2021 Wednesday, December 8th, 2021
The bones of over 100 Indigenous Australian Kaurna people are repatriated from the South Australian Museum and buried in a ceremony in Adelaide. (The Guardian)
General Bipin Rawat and 12 other people are killed as their Indian Air Force Mi-17V-5 crashes near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, while flying towards Wellington from Sulur Air Force Station. Another person is injured. (BBC News)
India’s Serum Institute will halve the production of its COVID-19 vaccine because it has no fresh orders, says its top-ranking executive. (BBC News)
Romania lifts its nighttime curfew and mandatory outdoor face masks, as well as allow shops and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. and making entry of non-essential venues allowed for those having negative COVID-19 test as the number of cases declines. (Reuters)
The Court of Appeal of Malaysia upholds the conviction against former Prime Minister Najib Razak of all seven counts of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust for his involvement in the 1MDB scandal. (CNA)
The Bundestag elects Olaf Scholz as the new Chancellor of Germany, replacing Angela Merkel after 16 years in the office. (BBC News)
Australia and Canada join a U.S.-led diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing citing China’s human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region and Beijing’s ongoing freeze on ministerial contact with Canberra. (Yahoo! News)
Biden meets virtually with Putin in showdown over Ukraine President Biden met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a secure video call on Tuesday and warned him that the United States and its allies would impose harsh sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine. The call came as Russia gathers troops near its border with Ukraine, and fears mount that it plans to invade, which Moscow denies. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden told Putin the U.S. was prepared to hit Russia harder economically than it did in an unsuccessful 2014 attempt to stop Russia from annexing Crimea. The Kremlin described the talk as “candid and businesslike,” saying Putin told Biden that NATO was the one “making dangerous attempts to expand its presence on the Ukrainian territory” and near Russia’s borders. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
House passes debt-ceiling plan after Senate leaders reach deal The House on Tuesday passed a bill seeking to pave the way to prevent a damaging default after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reached a deal to create a one-time process to let Democrats raise the debt ceiling without Republican votes. The legislation needs 60 votes to pass in the evenly divided, 50-50 Senate, but McConnell reportedly is confident 10 Republicans will support it. If the measure is approved, the Senate will be able to pass an increase to the national borrowing limit with a simple majority, avoiding the threat of a GOP filibuster. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the government could face a catastrophic, unprecedented default on Dec. 15 if the debt limit isn’t raised. CNN
Surgeon general warns of youth mental-health crisis Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Tuesday issued a public health advisory calling for action to address a looming youth mental-health crisis made worse by the coronavirus outbreak. Since the pandemic hit in early 2020, symptoms of depression and anxiety have doubled. A quarter of young people now are experiencing symptoms of depression, and 20 percent show signs of anxiety, according to Murthy’s advisory. Early this year, emergency department visits for suspected suicide attempts were up by 51 percent for adolescent girls, and 4 percent higher for adolescent boys, compared to the same period two years earlier, according to research Murthy cited. “It would be a tragedy if we beat back one public health crisis only to allow another to grow in its place,” Murthy wrote. LOS ANGELES TIMES
France says it arrested Jamal Khashoggi murder suspect France on Tuesday detained Khalid Aedh al-Otaibi, one of the Saudi men accused of participating in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist killed in Turkey three years ago. Otaibi was arrested on a Turkish warrant as he prepared to depart for Saudi Arabia from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. He is one of 17 Saudis the United States sanctioned in 2018 on suspicion of being members of the team that killed and dismembered Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where he went to get documents he needed ahead of his planned marriage. Otaibi’s detention is the first international arrest in the case. THE WASHINGTON POST
Olaf Scholz replaces long-serving Angela Merkel as Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany’s center-left Social Democratic Party took over as the country’s chancellor on Wednesday, ending 16 years of conservative rule under Angela Merkel. Scholz served as vice-chancellor and finance minister in Merkel’s government and has promised continuity and a steady hand as Europe’s largest economy faces challenges ranging from the climate crisis to a more confrontational Russia. Scholz was confirmed with a clear majority in the Bundestag lower house of parliament. He will lead a three-party coalition that includes the Greens and the business-friendly Free Democrats. The new government plans to aggressively fight climate change with such measures as phasing out coal early and focusing on renewable energy, although their first task is addressing a surge of coronavirus cases. REUTERS
