Sunday, December 19th, 2021 

The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Rai increases to 375. At least 500 more people are wounded. (BBC News) 

The Semeru volcano in Java, Indonesia, erupts for the second time since the beginning of the month, spewing a two-kilometre-high ash column. The first eruption killed at least 46 people on December 4. (Reuters) 

Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrate against the October 2021 Sudanese coup d’état, leading to government forces spraying protesters with tear gas in an attempt to halt the demonstrations, one of the largest in Sudan’s history. (CBC News) 

The End Monday 

A child dies in hospital three days after an inflatable castle was lifted into the air in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, bringing the death toll from the accident to six. (News) 

Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, The Netherlands imposes strict lockdown measures that restrict visitors to two people (except during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, when four people are allowed), closes non-essential shops, bars, and restaurants until January 9, and closes schools until January 14. (The Hill) 

Ireland introduces an 8:00 p.m. closure time for bars and restaurants, restricts the capacity of indoor and outdoor events earlier than 8:00 p.m. to 50%, and allows a maximum of 100 guests for weddings as measures to curb the spread of the Omicron variant. (Medical Xpress) 

Iran reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a middle-aged man who travelled from the United Arab Emirates. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Chileans go to the polls to elect their president in a run-off between leftist Gabriel Boric and right-wing candidate José Antonio Kast, in a tight race. (Euronews) 

Report claims D.C. police chief helped criminal cops keep their jobs A group of high-ranking Washington, D.C., police officers, including the current chief, shielded 21 officers from termination for criminal misconduct, according to a new investigation. This report is based on internal documents obtained from a ransomware attack that targeted the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in April. Per those documents, between 2009 and 2019, the MPD’s Disciplinary Review Division sought termination for at least 24 officers accused of criminal misconduct. In all but three of those cases, an Adverse Action Panel made up of three high-ranking officers made sure the accused kept their jobs. One member of that panel, Robert J. Contee, has served as chief of the MPD since the beginning of 2021.REVEAL 

Chileans cast votes in polarized presidential election Chileans cast their votes Sunday in a contest between 35-year-old leftist activist Gabriel Boric and law-and-order conservative Catholic José Antonio Kast. One of the main issues dividing voters is the economic and political system Gen. Augusto Pinochet bequeathed to the country he ruled as a dictator from 1973–1990. Supporters of Kast, who has spoken highly of Pinochet, argue that Chile’s free-market model has led to strong economic growth, while Boric voters claim it has produced too much inequality. A leftist-controlled assembly is currently drafting a new constitution for Chile to replace the one Pinochet left behind. Final polling showed a close race with Boric slightly ahead. REUTERS

Netherlands impose Christmas lockdown to slow the spread of Omicron The Dutch government announced Saturday that schools, universities, and all non-essential businesses must close until Jan. 14 starting Sunday. “The Netherlands is going into lockdown again from tomorrow,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Saturday night. He said the lockdown was necessary “because of the fifth wave caused by the Omicron variant that is bearing down on us.” Under this new lockdown, Dutch citizens will be allowed to receive only two visitors per day. On Christmas and New Year’s, they will be allowed four. BBC 

Vatican announces new restrictions on Latin Mass A Vatican document released Saturday imposed further restrictions on the pre-Vatican II liturgy, including a prohibition on listing Latin Masses in parish bulletins. A preference for the old Mass is often associated with political conservatism and with a lack of support for Pope Francis. In his introduction to the document, Archbishop Arthur Roche, the head of the Vatican’s liturgy office, said clergy “must not lend ourselves to sterile polemics, capable only of creating division, in which the ritual itself is often exploited by ideological viewpoints.” Critics have accused the pope of punitively targeting small groups of devout, traditional Catholics while allowing modernist liturgical irregularities to run rampant. REUTERS 

CCP-approved ‘patriot’ candidates are the only option in Hong Kong’s elections Hong Kong voters headed to the polls for a major legislative election Sunday, but the only candidates on the ballot have been pre-screened by Chinese Communist Party officials and identified as “patriots.” 153 candidates are running for 90 seats. Only 12 of those candidates say they are not part of a pro-Beijing faction. Voter turnout is down considerably from the turnout seen during the Legislative Council (LegCo) election five years ago. In 2019, Beijing imposed a strict national security law on Hong Kong, effectively ending the region’s long history of self-government and sparking widespread protests, which were crushed last year.BBC

Death toll from Philippines typhoon reaches 146 The typhoon that ravaged the central Philippines Thursday and Friday has killed 146 people, and the death toll is likely to continue rising as isolated towns that suffered communications outages re-establish contact with authorities. Most of the deaths resulted from falling trees and walls, flash floods, and landslides. Arlene Bag-ao, governor of the hard-hit Dinagat Islands, said her province’s main island had been “leveled to the ground,” leaving its 180,000 inhabitants desperate for shelter, clean water, and other necessities. President Rodrigo Duterte visited the region Saturday and promised aid. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.K. Brexit minister resigns in protest over new COVID restrictions U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced yet another challenge from within his own Conservative Party when Brexit Minister David Frost resigned effective immediately from Johnson’s cabinet Saturday. Frost, who holds a life peerage that entitles him to sit in the House of Lords, had planned to resign next month, but moved up his timetable to protest Johnson’s new COVID restrictions. Instead of implementing vaccine passports, Frost wrote in his resignation letter, the U.K. should “learn to live with COVID.” Earlier this week, 99 Conservative members of parliament voted against the passports in the largest defection of Johnson’s premiership. Frost urged Johnson not to be “tempted by the kind of coercive measures we have seen elsewhere.” THE BBC 

