Author Archives: Bodger

Russia is ‘changing the payment mechanism’ for certain exports, starting with natural gas tomorrow

This afternoon.

Via Russian state-owned RT:

Countries globally may soon have to create ruble reserves within their domestic economies if they wish to continue to buy Russian gas, as Moscow switches payments to its national currency, Ilya Ilyin, the head of the banking and financial markets analysis department at Promsvyazbank said on Thursday.

“In the event of a transition to gas payments in rubles, the partner countries will probably create a certain fund of ruble reserves to facilitate payments,” the expert said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that the country is changing the payment mechanism for certain exports, starting with natural gas on April 1. The measure effects countries which have imposed sanctions on Russia in connection with Ukraine and froze Moscow’s foreign reserves.

The ‘unfriendly’ states Putin referred to are the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Switzerland, the 27 nations of the European Union, and a number of smaller countries….

Countries will need to create ruble reserves to buy Russian gas (RT)

Meanwhile…

…via Irish state-owned RTÉ:

Russia supplies about a third of Europe’s gas, so energy is the most powerful lever at Putin’s disposal as he tries to hit back against sweeping Western sanctions over his invasion of Ukraine.

His decision to enforce rouble payments has boosted the Russian currency, which fell to historic lows after the February 24 invasion but has since recovered.

Western companies and governments have rejected the move as a breach of existing contracts, which are set in euros or dollars.

France’s economy minister said France and Germany were preparing for a possible scenario that Russian gas flows could be halted – something that would plunge Europe into a full-blown energy crisis.

Russia will enforce rouble payments for gas from Friday – Putin (RTE)

Getty

This afternoon.

Belfast, Northern Ireland.

He seems nice.

No united Ireland for generations to come, insists Doug Beattie as UUP launch election manifesto (News Letter)

This afternoon.

Seanad Trinity By-election.

Via RTÉ News:

Results of Count 10: Electorate: 67,000+ Trinity graduates Total poll: 13,434 Total Valid Poll: 13,418; Quota: 6,710

CHU, Hazel + 182 (2,272)

CLONAN, Tom +104 (2,436)

GAFFNEY, Maureen +84 (2,274)

MACNEILL, Hugo +22 (2,312)

MCCARTHY, Aubrey +48 (1,187)

O’NEILL, Sadhbh +81 (1,186)

QUILL, Ursula +95 (1,525)

G’wan Tom.

Clonan takes lead in Seanad by-election race (RTE

This afternoon.

Further to the emergence of a video allegedly showing the activities of a Ukraine army unit called Kraken, affiliated with the far-right National Corps, where footage included soldiers apparently shooting Russian prisoners of war in the legs…

…via BBC ‘Reality Check’:

The BBC has geo-located footage from this video to the village of Vilkhivka, 3.5 miles (5.6km) from Malaya Rohan. The weather is similarly sunny and dry.

The group said 30 Russians were taken prisoner in the village on 25 March and the Kraken video has footage of PoWs bound, blindfolded and being bundled into a van at one point and forced to sing the Ukrainian national anthem at another point. But there is no shooting or serious violence towards them.

The BBC contacted Konstantin Nemichev, head of the National Corps in the Kharkiv region. He said his forces treated prisoners “humanely” and denied any connection to the video of the alleged shootings at the dairy.

Meanwhile…

…In the most disturbing part of the video, three men appear to be shot in the legs at close range with an assault weapon.

There’s been some debate on social media as to whether the footage is genuine or staged, with some people claiming there isn’t enough blood, evidence of exit wounds or shouting and screaming from the victims for it to be real.

We showed the video to several trauma surgeons and former military doctors who gave us their expert opinion but wished to remain anonymous.

One said he had treated soldiers who had sustained gunshot injuries who didn’t shout or scream and said the lack of bleeding on some of the wounded soldiers could be explained by them having had a tourniquet applied (visible in the video).

He said: “It is my opinion that the footage cannot be categorised as ‘fake’ purely based on the images seen. This requires an investigation for war crimes.”

Another doctor said: “It appears genuine… these meet the description of punishment shootings to the limbs”.

