Biotech Company Illumina Faces Criticism for Acquisition Amid Regulatory Approval Delays

In recent news, biotech company Illumina has appointed a new CEO after facing criticism for closing an $8 billion acquisition of cancer test company Grail without obtaining regulatory approval. The move has sparked controversy and led to a battle with investors. This article will provide a detailed explanation of the situation and its implications for the company.

Illumina, a renowned biotechnology firm, has been a significant player in the field of DNA sequencing. With its innovative technologies, the company has revolutionized genomics research and contributed to advancements in various sectors, including healthcare and agriculture. However, its recent decision to proceed with the acquisition of Grail has drawn considerable attention and raised concerns among stakeholders.

The acquisition of Grail, a company specializing in early cancer detection, was seen as a strategic move by Illumina to expand its portfolio and enter the promising field of liquid biopsy testing. This approach involves the analysis of small fragments of DNA circulating in the bloodstream to detect the presence of cancer. While this technology holds great potential in improving cancer diagnosis and treatment, it also requires rigorous regulatory scrutiny due to its impact on patient care and public health.

The controversy surrounding Illumina stems from its decision to finalize the acquisition before obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals. The company’s rationale for this approach was to secure Grail’s assets and intellectual property, which it believed to be crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the market. However, this move faced significant backlash from investors and regulatory authorities alike.

The delay in regulatory approval has raised concerns about potential risks associated with the acquisition. Critics argue that Illumina’s decision to proceed without obtaining clearance could lead to legal and financial consequences. Furthermore, the acquisition could face scrutiny from antitrust regulators who may deem it anti-competitive, potentially hampering Illumina’s expansion plans.

To address the mounting challenges, Illumina has appointed a new CEO, signaling a shift in leadership and a renewed focus on resolving the dispute. The new CEO will be tasked with navigating the regulatory landscape, mending relationships with investors, and ensuring that the acquisition process moves forward smoothly and in compliance with all legal requirements.

The appointment of a new CEO underscores the seriousness with which Illumina is addressing the situation. The company recognizes the importance of restoring investor confidence and mitigating any potential damage to its reputation. It also highlights the company’s commitment to adhering to regulatory standards and conducting business ethically.

Moving forward, Illumina will need to work closely with regulatory authorities to obtain the necessary approvals for the acquisition. This process will likely involve providing additional information and addressing any concerns raised during the review. By actively cooperating with regulators and demonstrating transparency, Illumina can demonstrate its commitment to complying with regulatory requirements.

Additionally, Illumina should engage in open dialogue with its investors to address their concerns and provide updates on the progress of the acquisition. By being transparent about the situation and actively involving stakeholders, the company can rebuild trust and foster a more positive relationship with its investors.

Illumina’s decision to proceed with the acquisition of Grail without regulatory approval has led to criticism and a battle with investors. The company has taken steps to address the situation by appointing a new CEO and signaling its commitment to resolving the dispute and obtaining the necessary approvals. By working closely with regulatory authorities and engaging in open communication with investors, Illumina aims to overcome the challenges and move forward with its expansion plans. This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of regulatory compliance and maintaining trust with stakeholders in the biotech industry.

Owner Jerry Reinsdorf Announces Immediate Departure of Executives and Plans for Future Leadership

In a significant move that underscores the ever-evolving landscape of professional sports, the Chicago White Sox have taken decisive action by parting ways with their executive vice president, Ken Williams, and general manager, Rick Hahn. The decision, announced through an official news release and social media post on Tuesday, marks a pivotal juncture for the organization’s trajectory.

Change in Leadership Unveiled: A Reflective Perspective by Owner Jerry Reinsdorf

Delving into the heart of the matter, team owner Jerry Reinsdorf provided insightful context on the departure of Williams and Hahn. In a candid statement, Reinsdorf acknowledged the timeless adage that professional sports are unequivocally results-oriented. He articulated that, despite the organization’s prior successes and the optimism surrounding their rebuilding phase, the current year has proven to be a source of profound disappointment across multiple dimensions.

Reinsdorf’s thoughtful assessment and introspection have led him to a resolute conclusion: a change in leadership within the baseball department is imperative for the organization’s future strides.

Challenges and Reflections: The White Sox’s Recent Performance

The White Sox embarked on their journey with a 49-76 record at the onset of this announcement. This statistic, along with a 16-game gap behind the leading Minnesota Twins, signifies a challenging season. Amidst these circumstances, the team hosted the Seattle Mariners on the day of the announcement, highlighting the continuous dedication to competitive spirit.

In the backdrop of a stated rebuild over the past decade, the White Sox managed to secure playoff berths in both 2020 and 2021. However, the culmination of these appearances yielded only two postseason victories during this period. A notable aspect of this narrative is the team’s ability to navigate adversity and maintain a competitive stance, even in the face of challenging circumstances.

Unveiling the Past and Present Leadership: Ken Williams and Rick Hahn’s Contributions

Ken Williams, a stalwart presence within the White Sox organization since 1992, has traversed a journey of roles and responsibilities. From his inception as a general manager to his elevation to the position of executive vice president in 2012, Williams has been an integral force behind the scenes. His stewardship was instrumental in the team’s triumph in the 2005 World Series, a landmark achievement that left an indelible mark on the franchise’s history.

Rick Hahn’s ascent to the role of general manager in 2012 ran parallel to Williams’ promotion. However, the initial years under Hahn’s leadership saw the team grappling with postseason aspirations that remained unfulfilled. This marked the catalyst for a rebuilding endeavor, which, much like the neighboring Cubs, aimed to rejuvenate the team’s dynamics and future prospects.

Struggles and the Path Forward: The White Sox’s Rebuilding Odyssey

The White Sox’s journey of rebuilding bore witness to an infusion of promising young talent. While these individual parts showcased remarkable potential, the challenge lay in synthesizing them into a harmonious lineup and cultivating a formidable defensive unit. The dynamic nature of this process led to fluctuations in managerial leadership, from Rick Renteria’s promotion in 2017 to the unexpected return of Tony La Russa from retirement in 2021.

The team’s managerial changes, coupled with shifts in performance, set the stage for introspection and transformation. The White Sox’s progression towards clinching the AL Central by a considerable margin in 2021, under La Russa’s leadership, demonstrated the team’s potential. However, subsequent seasons brought forth setbacks and hurdles, prompting the eventual retirement of La Russa due to health considerations.

Ownership’s Gratitude and a Glimpse into the Future

Against the backdrop of this transformation, Jerry Reinsdorf conveyed a profound sentiment of appreciation for both Ken Williams and Rick Hahn. Expressing the deep bond between Reinsdorf and Williams, the owner likened Williams to a family member, emphasizing the enduring nature of their relationship. He extended gratitude towards both individuals for their pivotal roles in the White Sox’s triumph during the 2005 World Series and their consistent efforts in guiding the team towards postseason accolades.

Looking ahead, the White Sox announced their intent to embark on a search for a singular decision-maker who will helm the baseball operations department. This strategic move underscores the organization’s commitment to charting a forward-looking trajectory and embracing leadership that aligns with their future ambitions. The White Sox aim to finalize this pivotal appointment by the culmination of the ongoing season, signaling an era of renewed focus and purpose.

In a landscape where results shape the narrative, the Chicago White Sox’s recent transformation highlights the dynamic interplay between leadership, performance, and the unyielding pursuit of excellence. As the organization turns its gaze toward an evolving future, the lessons from their past and the aspirations for their upcoming endeavors serve as guiding lights on the journey ahead.

Read also: Inflation update: CPI records a 3.2% increase

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In Mississippi, storm chasers and meteorologists were shocked to see a powerful tornado that had never been seen before. It caused a lot of damage where it went.

People are still looking for at least 25 people who died in the state on Sunday.

The tornado looked very big when it got to the small town of Rolling Fork. Some people said it looked like a wedge.

The National Weather Service says that the storm lasted more than an hour.

Stephanie Cox, a storm chaser from Oklahoma, told the BBC that she didn’t know how big or strong the storm would be at first. But then, she said, she heard a huge roar and a bolt of lightning lit up what she called a “monster” of a tornado.

After forming over the Mississippi River, the tornado hit western Mississippi on Friday night. The NWS says it went 59 miles (94 kilometers), was 3/4 of a mile wide, and lasted about an hour and ten minutes.

It started as a supercell, a storm with a rotating updraft and a separate downdraft. It’s caused by warm, unstable air close to the ground and wind that changes speed and direction as it rises.

The National Weather Service (NWS) says that these storms are some of the rarest and worst. However, people also know that storms with supercells can last longer than usual.

Some people, like Ms. Cox, have called it a “wedge tornado.” This is an unofficial name for tornadoes that look wider than they are long as they are coming.

Damages done by the Mississippi tornado

These types of tornadoes are known for doing a lot of damage over a large area because they are so wide.

The storm destroyed Rolling Fork’s homes and buildings, and cars and trucks were tossed around and damaged.

Samuel Emmerson, who works at the University of Oklahoma on radar research, said that the tornado threw things as high as 30,000 feet (9 km).

Mr. Perrilloux said the tornado was a four on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which means it had a three-second gust of 166 to 200 mph.

He also said that after hitting Rolling Fork, the tornado went up. It went down about 76 miles (122 km) northeast into Black Hawk, Mississippi, where it was downgraded to an EF-3. Tornadoes also hit parts of Alabama.

Another thing that made the damage in Mississippi so bad was the time of day when the storm hit.

Even though the NWS had only issued a tornado warning 20 minutes before, it hit Rolling Fork at 20:00 local time (2:00 GMT).

Studies have shown that nighttime tornadoes can kill twice as many people as daytime tornadoes. Part of this is because it’s hard to see them coming.

After the tornado hit Mississippi, people started looking for ways to help.

A tornado killed 26 people in Mississippi and Alabama on Friday night, including a baby and her father. People are being saved in both states right now.

The tornado flattened a town and destroyed homes and businesses. Now, emergency workers will have to dig through the debris left behind by the storm.

Mississippi was put into a state of emergency on Sunday.

President Joe Biden asked the federal government for help in the affected areas.

The storms continued as people from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) came to Mississippi to check out the damage.

The initial rating for the tornado on Friday is EF-4, the second-highest rating that can be given. People have called it “violent.”

Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET, the National Weather Service also issued a tornado watch for large parts of Alabama and Georgia (18:00 BST).

Broken cars, bricks, and glass are all over the streets of Rolling Fork. Almost the whole town was wiped out.

One person who lived there told the BBC that hiding in his bathtub saved his life.

Nothing seems strange when you get close to the neighborhood in the western part of Sharkey County.

The lush farmland around it hasn’t been touched, and the wind hasn’t even moved the trees.

Then, all of a sudden, you can see where the tornado hit the houses.

Not there anymore

The tornado destroyed dozens of buildings in this small town of just 2,000 people, where one in five people live in poverty.

Less than 24 hours ago, families and friends were getting ready for the weekend in homes that are now just piles of rubble.

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Frames made of wood are missing pieces. On their sides, there are washing machines, but nothing looks like it could have been a kitchen.

In the mess, some cars have been thrown around. A few toys and other things show that people just hours ago lived here.

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Many states have already curtailed abortion after Supreme Court overturned the Roe v Wade decision. This has caused many guys to reconsider how they may avoid unplanned pregnancies.

According to several health specialists, more men are inquiring about the possibility of vasectomy. For example, Dustin May from Saint Louis described his experience following the treatment and stated that males, not only women, should stand forward. Men should be actively involved in reproductive health decisions, preventing women exclusively from being exposed to risks and sacrifices.

“If she got pregnant, an abortion would be something we would consider. So this is a step to prevent that,” said May.

He admitted to having tried a variety of birth control techniques. However, they all had terrible adverse effects. May and his fiancée said they do not wish to become kids because they are still in their twenties. And vasectomy is one effective technique to avoid this. A vasectomy prevents sperm from being released from the sperm.

“Vasectomy is minor surgery to block sperm from reaching the semen that is ejaculated from the penis. Semen still exists, but it has no sperm in it. After a vasectomy, the testes still make sperm, but the body soaks them up,” said Urology Care Foundation.

“Each year, more than 500,000 men in the U.S. choose vasectomy for birth control. A vasectomy prevents pregnancy better than any other method of birth control, except abstinence,” it added.

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Discovering other ways

Many states are continuing their anti-abortion effort. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have pledged to enact further abortion restrictions. Many couples have previously contemplated getting the treatment, with vasectomy available in several health institutions. For example, the Saint Louis Planned Parenthood facility began providing free vasectomies to insured members. Otherwise, the patient will have to spend about $1,000.

“What has happened is that since Roe v. Wade was overturned, many men have realized that they perhaps have been absent in contraception, particularly in contraceptive decisions,” said Dr. Esgar Guarin, a health practitioner who performs vasectomy.

Many scientists and researchers have also investigated alternative hormonal treatments to prevent sperm from fertilizing the egg cell. And they want to make one that doesn’t have any short- or long-term adverse effects for those who use it.

“We would like to create a menu of options for men similar to what women have available to them,” said Stephanie Page from the University of Washington.

“We have worked really hard to develop methods that don’t impact those other physiologic parameters. So we don’t see any impacts on kidney function, liver function and the like,” she added.

“I hear stories about how men are tired of hearing about their partner suffering from hormonal side effects or, in some cases, complications related to IUDs or implants. And they want to do something,” said Brian Nguyen from the Keck School of Medicine.

“The male reproductive system is cool in that there are hundreds and hundreds of links in this chain, [so] that if you take out any one of them, you end up with effectively an infertile man,” contended Logan Nickels from the Male Contraceptive Initiative.

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The dangers of vasectomy

According to Guarin, vasectomy’s health hazards are modest compared to other contraceptive forms. For example, in the hands of a qualified surgeon, the procedure may take as little as 10 minutes. Furthermore, it is less dangerous than tubal ligation, which cuts or plugs the fallopian tubes in women. Again, vasectomy has a lower failure rate than any other contraceptive surgery. The apparent cost, however, is the persistence of its effects.

“They’ve been thinking about getting it for a long time, and then what’s happening in this country has motivated them that much more to get the vasectomy,” said Meera Shah, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic chief medical officer.

“If somebody is going into a vasectomy saying, ‘Oh, it can be reversed,’ then I say that they may not be a candidate for it,” added Shah.

“I kind of played the card of like, ‘Do you guys want me to have kids? Because you guys seem the most upset about this procedure, you guys should invest some money in me freezing the sperm,'” shared Collin Mack, a patient at the St. Louis Planned Parenthood clinic.

“I’m not too worried about it. I’d prefer not to have kids – I think that’s the choice that I’m going to stick with,” he adds.

“Vasectomies are usually done in your urologist’s office, but they may also be done at a surgery center or in a hospital. You and your urologist may decide if you need to be fully sedated (put to sleep) for the procedure. If you need to be sedated, you may have your vasectomy at a surgery center or hospital,” adds the Urology Care Foundation.

“The need for sedation is based on your anatomy, how nervous you are, or if you might need other surgery at the same time. You may be asked to sign a form that gives your urologist permission to do the procedure. Some states have special laws about the type of consent and when you need to sign it.”

 

 

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The Federal Reserve chooses to raise interest rates once more to combat the increasing inflation in the US.

But compared to earlier Fed-imposed rises, this one is lower. The decreased rate can indicate a slowdown in national inflation. According to recent research, consumer prices are still higher than they were a year ago. Prices increased by 7.1%, surpassing the Fed’s target rate reduction of 2%.

“It’s good to see progress, but let’s just understand we have a long ways to go to get better price stability,” added Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.

“The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.1 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.4 percent in October, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 7.1 percent before seasonal adjustment,” said the report.

“The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in November, its smallest increase since August 2021. The shelter index continued to increase, rising 0.6 percent over the month. The rent index rose 0.8 percent over the month, and the owners’ equivalent rent index rose 0.7 percent. The index for lodging away from home decreased 0.7 percent in November, after rising 4.9 percent in October,” it continued.

Read Also: Covid-19 Cases Anew Affect Beijing

Higher market prices

Americans currently suffer from the skyrocketing costs of nearly everything on the market. As interest, mortgages, and loans rise, many people pay more. However, specialists and regular people alike take heart from the recent decline in the inflation rate. For instance, gas prices decreased by 2% between October and November. For grocery costs, it’s the exact opposite, as some goods in the food market saw increases of 0.5% in November.

“I’ve never seen it like this. You can’t put lettuce on a hoagie and expect not to put an upcharge on it when you’re paying $100 for 24 heads of lettuce,” said Brian Guarino, a distributor.

“It is far too early to declare goods inflation vanquished. But if current trends continue, goods prices should begin to exert downward pressure on overall inflation in coming months,” explained Powell.

