Coronavirus

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said late Saturday she is self-isolating after coming into close contact with a person infected with the coronavirus. The exposure came on a flight from the town of Kerikeri to the largest city of Auckland. New Zealand’s Governor-General Cindy Kiro was also on the Jan. 22 flight and has also gone into isolation. Both women had been in the Northland region to do some filming ahead of New Zealand’s national day, Waitangi Day, on Feb. 6. “The Prime Minister is asymptomatic and is feeling well,” her office said in a statement. “In line with Ministry of Health advice she will be tested immediately tomorrow and will isolate until Tuesday.” Health officials listed a dozen flights as exposure events late Saturday, a possible indication that one or more of the flight crew was infected. Officials said genome sequencing would be completed Sunday and was expected to show the infected person had the omicron … [Read more...] about New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Self-Isolates after Coronavirus Exposure

Soccer in the United Kingdom is a celebration of the British at their most tribal. A fan of one team might live next door to a fan of another and if they don different shirts on game day, these neighbors will be steeped in different lore and howl for different outcomes. The forces that pit one tribe against another will seem both mysterious and trivial to nonfans. With occasional exceptions. When Southampton F.C. played Swansea City a few weeks ago even the soccer agnostic would have realized that the game highlighted a major difference. A difference on a national scale. The stands were essentially empty. That’s because the game was held in Swansea, which is in Wales, where the government, battling the coronavirus, was then limiting sporting events’ crowds to just 50. (The rules have since been eased.) “In normal circumstances, I would be on my way to Wales this afternoon,” Mark Littlewood said on the day of the game. Mr. Littlewood is the director general of the Institute of … [Read more...] about Britannia, With Fewer Rules

For weeks, the school principal had been imploring Kemika Cosey: Would she please allow her children, 7 and 11, to get Covid shots? Ms. Cosey remained firm. A hard no. But Mr. Kip — Brigham Kiplinger, the principal of Garrison Elementary School in Washington, D.C. — swatted away the “no’s.” Ever since the federal government authorized the coronavirus vaccine for children 5 through 11 nearly three months ago, Mr. Kip has been calling the school’s parents, texting, nagging, cajoling daily. Acting as a vaccine advocate — a job usually handled by medical professionals and public health officials — has become central to his role as an educator. “The vaccine is the most important thing happening this year to keep kids in school,” Mr. Kiplinger said. Largely through Mr. Kiplinger’s skill as a parent-vax whisperer, Garrison Elementary has turned into a public health anomaly: Eighty percent of the 250 Garrison Wildcats in grades kindergarten through fifth grade now have at least one … [Read more...] about As Covid Shots for Kids Stall, Appeals Are Aimed at Wary Parents

Only weeks ago, Boris Johnson declared that he was "absolutely confident" that this Christmas would be better than last year. But the emergence of the Omicron variant has thrown plans into chaos and conjured up grim echoes of last year’s cancelled festivities. On Tuesday night the Prime Minister insisted people in England WILL be able to go ahead with Christmas gatherings - despite increasing calls from top medics to cut back on socialising. But with infections surging, the Prime Minister now faces a nightmare straight after Christmas - as he weighs up imposing new restrictions to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed. Mr Johnson is not expected to bring in new measures this week, after delaying a decision on Monday in the face of opposition from his own Cabinet. Boris Johnson is weighing up imposing new Covid restrictions ( Image: Getty Images) People are facing uncertainty over their Christmas plans ( Image: Getty Images) … [Read more...] about Covid: Four factors shaping Boris Johnson’s decision on post-Christmas lockdown

In the ongoing season of Bigg Boss season 15, actors and contestants Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash have indulged in moments of affection and heated arguments. Considering Karan’s sudden outbursts against Tejasswi, show host Salman Khan termed him as a “toxic boyfriend,” in the latest episode of Weekend ka Vaar. During last weekend’s episode, the Bollywood star told Tejasswi that Karan has never made her his priority in the game despite being her boyfriend. Salman then went on to call Karan a “toxic boyfriend” on national television. Salman’s comments certainly hurt Karan and now, his mother Suneeta Kundrra too has expressed her disapproval. Speaking to The Times of India, Suneeta said, “I felt Salman Khan was too harsh on him. I couldn’t sleep that night.” While Suneeta said this, Karan’s father SP Kundrra interjected, “She’s speaking as a mother.” Describing Karan’s position in the show, Suneeta said, “If he’s helping someone, they will bash him saying why are you helping. If … [Read more...] about Bigg Boss 15: Karan Kundrra’s Mom Reacts To Salman Khan’s ‘Toxic Boyfriend’ Comment; Calls It ‘Harsh’

