RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (Kremlin.ru/Wikipedia).

In what would be the first major victory of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia claimed on Friday to have finally taken full control of the strategic port of Mariupol.

The Associated Press reports that the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the “complete liberation” of the steel plant where stubborn Ukrainian defenders held out for three months.

An estimated 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered. according to the Russians.

Western sources believe that in the attacks on the city as many as 20,000 civilians have been killed.

Recount in Penn. Senate race

A nearly deadlocked Republican primary election for a seat in the U.S. Senate is now headed to a recount.

TV personality and physician Dr. Mehmet Oz was in the lead by 1,079 votes over businessman David McCormick. But the closeness of the vote now requires a recount.

The race is closely watched because the election will chose a replacement for retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey. Oz has the endorsement of former president Donald Trump.

Once a nominee is finally determined, he will face Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman in a race which may determine whether the Democrats can keep their narrow majority in the Senate.

Sports: Dodgers over Phillies

The Los Angeles Dodgers maintained their grip on the  National League West lead Friday with a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the City of Brotherly Love.

Freddie Freeman had three hits, scored two runs and drove in two to raise his batting average to .322. Julio Urias (3-3) pitched five strong innings, giving up two hits and no runs. He struck out five batters and walked none.

The Dodgers (26-12) have now won six straight and lead the NLW by two games.

In Anaheim, the Los Angeles Angels lost 4-2 to the Oakland A’s for their fourth straight loss. Anthony Rendon was 2-for-4; he doubled and drove in a run. Starter Chase Sileth (1-1) worked 4.1 innings, yielding six hits and three earned runs. He struck out six batters and walked two.

The Angels are now 24-17 and in second place in the American League West, two games behind the Houston Astros.

Weather: Seventies and some sun

The West Orange County area is stuck in the Seventies. No, not the days of Jimmy Carter and disco; we mean daytime high temperatures in the low and middle 70s. The forecast for Sunday is for a high of 70, with a low of 59 under mostly sunny skies. Conditions will warm slowly until the sun finally breaks through on Tuesday with a high of 75 (59).

Business: Bear market barely missed

WALL STREET was worried on Friday (Flickr/Dan Nelson).

In Wall Street jargon, rising stock prices mean a bull market. Falling values are termed a bear market.

On Friday, the S&P 500 was on the edge of meeting the “official” threshold of a 20 percent decline before a late rally stopped that short, according to The New York Times.

Inflation worries, a resurgence in coronavirus cases and the disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine has resulted in some investors leaving for safer opportunities.