Sunday, January 2nd, 2022 

Germany decommissions 3 of its 6 remaining nuke plants Germany powered down 3 of its 6 remaining nuclear power plants Saturday, making good on a government pledge to denuclearize after the 2011 meltdown of Japan’s Fukushima reactor. The other three plants will be deactivated by the end of 2022. Supporters of the shutdown see it is a necessary step in Germany’s planned transition to renewable energy. Critics argue that, without nuclear, the country will burn more fossil fuels, have a less reliable power grid, and become increasingly dependent on Russian natural gas. REUTERS 

Airlines cancel almost 4,400 flights on New Year’s Day Ongoing staffing shortages driven by the rapid spread of Omicron led to the cancellation of over 4,400 flights worldwide on New Year’s Day. More than 2,600 of those were flights into, out of, or within the United States. Thousands of travelers were stranded. Chicago, which saw over 1,000 flights into or out of its two major airports scrubbed, had to deal with winter storms in addition to the virus. Further disruptions were expected for Sunday. BBC 

‘Bioengineered’ replaces ‘GMO’ on food labels Starting Saturday, food with altered DNA sold in the U.S. that was previously labeled as “genetically engineered” (GE) or “genetically modified organisms” (GMO), will now be labeled as “bioengineered.” This new directive from the U.S. Department of Agriculture aims to provide uniform language to replace the variety of state labeling policies. Packaging will also include a phone number or QR code consumers can use to access more detailed information. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, eating bioengineered foods poses no health risks. THE WASHINGTON POST 

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake strikes on the border between Yunnan and Sichuan, China, injuring 22 people. (Al Jazeera) 

A fire breaks out in the South African parliament building in Cape Town. The cause is unknown, though initial reports said it started in an office space. Public Works Minister Patricia De Lille says the fire has been contained to the National Assembly chamber. (France 24) 

Bulgaria reports its first 12 cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in five vaccinated people and seven unvaccinated people, of whom only one had travelled abroad.(BNR Radio Bulgaria) 

A South Korean citizen crosses the heavily fortified Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in a rare case of defection to North Korea from the South. (Reuters) 

Kim Jong-un touts domestic agenda at party conference North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, marking his 10th year in power, delivered a speech at a Workers’ Party of Korea conference in which, according to state media summaries released Saturday, he avoided bellicose rhetoric and focused instead on domestic, pocketbook issues. Kim broke with precedent by making only vague allusions to ongoing tensions with South Korea and the United States. He did, however, pledge to make “progress in solving the food, clothing and housing problem.” North Korea, always insular, has suffered severe shortages after closing its borders entirely in January 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. State media claims North Korea has had zero cases of the virus. Most external observes doubt this assertion. REUTERS 

At least 7 injured and 3 still missing after Colorado fire destroys almost 1,000 homes No deaths have been confirmed, but authorities announced Saturday that 3 people are still missing after a fire that broke out Thursday destroyed almost 1,000 homes in the Denver suburbs and damaged hundreds more. At least 7 people were injured. The blaze burned more than 9 square miles in the cities of Louisville and Superior, and many homes that escaped direct fire damage were left without power or heat. National Guard troops have arrived to aid in the recovery effort. The Red Cross and Salvation Army are on the ground distributing space heaters, bottled water, and blankets. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

U.K. announces mask mandate for English secondary school students Students at secondary schools in England will be required to wear face coverings when they return from Christmas holiday, United Kingdom Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi announced Sunday. Teachers will not be required to wear masks. England allowed students to go unmasked from the beginning of the school year in September. The other three U.K. nations — Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — enforced mask mandates, which will continue to remain in effect. BBC 

Saturday, January 1st, 2022 

At least three people are confirmed missing, and at least 991 homes are confirmed destroyed, after an ongoing wildfire that struck Boulder County, Colorado, U.S, starting two days ago. (CNN) 

Finland rejects Russian demands that Finland never join NATO, with President Sauli Niinistö saying that it is his country’s right to join the military alliance if it wants to. (The Telegraph) 

The End Sunday

Twelve people are killed and 13 more injured during a stampede at the Vaishno Devi Hindu Temple in Indian-administered Kashmir, triggered by a heavy rush of people coming to celebrate the New Year. (Al Jazeera English) (The Times of India) 

Argentina imposes a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination certificate, effective immediately, nationwide and for all those 13 or older for all kind of activities, both indoors and outdoors. (Argentina.gob.ar) 

France begins to introduce free birth control to women aged 18 to 25 years old that seeks to prevent unwanted pregnancies, benefited up to 3 million women from enhanced access to the pill, IUDs, contraceptive patches and jabs. (Deutsche Welle) 

France officially bans the use of plastic packaging for large vegetables and fruits, such as cucumbers, carrots, and bananas. Chopped or processed fruits, and packages larger than 1.5 kilograms (3.31 lb) are exempt. Spain plans to introduce a similar law in 2023. (The Guardian) 

Finland rejects Russian demands that Finland never join NATO, with President Sauli Niinistö saying it was his country’s right to join the military alliance if it wants to. (The Telegraph) 

Assisted suicide for people aged over 18 who are terminally ill or suffer from a permanent, debilitating condition becomes legal in Austria. (BBC News) 

Protesters in Baghdad, Iraq hold a rally to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general Qasem Soleimani. (AP) 

Friday,  December 31st, 2021 

South Africa ‘may have passed the peak’ of Omicron wave Authorities in South Africa say the peak of the country’s fourth wave of COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant appears to have passed. “All indicators suggest the country may have passed the peak of the fourth wave at a national level,” a statement said following a cabinet meeting. “While the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, there has been lower rates of hospitalisation than in previous waves.” The cabinet said the “marginal increase” in fatalities was low compared to prior COVID-19 waves, and the country is now easing some COVID-19 restrictions. The news comes as the United States on Thursday again shattered its record for daily COVID-19 cases with more than 580,000, up from 488,000 the day prior.  THE GUARDIAN 

Four soldiers and two militants are killed during gunfights between the Pakistan Army and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. (Al Jazeera) 

Six soldiers from Niger and Nigeria are killed and 16 others are wounded during a fight with ISWAP militants in the Lake Chad region of Borno State, Nigeria. Twenty-two militants are also killed and 17 more are captured. (Reuters) 

Israel extends its fourth dose (second booster shot) of COVID-19 vaccine to elderly people in care facilities and begins administering those shot for most vulnerable people, citing the high-risk toward infections for those age groups. (Reuters) 

The Israeli Health ministry approves fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised people, becoming the first country to do so. (AP) 

Hong Kong reports its first potential community cluster of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, which is the first locally transmitted case reported by the city since June. (Bloomberg) 

France reports a record 232,200 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is also the highest daily total recorded in any European nation since the beginning of the pandemic. (Arab News) 

Paris begins to implement mandatory outdoor mask wearing for people aged above 11 years except those inside vehicles, cyclists, users of two-wheeled transport and those doing sport. It comes as France battles the surge of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant nationwide. (France 24) 

Greece reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 40,560 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,170,293. (Greek Reporter) 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approves the use of Pfizer‘s anti-viral oral drug Paxlovid for high-risk patients. (The Independent) 

 

New Zealand moves COVID-19 traffic light settings for Auckland from red to orange, allowing bars, restaurants and cafes that enforce the vaccine pass requirement to remove crowd size limits and requirements to sit down, despite fears of community transmission of the Omicron variant. (The Guardian) 

The end saturday 

Tesla recalls nearly half a million vehicles due to safety issues Tesla is recalling nearly 500,000 cars due to safety issues involving the camera and trunk that could increase the risk of an accident. The company will recall over 350,000 Model 3 vehicles, as well as almost 120,000 Model S cars, in the United States. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents, in the Model 3 vehicles, wear to a coaxial cable could result in the rearview camera display becoming unavailable, while on the Model S vehicles, the hood could “open without warning and obstruct the driver’s visibility” due to a latch assembly issue. The recalls come as the NHTSA investigates a Tesla feature allowing video games to be played while a vehicle is moving.   THE VERGE 

A sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in India over the past week has sparked fears that a third wave, driven by Omicron, is around the corner. (BBC News) 

Thousands evacuate as Colorado wildfires burn hundreds of homes Tens of thousands of Colorado residents were told to evacuate on Thursday as two wildfires burned hundreds of homes. Evacuation orders were issued in Louisville and Superior, and the fires were fed by winds of between 80 and 100 miles per hour with gusts up to 115, according to CNN. At least six injuries have been reported, and officials said the fires burned at least 580 homes, as well as a shopping center and a hotel. “I’d like to emphasize that due to the magnitude of this fire, the intensity of this fire and its presence in such a heavily populated area, we would not be surprised if there are injuries or fatalities,” Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said.  CNN 

Biden holds call with Putin amid Ukraine tensions President Biden held another call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, during which the White House said he “urged Russia to de-escalate tensions with Ukraine” and warned the U.S. and its allies “will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine.” The second call between Biden and Putin this month came after Russia amassed troops on the Ukraine border, and it was held at Putin’s request. Putin during the 50-minute call warned Biden that any economic sanctions being placed on Russia in response to military action against Ukraine may result in a “complete rupture” of relations between the countries, according to The New York Times. Diplomats from the U.S. and Russia will meet in Geneva next month. CNN

