Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Wake-UP Call: Russia Willing to Keep Talking

Daily Mail graphic 2/15/22

Russia signaled yesterday that it's willing to keep talking about the Ukraine crisis, offering some small hope that there could still be a diplomatic way out. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a made-for-TV meeting with President Vladimir Putin that talks over Moscow's grievances about NATO that led to the crisis, quote, "can’t go on indefinitely, but I would suggest to continue and expand them at this stage." At the same time, however, Russia appeared to continue to prepare for a possible invasion of Ukraine, including moving troops and military hardware closer to the border. Russia has now massed more than 130,000 along Ukraine's borders, even as it continues to insist it has no plans to invade. White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in response, "The path for diplomacy remains available if Russia chooses to engage constructively. However, we are clear-eyed about the prospects of that, given the steps Russia is taking on the ground in plain sight."


⛟CANADA'S TRUDEAU INVOKES EMERGENCY POWERS OVER TRUCK PROTESTS: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked emergency powers yesterday to address the ongoing protests by truckers and others for more than two weeks over Covid restrictions, demonstrations that have paralyzed downtown Ottawa and blocked bridges from the U.S., affecting trade and commerce. 


Trudeau said, "These blockades are illegal, and if you are still participating, the time to go home is now." Trudeau ruled out using the military, but the emergency powers give the federal government broad powers to restore order. The government threatened to tow away vehicles to keep essential services running, freeze truckers’ personal and corporate bank accounts, and suspend the insurance on their trucks. On Sunday, the day before Trudeau's action, one key crossing, the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit that carries 25 percent of all trade between the two nations was reopened after nearly a week, with police arresting dozens of demonstrators.

➤RUSSIA-GATE PROBE 'ACCELERATES:  Special Counsel John Durham’s investigation has "accelerated," and more people are "cooperating" and coming before the federal grand jury than has previously been reported, a source familiar with the probe told Fox News.

The source told Fox News Monday that Durham has run his investigation "very professionally," and, unlike Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, his activities, and witness information and cooperation status are rarely, if ever, leaked.

"Durham does this right and keeps it a secret," the source said, adding that there has been "much more activity" in Durham’s investigation "than has been visible to the public."

The closest look Durham has given with regard to grand jury witnesses came in a federal court filing last month, outlining materials that had been provided by the special counsel’s office to defense attorneys for former Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann.  Sussmann has been charged with making a false statement to a federal agent. Sussmann has pleaded not guilty.

➤TRUMP ACCOUNTING FIRM SAYS HIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOT RELIABLE: The accounting firm that prepared former President Donald Trump’s annual financial statements is now saying the statements, quote, "should no longer be relied upon," after New York Attorney General Letitia James said they regularly misstated the value of assets. Mazars said in a February 9th letter to the Trump Organization's lawyer that was made public in a court filing yesterday that the company should inform anyone who had gotten the documents not to use them when assessing the financial health of the company and Trump himself. Mazars also said it was cutting ties with the former president. The letter came several weeks after James said her office's investigation found evidence that Trump and his company used, quote, "fraudulent or misleading" valuations of its golf clubs, skyscrapers and other properties to get loans and tax benefits. The Trump Organization said it took the letter as being a positive thing, saying Mazars hadn’t found material discrepancies in Trump’s financial statements.

The Toebbes
➤NAVY NUCLEAR ENGINEER PLEADS GUILTY TO SELLING SECRETS: A 43-year-old Navy nuclear engineer pled guilty Monday to giving secrets about U.S. nuclear-powered submarines to someone he thought was a representative of a foreign government, but who was really an undercover FBI agent. Jonathan Toebbe, who had a top-secret security clearance, pled guilty to a single count of conspiracy to communicate restricted data, for which he could get up to 17 years in prison. Both Toebbe and his wife, Diana Toebbe, were arrested last October. Diana is accused of acting as a lookout at several locations at which her husband left behind the information. She has pled not guilty. The country to which Toebbe wanted to sell the information has not been identified publicly.

