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LIVE BLOG: Putin’s war on Ukraine

Breaking news updates, opinion and analysis on day eight of the conflict.

Russia to compete in 2022 Maccabiah Games, despite Paralympic ban

Russian athletes will be allowed to participate in this summer’s Maccabiah Games, even after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) banned the Russian and Belarussian teams from the Beijing Winter Olympics that begin on Friday.

Just minutes after the IPC decision was announced on Thursday morning, a Maccabiah source confirmed to Jewish News that both Russian and Ukrainian delegations are still expected attend the Maccabiah Games, due to take place in Israel from 12-26 July, 2022.

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Read the latest edition of the Jewish News newspaper online now

The latest edition of the Jewish News newspaper is now available at newstands and online.

It’s packed with articles covering the Russia-Ukraine conflict and much more.

You can read the entire newspaper right here

Labour MP praises World Jewish Relief’s Ukraine fundraising efforts

A view of Bury South MP Christian Wakeford sitting on the opposition benches during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons
A view of Bury South MP Christian Wakeford sitting on the opposition benches during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons

Labour MP Christian Wakeford has praised the “vital” work being done by World Jewish Relief in raising funds for those affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – while recalling also his visit, just weeks ago, to the Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Bury South MP, who is of Ukranian heritage himself, said: “World Jewish Relief and many other community groups across Prestwich, Whitefield and Radcliffe are raising vital funds for those in Ukraine and those who have already fled Ukraine, and I put on the record my thanks to them.

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‘Shame on you’ shouted at Corbyn during Stop The War event on Ukraine

Our reporter attended an event at which former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke, held by Stop The War Coalition.

One protestor was kicked out for waving a Ukrainian flag.

Corbyn’s speech ended with shouts of: ‘Shame on you’

 

VIDEO: Acrid smoke, uprooted trees – but the memorial still stands

Oz
Oz

EYEWITNESS EXCLUSIVE: Oz Katerji reports from Kyiv, where a Russian rocket attack left chunks of debris scattered across a memorial to murdered Shoah victims

A thick cloud of acrid smoke hangs in the air at the scene of Tuesday night’s Russian missile strike on the Kyiv TV tower, which left chunks of debris scattered across the Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial site in the heart of Kyiv.

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Roman Abramovich to sell Chelsea

Roman Abramovich has confirmed his decision to sell Chelsea amid Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian-Israeli billionaire has owned the Blues since 2003 and helped steer the Stamford Bridge club to 19 major trophies.

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OPINION: The emergency refugee response on Ukraine’s Moldova border

IsraAID’s Ethan Schwartz met some of the desperate refugees who are trying to escape Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

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OPINION: How to talk to your children about Putin’s wicked war in Ukraine

A woman cries next to her children in a Kyiv bomb shelter. . Photo by Raphael Lafargue/ABACAPRESS.COM
A woman cries next to her children in a Kyiv bomb shelter. . Photo by Raphael Lafargue/ABACAPRESS.COM

Expert behavioural psychologist and relationship coach, Jo Hemmings, offers advice for mums and dads on finding a balance between protecting your children and answering their questions to allay their fears

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£35M fund for Shoah survivors in Ukraine

Holocaust survivor Natalia Berezhnaya with her home care worker in Odessa. ( Alexander Vdovichenko/Jewish Joint Distribution Committee)
Holocaust survivor Natalia Berezhnaya with her home care worker in Odessa. ( Alexander Vdovichenko/Jewish Joint Distribution Committee)

Jewish organisations in Ukraine have been given a £35 million cash boost to support thousands of local Holocaust survivors, as war continues to rage in the Eastern European country.

The funds, allocated by the Claims Conference, will be used to provide home care and supportive services for frail and vulnerable Shoah victims.

Read more here 

Footballer describes harrowing experience of fleeing Ukraine

Manor Solomon posted on Instagram about getting out of Ukraine
Manor Solomon posted on Instagram about getting out of Ukraine

An Israeli football star playing in Ukraine has described the harrowing 25-hour journey he endured as he escaped to Poland following the Russian invasion.

“On Thursday morning I woke up to the sound of explosions and alarms and I immediately contacted the team and my friends from Kiev”

“After realizing that I had to take care of myself I decided to set off and at 18:30 I was picked up by a friend’s Ukrainian driver.”

Read more here

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Labour MP claims ‘oligarchs’ lawyers are cracking down on free speech’

A Labour MP has claimed that “some oligarchs’ lawyers are cracking down on free speech” after the BBC cancelled an interview with him.

Chris Bryant, who represents the Rhondda in South Wales, suggested his appearance on Radio 5 Live on Tuesday morning had been axed because the broadcaster’s lawyers had been unable to “vet” what he was going to say.

Ahead of the planned interview, he tweeted: “Interesting @bbc5live just cancelled an interview with me at 7.30 because their lawyers couldn’t vet what I was going to say beforehand.

“I guess some oligarchs’ lawyers are cracking down on free speech. Sad that broadcasters are playing their game.”

There is no suggestion such lawyers had any involvement in the decision to cancel the interview.

Responding to his comment on Twitter, Radio 5 Live said it was “standard procedure to ask a guest for a briefing before an interview”.

The statement added: “We had not been able to arrange this and so had not been able to check any legal considerations. We’d love to have you on another time.”

A BBC spokesman said: “It’s wrong to say we have come under any external pressure; we always make our own independent editorial decisions and it’s not uncommon for interview plans to change.”

Mr Bryant, who served as deputy leader of the House of Commons from 2008 to 2009, has been vocal about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He recently called for the Russian-Israeli Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to be banned from owning the football club and other UK assets.

He also previously called for a full review of so-called “golden visas” for wealthy foreign investors, which he said had been used by “dodgy Russian oligarchs”.