Wednesday, January 12th, 2022 

Kim Kardashian reportedly changed vacation destination to avoid Kanye West Kim Kardashian is apparently now secretly tweaking vacation plans because her estranged husband Kanye West might show up uninvited. Page Six reports West has been “deliberately showing up” places Kardashian will be, even though he’s now dating Uncut Gems actress Julia Fox. This includes on New Year’s Eve, when he went to Miami reportedly because he thought Kardashian would join her boyfriend Pete Davidson there at his show with Miley Cyrus. But Page Six also reports Kardashian originally planned to go on vacation with Davidson in the Dominican Republic until West “got wind of it and was talking about showing up there too,” so she “secretly changed the destination to the Bahamas.” Fox recently wrote in Interview magazine about her romance with West, saying she’s “loving the ride” — but Page Six‘s sources allege the relationship is just a “ploy to get under ex Kim Kardashian’s skin.”  PAGE SIXBUZZFEED NEWS 

Fauci clashes with Sen. Rand Paul over coronavirus misinformation Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s top medical adviser, clashed with Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday, accusing the Kentucky Republican of spreading misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic that has sparked death threats against him. Fauci also said Paul was distorting the truth about COVID-19 “for political reasons,” including fundraising. “It distracts from what we’re all trying to do here today, [which] is get our arms around the epidemic and the pandemic that we’re dealing with, not something imaginary,” Fauci said. Paul’s website accuses Fauci of “lying about everything from masks to the contagiousness of the virus.” Paul said Fauci was trying to smear anyone who disagreed with him. REUTERS 

Pfizer moving ahead with plans for Omicron-targeted vaccine Pfizer officials said this week that they were pushing to produce 50 million to 100 million doses of a version of the company’s coronavirus vaccine adapted to target the new Omicron variant that is driving an unprecedented wave of infections. The drugmaker is testing larger doses and hybrid vaccines to fight multiple strains. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company is developing the vaccines “at risk,” meaning it will absorb the costs if they are not needed. The weeks it will take to develop and distribute the vaccines mean that they won’t be available until after the point later this month when public health officials have predicted the Omicron surge will peak, but Bourla said if the Omicron-targeted vaccine is needed, Pfizer will have it ready. THE WASHINGTON POST 

China’s new COVID-19 lockdowns threaten more supply problems New lockdowns China has imposed in several cities to counter the latest coronavirus surge have clogged ports and forced companies to shut factories, threatening to cause fresh supply-chain disruptions just as global bottlenecks were starting to clear, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Due to China’s zero-tolerance policy, for example, about two dozen COVID-19 cases prompted restrictions on trucks and warehouses that threaten to worsen backlogs at the world’s third-busiest container port of Ningbo-Zhoushan. The lockdowns and mass testing currently in effect in China are the most aggressive in nearly two years. The measures already have caused production problems for numerous companies, including memory-chip maker Samsung Electronics, German automaker Volkswagen, and a textile supplier to Nike and Adidas. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Federal officials defend COVID response hampered by test shortage Top Biden administration health officials defended the government’s efforts to fight the Omicron coronavirus variant as lawmakers grilled them about a shortage of coronavirus tests and shifting guidance on how long infected people should wait before resuming normal activities. “This is an extraordinary virus, the likes of which we have not seen even close to in well over 100 years,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, told lawmakers. “We’re doing the best we possibly can.” Lawmakers said during the hearing that the Biden administration had not accurately assessed the need for tests and would not be able to distribute the 500 million tests it was buying until the Omicron wave has started to subside. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

