The latest Politics-related news, and what people are sharing and adding to their lists.

The controversial figure and talk show host Alex Jones recently revealed that he has been moving more of his guns and crypto assets into bankruptcy. This news comes one year into Russia's war on Ukraine, which has caused a global divide. It begs the question, what made Putin snap in 2022? We also see attorneys alleging that Kenosha shooter Rittenhouse is evading them, the UK and EU appear to be on the brink of a new Brexit deal, and the financial crime watchdog added South Africa to the 'grey list.' It's more proof that money can buy happiness or a life with less stress.

The world of sports, finance, and business had a busy weekend. Bobby Lashley defeated Brock Lesnar by disqualification in the highly anticipated MMA match, and Lesnar went berserk after the match. India invoked its maximum energy output law from coal plants. Bitcoin saw a rejection at the $25K mark, and volatility is returning to pre-Wall Street levels. 20 years ago, Lance Bass was kicked off a Russian spaceflight, but now he's back. Walmart is getting cautious on its economic outlook, and Gold prices may be going lower.

Goldman Sachs (GS) reported record-breaking earnings for the fourth quarter of 2022. Meanwhile, Michigan's Matt Weiss was put on leave after a police investigation, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen warned that a default would cause widespread damage to the economy. In other news related to the cryptocurrency industry, SWIFT has reportedly cut off payments network access to cryptocurrency exchanges. But tech companies' quiet defunding of diversity pledges, combined with industry layoffs that disproportionately affect Black and Brown workers, has experts saying the message is clear.

In a world of ever-changing international trade and investment, Saudi Arabia is open to talks on trade in non-US dollar currencies. Meanwhile, the US military reportedly earns $100 million a year from service members overseas through military-run slot machines. In a separate case, the Feds have seized more than $600 million in assets from FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. Furthermore, Ethiopia is in denial about the injustices of the past, where "if you had money, you had slaves." In addition, JPMorgan CEO Dimon sees interest rates going beyond 5%. The Federal Reserve is also testing how climate change could hurt big banks and White House has made it clear that they will not negotiate on the debt limit. The US has also hit its debt ceiling, prompting the Treasury to take extraordinary measures. The trillion-dollar coin opinion is also making waves. Stay tuned for more details.

In todays news, U.S. farm group is urging an investigation into the high price of eggs, the Federal Reserve is being criticized for protecting the top one percent, a two 400-year-old royal tomb was found by accident during WWII, hedge fund letters provide a glimpse into the inner workings of the market, the high forgiveness rate of PPP loans is causing concern to many people. In addition, Turkey is trying to put a bounty on an NBA star, a video shows a man trying to kidnap a barista through a drive-thru window, Google employees are searching for answers after layoffs, ex-Genesis execs are claiming they raised cash for a crypto hedge fund before filing for bankruptcy, and finally a lesson for Italy from some old German ghosts on how not to criticize a central bank. These topics and more will be discussed in the upcoming article.

This article looks at some of the major news stories that have been making headlines recently. From the tragic shooting of an 11-year-old boy in Dallas by a 14-year-old girl, the certification of the first small modular nuclear reactor for use in the US, and Alec Baldwin being charged with involuntary manslaughter in the 'Rust' shooting to the alarming inflation rate in Argentina at 95%. In addition to this, the opportunity to own half of a government asset through AWS, the Department of Justice informing Congressman Jim Jordan that information on ongoing investigations is off limits, a Utah doctor allegedly destroying vaccines and giving fake shots to children. Tony Dungy also apologized again for a tweet about litter box claims, and New York Yankees President Randy Levine joining AC Milan's Board of Directors, to Ukraine's allies failing to agree on sending German-made Leopard Tanks - this article looks at all of these stories and more.

