LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Tuesday that 156 civilians had been evacuated to the central Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia from Mariupol.

The civilians were evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol on May 1.

- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday welcomed the safe evacuation of civilians.

"I am pleased that more than 100 civilians have successfully been evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, in an operation successfully coordinated by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross," Guterres said in a statement.

Russia said Tuesday it resumed bombarding the Mariupol site after accusing Ukraine of taking advantage of ceasefire.

- Russia's oil imports to be hit with new EU sanctions - Borrell

The European Union's top diplomat said Brussels will impose new sanctions on Russia for waging war against Ukraine, targeting Moscow's oil industry, banks, and those responsible for disinformation.

"We are working on the sixth package of sanctions which aims to de-SWIFT more banks, list disinformation actors, and tackle oil imports," Josep Borrell, head of the foreign policy unit at the EU's executive European Commission, said in a tweet.

The latest round of sanctions would also affect Sberbank, Russia's top lender, diplomats said, adding it to several banks that have already been excluded from the SWIFT messaging system.

Officials said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to spell out the proposed new sanctions on Wednesday and that they would include a ban on imports of Russian oil by the end of this year.

An embargo on Russian oil would deprive Moscow of a significant revenue stream, but reaching an agreement on the measure has divided countries of the bloc, which relies on Russia for 26 percent of its oil imports.

"The Russian banks must be fully expelled from the international financial system," he said. "I ask you to close your ports for Russian ships and to limit the number of Russian tourists coming to you."

- Russia puts West 'on notice'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has put the West on notice that he could terminate exports and deals in response to the sanctions burden imposed by the United States and allies over its military operation in Ukraine. Mr Putin signed a broad decree yesterday which forbade the export of products and raw materials to people and entities on a sanctions list that he instructed the government to draw up within 10 days. The decree, which came into force with its publication, gives Moscow the power to halt exports or tear up contracts with an entity or individual it has sanctioned. The decree sets out retaliatory special economic measures in connection with the unfriendly actions of some foreign states and international organizations.

INVESTIGATION ORDERED INTO DISCOVERY OF BRITISH COMPONENTS IN RUSSIAN WEAPONS USED IN INVASION

A fresh investigation has been ordered by the UK Government after high-end Btritish-made electronics were discovered in arms being used by Kremlin forces in Ukraine.

Examinations of Russian systems found in Ukraine have found widespread evidence of Western parts in Moscow’s arsenal.

They include UK-manufactured transistors in a mobile jamming system and American-made connectors and circuit boards used in an advanced cruise missile system.

The issue of British technology being acquired for Russian weaponry in Ukraine was revealed by i on the eve of the Russian invasion after a study discovered UK components in surveillance drones being used by Kremlin-backed separatists.

The revelations prompted ministers to promise measures to further tighten Britain’s arms export controls to ensure so-called “dual use” components capable of being integrated into either civilian or military equipment are not diverted to Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

But officials have now been forced to acknowledge ongoing issues after a report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) defence think-tank revealed the extent of the Kremlin’s success in sourcing Western components in the face of arms embargoes and export restrictions.

The study, based on an on-the-ground analysis of abandoned or deployed Russian weaponry in Ukraine, warned that Russia had become adept at acquiring advanced electronics and other parts by “laundering” them through third countries.

It raises the prospect of a long-term game of cat and mouse as the Kremlin resorts to the smuggling of components to circumvent Western sanctions and keep its aircraft, missiles and other advanced weaponry in working order.

India, which has longstanding defence links with Russia and has conspicuously refrained from direct condemnation of Moscow, has been highlighted as one potential conduit for the flow of components – resulting in Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month pledging to close any such loopholes while on a visit to New Delhi.

RUSI experts said they had found direct evidence of British components in two Russian weapons systems in Ukraine – an oscillator used in the TOR-M2 air defence system, regarded as one of the most potent of its type; and transistors used in the Borisoglebsk-2 jamming system.

The study warned that Britain was not alone in seeing its components being used to bolster the Kremlin’s ability to wage war, adding that in some cases it was clear that military rather than civilian technology manufactured by Western companies had ended up in Russia.

The report said: “Almost all of Russia’s modern military hardware is dependent upon complex electronics imported from the US, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Israel, China and further afield.

“In some instances these components are civilian dual-use electronics that can be procured commercially. In many more, however, they are pieces of military or specialised technologies for which there are a small number of regulated suppliers.”

It could not be established when the components found in Russian weaponry were bought and there is no suggestion that UK companies have knowingly supplied Moscow’s defence manufacturers. As a result, the study’s authors said additional restrictions may be needed on some civilian components being sent to India, Kazakhstan and some European countries.

SUPREME COURT DRAFT LEAK ROCKS US

Declaring that the right to abortion is “not deeply rooted in the nation’s history and traditions”, the US Supreme Court appeared set to overturn the historic Roe v Wade verdict of 1973 that legalised abortion nationwide, according to a leaked draft of the majority opinion reported by the news site Politico.

The draft majority opinion, in response to an ongoing case on a restrictive Mississippi law that banned abortion after 15 weeks, was written by Justice Samuel Alito. It is reportedly backed by four other conservative judges, all nominated by Republicans, while three judges nominated by Democratic administration - Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan -are expected to dissent from the opinion.

The stand that Chief Justice John Roberts - a Republican nominee who in the past has adopted a more centrist position than his conservative colleagues – will take was not clear.

Even as the SC confirmed the authenticity of the document, the draft prompted a strong response by President Joe Biden, who warned against overturning Roe v Wade and said women’s right to choose is “fundamental”.