🚗TRAFFIC IS BACK, BUT RUSH HOUR ISN’T THE SAME:  The pandemic hasn’t killed rush hour—it’s just spread the traffic out throughout the day now. The TomTom Traffic Index from 2021 shows that the rise of home offices and flexible work hours means there were fewer cars on the road last year during traditional peak times, particularly during the morning commute. But in some cities, there was a new “late morning peak” around 11 a.m., and the evening rush began earlier—at 3 or 4 p.m. These pandemic-driven changes vary by city, often depending on the particular city’s COVID restrictions and the nature of its workforce. 




TomTom’s data shows that in 2021 drivers in New York City lost more than three days’ time to traffic, while those in Atlanta, Tampa, Florida, and Washington D.C. lost two days to traffic, and those in Minneapolis spent 23 hours in traffic last year. Overall, congestion levels in North America were down 14 percent in 2021 compared to 2019, and at traditional peak hours, traffic dropped 31 percent. What’s not yet clear is if the changes in traffic patterns could be one of the lasting trends of the pandemic, as that largely hinges on whether remote work continues to be the trend.

🖁STUDY: SMARTPHONES MAKE TEENAGERS LONELIER AT SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ISOLATE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THEIR FRIENDS:   It seems smartphones are actually making teenagers lonelier than they used to be. San Diego State University researchers found that by 2018, 33 percent of UK teens ages 15 and 16 reported feeling isolated, up from 10 percent who said the same in 2000. Study authors note that social media in particular is having a negative effect on teens as it may heighten feelings of missing out or lead to cyberbullying. Researchers note that negative feelings increased more among girls than boys over the course of the study, and that adolescent wellbeing “began to decline after 2012, in conjunction with the rise of smartphone access.” Still, while there’s a strong correlation between smartphones and loneliness, the study could not prove smartphone use causes loneliness.

➤STUDY: YOU’RE 3 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GET SICK IF YOU DO THIS AT NIGHT:  Your immune system can be affected by all sorts of things, including how much sleep you get. A 2009 study found that your chances of developing a cold triple if you regularly sleep less than seven hours per night. Another study found that sleep efficiency—or how much time is spent asleep while in bed—is even more important to immune system function than overall hours spent sleeping. Researchers wrote, “Participants with less than 92 percent efficiency were 5.50 times more likely to develop a cold than those with 98 percent or more efficiency.” A 2010 study painted an even more serious picture, finding that people who slept for less than seven hours per night suffered “an increased risk of death from all causes.” The CDC says 35 percent of the American population fails to get adequate rest.

🎿BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS:
  • Russian Figure Skater's Lawyers: Failed Doping Test Due to Grandfather's Medication - Lawyers for 15-year-old Russian figure skating star Kamila Valieva said during the hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport that ruled she could compete in the women's competition despite a positive drug test in December that she failed the test because of contamination from heart medication her grandfather was taking. She is being allowed to compete, starting with the women's short program airing tonight, because as a minor she is subject to different rules. But an investigation will continue, and if Valieva wins a medal, no medals will be awarded in the women's competition until the probe is done, which could take months. Medals in the team competition will also not be awarded until the investigation is completed because Russia won gold with Valieva having competed in the event. The skater, who is the overwhelming favorite for the gold medal, told Russian state broadcaster Channel One after the Court's decision, "I'm happy, but I'm tired emotionally."
  • U.S. and Canada to Play for Gold Medal in Women's Hockey - The defending Olympic champion U.S. women's hockey team with play archrival Canada in the gold medal game after the U.S. beat Finland 4-1 in their semifinal. Canada won its semifinal earlier in the day 10-3 over Switzerland. During that pummeling, Canada had five first-period goals over an Olympic record span of 3:24. It will mark the sixth time out of seven Olympics in which the U.S. and Canada have played each other for the gold.
  • Megan Nick of U.S. Wins Bronze in Women's Ski Aerials - American Megan Nick was the surprise winner of the bronze medal in the women's ski aerials. Xu Mengtao of China won the gold and defending champion Hanna Huskova of Belarus took silver.
  • U.S. Wins Bronze in Men's Speedskating Team Pursuit - The U.S. won the bronze medal in men's speedskating team pursuit, with Joey Mantia leading three American skaters through all eight laps. Winning with Mantia were Ethan Cepuran, Casey Dawson and Emery Lehman. Norway won the gold and the Russian Olympic Committee took silver.
  • U.S.-Born Eileen Gu Wins Second Medal for China, in Slopestyle - Freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who was born and raised in the U.S., won her second medal for China, taking silver in the women's slopestyle, after winning gold in women's freestyle big air. The 18-year-old, who's competing for her mother's home country of China, will also compete in the upcoming halfpipe competition.
  • Swiss Skier Suter Wins Women's Downhill Gold, Shiffrin 18th - Swiss skier Corinne Suter won the gold medal in the women's downhill, beating defending Olympic champion Sofia Goggia of Italy, who took silver. America Mikaela Shiffrin, who failed to finish her first two races in Beijing, in which she was favored for a medal, and then came in ninth in the super-G, finished in 18th place. The downhill is Shiffrin's weakest event, and she's never skied it in an Olympics before.
🥇MEDAL COUNT: (As of 4:00 a.m. ET) - Norway is in first place with 24 medals, followed by the Russian Olympic Committee with 20, and the U.S. and Canada with 17 each. In the gold medal count, Norway is first with 11, Germany is second with eight, and the U.S. is third with seven. The U.S. has 17 medals overall, seven gold, six silver and four bronze. ESPN'S MEDAL TRACKER

