News N Things
The jury in the Rittenhouse trial begins day two of deliberations; China's hypersonic missile test was a terrifying success; Tennis star disappears after accusing a Chinese Official of sexual assault.
Top 3 Stories:
1) Rittenhouse Jury Deliberations Day 2:
“Jurors weighing charges against Kyle Rittenhouse were to return Wednesday for a second day of deliberations in his murder trial, after they failed to reach a swift verdict on whether he was the instigator in a night of bloodshed in Kenosha or a concerned citizen who came under attack while trying to protect property. The jury of 12 deliberated for a full day Tuesday without reaching a decision. Several appeared tired as they walked into the courtroom Tuesday evening and indicated with a show of hands that they were ready to go home. The case went to the anonymous jury after Judge Bruce Schroeder, in an unusual move, allowed Rittenhouse himself to play a minor role in selecting the final panel of 12 who would decide his fate. Rittenhouse reached into a raffle drum and drew numbered slips that determined which of the 18 jurors who sat through the case would deliberate and which ones would be dismissed as alternates. That task is usually performed by a court clerk, not the defendant. Schroeder said he has been having defendants do it for “I’m going to say 20 years, at least.” (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
2) New Details on China’s Hypersonic Missile Test:
“In an exclusive interview with CBS News, General John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the No. 2 person in the U.S. military, revealed new details of last summer's Chinese hypersonic weapons test, which sent a missile around the world at more than five times the speed of sound. "They launched a long-range missile," Hyten told CBS News. "It went around the world, dropped off a hypersonic glide vehicle that glided all the way back to China, that impacted a target in China." Asked if it hit the target, Hyten replied, "Close enough." Unlike intercontinental ballistic missiles which travel in a predictable arc and can be tracked by long range radars, a hypersonic weapon maneuvers much closer to the earth, making it harder for radars to detect. Combined with hundreds of new missile silos China is building, Hyten believes the Chinese could one day have the capability to launch a surprise nuclear attack on the U.S. "They look like a first-use weapon," Hyten said. "That's what those weapons look like to me." For decades, the nuclear balance between the U.S. and Russia has depended on neither side having the capability to launch a successful first strike. If China is now trying to develop a first-strike capability, that balance would be in jeopardy.” (CBS NEWS)
3) Chinese Tennis Star Disappears:
‘“I was recently informed of a fellow tennis player that has gone missing shortly after revealing that she has been sexually abused," Ms Osaka tweeted, using the hashtag #WhereisPengShuai. "I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and ok. I'm in shock of the current situation and I'm sending love and light her way." It comes as a number of tennis players have spoken up about Ms Peng. Earlier this week, world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic said he hoped she would okay, adding that he was shocked. French player Nicholas Mahut also weighed in, saying "we are all concerned". Ms Peng - a former number one ranked tennis doubles player- had posted about the alleged assault against Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli on Chinese social media site Weibo in November. In the post, she said she was "forced" into a sexual relationship with Mr Zhang. Mr Zhang, 75, served as China's Vice Premier between 2013 and 2018 and was a close ally of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He has not responded to her claims. Her post was later taken down from the site and all mention of her on social media have been scrubbed. Ms Peng has also not been seen or heard of publicly since.” (BBC NEWS)
Daily Verse:
Luke 12:4-5 NIV "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him."
The President’s Schedule:
4:30 p.m. E.T. - The President delivers remarks on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at the General Motors’ Factory ZERO electric vehicle assembly plant.
This Day in History
“Queen Mary I, the monarch of England and Ireland since 1553, dies and is succeeded by her 25-year-old half-sister, Elizabeth.” (HISTORY)
Daily Quote:
“Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing." - Salvador Dali
Daily Joke:
What are kidnappers’ favorite shoes? White vans.
Environment:
THE GREEN GM FACTORY FACELIFT: “General Motors Co's "Factory Zero" in Detroit is on the front line of a battle for the U.S. electric vehicle market between ageing, unionized factories, and new, non-union plants run by young electric vehicle companies. President Joe Biden's administration wants to give the older part of the American auto industry a boost. Biden's scheduled visit Wednesday to Factory Zero will put a spotlight on his administration's proposals to bring billions in federal aid to help older auto factories and the Midwestern communities that depend on them, as part of his "Build Back Better" spending bill. The Biden administration and fellow Democrats in Congress have proposed nearly $50 billion in tax breaks, incentives for government agencies to buy electric vehicles, loans for retooling factories and aid to automotive plant communities. That doesn't count billions in new subsidies to spur sales of electric vehicles, such as a 30% tax credit for commercial electric vehicles.” (REUTERS)
Culture:
HOW THE MARKET LOOKS AT A POST PANDEMIC WORLD: “Peloton’s pricey exercise bikes were the hot product for fitness buffs in the early days of the pandemic. With jumbo screens and upbeat instructors, being on them mimicked the experience of an in-person spin class in their living rooms. What happens now that they can get the real thing again? Shares of companies like Peloton and Zoom Video, the online conference software that replaced face-to-face communications for countless schools and businesses, were darlings of the stock market for the better part of last year. But as the economic reopening gains speed — aided by rising vaccination numbers and promising new treatments for those who get sick — some of the stocks at the center of the so-called stay-at-home trade collapsed. “The markets clearly sense the pandemic is over,” said Ben Emons, managing director of global macro strategy for Medley Global Advisors. “We’re in a full reopening, and we’re moving toward a normalized situation.”’ (NEW YORK TIMES)
Sports:
GOODBYE STAPLES CENTER: “Downtown Los Angeles' Staples Center, one of the more iconic sports and music venues built in the last 25 years, is getting a new name, stakeholders announced late Tuesday. It will be called Crypto.com Arena following a deal with Staples Center owner AEG, the entertainment conglomerate associated with Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz, the cybercurrency platform said in a statement. The broader naming deal also includes making Crypto.com an "official cryptocurrency platform partner" for the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, which play home games at the venue, the company said. The name takes effect Dec. 25 as part of a 20-year agreement, and a new logo will be unveiled that day, but it will take until roughly June for all external signage to reflect the new name, Crypto.com said. "We’re very excited about partnering with AEG and investing long term in this city, starting with Crypto.com Arena in the heart of downtown, and using our platform in new and creative ways," Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek said in the company’s statement.” (NBC NEWS)
Health:
THE STATES OFFERING BOOSTER SHOTS TO EVERY ADULT: “While federal officials continue to limit who can receive a coronavirus booster shot, a growing number of governors from both political parties and other officials are circumventing that guidance to offer boosters to anyone over 18 in hopes of staving off a spike in cases over the holidays. California made the first move to expand access when public health officials quietly sent a letter to local health jurisdictions and vaccine providers on Nov. 9 instructing them to trust patients to decide whether a booster is appropriate. “Do not turn a patient away who is requesting a booster” if the person is 18 or older and has waited the required period after their first vaccine series, the letter said. Within days, officials in Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia and New York City endorsed boosters for all adults — and more states and jurisdictions are expected to follow.” (WASHINGTON POST)