The Full Belmonte, 4/1/2022
A building burned Wednesday in Irpin, near Kyiv, where Ukraine says it has regained territory.
PHOTO: OLEKSANDR RATUSHNIAK/REUTERS
“Ukrainian officials said their armed forces are pressing forward against Russian units around Kyiv. Ukrainians also retook two villages in the Chernihiv region, officials said. Russia said it would decrease its attacks around Kyiv and Chernihiv to facilitate peace talks and shift its focus to the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, but western officials aren’t convinced the country has abandoned efforts to take the capital. Russian forces also handed back control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant to Ukrainian authorities.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
A Ukrainian serviceman takes a selfie standing on a destroyed Russian tank yesterday after Ukrainian forces overran a Russian position outside Kyiv, Ukraine.
“The invasion will cause Russia’s economy to contract this year by about 10% and Ukraine’s by about 20%, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said. Ukraine will suffer more in the short term because of the damage to its physical infrastructure, but Russia faces more long-term challenges from an exodus of well-educated workers and the loss of access to Western technologies under current sanctions, the bank said.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“The International Energy Agency is planning to hold an emergency meeting today to discuss ways to stabilize oil markets – possibly following suit with President Joe Biden’s decision to release millions of barrels of oil from emergency reserves. Oil prices dropped sharply after Biden’s announcementyesterday, but even the release of a million barrels a day would only cover about a third of lost production from Russia. Industry experts warn that gas prices could still hit new highs in the US this spring and summer. Biden also announced plans yesterday to ramp up domestic production of minerals needed to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles and long-term energy storage. The hope is that by doing so, the US can lessen its dependence on fossil fuels – and be less vulnerable to wild swings in oil prices during international conflicts.” Read more at CNN
The Bryan Mound Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Freeport, Texas, is one of four U.S. facilities that hold a total of about 568 million barrels of oil.
PHOTO: ADREES LATIF/REUTERS
“Biden said he would tap up to 180 million barrels of oil from the government’s reserves.
The move—the largest such release in history—is a bid to keep a lid on fuel prices. It’s part of a package to head off a potential energy crunch that some fear might result from the Russia-Ukraine war. Starting in May, the release would leave the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve at its lowest level since 1984. Several industry leaders and analysts expressed skepticism over the long-term impact at the pump. Meanwhile, gas prices across the U.S. remain close to $4.33 a gallon, a record high.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“U.S households boosted their spending at a seasonally adjusted 0.2% pace in February from the month before, down from a revised 2.7% rate in January, when they opened their wallets as the Omicron wave of Covid-19 eased. Meanwhile, consumer prices rose 0.6% on the month and 6.4% on the year, a new four-decade peak, as measured by the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge. The numbers portray a growing economy as shoppers benefit from a strong labor market and rising wages—but see those gains eroded by rising inflation, economists said.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“European leaders on Thursday rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demand that ‘unfriendly countries’ pay for natural gas in rubles, an apparent bid to help stabilize the Russian currency amid sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
The once-plummeting ruble is already rebounding, buoyed in part by oil and gas exports — despite Western countries’ moves to halt or reduce their use of Russian energy. President Biden on Thursday announced an unprecedented release of 1 million barrels of oil a day from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an effort to curb rising gas prices, for which Biden has blamed Putin.
Meanwhile, Britain, France, Germany, the Czech Republic and others have balked at Putin’s new decree on gas purchases, set to take effect Friday. In a joint news conference, French and German officials said they will continue paying in euros.” Read more at Washington Post
“Russia’s defense ministry announced a cease-fire in Mariupol, and the International Red Cross said it hoped to enter the besieged city today.” Read more at New York Times
“Hundreds of Syrian fighters are heading to join Russian forces in Ukraine.” Read more at New York Times
“Britain will send more military aid to Ukraine, including artillery and vehicles.” Read more at New York Times
“The U.S. imposed new sanctions on Russian technology companies.” Read more at New York Times
J. Scott Applewhite /Pool/AFP via Getty Images
“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's handling of Russia's invasion has garnered vast approval from Americans, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. In fact, more Americans approve of how Zelenskyy handles international affairs than they do of President Biden.” Read more at NPR
“Russian soldiers short on morale and weapons have refused orders, sabotaged their own equipment and shot down one of their own aircraft, Britain’s spy chief said Thursday, painting a picture of chaos on Russia’s front lines as the war in Ukraine drags into its second month.
