Good Morning, it’s Wednesday, February 16th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Let’s kick off by looking at the US and Russia tensions. Reuters informs us that Russia has said that today, some of its forces on the Ukrainian border will withdraw. However, the UK and the US have shown some scepticism. The Washington Post adds that despite some Russian troops pulling out, Biden warns that there are still around 150,000 there. Forbes further noted that Biden has said that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is still "distinctly possible".

Next, The Guardian reports that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Congresswoman, has said that Republican-led pressure on political systems is so powerful that, within a decade, there is “a very real risk” democracy will cease to exist in the US. She further warned that time was running out for Joe Biden and other Democratic leaders to do anything about it.

Regarding the Sandy Hook school shooting, The New York Times tells us that the victims’ families have been able to settle a lawsuit for $73 million against the maker of the AR-15-style rifle used in the massacre. This is believed to be the largest payout from a gun manufacturer in a mass shooting case.

Axios updates us that within the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the US men's ice hockey team have crashed out of the games after losing a quarter-final penalty shootout 3-2 to Slovakia.

Finally, Forbes states that Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals have announced that they won’t require masks, Covid-19 vaccinations or negative Covid-19 tests for their spring events.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Tuesday, February 15th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Firstly, Forbes updates us on the Canadian border blockades. Trudeau has issued an emergency order to end the anti-vaccine mandate protests, this is the first time a Canadian president has invoked a law meant for national emergencies. The New York Times adds that this act will allow the country’s government to take new measures such as freezing bank accounts of protesters.

The Guardian reports that within New York, those in high stop-and-frisk areas are subject to more facial recognition tech. Amnesty International’s research supports this, the organization claims that technology championed by the Mayor reinforces discriminatory policing against minority communities.

The Wall Street Journal today exposed Elon Musk’s donation of $5.7 billion worth of Tesla Inc. shares to charity last year. The recipients of the donation are unnamed.

Next, The Washington Post states that the former president Donald Trump’s longtime accounting firm informed his company that Trump’s financial statements “should no longer be relied upon". It was suggested that any recipient of the documents be alerted.

Regarding the Russia-US tensions, The Guardian informs us that, following a call between the two leaders, Joe Biden and Boris Johnson have said that a “crucial window on diplomacy” remains. Reuters tells us that the Ukrainian president has called for “a day of unity” on February 16th. This is a day that some Western Media sources say Russia could invade.

Axios reports that Russian figure skating star, Valieva, has said following her failed drug test, that her positive result was due to a medication mix-up “with her grandfather's heart medication."

Finally, Djokovic is once again in the news after saying that he would be willing to miss future tournaments rather than receive the Covid-19 jab. Forbes notes that the world’s top-ranked tennis player said that he is not anti-vaccination.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Monday, February 14th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Firstly, let’s look at Russia US tensions. The Washington Post informs us that leaders from the US and Europe are rushing to defuse an escalating standoff. Officials have warned that this standoff could result in Russian missile and bomb attacks on Ukraine within days. Forbes further notes that Biden has warned of “swift and severe costs” if Russia invades Ukraine. This publication added that Poland has opened up its border for Americans fleeing Ukraine. Reuters states that the US has said that Russia may create a surprise pretext for an invasion of Ukraine. This occurred as Russia called US warnings “hysterical”. The Guardian updated us that the German chancellor has headed to Ukraine to talk about how to stabilize the Ukrainian economy and how to ensure peace within Europe.

Next, Canadian opposition to vaccine mandates, which resulted in the “Freedom Convey” on the country’s border, are now facing off with the police. The Washington Post reports that the protesters have been blockading the border for days and caused much disruption. Trudeau has warned that “all options are on the table” to resolve the crisis, and that “border crossings cannot, and will not, remain closed.”

Axios has reported that US president Biden said that the NFL has not “lived up to” its promises and the organization should “be held to a reasonable standard" when it comes to its racial hiring practices.

