5 things to know before January 6: Senate, Congress, Covid-19, Jacob Blake, Qatar withdrawals

The House and Senate are meeting today to formally count the votes of the Electoral College in the 2020 presidential election. But what is usually a routine part of American democracy can turn ugly as President Trump and his most ardent supporters continue to deny the results. Here’s what will happen: Some Republicans in both houses have pledged to object to some of the results, which are counted by state, meaning there could be discussion when certain states come up. All objections will be voted on – and are expected to fail. So in the end, GOP objections will most likely serve as a sign of loyalty to the president, rather than actually affecting the results. They could also cast a shadow over future democratic processes and perpetuate the seed of doubt among Trump supporters who believe his false claims that the election was stolen from him. We could also see unrest, as Trump has encouraged supporters to come to the Capitol while the votes are being counted.

The US hit a new daily high death toll from the coronavirus yesterday, with 3,775 new deaths across the country. The new tragedy comes as American governors take new steps to deliver vaccines more quickly, including mobilizing National Guard members and training more volunteers to vaccinate people. Germany, Ireland, the Czech Republic and other countries are also seeing spikes in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has issued a rare rebuke after a team of its scientists were unable to enter China to study the origins of the new coronavirus.

The police officer who shot and seriously injured Jacob Blake in August in Kenosha, Wisconsin, will not be charged, district attorney Michael Graveley said yesterday. Resting Sheskey, a white officer, shot Blake, a 29-year-old black man, seven times from behind while responding to a domestic incident. He said he used lethal force because he believed Blake was trying to kidnap a child in the backseat of a vehicle. Blake’s family says they are disappointed with the decision, but felt it was coming when they learned that Wisconsin was bringing in the National Guard to respond to potential post-announcement unrest. Now Blake’s family and supporters promise to take their case to Washington DC.

Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies have agreed to restore diplomatic relations with the small gas-rich country of Qatar. The agreement ends a three-year boycott of the nation that has since divided the Gulf states. In 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt accused Qatar of supporting terrorism and objected to the country’s friendly relations with Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood. Under the boycott, Qatar’s only land border – with Saudi Arabia – was closed and boycotting countries closed their airspace to Qatar. While the leaders of the countries seemed optimistic about the deal being signed in the Saudi city of al-Ula, it is unclear what amenities it entails and what has been met.

Good things are worth waiting for – until March in this case.

Under new guidelines, they don’t count as service animals, but you can wear them anyway.

Do it or else your internet browser will get mad at you.

An astonishing new development in chicken sandwich theater.

Oh, to be the woman who calls her job title “Queen.”

That’s the share of electric new car sales in Norway last year. The country is using massive tax incentives to ensure that every new passenger car and van sold there by the end of 2025 is an emission-free vehicle. Record sales of electric vehicles last year more than got them on track.

Martin Kenyon, a 91-year-old Brit who became an internet sensation for his rather practical statement to CNN after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine last month. He has now received the second dose and feels great.

We never would have considered that question, but since the Smithsonian Channel has asked it, we need to know. (Click here to view.)