Sunday, October 17th, 2021 

Shenzhou 13 launches on a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia, for the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station, where the crew will stay for six months. It will be China’s longest crewed mission to date. (AFP via NDTV) 

Lucy, a NASA spacecraft that will visit Jupiter’s trojan asteroids, launches today at 09:34 UTC from Cape Canaveral, Florida. (CNN) 

Russian actor, director return after 12 days at space station A Russian actor and a film director returned to Earth in a Soyuz MS-18 capsule on Sunday after spending 12 days at the International Space Station, where they worked on the first movie to be filmed in space. The capsule descended by parachute and landed in remote western Kazakhstan three hours after leaving the space station with actress Yulia Peresild, director Klim Shipenko, and Russian ISS crew member Oleg Novitskiy on board. The return came days after 90-year-old actor William Shatner, who played Capt. James Kirk in the Star Trek TV series, became the oldest person to reach space in a brief flight aboard a spacecraft operated by Blue Origin, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ space-flight company. REUTERS 

Taliban promises security for Shiite mosques after bombings The Taliban on Saturday vowed to increase security at Shiite mosques in Afghanistan following two deadly suicide bombings in a week. The pledge came as mourners gathered to bury victims of the second attack, which killed at least 41 people and wounded 70 at the Fatima mosque in Kandahar. A health official said some of the wounded were in critical condition and the death toll could rise. The Afghanistan affiliate of the Sunni extremist group Islamic State, ISIS-K, has claimed responsibility for the attack. ISIS-K terrorists have been stepping up their attacks to challenge the Taliban’s control. The head of Kandahar’s police said officers would be sent to protect Shiite mosques previously guarded only by local volunteers with special authorization to carry weapons.  REUTERS 

The Saudi Arabia-lead coalition says that they have killed 160 Houthi militants in Marib, Yemen, during 32 airstrikes in the past 24 hours. The coalition also reported that they killed a total of more than 700 Houthis this week. (Al Jazeera) 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says that the mass release of wastewater at the Fukushima nuclear plant cannot be delayed. The water, which has been inside the plant since the 2011 meltdown, is planned to be dumped into the Pacific Ocean over several decades with strong opposition from local fishermen, and the governments of China and South Korea. (CNA) 

Cape Verdeans head to the polls to elect their new president to replace outgoing term-limited Jorge Carlos Fonseca. The candidates of Fonseca’s right-wing MpD and the leftist PAICV are the main contenders. The election is seen as important to reopen the important tourism industry which was hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. (Reuters) 

The Instituto Nacional Electoral in Mexico says that 2.85 million signatures are needed for a recall election against president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. López Obrador had promised this move which is opposed by the opposition. (Yahoo! News) 

Gang kidnaps U.S. missionaries in Haiti Gang members kidnapped as many as 17 Christian missionaries and their family members, most of them Americans, as they were leaving an orphanage in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince on Saturday, according to Haitian security officials and an audio prayer alert from their group, Christian Aid Ministries. Local officials said the missionary group, which included children, was abducted from a bus headed to the airport and another destination. Haiti has been plagued by political tension and security problems for years, but the crisis has deepened since the July assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Kidnappings have spiked sixfold this year. The Caribbean nation now has the highest per-capita kidnapping rate in the world, according to The Washington Post.  THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Rebels open fire on a group of Indian workers from Bihar in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing two people and wounding another. (Greater Kashmir) 

U.K. police identify terror suspect held in lawmaker’s murder The suspect arrested in the fatal stabbing of British lawmaker David Amess has been identified as Ali Harbi Ali, a British citizen of Somali descent, U.K. media reported late Saturday. The suspect reportedly was not believed to have been on the radar of security officials, but had been referred to the U.K.’s Prevent counter-terrorist program, which aims to prevent at-risk people from being radicalized. Police said the suspect, originally arrested on suspicion of murder, was being held by London police after being rearrested under the Terrorism Act. Police said early results of the investigation into the killing suggested the motive could be linked to Islamic extremism. Amess, a member of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party, was stabbed multiple times Friday during a meeting with constituents.  BBC NEWS 

Venezuela halts talks with opposition after Maduro ally’s extradition The Venezuelan government said Saturday it was halting talks with the opposition in response to the extradition of an ally of President Nicolas Maduro on money-laundering charges. Lead government negotiator Jorge Rodríguez said his delegation would not go to Mexico City for the next scheduled meeting with members of the U.S.-backed opposition, although he did not say the talks were being scrapped permanently. The Maduro ally, businessman Alex Saab, lost a 16-month battle against extradition and was put on a plane to fly to the U.S. from Cape Verde. Rodriguez called the arrest an illegal act of “aggression” by Washington, which has called Maduro’s controversial reelection illegitimate. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Hollywood union reaches deal with studios just before strike deadline The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees reached a tentative deal with studios and streaming services on Saturday, just in time to avert a strike before a 12:01 a.m. Monday deadline. A strike threatened to shut down film and television industry production. The deal, which still must be ratified by union members, covers about 40,000 film and television workers who belong to 13 local IATSE unions on the West Coast. Under the new contract, union workers would get better pay on streaming-service productions, more frequent breaks, and other benefits. “This is a Hollywood ending,” said IATSE International President Matthew Loeb. “We went toe to toe with some of the richest and most powerful entertainment and tech companies in the world.” THE WALL STREET JOUNAL 

Sudan protesters call for military rule  Thousands of protestors rallied in front of Sudan’s presidential palace in Khartoum on Saturday to demand that the military take power to end the east African country’s political crisis. The demonstrators chanted “down with the hunger government” and urged Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who leads the armed forces and Sudan’s joint military-civilian Sovereign Council, to take control. The military and civilians have been sharing power in a tense two-year transition following the 2019 toppling of longtime President Omar al-Bashir. Tensions have intensified since a foiled coup attempt by Bashir loyalists in September. Military leaders are calling for replacing the cabinet and reforming the Forces of Freedom and Change coalition, the civilian alliance that led anti-Bashir protests and plays a key role in the transitional government. CNN 

Saturday, October 16th, 2021 

The Taliban says that they will step up security at Shi’ite mosques after IS-KP bombed mosques in Kunduz and Kandahar this month, killing over 120 people in total. (Reuters) 

Two workers are killed by gunmen in Srinagar and Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, in a spike of civilians being killed by rebels in the area. (Greater Kashmir) 

Seven activists are sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to twelve months’ imprisonment for protesting against the national security law in July 2020. Among those sentenced are Leung Kwok-hung and Figo Chan. Leung is currently serving two sentences of 18 months’ imprisonment for other charges and Chan is currently serving a sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment for unauthorized assembly. (RTHK) 

A Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and another militant are killed during a gunfight with security forces in Pulwama. The killed commander, who was involved in the murder of two policemen, was among the top 10 targets of Jammu and Kashmir police. It is also announced that two more rebels, involved in the recent killings of civilians, were killed yesterday during a gunfight in Srinagar. (India Today) 

Russia reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 1,002 deaths from COVID-19, which is the first time that the country has reported more than 1,000 COVID-related deaths in a single day since the pandemic began. Only 32% of the population has been fully vaccinated, amid wide distrust in vaccines. (France 24) 

An unidentified armed gang kidnaps 15 American missionaries and their families in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. (AFP via Barron’s) 

Colombian businessman Alex Saab is extradited to the United States from Cape Verde ahead of an initial court appearance in Florida on October 18 over his alleged money laundering for the Venezuelan government. (AFP via Deccan Herald) 

French president Emmanuel Macron condemns the Paris massacre of 1961 on the eve of its 60th anniversary, but does not issue a formal apology. Macron is the first French president to attend a memorial ceremony for the victims. (AFP via WION) 

Friday,  October 15th, 2021 

Three suicide bombers attack a Shiite mosque in Kandahar, Afghanistan, killing 47 people and injuring 70 others. The explosions occur at the main door and inside the mosque. Taliban authorities later arrived and secured the mosque. Taliban interior ministry spokesman Qari Saeed Khosti says that authorities are currently collecting evidence in order to determine responsibility for the bombing. (Al Jazeera) 

ISIL-K claims responsibility for the attack, reporting that two attackers shot and killed security guards outside the mosque before blowing themselves up inside, where people were worshipping. (Reuters) 

United States Marine Corps lieutenant colonel Stuart Scheller is reprimanded by a military judge following his criticism of the U.S. military’s handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. (ABC News) 

President Xi Jinping of China will not attend in person the Cop26 climate change conference in Glasgow, as it’s told to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The announcement comes amid international pessimism that, now compounded by the absence of China, a global leader in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, the event would not result in any substantiative change. (Reuters) 

A Cameroonian policeman is lynched by a mob after he killed a five-year-old girl at a checkpoint in Buea Southwest Region. Protests involving hundreds of people occurred after the killing of the child. (The Guardian) 

President Faustin-Archange Touadéra declares a unilateral ceasefire with the Coalition of Patriots for Change and the anti-balaka militia groups. (AFP via Barron’s) 

David Amess, United Kingdom MP for Southend West, is stabbed to death in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, while meeting constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church. The suspect was arrested at the scene, and police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. (BBC News)  

President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook receive booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Yonhap News Agency) 

The Brussels-Capital Region expands the use of the COVID Safe Ticket to the hospitality industry, sports centres, and indoor events with more than 50 people. (The Brussels Times) 

Italy‘s Green Pass becomes mandatory for all workplaces, but there are fears of disruption among transport workers and at ports where COVID-19 vaccination rates are relatively low. (BBC News) 

Russia reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 999 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 221,313. The country also reports a record for the second consecutive day of 32,196 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 7.92 million. (Interfax) 

