JUEVES 27 DE ENERO DE 2022NÚMERO 7980$15.00 -AÑO 23 -
www.milenio.com
DIARIOPeriodismo con carácter
NACIONAL
Jorge Zepeda Patterson“Obsesionado con la prensa
crítica, no ve la magnitud de la violencia” - P. 12
Regina Reyes-Heroles“Ellas ganan menos...
pero son mejores pagadoras” - P. 18
Maruan Soto Antaki“Construir garantías frente a la frecuencia
del horror” - P. 31
Alcocer y López-Gatell no tienen
excusa para ocultarle al Presi-
dente lo que dice la OMS. PAG. 7
EL ASALTO A LA RAZÓN
No le informan y lo hacen tropezar
CARLOS MARÍ[email protected]
SILVIA ARELLANO, CIUDAD DE MÉXICO
Senadores de oposición cierran filas con Ricardo Mon-real, pero no descartan aceptar el fin de la comisión especial. PAG. 10
Comisión especial para Veracruz se tambalea; Dante abandona timón
Financial Times. Crimen y pobreza en San Francisco ahuyentan al sector tecnológico
P. 20-21
Turbulencia en el CIDE: el fracaso de la políticaEntre imponer y negociar
KAREN GUZMÁN Y PEDRO DOMÍNGUEZ
La Dirección de Relacio-nes con Inversionistas de Inbur-sa, banco de Carlos Slim Helú, ra-tificó su interés por la compra de Banamex, pero revisará el tema para saber “si existen condicio-nes favorables y posibles siner-gias de parte de Citigroup”.
En tanto, el presidente An-drés Manuel López Obrador en-listo cinco “recomendaciones” a eventuales compradores, como que sean mexicanos solventes, sin adeudos con el fisco, compro-metidos a pagar el impuesto co-rrespondiente y a no sacar el pa-trimonio cultural del país. PAG. 16
Banamex: Slim evalúa y AMLO enlista “sugerencias”Se esfuma la clínica
de vacunas texanas
Pandemia. Salud federal revisa el domicilio mexiquense donde se vendía esquema doble por 250 dólares, prepara denuncias por delincuencia y crea grupo de vigilancia
É. LEDESMA, A. ESPINOSA Y B. VALADEZ
Menos de 24 horas des-pués de que MILENIO documen-tó y divulgó la existencia de una clínica clandestina que vendía esquemas de vacunación por 250 dólares, con aval de “autoridades de salud de Texas”, la instalación y sus operadores se esfumaron.
Vecinos de la residencia mexi-quense adaptada como clínica re-lataron que la noche del martes,
después de ser exhibido en nues-tro noticiario estelar, un grupo acudió a desmantelar la casa y no dejó rastro de sus actividades.
Las autoridades de Cofepris y de la Fiscalía mexiquense llega-ron por la mañana a inspeccionar el sitio, pero se fueron con las ma-nos vacías. Salud federal informó más tarde que prepara denuncias por delincuencia y creó un grupo de vigilancia. PAGS. 6 Y 7
Proceso por OdebrechtPor riesgo de fuga, juez deja a Emilio Lozoya en prisiónJOSÉ A. BELMONT Y G. VELA - PAG. 8
Llamado de la OPS Niños deben volver a aulas aun sin estar inmunizadosBLANCA VALADEZ - PAGS. 6 Y 7
Cero y van... Libra reportero oaxaqueño un ataque a tiros
Policías del mecanismo de pro-tección repelieron un ataque a tiros contra José Ignacio Santia-go en Oaxaca, mientras que BC designó un fiscal para indagar los asesinatos de dos periodistas.
“Iban por el dueño del club Mamita’s” Victoria Mazzoni, hermana del gerente ejecutado en Playa del Carmen, afirma que los sicarios iban por el dueño. ELIZABETH
RUIZ/CUARTOSCURO PAG. 11
a Re
“EM“Cfr
Al 26 de diciembre había 4.6% de camas ocupadas, un mes des-pués, la cifra es de 37%, con 2,238 personas internadas pág. 12
La Raza es uno de los hospitales que se encuentra a tope; académico de la UNAM prevé que se llegue al pico la próxima semana
“IR A LA escuela, aunque sea un solo día a la semana, hace la diferencia.