New York City’s New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square going forward New York City is moving forward with its famed Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration Friday as the state grapples with a record number of COVID-19 cases. The outdoor celebration will be scaled back, with crowds limited to 15,000 people, and proof of vaccination and masks will be required. Outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) told NBC’s Today he chose not to cancel the event because “I don’t believe in shutdowns” and “we have to fight our way through COVID.” Times Square was previously closed to the public for New Year’s Eve in 2020. Earlier this week, LL Cool J canceled his Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Times Square performance after testing positive for COVID-19.  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Prosecutors to dismiss charges against Jeffrey Epstein jail guardsFederal prosecutors are reportedly dropping charges against two prison guards who admitted they falsified records the night of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s death by suicide. The Metropolitan Correctional Center guards, Tova Noel and Michael Thomas, previously entered into deferred prosecution agreements and were required to complete 100 hours of community service. They also agreed to provide “truthful information related to their employment by the Bureau of Prisons” and cooperate with an inspector general review, and prosecutors say they fulfilled the agreement. An indictment previously said the guards failed to complete their rounds as required on the night of Epstein’s suicide and instead slept and browsed the internet at their desks, and they allegedly then signed false certifications. CNN

CDC says avoid cruise travel ‘regardless of vaccination status’ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging everyone to avoid cruise ships, including those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. On Thursday, the CDC said that travelers should “avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status.” The agency at the same time said it was upgrading its travel health notice to the highest level of level 4, citing “increases in cases onboard cruise ships since identification of the Omicron variant.” The move comes as the CDC is investigating or observing dozens of cruise ships with COVID-19 outbreaks. The agency warned that COVID-19 “spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships” and that even for vaccinated people, “the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high.”   AXIOS

FDA to reportedly approve vaccine boosters for 12-to-15-year-olds The Food and Drug Administration is set to authorize COVID-19 booster doses for those between the ages of 12 and 15. The agency will expand Pfizer booster eligibility to this age group on Monday, The New York Times reported, citing sources familiar with the planning. This would be followed by a meeting of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee in the middle of the week to decide whether to recommend the authorization. The FDA and CDC expanded Pfizer booster eligibility to 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds earlier in December. Additionally, the Times reports regulators will allow adolescents and adults to receive a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine five months after their second dose, up from six months.   THE NEW YORK TIMES

Unemployment claims fall below 200,000 The number of Americans filing unemployment claims declined to 198,000 last week, the Labor Department said. Additionally, the four-week moving average declined to 199,250, the lowest since October 1969. According to CNBC, the average was 225,000 in December 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, though the most recent number of weekly claims was higher than the pandemic-era low, CNN notes. The number of continuing claims for the week ending on Dec. 18 reached the lowest level since March 2020 with 1.7 million. As COVID-19 cases climb due to the spread of the Omicron variant, though, PNC chief economist Gus Faucher told CNN that “if consumers change their behavior … job growth could slow dramatically in early 2022.”  CNN 

BBC to ‘look into’ its Alan Dershowitz interview on Ghislaine Maxwell verdictThe BBC says an interview it conducted Wednesday with lawyer Alan Dershowitz about British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction on sex-trafficking charges fell short of its editorial standards. The BBC drew criticism for speaking with Dershowitz about the Jeffrey Epstein associate’s conviction without first mentioning that he has been accused of abuse by an Epstein accuser, Virginia Giuffre, and previously defended Epstein. Dershowitz has denied Giuffre’s allegations. “Mr. Dershowitz was not a suitable person to interview as an impartial analyst, and we did not make the relevant background clear to our audience,” the BBC said. “We will look into how this happened.” Dershowitz said it’s “entirely appropriate” to “interview victims of Guiffre’s false accusations as long as there is full disclosure.” MEDIAITE 

Thursday, December 30th, 2021 

CDC director addresses criticism over new COVID-19 recommendations  The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, appeared on several morning shows Wednesday to explain why the agency earlier this week reduced the recommended isolation time for people who test positive for COVID-19 from 10 days to five days if they’re asymptomatic. Critics have argued the CDC should recommend obtaining a negative test result prior to leaving isolation. Walensky told CNN the agency decided not to recommend a rapid test to leave isolation because “we actually don’t know” how well rapid tests “predict whether you’re transmissible during the end of disease” and that the new guidelines were made based on the fact that “about 85 to 90 percent of viral transmission happens in those first five days.”  CNN

New single-day COVID case record nearly double that of previous worst day  The United States obliterated its record for most daily new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, topping 488,000. That represents a caseload “nearly twice that of the worst days last winter,” The New York Times writes. The Times notes that while technically the total number of reported cases was higher on Monday this week, “that number should not be considered a record because it included data from the long holiday weekend.” Wednesday also set a new record for the seven-day average of new daily cases, 301,000, up from 267,000 the day before. “Over the next three to four weeks, we are going to see the number of cases in this country rise so dramatically that we’re gonna have a hard time keeping everyday life operating,” Dr. Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, told Morning Joe on Thursday.  CNN 

New York City buckles under record-breaking COVID-19 wave  Emergency responders in New York City are being inundated with 911 calls for fevers and coughs amid one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the country. A spokesperson for the city’s fire department told Gothamist that daily calls for COVID-like symptoms have doubled since the start of December, even as some 30 percent of the city’s 4,400 emergency workers called out sick on Wednesday. More than 110,000 New Yorkers have tested positive since Christmas Day — Wednesday set a new city record of 39,591 new cases — and at least one local hospital is deferring elective surgeries due to the crush of patients. The New York City subway also suspended the service of two lines on Thursday due to COVID-related train crew shortages.  GOTHAMIST

 

Greece bans music on New Year’s Eve celebrations and orders entertainment venues to close at midnight with exception of New Year’s Eve, which can be operated until 2 a.m. It comes due to rising number of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant. (The Hill) 

Tesla orders a recall of over 475,000 Model 3 and Model S cars due to safety defects found in their backup cameras and hoods, respectively. (NPR) 

Grass fires in Colorado, U.S, prompt the evacuation of the town of Superior and the cities of Louisville and Broomfield. (CNN) 

Turkey begins to roll-out its domestically-developed Turkovac inactive vaccine as part of its COVID-19 vaccination program. This comes after the health ministry issued an emergency use authorization for the vaccine. (Daily Sabah) 

South Africa lifts its midnight curfew, allowing alcohol sales to return to normal hours in certain premises, and also allowing gatherings of up to 1,000 people indoors and 2,000 people outdoors, due to a decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases. (Business Insider South Africa) 

A 16-year-old boy is stabbed to death in Hillingdon, west London, making him the 30th teenage homicide in the British capital in 2021. It is now the deadliest year on record for teenage killings, surpassing a previous peak of 29 homicides in 2008. (BBC) 

The End Friday 

Champagne in short supply ahead of New Year’s Eve  New Year’s Eve might not be quite as bubbly this year — and not just because fears of the Omicron variant are bringing the mood down. Alison Napjus, the senior editor of Wine Spectator, warned Fox Business that “it could be tough to find some of your favorite labels [of Champagne] this year” as the industry is impacted by ongoing supply chain issues. “The market has fluctuated over the last 18 months, too,” Beverage Industry Enthusiast adds. “In 2020, the demand for Champagne dropped 18 percent by volume, according to Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), the trade organization for the Champagne region.” Then, as demand climbed again in 2021, heat and frost hurt the Champagne region’s production.  Experts say the shortage is expected “to last several years.”  BEVERAGE INDUSTRY ENTHUSIAST 

Experts say HBO Max had the ‘best 2021’ of any streamer  Which streaming service had the best 2021? According to experts who spoke with Bloomberg‘s Lucas Shaw for his “Screentime” newsletter, the easy answer was HBO Max. “With roughly 70 million global subs, the service grew its user base substantially and has emerged as a viable challenger to Netflix and Disney,” Variety‘s Brent Lang told Shaw. “It also fielded a number of buzzy hits like Hacks, Mare of Eastown, and The Flight Attendant that, for my money (and I subscribe to all of them), were far more accomplished than anything I watched on Disney Plus, Netflix, Amazon, Paramount Plus.” The Ringer‘s Alison Herman agreed, explaining that HBO’s “day-and-date bet for movies paid off in subscribers.” Netflix came in second in the expert’s informal poll, being credited for its indispensability.  SCREENTIME 

Don’t forget to include ‘income from illegal activities’ on your tax forms, says IRS  The IRS would like to remind taxpayers to include any “income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs,” on their forms, noting that “if you steal property, you must report its fair market value” but only if you don’t “return it to its rightful owner in the same year.” The amusing requests went viral this week on social media, although “the statutes are law and have been on the books for years,” NBC News reports. As Gary Schroeder, a Maryland-based tax preparer, explained, “All income, from whatever source, is taxable income, unless excluded by an act of Congress. If you receive $500 to kill your neighbor’s annoying rooster, or find $1 on the street, or embezzle from your employer, that’s all taxable income, as well as your paycheck from flipping burgers at McDonald’s.”  NBC NEWS 

British socialite and associate of Jeffrey Epstein Ghislaine Maxwell is found guilty of sex trafficking by a court in New York City. (ABC News) 

