tschram

tschram

NUCLEAR ANXIETY

After two years of pandemic, masks, lockdowns, racial strife and political insurrection, stress among American kids was already at crisis proportions. • Then Russia invaded Ukraine and “World War III” was suddenly a trending topic. On Feb. 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin put his country’s nuclear forces on “high alert.” • Mental health counselors say the news on TV and social media has reignited Cold War fears among some of their young patients, including prospects of nuclear annihilation that harken back to a time when students were told to hide under their desks in case of a Soviet attack. • “We are definitely seeing kids struggle with anxiety,” said Michael Tozzoli, CEO of Ridgewood-based West Bergen Mental Healthcare. “I had a kid in my practice the other night who said he kept hearing that COVID was a once-in-alifetime thing and now you’re telling me there’s a possible nuclear war?”

Leigh, Olivier loved ‘Madly’; Maisie Dobbs wields ‘Weapon’

1. “Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century” by Stephen Galloway (Grand Central, nonfiction) What it’s about: Leigh and Olivier were two of the best actors of their generation with a love affair that seemed written in the stars – until the weight of fame and a long-undiagnosed mental illness turned their dream into a nightmare.

Hungary accuses Ukraine of election interference

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Hungary’s foreign minister on Wednesday accused Ukraine’s leadership of attempting to interfere in the upcoming Hungarian election, a charge later denied by his Ukrainian counterpart in an episode that put further strain on relations between the two countries.

Mideast sees hypocrisy in Ukraine

JERUSALEM – Within days of the Russian invasion, Western countries invoked international law, imposed crippling sanctions, began welcoming refugees with open arms and cheered on Ukraine’s armed resistance.

Vietnam carmaker to build EVs in NC

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Vietnamese automaker announced plans Tuesday to build a plant in North Carolina to manufacture electric vehicles, promising to bring 7,500 jobs and ending the state’s streak of near-misses for landing carmakers.

What would paying for gas in rubles involve?

BERLIN – Europe’s already high gas prices have gyrated since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to have importers pay for Russian natural gas in rubles instead of dollars and euros. Here’s a look at some of the implications of such a move: What is Putin proposing? Europe imports large amounts of Russian natural gas to heat homes, generate electricity and fuel industry, and those imports have continued despite the war in Ukraine.

‘Grooming’ a buzzword in schools

Proponents of restrictions on how U.S. public schools address sexual orientation and gender identity say their ultimate goal is to allow parents more involvement in their children’s education and ensure classroom materials are age-appropriate.