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TechNews for the week: December 29; December 27;
War, Politics and Reports (Also, see Finance and Economics)
In their shared sea, Ukraine and Russia already risk direct conflict every day; U.S. helps Ukraine to strengthen its border with Russia, Belarus;
More than 10,000 Russian troops returning to bases after drills near Ukraine; Putin threatens military action if NATO rejects Russian ultimatum;
Russian gas flows via Yamal-Europe pipeline reversed for 6th day; Russia says Europe missing out on gas with Nord Stream 2 delay;
Russian Court Orders Prominent Human Rights Group to Shut; Russian civil rights group vows to preserve archive of Soviet-era abuse;
Israel plans to double settlement in Golan Heights; Syria denounces Israeli plans to double number of Golan settlers;
Israeli leaders detest Gaza because its existence challenges Israel's founding myth;
Israel strikes Gaza after gunfire wounds civilian near fence; Gaza border violence erupts after Palestinian president visits Israel;
Israel approves measures aimed at improving relations with Palestinians after meeting; Israeli minister gets 24/7 guard, blames Jewish extremists;
Israel hits Syrian port for second time this month; Satellite images show smoldering wreckage at Syria port;
Israel signs deal to buy $3.1 billion in U.S. helicopters, tankers;
A New Israeli Wonderland, Where You Can Almost Forget Where You Are;
Polish president Duda vetoes media law after US anger;
Chile Rewrites Its Constitution, Confronting Climate Change Head On;
China's live-streaming influencers are in the crosshairs of Xi Jinping's 'common prosperity' drive; Hong Kong media outlet to shut down as police step up crackdown on free press;
Militaries are among the world's biggest emitters. This general wants them to go green;
Agents with Homeland Security Investigations to break away from ICE, saying negative reputation hurts their work; Another Judge Quits Guantánamo Case;
New laws take effect across US on abortion, policing, taxes; Wampanoag, who helped Pilgrims survive, win rights to tribal lands;
Biden Signs $770 Billion Defense Bill;
President Biden is reportedly considering nominating Sarah Bloom Raskin to be the Federal Reserve's vice chair of supervision;
As Prices Rise, Biden Turns to Antitrust Enforcers;
Biden Administration Rejects Medicaid Work Requirements in Georgia;
Biden tells governors next steps to fight pandemic are at the state level;
5 GOP-led states extend unemployment aid to workers who lose jobs over vaccine mandates;
Biden Administration Approves Two Big Solar Projects;
Ethics Investigators in Congress Increasingly Run Into Walls;
Supreme Court term limits are popular — and appear to be going nowhere;
Federal court denies Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's attempt to stop military vaccine mandate;
Voting Rights and the Battle Over Elections: What to Know; Ungerrymandered: Michigan's Maps, Independently Drawn, Set Up Fair Fight;
Democrats Say They Are Serious About State Elections. But Are They Too Late?
Former Wisc Supreme Court Justice calls for GOP state senator to resign as he signals he wants more taxpayer funding for his election review;
House MAGA squad seeks to expand by boosting challengers to fellow Republicans;
Republicans fear a win by disgraced former Missouri governor Greitens in primary would gift wrap Senate seat for Democrats;
Md. Gov. Larry Hogan's messages to state employees self-destruct in 24 hours;
Judge upholds ruling against NYT over Project Veritas memos;
How Paid Experts Help Exonerate Police After Deaths in Custody;
Trump news and investigation
Trump Golf Courses Claimed Nearly $4 Million In British Aid While He Was President;
Trump accuses Jan. 6 panel of "seeking evidence of criminal activity" in Supreme Court filing ;
Capital Riot and fallout
Trump spokesman turned over 1,700 pages of documents and testified for 4 hours for Jan. 6 committee, per new court docs;
Jan. 6 Committee Shelves Requests for Hundreds of Trump Records;
Capitol panel to investigate Trump call to Willard hotel in hours before attack;
Publix heiress' Jan. 6 role un-American;
COVID-19
Anger over mask rules, pandemic restrictions spurs states to curb health officials' power; As Omicron Spreads and Cases Soar, the Unvaccinated Remain Defiant;
What you need to know about at-home rapid tests and their results; FDA says your rapid test may not detect Omicron;
Is it COVID-19 or just a cold? Here's how to tell the difference; Omicron Variant Might Help Defend Against Delta, Lab Study Suggests;
Two Maryland hospitals declare 'disaster' as coronavirus cases rise; First they ran short of PPE, then ventilators. Now, the shortage is hospital staff;
Omicron snarls some Christmas travel as airlines cancel thousands of flights;
Worn down by pandemic, many clergy have quit;
Europeans Ponder Living With, Not Defeating, Covid;
Math, science and technology:
Math and science
Business and Economics
Stocks meander higher, scoring record highs for S&P 500, Dow;
Holiday sales soared, with e-commerce notching huge gains, a report says; The most unusual job market in modern American history, explained;
Many home insurance premiums are rising faster than inflation; Record Beef Prices, but Ranchers Aren't Cashing In;
A Lavish Tax Dodge for the Ultrawealthy Is Easily Multiplied;
In Texas Supreme Court case, state argues bullet train developer can't use eminent domain;
Didi blocks employees from selling shares indefinitely;
Rivian delayed production of its R1T 400-mile electric pickup trucks until 2023;
Northvolt, Europe's $12 billion Tesla battery rival, produced its first lithium-ion cell;
GM heralded this plant as a model for its electric car future. Then its batteries started exploding;
Sports
Fenway and Military college bowl games canceled amid coronavirus concerns;
Other news
Why Christmas was the best time of year to escape slavery;
Gorbachev's resignation 30 years ago marked the end of USSR;
Education:
He was waterboarded at VMI. His tormentors still got into the military;
12/24/21
TechNews for the week: December 22; December 20;
War, Politics and Reports (Also, see Finance and Economics)
Russia seeks to curb U.S. and NATO influence on borders; Russia Lays Out Demands for a Sweeping New Security Deal With NATO;
Putin says Russia has 'nowhere to retreat' over Ukraine; Amid fears Russia will invade Ukraine, Putin points finger at U.S. and NATO in marathon news conference;
Russians face soaring costs and tough choices this New Year; Russian mercenaries deploy to eastern Ukraine;
Russian gas flows via Yamal-Europe pipeline reversed for 3rd day;
Putin and Xi's evolving disinformation playbooks pose new threats ;
The Island Paradise Near the Front Line of Tensions Over Taiwan; Hong Kong tears down 'Pillar of Shame' sculpture honoring Tiananmen victims;