Cruz and Schumer strike deal on Biden appointees, Russian sanctions bill In its final acts before the Christmas break, the Senate confirmed dozens of President Biden’s nominees, starting Friday night and ending around 2 a.m. Saturday morning. Former Chicago Mayor and Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel was confirmed as ambassador to Japan, despite “no” votes from three Democratic senators. In return for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) allowing the confirmation votes to go ahead, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) agreed to allow Cruz’s Russian sanctions bill to be debated and voted on by mid-January. THE WASHINGTON POST

YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul defeats former UFC champ by knockout YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul defeated former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in Tampa, Florida, Saturday night. The fight, a rematch after Paul defeated Woodley last summer by split decision, ended in a knockout when Paul connected with a hard right in the sixth round. Paul remains undefeated. His five professional fights, all aired on pay-per-view, have established him as a bankable star in the boxing world, but, as ESPN staff writer Marc Raimondi observes, “naysayers” are still quick to point out that he has yet “to fight anyone with real pro boxing experience.” ESPN 

Paul Rudd hosts SNL with no crowd, minimal cast, and no musical guest due to COVID outbreak Paul Rudd, hosting Saturday Night Live for the fifth time, played to an (almost) empty house Saturday after a COVID outbreak forced the show to forego cast, crew, crowd, and planned musical guest Charli XCX. Tom Hanks and Tina Fey — who have hosted 10 times and 6 times, respectively — joined Rudd onstage to induct him into the auspicious “Five-Timers Club.” The only two cast members to appear were Kenan Thompson and Michael Che. The five spent the evening introducing pre-recorded sketches and playing old favorites from years gone by. Fey and Che also hosted a stripped-down Weekend Update, sitting in chairs on the main stage instead of behind the typical newsroom desk. THE NEW YORK POST

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ is doing insanely well at the box office Spider-Man is bringing great power to the 2021 box office. The highly-anticipated Marvel flick is doing insanely well so far, grossing a massive $50 million on Thursday. That’s the third best preview night for any film in history behind only Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The movie is now expected to gross between $150 million and $180 million over the weekend, though some think it could even go above $200 million. To put this in perspective, no movie of the COVID-19 pandemic has made $100 million in its opening weekend, and No Way Home could make that much just in its opening day alone. The movie also made about five times more just last night than Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed West Side Story made over all of last weekend. Sorry, Steven — try throwing in some Marvel cameos next time!  DEADLINE 

Saturday, December 18th, 2021 

Spider-Man: No Way Home is off to a ‘monumental’ start at the box office  After Friday’s box office performance, the highly anticipated Marvel film Spider-Man: No Way Home is on track to make more than $220 million by the end of the weekend. This not only blows away the record for biggest opening weekend since the pandemic began, but could even nab it a spot as one of the four largest opening weekends ever. The film has also raked in over $110 million overseas.  DEADLINE 

Harris gets heated after Charlamagne Tha God asks who the ‘real’ president is Vice President Kamala Harris responded forcefully after TV and radio personality Charlamagne Tha God asked her if President Biden is the ‘real’ president. “I want to know who the real president of this country is — is it Joe Biden, or Joe Manchin?” Charlamagne — whose real name is Lenard McElvey — asked Harris during her Friday appearance on his Comedy Central show, Tha God’s Honest Truth. “It’s Joe Biden — and don’t start talking like a Republican!” Harris shot back. “It’s Joe Biden. And I’m vice president, and my name is Kamala Harris.” Charlemagne responded that this fiery version of Harris is “the one I like.” FOX NEWS

Pfizer says pandemic could continue until 2024 Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer predicted Friday that the COVID-19 pandemic may not end until 2024. In a presentation to investors, Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten explained the company “expects some regions to continue to see pandemic levels of COVID-19 cases over the next year or two.” Meanwhile, he said, other countries might simultaneously experience COVID on more of an “endemic” level, with “low, manageable caseloads.” By 2024, however, COVID-19 should be endemic globally, Pfizer forecasted. REUTERS

Appeals court reinstates Biden’s employer vaccine mandate A federal appeals court panel voted 2-1 Friday to allow President Biden’s employer vaccine mandate to take effect, overturning the decision of a federal court that blocked the mandate last month. Under the Biden administration’s rules, which are set to take effect in January, businesses with 100 or more employees would have to require those employees to present either proof of vaccination or weekly negative COVID tests. Employers who refuse to comply could be fined more than $13,000 per violation. The plaintiffs — a mix of Republican state attorneys general, conservative advocacy groups, and business owners — immediately made an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Russian diplomat: NATO is ‘balancing on the edge of war’ Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Saturday that NATO is “balancing on the edge of war,” and that if the alliance does not accede to Russian demands, his country will employ whatever “ways, means and solutions” are “needed to ensure our security.” These statements come one day after Russia submitted two draft treaties for NATO’s consideration. These treaties demand binding guarantees that Ukraine and Georgia will not be admitted to NATO and that the alliance will curtail its military deployments in Eastern Europe. NATO is unlikely to agree to these terms. Around 95,000 Russian troops are massed on the Ukrainian border. Many intelligence analysts believe an invasion is immanent. BBC 

