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| Daily Mail graphic 2/4/22 |
ISIS LEADER BLEW HIMSELF, HIS FAMILY UP AS U.S. FORCES CARRIED OUT RAID: The leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, blew himself and members of his family up, including women and children, as U.S. special forces raided the house where he was hiding out in Syria early Thursday. President Biden announced the overnight raid targeting al-Qurayshi, who took over as the head of ISIS after the former leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in another U.S. raid in October 2019. Biden said, "Thanks to the bravery of our troops this horrible terrorist leader is no more." He also said they didn't launch an airstrike on the home in an effort to "minimize civilian casualties." Witnesses said about 50 U.S. forces landed in helicopters and attacked the house, clashing for about two hours with gunmen. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said U.S. forces were able to evacuate 10 people from the building, eight of them children. There were no U.S. casualties. Kirby said of ISIS, "They’re leaderless today, and that’s a significant blow. This is not something we believe ISIS is going to be able to get over real quickly or real easily."
Reporter: “It’s an action that you say they have taken, but you have shown no evidence to confirm that. [...] This is like - crisis actors? Really? This is like Alex Jones territory you’re getting into now.”
— The Hill (@thehill) February 3, 2022
Must-watch exchange between @APDiploWriter Matt Lee and @StateDeptSpox. pic.twitter.com/RPIPb2zwf5
➤U.S. CHARGES RUSSIAN SCHEME TO FAKE UKRAINIAN ATTACK AS PRETEXT FOR INVASION: The U.S. accused Russia yesterday of an elaborate scheme to fabricate an attack by Ukrainian forces on Russian territory or Russian-speaking people to use as a pretext to invade Ukraine. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the plot included creating a graphic propaganda video that would show staged explosions and use corpses and actors pretending to be grieving the dead. The scheme was described in declassified intelligence shared with Ukraine and European allies in recent days. Kirby said, "We’ve seen these kinds of activity by the Russians in the past, and we believe it’s important when we see it like this and we can, to call it out."
BIDEN SPEAKS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN NYC VISIT: President Biden said yesterday that the federal government would increase its efforts against gun violence by working more closely with police and communities. Biden addressed the issue from New York City, which, as many cities across the country, has seen an increase in gun violence, including the killing two weeks ago of two police officers as they responded to a domestic violence incident.
➤STUDY SHOWS DISCREPANCY IN ‘HOOKUP CULTURE’ SEXUAL ACTIVITY ON DATES: A study finds even in the midst of “hookup culture” there’s a big difference between what college students are saying and what they are actually doing when it comes to sex. University of Kansas researchers analyzed data from a survey of more than 20,000 college students describing their most recent date. They found that when men initiated dates, sex was more restricted than when women asked the man for a date. In fact, genital contact took place on 63 percent of female-initiated dates, compared to 56 percent of male-initiated dates. Of all dates with sexual activity, genital activity occurred on 56 percent, despite the social script that dictates otherwise. Study authors write, “Among those dates following a male-initiated script, men paid and initiated most of the sexual activity on approximately 36 percent of dates. In other words, more than 60 percent of dates violate the standard script—defined as men asking, paying and initiating sexual activity—[in] some way.” Researchers say the findings show that both sexual norms may be changing and that our understanding of those norms, dating, courtship and hookup culture is not as complete as commonly thought.
🤖STUDY: PEOPLE PREFER INTERACTING WITH FEMALE ROBOTS IN HOTELS: It turns out people are more comfortable talking to female robots rather than male robots working in service roles at hotels. Washington State University researchers explain, “People have a tendency to feel more comfort in being cared for by females because of existing gender stereotyping about service roles. That gender stereotype appears to transfer to robot interactions, and it is more amplified when the robots are more human life.” Ultimately, participants who were presented with the female robot scenarios rated the experience as more pleasant and satisfying than those who had scenarios with male robots, and the preference for the female robot was even more pronounced when the robots were described as looking more human. The scientists are now in the process of investigating how the personality of AI robots may impact customers’ perceptions, such as if they are extroverted and talkative or introverted and quiet.
➤BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY TODAY: Although some competitions at the Beijing Winter Olympics have already begun, the Games will officially kick off with the opening ceremony today. NBC will be airing it in prime time tonight, but if you want to watch it live from Beijing, its coverage will begin at 6:30 a.m. ET. During the two weeks of the Olympics, events will be able to be seen on NBC, USA, CNBC, NBCOlympics.com, and the streaming app Peacock.
