Wednesday, December 1st, 2021
Clashes occur between the Taliban and Iran on the Afghanistan–Iran border after Iranian farmers crossed the border. (Bloomberg)
Armed criminals break into a prison in Tula, Hidalgo, with vehicles, detonating several car bombs. Nine inmates are freed, including a local drug lord. Two law enforcement officers are injured. (The Guardian)
At least 29 people, mostly schoolchildren, drown after an overloaded boat capsizes in Bagwai, Kano State, Nigeria. (BBC News)
South Korea reports its first five cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated couple who travelled from Nigeria and later tested positive, along with two of their family members and a friend. (The Straits Times)
Italy reports 103 deaths of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, making it the deadliest toll since June 8. (Il Sole 24ore)
The United States reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a person who travelled from South Africa to California. (CNN)
Mexican health regulator COFEPRIS approves the emergency use of Eli Lilly and Co‘s injectable combination of bamlanivimab and etesevimab to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 cases in people over the age of 12 years who weigh at least 40 kg (88 lb). (Reuters)
Micronesian president David W. Panuelo condemns the outcome of the climate summit, stating that industrialized nations must increase their commitments in order to help countries switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy. (Reuters)
Former Attorney-General of Australia Christian Porter announces he will resign from politics in the wake of sexual assault allegations published earlier in the year, and controversy surrounding his reliance on a blind trust in a legal battle against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over their reporting of the allegations. (The Guardian)
The End Friday
2021 Wednesday, December 1st, 2021
The Philippines launches is campaign to vaccinate 9 million people in three days in order to achieve 70% vaccination target and to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant. (The Straits Times)
BioNTech says that it is developing a vaccine to combat the Omicron variant. (Reuters)
Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue began a six-day journey to Russia on November 23. Guixot met with Orthodox, Muslim, civil leaders. The parties discussed religious liberty and other human rights of minorities. (Catholic World News)
Jack Dorsey resigns as the CEO of Twitter and is succeeded by Chief technology officer Parag Agrawal. (CNBC)
Researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico discover two new antibiotic molecules inside the venom of a scorpion from the Diplocentrus genus, which may hold the properties to stop several different kinds of harmful bacteria and tumour cells. (The Yucatan Times)
Saudi Arabia reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a citizen who travelled from a North African country. (Al Arabiya English).
Micronesian President David W. Panuelo condemns the outcome of the climate summit. Panuelo indicated that industrialized nations need to increase commitments to help countries switch from fossil fuel to renewable energy. (Reuters)
Barbados declares Rihanna national hero We have some breaking news out of Barbados: Queen Elizabeth II is out, and Rihanna is in. Barbados officially became a republic on Tuesday, booting Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, and in a ceremony, Prime Minister Mia Mottley went ahead and declared Rihanna a national hero. The “Diamonds” singer was born in Saint Michael, and she grew up in Bridgetown. “May you continue to shine like a diamond and continue to bring honor to your nation by your words, by your actions, and to do credit wherever you shall go,” Mottley said during a ceremony that Rihanna attended. She became just the 11th person to ever be declared a national hero of Barbados, and the second woman. Plus, The Hollywood Reporter notes this means she can now start officially using the title “Right Honorable,” which we’re going to assume is being added to her Spotify page as we speak. Is this the first step toward Prime Minister Rihanna? Long may she reign. THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTERENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Aaron Carter and fiancée break up a week after son’s birth It’s been quite a week in the world of Aaron Carter. Carter revealed in a series of tweets that he and his fiancée, Melanie Martin, have split up after just welcoming their first child together last Monday. The “I Want Candy” singer said this was because of “a very big lie,” claiming he found out his estranged sister had been “talking to my fiancé behind my back,” which “ruined everything.” Angel Carter received a restraining order against her brother Aaron in 2019, while his brother Nick Carter alleged Aaron confessed “he harbors thoughts and intentions of killing my pregnant wife and unborn child.” On Twitter, Aaron Carter alleged “Melanie has been lying to me the whole time communicating with my twin sister and the family members who tried to put me in prison and who tried to get a conservatorship on me in court,” also claiming Martin “told me she’s moving to Vegas and I’ll never see my kid again.” TMZPEOPLE
Bradley Cooper was held at knifepoint on the subway in 2019 The star of Nightmare Alley had his own nightmare on the New York City subway a few years ago. Bradley Cooper revealed on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast that in October 2019, he was on the New York City subway and “got held up at knifepoint” while on his way to pick up his daughter. The Oscar-nominated actor recalled seeing someone walk up to him and initially assuming they wanted to take a photo, only to look down and see a knife. “[I] jumped over the turnstile, hid around the white tiled foyer entrance to the subway, took my phone out,” Cooper said. “He jumped over, running away, and I took a photo of him, and then I chased him up the stairs.” Cooper reflected that he had become “way, way too comfortable in this city,” adding, “My guard was down.” PAGE SIX
