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Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Wake-Up Call: China's Military Frets Over U-S Missiles

Ukranian soldier holds portable missile launcher
China needs the capability to shoot down low-earth-orbit Starlink satellites and defend tanks and helicopters against shoulder-fired Javelin missiles, according to Chinese military researchers who are studying Russia's struggles in Ukraine in planning for possible conflict with U.S.-led forces in Asia.A Review of almost 100 articles in more than 20 defense journals reveals an effort across China's military-industrial complex to scrutinize the impact of U.S. weapons and technology that could be deployed against Chinese forces in a war over Taiwan. The Chinese-language journals, which also examine Ukrainian sabotage operations, reflect the work of hundreds of researchers across a network of People's Liberation Army (PLA)-linked universities, state-owned weapons manufacturers and military intelligence think-tanks. While Chinese officials have avoided any openly critical comments about Moscow's actions or battlefield performance as they call for peace and dialogue, the publicly available journal articles are more candid in their assessments of Russian shortcomings.

➤WOMEN'S DAY OBSERVANCE TODAY: Activists planned rallies and marches to celebrate International Women's Day on Wednesday while governments in several countries promised action to help improve the lot of half the world's population. Canada repealed historic indecency and anti-abortion laws, Japan said more needed to be done to change attitudes about gender and Ireland announced a referendum in November to remove outmoded references to women in the constitution. Marches and other events were planned in Paris, Beirut, Baghdad, Karachi, Istanbul and Singapore, among other cities. International Women's Day has its roots in the U.S. socialist and labor movements of the early 20th century when many women were fighting for better working conditions and the right to vote. More than a century later, women celebrate their achievements and draw attention to far-from-finished efforts to improve rights.

➤OK DEM LAWMKAER CENSURED FOR BLOCKING STATE TROOPERS: Oklahoma Republicans formally censured their nonbinary Democratic colleague Mauree Turner Tuesday after state troopers said the lawmaker blocked them from questioning a transgender rights activist accused of assaulting a police officer during a protest over anti-trans legislation. During the protest, the fugitive, Austin Ross, is accused of flinging water at Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, after the passing of HB 2177, a bill banning gender affirming care for minors. Another protester, Savannah Mitchell, was taken into custody and arrested during the protest.

➤SOME SUBWAY CRIME DROPPING IN NYC: The NYPD announced on Tuesday that subway crime is down 21.5% from the same time last year with every category of serious felonies, except one, down to levels not seen since the mid-1990s when excluding the beginning of the COVID pandemic in 2021. Burglaries, however, remained steady from the same time period last year. The change comes after Mayor Eric Adams and Gov Kathy Hochul ordered more cops to patrol the transit system.

➤FRENCH STRIKES AGAINST PENSION REFORM TO CONTINUE AS UNIONS INTENSIFY: More than 1.2 million protesters marched in France on Tuesday as rail workers and refinery staff began rolling strikes and trade unions stepped up their campaign to try to stop Emmanuel Macron’s plan to raise the pension age to 64.  For the sixth time since the start of the year, trade unions called a nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations. Many protest rallies attracted bigger crowds than previous ones organised since mid-January, including in Marseille, one of France’s biggest cities.

➤FLORIDA PLANE COLLISION OVER LAKE KILLS AT LEAST 2, AUTHORITIES SAY: Two planes collided in midair over a Florida lake Tuesday, killing at least two people, prompting search and rescue efforts. The collision occurred above Lake Hartridge in Winter Haven around 2 p.m., near Winter Haven Regional Airport. "One plane you may see out there is partially submerged, and the other plane in completely submerged," Polk County Sheriff's Office Chief of Staff Steve Lester said during a news conference.

➤NORFOLK SOUTHERN WORKER IDENTIFIED IN FATAL MISHAP ON TRACKS AT CLEVELAND STEEL PLANT: A Norfolk Southern worker is dead after being struck by a dump truck Tuesday morning at a railroad crossing at a Cleveland steel plant. Norfolk Southern says conductor Louis Shuster was killed on the Cleveland-Cliffs Cleveland Works property in Cleveland. Shuster was killed around 1:30 a.m. when a dump truck struck the train while it was moving through a crossing at the plant on West Third Street.

Kohberger
➤AUTHORITIES RELEASE SOME DETAIL SHOOTING SUSPECT'S ARREST:  Pennsylvania authorities revealed Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger, 28, was wearing latex medical gloves and putting his personal trash into Ziploc bags at his parents' home on the day of his arrest. The new details about the 28-year-old's behavior on December 30 were revealed by Monroe County First Assistant Michael Mancuso following the release of a search warrant last week with a lengthy list of items seized by the Pennsylvania police. Police seized multiple knives, a handgun with ammunition and a black mask from his parent's house, and they took a shovel, multiple Ziploc bags, hiking boots and a wrench from the accused killer's white Hyundai Elantra. Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, who were killed on November 13 in Moscow, Idaho.

NY Post composite 3/8/23
➤AMERICANS CAUGHT IN DRUG CARTEL SHOOTOUT: The two Americans who were found dead in Mexico after being kidnapped at gunpoint during a terrifying shootout between rival cartel gangs were identified Tuesday as Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown. Woodard and Brown had traveled from South Carolina to Mexico with Latavia “Tay” McGee and Eric James Williams so McGee, a mother of six, could undergo a tummy tuck procedure, relatives said. But shortly after the foursome crossed the border Friday into the crime-ridden city of Matamoros, located in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas, they found themselves lost. The group couldn’t find the doctor’s office where McGee, 33, was due for surgery that Friday, CNN reported, and poor cell service in the region made it harder for them to communicate with the doctor’s office. While trying to sort out their location, the four became caught in the crosshairs of a violent cartel showdown.