China threatened to send Lithuania to the 'garbage bin of history' after it stood up to Beijing by strengthening ties with Taiwan;
US Intel Reportedly Claims China Was Building Secret Military Facility in UAE Port;
New forensics show a UAE agency put Pegasus spyware on the phone of Jamal Khashoggi's wife months before his murder;
AP says photographer beaten by Israeli police;
Taliban recruits flood into Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan as the group works to consolidate control;
A look at the billions of dollars in foreign aid to Gaza; Defiant in war and isolation, Hamas plays long game in Gaza;
Lebanon's top Christian party signals possible end of Hezbollah alliance;
Is nuclear energy green? France and Germany lead opposing camps;
Hidden Pentagon Records Reveal Patterns of Failure in Deadly Airstrikes;
Pentagon updates rules to address extremism in the military;
Haitian Migrants File Lawsuit Protesting Treatment by Border Patrol;
Appeals court reinstates Biden's vaccination policy for businesses, setting up a likely showdown at Supreme Court;
Supreme Court sets special hearing for Biden's vaccine rules for health-care workers, private businesses;
Senate confirms Rahm Emanuel as ambassador to Japan, plus dozens more Biden nominees;
Social Security offices have been closed for most of the pandemic. That has hurt some of the neediest;
Federal Election Commission dismisses complaints against USPS chief DeJoy over alleged straw-donor scheme;
Study: 2020 Census may have significantly undercounted Detroit;
Biden's new rule reducing carbon dioxide emissions from cars and SUVs reverses a major Trump rollback of standards;
Justice Department rules that federal inmates may stay on home confinement after coronavirvus emergency ends;
Manchin slams the door on Biden's $1.75 trillion investment bill; Corporate donors gave to Manchin before announcement he wouldn't support Build Back Better;
Manchin's Long History of Fighting Climate Measures;
White House rebukes Manchin, says decision to oppose domestic spending bill is ‘a sudden and inexplicable reversal in his position’;
Manchin's private offer to Biden included pre-k, climate money, Obamacare — but excluded child tax credit expansion;
Manchin told White House he would support version of tax on billionaires; How Biden's fragile alliance with Manchin unraveled;
Republicans plan aggressive Biden probes if GOP wins House;
Election officials face growing pressure campaign by Trump allies to revisit 2020 vote;
Georgia governor's race tests power of Trump's false stolen-election claim;
Murphy, a leader of House Dem centrists, won't seek reelection; John Thune, a Likely Successor to Mitch McConnell, Weighs Retirement;
Kris Kobach culpable for $1.9M in attorney fees over failed voting law, but others to blame as well;
What happened after Burlington, Vermont, decided to cut its police force 30 percent;
Trump news and investigation
Trump Bandies About Anti-Semitic Tropes In Interview With Israeli Reporter;
Trump sues New York attorney general in attempt to halt inquiry into his company;
Trump asks Supreme Court to withhold records from House Jan. 6 committee;
Trump's newest business partner: A Chinese firm with a history of SEC investigations;
I've been ignoring Trump's 'personal' messages. Ted Cruz and Don Jr. aren't happy;
A Retired Colonel's Unlikely Role in Pushing Baseless Election Claims;
Rudy Giuliani and One America News sued by Georgia poll workers falsely accused of electoral fraud;
Since October 2020, special counsel John Durham has spent $3.8 million probing Russia investigation;
Capital Riot and fallout
Judges find Lead Capitol riot charge is constitutional; Jan. 6 Committee Weighs Possibility of Criminal Referrals;
House Jan. 6 committee seeks information from Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) about communications with Trump White House officials;
House Jan. 6 committee requests information from and meeting with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) about his contact with Trump;
McConnell: Public 'needs to know' what Jan. 6 panel uncovers;
First member of Proud Boys group pleads guilty in Capitol riot conspiracy;
COVID-19
With Omicron, U.S. Testing Capacity Faces Intense Pressure; CDC projects Omicron in more than 70 percent of new U.S. cases last week;
Moderna booster shot should provide 'good level of protection' against omicron, vaccine-maker says;
Most of the World's Vaccines Likely Won't Prevent Infection From Omicron; South Africa's huge omicron wave appears to be subsiding just as quickly as it grew;
U.K. researchers suggest Omicron variant appears to be less severe than once dominant delta variant;
Biden's omicron battle plan to include a half-billion free at-home tests, support for overwhelmed hospitals;
Scientists say Early use of convalescent plasma reduced hospitalizations, raising hopes for treating omicron variant;
FDA authorizes the first easy-to-use pill to treat covid-19 in the United States as the omicron variant surges;
FDA authorizes Merck's anti-coronavirus pill, a second treatment option;
Report: Army developing vaccine that protects against array of variants;
Moderna halts patent fight over coronavirus vaccine with federal government;
Airlines cancel more than 300 holiday flights due to omicron impacts on crews;
What 6 health experts advise for holiday travel amid omicron;
Math, science and technology:
Security issues
Business and Economics
Dow plunges 600 points Monday as omicron fears seize global markets; Turnaround Tuesday on Wall Street: Stocks rebound;
US Economy Grew At 2.3% Rate In Third Quarter; Jobless claims steady despite rise in covid cases; The U.S. economy was in a similar spot 4 decades ago;
Lawmakers, business leaders raise alarms about federal aid as omicron cases rise;
Companies Cite Burnout As Major Cause Of Employee Resignations;
H-1B Visa Program Seeing Statistical Decline In Applications;
Supply chains: companies shift from 'just in time' to 'just in case';
US Concerned By China's Access To World Shipping Data;
New revelations from the Pandora Papers show how Wyoming became one of the world's top tax havens for the wealthy;
YouTube TV to restore ABC, ESPN and other channels after making deal with Disney;
Kellogg's cereal workers approve contract, ending 11-week strike and averting job losses;
Nokia Partners With Elisa Estonia To Deploy 5G Network In Finland; Chile Begins 5G Era With First Deployments;
Boeing, Airbus CEOs Call For Delay Of 5G Rollout;
EPA: Passenger Vehicles Must Average 55 Miles Per Gallon In Five Years; Canada's EV Charging Ambitions Falling Short, Says Industry Group;
Used Vehicle Market Constrained By Low Supply Of New Cars; Automakers Introduce Recycled Materials Into Vehicle Interiors, Components;
Apple Car, With Wave Of Recent Departures, Faces Make-or-Break 2022;
Jared Kushner investment firm Affinity raises $3 billion in committed funding;
Sports