No ir ningún día a la escuela, es decir, seguir a distancia, implica perder
aprendizajes”
Katia CarranzaInvestigadora de MPAhora, BBVA recorta
previsión del PIB de 6.0 a 5.3% para 2022pág. 14
El exdirector de Pemex permanecerá en el Reclusorio Norte por el caso Odebrecht; en caso Agronitrogenados, niegan a UIF ampa-ro contra liberación; impugnará. pág. 6
ANTE RIESGO DE FUGA, JUEZ DEJA A LOZOYA EN PRISIÓN
www.razon.com.mx JUEVES 27 de enero de 2022 » Nueva época » Año 13 Número 3933 PRECIO » $10.00
PUTIN AVIVA CRISIS EN UCRANIA Y AMAGA CON
REPRESALIAS A EU
Por Yazmín Veloz
EVIDENCIA ESTUDIO QUE URGE PRESENCIALIDAD
Alumnos retrocedenel equivalente a tres
grados y desaprenden por no estar en aulas
EN MATEMÁTICAS, uno de cada 10 estudiantes de entre 10 y 15 años no puede nombrar un número de 2 dígitos, revela estudio de Mexicanos Primero pág. 3
EN LECTURA, estudiantes que en abril lograron comprender un texto de 4o grado, en diciembre ya no pudieron; exige ONG garantías en escuelas para retornar
MOREIRA: MORENA DEBERÁ BUSCAR CONSENSOS SI QUIERE LA ELÉCTRICA
El coordinador del PRI en Diputados prevé que si hay acuerdos, la iniciativa podría subir al pleno después de las elecciones; cam-bios tienen que emanar de foros, dice Cházaro, del PRD. pág. 4
PAN critica que 4T "arrase" con fondos y vaya por congeladosJulen Rementería, líder albiazul en el Sena-do, critica propuesta de Morena para dispo-ner de recursos del narco bloqueados; "idea buenísima": Sheinbaum pág.7
Hospitalizaciones crecen 704% en 30 días; 20 nosocomios en CDMX, saturados
CIFRAS EN MÉXICO
53248,627Decesos, ayer; cifra
más alta desde octubreContagios se regis-
traron el miércoles
El Kremlin critica que no respeten sus deman-das; advierte con tomar medidas si desde Occi-dente continúa la presión ante señalamientos de que busca invadir a ese país. pág. 18
VEHÍCULOS ru-sos durante un
ejercicio militar en un campo de entrenamiento en Rostov, ayer.
Sheinbaum va por elrefuerzo: "No duele"LA JEFA de Gobierno, Claudia Sheinbaum, recibió la dosis de refuerzo contra Covid, ayer, en el Instituto Na-cional de Medicina Genómica pág. 12
HOY
ESC
RIBE
N Javier Solórzano¿Cómo y para quién se gobierna? pág. 2
Bernardo BolañosSkynet vs. la crisis climática pág. 6
Jacqueline L'Hoist TapiaNo hay chiste que valga pág. 10
Foto
•Cua
rtos
curo
Foto
•AP
final.indd 2final.indd 2 27/01/22 1:0027/01/22 1:00
JUEVES 27 DE ENERO DE 2022 // CIUDAD DE MÉXICO // AÑO 38 // NÚMERO 13476 // Precio 10 pesosDIRECTORA GENERAL: CARMEN LIRA SAADEDIRECTOR FUNDADOR: CARLOS PAYÁN VELVER
El ex director de Pemex Emilio Lozoya seguirá tras las rejas
▲ En una diligencia que duró 50 minutos, el juez federal José Artemio Zúñiga Mendoza cerró la posibilidad de que el ex director de Pemex lleve
en libertad el proceso penal por operación con recursos de procedencia ilícita, cohecho y asociación delictuosa. Foto La Jornada
Iberdrola no informó a sus clientes sobre operación ilegal● En NL, la firma española provee energía a más de 400 corporaciones, como Cemex
● Mañana empieza el proceso de sanción por el autoabasto, dicen en la CRE ALEJANDRO ALEGRÍA / P 16
Inminente riesgo de que huya de nuevo, determina juez● El ex funcionario, molesto, tomó las hojas del fallo judicial y las rompió ● Presentará la UIF queja por negativa de amparo en el caso Agronitrogenados
G. CASTILLO, C. ARELLANO Y D. VILLANUEVA / P 4
Acervo pictórico de Citibanamex, clave en historia del arte nacional● Posee dos obras de Eulalia Lucio, considerada “madre artística” de Izquierdo y Kahlo ● Confirma el banco venta en paquete; AMLO busca conservar bienes culturales
/ P 5 Y CULTURA
En marcha, el plan de México y EU contra el tráfico de armas● El objetivo es aumentar las confiscaciones y acelerar la judicialización de casos ● Lucha conjunta contra la violencia, destaca el embajador Ken Salazar
