NATO doesn't expect either Russia or Ukraine to make significant battlefield gains in the coming weeks, CNN reported yesterday, citing an unnamed NATO military official with knowledge of the intelligence as saying, "I think we'll be in a standstill for a while." The official further said the current NATO discussion is that the momentum has shifted significantly in favor of Ukraine, and the debate is over whether it's possible for Ukraine to retake Crimea, which was seized by Russia in 2014, and the eastern Donbas region, taken by Russian-backed separatists, also in 2014. The official said they believe Ukraine could do so, but questioned whether they should, citing a potential backlash by the population in some of those areas.
Meanwhile, the first captured Russian soldier to be put on trial by Ukraine on war crimes charges pled guilty yesterday to killing a civilian and could be sentenced to life in prison. The soldier, 21-year-old Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin, said, "Yes. Fully yes," when asked by the judge if he accepted his guilt. He was accused of shooting a 62-year-old unarmed Ukrainian man in the head through a car window in the early days after Russia invaded in late February.
The abuses include beating and electrocuting city officials and robbing homes, according to the intelligence finding. https://t.co/Z8i4jHRzDy
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 19, 2022
U.S. Reopens Embassy in Kyiv: The U.S. Embassy reopened in Kyiv on Wednesday, three months after it was closed in the days before Russia's expected invasion, and one month after Russia gave up its attempt to seize Ukraine's capital city. A dozen embassy employees watched as the American flag was raised.
💸HIGH INFLATION RAISES RISK OF DOWNTURN: The global economy is in danger of entering a period of so-called stagflation, or high inflation and weak growth, policy makers and corporate leaders say, which could erode living standards around the world.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday became the latest leader to warn of turbulence for the global economy. “Certainly the economic outlook globally is challenging and uncertain,” Ms. Yellen said in Bonn, Germany, ahead of a meeting of leaders of seven wealthy nations. “Higher food and energy prices are having stagflationary effects, namely, depressing output and spending and raising inflation all around the world.”
Growing fears of high inflation rippled through financial markets Wednesday after large retailers reported disappointing earnings due in part to their own higher costs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 1,164 points, or 3.6%, as of 4 p.m. ET in its worst day since 2020. The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell more than 4%. Target Corp. shares sank 25%, putting the company on track for its largest single-day percentage decline since 1987.
👼BIDEN INVOKES DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT FOR BABY FORMULA: President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act yesterday to speed up production of baby formula amid the current shortage, and also authorized flights to import formula from overseas. The Defense Production Act order requires suppliers of formula manufacturers to fulfill orders from those companies before other customers, and the Defense Department is being authorized to use commercial aircraft to fly formula supplies from overseas. Baby formula has been hard to find for many people in recent weeks, after a February recall by Abbott Nutrition made ongoing supply chain disruptions worse.
➤HOUSE PASSES DOMESTIC TERRORISM LEGISLATION IN WAKE OF BUFFALO SHOOTING: The House passed legislation last night that would increase federal resources to prevent domestic terrorism, the action coming after the racist mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket on Saturday. Currently, three federal agencies already work to investigate, prevent and prosecute domestic terrorism. The bill would require each agency to open offices specifically dedicated to those tasks and create an interagency task force to combat the infiltration of white supremacy in the military. The measure was passed on a near party-line vote, with Rep. Adam Kinzinger the lone Republican to vote for it.
.@elonmusk: Democrats have become party of 'division & hate' https://t.co/oIQt60LnDF
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 18, 2022
➤OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY IN GEORGE FLOYD KILLING: One of three former Minneapolis police officers set to go to trial in Minnesota on charges of aiding and abetting in the killing of George Floyd pled guilty yesterday to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. As part of Thomas Lane’s plea agreement, the more serious charge of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder will be dismissed. Former Officer Derek Chauvin, who kneeled on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, was convicted on murder and manslaughter charges last year. State trials will go forward in June for former Officers J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao on charges of aiding and abetting manslaughter and murder. Lane will be sentenced in September, with the state and Lane’s attorneys having agreed to a recommended sentence of three years.
