Russia will not be able to recruit 400,000 “volunteers”, people will be forced to join army – UK Defence Intelligence
Ukrainska Pravda – March 30, 2023
UK Defence Intelligence believes that Russia will not be able to recruit another 400,000 people to the army voluntarily, as it has declared.
Source: UK Defence Intelligence update from 30 March 2023
Details: UK Defence Intelligence noted that Russian media reporting suggests the authorities are preparing to start a major military recruitment campaign with the aim of signing up an additional 400,000 troops.
Quote: “Russia is presenting the campaign as a drive for volunteer, professional personnel, rather than a new, mandatory mobilisation. There is a realistic possibility that in practice this distinction will be blurred, and that regional authorities will try to meet their allocated recruitment targets by coercing men to join up.”
According to UK Defence Intelligence, Russian authorities have likely selected a supposedly ‘volunteer model’ to meet their personnel shortfall in order to minimise domestic dissent. It is highly unlikely that the campaign will attract 400,000 genuine volunteers.
However, rebuilding Russia’s combat power in Ukraine will require more than just personnel, UK Defence Intelligence noted; Russia needs more munitions and military equipment supplies than it currently has available.
Background: According to Bloomberg, Russia plans to increase its army by 400,000 people this year; it is reported that in 2022, the occupiers likely recruited more than 500,000 people.
Finland clears final hurdle for NATO membership, will be admitted by July
Peter Weber, Senior editor – March 30, 2023
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Emin Sansar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Turkey’s parliament on Thursday approved Finland’s bid for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, clearing the final obstacle for the Nordic country to become NATO’s 31st member. Hungary’s legislature ratified Finland’s application on Monday. Finland will be formally admitted to NATO at the alliance’s next meeting in July, in Lithuania, but if Ankara gets the ratification paperwork to Washington in time, Helsinki “could participate as a full member in a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for next week in Brussels,” The Wall Street Journal reports.
“This will make the whole NATO family stronger and safer,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted after Turkey’s parliament unanimously endorsed Finland’s accession.
The fate of Sweden’s tandem application to join is still unclear, as both Turkey and Hungary have declined ratification for different reasons. NATO requires all members to approve any expansion. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who faces re-election in May, accuses Sweden of harboring Kurdish militants and allowing them to protest against Turkey in the streets of Stockholm; Hungary says Swedish politicians have made disparaging remarks about Hungary’s degraded democracy and blames Stockholm for helping cut European Union funds to Budapest. Sweden said it still hopes to gain admission before the July meeting in Lithuania.
Sweden and Finland dropped their neutrality and applied for NATO membership together after Russia invaded Ukraine. Finland decoupled its application from Sweden in March after it became clear Turkey planned to stonewall Stockholm for at least a few more months. “There are certain things we expect of them,” Edrogan said earlier this week. “They must be fulfilled first.”
“The entrance of both Finland and Sweden would expand NATO’s capacity by allowing it to treat a vast area spanning about a thousand miles from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic as part of a coherent area of operations,” the Journal reports. Finland’s inclusion alone will “add more than 800 miles to NATO’s border with Russia and bring to the alliance one of Europe’s best-defended and best-armed countries.”
Russia says Gershkovich was spying, which the Journal adamantly denies. It’s safe to believe the Journal because Russia passed a law last year that basically criminalizes what journalists do: ask questions about things the government doesn’t want anybody to know about.
That law focuses on anybody spreading information about the Russian military, which may apply to Gershkovich because he was reportedly researching a story on the Wagner paramilitary group that’s part of Russia’s invasion force in Ukraine. But that’s just a pretext for Russian President Vladimir Putin to punish and silence one voice highlighting the economic price Russians are starting to pay for Putin’s disastrous invasion of Ukraine.
A picture taken on July 24, 2021 shows journalist Evan Gershkovich. – A US reporter for The Wall Street Journal newspaper has been detained in Russia for espionage, Russian news agencies reported Thursday, citing the FSB security services. “The FSB halted the illegal activities of US citizen Evan Gershkovich… a correspondent of the Moscow bureau of the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, accredited with the Russian foreign ministry,” the FSB was quoted as saying. He is “suspected of spying in the interests of the American government” and of collecting information “on an enterprise of the Russian military-industrial complex,” agencies reported. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP) (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images)
For several months after Russian forces invaded Ukraine last February, the Russian economy seemed resilient. A spike in energy prices boosted Russia’s oil and gas revenue, its largest source of funds. Deft maneuvers by the Russian Central Bank helped the country withstand tough sanctions imposed by the United States and other allies of Ukraine. Russian forces floundered in Ukraine, but that was due to poor military planning and execution, not sanctions.
Now, however, sanctions are finally beginning to strangle the Russian economy in ways that could set it back for years. Laura Solanko of the Bank of Finland recently described how Russia is undergoing “reverse industrialization” in which the military-industrial complex driven by war needs crowds out the consumer economy, as in Soviet times. “Russia is stuck ineluctably on a path to lower potential growth and a bleak economic future,” Solanko wrote on March 27.
On paper, Russia seems to be surviving. Official data show its economy shrank by 2.2% in 2022, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasting flat GDP growth in 2023. But Russia, never the most trustworthy data purveyor, has stopped publishing a variety of economic statistics, and some IMF critics have blasted the agency’s Russia forecast as naïve and wrong. The wonky debate matters because it gets to the question of whether sanctions are accomplishing anything or not.
Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a ceremony via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 30, 2023. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
In early March, Russian journalist Boris Grozovsky detailed a new Russian economy in which “all resources go to war” and “household goods are sacrificed.” Spending on consumption, he reported, fell by 49% in 2022, largely because there was nothing to buy. There’s been explosive growth in sectors related to defense production, but cars, furniture, and appliances have grown scarce as imports disappeared and the Russian economy pivoted toward materiel needed for the war.
Murmurs of discontent are seeping out of Russia itself. Aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska said at a recent conference in Siberia that Russia will run out of money by 2024. He complained about new taxes on Russian businesses to help finance the war effort. Even Putin has acknowledged that “restrictions imposed on the Russian economy may indeed have a negative impact.”
Sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 aimed to isolate its financial system and restrict trade while leaving Russia’s energy exports more or less intact. Since Russia is one of the world’s largest exporters of oil and natural gas, the goal was to hurt Russia without causing a global energy shortage that would send prices soaring. That largely worked, but the scheme allowed Russia to continue earning huge amounts of energy revenue that helped finance the war.
Last December, the European Union banned most imports of Russian oil, while a U.S.-led group of large economies imposed a price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian oil. Those sanctions were novel and nobody was sure they’d work. Some Ukraine allies wanted a lower oil price cap that would reduce Russia’s oil revenues even more.
Energy markets remained calm after those moves went into effect, and in February a similar set of sanctions went into effect on refined Russian hydrocarbons such as diesel fuel. Russia is still exporting energy, but the sanctions do seem to be forcing costly workarounds in Russia’s energy exports and denting revenue. The allied nations could lower the price caps on Russian energy at any time, effectively tightening the sanctions.
Russia’s economic woes are intensifying as it seems to be running short of tanks, artillery, and other weapons vitally needed in Ukraine. The intent of sanctions is to make it progressively more difficult for Russia to sustain the war. Ukraine, of course, is suffering weapons shortages of its own and a sharp economic contraction, though billions in aid from the United States and other partners compensates for some of that.
The Journal piece, written by Gershkovich and Georgi Kantchev, catalogued Russia’s economic woes and its diminution into a kind of junior partner for China, whose economic assistance it depends on. The story described how sanctions prevent Russian airlines from obtaining spare parts and finance firms from updating software. New-car sales have plunged by 62% year-over-year. Investment in Russian oil and gas exploration is down 42%, which could lead to a long-term decline in Russia’s energy output.
That wasn’t the first story on Russia’s economic problems, but it was comprehensive and may have arrived just as Putin is feeling the rising heat of a failing war and a flat-lining economy. Snatching Gershkovich on bogus charges probably reveals increasing desperation for Putin, yet it’s consistent with the bullying behavior of a dictator who has badly erred and blames the messengers. It won’t be the last of Putin’s aberrant behavior.
‘Radiant’ 9-Year-Old Killed While Leading Nashville Classmates to Safety, Family Believes
Eileen Grench – March 30, 2023
Courtesy of Kelly Dorrance
A 9-year-old girl killed during the deadly school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee may have been leading her classmates to safety after a fire alarm was tripped when the killer entered the school, her aunt told The Daily Beast.
Evelyn Dieckhaus’ aunt said that while exact details of Evelyn and other victims’ final moments are still unclear, she heard her “radiant” niece died after leading her classmates in what she possibly thought was a fire drill.
“We’re finding out the shooter may have pulled the fire alarm to get kids out of their classroom. Evelyn being one of the class leaders was at the front of the line assuming fire drill,” read a private Instagram post provided to The Daily Beast by the aunt, Kelly Dorrance.
“She was trying to lead her classmates to safety and possibly didn’t hear the shouts to come back in the room. Things children should never worry about,” read the post.
Evelyn, Dorrance told The Daily Beast, was “radiant—a beacon of joy in our family. She had a calm confidence and a natural sense of purpose—alongside a whip smart sense of humor and a sly little smile.”
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed to The Daily Beast on Thursday that their investigation currently indicates “that the alarm originated from the area of the shooter’s entry” at The Covenant School on Monday morning.
Contrary to some reports that Dieckhaus was killed as she tried to pull the fire alarm, MNPD spokesman Don Aaron told The Daily Beast Thursday, “The investigation at present does not support a ‘pulling’ of the alarm.” MNPD declined to comment on whether Dieckhaus was killed while leading a fire drill from the classroom.
The other two 9-year-old victims were identified by police as William Kinney and Hallie Scruggs. Three school staff were also killed: 61-year-old custodian Mike Hill; head of school Katherine Koonce; and substitute teacher Cynthia Peak.
Harrowing body-camera footage released on Tuesday showed officers Michael Collazo and Rex Engelbert rushing into the school and following the sounds of gunfire to the second floor.
Once upstairs, Engelbert and Collazo saw the shooter, Audrey Hale, standing in front of a window, and opened fire. Hale was killed within 14 minutes of the initial call to police.
Dorrance said the death of her niece is a “nightmare you can’t wake up from,” but told The Daily Beast by text message that ”the support and love our family has received has proved that humanity is, ultimately, good.”
“How our country puts assault rifles in the hands of civilians, I’ll never understand. We are in disbelief. Devastated. Heartbroken. Sick,” she said on Instagram.
And though the family is grieving, they want to make sure Evelyn’s memory will live on, Dorrance told The Daily Beast: “After we get through this initial phase of grief, we’re committed to make her memory an important one that will save the lives of other children.”