Former Ukrainian President and oligarch Petro Poroshenko leaves Ukraine on a “pre-planned diplomatic tour” of Turkey and Poland after the National Bureau of Investigation attempts to issue a summons regarding charges of abetting terrorism. The National Bureau of Investigation claims that Poroshenko was involved in looting national resources from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. (Deutsche Welle) 

France imposes a ban on British citizens from entering the country without compelling reasons due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in the United Kingdom. French and EU citizens returning from the UK must self-isolate for seven days unless they show a negative COVID-19 test result on arrival, which will reduce the self-isolation to 48 hours. (France 24) 

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan declares a “major incident” in effort to ease pressure of hospitals amid a record-breaking COVID-19 cases in the UK caused by the Omicron variant. (The Guardian) 

New York state reports a record for the second consecutive day of 21,908 new cases of COVID-19. (WCBS-TV) 

Ukrainian ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk says that Ukraine might recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. (Times of Israel) 

Ukraine reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a person who travelled from the United Arab Emirates. (The Times of India) 

TikTok trend warning of school violence prompts several districts to close At least six districts in states ranging from New York to Montana closed schools Friday in response to a viral TikTok trend that warned of widespread school violence. In one Utah district that canceled classes, officials suggested the trend, known as “National Shoot Up Your School Day,” may have started as an attempt by students to get a day off school. On Friday, TikTok said they had found no content actively promoting school violence, only videos expressing concerns about the possibility of school violence. “We’re working to remove alarmist warnings,” TikTok posted on its official Twitter account. “If we did find promotion of violence on our platform, we’d remove and report it to law enforcement.” CNN 

Defense rests in Epstein associate’s trial as Maxwell declines to testify The defense rested Friday in the high-profile sex trafficking case of Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite accused of grooming young women to be sexually abused by her former associate Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell declined to testify, but she did make a brief statement, telling the judge that “the government has not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt, and so there is no need for me to testify.” Maxwell’s defense attorneys have attempted to poke holes in her accusers’ stories and to insinuate that, because all four of them received large sums of money from the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program, their testimony cannot be trusted. REUTERS 

California lawmakers prepare legislation to end out-of-pocket abortion costs California lawmakers are preparing themselves for a nationwide hit to abortion rights by reintroducing a bill that would eliminate copays for abortion services. In the session beginning in January, legislators hope to move forward S.B. 245, “which would put an end to out-of-pocket costs paid by those seeking abortions that on average range from $300 for a medication abortion to nearly $900 for a procedural abortion.” On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration lifted certain restrictions on the home delivery and telehealth prescription of abortion pills, which are authorized until the 10th week of pregnancy. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

At least 24 dead in suspected arson attack on Japanese medical clinic At least 24 are dead after a medical clinic in the Japanese city of Osaka caught fire on Friday in “one of the deadliest blazes in Japan in about two decades.” The fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. local time and was brought under control within 30 minutes. Rescue teams brought 27 people to the hospital, and three were temporarily revived, though it is unclear whether they survived. 24 others died. The blaze reportedly began in a psychiatric care clinic on the building’s fourth floor. Police have not ruled out arson. Their main suspect, who was seen holding a paper bag leaking some sort of liquid, was in critical condition as of Friday evening. CNN 

Zoe Lister-Jones alleges Chris Noth ‘is a sexual predator’ After two women accused Sex and the City star Chris Noth of sexual assault, actress Zoe Lister-Jones has come forward to allege “the man is a sexual predator.” On Instagram, Lister-Jones claimed that when she worked at a New York club owned by Noth, he was “consistently sexually inappropriate with a fellow female promoter.” She also alleged that when she was a guest star on Law & Order, Noth “was drunk on set,” drank between takes, and “in one take he got close to me, sniffed my neck, and whispered, ‘You smell good.’” Because of this experience, she recalled feeling “relieved” when Noth’s character of Mr. Big was killed off on the Sex and the City reboot, accusing him of having “capitalized on the fantasy that women believed Mr. Big represented.” She closed by adding, “F— Mr. Big.” Noth has denied the assault allegations.  DEADLINE

Investigators obtain warrant for Alec Baldwin’s phone in ‘Rust’ probe Investigators probing the fatal shooting on the set of Rust have obtained a warrant to search Alec Baldwin’s cell phone. Detective Alexandria Hancock “believes there may be evidence on the phone,” an application said. The detective reportedly asked Baldwin for the cell phone but was told to get a warrant. The actor’s lawyer said he’s “confident that the evidence will show that Mr. Baldwin is not responsible civilly or criminally” for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after a prop gun discharged on set. The affidavit also reportedly alleges that Baldwin “said he requested a bigger gun” for the movie, though he denied this on Twitter. In a primetime interview earlier this month, Baldwin maintained he never pulled the trigger on the gun that went off and killed Hutchins and isn’t responsible for her death.  VARIETY

Scarlett Johansson met Judge Judy and was ‘starstruck’ Scarlett Johansson met Judge Judy and is thrilled to report the experience didn’t disappoint. Asked on The Tonight Show if she’s ever had the experience of being nervous to meet someone, she recalled freaking out after running into Judge Judy at a restaurant. “Oh my god, I was so starstruck,” Johansson said, “I couldn’t believe it.” The Black Widow star said she was nervous to meet an “icon” like her and thought this might be a don’t-meet-your-heroes situation, but instead, “she was wonderful, and I was so relieved that she was a very nice person.” Johansson added, “I was very geeked out. I mean, I grew up with Judge Judy!” Johansson is producing a mysterious Marvel movie at the moment, so might she have found her lead? Where can we sign the petition to make Avenger Judge Judy happen?  THE TONIGHT SHOW