During an online emergency meeting, the foreign ministers of the ASEAN agree to exclude Myanmar’s military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing from the upcoming ASEAN Summit to be held later this month. The country will instead be represented by non-political representative at the summit. (AFP via Al Arabiya) 

Masten Wanjala, the Kenyan suspected serial killer of 14 boys, who escaped from prison two days ago, is murdered by lynching by a mob of villagers in Bungoma. Wanjala was hiding at his parents’ home when he was identified by neighbours. (BBC News) 

Beirut street violence erupts during protest of port blast inquiry Intense gunfire erupted in Beirut Thursday during a Hezbollah protest over the investigation into a huge explosion last year at the city’s port. The fighting with pistols, automatic rifles, and rocket-propelled grenades left at least six people dead and dozens more wounded in the worst street violence the Lebanese capital has seen in years. The gunfire lasted for hours, forcing the evacuation of schools. Many residents fled to hide in shelters. It was not immediately clear who started the shooting, which broke out shortly after a crowd brought out by Iran-backed Hezbollah and Shiite Muslim allies from the Amal Movement started their protest against Judge Tarek Bitar, who is leading the port-blast investigation. Hezbollah accuses the judge of singling out its political allies for questioning. NPR 

Three suicide bombers blow themself up at a Shiite mosque in Kandahar, Afghanistan, killing 37 people and wounding 70 others. The explosions occur at the main door and inside the mosque. Taliban authorities have arrived and secured the place. Taliban interior ministry spokesman Qari Saeed Khosti says that authorities were collecting evidence to determine responsibility. (BBC) 

Italy‘s Green Pass becomes mandatory for all workplaces on Friday, but there are fears of disruption among transport workers and at ports where COVID-19 vaccination rates are relatively low. (BBC News) 

Masten Wanjala, the man who killed 14 boys around Kenya and escaped from prison two days ago, is lynched by a mob of villagers in Bungoma. He went at his parents home before being identified by their neighbours. (BBC) 

Southend West UK MP David Amess is stabbed in Leigh-on-Sea while meeting constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church. The suspect was arrested at the scene and police are not looking for anyone else in connection. (BBC News)(CNBC) 

FDA advisers recommend limited emergency use of Moderna booster  A panel of Food and Drug Administration advisers recommended emergency-use authorization of Moderna’s coronavirus booster shot for people 65 and older, and those 18 to 64 at high risk of severe COVID-19 or elevated risk due to their jobs. The panel’s 19 members unanimously backed starting to give these groups the 50-microgram third dose, which is half the size of the initial two doses. Patients in the targeted groups would be eligible six months after receiving the initial two-dose regimen. Committee members said they would have liked to see more data justifying the Moderna booster, but that it made sense to approve it given that they have already cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech booster for emergency use. Regulators aren’t obligated to follow the advisers’ recommendations, but typically do. CNN

Weekly jobless claims fall below 300,000 for 1st time since pandemic hit The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell below 300,000 last week for the first time since the pandemic began, the Labor Department reported Thursday. First-time jobless claims dropped by 36,000 to 293,000 for the week that ended Oct. 9 in what was widely interpreted as a sign that hiring was bouncing back as the summer coronavirus surge driven by the highly infectious Delta variant wanes. Continuing claims, which run behind the “headline number” by one week, also dropped to their own pandemic-era low, having fallen by 134,000 to 2.59 million. The decline came after a record 4.3 million Americans left their jobs in August, suggesting one reason for declining layoffs was that many workers are leaving voluntarily. CNBC 

Suspect in deadly Norway bow-and-arrow attack issued ‘warning’ in video Police said Thursday that the Danish man accused of fatally shooting five people with a bow and arrow in Norway is a radicalized Muslim convert who posted a 2017 video calling himself a “messenger” delivering “a warning.” “Hello. I’m a messenger. I come with a warning. Is this really what you want? And for all who want to make up for themselves, so it’s time. Bear witness that I am a Muslim,” the 37-year-old man, Espen Andersen Bråthen, reportedly said in English in a Facebook video flagged to law enforcement in 2017. The attack on Wednesday in the town of Kongsberg, about 40 miles southwest of Oslo, left four women and a man dead, Police Chief Ole B. Saeverud said. The victims were between the ages of 50 and 70. Several other people were wounded. The Norwegian intelligence service said it was treating the attack as an “act of terror.” NEW YORK POST 

Biden to meet with Pope Francis at Vatican President Biden will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Oct. 29 to discuss “working together on efforts grounded in respect for fundamental human dignity, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling the climate crisis, and caring for the poor,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Thursday. Biden, the United States’ second Catholic president, and Francis share concerns on key issues, including climate change and economic disparities. Conservatives in the church have questioned whether Biden should be allowed to receive Communion because of his support for abortion rights. Francis recently appeared to criticize conservative bishops, repeating the church view that abortion is “murder” but saying he had never refused anyone the eucharist because the decision on granting Communion should be pastoral, not political. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Disgraced S.C. lawyer arrested in insurance fraud case South Carolina authorities on Thursday arrested disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh, whose wife and son were murdered in June, and charged him with swindling millions of dollars from the sons of his longtime housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, who died in 2018 after falling down stairs at Murdaugh’s South Carolina home. Murdaugh referred Satterfield’s sons to a lawyer to file a wrongful death suit, but didn’t tell them that the lawyer, Cory Fleming, was his college roommate. Murdaugh and his insurers reached a $4.3 million settlement, but the housekeeper’s sons, Tony Satterfield and Brian Harriott, said Murdaugh got most of the money. Murdaugh, also suspected of stealing from clients and asking a cousin to kill him so his son would get a life-insurance payout, was arrested at a Florida drug detox center. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Bill Clinton hospitalized with non-COVID-related infection Former President Bill Clinton was hospitalized in Southern California on Tuesday for a non-COVID-related infection, his spokesman Angel Urena said on Thursday. In a statement, Urena said Clinton, 75, was admitted to the University of California Irvine Medical Center and is now “on the mend, in good spirits, and is incredibly thankful to the doctors, nurses, and staff providing him with excellent care.” Clinton received intravenous antibiotics and fluids, and is being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit for his privacy and safety, and remained hospitalized for monitoring, according to a statement Thursday night from his doctors. Clinton underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2004, and had another heart procedure in 2010 to open a blocked artery. CNN 

Thursday, October 14th, 2021 

A former Boeing chief test pilot is indicted by a United States grand jury for deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration during the certification process for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which resulted in two fatal crashes and a subsequent grounding of the aircraft. (AFP via The Australian) 

Six people are killed and 32 more are injured during a shooting at a protest in Beirut, Lebanon, against the judge investigating the 2020 port explosion. Hezbollah and Amal accused the attackers of being members of the Christian Lebanese Forces. Clashes occurred for hours afterwards between the militias involving snipers, pistols, Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-propelled grenades even after the army was deployed. (BBC News) 

A Taliban police commander is killed and 11 more people are wounded as a bomb targeting the commander’s vehicle explode in Shigal District, Afghanistan. (The Defense Post) 

Pakistan International Airlines suspends flights to the Afghan capital Kabul, citing “heavy-handed” interference from the Taliban. It was the only foreign carrier operating regular flights out of Kabul. (BBC News) 

An Italian court in Rome drops charges against four Egyptian police officers for the 2016 murder of Italian PhD student Giulio Regeni in Cairo, citing its inability for the four officers to be tried in absentia since their prosecutors failed to inform them of their charges. (AFP via France 24) 

The man accused of killing five people and injuring three more yesterday at a supermarket in Kongsberg, Viken, Norway, using a bow and arrow, is identified as a 37-year-old Norwegian man and convert to Islam with Danish citizenship, who police had been concerned about regarding radicalization. (Reuters) 

The Nigerian Army confirms that Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the leader of ISWAP, died two months ago. However, the circumstances of al-Barnawi’s death are not clear. (BBC News) 

Brazil‘s Central Bank sells $1 billion to offset declines in the currency that have fallen ⅓ relative to the US dollar in 2021 alone, with another $1 billion in sales scheduled for later today. (Mercopress) 

LinkedIn announces that it will shut down its social media services in China later this year, citing heavy-handed compliance requirements from the government, and will replace it with a traditional job-listing site. LinkedIn was the only major Western-based social media site to legally operate within the country prior to the announcement. (BBC News) 

 

‘Star Trek’ actor William Shatner returns from space, muses on ‘death’ On Wednesday, 90-year-old actor William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk on the original hit sci-fi TV show Star Trek, headed to the edge of space courtesy of Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company Blue Origin. The 11-minute journey clearly left him moved and musing on mortality: “It was unbelievable … To see the blue cover go whoop by. And now you’re staring into blackness,” Shatner recounted once he was back on Earth. As he went on: “You look down, there’s the blue down there, and the black up there. There is Mother and Earth and comfort and there is … Is there death? I don’t know. Was that death? Is that the way death is? Whoop and it’s gone. Jesus. It was so moving to me.” As The New York Times notes, “The word ‘death,’ repeatedly mentioned by Mr. Shatner in his post-flight monologue, is rarely thought of as a selling word for space tourism.” THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Blue Origin launches four crew into sub-orbit on a New Shepard rocket from its Corn Ranch spaceport in Van Horn, Texas. The crew includes Blue Origin Vice President Audrey Powers, NASA engineer Chris Boshuizen, space tourist Glen de Vries, and actor William Shatner. Shatner, best known for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in the Star Trek media franchise, becomes the oldest ever person in space at the age of 90. (BBC) 