Jerome Powell says Fed considering speeding up taper stimulus efforts Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told members of the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday that the central bank might speed up plans to taper its bond-buying program, which is boosting the economic recovery, as it tries to counter accelerating inflation. The remarks came as the Fed tries to contend with both a strong recovery that is driving up prices for food and shelter, and the threat that another virus surge fueled by the newly discovered Omicron variant could prevent millions of people from returning to work and prevent disrupted supply chains from unclogging. Powell said it was too soon for anyone to know how the new coronavirus variant will damage the economy. He said it will take about a month to answer many questions, but “we’ll know something … within a week or 10 days.” BLOOMBERGTHE NEW YORK TIMES
FDA panel narrowly recommends Merck COVID treatment A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted Tuesday to recommend authorization of Merck’s antiviral pill to fight severe COVID-19. The unexpectedly narrow 13-to-10 vote reflected concerns about the drug’s limited effectiveness and possible reproductive harm. The FDA is not obligated to follow the recommendations of the panel of outside experts, who backed authorizing the pill for patients at high risk of severe illness. If regulators authorize the drug’s use, it could be available to patients within weeks, as public health officials rush to prepare for the spread of the newly discovered Omicron variant of the coronavirus. In the coming weeks, the FDA will decide whether to authorize a similar pill developed by Pfizer that is believed to be more effective. THE NEW YORK TIMESSTAT NEWS
Thanksgiving weekend shopping traffic falls slightly About 180 million Americans shopped in stores or online between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, down from 186 million last year and 190 million in 2019, the National Retail Federation said Tuesday. One reason for the decline was that many people started their holiday shopping early to avoid missing out on popular items due to supply disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Many shoppers were lured out as early as October by retailers that launched holiday promotions early. Retail analysts said it was too early to tell whether the Omicron strain of the coronavirus would affect the holiday shopping season. South Africa announced the detection of the fast-spreading new variant just before Black Friday. THE WASHINGTON POST
U.S. moving to impose tighter COVID testing requirements on travelers The U.S. is preparing to tighten coronavirus testing requirements for all air travelers entering the country as part of the Biden administration’s response to the new Omicron coronavirus variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. Currently, vaccinated air travelers need to show a negative COVID test administered within three days of departure toward the U.S., while unvaccinated travelers must show a negative test within one day of arrival. Under a new rule expected to be announced by President Biden as soon as Thursday, all travelers, including U.S. citizens, will be required to show a negative test performed within one day of departure. Nearly all foreign nationals currently have to show that they have been fully vaccinated to enter the United States. REUTERSTHE WASHINGTON POST
U.S. authorities expand search for Omicron variant U.S. public health officials are “actively looking” for the first cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the United States, Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, said at a White House news conference on Tuesday. Walensky said authorities at major international airports in New York, Atlanta, Newark, and San Francisco would expand the search for the new variant. Scientists are rushing to find out more about the strain’s transmissibility and severity, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said U.S. officials believe there is “good reason” to think existing vaccines will provide “some degree of protection.” A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Biden’s vaccine mandate for health care workers from taking effect next week.
3 killed in Michigan school shooting A young attacker opened fire in Oxford High School in suburban Detroit on Tuesday, killing three people and injuring eight others, two of them critically, local authorities said. The students who died were Hana St. Juliana, 14, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Tate Myre, 16. Officers took a suspect — a 15-year-old sophomore — into custody. The suspect was not injured. Investigators recovered a semi-automatic pistol at the scene, Oakland County Undersheriff Michael McCabe said at a news conference. “Deputies confronted him, he had the weapon on him, and deputies took him into custody,” McCabe said. “The whole thing lasted five minutes.” Students were evacuated from the school and taken to a nearby store, where authorities reunited them with family members. THE DETROIT NEWS
Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows cooperating with Jan. 6 committee Mark Meadows, who was then-President Donald Trump’s White House chief of staff during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, is cooperating with the House select committee investigating the insurrection by a mob of Trump’s supporters, committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said Tuesday. Committee members previously said some Trump advisers were voluntarily cooperating with the committee, but Meadows is the first high-ranking Trump ally identified as one of the people complying with requests for information. The committee subpoenaed Meadows at the end of September. On Monday, the committee announced it would move to hold top Trump Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark in criminal contempt for refusing to cooperate. Former Trump strategist Stephen Bannon has already been indicted for refusing to comply with a subpoena. THE WASHINGTON POST
