Shark Scoop is a weekly roundup of five stories that examine developments in global, national, and local news, as well as a top headline in entertainment and sports.
By: OSCAR FOCK / STAFF WRITER
All Adults in New York City Are Eligible for Booster Shot
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday, announced that all adults over 18 are now eligible for a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. In New York City, booster shots will be available in many places, like pop-up vans, pharmacies and churches, and adults can get one as long as it has been either six months since they got the second Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna jab, or two months since they received the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine. Thus far, 732,000 New Yorkers have gotten their booster.
Rittenhouse Found Not Guilty On All Counts in Kenosha Shooting
The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse ended on Friday, November 19 and after three days of deliberations, the 12 jurors acquitted the 18-year-old of all charges. Rittenhouse was on trial for shooting three men, killing two and wounding the third, during a protest against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the killing of Jacob Blake in August 2020. During the course of the trial, the defense argued that Rittenhouse had acted in self-defense when he shot the three men. This was one of two trials that have gained widespread attention in the country in the last months, where the defense has been claiming self-defense. In Georgia, three white men are on trial for the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. After the verdict in Kenosha, eyes now turn to Glynn County for another referendum on racial inequality in the U.S. justice system.
Biden Considers Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Olympics
During his meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, President Biden confirmed that a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics is not out of the question, as concerns about China’s human rights abuses grow ever louder. A diplomatic boycott would only stop government officials from attending the Winter Games, athletes would still be allowed to compete. The last time the U.S. launched a complete boycott of the Olympics was when the games were held in Moscow in 1980. The boycott was in response to the Soviet’s invasion of Afghanistan.
Migrants Moved to Warehouse, Relaxing Tensions Between Poland and Belarus
Thousands of migrants waiting on the border of Belarus for a chance to get into Poland were moved from their makeshift camp to a large Belarusian warehouse on Thursday, November 18. The move comes after tensions on the border reached their breaking point two days earlier, when a large group of migrants tried to breach the border fences. Polish security forces who have been guarding the border crossing responded with water cannons and drove the migrants back temporarily, but the situation remained strained. Although the migrants have been moved to shelter, within recent weeks, at least 11 migrants have died. The border crisis is widely seen as a manifestation of the political standoff with the EU and NATO on one side, and Belarus and Russia on the other.
Latin Music Celebrated at Latin Grammy Awards
Latin music was in the spotlight on Thursday, November 18, as the 22nd annual Latin Grammy Awards was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Award-winning singers like Christina Aguilera and Gloria Estefan performed, but it was Colombian singer and songwriter Camilo who was the true star of the show, raking in four awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Urban Fusion/Performance. Camilo tied with Dominican musician Juan Luis Guerra for most awards. ”Patria y Vida”, meaning homeland and life, won song of the year. The name is a twist on the Cuban revolution slogan patria o muerte, homeland or death, used many times by Fidel Castro. Due to its controversial title and lyrics, the song has become a rallying cry for a movement of young Cubans fed up with the country’s government.