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###CLAIM: the trend towards climate conscious investment has seen the capital costs of oil and gas projects around the world go the way of coal, which could have very significant implications for their economics.
###DOCS: This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Coal financing costs have surged over the last decade as investors demand returns four times as high as the payoff required from renewable energy projects to justify the risk of investing in fossil fuels, as the world moves towards cleaner energy sources. A University of Oxford study found that over the same period the cost of investing in renewable energy sources, such as wind farms and solar arrays, has tumbled as the clean energy technologies prove they can be cost-effective and lucrative investments. The research analyzed the cost of financing energy projects by tracking the loan spreads offered by lenders, which determine how high they expect their returns to be to cover the risk of investing. Investors typically require wind and solar energy projects to make returns of at least 10% to 11% to account for the low risk of the investment. But for investments in coal, returns need to rocket to 40% to justify the rising risk that a high-polluting project might be left stranded as governments ramp up their climate action ambitions. Dr. Ben Caldecott, the director of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Programme and a co-author of the report, said lower loan spreads for renewable energy projects means they could become even cheaper for ratepayers and taxpayers, which is a good thing for rapidly decarbonising the energy sector.The report collated financing costs for renewable energy over a five-year period from 2010 to 2014 compared with loan costs between 2015 and 2020. It found that the cost of financing solar farms has fallen by 20%, while the cost of financing onshore and offshore windfarms has fallen by 15% and 33%, respectively. While Europe led the way in falling costs for offshore wind farms, Australia took the lead in driving down financing costs for onshore wind, and solar financing costs fell fastest in North America. But investors are demanding higher returns from coal projects, which has caused their financing costs to climb. Loan spreads for power stations and coal mines have increased sharply, at 38% and 54%, respectively. This isnt occurring at the pace required to tackle climate change...costs will need to rise for oil and gas projects too. Caldecott added that the steep hike in costs for coal mines and coal-fired power plants proves that the risk of investing in fossil fuels during the transition to cleaner energy sources, which are sometimes viewed as distant, long-term risks, was already priced in today. The challenge is that this isnt happening evenly and certainly isnt occurring at the pace required to tackle climate change. In particular, financing costs will need to rise for oil and gas projects, he said. The financial constraints which have tightened around the coal industry since the shift toward cleaner energy began have not materialized to the same extent for the oil and gas industry, according to the research. The report found that the cost of financing gas-fired power plants climbed 7% over the last decade, but for coal plants costs have surged by 38% over a similar period. While the financing costs linked to coal mining have climbed by 58%, the cost of financing oil and gas production has climbed by only 3% over the last decade. In the case of offshore oil production, costs have fallen by over 40%. Dr Xiaoyan Zhou, also from the Oxford Sustainable Finance Programme and the lead author of the report, said that the trend toward climate-conscious investing could see the cost of capital for oil and gas go the way of coal, which could have very significant implications for the economics of oil and gas projects around the world.This could result in stranded assets and introduce substantial refinancing risks, she said.
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###CLAIM: deficits in contracts for defense assets and a very large time behind schedule have rectified the budget's dubious commitment to local content and jobs.
###DOCS: He has been Australias defence minister for only a month but Peter Dutton has already dived headfirst into a bramble of thorny military issues. The former Queensland cop has overruled the chief of defence on a key issue of military culture, ratcheted up the rhetoric about security threats from China, hinted that he may tear up multi-billion-dollar submarine contracts, and initiated defamation action against at least one Twitter critic. I suspect its going to be an uncomfortable time for some of his senior officials, because hes not going to be there to win friends, says John Blaxland, a defence analyst at the Australian National University. Hes going to be there to make a name for himself.The conservative former home affairs minister who challenged Malcolm Turnbull for the top job twice in the one week in 2018, but fell short to Scott Morrison faces a daunting task in getting multi-billion-dollar defence projects back on track, but has been making it clear in his early moves that he will not be hands-off, according to observers. Weve got your backOne of Duttons first symbolic steps, after replacing previous defence minister Linda Reynolds in Morrisons latest cabinet reshuffle, was to reassure Australian defence force (ADF) personnel amid ongoing investigations into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. The Brereton inquiry had found credible evidence to implicate 25 current or former ADF personnel in the alleged unlawful killing of 39 individuals and the cruel treatment of two others. Duttons office did not respond to a request for comment for this article, but the minister told the Australian newspaper his top priority would be to improve ADF morale and reassure servicemen and women that the government has their back. Neil James, head of the Australia Defence Association, questions whether ADF personnel really needed to hear that from Dutton. Quite frankly, no, because they knew the previous minister had their back too, particularly as she was a former ADF officer. I dont think that signals change, in reality.Dutton then moved to stamp his authority by overruling a recommendation by the chief of the defence force, General Angus Campbell, to strip the meritorious unit citation from about 3,000 special forces soldiers who served in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013. Campbell had previously justified the proposal by saying units live and fight as a team, and there needed to be collective responsibility for the deeply disturbing inquiry findings. But Dutton said he was intervening in the matter because we shouldnt be punishing the 99% for the sins of the 1%. The defence department explains this means current and former personnel can continue to wear the insignia unless they are convicted in a court of law, or administratively identified by defence as implicated and therefore, not deserving of retaining the honour. Duttons intervention, says James, sends a very bad message internationally and to ADF units about the governments seriousness in acting on the Brereton findings. When you make a decision like that where you interfere with the chief of the defence forces statutory command of the defence force, youve got to have a good reason and the perception is that he did it for party political expediency, James says. The meritorious unit citation is not a medal, James adds. Its a citation. And its not individual, its collective. And the problem is that you cant bask in the acclaim of a collective award, when its been found not to be deserved.Just hours after Dutton announced the decision, the government also promised to establish a royal commission into defence personnel and veterans suicide a proposal that had been gaining in political and public support but which the Coalition had previously resisted. Opening a can of wormsBlaxland, a professor of international security and intelligence studies at the Australian National University, believes Duttons intervention is a slap in the face to Campbell, who nonetheless may have been too hasty to adopt the recommendation on stripping the meritorious unit citation. Campbell had worked closely with Morrison, the then immigration minister, as the inaugural commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, the asylum-seeker boat turnback scheme launched under Tony Abbotts prime ministership. Blaxland speculates that the CDF must have had the initial backing of Morrison and Reynolds on the meritorious unit citation decision before the prime minister started to retreat in the face of public criticism and media campaigns late last year, culminating in Duttons decision. Now, thats the ministers prerogative, but there are consequences because you do that to your chief of defence force too often, thats going to have a ripple effect across the organisation, Blaxland says. While the criminal investigations are being handled by the new office of the special investigator established within Duttons old portfolio of home affairs he will have an ongoing role in ensuring cultural reforms are implemented in the ADF. The government has set up an oversight panel, led by the former intelligence inspector-general Dr Vivienne Thom, to report directly and regularly to the defence minister. Blaxland says Dutton may have been seeking to avoid a wider reckoning over the context for the corrosion of the moral compass of a handful of people during the military engagement in Afghanistan, including the culture that allowed that to happen. Thats the problem with picking off this handful of people who are alleged in the Brereton report to have conducted these atrocities: what about holding to account those people who sent us here on this half-baked mission? And I think thats what Peter Duttons responding to, by saying, well, Im not going to open that can of worms, so Ill close off the other one.Security edgeDutton is a favourite of the conservative press and on rightwing talkback radio stations like 2GB, where he has a weekly interview slot, but has been labelled by Turnbull as a divisive figure who would have done enormous damage to the social fabric of Australia if he had succeeded in his quest to become prime minister. Dutton moves across to defence after a high-profile stint as the minister overseeing the mega-department of home affairs, which takes in Australias security agencies such as the domestic spy agency Asio and the Australian federal police. He was already a member of cabinets national security committee, the powerful body that is chaired by the prime minister and ticks off on Australias most significant national-security and foreign policy decisions. The security edge shows in Duttons initial public pronouncements in the new role, including mounting a case for the threat posed by an unfriendly China. Dutton said Australia would not surrender our sovereignty nor be compromised by the principles of the Communist party of China. When you look at our part of the world, you look at militarisation of bases, when you look at the cyber-attacks, all of that is not the action of a friend, Dutton told the Nine networks Today program on 23 April, adding that China and others need to understand that Australia is not going to be bullied. That comment drew a sharp reaction from Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, who denied responsibility for cyber-attacks and said the ministers preposterous comments totally confuse black with white. Morrison and Dutton then announced a $750m upgrade of military training sites in the Northern Territory a more expensive version of a project first foreshadowed in 2019 in a move that was splashed on the front of the Australian newspaper on Wednesday under the headline Let the war games begin. Dutton has also said the risk of a military conflict over Taiwan should not be discounted, while his former right-hand man at the Department of Home Affairs, Michael Pezzullo, has spoken of an increasing drumbeat to war. The comments come amid persistent speculation that Pezzullo, a former Labor staffer who has etched out a hawkish reputation as the top bureaucrat at home affairs, could be appointed as secretary of the defence department. Dutton this week praised Pezzullo as a patriotic public servant, obviously a deep thinker with a great sense of history. Pezzullo may have been using the drumbeat speech to stake a claim for the defence job, according to Blaxland, who doesnt believe the appointment is guaranteed. Blaxland says there are other contenders in the mix and it is also possible that the current secretary, Greg Moriarty, who gets on very well with Campbell, could be extended. Looking for actionEither way, observers note there are limits to what the new defence minister can practically achieve in the portfolio, given that major projects have a long lead time, the big decisions are made by the prime minister, and the governments strategic outlook has already undergone a major update last year. The government promises to spend $270bn on defence capability upgrades over a decade. The task of scrutinising that spending falls largely to the shadow defence minister, Brendan OConnor, who says Dutton will be judged on what he does, not what he says. He must focus his energies on rectifying deficiencies in the very large defence asset contracts which are over-budget, significantly behind schedule and with dubious commitments to local content and local jobs, the Labor MP says. Top of the list is the $90bn acquisition of 12 new submarines, which has been plagued by a dispute between the Australian government and the French contractor over a push to maximise local jobs. In March the then acting defence minister, Marise Payne, said the government had reached a deal with Naval Group for the company to spend at least 60% of the contract value in Australia but there continue to be doubts about the fine print. Dutton has refused to rule out tearing up the submarine contract altogether while vowing to pursue greater performance than what weve seen previously. Blaxland says it would have to get very untidy and very messy for the government to rip up the deal, but Dutton could take a hardball approach to enforcing contractual milestones. Those milestones provided an opportunity to push back and extract concessions or invoke punishments. I suspect that Dutton may be more difficult for the industry primes to roll over, I suspect hes going to play a role thats going to make them uncomfortable, because hes going to demand more from them.James says one of Duttons advantages, when he scrutinises the nations defence needs, is that he is not from the big shipbuilding states of South Australia (like Christopher Pyne) and Western Australia (like Reynolds and David Johnston). Theres been an unhealthy trend in defence contracting over the past decade, James says, of premiers and state-based politicians believing that decisions should be made on whats best for the state. Him being a Queenslander will probably help, in both the reality and the perception, James says. Blaxland says while defence has sometimes been seen as a career-ending backwater and has seen ministers struggle to get a handle on the gargantuan beast, Dutton has signalled he wont be a passive figure. I suspect he will be somebody who rides this dragon, if you like, pretty tightly.
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###CLAIM: eventually, the staff, whose hair was made fun of by the crowd and whose red hat was for him, emerged from air force one.
###DOCS: Comment on this story Comment Gift Article ShareThe same afternoon a few weeks ago that tens of thousands of people joined Womens March events in D.C. and nationwide, and only days after the plot to kidnap and kill the woman who governs my state was revealed, I went to President Trumps Muskegon, Mich., rally seeking women who support him. A Michigan woman myself, I worked with some colleagues to publish a list of nearly a thousand carefully researched facts about the failures and misdeeds of Trumps tenure, ample reason for me to vote Democratic. But I wanted to know why other Michigan women planned to vote the other way. Im a woman. He checked last night, Angela Willson told me, pointing and laughing at her husband, who wore a matching cap and T-shirt touting the Second Amendment. Theyd made a day of the rally with two other couples and had been waiting for hours in gray, drizzly weather in a strip mall parking lot outside an appliance store. Their mood was festive. Willson had voted for Trump in 2016, and when I asked her why shed be renewing her support, the pause was long enough that her husband joked, Want me to answer for you? which got more laughs out of everyone around them. Im pro-life, so thats why, she said. Umm. She delayed another moment, and her husband interjected, Hes not a career politician.Most people I talked to that day hesitantly conjured something to say in answer to my question but had trouble coming up with more than one reason. I admit that I had trouble accepting some of their answers, which at times felt fallacious on a surreal level. He kept his promise on building the wall was the most common response, though my read on that issue is that Trump has only created five new miles of wall at our southern border. More than once, I met a person wearing multiple items of Trump apparel who couldnt list even one reason they planned to vote for him. Some of the people in Trump gear walked the razor fine line between admiration and disgust, like a friend of Willsons whose hat called him an expletive. AdvertisementThey arent the only ones who had trouble specifying their reasons to support Trump: For the first time since 1856, the Republican Party didnt even issue a new policy platform this year, instead putting out a full-throated endorsement of the president with no details except America First. The evidence against him may seem irrefutable to his opponents, but its also irrelevant to a vast number of Americans. Fifteen thousand people gathered in Muskegon 17 days before the election to spend time together and to have fun, but Trump and his policies were an afterthought at best. Up and down the line, every few minutes someone talked about how cool it was going to be to see Air Force One. There was excitement about the luxe charter buses taking people between the lot and the hangar and about the sirloin steak tip food truck. The crowd about 98 percent White laughed and hugged, mostly maskless. They wrapped themselves in Trump flags and flew them from their bumpers. They made sandwiches on their dashboards before getting in line, and someone pumped AC/DC out of their speakers and drove slow circles around us. If you didnt know better, you might think we were at a late 70s rock concert. Rebecca Feikema, a housecleaner, is voting for Trump for a second time, and she cited the construction of the wall as her primary reason. She was one of many women there who had firsthand experience with the opioid crisis in western Michigan, and she felt the wall would have an impact on that painful situation at home. She couldnt come up with a second reason but told me shed written down a list on her fridge; she wished she could think of the rest. AdvertisementJennifer McGruder had a few reasons: Im happy he put the wall up. Hes bringing the swamp down. Who better to beat the system than someone who went through there and came out on top? He knows the wins and the ways. With his first business, he was able to get it so he didnt have to pay the taxes. Thats a good businessman. Thats a good man who knows the loopholes of our system so we can prevent those future loopholes. Each of these felt debatable to me, but the person next to her, a man she had just met who carried an oversize American flag, was nodding along word for word. I asked if they came to the rally together, and they said no. But were united, she said. With many thousands inside the gate at the Muskegon airport hangar and thousands more still lined up, Trumps plane landed, Queens We Are the Champions started playing, and his speech began. The remarks were disjointed, bouncing randomly from applause line to applause line every few minutes. The radical left! hed say, and the crowd would react. Socialism! and theyd react again. He hammered home the idea that Democrats would take away statues of American heroes and would rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. He denigrated women continually, including Nancy Pelosi and Savannah Guthrie. He spoke about riots in Minnesota and mentioned Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) enough times that I thought he may be confused about which M state he was in. He asked people to chant four more years then suggested they change to 12 more years, and they did. When he mentioned Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.)s name, the crowd crowed Lock her up! He turned away from the podium briefly then leaned down close to the mic and said, Lock 'em all up.Two men next to me wore different versions of unflattering Trump Halloween costumes, and across the sea of humans beneath Trumps podium, there were red visors with attached yellow fright wigs emulating his notable hair. A few minutes into the speech, Trump cried, No one told me there were going to be 40 mile an hour winds over here as his hair flapped side to side. A staffer eventually emerged from Air Force One with a red hat for him, and people in the crowd made fun of his hair to one another. AdvertisementSeven minutes into his remarks, even before the emergency MAGA hat was delivered, people began to leave. For the rest of the 90 minutes that he was at the podium, audience members steadily streamed toward the exits. Just inside the outer gate to the rally, others were taking turns with an electric scooter and framing selfies from different angles. Theyd waited in line in 45-degree weather, had their temperature taken and spent their whole Saturday to be here. There was room for them inside the gate, but they were having more fun outside it. By now, Feikema was also on the other side of the gate. She shouted that I should join her. I called my friend. I have my reasons now, she said. Her face mask, which said TRUMP, was looped on her wrist. Over her shoulder, I saw a White man with an almost empty box of signs that read BLACK VOICES FOR TRUMP. Feikema recited the reasons from the list on her fridge (the economy figured prominently) while I watched this man disperse his last 10 BLACK VOICES placards to White people gathered outside the gate, playing games on their cellphones. Trumps speech wrapped up, and a Village People song started as he pumped his fist. Young man ... they sang, and our 74-year old president boarded the plane for a rally starting in less than an hour in Janesville, Wis. While he made his way across Lake Michigan to deliver another 90-minute speech, the crowd halfheartedly sang along to the music and lingered at the hangar, where Trump T-shirts were half price and the food truck was still open. GiftOutline Gift Article
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###CLAIM: more rigorous research has had tests carried out at central locations and more objective specialists interpreting the results.
###DOCS: Heart inflammation is uncommon in pro athletes whove had mostly mild Covid-19 and most dont need to be sidelined, a study conducted by major professional sports leagues suggests. The results are not definitive, outside experts say, and more independent research is needed. But the study published Thursday in JAMA Cardiology is the largest to examine the potential problem. The coronavirus can cause inflammation in many organs, including the heart. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreakThe research involved professional athletes in the U.S. and Canada who play in major league football, hockey, soccer, baseball and mens and womens basketball. All tested positive for Covid-19 before October and were given guideline-recommended heart tests, nearly 800 total. None had severe Covid-19 and 40 percent had few or no symptoms what might be expected from a group of healthy elite athletes with an average age of 25. Severe Covid-19 is more common in older people and those with chronic health conditions. Almost 4 percent had abnormal results on heart tests done after they recovered but subsequent MRI exams found heart inflammation in less than 1 percent of the athletes. These five athletes all had Covid-19 symptoms. Whether their heart problems were caused by the virus is unknown although the researchers think that is likely. They were sidelined for about three months, had no further problems and at least some returned to play, said Dr. Matthew Martinez of Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey. Hes the studys lead author and team cardiologist for footballs New York Jets. Two previous smaller studies in college athletes recovering from the virus suggested heart inflammation might be more common. The question is of key interest to athletes, who put extra stress on their hearts during play, and undetected heart inflammation has been linked with sudden death. Whether mild Covid-19 can cause heart damage is the million-dollar question, said Dr. Richard Kovacs, co-founder of the American College of Cardiologys Sports & Exercise Council. And whether severe Covid-19 symptoms increase the chances of having fleeting or long-lasting heart damage is part of the puzzle, he said. Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreakKovacs said the study has several weaknesses. Testing was done at centers affiliated or selected by each team, and results were interpreted by team-affiliated cardiologists, increasing the chances of bias. More rigorous research would have had standardized testing done at a central location and more objective specialists interpret the results, he said. Also, many of the athletes had no previous imaging exams to compare the results with, so there is no way to know for certain if abnormalities found during the study were related to the virus. There is clearly more work to do but I think it is very helpful additional evidence, said Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, president-elect of the American Heart Association. Dr. Dial Hewlett, a member of a Covid-19 task force at the National Medical Association, which represents Black physicians, said the study is extremely timely. Hewlett is a deputy health commissioner for New Yorks Westchester County and advises high schools and colleges on when to allow young athletes to return to play after Covid-19 infections. Im grateful that we are starting to get some data to help guide us in some of our decisions, Hewlett said. Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.
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###CLAIM: babuk said it had 250 gigabytes of data, enough to store up to 70 photos or thousands of documents according to computer security experts.
###DOCS: Gift Article ShareHackers who claim to have infiltrated the D.C. police departments computer network are threatening to publicize confidential files that could reveal names of suspected gang members and intelligence from crime briefings, according to online posts reviewed by cybersecurity experts. Fast, informative and written just for locals. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. ArrowRight A ransomware entity called Babuk posted its warning on the dark Web, purporting to have downloaded a vast array of information, and warned police to get in touch as soon as possible and pay us, otherwise we will publish the data.The group posted several pictures of suspected gang members and maps drawn by police of territories claimed by street crews, a sample of information experts say is meant to prove their threats are real. Babuk said it downloaded 250 gigabytes of data, which could be large enough to store up to 70,000 photos or tens of thousands of documents, according to computer security experts. AdvertisementBabuk displayed screenshots of dozens of file folders, including ones dealing with discipline and listed by officer names, and others titled known shooters, most violent person, RAP feuds, gang conflict report and strategic crime briefings.Authorities including the FBI are trying to determine whether Babuk actually has gained access to those files. One security expert provided screenshots of the groups online comments to The Washington Post. A D.C. official familiar with the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because a probe is underway, confirmed the city is looking into the claims believed to be made by Babuk. Its fair to say its very serious, said D.C. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), who chairs the public safety committee. Its open to assessment as to how serious.AdvertisementAllen said authorities are trying to assess and understand what happened, and what type of information may have been stolen. He said he learned the hackers probably did not get access to files shared by the District and federal law enforcement authorities. But still, if the group has the documents it claims, revealing them could affect ongoing criminal investigations, publicize personal information about police officers and put the lives of informants and others at risk. D.C. police issued a brief statement Monday that said the department was aware of unauthorized access on our server and was working to determine the full impact. District officials did not comment further on Tuesday. Two cybersecurity experts who track ransomware attacks said the threat against D.C. police was posted on the dark Web on Monday. Along with the screenshots of purported police files, the group wrote:AdvertisementHello! Even an institution such as DC can be threatened, we have downloaded a sufficient amount of information from your internal networks, and we advise you to contact us as soon as possible, to prevent leakage. If no response is received within 3 days, we will start to contact gangs to drain the informants.They warned, even larger attacks await you soon.Malware attacks have been a persistent problem for businesses, hospitals, schools and government agencies across the country. D.C. police were targeted in 2017 when hackers took over 126 outdoor surveillance cameras days before the presidential inauguration. Authorities accused two Romanians and said they had planned to use police computers to email ransomware to tens of thousands of accounts, essentially running an extortion scheme using government infrastructure to hide their tracks. AdvertisementLast year, Fairfax County schools in Virginia were targeted, and some employee data was compromised. In 2019, Baltimore was struck in a ransomware attack that crippled the citys ability to process payments and online real estate transactions, and took down municipal emails. The hackers demanded tens of thousands of dollars to restore systems. The Baltimore Sun estimated the attack cost the city about $18 million in lost revenue and money spent to restore the systems and improve security. Two cybersecurity experts interviewed said hackers are now employing different tactics. Instead of shutting down a system to extort money, they are stealing information and then demanding money to not disclose it. That appears to be what happened to D.C. police, the experts said. Brett Callow, an analyst for the New Zealand-based cybersecurity company Emsisoft, said ransom notes can be sent separately to the targets. AdvertisementHe said the screenshots of files are meant to show D.C. police that the hackers possess information. He likened the postings to the equivalent of a kidnapper sending a pinkie finger to a victim. If the organization doesnt pay, Callow said, they start publishing.Callow, who has been monitoring postings regarding D.C. police and provided The Post with a copy, said Babuk is fairly new to ransomware attacks. He said the group previously targeted the Houston Rockets. Bloomberg News reported Babuk threatened to expose the teams files containing contracts, customer information and nondisclosure agreements. But Callow said that if Babuk really has obtained the information it says it has, D.C. police wouldnt be their only option for monetizing the attack. He said they could sell the information to gangs who would probably covet raw police intelligence about them or their rivals. AdvertisementKimberly Goody, the senior manager of cybercrime for Mandiant Threat Intelligence, with offices in California and Virginia, said even if a target pays the ransom, there is no guarantee the group will delete the data. She said they might even sell it to somebody else. Having the data, Goody said, gives them additional leverage. No matter what the target does, she said, the group will always have that hanging over their heads. . . . Even if you do pay them, you dont have any guarantees.She said some ransomware groups have followed through with their threats; there also are reports of businesses or agencies paying the ransom. Goody said she largely agrees with the government authorities that organizations should not pay. It incentivizes other criminals in the future, she said. But Goody said in some cases, lives may be in jeopardy, and officials may have to negotiate because they dont have another option.Julie Tate contributed to this report. GiftOutline Gift Article
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###CLAIM: the sculpture of mr. and mrs. hongs reflects the cultural fascination with mr. trump in china, beginning with his election.
###DOCS: There is no shortage of merchandise in China devoted to the former president of the United States, Donald J. Trump. There are commemorative coins, toilet brushes and cat toys; countless figurines, including updated versions of Mount Rushmore, plus all those flags, bumper stickers and hats from campaigns past and future. (Does anyone still believe all that Make America Great Again stuff was really made in America?) Enter the Trump Buddha. A furniture maker and decorator in southern China has cast a sculpture of Mr. Trump in ceramic whiteware, his legs crossed and hands serenely resting in his lap. He is draped in a monks robes, his head is lowered and his eyes are closed, as if in meditative repose, an emotional state not typically associated with the 45th president of the United States. The artist calls it Trump, the Buddha of Knowing of the Western Paradise.He has been already very successful, but now he is still tormenting himself, being obsessed, having a lot of ideas and doubts, the creator, Hong Jinshi, said when asked about his inspiration. Mr. Hongs sculpture reflects an abiding cultural fascination with Mr. Trump in China that began with his election. Many admired his brash style, his familys business ties to China and even his early courtship of Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, whom he called an incredible guy.
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###CLAIM: if you ever again get to the point where you are steeped in the talking points of the right wing media ecosystem, if you ever again get to the point where early voting and absentee voting are expanded the way democrats want and you can't possibly be confused about how gop leaders justify the numerous expensive lawsuits they make.
###DOCS: There have been so many lawsuits about the logistics of votingthe deadlines, the locations, the paperworkleading up to the pandemic election that it is nearly impossible to keep up. Democrats have accused the Trump campaign and Republicans around the country of politically motivated attempts to suppress the vote. And as they have since the days of Bush v. Gore, Republicans have said their efforts ensure the integrity of the election, even as no evidence has materialized to support their claims of substantial voter fraud. AdvertisementSome GOP leaders have expressed concern that Democrats are committed to manipulating election laws in their favor. Others, including President Donald Trump, havent been subtle about their motivation for the slew of lawsuits. Trump said that if early voting and absentee voting were expanded as Democrats wanted, youd never have a Republican elected in this country again.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf you arent steeped in the talking points of the right-wing media ecosystem and cant follow the obscure references the president makes to stoke fear about nefarious ballot manipulations, you may be confused how GOP leaders justify their numerous and expensive lawsuits. Here is a rundown of the various efforts to make voting easier and why Republicans have opposed them. Mail Ballots That Arrive After Election DayThis has become Trumps biggest target on the campaign trail. It would be very, very proper and very nice if a winner were declared on Nov. 3, instead of counting ballots for two weeks, which is totally inappropriate, and I dont believe thats by our laws, Trump said in late October. The day before, he warned his Twitter followers, Big problems and discrepancies with Mail In Ballots all over the USA. Must have final total on November 3rd. (None of this is true.) AdvertisementAdvertisementThe lawsuits themselves lean on a different rationale: A number have argued that it is in the public interest to avoid last-minute changes to the election proceedings for the sake of consistency and to avoid confusion, even if those changes are intended to make it easier to vote. In Pennsylvania, the state Supreme Court ruled against Republicans and declared that county election boards should count ballots received up to three days after Nov. 3. (Republican congressional candidates have recently filed a similar lawsuit in the U.S. district court.) Democrats and election officials have said that because of known delays with the Postal Service, an extension to the deadline would be necessary to stop votes from being unfairly thrown out. Republicans have indicated that they believe that these extensions would violate the Constitution. Drive-Thru VotingAs part of the effort to make voting easier, Harris County, Texas, began offering drive-thru voting this year. It was part of an effort to expand accommodations for voters during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October, Texas Republican candidates filed a lawsuit asking a judge to throw out all 127,000 drive-thru ballots that had been cast, citing a technicality in Texas voter law. Their argument wasnt about voter fraudafter all, these voters were still following the same steps as other in-person voters, just voting from an electronic tablet in their cars. In this case, the Republican plaintiffs argued that the drive-thru voting clearly benefited Democrats, as it provided extra accommodations in a Democrat-leaning county. If Harris County goes against Trump in large enough numbers, then we could lose Texas, one of the plaintiffs said, according to the Associated Press. But the timing of the lawsuit alarmed voting rights groups: By waiting until after most of the drive-thru voting was done, the Republicans sought to throw out many legally cast votes. A federal judge rejected the attempt on Monday. Harris County, out of fear of further legal challenges, shut down most drive-thru voting sites for Election Day. Automatically Mailed Ballots or Ballot ApplicationsThe Trump campaign sued Nevada over its plan to send absentee ballots to all active voters. So right there, its no good; its defective, Trump said of Nevadas system while speaking with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. Two votes in an envelopein a single envelope. This is a thing that will be a disaster like never before. So well see what the court has to say about it.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAt the same time, Trump suggested that Floridawhere the president himself voted by mailand Arizona were OK to use mail-in voting because they had refined the process, while Nevada was facing millions of ballots, all of a sudden, coming out of nowhere. In other cases, lawsuits have sought to prevent states from automatically mailing voters absentee ballot applications. According to the Trump lawsuit, Major or hasty changes confuse voters, undermine confidence in the electoral process, and create incentive to remain away from the polls. Republicans have complained that the mail-in system creates confusing deadlines and procedures that vary by county. More importantly, they argued, it made it easier to commit voter fraud by using the names of voters who are dead, who have moved out of state, or who choose not to vote. In the Nevada case, the judge dismissed the lawsuit, and registered voters received their mail-in ballots. Absentee Ballot Drop-Off SitesIn many states, election officials have tried to enable contact-free voting for minimal COVID-19 risk by setting up boxes around the county for voters to simply deposit their ballots, without a person present. Republicans have protested loudly against the measure. Iowas secretary of state instructed county elections commissioners to only set up absentee ballot drop boxes outside their offices so that a poll worker would be presenta limitation a judge later backed. Some conservatives have said they fear that people will seize the opportunity to vote without witnesses to drop multiple forged ballots in the boxes. There are additional election security measures in place to detect fraudulent ballots, but the thinking here appears to be that if enough forgeries are attempted, some number will make it through. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn some states, there are no drop boxes, but there are sites, where voters must show their identification to a poll worker. The Texas Supreme Court upheld Gov. Greg Abbotts mandate limiting each county to just one absentee ballot drop-off location. Critics have complained that the order doesnt just make it harder for the elderly and those with disabilities to vote; it also guarantees increased congestion at the locations, which could mean a very real COVID-19 risk in densely populated counties. The GOPs reasoning for the limitations arent abundantly clear, but it seems that theres a concern that without such limitations, counties would be unable to provide adequate election security at the sites and poll watchers would be deterred. Ballot CollectionThe Supreme Court has said it will review a law in Arizona that bans voters from having someone who is not a family member or caregiver deliver their completed ballots. This practice, known to critics as ballot harvesting, allows people who are busy or sick or who otherwise have difficulty getting around to have a neighbor or friend or even voter advocacy organization deliver their ballot for them. (Democrats often refer to it as community ballot collection.) For the defenders of the practice, such forms of ballot collection are meant to help the marginalized and disadvantaged, such as elderly voters in nursing homes. But many conservatives have insisted that the practice opens the voting process up to mass fraud, should a person or organization turn in forged ballots they claim to be on another voters behalf. Ironically, Trump, who has tweeted of the rampant fraud of the practice, submitted his ballot to a third party to have it turned in in Florida. Prefilled FormsThere was a legal dispute in Iowa over the decision by auditors in three counties to send out absentee ballot request forms with voters information already partially filled out, pulled from the states voter registration database. They had argued that voters regularly left out their (often unknown) voter identification numbers, and the country would then have to contact the voter via telephone or email to correct the errora time-consuming process. Republicans immediately challenged the effort, arguing that a blank form provided extra assurance that the person filling it out is actually the voter. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Iowa Supreme Court put it this way: For example, to do many debit card or credit card transactions, it is necessary for the consumer to enter personal information such as the persons address, zip code, or PIN. The card company already has this information; the only reason to ask for it is to ensure that the person doing the transaction is the actual cardholder. The secretary of state in the Iowa case also contended that the vendor who processed the mailing list should not have had access to the voters identification numbers for personal security reasons. With little evidence, Republicans have complained that the process of matching them has been too lenient. In Nevada, Trumps campaign sued to demand that Clark County stop counting ballots until observers could examine the process by which voters signatures were being compared. The suit worried election officials in Nevada, who hoped to count the absentee ballots quickly to give voters enough time to address any issues (this process is known as curing a ballot). The Trump lawsuit also called for better accommodation for their poll watchers during the curing process. (The case was thrown out on Monday). Republicans have called into question the reliability of signature verification machines and have suggested that the relatively low rate of ballot rejection is an indication that the machines are too generous. (There is no evidence that the process lets through fraudulent ballots; rather, signature mismatch notoriously kicks out large numbers of valid ballots.) AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere were other lawsuits about the curing process (which is only available in fewer than half of all states). A federal appeals court in Arizona ruled that missing signatures must be corrected by Election Day in order for an absentee ballot to count. (The lawsuit dealt with missing signatures, which Republicans argue are fully the fault of the voter, rather than mismatched signatures, which could be a subjective matter. Voters will have five days after Election Day to fix mismatched signatures.) Cases that sought to limit voters opportunity to cure their ballot typically have less to do with the specter of voter fraud than the idea that an election should be orderly, easy, and quick.
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###CLAIM: `` the approach and the people 's plan takes courage to think you can swing that pitch, '' judge said after the yankees beat the phillies 2-1 at george m. steinbrenner field.
###DOCS: TAMPA Aaron Judge played his eighth game of the spring Monday and ripped a single to left in his second at-bat. Hes still waiting for his first Grapefruit League home run, but Aaron Boone said, hes not all the way to where Aaron Judge locked in. But to me, he really moved the needle at the plate for himself the last three or four days.Still, there was a called third strike in his first at-bat on a pitch that appeared to be low. Its the pitch that hes let go many times in his career and despite the results, he has no plans to change. Its funny, Ive thought about maybe swinging at those [pitches], but that takes me out of my approach and my plan, Judge said after the Yankees beat the Phillies, 4-2, at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Thats not what Im looking for here. Its to get on base and hit pitches in the zone. Stuff like that happens.Its been a focal point for Judge since he was in the minors. One thing I pride myself in is plate discipline and swinging at the right pitches, Judge said. I dont want to swing at bad pitches. Pitchers, with guys like me, Giancarlo [Stanton] [and Gary] Sanchez, they dont want to come into the zone on us. They try to nibble and they want us to swing at those bad pitches.And that would take him away from his approach which he refuses to do, even if it does result in a strikeout. If they call it, they call it, Judge said. Its spring training for everybody.Aaron Judge is focused on his approach no the results this spring. Charles Wenzelberg / New YorkHe has a similar rationale for why he doesnt pay much attention to exit velocity. My [focus] has always been, What can I work on, what can I do before I hit a baseball? Judge said. If I do everything I need to do and scrub the baseball, its gonna get the exit velocity that I need.Judge is 5-for-20 this spring with a pair of doubles, no walks and four strikeouts. If I get the barrel of the bat on the ball, Ill get good results, Judge said. I try not to worry about it. I worry about my mechanics and swinging at the right pitches.
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###CLAIM: until hours later, musk said nothing about acknowledging the blast in a tweet reading "rest in peace honorable discharge sn10".
###DOCS: Brownsville, Texas CNN Business For a few hours one recent Saturday, Jack Beyer stood on the roof of his Land Rover, watching as SpaceX employees toiled under a 160-foot-tall silver rocket prototype that towered like an otherworldly visitor over the otherwise barren landscape. Beyer, a Los Angeles-based photographer and contributor to the space news site NASASpaceflight.com, had by that point been staying at a South Texas hotel for a month, watching and waiting and filming as SpaceX prepared to launch the prototype an early iteration of Starship, the spaceship that company founder Elon Musk envisions will one day land the first humans on Mars on a doomed test flight. On this particular day, Beyer had his camera up on his car roof, pointed at engineers and construction workers as they tinkered with the rocket or prepared to pour concrete to expand the vast launch site. Jack Beyer, a contributor to NASASpaceflight.com, photographs the SpaceX launch site in Cameron County, Texas. Tamir Kalifa for CNNI really do believe, not to sound like Ive drunk the Kool-Aid or anything, but, like, I really do believe that what we are witnessing right now is history in the making. Ten, 20, 30 years from now, people will look back at this moment in history in the same way that we look back at the beginning of Apollo or the Gemini era, he said, referring to the NASA programs that culminated in the mid-20th century Moon landings. Beyer is only one member of one part of what has become a cottage industry around SpaceXs launch operations. Its a mutually beneficial relationship. Musk who has said that he doesnt spend money on advertising has embraced the people documenting the updates at this development facility for a vast online audience. Their recordings and online updates serve as promotion for SpaceX, and sometimes even allow Musk to keep tabs on South Texas operations when hes out of town. I really do believe, not to sound like Ive drunk the Kool-Aid or anything, but, like, I really do believe that what we are witnessing right now is history in the making. Jack Beyer, NASASpaceflight.com ContributorThe size and passion of Musks fandom means people like Beyer can earn decent money doing that job. They may have to spend thousands of dollars on camera equipment, but in return they get access to hundreds of thousands of doting fans, and millions of YouTube views. That Saturday it seemed like there might be only a couple of days left before the rocket prototype, which was known as SN11, was launched on its test flight. Ultimately, though, Beyer had to remain in Texas for two more weeks before the launch actually happened on March 30. The early morning launch proved to be a dud as far as visuals went: An early morning fog rolled in and obscured any chance at clear views of the launch site. Beyer watched the launch from a nearby park as the cameras rolled. Then, at some point during its landing, SN11 exploded. On another day, the explosion could have been good if disappointing footage for the NASASpaceflight team and others documenting the launch. But the fog meant that NASASpaceflights stream, which stayed live, offered only brief glimpses of smoke and flame. Worse, shrapnel from the explosion nearly knocked out thousands of dollars of camera equipment. One of the solar panels Beyer uses to keep the equipment running, was knocked out by the blast, but, luckily, the rest of the rig was spared. A few days later, the NASASpaceflight team was already livestreaming the assembly of SpaceXs next prototype SN15. Beyer said a local resident, who goes by the name BocaChicaGal online, is the linchpin of NASASpaceflights video operation. She began recording SpaceXs operations near her home, which is sandwiched between SpaceXs launch pad and manufacturing facility, before the news outlet began conducting regular livestreams, and she now works as a NASASpaceflight contributor. She declined an interview with CNN Business. Beyer said the channels contributors are paid for their work, though most of them keep side gigs to pay the bills. But lately, Beyer has made it a full-time job. Jack Beyer edits photographs in his vehicle near the SpaceX launch site. Tamir Kalifa for CNNIts not a full-time job in terms of...I dont get a salary or anything. I dont get like health benefits, right? Thats normal, he said. But lately hes been working 40 to 80 hours a week on SpaceX-related content, and his online profile has grown to the point where he has a steady stream of donations and monthly income from Patreon, which allows fans to donate directly to their favorite online creators. Its an insane amount of hours, but I will work my fingers to the bone. I dont care, he said. As a lifelong space fanatic, Beyer said, he would rather be in a dusty Texas town watching rocket prototypes explode than anywhere else on the planet. NASASpaceflight is prolific. The team, which has about 10 contributors, is known to spend up to nine hours hosting livestreams as they await test flights. One NASASpaceflight stream of SN11 rolling down the street toward the launch pad, for example, got 1.5 million views in two months. The contributors to NASASpaceflight arent the only ones doing this. Tim Dodd, who uses the moniker Everyday Astronaut, has amassed nearly 1 million subscribers on his YouTube channel. He began streaming the launches SpaceX conducts out of Florida and producing educational videos in which he delves into the physics of and design choices made for modern rockets. Tim Dodd, founder of Everyday Astronaut, has more than 5,000 Patreon subscribers. Tamir Kalifa for CNNDodd previously worked as a photographer, shooting weddings all over the world, until he began airing his love of spaceflight through a series of Instagram posts in which he donned an old Russian flight suit. That evolved into a full-time YouTube career. Hes now set up a new studio space just a few miles from SpaceXs South Texas launch pad, where a rear balcony gives him a clear view of SpaceXs prototypes glinting in the sun. Though an Iowa native, Dodd has stayed in Texas for months tracking the companys progress through a few previous rocket prototype launches. Dodd has more than 5,000 Patreon supporters, and the donations roll in regularly during his YouTube livestreams $5 here, $50 there. One subscriber sent a $250 gift with the note, dinner is on me tonight.Scarily, every penny that Ive ever made is in this right now. Tim Dodd, Everyday AstronautThough he pays producers, editors and other collaborators to help, Dodd mostly runs a one-person shop. He describes himself as an audio-visual perfectionist: Hes put more than $200,000 toward the cameras and equipment he uses to livestream the test launches, including new gear he recently ordered that will allow him to webcast in 4K. Thats where every dollar is going, he told CNN Business. Scarily, every penny that Ive ever made is in this right now.His efforts have paid off. Hes won the support of Musk himself, who frequently replies to Dodds questions on Twitter, has been repeatedly photographed wearing Everyday Astronaut merchandise, and has sat for interviews for Dodds channel. Tim Dodd has amassed nearly 1 million subscribers on his YouTube channel by streaming SpaceX launches. Tamir Kalifa for CNNMusk has also tuned into a 24/7 livestream of SpaceXs South Texas operations that was set up by Louis Balderas, an IT consultant who lives on South Padre Island in South Texas, Balderas told CNN Business. Balderas has for more than a year kept several high-end security cameras, which he said are together worth about $50,000, perched on nearby buildings or empty land. He uses them to stream an endless picture of SpaceXs launch and manufacturing facilities on his YouTube channel, LabPadre. [Musk] said its easier for him to get an update on whats going on rather than to pick up the phone, Balderas said of what Musk told him about his stream during a 2019 meeting. (SpaceX has not responded to interview requests or inquiries from CNN Business in nearly a year.) Last month, Balderas said, SpaceX employees took down a key camera the one capturing the closest view of the launch pad just before SpaceXs SN10 rocket prototype was slated to lift off. The camera was perched on a piece of property he used to lease, but SpaceX had taken it over, and it took down the device without telling him beforehand. Then some of Balderas fans complained on Twitter, and power tweeter Musk personally intervened. First Ive heard of this. Well fix the situation, Musk tweeted at Balderas. Within a day, SpaceX had given him his camera back and replaced the rig he used to keep it elevated, and the feed was back up, Balderas told CNN Business. SpaceX and Musk rarely share their own updates about whats happening at their South Texas facilities, which lie less than half a mile from a public beach called Boca Chica. Thats made streamers like Everyday Astronaut, NASASpaceflight and LabPadre an essential source of information about the operations. When a prototype rocket is ready to launch, the YouTubers post feeds captured through remote cameras often set up days in advance. They go live hours before launch long before SpaceX publicly confirms such tests are even happening. Dodd, Beyer and other NASASpaceflight contributors keep their feeds filled with nearly constant analysis. Even without guidance from SpaceX, theyre able to post estimated countdown clocks ahead of launch solely by tracking observable changes to SpaceXs fueling tanks and ground systems. Crews work on the Starship SN11 prototype vehicle at the SpaceX launch site. Tamir Kalifa for CNNUnofficial livestreams of the SN10 prototype launch, which saw the vehicle soar about six miles high before landing upright on a nearby ground pad, wound up being key. SpaceX had wrapped its official livestream before the rocket exploded just a few minutes after landing, while independent streamers kept rolling, capturing the sudden eruption. Musk himself said nothing until hours later, cryptically acknowledging the blast by posting a tweet that read RIP SN10, honorable discharge.If it werent for the webcasters, the public and many journalists who routinely cover SpaceX might not have known until Musk tweeted that SN10 had exploded. The cottage industry of SpaceX observers have gained new prominence on social media platforms at a time when the space community mirroring political Twitter is more divided than ever. Theres constant infighting among space fans, many of whom come in the form of anonymous accounts that rally around SpaceX and Musk as diehard defenders, levying threats or insults at those who critique the company. And theres an emerging counter-movement, which is known to accuse SpaceX fans of being sycophants. Dodd and Beyer both said they try to keep their heads above the fray. Their goal is to rally excitement around space exploration and to educate the public. They rarely mention the SpaceX controversy du jour. But the online toxicity does occasionally seep into the streamers comments sections, Dodd said. It sucks, Dodd, who has nearly 400,000 Twitter followers, said. I hate division. I hate tribalism. And Im witnessing it happen more and more every single day...I dont want to be thinking about negative things. I want to be excited about the future. And for me, thats space.Evidence of the super-fandom the SpaceX YouTubers feed is visible on days when Boca Chica beach is open and rocket fans come by the carload, pulling off on the narrow roadway to snap pictures of the rocket. German Moix photographs Hector Reyes in front of the Starship SN11 prototype. Tamir Kalifa for CNNOn that Saturday last month, the fans flooded in, cameras at the ready. Brothers Matthew and John March said they had flown in to Austin and then drove nearly six hours south to stand beneath the massive steel vehicle. Philip Bottin, who lives in Washington State, said he drove practically from the top of the country to the bottom his second pilgrimage to SpaceXs South Texas launch site to get a glimpse at the SN11 rocket and the remaining scraps of SN10, which were still visible near the landing pad. Beyer said that after SpaceXs first high-altitude test flight in December, which ended with prototype SN8 smashing into its ground pad and erupting into a ball of flames, there were maybe five people that drove out to the beach to get a glimpse of the wreckage. After the test flight of SN10, however, there was like 50 or 100. Beyer said hes even started having fans recognize him by the sound of his voice. (NASASpaceflight contributors provide audio but dont appear on camera.) I say to people when they come up to me, Im so glad youre excited about this because if people werent, theres no way were going to Mars, Beyer told CNN Business. Getting to Mars is something Beyer, a lifelong space fanatic, hopes to do before he dies. But whether or not SpaceX is ultimately successful is only part of his motivation. Theres only going to be one moment like this in my lifetime, and this is it right now, he said. You have to strike while the iron is hot.
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###CLAIM: the approval for the drug was based on its ability to reduce amyloid and beta, the protein in the plaque that many believe contributes to the decline in cognition in alzheimer's disease.
###DOCS: Two members of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee have resigned in the wake of the agency's approval of aducanumab, the first new Alzheimer's treatment since 2003. Neurologists David Knopman, who works for the Mayo Clinic, and Joel Perlmutter, of Washington University St Louis, both stepped down from the board this week in protest. Knopman and Perlmutter largely objected to the approval of the drug citing its rocky trial results with little evidence the drug was even effective. The drug, which will be marketed under the name Aduhelm is being sent out to patients in the next two weeks and will cost $56,000 per year of use. Dr David Knopman (pictured) resigned from an FDA advisory committee after the agency gave a controversial approval to aducanumab after clinical trials showed limited effectiveness of the drugThe FDA's approval of aducanumab adds a new drug to the arsenal of fighting Alzheimer's for the first time since 2003. Many in the Alzheimer's community support the drugs approval'The whole saga of the approval of aducanumab...made a mockery of the [advisory] committee's consultative process,' Knopman told the committee in an email obtained by the Washington Post. 'While I realize that the committee is advisory, the approval of aducanumab appears [to] have been foreordained.' Meanwhile, Perlmutter told STAT News that he quit 'due to this ruling by the FDA without further discussion with our advisory committee.' Biogen, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company that developed the drug, underwent two clinical trials in 2016. Both were stopped early as they showed the drug would fail to reach its goal. They later took the results of one of the two trials, and found updated data that the drug had slowed the cognitive decline of Alzheimer's patients by up to 22 percent. Many in the scientific community criticized Biogen's claims, saying it was a post-hoc cherry-picking of data to force a conclusion. Knopman authored a study last year, analyzing the results of Biogen's second clinical trial, disagreeing with the claims that they showed the drug was effective. 'We identified alternative accounts for the apparent drug benefits in post hoc subgroups that are unrelated to dose effects,' he wrote. 'Biomarker data were consistent with target engagement, but no evidence was presented to correlate biomarker changes to cognitive benefits. 'Aducanumab's efficacy as a treatment for the cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease cannot be proven by clinical trials with divergent outcomes. 'Based on our review of data presented publicly in December 2019, we do not agree with Biogen's claim for efficacy of [aducanumab].' Dr Knopman has been one of aducanumab, saying that Biogen's trials of the drug do not show that the drug is effective in combatting Alzheimer'sKnopman served as a site investigator for the drug, and had to recuse himself from the November advisory meeting. While the FDA is not required the follow advice from the advisory boards, since they are made up of third parties, it is rare that members of an advisory board are more conservative on a drug than the regulatory agency. 'I recognize that the role is advisory and yet I felt that the advisory committee in this situation was not well-treated,' Knopman told The Post. 'And I think that I just don't choose to put myself into that position in the future for the FDA.' The drug's approval was based on its ability to reduce amyloid beta, a plaque many believes contributes to the cognitive decline in Alzheimer's, in the brain. Dr Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said the agency was aware of the controversy in approving the drug in a statement Monday. 'We are well-aware of the attention surrounding this approval,' she wrote. 'We understand that Aduhelm has garnered the attention of the press, the Alzheimer's patient community, our elected officials, and other interested stakeholders.' 'With a treatment for a serious, life-threatening disease in the balance, it makes sense that so many people were following the outcome of this review.' While some scientists and researchers oppose the drug, many in the Alzheimer's community support its approval, as the first new treatment for the disease in 20 years could create a foothold for future research. Aduhelm will start shipping out in two weeks to over 900 infusion centers across the country that are currently equipped to implement it.
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###CLAIM: ellisha and garner praised cornegys' sponsorship of a city law banning police chokeholds as a success.
###DOCS: The sister of Eric Garner the Staten Island man who died after being put in a police chokehold in 2014 endorsed Councilman Robert Cornegy Jr. for Brooklyn borough president. Ellisha Garner lauded Cornegys successful sponsorship of a city law banning police chokeholds. As a Council Member, Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. has been a staunch supporter of my family, said Ellisha Garner in a statement released Saturday by Cornegys campaign. His leadership on the Eric Garner chokehold legislation made history in New York City.Like the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year, Garners fatal arrest triggered national outrage and massive protests. I am so proud to earn the endorsement of Ellisha Garner, who had her brother horribly taken from her and her family in one of the worst injustices New York City has ever experienced, Cornegy said. l will honor this cherished legacy, and always fight for just policing built on trust and respect for our communities.Cornegy who currently represents Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights is a leading candidate for borough president, along with Councilman Antonio Reynoso and state Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon. Meanwhile a controversy has erupted over who Terrence Floyd the brother of George Floyd has endorsed in the borough presidents race.
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###CLAIM: now nobody is connecting that to the hack, which is emblematic of a larger problem: software developers don't know where their code actually comes from.
###DOCS: SYLVIE DOUGLIS, BYLINE: This is PLANET MONEY from NPR. (SOUNDBITE OF COIN SPINNING)JACOB GOLDSTEIN, HOST:In December of last year, somebody at a cybersecurity company, a company called FireEye, noticed something just a tiny bit out of the ordinary. Somebody was logging in to the company's system using an employee's username and login, but they were using a different phone number than the employee had used before. DINA TEMPLE-RASTON, HOST:So people get new phone numbers. That's not the big deal. This particular company, though - FireEye - is in the computer security business. So they take this kind of thing really seriously. KEVIN MANDIA: So one of our staff members called the person, you know, whose account was used and said, hey, did you register a second phone? TEMPLE-RASTON: That's Kevin Mandia, the CEO of FireEye. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)MANDIA: And the gentleman said, no, I did not register that phone. So who did? GOLDSTEIN: Who indeed? TEMPLE-RASTON: Yeah. Well, so Mandia and his team at FireEye, they start trying to figure out exactly that. You know, how did some random person get into their network and end up registering a new phone? And the more they learned, the more worried Mandia got. MANDIA: It just felt like the breach that I was always worried about. We didn't know a lot at the time. It just felt like it was time to brace for impact. (SOUNDBITE OF ARNAUD RIGNON AND SEBASTIEN LANGOLFF'S "DARK WOOD")GOLDSTEIN: Hello, and welcome to PLANET MONEY. I'm Jacob Goldstein. TEMPLE-RASTON: And I'm Dina Temple-Raston. Today on the show, the story of a single hack that got inside some of the biggest corporations in the world and even deep inside the United States government itself. GOLDSTEIN: It was a particular style of hack that seems to be becoming more common. In fact, just today, Friday, May 28, as this show is about to go out, there is news of another, similar kind of hack. And I think our vulnerability to this particular kind of hack really tells us something not just about software and cybersecurity, but about the way business works today and about how it might need to change. (SOUNDBITE OF ARNAUD RIGNON AND SEBASTIEN LANGOLFF'S "DARK WOOD")GOLDSTEIN: Dina, you are on the breaking news investigative team here at NPR, and you have spent months working on this story, so why don't you just pick up where we left off with Kevin Mandia, the CEO of FireEye? TEMPLE-RASTON: Right. He's realized there's somebody who's not an employee who's inside their network, and that's a problem. MANDIA: So we had several weeks where I'm sitting here going, boy, I wonder how they broke in. And it is a terrible nag, Dina, when you're responding to a breach anywhere, whether it's your own house or someone else's house, and you don't know how they broke in. TEMPLE-RASTON: So FireEye is in the business of trying to figure out exactly that kind of thing. And that's what other companies typically pay them to do. And what they do is they try to think back to what the earliest evidence of compromise could be, you know, like where they might have seen some sort of stranger in their network or where that stranger could've come in. And they traced this back literally for weeks. And they think it all started with some software from a company called SolarWinds. MANDIA: So at that point, the only logical conclusion that I drew was something's wrong with the SolarWinds server. GOLDSTEIN: So SolarWinds - we know now that's what this big hack that this whole story is about came to be called, the SolarWinds hack. And I want to be honest with you. I've been sort of following that story, but I don't think I have ever really understood, like, what is SolarWinds? What is it? TEMPLE-RASTON: SolarWinds is a software company. And they make a bunch of different kinds of software, but the one that's at the center of this story is a software they make to manage computer networks. GOLDSTEIN: OK, so nothing to do with either the sun or the wind. If I'm thinking alternative energy, I'm entirely in the wrong universe. TEMPLE-RASTON: Entirely in the wrong - I have no idea what kind of - how they came up with the name. GOLDSTEIN: OK.TEMPLE-RASTON: What I can tell you is that it's what's called network management software. This is what IT people use basically so they can keep sort of an eye on the entire network. So, for example, you know, if you have that printer on the fifth floor that's always breaking down, they can see that on one screen. If there's a router that goes down, they can see all that on the same screen. So think of it as actually something that touches everything in a network. And the reason it's kind of genius to actually hack into something like network management software is because it touches everything. And it means if you're inside of it, then you can touch everything, too. GOLDSTEIN: So it's like if you're inside this, you can get inside of everything at a company, at an organization. Can you give me just, like, a list of companies and government agencies that were using SolarWinds when this happened? TEMPLE-RASTON: So one, obviously, is FireEye. GOLDSTEIN: That's the company we talked about at the beginning of the show that was running SolarWinds software and figured out that something was wrong. TEMPLE-RASTON: Right. But in addition to that, I mean, some really big companies were running the software - Microsoft, Intel, Cisco. Then if you look at the federal government, the Department of Homeland Security was running it. The Treasury was running it. Even parts of the Pentagon were. GOLDSTEIN: Wow. TEMPLE-RASTON: So this was something that was really widespread. And again, you'd never heard of it. I'd never heard of it. But the people who knew about this were the people who were in the back room of your IT department. And for those people, SolarWinds was everywhere. GOLDSTEIN: And we know that FireEye figures out that the SolarWinds server was hacked. And then Kevin Mandia, the CEO of FireEye, he tells SolarWinds, you know, you've got a problem here. TEMPLE-RASTON: And then SolarWinds does this incredibly surprising thing. It goes and tells the world. In fact, their CEO, Sudhakar Ramakrishna, was so focused on getting the whole story out, he even talked to us. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)SUDHAKAR RAMAKRISHNA: You forget about competition and competitors. And in that context, you - the right thing to do is to report. The right thing to do is to give them the ability to fix those issues and protect their customers. TEMPLE-RASTON: What he doesn't say is that everyone was probably going to find out anyway. GOLDSTEIN: Right, right. So now they have to figure out, you know, who hacked us, and how did they hack us. TEMPLE-RASTON: And in order to answer those questions, they need to call in an expert. And the expert they called was a guy named Adam Meyers. ADAM MEYERS: And so the first call we took, I'm sitting outside of my in-laws' house in the driver's seat of my vehicle. I'm sitting in the driver's seat, and I'm outside while everybody's inside, having this phone call with the lawyers. And we're kind of getting our arms around what was going on. TEMPLE-RASTON: Adam Meyers is a genius at reverse engineering. And what that means is he looks at the hack, and he looks at all the code, and he just sort of teases it out to try and figure out what each piece of code does, how it works, what its job is. And then once he figures that out, he just keeps digging deeper and deeper and deeper until he can essentially figure out the whole hack. GOLDSTEIN: So as best as he has figured it out, what is the story of this hack? TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, the first thing they realize is that this wasn't a regular hack, that actually it started in a place they hadn't expected. And the place where it started was in what they call their development environment. What it is is it's this - think of it as a clean room in a factory where you actually write the software, you write the patch, and then you actually seal it up before you send it to someone else, before you put it out for people to use the patch. GOLDSTEIN: And what happened in this sort of factory clean room where they're making the software patch? TEMPLE-RASTON: It seems that bad guys appeared to have snuck in. SolarWinds didn't have a clean environment. What they had was a development environment that was connected to a network that was connected to the internet. So that meant at the very last second - and this is what Meyers figured out. At that very last second, instead of having SolarWinds send out their own patch, the bad guys swapped it with their own. Meyers explained it with this metaphor. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)MEYERS: Let's go with Halloween candy, right? Like, when I was growing up, you used to have to check your Halloween candy 'cause somebody might have put a razor blade in your Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, right? GOLDSTEIN: So, OK, stay with this metaphor, right? In a typical hack, the hackers open the candy wrapper and stick the razor blade in. But, you know, now the wrapper is open. This is pretty easy to detect. But in this instance, in the SolarWinds hack, they did something much more clever and much more insidious. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)MEYERS: Imagine those Reese's Peanut Butter Cups going into the package, and just before the machine comes down and seals the package, some other thing comes in and slides a razor blade into your Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, right? So that is - you know, and then the package gets sealed and it goes out the door to the store. TEMPLE-RASTON: And that's why this hack was so effective, because when the software patch from SolarWinds goes out to all these big companies and government agencies, it looks like it's sealed software. But in fact, there's a razor blade - malware code, essentially - that's hiding inside. GOLDSTEIN: So there's this phrase, Dina, that I've seen in some of your reporting on this that as a sort of econ nerd interested in the cybersecurity stuff I got pretty excited about. And that phrase is supply chain hack, right? This has been called a supply chain hack. And so supply chain there refers to the idea - like in the same way we might think of, say, a car company having a supply chain, right? Like whatever - Ford buys parts from literally thousands of different companies. Software works kind of the same way, right? Like, the Department of Defense and Microsoft and Cisco - these companies don't just write their own software. They have a software supply chain - right? - all these little things like this software they're getting from SolarWinds. And so if you can hack into the supply chain, you can get everywhere with one hack. TEMPLE-RASTON: It's much more efficient. GOLDSTEIN: Yeah, it's much more efficient. It's a really good way to hack everybody all at once. TEMPLE-RASTON: Exactly. Instead of trying to break into the Treasury or the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security, just find a software that's ubiquitous, and break into that. And this is why people like Adam Meyers have been so worried about supply chain hacks. MEYERS: The reason that software supply chain keeps me up at night - you know, think about all the apps on your mobile device, on your tablet, on your computer. You're only as secure as the development environment that those were built in, and you're only as secure as the weakest link in that chain. TEMPLE-RASTON: And for a bunch of giant companies and federal agencies, the weakest link was SolarWinds. GOLDSTEIN: After the break, what the bad guys got, who the bad guys are and what the United States is doing to try to prevent this from happening again. (SOUNDBITE OF CESAR GIMENO LAVIN AND SIMON JOSEPH ALEXANDER JAMES' "THE DEVIL LIVES NEAR")GOLDSTEIN: The story so far - the bad guys got their razor blades into thousands of packages of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Those Reese's Peanut Butter Cups got sent to the Department of Defense and Microsoft and Cisco and everybody else. I get that it's big. I get that it's big. And, you know, there is one other, like, admission I have about this hack - is I don't really know what happened or what the implications are. What was the bad thing that happened because of this hack? TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, so there were two big things. The first is this was clearly an espionage operation. They were taking information out of networks. We don't know what it was, and nobody has really talked specifically about that. But we do know that, for example, they were reading emails from government officials, officials at DHS, officials at the Treasury. And the reason why that's important is because there's a lot of information that can be in an email. It could be an attachment or something like that. GOLDSTEIN: Sure, sure. TEMPLE-RASTON: The second thing that's worth...GOLDSTEIN: So just spying. So this is like straight-up very successful spy operation. TEMPLE-RASTON: We think so, right? GOLDSTEIN: Yeah. TEMPLE-RASTON: And that seems to be what the motivation was here. But the other thing that people aren't talking about quite as much - something called a backdoor. GOLDSTEIN: OK.TEMPLE-RASTON: And a backdoor is malicious code that you plant in a network for use later. What a backdoor allows you to do is, say, for example, steal emails later when everybody's relaxed. Or a backdoor could allow you to plant ransomware. Think about the Colonial Pipeline. That actually wasn't a hack. That was a ransomware attack. And their system was frozen until they paid a certain amount of money to some criminals. And the same thing could happen with SolarWinds. I mean, we don't know about it because this little piece of ransomware could be hidden in code that they haven't discovered yet. GOLDSTEIN: So we know the bad guys got in. We are pretty sure they were spying. And maybe they also planted some things that will allow them to do bad things in the future, we just don't know that part yet. TEMPLE-RASTON: Exactly. Exactly. GOLDSTEIN: So do we know who the bad guys are? TEMPLE-RASTON: We think we know. Russian intelligence, a group called the SVR, is thought to be behind this. And there are a couple of reasons for that. One, this was an incredibly sophisticated hack. Not only did they get into where they were actually building the software, but Adam Meyers told us they were super careful about covering their tracks so that there wouldn't be little clues that they might be able to find to tell them who was behind it. And that's the sort of thing that you see a nation-state do. And because of that...GOLDSTEIN: Like, it's just - like, a criminal wouldn't care that much. TEMPLE-RASTON: They don't care. GOLDSTEIN: Yeah, right. TEMPLE-RASTON: A criminal just wants their money, right? GOLDSTEIN: (Laughter) Right. TEMPLE-RASTON: But this was artful. This was artful. GOLDSTEIN: And so this new hack that we mentioned earlier in the show, this hack that we are just learning about today as the show is going out, it seems similar in some key ways to the SolarWinds hack. For one, it appears to have been done by the Russians. For another, it looks like it was another supply chain hack. And it is also targeting, ultimately, the U.S. government. In this case, the hackers apparently hacked an email service software that is used by lots of people, including government agencies. And then they used that hack to send malicious emails out into the world that looked like they were from this U.S. government agency. TEMPLE-RASTON: Exactly. GOLDSTEIN: So this is, like, kind of Cold War-ish, right? It's definitely country versus country. Like, this is Russia at some level - well, attacking is too strong a word, but Russia coming at the United States. TEMPLE-RASTON: Yeah, this is "Spy Vs. Spy" stuff. GOLDSTEIN: So what's the U.S. going to do about it? Is the U.S. going to hack back? Is that the way this works? Like you hacked us, we'll hack you? Did we already hack them and we don't know it? TEMPLE-RASTON: Possibly, although I suspect that, you know, everybody's sort of watching for it. But there's an entire military command, Cyber Command, and the National Security Agency, and their job is to do exactly that. And, you know, we were talking before about backdoors. Backdoors are put in in case you need them later, right? So a lot of people believe that after the Sony hack, once they had determined that North Korea was behind it, that the U.S. retaliated by turning off the internet in North Korea for a couple of days just to let them know, hey, we're in your systems, and you should be careful. We're watching you. Of course, the U.S. has never admitted that publicly. I mean, this is one of the reasons they call cyber the perfect weapon, because it's short of war and it's hard to attribute it. So you can do a lot of the same things you would do with what they call metal on steel, you know, kinetic things. You can do that just by using computer code. GOLDSTEIN: So one last thing in terms of, you know, what's coming next, what are we going to do about this - you, Dina, have reported on this executive order that President Biden just issued that's going to set standards. It's going to set rules, basically, for companies that sell software to the federal government. And the idea is that forcing companies to follow these rules should make supply chain hacks like SolarWinds less likely in the future. And I know you've described two of these rules that seem especially key, especially relevant here. What are they? TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, one is something they call provenance. And provenance basically means you have to tell us where all the code you're using comes from. And this is a big deal because it's cheaper to actually have software written in other countries because coders in a lot of other countries make a lot less money than coders in, say, Silicon Valley or coders in the United States more generally. GOLDSTEIN: OK.TEMPLE-RASTON: For example, some of SolarWinds' code was written in Eastern Europe. And apparently, the government didn't know that. GOLDSTEIN: OK.TEMPLE-RASTON: Now, nobody has connected that to the hack, but it's emblematic of a larger problem, which is that people don't know where the code in their software actually comes from. GOLDSTEIN: And so to be clear, it's OK to have your code - some of your code come from overseas or whatever, but you just have to be able to document for all of the code where each chunk came from. TEMPLE-RASTON: Yes, and whether or not - for example, the federal government may decide to go with a different company because they like where their code was built better, right? This...GOLDSTEIN: Right, right. TEMPLE-RASTON: ...Would be another consideration. Before, it was all about price, or it was largely about price - maybe reputation, but...GOLDSTEIN: Yeah. TEMPLE-RASTON: ...Largely about price. Now it's going to be much more about whether or not you can set up a defense in terms of knowing where your code is coming from, knowing how your code is made, knowing how you developed your software. Those are all really important things. GOLDSTEIN: So, OK, provenance - know where your code comes from. That is one of the new standards. What's the other one that's also important? TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, the other one really goes directly to the SolarWinds hack. Remember, we think hackers somehow got into the so-called development environment - right? - that digital place where engineers at SolarWinds actually write the code, build the software or build a patch. So this new standard will require that the development environment be essentially cut off from the internet. They call it air gapped. And so that would make it a lot more like a clean room in a factory. And to go back to the earlier Reese's Peanut Butter Cup metaphor, this should make it harder for hackers to sneak inside and slip those razor blades inside the sealed wrapper. GOLDSTEIN: So these kinds of changes - you know, requiring the place where the coders are writing software to be separated from the internet and requiring companies to know where all of the code comes from - these will make software safer and probably more expensive, right? It's making it less efficient in the name of safety. That's, like, a trade-off. The government is saying, let's make this trade-off at this point. TEMPLE-RASTON: Right, although hacks cost a lot of money, right? GOLDSTEIN: Yes. No, I agree. I agree. Yes. TEMPLE-RASTON: So it's unclear where the trade-off will be. GOLDSTEIN: So more expensive upfront but maybe cheaper in the long run. TEMPLE-RASTON: Right. GOLDSTEIN: And I do feel like it's interesting to think about this story in relation to the economy more generally - right? - because...TEMPLE-RASTON: Right. GOLDSTEIN: ...It seems like one of the big economic lessons of the pandemic is that what seemed optimally efficient in lots of industries - you know, automaking or whatever, this idea of, like, don't hold extra inventory, lean manufacturing - it turned out to be not very resilient. Once things started getting weird in the world, suddenly there are shortages of cars, shortages of everything. TEMPLE-RASTON: Right. GOLDSTEIN: And so this relentless pursuit of efficiency left us, left the economy vulnerable - surprisingly vulnerable. And it feels analogous to this SolarWinds story, where software is this incredibly efficient industry, and doing things like having programmers be networked and using code from all these different sources - these are very efficient practices that let people build really powerful software really cheaply. But what we're learning now with this hack is that, as you say, like, maybe that's not really most efficient in the long run even if it superficially seems so. TEMPLE-RASTON: Yeah, I'm not sure we learned that from this hack...GOLDSTEIN: (Laughter) Fair. TEMPLE-RASTON: ...'Cause I think that we've known for some time that this was a vulnerability. And there was never...GOLDSTEIN: Yeah. TEMPLE-RASTON: ...Really the impetus to have people say, let's not do it this way. They were chasing, you know, who could do it the most cheaply and not necessarily the most safely. And I think that what has happened as we've seen these hacks grow more and more sophisticated, I think there's a realization that the way we used to do things, we can't do them that way anymore and that we have to have defense much more in mind than we did in the past. (SOUNDBITE OF BERNARD BERNIE RUBINSTEIN AND JOHN MARK CACAVAS JR.'S "WIGGIN' ALONG")GOLDSTEIN: What other stories about spying should we do? Let us know. You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on many of the social media. We are @planetmoney. I'll note that we just hit our one-year anniversary on TikTok. If you haven't checked out PLANET MONEY TikTok yet, you should. It's strange and smart and great. Today's show was produced by Maria Paz Gutierrez with engineering help from Gilly Moon. Bryant Urstadt edited the show. Alex Goldmark is our supervising producer. I'm Jacob Goldstein. This is NPR. Thanks for listening. (SOUNDBITE OF BERNARD BERNIE RUBINSTEIN AND JOHN MARK CACAVAS JR.'S "WIGGIN' ALONG")Copyright 2021 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record.