Japan, France become latest countries to detect Omicron variant Japan and France reported their first cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus on Tuesday, and the Netherlands said it had detected the variant in patient samples from as early as Nov. 19. That changes what is known about the timeline and trajectory of the variant’s spread, because the first Dutch cases have now been traced to the days before South African authorities sounded the alarm and told the World Health Organization about the existence of the highly mutated version of the virus. The new developments confirmed fears about the likelihood that Omicron will spread quickly like the Delta variant, which still accounts for nearly all of the COVID-19 cases in the United States. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jury selection starts in ex-officer’s trial for fatally shooting Daunte Wright Jury selection began Tuesday in the manslaughter trial of former Minnesota police officer Kimberly Potter for the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, during an April traffic stop. Potter shot Wright once in the chest after she yelled “Taser!” three times. She has said she thought she had drawn her stun gun but had pulled out her service weapon instead. When told by defense attorney Paul Engh that Potter would testify, one prospective juror added to the panel she “would evaluate [Potter’s testimony] like any other witness.” The woman, a retired public school teacher, said she was aware that Wright had a criminal record, but added, “I know that the victim is not on trial.” MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE
Appeals court upholds California ban on large-capacity ammunition clips A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld California’s ban on large-scale ammunition magazines. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 7-4 that the state law does not significantly limit the right to self-defense. The court noted that there is no evidence that anyone has ever been unable to defend their home because they didn’t have large-capacity gun clips, but they have been used in three-quarters of mass shootings resulting in 10 or more deaths over the last 50 years. The decision was considered likely to pave the way for the court to approve the state’s ban on assault-style semi-automatic rifles. Judge Susan Graber, a Clinton appointee, wrote for the court that the ammunition restriction “reasonably supports California’s effort to reduce the devastating damage wrought by mass shootings.” LOS ANGELES TIMES
Honduras ruling party concedes defeat in presidential election Tegucigalpa Mayor Nasry Asufra, the presidential candidate for Honduras’ ruling conservative National Party, conceded defeat in Sunday’s election to leftist opposition candidate Xiomara Castro on Tuesday. “I congratulate her for her victory and as president-elect, I hope that God illuminates and guides her so that her administration does the best for the benefit of all of us Hondurans,” Asufra said. With 52 percent of the votes tallied, Castro leads Asufra 53 percent to 34 percent. Asufra’s concession was a relief to Hondurans bracing for a repeat of 2017’s marred election, in which President Juan Orlando Hernández was declared the winner amid protests that left 23 people dead. His National Party has held power since a 2009 coup deposed Castro’s husband, Manuel Zelaya. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CNN suspends Chris Cuomo over help in brother’s sexual harassment scandal CNN suspended star host Chris Cuomo “indefinitely” on Tuesday, a day after the New York Attorney General’s office released text messages showing that he went further than previously acknowledged to help his brother, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, fight sexual misconduct allegations. The Washington Post reported in May that Chris Cuomo had participated in conference calls with his brother’s staff. He admitted that the report was true, acknowledged he had broken company rules, and pledged not to do it again. CNN stood by him, and “understood his need to put family first,” a company spokesperson said, but the documents indicated “a greater level of involvement” than the network had previously known. The spokesperson said the suspension would remain in effect “pending further evaluation.” THE WASHINGTON POST
FDA panel narrowly recommends Merck COVID treatment A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted Tuesday to recommend authorization of Merck’s antiviral pill to fight severe COVID-19. The unexpectedly narrow 13-to-10 vote reflected concerns about the drug’s limited effectiveness and possible reproductive harm. The FDA is not obligated to follow the recommendations of the panel of outside experts, who backed authorizing the pill for patients at high risk of severe illness. If regulators authorize the drug’s use, it could be available to patients within weeks, as public health officials rush to prepare for the spread of the newly discovered Omicron variant of the coronavirus. In coming weeks, the FDA will decide whether to authorize a similar pill developed by Pfizer that is believed to be more effective. THE NEW YORK TIMESSTAT NEWS
Dr. Oz is officially running for Senate in Pennsylvania Celebrity TV doctor Mehmet Oz announced in the Washington Examiner on Tuesday that he is running for Senate in Pennsylvania to “help fix the problems and to help us heal.” The confirmation comes after a report from the Washington Free Beacon that he was hiring staff and eying a run as a Republican, seeking the seat that will be vacated following the retirement of Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). In his announcement, Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and host of The Dr. Oz Show, criticized government policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, slamming “the arrogant, closed-minded people in charge [who] closed our parks, shuttered our schools, shut down our businesses, and took away our freedom.” Oz first rose to fame as a health expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show and has been criticized throughout his career for allegedly “promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain.” THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