CDC weighs changing mask guidance to urge N95, KN95 use The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering changing its guidance on masks to urge people to wear the N95 or KN95 face coverings that health workers wear, The Washington Post reported Tuesday, citing an official close to the discussions. The move would be part of an effort to increase protection for Americans as the Omicron coronavirus variant spreads quickly across the country, driving a record wave of infections and raising daily hospitalizations and deaths. “We know these masks provide better filtration,” the official said. The CDC’s initial mask guidance stopped short of recommending the highly protective face protection due to fear of shortages at hospitals and other medical facilities. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Hospitals cut capacity as COVID-19 wave limits staff Rising numbers of health-care workers are calling in sick across the country as the seven-day average of new daily coronavirus infections rises above 700,000, forcing many hospitals to cut capacity, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. The staff shortages have forced hospitals to leave beds empty because they lack staff to safely provide care, and a tight labor market has prevented them from finding replacements, according to industry officials. The University Hospitals system in Ohio, for example, has closed up to 16 percent of its intensive-care beds recently. “It’s definitely a brutal situation,” said Dr. Joseph Chang, chief medical officer at Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas, which had to shut 30 of 900 beds. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Arctic air brings coldest weather in 3 years to Upper Midwest, Northeast Millions of Americans faced the coldest day in three years on Tuesday in parts of the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast. Air temperatures fell below zero in some areas, with a blast of Arctic air sending wind chills as low as 30 degrees below zero in northern New England. High temperatures were as much as 30 degrees below average. Boston’s public school system was closed on Tuesday due to extreme cold. New Hampshire’s Department of Health had to close four COVID-19 testing sites. Temperatures were expected to rise on Wednesday, with warmer days at the end of the week. The cold snap followed the warmest December on record, which helped make 2021 the fourth hottest year on record. NBC NEWS 

DOJ forms new domestic terrorism unit as threats rise The Justice Department is creating a domestic terrorism unit to counter rising threats from U.S.-based extremists, Matthew G. Olsen, the head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, said Tuesday. Olsen told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that the new unit would “augment our existing approach,” which has assigned counterterrorism attorneys to work on domestic and international cases. The news came days after the first anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, which some lawmakers have pointed to as proof that the FBI has failed to do enough to address domestic terrorists and violent far-right groups. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Powell says Fed will counter inflation threat with rate hikes as needed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said in Tuesday’s Senate hearing on his confirmation to a second term that the U.S. economy is strong enough that the Fed can start ending its aggressive stimulus measures. Powell said high inflation had become a “severe threat” to the recovery from the damage of the coronavirus pandemic, and the central bank would start tapering its asset purchases and raising interest rates to prevent the economy from overheating. Powell said supply-chain bottlenecks that have contributed to rising prices should ease this year, but that if inflation persists and “we have to raise interest rates more over time, we will.” Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said he feared “the Fed missed the boat on addressing inflation sooner.”  THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Djokovic acknowledges mistake on travel documents he gave Australia Novak Djokovic, the world’s No. 1-ranked men’s tennis player, conceded Wednesday that the travel documents he gave Australian border officials falsely claimed he hadn’t traveled internationally before he arrived in Australia last week. He blamed an “administrative mistake.” Djokovic also acknowledged participating in an interview and a photoshoot in his native Serbia after he tested positive for a coronavirus infection last month, contrary to the country’s COVID-19 protocols. Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, won an appeal of a decision by Australian authorities to revoke his visa, but immigration officials are continuing to investigate whether he poses a public health threat and should be deported. Djokovic is in the country seeking a record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Bank of America cuts overdraft fees Bank of America announced Tuesday that it is ending fees for insufficient funds, and cutting overdraft fees from $35 to $10. The bank said the bounced check fee will disappear next month, and the overdraft fee cut will take effect in May. Once the changes are in place, the institution’s fees for overdrafts will be reduced by 97 percent from 2009 levels. Bank of America’s president of retail banking, Holly O’Neill, said the changes were part of an effort to “help clients manage their deposit accounts and overall finances responsibly.” The news came just over a month after Capital One, the sixth biggest U.S. bank by assets, announced that it would stop penalizing customers who withdraw or write checks for more money than they have in their accounts. CNN 

Lady Gaga suggests Patrizia Reggiani sent ‘large swarms of flies’ to follow her  Be afraid. Be very afraid. Lady Gaga chatted with W magazine about playing Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci, and she recalled the bizarre moment she knew it was time to let go of the character: when she became convinced Reggiani was sending swarms of flies after her. “On the last day of filming, I was on the balcony of my apartment in Rome, and I was blasting Dean Martin singing ‘Mambo Italiano,’ and I had a cigarette hanging out of my mouth,” Gaga said. “I was Patrizia. But I knew I had to say goodbye to her: Large swarms of flies kept following me around, and I truly began to believe that she had sent them. I was ready to let her go.” Gaga has previously detailed her intense method acting process, even having a psychiatric nurse on the set. Apparently, some fly repellent also would have been useful.  W MAGAZINETHE WEEK 