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###CLAIM: shortly after steve split rosie began seeing ex-canadian commandos dylan and nash and by october of 2018 the retired afl footballer will be moving with matt and shir.
###DOCS: The night after Rosie Jacobs was dumped by her latest boyfriend she sent him an email demanding he return the key to her apartment so she could give it to another man. The former wife of TV weatherman Steve Jacobs told retired AFL player Matt Shir she would need her key back because 'Dylan' was coming down from Brisbane to stay with her in Sydney. After her split from Jacobs and before her relationship with Shir, Rosie had been seeing Canadian commando Dylan Nash, who she met in Vanuatu. The existence of the email referring to Dylan emerged on Thursday in Downing Centre Local Court where Shir was being sentenced for assaulting Jacobs by giving her an unwanted cuddle. Shir's solicitor Greg Goold told the court: 'One would think that after receiving that second email a vacancy had been filled within 24 hours.' What Steve Jacobs said about his ex-wife's last boyfriend Matt Shir Steve Jacobs wrote a reference for Matt Shir which was tendered to court: 'To whom it may concern, I was in a relationship and married to Rose Jacobs for 12 years and we have two children. Our marriage broke down and we separated at the end of 2017. We agreed to share custody of the children week on, week off. Rose has endured various problems for which she receives treatment. In the interest of my children, I do not wish to detail these problems for this hearing. After Rose ended her relationship with Mathew Shir, I contacted him through a mutual friend to ask how the children were doing under Rose's care. I wanted his opinion on their well-being. While Mathew was in a relationship with Rose, many of the mothers from [an eastern suburbs school] where our children attend, commented to me that Matt was always stable, kind, caring, reliable and generous with his time helping Rose and taking care of the children. Since contacting him I have also witnessed these same traits. ' AdvertisementRosie and Shir broke up on January 9 this year after a tumultuous relationship which included allegations of infidelity and alcohol abuse. The next day at 6.41pm Rosie sent an email to Shir stating: 'Please be advised that I want my house key returned to me immediately.' A second email arrived at 6.42pm. Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Allen said the second email had not formed part of the police case against Shir but was relevant to his case. 'Unbeknown to the court until today, one minute after that email was sent she sent another email referring to a person called Dylan that was gong to stay with her,' Mr Allen said. Laura Crase, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said: 'That may have been upsetting to the offender.' The second email emerged as Goold attempted to tender an affidavit written by his client which explained the nature of his relationship with Jacobs. The court heard the affidavit included allegations about Jacobs' mental state, her use of alcohol and 'self-destructive' behaviour. Ms Crase said it was not disputed Jacobs had been admitted to a 'clinic' in 2019 but said she had been treated for anxiety and depression rather than for a drinking problem. About six hours after receiving the emails Shir forced his way into Jacobs' home in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Shir, who Jacobs called 'Ragnar' after legendary Viking hero Ragnar Lodbrok, told police he had gone to her apartment because he was concerned for her welfare after their split. Rosie Jacobs was in a tumultuous relationship with former AFL footballer Matt Shir after her split with TV weatherman husband Steve Jacobs in 2018. Shir walked out on Jacobs in January and the next night when he came to her apartment she called police. The couple is picturedJacobs hooked up with Shir months after her separation from husband Steve and the couple lived together in her apartment at Bronte. The relationship deteriorated in the second half of last year. The couple is pictured at Bronte on Christmas Day, 2018 with one of her daughtersRosie and Steve Jacobs met on the set of Today, where she was a producer, and married in Bali in May 2010. She announced their separation in March 2018. Rosie later described the marriage as 'unhappy'Jacobs, who said she feared for her safety, claimed 39-year-old Shir later contacted her ex-husband and made 'a number of assertions' about her parenting skills. Details of the couple's relationship were revealed when Shir pleaded guilty in September to assaulting Jacobs and damaging a fence outside her $1.56million home at Bronte. 'There were reciprocal allegations of the other's mental health state, alcohol addiction and infidelity,' a tendered statement of facts said. '[Shir] was verbally abusive towards [Jacobs] and would sometimes call her "b**ch" or "c**t".' Mr Goold said his client's behaviour on the night of the incident at Jacobs' home had to be seen in the context of a relationship which had ended barely 24 hours earlier. Mr Allen, who will sentence Shir next month, said: 'This is, on any view of it, a low-level assault. Shir had in effect pulled Jacobs into an unwanted embrace. Rosie Jacobs announced the split with her husband, with whom she has two daughters, in March 2018 and had a brief fling with Dylan Nash. 'There were reciprocal allegations of the other's mental health state, alcohol addiction and infidelity,' a statement of facts tendered to Downing Centre Local Court said. '[Shir] was verbally abusive towards [Jacobs] and would sometimes call her "b**ch" or "c**t"'Shortly after Rosie split from Steve she began seeing Canadian ex-commando Dylan Nash but within months had moved on with retired AFL footballer Matt Shir by October 2018. Jacobs and Nash are picturedShir was with Jacobs by October 2018 and moved into her apartment but their relationship deteriorated in the second half of last year. While Shir had moved out of the flat by the middle of 2019 he still stayed over on occasion, usually coming in through the balcony, although he retained a house key. One night late last year Shir entered the apartment via the balcony while Jacobs was in bed with her two daughters and not expecting a visitor. Shir, who according to the statement of facts had been out drinking, cut his hand while climbing in and smeared blood on the walls. On January 9, the pair 'officially' separated at Shir's suggestion and the next night Jacobs asked him to return the key to her apartment. Later that night Jacobs got into bed with her phone after securing all entry points to the second floor flat, including locking and latching the front door. Shir arrived shortly after midnight and tried to open the front door with his key but could not get past the latch and began calling out, 'Rose'. In 2018, Daily Mail Australia revealed Rose and Nash (pictured) had struck up a romance while she was living in Vanuatu with Steve and their daughtersShir played 11 games for the Adelaide Crows in 2001-2002. He is pictured right tackling St Kilda player Lenny Hayes at Football Park in Adelaide on February 24, 2002'[Jacobs] heard [Shir] but did not want to see him so she did not reply,' the statement of facts said. 'She made no noise and kept the lights off in the hope that he would just go away.' Shir went downstairs, climbed up a screen fence, damaging the structure, and jumped over Jacobs' balcony. '[Shir] called out over and over saying, "Rose, let me in! ",' according to the statement of facts. '[Jacobs] remained silent hoping he would just go away.' The former footballer, who played 11 games for the Adelaide Crows in 2001-2002, tried to open a window then gained access through a rear sliding door with a faulty lock. He went into Jacobs's bedroom, took off his shirt and got into bed with her. Jacobs sat up, told Shir to leave and asked for her key to be returned. Shir drew Jacobs into an embrace as she repeatedly told him he was not welcome and he tried to pull her into a hugging position. How Rosie Jacobs left her 'unhappy' marriage to weatherman Steve Rosie, 41, recently chopped and dyed blonde her brunette locks (pictured) and has a new corporate hosting gig with financial services company Adviser Ratings Rosie and Steve Jacobs met on the set of Today, where she was a producer, and married in Bali in May 2010. She announced their separation in March 2018. The couple had moved to Vanuatu in mid-2017, in what friends described as a 'last-ditch attempt' to save their marriage. They have two daughters: Isabella, nine, and seven-year-old Francesca. The couple sold their matrimonial home at Coogee in Sydney's eastern suburbs for $4.6million in April 2018 and Rosie bought a two-bedroom apartment at nearby Bronte for $1.56million in November that year. The same month Steve told WHO magazine he had been dealt a few 'curve balls' since his separation from Rosie. Shortly after Rosie split from Steve she began seeing Canadian ex-commando Dylan Nash but had moved on with retired AFL footballer Matt Shir by October 2018. In February 2019 Jacobs celebrated her 40th birthday with Shir, who had moved into her Bronte apartment, in Bali. In June that year she wrote about her marriage breakdown in an article for Whimn. 'Two years ago I decided to leave my unhappy marriage, after years of trying desperately to make it work,' she wrote. 'As a result of this separation, I've experienced plenty of anxiety and depression, often blaming and questioning myself.' Steve, 53, left his role as Today weatherman last December and has been presenting a breakfast radio program this year. Rosie, 41, who recently chopped and dyed blonde her brunette locks, has a new corporate hosting gig with Adviser Ratings, a company which helps people find qualified financial advice. AdvertisementJacobs eventually freed herself from Shir and warned he was on his 'last chance' before she called her neighbour downstairs. '[Shir] followed her into the living area where [he] used his body to herd and corner her against the wall so that she could not move,' the statement of facts said. 'He tried to kiss and bear hug her while she kept asking him to leave, moving his face towards [her] face.' Shir said: 'I just want to be in bed with you. I'll be in bed with you tonight. I'll leave tomorrow, I swear.' Jacobs replied: 'I will punch you in the face if you don't let me down.' She then called her neighbour who came to the apartment but Shir would still not go home. Jacobs rang the police from her bathroom and Shir finally left saying, 'I'm out of here'. 'The victim felt intimidated, scared, unsafe and physically threatened,' the statement of facts said. Shir was originally charged with stalking/intimidation with intent to cause fear and aggravated break and enter but after representations to police by his solicitor Greg Goold those charges were withdrawn. The couple is pictured'The victim in no way contacted the offender in any form to suggest she was in a suicidal state or that she was feeling miserable. 'Nor had the victim received any communication from the offender. The victim had not consumed any alcohol or drugs on the day or night of the incident.' Since the incident Shir had still not returned the apartment key and Jacobs had changed the lock on her front door. '[Jacobs] has also heard that [Shir] contacted her ex-husband and made a number of assertions about her parenting skills,' the statement of facts said. Shir was arrested at his then Bondi home about 2.30am and told police he had gone to Jacobs' apartment because he was concerned for her welfare. 'She's like, "Get the f*** out of the house",' he told police. 'I'm going, "What do you mean? I want to stay, I just want to stay here the night.' Shir told police he had drunk eight to ten beers after work and that going to Jacobs' apartment after midnight was 'probably not the ideal time'. 'He is not a doctor, nurse or trained in mental health and accepts that ringing the police of ambulance would have been more appropriate,' the statement of facts said. 'He agreed that it could have been quite frightening for the victim.' Shir, who was guarantor for Jacobs' mortgage on the apartment, also believed he had a right to enter the premises. 'He says he's done this "plenty of times",' the statement of facts said. 'They were talking about last night and then all of a sudden he's a c**t for leaving her last night.' Shir was originally charged with stalking/intimidation with intent to cause fear and aggravated break and enter but after representations to the DPP by Mr Goold those matters were withdrawn. Rosie Jacobs was on the rebound from a fling with a Canadian commando after the breakdown of her marriage when she fell for former AFL player Matt Shir. The pair met via a dating app in June 2018 and their relationship progressed quickly, with Shir moving into Jacobs' apartment in Sydney's eastern suburbs by October that year. Rosie and her TV weatherman husband Steve Jacobs had announced the end of their eight-year marriage seven months earlier, after which they shared custody of their two daughters. Shir says while living at Jacobs' Bronte apartment he welcomed his new role helping the children with their homework and taking them to and from school. He also says he soon became aware that Jacobs was 'under the care of a psychologist and on anti-depressants in relation to her mental state and alcohol abuse.' The 39-year-old alleges in evidence put before the court he once found Jacobs passed out drunk on a riverbank and that she was admitted to a rehab clinic due to alcohol problems. Jacobs objects to the contents of the affidavit, telling Daily Mail Australia on Friday: 'I am a non-drinker and have been very proud of my sobriety for quite some time.' 'Every single detail that Matt has alleged about me is entirely false and intended purely to cause detrimental harm to me,' the 41-year-old journalist said. 'Any reporting of these false allegations is in my view completely slanderous and based on lies and fabrication. 'I did enter the relationship with Matthew with an open heart and due to his love-bombing facade, I actually believed I cared very deeply for him in the beginning. 'But that facade did not last long and I spent the majority of the rest of the relationship trying to get out of it.' Shir alleges he once found Jacobs (pictured) passed out drunk on a riverbank and that she was admitted to a rehab clinic due to alcohol problemsJacobs objects to Shir's claims about her drinking, saying on Friday: 'I am a non-drinker and have been very proud of my sobriety for quite some time.' The former couple is picturedJacobs posted this picture of two mocktails on Thursday. 'MOCKTAIL TIME!' she wrote. 'Rose Lemonade, soda, lime and mint over ice. No sugar. No alcohol. #yum'The night Shir assaulted Jacobs, which came the day after the pair had permanently separated, he broke into the Bronte apartment and hugged her when she told him to leave. A statement of facts tendered to the court said of the couple's relationship: 'There were reciprocal allegations of the other's mental health state, alcohol addiction and infidelity.' Rosie Jacobs timeline May 2010: Rosie and Steve Jacobs marry in Bali. The couple has daughter Isabella in 2011 and Francesca in 2013. Mid 2017: The family moves to Vanuatu in 'last-ditch' attempt to save marriage. March 2018: Rosie announces her separation from Steve and embarks on a brief relationship with Canadian commando Dylan Nash. June 2018: Rosie meets former AFL player Matt Shir on a dating app. September 2018: Shir moves into Rosie's apartment at Bronte. February 2019: Rosie celebrates her 40th birthday with Shir in Bali. March/April 2019: According to Shir, Rosie admits herself to South Pacific Private rehabilitation clinic. June/July 2019: Shir moves out of the Bronte apartment. September 2019: Shir and Rosie resume their relationship; he stays regularly at Bronte. October 2019: According to Shir, Steve Jacobs receives a call from Rosie's neighbour to say she has 'passed out from excessive alcohol'. December 2019: Rosie flies to Bali for a yoga retreat. Upon her return she and Shir spend Christmas at her mothers house. Shir says he finds Rosie passed out drunk on a riverbank. January 8, 2020: Rosie sends Shir a love poem calling him her beautiful wookie'. January 9, 2020: The couple splits up. January 10, 2020: Shir breaks into Rosie's home and gives her an unwanted hug. September 2020: Shir pleads guilty to common assault and recklessly damaging a privacy screen. According to Shir, Rosie admits herself to South Pacific Private. AdvertisementWhile initial public attention was on the assault - an unwanted bear hug or cuddle - Shir's affidavit concentrates on Jacobs, her mental health and drinking. 'During our relationship it had become acutely obvious to me that Rose was troubled by excessive alcohol consumption,' Shir wrote in the statement read by Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Allen. 'She would regularly drink to excess and on many occasions I expressed my concern to her that her consumption of alcohol was a problem and it would impact detrimentally on her life both in relation to herself and her children.' Shir says that in March or April last year Jacobs admitted herself to South Pacific Private on the Northern Beaches, which describes itself as 'Australia's leading treatment centre.' 'Her admission was directly as a result of her alcohol abuse,' he said in evidence put before the court. 'Upon her return from the South Pacific clinic Rose assured me that she was not drinking and that she was on the right track to alcohol abstinence. 'My observations of her caused me to have reservations about those claims. As a result of that I moved out of the Bronte premises in about June or July of 2019.' Shir says after moving out of the Bronte apartment he kept seeing Jacobs but with reduced contact for four to six weeks. He continued 'looking to check on her welfare, principally her mental welfare, because her go-to response was more alcohol.' By September the relationship had returned to its previous intimacy and Shir stayed over regularly at Bronte. In October, according to Shir's tendered affidavit, Steve Jacobs received a call from his ex-wife's neighbour to say she was 'passed out from excessive alcohol'. 'Over the period of our relationship it was apparent to me that she self-medicated her anxiety and depression with excessive amounts of alcohol,' Shir wrote. 'I observed that when intoxicated she had no thoughts for her own or anyone else's welfare.' Shir, a development manager at ANZ Bank, said he was not a big drinker and would only occasionally have a couple of beers after work with colleagues. 'By the last quarter of 2019 Rose's drinking had turned to levels of those prior to her going into rehabilitation,' he wrote in his affidavit. 'In December she indicated to me that she was going to travel to Bali to attend a yoga retreat. 'During our relationship it had become acutely obvious to me that Rose was troubled by excessive alcohol consumption,' Shir wrote in an affidavit tendered to a Sydney court'She would regularly drink to excess and on many occasions I expressed my concern to her that her consumption of alcohol was a problem,' Shir claims. Rosie and Steve Jacobs are pictured'At that time, we were in a monogamous relationship (or so I thought). I had been faithful to her and was not in any other relationship from the time we met.' Shir says that near the end of the Bali trip Jacobs asked him to advance her money so she could check out of the hotel where she was staying, which he did. Upon her return to Sydney the couple picked up her children from Steve's place and drove to Rosie's mother's house at Sawtell, near Coffs Harbour, for Christmas. 'On one of the nights whilst we were there Rose consumed so much alcohol that I had to say something to her about what she was doing to herself,' Shir wrote. Jacobs was 'fully intoxicated', according to Shir, when she walked out of the house which backs onto a river. 'I waited several minutes expecting her to return but when she did not I went out searching and approximately 30 minutes later found her 50 metres up-stream passed out on the riverbank,' he wrote. 'It was obvious she had been in the water.' Shir says the pair 'officially' separated on January 9 after Jacobs 'simply would not listen to my entreaties to stop drinking excessively.' In October last year, according to Shir's affidavit, Steve Jacobs received a call from his ex-wife's neighbour to say she was 'passed out from excessive alcohol' at her Bronte apartment. Rosie and Steve are picturedThe next night he let himself into her apartment after his own drinking session and she called police when he refused to leave. Earlier that evening Jacobs had sent Shir an email demanding he return her apartment key. One minute later she sent another email, referring to her December 2019 trip to Bali. The second email also referred to her former commando lover Dylan Nash who Jacobs had been seeing before she met Shir and after she left Steve. 'By the way, yes I was with a "friend" in Bali,' Jacobs wrote. 'Oh - and Dylan is in Brisbane and is coming to stay with me so I'll need that key ASAP to give to him. Thanks.' Jacobs told Daily Mail Australia she did not have sex with Dylan when he came to stay with her in January. 'At no stage was I unfaithful to Matthew during our relationship,' she said. 'I have male friends, all of whom have been very concerned for my welfare while Matt was in my life. Shir says he understands Jacobs (pictured) admitted herself to South Pacific Private clinic on September 7 this year 'due to having depression and worry for her own safety''With regards to Dylan, we have remained dear friends over the years - and he has been a supportive friend to me following my decision to leave Matt. 'There was no romantic involvement with Dylan when he came to visit me in January following my split with Matt, despite Matthew's jealous allegations.' Shir, who says he ended the relationship, pleaded guilty last month to common assault and recklessly damaging property - a privacy screen he had climbed over at the Bronte apartment. His affidavit was tendered to the sentencing magistrate to put that behaviour into context. 'Regarding the events of the evening I am truly sorry and really embarrassed about my behaviour,' Shir wrote. 'The irony of myself being affected by alcohol on that evening has not been lost on me. 'Given that I believed that she may have started drinking after our abrupt break-up in the previous 24 hours, I thought going over to see her and comfort he was a good idea. 'Obviously it was not and I admitted that to the police subsequently.' The night after Jacobs and Shir broke up she sent him an email stating she needed the key to her apartment to give to her former commando lover Dylan Nash (pcitured)Shir says he has had no contact with Jacobs since the Bronte incident and has abided by an apprehended violence taken out to protect his former girlfriend, as well as his bail conditions. 'Notwithstanding those restrictions I have still harboured a genuine concern for her welfare and her future prospects,' he wrote. 'I am aware however that following our separation she has continued to self-destruct and once again found herself in rehabilitation. 'I had on numerous occasions counselled Rose regarding her alcohol problem and the likely impact it may have... on her daughters,' he wrote in his affidavit. Shir says he understands Jacobs admitted herself to South Pacific Private on September 7 this year 'due to having depression and worry for her own safety.' What Steve Jacobs said about his ex-wife's last boyfriend Matt Shir Steve Jacobs wrote a reference for Matt Shir which was tendered to court: 'To whom it may concern, I was in a relationship and married to Rose Jacobs for 12 years and we have two children. Our marriage broke down and we separated at the end of 2017. We agreed to share custody of the children week on, week off. Rose has endured various problems for which she receives treatment. In the interest of my children, I do not wish to detail these problems for this hearing. After Rose ended her relationship with Mathew Shir, I contacted him through a mutual friend to ask how the children were doing under Rose's care. I wanted his opinion on their well-being. While Mathew was in a relationship with Rose, many of the mothers from [an eastern suburbs school] where our children attend, commented to me that Matt was always stable, kind, caring, reliable and generous with his time helping Rose and taking care of the children. Since contacting him I have also witnessed these same traits. ' AdvertisementDaily Mail Australia put all of Shir's main claims to Jacobs, who addressed most of them in general rather than specifically. 'He has made these allegations about me as an intent to seek revenge for me ending the relationship,' she said. 'No woman, under any circumstances deserves to be subjected to this. 'I have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder as a result of my relationship with Matthew and have suffered severe anxiety and depression - for which I am taking a proactive approach and am seeking professional support. 'Despite Matthews allegations, I am grateful that Steven and I are continuing to manage shared custody of our daughters and their health, happiness and well-being has always and will always be my number one priority in my life. 'My daughters are my everything. 'I wish to move forward and put this entire situation behind me so I can focus on the future, my health and the happiness of my children.' Shir will be sentenced on October 29. Two days before Rosie Jacobs called the police to accuse her latest boyfriend of assault she wrote him a soppy love poem addressed to 'My Wookie'. 'My beautiful wookie, I am grateful for you every night and day, when you hold my hand and show me the way,' the poem sent to Matt Shir began. 'You wrap your legs around me in the night, your arms in mine, holding me tight.' Jacobs went on to write she never wanted a life without Shir, telling him after they had 'battled such pain' there was 'absolutely nothing that can break us'. 'I love you Matt - with all that I am,' she finished the poem. 'Thank you for being my partner, soul mate, my lover, best friend, my man.' Two days before Rosie Jacobs accused her latest boyfriend of assault she wrote him a soppy love poem addressed to 'My Wookie'. 'My beautiful wookie, I am grateful for you every night and day, when you hold my hand and show me the way,' the poem sent to Matt Shir beganJacobs (pictured) wrote she never wanted a life without Shir, telling him there was 'absolutely nothing that can break us'. 'I love you Matt - with all that I am,' she finished the poem. 'Thank you for being my partner, soul mate, my lover, best friend, my man'Jacobs hooked up with Shir months after her separation from husband Steve and the couple lived together in her apartment at Bronte. The relationship deteriorated in the second half of last year and ended in January. Shir is pictured outside court on ThursdayThe poem, penned on January 8, was tendered in a sentencing hearing on Thursday at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court where Shir has pleaded guilty to assaulting Jacobs. Shir, a former AFL player who Jacobs also called 'Ragnar' after Viking hero Ragnar Lodbrok, is now fighting to avoid a criminal conviction over an unwanted cuddle. Barely 48 hours after Jacobs - the ex-wife of TV weatherman Steve Jacobs - wrote the poem to Shir he had broken into her home in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Once inside the Bronte apartment they had once shared with Steve and Rosie's two daughters he had embraced Jacobs after she told him to go away. He says he was trying to comfort her. She says his behaviour was intimidating. Steve Jacobs has written a reference for Shir in which he describes him as 'stable, kind, caring, reliable and generous with his time.' The love poem was among a string of emails between Shir, 39, and Jacobs, 41, which detail the last three days of the relationship in an affidavit written by him. On Wednesday, January 8, Jacobs was talking about the couple cementing their union. By Friday, January 10, she was apparently taunting him about other men. Shir, a former AFL player who Jacobs called 'Ragnar' after Viking hero Ragnar Lodbrok, is now fighting to avoid a criminal conviction over an unwanted cuddle. The former couple is picturedSteve Jacobs has written a reference for Shir in which he describes his ex-wife's latest boyfriend as 'stable, kind, caring, reliable and generous with his time.' Steve and Rosie Jacobs are picturedJacobs suggested to Shir they find a new home together just hours before the couple splitThe afternoon after Jacobs sent the poem to Shir she sent him a sent a one-line email: 'Let's get out of Bronte,' followed by a real estate listing in nearby Woollahra. That was at 3.12pm and the relationship would be over by the end of the day. 'In the days immediately before the [Bronte] incident Rose had reached a point where she simply would not listen to my entreaties to stop drinking excessively,' Shir wrote in his affidavit. Following a 'pleasant meal at a local hotel' on the Thursday, Jacobs purchased three bottles of wine, according to Shir, and the pair parted company. 'I decided that I could no longer remain in her life and an argument arose which is referred to in other emails...' Shir said in his affidavit. At 8.51pm Jacobs sent Shir another email with the subject 'Wow' describing how she felt about their break-up that night. 'Well, I must say, that is without doubt the lowest, most cowardly exit I have ever witnessed in my lifetime,' she wrote. 'Words can't begin to describe my emotions right now - but if I'm honest, perhaps it's not even shock. And that's what tells me, ultimately - there is ZERO coming back from this. 'I understand you were sideways drunk Matt (not me - I was the one who said let's go home and cuddle up). Rosie Jacobs entered a relationship with Matt Shir after her split with TV weatherman husband Steve Jacobs in 2018. Shir walked out on Jacobs in January and the next night when he came to her apartment she called police. Jacobs and Shir are picturedRosie demanded Shir return the key to her apartment in an email sent the day after they broke up. She threatened him with seeking an apprehended violence order if he did not comply'But we got home - you made love to me - you told me you were proud of me - you left to go get pizza - and then THIS? dear GOD! WTF?' 'This is the lowest of the low. I want to thrive in this life. And bizarrely - when you're not around, I actually do. And you do also, when you're not with me. What Steve Jacobs said about his ex-wife's last boyfriend Matt Shir Steve Jacobs wrote a reference for Matt Shir which was tendered to court: 'To whom it may concern, I was in a relationship and married to Rose Jacobs for 12 years and we have two children. Our marriage broke down and we separated at the end of 2017. We agreed to share custody of the children week on, week off. Rose has endured various problems for which she receives treatment. In the interest of my children, I do not wish to detail these problems for this hearing. After Rose ended her relationship with Mathew Shir, I contacted him through a mutual friend to ask how the children were doing under Rose's care. I wanted his opinion on their well-being. While Mathew was in a relationship with Rose, many of the mothers from [an eastern suburbs school] where our children attend, commented to me that Matt was always stable, kind, caring, reliable and generous with his time helping Rose and taking care of the children. Since contacting him I have also witnessed these same traits. ' Advertisement'It's pretty bloody obvious what needs to happen now. 'You can do anythign and evgerythign in your power from this day forward - but I promise you one thing... this is THE END for me.' Jacobs wrote she had been suffering anxiety and depression over her relationship with Shir and she agreed they should separate permanently. 'We are better off apart. Ne regrets. Fond memories. I'll always hold a place in my heart for you. But right now - I MUST take care of my recovery. And that means ending this relationship.' 'Enjoy your pizza.' Shir responded shortly after midday the next day in an email which began: 'Rose you can think what you want and blame people.' 'To see you go and buy three bottles last night on way home after a few beers tells me you're in a bad way. The night before and your behaviour... seriously you need help and help now. 'Go and tell your close friends the bloody truth so they can now start picking up the pieces because I'm not there any more. 'Please look after yourself and girls and do the right thing and be a better person for yourself firstly and them also. Love matt xx'. At 6.41 that evening Jacobs sent Shir another email with the subject 'key'. 'Dear Matt, Please be advised that I want my house key returned to me immediately,' she wrote. 'If you do not return my key, quit contacting my family and friends and slandering my reputation, and contacting me with your threats and harassment then I will be seeking an AVO and restraining order against you. 'This is an official warning, Rose.' Shir's solicitor Greg Goold said his client's behaviour in Jacobs' apartment had to be seen in the context of a relationship that until a day earlier had been intimate. 'Sometimes people have major barnies and within 24 hours everything's back to normal,' Mr Goold saidAfter demanding Shir return her apartment key Jacobs told him in another email she had visited a 'friend' while on holiday in Bali last yearAnother email landed in Shir's inbox one minute later, referring to a holiday Jacobs had taken in Bali in December 2019, which Shir said in his affidavit he understood was for a yoga retreat. 'At that time, we were in a monogamous relationship (so I thought),' he wrote in his affidavit. 'I had been faithful to her and was not in any other relationship from the time we met. 'Towards the end of the Bali trip I was contacted by Rose who required me to advance her money in order for her to check out of the hotel where she was staying. 'As a result of that I sent her sufficient funds to check out, get transport to the airport and return to Sydney.' The email also referred to a Canadian commando called Dylan Nash who Jacobs had met in Vanuatu and embarked on a relationship with after her split from Steve. 'By the way, yes I was with a "friend" in Bali,' Jacobs wrote. 'Oh - and Dylan is in Brisbane and is coming to stay with me so I'll need that key ASAP to give to him. Thanks.' Shortly after Rosie split from Steve Jacobs she began seeing Canadian commando Dylan Nash (pictured) but within months had moved on with Shir. After they split Rosie asked Shir to hand back the key to her Bronte apartment because Nash was coming to stay with herShir did not open that second email until three days later, by which time he had been charged with assault. 'Had I opened the email I don't believe I would have gone to the premises,' he said in his affidavit. 'When I did receive that email, it caused me some discomfort given the circumstances of us breaking up only days before, which included intimate and affectionate time together. 'Had I read my emails... I would have known that I was being peremptorily replaced in favour of Dylan. 'There would have been no way that I would have gone to Rose's premises with that in mind.' About six hours after the 'key' emails were sent Shir let himself into Jacobs' home, damaging a privacy screen. He took off his shirt, tried to give her a bear hug and refused her requests to leave. Shir's solicitor Greg Goold said his client's behaviour in the apartment had to be seen in the context of a relationship that until a day earlier had been intimate. 'Sometimes people have major barnies and within 24 hours everything's back to normal,' he said. Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Allen said: 'On any view of it there's no hostility.' 'Twenty four hours prior they're in a relationship. This is, on any view of it, a low-level assault.' Mr Allen will sentence Shir next month.
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###CLAIM: that makes me a bit queasy, especially considering the fate of so many other young artists whose connections with their audiences on a brain chemistry level are even younger.
###DOCS: The history of popular music is a pendulum constantly swinging from authenticity to artifice and back. This dialectic shapes and is in turn shaped by youth culture; baby boomers mirrored the bouncy, smiley, clean-cut early Beatles rapid transformation into the psychedelic, spiritual, hairy late Beatles. A generation later, the hair metal and synthpop of the 80s gave way to the grunge and gangsta rap of the 90s. And recently, as a long era of perfectionist pop wanes, an apocalyptic Gen Z take on authenticity has emerged. One of its most visible avatars is Billie Eilish. Since breaking out on SoundCloud in late 2015, the now-19-year-old singer and songwriter has ascended to such a rarefied level of fame as to require almost no introduction. At first, she was a strictly teenage phenomenon; parents often claimed not to get her. But Eilish had progressed to stardom by the time she dominated the Grammys in 2020, winning Album of the Year for her debut When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, which pairs her melancholic alto whisper with creeping, staccato beats recorded at home by her older brother and producer, Finneas. So it was only a matter of time before she, like such elders as Taylor Swift, Beyonce and her middle-school crush Justin Bieber, got her own documentary. That excessively long but mostly insightful and absorbing film, Billie Eilish: The Worlds a Little Blurry, comes to Apple TV+ on Feb. 26. It couldve been a disaster. Because the idea of authenticitywhich in Eilishs case means a mix of homegrown talent that resonated with her peers before reaching most adult gatekeepers, openness about her depression and an emotional relationship with listeners she sees not as fans but as part of meis so central to her appeal, a version of Blurry that felt overly slick or superficial might have felt like a betrayal. But profiling unique personalities is director R.J. Cutlers specialty, in projects such as last years Belushi and The September Issue, from 2009, which chronicled behind-the-scenes power struggles at Anna Wintours Vogue. His account of Eilishs rise combines verite-style documentation and a lifetimes worth of home movies with the generous serving of concert footage that those who already know her life story better than they know their own have surely been craving, especially after a year without concert tours. Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish in 'Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry' Apple TV+Its a complex, observant and overwhelmingly (if unsurprisingly; the film was co-produced by her label, Interscope) flattering portrait. And, if they can sit tight through too many similar home-recording scenes, it should help the perplexed appreciate her appeal. Onstage, we see her move like a rapper, leaning over a handheld mic and bouncing as if shes got springs in her sneakers. Offstage, she talks like a skater boy: brash and funny, with a stoner drawl that belies her anti-drug stance. Her baggy T-shirts and calf-grazing shorts split the difference between the two subculturesand have kept media chatter focused on her music more than her body. Pointy acrylic nails, slime-green long hair and pounds of silver jewelry offset the boyishness; Eilishs feminine flourishes are one part gothic, two parts knowingly cartoonish. She sings in a throaty, nightclub whisper and makes videos full of ominous imagery. She appears to be at her happiest with her arms around an ecstatically sobbing fan, but there are also some disconcerting moments when you can practically see the serotonin draining out of her. Like most generational talents, she synthesizes seemingly disparate influences into something seamless and new. And if she ever stumbles upon this review, the question isnt whether Eilish will roll her eyes at the descriptions above but how many times she will do so. Which is another way of saying that, in interviews and public appearances as well as in the film, she comes off as a true original but also, simultaneously, a classic self-conscious teen and a quintessential member of a cohort whose youth was shaped by the social media horde and its incessant feedback, whether they were famous or not. Blurry is most fascinating, and upsetting, when Cutlers camera captures Eilish struggling with the hyper-awareness that shes always just one tiny public mistake away from a critical Instagram comment that begets a screechy Twitter controversy before snowballing into a full-fledged media narrative that might take her years to live down. I dont want anyone who knows who I am or is any sort of fan or knows a fan to see me in any sort of awkward situation, a post-When We All Fall Asleep Eilish tells her family, toward the end of the 141-minute movie, as they roll through traffic in a tour bus. Its embarrassing, and I have to keep smiling, and if I dont, they hate me and think Im terrible. Maybe that complaint sounds bratty on paper. In all likelihood, no real damage resulted from the incident under discussion, in which handlers ambushed the exhausted singer backstage and pressured her to meet and greet a long line of industry types (randos, as she calls them), after which a social media commenter complained about Eilishs attitude. But imagine how crazy-making it would be to go through adolescencea time when we all feel like everyone is staring at uswith the certainty that youre being recognized, observed and submitted for public scrutiny every time you leave home. Maggie Baird, left, and Billie Eilish in 'Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry' Apple TV+The anxieties of fame arent the only things keeping Billie Eilish awake at night, of course. While mostly respecting the couples privacy (we rarely see them together on camera), Cutler traces the dissolution of her relationship with a boyfriend who seems incapable of showing up for her or showing her affection. There is an odd disconnect between his indifference and the adulation of her fans or the careful treatment shes given by a family thats painfully aware of her mental health. It reminded me of a recent essay by the actor and writer Tavi Gevinson, who got her start as a tween fashion blogger, responding to weeks worth of discourse about girls and young women in pop culture spurred by the documentary Framing Britney Spears. Recalling past sexual encounters that shes since come to understand as constituting rape or abuse, Gevinson points out that there is a difference between having power and feeling empowered. Blurry, which depicts a very different kind of female teen pop star at a very different moment in history, should be part of that conversation. If Britney became cultural shorthand for a generation of girls expected to know, at an unfeasibly young age, how to wield their sexuality, then Billies less gender-specific persona feels symbolic of a generation whose chief worriesthe pandemic, white supremacy, uncertain job prospects, climate changearent in the mirror so much as out in the world. (Eilish performed at the 2019 American Music Awards in a T-shirt that read: No Music on a Dead Planet.) In Blurry, Eilishs mother Maggie Baird makes a connection between her daughters state of mind and the future facing her peers: Its a horrible time to be a teenager, she says. Kids are depressed.Depression is, of course, central to Eilishs claim on authenticity. That makes me a bit queasy, especially when I consider the fates of so many other young artists whove connected with their even younger audiences on the level of brain chemistry. The weight of stardom on her psyche clearly worries her parents and her supportive, apparently unflappable brother, too; they seem, understandably, confused as to whether they can help her more by letting her be entirely herself or by trying to steer her away from situations that will leave her open to any sort of backlash. As a casual fan almost twice Eilishs age, I wanted both a more concise doc and one that spent more time with her ambivalent family. (A scene where she zooms off on her first solo car trip while her dad, Patrick OConnell, stays behind to riff on the tension he feels between protecting his kids and honoring their independence has stuck with me.) But, as much as I admire her, Billie Eilish isnt speaking primarily to me. Her music is for the kids who need it, and so is Blurry. Good. Contact us at [email protected]. On Thursday, after a live concert to promote it, Apple TV+ released The Worlds a Little Blurry, the streaming services new documentary about Gen-Z household name Billie Eilish. The documentary, directed by R.J. Cutler (Belushi, Nashville), chronicles the creation of Eilishs 2019 debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? in her childhood home. (The record went on to win all four major Grammy categories, making Eilish the youngest nominee to do so.) Its release comes right on the heels of the New York Times Hulu documentary Framing Britney Spears, which chronicled both Spears rise to fame as a teen pop star in the 1990s and the battle over her legal rights and control over her estate, after the courts ordered that she be subject to a conservatorship. The documentary spurred a great deal of discussion about the issues facing young women in the public eye, given how intensely the documentary chronicled the ways in which Spears was victimized by misogynistic music industry and celebrity media practices that were commonplace at the time and, as the Eilish documentary hints, remain so. Youve got a whole army of people trying to help you not destroy your life, like people in your shoes have done before, notes Maggie Baird, Elishs mother, at one point in the film. At another, her parents are shown objecting, respectfully but adamantly, to her label's suggestions; in one scene Baird responds to suggestions that Eilish change her anti-drug stance in her song xanny, by saying, Are you actually not going to let her be authentic to who she is now?Eilish and her music help represent many things that people of our generation are dealing with mental health struggles, grief, feelings of alienation and an unwillingness to just fit in." Its clear from the film that Eilishs family members play a significant supportive role in her life, rather than a predatory one; it was already well known that she writes songs with her brother, Finneas, but the film documents how she also leans on her parents for emotional support. Filmed over two years, it follows Eilish (now 19) as she struggles with depression, Tourette syndrome and the demise of a romantic relationship, alongside her quick rise to fame. Are you ready for the next level of superstardom? a journalist asks Eilish at a point before the albums release. No, she says. Billie Eilish in "Billie Eilish: The World's A Little Blurry." Apple TV+Though, as the documentary suggests, having a stable familial support system keen on protecting her as a person rather than promoting her career which not all young women in the industry have seems to at least alleviate some of the pressures. As an artist and a young woman, Eilish and her music help represent many things that people of our generation are dealing with mental health struggles, grief, feelings of alienation and an unwillingness to just fit in." Eilish is aware of and in control as much as is possible of the narrative about her, even though others may not always like it. I feel the dark things, she says in response. Why would I not talk about them? To have a song that is describing exactly how you feel is just the best feeling in the world.Shes also a person continuously being placed on a pedestal in front of millions of people, adding to the stressors of everyday problems we deal with. For instance, Eilishs style choices which are a deliberate rejection of the norm for young women in the industry were partially intended to force the focus onto her music, but her decision to simply cover her body as she saw fit actually drew criticism from people who seemingly thought her choice to avoid skin-tight clothing as a teenage girl was either intended to distract from a problem with her body or draw attention to it. The discourse around Eilishs style and her unwillingness to be overly sexualized was a continuation of the superficial and disgusting double standard reserved for women in the entertainment industry: They are damned if they show too much, and damned if they show what people deem too little. So whereas a young Spears was portrayed as provocative (and in control of her sexuality and choices, even though those style choice and the choices to be provocative were often being made for her by the adults in control of her image) Eilishs refusal to be body-shamed and oversexualized at an early age, and to actually take control of her image, subjected her to unfair discussion just the same. Still, as the documentary makes clear, Eilish is aware of and in control as much as is possible of the narrative about her, even though others may not always like it. And, though her parents do help intervene with the studio at times, she is equally and increasingly capable of pushing back against decisions when it comes to her work. Early on, she states wanting to self-direct her music videos and achieves that goal with her song everything i wanted."The Worlds a Little Blurry" uses Eilishs idol-turned-friend Justin Bieber as a juxtaposition of a child musician who was able to mature from the mistakes he made. Along with Katy Perry, it offers them as examples of veteran performers who offered mentorship and support to Eilish, having gone through the period of fame that Eilish is experiencing in the film. Their experience, and willingness to provide apparently nonpredatory support, allows Eilish to relate to them and find understanding for situations outside of the realm of her familys experience or understanding. Of course, while there isnt a definitive resolution for whats next for Eilish and her career, the documentary nonetheless manages to feel complete without it, given her already-intense trajectory. Instead, it simply ends with her 2016 breakthrough single, Ocean Eyes, symbolizing both a concert's end and her journey coming full circle. If teen-age pop stars were once saddled with pressure to maintain their perfect images, today they face the equally weighty burden of appearing perfectly imperfect: authentic, flawed, and wholly honest, at all times. In Billie Eilish: The Worlds a Little Blurry, the new documentary about the ascent of the anti-pop star Billie Eilish, a debate erupts between the musician (then seventeen years old), her mother, and Chelsea Dodson, who is one of the films producers. Eilish is wondering whether or not to speak out publicly against drugs, alcohol, and smoking, none of which she partakes in. My only thought is how, like, you say things, and then maybe you grow up and feel differently, Dodson says, And then get dragged for it. Eilishs mother interjects, exasperated. Wait a second. Are you actually not going to let her be authentic to who she is now in case she grows up to do drugs? she asks. But Eilish understands the great risks associated with saying one thing now and doing another later. Well, shes right though, she tells her mother. These are the sorts of calculations that Eilish, who appears to exercise total control over her creative output, must make from moment to moment. At times, being real seems like such an exhausting endeavor that its easy to see why so many stars whove come before Eilish have chosen the alternative. Nobody could blame Eilish for the amount of sulking she does throughout the films drifty two hours and twenty minutes. Eilish is an unconventional pop star, and The Worlds a Little Blurry is an attempt at an appropriately unconventional take on the pop-star documentary, a promotional format that has become standard in the age of content. Filmed during the lead-up to and aftermath of her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, the documentary chronicles Eilish as she struggles to finish the record, fumbles through live shows, suffers injuries that undermine her ability to perform, and strives to sustain the attention of her boyfriend, Q. Directed by R. J. Cutler, the documentarian behind critically beloved films like A Perfect Candidate and The September Issueand, notably, funded and produced by Eilishs label, Interscopethe film features no talking heads, no flashy graphics or tidy edits. The project is presented as verite footage, and much of it has the intimate feel of a home movie. This is less an artistic choice than a reflection of Eilishs real life, which has been unusually family-centric. Raised in a tiny house in Los Angeless Highland Park neighborhood, Eilish was homeschooled. Her father was a construction worker, and her mother was a teacher. Both parents also had small acting roles, played music, and cultivated a creative atmosphere in the home. As a result, Eilish and her older brother, Finneas, developed a fondness for music and performance. Eilish and Finneas wrote most of her debut album together in his bedroom. The film is a testament to their family bond, and to Eilishs closeness with her parents, who come across less as interventionist stage parents than a cocoon of support. The film is also a testament to Eilishs profound understanding of obsessive fan culture, which is critical to her success. In one scene, Eilishwhos talked openly about her Justin Bieber obsessionoffers a potent description of the parasocial relationships that superfans develop with their idols. Justin Bieber, right? When I was like twelve, I was not a fan of him, she says. That was, like, my first love. That was the person I was in love with. In my head, he was in love with me. Then she pulls up a clip of herself as an adolescent girl, describing her fear that any boys she dates in real life will never live up to the model that Bieber has provided. Later in the film, Bieber reaches out to Eilishs team expressing his support and asking to collaborate with her. Eilish meets Bieber in person at Coachella, at a moment when shes especially crestfallen about her middling performance at the festival and the absence of her boyfriend. Cradling a sobbing Eilish, Bieber is tidily cast as the knight in shining armor about whom shed fantasized as a young fan. The film is partly designed to underscore the artists agency in her own careershe works on music almost exclusively with her brother, records in the comfort of her own home, and is often seen calling the shots on set. If there is anyone who bears the standard pressures of the music business, it is Finneas, who is tasked with not only helping to turn Eilish into a pop star but insulating her from anything that might compromise her quest for artistic legitimacy. He is four years older than his sister, and presents as her best friend, her closest collaborator, and her protector. At one point early on in the film, under pressure from Eilishs label, he anguishes in private. It feels kind of like a minefield to me, he says. Ive been told to write a hit, but Ive been told to not tell Billie that we have to write a hit. But Billie hates writing songs in general, and, you know, is, I dont know, so woke about her own persona on the Internet, that I think shes terrified of, like, anything that she makes being hated.Its easy to see why Eilish is so consumed with her own relatability, given that her success was predicated on it. Shes well versed in the language of mental health, and known for making taboos normal. She speaks openly about her struggles with depression, as well as her experience with Tourettes syndrome, which she says once caused her to bite down on a piece of glass. She is so averse to skimpy or form-fitting clothing that a cottage industry of memes has been built around photos of her cartoonishly baggy wardrobe. During the promotional tour for the album, she tells an interviewer: People are always, like, You know, its so dark. Have happy music. But Im, like, Im never feeling happy. So why would I write about things I dont know about? You know, I feel the dark things. I feel them very strongly. And, you know, Why would I not talk about them?The Worlds a Little Blurry provides a stark portrait of how pop stardom has changed, or at least how it has appeared to change. One month ago, FX released Framing Britney Spears, a new documentary that chronicles the epic rise and fall of Britney Spears twenty years ago, beginning when Spears was the same age as Eilish was when she released her own first hit. That documentary casts the older artist as the tragic victim of the corrupt and voyeuristic pressure cooker of pop stardom. Spears, according to the films narrative, begins her career as a virginal Southern sex kitten, and eventually buckles under the weight of the publics leering eyes and unrealistic expectations, in catastrophic fashion. Shes later robbed of ownership over her life and livelihood when she is placed under a conservatorship. Maybe its the synergistic timing of these releases, but the spectre of Spears looms large over The Worlds a Little Blurry. Eilishs entire careerone defined by agency and candor, or at least the performance of agency and candorfeels like it was created in resistance to the forces that crushed Spears. And yet the film shows just how impossible it is to vanquish fames most oppressive elements. In one scene, Eilish is criticized on social media for being rude during an impromptu meet-and-greet session. She rages at her team: I dont want anyone who knows who I am, and is any sort of fan or knows a fan, to see me in any sort of awkward situation, she says. Its embarrassing, and I have to keep smiling. And, if I dont, they hate me, and they think Im horrible. Being consumed with a desire to be liked is as authentic as it gets.
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###CLAIM: before we get to the result, you must be told that finalists wyatt and pike are not competitive.
###DOCS: Wyatt Pike released a new song roughly one week after exiting "American Idol" for "personal reasons." The 20-year-old singer was considered a front-runner ahead of the show naming its top 12 finalists for its 2021 season. The talented singers recent cover of the Kings of Leon song "Use Somebody" wowed the judges panel and America before he ultimately announced he would not continue. On Monday, hours before "American Idol" aired, Pike took to social media to debut a new original song titled "Friday Nights." "As promised, here's a video of my tune 'Friday Nights'! I had fun filming this for you yesterday, hope you enjoy! 'Friday Nights' is available on all streaming platforms!" he captioned the video on Instagram. 'AMERICAN IDOL' JUDGES KATY PERRY, LIONEL RICHIE GIVE UPDATE ON LUKE BRYAN AFTER CORONAVIRUS ANNOUNCEMENTFans of the singer responded positively to the fast-paced acoustic song with many noting that they wished hed been able to continue on "American Idol" given the debut of yet another exciting performance. Longtime host and producer, Ryan Seacrest, broke the news to audience members last Monday. "Before we get to the results, I have to tell you that finalist Wyatt Pike will not be competing in the competition," he said. "He had to drop out but we wish him the very best, OK?" 'AMERICAN IDOL' WELCOMES KATHARINE MCPHEE BACK FOR POWERFUL DUETSThe Utah native released a statement on social media touching on his departure. "I had to leave the @AmericanIdol competition for personal reasons but am so thankful I get to play music for the rest of my life," Pike wrote Wednesday on Instagram. "Fellow contestants miss you all, good luck!" Following his stunning performance ahead of his departure from the show, judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie offered high praise for Pike. Perry said Pike was "an authentic singer-writer. I think whatever happens youre it." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERBryan told the young musician, "I remember one of the coolest things ever happened to me is the day I realized that I get to do music forever, under any circumstance. Im telling you, Wyatt, you are going to be able to do music for the rest of your life." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPRichie said Pike was "something big" in the making. Fox News Jessica Napoli contributed to this report.
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###CLAIM: truman's list of domestic enemies grew as did his vows to ban the coming of muslims into the united states and his embrace of police brutality against blacks.
###DOCS: Updated at 9:50 a.m. ET on November 9, 2020. The 2020 campaign was long and brutal, unfolding before a backdrop of death and economic decline. When all the votes are counted, a challenger will have unseated an incumbent president for only the 10th time in American history. Donald Trumps presidency is over. Blinded by their contempt for Hillary Clinton, much of the 2016 electorate failed to see the danger Trump posed to popular sovereignty. Since taking office, the president has used the levers of government to enrich himself and his allies; purge those who resisted his schemes; turn the powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies against his enemies and apply those powers to benefit his co-conspirators; socially engineer a whiter America in order to preserve the nations traditional aristocracy of race; and attempt to destroy the ability of the United States to hold free and fair elections. Even now, he calls for the results to be altered in his favora call that the majority of his supporters have refused. But just enough of them have embraced it to remind everyone of the stakes. Annie Lowrey: Why the election wasnt a Biden landslideThat Trumps defeat came at former Vice President Joe Bidens hands is no small thing. After all, Trump was impeached for attempting to blackmail the president of Ukraine into framing Biden for a nonexistent crime for the sole purpose of crippling Bidens bid for the presidency. * The seemingly unstoppable force of a blue wave conveyed in poll after poll met the immovable object of a red wave that most polls failed to detect. But the political coalition supporting the former vice president was large and resilient enough to secure a victory anyway. Perhaps Trump was right to fear him. Biden has earned more votes than any other presidential candidate in historywith Trump a close second. As in 2016, tens of millions of Americans will look at the results knowing that their compatriots voted for a candidate whose campaign was premised on their mere presence in the United States being an existential threat to the country. For many of them, the sense of relief they find in a Trump defeat will be coupled with the understanding that much of the electorate does not recognize them as truly American, and that the faction that supports Trumpism has not only grown, but grown more diverse than it was in 2016. The outcome is ultimately bittersweetnot only because of the institutional obstacles to any lasting change, but because Americas rebuke of Trumpism was paired with a reminder of the ideologys lingering potency. That the president spent the last few weeks of the campaign making his own supporters sick with a deadly disease, simply to feed his own ego, did not begin to dampen the devotion they showed him. With Bidens victory, American democracy has earned a reprieve from its most immediate threat. But the tasks Biden faces when he assumes the presidency are daunting. Biden will have to contain the worst pandemic in a century and revive the economy, but he must also restore faith in American democracy. The sole blessing, perhaps, is that these tasks are closely related to the crisis that summoned him to the fore. To succeed, Biden will have to do more than secure Americans right to vote, ensure that workers wages rise, and return life to some semblance of pre-pandemic normality, although those are all necessary. He must also remind Americans that the government can serve the people, and not just the ambitions, avarice, and ego of its leader. The moral core of Trumpism is the ethnic and religious chauvinism that the president has espoused since his descent from the escalator at Trump Tower in 2015, when he announced that Mexico was sending rapists and drug dealers to America. As that campaign unfolded, Trumps list of domestic enemies grew, as he vowed to ban Muslims from coming to the United States, and embraced police brutality against Black Americans. But what sustains Trumpism is cynicism about the workings of government and the promises of democracy. If every politician is a crook, if every program is a boondoggle, if every initiative is graft, then absolutely nothing is lost by elevating a strongman who seeks to stuff his own pockets. Perhaps, unlike the crooks currently in charge, he could get something done. This cynicism was perhaps easier to sustain before the coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis it created. The American people needed their government to be effective, responsive, and generous. The Trump administration needed to contain a deadly outbreak, communicate clearly and effectively about the risks of infection, prevent the economy from collapsing, and dispatch resources to states to keep them from being overwhelmed. Instead, after a crucial initial stimulus, the president and his party held up further aid on the grounds that it would amount to blue-state bailouts that would assist the enemythat is, the Americans who live in states whose electoral votes did not go to the president in 2016. It will not be a simple matter to purge this poison from the body politic, if it is possible at all. From the September 2020 issue: How the pandemic defeated AmericaThe coronavirus crisis also made the cost of Trumps authoritarianism more apparent. The president consciously misled the public about the risks of the pandemic and lied to the American people about its implications. Government officials who did their duty in documenting the ineptitude of the governments response were purged. Seeing the pandemic as largely a public-relations problem, Trump forced government agencies to follow his lead in seeking to preserve his own political prospects rather than safeguarding the health of the American people. The president also hoarded resources and distributed them as political favors, regarding Americans who live in states that chose Clinton as more deserving of death than those who live in states that chose him. He believed that resurrecting the economy and, with it, his political fortunes was more important than protecting American livesparticularly because he saw the brunt of the pandemic being borne by those who were not his people. The Trump administrations goal was to salvage the image of the great leader, not to contain the deadly outbreak killing hundreds of thousands of American citizens. In the final debate of this season, Trump falsely proclaimed that the only undocumented immigrants who show up to their court dates are those with the lowest IQ. It was as vivid an expression of the presidents worldview as you could get, not only in its nativism, but in its contempt for boundaries: Only chumps follow the rules. If you follow the rules, then you are a chump. But the rule of law depends on the willingness of leaders to not just enforce the rules but obey them. Bidens success as president will depend on the willingness of his administration to recognize Trumpism as a symptom of a deeper affliction. If Biden is to restore faith that democracy can serve all people and not just the powerful, he must show that government is capable of meeting the challenges ordinary Americans face. It will not be enough to resurrect an economy in which the average American is a bill or two away from bankruptcy, and the engine of economic growth is consumption by the wealthy. That means keeping families in their homes, preventing state governments from going bankrupt, and safeguarding businesses crushed by the pandemic, but it also means ensuring that the benefits of a recovery are available to all Americans and not simply the wealthy and upper-middle classes. From the September 2020 issue: The new ReconstructionDemocracy in order to live must become a positive force in the daily lives of its people. It must make men and women whose devotion it seeks, feel that it really cares for the security of every individual, Franklin D. Roosevelt declared in 1938, as the tinder of fascism in Europe was poised to ignite World War II. Democracy will save itself with the average man and woman by proving itself worth saving.It is not 1938 all over again, but America nevertheless faces a wave of illiberal nationalism at home and abroad, and a not-unfounded disillusionment with democracy, based on the belief that it has been fatally corrupted by a self-serving elite. Trump ran in 2016 on fighting a rigged system, then rigged it even further as president. His major legislative accomplishment was cutting his own taxes and those of his wealthy donors, and he wielded executive power in pursuit of a less diverse America in which the cultural hegemony of white conservatives and the economic power of the wealthy would remain unchallenged. And yet even Trumps failure feeds the cynicism that gave rise to his administration; through his own con, the con man seeks to prove that honest or responsive government is impossible. The cost of Trumps presidency was high, and those responsible for enabling him will not pay it. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, beginning with his refusal to consider Merrick Garland to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by Antonin Scalias death in 2016, has undertaken a series of risky gambles that have cemented a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, and filled the judiciary with hundreds of conservative nominees. Pending the outcome of two runoff elections in Georgia, McConnell is likely to retain control of the Senate, and with it a potential veto over Joe Bidens agenda. If Americas economic suffering deepens, he is in a position to make the Biden administration bear the blame, as he did the last time a Democrat held the presidency. And yet Biden cannot afford to fail to deliver on his pledges to voters. The presidents racism proved far more sincere than his vaunted economic populism, and that surely cost him at the ballot box. But here is also a lesson for the president-elect, on the importance of delivering for your constituents. Black voters, now as in the past, acted as American democracys firewall, not only elevating Biden above a crowded primary field, but providing crucial margins in the swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Yet it has been generations since the Democratic Party has fully met its commitments to its most loyal constituency. Returns from Florida to Ohio to Nevada show many of the Democratic Partys bonds to other elements of the Obama coalition have already eroded. The perils of failure are real. Trumps rise could not have happened without the achingly slow recovery that followed the Great Recession, a product of Republican obstruction and Democratic timidity. If Biden truly wishes to follow in FDRs footsteps, if he seeks to restore faith in democracy, then he will have to be bolder than the Obama administration. If his ambitions begin and end with the restoration of the status quo ante, then he will leave the nation vulnerable to the next racist demagogue who comes along, who may not be as clownish, or as incompetent. American democracy must now prove itself worth saving. It will be an arduous task. In the end, bigotry, mendacity, and narcissism lost. Decency and reason won. Despite Donald Trumps refusal to acknowledge the election results, after four chaotic years, the country will escape the ordeal of his Presidency. Seventy-seven million people voted for Joe Biden, the most ever for a Presidential candidatean estimable accomplishment in the face of an incumbent President. Bidens leads, too, in Georgia and Arizona, once reliably Republican states, instill hope that Democratic efforts to construct a lasting majority coalition that capitalizes on Americas demographic transformation may finally be emergent. The 2020 election, however, failed to produce a thoroughgoing repudiation of Trumpism and its race-based, grievance-driven brand of politics. Even amid a devastating pandemic and economic downturn, roughly seventy-two million Americans voted for the President, nine million more than voted for him in 2016. The Trump campaign managed to activate millions of new votersstark evidence of the enduring appeal of Trumps nationalistic, populist message. Democrats had believed that the great tide of immigration that is dramatically changing the country, the huge numbers of people going to the pollsthis election is ultimately expected to record the highest percentage of Americans voting in a hundred and twenty yearsand widespread revulsion toward the President could tip a wave of traditionally Republican states in their favor. But it became clear relatively early on Election Night that this hope had failed to materialize. In Texas, the Biden campaign made a late push, counting on turning out supporters in the states booming cities and diversifying suburbs. Trump wound up winning easily, however, mostly because of his strength in rural areas and small towns, where he actually improved on his performance from four years ago. Similarly, Democrats invested heavily in Ohio, where Barack Obama won the vote in 2008 and 2012 but Hillary Clinton lost to Trump in 2016. Trumps eight-point victory in the state, matching his 2016 margin against Clinton, was so complete that he even defeated Biden in Mahoning County, in northeastern Ohio, a place with deep union rootsthe aging industrial town of Youngstown is the county seatwhere a Republican Presidential candidate had not triumphed in nearly half a century. Nationally, Democrats had hoped that Trumps toxicity would sweep them to victory in down-ballot races, but the Party lost several seats in the House, and the near-certainty that many Democrats had felt about taking back the Senate has evaporated. Though, if Democrats are able to eke out a Senate victory in January, via two runoff races in Georgiaa challenging task without alarm about Trump driving voters to the pollsthe Party will achieve a fifty-fifty split in the chamber, with Vice-President Kamala Harris able to cast deciding votes. The election results reinforce just how entrenched the countrys partisan divisions have become. The nations most fundamental racial, ethnic, religious, geographic, and cultural divisions are now interwoven with the identities of its two major political parties. The G.O.P. has become increasingly reliant on voters in America today that resent the ways the country is changing around them. They are overwhelmingly white, religious conservatives, people without college degrees, and residents of small towns and rural areas of the country. By contrast, groups that support the Democratic Partythe young; African-Americans; immigrants; gay, lesbian, and transgender people; the college-educated; and city dwellerslargely celebrate these social and cultural shifts. Exacerbating matters, the members of the opposing parties are increasingly cut off from one another. They live in different neighborhoods; they get their news from different sources; they spend their Sundays differently. Voting preferences today are driven as much by intense loathing for the opposing party as they are by genuine policy differences. This combustible situation resembles the manner in which the country was riven by disagreements over slavery prior to the Civil War. In How Democracies Die, published in 2018, the political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt document the ways in which President Trump resembles authoritarian leaders around the world with his undermining of democratic institutions and norms. A cornered, unhinged Trump, unwilling to concede the election, remains a dangerous prospect for the Republic over the next few months. But Trumps exit, though restorative, will not cure American democracy of its implacable partisanship. A worst-case scenario for the country, as sketched by Levitsky and Ziblatt, is one in which partisan rancor continues to rise, turning America into a democracy without guardrails, in which partisan rivals become enemies, political competition descends into warfare, and our institutions turn into weapons. This is how liberal democracies have crumbled around the world. A long list of priorities awaits the Biden Administration. Bold measures are needed to address the twin crises of the pandemic and the economy. During his campaign, Biden outlined an expansive agenda on health care, immigration, education, policing, and climate change. Progressives are also eager to begin the work of reforming a political system that increasingly thwarts the will of the electorate. If Democrats succeed in taking back the Senate, the Partys leadership in Congress and the White House might prioritize any number of steps toward a lasting progressive agenda, including expanding the number of seats on the Supreme Court; ending the filibuster; statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico; and new protections for voting rights. But a Republican-controlled Senate would likely extinguish hopes for a transformational Presidency. Under either scenario, the great uncertainty for American democracy is what happens next to a country that seems irretrievably polarized. Since the Trump Presidency began, a progressive ferment has bubbled in communities across the country. The Womens March, on January 21, 2017, which may have been the largest single-day protest in the countrys history, launched four years of demonstrations in response to the moral crisis of the Administration. Ordinary citizens, many of whom had never protested beforeparticularly college-educated, middle-aged, suburban white womenpropelled that movement. Collectively, their organizing represented an inflection point in civic engagement, which had been declining in this country for years. Many of the groups that formed after Trumps Inauguration redirected their energy to campaigning for Democrats during the 2018 midterm elections, helping the Party retake the House. They have now helped to expel Trump from the White House. The emergency that roused so many of them from their complacency has ended, but the work of saving democracy must go on. Lara Putnam and Theda Skocpol, academics who have researched the thousands of resistance groups that sprang up during the Trump Presidency, have highlighted the surprising ideological and geographic diversity of participants. Many of the groups deliberately sought to be inclusive across party lines. According to findings published by the American Communities Project, at George Washington University, the groups were not confined to big cities and blue states but had a significant presence in swing states such as Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Arizona. They can be found in all manner of communitiescounties with large numbers of retirees, suburbs across the socioeconomic spectrum, exurbs, and small towns. These regular Americans, awakened by the Trump cataclysm, were compelled less by any particular issue than by a broader concern for the future of their country.
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###CLAIM: the allegations also asked the prime minister to pull himself in line with several coalition politicians who have been spreading disinformation in the aftermath of the us elections.
