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1. Coronavirus
A year ago today, the first cases of a mystery virus that would become known as Covid-19 were reported in Wuhan, China. Since then, 1.8 million people around the world have died in the ensuing pandemic. The US set another daily death record from Covid-19 yesterday, and some estimates say an additional 80,000 people could die in the next three weeks if the effects of vacation travel and get-togethers begin. Other countries such as Germany are also reporting record deaths, and Japan is considering a state of emergency to counter the rising number of cases. In the US, vaccine rollout is lagging behind some other countries, leading to frustration and confusion in places like Florida, where unclear policies have sparked a battle over dose limits.
Transition in the White House
GOP Senator Josh Hawley says he will formally object to the results of the 2020 presidential election when Congress meets early next week to count the Electoral College votes. He is the first senator to announce plans to object to the results, along with Republican Rep. Mo Brooks. Their concerted efforts will force the House and Senate to formally debate the issue, providing a platform for President Trump’s baseless conspiracy theories that claim the election was stolen from him. To be clear, the debate and the vote after that will not change the outcome of the election. But it will slow the results and create an ugly scene for Republicans who should decide how long to tacitly entertain Trump’s false allegations of election fraud.
3. Stimulus
After rejecting a measure that would increase stimulus payments for the coronavirus from $ 600 to $ 2,000, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell attacked the bill passed by the house, saying it “has no realistic path to the Senate quickly. to pass “. As part of the political maneuver, Senator Bernie Sanders has vowed to postpone a vote to override Trump’s veto on the military financing bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act until the issue of larger stimulus payments has been addressed. It seems increasingly likely that this session of Congress will end without any movement of increased payments. Meanwhile, $ 600 stimulus vouchers are already on their way to some Americans. Oh, and the Census Bureau will miss today’s deadline to produce its final population count for 2020. The agency said it will provide final results shortly.
4. Brexi
Speaking of deadlines, UK lawmakers voted to support the UK’s post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, just before the very last deadline of the Brexit transition period. The deal maintains Britain’s tariff- and quota-free access to EU consumers and allows the UK to narrowly avoid the economic disaster that would have come had it tumbled out of the transition period without a deal. The UK may get a brief economic boost from renewed security, but leaving the EU will still prove damaging, economists say. While the new deal covers trade in goods, it does not cover as thoroughly other industries critical to the UK economy, such as finance.
5. Yemen
At least 22 people died when a series of explosions hit Aden airport in Yemen. The attack occurred when members of a new power-sharing government arrived from Saudi Arabia. It’s unclear whether the explosions were caused by missiles, but Saudi Arabia blames the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. A spokesman for the Saudi-backed coalition in Yemen said the coalition intercepted and shot down an explosive-laden Houthi drone targeting the presidential palace in the city of Aden. Yemen is plagued by years of civil war, and the newly arrived government members are part of a new cabinet set up to end a power struggle between a Yemeni separatist group and the current Saudi-backed government.
BREAKFAST LEAF
The fascinating history behind the Times Square ball drop
Did you know? The design for the ball was based on a ‘time ball’, a nautical device that helped sailors synchronize their instruments on board.
Watch Boston Dynamics robots dance to ‘Do You Love Me’
No no no, we can’t think of the robots as cute and charming! That is part of their master plan!
Apple and TikTok are removing app used to control parties during Covid-19
No (real) parties !!!
Mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn leads Anderson Cooper in meditation
Let Anderson lead you peacefully into the New Year.
2020 was the year of scary bugs, and 2021 is getting worse
Say it again with me, for the last time: NO MORE SCARY BUGS 2020!
TODAY’S NUMBER
$ 10 million
That’s how much Ticketmaster has to pay in fines after the company admits illegal access to its competitor’s computers.
TODAY QUOTE
“We know that life was cut short tonight and that trust between communities of color and law enforcement is fragile. Rebuilding that trust depends on full transparency.”
Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Freytargeting a deadly shooting on Wednesday night. The city’s police chief says body cameras are being released today. The shooting scene is about a mile from where George Floyd died at the end of May at the hands of the Minneapolis police. His death, captured on video, sparked national rallies calling for racial justice and accountability of the police.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local weather forecast here >>>
AND FINALLY
Should an old acquaintance be forgotten
You know the song. But do you really know what it means? Have a safe and happy New Year’s holiday everyone! (Click here to view.)