The past week has seen several major news stories, from RTE's call for an all-household fee to make up for its €65 million deficit to the high-profile arrest of San Francisco gallery owner Collier Gwin for spraying a homeless woman with a hose. In Texas, proposed laws to label food containing aborted fetuses have also been making headlines. Meanwhile, D.A. Bragg, DOI Commissioner Strauber, and NYPD Commissioner Sewell have announced indictments in a massive construction industry kickback scheme. The state has rejected an AP African American studies class in Florida, while President Donald Trump has questioned whether not paying taxes is “really criminal.” According to Bank of America, China's reopening has spurred record inflows into emerging market funds, while the LAPD's ban of "thin blue line" flags has been viewed as a salvo in the culture wars. Finally, GM has reportedly abandoned a joint venture battery plant with LG, and the TSA's "no-fly" list has been leaked after being found on an unsecured airline server.

The Tesla price cut has proven to be a huge success, with their market share growth in China. Japan is looking to lift indoor mask guidance as part of its COVID downgrade. The European Parliament voted to take action against loot boxes, gaming addiction, gold farming, and more in Europe. In New Mexico, the shooting suspect showed that Republicans seek a violent solution to rejection. According to Larry Summers, the 'greatest tragedy' would be if central banks don't finish the job on inflation, and the GOP debt ceiling battle could lead to a historic financial crisis in 2023. Meanwhile, a GOP bill would throw librarians in prison in the United States if they don't remove books about sexual or gender identity. Finally, the Supreme Court said it's unable to identify who leaked the draft abortion ruling, and the Fed is set to deliver two 25-basis-point hikes in Q1, followed by a long pause.

In an influential series of events, WhatsApp was fined 5.5 million euros by George Santos, lead EU privacy regulator and member of an anti-LGBTQ party, who had previously been seen in drag under the name "Kitara" in Brazil. Berlin also announced it would only allow exports of German tanks to Ukraine if the U.S. sends its own. In a surprise move, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recently resigned ahead of the election as the conservative party took the lead in the 2023 polls. In the U.S., weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fell, although the source of the COVID vaccine waiver's mysterious death remains unknown. A French union has threatened to cut electricity to MPs and billionaires amid a nationwide strike. New York's selection of Hector LaSalle by Kathy Hochul to become the state's chief judge is raising eyebrows. Finally, a Planned Parenthood clinic was recently set on fire just two days after the state passed an abortion rights law.

In a time of crisis due to the war, Europe is called upon to be a powerful force to help restore peace. The Proud Boys have brought attention to the fact that President Trump has yet to be imprisoned, while George Santos, a supporter of anti-LGBTQ+ laws, has been found to have participated in drag shows under the name "Kitara" in Brazil. Meanwhile, the stock market has plummeted due to fears of the Federal Reserve tightening. An old coin may have the key to unlocking the mystery of a lost Roman Emperor, while Pittsburgh Police have resumed certain minor traffic stops against policy. Prisoners in Texas have gone on a hunger strike to protest the use of solitary confinement, and President Trump has accused investigators of planting documents in empty folders. As the tech world takes a step in the right direction with Amazon ending its charity donation program AmazonSmile, Greek youth marched in solidarity with arrested influencer Andrew Tate.

Frontiers MTG, the popular trading card game, is again in the spotlight. A report from The Washington Post has alleged that Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) got into a heated argument with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) over her vote against the Republican party. In other news, Microsoft has announced laying off 10,000 employees as part of its “restructuring” plan. Meanwhile, the Elko County health board is set to consider banning COVID and flu vaccines. German police have reportedly detained climate activist Greta Thunberg during protests in a German coal village. The European Parliament has voted to take action against loot boxes, gaming addiction, gold farming, and more. Sweden's Prime Minister has expressed a desire to put Romania's Schengen accession topic on the agenda in the JHA Council. In other news, a recent report has suggested that pension reform may stoke social anger that feeds the RN. Finally, Eddie Jones was appointed as the new head coach of Australia after Dave Rennie was sacked. In a recent interview, Kate Middleton accused Meghan Markle of dividing the Royal Family.

The world has been in flux lately, with many newsworthy events occurring around the globe. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing to ban Covid permanently in the United States. At the same time, a Republican candidate was arrested in connection to a string of shootings at Democratic lawmakers' homes. In China, Covid cases have been spiking ahead of the Lunar New Year. Meanwhile, environmental activist Greta Thunberg was detained by police during an eco protest in a German village. In the UK, royal watchers have asked if the royal family is poking fun at Prince Harry and Meghan. In Finland, Prime Minister Sanna Marin declared, "we have to make sure the Ukrainians win." Finally, the United States has used the sale of F-16s as a diplomatic tool. With so much happening worldwide, staying informed and up-to-date is important.