The efforts are evidence of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s miscalculation when he decided to invade Ukraine, Jeremy Fleming, head of Britain’s signals intelligence agency, said in a speech Thursday at Australian National University. U.S. and British officials have said Putin, more isolated than ever, was misinformed by his aides, further stoking tensions.
‘It’s clear he misjudged the resistance of the Ukrainian people,’ Fleming said. ‘He underestimated the strength of the coalition his actions would galvanize. He underplayed the economic consequences of the sanctions regime. He overestimated the abilities of his military to secure a rapid victory.’” Read more at Washington Post
“President Biden says Russia is ‘isolated from the world,’ but the rest of the world doesn't always see it that way.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's friendly visits to the world's two biggest countries — India and China — suggest that Russia is hardly a pariah, Axios World author Dave Lawler writes.
Why it matters: While the sanctions on Russia are crippling, they’re limited mainly to NATO members and other close U.S. allies like Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Leaders from many other countries, including Brazil, Pakistan and South Africa, are much more open to Russia.
Where it stands: Lavrov said Russia, China, and other like-minded countries would ‘move towards a multipolar, just, democratic world order.’
Beijing reiterated that its relationship with Moscow — now even more vital for Russia due to the sanctions — ‘has no limits.’
OPEC countries elected to stand by a deal with Russia rather than comply with U.S. pressure to increase production.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, key members of that group, have both signaled support for Russia in recent days.
Flashback: 144 countries condemned the invasion in a UN vote March 2.
But few world leaders have openly criticized Vladimir Putin since.” Read more at Axios
“Scientists unveiled what they say is the first complete map of a human genome. The development is expected to lead to insights into human evolution and health such as cancer, birth defects and aging. The 2003 version was missing 8% of human DNA; that’s now filled in. Researchers identified 99 new genes that likely code for proteins essential to human life, along with 2,000 more whose function is unclear, and corrected thousands of errors in the earlier map.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“Republicans have struck an ‘agreement in principle’ with Democrats on a $10 billion package to provide further pandemic relief, according to GOP Sen. Mitt Romney. The White House has been appealing to Congress to pass more funding, saying the administration doesn’t have the money to purchase monoclonal antibody therapies, vaccines, and more tests -- as well as reimburse providers and provide personal protection equipment. The $10 billion price tag is about half of what the White House was seeking. Some Democrats say the deal is a little farther afield than Romney has suggested. Meanwhile, another bipartisan group of senators is trying to extend pandemic school meal waivers that gave federal funds and flexibilities to provide free food to more kids and to cope with supply chain and labor issues.” Read more at CNN
“Former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, gave “valuable” information during questioning by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, a panel member said.” Read more at Bloomberg
“The House passed a bill to limit the cost of insulin to $35 a month, sending it to the Senate.” Read more at New York Times
“A judge declared New York’s legislative maps, drawn by Democrats, to be unconstitutional. An appeal is likely.” Read more at New York Times
“A federal judge struck down parts of Florida’s election law, saying it discriminated against Black voters.” Read more at New York Times
“U.S. teenage students suffered emotional and physical pain during the relative isolation of Covid-19, reporting high rates of abuse, sadness and distress during early 2021. As Fiona Rutherford writes, government surveys show roughly half of high-schoolers cited emotional abuse by a parent and one in 10 physical abuse. About a quarter of them experienced hunger or economic insecurity.” Read more at Bloomberg
A student walking outside his school. Photo credit: Getty Images
“Florida’s controversial law, which is dubbed the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill by critics is already inviting feuds and fallout. After the bill was signed into law, the Walt Disney Company wrote in a statement that its ‘goal’ was to get the law repealed or defeated in the courts. Disney is Florida's largest private employer, and had come under pressure to speak out about the measure. Now, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signaled support for a Republican-led effort to repeal a 55-year-old provision that allows the entertainment company to operate as an independent government around its Orlando-area theme park. Former Disney CEO Bob Iger joined voices condemning the law, telling Chris Wallace on CNN+ that it’s not political, ‘it’s about right and wrong.’ Two LGBTQ rights advocacy groups, joined by students, parents and a teacher, have already filed the first federal lawsuit challenging the new rule.” Read more at CNN
“New Mexico will offer tuition-free higher education to all residents.” Read more at New York Times
“Viktor Orban looks set to earn a fourth consecutive term as Hungary’s prime minister as polls show his Fidesz party with a comfortable lead ahead of Sunday’s election.