Friday,  December 17th, 2021 

Russia demands that NATO end all military activity in Eastern Europe and never admit Ukraine as a member of the military alliance, saying that they want a legally binding guarantee to end further eastward expansion. Other demands include a Russian veto on Ukrainian membership in NATO, the removal of U.S. nuclear weapons from Europe, and the withdrawal of multinational NATO battalions from Poland and the Baltics. (Reuters) 

A Ukrainian soldier is killed and another is injured after pro-Russian separatist forces targeted Ukrainian positions near Mariupol with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. (The Guardian) 

A senior Biden administration official says that the U.S. is “prepared to discuss Russia’s proposals” with its NATO allies, but says that “there are some things in those documents that the Russians know will be unacceptable.” (Axios) 

Facebook exposes a group of spy firms that could affect the private security of over 50,000 people. (The Times of India) 

Rioters burn down the office of the Kurdish National Council in Dirbêsiyê, Syria, injuring four people. (Kurdistan24) 

Israeli settlers burst into several villages in the occupied West Bank, beating and injuring at least two people. (Al Jazeera) 

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare reissues a nationwide face mask mandate recommendation in public space and public transport for people aged above 12 years due to rising number of COVID-19 cases. (Yle) 

The United Kingdom reports a record for the third consecutive day of 93,045 new cases of COVID-19. (Sky News) 

Twenty-four people are killed and four more are injured during an arson attack at a medical clinic in Osaka, Japan. (The Japan Times) 

Helen Morgan of the Liberal Democrats wins North Shropshire, a seat in the British House of Commons which the Conservative Party has held since the constituency’s creation. (BBC News) 

Brazil, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States issue a joint condemnation of the worldwide persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (The Washington Times) 

The End Saturday 

https://theweek.com/coronavirus/1008155/noble-lies-are-a-public-health-hazard

Kim Kardashian tells Bari Weiss she isn’t ‘into cancel culture’ Kim Kardashian sat down for a wide-ranging interview with former New York Times writer Bari Weiss, and yes, you better believe the topic of “cancel culture” came up. When asked about how she decides when to respond to what Weiss described as online “outrage-addicts,” Kardashian noted she took allegations of cultural appropriation leveled against her shapewear company seriously. But she also proclaimed she’s “never really been into cancel culture,” calling it the “most ridiculous thing” while referencing “several dinners” she’s been at with Weiss where this was discussed. “I believe that if we cancel someone for something that they had done or said in their past, then we’re not inviting them into the conversation to really understand,” she said. Kardashian also discussed how she didn’t want Kanye West to wear a pro-Trump Make America Great Again hat on Saturday Night Live and told him to “take that hat off” — though she feels differently about that now. “Why can’t he wear that on TV?” Kardashian said. “Half of the country voted for him, so clearly other people like him.”  BARI WEISS 

Ben Affleck denies blaming Jennifer Garner for his drinking, slams ‘clickbait’ Holy backlash, Batman! Ben Affleck responded on Jimmy Kimmel Live to the uproar over his recent comments that he started drinking partially because he felt trapped in his marriage to Jennifer Garner. He was criticized by those who felt he was blaming his drinking on Garner, but a clearly ticked off Affleck slammed “clickbait” headlines about this on Kimmel’s show. “They had literally taken the conversation that I had had for two hours and made it seem as if I was saying the exact opposite of what I said,” Affleck said. “…[They] made me out to be the worst, most insensitive, stupid, awful guy.” But Affleck said it’s “not true” that he’s blaming Garner for his drinking and he would “never want my kids to think I would ever say a bad word about their mom.” He added that the whole thing “hurts my feelings.” Meanwhile, Page Six claimed Affleck’s current girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, is “pissed,” and she “doesn’t want to be dragged into this.”  JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE 

https://theweek.com/russia/1008148/the-us-wont-confront-russia-will-germany

Coronavirus cases surge as Omicron concerns spread Coronavirus cases are spiking again across the United States as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly. The country is reporting more than 120,000 new cases a day on average, according to a New York Times database — a 40 percent increase from two weeks ago. The Biden administration is bracing for a likely wave of Omicron infections that could overwhelm hospitals, even though preliminary research indicates it causes less severe COVID-19 than the still-dominant Delta variant. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said hospitalizations statewide were up by 70 percent since Thanksgiving. In New York City, positive testing rates doubled in three days. Many offices have canceled holiday parties and Broadway shows have shut down. Some colleges plan to go back to remote instruction after the winter break. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

CDC recommends Pfizer, Moderna vaccines over J&J’s Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommended Thursday that people get Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccines over Johnson & Johnson’s, because agency officials have determined that the rate of a rare but potentially fatal blood-clotting condition linked to the J&J vaccine was higher than previously believed. An advisory panel earlier this week unanimously recommended encouraging the use of other vaccines when available. At least 54 people in the U.S., mostly women, have been hospitalized by the blood clots. Nine have died. Walensky said she continued “to encourage all Americans to get vaccinated and boosted.” The recommendation doesn’t prohibit use of the Johnson & Johnson shot but says other vaccines are preferable if available. NBC NEWS 

