Friday morning news: February 24, 2023

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

One-year mark of Russian invasion » Today marks one year exactly from the date that Russian tanks rolled across the border into mainland Ukraine. And the message from virtually the entire free world is the same: It’s time for Moscow’s forces to go home.

AUDIO: The result of the vote is as follows: In favor, 141. Against, 7.

A vote of the UN General Assembly heard there on Thursday, calling on Russia to end the war.

Thirty-five countries abstained. They included China, India, Pakistan, and South Africa.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday:

GUTERRES: Over the past year, not only have we seen suffering and devastating [SIC]. It is also becoming more evident just how much worse it could all still become.

The resounding vote sends a strong message, but it is non-binding. Any measure with teeth would have to come from the UN Security Council, where Russia and China both have veto power.

European Commission TikTok » The European Union’s executive branch says it will no longer allow its employees to have TikTok on their phones.

European Commission Spokeswoman Sonya Gospodinova.

GOSPODINOVA: The measure is in line with our strict internal cybersecurity policies for use of mobile devices for work related communications.

The rule will apply to EU-issued devices and personal devices used for work.

Many in the West have expressed security and privacy concerns about the Chinese-owned TikTok.

In the United States, Congress and more than half of states have banned government employees from having TikTok on work devices.

NTSB briefing » AUDIO: [Train whistling and Buttigeig talking]

The White House is asking Congress to increase the fines for rail companies that fail to meet safety standards. The Norfolk Southern line’s derailment in Ohio earlier this month has Republicans and Democrats debating safety legislation.

On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the site, where he criticized former President Donald Trump’s policies.

BUTTIGEIG: Norfolk Southern and the other freight rail companies need to stop fighting us every time we try to do a regulation in order to hold them accountable and their other railroad companies accountable for their safety record. And what we’ve seen is industry goes to Washington, and they get their way.

Buttigeig says the highest fine for violating hazardous material transportation—that’s about $230,000—is not high enough to effect changes at a multi-billion dollar company.

Investigators say train engineers were not warned about an overheating axle and that the crash was entirely preventable.

Winter storms » A winter storm has knocked out power to nearly a million homes and businesses from Washington to Michigan.

One Illinois resident said the weather can’t seem to make up its mind.

RESIDENT: One day it’s nice, um, the next day it’s super cold. The roads are super slippery right now, and I just want to get home and in bed.

As of Thursday, airlines were forced to cancel more than 2,000 flights.

Trump lawyers blast election probe » Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are blasting a special grand jury in Georgia. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: The grand jury was charged with investigating whether Trump and his allies illegally tried to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

In media interviews this week, the grand jury forewoman discussed some details of how witnesses and prosecutors behaved behind closed doors.

Now Trump’s lawyers are calling into question the credibility of the panel, calling it a circus posing as a grand jury.

Grand jury proceedings are closed to the public. In Georgia, jurors must keep silent about their deliberations only—not the entirety of the proceedings.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Chinese mine » Rescue crews in China are searching for dozens of missing people after a coal mine collapsed.

At least five people were killed yesterday when the open-pit mine collapsed in China’s northern region of Inner Mongolia.

JIANPING: I saw rocks and dust started to fall down from the hills above and the situation got more and more serious. We tried to pull out together but it was too late.

This injured miner says he and his colleagues tried to get out of the mine when they saw rocks and dust falling from the hills above them.

Hundreds of rescue workers are at the scene. Officials say it is unclear what caused the collapse.

Officials have ordered coal mines throughout the region to conduct inspections and safety checks following the accident.

Weinstein sentencing » Harvey Weinstein will serve an additional 16 years in prison on charges of rape and sexual assault.

A Los Angeles judge sentenced Weinstein on Thursday. Back in December, jurors in found him guilty of abusing one of four women who brought accusations against him in the trial. Dozens of women have publicly claimed he sexually assaulted them.

Legal expert Rachel Fiset, commenting on Weinstein’s legal situation.

FISET: I think this means that Harvey Weinstein has a life sentence in prison. He has to serve out his time in New York.

A New York court sentenced Weinstein to 23 years in prison on similar charges in 2020. He has filed to appeal the conviction.

The 70-year-old former film producer has claimed he is innocent of the charges.

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

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