House passes delayed $768 billion defense authorization bill The House on Tuesday approved a finalized version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which will authorize $768 billion in defense spending. The annual, must-pass legislation received strong bipartisan support after delays caused by arguments over amendments and political infighting. The bill calls for an independent review of the Afghanistan war and changes how the military handles sexual assault and harassment. It also includes a 2.7 percent pay increase for military service members and Defense Department civilian employees. The bill goes next to the Senate, which is expected to pass it and send it to President Biden for his signature before the end of the year. THE WASHINGTON POST
Biden bank-regulator nominee withdraws under fire from Republicans President Biden’s nominee for comptroller of the currency, Saule Omarova, withdrew from Senate consideration on Tuesday after facing forceful opposition from Republican senators over her writings as a legal scholar. Some Republicans also were disturbed that the Cornell University scholar was raised in the former Soviet Union. “I don’t know whether to call you professor or comrade,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told her at the confirmation hearing. Biden condemned Republicans for what he described as “inappropriate personal attacks” that were unfair to Omarova and “far beyond the pale.” Biden said Saule would have “brought invaluable insight” to the position overseeing the U.S. banking system because she is “a strong advocate for consumers and a staunch defender of the safety and soundness of our financial system.” CNBC
Publisher drops plan to release Chris Cuomo’s book Publisher HarperCollins announced Tuesday that it had dropped plans to publish ousted CNN host Chris Cuomo’s book, originally titled Deep Denial. The book had been scheduled for release next year. HarperCollins had described it as “a provocative analysis of the harsh truths that the pandemic and Trump years have exposed about America — about our strength and our character.” The move came days after CNN fired Cuomo over new revelations about the extent to which he helped his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, counter sexual harassment allegations that ultimately forced him from office. CNN also received a sexual misconduct allegation against Chris Cuomo, which he has denied. On Monday, Cuomo said he was ending his daily SiriusXM radio talk show. THE NEW YORK TIMES
S&P 500, Nasdaq futures rise after Tuesday’s big gains U.S. stock futures rose early Wednesday after Pfizer said early tests indicated that three doses of the coronavirus vaccine it developed with BioNTech provide significant protection against the new Omicron variant. Futures tied to the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq were up by 0.5 percent at 7 a.m. ET. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average reversed earlier losses and were up by 0.4 percent as Wall Street continued a strong rebound from the recent Omicron sell-off. All three of the main U.S. indexes jumped on Tuesday after preliminary reports suggested the new variant causes less severe COVID-19 than the still-widespread Delta variant. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained 2.1 percent and 3 percent, respectively, on Tuesday, their best days since March. The Dow rose by 1.4 percent. CNBC
American Airlines says CEO Doug Parker is retiring American Airlines announced Tuesday that Doug Parker will retire as CEO in March. Robert Isom, the company’s president, will take over, and Parker will remain chairman of the airline’s board. Parker is the longest-serving U.S. airline chief executive, and one of the industry’s most influential leaders. He oversaw consolidation, including American’s 2013 merger with US Airways, which made airlines more profitable but limited options and raised fares for passengers. Isom will take charge as American tries to rebuild after huge losses caused by the pandemic. Parker is the latest in a series of airline leaders to retire this year. Southwest Airlines’ Gary Kelly said in June that he was stepping down and being replaced by longtime executive Robert Jordan, and Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden was succeeded by Ben Minicucci in April. CNN
Striking Kellogg workers reject proposed contract The Kellogg Company announced Tuesday that a majority of its U.S. workers rejected a proposed five-year contract that would have hiked wages by 3 percent for long-serving employees, with smaller increases for newer hires based on years of service. The company has been using temporary hires to keep its four Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee cereal plants running since workers went on strike more than two months ago. Kellogg North America president Chris Hood said in a statement that the company’s only option now is to start hiring permanent replacements for striking employees. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, which represents the 1,400 striking employees, said it would continue providing “full support to our striking Kellogg’s members.” NPR
Publisher drops plan to release Chris Cuomo’s book Publisher HarperCollins announced Tuesday that it had dropped plans to publish ousted CNN host Chris Cuomo’s book, originally titled Deep Denial. The book had been scheduled for release next year. HarperCollins had described it as “a provocative analysis of the harsh truths that the pandemic and Trump years have exposed about America — about our strength and our character — and a road map of the work needed to make our ideals match reality.” The publisher’s move came days after CNN fired Cuomo after new revelations about the extent to which he helped his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, counter sexual harassment allegations that ultimately forced him from office. CNN also received a sexual misconduct allegation against Chris Cuomo, which he has denied, dating to his time at another network. On Monday, Cuomo said he was ending his daily SiriusXM radio talk show. THE NEW YORK TIMES