“We see goods prices coming down. We understand what will happen with housing services. But the big story will be the rest of it, and there’s not much progress there. And that’s going to take some time,” he added.

Tighter job market

The price of services has been growing over time. And the reason for this is the increased cost of labor. Due to rising market prices, workers demand greater compensation, which prompts companies to look for additional revenue streams to improve pay for their critical employees. Powell claims that the employment market is unbalanced since more jobs exist than applicants.

“The labor market remains far too hot for the Fed’s liking. So the Fed has essentially said they need to see a cooler job market to help reduce those inflationary pressures,” said Wells Fargo.

“In the labor market, demand for workers far exceeds the supply of available workers, and nominal wages have been growing at a pace well above what would be consistent with 2 percent inflation over time.3 Thus, another condition we are looking for is restoring the balance between supply and demand in the labor market,” said Powell in a press release.

“Comparing the current labor force with the Congressional Budget Office’s pre-pandemic forecast of labor force growth reveals a current labor force shortfall of roughly 3-1/2 million people,” he continued.

“Participation dropped sharply at the onset of the pandemic because of many factors, including sickness, caregiving, and fear of infection. As a result, many forecasters expected participation to move back up fairly quickly as the pandemic faded. And for workers in their prime working years, it mostly has. Overall participation, however, remains well below pre-pandemic trends.”

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Lower mortgage rates

Mortgage rates also significantly decreased, which fueled the home market’s demand. However, analysts claim that while lower mortgage rates would stimulate involvement from investors and home purchasers, the Fed may decide not to engage with the development.

“The ongoing moderation in home-price growth, along with further declines in mortgage rates, may encourage more buyers to return to the market in the coming months,” said MBA economist Joel Kan.

“A friendly enough Fed could easily break the range, but we have doubts about how much fuel the Fed will want to add to the fire. If anything, the Fed is more likely to try to temper the exuberance. Because the exuberance is counterproductive to the Fed’s goals,” added Matthew Graham, Mortgage Daily News chief operating officer.

“There are some very, very modest green shoots over the last few weeks, as rates have come down, but I am not ready to get sucked back into the conversation we had in August when we felt better,” said the CEO of Toll Brothers, Doug Yearley.

“There have been a handful of pieces of relatively good news for the housing market lately, but we’re far from out of the woods. Key indicators of homebuying demand will likely be teetering on a knife’s edge with every data release related to the Fed’s path to eventually bringing rates down,” added economist Taylor Marr from Redfin.

 

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As a result of an increase in Covid-19 instances, Beijing streets are empty, and retail centers are also deserted.

Since the country was affected by the epidemic more than two years ago, the rise in cases in Beijing is the first notable increase. Restaurants and stores, for instance, had no patrons in Sanlitun’s retail district.

Additionally, several businesses were only offering takeaway and had a small staff. In an ironic turn of events, several medical professionals relate the rise to the country’s Covid-19 policy being relaxed. The public has fiercely criticized the Covid-19 policy for several weeks.

Given the increase in Covid-19 cases, several companies are slowing down. Due to illness, some employees declined to report to work. As a result of their concern about getting Covid-19, many customers stayed at home. A source claims that Covid-19 symptoms have been detected in 21 of 24 Beijing agencies responsible for keeping an eye on residential activity.

“As our superiors are mostly infected, there’s not much work given to us. (The usual) events, lectures, performances, and parent-child activities will not be held,” said the source.

In the weeks prior, Beijing had few instances. In recent weeks, there have been unheard-of incidents, though. Since Wuhan in 2020, there haven’t been many widespread infections, but Covid-19 has a staggering amount of cases. Officials can visualize the amount of the virus’s spread using the authorities’ limited statistical data.

Additionally, unlike earlier, China reversed course on extensive, mandated Covid-19 testing in cities, which made it difficult to monitor the precise number of positive cases in various areas.

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Assessing the Covid-19 infected individuals

China’s National Health Commission stated that it was impossible to determine the exact number of people who were afflicted nationwide. As an illustration, the NHC noted that it would not include asymptomatic people in its tally. Officials discovered two thousand two hundred forty-nine symptomatic Covid-19 cases this week. 20% of these were found in the nation’s capital,

“Many asymptomatic patients no longer participate in nucleic acid testing. As a result, it is impossible to grasp the number of asymptomatic infections accurately,” said the NHC.

“It’s deeply frustrating. Businesses have to close due to sick staff, even though they can legally be open. Blame is starting to flow from companies’ [foreign] headquarters to the team on the ground in China, with HQ asking, ‘Why can’t the China operations navigate these restrictions?’ All other markets have had to adjust and did so successfully,” said Noah Fraser, a managing director based in Beijing.

“It feels quite bizarre, actually. They’ve gone from 100 to zero, it seems. However, I think people are [still] concerned about catching Covid as there are fewer people out than normal, I’ve observed,” added a resident from Guangzhou.

“Some obviously miserable. Many nursing kids/parents are at home. Our’ work at home policy is now ‘work at home if you’re well enough.’ This thing came on like a runaway freight train,” explained James Zimmerman, a lawyer in Beijing.

A protest against Covid-19 policy

The stringent Covid-19 lockdowns were the subject of protests by Chinese residents a few weeks ago. Due to this, various areas of China’s government decided to relax its lockdown policies. As a result, the citizens partially met the development with celebration. Authorities in China, however, continued to impose further limitations, which were still severe.

“I feel like everyone’s hard work is paying off,” said one protester.

“In our view, ending the pandemic [measures] as soon as possible is the key to the recovery in credit demand and economic growth,” said an analyst from Nomura.

“For China’s official institutions, there are no easy paths. Accelerating reopening plans when new Covid cases are rising is unlikely, given the low vaccination coverage of the elderly. But, on the other hand, mass protests would deeply tilt the scales in favor of an even weaker economy and likely be accompanied by a massive surge in Covid cases, leaving policymakers with a considerable dilemma,” added SPI Asset Management’s Innes.

“It appears that moving away from zero-Covid is pretty much a decentralized process in China: while some localities are easing restrictions, some allegedly still cling to zero-Covid, and still others are waiting and watching,” said Yanzhing Huang, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

“There will be no compensations, no apologies, no discovery of the truth, just moving on. What can lock us down can also easily unlock us. How terrifying is this capricious power, and when will it overturn your life again? I don’t celebrate. I just remember those brave friends with gratitude,” said a resident in a video posted on Weibo.

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A healthcare system problem

The nation’s healthcare system would be under duress due to the rise of Covid-19 sufferers being rushed to the hospital. When people have slight or light symptoms, Beijing’s government advises residents not to visit hospitals. And yet, in only six days, the flu-like symptoms have spread to nearly 19,000 hospitalized patients.

“The current strains will spread faster in China than they have spread in other parts of the world. Because those other parts of the world have some immunity against infection from previous waves of earlier Omicron strains,” said Ben Cowling, an epidemiology professor from the University of Hong Kong.

“At present, the number of newly infected people in Beijing is increasing rapidly, but most of them are asymptomatic and mild cases,” said Sun Chunlan, a top Chinese official directed to manage Covid-19 in the country.

 

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Electric buses in Boston provide a cleaner and safer way for children to travel from home to school.

It’s a usual morning in Boston as a bus traverses along the neighborhood’s streets and to a school for the children. But, while the bus is filled with the chats and giggles of young ones excited to make their way to their classrooms, the bus is quiet. And this is because it is electric-powered.

Currently, there are only around 480,000 electric school buses across the United States that are powered by a battery. A massive fraction of school buses in the country still use gasoline and have diesel engines. These have been the same engines that have been running the school buses of many schools in the US for many decades.

However, technological advancements have led to a rise in electric buses. These are more efficient and green. As a result, the US government has emphasized the importance of employing these buses. As such, the creation of these buses is guaranteed under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“It’s like a big huge go-kart. When you accelerate, you move. When you stop accelerating, you stop. And you don’t hear any sound. Driving a diesel bus is not like driving a go-kart,” said an electric bus driver.

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Replacing the usual with electric buses

Many environmental activists have since called to stop producing and using diesel and gasoline school buses. Their calls underscore the viability of electric buses for the environment and the safety of children. While some companies heeded their call, there were many problems to think about. One of them is the price of electric buses. There were relatively pricey than buses with gasoline engines.

“They’re much better, and their savings are much greater once you actually get them into the depot. But the upfront is such that, without [government] incentives, you can’t break even [in comparison to diesel buses],” said former Environmental Protection Agency official Sue Gander.

“We think for the next three or four years, as costs come down, as the scale goes up, we’ll need to have those incentives in place to make the numbers work,” she added.

“You’ve got more expensive equipment, but it operates much cheaper. [The last piece], which everyone overlooks, is that those bus batteries can send power back to the grid to meet peak demand. And that’s an energy market’s opportunity to create additional revenue,” says Duncan McIntyre, founder of Highland Fleets.

Government in support of the switch

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the US government allocates around $5 billion in subsidies for zero-emission school buses for five years. As a result, many school districts in the US reached out, intending to participate in the program. However, according to the EPA, authorities will still evaluate the school before giving a subsidy. For instance, the EPA prioritized low-income communities in the country first, giving over $1 billion for them to use.

“It’s really about supporting school districts, helping them understand where do electric buses fit into my fleet at the moment. And how do I plan for continuing to add them into my fleet as I go along?” Gander asked.

“How do I develop the infrastructure? How do I access the funding and financing that’s out there? And how do I involve the community in this process?”

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A further call to protect the environment

The effort to switch to battery-powered buses is a step of the Biden administration to lessen its emissions. In addition, the latest COP27 ended with a strong call to stop emissions, with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warning the world of the consequences of the climate crisis.

“We are in the fight of our lives, and we are losing. Greenhouse gas emissions keep growing, global temperatures keep rising, and our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible,” the secretary-general said.

“We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator. (The war Ukraine and other conflicts) caused so much bloodshed and violence and had dramatic impacts all over the world. But we cannot accept that our attention is not focused on climate change,” he added.

“To avoid that dire fate, all G-20 countries must accelerate their transition now. Developed countries must take the lead, but emerging economies are critical to bending the global emissions curve. End dependence on fossil fuels and building new coal plants — phasing out coal in OECD countries by 2030 and everywhere else by 2040.”

“The consensus is that we need to be at zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by about 2050 to avert the worst impacts of climate change,” said Ben King from the Rhodium Group.

“There is no reason to take any utility’s net-zero commitment seriously, especially if they are investing in anything that emits new CO2 or has any new emissions,” added Daniel Tait from the Energy and Policy Institute.

“The more we accelerate and keep putting greenhouse gasses into the climate now, the more we have a chance of reaching tipping points in the Earth’s system. If you start to get to these tipping points, our climate starts to change in ways that are possibly irreversible, possibly self-perpetuating,” explained Lisa Dillling, an environmental studies professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.

 

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Almost ten months after his arrest, basketball player Brittney Griner returned from Russia to the United States as part of a prisoner swap.

In the deal, the US traded Russian prisoner Viktor Bout to Brittney. The swap represented another accomplishment for US President Joe Biden before the general elections. Paul Whelan, an American detained in Russia for more than four years, remained in the country after the US failed to negotiate his release.

“She is safe. And she is on a plane. She is on her way home. She will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones. And she should have been there all along,” said Biden in a White House speech.

Biden’s administration will vigorously negotiate the Russian government’s argument, and he reassured the people. Meanwhile, Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle, spoke with President Biden to express her appreciation for the advancement in the case. Finally, Brittney will travel to a medical center in San Antonio for treatment and evaluation.

Russian authorities allegedly discovered vape cans with cannabis oil in the suitcase in February, when Griner’s case got underway. Due to drug charges, the Sheremetyevo Airport authorities in Moscow imprisoned the basketball star. Biden mediated a deal for Griner’s release with the Russian government while Russia’s conflict with Ukraine continued.

Griner staying inside a Russian prison

Griner’s imprisonment alarmed many experts. They argue the US needs to take back Griner from the Russian prison due to the risks. Crimes and abuse in Russian prisons were widespread, according to a report from the US State Department. Additionally, Griner and his safety are in danger because several authorities torture prisoners.

“Conditions in prisons and detention centers varied but were often harsh and life-threatening. Overcrowding, abuse by guards and inmates, limited access to health care, food shortages, and inadequate sanitation were common in prisons, penal colonies, and other detention facilities,” said the report.

“Russian prisons are grim, even relative to prisons in other countries. And the Putin regime has ramped up hostility towards gays and lesbians as part of its broader policy of hard-line nationalism,” added Murial Atkin, a Russian history instructor from George Washington University.

“Brittney Griner’s nine-plus year sentence is regarded as harsh and extreme by Russian legal standards. Today’s disappointing yet unsurprising appeal outcome further validates that she is being held hostage and used as a political pawn. Brittney Griner is being held by Russia simply because she is an American,” explained Linsay Colas, Griner’s agent.

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The danger of Russian prisons

Serving in a Russian jail would be highly challenging as a well-known Black homosexual woman. Rudra Sil, a professor of political science and a historian from Russia, was concerned about Griner’s existence within a forbidding institution. Sil claimed that Griner would experience harsh conditions if she remained in the Russian penal colony for an extended time.

“She’s Black. She’s gay. And this is a marijuana case. So what are the three biggest issues in the United States in terms of domestic politics? Marijuana convictions, LGBTQ issues, anti-Black racism — and the carceral system,” said Kimberly St. Julian Varnon, a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania.

“What Brittney represents is new in terms of the treatment of African Americans in Russia because she no longer has the privilege that many African Americans had,” she added.

“The Africans were seen as the little brothers who needed socialist education and needed the leadership of the Soviet Union to obtain modernity.”

“The image of suffering, particularly African American suffering, became the controlling image of Blackness in Russia. In many ways, Russia has always used anti-Black racism and Black suffering for its own gain.”

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Cases involving prisoners

Biden mentioned his efforts to release former US Marine Paul Whelan from Russian custody. After suspecting Whelan of spying, the Russian government imprisoned him. As a result, the government apprehended him and imprisoned him. According to sources in the official media, Whelan will complete a 16-year sentence.

“There was no evidence recited by the judge that justified the detention that he’s already been subjected to, which is a year and a half,” said John J. Sullivan, a US ambassador to Russia.

“Russia failed to provide Mr. Whelan with a fair hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal. And during his detention has put his life at risk by ignoring his long-standing medical condition. And unconscionably kept him isolated from family and friends,” said Mike Pompeo.

“We had hoped that the court might show some independence. But in the end, Russian judges are political, not legal, entities. So we look to the US government to immediately take steps to bring Paul home,” said David Whelan, Paul’s brother.

Atkin claimed that although prison life in Russia was dangerous, things eventually improved. According to the Penal Reform Organization, Russia has reportedly been implementing practical reforms within its prisons.”

“Russia has been undergoing a process of reform of the criminal justice system over the last 20 years, but there is still far too little consideration given to the promotion of gender equality and protection of the rights of women and girls in conflict with the law,” said the report.

 

…

Critics and environmental organizations slam the UK government for approving the coal mine operation in Northwest England.

West Cumbria Mining will lead the operations. According to the company’s statement, the decision lifted their mood. They added the government’s approval would open over 500 jobs for the locals. Moreover, the coal mine would supply high-quality coal products for the country’s steel industry. However,  the UK benefitted from coal mining for many years. But the decision confused many critics since the government promised to reach its climate goals.

“The Secretary of State recognizes the views of many objectors to the scheme that the use of offsetting is contrary to the attainment of a net zero model. However, it is acknowledged as a valid approach by the CCC to achieving net zero in the sixth carbon budget,” explained the government.

“I’ve been inundated with messages from across my community tonight. And we’ve got a community in the celebration about one of the biggest positive economic impacts on our area in a generation. This is fantastic news for West Cumbria and our community,” said Mike Starkie, a mayor of Cumbria.

“Phasing out coal use is the clearest requirement of the global effort towards Net Zero,” said Lord Deben, the chairman of the Climate Chance Committee.

“We condemn, therefore, the Secretary of State’s decision to consent a new deep coal mine in Cumbria, contrary to our previous advice,” he added.

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The UK disregarded the advice

In a former letter sent to the UK government, Deben outlined several pieces of advise to cancel the coal mine operation in Cumbria. He added that the Cumbria plant would not benefit the country. One, because it will increase emissions. And two, the plant will supply more than 80% of its coal to other countries.

“The opening of a new deep coking coal mine in Cumbria will increase global emission. And it will have an appreciable impact on the UK’s legally binding carbon budgets. The mine will increase UK emissions by 0.4Mt CO2e per year. This is greater than the level of annual emissions we have projected from all open UK coal mines to 2050,” explained Deben in the letter.

