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BIDEN ANNOUNCES MORE SANCTIONS: Just one day after the invasion of Ukraine began, Russia's advance moved to the outskirts of the capital city of Kyiv early Friday, with explosions heard in the city and thousands of citizens sheltering in subway stations. Russia launched airstrikes on military bases and some cities on Thursday, and moved in troops from Russia, Belarus and Crimea.
As part of their advance, they won control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 137 Ukrainians were killed on the first day, both soldiers and civilians, and 316 wounded.
Zelenskyy said they had information that what he called "subversive groups" were encroaching on Kyiv, and that he was their Number 1 target, with his family being Number 2. That's in line with what U.S. officials believe is Putin's aim of deposing the president and his government and installing a puppet regime. Zelenskyy called for even stronger sanctions and assistance from other nations as he ordered a full military mobilization of Ukrainian forces.
President Biden announced new, even tougher sanctions than the ones announced earlier this week, as did other Western nations, targeting Russian banks, oligarchs, state-controlled companies and high-tech sectors, as he repeatedly blasted Putin's invasion. He also announced he was sending additional U.S. forces to Germany, intended to bolster eastern NATO nations, again emphasizing that he's not sending any troops to Ukraine, and said he'd do everything he could to limit gas price increases for Americans due to the crisis. Biden will be meeting this morning in a virtual summit with other NATO leaders.
Anti-war protesters took to the streets in 53 cities in Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, but police were quick to move in, with more than 1,700 people arrested, according to a protest monitoring group, Politico reported.
USA Today roundup of sites and apps through which you can help Ukrainians: https://bit.ly/3vf0pEW
➤REPORT: CDC TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE MASK GUIDELINES: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will today significantly loosen the federal mask-wearing guidelines, with most Americans to no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public places, the Associated Press reported, citing sources. The CDC will announce a change in how it determines whether to recommend masks, moving from Covid-19 case counts to a more holistic view of risk to the community that will also take into account hospitalizations and local hospital capacity.
➤THREE EX-OFFICERS IN GEORGE FLOYD CASE FEDERAL TRIAL FOUND GUILTY: Three former Minneapolis police officers who were with former Officer Derek Chauvin when he kneeled on George Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, leading to his death, in May 2020, were found guilty of violating Floyd's civil rights in their federal trial yesterday. Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane were convicted of depriving Floyd of his right to medical care, and Thao and Kueng were also convicted of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin. The defense had argued that the Minneapolis police department's training was inadequate and there was a culture that emphasized deference to senior officers like Chauvin. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. The three men will face a separate trial on state charges in June on charges that they aided and abetted murder and manslaughter.
🏠MORE SINGLES BUYING HOMES: A growing number of single people are buying homes on their own, with data from the National Association of Realtors showing that single women now make up nearly one-fifth of buyers, 19 percent, up from 18 percent in 2020 and 15 percent in 2015, and single men are nine percent of buyers. Bank of America senior vice president for affordable housing programs told Reuters there are societal factors behind the trend, including that Americans are getting married and having children later, that the gender wage gap has been closing over decades, giving single women more financial resources, and that single people represent a growing proportion of the country. Social scientist Bella DePaulo, who wrote the book, Singled Out, told Reuters, "More and more single people are embracing their single lives, and living their single years fully." At the same, putting together a down payment and getting approved for a mortgage can be harder for single person, particularly in the current very competitive housing market.
🐶DOG OWNERSHIP MAY WARD OFF DISABILITY: Owning a dog might help you avoid disability. Researchers from the National Institute for Environmental Studies looked at data from over 11,000 Japanese adults ages 65 to 84, and found an association between dog ownership and a lower risk of disability, that held even after the researchers accounted for other disability risk factors, such as marital status, chronic diseases, and time spent outdoors. In addition, owning a dog was linked to a lower risk of frailty, and past research has shown that frailty significantly increases the risk of future disability. Study author Yu Taniguchi adds, “The daily care, companionship and exercise of a pet dog may have an important role to play in successful aging.” The team said the findings could help guide efforts to promote successful aging and suggest that future research could examine the physical and mental ways that dog ownership might reduce the risk of disability.
🏀NBA'S TWO UKRAINIAN PLAYERS RELEASE STATEMENT ON INVASION: The NBA's two Ukrainian players, Alex Len of the Sacramento Kings and Svi Mykhailiuk of the Toronto Raptors released a joint statement yesterday condemning Russia's invasion of their country. They said, in part, "A great tragedy befell our dear homeland Ukraine. We categorically condemn the war. Ukraine is a peaceful, sovereign state inhabited by people who want to decide their own destiny. . . . Dear fellow Ukrainians, Hold on! Our strength is in unity! We are with you!" The Kings and the visiting Denver Nuggets later held a moment of silence and linked arms in a show of solidarity with Len before their game last night.