###DOCS: 6 Nov 2020 04.04 EST What we learned, Friday 6 November Thats it for tonight, thanks for reading. To recap todays developments: The high court has rejected Clive Palmer s challenge against Western Australias border ban. A majority of justices on Friday held that the states quarantine directions and the emergency management law authorising them did not breach the constitution. The decision was welcomed by the WA premier, Mark McGowan . has rejected s challenge against Western Australias border ban. A majority of justices on Friday held that the states quarantine directions and the emergency management law authorising them did not breach the constitution. The decision was welcomed by the WA premier, . The Victorian hotel quarantine inquiry released its interim report, which recommended significant changes to the program, including clear oversight by the minister, 24/7 police presence and the potential for returned travellers to quarantine at home. The inquiry also found the quarantine program has now cost the Victorian state $195m . released its interim report, which recommended significant changes to the program, including clear oversight by the minister, 24/7 police presence and the potential for returned travellers to quarantine at home. The inquiry also found the quarantine program has now cost the Victorian state . The chief of the defence force, Angus Campbell , has received the inquiry report into alleged war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan . Guardian Australia understands he will consider the contents of the report over the coming weeks before a decision is made about how much of the detail can be released publicly about the inquiry into the conduct of elite Australian forces in more than 55 incidents of alleged unlawful killings between 2005 and 2016., has received the inquiry report into alleged war crimes by Australian special forces in . Guardian Australia understands he will consider the contents of the report over the coming weeks before a decision is made about how much of the detail can be released publicly about the inquiry into the conduct of elite Australian forces in more than 55 incidents of alleged unlawful killings between 2005 and 2016. The opposition leader, Anthony Albanese , is calling on Scott Morrison to use his close relationship with Donald Trump to urge the US president to respect the democratic process. Albanese is also asking the prime minister to pull into line several Coalition politicians who he alleges are spreading disinformation in the aftermath of the US election. , is calling on to use his close relationship with to urge the US president to respect the democratic process. Albanese is also asking the prime minister to pull into line several Coalition politicians who he alleges are spreading disinformation in the aftermath of the US election. On Friday, Victoria recorded its seventh consecutive day of no Covid-19 cases or deaths, as the premier, Daniel Andrews , revealed Melbourne airport will begin accepting direct international flights from New Zealand from 9 November. recorded its seventh consecutive day of no Covid-19 cases or deaths, as the premier, , revealed Melbourne airport will begin accepting direct international flights from New Zealand from 9 November. New South Wales reported four locally acquired cases of Covid-19. One is under investigation, and the other three are close contacts of that case. Moss Vale public school, and Southern Highlands early childhood centre have been closed for cleaning and contact tracing is under way. The announcement of new cases followed reports the NSW government is considering giving households $100 meal vouchers in an attempt to boost the hospitality sector. Updated at 04.27 EST6 Nov 2020 03.40 EST Defence force chief reviewing Afghanistan war crimes report The chief of the defence force, Angus Campbell, has released a statement about the inquiry into alleged war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. Campbell said he received the Afghanistan inquiry report today, which examined the conduct of elite Australian forces in more than 55 incidents of alleged unlawful killings between 2005 and 2016. Guardian Australia understands he will consider the contents of the report over the coming weeks before a decision is made about how much of the detail can be released publicly. Campbell said: Today I have received the Afghanistan Inquiry report from the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF). The independent inquiry was commissioned by Defence in 2016 after rumours and allegations emerged relating to possible breaches of the Law of Armed Conflict by members of the Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan over the period 2005 to 2016. I intend to speak about the key findings once I have read and reflected on the report. Welfare and other support services are available to those affected by the Afghanistan Inquiry. Last week, Afghan and Australian human rights groups urged the government to release in full the details of the inquiry into the bone-chilling allegations of special forces war crimes in Afghanistan. Updated at 04.00 EST6 Nov 2020 02.24 EST Graham Readfearn A spokesman for the federal environment minister, Sussan Ley, has confirmed she has delayed a decision to approve a $700m extension of a NSW coalmine so a legal challenge from young climate campaigners can be heard in federal court next year. Whitehaven Coal wants to extend its Vickery mine to dig up about 7m more tonnes of coal a year for 25 years, with about 60% to be used for making steel and the rest for burning in coal plants. A federal court hearing was adjourned this morning for a full five-day hearing in March 2021, when lawyers for eight young people will argue the minister has a duty of care under common law to protect them from climate change impacts from burning the coal. Leys spokesman just sent this statement:Given that the hearing for the matter is listed for early next year, the court suggested that the minister provide an undertaking not to make a final decision in relation to the project until the matter is heard and the minister provided this short-term undertaking to allow the legal issues to be considered. The government has highlighted the importance of certainty around our environmental framework which benefits all parties and ensures that decisions can be made efficiently and in the interests of both the environment and the economy. The Guardian also approached Whitehaven Coal for a comment earlier today. Updated at 02.41 EST6 Nov 2020 02.00 EST Drones will deliver an economic boost while creating thousands of jobs, according to a report released by the Aus Gov. this week. Expanding drone use is expected to provide a $14.5b increase in GDP over the next 20 years of which $4.4b would be in regional NSW, VIC & QLD. pic.twitter.com/3H4hIFbPqY Michael McCormack (@M_McCormackMP) November 6, 20206 Nov 2020 01.16 EST Western Australia has reported one new case of coronavirus, in a returned traveller in hotel quarantine. According to WA Health, the case is a man in his 30s. There are currently 16 active cases of Covid-19 in Western Australia. 6 Nov 2020 00.50 EST Labor calls for Morrison to act on Trump Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is calling on Scott Morrison to use his close relationship with Donald Trump to urge the US president to respect the democratic process. Albanese is also calling on Morrison to pull into line several Coalition politicians who he alleges are spreading disinformation in the aftermath of the US election. On Friday morning (Australian time), Trump said he easily wins the election if only legal votes are counted, also repeating his unsubstantiated claim of voter fraud. In a joint statement with opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong, the pair said: Australias alliance with the United States forged by John Curtin in the darkest days of World War Two is based on shared interests and values, including democracy. Our leaders should always speak out on the democratic values we hold dear. Australia should consistently advocate for free and fair elections where every vote is counted. Scott Morrison must do that now. Mr Morrison has a close relationship with President Trump, and he must have the courage to urge President Trump to respect the democratic process. Mr Morrison must also put an end to the spreading of disinformation by Coalition MPs such as Matt Canavan and George Christensen. He has to pull them into line. It is undeniably in Australias interest in a contested world that the United States remains a stable and credible democracy. This is an important moment for Scott Morrison to call on Liberal MPs to stop peddling conspiracy theories about the US election. Scott Morrison needs to stand up for democratic values at home and abroad. Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 6, 20206 Nov 2020 23.47 EST South Australia has reported one new case of coronavirus, in a returned traveller in hotel quarantine. According to SA Health, todays case is a child who tested positive days into their stay in hotel quarantine, where they have been with their family. There are now 17 active cases of Covid-19 in South Australia. South Australian COVID-19 update 6/11/20. For more information go to https://t.co/mYnZsG7zGQ or contact the South Australian COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787. pic.twitter.com/wXcpk0bHYK SA Health (@SAHealth) November 6, 2020Updated at 00.32 EST6 Nov 2020 23.37 EST That is where I am finishing up for today, and now I will pass you over to my colleague Elias Visontay for the rest of the day. I hope you all have a good weekend. 6 Nov 2020 23.25 EST Here are Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuks comments on the high court decision rejecting Clive Palmers challenge of Western Australias border closure, via AAP: That high court case has clearly showed that the declarations that were made around the border were valid, they were constitutional. She is expected to make further announcements on border rules at the end of the month, saying Victorians could be allowed in before Christmas. Updated at 23.30 EST6 Nov 2020 23.17 EST Heres my full report on the hotel quarantine inquirys interim report. The important thing to note is that the focus of this report is on what needs to change for the program to restart, to allow Victoria to soon begin accepting returned travellers again. Thats why this came first. The what went wrong part will come on 21 December, when the final report is provided to government. More time was needed on that after more evidence was sought from the inquiry in the form of call records and statements surrounding the decision to use private security for the program instead of police or Australian Defence Force personnel. Melbournes Stamford Plaza hotel, which featured in the inquiry. Photograph: James Ross/AAP Victorian hotel quarantine inquiry calls for police to be on site 24 hours a day Read moreUpdated at 23.29 EST6 Nov 2020 23.06 EST Paul Karp The Senate inquiry into the jobmaker hiring credit has reported back. Despite union concerns about the lack of safeguards in the bill, it seems Labor is content to pass it. The Labor senators report is full of criticism for the way the government has designed the scheme, but they did not issue a dissenting report, and nor did they indicate the opposition will make amendments. The criticisms included: The hiring credit leaves behind many businesses and their employees who used jobkeeper [wage subsidies] behindThe bill allows the treasurer to create the scheme, but will mean that parliament needs to disallow changes he makes to itThe design incentivises casual and insecure workThe program lacks dispute resolution processes But how should these be fixed? Well, the government should include safeguards ... in the enabling legislation. By contrast, the Greens have indicated they will introduce amendments including to prevent employers sacking existing staff to claim the subsidy. Updated at 23.10 EST6 Nov 2020 22.55 EST In other election news, the results of the Victorian local council elections have been slowly flowing in. It was an entirely mail-in voting process, and theyve been counting the votes for a couple of weeks. In the City of Yarra in Melbournes inner north, the Greens will have a majority, picking up five of the nine council spots. The party has also said it has picked up 34 spots in councils across Victoria including: Ballarat, Banyule (2), Colac-Otway, Darebin (3), Glen Eira, Golden Plains, Greater Dandenong, Geelong, Shepparton, Hobsons Bay, Manningham, Maribyrnong (2), Melbourne (2), Monash (2), Moreland (4), Port Phillip (2), Stonnington (2), Surf Coast and Yarra (5). There are more results to come, but you can find what is available here. The head of security at one of Victoria's quarantine hotels has revealed the shambolic scenes during the early days of the program. Elite Protection Services ran security at Rydges Hotel Swanston when the state government first rolled out mandatory quarantine in Victoria. Owner Andy McLean said the program started on bad footing during a 500-paqe submission to the inquiry investigating how the deadly coronavirus seeped out of the hotel. The hotel quarantine failings are understood to be responsible for the vast majority of Victoria's second wave, with 819 dead in the state to date. He has revealed a series of explosive allegations about security breaches, communication breakdowns and protocols. The head of security at one of Victoria's quarantine hotels has revealed the shambolic scenes during the early days of the program (pictured, Andy McLean of Elite Protection Services)Mr McLean penned his concerns into a mammoth document which he submitted to the state government's Inquiry into the Hotel Quarantine program. But he said he was never called to make a submission on the day despite providing evidence of the bungled rollout, reported the Herald Sun. Among his documentation was a series of incident reports recorded during the early days of the program on the company letterhead. On April 19 an incident report was written about a security breach involving a guest bowling in the hallway. 'At 10:05 I received a message from a guard that a guest had opened her door, walked into the hallway and arranged some bottles,' a document obtained by the newspaper read. Elite Protection Services ran security at Rydges Hotel Swanston (pictured) when the state government first rolled out mandatory quarantine in Victoria'She walked back to her room then rolled some oranges back at the bottles. Another report from the same day involved a 'misunderstanding' between nurses which allowed a guest with coronavirus into another part of the hotel for a walk. Mr McLean told Sky News it was clear the people involved were oblivious to the consequences of a potential security breach. 'I don't think any of us really knew how important this was, from a perspective of how dangerous the whole COVID situation was going to be,' he said. He said the panicked rolling out of the program at such a fast pace meant there was a serious lack of direction or cohesion in the chain of command. 'It was red hot. When I say it was hot, it was a high-pressure environment. You had multiple departments having different ideas about the way things should be run,' he added. Recently arrived overseas travellers arrive at the Crown Promenade Hotel in Melbourne as part of Victoria's hotel quarantine program (pictured on March 29)Images emerged in September showing guests who were ordered to isolate inside their rooms during hotel quarantine walking to a nearby convenience store'It was just an ongoing conversation and obviously, we were trying to manage all of the things that needed to be managed.' He also revealed there were 'conflicts' about whether travellers could order UberEats to their bedrooms and whether they could drink alcohol. The company was subcontracted by Unified Security who had won the majority of a $30million government contract to deliver the program. But EPS were dismissed after allegations of sexual harassment by a member of staff. Mr McLean has denied the allegations. The bungled hotel quarantine program eventually led to a State of Disaster being declared in Victoria and the state plunged into lockdown. Damning emails reveal Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton (pictured) was told months ago private security would be used in the bungled hotel quarantine programPrivate security guards were pulled from a Melbourne quarantine hotel and replaced by police in September (pictured, cleaning staff at a Melbourne CBD quarantine hotel on October 1)Melbourne has only just emerged from three months in Stage Four lockdown, confining millions to their homes to stop the respiratory virus spreading. Of the 907 deaths across Australia related to COVID-19 since the pandemic began, 819 have been in Victoria. The issue of who gave the green light to hire private security guards to run the program has become a political football. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton told an inquiry that he had no idea contractors were being used until May. But leaked emails published by the Age newspaper between him and staff from late March contradict these claims. During the inquiry into the program he said he wasn't aware of this fact under after the outbreak at Rydges on Swanston.
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###CLAIM: marriott said in a statement tuesday that he was `` an exceptional executive, but more than that a human being. ''
###DOCS: Marriott Chief Executive Arne Sorenson, who grew the company into the world's largest hotel chain and steered it through a global pandemic that has been catastrophic in the travel industry in the past year, has died, the hotel giant said Tuesday. He was 62. Sorenson stepped away from his management role earlier this month to pursue a more aggressive cancer treatment. He was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019. In this Dec. 19, 2012, file photo, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for a Marriott hotel in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Dieu Nalio Chery / APJ.W. Marriott Jr., the company's executive chairman, said Sorenson loved every aspect of the hotel business and relished traveling and meeting employees around the world. "Arne was an exceptional executive but more than that he was an exceptional human being," said Marriott said in a prepared statement Tuesday. Sorenson was the first Marriott CEO whose name was not Marriott, and only the third to lead the company in its 93-year history. Sorenson joined the Bethesda, Maryland, company in 1996, leaving behind a partnership in a Washington law firm where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions. He rose to president and chief operating officer before he was named CEO in 2012. After becoming Marriott's top executive, he oversaw the $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels in 2016. He pushed the international chain to become more sustainable while also trying to combat human trafficking. He advocated for gay rights and opposed President Donald Trump's 2017 ban on travel from majority Muslim countriesEven at the depths of the coronavirus pandemic, when Marriott's revenue plunged more than 70%, Sorenson remained optimistic. "The fact of the matter is, people love to travel. They love to travel for themselves personally and they love to travel for work," Sorenson said in November. "It's often the most interesting and it's the place they're going to learn the most." Tributes poured in Tuesday from business and civic leaders, including Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin. CNBC host Jim Cramer said in a Twitter post that Sorenson believed business was the "greatest source for social change." RIP Arne Sorenson, the ceo of Marriott, a great man who believed that business is the greatest source for social change. I had the privilege of knowing this towering figure and watching what he did to help his team in good and hard times. I will miss him very much. Great man Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) February 16, 2021"He was a wonderful leader who led with empathy, integrity and authenticity," General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra tweeted. Sorenson served on Microsoft's board of directors as well as the board of directors for the Special Olympics. When Sorenson stepped back from full-time duties this month, Marriott turned to two veteran executives, Stephanie Linnartz and Tony Capuano, to oversee day-to-day operations. They will continue in those roles until Marriott's board names a new CEO, which is expected to happen within two weeks, the company said. Sorenson is survived by his wife, Ruth, and four adult children.
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###CLAIM: not unexpectedly, the firm 's investment rates have increased steadily, increasing the sustainability of the recovery.
###DOCS: Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. Return on assets (ROA) is a measure of how efficiently a company uses the assets it owns to generate profits. Managers, analysts and investors use ROA to evaluate a companys financial health. Return on Assets: What Is ROA? Return on assets compares the value of a businesss assets with the profits it produces over a set period of time. Return on assets is a tool used by managers and financial analysts to determine how effectively a company is using its resources to make a profit. If that sounds abstract, heres how ROA might work at a hypothetical widget manufacturer. The company owns several manufacturing plants, plus the tools and machinery used to make widgets. It also maintains a stock of raw materials, plus unsold widget inventory. Then there are its unique widget designs, and the cash and cash equivalents it keeps on hand for business expenses. Collectively, these are the widget manufacturers assets. The money the company earns from selling widgets minus the cost of materials and labor equals its net profit. Divide the companys net profit by the value of its assets to get ROA. How to Calculate ROAIts simple to calculate ROA, as we saw above: Divide a companys net profit by its total assets, then multiply the result by 100. ROA = (Net Profit / Total Assets) x 100Public companies report net profit on their income statements, and disclose their total assets on their monthly, quarterly, or annual balance sheets. You can find these statements in a companys quarterly earnings reports. Lets say our widget manufacturer reported a net profit of $2.5 million in 2020, and total assets at the end of the year of $38.5 million. To determine the companys ROA for 2020, you would divide $2,500,000 by $38,500,000, giving you 0.064935. Multiply by 100 and round up to get a ROA of 6.49%. This tells you that for every dollar in assets owned by the widget company, they earn 6.49 in profit. Advanced ROA FormulaA more sophisticated ROA calculation takes into account that the value of a companys assets changes over time. To factor this into your calculation, use the average value of assets the company owned in a given year, rather than the total value of its assets at year end. Once youve determined the average value of a companys assets, divide net profit by average assets and multiply it by 100 to get the percentage. ROA = (Net Profit / Average Assets) x 100To continue the example from above, you would average the value of the widget manufacturers assets from 2020, discovering that its average asset value is only $33,500,000, lower than the total at the end of the year. When you divide the companys net profit of $2,500,000 by $33,500,000, you get a ROA of 7.46%. This ROA is more accurate than the 6.49% figure in the example above. How to Use Return on AssetsROA is a helpful metric for gauging a single companys performance. When a firms ROA rises over time, it indicates that the company is squeezing more profits out of each dollar it owns in assets. Conversely, a declining ROA suggests a company has made bad investments, is spending too much money and may be headed for trouble. You should be very cautious about comparing ROAs across different companies, however. ROA is not a useful tool for comparing different sized companies or companies that arent in similar industries. Expected ROAs might vary even among companies of the same size in the same industry, but are at different stages in their corporate lifecycles. For these reasons, its best to use ROA as a way to analyze a single business over time. Plotting out the ROA of a company quarter over quarter or year over year can help you understand how well its performing. Rising or falling ROA can help you understand longer-term changes in the business. What Is a Good ROA? An ROA of 5% or better is typically considered good, while 20% or better is considered great. In general, the higher the ROA, the more efficient the company is at generating profits. However, any one companys ROA must be considered in the context of its competitors in the same industry and sector. For example, an asset-heavy company, such as a manufacturer, may have an ROA of 6% while an asset-light company, such as a dating app, could have an ROA of 15%. If you only compared to two based on ROA, youd probably decide the app was a better investment. However, if you compared the manufacturing company to its closest competitors, and they all had ROAs below 4%, you might find that its doing far better than its peers. Conversely, if you looked at the dating app in comparison to similar tech firms, you could discover that most of them have ROAs closer to 20%, meaning its actually underperforming more similar companies. ROA vs. ROEReturn on equity (ROE) is a similar financial ratio to ROA, and both can be used to measure the performance of a single company. ROE is calculated by dividing a companys net profits over a given period by shareholders equityit measures how effectively the company is leveraging the capital it has generated by selling shares of stock. If ROA examines how well a company is managing the assets it owns to generate profits, ROE examines how well the company is managing the money invested by its shareholders to generate profits. Investors use ROE to understand the efficiency of their investments in a public company. ROAs measure of a companys efficiency in terms of assets complements the conclusions you can draw from ROE. Limitations of ROAThough ROA is a helpful calculation, its not the only way to measure a companys efficiency and financial health. A companys ROA is influenced by a wide range of additional factors, from market conditions and demand to the fluctuating cost of assets that a company needs. ROA should be used in concert with other measures, like ROE, to get a full picture of a companys overall financial health.
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###CLAIM: tami then said that a man who worked in the complex and was a "peeping tom" was caught by a co-worker.
###DOCS: It's been more than 15 years since 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse vanished from her Orlando condominium. There have been no arrests, no named suspects, and a grainy image of a person parking her car remains the most important clue as to who may have abducted Jennifer. When detectives reviewed surveillance video from the complex where Jennifer' Kesse's car was discovered, they saw a person parking her car. At around noon on the day Jennifer went missing, the person drove into the parking lot, sat in the car for about 30 seconds and then walked away. But, when police tried to identify the phantom figure, they hit a roadblock. The surveillance video took a photo every 3 seconds and each time, the person's face was obstructed by a fence post. Orlando Police Department via Kesse FamilyFrustrated by the lack of results, the Kesses filed a civil complaint and took the Orlando Police Department to court in order to get the case files on Jennifer's disappearance. After many months of legal wrangling, a settlement was reached, and OPD agreed to hand over files. "Now it's our turn," said Jennifer's father Drew Kesse. The Kesses are now working with a private investigator to comb through every bit of information with fresh eyes with the hope that it may lead them to Jennifer. "I always told the Kesses what I'd like to do with this investigation is put a puzzle together, one piece at a time," said Mike Torretta, the Kesses' private investigator. Torretta says that after going through the more than 16,000-page case file at least three times and doing fresh interviews, he has a new theory about what happened to Jennifer Kesse. He believes that one or more of the construction workers living in a vacant unit across from Jennifer may have taken her by surprise as she left for work that morning. The condo complex where Jennifer lived was going through a renovation, and many of the construction workers were also living in the empty apartments at the complex while they were doing the renovation. Jennifer had shared with family and friends that the workers made her uneasy. Jennifer Kesse was a successful young woman with a good job and a loving boyfriend when she simply vanished from her Orlando, Fla., condominium. It's been more than 15 years since she was last seen. Rob Allen"She just said, 'There's a lot of workers here and they tend to stop when I'm walking to my car. And they just look,''" Drew Kesse recalled. One of the things that Torretta discovered is that Jennifer wasn't the only woman living in the complex who was uncomfortable around the workers in the building. He spoke to six other women who all were made uneasy by the workers. One woman named Colleen said, "When I would come home from work, there would be a large group of men outside drinking. And whenever I would have to walk past them, there would be a little bit of comments or just a lot of uncomfortable stares. It wasn't a great feeling. I didn't like it." Colleen and some of the other women who lived in Jennifer's condo complex speak out about their experiences in "Where is Jennifer Kesse?" reported by "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant. Jennifer Kesse was a healthy, happy young woman who'd recently been promoted at work and had just been on an island vacation with her boyfriend. When she didn't show up for work on January 24, 2006, her friends and family immediately knew that something was terribly wrong. "Jennifer would never not show up for work. She would never not give a call if something was going on," said her best friend, Lauren McCarthy. She was not depressed, and she did not abuse alcohol nor do drugs. If foul play was involved, there were no obvious suspects. Her disappearance was truly a mystery. "I couldn't believe it. It's something that you watch on TV. These things don't happen to you," said her boyfriend, Rob Allen. "I was just praying that, you know, her phone had died, or she was going to walk in, and everything was going to be fine." But it was anything but fine. Two days after Jennifer's disappearance, a local news report aired a story with photos of her missing Chevy Malibu. A viewer recognized the vehicle as one that was parked in a nearby apartment complex and called police. When investigators arrived, they found a DVD player in the back seat, so it didn't appear that the motive for taking the car was robbery or a carjacking. The DNA testing they did on the car was inconclusive, but the car did lead to a very important clue. Footage from nearby surveillance cameras showed a grainy image of someone parking Jennifer's car, sitting in it for about 30 seconds, getting out of the car, and walking away. "In my mind, it was, 'That person took my daughter! And, how fast can we find that person?'" Jennifer's father, Drew, thought after seeing the footage. The person of interest in the surveillance video appeared to be wearing all white, so investigators began questioning food service and health care workers and painters. But according to Torretta, the police files don't list everyone who was questioned. If it was a worker living in one of the vacant apartments, tracking those workers down is going to be a challenge. According to Torretta, "It's impossible to find those individuals. There's no lease." It's another challenge in the Kesse family's search for Jennifer, but Drew Kesse says they will never stop looking. "Someone out there knows something," he said. Anyone with information about Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, is asked to visit the "Find Jennifer Kesse" Facebook page.
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###CLAIM: scotland had chances themselves, hitting the bar, shooting and having a deflected shot saved by the czech goalkeeper.
###DOCS: Every manager will tell you that Steve Clarke will have to have the right face on when he walks into the breakfast room at the Scotland hotel on Tuesday. He will need the right body language. The players look to a manager for that after a disappointing result. But the good news for Steve is that it doesnt have to be an act. This was not the start that anybody in Scotland wanted but Steve wont have to look that hard to find some positives to show his players. Scotland suffered a poor start to their Euro 2020 campaign with a loss to Czech RepublicGoalkeeper David Marshall will know that he was 15-20 yards further out than he needed to beI watched the game and listened to some of the analysis but nothing will change my view that this was a game that could have gone Scotlands way. They were beaten in the end by superior finishing. Scotland had chances they hit the bar, they had shots deflected over, the Czech goalkeeper made good saves. We had 19 attempts at goal but nothing to show for that. As for the Czechs, they had that little bit of extra quality in front of goal. Patrik Schick the scorer of their two goals plays in the Bundesliga, and has played for two clubs in Serie A. That is a higher level than, for example, Lyndon Dykes who had Scotlands best chances. He plays for QPR and couldnt quite find a finish on this occasion. Maybe hes saving one for the England game...Steve Clarke will be in a mood after that result, but he now must rally his team to face EnglandBut these things can win games and Schicks quality won this for the Czechs. His first goal was seriously good. I watch it back and look for a Scottish mistake, but there wasnt one. Schick who is 6ft 2in managed to jump high enough to make himself 7ft 2in. It was brilliant play. As for the second one, Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall will know that he was 15 or 20 yards further out than he needed to be. It is the modern way for goalkeepers to patrol the edge of their penalty box but he was a good way further out than that. Its worth remembering, though, that had it not been for his penalty save in the play-off against Serbia, Scotland would not even be in this tournament. I have already heard criticism of Jack Hendry for taking on the shot from distance that was blocked and allowed Schick to break and score the second. But he was justified in having a go. Patrik Schick's finishing made the difference for the Czech Republic in the Group D openerHe had already hit the bar once and nobody would have blamed him had it flown into the top corner. No, I think the problem was more in the way that Scotland had left themselves exposed as he took the shot. I think if you are a centre half, you have to be alert to the fact that the ball may rebound. I think some Scotland players were caught up in the moment a little as the team were already chasing the game at that point. I have to say it was a game I enjoyed watching apart from the outcome. In the first half it was a little like watching a game from the 1980s. Lots of long balls and knock-downs. Had I been playing, I think I would have got about three touches! The Tartan Army need to maintain hope as they travel to Wembley, their team is capableScotland face a tough task to emerge from their group and extend their tournament returnBut it was an entertaining spectacle. There is a lot of snobbery these days about how we all have to play from the back but sometimes that can be boring. This was energetic and full of incident. Its just a shame Scotland came down on the wrong side of the big moments on this occasion. So Steve has to pick the players up and he will. We are not out of this tournament. I think we can get a result against England. Even a 0-0 or a 1-1 would be fine. There are two games to play. Scotland still have hope. Darren Fletcher has urged Scotland to 'get behind' Steve Clarke's team after a desperately disappointing defeat to the Czech Republic, with England up next. Bayer Leverkusen's Patrik Schick bagged twice, including a stunning wonder-goal from the half-way line, as Scotland suffered a potentially costly defeat in Group D.The Tartan Army will line-up at Wembley on Friday with a big job to do against the group favourites hoping to extend their stay after returning to tournament football following a 23-year absence. Scotland fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Czech Republic on Monday in the EurosPatrik Schick scored both goals to give Scotland a mountain to climb in their Group D hopes'It's bitterly disappointing, the anticipation and excitement, everyone saying we couldn't lose this. We did,' Fletcher told the BBC. 'There was nothing between the teams but the energy sapped after that second goal. We have to pick ourselves up and get behind the nation and not try to reflect too much. 'It's a very difficult game next, but this team are capable. We have to remember how we got here, we were resilient. 'I am not ruling us out against England. I know there will be disappointment, but pick yourselves up and go to Wembley and who knows? Darren Fletcher was left disappointed by the result, but maintains hope they can beat England'We were unlucky. What if we'd got one goal when we were 2-0 down? I think we would have gone on and equalised.' Schick and Co, who now lead Group D on goal-difference from the Three Lions, face Croatia on Friday. Sneaking through via a third-place finish in the group could now be the best bet for Clarke's side, and Fletcher will be willing the Czechs on against Croatia. 'It's looking like, now they've got three points, we'll need them to do us a favour against Croatia,' the former Manchester United midfielder continued. 'We'll be supporting them against Croatia most probably. They're a hard-working team, they're definitely based on team spirit and hard work, very similar to Scotland in a lot of ways. 'They're a really solid team, and he gives them a lot of quality.'
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###CLAIM: the duchess of sussex and duchess of cornwall, in a statement on the archewell website, said : "our feelings of warmth and support towards our family members over the past two years have been deeply touched by our recent update which included a photo of archie wearing a pair of nike sneakers and holding a bunch of tubes.
###DOCS: Archie is turning 2! Meghan Markle and Prince Harry marked their sons special day by thanking their supporters for their past activism and donations. We have been deeply touched over the past two years to feel the warmth and support for our family in honor of Archies birthday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said Thursday in a statement on their Archewell website, which they later updated to include a photo of little Archie wearing Nike sneakers and jeans while holding a bunch of balloons. The photo was taken today in the couples backyard, a Sussex spokesperson confirmed to HuffPost. AdvertisementMany of you donate to charities on his behalf, and mark the occasion by giving back or doing an act of service all through the goodness of your hearts, they wrote. You raise funds for those who need it most, and continue to do so organically and selflessly. We remain incredibly grateful.The couple also asked their community to honor their sons birthday by advocating for vaccine equity and making a donation if they were able to do so. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex posted this photo of their son, Archie, on the Archewell website for his second birthday. The Duke and Duchess of SussexHarry and Meghan told followers that $5 would cover the cost for someone in need. The Sussexes also said they had secured matches through a partnership with Global Citizen, an international advocacy group, and Gavi, a private global health partnership meaning a $5 donation would actually become a $20 donation, and would cover four doses. AdvertisementWe cannot think of a more resonant way to honor our sons birthday, they said. If we all show up, with compassion for those we both know and dont know, we can have a profound impact. Even a small contribution can have a ripple effect.The couple also released an open letter through Global Citizen on Thursday, in which they asked the CEOs of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax to ensure equitable vaccine access globally. Supporters could add their names to the letter. Were joining Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in calling on vaccine manufacturers to provide additional vaccine doses to COVAX to help ensure vaccine equity for all. Add your name to their open letter here: https://t.co/jyw4ru26HN Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) May 6, 2021Harry and Meghan have become increasingly publicly vocal about vaccine equity in recent weeks, and have worked to highlight the inadequacies in vaccine distribution. UNIFEF data shows that 86% of shots were administered to high-income and upper-middle-income countries as of March 30, while just 0.1% of doses were given to low-income countries, according to a New York Times report. AdvertisementHarry and Meghan will serve as co-chairs of Global Citizens Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World, which is set to air Saturday. Harry was seen filming for Vax Live last weekend, but Meghan, who is expecting the couples second child, is expected to appear in a pretaped segment. Its unclear if Archie will make an appearance. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pose for a photo shortly after Archie's birth on May 8, 2019. DOMINIC LIPINSKI via Getty ImagesThe Duke and Duchess of Sussexs son made a brief appearance on his parents Archewell Audio holiday special on Spotify in December, and in home footage shown during the couples interview with Oprah Winfrey in March. During the CBS prime-time special, Harry spoke about his love of going on walks and hanging out at the beach with his family. I guess the highlight for me is sticking him on the back of a bicycle in his little baby seat and taking him on these bike rides, something which I was never able to do when I was young, Harry told Winfrey at the time. I can see him on the back and hes got his arms out and hes like Oooh! Chatting, chatting, chatting, palm tree, house and all this sort of stuff, and I do, I think to myself Wow.Advertisement
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###CLAIM: included in the video montage of trump is a guy who radicalized and encouraged followers to steal elections by lying about it and then encouraging them to go to a gathering in dc.
###DOCS: Former President Donald Trumps lawyers began their defense during Fridays portion of the impeachment trial with flimsy allegations that House impeachment managers manipulated evidence. They then proceeded to present evidence far more egregiously manipulated than anything the managers presented. One of the defense teams key arguments was an exercise in whataboutism: They argued Democrats are being hypocritical in accusing Trump of inciting the January 6 insurrection, because they use the language of fighting all the time. To illustrate this point, they repeatedly played lengthy video montages of Democrats (and liberal celebrities) using language that is supposedly just as bad as Trump. But an examination of the context of Johnsons remarks reveals that her comments were not at all what Trumps lawyers made them out to be. Johnson made her be careful comments in response to threats she received from Trump supporters after a hearing in which she pushed back on lies about election fraud that Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani was pushing. Media Matterss Eric Kleefeld laid out the relevant context in an article from December:Johnson spoke bluntly at last weeks state legislative hearing, telling House Oversight Chairman Matt Hall that the witnesses presented by Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani shouldve been sworn in: Youre allowing people to come in here and lie. And I know theyre lying. Following that hearing, she became the target of almost 100 racist and threatening phone calls, with multiple callers saying that she would be lynched and one woman telling her, You should be swinging from a f------ rope, you Democrat. Johnson responded with a video posted Tuesday on Facebook, announcing that a woman who threatened her had been tracked down by the FBI and state police: So, this is just a warning to you Trumpers be careful, walk lightly. We aint playing with you. Enough of the shenanigans. Enough is enough.So, instead of threatening Trump supporters, Johnsons comments were actually aimed at getting them to stop threatening her. In context, they actually reveal one of the ways in which Trumps rhetoric incited his followers in the weeks leading up to January 6. The Johnson clip might be the most egregious example of Trumps lawyers twisting Democrats words out of context, but it was far from the only one. Another part of the video montage focused on references to fighting that Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) made while running for president. But as Ali Vitali of NBC wrote on Twitter, Warrens references to fighting were all about the political struggle for progressive policy, not encouraging an unruly mob to disrupt a congressional proceeding. By comparison, I covered Trump for yrs & repeatedly heard him urge supporters to violence. In 2016, telling supporters he'd pay their legal bills if they punched protesters in the face or even wishing law enforcement were more forceful when removing protesters from events. Ali Vitali (@alivitali) February 12, 2021Beyond twisting words out of context, Trumps team included clips of Democrats talking about fighting that couldnt remotely be interpreted as incitement, such as Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) talking about fighting the coronavirus. I can't believe Chuck Schumer incited violence against Covid like this pic.twitter.com/npT53XnKVz Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 12, 2021Some of the clips of fighting rhetoric included in the video montage were more troubling. Johnny Depps 2017 when was the last time an actor assassinated a president? comment is indefensible and was included in the Trump lawyers video but that an actor made an irresponsible comment isnt really a defense of Trump or an indictment of Democrats. And Rep. Maxine Waters encouraging people to push back on Trump administration officials who arguably crossed a line, but even interpreted in the most incriminating way possible, two wrongs dont make a right. Ultimately, none of the comments included in Trump lawyers video montage is comparable to Trump radicalizing his followers with lies about the election being stolen from them, encouraging them to gather in DC, and then sending them to Congress. In that way, the hypocrisy defense rests on a false equivalence. But as logically flawed as it was, the case made by Trumps lawyers during the early part of Fridays hearing seemed to be persuasive enough to at least one key undecided senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) who told reporters she found it to be very organized and much stronger than the incoherent case Trumps lawyers made on Tuesday. Sens. Rob Johnson (R-WI) and John Barrasso (R-WY) also indicated they found the Trump defense convincing. Whataboutism may not make for strong arguments to those inclined to evaluate them on the merits, but its enough to provide a pretext for acquittal.
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###CLAIM: hopkins recanted the allegations in an affidavit and signed just days later under questioning from inspector general of post office investigators.
###DOCS: The New York Times' top boss told a Project Veritas reporter 'You're a loser' after being confronted in the street over the watchdog's lawsuit against the newspaper. NYT executive editor Dean Baquet clashed with senior investigative reporter Christian Hartsock in footage shared by Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe on Twitter on Tuesday. In the footage, Hartsock is seen following Baquet and his wife asking if the editor is 'still laughing' about the defamation lawsuit brought by Project Veritas against the NYT. Project Veritas is suing the Times over two articles that ran in September and October in which the paper called the guerilla news outlet's reporting on claims of voter fraud 'deceptive.' Last month, a New York judge dealt a blow to the NYT when it denied the paper's motion to dismiss the suit. The New York Times' top boss told a Project Veritas reporter 'You're a loser' after being confronted in the street over the watchdog's lawsuit against the newspaper. Footage aboveNYT executive editor Dean Baquet (left) clashed with senior investigative reporter Christian Hartsock (right) in footage shared by Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe TuesdayThe clash, which took place in Los Angeles, begins with Hartsock confronting Baquet while he is walking down the street with his wife, the author Dylan Landis. 'Hey man, how you been?' Hartsock is heard saying. 'No, no, no, no, no,' says Baquet's wife, while her husband puts his arm around her to guide her away from the scene. The couple try to turn back in the direction they have come and walk away from Hartsock who continues to follow, asking Baquet questions. 'So, last time we spoke you went into a cackling fit over our defamation lawsuit against you,' Hartsock says. The edited footage cuts to another clip of Baquet being confronted by Project Veritas dated February 3 where the editor responded to questions about the suit with a loud laugh. 'I just wanted to check in and see if you're still laughing,' Hartsock says in the latest encounter. Baquet replies: 'James O'Keefe is laughing at you guys. 'And your college professor sent me notes on how bad a journalism school student you were. He was embarrassed. That's all I have to say. Be good.' In the footage, Hartsock is seen following Baquet and his wife asking if he is 'still laughing' about the defamation lawsuit brought by Project Veritas against NYTHartsock fires back saying: 'Well, it's interesting you say that because, between us, only one of us has had a New York State Supreme Court judge call us 'deceptive disinformation. 'It wasn't us it was you. What do you have to say to that?' Baquet who continues to try to walk away from Hartsock as he tails him hits out saying: 'You're a loser.' Hartsock responds saying 'that's great reporting' and asks if Project Veritas will have to depose the NYT. 'Are we going to have to depose you guys?' he asks. 'Is that what it takes to get the New York Times to tell the truth? 'Will the New York Times only tell the truth under penalty of perjury, or are you going to lie then, too?' Baquet and his wife get into their car but Hartsock continues pressing. 'What do you have to say to your readers? Why do you habitually abuse your readers' trust?' he continues. Baquet repeats his insult that: 'You're a loser.' Hartsock then asks if the Times' lawyers were 'going to cite Wikipedia in the next phase of trial.' Project Veritas founder O'Keefe. Project Veritas is suing the NYT over two articles in September and October in which the paper called the guerilla news outlet's reporting on claims of voter fraud 'deceptive'Last month, a New York judge dealt a blow to the NYT when it denied the paper's motion to dismiss the suitBaquet drives off while Hartsock signs off to the camera: 'I guess we're just going to have to depose them to finally find out all the news that wasn't fit to print.' The confrontation comes amid an ongoing legal battle between the two organizations. Project Veritas sued the NYT in Westchester County Supreme Court in October for defamation after the paper called it 'deceptive.' The conservative watchdog had released a video on September 27 making the unfounded claim that Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar was involved in a cash-for-ballot voter fraud scheme. On September 29, the NYT published an article titled 'Project Veritas Video Was a 'Coordinated Disinformation Campaign,' Researchers Say' calling Project Veritas' reporting 'deceptive.' The NYT article, by journalist Maggie Astor, cited researchers from Stanford University and the University of Washington who found that Project Veritas' video was a 'concerted disinformation campaign.' 'The video made several falsifiable claims that have either been debunked by subsequent reporting or are without any factual support,' the article reads. 'As the video calls into question the integrity of the election using misleading or inaccurate information, we determined this video to be a form of election disinformation.' Project Veritas demanded the NYT retract its story and threatened to sue if the paper didn't. The NYT refused and the following month, on October 25, published another story titled 'Conservative News Sites Fuel Voter Fraud Misinformation.' The conservative watchdog had released a video in September making the unfounded claim that Rep. Ilhan Omar (above) was involved in a voter fraud scheme. The NYT published a story citing researchers from Stanford and Washington Universities who said the video was 'disinformation campaign' sparking the suit from Project VeritasIn it, journalist Tiffany Hsu again called Project Veritas' video 'deceptive.' Project Veritas filed a 73-page complaint taking issue with the two articles and it being branded 'deceptive' by the paper. It claimed the paper was 'incensed at what it viewed as Project Veritas stealing its thunder'. The group also hit out at what it described as the NYT's 'vitriolic disdain' for O'Keefe, who it had described as 'little more than a 'conservative activist,' not a bona fide journalist.' The NYT filed a motion to have the suit thrown out but a judge dismissed it last month. Supreme Court Justice Charles Wood ruled in March that 'the facts submitted by Veritas could indicate more than standard, garden variety media bias and support a plausible inference of actual malice.' 'If a writer interjects an opinion in a news article (and will seek to claim legal protections as opinion) it stands to reason that the writer should have an obligation to alert the reader, including a court that may need to determine whether it is fact or opinion, that it is opinion,' he added. Project Veritas describes itself as a 'non-profit journalism enterprise' which 'investigates and exposes corruption, dishonesty, self-dealing, waste, fraud, and other misconduct in both public and private institutions to achieve a more ethical and transparent society.' But the group has been accused of deceptively editing videos of its undercover 'sting operations' and making false claims in the past. Project Veritas is perhaps best known for a video in November of a USPS worker claiming Pennsylvania postal workers tampered with mail-in ballots during the presidential election. USPS worker Richard Hopkins from Erie, Pennsylvania, had claimed postal workers discussed back-dating mail-in ballots and forwarding them to election officials in the crucial swing state. Project Veritas is perhaps best known for a video in November of a USPS worker claiming Pennsylvania postal workers tampered with mail-in ballots during the presidential election. The USPS worker later retracted his claims and a federal investigation in February determined the claims were falseThe allegations came as Donald Trump was pushing unfounded claims of voter fraud - that several courts, investigations and his own administration later determined there was no evidence for - after he lost the election to Joe Biden. Hopkins recanted his allegations and the affidavit he had signed just days later when he was questioned by the Post Office Inspector General's Office investigators. In February, federal investigators released a report determining that their probe into the allegations had found Hopkins' claims to be false. Hopkins admitted to investigators he had not heard other employees talking about backdating ballots, as he had previously claimed, the report said. '[Hopkins] revised his claims, eventually stating that he had not heard a conversation about ballots at all - rather he saw the Postmaster and Supervisor having a discussion and assumed it was about fraudulent ballot backdating,' it read. '[Hopkins] acknowledged that he had no evidence of any backdated presidential ballots.' The investigators also said they had reviewed all ballots in the post office where he worked and interviewed other workers and found no evidence of tampering. Meanwhile, Project Veritas cites one of its victories as an undercover sting of the president of Wichita's teacher union Steve Wentz where he admitted to threatening a student with physical violence. In videos secretly recorded at a restaurant in Kansas and hotel bar in Florida, Wentz is heard describing an incident where he asked a student to stay after class, locked the door and told him 'I will kick your f***ing ass'. Wentz then brought a lawsuit against Project Veritas claiming invasion of privacy and defamation. A federal judge ruled in favor of Project Veritas saying 'although the Wentz video includes select footage from the Bar Conversation and Panera Conversation and other edited material, the edits do not improperly and illegally alter the meaning of Wentzs words or associate him with an unrelated topic or conduct.'
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###CLAIM: meanwhile, the international crisis and crisis group identified at least 198 criminal factions, many of them gangs and regional organizations connected to larger cartels.
###DOCS: More than 20% of Mexico's territory - as many as 151,689 square miles - is under the control of the country's powerful drug cartels, according to a classified CIA report from 2018. The revelation comes as homicides in the country have surged to their highest levels for decades, amid bloody turf wars between rival crime groups that smuggle narcotics across the southern United States border for distribution in American cities. The secret study by the Central Intelligence Agency was compiled before current Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador entered office in December 2018, and has not been made public. But details were revealed by several current and former officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to the Washington Post as part of a report on the spiraling problem of organized crime in the country. Mexico's Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection were quick to fire back at the report, posting a series of tweets and insisting Lopez Obrador's newly created military National Guard has restored order. Pictured above are members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, an organization that was formed under Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel in 2010 and which today has a stronghold on 24 of Mexico's 32 statesAccording to the Post, Mexican officials say there are at least 19 major criminal organizations with significant influence, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the Gulf Cartel, and the Sinaloa Cartel. These organizations not only have a national reach also control drug markets across the world. Meanwhile the International Crisis Group has identified at least 198 criminal factions, including gangs and regional organizations, many of which are connected to the larger cartels, the Post explains. But the number of factions could be as high as 231 according to Eduardo Guerrero, director for Lantia Consultores, a public policies consulting firm. Guerrero told the post that these smaller players may lack infrastructure to export drugs, but are involved kidnapping, extortion, stealing fuel and selling drugs. The bigger cartels also exert their influence on territory under their control in order to gain resources and finance their huge private paramilitaries. 'They dont just want territorial control to move drugs, but to extract resources from the population,' Ricardo Marquez, a former top Mexican security official, told the Post. Hundreds of thousands are believed to have fled their homes to escape violence in cartel-controlled areas. The Secretariat tweeted on Thursday: 'With the @GN_MEXICO_ the presence of the #Security forces was spread throughout the national territory, in all corners and regions, many of them previously dominated by criminal organizations. 'With the @GN_MEXICO_ necessary steps were taken to regain territorial control by the Mexican government. This does not mean that they stop registering mobilizations and actions of criminal groups, but there is no longer any abandonment of the government to cover the national territory.' The Mexican government has achieved positive results with the arrest of the leaders of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel. Adan 'El Azul' Ochoa was apprehended by security forces October 14. Jose Antonio 'El Marro' Yepez, was arrested in August. But although the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection credited the National Guard's presence throughout the country, it has not been sufficient in stopping the onslaught of violence waged by rival cartels against each other. At least 26,431 murders have been reported from January 1 to September 31 of 2020 - on pace to shatter the record-high of 36,685 homicides reported in 2018. Murder numbers for 2019 dipped slightly to 36,476, following an adjustment in stats made this week by the National Institute for Statistics and Geography. Mexicos murder rate is more than four times that of the United States, according to the Post. Members of the LeBaron family look at the burned car where part of the nine murdered members of the family were killed and burned during an ambush in Sonora, Mexico, on November 5, 2019News of the intelligence report comes as leftist president Lopez Obrador has struggled with the government's strategy of containing an onslaught of violence between rival cartels that has swept the nation. Lopez Obrador introduced the 100,00-member National Guard in the summer of 2019 as a tool to combat the Gulf Cartel, the rising Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which has a presence in 24 of 32 states in Mexico, and the Sinaloa Cartel, which remains strong as ever despite its founder Joaquin 'El Chapo' being locked away for life inside a US super maximum facility prison. The criminal syndicates and other groups have left their footprints on a widespread of massacres that have claimed innocent lives. On Sunday, police in the northern state of Tamaulipas announced they had seized two home-made tank-like armored trucks and three other vehicles with less extensive welded-plate bullet-proofing in the border town of Ciudad Camargo, across from Rio Grande City, Texas. The Tamaulipas police said the two tank-like vehicles were like combat vehicles known in that region. Over the first five days of October, cartel violence left 32 people dead in the central state of Guanajuato, including five people who on October 5 were attending the funeral of a man who was among 11 executed at a bar September 27. One of the most gruesome attacks of 2020 occurred the afternoon of July 1 when at least 27 people, including 26 patients, were executed when gunmen stormed a drug rehabilitation center in Irapuato, Guanajuato. For over a year, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel has attempted to exert its influence on Tepalcatepec, a city in the western state of Michoacan. But a group of armed residents have withstood the attacks and are fighting back despite countless deaths and injuries on both sides. The cartel went as far as employing drones packed with small, homemade bombs in its failed efforts to expand its presence. On Sunday, police in the northern state of Tamaulipas announced they had seized two home-made tank-like armored trucks and three other vehicles with less extensive welded-plate bullet-proofing in the border town of Ciudad Camargo, across from Rio Grande City, Texas. The Tamaulipas police said the two tank-like vehicles were like combat vehicles known in that region as 'monsters,' a nickname originally given to an armored dump truck found near Camargo in 2010. In 2008, he completed a study called 'The Vertical Integration of Organized Crime Linked to Political Corruption,' and found that at least 63% of the municipalities across Mexico were swayed by cartels. Cartel influence ballooned to 72% the following year. However, Dr. Buscaglia cautioned that the record homicide numbers should not be solely attributed to the ongoing cartel warfare and the government's efforts to stop or slow them down. 'Homicide reports are not a reflection of the success or failure of the fight against organized crime. If a criminal group acquires a monopoly of a territory and does not have a criminal group challenging it, the murderers drop to zero,' Dr. Buscaglia said. 'So homicide is not a variable that indicates to you the success or failure of an anti-mafia policy. Homicides increase when there are criminal groups that assassinate politicians who work for the opposing criminal group or honest politicians. So when a criminal group acquires control of the territory, as the Sinaloa Cartel did in Durango, the number of homicides drop a lot.'
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###CLAIM: carvalho said at a press conference that noticing that everyone but the boys received food while the family sat at the table struck him as odd.
###DOCS: A Florida waitress has been hailed as a hero for saving an abused 11-year-old boy from his parents by passing him a note asking 'do you need help?' Police said that the actions of Flavaine Carvalho helped the child escape a possibly life-threatening situation when she passed him the note at the Mrs Potato Restaurant in Orlando on January 1. Carvalho said during a press conference that when the family sat at a table, she noticed that everyone received food except for the boy, which struck her as odd, according to WOFL-TV. The boy's stepfather Timothy Wilson told her that the boy would eat dinner at home, Carvalho said, before she noticed that the boy had bruises over his face and arms. 'I could see he had a big scratch between his eyebrows,' Carvalho said. 'A couple of minutes later, I saw a bruise on the side of his eye. So I felt there was something really wrong.' In reality, Wilson and the boy's mother Kristen Swann were allegedly abusing him at home, including by tying him up with ratchet straps, beating him and hanging him upside down. Carvalho secretly wrote the note reading 'do you need help? OK' and stood behind the boy's parents so they could not see her. The child initially declined help by shaking his head, before signalling 'yes' after Carvalho's second attempt, prompting her to call 911. Florida waitress Flavaine Carvalho who saved an 11-year-old boy from his allegedly abusive parents by passing him a note asking 'do you need help?' (pictured) has been hailed as a heroCarvalho showed this note to the boy behind the backs of his parents on New Year's DayThe boy's stepfather Timothy Wilson II (left), 34, was first arrested on one count of third-degree child abuse. The boy's mother Kristen Swann (right), 31, was arrested and charged with two counts of child neglectIn audio released by police from her phone call, Carvalho says: 'I'm super concerned and I don't know what to do, can you give me some advice? What I can do? 'The boy is with bruises and he's not eating. The others are eating.' When officers arrived on the scene, they interviewed the parents and the child, who was said to have winced in pain when asked to roll up the sleeves of his sweatshirt, revealing bruises on his arms. Eventually, the boy's stepfather, Timothy Wilson II, 34, was first arrested on one count of third-degree child abuse. Wilson was later arrested for a second time on January 6 and charged with multiple counts of aggravated child abuse and child neglect for his conduct involving his stepson, which investigators have likened to torture. The victim's mother, Kristen Swann, 31, was arrested and charged with two counts of child neglect for allegedly being aware of the abuse and failing to seek medical help for her son. The incident took place at the Mrs Potato Restaurant on Orlando, Florida, on January 1Carvalho (left) said when the family sat at a table, she noticed that everyone received food except for the boy, which struck her as oddAfter police arrived, the boy was taken to the hospital and doctors discovered that he was 20lb underweight and had extensive bruising covering most of his body. Police said the boy's parents subjected him to various forms of abuse, including forcing him to do 30-minute planks and beating him if he failed. At a press conference, a police spokesperson said: 'What this child had gone through, it was torture. 'Seeing what that 11-year-old had to go through, it shocks your soul.' The boy told police that ratchet straps were tied around his ankles and neck, and he was hung upside down from a door on one occasion. He said he was hit with a wooden broom and handcuffed and tied to a large moving dolly. He also said he didnt get to eat on a regular basis as punishment. The boy has been taken into the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families, along with his four-year-old sister who appeared unharmed. Police said if it were not for Carvalho's (second right) actions, the badly abused boy could have ended up dead'If Ms. Carvalho would not have said something when she saw it, that little boy would probably not be with us, much longer,' said Special Victims Unit Detective Erin Lawler. Rafaela Cabede, the owner of Mrs Potato Restaurant, credited a higher power for having Carvalho there that night to deliver the boy from harm. She explained to WFTV9 that Carvalho was not scheduled to be working on New Year's Day and was only there because another employee took the night off. They family were seated at the only table in the restaurant where Carvalho would have been able to hold the sign up to the boy without his parents' seeing her. Cabede has launched a GoFundMe campaign to reward her employee, writing in the description: 'the outcome of this story was only possible because of her act of kindness, compassion and how fearlessly she stood up for this child.
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###CLAIM: every drop in the collection of every itunes user, regardless of whether or not they want it, is a partnership with apple.
###DOCS: British stage magician Noel Maskelyne (1899 - 1976) watches his sister Mary (later Mrs. Sterndale ... [+] Bennett) perform the disappearing water trick, UK, 7th October 1927. Their father was famous magician Nevil Maskelyne, and their brothers Jasper and Clive are also stage magicians. (Photo by Edward G. Malindine/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Getty ImagesThere is very little known about British collective Sault beyond the music (a powerful melding of soul, R&B and house). They released two albums in 2019 and another two albums in 2020, but did no promotion of any sort for them. "Over the last two years, Saults music has arrived out of the blue: no interviews, no photos, no videos, no live appearances, no Wikipedia entry, a perfunctory and entirely non-interactive social media presence, explained The Guardian. Their albums just... appeared. The difference with their latest album, Nine, is that its appearance was trailed in advance; but so too was its imminent disappearance. Their social media accounts started setting things up on June 14 when they posted a single image of the word NINE written in white on a black background. Two days later, they followed up with the message, Nine will only exist for ninety nine days, adding it would be available on their website as well as on vinyl and the major streaming services. Then on June 25 it went live, available to download for free from their official site, with the vinyl edition selling for 20 ($27.82). Sault's website selling the album Nine. ScreengrabThere are echoes here of how Radiohead released In Rainbows in 2007, letting fans download directly from their website and paying whatever they wanted for it, but the band simultaneously sold a deluxe boxset edition for 40 ($55.64). There is also something of a KLF art statement about it given that back in 1992 they announced their retirement from music and deleted their catalogue which, in the CD era, was pretty easy to do. (They have, however, slightly backtracked on that and some of their music is being made available again, albeit in different iterations, on streaming services.) UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of Jimmy CAUTY and KLF and Bill DRUMMOND (Photo by Simon ... [+] Ritter/Redferns) RedfernsThis is, however, not akin to Manic Street Preachers deleting their single (and non-album track) The Masses Against The Classes on its release day in January 2000 as a means to driving it to number 1 in the UK. Nor is it like Gnarls Barkley deleting Crazy in May 2006 to stop it becoming over-exposed and feeling like an albatross around their necks. Nine does not have the chart ambitions or commercial heft of either of these tracks. Its deletion is as much a part of its overall artistic statement as its release. It is also, in its own way, the diametric opposite of how U2 released their Songs Of Innocence album in 2014 by partnering with Apple to drop it into every iTunes users collection, whether they wanted it or not. It proved difficult to zap and the public backlash was such that Apple had to quickly release a workaround that let you permanently banish the album to the digital ether. The cultural argument is that, if an artist is not on digital services (be that Spotify and Apple Music or user-uploaded services like Mixcloud, YouTube and SoundCloud) then they might as well not exist for whole new generations of music consumers to discover them through direct recommendation or algorithmic serendipity. The economic argument is that, while streaming royalties might be minuscule, they can theoretically keep rolling in for the entire life of copyright of the music. Historically, most albums really only had a promotional window of a few years with the vast bulk of income that an album would generate happening in the opening 12-18 months of its release. This was down in a large part to record stores only having space to stock a finite number of albums whereby releases would be replaced on a rolling basis by newer titles. There would also simply come a point where sales had fallen off so much that it was economically unviable to keep a record in print and in the racks of stores. Only a few classics or blockbusters had permanent and visible racking in even the biggest record shops. Ray Hammond at the Sounds record shop on King's Road, Chelsea, London, 3rd March 1972. (Photo by ... [+] Michael Putland/Getty Images) Getty ImagesPhysical and racking concerns are not an issue for streaming. Everything is available. That is their entire point. Spotify and Apple Music each boast they offer well over 70 million tracks and that 60,000 new tracks are added to their catalogues every day. It is worth remembering that nothing really disappears online. Sault have given the digital files away for free and so anyone can put them on P2P/torrent sites or upload each track to YouTube and create an album playlist. If you want to hear the album after the designated 99 days are up, there are ways and means to do that. It seems highly unlikely that Sault with police this with the same fervour that defined the record business in the early 2000s as Napster and other P2Ps exploded in popularity. What is most important here is the statement the band are making about digital music and accessibility of consumption. In this age of ubiquity and total accessibility, where it is incrementally harder to be heard above the growing cacophony, the only logical response on an artistic level as well as a marketing level is to make your music disappear. There are many many lesser acts who should follow Saults lead and take all their music offline: not for political or conceptual reasons, but rather for aesthetic ones. SAULT, '9'YouTubeThe mysterious, if not quite anonymous, U.K. collective SAULT returned Friday with its fifth LP, Nine, and the album's title track encapsulates the rare combination that made the secretive soul group one of 2020's breakthrough acts. "9" is full of gentle breakbeats, eerie grooves and lyrics that speak to racial injustice and Black resilience, specifically for Black boys and girls growing up in British public housing. The message aligns with a rare (maybe the first?) statement by SAULT, which appeared on its Instagram on Wednesday. "Some of us are from the heart of London's council estates where proud parents sought safer environments to raise their families. Community is the only real genuine support & the majority of us get trapped in a systemic loop where a lot of resources & options are limited. Adults who fail to heal from childhood traumas turn to alcohol & drugs as medicine. Young girls & boys looking for leadership can get caught up in gang life. It's very easy to judge. What would you do if this were you?"
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###CLAIM: just saying that the president who signed that executive order believes in and causes transgression of human rights.
###DOCS: White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday shut down a Fox News radio reporter who asked about trans girls in high school sports - a day after appearing to mock another of the network's staffers. Asked by White House correspondent Rachel Sutherland about Joe Biden's anti-discrimination executive order Psaki replied: 'Im not sure what your question is...trans rights are human rights.' The president signed the order, titled Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, just hours after assuming office. It states: 'Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports.' Sutherland had asked during Tuesday's briefing: 'On President Bidens transgender rights executive action, specifically when it applies to high school sports, what message would the White House have to trans girls and cis girls who may end up competing against each other? 'Its sparking some lawsuits and concern among parents, so does this administration have guidance for schools in dealing with the issue arising over trans girls competing against and with cis girls?' Psaki replied: 'Im not sure what your question is.' As Sutherland attempted to reply, adding 'the presidents executive order has.' Psaki replied with: 'Im familiar with the order, but what was your question about it?' The Fox News radio host then said: 'The question is, does the president have a message for local school officials in dealing with these kinds of disputes that are already starting to arise between trans girls who are competing against cis girls, and a level playing field, particularly in high school sports when it leads to college scholarships. 'Is there any kind of messaging or clarification that the White House wants to give on the executive order?' Psaki replied: 'I would just say that the presidents belief is that trans rights are human rights, and thats why he signed that executive order. In terms of the determinations by universities and colleges I would certainly defer to them.' White House press secretary Jen Psaki, pictured, on Tuesday dismissed a Fox News radio reporter who asks about trans girls in high school sportsWhite House correspondent Rachel Sutherland, pictured, about Joe Biden's anti-discrimination executive order during the press briefing TuesdayBiden's order states: 'Every person should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear, no matter who they are or whom they love.' The president says that such anti-discrimination policies are 'enshrined in the nation's anti-discrimination laws', and align with a Supreme Court ruling from 2020 that prohibits 'discrimination on the basis of someone's gender identity'. Critics have said the order could unintentionally discriminate against cis females. Journalist Abigail Shrier wrote on Twitter last month: 'On day 1, Biden unilaterally eviscerates women's sports.' The hashtag #BidenErasedWomen began trending. But LGBT activists say the order was simply Biden's attempt at moving towards a more inclusive society - just as he pledged to do in his inaugural address. Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice at the American Civil Liberties Union, said: 'By stating the administrations intention to follow Supreme Court precedent and federal law, at core all the newly-elected president did was lay out what the law is and agree, unlike his predecessor, to follow it.' On Monday, Psaki also appeared to mock another Fox reporter who asked where Biden's green jobs are after 1,000 people were put out of work with president's decision to cancel Keystone XL pipeline. The president signed the order, titled Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, just hours after assuming office. It states: 'Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports'Peter Doocy asked Psaki about the some 11,000 potential jobs will be shelved following the president's decision to halt construction of the pipeline that was supposed to carry oil from Canada to Texas. 'Where is it that they can go for their green job?' Peter Doocy asked Psaki during Monday afternoon's press briefing. 'That is something the administration has promised and there is now a gap so I'm just curious when that happens, when those people can count on that?' Doocy added. The question was roundly mocked by Psaki. 'Well, I'd certainly welcome you to present your data of all the thousands and thousands of people who won't be getting a green job,' Psaki retorted. 'Maybe next time you're here you can present that.' But Doocy didn't let up: 'But you said they will be getting green jobs. I'm just asking when that happens?' he responded. The 1,210-mile pipeline was to transport up to 830,000 barrels per day from Alberta to Nebraska and then through an existing system to refineries in Texas. Biden has promised to create good-paying union jobs in the green energy sector as part of the drive to end America's reliance on fossil fuels. Psaki batted away the criticism and promised that Biden would be forthcoming with a jobs plan in the coming weeks. 'He has every plan to share more details on that plan in the weeks ahead,' she said after being asked how workers left jobless by the decision would be supported.
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###CLAIM: a town on the jersey shore has introduced a law restricting parking on many streets closest to the ocean to only residents.
###DOCS: NJ beaches paid for by all, but parking keeps outsiders awayCars are parked on an oceanfront street in Deal, N.J., on May 15, 2021. The Jersey shore town has introduced a law that would restrict parking on many streets closest to the ocean to residents-only. Some shore towns in New Jersey and other states have used parking restrictions as a way to keep outsiders off their beaches. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)Cars are parked on an oceanfront street in Deal, N.J., on May 15, 2021. The Jersey shore town has introduced a law that would restrict parking on many streets closest to the ocean to residents-only. Some shore towns in New Jersey and other states have used parking restrictions as a way to keep outsiders off their beaches. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)DEAL, N.J. (AP) New Jerseys wide, sandy beaches have been paid for by taxpayers across the U.S., from wheat farmers in Kansas to fishermen in Alaska. But for decades, local governments in some Jersey Shore towns and elsewhere around the country have used a variety of tactics to keep outsiders off their sand. One of the most effective methods has been restricting parking near the beach. The practical effect in shore towns like Deal, a wealthy enclave popular with New York doctors, lawyers and business executives, has been that people who dont live within walking distance of the sand are often not able to use it. This is happening despite numerous requirements that the states beaches be equally accessible to all, including a state law incorporating a legal concept stretching back to the Roman emperor Justinian that the tidal waters are the common property of all, held in trust by the state. And the ongoing federally funded replenishment of beaches along the coast by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers comes with a requirement that adequate parking be provided near the taxpayer-funded sand. ADVERTISEMENTBut Deal has a long history of wanting to keep its beaches to itself. It would ticket or arrest surfers before a court decision ended the practice. It has vacated street endings that terminate at the beach and sold the land to adjacent property owners, in some cases closing off access points to the beach that the public had long used. It toyed with selling parking permits for streets near the beach for $100 apiece before backing down. And it is trying, yet again, to restrict summer weekend parking in streets closest to the ocean; residents would be given placards to put on their dashboards indicating their right to park on the street. Everyone else would have to park several blocks away, needing to cross a busy main street known for heavy traffic in the summer. The only way to the beach for the rest of us is walking, in sometimes dangerous situations, said Patty Verrochi, who lives in a nearby shore town and likes to take short trips to Deals beach. She questioned the policys effect on people who are disabled, have young children in strollers or are carrying accessories like coolers and chair for a day at the beach. I had a couple incidents last year when I just gave up and went home, she added. That, according to Deals critics, is precisely what the tony seaside enclave wants. ADVERTISEMENTThere is a long and shameful history of beach towns trying to keep people off their sand, said Tim Dillingham, executive director of the American Littoral Society, which is suing Deal over its sale of a street end popular with surfers to an adjacent homeowner. The law in New Jersey is clear: you cannot deny people access to the shore. This is becoming a big public issue, and the people in these residential areas are some of the most wealthy and powerful people in the state.This is getting to be an annual thing every spring, added John Weber, a councilmember in Bradley Beach and an executive with the Surfrider Foundation, which sued Deal over its prosecution of surfers for violating a no swimming ordinance. Deals mayor and administrator did not respond to numerous requests for comment. Their proposed residents-only parking law is up for a final vote June 2. Deal has a year-round population of just over 500, but its summer population swells to more than 10 times that amount. It is over 90% white; the average property is worth $2.2 million. The state Department of Environmental Protection, which is in charge of enforcing New Jerseys beach access laws, says it has spoken with Deal officials about the proposed law. I land conceptually on the side to make sure everyone has access, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said. Two state lawmakers recently wrote to Deals leaders asking them to scrap the parking ordinance, writing that the beaches belong to everyone, equally.No government body has a right to restrict access to the ocean and beaches to provide exclusivity to people who are fortunate enough to live along the beachfront, they added. Deal is far from the only town in New Jersey or the country, for that matter to impose onerous parking restrictions near its beaches. Although it has a public parking lot at its main beach, Sea Bright bans public parking along a majority of its nearly 5-mile (8-kilometer) oceanfront sea wall; the only ones allowed to park there are people who own homes on the opposite side of Ocean Avenue, and who can easily walk to the beach. Parking on many side streets is also restricted to residents. California is rife with tales of conflict between Pacific coast homeowners clashing with surfers, and towns prohibiting parking in ritzy beach areas. In New York Citys Rockaway section, designation of one beach neighborhood as a fire zone prohibits all on-street parking. Other nearby areas ban all weekend street parking from May 15 through Sept. 30. Its not just ocean beaches, either. Elsinboro is a Delaware River township in the southwest corner of New Jersey thats popular with bird watchers. Its beach was recently widened with material dredged from the river, but public parking is scarce, and violations can range up to $1,000 and six months in jail. The situation is so bad for public parking that the Audubon field guide to bird watching advises people who cant find a spot in one particular site to give up and go somewhere else, rather than risk a parking ticket. Elsinboros mayor, Sean Elwell, said the Army Corps of Engineers, DEP, and township worked together to ensure appropriate access to the beach.Jim Grant, who owns a local inn, says some signs pointing out public access points have disappeared and unauthorized no parking signs have been placed by residents in some spots. We have one vigilante that goes out and puts stickers on peoples cars, or his family parks all their vehicles on the street, he said. Its one big Keep off sign near this beach.___Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC
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###CLAIM: `` it 's good to bounce back and fine, '' said boone, whose dh has hit. 919 in five games since coming off the injury list on september 15.
###DOCS: After being elevated to the major leagues in the afternoon, reliever Tyler Lyons was called into Tuesday nights 12-1 win over the Blue Jays to start the bottom of the eighth inning. The umpires, however, removed him before he could throw a pitch because his name wasnt on the lineup card the umpires were working off although manager Aaron Boone said Lyons name was on his card. In these new rules, we dont exchange at home plate, so I dont know if the transaction not going through by the time our card went through or what. On my card, he is on there, Boone said. So we will make sure we are airtight moving forward.With a nine-run lead, Boone summoned Zack Britton for the eighth and Adam Ottavino got the final three outs with an 11-run advantage. Giancarlo Stanton didnt play after starting in two straight games, three of four and four of five. Just a day [off] in the middle of the series. He is good and bouncing back fine, Boone said of his DH, who is 6-for-21 (.286) with a homer, three RBIs and a .919 OPS in five games since coming off the injured list on Sept. 15. So, encouraged where he is at.Boone used Aaron Judge in the DH spot and started Clint Frazier in right field. Should the Yankees make it out of the first round of the AL playoffs, Masahiro Tanakas family will join him in the Southern California bubble where all AL teams will be sequestered. Before that, the right-hander will have six days of rest before starting Game 2 of the first round, which will be played at home ballparks. Most likely it will be against the Twins, but the site has yet to be determined. Its not like I will overdo something just because more days, said Tanaka, who is 5-3 with a 1.76 ERA in eight postseason games. Tanaka, who is scheduled to start Wednesday night, needs one win to reach 79. That would tie him with former Yankee Hiroki Kuroda for second place among Japanese pitchers in MLB. It is definitely a good feeling to be able to stay here this long to be able to rack up enough wins to tie a pitcher the caliber of Kuroda, Tanaka said of his Yankees teammate in 2014. To make room for Lyons, Michael King was sent to the alternate site and Ben Heller was recalled and placed on the 60-day IL with a nerve problem in his right biceps. Aaron Boone shouldered the blame for the lineup-card snafu during Tuesday nights game when reliever Tyler Lyons wasnt on the umpires lineup card but was on the Yankees. So when Lyons went to the mound to start the bottom of the eighth the umpires sent him away. Ultimately it is on us, me, to make sure we are triple-checked that everything that goes through the system, or potentially going through the system, is buttoned up, Boone said before Wednesday nights game. It is a reminder of how diligent we have to be on that kind of stuff.The Yankees bringing Lyons to the big leagues was a move made late in the afternoon. [Tuesday] was a little bit unique because when we sent in our card with Lyons on it was pretty early in the day prior to the transaction going through MLB, Boone said. The Jays had it, we had it. We needed to triple-check to make sure that we were buttoned up through the MLB portal.Due to COVID-19 protocols lineup cards arent exchanged at home plate this season. Lyons being banished led to Zack Britton pitching the eighth with a nine-run lead but Britton told Boone before the game he wanted to pitch since the lefty hadnt worked since Friday in Boston. Adam Ottavino worked the nine with an 11-run advantage.
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###CLAIM: or, or, or, or, because scientists have been saying all along that this is a great habitat for wolves to explore deep in the sierra nevada.
###DOCS: In this Feb. 2021, photo released by California Department of Fish and Wildlife shows a gray wolf... In this Feb. 2021, photo released by California Department of Fish and Wildlife shows a gray wolf...BRIDGEPORT, Calif. (AP) A young male wolf has been traveling near Yosemite National Park, the farthest south a wolf has been tracked in California in more than a century, officials said. Researchers have been monitoring the wolf dubbed OR-93 via his tracking collar and said the animal departed Oregon earlier this year, likely in search of a new territory, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday. After trekking through Modoc County and crossing state highways 4 and 208, OR-93 recently moved into Mono County, just east of Yosemite, the newspaper said. ADVERTISEMENTGiven the time of year, we assume OR-93 has traveled such a long way in search of a mate, Center for Biological Diversity wolf advocate Amaroq Weiss said in a statement. I hope he can find one.Previously, the farthest south a gray wolf was spotted in recent decades was the Lake Tahoe Basin, according to the Chronicle. That wolf, OR-54, eventually headed back north. Earlier this month, another male wolf, OR-85, was tracked to Californias Siskiyou County, just south of the Oregon state line. Gray wolves were eradicated in California early in the last century because of their perceived threat to livestock. Their reappearance in the state has riled ranchers, who say wolves have preyed on their livestock on public or private land. Wolves are protected under Californias Endangered Species Act. Trump administration officials in November stripped Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in most of the U.S., ending longstanding federal safeguards and putting states and tribes in charge of overseeing the predators. Were thrilled to learn this wolf is exploring deep into the Sierra Nevada, since scientists have said all along this is great wolf habitat, Weiss said of OR-93. Hes another beacon of hope, showing that wolves can return here and flourish as long as they remain legally protected.
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###CLAIM: the winger had been reported to west and midlands police after receiving an abusive message from a teenage tyreik and wright.
###DOCS: Derby County have condemned the racist social media abuse aimed at Colin Kazim-Richards after he scored the equaliser in Fridays 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. Kazim-Richards 84th-minute volley cancelled out James Garners opener in the east Midlands derby and the 34-year-old was targeted on his social media channels. A club statement read: It was brought to the clubs attention on Saturday morning that Colin Kazim-Richards had received racially abusive messages via his social media platforms. The abuse received by Colin resulted in him having to have a conversation with his young children to explain why, in this day and age, racism and discrimination still exists. It should be clear, there is no place in sport or society for racism. Derby County has a zero-tolerance stance to discrimination and prejudiced behaviour and the racial abuse has been reported to the relevant authorities. Social media abuse is, sadly, becoming more common and it is all too easy for individuals to hide behind an account. This cannot continue.Kazim-Richards, London-born, has 37 caps for Turkey. The attack on him continues a lengthy spate of similar abuse aimed at footballers. Earlier this week Aston Villa reported to West Midlands police the abuse that Tyreik Wright, their teenage winger, received on Instagram.
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###CLAIM: stephen swearer, a professor of marine biology at the university of melbourne, said many of the authors were home to luxury hotels whose occupants were villager over water many of whom intended to light at night.