Ghislaine Maxwell guilty in sex-trafficking case  British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted Wednesday on sex-trafficking charges, being found guilty on five of six counts. Each charge carries a prison term of between five and 40 years in prison. Maxwell, 60, had been accused of recruiting girls, some as young as 14, to come to the homes of millionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein, where he then sexually abused them. The incidents took place in the 1990s and early 2000s, at Epstein’s properties in New York, Florida, and New Mexico. Epstein died by suicide more than two years ago while in jail awaiting trial, and Maxwell’s attorneys argued that their client was taking the fall because Epstein was dead.  It took a New York jury five days of deliberation before reaching the verdict.  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Putin requests Thursday call with Biden amid ongoing Ukraine tensions  President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak on a call Thursday afternoon amid tensions over Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s border. Putin reportedly requested the call, with National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne telling CNN the leaders plan to “discuss a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia.” Biden reportedly plans to emphasize to Putin that in order to make “real progress,” talks must be held in “a context of de-escalation rather than escalation.” Putin seeks a legally binding agreement that Ukraine will not join NATO, which the U.S. and its allies have so far refused. American and Russian officials plan to hold talks in Geneva on Jan. 10.  CNN 

Biden seeks Supreme Court ruling on ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy enforcement  The Biden administration is asking the Supreme Court to rule on whether the Department of Homeland Security is required to implement the Trump administration’s controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy. The program requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for a decision on their cases; Biden suspended the policy on his first day of office, with the administration officially terminating it in June. Texas and Missouri subsequently sued, but Matthew Kacsmaryk, a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas and an appointee of former President Donald Trump, determined that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas did not convincingly explain the termination of the policy. A Biden administration appeal, citing the policy’s “unjustifiable human costs,” was rejected by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month.  NBC NEWS

Jet stream causing more issues for airlines  U.S. airlines are already understaffed because of COVID-19, and the weather isn’t helping matters. The jet stream winds have been unusually strong for several days, affecting transcontinental flights. Those going eastbound on Wednesday were arriving up to an hour earlier than scheduled, while westbound flights were slowed down, some delayed by as much as 45 minutes. Earlier this week, the headwinds were so strong that a Phoenix-bound American Airlines flight from Boston had to stop in Oklahoma City to refuel, The Wall Street Journal reports. Thousands of flights have been canceled in the last few days, due to snow in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest combined with staffing shortages caused by pilots, flight attendants, and other airline crew members testing positive for COVID-19; as of Wednesday night, more than 500 flights were already canceled for Thursday.  THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

LeBron James defends himself after accusations of ‘uninformed’ COVID-19 post  Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James says he’s “trying to figure this pandemic out” after sharing a COVID-19 meme that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar slammed as “uninformed.” James recently posted a meme on Instagram that shows three versions of Spider-Man pointing at each other, with one labeled “COVID,” another labeled “flu,” and the third labeled “cold.” He seemed to be implying he’s unsure of the difference between the three, and he captioned the image, “Help me out folks.” Former Lakers player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a Substack post slammed James over this, claiming “LeBron has encouraged vaccine hesitancy which puts lives and livelihoods at risk.” Said James in his defense, “[I’m] literally honestly asking, ‘help me out.’ Help me kind of figure it all out, like we’re all trying to figure this pandemic out.” SB NATION

Wednesday, December 29th, 2021 

Despite the number of new cases caused by the Omicron variant reaching a record 98,030 cases, Italy completely lifts the mandatory quarantine for those who received COVID-19 vaccine booster shot and reduces it to five days for the vaccinated people whose most recent dose was more than 120 days before exposure. (Bloomberg) 

Despite the number of cases caused by the Omicron variant reaching a record high, Spain reduces the isolation period for people who test positive for COVID-19 and the mandatory quarantine for people who had close contact with someone who tested positive to seven days due to staffing shortages and disruptions in some industries. (Thomson Reuters Foundation) 

The United Kingdom reports a record for the second consecutive day of 183,037 new cases of COVID-19. (The Independent) 

France reports a record for the second consecutive day of 208,099 new cases of COVID-19, which is also the highest daily total recorded in any European nation since the beginning of the pandemic. (Le Parisien) 

Troops loyal to Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble gather outside the presidential palace in the capital Mogadishu after President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed tried to suspend the Prime Minister in what has been described as an attempted self-coup. (The National) 

A night curfew is imposed in North Darfur, Sudan, after armed groups looted and burned a United Nations World Food Programme warehouse and UNAMID facilities in Al-Fashir, stealing around 1,900 tonnes of food. (Reuters) 

The Mexican health regulatory authority COFEPRIS approves the emergency use of the Cuban-made Abdala COVID-19 vaccine. (Le Jornada) 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announce that Belarus and Russia will hold war games early next year. (The Washington Post) 

A Russian law requiring foreign travellers and migrant workers to undergo mandatory medical checks, including blood tests and X-rays, and submit fingerprints and biometric data enters into force. (DW) 

Pro-democracy digital media website Stand News shuts down in Hong Kong as police raids its offices and arrest senior executives. The senior executives are later charged with sedition in the latest crackdown related to the national security law. The Hong Kong government says that the news site’s assets have been frozen and that more arrests could occur. (Forbes) 

The End

Wednesday, December 29th, 2021 

CDC revises estimate of Omicron’s prevalence The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday estimated the Omicron variant was responsible for about 59 percent of COVID cases nationwide in the week ending Dec. 25. The agency also substantially revised its figure for the prior week’s estimate. Originally, the agency said Omicron accounted for approximately 73 percent of cases for the week ending Dec. 18, but has now adjusted that down to 23 percent. Also on Tuesday, the FDA announced preliminary study findings which suggest rapid antigen tests “do detect the Omicron variant but may have reduced sensitivity.” POLITICO 

U.S. breaks daily record for COVID cases The U.S. broke the record for daily coronavirus cases on Tuesday, when the seven-day average topped 267,000. The previous record was set on Jan. 11, 2021, when the seven-day average was 251,232. The daily COVID-19 death rate, however, has not risen to match, as in the time since, vaccines have become available to almost all Americans and the apparently milder Omicron variant has spread. Daily COVID-19 deaths averaged around 3,300 in mid-January but are now around 1,500. Some states have seen particularly high caseloads this week: Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia all reported their highest number of COVID-19 cases of the pandemic on Monday.  THE NEW YORK TIMES 

China issues stay-at home orders for hundreds of thousands of people in Yan’an due to the spread of COVID-19 cases, which also resulted in a lockdown in Xi’an, the country’s largest lockdown since last year. (France 24) 

Kodiak, Alaska sets the highest temperature ever recorded in December in the state of Alaska, reaching 19.4 °C (66.9 °F). The Aleutian Islands and island communities in West Alaska have seen abnormally high temperatures since mid-December, including eight straight days of over 10 °C (50 °F) in Unalaska, including 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) on Christmas Day – the warmest Christmas temperature on record for the state. Temperature anomalies for late December reach 10–15 °C (18–27 °F) in some areas. The state also lately experiences unusually wet spells of weather. (Reuters via The Guardian)

Pro-democracy digital media Stand News shuts down in Hong Kong as police raids its offices and arrest senior executives. They are later charged with sedition in the latest crackdown related to the national security law. The Hong Kong government says that assets have been frozen and that more arrests could take place. (Forbes) 

A team of Greek divers led by Kostas Thoctarides announce the discovery of the wreck of Italian submarine Jantina south of Mykonos in the Aegean Sea. The submarine was sunk on July 5, 1941, after being torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Torbay. The finding has been verified by the Italian Navy’s Naval History Office. (Reuters) 

Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid dies at 82 Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat who became one of the longest-serving Senate majority leaders, died on Tuesday, his former chief of staff confirmed. He was 82. Reid grew up in a small mining town, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after marriage, graduated from Utah State University, and attended law school at George Washington University. Before winning his Senate seat in 1986, he was a trial lawyer, chair of the Nevada Gaming Commission, lieutenant governor, and House member. Reid served as Senate majority leader from 2007 through 2014, retired in 2016, and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018. “I wouldn’t have been president had it not been for [Reid’s] encouragement and support,” former President Barack Obama wrote in a tribute. THE WASHINGTON POSTTHE WEEK 

Biden ends Omicron travel ban on 8 African countries President Biden on Tuesday revoked last month’s restrictions on travel from eight countries in southern Africa, including South Africa, where the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was first detected. “The travel restrictions imposed by that proclamation are no longer necessary to protect the public health,” Biden said. “Moreover, the Omicron variant has now spread to more than 100 countries, and it is prevalent in the United States.”  CNN 

Jan. 6 committee agrees to shield some documents At the request of the Biden White House, the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot has agreed to shield some Trump administration papers. These documents “do not appear to bear on the White House’s preparations for or response to the events of Jan. 6, or on efforts to overturn the election or otherwise obstruct the peaceful transfer of power,” said a letter from White House Deputy Counsel Jonathan Su obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday. Former President Donald Trump is bringing a case to the Supreme Court to block the committee from his administration’s records. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Pro-democracy website closes after police raid in Hong Kong Stand News, a pro-democracy website in Hong Kong, shut down Wednesday after its offices were raided by police. Six current and former staff and board members of the site were arrested, facing up to two years in prison, and Stand News subsequently announced it had closed and dismissed all employees. The last pro-democracy paper with physical distribution in Hong Kong closed in June under similar pressure from the semi-autonomous city’s government, which is increasingly under the control of Beijing. A Hong Kong police official said Stand News was raided because it had published multiple “seditious” articles in 2020 and 2021. CNN 

