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Tuesday, September 12, 2023

9/12 WAKE-UP CALL: Biden Deals To Free Americans


The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions. In addition, as part of the deal, the administration has agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed off on the sanctions waivers late last week, a month after U.S. and Iranian officials said an agreement in principle was in place. Congress was not informed of the waiver decision until Monday, according to the notification, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The outlines of the deal had been previously announced and the waiver was expected. But the notification marked the first time the administration said it was releasing five Iranian prisoners as part of the deal. The prisoners have not been named. The waiver drew criticism of President Joe Biden from Republicans and others who say the deal will boost the Iranian economy at a time when Iran poses a growing threat to U.S. troops and Mideast allies.



➤UKRAINE FEARS DEADLOCK: Kyiv is contending with slow battlefield gains and a cautious West; even if Russian President Vladimir Putin were open to a cease-fire, he has a history of breaking deals. The current military and political standoff looks set to continue until one of those elements changes. Ukraine has the manpower and the determination to fight for a long time, provided the U.S. and its allies continue supplying aid. The West’s priorities are to weaken the Kremlin’s military and economic ability to pursue expansionist ambitions, keep NATO countries united and avoid World War III. The current deadlock ticks those boxes.

➤KILLER STILL ON THE LOOSE: The convicted murderer who busted out of a Pennsylvania prison last month allegedly broke into a house Monday night and was shot at seven times by the homeowner after stealing a rifle, according to a report. State police warned that Danelo Cavalcante may now be armed after he reportedly ran off with a .22 caliber rifle he snatched from the home, according to Fox 29 Philadelphia.  Cavalcante was spotted in East Nantmeal Township, where the homeowner fired at someone matching his description, Action News reported. The man fitting the convict’s profile fled and it’s unclear if he was hit, as no blood was found at the scene, according to the local ABC station. Hundreds of police — including SWAT officers in armored trucks — flooded the neighborhood after a helicopter caught a glimpse of the dangerous escapee in South Coventry Township.

➤CHICAGO WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY UNLEASHING AGGRESSIVE DOGS ON POLICE OFFICERS: The Chicago Police Department announced the arrest of the suspect who allegedly unleashed two violent dogs on police officers Sunday.  Chicago resident Vernia Jones, 31, was charged with one felony count of aggravated battery of a peace officer, the Chicago Police Department said. She also faces two misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

➤NEW COVID BOOSTER SOON: The Food and Drug Administration approved a new round of Covid boosters on Monday, that will arrive alongside the seasonal flu vaccine and shots to protect infants and older adults from R.S.V., a potentially lethal respiratory virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to follow up on Tuesday with an advisory meeting to discuss who should get the new shots, by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. After a final decision by the C.D.C.’s director, millions of doses will be shipped to pharmacies, clinics and health systems nationwide within days.

➤WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER? 



➤POLITICAL BRAWL EXPECTED TO START: The U.S. House of Representatives returns this week for an expected political brawl over spending cuts and impeachment that could paralyze the Republican-controlled chamber, as Congress struggles to avoid a government shutdown. The House and the Democratic-controlled Senate are due to be in session for about 12 days before funding expires on Sept. 30, leaving little time to agree on a package of 12 appropriations bills that can pass each chamber and win Democratic President Joe Biden's signature.

The main bone of contention among House Republicans is a demand by roughly three-dozen members of the hardline House Freedom Caucus to cut spending for fiscal 2024 to $1.47 trillion -- about $120 billion less than Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed in May. The White House and Senate leaders -- including top Republican Mitch McConnell -- have rejected that demand.

➤DEATH TOLL CLIMBS: Villagers in parts of Morocco devastated by the country's biggest earthquake in over a century camped outside for a fourth night on Monday, as the death toll rose to more than 2,800 people. Search teams from Spain, Britain and Qatar joined Moroccan efforts to find survivors from the 6.8 magnitude quake that struck in the High Atlas Mountains late on Friday, flattening the traditional mud brick houses ubiquitous in the region. FOX News Correspondent Trey Yingst Reports From Marrakech, Morocco On The Recovery Efforts

➤LITHIUM DEPOSIT DISOVERED: Geologists have uncovered what they believe could be the world's largest lithium deposit inside an ancient supervolcano along the Nevada-Oregon border in the US. Clay containing up to 40 million metric tons of lithium was identified throughout the 600-mile-wide McDermitt Caldera - nearly double what has been found in Bolivia's salt flats that have long held the record for the most lithium deposits. While the amount of lithium is based on estimates - no drilling has taken place - scientists have found high concentrations of lithium in the caldera since the 1970s. As of 2022, the average battery-grade lithium carbonate price was $37,000 per metric ton, meaning the volcano is potentially sitting on $1.48 trillion worth of the precious metal. 


