put extra fences around government buildings. With the extra fencing and law enforcement presence, some protesters are bracing for a police crackdown.

Another protester said it looks like the government is preparing to remove protesters by force.

AUDIO: We saw four buses unload all the police officers. There’s over 150-plus police cars, prisoner transport wagons. There’s six buses getting ready to load guys up.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared the protesters’ actions illegal under the country’s Emergencies Act. And the city’s police chief said he would—quote—“take back downtown in the coming days.”

Brazil mudslide death toll reaches 110, with 134 missing » More than a hundred people are dead in Brazil after a massive mudslide. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has that story.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: Government officials confirmed at least 110 deaths and 134 people are still missing.

The mudslides struck Tuesday in the town of Petropolis in the mountains about 40 miles north of Rio de Janeiro

Footage posted on social media showed torrents dragging cars and houses through the streets and water swirling through the city.

On Wednesday morning, houses were left buried beneath mud while appliances and cars were stacked in piles on the streets.

Heavy rains have punished Southeastern Brazil since the start of the year with more than 40 deaths recorded in other incidents in the region last month.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher. 

And I'm Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org. 

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