Four officials involved in the discussion disclosed to Reuters that the U.S. opposes WHO's financial independence reforms. The U.S. is allegedly opposing the reforms citing concerns over the agency's ability to counter threats from China. More: - The sustainability reforms are part of a larger reform proposed to empower the WHO and increase its power to intervene in crisis situations.
- WHO's sustainable financing group proposed the changes, which would see an increase in all member states' annual contributions.
- The proposal has called to increase member states' contributions to account for 50% of the WHO's $2B core budget, aimed at tackling pandemics and strengthening worldwide healthcare systems, by 2028.
- The funding is set to be gradually increased from 2024.
- States currently contribute to less than 20% of the core budget.
- An independent panel proposed increasing the states' contribution to 75% of the core budget.
- However, the U.S. is proposing a donor state-controlled separate fund aimed at prevention and control of health emergencies.
- The proposal will be discussed at the WHO's executive board meeting next week, but discussions are expected to continue until the annual World Health Assembly conference in May.
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 Kohl's Kohl's Corp. has been offered $9B by a consortium led by Acacia Research Corp. and backed by hedge fund Starboard Value LP. Acacia, which has a market value of $215M, has received assurances from banks to finance the acquisition. More: - The Starboard-controlled consortium made an offer to buy Kohl's for $64 per share in cash, a 37% premium over the stock's closing price of $46.84 on Friday.
- Kohl's shareholders Macellum Advisors GP LLC and Engine Capital LP had suggested that the corporation consider selling itself after the company faced pressure to boost its share price, which has been relatively stagnant for 20 years.
- Acacia will potentially explore the option of real estate sale-leasebacks of the Wisconsin-based department store's properties, which would free up an estimated $7B.
- Acacia was a patent-holding company before Starboard joined its board in 2019.
- It paid $33M for Printronix Holding Corp., a line matrix printer producer, in October, and has since made proposals for other companies, including Comtech Telecommunications Corp.
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 Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Biden administration on Friday, claiming that the administration is attempting to reclaim pandemic relief funds and has threatened to hold back the second installment of relief money scheduled to be given this year. The Biden administration reported that the state has been using funds to circumvent school mask rules and sending relief money to schools with no-mask requirements. More: - The Republican-led state and Biden administration have been at loggerheads over the allocation and spending of the state and local pandemic aid.
- The two funding programs which the Treasury is demanding amendments to are:
- A $163M initiative that gives public and charter schools students up to $1,800 per pupil but excludes schools that require masks.
- A $10M program that grants private school tuition money, up to $7,000, to parents in areas zoned for schools requiring face masks or imposing other COVID-related "constraints."
- Arizona has received warnings from the Treasury since the state attempted but failed to pass legislation prohibiting school mask mandates and also how it has utilized the existing funds.
- Last week the Treasury issued a second warning giving Arizona 60 days to stop or amend the programs, failing which the federal government would begin a process to collect the misappropriated funds and may also withhold the second installment due this year.
- Arizona may lose some of the $4.2B it received as part of the rescue package.
- The Treasury Department has insisted that these programs violate the intent of the 2021 $1.9T stimulus American Rescue Plan.
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 Betty White Good news: A fundraiser in honor of Betty White raised $12.7M on Facebook and Instagram. The #BettyWhiteChallenge was started to gather donations for animal shelters and rescues and garnered donations from over 390,000 people. More: - The fundraiser honors the legacy of the outspoken animal welfare advocate, who would have turned 100 on Jan. 17.
- By the same day, the fundraiser had received $900,000 from 26,000 people.
- A pre-recorded message was posted by her team on her social media accounts, which saw the actress thank her fans for their support toward this initiative.
- Betty White was associated with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), the nonprofit attached to the Los Angeles Zoo, which she joined in 1966, and later became a trustee in 1974.
- She celebrated her 90th birthday at the L.A. Zoo in 2012.