Republicans are pushing President Biden Joe Biden Former chairman of Wisconsin GOP party signals he will comply with Jan. 6 committee subpoena Romney tests positive for coronavirus Pelosi sidesteps progressives' March 1 deadline for Build Back Better MORE to be tougher on Russia over its aggression toward Ukraine, but their isolationist far-right flank is denying them unity on the issue. Some of former President Trump Donald Trump Former chairman of Wisconsin GOP party signals he will comply with Jan. 6 committee subpoena Overnight Defense & National Security — Pentagon tells Russia to stand down Billionaire GOP donor maxed out to Manchin following his Build Back Better opposition MORE ’s closest allies have questioned why the U.S. would side with Kyiv over Moscow at all and expressed skepticism that it’s worth pouring American resources into the conflict. Top GOP leaders espousing the party’s traditional hawkish views have urged … [Read more...] about GOP faces divisions over siding with Ukraine against Russia

Presented by Facebook To view past editions of The Hill's 12:30 Report, click here: https://bit.ly/30ARS1U To receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/2UoupvN --> A midday take on what's happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.* *Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha--breaks down crying hysterically. HAPPENING TODAY *Looks around* well, that was a creepy coincidence: via GIPHY President Biden Joe Biden Former chairman of Wisconsin GOP party signals he will comply with Jan. 6 committee subpoena Romney tests positive for coronavirus Pelosi sidesteps progressives' March 1 deadline for Build Back Better MORE just landed in Pittsburgh, where he is scheduled to deliver remarks on his $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law. Well, earlier this morning, a snow-covered bridge in Pittsburgh collapsed (!) Photo of the collapsed bridge : … [Read more...] about The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Facebook – Actor John Krasinski films outside White House

President Biden Joe Biden Former chairman of Wisconsin GOP party signals he will comply with Jan. 6 committee subpoena Romney tests positive for coronavirus Pelosi sidesteps progressives' March 1 deadline for Build Back Better MORE and Vice President Harris are marking the 77 th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by meeting with survivors of the Holocaust. A White House official said Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff Doug Emhoff The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Actor John Krasinski films outside White House Biden, Harris meet with Holocaust survivors to mark annual remembrance day The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden faces Ukraine decision amid Russia aggression MORE met with Ruth Cohen, an Auschwitz survivor, on Wednesday in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The private meeting took place in the vice president’s ceremonial office, the official … [Read more...] about Biden, Harris meet with Holocaust survivors to mark annual remembrance day

The incoming director at a law and research organization at Georgetown University apologized on Friday for his tweets criticizing President Biden Joe Biden Former chairman of Wisconsin GOP party signals he will comply with Jan. 6 committee subpoena Romney tests positive for coronavirus Pelosi sidesteps progressives' March 1 deadline for Build Back Better MORE 's commitment to selecting the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. Ilya Shapiro , the current vice president and director at the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute who is set to assume the role of executive director for the Georgetown Center for the Constitution on Feb. 1, said the appointment could wind up being "a lesser black woman" in a tweet on Wednesday. The tweet drew widespread rebuke. ADVERTISEMENT "I apologize. I meant no offense, but it was an inartful tweet. I have taken it down," he tweeted . After news broke that Justice Stephen Breyer … [Read more...] about Incoming Georgetown Law administrator apologizes after backlash over Supreme Court tweets

TAMPA, Fla. — Less than 48 hours after I arrived here from New York, a close family member tested positive for Covid-19. As I stood in the local Walgreens late on a Sunday night buying as many rapid tests as I could, a man in his 20s bounded in. “Do you sell pingpong balls?” he asked the clerk who was ringing me up. It sounded like he had a fun night of beer pong in the works. But what stuck in my mind was that he wasn’t wearing a mask. Clearly I’d left indoor mask and vaccination mandates behind with New York’s frigid temperatures while visiting my family in Florida. Life seemed nearly back to normal here, though “normal” seemed audaciously carefree compared to the far more cautious environment back home in Brooklyn. As the nation enters the third year of the pandemic, life cranks on for many — but the way it is experienced varies widely depending on where you live. Personal beliefs mingle with state-level restrictions, or lack thereof, to determine how common it is for … [Read more...] about Northern masks, Southern indifference: How Covid precautions differ widely by region