Good Morning, it’s Friday, January 28th. 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 kick off by looking at the Russia Ukraine tensions. The BBC updates us that Biden has warned that there is a “distinct possibility” that Russia might invade Ukraine next month. This occurred as Russia said that it sees "little ground for optimism" in resolving the crisis following the US rejecting Russia's main demands. In hopes to find a diplomatic solution to the stand off, The Guardian tells us that the United States and Germany have stepped up warnings to Russia that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will be at stake if it invades Ukraine. Furthermore, the US called a public meeting on Monday at the UN security council on Russia’s “threatening behavior”. The New York Times adds that, when President Biden held a video call with European leaders about Ukraine this week, he made sure to add less familiar allies like Poland, Italy and the European Union. The news source suggests that this inclusivity is an attempt to make sure US European allies are on board.

Moving on, let’s look at US politics. The Guardian reports that the US president is on his way to nominate the first Black woman to sit on the US supreme court by the end of February. This is after the announcement of Stephen Breyer’s retirement. Furthermore, Forbes states that a federal judge rescinded oil and gas leases for a wide swath of the Gulf of Mexico which the Biden administration signed. The judge said that the leases failed to take into account their impact on climate change.

Following our mention yesterday of the capsized migrant boat on the Florida strait, The Guardian tells us that the search for the 40 lost people on board has led four more bodies to be found off the Florida coast.

Finally, The Washington Post reports that Anthony Fauci is facing more than simply Covid-19. The news source’s article suggests that the face of America’s Covid response is dealing with anti-vaccine protesters invading his personal life too.

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 Thursday, January 27th, and you’re listening to Ausum’s Afternoon News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Justice Stephen Breyer has made a formal announcement to retire from the Supreme Court after a 28-year run, Axios reports. Justice Breyer's plan to retire will go into effect in the summer, depending on the nominated and confirmed successor. Biden's Supreme Court nominee will be one of his most enduring legacies, and it might motivate Democrats ahead of this year's midterm elections.

AP News adds that Biden has publicly indicated that nominating the first Black woman to the US Supreme Court is far overdue, and he has promised to disclose his candidate by the end of February. Though the Senate majority will remain 6-3 conservative, the decision comes at a time in the country's reckoning with race and gender inequality. Furthermore, it allows Biden to show Black voters, who are growing increasingly dissatisfied with the president thus far, that he is serious about their concerns, particularly with his voting rights legislation stalled in the Senate.

The Washington Post reported that Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said that the Senate process for confirming a successor for Breyer will move “quickly,” and The Guardian adds, the President stated that Vice President Kamala Harris will play a vital role.

Yesterday we spoke about the US and NATO's delivered written responses to Russia's requests. To summarize the demands, Russia calls for a redrawing of post-Cold War security arrangements in Europe, following its massing of troops near Ukraine, which sparked Western concerns of an invasion. According to Reuters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow needed time to analyze and would not rush to conclusions, but said U.S. and NATO statements labeling Russia's core objectives as unacceptable left little space for hope. However, both sides remain open to dialogue, with Washington and its allies hoping that Russia will study their responses and return to the negotiating table.

BBC adds that if Russia invades Ukraine, the United States has threatened to halt the opening of Nord Stream 2. Nord Stream 2 is an energy project that runs beneath the Baltic Sea, doubling Russia's gas exports to Germany. Authorities in Berlin warned on Thursday that if Russia launches an attack, the project might face sanctions, and Western partners will target Russia's economy.

In terms of Covid-19, Forbes stated that for many states, today is the federal deadline for health care employees at Medicare and Medicaid facilities to receive at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. According to the CDC, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and DC are among the states that must comply with the vaccine mandate today. Maine, New York, DC, Massachusetts, and Connecticut had the highest percentages of vaccinated nursing home personnel, ranging from 100 to 98 percent. And, the states with the lowest percentage include Montana, Ohio, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Indiana. These states are exempt from today's deadline but will go into force across the country next month.

The Wall Street Journal reports that The United States' economy expanded swiftly in the fourth quarter of last year, accelerating to a 6.9 percent annual rate. This concludes the country's strongest year of growth since 1984. US gross domestic product grew 5.7% through 2021, the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced Thursday morning.

According to Business Insider, there are numerous parallels with the country's current position. The United States added 6.4 million jobs, the most in the country's history. Consumer spending rebounded completely and then some, output grew 5.55% in 2021 (compared to the last year.) Business Insider notes that the economy isn't just thriving; it's also rebounding at a considerably faster rate than in previous recessions.