2021 Tuesday, November 30th, 2021
Uganda launches airstrikes against Allied Democratic Forces and Islamic State – Central Africa Province positions in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. (ABC News)
England begins to implement mandatory mask wearing in shops, banks, post offices and hairdressers, as well as on public transport as part of targeted measures to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant. (The Guardian)
Nottingham reports its second case of the Omicron variant in a student who attends the University of Nottingham. (BBC News)
The government announces that anyone over the age of 60 who is not vaccinated will face a monthly fine of €100 beginning on January 6. (Kathimerini)
Japan closes its border to all newly arrived foreigners and requires its citizens to quarantine on arrival from countries where cases of the Omicron variant have been detected due to fears of the variant. (Bloomberg News)
Brazil reports its first “preliminary” cases of the Omicron variant in two people who travelled from South Africa. (Barron’s)
BioNTech CEO Uğur Şahin and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla both say that their vaccine is likely to be effective against severe disease resulting from the Omicron variant. (Reuters)
Three students are killed and eight others are injured in a mass shooting at a high school in Oxford, Michigan, United States. (Detroit Free Press)
Bong Go withdraws his candidacy from the presidential election, stating that he is waiting for “a sign from God”. (GMA Network)
Dame Sandra Mason is inaugurated as the first President of Barbados, as the country becomes the 34th Commonwealth republic. (The Guardian)
The ruling centre–right National Party concedes victory to leftist Xiomara Castro, marking a return for the left to power after Castro’s husband Manuel Zelaya was overthrown in a 2009 coup. (Reuters)
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James tests positive for COVID-19 and will miss the team’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings. (CNBC)
The End Wednesday
Tuesday, November 30th, 2021
Uganda launches airstrikes against Allied Democratic Forces and Islamic State – Central Africa Province positions in eastern Congo. (ABC News)
Japan closes its border to all newly arrived foreigners and quarantines its citizens on arrival from countries where the Omicron variant has been found due to the fears of the variant. (Bloomberg News)
England begins to implement mandatory mask wearing in shops, banks, post offices, hairdressers, and public transport as part of targeted measures to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant. (The Guardian)
Lindsay Lohan is getting married She said yes! Lindsay Lohan revealed Sunday she’s getting married, sharing photos of herself on Instagram wearing her engagement ring with fiancé Bader Shammas. “My love. My life. My family. My future,” she wrote. The Mean Girls star has been dating Shammas, who works as assistant vice president at Credit Suisse, for two years. She was previously engaged to Egor Tarabasov, a Russian millionaire, but they broke up before the wedding, with Lohan alleging abuse. “The truth is, I wanted to make things work, but now I’m not sure that I can,” she said in 2016. Lohan’s engagement comes as she’s set to make her triumphant return to acting by starring in an upcoming Netflix Christmas romantic comedy. Prepare for the Lohanaissance. PEOPLE
Prince Charles denies book’s claim he asked about skin tone of Harry and Meghan’s kids More than eight months after Meghan Markle dropped the bombshell allegation that there were “concerns” in the royal family about “how dark” her baby’s skin would be, a new book claims to have more information. Author Christopher Andersen’s book Brothers and Wives: Inside the Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan claims that after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement was announced in 2017, Prince Charles asked his wife, Camilla, “I wonder what the children will look like?” According to the book, Camilla, who was “somewhat taken aback,” replied “Well, absolutely gorgeous, I’m certain.” Charles allegedly responded, “I mean, what do you think their children’s complexion might be?” A spokesperson for Charles denied the account, calling it “fiction and not worth further comment.” On the Today show, Andersen stood by the reporting while insisting Charles made the remarks in a “very kind of benign way” and that they were then “turned into something very toxic.” Meghan and Harry have never identified who made the comments referenced in the Oprah interview, but Andersen told Today he believes Meghan was referring to Charles’ remarks. VANITY FAIR
The Gucci family is really upset about ‘House of Gucci’ The Gucci family’s review of House of Gucci is in! Spoiler alert: they’re not happy. The heirs of Aldo Gucci, who’s played by Al Pacino in the Ridley Scott movie, slammed the film in a statement, claiming its depiction of the family is inaccurate. “The production of the film did not bother to consult the heirs before describing Aldo Gucci — president of the company for 30 years — and the members of the Gucci family as thugs, ignorant and insensitive to the world around them, attributing to the protagonists, events, a tone and an attitude that never belonged to them,” they said. The family also took issue with Patrizia Reggiani, played by Lady Gaga, being portrayed “as a victim trying to survive in a male and male chauvinist corporate culture,” claiming Gucci has always been an “inclusive company.” Scott previously dismissed criticism claiming he was “stealing the identity of a family to make a profit,” shooting back that the case is “part of the public domain.”