➤MO 2A LAW RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL: A federal judge ruled that Missouri’s sweeping gun-rights law is unconstitutional, in a win for the federal government, which said the law hurt criminal investigations. The 2021 legislation, known as the Second Amendment Preservation Act, made it illegal for state or local officials to cooperate with federal agents to enforce orders, rules or laws that go against the Second Amendment, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. The law also gave Missourians the right to sue local police departments for $50,000 in damages if officials prevented their right to bear arms. Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, signed the legislation into law in June 2021. 

➤PARENTS LIED ABOUT THEIR KIDS SICKNESS STATUS AND BROKE QUARANTINE RULES, STUDY FINDS: During the pandemic, some 25.9% of parents lied about their kids’ COVID test results to prevent their kids from having to miss school and other activities, a new study has found. The survey, titled "Parental Nonadherence to Health Policy Recommendations for Prevention of COVID-19 Transmission Among Children," was published in the Jama Network Open. Of the 580 U.S. parents who responded to a national online survey in December 2021, more than a quarter reported "misrepresentation and/or nonadherence" in at least one of seven behaviors. 

➤JASON SUDEIKIS SAYS ‘TED LASSO’ WILL LIKELY END WITH THIRD SEASON: Jason Sudeikis spoke with Deadline about the fate of Ted Lasso, revealing that the third season will probably be the show’s final one. “This is the end of this story that we wanted to tell, that we were hoping to tell, that we loved to tell. The fact that folks will want more and are curious beyond more than what they don’t even know yet—that being Season 3—it’s flattering,” he told the outlet. “Maybe by May 31, once all 12 episodes of the season [have been released], they’re like, ‘Man, you know what, we get it, we’re fine. We don’t need anymore, we got it.’ But until that time comes, I will appreciate the curiosity beyond what we’ve come up with so far.”

➤FTC WANTS TWITTER'S INTERNAL MEESAGES: The Federal Trade Commission has demanded Twitter Inc. turn over internal communications related to owner Elon Musk, as well as detailed information about layoffs—citing concerns that staff reductions could compromise the company’s ability to protect users, documents viewed by the Wall Street Journal show. In 12 letters sent to Twitter and its lawyers since Mr. Musk’s Oct. 27 takeover, the FTC also asked the company to “identify all journalists” granted access to company records and to provide information about the launch of the revamped Twitter Blue subscription service, the documents show.

🏈NEW YORK GIANTS STRIKE DEAL WITH DANIEL JONES, USE TAG ON SAQUON BARKLEY: The New York Giants have agreed to a four-year, $160 million deal with quarterback Daniel Jones and have used their nonexclusive franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley. Jones will make $82 million guaranteed at signing as part of the deal, which also includes up to $35 million in incentives. Barkley will make $10.091 million in 2023 under the nonexclusive franchise tender.

🏈NEW YORK JETS IN TALKS WITH PACKERS, AARON RODGERS: The New York Jets have had conversations with the Green Bay Packers and with quarterback Aaron Rodgers this week regarding a potential trade of the four-time MVP to the Jets. A contingent of Jets team officials, including owner Woody Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, flew to California on Tuesday to meet in person with Rodgers. It's unclear whether the meeting will result in a trade, however.

🏈BALTIMORE RAVENS USE FRANCHISE TAG ON QB LAMAR JACKSON: The Baltimore Ravens placed the franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson on Tuesday, taking the NFL's top potential free agent off the market.

The Ravens made the long-expected move official by using the tag just before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline. Baltimore and Jackson, who doesn't have an agent and is representing himself, have been unable to reach a long-term deal since he became eligible for a contract extension over two years ago.


⚾REDS REASSIGN VET RHP CHASE ANDERSON TO MAJOR LEAGUE CAMP: The Cincinnati Reds have reassigned veteran right-hander Chase Anderson to major league camp. It is an indication that Anderson, 35, has a chance to earn an Opening Day roster spot for his 10th big league season. The Reds need to fill two starting rotation slots behind their young trio of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft.

⚾LORENZO CAIN TO RETIRE THIS SUMMER AS A ROYAL: Two-time All-Star and former American League Championship Series MVP, Lorenzo Cain, will officially retire this summer as a Kansas City Royal. "I left it in the hands of my boys," Cain, father to three boys ages 5 to 8, said to the media. "I said, 'Hey, do you guys want Daddy to continue to play ball? Or are you ready for Daddy to be done and go home?' And they said, 'Dad, we want you to go home.' And I said, 'OK, then.' So I've been done. I just haven't announced it, I guess."

🏀NBA SCORES:
  • Milwaukee Bucks 134 Orlando Magic 123
  • Washington Wizards 119 Detroit Pistons 117
  • Charlotte Hornets 112 New York Knicks 105
  • Philadelphia 76ers 117 Minnesota Timberwolves 94
  • Brooklyn Nets 118 Houston Rockets 96
  • Oklahoma City Thunder 137 Golden State Warriors 128
  • Dallas Mavericks 120 Utah Jazz 116
  • Los Angeles Lakers 112 Memphis Grizzlies 103



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