Chinese tennis star says her allegations of sexual assault against former official were misunderstood;
Why baseball's middle class matters so much in the MLB lockout;
Other news
He was close by for three presidential assassinations. Including his dad's;
'Greatest Generation' survey on race, sex and combat during World War II runs counter to its wholesome image;
He wore a wire, risked his life to expose who was in the KKK;
A Squabble About History Almost Killed Xi Jinping's Father;
How to Become a Better Listener;
Education:
Pause on student loan repayments extended until May, offering borrowers another reprieve during the pandemic;
UCLA, Columbia, Duke among colleges planning to start January with remote instruction as omicron surges; Harvard Returns To Online Learning As COVID-19 Cases Increase;
Cardona Says Schools Should Remain Open For In-Person Instruction;
Univ Of Texas Forgives Almost $5M In Student Debt Using COVID-19 Relief Funds;
Cleveland Program Aims To Connect High School Students To Jobs With Living Wages;
School threats and social media hoaxes are forcing closures, time-consuming investigations;
12/17/21
TechNews for the week: December 17; December 15; December 13;
War, Politics and Reports (Also, see Finance and Economics)
Palestinians vote in local elections amid rising anger with Abbas;
Explosions in Palestinian camp in Lebanon cause casualties; Hamas officials say Three killed in shooting at Palestinian camp in Lebanon;
Israeli forces on West Bank raid kill Palestinian; Settlers attack Palestinian villages after West Bank killing;
Trump says Netanyahu "never wanted peace" with the Palestinians; Israel to remove security detail for Netanyahu family;
Israeli airstrikes in June targeted Syrian chemical weapons facilities, intelligence officials say;
Israel planning trial import of foreign tech workers amid shortage;
Gulf Arab states that opposed the Iran nuclear deal now court Tehran;
Macron warns against "self-fulfilling" prophecies on Ukraine-Russia risks;
Russia-Ukraine Sea Encounter Highlights Jittery Nerves in the Region; Russia says it may be forced to deploy intermediate nuclear missiles in Europe;
Full-on Russian invasion, threat to US troops in Ukraine unlikely right now;
All-out war or 'creeping occupation' among Putin options, says Ukraine MoD; How rebel-held regions of eastern Ukraine have grown closer to Russia;
Russia sets tough demands for US-NATO in draft security pact ; U.S. to share Moscow's security proposals with allies amid standoff;
Russia says China backing Moscow's demands for security guarantees from West;
Putin rues Soviet collapse as demise of 'historical Russia'; Why is Russia's Putin so focused on Ukraine?
Germany to expel Russian diplomats after court accuses Kremlin of 'state terrorism';
China's Xi is set to meet Russia's Putin virtually on Wednesday; Putin and Xi Show United Front Amid Rising Tensions With U.S.;
China pressures Germany's Continental to cut out Lithuania;
Taiwan says Chinese invasion would be very hard; Beijing has deployed thousands of fake Twitter accounts to promote its official positions;
US accuses China of developing 'brain control weaponry'; U.S. builds new software tool to predict actions that could draw China's ire;
China's Xi and Russia's Putin dominate the G7; G-7 warns Moscow of 'massive consequences' if Russia invades Ukraine;
Russia blocks U.N. move to treat climate change as a global security threat;
The limits of US sanctions in dealing with Russia are becoming clear;
Belarus Opposition Leader Is Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison;
Moldovan president to Russia: joining the EU is our choice;
Echoes of Trump at a Rally for France's Far-Right Upstart;
UAE told the U.S. it will suspend talks on F-35 jets -Emirati official;
Ten years of Kim Jong Un: Nuclear tests, diplomacy … and K-pop;
No U.S. troops will be disciplined for errant drone strike that killed 10 civilians amid the hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan;
Scientists, Engineers Press President To Cut Nuclear Arsenal, Declare No First Use In Conflict;
Arrests at U.S.-Mexico border ticked up in November, the first increase since the summer;
Lawyers for families separated at border by Trump say settlement negotiations with Biden administration have broken down;
Congress approves measure that would raise debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion;
Senate approves massive defense bill directing independent review of Afghanistan errors, some military justice reforms;
Republicans Who Assailed Biden's Stimulus Bill Are Embracing the Money;
Biden, Manchin Talk As Senator Continues To Raise Concerns About Build Back Better Package;
Biden says Senate passage of $2 trillion spending package could take "weeks" but commits to eventually securing a deal;
No. 2 Senate Democrat 'stunned' by Manchin's stance on child tax credit; Manchin rejects offshore drilling ban amid broader standoff over Biden agenda;
After he asked Biden to help his own state of Kentucky, Rand Paul lashed out at critics who brought up his history of opposing disaster-relief bills;
Manchin cites a blind trust to justify climate votes. But much income from his family's coal company isn’t covered;
Sen. Tom Cotton refused to confirm US attorney nominees in Democratic states until Sen. Dick Durbin apologized for interrupting him nine months ago;
Biden To Toughen Auto Emissions Limits To Counter Climate Change;
In significant climate change action, New York City bans new gas hookups;
U.S. adds Chinese medical research institute to its trade blacklist;
FDA eliminates restriction on abortion pill as Supreme Court weighs case that challenges Roe v. Wade;
Supreme Court sends Texas abortion case to appeals court instead of to judge who previously blocked the law;
Judge overturns deal giving Purdue Pharma's Sackler family civil immunity from opioid claims;
Email from GOP senators brazenly distorts facts;
Laws aimed at voter suppression are 'the worst' since Jim Crow. How Black voter trends could be impacted;
Phil Waldron, backer of Jan. 6 PowerPoint, is invited to speak to Louisiana voting panel;
Wisconsin emerges as front line in war over 2020 vote; 3 Florida residents arrested after casting multiple votes in 2020 election;
In Bid for Control of Elections, Trump Loyalists Face Few Obstacles; GOP candidates flocking to Mar-a-Lago to pay Trump to host their events;
Proud Boys Regroup, Focusing on School Boards and Town Councils;
'Don't Say Anything Stupid, Because You're Just Going to Get Arrested': Black Man Handcuffed After Bank Falsely Claims His Paycheck Was Fake;
Beware the extremist, dangerous and unconstitutional 'constitutional sheriffs';
Trump news and investigation
Lawyers Clash Again Over Subpoena for Trump's Financial Records; Judge rules Trump tax records can be released by Treasury Department to House;
Trump Fraud Inquiry's Focus: Did He Mislead His Own Accountants?
Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham says 'Trump's anger level' with Mark Meadows 'has got to be through the roof right now';
Kushner kicked Israel's ambassador out of his office during annexation argument;
Trump felt used on Soleimani strike: "Israel did not do the right thing";
Meadows and the Band of Loyalists: How They Fought to Keep Trump in Power;
Trump says American Jews 'no longer love Israel' and Jewish people 'run The New York Times';
Melania Trump emerges to launch new NFT platform meant to 'inspire' — and earn cash;
Capital Riot and fallout
House votes to find former Trump chief of staff Meadows in contempt for refusing to comply with Jan. 6 committee subpoena;
Meadows referral creates new legal, political challenge for Garland, DOJ;
Jan. 6 wasn't an insurrection. It was vigilantism. And more is coming;
Meadows Jan. 5 email indicated Guard on standby to 'protect pro Trump people'; Fox News hosts urged Meadows to have Trump stop Jan. 6 violence, texts show;
Meadows falsely claims that Trump 'acted quickly' to quell Jan. 6 riot; Election denier who circulated Jan. 6 PowerPoint says he met with Meadows at White House;
No, Trump did not order 10,000 troops to secure the Capitol on Jan. 6;
What crime might Trump have committed on Jan. 6? Liz Cheney points to one;
House Jan. 6 committee subpoenas retired Army Col. Phil Waldron, who worked for Trump's outside legal team;
Ex-Trump adviser Peter Navarro defies House subpoena in coronavirus probe;
Self-Proclaimed Proud Boys Member Gets 10 Years for Violence at Portland Protests;
D.C. attorney general sues Proud Boys, Oathkeepers over Jan. 6 attack at Capitol, seeks stiff financial penalties to cover damages;
Man who attacked police with fire extinguisher during Capitol assault receives toughest Jan. 6 sentence yet;
Facing Subpoenas, Trump Allies Try to Run Out the Clock on Democrats;
COVID-19
US Reaches 800K Covid Deaths Due To Delta And Unvaccinated Patients; Omicron Begins "Rapid Assault" On US, Moves Faster Than Systems Can Track;
Largest study to date finds Omicron is more resistant to vaccines but causes milder covid cases;
Study Finds Two-Dose Vaccines Induce Too Few Antibodies Against Omicron; Studies Show Vaccines Less Effective Against Omicron As Wave Approaches;
As omicron threatens to wipe out monoclonal antibodies, U.S. is saving up one that will work;
CDC advisers recommend use of Pfizer, Moderna vaccines over Johnson & Johnson's, citing rare blood-clot issue linked to 9 deaths;
Pfizer says anti-covid pill prevents severe illness and should work against omicron variant;
Washington lawmaker who fell ill with COVID-19 in El Salvador and was reportedly evacuated to Florida hasn't been seen since;
Vaccine holdouts in U.S. military active-duty ranks approach 40,000; Five GOP governors ask Pentagon to drop vaccine mandate for National Guard members;
South Korea To Test AI-Powered Program To Track COVID-19 Cases;
South Korea limiting gatherings to four people;
Math, science and technology:
Security issues
A year of Uncovered: 10 things we learned;
Graham criticizes McConnell over debt ceiling, says GOP leaders must work with Trump;
South Carolina State University Preparing For Biden's Friday Visit;
Business and Economics
Good news revealed about U.S. government deficit; Fed signals more aggressive focus on tackling inflation, setting up three interest rate hikes in 2022;
Consumer Prices Rose By 6.8 Percent In November; New York Fed Survey Shows Consumers Expect Inflation To Outpace Earnings;
Texas Republican and California Democrat have a plan to end debt limit drama;
Environmentalists Highlight Build Back Better's Climate Savings In Response To Debt Concerns;
How millions of jobless Americans can afford to ditch work;
Laws Restricting Job Options For People With Criminal Records Acting As Obstacles For Incarcerated Students;
Floods a growing risk to commercial real estate; The return of the 10-minute eviction;
Biden administration places top Chinese military institute and other entities on export blacklist;
About half of U.S. oil pipeline space is empty after boom time building spree;
Exxon, Halliburton in talks for Iraq's West Qurna-1 oilfield;
Green-Energy Race Draws an American Underdog to Bolivia's Lithium;
Shortage of Cream Cheese Blamed Partly on Cyberattack on Manufacturer;
California DMV Suspends AV Testing Permit For Pony.ai After Collision;
Toyota Will Build Record 800,000 Vehicles In January; GM Plots Mass-Market EV Push Under Pressure From Plug-In Rivals;
Mexico Considers Appeal Against US EV Tax Credits;
Sports
Russia is supposedly banned from the Olympics. Putin says he's going anyway;
Meyer fired hours after it was revealed he allegedly kicked player during practice;
Other news
Why America Is at War Over the History of Slavery;
