Thursday, April 14, 2022

Wake-Up Call: Russian Fleet's Flagship Badly Damaged


PRESIDENTS OF FOUR NATIONS GO TO UKRAINE: The presidents of neighboring Poland and nearby Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia traveled to Ukraine yesterday, where they met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and toured Borodyanka, one of the towns near Kyiv where evidence of atrocities were found after Russian forces withdrew.

Meanwhile, there were conflicting claims from Ukraine and Russia about developments in the war. Russia claimed that more than 1,000 Ukrainian troops had surrendered in the besieged city of Mariupol, but an Ukrainian official denied it, and the claim couldn't be independently verified. Russian state TV, however, aired footage it said was from Mariupol of dozens of men in camouflage uniforms walking with their hands up. The BBC also reported that a British man fighting in the Ukrainian military in Mariupol called his mother and a friend to say they were out of food, ammunition and other supplies and would surrender.


In another disputed incident, Ukrainian Governor Maksym Marchenko in the Odesa region said Ukrainian forces struck Russia's guided-missile cruiser the Moskva, the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, with two missiles and caused serious damage to it. But while Russia confirmed the ship was damaged, it claimed it was not hit by Ukraine, but that ammunition on board detonated due to a fire, the cause of which hadn't yet been determined. Moscow said the ship's entire crew was evacuated.

Biden Okays $800 Million in New Military Aid: President Biden approved $800 million in new military assistance for Ukraine yesterday, including artillery systems, armored personnel carriers and helicopters. He said in a statement, "This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine." Biden announced the new aid after a call with Zelenskyy.


Finland, Sweden Move Toward Possible NATO Membership: In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there has been growing support in Finland and Sweden, which have been traditionally militarily non-aligned, to join NATO, and both countries moved toward possibly doing so yesterday. Finland, which borders Russia, issued a security report to lawmakers and Sweden's ruling party initiated a review of security policy options. Both countries' prime ministers appeared at a joint news conference in Stockholm yesterday, and Finland's Sanna Marin said her country is ready to make a decision "within weeks." Russia has warned both nations against joining NATO, saying Moscow would respond if they do with retaliatory measures that would cause, quote, "military and political consequences" for them.

➤SUSPECT APPREHENDED IN BROOKLYN SUBWAY SHOOTING: The 62-year-old suspect in the shooting of 10 people on a Brooklyn subway train Tuesday was apprehended Wednesday after a 30-hour manhunt, with law enforcement saying they believe Frank R. James himself called in as a tipster, saying he was at a McDonald's in Manhattan's East Village. 

After he was arrested, Mayor Eric Adams said, "My fellow New Yorkers, we got him." James is facing a federal terrorism charge that carries a potential life sentence, and he is due to appear in court today. Investigators searching for a motive are looking into ranting videos on James' YouTube channel, in which he railed about topics including racism, violence in the U.S., his complaints about mental health care he received in New York City, and conditions on the subway, including homeless people on trains. Although he was originally from New York City, he'd been recently living in Philadelphia and Milwaukee. James has a criminal record that includes being arrested 12 times in New York and New Jersey between 1990 and 2007 on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to possession of burglary tools, but he has no felony convictions, which allowed him to buy the gun he used in the attack legally.

 
➤ABBOTT KEEPS NEW BORDER INSPECTION POLICY THAT HAS GRIDLOCKED TRUCKS ENTERING U.S.: Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott was standing by his new border inspection policy yesterday that has gridlocked trucks entering the U.S. from Mexico and shut down some of the world's busiest trade bridges, despite intensifying pressure for the Mexican government, businesses, and even some of his allies. There are warnings that shoppers could soon notice product shortages at stores and even higher prices amid already elevated inflation. Abbott has ordered that commercial trucks from Mexico undergo extra inspections as part of a fight with the Biden administration over immigration, with him claiming it's needed to stop human trafficking and the flow of drugs. He ordered them after the administration said it would let a policy instituted by then-President Donald Trump at the start of the pandemic to end, which allowed asylum seekers to be expelled because of health concerns. Abbott did relent yesterday on stopping inspections at one bridge in Laredo, but some of the worst truck backups and bridge closures have taken place elsewhere along Texas' border.

➤PLANE, PUBLIC TRANSIT MASK MANDATE EXTENDED TWO WEEKS: The administration announced yesterday that it's extending the mask mandate for airplanes and public transit for another 15 days amid an uptick in Covid-19 cases. The order was due to expire on April 18th. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was extending the order until May 3rd to allow more time to study the micron subvariant that's now causing most causes in the U.S. It said in a statement, "In order to assess the potential impact the rise of cases has on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and health care system capacity, the CDC order will remain in place at this time."

➤LAS VEAGAS SCHOOL DISTRICT GIVES TACHERS 'PANIC' BUTTONS:  The metro Las Vegas school district will be giving electronic panic buttons to teachers amid escalating violence, including fights, assaults and brawls, and in the wake of several incidents, including an after-school attack in a classroom, allegedly by a 16-year-old student, in which a teacher was left injured and unconscious. The devices, which will have Bluetooth connectivity, will be part of other measures in the district, the nation's fifth-largest, that will also include upgrading security cameras and asking police agencies to increase their presence at schools. AP cited Brigid Duffy, juvenile division director of the county's District Attorney's office, as saying, "We have seen not an increase of calls, but an increase of the violence, a lack of empathy, and a lack of respect to our adult authority."