Biden bank-regulator nominee withdraws under fire from Republicans President Biden’s nominee for comptroller of the currency, Saule Omarova, withdrew from Senate consideration on Tuesday after facing forceful opposition from Republican senators over her writings as a legal scholar. Some Republicans also were disturbed that the Cornell University scholar was raised in the former Soviet Union. “I don’t know whether to call you professor or comrade,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said at her confirmation hearing. Biden condemned Republicans for what he described as “inappropriate personal attacks” that were unfair to Omarova and “far beyond the pale.” Biden said Saule would have “brought invaluable insight” to the position overseeing the U.S. banking system because she is “a strong advocate for consumers and a staunch defender of the safety and soundness of our financial system.” CNBC
Tuesday, December 7th, 2021
Israeli Air Force warplanes bomb the Port of Latakia, Syria’s main seaport. At least five explosions are reported, with a Syrian military official stating that several missiles struck the container area of the port. It is the first Israeli attack on the civilian facility. (Reuters)
Four civilians are killed and four more are injured in an ISIL motorcycle bombing near a hospital in Basra, Iraq. (The New Arab)
Bandits ambush and set fire to a passenger bus in Sokoto State, Nigeria, killing 30 people, including children. (Reuters)
Chinese property developer Evergrande Group misses a deadline for the payment of debt for the first time at the end of a 30-day grace period, pushing the property developer closer to formal default. (Reuters)
The United Arab Emirates says that weekends in the country will occur from Friday afternoon to Sunday, effective January 1. (CNBC)
At least 38 people are killed and 69 more are injured during a fire at an overcrowded prison in Gitega, Burundi. (BBC News)
Thirteen people are killed in a collision between a minibus and a truck in Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine. (RFE/RL)
Norway restricts the number of visitors in private homes to 10 people and reduces the hours that bars and restaurants can serve alcohol until midnight due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. (The Irish Times)
The Spanish Public Health Commission approves the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years. Vaccination rollout for this age group will begin on December 15. (El Pais)
The EMA and the ECDC approves the mixing and matching of two different COVID-19 vaccines for both initial and booster doses. (France 24)
Around 70% of adults in Missouri have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (KTVI)
A trial of a plant-based COVID-19 vaccine conducted by GSK and Medicago shows 71% efficacy against all variants of SARS-CoV-2 except Omicron and 75% efficacy against COVID-19. (The Hill)
A bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Chile is approved by both chambers of the National Congress. (The New York Times)
A policeman kills six people, including his wife, and injures two others during a killing spree in Kabete, Kenya, before committing suicide. (Al Jazeera English)
A bill to criminalize the widely discredited practice of conversion therapy passes the Senate in Canada without opposition, one week after it passed the House of Commons without opposition; the bill now awaits royal assent to become law. (CTV News)
U.S. announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics The Biden administration will not send diplomats or other official U.S. representatives to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in response to the Chinese government’s “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity” targeting Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in the Xinjiang region, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. “The athletes on Team USA have our full support. We will be behind them 100 percent as we cheer them on from home,” Psaki said. “We will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games.” China’s Foreign Ministry vowed to take “resolute countermeasures,” calling the U.S. move a “sinister” attempt to disrupt the Games. A ministry spokesperson called the boycott “pure grandstanding,” because U.S. politicians were not invited. NPR
DOJ sues Texas over redistricting maps The Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Monday accusing Texas lawmakers of drawing new congressional and state House district maps designed to discriminate against Latino and Black voters by diluting their voting strength. The Biden administration joined individual voters and organizations that have already made claims that the legislative maps drawn by the Republican-controlled Texas legislature are unconstitutional and violate the Voting Rights Act, and were devised to help Republicans continue to dominate elections in the state despite a growing population of minority voters who favor Democrats. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted that the lawsuit was an “absurd” Biden administration “ploy to control Texas voters.” THE TEXAS TRIBUNE
New York City announces vaccine mandate for private companies New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday announced a first-in-the-nation coronavirus vaccine mandate for all in-person employees at private companies in the city. De Blasio called the policy a “preemptive strike” against a potential new wave of COVID-19 cases fueled by the new Omicron coronavirus variant, and to help limit infections from holiday gatherings. “Omicron is here, and it looks like it’s very transmissible,” de Blasio told MSNBC. “The timing is horrible with the winter months.” New York City already requires vaccinations for city workers, and customers and employees at indoor restaurants, entertainment venues, and gyms. Starting Dec. 27, workers at private companies will have to have received at least their first dose. THE NEW YORK TIMES