ARTURO SÁNCHEZ / P 3
Blindaron contratos para tapar compra de gas pactada por Peña
El proyecto involucra al menos a seis empresas con 27 acuerdos
l La operación fue para abastecer 17 termoeléctricas que no existen
l Participaron IEnova, TC Energy y Carso Energy, entre otras compañías
l La CFE renegoció 9 de esos convenios y logró ahorros por 6 mil 171 mdd
l Sheinbaum: fue excesiva la compra de combustible y no se requería
ALEJANDRO ALEGRÍA Y ROCÍO GONZÁLEZ ALVARADO / P 16 Y 26
Moda Tendencias Belleza Wellness
Estilos que trascienden
EL HERALDO DE MÉXICO
JUEVES27 / 01 / 2022
ILUSTRACIÓN: GUSTAVO ORTIZ
EL COLOR QUE INUNDA A LA
INDUSTRIA DE LA MODA SE PERMEA
EN LAS PRÓXIMAS COLECCIONES. TE
SUGERIMOS CÓMO USAR VERY PERI, LA
PROPUESTA DE PANTONE PARA 2022
A TONOTENDENCIA
#SEGALMEX,DICONSAYLICONSA
SFP DETECTA ANOMALÍAS
NUEVA ERA / AÑO. 05 / NO. 1692 / JUEVES 27 DE ENERO DE 2022
#PANTONE Very Peri, el color de 2022
LOZOYA SE QUEDA EN PRISIÓN
#VENRIESGODEFUGA
EL EXDIRECTOR DE PEMEX PERMANECERÁ EN EL RECLUSORIO, POR TENER UNA RED DE FAMILIARES QUE PODRÍAN AYUDARLO A EVADIR LA JUSTICIA
POR DIANA MARTÍNEZ/P4
#CLAUDIASHEINBAUM
EN PAREJA, ACUDE POR
REFUERZO P12
#ASUSCIUDADANOS
FOTO
: ESP
ECIA
L
FOTO
: CU
ART
OSC
UR
O
FOTO: AP
FOTO
: AFP
PANORAMA
P7
MÉXICO ASUME PRESIDENCIA DE LA ALIANZA P5
#DELPACÍFICO
FOTO: AP
#NFLFINALES
EXPERIENCIA VS. JUVENTUD
EN LA BANCA
EU URGE A SALIR DE UCRANIA
P28
revocaciónine reunió firmas, pero no contará más; faltan recursos. Pág. 30
año XLi Nº11038 · Ciudad de méXiCo · JueVeS 27 de eNeRo de 2022 · $10 m.N. · elfinanciero.com.mx
web 3, elecciones y taxis aéreos, ¿qué esPerar de este año?
La Reserva Federal de EU espera iniciar el ciclo de alzas de tasas en marzo, ante los elevados niveles de inflación y la fortaleza del mercado laboral, aseguró Jerome Powell, presidente del organismo.
“Tengo que decir que el Comité está pensando en incrementar la tasa en la próxima reunión de mar-zo, asumiendo que las condicio-nes son apropiadas para hacerlo”, abundó Powell, quien dijo esperar una moderación económica en EU
retiro del estímulo. programa de compras de bonos concluirá en marzo
Pronto subirá la Fed tasas en EU: Powell
petróleo
Por primera vez en 7 años, el crudo referencial Brent subió por encima de 90 dólares por las tensiones entre Rusia y Ucrania, y la negativa de EU de ceder a exigencias rusas. Los futuros en NY cerraron con una ganancia de 2 por ciento, a 89.85 dólares. La mezcla mexicana cotizó al cierre en 82.11 dólares, su nivel más alto desde octubre de 2014.
Bloomberg / Págs. 13 y 24
Rompe eL bReNt 90 dpb poR teNSióN eN uCRaNia
“... hay bastante espacio para subir las tasas sin amenazar el mercado laboral”
jerome Powell presidente de la Reserva Federal
ve pri ciertos acuerdos votación de la reforma eléctrica, después del 5 de junio. Pág. 30
pone sat más requisitos
complican procesos para cancelar facturas en 2022.Pág. 7
afac, bajo la lupa
acusan espionaje, corrupción e impunidad de funcionarios.Pág. 16
caso salmerón
amlo dice desconocer carta de panamá y la cuestiona.Pág. 31
atentado contra periodista oaxaqueñobalean a santiago martínez; escoltas evitan tragedia.Pág. 31
entrevista a emilio álvarez icazaméxico vive ‘gran crisis’de derechos humanos.Pág. 31
idet aplaude negativa
carlos slim se queda sin licencia de tv de paga, por ahora.Pág. 18
Ratifica juez prisión preventiva para Lozoya por riesgo de fugael juez de control josé antonio zúñi-ga mendoza ratificó ayer la prisión preventiva justificada para emilio lozoya, exdirector de pemex, por riesgo de fuga. el juez determinó
que no han variado las condiciones que había el 3 de noviembre y que sirvieron de base para imponer la medida cautelar por el caso odebrecht. D. S. Vela / Pág. 28
por la propagación de ómicron, pero debería ser temporal.