Should Orban triumph, it will lead to uncomfortable questions for Hungary’s opposition, which had hoped to emulate the neighboring Czech Republic by forming a multi-party pan-ideological alliance to unseat him. The United for Hungary alliance began the year in a strong position, neck and neck with Fidesz in polls, only for enthusiasm to wane in recent months.
The opposition may yet rue the choice of Peter Marki-Zay as its prime minister candidate. Marki-Zay won out in the alliance primary in October and was considered a compelling conservative alternative to Orban, having successfully won the mayoralty of Hodmezovasarhely, a Fidesz stronghold, in 2018. His campaign has since been criticized for poor organization and inexperience. American observers may catch a whiff of Mitt Romney, a man who proved he could win in opposition territory only to falter on the national campaign trail against a popular incumbent.
As Amanda Coakley reports in Foreign Policy, Marki-Zay’s inability to win over rural support, a traditional Orban power base, may prove costly. An Orban-controlled media apparatus has not helped, with Marki-Zay given only five minutes of airtime on state television for his entire campaign.
Electoral maneuvers have also stacked the deck in favor of Fidesz. Changes to voting boundaries in 2013 effectively merged urban with more conservative rural areas, and those gerrymanders mean any opposition must win as much as 5 percent more of the vote than Fidesz would need to reach a parliamentary majority.
The polls also indicate that for all the West’s condemnation of Orban—from Fidesz’s anti-LGBT and anti-migrant policies to its embrace of civic repression that has led to a designation as only ‘partly free’ by Freedom House—he still remains a popular figure nationally.
Daniel Hegedus, a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund who has analyzed the election’s possible foreign policy outcomes, told Foreign Policy that Orban’s endurance comes down to three factors: The electoral rules in his favor, Hungary’s economic success under his leadership, and his ability to tap into a sense of national pride.
‘Orban is practically the only politician since the transition who has made it so Hungary punches above its weight. And I think that’s a very important factor for most voters with that nationalistic mindset,’ Hegedus said. ‘Yes, Hungary is a minor power. But it has an influence at the level of European politics which exceeds its material capabilities and resources.’
The war in Ukraine has undoubtedly played a major role in the election, with Marki-Zay’s attacks on Orban’s courtship of Russian President Vladimir Putin failing to make an impact. Orban has instead championed his position—which has included a decision not to allow arms to transit the country to Ukraine—as principled neutrality, denouncing the opposition as warmongers.
That stance may prove crucial, especially in winning over any remaining undecided voters. ‘For them, the peace narrative of the Orban government is appealing because it promises them that they shouldn’t necessarily pay the economic price of the conflict.’ Hegedus said. ‘And it also offers them a kind of moral release that they should not necessarily take part in this conflict because it goes against the official policy that puts equidistance between Russia and Ukraine.’