Biden to warn Putin of sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine President Biden plans to tell Russian President Vladimir Putin in a Tuesday video conference that Russia will face harsh economic sanctions if it invades Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing U.S. officials. The sanctions reportedly could target Putin’s inner circle, Russian energy companies, and Russia’s biggest banks, potentially making it harder for Moscow to convert rubles into U.S. dollars and other currencies. The warning comes after Russia massed thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border. Russia has repeatedly denied it plans to invade, saying the troop movements were defensive, primarily to prevent Ukraine from forcefully retaking territory it lost to Russia-backed separatists. Biden on Monday consulted with European allies about potential sanctions and a joint effort to support Ukraine’s sovereignty. REUTERS
Nunes leaving Congress to run Trump social media startup Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), a close ally of former President Donald Trump, announced Monday that he plans to resign from Congress this month to become chief executive of Trump’s new social media company. “I’m writing to let you know I’ve decided to pursue this opportunity,” the 10-term congressman wrote in a letter to constituents. Trump Media & Technology Group said Nunes would become its CEO in January. Nunes, who served as chair of the House Intelligence Committee when Republicans controlled the chamber, led GOP efforts to discredit investigations into Trump aides’ contacts with Russia during Moscow’s election meddling. Nunes would have faced a tougher path to re-election than usual in the midterms because California’s congressional map is being redrawn and is expected to tilt his district more toward Democrats. POLITICO
DOJ closes Emmett Till lynching investigation with no new charges The Justice Department announced Monday it had closed its investigation into the 1955 murder of Emmett Till, a Black teen killed by two white men in Mississippi. Till’s abduction and murder helped start the civil rights movement. The Justice Department reopened the investigation after a historian wrote that key witness Carolyn Bryant Donham had recanted her claim that Till had grabbed her, whistled, and made vulgar comments to her. But federal officials, citing the statute of limitations and Donham’s insistence that she never altered her account, said there was not enough evidence to charge her with perjury. Duke University historian Timothy Tyson said in his 2017 book The Blood of Emmett Till that Donham had said her original story was “not true.” NPR
3 more kidnapped missionaries released in Haiti Three more of the 17 missionaries kidnapped by Haiti’s notorious 400 Mawozo street gang have been released, Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries said Monday. The newly released former hostages “are safe and seem to be in good spirits,” the organization said. Two others were freed in November, so 12 of the captives remain in the gang’s custody. The organization said it could not identify those released. The group, which included 16 Americans and a Canadian, was kidnapped while returning from a visit to an orphanage outside Port-au-Prince in October. 400 Mawozo has demanded $1 million in ransom for each of the captives, and the gang’s leader has threatened to “put a bullet” in them if he doesn’t get the money. It was not immediately clear whether anything has been paid so far. THE WASHINGTON POST
Washington Post editorial page chief Fred Hiatt dies at 66 Longtime Washington Post opinion section editor Fred Hiatt died Monday at a New York City hospital. He was 66. Hiatt’s wife, Margaret Shapiro, said he had a sudden cardiac arrest on Nov. 24 while shopping for his family’s Thanksgiving dinner during a visit with their daughter in Brooklyn, and did not regain consciousness. Over two decades as the Post‘s editorial page editor, “Hiatt was one of Washington’s most authoritative and influential opinion-makers,” the Post reported. “He either wrote or edited nearly every unsigned editorial published by the Post — more than 1,000 a year — and edited the opinion columns published on the paper’s op-ed page and website.” Before Hiatt joined the editorial page in 1996, he and Shapiro served as the Post‘s co-bureau chiefs in Tokyo, then in Moscow. THE WASHINGTON POST
Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit dies after workout This year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, died Monday from a heart attack during a workout at Santa Anita in Southern California, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed to The Associated Press. “My entire barn is devastated by this news,” Baffert said. “Medina Spirit was a great champion.” The 3-year-old racehorse won the 2021 Kentucky Derby in May, but the colt tested positive for betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug, leading to Baffert’s suspension. An attorney for Baffert recently said that testing showed Medina Spirit tested positive due to “the horse being treated for a skin condition by way of a topical ointment.” According to AP, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has not yet held a hearing that could result in Medina Spirit’s disqualification. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York City announces vaccine mandate for private companies New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday announced a first-in-the-nation coronavirus vaccine mandate for all in-person employees at private companies in the city. De Blasio called the policy a “pre-emptive strike” against a potential new wave of COVID-19 cases fueled by the new Omicron coronavirus variant, and to help limit infections from holiday gatherings. “Omicron is here, and it looks like it’s very transmissible,” de Blasio told MSNBC. “The timing is horrible with the winter months.” New York City already requires vaccinations for city workers, as well as customers and employees at indoor restaurants, entertainment venues, and gyms. Starting Dec. 27, workers at private companies will have to have received at least their first dose. THE NEW YORK TIMES