###DOCS: Young clownfish on coastal reefs are dying faster as a result of exposure to artificial light at night, according to new research. An international team of scientists studying reefs on Moorea, a tiny island of French Polynesia, have found that orange-fin anemonefish a species of clownfish exposed for long periods to human-generated artificial light were 36% less likely to survive than clownfish living in reefs farther from the coast. The clownfish that did survive grew 44% slower than their counterparts who lived under natural nocturnal lighting conditions. Stephen Swearer, a professor of marine biology at the University of Melbourne and one of the studys authors, said Moorea was home to many luxury hotels with bungalows over the water many of which are intentionally lit at night. Rooms have these little windows, like a portal in the floor, so you can turn the light on and look at the fish swimming around underneath, he said. For more than 18 months, the researchers monitored young clownfish living in anemones close to shore, where they were perpetually exposed to light pollution, and fish who lived in anemones away from areas inhabited by humans. Swearer said it was unclear why light-exposed fish had a reduced growth rate and were more likely to die. One possible explanation for the increased death rate was the light attracting predators. Another was that long-term exposure resulted in adverse physiological effects on the clownfish. Basically, these fish are just really tired, not being able to lower their activity levels at night, said Swearer. They may then behave in ways that mean they have less energy to avoid predation.Swearer said more research was needed on the effects of light pollution on other marine animals. More than 20% of the worlds oceans were exposed to ecologically relevant levels of artificial light, he said. The harmful effects of artificial light on turtle hatchlings is already well established, as sea turtles rely on the light of the moon and stars for navigation. Hatchling strandings and deaths have previously been attributed to light pollution in north Queensland. Swearer said artificial light near coastal reefs needed to be better regulated. There are ways in which you can light so that youre not resulting in conditions that lead to public safety concerns [for humans], but that also can mitigate the risk that they might pose to wildlife, he said. We can make sure populations of species that we care about have refuge from that stressor. This story was originally published by The Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Young clownfish on coastal reefs are dying faster as a result of exposure to artificial light at night, according to new research. An international team of scientists studying reefs on Moorea, a tiny island of French Polynesia, have found that orange-fin anemonefisha species of clownfishexposed for long periods to human-generated artificial light were 36 percent less likely to survive than clownfish living in reefs farther from the coast. The clownfish that did survive grew 44 percent slower than their counterparts who lived under natural nocturnal lighting conditions. Stephen Swearer, a professor of marine biology at the University of Melbourne and one of the studys authors, said Moorea was home to many luxury hotels with bungalows over the watermany of which are intentionally lit at night. Rooms have these little windows, like a portal in the floor, so you can turn the light on and look at the fish swimming around underneath, he said. More than 20 percent of the worlds oceans are exposed to ecologically relevant levels of artificial light.For more than 18 months, the researchers monitored young clownfish living in anemones close to shore, where they were perpetually exposed to light pollution, and fish who lived in anemones away from areas inhabited by humans. Swearer said it was unclear why light-exposed fish had a reduced growth rate and were more likely to die. One possible explanation for the increased death rate was the light attracting predators. Another was that long-term exposure resulted in adverse physiological effects on the clownfish. Basically, these fish are just really tired, not being able to lower their activity levels at night, said Swearer. They may then behave in ways that mean they have less energy to avoid predation.Swearer said more research was needed on the effects of light pollution on other marine animals. More than 20 percent of the worlds oceans were exposed to ecologically relevant levels of artificial light, he said. The harmful effects of artificial light on turtle hatchlings is already well established, as sea turtles rely on the light of the moon and stars for navigation. Hatchling strandings and deaths have previously been attributed to light pollution in north Queensland. Swearer said artificial light near coastal reefs needed to be better regulated. There are ways in which you can light so that youre not resulting in conditions that lead to public safety concerns [for humans], but that also can mitigate the risk that they might pose to wildlife, he said. We can make sure populations of species that we care about have refuge from that stressor. Young clownfish living closest to the shore die faster than those further out because they are being exposed to artificial lighting from streetlights, piers and ports, a new study has warned. Made famous by 'Finding Nemo', the iconic reef-dwellers feed, reproduce, defend their territories and interact with other fish during the day before sleeping at night. Like humans, this period of inactivity is crucial for their well-being because they need it to recharge, researchers said. But when the down time is interrupted by artificial light the effect on clownfish can be catastrophic. Scroll down for videoIn need of sleep: Young clownfish living closest to the shore die faster than those further out because they are being exposed to artificial lighting from piers and ports, a study has warnedClownfish were monitored for almost two years in the reefs around Moorea in French PolynesiaWhy do clownfish need moonlight rather than artificial light to thrive? The survival and growth rates of clownfish are negatively affected by long-term exposure to artificial light at night, a study has found. This may be due to the potential for light to attract natural predators, as well as the harmful effects on physiology of the fish, the team of international researchers said. Clownfish need a period of inactivity at night to recharge but the lack of sleep caused by artificial light may also result in increased metabolism, with a subsequent higher demand for energy. This could be part of the reason why the growth of young clownfish was stunted. By comparison, those living further from the shore and enjoying natural moonlight had higher survival rates and increased growth. AdvertisementA team of international scientists from France, the UK, Chile and Australia found that young clownfish had higher rates of death when exposed to light pollution close to the coast. This is because of the harmful effects it has on the physiology of the fish, as well as the potential for artificial light to attract natural predators. The juvenile clownfish also grew 44 per cent slower than those in natural lighting conditions. 'The impacts of light pollution found here are probably underestimated and mitigation measures and policy changes are urgently required,' said marine ecology expert Stephen Swearer. The clownfish were monitored for almost two years in the reefs around Moorea in French Polynesia. Professor Swearer, from the University of Melbourne, said researchers exposed 42 clownfish in their host anemones to either artificial light at night (ALAN) or natural light in the lagoon. 'Thirty six per cent of the clownfish exposed to light pollution were more likely to die than fish under natural light cycles,' said lead author, Jules Schligler, from the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes PSL Universite Paris. He said clownfish can be found in shallow coastal waters and are easily impacted by light at night from streetlights, piers or ports because they are highly sedentary living in anemones. In the research paper, the scientists said that 'even those fish that survived didn't entirely escape the effects of artificial light at night as they grew less than fish from the control group.' Reef-dwellers: Researchers exposed 42 clownfish to either artificial light or natural moonlightThe study from the University of Melbourne produced this graphic to summarise its findings'This is the first time that the impacts of ALAN have been tested on a coral reef fish in the wild and over such a long time,' said Daphne Cortese, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Glasgow. 'As 12 per cent of all coral reef fish live in close association with another sedentary species, such as a coral or anemone, light pollution could already be having severe negative impacts on a fifth of fringing reef fish populations.' Scientists hope the research will help raise awareness of the impacts of ALAN on coastal marine ecosystems. 'Many marine protected areas are impacted by light pollution at night, and authorities are not taking this pollution into account,' said Ricardo Beldade, associate professor at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. 'We hope that policymakers take this threat much more seriously for future management strategies.' The study is published by the University of Melbourne in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
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###CLAIM: bettencourt, a 32-year-old photographer and stock portfolio completer who bought into bitcoin and ether a year and a half ago to complement his stock portfolio, says the investment is for the faint of heart.
###DOCS: [1/2] Representations of the virtual currency Bitcoin and Ethereum stand on a motherboard in this picture illustration taken May 20, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/File PhotoNEW YORK, May 21 (Reuters) - When Brjann Bettencourt rolled out of bed on Wednesday morning to find the assets in his cryptocurrency portfolio slammed in their biggest selloff in years, he knew exactly what to do: buy more. "Investing in crypto is not for the faint of heart," said Bettencourt, a 32-year-old photographer in Toronto who has owned bitcoin and ether over the last year-and-a-half to complement his stock portfolio. "I'm looking at this as a serious long-term investment." This week, cryptocurrencies were buffeted by factors ranging from critical tweets by Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk to governmental controls in China. The price of bitcoin, the worlds biggest cryptocurrency, tumbled as much as 30% before retracing some losses. It is down some 40% from its highs of the year. Leveraged positions in bitcoin and ether futures fell sharply last week, said Vanda Research, which tracks retail trades. This indicates that some retail traders probably have folded their tents. "(The) crypto bubble has started to unravel and data from different exchanges suggest that retail investors are capitulating," Vanda researchers said. But other retail investors have been happy to ride the turbulence out or trade around it. "In crypto talk, when stuff like this happens, people say it shakes out all of the weak hands and the people ... who maybe bought because they saw it on the news," said Ethan Lou, author of "Once a Bitcoin Miner: Scandal and Turmoil in the Cryptocurrency Wild West," due this autumn. As retail investors piled into cryptocurrencies, bitcoin surged around 345% in the last year, ether soared 1,219% and dogecoin skyrocketed 15,480%, according to Coinbase data. Crypto-exchange Coinbase (COIN.O) said its more than 56 million users accounted for $335 billion in trading volume in the first quarter: $120 billion retail and $215 billion institutional. That compares to $30 billion in total a year earlier, of which $12 billion was retail, the company said. Retail interest this year also scooped up shares of "meme stocks" such as GameStop (GME.N), pushing prices through the roof and punishing hedge funds that had sold the shares short. Some retail investors have embraced the wild price swings in hopes of catching some of the next big rally. Users on Reddit's popular WallStreetBets forum have popularized the term diamond handsas shorthand for their willingness to hold an asset through thick and thin. INCREASED SCRUTINYIncreased mainstream adoption has drawn the attention of regulators. The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday called for new rules that would require large cryptocurrency transfers to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. The Federal Reserve said cryptocurrencies pose risks to financial stability. read more On Friday, China said it will crack down on bitcoin mining and trading activities. read moreCryptocurrencies have been notoriously volatile throughout their history. Bitcoin plunged 94% in 2011, and dropped 82% between late 2017 and the end of 2018, causing many investors to back away. Lily Francus, however, has tried to take advantage of the big swings. The 25-year-old, who lives in San Diego and works as a quantitative researcher at a crypto hedge fund, first traded cryptocurrencies in 2017, but got out before the price crashed. Then last month she put about 1% of her net worth into various cryptocurrencies, joining a rally she saw as partly fueled by social media hype. She liquidated her ether and cut her bitcoin position when Musk hosted Saturday Night Live on May 8. read more She later bought 40% of her ether position back at a lower price. The Tesla CEO has flip-flopped on whether the electric carmaker would accept bitcoin as a payment, and has often moved the price of dogecoin with his tweets. "When you see ... people diving into the markets for fear of missing out, that's usually a good time to get out," Francus said. Doug Liantonio, 31, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, said he owns dogecoin and ethereum classic. With dogecoin prices down 50% from their highs, he is waiting for another rally before selling. "I don't think I will wait for Elon's PR stunt for his rocket, that would be too late," he said. Musk recently announced that his company SpaceX will launch a rocket to the moon next year, funded with Dogecoin. read moreFor Bettencourt, the photographer, the ups and downs of crypto are part of its appeal. Investing in cryptocurrencies feels like that scary rollercoaster, he said. You're riding it up and riding it down and feeling every twist and turn, which to me is exciting and fun.Reporting by John McCrank; additional reporting by Anna Irrera in London; Writing by Ira Iosebashvili; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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###CLAIM: jackie o'sullivan, its executive director of advocacy, said : `` this is fantastic news for people with learning disabilities.
###DOCS: Adults with learning disabilities will all be offered Covid vaccines as part of the top six priority groups, Britain's health chiefs said today after a campaign by Jo Whiley to get her sister jabbed. The JCVI, which decides on who gets the life-saving jabs first, said people with learning disabilities of any kind should be bumped up the pecking order. They will be added into priority group six, which includes all adults with a long-term health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness. BBC radio DJ Jo Whiley called for people with learning disabilities to get vaccines sooner after her 53-year-old sister, Frances, who has a developmental disorder and lives in residential care, was hospitalised with Covid-19 this month. Whiley praised today's policy change as 'absolutely crucial' and said she was 'delighted'. She said Frances is now back at home and is 'doing great'. Vaccinations in group six are next in line and they take higher priority than people aged between 50 and 64, who make up groups seven, eight and nine. Anyone who is on the GP Learning Disability Register will be eligible for a vaccine earlier than planned, the JCVI said, regardless of how severe their disability is. People with profound disabilities were already in group six but it will now include milder conditions, officials said, because the register may not differentiate between them. This register is open to anyone with a diagnosed learning disability. These include autism and Asperger's, William's syndrome, global developmental delay and cerebral palsy. People with Down's syndrome were already in the clinically extremely vulnerable group so part of the population targeted with vaccines by February 15. Public Health England said at least 150,000 people would now get a vaccine sooner than expected in order to 'prevent as many deaths as possible'. The charity Mencap says there are 1.5million people with learning disabilities in the UK, however, and officials did not say why the number expected to benefit from the policy change is so much lower. Some people may not be on the GP register, while others are already in high priority groups. Mencap is now urging everyone with a learning disability to check they are on the register. The Office for National Statistics revealed in a report this month that people with learning disabilities had an almost four times higher chance of dying if they developed Covid-19, compared to people without the difficulties. Britain has one of the most accelerated Covid vaccination programmes in the world and has already immunised 17.9million people with at least one dose of a vaccine. 'People who are severely affected by learning disabilities are at higher risk of death from Covid-19. 'As the severity of any disability may not be well recorded in GP systems, JCVI supports the NHS operational plan for anyone on the GP Learning Disability Register to be invited now for vaccination as part of priority group six, and to reach out in the community to identify others also severely affected by a learning disability but who may not yet be registered.' JO WHILEY PRAISES VACCINE CHANGE AS LEARNING-DISABLED SISTER DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL AFTER COVID BATTLE BBC radio DJ Jo Whiley, whose sister Frances has a learning disability and was hospitalised with Covid-19 this month, said she was 'delighted' at today's news. Whiley, 55, highlighted the gap in the rollout when she said she had been offered a vaccine before her sister, despite not being in a high risk group. Jo Whiley And Frances, who is 53 and lives in residential care because of her developmental delay, became seriously ill with Covid-19. Whiley said the family had discussed end-of-life care for Frances last week but that her sister had now been discharged from hospital. She told the BBC today: 'This is a great day I am so relieved. I'm so happy for all those people who've been living in fear. 'I'm very grateful to the Government for listening, because it's a very complicated situation and it's very difficult to categorise people according to their disability, it's very, very tricky and that's become apparent I think over the past few months. 'And so this is clear, this encompasses everybody, and all those people who have been feeling very neglected, feeling like they don't matter, that we don't care, now know that we will be protecting them. 'This is absolutely crucial and I could not be more delighted. This is a massive step forward.' AdvertisementUntil now, many people with learning disabilities other than Down's syndrome had not been included on the vaccination priority list. They would have been incorporated in the 'clinically extremely vulnerable' shielding group if they had other physical health problems, regardless of their learning disability, but may not have got priority access if they were otherwise healthy. Jo Whiley, 55, highlighted the gap in the rollout when she said she had been offered a vaccine before her sister, despite not being in a high risk group. And Frances, who is 53 and lives in residential care because of a developmental delay caused by Cri-du-Chat syndrome, became seriously ill with Covid-19 and was hospitalised earlier this month. Whiley said the family had discussed end-of-life care for Frances last week and feared she might die, but that her sister was discharged from hospital on Tuesday. She told the BBC today: 'This is a great day I am so relieved. I'm so happy for all those people who've been living in fear. 'I'm very grateful to the Government for listening, because it's a very complicated situation and it's very difficult to categorise people according to their disability, it's very, very tricky and that's become apparent I think over the past few months. 'And so this is clear, this encompasses everybody, and all those people who have been feeling very neglected, feeling like they don't matter, that we don't care, now know that we will be protecting them. 'This is absolutely crucial and I could not be more delighted. This is a massive step forward.' Speaking about her sister, she added: 'This is the first step in her recovery, its going to be hard work from here on in, but shes doing great.' Revealing that Frances had been discharged from hospital yesterday after a brush with severe Covid, Whiley posted a video of her sister on Twitter and said: 'First of all, Frances would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who has helped her, especially the amazing doctors and nurses of the NHS, and her many MANY well-wishers. 'Its hard to believe weve gone from discussing palliative care on Friday night to sitting on her favorite bench drinking cups of tea. It doesnt end here though. Any LD carer will know have someone with demanding needs relying on you to keep them alive 24/7. 'I hope the vaccine is reaching more and more of those with learning disabilities. Not everyone has been as lucky as us. So many have died or are suffering from long Covid because they were simply not protected. We need to show them that they are not forgotten and we care. 'Covid has brought with it further complications. Were now dealing with worrying diabetes and high blood pressure issues and my parents are exhausted beyond belief. Its so hard observing from behind a visor and mask, helpless doesnt cover it.' ONS data in a report this month revealed that people with learning disabilities are more likely to die of Covid-19 than people without the disabilities. It found that around six per cent of people who died of Covid-19 up to November 2020 2,955 people out of a total 50,888 in England. But they only made up 1.2 per cent of people in the study, meaning they were disproportionately more likely to die. Living in care homes or having other health conditions made people more likely to die of coronavirus, the statisticians found. Jo Whiley revealed that her sister Frances had been discharged from hospital after Covid-19The report said: 'Looking at people with a medically diagnosed learning disability, the risk of death involving Covid-19 was 3.7 times greater for both men and women compared with people who did not have a learning disability. 'After using statistical models to adjust for a range of factors, a raised risk of 1.7 times remained unexplained for both sexes.' As part of the JCVI's new drive to get jabs to learning disabled adults, the NHS will also offer the vaccines to adults living in residential or nursing care, as well as those in shared accommodation for people with disabilities. And doctors will do community outreach to find learning disabled people who aren't on the GP register but may still be at risk. The Government's care minister, Helen Whately, said: 'I have heard first-hand how tough this pandemic has been for people with learning disabilities and their families. 'We are determined those more at risk from Covid should be vaccinated as soon as possible. 'Following the JCVI's updated advice and to make this process simpler and faster, we will be inviting everyone for vaccination who is on their GP's learning disability register. 'This will mean those who are at a higher risk from the virus can get the protection they need.' Britain has one of the most accelerated Covid vaccination programmes in the world and has already immunised 17.9million people with at least one dose of a vaccine. Office for National Statistics data showed the risk of death involving Covid-19 was 3.7 times greater for both men and women with learning disabilities compared with people who did not have a learning disabilityMencap, a major learning disability charity in the UK, welcomed the announcement. Jackie O'Sullivan, its executive director of advocacy, said: 'This is fantastic news for people with a learning disability. 'Now everyone on the GP Learning Disability Register can get access to the Covid vaccine. 'It's now crucially important that everyone with a learning disability checks that they are on the register and asks to go on it if they are not. 'Being on the register has many benefits and entitles people to annual health checks and prioritisation for future vaccinations, as well as allowing them to get the Covid vaccine and be confident they are protected.'
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###CLAIM: the cps's conclusion that the sexual assault charge against nahyan could not be brought because the alleged attack occurred outside the jurisdiction.
###DOCS: The Crown Prosecution Service has declined to prosecute a United Arab Emirates senior royal accused of sexually assaulting a British woman working with his ministerial department to set up a literature festival in Abu Dhabi, arguing that there was not enough evidence that the sheikh was acting in his official duties during the alleged attack. Caitlin McNamara was the curator of the inaugural Hay festival in Abu Dhabi, which was feted as an opportunity to promote freedom of expression, human rights and womens rights in the UAE. Earlier this month, she waived her right to anonymity to publicly accuse Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan of sexually assaulting her on 14 February, 11 days before the festival. McNamara alleged the attack happened during what she thought would be a business meeting to discuss the festival, which was being funded by Nahyans department, the ministry of tolerance. Nahyan denied the allegations, first published in the Sunday Times, through London libel lawyers Schillings, who said: Our client is surprised and saddened by this allegation, which arrives eight months after the alleged incident and via a national newspaper. The account is denied.Lawyers acting for McNamara had submitted an opinion to the CPS that Nahyan could be tried under universal jurisdiction for cruel and inhuman treatment. After months of deliberation, Jenny Hopkins, head of the CPSs special crime and counter terrorism division, said that the CPS had considered the evidence passed to them by the Metropolitan police and that possible charges of sexual assault and torture were considered. The CPS concluded that it could not prosecute Nahyan for sexual assault because the alleged attack had occurred outside its jurisdiction. For cruel and inhuman treatment under universal jurisdiction, the CPS requires evidence that the suspect is a public official, that they intentionally inflicted severe pain or suffering on another person and that they did so in the performance or purported performance of their official duties. While the CPS was satisfied that Nahyan is a public official and that the alleged assault would have caused McNamara pain and suffering, it said there was not enough evidence to suggest Nahyan was acting in his official duties at the time. In reaching that conclusion we took into account the complainants belief that she was attending a meeting about work when she agreed to meet with the suspect. However, her understanding of the nature of the meeting is not sufficient by itself to prove that the suspect was purporting to act in the performance of his official duties, the CPS said. From the evidence, the suspects conduct in arranging the meeting and during the meeting suggests the contrary, that he considered this to be a social meeting and did not want to discuss work. In those circumstances we cannot prove an essential legal element, namely that the assault was committed in the purported performance of the suspects public duties and consequently amounts to torture.McNamara said she was deeply disappointed by the response. Unfortunately this decision seems in keeping with the failure of the CPS when dealing with rape and crimes against women, she said in a statement. I will be seeking a review.Last month, a womens rights group launched a legal challenge against the CPS over its failure to pursue rape cases. The CPS recently announced it was revamping its guidance to prosecutors in rape cases, including a more generous understanding of how trauma affects victims. Rape convictions in England and Wales have fallen to a record low in the last three years. Helena Kennedy, QC, who has been assisting McNamara, told the Guardian: When does the minister of tolerance stop being the minister of tolerance? When he decides? Really! Caitlin has never been in this mans company alone prior to his asking for this meeting. She had no social interaction with him and she was not asked to a social event. She was meeting the minister ... the CPS is appalling at dealing with sexual offences.Kennedy previously told the Guardian that if the CPS declined to prosecute Nahyan, she would petition UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab to invoke the Magnitsky law, which allows governments to place sanctions against foreign individuals accused of committing human rights abuses. Nahyan, part of the fourth-richest royal family in the world, is believed to own property in north-west London.
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###CLAIM: the aggregate is based on the 500, 500, and gaap data for each sector constituent for each measuring period.
###DOCS: gettyTheres a grinding pandemic and stocks are still up 15%! Its tough to believe, given the year weve all lived through, but here we are. So what the heck do we do now? Is there more upside ahead or is another big plunge around the corner? Youre not the only one asking this questioneveryone is. And the media and Wall Street, as always, feel they have the answer. A quick glance at the CNN Fear and Greed Index shows that were at the top end of greednot exactly in extreme greed territory but getting there. CNN BusinessUsually, when the market has gotten too greedy, its time to get fearful. And when the market is too fearful, its time to get greedy. This Warren Buffett quote is what moved me to go bullish on stocksor more specifically stock-focused closed-end funds (CEFs)in my CEF Insider service during the pandemic selloff. Its also why I want to introduce you to a 7.3%-yielding fund thats perfect for the greedy market were seeing today. The Greed CaseBefore we go into the details of this fund and why its perfect for this period, lets take a look at just how greedy the market is. Beyond soaring prices, analysts are pointing to a lot of reasons to keep buying stocks. A report from UBS, for example, says investors are likely not being bullish enough, putting a 4,100 price target on the S&P 500, or a 12.4% gain from here. But UBS itself says this could be too low, adding that it sees an upside case on even higher valuations as more likely. And with that, it says a 20% gain could be on the horizon. The vaccine is just the tip of the iceberg in this report. UBSWith about 80% of the population receiving the vaccine by the end of 2021, the report suggests herd immunity could be reached this summer. That, says UBS, will cause a shift in spending from e-commerce to travel, transportation and entertainment. This would be a boon to companies from American Airlines AAL (AAL) to AMC Theaters (AMC). That, in turn, will drive more jobs and more spending in other sectors and a rising tide to lift all boats. Or so the theory goes. UBS is far from alone in their optimism. Canadian investment bank CIBC released its Economics Insights report in early December stating that 2021 is the beginning of a long period of economic prosperity. There are reasons to believe that growth in subsequent years could surprise consensus expectations to the upside, the report says, adding that GDP growth in 2021 will be over 4%, over 3% in 2022 and possibly higher in the years to come. Those growth rates, by the way, are better than anything weve seen for over a decade. CIBCs reports are usually cautious, contemplative and comprehensivethey encompass the kind of restraint one would expect from a Canadian bank. Yet this report speaks of a coming boom. The Cautious ResponseCould these analysts be right? Of course they could, and I cant say Im much more pessimistic than them. But in the immediate few months, dissemination of the vaccine, acceptance of the vaccine and consumers confidence of the vaccines efficacy are crucial to getting the economy back on track. And while the UK, Canada and USA have approved the vaccine, there are still many countries where the vaccine is out of reach, which means it could take a lot longer for COVID-19 to end. The longer it takes, the less patient the market will be, and the likelier it is that well have a short-term dip in stocks before a longer-term rise kicks in. Conditions like these make the Nuveen Dow 30SM Dynamic Overwrite Fund (DIAX) worth your consideration. This closed-end fund (CEF) has a 7.3% dividend yield and trades for 9.6% below the value of its portfolio (or the discount to NAV in CEF-speak). DIAX invests in the Dow Jones Industrial Averagethe blue chip stocks that are among the least volatile on the market, while boasting the strongest cash flows. Top holdings include McDonalds MCD (MCD), Visa V (V) and Home Depot HD (HD). And looking at this years returns for the big indices, the Dow Jones looks the most compelling by far. As you can see, the Dow is underperforming the benchmark ETFs for the S&P 500 and NASDAQ NDAQ . Short-term underperformance like this often means the market is too heavily concentrated in one place, and its about time for investors to cycle elsewhere. And if we do get a selloff, large cap stocks, with their historically lower volatility and household brand names, are where many investors are likeliest to go. So why not buy DIA instead of DIAX? Because the CEF gives you an additional layer of protection by selling covered-call options on its portfolio. These are contracts that give buyers the right to buy DIAXs holdings in the future at a fixed price, and DIAX sells these contracts in exchange for cash it passes to us as dividends. Thats why DIAXs 7.3% yield is nearly three times greater than DIAs yield, even though both funds invest in the same companies. Plus, since DIAX trades at a discount (unlike DIA) you get that portfolio for less than youd pay if you bought the 30 Dow stocks on the open market or through an ETF. This makes DIAX all the more compelling for a future in which the market turns to large caps as a safe haven. Michael Foster is the Lead Research Analyst for Contrarian Outlook. For more great income ideas, click here for our latest report Indestructible Income: 5 Bargain Funds with Safe 8.3% Dividends.Disclosure: none
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###CLAIM: in a season shortened by the pandemic, the dodgers finished with a winning percentage of 71. 7, with a 162-game winning projection.
###DOCS: Want even more betting news? Sign up for VSiNs free daily newsletter. Listen Live to VSiNs sports betting shows. At the end of a disastrous road trip, a tailspin through three cities, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts put on a bold face and predicted to reporters Sunday that his team no doubt will finish on top of the National League West. Roberts is right not to sing the blues, even if hes wrong in the end. When the narrative turns negative, a leaders job is to stay positive. Still, the truth is the Dodgers recent slump has created several doubts about the reigning World Series champions. I think the Dodgers are a big disappointment, not only because of the expectations but also because of the way they started the season, said VSiN oddsmaker Vinny Magliulo, a veteran Las Vegas bookmaker. There is also truth in cliches its a long season, and its no time to panic but more than a month into the baseball season the Dodgers and Yankees, the American League favorites, are each far from dominant and struggling to stay above .500. Hold the Hollywood script on a Los Angeles-New York showdown in the World Series. The Dodgers slide has been more costly to bettors who were riding a hot team out of the gate. The Dodgers opened the season 13-2 to spark memories of the 1984 Detroit Tigers, who started 9-0 and topped out at 35-5 after 40 games. When teams go on streaks, people love to play them every night, DraftKings sportsbook director John Avello said. We know how baseball gets bet. At first, people were betting the Dodgers during that hot start.Gary Sanchez and Clayton Kershaw Robert Sabo, Getty ImagesOn the recent trip through Milwaukee, Chicago and Anaheim, the Dodgers lost eight of 10. A 5-15 mark in their past 20 games has left the Dodgers at 18-17 and in third place in the division. In last years pandemic-shortened season, the Dodgers finished 43-17 a 71.7 winning percentage that would project to 116 wins in 162 games. Oddsmakers opened the Dodgers win total for this season at 104, a number they already seem unlikely to surpass. Injuries are one excuse. Cody Bellinger, the NL MVP in 2019, has been out since early April with a fractured left fibula and the outfielder might not return until June. Dustin May, a rising star in the pitching rotation, needs Tommy John surgery and is lost for the season. An offense that averaged 5.8 runs in 2020 has tailed off to 4.9 per game this season, when the Dodgers have lost a major league-high 10 games by one run. The Dodgers have been favorites in 34 of 35 games they closed as small underdogs in a 3-1 loss to the Brewers on April 30 and have lost five times as favorites of -200 or more. It could take 60 games before some teams get on track, Magliulo said. The expectation is the Dodgers will turn things around.The Dodgers must solve shortcomings in the bullpen but their top four starters Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler and Julio Urias combine to rank among baseballs best. The time to start a turnaround could be now as LA opens a nine-game homestand against Seattle, Miami and Arizona. Meanwhile, the Giants (20-14) and Padres (19-16) lead the West. The Dodgers are 3-4 against San Diego and have yet to play San Francisco. I doubt the Giants can continue a season like this, Avello said. It will end up being a two-team race with the Dodgers and Padres.The Yankees, currently -125 favorites to win the AL East after opening -175 at BetMGM, did not expect to be chasing the Red Sox in the division race. Boston (22-13) is on pace to fly over its preseason win total of only 79. The Yankees, 18-16 after a 5-10 start, had a win total of 95. The Red Sox are the biggest surprise in the league, Magliulo said. The Yankees are either feast or famine at the plate, but its a team capable of going on a run.Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres has one home run in 120 at-bats, and first baseman Luke Voit, last years MLB home run leader, is set to debut this week after offseason knee surgery. I think the Yankees have got a few issues, and the bats have not really started to come around yet, Avello said. But I would think when its all said and done, the Yankees will finish 20 games over .500. Are they good enough to win it all? I dont know.Oddsmakers are well aware its a long season and its no time to panic, so the top two teams on BetMGMs World Series odds board remain the Dodgers (+325) and Yankees (7/1). You dont get too crazy, Avello said. You make some adjustments, but theres no reason to move odds on many teams in the first 30 games of the year.
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###CLAIM: chelsea have been criticised for failing to protect young players eddie and heath from abuse by former scouts, who reported it around 1975.
###DOCS: The FA have been lambasted in a damning report about child sex abuse in football. It accuses the governing body of an 'institutional failing', revealing that they 'could have done more to keep children safe' and saying the FA delayed introducing protection measures between 1995 and 2000 which left youngsters at risk. The FA admitted it was a 'dark day for the beautiful game' as they were found to have failed to ban two serial paedophiles in the long-awaited, QC-led review which raises serious questions but does not accuse the FA of a cover-up. And in a shocking development the FA which offered a 'heartfelt apology' confirmed that ex-Crewe manager Dario Gradi, who brought paedophile Barry Bennell to the club, remained banned from the game because he represents a potential risk to children. Following reports of abuse from those brave enough to come forward, responses were 'rarely competent or appropriate', Clive Sheldon QC found. The FA was ruled to have overseen an environment where 'in general, child protection was not regarded as an urgent priority', following the first convictions of offenders in 1995. It is a finding that could open the door for compensation claims. Sheldon, whose report took four years to produce, examined the cases of several paedophiles, including Bennell, who arrived at Crewe from Manchester City. After Bennell, now back in prison, was released in 2003, the FA 'should have taken steps to prevent him from involving himself further in football', said Sheldon, who added: 'The failure to do so allowed children to be put at potential risk.' Sheldon disclosed that senior management at City were aware of rumours about Bennell's conduct in the early 1980s but did not investigate and 'should have done so'. Sheldon's (pictured) damning report has been released four years on from its commissionEx-Crewe boss Gradi is another subject of the report, but there was no major criticism of the man whom is currently suspended from football and recruited Bennell at Gresty RoadHe added that City should also have investigated the fact that boys stayed at Bennell's house, where many of the attacks took place. The QC found that it was 'likely' three Crewe directors discussed 'concerns about Bennell which hinted at his sexual interest in children' and there was no evidence that advice of a senior police officer to the club's chairman to keep a 'watching brief' on Bennell was heeded. The QC referenced sections of a witness statement Bennell gave in a civil case against Crewe in 2003. He said a suggestion that nobody at the club knew or suspected sexual abuse was being perpetrated was 'ridiculous'. He added: 'I cannot imagine why I was not told to stop in view of the complaints made. 'That said, with what I know now, and the fact that Dario Gradi had many boys staying at his house, which I believe he continues to have, then it is not surprising at all.' Gradi has denied knowing of Bennell's actions. Sheldon, however, says: 'I have decided that Bennell's account cannot be relied upon.' Eddie Heath (C), was employed by Chelsea from 1968 until he was sacked 11 years on, in 1979FA chief executive Mark Bullingham apologised for a 'gut-wrenching breach of trust' on a 'dark day for the beautiful game', and was asked if Gradi remained banned. 'Absolutely,' he said. When asked why, FA head of legal Polly Handford said: 'Where someone is removed from football for safeguarding reasons, that will be because... that individual could potentially pose a risk of harm to children.' Elsewhere, Chelsea were criticised for failing to protect a young player who had reported abuse by former scout Eddie Heath around 1975, while Aston Villa, then managed by Graham Taylor, 'should have reported disclosures about sexual abuse by scout Ted Langford to the police when his role was terminated in July 1989'. Bennell, who is currently in prison serving a fifth sentence for child sex abuse, pictured during his coaching careerNewcastle 'should have acted more quickly' after disclosures of abuse by coach George Ormond and Peterborough and Southampton were 'aware of rumours about the inappropriate behaviour' of ex-coach Bob Higgins, jailed for 24 years in 2019. Sheldon said the FA should have reviewed Higgins' case after an amendment to their disciplinary rules in 2003, which lowered the standard of proof, after concerns were raised about his continued involvement in the game in 2002. They failed to do so and he carried out further abuse. Sheldon called on the FA to make one of their board members a 'children's safeguarding champion', and added that they should widen spot-checks and publish an annual safeguarding report. Manchester City, Newcastle and Southampton issued apologies. No statement was forthcoming from Crewe. The FA could now face a parliamentary inquiry. Julian Knight MP, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said: 'The FA have grave questions to answer about their past record and need to reassure parents about what they're doing now to ensure children are being kept safe from predators.' Mark Bullingham (left, chief executive of the FA) has apologised to the survivors in a lengthy statement, in which he also urged football to 'learn lessons and never see repeat' of the abuseGradi claimed later he was unaware he was suspended, said he loved working with children and added he would never do anything to harm them. The Offside Trust, set up in the wake of the scandal, said of the report: 'It's like playing in the world's longest tournament only to get to the final and be told the outcome had already been decided years ago; after more than 1,500 days of waiting, with survivors feeling at times that the issue was being kicked into the long grass.' Ian Ackley, a Bennell victim, described the review as 'diluted as a Vimto for a two-year-old'. Dario Gradi 'did not consider a person putting their hands down another's trousers to be assault', says review into child sexual abuse scandal in English football... but former Crewe manager ESCAPES major criticism in QC's bombshell 710-page reportDario Gradi 'did not consider a person putting their hands down another's trousers to be assault', according to a new bombshell report into English football's child sex abuse scandal. A long-awaited 710-page review by Clive Sheldon QC was released on Wednesday, in which it was found that the Football Association put children at risk by failing to ban two serial predatory paedophiles. While the report is damning, Gradi himself escapes major criticism - barring section 9.6.154, which quotes the former Crewe manager as not considering 'a person putting their hands down another's trousers' as assault. Gradi (pictured) allegedly tried to 'smooth over' allegations by a former Chelsea youth player that Eddie Heath, the club's chief scout, had sexually assaulted himThe author of the report, Sheldon QC, interviewed Gradi in person, which he details in section nine and describes an incident which occurred during his time at Chelsea in the early 1970s with scout Eddie Heath. One survivor, who is named only as 'VS' in the report, stated that 'when he was in the pavilion at the Mitcham training ground, Heath grabbed him from behind and 'ran his hands all over, caressing my chest under my shirt'. VS recalled Heath telling him, 'Close your eyes and you wouldn't know if this was a man or a woman.'' After receiving a complaint from the young player's father, Gradi visited their home and recalled to Sheldon QC that the father 'repeatedly said to him that he did not want to get Heath into trouble.' According to Gradi, that 'set the tone' that he wasn't going to take the incident further, but he understood it to have been 'inappropriate'. The conversation then turned to the 'scope of allegations of abuse generally', where Gradi made the claim about 'putting hands down another's trousers' not being an assault. When Sheldon QC informed him that it was, he then accepted it. Gradi has always denied any wrongdoing when he was spoken to about the child abuse casesGradi is currently suspended from football, and was the man who recruited Barry Bennell at Crewe. The report also includes sections of a witness statement Bennell gave in a civil proceedings case against the club in 2003. In the statement, Bennell says that the suggestion that nobody at the club 'knew or suspected that sexual abuse was being perpetrated is ridiculous'. He adds: 'I cannot imagine why I was not told to stop in view of the complaints made. That said however, with what I know now, and the fact that Dario Gradi had many boys staying at his house which I believe he continues to have, then it is not surprising at all.' Sheldon, however, says: 'Ultimately, I have decided that Bennell's account cannot be relied upon'. Gradi also told the inquiry that Bennell's claims were false.
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###CLAIM: me and gusta complained that two weeks ago a dermatologist gave us some dry mouth shit that makes us get more pores.
###DOCS: Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B took to Twitter on Monday for help with acne breaking out on her cheek and chin. 'It's been happening for like 3 months now. S*** really is uncomfortable,' the Bronx-born 28-year-old - who boasts 146.6M social media followers - lamented. 'I [have] been breaking out lately and my face is extremely dry. I don't think these products are working. I think it's the water out here [in Los Angeles]. What are some good products for little black heads break outs and dry skin on your face?' Spot of bother: Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B took to Twitter on Monday for help with acne breaking out on her cheek and chinThe Bronx-born 28-year-old - who boasts 146.6M social media followers - lamented: 'It's been happening for like 3 months now. S*** really is uncomfortable'Cardi (born Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar) rejected most of her fans' advice including visiting a dermatologist, esthetician, or trying Retinol, Cetaphil, and face oil. '[Two weeks ago, the dermatologist] gave me some s*** that dried my face more and [made] me get more [pores],' the Me Gusta rapper complained. 'They said it will take 3 months but I don't got time for that and [they] didn't give me a reason on why I'm breaking out. I never broke out on my cheeks and chin.' Cardi continued: 'I [have] been breaking out lately and my face is extremely dry. I don't think these products are working. I think it's the water out here [in Los Angeles]. What are some good products for little black heads break outs and dry skin on your face?' 'Cause they suck out here in LA': The Me Gusta rapper rejected most of her fans' advice including visiting a dermatologist, esthetician, or trying Retinol, Cetaphil, and face oilCardi wrote: '[Two weeks ago, the dermatologist] gave me some s*** that dried my face more and [made] me get more [pores]. They said it will take 3 months but I don't got time for that'It likely doesn't help Cardi's spotty complexion when she gets fully-contoured make-up applied almost daily by her staffer Erika La' Pearl Roman. In the end, it took two-time Grammy nominee Kehlani to provide the former stripper with the proper referral she so desperately needed. 'Ok @Kehlani recommended me somebody for my face,' Cardi tweeted hours later. Pore-clogging daily routine: It likely doesn't help the former stripper's spotty complexion when she gets fully-contoured make-up applied by her staffer Erika La' Pearl Roman (R, pictured November 13)Coachella duo: In the end, it took two-time Grammy nominee Kehlani (R, pictured in 2018) to provide Cardi (L) with the proper referral she so desperately neededThe Joe Biden supporter tweeted hours later: 'Ok @Kehlani recommended me somebody for my face. Imma give ya a update in 2 weeks''Imma give ya a update in 2 weeks. I'm off this for a while. LOVE YA!' The Joe Biden supporter will next launch her neon 'Make It Loud' Reebok collection on February 4. Catch more of Cardi's outsized personality in the reality show Cardi Tries ___, which streams Thursdays through February 4 on Facebook Messenger Watch. 'Who ready?' Cardi will next launch her neon 'Make It Loud' Reebok collection on February 4
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###CLAIM: the knock-out question appeared to have made four taps and hastings spelt hastings ' name again, setting the alarm bells ringing as officers at the end of the interview cut off from the 12-point question declaring davidson guilty of perverting the course of justice and mismanaging public office.
###DOCS: Line Of Duty star James Nesbitt has found himself a new role after being 'killed off' on the show - playing another policeman. The 56-year-old actor plays a detective in upcoming Netflix series Stay Close - based on Harlan Coben's 2012 novel of the same title - which follows the lives of three regular individuals, who are all hiding dark secrets. He was seen on set in Manchester for the first time on Monday, and appeared to be filming a crime scene as he was seen wearing surgical gloves. One to watch: James Nesbitt has found himself a new role playing a detective in upcoming Netflix series Stay Close - based on Harlan Coben's 2012 novel of the same titleThe Northern Irish actor seemed in great spirits as he put on an animated display while filming, throwing his arms in the air and grimacing. Stay Close follows detective Broome (Nesbitt), working mother-of-three Megan (Cush Jumbo) and out-of-work photographer Ray (Richard Armitage) as they deal with the skeletons in their cupboards. Viewers will also see Cutting It star Sarah Parish, Small Axes Daniel Francis and stand-up comedian Andi Osho play Megan's friend Lorraine, her partner Dave and Simona, respectively. Stunned: Line Of Duty star James Nesbitt has found himself a new role after being 'killed off' on the show during Sunday's episodeWorking hard: James was seen on set in Manchester for the first time on Monday, and appeared to be filming a crime scene as he was seen wearing surgical glovesCreated by author Harlan, TV executive Nicola Shindler, screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst and producer Richard Fee, filming for the series kicked off last month and Netflix is yet to reveal a release date. James' new role comes after Line Of Duty fans were left stunned on Sunday night when it appeared his character was killed off before he even appeared on screen - but some viewers are convinced it was a cover-up. Towards the end of the nail-biting penultimate episode, Guardia Civil police officers stormed Marcus Thurwell's Spanish home, while the AC-12 team watched via video link. While many viewers expressed surprise that an actor of Nesbitt's calibre was denied even a scene, some were left convinced that Thurwell was in fact the Spanish AFO leading the raid on his home. One tweeted: 'Is it just me or was one of those Spanish "police officers" Thurwell? Im sure it was him.' Tensions: James' new role comes after the penultimate episode of Line Of Duty saw Guardia Civil police officers storm Marcus Thurwell's Spanish home. They found Thurwell's body but some fans believe the Spanish captain was Thurwell in disguiseAnother wrote: 'Exactly what I was thinking? Nice job if James Nesbitt only got paid for a few photos so I suspect that Marcus Thurwell is 100% alive.' And one commented: 'Is this Marcus Thurwell or have they just found the Spanish Jimmy Nesbitt to play the part?' - sharing a series of screenshots to illustrate the likeness. AC-12 were looking into the retired former detective chief inspector after SI Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) learned that Gail Vella - the journalist who was murdered - had been looking into the death of Lawrence Christopher while in police custody - a case Thurwell was in charge of. While many viewers expressed surprise that an actor of Nesbitt's calibre was denied even a scene, some were left convinced that Thurwell was in fact the Spanish AFO leading the operationThurwell also has links to Darren Hunter, the son of former organised crime group boss Tommy Hunter. The OCG also murdered Oliver Stephens-Lloyd before he had an opportunity to give evidence about sexual abuse at Sands View Boys' Home, with Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) convinced Thurwell is connected to the killing and the abuse cover-up. When Thurwell is found 'dead', Hastings is visibly exasperated - with time running out for him to solve the mystery before his impending retirement. After last week's cliffhanger ending, when gunshots were fired as DI Kate Fleming and bent copper Ryan Pilkington held up their weapons, many fans also expressed their relief that Kate survived the shoot outIt was the corrupt police officer who met a grizzly end, after working as an inside man in the Murder Investigation Team (MIT) for the Organised Crime Group (OCG). After being lured to a lonely car park by DCI Jo Davidson [Kelly MacDonald] during the previous episode, Kate [Vicky McClure] was met by armed officer Ryan who said he planned to kill her as he held up his gun and aimed it at her. She's alive! Line Of Duty ended on a tense cliffhanger last week after gunshots were fired as DI Kate Fleming and bent copper Ryan Pilkington held up their weaponsThe episode ended as two gun shots sounded, before the new episode revealed that Ryan had been shot twice in the chest by Kate, who soon fled the scene with Jo in a Thelma and Louise-inspired fashion. When DI Steve Arnott arrived with the AC-12 unit they discovered that Kate and Jo had gone on the run. DCS Patricia Carmichael could be heard telling officers that the duo were considered to be 'armed and dangerous'. Despite the gripping hunt for Jo and Kate which commenced, fans were overjoyed that one of their favourite characters had survived. Another said: 'Well first of all Kate is alive!! Yipeee. Then wow that a shot Kate! Too good of an ending for Ryan but fair play to the actor brilliant baddie. 'Poor Jo I hope she lives and as for Carmichael.. b****!!!' Thank goodness! Despite the gripping hunt for Jo and Kate which commenced, fans were overjoyed that one of their favourite characters had survivedAnother questioned Kate's motives and said: 'Wait, is Kate bent!? PLEASE NO. (But glad she's alive like) #LineOfDuty.' A different viewer wrote: 'Kate is alive, a firearms officer and it turns out a dab hand at handbrake turns. Icon. #LineOfDuty.' Another commented: 'Meanwhile, it's a mixed bag for Kate. She's alive!! But she's hit an all-time low in police custody grey jersey.' For emergencies: After fleeing the crime scene, Kate and Jo head to Steve's house and take his car because he and Kate have access to each other's homes 'for emergencies'Trust: In order to buy her trust after just leading her to be murdered, Jo takes Kate's gun and touches it so that her prints are on the weapon - and it looks like she killed RyanOne said: 'And the wee donkey! #LineOfDuty Exhausted after that, but so glad #Kate is still alive.' A Twitter user joked: 'Just lost a fiver because Kate's alive, so delighted but also fuming #LineOfDuty.' One other said: 'OMG that 'ma'am' Carmichael's dodgy face needs a slap! At least Kate is alive, I can breathe again! #LineOfDuty.' Hands up! One person said they wanted to see Ryan get interrogated by AC-12, and said: 'I am so happy #KateLives but did they have to kill Ryan off? 'I wanted to see him in the glass box! #LineOfDuty.' One said: 'And the wee donkey! #LineOfDuty Exhausted after that, but so glad #Kate is still alive'After fleeing the crime scene, Kate and Jo head to Steve's house and take his car because he and Kate have access to each other's homes 'for emergencies'. In order to buy her trust after just leading her to be murdered, Jo takes Kate's gun and touches it so that her prints are on the weapon - and it looks like she killed Ryan. While many were simply happy that Kate had survived another episode, other viewers were confused as to why Kate ran. It casted doubt in some viewer's minds over her intentions, as they couldn't understand why she would run if she lawfully killed Ryan. One viewer said: 'Does anyone understand why Kate ran? I really can't think why.' Another questioned: 'Still not sure why Kate ran #LineOfDuty.' A third said: 'I still don't get why Jo and Kate ran? #LineOfDuty.' In agreement, another said: 'Ok, can anyone explain why Kate and Jo ran in the first place? Everyone knew Ryan was dodgy and it was self defence? #LineOfDuty.' Her actions even left some wondering if she could be the illusive 'H'. One person said: 'Why am I low-key thinking that Kate could be H? It's low-key weird that they ran.' A different user said: 'Kate is involved in the shooting of a police officer (okay yes a corrupt one) and ran away from the scene of the crime. The tracking of the car is dodgy but why does she think they're being set up...? #LineOfDuty.' One also said: 'Am I missing something here, why wouldn't Kate just stay at the scene?' Reaction: It casted doubt in some viewer's minds over her intentions, as they couldn't understand why she would run if she lawfully killed RyanEarlier this week, eagle-eyed Line Of Duty fans were convinced they had solved the outcome of the intense shootout between Ryan and Kate, after spotting a 'dead body' in a preview of Sunday's episode. The AC-12 undercover specialist and the show's villain [Gregory Piper] drew their guns on last week's show while screaming at each other to drop their weapons. And as the screen faded to black at the end of the dramatic cliffhanger episode, two bullets could be heard firing. Revealing: Earlier this week, eagle-eyed Line Of Duty fans were convinced they had solved the outcome of the intense shootout between Ryan and KateBut viewers appeared to have deduced the outcome of the gun battle before the next instalment, after spotting a dead body which resembles Ryan. Also, in another trailer which was released before the start of the new season in March, fans noted certain scenes including detective Kate which haven't aired yet. They were quick to point out one blink-and-you-miss-it scene which sees Kate standing next to Jo. Fans thus concluded the scene must happen in the aftermath of the shooting - indicating Kate survives. Stand off: The AC-12 undercover specialist and the show's villain (Gregory Piper) drew their guns on last week's show in a nail-biting cliffhangerDramatic: After screaming at each other to drop their weapon the screen faded to black and two bullets could be heard firing (pictured Ryan)One viewer took to Twitter and said: 'Looks like a Ryan Pilkington lying dead in the lorry park from the trailer. 'Did Jo have a gun and stop him? Did Kate shoot first? Is Kate alive? Did AC-12 arrive in time? So many questions from that unbelievable cliffhanger.' Another fan concurred: 'Ryan is actually shot dead (look at the body laying on the floor between the black van and the police car).' A third viewer said: 'Yes Im that person who goes back and analyses the original trailer after each episode and isnt this the location from the the last scene in tonight? There is a body on the floor. Ryan?' Detective work: Sleuth Line Of Duty fans shared their theory over who survives the shootout, noting scenes which appeared in trailers but are yet to air in the seriesA fourth viewer added: 'But we know Kate and Jo aren't dead because we've seen clips of them in the trailers that haven't been aired yet #lineofduty.' Another Line Of Duty fan said online: '#LineofDuty I am hopeful for Kate as the original trailer for the series had Kate and Jo with their hands in the air with Steve pointing his gun at them. 'They were wearing the clothes they had on in the last scene!' The officer, played by Anna Maxwell Martin, placed herself at the centre of the action as she ordered Kate Fleming be arrested following the shootout and then tried to shut down Ted Hastings' questions during a very intense interview of Jo. Some viewers even theorised that Carmichael was trying to send a message during the 'puzzling' interview - which also saw Jo discover her paternity despite offering more 'no comments' than answers - based on how often she tapped her pen. Could it be? Line of Duty fans were left convinced that Detective Chief Superintendent Patricia Carmichael is the fourth man after Sunday's episodeCarmichael was first seen arriving at the scene of last week's cliffhanger. And after finding Ryan's body with two bullet wounds to the chest and being told by Hastings that Kate has been authorised to carry a concealed weapon, Carmichael declared them 'armed and dangerous'. She also caught eagle-eyed viewers attention once Kate and Jo were apprehended by police following a high-speed car chase - as it transpired was made possible after she and the chief gave orders to track all of AC-12s vehicles. Trying to hide something? The officer, played by Anna Maxwell Martin, tried to shut down Ted Hastings' questions during a very intense interview of Jo DavidsonThis pivotal bit of information was revealed once Arnott had talked Kate into surrendering and he was going over the events back at headquarters with Hastings. Explaining that he and Kate have keys to each others cars and houses for when there's an 'unexplained disruption to the chain of command' he was left stunned when Carmichael cruelly revealed Hastings secret and approaching retirement. However despite all of this already raising suspicion, it was during the intense - and very long - interview of Jo that many viewers decided that Carmichael must be H or at the very least involved with the OCG herself. The interview saw Jo discover that her uncle Tommy Hunter was actually her father as well, with the officer emotionally revealing that her mother had told her she'd been raped as a teenager and how 'uncle' Tommy controlled both of their lives. Despite Jo finally starting to open up on some points after numerous 'no comments', Carmichael repeatedly shut down Arnott and Hastings' questions whenever they verged on talk of corruption in the force. Theories: Some viewers even theorised that Carmichael was trying to send a message during the interview based on how often she tapped her penEmotional: Jo Davidson broke down as she discovered her true relationship to Tommy HunterOn fan said Carmicheal's behaviour here left them thinking she was H, tweeting: 'That was a tense interview scene. Carmichael didn't wanna go into any police corruption at all. Jo protecting Kate. All very puzzling.' Another simply stated: 'Carmichael absolutely the fourth caddy that interview gave everything away #LineofDuty'While others even theorised that Carmichael was sending out some kind of message during the interview, based on how often she tapped her pen. A third summed up the opinion of many as they quoted Hastings and said: 'Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey! Line of Duty that was intense from start to finish! And another agreed, adding: 'Carmichael is H she has to be. Why is she tapping the table 4 times? #lineofdutyday #LOD'However one fan suggested that Osborne was H, and Carmichael was actually trying to cover for him, tweeting: 'Osborne has got to be H, and that's who Jo thought her father was? 'Carmichael shut down the convo every time Osborne was mentioned. Whoever Jo thought her dad was, that's H right? Also I can't hack Ted Hastings being upset like this so I'd appreciate less of that #LineofDutyThis Morse code theory popped up during Arnott's questioning of Davidson, specifically when he tried to get information about Gail Vella's laptop and computer. Theories: Fans were quick to declare that Carmichael is H, with some also suggesting the Morse code theoryAlthough Davidson remained tight-lipped, Carmichael did seem to start sweating a little as she tapped her pen four times and took a sip of water. Morse Code is an alphabet that spells out words or messages using a series of short and long sounds, with the officer appearing to make four taps and spell out H.Carmichael again set alarm bells ringing whens he cut off Hastings at the end of the interview following his knockout question about Osborne being H.Cutting off the AC-12 head's question, she declared that Davidson was being charged with 'perverting course of justice and misfeasance in public office'. Elsewhere in the interview, Jo told her version of what happened during the shootout with Ryan Pilkington. Davidson told the other officers that it wasn't Kate who killed the bent cop, but her using Kate's gun. Even when Carmichael pointed out that the forensic evidence pointed to Kate being the shooter, Davidson had an answer saying gunshot residue must have been absorbed by Kate's sleeve as she fired and insisting that she killed Ryan. Carmichael was later seen talking to Kate as she finished up her own interview and teasing that she didn't believe Davidson's version of events. She said: 'Two shots to the chest, like a firearms trained officer. Davidson's not firearms trained is she? But you are though arent you Kate?'
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###CLAIM: four other alleged members of the grizzly and scouts were accused of destroying evidence related to the slayings of both law enforcement officers in 2020.
###DOCS: The Air Force sergeant accused of killing two law enforcement officers in California last year belonged to a militia group that was plotting a "war" against police, including taking cops as prisoners, stripping them naked and leaving them "blindfolded with [their] hands bound" in the wilderness, a report says. The claims surrounding the alleged inner workings of the Grizzly Scouts emerged this week as the Santa Cruz Sentinel cited court documents that show the suspected gunman, Steven Carrillo, was not a lone actor but a member of an anti-government group that was preparing for more deadly attacks on law enforcement. Carrillo has pleaded not guilty to the May 29, 2020 fatal shooting of Federal Protective Service Officer Dave Patrick Underwood in Oakland and the June 6, 2020 killing of Santa Cruz Sheriff Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller in an ambush in the community of Ben Lomond. CALIFORNIA MOM WANTED IN MURDER OF 7-YEAR-OLD BOY FOUND DEAD NEAR LAS VEGAS HIKING TRAILThe filings cited by the newspaper allege that, in a document entitled "Operations Order," the right-wing militia described law enforcement officers as "enemy forces" and spoke of the possibility of taking some prisoner, writing: "POWs will be searched for intel and gear, interrogated, stripped naked, blindfolded, driven away and released into the wilderness blindfolded with hands bound." The group also allegedly discussed ways to stir up violence between Antifa groups and police. The court filings were submitted in the case against four other alleged Grizzly Scouts members, including the groups leader, who are accused of destroying evidence relevant to the Underwood and Gutzwiller murder investigations. They were submitted as part of an attempt to keep all four defendants in jail pending trial, the Associated Press reports. A federal magistrate ultimately decided three of them were not a danger to the community and did not pose flight risks. CALIFORNIA POLICE ACTED ON TIPS, ENHANCED IMAGES TO TRACK DOWN ROAD RAGE SHOOTING SUSPECTSIn April, a federal grand jury had indicted Jessie Alexander Rush, 29, of Turlock; Robert Jesus Blancas, 33, of Castro Valley; Simon Sage Ybarra, 23, of Los Gatos; and Kenny Matthew Miksch, 21, of San Lorenzo, on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Blancas, the only defendant who remains in jail, also faces a child enticement charge related to alleged sexual conversations with a teen girl that were discovered during the investigation. The filings not only confirm Carrillo as one of the militias roughly 25 members, but detail the groups alleged activities in mid-2020: trainings near Rushs home in Turlock, the creation of a "Quick Reaction Force" or QRF, and plans to send a member to scout out a protest in Sacramento. Blancas allegedly wrote that he was "totally down" to disguise himself as an Antifa member and spark a violent conflict. "Its the tactically sound option," Blancas told other militia members, according to prosecutors. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMost members of the Grizzly Scouts are still at large, federal prosecutors said. The group identifies with a loosely affiliated, nationwide militia movement that uses the name "Boogaloo" and favors Hawaiian shirts and violent rhetoric, but the Scouts activities appear to be more carefully plotted, the newspaper reported. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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###CLAIM: after the suspects were cut off, harris ' mother described the encounter as `` a road rage incident, '' police said, investigating all possible motives.
###DOCS: Hickory, North Carolina, police have identified a suspect accused of fatally shooting a 7-year-old boy Tuesday in a possible night road-rage incident. Police on Friday announced a first-degree murder charge against 23-year-old Douglas Mason Wilson. "There are still a lot of answers that need to be gathered and a lot of work that needs to be done," Hickory Police Chief Thurman Whisnant said during a Friday press conference announcing the charges. Police did not take any questions from reporters due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. A Hickory officer was responding to reports of gunfire on Tuesday and discovered 7-year-old Kakylen Greylen Harris with "an apparent gunshot wound to the neck area" after the suspect allegedly shot at his mother's car from another vehicle, Whisnant said during a Wednesday press conference. The boys' siblings, ages 1 and 6, were also in the mother's vehicle during the incident. NORTH CAROLINA BOY, 7, SHOT AND KILLED IN POSSIBLE ROAD RAGE INCIDENTHarris was transported to Catawba Valley Medical Center and later pronounced dead. Harris' mother described a blonde, White female riding in the passenger seat of Wilson's car. The woman yelled at Harris' mother before shots were fired. It is unclear whether any other passengers were in Wilson's car, police said Wednesday. Authorities previously located Wilson "at a hotel in Hickory" and took him "into custody on unrelated warrants," Whisnant said during a Friday press conference. Police said Harris' mother described the encounter as a road-rage incident after she unintentionally cut the suspect off, but authorities are investigating all possibilities for a motive. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"Preliminary belief is that its a random act of violence. These individuals did not know each other," Hickory Police Capt. Jeff Young said. Wilson was charged with marijuana possession last June, jail records show.
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###CLAIM: contact has been made multiple times over this figure, which was revised to 28 percent after robodebt was deemed to have been still owed money.
###DOCS: Centrelink is chasing thousands of Australians who are owed money after the controversial Robodebt scheme was cancelled. Services Australia officials told a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday $697.1million of the $721million was paid back as of October 26. That money has gone to 402,000 Australians, making up 94 per cent of the owed pool - but thousands more are still waiting on their refunds after being falsely saddled with costly debts. Services Australia originally said on Thursday about 40,000 Australians were still owed money or would have their debts cancelled. Centrelink is chasing thousands of Australians who are owed money after the controversial Robodebt was cancelled after being deemed unlawfulServices Australia chief Rebecca Skinner (pictured) said the agency had tried to contact the people multiple times through various methodsThis figure was later revised to say 28,000 people who were still owed money, with Centrelink unable to get in touch with 14,600 of them. Of these figures, 3,300 people who were able to get refunds had since died. Services Australia chief Rebecca Skinner said the agency had tried to contact the people multiple times through various methods. She confirmed there was no time limit for them to get in touch in order to be refunded. 'If they contact us we will process their debt,' Ms Skinner said. Deputy chief executive Michelle Lees said Services Australia tried to write letters, used myGov and text messages to get people to register to have refunds or their debts wiped. Centrelink will restart the welfare recovery scheme from Monday after it was paused due to the pandemic. Income averaging is no longer used as the sole proof for a possible debt. The 'robodebt' automated welfare recovery scheme matched Australian Taxation Office and Centrelink data to claw back overpaid welfare payments. Services Australia has tried to write letters, use myGov and text messages to get people to register to have refunds or their debts wiped (stock)However, the artificial intelligence program used the data incorrectly in many instances and found people to be owing thousands of dollars when there was in fact no debt. It was ruled unlawful last year, with the Federal Court saying Centrelink could not have been satisfied the debt was correct. The Morrison government announced in May it would repay all debts, estimated to cost about $721million. The scheme is facing a class action lawsuit, which will go to trial on November 16. The previous Labor government introduced a similar process in 2011 but had each case reviewed by a department staff member, and the Coalition moved to a fully-automated system in 2016. The deceased estates of more than 3,000 people are among those owed robodebt refunds, while one person has been repaid $30,000 unlawfully taken from them under the botched Centrelink program. As officials faced a fresh grilling about their decision to continue the scheme despite warnings dating back to 2017, Services Australia told Senate estimates on Thursday night it had now repaid $697m of the $721m it has agreed to repay after conceding the program was unlawful. There have been 489,671 debts refunded in total, however the agency has been unable to contact about 28,000 people who are still owed refunds or should have their debts zeroed. The Services Australia chief executive, Rebecca Skinner, said it had attempted three or four rounds of contacting those customers using mail, email, phone calls and SMS. Under questioning from the Greens senator Rachel Siewert, officials confirmed there were 3,300 deceased estates that were owed refunds. It is unclear whether these refunds relate to debts raised against the estates of people at the time, which did occur, or whether the individuals had died after repaying the debt. About 6% of people are yet to have their debts refunded or wiped, which also included some people who are now in prison and people who are bankrupt. The hearing was told 1,620 people on the cashless debit card had received refunds, with an average of $1,811 and a highest $30,072. The money is paid into the persons regular bank account, rather than on to the card. Michelle Lees, the agencys deputy chief executive, said the agency was working to ensure the money would be paid to the right place. About 373,000 people are expected to get refunds through the bungled program, which ran between 2015-2019, though it is also the subject of a class action seeking interest and damages. Gordon Legal claimed in court documents last month that the government knew the scheme was unlawful while it was running, an allegation the commonwealth strongly denies. The claim is based in part on 76 administrative appeals tribunal decisions that overturned robodebts throughout the life of the scheme. The Labor senator Deborah ONeill told estimates the government had failed to appeal the decisions to a higher level of the tribunal, meaning most were shielded from public view until very recently. Arguing they showed a pattern where the tribunal had warned the program was unlawful, ONeill read from a March 2017 judgment that stated the debt in question was not consistent with the requirements of the legislation. Isnt that a fireworks moment in the department where you go, Oh my God. Were not complying with the law? ONeill said. Isnt that the moment when you would immediately cease the practice?Kathryn Campbell, the secretary of the Department of Social Services, confirmed she was aware that some debts had been overturned at the time, though she said she was not familiar with the particular case. Campbell, who previously led the Department of Human Services, which administered the program, said the cases were generally determined on the individual facts. I knew that some had been returned and overruled, she said. And I knew that some had been returned and upheld. I wasnt aware that there was a pattern [of debts being overruled]. A pattern would indicate everything was the same.Campbell said there had also been cases where the tribunal had directed Centrelink to use the income averaging method that the government has now conceded was unlawful. I think its fair to say that there was some ambiguity about the AAT decisions coming back, she said. Campbell said she was of the view that the scheme was legal when it was established in 2015, and that she had relied on advice from the Department of Social Services. She would not clarify whether it was legal advice, citing a public interest immunity claim. While she was head of the Department of Human Services in 2015, Campbell noted that the Department of Social Services was the policy entity when the scheme was created. Estimates heard that among the factors the department was expected to consider when deciding whether to appeal a decision was whether there was a point of law that needed to be clarified of defended. Siewert said: What I dont understand is ... why when points of legislation and law were brought up they werent flagged?Annette Musolino, a top Services Australia official, disputed that the decisions were not flagged. She said officials would look at whether there was an ambiguity that needed clarification, among other factors. The federal court class action is set down for trial on 16 November.
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###CLAIM: not realizing that "airconditioning" means no air conditioning, i remember the description of the airbnb listing.
###DOCS: Comment on this story Comment Gift Article ShareYou may have heard that the country is facing a rental car shortage. Its driving travelers into desperation, with some people paying exorbitant rates for standard reservations or booking U-Hauls as a last resort. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight It drove me to sleep in a van. Ill back up. A month out from a trip to Maui, I was combing through the dregs of Airbnb trying to find locally owned accommodations in my budget. My options werent great. With tourism surging in Hawaii, rental car prices and hotels rates were exorbitant. In between listings for camping equipment and dark studios near the airport, I spotted a big, white Chevrolet Astro from the 1990s, outfitted with a bed and some drawers. For $149 a night, plus an insurance day rate of $16, I could have a bed to sleep in and a car to drive all in one. Convinced this was a great way to explore #vanlife with no real research, I booked the Astro for the last two nights of my trip. AdvertisementThe expectation was to have an Instagram-worthy, remote-work experience meandering around Maui in my van parking by the ocean for a swim, exploring off-the-beaten-path parts of the island. My reality was not that. Expectation: #VanLife will be rejuvenating. Reality: #VanLife is only good with air conditioning. After nearly a week of staying in a brick-and-mortar accommodation, I was full of excitement and hope on my way to pick up my van. I pictured myself driving around Maui, all of my belongings in tow, working efficiently from my home/ride with the wind in my hair. I would have wind in my hair, all right. In the first moments in the van, I discovered it did not have air conditioning. (Not to mention the van died right away, but we will get to this later). The van was obviously built to have such a feature; I could see the knobs and vents in place, but they didnt work. Imagine watching the sunrise from the comfort of a queen-size memory foam bed, enveloped by sounds of the ocean and cooled by a warm Maui breeze," I remember the Airbnb listing had described, not realizing that meant no air conditioning. A surprise to no one who has ever been in a hot car during the summer let alone a summer in a tropical climate the breeze was not enough to cool me down. AdvertisementBy day, I felt like a wet dog sweating through my clothes. I would show up to places drenched, having just baked in the scorching sun on my drive over. I used whatever I had on hand to wipe the torrential downpour from my face, i.e. one of my (clean) socks from my luggage. By night, with the windows and doors sealed for protection from people and bugs, the wet-dog feeling continued. The van came with a few small fans that I held centimeters from my head until I remembered that I was a woman sleeping alone in a van. I worried the hum of the fans would drown out the footsteps of the people who would inevitably come to murder me, so the fans were out. I poured water on one of my shirts and put the wet cloth over my head, which provided enough relief to fall asleep. Lesson learned: Know exactly what amenities you will have in your van. Does it have air conditioning? Flashlights? Automatic transmission? Find out crucial essentials beforehand. Expectation: I can improvise a van tripReality: You need to plan van camping in advanceBefore my trip, my Airbnb host told me that it was fine to park along the ocean where I had seen plenty of other campers and van dwellers post up. But the more people I talked to on the island, the more I learned that such camping is not legal its just something people get away with regularly. AdvertisementI had to figure out where to park the van to sleep on the fly. The first night, I parked on a friends jungle property, an incredibly lucky last-minute option. As previously mentioned, it turned out to be scarier than expected (and I slept at a haunted house alone last year). I kept peering out the window to see if anyone was coming. There wasnt. The van was facing tall grass at the edge of the property, and I wondered if I needed to turn it around and face the exit in case I had to spring into action to drive away. My fear was not enough to overcome my exhaustion, and I fell asleep in all of my clothes before I could muster up the energy to get back in the drivers seat. By the second day, I had done more homework on where I could park to sleep and found a campsite for the night. Camp Olowalu was near, but not on, the ocean, and it had showers, bathrooms, a coffee shop and a gated perimeter, which felt safer than just being out in the woods. I was just happy it was legal. I parked my Astro and admired all of the surrounding van campers and felt safer having them around. They looked like they were doing it right, with tents on top of their vans and camping chairs and friends to share the experience. They had planned for this and appeared to be having a better time accordingly. Like the night before, I was too tired to reflect much on my day, my shortcomings as a van camper or how hot I would be with just a few windows cracked. I fell into a hard sleep, once again fully clothed. AdvertisementLesson learned: Before your trip, make sure you have a legal, safe place to park your van, or at least a game plan in mind. Expectation: Camping in a van will make life easier. Reality: Camping in a van will not make life easier. An hour into my van adventure, I went to start the car it would not. The battery was dead, and I felt like a failure. I texted the Airbnb owner who happened to be nearby, and he quickly came to rescue me give the van a jump. He didnt know if he left a light on when he dropped the van off or if I didnt shut a door hard enough or what. Either way, the mechanical hiccup took time out of both of our days. The van was functional the rest of the trip, thankfully. But my time in it was not smooth sailing. While the van drove easy and had plenty of space for all of your travel gear, trying to sleep and work in it came with many tiny hassles that added up. For example, I had to crouch and creep around while inside to get dressed, find my things and get ready for bed. To get my pants on, I had to lay flat on the bed or stand outside (pending no one was around to watch). The van was a cavernous space without a ton of light, so even during the day I struggled to locate my belongings. AdvertisementLesson learned: Be prepared to improvise. Traveling in a van like any kind of travel is unpredictable. Find out if you have help like roadside assistance to save the day in times of need. Throughout my days in the van, I tried to appreciate the palm trees, the sound of the ocean waves crashing in the distance and the wild chickens roaming the campground. I did, sometimes, but I mostly focused on trying not to waste more time and energy. By the time I rolled into the parking lot to drop off the van, I was in worse shape than when I had picked it up in the first place. I had slept poorly, and my body was heavy with stress. I didnt feel like Id gotten a taste of van camping; I felt like I had road-tested a reality where I was locked out of my house for a few days but still needed to work. The van trip wasnt exactly a success, but it did remind me of an important lesson in travel and in life: Dont believe everything you see on social media. Not all #vanlife posts tell the whole story. GiftOutline Gift Article
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###CLAIM: the central government, working with local authorities, needs to ensure that money reaches struggling businesses faster.
