Some headlines from today:
- NASA James Webb telescope launch a make-or-break moment for anxious astronomers
- CNET's most anticipated video games of 2022
- Covid: No new measures in England but we rule nothing out, says PM
- Elon Musk says he'll be paying $11bn in tax this year
- ‘Too early to tell’: health experts nervous about Omicron’s effect on Australia’s hospitalisation rates
- Queen cancels Sandringham plans and will celebrate Christmas at Windsor
- UK retailers offload Christmas trees for £1 or less as shoppers stay away
- Why Trump appears deeply unnerved as Capitol attack investigation closes in
- Schumer vows vote on Build Back Better despite ‘no’ from Manchin
- Gabriel Boric’s triumph puts wind in the sails of Latin America’s resurgent left
- WHO chief warns over festive gatherings: ‘An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled’
- What is behind Algeria and Palestine’s footballing love affair?
- Turkish lira hits turbulence as Erdogan cites Islam as reason for monetary policy
- Tigrayan fighters announce they are withdrawing from rest of Ethiopia
- 'Test & Go' rumour irking operators
- 6.2 magnitude quake shakes Northern California
- GOP Rep. Scott Perry is the first sitting lawmaker the Jan. 6 panel wants to question
- An extinct millipede the length of a car once roamed northern England
This is an open thread where everyone is welcome, especially night owls and early birds, to share and discuss the happenings of the day. Please feel free to share your articles and stories in the comments.
C/NET
Right now, astronomers worldwide are breaking a sweat, gritting their teeth and knocking on wood every time someone mentions one very special telescope -- the James Webb Space Telescope. This piece of machinery is like no other.
Even though we, the universe's conscious corner, have mapped out stars, galaxies and black holes of almost unfathomable scale, an infinitely large region has remained invisible to human eyes. Twenty years ago, a crew of aerospace engineers started constructing Webb as a hyper-complex way to get past our mere-mortal restrictions.
C/NET
If the year of gaming in 2021 taught us anything, it's that you should always prepare to see some games get delayed. This year saw several games get pushed back and, because of that, 2022 is loaded with big titles that will make will no doubt make a huge impact.
With how overwhelming 2022's schedule is looking, we've rounded up a list of games that will likely make the upcoming year one to remember. But if you need a refresher of what stood out in 2021, then check out our feature on the best games from 2021.
BBC
The government needs to "reserve the possibility" of bringing in new Covid rules in England as cases of the Omicron variant surge before Christmas, the prime minister has said.
Boris Johnson did not announce any new measures but said ministers were "looking at all kinds of things".
The PM said the data was being reviewed "hour by hour" but there were still "some things that we need to be clearer about before we decide to go further".
He urged people to exercise caution.
A further 91,743 Covid cases were reported across the UK on Monday, the second highest daily total on record.
The government's scientific advisers say new restrictions may be required very soon - and have suggested reducing the size of groups that can meet and closing venues where there is a high risk of transmission.
BBC
Mr Musk has been embroiled in a public debate on social media over how much tax he pays.
Earlier this week, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeted that Mr Musk should stop "freeloading off everyone else".
"For those wondering, I will pay over $11bn in taxes this year," the billionaire responded.
Mr Musk, founder of electric car maker Tesla and aerospace manufacturer SpaceX, became the world's richest person earlier this year.
Bloomberg Billionaires Index puts his wealth at $243bn, while Tesla is worth around $1tn and SpaceX is worth $100bn.
Last week, Mr Musk was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year.
That prompted Senator Warren to tweet: "Let's change the rigged tax code so 'The Person of the Year' will actually pay taxes and stop freeloading off everyone else."
The Guardian, Australian Edition
Health experts are nervous about rising Covid hospitalisations, particularly in New South Wales, as political leaders continue to call for calm over skyrocketing case numbers.
Across Australia, attention is turning from the Covid case numbers to how many people end up in hospital and the ICU. Given Australia’s high vaccination rates, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, said on Monday the focus should be on the impact on the health system rather than the record case numbers.