Chief Justice John Roberts termed the leak a “singular and egregious breach of trust”, claimed that the “betrayal of confidences” would not affect the integrity of the court’s operations, and announced a probe into the source of the leak.

Drafts, according to close observers of the court, are often circulated to serve as the basis for negotiations and consultations among judges. But in this case, the leaked draft both provides a sense of the arguments that may be used to justify the rollback of Roe v Wade and the balance of power in the court which will enable the decision.

“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences, the draft says, according to Politico. “And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division. It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”

This is the first time that an opinion of the court on a pending case has been leaked prior to the formal verdict. While it may change, the draft opinion is in line with many observers expected given the composition of the court.

US WANTS UN VOTE ON NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS OVER MISSILES IN MAY

The United States would like the U.N. Security Council to vote during May to further sanction North Korea over its renewed ballistic missile launches, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said on Tuesday.

The United States circulated an initial draft resolution to the 15-member council last month that proposed banning tobacco and halving oil exports to North Korea and blacklisting the Lazarus hacking group.

However, Russia and China have already signaled opposition to boosting sanctions in response to Pyongyang's March launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile - its first since 2017.

"It is our plan to move forward with that resolution during this month," U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters when asked if she would put it to a vote.

CHINA SENDS AIRCRAFT CARRIER, 8 WARSHIPS TO SEAS NEAR JAPAN

Eight Chinese warships, led by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s aircraft carrier Liaoning, passed between southern Japan’s Okinawa island chain on Monday in a show of strength that state media described as “preparation for missions that include a potential military conflict across the Taiwan Strait”.

The warships sailed between the main Okinawa island and Miyako island, the Japanese defence ministry and Chinese state media reports said, adding while there was no incursion into Japan’s territorial waters, helicopters on board the Liaoning carrier took off and landed.

In Chinese naval doctrine, these islands are part of the “first island chain” and sailing past these means a projection of power by the Chinese navy.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, or the Japanese navy, dispatched the Izumo, a helicopter carrier, as well as P-1 maritime patrol aircraft and P-3C anti-submarine aircraft to monitor the passage of the Chinese vessels, Japan’s defence ministry said in the press release.

The US 7th Fleet, which is stationed in Japan, is also expected to monitor the passage of the Chinese warships.

TALIBAN TELLS DRIVING TEACHERS TO STOP ISSUING LICENCES TO WOMEN: REPORT

Herat : Taliban officials in Afghanistan’s most progressive city have told driving instructors to stop issuing licences to women, professionals from the sector said.

While Afghanistan is a deeply conservative, patriarchal country, it is not uncommon for women to drive in larger cities — particularly Herat in the northwest, which has long been considered liberal by Afghan standards.

“We’ve been verbally instructed to stop issuing licenses to women drivers. . . but not directed to stop women from driving in the city,” said Jan Agha Achakzai, the head of Herat’s Traffic Management Institute that oversees driving schools. Adila Adeel, a 29-year-old woman driving instructor who owns a training institute said the Taliban want to ensure that the next generation will not have the same opportunities as their mothers. “We were told not to offer driving lessons and not to issue licences,” she said.

After coming to power in August, the Taliban have increasingly restricted the rights of Afghans, particularly girls and women who have been prevented from returning to secondary school and many government jobs. “I told aTaliban (guard) that it’s more comfortable for me to travel in my car than sit beside a taxi driver,” said Shaima Wafa.

“Ineed to be able to take my family to a doctor in my car without waiting for my brother or husband to come home,” she said. Naim al-Haq Haqqani, who heads the provincial information and culture department, said no official order had been given. To 26-year-old Zainab Mohseni, the decision is just a fresh sign the new regime will stop at nothing to prevent Afghan women from enjoying the few rights they have left. “Slowly, the Taliban want to increase curbs on women,” she said.

EU TO OFFER MEDICAL DATA TO ITS PATIENTS

The European Commission on Tuesday put forward a proposal that would let patients access their medical data anywhere in the bloc, creating an EU-wide platform that could also be used for research.

The scheme, called the European Health Data Space, gained impetus from the coronavirus pandemic and Brussels’ lead in obtaining vaccines and creating a bloc-wide COVID status certificate.

Currently, medical records are retained by family doctors or at a regional or national level.

The commission’s plan is to give patients free and easy digital access to their medical information, so it could be used by other doctors, anywhere in the EU.

That would avoid the need for costly duplicate X-rays or analyses that had already been recorded, potentially saving more than five billion euros, according to the commission.

228 PROBABLE CASES OF CHILD HEPATITIS: WHO

Geneva : At least 228 probable cases of hepatitis of unknown origin in children have now been reported to the WHO from 20 countries, the UN health agency said on Tuesday. “As of May 1, at least 228 probable cases were reported to WHO from 20 countries, with over 50 additional cases under investigation,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told reporters in Geneva. Most of the cases are from Europe but there are others in the Americas, the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia, he said. The WHO was first informed on April 5 of 10 cases in Scotland detected in children under the age of 10.

More than 100 cases have now been recorded in Britain. Some cases have caused liver failure and required transplants. Many cases reported jaundice, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. The WHO refers to the outbreak of severe liver inflammations as acute hepatitis of unknown origin among young children.

MYSTERY LIVER DISEASE KILLS 3 KIDS IN INDONESIA

Three children in Indonesia have died from a mysterious liver disease, the country’s health ministry said, raising to at least four the global death toll of afatal ailment puzzling doctors from the US to Asia. The children —aged two, eight, and 11 — also had fever, jaundice, convulsions and loss of consciousness, the ministry’s spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said.