Haiti gang releases remaining U.S., Canadian missionaries  Haiti’s 400 Mawozo gang has released the remaining 12 hostages who were among 17 U.S. and Canadian missionaries kidnapped two months ago. Armed gang members seized the missionaries just east of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as they were returning from a visit to an orphanage, and demanded $1 million per captive in ransom. It was not immediately clear whether any ransom was paid. The hostages from Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries included five children. Two of the hostages were released in November, and three in early December. The case sparked outrage inside and outside Haiti, and focused international attention on an epidemic of kidnapping in Haiti, where police have lost control of many parts of the capital to gangs. THE MIAMI HERALD 

Judge throws out Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement that shielded Sackler family  U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon in New York on Thursday rejected OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement because of a provision protecting members of the Sackler family, who own the drug maker, from separate lawsuits over the role of the company’s drug OxyContin in the opioid crisis. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, one of the state attorneys general opposing the deal, called the ruling “a seismic victory for justice and accountability” that will “force the Sackler family to confront the pain and devastation they have caused.” Steve Miller, chair of Purdue’s board of directors, said the ruling would “delay, and perhaps end,” the ability of communities and individuals affected by opioid abuse to receive billions to fight the opioid crisis. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Meta bans 7 ‘surveillance-for-hire’ firms Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said Thursday that it had banned seven firms it has concluded used its platforms to spy on 50,000 users in more than 100 countries. The people allegedly targeted included human rights activists, government critics, celebrities, journalists, and others. Meta said the “surveillance-for-hire” firms were associated with 1,500 Facebook and Instagram accounts used to spy on people and get them to provide personal information, which let the companies infect the users’ devices with spyware. Some of the spy companies also used Meta’s WhatsApp to place malware on people’s phones. “Each of these actors rely on networks of fake accounts on our platforms that are used to deceive users and mislead them,” Nathaniel Gleicher, Meta’s head of security policy, told NPR. NPR 

Biden acknowledges that social spending bill won’t pass this year President Biden released a statement late Thursday acknowledging that Democrats won’t be able to pass his nearly $2 trillion bill seeking to expand the social safety net until next year. Democrats had hoped to approve the legislation before the end of 2021, but negotiations are moving slowly with moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has balked at the cost. Democrats in the evenly divided Senate need every vote in their caucus to pass the bill. “A two-week cooling-off would not be the worst thing,” said one Democratic senator. But House Progressive Caucus leader Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said senators should stay through the holiday break until they pass the Build Back Better plan. POLITICO 

‘Sex and the City’ star Chris Noth accused of sexual assault Two women have accused Sex and the City actor Chris Noth of sexual assault, a week after he returned to his role in the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That, according to The Hollywood Reporter. One woman, identified as Zoe, said Noth assaulted her in Los Angeles in 2004. She said she had “blood on my shirt” and had to go to a hospital for stitches. She said “seeing that he was reprising his role in Sex and the City set off something in me.” Another woman, identified as Lily, alleged Noth assaulted her in New York in 2015, leaving her feeling “totally violated.” Noth, who played Mr. Big on Sex and the City, denied the allegations. “It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out,” he said. “I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.”THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 

Jeff Garlin out at ‘The Goldbergs’ over alleged misconduct Less than two weeks after Jeff Garlin told Vanity Fair, “No, I was not fired from The Goldbergs,” Jeff Garlin is out at The Goldbergs. Garlin is leaving the ABC comedy after allegations of misconduct on set. Garlin allegedly “engaged in a pattern of verbal and physical conduct on set that made people uncomfortable,” including by using inappropriate language and touching or hugging people. “My opinion is, I have my process about how I’m funny, in terms of the scene and what I have to do. [Sony] feel[s] that it makes for a quote ‘unsafe’ workspace,” he said. He also claimed that “there really is no big story” here “unless you want to do a story about political correctness.” Garlin also stars with Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm, but it wasn’t clear whether these allegations would affect that gig.  VARIETY 

McDonald’s takes back $105 million severance from ousted CEO  McDonald’s on Thursday announced that it had reached a settlement in its lawsuit against former CEO Steve Easterbrook, who was fired in 2019 after an internal investigation found that he had a consensual relationship with an employee. The board fired him but granted him $105 million in cash and equity on the way out, only to determine later that Easterbrook had lied during the inquiry and destroyed evidence of his inappropriate behavior, which included three sexual relationships with employees. McDonald’s sued Easterbrook in August 2020 and accused him of lying and fraud. Under the settlement, McDonald’s clawed back the lucrative severance package. Easterbrook also apologized for his behavior, saying he “failed at times to uphold McDonald’s values.” CNBC 

Kellogg reaches 2nd tentative deal with union representing striking workers Kellogg said Thursday it had reached a second tentative agreement with a union representing workers striking at four cereal plants. Union members rejected the first deal a week and a half ago, and Kellogg responded by saying it would start hiring permanent replacements, although it was not immediately clear whether the company had done so yet. About 1,400 workers went on strike at the plants in early October. They voted down the first tentative agreement after many workers objected to the company’s two-tier compensation system giving people hired after 2015 lower wages and benefits than workers hired earlier. Newer workers make just under $22 an hour on average, while those employed longer get more than $35 an hour. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