Wright brothers vs. Smithsonian: the bitter feud over who invented the airplane;
The first U.S. vaccine mandate in 1809 launched 200 years of court battles;
The Coronavirus Turned a Rural County Into a Battleground for Millionaires;
How the LAPD's Most Infamous Trial Got Moved to 'Copland';
A QAnon con: How the viral Wayfair sex trafficking lie hurt real kids;
Education:
Only 50% Of College Class Of 2020 Had Traditional Full-Time Jobs Six Months After Graduation;
Bond Rating Agencies Issue "Middle-Of-The-Road" Evaluations Of Higher Education Sector; Cyberthreats, Cyberinsurance Premiums On The Rise Among Colleges, Universities;
Alabama Commission On Higher Education Asks For 17.5% Increase In Funding For Public Colleges, Universities; Virginia Governor Proposes Increase In Funds For State HBCUs;
Surge In COVID-19 Cases Forcing Colleges To Finish Year Online, Mandate Booster Shots Next Semester; Mississippi Public Universities Withdraw Staff Vaccine Mandates;
CDC finds coronavirus testing of exposed children in schools can safely replace quarantine;
Report Says More Qualified Students Are Applying To UC, Cal State Campuses Than Those Colleges Can Admit;
Build Back Better Plan Would Open Financial Aid Eligibility To Undocumented Students Under DACA;
White House Confirms Student Loan Payments Restart February 1; Top Dems Push Administration To Reconsider Decision To End Student Loan Payment Moratorium February 1;
Ohio State, Smith College Move To Spare Future Undergraduates From Student Debt; Student Loan Forgiveness Would Help Many Latinx Students Stuck With College Debt;
Community Colleges Worry About Future Funding As Pandemic Relief Funding Begins To Run Out;
University System Of Maryland To Increase Minimum Wage To $15 For Most Employees;
Report: US Universities Retain Ties To Chinese Universities That Support China's Military Buildup;
Universities Establishing Undocumented Alumni Groups;
Partnership Among Ohio Colleges Aims To Give Students Access To Stranded Credits;
Harvard University won't require SAT or ACT through 2026, a landmark step in push to limit role of standardized tests in admissions;
Kansas Board Of Regents Approves Admissions Standards Allowing Students To Attend University Of Kansas Without ACT, SAT Scores;
Teachers Hit the Floor to Scoop Up Cash for classroom improvements. Critics Give the Event an F;
12/10/21
TechNews for the week: December 10; December 8; December 6;
War, Politics and Reports (Also, see Finance and Economics)
U.S. intelligence warns Russia planning offensive against Ukraine as soon as early next year, involving an estimated 175,000 troops; Ukraine, Explained;
Belarus summons Ukrainian military attache over border violation; What's Driving Putin's Ukraine Brinkmanship?
On Ukrainian Front, Grinding War and Weary Anticipation of Invasion; Ukraine shows off U.S. military hardware, vows to fight off Russia;
Russia and Ukraine trade blame as ceasefire push breaks down; Russian military movements near Ukraine: What satellite images show;
Latvia says West could cut Russia from SWIFT, sanction Nord Stream; US may draw the line at cutting off Russia from Swift;
Vladimir Putin: What Russian president's India visit means for world politics; India, Russia strike trade, arms deals during Putin visit;
Polish PM tells Germany's Scholz not to 'give in' over Nord Stream 2;
Israel is pioneering a new form of repression against Palestinians; Clashes break out in Jerusalem after Palestinian who allegedly stabbed Israeli is killed by police;
Israel announces completion of underground Gaza border barrier; Israel stops plan for contentious east Jerusalem settlement;
Turkey calls for Israeli 'sensitivity' toward Palestinians; For Palestinians, terror label takes a toll on humanitarian work; Israeli foreign minister in Cairo to strengthen ties;
Syria says Israeli warplanes hit Latakia port containers; After a decade of war, Syria's Assad tightens his grip;
Iran holds unannounced air defence drill over nuclear town Natanz;
Iran walks back prior nuclear concessions; Iran Says Nuclear Work Won't Stop Until Sanctions Issue Resolved; UAE begins to reconcile with Iran;
Iran nuclear talks seen resuming Thursday, but France discouraged; Israel opposed the Iran nuclear deal, but former Israeli officials increasingly say U.S. pullout was a mistake;
In militants' hands, drones are a deadly new wild card in Middle East;
The South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines; COVID-19 curbs China's power in Indo-Pacific, risks of war 'significant';
Lithuania braces for China-led corporate boycott; Nicaragua cuts diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognises Beijing;
White House: No U.S. government official will attend Beijing Winter Olympics in 'diplomatic boycott,';
China says it doesn't care about Biden's Olympics snub. Why is it warning of countermeasures?