Regarding the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, The New York Times states that Valieva, a Russian figure skating star, has been cleared to compete. This is despite the athlete testing positive for a banned substance in December.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Friday, February 11th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Let’s kick off by looking at Russia US tensions. Forbes tells us that Biden confirmed yesterday that he would not send US troops to evacuate Americans if Russia invades Ukraine. The US president warned that this action could be a spark for “a world war”. Axios further noted that Biden has urged American citizens within Ukraine to “leave now”.

Next, the Guardian reported on the Covid-19 situation within the US. Several American states are beginning to roll back mask mandates, however, experts claim that this could undercut progress made in tackling the virus. Moreover, The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the vast majority of the country is still seeing high levels of transmission.

The American economy is currently experiencing uneasiness. The New York Times informs us that groups from Wall Street to Washington are uncomfortable after prices were seen to be climbing at their fastest pace in 40 years. This rapid inflation suggests that the current economic situation will be harder to recover from.

This publication also updates us on the January 6th Capitol Riot inquiry. The House Committee tasked with investigating the event is experiencing difficulty after gaps were discovered in the official White House telephone logs from the day. This challenge means that it is harder to piece together what former president Trump was doing on the day of the riot.

Finally, let’s look at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Reuters reports that Russian teen figure skater, Valieva, won a gold medal despite having earlier failed a drug test. This has prompted global outrage and Olympic officials' fight against Russia’s decision to let her compete in the Winter Games.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Thursday, February 10th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Let’s kick off by looking at the Beijing 2022 winter Olympics. Forbes informs us that American figure skater Nathan Chen has won the men’s gold medal. This publisher also noted that Chloe Kim, a US snowboarder, once again came first in the women’s halfpipe event.

Next, let’s look at the Russia and US tensions. The New York Times updates us that the British Foreign Secretary has urged Russia to take “the path of diplomacy” over Ukraine. Furthermore, they said that a war in Ukraine “would be disastrous” for Europe.

The Guardian reported today on migrant’s experience under the Trump administration. Human Rights Watch announced that Cameroonian asylum-seekers deported by the Trump administration suffered imprisonment, torture and rape on their return, leading many to be forced into hiding or fleeing the country once more.

Tesla has been accused of systematic racial discrimination in a California lawsuit. Axios states that the company said ahead of the lawsuit that such action was "misguided." Part of the lawsuit alleges that black workers were subjected to verbal racial abuse and that Tesla's "leads, supervisors, and managers were active participants and/or witnesses to these racist comments".

Finally, let’s look at updates within the Coronavirus pandemic. The Washington Post reports that mask mandates are continuing to fall in traditionally cautious blue states. This is as Covid-19 infections within the US have plunged. The government’s chief medical adviser, Fauci, has said that the country is “on the road to approaching normality.” The New York Times tells us that within the UK, the prime minister, Boris Johnson, has outlined plans to lift remaining coronavirus restrictions within weeks. This includes the legal requirement for those who test positive to isolate.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Wednesday, February 9th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Let’s start by looking at Russia Ukraine tensions. The Guardian reports that following the Macron and Putin meeting, the French president claims that the Russian leader gave him personal assurances on not worsening the crisis over Ukraine. Reuters adds that Macron called for all sides to be calm and believes that there are steps that can be taken to de-escalate the crisis.

Within US politics, The New York Times informs us that Senator Mitch McConnell has criticized the Republican Party’s censure of Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and its characterization of the Jan. 6 riot as “legitimate political discourse”. McConnell instead said that the riot was a “violent insurrection.” The Guardian reported on the US military today. It has been leaked that 21% of applicants to the white supremacist group Patriot Front claimed to hold current or former ties to the US military. This information emerges as fears surrounding the far-right radicalization of current and former military members rises.

Forbes updates us on the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis became the first American athlete to win a gold medal. Jacobellis narrowly missed gold in the 2006 winter Olympics so this medal serves as redemption.

The BBC tells us that Brexit’s effects are being observed within the UK. Members of the country’s parliament have said that the results are 'increased costs, paperwork, delays'. It has also been warned that things could worsen this year as new import controls come in.