Gunman who killed 5 in Denver identified Law enforcement has identified the gunman who killed five people and injured several more in the Denver and Lakewood, Colorado, areas on Monday as a 47-year-old man named Lyndon McLeod. “This individual was on the radar of law enforcement,” Denver police chief Paul Pazen said at a news conference Tuesday. McLeod, who died in a shootout with police after opening fire in eight locations around the area, did not have a previous criminal record but has been linked to apparently self-published novels that feature a murderous character named “Lyndon MacLeod.” THE DENVER POST 

Prosecutor declines to charge former Gov. Andrew Cuomo Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah said on Tuesday that two “credible” allegations of misconduct were made against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), but she is unable to file criminal charges “due to the statutory requirements of the criminal laws of New York.” Two women had accused Cuomo of kissing them without consent. Another investigation this year by the New York Attorney General’s office found that Cuomo sexually harassed several women during his time in office. Cuomo resigned following that report and faces a criminal misdemeanor charge for forcible touching. CBS NEWS 

Elizabeth Holmes jurors continue deliberations Jurors in the fraud trial of former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes completed a fifth day of deliberation Tuesday without reaching a verdict. The jurors, who sat through 14 weeks of testimony, will continue their deliberation Wednesday. Other high-profile white-collar cases in recent years have seen deliberations of two weeks or longer. Holmes faces 11 criminal charges and could be sentenced to as much as 20 years in prison. She is accused of defrauding investors in her medical startup as well as patients who used its blood testing services. AL JAZEERA 

NFL coach and broadcaster John Madden dies at 85 John Madden, the NFL Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster whose name graces one of the most popular sports video games of all time, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, the NFL announced. He was 85. “Nobody loved football more than Coach,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “He was football.” Madden was born in Minnesota and played football at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958. He coached the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978, leading the team to eight playoffs and a Super Bowl victory, then spent three decades as an NFL broadcaster. ESPN 

Musk sells another $1 billion in Tesla shares  Tesla CEO Elon Musk has sold another 934,090 shares in the company, valued around $1 billion, per filings published Tuesday. Musk has said on Twitter he intends to reduce his Tesla holdings by about 10 percent and has nearly reached that goal. Following this sale, he still owns an estimated 15.6 Tesla million shares, together valued around $16.4 billion, and has just purchased “1.6 million Tesla shares at a strike price of $6.24 per share, granted to him via a 2012 compensation package,” CNBC reports. Musk, who is also CEO of SpaceX, is the world’s wealthiest person, with an estimated worth of about $275 billion. CNBC 

Forecast predicts surge, then drop in gas prices A new forecast from price tracking app GasBuddy, reported Tuesday, predicts the national average gas price will rise from its present rate of $3.29 to peak in May at $3.79 before dropping to $3.01 by this time next year. “We could see a national average that flirts with, or in a worst-case scenario, potentially exceeds $4 a gallon,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told CNN. “The economy is hot. Demand has come roaring back. But supply is still catching up after getting cut greatly in 2020.” CNN 

LastPass denies claims of a breach Password management service LastPass on Tuesday denied claims it had been hacked, saying compromises of its users’ passwords likely stemmed from “third-party breaches related to other unaffiliated services.” “It’s important to note that, at this time, we do not have any indication that accounts were successfully accessed or that the LastPass service was otherwise compromised by an unauthorized party,” the company said. Speculation about a LastPass breach began Monday, with users reporting illegitimate login attempts from multiple locations with a correct master password. GIZMODO 

Tuesday,  December 28th, 2021 

At least 38 people are killed in the collapse of a private gold mine in En Nahud, Sudan. (Al Jazeera) 

Delhi enters Level 1 “Yellow alert” which closes cinemas, schools, colleges, and gyms, imposes a nighttime curfew from 10 pm to 5 am, and restricts the capacity of public transport, restaurants, funerals and weddings, due to an increase in the number of Omicron variant cases. (The Times of India) 

France reports a record 179,807 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (RFI) 

Greece reports a record for the second consecutive day of 21,657 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,105,885. (Ekathimerini) 

Italy reports a record 78,313 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (La Repubblica) 

The United Kingdom reports a record 138,831 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (The Guardian) 

California becomes the first U.S. state and the world’s first subnational entity to surpass five million cases of COVID-19. (ABC News) 

The United States reports a record 512,553 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Deadline) 

South Africa postpones a plan to end COVID-19 contact tracing and suspend some quarantine measures in order to consider additional comments about the policy after the government received many inquiries about the plan. (Bloomberg) 

The End Wednesday 

Tuesday,  December 28th, 2021 

Judge sets hearing to reconsider truck-driver’s 110-year sentence A Colorado judge on Monday scheduled a Jan. 13 hearing to reconsider a 110-year sentence imposed on truck driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos for an explosive crash that killed four people in suburban Denver. The severity of the sentence provoked outrage. District Attorney Alexis King said last week she would seek a sentence of 20 to 30 years for the fiery, 2019 wreck on Interstate 70. About five million people have signed an online petition calling for clemency from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D). Judge Bruce Jones said he wanted to explore whether he could legally reduce the sentence to whatever he deemed appropriate. He said victims of the crash would be allowed to speak at the hearing. Aguilera-Mederos was hauling lumber when his brakes failed and he plowed into stopped traffic after failing to use a runaway truck ramp. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

News audiences shrink in 2021 without 2020’s hot stories   Viewership plunged at cable news networks and other outlets in 2021 as major issues that fueled intense interest in 2020 faded, The Associated Press reported Monday, citing Nielsen data. Weekday prime-time ratings fell by 38 percent at CNN, 34 percent at Fox News Channel, and 25 percent at MSNBC without audience-grabbing issues such as the presidential election and frequent racial justice protests. Broadcast television evening newscasts also saw their audiences shrink. ABC’s World News Tonight and the CBS Evening News saw their viewership fall by 12 percent. NBC’s Nightly News dropped by 14 percent. Comscore reported that unique visitors to the websites of The Washington Post and The New York Times were down by 44 percent and 34 percent, respectively, in November, compared to November 2020. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Virginia workers find 2nd time capsule at Lee statue site Virginia officials said Monday that they had found what appeared to be an 1887 time capsule at the former site of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond. Crews previously unearthed a box they thought was the collection of artifacts 19th-century officials were rumored to have placed under the monument, but it turned out to contain just mementos of men who designed the statue. This time, Gov. Ralph Northam tweeted, “They found it!” The time capsule the crews were searching for is believed to contain about 60 objects buried in a copper box by a group of residents, organizations, and businesses, according to an 1887 Richmond Dispatch article. The artifacts included Confederate memorabilia. NPR 

A massive Roman castrum dated to the reign of Caligula is discovered in Velsen, Netherlands. The site is the most northern fort found by archaeologists, and believed to be a stationing port of Caligula’s failed invasion of Britain. (The Guardian) 

The Supreme Court of Russia orders the liquidation of prominent and oldest human rights group Memorial for breaking the Russian foreign agent law. (BBC News) 

Russian police arrest two allies of opposition politician and activist Alexei Navalny, Kseniya Fadeyeva and Zakhar Sarapulov, under extremism charges. According to another of Navalny’s allies, Leonid Volkov, he had tried to persuade Fedeyeva and Sarapulov to leave Russia as he and others have done, but they refused. (Reuters) 

Biden admits supply of at-home COVID tests ‘clearly not enough’ President Biden conceded Monday that although his administration has been working to increase the availability of over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 rapid tests, the efforts are “clearly not enough.” During a virtual meeting with the National Governor’s Association on the spike in cases fueled by the Omicron coronavirus variant, Biden told 25 governors that when he took office there were no such tests available. He said there were almost 200 million kits available in December, but it’s still insufficient to meet demand as the Omicron coronavirus variant spreads rapidly. Biden said his recently announced plan for the government to purchase 500 million at-home test kits and distribute them free to Americans who request them should help. BUSINESS INSIDER 

CDC reduces isolation time for asymptomatic coronavirus infections The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday cut the recommended isolation time for asymptomatic Americans infected with the coronavirus from 10 days to five. The decision was based on research showing that those first five days are when people are the most infectious, the CDC said. The agency also reduced the recommended quarantine time for people who are vaccinated but not boosted to five days after any coronavirus exposure. They also should wear masks for five days after their isolation is over. People who have received booster shots should wear masks for 10 days but don’t need to isolate. “These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives” even as the Omicron variant spreads, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Airlines cancel more flights as COVID limits crews Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights on Monday due to winter storms and a coronavirus surge fueled by the fast-spreading Omicron variant. The latest cancellations brought the total number of flights to, from, or within the United States to more than 4,000 since Christmas Eve on Friday, according to FlightAware, which tracks flight cancellations. Delta, United, JetBlue, and American have said in recent days that they’ve had to trim their schedules due to staff shortages caused by the COVID-19 surge. Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s top medical adviser, said that the United States should consider requiring vaccinations for air travel to encourage more people to get vaccinated and help curb infections. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