Six people are killed and 32 more wounded during a shooting at a protest in Beirut, Lebanon, against the judge investigating the 2020 port explosion. The attacker is believed to be a Christian sniper. Clashes erupt between the snipers and Hezbollah militias after the shootings. (BBC) 

The man who killed five people and wounded two more yesterday at a supermarket in Kongsberg, Viken, Norway, using a bow and arrow, is identified as a 37-year-old Islamic extremist Norwegian man with Danish citizenship . (Reuters) 

At least 46 people are killed and 79 others injured by a fire at a 13-storey tower block in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. (BBC) 

Armenia expands its case before the International Court of Justice against Azerbaijan, accusing it of violating the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to which both states are signatories, for allegedly promoting ethnic hatred against Armenians. Azerbaijan denies the accusation and themselves accuse Armenia of violating the treaty. (Reuters) 

A man imprisoned for murdering 14 boys in Kenya escapes from his prison cell in Nairobi and is on the run. He is described as “extremely dangerous”. (BBC) 

Sri Lanka drops charges against Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, who was accused of being part of a group of 14 navy personnel who kidnapped 11 children and then murdered them after attempting to extort money from their families. The actual number of children murdered by the group is suspected to be at least three times higher. The crimes were carried out in 2008 and 2009, amid the chaos of the Sri Lankan Civil War. (Al Jazeera) 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dissolves the lower house of Japanese Parliament ahead of the election on 31 October. (UPI) 

Biden announces broad effort to clear clogged ports before Christmas President Biden on Wednesday announced agreements with the largest U.S. ports, retailers, and freight haulers to expand operations in what administration officials called a “90-day sprint” to clear supply-chain bottlenecks before the crucial holiday shopping season. The Port of Los Angeles agreed to join its sister port, Long Beach, and start operating 24/7, the White House said, while Walmart, FedEx, UPS, Target, and Home Depot committed to sending more drivers to the ports in the expanded hours to remove shipping containers clogging the ports and get the products to shelves. Labor unions agreed to supply the workers. Analysts called it a good first step in resolving supply problems that have fueled rising inflation and caused random shortages of goods, but said there’s only so much a U.S. president can do unsnarl a global logistical mess. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

At least 5 dead in Norway bow-and-arrow attack A man walked around the Norwegian town of Kongsberg shooting at people with a bow and arrow, killing at least five people and injuring two others, local police said Wednesday. Officers arrested the suspect, a 37-year-old Danish citizen and recent Muslim convert who had been flagged as having been radicalized. “It is natural to consider whether it is an act of terrorism,” Regional police chief Oeyvind Aas said. “But the man has not been questioned and it is too early to come to any conclusion.” Investigators believed the attacker acted alone. No details on the identities of the victims were immediately released. CNN 

Inflation accelerated due to supply disruptions, high demand Inflation in the United States sped up in September, reaching its highest rate in more than a decade as the coronavirus pandemic continued to cause labor and material shortages. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that the consumer-price index jumped by 5.4 percent from a year earlier, slightly higher than in August, and the same rate seen in June and July as the economy reopened. The core price index, which factors out volatile food and energy prices, rose by 4 percent in September compared to a year earlier, the same as August’s rate. On a monthly basis, the CPI increased by 0.4 percent in September, faster than August’s rate of 0.3 percent. In Federal Reserve meeting minutes released Wednesday, Fed officials expressed concerns last month that supply disruptions could increase the risk of persistent high inflation. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Data suggest other boosters might be best after J&J vaccine  People who got Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine could benefit from a second dose of the initial, one-shot vaccine, but might get even better protection from a booster made with different vaccine technology, The Washington Post reported Wednesday, citing data from an FDA review of Johnson & Johnson test results and a preprint study that tested mixing booster doses from different drug makers. About 15 million people received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the United States. Far more got messenger RNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. An FDA advisory panel of outside experts is scheduled to meet Friday to consider the Johnson & Johnson booster and a National Institutes of Health study in which vaccinated people got boosters made by companies that didn’t make their original vaccine. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Administration says coronavirus vaccination rates rose after mandates U.S. coronavirus vaccination rates have jumped by more than 20 percentage points since numerous businesses, hospital systems, social institutions, and government entities adopted vaccine requirements, the Biden administration said Wednesday. Seventy-seven percent of eligible Americans now have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters. President Biden and his team have pushed recently to chip away at resistance among some Americans to take widely available vaccines that proved safe and effective in trials. Biden last month ordered most health-care workers and federal employees to get vaccinated, and urged large employers to make their employees provide proof of vaccination or face weekly COVID testing. REUTERS 

Judge says D.C. jail violated Jan. 6 suspect’s rights A federal judge asked the Justice Department to determine whether the Washington, D.C., jail was violating the civil rights of defendants charged with committing crimes during the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of then-President Donald Trump’s supporters. District Judge Royce Lamberth said jail officials had violated the rights of one accused Capitol rioter, Christopher Worrell, by failing to get him “proper treatment” for medical issues, including surgery for a broken hand and care for a Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis. Royce held Warden Wanda Patten and Department of Corrections Director Quincy Booth in civil contempt for failing to turn over Worrell’s medical records. An attorney for the jail said Worrell was getting medical care for his cancer and pain management for his broken hand. CNN 

William Shatner becomes oldest person to visit space William Shatner, the actor best known for playing Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek, became the oldest person to fly to the edge of space. Shatner, 90, soared to a maximum altitude of 66 miles with three others on the second human spaceflight of a New Shepard rocket made by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin aerospace company. The rocket left the company’s West Texas launch site for the 10-minute trip, which ended with the spacecraft parachuting back to Earth. All four passengers returned safely. “In a way it’s indescribable,” Shatner told Bezos. “Not only is it different than what you thought, it happened so quickly. The impression I had that I never expected to have is the shooting up: There’s blue sky –” he said, pausing when Bezos sprayed a bottle of champagne in celebration. USA TODAY 

Biden administration unveils plan for more offshore wind farms Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Wednesday announced a Biden administration plan for putting large-scale wind farms along nearly all of the U.S. coastline. Haaland said the government would identify and eventually lease federal waters for electricity-producing offshore turbines in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Maine, and waters off the Mid-Atlantic, North and South Carolina, California, and Oregon, as well as in the New York Bight between Long Island and New Jersey. Just months ago, the administration approved the nation’s first major commercial offshore wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. A dozen other potential offshore wind projects are under review for other spots along the East Coast. The administration also has approved two areas off Central and North Carolina for commercial wind power. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Stock futures rise as stocks linked to recovery gain U.S. stock index futures rose early Thursday as stocks linked to the economic recovery gained ground. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were up by about 0.6 percent several hours before the opening bell. Futures for the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained about 0.8 percent. Carnival led stocks that stand to gain from the recovery from coronavirus pandemic damage. Its shares jumped by 2 percent as falling COVID-19 cases fueled hopes of stronger growth. Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s September policy meeting released Wednesday indicated the central bank might start tapering its efforts to boost the recovery in mid-November or mid-December. “We still think November but one month isn’t going to matter to markets at this point,” said Lawrence Gillum, fixed income strategist for LPL Financial. CNBC 

Adele confirms the release date for ’30’ Adele has spoken. After teasing the release of her highly-anticipated next album, 30, on billboards around the world, the singer released a statement on Wednesday confirming that we only have to wait five more weeks to hear the final product.  “I was certainly nowhere near where I’d hoped to be when I first started [30] nearly three years ago. Quite the opposite actually,” Adele wrote to her fans, adding that “I’ve painstakingly rebuilt my house and my heart since then and this album narrates it.” Previously, Adele told Vogue that the new music was inspired by her divorce from her husband, Simon Konecki, although she’s reluctant to call it a “divorce album” since the split was “was amicable — Konecki lives in a house she bought across the street from her own, and they have regular movie nights together with [their son] Angelo, now 9,” Vulture reports. VULTUREVOGUE 

Neil deGrasse Tyson is utterly baffled by Demi Lovato insisting ‘aliens’ is offensive to aliens Neil deGrasse Tyson can’t wrap his head around Demi Lovato’s claim that calling extraterrestrials “aliens” is offensive. “To be worried about offending them by calling them an alien, what [is Lovato] thinking is going on in the head of species of life from another planet?” Tyson ranted to TMZ. “I mean, I know it’s very considerate of [Lovato], but really? Really?” Tyson went on to clarify that he uses the term “space aliens” and that when referring to migrants, “undocumented immigrants, that’s what the new term is for them, and I’m all in on that.” As a result, he insisted, “So what that means is … the only invocation of the word ‘alien’ is for creatures from outer space that want to kill us all. First, I don’t care what they feel. Plus, why should I even believe they know English? So, yeah, I’m not all in on that. I don’t get it.” TMZ 

LAD BIBLE 

Cardi B got a mansion for her birthday Offset bought Cardi B a Caribbean mansion for her birthday, which is apparently something rich people do when they’re not buying themselves tickets to outer space. “For a hot minute now I’ve been telling Set that I really want to invest in short term home rental properties … but I felt like he didn’t agree with me and would rather put money into other investments,” Cardi wrote on Instagram, adding cheerfully: “Well, I was wrong.” The property has six bedrooms, seven-and-a-half bathrooms, an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, and a lot of really hideous staging art, according to the birthday reveal video that Cardi B shared to Instagram. Still, for all her excitement, Cardi gave Offset an I.O.U. for properly thanking him: “I can’t wait for this hangover to go away,” she added, “so I can show you my full appreciation.” PEOPLE 

INSTAGRAM 

Wednesday, October 13th, 2021 

It is reported that at least 415 children committed suicide in Japan in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic while schools were closed. (Reuters) 