###DOCS: Wetherspoon has unveiled plans to expand by buying up property after prices plunged due to the pandemic, while a new venture fronted by the former boss of Greene King is looking to purchase small pubs and bars. In a statement to investors, Wetherspoon said it was raising up to 93.7m by placing new shares. It said the money would be used to strengthen a balance sheet damaged by the pandemic and offset the impact of an expected slow start once pubs reopen. But the 871-strong pub chain said the money would also facilitate the acquisition of new properties, which are likely to be available at favourable prices, as a result of the pandemic. It is targeting spaces in central London, where retail and hospitality have been particularly hard-hit due to the loss of tourist traffic and office workers. It may be possible to achieve a higher-than-average return on capital on properties acquired in the next few years, based on the companys past experience, Wetherspoon said. The chain announced its intentions on the same day that it emerged the former Greene King boss Rooney Anand is leading a new venture ready to spend 200m in a major gamble on recovery for the pubs sector. Redcat Pub Company has financial backing from an unnamed US-based private equity firm to acquire smaller pubs and bars, City sources told Sky News, which first reported the story. The opportunity for those with capital to buy venues at knockdown prices comes in the wake of a prolonged period in which the licensed trade has been among the hardest hit by the impact of the coronavirus. Many city pubs have been closed for longer than large, rural pubs because they cannot meet social distancing standardsThe industry trade body said on Tuesday that parts of the sector were hanging by a thread and bemoaned the length of time it was taking for government grants to arrive. Nearly three-quarters of the pubs promised a 1,000 grant by the prime minister to help them survive the loss of Christmas sales in England are still waiting for the money, the British Beer & Pubs Association (BBPA) said. The grants, which local councils have been asked to distribute, were intended to help wet-led pubs, which do not serve food and instead rely on alcohol sales, leaving them particularly exposed to Covid-19 restrictions. Venues that did not serve food were unable to open over the traditionally lucrative Christmas period. It was scandalous that many of its members were still waiting for cash promised in December 2020, the association said, warning that much of the industry was on the verge of financial ruin. More than half of the grants introduced to support pubs through the tier restrictions and November lockdown were also yet to be paid. Months have passed by yet still thousands of pubs are waiting on the grants they have been promised, said the BBPA chief executive, Emma McClarkin. These grants are a vital lifeline, but only when delivered. It is unbelievable that so many pubs are still waiting on their Christmas grants and grants for the second lockdown. Considering we are now in a third lockdown it is scandalous. Publicans across the country are desperately checking their bank accounts every minute of every day to see if they have got their payment. Our sector is hanging by a thread, so for many pubs getting these grants is the difference between surviving or closing for good. The prime minister personally promised some of these grants for wet-led pubs. We implore him to now intervene and ensure his promise is delivered.Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDeskThe grants are funded by government and are meant to be distributed by 314 local authorities, each of which have different systems in place for doing so. The Local Government Association, which represents councils, said some may be prioritising January grants, which are larger and in many cases may be going to the same businesses. Councils are working fast to ensure businesses eligible for this funding are able to receive it quickly as possible, a spokesperson for the association said, adding that its members had distributed 12bn to 880,000 small businesses in grants last year. McClarkin said central government needed to work with local authorities to ensure the money reached struggling businesses faster. A government spokesperson said: We understand these are extremely challenging circumstances for businesses. We are working closely with local authorities, who are responsible for administering these grants, to ensure that funds are paid out as quickly as possible to those that need it. With mass closures across the UK as a result of coronavirus restrictions, pubs have been badly affected by the pandemic. In England, nearly three-quarters of the pubs promised a 1,000 grant by the prime minister to help them survive the loss of Christmas sales in England are still waiting for the money, the industry trade body has warned. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) warned that much of the industry was on the verge of financial ruin. We would like to hear from both wet-led pubs, which do not serve food and rely on alcohol sales, and pubs which sell food, about how theyre coping during the pandemic. Share your experiencesYou can get in touch by filling in the form below, anonymously if you wish or via WhatsApp by clicking here or adding the contact +44(0)7867825056. Your responses are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. One of our journalists will be in contact before we publish, so please do leave contact details. If youre having trouble using the form, click here. Read terms of service here.
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###CLAIM: the cce appears to have implemented an official policy of canceling state sanctions arguing for further restrictions on lawful speech.
###DOCS: Massive gaps in the law allow terrorism to be glorified and hatred to be spread, and a major crackdown is needed to stop more violence being triggered, an official report has said. The report from the Commission for Countering Extremism (CCE) calls for new laws to be considered, with groups accused of spreading hate facing bans. Potential targets named by the CCE could include the far-right English Defence League and Cage, which has been accused of supporting Islamist extremism and violence. The commission, which was set up by the government in 2017, also claimed that a tougher approach could have spotted that Thomas Mair, the man who assassinated Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016, was heading towards violent extremism. The report was co-authored by commission chair Sara Khan and former terrorism chief Sir Mark Rowley. It said that under current law praising Adolf Hitler, denying the Holocaust, praising Osama bin Laden, and far-right murderers such as Anders Brevik and Christchurch mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant was legal as long as the material did not directly encourage violence. Other legal material, the report said, includes fascist extremist organisation circulating pamphlets which promote false claims about a white genocide intended to stir up hatred against a racial or religious group, but which are not threatening, abusive, or insulting. This amounted to a gaping chasm, the report said, with Rowley adding: Not only have our laws failed to keep pace with the evolving threat of modern-day extremism, current legal boundaries allow extremists to operate with impunity. Hateful extremism is creating an ever-bigger pool for terrorists to recruit from, as well as increasing violence, hate crime and tensions between and within communities. The current situation is simply untenable.Rowley said even he was shocked by the extent of extremism and its spread, fuelled in recent years by the internet and social media. The home secretary, Priti Patel, has been briefed on the report and is studying its recommendations. Successive governments since 2005 have tried to toughen the UKs stance against extremism, which falls short of breaking current terrorism or public order laws. But previous efforts have failed because of concerns that new laws might criminalise dissent, free speech and unpopular opinions. An attempt by the Cameron government failed because it could not define extremism. The report by the CCE has the support of critics of previous efforts including activist Peter Tatchell. Tony Blair and David Cameron have also backed the reports findings. Rowley said this study avoided that pitfall by targeting the worst material, so called hateful extremism, where one group targets another to to advance a political, religious or racial supremacist ideology and wanting to create a climate conducive to hate crime, terrorism or other violence. It is based on a concept already in use in terrorism trials, the mindset material where extremist material, such as from the far right or Islamist terrorist videos, are accepted as evidence of pre-existing extremism. The biggest example of extremism that caused major harm was that of Anjem Choudary who as spokesperson for Al-Muhajiroun and its successor groups was linked to up to 100 terror recruits. The commission said possession of terrorist material should be criminalised. Such an approach may have captured Choudarys onetime friend Khuram Butt, ringleader of the 2017 London Bridge attack. In the years before the atrocity he was arrested and released despite being in possession of beheading videos and Isis propaganda because merely possessing them was not deemed on offence. The new suggested approach drops talk of opposition to British values as being a sign of extremism and suggests a classification system could be used to rank the danger alleged extremist material poses, similar to that used for paedophile material or the harm drugs pose. Rowley said a tougher approach for the internet was needed but technology companies had pointed out there was little more they could do until they was an accepted definition of what counted as extremism: The magnifying effect of social media had transformed it from a sideshow to a major threat.The report said there were worrying signs the young were being duped by extremists. The study quoted figures showing that 15% of young people and 20% of young male respondents to a 2020 poll said the official account of the Nazi Holocaust is a lie, and other polling showed the young were five times more likely than pensioners to believe lies against Jewish people. Cage has long been a thorn in the side of government and counter-terrorism officials. Supporters say it is a community-based group fighting the excesses of the war on terror. Khan said Cage could meet the threshold for action if tougher measures were adopted. Cage accused the commission of introducing a state version of cancel culture. A spokesperson said: The CCE appears to be implementing an official state-sanctioned policy of cancel culture arguing for further restrictions on lawful speech. The views advanced by the CCE represent a fringe authoritarian and Islamophobic lobby within the halls of power.Cages track record in seeking accountability for government overreach and violations of due process is well established. It is interesting that the CCE singles out a Muslim-led organisation for our warnings related to Prevent and institutional Islamophobia even though this critique has also been made by a range of seasoned academics, UN rapporteurs and experts. After 3 years, and at great taxpayer expense, the CCE concludes its work without any further clarity on what extremism is. Instead it promotes ideas from some of the most stridently Islamophobic and censorious organisations in the industry.
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###CLAIM: recent episodes of blues, clues & you appear to have made pride month a topic, as the clip below shows a little girl drawing a flag depicting different parts of the community including gay pride, nonbinary, and transgender.
###DOCS: Children's show "Blue's Clues & You" released an LGBTQ-themed video on its YouTube channel showing an animated drag queen singing to kids about "two daddies," "two mommies," as well as "trans," "nonbinary," and "pan" family members to mark the start of Pride Month. What are the details? The drag queen in the video is an animated version of a real-life drag queen Nina West whom "Today" called a "beloved 'RuPaul's Drag Race' contestant from season 11." West's character leads young viewers in a song about a "Pride Parade" to the tune of "The Ants Go Marching" and shows different groups of animals in a parade waving rainbow flags. The lyrics also include other LGBTQ buzzwords such as "ace" which stands for "asexual" as well as "queer," "bi," "pan," "allies," and "kings and queens." "Hey, Blue! Look at all these families! Hi, families!" West's character begins. "It's time for a Pride Parade." "Families marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah! Families marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah!" the first verse notes. "This family has two mommies, they love each other so proudly. And they all go marching in ... the big ... parade!" The song continues with the "two by two" group of animals and ends with "ten by ten" as West's character sings, "Love is love is love, you see, and everyone should love proudly." Here's the video:The Blue's Clues Pride Parade Sing-Along Ft. Nina West! youtu.beAnything else? According to TMZ, "the overwhelming reaction to this appears to be positive ... with many taking to social media to praise 'Blue's Clues' for being progressive and taking proactive steps to teach kids about different family structures in a fun, catchy way that appeals to young children." But the outlet noted that some are "clutching their pearls over this ... but they're mostly being drowned out by folks saying this is a great thing that Nick/Nick Jr.'s doing." "Remember," TMZ noted, "Nickelodeon has already indicated that some characters in their own pantheon including SpongeBob SquarePants might just be part of the LGBTQ+ world themselves, or allies at least. So, it's really not that much of a stretch for them to get Blue onboard, too." It isn't clear if the Pride Parade song is part of an actual episode or if it's a standalone clip separate from it. But it appears that Pride Month may have been a recent topic on a "Blues Clues & You" episode, as the little girl in the clip below shows her drawings of flags depicting "different parts of the LGBTQ+ community," including a "gay pride flag," a "nonbinary pride flag," a "lesbian flag," and a "transgender pride flag." Yahoo Life noted that "Blue's Clues & You" went down this road even earlier, as the show posted a new alphabet song in February declaring that "P is full of Pride" with rainbow flags and other LGBTQ "signifiers." PushbackJoy Pullmann, executive editor of the Federalist, pushed back against the Pride Parade song and said it's part of the show's psychological strategy for indoctrinating children. More from her piece:A 2018 New York Times article points out that the highly popular show for two- to five-year-olds is so dedicated to repetition to impress its messages on children that each episode of "Blue's Clues" plays every day for an entire week. The producers also test each episode three times on focus groups of children before it airs. The 2005 cover story for the Association for Psychological Science's publication Observer discusses the psychological techniques preschool shows use to impress what they believe are socially beneficial attitudes on viewers. Verbal repetition is one. Repetition throughout a child's environment merchandizing a show's characters to meatspace products like classroom math exercises or Tickle Me Elmo dolls is another. This repetition and saturation strategy has clearly been deliberately used to normalize certain sexual behaviors and attitudes, both in children and adults. We've recently seen everything from a cross-dresser on "Sesame Street" to a gay wedding on PBS's children's show "Arthur." LGBT consciousness is so pervasive that Americans think six times as many people are LGBT as actually identify so, and each successive generation exhibits higher rates of LGBT identification.
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###CLAIM: dr. lewis, his wife and patients have allowed me to sit in on such consultations as one where a couple really expressed concern about the vaccine.
###DOCS: michael barbaroFrom The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. [music]On Friday, I spoke with my colleague Apoorva Mandavilli about the growing consensus that herd immunity is no longer achievable in the United States. A major reason why is vaccine hesitancy. Today: What that hesitancy looks like inside a single community. Astead Herndon spoke with our colleague Jan Hoffman about her reporting in rural Tennessee. Its Monday, May 10.astead herndonJan, tell me about your reporting on vaccines over the course of this pandemic. jan hoffmanI focused mostly on vaccine hesitancy. In the early months of vaccine development and then the eventual rollout, the concern really had to do with people in Black and Latino communities because of their historic maltreatment on the part of medical researchers and, frankly, the healthcare system. But as the months have continued, because of the efforts of leaders in the Black community, the Latino community, among medical professionals in those communities and also religious figures in those communities, hesitation has decreased in those communities, although its still present. And surveys showed that the hesitation remained firmest in people who describe themselves variously as Republican, white, and/or evangelical Christian, and who tend to live in rural communities. astead herndonSo in your focus on vaccination efforts across demographic groups, youve zeroed in on these white conservative communities partly because theyre the firmest or steadiest holdouts that weve seen so far. jan hoffmanAbsolutely. And I really wanted to understand what was underlying it. astead herndonSo what did you do? jan hoffmanI went a few weeks ago to Greenville, Tennessee, a little town of 15,000 in a very rural community in northeastern Tennessee. It had been hit very hard by Covid, particularly this winter. More trucks were opened in the parking lots of the medical center. And they were considering opening a special second Covid unit in that hospital. And today, Greene County, of which Greenville is the county seat, has a vaccine rate of about 31 percent for adults whove gotten at least one shot, compared to the national rate of 56 percent. astead herndonWow. jan hoffmanSo in a community like Greenville, if there isnt sufficient vaccination, Covid will keep coming round and round and round. astead herndonWhat kind of conversations are people in Greenville having about vaccines? What did you find in your reporting? jan hoffmanYou know, I found that a lot of people had gotten tired of talking about it. I met innumerable people whod had squabbles and fights in their families. A father was not going to get it, a daughter was. I met an older woman whose husband has multiple myeloma, who had to say to her adult children, if you dont get the vaccine, you cannot visit your father, even though hes dying of cancer. And yet, they have refused to get the vaccine. michael barbaroWow. jan hoffmanSo, its become basically a painful and silent point of contention, because people feel that there is nothing they can do to change each others minds. And studies show that the most effective way to change someones mind is by having that person talk with an authority figure whom they know and trust. So whats particularly difficult is the very complicated position of the pastors in the community. They have a broad range of views about the vaccine. But for the most part, they have chosen not to use their pulpits as a place to speak about their positions. Because they feel, for both religious reasons and for reasons that have to do with the ethos of the community which is very much you get to make your own decision that they are not going to speak out about this particular issue. This is not where theyre going to plant their flag. And yet, they are among the most trusted people in the community. astead herndonAs you say, the pastor is a trusted figure who could talk and sway maybe hesitant people. Are there other figures who are working to do that in places like Greenville? jan hoffmanCertainly. The family physician, the primary care provider is the quintessential trusted figure on all things health and medical. And I met a number of physicians who are trying very hard. jan hoffman So youre the head of the family medicine clinic. dr. daniel lewis No, Im the chief medical officer for Greenville and three other hospitals in the [INAUDIBLE] system. jan hoffmanSpecifically, Dr. Daniel Lewis, whos a family medicine physician. dr. daniel lewis I grew up in Northeast Tennessee in Carter County. jan hoffmanDr. Lewis is 43 years old, has five kids. Hes a devout Baptist. dr. daniel lewis Im sports medicine trained, so yeah, all the athletic trainers and jan hoffmanHes the sports doctor for Lord knows how many teams at the high school and is very much a figure in the community. But he gained an extraordinary amount of gravitas about a year ago this spring when he himself had his own very serious Covid experience. [music]astead herndonAnd what was that like? jan hoffmanHe told me that dr. daniel lewis One of our team members began to cough. And we kind of jokingly said, so, have you got Covid? And he goes, no, its allergies or whatever else. jan hoffman he had been exposed to the virus by a colleague, who, at the time, did not know that he was positive. dr. daniel lewis And so he came back positive. And then I developed symptoms, began to feel a little short breath, sat down and said, not a physician heal thyself situation. I need to defer to somebody else. And Im not objective enough. So I called my boss. I said, Im going to the hospital to get checked out. jan hoffmanAnd while he was at the hospital, it became harder and harder for him to breathe. His oxygen saturation levels dropped. And his condition became truly dire. dr. daniel lewis I recorded voice memos for my kids on the phone in case I didnt come back. jan hoffman Did they think there was a chance that you could die? dr. daniel lewis Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. jan hoffmanHe posted a loving and very painful message to his community on Facebook dr. daniel lewis I made a Facebook post at that time that said, Im going to go on the ventilator. Im OK. Everything will be fine. Gods in charge. And Ill see you all on the other side. jan hoffman hours before the decision was made to put him on a ventilator. astead herndonIn anticipation of his possible passing? jan hoffmanYes. astead herndonWow. jan hoffmanYes. When he was sick, as a measure of how much this community loves him, they would drop off meals on his front porch for the family, restaurant gift cards. They mulched his flower beds. They fixed his truck, anything to give back to him. dr. daniel lewis The community and the area wrapped its arms around me in a way that was just amazing. I can never repay them for that. [music]jan hoffmanHe ended up staying in the hospital for over a month when he finally was released and went home. archived recording (dr. daniel lewis) Hey, everybody. So this is clearly outside my comfort zone. jan hoffmanHe made an extended video that he posted on Facebook archived recording (dr. daniel lewis) The story actually starts in early March. jan hoffman narrating his experiences. archived recording (dr. daniel lewis) I was one of the 15 percent that required hospitalization. I became one of the 5 percent that required ventilation and a ventilator. jan hoffmanHe really wanted patients his own patients and the community at large to understand what a grueling and terrifying experience it could be for them. archived recording (dr. daniel lewis) But please, as you go out and go about your daily activities, do all you can to protect yourself from this virus. Do all you can to protect others from this virus. Thanks for taking the time to watch this video. I hope its been helpful. Hit me up with any questions. And again, thanks and love you all. jan hoffmanThe video went viral. archived recording This doctor in Greenville is finally back to work after spending six weeks in the hospital sick with Covid-19. jan hoffmanLocal news came to his doorstep. National news figures picked up on it. archived recording Tonight, a blessing and a curse. Thats how my next guest describes his experience as a doctor in jan hoffmanThe video and his experiences really helped cement his presence in the community as someone who had absolute authority to speak about this experience and why it should be avoided at all costs. dr. daniel lewis At that point, I began to think, OK, so how can this story be used? What is the purpose of this? And again, a lot of questions, from the faith perspective, why did I go through this? jan hoffmanHe and his wife prayed about why God had put him through such an ordeal. dr. daniel lewis And then I realized just that people were listening and that I had influence. And so, you know and that was maybe the purpose of this whole thing. jan hoffmanAnd he told me that he realized it was truly his mission to advise patients about how to take their own precautions and to counsel them about getting the vaccine. dr. daniel lewis So if you really want to protect your neighbors and your community, we need everyone that will take the shot to get a shot. Because the sooner we get to that 70 percent astead herndonSo heres a doctor, Dr. Lewis, in a unique position in this community. Not only as a trusted physician, but as someone who can speak personally to what its like to be sick, very sick, from the virus. And he has decided that it is now his mission to use that position to encourage others in this community to take both virus and vaccine seriously. jan hoffmanAbsolutely. astead herndonWhen you talk to Dr. Lewis, what does he say comes up in these conversations he is having with residents of Greenville? jan hoffmanThis, I think, really gets to the heart of the issue. People have many different questions and reasons for not wanting the vaccine. dr. daniel lewis So the biggest argument I get is, it was just too quick. It was just too much too fast. How did this happen? jan hoffmanThe primary concern most people have is they feel it was developed far too quickly. And that makes them uneasy. I mean, the very title Operation Warp Speed reinforces that point of view. They are expressing religious concerns. They have heard that the vaccine was developed from stem cells from aborted fetuses. This is fundamentally not true. dr. daniel lewis But the land is more libertarian and anti-government. I feel like its more their assault on their individual freedom. jan hoffmanThey have also soaked up a great deal of misinformation from far right sources. dr. daniel lewis Ive said to more than one person, I dont need to put a chip in to track you. Bill Gates doesnt have to chip you if he wants to track you. jan hoffmanSo that you will hear people ask about the conspiracy theory that Bill Gates has put microchips in the vaccines to track anyone whos gotten them, which is patently false. dr. daniel lewis But yeah, there is that fear. Theres jan hoffmanBut there are plenty of people who are still concerned about that. astead herndonHm. So that seems like a mountain of concerns for Dr. Lewis to address. How does he do that? jan hoffmanHe talks to them one on one. He has conversations easily three or four times a day every time a patient walks into his office for a consultation. And he opens that door to them and says, what are your thoughts about the vaccine? And Dr. Lewis, as well as the patient and the patients wife, allowed me to sit in during one such consultation, where the couple really expressed their concerns about the vaccine. And Dr. Lewis attempted to answer them. [music]michael barbaroWell be right back. astead herndonSo Jan, you got the opportunity to sit in Dr. Lewiss office while he was talking to people who were not sure whether they wanted to get vaccinated or not. What happened in that room? jan hoffmanI went to the family medicine clinic on a Tuesday morning. jim fletcher Im Jim, and this is Rita. jan hoffmanAnd I met Jim and Rita Fletcher. jan hoffman OK, and are you here from Greenville? jim fletcher Yeah, yeah, yeah, we were born and raised here. jan hoffman OK, do you mind telling me how old you are? jim fletcher Ill soon be 74. jan hoffman You are not. jim fletcher Oh, yes. jan hoffman Oh, no. And Ms. Rita, how old do you pretend to be? rita fletcher Im 70.jan hoffmanThey are in their early 70s. Theyre both retired. jim fletcher Im a retired telecommunications engineer. jan hoffman Oh, wow. What kind of trouble did you get into? rita fletcher I just did accounting work and secretarial work. jan hoffman Uh-huh, OK.jan hoffmanAnd theyve been married for more than 50 years. rita fletcher We were kids. jim fletcher Yeah, we were just kids. jan hoffmanTheyre both very devout Baptists. jim fletcher Were Free Will Baptists. I was raised Methodist, and I married a Baptist. jan hoffmanAnd they certainly believe Covid is real. jim fletcher Look, we know its a real disease. rita fletcher It is. jim fletcher And we know its really bad. And from Thanksgiving to just after Christmas, we lost a lot of people that we knew within our circles. jan hoffmanThey know at least 11 people in their circle who have died of Covid. astead herndonWow, 11.jan hoffman11.jan hoffman Have you ever had any shots? rita fletcher Weve had all the normal vaccines, you know, of kids and everything. jan hoffman Thats what I was wondering, yes. rita fletcher Yeah, weve had all those. But jim fletcher And our children, we had them vaccinated. rita fletcher Always vaccinated, yes. jan hoffmanThey had fully vaccinated their sons with the traditional vaccines. But this is one vaccine they absolutely dont want to get. jim fletcher But I think that we have been hornswoggled. jan hoffman I love that term, hornswoggled. rita fletcher We have I think a lot of it has to do with theyve made it political. And a lot has to do with control. jan hoffmanThey had so many reasons to be apprehensive. jim fletcher My concern is more of the religious position. rita fletcher Mine would be, I dont trust it at my age. I dont know what will come down the road, what it will do to me three to five years from now. jan hoffmanThey did not trust the speed of development and, frankly, didnt quite understand how a vaccine could have come together so quickly. And they also were very concerned about being microchipped. astead herndonWell, considering those concerns, how did their conversation with Dr. Lewis go? jan hoffmanDr. Lewis walks into the room. dr. daniel lewis Did Jan tell you why you should take the vaccine? Did she tell you all that, or is that my job? jan hoffman No, thats your job. jan hoffmanHes a shirtsleeve kind of doctor. And he sits down, pulls up his stool and then he begins. dr. daniel lewis All right. Im going to go backwards and take the fetal tissue one first, OK? jan hoffmanAnd the first thing he answers then is their concerns about fetal stem cells. dr. daniel lewis The vaccines themselves dont have those cells in them. When stem cells were beginning to be used as a potential tool in medicine, they did take some tissue potentially from an aborted fetus that they then put in a lab and theyve grown. And theyve used that in medical research 30 to 50 years, OK? jan hoffmanThen he says that the vaccine is absolutely not related to those initial stem cell developments. dr. daniel lewis The two things that Ive heard most prominently is the newness of the vaccine and then also the speed at which it was developed, how the government helped develop that quickly. jan hoffmanAnd then he explains to them that the model for the vaccine that has been currently developed was really begun to be established 15, 20 years ago, so that even though the vaccine appears to be pulled out of a hat like a rabbit, in fact, its been cooking for quite some time. dr. daniel lewis So in particular, two of the vaccines out now use mRNA technology. So they use a piece of genetic material of the virus to then deliver part of the code for the protein of the virus into your body. OK? jim fletcher Now you speak of the code, does that alter our DNA? dr. daniel lewis Not at all. So our bodies are made of proteins that are built off of genetic material, right? Your body uses your DNA. It unzips the DNA. It makes a copy of that with the mRNA astead herndonAs you were sitting there, what stood out to you about the conversation? jan hoffmanI was struck by how respectful and caring his tone was. dr. daniel lewis Its essentially a recipe. Were adding an ingredient into your body so your body can then read that like a recipe card and develop something that fights against it. jan hoffmanHe used clear metaphors, straightforward analogies. dr. daniel lewis The reason why this virus is so deadly is because we havent seen it before. I equate it to, essentially, its like your home being broken into for the first time, OK? If you never had your home broken into and you never thought about that, never been concerned, youre going to be caught unaware the first time. Its kind of the same with the virus. When your bodys never seen it before, it doesnt know how to respond. But the second time, your body retains a memory of that, and it knows it. So the second time if it was to see it again, most likely, its not going get affected at all. Or if you do, its not going to be very sick at all. jan hoffmanIt was really accessible language, so that he was describing fairly complicated scientific concepts, but they were easily understood. jim fletcher What about treatment? If you get Covid, we were hearing early on that hydroxycloroquine with zinc and vitamin D and other things would defeat the virus. dr. daniel lewis I wish. I tried. jim fletcher You tried that? dr. daniel lewis I had those. Didnt do anything for me. jan hoffmanHe also spoke from his personal experience as a patient, which is something that he has, of course, this terrible authority that he can hold forth on. dr. daniel lewis I had hydroxycloroquine. I took it as soon as I went in the hospital. It didnt prevent. I tell people I did not die. So I dont know if it had a piece in that or not. I think God had more a piece in that than anything else. I didnt die. I dont think it was the hydroxycloroquine. But I certainly was on the vent. I stayed in the hospital a month and a half. It didnt prevent those complications. jim fletcher Do you think it would have had you taken it earlier in the dr. daniel lewis I dont think my reports would have changed if I had taken it. Three days jan hoffmanBut I think what was most important is that he met them where they were at, and they didnt feel looked down upon. They felt respected. jim fletcher How can we be sure there are no whats the little devil? The little thing you put in your dog? dr. daniel lewis Chips. jim fletcher Yeah, how can we be sure theres no chip involved? dr. daniel lewis Well, I would say this. When you get the injection, it comes with a needle thats got an opening about that wide. We make microchips all the time. We dont make them that small. You know, its, I mean there has to be some degree, I think, just of faith, I guess, in that regard. But theres no way to introduce a chip through a needle at this point. Or else, wed do it to dogs and everything else. When you have a dog, it gets microchipped, for example. Theres a surgery done, right? They dont inject it into a dog. jim fletcher Yeah, its just kind of like a grain of rice. dr. daniel lewis Yeah. jim fletcher But dr. daniel lewis But I cant inject a grain of rice with a needle. jim fletcher Uh, no, no, not unless the needles big enough. dr. daniel lewis Yall had the shop class. It aint that big a needle, I promise you. jim fletcher But dr. daniel lewis I dont have a needle here big enough and my ability to inject a grain of rice. jim fletcher As an engineer, I think of those things. dr. daniel lewis I understand. Now listen, and thats part of this conversation. Theres multiple things. So what other questions do you have about the vaccine or about Covid in general? rita fletcher Will these be a yearly vaccine? dr. daniel lewis We dont know that yet either. jan hoffmanAnd he answered every question they had and kept asking if they had more questions. dr. daniel lewis I just want you to have an informed decision. So I want do the best I can to help you. jim fletcher Well, we have some time. Theres been a discussion. dr. daniel lewis Absolutely. You can ask, please do. And thats why Im here. rita fletcher And we do have an informed decision. jan hoffmanAnd they paused and said they had some things to talk about and think about, and they would continue to talk about it between themselves. dr. daniel lewis Thats all I ask you to do, is to just consider it, OK? astead herndonAfter listening to this conversation, you really get a sense of the time and effort that has to be put in to win over skeptical people about the vaccine. Is that the takeaway that you had? jan hoffmanI had several takeaways. I was struck by how much time he gave them, which was so much longer than what I would consider to be a typical patient visit in a doctors office. But more importantly, I thought how many conversations is he going to have to persuade them to take the vaccine? Is he getting paid for this, which, of course, hes not? He has to charge for just a regular visit. And then, whats most frustrating of all is that as hes told me, when he is successful with patients and is able to talk them into getting the vaccine, theyll say, OK, are you going to give it to me now? And hell say, Im sorry. I cant. I dont have it here. astead herndonWait, really? They dont have it? jan hoffmanMost physicians at this point still do not have their own supply of vaccines to be distributed to their own patients. And so that means that patients have to go find a location. They have to go to a pharmacy if its available, a vaccination site. And what the travel can mean is that they will have to take off time from work or secure transportation, all of which are obstacles to many, many people to getting vaccinated. And unfortunately, it also means that the moment of inspiration where they decide theyre going to take it can get lost. astead herndonSo Jim and Rita took time and thought about it more with all that information that Dr. Lewis gave them. Did they end up getting vaccinated? jan hoffmanI jumped on the phone with them about a week ago. And Jim told me that they had decided at that point not to get the vaccine. [music]astead herndonJan, after hearing about this long process that Dr. Lewis has gone through, and then to know that some people still choose not to get the vaccine, I think for many people, its fairly natural to be confused or even angry at that decision, because it has larger public health ramifications. I think theres an instinct to see it as a selfish or potentially harmful choice. What do you think, having spent time with these people, having spent time in that room, should be the takeaway from these decisions? jan hoffmanWell, I certainly know that anger and dismissiveness do not work. I met a patient in Greenville who was on the fence about getting the vaccine. But she told me that she felt that her doctor patronized her and looked down her nose at the patient for not getting the vaccine. And she felt so insulted that she turned and walked out. So collectively, I dont think thats a good way to treat people who are hesitant about vaccines. In fact, the research shows that people who are hesitant have the opportunity to see people who are getting the vaccine, enjoying their regained life and doing just fine are more inclined to think, well, maybe I can get it. And maybe Ill do fine, too. Thats one prompt. And the other, of course, is a trusted source, such as a Dr. Lewis. But that means youd have to multiply Dr. Lewis endless numbers of times across the United States. And so, to say that you respectfully disagree, I think, is where you leave it for now and hope for the best. astead herndonThank you so much. I appreciate your time. jan hoffmanThank you, Astead. jan hoffman Looking back on your conversation with Jim and Rita, they told me, of course, that they are, at this point, not going to take the vaccine. So do you hear that as a hard stop or just an incentive or a go to go at them again when the time is right? dr. daniel lewis No, Ill definitely engage them again and try to ask follow-up questions and help move them and others like them as they go forth. Even lastly, I helped somebody in doing the right thing, or I aided them in their deliberations in determining whether they wanted to take the vaccine, let me say that. I would say that theres been more successes than there had been failures. So I do feel optimistic that its made a difference. michael barbaroTo encourage reluctant Americans to get vaccinated, the Biden administration says it will now shift its focus away from mass vaccination sites toward smaller local vaccination sites, including doctors offices and pharmacies, and said that it would try to enlist the help of trusted voices in every community, such as family physicians. Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today. A major cyber attack has resulted in the shutdown of one of the nations largest pipelines, which carries refined gasoline and jet fuel from Texas to the East Coast. The attack demonstrated once again how vulnerable Americas critical energy infrastructure remains to online attacks. The 5,500-mile pipeline carries about half the East Coast fuel supply. But the impact on consumers is expected to be minimal for now because the East Coast has large supplies of fuel in storage. Over the weekend, the owner of the pipeline, Colonial Pipeline, said that its computer system was the subject of a ransomware attack, in which criminal groups hold data hostage until the victim pays a ransom. But the company has yet to say whether it has paid the ransom. Todays episode was produced by Asthaa Chaturvedi and Austin Mitchell. It was edited by Dave Shaw and engineered by Chris Wood. [music]
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###CLAIM: dr. rochelle and walensky said friday that the u. s. now averages nearly 70 new cases of the disease a day, up from about one million a decade ago.
###DOCS: The U.S. is setting up a $1.7 billion national network to identify and track worrisome coronavirus mutations whose spread could trigger another pandemic wave, the Biden administration announced on Friday. "At this critical juncture in the pandemic, these new resources will help ensure states and the CDC have the support they need to fight back against dangerous variants and slow the spread of the virus," White House COVID-19 testing coordinator Carole Johnson said in a statement. "Even as we accelerate our efforts to get shots into arms, more dangerous variants are growing, causing increases in cases in people without immunity," White House coronavirus adviser Andy Slavitt told reporters. That "requires us to intensify our efforts to quickly test for and find the genetic sequence of the virus as it spreads." The new effort relies on money approved by Congress as part of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package to break what experts say is a feast-or-famine cycle in U.S. preparedness for disease threats. The coronavirus is only one example. Others pathogens have included Ebola and Zika, and respiratory viruses like SARS in 2002 and MERS in 2012, which did not become major problems in the United States. Typically, the government scrambles to counter a potential threat, but funding dries up when it recedes. The new genomic surveillance initiative aims to create a permanent infrastructure. "It's a transformative amount of money," Mary Lee Watts, federal affairs director at the American Society for Microbiology, said in a recent interview. "It has the potential not only to get ahead of the current crisis, but it is going to help us in the future. This is a program that has been underfunded for years." The Biden administration's move comes as a variant known as B117, which first emerged in the United Kingdom, has become the predominant strain in the U.S. In hard-hit Michigan, the more transmissible mutation accounts for more than half the cases, according to CDC data. That's also the case in Minnesota. Vaccines are effective against the so-called U.K. variant, but other mutations circulating around the globe have shown resistance to currently available vaccines. "It turns out that some of these mutations actually change the behavior of this virus in a way that makes it more infectious or more serious. And the evidence is that, for both the B117, which is primarily seen in the U.K. but increasingly in the U.S. and the South African, B1351, that they are more transmissible. They're just really successful," Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, said in an interview with "60 Minutes" in March. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Friday the U.S. is now averaging nearly 70,000 new coronavirus cases daily, up from about 53,000 just four weeks ago. Hospitalizations have been trending higher, too, and deaths were up for the third day in a row. Along with relaxed restrictions on gatherings and indoor dining, the emergence of variants that spread more easily is part of the reason for the worsening trend. Of particular concern are two variants that for now only have a toe-hold in the U.S. They are P1, first detected in travelers from Brazil, and B1351, identified in South Africa. The reason scientists are watching those variants is that they have shown some level of resistance to antibodies, defensive proteins produced by the human body in response to vaccines or a previous infection. "In order for us to even have the possibility of getting back to normal by the fall we need to massively scale up our genomic surveillance," said Esther Krofah, who directs the Faster Cures initiative of the Milken Institute. "It's the insurance program that you need to have in place not just now, not just for COVID, but going forward for other pathogens of concern." Genomic sequencing essentially involves mapping the DNA of an organism, the key to its unique features. It's done by high-tech machines that can cost from several hundred thousand dollars to $1 million or more. Technicians trained to run the machines and the necessary computing capacity add to costs. Another hurdle is getting local, state and federal labs all working together. "There are lots of cats that need to be herded," said University of Wisconsin virologist Thomas Friedrich. At the end of last year, the CDC and collaborating labs were completing only 116 coronavirus gene sequences a week, according to the CDC's website. "We started in a hole," said Slavitt. The White House says the weekly count is now about 29,000, but experts say in a large, diverse country like the U.S. those numbers need to be much higher to keep pace with potential changes to the virus. Viruses are highly efficient at spreading, developing mutations that enable them to keep reproducing. White House officials said the government is releasing to states and territories an initial $240 million out of $1 billion allocated to expand genomic sequencing. Another $400 million will go to launch the six research partnerships with academic institutions, dubbed Centers of Excellence in Genomic Epidemiology. Finally, $300 million will go to set up the data sharing system, which is being called the National Bioinformatics Infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is "in discussions" to ensure that it can obtain booster COVID-19 shots if they become necessary, a top official told lawmakers on Thursday. The announcement comes as drugmakers are touting their progress in developing the additional shots, which are designed to increase the body's immune response months after the initial doses are administered. "We are in discussions right now, making sure that we can secure those vaccines for a boost or variants. We are in that process right now," Dr. David Kessler, chief science officer for the administration's COVID-19 response, told the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article ShareThe Biden administration announced Friday that it is allocating $1.7 billion to detect and monitor mutations in the coronavirus that have led to the emergence of more transmissible and potentially more deadly variants. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The White House said a central goal of the effort will be to increase the countrys capacity for genomic sequencing, in which virus samples are scrutinized in laboratories for their genetic makeup. The funding, which comes from the American Rescue Plan and will be allocated through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, includes $1 billion to expand genomic sequencing; $400 million to support innovation, including establishing six Centers of Excellence in Genomic Epidemiology; and $300 million to build and support a national bioinformatics infrastructure. The money will be distributed to states in two batches. The first will be sent in early May, and the second round will be invested over the next several years. AdvertisementAt this critical juncture in the pandemic, these new resources will help ensure states and the CDC have the support they need to fight back against dangerous variants and slow the spread of the virus, White House coronavirus testing coordinator Carole Johnson said in a statement. An earlier investment of $200 million from the White House helped U.S. laboratories scale up genomic sequencing from 8,000 coronavirus samples a week in early February to 29,000 samples a week. The latest round of funding will help the CDC and states identify variants and monitor their circulation. The new centers will operate as partnerships between state health departments and academic institutions, and could focus on developing surveillance tools to better track pathogens. The national bioinformatic infrastructure will create a unified system for sharing and analyzing data. AdvertisementMore than 565,000 Americans have died of covid-19, and the country has seen an upturn in infections in the past month. But the United States has made significant strides in its vaccination drive, with more than 198 million doses administered. The funding announced Friday is unquestionably a good move that will likely help with the pandemic and potentially many other infectious diseases as well, said William Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. On paper the plans look great, including innovation and funding targeted to states to help them. As ever, the impact will depend on the implementation, but this is an opportunity for the country to level up.The initially feeble capacity for genomic sequencing hampered the battlefield awareness of U.S. officials as new variants began to spread. In December, the CDC reported that only about 3,000 positive test samples were being scrutinized for their genetic makeup each week, at a time when more than 1 million cases a week were being reported and the true infection numbers, including undiagnosed cases, were believed by experts to be several times as high. AdvertisementWith the bombshell announcement in Britain on Feb. 15 that a new, more transmissible variant, named B.1.1.7, was responsible for a sudden spike in cases there, U.S. officials realized they needed to ramp up sequencing. That build-out of capacity involved not only federal researchers but also partners in private labs and academic institutions. Even as the sequencing improved in scale, the variants and particularly the one seen first in Britain gained traction in the United States. The B.1.1.7 variant is now the dominant strain of the virus in the United States, according to the CDC. Two other worrisome variants, first seen in South Africa and Brazil, have had less success in spreading in the United States. But scientists are watching them closely because they contain a mutation known as E484K, nicknamed Eek, that can reduce though not entirely eliminate the efficacy of vaccines. And there are other variants spreading rapidly, including one seen first in California and one common in New York City. AdvertisementIn this ecosystem of variants, we dont know how theyre going to compete against one another in the same space, said Nicholas Gilpin, an infectious-disease doctor with Beaumont Health, which runs eight hospitals in the Detroit area. The coronavirus continues to mutate as it circulates through the global population. With millions of infections worldwide each day, the virus has plenty of chances to improve its ability to spread or evade immunity. You can have accumulation of additional mutations that promote immune evasion, said Mark Zeller, a virologist with the Scripps Research Institute, noting that variants could emerge from immunocompromised patients who are treated for coronavirus infections over protracted periods. There is no evidence that the variants are a driving force behind the tiny number of breakthrough infections that have occurred among fully vaccinated people. Most experts believe those breakthrough cases are due to poor immune system response, not to mutations in the virus. GiftOutline Gift Article
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###CLAIM: police said her three-month-old baby, wearing extremely warm clothing and covered in urine, was found restrained in a carrier seat not more than six feet from a heater, adding that she was concerned the infant might have been over-exposed.
###DOCS: A New Hampshire mother of three was arrested on a charge of child endangerment for allegedly sending her 3-year-old alone in a Lyft and later leaving her urine-soaked baby strapped in a carrier, police said. Stephanie Goddu appeared incoherent and disoriented and had trouble answering questions when officers arrived. Manchester NH PoliceStephanie Goddu, 35, of Manchester, barricaded herself in her home before surrendering to officers Friday, two days after police were notified that two of her kids had not been picked up from daycare, cops said. Goddu appeared incoherent and disoriented and had trouble answering questions when officers arrived to investigate. Her 3-month-old, urine-covered baby, who was wearing extremely warm clothing, was found to be strapped to a carrier seat that was not more than 6 feet away from a heater, police said, adding that there was concern the infant could overheat. Police discovered that on Jan. 4, Goddu had hired a Lyft driver to take her 3-year-old to daycare. The child arrived safely, but was alone in the vehicle. Goddu was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and resisting arrest.
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###CLAIM: olivia revealed the plan to bradley recently by splashing 200, 000 eye-watering dollars on his wedding and stunning him.
###DOCS: She's set to tie the knot with her footballer beau Bradley Dack during a lavish ceremony in Portugal next year. And on Sunday, Olivia Attwood, 29, and her beau, 26, were seen shooting scenes for their new reality show Olivia Meets Her Match, which will follow their preparations. The former TOWIE star stepped out in casually cool style, wearing a denim jacket, black baseball cap and matching leggings as she strolled through Manchester. Girl on film: Olivia Attwood, 29, and her fiance Bradley Dack were spotted shooting scenes for their new reality show Olivia Meets Her Match in Manchester on SundayComplementing her ensemble with a light grey sweater and box fresh white basketball shoes, the reality star kept her makeup light for the outing. She walked beside her sportsman beau, who donned an all-black outfit that included a bomber jacket, plain top and matching bottoms as cameras rolled. The lovebirds have continued shooting their ITVBe reality show, hours before it is set to premiere in the UK. Casually cool: The former TOWIE star stepped out in casually cool style, wearing a denim jacket, black baseball cap and matching leggings as she strolled through ManchesterSweet ride: The lovebirds were seen chatting away as they emerged from their luxury SUVIn a preview clip from her show Olivia Meets Her Match, Olivia is seen trying on a range of wedding dresses in preparation for her big day. However, her mum Jenny is far from impressed as the former Love Island star slipped into a very risque, see-through wedding dress. The drama kicked off as Olivia and her mum excitedly arrived at the wedding dress boutique, with the reality star keen to get in the mood with champagne and music. After getting into the changing room, she soon emerged with a gown on and by the look on Jenny's face, she was not amused by Olivia's choice. Bride-to-be: In an exclusive preview clip from her ITVBe show Olivia Meets Her Match, the star is seen trying on a range of wedding dresses in preparation for her big dayHer face says it all: However, her mother Jenny is far from impressed as the former TOWIE star, 29, slipped into a very risque, see-through wedding dressThe Love Island beauty stared at herself in the mirror as she inspected the plunging, semi-sheer lace wedding dress in which her underwear was clearly visible. After being asked by her daughter 'what do you think? ', a horrified Jenny responded: 'I love the fabric, don't love the see-through, at all! Not suitable for a wedding, not appropriate!' She continued: 'I think that on your wedding day you should be a little bit more reserved.' Clearly keen to do the opposite of what her mum thought, Olivia then declared: 'So we'll take this one please in every colour you've got!' as her mum rolled her eyes, and asked: 'Why did I say that?' Let's do this! The drama kicked off as Olivia and her mum excitedly arrived at the wedding dress boutique, with the reality star keen to get in the mood with champagne and musicHorrified: After getting into the changing room, she soon emerged with a gown on and by the look on Jenny's face, she was not amused by Olivia's choiceHowever, Olivia then had a change of heart as she explained that her footballer fiance wouldn't like the dress. She said: 'I know Brad wouldn't like this. He's seen me in too many dresses like this so I feel like it wouldn't have the same magic.' The boutique worker then added: 'You want him to turn around and look at you and go "oh my gosh!" With Olivia then going a step further as she stated: 'I want Brad to cry, is that really weird?' Oh my! Olivia's choice of wedding dress left very little to the imagination as he underwear was seen beneath the sheer materialNot keen: After being asked by her daughter 'what do you think? ', a horrified Jenny responded: 'I love the fabric, don't love the see-through, at all! Not suitable for a wedding, not appropriate!' Meanwhile, Olivia later revealed to a stunned Bradley that she's planning on splashing an eye-watering 200,000 on the wedding. The stunner joked that she could buy a Lamborghini for the price of their lavish nuptials, with Bradley none too impressed that his wife-to-be had gone way over budget. Speaking to the camera, Olivia remarked: 'If I sit and think about the fact I could have a brand new Lamborghini for the cost of this wedding, then I could just cancel this wedding right now. 'But you can't think like that because... memories are priceless and all that s***.' Change of heart: She said, 'I know Brad wouldn't like this. He's seen me in too many dresses like this so I feel like it wouldn't have the same magic'The wedding dress shopping comes after Olivia revealed that her now fiance Bradley showed up at her flat the night before she left for Love Island in 2017. Talking on PrettyLittleThing's Behind Closed Doors podcast, the blonde beauty admitted that she joined the ITV2 dating show as her on-off footballer partner, 26, didn't want to 'commit' at the time. Olivia divulged: 'I don't know if I've actually told anyone this before, so this is a full exclusive! I told him, ''I said this is what's happening'' and he was just silent on the phone and I was like, ''You didn't wanna commit or whatever so this is what it is.'' 'Anyway I flew back from Germany and I literally had a few days to pack, my best friend was coming to my house and was helping me pack and I was getting picked up by a chaperone from the show at 5am in the morning. Emotions: As the boutique worker remarked, 'You want him to turn around and look at you and go "oh my gosh! ", Olivia went a step further as she stated, 'I want Brad to cry'How much?! Meanwhile, Olivia later revealed to a stunned Bradley that she's planning on splashing an eye-watering 200,000 on the wedding'He [Bradley] turned up at my flat at midnight the night before I left. He'd had like a penny drop moment.' Talking about her experience on Love Island, Olivia said that she found the show 'therapeutic' and she was 'unapologetically myself'. She continued: 'What I found from doing Love Island weirdly, because ultimately you'd think it would have the opposite effect. 'I think, previous to that I'd always used all my relationships and the men in my life like a crutch so I felt beautiful when they told me I was beautiful, I thought I was funny when they told me I was funny. 'What Love Island taught me is that I don't need to be someone else to tell me that, I just need to like myself and be confident in who I am and that's enough. On Love Island I was so unfiltered, I was unapologetically myself.' Revelation: The wedding dress shopping comes after Olivia revealed that her now fiance Bradley showed up at her flat the night before she left for Love Island in 2017 She hit the town with fiance Bradley Dack on Tuesday night amid the easing of lockdown restrictions. And Olivia Attwood was making the most of her freedom as she enjoyed another night out in Mayfair with friends on Wednesday. The former TOWIE star, 29, put on a busty display in a red velvet corset top as she left MNKY House following dinner with her girlfriends. Out again: Olivia Attwood was making the most of her freedom as she enjoyed another night out in Mayfair with friends on WednesdayOlivia was sure to turn heads as she flashed plenty of cleavage and a hint of her midriff in the sexy top, which she paired with black leggings. The reality star added pointed gold heels to her look while she carried her essentials in a 4,300 classic Chanel Le Boy handbag. Olivia swept her blonde locks into a plaited style for her night out, while she added a shimmering palette of make-up to her face. Looking good: The former TOWIE star, 29, put on a busty display in a red velvet corset top as she left MNKY House following dinner with her girlfriendsThe former Love Island favourite appeared in great spirits as she made her way down the street following her night out. Olivia also took to her Instagram to further document her evening in the capital. It comes just a day after she dined Novikov restaurant in Mayfair with beau Bradley. Elsewhere, Olivia has been keeping fans abreast of her wedding preparations on new reality show Olivia Meets Her Match, ahead of her lavish nuptials with Bradley. The stunner joked that she could buy a Lamborghini for the price of their lavish nuptials, with Bradley none too impressed that his wife-to-be had gone way over budget. Speaking to the camera, Olivia remarked: 'If I sit and think about the fact I could have a brand new Lamborghini for the cost of this wedding, then I could just cancel this wedding right now. Olivia recently revealed that her now fiance Bradley showed up at her flat the night before she left for Love Island in 2017. Talking on PrettyLittleThing's Behind Closed Doors podcast, the blonde beauty admitted that she joined the ITV2 dating show as her on-off footballer partner didn't want to 'commit' at the time. Leggy: Olivia's pal Clelia flashed plenty of leg as she too left the establishment
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###CLAIM: the first peacock web spider was found in 2016, schubert said, describing 13 species of cousins of the peacock web and five of another jumping spider genus, jotus.
###DOCS: A cute species of peacock spider has been named after Nemo, the beloved clownfish in Pixar's Finding Nemo franchise. Maratus nemo, which is only about the size of a grain of rice at just over 4mm in length, was discovered by a citizen scientist in South Australia. The new species has been named for its iridescent orange and white stripes, which scientists say are used to attract a mate during courtship. Peacock spiders belong to the genus Maratus, which has come to prominence in the last decade due to the male's vibrant colours and 'dancing' displays. Scroll down for videoA new species of peacock spider, Maratus nemo, is described from the vicinities of Mount McIntyre and Nangwarry, South Australia (male pictured here)PEACOCK SPIDERS Peacock spiders are a type of jumping spider that live in Australia. Each has a series of flaps round their abdomens that they display during courtship or when competing against rival males. When a male peacock spider senses a female, it begins the mating ritual by lifting its legs and flashing its stomach in a sequence that looks like a dance. Their courtship dances involve a complex series of movements as they waggle their legs in the air and vibrate their abdomens. The females carefully study the colouring, vibrations and movements of the male to make sure the potential suitor is healthy and the correct species to mate with. Once he has mated, he will repeat this dance with as many females as he can find. AdvertisementMaratus nemo is described in a new paper published in Evolutionary Systematics, authored by Australian spider enthusiast Joseph Schubert. 'It has a really vibrant orange face with white stripes on it, which kind of looks like a clown fish, so I thought Nemo would be a really suitable name for it,' said Schubert, an 23-year-old arachnologist at Museums Victoria. 'Curiously, Maratus nemo was found in an ephemeral wetland complex on marshy vegetation in shallow water. 'No other species of Maratus are known to occupy such habitats.' The tiny Peacock spiders, or Maratus spiders, are native to Australia and are internet sensations for their elaborate courtship dances. During the species' unique 'dancing' courtship, the male elevates a single leg, slowly waving it in a partially flexed position. As the female approaches, the male raises and more rapidly waves both legs. Maratus nemo was discovered by Sheryl Holliday, a South Australian citizen scientist and an ecological field officer for Nature Glenelg Trust. The species appears to be quite widespread, according to Holliday. 'I've seen about 40 individuals all up at three different locations... I'm sure there would be more in the south east of South Australia and in western Victoria as well,' she said. The species' name is inspired by clownfish Nemo (pictured, left with his dad Marlin), the title character in Pixar's 2003 film Finding Nemo, which memorably depicts Australia's marine life in CGIHolliday hand-collected five Maratus nemo specimens four male and one female from Mount McIntyre and Nangwarry, South Australia, in November 2020. She knew this spider was something different from the moment she found it, but she couldn't identify the spiders as any particular species. 'He had a plain back but his orangey-red face is what stood out and I hadn't seen anything like it before, so I knew it had to be a new one,' she said. Holliday posted photos to peacock spider appreciation page Australian Jumping Spiders in the hope someone would be able to identify them and the photos caught the eye of Schubert. 'I came across them and I thought, 'Oh, wow that looks like it might be a new species' so I got in contact with her and she ended up sending me some specimens,' said Schubert. Male Maratus nemo. Schubert says in his paper: 'The new species appears to inhabit ephemeral wetland complexes on marshy vegetation in shallow water'Holliday hand-collected five Maratus nemo specimens four male and one female from Mount McIntyre and Nangwarry, South Australia'I got the specimens in the post and then I took a whole bunch of photos of them while they were alive and documented the courtship display of the male. 'I preserved them in ethanol and brought them back to the lab and I studied the features which made them different from other spiders. 'Generally the behaviour will be different between each species although we use other characteristics like the patterns of the male to determine different species from each other.' To date there are now 92 species of peacock spider up from just 15 in 2011. 'I've described 13 species of peacock spiders and five species of their cousins Jotus, which is another genus of jumping spider,' said Schubert, who found his first peacock spider in 2016. Seven of those new peacock spiders came in 2020 alone. Last year, Schubert reported the discovery of a peacock spider resembling Vincent van Gogh's famous 'Starry Night' painting, in Little Desert National Park in Victoria. A spider that resembles Vincent van Gogh's famous 'Starry Night' painting was discovered in Australia. Huntsman are generally associated with Australia, but their range stretches much of Asia, Africa and South America too. Most huntsman spiders do not build webs to capture their prey, and instead hunt and forage for food, running at up to around 3 feet a second. They can be found inside people's houses, crawling up the walls and scurrying around the floor, and are big enough to give people quite a shock. Australian spiders generally have a bad reputation - pictured here is the giant huntsman spider (Heteropoda maxima, pictured), which can reach up to a whole foot (30 cm)While they can bite, huntsman aren't considered dangerous to humans and some Australians don't mind them around the house because they eat up pests like cockroaches. 'I used to be terrified of spiders and I will admit that I would probably still be a little bit scared if I came across a Huntsman or something by surprise, but I can really I can rationalise it now,' said Schubert. The expert said fire, pesticides and habitat loss are currently major threats to many Australian animals, including the peacock spider. 'Roughly only 30 per cent of Australia's biodiversity has being formally documented scientifically, so this means that we could be losing species before we even know that they exist,' said Schubert. 'Taxonomy allows us to have a baseline understanding of our biodiversity.'
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###CLAIM: before the season resumes in the spring of 2019, roughly 20 percent of players will have covenses, armstrong said.
###DOCS: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington heads to the net during a timeout in the second period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, May 17, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington heads to the net during a timeout in the second period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, May 17, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)DENVER (AP) Game on for the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche after a coronavirus testing scare. The NHL said it had investigated multiple positive COVID-19 test results from the Blues and Vegas Golden Knights from the same laboratory. The league said the results had peculiarities and similarities and found them to be testing errors. The league said further testing came back uniformly negative and all affected players who were initially isolated out of caution and retested were eligible to play. The announcement came only hours before Game 2 between St. Louis and Colorado in Denver on Wednesday night. Vegas plays Game 3 at Minnesota on Thursday night with that first-round series knotted at 1-1. St. Louis had raised alarm bells about what general manager Doug Armstrong called discrepancies in COVID test results relating to multiple players. Goaltender Jordan Binnington and forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz werent on the ice for the Blues pregame skate, and the team canceled media sessions for coach Craig Berube and players. ADVERTISEMENTSt. Louis is the only one of the 16 playoff teams with any players on the NHLs COVID-19 protocol list. Leading scorer David Perron, defenseman Jake Walman and forward Nathan Walker have been on the list since last week. All three remain on the list and were out for Game 2; Perron did not travel with the team for the first two games of the best-of-seven series against the Avalanche. The Blues recently confirmed that Walman, whos fully vaccinated, had tested positive for the virus after undergoing additional tests and was put in quarantine. Blues forward Zach Sanford was on the protocol list March 20-21 before further testing revealed a false positive. The NHL began relaxing virus protocols last week for any team that had 85% or more of its traveling party fully vaccinated. The defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning was the only team to confirm it has reached that threshold. Washington center Evgeny Kuznetsov and goaltender Ilya Samsonov returned for Game 3 against Boston on Wednesday night after being unavailable from May 4-15 because of virus protocols. Despite coach Peter Laviolette saying both these guys (are) just coming out of a long layoff, Samsonov made his first start since May 1 because Game 2 goalie Craig Anderson was ruled out. A total of 51 regular-season NHL games were postponed for virus-related reasons. Those postponements pushed back the original May 8 end date for the regular season, which didnt wrap up until Wednesday afternoon as Calgary and Vancouver played out the string of their delayed schedules against each other. The Blues, who won the Cup for the first time in franchise history in 2019, went into the playoff bubble last summer as a top contender and lost in the first round. Armstrong said roughly 20% of players had COVID-19 before the 2019-20 season resumed. ___Whyno reported from Washington, D.C.___Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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###CLAIM: the 18-year-old's post featured in a graphic video that puts the owner of an adult account into the position of violating the terms and conditions of his 18-year-old girlfriend's posting.
###DOCS: Kids are using fraudulent personal details to sell explicit videos and imagery on OnlyFans. A BBC News investigation has revealed a number of accounts launched by minors on the adult website, which boasts more than a million creators who share self-produced content to more than 120 million paid followers. In return, OnlyFans takes a 20% cut of all subscriptions. Created in 2019, OnlyFans exploded in popularity last year, when many turned to the site as a financial lifeline during the pandemic. The platforms policy requires users to be over 18 years old and, in response to the BBCs findings, insisted their verification process abides by regulatory requirements. But the BBC uncovered reports of kids on the site as young as 12 years old. In one case, a 14-year-old used their grandmothers passport to gain access to the site. And a 17-year-old in Nevada was featured in graphic videos posted to a legitimate adult account his 18-year-old girlfriends putting the account owner in violation of OnlyFans terms and conditions. The BBC made their point when they used the ID of a 26-year-old to set up an account, demonstrating that anyone can steal personal details to bypass the verification process. Some of the girls have thousands of followers on Instagram, and they must be raking it in, said one anonymous underage user. I wanna be just like them.In a statement to The Post, an OnlyFans rep said the company does not tolerate any violations of our policies and we immediately take action to uphold the safety and security of our users. The company has shut down the accounts turned up by BBC. Additionally, the rep said, though rare breaches occur, The site has in-depth policies and procedures in place to proactively monitor any attempt to fraudulently access the platform and should there be any contravention of these terms, the account is immediately closed.The company also added that there are multiple levels of checks in place to ensure that only verified content creators are onboarded, including a team that manually checks IDs and applications. However, reports from law enforcement in the US and UK, school administrators and other child-protection experts say the problem remains widespread. Meanwhile, anonymous caller notes from counselors from the UKs Childline hotline support these allegations, with some also complaining that their images had turned up on the site without their consent. At the same time, many of OnlyFans underage creators are allegedly victims of prior abuse, or suffer from mental illness, according to Childline. Some have even been identified as reportedly missing children. In 2019, there were around a dozen children known to be missing being linked with content on OnlyFans, said Staca Shehan, vice president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Last year, the number of those cases nearly tripled.Last month, Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) released its annual report which identified 68,000 cases of self-generated imagery meaning they volunteered the content of children online. This marked a 77% increase over the previous year. The BBC spoke to one such underage OnlyFans user, 17-year-old Leah, as well as her mother, Caitlyn. Leah began on the site using a fake drivers license, and promised she would only post photos of her feet in exchange for money. But her content soon escalated into videos of masturbation and other sexual acts as followers pleaded for increasingly explicit content. OnlyFans has claimed that Leahs engagement was an oversight, although her fake license should have triggered their security system. They said her account was approved during a transition period when the site was moved from one effective ID and age verification system to a new exceptionally effective version. The BBCs test showed that the new exceptionally effective system would no longer accept a fake ID, but underage users could still use an adults real ID to gain access. While OnlyFans requires users to submit a photo posing with their ID to confirm the faces match this effort was allegedly not enough to detect the difference between a 17-year-old girl who used a 26-year-olds ID to launch an account. Even after a user reported Leahs true age to the sites moderators, her account was again deemed legitimate upon a follow-up review. OnlyFans only shut down her account after the BBCs inquiry. The same was true for a number of other allegedly underage accounts uncovered by the BBC, many of which had already been reported to police. Leah, who had a troubled childhood, according to her mother, regrets her OnlyFans fame. She wont go out at all, really, Caitlyn said. She doesnt want to be seen. Children as young as 13 have been able to set up accounts on subscription website OnlyFans, it has been revealed. An investigation by the BBC found that under-18s were able to set up accounts on the adult website using fake documents or IDs belonging to older relatives. In once instance, a 14-year-old girl was able to set up an account using her grandmother's passport and bank details, police have said. OnlyFans is a content subscription service, set up by an Essex-based family, which allows content creators to earn money from those who wish to pay to view their content. The service is popular with sex workers with all the highest paid earners being women. Other types of content on the site include fitness videos and content from celebrities and other famous content creators. An investigation by the BBC has found that children as young as 13 are able to use OnlyFans to share explicit images on content subscription website which has millions of adult subscribersIn the last year, the company enjoyed a boost in membership numbers largely thanks to the pandemic and now has more than 120 million users worldwide. The service has allowed many who found themselves unemployed during the pandemic to earn a lifesaving income while others have become millionaires on the platform. However, the investigation by the BBC found that teenagers were able to set up accounts on the adult-only website using different methods. The corporation found that one 17-year-old from the south east of England had been able to sell videos of herself performing sex acts and using sex toys on the platform. The teenager used a fake ID to set up her account and in one week received 5,000 in payments from the site, prompting the bank to freeze her account. There have also been reports of underage girls participating in videos on adult accounts in the US which is against the company's terms and conditions. School safeguarding officers also revealed that children as young as 12 were using the site to contact other adult content creators and asking to meet up. Meanwhile, children's protection charity Childline told the BBC one girl had reported to them that she had been using the site since she was 13. OnlyFans said they use state-of-the-art technology and human monitoring to prevent children under the age of 18 from sharing content and that they take the responsibility very seriouslyAnonymised notes from the conversation with the child that were shared with the BBC by Childline read: 'I don't wanna talk about the types of pictures I post on there and I know it's not appropriate for kids my age to be doing this, but it's an easy way to make money. 'Some of the girls have thousands of followers on Instagram and they must be raking it in - I wanna be just like them.' Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the UK's national lead for child protection policing, says it is 'increasingly clear' that OnlyFans is being used by children. Mr Bailey says he is concerned about the risks children are exposing themselves to by appearing on the site. In the company's terms and conditions, there is a lengthy list of restrictions on the type of content that is permitted on the site. This includes insisting that anyone featured in content must be over 18. It also bans any content that shows or promotes offences such as sexual assault or rape. OnlyFans says it is committed to safety of users, and its Terms of Service being upheldOnlyFans said in a statement: 'OnlyFans is a subscription based social media platform for all content creators with over 120 million users. 'As it is paid social media, users have to be over the age of 18 to access the site. 'We have a team that manually reviews every application' A spokesman for OnlyFans told MailOnline: 'For creators, we have a team that manually reviews every application. 'Third-party vendors are used to verify the authenticity and integrity of the IDs and selfies uploaded. 'The results generated by the software are reviewed along with a manual check of the applicants provided ID, selfie with ID photo, API verified home address, linked social media accounts, linked email addresses, GeoIP locations, and the information added by the applicant in their avatar, header and bio. 'If our multiple point system is satisfied, the team will onboard the creator.' Advertisement'OnlyFans hosts over 1.25 million creators from a wide range of countries and creative genres. 'It is an inclusive and non-discriminatory platform that is home to fitness experts, chefs, celebrities, influencers and content creators from many other walks of life. 'Some creators choose to upload and exchange adult content with their fans. In fact, the platform has been commended in the media for empowering and giving control back to creators so that they can be paid for content that they make and decide to share. 'We take our duty of care extremely seriously. OnlyFans is committed to the safety and security of its users, and its Terms of Service being upheld. 'In the case of any serious contravention of these terms, the account is closed, and all active subscriptions are refunded to the original payee. 'We have a dedicated team within our compliance area that work globally with law enforcement in the event that reporting and escalation are required. 'We use systems and software that are not only compliant but go over and above current regulations. 'The platforms safety and security team has grown commensurately with the growth of OnlyFans and we are committed to continuing that investment. 'Cases in which individuals have wilfully tried to breach the system are rare, but we closely monitor any attempts to fraudulently access the platform and flag these cases to our safety team, and to the police and social services if necessary.'
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###CLAIM: also assumed is that 45 percent of republicans in the senate who support dismissing the trial would vote for a trump acquittal.
