Monday, March 14, 2022

Wake-Up Call: Russia Strikes Training Base Near Poland

Daily Mail Graphic 3/14/22

Russia launched an airstrike on a military base in western Ukraine Sunday that's just 15 miles from the border of Poland, a NATO member nation, killing 35 people. The barrage of missiles targeted the base that's been a crucial hub for cooperation between Ukraine and the NATO countries that have been helping it in its defense, including training Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again urged NATO leaders to establish a no-fly zone over the country, saying, "If you do not close our sky, it is only a matter of time before Russian missiles fall on your territory. NATO territory." But the request has been refused, with the West saying that could dangerously escalate the conflict. However, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the West would respond if Russia’s strikes hit the territory of NATO members, even accidentally.\


Meanwhile, Russian state news agency Tass said diplomats were set to resume talks today. Zelenskyy said he will continue negotiating with Russia, saying they were necessary to try to establish a cease-fire and establish more humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians and allow in humanitarian aid. The International Committee of the Red Cross called the suffering in the besieged port city of Mariupol "simply immense," saying that hundreds of thousands of people facing extreme shortages of food, water and medicine. Zelenskyy said a convoy with humanitarian aid was headed to Mariupol.


In other developments:

U.S.-Chinese Meeting in Rome: National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is meeting in Rome today with a senior Chinese foreign policy adviser over concerns that China is helping spread Russian disinformation about its invasion of Ukraine, and may help Russia evade the crippling economic sanctions that have been imposed by the West. Sullivan warned on CNN yesterday about the prospect of China helping Russia evade sanctions, saying, "We will not allow that to go forward." The Washington Post and Financial Times reported that Russia had in recent days asked China for support, including military equipment, to keep waging its war in Ukraine.

➤IRAN CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR MISSILE ATTACK NEAR U.S. COMPLEX IN IRAQ: Iran claimed responsibility yesterday for a missile attack in the Iraqi city of Irbil that hit near a U.S. consulate complex. Iran said Sunday's attack was on what it called an Israeli spy center and was launched in retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard earlier this week. No injuries were reported and no U.S. facilities were damaged, and the State Department said the U.S. had no indication the attack was directed at the United States. Iraq strongly condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty and "international laws and norms," as did the U.S., which called it an "unjustified attack on a civilian residence."

➤CHINA LOCKS DOWN CITY OF SHENZEHN, ORDERS TESTING DUE TO COVID SPIKE: China on Sunday ordered a lockdown of Shenzhen, a city of 17.5 million people, with all businesses except those that supply food, fuel and other necessities required to close or have employees from home, after a spike in Covid-19 cases. Everyone in Shenzhen must also undergo three rounds of testing after 60 new cases were reported Sunday. Although that "surge" is very low compared to other countries, China is still following a "zero tolerance" policy, despite the rise of the highly-infectious omicron variant. Meenwhile, in Shanghai, China's biggest city with 24 million people, their latest surge has seen cases go from 15 to 432. As a result, intercity bus service to and from the city was suspended.

NY Post Graphic 3/14/22
➤POLICE BELIEVE SAME PERSON SHOOTING HOMELESS PEOPLE IN NYC AND WASHINGTON, D.C.: Police said Sunday (March 13th) that they believe one man is responsible for recent shootings of homeless people in New York City and Washington, D.C., that have left two people dead and a total of five people shot. The first three shootings took place in Washington over the last two weeks, one of which was fatal. Two victims were shot Saturday in New York City, and one of them died. Police released images of the suspect taken from surveillance video. NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a statement, "We will use every tool, every technique and every partner to bring the killer to justice."


➤WILLIAM HURT DIES AT 71: Oscar-winning actor William Hurt died on Sunday (March 13th) at the age of 71. His 72nd birthday was just one week away.

William Hurt
Hurt’s son, Will, announced the news of his passing. “It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday. He died peacefully, among family, of natural causes. The family requests privacy at this time,” he said in a statement.

In the 1980s, Hurt was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Actor for his roles in Kiss of the Spider Woman, Children of a Lesser God, and Broadcast News. He won the Oscar for Kiss of the Spider Woman in 1986.

Hurt was also nominated for an Academy Award for his supporting role in A History of Violence in 2005, and he was nominated for a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year for his debut film role in Altered States in 1980.

Hurt had an expansive career, appearing in films such as A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Village, Syriana, The Big Chill, The Good Shepherd, Mr. Brooks, Into the Wild, Robin Hood, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Widow.

➤HAILEY BIEBER CONFIRMS SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR BLOOD CLOT IN HER BRAIN:  Hailey Bieber took to social media over the weekend to confirm reports that she was hospitalized last week due to a blood clot in her brain.

Bieber shared on her Instagram stories Saturday, “On Thursday morning, I was sitting at breakfast with my husband when I started having stroke like symptoms and was taken to the hospital.”

She continued, “They found I had suffered a very small blood clot to my brain, which caused a small lack of oxygen, but my body had passed it on its own and I recovered completely within a few hours.”

“Although this was definitely one of the scariest moments I’ve ever been through, I’m home now and doing well, and I’m so grateful and thankful to all the amazing doctors and nurses who took care of me!” she wrote.

Bieber ended her post by thanking fans for “all the support and love.”