Other people on social media pointed to the lack of apparent recoil on the assault rifle when it was fired, claiming it could have been firing blank rounds.

Mr Reynolds points out that the AK-74’s 5.45mm round is small-calibre and has very little recoil but he also added “the video quality isn’t great”.

The BBC is continuing efforts to verify this video and will update this piece if more evidence comes to light.

Previously: “We Are A European Army, And We Do Not Mock Our Prisoners”

Does video show Russian prisoners being shot? (BBC)

Sunday.

St Patrick’s Park, Dublin 8 (north of St Patrick’s Cathedral).

The ‘Books and Browsables’ Market.

Taking place every Sunday from 11am-4pm.

Joanna writes:

Dublin City Council is calling on self-published authors to get in touch if they would like to be featured in the market in St Patrick’s Park.

It features a large selection of both new and second-hand books for long-time literature lovers and emerging enthusiasts, eager to discover the magic of storytelling.

The ‘Books and Browsables’ market regularly features self-published authors and small, independent publishers. Dublin City Council welcomes approaches from authors in that category who would like to sell and promote their work.

In addition to books, there are also lots of curiosities available to peruse in the market. From vintage maps and vinyl records to amazing antiques, retro toys and artwork, there’s plenty to capture the imagination.

A particularly environmentally-conscious element of the market comes in the form of upcycled and vintage clothing, which will be of interest to Dublin’s increasing number of sustainable fashion fans.

Complimented by a literary walk in the park, the park tearooms, toilets and a playground the market has everything for families to enjoy a day out.

So why not pop along some Sunday, browse through the market and have a listen to our resident classical piano player Javier (top)!

Pics Via Dublin City Council

This morning.

Government Buildings, Dublin 2.

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee (above) discusses the Government approval for her to publish the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022.

Via RTÉ News:

Among the measures proposed are a  requirement for all candidates for judicial positions to be interviewed and to show that they have undergone judicial training or continuous professional development.

If the proposed legislation is enacted it will mean that only three people will be recommended by the Judicial Appointments Commission for each position and that only people recommended by the commission can be recommended by the Government for appointment as a judge.

All candidates will have to be interviewed by the judicial appointments commission including serving judges seeking promotion to a higher court.

The commission will also have to publish a diversity statement committing to reflecting the diversity of the population as a whole in the make up of the judiciary.

Candidates for judiciary to face interviews under new reforms (Independent.ie)

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Leaving Cert coverage logo in the Irish Times, 1980s

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

…the perception persists that the Leaving Cert remains a high stakes exam completed during the month of June each year. The announcement by Minister for Education Norma Foley therefore that subjects will in future be assessed through a combination of a terminal exam in June worth 60 per cent of marks along with 40 per cent allocated through other methods, including teacher assessment, is to be greatly welcomed.

Easing The Stress (Irish Times)

HSE CEO Paul Reid

This morning.

Let it go, Paul.

Meanwhile…

This morning.

…via RTÉ News:

The Taoiseach has said he did not believe that making it mandatory to wear a mask indoors would change the current Covid-19 situation.

Organisations representing doctors and nurses have called on the Government to reintroduce some measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine have called on ministers to revisit measures such as wearing masks indoors and in congregated settings and working from home.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Micheál Martin said the Government is guided by public health advice in relation to Covid-19 and he has been in touch with the Chief Medical Officer

…Mr Martin said the country is in a new phase of Covid-19 and the guidance remains to wear a mask.

However he added that the return of restrictions is not justified.

Return of Covid restrictions not justified, Taoiseach says (RTE)

RollingNews

Yesterday.

Washington DC, USA.

“For Jamaica, one of the issues that has been presented as an issue that is economic in the way its impact has been the pandemic. So to that end we are announcing today also that we will assist Jamaica in Covid recovery by assisting in terms of the recovery efforts in Jamaica that have been essential to I believe what is necessary to strengthen not only the issue of public health but also the economy.”

US Vice President Kamala Harris during a meeting with the  Jamaican Prime Minister.

Um.

Anyone?

Meanwhile…

Yesterday.

Washington DC.

US President Joe Biden conducts a press conference while getting his second booster.

Now you want one.