The Full Belmonte, 10/16/2022
“Only about one in 20 Americans has gotten the latest Covid booster shot.” Read more at New York Times
“A new FDA rule change goes into effect that allows people with mild to moderate hearing loss to buy hearing aids directly from a store or online -- without a prescription. This change could result in savings of about $2,800 a pair, the FDA estimates. Watch CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explain what this means for the millions of Americans who could benefit from wearing hearing aids but have never used them.” Read more at CNN
“Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be deposed in a defamation lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist who accused Trump of raping her in a department store in the mid 1990s. A federal judge last week rejected Trump’s attempt to pause his deposition, saying his efforts to delay the case are “inexcusable.” Trump has denied the allegations.” Read more at CNN
“Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon -- who was found guilty in July of two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol -- is set to be sentenced. He faces a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail, according to federal law. Bannon is also facing New York state charges of money laundering, conspiracy and fraud related to an alleged online scheme to raise money for the construction of a wall along the southern US border. He has pleaded not guilty.” Read more at CNN
“If you were among the many who filed for an extension on your federal income tax return on April 18, your six months are up. Remember that even with an extension, you could still be subject to a late payment penalty unless you paid off your balance in full by the original filing date.” Read more at CNN
“Documents provided by the Secret Service to the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection show that the agency and its law enforcement partners were aware of social media posts that contained violent language and threats aimed at lawmakers prior to the attack on the US Capitol.” Read more at CNN
War in Ukraine
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters
“Power was restored at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, reducing worries about an accident.” Read more at New York Times
“Two Russian army volunteers opened fire at a training camp, killing 11 fellow soldiers and wounding 15 before being killed themselves.” Read more at New York Times
“Elon Musk backtracked, saying his company would keep paying for internet service in Ukraine, a critical tool for the country’s military.” Read more at New York Times
“Mexican authorities are searching for gunmen who killed at least 12 people and injured three more after opening fire in a bar in central Mexico on Saturday evening.” Read more at CNN
Russian troops kill Ukrainian musician for refusing role in Kherson concert
International condemnation swift after conductor Yuriy Kerpatenko shot dead in his home
Yuri Kerpatenko was killed for ‘categorically refusing to take cooperate with the occupants’, according to Ukraine’s culture ministry. Photograph: Facebook
“Russian soldiers have shot dead a Ukrainian musician in his home after he refused to take part in a concert in occupied Kherson, according to the culture ministry in Kyiv.
Conductor Yuriy Kerpatenko declined to take part in a concert “intended by the occupiers to demonstrate the so-called ‘improvement of peaceful life’ in Kherson”, the ministry said in a statement on its Facebook page.
The concert on 1 October was intended to feature the Gileya chamber orchestra, of which Kerpatenko was the principal conductor, but he ‘categorically refused to cooperate with the occupants,’ the statement said.
Kerpatenko, who was also the principal conductor of Kherson’s Mykola Kulish Music and Drama Theatre, had been posting defiant messages on his Facebook page until May.” Read more at The Guardian
Ukraine: Rockets strike mayor’s office in separatist Donetsk
By SABRA AYRES
“KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Pro-Kremlin officials on Sunday blamed Ukraine for a rocket attack that struck the mayor’s office in a key Ukrainian city controlled by the separatists as Russia’s war nears the eight-month mark.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said Russian rockets struck a city across from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, wounding six people.
The attacks on both sides came as Russia has lost ground in the nearly seven weeks since Ukraine’s armed forces opened their southern counteroffensive.
Last week, in retaliation, the Kremlin launched what is believed to be its largest coordinated air and missile raids on Ukraine’s key infrastructure since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
The municipal mayor’s building in separatist-controlled Donetsk was seriously damaged by the rocket attack. Plumes of smoke swirled around the building, which had rows of blown-out windows and a partially collapsed ceiling. Cars nearby were burned out.” Read more at AP News
Iranian officials say Tehran prison blaze killed 4 inmates
“CAIRO (AP) — A towering blaze at a notorious prison housing political prisoners and anti-government activists in Iran’s capital killed four inmates, the country’s judiciary said Sunday, in dramatic scenes that have reverberated across Iranian social media.
