A new, more communicable variant of Covid-19, XBB.1.5, has spread rapidly through the U.S. in recent months, raising concern for the CDC. In December, the proportion of new Covid-19 infections due to this Omicron offshoot increased from 4% to 18% and it is projected to rise. In some parts of the U.S., XBB.1.5 constitutes more than half of all new infections. The White House has called the jump in transmissions "stunning" and the WHO says XBB.1.5 is spreading around the world.

BIDEN CATCHING HEAT FOR DECLARING THE PANDEMIC 'OVER'

The world's super-rich has gotten richer in the past two years as the rest of the world grapples with the effects of the pandemic inflation, according to a study by Oxfam International. The world's richest 1% grabbed nearly two-thirds of all wealth worth $42 trillion created since 2020. This translates to $26 trillion -- twice as much money as the rest of the world's population has. Meanwhile, at least 1.7 billion workers live with extreme inflation, pushing even more people into poverty.

WHY THE WEALTH-POVERTY GAP CONTINUES TO GROW WIDER

Social media star Logan Paul has unveiled the recovery plan for the unreleased yet controversial play-to-earn (P2E) game CryptoZoo following the three-part exposé uploaded by internet sleuth and YouTuber Coffeezilla. Paul apologized to CryptoZoo investors in a video posted on Twitter over the weekend. In the same clip, he also revealed the $1.5 million three-step recovery plan for the P2E game and a rewards program to retain or refund disgruntled investors.

HOW COFFEEZILLA'S INVESTIGATION CRASHED CRYPTOZOO

What is the record high price for an ounce of gold? When was it set?

Monday's answer: Martin Luther King Jr. is one of four Americans whose birthdays are federal holidays, including former presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and labor leader Cesar Chavez.