SEC investigates Trump social media deal The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating a deal between former President Donald Trump’s latest social media venture and the special purpose acquisition company — or SPAC — that is taking it public, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing a regulatory filing by the SPAC, Digital World Acquisition Corp. After news broke of the Trump-Digital World deal, the Journal and other news outlets reported that Trump met with Digital World CEO Patrick Orlando early this year, before the SPAC raised any money, which would be a violation of SEC rules if they had substantive deal talks. SPACs can’t have a target already identified when they start raising money. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Instagram features to let users know when it’s time to take a break Instagram on Tuesday is launching its “Take a Break” tool, which will urge users to do something else after they have spent a certain amount of time scrolling through the platform’s content. The social media platform, owned by Facebook-parent Meta, announced plans for the feature in September as part of an effort to discourage users, particularly teenagers, from damaging their mental health by getting sucked into spending too much time scrolling from post to post. Users will be able to turn on the feature in “Settings” and choose alerts every 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes. The release comes a day before the head of Instagram will answer questions from lawmakers about the platform’s efforts to bolster its child-safety policies. CNN
Jonah Hill refuses to ditch his fart machine No one can get between a man and his fart machine — not even Netflix. Jonah Hill chatted on The Tonight Show about amusing himself during the press tour for Netflix’s Don’t Look Up by using a fart machine at inappropriate moments. “We did this big fancy press conference,” Hill explained, “and I did the fart machine when someone was talking about climate change.” Netflix wasn’t amused, and according to Hill, director Adam McKay approached him to say the streamer “formally asked me multiple times to ask you” to knock it off because “they don’t find it funny, and they don’t find it interesting.” But this has only emboldened Hill, who proclaimed, “No corporate entity will ever silence my digital farts, motherf—er!” The actor also revealed the one and only member of the cast who did find the fart machine funny: Meryl Streep — “which is why I ride for her anytime.” THE TONIGHT SHOW
Ed Sheeran almost killed Elton John It almost wasn’t a very merry Christmas for Ed Sheeran. The singer revealed in an interview on Apple Music that when he recently shot a Christmas music video with Elton John, “I almost killed him with a bell.” The two musicians released the music video for their song “Merry Christmas,” and Sheeran noted there was a moment during shooting when he kicked a present. The present “had a big metal bell on top of it,” Sheeran explained, “and the bell flew past [John’s] head and would have cracked him in the head.” Footage of this incident apparently exists, and Sheeran said he just showed it to John recently. “The horror that went through my body when it was flying through the air,” Sheeran recalled. Thankfully, the bell missed him, and John is still standing. PEOPLE
Rebel Wilson received pushback from her own team for deciding to lose weight Rebel Wilson reflected on her weight loss in a new BBC interview, revealing she “got a lot of pushback” over it — from her own team. The Pitch Perfect star recalled deciding she would set out to “physically transform and change my life,” seeking to improve her health. But she says her team’s reaction was, “Why? Why would you want to do that?” At the time, Wilson explained, “I was earning millions of dollars being the funny fat girl.” But she decided to ignore her team’s comments, ultimately losing about 70 pounds. The actress reflected that prior to the weight loss, she was still “very confident,” but “I knew deep down inside some of the emotional eating behaviors I was doing [were] not healthy.” She questioned, though, why people were “so obsessed” with her appearance, asking, “Is that what a woman has to do in the world, is just lose weight to get attention?” THE WRAP
Monday, December 6th, 2021
The Ethiopian military says that they have recaptured the strategic Amharan towns of Dessie and Kombolcha from rebel forces. (Al Jazeera)
Italy begins to implement the Super Green Pass, which allows a person to enter theatres, cinemas, music venues, sports events, restaurants and bars if they are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 within the past six months. (BBC News)
It is announced that over 50% of India’s eligible adult population is now fully vaccinated. India is targeting 100% COVID-19 adult vaccination by December 31. (Khaleej Times)
Outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all private-sector employees, which will take effect on December 27. (The New York Times)
Argentina approves the usage of the single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine as a standalone vaccine and as a booster dose. (Reuters)
Argentina reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 38-year-old fully vaccinated person who traveled from South Africa on November 30. (Anadolu Agency)
Belarus bans airlines and imports of certain goods from the European Union and United Kingdom in retaliation for sanctions imposed on the country by Western nations. (ABC News)
In Madagascar, twenty people, including two French nationals, are charged with crimes including criminal conspiracy, criminal association, rebellion against the president and possession of illegal weapons, for allegedly plotting to kill president Andry Rajoelina. (Reuters)
The United States announces a formal diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The White House says that no official delegation will be sent to the Games due to concerns regarding China’s human rights record. (BBC)
The End Wednesday
Monday, December 6th, 2021