Related:
Funerals begin for 6 victims of Nashville school shooting
ABC News
Emily Shapirof – March 31, 2023
Funerals begin for 6 victims of Nashville school shooting
Mourners will gather on Friday for the first of six funerals in the wake of Monday’s mass shooting at The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Our hearts are completely broken,” the Dieckhaus family said in a statement. “We cannot believe this has happened. Evelyn was a shining light in this world.”
PHOTO: Evelyn Dieckhaus is seen in this undated photo. (Courtesy The Dieckhaus Family)
The service for 9-year-old victim Hallie Scruggs will be on Saturday. Hallie’s funeral will be at Covenant Presbyterian Church — the church connected to the school where she was killed and where her father, Chad Scruggs, is a senior pastor.
Chad Scruggs told ABC News in a statement, “We are heartbroken. She was such a gift. Through tears we trust that she is in the arms of Jesus who will raise her to life once again.”
PHOTO: Hallie Scruggs is seen with her family in this undated family photo. (Courtesy Chad Scruggs)
Saturday will also be the visitation and service for 61-year-old Cynthia Peak, who was a substitute teacher at The Covenant School.
Her family called her “a pillar of the community, and a teacher beloved by all her students.”
“Her favorite roles in life were being a mom to her three children, a wife to her husband, and an educator to students,” Peak’s family said in a statement. “We will never stop missing her.”
PHOTO: Cindy Peak is seen in this undated photo. (Courtesy of the Peak Family)
The service for the third child killed, 9-year-old Will Kinney, will take place on Sunday.
PHOTO: Parishioners participate in a community vigil at Belmont United Methodist Church in the aftermath of a school shooting in Nashville, March 27, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (John Bazemore/AP)
On Tuesday, beloved school custodian, 61-year-old Mike Hill, will be laid to rest.
“We pray for the Covenant School and are so grateful that Michael was beloved by the faculty and students who filled him with joy for 14 years,” his family said in a statement.
Former student Bex Lithgow called Hill “the kindest soul who loved all the students so much.”
PHOTO: Mike Hill is seen here in an undated file photo. (Mike Hill/Facebook)
The final funeral service will be on Wednesday for 60-year-old Katherine Koonce, the head of the school.
“Katherine was devoted to her family, her friends, and especially the children she cared for. She gave her life to protect the students she loved,” Koonce’s family said in a statement. “It is our privilege to honor Katherine’s legacy and to celebrate her remarkable spirit.”
PHOTO: Katherine Koonce, a victim in The Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tenn., March 27, 2023. (The Covenant School)
A former local school administrator, Tricia Drake, told ABC News that her last conversation with Koonce was in August, discussing companies they used for active shooter training.
Drake said she knew Koonce had initiated her active shooter protocols on Monday when she saw footage police released from two of the responding officers’ body cameras. One of the videos shows a Covenant School staff member meeting an officer at the school’s main entrance, telling him, “The kids are all locked down, but we have two kids that we don’t know where they are.” The staffer is then seen using a key to unlock the door so officers could go inside.
“Students were in their classrooms, locked up, the professional outdoors to lead the Metro policeman. She had a key, what her headcount was, she knew exactly where the students would be, she was prepared,” Drake said. “I’m sure they had run those drills, and it’s because of Katherine and the foresight she had to make sure her staffers were prepared.”
PHOTO: People attend a vigil after a deadly shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., March 29, 2023. (Cheney Orr/Reuters)
ABC News’ Steph Wash, Morgan Winsor and Miles Cohen contributed to this report.
Major storm threatens to bring more tornadoes to hard-hit South
ABC News Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee tracks the cross-country storm heading East as areas pummeled by the deadly tornado outbreak prepare for more severe weather.
A series of mega-storms throughout March has brought snow to Mammoth Mountain in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, burying homes, cars and businesses.
PHOTO: Snowboarders walk and cars attempt to drive in the Sierra Nevada mountains, as now reached record levels, March 29, 2023 in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)PHOTO: Workers remove snow from the roof of a condominium complex in the Sierra Nevada mountains, after yet another storm system brought heavy snowfall, March 29, 2023, in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Earlier this week, 20.7 inches fell in 24 hours at Mammoth Mountain, surpassing the all-time season snowfall record, according to the UC Berkeley Snow Lab, with more than 700 inches for the season. The previous record, set in the 2010-2011 season was 668 inches.
PHOTO: A person removes snow in front of lodging obscured by snowbanks piled up from new and past storms in the Sierra Nevada mountains, March 29, 2023, in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)PHOTO: Snow blows in the Sierra Nevada mountains after yet another storm system brought heavy snowfall, March 29, 2023, in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
People were out shoveling snow off roofs and trying to keep roads passable with windy conditions. Wind gusts at the ski resort were reported to be as high as 98 mph.
PHOTO: People make their way down a road is lined with snowbanks piled up from multiple storms, after more heavy snow fell, March 29, 2023, in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)PHOTO: A skier passes by as workers remove snow from the roof of a condominium complex in the Sierra Nevada mountains after another storm system brought heavy snowfall, March 29, 2023, in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
That will stretch the ski season through at least July at Mammoth Mountain ski resort, which has recorded 870 inches at the base of the Main Lodge.
Another 30 inches fell in the last 24 hours and the forecast is for snow this weekend and early next week.