“It is for Ministers to decide how the effort to reach Net Zero should be allocated across the economy. But it is also important to note that this decision gives a negative impression of the UK’s climate priorities in the year of COP26,” it added.

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More criticisms

The UK government faces criticism from the CCC and other organizations. For instance, Friends of the Earth organization campaigner Tony Bosworth said he disagrees with the government’s decision. Meanwhile, Policy Director of Greenpeace UK Doug Parr echoed the same sentiment.

“[The mine would] do nothing for the UK’s energy security since the coal it contains can only be used for steelmaking, not generating power, and more than 80% of it is earmarked for sale in Europe anyway,” Parr said.

“There’s a technological revolution building in steelmaking. But this approach could make the UK a backwater in the 21st-century clean tech race,” he added.

“Approving this mine is a misguided and deeply damaging mistake that flies in the face of all the evidence. The mine will add to global climate emissions, and won’t replace Russian coal,” Bosworth said.

 

…

The Australian environment minister said she would submit a request against UNESCO’s decision to put the Great Barrier Reef on the list of threatened World Heritage sites.

The official said that the Great Barrier Reef is being preserved and protected to the extent of Australia’s capacity. Additionally, UNESCO should rebut government accusations of environmental site neglect. The government must, however, take “ambitious, rapid, and sustained” climate action, according to representatives of the UN Cultural Agency and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Great Barrier Reef will collapse if this does not happen.

“We’ll very clearly make the point to UNESCO that there is no need to single the Great Barrier Reef out in this way,” said Tanya Plibersk, the environment minister.

“The reason that UNESCO in the past has singled out a place as at risk is that they wanted to see greater government investment or greater government action and, since the change of government, both of those things have happened,” she added.

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The Australian government will safeguard the site

According to Plibersek, the Australian government has already started taking action to safeguard the reefs. The nation’s lawmakers enacted a measure that cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 43%. Additionally, she stated that the Australian government would set aside $798 million, or 1.2 billion Australian dollars, to protect the reef. Plibersek worked to scrap the two dams the previous administration intended to build in Queensland. The development would have been harmful to marine ecology and corals.

“If the Great Barrier Reef is in danger, then every coral reef in the world is in danger. If this World Heritage site is in danger, then most World Heritage sites around the world are in danger from climate change,” Plibersek added.

According to the study, a better set of climate targets was stressed by the Australian federal government. The government must aggressively curtail Australian emissions to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, per the global norm. Jodie Rummer, a marine scientist at James Cook University, agreed that the government needed loftier objectives.

“We are taking action, but that action needs to be much more rapid and much more urgent,” she attested.

“We cannot claim to be doing all we can for the reef at this point. And we aren’t. So we need to be sending that message to the rest of the world that we are doing everything that we possibly can for the reef, and that means we need to take urgent action on emissions immediately,” she added.

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Making the decision

To make a decision, UNESCO will still convene. The previous Australian administration’s prevented UNESCO from labeling the reef as “in danger.” This is what Plibersek hopes to accomplish this time.  Scientists claim that coral bleaching afflicted over 90% of the Great Barrier Reef. In 2016, 2017, and 2020, the coral bleaching destroyed two-thirds of the site.

10% of the corals on the planet are present in the Great Barrier Reef. More than 2,500 reef habitats may be found there, spread across a region of about 348,000 square miles. But over time, the Pacific Ocean’s extreme warming harmed the reefs, causing widespread coral bleaching. The environment minister did, however, reaffirm that her administration will use all of its resources to restore the nation’s coral reefs.

 

…

An armed man entered an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado and started firing into the crowd, leading to the death of five people.

The gunman,  Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, faces several offenses, including five counts of first-degree murder and five counts of bias-motivated crime. Following an emergency call, the police managed to catch the culprit at midnight. The inquiry is still underway, according to Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez. Despite efforts at interrogation, the suspect declined to give a statement.

“I haven’t heard that he has not been cooperative, just simply that he has determined not to speak to investigators,” said Vazquez.

The police said the shooter was equipped with two weapons: a pistol and a long rifle. The man pulls out a long gun and starts shooting at the crowd. The location of the suspect’s gun purchase is still unknown to the authorities. Owner of the Colorado club Matthew Haynes claimed to have seen the gunman enter the building with “tremendous firepower.” Around 11:56 PM, onlookers contacted 911 to report the incident; a minute later, the police showed up, and they took the culprit under their custody.

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The savior of the incident in Colorado

However, the army veteran who stood up for the tavern’s patrons was honored by the police. Rich Fierro was the first to react at the scene of the crime and put an end to the shooter’s rage. He said in an interview that he controlled the situation because of his quick reflexes. However, he claimed that the need to defend his family and others around him ultimately drove him to face the armed man.

“It’s the reflex. Go! Go to the fire. Stop the action. Stop the activity. Don’t let anyone get hurt. I tried to bring everybody back. There were five people that I could not help. And one of which was family to me. I’m going to see that guy in court. And that guy’s going to see who did him,” he said.

“At least two heroic people inside the club confronted and fought with the suspect and were able to stop the suspect. We owe them a great debt of thanks. I have never encountered a person who had engaged in such heroic actions and who was so humble about it. He said to me, ‘I was trying to protect my family,” said Vasquez.

“He saved dozens and dozens of lives. Stopped the man cold. Everyone else was running away, and he ran toward him,” recounted the shop owner.

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The bar’s significance

The victims’ families, friends, and relatives gathered in the area shortly after the catastrophe. Given what occurred and the location of the incident, the resultant atmosphere was grim. The Colorado gay club gave the LGBTQ community a space to express themselves and a sense of freedom. It also allowed heterosexual people to witness the joy of socializing with the LGBTQ Community. Unfortunately, sorrow and anxiety now replaced freedom and enjoyment.

“In a world that can be so dark and so angry, it’s that one place that feels like home. We’re able to unwind and forget about our troubles with work, family, and society. Because of Club Q, we’re able to make friends that turn into family and be accepted for our true selves,” said Jewels Park.

“The LGBTQIA+ community has undergone so much bigotry and hatred already. To have our safe place ripped from us and to lose members of our community is a whole other type of hurt,” she added.

 

 

…

At the 50th American Music Awards on Sunday at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Taylor Swift made another unprecedented career streak.

Producing the program was a joint effort between ABC and Dick Clark Productions. Wayne Brady presided over the show. The American Music Awards have recognized and honored the top musical and theatrical performances for the past 50 years. The night’s top nomination recipient was Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny, who received eight nominations overall. His victories included Favorite Male Latin Artist and Favorite Latin Album.

Taylor, though, went down in history as the AMA’s most honored Artist. With 40 victories throughout her career, she is now the Artist with the most accolades from the organization. She won all her nominations during the 50th awards ceremony, including the Artist of the Year honor, which is the most coveted AMA award.

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Taylor thanking her fans

When the musician accepted her trophy on stage, she thanked her supporters. She claims that the support of her followers worldwide gives her the drive and inspiration to keep creating music that stirs emotions.

“In the past few years, I have released more music than I did in the decade preceding that. And I feel like that’s down to the fact that you, the fans, made it clear that you wanted to hear lots of music. I found that the more music I made [and] the more music I put out, the happier I was,” she said.

“I have the fans to thank, essentially, for my happiness. So I love you more than I can say. And I cannot express how unbelievable it is that I get to do this and that you still care. So, thank you, underlined with 13 exclamation points.”

Her legendary AMA run comes on the heels of the recent triumph of her Midnights album. Taylor’s album helped it become the Spotify song with the most streams. She also won every Top 10 position on the Billboard list, making her the only Artist to do it with tracks from a single album.

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Below are the other roll of winners at the AMA:

Artist of the year

Taylor Swift

New artist of the year

Dove Cameron

Collaboration of the year

Elton John & Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart – PNAU Remix”

Favorite male pop artist

Harry Styles

Favorite female pop artist

Taylor Swift

Favorite pop duo or group

BTS

Favorite pop album

Taylor Swift, “Red (Taylor’s Version)”

Favorite pop song

Harry Styles, “As It Was”

Favorite music video

Taylor Swift, “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)”

Favorite male country artist

Morgan Wallen

Favorite female country artist

Taylor Swift

Favorite country group or duo

Dan & Shay

Favorite male hip-hop artist

Kendrick Lamar

Favorite female hip-hop artist

Nicki Minaj

Favorite hip-hop song

Future ft. Drake & Tems, “Wait For U”

Favorite male R&B artist

Chris Brown

Favorite female R&B artist

Beyoncé

Favorite rock artist

Machine Gun Kelly

Favorite rock song

Måneskin, “Beggin’

Favorite male Latin artist

Bad Bunny

Favorite female Latin artist

Anitta

Favorite Afrobeats Artist

Wizkid

Favorite K-pop artist

BTS

Other non-televised Favorite winners:

Dance/electronic artist: Marshmello

Gospel artist: Tamela Mann

Inspirational artist: for KING & COUNTRY

Latin duo or group: Yahritza Y Su Esencia

Touring artist: Coldplay

Country album: Taylor Swift “Red (Taylor’s Version)”

Hip-hop album: Kendrick Lamar “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”

Latin album: Bad Bunny “Un Verano Sin Ti”

R&B album: Beyoncé “Renaissance”

Rock album: Ghost “Impera”

Soundtrack: “ELVIS”

Country song: Morgan Wallen “Wasted On You”

Latin song: Sebastián Yatra “Dos Oruguit

…

As the holiday season draws near, New York weather bureaus monitor a rare thundersnow unfolding over Western New York.

Weather experts now refer to it as ‘thundersnow.’ It is fully liable for much of the heavy snowfall that has gone down in several parts of New York over the past few days. Experts estimate that the ‘snowy thunderstorm’ will bury several areas of the region in snow. They also included thunderstorms, which are prevalent in the spring and summer. However, they are rarely observed in the winter. However, New Yorkers can expect cooler weather and more snow than usual with its emergence.

“Two intense plumes of lake effect snow with snowfall rates of at least 3 inches per hour will continue northeast of [Lake Erie and Lake Ontario] through tonight. In addition, periodic thundersnow will remain possible near the lakes through tonight, as well as areas of blowing snow with winds gusting to 35 mph,” said the National Weather Service office in Buffalo after almost 3 feet of snow buried Orchard Park in New York.

“Wind direction is a key component in determining which areas will receive lake-effect snow. For example, heavy snow may be falling in one location, while the sun may be shining just a mile or two away in either direction,” the weather service added.

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New York will receive more snow

The National Weather Service has posted a list of overall snowfall in New York over the previous 48 hours:

• Orchard Park, NY: 42.5″
• Hamburg, NY: 37″
• Blasdell: 31.0″
• Wales: 26.3″
• Angola: 22.0″
• South Buffalo: 19.5″
• Buffalo Airport, NY: 12.9″

As more snow falls, district officials urge citizens to remain calm. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said his government is prepared for the effects of heavy snowfall in the area. According to the mayor, Western Buffalo has already received nearly 20 inches of snow. So he advised residents to stay at home and avoid driving to avoid accidents.

“After consulting with @MayorByronBrown, a TRAVEL BAN is being reinstituted for the City of Buffalo from William Street downtown to the Town of Cheektowaga line and everything south. Please do not drive in or into this area. Conditions have deteriorated very quickly,” tweeted Erie Country Executive Mark Poloncarz.

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Postponement and cancellations

As more snow fell on Buffalo, many agencies and organizations confirmed cancelations or postponement of their scheduled events. Some examples are as follows:

• Travel advisories announced a ban on commercial traffics on several roads across the region, with some bans replaced by authorities on Friday.
• Buffalo Niagara International Airport canceled many flights in and out of the state as inches of snow fell on the ports.
• The Buffalo Bills will not meet the Cleveland Browns near the state. Instead, the NFL will move the Sunday match to Detroit.
• Public schools in Buffalo announce the cancellation of classes across all grade levels. The administration also dismissed remote instruction to help families brace against the heavy snowfall.

 

…

As each home prepares for an expensive holiday like Thanksgiving, inflation stresses many American households, especially this year.

In the US, Thanksgiving marks a historical remembrance celebrated by many households. Several meals, most notably turkey, are prepared in many homes that host the event. But compared to the previous year, the cost of wholesale turkey increased by 23%. So, purchasing a turkey necessitates allocating a considerable portion of the holiday spending budget. A price rise was also seen for potatoes and cranberries.

Many factors cause price increases for many marketable commodities, like climate change, declining labor, and rising energy prices. These, in turn, impact crop harvesting and animal health, and as a result, the cost of groceries has grown 12.4% since last year, according to the Labor Department.

As of right now, the US inflation rate is 7.7%. Given the pace of price rises, the head economist at Wells Fargo, Michael Swanson, forecasts that households will reduce their Thanksgiving spending. Swanson said that many customers would shop at supermarkets with lower costs for their groceries. Only a select handful, he claims, will make significant food purchases for the holidays.

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Traveling for Thanksgiving

For family members who want to fly to visit their distant relatives for Thanksgiving, the process isn’t becoming any smoother. Over the past month, airline prices have increased dramatically. In October, airfares increased 43% over the previous year, according to data. Nevertheless, despite the rise, many people still opt to purchase holiday travel plans. For instance, three of the biggest airline firms in the US anticipate fully booked flights throughout the holiday season despite sharply increased ticket rates.

“We are seeing a lot of strength for the holidays or approaching the Thanksgiving period, and our bookings are incredibly strong. However, the bookings are a little bit different this year, and they’re more spread out across multiple days than they were on any single day,” said Andrew Nocella, the chief commercial officer of United Airlines.

“Travelers are resilient. Thanksgiving and Christmas travel to see the family is considered essential by many, and something they won’t compromise on, even when there are higher prices,” said Haley Berg, a lead economist from Hopper, a traveling app.

“Keep in mind that in November and December of last year, we had the delta and omicron waves of COVID, which caused mass cancellations and many travelers to change their plans at the last minute. There’s been a relief on the supply side. Car rental companies [have been] bulking up the number of cars they have available,” she added.

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Post-holiday debt problems

Many people use various financial methods to cover their holiday costs. While others use credit cards, some people pay for their expenses out of savings. Ted Rossman, however, anticipates that after the holidays, consumers will accumulate unpaid debt, particularly in light of the Federal Reserve’s recent rate increases, which have been more rapid than in any year over the previous ten years.

“The most important point for consumers is: your [credit card interest] rate is way up. It’s probably going to go up more. So it’s more important than ever to pay down this debt. I think there’s going to be a lot of post-holiday debt hangovers. A lot of sticker shock in January, unfortunately,” added Rossman.

 

…

Russia declared that it would continue to participate in the Black Sea Grain export agreement, sending a positive message to nations.

The Russian government claims that Putin decided to reopen the negotiations because Ukraine pledged not to militarize the maritime agreement. The export of grains is essential for the global community. Numerous nations rely heavily on Russian and Ukrainian grain exports. A third of the world’s grain supply is made up of the exports of the two countries combined. Therefore, experts predicted prices would soar as soon as Russia announced it would no longer support the deal.

“Taking into account the act of terrorism committed by the Kyiv regime with the participation of British experts on October 29 this year against the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civil vessels involved in the security of the ‘grain corridor,’ the Russian side suspends its participation in the implementation of the agreements on the export of agricultural products from the Ukrainian ports,” the Russian defense ministry said a while back.

Nevertheless, after being pressed for days by the international community, Russia bowed to continue to support the agreement. The nations initially drafted the agreement to address global food shortages and cap the price of wheat and rice.

“Thanks to the participation of an international organization, as well as the assistance of Turkey, it was possible to obtain the necessary written guarantees from Ukraine on the non-use of the humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports designated for the export of agricultural products for conducting military operations against the Russian Federation,” the Russian defense said in a statement.

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To pressure Russia

Following Russia’s withdrawal from the agreement, the United Nations directly appealed to Russia. But, unfortunately, the country’s decreased exports will cause yet another global catastrophe.

“We’ve seen the reports from the Russian Federation regarding the suspension of their participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative following an attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. We are in touch with the Russian authorities on this matter,” announced UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia had discussions aimed at reviving the export agreement. Numerous nations hoped for a solution, and the efforts successfully produced outcomes.

“The Ukrainian side officially assured that the maritime humanitarian corridor will be used only in accordance with the provisions of the Black Sea Initiative,” the Russian Defense Ministry added.

“The Russian Federation considers that the guarantees received at the moment seem sufficient and resumes the implementation of the agreement – the Initiative for the safe transportation of grain and food from the ports of Ukraine (the “Black Sea Initiative”), suspended after the terrorist attack in Sevastopol.”