That’s all for today. Be sure to download the Ausum app to get the full Ausum experience. Catch you next time for the Ausum News Briefing every weekday, morning, and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Thursday, January 27th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Firstly, North Korea has reached headlines today. Forbes reports that the country fired two suspected ballistic missiles. This is the sixth missile test this month.

The Washington Examiner tells us that Spotify has removed Neil Young’s music after Joe Rogan’s complaint. Young put Spotify on notice in an open letter to his management team and label on Monday over not cracking down on what he said was the spread of COVID-19 misinformation through The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan's podcast.

Forbes notes that YouTube has removed Dan Bongino, prominent right-wing commentator and Fox News Host, from its platform. This is after he violated the terms of an earlier suspension for spreading Covid disinformation.

Justice Stephen G. Breyer will retire at the end of the current Supreme Court term. The Washington Post suggests that this allows President Biden to reinforce the court’s liberal minority and accomplish his campaign pledge to make history by nominating the first African American female justice.

Within Covid-19 news, The New York Times updates us that Moderna has begun a new study specifically aimed at creating a booster for tackling the Omicron variant. The company did not mention when they suspected the results.

Nearly 100 ‘potential human burials’ have been discovered at a school in British Columbia. The Guardian tells us that the former residential school ran between 1891 and 1981 and has a dark history of abuse. This school is linked to the over 150,000 Indigenous children who were taken from their families and forced to attend the schools, many of which were run by the Catholic church.

The Washington Post updates us on the Russia standoff. Russia is showing off its new impressive military prowess as it appears to consider an invasion into Ukraine.

Finally, The Guardian reported on immigrants' experiences when crossing the Florida Strait. One migrant described the journey as “It’s suicide – Russian roulette.” Yesterday, search teams were scouring the shark-infested waters for signs of the 39 people lost when their vessel capsized more than three days earlier. Only one body has been found.

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 Wednesday, January 26th, and you’re listening to Ausum’s Afternoon News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

BBC provides an update on the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The United States has submitted its formal response to Russia's written list of concerns about NATO's expansion and related security challenges. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the plan offers "a genuine diplomatic way ahead, should Russia choose it," and that the US answer made its "fundamental principles" plain, including Ukraine's sovereignty and the right to opt-out of security alliances like Nato.

The Washington Post reports that Justice Stephen G. Breyer will retire at the end of the current Supreme Court term. This offers President Biden the opportunity to make his mark on the court by choosing the first African-American female justice and strengthening the court's liberal majority. Breyer, the court's oldest justice, is 83 years old and has been under pressure to retire while Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate.

The Washington Examiner adds that The White House declined to comment directly on Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer's retirement plans, but President Joe Biden has stated that if given the opportunity, he will nominate a black woman to the nation's highest court.

Axios adds that there are two front-runners for the position, Ketanji Brown Jackson, a D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals judge, and Leondra Kruger, a California Supreme Court justice. Jackson was a member of the United States Sentencing Commission when it dramatically cut terms for some drug offenses, including permitting thousands of convicts to seek early release for crack cocaine offenses. During the Obama administration, Kruger worked in the Justice Department for six years, arguing a dozen cases before the Supreme Court, and attorneys who worked with her are advocating for her.

Lastly, the Wall Street Journal updates us on the market. The Fed will keep short-term interest rates until mid-March, which at that point will increase. Also in March, the central bank will end its stimulus program. During a two-day meeting, officials are strategizing how and when to reduce the Fed's $9 trillion securities portfolio, which has more than doubled since March 2020.

Reuters adds that the Fed anticipates inflation well above 2%, highlights "strong" recent employment gains despite the coronavirus outbreak pushing daily case numbers to new highs, and says it continues to expect improvements in global supply chains to boost inflation. Consumer price rises have reached 7% per year, the highest level since the 1980s. And, Bloomberg adds, a rate hike would be the central bank's first since 2018.

Since the update on inflation rates, Forbes adds that the market soared. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 1.2 percent, or over 400 points, while the S&P 500 increased by 2.1 percent and the Nasdaq Composite increased by 3.3 percent.

That’s all for today. Be sure to download the Ausum app to get the full Ausum experience. Catch you next time for the Ausum News Briefing every weekday, morning, and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Wednesday, January 26th. 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 kick off by looking at Russia Ukraine tensions. Forbes tells us that, yesterday, President Joe Biden confirmed that the US does not plan to deploy troops in Ukraine. However, Biden did say that there will be “serious economic consequences” should Russia invade Ukraine. The BBC added that the US president said he would consider personal sanctions against Putin in case of an invasion. The New York Times reports that Germany, Europe’s largest and richest democracy, is leaving allies wondering whether it will actively participate in the Russia standoff. This is after the country appeared hesitant.

