Here’s what else you need to know to get up to speed and get on with your day.
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1. Shinzo Abe
Mourners gathered in Tokyo today for the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, four days after he was assassinated in broad daylight. Photos captured the outpouring of grief as people gathered to pay their respects to Abe with flowers, notes and green tea – symbols of help in the afterlife. The private funeral was organized at the century-old Zojoji Shrine by Abe’s widow, Aki Abe. Millions around the world reacted with shock and grief as Abe was shot dead during a campaign speech in the central city of Nara on Friday. Police said the 41-year-old suspect accused of Abe’s murder had a “hatred” for a church he believed Abe’s grandfather – another former leader of the country – had helped expand.
2. January 6
A special House committee plans to show at a hearing today how right-wing extremist groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, prepared to attack the U.S. Capitol in the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021. According to committee aides, the hearing will focus and on the roles of associates of former President Donald Trump, including Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, who both received presidential pardons after being charged with various crimes. Separately, former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne, a Trump ally, is expected to meet Friday with the Jan. 6 committee, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Byrne has played an active role in supporting efforts to push unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election, including attending a White House meeting to discuss strategies to overturn the election results.
3. Gun laws
President Joe Biden said Monday that gun violence has turned everyday places in America into “killing fields” as he marked the passage of the first major federal gun safety legislation in 30 years. Biden said the package he signed into law last month represented an “important start” but fell far short of what he and his party have advocated to curb the alarming rate of shootings in the US. During his speech, Biden was interrupted by Manuel Oliver, a father whose son was killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. “You have to do more than that,” cried Oliver. To date, there have been 333 mass shootings in the U.S. since the start of the year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.
4. Coronavirus
US health officials are urgently working on a plan to authorize second Covid-19 boosters for all adults, a senior White House official confirmed to CNN. Second boosters have been approved for adults 50 and older, as well as for some people with weakened immune systems, since the end of March. But younger adults are only eligible for one booster shot, which was authorized in November. Some experts are concerned that the immunity of younger adults may be waning as Covid-19 cases rise with the dominance of the BA.5 Omicron sub-variant. The CDC reports that the BA.4 and BA.5 subtypes account for more than 70% of new infections in the country. And while these subvariants may partially escape the immunity created by the vaccine and previous infection, vaccination still likely protects against severe disease.
5. Sri Lanka
Thousands of protesters stormed the homes of Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister in recent days in a frenzy over the nation’s crippling economic crisis. The protesters managed to get the leaders to resign, but refuse to leave the luxury houses until both vacate their seats. Shocking footage shows protesters sprawled on a bed in the presidential palace and cooking food on a barbecue on the property. But the most dramatic footage showed protesters swimming in the president’s private pool. It remains unclear how Sri Lanka will overcome rising food costs, fuel shortages and power outages as the country struggles to service its debt.
VIEWING BREAKFAST
Elon Musk Said ‘Humanity Will Get To Mars In Your Lifetime’
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson had this clever answer.
A tomb associated with King Arthur is excavated for the first time
Archaeologists are excavating this 5,000-year-old tomb named after a mythical medieval king.
Miles Teller says he’ll make another ‘Top Gun’ movie if Tom Cruise gives the go-ahead
Maverick, we’re counting on you! On behalf of millions of fans, another “Top Gun” would be an absolute pleasure. Am I right? Or am I right?
K-pop group BTS is coming to Disney+ in a major streaming deal
The battle of the streaming platforms continues. In one corner, Disney is looking to knock out Netflix by attracting legions of BTS fans around the world.
This is the deepest view of the universe ever taken
Check out this ground-breaking picture of distant galaxies captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.
TODAY’S NUMBER
33%
That’s President Joe Biden’s approval rating according to a new poll, leading to heightened speculation about his re-election prospects. The New York Times/Siena College nationwide poll comes as Democratic officials and party leaders begin to doubt that Biden is their strongest candidate to defeat former President Donald Trump — or any other GOP candidate — in 2024. But the challenge requires a challenger, and all Democrats being discussed as potential primary opponents to Biden told CNN they are ruling out runs.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“Under the law, no matter where you live, women have a right to emergency care — including abortion care.”
— HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the nation’s top health official, says the Biden administration expects providers to continue offering abortion services despite laws severely restricting the procedure after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. In the clarifying guidelines announced Monday, Becerra said the federal government could sanction institutions or providers that do not provide abortions as needed to treat medical emergencies.
THE WEATHER TODAY
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY
The cat needs its own uchino cat to start its day
You’ve heard of frappuccinos, but what about a cat uchino? Like many of us, this cat won’t start the day until he’s had his morning cup! (Click here to view)
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