New York vaccine mandate on businesses takes effect New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday launched the nation’s broadest vaccine mandate on private businesses. Under the policy, all employers in the city must verify that in-person workers have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. If in-person workers got the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, they must provide proof they got the second dose within 45 days. De Blasio, who is in his last week as mayor, said he was “100 percent convinced this was the right thing to do.” It was not immediately clear what his successor, Mayor-elect Eric Adams, would do about the mandate. Some business leaders have said the city should give workers the option of taking regular COVID-19 tests instead of getting the shots. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

U.S. skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin tests positive for COVID-19 U.S. alpine skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin announced via Twitter on Monday that she has tested positive for COVID-19. Shiffrin, a 26-year-old three-time Olympic medalist, is the first high-profile American athlete to be infected with the coronavirus in the run-up to the Beijing Winter Olympics, which start on Feb. 4. Her illness served as a reminder that between now and the opening ceremony, anyone can be knocked out of competition at any time as many countries see record numbers of new infections due to the highly infectious new Omicron coronavirus variant. Shiffrin said she was in isolation and would miss this week’s World Cup races in Lienz, Austria. A spokesperson for U.S. Ski and Snowboard said Shiffrin hoped to return for a World Cup tour event in Zagreb, Croatia, next week. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Israeli hospital tests 4th vaccine dose for health-care workers Israel’s Sheba Medical Center on Monday started giving a fourth coronavirus vaccine dose to a test group of health-care workers as the country considers giving an extra shot to people at risk of severe COVID-19 as the Omicron variant drives a spike in infections. The trial involves 150 medical workers who got their first booster before Aug. 20, and have antibody counts below 700, meaning they have low protection, the hospital said in a statement. “It’s one jab in the shoulder, but one giant leap for mankind,” said Jacob Levee, director of the hospital’s heart transplant unit and the first recipient of the fourth vaccine at Sheba. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced that the country would be the first to offer a fourth Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine dose to health workers, citizens over age 60, and people with compromised immune systems. THE WASHINGTON POST 

The Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, Israel, begins the world’s first clinical trial of fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, involving 150 medical personnel, in order to determine if a fourth dose can provide extra immunity against COVID-19. (Voice of America) 

The health ministry reduces the interval between the second dose and booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to three months, citing concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant. (The Times of Israel) 

A bird flu outbreak in northern Israel kills at least 5,200 migratory cranes and forces farmers to slaughter hundreds of thousands of chickens in what authorities say is the deadliest wildlife disaster in the nation’s history. (The Washington Post) 

Syrian state media reports that Israel has bombed the Port of Latakia in Latakia, Syria. The IDF has not confirmed it. If confirmed, this is the second airstrike on the facility this month. Secondary explosions are believed to be from Iranian munitions stored at the facility. (Times of Israel) 

Massive damage at the port is reported from the air raid with most of the port on fire, though there are no immediate reports of casualties from the attack. Videos on social media show multiple large explosions and anti-aircraft fire over the city. A hospital, some residential buildings and shops were also badly damaged. (Al Jazeera) 

Swissmedic approves the use of the monoclonal antibody cocktail Ronapreve developed by Roche and Regeneron to treat severe COVID-19 patients. (Swissinfo) 

Swissmedic approves the use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for people over the age of 18 years, which can be administered two months after the first dose, or six months after a person receives mixed vaccinations with mRNA-based vaccines. (UrduPoint) 

French prime minister Jean Castex announces that, for the next three weeks, all public gatherings will be limited to 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors. Work from home will be mandated where possible, and outdoor mask wearing will be mandatory in city centres. The interval between the second dose and the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will also be reduced to three months in response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. (The Guardian) 

The Greek government announces new restrictions that will be in effect from January 3 until at least January 16, which include mandatory high-protection or double mask wearing in supermarkets and on public transport, closure of entertainment and hospitality venues at midnight, reinstating work from home policies for up to 50% of employees, and reducing the capacity of sports stadiums to 10%. This comes after the country reported a record 9,284 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Ekathimerini) 

Iceland reports a record 672 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (RÚV) 

South Australia reports a record 842 new cases in the past 24 hours. The state also reports their first death from COVID-19 since April 2020 in a 92-year-old woman. (ABC News Australia) 

LAPD release video after police stray bullet killed girl, 14  Los Angeles police released body-camera video showing officers responding to a Dec. 23 report of an assault suspect in a clothing store before they opened fire, killing a 14-year-old girl with a stray bullet as she hid in a dressing room. The scene was chaotic, with several officers approaching the suspect with guns drawn. The girl apparently was hit by one of three rifle shots a police officer fired at the suspect, Daniel Elena-Lopez, who was killed, police said. Other officers can be heard telling the officer who fired to “slow down.” Local media have identified the girl as Valentina Orellana-Peralta. She reportedly came to the United States from Chile six months ago, and was shopping with her mother for a dress for her quinceañera, a 15th birthday celebration in Hispanic traditions. REUTERS 

Riot Games agrees to $100 million gender discrimination settlement Video-game maker Riot Games announced Monday that it had agreed to pay $100 million to settle a class-action gender discrimination lawsuit filed in 2018 that covers more than 2,000 current and former female employees. The settlement initially was set for $10 million, but two California employment agencies last year blocked it, saying the women should get far more. The state separately was investigating claims of sexual harassment, discrimination, unequal pay, and retaliation against women at Riot, which is behind League of Legends, Valorant, and other popular titles. Under the agreement, more than 1,000 full-time employees and 1,300 contractors would split $80 million. The rest would cover costs, including lawyers’ fees. Riot also would fund a diversity and inclusion program. MARKETWATCH 

Monday,  December 27th, 2021 

Putin threatens military action if NATO rejects ultimatum Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that he will be forced to consider numerous options, including a military response, if NATO does not guarantee to bar Ukraine from membership in the alliance. Putin also called for reducing Western military deployments in Eastern Europe. His demands were contained in a pair of draft treaties Russia submitted to NATO earlier this month. Putin, whose remarks aired on Russian state TV Sunday, expressed concerns that missiles could be deployed in Ukraine if the former Soviet satellite joins NATO. “We have nowhere to retreat,” Putin said. “They have pushed us to a line that we can’t cross.” NATO is unlikely to agree to Putin’s terms. “NATO member countries decide who is a member of NATO, not Russia,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Fauci warns Omicron surge will continue pushing cases higher COVID-19 cases, already at record levels in some areas, will probably continue to climb as the “extraordinarily contagious” Omicron variant spreads rapidly across the U.S., Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday on ABC’s This Week. “Every day it goes up and up. The last weekly average was about 150,000 and it likely will go much higher.” Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, warned that although Omicron appears to cause less severe symptoms and fewer hospitalizations than other strains, Americans shouldn’t be complacent because the sheer number of infections “might override a real diminution in severity.” He said “we’re particularly worried” about unvaccinated people, who are “the most vulnerable ones.” The surge has spurred a rush for at-home COVID-19 tests, causing many pharmacies to run out. ABC NEWS 

Airlines continue to cancel flights due to COVID surge U.S. airlines continued to cancel flights on Sunday due to surging coronavirus infections among crews, as well as severe winter weather in some places. Commercial airlines canceled 1,001 flights, both domestic and international departures and arrivals. It was the third straight day of a wave of cancellations that disrupted travel for thousands of Christmas travelers. There were 997 flights called off on Christmas and nearly 700 on Christmas Eve. Thousands of other departures were delayed over the holiday weekend. A White House official noted that only a “small percentage” of flights were affected, putting the nation “in a better place than last Christmas,” which also came during a coronavirus surge.  REUTERS 

France surpasses 100,000 daily coronavirus infections for 1st time France reported Sunday that it has confirmed more than 100,000 new coronavirus infections in a single day for the first time. The high mark was the latest sign that the highly transmissible new Omicron variant is fueling an explosive surge across Europe, where many countries have imposed new lockdowns and other restrictions in hopes of curbing new infections. More than 1 in 100 people in Paris and surrounding areas have tested positive in the last week, the regional health service confirmed. While most of the new cases were linked to Omicron, which is believed to cause less severe COVID-19, a stubborn surge of infections with the Delta variant is keeping hospital admissions high. President Emmanuel Macron’s government has scheduled a Monday meeting to discuss new measures to address the crisis. BLOOMBERG 

Swissmedic approves the use of the monoclonal antibody cocktail Ronapreve developed by Roche and Regeneron to treat severe COVID-19 patients. (Swissinfo) 

South Korea authorizes the emergency use of the anti-viral oral drug Paxlovid manufactured by Pfizer for high-risk patients aged above 12 years, becoming the first drug to be approved in the country. (Yonhap News Agency) 

China reports 206 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases in 21 months, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 101,077. (The Straits Times) 

