Friday Briefing: Fire put out at Europe's biggest nuclear plant after battle causes alarm

The Reuters Daily Briefing Friday, March 4, 2022 by Linda Noakes Hello Here's what you need to know. The seizure of a Ukraine nuclear plant sparks worries about radiation monitoring, Nike and IKEA close their Russian stores, and Russia threatens jail for 'fake' news Today's biggest stories Surveillance camera footage shows a flare landing at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during shelling in Enerhodar, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine, March 4, 2022 WAR IN UKRAINE A huge blaze at the site of Europe's biggest nuclear power station was extinguished, and officials said the plant in southeastern Ukraine was operating normally after it was seized by Russian forces in fighting that caused global alarm. The seizure of the Zaporizhzhia plant has heightened fears about lack of access to radiation data and the potential for a nuclear accident, atomic experts said, although they stressed there did not appear to be any immediate risks. Russia's parliament passed a law imposing a jail term of up to 15 years for spreading intentionally "fake" information about the armed forces as Moscow fights back in what it casts as an information war. Russia's communications watchdog has restricted access to several foreign news organizations' websites including the BBC and Deutsche Welle for spreading what it cast as false information. The United States imposed sanctions against Russian oligarchs as it targeted Russia's super-rich and others close to President Vladimir Putin. As Russian troops slowly advanced on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, some people back in Moscow were attempting to flee to destinations abroad that have not banned flights from Russia, stomaching soaring prices in the rush to escape. Here's what you need to know about the conflict right now Customers shop in an IKEA store in Omsk, Russia, March 3, 2022 BUSINESS & MARKETS Companies and investors across the world faced Russian dilemmas as they weighed up an offer from Moscow to fast-track their exits from the country and allow them to hand over holdings to local managers until they return. Sneaker maker Nike and home furnishings firm IKEA shut down stores in Russia and Alphabet's Google said it had stopped selling online advertising in the country, a ban that covers search, YouTube and outside publishing partners. Russia's global financial isolation intensified as the London Stock Exchange suspended trading in its last Russian securities and some insurers withdrew cover from exporters over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Stocks extended their losses for the week as investors piled into government bonds and gold for cover. Industrial metals, grains and oil gained while Asian shares mined 16-month lows. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a bill to ban U.S. imports of Russian oil, saying the shipments could be replaced by boosting output in North America and other places. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen poses for pictures with former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he was bestowed with an Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon at the presidential building in Taipei, March 3, 2022 IN OTHER NEWS The United States should formally recognize Taiwan as a country, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a speech in Taipei, drawing a stern rebuke from China for his "babbling nonsense". Two of Hong Kong's largest consumer retail chains started rationing some food and drug items to curb panic buying that has plagued the city over the past week amid fears of a citywide lockdown as COVID-19 cases soar. Talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal appeared to near a climax with talk of an imminent ministerial meeting as a U.N. report showed Iran is most of the way to amassing enough enriched uranium for one bomb if purified further. A Kentucky jury acquitted a white former detective of endangering neighbors of Breonna Taylor during a botched raid that killed the Black woman in her home, clearing law enforcement of all criminal liability in a case that rocked the United States in 2020. Britain's government awarded one of its highest honors, a knighthood, to Gavin Williamson, who was fired as defense secretary in 2019 over a national security leak. BREAKINGVIEWS Agenda-setting insight from the international commentary brand of Reuters Read Pete Sweeney on how China’s Belt and Road initiative has been strafed by Putin, Neil Unmack on how Western curbs have given Moscow a rational debt default card, and Liam Proud on why Chelsea’s sale proceeds may not amount to much Quote of the day "Russia should be thrown back into the Stone Age" Garry Kasparov Russian human rights activist and former world chess champion Kasparov urges world powers to take harder line against Putin Video of the day Hunkering down at the zoo As many Ukrainians flee to neighboring countries, Kirill Trentin is staying put to help protect those with nowhere to go - the animals at the Kyiv zoo. And finally… South Korea candidates woo young voters with 'deepfakes' South Korean presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol got a boost when a rival dropped out, but if the conservative former prosecutor wins next week, it may also be thanks to 'deepfake' avatars and viral short videos. More from Reuters COVID The Great Reboot Disrupted Legal News Breakingviews Thanks for spending part of your day with us. Share your thoughts You are receiving this email because you signed up for newsletters from Reuters. No longer want to hear from us? Unsubscribe from The Reuters Daily Briefing. Terms, conditions, and privacy statement © 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036