Ahead of Biden's Democracy Summit, China Says: We're Also a Democracy; Biden's summit on democracy includes nations that hardly seem to qualify;
Space Force General: China's Space Military Capability Growing At "An Incredible Pace";
The US military needs to realize that magic bullets don't win wars;
Biden, Putin discuss Ukraine in video call amid growing tensions;
'Remain in Mexico' program resumes in El Paso amid skepticism from advocates;
Lawmakers Reach Deal to Overhaul How Military Handles Sexual Assault Cases; Broad overhaul of military justice system being sidelined to focus on sexual assault;
Biden's Supreme Court commission endorses final report noting bipartisan public support for term limits; After Success in Seating Federal Judges, Biden Hits Resistance;
Supreme Court Seems Wary of Ban on State Aid to Religious Schools;
Supreme Court says Texas abortion providers may proceed with challenge of six-week ban, leaves law in effect for now;
Judge says Texas abortion law's enforcement mechanism unconstitutional;
Biden Approving Oil And Gas Wells At Higher Rate Than Trump;
Senate revs up work on $2 trillion spending proposal, aiming to complete vote on Biden-backed bill before Christmas;
Lawmakers say they've reached deal to avert another debt ceiling crisis;
House Passes Legislation to Pave Way for Debt Ceiling Increase; 14 Republicans join Democrats to clear the way for Senate vote on bipartisan deal to avert debt ceiling crisis;
With Backing Of Manchin And Tester, Senate Passes GOP Measure To Overturn Private-Section Vaccine Mandate;
Manchin's 'historic context' for spending is using the wrong metric;
House approves massive defense bill directing independent review of Afghanistan errors, some military justice reforms;
Provision to give D.C. control of its National Guard scuttled in defense bill;
House Democrats find in three-year investigation that drug prices are 'unsustainable, unjustifiable and unfair';
House Approves Post-Trump Curbs on Presidential Power;
Fearing a Repeat of Jan. 6, Congress Eyes Changes to Electoral Count Law; Voting Battles of 2022 Take Shape as G.O.P. Crafts New Election Bills ;
Justice Dept. sues Texas over state redistricting maps, citing discrimination against Latinos; Redistricting Makes California a Top House Battlefield for 2022;
GOP resolution calls for removal, possible prosecution of Wisconsin election officials;
Md. revokes governor's authority to overturn parole decisions involving people serving life terms;
New York City approves measure to allow noncitizen immigrants to vote for mayor and other municipal offices;
More states consider laws to punish parents if kids fire unsecured guns;
White House officials grow exasperated by media coverage as public sours on Biden economy, rising prices;
The Green Lantern Theory Destroyed Jimmy Carter's Presidency. Now It's Hitting Joe Biden; Harris staff exodus reignites questions about her leadership style;
Kevin McCarthy defends Rep. Lauren Boebert after anti-Muslim remark; GOP congressman's gun-toting family Christmas photo sparks outrage days after school shooting;
Engineer sues Texas over ban on boycotting Israel;
Tucker Carlson sided with Putin over Ukraine, saying Biden is wrong to try to stop a Russian invasion;
Perdue says he wouldn't have certified Biden's Georgia win as Republican effort to bypass future election results intensifies;
A Black family's successful fight to reclaim land is fueling a national movement for property return;
Trump news and investigation
Trump draws attention with admission he 'fired Comey'; Trump's White House Passed Around a PowerPoint on How to End American Democracy;
New York attorney general seeks Trump's deposition as part of civil fraud investigation; Trump SPAC under investigation by financial regulators;
Mark Meadows says Trump was never more 'despondent' than when the Supreme Court rejected Texas' lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election;
Netanyahu responds to Trump attack, says 'it was important' to congratulate Biden;
Fact-check: Did the U.S. import oil from Saudi Arabia during Trump's presidency?
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) will retire to become CEO of Trump media group;
Defendant in Case Brought by Durham Says New Evidence Undercuts Charge;
Capital Riot and fallout
Appeals court rules Trump White House records can be released in Jan. 6 probe pending Supreme Court review;
Attorney says Meadows won't cooperate with Jan. 6 panel; Jan. 6 committee says it will move to hold former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt;
Facing contempt charges, Meadows sues to block Jan. 6 panel's subpoenas;
Ex-D.C. Guard official says generals lied to Congress about Jan. 6 ;
Publix Heiress who is largest known funder of Jan. 6 rally may face public scrutiny;
Some Jan. 6 Rioters May Use Police Brutality as a Defense; Tucker Carlson says one of his children was in the Capitol during Jan. 6 riot;
Lawyer Sidney Powell's nonprofit raised more than $14 million as she spread false claims about the 2020 election;
COVID-19
The US is averaging more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, the highest level in two months;
Omicron detected in 17 U.S. states and more cases likely; Omicron possibly more infectious because it shares genetic code with common cold coronavirus;
Prior infection is little defense against Omicron; Study: Men spread more COVID particles than women; Scientists suggest Omicron evolved in 1 person;
Coronavirus vaccine demand grows in U.S. amid omicron variant concerns, booster eligibility expansion;
Inside a Sequencing Lab on the Front Lines of America's Search for Omicron; Univ Of Central Florida Researchers Create Rapid COVID-19 Test Using Nanotechnology;
Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot could prove pivotal in helping control the omicron variant of coronavirus, companies’ research shows;
FDA authorizes booster shots of Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for 16- and 17-year-olds amid omicron threat;
British vaccine developer Sarah Gilbert says next pandemic 'could be worse' than coronavirus;
U.S. Judge Blocks Vaccination Requirement for Federal Contractors;
Gilead recalls vials of its Remdesivir covid drug in U.S. due to glass contamination;
Math, science and technology:
Security issues
Business and Economics
Prices rose 6.8% in the 12 months ending in November, the largest rise in nearly 40 years, as inflation spreads throughout economy;
U.S. trade deficit narrows in October as exports rebound; Gas prices jump as US mulls 'nuclear' sanctions on Russia;
Five charts explaining why inflation is at a near 40-year high; 4.2 million Americans quit their jobs in October as workers continued to search for better opportunities;