PHOTO: Jeff Wright checks on his neighbor’s home in the Sierra Nevada mountains, as snow piled up from new and past storms, March 29, 2023, in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)PHOTO: As night falls, a person shovels snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains, March 29, 2023 in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Donald Trump indicted; expected to surrender next week
Michael R. Sisak, Eric Tucker and Colleen Long – March 30, 2023
Former President Donald Trump announces he is running for president for the third time as he smiles while speaking at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 15, 2022. A lawyer for Trump said Thursday, March 30, 2023, that he has been told that the former president has been indicted in New York on charges involving payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)Adult film actress Stormy Daniels arrives for the opening of the adult entertainment fair Venus in Berlin, Oct. 11, 2018. A lawyer for Donald Trump said Thursday, March 30, 2023, that he has been told that the former president has been indicted in New York on charges involving payments to Daniels made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, a historic reckoning after years of investigations into his personal, political and business dealings and an abrupt jolt to his bid to retake the White House.
The exact nature of the charges was unclear Friday because the indictment remained under seal, but they stem from payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter. Prosecutors said they were working to coordinate Trump’s surrender, which could happen early next week. They did not say whether they intended to seek prison time in the event of a conviction, a development that wouldn’t prevent Trump from seeking and assuming the presidency.
The indictment, the first against a former U.S. president, injects a local district attorney’s office into the heart of a national presidential race and ushers in criminal proceedings in a city that the ex-president for decades called home. Arriving at a time of deep political divisions, the charges are likely to reinforce rather than reshape dueling perspectives of those who see accountability as long overdue and those who, like Trump, feel the Republican is being targeted for political purposes by a Democratic prosecutor.
Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly assailed the investigation, called the indictment “political persecution” and predicted it would damage Democrats in 2024. In a statement confirming the charges, defense lawyers Susan Necheles and Joseph Tacopina said Trump “did not commit any crime. We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in court.”
A spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney’s office confirmed the indictment and said prosecutors had reached out to Trump’s defense team to coordinate a surrender. Trump was asked to surrender Friday but his lawyers said the Secret Service needed additional time as they made security preparations, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The people, who couldn’t publicly discuss security details, said Trump is expected to surrender early next week.
The case centers on well-chronicled allegations from a period in 2016 when Trump’s celebrity past collided with his political ambitions. Prosecutors for months scrutinized money paid to porn actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, whom he feared would go public with claims that they had extramarital sexual encounters with him.
The timing of the indictment appeared to come as a surprise to Trump campaign officials following news reports that criminal charges were likely weeks away. The former president was at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, on Thursday and filmed an interview with a conservative commentator earlier in the day.
For a man whose presidency was defined by one obliterated norm after another, the indictment sets up yet another never-before-seen spectacle — a former president having his fingerprints and mug shot taken, and then facing arraignment. For security reasons, his booking is expected to be carefully choreographed to avoid crowds inside or outside the courthouse.
The prosecution also means that Trump will have to simultaneously fight for his freedom and political future, while also fending off potentially more perilous legal threats, including investigations into attempts by him and his allies to undo the 2020 presidential election as well as into the hoarding of hundreds of classified documents.
In fact, New York was until recently seen as an unlikely contender to be the first place to prosecute Trump, who continues to face long-running investigations in Atlanta and Washington that could also result in charges. Unlike those inquiries, the Manhattan case concerns allegations against Trump that occurred before he became president and are unrelated to his much-publicized efforts to overturn the election.
The indictment comes as Trump seeks to reassert control of the Republican Party and stave off a slew of one-time allies who may threaten his bid for the presidential nomination. An expected leading rival in the race, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, called the indictment “un-American” in a statement Thursday night that pointedly did not mention Trump’s name.
In bringing the charges, Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, is embracing an unusual case that was investigated by two previous sets of prosecutors, both of which declined to take the politically explosive step of seeking Trump’s indictment. The case may also turn in part on the testimony of a key witness, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges arising from the hush money payments, including making false statements.
The probe’s fate seemed uncertain until word got out in early March that Bragg had invited Trump to testify before a grand jury, a signal that prosecutors were close to bringing charges.
Trump’s attorneys declined the invitation, but a lawyer closely allied with the former president briefly testified in an effort to undercut Cohen’s credibility.
Trump himself raised anticipation that he would be indicted soon, issuing a statement earlier this month in which he predicted an imminent arrest and called for protests. He did not repeat that call in a fresh statement Thursday, but the New York Police Department told its 36,000 officers to be fully mobilized and ready to respond to any potential protests or unrest.
Late in the 2016 presidential campaign, Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 to keep her silent about what she says was a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier after they met at a celebrity golf tournament.
Cohen was then reimbursed by Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, which also rewarded the lawyer with bonuses and extra payments logged internally as legal expenses. Over several months, Cohen said, the company paid him $420,000.
Earlier in 2016, Cohen also arranged for the publisher of the supermarket tabloid the National Enquirer to pay McDougal $150,000 to squelch her story of a Trump affair in a journalistically dubious practice known as “catch-and-kill.”
The payments to the women were intended to buy secrecy, but they backfired almost immediately as details of the arrangements leaked to the news media.
Federal prosecutors in New York ultimately charged Cohen in 2018 with violating federal campaign finance laws, arguing that the payments amounted to impermissible help to Trump’s presidential campaign. Cohen pleaded guilty to those charges and unrelated tax evasion counts and served time in federal prison.
Trump was implicated in court filings as having knowledge of the arrangements — obliquely referred to in charging documents as “Individual 1” — but U.S. prosecutors at the time balked at bringing charges against him. The Justice Department has a longtime policy against indicting a sitting president in federal court.
