Russia-Ukraine war, Deep south severe weather, new Marvel show: 5 things to know Wednesday
Russia hits near Kyiv, other city despite vows to scale back
Russian forces pounded areas around Kyiv and another Ukrainian city overnight, local officials said Wednesday, just hours after Moscow pledged to scale back military operations in those places. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said they didn't trust Russia's announced withdrawal, and American officials remained skeptical. "Yes, we can call those signals that we hear at the negotiations positive. But those signals don't silence the explosions of Russian shells," Zelenskyy said Tuesday night. That skepticism has appeared well placed. Talks between the two nations aimed at ending the war had been expected to resume Wednesday, but with what a Turkish official called "meaningful" progress made, the two sides decided to return home for consultations. But the shelling further tempered optimism about possible progress in the talks and Zelenskyy warned the world and his own people not to get ahead of themselves, noting "that you can trust only concrete results."
- 'Who else will do this?': Inside one convoy's frantic trek to rescue refugees in Ukraine
- 'We believe in the Ukrainian Army': Historic flood of refugees begins to slow as some decide to stay put
- Graphics: The devastation of Mariupol
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Severe weather moving in fast on the Deep South
Another multi-day severe weather outbreak is on tap for the central, southern and eastern U.S. this week. While storms were expected to fire up Tuesday across the central U.S., the day with the highest risk for severe weather will be Wednesday in the Deep South, forecasters said. More than 55 million people are at risk some type of severe weather Wednesday, the Storm Prediction Center said. On Thursday, that number drops down 20 million. States such as Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are all in the area where the risk is the highest. "All severe hazards are possible, including significant gusts over 75 mph and strong (EF2+) tornadoes," according to the Center. Flash flooding will also be a concern Wednesday, especially as rivers remain at fairly high levels after the last outbreak of rain and storms.
- What is a flash flood watch or warning? Here's what to know about this deadly weather hazard
- Watches, warnings, the EF scale and risk: How the National Weather Service talks tornadoes
Pennsylvania interstate likely will reopen Wednesday after accident
A portion of a Pennsylvania highway remained closed Tuesday as cleanup continued following a deadly pileup during a Monday snow squall. The northbound lanes of Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County stayed closed as authorities removed multiple tractor trailers and debris, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said. Pennsylvania State Police advised drivers to avoid the area and estimated in a statement on Twitter that the road would likely reopen Wednesday morning. More than 50 vehicles were involved in the fiery crash that killed at least three people and injured dozens more. The wrecks occurred near Minersville, about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia, John Blickley of the county's emergency management office, told Paste BN. "This is probably the most significant crash we've had on the interstate in years," he said Tuesday.
- Previous coverage: At least 3 dead, 20 injured after snow squalls in Pennsylvania lead to crash involving dozens of vehicles
- 'Sudden whiteouts': Snow squalls in the northeast can create slick roads, forecasters say
USMNT on brink of World Cup qualification
The U.S. men's national soccer team is on the brink of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. On Wednesday night, the USMNT will play in Costa Rica in its final World Cup qualifier (9:05 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network). Thanks in large part to a 5-1 rout of Panama Sunday, the U.S. would have to lose by six goals or more against Costa Rica in order to put its World Cup hopes in jeopardy. That scenario is highly unlikely, even given the USMNT's dismal record in Costa Rica, where it has never won a World Cup qualifier (0-9-1 all-time). The top three teams in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the fourth-place team must compete in an inter-continental playoff. The U.S. currently sits in second place in the Concacaf World Cup qualifying standings. Canada, a surprise team atop the standings, already has clinched a World Cup berth — its first since 1986. Mexico also is in line to qualify for the World Cup for the eighth consecutive time.
- Column from Nancy Armour: USMNT's workmanlike reaction to win is understandable after 2018 World Cup disappointment
- Earlier action: USMNT plays to scoreless draw with Mexico in World Cup qualifier in Mexico City
'Moon Knight' premieres on Disney+
"Moon Knight," the latest TV series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first to feature a character not already seen in past adventures, debuted on Disney+ Wednesday morning with new installments set to be released weekly. The six-episode series follows Moon Knight, one of the identities of Marc Spector, who has dissociative identity disorder and has been losing control of his body. Among his other personas is Steven Grant, a British museum gift-shop worker, who becomes aware of the other identities and struggles to regain some stability. Moon Knight and his many personas are played by Oscar Isaac and he is joined by Ethan Hawke as antagonist Arthur Harrow, Egyptian-Palestinian actor May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly, an adventurer from Spector's past, and F. Murray Abraham providing the voice of the Egyptian god Khonshu, for whom Spector is an avatar. "Moon Knight," created by Jeremy Slater (Netflix's "The Umbrella Academy"), is being billed as a limited series.
- Oscar Isaac's Moon Knight rises as a Marvel superhero with mental-health struggles
- See the trailer for Marvel's 'Moon Knight'
Contributing: The Associated Press