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Wednesday, December 13, 2023

12/13 WAKE-UP CALL: Biden Wavers On Israel


President Biden and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clashed over who should govern Gaza after the war. Biden suggested that the Netanyahu government’s hard-line stance has prevented the Israeli leader from accepting the U.S.’s postwar plan to have the Palestinian Authority take over Gaza, and that it would also obstruct progress toward political, economic and security arrangements that could spawn a separate Palestinian state. His comments came as Netanyahu said he would block a postwar plan to have the Palestinian Authority take over. The United Arab Emirates will condition financial and political support for the reconstruction of Gaza’s infrastructure on a viable U.S.-backed path toward a two-state solution, its ambassador to the United Nations told WSJ.

➤ISRAEL PUMPS SEAWATER INTO TUNNELS: The Israeli military has begun pumping seawater into Hamas's network of tunnels across the Gaza Strip, according to a report, as it aims to flush the terrorists out of their underground lair. Israel is said to have installed at least five pumps about a mile from the Al-Shati refugee camp in the north of the coastal enclave that could move thousands of cubic metres of water per hour, flooding 300 miles of tunnels. 

US officials have now revealed that the operation has begun, with the Biden administration being told that it will take weeks. Asked about the report, the Israeli Defense Force's chief of staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi appeared to to confirm the news, telling a press conference that employing water pumps to make tunnels inoperable would be a 'good idea'. But it comes amid fears that Hamas is harboring Israeli hostages in the labyrinth of passages and that the tactic could prove fatal for those trapped inside, with families continuing to pressure the government to bring them home before it is too late.

➤ZELENSKY GETS LITTLE MONEY:  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s pleas for aid drew sympathy from Congress but failed to break an impasse. Many lawmakers of both parties support tens of billions of dollars in new funding for Kyiv, but House and Senate Republicans are demanding a major crackdown on crossings at the southern U.S. border as a condition for their votes, a step Democrats have rejected. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said at a news conference following Zelensky’s meetings with senators and House leaders it was “practically impossible” for any Ukraine and border deal to pass Congress before the Christmas break. At a separate meeting at the White House, Biden told Zelensky the U.S. “will stay by your side.” Separately, a newly declassified U.S. intelligence assessment estimates Russia has lost nearly 90% of its prewar army to death or injury.

➤RUSSIAN MILITARY MACHINE DEVASTATED: The war in Ukraine has devastated Russia’s preinvasion military machine, with nearly 90% of its prewar army lost to death or injury, and thousands of battle tanks destroyed, according to a newly declassified U.S. intelligence assessment shared with Congress. The intelligence assessment, according to a congressional source, says that 315,000 Russian personnel have been killed or injured since the February 2022 invasion, or about 87% of Moscow’s prewar force of 360,000. Russia also has lost nearly two-thirds of its tank force, or 2,200 out of its 3,500 preinvasion stock, the congressional source said. While it is widely known that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military has sustained vast losses in Ukraine, the assessment provides new details about the extent of those setbacks.

➤SCORES INJURUED IN KYIV: Scores injured after Russia launches ballistic missiles at Kyiv, officials say. Over 50 people have been injured in a large, overnight ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, city officials said early Wednesday. A hospital and residential buildings were hit in the attack, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram, with the latest update stating that 53 people were injured. Twenty of them, including two children, were hospitalized as a result of the strikes. Windows and entrances of buildings were blown out in the blasts, and falling debris started some fires, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s City Military Administration, said on Telegram.


➤REPORT: INFLATION 'STABLIZIES': Inflation has stabilized at well below last year’s high but still above pre-pandemic levels. The consumer-price index rose 3.1% in November from a year earlier, a slight slowdown from October but above June’s 3% reading, the Labor Department said. Prices were up 0.1% from the prior month, stronger than the steady reading economists had expected. While the latest reading won’t change the Fed’s likely decision to hold interest rates steady at its meeting this week, it is probably a bit firmer than the central bank would like to see to be confident that inflation is moving back quickly to its 2% goal. Following the report, the S&P 500 rose 0.5% to its highest level since 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.5% and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.7%. At WSJ’s CEO Council Summit, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the U.S. economy is on the path toward taming inflation without a deep economic slowdown, achieving a so-called soft landing.

📲APPLE UPDATES iPHONE SECURITY: A new iOS setting called Stolen Device Protection is designed to defend against thieves breaking into victims’ accounts. The update follows WSJ’s reporting earlier this year on a nationwide spate of thefts where criminals stole targets’ devices and used the iPhone passcode to take over customers’ accounts, access saved passwords, steal money and lock people out of their digital memories. Stolen Device Protection is rolling out to beta testers starting today. Apple is planning to include it in a coming software update.