The Washington Post updated us on the situation within Afghanistan after the August Taliban takeover led international assistance to be cut off. The U.N. World Food Program claims that over 22 million people, more than half the country’s population, are facing crisis levels of hunger. Furthermore, the crippled economy means that the humanitarian crisis there is only worsening.

Next, let’s look at Covid-19 related news. Forbes states that the United States’ Covid-19 death rate has hit its highest level in 11 months. This publication also noted that, ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, 2.2 million Beijing residents are undergoing their third round of Coronavirus tests.

Tesla has hit headlines today. The Washington Post reports that the company is expected to reach a record annual profit after increasing the pace of vehicle deliveries.

Finally, The Guardian tells us that Joe Manchin is receiving international outrage from countries facing climate disasters. This is after the West Virginia senator blocked Biden’s effort to curb planet-heating gasses.

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 Tuesday, January 25th, and you’re listening to Ausum’s Afternoon News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Here are the updates on the rift is emerging between the US and UK and their NATO and EU allies on the imminence of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

BBC reported that US President Joe Biden is contemplating "unprecedented" sanctions against Vladimir Putin if Russia invaded Ukraine, adding that such an action would have "enormous ramifications" for the rest of the globe. Biden's remarks came as other Western leaders warned Russia that it will pay a high price for its incursion. Russia, on the other hand, has accused the US and others of "escalating tensions" over the issue and has denied any intention of entering Ukraine.

According to Business Insider, the steps have irritated and bewildered officials in Ukraine and some EU members, who believe they are unneeded and alarmist. The Ukrainian foreign ministry's spokesperson, Oleg Nikolenko, called the US and UK steps "premature." The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, stated that the bloc did not want to "dramatize" the issue by following suit. Reuters adds that Ukraine, on the other hand, urged its compatriots to remain calm and announced that attempts were underway to arrange a meeting between him and the leaders of Russia, Germany, and France.

So, where's the disconnect?

The New York Times explains that it's about the gas supply. Today, western leaders addressed how to protect energy supplies and the potential diversion of supplies to Europe if Russia invades Ukraine because the EU relies on Russia for one-third of its gas supplies. The US is working with gas and crude oil suppliers from the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia to bolster supplies to Europe in the coming weeks.

Axios adds that the emir of Qatar will meet with President Biden at the White House on Monday to discuss Afghanistan as well as contingency plans to supply natural gas to Europe in the case of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House wants Qatar to assist European countries in enforcing harsh sanctions without triggering an energy catastrophe.

In other news, The Washington Post reports that according to experts, the omicron wave has exposed flaws in the United States' global coronavirus policy. They claim that the risk of another variety will remain high as long as billions of people remain uninfected. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has proposed an additional $17 billion in financing for worldwide immunization distribution. President Joe Biden will lead an international summit, which will be placed, hopefully, in late March. The meeting's goal is to keep global leaders responsible for their pledges on pandemic vaccines.

On the flip, CNN reports, following the Supreme Court's decision to suspend the rule earlier this month, the Biden administration is withdrawing its Covid-19 vaccine and testing policy aimed at major corporations. According to a statement on the agency's website, the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Tuesday that it will drop the immunization and testing emergency interim standard for enterprises with 100 or more employees.

And, according to The Washington Examiner, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive order went into effect yesterday, letting public schools decide whether to impose a COVID-19 mask mandate on students, despite some districts filing lawsuits opposing the decision. The plan backfired. On Monday, seven school districts filed a lawsuit to overturn the ruling, and a second filing last week by 13 parents of Chesapeake City Public School pupils is set to be heard by the state Supreme Court. The districts accused Youngkin of breaking a state law requiring school boards to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines "to the greatest degree practical."

Lastly, the Wall Street Journal updates us on the market, explaining that the stocks finish lower in a tumultuous session.

After plummeting more than 800 points in the morning, the Dow finished down 67 points. The S&P 500 fell 1.2 percent. Indexes pared large losses late in the trading session for the second day in a row, perplexing some traders.

That’s all for today. Be sure to download the Ausum app to get the full Ausum experience. Catch you next time for the Ausum News Briefing every weekday, morning, and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Tuesday, January 25th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Firstly, within Syria, The Guardian reports that hundreds of boys have been used as ‘human shields’ in a siege of a Kurdish-run prison in Syria that was overrun on Friday by jihadists. Leaders from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said there had been multiple deaths and injuries among the child prisoners.

