Sunday News: “Desmond Tutu: South Africa anti-apartheid hero dies aged 90”; “Bidens make unannounced visit to Washington DC children’s hospital”; “Democrats’ unfinished to-do list”

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, December 26.

• World Talks on a Treaty to Control Plastic Pollution Are Set for Nairobi in February. How To Do So Is Still Up in the Air (“Environmentalists want national limits on plastic waste, producer responsibility and caps on production. Industry favors better waste management and ‘advanced’ chemical repurposing.”)
• James Webb Telescope Launches on a Quest to See the Dawn of Starlight
• The Wait Was Worth It (“After more than 25 years of development and delays, the James Webb Space Telescope has left Earth. “)
• World Economy Now Set to Surpass $100 Trillion in 2022
• We’re Locked Down Again in the Netherlands. Here’s a Warning.
• Coronavirus Can Persist for Months After Traversing Entire Body
• China Reports Most Daily Local Infection Cases Since January
• France reports more than 100,000 COVID-19 infections for first time
• This Is a Do-or-Die Moment for Chile’s Incoming President
• In their shared sea, Ukraine and Russia risk direct conflict every day
• Desmond Tutu: South Africa anti-apartheid hero dies aged 90 (R.I.P.)
• Myanmar: Charity staff missing after deadly ‘army attack’
• La Palma’s volcanic eruption is officially over, but its devastating toll lingers
• Armed Man Arrested On Windsor Castle Grounds As Queen Celebrates Christmas Inside (“Police responded within minutes after the intruder was spotted.”)
• Hospitals Face Omicron Crush on Christmas
• What It Means to Be Fully Vaccinated Is Changing
• Statement by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Christmas
• Bidens’ Christmas message recognizes those ‘who have lost loved ones’ during pandemic
• Bidens make unannounced visit to Washington DC children’s hospital
• A U.S. Navy combat ship is stranded in Guantánamo Bay with a virus outbreak.
• ‘Radically optimistic’: the thinktank chief who believes the US can ‘self-correct’ (“Patrick Gaspard discusses his Haitian dissident parents, meeting Mandela and protecting democracy”)
• Lawmakers Want Biden to Play Bigger Role Pushing Tech Laws (“Members of both parties say 2022 is shaping up as a pivotal year in their efforts to tighten regulations on social media and other internet platforms.”)
• Jan. 6 panel signals interest in whether Trump committed crime (Trump committed many serious crimes and richly deserves to be in prison for the rest of his miserable life.)
• Green banks gain ground in liberal communities struggling to turn climate pledges into action
• Can Democrats break the midterm curse? Maybe — consider the example of 1934 (“Midway through FDR’s first term, Democrats made major gains in the House and Senate. Are there lessons for 2022?”)
• Hero: Liz Cheney (“Her quest to hold Trump accountable for the insurrection won’t erase her awful legacy. That doesn’t make it any less courageous.” Agreed – two things can be true at once.)
• Democrats’ unfinished to-do list (“Voting rights, police reform, and immigration reform are among the priorities they failed to pass in 2021.”)
• Harris charts her own course as vice-president amid intense scrutiny (And by “intense scrutiny,” they presumably mean “wildly biased ‘news’ coverage,” “misogyny and racism,” etc.)
• Democrats like what they saw in Harris-Charlamagne tha God exchange
• 2021 was another good year for women running for election
• Oregon father of four who told President Biden ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ on Christmas Eve call said he meant it in jest (100% jerk.)
• Alex Jones’ Wife Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge
• Strite: Glenn Youngkin must lead in strengthening safety nets for children
• SWVA legislators offer outlook for 2022 General Assembly session
• ‘Our children are dying’: Richmond on track to end year with a 17-year high in number of homicides
• Editorial: Improving health in Hampton Roads (“A promising partnership could vastly improve the quality of care for area residents and bring a brighter future for health throughout the Tidewater.”)
• Virginia Beach isn’t giving up on 12-mile bike and pedestrian trail to the Oceanfront
• Editorial: 2021 gifts we’re grateful for in Roanoke region
• D.C.-area forecast: Sunny and a bit breezy today, with clouds and rain chances tomorrow into midweek