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'We are ready with diplomacy'

Laura L. Davis   | Paste BN
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President Biden said a Russian invasion of Ukraine remains a distinct possibility but is holding out hope for a diplomatic breakthrough. And Sandy Hook families settled with gunmaker Remington for $73 million.

👋 Hey! It's Laura. It's Tuesday, and we've got a lot of news, so let's get to it.

But first, why is nature so scary? There's nothing like a good old-fashioned scene from the apocalypse. Birds. Falling from the sky. Hundreds of them. 😳 I'll be indoors until further notice.

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Biden speaks on situation in Ukraine

During a day of continued negotiations and developments over the pending crisis, President Joe Biden delivered his first comments about the situation in Ukraine directly to the American people on Tuesday. "We are ready with diplomacy,” Biden said. "And we are ready to respond decisively to a Russian attack on Ukraine, which is still very much a possibility." Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was ready for talks with the U.S. and NATO on limits for missile deployments and military transparency, a second signal Tuesday of a potential tension release in the conflict between Russia and the West over Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine's information security center said Tuesday that the country’s ministry of defense and at least two banks had come under cyberattack, shutting down websites and access to information and accounts. The center did not attribute the attacks, but suggested Russia was responsible.

Prince Andrew settles with Virginia Giuffre in sexual abuse lawsuit

Prince Andrew and his accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre have settled the sex abuse lawsuit she filed against him, which has damaged his reputation and threatened to overshadow his mother Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer. Lawyers for both sides filed documents Tuesday in federal court in New York, declaring the parties had reached an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum and a "substantial donation" to Giuffre's charity "in support of victim's rights." The Duke of York, 61, also expressed regret for his former friendship with convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who Giuffre alleged had trafficked her to Andrew when she was 17. Since she began accusing him publicly in 2015, Andrew has vigorously denied her allegations.

What everyone's talking about

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Sandy Hook families settle with gunmaker for $73M

Families of nine victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre agreed Tuesday to a $73 million settlement against the maker of the gun used in the deadly 2012 shooting. The settlement follows several years of litigation with Remington Arms, the maker of the Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle that was used to kill 20 first-graders and six teachers at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Nicole Hockley, whose son Dylan was one of the students killed, called the settlement a "landmark, historic victory." Hockley is also the co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Foundation, a nonprofit focused on gun violence prevention founded by family members of Sandy Hook victims. "The gun industry has been shielded from being held accountable for their part in these tragedies," she said at a Tuesday news conference. "Today, that changes." Four insurers for Remington, which has filed for bankruptcy twice in two years, agreed to pay the $73 million.

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva delivers emotional performance

After spending a week at the center of a doping scandal, Russian Kamila Valieva returned to the ice at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics Tuesday night. Valieva, 15, touched the ice after attempting a triple axel during her short program performance and scored 82.16. She finished in first place and will compete in the long program on Thursday. The teen has been embroiled in controversy since testing positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency due to it its ability to improve endurance and blood flow. Her attorneys argued she ingested the banned substance because of a medication her grandfather takes, veteran IOC member Denis Oswald confirmed earlier Tuesday. She was initially suspended but was reinstated after her appeal.

Real quick

🌝 Snow moon coming soon

February's full moon, known as the "snow" moon, will soon light up a night sky near you! On Tuesday, the snow moon will rise in the east, crossing the skies until it sets Wednesday morning in the west. Though it's out of sight for Americans when it becomes a full moon at noon EST on Wednesday, sky gazers will be able to see it Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Why is it called the snow moon? Full moons have different nicknames based on the seasons, and for thousands of years, Native Americans named each month's full moon by taking cues from nature. February typically is the snowiest month of the year, which is why it's called the snow moon. The worm moon will grace the sky in March. I'm afraid to ask why it's called that. 😬

A break from the news

This is a compilation of stories from across the Paste BN Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.

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