➤MGM CYBERATTACK LEAVES THOUSANDS OF GUESTS ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP LOCKED OUT OF ROOMS:  Thousands of guests at MGM Resorts in the Las Vegas strip have been locked out of their hotel rooms after the company was hit with a cyber attack, according to reports. MGM Resorts International has about 48,000 rooms on The Strip. The company's properties include Mandalay Bay, the Bellagio, Luxor and MGM Grand, among others. The outage, first detected on Sunday night, has affected company emails, reservations, room keys and casino slot machines.


🏈RODGERS' FACING GRIM NEWS: The Jets announced that Aaron Rodgers’ X-rays were negative after he left the game during the team’s season-opening drive, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods.  According to head coach Robert Saleh after the Jets 22-16 overtime win over the Bills, it’s believed that the four-time MVP is suffering an Achilles injury. The Jets quarterback will undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday.  “MRI is probably going to confirm what we think is already gonna happen, so prayers tonight,” Saleh said. “But it’s not good.” Saleh told reporters that Zach Wilson will be the Jets’ starter for the rest of the season as the team appears to fear the worst with Rodgers’ injury. “I hurt for Aaron and how much he has invested in all of this,” Saleh said. “I’m still going to say a prayer and still going to hold out hope.”

🏈NFL FINAL: Jets 22 Bills 16 (OT)

⚾MLB ORIOLES 11 CARDINALS 5:  Orioles open key homestand with 11-5 rout of Cardinals led by Cedric Mullins’ go-ahead grand slam Cedric Mullins hit a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning and Gunnar Henderson had three hits, including his 25th homer of the season, as the Orioles crushed the St. Louis Cardinals, 11-5, to lower their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to four.

⚾MLB PHILLIES, BRAVES SPLIT: Edmundo Sosa doubled, singled and drove in two runs, Brandon Marsh hit a solo home run and the host Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-5 in the second game of a doubleheader on Monday. The Braves (94-50) won the opener 10-8 in 10 innings. After the split, Atlanta has won four of its past six games. Trea Turner added two hits and an RBI and Jake Cave hit an RBI triple for the Phillies (79-65), who ended a two-game skid. Nick Castellanos chipped in with an RBI single.

⚾MLB SCORES:

  • Rays 7 Twins 4
  • Nationals 6 Pirates 2
  • Rangers 10 Blue Jays 4
  • D-Backs 4 Mets 3
  • Brewers 12 Marlins 0
  • Athletics 4 Astros 0
  • Cubs 5 Rockies 4
  • Angels 8 Mariners 5
  • Giants 5 Guardians 4
  • Padres 11 Dodgers 8

🏀NBA ROCKETS GUARD ARRESTED: Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. was busted in the Big Apple early Monday for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend — a former WNBA player — inside a Midtown hotel, authorities and police sources said. Cops nabbed the 23-year-old pro baller after receiving a 911 call for an assault at the four-star Millennium Hilton New York Hotel at 1 UN Plaza, according to the NYPD and police sources. When officers arrived, they found Porter’s 26-year-old girlfriend Kysre Gondrezick — who previously played for the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky teams — with a cut on her face and suffering neck pain, cops and sources said.  The NBA player allegedly hit Gondrezick multiple times and placed his hands around her neck, cops said.  The alleged assault took place after the couple went out Sunday night and later returned to the hotel.

🏈MSU'S MEL TUCKER DOUBLES-DOWN ON HIS INNOCENCE: Michigan State University head football coach Mel Tucker doubled down Monday on his claim that he is innocent of any misconduct, a day after detailed sexual harassment allegations against him by prominent rape survivor and activist Brenda Tracy. Tucker, whom the university suspended without pay Sunday pending resolution of the school’s Title IX case, said in an emailed statement that Tracy’s allegations are “completely false” and that the proceedings against him are “devoid of any semblance of fairness.”

“I have been ripped from the Team that I love, without any meaningful opportunity to tell my side of the story other than this press release,” Tucker’s statement says. “I ask everyone to consider carefully the undisputed facts outlined and reserve judgment until the full truth comes out.”





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