| | | After a ship carrying 40 people capsized last weekend off the coast of Florida, the U.S. Coast Guard gave up on recovering more bodies from the Gulf yesterday. President Biden laid out his vision for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s replacement, but only time will tell how easy that vision is to implement. The U.S. threatened to hit Russia in its pocketbook if it invades Ukraine. And a promising new HIV vaccine trial may mean another win for Moderna. All this and more in today’s PDB. | | |
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| IMPORTANT | | | 1 - Lost at Sea Coast Guard Ends Search Operations off Florida Coast A boat carrying dozens of migrants from the Bimini islands in the Bahamas capsized off the coast of Florida last weekend. Since then, the U.S. Coast Guard has recovered five bodies before formally announcing an end to the search Thursday night. It’s sad news as more and more migrants make the dangerous journey through the Caribbean toward Florida on often flimsy vessels. U.S. authorities believe the capsized boat may be linked to human smuggling. The lone survivor, who was rescued Tuesday, said he was one of 40 people on the boat, none of whom were wearing life jackets. (Sources: Al Jazeera, AP) |
| 2 - It’s Official Biden Lays Out Timeline for Replacing Justice Stephen Breyer President Joe Biden formally announced the liberal Supreme Court justice’s retirement yesterday and reaffirmed his commitment to nominating the first Black woman to the high court. He aims to make his choice by the end of February, which will launch what could be a monthslong confirmation journey in the Senate. Biden said he would consult senators from both parties as well as Vice President Kamala Harris — herself a Black woman with extensive legal experience. Contenders for the nomination include federal appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was confirmed to her current position with bipartisan support last year. (Source: NBC News) |
| 3 - Ukraine Ultimatum US Threatens Sanctions on Pipeline for Russian Gas The U.S. State Department offered no details on how the pipeline would be stopped, but spokesman Ned Price said yesterday that “if Russia invades Ukraine one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.” The 760-mile pipeline, which is expected to double Russia’s gas exports to Germany, has taken five years to build at a cost of $11 billion — but it hasn’t started operating as German regulators have not given it the green light. Western allies have promised to target Russia’s economy if it invades Ukraine, and German officials confirmed Thursday that the pipeline could face sanctions. (Source: BBC) |
| 4 - Promising Trial Begins Moderna Begins Testing HIV mRNA Vaccine The pharmaceutical giant’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has been a revolutionary development during the pandemic, and it looks like the same technology might benefit researchers working with other viruses as well. Moderna announced Thursday that it has launched a Phase 1 trial at George Washington University of an HIV mRNA vaccine developed in conjunction with the nonprofit International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. While HIV is no longer a death sentence thanks to medications that can reduce the viral load so much as to be undetectable, there are still 38 million people worldwide living with the virus. (Source: ABC News) |
| 5 - Briefly Here are some things you should know about today: The world reflects on Holocaust Remembrance Day. As antisemitism surges worldwide, survivors recounted their agony and politicians recommitted to combating hate wherever it grows. (Source: AP) President Xiomara Castro sworn in. The new leader of Honduras is the country’s first female president. (Source: BBC) Three Houston police officers shot. A suspect is in custody after the shooting, which comes four days after another Houston officer was fatally shot during a traffic stop. (Source: CNN) |
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| | | Watch Anita Hill Explain Why She Still Believes in the Supreme Court
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| INTRIGUING | | | 1 - Can’t Buy Me Love Online Dating Scam Artists Win Big During Pandemic A new analysis of U.S. government fraud data has revealed that online daters were swindled out of $500 million last year. Romantic scammers had the most success with seniors in the 60-69 age range, although young people fell for their ways as well. These cyber thieves woo their prey on any number of online dating platforms, and then request gift cards, money or cryptocurrency. The pandemic likely gave the sweet-talking swindlers cover as lockdowns led to loneliness and hopeless romantics the world over settled into the norm of not meeting their beaus for quite some time. (Source: Axios) |
| 2 - Frosty Confusion Eastern US Braces for Unpredictable Wintry Mess Meteorology is an inexact science, especially when it comes to storms like the one hitting the Eastern Seaboard tonight. Forecasts have ranged from 0 to 20 inches of snow all along the coast coupled with frigid temperatures that could reach as far as South Florida. The nor’easter could end up hitting 33 million people with strong winds and flooding along with the potentially epic snowfall. Cape Cod winds could reach 60 mph, Virginia has already declared a state of emergency, and Miami’s temperature could realistically drop below 39 degrees Fahrenheit, which would be the coldest day since December 2010. (Source: NBC News) |
| 3 - Test Etiquette As Home COVID Tests Proliferate, Make Sure You Know How to Store Them The Biden administration has made home tests widely available by mail and in drug stores, but health experts worry the public may not know how to handle them. “They’re developed for use in medical settings by trained personnel,” says one professor of medicine, “so you really, really need to follow the instructions to the exact letter.” Experts warn that tests are sensitive to extreme temperatures, so don’t leave them sitting outside in the winter or in a hot car in the summer. When you’re taking your test the window shrinks even more: Aim for a room that’s 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit. (Source: The Hill) |
| 4 - Cut the Gas Gas Stoves Worse for Environment Than Previously Thought A new study from Stanford University shows that methane leaks out of gas cooking stoves 24/7, not just when they’re in use. In fact, 80% of the emissions are produced while the stoves are off due to loose connections and fittings between appliances and gas pipes. Of those emissions, only 1.3% of the gases make their way into the atmosphere. But multiply that small percentage by the 40 million gas stoves in the U.S. alone and you get a yearly methane leakage that’s equal to the CO2 emissions from 500,000 gas-powered cars. (Source: NPR) |
| 5 - QB Retires Pittsburgh Steelers Lose Their Quarterback of 18 Seasons At nearly 40, Ben Roethlisberger has led the Steelers to the playoffs 12 times and won two Super Bowls, posting a 165-81-1 record as a starter. Fans have been anticipating this announcement for some time, especially after his heartwarming victory lap after a win over the Browns on Jan. 3. While Roethlisberger’s early career saw some rocky moments off the field including sexual assault accusations and NFL personal conduct violations, in recent years he’s largely settled down and stayed out of the public view. He says he plans to spend more time with his wife, Ashley, and their three kids. (Source: AP) |
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