Pro-democracy protests intensify in Eswatini, as police use tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds during this week’s protests. Government spokespeople have denied to comment as King Mswati III denies accusations of autocratic rule in the last absolutist monarchy in Africa. (Reuters) 

The Nigerian government announces that they will require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or to submit a negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours beginning on December 1. (Vanguard) 

Russia reports a record for the second consecutive day of 984 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 219,329. (Newsweek) 

Iqaluit, capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, issues a state of emergency after evidence is found of gasoline in the city’s tap water. All residents are advised to not drink, boil or cook with the city’s water. The city had issued a Do Not Drink Water advisory the previous day. (Global News) 

Opposition lawmakers present a formal impeachment proceeding against Chilean president Sebastián Piñera over connections to a 2010 sale of a mining company, for which a prosecutor opened a case against Piñera for alleged bribery, corruption, and tax violations. (Al Jazeera) 

Kenyan world record holder in the women’s 10 kilometres event Agnes Tirop is stabbed to death at her home in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya. Tirop’s husband is the prime suspect in her murder, according to police. (BBC) 

Four people are killed and 24 others are left injured during a protest over Quran desecration at a Hindu temple in Haziganj Upazila, Bangladesh. (AFP via ABS-CBN News) 

The End

Wednesday, October 13th, 2021 

Multiple people are killed and others injured by a man using a bow and arrows in Kongsberg, Norway. (Reuters) 

Opposition lawmakers present a formal impeachment against Chilean president Sebastián Piñera over links to a 2010 sale of a mining company, for which a prosecutor opened a case against him for alleged bribery, corruption and tax violations. (Al Jazeera) 

House approves short-term deal to avert debt default The House approved a bipartisan short-term deal to extend the debt limit to avoid a catastrophic default into December, sending it to President Biden for his signature. The Senate passed the agreement last week after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) proposed the temporary fix to give Democrats more time to raise the debt ceiling without Republican votes through a process known as budget reconciliation. Meanwhile, Democrats negotiated among themselves to trim a $3.5 trillion spending package that would expand the social safety net. Progressives are opposed to any cuts, but key moderates, led by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), are calling for the cost of the bill to be sharply reduced. Democrats can’t pass the bill through reconciliation, which requires a simple majority, if they lose a single Democratic vote in the 50-50 Senate. CNN 

Task force cools on taking aspirin to prevent heart attacks The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on Tuesday released a draft statement recommending that people 60 and older should not take daily aspirin to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke, because new evidence indicates the potential harms outweigh the benefits. Adults ages 40 to 59 with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease should consult with their doctor before taking daily aspirin to prevent the ailments, the draft said. “The latest evidence is clear: starting a daily aspirin regimen in people who are 60 or older to prevent a first heart attack or stroke is not recommended,” Task Force member Dr. Chien-Wen Tseng said. People already taking daily aspirin should continue unless told otherwise by their doctor. CNN 

Record 4.3 million quit jobs in August A record 4.3 million people quit jobs across the United States in August, beating the previous high of 4 million set in April, according to data released by the Labor Department on Tuesday. The figure, which amounts to 2.9 percent of the U.S. workforce, reflected changing attitudes about work and home life among Americans since the coronavirus pandemic upended society last year. Many workers have expressed unwillingness to put up with low wages and difficult hours, and sought new opportunities. There were 10.4 million job openings in August, down from July’s record high of 11.1 million but still historically high. Many businesses have had to raise wages to avoid being short-staffed, giving workers leverage to seek positions with better pay and conditions. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Immigration agents to stop mass arrests at workplaces The Biden administration announced Tuesday that immigration agents would stop conducting mass arrests of undocumented immigrants at workplaces. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a memo that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would prioritize targeting “unscrupulous” employers who exploit the vulnerability of undocumented workers by paying poorly, subjecting them to unsafe working conditions, and facilitating human trafficking. “Our worksite enforcement efforts can have a significant impact on the well-being of individuals and the fairness of the labor market,” Mayorkas wrote. The announcement marked a shift from Trump administration policies, and was expected to meet forceful criticism from Republicans who say limits on arrests have contributed to a wave of migrant traffic at the U.S.-Mexico border. CBS NEWS 

FDA review finds Moderna booster increased antibodies A Food and Drug Administration review found that Moderna’s coronavirus booster dose increased protective antibodies in people who received the initial two doses at least six months earlier. FDA staff remained neutral on whether the booster was necessary. FDA scientists said Tuesday that the booster didn’t meet all the agency’s criteria, because protection from the initial two doses remained so strong that the benefit might not be wide enough to necessitate a third shot. The documents came out ahead of a meeting later this week in which outside experts will discuss a recommendation to the FDA on Moderna’s request for authorization of its booster, a third dose half as big as the initial two. The FDA advisory panel also will consider Johnson & Johnson’s request to authorize the booster it developed for people who receive its single-shot vaccine.  REUTERS 

Military archbishop says Catholic troops can refuse vaccine on religious grounds  The archbishop of the U.S. military, Timothy Broglio, said Tuesday that Catholic troops could refuse the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on religious grounds. Broglio said some service members had requested exemptions through the Religious Freedom Restoration Act since Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued the vaccine requirement for all service members over the summer. “No one should be forced to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if it would violate the sanctity of his or her conscience,” Broglio said in a statement. Broglio has expressed support for President Biden’s vaccine mandate, citing guidance from the Vatican that COVID shots are morally acceptable and “not sinful.” Still, he wrote, Catholics can form “a sincerely held religious belief that receiving the vaccine would violate his conscience.” POLITICO 

Coroner says Gabby Petito died by strangulation Travel vlogger Gabby Petito, who disappeared during a cross-country trip with her fiance, died by strangulation, Teton County, Wyoming, Coroner Dr. Brent Blue said Tuesday after an autopsy. Blue, who last month ruled the 22-year-old’s death a homicide, said her body had been “outside in the wilderness for three to four weeks” before it was found on Sept. 19. Blue said he couldn’t comment on who strangled Petito. The news coverage of the case fueled a conversation about why many disappearances of racial minorities get far less attention. “Unfortunately this is only one of many deaths around the country of people who are involved with domestic violence, and it’s unfortunate that these other deaths did not get as much coverage as this one,” Blue said. USA TODAY 

Tuesday,  October 12th, 2021 

American streaming service Netflix, the world’s largest entertainment company by market capitalization, confirms that the South Korean television series Squid Game is its most-watched program worldwide, having been viewed by more than 111 million accounts since its release in September. (AFP via ABS-CBN News) 

President Emmanuel Macron announces a €30 billion plan to re-industrialize France, in order to address what he called “a kind of growth deficit” and make France reclaim its title as a “global leader in innovation and research”. (CNA) 

The European Commission raises a climate bond worth €12 billion (US$13.9 billion) as part of its European Green Deal, the largest climate bond issued in the global capital market. (AFP via Times of Malta) 

Indian drug regulator approves the emergency use of the Bharat Biotech Covaxin vaccine for children aged between 2 to 18. (Hindustan Times) 

The International Court of Justice rules in favor of Somalia in its dispute with Kenya over a maritime border rich in gas and oil. Kenya labels the case as “biased” and says that it does not recognize the ruling. (BBC) 

The Cuban government rejects a request from the opposition to hold a protest in Havana on November 15, claiming involvement of the United States government. (AFP via France 24) 

The End Wednesday 

NASA astronomers announce the discovery of TIC 257060897b, a Hot Jupiter exoplanet that is 50% larger and 30% less massive than Jupiter. The discovery was made using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. (Science Times) 

Indian Armed Forces kill three suspected terrorists during a gunfight in Shopian. Troops also blasted a civilian house. Another security operation is carried out hours later at an apple orchard, resulting in the death of two more terrorists. The raids came a day after five Indian soldiers were killed by suspected terrorists. (Al Jazeera) 

The European Union vows to help Ukraine with its gas supplies as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky underlines his concerns of potential Russian political leverage in the region in the aftermath of the agreement with Germany regarding the pipeline Nord Stream. (Deutsche Welle) 

A train kills three people and injures a fourth, all of whom were lying on the tracks in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. (Deutsche Welle) 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that Germany “is not yet prepared to recognize the Taliban government” since it has not met demands of inclusiveness. However, Merkel reassures the promise of Germany’s 600 million euros’ aid to the country. (Reuters) 

Texas governor orders businesses not to mandate vaccinations Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Monday issued an executive order barring any entity in the state, including private businesses, from mandating coronavirus vaccinations for employees or customers. In August, Abbott ordered Texas government bodies and agencies not to require vaccinations, but said he had no intention to tell executives and entrepreneurs how to run their businesses. But he reversed that position after facing weeks of pressure from GOP primary opponents and others on the right who staunchly oppose President Biden’s September decision to require all companies with more than 100 employees to mandate vaccines for workers or test them weekly for coronavirus infections. “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, & our best defense against the virus, but should always remain voluntary & never forced,” Abbott tweeted as he announced his new order. THE TEXAS TRIBUNE 

Huntington Beach shoreline reopens a week after oil spill  The Southern California town of Huntington Beach reopened its shoreline after tests showed the water was essentially free of toxins from an offshore oil spill just over a week ago, city and California State Parks officials announced Monday. The beaches were closed for just over a week due to the leak of more than 131,000 gallons from a damaged underwater pipeline. “The health and safety of our residents and visitors is of the utmost importance. We understand the significance our beaches have on tourism, our economy, and our overall livelihood here in Huntington Beach,” said Huntington Beach Mayor Kim Carr in a press statement. “It is important that our decision to reopen our shoreline and water be based on data and that we continue to monitor the water quality going forward.” Wildlife officials reported that fewer birds than feared had died due to the spill.  CNN 