‘The Book of Boba Fett’s marketing has only teased the ‘opening minutes’ of the show Star Wars’ intense secrecy is reaching wild new levels with The Book of Boba Fett. A new Hollywood Reporter piece teases the upcoming Star Wars Disney+ series about the famed bounty hunter, and it includes a surprising detail about the show’s marketing. The teaser trailers Disney has released only show so little because “producers have only revealed footage from the seven-episode season’s opening minutes,” according to the Reporter. Showrunner Robert Rodriguez, in fact, claimed they can’t even tease “the second half of the first episode because it gives so much away.” Famously, Disney’s marketing for the first season of The Mandalorian never revealed Baby Yoda, even though the mission to protect him was the entire premise of the series. Could there be another Baby Yoda-level surprise in store in Boba Fett‘s first episode? Well, there is already a baby Jabba the Hutt.  THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 

Thursday, December 16th, 2021 

Israeli warplanes launch overnight airstrikes in Damascus, killing a soldier and causing some material damage, according to a Syrian military official. Syrian air defences engaged the Israeli missiles, with most warplanes reportedly intercepted. (The Times of Israel) 

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence says a Royal Air Force Typhoon has shot down a “small hostile drone” over Syria. It is the first enemy aircraft shot down by the RAF since the Falklands War. (BBC News) 

Japan officially approves the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for people over the age of 18 years. This comes after health ministry experts recommended the vaccine yesterday. (CNA) 

The Malaysian government announces that due to the threat of the Omicron variant, there will be a ban on all large-scale Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations. The government will also require people over the age of 60 as well as adults who received the Sinovac Coronavac vaccine to receive a booster dose before February in order to maintain their full vaccination status. (Malay Mail) 

The Danish Health Authority approves the usage of the Molnupiravir antiviral pill developed by Merck & Co. for at-risk patients with symptoms, becoming the first EU country to authorize the usage of this drug. (NDTV) 

Poland reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a 30-year-old Mosotho woman who is currently in isolation in a hospital in the city of Katowice. (The First News) 

The United Kingdom reports a record for the second consecutive day of 88,376 new cases of COVID-19. (BBC News) 

New Zealand reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated person who travelled from Germany and is currently isolated at a managed isolation quarantine facility in Christchurch. (New Zealand Herald) 

The WHO issues interim recommendations for mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccine for second and booster shot, where mRNA-based vaccines can be used as subsequent doses after initial doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and vice-versa, while these vaccines can be used after initial doses of Sinopharm‘s inactived vaccine. (Reuters) 

Caretaker Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte is appointed as formateur and tasked with forming a new coalition government following the conclusion of the 2021 cabinet formation. (Politico) 

https://theweek.com/coronavirus/1008094/the-radicalization-of-a-covid-moderate

Ben Affleck says he’d ‘still be drinking’ if he didn’t get divorced Ben Affleck set off a bit of a Twitter stir on Wednesday with some brutally honest comments about his marriage to Jennifer Garner. The actor spoke on The Howard Stern Show about their divorce, explaining, “We grew apart. We had a marriage that didn’t work. This happens, with somebody I love and respect, but to whom I shouldn’t be married any longer.” He also claimed he would “probably still be drinking” if they didn’t get divorced. “Part of why I started drinking alcohol was I was trapped,” Affleck said. “I was like, ‘I can’t leave because of my kids, but I’m not happy, what do I do?’ And what I did was drink a bottle of scotch and fall asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution.” Affleck found himself trending on Twitter for all the wrong reasons over the comments, with Roxane Gay writing that “to blame his drinking on his marriage to Jennifer Garner is so silly.”  TMZ 

Putin, Xi jointly reject Western pressure on security matters Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during a Wednesday video call to jointly reject Western interference in their security matters. “At present, certain international forces under the guise of ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights’ are interfering in the internal affairs of China and Russia, and brutally trampling on international law and recognized norms of international relations,” Xi said, as quoted by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Xi offered Putin support in his call for security guarantees from the West. The call came after a similar virtual meeting between Putin and President Biden, suggesting that tensions with the West were prompting closer cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. REUTERS 

Senate approves $768 billion defense spending bill The Senate on Wednesday passed the annual defense spending bill, authorizing a record $768 billion in funding for the Defense Department. The bill passed the House earlier this month, so it now goes to President Biden for his signature. The legislation includes historic changes to the ways in which the military deals with prosecutions of sexual assault, moving them outside of the chain of command of the personnel involved. It also paves the way for establishing an independent commission to review mistakes made during the 20-year war in Afghanistan. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the bill also provides “robust funding to deter Russia in Europe.” It did not include several expected provisions, including the repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq. CNN 

Fed to taper bond purchases faster to fight inflation The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it will taper the bond purchases it has used to boost the economy during the coronavirus pandemic faster than previously planned to fight rising inflation. The Fed has said it wants to end the asset purchases before raising historically low interest rates, so the change also will pave the way for the central bank to raise rates sooner than previously planned. The Fed signaled that it expects to raise rates three times next year. The policy shift came at the end of a two-day policy meeting and less than a week after it was reported inflation jumped to 6.8 percent in November compared to a year earlier, the biggest increase in nearly four decades. NPR 

Israeli warplanes launches overnight airstrikes in Damascus, killing a soldier and causing some material damage, according to a Syrian military official. Syrian air defences engaged the Israeli missiles, with most reportedly intercepted. (The Times of Israel) 

Five children are killed and four others injured after falling from a bouncy castle that was blown into the air in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia. (ABC News Australia) 

Indonesia reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in an employee at the Kemayoran Athletes Village who had no overseas travel history. (Reuters) 