Number Of Immigrant Workers With H1-B Visas Drops The Most In A Decade;
The Treasury Department declined to label any country a currency manipulator but criticized China's lack of transparency;
More than 200 Chinese companies are at risk of being delisted in the U.S.; With Its Exit, Didi Sends a Signal: China No Longer Needs Wall Street;
China property stocks rise as Beijing tries to ease Evergrande turmoil; Evergrande has defaulted on its debt, according to Fitch Ratings;
China Factory Inflation Slows in November From 26-Year High; China snaps up large volumes of French, Ukrainian feed grain;
Apple's Tim Cook signed $275 billion deal to placate China;
Israeli firm to sell HSBC Tower in New York for $855 million;
Australian military switches from European to US helicopters;
New Zealand Plans to Eventually Ban All Cigarette Sales;
American Airlines will reduce international flights because of delays of Boeing’s 737 Dreamliner jets;
Airbus, Boeing See Strong Demand; FAA To Inspect Boeing 787s For Improper Shimming;
Northrop Grumman CEO Says Labor Shortage Primary Focus For Company;
Amazon's cloud-computing unit problems take down websites, services;
Starbucks workers win pathbreaking bid to unionize, part of a wave of labor activism in wake of pandemic; Kellogg Workers Prolong Strike by Rejecting Contract Proposal;
Toyota To Build $1.3B EV Battery Factory In North Carolina; Access To EV Charging Remains Limited In Black And Hispanic Communities;
America's First Dedicated Tellurium Mine; General Motors Announces Two Deals To Bolster Rare Earth Magnet Production;
GM Exec Says Cruise To Launch Robotaxi Service In 2022, Denies Spinoff Rumors;
Mercedes Beats Tesla To Hands-Free Driving On The Autobahn;
Dozens of Congress members call for antitrust probe into AT&T/Discovery deal;
Sports
Once shut out of the Hall of Fame, these Black ballplayers are getting another shot;
Analysis: Cincinnati, Michigan and Alabama leave no doubt (college football winners and losers);
Other news
The 1619 Project and the Demands of Public History;
USSR's death blow was struck 30 years ago in a hunting lodge;
Stretching Is Not the Key to Moving Better. This Is;
Education:
Univ Of Wisconsin System Officials Seeking Extension Of Test-Optional Policy For Standardized Exams;
Proposed Ohio Legislation Seeks To Incentivize College Graduates To Stay In State; College Admissions Applications Spike As Deadline Nears;
Schools reel with staff shortages: The principal is cleaning the bathroom; Schools Are Closing Classrooms on Fridays. Parents Are Furious;
Advocates Worry Student Loan System Is Not Ready To Handle Student Loan Repayments; Biden Unlikely To Cancel Student Loans Before Student Loan Relief Ends;
Over 200 Organizations Call On Administration To Extend Pause On Student Loan Payments; Restarting Student Loan Payments In February Will Hurt 18 Million Borrowers;
Colleges Roll Back Employee Vaccine Requirements After Federal Judge Blocks Federal Contractor Mandate;
Univ Of Florida Professors Report Issues Of Academic Freedom On Campus; AAUP Criticizes University System Of Georgia For Tenure Policy Changes;
Graduates Of Color From Military Academies Allege "What They Described As A Hostile Environment";
A White teacher taught White students about White privilege. It cost him his job; La. Attorney General Seeks to Punish Professor Who Criticized State Official;
Expelled Coast Guard cadet sues over policy banning parents;
12/3/21
TechNews for the week: December 3; December 1; November 29;
War, Politics and Reports (Also, see Finance and Economics)
After nearly 75 years, Israel finally finds acceptance in the Middle East; Israel to allow 3,000 Ethiopian Jews to immigrate;
Rights group: Israel puts Jerusalem settlement plan on hold; 'Hate crime' attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians spike in the West Bank;
Israel bars all foreigners, reinstates phone surveillance in effort to contain omicron variant; Emirates postpones start of Tel Aviv flights;
Israeli president celebrates Hanukkah at contentious West Bank site; Clashes rock Arab town in Israel, alleged car-rammer killed;
Israel and Iran Broaden Cyberwar to Attack Civilian Targets; Iranian banks notch a win in dispute over sanctions enforcement;
As Iran's Nuclear Talks Resume, the West Needs to Understand Who It's Dealing With; Iran accuses Israel of 'lies to poison' nuclear talks;
Diplomats Mull Iran Proposals to Revive 2015 Nuclear Deal; Iran says no way to return to 2015 deal without lifting of all sanctions;
Hezbollah spent $10 million on Iranian fuel for Lebanese; Hamas: Qatar paying public salaries by sending fuel to Gaza;
UN envoy warns of risk of new Israel-Palestinian violence;
Afghan Economy Nears Collapse as Pressure Builds to Ease U.S. Sanctions; Taliban and 9/11 Families Fight for Billions in Frozen Afghan Funds;
Russia says NATO deploying 'significant' hardware near its borders; Moscow says 27 Russian more diplomats due to leave U.S. in January;
Belarus announces military drills with Russia near Ukraine border; Belarus leader, in U-turn, says annexed Crimea is legally Russian;
Russia to unveil security pact proposals in bid to restrain NATO; Putin looking for guarantees NATO won't expand westward;
Russia sends missiles near Pacific islands claimed by Japan;
Germany urges Congress not to sanction Nord Stream 2, calling it a "victory for Putin" ;
The Secretive Prisons That Keep Migrants Out of Europe;
Pentagon to investigate 2019 Syria airstrike that killed civilians;
From US trade tensions to Beijing's zero-Covid goal, 5 dilemmas facing China's economy;
Facing Olympic boycott calls, China presses U.S. companies to speak up in its defense;
Report: Hundreds of Taiwanese extradited to China; As U.S. Hunts for Chinese Spies, University Scientists Warn of Backlash;
Barbados to cast off Queen Elizabeth II, declare itself a republic;
Honduras elects democratic socialist as its first female president, unseating conservative ruling party; Incoming Honduras president signals U-turn on initiating China ties;
US lifts terror designation on Colombia's FARC, targets military offshoots;
America's Catch-22 in Taiwan and Ukraine;
US official rejects plea to ban 'killer robots';
Biden Military Review Leaves Troops Where They Are, for Now;
House, Senate leaders announce government funding deal as they race to avert shutdown despite obstacles in Senate;
Senate passes bill to fund the government, averting shutdown after wild day on Capitol Hill;
A changing climate is buckling concrete and flooding roads. States are moving slowly to guard the nation's infrastructure;
Senate "Goal" Is To Pass Build Back Better Act Before Christmas; Manchin working on 'adjustments' to energy policies in Biden spending plan;
Moderate House Democrats urge leaders to focus on economic issues amid worries voters blame party for inflation, supply chain problems;
