(NEW YORK) — Nearly three million refugees have fled Ukraine since war erupted on Feb. 24. Among them is Hassan Al-Khalaf, an 11-year-old boy from Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian city along the Dnipro River where Russia has taken control of a nuclear power plant.
Hassan is one of the estimated one million children who have made the dangerous journey out of the war-torn country.
“Reports from the border suggest that some children are arriving unaccompanied after being sent by family members who were unable to leave Ukraine but wanted their children to be safe from ground attack and aerial explosions,” the charity Save the Children said in a release. “Others have been separated from their families in the chaos of fleeing their homes. Many of the solo arrivals are under 14 and showing signs of psychological distress.”
The boy arrived in Slovakia by train and foot, traveling over 620 miles west. The 11-year-old brought with him only a plastic bag with his belongings, including his passport. A phone number was written on his hand.
Border guards in Slovakia and volunteers banded together to help Hassan during his harrowing trek, using the phone number to help reunite the boy with his older siblings including his brother, who has been studying in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava.
Hassan’s mother, Pisecka Yulia Volodymyrivna, a widow, made the heartbreaking decision to send her 11-year-old out of Ukraine for his safety and stayed behind to care for her 84-year-old mother, who is unable to walk.
In a video statement, Volodymyrivna thanked the border guards and volunteers in Slovakia, saying in part, “Border guards met him, they guided him holding his hand. They helped him to cross the border and let him to the other side of Slovakia. Then Slovakian volunteers met him. They fed my child. They took him to Bratislava. I thank you very much for saving my son’s life.”
“I can’t leave my mother, who is 84 years old and who can’t walk on her own. That is why I put my son on a train to the Slovakia border where he was met by people with big hearts,” she continued. “There are people with big hearts in your small country. Please, save our children. Please protect our Ukrainian children.”
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Cleveland 120, LA Clippers 111 (OT)
Denver 114, Philadelphia 110
Atlanta 122, Portland 113
Charlotte 134, Oklahoma City 116
Minnesota 149, San Antonio 139
Golden State 126, Washington 112
Sacramento 112, Chicago 103
Milwaukee 117, Utah 111
Toronto 114, LA Lakers 103
(NEW YORK) — After a weekend of cold temperatures, snowstorms and heavy winds on the East Coast, a new storm is making its way to the South.
Southern states such as Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana should be on alert for severe thunderstorms where damaging winds, hail and a few tornadoes will be possible. This storm will move across the South in the next few days with heavy rain causing a threat for more severe weather.
Meanwhile in the West, several storms will continue to move through the area with heavy rains ranging from Washington to Northern California. The San Francisco bay area may get much-needed rain Monday night into Tuesday morning.
In the Pacific Northwest, heavy snow is expected in parts of the Washington area and a few inches coming to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Ahead of the western storms, wildfires are being fueled by the wind and dry weather from Southern California to Texas.
More than 100 firefighters were battling a brush fire Sunday night from the air and the ground in the Hansen Dam Recreation Area, near Pacoima, California.. The fire escalated to “Major Emergency” status within the 10 p.m. hour.
Just after 11 p.m., crews appeared to get the upper hand with “a well coordinated air attack combined with a relentless ground-based offense with firefighting hand lines and hand tools,” according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Firefighters contained the Hansen Fire to four acres, according to officials. Crews will continue working the fire’s perimeter with hose lines, hand tools, and heavy equipment throughout the night to extinguish hot spots.
There are no structures threatened at this time, and no injuries have been reported. Officials said there are currently no evacuations.
(WASHINGTON) — The Pentagon has been providing daily updates on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Ukraine’s efforts to resist.
Here are highlights of what a senior U.S. defense official told reporters on Monday:
Fallout from deadly airstrike near Polish border
On Sunday, Russian long-range bombers launched “more than a couple dozen” cruise missiles at a western Ukrainian training facility near Yavoriv, about 10 miles from the Polish border. All of the missiles were launched from Russian airspace, damaging at least seven buildings, according to the official.
The attack left at least 35 dead and 134 wounded, according to Ukrainian officials.
Russia also hit two airfields in western Ukraine on Friday in the towns of Lutsk and Ivano-Frankovsk.
