Two new laws that ban communist symbols while honouring nationalist groups that collaborated with the Nazis have come into effect in Ukraine, raising concerns that Kiev could be stifling free speech and further fragmenting the war-torn country in the rush to break ties with its Soviet past.

The first law “on the condemnation of the communist and Nazi totalitarian regimes” forbids both Soviet and Nazi symbols, making something as trivial as selling a USSR souvenir, or singing the Soviet national hymn or the Internationale, punishable by up to five years in prison for an individual and up to 10 years in prison for members of an organisation.

It also makes it a criminal offence to deny the “criminal character of the communist totalitarian regime of 1917-1991 in Ukraine” in the media or elsewhere.

The second law recognises controversial nationalist groups – including the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) – as “independence fighters” and makes it a criminal offence to question the legitimacy of their actions. While these two groups at different times fought both Soviet and German forces, they also collaborated with the Nazis and took part in ethnic cleansing. One of the authors of the law is the son of UPA leader Roman Shukhevych.

K vypnutí dezinformačních webů vyzvala česká vláda ve svém obecně formulovaném usnesení a je vděčná nevládním organizacím i komerčním firmám, že tyto dezinformační weby vypnuly. Vládě je ale jasné, že vypnutí webů je jen přechodné opatření. Uvedl to premiér Petr Fiala (ODS) v odpovědi na písemnou interpelaci poslance ANO Patrika Nachera.

Nacher ve své interpelaci poukazoval na vypínání různých serverů a není podle něj jasné, na základě jakých podkladů se tak děje. Jde o první písemnou interpelaci, která se objevila na sněmovním webu v tomto volebním období. Poslanci by se jí měli zabývat již příští čtvrtek dopoledne při pokračování řádné červnové schůze.

V premiérově odpovědi na písemnou interpelaci je uvedeno datum 12. května. Zhruba o dva týdny později, 25. května, však internetové sdružení CZ.NIC odblokovalo sedm dezinformačních webů, jejichž domény s koncovkou .cz znepřístupnilo 25. února v souvislosti s válkou na Ukrajině. Zdůvodnilo to tím, že tyto weby už nepředstavují hrozbu. Na sněmovním webu se odpověď objevila v pondělí.

Fiala uvádí, že vypnutí ruských médií Russia Today a Sputnik nařídila Evropská rada. „Vypnutí a blokace dalších webů specificky působících na našem území bylo rozhodnuto nevládními organizacemi a komerčními firmami na základě vyhodnocení možností, které plynou z obchodních vztahů, které mají s provozovateli daných dezinformačních webů,” uvedl premiér.

„Vláda k tomu vyzvala ve svém obecně formulovaném usnesení a je daným organizacím vděčna, že postupovaly tak, jak postupovaly. Současně je vládě jasné, že jde o přechodné ustanovení,” dodal.

Vláda letos 25. února, den po zahájení ruské invaze na Ukrajinu, schválila usnesení, které se týkalo hybridního působení proti zájmům Česka. „Vláda vyzývá všechny relevantní subjekty k přijetí potřebných opatření vedoucích k zamezení šíření nepravdivých a zavádějících informací v kybernetickém prostoru, které slouží k manipulování obyvatelstva České republiky směrem k ospravedlnění a schvalování aktuální ruské vojenské agrese vůči Ukrajině,” stojí v usnesení.

Aeronet.cz stále nefunguje
Sdružení CZ.NIC zablokovalo v ten samý den weby Aeronet.cz, Protiproud.cz, Ceskobezcenzury.cz, Voxpopuliblog.cz, Prvnizpravy.cz, Czechfreepress.cz, Exanpro.cz a Skrytapravda.cz. Sedm z nich na konci května odblokovalo kromě Aeronetu, který podle sdružení nemá v registru uvedené správné údaje o držiteli.