China scraps ban on foreign ownership of passenger car manufacturers A Chinese planning authority said Monday that Beijing would start allowing full foreign ownership of passenger car manufacturing starting Jan. 1, 2022. China’s Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform Commission released the latest list of industries excluded from foreign investment, and passenger car manufacturing wasn’t on it. The change marked the latest in a series of moves China has made to ease rules on foreign ownership in its auto industry. Monday’s release named 31 areas in which foreign investment remains banned or restricted. Those included rare earths, film production, and tobacco products. In some industries, including medical institutions, foreign firms have to establish joint ventures with local partners that typically hold the majority stake. CNBC 

Iran bans all travellers from the United Kingdom, France, Denmark and Norway for 15 days and indefinitely suspends all land travel to Turkey due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (Arab News) 

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps releases a video on social media threatening to destroy the Israeli city of Dimona and a nearby nuclear facility in the Negev desert. (The Jerusalem Post) 

2 Save the Children workers missing after Myanmar massacre kills 38 Save the Children said over the weekend that 38 people were killed by the Burmese military in eastern Myanmar on Christmas Eve, and that two of the humanitarian organization’s staff members went missing in the attack. Members of Myanmar’s military reportedly attacked three vehicles, including one the Save the Children staffers were using to drive home for the holidays, and burned them. “We have confirmation that their private vehicle was attacked and burned out. The military reportedly forced people from their cars, arrested some, killed others and burned their bodies,” said the organization. The military said the vehicles had failed to stop for inspection and soldiers returned fire when “terrorists” started shooting. Save the Children said it would suspend operations in parts of Myanmar. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Holiday spending rose at fastest pace in 17 years Holiday sales jumped by 8.5 percent this year compared to the same period in 2020, Mastercard SpendingPulse reported Sunday. The results marked the fastest growth in 17 years but fell slightly short of the 8.8 percent gain forecast in September, before consumers were hit with rising prices, product shortages, and a surge of coronavirus cases caused by the highly infectious new Omicron variant. The results covered Nov. 1 through Dec. 24. Clothing saw the biggest jump, 47 percent, followed by jewelry and electronics at 32 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Sales remained strong after Omicron hit just after Thanksgiving, although many shoppers shifted purchases online.  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ box office haul surpasses $1 billion Spider-Man: No Way Home continued its strong run at the box office over the weekend, becoming the first film in the pandemic era to top $1 billion in global ticket sales. The feat by the co-production between Sony and Disney was all the more impressive because it came as the Omicron coronavirus variant is making many people more cautious about going to theaters instead of streaming movies at home. “Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s sprint to $1 billion within the context of this still pandemically challenged marketplace is nothing short of astonishing,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. “It demonstrates the power of a great movie to draw fans around the world to enjoy the shared and communal experience that only the movie theater can provide.” CNBC 

The Taliban regime dissolves Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission, saying that “there is no need for these commissions to exist and operate”. (Al Jazeera) 

The End

Sunday, December 26th, 2021 

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps releases a video on social media threatening to destroy the Israeli city of Dimona, and a nearby nuclear facility in the Negev desert. (The Jerusalem Post) 

China reports 206 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases in 21 months, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 101,077. (The Straits Times) 

The Taliban regime dissolves the Independent Election Commission, saying “there is no need for these commissions to exist and operate” in Afghanistan. (Al Jazeera) 

Airlines cancel thousands of Christmas flights due to staff shortages Airlines canceled more than 2,500 flights Christmas Day, including 880 within, into, or out of the United States. Delta, for example, canceled 14 percent of its Christmas flights. As Omicron spreads and large numbers of employees call in sick, airlines are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with demand for flights while also keeping staff and passengers safe. Under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, ticketholders whose flights are canceled are entitled to refunds. NPR 

Trudeau calls for united front against China Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for Western nations to stand in solidarity against China in a televised interview that aired Saturday. “We need to do a better job of working together and standing strong so China can’t play the angles and divide us one against the other,” Trudeau said. Canada announced earlier this month that it will boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing to protest China’s human rights abuses. REUTERS 

In Christmas message, pope warns against becoming desensitized Pope Francis delivered his annual Christmas address from a balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square Saturday. The pope highlighted the social costs of the pandemic — including loneliness and increased rates of domestic violence — as well as ongoing conflicts in the Syria, Ukraine, Ethiopia, and elsewhere. “Our capacity for social relationships is sorely tried,” he said. “We continue to witness a growing number of conflicts, crises and disagreements. These never seem to end and by now we hardly even notice them.” BBC 

Suicide bomber kills 6 in Congolese region beset by Islamist violence A suicide bomber detonated his device outside a restaurant in the Congolese city of Beni Saturday, killing 6 people and injuring 14 others. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but Congolese and Ugandan forces have been waging an ongoing campaign in the region against the Allied Democratic Forces, an ISIS-affiliated Islamist terror group, since November. “We rushed to the exit where I saw people lying down. There were green plastic chairs scattered everywhere and I also saw heads and arms no longer attached. It was really horrible,” restaurant patron Rachel Magali said. REUTERS 

Over 10,000 Russian troops return to base after drills near Ukrainian border More than 10,000 Russian troops have returned to their bases after a month of drilling on the Ukrainian border, the Russian military announced Saturday. Despite this reduction, Russia still has tens of thousands of troops stationed on the Ukrainian border, and intelligence analysts continue to warn that an invasion could be imminent. Russian state media frequently refers to Ukraine as “a colony of the West” and accuses Ukrainian forces of killing civilians in the eastern part of the country, where Ukraine’s military has been fighting Russian-backed separatists since 2014. BBC 

Queen’s Christmas: Elizabeth pays tribute to Philip, police arrest armed intruder In her annual Christmas message, Queen Elizabeth II reflected on the loss of her husband, Prince Philip. The Queen praised her consort, who died in April at 99, for “his sense of service, intellectual curiosity, and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation” and for his environmental activism. “Even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas,” she said. The Queen was joined at Windsor Castle by Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, and other members of the royal family. She was also nearly joined by an uninvited visitor. Police arrested a 19-year-old man who attempted to break into the castle on Christmas Day while carrying an “offensive weapon.” CNN 

16 dead after migrant boat capsizes off Greek coast A boat carrying migrants capsized late Friday in the Aegean, killing 16, including one infant. Greek coast guard personnel rescued 62 survivors. This was the third fatal maritime incident in the Aegean in as many days, bringing the combined death toll to 30. More than 20,000 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014. Authorities say the boat appears to have been smuggling people from Turkey to Italy. Greek shipping minister Giannis Plakiotakis accused the trafficking gangs of being “indifferent to human life, stacking dozens of people, without life jackets, in vessels which do not conform to the most basic of safety standards.” THE GUARDIAN 

New space telescope launches to explore the origins of the universe The new James Webb Space Telescope blasted off successfully Saturday morning from a launch pad in French Guiana. A joint project between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, the telescope “will peer deeper into the cosmos — and farther back in time — to open a window on the universe as it took shape soon after the Big Bang.” Though only roughly the size of a tennis court, the telescope is designed to detect light that was emitted 13.6 billion years ago, at the dawn of the universe — maybe up to as little as 100 million years after the Big Bang. THE NEW YORK POST 

World marks 30th anniversary of Soviet Union’s collapse On Christmas night, 1991, Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev resigned and relinquished his powers, including the nuclear codes, to Russian President Boris Yeltsin. The flag of the USSR that flew over the Kremlin was lowered, never to be raised again. The next day, the Soviet legislature formally dissolved the Soviet Union, bringing a final end to the Cold War. “The breakup of the Soviet Union was the collapse of a historic Russia … We became a different country. What had been built over a millennium was lost to a large extent,” President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month. POLITICOWION 

Saturday, December 25th, 2021 

Asa Coast Railway announces a dual-mode vehicle that can run on roads and railways. (Dawn Magazine) 

The James Webb Space Telescope is successfully launched using the Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. (CNN) 

The global version of video game digital distribution service Steam is reportedly blocked in China. The China-only version of the service, launched in February of this year, remains accessible. (The Verge) 

The scientific committee (Pevolca) of the Canary Islands government declares that the Cumbre Vieja volcano’s eruptions on La Palma island stopped after 10 days of inactivity. However, the authorities do not consider the emergency situation to be over.(RTVE) 

The Canarian government announces that the scientific committee has terminated the eruption after 10 days of inactivity of the volcano whose eruption began on 19 September. Even so, the authorities do not consider the emergency situation to be over. (RTVE) 

A suicide bomber blows himself up at a restaurant during Christmas celebrations in Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing five people and wounding 13 others. (BBC) 

The Drug Controller General of India approves the emergency use of the Covaxin vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biotech for children between the ages of 12 and 18 years. (Hindustan Times) 

The Israeli government finalizes an agreement with Pfizer to purchase 100,000 courses of the anti-viral drug Paxlovid for high-risk patients over the age of 12 years, with delivery expected to begin in one week. (The Times of Israel) 

Turkmenistan becomes one of the first countries to approve the usage of the single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine. The health ministry also purchases 600,000 doses of the two-dose Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. (Anadolu Agency) 

France reports a record for the third consecutive day of 104,611 new cases of COVID-19, which is also the first time that the country has reported more than 100,000 new cases since the beginning of the pandemic. (Al-Arabiya English) 

Italy reports a record for the third consecutive day of 54,762 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 5.62 million. (Il Sore 24 Ore) 

