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1. Coronavirus
Experts say we are starting to see the light at the end of the long pandemic tunnel, but that could be put off if state leaders keep pushing to reopen too soon. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott canceled a state mask command and will allow businesses to operate at 100% capacity starting in a week. Mississippi, Ohio and Louisiana are among other states ready to issue a safety alert soon as well. President Biden reminded state leaders and residents to stay vigilant. Biden also stressed the vaccine under the Protective Representation Act, announcing there would be enough doses for U.S. adults by the end of May. In Europe, the EU’s coordinated vaccination strategy is declining as participating countries look outside the bloc to China, Israel and Russia for immunization assistance. including plastered outings with supply issues and contract squares.
2. Motivation
Republicans are gearing up for a fake fight as the Senate vote on the incentive bill. Their plan is to split Democratic ranks across the more specific and controversial provisions in the bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says two such provisions, relating to rail and bridge projects, will be removed from the bill. Then, the minimum wage of $ 15 is to come, which the Senate parliament said should not be introduced. Some progressive senators are casting a vote on the bill if it does not exist. Biden urged Democratic senators not to adopt so-called poison pill preparations that would shatter the bill’s basic tenets and keep it from being effective. Whatever happens, the few days in the Senate will be long and laborious while the Dems try to do this before the March 14 unemployment benefit deadline.
3. White House
The White House has drawn the appointment of Neera Tanden to lead the Executive Office and Budget after Tanden asked her name to be withdrawn from consideration. This brings to an end weeks of uncertainty and controversy over her naming. Former campaign supporter Hillary Clinton and president of the Center for American Progress was scrutinized during the verification process for critical comments made by lawyers on both sides of the aisle. Her conviction was already unlikely after senior senators, including Democrat Joe Manchin, said they would oppose him. Two other confirmed positions: Cecilia Rouse, dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, will chair the Council of Economic Advisers. And Gina Raimondo, the first female governor of Rhode Island, will be Biden’s trade secretary.
4. Russia
The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Russian officials and organizations in response to the poisoning and imprisonment of a leader against Alexey Navalny. Among other things, the sanctions target the head of Russia’s security services, the FSB. The State Department also approved the FSB as an entity, which according to the department spokesman “speaks to the place we believe is to blame.” The U.S. intelligence community has confirmed “with great confidence” that the FSB poisoned Navalny in August with representative zero Novichok. Navalny has now been held in Russia since mid-January. U.S. punitive actions were coordinated by the European Union, which also revealed sanctions, and which represents the first major anti-Moscow move since Biden became President.
5. Afghanistan
Three women in the media were shot dead in Afghanistan yesterday. They are the latest victims of a wave of killings spreading fear among professionals in cities. Journalists, civil society workers and mid-level government workers in Afghanistan have been shot dead in a recent vehicle while the government and Taliban negotiators seek a deal peace launch and U.S. withdrawal of some troops. The Afghan government and some foreign powers have blamed the attacks on the Taliban, which deny involvement. The U.S. embassy condemned the latest killings, saying the attacks were intended to intimidate and restrict freedom of speech.
BROWSE BREAKFAST
Qantas launches ‘mystery trails’ to increase interest in travel
It may be just us, but we like to know where we are going when we get on a plane.
‘Wonder Woman’ star Gal Gadot is pregnant with her third child
A new superhero is on the way!
Instagram went unnoticed by some users
If someone posts something on Instagram and doesn’t like it, has it been posted at all?
Amazon silently changed the image of its app after some unfavorable comparisons
Yeah … usually one wants to avoid comparisons to Hitler.
Target saw more sales growth in 2020 than the last 11 years combined
Is it because we are all moving along the wide, fluorescent corridors and letting out, just for a moment, that everything is normal again?
TODAY’S NUMBER
10,000
That is how many small and vulnerable people may have been abused by French Catholic clergy since 1950, according to an independent study commissioned by the church in France. In 2019, Pope Francis issued universal rules for reporting sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, ordering for the first time that all bishops establish systems for reporting abuse and insulation.
QUESTIONS TODAY
“I admit that some of the things I said are misinterpreted as unwanted flirtation.”
New York Gov. Anndra Cuomo, who is accused by three women of unwanted advances. Cuomo drew criticism for his apology, in which he said he had “deceived people” and “never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable.” “
THE ISLANDER TODAY
Check your local forecast here >>>
AND LAST
Interior of a royal doll’s house
If the tiny books don’t fool you, the tiny gardens will. (Click here to view.)