Bragg’s predecessor as district attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr., then took up the investigation in 2019. While that probe initially focused on the hush money payments, Vance’s prosecutors moved on to other matters, including an examination of Trump’s business dealings and tax strategies.
Vance ultimately charged the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer with tax fraud related to fringe benefits paid to some of the company’s top executives.
The hush money matter became known around the D.A.’s office as the “zombie case,” with prosecutors revisiting it periodically but never opting to bring charges.
Bragg saw it differently. After the Trump Organization was convicted on the tax fraud charges in December, he brought fresh eyes to the well-worn case, hiring longtime white-collar prosecutor Matthew Colangelo to oversee the probe and convening a new grand jury.
Cohen became a key witness, meeting with prosecutors nearly two-dozen times, turning over emails, recordings and other evidence and testifying before the grand jury.
Trump has long decried the Manhattan investigation as “the greatest witch hunt in history.” He has also lashed out at Bragg, calling the prosecutor, who is Black, racist against white people.
The criminal charges in New York are the latest salvo in a profound schism between Trump and his hometown — a reckoning for a one-time favorite son who grew rich and famous building skyscrapers, hobnobbing with celebrities and gracing the pages of the city’s gossip press.
Trump, who famously riffed in 2016 that he “could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” and “wouldn’t lose voters,” now faces a threat to his liberty in a borough where more than 75% of voters — many of them potential jurors — went against him in the last election.
Tucker and Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Bobby Caina Calvan, Jill Colvin and Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.
A few weeks ago, Daniels said she would “dance down the street” if and when Trump was indicted on hush money-related charges stemming from her alleged affair with him way back in 2006. Those allegations, and claims that Trump paid her $130,000 for her silence just days before the 2016 election, first came to light after Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the hard-fought race.
Stormy Daniels, an adult film star whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is central to the case Manhattan prosecutors are building against former President Donald Trump.
Brewster discounted that remark late Thursday as “just a comment that she may have made to try to be funny or something.”
In fact, when the significance of the charges sank in, Daniels didn’t feel like dancing at all, Brewster said.
“The fact is that she feels bad that the guy has been charged,” he said. “But on the other hand, truly, she knew what the facts were and she wants him to deal with the truth as well. So from that perspective, there’s a degree of feeling like the system is working.”
Brewster, who has been representing Daniels since 2019, added that he and Daniels both felt “it is a sad day, honestly” but that both felt vindicated by the indictment by a grand jury hearing evidence presented by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
“I think obviously the grand jury looked at a lot of documents and heard a lot of testimony and made a decision, and I have to respect that,” Brewster said. “But on behalf of Stormy and honestly myself, there’s no joy in seeing the man indicted.”
“I think it’s a tragedy to see someone who has been a former president and leader of this country to be criminally charged,” he added. “But you have to respect the system and you have to respect the fact that we deal with truth and justice, and the truth is ultimately what will get him acquitted or convicted.”
“And, you know, it does prove the adage that we all believe from the time that we’re little kids that no man is above the law,” Brewster said. “It really is a testament, truly, to our constitutional system.”
Sir Nick Faldo: LIV players have quit their job – and now they want a bonus
Jim White – March 30, 2023
Nick Faldo – Nick Faldo: LIV players have quit their job – and now they want a bonus – Getty Images/Luke Walker
Sir Nick Faldo is back. And he is as full as ever of opinions, on everything from the BBC, through the height of tees, to LIV Golf. His return, however, may come as a surprise, because last August he bade farewell from the commentary box at the American network CBS, for whom he had covered all the big golfing events (and a few smaller ones) for 16 years.
As goodbyes go, this was one that looked pretty permanent, an adieu so tearful that he and his fellow pundits ran out of tissues. Yet, barely seven months on, the 65-year-old has returned to be part of Sky’s coverage of the Masters from Augusta. And one thing is for sure: his time away from the microphone has not dampened his opinions.
Take his view of LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed breakaway tour run by his old Masters sparring partner Greg Norman.
“All this ‘we’re going to supercharge the excitement’,” he says of LIV’s claim it is a golfing game-changer. “Well, we haven’t seen any excitement because nobody’s watching.”
As for the LIV players breaking off to do their own thing and then insisting on competing in a tournament such as the Masters, Faldo is not holding back.
“Hey, if you want to go and do something different, fine. But this [playing in the Masters] is a bit like: You had a job in a store and now you’ve got a new one, then you’re calling the store demanding you get a bonus. I’ve got nothing against these guys, the grass is greener on the other side and all that. But don’t get all uppity if people object when you come back.”
Lest anyone accuse him of being the Roy Hodgson of television punditry, unable to keep away even after saying he was off, the great three-time Masters winner wants to make it clear he never said he was retiring. Just pulling back.
“I wanted to cut down from full-time commentary. It was too much,” he says. “It’s a great job, don’t get me wrong. But you’re basically flying twice a week. You check out of a hotel and they say: See you again next year. And sure enough, another year goes by and you’re checking in again. And hey, that just hit me and I was like: I’m off. I have other things to do with my life.”
There is, he says, plenty to do: he has a course design business and is involved in a tournament in the Far East trying to fast-track new players on to the DP World Tour – which he calls the “hashtag growing the game.”
Then there is his farm in the middle of Montana, from where he is speaking to Telegraph Sport. Though he is quick to point out “farm” may be something of an exaggeration: He is definitely no golfing Jeremy Clarkson.
“He’s doing it properly and as he goes he’s highlighting the bloody difficulty of being a farmer in Britain. So good on him,” he says of Clarkson. “I’m just about getting my boots muddy. Most of my time seems to be spent feeding the dogs. Really, we’re just doing it all for the scenery.”
