Monday morning news - March 28, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Ukrainian leaders call for more courage, weapons from West » As Russian artillery continues to rain down in Ukraine, Ukrainian leaders are calling on the West to show more courage.

They’re urging NATO leaders to worry less about upsetting Moscow and more about supplying the weapons needed to beat back the Russian army.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova told NBC’s Meet the Press…

MARKAROVA: We need all the support with all the weapons, including the anti-air, including the airplanes, everything, to stop this brutal destruction.

The Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko added…

KLITSCHKO: We need the weapons. We are ready to fight, but we need much more support.

And President Volodymyr Zelenskyy questioned the backbone of the West. He criticized the—quote—“ping-pong about who and how should hand over jets” and other weapons … while Russian missile attacks kill civilians in the city of Mariupol and elsewhere.

Zelenskyy said he’s in constant contact with the defenders of Mariupol. He said their determination and heroism is astonishing,” and he added—quote—“If only those who have been thinking for 31 days on how to hand over dozens of jets and tanks had 1% of their courage.”

Administration walks back Biden’s Putin remark » Meantime, the White House is working to clean up a remark President Biden made over the weekend.

During a speech in Poland, Biden decried Russian strongman Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and he added…

BIDEN: For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.

The Biden administration quickly scrambled to walk back that comment. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith …

SMITH: The U.S. does not have a policy of regime change towards Russia, but I think what we all agree on is that President Putin cannot be empowered to wage war.

Secretary of State Tony Blinken also insisted the United States does not have a policy of regime change.

Blinken seeks to reassure Middle Eastern allies about Iran nuclear deal » And Blinken on Sunday turned his attention to the Middle East.

He sat down in Jerusalem with leaders from Israel and four Arab countries to try to set their minds at ease about the possible renewal of the Iran nuclear deal.

BLINKEN: The United States believes that a return to the full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best way to put Iran’s nuclear program back in the box that it was in.

Blinken said the United States and Israel “are both committed, both determined that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon.”

The Biden administration has been working to renew the 2015 nuclear deal after the Trump administration withdrew from it in 2018.

Israel and Arab neighbors fear the deal would not include enough safeguards to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. And they say relief from economic sanctions will allow Iran to step up its terrorist activities in the region.

Firefighters make headway against Colorado wildfire » A wildfire continues to rage near Boulder, Colorado, but firefighters are starting to get the upper hand.

The fire forced nearly 20,000 people to flee, but Boulder Fire-Rescue on Sunday said it has now lifted most of those evacuations. And Incident Commander Mike Smith told reporters they were able to save many homes in the Boulder area, despite flames creeping to within a thousand yards of the houses.

SMITH: Between aggressive initial attack and having the aviation assets, the single engine air tankers being able to put some retardant down in between the homes was a real benefit.

As of Sunday, the fire was about 21 percent contained, and some 18,000 people were able to return to their homes.

CODA wins best picture, Will Smith wins best actor amid real life drama at Oscars  » The stars turned out last night for the 94th annual Academy Awards.

After the pandemic altered last year’s awards, the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles was once again packed.

The Best Picture award went to CODA, a story about a teenage girl growing up in a hearing impaired family.

SOUND (Oscars NATS-1): Thank you to the Academy for letting our Coda make history tonight.

Jessica Chastain won best actress for her role in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”

Will Smith, for the first time, accepted the award for best actor … but not before a little real life drama at the Oscars.

Smith cursed at and physically struck comedian Chris Rock on stage … after Rock made a joke about his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith.

Will Smith won best actor for his role in King Richard, portraying Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.

WILL SMITH: Art imitates life just like they said - I look like the crazy father just like they said about Richard Williams. Love will make you do crazy things.

Ariana DeBose won best supporting actress for West Side Story.

Troy Kotsur won best supporting actor for CODA.

Jane Campion won best director for The Power of the Dog.

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

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