Southwest cancels more flights as stock drops Southwest Airlines canceled more than 350 flights Monday, adding to major disruptions for its customers and staff after more than 1,800 cancellations over the weekend. The flights scrapped on Monday amounted to 10 percent of Southwest’s schedule. At least 1,400 other flights were delayed following a weekend of major disruptions that it blamed on bad weather and air traffic control issues. The pilots union accused the company of mishandling minor challenges that other airlines easily navigated. The problems started shortly after the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association on Friday asked a federal court to prevent the company from making all employees get vaccinated against COVID-19. Southwest shares dropped by 4.2 percent on Monday.  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Economists awarded Nobel for real-world experiments Economists David Card of the University of California at Berkeley, Joshua Angrist of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Guido Imbens of Stanford University won the 2021 Nobel Prize for economics for exploring ways to use real-world experiments to explore labor economics and other issues. “This year’s economic sciences laureates have demonstrated that many of society’s big questions can be answered,” the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced Monday in Stockholm. “Their solution is to use natural experiments — situations arising in real life that resemble randomized experiments.” Angrist and Imbens focused on developing the methodology and Card used it to study labor economics, like when he looked at how Miami’s labor market changed when Cuba allowed a mass exodus from the island in the 1980s. BLOOMBERG 

Study finds 85 percent of global population affected by climate change Researchers concluded that at least 85 percent of the people in the world have been affected by extreme weather intensified by climate change, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change. Scientists analyzed data from more than 100,000 events that could be linked to human-induced global warming, including floods, heat waves, and crop failures, as well as changes in temperature and precipitation caused by carbon emissions. They found that weather events they determined to have been made worse by climate change had hit 80 percent of the Earth’s land, where 85 percent of the population lives. “Climate change is visible and noticeable almost everywhere in the world,” said lead author Max Callaghan, of Germany’s Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change. NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE 

Raiders coach resigns in fallout over email scandal Las Vegas Raiders Coach Jon Gruden resigned on Monday, days after emails surfaced in which he made racist, misogynistic, and homophobic comments. Gruden said he loves the Raiders and doesn’t want to be “a distraction,” adding: “I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.” On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that in a 2011 email to former Washington Football Team executive Bruce Allen, Gruden used a racist trope to describe NFL union chief DeMaurice Smith. The New York Times then revealed that Gruden, then an ESPN analyst, used homophobic and misogynistic terms in other emails when talking about NFL officials, including Commissioner Roger Goodell, and decried efforts to draft a gay player. The emails were discovered during a workplace misconduct investigation into the Washington Football Team. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Monday,  October 11th, 2021 

Texas governor Greg Abbott signs an executive order prohibiting all entities in the state, including private companies, from enacting vaccine mandates. (Reuters) 

Two teenagers are arrested in Batemans Bay, Australia, for killing 14 kangaroos two days ago. The animals were found slaughtered on two different roads. (BBC) 

Matt Amodio is defeated on the American quiz show Jeopardy!, concluding a victory streak of 39 games with an earnings total of $1,519,601. (The New York Times) 

Economists David Card, Joshua Angrist and Guido Imbens are awarded the 2021 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for their natural experiments showing economic impacts. (Deutsche Welle) 

At least 15 people are killed and three are missing as heavy floods is affecting Shanxi, China. (Al Jazeera) 

Two people are killed, and two homes and a UPS delivery van are destroyed after a Cessna 340 crashes in Santee, California, United States. (CNN) 

Germany ends free COVID-19 testing for non-medical reasons in order to encourage people to get vaccinated. Children under the age of 12 years old and pregnant women are exempt from this rule. (Anadolu Agency) 

The WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts recommends that immunocompromised people receive a third dose of the vaccine due to the risk of breakthrough infections after standard immunization. The panel also recommends that people over the age of 60 years old receive an additional dose of the Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccine three months after their second dose, citing the performance of the vaccines in Latin America. (Reuters) 

Preliminary results show that the Sadrist Movement of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr will retain its plurality in the Council of Representatives. (AFP via The Times of Israel) 

The End Tuesday 

 

Five soldiers are killed by rebels in a mountain pass in Jammu and Kashmir. (Al Jazeera) 

A spokesman for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) says that the Ethiopian Ground Forces have launched a ground offensive against rebels, with the support of local militias of Amhara Region. (Reuters) 

The trial for the 1987 assassination of former leader of Burkina Faso Thomas Sankara, known as the “African Che Guevara”, begins in Ouagadougou against 14 people, including former president Blaise Compaoré, who will be tried in absentia. (Al Jazeera) 

The 125th Boston Marathon, which was postponed from May 28 last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, takes place. The marathon is won by Benson Kipruto and Diana Kipyogei of Kenya. (ESPN) 

Navy engineer charged with trying to sell nuclear-submarine secrets U.S. Navy engineer Jonathan Toebbe and his wife have been charged with trying to sell submarine-technology secrets to another country, according to court documents unsealed Sunday. The information concerned the nuclear propulsion system of U.S. Virginia-class attack submarines, technology covered in the recently announced U.S. defense agreement with Britain and Australia. Russia and China have been trying to get their hands on U.S. submarine propulsion secrets, although it was not immediately clear whether one of them had sought the information from Toebbe. The U.S. technology, which Toebbe had worked on for the Navy since 2012, can reduce noise and vibration, making submarines harder to detect. Nuclear-powered submarines also have limitless range. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

U.S. says talks with Taliban were ‘candid’ The Biden administration said Sunday that its first face-to-face talks with senior members of the new Taliban government in Afghanistan were “candid and professional.” State Department spokesman Ned Price said U.S. officials at the weekend talks in Doha, Qatar, focused on security and terrorism concerns, as well as human rights, the participation of women and girls in Afghan society, and safe passage for Americans, other foreigners, and Afghans who want to leave the country now that the Taliban has taken over in the wake of the withdrawal of the last U.S. troops from the country. Price said the two sides also discussed “the United States’ provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people.” No formal agreements were announced. REUTERS 

Iraqi election sees record-low turnout Turnout in Iraq’s weekend parliamentary election was the lowest the country has seen since the U.S.-led invasion that ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, the independent body overseeing the vote said Monday. The Independent High Electoral Commission said preliminary results indicated that 41 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, down from 44 percent turnout in the 2018 elections, which marked the previous low. This year’s election was held months early in response to a popular uprising led by youth activists who protested corruption and mismanagement. More than 600 people were killed by security forces who responded to protests in late 2019 and early 2020 by firing live ammunition and tear gas at crowds. The weekend’s low turnout was seen as a sign of ongoing distrust of the government. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Most Republicans want candidates who support vaccines, oppose mandates A new CBS News/YouGov poll released on Sunday found that 64 percent of Republican voters want to cast their ballot for a GOP candidate who actively encourages people to get coronavirus vaccinations. But an even greater number — 75 percent — would rather that candidate also oppose vaccine mandates. In short, the poll suggests the consensus opinion of Republican voters is that getting vaccinated is a smart, but ultimately individual, decision. Meanwhile, 90 percent of Democrats prefer candidates who encourage vaccinations, and pro-mandate candidates received nearly as much love, with 86 percent of voters expressing their preference for that viewpoint. The CBS News/YouGov poll was conducted between October 6-8 among 2,054 American adult residents. The margin of error is 2.6 percentage points. CBS NEWS 

London police end investigation of Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein London’s Metropolitan police is dropping its investigation into sex-abuse allegations against Prince Andrew and the late accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, although the department said it would continue to “liaise with other law enforcement agencies who lead the investigation,” according to Sunday media reports. Scotland Yard completed two reviews after Virginia Giuffre, 38, said in a lawsuit that Andrew, the Duke of York, sexually abused her three times when she was 17 years old, including once in the London home of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew, 61, has denied the allegations. Queen Elizabeth II relieved him of his royal duties after he gave a television interview on the allegations by Giuffre, also known as Virginia Roberts. NEW YORK POST

‘No Time to Die’ trails other recent Bond films The latest James Bond film, No Time to Die, brought in $56 million in the United States and Canada over its debut weekend, falling short of the last two installments in the Bond franchise after the coronavirus pandemic delayed its release for more than a year. Cinemas around the world have reopened, although some still have COVID-19 policies that limit attendance and many moviegoers still feel more comfortable streaming video at home rather than risking infection by going out. United Artists Releasing, which distributes Bond movies for its studio, MGM Holdings, surveyed audiences in six cities and found that about one-quarter of people who saw No Time to Die hadn’t been to a theater in 18 months. “You have to get them used to coming back,” said Erik Lomis, president of distribution at United Artists Releasing. DEADLINE 

The End

Malaysia signs an agreement with Merck & Co. to obtain 150,000 courses of the experimental drug Molnupiravir as part of a transition towards the endemic phase and “living with the COVID-19”. (The Straits Times) 

Sunday, October 10th, 2021 

A study conducted by researchers from the University of Queensland concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder worldwide in 2020. (The Guardian) 

Russian authorities say that 29 people have died in Orenburg Oblast during the past week due to alcohol poisoning, after drinking a beverage mixed with methanol. (Reuters) 

Performer killed in on-stage accident at Moscow’s Bolshoi A performer at Moscow’s famous Bolshoi Theatre was killed on Saturday as a result of an on-stage accident during an opera, the theater said. The incident reportedly occurred during a set change. “The opera was immediately stopped and the audience was asked to leave,” the theater said. Investigators are probing the circumstances surrounding the death — at the moment, reporting from Russian news sources have not pinned down what caused the accident. The victim was reportedly a 37-year-old man, but the theater did not disclose his identity.  CNN 

