The Full Belmonte, 4/8/2024
Solar eclipse totality sweeps across U.S. as millions watch
(NASA)
Read more at Washington Post
The total solar eclipse, as seen from Mazatlán, Mexico, on Monday.
PHOTO: HENRY ROMERO/REUTERS
The eclipse wowed people across the U.S., leaving cities in its path dealing with throngs of spectators seeking the best view.
“The total solar eclipse began just before 12:30 p.m. local time near Dallas and ended in northeastern Maine around 4:40 p.m. local time, according to NASA. Locals and tourists marked the occasion by observing zoo animals’ reactions, wearing eclipse-themed shirts and taking lots of photos. More than 30 million people live in the so-called path of totality, where the moon completely blocked the sun from view for as long as 4½ minutes. Authorities in those areas took precautions to cope with the eclipse-chasing hordes; for example, many Texas counties declared states of emergency. This was the first time a total solar eclipse passed over the continent since 2017. The next one is Aug. 23, 2044.” [Washington Post]
Eclipsed
View of the total solar eclipse from Eagle Pass, Texas. Photo: Eric Gay/AP
“The total solar eclipse is making its way across North America, covering entire cities in shadow as the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun.
Photo: Chet Strange/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The eclipse has been moving north and east over the course of the day. People in Texas got one of the first views of the phenomenon within the continental U.S.
Above, people watch as the eclipse settles in over Bloomington, Indiana.
Photo: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Cleveland Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias pauses to look up at the eclipse before the team's home opener.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Washington, D.C., wasn't in the path of totality, but it still got a taste. Here, the peak of the Washington Monument is visible in front of the Sun and Moon.
What's next: If you missed it today, you'll have to wait until 2045, when another total solar eclipse will stretch from California to Florida.
Or if you're motivated to travel, parts of Iceland and Spain will see an eclipse in 2026.” [Axios]
Trump says abortion legislation should be left to states
“Former President Donald Trump said Monday that abortion rights should be left to the states, weighing in on one of the most delicate and contentious issues in American politics.
‘My view is now that we have abortion where everyone wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both. And whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state,’ Trump said in a video posted to his Truth Social account.
The former president did not specify at what number of weeks during a pregnancy he would support an abortion ban, but reiterated his support for exceptions in the case of incest, rape and when the life of the mother is in danger.”
Read More at CNN
Nation’s leading anti abortion group rebukes Trump
“One of the nation’s most prominent anti-abortion groups rebuked former President Donald Trump Monday, accusing him of ceding the debate to Democrats.
‘We are deeply disappointed in President Trump’s position,’ said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
Read the latest at POLITICO
Donald Trump indicated he would sue the judge overseeing his Manhattan criminal case in a last-ditch attempt to delay prosecution.
“Mr. Trump’s unorthodox move — essentially an appeal in the form of a lawsuit — is unlikely to succeed, particularly so close to trial.”
Read more at New York Times
Congress
“House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a looming threat to his speakership and mounting pressure to decide whether he will finally move ahead on aid to Ukraine. Last week, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene bluntly warned Johnson that moving ahead with an aid package for Ukraine would be one of ‘the most egregious things he could do’ and threatened to force a House vote seeking his ouster. The issue for Johnson remains that any aid to Ukraine will need a large number of Democratic votes — including from lawmakers who are aiming to include funding for Israel in the package. Congress will also confront a series of other major issues this week, including an impeachment battle against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and recovery efforts following the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key bridge.” [CNN]
FAA to investigate after Southwest plane’s engine cover flies off
“The FAA said it will launch an investigation after the engine cover on a Southwest Airlines plane detached during takeoff in Denver and struck the wing flap.
Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 made an emergency landing back at the Denver airport on Sunday after the pilot reported the incident, the FAA said. The flight had been headed to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston.
In a statement, Southwest Airlines said the flight ‘landed safely after experiencing a mechanical issue.’” [NBC News]
“The Department of Education released new proposals that could eliminate student debt for millions of Americans. The new proposals emphasize reducing or eliminating accrued interest. The proposal would cancel $20,000 in interest for any borrower, regardless of income. It would also make it so that low and middle-income borrowers could become eligible to have all of their interest forgiven.
Millions of borrowers owe more money now than they originally took out, NPR’s Sequoia Carrillo explains on Up First. This new proposal hopes to tackle this problem. The Biden administration is using a process called “negotiated rulemaking” to ensure that the proposal can survive legal challenges this time around. The negotiated rulemaking process is a slower and far more traditional path to change higher education policy. The stakes for getting student debt relief passed are high for the administration, Carrillo says, because student loan borrowers are a pretty young group, which is a key demographic the president is hoping to keep in his camp.” [NPR]
Netanyahu vows to carry out Rafah invasion, declaring: ‘There is a date’
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated his pledge to invade Rafah, declaring in a video statement Monday, “It will happen. There is a date,” without elaborating. He spoke as Israeli negotiators were in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with Hamas.” Read More at AP News
Gazans return to Khan Younis after Israel pull-out
There's "hardly anything left" of homes in Khan Younis, a resident told the BBC. Credit: Reuters
“Palestinians are returning to Khan Younis after Israel's military announced on Sunday it was reducing its soldier numbers in the southern Gaza Strip. As Gazans make their way to a city largely destroyed by six months of war, many are finding rubble where their homes were. ‘We came to check our house. We didn’t find anything,’ resident Asad Abu Ghalwa said. Still, this return gives hope to some displaced Palestinians like Muhammad al-Mughrabi, who used to live further north in Gaza City. ‘I dream daily of returning to my hometown,’ he told Rushdi Abualouf. For now, Mr al-Mughrabi is in Rafah, with more than a million Palestinians. Israel's pull-out, however, is not being seen as a sign that the war is drawing closer to an end, but rather a tactical move. The country's military and political leaders remain intent on leading a ground offensive on Rafah, which they say is necessary to dismantle Hamas. Meanwhile, in Cairo, ceasefire negotiations are continuing between Israel and Hamas.” [BBC]
Trolls directed by Russia stoke anti-Ukraine sentiment in the U.S., leaked Kremlin documents show
“In an ongoing campaign, Russian political strategists and trolls have written thousands of fabricated articles and social media posts that promote American isolationism, according to a trove of Kremlin documents obtained by a European intelligence agency and reviewed by The Washington Post.”