And he describes the view from the window as he speaks, the uninterrupted mountain range, the river where he fishes, the several feet of snow that has lain thereabouts all winter.
“Yeah, that’s been a surprise,” he says of the four months of deep-freeze conditions. “Augusta will make a nice change.”
Though it is not just the lush fairways and magnolias that are drawing him back down to Georgia. It is the golf. The lure of being involved once again in a sport which he has played and commentated on for the past 46 years.
“I want to do the big stuff,” he says. “I want to be there for the Majors.”
In the United States, he became a much-loved fixture of the CBS golf coverage, his light touch, dry humour and refusal to take himself seriously were hugely admired. Which might come as a surprise to Sky viewers in Britain who remember him as a golfer of almost terrifying intensity. Where did that comedy come from? After all, he was not joking when he hunted down Greg Norman on that final day in Augusta in 1996 to win his third green jacket.
“I felt insulted when people said I invented my broadcasting style to disguise the fact I was such an arse,” he says. “I read people saying it was an act to come across as a nice guy. Actually, it is me. I credit my dad for this. He loved his amateur dramatics, and I think it brings out the theatre in me. Make it quick, make it funny. And it’s a show, that’s the other thing to remember: It’s entertainment. I always thought, ‘Well if I entertain myself, then hopefully that comes across.’”
When he talks about what is needed at Augusta, he knows precisely what he is talking about. “Way back from my first year of TV, I said, ‘All right, don’t sit here and wish you were out there. Just say what you see and let the pictures tell the story’.”
‘Golf is a global sport and Augusta is its showcase. The BBC should be there’
Not that Faldo is lacking in opinion. There is, for instance, his take on the fact that, barring a late stay of execution, the BBC will no longer broadcast so much as edited television highlights from Augusta. After all, it was watching the Beeb’s coverage of Jack Nicklaus winning the 1972 edition on his parents’ new colour television that first lured the teenage Faldo into the game.
“Well, it’s not right,” he says of BBC Television’s probable absence. “It’s a global sport and Augusta is its showcase. They should be there. Very simple, they really should be there.”
Then there is his dismay at the manner in which equipment advances have changed the nature of the game, particularly the distance of drives. “I come from an era when only about five golfers could hit over 300 yards. Now everyone can. We had drivers that had a sweetspot the size of a pea. Now they are the size of Montana.”
His solution is a simple one, a lot simpler than the PGA’s mooted idea of altering the ball, which is causing such unrest in the locker room. “I mean it sounds a silly thing, but it’s the size of the tee peg,” he says. “They wallop these drives from tees about a foot high. Make them play off the ground and instantly they won’t be able to hit the ball into the next time zone.”
And then there is LIV Golf. Initially he said he did not want to talk about LIV. But once he starts, there is no stopping him.
“I’m not against them. They decided the grass is greener on their tour. Fine. The gripes I get is when he [Norman] said these things about doing it to grow the game of golf. We’ve all been here 40 years or more, hang on mate. The fact is they got a ridiculous cash offer, which for some of them was the right thing to do.
“But as we said, it’s gone very quiet. So good luck with changing the game.”
Nick Faldo interview: LIV players have quit their job – and now they want a bonus – Getty Images/Christian Petersen
Faldo will doubtless let his opinion be known when he attends the Champions Dinner the night before the Masters starts. This is a unique social gathering in which only those who have previously worn the Green Jacket may attend. Norman will not be there as, largely thanks to Faldo, he never won it. But there will still be a significant representation of LIV players.
“That is going to be a great evening,” he says. “Six of them [LIV golfers] are champions. There could be a few fireside stories after that. Apparently we’re using plastic knives and forks this year. Just in case.”
Lyme is not the only disease to worry about this tick season. What you need to know this spring.
Cases of babesiosis — a tick-borne disease that can cause flulike symptoms — are on the rise in the Northeast, according to the CDC.
Laura Ramirez – Feldman, Reporter – March 30, 2023
The black-legged tick, otherwise known as the deer tick, can spread Lyme disease and babesiosis. (Reuters)
Spring is in full swing, and that means more sunlight, warmer temperatures and more time spent outdoors. It also means that for most of the United States, tick season has begun. Although tick exposure can occur year round, these insects are most active during the warmer months, starting in April.
Some states with greater tick activity have started to urge citizens to take precautions when enjoying the outdoors. Ticks carry several types of disease — Lyme disease being the most common — but health experts say Americans should be aware of a rise in other tick-borne illnesses in some regions of the country, including babesiosis.
What is babesiosis?
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by a parasite called Babesia microti and spread by the black-legged tick, otherwise known as the deer tick. In the U.S., the disease is more commonly found in the Northeast and Midwest, where deer ticks are abundant.
A bite from a tick carrying this parasite can infect red blood cells. While not everyone who is infected develops symptoms, some people can experience flulike symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle pain and fatigue.
Severe cases of babesiosis are rare, but the disease can be fatal for some people, particularly those who are immunocompromised, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency also notes that the disease can lead to health complications, including acute respiratory distress and kidney failure.
Cases of babesiosis are increasing in the Northeast
This month, the CDC warned about a significant increase in tick-borne illnesses in the U.S. A study conducted by the agency found that U.S. tick-borne disease cases had risen by 25%, from 40,795 cases reported in 2011 to 50,856 in 2019. During the same period, “a total of 16,456 cases of babesiosis were reported to CDC by 37 states, including 16,174 (98.2%) reported from the 10 states included in this analysis,” the report noted.