House Jan. 6 committee subpoenas Trump speechwriter, 2 other allies  The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack has subpoenaed records and testimony from Andy Surabian and Arthur Schwartz, strategists who advised Donald Trump Jr., and Ross Worthington, a former White House official believed to have helped draft former President Donald Trump’s speech at a rally before the insurrection. “We have reason to believe the individuals we’ve subpoenaed today have relevant information and we expect them to join the more than 340 individuals who have spoken with the Select Committee as we push ahead to investigate this attack on our democracy and ensure nothing like this ever happens again,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the panel’s chair. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Biden backs changing filibuster to pass voting rights bill President Biden on Tuesday called on lawmakers to pass voting rights and election reform bills to counter new voting restrictions in some GOP-led states, and urged them to alter Senate rules, if necessary, to prevent Republicans from blocking the legislation with a filibuster. “I’m tired of being quiet!” Biden said. Passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would “restore the strength of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the one President Johnson signed after John Lewis was beaten, nearly killed, on ‘Bloody Sunday,’” Biden said. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) accused Biden of invoking “the brutal racial hatred of Jim Crow Segregation to smear” new state voting laws. Republicans accuse Democrats of trying to pass federal voting laws to gain unfair advantages. CNNTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Tuesday, January 11th, 2022 

Israel condemns the presence of Iranian government minister Mohsen Rezai at the inauguration of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. Rezai is wanted by Argentina for alleged connections with the 1994 AMIA bombing, whose foreign ministry also condemned his presence and demanded from Iran “immediate cooperation” with the investigation. Rezai is the subject of a red notice of Interpol requested by Argentina. (The Jerusalem Post) 

The Israeli Health ministry approves a reduction of the isolation period for asymptomatic positive COVID-19 patients from ten to seven days in order to keep the economy running despite an increase in the number of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant cases. The changes will be in effect on January 13. (The Times of Israel) 

U.S. hits average of over 700,000 new COVID-19 cases per day  New U.S. coronavirus infections have risen to an average of more than 700,000 per day, USA Today reported Sunday, citing an analysis of Johns Hopkins University data. The last five days leading up to Saturday brought the five highest single-day counts of new cases since the start of the pandemic, with a total of 4.91 million cases in the week that ended Saturday. That was a higher total than in April, May, June, and July 2021 combined. “I would not be surprised at all if we go over a million cases per day,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, told News 4 New York in an interview Saturday. Fauci predicted that case numbers from the fast-spreading Omicron variant would start to come down in late January. USA TODAY 

Airlines cancel more flights due to pandemic-related staff shortages Airlines canceled flights over the weekend as harsh winter weather and staff shortages due to coronavirus infections continued to disrupt travel. About 5,000 flights were scrapped on Friday, data tracking service FlightAware said. Daily cancellations declined over the weekend, however, as airlines struggled to restore their normal schedules. The disruptions began shortly before Christmas, as the U.S. was hit with severe winter storms just as the nation was also slammed by a wave of coronavirus infections driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant. SkyWest, which operates flights for United, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, said the cuts were meant to “ensure we’re able to adequately staff our remaining flying as we work to recover in the coming weeks.” THE NEW YORK TIMES 

The Oscars will bring back a host after last year’s ratings catastrophe And this year’s Oscars host is … somebody! ABC revealed Tuesday the Academy Awards will actually have a host this year, for the first time since 2018. The recent streak of host-free events began in 2019, when comedian Kevin Hart stepped down due to controversy over homophobic jokes and tweets. In the end, some pundits preferred not having a host and the ratings went up, so the Oscars stuck with the format. Perhaps the Academy now hopes bringing back a host will generate more interest after 2021’s show was a complete ratings disaster. So who might the Academy hire? It’s not clear, although Spider-Man: No Way Home star Tom Holland was recently asked if he would do it. He initially said he didn’t think he’d have time, only to backtrack, saying, “What kind of f—ing idiot wouldn’t host the Oscars? So yeah, if they ask me to, I would, and it would be very fun.”  VARIETY