Figure Skating: The U.S. is in the lead after the opening day of the team figure skating event, after winning performances by Nathan Chen in the men's short program and ice dancers Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue. Alexa Knierim and Brandon Fraizer had a season-best score in their pairs short program. The team event continues Sunday with the women's short program.
⚾MLB ASKS FOR FEDERAL MEDIATOR IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH PLAYERS: Major League Baseball on Thursday asked a federal mediator to intervene in the stalled negotiations with the players, who have been locked out since December 1st. The players' union, which must agree in order for a mediator to get involved, didn't comment. The request, coming after there was little movement in the last negotiating session two days earlier, means spring training will almost certainly not start on time on February 16th.
🏈JAGUARS HIRE PEDERSON AS NEW HEAD COACH: The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Doug Pederson as their head coach last night, replacing Urban Meyer, who was fired in mid-December after the Jaguars went 2-11. The 54-year-old Pederson led the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl championship in the 2017-18 season, and made the playoffs three times in five seasons with the team.
🏈ELWAY, GIANTS' GIVES RESPONSES DENYING FLORES' CLAIMS: Denver Broncos president of football operations John Elway and the New York Giants yesterday gave responses denying the claims made by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores in his lawsuit alleging racially discriminatory hiring practices. Flores charged that his 2019 interview with Elway and the Broncos was a sham to satisfy the Rooney Rule requiring that minority candidates be interviewed. He said Elway and other execs showed up late and disheveled, claiming "it was obvious they'd been drinking heavily the night before." Elway called the claims "false and defamatory," saying he'd seriously considered Flores as a candidate. He said if he looked disheveled, it was because they'd flown in overnight after another interview and only had a few hours sleep, stating, "For Brian to make an assumption about my appearance and state of mind early that morning was subjective, hurtful and just plain wrong."
The Giants also responded at length to Flores' accusation that his interview with them last week was also a sham, with him having cited, in part, a text exchange with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick three days before his interview that led Flores to believe Brian Daboll had already been chosen. The Giants said the allegations were "disturbing and simply false," and that their interest in Flores had been "serious and genuine." The team also said they didn't decide on Daboll until January 28th, the day after Flores' second interview, and noted that the text exchange with Belichick was the day before Daboll's interview. They added, "In addition, Mr. Belichick does not speak for and has no affiliation with the Giants."
🏈NEW SEX HARASS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST WASHINGTON'S SNYDER: There were new sexual harassment allegations made yesterday against Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder. A former marketing and events coordinator for the NFL team, Tiffani Johnston, told a congressional committee she was put next to Snyder at a work dinner in 2005 or 2006 to allow him, quote, "to place his hand on my thigh under the table." She also said that later that evening he, quote, "aggressively pushed me toward his limo with his hand on my lower back," and that he only stopped because his attorney told him, "this is a bad idea." Snyder apologized again in a statement for past misconduct in the organization, but denied Johnston's allegations. Johnston was one of five women who spoke about their alleged harassment and discrimination to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, which has been investigating the team.
⛇WINTER STORMS BRING CARBON MONOXIDE DANGER TO HOMES: It’s winter, and storms are roaring through much of the U.S. this week. Millions of Americans may have to deal with power outages that could put them at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and fires as they attempt to keep warm. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says when the power goes out, many people use portable generators or other devices for heat and power, but improper use of this equipment can be dangerous. The CPSC says each year more than 80 people in the U.S. die from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by portable generators. If you have one, you should operate it outside only, keep it at least 20 feet away from your home, and direct the exhaust away from the home or any other buildings that someone might enter. You should also never operate a portable generator indoors, and should make sure it’s properly maintained. The group also says you should never use a charcoal grill in an enclosed space (even in a garage with the door open), you should use flashlights for light instead of candles, and if using a space heater always plug it directly into a wall outlet to prevent overloading a power strip and causing a fire, and always keep flammable materials at least three feet away from it. You should also have smoke alarms on every level of your house and in every bedroom.
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| NY Post 2/4/22 |
Speaking before police and law enforcement officials, and with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Mayor Eric Adams, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul with him, Biden said, "It’s enough. Enough is enough. We can do something about this." Biden also pushed back against some on the left of his party, saying, "The answer is not to defund the police It is to give you the tools, the training, the funding to be partners, to be protectors and know the community."