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) president Dr Clare Skinner told the Guardian there is a nervousness among health experts as numbers continue to rise.
The Guardian, UK Edition
The Queen is to celebrate Christmas at Windsor Castle, breaking with the tradition of spending festivities at Sandringham in Norfolk for a second year.
Sources said the decision was a personal one taken after careful consideration and that it reflected her precautionary approach during the pandemic. Downing Street has been informed of her decision.
The 95-year-old monarch is not expected to be alone. Family members are said to be planning to visit her on Christmas Day. Sources stressed that all appropriate guidelines would be followed and sensible precautions would be in place.
Unlike at Sandringham, where members of the royal family gather and walk to St Mary Magdalene church, greeting members of the public outside, there is not expected to be any public church visit on 25 December.
The Guardian, UK Edition
Major retailers are having to offload Christmas trees for £1 or less after shoppers shied away from UK high streets and retail centres in the last weekend before Christmas.
B&Q has cut the price of its fresh trees – some costing £49 or more – to £1 or less at stores around the country. One shopper posted a picture on social media of trees priced as little as 10p in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.
Homebase, which had already cut the price of all its fresh trees to £10 about a week ago, slashed prices to £5, while in some stores they were only £3.50.
Industry insiders said some of the major chains appeared to have overbought trees in reaction to last year when many sold out about two weeks early.
The Guardian, US Edition
Donald Trump is increasingly agitated by the House select committee investigating the Capitol attack, according to sources familiar with the matter, and appears anxious he might be implicated in the sprawling inquiry into the insurrection even as he protests his innocence.
The Guardian, US Edition
Democrats will keep working on Joe Biden’s Build Back Better spending plan “until we get something done”, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer told colleagues on Monday – a day after a stunning move by Joe Manchin of West Virginia drew accusations of betrayal from the White House and seemed to leave the president’s agenda dead in the water.
He also put senators on notice that they will “consider voting rights legislation as early as the first week back” next month, a timeline for another part of Biden’s agenda and an olive branch to disillusioned progressives.
The Guardian, International Edition
At the age of 14, Gabriel Boric – the great-grandson of a Croatian migrant and an avid reader of Marx and Hegel – formed a city-wide student union in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas.
At 21, and by then a law student, he led a campus sit-in for 44 days in Santiago, Chile’s capital, to oust a senior professor accused of plagiarism and corruption. Two years later, in 2011, he was elected figurehead of a massive student rebellion against profiteering private universities, and in 2013 became a congressman for his remote home region.
After protests over meagre pensions, living costs and police brutality brought millions more on to the streets from October 2019, Gabriel Boric helped channel public rage into a peaceful outlet: the redrafting of Chile’s dictatorship-era constitution.
The Guardian, International Edition
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that holiday festivities would in many places lead to “increased cases, overwhelmed health systems and more deaths” and urged people to postpone gatherings.
“An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Tedros said the Omicron variant was spreading faster than the Delta variant and was causing infections in people already vaccinated or who have recovered from the Covid-19 disease.
Al Jazeera
As the final whistle sounded at Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar’s Al-Khor last Saturday, crowning Algeria as the winners of the FIFA Arab Cup 2021, Maher al-Baqa’s beachside café in Gaza City erupted with joy.
His customers waved the Algerian flag as they ecstatically swayed and danced the dabke to the football chant of “1, 2, 3 … Viva Algerie”. Chocolates and sweets were handed out, and a few women sitting at the tables added to the celebrations by ululating.
Despite the Palestine national team crashing out in the group stages, we view the Algeria team as our own, and their victory as ours,” al-Baqa said. “They support and love us more than any other Arab country or team.”
Throughout the 18-day tournament hosted by Qatar, support for Palestine has been on avid display. During the opening ceremony, the loudest cheer from fans in attendance came during the Palestinian national anthem.
Al Jazeera
The Biden administration has announced a new special coordinator for Tibetan issues, saying the office will “promote substantive dialogue” between China and the Dalai Lama and push to protect the human rights and “fundamental freedoms” of the Tibetan people.