In the short-term, Hungary’s future geopolitical choices hinge on the outcome of Russia’s war in Ukraine. If the war drags on, pressure will grow for Orban to come closer to the West. But it’s a different story if Russia wins in the coming weeks. In that scenario, Hegedus expects Orban to be the first in Europe to call for restoring relations with Moscow, but certainly not the last.
In the long term, an overwhelming Orban victory would be a shock to the European Union and its liberal foundations, Hegedus said: ‘If Orban wins with a landslide, then the perception of the existence of semi-authoritarian regimes within the European Union will be changed. Until now, it was more or less perceived as a kind of temporary phenomenon. This perception will shift in the direction that this is the new normal.’” Read more at Foreign Policy
“The US and its allies are growing concerned that North Korea may be making preparations for an underground nuclear test for the first time since 2017. North Korea has recently resumed digging tunnels and other construction activities at its underground nuclear test site, officials say. The US intelligence community estimates North Korea could be ready to conduct a nuclear test this year, a concern heightened by the country’s recent demonstration of a missile that could potentially reach the US. The Defense Department is currently considering military responses to that missile test, which could include flying bombers or sailing warships in the region, or beefing up exercises and training in concert with regional allies like Japan and South Korea.” Read more at CNN
The new X gender designation on U.S. passports is for Americans who don’t identify as exclusively male or female.
PHOTO: EILEEN PUTMAN/ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Americans can select an X gender designation on their passports, starting April 11. It’ll be defined as ‘unspecified or another gender identity’ on forms and requires no supporting medical documentation, the State Department said. The move promotes equal rights for transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming people.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“Serbia’s elections. Serbia holds its presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday, April 3. Polls indicate incumbent President Alexander Vucic will win a five-year term while his Serbian Progressive Party will win a majority in parliament, albeit with fewer seats than it currently holds.” Read more at Foreign Policy
“Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will meet Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Brussels next week after the two sides agreed to take part in EU-mediated talks over Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of breaking a cease-fire agreement by making a further land grab in the disputed region and said it had recently cutting off gas supplies to the enclave. Azerbaijan denies the accusations.” Read more at Foreign Policy
“Pakistan’s vote. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan channeled his cricketer roots on Thursday, pledging to ‘fight until the last ball’ and rejecting calls to resign ahead of a crucial no-confidence vote, expected this Sunday. Khan has also accused the United States of being behind the vote, saying his ouster had been planned as punishment for pursuing an independent foreign policy. At the time of writing, an opposition coalition appeared to have enough votes to force him out of office.” Read more at Foreign Policy
“White House planners will need to devote a lot more of U.S. President Joe Biden’s schedule to travel time under new plans to phase out the presidential aircraft Air Force One in favor of a greener alternative. In keeping with new protocols revealed today, presidential travel will now be confined to Sail Boat One, a 350-foot sailing yacht that will operate out of the U.S. Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland.
Sail Boat One comes equipped with state-of-the-art communications technology as well as White House comforts, including a full reproduction of the Oval Office. Among some of the upgrades from the presidential jet, the boat will feature a Diplomacy Deck, described as a place where ‘world leaders can kick back with a drink and enjoy the sunset.’
‘A changing world requires a changing mindset. This administration is proud to lead by example and embrace the slower pace and greener methods that a no-carbon future will demand,’ a White House statement read.
Landlocked nations have blasted the move amid fears that maritime nations will be given preferential treatment, while Republicans have scoffed at the change as an empty gesture, given the gas-guzzling Navy escort the boat is sure to have. Critics have also taken aim at the inefficiency of the vessel’s Class A Prill-fueled back-up engine.