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‘Blackmailing’ the country

Mykhailo Podolyak, a presidential adviser, addressed the concerns about Russia’s continued participation in the agreement. According to him, the country resumed the grain export agreement because they had another goal in mind. And not because the Russian government caved into the “blackmail” attempts against them.

“One way or another, Russia, embarrassed, returned to the grain initiative. Because it suddenly turned out that the grain corridor would work. And even without the Kremlin’s participation. This says only one thing: Russia is always inferior to those who are stronger, those who know how to take a blow, those who argue their position strongly,” he said.

 

…

The Covid-19 epidemic is coming to an end, as per reports of the international community. The omicron variety, however, never stops evolving.

The World Health Organization named new Covid-19 variations based on the degree of harm an infection may bring to a person. However, until it significantly affects humans, the WHO has yet to give the newest omicron form of Covid-19 a name.

Many in the scientific community now dispute if the development of the Covid-19 variety begun to slow down. Others might respond in the affirmative. Biologists, virologists, and immunologists disagree, nevertheless.

“SARS-CoV-2 is continuing to evolve extremely rapidly. There’s no evidence that the evolution is slowing down,” said a biologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Trevor Bedford.

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The omicron form of the virus

Since the virus first infected the world three years ago, scientists designated several varieties. This comprises, among others, alpha, beta, and gamma versions. The omicron variant, however, dwarfs the potential of the aforementioned Covid-19 forms to evolve. Therefore, scientists examined the virus’s more virulent variant and found that it doesn’t appear to be waning. In reality, the omicron split into several subvariants, albeit the effects for this are yet unknown.

“The children of omicron — so the many direct children and cousins within the diverse omicron family. Those that displaced each other. But that same family (dominates other variants),” explained Emma Hodcroft, an epidemiologist from the University of Bern.

“We seem to be seeing evidence of widescale convergent evolution for the first time. We have what people are calling a swarm of omicron viruses, which have different ancestries within omicron, but which have the same set of mutations,” added Manon Ragonnet-Cronin of the University of Chicago.

The ability of the variation to surpass the protection that people acquired from their vaccinations provides a worse situation for global communities.

“When you see convergence in evolution, that’s evolution’s way of saying, ‘this mutation is repeatedly getting selected over and over again because it’s really helpful,'” said Jesse Bloom, a biologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

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A good outlook

Experts anticipate the omicron variant’s continuous evolution to have a better outcome. They hypothesize that omicron may develop into the typical flu over time. And its effects not making it any more deadly than it is now.

“The fact that we’ve perhaps stepped out of a phase [in the pandemic] where we’re getting completely new viruses from different parts of the tree sweeping in and dominating might be a sign that we’re moving towards a more kind of stable future for the virus,” Hodcroft added.

However, scientists keep a close eye on everything because viruses are unpredictable. For instance, specialists are still trying to predict if a brand-new, deadlier version would develop from the ones we now have.

“We are dealing with a completely novel virus here. And we don’t know how many other paths this particular virus might have. We don’t know at this stage,” said Kristian Andersen from Scripps Research.

“I guarantee you that there are people who have been persistently infected with delta and alpha who have some weird combinations of mutations. And I’m fully prepared for a delta-based or alpha-based omicron-like event where one of those zombie viruses that’s been cooking away within someone emerges,” concluded Michael Worobey of the University of Arizona.

 

…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guaranteed Covid vaccinations for uninsured children.

The CDC initiated the step when vaccine manufacturers intended to commercialize Covid vaccinations. According to the health department, they plan to administer vaccines to uninsured youngsters for free as a precaution so that Covid will no longer claim lives, as it has done in recent years.

The United States Federal Government created the Vaccines for Children initiative. And as part of the scheme, the CDC declared that children without insurance would receive the vaccination for free.

The CDC and the government’s initiative

The US government set up Vaccinations for Children to assist low-income families in obtaining Covid-19 vaccines. The CDC program hands out vaccines to children under the age of 19, with qualified beneficiaries including uninsured children, underinsured persons, Native Americans, and those on Medicaid.

During the pandemic, the Biden administration provided free Covid vaccinations. However, now that the conditions have improved, Biden seeks to commercialize the vaccinations. Unfortunately, this entails that individuals must pay for the vaccination starting in 2023.

The CDC, on the other hand, regards the change as regressive to low-income families. As a result, the CDC announced many healthcare grants to qualifying persons to provide free immunizations. Children as young as six months old receive immunizations from Moderna and Pfizer. Furthermore, the organization vows to give immunizations targeting the newer Omicron version to eligible children.

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Affecting many people

According to the CDC, the final removal of the Covid emergency programs resulted in vaccination inaccessibility for children. Many would suffer, for example, if Biden repeals the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which is in operation during the pandemic. As a result, the CDC’s new initiative favors the poor by allowing the vulnerable and those without finances to continue receiving the vaccination.

“This is an access issue. This is an issue to allow children that don’t have insurance to gain access to this vaccine,” said Dr. Jose Romero, the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases director.

According to CDC data, nearly 162,000 children under 18 have already been hospitalized due to COVID-19 since August 2020. Even though the effects are less extreme than in adults, the CDC stated that increasing children’s access to vaccinations is crucial to help the nation reduce further fatalities.

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Removing Covid emergency programs

The possibility of the health programs being repealed during the pandemic prompted alarm among health authorities. According to agencies, they expect the withdrawal to affect around 15 million people.

“We’re in the third year of the pandemic. We’ve gone through hell. And we’ve sacrificed. We’ve used all kinds of emergency powers. So if you’re going to end all that, you have to end it transparently, honestly, with the American public about what they gain and what they lose,” said Lawrence Gostin from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

“It could affect emergency use authorization, where you couldn’t give these EUAs, so the FDA would have to approve the drug fully. So it could have enormous knock-on effects that need to be carefully thought through,” he added.

 

…

Time Out enables you to finish your journey by learning about the hidden gems of a location. So, tourists often seek to learn more about the local way of life.

There is something about getting to know a town outside the popular attractions and eateries that captures a culture in its purest state.

Firstly, It may be a hidden pub only locals know about or a café serving a beverage you’ve never tried before. On the other side, it may be a restaurant serving regional dishes unavailable at the hotels you are presently staying at.

Time Out lists the places. Additionally, Time Out publishes an annual list of hidden treasures in various locations. The media company argues that since they better represent the local culture than the general tourist packages, tourists should pay greater attention to the local scene.

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Time Out and its top spots

Colonia Americana heads the list of hippest neighborhoods. The crowded and bustling site is located in western Mexico’s Guadalajara City. However, the media brand said Colonia Americana won the prize because of its ideal fusion of its old houses, indigenous art, music, and scenery.

“Guadalajara is just emerging as a must-visit — and Colonia Americana is the place to be right now. It’s home to a boundary-pushing creative community, a growing number of amazing places to eat, and some of the best nightlife in the western hemisphere. And the street life is unbeatable,” said James Manning, the Travel Editor of Time Out.

The long list of spots

Time Out interviews people from around the world, including residents and visitors. The organization starts by asking the respondents about their preferred locations close to or inside their locale. Time Out tallies the top spot after compiling all replies, frequently producing a list of more than 50 sites. The number of slots is then reduced to 20, then to 10. The top 50 locations are all the greatest to visit, according to Time Out. The greatest of the best, nevertheless, may be found in the top ten slots.

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Here are the Top 25  coolest neighborhoods:

1. Colonia Americana – Guadalajara, Mexico
2. Cais do Sodré – Lisbon, Portugal
3. Wat Bo Village – Siem Reap, Cambodia
4. Ridgewood – New York City, USA
5. Mile End – Montreal, Canada
6. Barrio Logan – San Diego, USA
7. Shimokitazawa – Tokyo, Japan
8. Cliftonville – Margate, UK
9. Barrio Yungay – Santiago, Chile
10. Cours Julien – Marseille, France
11. Shawlands – Glasglow, UK
12. Dundas West – Toronto, Canada
13. Vila Madalena – Sao Paulo, Brazil
14. San Isidro – Havana, Cuba
15. Neukolln – Berlin, Germany
16. Avondale – Chicago, USA
17. Walthamstow – London, UK
18. Sants – Barcelona, Spain
19. Little India – Singapore
20. Rione Sanita – Naples, Italy
21. Silver Lake – Los Angeles, USA
22. Wan Chai – Hong Kong
23. Barrio de las Letras – Madrid, Spain
24. Vesterbro – Copenhagen, Denmark
25. West End – Vancouver, Canada

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Source: CNN

…

In the East African country, an Ebola epidemic is causing widespread panic. The World Health Organization is already monitoring the situation in order to prevent the deadly virus from spreading to other African countries.

However, the WHO is appealing to the international community for assistance as Ebola cases continue to be reported in the region.

In East Africa’s five districts, the health agency has now documented 74 confirmed cases of the Ebola virus. 39 of the 74 individuals died as a result of the illness, while 14 recovered. The WHO is confident that with adequate interventions and international support, they will be able to block Ebola before it spreads further throughout the country and beyond. Furthermore, the WHO is monitoring around 660 people who might have been infected with Ebola.

 “Our primary focus now is to support the government Uganda now to rapidly control and contain this outbreak, to stop it from spreading to neighboring districts and neighboring countries,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

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Most cases recorded in Uganda

The Ebola virus was discovered in Uganda in late September when a villager began to develop various symptoms and was proven positive for the infection by health officials. The viral strain is known as Sudan ebolavirus, and there are currently no certified or licensed vaccines or therapies for it.

Ebola is not transmitted over the air, according to the WHO. People catch the illness instead when they come into touch with someone who has been infected with it or has died from it. In addition, Ebola spreads when a person comes into contact with infected items or materials.

Furthermore, health professionals warned that Ebola would not be able to spread until its symptoms appeared, which usually takes 2 to 21 days. Infected people in Uganda’s Ebola outbreak currently display symptoms of the virus for 8 to 10 days on average.

The US takes precautions

Meanwhile, the US government has instructed visitors and residents who have visited Uganda to contact the hospital promptly for testing and monitoring. Furthermore, several airports now demand medical exams before allowing a person to enter the nation. This covers New York, Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Washington Dulles, and Newark airports.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are also working with airlines to conduct the testing, and airlines are making trip information readily available to the health agency as a precaution. According to a federal health official, the database is also being used by state and local health authorities. The US wants to make certain that no stone is left unturned, as Ebola is infectious and might pose a new concern in a post-Covid economy.

Fortunately, there have been no verified Ebola cases in years. The latest Ebola case in the United States was discovered in 2014 following a trip to West Africa. The sickness killed the Dallas native, infecting two other healthcare personnel, both of whom have since recovered.

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Symptoms

According to the CDC website, symptoms of Ebola include:

• Fever
• Aches and pains, such as severe headache and muscle and joint pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Sore throat
• Loss of appetite
• Gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting
• Unexplained hemorrhaging, bleeding or bruising
• Other symptoms may include red eyes, skin rash, and hiccups (late-stage)

 

…

Hurricane Ian caused enormous devastation, and numerous U.S. regions continued to experience its impacts for weeks and months. Florida will probably be impacted, given the state took the brunt of the hurricane’s destruction.

According to analysts, employees could be pushed to leave their positions, especially those who would apply for unemployment benefits. The local economy would suffer if this occurred and would only make a gradual recovery.

While estimations far exceed those of prior Florida records, the full amount of Ian’s devastation has not yet been determined. It will be the most expensive storm damage in Florida history, though, if the current forecasts are accurate and continue to rise.

Damage estimates from RMS, a company that models disasters, ranging from $53 billion to $74 billion.

According to Action Economics’ Minke Englund, who compared the situation in Florida to what occurred in Texas after Hurricane Harvey, when almost 50,000 Texans lost their jobs, joblessness is unavoidable.

“Certainly, there’s going to be some short-term displacement, but it’s hard to predict exactly what that will look like in the Florida context or in the Southeast more generally. Particularly in coastal communities and within tourism, how long those effects persist depends on the sector’s ability to rebuild,” said Lynn Karoly from the RAND Corporation.

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Low-income individuals suffer the most

Due to access to insurance, catastrophe funds, cash flows, and taking on debt to rebuild their buildings and resume operations, larger businesses will generally do better in terms of recovering from a disaster.

However, employees will face more difficulties, particularly low-wage ones.

“The resilience factor could be lower among the lower-wage workforce, and even their employers may also be rethinking about how they staff the positions that they need to fill,” Karoly added.

Before Ian struck, Florida already had a competitive market. However, workers will find it more challenging to adapt to the market under changing circumstances.

According to Dave Gilbertson, vice president of the technology firm UKG, parts of Florida that have been severely affected have already had a 50% reduction in workforce activity, which means a loss of economic activity and money for workers.

“It’s pretty uncommon to see a nearly 50% decline. This is a deeper disaster than we’ve seen over the past couple of years. They’re losing so much personally, but they’re also losing the ability to work and support their family. A lot of hourly workers are living paycheck-to-paycheck [and] dealing with rising inflation by pulling down their savings and utilizing more credit cards. The ability to withstand any kind of disruption is minimal,” Gilbertson said.

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A similarity with Hurricane Katrina

Economists are contrasting the current situation with what happened after Hurricane Katrina. However, they also concluded that there could be some similarities between the issues raised by Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath and those raised by Ian.

“There will be a significant slowdown in the job openings in the state, [but] it’s a very strong economy, and hurricanes are not new to them,” said an economist at ZipRecruiter.

“Hurricanes have differing economic effects, depending on whether the area is one that people are moving into or out of. Hurricane recoveries tend to accelerate whatever economic transitions might have been underway when the storm hit, leaving a building surge in growing areas but economic blight in contracting areas,” added Englund.

 

…

One of those honored with the Nobel Prize in economics is Ben Bernanke, the former head of the US Federal Reserve. Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig are also awarded together with Bernanke.

The three Nobel prize recipients were recognized for their contributions to economics, notably in managing financial crises.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences claims that economists were honored for their critical works from the 1980s.

According to the academy, the three people were crucial in determining whether a bank is important, which also said that effective bank administration might lessen economic downturns and avert financial meltdowns.

The economists’ work

Bernanke conducted a study on the Depression. He was able to win the Nobel Prize as a result of this. In addition, using his knowledge, Bernanke was able to manage the 2008 global financial crisis.

“People had seen that banks fail, but it was more thought [of] as a consequence of the crisis rather than [a] cause of the crisis,” said the Nobel Committee, John Hassler.

“Now the views of Bernanke have become the conventional wisdom.”

Meanwhile, Diamond and Dyvbig received awards for strengthening the bond between the bank, the borrowers, and the savers. The two contend that these organizations’ objectives are linked together.

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For instance, savers want to keep a cash reserve in case of an emergency, whereas borrowers want to access funds but wish to pay the amount in installments.

Therefore, lenders should be in good standing, according to Diamond and Dyvbig, as this might damage their transactions.

In a news conference, Diamond underlined that the United Kingdom’s markets would be unstable due to the increase in interest rates.

However, he thinks that UK professionals and economists are sufficiently aware of the lessons learned from the 2008 market meltdown.

“Recent memories of that crisis and improvements in regulatory policies around the world have left the system much, much less vulnerable,” he said.

What Bernanke did

Looking more closely at Bernanke’s accomplishments, he previously chaired the Fed from 2006 to 2014. He successfully stopped the repercussions that hurt the US economy when he was in charge of the agency.

In his capacity as chair, Bernanke also started a program to buy assets that would support economic growth. He also improved communication between the public and the central bank.

Bernanke thought that disclosing the intentions and strategies of the central bank to the public may benefit both parties in managing their finances. These tactics are now the guidelines established by the Feds.

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“There’s a lot of question on … the legal ways the US regulators could have resolved Lehman, and some claim it was essentially impossible for them to do it. But had they found a way I think the world would have had less of a severe crisis than it did,” Diamond added.

The Nobel Prize, also known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, is given to those whose achievements in their particular professions have had a significant impact on society and the globe.

A monetary reward of 10 million Swedish kronor, or $885,370, is also included. The three will each receive an equal share of the prize.

 

…

The National Women’s Soccer League is in a bind following an investigation that uncovered sexual coercion, verbal abuse, and sexual misbehavior by various league coaches.

The study also highlights the league’s officials’ apathy despite years of complaints from players.

The report was put together by former US Attorney General Sally Q. Yates. Following criticism from The Athletic and The Washington Post, the league decided to request that Yates undertake a more comprehensive inspection of soccer players’ charges.

We can formulate significant ideas from Yate’s report after rigorous inspection and analysis of the cases.

The issue is systemic

Yates was mainly influenced by the actions of the NWSL’s coaches, Rory Dames, Christy Holly, and Paul Riley. However, the US Soccer Federation, teams, and the league and their absence of responsibility also had a role in persisting abuses.