For the first time, gas prices in all 50 U.S. states have hit an average of at least $4 per gallon, according to AAA data. https://t.co/g0bSurSrao
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 19, 2022
🚗DESPITE EXPENSIVE GAS, ABOUT 40 MILLION IN US EXPECTED TO TRAVEL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: Even with the price of gas soaring, nearly 40 million people are expected to travel long distances over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend (Friday, May 27th- Monday, May 30th). The AAA said in its annual forecast released yesterday that it expects 39.2 million people will travel 50 miles or more in the United States over the holiday weekend. That would be an 8.3 percent increase over the same weekend in 2021. Of the total figure, AAA expects that most people—about 35 million—will travel by car. About 3 million are expected to travel by plane, and 1.3 million by bus or some other mode of transportation. Experts say part of the reason for the expected increase is a desire for vacations after two years of COVID-19, and this Memorial Day weekend is the first since the pandemic began during which most coronavirus restrictions will have been lifted. The AAA also noted that the average lowest airfare this Memorial Day weekend is a little bit more expensive than last year, and gas prices are of course way up. As of yesterday, the national average for a gallon of regular gas was $4.57. This time last year the average price for a gallon of gas was $3.04.
➤RINGLING BROS. CIRCUS RETURNING, BUT WITHOUT ANIMALS: Five years after the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus closed down after 146 years, it announced yesterday that it's coming back, but its new incarnation won't have any animal acts. A 50-city North American tour is planned starting in September 2023, with international dates after that, according to the circus' owner, Feld Entertainment. Criticism over its use of animals was a major factor in Ringling Bros. shutting down, playing a role in declining ticket sales, as well as leading to costly court battles over the use of elephants.
🦻PARENTS SUE APPLE OVER AMBER ALERT DAMAGING SON'S HEARING: A Texas couple sued Apple this week, charging that an Amber Alert caused permanent hearing loss in their now 14-year-old son, who was 12 at the time his hearing was damaged. Carlos Gordoa and Ariani Reyes of San Antonio say their son was watching Netflix on his iPhone using his AirPods Pro in 2020 when an Amber Alert came through the phone. The suit says that even though he was watching Netflix at a low volume, the Amber Alert came through without warning at such a loud volume that it tore apart his ear drum, damaged his cochlea, and caused significant injuries to the hearing in his right ear. The suit says he'll need a hearing aid for the rest of his life, and that he also suffers from dizziness, vertigo, nausea, and tinnitus. They complain in the suit that AirPods, quote, "do not automatically reduce, control, limit, or increment notification or alert volumes to a safe level," and that they don't have a warning that alerts could sound at a volume that could cause damage.
🏥STUDY..WOMEN WAIT LONGER FOR HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM CARE THAN MEN: This is pretty scary. Northwestern University researchers found that on average, women patients coming into the emergency room wait 12 minutes longer to be evaluated and treated than men do. Men wait an average of two hours, 52 minutes, while women wait an average of three hours, four minutes. Women also have to wait about three minutes longer than men to be “triaged,” or evaluated and prioritized for care in the ER. On average, they wait 52 minutes to be triaged, while men wait an average of 49 minutes. Researchers write, “These findings suggest potential gaps of care that may be excellent targets for quality improvement of existing processes of assessment and triage and discharge planning.”
😭CLINIC ‘CHARGED PATIENT $40 FOR CRYING’: What won’t you get charged for these days? YouTuber Camille Johnson, from New York, says her sister has a rare disease and has been struggling to find appropriate care. She says during a recent trip to a clinic, her sibling “got emotional because she feels frustrated and helpless. One tear in and they charged her $40 without addressing why she is crying, trying to help, or doing any evaluation, any prescription, nothing.” On Twitter, she posted the bill, and pointed out that the “Brief emotional/behave assmt” cost more than blood tests or a vision test. Many online were shocked by the charge.
🏀WARRIORS DEFEAT MAVERICKS 112-87 IN GAME 1 OF WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: The Golden State Warriors defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-87 in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference finals last night at home. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 21 points, with Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole adding 19 points each. While Mavericks star Luka Doncic had 20 points, Golden State was effective at keeping him to shooting 6 for 18 and 3 of 10 from deep. Game 2 is Friday night.
🏒NHL PLAYOFFS: Results from second-round games yesterday:
🦻PARENTS SUE APPLE OVER AMBER ALERT DAMAGING SON'S HEARING: A Texas couple sued Apple this week, charging that an Amber Alert caused permanent hearing loss in their now 14-year-old son, who was 12 at the time his hearing was damaged. Carlos Gordoa and Ariani Reyes of San Antonio say their son was watching Netflix on his iPhone using his AirPods Pro in 2020 when an Amber Alert came through the phone. The suit says that even though he was watching Netflix at a low volume, the Amber Alert came through without warning at such a loud volume that it tore apart his ear drum, damaged his cochlea, and caused significant injuries to the hearing in his right ear. The suit says he'll need a hearing aid for the rest of his life, and that he also suffers from dizziness, vertigo, nausea, and tinnitus. They complain in the suit that AirPods, quote, "do not automatically reduce, control, limit, or increment notification or alert volumes to a safe level," and that they don't have a warning that alerts could sound at a volume that could cause damage.