Italy begins to implement Super Green Pass that grants access to theatres, cinemas, music venues, sports events, restaurants and bars to those who are vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 over the past six months. (BBC News)
Outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private-sector employees. The mandate will take effect on December 27. (The New York Times)
Argentina approves a single-dose of Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine as a standalone vaccine and a booster dose. (Reuters)
Argentina reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a 38-year-old fully vaccinated person who traveled from South Africa on November 30. (Anadolu Agency)
In Madagascar, twenty people, including two French nationals, are charged with counts including criminal conspiracy, criminal association, rebellion against the president and possession of illegal weapons, for allegedly plotting to kill president Andry Rajoelina. (Reuters)
Karl Nehammer is sworn in as the new Chancellor of Austria after the resignation of Alexander Schallenberg on 2 December. (ABC News)
Jennifer Lawrence lost a tooth while shooting ‘Don’t Look Up’ Jennifer Lawrence gives a toothless performance in her new movie Don’t Look Up, but that’s more a statement of fact than a critique. At the premiere of the Adam McKay film on Sunday, when asked about some of the challenges she faced during the production, Lawrence revealed she lost a tooth “pretty early” into filming. “Remember when my veneer popped off?” she asked co-star Leonardo DiCaprio. “And I couldn’t go to the dentist until the end of the movie, so I had to film most of the movie toothless. That was my personal challenge.” Meanwhile, DiCaprio’s example of a challenge was “talking to people with masks and shields all day.” Hey, at least you had all your teeth, Leo! VARIETY
Halle Berry set her Razzie for Worst Actress on fire It’s not an honor just to be nominated at the Golden Raspberry Awards, which brutally select the year’s worst films and performances. But Halle Berry famously showed up to actually accept her Worst Actress Razzie for Catwoman in person in 2005, and now she’s reminiscing to Vanity Fair. “If I can show up to collect an Oscar when you’re honoring me, I can certainly show up to collect a Razzie when you say, good try, but do better,” she said, adding she “went there and made fun of myself.” The Academy Award-winning actress also revealed what she did with the award: “I set that thing on fire.” Berry recently said she’d love to direct a new Catwoman after the previous version was almost universally panned. “I think I would redeem myself,” she said. And if not, hey, she could get some more firewood out of it. INDIEWIRE
Gwyneth Paltrow has never heard of Marvel’s ‘Hawkeye’ Gwyneth Paltrow isn’t even really that familiar with the Marvel projects she’s personally been in, so did we expect her to know about the ones that don’t involve her? Paltrow, who plays Pepper Potts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, took some fan questions on Instagram and was asked if she’s watched the latest MCU Disney+ show Hawkeye, starring Jeremy Renner. Not only hasn’t she seen it, but this was apparently the first time she’d even heard of the show, as Paltrow wrote back, “No, what is that?” Normally, we’d assume this rules out a Pepper Potts cameo in the series — though considering Paltrow learned she was in Spider-Man: Homecoming years after the movie came out, don’t be so certain. VULTURE
‘Succession’ star Brian Cox worries about what Jeremy Strong ‘puts himself through’ Brian Cox has some concerns about his number one boy. On Sunday, The New Yorker delved into how often Succession star Jeremy Strong goes to “unusual lengths” to get into character — like when he wanted to be sprayed with actual tear gas for The Trial of the Chicago 7. His co-stars, it seems, don’t necessarily love this. Strong himself admitted that “I don’t know how popular the way I work is amongst our troupe,” and Cox, who plays Logan Roy, said, “I just worry about what he does to himself. I worry about the crises he puts himself through in order to prepare.” Cox added that the “inability to separate yourself off while you’re doing the job” is a “particularly American disease.” Meanwhile, Roman Roy actor Kieran Culkin said the way Strong gets himself into character via self-isolation “might be something that helps him,” but “I can tell you that it doesn’t help me.” Culkin also revealed Strong once expressed concerns that people would think Succession is a comedy — even though Culkin feels “the show is a comedy” — and that Strong proclaimed he takes Kendall “as seriously as I take my own life.” THE NEW YORKER
Tom Holland confirms he’ll take on the role of Fred Astaire Shall he dance? Spider-Man actor Tom Holland confirmed Sunday that “I am playing Fred Astaire” in a new movie. “The script came in a week ago,” he said, adding he just had a “lovely” chat with producer Amy Pascal about it while he was “in the bath.” The confirmation came after Pascal casually mentioned in a GQ profile of Holland that she wanted him to play Astaire — which GQ suggested “might be a rare perfect casting” — though despite both of their comments, Deadline reports a deal for the movie hasn’t been finalized yet. It does make sense, though, given Holland’s background in dance. He starred in Billy Elliott the Musical and, perhaps even more notably, delivered a jaw-dropping Lip Sync Battle performance dancing to “Umbrella” in 2017. Is it too late to cancel this Fred Astaire movie and just make a feature length version of that? DEADLINE