The study, however, did not simply tackle the individual crimes perpetrated by the parties; it also linked and addressed the matter to the more extensive systematic abuse against women.

“Our investigation has revealed a league in which abuse and misconduct—verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct—had become systemic, spanning multiple teams, coaches, and victims,” added the report.

“Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women’s soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players.”

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Still accepted despite being found guilty

While some teams terminated their coaches after being caught, others continued to welcome them. This simply indicates that the penalties for the atrocities they committed had no impact on their careers.

“[A]busive coaches moved from team to team, laundered by press releases thanking them for their service, and positive references from teams that minimized or even concealed misconduct.”

“Those at the NWSL and USSF in a position to correct the record stayed silent. And no one at the teams, the League, or the Federation demanded better of coaches.”

Stakeholders did not participate

Yates tried to connect with other coaches and teams involved in the claims but was unsuccessful. Furthermore, additional interviews that might have broadened the treatment of the matter were omitted from Yates’ 300-page report.

“Certain witnesses— including the former Commissioner of the NWSL, Jeff Plush—never responded to our outreach. Others refused to be interviewed, some because they feared retaliation. Still others—including former USSF Chief Executive Officer Dan Flynn—agreed only to respond to written questions rather than sit for an interview. Certain teams did not fully cooperate, notwithstanding public statements to the contrary.”

“The Portland Thorns interfered with our access to relevant witnesses and raised specious legal arguments in an attempt to impede our use of relevant documents. Racing Louisville FC refused to produce documents concerning Christy Holly and would not permit witnesses (even former employees) to answer relevant questions regarding Holly’s tenure, citing the non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements it signed with Holly. The Chicago Red Stars unnecessarily delayed the production of relevant documents over the course of nearly nine months.”

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In-charge’s inaction

Yates noted that the lack of progress is due not to a lack of substantive complaints by the players but to the unwillingness of those in control to act on the complaints hurled by the players to abusive coaches.

“(Players) repeatedly brought their concerns to the teams, to the league, and to the Federation, which founded and acted as manager of the league during much of the relevant time period.”

“But those who were in a position to make a difference didn’t. They not only failed to respond appropriately to evidence of abuse, they had also failed to institute the most basic measures to prevent and address these issues to begin with, even as some of them privately acknowledged the need for these things like an anti-harassment policy,” stated Yates.

“Without these protections in place and without the transparency necessary to ensure misconduct wasn’t swept under the rug, abusive coaches moved from team to team.”

 

…

The finalists for this year’s National Book Awards have already been unveiled by the organization that endows the honors. The occasion should highlight this year’s up-and-coming authors while welcoming back many others.

To give one example, Yoko Tawada and Margaret Mistutani were shortlisted for Translated Literature after winning the National Book Award in the same category in 2018.

The lineup also includes nominees Sharon Olds, Scholastique Mukasonga, and Gayl Jones. For her work on “The Birdcatcher,” Jones received a nomination in the Fiction category. In addition, Mukasonga received a nomination for “Kibogo” in the Translated Literature category, while Olds received a nomination for “Balladz” in the Poetry Category.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Varela (The Town of Babylon), Sarah Thankam Mathews (All This Could Be Different), and Sarah Tess Gunty (The Rabbit Hutch) were all listed for their debut novels in the Fiction category.

The Young People’s Literature Category Finalists will also get acknowledgment from the National Books Awards, the first of its kind in the organization’s history.

Tommie Smith, a finalist who is well-known for speaking out against racial discrimination at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico, is among the top seeds. Smith is well-known in the United States as an athlete and for his bravery.

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The National Books Awards are ready to unveil the recipients on November 16 in New York City. The lifetime achievement awards will also go to Traci D. Hall and Art Spiegelman.

Hall is the first African American woman to hold the role of executive director of the American Library Association.

In addition, the winners of the categories will receive $10,000 in monetary rewards from the National Books Awards. The complete list of contestants, along with the books they submitted, is shown below.

Fiction

Tess Gunty, The Rabbit Hutch

Gayl Jones, The Birdcatcher

Jamil Jan Kochai, The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories

Sarah Thankam Mathews, All This Could Be Different

Alejandro Varela, The Town of Babylon

Nonfiction

Meghan O’Rourke, The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness

Imani Perry, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation

David Quammen, Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus

Ingrid Rojas Contreras, The Man Who Could Move Clouds: A Memoir

Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, His Name Is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice

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Poetry

Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, Look at This Blue

John Keene, Punks: New & Selected Poems

Sharon Olds, Balladz

Roger Reeves, Best Barbarian

Jenny Xie, The Rupture Tense

Translated Literature

Jon Fosse, A New Name: Septology VI-VII. Translated by Damion Searls

Scholastique Mukasonga, Kibogo. Translated by Mark Polizzotti

Mónica Ojeda, Jawbone. Translated by Sarah Booker

Samanta Schweblin, Seven Empty Houses. Translated by Megan McDowell

Yoko Tawada, Scattered All Over the Earth. Translated by Margaret Mitsutani

Young People’s Literature

Kelly Barnhill, The Ogress and the Orphans

Sonora Reyes, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School

Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes and Dawud Anyabwile, Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice

Sabaa Tahir, All My Rage

Lisa Yee, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance

 

…

According to a recent study, having two to three cups of coffee each day can help prevent cardiovascular diseases and early mortality.

“The results suggest that mild to moderate intake of ground, instant and decaffeinated coffee should be considered part of a healthy lifestyle,” the author of the study, Peter Kistler, said.

Kistler oversees the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute’s clinical electrophysiology research. In addition, he supervises electrophysiology at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.

The team has discovered three varieties of coffee with a number of other experts that greatly lower the risk of stroke, congestive heart failure, and coronary heart disease, among other disorders.

Caffeine-containing instant and ground coffee lower the risk of arrhythmia.

Decaffeinated coffee did not, however, reduce the likelihood of persons suffering irregular heartbeats, according to research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

On the other hand, drinking 3 to 5 cups of black coffee can help with a variety of disorders, including heart conditions, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, prostate cancer, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease.

“This manuscript adds to the body of evidence from observational trials associating moderate coffee consumption with cardioprotection, which looks promising,” nutritional sciences lecturer Charlotte Mills stated.

However, Mills notes that because the researchers’ results are observational in nature, they cannot completely rule out a cause-and-effect connection between the disorders and coffee consumption.

“Does coffee make you healthy, or do inherently healthier people consume coffee? Randomized controlled trials are needed to prove the relationship between coffee and cardiovascular health,” added Mills.

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Caffeinated ground coffee works wonders

Data from UK Biobank were used in the study. Over 450,000 persons in the research database who were free of arrhythmia and other cardiovascular disorders were assessed.

Individuals who preferred caffeinated ground coffee, those who opted to drink decaffeinated coffee, those who preferred caffeinated instant coffee, and those who did not consume coffee were split into groups by the researchers.

The patients’ data were compared by the researchers over a period of 12 and a half years, considering information on cardiovascular illnesses, arrhythmia, stroke, and mortality.

Additionally, other elements were factored. These include smoking status, blood alcohol content, age, diabetes, ethnicity, sex, obesity, high blood pressure, and tea consumption.

All varieties of coffee were shown to be moderately associated with lowering illnesses among people after analysis by the researchers.

Dietitian and professor Duane Mellow from Aston University Medical School, admits the benefits of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee in lowering the incidence of cardiovascular illnesses.

Mellow argues that additional coffee compounds could contribute to the results, though.

“Caffeine is the most well-known constituent in coffee, but the beverage contains more than 100 biologically active components. It is likely that the non-caffeinated compounds were responsible for the positive relationships observed between coffee drinking, cardiovascular disease and survival,” contends Kistler.

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It needs more study

Even if the study provides excellent news for coffee lovers, experts are not quite confident in the study’s findings.

According to Annette Creedon of the British Nutrition Foundation, the study had a flaw since respondents to the survey self-reported how much coffee they drank.

“This study had a median follow-up period of 12.5 years during which many aspects of the participants’ diet and lifestyle may have changed,” she said.

Coffee advertises itself as a medicinal beverage, but certain people—such as those who have difficulties falling and staying asleep and those with uncontrolled diabetes—react adversely to it, according to Creedon.

So before making coffee a daily beverage, she thinks people should see their doctors.

“(These negative side effects” can be particularly relevant to individuals who are sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Hence, the findings of this study do not indicate that people should start drinking coffee if they do not already drink it or that they should increase their consumption,” Creedon said.

The findings are also significantly influenced by the coffee’s brewing technique. Mellor continues by advising people to think about the quantity of sugar, cream, milk, and other additives in the coffee they want to drink.

“A simple cup of coffee, perhaps with a little milk, is very different to a large latte flavored with a syrup and added cream,” stated Mellor.

 

…

This Friday in Norway, the Nobel Peace Prize will once more be awarded. The award is given in the midst of the tensest standoff in Europe in more than 70 years.

The ongoing hostility between the two nations makes this year’s Nobel Peace Prize one of the most significant and challenging ever. Consequently, the Norwegian committee found it challenging to choose the winner of one of the most prized honors on the globe.

Being awarded the Nobel Prize carries a lot of responsibility since it represents courage and optimism in the face of uncertainty, especially during turbulent times. But, according to experts, a number of circumstances would make the Nobel Peace Prize announcement ambiguous.

Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), said, “Sometimes, it’s hard to figure out who might get the prize because there are so many possible candidates.”

“This year, it’s hard to figure out who might get the prize because there’s so little good that is happening in the world of peace and security.”

Of all, the Nobel Prize is incredibly unexpected, and anyone might win the distinction. Therefore, the screening committee that evaluates applicants for the honor has maintained a secret. Experts in peace and security undoubtedly have candidates in mind who may win the prize, but even they are dubious because the selection committee’s decision-making procedure is unknown.

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The war between Ukraine and Russia

The Nobel Peace Prize was not awarded to any contender during the First and Second World Wars. Additionally, the reward has occasionally not been awarded at all. However, traditionally, the Nobel Prize was awarded when there was little hope or when several nations were struggling due to war.

And those who choose the prize laureate would have to make a critical choice given the current geopolitical circumstances in Europe. The reward will represent fostering peace, and as such, it will significantly impact their thoughts.

Several analysts have Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on their radar (UNCHR). Both have made a significant contribution to helping those in need. While the commissioner has aided displaced individuals due to conflict, Volodymyr is a figurehead who protects his people from Russian attacks.

“Zelensky is a war leader, and what is happening at the moment is war. You can admire or not admire the action he’s undertaking, but it’s about war and the armed defense of his country. That’s a fact that should be respected in and of itself,” added Smith.

“Hopefully, the war will come to an end, and they will make peace. If Zelensky or somebody else can contribute to making that peace, then there will be time to acknowledge that enormous achievement.”

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Russian critics might be considered

Due to the harsh treatment of its smaller neighbor by Russia, critics of Putin’s government may be in line to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, according to analysts. Alexey Navalny is one example who has subsequently spoken out against Russia’s policy and its conflict with Ukraine. It led to the imprisonment of Navalny. In addition, he was poisoned in 2020, and Navalny publicly assigned responsibility to the Russian government.

“Navalny, I think, is heroic, (but) he’s a political leader. It’s a prize that is to be awarded not for how great you are but for how great the things you’ve done are,” said Smith.

Another person who might be nominated for the Nobel prize is Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, an opposition leader in Belarus who campaigned against Putin’s staunch friend.

“Both Tsikhanouskaya and Navalny are vocal critics of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A shared Nobel Peace Prize between them would be seen as a clear protest of the Russian aggression and the assistance by Belarus, and as support of democratic and non-violent alternatives to Lukashenko and Putin.”

 

This week’s Hurricane Ian already made landfall in Florida, carrying winds of more than 155 mph. Hurricane Ian strengthened after it made landfall in Cuba, and weather forecasters anticipated that it was on track to become a Category 5 hurricane—a category that the United States had only rarely risen in its history.

Only four storms that were classified as Category 5 have been documented in US history. Category 5 hurricanes, according to meteorologists, are storms with maximum sustained winds of 157 miles per hour or higher. So, Hurricane Ian was on the verge of becoming one.

The US has been affected by four Category 5 hurricanes, three of which made landfall in Florida and one in Mississippi.

Categorization of hurricanes

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is used in the US to classify hurricanes that are forming locally. The scale is also used to estimate the potential degree of harm that a storm may do to the areas it strikes.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Category 5 storms: “Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.”

Although Category 5 hurricanes are the fiercest, lesser category storms can occasionally cause more damage. Hurricanes like Category 3 Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Category 4 Hurricane Maria in 2017 have caused considerable damage.

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Here are four Category 5 storms in the US:

Labor Day Hurricane in 1935

The Labor Day Hurricane, which had gusts of up to 185 mph, devastated the Florida Keys on September 2, 1935. It is regarded as the most powerful hurricane to ever make landfall in the US. Four hundred nine lives were lost, and countless houses were damaged by the Labor Day Hurricane.

“Practically all losses from the hurricane were suffered in Florida, with most occurring in the Florida Keys. A swath of destruction 40 [miles] wide occurred across the Keys, from just south of Key Largo to just north of Marathon,” said the Hurricanes: Science and Society.

“Most manmade structures were destroyed by the hurricane’s Category 5 winds, which gusted at times to over 200 mph, and the complete inundation of the islands by a 15-20 ft storm surge.”

Hurricane Camille (1969)

Hurricane Camille is regarded as the second-strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in the US, with a maximum sustained wind of more than 170 miles per hour. On August 17, 1969, it struck Mississippi and left more than 250 people dead.

“The impacts of Hurricane Camille were felt across much of the southeast U.S., especially southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama. Most of the inland damage was a result of fallen trees and power lines, while damage on the immediate coast was caused by both wind and storm surges. Communities saw homes and buildings damaged or destroyed, fallen trees, and flooded roads,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

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Hurricane Andrew (1992)

The 165 mph winds of Hurricane Andrew caused devastation in South Miami-Dade County.

“Hurricane Andrew destroyed more than 50,000 homes and caused an estimated $26 billion in damage, making it at the time the most expensive natural disaster in the United States history, not to be surpassed until Hurricane Katrina 13 years later,” NOOA said.

Hurricane Michael (2018)

Hurricane Michael is the most recent addition to the rare group of Category 5 storms to make landfall in the United States, clocking in at over 161 miles per hour. On October 10, 2018, it struck the Florida Panhandle with maximum sustained winds of 161 miles per hour.

“Wind and storm surge caused catastrophic damage, particularly in the Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach areas. Eight direct fatalities were reported: seven in Florida and one in Georgia. In addition, 43 indirect deaths were attributed to the storm.” said the National Weather Service.

Photo Credit: Universal Images Group

Source: NPR

…

This Wednesday, after Hurricane Ian’s powerful winds wreaked havoc on the country’s western area, energy company employees in Cuba strive to restore the electricity to thousands of homes in the nation. Following the hurricane’s impact, there is currently a widespread blackout across the country.

On Tuesday, the Pinar del Rio province was badly affected by the Category 3 hurricane, which made landfall near La Coloma’s southwest. Weather forecasters predicted that Hurricane Ian would bring around 16 inches of rain, resulting in risky storm surges, mudslides, and flash floods. Authorities’ warnings prompted residents to leave their homes and head to evacuation shelters.

Cubans saw the devastation left behind by the hurricane, including trees torn from the ground, places immersed in water, and a country without electricity. Within a week, according to officials, electrical systems will resume functioning and supply power to nearly 11 million people.

To protect people, the National Electric System cut off its power in the interim. An underwater community is vulnerable to electrocutions, fatalities, and other associated harm or fatalities. However, as the water recedes and the weather improves, the management of the state-run power company said they would probably resume the grid’s electricity.

In the nation, blackouts are already frequent. In addition, power networks were often vulnerable to blackouts due to supply interruptions and limitations in fuel and other resources.

Read Also: Hurricane Alert: Florida, Cuba, on the Lookout as Hurricane Ian Heads Toward Land

Cubans chose to evacuate

Authorities were warned of Hurricane Ian, and a major evacuation was ordered. More than 38,000 people were compelled to leave their homes, particularly those in the Pinar del Rio Province. In order to prepare for the hurricane, other nearby regions were encouraged to take refuge in evacuation centers. The Pinal del Rio province is where many folk’s families are staying, and many reported having trouble communicating after the disaster hit.

Adriana Rivera, a resident of Spain, mentioned that she was unable to contact her relatives. They were among the people of Pinar del Rio who Hurricane Ian impacted. Rivera claims that she last spoke to her family during Hurricane Ian’s assault when she learned that her mother, sister, cousin, and nephew needed to go up to the house’s second story due to the flooding.