Hlavním cílem zablokování webů v době zahájení agrese Ruské federace bylo podle sdružení omezit šíření nepravdivých a zavádějících informací v on-line prostoru, které se snažily relativizovat, ospravedlňovat či schvalovat agresi. Mluvčí sdružení Vilém Sládek na konci května uvedl, že z tohoto pohledu již tyto weby nepředstavují hrozbu.

Dezinformační weby v Česku opět fungují. Až na Aeronet
Dezinformace často šíří samotní uživatelé
Dezinformace se šíří sítěmi jako lavina – a je jedno, jestli se bavíme o koronaviru, válce na Ukrajině nebo úplně jiném tématu. Na webu jsou jich statisíce. Jak upozornily servery NPR a Poynter, nešíří je pouze jejich tvůrci, ale velmi často i samotní uživatelé.

Nejčastěji se totiž hoaxy a dezinformace šíří prostřednictvím sociálních sítí, jako je například Facebook či Twitter. I když se internetoví giganti snaží proti tomu bojovat, práci jim znesnadňují samotní uživatelé.

Smyšlené zprávy totiž často šíří dál – jednoduše věří tomu, co si na internetu přečtou. Není výjimkou, že některé zprávy mají desítky či stovky tisíc sdílení. Nevědomky tak pomáhají tvůrcům dezinformací, aby si vydělali pořádný balík peněz.

Podobné kauzy globálního dosahu jsou totiž pro tvůrce dezinformací hotový zlatý důl. Využívají strachu a paniky lidí, aby je nasměrovali na své webové stránky. Díky tomu následně profitují ze zobrazované reklamy, a to klidně i několik milionů dolarů.

Single people have hit back at the new single bubble arrangement, describing it as a "slap in the face" and discriminatory, due to the rules being more relaxed for intimate relationships.
Here is everything you need to know about the new single social bubble and how it is different to the intimate partner arrangement.
What is a single social bubble?
People who live alone or are a single parent can create a single social bubble by nominating one other person to socialise with during coronavirus lockdown in Victoria.
The concept aims to support people living alone who may be feeling isolated while restrictions are in place.
READ MORE: Victoria records 76 cases and 11 deaths
How does the single bubble work?
The single bubble comes into effect from 11:59pm on September 13. People who live alone or are a single parent (with dependents aged under 18) can nominate one person to form part of their 'bubble'. The person nominated does not have to live alone (they can be from a household or a share house), but the single person is only permitted to visit them in their home when they are alone.
Otherwise, the nominated person will need to visit the single person at home. An entire household cannot be nominated – only one person.

People will be ordered to work from home in the event of a major fuel crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine, under secret Government emergency plans.

The Irish Independent has learned confidential details of an emergency planning exercise held 10 days ago between all the major state agencies and the Government.

poster

The high-level planning exercise proposed three fuel supply deficit scenarios, and possible consequences were presented and discussed.

Delegates were given a scenario of a 20pc diesel supply deficit in September and a 35pc drop in supply in December. The third and most extreme scenario proposed for February 2023, is where gas and oil supplies cannot meet the demand for electricity generation or farmers preparing to cut silage.

The Irish Independent can reveal that in the event of a national fuel crisis, emergency contingency measures discussed at the high-level meeting include:

:: All non-essential workers will be ordered to work from home

:: A limit will be placed on all non-essential car travel

:: A strict limit on the amount of fuel motorists can buy at any one time

:: The implementation of an immediate and strict reduction in the speed limit on motorways.

The plan also includes the introduction of an emergency scheme whereby motorists with an odd number at the end of their car registration will only be allowed to drive or refuel on alternate days.

Those with odd numbers could refuel on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday and those with an even number on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The confidential meeting, convened by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) on May 26 at the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre, was termed the “Oil Emergency Exercise”.

The meeting was attended by members of DECC, the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA), Fuels for Ireland (FFI), the Department of Transport and National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG).

Each group was required to run through the three possible scenarios. One Government source described the planning exercise and the options available to mitigate supply problems and protect societal function as “very, very stark”.

