Monday, January 31, 2022

Wake-Up Call: U-N Council Meeting On Ukraine


The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to meet for the first time today on the crisis over Russia's massive troop build up on the border with Ukraine and fears of its possible invasion. The United States requested the meeting, with U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield saying Thursday that Russia’s actions pose, quote, "a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter." Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky angrily responded, calling it a "clear PR stunt" as he tweeted, "I can’t recall another occasion when a [Security Council] member proposed to discuss its own baseless allegations and assumptions as a threat to [international] order from someone else." In order to block the meeting, Russia would need the vote of nine of the Security Council's 15 members. However, AP cited a senior Biden administration official as saying they are confident the U.S. has enough support on the issue that that won't happen. The official said, "It goes right to the heart of the role of the Security Council itself. This preventive diplomacy is exactly what the council is supposed to be doing, and I think member states understand that."
 

➤NORTH KOREA CONFIRMS TEST LAUNCH OF INTERMEDIATE-RANGE MISSILE ABLE TO HIT GUAM: North Korea confirmed on Monday that it had carried out a test-launch Sunday of an intermediate-range ballistic missile that would be capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam. The test-launch was the most significant by North Korea since 2017, as it continues with a flurry of recent test launches to try to pressure the U.S., seeking sanctions release and international recognition as a legitimate nuclear state. AP cited a senior Biden administration official as saying the U.S. will respond in the coming days in a way meant to demonstrate to North Korea that the U.S. is committed to our allies' security in the region.

➤FEDERAL TRIAL CONTINUES TODAY OF OFFICERS ACCUSED OF VIOLATING GEORGE FLOYD'S CIVIL RIGHTS: The federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers accused of violating George Floyd's civil rights is set to resume for its second week today, with the focus expected to be on testimony about the Minneapolis Police Department's policies and training. Prosecutors charged J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao didn’t follow their training when they failed to act to save Floyd’s life in May 2020 as Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nine-and-a-half minutes, leading to his death. Inspector Katie Blackwell, the police department’s former head of training, began testifying last week and is expected to be back on the stand. She said officers are instructed that they have a duty to intervene if a fellow officer is using unreasonable force, and give any necessary medical aid until medical personnel arrive. But she acknowledged under defense questioning that there's no "intervention scenario" when officers are trained in use-of-force scenarios, and that recruits are told they should never argue with an instructor. Chauvin was the most senior of the four officers, and Lane and Keung were rookies.


➤TRUMP SUGGESTS PARDONS FOR JANUARY 6TH CAPITOL ATTACK PARTICIPANTS: Former President Donald Trump suggested at a Texas rally Saturday night that he could pardon people who participated in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol if he is elected president again. 

Trump said, "If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from January 6th fairly. And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly." More than 700 people have been arrested and charged with federal crimes in connection with the riot. Among them are more than 150 people charged with assaulting police officers, more than 50 charged with conspiracy, and 11 charged with seditious conspiracy, including the founder and leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group. 

Among those criticizing Trump's suggestion of possible pardons yesterday were Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, often a Trump ally, who said on CBS' Face the Nation, "I don’t want to send any signal that it was OK to defile the Capitol. There are other groups with causes that may want to go down the violent path if these people get pardoned." When he was president, Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of numerous political allies, friends and associates.


➤AT LEAST NINE KILLED IN LAS VEGAS 'MASS CASUALTY' VEHICLE CRASH: Officials said Sunday that nine people, including four children, were killed in what North Las Vegas Police spokesman Alex Cuevas called a "mass casualty" traffic collision on Saturday afternoon. There were a total of 15 people and six vehicles involved in the North Las Vegas crash, and one person remained hospitalized in serious condition. Cuevas said a Dodge Challenger ran a red light while going at high speed and hit several vehicles. Three adults and four children in a van that was one of the first vehicles hit all died, as did the driver and a passenger in the Challenger. The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to help with the investigation.

➤FORMER MISS USA CHESLIE KRYST DIES AT 30: Miss USA 2019 and Extra host Cheslie Kryst died on Sunday at the age of 30. Authorities claim Kryst jumped from a 60-story building at 350 W. 42nd Street in New York City at approximately 7:15 a.m. local time. She lived on the ninth floor of the building and was last seen on a 29th-floor terrace, according to reports.


Cheslie Kryst
Kryst’s family said in a statement, "In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie. Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined."

Kryst was crowned Miss USA as Miss North Carolina in 2019. She was one of four Black women who held the major pageant titles that year.

On Good Morning America in December 2019, Kryst said, “People will comment on our social media and be like, 'Why are we talking about your race? You guys are just four, amazing women.' And I'm like, 'Yes, we are four amazing women, but there was a time when we literally could not win!'"