###DOCS: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has once again signaled to fellow Senate Republicans that Donald Trumps impeachment trial is a 'vote of conscience.' McConnell has reportedly indicated that senators who disputed the constitutionality of the trial could still vote to convict the former president, three sources told Bloomberg News. Despite having voted on Tuesday to declare it unconstitutional for the Senate to hear the case, McConnell also suggested that he has not yet determined how he will vote regarding finding Trump guilty, the outlet reported. Only six Republicans voted against party lines, in favor of the constitutionality of the trial in the Senate, on Tuesday. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, center, has once again indicated that Republicans can vote to convict TrumpMcConnell indicated senators who disputed the constitutionality of the impeachment trial could still vote to convict Trump, picturedOn January 11, the House introduced just one article of impeachment against Trump for his role in allegedly inciting the violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6. The article of impeachment passed in the lower chamber on January 13. Just days after the House vote, it was revealed that McConnell was telling his Republican colleagues President Trump's impeachment trial will be a 'vote of conscience' an absence of pressure that effectively allows them to vote guilty. 'His message to me was this would clearly be a vote of conscience,' North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer said at the time. 'He's always been respectful of members that way.' House leaders also called the House impeachment a 'vote of conscience' and 10 Republicans including Conference Chair Rep. Liz Cheney joined Democrats, with 232 voting to impeach Trump. In the Senate, Democrats would need at least 17 and possibly 18 Republicans to convict putting individual senators to weigh their feelings as well as the views of some of their angry constituents - or some to simply not turn up at all; conviction is by a two-thirds majority of those who vote. Currently the Republican base is strongly pro-Trump and senators with upcoming elections in 2022 and 2024 would fear being primaried by Trump loyalists if they vote to convict. On January 19, McConnell denounced Trump, saying that the former president was responsible for 'provoking' the MAGA mob that stormed the Capitol and murdered a police officer. On Tuesday, six senators voted for the constitutionality of the impeachment trial, which McConnell voted againstViolent insurrectionists loyal to former President Donald Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol on January 6Trump, not pictured, has been accused by a House impeachment vote of inciting the insurrection at the Capitol'The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people,' the majority leader said on the Senate floor. 'They tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government, which they did not like,' McConnell continued. 'But we pressed on. We stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation.' The dramatic and unprompted intervention by the man who became Republicans' most senior leader when Trump left office came with less than 24 hours of his presidency remaining. That speech is one of McConnell's last acts of his time as Republican majority leader, as he became the minority leader when the two new Georgia Democratic senators were sworn in after winning their runoff elections. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article ShareNo one is under any serious misconception that former president Donald Trump will be convicted by the Senate at the conclusion of his second impeachment trial. It's likely that the trial will result in a historic rebuke from his party a low bar requiring only that two Republicans join the Democratic majority in holding Trump responsible for inciting an insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6. But there's no real chance that 17 Republicans will similarly risk crossing the former president and his enthusiastic base of supporters. Instead, the central struggle over Trump's culpability will play out in the public sphere. This itself isn't some novel insight; impeachments are political acts and political acts are about public perceptions. But it is worth remembering that the importance of what happens in the Senate chamber is more about how it is received outside of that building than inside. The Republican Party is quite aware of this. Having spent five years coupled to a president who didn't reciprocate its loyalty, the GOP must now convince the American public that the former president many of them wish would simply go away isn't the person that the House impeachment managers will assert. They will need to cast Trump in terms favorable enough to keep his supporters happy and to maintain the party's legitimacy in the face of questions about Trump's behavior. AdvertisementTo do that, it seems, they will pull out every trick from Trump's own rhetorical playbook. The Posts Josh Dawsey obtained a copy of talking points distributed by party officials intended to offer a response to the impeachment trial and the evidence they expect to have presented. Its a mishmash of debunked legal claims, false allegations and whataboutism all of which will seem awfully familiar to those whove tuned in to American politics over the past five years. For example, one line of argument holds that the Democratic managers presenting the case against Trump had glorified violence by showing a video of what happened when a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol. It's a lazy charge, leveraging a visceral, nebulously defined phrase to describe something which was obviously in no way seeking to glorify what occurred on that day. AdvertisementIn doing so, the Democrats set a horrible precedent for the rest of the impeachment trial, the talking points read, by making clear they will selectively edit which is a polite way of saying 'lying' everything from video footage to remarks from legal scholars to the Constitution itself.Thats quite a charge! Any edited quote or video is now a lie? Should the House impeachment managers have instead, say, shown multiple live feeds of the entire takeover of the Capitol? Thats true"? One goal here is to do what Trump's actual attorneys proved so inept at on Tuesday: cast the citations of legal experts offered by Democrats in defense of the idea that one could constitutionally try a former president as being inherently questionable simply because they were excerpts of longer texts. Never mind that the Democrats also called out Trump's attorneys for pulling the writing of Michigan State legal professor Brian Kalt out of context, prompting Kalt to publicly note that they'd gotten his point entirely backward. As the old saying goes, if the facts are against you, say that any excerpted quote is a lie. AdvertisementIf you're wondering if the Republican talking points themselves selectively edited anything, if there could possibly have been such an ironic occurrence in so short a document: reader, you're ahead of us a bit. Nothing President Trump said on January 6th was inciteful, let alone impeachable, the talking points read four paragraphs later, referring to a speech Trump gave that morning, and in fact, President Trump urged supporters to exercise their rights 'peacefully and patriotically.'" Republicans are constantly fighting like a boxer with his hands tied behind his back. It's like a boxer. And we want to be so nice, Trump also said that morning. We want to be so respectful of everybody, including bad people. And we're going to have to fight much harder.He then attacked his vice president, Mike Pence, who he'd falsely claimed could simply reject the electoral votes which had been cast. A bit later, some of those in the crowd at the Capitol up the street would chant, hang Mike Pence!AdvertisementThat's not all those people said, presumably. We've selectively edited their comments that day, which means we're lying. Our apologies. It's on this point that the talking points also dig into the whataboutism: What about Democrats who also called on their supporters to fight? Aren't they just as guilty of incitement under the terms of the article of impeachment passed by the House? We probably don't need to spend much time articulating the difference between a member of Congress encouraging supporters to take political action in the abstract with a president who'd spent months lying about his election loss then encouraging attendance at an event where he repeated those lies and demanded that his supporters fight, leading to a riot in which five people died. On Sean Hannity's Fox News program Tuesday evening, Trump's attorney David Schoen offered a theory for why those Democratic calls for action didn't result in equivalent violence. AdvertisementThey're using rhetoric that's just as inflammatory, or more so, he said. The problem is, they dont really have followers, you know, their dedicated followers and so you know, when they give their speeches.Interesting strategy to claim that the guy you're defending on charges of incitement had a singular ability to whip up fury among his supporters. This is also why the defense that Trump has a First Amendment right to say what he wants, offered in the talking points, falls short. A group of more than 100 legal experts described this defense as legally frivolous because the question isn't legality for which free speech serves as a defense but instead whether Trump had violated his oath of office. This, too, is a standard Trump defensive tactic, delineating the bound of acceptable action for a president as something equivalent to a guy who works at a mattress store in Poughkeepsie. AdvertisementTrump's defenders have focused on the speech on Jan. 6 for the same reason that the defense in Trump's first impeachment trial focused on his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: in isolation, what occurred could perhaps be waved away. Then as now, the fuller context of the moment undercuts that idea. Just as Trump's team was at that point otherwise pressuring Ukraine to do what Trump wanted, Trump's efforts to enrage his base had been a months-long effort that only culminated on that day. On Tuesday, Rep. David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.), one of the House impeachment managers, dismissed the argument that Democrats too had engaged in fiery rhetoric. Like so much of what President Trump's lawyers might say today, that's a gimmick, he said. It's a parlor game meant to inflame partisan hostility and play on our divisions.AdvertisementBut, then, this was also the David Cicilline who, according to the Republican talking points said the quiet part out loud: " ... the impeachment trial is about destroying President Trump and casting his more than 74 million supporters as violent insurrectionists.Cicilline said nothing remotely close to that, as you might expect. One would be hard-pressed to find anything in his comments even approximating that sentiment. But that claim immediately followed the RNCs hand-wringing over the lies that result from selective editing, so well just assume that he said this in full and explicitly at some point. After all, a party desperate to reframe the actions of its most prominent political voice certainly wouldnt intentionally seek to mislead the public. GiftOutline Gift Article
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###CLAIM: reekie, 22, emerged a year ago as one of the few british contenders for a medal in tokyo, but tuesday 's meeting pitted him against keely and hodgkinson, another talented domestic distance prospect.
###DOCS: Jemma Reekie made a strong start to her Olympic season by winning the 800m at the World Indoor Tour meet in France on Tuesday night. The Scot, whose 2020 campaign saw her clock the fastest 800m time in the world since 2006, broke away on the final lap in Lievin to win her first race of 2021 in 2:00.64. While Reekie, 22, has emerged across the past year as one of Britains medal contenders for Tokyo, Tuesdays meet pitted her against another talented domestic prospect at the distance, Keely Hodgkinson. Jemma Reekie won the 800m at the World Indoor Tour meet in France on Tuesday nightHodgkinson, 18, broke the world under-20 record in Vienna last month, but the teenager couldnt match Reekies kick on the final lap in France and finished fourth. She clocked 2:01.71. Elliot Giles won the mens 800m in an impressive 1:45.49. In the surprise of the evening, Laura Muir set a British indoors record in the 1500m but was heavily beaten in the 1500m by Gudaf Tsegay, who smashed Genzebe Dibabas indoor world record in 3:53.09. Muir, the European champion indoors and out at the distance, was second in 3:59.58. Holly Bradshaw took the pole vault with 4.73m. There will be bigger championships against better fields, but the early temptation is to assume Keely Hodgkinson will be a feature among the very best of them before long after she became the teen queen of Europe on Sunday. Less than a week after turning 19, and a month on from breaking the world Under 20 record, she produced a fine performance to win 800m gold on her international debut at the European Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland. She went to the front early in a controlled, tactical race, before showing brilliant finishing speed in a final lap of 28.28sec and crossing in 2:03.88. The Polish pair of Joanna Jozwik and Angelika Cichocka women who had previously won European outdoor bronze and gold medals respectively - were quality scalps in second and third, as Hodgkinson became the youngest British winner at this level since Marilin Neufville in 1970. Keely Hodgkinson claimed 800m gold for Great Britain at the European Indoor ChampionshipsAfter leading Britains seven medal haul on the final day, and contributing to an overall tally of 12 that equals the national record of 12 from Glasgow 2019, Hodgkinson said: Im so happy. You never quite understand the shock when it happens. You picture it in your head so many times, but when the reality comes through, its just a different feeling. I didnt really think about the pressure. I am only 19 and Im still learning and theres still things that Im going to learn. I really believed in myself because if I dont, who is going to? The answer to that is likely bigger than she thinks. For all the muck and chaos around UK Athletics, Hodgkinson is one of many track talents coming through. Given her discipline includes 2020s breakthrough star Jemma Reekie and a seasoned performer in Lynsey Sharp, among others, it will be fascinating to see if she make a run at the Tokyo Olympics team. But even if she does fall short, this criminology student from Wigan is on a trajectory as a 1:59.03 runner to be a major competitor in the next cycle. The Wigan teeanger held off Joanna Jozwik to win in two minutes 3.88 seconds on SundayPotentially there might be a rewrite of what I had in mind for this year, she said. Nonetheless Im not really looking at expectations.Hodgkinson, who is mentored by former world 800m bronze medallist Jenny Meadows, was the standout performer on a day that brought seven medals but no other golds. World indoor champion Andrew Pozzi equalled his personal best of 7.43sec in the 60m hurdles but was beaten into silver by Frances Wilhem Belocian, while mens 800m favourite Jamie Webb took bronze. He said: I hate to be disappointed with a medal but it was so close. I really wanted to upgrade that silver from two years ago.US-based sisters Cindy Sember and Tiffany Porter won silver and bronze respectively in the 60m hurdles. Porter is the first athlete to win a medal while wearing a mask. The mens 4x400m relay team (Joe Brier, Owen Smith, James Williams and Lee Thompson) took bronze and the female equivalent (Zoey Clark, Jodie Williams, Amarachi Pipi and Jesse Knight) won silver.
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###CLAIM: `` they are finding it really difficult to keep up with the latest guidance, '' she said, quoting many medical frontline people.
###DOCS: Nearly one in five pregnant women in the UK were forced to wear a face covering during labour, according to research by a charity, despite official health guidance saying they should not be asked to do so. Women described feeling unable to breathe, having panic attacks or even being sick during labour because they were made to wear a face covering. The research was carried out by the charity Pregnant Then Screwed, who surveyed 936 women who gave birth during December. It found that 160 of those who went into labour were made to wear a face covering. This goes against current joint UK guidance, published in July 2020 by the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The guidance says that women should not be asked to wear a face covering of any kind during natural labour or during caesarean births because of the risk of harm and complications. Rosie, 39, from London, said she felt as if she was dying because she was in so much pain during advanced labour with her third child, born in December. Yet maternity staff instructed to keep on her face mask. She told BBC News: I was feeling claustrophobic and the mask was making me feel really nauseous and making me panic as well. Im pushing my baby out, I have this mask on my face, and the feeling of claustrophobia is just massive.She said she couldnt express herself because while struggling to breathe it was hard to talk and staff couldnt see her whether or not her lips were moving. I was frightened that amongst everything else that was happening I was then going to be sick inside the mask, added Rosie, who has a condition called emetophobia, which is a fear of vomiting. At one point she ripped off the mask but was told to put it back on. Natalie Titherington, from Oldham, says she was not aware of the guidance on face masks during labour when her baby girl was born last December. She said the birth was the most terrifying experience of her life. I was gasping for air. I felt completely suffocated. Im never going to be able to forget the feeling of not being able to breathe, and the fear and panic I felt while wearing a mask.Titherington says she was made to wear a face mask while she was in advanced labour, around 8cm dilated and having regular and very painful contractions. Someone put the mask on me and I said: You cant be serious, and she replied: Yes, and then I remember having a contraction, said Titherington, who has flashbacks of her traumatic birth and has been unable to wear a face covering since because it triggers the memory of struggling to breathe. She ended up having an emergency caesarean and was told to wear the mask during the entire surgery, which goes against the official guidance. Research that we did in December showed that just 53% of women are feeling listened to in labour, said Joeli Brearley, CEO and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed. When you overlay that with the fact that 50% of women who are having C-sections are being told to wear a mask, and 10% of those in natural labour, youre adding a literal communication barrier when birthing restrictions mean that some women are birthing alone.She added: Women that weve spoken to have had asthma, theyve felt dizzy, one woman even threw up in her mask during labour. This is completely avoidable. The guidance needs to be made clear and communicated to all pregnant women that they do not need to wear masks in labour.Dr Mary Ross Davie, director of professional midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives said since the start of the pandemic health professionals have had to respond to rapid changes in guidance. For many on the clinical frontline they have found it really difficult to keep up to date with what the latest guidance is, she said. I think sometimes what has happened is that some health professionals may not have understood when someone is in labour they should be exempt from wearing a mask.The Royal Colleges clarified last summer at the request of the charity Birthrights that no one should be asked to wear a mask while in labour, said the charitys Maria Booker. Being asked to wear a mask through the exertion of giving birth is completely inhumane and we urge all maternity services to make sure staff are clear on this, she said. An NHS spokesperson said: Guidance to hospitals has been absolutely clear that women who are giving birth are exempt from wearing a facemask, and every hospital in England should be following this.
| 0 |
###CLAIM: samuel d. ingham iii, an attorney for britney 's father, had earlier alleged that his client had informed him of the father 's fears.
###DOCS: Britney Spears jetted off on a tropical getaway amid an ongoing legal battle with her father Jamie Spears. The pop megastar took a private jet to Maui with boyfriend Sam Asghari, 26, two weeks before her 39th birthday. The happy couple definitely were feeling free as they took to Instagram to make several posts to document the trip. Scroll down for videoSimply stunning: Britney Spears jetted off on a tropical getaway amid an ongoing legal battle with her father Jamie SpearsWow factor: The pop megastar took a private jet to Maui just two weeks ahead of her 39th birthdayBritney flew above the Pacific Ocean style as she shared a fun snap of herself aboard the private aircraft with her near 27million fans. She sported a plain white T-shirt with tiny khaki shorts and strappy brown leather wedges. Her signature blonde locks were put in a messy updo as she sported mirrored aviator shades over her face which had natural, complementary make-up on it. The Oops I Did It Again hitmaker also shared several photos of the healthy fruit and vegetable platters on board. Just us: The pop megastar was joined by hunky boyfriend Sam Asghari, 26, as they definitely were feeling free as they took to Instagram to make several posts to document the tripYum: Britney even shared a snap of her healthy fruit and vegetable platter while aboard the private aircraftBritney shared the post with a positive message as it was captioned: 'Im doing that whole work on yourself thing at the moment [sun, pineapple, broccoli, rose, orange, and manicure emojis]!!! PS ... I wanted to get creative [winking with tongue out, lips, and table setting emojis] !!!' She also shared a cute snap of herself with her hunky boyfriend Sam posing next to the private jet. The model accentuated his muscles with a tight white T-shirt, grey sweatpants, and a pair of Air Jordan 1 high-top sneakers in the turbo green colorway. Just us: The Toxic hitmaker certainly seemed relieved to get her early birthday celebrations going as she also shared a selfie featuring Sam shortly after landingSafe and sound: She captioned it: 'We be like ...... in Maui [three winking emojis] !!!! PS .... dont mind my hair [blonde femail one hand shrug emoji] !!!! @samasghari'Britney captioned the image: 'Felt like a little trip to paradise for an early birthday celebration [plane, hibiscus flower, sun, palm tree, intertwined hearts, lops, cartwheel, brunette woman,, cake, and star emojis] !!!!!!!!! @samasghari.' The Toxic hitmaker certainly seemed relieved to get her early birthday celebrations going as she also shared a selfie featuring Sam shortly after landing. She captioned it: 'We be like ...... in Maui [three winking emojis] !!!! PS .... dont mind my hair [blonde femail one hand shrug emoji] !!!! @samasghari'Wow factor: The two also shared several snaps of the picture perfect scenery from the balcony of their VIP suiteStunning: No doubt Britney and boyfriend will be getting much deserved rest and relaxationThe two also shared several snaps of the picture perfect scenery from the balcony of their VIP suite. This comes just days after Britney once again took to Instagram to show off one of her favourite peasant blouses which she has been seen in before. 'Yellow.... hello .... what's your favorite color???' she wrote to her 26million followers on Instagram. Business as usual:This comes just days after Britney once again took to Instagram to show off one of her favourite peasant blouses which she has been seen in beforeThe post comes after it was revealed that Britney and her father hasn't spoken to her dad 'in over a year,' per People's sources. The outlet also reported that the Work singer 'feels like [Jamie] has no respect for her wishes'. 'Jamie has always had a tendency to shut down Britney's requests without any discussion,' continued the source. The report comes just one day after a judge in Los Angeles refused a request by Britney to remove her father from control of her conservatorship. And following the court decision last Tuesday, the pop star posted a black and white photo to Instagram showing children jumping a rope. In the caption, she wrote: 'Keep JUMPING towards your dreams.' Tough times: The Toxic hitmaker's sweat session comes after it was revealed that Britney and her father hasn't spoken to her dad 'in over a year,' per People 's sourcesLeft hook right hook: The 38-year-old pop star took to Instagram to show off her moves in the ring, as she sparred with her boxing trainerBritney's lawyer claimed during the court hearing Tuesday that the 38-year-old is scared of her father and will not perform again until he no longer has control over her career. It's the latest twist in the ongoing drama between Jamie Spears and his world famous daughter as they fight over who gets to call the shots over her life, career and $60 million fortune. The judge declined the request for his removal from the conservatorship but said she would consider it in the future, as James Spears dismissed the claims that his daughter is afraid of him, according to UsWeekly. Earlier, Britney's attorney Samuel D. Ingham III alleged: 'My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father. She also stated that she will not perform as long as her father is in charge of her career.' 'We are really at a crossroads,' he added. James' attorney Vivian Lee Thoreen hit back at the allegations and said Ingraham was preventing Britney from speaking to her 68-year-old father. The new legal documents revealed Tuesday that Britney believes her father gave $309,000 to her former business manager Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group in 2019 without letting her know and despite her being on a work hiatus. The documents state that Tri Star got paid a five percent commission on her gross entertainment-related income but it took a hit when she stopped performing in early 2019. The group then emailed James in November 2019 and asked to remain on the five percent commission plan with a $500,000 annual minimum. The singer claims her father approved of the arrangement without attempting to negotiate and in doing so cost her $308,974.51, the sum sent to Tri Star for services in 2019, which amounts to a 260 percent raise, according to TMZ. She is looking to disallow the payment and credit it back to her. Though the pop star has been absent from the stage and screen, Britney has been been making moves in court to regain control of her life and assets after being under conservatorship for 12 years. Her dad was co-conservator with attorney Andrew Wallet for 11 years. Last year, Jamie was left entirely in charge until he partially stepped down due to health reasons, but he is still conservator of her finances. In court filings this month, the hitmaker said she wants 'neutral' wealth manager Bessemer Trust appointed as her 'sole conservator' because her father is unwilling to share control of her more than $60 million in assets. Britney, however, was expected to request a new conservator, request transparency in future court decisions and to object to certain accounting reports that will be made at the hearing. In court documents filed in August, the performer said she wanted Jodi Montgomery, her longtime care manager, to become her permanent conservator. She was appointed as temporary conservator last year when James fell ill. The conservatorship, known in many states as a guardianship, began in 2008 when Britney was having serious mental struggles and an often public meltdown. The arrangements are normally limited to people with severely diminished ability to make decisions for themselves, and are meant to be temporary, but Britney has remained under court control longer than anyone expected. She has acknowledged that the arrangement was necessary when it began, and probably saved her career, and she remained silent both in public and in court for nearly all of its existence. At first it was initiated following a 2007 incident when the pop star shaved her own head in public. The second phase of conservatorship took place when she spent years touring and performing at her Las Vegas residency. The third phase is underway now as Spears no longer wants to perform. She argues: 'We are now at a point where the conservatorship must be changed substantially in order to reflect the major changes in her current lifestyle and her stated wishes.' In August Britney began publicly seeking to choose who oversaw her life and money as the #FreeBritney movement among her fans grew, demanding she have more freedom and autonomy over her assets. The movement was given further attention from the likes of fellow child star Miley Cyrus and fans gathered outside the courthouse on Tuesday, as they had for other hearings. Her wishes: Britney wants the court to appoint a 'neutral' wealth manager, allow greater transparency in court decisions and appoint Jodi Montgomery, her longtime care manager, as her permanent conservator. She's pictured performing in Las Vegas in 2016In August of this year, Britney said she strongly objected to her father returning as conservator of her person. That would involve his control over her medical care and personal security. In September she went even further, asking that a corporate fiduciary, the Bessemer Trust, become conservator of her finances instead of her father. Britney's younger sister Jamie-Lynn has also filed to become the custodian of the conservatorship. Jamie Spears first filed to have Wallet return as his co-conservator instead, but Wallet withdrew after Britney Spears objected. He subsequently said he would work with the Bessemer Trust, but now Britney Spears is insisting that such an arrangement would be 'doomed to failure' and her father needs to be out entirely. Britney's court-appointed attorney Ingham said James Spears was clearly planning to attempt 'to retain full functional control of her assets, books and records in the face of Britney's objections.' She also said that her father failed to notify her that her longtime business manager Lou Taylor resigned and that he appointed a new manager. Ingraham claimed the maneuver would result in Spears' finances being 'filtered through an accountant hand picked by James and his legal team'. '(The move) is a blatant attempt by James to retain full functional control of her assets,' Ingham wrote, saying James' immediate suspension was 'necessary to protect Britney'. Britney's younger sister Jamie-Lynn has also filed to become the custodian of the conservatorshipIn his own filings, James Spears argued that he has done his job well, taking the estate from being in debt and facing tens of millions in lawsuits to its current value of over $60million. 'Mr. Spears is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing as conservator of the estate; he should be commended, not suspended,' one court filing said. James Spears did all this, the filing argued, while working hard to restore his daughter 'to good health, reunite her with her children, and revive her career.' 'Throughout his service as Conservator, Mr. Spear's sole motivation has been his unconditional love for his daughter and a fierce desire to protect her from those trying to take advantage of her,' the filing said. 'If anything, Mr. Spears should be commended for his long years of diligent and faithful service as conservator.' While much of the hearings have been private, in her recent spate of filings, Spears has said she has gotten more privacy than is good for her, arguing that the secrecy has not been helpful, and welcomed the scrutiny of the #FreeBritney movement, which her father has scorned. Court documents said: 'Far from being a conspiracy theory or a 'joke' as James reportedly told the media, in large part this scrutiny is a reasonable and even predictable result of James' aggressive use of the sealing procedure over the years to minimize the amount of meaningful information made available to the public.' Britney Spears is enjoying her Hawaiian getaway to the full amid her legal battle over her father Jamie's conservatorship of her. The 39-year-old pop diva posted an Instagram video this Wednesday that showed her jumping gleefully off a ledge into the ocean. The megastar took a private jet to Maui on Monday with her boyfriend Sam Asghari, 26, two weeks before her 39th birthday. Having a ball: Britney Spears is enjoying her Hawaiian getaway to the full amid her legal battle over her father Jamie's conservatorship of herIn her new Instagram video Sam could be seen trailing along behind Britney as she scampered down a dirt path toward the sea cliff. Modeling a white T-shirt over a bikini, the Womanizer singer leaped joyfully over the edge and landed with a splash in the water. Her smoldering boyfriend tore off his own T-shirt to show off his musclebound torso and then jumped into the ocean after Britney. 'Only magic here,' Britney gushed in her caption before adding emoji of a crashing wave and a palm tree, perfectly suited to her paradise setting. The happy couple definitely were feeling free as they took to Instagram to make several posts to document the trip. Simply stunning: Britney jetted off on a tropical getaway amid her ongoing legal battleWow factor: The pop megastar took a private jet to Maui just two weeks ahead of her 39th birthdayBritney flew above the Pacific Ocean style as she shared a fun snap of herself aboard the private aircraft with her near 27million fans. She sported a plain white T-shirt with tiny khaki shorts and strappy brown leather wedges. Her signature blonde locks were put in a messy updo as she sported mirrored aviator shades over her face which had natural, complementary make-up on it. The Oops I Did It Again hitmaker also shared several photos of the healthy fruit and vegetable platters on board. Just us: The pop megastar was joined by hunky Sam, 26, as they definitely were feeling free as they took to Instagram to make several posts to document the tripYum: Britney even shared a snap of her healthy fruit and vegetable platter while aboard the private aircraftBritney shared the post with a positive message as it was captioned: 'Im doing that whole work on yourself thing at the moment [sun, pineapple, broccoli, rose, orange, and manicure emojis]!!! PS ... I wanted to get creative [winking with tongue out, lips, and table setting emojis] !!!' She also shared a cute snap of herself with her hunky boyfriend Sam posing next to the private jet. The model accentuated his muscles with a tight white T-shirt, grey sweatpants, and a pair of Air Jordan 1 high-top sneakers in the turbo green colorway. Just us: The Toxic hitmaker certainly seemed relieved to get her early birthday celebrations going as she also shared a selfie featuring Sam shortly after landingSafe and sound: She captioned it: 'We be like ...... in Maui [three winking emojis] !!!! PS .... dont mind my hair [blonde femail one hand shrug emoji] !!!! @samasghari'Britney captioned the image: 'Felt like a little trip to paradise for an early birthday celebration [plane, hibiscus flower, sun, palm tree, intertwined hearts, lops, cartwheel, brunette woman,, cake, and star emojis] !!!!!!!!! @samasghari.' The Toxic hitmaker certainly seemed relieved to get her early birthday celebrations going as she also shared a selfie featuring Sam shortly after landing. She captioned it: 'We be like ...... in Maui [three winking emojis] !!!! PS .... dont mind my hair [blonde femail one hand shrug emoji] !!!! @samasghari'Wow factor: The two also shared several snaps of the picture perfect scenery from the balcony of their VIP suiteStunning: No doubt Britney and boyfriend will be getting much deserved rest and relaxationThe two also shared several snaps of the picture perfect scenery from the balcony of their VIP suite. This comes just days after Britney once again took to Instagram to show off one of her favourite peasant blouses which she has been seen in before. 'Yellow.... hello .... what's your favorite color???' she wrote to her 26million followers on Instagram. Business as usual:This comes just days after Britney once again took to Instagram to show off one of her favourite peasant blouses which she has been seen in beforeThe post comes after it was revealed that Britney and her father hasn't spoken to her dad 'in over a year,' per People's sources. The outlet also reported that the Work singer 'feels like [Jamie] has no respect for her wishes'. 'Jamie has always had a tendency to shut down Britney's requests without any discussion,' continued the source. The report comes just one day after a judge in Los Angeles refused a request by Britney to remove her father from control of her conservatorship. And following the court decision last Tuesday, the pop star posted a black and white photo to Instagram showing children jumping a rope. In the caption, she wrote: 'Keep JUMPING towards your dreams.' Tough times: The Toxic hitmaker's sweat session comes after it was revealed that Britney and her father hasn't spoken to her dad 'in over a year,' per People 's sourcesLeft hook right hook: The 38-year-old pop star took to Instagram to show off her moves in the ring, as she sparred with her boxing trainerBritney's lawyer claimed during the court hearing Tuesday that the 38-year-old is scared of her father and will not perform again until he no longer has control over her career. It's the latest twist in the ongoing drama between Jamie Spears and his world famous daughter as they fight over who gets to call the shots over her life, career and $60 million fortune. The judge declined the request for his removal from the conservatorship but said she would consider it in the future, as James Spears dismissed the claims that his daughter is afraid of him, according to UsWeekly. Earlier, Britney's attorney Samuel D. Ingham III alleged: 'My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father. She also stated that she will not perform as long as her father is in charge of her career.' 'We are really at a crossroads,' he added. James' attorney Vivian Lee Thoreen hit back at the allegations and said Ingraham was preventing Britney from speaking to her 68-year-old father. The new legal documents revealed Tuesday that Britney believes her father gave $309,000 to her former business manager Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group in 2019 without letting her know and despite her being on a work hiatus. The documents state that Tri Star got paid a five percent commission on her gross entertainment-related income but it took a hit when she stopped performing in early 2019. The group then emailed James in November 2019 and asked to remain on the five percent commission plan with a $500,000 annual minimum. The singer claims her father approved of the arrangement without attempting to negotiate and in doing so cost her $308,974.51, the sum sent to Tri Star for services in 2019, which amounts to a 260 percent raise, according to TMZ. She is looking to disallow the payment and credit it back to her. Though the pop star has been absent from the stage and screen, Britney has been been making moves in court to regain control of her life and assets after being under conservatorship for 12 years. Her dad was co-conservator with attorney Andrew Wallet for 11 years. Last year, Jamie was left entirely in charge until he partially stepped down due to health reasons, but he is still conservator of her finances. In court filings this month, the hitmaker said she wants 'neutral' wealth manager Bessemer Trust appointed as her 'sole conservator' because her father is unwilling to share control of her more than $60 million in assets. Britney, however, was expected to request a new conservator, request transparency in future court decisions and to object to certain accounting reports that will be made at the hearing. In court documents filed in August, the performer said she wanted Jodi Montgomery, her longtime care manager, to become her permanent conservator. She was appointed as temporary conservator last year when James fell ill. The conservatorship, known in many states as a guardianship, began in 2008 when Britney was having serious mental struggles and an often public meltdown. The arrangements are normally limited to people with severely diminished ability to make decisions for themselves, and are meant to be temporary, but Britney has remained under court control longer than anyone expected. She has acknowledged that the arrangement was necessary when it began, and probably saved her career, and she remained silent both in public and in court for nearly all of its existence. At first it was initiated following a 2007 incident when the pop star shaved her own head in public. The second phase of conservatorship took place when she spent years touring and performing at her Las Vegas residency. The third phase is underway now as Spears no longer wants to perform. She argues: 'We are now at a point where the conservatorship must be changed substantially in order to reflect the major changes in her current lifestyle and her stated wishes.' In August Britney began publicly seeking to choose who oversaw her life and money as the #FreeBritney movement among her fans grew, demanding she have more freedom and autonomy over her assets. The movement was given further attention from the likes of fellow child star Miley Cyrus and fans gathered outside the courthouse on Tuesday, as they had for other hearings. Her wishes: Britney wants the court to appoint a 'neutral' wealth manager, allow greater transparency in court decisions and appoint Jodi Montgomery, her longtime care manager, as her permanent conservator. She's pictured performing in Las Vegas in 2016In August of this year, Britney said she strongly objected to her father returning as conservator of her person. That would involve his control over her medical care and personal security. In September she went even further, asking that a corporate fiduciary, the Bessemer Trust, become conservator of her finances instead of her father. Britney's younger sister Jamie-Lynn has also filed to become the custodian of the conservatorship. Jamie Spears first filed to have Wallet return as his co-conservator instead, but Wallet withdrew after Britney Spears objected. He subsequently said he would work with the Bessemer Trust, but now Britney Spears is insisting that such an arrangement would be 'doomed to failure' and her father needs to be out entirely. Britney's court-appointed attorney Ingham said James Spears was clearly planning to attempt 'to retain full functional control of her assets, books and records in the face of Britney's objections.' She also said that her father failed to notify her that her longtime business manager Lou Taylor resigned and that he appointed a new manager. Ingraham claimed the maneuver would result in Spears' finances being 'filtered through an accountant hand picked by James and his legal team'. '(The move) is a blatant attempt by James to retain full functional control of her assets,' Ingham wrote, saying James' immediate suspension was 'necessary to protect Britney'. Britney's younger sister Jamie-Lynn has also filed to become the custodian of the conservatorshipIn his own filings, James Spears argued that he has done his job well, taking the estate from being in debt and facing tens of millions in lawsuits to its current value of over $60million. 'Mr. Spears is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing as conservator of the estate; he should be commended, not suspended,' one court filing said. James Spears did all this, the filing argued, while working hard to restore his daughter 'to good health, reunite her with her children, and revive her career.' 'Throughout his service as Conservator, Mr. Spear's sole motivation has been his unconditional love for his daughter and a fierce desire to protect her from those trying to take advantage of her,' the filing said. 'If anything, Mr. Spears should be commended for his long years of diligent and faithful service as conservator.' While much of the hearings have been private, in her recent spate of filings, Spears has said she has gotten more privacy than is good for her, arguing that the secrecy has not been helpful, and welcomed the scrutiny of the #FreeBritney movement, which her father has scorned. Court documents said: 'Far from being a conspiracy theory or a 'joke' as James reportedly told the media, in large part this scrutiny is a reasonable and even predictable result of James' aggressive use of the sealing procedure over the years to minimize the amount of meaningful information made available to the public.'
| 3 |
###CLAIM: kate and hollern, blackburn labour mps, said it was utter rubbish that the government suggested schools outside london and the southwest be made available for testing.
###DOCS: Mass Covid-19 testing should be implemented in schools across England, teachers leaders have said, amid fury in the north at the speed at which testing has been rolled out in new hotspots in London and the south-east. Testing should also be extended to primaries, according to the largest education union, which along with others is calling for the closure of schools and a switch to remote learning before the Christmas break. We predict that when this testing happens many children will have to be sent home on public health advice. This will lead in practice to a chaotic closure in the last week of term, said Kevin Courtney, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union. He said new Office for National Statistics figures showing coronavirus cases were rising again in secondary and primary schools should be very worrying to the government especially in the run-up to Christmas. Secondary school children in years 7 to 11 have the highest rate of any of the demographic groups, with more than 2% having the virus. Questions are also being asked about the selection criteria for hotspots where mobile testing is being carried out in secondary schools and among college students in parts of north-east London, Essex and Kent after a list of the areas was published on Friday by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Schools hardest hit by infections included the Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford, where all its pupils began studying at home from Friday until the end of term on 18 December because of absences among staff. Only the children of key workers and vulnerable children were to come in. Eight out of nine secondary schools in Basildon were also expected to close on Friday night, a week earlier than due, Essex county councils cabinet member for health told the BBC. But some boroughs with higher numbers of cases are not listed in the rollout and there was particular anger in the north of England, which has been left to cope without similar mass testing despite rates that got so high that as many as a quarter of all children in Hull were off school last month. The Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, Jonathan Reynolds, said schools in his area were livid and he expected a bid for testing to be successful. Kate Hollern, the Labour MP for Blackburn, said it was utter rubbish for the government to suggest that testing was available to schools outside London and the south-west. In response to the DHSC claim that tier 3 local authorities can apply for tests, Hollern tweeted:Utter rubbish. Lancashire has been having conversations with the Government around schools for weeks, with no success. This level of support was never offered to us. The Government is treating the North as second class citizens. https://t.co/DoGjfZot8u Kate Hollern MP (@Kate_HollernMP) December 11, 2020Jo Platt, the former MP for Leigh in Greater Manchester, also in tier 3 tweeted:Im furious. Middle child, who is doing their GCSEs has been sent home again today. This is the fifth time culminating in 9 weeks of missed schooling (out of a possible 15). What about our children? https://t.co/PFQ9iQhgqP Jo Platt (@JoPlattLeigh) December 11, 2020Henri Murison, the director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership thinktank, said northern schools have faced the brunt of Covid-19 infections in recent months but noted only Liverpool has benefited from an extensive programme of mass testing for secondary schools. He expected mass testing to be offered in the north in areas of high infection. Asked by the Guardian why schools in the north of England were not offered mass testing last month, the DHSC appeared to confirm that while schools in London currently in tier 2 and the south-east were being offered tests automatically, tier 3 schools in the north and elsewhere had to apply. A spokesperson said: The evidence shows us there is a clear rise in cases in secondary school age children in these areas and we must act to target these rates about one in three people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and will be spreading it without realising it.Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), also questioned why the government had not chosen to end in-person teaching on the last week of term. Share your story Share your stories If you have been affected or have any information, we'd like to hear from you. You can get in touch by filling in the form below, anonymously if you wish or contact us via WhatsApp by clicking here or adding the contact +44(0)7766780300. Only the Guardian can see your contributions and one of our journalists may contact you to discuss further. Tell us Share your experiences here Name You do not need to use your full name Where do you live? Town or area is fine You can upload a photo here if you think it will add to your story Optional We accept images and pdfs. Maximum total file size: 6MB You can upload another photo or video here Optional We accept images and pdfs. Maximum total file size: 6MB Can we publish your response? Yes, entirely Yes, but please keep me anonymous Yes, but please contact me first No, this is information only Are you contacting us because you read a Guardian article? If so which one? Email address Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Phone number Optional Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. You can add any extra information here Optional Share with the Guardian Terms and conditionsThe culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, said on Friday the plans to mass test secondary school and college students had the objective of keeping them in education and ensuring schools were safe. As a government we are doing everything we can first of all to prioritise kids remaining in schools, and the vast majority of children remain in schools, he told BBC Breakfast. In Wales, secondary schools and colleges will move to online learning from Monday following advice from the Welsh chief medical officer that the public health situation in the country was deteriorating.
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###CLAIM: purely for punishment and assuring incarceration, prisoners who have no hope of rehabilitation go to alcatraz, of the rockies.
###DOCS: The sister of missing British journalist John Cantlie, who was held by ISIS in Syria has told of her family's relief as his alleged captors face trial in the US. A last gasp challenge which could have stopped the British ISIS Beatles facing justice in America was thrown out of the High Court on Tuesday. El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey, are accused of belonging to a cell of executioners in Syria - nicknamed The Beatles because of their British accents - responsible for killing a number of Western captives. The new court move means they face a life sentence at the notorious 'supermax', formally known as the US Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, Colorado. Today the sister of John Cantlie, the last British hostage to be held by ISIS, welcomed the news. El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey, are accused of belonging to a cell of executioners in Syria - nicknamed The Beatles because of their British accents - responsible for killing a number of Western captives. Jessica Pocock told Radio 4: 'We've only ever wanted these two to face justice, we feel that we all have to stand accountable for our actions. 'At times we felt absolutely desperate as to whether the legal system was ever going to be able to bring these two to justice, wherever that might be, for a fair trial. 'That was always terribly important to us that they should have a proper, fair trial. British photojournalist John Cantlie was kidnapped once in Syria, he was freed and returned to Britain, but travelled back to Aleppo as he was determined to tell the story of the war'The families of all the American and all the British who were taken, so that's David Haines, Alan Henning and John Cantlie, who were all in Syria to be aid workers , or my brother was a journalist they need nothing less than a fair trial.' She revealed her brother had already been taken by ISIS once before, but he was determined to return to Syria. Ms Pocock said: 'I was really struck when he went to Syria the first time and he was kidnapped for a week. 'He was rescued and came back to the UK, he talked to me on the phone we had a really long conversation. 'He felt absolutely that he had to go back to Aleppo to tell the story he hadn't managed to tell when he was first kidnapped. He felt absolutely it was his duty to go back.' Maha Elgizouli, whose son El Shafee Elsheikh is in US custody with his co-accused Alexanda Kotey, brought a judicial review request earlier this month over Priti Patel's decision to provide material on the pair to the American government under a "mutual legal assistance (MLA)" request. Other members of the 'Beatles' cell are said to include Mohammed Emwazi, the group's ringleader, also known as Jihadi John, who was killed in a US air strike in 2015, while Aine Davis (pictured) is in jail in Turkey for terror offencesIt saw the court initially making an order stopping the Secretary of State from providing any further information to the United States Government until it had reached a decision. But today the Queen's Bench Division threw out the claim, branding it 'not properly arguable' and shutting down the route to frustrate any US prosecution. This latest wrangle came after the American authorities pledged the pair would not face the death penalty if convicted in the country. The prospect of them being executed had caused an even earlier stop on the evidence being supplied to the States after Ms Elgizouli - who has had at least 23,000 of legal aid - took action. A judgement released today confirmed: 'We have concluded that this application is not properly arguable, and we refuse permission to apply for judicial review. 'On the handing down of this judgment, the Order referred to, prohibiting the Secretary of State from providing any further material to the United States Government, has now ceased to have effect.' The Western hostages captured, tortured and killed by the beheading gang American journalist who kept up fellow prisoners' morale James Foley, from Illinois, USA, was a journalist who first went missing in November 2012 James Foley, from Illinois, in the US, was a journalist who first went missing in November 2012. On his way to an internet cafe, while reporting for the GlobalPost, he had been taken hostage at gunpoint by militants from the group Jabhat al Nusra in Taftanaz, northern Syria. Jabhat al Nusra subsequently joined forces with ISIS - which did not exist in anything like its current form when Mr Foley was taken. Mr Foley joined other prisoners, who were European and British, in the ISIS prison and despite attempts to rescue him, he was eventually murdered by his captors. His fellow prisoners spoke kindly of Foley, who called people 'Bro' and never argued over shortages of food, despite meagre rations equating to cup of food-a-day, often sharing his portion and his blanket. Mr Foley often made efforts to maintain prisoners' morale, persuading them to play games and to give talks on their favourite subjects. He even organised a 'Secret Santa' during Christmas 2013, encouraging hostages to make gifts out of whatever they could find. ISIS posted his execution video, titled 'A Message to America' to social media as proof of his death. In scripted remarks before his killing, kneeling in an orange jump suit, he said: 'I wish I could have the hope of freedom and seeing my family once again. 'But that ship has sailed. I guess all in all I wish I wasn't American.' 'The guy lit up a room': US freelance journalist who was an avid rugby player Steven Sotloff, 31, from Miami, who freelanced for Time and Foreign Policy magazines, vanished in Syria in 2013 US journalist Steven Sotloff, 31, vanished in Syria in August 2013. Mr Sotloff was not seen again until he appeared in a video released online by ISIS on August 2014, that showed James Foley's beheading. In a second clip, published weeks later, entitled 'A Second Message to America,' Mr Sotloff appeared in a orange jumpsuit before he is beheaded by an Islamic State fighter. The grandson of Holocaust survivors, Mr Sotloff grew up Miami, before attending the Kimball Union Academy boarding school in New Hampshire before studying at the University of Central Florida. While at Kimball, Mr Sotloff was an avid rugby player and on moving to UFC began working for the student newspaper there, the Central Florida Future. He left this paper in 2005 and began to pursue his dreams of journalism full time. 'The guy lit up a room. He was always such a loyal, caring and good friend to us,' former roommate Josh Polsky told the New York Times. 'If you needed to rely on anybody for anything he would drop everything on a dime for you or for anyone else.' Sotloff travelled to the Middle East as a freelance journalist and wrote reports from Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Turkey and Syria. He often had pieces in Time and Foreign Policy magazines. 'A million people could have told him what he was doing was foolish, as it seemed to us outsiders looking in, but to him it was what he loved to do and you weren't going to stop him,' his friend, Emerson Lotzia, said. 'Steve said it was scary over there. It was dangerous. It wasn't safe to be over there. He knew it. He kept going back.' British taxi driver who volunteered as an aid worker Alan Henning, a father-of-two, was kidnapped on Boxing Day 2013 as he delivered aid to Syrian refugees Alan Henning, a father-of-two, was kidnapped on Boxing Day 2013 as he delivered aid to Syrian refugees. The taxi-driver, from Manchester, was kept hostage until he was beheaded by Jihadi John on video in October 2014. Before he was killed, Mr Henning was forced to tell the camera that he was being murdered in retaliation for parliament's decision to attack ISIS. Originally from Salford, he had seen the suffering first hand during a life-changing visit to a refugee camp, which inspired him to help the innocents whose lives were being wrecked by the conflict. After volunteering with a Muslim charity, the 47-year-old agreed to drive 3,000 miles in a convoy of old ambulances to help the aid effort and take much-needed medical supplies to hospitals in the northern Syrian province of Idlib. Known as 'Gadget' to friends and family for his fondness for technology, Mr Henning had been washing cars in the UK to raise money for donations before setting off on his fourth visit to the country. He travelled with eight others from charity Al-Fathiha Global, who intended to deliver vital equipment, including NHS ambulances packed with baby milk, nappies, food and defibrillators, but was kidnapped by ISIS extremists on Boxing Day, shortly after making the 4,000-mile journey to the town of Al-Dana. A fan of Phil Collins, which he enjoyed playing as he drove, Mr Henning was incredibly popular and during one trip insisted on sleeping inside his ambulance instead of a hotel to save money so it could be donated to the refugees instead. Kasim Jameel, leader of the convoy on which Mr Henning was travelling when he was kidnapped, described his friend as a 'big softie.' Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar, who was also in the convoy, said Mr Henning was 'remarkable.' 'He's such a compassionate and selfless human being,' she said. 'It just simply wasn't enough for Alan to sit back and just donate or raise awareness. He had to get up and do something about what he'd seen Every time the convoys went he had a yearning to go. That really motivated him, to see, practically, first-hand the difference he was making.' Scottish father-of-two who spent his career as an aid worker David Haines, who was beheaded a week after Steven Sotloff, was the first British victim of Jihadi John David Haines, who was beheaded a week after Steven Sotloff, was the first British victim of Jihadi John. The father-of-two, from Holderness, East Yorkshire, was taken hostage while working for relief agency ACTED in Syria in March this year. He was captured near the Atmeh refugee camp, just inside the Syrian border with Turkey. Mr Haines spent his career as an aid worker helping to protect innocent civilians in developing nations. For more than two decades, he travelled with aid agencies through Syria, Libya, the former Yugoslavia and South Sudan. He dedicated his life to promoting peace in places of violent conflict and oversaw projects to save civilians from land mines. The 44-year-old was described as a hero by his family, who were inspired by him to travel the world on further aid missions. He had a teenage daughter in Scotland from a previous marriage with his first wife, and a four-year-old daughter, Athea, in Croatia from his second wife. Mr Haines was brought up in Perth, Scotland, and studied at Perth Academy before joining the military aged 17. According to his online CV he spent 11 years in the military, holding 'various positions covering security and threat assessments in a number of different countries' between 1988 and 1999. It did not specify with which armed forces he served, although his ISIS execution video claimed he had been in the Royal Air Force. His brother Mike later confirmed this, saying he was an engineer. 26-year-old who was helping refugees while living in Beirut Peter Kassig, a 26-year-old from Indiana, was beheaded by ISIS executioner Jihadi John in November 2014 Peter Kassig, a 26-year-old from Indiana, started a non-profit organisation called Special Emergency Response and Assistance (SERA). The Iraq war veteran, who was living in Beirut to provide relief for refugees of the Syrian crisis, was beheaded by ISIS executioner Jihadi John, in November 2014. Writing on his profile page on fundraising website FundRazr, Mr Kassig said he had previously worked as a medic in a hospital in Tripoli, Lebanon. He said: 'When I first started this cause to help those in need, I was on my own but I saw first-hand the shortages in available resources and supplies for people who were suffering in Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey as a result of the violence. 'The amount of feedback and support from people all around the world motivated me to get organised and develop a platform through which people could send donations to support the continuation of my work.' Kassig joined the U.S. Army Rangers in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq in 2007. He was honourably discharged for medical reasons after a brief tour and returned to the United States to study political science. However, in 2010, he decided to take time off from his studies and began his certification as an emergency medical technician. He then decided to travel to Beirut to try and help those in need as a result of the Syria crisis. It was after a short time in the country that he started up his own aid group, SERA. Few details are publicly known about how Kassig was taken captive. The 26-year-old humanitarian who said there was always light in darkness Kayla Mueller, 26, was kept as a sex slave by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi American Kayla Mueller was a humanitarian aid worker who was kidnapped and taken hostage in August 2013 after leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, Syria. She was kept as a sex slave by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who raped her repeatedly during her captivity. The fanatics reportedly demanded 5 million euros from Mueller's family, telling them that that they would send a picture of her body if they were not given money. Kotey has admitted having contact with her, adding: I took an email from her myself. She was in a room by herself that no one would go in.' Her death was reported in February 2015 and her name was used as the codeword for the daring US raid that killed her once captor. Kaylas body has never been found and her parents live in hope her remains will be recovered. Mother Martha said: I want people to see the light in Kayla in such utter darkness, how she just said there is always light. "And I also want people to see that she even told people that as far as where she was, maybe she was supposed to be there, this is where she was supposed to be all along. She always wanted to help. AdvertisementThe prison cell that's a fate worse than death: If convicted in the U.S., the jihadi 'Beatles' will be spared execution. But that would be a release compared with the mental torture of its most secure jail, writes TOM LEONARDAfter just two years in Colorado's dreaded Supermax Prison, hate preacher Abu Hamza was frantically pounding on his cell door to get out, his lawyers decrying its 'inhuman and degrading conditions' and insisting he'd return to a British jail 'in a second' if he could. Perhaps his successor in British Islamist extremism, Isis fanatic Alexanda Kotey, had Hamza's bleak fate in mind even his famous hooks were removed from the stumps of his arms when he recently said the 'worst thing that could happen' would be to be locked up in a U.S. jail. Kotey and fellow British jihadi El Shafee Elsheikh face extradition to America after officials there promised they would not be put to death if convicted of barbaric crimes as members of the notorious 'Beatles' terror cell which was behind the beheading of two British aid workers and two U.S. journalists. Grim: A Supermax cell. Since it opened in 1994 at a cost of $60 million, America's only Supermax prison, whose official name is ADX (or Administrative Maximum Facility) Florence, has housed the country's most notorious and violent criminalsGiven that Hamza's offences pale beside those of 'Ringo' and 'George', as the pair were dubbed by prisoners, they will almost certainly join him at Supermax. It's a fate that may strike many as worse than the death penalty as they are locked up to rot. Since it opened in 1994 at a cost of $60 million, America's only Supermax prison, whose official name is ADX (or Administrative Maximum Facility) Florence, has housed the country's most notorious and violent criminals. Prisoners go to the 'Alcatraz of the Rockies' not in any hope of rehabilitation but purely for the purposes of punishment and assured incarceration. It is designed for male inmates (there are no women) deemed the most dangerous and so contemptuous of human life that they require the tightest control. In many cases, their escape is considered to pose a serious threat to national security. Nobody has ever escaped from Supermax and, more to the point, few are ever heard from again once they pass through its encircling fortress of reinforced concrete walls, its fields of razor wire and gun towers. Inside, inmates begin a new life inside a tiny concrete cell with absolutely minimal human contact. Supermax has been variously described as 'the prison of prisons', 'life after death', and a 'high-tech version of Hell, designed to shut down all sensory perception'. 'It's only my personal opinion, but I'll tell you, I don't know if anyone deserves to be in a place like this,' said Robert Hood, warden at ADX Florence from 2002 to 2005. 'There's no other way to say it it's worse than death.' If the cocky pair are expecting to enjoy their notoriety, they had better think again. Far more notorious prisoners are currently there. As well as Hamza, they include Mexican drug cartel king Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski and former Soviet double agent Robert Hanssen. The place heaves with Muslim extremists including Richard Reid, the British Al Qaeda 'Shoe Bomber'; Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Zacarias Moussaoui, key planner of the September 11 terror attacks. Not that its 410 inmates delivered to the prison in buses, armoured cars and occasionally Black Hawk helicopters have any opportunity to fraternise. The 37-acre facility sits 115 miles south of Denver with spectacular views of the Rockies which the inmates cannot see. The outer perimeter is guarded by a dozen huge gun towers, 12 ft high razor-wire fences, hidden pressure pads and patrols by armed guards. A 2014 report by Amnesty International entitled Entombed: Isolation In The U.S. Federal Prison System claimed Supermax breached international law. Specially designed 'control units' function as prisons within prisons. Inmates are confined in single-person, 7 ft-by-12 ft cells for 23 hours a day. The hour in which they are allowed out, always in shackles, can be spent exercising or, if they've earned the privilege, making a heavily monitored phone call. There's no exercise yard at Supermax. Inmates exercise as they sleep and eat alone. They are led to an outdoor cage slightly larger than the prison cells but sunk into a concrete pit resembling an empty swimming pool. It is designed to stop them working out their location and forming an escape plan. The pit includes an exercise bar and enough space to walk ten steps in a straight line or 31 in a circle. When they're going to and from their cells, prisoners are not only accompanied by guards but monitored by hundreds of cameras and motion sensors. The prison's 1,400 steel doors open remotely and can be closed simultaneously if a panic button is pressed. Inmates can find little comfort in their cell. The bed is a poured concrete slab covered with a thin mattress and blankets. Furniture consists of an immovable concrete desk and stool. There is also a combined lavatory, sink and drinking fountain. Each cell has a 4in-wide slit-like window angled so as neither to provide a view of the sky nor of other cells. An inmate cannot tell where he is in the prison by peering through it but merely whether it's night or day. Each cell has a 4in-wide slit-like window angled so as neither to provide a view of the sky nor of other cells. An inmate cannot tell where he is in the prison by peering through it but merely whether it's night or day. An en-suite shower is on a timer, the electric light can only be switched off by guards, and a black- and-white TV showing carefully-curated educational and religious programmes can be watched if the inmate behaves well. Smooth concrete walls are sound-proofed to ensure inmates cannot shout or tap messages to each other. Visitors have described the silence that pervades the place as chilling and eerie. Prisoners eat in their cells, with meals slid through holes in the doors. The food is bland even by prison standards as nothing on the menu can allow inmates to harm themselves or create unhygienic conditions in their cell. If they do get ill, prisoners generally have to talk to a doctor by video another effort to minimise potentially risky contact. The Isis Beatles reportedly responsible not just for beheadings, but also crucifixions and torture using electric shocks and waterboarding can expect to end up in the Special H-Security Unit, also called the H-Hut. It is reserved for prisoners whose communications with the outside world demand the strictest controls. Some of those incarcerated here don't even have contact with guards when they exercise. Their cell doors open automatically to a tunnel. The only visitors H-Hut prisoners are allowed are lawyers and immediate family, speaking over telephones through reinforced glass windows. All conversations are monitored except official legal ones with their lawyers. And if there's one thing on which former prison staff and inmates will generally agree, it is that Supermax makes capital punishment look the humane option. Critics have long argued its harsh regime of extreme isolation and sensory deprivation has a ruinous effect on inmates' mental health, noting that at least eight of them have committed suicide there despite the stringent precautions. Many more, including Richard Reid, have staged hunger strikes. 'It's only my personal opinion, but I'll tell you, I don't know if anyone deserves to be in a place like this,' said Robert Hood, warden at ADX Florence from 2002 to 2005. 'There's no other way to say it it's worse than death.' Inmate Eric Rudolph, who bombed an Atlanta car park while the city was hosting the summer Olympics in 1996, once claimed that the isolation was driving him insane. 'It is a closed-off world designed to isolate inmates from social and environmental stimuli, with the ultimate purpose of causing mental illness and chronic physical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis,' he said. 'Part of the plan here is sensory deprivation,' said Charles Harrelson, the father of Hollywood star Woody Harrelson who was also a professional killer and Supermax inmate. 'I'm unable to exercise any control over anything outside this cage. I simply do my best with what I have.' He eventually gave up even taking his hour of exercise, staying in his room and reading books or listening to the radio. A 2014 report by Amnesty International entitled Entombed: Isolation In The U.S. Federal Prison System claimed Supermax breached international law. Two years earlier, a class action lawsuit on behalf of mentally-ill prisoners claimed many of them 'interminably wail, scream and bang on the walls of their cells' or mutilate their bodies with whatever objects they can find. The prison's defenders have pointed out that, at least, Supermax hasn't suffered the savage violence that has ripped through other U.S. prisons and, given the distancing of prisoners, has so far come through the coronavirus pandemic unscathed. 'George' and 'Ringo' were members of a gang who, even by the crazed standards of Isis, were vicious jailers to their terrorised Western captives. Spending the rest of their days in Supermax may be brutal but it's certainly fitting. A last gasp challenge which could have stopped the British ISIS Beatles facing justice in America has been thrown out of the High Court this morning. Maha Elgizouli, whose son El Shafee Elsheikh is in US custody with his co-accused Alexanda Kotey, brought a judicial review request earlier this month over Priti Patel's decision to provide material on the pair to the American government under a "mutual legal assistance (MLA)" request. It saw the court initially making an order stopping the Secretary of State from providing any further information to the United States Government until it had reached a decision. But today the Queen's Bench Division threw out the claim, branding it 'not properly arguable' and shutting down the route to frustrate any US prosecution. This latest wrangle came after the American authorities pledged the pair would not face the death penalty if convicted in the country. The prospect of them being executed had caused an even earlier stop on the evidence being supplied to the States after Ms Elgizouli - who has had at least 23,000 of legal aid - took action. A judgement released today confirmed: 'We have concluded that this application is not properly arguable, and we refuse permission to apply for judicial review. 'On the handing down of this judgment, the Order referred to, prohibiting the Secretary of State from providing any further material to the United States Government, has now ceased to have effect.' Elsheikh and Kotey are accused of belonging to a cell of executioners in Syria - nicknamed The Beatles because of their British accents - responsible for killing a number of Western captives. The new court move means they face a life sentence at the notorious 'supermax', formally known as the US Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, Colorado. In written submissions to the court, Richard Hermer QC said the international transfer of the data is "not strictly necessary" in circumstances where the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is due to make a decision "imminently" about whether the pair should be prosecuted in the UK. He argued Ms Patel did not make sufficient inquiries as to whether a prosecution would be undertaken in the UK, and she "failed to address adequately or at all" what the appropriate jurisdiction for a prosecution would be when reaching her decision. The barrister added: "It is in any event irrational to decide to transfer data, and provide co-operation permitting the use of that data in US proceedings, in circumstances where there is a realistic prospect that the (DPP) may bring a prosecution... in this jurisdiction." Mr Hermer said the hearing is urgent as the US Government has indicated it will transfer the pair to Iraq for trial, where if found guilty they will be executed, if it does not receive all the evidence the UK has on them by October 15. He said the DPP had indicated in late August that he would reach his decision on whether they should face trial in the UK in "three to four weeks". June 11, 2018: Mr Javid wrote to Mr Johnson, indicating that 'significant attempts' had been made to obtain assurances, but that the time had arrived to accede to the request for information without seeking any assurance. He acknowledged that there was a serious risk that Elsheikh and Kotey would, if prosecuted and convicted, face execution as a direct result of UK assistance. June 20, 2018: Mr Johnson replied on: 'On a balanced assessment of the key risks... I agree that as this is a unique and unprecedented case, it is in the UK's national security interests to accede to an MLA request for a criminal prosecution without death penalty assurances for Kotey and Elsheikh'. July 26, 2018: Elsheikh's mother Maha Elgizouli gets a High Court injunction to stop any further material from being handed over. November 2018: Ms Elgizouli urges the Crown Prosecution Service to carry out a review if there really is insufficient evidence for him to be charged and tried in the UK. By now the material handed over by the UK is returned to it by the US. January, 2019: The High Court rejects a challenge by Ms Elgizouli over the UK government's decision to share evidence with American authorities. March, 2020: The mother's appeal sees the decision overturned again and the Supreme Court blasts the UK Government's 'unlawful' decision to bow to US pressure to share evidence on the so-called ISIS Beatles without receiving assurances the suspects would be spared the death penalty. August 19, 2020: The US says they will no longer seek the death penalty for the pair, sparking hope justice will be served. Sir James Eadie QC, representing Ms Patel, said the DPP has now concluded the review and determined that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Elsheikh for a number of "terrorism-related offences". He told the court that those offences either require consent of the Attorney General, Suella Braverman, or her permission for the DPP to consent to a prosecution. Mr Hermer said there was a charging decision by the DPP in 2016, made with the consent of the Attorney General, that there was sufficient evidence to charge Kotey - whose whereabouts were then unknown - with five offences of murder and eight of hostage taking. He told the court the US authorities have "always made clear their preference" for both men to be tried in the UK, and said Ms Patel's decision to share evidence was "premature" while there was still uncertainty about where they should face prosecution. Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Garnham will give their ruling at 10.30am on Tuesday. Elsheikh and Kotey were captured in January 2018, sparking an international row over whether they should be returned to the UK for trial or face justice in another jurisdiction. They were transferred to the custody of the US military in Iraq in October 2019 and remain in American custody. American officials revealed last month, in a letter to Ms Patel from US Attorney General William Barr, that they will not insist on the death penalty for the pair following any prosecution. Ms Elgizouli previously brought a challenge to former home secretary Sajid Javid's decision to share evidence with US authorities without seeking assurances the men would not be executed if convicted in the US. Her case was dismissed by the High Court in January 2019 but that decision was overturned in March this year by a panel of seven Supreme Court justices, who unanimously allowed her appeal - ruling the decision to share evidence with the US was unlawful under the Data Protection Act. In June 2018, Mr Javid authorised the sharing of 600 witness statements gathered by the Metropolitan Police under a "mutual legal assistance" agreement in a letter to then US attorney general Jeff Sessions. Mr Javid faced intense criticism after the letter to Mr Sessions was leaked, with MPs accusing him of breaching the UK's long-standing opposition to the death penalty. Then prime minister Theresa May supported Mr Javid's original decision, which was also backed by current Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he was foreign secretary. Kotey and Elsheikh, who were raised in the UK but have been stripped of their British citizenship, were captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces in January 2018. They are said to have been members of the cell that also included Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, who was killed in a US air strike in 2015, and Aine Davis, who has been jailed in Turkey. Emwazi appeared in a number of videos in which hostages, including British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning and US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, were killed. A statement on behalf of the families of John Cantlie, Alan Henning, David Haines on the High Court decision said they were pleased with the news. It said: 'We - the families of Alan Henning, David Haines and John Cantlie - welcome the news that finally the evidence relating to Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh can be transferred to the US Government. 'This is a huge result for us. It has been nearly three years since these men were first detained in Syria, during which time we have silently watched countless media reporting on the two, while the cogs of the legal system ground slowly on. We have only ever wanted to see these two men being held accountable and brought to justice through a fair trial for their alleged actions. 'Alan Henning, David Haines and John Cantlie were each in Syria as aid workers and journalists. They were kidnapped, starved, tortured and brutalised whilst held captive for months on end. Alan and David were then murdered, their deaths posted publicly for propaganda. John Cantlie is still missing, eight years on from when he and Jim Foley were kidnapped in November 2012.' The Western hostages captured, tortured and killed by the beheading gang American journalist who kept up fellow prisoners' morale James Foley, from Illinois, USA, was a journalist who first went missing in November 2012 James Foley, from Illinois, in the US, was a journalist who first went missing in November 2012. On his way to an internet cafe, while reporting for the GlobalPost, he had been taken hostage at gunpoint by militants from the group Jabhat al Nusra in Taftanaz, northern Syria. Jabhat al Nusra subsequently joined forces with ISIS - which did not exist in anything like its current form when Mr Foley was taken. Mr Foley joined other prisoners, who were European and British, in the ISIS prison and despite attempts to rescue him, he was eventually murdered by his captors. His fellow prisoners spoke kindly of Foley, who called people 'Bro' and never argued over shortages of food, despite meagre rations equating to cup of food-a-day, often sharing his portion and his blanket. Mr Foley often made efforts to maintain prisoners' morale, persuading them to play games and to give talks on their favourite subjects. He even organised a 'Secret Santa' during Christmas 2013, encouraging hostages to make gifts out of whatever they could find. ISIS posted his execution video, titled 'A Message to America' to social media as proof of his death. In scripted remarks before his killing, kneeling in an orange jump suit, he said: 'I wish I could have the hope of freedom and seeing my family once again. 'But that ship has sailed. I guess all in all I wish I wasn't American.' 'The guy lit up a room': US freelance journalist who was an avid rugby player Steven Sotloff, 31, from Miami, who freelanced for Time and Foreign Policy magazines, vanished in Syria in 2013 US journalist Steven Sotloff, 31, vanished in Syria in August 2013. Mr Sotloff was not seen again until he appeared in a video released online by ISIS on August 2014, that showed James Foley's beheading. In a second clip, published weeks later, entitled 'A Second Message to America,' Mr Sotloff appeared in a orange jumpsuit before he is beheaded by an Islamic State fighter. The grandson of Holocaust survivors, Mr Sotloff grew up Miami, before attending the Kimball Union Academy boarding school in New Hampshire before studying at the University of Central Florida. While at Kimball, Mr Sotloff was an avid rugby player and on moving to UFC began working for the student newspaper there, the Central Florida Future. He left this paper in 2005 and began to pursue his dreams of journalism full time. 'The guy lit up a room. He was always such a loyal, caring and good friend to us,' former roommate Josh Polsky told the New York Times. 'If you needed to rely on anybody for anything he would drop everything on a dime for you or for anyone else.' Sotloff travelled to the Middle East as a freelance journalist and wrote reports from Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Turkey and Syria. He often had pieces in Time and Foreign Policy magazines. 'A million people could have told him what he was doing was foolish, as it seemed to us outsiders looking in, but to him it was what he loved to do and you weren't going to stop him,' his friend, Emerson Lotzia, said. 'Steve said it was scary over there. It was dangerous. It wasn't safe to be over there. He knew it. He kept going back.' British taxi driver who volunteered as an aid worker Alan Henning, a father-of-two, was kidnapped on Boxing Day 2013 as he delivered aid to Syrian refugees Alan Henning, a father-of-two, was kidnapped on Boxing Day 2013 as he delivered aid to Syrian refugees. The taxi-driver, from Manchester, was kept hostage until he was beheaded by Jihadi John on video in October 2014. Before he was killed, Mr Henning was forced to tell the camera that he was being murdered in retaliation for parliament's decision to attack ISIS. Originally from Salford, he had seen the suffering first hand during a life-changing visit to a refugee camp, which inspired him to help the innocents whose lives were being wrecked by the conflict. After volunteering with a Muslim charity, the 47-year-old agreed to drive 3,000 miles in a convoy of old ambulances to help the aid effort and take much-needed medical supplies to hospitals in the northern Syrian province of Idlib. Known as 'Gadget' to friends and family for his fondness for technology, Mr Henning had been washing cars in the UK to raise money for donations before setting off on his fourth visit to the country. He travelled with eight others from charity Al-Fathiha Global, who intended to deliver vital equipment, including NHS ambulances packed with baby milk, nappies, food and defibrillators, but was kidnapped by ISIS extremists on Boxing Day, shortly after making the 4,000-mile journey to the town of Al-Dana. A fan of Phil Collins, which he enjoyed playing as he drove, Mr Henning was incredibly popular and during one trip insisted on sleeping inside his ambulance instead of a hotel to save money so it could be donated to the refugees instead. Kasim Jameel, leader of the convoy on which Mr Henning was travelling when he was kidnapped, described his friend as a 'big softie.' Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar, who was also in the convoy, said Mr Henning was 'remarkable.' 'He's such a compassionate and selfless human being,' she said. 'It just simply wasn't enough for Alan to sit back and just donate or raise awareness. He had to get up and do something about what he'd seen Every time the convoys went he had a yearning to go. That really motivated him, to see, practically, first-hand the difference he was making.' Scottish father-of-two who spent his career as an aid worker David Haines, who was beheaded a week after Steven Sotloff, was the first British victim of Jihadi John David Haines, who was beheaded a week after Steven Sotloff, was the first British victim of Jihadi John. The father-of-two, from Holderness, East Yorkshire, was taken hostage while working for relief agency ACTED in Syria in March this year. He was captured near the Atmeh refugee camp, just inside the Syrian border with Turkey. Mr Haines spent his career as an aid worker helping to protect innocent civilians in developing nations. For more than two decades, he travelled with aid agencies through Syria, Libya, the former Yugoslavia and South Sudan. He dedicated his life to promoting peace in places of violent conflict and oversaw projects to save civilians from land mines. The 44-year-old was described as a hero by his family, who were inspired by him to travel the world on further aid missions. He had a teenage daughter in Scotland from a previous marriage with his first wife, and a four-year-old daughter, Athea, in Croatia from his second wife. Mr Haines was brought up in Perth, Scotland, and studied at Perth Academy before joining the military aged 17. According to his online CV he spent 11 years in the military, holding 'various positions covering security and threat assessments in a number of different countries' between 1988 and 1999. It did not specify with which armed forces he served, although his ISIS execution video claimed he had been in the Royal Air Force. His brother Mike later confirmed this, saying he was an engineer. 26-year-old who was helping refugees while living in Beirut Peter Kassig, a 26-year-old from Indiana, was beheaded by ISIS executioner Jihadi John in November 2014 Peter Kassig, a 26-year-old from Indiana, started a non-profit organisation called Special Emergency Response and Assistance (SERA). The Iraq war veteran, who was living in Beirut to provide relief for refugees of the Syrian crisis, was beheaded by ISIS executioner Jihadi John, in November 2014. Writing on his profile page on fundraising website FundRazr, Mr Kassig said he had previously worked as a medic in a hospital in Tripoli, Lebanon. He said: 'When I first started this cause to help those in need, I was on my own but I saw first-hand the shortages in available resources and supplies for people who were suffering in Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey as a result of the violence. 'The amount of feedback and support from people all around the world motivated me to get organised and develop a platform through which people could send donations to support the continuation of my work.' Kassig joined the U.S. Army Rangers in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq in 2007. He was honourably discharged for medical reasons after a brief tour and returned to the United States to study political science. However, in 2010, he decided to take time off from his studies and began his certification as an emergency medical technician. He then decided to travel to Beirut to try and help those in need as a result of the Syria crisis. It was after a short time in the country that he started up his own aid group, SERA. Few details are publicly known about how Kassig was taken captive. The 26-year-old humanitarian who said there was always light in darkness Kayla Mueller, 26, was kept as a sex slave by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi American Kayla Mueller was a humanitarian aid worker who was kidnapped and taken hostage in August 2013 after leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, Syria. She was kept as a sex slave by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who raped her repeatedly during her captivity. The fanatics reportedly demanded 5 million euros from Mueller's family, telling them that that they would send a picture of her body if they were not given money. Kotey has admitted having contact with her, adding: I took an email from her myself. She was in a room by herself that no one would go in.' Her death was reported in February 2015 and her name was used as the codeword for the daring US raid that killed her once captor. Kaylas body has never been found and her parents live in hope her remains will be recovered. Mother Martha said: I want people to see the light in Kayla in such utter darkness, how she just said there is always light. "And I also want people to see that she even told people that as far as where she was, maybe she was supposed to be there, this is where she was supposed to be all along. She always wanted to help. AdvertisementThe prison cell that's a fate worse than death: If convicted in the U.S., the jihadi 'Beatles' will be spared execution. But that would be a release compared with the mental torture of its most secure jail, writes TOM LEONARDAfter just two years in Colorado's dreaded Supermax Prison, hate preacher Abu Hamza was frantically pounding on his cell door to get out, his lawyers decrying its 'inhuman and degrading conditions' and insisting he'd return to a British jail 'in a second' if he could. Perhaps his successor in British Islamist extremism, Isis fanatic Alexanda Kotey, had Hamza's bleak fate in mind even his famous hooks were removed from the stumps of his arms when he recently said the 'worst thing that could happen' would be to be locked up in a U.S. jail. Kotey and fellow British jihadi El Shafee Elsheikh face extradition to America after officials there promised they would not be put to death if convicted of barbaric crimes as members of the notorious 'Beatles' terror cell which was behind the beheading of two British aid workers and two U.S. journalists. Grim: A Supermax cell. Since it opened in 1994 at a cost of $60 million, America's only Supermax prison, whose official name is ADX (or Administrative Maximum Facility) Florence, has housed the country's most notorious and violent criminalsGiven that Hamza's offences pale beside those of 'Ringo' and 'George', as the pair were dubbed by prisoners, they will almost certainly join him at Supermax. It's a fate that may strike many as worse than the death penalty as they are locked up to rot. Since it opened in 1994 at a cost of $60 million, America's only Supermax prison, whose official name is ADX (or Administrative Maximum Facility) Florence, has housed the country's most notorious and violent criminals. Prisoners go to the 'Alcatraz of the Rockies' not in any hope of rehabilitation but purely for the purposes of punishment and assured incarceration. It is designed for male inmates (there are no women) deemed the most dangerous and so contemptuous of human life that they require the tightest control. In many cases, their escape is considered to pose a serious threat to national security. Nobody has ever escaped from Supermax and, more to the point, few are ever heard from again once they pass through its encircling fortress of reinforced concrete walls, its fields of razor wire and gun towers. Inside, inmates begin a new life inside a tiny concrete cell with absolutely minimal human contact. Supermax has been variously described as 'the prison of prisons', 'life after death', and a 'high-tech version of Hell, designed to shut down all sensory perception'. 'It's only my personal opinion, but I'll tell you, I don't know if anyone deserves to be in a place like this,' said Robert Hood, warden at ADX Florence from 2002 to 2005. 'There's no other way to say it it's worse than death.' If the cocky pair are expecting to enjoy their notoriety, they had better think again. Far more notorious prisoners are currently there. As well as Hamza, they include Mexican drug cartel king Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski and former Soviet double agent Robert Hanssen. The place heaves with Muslim extremists including Richard Reid, the British Al Qaeda 'Shoe Bomber'; Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Zacarias Moussaoui, key planner of the September 11 terror attacks. Not that its 410 inmates delivered to the prison in buses, armoured cars and occasionally Black Hawk helicopters have any opportunity to fraternise. The 37-acre facility sits 115 miles south of Denver with spectacular views of the Rockies which the inmates cannot see. The outer perimeter is guarded by a dozen huge gun towers, 12 ft high razor-wire fences, hidden pressure pads and patrols by armed guards. A 2014 report by Amnesty International entitled Entombed: Isolation In The U.S. Federal Prison System claimed Supermax breached international law. Specially designed 'control units' function as prisons within prisons. Inmates are confined in single-person, 7 ft-by-12 ft cells for 23 hours a day. The hour in which they are allowed out, always in shackles, can be spent exercising or, if they've earned the privilege, making a heavily monitored phone call. There's no exercise yard at Supermax. Inmates exercise as they sleep and eat alone. They are led to an outdoor cage slightly larger than the prison cells but sunk into a concrete pit resembling an empty swimming pool. It is designed to stop them working out their location and forming an escape plan. The pit includes an exercise bar and enough space to walk ten steps in a straight line or 31 in a circle. When they're going to and from their cells, prisoners are not only accompanied by guards but monitored by hundreds of cameras and motion sensors. The prison's 1,400 steel doors open remotely and can be closed simultaneously if a panic button is pressed. Inmates can find little comfort in their cell. The bed is a poured concrete slab covered with a thin mattress and blankets. Furniture consists of an immovable concrete desk and stool. There is also a combined lavatory, sink and drinking fountain. Each cell has a 4in-wide slit-like window angled so as neither to provide a view of the sky nor of other cells. An inmate cannot tell where he is in the prison by peering through it but merely whether it's night or day. Each cell has a 4in-wide slit-like window angled so as neither to provide a view of the sky nor of other cells. An inmate cannot tell where he is in the prison by peering through it but merely whether it's night or day. An en-suite shower is on a timer, the electric light can only be switched off by guards, and a black- and-white TV showing carefully-curated educational and religious programmes can be watched if the inmate behaves well. Smooth concrete walls are sound-proofed to ensure inmates cannot shout or tap messages to each other. Visitors have described the silence that pervades the place as chilling and eerie. Prisoners eat in their cells, with meals slid through holes in the doors. The food is bland even by prison standards as nothing on the menu can allow inmates to harm themselves or create unhygienic conditions in their cell. If they do get ill, prisoners generally have to talk to a doctor by video another effort to minimise potentially risky contact. The Isis Beatles reportedly responsible not just for beheadings, but also crucifixions and torture using electric shocks and waterboarding can expect to end up in the Special H-Security Unit, also called the H-Hut. It is reserved for prisoners whose communications with the outside world demand the strictest controls. Some of those incarcerated here don't even have contact with guards when they exercise. Their cell doors open automatically to a tunnel. The only visitors H-Hut prisoners are allowed are lawyers and immediate family, speaking over telephones through reinforced glass windows. All conversations are monitored except official legal ones with their lawyers. And if there's one thing on which former prison staff and inmates will generally agree, it is that Supermax makes capital punishment look the humane option. Critics have long argued its harsh regime of extreme isolation and sensory deprivation has a ruinous effect on inmates' mental health, noting that at least eight of them have committed suicide there despite the stringent precautions. Many more, including Richard Reid, have staged hunger strikes. 'It's only my personal opinion, but I'll tell you, I don't know if anyone deserves to be in a place like this,' said Robert Hood, warden at ADX Florence from 2002 to 2005. 'There's no other way to say it it's worse than death.' Inmate Eric Rudolph, who bombed an Atlanta car park while the city was hosting the summer Olympics in 1996, once claimed that the isolation was driving him insane. 'It is a closed-off world designed to isolate inmates from social and environmental stimuli, with the ultimate purpose of causing mental illness and chronic physical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis,' he said. 'Part of the plan here is sensory deprivation,' said Charles Harrelson, the father of Hollywood star Woody Harrelson who was also a professional killer and Supermax inmate. 'I'm unable to exercise any control over anything outside this cage. I simply do my best with what I have.' He eventually gave up even taking his hour of exercise, staying in his room and reading books or listening to the radio. A 2014 report by Amnesty International entitled Entombed: Isolation In The U.S. Federal Prison System claimed Supermax breached international law. Two years earlier, a class action lawsuit on behalf of mentally-ill prisoners claimed many of them 'interminably wail, scream and bang on the walls of their cells' or mutilate their bodies with whatever objects they can find. The prison's defenders have pointed out that, at least, Supermax hasn't suffered the savage violence that has ripped through other U.S. prisons and, given the distancing of prisoners, has so far come through the coronavirus pandemic unscathed. 'George' and 'Ringo' were members of a gang who, even by the crazed standards of Isis, were vicious jailers to their terrorised Western captives. Spending the rest of their days in Supermax may be brutal but it's certainly fitting. Britain has handed over key evidence that should allow the prosecution in the US of two alleged Islamic State members accused of being involved in a series of beheadings, after a final appeal failed. Priti Patel, the home secretary, announced that the information relating to El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, and Alexanda Kotey, 36, had been shared with US authorities immediately after the ruling in the high court on Tuesday morning. Pleased to say that the further evidence to support the prosecution of Kotey and El Sheikh has now finally been transferred to the US. I sincerely hope that justice for the victims and their families will now be served, the minister said. It brings to an end a long-running legal battle over whether the two men who were British citizens can be prosecuted in the US. They are expected to be transferred from where they are now being held by the US military in Iraq. The evidence is understood to be information that is intended to assist in identifying the two men, who have been accused of being involved in the murder of Britons and Americans in Syria in 2014 and 2015 and which US officials have suggested is critical to the prosecution case. Britain had been prevented from handing over the evidence by a supreme court ruling because the US had initially refused to waive a death penalty charge. However last month, at the urging of the victims families, the US attorney general, William Barr, announced Washington would not seek the death penalty. That paved the way for Britain to hand over the evidence, but Patels decision to do so was subject to a final judicial review attempt by Elsheikhs mother, Maha Elgizouli. Her lawyers argued it was unlawful because it was incompatible with the Data Protection Act. Elgizouli asked that the court order no material to be provided to US officials, who had already signalled their intention to prosecute. But, in their ruling, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Garnham said Elgizoulis case was not properly arguable. The two men are accused of being part of a murderous four-man team known for their brutal treatment of captives and nicknamed the Beatles because of their British accents. One of the others, Mohammed Emwazi, was killed in a US airstrike in 2015 and the fourth, Aine Davis, has been jailed in Turkey. The victims were the British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, the US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and the US aid workers Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller, who was also tortured and sexually abused. Diane Foley, Jamess mother, said that six years after the murder of her son, and thousands of Syrians killed by Isis, there is a glimmer of hope for accountability and justice. At a hearing in London on 11 September, Elgizoulis lawyers argued the evidence transfer was not necessary because the director of public prosecutions (DPP) was considering whether there was enough evidence to prosecute Elsheikh in the UK, which US authorities had previously said they preferred. The judges said: The conclusion that, even if Mr Elsheikh could be prosecuted in England, it would still be necessary and proportionate to transfer the data to the US authorities remained a conclusion properly open to the secretary of state.The hearing was held urgently as the US indicated it would transfer the pair to Iraq for trial if it did not receive all the evidence the UK has by 15 October. If found guilty there, the pair could have been executed. Elsheikh and Kotey, who were raised in the UK but have been stripped of their British citizenship, were captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces in January 2018, sparking an international row over whether they should be returned to the UK for trial or face justice in another jurisdiction. They were transferred to the custody of the US military in Iraq in October 2019 and remain in American custody.