Southwest Airlines cancels more than 1,000 flights and delays hundreds more over the Columbus Day weekend. The airline cites problems resulting from both air traffic control and the weather. (KGO-TV) 

A Let L-410 aircraft carrying a group of parachute jumpers, with 22 people on board, crashes after take-off from Menzelinsk Airport, Tatarstan, Russia. Sixteen people are killed and six others are injured. (Al Jazeera English) 

Boston Police Department sergeant Clifton McHale faces a 10-day suspension for boasting about “driving into protestors” during the George Floyd protests in Boston in May 2020. (WBUR) 

Italy surpasses its target to fully vaccinate 80% of its adult population. (RTÉ News and Current Affairs) 

In a National Day speech, President Tsai Ing-wen states that Taiwan will not bow to pressure from China, vowing to uphold the island’s sovereignty and democratic norms. (The Guardian) 

China denounces Tsai Ing-wen’s speech, saying that it incited confrontation and distorted facts. China also says that seeking Taiwanese independence closes the door to dialogue. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Thirty people storm a hospital in Rome, Italy, trying to free a wounded man under arrest due to his involvement in violent acts yesterday during an anti-Green Pass protest. Four people are injured during the incident. (The State) 

The personal doctor of Georgian politician Mikheil Saakashvili says that he needs hospital treatment as he continues his hunger strike after returning from exile and being arrested on October 1. Saakashvili’s condition has been described as “worsening”. (Reuters) 

Valtteri Bottas wins the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park. (Road & Track) 

Taiwanese president says country won’t bow to Chinese pressure Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Sunday said during a defiant speech that “there should be absolutely no illusions that the Taiwanese people will bow to pressure” from China, which is seeking to bring Taiwan into its fold. On Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said peaceful reunification must happen, and throughout the last week, Beijing flew dozens of military jets into Taiwan’s national air defense zone in an attempt to intimidate the island it claims as its territory. Tsai said Taiwan will continue to bolster its defenses, though she added that she wants tensions to ease and clarified that her government will not “act rashly.” Xi’s government has refused to deal with Tsai despite her offer to talk. BBC

Lebanon shuts down 2 main state power plants Lebanon is now effectively without state-provided electricity after the country’s two main power plants went out of commission on Saturday. The Deir Ammar and Zahrani plants had been generating very limited electricity in recent months because of a diesel fuel shortage, Al Jazeera reports. Videos of Beirut show the city in nearly total darkness at night, while protests popped up around Lebanon. Authorities are reportedly scrambling to secure fuel from their reserve stock, and one shipment that was expected to arrive Saturday night will be unloaded early next week, with another on its way later this month. The fuel shortage has exacerbated Lebanon’s economic and health care crises.  AL JAZEERA 

Austrian chancellor steps down amid corruption allegations Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Saturday announced he would step down in the wake of accusations of corruption. Kurz, the leader of Austria’s moderate conservative People’s Party, maintains that the allegations against him are false, and he’s “convinced that I will be able to clarify the matter.” But he acknowledged he had little choice to resign from his post because his coalition partner, the Greens, have indicated they would no longer support the government with him at the helm. That said, it appears Kurz will remain in charge of the People’s Party and attempt a comeback before too long. The corruption claims suggest Kurz was part of a conspiracy that illicitly channeled taxpayers’ money from Austria’s finance ministry toward friendly media organizations in 2016 and 2017 when he was foreign minister. If true, that would indicate Kurz was buying positive press coverage, which could have helped push him into the chancellorship. THE FINANCIAL TIMES

Iraqis vote in early parliamentary election Iraqis headed to the polls to elect a parliament on Sunday. The vote is taking place a year earlier than planned in response to a popular uprising in Baghdad and Iraq’s southern provinces in late 2019, when tens of thousands of people took to the streets to demonstrate against corruption, poor services, and high unemployment numbers. Those protests ended violently, with security forces firing live rounds at the crowds, though authorities did ultimately adhere to the calls for early elections. Despite encouragement to participate, there are concerns that Sunday will see lower turnout than the last elections in 2018, when only 44 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots. Per The Associated Press, streets were mostly deserted as of midday. Many Iraqis have said they were intentionally boycotting the process. REUTERS 

Czech opposition coalition narrowly defeats ruling party Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ centrist party suffered a surprising defeat in Saturday’s parliamentary election, with center-right and liberal opposition groups eking out a narrow victory. That means Babis, a billionaire with populist politics, could lose power, though it’s not a given. The liberal-conservative coalition took home nearly 28 percent of the vote, while Babis’ ANO party finished in second at just over 27 percent. Another opposition coalition, Pirates and Mayors, reeled in more than 15 percent, and will begin talks on forming the next government. Babis conceded defeat. Following the vote, Czech President Milos Zeman, who is 77, was taken to the hospital on Sunday morning for unspecified reasons. In the Czech Republic, the president is involved in the discussions to form a government and can ultimately appoint anyone as prime minister. DEUTSCHE WELLE

U.S. general who commanded forces in Iraq dies at 67 Retired Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, who commanded American and coalition forces during the Iraq War, has died, his family said Saturday. He was 67. In a statement, his family said Odierno had been battling cancer. Odierno served three separate tours in Iraq. In 2003-04 he was the commander of the 4th infantry division. During that period he faced some criticism for overly-aggressive tactics that were viewed as spurring an insurgency. He returned in 2006 for two years as commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq, and in 2008 took over as the top overall American and coalition commander in Baghdad, a position he held until combat wound down in 2010. He retired from service in 2015. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Six people are killed and seven others are injured by a car bomb targeting the governor of Aden. Both the governor and a minister survive and are moved to a secure location. (Reuters) 

The End Monday 

China denounces Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen’s speech from yesterday, saying that it incited confrontation and distorted facts. China also says that seeking Taiwan independence closes the door to dialogue. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Iraqis head to the polls to elect the members of the Council of Representatives. (AFP via UrduPoint) 

Saturday, October 9th, 2021 

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen rules out cooperation with the United States to fight the insurgency of IS-K in Afghanistan, saying that the Taliban “will be able to tackle Daesh independently”. (Taiwan News) 

The U.S. State Department confirms that the first face-to-face meetings with high representatives of the Taliban since the departure of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, will begin today in Doha, Qatar. A spokesperson for the State Department says that the U.S. will pressure the Taliban to “respect the rights of all Afghans, including women and girls” and form an inclusive government. The spokesperson also clarifies that this is not a recognition of the Taliban government by the U.S., saying that the Taliban will have to earn recognition by its actions. (France24) 

U.S., Taliban officials to talk in Qatar Representatives from the United States will hold formal talks in Doha, Qatar, with senior Taliban officials on Saturday and Sunday for the first time since American forces completed a planned withdrawal from Afghanistan in August. Officials from both sides confirmed the discussions, which will reportedly include topics like containing extremist groups in Afghanistan and the evacuation of foreign citizens and Afghans who are still in the country and seeking to leave. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen also told The Associated Press the talks will revisit the agreement the group signed with the Trump administration in 2020 that cleared the way for the U.S. exit. Fighting terrorism will likely be a major focus, however, and the talks will take place just a day after the Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed nearly 50 people at a mosque in the northern part of the country. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The north face of the volcano collapses, generating three new lava flows. No new evacuations have been ordered as authorities call for calm. (El País) 

The Deir Ammar and Zahrani power stations shut down in Lebanon after running out of diesel fuel, leaving the entire country without electricity. According to a government official, power is not expected to be restored for several days. (BBC) (Al Jazeera) 

Families of the victims of the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires announce that they will appeal the ruling which acquitted former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of any wrongdoing. The memorandum aimed to make Iran cooperate in the investigation at the time that Argentina issued red notices against Iranian officials through Interpol. Relations between Argentina and Iran have been strained, with a recent condemnation by Argentina of the new cabinet of Ebrahim Raisi. (MercoPress) 

Guatemalan police recover 126 United States-bound Haitian, Nepali, and Indian migrants trapped inside an abandoned shipping container near Nueva Concepción, Escuintla, Guatemala. (AFP via The Straits Times) 

The opposition SPOLU party calls for the formation of a new government in view of the poor electoral result of prime minister Andrej Babiš’ ANO 2011 party. (Reuters) 

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigns amid a corruption inquiry against him, although he continues to deny any wrongdoing. (BBC) 

McConnell tells Biden that GOP won’t help raise debt ceiling again Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Friday sent a letter to President Biden in which he said Republicans will not aid Democrats again in raising the nation’s debt ceiling after a handful of GOP lawmakers broke a filibuster to advance a temporary lift, which eventually passed along a party line vote, earlier this week. In the letter, McConnell criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for launching into a “rant” against Republicans after the vote, saying that his counterpart’s words “only further alienated the Republican members who helped facilitate this short-term patch.” Schumer had said that Republicans “played a dangerous and risky partisan game” by pushing the issue of the debt ceiling to the brink. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Jobs report disappoints again with 194,000 additions in September The Labor Department reported Friday that the U.S. economy added 194,000 jobs in September. Economists expected the figure to be around 500,000. The unemployment rate declined 0.4 percentage points to 4.8 percent. “Notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, in professional and business services, in retail trade, and in transportation and warehousing,” the Labor Department said. This comes after the U.S. jobs report for August also came in significantly under expectations. The Labor Department said last month that 235,000 jobs were added in August when economists had expected around 720,000, though this number was revised on Friday to 366,000. Both reports came amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States driven by the more contagious Delta variant. Infections have since started to decline. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Xi says peaceful ‘reunification’ with Taiwan must happen Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday said that “reunification” with Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, must be fulfilled. Xi suggested the process should happen peacefully and did not mention possibly using force to bring Taiwan into Beijing’s fold despite recent displays of aggression in the country’s air defense zone. However, he did say that “no one should underestimate the Chinese people’s staunch determination, firm will, and strong ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” adding that “Taiwan independence separatism is the biggest obstacle to achieving the reunification of the motherland, and the most serious hidden danger to national rejuvenation.” The Taiwanese government did not respond positively to the remarks, with President Tsai Ing-wen’s office reaffirming its sovereignty and vowing that “the nation’s future rests in the hands of Taiwan’s people.” REUTERS