Read more at Washington Post
“President Xi Jinping’s vision for powering China’s economy through a major manufacturing drive is raising tensions with some of his nation’s biggest trading partners.
The domestic need for growth means he’s unlikely to change course.
During her visit to China this week, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen implored top Chinese leaders to rethink their industrial strategy, saying the Asian nation was producing more goods than the world could bear.
The trained economist advised policymakers to improve “retirement security” and “affordable education” to reduce household savings and encourage domestic spending, in a bid to rebalance the world’s second-largest economy.
Essentially, she proposed an entire rethink of their economic strategy.
The leadership in Beijing well knows the problems, and even outlined overcapacity as an issue in a major policy document earlier this year.
But an entrenched crisis in the property sector that once drove about a quarter of annual expansion means China can’t afford to abruptly shift plans if it wants to hit an ambitious growth target of around 5% this year.
President Joe Biden’s campaign to severely restrict China’s access to cutting-edge semiconductors only adds to the impetus. China has made technological self-sufficiency a national priority, as it tries to advance domestic chip design and manufacturing to protect against threats from US policy.
With a US presidential election looming in America this November, Beijing is facing increasing pressure from the world’s biggest economy with Republican contender Donald Trump threatening 60% tariffs on China.
As Xi tries to challenge the US-led world order, his main partner in that mission is President Vladimir Putin.
The Chinese leader’s continued support for his Russian counterpart might be leading to more tension with the US, but it’s another area where he’s unlikely to back down.” — Jenni Marsh [Bloomberg]
“The foreign ministers of the UK and France called on allies to ‘do even more to ensure we defeat Russia’ in a joint article in the Telegraph newspaper. The UK’s David Cameron is travelling to Washington this week to urge US House Speaker Mike Johnson to find a way for Congress to approve a $60 billion military aid package for Ukraine.” [Bloomberg]
Brazil Supreme Court strikes down military intervention thesis in symbolic vote for democracy
“Brazil’s Supreme Court unanimously voted Monday that the armed forces have no constitutional power to intervene in disputes between government branches, a largely symbolic decision aimed at bolstering democracy after years of increasing threat of military intervention.” Read More at AP News
An espionage scandal rocks Austria, laying bare alleged Russian spying operations across Europe
“Austria faces its biggest espionage scandal in decades as the arrest of a former intelligence officer brings to light evidence of extensive Russian infiltration, lax official oversight and behavior worthy of a spy novel.” Read More at AP News
“Peter Pellegrini’s election as Slovakia’s president is a boost to Moscow-friendly Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has been a staunch opponent of military aid to Ukraine. The victory will strengthen forces within the European Union that oppose sending more weapons to Kyiv at a time when it appears increasingly outgunned by Russia.” [Bloomberg]
“Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa took a big gamble when he violated international rules by sending police to storm the Mexican embassy to arrest Jorge Glas, a former vice president convicted of corruption. While Mexico cut diplomatic ties, and the US and every major country in Latin America condemned the move, many at home welcomed it.” [Bloomberg]
“Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes opened an inquiry into whether Elon Musk obstructed justice. Moraes said in a court document that the billionaire’s social media platform X is committing abuse of economic power in order to ‘illegally influence public opinion.’ In posts over the weekend, Musk accused the judge of betraying the constitution and called for his impeachment.” [Bloomberg]
“Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s three-way alliance won a majority in local elections yesterday but failed to land a knock-out blow against the former ruling nationalists.” [Bloomberg]
“Moscow’s ambassador to France, Alexey Meshkov, said President Emmanuel Macron’s recent hawkish comments on Russia pose ‘a serious strategic problem.’” [Bloomberg]
Actor Jonathan Majors avoids jail time in his sentencing for assault and harassment of ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari
“Majors’s conviction last year cost him high-profile roles with Marvel and Disney. He was sentenced to counseling programs and time served on Monday.”
Read more at Washington Post
South Carolina capped an unbeaten basketball season with a national championship.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley celebrates her third women's national championship. She and the Gamecocks also won in 2017 and 2022. (Morry Gash/AP)
“What happened? Iowa jumped to a 10-0 lead, but the Gamecocks came back to beat the Hawkeyes, 87-75, in Cleveland yesterday. Kamilla Cardoso was named most outstanding player.
Tonight: No. 1 seeds Connecticut and Purdue square off in Glendale, Ariz., for the men’s championship (9:20 p.m. Eastern on TBS). It’s a rare top matchup that features two big men in leading roles.”
Read this story at Washington Post
NAIA all but bans transgender athletes from women’s sports. NCAA vows to ensure ‘fair competition’
“The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced a policy Monday that all but bans transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports at its 241 mostly small colleges across the country.” Read More at AP News