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###CLAIM: `` the effective rendering of the pkk responsible for syria is not effective in the operation in iraq which was conducted as a result of the long work of our national intelligence and directorate, '' said erdogan.
###DOCS: ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkish security forces have killed an alleged high-ranking Kurdish militant in an operation in northern Iraq, Turkeys president said Monday. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after a Cabinet meeting that the slain militant was allegedly responsible for the Syria operations of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. He identified him by his codename, Sofi Nurettin, and said he was a Syrian national. The PKKs (official) responsible for Syria ... was rendered ineffective in an operation in Iraq that was conducted as a result of the long-term work of our National Intelligence Directorate, Erdogan said. This terrorist led the armed wing of this organization for a long time before becoming the head of its activities in Syria.There was no immediate confirmation from the Kurdish rebel group. Erdogan said Nurettin was responsible for numerous bloody acts against Turkey, as well as attacks against Turkish troops during cross-border offensives in northern Syria. ADVERTISEMENTThe Turkish president also said militant was also among the commanders that had ordered the killing of 13 Turkish hostages, including military and police, who were executed by militants in northern Iraq, during a failed operation to free them earlier this year. The hostages had been kidnapped inside Turkey in 2015 and 2016. Turkey has carried out numerous cross border incursions into Iraq over the years to fight the PKK, which maintains bases in the region. Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the PKK began an insurgency in Turkeys majority Kurdish southeast region in 1984. The PKK has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union.
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###CLAIM: drooling and staring blankly at the mirror in the dressing room, the makeup artist stands at the side with brushes at hand, looking priceless.
###DOCS: Matthew Perry gave desperate Friends fans their first taste of the upcoming reunion episode with a humorous behind-the-scenes photo of himself getting ready. The comic actor, 51, shared a photo on Friday night of himself in an unguarded moment while he had his makeup done professionally in his dressing room, before swiftly deciding to delete the snap. His playful photo confirmed that he and his co-stars were hard at work on the reunion special, which may be why he chose to remove it from social media. Prior to Matthew's teaser, production designer Greg Grande, who first teased the reunion in an image posted and deleted last month, had shared an image of the set earlier in the day - however his image was also deleted. Back at it: Matthew Perry, 51, shared a goofy photo of himself in the makeup chair on Friday, making it the first official confirmation that the Friends reunion is filmingMatthew looked hilariously unguarded in his original photo as his mouth drooped open and he stared into his dressing room mirror blankly, while the makeup artist stood to his side with a brush at hand. He was dressed in a blue-and-grey plaid shirt and sported close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair, along with tissue packed into his collar to keep the makeup off his clothes. 'Seconds before eating a makeup brush,' he joked, adding, 'Not to mention reuniting with my Friends.' The new image was shared hours after Friends' original set decorator Greg posted an image of the set that seemed to confirm filming was underway. Greg did not add a caption to his image, however the snap showed six cups around the informal set-up and the coffee table resembled the one used during past Central Perk scenes. Striped cushions and blue blankets were also visible on the mustard couch as well as fans and lights around the area. Brings back memories: Friends' original set decorator Greg Grande was also teasing the reunion on Friday, when he shared an image of the iconic fountain (pictured) however his image was also deletedTogether: The cast were known for all jumping onto the orange couch in the long-running showSeveral people wearing face-masks could also be seen walking around in the background of the snap, further suggesting that filming was underway. Dozens of Friends fans quickly shared their excitement in the comments, with many saying they couldn't wait to watch the reunion special.One person wrote: 'Cant put into words how excited I am for this.' While another added: 'Set looks incredible! So excited to see the gang sat there', before his image was then deleted. Although many fans likely hoped for a continuation of the series, or an update on where the characters were more than 15 years after the show ended, they'll have to settle for an unscripted chat between the original cast members. Matthew will be joined by his former co-stars David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt Le Blanc, Jennifer Aniston for the special. Decorator: Greg (pictured) was responsible for dressing the likes of Central Perk and the New York apartments in the sitcomThe high-profile special was originally advertised as one of the perks of the HBO Max streaming service, as it was intended to debut with the streamer on day one, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the show to delay taping. Fans had already suspected that the reunion was filming after Greg Grande who was responsible for dressing the likes of Central Perk and the New York apartments in the iconic US sitcom shared a snap of the recreated fountain set to Instagram earlier in the day. In the image, the yellow couch can be seen by the fountain, however some extra chairs and a coffee table have been added as if to accommodate a sit-down chat. Although the couch was similar to the original, the design of the cushion was slightly different, and it was more of a yellow shade while the original was a pale orange. Having a laugh: 'Seconds before eating a makeup brush,' he joked, adding, 'Not to mention reuniting with my Friends'; publicity still for FriendsLast Friday, sources told Deadline that HBO Max's unscripted special would start taping in Los Angeles within the next seven days. Although HBO Max declined to comment, it has already been confirmed that the reunion will be filmed at the original soundstage Stage 24 situated on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank, California. The Friends fountain, despite many assuming it would be in New York where the show is set, is located on Warner Bros ranch and fans can see it during studio tours. During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show last week, David hinted that there may be a brief moment of the stars reviving their beloved sitcom characters. The New York-based actor, who played Ross Geller in the comedy, said: 'Im going to LA to shoot the Friends Reunion. I will get to see everyone for the first time in years.' Reusing the table? Greg's latest snap also features a wooden table which looked similar to the one inside Central PerkAsked if he will be Ross or David in the reunion, he said: 'Ill be David. Nothing is scripted and we are not in character. We are all ourselves, although there is one section of it that I dont want to give away, but we all read something.' He then jokingly added: 'I should have genned up on old episodes, but I just havent been able to bring myself to catch up on the 236 shows. I guess I need to watch a lot over the next five days!' The latest snap also comes after Greg posted a picture of the resurrected set of Monica Geller's home to Instagram last month, suggesting at least some of the show would happen there. Excited: Dozens of fans praised Greg's set, with many saying they couldn't wait to watch the reunion and see the cast back togetherHeading to LA: During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show last Friday, David confirmed that he will not be in character for much of the reunionHe captioned the snap: 'Sssh! Somethings happening, deja vu... coming alive once again! #friends #monicasapt #friendsreunion' [sic]While Greg was responsible for the knickknacks in Monica's home, the set was designed by John Shaffner and Joe Stewart who were also responsible for painting the walls purple. Friends' final episode aired in the spring of 2004, and saw Monica and husband Chandler Bing pack up the famously purple loft and move out to the suburbs with their newborn twins. Last month, Greg shared a picture of Monica's apartment which set tongues wagging in March (pictured)All back to Monica's? Greg also took to Instagram in March, seemingly confirming that the reunion show will take place on a resurrected set of Monica Geller's homeWhen the show wrapped, the set was taken down. It had lived on Stage 24 at the Warner Bros lot in Hollywood for a decade, but was taken over in 2005 when spin-off series Joey was filmed there. Joey saw Matt Le Blanc's character Joey Tribbiani move to LA to continue his acting career. Stage 24 was re-dressed with a new set that of Joey's sister Gina Tribbiani's Los Angeles house. Joey lasted only two seasons before it was canceled due to lackluster ratings, with fans uninterested in a show that only focused on one of the six friends. Central Perk's set is still intact at Warner Bros and is part of the studio tour. The real coffee house soundstage not a replica can be visited when the tour is open to the public, as it's currently shut down due to the pandemic. In 2019, Greg reflected on the details of Monica's apartment in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. New show: Joey saw Matt Le Blanc's character Joey Tribbiani move to LA to continue his acting career. Stage 24 was re-dressed with a new set - that of Joey's sister Gina Tribbiani's Los Angeles house. Joey lasted only two seasons before it was cancelled'I felt like Monica's apartment was pretty iconic. Monica's was definitely the standout,' he said. '[The Warner Bros] prop house had some exceptional old pieces of furniture that had been around forever and ever and ever that were kind of tucked away and hidden in the basement and the third floor. Pieces that no one really would ever have used unless you reinvented them.' Greg explained in the interview that some of the items - including the French circus poster hanging behind Monica's television - were last-minute additions that he didn't think twice about. 'It's funny that the way it happened was so natural and kind of not thought-out too much and now it's an iconic poster. Do you really serve people sneezers? Central Perk's set is still in tact at Warner Bros, and is part of the studio tour. The real coffee house soundstage - not a replica - can be visited when the tour is open to the public [currently shut amid the pandemic]All in the details: In 2019, Greg reflected on the details of Monica's apartment in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. 'I felt like Monica's apartment was pretty iconic. Monica's was definitely the standout,' he said'It is really crazy and it's awesome to think that I put such a fingerprint on that show and it's really sad that I can't get any piece of the action! Somebody owes me, for God's sakes! It's funny because I did pitch them a whole furniture line after the show but they didn't want it.' Greg appeared in the finale of Friends as one of the removal men, wheeling Chandler's dog statue out of the apartment. 'That rings true, that I'm moving the last piece of furniture out of the apartment. I got a little sentimental,' he said. David Schwimmer was the latest cast member to update fans on the progression of the reunion show. David who played Ross Geller said in early March that he will join his former co-stars to tape the reunion 'in a little over a month' during a chat on SiriusXMs Andy Cohen Live. Six-some: The reunion is not set to be a scripted continuation of the sitcom, but a sit-down chat with the six lead cast membersThe one with the reunion: Schwimmer revealed that he will join his former co-stars to finally tape the Friends reunion 'in a little over a month' during a chat on SiriusXMs Andy Cohen Live in early March'Have you guys shot anywhere?' Cohen asked of HBO Max reunion. 'Actually, in a little over a month Im heading out to LA,' the actor responded. 'So, finally, I mean, we figured out a way to film it safely and there's going to be a portion of it that we filmed outside because of, you know, for safety protocols.' Andy then inquired about rumors that the event was going to be hosted by Ellen DeGeneres who was embroiled in a toxic workplace scandal in 2020 regarding the set of her eponymous talk show. Ellen starred in her own sitcom Ellen around the same time as Friends, and often made references to the fact they both had coffee house settings. 'Is Ellen hosting that?' Cohen asked, to which Schwimmer replied with a quick 'no.' 'Shes not?' Andy said, pushing the star to give more details. 'Do you know, can you say who is?' Postponed: Originally, the reunion was supposed to debut May 2020 as part of HBO Max's launch but after the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, production plans were scuppered'You know what, I don't know if I can actually,' the star said. 'Yeah. Should've found that out. Um, all right. Its not Ellen, it's not Billy Crystal. I could tell you who it's not.' Deflecting, David asked: 'Andy is it you?' The broadcast responded: 'Oh my God. I wish it was.' The special event has been in the works since February 2020 with a film date of March 2020. Originally, the reunion was supposed to debut in May 2020 as part of HBO Max's launch but when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, causing chaos in the film and TV industry, production plans were scuppered. Not Ellen: Andy then inquired about rumors that the event was going to be hosted by Ellen DeGeneres - who was embroiled in a toxic workplace scandal in 2020. 'Is Ellen hosting that?' Cohen asked, to which Schwimmer replied with a quick 'no'HBO Max announced in April of last year that the show would not be filmed in time to debut at the streaming service's launch and the sit-down was pushed back to August 2020. As the pandemic raged, that date was also abandoned. Matthew Perry tweeted in November that the taping was officially rescheduled for March but even that date was delayed according to the latest from Schwimmer. 'Friends reunion being rescheduled for the beginning of March. Looks like we have a busy year coming up. And that's the way I like it,' Perry wrote at the time. Returning to screens: Sitcoms such as Will & Grace were revived in recent years to much fanfareReboot: Frasier is the latest said to be going through a revival at ParamountFans have oftentimes called for there to be a scripted reunion in which the cast return as their characters for a one-off special. Yet the prospect of this appears to have been nixed by the series' creators. Sitcoms such as Will & Grace and Roseanne [later becoming The Connors] were revived in recent years to much fanfare, and Frasier is the latest said to be going through a reboot. Yet Friends seems destined to be left as it was, in 2004, with only reruns keeping the fans satiated. The production team of Friends: The Reunion has finished principal photography on the upcoming special episode. The announcement was made in a post to the show's official Instagram account on Saturday evening, which showed a light display for the forthcoming one-off. A brief message in the caption confirmed that everything was good to go with the soon-to-be-released special, and read: 'That's a wrap! Could we BE anymore excited!? Friends: The Reunion is coming to @hbomax.' That's a wrap! The production team of Friends: The Reunion has finished principal photography on the upcoming special episodeThe post comes not long after original cast member Matthew Perry posted a behind-the-scenes shot of himself getting ready for filming to his Instagram account on Friday. The comic actor, 51, shared a photo on Friday night of himself in an unguarded moment while he had his makeup done professionally in his dressing room. He was dressed in a blue-and-grey plaid shirt and sported close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair, along with tissue packed into his collar to keep the makeup off his clothes. 'Seconds before eating a makeup brush,' he joked, adding, 'Not to mention reuniting with my Friends.' Sneak peek! The post comes not long after original cast member Matthew Perry posted a behind-the-scenes shot of himself getting ready for filming to his Instagram account on FridayThe new image was shared hours after Friends' original set decorator posted an image of the set that seemed to confirm filming was underway. Greg Grande - who was responsible for dressing the likes of Central Perk and the New York apartments in the iconic US sitcom - shared a snap of the recreated iconic fountain set to Instagram. In the image, the yellow couch can be seen by the fountain, however some extra chairs and a coffee table have been added as if to accommodate a sit-down chat. The reunion is not set to be a scripted continuation of the sitcom, but a conversation with the six lead cast members - David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt Le Blanc and Jennifer Aniston. Brings back memories: Friends' original set decorator has hinted that the hotly-anticipated and much-delayed reunion show has started filming after sharing a snap of the iconic fountain setGreg did not add a caption to his image, however the snap showed six cups around the informal set-up and the coffee table resembled the one used during past Central Perk scenes. Striped cushions and blue blankets were also visible on the mustard couch as well as fans and lights around the area. Several people wearing face-masks could also be seen walking around in the background of the snap, further suggesting that filming was underway. Dozens of Friends fans quickly shared their excitement in the comments, with many saying they couldn't wait to watch the reunion special. Reunited: Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox and Matt Le Blanc are set to be interviewed about the comedy that propelled them to stardom in 1994 and lasted for 10 yearsOne person wrote: 'Cant put into words how excited I am for this.' While another added: 'Set looks incredible! So excited to see the gang sat there.' Last Friday, sources told Deadline that HBO Max's unscripted special will start taping in Los Angeles within the next seven days. Although HBO Max declined to comment, it has already been confirmed that the reunion will be filmed at the original soundstage - Stage 24 - situated on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank, California. The Friends fountain, despite many assuming it would be in New York where the show is set, is located on Warner Bros ranch and fans can see it during studio tours. And during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show last week, David hinted that there may be a brief moment of the stars reviving their beloved sitcom characters. The New York-based actor, who played Ross Geller in the comedy, said: 'Im going to LA to shoot the Friends Reunion. I will get to see everyone for the first time in years.' Together: The cast were known for all jumping onto the yellow couch in the long-running showReusing the table? Greg's latest snap also features a wooden table which looked similar to the one inside Central PerkAsked if he will be Ross or David in the reunion, he said: 'Ill be David. Nothing is scripted and we are not in character. We are all ourselves, although there is one section of it that I dont want to give away, but we all read something.' He then jokingly added: 'I should have genned up on old episodes, but I just havent been able to bring myself to catch up on the 236 shows. I guess I need to watch a lot over the next five days!' The latest snap also comes after Greg posted a picture of the resurrected set of Monica Geller's home to Instagram last month, suggesting at least some of the show would happen there. Excited: Dozens of fans praised Greg's set, with many saying they couldn't wait to watch the reunion and see the cast back togetherHeading to LA: During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show last Friday, David confirmed that he will not be in character for much of the reunionHe captioned the snap: 'Sssh! Somethings happening, deja vu... coming alive once again! #friends #monicasapt #friendsreunion' [sic]While Greg was responsible for the knickknacks in Monica's home, the set was designed by John Shaffner and Joe Stewart - who were also responsible for painting the walls purple. The reunion is not set to be a scripted continuation of the sitcom, but a sit-down chat with the six lead cast members who will be interviewed about the comedy that propelled them to stardom in 1994 and lasted for 10 years. Friends' final episode aired in the spring of 2004, and saw Monica and husband Chandler Bing pack up the famously purple loft and move out to the suburbs with their newborn twins. All back to Monica's? It had lived on Stage 24 at the Warner Bros lot in Hollywood for a decade, but was taken over in 2005 when spin-off series Joey was filmed there. Joey saw Matt Le Blanc's character Joey Tribbiani move to LA to continue his acting career. Stage 24 was re-dressed with a new set - that of Joey's sister Gina Tribbiani's Los Angeles house. Joey lasted only two seasons before it was cancelled due to lackluster ratings, with fans uninterested in a show that only focused on one of the six friends. Central Perk's set is still in tact at Warner Bros, and is part of the studio tour. The real coffee house soundstage - not a replica - can be visited when the tour is open to the public [currently shut amid the pandemic]. New show: Joey saw Matt Le Blanc's character Joey Tribbiani move to LA to continue his acting career. Stage 24 was re-dressed with a new set - that of Joey's sister Gina Tribbiani's Los Angeles house. Joey lasted only two seasons before it was cancelledIn 2019, Greg reflected on the details of Monica's apartment in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. 'I felt like Monica's apartment was pretty iconic. Monica's was definitely the standout,' he said. '[The Warner Bros] prop house had some exceptional old pieces of furniture that had been around forever and ever and ever that were kind of tucked away and hidden in the basement and the third floor. Pieces that no one really would ever have used unless you reinvented them.' Greg explained in the interview that some of the items - including the French circus poster hanging behind Monica's television - were last-minute additions that he didn't think twice about. 'It's funny that the way it happened was so natural and kind of not thought-out too much and now it's an iconic poster. Do you really serve people sneezers? Central Perk's set is still in tact at Warner Bros, and is part of the studio tour. The real coffee house soundstage - not a replica - can be visited when the tour is open to the public [currently shut amid the pandemic]All in the details: In 2019, Greg reflected on the details of Monica's apartment in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. 'I felt like Monica's apartment was pretty iconic. Monica's was definitely the standout,' he said'It is really crazy and it's awesome to think that I put such a fingerprint on that show and it's really sad that I can't get any piece of the action! Somebody owes me, for God's sakes! It's funny because I did pitch them a whole furniture line after the show but they didn't want it.' Greg appeared in the finale of Friends as one of the removal men, wheeling Chandler's dog statue out of the apartment. 'That rings true, that I'm moving the last piece of furniture out of the apartment. I got a little sentimental,' he said. David Schwimmer was the last cast member to update fans on the progression of the reunion show. David - who played Ross Geller - said in early March that he will join his former co-stars to tape the reunion 'in a little over a month' during a chat on SiriusXMs Andy Cohen Live. Six-some: The reunion is not set to be a scripted continuation of the sitcom, but a sit-down chat with the six lead cast membersThe one with the reunion: Schwimmer revealed that he will join his former co-stars to finally tape the Friends reunion 'in a little over a month' during a chat on SiriusXMs Andy Cohen Live in early March'Have you guys shot anywhere?' Cohen asked of HBO Max reunion. 'Actually, in a little over a month Im heading out to LA,' the actor responded. 'So, finally, I mean, we figured out a way to film it safely and there's going to be a portion of it that we filmed outside because of, you know, for safety protocols.' Andy then inquired about rumors that the event was going to be hosted by Ellen DeGeneres - who was embroiled in a toxic workplace scandal in 2020 regarding the set of her eponymous talk show. Ellen starred in her own sitcom - Ellen - around the same time as Friends, and often made references to the fact they both had coffee house settings. 'Is Ellen hosting that?' Cohen asked, to which Schwimmer replied with a quick 'no'. 'Shes not?' Andy said, pushing the star to give more details. 'Do you know, can you say who is?' Postponed: Originally, the reunion was supposed to debut May 2020 as part of HBO Max's launch but after the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, production plans were scuppered'You know what, I don't know if I can actually,' the star said. 'Yeah. Should've found that out. Um, all right. Its not Ellen, it's not Billy Crystal. I could tell you who it's not.' Deflecting, David asked: 'Andy is it you?' 'Oh my God. I wish it was,' the broadcaster responded. The special event has been in the works since February 2020 with a film date of March 2020. Originally, the reunion was supposed to debut in May 2020 as part of HBO Max's launch but when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, causing chaos in the film and TV industry, production plans were scuppered. Not Ellen: Andy then inquired about rumors that the event was going to be hosted by Ellen DeGeneres - who was embroiled in a toxic workplace scandal in 2020. 'Is Ellen hosting that?' Cohen asked, to which Schwimmer replied with a quick 'no'HBO Max announced in April of last year that the show would not be filmed in time to debut at the streaming service's launch and the sit-down was pushed back to August 2020. As the pandemic raged, that date was also abandoned. Matthew Perry tweeted in November that the taping was officially rescheduled for March but even that date was delayed according to the latest from Schwimmer. 'Friends reunion being rescheduled for the beginning of March. Looks like we have a busy year coming up. And that's the way I like it,' Perry wrote at the time. Returning to screens: Sitcoms such as Will & Grace were revived in recent years to much fanfareReboot: Frasier is the latest said to be going through a revival at ParamountFans have oftentimes called for there to be a scripted reunion in which the cast return as their characters for a one-off special. Yet the prospect of this appears to have been nixed by the series' creators. Sitcoms such as Will & Grace and Roseanne [later becoming The Connors] were revived in recent years to much fanfare, and Frasier is the latest said to be going through a reboot. Yet Friends seems destined to be left as it was, in 2004, with only reruns keeping the fans satiated.
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###CLAIM: he returned to south florida, where he worked as a city bond broker until florida atlantic hired him to build the program from scratch.
###DOCS: In this Dec. 23, 2014 photo, former Florida Atlantic and Miami head coach, Howard Schnellenberger holds the game balls prior to the start of the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA college football game between Marshall and Northern Illinois at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla. Schnellenberger, who coached Miami to the 1983 national championship and built programs at Louisville and Florida Atlantic, died Saturday, March 27, 2021, at the age of 87, Florida Atlantic announced. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)In this Dec. 23, 2014 photo, former Florida Atlantic and Miami head coach, Howard Schnellenberger holds the game balls prior to the start of the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA college football game between Marshall and Northern Illinois at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla. Schnellenberger, who coached Miami to the 1983 national championship and built programs at Louisville and Florida Atlantic, died Saturday, March 27, 2021, at the age of 87, Florida Atlantic announced. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)MIAMI (AP) Howard Schnellenberger was a pipe smoker with a push-broom mustache and gruff baritone, and he paired his grandiloquent manner with grandiose visions for football at Miami, Louisville and Florida Atlantic that caused snickers. At all three schools, Schnellenberger disproved doubters. He revived the sport at Miami and Louisville and started the program at Florida Atlantic during a coaching career that spanned a half century. Schnellenberger died Saturday at 87 in Boca Raton, Florida. FAU announced his death and said he recently had been in a care center. Schnellenberger had a career record below .500, but when it came to building, he was a winner. His legacy includes on-campus stadiums at Louisville and Florida Atlantic. He led the Miami Hurricanes to the first of their five national championships in 1983, and coached Louisville to a Fiesta Bowl win over Alabama to cap the 1990 season. He then founded the program at Florida Atlantic and retired as coach after 11 seasons highlighted by back-to-back bowl victories. ADVERTISEMENTEverywhere Schnellenberger coached, he envisioned a winning team as a unifying force, the way it was with the 83 Hurricanes. I think it all goes back to the day they had a parade in Miami for the national championship team, he once said. I saw the people on the sidelines black families, Cuban families, Hispanics and Anglo families all there, 100,000 strong, celebrating their ball team and community. That football team was able to do something the federal government, city and county tried to do and couldnt: bring the community together.Schnellenbergers career bowl record was 6-0, and he experienced perfection in the NFL, too. He was the offensive coordinator under Don Shula for the Miami Dolphins in 1972, when they won the Super Bowl to finish 17-0 for the NFLs only undefeated, untied season. He would wear a championship ring on each hand, one for the Dolphins and the other for the 83 Hurricanes. That University of Miami team finished No. 1 thanks to a 31-30 upset victory over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, a game still considered among the greatest in college football history. The thing I remember most about that game was the way South Florida rallied behind our team, Schnellenberger said a decade later. In the Orange Bowl that night was a charge of electricity I had never felt there. The hair on the back of my neck stood up because of the energy from the crowd.That was the peripatetic Schnellenbergers final game with the Hurricanes. He left to coach Miamis franchise in the United States Football League, but the team quickly folded before playing a game. I dont regret the decision I made, he said. I have the full realization it was kind of dumb, but Ive made a lot of dumb decisions in my personal life.ADVERTISEMENTRestlessness contributed to Schnellenbergers so-so career record: 158-151-3 in 27 years in college, and 4-13 with the NFL Baltimore Colts in 1973-74, for 162-164-3 overall. Schnellenberger was born March 16, 1934, in Saint Meinrad, Indiana, and played for Bear Bryant and Blanton Collier at Kentucky. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Kentucky in 1959. As an assistant for Bryant in 1961-65, he recruited Joe Namath and helped Alabama win three national titles. At Miami, Schnellenberger took over in 1979 amid debate about whether the moribund program should fold. Attendance began to improve when the Hurricanes went 9-3 and won the Peach Bowl in his second season. Thus began more than a decade of dominance as the Hurricanes quickly became a feeder school for the NFL. Schnellenbergers quarterbacks included Jim Kelly and Bernie Kosar, who went on to star in the pros, and Mark Richt, who later became the Hurricanes coach. He was an offensive genius, but also a man of integrity, Richt tweeted Saturday. Schnellenberger undertook another rebuilding project when he went to Louisville in 1985, inheriting a program that had endured six consecutive losing seasons. He said the Cardinals would return to the Top 25, and mapped out plans for a new stadium, conference membership and renewal of the series with Kentucky all of which happened. He was one of the giants in college football, Louisville coach Scott Satterfield said in a statement, and his impact on the sport in the state of Kentucky is immeasurable.In 1990 the Cardinals went 10-1-1 and won the Fiesta Bowl, and they won the Liberty Bowl three seasons later. But in 1995 Schnellenberger left to coach Oklahoma, and the move was a disaster. Besieged by rumors regarding his drinking and treatment of players, he bitterly resigned under pressure after going 5-5-1 in his lone season there. When asked if the experience at Oklahoma soured him on football, Schnellenberger replied: It soured me on Oklahoma only.He returned to South Florida and worked as a municipal bond broker until he was hired by Florida Atlantic to build a program from scratch. He hired himself as coach, and the Owls played their first game in 2001. This is the most important thing Ive ever undertaken, he said. Were on a collision course with a national championship, and time is the only variable.It hasnt happened yet, but Schnellenberger led the Owls to two bowl wins and oversaw the opening of their stadium in 2011. He retired following that season. Survivors include Beverlee, his wife of 61 years. A private memorial Mass will be held. ___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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###CLAIM: the court, which did not comment, rejected truman 's appeal on a challenge to thousands of absentee votes filed in wisconsin, a battleground state where a republican politician turned businessman lost to a democrat by more than 20, 000 votes.
###DOCS: WASHINGTON (Reuters) The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday disposed of the last of three cases brought to the justices by former President Donald Trump challenging his election loss, bringing a muted end to his futile quest in the courts to hold onto power. The court without comment rejected Trumps appeal challenging thousands of absentee ballots filed in Wisconsin, an election battleground that the Republican businessman-turned-politician lost to Democrat Joe Biden by more than 20,000 votes. Biden became president on Jan. 20. AdvertisementIt was the last of three petitions filed at the Supreme Court near the end of Trumps presidency that the justices declined to take up. The court on Feb. 22 turned away Trumps other two appeals a second Wisconsin challenge and one relating to voting in Pennsylvania, another pivotal state Trump lost. Lower courts previously had ruled against Trump in those three cases. It already was clear that the high court, which includes three justices appointed by Trump, had no intention to intervene in the cases and others filed by his allies because it did not act before Congress on Jan. 6 certified Bidens victory. That formal certification was interrupted when a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. In the Wisconsin case, Trump sued two days after the state had certified its election results. He challenged several Wisconsin election policies including one allowing the use of drop boxes for absentee ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both a federal judge and the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the claims, noting in part that Trump had waited too long to sue. Courts around the country rejected the cases brought by Trump and his allies, sometimes in colorful terms. A judge put it this way in November in rejecting a Trump challenge in Pennsylvania: This claim, like Frankensteins Monster, has been haphazardly stitched together.AdvertisementTrump has made - and continues to make - false claims that the Nov. 3 presidential election was stolen from him through widespread voting fraud and irregularities. Republicans are now seizing on those same unsubstantiated allegations in an effort to impose new voting restrictions in numerous states. The Supreme Court on Monday also turned away another election-related case filed by Trump ally Lin Wood, who had asked the justices to block the Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections in Georgia. The court never acted on the request and Democrats won both races, giving them narrow control of the Senate.
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###CLAIM: the man charged with the extremism offences appeared in court on charges of possessing and believing to be in possession of a picture showing a video in 2019 of a massacre at a christchurch mosque.
###DOCS: A man has appeared in court charged with possessing extremist material, believed to be a video of the 2019 massacre at mosques in Christchurch. Bennett Russell Maynard-Brown came before Adelaide Magistrates Court for the first time on Tuesday where he was remanded on continuing bail to return to court on August 19. Court documents allege the possession offence occurred in February this year. But outside the court, the 32-year-old said he had downloaded the video by accident. A man has appeared in court charged with possessing extremist material, believed to be a video of the 2019 massacre at mosques in Christchurch committed by Brenton Tarrant (pictured)'It was just a video of the Christchurch massacre which was very wrong for me to have a copy of,' he said. 'It was downloaded off Facebook by accident. I didn't even realise I had it.' Maynard-Brown said he had converted to Islam in October last year and was 'a complete opposite to the monster in that video'. 'It's a complete misunderstanding,' he said. Brenton Tarrant was convicted in August last year on 51 counts of murder for his atrocity, committed on March 15, 2019. He was jailed for life without parole.
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###CLAIM: susannah streeter, senior analyst at hargreaves lansdown, said : `` this is encouraging news, but the end of the stamp duty holiday and the fragile recovery of the economy have caused concern that the mini housing boom could turn into a bust. ''
###DOCS: LONDON (Reuters) - Lloyds Banking Group LLOY.L posted forecast-beating profits on Thursday, cashing in on a coronavirus-driven boom in demand for mortgages as it set aside a smaller sum of cash to cover loans turning sour due to the pandemic. FILE PHOTO: Customers use ATMs at a branch of Lloyds Bank in London, Britain, February 21, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File PhotoBritains biggest domestic lender reported pre-tax profits of 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) for the third quarter, well ahead of the 588 million pounds average of analysts forecasts. It booked new mortgage lending of 3.5 billion pounds after receiving the biggest surge in quarterly applications since 2008 - equal to 22% of the UK market share for approvals - after a cut in property transaction taxes and pent-up demand boosted activity. In September, the number of house purchases in Britain rose by more than a fifth, taking the total number of sales close to their pre-pandemic level. The housing market in general is much stronger than anyone would have anticipated, Chief Executive Antonio Horta-Osorio told reporters. However, he warned the British economy was decelerating as local lockdowns to control the virus kicked in, adding government financial support for people and businesses had pushed back deeper economic pain and further loan defaults to next year. Like its rivals, Lloyds profits have been squeezed this year by provisions for expected bad debts due to the coronavirus crisis and rock-bottom interest rates. Net income for the first nine months of 2020 fell 17% to 10.8 billion pounds, with 3.4 billion pounds booked in the third quarter. But echoing HSBC HSBA.L and Barclays BARC.L results in recent days, Lloyds' latest 301 million pounds provision for loan defaults was back in line with pre-crisis levels and less than half the 721 million pounds forecast. The bank said full-year loan loss provisions are expected to be at the lower end of the 4.5 billion pound to 5.5 billion pound range previously given. It has set aside 4.1 billion pounds so far this year. This is encouraging news, but once the stamp duty holiday ends and given the fragile economic recovery, there are concerns the mini housing boom could turn into a bust, said Susannah Streeter, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. Lloyds is in the midst of a leadership shake-up just as it navigates the fallout from the pandemic, with Horta-Osorio set to leave next year. Robin Budenberg will become chairman on Jan. 1, succeeding Norman Blackwell. Horta-Osorio said Budenberg and Blackwell were working together on a search for a new CEO. Lloyds chief financial officer William Chalmers said the board would make a decision on paying a dividend at the end of the year, if regulators lift a ban on payouts. PANDEMIC SUPPORTThe robust figures saw Lloyds post a 7.4% return on tangible equity. Its shares were trading 2.5% higher at 0909 GMT. Lloyds net interest margin - the difference between the money it makes on lending and pays out on deposits - rose to 2.42%, up from 2.4% last quarter. Lloyds has granted around 1.2 million retail payment holidays on 69 billion pounds of lending to help ease financial pressure on customers hard hit by the pandemic. Around 73,000 borrowers are still benefiting from a first payment freeze, while around 142,000 customers have requested extended relief on 9.8 billion pounds of loans. Retail current accounts continued to increase ahead of the market in the third quarter, with group deposits up by 35 billion pounds over the first nine months of 2020, which Lloyds said would help it to lend strongly into the recovery. Its core capital ratio, a key measure of financial strength, increased to 15.2%, compared to 14.6% at the half-year.
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###CLAIM: the aid will be used for reopening, recovering and reimagining what the students can do, their boston official said.
###DOCS: Comment on this story Comment Gift Article ShareTHIS PANDEMIC has taken an extraordinary toll on students, parents, educators and schools, and we know that our schools, students and communities need help. So said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona when he announced in March that schools would get $122 billion under the American Rescue Plan Act. The money represents the largest single federal outlay on K-12 education in the countrys history and, as such, is an unprecedented opportunity to improve student learning. At the same time, though, there is potential risk if the money is not used smartly to address the educational inequities that have been laid bare and exacerbated by covid-19. The emergency relief money is more than twice what the federal government spends on education in a typical year, and decisions about how to spend it will largely be left up to local education agencies. Theres no need to apply for the money or compete with other states or adhere to a lot of requirements. The Education Department has offered guidance for use of the funding and has mandated that 20 percent of it be used to address lost learning time for students. Mainly, though, local districts will be left on their own, with minimal involvement from the state or federal governments. Local school officials, according to Jennifer ONeal Schiess of the nonprofit Bellwether Education Partners, are still very much in the decision-making process, and its much too early to tell whether the federal money will be put to good use. Districts have until October 2024 to spend the funds. A high priority must be placed on getting schools reopened and students back in the classroom. One of the painful lessons of the past year is that while virtual learning has a role in education, it is no replacement for the classroom with the personal attention of a teacher and interaction with other students. AdvertisementSchools in the Washington area, The Posts Donna St. George, Hannah Natanson and Perry Stein reported, are expected to receive more than $1.8 billion, and their plans include expansion of summer school, new virtual academies, extra teacher jobs and more mental health services. Its good that many school districts recognize the need to make up for lost time, and we hope that an extended school day, year-round schooling and weekend instruction programs that have helped improve the achievement of at-risk children will be implemented with the new federal money. Some states have sought waivers from having to administer federally mandated end-of-year exams. But how can districts target the federal money to help the students most in need if they dont have data on student progress? Schools have not always made the best choices in how they have spent the publics dollars; often they bow to adult demands rather than serving student needs. It is important that they take to heart the challenge laid out by Mr. Cardona to use the emergency relief funds to equitably expand opportunities for students who have been hardest hit. Read more:AdvertisementGiftOutline Gift Article
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###CLAIM: instead the cambridge meeting turned contentious quickly as other party members, including roosevelt, worked toward passing a resolution not naming bickford but calling for concrete action.
###DOCS: On Wednesday, January 13 the same day that the University of Massachusetts at Amherst released the results of an investigation into the romantic life of Alex Morse, finding no wrongdoing the Cambridge Democratic City Committee met to debate a resolution brought forward by a local ward condemning the party for its handling of the situation. It did not go well. Backers of the resolution were surprised that opponents were ready with a substitute amendment, which replaced the call for the Massachusetts Democratic Party chairs resignation and broad criticism of the organizations handling of the scandal with vague affirmation of the partys commitment to LGBTQ people. It got even worse. When party member Dan Totten, one of the leading proponents of the resolution, voted against the amendment, a party board member, George Goverman, shot back: You faggot. Audio of the meeting is included in this weeks Deconstructed podcast, along with an interview with Totten. Goverman spoke to Deconstructed but declined to do a recorded interview; he said he thought his mic was off during the meeting and that he had reached out to Totten. I have reached out and as far as why I said it, I think its pure stupidity, and thats about all I can say, said Goverman. I really didnt know I was on an open mic.The Alex Morse scandal exploded in August after students with the UMass College Democrats and the College Democrats of Massachusetts told the Holyoke mayor he was no longer allowed at their events in a letter which was leaked to the Massachusetts Daily Daily Collegian on August 7. Full of vague claims of inappropriate conduct, the letter threatened to derail the mayors congressional campaign against incumbent Rep. Richard Neal. The Intercept subsequently revealed the charges were part of a scheme on the part of students to take down the progressive insurgent, done in collaboration with the state party. Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford, along with party Executive Director Veronica Martinez, had acted to connect students making the vague claims against Morse with party attorney Jim Roosevelt in July. Asked if he planned to resign from the party board, Goverman said that he was leaning in that direction. Displeasure with Bickfords handling of the scandal is not unique to Cambridge, though Bickford was recently reelected party chair by a landslide on the back of the state partys entrenched old guard. Lifetime members who are allowed to serve at will without running for their position overwhelmingly backed Bickford, who beat out challengers Bob Massie and Mike Lake with 62 percent of the vote in the November 12 contest. 93 percent of lifetime members who voted, voted for Gus, Matt Walsh, a Massachusetts Democratic State Committee member, told The Flashpoint newsletter. 86 percent of people under 36 voted against him.Were a party that proclaims to be pro-everyone but our leadership, membership, and many electeds lack any true understanding of what it means to be an anti-racist, anti-homophobic, anti-sexist party.According to Donovan Birch, a member of the state committee who has been helping lead the push against Bickford for his actions, frustration with the chair is pervasive in Massachusetts Democratic town and ward committees. Many folks believe he should resign and are organizing their individual town and ward committees, said Birch, who is gay. Folks are taking these actions on their own in an effort to keep the pressure on. Were a party that proclaims to be pro-everyone but our leadership, membership, and many electeds lack any true understanding of what it means to be an anti-racist, anti-homophobic, anti-sexist, etc. party, Birch added. The Cambridge meeting quickly turned contentious as other party members including Roosevelt himself instead worked toward the passage of a watered-down resolution that neither named Bickford nor called for concrete action. Rather, the new resolution offered suggestions on how the party could better address concerns of LGBTQ members. One of the new resolutions biggest boosters in the meeting was none other than Roosevelt himself, who repeatedly misrepresented the findings of a report prepared for the state party by attorney Cheryl Jacques. Related On January 13, the Cambridge Democratic City Committee met to discuss a resolution calling for the resignation of Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford. The resolution was an attempt to reckon with the state partys complicity last summer in the release of allegations against Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse who was running against U.S. Rep. Richard Neal in a primary for his congressional seat pertaining to his time as an adjunct professor at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The allegations were vague and did not include any behavior that violated the law or UMass policy, merely suggesting that Morse had had consensual relationships with adult students. The proposed resolution charged Bickford with aiding and abetting an attack on a LGBTQ candidate. But the vote turned ugly as one member, who said he forgot his mic was on, used an anti-gay slur against Dan Totten, one of the members arguing for the resolution. Totten joins Ryan Grim to discuss the incident; Grim then speaks to attorney Jim Roosevelt, a Democratic Party official who played a role in last summers allegations and was also at the Cambridge Dems meeting. [Introduction music.] Ryan Grim: Welcome back to Deconstructed. Im Ryan Grim. Last Wednesday, the University of Massachusetts released the findings of an extraordinarily unusual investigation. The school had decided to probe the dating life of one Alex Morse, a former adjunct at the college who, as a candidate for Congress, had been accused of inappropriate behavior by the local College Democrats who, it turned out, were largely supportive of his opponent, the powerful Ways and Means chair Richie Neal, one of the more outspoken foes of Medicare for All in the Democratic caucus. Upon closer examination, there were no actual allegations leveled by the College Democrats, who had instead leaked a vague letter barring him from future events for unspecified wrongdoing. As the days and weeks went on, not a single specific allegation surfaced from anywhere or from anyone, despite the university offering the public a hotline to call with any damning information about Morse. Yet despite not having an allegation to investigate, the school hired a law firm to investigate anyway. The report concluded that Morse had violated no school policies. Now, Morse was elected mayor of Holyoke at the age of 21. Holyoke is about 30 minutes away from UMass Amherst, a school that has around 30,000 students. Thats nearly the size of Holyoke. Morse, for several semesters while in his 20s, taught a single course on government that met once a week. The school bars relationships between teachers and students, an entirely reasonable policy. It does not bar an adjunct from dating every single one of the 30,000 graduate and undergraduate adults at the university. The report confirmed our earlier reporting that the Massachusetts Democratic party was involved in writing and publicizing the College Democrats letter, which the party had denied at the time. But the report also found that Morse did nothing wrong, yet the school still published intimate details of his dating life anyway. The whole thing smacked of retrograde homophobia a homophobic investigation into a homophobic smear. Morse is considering legal action, but that wasnt the only development in the case last Wednesday. That evening, Cambridge City Democrats met to debate a resolution put forward by one of its local wards, which wanted the Cambridge City Democrats condemn the state party for aiding and abetting an attack on a LGBTQ candidate and call for the resignation of Gus Bickford, the partys statewide boss. The debate, which included nearly a hundred club members, is a fascinating window into the contemporary Democratic Party, which is at once rightfully proud of its willingness to denounce racism and bigotry, fly gay pride flags, or put up black lives matter lawn signs, yet continues to prop up and participate in projects that perpetuate and exacerbate racism and bigotry. It may never have been on starker display than during that three-hour meeting in Cambridge, and we have breathtaking audio of it for you. Dan Totten is vice chair of the ward that put forward the resolution. And he joins us now on Deconstructed. Dan Totten, thanks so much for joining us on Deconstructed. Dan Totten: Yeah, thanks so much for having me. RG: So set the stage for us. How did this Wednesday meeting come about? DT: So, this was a regular monthly meeting of our Cambridge Democrats City Committee, right, which is the local chapter of the Democratic Party here in Cambridge. And the business at this meeting was a resolution brought forward by Ward 3, which is Central Square-area, which is where I live. Speaker: OK, so now we come to the business of the evening, which is: we need to consider the resolution that was proposed by Ward 3. DT: So my ward brought forward this resolution, which called on Gus Bickford to resign as chair of the states party over his role in the Alex Morse scandal of last summer. And it also declared no confidence in his leadership. Speaker: We therefore no longer have confidence in Gus Bickford as the current chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, and we call upon Gus Bickford to resign and a new election to be held. DT: People came to the meeting to discuss and debate that resolution. And, you know, we had 100 people there. So a lot of people were sort of interested in we had already passed this out of our ward, meaning, you know, our ward committee had discussed the resolution and passed it onto the full committee. So we had already had our discussion, and that was going to the full committee. RG: And there was language in it that said something along the lines of that the party had aided and abetted a homophobic smear. What was that language? And what was the point that you were trying to make with that? DT: You know, theres a lot that can be said about what happened last summer, but when you really, really look carefully at the careful reporting that was done, after the fact as well as the reporting that was done in the moment, including by The Intercept you just see this pattern of clear interference in this election in a way that, you know, a lot of people perceived to be homophobic. And that starts at the beginning where, you know, we know that Gus Bickford got a meal with Alex Morse and tried to talk him out of running for that seat, and tried to suggest RG: And later denied having done so. DT: Exactly. Exactly. And tried to suggest a different seat to have run in. And then we know that when some college students approached the party with some, very vague allegations and asked for help and sort of asked, What should we do from here? Gus Bickford did not give them the legal advice that they should have gotten. Instead, he sent them to the partys attorney, who they claim told them to leak the letter. So essentially, theres just a number of steps there that its very clear that they had their hands all over this,RG: Right. And so the party attorney was at this meeting last Wednesday. This is Jim Roosevelt, a grandson of Franklin Roosevelt. Jim Roosevelt: I advised the College Democrats that they should have a verbal conversation with the mayor. They insisted on doing it in writing, against my advice, as Jacques report points out. There were no false allegations in the letter that was sent to him. His response was that the allegations were correct, but then he did not intend to make anybody uncomfortable. RG: What was your reaction when you heard that argument from Roosevelt? DT: It was deeply hurtful, what he said. It was almost like he thought we were in a courtroom, right? And he made this callous argument that sort of lacked empathy and denied the homophobia of the incident. It was just so offensive to me and a lot of people there, not just queer people who were at the meeting, but really a lot of people there were just taken aback. RG: Right. Yeah, his claim that the allegations are true is a really rich one on a lot of different levels. Because what does he mean by the allegations are true? That he had consensual relationships with other adults? That seems to be what hes saying, because nothing else has emerged since then that would qualify as an allegation. So was that your read that the allegation was that he was gay, almost? DT: Yeah, I think, you know, and just just for the record, there was a recently released report as well that sort of indicated Alex. So anything that has come out in the meantime has sort of been in Alexs favor. But I think its a reasonable position for somebody to say, Im uncomfortable with what happened, even though it wasnt in violation of university policy or Title IX or any other regulations. But to twist it in the way he did, to say that he admitted to the allegations, thats where the homophobia comes in. The allegations were falsified the allegations were made up by somebody who was trying to make him look bad. And its further insulting that he would say he admitted to these, because as the report shows, Jim told the students to leak the letter. Now, he denies that, sure. But when you have two different student reports corroborating, he told me to leak the letter. That, to me, if we dont listen to those students in that moment, then when are we ever going to listen to students? RG: Right. So the opponents of your resolution proposed an amended version that basically said: We as Democrats are supportive of LGBTQ candidates, and we are opposed to kind of screwing them in primaries, and that and that we need to set up a process that kind of upholds the neutrality of the state party leadership. Am I right, thats roughly kind of the amendment that opponents of your resolution wanted to have voted on? DT: Yeah, so a couple things. So one, it was a substitute amendment that was not shown to anybody ahead of time. So it was a little surprising, and I think thats important for folks to know. That statement, completely sidestepped the controversial issues and was sort of just, oh, you know, heres this nice thing that we can all feel good about. The problem is when they did that, we never had a discussion about the issues at hand, because they were able to turn, all of a sudden, it became a discussion over which resolution we should pass and not the merits of our resolution. RG: Right. DT: And in taking out any reference to Gus Bickford, or there was a wrongdoing that happened, its sort of its a quiet way of saying nothing wrong happened. And there should have been a debate over it, and there should have been a vote, but to try to insert this amendment at the beginning, like that indicated to me that they didnt feel they could win that argument. RG: Right. It basically seemed to me like they replaced your resolution with a pride flag, and then put it up for a vote. And so I want to get to that vote. DT: Yeah, I think that what you said is definitely a fair analogy. RG: So then they do a roll call, and something startling happens. And theres this response from a board member when you vote. Speaker: Nancy Ryan: Nay. Sorry. Donald SummerfieldDonald Summerfield: Nay! Speaker: Donald Summerfield: Nay. Dan Totten? DT: Nay. Speaker: Dan Totten: Nay. George Goverman: You faggot. Speaker: Did I hear what I thought I heard? RG: What were you thinking in the moment when you heard that? DT: So, you know, when you hear it, its quick. And so my first reaction was, Wait, what? Did that happen? Did I hear that correctly? If nobody else had reacted, I probably would have second guessed myself to the point where I wouldnt have said anything. A couple people in the Zoom chat also said, What just happened? And somebody, I think, said it on the recording as well. RG: Yeah, you can hear that. Speaker: The other thing Id like to say is that many of us heard a homophobic slur against Dan Totten. And I think that we are all stunned and feel that it should be called out immediately. Speaker: OK. Well, I didnt hear it myself. But let me just say that if anybody made a homophobic slur against Dan Totten, Dan, we stand with you. And I think anybody that DT: So at that point, I grew confident in what I had heard, and you know, others clearly heard it too. DT: Thank you. I would like to say something. I think theres a difference between overt homophobia and systemic homophobia, and I think were getting an excellent lesson in that tonight. But I just want to say that it was said and we have a recording of this meeting, so theres no disputing it. And it was said by George Goverman immediately after I voted. If I have to pull up the recording, I will. DT: At this point in the meeting, I knew we were going to lose the vote by like five or six votes. And Jim had just said what he said. And I was so numbed. What he said and losing this vote so closely was so painful that I was I was very much desensitized to if this word, if this homophobic slur had come in a different context, I would have been much more taken aback. But here I was like: You know what? Thats kind of the natural extension of the argument that was just made. RG: Mhmm. Mhmm. Later in the meeting, Dave Slaney made a version of that point. Let me play that here. DT: I just want to make the observation that we can all we should, obviously, and were all feeling very good now about condemning an explicit homophobic slur. Well, what happened tonight was that a parliamentary ruse was used to prevent us from criticizing a state Democratic committee for participating in and condoning systemic homophobia. And we shouldnt let our feeling good about responding to Georges inexcusable remark blind us to the fact that we had a chance to make a statement about homophobia, and we refused to do it. And the chair was complicit in that by going along with a parliamentary ruse. Thats my opinion. Im done. RG: What was the reaction among the party members to Daves point? DT: Yeah, I think its hard to gauge a reaction to Daves point, because there was so much chaos. But I want to be clear that I really appreciate his willingness to speak up. You know, its not easy as a rank-and-file member on a Zoom call with 100 people to stand up and be an ally like that. And I think a lot of people were sort of thinking this kind of thing. And to have Dave kind of put himself out there and speak up was really heartening. I think he said what a lot of people on the call were thinking. And I also think its safe to say that it has become clear that his message may not even be understood by everybody in our committee. Its not clear to me that folks understand why what Jim said was homophobic. And somebody like Dave got it right away, and spoke up, and I really appreciate that. But we need to realize that part of the reason why I wrote this letter and did this whole thing was because I didnt want us to this is a moment where because were in Cambridge, and were all liberal, everybody had to stop, because there was a word that was said that weve collectively decided is unacceptable. And thats heartening because Im told that even 20 or 30 years ago, that might not have been how it unfolded. But I wanted to use this moment just like Dave said on the call I wanted to use this moment to make people realize that its not just about that word, but its about the way that the conversation unfolded, the atmosphere that was allowed, the unwelcoming culture that was allowed to exist in the room. And so I think I was heartened to hear Dave, and I think Daves message and my message is a message that were going to spend a long time trying to make some of these other members understand, and trying to help some of these other members understand. RG: Right. So how quickly did you realize who it was? Or did you almost recognize the voice immediately? DT: So I knew who it was immediately, because he didnt have a video on and so his Zoom was just his name. And when he spoke, the name flashed on the screen. And so I knew right away who it was. Unfortunately, the recording does not capture that. I dont really fully understand that. But it didnt capture that. But several other people also saw that and so, again, in the chat, it was like: We know who it is.And, you know, despite the recording, not and just to be clear, I did not know this man at all going into it. I wouldnt have recognized his voice. I knew nothing about him. Its important to note that he did immediately mail me a letter, and I can definitely send you a copy of the letter so you can read it. RG: So was it an apology? Was it an explanation? What was the thrust of what he told you? DT: So this letter is its an attempt to apologize, certainly. Hes an attorney and he knows, he recognizes the potential repercussions of what happened. And he knew he had to react. So this letter is very carefully worded, and says a lot of the right things. But there are two things that are very strange about it: One is that he sort of makes this argument, of course, like a lot of people have argued, that it was a mistake, because of Zoom, because he left his microphone off mute. And I dont accept that at all, from anybody Zoom mistakes, weve got to learn how to do Zoom. But he argues, and Ill just read this quickly, he says, It was not directed to you, or at you, or anybody, but only a rude objection to the position you expressed and meant for no ones ears but my own. I have a habit of cursing my TV in the privacy of my home, which Ive unfortunately carried over to Zoom.So the implication there, right, is that the incident wasnt a problem, except for the fact that everybody heard it. And in addition to that, he also effectively admits to potentially yelling other slurs at the screen when he was on mute. So you know, my mind goes to other members of our committee, what is he yelling at the screen when they talk? RG: Right? Thats not cursing, exactly. Like, thats not the word that I would use to describe that type of an utterance. DT: Exactly. It would have been one thing if he had swore at the TV, I think we all swear at the TV from time to time, but this is not a swear. And this is hurtful in a different way. RG: So you end up losing a pretty narrow vote, as you had suspected, I think by six votes or so, which shows a deeply divided Democratic Party over this question. There were a lot of people that sided with you. And there was a kind of powerful moment at the end I want to play. The party Treasurer has an announcement that he makes. Bill: I have an announcement. I was having trouble unmuting, sorry. Speaker: OK. OK, well, go ahead. Bill: So it seems clear to me that Cambridge Democrats are not welcoming to people like myself that are not regular, heterosexual people. And so I am resigning as the treasurer as of now. Speaker: Jesus! Speaker: OK, well. Im sorry to hear that, Bill. RG: What was the reaction to that among the rest of the party members? DT: Yeah, so Ill be honest with you, a lot of us had texted each other and just said, leave, after we lost the vote, because we were so taken aback by what had happened, and so frustrated that we just started texting each other, just everybody just leave.RG: When you say leave, you mean leave the party, or leave the meeting? DT: Leave the Zoom. RG: Right. Leave the Zoom. DT: So most of our side had left the Zoom. And this was really the final minute. And I had stayed because I was the one telling people to leave. But I was really taken aback by Bills resignation. Bill is somebody who has poured his heart and soul into the city committee. He is a long-time sort of volunteer on this front, he managed all the finances and put so much work into it. And, you know, Bill, and I dont agree on everything, but for somebody like him to leave, it really shows that theres a deeper problem here than just that one word. And knowing what we know about George, which I dont know if youre aware, that George had, in 2011, filed a personal amicus brief in opposition to a case that was trying to legalize marriage, right? And its very hurtful, very hurtful. People are aware of this, right. So you know, if that had been the only its clear to me in that moment that this has been a burden for a lot of us who dont identify as straight or for anybody who identifies as different. And in that moment, that became clear. RG: Right. And what I think people have to understand who arent involved in this level of kind of political activity is that correct me if Im wrong but its not just a political organization. These clubs, theres a reason they call them clubs, you know? These clubs become social organizations as well. Its where you meet people that you form lifelong friends with. You end up organizing some of your social life around this activity. And it gives meaning to your life. And for somebody whos been that active, and whos made it such a part of their life to quit, theyre not just making a political statement. Theyre sacrificing. Theyre giving up a big part of their life as well. Is that a fair way of putting it? DT: Oh, yeah, absolutely. I mean, you know, Bill is my neighbor. I can look out the window and see his house. And were all, at the end of the day, were all neighbors and friends. And yeah, this is a big part, especially when were not faced with a pandemic, I mean, we get together at peoples houses, we have backyard events, there is a social component, too. I want to be clear, though, that these are elected positions, right? And the voters of Cambridge elected these people back on the presidential primary day, and they might not even realize, but George and Jim are both members who have been members for at least 20 years. And when you have been a member of the party for 20 years, in Massachusetts, you become whats called a lifetime member, and the bylaws, its very hard to remove lifetime members. And so when leadership went to George and said, You need to resign over this. He basically said, No, because Im a lifetime member and Im a lawyer, and Ive read it, the bylaws dont have a provision for removing lifetime members. So, you know, were sort of still figuring that out. But it just shows you that yes, it is a social club, it is a neighbor club, all of that is part of it perhaps too much because at the same time, its also an elected position. And I think that the idea of it being like a neighborhood thing, a social thing, has upsides, but its gone too far in that direction, to the point where now its almost like a fraternity. And youve got, and I dont know how familiar you are with the City of Cambridge. But the western half of Cambridge, west of Harvard, is very different from east of Harvard. And the vote aligned almost perfectly: Jim lives in West Cambridge, and most a lot of the votes in opposition came from there, and almost all of the votes in support came from the Central Square area where I live. So there are economic, class differences, at play here as well. RG: In West Cambridge, youre going to also see pride flags all over the place, as well. DT: Oh sure. And lawn signs. RG: Exactly. Have you had any success in getting through with the idea that the explicit bigotry that they heard, and so rightfully condemned, was an extension of the implicit bigotry that drove the rest of the agenda? Or do you think that fell on deaf ears? DT: You know, I think the jury is still out. I think because I put my statement out I called for both men to resign about 48 hours ago. And so I think the jurys still out in terms of how folks will react to it. Its been quiet, right? I think people were eager to condemn the use of the homophobic slur, and Im incredibly grateful for that. But I think it is going to be harder to get people to see that its sort of part of a larger problem. And that what Mr. Roosevelt said kind of created a space that that kind of drew out this other guy. You know, the difference between Jim and George: George is like, openly homophobic. Hes not pretending to be accepting. And so Jims statement really created an atmosphere where that could exist and where he felt, in his own way, comfortable slurring at the Zoom, and doing this and doing that. And Im not expecting people to jump behind the call to remove both of them, because Jims a very powerful man, right? Jim Roosevelt calls the shots at every level of our party. Hes calling the shots in this meeting right here. He calls the shots at the Massachusetts State Committee, hes calling the shots in those meetings. And hes Chair of the Rules Committee at the DNC. And so hes very powerful; people are afraid of him and consider him untouchable. And so I dont expect folks to come out in support of that second piece. I hope some people will, but you know, Im not counting on it. RG: Well, Dan, thanks for sharing your story, anyway. Hopefully, it reaches somebody. DT: Yeah, I really appreciate it, and appreciate the reporting that you guys have done. There has been no justice in this case for so long, and its been so painful to so many of us. The last thing I want to say is that I spoke to somebody yesterday, who I had recruited to come to our meeting. This is sort of a disaffected Bernie supporter who was on the roll, and so I knew could vote, but doesnt usually show up to our meetings. And so I called him up. And I said, you know, Will you come? Im asking you to come. And he said, Sure.And he actually resigned from the ward and city committees over what happened, he was so, so upset. And he did that before I even had a chance to speak with him. Right? And so, you know, what kind of a message does it send? Is this really the party we want, where I get told all the time as a progressive, as a leftist, as a socialist, as a Democratic Socialist, that when I enter these spaces with my demands, Im being disruptive and Im not working towards party unity. But what does it say when we bring in somebody new, and theyre so disillusioned by what they see that the next day they resign? Like, thats not the kind of party we want. Thats not the kind of party I want. You know, a lot of progressives like myself worked really hard to make sure that we dont, that we didnt have four more years of Donald Trump. And were not represented in leadership at any level, like we are on the ground, right? And its time to change that. And the one thing I would say to people is: if youre frustrated a lot of people come to me and they say theyre upset, theyre frustrated, they want to do something join your local city committee, join your local ward committee. I mean, if you live in Cambridge, weve got a big vote next month. If you live anywhere, right, these things exist all over the country and I would bet anything that you could show up to that and make a difference. If youre young, if youre not white, if youre not straight, youre gonna show up to that space, and youre gonna realize how much work we have to do. RG: Work worth doing. And so much of this story is the Democratic Party in microcosm from start to finish. And well continue following it, if only for that reason alone. Thanks for joining us, and hope to have you back again soon. DT: Yeah, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. [Musical interlude.] RG: I reached out to George Goverman for his reaction, and he declined to do a recorded interview, but agreed to answer questions. I asked if it was true he had reached out and apologized and he told me, I have reached out and as far as why I said it, I think its pure stupidity, and thats about all I can say. I really didnt know I was on an open mic.I pointed out that that sounds like the only problem for him was that his mic was on, and that he talks like that often. He told me: I dont use that word except to myself and very rarely to myself. It was not meant to go out to the meeting. I mutter things to myself and thats one of them. One of the things I mutter to myself is communist. Because Im an old guy and back when I was growing up, anything I disagreed with would have to be communist. So its just a bad habit. Even when I agree with someone, I sometimes will say communist ... its a silly thing.I asked George if he planned to resign, and he said that he was leaning in that direction. And later that evening, I learned that he had, in fact, resigned. I told him that people at the meeting felt that while his blurting out of a slur was the most explicit expression of homophobia, that the entire push against the resolution was as well. He declined to comment on that specifically, but I asked how he was impacted by the treasurers resignation at the end of the meeting. I was very upset that Bill tendered his resignation, he told me. That was very disturbing, and of course I thought that I had precipitated it, and then apparently that wasnt necessarily the case. I later learned that he was upset about what you implied, a vote down of the original resolution.Now, finally, I wanted to get Jim Roosevelts take, to see if any of the fallout since last Wednesdays meeting had changed how he thought about the entire affair. [Phone line ringing.] JR: Hello, this is Jim. RG: Hey Jim. Its Ryan. How are you doing? JR: Good, Ryan. Thanks. RG: Thanks for taking a couple of minutes. Now, Ill be quick because I know its late. I want to get your take on the meeting from last week. Is that alright? JR: Sure. RG: The main thing Id like to get your reaction to was the idea that was put forward during the meeting by a number of people who said that look, yes, its great that everybody condemned the explicit bigotry that came from George in that meeting. But what people needed to also recognize is that there was a softer, subtler kind of homophobia at work in not taking the opportunity to condemn what was behind the attack on Alex Morse. And I know that youve kind of rejected that idea in the past. And I wondered what your take on that was given the kind of visceral nature of the meeting? JR: Well, the meeting was, by the time we got to the resolution, a debate on whether to pass a resolution expressing no confidence in the state party chair and calling for his resignation, or whether instead take a strong stand in favor of LGBTQ rights and participation in politics, but not get into repudiating the state party chair who was just recently reelected. So that was what the discussion was about. RG: Well, the key element of the first resolution seemed to be the line that said that the party was aiding and abetting an attack on an LGBTQ candidate. And that was the part that the advocates of it wanted affirmation for. And I think that was the part that they felt like they didnt get affirmation for because it was substituted. Do you think if they would have taken out Bickford, but put in language around aiding and abetting an attack on an LGBTQ candidate, it would have had a better chance? JR: No, because that didnt happen. You know, there was that full investigative report by former state senator the first openly lesbian state senator, Cheryl Jacques which found no homophobic intent. RG: But she didnt really make a ruling on intent, right? JR: The Rules Committee actually reviewed this about 10 days ago, maybe two weeks, and ruled that she did make a finding on intent, yes. RG: What do you make of so many people, and not just members of the LGBTQ community who believe that this was homophobic? What was done to Alex Morse, at least. JR: I think theyre misinformed; I dont think they understand the facts of what happened. Now, Im not saying that there was no homophobic motivation by any of the students. But I dont have any way of knowing that one way or the other. Theres some pretty good evidence there was some careerist motivation on the part of some of the students RG: Hmm. JR: whether there was any homophobic intent, I dont have any way to know. RG: When it comes to the George Goverman comments, did you hear that in real time? And he told me hes considering resigning from his position on the board. Do you know if thats gonna happen, or ? JR: He did resign earlier tonight. RG: OK.JR: I did not hear it in real time; I must have been looking at my Roberts Rules of Order or something like that. [Laughs.] RG: Yeah. JR: But a lot of people have told me they did. And then theres a tape available of it. RG: Have you talked to Dan Totten since then, or any of the other people who were upset that night? The treasurer, I dont know if you were still at the meeting, but the treasurer at the very end resigned. And hes been a very active member of the party for a very long time, and felt that it wasnt a welcome place anymore. JR: I did. I was still on the call, and I was very disappointed that that happened. Hes a great guy and has done a great job. And Im hoping that he can be persuaded. I think that was what Goverman said. And clearly Bill was very upset about that. Im hoping he can be persuaded to reconsider that. RG: You had said that Morse confessed, or he had acknowledged that the allegations were true. But the only allegations that were ever really made were that Alex had had relationships with other adults, some of whom happened to be students at a university that was 30 minutes away from where he lived, and where, in the past, he had taught a once-a-week, adjunct course. Theres no policy against somebody in their 20s, who teaches one course there dating people at that college. And so what people have thought, OK, the entire thrust of this is homophobic because its judging these relationships. JR: I get that feeling on the part of Dan and even Alex. In fact, it is absolutely true that the I dont know if youve read the UMass investigation. RG: Mhmm. JR: They found that for years students had been made uncomfortable by Alexs activities, but that it did not violate university policy because he was careful that they were not in his classes. He didnt supervise them, or hire them, or anything like that. And, you know, if it was at Harvard or MIT, that would have been prohibited, but it was not prohibited at UMass. RG: Well, the report interestingly I did read it and the witnesses, the students that they interviewed, most of them said that they actually hadnt felt uncomfortable in their exchanges with Alex, but then after the rumor mill got going, and they were told by other students that they ought to feel uncomfortable, that they said, OK, well, then maybe in hindsight, I do feel uncomfortable.JR: Yeah. Thats true. Thats what I read as well. Yep. RG: Right. JR: Thats what I read as well. And the original letter that the students wrote didnt make any distinction between whether it was men, women, straight men, straight women, whatever was involved. It was just the question of the power relationship. RG: And you had said you helped them take out some potentially defamatory elements of the letter. Is that right? JR: Thats correct. Yes. RG: Have you spoken with Alex since all of this? JR: I have never spoken with Alex. Never. No. [Chuckles.] RG: Anything else that you want to share? JR: The only thing that I would share is that to the extent that Dan, I dont know but my wife does, theyve worked together on some city issues, Dan somehow thinks that I am homophobic. And all I can say is nothing could be further from the truth. And you can talk to many, many gay, lesbian, and queer individuals who will all tell you Ive been great supporters of theirs. [End credits theme.] RG: That was Jim Roosevelt, and thats our show. Deconstructed is a production of First Look Media and The Intercept. Our producer is Zach Young. The show was mixed by Bryan Pugh. Our theme music was composed by Bart Warshaw. Betsy Reed is The Intercepts editor in chief. And Im Ryan Grim, D.C. bureau chief of The Intercept. If youd like to support our work, go to theintercept.com/give your donation, no matter what the amount, makes a real difference. If you havent already, please subscribe to the show so you can hear it every week. If youre subscribed already, please do leave us a rating or review: it helps people find the show. And if you want to give us feedback, email us at [email protected] Thanks so much! See you next week.