This week's news was filled with tragedy and headline-grabbing stories. In Afghanistan, a former female lawmaker was shot dead in Kabul. OL Devin Willock and a recruiting staffer in Georgia died in a car crash. In Los Angeles, two suspects are being sought after a smash-and-grab robbery at Macy's in Baldwin Hills. A new report suggests criminalization of marijuana may be a waste of time and resources. In Uvalde, Texas, the school police chief said he didn't try to stop the gunman in a massacre because he feared more deaths. Germany says that jailed Russian critic Alexei Navalny needs 'urgent medical assistance,' and a "kill list" was discovered at a Tennessee high school. Danny Masterson will face a retrial on rape charges, tech stocks have slumped, but a rally is sweeping across most of the S&P 500. Finally, oil prices are slipping as markets await demand forecasts and economic clarity.

The professional wrestling and entertainment world is abuzz with speculation over a potential merger between All Elite Wrestling and WWE. Meanwhile, the latest on the Khans' interest in the union has yet to be revealed. In other news, Hollywood director Michael Bay has been charged with killing a pigeon on the set of his Netflix movie 6 Underground in Italy. In Australia, the cost of living crisis has seen families going without food and medication to save costs, according to NCOSS chief Joanna Quilty. A large-scale fraud has been uncovered, with Olympic legend Usain Bolt's millions feared lost in the process. Finally, your mortgage interest rate could rise further, even after the RBA stops hiking, due to the ongoing US-China chip war, which America is currently winning.

Billionaire Nelson Peltz is making news with his business decisions as he vies for a seat on Disney's board. Meanwhile, Adidas lost a court battle against designer Thom Browne over stripes. Uber Eats and coffee runs may cost you up to $628,000 in potential investments, and McDonald's potato scallops have an Aussie fish and chip owner slamming their "bulls**t" move. ABC is now facing a lawsuit from T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach that could become racial, and Justin Roiland, creator of "Rick and Morty," faces a domestic violence charge. In Giants news, Adoree' Jackson's status, Evan Neal, Daniel Jones, and more headlines are making the rounds. Air New Zealand calls out Prince Harry for a bizarre lie in his memoir, and Wall Street rises as data offset disappointing bank results.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian has called Washington to increase FAA funding following an "unacceptable" outage. Meanwhile, BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, just acquired a stake in a small-business 401(k) startup. Bank of America exceeded expectations, with revenue driven up by higher rates. China has also developed 'golden shares' in two Alibaba units. Despite these newsworthy headlines, Tesla shares are sinking in the premarket today. Ioneer, a lithium mining company, was recently granted a $700 million conditional loan from the Energy Department, while Citigroup's fourth-quarter profit declined 21%. Apple CEO Tim Cook has also announced he will take a 50% pay hit following shareholder feedback. To learn more about these headlines, keep reading to learn the five key things to know before the stock market opens on Friday, January 13.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than 200 points on Wednesday following the December Consumer Price Index report, which showed that inflation is cooling. Additionally, Cognizant has appointed Ravi Kumar S as its new Chief Executive Officer, while Disney's Peltz fight and FTX cash were also in the news. Meanwhile, Bernard Arnault has appointed his daughter Delphine Arnault to run Dior. Finally, the proposed ban on noncompete clauses has implications for top advisors, while Yahoo is part of the Yahoo family of brands.

In the Middle East, America's security stick is no match for China's carrots. Estonia has announced a plan to seize Russian assets and deliver them to Ukraine. Meanwhile, divisive influencer Tate has lost an appeal against asset seizures, and Duke students have mixed feelings about the university's call to wear masks. Japan is looking to bring semiconductor manufacturing back home to thwart China. Finally, a Brooklyn judge has resigned after being accused of making racist and homophobic remarks.