OTHER SPORTS:

🏈RAMS' BECKHAM JR. BELIEVED TO HAVE TORN ACL IN SUPER BOWL: The Los Angeles Rams' Odell Beckham Jr., who scored L.A.'s first touchdown in their Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, but left late in the second quarter with a knee injury, is believed to have torn the ACL in his left knee, NFL Network reported yesterday. If true, it would be Beckham's second ACL tear in that knee after he also tore it in 2020 season. Beckham is entering free agency, with it unknown if he'll be back with the Rams next season.

🎾DJOKOVIC: WON'T PLAY IN FUTURE MAJORS IF COVID VACCINATION REQUIRED: Novak Djokovic told the BBC in a story published this morning that he won't play in any future tennis majors if it's required that he be vaccinated against Covid-19. The interview was the first since Djokovic was deported from Australia last month and was unable to play in the Australian Open because he's not vaccinated, which is required by the country. Djokovic, the world's Number One men's player, said, "Yes, that is the price that I'm willing to pay." The 34-year-old said he isn't against vaccination, but instead believes in personal choice, stating, "Because the principles of decision-making on my body are more important than any title or anything else."

🏀THUNDER'S GIDDEY IS YOUNGEST WITH TWO STRAIGHT TRIPLE-DOUBLES: The Oklahoma City Thunder's Josh Giddey became the youngest player to have two straight triple-doubles in the Thunder's 127-123 overtime win against the New York Knicks last night. The 19-year-old from Australia, who was the sixth overall pick in last summer's NBA draft, had 28 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds, after having 11 points, 10 assists and 12 rebounds in a loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.

🏀FORMER NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TYREKE EVANS REINSTATED AFTER TWO-YEAR BAN: Guard Tyreke Evans has been reinstated after a two-year ban for violating the NBA's anti-drug program, the league announced yesterday. The policy calls for a two-year ban if a player tests positive for a, quote, "drug of abuse." The 32-year-old Evans was the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year with the Sacramento Kings after being chosen fourth overall in 2009 draft. He's played with the Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, the Memphis Grizzlies, and most recently, with the Indiana Pacers, from 2018 to 2019.

🏒MINNESOTA ROOKIE BOLDY GETS FIRST HAT TRICK: Minnesota Wild rookie Matt Boldy had his first career hat trick in a 7-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings last night. The Wild rallied from being down two goals early in the first period for the win.

➤WESTERN U.S. MEGADROUGHT DRIEST IN 1,200 YEARS: A new study has found that the megadrought in the western U.S. got so much worse last year that it's now the driest in at least 1,200 years. The study in the journal, Nature Climate Change, says the 22-year megadrought is now worse than the previous record-holder from the late 1500s, and shows no sign of getting better in the near future. The research, led by UCLA climate hydrologist Park Williams, calculated that 42 percent of the megadrought can be attributed to human-caused climate change.



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