“They didn’t expect the hurricane to be this strong. I hope they’re okay. The uncertainty is killing me,” Rivera said.

Mayelin Suarez, who was exposed to Hurricane Ian’s fury, found the situation to be terrifying.

“We almost lost the roof of our house. My daughter, my husband and I tied it down with a rope to keep it from flying away,” Suarez shares.

The legendary tobacco of Cuba is farmed in Pinar del Rio, an area with millions of inhabitants. Pictures of Hurricane Ian’s severe damage to the area’s tobacco plantations were sent to the Cuban state media after the storm.

Read Also: Pakistan Confronts Another Crisis Following Widespread Floods

The hurricane traveling to Florida

The storm is still not over. It is moving towards Florida after Cuba and has intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, alarming locals and government officials. Over 2.5 million people have been warned by weather officials to be prepared for the worst today.

Kevin Guthrie, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director, said, “I implore, I urge everyone that is in an evacuation zone that has been asked to evacuate – the time is now. You must evacuate now. There will be a time when it will not be safe to travel the roads.”

“There will come a point in time when local public safety officials will not be able to respond to your cry for help. You may be left to fend for yourself,” he added.

Meanwhile, Governor Ron DeSantis issued the same caution to millions of Floridians, saying, “This is going to be a lot of impacts that will be felt far and wide throughout the state of Florida. As the storm moves in, you’re going to potentially have (evacuation) directives issued from folks in the interior of our state or even the east coast of the state for low-lying areas that absolutely could end up flooding.”

 

…

Right now, the U.S. dollar is strengthening and may soon reach its highest level in 20 years. As a result, many local, national, and international actors have experienced waves of excitement and anxiety as a result of the unexpected increase in the value of the American dollar.

The American economy is in a recession, which has led the Fed to raise interest rates. That, however, is not preventing the dollar from appreciating in value. Within economies all around the world, this process eventually produces winners and losers.

The British pound hit a record low on Monday as it lost ground against the U.S. dollar. To support economic development in the U.K., newly-installed Prime Minister Liz Truss proposed tax reductions and the suspension of increased business taxation. The energy crisis brought on by Russia’s supply restrictions is putting pressure on the U.K. to keep up with the mounting worries of Britons.

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The British pound has recently lost so much ground that its worth is approaching that of the U.S. dollar, alarming the Central Bank of the United Kingdom over the present dollar-to-pound exchange rate. Governor Andrew Bailey of the Bank of England stated that officials closely watch the issue.

A double-edged sword, the ascent of the dollar offers many people possibilities while also causing a catastrophe. Similar to the job market, where an increase in the unemployment rate creates work chances for certain people while creating a labor scarcity for others, the phenomenon is analogous to that.

Several political considerations, most notably the Ukraine and Russia conflict, helped propel the dollar’s rise. This is because businesses, investors, and nations convert their reserves into dollars whenever crises arise in specific parts of the world.

The Winners

Importers in the United States

Purchasing goods and raw materials overseas results in cheaper business costs since the dollar is worth more than other currencies.

“For importers, it’s a positive story. For anyone importing from the likes of China, importing raw metals and energy from abroad, that’s going to be positive for you — as long as it’s not priced in dollars, of course,” stated Jordan Rochester, a senior foreign strategist from Nomura Securities.

Travelers in the country

Since the value of the dollar and the euro are already equal, tourists from the U.S. would be able to get a better and more affordable hotel and lodging bargains. In addition, using the dollar might result in lower costs for them when they visit Europe and other adjacent regions.

Read Also: As Feds Hike Interest Rates, Senior Citizens Struggle to Keep Up with Prices

The Losers

Multinationals

American multinational corporations are suffering significantly due to the stronger currency. Multinational corporate leaders say that this has reduced their profitability in recent poll.

As an illustration, the San Francisco-based corporation Salesforce sells its software in several nations using multiple currencies. The company’s CEO, Marc Benioff, stated in the most recent financial report that the higher monetary worth would cost the business more than $800 million.

A decrease in value might occur, according to Michael Klein, a professor at Tufts University, particularly when businesses like Salesforce sell their products in a different currency before transferring them into American accounts.

“Repatriated profits from abroad, in euros or pounds or yen, are going to be worth less in dollars because a dollar is stronger,” he said.

U.S. Exporters

It is the opposite for exporters as the situation for importers improves. A greater dollar value will discourage foreign consumers from buying American products since they will be more costly on supermarket shelves.

 

…

Following the torrential rains and flooding, Pakistan’s population is now faced with a new issue. Infants lie on hospital beds, some of whom are battling for their lives and others who have already succumbed to illnesses brought on by the accumulated floodwater that has killed people and afflicted millions.

Fatalities occur every hour, and the hospital’s hallways are filled with the wails of guardians who have done all their power to stop the worst from happening. In Pakistani hospitals, cholera is the leading cause of baby mortality. Bacteria that can be acquired from consuming contaminated drinking water are what causes the sickness.

Numerous areas of Pakistan now often experience other waterborne illnesses. For instance, the Mother and Child Healthcare Hospital in Pakistan’s Sindh Province record roughly ten child fatalities per day. All of them are brought on by ailments from water-related illnesses, which were mostly brought on by the most recent floods.

Numerous young patients are crowded together inside wards and the emergency room of the same hospital. Children are seen crying out in agony while some are still unconscious in the heartbreaking sights. Patients who are obviously malnourished and seem pale and skinny are cared for by nurses.

In the hopes that their children may survive, the parents of the patients wait impatiently outside the emergency department.

“The floods came, and the rain fell. And then our patients came in like the floods,” said Dr. Nazia Urooj.

The problem is unprecedented, experts said, and Pakistan now more than ever needs assistance from outside agencies. However, many healthcare facilities have not yet offered assistance, and if this pattern continues, the situation might worsen and result in additional infant fatalities.

Read Also: Residents Depending on Lake Mead for Supply Fear of Water Shortage

Only the beginning

Pakistan’s floods have claimed the lives of almost 1,600 people, while the increasing water has reportedly impacted an additional 33 million people. The catastrophe was brought on by melting glaciers in Pakistan’s north and monsoon rainfall.

Citizens were left at community centers without access to food or clean water to drink due to the water forcing them from their houses. Moreover, there is no access to other areas of the nation. For instance, due to impassable roads, Sindh residents have a challenging time getting medical care.

“Many children are not even reaching hospitals because the medical facilities they could access are either underwater or just not accessible,” said Aardarsh Leghari, the Communications Officer of UNICEF based in Pakistan.

Pakistan is plagued with many diseases

A number of ailments have now taken center stage as the floods are almost over and the water is slowly receding. The illnesses that have arisen as a result of the floods include dysentery, diarrhea, dengue fever, malaria, and others.

In addition to spreading illnesses, the flood displaced individuals from their houses or possibly rendered them completely homeless. For instance, Rani takes her ailing three-year-old kid to the Mother and Child Healthcare Hospital to get him medical attention. Despite her son’s illness, she reveals that their present living situation—on the side of the road with only a plastic sheet covering their roof—means that her health does not get any better.

The morning and the night provide new challenges, Rani said. She and a few other relocated families struggle with the sweltering heat in the morning, and at night, insects bite them.

Read Also: Puerto Rico Sustains Damage from Floods, Power System Needs Improvement

“We burn waste so mosquitoes cannot bite (the children). We remain active at night so our children can sleep,” Rani said.

Leghari claimed that mosquito infestations cause Pakistan’s problems.

“There are no mosquito nets. It’s the mosquitoes that are bringing in malaria and disease. The other is cholera. It’s like a plethora of diseases coming out of these floodwater lakes. This is going to turn into a bigger health crisis,” he said.

Grandmother Mai Sabagi sobs as she remembers her five-year-old granddaughter, who had recently passed away from cholera.

“All this has happened because of the rains. We lost our clothes – everything. Our house has been damaged. We have not been given any relief. Poor people cannot afford treatment,” Mai said.

 

…

The largest water reservoir in the nation, Lake Mead, is on the verge of becoming a “deadpool,” meaning that the turbines of the nearby hydroelectric facilities would not be able to operate effectively. The incident would be the first in 86 years.

The likelihood of the possibility is quite high considering the clear changes Lake Mead is undergoing. For instance, Arthur Murzeau, a local traveler who made the trip to Las Vegas to visit the famed lake, claimed that the water is much lower than in pictures.

“I think we need [politicians] to take action. We need people to react and to be really aware of what’s going on,” said Murzeau.

Are people aware of the problem? — this is the issue.

Authorities have frequently sounded the alarm, warning of the looming disaster the country may face if the pattern continues, as the drought is at its worst in 1,200 years. Nevertheless, nothing has changed in Colorado’s population’s everyday lifestyle or activities. Over 40 million people rely on the river for their needs, according to statistics.

The increased calls informed numerous concerned departments, and protective measures were put in place. However, because areas anticipate a scarcity in the near future, analysts believe that the attempts may not be sufficient.

Read Also: Puerto Rico Sustains Damage from Floods, Power System Needs Improvement

What is ‘Mas Vegas’

Houses keep popping up south of Highway 39 and Hoover Dam, where there aren’t many water resources. RVs frequently go through the region known as “Mas Vegas,” which is continually being developed with homes.

The situation is the same in Rio Verde, in Phoenix’s northern outskirts. Realtor Karen Nabity expressed disappointment that so many individuals continue to be permitted to purchase properties in the region and construct homes there despite the scarcity of water.

“They don’t have a disclosure to the owner of that property to say, ‘you’re building this house, but do you know on January first we don’t have a water source for you,” Nabity said.

In the Rio Verde Foothills neighborhood, 500 homes will be at risk of running out of water in January 2023. Unfortunately, the towns in Scottsdale are using up all the water supplied by the Colorado River, so there isn’t much left over to distribute.

“The Colorado River won’t be flowing, water won’t be flowing down the [Central Arizona Project] canals, that should be an ‘oh shit’ to this entire state. I’m an Arizona native, and for God’s sakes, wake up, Arizona, we need to do something, and we need to do it now,” added Nabity.

Read Also: Global Study Reveals Women Being More Susceptible to Health Complications after Pandemic

The solution to the problem

Nabity said that due to communication provided to them in 2016, they were not caught off guard by the water scarcity. Therefore, Nabity started to assemble her neighbors in order to propose to the government the creation of a water district made to acquire property and water rights in order to discover a new source for their water reservoir. The suggestion is a widely used method in the nation. The Maricopa Country, however, rejected their proposal.

“What is our state doing? People are still planting grass; people are still watering yards. We need to have our state step up more and start doing bigger cutbacks now,” she said.

The Tucson city councilman expressed the same worry as many locals and suggested that more interventions be made.

“Three years from now, five years from now, whenever it is, we can all be standing along the banks of Colorado looking at a dry riverbed, saying all I did was take what I was entitled to, and we sucked it dry.”

 

…

Due to Hurricane Fiona’s onslaught this week, most of Puerto Rico is currently without electricity. Winds from the hurricane toppled trees and damaged power lines, leaving homes and commercial buildings without electricity.

Puerto Rico’s present energy crisis is evidence of its inadequate energy infrastructure. If the nation wants to avoid what happened when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico five years ago, experts believe this needs to be handled as soon as possible.

The longest blackout in American history, lasting 11 months, occurred in numerous sections of Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria’s tremendous destruction of the island. Additionally, 3,000 people lost their lives as a result of the disaster.

Senator Chuck Schumer claims that Puerto Rico’s neglect of the issue has resulted in the island’s electrical infrastructure being “almost 50 years out of date,” even though international help was rushed in after Hurricane Maria, according to legislators. Schumer does, however, emphasize that the US government is making every effort to assist Puerto Rico.

“As our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico continue to feel the wrath of Hurricane Fiona, we continue to monitor the situation here in Congress. Over the weekend, President Biden issued an Emergency Disaster Declaration for Puerto Rico, where 75% of the costs of emergency medical care, disaster response, and food distribution will be covered by the Federal Government,” the senator said.

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“The electric grid is almost 50 years out of date. It’s particularly susceptible to hurricanes. It hasn’t even been repaired since the damage Hurricane Maria five years ago put upon it. And yet we’ve given lots of federal money for the reestablishment, or the rebuilding of the grid and very little has happened. So we need to focus on that issue as well as others.”

“Five years to the day after the arrival of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico needs help to recover from Hurricane Fiona. We need to make sure this time, Puerto Rico has absolutely everything it needs, as soon as possible, for as long as they need it.”

The hope amid the disaster

In preparation for power disruptions, Puerto Rico began installing solar and improved power systems for homes five years ago. According to Chris Rauscher, a senior director at Sunrun, the biggest residential solar provider in the US, the system lights up homes when there are power outages.

Solar firms claim that they would invest in improved solar setups even if the climate problem has given rise to larger and wetter hurricanes. Puerto Rico will notably benefit since stronger hurricanes are more likely to damage electricity infrastructure more frequently.

“It’s showing that renewables paired with storage … are really the fundamental building blocks of a clean recovery that we need to really focus on on the island and elsewhere,” said Rauscher.

According to John Berger, a senior executive of Sunnova, a similarly large solar firm, Puerto Rico is one of the ideal locations for advancing and expanding the use of solar-powered houses. He also asserts that modern technology, including solar energy, is superior to conventional power sources.

Read Also: U.N. Secretary General Emphasizes Need to Halt Use of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuel should be outed

As the US commits to renewable energy sources in the near future, Puerto Rico’s reliance on fossil fuels to power its electric networks is set to alter. The need for an alternative energy source increased due to the Russian reduction, which increased costs.

An agreement was made between the US and Puerto Rico in February of last year to complete the island’s electricity grid.

The energy reform of the nation, bringing it to sustainability and efficiency, is a goal of his administration, according to the governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi.

“I will make sure that every federal fund appropriated to Puerto Rico and allocated for the reconstruction of the power grid is used efficiently and effectively,” Pierluisi said.

 

…

The United Nations secretary general urgently urges member countries to take a more aggressive position in the struggle against the use of fossil fuels. According to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, countries should impose higher taxes on these businesses to raise money for the mitigation of climate change’s consequences.

As the economy falters and commodity prices soar to record highs, Guterres stressed that nations would use the tax revenue to provide financial aid to households.

The top official of the UN highlighted to the General Assembly that the fossil fuel sector is “feasting on hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies and windfall profits while households’ budgets shrink and our planet burns.”

Guterres mentioned various players who keep the fossil fuel sector operating. However, he believes that they should all be held accountable for the global harm caused by the enterprise. “That includes the banks, private equity, asset managers and other financial institutions that continue to invest and underwrite carbon pollution,” he said.

The secretary-general also emphasized the need for public relations firms to protect their industry from any backlash from the populace by using marketing, propaganda, and other information-dissemination tools to divert the populace’s attention away from the underlying issue.

Read Also: The World is at the End of the Tunnel says WHO in Fight Against Covid

Fossil fuel is still needed

Although Guterres forbids the use of fossil fuels and other associated items, he acknowledged that most nations still require them. Many businesses utilize gas, coal, and oil extensively in their operations. However, he thinks that nations must start preparing for their transition now to safeguard the environment.

“Of course, fossil fuels cannot be shut down overnight. A just transition means leaving no person or country behind. But it’s high time to put fossil fuel producers, investors and enablers on notice.”

“Polluters must pay. And today, I am calling on all developed economies to tax the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies.”

Where would the tax go?

It is now crucial to understand where the tax income flows if nations implement the idea. Guterres contends that the funds ought to be distributed to “countries suffering loss and damage caused by the climate crisis; and to people struggling with rising food and energy prices.”

The secretary previously made a similar speech in August, during which he called the record profits made by businesses during the energy crisis “immoral.” According to him, it is incredibly unfair for businesses to make the most money at a time when many people are struggling, and communities are being negatively impacted by the climate crisis.

“The combined profits of the largest energy companies in the first quarter of this year are close to 100 billion U.S. dollars. I urge all governments to tax these excessive profits and use the funds to support the most vulnerable people through these difficult times.”

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Fuel companies should have higher taxes

Other leaders, notably British politician Rishi Sunak, have already expressed support for Guterres’ suggestion, together with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.

“And don’t get me wrong: In our social market economy, profits are OK, they are good. But in these times, it is wrong to receive extraordinary, record revenues and profits benefitting from war and on the back of our consumers,” said von der Leyen.

“In these times, profits must be shared and channeled to those who need it most. And therefore, our proposal also includes the fossil fuel electricity producers, who have to give a crisis contribution.”

However, the CEO of Standard Chartered believes that it’s essential to provide a framework for businesses to “just transition” if nations want to stop using fossil fuels.

“Those are two really important words … just means fair, it also means implementable. And transition means transition — it means it takes some time,” said Winters.