Ayer, la Fed mantuvo la tasa de interés de referencia en el rango de 0.0 a 0.25 por ciento, pero reafirmó la expectativa de que la compra de activos finalizará en marzo.
G. Castañares / R. Mejía / Pág. 4
coronavirus en méxico / Pág. 34
48 mil 527 casos registrados en 24 horas
530 mil 261 vacunas aplicadas
el 25 de enero
532 decesos
más en un día
cdmx, de las entidades con más casosen sólo 2 días, mil muertos por covid-19 en el país. Pág. 34
escriben leonardo kourchenko la aldea / 26
jonathan ruiz parteaguas / 20
jorge berry ucrania / 25
jeanette leyva moneda en el aire / 11
espe
cia
l
espe
cia
l
recortan crecimiento bbva, de 3.2 a 2.2%; asegura-doras, por debajo de 3%.economía / Pág. 5
C M Y K Nxxx,2022-01-27,A,001,Bs-4C,E1
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WASHINGTON — JusticeStephen G. Breyer, the seniormember of the Supreme Court’sthree-member liberal wing and apersistent if often frustrated advo-cate of consensus as the courtmoved sharply to the right, will re-tire upon the confirmation of hissuccessor, people familiar withthe decision said, providing Presi-dent Biden a chance to fulfill hispledge to nominate a Black wom-an.
Mr. Biden is expected to for-mally announce the retirement atthe White House on Thursday, butthe partisan machinery that hasbuilt up in recent decades aroundSupreme Court confirmationswas already swinging into actionon Wednesday as word of JusticeBreyer’s decision raced throughWashington.
Justice Breyer, 83, the oldestmember of the court, was ap-pointed in 1994 by President BillClinton. After the death of JusticeRuth Bader Ginsburg in 2020 al-lowed President Donald J. Trumpto appoint Justice Amy ConeyBarrett as her replacement, Jus-tice Breyer became the subject of
an energetic campaign by liberalswho wanted him to step down toensure that Mr. Biden could namehis successor while Democratscontrol the Senate.
With conservatives now in fullcontrol of the court, replacing Jus-tice Breyer with another liberalwould not change its ideologicalbalance or affect its rightward tra-jectory in cases on abortion, gunrights, religion or affirmative ac-tion.
But the opening provides Mr.Biden a chance to put his stamp onthe court — the last justice nomi-nated by a Democrat was ElenaKagan by President BarackObama nearly a dozen years ago— and Democratic leaders onCapitol Hill said they intended tomove quickly to begin the confir-mation process once Mr. Biden se-lects a successor for JusticeBreyer.
Their goal, they said, was tohave hearings completed and anominee confirmed in time to besworn in soon after the court com-pletes its current term in late June
BREYER TO RETIRE, GIVING BIDEN A COURT PICKDemocrats Want
Confirmationto Be Fast
By ADAM LIPTAK
The Supreme Court’s conser-vative majority will not change.
MICHAEL A. McCOY FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES
Continued on Page A14
After a frenetic few weeks whenthe Omicron variant of the corona-virus seemed to infect everyone,including the vaccinated andboosted, the United States is fi-nally seeing encouraging signs.
As cases decline in some partsof the country, many have begunto hope that this surge is the lastbig battle with the virus — that be-
cause of its unique characteris-tics, the Omicron variant willusher Americans out of the pan-demic.
The variant spiked in South Af-rica and Britain, then fell off
quickly. Twitter is agog overcharts showing declining viruslevels in sewage in Boston andSan Francisco. On Monday, thetop European regional official ofthe World Health Organizationsuggested that “Omicron offersplausible hope for stabilizationand normalization.”