Japan officially approves the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as booster dose for people aged above 18 years. It comes after the health ministry experts recommended the shot yesterday. (CNA) 

The Malaysian government announces that due to threat of the Omicron variant, they will ban large-scale Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations. The government also will require people aged above 60 years as well as adults who received the Sinovac Coronavac vaccine to receive booster dose by February in order to maintain their full vaccination status. (Malay Mail) 

Italy imposes mandatory COVID-19 testing for all travellers across the European Union and mandates five-day quarantine on arrival for those who are unvaccinated due to rise of COVID-19 cases and the Omicron variant in the continent. (Bloomberg) 

New Zealand reports its first case of the Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated person who travelled from Germany via Dubai and currently isolated at a managed isolation quarantine in Christchurch. (New Zealand Herald) 

Derek Chauvin pleads guilty to violating George Floyd’s civil rights Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to violating the civil rights of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died after Chauvin restrained him by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes. Chauvin, who is white, has already been convicted of state murder and manslaughter charges and sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison. The move allowed Chauvin to avoid another high-profile trial that could have ended with a life sentence, although he likely extended the time he will be locked up beyond the years he will serve on the state charges. During the hearing, the judge asked Chauvin to confirm he was changing his plea from not guilty, and Chauvin said, “Guilty, your honor.” Chauvin is expected to serve about 15 years of his state sentence, with good behavior and parole. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Biden vows to cover emergency costs in tornado-ravaged Kentucky President Biden traveled to Kentucky on Wednesday to visit areas devastated by a band of tornadoes that struck six states last weekend. The twisters killed scores of people and left more than 1,000 families homeless. Biden surveyed the damage in Mayfield, Kentucky, from his helicopter and on the ground. He spoke to local officials and praised people for setting aside political differences to come to the aid of hard-hit communities. “There’s no red tornadoes. There’s no blue tornadoes,” Biden said. He pledged that the federal government would cover “100 percent of the cost for the first 30 days for all the emergency work.” The president has approved disaster declarations for Kentucky, as well as Illinois and Tennessee.  THE NEW YORK TIMES 

U.K. reports highest daily coronavirus cases of pandemic The U.K. on Wednesday reported 78,610 new COVID-19 cases, its highest number of new infections in a single day since the pandemic began, BBC News reported. The country hit its previous daily case record — 68,053 — on Jan. 8. Now, Britain is experiencing a surge as families prepare to gather for the holidays, and the newly emerged Omicron variant spreads so fast it is expected to soon become the dominant strain. Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the British public to get booster shots. Johnson said weekly hospitalizations were up by 10 percent nationally and by almost a third in London. Chief Medical Officer Prof. Chris Whitty said the U.K. is experiencing “two epidemics on top of one another,” one driven by the Omicron variant and the other by Delta. BBC NEWS 

9 killed when Miami-bound private jet crashes in Dominican Republic A private Gulfstream IV jet crashed Wednesday while making an emergency landing in the Dominican Republic’s capital, Santo Domingo, killing nine people, according to the plane’s operator, Helidosa Aviation Group. Puerto Rican music producer Flow La Movie, whose given name was Jose Hernandez, was among the seven passengers who died when the plane went down shortly after taking off from a nearby airport, headed for Miami. Flow, who produced numerous hits including the chart-topping “Te Boté” featuring Bad Bunny, Nicky Jam, and Ozuna, was traveling with his partner of seven years, Debbie Von Marie Jiménez Garcia, 31, and their 4-year-old son, Jayden Hernandez; they were also killed. Helidosa said it was working with authorities to determine what caused the crash. CNN 

Moderna says Omicron evades vaccine but booster restores protection Moderna said Wednesday that a preliminary laboratory study found its coronavirus vaccine to be less effective against the Omicron variant, but that a booster shot restored strong protection. Researchers looked at blood samples taken from 30 people who were fully vaccinated with the two-shot Moderna vaccine, and found that the antibodies in their blood were 50 times less effective than they were against the original strain. But samples from 17 more people in the study who had received the Moderna booster dose had about as much protection against Omicron, with their antibodies about as effective against the new variant as they were against the Delta variant. Pfizer has similarly said its vaccine was less effective against Omicron but a booster restored significant protection. NPR 

White House scales back holiday parties due to COVID concerns  The White House is cutting back on Christmas parties and other holiday celebrations this year due concerns about COVID-19, first lady Jill Biden’s office said in a statement. The president and first lady normally entertain staff, friends, donors, media, and members of the Secret Service in dozens of events during the holiday season. This year, President Biden and the first lady will host just “a limited number of open-house style events” for guests to see the White House decorations in timed groups on self-guided tours, according to NBC News. “It is disappointing that we cannot host as many people as the Bidens would like to,” said Jill Biden spokesman Michael LaRosa, “but as we have done since Day 1 of the Biden administration, we will continue to implement strong COVID protocols.” CNN 

Retail sale gains slowed in November Retail sale gains slowed in November as the holiday season began and shoppers showed caution in the face of rising inflation and supply shortages, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Sales at online and brick-and-mortar retailers and restaurants increased by a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent in November over the previous month, down from the 1.8 percent monthly increase reported in October. One reason for the slowdown was that many Americans snapped up deals early to make sure they got what they needed before supplies ran out. Consumer demand remained stronger than at the same time last year. Retail sales were up by 18.2 percent compared to November 2020, thanks partly to rising wages and falling unemployment. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

