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Stimulus
President Donald Trump finally signed the coronavirus relief bill on Sunday night. The massive $ 2.3 billion bill, which includes a $ 900 billion emergency relief package, compares the closure of the government that was due to begin on Tuesday and provides significant unemployment benefits. However, pandemic relief programs expired a day before Trump signed the bill, meaning the more than 12 million Americans who rely on it could experience a flash of help. Unemployment benefits and federal benefits will be cut by a week when they are reinstated, and there could be a break in payments for a few weeks while government agencies reprogram their computers. But fortunately, the benefits are retroactive. As for stimulus controls, Trump said he only signed the bill after Senate leaders pledged to do $ 2,000 stimulus checks, but Senate leader Mitch McConnell did not acknowledge the commitment.
2. Coronavirus
The European Union has launched a mass vaccination program for coronavirus in its 27 member states after the Pfizer / BioNTech coronavirus vaccine was approved last week. This is particularly important given the new, possibly more contagious coronavirus variant identified in the UK – which started vaccinations earlier this month – which officials say has caused an increase in cases. The new variant was also detected in Japan and the country banned access to foreign nationals until the end of January to contain it. In the US, 1 in 1,000 Americans has now died from Covid-19 since the country’s first infection last January. The US hospitalization rate for Covid-19 infections has been hanging above 100,000 for 26 consecutive days.
3. Nashville bombing
Authorities have identified the bomber after the Nashville Christmas explosion that injured three people and damaged dozens of buildings. DNA found at the scene was linked to Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, who was already a person of interest in the case. Investigators are now looking at “all possible motives.” Quinn was killed during the blast, and because authorities are not sure why he did it, they describe the incident as domestic terrorism. The blast took place just outside an AT&T transmission building, causing widespread mobile phone service outages and affecting hours of other communications in the area.
4. China
A Chinese journalist documenting the initial coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan is sentenced to four years in prison by a court in Shanghai. According to one of her lawyers, Zhang Zhan (37) was found guilty of ‘picking disputes and provoking problems’. The crime is commonly used by the Chinese government to target dissidents and human rights activists. Zhang shared images and reports of full hospitals and empty streets months before such scenes became commonplace worldwide. Her placements came to a sudden halt in mid-May and it was later revealed that she had been detained by police and brought back to Shanghai. Prosecutors have accused her of “publishing large amounts of false information”, but her lawyers say prosecutors did not give any concrete examples.
Illinois Shooting
A special powerful soldier is charged with murder after three people were killed and three wounded during a shooting Saturday at a bowling alley in Rockford, Illinois. The U.S. Army has confirmed that Duke Webb, the 27-year-old shooter, is a first-class sergeant currently assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group as an Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant. He was on leave at the time of the shooting. Authorities believe the attack, which was largely captured on a surveillance video, was haphazard. The Army issued a statement saying they were “shocked and saddened” by the incident, and will continue to assist the Rockford Police Department as the investigation continues.
IN MEMORIUM
Phil Niekro, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and Atlanta Braves legend, has died at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer. Niekro was known for his mastery of the knuckle ball, a notoriously difficult field. “We are saddened by the passing of our precious friend, Phil Niekro,” the Braves said in a statement.
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Scientists discover new species of snake hiding in clear view
Oh wow, that’s beautiful! (Well, if you like snakes.)
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Food carts and flashy advertising: have united mankind for thousands of years.
TODAY’S NUMBER
27 000
This is about the current value of Bitcoin, compared to the US dollar. Investors relied on cryptocurrencies during the pandemic as the US dollar weakened, leading to the astronomical rise of Bitcoin.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“We can not be in a place in this country where political reporters, White House correspondents, need bodyguards to cover political campaign events.”
Jim Acosta, CNN’s White House correspondent, who said he and other reporters received death threats during their time in the Trump administration.
TODAY’S WEATHER
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AND FINALLY
It’s a sociable season
The week between Christmas and New Year? Just roll us up in a blanket and come back for us when it’s 2021. (Click here to see)