“Things are looking good,” Dr.Anthony S. Fauci, the Biden ad-
Omicron Ebbs, but ‘Ending Is Not Written Yet’By APOORVA MANDAVILLI New Variants Among
Hurdles to Normalcy
Continued on Page A18
When Alvin Bragg was a candi-date for Manhattan district attor-ney, he spoke often about gun pos-session cases that did not meritharsh prosecution or impris-onment, saying that not everyperson charged with such a crimewas linked to violence.
But on Wednesday, facing abacklash over the lenient policies
he put in place upon taking officeearlier this month and following astring of high-profile shootings,Mr. Bragg announced the appoint-ment of a new prosecutor dedi-cated to preventing gun violence
— and acknowledged that his em-phasis, if not his approach, hadchanged.
Mr. Bragg said that he had beenoverly focused during the cam-paign on what he called “excep-tional” cases in which gun pos-session should not be prosecuted.Since taking office, he said, he re-alized he needed to be more clearabout when traditional prosecu-
After Backlash, D.A. Vows to Fight Gun CrimeBy JONAH E. BROMWICH A Change in Emphasis
Since the Campaign
Continued on Page A20
MOSCOW — In the early yearsof Vladimir V. Putin’s tenure asRussia’s leader, the country’s mili-tary was a hollowed-out but nucle-ar-armed shell.
It struggled to keep submarinesafloat in the Arctic and an out-gunned insurgency at bay inChechnya. Senior officers some-times lived in moldy, rat-infestedtenements. And instead of socks,poorly trained soldiers oftenwrapped their feet in swaths ofcloth, the way their Soviet andTsarist predecessors had.
Two decades later, it is a far dif-ferent fighting force that has
massed near the border withUkraine. Under Mr. Putin’s lead-ership, it has been overhauled intoa modern sophisticated army, ableto deploy quickly and with lethaleffect in conventional conflicts,military analysts said. It featuresprecision-guided weaponry, anewly streamlined commandstructure and well-fed and profes-sional soldiers. And they still havethe nuclear weapons.
The modernized military hasemerged as a key tool of Mr.
Putin’s foreign policy: capturingCrimea, intervening in Syria,keeping the peace between Arme-nia and Azerbaijan and, just thismonth, propping up a Russia-friendly leader in Kazakhstan.Now it is in the middle of its mostambitious — and most ominous —operation yet: using threats andpotentially, many fear, force, tobring Ukraine back into Moscow’ssphere of influence.
“The mobility of the military, itspreparedness and its equipmentare what allow Russia to pressureUkraine and to pressure the
Putin Overhauled Hollowed-Out Russian ForcesThis article is by Anton
Troianovski, Michael Schwirtz andAndrew E. Kramer.
Carrying a howitzer shell Wednesday during Russian Army drills in the region bordering Ukraine.SERGEY PIVOVAROV/REUTERS
Federal Reserve officials sig-naled on Wednesday that theywere on track to raise interestrates in March, given that infla-tion has been running far abovepolicymakers’ target and that la-bor market data suggests employ-ees are in short supply.
Central bankers left rates un-changed at near-zero — wherethey have been set since March2020 — but the statement aftertheir two-day policy meeting laidthe groundwork for higher bor-rowing costs “soon.” Jerome H.Powell, the Fed chair, said officialsno longer thought America’s rap-idly healing economy needed somuch support, and he confirmedthat a rate increase was likely atthe central bank’s next meeting.
“I would say that the committeeis of a mind to raise the federalfunds rate at the March meeting,assuming that the conditions areappropriate for doing so,” Mr.Powell said.
While he declined to say howmany rate increases officials ex-pected to make this year, he notedthat this economic expansion wasvery different from past ones,with “higher inflation, highergrowth, a much stronger economy— and I think those differencesare likely to be reflected in the pol-icy that we implement.”
The Fed was already slowing abond-buying program it had beenusing to bolster the economy, andthat program remains on track toend in March. The Fed’s post-meeting statements and Mr. Pow-
Fed IndicatesIt Will IncreaseRates in March
By JEANNA SMIALEK
Continued on Page A18
WASHINGTON — PresidentBiden and his legal team havespent a year preparing for thismoment: the chance to make goodon his pledge to name the firstBlack woman to the SupremeCourt at a time of continuing racialreckoning for the country.
The decision by Justice StephenG. Breyer to retire will give Mr. Bi-den his most high-profile opportu-nity since taking office to reshapethe federal judiciary, having al-ready nominated dozens of dis-trict and appeals court judgesfrom a range of racial, ethnic andlegal backgrounds.
His promise also underscoreshow much Black women havestruggled to become part of a verysmall pool of elite judges in the na-tion’s higher federal courts. Spec-ulation on Wednesday focused ona rarefied group of well-creden-tialed Black women who haveelite educations and experienceon the bench.
