December 2021

NATION & WORLD WATCH

Biden says he caught a cold from grandson, doesn’t have COVID-19 WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden has at least one thing in common with thousands of parents and grandparents this winter: He picked up a cold from his young grandson. The president has had an unusually low, scratchy voice and an occasional cough all week, prompting questions from the press about his health on Friday.

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210,000 US jobs added in November

WASHINGTON – America’s employers slowed the pace of their hiring in November, adding 210,000 jobs, the lowest monthly gain in nearly a year. But Friday’s report from the Labor Department also showed that the nation’s unemployment rate tumbled from 4.6% to 4.2%, evidence that many more people reported that they had a job.

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Essential Holiday TV

After a year that was long and hectic for many, the arrival of the holiday season guarantees some cheer in a very specific form: the TV shows and specials that were made to bring more spirit into our homes. Some have aired for more than 40 years, while others present a modern take on Christmas cheer. Here are 10 specials, and very special episodes, that carry the common holiday theme of togetherness with loved ones – some in unconventional ways.

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RELIGION BRIEFS

Russian coronavirus-denying monk given prison sentence MOSCOW – A rebel Russian monk who castigated the Kremlin and denied that the coronavirus existed was convicted Tuesday on accusations of encouraging suicides and given a 3 1/2-year prison sentence. The monk, Father Sergiy, was arrested in December 2020 on charges of inciting suicidal actions through sermons in which he urged believers to “die for Russia,” breaching the freedom of conscience and making arbitrary moves.

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