House passes bill to expedite financial disclosures from judges;
White House Identifying Unspent Funds That Could Be Spent On Omicron Response;
National Guard troops refusing vaccine will lose pay, Pentagon says, in warning to GOP-led states;
DeSantis proposes civilian Florida State Guard military force he would control;
As Supreme Court hears Mississippi case, just 24% of Americans want Roe v. Wade overturned;
Supreme Court appears inclined to uphold Mississippi's 15-week abortion law, a move that would undermine Roe v. Wade;
For Clarence Thomas, avowed critic of Roe v. Wade, Mississippi abortion case is a moment long awaited;
Labor board calls for revote at Amazon warehouse in Alabama in major victory for union; Federal official says Amazon illegally interfered with failed union vote;
Man who allegedly assaulted officers on Jan. 6 running for Texas House;
Boebert and Omar fight leaves GOP scrambling; Greene calls Mace 'trash' of GOP conference;
GOP tactics herald a grim new era of governing for Biden and Democrats;
Trump news and investigation
Laser-focused on 2020, Trump seeks a Michigan Legislature that could help him in 2024;
Trump allies work to place supporters in key election posts across the country, spurring fears about future vote challenges;
Two Ga. election workers targeted by Trump sue far-right site Gateway Pundit, alleging defamation;
Trump tested positive for coronavirus before first debate with Biden, former chief of staff says;
Trump could pocket $100 million in deal for money-losing D.C. hotel;
Jared Kushner built strong relationships with wealthy Arab states when Trump was president, but investment from regional players for his new business is yet to be nailed down;
QAnon Hero Michael Flynn Secretly Said QAnon Is 'Total Nonsense';
Capital Riot and fallout
House Jan. 6 committee votes to hold former Trump DOJ official in criminal contempt for failing to comply with subpoena;
Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows cooperating with House Jan. 6 committee; Capitol riot committee has interviewed 250 people so far;
Appeals court to weigh Trump arguments to withhold records;
Prosecutors demanded records of Sidney Powell's fundraising groups as part of federal criminal probe;
COVID-19
Coronavirus cases in South Africa nearly triple in three days as fears over omicron grow; Study: Omicron covid variant three times more likely to cause reinfection than delta;
As world focuses on omicron, delta variant overwhelms parts of U.S.; As the omicron variant arrives in the West, wealthy countries are reaping what they sowed;
Omicron found in U.S.: First covid-19 case linked to new variant is identified in Calif; More cases of omicron variant detected across five states;
Stricter coronavirus testing to be required for all entering U.S., including returning Americans, amid omicron variant worries;
Moderna CEO: Existing vaccines might not be as effective against omicron;
CDC Increases COVID-19 Testing Labs' Surveillance Capability To Detect Omicron Variant; Fauci Says That US Could Possible See A Fifth Wave Of COVID-19 Cases;
What to know about the newly discovered COVID-19 variant; Omicron mutations alarm scientists, but new variant first must prove it can outcompete delta;
Doctor who discovered omicron explains the symptoms to watch out for;
New data shows Merck's experimental covid-19 pill is less effective than early results predicted;
FDA advisers in narrow vote recommend authorizing Merck covid-19 pill, moving the U.S. closer to an easy-to-use treatment;
New Harvard study declares winner between Pfizer and Moderna vaccines;
Judges Block Administration Vaccine Requirements;
Missouri Withheld Data Showing Effectiveness of Mask Mandates;
Math, science and technology:
Security issues
SC public officials skate through ethics investigations with little accountability;
Charleston hopes old Piggly Wiggly site will modernize West Ashley. Skeptics see a one-off;
Charleston aims to buy land for waterfront park while quashing entrepreneur’s house plan ;
SC has over 1,000 vacant teacher positions, the most since 2001;
Business and Economics
U.S. economy added 210,000 jobs in November, reflecting continued headwinds in the recovery; Crude oil ends session in negative territory amid Omicron concerns;
The Dow has shed over 2,000 points over past month as blue-chip, stock-market index heads for 4th weekly tumble;
Powell says Fed will consider faster taper amid surging inflation;
Years of Delays, Billions in Overruns: The Dismal History of Big Infrastructure;
Study States US Workforce Falling Behind Several Competitors In Digital Skills;
Biden Discusses Supply Chain Challenges With Business Executives;
World's first floating nuclear power plant fuels Russia's Arctic ambitions;
Analysis: Amazon's New Robots, AI Will Not Solve Worker Shortages At Warehouses;
Airplane Manufacturers Work On Battery-Powered Aircraft;
Auto Executives Expect EVs Will Own Half Of US, China Markets By 2030; Auto Suppliers Increasingly Partnering With Automakers, Tech Companies;
GM Extends Production Halt Of Chevy Bolt To January 28; GM To Build EV Battery Plant In North America;
Tesla Headquarters Officially Moves To Texas;
Sports
WTA halts China tourneys over fallout from Shuai sexual assault allegation;
Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement expires, likely signaling a lockout;
Other news
Hanukkah's darker origins feel more relevant in time of rising antisemitism, intense interest in identity;
Albert Einstein revealed the secret to happiness—and he used just 17 words;
The Design Legacy of Covid? It's All Around You;
A True Tale of Absentee Vote Fraud;
Education:
Declining Undergraduate Enrollment Adds Financial Strain On Many Colleges Even As Top Universities Thrive;
Colleges Cut Back During Pandemic, Except For Presidents' Pay Packages;
College Applications Rebounded By 22% This Year; Four Community Colleges Collaborate To Increase Number Of Single Mothers Earning Degrees;
Ohio Universities Offer Financial Incentives To Keep Students In College; Cal State Campuses Adopt New Pilot Program To Entice Students Back;
24 States Allow Some Community Colleges To Offer Bachelor's Degrees; Report Outlines Rising Costs, Benefits Of College Degrees In Utah;
Student Loan Payment Pause Ends In 60 Days, As Advocates Push For Student Loan Forgiveness; Education Department To Cancel Additional $2B In Student Loans;
Student Debt Remained High Amid Pandemic; Low-Income People Pay More Into Lottery-Funded Scholarships;
Maryland-Based 2U Finishes $800M Deal To Acquire Online Course Platform Created By MIT, Harvard;
Report: Most Manufacturing Certificate Holders Do Not Get Jobs In Manufacturing;
Kansas AG: State Universities Are Violating State's New COVID Law;