A car bombing kills at least eight people in Mogadishu. (Reuters) 

Germany reports a record 80,430 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 7,661,811. (Euronews) 

Saudi Arabia reports a record 5,362 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 593,545. (Al Arabiya English) 

South Korea authorizes the use of the protein-based Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for adults, making it the fifth vaccine to be approved to use in the country. (The Washington Post) 

France reports a record 368,149 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (CNBC) 

Italy reports a record 220,532 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 7.77 million. (Agenzia Italia) 

Turkey reports a record 74,266 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Anadolu Agency) 

Argentina reports a record 134,439 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 6,533,635. (Infobae) 

Bolivian vice president David Choquehuanca tests positive for COVID-19 for the third time. Six government ministers also test positive for COVID-19. (France 24) 

President of the European Parliament David Sassoli dies in Aviano, Italy and is succeeded by Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola, who becomes the first Maltese person to hold this position. (Politico) 

Dylan Minnette defends himself against ‘everyone absolutely demolishing me’ for underdressing Don’t you know the wardrobe rules?! Dylan Minnette is defending himself after getting thoroughly roasted for his casual attire at a recent event for the new Scream movie. “To everyone absolutely demolishing me for ‘underdressing’ to the ‘Scream premiere red carpet’ … it wasn’t a premiere,” the 13 Reasons Why star tweeted. “Our premiere was (sadly) cancelled. Of course I would’ve dressed for the occasion of a premiere sillies!!” Instead, Minnette clarified images of him on a red carpet were just from a “standard press junket day where there’s no pressure on a dress code.” It did make for an awkward image, though, when he appeared in a sweater and jeans while his co-stars showed up in suits. But Minnette said he had “no idea there would be a red carpet” at all, which we’re hoping turns out to be some sort of hazing ritual on the original cast’s part.   INSIDER 

Monday,  January 10th, 2022 

Goldman Sachs says Fed likely to hike interest rates 4 times in 2022 Goldman Sachs says it now expects the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates four times this year to keep the economy from overheating as inflation remains high and the nation nears full employment. “We continue to see hikes in March, June, and September, and have now added a hike in December,” Goldman’s Jan Hatzius said in a research note. The change came after newly released minutes from the Fed’s December meeting indicated that Fed leaders support speeding up plans to dial back their efforts to boost the recovery from pandemic-era economic problems with near-zero interest rates and monthly asset purchases. BLOOMBERG 

Russia and the U.S. begin a series of talks in Geneva in a effort to defuse tensions between both countries and Ukraine. (The Guardian) 

Russia, U.S. dampen expectations of breakthrough as Ukraine talks begin Russia and the United States on Monday will launch a week of what a top Russian diplomat predicted would be “difficult” talks in Geneva over Russia’s military buildup near Ukraine. After a working dinner on Sunday to kick off the discussions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow would “not make any concessions under pressure.” The meetings mark a first step toward a dialogue on defusing tensions over Russia’s deployment of 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine, which has stoked concerns of a Russian invasion. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told ABC’s This Week that he was not counting on any breakthroughs during the bilateral talks or during conversations in Brussels later this week at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. REUTERS 

Ukrainian authorities arrest an alleged Russian intelligence agent who was claimed to have attempted to recruit others to launch attacks in the city of Odessa. (MSN) 

Kazakhstan authorities say 164 people have died in protests At least 164 people have died in a week of anti-government protests in Kazakhstan, authorities in the former Soviet republic said Sunday. The dead included a 4-year-old girl. The office of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that nearly 6,000 people have been arrested in the worst unrest the nation has experienced since gaining its independence 30 years ago. The demonstrations broke out on Jan. 2 over rising fuel prices and quickly spread. Tokayev’s office said that authorities had brought the situation under control, and were conducting “cleanup” operations. A nationwide state of emergency and curfew remained in effect on Sunday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for Tokayev to rescind his “shoot-to-kill” order against protesters.  BBC NEWS 

The Nigerian online newspaper, the Peoples Gazette, claims it has been raided by the Nigerian National Intelligence Agency. (Peoples Gazette) 