Appeals court reinstates Texas abortion law A United States court of appeals on Friday ruled that Texas’ law that bans most abortions after six weeks should be temporarily reinstated after a federal judge blocked its implementation earlier this week. The Biden administration filed an emergency motion to stop Texas from enforcing the law, which allows private citizens to sue anyone they believe helped a woman obtain an abortion, in September, and a judge eventually ordered an injunction, writing that the Constitutional right to “obtain an abortion prior to fetal viability is well-established.” At the same time, the judge acknowledged Texas could appeal the decision, which the state’s Attorney General Ken Paxton quickly did. FOX NEWS

Nearly 140 countries agree to global tax overhaul Nearly 140 countries on Friday agreed to a plan that sets a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 percent in an attempt to curb tax avoidance from multinational corporations. The agreement is not binding, however, as it rests on lawmakers in the 136 countries that signed the pact to actually implement the minimum rate. The effort could certainly hit some roadblocks, including in U.S. Congress. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is a firm supporter of the minimum, arguing it will help the government pay for the expanded child tax credit and climate-change initiatives, among other policies touted by the Biden administration. Three lower-tax countries that had previously rejected the idea — Ireland, Estonia, and Hungary — came around to support the agreement, though there are still holdouts, including Nigeria, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

2 fathers convicted in first university admissions scandal trial Gamal Aziz and John Wilson, the first parents to stand trial for their alleged role in the heavily-publicized university admissions scandal, were found guilty of bribery and fraud charges on Friday. The two men, who paid bribes to have their children falsely described as successful athletes so they could be accepted by elite universities, could face up to 20 years in jail. Their sentencing is scheduled for February. More than 50 parents (including some high profile celebrities), coaches, and school administrators are facing federal charges, though several have pleaded guilty rather than stand trial. Both Aziz and Wilson, who are expected to appeal their verdicts, argued that they had been duped by the mastermind of the plan, William Singer, and did not know the money they gave him would be used for bribes. BBC 

Friday,  October 8th, 2021 

The severity of the energy crisis in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces of China is reported as worsening, with power outages occuring every week and “notices … telling us which days the following week that they will cut the power”. Some factories report receiving power for only two or three days per week and are operating primarily on generators. China has also placed large bids for coal that are causing supply issues in locations as far away as Ukraine. (Nikkei Asia) 

The U.S. Navy reports that the USS Connecticut, a nuclear powered fast-attack submarine, struck an unidentified object while submerged in the South China Sea, causing 11 crew members to be injured. The extent of the damage to the Seawolf-class submarine is still being assessed although the submarine is noted as being “safe and stable”. (Bloomberg) 

Brazil surpasses 600,000 deaths from COVID-19. (VOA) 

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo announce that a 3-year-old boy who died last Wednesday in Beni tested positive for Ebola. The health minister could not confirm if this was related to the Kivu Ebola outbreak which ended in 2020 and killed more than 2,200 people, but said that they were closely monitoring 100 people who may have been exposed to the virus and that three boys, all of whom were neighbors of the toddler, were already showing symptoms of the disease. (Reuters) 

Iceland suspends the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine due to concerns of side effects, becoming the fourth European country to do so. (Bloomberg) 

At least 50 people are killed and more than 100 wounded when a suicide bomber targets a Shiite mosque in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan. IS–K claims responsibility for the attack. (BBC) 

Six migrants are shot dead by guards at a detention center in Tripoli, Libya. (Al Jazeera) 

Tata Sons is announced as the winning bidder for Air India, ending years of attempts by the government to privatise the loss-making airline. Tata Sons was the initial owner of the airline before it was nationalised. (NDTV) 

ITA – Italia Trasporto Aereo is announced as the new state-owned airline for Italy, following the closure of Alitalia due to bankruptcy. ITA is a reorganization of Alitalia under a new name signed by decree in October 2020. (CNN) 

Gas cylinders explode at a gold mine in Mazowe, Zimbabwe, killing seven people and injuring another. (Reuters) 

Journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for their efforts to safeguard the freedom of expression”. (AFP via India Today) 

The Green Party, a left-wing member of the coalition, says that Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is “unfit” for the position as he is investigated for corruption. The party demands that Kurz step down, although Kurz has denied any wrongdoing. (Reuters) 

The United States House Oversight Committee releases documents showing that the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. accumulated $70 million in losses while public financial disclosures claimed that the hotel was producing an income of $156 million for former president Donald Trump. General Services Administration documents also showed that Trump received “undisclosed preferential treatment” from Deutsche Bank on a $170 million construction loan during his presidency. (CNN) (Reuters) 

Friday,  October 8th, 2021 

Novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah wins Nobel literature prize Zanzibar-born novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature on Thursday. Gurnah has written 10 novels. His 1994 book Paradise, about a boy pawned off by his father to settle debts to a merchant, made the shortlist for the Booker Prize. He served as a professor of English and postcolonial literature at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, until he retired. Gurnah was awarded the Nobel, which comes with more than $1 million in prize money, “for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents,” the Swedish Academy announced Thursday morning. American poet Louise Glück won the 2020 Nobel literature prize. NPR 

Tanzanian novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah wins the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature, “for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee”. Gurnah’s most renowned novel is Paradise, set in colonial East Africa during World War I. (The Economist) 

At least 28 people are killed when a suicide bomber targets a Shiite mosque in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan. The United Nations puts the number of casualties above 100 between the killed and wounded. (Reuters) 

The U.S. State Department confirms accusations made yesterday by Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodríguez, who blamed an alleged U.S. veto for not allowing Venezuela to receive IMF COVID-19 relief funds. The State Department says that only recognized governments can access these funds. (Reuters) 

but this is how the headline first appeared yesterday:

The U.S. State Department rejects accusations made yesterday by Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodríguez, who blamed an alleged U.S. veto for not receiving COVID-19 relief funds. The State Department says that only recognized government can access them. (Reuters) 

Victoria breaks the record for highest daily increase in new COVID-19 infections of any Australian state or territory since the beginning of the pandemic, with 1,838 new cases reported and five further deaths. (ABC News Australia) 

Journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for their efforts to safeguard the freedom of expression”. (AFP via India Today) 

In his first speech, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida vows to fight and end the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan and counter the Chinese and North Korean threats by bolstering Japan’s coastguard and missile defenses while maintaining the country peaceful. Kishida also vows to strengthen the alliance with the United States. (Al Jazeera) 

Senate passes short-term deal to prevent federal debt default The Senate on Thursday passed a deal to extend the federal debt ceiling into December and avert a looming catastrophic and historic default. After prodding by GOP leaders, 11 Republicans joined every Democrat in voting to advance the bill, narrowly beating a GOP filibuster. The agreement raises the debt limit by $480 billion, enough to last until Dec. 3. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) hammered out the agreement with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who proposed the short-term fix on Wednesday. McConnell said the reprieve would give Democrats time to work out a long-term debt limit increase on their own using a process called budget reconciliation, which would let them bypass a GOP filibuster. The House is expected to take up the bill on Tuesday. THE HILL 

Biden urges companies to lead on vaccine mandates President Biden on Thursday urged private companies to require coronavirus vaccinations for workers. Biden last month announced a vaccine mandate affecting 80 million workers at companies with more than 100 employees. A lengthy Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule-making process could prevent it from kicking in for weeks, but Biden said companies could take the initiative and get started now. “Businesses have more power than ever before to change the arc of this pandemic and save lives,” Biden said on a trip to Illinois. Data released in September indicated that unvaccinated people are 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than vaccinated people. A growing number of big companies have said they would enforce vaccine mandates, but several Republicans have vowed to challenge the mandate. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Pfizer requests emergency approval for children’s COVID vaccine  Pfizer and BioNTech said Thursday that they were asking the Food and Drug Administration for emergency-use authorization to offer their COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 to 11. If the FDA signs off, the Pfizer vaccine would be the first available to children that young. Pfizer’s shots already are fully approved for those 16 and older, with emergency-use authorization for children ages 12 to 15. Pfizer last month reported that its Phase 2/3 trials showed that the vaccine was safe and highly effective in younger children. The dose was just 10 micrograms, making it significantly smaller than the 30-microgram dose for those 12 and older, but it still generated a “robust” immune response, Pfizer said. The FDA has said it could analyze the data with weeks. CNN 

Trump lawyers say he’ll assert executive privilege in Capitol riot inquiry Former President Donald Trump plans to invoke executive privilege to prevent testimony by his onetime aides in a congressional investigation into the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters. In a letter sent to some potential witnesses subpoenaed by the House committee, Trump indicated that he would use the privileges to keep presidential communications from Congress, The Associated Press reported, citing a person who had seen the letter. The committee last month issued subpoenas to Trump’s former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and other high-ranking aides in Trump’s White House. At a rally before the mob went to the Capitol on Jan. 6, Trump told supporters to “fight like hell” to prevent lawmakers from certifying his loss to Biden. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