➤PENN APPOINTS DEAN:  Leaders at the University of Pennsylvania named the dean of the university’s medical school as interim president. J. Larry Jameson’s appointment represents an initial step in the school’s effort to move past recent turbulence over antisemitism and the limits of free speech on campus that similarly engulfed leaders at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Many in the Penn community, including students, faculty and alumni, remain concerned about what comes next—and who gets to make that call. Investor Marc Rowan, a key player in the effort to oust Penn President Liz Magill, sent a letter to the school’s board laying out how he thinks the university can recover. In his campaign against the heads of Harvard, Penn and MIT, billionaire investor Bill Ackman has taken to open letters and social media posts. Harvard’s governing board said Claudine Gay will remain president of the school.

➤HALEY PICKS-UP ENDORSEMENT: New Hampshire's popular Republican Gov. Chris Sununu endorsed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Tuesday night, a critical move that could invigorate the White House hopeful’s campaign as she seeks to take on former President Donald Trump in the first-in-the-nation primary. “It’s unbelievable,” Sununu said to a packed crowd at the McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester, describing Haley’s momentum in the state. “To see her out there to see you're connecting with folks to feel that momentum is real and it is changeable.” Sununu decided against a presidential run of his own in August and has for months said he would back an alternative to Trump in the 2024 race. Since then, he has been one of the busiest politicians on the campaign trail – attending countless town halls with Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

➤MENENDEZ: BIDEN BORDER PROPOSALS ARE 'THE HEIGHT OF ABSURDITY': Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey accused the Biden administration of neglecting immigrant communities and capitulating to Republicans in border negotiations. Concerns arise within the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and immigrant communities about Senate talks linking aid to Ukraine with significant changes to asylum, deportation, and border management laws. Menendez criticized President Joe Biden for potentially compromising the well-being of migrants and asylum-seekers to appease extreme Republicans for political gain, calling it shameful.

✞ACTOR DIES: Actor Andre Braugher (right) on Monday died at the age of 61 following a brief illness, Deadline reported. The actor was best known for his work on Homicide: Life on the Street, which he appeared on from 1993 to 1998, playing the role of Detective Frank Pembleton on 100 episodes. He played Raymond Holt on 153 episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which he appeared on from 2013 to 2021. He had won two Primetime Emmys in his career: in 2006 for his role of Nick Atwater in Thief; and for his work on Homicide: Life on the Street in 1998. News of the actor's passing was first published by Deadline, and also confirmed to Variety by his Jennifer Allen. 

👑ROYAL WHINERS: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been named among the biggest losers of 2023 by The Hollywood Reporter, with the magazine citing their 'whiny' documentary and memoir. The magazine said the couple had 'fled a life of ceremonial public service to cash in their celebrity status in the States' - but failed to ignite. 'The Harry and Meghan brand swelled into a sanctimonious bubble just begging to be popped - and South Park was the pin,' the authors said. In March, South Park ridiculed the couple with an episode entitled 'World-Wide Privacy Tour', which skewered the pair for claiming to find media intrusion too intense, and then seeking the spotlight. The couple were joined on the 'loser' list by Marvel movies, the Scream franchise, troubled actor Ezra Miller, and Disney. Top of the winners list was Taylor Swift, accompanied by Barbie creators Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig, and union chief Fran Drescher.

🏈VIKINGS TO START NICK MULLENS AT QB AGAINST BENGALS: The Minnesota Vikings have named quarterback Nick Mullens their starter for Saturday's game at the Cincinnati Bengals, coach Kevin O'Connell said Tuesday. Mullens, who entered the season as the Vikings' No. 2 quarterback, will become the fourth different starter in a seven-game stretch for a team that is in strong position for an NFC wild-card playoff spot.

⚾SOURCES: GIANTS, OF JUNG HOO LEE AGREE ON 6-YEAR, $113M DEAL: Center fielder Jung Hoo Lee and the San Francisco Giants agreed Tuesday on a six-year, $113 million contract, the biggest outlay for an Asian-born hitter coming to Major League Baseball. Lee's guarantee exceeds the $90 million the Boston Red Sox gave Masataka Yoshida last year and includes an opt-out after the fourth season.

🏈CHARGERS' JUSTIN HERBERT HAVING SEASON-ENDING FINGER SURGERY: Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was scheduled for surgery to repair his fractured right index finger Tuesday and was placed on injured reserve, ending his 2023 season, the team announced. Herbert suffered the injury in Los Angeles' 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday on a hit from defensive end Zach Allen in the second quarter.

🏀MICHAEL JORDAN HEADLINES INAUGURAL CLASS FOR BULLS' RING OF HONOR: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman are the headliners for the inaugural class for the Chicago Bulls' Ring of Honor. The Bulls unveiled their plans for the Ring of Honor on Tuesday. The first class includes 13 men and the 1995-96 team, which went 72-10 and won the NBA title. The franchise plans to honor the group with a couple of events in January. The inaugural class also includes Phil Jackson, Jerry Krause, Artis Gilmore, Jerry Sloan, Toni Kukoc, Bob Love, Chet Walker, Johnny "Red" Kerr, Tex Winter and Dick Klein.



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