Finally, let’s look at Covid-19 updates. The Washington Post states that Coronavirus deaths have reached their highest in a year. This is as the Omicron variant targets the elderly and the unvaccinated. The New York Times reported that Denmark has dropped restrictions despite the high number of Covid cases in the country. The government declared that it would no longer consider Covid a “socially critical disease”.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Tuesday, February 8th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Let’s kick off by looking at the Russia US standoff. The New York Times reports that Putin has offered a stark warning over the possibility of a war between the West and Russia. This is despite the Russian president saying that he is prepared to continue negotiations over the country’s security demands in Eastern Europe. This comes a day after Biden said that the ‘West’ would take a “united” approach regarding the standoff. Yesterday, Putin and Macron, the French president, met. The Guardian states that these talks appeared to have not succeeded in producing a Ukraine breakthrough.

Next, AP News tells us that the US Supreme Court has put on hold a lower court ruling that Alabama must draw new congressional districts before the 2022 elections in order to increase black voting power. This high court order boosts Republican chances of being able to hold six of the state’s seven seats in the House of Representatives.

The Guardian informs us that the United States has approved a possible $100million sale of equipment and services to Taiwan, a self-ruled island that is claimed by China. This aims to “sustain, maintain, and improve” the Patriot missile defence system.

In an update on the Spotify controversy, The Washington Examiner reports that famous musician Neil Young has urged Spotify employees to quit after he pulled his music from the platform. Some artists like Joni Michell have followed Young’s lead and also removed their music.

Finally, let’s look at the Beijing Winter Olympics. The Washington Post states that within men’s figure skating American Nathan Chen is aiming for gold. Chen has won the last three world championships, however, he will be competing against Japanese Yuzuru Hanyu who aims to become the first men’s skater to win three straight Olympic titles since 1928. Forbes tells us that 32 athletes at the Olympics are currently isolated after testing positive for Covid-19.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Afternoon, it’s Monday, February 7th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Afternoon News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

We will kick off today with updates on the Ukraine and Russia tensions.

According to AP News, after speaking with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Biden at a joint press conference, Biden stated today that "it would be wise" for Americans, other than vital diplomats, to leave Ukraine in the face of the Russian military threat. Furthermore, Biden stated that "there will no longer be Nord Stream 2," a vital Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline if Russia continues to invade Ukraine with "tanks and troops." And, the Financial Times reports that French President Macron is trying to talk Putin into easing tensions over Ukraine.

According to the BBC, truckers in Ottawa have been asked to stop making loud honking noises as part of The Freedom Convoy's continuous protest of hundreds of vehicles, which has sparked outrage among local residents and business owners. However, horns will undoubtedly be honked until the US lifts the vaccine mandate for crossing the border.

Axios reports that the IRS will abandon a push to have some taxpayers use facial-recognition software to identify themselves, a plan to have taxpayers provide documents and a video selfie using a third-party company, ID.Me to interact with the agency. When first announced, the risk of privacy, given the sensitivity of the information, and the power of these technologies, sparked debate.

In other business news, according to an internal letter obtained by Business Insider, Amazon is raising its base pay cap for US employees to $350,000, more than doubling its previous $160,000 maximum wage for most employees, and raise total compensation ranges for most jobs globally. The boost comes as Amazon faces internal dissatisfaction over low pay, particularly when compared to competitors.

Forbes reported that although job postings have reached all-time highs, Goldman Sachs believes that 2.5 million Americans dropped out of the labor force during the pandemic and are still not seeking employment. According to last month's numbers, the labor participation rate is still considerably below pre-pandemic levels of 63.4 percent. According to analysts, the remaining 1.7 million people who are more inclined to hunt for jobs again are staying at home owing to fears about Covid.

