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Thursday, April 21, 2022

'So that not even a fly comes through'

Putin orders forces to block Ukrainian steel plant, the latest on masking, Queen Elizabeth II is 96 and more news to start your Thursday. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
usatoday.com

Daily Briefing
 
Thursday, April 21
A closer view of damaged Azovstal metallurgical factory buildings in Mariupol, Ukraine Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces not to storm the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in the besieged city of Mariupol but to block it "so that not even a fly comes through."
'So that not even a fly comes through'
Putin orders forces to block Ukrainian steel plant, the latest on masking, Queen Elizabeth II is 96 and more news to start your Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces not to attack, but to block a Ukrainian steel mill, reflecting a change of strategy in the besieged city of Mariupol. The Biden administration has launched an appeal of a decision that overturned a federal mask mandate for travelers. Florida is expected to vote on a law that repeals Disney's ability to self-govern. And God save the queen! Queen Elizabeth II turns 96 today.

I'm Nicole, with Thursday's news.

🚨 A$AP Rocky was arrested in Los Angeles in connection with a November shooting.

🎥 Alec Baldwin's movie ''Rust'' received the maximum fine for gun safety failures.

🎾 Tennis star Pam Shriver said she was in a "damaging" relationship with an older coach – and the problem still exists in tennis.

🐶 World's oldest dog: TobyKeith, a chihuahua from Florida, broke a Guinness World record - at 21 years, 66 days and counting, he's the oldest dog alive.

TobyKeith was confirmed as the oldest living dog in the world by Guinness World Records.
TobyKeith was confirmed as the oldest living dog in the world by Guinness World Records.
Courtesy of Gisela Shores

💐🍷 A wine subscription. Cloud-like soft robes. Underwater cameras. Mother's Day is right around the corner and these presents promise to make anyone feel special

Reviewed, part of the USA TODAY Network, is a team of product experts who help you buy the best stuff and love what you've already got. 

🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, patient safety reporter Karen Weintraub explains why COVID-19 treatments aren't being used more often. You can listen to the podcast every day on  Apple PodcastsSpotify, or on your smart speaker.

Putin orders forces not to storm steel plant in besieged city of Mariupol

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces not to storm the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in the beleaguered city of Mariupol Thursday but instead to block it "so that not even a fly comes through." Defense minister Sergei Shoigu said the rest of the city beyond the Azovstal steel plant where Ukrainian forces were holed has been "liberated" — as Russian officials refer to areas of Ukraine they have seized. Putin hailed that as a "success." The comments appeared to reflect a change in strategy, where the Russians previously seemed determined to take all of Mariupol. In another update, Ukraine's General Staff said Thursday morning the Russian forces continue the offensive in the eastern part of the country with the goal of establishing full control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said Russian forces control 80% of the region, one of two regions that make up the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. Before Russia invaded, the Kyiv government controlled 60% of the region. 

👉 More news: President Joe Biden is set to announce plans Thursday to send additional military aid to help Ukraine fight back against the Russian invasion, a U.S. official told the Associated Press, building on the roughly $2.6 billion in military aid the administration has already approved to Ukraine since the start of the war.

CDC says keep masks on public transit 

In the latest turn of events involving mask guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that a federal order requiring masking on planes and other public transit is still needed . Following the CDC's move, the Justice Department immediately filed an appeal of a Florida federal judge's decision that overturned the mandate. But for now, no masking still stands. The Biden administration's appeal does not change the removal of the mask mandate from earlier this week. The CDC said Monday it would no longer enforce its order requiring masks on mass transit, though it continued to recommend masks while taking public transit. 

Mass transit riders wear masks as they commute in the financial district of lower Manhattan, Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in New York. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, Fla., on April 18, 2022, voided the national travel mask mandate as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials. The mask mandate that covers travel on airplanes and other public transportation was recently extended by President Joe Biden's administration until May 3. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) ORG XMIT:   NYJM105
Mass transit riders wear masks as they commute in the financial district of lower Manhattan, Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
John Minchillo, AP

Just for subscribers

🟡 What a new phase of war means for Ukrainians in the east.

🟢 Marijuana contaminated with pesticides was sold to patients in Arizona. The state didn't catch it.