➤MEDICARE TO COVER FREE COVID TESTS: The administration announced yesterday that Medicare will cover up to eight free at-home Covid-19 tests per month, starting in early spring. People who have Medicare's "Part B" outpatient benefits, which about 90 percent do, will be able to get the tests, which will be available at participating pharmacies and other locations. This comes after the administration last month said private health insurers would cover up to eight free at-home tests per month for people on their plans.
➤MEDICARE TO COVER FREE COVID TESTS: The administration announced yesterday that Medicare will cover up to eight free at-home Covid-19 tests per month, starting in early spring. People who have Medicare's "Part B" outpatient benefits, which about 90 percent do, will be able to get the tests, which will be available at participating pharmacies and other locations. This comes after the administration last month said private health insurers would cover up to eight free at-home tests per month for people on their plans.
The Canadian government will not use troops against truckers whose nearly week-long protest of coronavirus vaccine mandates has brought traffic in central Ottawa to a halt, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said https://t.co/yFsXpb74uG pic.twitter.com/ypESMuhuV4
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 4, 2022
Figure Skating: The U.S. is in the lead after the opening day of the team figure skating event, after winning performances by Nathan Chen in the men's short program and ice dancers Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue. Alexa Knierim and Brandon Fraizer had a season-best score in their pairs short program. The team event continues Sunday with the women's short program.
⚾MLB ASKS FOR FEDERAL MEDIATOR IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH PLAYERS: Major League Baseball on Thursday asked a federal mediator to intervene in the stalled negotiations with the players, who have been locked out since December 1st. The players' union, which must agree in order for a mediator to get involved, didn't comment. The request, coming after there was little movement in the last negotiating session two days earlier, means spring training will almost certainly not start on time on February 16th.
🏈JAGUARS HIRE PEDERSON AS NEW HEAD COACH: The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Doug Pederson as their head coach last night, replacing Urban Meyer, who was fired in mid-December after the Jaguars went 2-11. The 54-year-old Pederson led the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl championship in the 2017-18 season, and made the playoffs three times in five seasons with the team.
🏈ELWAY, GIANTS' GIVES RESPONSES DENYING FLORES' CLAIMS: Denver Broncos president of football operations John Elway and the New York Giants yesterday gave responses denying the claims made by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores in his lawsuit alleging racially discriminatory hiring practices. Flores charged that his 2019 interview with Elway and the Broncos was a sham to satisfy the Rooney Rule requiring that minority candidates be interviewed. He said Elway and other execs showed up late and disheveled, claiming "it was obvious they'd been drinking heavily the night before." Elway called the claims "false and defamatory," saying he'd seriously considered Flores as a candidate. He said if he looked disheveled, it was because they'd flown in overnight after another interview and only had a few hours sleep, stating, "For Brian to make an assumption about my appearance and state of mind early that morning was subjective, hurtful and just plain wrong."
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| NY Post 2/4/22 |
The Giants also responded at length to Flores' accusation that his interview with them last week was also a sham, with him having cited, in part, a text exchange with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick three days before his interview that led Flores to believe Brian Daboll had already been chosen. The Giants said the allegations were "disturbing and simply false," and that their interest in Flores had been "serious and genuine." The team also said they didn't decide on Daboll until January 28th, the day after Flores' second interview, and noted that the text exchange with Belichick was the day before Daboll's interview. They added, "In addition, Mr. Belichick does not speak for and has no affiliation with the Giants."
🏈NEW SEX HARASS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST WASHINGTON'S SNYDER: There were new sexual harassment allegations made yesterday against Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder. A former marketing and events coordinator for the NFL team, Tiffani Johnston, told a congressional committee she was put next to Snyder at a work dinner in 2005 or 2006 to allow him, quote, "to place his hand on my thigh under the table." She also said that later that evening he, quote, "aggressively pushed me toward his limo with his hand on my lower back," and that he only stopped because his attorney told him, "this is a bad idea." Snyder apologized again in a statement for past misconduct in the organization, but denied Johnston's allegations. Johnston was one of five women who spoke about their alleged harassment and discrimination to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, which has been investigating the team.
⛄WINTER STORM TO BRING ICE, SNOW TO PENNSYLVANIA, NEW ENGLAND: A major winter storm is forecasted to bring treacherous ice and up to a foot of snow to Pennsylvania, northern New York, and New England today, after leaving some 350,000 homes and businesses without power in several states, mostly Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Ohio yesterday. The storm brought more than a foot of snow to parts of the Midwest, as well as rare snow to parts of Texas, and caused a tornado in Alabama that killed one person and critically injured three others.
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