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“My hope is by this time next year, we’re going to be back to normal—before that,” Biden told reporters Tuesday. “It depends upon people continue to be smart and understand that we still have significant losses.” More than 511,000 people in the United States have died of COVID-19. Biden keeps a daily tally tucked inside his jacket pocket each day. More than half a million Americans already have received at least one dose of two available vaccines that require two shots....

The question came as part of a press briefing held during Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with multiple Arab leaders including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. When asked how he can be sure another similar incident will not happen again, Biden answered, “God love you, what a silly question. How can I possibly be sure of any of that? I just made it clear if anything occurs like that again, they’ll get that response and much more,” referring to his past criticism of the crown prince over his alleged involvement in Khashoggi’s death in 2018 in Istanbul....

“While we appreciate the opportunity to open increased dialogue with the White House, the administration’s misguided policy agenda shifting away from domestic oil and natural gas has compounded inflationary pressures and added headwinds to companies’ daily efforts to meet growing energy needs while reducing emissions,” Sommers said in a Wednesday statement. “Ahead of his travel to the Middle East next month, we urge the President to prioritize unlocking U.S. energy resources—that are the envy of the world—instead of increasing reliance on foreign sources,” Sommers added....

The Biden administration’s concern is likely a response to public opinion. Recent polls show that voters are growing more concerned about inflation and less concerned about the pandemic. They also show that voters expect prices to keep rising and, most importantly for the White House, they blame these rising prices on the president. We can only guess what advice Biden is receiving behind closed doors. But it is likely that he is being told two stories, one by his Treasury Department and the other by the Federal Reserve....

Biden hopes to use the summit being held in Brussels on Monday to underscore the nation’s “ironclad commitment” to Article 5 in NATO’s Strategic Concept, which states that “an attack on one is an attack on all and will be met with a collective response.” As NATO leaders seek to revise the document for the first time in years, Biden will argue that new framework is needed to deal with the world’s “evolving strategic environment,” including Russia’s “aggressive policies and actions; challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China to our collective security, prosperity, and values....

“Wooo!” Mayfield shouted. “That felt good!” The Oklahoma quarterback then took possession of the Big 12 Conference’s shiny new trophy, tucked it under his arm and, as confetti rained down on him, set his sights on something even better: a national championship. MORE: Three takeaways from Oklahoma’s win over TCU No. 3 Oklahoma demolished No. 12 TCU 41-17 on Saturday at AT&T Stadium, and in doing so served notice to the College Football Playoff committee that it is playoff worthy, that it is a contender — and that it can play a little defense....

According to Sports Illustrated, the Big 12’s TV partners are likely to pay the league not to expand to eliminate a loophole that enables the league to receive nearly $25 million annually for every school it adds. ESPN and Fox were reportedly not thrilled about the idea of paying for a bigger Big 12. “If they put more money up and bought out that pro rata clause, we’ll likely keep ourselves at 10,” a Big 12 source told SI....

“The interaction of spectators with players, coaches, and staff members was inappropriate and unacceptable,” commissioner Bob Bowlsby said. “Revisions to policies and procedures must guarantee that no future incidents occur.” MORE: Maryland fans storm court | Wisconsin’s plane forced to land in Pittsburgh | Field of 68 Bowlsby went on to say that the Big 12 Conference does not currently have a policy prohibiting spectators from storming the court or a rule that governs foul language and inappropriate chants, as was the case with K-State students who targeted KU with inappropriate cheers that could be heard on the ESPN broadcast during timeouts....

‘Shut up, dickhead!’ Allegri rants The forward was blessed with seemingly limitless potential, but amid fireworks being let off in his own bathroom, darts being thrown at youth team players and persistent on-field problems, he appears dead-set upon imploding. Last August’s move to Nice seemed to be his last chance. Indeed, it seemed like the perfect move for the striker, who could enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle than in the fishbowl of Liverpool, just a short journey away from his native Italy....

Actually, Charles is lucky. McDonnell Douglas and Unisys Corp. plan to end health coverage completely for nonunion retirees in coming years. A survey by the A. Foster Higgins consulting firm found that two thirds of major corporations have curtailed retiree health plans or intend to in 1993. Many are raising premiums, deductibles and eligibility rules for retirees-the same benefit crunches many current workers have faced. To date, retirees have been insulated from those cold realities....

Nor was I the only big-firm job applicant subjected to anti-Semitic bigotry. Back in those days, law firms were operated on a pseudo-apartheid basis: there were firms that didn’t hire Jewish lawyers; there were Jewish firms that hired both Jewish and non-Jewish lawyers; and mixed firms, which hired a few token Jewish applicants. Everyone was aware of this discriminatory system. I reported my experiences to the dean of Yale Law School who assured me it was not “personal....

Barrett and the Buckeyes travel to Piscataway, N.J., to take on Rutgers as three-touchdown favorites on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, ABC) . Ohio State covered for just the second time this season last week against Penn State. MORE: Ohio State-Rutgers matchup, trends, stats Line: Ohio State -21 Total: 64 Line movement: Ohio State opened -20 at The Wynn, but was bet up to -21. Some shops have gone to -21....

The conference on Wednesday waived a six-game requirement to make its championship game, which will allow No. 4 Ohio State (5-0) to represent the East division against No. 14 Northwestern (5-1) on Dec. 19. From a strictly business perspective, it makes sense. The Buckeyes get a sixth game and a chance to win a fourth straight conference championship. Ohio State likely makes another College Football Playoff appearance and will fight it out with perennial contenders in No....

Comedian Jerrod Carmichael hosted the evening, which was held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Tracy Morgan, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Billy Porter, Natasha Lyonne, Niecy Nash-Betts, and Quentin Tarantino all presented awards at the ceremony, where there some surprise wins and shocking snubs. Eddie Murphy, meanwhile, was presented with the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy received the Carol Burnett Award....

Belichick also pointed to the social justice measures the Patriots took during the 2020 season. “One of the most rewarding things in my professional career took place in 2020 when, through the great leadership within our team, conversations about social justice, equality and human rights moved to the forefront and became actions. Continuing those efforts while remaining true to the people, team and country I love outweigh the benefits of any individual award,” Belichick wrote....

“We’re strangling our planet with plastic,” says Mona Astra Liss, a company spokesperson. IKEA will also be selling 59-cent reusable polypropylene “Big Blue Bags” for customers to bring back on subsequent shopping jaunts (or use elsewhere in their daily shopping adventures). “We’re just asking our customers to seriously think about all the plastic bags they use on a daily basis.” With 29 big-box stores across the United States, the program’s impact could be significant: when IKEA instituted a similar tax in Great Britain, plastic bag use fell by 95 percent, according to the spokesperson....

In a clip shared in advance of the full broadcast of the interview, due to air on Wednesday’s edition of World News Tonight, Thomas asked Barr about the influence of Trump on the Department of Justice in the wake of the controversy over former presidential adviser Roger Stone’s sentencing recommendation. “To have public statements and tweets made about the department… about cases pending in the department and about judges before whom we have cases, make it impossible for me to do my job, to assure the courts and the prosecutors and the department that we’re doing our work with integrity,” Barr said....

Algeria means little to the bright, sensitive Francois (Gael Morel), who loves Ingmar Bergman films and Faulkner and is just beginning to discover that his sexual desires focus not on his pretty best friend Malte (Bouchez), but on the handsome peasant boy Serge (Stephane Rideau), whose brother has just been sent to Algeria to fight. One brief schoolboy sexual encounter means everything to Francois, but it’s just a one-time experiment to Serge, who’s smitten with Maite....