➤AVERAGE GAS PRICES UP 22 PERCENT IN TWO WEEKS: The average price of gas in the U.S. rose by 22 percent in two weeks, or 79 percent, to $4.43. That's 32 cents past the previous record of $4.11 set in July 2008, but below the inflation-adjust record high, which would be $5.24 a gallon, according to industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and following sanctions on Russia and its oil are driving up what were already high gas prices. The previous high prices were pushed up due to demand as people returned to the roads from pandemic lows, with demand recovering faster than oil producers could meet.

➤YOUTUBERS BUILT A FORT, HID INSIDE TARGET UNTIL 3 AM:  What won’t people do for views? Police in Pennsylvania say two people hid inside a Target store and remained there for hours after it closed. They may have even gotten away with it if they hadn’t filmed their activities and posted them on YouTube in a video titled “24 Hour Overnight Challenge in Target.” Police say 24-year-old Charlotte Fischer, and 25-year-old Johnson Larose, built a fort in the Exton store and then filmed themselves wandering around inside after employees left. Police say the pair left the store at 3 a.m. on February 21st, triggering an alarm, then returned at 8 a.m. to resume filming, pretending they had been in the store all night. Target employees found surveillance video of the pair the next day. Police say they didn’t take anything from the store, but the investigation that ensued wasted police and Target resources. The two have been charged with third-degree criminal trespassing and conspiracy, and could face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. In addition, their bail conditions ban them from every Target outlet in the state.

🚪A NEW DEBATE HAS TAKEN OVER THE INTERNET: ARE THERE MORE WHEELS OR DOORS?:  Every now and then the internet produces a silly debate, and the latest one asks: “Do you think there are more doors or wheels in the world?” A man named Ryan Nixon tweeted out the question on March 5th, noting he and his friends were having the “stupidest debate” over the answer. The question has since gone viral and is circulating on social media—and there are compelling arguments on both sides. The pro-wheels side notes there are wheels on many things that we might not think about—including garbage cans, suitcases, and garment racks. Those who think there are more doors say there are doors everywhere—including on things like cupboards and cabinets, and even on some items with wheels. Nixon’s poll officially ended, and 54 percent voted for wheels (and the poll got over 223,000 votes).


🏈BRADY REVERSES RETIREMENT, SAYS COMING BACK TO TAMPA BAY: Less than six weeks after he announced his retirement, Tom Brady changed his mind, revealing Sunday (March 13th) that he'll be returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season, his 23rd in the NFL and third with the Bucs. The seven-time Super Bowl champion announced the news on Twitter and Instagram, saying he has "unfinished business," and stating, "These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands." Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians said they were "ecstatic" that the 44-year-old quarterback was coming back.


CHECK IT OUT: Brady's "final" touchdown ball auctioned off hours before return announcement: https://bit.ly/36fyRoK

🏀'MARCH MADNESS' BRACKETS REVEALED: The "March Madness" brackets were revealed Sunday for the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

Gonzaga Named Men's Top Seed: Gonzaga was named the overall top seed in the men's tournament by the selection committee for the second year in a row. Gonzaga was joined by fellow Number 1 seeds Kansas, defending national champion Baylor, and Arizona in the 68-team bracket. The tournament begins Tuesday and Wednesday with the "First Four" play-in games. Full men's March Madness bracket: https://bit.ly/3MMMWL1

South Carolina Named Women's Top Seed: South Carolina was named the overall top seed in the women's tournament. South Carolina was joined by fellow Number 1 seeds North Carolina State, defending champion Stanford, and Louisville in the 68-team bracket, the same number as in the men's tournament, increased this year from 64 teams. Also matching the men, the women's tournament will for the first time begin with "First Four" play-in games, held on Wednesday and Thursday. Full women's March Madness bracket: https://bit.ly/3JbXEsa

🏈VIKINGS QB COUSINS AGREES TO ONE-YEAR, $35 MILLION EXTENSION: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has agreed to a one-year, $35 million extension through 2023, the team announced yesterday. Cousins will earn $40 million in 2022 and $30 million in 2023.

⚾YANKEES TRADE FOR DONALDSON, SEND SANCHEZ, URSHELA TO TWINS: The New York Yankees acquired former American League MVP Josh Donaldson from the Minnesota Twins Sunday, trading catcher Gary Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela. Along with third baseman Donaldson, the Yankees also are getting shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and backup catcher Ben Rortvedt from the Twins.

🏀LEBRON REACHES FIRST-EVER POINTS, REBOUNDS, ASSISTS RECORD: LeBron James on Sunday became the first player in NBA history with at least 30,000 points, at 10,000 rebounds, and at least 10,000 assists in his career, having needed just two assists to reach the milestone. James got the second of those two assists in the second quarter of his L.A. Lakers' 140-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns. He entered the game with 36,793 points, 10,143 rebounds and 9,998 assists.

🏌GOLFER KORDA, SECOND-RANKED WOMAN IN THE WORLD, HAS BLOOD CLOT: U.S. golfer Nelly Korda, the second-ranked woman in the world, was diagnosed with a blood clot on Friday. The 23-year-old announced the news Sunday on social media, writing that she'd gone to the emergency room after experiencing swelling in her arm after a workout Friday morning. She's now being treated at home, and said he hopes to be back soon. The Chevron Championship, the first major on the women's golf calendar, is set to begin in a little over two weeks on March 31st.




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