Monday, March 21, 2022

Wake-Up Call: Ukraine Refuses Russian Demand to Surrender

Daily Mail 3/21/22

Ukraine has refused Russia's demand that they surrender the besieged city of Mariupol in exchange for two humanitarian corridors for safe passage out of the southern port city, including of the soldiers. The Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense said authorities in Mariupol could face a military tribunal if they sided with what it called "bandits." The Russian demand for Ukrainian forces in Mariupol to have laid down their weapons by 5 a.m. local today and raised white flags came just hours after a Russian airstrike hit an art school in the city where some 400 civilians were sheltering. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address early this morning that the number of casualties wasn't clear, stating, "They are under the rubble, and we don’t know how many of them have survived."

In the capital of Kyiv, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said a Russian strike hit the Retroville shopping mall on Sunday night, causing a fire in the mall and parking lot. AFP reportedly at least six people were killed. Mayor Vitali Klitschko also said shelling hit several houses in the densely populated Podil district.

 

10 Million Displaced Ukrainians: The U.N.'s High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said Sunday that 10 million Ukrainian have had to flee their homes, either leaving the country as refugees or displaced inside Ukraine. That number represents about one-quarter of Ukraine's pre-war population.

 
Zelenskyy Asks Israel for Stronger Stand Against Russia: President Zelenskyy yesterday called on Israel to take a stronger stand against Russia's invasion of Ukraine during a speech delivered via Zoom to Israel's Parliament. Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, compared the invasion to Nazi Germany's actions during World War Two, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to carrying out a, quote, "permanent solution" against Ukraine, using the term the Nazis used for its genocide of six million Jews.
 

Poland Stop Added to Biden's European Trip: A stop in Poland has been added to President Biden's trip to Europe this coming week for talks with NATO and European allies about the war Ukraine, it was announced last night. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden will first travel to Brussels and then to Poland. Poland has taken in more than two million Ukrainian refugees, and is hosting thousands of U.S. troops. Biden's trip will include a summit of NATO leaders Thursday, as well as a European Council summit, and a meeting of the Group of Seven countries.

➤SUPREME COURT JUSTICE THOMAS HOSPITALIZED WITH 'FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS': The Supreme Court's public information office said yesterday evening that Justice Clarence Thomas was hospitalized, quote, "after experiencing flu-like symptoms," but doesn't have Covid-19. Thomas was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Friday evening. The press statement said, "He underwent tests, was diagnosed with an infection, and is being treated with intravenous antibiotics. His symptoms are abating, he is resting comfortably, and he expects to be released from the hospital in a day or two."

➤SENATE HEARINGS FOR SUPREME COURT NOMINEE JACKSON BEGIN TODAY: The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who would be the first Black woman on the nation's highest court, will get underway today. The 51-year-old Jackson is expected to present an opening statement this afternoon, then answer questions from the senators on the committee over the next two days. President Biden announced Jackson's nomination in February, after Justice Stephen Breyer announced in January that he will retire this summer after 28 years on the court.

➤SURGEON GENERAL: 'PREPARATION, NOT . . PANIC' AS COVID CASES RISE IN EUROPE: As Covid-19 cases rise again in Europe, driven by the BA.2 variant, a subvariant of omicron, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said on Fox News yesterday that the U.S. should focus on, quote, "preparation, not on panic." Murthy said the U.S. has more tools than ever to keep people from being hospitalized or dying from Covid, and that we should be ready for rises and falls in cases in the coming months. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Biden, said on ABC's This Week yesterday that while he thinks the U.S. will likely have an increase in cases due to the BA.2 subvariant, as well as the relaxing of restrictions and waning of immunity, but he doesn't think we'll have a surge. The subvariant now accounts for about 23 percent of new cases in the U.S.
 

➤ONE KILLED, 27 WOUNDED IN GUNFIGHT AT ARKANSAS CAR SHOW: A 23-year-old man was killed and 27 other people were wounded Saturday evening when two people got into a gunfight during a car show in Dumas, Arkansas, authorities said Sunday. Several children were among the wounded at the show, which is part of an annual community event in the small town that helps raise money for scholarships and school supplies. Authorities said they had no indication that the man who died, Cameron Shaffer, was involved in the gunfight. A person who left the scene of the shooting was arrested on unrelated charges and was being questioned about the shooting.

➤SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND CLOSES DUE TO COVID SURGE: Shanghai Disneyland has closed starting today (March 21st) until further notice due to a a Covid-19 surge in China due to the omicron variant that is the country's worst since the early days of the pandemic. All of the Shanghai Disney Resort is being closed, including the Disneytown shopping and dining district, and Wishing Star Park, in addition to Shanghai Disneyland. Shanghai Disneyland was the first Disney theme park to shut down because of the pandemic in early 2020, with all of the Disney parks around the world later following. It was also the first to reopen, in May 2020.