The short list included KetanjiBrown Jackson, a 51-year-oldjudge on the U.S. Court of Appealsfor the District of Columbia Circuitwho graduated from Harvard LawSchool and clerked for JusticeBreyer, and Leondra R. Kruger, a45-year-old justice on the Califor-nia Supreme Court who graduat-ed from Yale Law School andclerked for former Justice JohnPaul Stevens.
J. Michelle Childs, 55, a little-known Federal District Courtjudge in South Carolina whom Mr.Biden recently nominated for anappeals court, is also seen as a po-tential contender. One of Mr. Bi-den’s top congressional allies,Representative James E. Clyburnof South Carolina, told Mr. Bidenduring the presidential campaignthat he believed she should be ap-pointed, in part because she camefrom a blue-collar background,another underrepresented groupamong federal judges.
Judge Jackson and Justice Kru-ger attended Ivy League lawschools, unlike Judge Childs, whoattended the University of SouthCarolina. And while there aresome differences in the women’sbackgrounds and experience,they are united in being among arelative handful of Black womenwho have the kind of credentialsnormally considered qualifica-tions for the Supreme Court.
The first Black woman to serveas a federal appeals court judge —an experience that in the modernera is usually a key credential inbecoming a justice — was ap-pointed by President Gerald R.Ford in 1975. By the time Mr. Bi-den took office more than 40 yearslater, only seven more had servedin such a position.
“If you just look at the raw num-bers, it’s a telling and a soberingstatistic,” said Leslie D. Davis, thechief executive of the National As-sociation of Minority and Women
Chance to NameBlack Woman
as Pledged
By MICHAEL D. SHEARand CHARLIE SAVAGE
Justice Stephen G. Breyer, 83, a member of the Supreme Court’s liberal wing, was appointed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton.ERIN SCHAFF/THE NEW YORK TIMES
Continued on Page A17
OPTIONS Diplomats gave a formalreply to Russia, offering areas fornew negotiations. PAGE A11
A Modernized Militaryand a Potent Arsenal
Menace Ukraine
NEXT STEP Democrats can confirm a successor to Justice Breyer with-out any Republican support, but they have to stay united. PAGE A16
LOOKING BACK Justice Breyer, a moderate who rejected the label ofliberal, worked to protect the reputation of the court. PAGE A15
Continued on Page A10
After two years of pandemic limbo, themen’s shows in Paris offered up a moodelevator, Guy Trebay says. Above,models in Rick Owens’s show. PAGE D2
THURSDAY STYLES D1-8
High-Wattage FashionsA former marketing executive turnedmind-set coach is keeping stars centeredat the Australian Open. PAGE B9
SPORTS B7-11
The Power of PositivityKazakhstan’s ex-ruler all but vanishedafter violent unrest. Kazakhs wonder ifanything will really change. PAGE A4
INTERNATIONAL A4-11
Legacy of a Dictator
Anthony Roth Costanzo, a countertenorwith a vast network of collaborators,has planned a wide-reaching festival forthe New York Philharmonic. PAGE C1
ARTS C1-8
More Than Just a SingerThe four-year study of air pollutionfound that exposure to even low levelsof particulate matter increased the riskof death in older people. PAGE A19
NATIONAL A12-20
Pollution Risk for Older People
Democrats are trying to revive legisla-tion to pour billions of dollars into scien-tific research and domestic manufactur-ing — all to counter China. PAGE B1
BUSINESS B1-6
Push for U.S. Competitiveness
The question represents concern for theembattled player but also for the futureof women’s tennis in China. PAGE B7
Where Is Peng Shuai?
A search was still underway for 38people missing after a boat capsized offFlorida, part of a dangerous new in-crease in water crossings. PAGE A13
Surge in Seaborne Migration
Kurdish-led forces in Syria prevailed in asix-day siege that cast a light on humani-tarian and security problems. PAGE A6
Prison Recaptured From ISIS
Charles M. Blow PAGE A22
OPINION A22-23
In Maine, he was known as a helpfulneighbor and fun-loving friend. Thenhis old life of crime in New York Citygot him killed. PAGE A12
He Thought He Was Out
Late Edition
VOL. CLXXI . . . . No. 59,316 © 2022 The New York Times Company NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022
Today, cold, mostly sunny, high 31.Tonight, turning cloudy, remainingcold, low 28. Tomorrow, cloudy, a bitof snow during the afternoon, high35. Weather map is on Page B8.
