Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Tuesday, December 7, 2021:
COVID LATEST
NYC will become the first big city in the country to require vaccinations for all in-person employees of private businesses -- from restaurant waiters in Brooklyn to bankers on Wall Street. The sweeping mandate will go into effect on Dec. 27 on the orders of the city’s outgoing mayor, Bill de Blasio, who called it a “pre-emptive strike” against the Omicron variant. There’s no testing option as an alternative, and it’s unclear how the mandate will be enforced. In both Europe and South Africa, the early indications continue to show that Omicron is highly transmissible but, so far at least, not particularly severe. NY TIMES
HAWAII FLOODING
The Hawaiian Islands are getting slammed by a relentless storm system that could dump two feet of rain on the state by the time it moves through later today. Oahu is getting hit by as much as two inches an hour and there are reports of significant power outages in Honolulu. Hawaii’s governor has issued a state of emergency for all the islands, warning of “catastrophic flooding” and the potential for landslides. The days-long storm comes after parts of the state were under a rare blizzard warning over the weekend. NBC NEWS
PUTIN-BIDEN SUMMIT
President Biden is expected to warn Vladimir Putin against invading Ukraine when the two leaders meet for a high-stakes virtual summit today. Ukraine has been sounding the alarm to allies that Russian troops have been amassing on its eastern border for weeks, similar to the lead up to Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea. A recent U.S. intelligence assessment found that Russia could be preparing for an invasion as soon as next month. AXIOS
OLYMPIC BOYCOTT
The U.S. will not send any officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics, making good on a diplomatic boycott over China’s human rights record that will still allow American athletes to compete in the Games. Beijing has threatened to retaliate if the boycott went ahead and accused Washington of trying to disrupt the Olympics, which are now less than two months away. CNN
D.C. REVOLVING DOOR
Former President Trump’s new media venture has found its CEO. Rep. Devin Nunes of California is retiring from Congress to head the Trump Media & Technology Group. Nunes, a close Trump ally, is a 10-term Republican who rose to chair the powerful House Intelligence Committee when the GOP last controlled the House. Meanwhile, Federal regulators are investigating the SPAC deal that’s bringing Trump’s venture public. POLITICO
DTC DEATH
A Seattle-area start-up wants to make the process of picking a final resting place as easy as buying a pair of glasses online. Titan Casket’s founders, which include an Amazon vet, say they want to create “the Warby Parker of caskets” for Gen Z and Millennials planning funerals. The pitch is straightforward: customers have the right to buy their own caskets, but nearly every family that buries a loved one relies on the funeral home to handle it. And funeral homes are notorious for marking up those caskets as much as 500%. SEATTLE TIMES
DERBY WINNER DIES
Medina Spirit, the winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby, collapsed and died on a California racetrack just as he was completing a workout. Trainer Bob Baffert said the 3-year-old colt died from a heart attack. Medina Spirit’s Derby win remains under scrutiny after the thoroughbred tested positive for a banned substance following that race. More than 20 horses have died just this year at the track at Santa Anita Park, and this is the 75th horse to die under the care of Baffert since 2000. LA TIMES
SMOLLETT ON THE STAND
Jussie Smollett took the stand at his trial, denying allegations that he orchestrated a racist and homophobic attack against himself in a bid for publicity. The former Empire actor testified that he was the victim of a set up by the Osundairo brothers, who prosecutors allege took money from Smollett to stage the attack. Smollett will be back on the stand today for cross-examination. CHICAGO TRIB
SPOTTED...
…Olivia Rodrigo, announcing her first worldwide tour. Tickets for the Sour Tour go on sale Friday: SEE DATES
...Mandy Moore, in the cockpit with her dad, Don, who is retiring as a pilot for American Airlines after 42 years: SEE PIC
...Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, among the attendees at Virgil Abloh’s memorial service in Chicago: SEE PICS
LEFTOVERS: WAR ON DRUGS
British PM Boris Johnson has laid out a 10-year strategy for combating the country's drug problem, including nearly $1 billion in funding for treatment centers and stiffer penalties for so-called “lifestyle” drug users, who could lose their passports under the new guidelines. The plan comes amid reports in the British press that drug use is “rife” within the halls of Parliament itself. The Sunday Times reported that, of the 12 bathrooms inside the Palace of Westminster that were tested for traces of cocaine, 11 came back positive. SKY NEWS