📺MAURY ENDS AFTER 31 YEARS: People reports that, after 31 years on the air, the talk show Maury is coming to a close. Original episodes are set to air through September, and the show will live on in syndication in the future. Host Maury Povich told TVLine in a statement, “Six years ago when I was ready to retire, my NBCUniversal family asked me to continue the show. Even though I told them I was ready for assisted living, out of loyalty to NBCUniversal and my more than 100 staff and crew members, Tracie Wilson and I agreed to one more deal. I’m so proud of my relationship with NBCUniversal and all those who worked on the Maury show, but as I occasionally tell my guests: ‘Enough, already!'”

🙋FINLAND IS WORLD'S HAPPIEST COUNTRY: Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for the fifth straight year in the annual U.N.-sponsored index that's based on people’s own assessment of their happiness, as well as economic and social data. Afghanistan ranked in last place. The biggest increases in the index, which was done before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, were for Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia, while the biggest declines were for Lebanon, Venezuela and Afghanistan. The U.S. rose three places to 16th, one ahead of Britain. Northern European countries again dominated the top spots, with Denmark second, followed by Iceland, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

➤WHAT DO ‘LURKERS’ GET OUT OF TWITTER?:  Do you lurk on social media? In 2021 Pew Research found that about 25 percent of Twitter users produced 97 percent of all tweets, meaning most Twitter users behave like “lurkers,” on infrequent tweeters. The data showed that age seems to be the biggest factor between active tweeters and lurkers. Frequent tweeters, defined as users who posted more than five tweets, or retweets, a month, tended to between the ages of 18 and 24. Lurkers, who posted fewer than five tweets, or retweets, and made up roughly half of US users, tended to be between the ages of 30 and 49. Pew found the top reasons lurkers use the platform is for entertainment, to stay informed, and to see a different point of view. In fact, 76 percent of lurkers in the survey said they use the platform primarily to see what others are saying rather than express their own opinion. Past studies have correlated lurking with concerns over online privacy and anxiety. Meanwhile, the Oxford Handbook of Cyberpsychology argues that lurkers are legitimate online participants.

🏈BROWNS GET BACKLASH OVER SIGNING QB DESHAUN WATSON: The Cleveland Browns are facing some backlash for signing quarterback Deshaun Watson despite the sexual misconduct allegations against him. They made it official Sunday (March 20th), announcing that they'd traded for Watson from the Houston Texans. Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam addressed the concerns, saying, "We are acutely aware and empathetic to the highly personal sentiments expressed about this decision. Our team's comprehensive evaluation process was of the utmost importance due to the sensitive nature of his situation and the complex factors involved." Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said, "It was important for us to meet with Deshaun in person as part of our team's evaluation process, we had a candid conversation regarding his approach to coming into our organization and community," and General Manager Andrew Barry said the team did extensive, quote, "investigative, legal and reference work over the last several months" before signing Watson. Watson has been accused of sexual misconduct by nearly two dozen female massage therapists, who accused him of sexually assaulting or harassing them during massages. A grand jury declined to indict him this month, but he's still facing civil lawsuits by the women, as well as possible suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Watson's guaranteed contract is for $230 million over five years, the most guaranteed money at signing of any player in NFL history.

🏀AUBURN, WISCONSIN UPSET IN NCAA MEN'S TOURNAMENT'S SECOND ROUND: Auburn and Wisconsin were eliminated in the two big upsets of the second day of Round 2 games in the men's NCAA basketball tournament Sunday. Number 10 Miami defeated Number 2 Auburn 79-61, and Number 11 Iowa State topped Number 3 Wisconsin 54-49. There was also a more minor upset, with Number 5 Houston ousting Number 4 Illinois 68-53. The Sweet 16 games will start on Thursday.

🏀BAYLOR, IOWA UPSET IN NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT'S SECOND ROUND: Baylor and Iowa were both ousted in upsets in the first day of Round 2 games in the women's NCAA basketball tournament Sunday. Number 10 South Dakota toppled Number 2 Baylor 61-47, and Number 10 Creighton downed Number 2 Iowa 64-62. The eight other Round 2 games will be played today.


🏀WARRIORS' CURRY EXPECTS TO BE BACK FROM INJURY FOR START OF PLAYOFFS: Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry expects to be back from his foot injury in time for the start of the NBA playoffs. Speaking to reporters Sunday, with 12 games left in the regular season, Curry said when asked if he'd felt he'd be available for the playoffs, "Yeah, we've got enough time for that . . . but I'm an optimist." Curry has a sprained ligament in his left foot that he suffered during last Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics.

⚾RED SOX AGREE TO DEAL WITH ROCKIES' SHORTSTOP STORY FOR SECOND BASE: The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a deal with Colorado Rockies' shortstop Trevor Story for a six-year, $140 million contract to be their second baseman, according to media reports yesterday. The 29-year-old Story, who's a two-time All-Star, has never played any position other than shortstop.



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