Three Things for January 26
1. Coast Guards search for 39 missing people from capsized boat
A boat on the way to the U.S. from the Bahamas capsized near Florida’s coast yesterday, Jan. 25, leaving 39 people missing.
“A good Samaritan called the Coast Guard early Tuesday after rescuing a man clinging to the boat 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Fort Pierce, the maritime security agency reported on Twitter,” reports AP News.
The Coast Guard is calling it a suspected human smuggling case, according to AP News.
On Friday, Jan. 21 the maritime security agency patrolled Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and the Bahamas until they found 88 Haitians in an overloaded sail freighter west of Great Inagua, Bahamas.
As the routes are often used by immigrants on their way to the U.S., the security agency stops any travelers found navigating the passages in U.S. waters. The passages are deemed dangerous and life-threatening.
“Officials said on Twitter that they are searching by both air and sea over a roughly 135-mile (218-kilometer) area extending from Bimini to the Fort Pierce Inlet,” said AP News.
The survivors said they left Cuba with 22 people aboard. Nine went missing in the water.
2. Pfizer and BioNTech test an omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine
On Tuesday, Jan. 24 Pfizer and BioNTech announced trials for new omicron-specific vaccines among adults from 18 to 55 years of age.
"While current research and real-world data show that boosters continue to provide a high level of protection against severe disease and hospitalization with Omicron, we recognize the need to be prepared in the event this protection wanes over time and to potentially help address Omicron and new variants in the future," said Kathrin U. Jansen, Pfizer's senior vice president and head of vaccine research and development.
The study will include 1,420 volunteers divided into three groups, according to NPR.
“One group includes people who have already received two doses of the current Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and will also receive the omicron vaccine. Another includes those with three doses of the current Pfizer vaccine who will also get the omicron vaccine. The third group includes unvaccinated people who will receive three shots of the omicron vaccine,” reports NPR.
3. New Orleans Saints’ coach Sean Payton resigns
On Tuesday, Jan. 25, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton announced his resignation.
Payton is leaving the team after 15 years, with a 152-89 regular-season record, a Super Bowl championship and nine playoff appearances within 15 seasons.
“I don’t like the word retirement. I still have a vision for doing things in football. And I’ll be honest with you, that might be coaching again at some point. I don’t think it’s this year, I think maybe in the future. That’s not where my heart is right now,” Payton told AP News.
Before Payton coached the Saints, the team had a grand total of one playoff victory since their founding in 1967. During Payton’s years of coaching, the Saints have finished first in the department six times.
“I don’t know what’s next and it kind of feels good,” said Payton.