$3.00
WASHINGTON — Jus-
tice Stephen G. Breyer, the
Supreme Court’s 83-year-
old liberal pragmatist, plans
to retire this year, clearing
the way for President Biden
to make his first appoint-
ment to the high court.
Breyer, a 1994 appointee
of President Clinton, is the
senior member of the three-
justice liberal bloc, and his
retirement is unlikely to
change the court’s ideolog-
ical balance.
But it should allow
Democrats to replace him
with a younger and possibly
more assertive progressive.
The confirmation process is
likely to dominate Demo-
crats’ agenda in 2022.
“President Biden’s nomi-
nee will receive a prompt
hearing in the Senate Judici-
ary Committee, and will be
considered and confirmed
by the full United States
Senate with all deliberate
speed,” Senate Majority
Leader Charles E. Schumer
(D-N.Y.) said.
Breyer’s plans were first
reported Wednesday by
NBC News. Court and White
House officials had no com-
ment.
Biden has pledged to ap-
point the first Black woman
to the court, and the leading
candidates include Judge
Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51,
and California Supreme
Court Justice Leondra Kru-
ger, 45.
Jackson, who serves as a
federal appeals court judge
Justice Breyer,reliable liberalvoice on highcourt, to retire
Move allowsBiden to make1st appointmentto the bench
JUSTICE Stephen G. Breyer has been under pres-sure to retire while Democrats control the Senate.
Bill O’Leary Washington Post
$2.75 DESIGNATED AREAS HIGHER © 2022 latimes.comTHURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022
BUSINESS INSIDE: Why are Americans fixated on stocks instead of wages and GDP? A8
California has now sur-
passed 8 million cumulative
coronavirus cases since the
beginning of the pandemic,
the end result of weeks of un-
precedented spread fueled
by the highly infectious Omi-
cron variant.
The milestone, equiva-
lent to roughly 1 out of every
5 residents having been in-
fected at some point, comes
amid growing signs that
Omicron has finally peaked
— but not before tearing
through California’s com-
munities. Since New Year’s
Day, 2.5 million coronavirus
cases have been reported in
California. That’s fast ap-
proaching the entire state-
wide caseload reported all of
last year: 3.1 million.
And if anything, the re-
cent numbers are probably
an undercount, experts say,
as many who may be in-
fected may not get tested be-
cause they have only mild
symptoms or none at all,
while others may use self-
administered home tests
whose results are not auto-
matically reported to public
health officials.
Daily COVID-19 deaths
have also soared in the state
in recent weeks. Over the
last week, an average of 139
deaths a day have been re-
ported — exceeding the
statewide peak from the
summer Delta surge of 135
deaths a day. The pandemic
has now killed more than
78,300 Californians.
An additional 91 COVID-
19 deaths were reported in
By Luke Money,
Rong-Gong Lin II and
Emily Alpert Reyes
State tops 8 million cases;signs Omicron has peaked
[See Coronavirus, A12]
The Los Angeles City
Council on Wednesday took
steps intended to phase out
oil drilling and gas extrac-
tion in the city, moving to ad-
dress the legacy of environ-
mental and health problems
caused by an industry that
helped create modern
Southern California.
The council voted unani-
mously to support a ban on
new oil wells and ordered a
study intended to help city
officials determine how to
phase out existing wells in
the next two decades.
Environmental justice
activists heralded the vote
as a long-fought win for the
low-income communities of
color near the wells and a
turning point in city regula-
tions that allow for the ex-
traction of oil and gas in resi-
dential neighborhoods.
“No community should
be a sacrifice zone,” said
Martha Dina Arguello, exe-
cutive director of Physicians
for Social Responsibility-
Los Angeles and co-chair of
a coalition of community
groups fighting to shut down
wells.
L.A. TO
PHASE
OUT OIL
DRILLING
IN CITY
Council vote a win forlow-income residentsin ‘sacrifice zone’ nearwells, activists say.
By Dakota Smith
THE CITY COUNCIL voted Wednesday to support a ban on new oil wells in L.A. and ordered a study to helpofficials determine how to phase out existing wells. Above, an oil derrick in the Wilmington neighborhood.
Jay L. Clendenin Los Angeles Times
[See Oil drilling, A12]
WASHINGTON —
Supreme Court Justice
Stephen G. Breyer’s retire-
ment provides President
Biden and Democrats a
golden opportunity to move
past recent setbacks and
reenergize Black and prog-
ressive voters ahead of the
midterm.
That is, if everything goes
smoothly.