“The idea that we can turn off the taps and end fossil fuels tomorrow, it’s obviously ridiculous and naive.”

 

…

Women all around the world have been reported to have medical issues years after the pandemic, but the dangers are greater in the second year than in the first.

Hologic, a medical technology business, worked alongside Gallup to launch a worldwide poll examining women’s health demands and how nations manage them. The questionnaire was divided into five sections: general health, mental health, safety, preventative care, and basic necessities.

The 2020 poll had a score of 54 out of 100. However, a year later, the score had slipped significantly to 53 out of 100. Furthermore, the Global Women’s Health Index has been substantially lower across all countries globally, with all assessed nations scoring no more than 70 points in 2021.

Four countries received the highest scores. Taiwan, Latvia, Austria, and Denmark are among them. Meanwhile, three countries received the lowest scores: Venezuela, Congo, and Afghanistan. The United States was placed 23rd, with a score of 61 out of 100.

“The economic and psychological burden of the pandemic will weigh down many households for a while, and we know that it particularly affected women,” stated Gertraud Stadler, the director of Berlin’s Institute of Gender in Medicine.

According to Gallup and Hologic statistics, women got more depressed, furious, anxious, and stressed in 2021 than they had in the previous decade.

“We understand you can only impact and improve what you measure. Overall, the data is sobering. And we understand that we need women to be healthy to fully engage and be empowered. It’s clear that the time has come to work together and begin to find solutions and improve women’s health care,” Dr. Susan Harvey said from the John Hopkins School of Medicine.

Read Also: U.N. Secretary General Emphasizes Need to Halt Use of Fossil Fuels

Women should be taken care of

Gallup and Hologic’s five primary measurement areas would highlight which areas need to be addressed. These factors may also influence how long women expect their lives to endure. For example, women who had access to medical care had a two-year longer life expectancy than those who did not.

In preventive care, the United States faired better in 2021 than it did in 2020. Overall, the country ranks second only to Latvia. Dr. Harvey stated that, while it is a minor improvement, the country should be impressed.

“Overall, though, the world is failing women in preventive care,” she added.

Over 1.5 billion women were unable to get preventative care in 2021. A report also showed that cancer is commonly discovered in women.

CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research, Katie Schubert, said, “This goes back to a lot of those different burdens that women are taking on, both from the perspective of being a caregiver but also being a part of their community.”

“In the US, for example, Schubert says, women are more likely to go to a well visit for their child than they are for themselves. And the share of women who don’t show up for a key doctor’s visit at six weeks postpartum is “pretty striking.”

Read Also: Hong Kong Residents Gather in Public to Commemorate the Queen, a Silent Protest

Women should be lifted for the benefit of all

Scientists agree that women must be cared for in order for society to reach its full potential.

“Women often have the role of health manager in their families and communities. And they are taking on a large share of care work, so children, partners, parents benefit as well from women’s health,” Stadler explained.

“Without this foundational health and well-being of women, we won’t be able to advance any of the goals related to economic stability or equity in socio-economic development. That really all stands on the shoulders of a healthy environment, a healthy person and healthy outcomes.”

The executive director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, said, “It is critical that we rally now to invest in women and girls to reclaim and accelerate progress. The data show undeniable regressions in their lives made worse by the global crises – in incomes, safety, education, and health. The longer we take to reverse this trend, the more it will cost us all.”

 

…

Thousands of people have gathered in Hong Kong to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, marking the largest crowd gathering in the nation since China outright banned public protests more than two years ago.

On Monday, about 2,500 people gathered in front of the British Consulate. To demonstrate their support for the UK, people from all walks of life and from different parts of Hong Kong braved the heat that reached 33 degrees Celsius or 91 degrees Fahrenheit. The deceased Queen received letters addressed to the “boss lady” or “lady in charge” and presented them with flowers, picture frames, and other gifts.

While many people view the occasion merely as a means to honor the British Queen, others see it as a form of protest against China, which has since banned large gatherings under a rule passed in June 2020.

Hong Kong residents were not allowed to demonstrate due to national security laws. Protests in favor of democracy have been successfully put to rest thanks to the act. Others assert that the law was implemented under the pretense of a covid limitation.

The occasion has also come to address the Chinese Communist Party’s goal of making the people of Hong Kong forget the time. It has also disputed the assertion made in several publications published there, according which Hong Kong was never a colony. Instead, the term “forcible occupation” is used by the government.

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Residents are glad about the gathering

People were delighted that they had come to the event. After a long absence, a guy who went by the moniker Wing and declined to provide his full name said it felt good to be around so many people.

“I feel angry that the Hong Kong government is not showing any respect properly (to the Queen). They’re scared of the Chinese government telling them off, but we were part of the colony,” he said.

The passing of Queen Elizabeth, according to another resident named Sylvia Lee, was a sad day for the rest of the globe since she stood for female strength and stability.

“No one lives forever, and we knew this day would come someday. She was a respected figure, and the government during the colonial period made many contributions to Hong Kong’s development, especially in the 70s and 80s,” she said.

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A subtle protest for the residents

At first look, the ceremony could appear to signify little more than that China and Hong Kong share the sadness of the Western nation over the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Xi Jinping, the president of China, and John Lee, the leader of Hong Kong, have both conveyed their best wishes to the United Kingdom; therefore, it is safe to assume that the event is only for solidarity.

More than that, though, is the overwhelming feeling that the populace experienced, which made them think of previous pro-democracy protests in the nation that condemned China.

More than a century has passed since Britain and the UK first encountered. In the 19th century, Hong Kong grew to become a hub for the opium trade between China and Britain. Over 156 years of Hong Kong’s history were spent under British control. However, they were regrettably given up to China when the colonizers left the nation.

“It was (the Queen’s) empire that, in 1997, handed us over to China against our wishes,” Jeffrey Ngo said.

“The feeling is understandable, given that the intuitive point of comparison is Hong Kong under Chinese rule. I respect their lived experience, albeit it’s not something I share. For me, the monarchy’s wealth and prestige are impossible to disentangle from the empire’s violence and expansionism,” he added.

 

…

It has been shown that African American individuals who regularly participate in religious activities benefit greatly. According to a new study, those who engage in regular spiritual activities scored better on tests, showing that their hearts are in excellent shape. The research further found a noticeable difference between individuals who do and those who do not.

According to research published in the American Heart Association’s journal, religious African Americans who participated in the study had superior results on tests for blood pressure, cholesterol, and other factors essential to the cardiovascular system’s overall wellness.

Engaging in religious events boosts the probability of good scores in eight measures, such as physical activity, nicotine exposure, food, and sleep, by 15%.

Dr. LaPrincess C. Brewer, the author of the research, said, “I was slightly surprised by the findings that multiple dimensions of religiosity and spirituality were associated with improved cardiovascular health across multiple health behaviors that are extremely challenging to change, such as diet, physical activity and smoking.”

“Our findings highlight the substantial role that culturally tailored health promotion initiatives and recommendations for lifestyle change may play in advancing health equity,” Dr. Brewer added. “The cultural relevance of interventions may increase their likelihood of influencing cardiovascular health and also the sustainability and maintenance of healthy lifestyle changes.”

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Cardiovascular health among African-Americans is relatively poorer

According to health specialists, the cardiovascular health of African Americans is worse than that of non-Hispanic White people. As a result, the death rate from cardiovascular illnesses is greater among African-American adults than it is among White individuals.

African-Americans made up 2,967 of the study’s participants. A sample of Jackson, Mississippi, residents aged 21 to 84 had health exams and questionnaires done on them. Strong religious observance among locals is well-known in the tri-county region. Anyone with cardiac disease was not included in the research.

After that, groups of sampled people were created based on their religious practices. Religiosity is associated with improved outcomes for cardiovascular health, claims epidemiologist Mercedes R. Carnethon of the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago.

“One hypothesis that could explain these observations is that both the practice of religion and the behaviors that are associated with better cardiovascular health, such as adherence to physician recommendations for behavior change, not smoking, and not drinking excessively, share a common origin or personality characteristic,” she said.

“Observing a religion requires discipline, conscientiousness and a willingness to follow the guidance of a leader. These traits may also lead people to engage in better health practices under the guidance of their healthcare providers.”

Read Also: A Legacy has Ended, What Will Transpire in the Next Few Days Following Queen’s Death

Fostering a faith-centered lifestyle is needed

It is beneficial for people to improve their lifestyle by adopting a more religious perspective, according to Jonathan Butler from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

“A potential way to address health inequities in the African American community is to leverage faith-based organizations’ physical and social capital capacity to improve health outcomes,” he said.

 

…

The 74th Emmy Awards was just finished by Television Academy, and on Monday, the winners were revealed. Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson served as the event’s host, honoring the best of the best in television at the Emmy Awards.

The award-giving organization distributed a total of 24 prizes to be granted to individuals and productions for their outstanding work in the field. Sunday is normally when the ceremony airs. However, NBC decided to telecast the awards night on Monday due to a scheduling problem with the NFL.

With five wins, including Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie, and Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie, “The White Lotus,” an HBO production, took home the most honors. AppleTV+’s “Ted Lasso” also received four honors.

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The other winners and nominations across several categories are listed below:

Outstanding drama series

“Succession”

Other Nominees:

“Better Call Saul” (AMC)   
“Euphoria” (HBO)   
“Ozark” (Netflix)   
“Severance” (Apple TV+)   
“Squid Game” (Netflix)   
“Stranger Things” (Netflix)    
“Yellowjackets” (Showtime)  

Outstanding comedy series

“Ted Lasso”

Other Nominees:

“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)   
“Barry” (HBO)
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)   
“Hacks” (HBO)   
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime Video)
“Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
“What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)   

Outstanding limited series

“The White Lotus”

Other Nominees:

“Dopesick” (Hulu)   
“The Dropout” (Hulu)   
“Inventing Anna” (Netflix)   
“Pam and Tommy” (Hulu)   

Outstanding lead actor in a drama series

Lee Jung-jae, “Squid Game”

Other Nominees:

Jason Bateman (“Ozark”)  
Brian Cox (“Succession”)  
Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”)  
Adam Scott (“Severance”)  
Jeremy Strong (“Succession”) 

Outstanding lead actress in a drama series

Zendaya, “Euphoria”

Other Nominees:

Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”)   
Laura Linney (“Ozark”)  
Melanie Lynskey (“Yellowjackets”)  
Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)  
Reese Witherspoon (“The Morning Show”)   

Winners of other Categories include:

Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series

Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”

Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series

Julia Garner, “Ozark”

Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series

Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”

Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series

Jean Smart, “Hacks”

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Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series

Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”

Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series

Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”

Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or TV movie

Michael Keaton, “Dopesick”

Outstanding lead actress in a limited series or TV movie

Amanda Seyfried, “The Dropout”

Outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or TV movie

Murray Bartlett, “The White Lotus”

Outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or TV movie

Jennifer Coolidge, “The White Lotus”

Outstanding reality/competition series

“Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls”

Outstanding variety talk series

“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”

Outstanding variety sketch series

“Saturday Night Live”

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Lee Jung-jae (“Squid Game”)   

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

Jesse Armstrong, “Succession”

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

MJ Delaney, “Ted Lasso”

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

Hwang Dong-hyuk, “Squid Game”

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special

“Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel” (HBO Max)

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series

Mike White, “The White Lotus”

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series

Mike White, “The White Lotus”

 

…

At the current time, where inflation is record-high, going into the grocery is expensive. And experts predict that it will not get any cheaper in the future if the current trend continues.

Gas prices have surprisingly dropped in the last month; however, the rising prices of goods in the market triggered inflation to spike even higher. For example, in recent consumer price index data, the food index has increased 11.4% since the beginning of the year, the highest jump in decades. Meanwhile, the food-at-home index is also hitting a 43-year high at 13.5%.

A senior economic analyst, Mark Hamrick, said that because of the higher prices of food or goods, consumers are cutting back on their expenditures. However, since food is a necessity, households have no choice but to buy the goods in the market, and that is what makes it problematic.

Households are already clamoring after the price tags of essential goods like eggs, milk, bread, butter, and cereal, among others, have all seen price hikes over the past months. Meanwhile, companies have also been affected by inflation, causing company giants like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo to impose price hikes on their products like drinks and packaged goods.

As a result, many producers come up with other solutions, like using smaller packages and swapping for cheaper ingredients. These strategies are known as shrinkflation and skimpflation, respectively.

Read Also: European Companies Fear Worsening Gas Crisis as Russian Gas Supply Cuts Continue

“Grocery product manufacturers know that while most shoppers will immediately notice a price increase, they are less likely to catch a reduction in a product’s net weight or a switch to using cheaper ingredients,” said Edgar Dworsky, Consumer World founder.

To help the nation deal with worsening inflation, the Federal Reserve has taken steps, albeit aggressive ones, to combat issues that trouble companies and households.

“Consumers are prepared for high prices to persist in the foreseeable future, but there’s also a tendency for people to think that things might return to normal. [In the meantime], it’s prudent for individuals to continue to be cautious with their household budgets,” Hamrick said.

“It’s belt-tightening time and has been for a while,” Hamrick added.

Tips for saving on groceries

1. Scrutinize Sales. Paying attention to price changes and promos could benefit your pocket. For example, generic brands may charge lower than their premium counterparts. You also need to watch out for discounts that could help you save money.

2. Plan your meals. Lisa Thompson, a saving expert from Coupons.com said that having a meal plan helps you buy the necessary items at a given period. First, you need to have an idea of the possible meals you will be having for the week to identify the necessary goods to look for.

Read Also: TikTok is a Music Industry Trendsetter, Helping New Artists

3. Buy in bulk. Buying in bulk will help you save more money as they come in with discounts and extra items.

4. Use a cash-back app. Using cash-back applications has long-term benefits. For instance, the cash-back app Ibotta gives its users $10 to $20 per month.

5. Pay with the right card. Knowing what card gives you the highest percentage of cash-back will help you save and earn several dol

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The blazing heat causes a slew of issues for countries all around the world. The United Kingdom, the United States, India, and China, among others, have previously experienced the economic damage that severe heat can inflict. Reports have emerged describing how the heat has harmed countries’ energy output as well as farmers’ ability to produce an abundance of items for export.

Individuals are the most harmed by the macro changes triggered by the heat; therefore, the problem is as personal as it gets. As a result, in addition to financial issues, they have another challenge: sleeping.

The harsh fact is that heat disrupts one’s sleep rhythm. Sometimes people wake up soaked in sweat or do not sleep at all.

In California, for example, temperatures reached all-time peaks of 110 degrees Fahrenheit, or 43 degrees Celsius. Power grids are stressed, causing blackouts. Furthermore, wildfires are becoming more common, contributing to the heat in the atmosphere. The most significant of them is the reduction in Russia’s gas supplies, which forces energy corporations to seek new energy sources. As a result, grids are now limited in the quantity of electricity they can offer to communities.

Read Also: UK and EU Pours in $500 Billion to Subsidize Energy Among Households, Businesses

As a result of the situation, many hotels and families do not have enough functional air conditioning equipment, leading to a large number of individuals demanding cooler AC outputs. Because of the cooler temperatures in the UK, a central air system was not previously required.

However, rising temperatures may change everything. According to new scientific research, extreme temperatures are forecast in the region and will worsen over time. According to experts’ projections, heat will become the norm by 2035.

Sleep patterns could be altered by intense heat

According to the Study of Sleep Research, sleep is “a vital function necessary for adaptive physical and mental wellbeing.” In a journal released last Thursday, the research body disclosed several ideas that might help people cope with the heat and sleep successfully in the hot temperatures.

According to the journal, the optimal room temperature for a person to sleep comfortably is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 19.4 degrees Celsius).

However, when heat waves become more often, how can people sleep peacefully? According to research, hotter nights induce alertness and diminish REM (Rapid Eye Movement). These elements are essential for bodily repair and rejuvenation every night.

How to sleep soundly amid heat

1. Drink plenty of water. Water aids the body in temperature regulation. Staying hydrated may help to mitigate the heat in the surroundings. However, doctors advise against drinking water an hour or two before bedtime unless you want to spend the night in the bathroom.

Dr. Phyllis Zee, a neurology professor at Northwestern University in Chicago, believes that eating lighter meals throughout the day may also be beneficial.

2. Wear comfortably in cotton. These types of fabrics allow for the unobstructed passage of wind. Wearing synthetics that can trap heat is not a good idea.

Read Also: ECB says Interests Rates will Go up so Country Could Counter Effects of Inflation

3. Opening windows and other forms of airflow should assist cool your room if it is chilly in the morning for whatever reason. When the temperature begins to rise, quickly close it.