🏒ISLANDERS' CHARA BREAKS NHL RECORD FOR GAMES BY A DEFENSEMAN: The New York Islanders' Zdeno Chara broke the NHL record for games by a defenseman in his 1,652nd regular season game last night. The 44-year-old, 24-season veteran broke the mark that had been held by Hall of Famer Chris Chelios. Chara got a standing ovation from the San Jose Sharks' home crowd when his accomplishment was announced during a play stoppage, and the Sharks played a congratulations video from former San Jose forward Patrick Marleau, who holds the NHL record for games by any player. The Islanders lost 4-3.
🏀DEROZAN CONTINUES NBA RECORD STREAK: The Chicago Bulls' DeMar DeRozan continued his NBA-record streak for getting at least 35 points while shooting 50 percent or better to eight straight games last night, as the Bulls topped the Atlanta Hawks 112-108. DeRozan scored 37 points and made 15 of 21 shots, as the NBA returned to play after the All-Star break.
🎾MEDVEDEV TAKES OVER TENNIS' NUMBER 1 SPOT FROM DJOKOVIC: Daniil Medvedev took over the Number 1 spot as the world's top men's tennis player yesterday, reaching it when a loss by Novak Djokovic at the Dubai Championships meant he fell to second place. That happened even before Medvedev reached the semifinals at the Mexico Open by winning his match. The accomplishment by Medvedev, who is Russian, happened on the same day as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and when asked about it, the 26-year-old said, "Watching the news from home, waking up here in Mexico, was not easy. By being a tennis player, I want to promote peace all over the world. We play in so many different countries; I’ve been in so many countries . . . I’m all for peace."
Zelenskyy said they had information that what he called "subversive groups" were encroaching on Kyiv, and that he was their Number 1 target, with his family being Number 2. That's in line with what U.S. officials believe is Putin's aim of deposing the president and his government and installing a puppet regime. Zelenskyy called for even stronger sanctions and assistance from other nations as he ordered a full military mobilization of Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy: "According to our information, the enemy has marked me as target number one, my family as target number two." pic.twitter.com/GuGPA9qXWs
— The Recount (@therecount) February 25, 2022
Anti-war protesters took to the streets in 53 cities in Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, but police were quick to move in, with more than 1,700 people arrested, according to a protest monitoring group, Politico reported.
Thousands of Russians took to the streets to protest the invasion of Ukraine.
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 24, 2022
Some 1,702 people in 53 Russian cities were detained, at least 940 of them in Moscow, according to OVD-Info, a rights group that tracks political arrests. https://t.co/7OXJWWjTNQ
USA Today roundup of sites and apps through which you can help Ukrainians: https://bit.ly/3vf0pEW
➤REPORT: CDC TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE MASK GUIDELINES: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will today significantly loosen the federal mask-wearing guidelines, with most Americans to no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public places, the Associated Press reported, citing sources. The CDC will announce a change in how it determines whether to recommend masks, moving from Covid-19 case counts to a more holistic view of risk to the community that will also take into account hospitalizations and local hospital capacity.
➤THREE EX-OFFICERS IN GEORGE FLOYD CASE FEDERAL TRIAL FOUND GUILTY: Three former Minneapolis police officers who were with former Officer Derek Chauvin when he kneeled on George Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, leading to his death, in May 2020, were found guilty of violating Floyd's civil rights in their federal trial yesterday. Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane were convicted of depriving Floyd of his right to medical care, and Thao and Kueng were also convicted of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin. The defense had argued that the Minneapolis police department's training was inadequate and there was a culture that emphasized deference to senior officers like Chauvin. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. The three men will face a separate trial on state charges in June on charges that they aided and abetted murder and manslaughter.
➤BIDEN HAS REPORTEDLY DECIDED ON SUPREME COURT NOMINEE: President Biden has reportedly decided on who he will nominate to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court, and he could reveal who it is as early as today, according to reports. CNN reported that announcement will come no later than Monday, the day before Biden delivers the State of the Union address. Biden has promised that he will nominate the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court.
➤LOWEST NUMBER OF AMERICANS COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT SINCE 1970: The Labor Department reported yesterday (February 24th) that first-time claims for unemployment benefits fell by 17,000 to 232,000 for the week ending February 19th, the third straight week of declines after having risen for five straight weeks amid the omicron variant-driven coronavirus surge. The data also showed that a total of 1,476,000 Americans were collecting jobless benefits in the week ending February 5th, down about 112,000 from the week before, and dropping to its lowest level since March 1970, 52 years ago.
➤MEDICATION ABORTIONS MAJORITY IN U.S. FOR FIRST TIME: The majority of abortions in the U.S. were medication abortions for the first time, according to data out yesterday (February 24th) from the Guttmacher Institute, which found 54 percent of abortions in 2020 were done via the medication process that involves taking two pills. It was just 39 percent in the last survey, from 2017. Medication abortions were first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000, whose guidelines say they are safe to use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.