Friday,  December 24th, 2021 

Putin says the West is the one threatening Ukraine war Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a marathon news conference Thursday in which he said the West, not Russia, was stoking the threat of war on the Ukraine border. He said the West’s talk of “war, war, war,” could indicate that Kyiv is the one preparing to attack in Russia-backed separatist territories in eastern Ukraine. Putin also said in the annual news conference that Kyiv’s turn toward the West represents a security threat to Russia. Moscow has sent 100,000 troops to its border with Ukraine, but Putin said he would prefer to settle tensions diplomatically. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the United States also sees diplomacy as the “best path,” and rejected Putin’s claim the West was threatening Moscow, saying NATO is a “defensive alliance.”THE WASHINGTON POST 

Russian president Vladimir Putin demands that NATO guarantee that it will not move its forces into Ukraine, accusing NATO and the U.S. of trying to send Ukraine and Russia into direct armed conflict. (The Irish Independent) 

After five days of military training, Iran fires sixteen ballistic missiles at a target in a show of force against Israel. The incident is part of a wider increase in tensions between the two countries. (RFI) 

Hong Kong authorities remove the Hong Kong Goddess of Democracy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong campus and a memorial to the Tiananmen Square massacre from Lingnan University campus. (Al Jazeera) 

The South African Health Department suspends COVID-19 contact tracing and quarantine for people with asymptomatic cases due to 80% of the population being vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19. (Bloomberg) 

A surfer is killed an apparent shark attack in Morro Bay, off the coast of California, United States. It is the first fatal shark attack in the area since 2003. (BBC) 

Japan decides not to send government delegates to the 2022 Winter Olympics, although the Japanese team will still be present. (CBC) 

The Houthis launch an airstrike on the Saudi Arabian city of Jizan, killing two people and wounding seven more. (Reuters) 

Three people are killed and six others injured during Saudi Arabian-led air raids in Ajama, Yemen. (Al Jazeera) 

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa warns that the effects of the pandemic on Africa’s economy could push the number of “extremely poor” Africans to 514 million people. The World Bank also announced a recession as the economies of African countries continue to shrink. (AP) 

The French Haute Autorité de santé [fr] recommends that booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can be administered as soon as three months after the primary vaccination schedule due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (Politico.eu) 

France reports a record for the second consecutive day of 94,122 new cases of COVID-19. (Barron’s) 

Greece cancels all public Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations, as well as mandates mask wearing outdoors and requiring people to wear two masks or a high-protection mask in order to use public transport and enter supermarkets due to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (The Independent) 

Italy reports a record for the second consecutive day of 50,599 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 5.57 million. (Reuters) 

The United Kingdom reports a record for the third consecutive day of 122,186 new cases of COVID-19. (ITV News) 

Former South Korean president Park Geun-hye is pardoned by the South Korean Justice Ministry. (Deutsche Welle) 

Former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh is found guilty of numerous different crimes, including rape, torture, mass murder, and killing journalists by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission. (Voice of America) 

Ex-officer Kim Potter convicted of manslaughter in Daunte Wright shootingA jury on Thursday found former Minnesota police officer Kim Potter guilty of manslaughter for fatally shooting Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, during an April traffic stop. Potter shouted “Taser! Taser!” before shooting Wright. Video of the incident showed her saying, “Holy s–t. I just shot him.” Wright testified that she mistook her gun for her Taser. She said she was “very distraught” after the shooting, and “didn’t want to hurt anybody.” Attorneys for Wright’s family said the “argument that she mistook her firearm for her Taser is simply beyond comprehension and a damning indictment of both her and the Brooklyn Center Police Department’s practices and training protocols.” Potter could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison on the most serious manslaughter charge.THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

FDA approves a 2nd COVID-19 pill for emergency useThe Food and Drug Administration on Thursday granted emergency-use authorization for Merck’s pill to treat COVID-19 in adults at high risk of severe disease and who don’t have access to alternative FDA-approved and appropriate treatment options. Merck’s drug, Molnupiravir, was approved a day after Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral pill became the first at-home coronavirus treatment to receive emergency-use authorization. Patients are supposed to take Molnupiravir within five days of their first symptoms. The pill is only authorized for people age 18 and up. The FDA stressed that neither drug should be considered a substitute for vaccination in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.AXIOS 

New York City to hold scaled down Times Square New Year’s celebration New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday that the city would hold its traditional New Year’s celebration in Times Square, but with a reduced crowd to limit the risk of infection with the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant. Viewing areas for the event that normally can accommodate about 58,000 people will be limited to crowds totaling about 15,000 this year. Everyone attending will have to wear a mask and show proof of vaccination. “There is a lot to celebrate and these additional safety measures will keep the fully vaccinated crowd safe and healthy as we ring in the New Year,” de Blasio said. The city has been hit hard by the Omicron surge, with a single-day record of 17,200 new cases confirmed on Tuesday.THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Economy shows signs of damage from Omicron spike The rapid spreading of the Omicron coronavirus variant across the United States has already started hurting the economy, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing new data from the hospitality industry. The number of people dining at U.S. restaurants was down by 22 percent in the week that ended Dec. 22, compared to the same period two years ago, according to data from reservations site OpenTable. The rate of the decline grew in December compared to late November, when the new strain was first reported in South Africa. Hotel occupancy across the U.S. was around 54 percent in the week that ended Dec. 18, down slightly from the previous week, according to hospitality analytics company STR. United and Delta airlines said Thursday they had canceled more than 200 flights on Christmas Eve, and dozens more on Christmas Day as Omicron infections affected flight crews.CNN 

Ted Kaczynski moved from Supermax prison to medical facility Ted Kaczynski, the so-called Unabomber, has been moved from a federal Supermax prison in Colorado to a federal medical center in Butner, North Carolina. Kaczynski, 79, was moved to the Federal Medical Center Butner on Dec. 14, Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Donald Murphy said. Murphy declined to reveal any details on Kaczynski’s medical condition or why he was transferred. Kaczynski is serving life without the possibility of parole for a series of bombings that targeted scientists. He was arrested in 1996 at a primitive cabin in western Montana, and pleaded guilty to sending 16 homemade bombs by mail that killed three people and injured 23 others between 1978 and 1995. He spent more than 20 years in the Colorado prison. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

 Thursday, December 23rd, 2021 

Russia surpasses 600,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Reuters) 

Russia surpasses 300,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Reuters) 

South Africa says Omicron surge easing as fast as it started South Africa’s surge of Omicron coronavirus cases is now plummeting as fast as it rose, the country’s top infectious-disease scientist, Salim Abdool Karim, said Wednesday. After a near-vertical rise, he said in an interview, “we’re going down, right back down.” The news fueled hopes that the tidal waves of infections in the United States and other countries could peak and subside just as quickly. In the U.S., the seven-day average of new coronavirus cases hit 168,981 on Wednesday, surpassing the summertime peak of the Delta variant surge. Also on Wednesday, South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases released a study that, although it hasn’t been peer reviewed, reinforced evidence that Omicron is causing milder COVID-19 cases than previous variants. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Supreme Court sets emergency hearing on Biden vaccine mandates The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would consider legal challenges seeking to block President Biden’s coronavirus vaccine mandates for health-care workers and employees at large companies, with oral arguments set for a special emergency session on Jan. 7. The court said it would defer requests to place a hold on the mandates until it can review the matter. There are two challenges pending, and the high court will consider both at the same time. The cases have not yet worked their way through lower courts. The Supreme Court will decide whether the Biden administration can put the rules into effect for the time being, although the high court’s ruling is expected to indicate whether the mandates will survive. CNBC 

Preliminary data from the United Kingdom suggests the hospitalization rate of the COVID-19 Omicron variant is between 50% to 70% lower than the Delta variant. (Deutsche Welle) 

Germany reports its first confirmed death related to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. (Deutsche Welle) 

The United Kingdom reports a record for the second consecutive day of 119,789 new cases of COVID-19. (Sky News) 

The Italian government announces a ban of New Year’s Eve celebrations as well as all mass gatherings and closes nightclubs and bars until the end of January. The government also agree to reintroduce mandatory mask wearing outdoors and will reduce the validity of vaccine certificate to six months beginning from February 1. (MedicalXpress) 

The Food and Drug Administration grants emergency use authorization for Merck & Co.’s antiviral COVID-19 oral pill named Molnupiravir for at-risk individuuals. (Global News) 

Hong Kong university removes Tiananmen massacre monument The University of Hong Kong, the city’s oldest university, on Thursday removed a statue commemorating the victims of China’s Tiananmen Square massacre. The “Pillar of Shame” depicted 50 contorted bodies, some in mid-scream. It was one of the most prominent Tiananmen monuments on Chinese soil. The Council of the University of Hong Kong said it decided to take down the statue, which had stood on campus for more than two decades, “based on external legal advice and risk assessment for the best interest of the university.” The university said the statue was being placed in storage. The move came more than a year after China imposed a new national-security law that has been followed by a crackdown on civic freedoms in Hong Kong. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

President Joe Biden signs the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act into law banning imports from China’s Xinjiang region citing concerns about the use of forced labour. China denies human rights abuses in Xinjiang. (Al Jazeera) 