Cases of babesiosis in particular climbed significantly in eight Northeastern states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Three New England states — Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont — saw the fastest growth in cases, which prompted the CDC to add them to the list of places where the disease is considered endemic (meaning it is consistently present).
“It’s certainly something that is of concern,” Griffin Dill, tick lab coordinator at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, told Yahoo News. “It hasn’t reached the kind of case numbers that we’re seeing with Lyme disease or anaplasmosis quite yet, but it is certainly on the rise and something to be aware of.”
Although babesiosis cases are increasing, Lyme disease continues to be the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in the U.S., with approximately 35,000 cases reported to the CDC each year.
Dill and his team provide tick identification and testing services in Maine. By testing ticks that people bring to the lab, his team can identify the type of pathogens the insects could be carrying. Dill explained that this tool is an important one because it provides people with “a piece of risk information about the ticks on their property.” It also gives researchers a better understanding of the geographical spread of ticks and the diseases they carry.
The recent CDC report, Dill said, confirms what he’s been seeing in his lab.
“Just over the past five years that we’ve been doing this, we’ve seen an increase over time in the infection rate for Babesia,” he said. “So even just in a relatively short, five-year time frame, we’re seeing increases in the parasite within the tick itself, which then can correspond to increases in human cases as well.”
Experts believe that the actual number of cases is probably higher, because babesiosis is not reportable in all states. A main concern about the increased prevalence of the disease is that the parasite that causes it can be transmitted via blood transfusions. This, the CDC said, could pose a threat to the blood supply.
“Persons who acquire babesiosis through contaminated blood have been shown to have significantly worse health outcomes and a higher risk for death than do those who acquire the disease from a tick bite,” the agency said in the report.
However, government health agencies have already taken steps to protect the blood supply from the tick-borne disease. Since 2019, the Food and Drug Administration has recommended screening for the parasite at blood donation centers in 14 states and Washington, D.C., where the disease is more prevalent.
Blood sample showing the Babesia parasite. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Why are tick-borne diseases on the rise?
The CDC hasn’t explained why cases of babesiosis and other tick-borne diseases are up, but tick experts have a few theories as to why this may be happening.
Researchers say global warming is a contributing factor. Ticks thrive in warm and humid weather, usually anywhere there is lush greenery. As winters get warmer and shorter, the pests can stay active year round, causing more infections.
Dill said that seasonality patterns of black-legged ticks have almost disappeared.
“Normally, we get kind of a break in tick activity during the winter months, when it’s cold, it’s snowy, but with warmer weather [and] warmer temperatures, we can and do see them active year round, unfortunately,” he said.
The changes in climate and weather patterns have also had an impact on the geographic range of ticks. The habitat of black-legged ticks and other tick species is expanding, Dill explained.
“The black-legged tick, we’re certainly seeing them advance further and further north into northern New England and into Canada,” he said.
Another type of tick that has been on the move in the past two decades is the lone star tick. These ticks can spread an unusual disease called alpha-gal syndrome, which causes an allergic reaction to mammal meats such as beef, pork and lamb. They were historically found in the Southern U.S., but Stephen Rich, director of the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, said they are moving north, and farther inland. Their population is also growing.
“There are spots like Long Island, N.Y., where basically the lone star ticks have almost replaced the ticks that transmit Lyme disease — the black-legged ticks. So they’re definitely moving northward,” he said.
Both Dill and Rich said climate change is not the only reason why ticks and tick-borne diseases have spread throughout the country.
“We can’t say that it’s not global warming. But the stronger evidence is that this has to do with the way we manage our landscapes,” Rich said.
The way we like to see our properties, with stone walls and lawns with wooded edges, turns out to be perfect for deer and for deer ticks or black-legged ticks. “We’ve cultivated landscapes that are perfect for ticks and tick-borne diseases,” he added.
The lone star tick gets its name from the single, silvery-white spot on the female’s back. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
How to prevent tick-borne disease
The best way to protect yourself from babesiosis and other tick-borne illnesses is to avoid getting bitten by a tick.
These critters live in grassy, brushy and wooded areas, so you are more likely to have encounters with them when going outside to garden, walk your dog or go camping or hiking.
To prevent tick bites, Dill recommends that people create a layer of protection.
“That barrier can be something as simple as just wearing protective clothing, so wearing long pants and tucking those pants into your boots or into your socks, just anything that’s going to prevent a tick from actually getting to your skin,” he said.
Using repellents is also a good option. Certain repellents are designed to be used on clothing; others can be applied directly to the skin. The CDC recommends using Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents. If you are not sure which product to use, the EPA has a search tool that can help find the best fit for you.
Checking your body for ticks after spending time outdoors is also highly recommended.
“Just make it a routine to look over your body and see if you have ticks,” Rich said, adding that people should check their children and pets as well.
Finally, if you do find a tick on yourself, the experts said there’s no reason to panic, because not every tick is carrying a disease. If the insect has bitten you, the CDC recommends removing it with fine-tipped tweezers and cleaning the bite area with rubbing alcohol or with soap and water.
Rich told Yahoo News that people should also consider saving or photographing the tick so a professional can evaluate it and determine if it is carrying harmful bacteria. He recommended the University of Rhode Island’s TickSpotters program, which offers free tick identification service, as one place where this can be done.
If you develop a rash or fever after getting bitten by a tick, the CDC recommends that you consult a medical professional.