💉 Some state lawmakers are pushing for exemptions to children's vaccine requirements amid a pandemic backlash.

🏈 10 NFL teams that could be trade fits for 49ers star Deebo Samuel.

These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here

Are you already a subscriber and want all of the subscriber-only content emailed to you directly every day? We can do that! Sign up for the Your Day newsletter.

Florida expected to pass 'punishment' legislation after Disney criticized the 'Don't Say Gay' bill

The Florida state House of Representatives is set to vote Thursday on legislation that would repeal a 56-year-old law that allows Disney to self-govern its 38-square-mile Central Florida entertainment empire. An additional measure would also strip Disney of special protections from social media regulations approved last year and now tied up in court. Gov. Ron DeSantis asked lawmakers to consider repealing the governing structure for Disney's Florida properties, a move viewed as punishment for Disney speaking out against the "Parental Rights in Education Act"  — what critics have labeled the "Don't Say Gay" law, which DeSantis signed into law this month. This marks an unprecedented standoff between two of Florida's most powerful political entities — Walt Disney Co. is a prime economic engine for Florida, with an annual economic impact of $75 billion.  

God save the queen! Elizabeth II turns 96

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-serving monarch, will celebrate her 96th birthday quietly Thursday at her Sandringham estate in England, The Guardian reported. No public events are scheduled today. A grand birthday parade is planned for June as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrating her 70 years on the throne. The Royal Windsor Horse Show shared a new portrait of the monarch ahead of her birthday. In the photo, the queen dons a forest green cape-style coat and stands proudly while holding the reins of her two fell ponies, Bybeck Katie and Bybeck Nightingale. The queen has cut back on public duties after spending a night in the hospital in October and testing positive for COVID-19 in February . Most recently, she did not attend an Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle. But Prince Harry said in a "Today" show interview Wednesday his grandmother was "on great form" when they met earlier this month.

Queen Elizabeth II holds her Fell ponies, Bybeck Nightingale (right) and Bybeck Katie.
Queen Elizabeth II holds her Fell ponies, Bybeck Nightingale (right) and Bybeck Katie.
Handout, The Royal Windsor Horse Show via

ICYMI: Some of our top stories yesterday

🟠 A fast-moving wildfire in Arizona was 0% contained as of Wednesday.

🎾 Russian and Belarusian tennis players have been banned from competing in Wimbledon.

🔴 Johnny Depp publicly rehashed his relationship with Amber Heard in his testimony as the former couple battles in a libel lawsuit.

Johnny Depp testifies on argument with ex-wife Amber Heard
Johnny Depp testifies on argument with ex-wife Amber Heard
Associated press

🟢 Dwayne Haskins, the late Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, was walking to get gas before a fatal accident, according to audio from 911 calls.

Gera MX, Christian Nodal on their genre-bending hit, Latin AMAs performance: ​​'Expect pure energy'

The seventh annual Latin American Music Awards ceremony will be broadcast Thursday from Las Vegas (Telemundo, 8 p.m. ET) and features a performance from Mexican music star Christian Nodal and up-and-coming Mexican rapper, Gera MX. Their collaboration on the breakup anthem "Botella Tras Botella" (Bottle After Bottle) has earned them the first regional Mexican single to debut on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in its 64-year history and three Latin American Music Award nominations for viral song of the year, H2collaboration of the year and regional Mexican favorite song. So they would not lose their rhythm, Nodal and Gera, who have known each other for about five years, kept recording and writing music during the pandemic. When they wrote "Botella Tras Botella," Gera says: "We knew we had something different … something special." 

Christian Nodal, left, Gera MX, right
Christian Nodal, left, Gera MX, right
Gera MX, Christian Nodal

📷 Photo of the day: Spring in full bloom at tulip festival 📷

Jeffrey Shoberg, 16 months old, looks at tulips during the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival on Friday, April 15, 2022 in Woodburn, Ore.
Jeffrey Shoberg, 16 months old, looks at tulips during the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival on Friday, April 15, 2022 in Woodburn, Ore.
Abigail Dollins, Salem Statesman Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon, is in full bloom. The 40-acre tulip display is open for its 38th annual show through May 8 – and features hot air balloons soaring above fields of petals in every color. 

Click here to see incredible photos of the festival at its peak

Contributing: The Associated Press

 
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