➤EX-TRUMP WH CHIEF-OF-STAFF SAYS 'THE ROCK' COULD BEAT TRUMP:  Mick Mulvaney, who was acting White House chief of staff for a time in Donald Trump's administration, told Politico he believes that actor and former wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is one of what he called a "short list" or people who could realistically potentially beat Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination if Trump runs again. While naming Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, Mulvaney also said, "Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson could give him a run for his money." Johnson has repeatedly teased that running for president is something he might possibly do, and after a poll found 46 percent of Americans said they'd support a run by him, he said "if this is what the people want, then I will do that." But while he told Vanity Fair last October that he's done a "small amount" or research and analysis about it, and said, "indicators are all very positive -- in, for example, 2024, and in, for example, 2028," he also acknowledged, "I don't know the first thing about politics" or policy, and said, "I may have some decent leadership qualities, but that doesn't necessarily make me a great presidential candidate." Further, while Mulvaney mentioned Johnson in the context of a Republican primary, Johnson has said he's a registered independent with "centrist ideologies," and he endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

➤AMAZON ADDING FIVE PERCENT FEE FOR THIRD-PARTY SELLERS: Amazon announced Wednesday that it's adding a five percent fuel and inflation surcharge for third-party sellers, the first time it's done so. The fee will go into effect on April 28th. Amazon said the surcharge applies only to fee rates paid by sellers that choose to use Amazon's fulfillment services, which include storing, packing and shipping products. The surcharge could translate into higher prices for consumers by sellers.

💝MORE COUPLES ENJOYING OPEN RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THEY’RE ‘BORED WITH EACH OTHER’:  A sex therapist claims that open relationships have soared in popularity since the pandemic. Sex therapist Dr. Tammy Nelson says she has experienced a 45 percent leap in inquiries about open relationships and discussing the topic with partners in recent months. She says it’s fueled by romantic burnout caused by spending too much time together during lockdowns. She adds that while men are usually the ones who suggest more sexual freedom, it’s usually women who end up wanting to continue it.

🏀HAWKS, PELICANS WIN IN NBA'S PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT: The Atlanta Hawks and New Orleansn Pelicans won in the NBA's Play-In Tournament games last night (April 13th) between the 9th and 10th seeds, with the Hawks topping the Charlotte Hornets 132-103 and the Pelicans defeated the San Antonio Spurs 113-103. The Hawks will play the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday for the Number 8 Eastern Conference seed in the playoffs, and New Orleans will play the L.A. Clippers, also on Friday, for the Number 8 playoffs seed in the Western Conference. The season is over for the Hornets and the Spurs.

⚾DODGERS PULL KERSHAW AFTER SEVEN PERFECT INNINGS AGAINST TWINS, WIN 7-0: Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was pulled after pitching seven perfect innings against the Minnesota Twins yesterday (April 13th), in a game L.A. went on to win 7-0. Manager Dave Roberts pulled Kershaw in his first start of the season after 80 pitches and 13 strikeouts, to boos from Dodgers fans at Minnapolis' Target Field when pitcher Alex Vesia took the mound in the eighth inning, and online uproar that Kershaw wasn't allowed to try for a pefect game. But Kershaw said afterward that he agreed with the decision, saying, "Those are selfish goals. We’re trying to win. . . . I would have loved to have stayed, but bigger things, man, bigger things." Vesa gave up one hit, a single, that was all the Twins got.

 
NY Post 4/14/22

⚾TORONTO'S GUERRERO HAS THREE HOME RUNS IN 6-4 WIN OVER YANKEES: Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit three home runs in the Blue Jays' 6-4 win over the New York Yankees in the Bronx yesterday night, and also tacked on a double. Guerrero hit his first homer in the first inning before having his hand accidentally spiked on a play in the second inning, and then went on to hit a two-run homer in the third despite the bloody gash on his finger, a double in the sixth, and a leadoff home run in the eighth.

 
🏈QUARTERBACK MAYFIELD FEELS 'DISRESPECTED' BY BROWNS: Quarterback Baker Mayfield said yesterday that he feels, quote, "disrespected" by the Cleveland Browns after they traded for Deshaun Watson last month, effectively ending Mayfield's time with the team after four seasons as their starting quarterback. Appearing on the YNK podcast out yesterday, Mayfield said, "One hundred percent. I was told one thing and they completely did another." Mayfield is still on the Browns' roster, but they are actively looking to trade him.

🏈RAIDERS GIVE QB CARR THREE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION: The Las Vegas Raiders have given veteran quarterback Derek Carr a three-year contract extension that AP reports is worth $121.5 million. Carr said during a news conference yesterday, "I’ve only wanted to be a Raider again and I told my agent . . . 'I'm either gonna be a Raider or I'm gonna be playing golf.' I don’t want to play anywhere else." The 31-year-old Carr was entering the final year of his five-year deal.



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