The State Department announced on Monday that veteran diplomat Uzra Zeya would serve as the new coordinator while remaining in her position as undersecretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights.
Zeya’s appointment comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over numerous issues and is likely to spark objection from China, which has previously accused the US of attempting to “destabilise” Tibet.
Deutsche Welle
Germany is expected to introduce new COVID restrictions during a meeting between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and state leaders on Tuesday, according to a draft agreement seen by DW. If passed, the new curbs are expected to begin on December 28.
Scholz, who was in Rome on Monday, said he was hoping to "establish a consensual approach," during Tuesday's meeting. "That is important, especially now at this time and at this moment."
What types of measures will be announced?
The government is expected to limit inside and outside public gatherings to a maximum of 10 people, with the restrictions also applying to vaccinated and recovered people. Children aged 14 and younger would be exempt from the rules.
Deutsche Welle
Turkey's lira dropped further on Monday before recovering slightly following a speech by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on state television that cited Islam as a reason for not raising interest rates despite a rapidly depreciating currency and rampant inflation.
Erdogan has repeatedly called on the central bank to lower borrowing costs despite an annual inflation rate of more than 20%. Mainstream economists believe the outcome of Erdogan's Islamic-infused experiments with the currency could result in consumer inflation reaching 30% or higher in the months ahead.
However, in his remarks on state television, Erdogan insisted it was Islam that guided his decision in demanding the central bank keep interest rates low. He also promised aid to exporters and increased government contributions to pension funds.
"As a Muslim, I will continue doing what our religion tells us. This is the command," Erdogan said.
Deutsche Welle
The leaders of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) announced on Monday that its forces would be withdrawing from a number of areas in Ethiopia and returning to Tigray.
"We trust that our bold act of withdrawal will be a decisive opening for peace," wrote Debretsion Gebremichael, the head of the TPLF, in a letter to the United Nations.
Party spokesman Getachew Reda said on Twitter that the withdrawal had been completed in two regions and accused the international community of being slow to take action against Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and what he called his "regional partners in crime."
"We have just completed the withdrawal of our forces from both Amhara and Afar regions," Getachew tweeted.
Bangkok Post
Tourism operators are crying foul over a proposal to scrap the "Test & Go" scheme, as an immediate change would affect the international market during the high season.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) insisted no such decision has been made.
"We still have to hear from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration [CCSA] about the final decision this week. The CCSA has stated clearly it plans to listen to all stakeholders carefully before nailing down a decision," said Yuthasak Supasorn, the TAT governor.
"Thai tourism operators don't want to start over again with a mandatory quarantine," said Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA)
CNN
(CNN)A 6.2 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Northern California rattled a wide swath of the state shortly after noon local time, according to data from the US Geological Survey.
The quake occurred just off Cape Mendocino near Humboldt County and was felt as far away as San Francisco and Chico, California.
"It was slow rolling at first, but then it really got going," Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal tells CNN. "We haven't had a shake like this since 2010."
Humboldt County emergency responders are assessing damage but have had no word of injuries or catastrophic damage. Some minor damage to buildings, including broken glass, has been found, Honsal said.
NPR
The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has requested that Republican Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania provide information about his involvement in unsuccessfully seeking to install former Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark as acting attorney general of the United States.
"We have received evidence from multiple witnesses that you had an important role in the efforts to install Mr. Clark as acting Attorney General," Chairman Bennie Thompson wrote in a letter, made public by the committee, to Perry.
NPR
Scientists stubbled upon the fossilized remains of an ancient millipede the length of a small car dating from before the time of the dinosaurs. The animal is believed to have broken the record for the largest-known arthropod, a phylum of segmented invertebrates that includes insects, lobsters and spiders.
The nearly three-foot-long Arthropleura fossil, discovered in England, about 40 miles north of Newcastle, is described in the Journal of the Geological Society on Tuesday. It find represents just one section of a creature thought to be three times as long — measuring 2.7 meters long (nearly 9 feet) and weighing about 50 kilograms (approximately 11o pounds).
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