Flames and thick smoke rising from Tehran’s Evin Prison had been widely visible Saturday evening, as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody entered a fifth week. In online videos, gunshots and explosions could be heard in the area of the prison.
The blaze was extinguished after several hours and no detainees escaped, state media said.
Authorities have attempted to distance the events at the prison from the ongoing protests, while state media has offered conflicting accounts of the violence. Hundreds are being held at Evin, where human rights groups have reported repeated abuses of prisoners.” Read more at AP News
Biden: Truss plan a ‘mistake’ amid ‘worldwide inflation’
By COLLEEN LONG
President Joe Biden speaks about lowering costs for American families at the East Portland Community Center in Portland, Ore., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
“PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Saturday called embattled British Prime Minister Liz Truss’ abandoned tax cut plan a ‘mistake,’ and said he is worried that other nations’ fiscal policies may hurt the U.S. amid ‘worldwide inflation.’
Biden said it was ‘predictable’ that the new prime minister on Friday was forced to walk back plans to aggressively cut taxes without identifying cost savings, after Truss’ proposal caused turmoil in global financial markets. It marked an unusual criticism by a U.S. president of the domestic policy decisions of one of its closest allies.
‘I wasn’t the only one that thought it was a mistake,’ Biden said. ‘I disagree with the policy, but that’s up to Great Britain.’
Biden’s comments came after weeks of White House officials declining to criticize Truss’ plans, though they emphasized they were monitoring the economic fallout closely. He was speaking to reporters at an Oregon ice cream shop where he made an unannounced stop to promote the candidacy of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek, as Democrats across the country face a tough political environment amid GOP criticism of their handling of the economy.” Read more at AP News
Cronenworth, Padres rally to stun Dodgers 5-3 to reach NLCS
By BERNIE WILSON
“SAN DIEGO (AP) — Baseball fans in San Diego have been waiting a long time to party like this and the Padres were more than happy to finally oblige.
What made it so much sweeter was that they toppled the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, the best team in the majors this year and one that had beaten up on the Padres regularly for the better part of two seasons.
Jake Cronenworth hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with two outs in the seventh inning and San Diego rallied past the Dodgers 5-3 Saturday night to advance to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 1998.
Petco Park shook and the sellout crowd of 45,139 roared when Josh Hader struck out Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman in succession to end the Padres’ third straight win against the Dodgers.
Hader and third baseman Manny Machado jumped into each other’s arms and the rest of the team joined them in a wild celebration on the infield grass as fireworks went off above the downtown ballpark. Machado and Juan Soto exhorted the fans for more as they all reveled in the middle of a rare San Diego rainstorm.” Read more at AP News
Gonzalez, Guardians walk off Yankees for 2-1 ALDS lead
By TOM WITHERS
“CLEVELAND (AP) — The affable rookie who loves SpongeBob SquarePants has backed the New York Yankees into a postseason corner.
Oscar Gonzalez hit a two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning, rallying the Cleveland Guardians to a 6-5 win over New York on Saturday night for a 2-1 lead in their AL Division Series.
Gonzalez, a postseason hero just a week ago, lined a 1-2 pitch from Clarke Schmidt through the middle to score rookie Steven Kwan and Amed Rosario as the young Guardians, who have shown no fear during this storybook season, rallied once again and pushed the Yankees to the brink of elimination.
‘We’ve seen it in two series so far from this guy,’ Guardians starter Triston McKenzie said. ‘He comes up in the 15th inning and hits a home run, has a game-winning hit in another game, has the hit tonight.’
‘There’s a maturity level at the plate you don’t see all the time.’
Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer for New York, which carried a 5-3 lead into the ninth before its bullpen flopped and the Guardians staged yet another comeback win.” Read more at AP News