POLITICS 🏛️

US lawmakers test positive for coronavirus following Capitol riots

• Three House Democrats—Rep. Brad Schneider, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman—have tested positive for coronavirus after pro-Trump mobs forced a lockdown at the Capitol last week
• Rep. Brad Schneider also shared a video showing some Republican lawmakers refusing to wear masks during the hours-long lockdown where Democrat and Republican lawmakers were sheltering in place together 
• Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician to Congress, sent a letter to members advising them to closely monitor their health after it was confirmed one lawmaker already tested positive for coronavirus when the lockdown occurred

WORLD 🌎

Six rangers killed in attack on Congo gorilla sanctuary

• On Sunday morning, six rangers working at Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo were ambushed by a local militia group. The park is home to some of the world’s last mountain gorillas
• The park has been a target by militiamen for its natural resources and land as part of an ongoing war for power in eastern Congo that’s lasted for three decades

BUSINESS 💰

Banks cut ties with Trump following Capitol riots

• Deutsche Bank and Signature Bank have announced they will be severing ties with President Trump, citing the Capitol riots last week as the main motivator
• Deutsche Bank's decision will cut off Trump’s business from a major source of loans that once helped fund his golf courses and hotels

TECH 📱

Razer unveils high-tech face mask design

• Gaming company Razer revealed its high-tech design for a face mask– including a rechargeable ventilation system to regulate airflow, transparent front panels to allow lips to be seen, and built-in microphones and amplifiers to prevent voice muffling
• While the project is only conceptual at the moment, its design of replaceable filters and rechargeable ventilators could be a more sustainable alternative to regular masks

US 🦅

Three federal executions halted 

• Late Monday night, a federal judge granted a temporary stop to the execution of Lisa Montgomery to allow for a mental competency review. Montgomery’s attorneys argue that she suffers from severe mental illness as a result of a “lifetime of sexual torture” and is unable to understand the basis of her execution
• A separate federal judge halted the executions of Corey Johnson and Dustin Higgs scheduled for later this week after both tested positive for coronavirus last month
• The three executions were to be the last executions under President Trump, who resumed federal executions in July 2020 after a 17-year pause. Now it’s unclear how many more executions will occur before President-elect Joe Biden—who opposes the death penalty—is sworn into office

COVID-19 💉

Trump administration to speed up coronavirus vaccine distribution

• On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced several big changes to its vaccine distribution plan in efforts to combat the lagging number of vaccinations administered in December
• This includes calling on states to allow anyone over 65 and those with underlying health conditions causing greater susceptibility to coronavirus to receive the vaccine, as well as releasing all available doses to be used immediately

EXTRA BLING ✨

• Coronavirus 🦠. Fauci says new virus variant from South Africa could pose threat for antibody treatments
• Travel ✈️. US will require all international travelers coming to the US to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding
• Sports 🏊‍♂️. Olympic gold-medal swimmer identified among Capitol rioters
• Environment 🌲. Climate change is affecting the growth of baby sharks
• Heartwarming❤️. Ken Jennings debuts as Jeopardy’s first guest host since Alex Trebek’s death, gives touching tribute to Trebek

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