Twitter announces Jack Dorsey’s resignation as CEO Twitter announced Monday that CEO Jack Dorsey is stepping down and will be replaced by the social media company’s chief technology officer, Parag Agrawal, effective immediately. Dorsey, 45, has been serving as chief executive of both Twitter and his digital payments company Square. He will remain on Twitter’s board until his term expires at the 2022 stockholders’ meeting, the company said. Salesforce President and COO Bret Taylor will replace former Google executive Patrick Pichette as chairman of the board. Dorsey didn’t reveal why he was resigning, but said he had “decided to leave Twitter because I believe the company is ready to move on from its founders.” Twitter shares fell by 2.7 percent on Monday. CNBC
Federal labor official calls for new union vote at Amazon warehouse A National Labor Relations Board official, Lisa Y. Henderson, has ordered a second union vote at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, after determining that Amazon improperly pressured workers during the initial vote in the spring. Henderson, the NLRB’s Atlanta region director, accused Amazon of “flagrant disregard” for making the union election free and fair, saying its placement of a U.S. Postal Service mailbox in front of the warehouse “essentially hijacked the process and gave a strong impression” the company controlled ballot counting. Amazon, which staunchly opposes unionization, noted that the factory’s workers voted more than 2-to-1 against joining the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union. “It’s disappointing that the NLRB has now decided that those votes shouldn’t count,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said. THE WASHINGTON POST
Stock futures fall as concerns over Omicron variant continue U.S. stock futures fell early Tuesday after Monday’s rebound as concerns continued about the new Omicron coronavirus variant. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were down by 1.3 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively, at 6:30 a.m. ET. Futures for the tech-heavy Nasdaq were down by 0.6 percent. The main U.S. indexes made big gains on Monday, bouncing back from Friday’s plunge, after President Biden said a new economic lockdown was off the table. Futures fell Tuesday after Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told the Financial Times that existing vaccines would probably be less effective against the Omicron variant. CNBC
Eurozone inflation rises to 4.9 percent, highest on record Inflation hit 4.9 percent across the Eurozone in November, the highest since records began in 1997, according to figures released Tuesday by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics agency. The figure, up from 4.1 percent in October, was higher than the 4.5 percent expected by economists surveyed by Reuters. The surge in consumer prices in the 19 countries that use the European common currency came largely because of a spike in energy costs. Increasing demand and supply-chain bottlenecks due to the recovery from the coronavirus recession also pushed up consumer prices. The data raised questions about how quickly the European Central Bank will tighten its monetary policy as inflation rises but pandemic concerns continue. CNBC
U.K. competition regulator tells Meta to sell Giphy British antitrust regulators on Tuesday told Meta to sell Giphy over concerns that the social media giant’s recent purchase of the GIF-sharing platform would hurt competition. The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority said Meta’s control of Giphy — a search tool for short, looping videos and animations — had already knocked one potential rival out of the advertising market, and concluded that the regulator’s “competition concerns can only be addressed by Facebook selling Giphy in its entirety to an approved buyer.” Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, said it disagreed with the decision and was considering “all options, including appeal.” “Both consumers and Giphy are better off with the support of our infrastructure, talent, and resources,” a Meta spokesperson said. CNN
Biden says Omicron variant cause for concern, not panic President Biden addressed the spread of the newly discovered Omicron variant of the coronavirus, saying the highly contagious strain was a “cause for concern, not a cause for panic.” “Sooner or later we’re going to see cases of this new variant here in the United States. We’ll have to face this new threat just as we face those who have come before it,” Biden said at the White House. Public health officials are still trying to assess how highly transmissible the Omicron variant is, and whether it can penetrate the protections offered by vaccines. Biden said that on Thursday he would unveil a “detailed strategy outlining how we’re going to fight Covid this winter. Not with shutdowns or lockdowns, but with more widespread vaccinations, boosters, testing, and more.” THE WASHINGTON POST
CDC strengthens recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday recommended that all adults get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots due to the rising risk of infection posed by the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The CDC strengthened the language of its guidance, which previously said young adults “may” get the booster, and said that all adults “should” get the additional shot. “Everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot either when they are six months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna series or two months after their initial J&J vaccine,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. Early data from South Africa, where the new variant was first detected, suggest it is highly transmissible, and scientists are “urgently examining” the effectiveness of existing vaccines against it. CNN
Defense secretary orders new investigation into Syria airstrike Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III on Monday ordered an investigation by a top general into a U.S. airstrike in Syria that killed dozens of women and children. Gen. Michael X. Garrett, the four-star head of the Army’s Forces Command, will look into the strike as well as the handling of an earlier investigation by top military officials and the Defense Department’s inspector general, the Pentagon said. The strike reportedly was conducted by a classified Special Operations unit called Task Force 9. Pentagon chief spokesperson John Kirby said Austin decided to call for the investigation after discussions with Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., the commander of Central Command. Kirby added that the inquiry would determine “whether accountability measures would be appropriate.” THE NEW YORK TIMES