Appointing the nation’s
first Black female Supreme
Court justice, as Biden has
pledged to do, could blunt
the political headwinds
Democrats are facing in the
November election, particu-
larly amid Biden’s sagging
approval ratings and after
the back-to-back defeats of
voting rights legislation and
his massive “Build Back Bet-
ter” spending bill.
But given the perilous
nature of Democrats’ razor-
thin Senate majority and an
already crowded legislative
calendar, the addition of a
Supreme Court confirma-
tion process has the poten-
tial to exacerbate intraparty
tensions and further compli-
cate the push to enact
more of Biden’s legislative
agenda.
However, Jim Messina,
President Obama’s 2012
campaign manager and an
aide in his administration,
believes that “this comes at
the perfect time for this
White House.”
He said a Supreme Court
Vacancy couldhelp Democratsenergize votersafter setbacks
By David G. Savage
2.5millionCoronavirus cases inCalifornia so far this
year. There were 3.1 million total in 2021.
94,000Cases per day over aweeklong period that
ended Tuesday, a 23% decrease from the Jan. 10-16 period.
15,279Coronavirus-positive
patients who werehospitalized statewide
as of Tuesday.
Cal State set todrop SAT, ACT Trustees will vote inMarch on ending therequirement, a movethe UC has alreadymade. CALIFORNIA, B1
Bonin won’tseek 3rd term Exit of the Westsidecouncilman upends aJune race likely tofocus on homelessness.CALIFORNIA, B1
Spotify is quietabout Joe RoganIt bans some showsthat spread COVID-19misinformation butnot its top podcast.CALENDAR, E1
WeatherSunny and mild. L.A. Basin: 73/49. B6
WASHINGTON — After
downplaying the threat of
inflation through most of
last year, the Federal Re-
serve struck a more hawkish
tone Wednesday as it sig-
naled readiness to raise in-
terest rates in March and
take other aggressive ac-
tions to combat high prices
endangering the nation’s
economic health.
With the highest inflation
in decades strapping work-
ers and unsettling financial
markets, Fed officials in re-
cent days have been laying
the groundwork for their
first rate hike since slashing
it to near zero as the pan-
demic was starting to inten-
sify two years ago.
Investors and analysts
are expecting at least two or
three more quarter-point
rate increases later this year.
The Fed is also looking at
tightening the country’s
money supply further by
shrinking its huge portfolio
of government bonds and se-
curities that the central
bank purchased to lower
long-term interest rates and
stimulate economic activity.
As recently as last fall,
Fed policymakers took a pa-
tient approach in withdraw-
Fed pivots to rein in inflation It’s prepared to start raising interest rates in March
By Don Lee
[See Inflation, A9]
WASHINGTON — With
tensions rising over a poten-
tial Russian invasion of
Ukraine, the Biden adminis-
tration on Wednesday re-
jected Moscow’s main de-
mands for easing the crisis,
dampening hopes that di-
plomats can find a peaceful
resolution to the standoff.
Secretary of State An-
tony J. Blinken told report-
ers that in a letter delivered
Wednesday, the U.S. re-
buffed Moscow’s insistence
that NATO pledge to never
admit the former Soviet re-
public into the transatlantic
alliance and to halt troop de-
ployments in Eastern Eu-
rope.
“We make clear that
there are core principles
that we are committed to
uphold and defend — includ-
ing Ukraine’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity
and the right of states to
choose their own security
arrangements and alli-
ances,” Blinken said during
a news conference at the
State Department, alluding
to whether Ukraine can ap-
ply to join the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization.
America’s top diplomat
added that Washington was
prepared to discuss “recip-
rocal” efforts involving arms
PRESIDENT BIDEN believes a Russian invasion of Ukraine is “imminent” andhas boosted U.S. military aid to Kyiv. Above, a Ukrainian soldier in 2018.
Evgeniy Maloletka Associated Press
U.S. rebuffs Putin’s demands in Ukraine crisisThreat of war loomslarger amid standoffover NATO forcesand membership.
By Tracy Wilkinson
[See Ukraine, A4]
Targeting mandates: Westside school sued over vaccination rule. CALIFORNIA, B1
By Eli Stokols,
Jennifer Haberkorn
and Melanie Mason
Germany’s offerof help is mockedKyiv’s mayor declareshimself “speechless” overhelmets. But Berlin hasits reasons. WORLD, A3
Whom will Biden pick?A look at some top contenders to replace JusticeBreyer on the Supreme Court. PERSPECTIVES, A2
[See Breyer, A7][See Vacancy, A7]
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