The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, is facing a major rebellion from within the Conservative Party over his proposed internet safety law. Meanwhile, Illinois county sheriffs have refused to enforce the state's newly implemented assault weapons ban, deeming it unconstitutional. Strategy Letter V has put community engagement on the back burner for 2022, with ten new things to obsess over instead. Crypto billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to 8 counts of wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy. We'll also be looking into why the FAA system crashed and why it could happen again. Additionally, we'll explore the potential of machine learning in schools and the US government's position on a potential gas stove ban. Finally, we have an exclusive transcript of the full testimony Bankman-Fried planned to give Congress.

The Biden administration has renewed its commitment to fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, but the fate of America’s largest lithium mine still lies in the hands of a federal judge. Meanwhile, Iran has declared that women who do not wear the hijab will be identified via facial recognition technology. The UK Culture Secretary has boldly stated that the Parthenon sculptures belong in Britain. Video game maker Epic Games is in legal trouble and will have to pay out over half a billion dollars to the FTC over privacy violations and unwanted charges. The UAE has announced that Holocaust education will be included in school curriculums, while the public has grown increasingly skeptical of the Supreme Court’s impartiality. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that war has not affected Russia much, yet complains that there have been no orders for new aircraft. Finally, lawyers who aided Trump in his election plot may face heightened risks of charges.

The news of Alex Jones' Connecticut attorney's law license being suspended for six months for sharing Sandy Hook families' medical records is just one of the recent legal stories making headlines. In other news, a lawyer representing churches in the battle over COVID mandates has been charged with intimidating a judge. A study has found that narcissism reduces the quality of long-term friendships. Additionally, Poland is set to send German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine. A Virginia school district where a 6-year-old allegedly shot a teacher has had three school-related shootings in 17 months. Finally, conservatives who attacked school boards in 2022 are now targeting libraries. Tom Cruise missed a Shelly Miscavige joke at the Golden Globes, and a judge suspended a lawyer's law license for Alex Jones following Sandy Hook document leaks.

With the world of fashion, finance, and technology in flux, some of the biggest names in the industry are making headlines. Japanese fashion giant Uniqlo is set to raise employee pay by up to 40%, while NDIS providers face increasing losses. Meanwhile, Bernard Arnault, the world's richest man, has put his daughter Delphine in charge of Christian Dior, Ford has hiked Ranger pricing with the introduction of the Clean Car Standard, and Elon Musk has broken the world record for the greatest loss of personal fortune in history. Meanwhile, the Australian watchdog is probing banks' offers to savers as cash rates rise. Stay tuned as we follow these major fashion, finance, and technology developments.

From the world of business, it's been a busy week full of news stories. Elon Musk broke a world record for the largest personal fortune lost in history, while the chairman of LVMH, Bernard Arnault, appointed his daughter Delphine as the new boss of Christian Dior. In Northern Ireland, it was announced that business rates could be falling for hotels, pubs, and shops. Meanwhile, unions have said that pay deals to avoid further rail strikes are still a long way off, and more than 750,000 households are at risk of mortgage default. Finally, an MP questions whether Evri should be investigated for 'poor customer service.'

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently commented that rent prices in Ireland are "very high" and out of line with competitive countries, with the average house costing 7 to 8 times the average individual income. Allen Weisselberg, former Chief Financial Officer of the Trump Organization, was recently sentenced to five months in jail. Meanwhile, in Texas, a Republican has filed articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This, coupled with rising attacks on power substations worldwide, begs the question: why is the electric grid so hard to protect? The Swiss National Bank posted a record $143 billion loss in 2022, and the EPA proposed tightening its fine particulate matter standard, which may affect coal power plants. As if that weren't enough, China's Covid wave is threatening another US medical supply chain disruption. Elon Musk's $182 billion net worth drop has broken a Guinness World Record and has driven more than a million people to Mastodon. There is no doubt that this is a turbulent time for the world.

From leaked password vaults to current vaccine pricing, this article delves into the latest developments that are shaking the world of business, technology, and politics. Learn how security experts are dissecting LastPass's disclosure of leaked password vaults, how VC funding can make or break a startup's future, how Roman Abramovich's billion-dollar trusts were transferred before Russia sanctions, how U.S. News & World Report is revamping its law school ranking system, the controversy surrounding €7.91 hourly pay for younger workers, Moderna CEO's comments on a 400% price hike, a government watchdog's success in cracking a federal agency's passwords in minutes, and the Democrats' warning to McCarthy about George Santos being a ‘direct threat to national security.’ Finally, find out what Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell had to say about the Fed becoming a 'Climate Policy Maker' and private equity's role in giving hackers access to bank passwords.