Biden says holiday supply crisis averted President Biden said Wednesday that measures taken by his administration had eased supply-chain bottlenecks to avoid a pre-Christmas logjam. “The much-predicted crisis didn’t occur,” Biden said ahead of a meeting between government officials and leaders of major companies. “Packages are moving, gifts are being delivered, shelves are not empty.” Biden created a task force in June to address high prices and inventory shortages blamed on pandemic-related shipping and labor problems, along with high demand. The administration pushed ports to operate around the clock to clear bottlenecks, resulting in a record number of goods passing through Southern California ports, with shipping wait time cut in half. FedEx CEO Fred Smith said some issues remained but “most of Santa Claus’ products will be delivered to the consumers.” REUTERS 

FDA authorizes Pfizer’s pill to treat COVID-19 The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized Pfizer’s antiviral pill Paxlovid to treat early COVID-19 cases, making it the first drug approved for people to take at home to prevent severe symptoms. The milestone came as infections and hospitalizations rise and authorities warn of a potential flood of cases due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Another antiviral pill, developed by Merck, also is expected to receive authorization soon. Health experts have high expectations for Pfizer’s drug due to its mild side effects and tests showing it reduces hospitalizations and deaths by nearly 90 percent among patients at risk for severe disease. “The efficacy is high, the side effects are low, and it’s oral. It checks all the boxes,” said Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

The United States and Japan approve a plan for a joint military operation in response to a possible “Taiwan emergency”. The operation would consist of deploying U.S. Marines on the Ryukyu Islands near Taiwan, while the Japan Self-Defense Forces would provide logistical support such as ammunition and fuel supplies. (Reuters) 

The Australian Government pays a A$2,000,000 settlement to the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku to end a class action lawsuit in the Federal Court over the controversial Community Development Program, which saw unemployed Ngaanyatjarra and other Indigenous Australian people in remote communities working up to 25 hours a week otherwise unpaid in order to receive the JobSeeker payment, which is generally considered to be less than the cost of living and which is provided to other Australians in exchange for completing a fortnightly quota of job applications. The Ngaanyatjarra accused the program of being racist and a form of modern slavery. (The Guardian) 

The End Sunday post

South Korea reports a record 109 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,015. (ABC News) 

Biden extends student loan payment relief President Biden announced Wednesday that he would extend a suspension of student loan payments until May 1 to help people facing financial problems due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The pause had been scheduled to expire Feb. 1. The change comes as the Biden administration and local public health officials rush to address the new COVID-19 surge fueled by the fast-spreading Omicron variant. “Given these considerations, today my administration is extending the pause on federal student loan repayments for an additional 90 days — through May 1, 2022 — as we manage the ongoing pandemic and further strengthen our economic recovery,” Biden said in a statement. Biden also said the Education Department was working to help borrowers “transition smoothly” back into making payments when the time comes. CNN 

U.S. eases sanctions on Taliban as Afghanistan faces humanitarian crisis The Biden administration on Wednesday said it was relaxing sanctions on the Taliban to help Afghanistan manage a humanitarian crisis blamed on damage from the coronavirus pandemic, a severe drought, and the loss of foreign aid and access to currency reserves. The Biden administration tried to use the financial pressure as leverage against the Taliban when it returned to power three months ago as the last U.S. troops left Afghanistan. The freezing of $9.5 billion of Afghanistan’s foreign reserves and other measures left the country with a severe cash shortage that hurt banks and other businesses, and triggered high inflation. The Treasury Department said Wednesday it would issue “general licenses” to make it easier for aid to flow through international aid organizations and the U.S. government to provide relief to Afghans. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Madagascar minister swims 12 hours and is rescued after helicopter crash Madagascar Police Minister Serge Gelle was rescued after surviving a rescue-helicopter crash and swimming 12 hours before being saved by fishermen. “My turn to die has not yet come, thank God,” Gelle said in a video posted on Twitter by Madagascar’s Defense Ministry. In the video, the veteran police general, still wearing his camouflage uniform, relaxes in a lounge chair in the seaside town of Mahambo, his hands visibly wrinkled from the time he spent in the water. The Maritime and River Port Agency reports a mechanic, a pilot, and colonel were also on board the helicopter when it crashed; the mechanic was found alive and rescued Tuesday, while the colonel’s body was recovered and a search for the pilot is ongoing. Gelle was part of a team searching for people who had been aboard a cargo ship that sank with 138 people on board off the country’s northeast coast. At least 64 people were killed. SKY NEWS 

Ex-Proud Boy pleads guilty to Jan. 6 conspiracy charges Matthew Greene, a former member of the Proud Boys from Syracuse, New York, pleaded guilty Wednesday to obstructing Congress and conspiring to obstruct law enforcement during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Greene, 34, admitted coordinating fellow New York members of the far-right group at the front of the mob, although there is no evidence he entered the Capitol. Greene is the first person who acknowledges membership in the Proud Boys to plead guilty and agree to cooperate with prosecutors in a felony conspiracy case related to the insurrection. Greene will be sentenced in March and could get four years in prison according to nonbinding sentencing guidelines, although prosecutors say he is likely to get credit for cooperating. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Virginia experts open 1887 time capsule found in Robert E. Lee statue pedestal Virginia officials on Wednesday opened an 1887 time capsule that workers found in the pedestal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Workers found the capsule on Dec. 17 while they were dismantling the 40-foot pedestal in Richmond. The statue was taken down after becoming the focus of racial justice protests. Inside the capsule, experts found an 1875 almanac, two books, a coin, and a cloth envelope. Many of the items were wet due to water that had accumulated inside the corroded lead box that contained them. “Given that the artifacts are wet, they will be put in the freezer to prevent any further deterioration,” Katherine Ridgway, a conservator at Virginia Department of Historic Resources, told WTVR. One of the withered books had “love” written on it. CNN 

Existing-home sales rise with boost from low mortgage rates  U.S. existing-home sales rose by 1.9 percent in November compared to the month before as low mortgage interest rates and a strong job market continued to fuel strong demand. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.46 million sales marked the fastest pace since January, although November sales were down 2 percent from a year earlier. Existing-home sales are headed for their best year since 2006, with sales up by 10 percent from a year earlier in the first 11 months of 2021, thanks to low interest rates, higher household savings, and buyers looking for more space to work from home. Competition for limited inventory has driven prices up, with the median existing-home price up by 13.9 percent in November from a year earlier, to $353,900, the National Association of Realtors said. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

James Franco admits he slept with students and ‘cheated on everyone’ James Franco has given his first interview in years after he was accused of sexual misconduct in 2018. The actor sat down on the Jess Cagle Podcast and claimed he’s been “doing a lot of work” toward “changing who I was” since five women accused him of inappropriate behavior in a Los Angeles Times exposé. A 2019 lawsuit also accused Franco and his partners of “sexualizing their power as a teacher and an employer by dangling the opportunity for roles in their projects” at his acting school, which has since closed. Franco in the interview admitted, “Over the course of my teaching, I did sleep with students, and that was wrong.” He denied, though, that this is “why I started the school.” He additionally admitted to having “cheated on everyone” before he started dating his current girlfriend, being “completely blind to power dynamics” and “completely blind to people’s feelings,” leading to behavior that “spun out to a point where it was like I was hurting everybody.” Franco also addressed Seth Rogen’s comments that he had no plans to work with him again, calling the remarks “hurtful” but saying, “I get it.”  PAGE SIX 

2016 ‘Ghostbusters’ director calls out box set snub There’s something strange in the neighborhood. Paul Feig, director of the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, on Wednesday questioned why his film has been left out of a new “Ghostbusters Ultimate Collection” box set. The 8-disc set includes the original two Ghostbusters films and the 2021 sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife, but it’s missing the 2016 movie centered around female Ghostbusters. “Um … @SonyPictures, I know this must be a mistake,” Feig tweeted. “We do have a lot of fans, and Bill [Murray], Dan [Aykroyd] and Ernie [Hudson] were in it, and it won the Kids Choice Award for Best Feature Film the year it came out. So, I guess this was just an oversight?” Perhaps the thinking was not to include Feig’s movie because it technically isn’t canon in the new Afterlife timeline. But this added to a feeling among some fans of the 2016 version that the film was being erased by Sony years after it spawned sexist trolling over its female cast, with writer BJ Colangelo tweeting, “This is so disrespectful.” Who you gonna call to get this fixed, Paul?  PAUL FEIGSLASHFILM 

Congress wants answers from Live Nation about the Astroworld tragedy Lawmakers are stepping in to demand answers about the tragedy at Travis Scott’s Astroworld music festival. Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Wednesday wrote to the promoter Live Nation asking for information about the festival, where 10 people died in a crowd surge. “Recent reports raise serious concerns about whether your company took adequate steps to ensure the safety of the 50,000 concertgoers who attended Astroworld Festival,” the lawmakers wrote, pointing to reports of “inexperienced or ill-equipped” security and medical staff. They asked for written answers to a number of questions, including regarding the “precise time” Live Nation was made aware of casualties “and what steps were taken in response to that information.” The responses are due no later than Jan. 7. This comes after Scott, who was performing on stage at the festival, gave his first interview since the tragedy, saying he had a “responsibility to figure out what happened.”  TMZ 

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