Next, let’s look at US politics. Biden called a Fox News reporter a “stupid son of a bitch” on live TV. Forbes states that this is after Peter Doocy asked Biden a question about inflation rates. It is unclear whether Biden knew his microphone was still on when he made the comment. The Washington Post tells us that the Georgia prosecutor tasked with weighing whether former president Donald Trump and others committed crimes by trying to pressure Georgia election officials has been granted a special purpose grand jury to help in her investigation. US Conservatives have been linked to rich donors' campaigns to ban certain books from schools in the States. The Guardian informs us that most of these books link to race or gender inequality. A study has shown poor mothers provided with cash stipends for the first year of their children’s lives appears to have changed the babies’ brain activity in ways associated with stronger cognitive development. The New York Times suggests that this backs President Biden’s push for a much larger program of subsidies for families with children.

Regarding the Russia Ukraine tensions, The Wall Street Journal notes that in response to Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine, NATO allies are bolstering the alliance’s eastern flank. The Pentagon has ordered thousands of troops to prepare for possible deployment and the European Union set out plans for loans and grants for Kyiv worth more than $1.3 billion.

The Guardian reported on the victory in court for indigenous women raped during Guatemala’s civil war. Guatemala’s 1960-1996 civil war left an estimated 200,000 people dead and 45,000 people disappeared. In a result hailed as a vindication for assault survivors during the war, five men were sentenced to 30 years each in prison.

Finally, in a new Covid-19 update, The Washington Post informs us that a lab study showed that virus-fighting antibodies capable of blocking the omicron variant persist four months after a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. This gives us a hint of the durability of the vaccine and suggests a fourth shot may not be needed right away.

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, January 25th. And You’re listening to Ausum’s Morning News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

Firstly, within Syria, The Guardian reports that hundreds of boys have been used as ‘human shields’ in a siege of a Kurdish-run prison in Syria that was overrun on Friday by jihadists. Leaders from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said there had been multiple deaths and injuries among the child prisoners.

Next, let’s look at US politics. Biden called a Fox News reporter a “stupid son of a bitch” on live TV. Forbes states that this is after Peter Doocy asked Biden a question about inflation rates. It is unclear whether Biden knew his microphone was still on when he made the comment. The Washington Post tells us that the Georgia prosecutor tasked with weighing whether former president Donald Trump and others committed crimes by trying to pressure Georgia election officials has been granted a special purpose grand jury to help in her investigation. US Conservatives have been linked to rich donors' campaigns to ban certain books from schools in the States. The Guardian informs us that most of these books link to race or gender inequality. A study has shown poor mothers provided with cash stipends for the first year of their children’s lives appears to have changed the babies’ brain activity in ways associated with stronger cognitive development. The New York Times suggests that this backs President Biden’s push for a much larger program of subsidies for families with children.

Regarding the Russia Ukraine tensions, The Wall Street Journal notes that in response to Russia’s military buildup around Ukraine, NATO allies are bolstering the alliance’s eastern flank. The Pentagon has ordered thousands of troops to prepare for possible deployment and the European Union set out plans for loans and grants for Kyiv worth more than $1.3 billion.

The Guardian reported on the victory in court for indigenous women raped during Guatemala’s civil war. Guatemala’s 1960-1996 civil war left an estimated 200,000 people dead and 45,000 people disappeared. In a result hailed as a vindication for assault survivors during the war, five men were sentenced to 30 years each in prison.

Finally, in a new Covid-19 update, The Washington Post informs us that a lab study showed that virus-fighting antibodies capable of blocking the omicron variant persist four months after a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. This gives us a hint of the durability of the vaccine and suggests a fourth shot may not be needed right away.

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, January 24th, and you’re listening to Ausum’s Afternoon News Briefing, where we round up the top latest articles that everyone is talking about.

The Washington Post covers a new study investigating boosters and how quickly protection will fade. According to a new study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, a third vaccine dosage restores that line of defense against omicron and should continue to provide a layer of protection for years. While antibodies against omicron did diminish four months following a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, they remained high enough that, based on comparisons with other types, they should continue to give some protection. The benefit of a third immunization reduces hospitalization risk from 92 percent to 83 percent. According to Pfizer and BioNTech, they intend to produce 4 billion doses of their vaccine this year, regardless of whether they continue to produce the original shot or update it to combat omicron.

There have been significant changes in the US's involvement in the tensions between Russia and Ukraine since Friday.

According to The Hill, the Pentagon is preparing to send up to 8,500 US troops to Europe. The decision comes as Russia escalates its offensive against Ukraine. According to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "has placed a range of units in the United States on heightened deployment readiness, which boosts our ability to deliver forces if NATO should activate the [NATO Response Force] or if other crises arise." The NATO Response Force, or NRF, is a multinational force of around 40,000 land, air, naval, and special operations forces that the alliance may deploy on short notice as needed.