Brooklyn Judge John R. Smith has resigned after being accused of making racist and homophobic remarks during his time on the bench. Haiti is facing a political crisis as it spirals towards anarchy without elected government officials. The Swiss National Bank reported a record loss of $143 billion. The UK government is planning to list an IPO in London with the Register Labour Party calling for mask-wearing on public transport and crowded places until March 1 to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The EU has announced new sanctions on Belarus and Iran for their support of Russia's war against Ukraine. US Representative Katie Porter has announced her 2024 Senate bid. Finland's foreign minister Pekka Haavisto has stated that Finland is not in such a hurry to join NATO as to rush ahead without Sweden.

The United States air travel industry is slowly coming back to life after a costly FAA computer outage, while Democrats are taking back a closely watched Virginia Senate seat. Meanwhile, Switzerland is blocking Spanish arms for Ukraine, and Joe Biden is set to visit Canada later this year. Iran is introducing face recognition technology to identify women breaking hijab laws, while Binance has lost $12 billion in assets in less than two months. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy made a speech at the Golden Globes, while Mexico captured El Chapo's son, resulting in at least 29 deaths. Democrats are also calling for Brazil's Bolsonaro to be expelled from the U.S. after an attack in Brazil, and Donald Trump's tax returns reveal a larger risk than previously thought.

We explore the news that Norway has replaced Russia as Germany’s top gas supplier and the potential ban on gas stoves by a US federal agency. We also discuss the potential impact tightening fine particulate matter standards, potentially affecting coal power plants, and a four-day work week could have on Australia. We take a closer look at the schools using social networks, claiming they “exploit neurophysiology” of kids’ brains, Amazon’s plan to close three UK warehouses, and the repercussions of the latest tech layoffs from Salesforce. Lastly, we consider the implications of tech protectionism’s incentives and what a labor shortage could mean for the future.

The tech world has been in a flurry of activity this week as Seattle public schools sue social media platforms for youth's "mental health crisis," a messenger billed as better than Signal is riddled with vulnerabilities, and a Black soldier sues police over a violent stop caught on camera. China follows through on a plan to ban deepfake tech, a former US fighter pilot's extradition to the US over China training is approved by the Attorney-General, the EPA tightens air quality standards as respiratory diseases rise, Coinbase lays off a fifth of staff as the crypto downturn continues, Russia's flagship oil is trading at half global prices with a tiny pool of buyers, and an ethics watchdog files an FEC complaint against George Santos. Stay tuned as more tech news unfolds!

From the US lawsuit targeting 'forever chemicals' to the lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of causing the wrongful death of a Capitol Police officer, this week has been full of newsworthy events. In addition, Salesforce has announced plans to reduce their workforce by 10%, investors have settled a lawsuit with the developer of Cyberpunk 2077 for $1.85 million, and the CFPB and New York Attorney General have filed suit against Credit Acceptance. Finally, Europe has announced a plan to become the first climate-neutral continent. With so much news, it's worth exploring why traffic reduction schemes attract so many conspiracy theories. You can just read on to learn more about the topic and what it means for the future.

Denmark's health authorities say there's no need for new Covid restrictions for Alabama women who joined ISIS hoping to return from a Syrian camp; the news is constantly changing. A new report claims the IRS targeted the poorest taxpayers while millionaires went mostly unscathed in 2022. In Massachusetts, police have arrested the husband of a missing mom of 3 for allegedly misleading investigators. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the state needs money, while he spent millions on busing migrants. Thailand has had a U-turn on its COVID vaccination rule for visitors. The director's son of 'Romeo and Juliet' criticized actors for a nudity lawsuit. House Minority Leader McCarthy pledged to repeal IRS funding to target wealthy tax cheats. A Readout of a congressional visit to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division was released, and Warner Bros. Head Honcho got real about HBO Max, canceling all those projects, and how they 'went on a spending frenzy.' Keep up to date with this and more with our latest article.