Twitter announces Jack Dorsey’s resignation as CEO Twitter announced Monday that CEO Jack Dorsey is stepping down and will be replaced by the social media company’s chief technology officer, Parag Agrawal, effective immediately. Dorsey, 45, has been serving as chief executive of both Twitter and his digital payments company Square. He will remain on Twitter’s board until his term expires at the 2022 stockholders’ meeting, the company said. Salesforce President and COO Bret Taylor will replace former Google executive Patrick Pichette as chairman of the board. Dorsey didn’t reveal why he was resigning, but said he had “decided to leave Twitter because I believe the company is ready to move on from its founders.” Twitter shares fell by 2.7 percent on Monday. CNBC
Opposition candidate takes big lead in early Honduras presidential vote count Early vote counts showed opposition candidate Xiomara Castro with a commanding lead in Honduras’ presidential election. Initial results shortly after the Sunday balloting indicated that Castro had 53 percent of the vote, ahead of Nasry Asfura of the incumbent National Party, who had 34 percent. The National Party has refused to concede. The final result isn’t expected for days. Castro defied the Central American country’s electoral council’s call for no candidate to declare victory, telling supporters that she would start forming a national reconciliation government on Monday. “We have turned back authoritarianism,” said Castro, the wife of Manuel Zelaya, a leftist former president deposed in a 2009 coup. “Out with corruption, out with drug trafficking, out with organized crime.” THE NEW YORK TIMES
Prosecutors ask Supreme Court to reinstate Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction Pennsylvania prosecutors on Monday asked the Supreme Court to restore Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction, which was overturned five months ago. Cosby was convicted on charges of sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, but he was released in June after the conviction was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, citing a promise made by a previous prosecutor that Cosby would never be charged when he gave damaging testimony in an accuser’s civil suit in 2006. His legal team argued this should have prevented any charges from being brought against him. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele wrote in the petition that the decision would have “far-reaching negative consequences,” and he asked the U.S. Supreme Court to “right what we believe is a grievous wrong.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Swedish lawmakers re-elect nation’s 1st female prime minister Swedish lawmakers narrowly re-elected Magdalena Andersson to be the country’s prime minister. Anderson, 54, served as Sweden’s first female prime minister for seven hours before resigning last week after her Green Party coalition partner dropped out of the two-party minority government over a budget defeat in parliament. The showdown occurred when the government rejected its own spending plan in favor of one presented by the opposition, which includes the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats. Only 101 members of the 349-member Swedish parliament voted yes to Andersson, while 173 voted no and 75 abstained. Under the country’s constitution, Andersson won the job because a majority did not vote against her. NPR
Barbados drops allegiance to queen and becomes world’s newest republic Barbados became the world’s newest republic on Tuesday, swearing in its first president and dropping its formal allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Charles and Rihanna were among the dignitaries who attended the overnight ceremony in Bridgetown, the Caribbean nation’s capital, and fireworks lit up the sky and a steel drum orchestra played as the clock struck midnight and Barbados shed yet another layer of its colonial past. Barbados became a republic on the 55th anniversary of its independence from Britain. It will remain part of the Commonwealth, but its head of state is now Sandra Mason, governor general since 2018; the Barbados parliament elected Mason president last month, and she will now help run the island nation with Prime Minister Mia Mottley. BBC NEWS
Pioneering Black golfer Lee Elder dies at 87 Lee Elder, the first Black golfer to compete in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, has died at age 87. No cause of death was immediately announced, but Elder had been experiencing respiratory difficulties. Elder learned to play while working as a caddie in rural Dallas, and dominated the United Golf Association tour for Black players before the PGA was integrated. He earned his PGA Tour card in 1967, winning four tournaments. A group of politicians unsuccessfully urged Augusta National to invite Elder to play in the Masters, but two years later he qualified. “When I first qualified for the Tour, in 1967, I said I wanted to get that one thing that had not been accomplished out of the way,” Elder once told Golfweek. “The Masters was the one tournament that hadn’t been integrated.” GOLFWEEK
Monday, November 29th, 2021
Turkey offers to mediate between Ukraine and Russia over the conflict between the two nations. (Reuters)
Miss Universe France 2021, Clémence Botino, a contestant at the Miss Universe contest in Eilat, Israel, tests positive for COVID-19. (L’Independant)
BioNTech says that it is developing a vaccine to combat the Omicron variant. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reveals his intentions to rebuild his country’s ties with Egypt and Israel. (TRT World)
While votes are still being counted, both Xiomara Castro and Nasry Asfura declare that their respective tickets have won the presidential election. (Al Jazeera)
Magdalena Andersson is re-elected as Prime Minister of Sweden by the Riksdag after she resigned last week. (Euronews)
Jack Dorsey resigns as the CEO of Twitter and is succeeded by Chief technology officer Parag Agrawal. (CNBC)
Researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico discover two new antibiotic molecules inside the venom of a scorpion from the Diplocentrus genus, which may hold the properties to stop several different kinds of harmful bacteria and tumour cells. (The Yucatan Times)
The End Tuesday
Monday, November 29th, 2021
Turkey offers to mediate between Ukraine and Russia over the conflict between the two nations. (WSAU)
Argentina donates 780,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to countries which have detected cases of the Omicron variant; Angola, Kenya and Barbados. (LMDiario)
Portugal reports the first 13 cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant at Lisbon soccer team Belenenses SAD. (Reuters)
BioNTech says that it is developing a vaccine to combat the Omicron variant. (Reuters)
While votes are still being counted, both Xiomara Castro and Nasry Asfura declare that their respective tickets have won the presidential election. (Al Jazeera)
Magdalena Andersson is re-elected as Prime Minister of Sweden by the Riksdag after she resigned last week. (Euronews)
Recep Tayyip Erdogan reveals his intentions to rebuild ties with Egypt and Israel.(TRT World)