Cryptocurrencies have volatile weekend after stock selloff Bitcoin plunged by as much as 20 percent over the weekend before regaining some of the lost ground on Sunday. The price of Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, fell by more than 15 percent before climbing back Sunday close to where it started the weekend. The volatility came after last week’s stock-market selloff, as investors sought safer investments due to rising concerns about fallout from the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant. Other cryptocurrencies also struggled. Cryptocurrencies are notoriously volatile. In addition to uneasiness over Omicron, the Federal Reserve’s suggestion that it could unwind its economy-boosting asset purchases faster to fight high inflation also might have sparked some selling. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Health officials vow fast review of Omicron-specific vaccines The Biden administration plans to fast-track authorization of COVID-19 vaccines tweaked to fight the Omicron coronavirus variant, which federal regulators said Sunday had been detected in 16 states. Food and Drug Administration officials have met with vaccine makers to start hammering out guidelines for data that will be needed to expedite approval of changes to current vaccines that will be necessary to make them sufficiently effective against the new strain. “The FDA will move swiftly and CDC will move swiftly after,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos. “We’re every day hearing about more and more cases.” Public health officials say Omicron appears to cause less severe illness than the widespread Delta variant, but concerns about its impact have roiled markets. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Evergrande shares plunge as Chinese developer warns it can’t make payments Shares of Chinese developer Evergrande plunged by 20 percent on Monday, hitting a record low as the company again approached default. Evergrande warned Friday that it might not have enough money to make looming debt payments, as its 30-day grace period ended and it faced interest payments totaling $82.5 million. As business hours closed in Asia, two bondholders said they had yet to receive payments due from Evergrande. The company declined to comment. Evergrande, once China’s top-selling developer, has more than $300 billion in liabilities, and its potential collapse threatens to trigger further damage in China’s real estate industry. China’s central bank sought to reassure markets by cutting reserve requirements for banks as Beijing vowed to promote the property sector’s health. CNN
Bob Dole dies at 98 Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole died Sunday after months of treatment for Stage IV lung cancer, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation announced. He was 98. Dole grew up in Kansas during the Dust Bowl and suffered severe wounds fighting as an Army lieutenant in Italy during World War II. He went on to become one of the Republican Party’s longest-serving leaders, spending a quarter-century in the Senate. He was the GOP’s vice-presidential candidate in 1976, and its presidential nominee 20 years later. President Biden called Dole “an American statesman like few in our history. A war hero and among the greatest of the Greatest Generation.” After retiring from politics, Dole focused on raising money for the World War II Memorial in Washington and welcomed veterans visiting the memorial on many weekends. THE NEW YORK TIMES
Myanmar court sentences Suu Kyi to four years in prison A Myanmar court on Monday sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 76, to four years in prison after finding her guilty of inciting unrest and other charges. The result of Suu Kyi’s closed-door trial indicated that the military, which held the pro-democracy champion and Nobel laureate under house arrest for nearly two decades, plans to remove her entirely as a force in politics. Since Suu Kyi’s trial wrapped up, the military government has filed a new corruption charge. The military is escalating its crackdown on people protesting the Feb. 1 coup against the civilian government. On Sunday, a military truck plowed into demonstrators in Yangon and soldiers fired on a small crowd, killing at least five people, according to local media. THE WASHINGTON POST
U.S. health officials say Omicron appears less dangerous than Delta variant U.S. health officials said Sunday that they are still trying to determine the severity of the new Omicron coronavirus strain, but so far it appears to be less virulent than the Delta variant that is driving rising hospitalizations. “Thus far, it does not look like there’s a great degree of severity to it,” President Biden’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, told CNN’s State of the Union. “But we have really got to be careful before we make any determinations that it is less severe or it really doesn’t cause any severe illness, comparable to Delta.” The Biden administration plans to fast-track authorization of COVID-19 vaccines tweaked to fight Omicron, which federal regulators said Sunday had been detected in 16 states. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Belgian police clash with crowds protesting COVID restrictions Police in Brussels used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds protesting restrictions imposed by the Belgian government to curb coronavirus infections. Several thousand people marched peacefully through Belgium’s capital before the demonstration turned violent, with some protesters throwing cobblestones and fireworks at officers in the neighborhood where many European Union institutions have their headquarters. One protester, martial arts teacher Alain Sienaort, said he was against vaccine passes and restrictions on unvaccinated people. “That’s all discrimination, so we have to fight it,” he said. “We don’t want a dictatorship.” The government on Friday announced it was imposing new measures, including mandatory masks for most primary school students, to curb rising infections. REUTERS