4. If the heat does not subside, close the curtains and shades.

5. Avoid consuming alcohol at night since it dehydrates your body and causes night sweats.

6. Calming tasks such as reading or listening to music can help your body relax and prep for sleep.

7. Before going to bed, take a cold shower or soak your feet in a warm bath.

“Your body temperature lowers after you leave the shower or bath as your body adapts to the cooler environment. This drop in temperature prepares your body for sleep because our body temperature has a natural circadian rhythm – the body is primed to cool down when you lay down and warm up when you get up,” said Dr. Raj Dasputa, a sleep specialist.

8. Find techniques to keep your bedroom temp below 77 degrees Fahrenheit or 25 degrees Celsius.

“There are also fairly inexpensive ice cooling fans that can be placed near the bed. If you’re unable to keep the bedroom cool, sleeping temporarily on lower floors like the basement (if there is one) will be cooler.

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Damage to life and property is caused by a tropical storm in the southern region of California. In addition, there might be flooding and damage to power lines as a result of Friday’s strong winds and heavy rain. However, after a heat wave, the afflicted districts had relief from the extreme temperatures they had endured for more than 10 days.

According to the National Weather Service, the state of Baja California Sur was hit by Hurricane Kay last Thursday. Thankfully, the storm started to weaken as soon as it touched down on land. The storm’s winds were around 109 mph (175 kph).

Firefighters feared that the hurricane approaching Southern California could produce strong winds that might fan the Fairview fire, which is located 121 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles. However, the crew managed to keep the blaze under control, and they said that by Monday, they would have the situation totally under control. Nevertheless, the fire damaged more than 10,000 homes and other buildings, and hundreds of people are still in shelters.

Following a heat wave that caused temperatures to rise to above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in the region, the hurricane arrived at an opportune moment. Unfortunately, the oppressive heat also took a toll on San Diego. Thankfully, the cyclone arrived and temporarily soothed the locals’ heat-related discomfort.

“The heat was killer, so for now, this feels good. I just hope the water doesn’t get too high. But I will rough it. I’ve got pallets I can put underneath to keep out the rain.”

Read Also: A Legacy has Ended, What Will Transpire in the Next Few Days Following Queen’s Death

Even while the rain was a respite, residents know the risks associated with prolonged, heavy rainfall. For example, a twin-engine aircraft landed and skidded off the runway at the Naval Air Station North Island in Colorado. The two pilots on board had to be brought to the hospital for observation due to the damage to the plane.

Moderate rainfall was experienced in a few locations in Southern California, but there was a risk of major downpours over the weekend. Officials say that if the rains continue, there is a very high likelihood of flooding. If the water level rises to the typical level, it has been recommended that low-lying homes and coastal towns be on the alert for possible evacuation procedures.

The heat affecting the state

September was the warmest it’s ever been in Western states, including California. In this region, the heat waves were the longest ever recorded. Energy grids were stressed as a result, which increased costs. This week, severe heat advisories and warnings were issued for multiple areas that are home to more than 54 million people.

The hottest temperature in nearly 79 years was recorded in Sacramento, the state capital of California, last Tuesday when it reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit or 46.7 degrees Celsius. As temperatures rose as high as 41.6 degrees Celsius, or 107 degrees Fahrenheit, in Salt Lake, it was confirmed that the city had also crossed the 40-degree Celsius barrier.

Read Also: European Companies Fear Worsening Gas Crisis as Russian Gas Supply Cuts Continue

Damage was inflicted to infrastructure

Multiple structures, notably electricity networks, have been harmed by the extreme heat and rain throughout many states. In order to combat the oppressive heat outside, businesses and families must upgrade their air conditioning systems. In addition, due to the increase in demand and electricity consumption, blackouts occurred stemming from the inability of the power systems to keep up.

Research shows that Western nations have grown warmer and drier due to climate change in the past thirty years. As a result, more severe and devastating wildfires increased in likelihood. In fact, California had the most disastrous wildfire ever recorded in only five years.

For example, the Mosquito Fire in eastern Sacramento doubled in size, spanning 46 square miles (119 square kilometers) of land and affecting over 3,600 dwellings in El Dorado and Placer counties.

 

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For more than 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II has presided as the Queen of the UK. The Balmoral Castle, where the monarch’s remains are located, was thronged by constituents when word of the monarch’s passing spread like wildfire. It was a time of national sorrow for Englishmen who held Queen Elizabeth in high respect.

Prince Charles, the Queen’s eldest son, is now King Charles III.

Officials at Buckingham Palace refer to the events surrounding the Queen’s burial and King Charles III’s coronation under the codename London Bridge. It has been years in the planning, and now that the Queen is gone, officials are enforcing it.

Here’s what will commence within 10 days:

Day 1

British citizens will observe the official national mourning until Queen Elizabeth II’s burial.

The new King, Prince Charles, who will hereafter be referred to as King Charles III, will meet with other officials, including Prime Minister Liz Truss, to prepare a written declaration and a national speech that will be aired on Friday.

The Great Tom, the Sebastopol Bell, the state bell of St. Paul Cathedral, and the tenor bell of Westminster Abbey will all chime in praise of the Queen. Additionally, gun salutes are anticipated to start in London’s Hyde Park and Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. Half-staff will be used for all flags.

Day 2

The corpse of Queen Elizabeth II will be moved from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh, the monarch’s former home.

The new King will attend the Privy Council meeting and deliver his broadcast speech there. The Canterbury Archbishop will also be present. The national song, “God Save the King,” will be played in the backdrop as the prince is declared the new King while standing on a balcony of St. James’s Palace.

Flags will now be flown at full mast.

Day 3

The royal family will gather for a liturgy at St. Giles Cathedral. King Charles will meet with Scotland’s First Minister in the interim. There will be proclamations in honor of the late Queen Elizabeth II from other towns and cities as well.

Read Also: Queen Elizabeth II Passes Away at 96

Day 4

The Queen’s coffin will be transported slowly by rail from St. Giles Cathedral through most of London overnight. While the new King and his wife, Camilla, are in Westminster Hall, they will be speaking with those who are grieving the country’s loss and offering their sympathies.

Day 5

The Queen’s remains will arrive in London, where they will then be driven to Buckingham Palace. The King will continue his journey to consult with people while stopping at St. Anne’s Cathedral and Hillsborough Castle.

Millions of people are anticipated to pay their respects when the Queen’s corpse arrives at Westminster Hall for a brief halt.

Day 6

The Queen’s casket is carried in a ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster. The royal family will accompany the parade on foot, including Prince Harry, Prince William, and their kids.

Throughout the march, the enormous Big Ben will be rung, and Hyde Park fire cannon salutes in solidarity. After the coffin arrives at Westminster Hall, it will be left there for five days while vigils are likely to start soon after. The casket will be closely watched.

Read Also: Employers want to Require Workers to Spend More Time in the Office

Day 7

World leaders are anticipated to arrive nearby and pay their respects in Westminster Hall to the Queen’s corpse. At Buckingham Palace, the Royal Family will also be seated alongside King Charles III.

Day 8

The Prime Minister will meet with King Charles III to address issues pertaining to governing his new subjects.

Day 9

There will be a formal send-off for the Queen. People of distinction and government representatives from all around the world are anticipated. All members of the royal family, and world leaders, including presidents and prime ministers, will gather in Westminster Abbey to bid the Queen farewell.

The path of the coffin will pass by Big Ben and the Grave of the Unknown Warrior when a two-minute national moment of silence is held. The casket will next go to Buckingham Palace and Wellington Arch before ending up at Windsor, the Queen’s last stop,

 

…

The European Central Bank said that it would raise interest rates to their highest level in order to help countries deal with the growing energy crisis. On Thursday, the ECB hiked interest rates by three-quarters of a percent and stated that another increase was very expected in the coming days.

Following the blowback with Russia, which resulted in supply cuts of gas entering European countries via major pipelines, primarily the Nord Stream 1, Europe has been pushing to keep up with rising energy demand. The situation is aggravated by the extreme heat that is sweeping the country.

Years after the ECB set it to zero in 2011, the rate is currently above the zero thresholds. This is the first time the Central Bank has set interest rates over 0 percent and outside the negative area. The ECB stated in a statement that it expects future rate hikes to occur.

“The Governing Council took today’s decision and expects to raise interest rates further because inflation remains far too high and is likely to stay above target for an extended period,” said the Central Bank.

Inflation in the UK is presently 9.1% as a consequence of rising prices of commodities like food and energy.

Read Also: Powell says Feds will Carry on with their Task of Thwarting Inflation

The energy crisis only worsened by Russia-Ukraine conflict

When Russia declared war on Ukraine, Europe attempted to extricate itself from its dependence on Russian petroleum exports. In reality, the G7 countries have already expressed their displeasure with Russia’s continuous aggressive behavior towards its neighbor.

In retaliation, Russia shut off the supply of natural gas to numerous European nations, including Germany. As a result of the supply reduction, energy costs skyrocketed, putting pressure on the government to bump up its subsidy on businesses and people in order to compensate for the abrupt consequences of the supply cuts.

Economists warn that a European recession is imminent as a result of these circumstances. Inflation is at a decades-high, firms are recording poor sales and activity, and Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is not growing as well as hoped. Furthermore, the region’s gross domestic product may fall in the coming quarter.

The ECB also rules that many people are already foreseeing high inflation rates in light of the present economic position. The following spending and investment patterns of corporate leaders and individuals may be affected, causing the ECB to be concerned about not meeting its objective for the year.

Read Also: Queen Elizabeth II Passes Away at 96

“Price pressures have continued to strengthen and broaden across the economy, and inflation may rise further in the near term,” the Central Bank said.

The ECB is contemplating that inflation rates could hit 8.1% on average in 2022. However, the central bank also anticipates the rate to fall considerably to 5.5% next year. Economic growth, meanwhile, is estimated to fall from 3.1% this year to 0.9% in 2023.

“There seems universal agreement that higher rates are required to prevent higher inflation becoming embedded, though [Russian] President Putin is creating a lot of slack in the European economy already,” said Kit Juckes, Societe Generale strategist.

According to ECB President Christine Legarde, a negative scenario in which European nations plunge into recession is feasible. Rationing, supply cutbacks, and climatic issues all contribute to this.

Holger Schmieding, Berenber’s chief economist, stated, “It still seems likely that, once the ECB realizes the depth of the recession that we expect to unfold, the ECB will put rate hikes on hold at some time in early 2023.”

 

…

Just two weeks after two major fires inflicted damage on more than 20,000 hectares of forest in the same area, the Gironde region in southwest France experienced another destructive fire on Wednesday. The French government was prompted by this to contact businesses and request that they dispatch volunteer firefighters to be on call during August.

Authorities have long warned people that these occurrences will become more prevalent as heat waves become more common throughout Europe. As experts anticipate more potential fires to be lit in August, businesses have requested volunteers to prepare. The issue, which has been getting worse since June, has been made worse by the drought conditions.

Gerald Darmanin, the French Interior Minister, visited one of the fire department’s offices in Aveyron, which is located in the South of France, and told the press, “We are getting to a point of exhaustion for the firefighters.”

Seventy-nine percent of the 250,000 firemen who have joined up with the French Fire Fighter Service are volunteers, according to the organization. Currently, more than 10,000 firemen have been sent to battle the wildfires that are raging around France. Companies have recently called for more people to help put out fires that have damaged France’s vegetation.

Read Also: Temperatures in Europe Reach Records High Prompting Authorities to Declare Heat Signals, Warnings

The Gironde fire damaged thousands of hectares

The Gironde fire broke out on Tuesday. When the fire was close to reaching communities, many people fled to the nearest safe refuge area. According to a recent count by authorities, over 10,000 residents have fled their homes to avoid the fires. Martin Guesperau, the deputy commissioner for defense and security for the Nouvelle-Aquitaine prefecture, said that the Gironde fire damaged over 6,000 hectares of forest.

The prefecture further announced that the key A63 roadway between Bordeaux and Bayonne would be closed because of the fire. It has now reached the Landes department and is a highly virulent fire, he continued.

According to a press release from those in charge of the situation, sixteen homes were affected by the fire. Thankfully, there have been no reported fatalities or injuries. However, the weather is currently highly unfavorable, and authorities warned the press that “We are entering a difficult day with very high risks.”

There are more wildfires occurring across the country

Besides the Gironde fire, three additional wildfires in the south of France are also being fought at the same time, according to French officials. In order to speak with the Gironde fire victims about potential relief and resolution, French Minister Elisabeth Borne visited the area.

The French government wants to make it apparent to its citizenry that they can count on them for support during emergencies and at all other times.

Temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit, in the southern part of France, according to weather agency predictions.

Over 63% of the UK and EU’s land is under extreme drought warnings and signals, as reported by the European Drought Observatory of the European Union. The continent could experience more wildfires and scorching conditions as the weeks go by.

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The region the EU claims to cover is bigger than the three largest US states combined—Alaska, Texas, and California—and is almost as vast as India. In addition, the EU’s climate monitoring agency, Copernicus, stated that the region would experience cloudless weather over the coming several days.

“This new heatwave is associated with a robust high-pressure figure causing cloudlessness over much of western Europe,” said Copernicus in a statement.

“According to the national weather services, air temperatures between 9 and 14 August could again exceed 44°C (111.2 Fahrenheit) in Spain, 40°C (104 Fahrenheit) in France, 35°C (95 Fahrenheit) in the south of the United Kingdom and 30°C (86 Fahrenheit) in the Netherlands.”

“Then you combine that with the lack of rainfall — and for some parts of Europe, there’s been below average rainfall now for 15 or 16 months — there’s been a very prolonged period of dry weather, and so rivers and reservoirs have got down to very, very low levels,” Liz Bentley, the chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said.

 

…

If the United Kingdom does not address its worsening energy shortage soon, it may face a humanitarian crisis. In addition, increased demand in the face of a supply shortage has resulted in higher bills, and if this trend continues, experts believe that many consumers will protest.

The country intends to freeze electricity and gas prices in order to calm consumers’ nerves; however, this could cost the government more than £100 billion, or more than $118 billion.

The UK government has implemented tax cuts, direct payments, and bill rebates to protect its citizens from a planned increase in energy prices of 90%. Gas and energy prices, however, have risen to record highs as predicted, and the government might not be able to keep up.

The Institute of Government estimates that to shield its citizens from a 90% increase in costs until April 2023, the government may need to set aside an additional £23 billion. Nevertheless, if it wants to extend that protection until April 2024, a larger sum—£90 billion—is required.

One of the biggest UK energy companies, Scottish Power, gave the government the same advice. According to the Financial Times, the company stated in one of its interviews that to serve the public, the government must freeze prices within two years. They would have to pay billions of euros, though.

Read Also: Impact of China’s Energy Crisis Will be Felt by the World

 

The bills paid by average households

A household spends more than £1,971 annually, up 50% from the previous year. However, energy providers assert that the average annual cost could top £3,500. According to research firm Auxilione, the government must take action because the current trend indicates that a household could pay as much as £6,433 yearly.

Scottish Power recommended capping energy bills at £2,000 while sending assistance to suppliers to keep up with the cost of gas and electricity in wholesale markets. The Financial Times reported that the anticipated allocation of £100 billion for subsidies to energy providers would come from government borrowing to be paid for by general taxes.

“It is going to be truly, truly horrific for a large number of people. This is bigger than the pandemic. It’s a big national crisis,” said the CEO of Scottish Power, Keith Anderson.

 

The government could help agencies

Government funding for the impacted parties is nothing new in the UK. Many organizations were able to recover from the losses they suffered when the pandemic hit, thanks to the government’s £70 billion subsidy. In order to avoid unemployment among the affected businesses, the government also agreed to pay the salaries of employees back in March 2020.

To date this year, the government has allocated a total of £33 billion to help households cope with the skyrocketing cost of energy and gas.

A Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy spokesperson said, “We know the pressures people are facing with rising costs, which is why we have continually taken action to help households by phasing in £37 billion worth of support.”

“We are giving a £400 discount on energy bills this winter, and eight million of the most vulnerable households will see £1,200 extra support. While no government can control global gas prices, over 22 million households are protected by the price cap, which continues to insulate households from even higher prices.”

Read Also: Ford Motor said it Will Reduce Company Costs by Removing 3,000 Individuals from its Workforce

 

Households are alarmed

The UK industry continues to sound the alarms despite the government’s current interventions. In order to prevent fuel poverty in communities, the government should provide more assistance to suppliers and households, according to Philippe Commaret, an executive at EDF.

“[Many people could fall sick this winter as they] face the awful choice between skipping meals to heat their homes and having to live in cold, damp and very unpleasant conditions,” said the leaders from the UK National Health Service last week.

Russia’s reduction in supply to Europe has only made things worse. This is occurring as Western nations attempt to wean themselves from relying on Russian resources by forbidding the import of Russian coal and oil.