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1. Voting rights
Republicans in Georgia have passed a comprehensive election bill that, according to voting rights advocates, is an attempt to suppress bald-faced voters. The new law imposes new voter identification requirements for ballot boxes in absentia, authorizes state officials to take on local election boards, limits the use of ballot boxes, and makes it criminal to approach voters to feed them. water. The law is seen as a victory for former President Trump and his allies, who falsely claimed widespread fraud during the 2020 election. Trump himself pressured Georgia leaders to overthrow Joe Biden’s victory in the State. President Biden has called bills like this “sick” and “anti-American.” Other Republican-led states are considering similar voter suppression laws, prompting the demand for federal legislation to establish a national baseline for voting rules.
2. Coronavirus
The United States has surpassed 30 million total pandemic infections. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky warned again that despite reopening and a growing desire to return to normalcy, the United States continues to see nearly 1,000 deaths a day and faces the growing threat of coronavirus variants. He also said vaccination efforts are helping the situation. The Biden administration says it will spend another $ 10 billion to expand access to the Covid-19 vaccine and increase confidence in the vaccine. The Senate voted to extend until May 31 the application period for the Wage Protection Program, the federal small aid effort for small businesses. Oh, and good news for new mothers: New research shows Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are effective in pregnant and lactating women. women, who can transmit protective antibodies to newborns.
3. White House
Biden held its first official White House press conference yesterday. During the long-awaited talk, he took a firm stand on his goal of reforming the Senate filibuster. The filibuster generally refers to any time when senators demand a majority to cut the debate and move to a real vote. Ending it would mean that legislation would go by simple majority, which is crucial to consider in a closely divided Senate. When discussing immigration, Biden downplayed the growing crisis on the southern border and said his predecessor’s policies have made it more difficult to properly house and prosecute the record number of detained migrant children. Internationally, Biden said one of his top priorities is to repair global relations. He also identified the main foreign policy problem he is facing right now: North Korea.
4. Foreign policy
The Biden administration also faces other foreign policy challenges. During his press conference, Biden expressed his uncertainty in meeting the May 1 deadline for the total withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. A six-month extension is being proposed and Biden said he “cannot imagine” that U.S. troops will still be in Afghanistan next year. Meanwhile, the US will resume diplomatic ties with Palestinians who were severed under the previous administration. Trump cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians, virtually stopping diplomatic contact. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the Biden team will work to achieve a two-state negotiated solution that guarantees the future of Israel as a democratic and Jewish state, while maintaining legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians for a state of their own.
5. China
China has launched more retaliatory measures in response to international sanctions on Xinjiang. The Chinese government announced sanctions against British lawmakers, academics and entities, which banned entry into China and froze its assets there. The UK ambassador to China has also been summoned by Beijing. H&M, Nike and other major Western clothing brands have expressed concern in recent months about the alleged use of forced labor to produce cotton in Xinjiang, one of the types of human rights violations alleged in China in the region. Now, these retailers are facing strong criticism, including boycott threats and termination of contracts with some Chinese celebrities.
EXPLORE BREAKFAST
Jessica Walter, known for her roles in “Arrested Development” and “Archer,” has died
Walter, 80, was a force on both the stage and the screen and starred in several Broadway productions.
GameStop, AMC and other meme actions are on the rise again
This time, it was fueled by the real hopes of a rebirth of GameStop.
People are fascinated by the clock device of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey
What, don’t you have a gadget that displays blockchain data in your luxurious but scarce multimillion-dollar kitchen?
A bottle of wine was thrown into space. That’s what he has now
Space wine! Space wine!
An erupting volcano in Iceland is called “handsome”
Understandably, volcanologists are baffled by our desire to anthropomorphize a deadly force in nature.
Pepsi’s new flavor has Peeps
We will not say. No, I won’t go ………… Peepsi.
TODAY’S ISSUE
706,000
It’s the number of cubic feet of sand that Suez Canal authorities say they have to retreat to release Ever Ever, that giant oil tanker that blocks the critical waterway in Egypt.
TODAY’S BUDGET
“His brutal murder must not be forgotten and justice must be done.”
Rep. Gerry Connolly, which supports federal legislation trying to punish Saudi Arabia for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Saudi Dissident Protection Act would go beyond what the Biden administration has had in holding the country’s crown prince responsible for Khashoggi’s death.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check out the local forecast here >>>
AND FINALLY
Mmm, fried maple leaves
An exciting and ultra-regional new delicacy to wish for, this time from Japan. Hurray! (Click here to see it.)