Tesla driver, Austin Lee Edwards, is facing a litany of charges, including attempted murder, child abuse, and grooming a minor after plunging off of Devil's Slide. Experts are raising concerns over the "urgent need" to understand the link between teens' self-diagnosing disorders and social media use. Ben Sasse steps down from the Senate to become the University of Florida President, and CNN's Roberts Court Report finds that the Chief Justice doesn't understand what's wrong at the court he presides over. US Soccer is investigating Manager Gregg Berhalter, Steve Bannon, and his January 6 followers are cheering on the Brazilian insurrection. In Sweden, the police chief has called the fatal gun violence a failure, and President Biden has called MOHELA's role in blocking student loan debt relief "completely unacceptable."

A recent study has revealed that a quarter of adults with chronic pain are turning to cannabis, which health experts are warily eyeing. Meanwhile, the FBI has been investigating a series of shootings at the homes and offices of Democratic officials in Albuquerque. A conservative politician has recently proposed bringing down the Supreme Court, and two men have been charged in connection to attacks on Pierce County substations. Furthermore, Brazil's Congress recently saw Lula vow to punish supporters of Bolsonaro after a riot. Finally, the FDA has approved a new antibody to slow Alzheimer's disease, even as safety concerns linger. Sources for this article include Texas Democrat's call for U.S. authorities to extradite Bolsonaro to Brazil.

The world is currently in a state of upheaval, as evidenced by Russia's revenge attack on Ukrainian soldiers, the extradition of El Chapo's son halted after an arrest operation left 29 killed, and Lula declaring a security intervention in Brazil's capital. Germany is considering delivering Leopard tanks to Ukraine, while France's prized nuclear sector has stalled in Europe's hour of need. In Brazil, Bolsonaro supporters stormed the National Congress, and Rep. Scott Perry, the focus of January 6 probes, declined to recuse himself from investigations. Finally, conservatives are aiming for tenure for university professors. In this current climate, staying informed and aware of the events unfolding around the world is important.

Two years after the Jan. 6 riot, key GOP lawmakers have gone unpunished, while a series of recent events have sparked a heightened sense of global uncertainty. From China's increasing power to Russia's looming threat, the possibility of war is rising. Shootings were reported at the homes and offices of five New Mexico Democrats, and tech mogul Elon Musk seeks to move trial over Tesla tweets, citing bias from San Francisco jurors. December's jobs report heralds the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, and an iconic human rights activist is not welcomed at Harvard. Additionally, in Spain, tobacco companies have been mandated to pay for the clean-up of discarded cigarettes, and Uganda has enacted the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act. Finally, U.S. government officials have announced an intent to slash the citizenship renunciation fee by four-fifths. With all these factors in play, the world is left wondering what could be next.

Tesla owners in China are protesting against surprise price cuts they missed, while Senator Josh Hawley is being mocked by his rivals for inciting a mob he subsequently fled. Elon Musk's attorneys are trying to move their trial from California to Texas due to local negativity. Additionally, the Ukrainian War is still ongoing, and a Wagner mercenary group's boss claims he wants access to Bakhmut for its underground cities. Lastly, bump stocks were recently struck down by a U.S. appeals court, and five Arizona tribes have been granted water rights and land from Biden's latest legislation. Meanwhile, Congresswoman Katie Porter is going viral for reading a book during a chaotic Speaker fight.

Justice Sotomayor recently told a group of law professors that she felt "shell shocked" at the end of the recent Supreme Court term, citing the complexity of the cases and the number of decisions made. Meanwhile, venture capital MTG has faced a legal threat, while a GOP rebel received a phone call from President Trump amid a speaker crisis. On the tech front, BusterAI's AI Detector API has been released, and in politics, experts are saying that Belarus has no future as an independent country. An appeals court also blocked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki's deposition in a social media lawsuit. Elon Musk has publicly stated that he can't get a fair trial in California and wants to move the proceedings to Texas. Lastly, Iran has reportedly executed a karate champion and volunteer children's coach amidst a crackdown on protests. China has also talked with Pfizer to obtain a generic version of their COVID drug.