Virginian governor announces removal of Robert E. Lee pedestal Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) announced Sunday that the state would remove the 40-foot granite pedestal that once supported a memorial to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond. Work to take down the pedestal will start Monday, and be “substantially complete” by Dec. 31, Northam said. After the last part of the monument has been moved to an undisclosed location for storage, the land will be turned over to the city of Richmond. “This land is in the middle of Richmond, and Richmonders will determine the future of this space,” Northam said in a statement. The decision came a little more than a month before Northam leaves office and Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, takes office. The statue was removed in September following a legal battle. THE WASHINGTON POST
Ex-senator announces primary challenge against Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Former Sen. David Perdue plans to announce Monday that he will challenge Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in the Republican gubernatorial primary, Politico reported Sunday. Perdue lost his seat to Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff last year. Former President Donald Trump, who has expressed anger toward Perdue and other Georgia Republicans for not helping him overturn his loss to President Biden in the state, reportedly recruited Perdue to run against Kemp. The winner will face Democrat Stacy Abrams, who last week she would challenge Kemp in a rematch after she narrowly lost to him in 2018. Abrams made voting rights her signature issue after that race, so Trump’s false claims that voter fraud cost him the election are expected to be a focus in the race. POLITICO
NPR: COVID death rates higher in pro-Trump counties People living in counties that strongly backed former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election have been nearly three times as likely to die from COVID-19 than their counterparts in counties that voted heavily for President Biden, according to an analysis by NPR. Since May, as vaccines were becoming more widely available, people in counties where Trump got 60 percent of the vote or more had a COVID-19 death rate that was 2.7 times higher than in counties where Biden dominated. In the reddest counties, death rates were six times higher than in the bluest counties. About 59 percent of Republicans are vaccinated, compared to 91 percent of Democrats, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health policy think tank. NPR
Woman accused Chris Cuomo of sexual misconduct before CNN fired him A woman told CNN of a “serious sexual misconduct” allegation against Chris Cuomo days before the cable news channel fired the anchor, attorney Debra Katz said Sunday. Katz said she contacted CNN about her client’s allegations Wednesday. CNN suspended Cuomo earlier this week after new details emerged about his efforts to help his brother, Andrew Cuomo, before sexual harassment allegations against him forced him to resign as New York’s governor as lawmakers threatened to impeach him. The moves came shortly after the New York attorney general’s office released evidence that Chris Cuomo had taken a more active role in his brother’s defense than previously known, including using his position and sources to help his brother in what CNN called “a breach of journalistic ethics.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
New COVID-testing rule for international travelers takes effect New travel restrictions take effect Monday for people entering the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shortened the window for a pre-departure coronavirus test, with all passengers now required to show a negative result from a test conducted within 24 hours of their flight to the U.S. Previously, vaccinated travelers could get a test any time within three days of departure, although the 24-hour rule already applied to unvaccinated travelers. The narrower window, imposed in response to concerns about the new Omicron variant, “provide[s] less opportunity to develop an infection with the Omicron variant prior to arrival in the United States,” according to the updated CDC order. U.S. airlines also have been asked to collect contact-tracing information for arriving passengers. USA TODAY
Alabama, Michigan, Georgia, and Cincinnati to compete in college football playoff The College Football Playoff selection committee announced Sunday that Alabama, Michigan, Georgia, and Cincinnati will compete for this season’s national title. On New Year’s Eve, No. 1 Alabama will play No. 4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl, and No. 2 Michigan will face off against No. 3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl. The winners will play in the title game on Jan. 10. The Crimson Tide took the top ranking by beating Georgia 41-24 to win the SEC crown. Cincinnati went 13-0 and won the American Athletic Conference title to earn the right to face Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. Georgia won its spot in the final four with a 12-1 record. Michigan beat No. 13 Iowa 42-3 to claim their first conference title since 2004. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Sunday, December 5th, 2021
Venezuelan intelligence officials announce the death of Hernán Darío Hernández, the leader of a FARC dissident group, after an ambush carried out by a commando of the Venezuelan Armed Forces. Hernández was responsible for the 2003 El Nogal Club bombing that killed 36 people and injured over 200 others. (El Tiempo)
Hundreds of insurgents on motorcycles attack an international military base in Tillabéri. 79 of the rebels and 29 soldiers are killed during the battle. (Deutsche Welle)
Indian soldiers of the Assam Rifles mistakenly open fire on a group of miners returning home from work in Nagaland, believing them to be militants. Thirteen miners and a soldier are killed, with the soldier and seven miners being killed in a subsequent confrontation with angry locals. (BBC News)
Saudi Arabia grants the approval for people vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to enter the country beginning from January 1, 2022 in a move that will enable Muslims to take part in religious pilgrimage. (CNA)
The End Monday
artificial stupid 