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1. Coronavirus
January was by far the deadliest pandemic month in the United States, with more than 95,000 deaths reported at Covid-19. Now, concerns are growing that the country is in an “absolute race against time,” as one expert put it, to contain international variants of the virus, in part because current vaccines may be less effective against them. However, there are a few glimmers of hope: more than 30 million vaccines have been given in the United States, and hospitalizations are at an all-time low in two months. In China, a team of World Health Organization investigators now has months of data on the Chinese flu that could contain vital clues about the early spread of the virus.
2. Stimulus
President Biden will meet with 10 Republican senators today to discuss a GOP counter-proposal to his $ 1.9 trillion Covid-19 bailout plan. While the GOP’s $ 600 billion proposal could be seen as an attempt to find a common ground for a stimulus plan after months of splitting the issue, it contains less than a third of the economic aid the Biden administration says he needs the country. Biden’s team says it is willing to compromise on a few things, such as reducing incentive checks for families earning more than $ 150,000 a year. But overall, the White House has said that almost any plan that does not exceed Biden’s 13-digit promise will not be accepted.
3. Charge
Five members left former President Trump’s legal team over the weekend, effectively collapsing their indictment just over a week before the trial. Trump and his team disagreed on the arguments they must bring to the trial, urging lawyers to focus on his election fraud claims rather than the constitutionality of convicting a former president. Trump brought in two other lawyers to lead his defense. Despite the shakes, Trump continues to enjoy widespread loyalty among GOP senators, while for others, the threat of backlash from colleagues and voters who support Trump will be enough to prevent them from stepping down the aisle for any decision. indictment.
4. Myanmar
Myanmar’s strong army has taken control of the country in a coup and declared a state of emergency. The country’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other senior government leaders were detained in early-morning raids today, and citizens woke up to internet and communications disruptions. A military report said that power had been handed over to army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who was under US sanctions for human rights abuses related to atrocities against the Rohingya Muslim community. The coup takes place in response to alleged voting irregularities in the November elections, in which Suu Kyi’s party won an overwhelming victory and the military-backed party performed poorly. Political tensions have been going on for weeks as well, as have rumors that the army will soon take over.
5. Russia
Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Moscow and across Russia this weekend to support jailed opposition leader and Putin critic Alexey Navalny, who has been held by Russian authorities for weeks. More than 5,000 people were detained in at least 85 cities; among them was Navalny’s wife, Yulia, who was later released. This was the second weekend of protests against Navalny’s detention, and the police response was the harshest the country has seen in years. The popularity of President Vladimir Putin was already waning when Navalny was detained last month over public grievances over declining personal incomes, diminishing personal freedoms and the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
ANSWER TO BREAKFAST
The man from Idaho wins the lottery for the 6th time
The phrase “Some people are lucky” was made for this man.
Grubhub has partnered with Girl Scouts to help secure the sale of cookies and teach entrepreneurship
Nothing, not even a pandemic, will protect us from those delicious, delicious cookies!
Toys ‘R’ Us closes its only 2 stores about a year after a highly anticipated relaunch
All right, Toys ‘R’ Us. The world is too cruel.
A Canadian sets his 4th world record for eating hot peppers
Three Carolina Reaper hot peppers in less than 10 seconds? It’s amazing that this guy still has a tongue.
Name a beetle after your ex and watch him eat on Valentine’s Day
These cockroaches were made for chompin ‘and that’s what they’ll … get.
PROFILES IN PERSEVERANCE
February is Black History Month, and every day we highlight black pioneers in American history. Find out more here.
Garrett Morgan, inventor, 1877-1963
Morgan’s invention made the world a safer place. He is best known for developing a “warning signal”, a forerunner of today’s yellow light. He also invented a new type of sewing machine, a black hair straightener and a personal breathing hood to protect miners and firefighters.
TODAY’S NUMBER
53%
That’s how Melvin Capital, a leading Wall Street hedge fund, lost in January due to the frenzy of GameStop shares. The company started the year with assets of about $ 12.5 billion. It ended the month with more than $ 8 billion, but only after $ 2 billion in aid from another hedge fund and commitments from current investors in the last days of the month.
TODAY’S PRESENT
“The current promises of the countries through the Paris Agreement are insufficient to do the job.”
John Kerry, sent specifically to the President for Climate, who says that the current provisions of the Paris Climate Pact are not enough to achieve the international goals of limiting the Earth’s temperature.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check the local forecast here >>>
AND FINALLY
You grow on me
Celebrate your eyes on the science – and art – behind the growing grass portraits. (Click here to view.)