Jack Dorsey is expected to step down as the CEO of Twitter. (CNBC)
Omicron variant continues to spread as U.S. prepares response
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus continued to spread on Sunday, with the Netherlands, Austria, and Canada becoming the latest countries to report their first cases of the fast-spreading strain first reported in South Africa. Australia, the U.K., Germany, Belgium, Israel, and Italy also have detected infections with the variant. More countries tightened travel restrictions, with Israel and Japan banning entry to all foreigners. Australia restricted travel from several African countries. Britain resumed mask mandates and PCR tests for visitors. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, said Sunday on ABC’s This Week that the variant would “inevitably” reach the United States, so the country must step up vaccination efforts to be ready. President Biden will update the nation Monday on his administration’s response to the new variant. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Moderna says Omicron-variant vaccine could be out in early 2022 Moderna could release a coronavirus vaccine adjusted to fight the Omicron variant by early 2022, the company’s chief medical officer, Paul Burton, said Sunday. It was not immediately clear whether current forms of coronavirus vaccines would provide protection against the new variant, which was first detected in South Africa and has spread to numerous countries around the world. “We should know about the ability of the current vaccine to provide protection in the next couple of weeks, but the remarkable thing about the mRNA vaccines, the Moderna platform, is that we can move very fast,” Burton said on BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. “If we have to make a brand new vaccine I think that’s going to be early 2022 before that’s really going to be available in large quantities.” CNBC
Ex-Defense Secretary Mark Esper sues Pentagon over memoir redactions
Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon on Sunday, accusing it of “infringing on my First Amendment rights” by demanding changes in his tell-all memoir about his service under former President Donald Trump. Esper said in the lawsuit that the Defense Department withheld “significant” details from the book, A Sacred Oath, which is due to be published in May. He said agreeing to the 60 pages of requested redactions, including quotes from Trump, would be “a serious injustice to important moments in history that the American people need to know and understand.” Esper, who was fired by Trump in a tweet two days after the 2020 election, needs Pentagon approval to override his secrecy agreements. NEW YORK POSTCNN
Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex-trafficking trial begins The trial of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who is accused of helping the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein recruit and sexually abuse underage girls, begins Monday in a Manhattan courtroom. Maxwell, 59, faces six counts related to her alleged involvement in a sex-trafficking scheme to get underage girls to travel and engage in illegal sex acts with Epstein and others. Epstein was found dead in his jail cell more than two years ago as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The New York City medical examiner ruled his death a suicide by hanging. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, she faces up to 70 years in prison. THE WASHINGTON POST
QAnon star Michael Flynn recorded calling QAnon ‘total nonsense’ Michael Flynn, the retired lieutenant general hired then fired and finally pardoned by former President Donald Trump, has publicly embraced the QAnon conspiracy theory, selling QAnon merchandise, recording himself taking a QAnon oath, and making a controversial appearance at a QAnon convention in Dallas in May. But in a phone call recorded and released by former ally Lin Wood on Saturday night, the man purported to be Flynn says he thinks QAnon is “a disinformation campaign that the CIA created,” adding: “I find it total nonsense. And I think it’s a disinformation campaign created by the left.” The Daily Beast writes that “Wood’s publication of the audio comes as part of a growing feud between … figures active in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election.” THE DAILY BEAST
Former ‘Empire’ star Jussie Smollett’s trial set to start Jury selection is scheduled to start Monday in former Empire star Jussie Smollett’s trial on charges that he made false claims about being targeted in a hate crime three years ago. After he was accused of staging the attack, he was written off the hit Fox television show. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office suddenly dropped disorderly conduct charges against Smollett months later. Scrutiny of that decision resulted in the appointment of a special prosecutor to reopen the investigation and look into possible wrongdoing by Foxx’s office. A year later, Smollett was indicted on disorderly conduct charges again for allegedly making false statements to police claiming he was the victim of a racist and anti-gay attack near his apartment. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
France inducts Josephine Baker into its Pantheon France this week will induct American cabaret dancer, civil rights activist, and World War II spy Josephine Baker into its Pantheon. Baker is the first Black woman to receive the honor of a place where France’s heroes are buried. “She embodies, before anything, women’s freedom,” Laurent Kupferman, who wrote the petition that prompted President Emmanuel Macron to approve Baker’s entry into the Pantheon. Baker was born in St. Louis in 1906. She moved to France at age 19 and became an instant success at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees stage, where she appeared topless in a show challenging racist stereotypes about African women, Kupferman said in the petition. In a Tuesday ceremony, soil from France, the U.S., and Monaco, where Baker is buried, will be deposited in the Pantheon monument. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fashion designer Virgil Abloh dies of cancer at 41 Trailblazing Black fashion designer Virgil Abloh died Sunday in Chicago after battling a rare cancer called cardiac angiosarcoma for two years. He was 41. Abloh was the first Black artistic director of Louis Vuitton men’s wear. The Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton luxury group bought a majority stake in his Off-White brand this year. Before founding his streetwear fashion house in 2013, Abloh left his mark on the music scene as artistic director for Jay-Z and Kanye West’s 2011 album Watch The Throne. He was a frequent collaborator with West since the days they worked together as interns at Fendi in 2009. He also collaborated with companies and artists that included Nike, Levi, Jimmy Choo, Moncler, Dr. Martens, Champion, Rihanna, and Beyoncé.