🏥STUDY..WOMEN WAIT LONGER FOR HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM CARE THAN MEN: This is pretty scary. Northwestern University researchers found that on average, women patients coming into the emergency room wait 12 minutes longer to be evaluated and treated than men do. Men wait an average of two hours, 52 minutes, while women wait an average of three hours, four minutes. Women also have to wait about three minutes longer than men to be “triaged,” or evaluated and prioritized for care in the ER. On average, they wait 52 minutes to be triaged, while men wait an average of 49 minutes. Researchers write, “These findings suggest potential gaps of care that may be excellent targets for quality improvement of existing processes of assessment and triage and discharge planning.”
😭CLINIC ‘CHARGED PATIENT $40 FOR CRYING’: What won’t you get charged for these days? YouTuber Camille Johnson, from New York, says her sister has a rare disease and has been struggling to find appropriate care. She says during a recent trip to a clinic, her sibling “got emotional because she feels frustrated and helpless. One tear in and they charged her $40 without addressing why she is crying, trying to help, or doing any evaluation, any prescription, nothing.” On Twitter, she posted the bill, and pointed out that the “Brief emotional/behave assmt” cost more than blood tests or a vision test. Many online were shocked by the charge.
🏀WARRIORS DEFEAT MAVERICKS 112-87 IN GAME 1 OF WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: The Golden State Warriors defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-87 in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference finals last night at home. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 21 points, with Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole adding 19 points each. While Mavericks star Luka Doncic had 20 points, Golden State was effective at keeping him to shooting 6 for 18 and 3 of 10 from deep. Game 2 is Friday night.
🏒NHL PLAYOFFS: Results from second-round games yesterday:
- Carolina Hurricanes 2, New York Rangers 1 (OT) - Carolina leads series 1-0
- Calgary Flames 9, Edmonton Oilers 6 - Calgary leads series 1-0
🏈ALABAMA COACH SABAN CHARGES TEXAS A&M USING NIL DEALS TO BUY PLAYERS: Alabama football head coach Nick Saban last night accused Texas A&M of using name, image and likeness (NIL) deals to effectively buy players. While speaking at an event in Birmingham, he said, "We were second in recruiting last year. A&M was first. A&M bought every player on their team. Made a deal for name, image and likeness. We didn’t buy one player." Many in college sports have expressed concern that NIL deals are being used as recruiting inducements and what amounts to pay-for-play.
⚾METS ACE SCHERZER LEAVES GAME WITH SIDE PAIN: New York Mets ace Max Scherzer left in the sixth inning of last night's game against the St. Louis Cardinals with pain in his left side, taking himself out with a four-run lead. The three-time Cy Young Award winner plans to get an MRI today. He said after the game, "I don’t think this is a major strain. I was kind of tight and then all of a sudden it went. But I don’t feel like I really ripped it. It just kind of got worse. So hopefully I got out of there quick enough to prevent a major injury[.]" The Mets went on to win the game 11-4.
🏌DECHAMBEAU WITHDRAWS FROM PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: Bryson DeChambeau withdrew from the PGA Championship that gets underway today after a practice round yesterday at Southern Hills Country Club. DeChambeau recently had surgery to repair a bone in his left wrist and has missed more than a month. He tweeted late yesterday, "I want to make a full return when I am 100% ready to compete at golf's highest level." The 28-year-old is at Number 22 in the men's world ranking.
➤NEW NOAA STUDY FINDS INCREASE IN ATLANTIC HURRICANES LINKED TO CLEANER AIR: One good thing doesn’t always lead to more good things. A new study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) finds that “reducing air pollution does not always decrease the risk of hazards from tropical cyclones,” according to NOAA scientist and study author, Hiroyuki Murakami. The researchers say that in recent years, Europe and North American have reduced particulate air pollution from automotive, and energy industries. NOAA says this has had a significant impact on water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean basin and the development of tropical cyclones. The experts say the absence of the particles actually equates with warming ocean waters, which is one of the key ingredients in the formation of tropical cyclones. Dr. Boris Quennehen, Lead Atmospheric Scientist at Plume Labs, who was not involved with the study, says, “Adding more particles in the atmosphere is not a viable solution for the Earth and humankind. More particles means more health impacts but also oceanic acidification which may lead to the extinction of many marine species.” Murakami predicts that in the next decade, increased greenhouse gases will significantly influence tropical cyclones-- more so than human-caused particulate air pollution.
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