Kryst’s family continued, "Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on Extra. But most importantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague – we know her impact will live on.”

➤STUDY: ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP WITH FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY ARE USING TOO MANY APPS:  Do you often get lost in all your phone apps? A YouGov survey found 25 percent of people reported struggling to keep up with friends because they are using too many apps. The phenomenon is known as “app fog” and is caused by confusion when multiple apps are used to message friends. The survey found 33 percent said they’d missed a night out or an important event with friends as a result of this confusion, and 47 percent said they’d rather just use the messaging app if they could. The data showed young people’s relationships were far more affected by app fog than older generations. App fog caused nearly 20 percent of young respondents to lose touch with a friend, compared to just five percent of those in the older age group.

➤STUDY: MEN CONCERNED ABOUT FERTILITY SHOULD LIMIT CELL PHONE USE TO PROTECT SPERM QUALITY:  Men who have worries about their fertility should limit their cell phone use. Researchers analyzed several studies and found the radiofrequency electromagnetic waves (RF-EMWs) emitted by cell phones decrease sperm quality by reducing their mobility, viability, and concentration. Researchers from Pusan National University note in a press release: “Knowing that the number of cellphone users is most likely going to increase in the future, it’s high time we start considering exposure to RF-EMW as one of the underlying factors causing a reduction in sperm quality among the male population.” Previous research has shown that RF-EMWs emitted by cell phones can be absorbed by the human body to result in potential side effects on the brain, heart and reproductive function.

🏈BENGALS, RAMS TO FACE EACH OTHER IN THE SUPER BOWL: The Super Bowl teams are set after yesterday's conference championship games, the Cincinnati Bengals vs. the Los Angeles Rams. This is the first trip to the Super Bowl for the Bengals since 1989, and comes just two years after they were the worst team in the NFL. The Rams last were in the Super Bowl three years ago, losing to the New England Patriots 13-3 in February 2019. The Rams will be playing in their home stadium, with the Super Bowl set for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on February 13th.


Bengals Defeat Chiefs: Led by quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals came back from being down 18 points at 21-3 to get a 27-24 overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs to win the AFC championship. Evan McPherson kicked in a 31-yard field goal with 9:22 left in OT for the win. The Chiefs won the coin toss to start overtime, giving them a big advantage, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw an interception to Von Bell on the third play, giving Cincinnati the ball.
 

Rams Beat 49ers: The Rams also had to mount a comeback for the win after beginning the fourth quarter down 17-7 to the San Francisco 49ers. But quarterback Matthew Stafford led the team to a touchdown and two field goals, and Travin Howard sealed the 20-17 victory with an interception of Jimmy Garoppolo with 1:09 left to play for the NFC title. Stafford, a 13-year veteran, is going to the Super Bowl in his first year with the Rams after having never before won a playoff game.


 🎾NADAL WINS AUSTRALIAN OPEN FOR RECORD-BREAKING 21ST GRAND SLAM TITLE: Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open on Sunday for his men's record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title, breaking a tie with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. But it took five hours and 24 minutes for the sixth-seeded Spaniard to do it, having to come back after losing the first two sets to second-seed Daniil Medvedev and win the next three for a 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory. Federer, who didn't play in the Australian Open because he's recovering from knee surgery, and Djokovic, who was deported after a days-long saga because he wasn't vaccinated against Covid-19, both posted congratulations on social media.

Barty Wins Women's Title: Top-seed Ashleigh Barty had an easier time on Saturday, beating 27th-seeded American Danielle Collins in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (2) for the women's championship. It was the first time in 44 years that an Australian won a singles title at the Australian Open.

🏈ESPN: RAIDERS TO HIRE JOSH MCDANIELS AS NEW HEAD COACH: ESPN reported Sunday that the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as their new head coach. McDaniels last was a head coach with the Denver Broncos for two seasons 2009-10, and was fired after the third week in his second season. Jon Gruden resigned as the Raiders' head coach in October after reports of emails he wrote before he was with the Raiders that had racist, misogynistic and anti-gay language. Rich Bisaccia was promoted to interim coach.

🏀SUNS DEFEAT SPURTS 115-110 FOR 10TH STRAIGHT WIN: The Phoenix Suns defeated the San Antonio Spurs 115-110 last night (January 30th) for their 10th straight win. The Suns overcome a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter for the victory, also becoming the first team in the league so far with 40 wins, and doing so with only nine losses.

🏒AVALANCHE TOP SABRES 4-1 FOR 10TH WIN IN A ROW: The Colorado Avalanche beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 last night (January 30th) for their 10th win in a row, tied for the second-longest in franchise history. It was also their 18th straight win at home, the fifth-longest in NHL history. The Detroit Redwings hold the record for the longest, 23 straight games, from November 2011 to February 2012.



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