During a Monday press briefing at the Pentagon, press secretary John Kirby said the strikes in western Ukraine are part of a broadening Russian assault across Ukraine.
“I wouldn’t think that that we would consider this or the other strikes in western Ukraine as some sort of turning point,” Kirby said, but adding, “The Russians clearly are expanding some of their targets sets.”
“If Mr. Putin was trying to signal his displeasure about a strong, united NATO with this war of his then he’s failed, because he’s getting exactly what he says he doesn’t want — a strong, united NATO on his Western flank,” Kirby said.
While there were 150 Florida National Guardsmen training Ukrainians on part of the base as recently as February, all U.S. troops and contractors were pulled from the country before the beginning of the invasion.
The strike occurred after the Kremlin claimed arms shipments to Ukraine are “legitimate targets,” but the U.S. official said no security assistance sites were hit in this case.
Kirby confirmed the training center was not being used to funnel U.S. weapons to Ukrainian forces.
“I would just tell you that we have multiple routes to get security assistance into the hands of the Ukrainians,” Kirby said.
In total, Russia has now launched more than 900 missiles against Ukraine, according to the senior U.S. defense official. This estimate is up from 810 on Friday.
Reports of Russia seeking military supplies from China
“I would just say that we’re going to watch that very, very closely. And as others in the administration have said, if China does choose to materially support Russia in this war, there will likely be consequences for China,” the official said.
Cease-fire talks
“We want to see the violence stop,” the official said. “All I can do is tell you what we’re seeing on the ground, and what we’re seeing on the ground is a continued military effort to subdue these population centers and to do it now with ever more violence using more and more long-range fires, which are increasingly indiscriminate in terms of what they’re hitting.”
Russian advance mostly stalled
“Almost all of Russia’s advances remain stalled,” the official said.
Kyiv: The Russians closest to Kyiv are still near Hostomel Airport to the northwest, about 9 miles (15km) from city center. Some troops are moving in behind those advance forces, “but not at a great pace,” the official said.
The forces approaching from the east are still about 12-19 miles from the heart of Kyiv, according to the official. This was the same estimate given by the official on Friday.
“No real progress to speak to,” the official said of these forces.
They’re facing heavy resistance from the Ukrainians. The U.S. assesses the defenders still have control of Brovary, just east of the capital, where in videos published last week we saw a column of Russian tanks hit.
Kharkiv: Significant fighting continues over Kharkiv, with Russians relying more and more on long-range missile attacks.
The U.S. sees a new line of advance with 50 to 60 vehicles moving from the southwest of Kharkiv down toward the town of Izyum.
“The assessment is that they are trying to block off the Donbass area and to prevent the flow westward of any Ukrainian armed forces that would be in the in the eastern part of the country, prevent them from coming to the assistance of other Ukrainian defenders near Kyiv,” the official said.
Mariupol: The city remains isolated and under heavy bombardment, with Russian forces to the north and east. Ukrainians continue to fight back, the official said.
Mykolayiv: Russian forces remain roughly where they were Friday, about six to nine miles northeast of the city. Ukrainians continue to resist.
It is unclear what the Russian plan is for Mykolayiv.
“It could be a left turn to move on Odessa from the ground or it could be they go north up towards Kiev,” the official said.
Odessa: The Pentagon still sees no sign of any looming amphibious assault on Odessa, according to the official.
Ukrainians going after Russian supplies
“The Ukrainians, as we’ve said all along, they’ve been quite creative here. They’re not simply going after combat capability — tanks and armored vehicles and shooting down aircraft — although they’re doing all that. They are also deliberately trying to impede and prevent the Russians’ ability to sustain themselves,” the official said, citing the long Russian convoy as one example.
Good news, Tool fans: you may not have to wait 13 years to hear another album.
In an interview with Cleveland Scene, drummer Danny Carey says that the next Tool record “won’t take us this long,” referring to the protracted gap between 2019’s Fear Inoculum and its predecessor, 2006’s 10,000 Days.
“We even had some stuff left over from the last one that we’ll develop,” Carey says. “We have head starts on three or four new songs.”
While that does sound exciting, we’re taking Carey’s comments with several grains of salt, as there were multiple false starts amid the 13-year wait for Fear Inoculum. Still, it would probably be hard to take longer than 13 years for another new album, so might as well be optimistic.