"They gave us a scenario where there was a 20pc reduction of diesel coming into the country. And then one where there was 30-35pc reduction and then one where essentially we don't have enough oil or gas, and the question arises as to whether we divert oil to electricity generation or agriculture to grow food.

"All of this happening is very unlikely but to have it discussed openly when we know the situation in Ukraine was an eye-opener.”

Senior Government sources have told the Irish Independent the likelihood of a fuel crisis at the magnitudes discussed at the meeting is "highly remote".

The first scenario, which was tabled for four months time – September 1, 2022 – discussed what measure would be introduced if there was an 18-20pc shortfall in diesel.

The plan states that if a supply deficit of this magnitude occurs, it will lead to "diesel stockouts" where many fuel stations will run dry and supply to critical and emergency services will be threatened.

At this point, NORA would be required to release limited amounts of its 90-day reserve stock to meet essential demand.

In the second scenario, fuel stocks have dipped to dangerously low levels – 35pc below demand for eight weeks leading up to December 19, 2022.

At this critical point, the plan states the NECG will discuss activating the Oil Emergency Allocation Scheme "to control the supply and distribution of diesel".

The emergency contingency plan, if implemented, would prioritise essential services and critical workers, with other motorists told to limit their driving.

If Ireland has to introduce fuel rationing, consumers would be separated into four categories. Tier one comprises essential workers, such as farmers and food producers. Those classified in tier four are motorists making non-essential journeys.

Only designated critical service stations – of which there are approximately 100 in the country – will be stocked with fuel.

The designated stations will only provide fuel to emergency and essential services and workers.

Kevin McPartlan, CEO of Fuels for Ireland, described the planning exercise as "prudent".

"While it remains highly unlikely that we will experience a reduced supply of fuel, it is prudent that we and Government engage in emergency planning.

"As things stand, despite the invasion of Ukraine and the announcement of sanctions prohibiting the importation of Russian fuel into the EU, our stock levels are very healthy, and we see no cause for concern in our supply pipeline.

"We remain more than confident that, save for any massive shock to supply or demand, we will have no issue in continuing to meet Ireland's need for liquid fuels."

Last May, President Volodymyr Zelensky took office promising to end the then-five-year old war with Russia – to “just stop the shooting”. As his administration approaches its one-year anniversary, however, Zelensky’s peacebuilding efforts face backlash in Kiev, skepticism in Moscow, and hostility in the Russian-backed breakaways in Donbass. Violence at the 400-km frontline, which cuts through the southeastern industrial region, has subsided only marginally. Hobbled from the beginning by poor communication, especially with his domestic audience, his team has yet to offer their Russian adversaries or the Ukrainian public a coherent vision for peace – namely for how to make the controversial 2014-2015 Minsk agreements, which entail return of Donbass’s Russian-backed enclaves to Kiev’s control, acceptable to all sides. Now, amid the COVID-19 crisis and resulting economic struggles, other pressing matters threaten to derail his key goal.

Upon taking office, Zelensky set about re-booting the stagnant peace process, and the backlash was immediate. In June, the sides revived a failed 2016 agreement to disengage forces along small sections of the frontline. Critics accused Kiev of undoing years of incremental advances by Ukrainian troops. Presidentialpress secretary Iuliia Mendel, in line with Zelensky’s campaign pledge to treat residents of Russia-backed enclaves more like full-fledged Ukrainians, drew attention to the prevalence of civilian casualties in these areas, which she blamed on government forces’ injudicious use of return fire. This earned her a prosecutorial summons. The sides negotiated a wide-ranging ceasefire in July 2020, leading to an unprecedented drop in violations and civilian casualties, but Ukrainian pro-military activists insisted only their side was complying. After Russian-backed fighters reportedly killed four Ukrainian soldiers in an unprovoked August attack, violations climbed up to pre-ceasefire levels, where they have hovered since, with a few spikes and falls.