2 journalists win 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia were awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said they stood out for their efforts to defend freedom of expression. “Free, independent, and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda,” Reiss-Andersen said. Ressa in 2012 co-founded the news website Rappler, which the Nobel committee credited with focusing “critical attention on the (President Rodrigo) Duterte regime’s controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign.” The committee said the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta that Muratov co-founded in 1993 has used “fact-based journalism and professional integrity” to provide “information on censurable aspects of Russian society rarely mentioned by other media.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Biden to restore national monument protections Trump scrapped President Biden on Friday plans to sign three proclamations restoring protections for Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts national monuments, Biden administration officials said Thursday. Former President Donald Trump in 2017 sharply reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in southern Utah, allowing development, mining, and ranching on formerly protected land. Last year, Trump signed an order to allow commercial fishing within Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which former President Barack Obama designated as the Atlantic Ocean’s first marine monument in 2016. The Biden administration said restoring the protections would help “to better protect, conserve, and restore the lands and waters that sustain the health of communities and power our economy.” NPR 

Americans’ trust in media drops Americans’ trust in the media to “report the news fully accurately and fairly” fell by four percentage points from last year’s level in a Gallup survey released Thursday, hitting its lowest point since 2016 and its second-lowest on record. Just 36 percent of U.S. adults say they have “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of confidence in newspaper, television, and radio news reporting, just 4 points above 2016’s record low of 32 percent. Following the bottoming out in 2016, trust in the media “rebounded” 13 points in two years, mostly due to “a surge among Democrats” amid former President Donald Trump’s administration and the resulting media scrutiny, Gallup said. But since 2018, that number dropped by nine points, with the trust level sliding among all party groups. GALLUP 

Thursday, October 7th, 2021 

A Saudi-backed consortium, funded through its sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund, officially purchases Newcastle United F.C. for £300 million. An agreement on its purchase was finalized upon last April, but impasses on the issue of ownership among the specific entities in the consortium prevented the deal from moving forward until recently. (ESPN) 

 

 The Indonesian Drug and Food Control Agency issues an emergency use authorization for the three dose Zifivax ZF2001 vaccine. (Antara News) 

The World Health Organization begins shipping essential COVID-19 medical supplies into North Korea via the Chinese port of Dalian and quarantine facilities in the seaport of Nampo, a possible sign of easing one of the world’s strictest pandemic border closures. (NPR) 

Finland suspends the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people born since 1991 due to unpublished reports of rare cardiovascular side effects such as myocarditis. (The Hill) 

Sweden temporarily suspends the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people born since 1991 for precautionary reasons after reports of possible rare side effects, such as myocarditis. (CBS News) 

Denmark suspends the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people under the age of 18 after reports of myocarditis and meningitis, which are rare side effects of the vaccine. (The Local Denmark) 

The Standing Committee on Vaccination recommends COVID-19 vaccine booster doses for people over the age of 70 and care home workers. The committee also recommends mRNA-based booster doses for people who previously received the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. (Deutsche Welle) 

The Wall Street Journal reports a contingent of U.S. special forces soldiers have been deployed in Taiwan to train Taiwanese forces amid tensions with China. The military trainers were first deployed under the Trump administration. (The Guardian) 

The trial against a 100-year-old former SS concentration camp guard begins in Germany. The man is accused of collaborating in the murders of 3,518 people at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp between 1942 and 1945, when he was employed as a standing guard in the watchtower. (The Guardian) 

Dmytro Razumkov, the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, is dismissed following his disagreements with President Volodymyr Zelensky and his ruling Servant of the People party’s stances on legislation which aimed to reduce the influence of Ukrainian oligarchs. (Kyiv Post) 

A political party named the Norfolk Island Party is formed to advocate for the islanders’ self-determination from Australia. The party’s goal is to achieve sovereignty for Norfolk Island. (RNZ) 

The Polish Constitutional Tribunal rules that the Constitution of Poland takes precedence over EU laws, directly challenging the primacy of European Union law principle, escalating tensions around the Polish rule-of-law crisis and in particular around the country’s controversial judicial reforms. (The New York Times) (Politico) 

The End Friday

Thursday, October 7th, 2021 

The U.S. State Department reveals that the current stockpile of nuclear weapons is 3,750 warheads. (State.gov) 

NATO expels eight members of the Russian Mission to NATO, accusing the Russians of secretly operating as intelligence officers. NATO also reduces the number of Russian positions at the organization to 10. (Military.com) 

Case Breakers, a group of former law enforcement individuals, claim to have identified the Zodiac Killer as Gary Francis Poste, an individual who had passed away in 2018. The finding is vehemently disavowed by the FBI, who assert the case is “still very much open”. (The Independent) 

Biden approval rating drops to a new low President Biden’s approval rating dropped to 38 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday. That’s down from 42 percent three weeks ago, and a low point in Biden’s presidency. Biden’s popularity was at a high of 50 percent in mid-February, but it has fallen as he faced criticism for the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and as his economic agenda hit trouble in Congress. “Battered on trust, doubted on leadership, and challenged on overall competency, President Biden is being hammered on all sides as his approval rating continues its downward slide to a number not seen since the tough scrutiny of the Trump administration,” Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said. Eighty percent of Democrats approved of Biden’s performance, compared to 4 percent of Republicans. USA TODAY 

2 share Nobel Prize in chemistry for creating molecular tools David W.C. MacMillan of Princeton University and Benjamin List of the Max Planck Institute in Germany were awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for their work creating tools for constructing molecules in a cheap, environmentally friendly way. The tools, known as organocatalysts, can be used to make new drugs, chemicals, and molecules that can capture light in solar cells. The broad range of products made from catalysis contribute an estimated 35 percent of global gross domestic product. Johan Aqvist, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, said the concept was “as simple as it is ingenious.” “It is already benefiting humankind greatly,” said Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede, a professor of chemical biology at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, during the news conference to announce the award. THE WASHINGTON POST 

At least 23 people are killed and about 200 more are wounded as a 5.9 magnitude earthquake strikes Harnai, Balochistan, Pakistan. (Al Jazeera) 

An earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 hits Tokyo, Japan and surrounding areas, stopping train lines but without immediate reports of damage. According to Japan’s system, it was labeled as a “strong-5 earthquake”. (Reuters) 

India begins the use of commercial drones to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to remote areas to speed up the country’s vaccination drive. (BBC News) 

 

WHO recommends use of 1st malaria vaccine The World Health Organization announced Wednesday that it would recommend the rollout of the first malaria vaccine. Pilot testing has shown it to be safe, and that it could be administered in remote and rural settings. “I started my career as a malaria researcher, and I longed for the day that we would have an effective vaccine against this ancient and terrible disease,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva. “Today is that day, an historic day.” Tedros said the vaccine could save tens of thousands of lives. The vaccine, RTS,S, was developed by GSK. It is administered in four doses, giving it a complexity seen as a potential concern in countries with limited health-care resources.  STAT NEWS 

White House to buy $1 billion worth of rapid COVID tests  The White House announced Wednesday that it would buy $1 billion worth of rapid, at-home coronavirus tests, potentially quadrupling the number of tests available to the public by December. “This is a big deal,” said Scott Becker, chief executive officer of the Association of Public Health Laboratories. “The White House is beginning to take testing as seriously as they’ve taken vaccinations.” Becker said up to now, shortages of rapid tests had made it hard to track and counter a surge in coronavirus cases driven by the highly infectious Delta variant. The move came after the Food and Drug Administration on Monday decided to allow the sale an Acon Laboratories’ antigen test. The Biden administration also plans to double President Biden’s commitment to expand the number of pharmacies participating in the federal government’s free testing program. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Colorado hospital system halts transplants on unvaccinated A Colorado hospital system said Wednesday that it wouldn’t perform transplant surgery on unvaccinated patients because they face an elevated risk of fatal COVID-19. “For transplant patients who contract COVID-19, the mortality rate ranges from about 20 percent to more than 30 percent,” UCHealth said in a statement to CBS Denver. “This shows the extreme risk that COVID-19 poses to transplant recipients after their surgeries.” The new policy had an immediate impact. Leilani Lutali, who has stage 5 renal failure, was supposed to get a new kidney in months, but she is now looking for a new hospital because neither she nor her donor, Jaimee Fougner, are vaccinated. Fougner, who met Lutali in Bible study, said she had not been vaccinated due to religious objections. CBS NEWS 

Wednesday, October 6th, 2021 

Taliban soldiers raid an IS–K hideout in Kabul, arresting four militants. Meanwhile, ISIL claims responsibility for the murder and beheading of a Taliban soldier in Jalalabad. (Reuters) 

Dozens of armed bandits on motorbikes storm a village in Zamfara, killing 18 civilians, burning shops and cars, and forcing many residents to flee. (Reuters) 

Russia reports a record 929 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 212,685. (Gulf News) 

Kazakhstan signs an agreement to purchase four million doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine which will be delivered in the fourth quarter of this year. (KAZINFORM) 

The World Health Organization endorses the mass rollout of the malaria vaccine RTS,S across Sub-Saharan Africa and other countries affected by the disease after pilot programs with the vaccine in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi reduced malaria-related hospitalization and death rates among children by 70%. (The Guardian) 

Turkey ratifies the Paris Climate Accords, an international treaty on climate change, becoming the last G20 country to do so. (MSN) 

Four people are wounded as a gunman opens fire at an high school in Arlington, Texas, United States after a fight. The suspected attacker escaped from the scene, but was arrested several hours later. (The Daily Beast) 

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo announces the resignation of Prime Minister Guido Bellido. Mirtha Vásquez is sworn-in to replace Bellido. (Reuters)] (Andina) 

Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, tells U.S. lawmakers that the company’s sites and apps “harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy”. (BBC News) 

Chemists Benjamin List of Germany and David MacMillan of the United States are awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on molecular engineering through organocatalysis. (AFP via Gulf News) 

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