Tool is currently on tour in support of Fear Inoculum; the outing continues Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri. Earlier this month, they released “Opiate2,” a “re-imagined and extended” version of the title track off their 1992 EP in honor of its 30th anniversary.
A “restored and expanded” version of The Police‘s 1982 documentary The Police: Around the Worldwill be released on May 20 in multiple formats and configurations.
The film, which originally was issued on VHS tape and laserdisc, will be released on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time ever, with restored video and remastered audio, as well as four full bonus performances of songs featured in the doc.
In addition, the new release, titled The Police: Around The World Restored & Expanded, will be packaged with a newly created soundtrack album that will be available on either CD or as a colored-vinyl LP. The album includes performances of songs from the band’s first two albums recorded at shows in Japan, Hong Kong and the U.K.
The Police: Around the World captures the band on stage and behind the scenes while touring the globe in 1979 and 1980. The film features singer/bassist Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland visiting Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, India, Egypt, Greece, France, South America and the U.S., as they rock out in various venues, check out the local sights, meet fans and more.
“Like Napoleon, we wanted the world. Out of the messy and fervent atmosphere in London at that time we conceived the idea to go all around the world and film the whole adventure,” writes Summers in the release’s liner notes about what inspired the the documentary. “As far as we knew no rock band, at least, had ever done that. We had just about enough popularity to get booked around the globe. Plans were made.”
The Police: Around the World Restored & Expanded can be pre-ordered now and will be available as a DVD/CD set, a Blu-ray/CD package and a DVD/LP collection.
DVD & Blu-ray performance track list:
“Next to You”
“Walking on the Moon”
“Born in the 50’s”
“So Lonely”
“Man in a Suitcase”
“Can’t Stand Losing You”
“Bring On the Night”
“Canary in a Coalmine”
“Voices Inside My Head”
“When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around”
“Shadows in the Rain”
“Don’t Stand So Close to Me”
“Truth Hits Everybody”
“Roxanne”
Bonus features — complete live performances of:
“Walking on the Moon” (Live from Kyoto)
“Next to You” (Live from Kyoto)
“Message in a Bottle” (Live from Hong Kong)
“Born in the 50’s” (Live from Hong Kong)
Soundtrack album track list:
“Walking on the Moon” (Live from Kyoto)
“Next to You” (Live from Kyoto)*
“Deathwish” (Live from Kyoto)
“So Lonely” (Live from Kyoto)
“Can’t Stand Losing You” (Live from Kyoto)
“Truth Hits Everybody” (Live from Kyoto)
“Visions of the Night” (Live from Hammersmith)*
“Roxanne” (Live from Hammersmith)
Intro*
“Born in the 50’s” (Live from Hong Kong)
“Message in a Bottle” (Live from Hong Kong)
“Bring On the Night” (Live from Hong Kong)
The hit ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary has been renewed for a second season, the network announced Monday.
The news was shared on Instagram, in a clever schoolwide “memo” sent from the desk of principal Ava Coleman, who is played by Janelle James.
“The camera crew I hired to showcase all that I’ve made happen at our beautiful school thinks I’m a star,” the memo jokes. “With that said, it is with great pleasure that I share they’ll be returning for the 2022-2023 school year! That’s right — Abbott Elementary Season Two is coming to a screen near you.”
According to Deadline, the show was ABC’s strongest comedy telecast of a new or returning series among the 18-49 demographic in nearly two years, with 9 million viewers tuning in for its December premiere.
Star and creator of the show, Quinta Brunson, shared the exciting news on her Instagram with the caption, “Let’s get it.”
Kanye West fired back at D.L. Hughley over the weekend, after the comedian shared his thoughts about Kanye’s “stalker”-like behavior towards his ex, Kim Kardashian.
In response to D.L.’s thoughts that the “difference between him [Kanye] and a restraining order is about 20 hits and a couple of hundred million dollars,” Kanye shared a series of Instagram posts, including a Googled snapshot of the comedian with the caption, “DL lives in Calabasas???????? Yooooo God is good.”
D.L. responded to Kanye in a series of posts on Twitter.
Country star Dolly Parton says she would love for Beyoncé to cover her 1973 hit “Jolene.”