Axios clarifies by stating that although no decisions have been made to deploy US soldiers, the increased alert level will allow the military to quickly shore up NATO's eastern flank if Russia invades Ukraine. Russia has exhibited "no signals of de-escalation," according to the Pentagon, and has continued to concentrate soldiers on Ukraine's borders. NATO countries such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands have sent extra ships and fighter planes to eastern Europe to dissuade Russia. And, Emmanuel Macron has expressed his government’s readiness to send French troops to Romania under Nato command, adds The Guardian.

According to the BBC, the reason for the possible deployment and readiness is because new intelligence surfaced. Boris Johnson issued a warning that read, "the intelligence is very clear that there are 60 Russian battle groups on the borders of Ukraine, the plan for a lightning war that could take out Kyiv is one that everybody can see." The United Kingdom and the United States instructed embassy personnel to leave Ukraine.

Lastly, this afternoon, Biden will hold a secure video conversation with European leaders, according to the White House, as part of the administration's consultation and cooperation with European partners in response to Russia's military buildup explains CNN.

Reuters explains that Since NATO has warned to put forces on standby, global equities markets fell drastically and dampened demand for risky assets like bitcoin while strengthening the dollar and oil. The Euro STOXX 600 dropped 2.1 percent. Indexes in London, Paris, and Frankfurt were all down between 1% and 2%. Tech equities plunged 4% to their lowest level since July. Bitcoin fell over 9% on Monday, reaching its lowest level in six months. The MSCI world equity index, which measures stocks in 50 nations, lost 0.5%. Oil prices increased again, having risen for five weeks to a seven-year high on forecasts that demand would remain strong and supplies would be constrained.

The Wall Street Journal continues, The S&P 500 plummeted 1.6 percent today, marking the third consecutive and largest weekly decrease since March 2020. The Nasdaq Composite fell 2.1 percent, while the Dow Jones fell 1.3 percent.

So what's driving yields higher and stock prices lowe r? The assumption that the Fed would raise interest rates many times in 2022 to rein in inflation, which is running at its fastest pace in 40 years. The New York Times continues that there are concerns the Federal Reserve will aggressively withdraw economic stimulus to combat inflation, worries of armed war between Russia and Ukraine, and a reconsideration of high values after a long bull market have all contributed to the quick turnaround.

On the flip side, Forbes reported that Frank Panayotou, a managing director at UBS Private Wealth Management, said the dip in stock prices this year “seems overdone and represents a buying opportunity for long-term investors.” He points out stocks have historically performed well in the months leading up to the Fed’s first rate hike, but he cautions markets will be more volatile than usual. Forbes continues by saying that this week's events will undoubtedly put the market to the test. The Fed is expected to provide an update on when interest rates may be raised. On Tuesday, major technology companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla will announce fourth-quarter earnings.

That’s all for today. Be sure to download the Ausum app to get the full Ausum experience. Catch you next time for the Ausum News Briefing every weekday, morning, and afternoon.

Good Morning, it’s Monday, January 24th. 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 updates on Russia Ukraine tensions. Yesterday, the U.S. State Department ordered the families of American diplomats and embassy personnel in Ukraine to leave the country amidst fears of a Russian invasion. Forbes tells us that the department added that the move does not change the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Washington Examiner states that this is occurring whilst the United States and other NATO members are racing to deliver weaponry. The New York Times adds that Biden is further considering deploying several thousand U.S. troops, as well as warships and aircraft, to NATO allies in the Baltics and Eastern Europe. This would expand US military involvement in these tensions.

Last week a natural disaster hit Tonga. We are now beginning to see the dramatic effects of the volcano and tsunami. The Guardian updates us that so far, three people have been reported dead in Tonga from the tsunami, while two more drowned in Peru from abnormally big waves. Drinking water and food are still a huge concern for those living on the island.

The Chinese Air Force flew 39 warplanes into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone yesterday. The Guardian reports that this is the largest incursion of warplanes into Taiwan since October. Taiwan, which is a self-governing democracy with open elections and free press, maintains it is a sovereign nation; however, Beijing considers Taiwan to be a province of China and has not ruled out taking it by force.

Regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, Forbes states that Chinese authorities on Monday lifted a month-long pandemic lockdown in the city of Xi’an. This ends the most stringent pandemic measure taken since the 2020 lockdown in Wuhan. Finally, The Washington Post tells us that within Washington D.C. anti-vaccine activists are gathering. This protest aims to rally against vaccine mandates in the US capital.

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