‘This thing is a tired joke thought up by an addled mind,’ one retired Naval officer said.” Read more at Foreign Policy
“Mortgage rates rose to their highest level since 2018. The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate home loan jumped to 4.67%, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year fixed rate rose from 4.42% a week ago.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“Four lawmakers asked the FTC to review the Microsoft-Activision merger. In a letter, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), Cory Booker (D., N.J.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.) questioned whether the roughly $75 billion deal could undermine employees’ calls for accountability over alleged sexual abuse, harassment and retaliation at the videogame company. An Activision spokeswoman said the transaction won’t interrupt its plans for improving the workplace.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“She took the White House photos. Trump took the profit.” Read more at New York Times
“The pioneer of the bar code died. Barry Collins came up with the system of reading bar codes with flashes of light to identify railroad cars in Massachusetts in the 1960s. What began as his KarTrak approach is now ubiquitous, tracing everything from assembly-line parts and e-commerce deliveries to airline passengers and groceries. (Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum was first in 1974.) The 86-year-old died March 12 of complications from ALS at his Duxbury, Mass., home.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“Lives Lived: Nancy Milford wrote best-selling biographies of the Jazz Age women Zelda Fitzgerald and Edna St. Vincent Millay. Milford died at 84.” Read more at New York Times
Robert Gauthier/Getty Images
“According to Academy Awards producer Will Packer, the LAPD were ready to arrest Will Smith after he slapped Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars. Rock did not wish to take any action.” Read more at NPR
“MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aliyah Boston has dominated women’s college basketball on both ends of the court this season.
The junior forward helped South Carolina go wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country, putting up an SEC-record 27 consecutive double-doubles, and she has helped put the Gamecocks two wins away from the program’s second national championship.
Boston was honored as The Associated Press women’s basketball player of the year on Thursday. She is the second player from South Carolina to be recognized with the award, joining former Gamecocks great A’ja Wilson.” Read more at AP News
Caitlyn Jenner arrives at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party on Sunday, March 27, 2022, in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)
“NEW YORK (AP) — Fox News Channel says it has hired Caitlyn Jenner as a contributor, with her first appearance set for Thursday on Sean Hannity’s program.
Jenner, the former Olympic decathlete, ran an unsuccessful campaign for California governor last year. The network said she’ll offer commentary and analysis across various Fox News Media platforms.
‘Caitlyn’s story is an inspiration to us all,’ said Suzanne Scott, Fox News Media CEO. ‘She is a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ community and her illustrious career spans a variety of fields that will be a tremendous asset for our audience.’
Jenner won the Olympic gold medal in the decathlon in 1976. She later came out as a transgender and identifies as a female.
She said in a statement she was ‘humbled by this unique opportunity’ to speak directly to Fox’s audience.” Read more at AP News
“RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) — The nation’s oldest active park ranger is hanging up her Smokey hat at the age of 100.
Betty Reid Soskin retired Thursday after more than 15 years at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, the National Park Service announced.
Soskin ‘spent her last day providing an interpretive program to the public and visiting with coworkers,’ a Park Service statement said.
She led tours at the park and museum honoring the women who worked in factories during wartime and shared her own experience as a Black woman during the conflict. She worked for the U.S. Air Force in 1942 but quit after learning that ‘she was employed only because her superiors believed she was white,’ according to a Park Service biography….
oskin was born Betty Charbonnet in Detroit in 1921 but recalled surviving the devastating Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 while living with her Creole family in New Orleans, according to the Park Service biography.
Her family then moved to Oakland, California, and Soskin remained in the San Francisco Bay Area, where in 1945 she and her first husband founded one of the first Black-owned record stores in the area, the biography said.
She also was a civil rights activist and took part in meetings to develop a general management plan for the Home Front park. She has received several honors.
She was named California Woman of the Year in 1995.
In 2015, Soskin received a presidential coin from President Barack Obama after she lit the National Christmas tree at the White House.
In June 2016, she was awakened in her home by a robber who punched her repeatedly in the face, dragged her out of her bedroom and beat her before making off with the coin and other items. Soskin, then 94, recovered and returned to work just weeks after the attack. The coin was replaced.
Soskin also was honored with entry into the Congressional Record. Glamour Magazine named her woman of the year in 2018.” Read more at AP News