IRS makes last child tax credit payments under Biden coronavirus relief law The Treasury Department and IRS on Wednesday made what will be their final monthly child tax credit payments unless Congress approves legislation to extend them. The more than $16 billion in payments went out to households with about 61 million children, bringing to nearly $93 billion the total distributed under the program, which was included in President Biden’s coronavirus relief law. Families got up to $300 for each child under age 6 and $250 for each child ages 6 to 17. The November payments kept families with 3.8 million children above the poverty line. Democrats want to extend the monthly payments for some families under their proposed $1.9 trillion spending bill, which is stalled in negotiations over costs with moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). CNN 

Lady Gaga had a psychiatric nurse with her while making ‘House of Gucci’ Lady Gaga has revealed even more details about her intense acting process. Gaga told Variety that not only was she “always Patrizia,” her House of Gucci character, while filming, but she “brought the darkness with me home,” and she even “had a psychiatric nurse with me” near the end of filming. “I sort of felt like I had to,” Gaga said. “I felt that it was safer for me.” She said, though, she wasn’t disclosing this to “glorify” her acting process, saying she actually doesn’t think “any actor should push themselves to that limit” and isn’t even sure why she does. “I think that the best answer I could give you is I have a sort of romantic relationship with suffering for your art that I developed as a young girl, and it just sometimes goes too far,” she said. After a series of pretty intense roles, though, maybe it’s time for something lighter, as Gaga said, “I’d love to do a romantic comedy.” VARIETY 

Aubrey Plaza had a spontaneous wedding after being ‘bored’ in lockdown Aubrey Plaza’s actual wedding may have come together even more quickly than April and Andy’s on Parks and Recreation. On The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Plaza detailed her wedding to Jeff Baena, which happened rather spontaneously during COVID-19 lockdown. “We got a little bored one night,” she said. It was their 10-year anniversary, Plaza explained, and she randomly suggested they “do something” like “get an ice cream cone” — or, she jokingly suggested, get married. The joke soon became real, though, as Plaza hit up Google and came across 1hourmarriage.com. “We didn’t tell anybody we were doing it,” she said, adding that Jeff nearly “missed the wedding” because he had to go pick up food they had already ordered. Perhaps she channeled Andy Dwyer by declaring, “I cannot emphasize how little we thought about this!”  PAGE SIX 

Javier Bardem tried to quit ‘Being the Ricardos’ along with Nicole Kidman It’s not often you see a press tour for a movie where the stars repeatedly discuss how much they wanted to quit. Being the Ricardos star Nicole Kidman previously revealed she attempted to back out of the movie, in which she plays Lucille Ball, after her casting sparked backlash. But there was a lot of that going around, as The Hollywood Reporter revealed Javier Bardem, who plays Desi Arnaz, also wanted to back out. “I wasn’t aware of how big it was,” Bardem said, referring to I Love Lucy. “The more I knew how iconic [the show] was … it was like, ‘S—.’” Kidman concurred, recalling thinking, “S—, what did we do?” This wasn’t just a fleeting thought — both of them reportedly told their agents to get them out of the project, and then “begged” Sorkin to delay the movie. Instead, they learned the movie would start shooting the following month. “So then it was like, ‘Oh, no. Oh, no.’” Kidman said. “We actually have to do this.” And on that note, see our new movie, everyone!  THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021 

The Sudanese Armed Forces announces that they are in “full control” of the disputed Al Fushqa District after clashing with Ethiopian forces in the border region. (Africa News) 

A privately-owned Gulfstream GIVSP jet crashes near Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, killing all nine people onboard, including Puerto Rican music producer Flow La Movie. (Reuters) 

A fire occurs at the World Trade Centre Hong Kong, injuring 13 people and leaving 300 others trapped within the building. (Al Jazeera) 

France begins to require people aged above 65 years to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose or loss their Health Pass validity status unless they show a proof of negative test in the previous 24 hours. The requirement will be extend to all age groups from January 15. (France 24) 

Hungary begins administering the COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years using the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (Hungary Today) 

The NHS COVID pass begins to be implemented in England as a precondition in order to enter nightclubs, indoor events with more than 500 people, outdoor events with more than 4,000 people, and all events with more than 10,000 people as part of “Plan B” measures that are intended to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (ITV News) 

The European Medicines Agency recommends that adults over the age of 18 years who received the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine should get a booster dose two months after receiving their first dose of the vaccine. (The Times of India) 

The number of people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in New Zealand surpasses 90%. (Stuff) 

Australia reopens its borders to vaccinated skilled migrants and foreign students without an exemption, after a closure of more than 18 months due to the pandemic, despite the worldwide spread of the Omicron variant. (ABC News Australia) 

California reimposes its indoor mask mandate due to fears of the spread of the Omicron variant. The mandate will last until at least January 15. (The New York Times) 

One person is killed, eleven others are injured and more people are unaccounted for during an arson attack at a four-storey block of flats in Reading, England. A suspect has been arrested. (BBC News) 

A court in Hanoi, Vietnam, sentences two Facebook users to lengthy jail sentences for “conducting propaganda against the state”. One man was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of house arrest while another man was given a six-year prison term and three years of house arrest. (Reuters) 

David Fuller, a double murderer who sexually abused the corpses of more than 100 deceased women, is sentenced to a whole life tariff. (BBC News) 

Siaosi Sovaleni becomes prime minister-designate of Tonga. (RNZ) 

The End