Lastly, according to the most recent Covid-19 news from the Washington Post, New Jersey and Delaware are going to lift school mask regulations next month as a new attitude about the pandemic takes form.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, be sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Monday, February 7th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Firstly, The Guardian reports that protesters have taken to the Minneapolis streets in response to the fatal police shooting of a young Black man, Amir Locke. The shooting occurred earlier this week during a “no-knock” raid on an apartment. The peaceful demonstrators note that Locke had a right to possess a weapon in his own home and was never given the opportunity to disarm himself as police marched into his apartment without any warning.

Next, following widespread fears for Chinese tennis player Peng after she seemed to allege on social media that a former Chinese vice premier, had sexually assaulted her in the past, Reuters states that the three-time Olympian denies that she ever accused anyone of sexual assault. Within China’s cyberspace discussion of the scandal was highly censored.

The CEO of Spotify has apologized to employees for backlash after it appeared that Joe Rogan used a racial slur in a previous podcast episode. However, The Wall Street Journal tells us that the company has no plans to remove the star podcaster from the streaming platform.

China has come under criticism after Beijing Olympics participants from several countries have pointed out inhumane conditions for quarantined athletes, unreasonable isolation rules and unexplained media suppression. Forbes states that one athlete even said that they weren’t receiving food.

Moving on, let’s look at Russian and US tensions. The New York Times updates that President Macron of France is meeting with Putin today. It is suggested that Macron is aiming to avert a European war and reshape European security. The Washington Post reports that the German chancellor has rejected claims that Germany has not done enough to support Ukraine and has said that the response will be ‘united and decisive’ if Russia invades Ukraine. Finally, Forbes tells us that the U.S. national security adviser said yesterday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen “any day now”.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.

Good Afternoon, it’s Friday, February 4th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Afternoon News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Weeks after the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump reviewed a draft executive order authorizing the national guard to seize voting machines and verbally agreed to hire Sidney Powell, a campaign lawyer, as special counsel to investigate election fraud. Two previously unreported acts related to the Capitol attack. While Trump has never followed through on a formal order, four sources with specific information told the Guardian that he was on the verge of doing so.

Also, The Hill reports, Trump explicitly stated earlier this week that Pence should have unilaterally overturned the results that declared Joe Biden president on that day. Trump also recommended that a House committee examining the incident on January 6 look into why Pence did not challenge the election results. Pence blasted outgoing President Trump today for suggesting he could overturn the results of the 2020 election, calling the idea "un-American," as part of a broader address about the need for conservatives to remain true to the Constitution and reject moves to concentrate power at the federal level.

The New York Times compounds the issue by reporting that The Republican Party today officially declared the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol and the events leading up to it "legitimate political discourse." And censures Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, two lawmakers in the party who have been the most outspoken in condemning the deadly riot and Donald J. Trump's role in spreading the election lies that fueled it. The party went even further in a resolution condemning Cheney and Kinzinger for their roles in the House investigative assault. Following the vote, party leaders hastened to explain that language, claiming it was never intended to apply to rioters who stormed the Capitol in Trump's name.

AP News reports that China began the second Games today. Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the Games in the opening ceremony, and two athletes, one being a member of the country's Uyghur Muslim minority, lighted the Olympic torch. The appointment of an Uyghur was rich in symbolism since critics believe that the Beijing administration has oppressed the minority, and in response, many countries put a diplomatic boycott on the Games, with leaders refusing to join but allowing their athletes to compete.

According to Business Insider, Following two months of below-estimated employment growth, numbers released today show that the economy added 467,000 jobs in January, completely surprising forecasters given that Omicron levels peaked last month. Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics amended its earlier numbers for November and December, discovering 709,000 more employment than previously recorded.

Lastly, The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon shares rose 13.34% today, showing the disparity in fortunes among the world's largest tech companies. This week was tough for tech stocks, particularly, Meta, previously known as Facebook, which fell 26% yesterday, and another 2% today. Snap Inc rose 43% since sharing its first quarterly profit, and Pinterest had the same fate, climbing 4% after reporting a 20% rise in sales in Q4 2021.

That’s all for today. For the full Ausum experience, make sure to download the Ausum app. Catch us, every weekday, morning and afternoon.