- From 1971 through 2013, White was also a trustee of the Morris Animal Foundation.
- In response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, she donated to and established the Betty White Wildlife Fund in 2010, which sponsored over 30 animal health studies on behalf of the organization.
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Germany refused Estonia a permit to export German-origin weapons to Ukraine. The latter is bracing for a potential Russian invasion and has received military support from NATO allies, including the U.S., U.K., Poland, and other nations. More: - However, Germany is refusing to support Ukraine, citing a long-held policy of not exporting arms and ammunition to tense regions.
- Estonia has vouched for its support towards Ukraine and is trying to conjure up ways to support the nation in building a strong front toward the already amassed Russian troops along the border.
- Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the EU to develop a separate policy toward Russia that would be coordinated with NATO.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made no commitments so far to halt the Nord Stream 2, a Russian-built natural gas pipeline, which the U.S. has been seeking in the event of Russian aggression.
Meanwhile: - Ukraine received the first shipment of the U.S.'s $200M military security support package, approved in December.
- Ukraine's defense minister expressed his gratitude toward the U.S. for its support.
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 The before / after aerial view of Tonga island, with the right image showing the damage after the Jan. 15 eruption Australia’s emergency aid, medical supplies, and telecommunications equipment have landed in Tonga to help the country recover from the onslaught of the volcanic eruption and tsunami. Three flights have arrived since Thursday when the volcanic ash was cleared off the runway. More: - The planes also carried food and water supplies.
- The Australian Navy has also dispatched the HMAS Adelaide, which is equipped with water purifiers and electrical generators, as well as helicopters, engineers, and a 40-bed hospital.
- New Zealand and Japan have also dispatched planes to Tonga, while the U.S. and U.K. have dispatched ships.
- A Japanese C-130 bought three tons of water on Saturday, while another one with volcanic ash clearing equipment is scheduled to arrive on Sunday.
- The Tongan government and military are working jointly on the cleanup efforts.
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- The U.S. government announced the suspension of 44 China-bound flights by four Chinese carriers after China suspended some U.S. carrier flights over COVID-19 concerns. Xiamen, Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines flights will be canceled beginning Jan. 30 until March 29.
- Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman received $35M in compensation, including an $8M bonus, for his efforts in boosting the bank's revenue by 23% and profits by 37% in 2021.
- Residents in the Big Sur area of California were told to evacuate after a wildfire raged over 1,500 acres in Palo Colorado Canyon. The fire, burning near the famous Bixby Bridge, crossed Highway 1.
- Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh died aged 95 on Saturday at his home in the Tu Hieu Temple in Hue, Vietnam. Thich Nhat Hanh had a significant influence on Buddhist practices in the West.
- A blast resulting from a motorcycle collision with an explosive carrying truck killed 13 people and injured 59 others in western Ghana. The Ghana National Fire Service, NADMO, and the Ambulance Service were deployed to manage the situation, which almost leveled the small town of Apiate.
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Visualization of the day 
Average MLB Fastball Velocity by Age 2015-2021
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Upcoming Events: - January 25 - Need To Know NoCoder - Leon Young (Cogniss) (Register Here)
- January 25 - Venturing in VC - Episode #4 with David Cowan (Bessemer Venture Partners) (Register Here)
- January 26 - Join Ketch & Kelley Drye's data privacy experts for a joint webinar. Privacy Priorities for 2022: Legal and Tech Developments to Track and Tackle. (Register Here) *
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- March 10 - NoCode's Impact on the Gig Economy (Register Here)
- March 23 - Need to Know NoCoder: Nichole Bestman (Bubble) (Register Here)
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 |  | Karan Chafekar is a Management Consultant, Business enthusiast, and Licensed Pilot. | | | | Editor | Aaron Crutchfield is based in the high desert of California. Over the last two decades, he has spent time writing and editing at various local newspapers and defense contractors in California. When he's not working, he can often be found looking at the latest memes with his kids or working on his 1962 Ford. | |
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