“I think awareness is kind of the key there,” Dill said. “We don’t want people to be afraid of these illnesses and … prevent people from going outdoors and enjoying outdoor activities. But be aware and take some precautions when recreating outside.”
Doing This One Thing Every Day Could Lower Your Risk of Dementia
Beth Ann Mayer – March 30, 2023
Plus, the habit that comes in second—according to a neuropsychologist.
More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common form of dementia, according to a 2023 Alzheimer’s Association report. The report also notes that Alzheimer’s starts about 20 years or more before a person develops memory loss or other hallmark symptoms of the devastating disease.
Damage to the brain cells causes dementia. Genetics can play a role, so it’s not possible to prevent it 100 percent. But research discussed at the 2019 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference indicated that lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
It’s like lifting weights—you do it to keep your muscles strong.
“Although the process of keeping your mind sharp is different from keeping your muscles strong, the phrase ‘use it or lose it’ can be applied to the brain as well as the body,” Dr. Caldwell says. “The types of thinking-based activities involved in keeping your mind sharp—for example, attending classes, learning languages and debating topics—may also offer benefits for our mental health, as we feel a sense of accomplishment, and may offer opportunities to socialize, which is another way of reducing dementia risks.”
But you may be surprised by her top daily tip for reducing dementia risk.
You may have heard that exercises like crossword puzzles, word searches or Sudoku can help keep the mind sharp. And while they certainly won’t hurt, the very best way to prevent cognitive decline is a different type of exercise: physical exercise.
“Some people are surprised to hear it, but we know that exercise has both immediate and long-term brain benefits, from increasing brain chemistry that supports the health of your brain cells to reducing factors such as chronic bodily inflammation, which can be harmful to the brain,” Dr. Caldwell says.
Physical activity also has some sneaky perks for cognition.
“Exercise also has benefits for the brain that are indirect—for example, improving mood and sleep, reducing stress, supporting heart health and increasing chances to socialize, all of which, in turn, reduces risks for poor memory with age,” Dr. Caldwell says.
Beyond prevention, a 2020 study conducted on mice indicated that exercise may even reverse age-related cognitive decline, but more research is needed on duration, frequency and exercise types to fully understand how this applies to humans. A review of previous research from the same year also suggested that physical activity could reduce cognitive decline and lower behavioral issues in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. The authors suggested moderate-intensity (or greater) aerobic exercise would have the most significant effect on cognition.
“The goal for exercise for brain health for life is at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise [per week], and for healthy adults, more is better,” Dr. Caldwell says.
If you aren’t currently exercising, talk to your doctor first. From there, Dr. Caldwell says you can increase your physical activity—and your chances of making it a habit—with two big tips.
“First, pair exercise with something you like or already do. Think stationary biking while watching a favorite program or walking while listening to a podcast episode,” Dr. Caldwell says. “Second, find a partner for accountability and motivation.”
Your accountability partner can motivate you from afar. “Even if you can’t find an in-person partner for runs or visits to the gym, checking in with a long-distance friend regularly about fitness goals can offer support and make it more likely that you will stick with your goals,” Dr. Caldwell says.
What Are Other Ways To Reduce Cognitive Decline Risk?
Regular physical activity is important, but Dr. Caldwell says fighting cognitive decline requires a multi-prong approach.
She says it’s also important to prioritize getting seven to eight hours of continuous sleep. “Sleep is when we cement new memories into long-term storage, and also when our brains have a chance to clear debris, including the types of proteins that build up in Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Caldwell says.
Research published in 2021 underscores the importance of sleep for brain health. The study, which was conducted on 8,000 British people aged 50 and over, indicated that people in their 50s and 60s who got six hours of shuteye or less per night were 30 percent more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than their peers, who were getting a least seven hours of sleep nightly.
Alcohol intake is another lifestyle habit to evaluate. “Our bodies process alcohol differently as we age, and drinking more than seven drinks per week has been linked to risk for dementia,” Dr. Caldwell says.
Finally, don’t put your mental health on the back burner. “Depression is a risk factor for dementia, and those feelings of sadness and lack of interest that can come with depression can also make it difficult to engage in other brain-healthy behaviors,” Dr. Caldwell says.
You can’t remember if you brushed your teeth today. Should you be concerned? Probably not.
“Anyone can make a memory mistake at any age—some forgetfulness is normal,” Dr. Caldwell says. “Signs of memory decline would include forgetting what happens frequently, such as needing several reminders throughout the day about a conversation you had that morning. Another sign would be forgetting essential information, such as forgetting the name of a loved one or an event you looked forward to.”
If you notice these signs, Dr. Caldwell suggests seeing a doctor. “A primary care doctor may give you or your loved one a short memory test—one that takes about five minutes,” Dr. Caldwell says.
From there, your doctor may suggest additional testing or appointments. Dr. Caldwell says this workup may include bloodwork, a brain scan, a referral to a neurologist who specializes in memory problems, or a referral to a neuropsychologist, like Dr. Caldwell.
“This is a specialist in memory and other thinking skills, who will administer several hours of paper or computer tests to better understand if you or your loved one are having a change in your thinking compared to others your age,” Dr. Caldwell explains.
No matter what type of appointments and tests you or your loved one get, the goal is to get to a diagnosis—whether that is normal memory, some mild changes called mild cognitive impairment, or more significant changes, called dementia.
“Memory changes can appear for many reasons, and your doctor will talk with you about possible reasons for your diagnosis, though figuring that all out may take time,” Dr. Caldwell says.