Tennis player Novak Djokovic is allowed entry to Australia following a federal court hearing which determined his visa to be permissible despite current pandemic health measures, which require proof of COVID-19 vaccination. (BBC News) 

The counsel for the Commonwealth Christopher Tran tells the court that Alex Hawke might use his personal prerogative as the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship to cancel Djokovic’s visa despite the court ruling against the Commonwealth. (ABC News Australia) 

Djokovic wins appeal after Australia revoked his visa Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic won his appeal of Australia’s decision to revoke his visa, clearing him to leave immigration detention at Melbourne’s Park Hotel on Monday. Judge Anthony Kelly ruled that the federal government’s rescinding of the world’s top-ranked men’s tennis player’s visa was “unreasonable.” The government said Djokovic failed to comply with rules regarding his exemption from Australia’s coronavirus vaccination mandate. The judge’s decision potentially cleared Djokovic to play in next week’s Australian Open, where he will try for a record 21st Grand Slam Title. But lawyers for the federal government told the court that Australia’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, might exercise his personal power to again revoke Djokovic’s visa to protect public health in the country, which is experiencing a coronavirus surge. REUTERS 

Myanmar court sentences ousted Suu Kyi to another 4 years in prison A Myanmar court convicted ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday for possessing walkie-talkies in her home and violating COVID-19 protocols. The court sentenced Suu Kyi, 76, to four years in prison on the charges, adding to the two years she received for her Dec. 5 conviction on charges of inciting public unrest and another count of violating COVID-19 protocols. The earlier sentence was cut in half by army commander-in-chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the Feb. 1 coup that forced Suu Kyi and her government from office. Suu Kyi’s supporters said the walkie-talkies involved in the latest case belonged to her security detail. They said the charges were politically motivated. CNN 

Bronx apartment building fire kills 19 A fire in an apartment building in the Bronx killed 19 people on Sunday, including nine children, New York City officials said. New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the death toll, tweeting: “We’ve lost 19 of our neighbors today. It’s a tragedy beyond measure.” The blaze started around 11 a.m. in a 19-floor building. About 60 people were injured, 32 of them were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Smoke spread to every floor of the building, the city’s fire department commissioner, Daniel Nigro, said. Investigators determined that a malfunctioning electric space heater in a bedroom likely started the fire. REUTERS 

Taliban arrests Kabul professor who clashed with official on TV The Taliban have arrested Kabul University law and political science professor Faizullah Jalal in the latest sign of an escalating crackdown by Afghanistan’s new government, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Jalal gained national fame for confronting a Taliban official in a debate on live TV, calling Mohammad Naeem, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s political office in Doha, a “terrorist” and a “calf,” a common Afghan insult suggesting someone lacks intelligence. Taliban chief spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed the arrest via Twitter and called Jalal a “fanatic,” posting screenshots of anti-Taliban messages on social media that Jalal’s relatives said were fake. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Comedian and ‘Full House’ star Bob Saget dies at 65 Comedian Bob Saget, best known for his breakout role as wholesome widowed dad Danny Tanner on the sitcom Full House, was found dead in his Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, hotel room on Sunday. He was 65. The local sheriff’s department said the cause of death was under investigation, but there were no signs of foul play or drug use. Saget was a famous stand-up comedian when he got the role on ABC’s Full House, which ran from fall 1987 through May 1995. Saget, who also hosted America’s Funniest Home Videos, was in Florida on a comedy tour. “The loss of Bob Saget hits deep,” actor Jason Alexander tweeted. “If you didn’t know him, he was kind and dear and cared about people deeply.” “Just the funniest and nicest,” said Jon Stewart. CNN 

2022 Golden Globe winners announced after private ceremony The Hollywood Foreign Press Association on Sunday night announced the 2022 Golden Globe winners following a private ceremony in Beverly Hills. On the comedy and musical side, Hacks won Best TV Series. Its star, Jean Smart, won Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series and Ted Lasso‘s Jason Sudeikis won for best actor. West Side Story won Best Picture, and the musical’s star, Rachel Zegler, took the acting award. Succession won for best TV drama series, and The Power of the Dog won Best Motion Picture. Will Smith (King Richard) and Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos) took the acting awards in the film drama category. Other winners include The Underground Railroad for Best Limited Series.   VARIETY 

The End