➤SALLY KELLERMAN DEAD AT 84: Sally Kellerman died Thursday morning at the age of 84. Her son, Jack Crane, told The Hollywood Reporter that the actress, best known as “Hot Lips” Houlihan in the film M*A*S*H, passed away in California after a battle with dementia.
➤MEDICATION ABORTIONS MAJORITY IN U.S. FOR FIRST TIME: The majority of abortions in the U.S. were medication abortions for the first time, according to data out yesterday (February 24th) from the Guttmacher Institute, which found 54 percent of abortions in 2020 were done via the medication process that involves taking two pills. It was just 39 percent in the last survey, from 2017. Medication abortions were first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000, whose guidelines say they are safe to use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.
➤SEAN PENN FILMING DOCUMENTARY IN UKRAINE: Sean Penn is in the Ukraine filming a documentary about the country’s conflict with Russia amid the invasion that began Wednesday night. Penn is shooting the film for Vice, and met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky this week. According to the Daily Mail, Penn also attended a government press briefing Thursday (Feb. 24th).
➤SALLY KELLERMAN DEAD AT 84: Sally Kellerman died Thursday morning at the age of 84. Her son, Jack Crane, told The Hollywood Reporter that the actress, best known as “Hot Lips” Houlihan in the film M*A*S*H, passed away in California after a battle with dementia.
🏠MORE SINGLES BUYING HOMES: A growing number of single people are buying homes on their own, with data from the National Association of Realtors showing that single women now make up nearly one-fifth of buyers, 19 percent, up from 18 percent in 2020 and 15 percent in 2015, and single men are nine percent of buyers. Bank of America senior vice president for affordable housing programs told Reuters there are societal factors behind the trend, including that Americans are getting married and having children later, that the gender wage gap has been closing over decades, giving single women more financial resources, and that single people represent a growing proportion of the country. Social scientist Bella DePaulo, who wrote the book, Singled Out, told Reuters, "More and more single people are embracing their single lives, and living their single years fully." At the same, putting together a down payment and getting approved for a mortgage can be harder for single person, particularly in the current very competitive housing market.
⚾FOUR DAYS LEFT FOR MLB-PLAYERS DEAL BEFORE SEASON AFFECTED: There was another day of negotiations between MLB and the players' union Thursday that didn't accomplish much, and now there are only four days left for a deal on a new labor agreement to be reached before MLB says days will begin to be cut from the regular season since it won't be able to start on time. The two sides will be meeting again today for a fifth straight day, the 86th day of the players being locked out.
🏀NBA'S TWO UKRAINIAN PLAYERS RELEASE STATEMENT ON INVASION: The NBA's two Ukrainian players, Alex Len of the Sacramento Kings and Svi Mykhailiuk of the Toronto Raptors released a joint statement yesterday condemning Russia's invasion of their country. They said, in part, "A great tragedy befell our dear homeland Ukraine. We categorically condemn the war. Ukraine is a peaceful, sovereign state inhabited by people who want to decide their own destiny. . . . Dear fellow Ukrainians, Hold on! Our strength is in unity! We are with you!" The Kings and the visiting Denver Nuggets later held a moment of silence and linked arms in a show of solidarity with Len before their game last night.
Nuggets and Kings players linked arms for a moment of silence in solidarity with Alex Len and his home country of Ukraine.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 25, 2022
🎥 @SeanCunningham pic.twitter.com/p5v7ZyUhCv
🏒ISLANDERS' CHARA BREAKS NHL RECORD FOR GAMES BY A DEFENSEMAN: The New York Islanders' Zdeno Chara broke the NHL record for games by a defenseman in his 1,652nd regular season game last night. The 44-year-old, 24-season veteran broke the mark that had been held by Hall of Famer Chris Chelios. Chara got a standing ovation from the San Jose Sharks' home crowd when his accomplishment was announced during a play stoppage, and the Sharks played a congratulations video from former San Jose forward Patrick Marleau, who holds the NHL record for games by any player. The Islanders lost 4-3.
🏀DEROZAN CONTINUES NBA RECORD STREAK: The Chicago Bulls' DeMar DeRozan continued his NBA-record streak for getting at least 35 points while shooting 50 percent or better to eight straight games last night, as the Bulls topped the Atlanta Hawks 112-108. DeRozan scored 37 points and made 15 of 21 shots, as the NBA returned to play after the All-Star break.
🎾MEDVEDEV TAKES OVER TENNIS' NUMBER 1 SPOT FROM DJOKOVIC: Daniil Medvedev took over the Number 1 spot as the world's top men's tennis player yesterday, reaching it when a loss by Novak Djokovic at the Dubai Championships meant he fell to second place. That happened even before Medvedev reached the semifinals at the Mexico Open by winning his match. The accomplishment by Medvedev, who is Russian, happened on the same day as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and when asked about it, the 26-year-old said, "Watching the news from home, waking up here in Mexico, was not easy. By being a tennis player, I want to promote peace all over the world. We play in so many different countries; I’ve been in so many countries . . . I’m all for peace."
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