Moderna says Omicron-variant vaccine could be out in early 2022 Moderna could release a coronavirus vaccine adjusted to fight the Omicron variant by early 2022, the company’s chief medical officer, Paul Burton, said Sunday. It was not immediately clear whether current forms of coronavirus vaccines would provide protection against the new variant, which was first detected in South Africa and has spread to numerous countries around the world. “We should know about the ability of the current vaccine to provide protection in the next couple of weeks, but the remarkable thing about the mRNA vaccines, the Moderna platform, is that we can move very fast,” Burton said on BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. “If we have to make a brand new vaccine I think that’s going to be early 2022 before that’s really going to be available in large quantities.” CNBC
Online Black Friday sales edge down as shoppers return to stores Online sales fell on Black Friday for the first time as shoppers returned to brick-and-mortar stores, according to a holiday shopping report by Adobe Analytics. U.S. online sales totaled $8.9 billion this year, inching down from $9 billion last year. Adobe Analytics said there were several reasons for the decline. Stores started promotions as early as October, shifting some purchases to the weeks before Black Friday. Supply-chain disruptions also played a role. Adobe reported that out-of-stock messages have jumped by 124 percent since January 2020, so many people who tried to buy were unable to find the products they wanted. In-store traffic was up compared to 2020, but remained 28 percent below pre-pandemic levels. THE VERGEFOX BUSINESS
Nissan announces $17.6 billion investment in EV batteries Nissan said Monday it would invest $17.6 billion in developing a cheaper and more powerful electric-vehicle battery over five years. CEO Makoto Uchida said the Japanese automaker would offer 15 new electric vehicles by 2030 as it aims for 50 percent “electrification” of its lineup, including hybrids and other greener vehicles as well as EVs. Nissan also aims to reduce carbon emissions at its factories. The company is focusing on efforts to become more climate-friendly as it struggles to recover from the scandal of its former Chairman Carlos Ghosn’s arrest in Tokyo in 2018 on financial misconduct charges. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, November 28th, 2021
Five Peshmerga fighters are killed and four more are wounded during a shooting and bombing attack by the Islamic State in Diyala. (Al Jazeera)
A convoy carrying French troops in Niger opens fire against locals in Téra, Tillabéri Region, who were protesting against the French presence in the country, killing two people and wounding 18 others. (The Guardian)
Canada reports its first cases of the Omicron variant in two people in Ontario who recently travelled to Nigeria. (Reuters)
The Netherlands tightens its partial lockdown restrictions that require non-essential shops, sports facilities, and hospitality and cultural venues to close at 5 p.m., and chemists, supermarkets, and wholesalers to close at 8 p.m., amid a record number of new COVID-19 cases as well as concerns about the Omicron variant. (BBC News)
The Netherlands reports its first cases of the Omicron variant in 13 people who travelled from South Africa on November 26. (ABC News)
Australia reports its first cases of the Omicron variant in two people who travelled from Southern Africa and are currently in quarantine in a hotel in New South Wales. (ABC News Australia)
Sixty-seven protesters are arrested in Isfahan during a protest against water shortages. (Deutsche Welle)
Petr Fiala is designated as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic to form a majority government following the October election. (Deutsche Welle)
Hondurans go to the polls to elect their next President. (NPR)
Kyrgyzstan holds parliamentary elections after the annulment of the results of the October 2020 elections due to protests. (Al Jazeera)
The End Monday
artificial stupid 