In a recent interview with The Daily Show‘s Trevor Noah, Parton said, “I would just love to hear ‘Jolene’ done in just a big way, kind of like how Whitney [Houston] did my ‘I Will Always Love You.'”
Lady Gaga’s been keeping her relationship with Michael Polanksy pretty quiet, but she brought him as her date to two major public appearances on Sunday: the BAFTAs and the Critics Choice Awards. At the BAFTAs in London, host Rebel Wilson awarded Polanksy the “best plus one award.” Gaga, sadly, went home empty-handed at both events.
At the Critics Choice Awards, Gaga also shared a special moment with West Side Story star Rachel Zegler, who plays Maria. “You’re stunning and I’m obsessed with you,” Zegler told Gaga during a commercial break, according to Variety. Gaga then embraced the young actress, causing her to tear up.
Kim Kardashian is loving Rihanna’s maternity style. Rih-Rih recently stepped out in a belly-baring look consisting of a black leather jacket, matching mini skirt, silver bra top, and thigh-high boots. In a Sunday post to her Instagram Story captured by E!, Kim commented on the look, “OMGGGGGG. @Badgalriri best pregnancy style ever.”
Ahead of her album release this week, Charli XCX surprised fans by dropping a brand-new song titled “Every Rule.” “Couldn’t wait so i’m giving you every rule…” the singer tweeted Monday. Her album, Crash, drops Friday.
In an apparent attempt to prove that he can work in every musical genre, pop superstar Ed Sheeranmade a surprise appearance Sunday night at a Luke Combs show in London.
Luke was performing at London’s O2 Arena as part of the Country 2 Country Festival, and Ed showed up to join him on a version of his song “Dive,” which appears on Ed’s album ÷ (Divide). While it wasn’t a single, the track’s a fan favorite and Luke often covers it in concert.
“Boys, I don’t know how we follow that,” laughed Luke after Ed walked off stage.
It seems Luke had the time of his life performing at the three-day festival that takes place across Europe, sharing photos from the stage as he performs in front of massive crowds. This marks the first year of the country music-themed festival since 2019. It was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(NEW YORK) — A Fox News correspondent was injured in Ukraine, a day after the death of a freelance journalist also covering the Russia invasion.
Fox News State Department correspondent Benjamin Hall was injured while newsgathering near Kyiv on Monday, according to Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media.
The circumstances were not immediately clear but Hall was hospitalized, according to Scott, who asked to “please keep Ben and his family in your prayers.” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby also confirmed he was injured.
Shaun Tandon, president of the State Department Correspondents’ Association, said in a statement, “We know Ben for his warmth, good humor and utmost professionalism. We wish Ben a quick recovery and call for utmost efforts to protect journalists who are providing an invaluable service through their coverage in Ukraine.”
Hall’s injury follows the Sunday death of freelance journalist Brent Renaud, which was confirmed by the U.S. State Department. Renaud was in Ukraine to cover the global refugee crisis for a documentary with Sugar23, Time Studios and Day Zero Productions, according to Sugar23.
“As an award-winning filmmaker and journalist, Brent tackled the toughest stories around the world often alongside his brother Craig Renaud,” Time editor-in-chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal and president and COO of Time and Time Studios Ian Orefice said in a statement. “In recent weeks, Brent was in the region working on a TIME Studios project focused on the global refugee crisis. Our hearts are with all of Brent’s loved ones.”
Photojournalist Juan Arredondo said he was with Renaud when he was killed.
In a video from a hospital bed, Arredondo said, “We crossed the first bridge in Irpin; we were going to film other refugees leaving and we got to a car, somebody offered to take us to the other bridge and we crossed a checkpoint and they started shooting at us. So, the driver turned around and they kept shooting. It’s two of us, my friend is Brent Renaud, and he’s been shot and left behind.”
“This kind of attack is totally unacceptable, and is a violation of international law,” Carlos Martínez de la Serna, program director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement. “Russian forces in Ukraine must stop all violence against journalists and other civilians at once.”
“Two examples of the dangers in covering war,” Kirby, of the Pentagon, said of Hall and Renaud during a Monday press briefing. “This is a war that didn’t need to be fought, to be sure. But just as to be sure, there are journalists from around the world on the ground trying to discover the truth and to show that truth and to tell these important stories.”
ABC News’ Christine Theodorou and Luis Martinez contributed to this report.