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###CLAIM: the opposition to changing the filibuster rules in the power-sharing negotiations with mcconnell has been strong.
###DOCS: PoolSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer held a photo spray with the new Democratic senators that he called the majority makers.Schumer touched upon several topics, including whether President Biden's Defense Secretary nominee Lloyd Austin's waiver will be voted on in the Senate today. Schumer said it is passing the House, and I would like to get it passed in the Senate ASAP.The waiver is needed since Austin retired in 2016 but the law requires a defense secretary to wait seven years after active-duty service before taking the job. Asked about the timing of the impeachment trial in the Senate Schumer said, Speaker Pelosi will determine when she will send the articles over.Leader McConnell and I are trying to come up with a bipartisan agreement on how to conduct the trial. But make no mistake about it. There will be a trial, there will be a vote up or down on whether to convict the president. I believe he should be convicted. And well have to wait to she see when she sends the articles over to figure out how to do all that, Schumer said. On the Cabinet nominations still needed to happen, Schumer said, we have the greatest health care crises in 100 years, the greatest economic crises and the national security of America is always at stake. To leave these seats vacant does a disservice to America." "We're very pleased that last night we got bipartisan cooperation. We got bipartisan cooperation, so that April Haines is now the DNI. Were hoping to get the same bipartisan cooperation for Treasury, State, Homeland Security and Defense, very soon. We need these position to go quickly. We need our Republican colleagues to cooperate," he continued. On whether that means the Senate will be in session tomorrow, Schumer said, well we have to get these nominees approved, and we will do what it takes to do that.Schumer made clear that he is strongly opposed to changing the filibuster as part of his power-sharing agreement negotiations with McConnell. We believe, our caucus believes, that the fairest, easiest and most bipartisan way to come to an organizing resolution is to enact the 2001 agreement that Senators Lott and Daschle came to a bipartisan way back then. Our caucus is strongly opposed to any extraneous provisions. And so we're going to keep working to try and get a bipartisan agreement, Schumer said.
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###CLAIM: kelly 's attorneys requested the questioning of farmer under oath last month hoping he could corroborate details of what may have helped the singer 's appeal.
###DOCS: R. Kelly's attorneys say security video shows prison guards failed to stop the singer from being beaten by a fellow inmate inside Chicago's Metropolitan Correctional Center. According to a motion filed Friday, Kelly, 53, is suffering 'significant physical and psychological injuries' stemming from the August attack, which his lawyers claim could have been 'encouraged' by staffers at the facility. Kelly is being held at the MCC as he awaits trial on several dozen counts of state and federal sexual misconduct charges in Illinois, Minnesota and New York. An incident report from the US Bureau of Prisons claims Kelly was ambushed by gang member Jeremiah Shane Farmer as he slept on the bottom bunk of his prison cell on August 26. On that day, Farmer managed to separate from prison guards and enter the Kelly's cell, where he repeatedly stomped on the singer's head. The star was only saved when security personnel deployed pepper-spray. But in their new motion, Kelly's attorneys claim that jailhouse security video shows a more troubling version of events. R. Kelly's attorneys claim security video shows prison guards failed to stop the star from being beaten by fellow inmate, Jeremiah Shane Farmer, on August 26They write that the footage shows Farmer was able to 'roam a great distance' away from the guards and 'no one at the MCC raised a finger to stop Mr. Farmer from attacking Mr. Kelly until after Mr. Farmer was well into beating.' 'An unresolved issue remains as to whether MCC personnel encouraged, and then allowed, a beating of Mr. Kelly to take place,' the attorneys added. 'That alone merits an evidentiary hearing.' The filing comes less than a month after Kelly was denied bail, with officials saying he poses a flight risk and that his release could endanger the community. Last month, Kelly's attorneys also requested that they be able to question Farmer under oath in the hopes that he may corroborate details that could help with the singer's appeal. Kelly was attacked inside his jail cell at Chicago's Metropolitan Correctional Center (pictured) in AugustFarmer, 39, is a Latin Kings gang member currently serving a life sentence at MCC Chicago for a racketeering conspiracy connected to a 1999 double homicide. He was convicted in 2019 for the deaths of Marion Lowry, 74, and Harvey Siegers, 67. The two victims were beaten with a small sledgehammer inside their business, Calumet Auto Rebuilders, and found with severe blunt force trauma wounds to the head. Farmer - who has a 'F**k the Feds' tattoo on his face - last month claimed he was 'forced' to attack Kelly 'in hopes of getting spotlight attention and world news notice to shed light on the government corruption,' according to court documents obtained by The Chicago Tribune. Lawyers for R. Kelly (center) have argued that Metropolitan Correctional Center staff may have played a role in thee attackAttorneys indicated that Farmer's questioning would include but not be limited to 'the role that any MCC personnel played in that attack'. 'It appears that MCC personnel simply followed Mr. Farmer, allowed him to carry out the attack, and then only intervened after Mr. Kelly had already sustained serious injuries,' those court documents from last month stated. 'Mr. Kelly was the victim of an unprovoked attack while incarcerated at the MCC because of who he is,' Kelly's attorney Thomas Farinella said. 'It's clear the Bureau of Prisons cannot adequately accommodate the need to keep him safe.' Attorneys have attempted to convince federal judges that Kelly (center) was not a danger and should be released pending his trial dateCourt records showed that Farmer has a history of mental illness. Prosecutors in 2017 suggested he undergo a psychiatric exam after Farmer, who is representing himself in appeals court, revealed he was 'suffering from a variety of mental illnesses.' He was later found fit to stand trial. An indictment against Farmer claimed that between 1999 and 2001, Farmer 'tattooed his own face with two teardrops, to commemorate having killed' Siegers and Lowry. In 2019, Kelly (pictured) was indicted on charges related to sexual abuse in New York and ChicagoIn Chicago, he's accused of bribing victims and witnesses to change their stories. Kelly and his co-defendants allegedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to retrieve child pornography tapes before they were seized by prosecutors. In New York, prosecutors have charged him with racketeering conspiracy related to allegations he identified underage girls at concerts and groomed them for sexual abuse. In Chicago's Cook County, he's been charged with sexual abuse and sexual assault. Minnesota prosecutors hit Kelly with soliciting charges. He's remained at the Metropolitan Correctional Center without bond ever since.
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###CLAIM: the hospital did not explain why the clergyman was required at this hour and the priest did not think to ask.
###DOCS: Next month, she would have turned 60. Now, for a landmark series and podcast that re-examines Dianas last days, the Mail has spoken to a host of crucial eyewitnesses and members of her inner circle. Yesterday, we reconstructed the Princesss final weeks as she enjoyed a new relationship with playboy Dodi Fayed. Today, we tell the story of the tragic crash and the unsuccessful fight to save her. Some details of the injuries she suffered and the medical help she received have been excised, but what follows is an important historical account that dispels so many of the cruel myths surrounding her death. Sunday, August 31Midnight in Paris: Brigadier Charles Ritchie, the military attache at the British Embassy, is strolling past the Ritz after an evening out when he sees a crowd of photographers and other onlookers by the entrance. The soldier, who had once been equerry to Princess Anne, stops to speak to one of the spectators. He is told they have gathered because Lady Di is inside the hotel. Ritchie therefore becomes the first British official in the city to learn of her presence there. He will later tell the Mets Paget inquiry that he intended to inform his ambassador, but saw no reason to do so before the morning. Dianas butler Paul Burrell will also tell Paget that while she was obliged to inform the Home Secretary when she travelled abroad, in practice she only did so for official visits. This jaunt with Dodi was strictly unofficial. And so Ritchie carries on home. He has seen two Range Rovers and drivers outside the front of the hotel but assumes Diana will not leave the Ritz again at this late hour. It is a wrong assumption. A French medic named Dr Mailliez directs the rescue attempt of Princess Diana after the car crash in the Pont D'Alma tunnel in Paris on August 31, 199712.01am: Dodi pops out of the Imperial Suite and informs his two British bodyguards, Trevor Rees-Jones and Kez Wingfield, that there has been another change of plan. The couple will not be leaving by the Ritzs front entrance to travel to his apartment in the cars used earlier this evening, nor in the company of the two bodyguards and dedicated chauffeurs. Instead, Dodi tells them, he and Diana will leave by a rear exit with the Ritz deputy security manager Henri Paul and be driven by him in another Mercedes. The bodyguards will go out of the front and act as decoys while the couple and Paul make good their escapes. The two bodyguards are horrified at the bad plan. There is a heated debate during which Dodi tells his men: Its been okayed by MF [Mohamed Al Fayed], its been okayed by my father. A compromise is reached. Rees-Jones will go with the couple and Paul. Neither bodyguard is happy at this, but Dodis word is final. 12.06am: The couple leave the Imperial Suite and, with Paul and Rees-Jones, descend to ground level in a service elevator. Parked outside is the only suitable vehicle from the Ritz car pool available a black three-year-old Mercedes S280. Rees-Jones gets into the front passenger seat. Diana sits behind him with Dodi behind Paul. None of them is wearing a seatbelt. They are only minutes from catastrophe. 12.18am: The subterfuge has failed dismally. The Mercedes is surrounded by paparazzi before they can move off. One of the last pictures of Diana alive is taken here. Rees-Jones looks stressed, the bespectacled Paul bemused. According to an eyewitness, as he gets into the car Paul says to the photographers: Dont try to follow us; in any case, you wont catch us.Dodi Al Fayed, and Diana, Princess of Wales, pictured leaving the Ritz Hotel in Paris, France, the day before their fatal crash12.20am: They are pursued along the Rue Cambon to the junction with Rue de Rivoli, where Paul turns right into the Place de la Concorde. Then they enter the Cours la Reine, which runs along the Seine embankment, accelerating. Now they are passing under the approach to the Pont Alexandre III but the speeding Mercedes fails to perhaps cannot take an exit slip road that offers the most direct route to their destination. And so it continues along the river bank, pursued by paparazzi, towards the next bridge, the Pont de lAlma. At this point a number of disputed factors that will launch a myriad theories and investigations come together. Near the entrance to the underpass the speeding Mercedes is in a glancing collision with a white Fiat Uno. We shall return to that car later in this series. For now, though, suffice it to say that Paul loses control and the two-ton car smashes into the 13th pillar of the tunnels central reservation, at an estimated speed of 65mph. It spins about and comes to rest facing in the opposite direction. The impact kills Dodi and Paul. Rees-Jones and Diana are critically injured. Seconds later, off-duty doctor Frederic Mailliezs Peugeot enters the Alma tunnel from the other direction. Diana's bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones and the back of Diana's head and driver Henri PaulHe and his boyfriend Mark are on their way home from a birthday party. They left early because the doctor is on duty in the morning. I noticed some smoke in the tunnel and I drove slower and slower and then I saw [the Mercedes], Mailliez recalls to the Mail. The smoke is coming from its engine, which was almost cut in two, and the horn is blowing, on and on. There was nobody around the wreckage.He stops his car and hurries across the carriageway. Inside the Mercedes two [victims] were already apparently dead and two were severely injured but still alive. So I did a very quick assessment. Then I went back to my car to get what little medical equipment was there. I had a bag valve mask, which I took. Then I went back inside the Mercedes and tried to give assistance to the young woman. She was sitting on the floor in the back and I discovered then she was a most beautiful woman and she didnt have any [serious] injuries to her face. She was not bleeding [then] but she was almost unconscious and was having difficulty breathing. So my goal was to help her breathe more easily. It was a pretty difficult situation for me. I was on my own, I had little equipment. She looked fine for the first minutes but the accident was very high energy and you always suspect severe [internal] injuries in that kind of situation.Yves-Marie Clochard-Bossuet at the church of Notre-Dame-des-Foyers in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. The Catholic priest was the chaplain at the hospital where Princess Diana diedDr Mailliez calls the emergency services on his mobile phone. Then he goes back to work inside the car. He has no idea that the injured woman he is trying to help is Diana, Princess of Wales. All that matters is that her pulse is weak and rapid. But soon he becomes aware of other figures beginning to gather around the wreck as he works on her, trying to fix the respiratory bag on to her face. The flashguns of cameras go off behind him. Often people take pictures at an accident because they are curious, he says. But in that time there were a lot of people taking pictures, which surprised me but did not stop me doing my work. He tries to comfort Diana in French. He does not know she is a foreigner. Then someone behind him says that the young woman speaks English. So I began to speak English to her, saying that I was a doctor and that the ambulance was on its way and everything is going to be alright. Thats the kind of thing you say to make a patient feel comfortable. He still doesnt know who she is. 12.30am: The first uniformed police officer arrives on the scene. Sebastian Dorzee immediately recognises the Princess. 12.32am: Fire Sergeant Xavier Gourmelon arrives with two vehicles from the Marlar fire and ambulance station. He already knows it will be serious because a full medical team has been despatched to the scene. He sees the man who is Trevor Rees-Jones. He was very agitated, trying to turn round, muttering in English. I couldnt understand him but I put a team on him straight away, he recalls to the Mail. The sergeant also sees a figure crouched in the wreck with another victim. It is Dr Mailliez and Diana who is moving and talking. Gourmelons team removes Dodi from the car to try to resuscitate him. Once he was out, I stayed with the female passenger, he says. She spoke in English and said, Oh my God, whats happened? I could understand that, so I tried to calm her. I held her hand. Then others took over. This all happens within two or three minutes. Physically, he can see little wrong with Diana, apart from her shoulder . . . but you cant just rely on what you see. His fire service colleague Philippe Boyer fits her with a cervical collar and a fresh breathing mask. Then Boyer covers Diana in a metallic isothermal blanket. Her breathing is normal, her pulse fine and quite strong. Its looking hopeful. 12.40am: The first ambulance arrives. It is in the charge of Doctor Jean-Marc Martino, a specialist in anaesthetics and intensive care treatment. All Parisian ambulances carry a doctor as part of their crew. I introduced myself [to him] gave my assessment and went back to my car to go, Dr Mailliez recalls. And so I left the scene without knowing who I had been treating.He and Mark drive home, where he will begin the task of trying to wash his stained white suit. Without thinking, he has retained the respiratory mask that he had fitted on the woman. Philippe Massoni, Prefet de Police for Paris, is informed of the crash. 12.50-1am: George Younes, duty security officer at the British Embassy in Paris, receives a call, possibly from Nicola Basselier, assistant private secretary to Massoni, informing him of the accident. Younes records it in the Chancery Daily Occurrence Log. Immediately afterwards, Younes receives another, from the duty officer at the Elysee Palace, passing on the same message. Younes is the first British official to learn that Diana has been in a crash in his city. He records the information as entry No 3 in that nights duty log. It reads: T/C [telephone call] from Mr [unreadable] Permance de Palais Elysee to inform the Embassy that Lady Diana had a serious car accident at tunnel Pont de lAlma Paris. There is death in her car, she is being taken away to a hospital [unreadable] Paris that still kept secret for instant take all details from here. The truncated words and strange syntax perhaps reflect the confusion and enormity of the news. 1am: Martino tells Gourmelon that they must remove Diana from the car. So thats what we did, he says. We took her out and first put her on a wooden board and then . . . on to a mattress filled with air. It stops the person from moving around, to avoid spine trauma. But when we moved her from the board to the mattress her heart stopped beating. So we started giving her heart massage, two of us, and her heart started again almost immediately. From thereon in [her treatment] was all down to the doctors.1.10am: Younes telephones Keith Shannon, second secretary (technology) and the Embassys on-call duty officer and leaves an answerphone message. Shannon also receives a call soon after from Philippe Massoni who is already at the scene of the crash. 1.15am: Shannon telephones Keith Moss, the British Consul General in Paris. 1.18am: Gourmelon helps to put Diana in the ambulance. Like Mailliez, the fireman doesnt yet know who he has been helping until he is asked if he does by a captain at the scene. He tells me who she is and then, yes, I recognise her, but in the moment I didnt, he says. His team clear up and return to the station. He will give a statement to the police. But he doesnt talk about his part in the tragedy until he speaks a generation later to the Mail. Most urgently, Dianas blood pressure is beginning to fall. Martino administers another line of dopamine but fears the symptoms indicate internal damage. They have done all they can at the scene and now must get her to hospital. Which hospital is the subject of discussion in the control room. 1.30am: The decision that the Princess should be taken to the Pitie-Salpetriere in the 13th arrondissement is relayed to Martino. At the same time the hospitals emergency room team is put on standby to receive her. Keith Moss is notified and sets off for the hospital. 1.41am: The Princesss blood pressure has stabilised enough for the journey to begin; a slow and steady journey as any jolting, acceleration or deceleration might be fatal. In the tunnel, the roof of the Mercedes is cut away so that Rees-Jones can be removed. 1.45am: Moss telephones the Hotel de Charost, the magnificent residence of HM Ambassador on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore. His Excellency Sir Michael Jay is woken and informed of the crash. Buckingham Palace is empty of royals. But it is still guarded and houses the 24-hour-a-day control room for the police protection of all the UKs royal residences. Constable Garry Smith (not his real name owing to his current sensitive work) is on duty tonight. Only a week ago, Diana had posed for a photograph with him at her Kensington Palace apartment. Id told her I was organising a major charitable event and she offered to give me public support, he recalls to the Mail. I told her that as a member of the Royal Family she couldnt do that. She said: Well, Im not a member of the Royal Family any more, am I? I can do what I want. Now, over his personal radio, he starts to hear that something major has happened in Paris involving his friend and benefactor the Princess. He leaves his static post for the control room to monitor events. Chief Superintendent Dai Davies is head of Scotland Yards Royalty Protection Squad. He is asleep at his home on the outskirts of London when the phone rings. It was my duty officer at Buckingham Palace, a little strained, to tell me that Dodi was dead and Diana dying, he recalls to the Mail. My immediate reaction was to say Dodi who? because I was not fully awake and had been on leave.Davies goes downstairs and phones back his man at the Palace. He asks if his senior protection officer at Balmoral has been informed. Has anybody told Prince Charles? The Queen? All these questions were going through my head, Davies recalls. He dresses and drives to his HQ at Buckingham Gate. 2am: The ambulance is nearing the hospital when Dianas blood pressure drops again. Martino orders the driver to stop while he administers further treatment. He increases the level of dopamine. The prognosis is not good. Others are preparing for the worst. In his apartment close to the hospital Father Yves-Marie Clochard-Bossuet, who has volunteered to be duty chaplain this weekend, is woken by the telephone. It is the head concierge at the hospital. He said to me, Can you give me the address of one of your Anglican colleagues?, the priest recalls. So I said I didnt have an Anglican name on hand and added, You must have the number of an Anglican priest? But they said to me, Hes not answering. And I said, Im sorry, I dont know, and hung up.The hospital hasnt explained why an Anglican clergyman is required at this hour and the priest doesnt think to ask. His respite is brief. 2.02-2.03am: The priests phone rings again. He called me back and asked, Can you come in place of the Anglican priest? he recalls. I said, Yes, but why? He said, Look, I cant tell you.So I said, Funny you cant tell, because if Im going to see a person at two in the morning, I would love to know who it is. The priest begins to think the caller might be drunk. He tells him: If you cant give me the name or reason at 2am you are playing a joke. So he said to me, Well, I will tell you then. Its the Princess of Wales. Now, Father Clochard-Bossuet absolutely believes the concierge is under the influence and hangs up right away. Even so, he is slightly worried. He doesnt try to go to back sleep. 2.05am: Dianas blood pressure has stabilised. Her ambulance journey resumes. 2.06am: The ambulance reaches the hospital at last. The Princess is in a state of traumatic shock. The on-call cardio-thoracic surgeon, Dr Bruno Riou, is present and two X-rays are taken. They show she is bleeding internally. Diana begins to receive treatment but Dr Riou is pessimistic. 2.07am: The priests phone rings again. Father, Im really sorry, but its true what I told you, says the frantic concierge. You are expected by the British Ambassador who is [already] there. This is a very serious medical situation. The priest gets out of bed and dresses. 2.15am (approx. ): Michael Cole, a former BBC royal correspondent and now chief spokesman for Mohamed Al Fayed, is asleep at his home in Woodbridge, Suffolk, when the phone rings. It is Clive Goodman , the royal editor of News Of The World. He told me that thered been a crash in Paris and Diana was injured and Dodi had been killed, Cole recalls to the Mail. He asked me for a comment. His newspaper had been one of the most ruthless in pursuit of Diana and Dodi that summer, so all I said was you make me sick and hung up.Cole phones Mohamed Al Fayed at his Surrey estate. He answered but at the same time he was talking on another line to his helicopter captain, making arrangements to be picked up and flown to Paris. I told him what I had just been told and he said, very calmly, Michael, let us hope it is not true. Let us pray it is not true. 2.16-2.21am: Diana goes into further cardiac arrest. She is given external cardiac massage and adrenaline. But the battle is being lost. General surgeon Dr Monsef Dahman is called in to perform a surgical procedure to locate and stop the internal bleeding. 2.25am: The grievously injured Rees-Jones is delivered, at last, to the same hospital. 2.30am: Professor Alain Pavie, one of Frances most eminent cardio-surgeons, arrives. He has the Princess transferred from her stretcher to the surgical theatre. He locates the source of the bleed. The rupture is sutured and the haemorrhage brought under control, but Dianas heart does not restart. The surgical team know now there is no hope. Nevertheless, they continue with attempts to save her. The on-duty chaplain is walking to the hospital. I begin to see a lot of vans [with TV satellite dishes], he recalls. And I was like, So that stuff is true. Why else would this be happening in the dead of night in August?3am (9am Manila time): Foreign Secretary Robin Cook is in the Philippines and due to leave for Singapore in a couple of hours. But news has come through of the crash in Paris. Because of the time difference he is the only senior British politician awake and working and with a media entourage. He is interviewed in his hotel lobby by print and TV crews. He states that Diana is injured but alive and predicts it will be doubly tragic if it emerges that the accident that has claimed her boyfriends life was caused in part by the persistent hounding of the Princess and her privacy by photographers. The British reporters are bussed to the Villamor air base. The RAF VC10 is waiting ready to go. Foreign Office clerical staff are aboard in a curtained apartment at the back of the fuselage. But Cook is still delayed. A huge story is developing and there is no template. Uninformed, the reporters remain corralled in the grounded VC10. 3-3.30am: Colin Tebbutt, Dianas loyal driver-minder, arrives at Dianas private office in Kensington Palace, from his home in the hamlet of Botany Bay, on the outskirts of North London. He finds that her private secretary Michael Gibbins, her butler Paul Burrell and three female secretaries are already there. They are all watching the rolling TV coverage, which reports that Diana has been injured but is alive. 3.30am: Father Clochard-Bossuet has reached the hospitals surgical department. He has been greeted by the hospital director, who introduces him to the British ambassador, Sir Michael Jay. The ambassador says to me Please wait here. Im going to ask you something. The priest does as requested, waiting outside the operating theatre in which Frances best surgeons are battling to keep Diana alive. 4am: To no avail. Dianas medical team take the decision to cease their resuscitation efforts, which for at least an hour, perhaps, have been without any real hope of success. They have exhausted the supply of adrenaline. They have done all they can and more, but her injuries have defeated them. The most famous, most photographed woman in the world is officially declared dead. Outside the operating theatre the priest is approached by a member of the medical team who tells him: Its over. When will the world be told? For the moment there is an official news blackout. But some outside the emergency room and the official loop begin to learn the worst has happened. Michael Cole had met Dianas stepmother Raine, Countess Spencer, at his office that Friday. She told me she was going to Venice for the weekend and gave me the number of the friends with whom she was staying. So I called the number in Venice and after some delay because of the lateness of the hour, I got through to Raine. I told her what I knew, that Diana had been injured, and gave her the number for the hospital in Paris. I waited and in a very quick time Raine came back to me and said she had spoken to the hospital and that they had told her Princess Diana had not survived. And that, however terrible it was that Dodi had been killed, it was much, much worse that Diana was dead. When she told me it felt like I had been hit in the solar plexus. I sank to my knees and wept. And that was the last time in my life that Ive cried hot tears.Colin Tebbutt recalls: We were watching the television and they were broadcasting the footage of Robin Cook saying that Diana was injured but alive when the phone rings. Michael Gibbins answered it and spoke briefly. Then he replaced the receiver, turned the television down and said to us, quite calmly, Ladies and gentlemen, the Princess is dead. And that was a shock, let me tell you. That wasnt easy to take. Dianas secretaries and Burrell burst into tears. At Buckingham Gate, Dai Davies, the head of Royal Protection at the Met, is stunned by the news. Now he and his boss Commander Peter Clarke have to react professionally. There is a contingency plan for the death of every senior royal. But for Diana, no such arrangements are in place. He calls in Inspector Ken Wharfe, a former long-serving protection officer for Diana. He also orders a French-speaking royal protection officer to go from Balmoral to Paris. 4.20-4.25am: Father Clochard-Bossuet is escorted by a nurse to a room on the first floor where he finds a number of dignitaries, including the French Interior Minister Jean-Pierre Chevenement and Ambassador Jay. He recalls: The ambassador says to me, We will now take you to the room where Diana has been laid. We ask that you say prayers and watch over her until an Anglican priest is found. The priest agrees. It is too late to perform Extreme Unction, the sacred ritual for the dying, and in any case Diana was not Catholic. But he will say prayers for the deceased. 4.25am: On the airfield outside Manila, the RAF VC10 has not moved. It cannot take off for Singapore until the Foreign Secretary boards. Why is he taking so long? Steve Doughty, the Mails diplomatic correspondent, is one of the journalists on the plane. He recalls: Buckingham Palace had no night duty officer awake and able to deal with overnight business, and so was out of the loop. The Foreign Office was in charge of getting Diana information, and it was diverting all message traffic from Paris to their boss, Robin Cook, in Manila. My understanding at the time was that Cook was being told before Downing Street.This traffic is being fielded by Foreign Office staff in the communications suite at the back of the VC10. They are separated from the Press in the main passenger compartment by a thin curtain. Some secrets are too big to keep, says Doughty. A female colleague twitched back the curtain at the rear of the plane to reveal a row of female Foreign Office secretaries all in floods of tears. And thats when we knew that Diana was not injured but dead.The officials on the plane do not attempt to deny the news. Those journalists with mobile phones that work in Manila begin to call their editors in London. 4.41am: The Press Association in London breaks the news that Diana has died in Paris. It is as yet unsupported by official confirmation. Back at the hospital Father Clochard-Bossuet is taken by the ambassador and a nurse to the room in which Diana is lying, her body covered by a sheet. I saw her for the first time there, he recalls. She was completely intact, no mark or stain, or make-up. Completely natural. And she was a really beautiful woman and it seemed as if . . . you could almost talk to her.The priest is now alone with Diana. He had been aware of the Princesss holiday activities that summer and had not approved: All those photos, the lovers . . . For a woman who is the mother of a king . . . that was not behaving well. I was not sympathetic [to her].But then he had read her interview in Le Monde newspaper on Thursday and his opinion changed. There was a page on her explaining what [else] she was doing and very positive things. And I thought, Well you were ready to judge, but ultimately she is a good woman. It was providential that I saw it [given what happened].He thinks of the two young Princes who have yet to be told. They are going to have to wake them up and tell them, Its over . . . It is the worst thing.He begins to pray for Dianas soul. In the darkness outside the hospital Interior Minister Chevenement is confirming to the world that the Princess is indeed dead. Princess Diana's final daysWho was really responsible for Princess Diana's death? Seven conspiracy theoriesEverything you need to know about Princess Diana's funeral
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###CLAIM: it is the first time it has been set on top of the shard monument to absurd decadence.
###DOCS: I was a teenager, walking through the art department at my school in the East End of Glasgow, when I heard the news about Dunblane. I never know how things affect me at the time theyre happening. I call myself emotionally slow, because it takes me time to be able to put a name on the emotions Im feeling, or to realise how much something has shocked me. But I remember that moment of the person telling me about a shooting at a primary school so clearly, even now. It shouldnt be hard to talk about how youre feeling, but for some reason it is. Thats why Im so impressed with the families in the new documentary Return to Dunblane with Lorraine Kelly. I dont know how they were able to describe their experiences and emotions so well. One father recalls sitting down with a police officer and as soon as he heard him say Im sorry to tell you ..., he says everything transformed into a dream. I was asked to write the music for the documentarys soundtrack. It was a difficult thing to compose for. Even if you soundtrack a movie based on a true story, its someone elses version of the events. But this story was being told by the actual people involved. Its extreme TV extreme emotions, extreme everything. Id written about tragedy before with my band Glasvegas. Flowers and Football Tops from our debut album is about a child who was murdered and how that might feel for the parents. I thought back to it when I was writing this music. Its a familiar ground that youre walking on. It reminded me to tread carefully with what I was doing. I had a Zoom call with Lorraine who covered the tragedy at the time to discuss the new documentary. She put me at ease straight away and was very welcoming I think its these qualities that earned her the trust of the people she interviewed. The thing that struck me was when she was describing the press conference after the shooting happened. She said it was a room full of journalists, a place full of chaos. But when the police began reading out of the names of the children who died [16 children and a teacher lost their lives in the massacre] the room became silent. She said the sound of that silence stuck with her. Shortly after that conversation, I was sitting in the living room with my fiancee, Molly, and she had a glass of wine; she was playing with the wine glass on this wee flimsy table we had and the sounds were making it shake. It sounded like a tremble, a shiver, in the silence. I thought the soundtrack should be based around that. Writing the music was a new experience because, with Glasvegas, you can self destruct if you want its up to you, because its your thing. But when youre part of a much bigger thing you cant do that. Your job is to move someone elses story along. Ive been obsessed with soundtracks since I was a kid I was always more interested in them than the movies: Bill Contis Karate Kid soundtrack; Jack Nitzsches music for Stand By Me; and then the one that really blew my mind was Philadelphia by Howard Shore. People think you can take the music this way or that way, but I think they underestimate how often the music leads you. Ive tried before to influence things but the music will say no, this is the way were going and thats how it was with this. Once I have the start of a melody, I cant stop thinking about it until its resolved. Sometimes, the melodies never resolve, but the best ones always do. Until they do, its like youre going mad I think about them when Im trying to sleep or talking to somebody. But thats just artists I guess. Were a wee bit mad. With Glasvegas, people are just waiting until Im happy, then they say quick, record it before he changes his mind! But with this I needed someone elses approval, which was a new experience. The feedback for my first composition was: Can you make it more dramatic? I didnt really know what that meant, so I took it as licence to really push things. I sent back another version on the night of the deadline and was told This is too dramatic. But we got there, eventually. Id definitely like to pursue doing more soundtrack work. Other people are better at describing how they feel, but perhaps thats why they dont need to make music. Now that I think about it, maybe this is how I express my emotions best. James Allan was speaking to Tim Jonze. Return to Dunblane with Lorraine Kelly airs at 9pm on 11 March on ITV.
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###CLAIM: the plot follows a us tour initially headlined by the kiss version of rock dinosaurs, the washed out, metal and corpses, while looters and fabulous stains follow the bill.
###DOCS: When Johnny Rotten crouched on the edge of the stage in San Francisco in 1978, at the demise of the Sex Pistols US tour, and asked, Ever get the feeling youve been cheated? it would inspire a key moment in a film four years later. In Ladies and Gentleman, the Fabulous Stains, Billy (Ray Winstone) fronts the Looters a London punk band, all poxy this and bollocks that rounded out by real-life Sex Pistols Paul Cook and Steve Jones, as well as Paul Simonon from the Clash. Billy addresses the fanatical teenage girl audience awaiting the set of headline act the Fabulous Stains, and snarls: Youve been ripped off.Rottens comment had been in reference to manager Malcolm McLaren booking the disastrous tour in cities unlikely to embrace the Pistols, whereas Billys broadside is motivated by resentment that his booking agent has turned what had been the Looters support band, the Fabulous Stains, into a cynical marketing concept. Youre adverts. Youre a commercial, he spits at the audience of skunks, named after the two-tone hair of the Fabulous Stains. This sea of teenage girls is dressed in the official Stains merch of transparent red blouses, completed by red winged eye makeup, and underwear and fishnets with no skirts. Its not the only parallel to the Pistols in this long-lost cult film, now available to rent or buy on YouTube. Jones and Cook, who wrote many songs on the soundtrack, formed the Professionals after the Pistols broke up. One of that bands singles, Join the Professionals, winds up being the Fabulous Stains break-out MTV hit. Trailer for Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains. The Fabulous Stains themselves, made up of nihilistic firecracker Corinne Burns (a 15-year-old Diane Lane); Jessica McNeil (13-year-old Laura Dern) and Tracy Burns (Marianne Kanter) are pitched somewhere between the Go-Gos and the Runaways, and frontwoman Corinne is frequently invited on to TV shows, thanks to her bleak one-liners that are guaranteed to shock suburbia. One moralistic TV news anchor is clearly modelled on Bill Grundy, whose 1976 interview with the Pistols descended into mayhem when he contemptuously goaded them into swearing. The plot follows a tour of the US, initially headlined by rock dinosaurs the Metal Corpses (a washed-up version of KISS), followed on the bill by the Looters and the Fabulous Stains. Each band is out of step with the next. Metal Corpses singer Lou (played by Fee Waybill of the Tubes) lectures the Looters that their leather rockabilly look is nothing new, resulting in a scuffle. Winstone threw a real punch, according to Waybill, which is perhaps not surprising, as Winstone who was already famous for his back catalogue of playing the troubled thug, in Scum and Quadrophenia has admitted to the Guardian that he has head-butted the odd director. Laura Dern as a member of the Fabulous Stains, a group pitched somewhere between the Go-Gos and the Runaways. Photograph: Paramount PicturesThe Fabulous Stains are just as disparaging of Metal Corpses (He was an old man in a young girls world, they tell reporters when the guitarist overdoses backstage), but also of the Looters, who are themselves has-beens by 1982. Theyre repulsed by the way their tourmates assume all women are groupies, giving rise to the slogan, Were the Stains and we dont put out. Their star soon eclipses that of the other bands, and Corinne becomes some kind of monster herself. The screenplay was written by Nancy Dowd (who used a male pseudonym, Rob Morton, as was often her way), in consultation with Melody Maker journalist and former manager of the Clash, Caroline Coon. A 1977 New York Times article about Dowd for her earlier film, Slap Shot, which is set in the world of professional hockey, describes her as a sweetfaced Smith College graduate from a proper Massachusetts family. She is 31 years old, has a trim figure and perfect teeth, it goes on, but Dowd regularly snips her interviewer down to size, Stains-style. Diane Lane as Corinne Third Degree Burns. Photograph: Paramount PicturesIn fact, one wonders what the famously prickly Dowd made of the end result of Ladies and Gentleman, the Fabulous Stains. She and director/record executive Lou Adler apparently couldnt agree on the ending, and she walked off set after being groped by a crew member. Her feminist script rubbed up awkwardly against the lingering shots of pubescent breasts bouncing behind transparent blouses. Paramount buried the film, perhaps because of a poorly received test screening, and it languished in the vaults for decades, only being screened at the odd film festival. Those fleeting outings were enough to fire the imaginations of Courtney Love and riot grrrl bands such as Bikini Kill, but the film didnt reach a wider audience until it was released on DVD in 2008 with a cast commentary. There are some great visual moments, such as the audience of teenage Stains clones flipping off the Looters en masse, and the dilapidated tour bus rumbling through shit towns (driven by real-life reggae artist Barry Ford as the tour manager) painted red, gold and green, with The Looters spray-painted over The Metal Corpses. And the smart-mouthed script isnt as contrived as you might anticipate, despite having to jump a number of sharks in order to catapult the Stains to MTV stardom. The ultimate burn comes from Corinne Burns, of course. You are so jealous of me, she tells Billy, whos kicked down her dressing room door to tell her she knows nothing about the industry. Im everything you ever wanted to be.A cunt, he spits. Exactly.
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###CLAIM: the appetite for risk has been dented by the surge in covid cases, doubts over the deployment of vaccine programs and the boost in safety given by the u. s. dollar against most currencies.
###DOCS: * EM assets set for mild gains in Jan* South Korea, Taiwan stocks among worst weekly performers* Russias rouble lags EMEA peers this weekJan 29 (Reuters) - Emerging market stocks fell on Friday, set for their worst week in four months, as a surge in COVID-19 cases and doubts over the rollout of vaccine programmes dented risk appetite and boosted the safe-haven U.S. dollar against most currencies. The MSCIs index of emerging market (EM) stocks dropped 0.7% and was set to shed nearly 3.8% this week, as it retreated from record highs hit earlier in the week. However, the index was still poised to notch a monthly gain. Rising COVID-19 cases and concerns over the rollout of the vaccine across emerging markets dampened appetite for their assets, with investors also scrutinizing high-stock valuations as economic trends showed little improvement. A short-squeeze on the Wall Street also sent waves across global equities, as markets feared a trimming in long positions by major hedge funds. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Turkish, South African and Russian stocks continued to retreat from recent all-time peaks. South Korean and Taiwan stocks were among the worst weekly performers in broader EM as foreign investors unwound large positions. Recent EM performance has been volatile across asset classes, said Christian Keller, head of economics research at Barclays. We believe this has been driven by shifting expectations of U.S. fiscal policy support, ongoing concerns about COVID lockdowns and slow vaccine rollouts, their effect on EM growth and fiscal outcomes, as well as political risks.Emerging currency markets also fell, with the dollar benefiting from an increased safe-haven demand as volatility grew across risk-driven assets. The Russian rouble, which led losses across EMEA on Thursday, was set to widely underperform its regional peers this week as political concerns weighed. The unit was on track to close the week lower by more than 1%. Losses in Turkeys lira were offset by the central banks commitment to maintain tight monetary policy until inflation was managed. The currency was among the few units trading positive for the week. Most EM units were set to gain in January due to initial optimism over an economic recovery. But, doubts over the swiftness of recovery crept into markets towards the end of the month. The Czech crown was set to outpace its central European peers this week on the back of increased bets that the central bank could hike rates twice this year. For GRAPHIC on emerging market FX performance in 2021, see tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh For GRAPHIC on MSCI emerging index performance in 2021, see tmsnrt.rs/2OusNdXFor TOP NEWS across emerging marketsFor CENTRAL EUROPE market report, seeFor TURKISH market report, seeFor RUSSIAN market report, see (Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
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###CLAIM: the centralisation is using services such as lending platforms and exchanges, which are especially well known to early investors who have witnessed a great number of hacks, exit scams and bankruptcies wiping out customer funds held.
###DOCS: CHINA - 2021/04/24: In this photo illustration the cryptocurrency exchange trading platform Blockfi ... [+] logo seen displayed on a smartphone with the word cancelled on a computer screen. (Photo Illustration by Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesBlockFi, the crypto lending and trading business, mistakenly deposited large amounts of crypto to user accounts. The payments were associated with a promotion they were running, in which users would receive bonuses in USD stablecoins. The promotion was intended to be paid out in one lump sum in GUSD according to their website. Instead, some accounts were paid the amount denominated in Bitcoin, with some receiving over 700 BTC (worth >$28,000,000 at current prices). Mistaken Bonus Bitcoin Payment Screenshot - Reddit User / Fritz1818A screenshot from one affected user who withdrew the funds shows threat of possible legal action should they not be returned, and a pay-out of $500 should they return them by a set time. BlockFi clearly has their hands full dealing with the mistakenly deposited bonus payments, and users have reported experiencing additional issues with the companys services. The BlockFi subreddit is full of posts with individuals receiving the mistaken funds, having difficulty withdrawing, and being unable to trade. One user claims to have been falsely accused of withdrawing mistaken funds after withdrawing USDC which he or she had been deposited a month earlier. A statement by BlockFi, noted that fewer than 100 clients were incorrectly credited, and BlockFi has contacted these clients and is working with them to rectify the issue.There are risks with using centralized services like lending platforms and exchangesthese are especially well known by early Bitcoiners who have witnesses a great number of hacks, exit-scams, and insolvencies wipe out customer funds held by large custodians. MORE FROM FORBES What Are The Risks Of Crypto Savings Accounts? BlockFi claims that client funds are not impacted and are safeguarded. After raising a recent $350 million funding round, the company likely has large pools of capital to pull from should they be unable to recoup any of the mis-credited funds from users who withdrew to personal wallets.
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###CLAIM: twenty-four protesters were issued with 200 fines while four were arrested on suspicion of public order offences.
###DOCS: Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Manchester on Sunday to oppose the national lockdown in England. People started to congregate in Piccadilly Gardens from around 1pm, with police saying there were more than 600 attending at the protests height. Social media footage showed hundreds of people, many of them carrying placards, protesting against the governments decision to impose a second shutdown. There appeared to be little social distancing and few protesters were wearing masks as they chanted rise up and freedom. Police strongly condemned the protest, saying that several officers were injured and warning those responsible they would face justice. They said there were four arrests. Mabs Hussain, assistant chief constable with Greater Manchester police, said: I would like to use this opportunity to publicly condemn this gathering. Both the organisers and attendees were irresponsible increasing demand on police who are also responding to calls regarding serious incidents and people who are in immediate danger across Greater Manchester. Before and during this gathering, officers followed guidance to engage with the organiser and attendees, explain the restrictions and encourage compliance. Unfortunately, the encouragement was ignored, which resulted in officers progressing to enforcement. Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, officers authorised a section 34 dispersal order. They also arrested four people on suspicion of public order offences and issued 24 200 fixed penalty notices (FPNs). Enquiries are ongoing to also issue an FPN to the organiser. Enquiries have established that one group of attendees travelled to Greater Manchester from Cumbria via coach. The driver and the company they work for have both been reported to the relevant industry regulator. Whilst responding to this gathering, a number of officers were injured. This is unacceptable behaviour towards officers who were simply doing their job and protecting people. Investigators will now work to identify those responsible and ensure they face justice.Pat Karney, Manchester city councils spokesman, also condemned protesters. I can completely condemn this disgraceful gathering in Piccadilly Gardens. These people should check out the ambulances going in and out of our hospitals at the moment to see the massive health crisis we are all facing, he said. If you disagree with the restrictions, write to your MP but dont endanger peoples health.
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###CLAIM: due to the way revenue from ancillary merchandising is going down, the revenue side of revenue is largely focused on the artists and teams of revenue, which manning says is why so much attention is given.
###DOCS: Matt Pincus-backed HIFI, the brainchild of music tech entrepreneur Damian Manning, launches with two ... [+] products for music artists - Royalties Dashboard and Cash Flow. HIFIIs HIFI, a new business management platform that automates the process through which music artists find and collect their royalties across disparate revenue streams, the financial holy grail musicians have been waiting for? Thousands of artists and managers across the major and indie sectors have applied for membership since the companythe brainchild of music tech entrepreneur Damian Manning thats backed by industry stalwart Matt Pincussoft-launched with two products in July. The platform is available to US residents now, with plans to expand in the UK and across Europe. Royalties Dashboard, which aggregates data from labels, distribution services, performing rights organizations, music publishers and other sources, is free to use and widely available. Cash Flow, currently in use by HIFI charter members, is an electronic system that twice-monthly pays out a uniform amount to artists based on their projected annual earnings. The service effectively transforms the nontraditional pay model of advances and one-offs into a salary-like scenario. HIFI takes a percentage of an artists earnings, which Manning characterizes in the low single digits as an administrative fee. It also absorbs any monetary deficit should the projection fall short. Mannings goal with HIFI is to build products and services that help artists and songwriters achieve greater financial control and independence. Its an increasingly uphill battle. What used to be a release schedule that spanned several years has evolved into a near-constant flow of new material and collaborations across multiple distribution avenuesand a tangle of associated earnings housed primarily in walled gardens. Many of todays music professionals are juggling several initiatives, each with their own distinct set of royalty streams, and its much more challenging to wrap their arms around all those silod streams and all those dashboards, says Manning, whos a founding venture partner at early-stage capital firm DEV, previously co-founded direct-to-fan commerce company Echospin, and served as an executive at Digital Strategy Partners and MTV Networks. People have the ability to focus on only so many things at once. Pieces fall through the cracks, he explains. And those different royalty organizations and services that pay artists dont really interoperate with one another. We recognized being able to pull all those different pieces together into a single place immediately helped put artists in a better position to understand what they are earning.Those earnings are especially importance these days, and HIFIs launch comes at a time when artists are particularly cash-strapped. With touring largely sidelined and ancillary merch revenue way down, Artists and their teams are suddenly focused on the royalty side of their revenue, which historically has been something that hasnt been given a lot of attention because its so convoluted, Manning says. The question every artist is facing, and so then is every manager, is: Since there is less money coming in, what can we leverage that can return a repeating income of some sort. And royalties are more or less the only game in town.His concept of tackling one of the creator communitys biggest pain points is catching fire. Investors include Pincusfounder of SONGS Music Publishing, which was acquired by a fund managed by Kobalt Capitaland venture capital firms Lerer Hippeau and Flybridge Capital. Platoons Denzyl Feigelson, Splices Steve Martocci, and Will Page, Spotifys former chief economist, are among advisers helping steer HIFIs launch. Managers Knocking On The DoorHIFI has particularly piqued the interest of artist managers and business managers. Among those taking its services for an early spin are Max Gredinger of Foundations Music, the management company of Lauv and Young The Giant; Justin Kobay, partner at LL Business Management, whose clients include Lil Nas X and Timbaland; Mike Merriman, whose Parr3 client roster includes producer Louis Bell (Post Malone, Taylor Swift) and Alison Wonderland; and Andrew McInnes, founder of TMWRK Management, who counts Diplo, Major Lazer and TV On the Radio among clients. The system is set up to create negligence, notes Merriman, who says royalty hunting takes up a hefty amount of his staffs time. The number of deals that get done and the number of artists that get signed and songs that come out every year is not supported by enough accounting bandwidth to actually distribute all the money that gets collected. If youre not actively nudging all sources at all times, your clients can get overlooked and literally miss out on payments that should be coming to them.McInnes points to another widespread issue HIFI can help solve. Artists pass away and technically their [royalty earnings] are inherited, bands break up or for a variety of circumstances artists stop working in the industry and stop paying attention, he says. And all these companies are sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars that [could] end up going to government. So theres a problem for people who cant figure out the system and dont have a means to get paid.Royalties Records In The Palm Of Your HandEnter Royalties Dashboard. Artists install the software on their phone, select the various industry services they work with, log into those services through the dashboard, and HIFI takes it from there. The system is able to continuously pull down all royalty earnings data and files and creates a digestible analysis artists can access on-demand. HIFI notifies artists when an update is available, or when they have a balance. Because HIFI operates outside of the disparate channels, Manning says it is complementary to the label portals, rights, publishing and other organizations. HIFI is intentionally an independent organization that has worked hard to avoid the sorts of channel conflicts that make it difficult to collaborate in the music industry, Manning says. Theres a shared goal in the market to help artists get paid. Our goal is to make that process more seamless and more fair for more artists. So far, weve had good working relationships with the organizations that originate those royalty payments.As such, hes fielding conversations with artists and teams working across the industry spectrum. Early on we expected to have immediate interest from the emerging class of artists and music professionals. That happened pretty quickly. What we hadnt anticipated was the immediate traction from established artists, those already in the major label system or who previously were signed to a label, he says. They have the same kind of challenges. Its just that the stakes are higher.Expanding Offerings, Growing A CommunityWith HIFIs flagship product out the door, Manning is working to expand the community aspect of the service and develop the next offerings to bolster the suite. Members want the ability to talk about their challenges in a forum with their peers and speak to experts and get guidance on how to address their challenges. There are so many questions and so much misinformation out there in the market, he says. Credit services, expense tracking mechanisms, discography/catalog tracking, book-keeping solutions, health insurance products, insurance for instruments and gear, and tour financing are among the topics on the table based on conversations with artists and their teams. Of the latter area, he notes: Once there is touring in the future, the question has to be asked, Will there be the guarantees and the advances weve seen in the past? I would argue likely not. In that scenario, whos financing those tours? Were looking closely at that.
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###CLAIM: the fighting erupted in the neighbouring donbas republic, another area of ukraine where russian annexation of crimea in 2014 has been the mainstay of rebel demands.
###DOCS: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shakes hands a soldier as he visits the war-hit Donbas region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Ukraine is at the center of a major geopolitical battle in the eastern part of the country with Moscow backed separatists. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shakes hands a soldier as he visits the war-hit Donbas region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, April 8, 2021. Ukraine is at the center of a major geopolitical battle in the eastern part of the country with Moscow backed separatists. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukraines president on Thursday visited the area of conflict in his countrys east amid an escalation of tensions that has raised fears of a resumption of large-scale hostilities. In Moscow, a senior Kremlin official sternly warned Ukraine against using force to reclaim control of the rebel east, saying that this might force Russia to step in to protect civilians there. The conflict with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine erupted shortly after Moscows 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimea peninsula. More than 14,000 people have died in the fighting. Officials in Ukraine and the West have raised concerns about increasingly frequent cease-fire violations in the countrys industrial heartland, known as Donbas. They also expressed worries about Russian troops buildup along the border with Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENTI want to be with our soldiers in the tough times in Donbas, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tweeted as he headed to the conflict area Thursday. He said that a 23-year-old Ukrainian soldier was killed in the area on Wednesday night. Thank you for keeping people calm and defending our land, Zelenskiy told troops during the trip. You are a true example of heroism and dedication. We remember every warrior who died defending our state.Zelenskiy has accused Russia of flexing its military muscles and held a series of calls with Western leaders to rally support for Ukraine amid the tensions. Russia has rejected the claims, arguing that it can deploy its troops wherever it deems necessary on its territory and emphasizing that they dont threaten anyone. It has accused Ukrainian authorities of trying to stoke up tensions in the east for domestic policy purposes. In a call Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin drew attention to the provocative actions of Kyiv, which has deliberately sought to exacerbate tensions along the line of control, the Kremlin said in its readout of the call. Five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed this week alone. These are all deeply concerning signs, she said. Speaking at a panel discussion with political experts in Moscow, Dmitry Kozak, a Putin aide who serves as Russias top negotiator with Kyiv, warned Ukraine against using military force to retake control of the eastern regions, where many residents have received Russian citizenship. The start of hostilities will the beginning of an end for Ukraine, Kozak said. It would mean shooting itself not just in the foot, but in the head.Asked if Russia could intervene militarily, Kozak responded that it will depend on the scale of the fire.If they try to do it like in Srebrenica, as our president said, we will likely have to come to their defense, he said in a reference to the July 1995 massacre of civilians by Bosnian Serb forces during the Bosnian war. Ukraine and many Western nations have accused Russia of sending troops and weapons to eastern Ukraine to support the rebels accusations the Kremlin has denied.
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###CLAIM: swisscom also said the financial outlook for 2021 remained unchanged, adding that minority shareholders mtn, group and ltd. would sell a 20 percent stake in proximus.
###DOCS: ZURICH, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Swisscom has agreed to sell its 22.4% stake in Belgacom International Carrier Services (BICS) to majority owner Proximus for around 110 million euros ($133 million), it said on Tuesday. Minority shareholder MTN Group Ltd is also selling its 20% stake in BICS to Proximus, Swisscom said, adding its financial outlook for 2021 remained unchanged. BICSs equipment handles global calls, text and Internet traffic.
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###CLAIM: she mixed 350 grams of digestive biscuit with 180 grams of melted butter, stirring until combined.
###DOCS: 'Instagram famous' baker Eloise Head has shared her wildly popular recipe for 'no bake' Rolo cheesecake, which can be made without using an oven. The London chef, who became a social media sensation during the first Covid lockdown in early 2020 by sharing photos of simple but decadent desserts, makes the cheesecake with basic ingredients such as butter, cream, sugar and biscuits. Photos of the cake - which has a thick base of Digestive biscuits, a caramel flavoured filling and rich caramel topping - have gone viral on Instagram, racking up almost 50,000 'likes' since they were uploaded online on March 18. Hundreds tagged their friends in the comments section, with one woman writing: 'Oh my god, this looks unreal!' Scroll down for videoLondon baker Eloise Head's 'no bake' Rolo cheesecake, which can be made without turning on an oven'It's been so long since I made a cheesecake and I've been wanting to make a caramel or Rolo themed one for quite a while!' Ms Head wrote in the caption. To make the base, she starts by mixing 350 grams of Digestive biscuits with 180 grams of melted butter, stirring until the two have combined into a buttery crumb. Ms Head then presses the mixture into the base of an eight inch cake tin which she leaves in the fridge while turning her attention to the filling. After whisking 350ml of double cream, she takes a separate bowl and mixes 500 grams of softened cream cheese with 120 grams of icing sugar and 120 grams of Carnation caramel, which is sold in leading supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths. The 'Instagram famous' baker (pictured) shot to online stardom during the first Covid lockdown, when she started to share photos of her simple but decadent desserts onlineThe cheesecake (pictured) can be made with basic supermarket ingredients such as butter, sugar, cream and Digestive biscuitsOnce mixed, Ms Head spoons the creamy caramel over the cooled biscuit base and leaves it to set in the fridge for at least five hours. When the cake has set, she loads it with a further 150 grams of Carnation caramel, decorating the edge with about 20 Rolos. Ms Head said it's best to keep the cheesecake in the fridge after adding the topping to ensure the caramel fully sets. 'I found it sliced better after being the the fridge for several hours again,' she added.
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###CLAIM: the column published questions about whether kamala and harris would meet constitutional requirements for holding executive office.
###DOCS: Updated at 6:40 p.m. ET on April 23, 2021. Attempts by President Donald Trump and his insurrectionist supporters to overturn the results of the 2020 election are infuriating, tantamount to an attack on the heart of American democracy. Death threats against Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and others illustrate how much worse things could have been amid the chaos. To safeguard the rule of law and to deter future violence, the Capitol lawbreakers must be brought to justice. And politicians who fueled false beliefs that the election was stolen ought to be voted out of office. Their bad-faith pandering harmed the country. There is, however, another imperative: Members of the supermajority who disdain the attack on the Capitol must keep their heads. Precisely because the transgression was outrageous, clouded judgment is likely, as are responses that do more harm than good, including to innocent people. Here are four areas of concern:For months, President-elect Joe Biden has been considering new laws against domestic terrorism. Immediately after the storming of the Capitol, he called the insurrectionists terrorists. Norman Ornstein, an American Enterprise Institute scholar and Atlantic contributor, tweeted that the House must as an immediate step pass a domestic terrorism statute, with a focus on white supremacist terrorism, and send it to the Senate, arguing that the FBI is very limited in what it can do because domestic terrorism is not a category in the way that foreign Islamic terrorism is. I want white supremacist groups treated the same. But the anti-Islamic-terrorism model has too many problems to justify emulating it. After the 9/11 attacks, accused Islamist terrorists were tortured, put on secret kill lists, rendered to a secret prison system, and held for years without charges or trial. Whats more, existing laws appear sufficient to charge, convict, and sentence the men and women who breached the Capitol building. Lets see how they work before judging them too weak. Juliette Kayyem: How MAGA extremism ends Certain provisions of current law could, moreover, already lead to overcharging. Murder charges are appropriate for insurrectionists who kill police officers, as members of the Capitol mob reportedly did. Trump has long been excused for violating terms of service in ways that would get most Americans banned. And even those who favor a unrestrained culture of free speech and consistently oppose deplatforming for political beliefs can simultaneously conclude that trying to overturn an election is beyond the pale. By acting only after the Capitol riot, moreover, Twitter arguably avoided many slippery-slope concerns. (That was an unprecedented and extreme event.) Still, the fact that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny both find the ban worrisome ought to spur debate and careful reflection. Twitter should reassure Americans on the right that so long as they abide by the terms of service, they wont be banned, censored, or treated more harshly than others. Twitter was not the only tech company to deplatform Trump or to crack down on speech perceived as dangerous. Apple, Google, and Amazon Web Services all moved against Parler, a social-media app that many on the right use as an alternative to Twitter, apparently for insufficient moderation of posts. According to The New York Times, In a letter to Parler on Saturday, Amazon said that it had sent the company 98 examples of posts on its site that encouraged violence and that many remained active.Parler uses a jury system to moderate posts. (Its CEO describes it to the Timess Kara Swisher here.) Its approach may or may not be inferior to that of its rivals. But posts encouraging violence or violating terms of service frequently appear on all social-media platforms. So 98 offending examples hardly seem sufficient to justify the most powerful players in tech moving in lockstep against an upstart social-media company. With respect to the storming of the Capitol, did Parler really play a bigger role than Twitter, the platform where Trump has spent years flagrantly lying to the public? Is Parlers removal from app stores really grounded in its harmfulness or potential to cause harm? At the very least, Parlers treatment warrants more scrutiny, rather than the reflexive cheerleading among those with distaste, fair or unfair, for Parler users. It is proper to censor calls to violence. Going beyond that and depriving Trumpists of their preferred social-media platform could drive many to more cloistered digital spaces that are more extreme, less visible to outside monitors, and likely to result in more radicalization, not less. Renee DiResta: Right-wing social media finalizes its divorce from realitySome in positions of power have called for adding the names of alleged Capitol-riot participants to the no-fly list before they are charged, let alone convicted. Given the heinous domestic terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol yesterday, I am urging the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to use their authorities to add the names of all identified individuals involved in the attack to the federal no-fly list and keep them off planes, said the Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson. This is an action that TSA and the FBI, by law, are able to take but, to my knowledge, have not yet taken. Many on social media echoed the suggestion and gleefully cheered a TikTok video purporting to show a Stop the Steal participant complaining about his removal from a flight. If sufficient evidence proves that someone stormed the Capitol, then he or she should be arrested, charged, given the ability to retain counsel, and tried in a court of law. But hasty pretrial punishments without due process are unacceptable, and social-media mobs amplifying claims that someone is known to be guilty are likely to ensnare innocents too. Voters ought to punish members of Congress who spread misinformation about the 2020 election and objected to the certification of electoral votes. But Im alarmed by calls from some Democrats to expel those GOP lawmakersa step that would deprive their constituents of their duly elected representatives in the name of safeguarding democracy. Expulsion isnt always inappropriate, despite being antidemocratic. For example, if evidence emerges that a member of Congress helped insurrectionists infiltrate the Capitol, or texted them the location of a threatened colleague, that would be grounds for expulsion. But expelling a member for voting against certification would set a dangerous precedent and radicalize many. James Fallows: Time for consequencesNo one has the right to incite mobs, coordinate insurrection, or engage in political violence. Indeed, it is imperative to punish all known to engage in such behavior, whether it manifests as Trump supporters storming the U.S. Capital or antifa members setting a federal courthouse on fire or adherents of the most noble ends adopting terrorizing means. But Americans do have a right to form coalitions, support candidates, and voice opinions that their fellow citizens find odious. Conserving the ability to exercise those rights is vital. If tens of millions of Americans are stymied from even nonviolent participation in politics or civic discourse, whether by the state or by corporations, representative democracy will cease to function as a means of addressing grievances, and more political violence will ensue. As state officials and private companies crack down on violent insurrectionists, they should demonstrate, in words and deeds, that they care about civil liberties and the ability of all who eschew violence to participate meaningfully in civic life.
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###CLAIM: our country will win when all is over and this period of time has become just another ugly chapter in our history. ''
###DOCS: President Donald Trump has backed Bernie Sanders' plans to filibuster and force the Senate to sit until the new year if a vote is not held on a bill passed by the House to increase stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600. Sanders announced his intentions on Monday to slow down the Senate's vote on overriding the president's veto of a huge defense bill unless Senate leaders agree to hold a vote on increasing the amount given to Americans in coronavirus relief funds. In response to a tweet reporting Sanders' plans and in apparent support of them, the President wrote: 'Give the people $2000, not $600. They have suffered enough!' Senator Sanders announced his plans on Monday to object to the overriding of the president's veto of the $740 billion the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). A spokesman for Sanders also confirmed that he will object to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) setting up a vote on the veto override of the bill until the proposed aid increase is voted on. 'This week on the Senate floor Mitch McConnell wants to vote to override Trump's veto of the $740 billion defense funding bill and then head home for the New Year,' Sanders tweeted Monday. 'I'm going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $2,000 direct payment to the working class.' President Donald Trump has backed plans by firebrand Senator Bernie Sanders to filibuster and force the Senate to sit until 2021 if a vote is not held on a bill passed by the House to increase stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600Senator Bernie Sanders Tweeted his plans Monday to object to the overriding of the veto of the $740 billion the National Defense Authorization Act. US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured) will likely be forced to break a rare filibuster of the veto override effortsWhile Sanders cannot ultimately prevent the Senate from voting on whether to override Trump's veto of the defense bill, McConnell will likely be forced to break a rare filibuster of the veto override efforts. This will force the bill to overcome a 60-vote procedural hurdle and delay the final vote on Trump's veto until later this week. The NDAA initially passed the Senate earlier this month with a 84-13 majority - with Sanders voting against it at the time. The veto override requires a two-thirds vote in order to pass the Senate. Sanders also received support from Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) who said he would similarly slow down the defense bill with the hopes of increasing the amount given to Americans as part of the $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief package. 'I will be joining @BernieSanders in blocking the defense bill until we get a vote on $2000 in direct cash relief. That relief passed in the House today with 44 Republicans voting for it. Senate Republicans must do the same and get the American people the help they need,' Markey tweeted. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is expected to attempt to bring the House-passed bill to the Senate on Tuesday, but because it would only take a single senator to block his request, he is unlikely to succeed. Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted on Monday his intention to hold up the Senate's vote to override President Trump's veto of the $740 billion the National Defense Authorization Act until a vote is held on increasing relief checks to $2,000 from $600In apparent support of Senator Sanders, President Trump tweeted 'Give the people $2000, not $600. They have suffered enough!' The House of Representatives passed a bill Monday evening that would increase Americans' stimulus checks to $2,000 - something President Donald Trump has also demanded. Democrats used a fast-track procedure to get the bill through, meaning two-thirds of the House needed to sign on. All but two House Democrats who voted Monday were joined by 44 Republicans to get the bill through, with the final vote total being 275 yeas to 134 nays. Twenty-one lawmakers didn't vote. After the House of Representatives passed the $2,000 bill, Sanders said he would hold up the expected veto override of the National Defense Authorization Act in order to get it across the line in the Senate. 'I'm going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $2,000 direct payment to the working class,' Sanders said. Now the bill's fate is in the Senate's hands - where Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not been openly supportive. On Sunday night when Trump signed the giant spending and COVID-19 stimulus bill - after flirting with vetoing it for several days - he repeated his demand for Americans to receive $2,000 checks, instead or the $600 payments outlined in the legislation. 'As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child,' Trump said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is seen on Capitol Hill Monday. Trump ended a crisis of his own making Sunday by finally signing the $2.3 trillion bill, which includes the $900 billion in coronavirus relief and $1.4 trillion for government funding through September 2021. His signage stopped 14 million Americans from losing their unemployment benefits boost, courtesy of previous relief packages, and averted a government shutdown in the midst of the pandemic. Although the bipartisan bill was signed, it was sent back to Congress with several red line items from the president marking out the spending he wants cut. The president does not have the power to line-item veto per a Supreme Court ruling that it is unconstitutional. 'I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill,' Trump said in a strongly-worded statement Sunday night accompanied by the signage announcement. His signature came after he spent much of his weekend golfing in Mar-a-Lago railing against the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement lauding Trump for signing the bill, but made no mentions of the president's demands for cutting spending and increasing direct checks for Americans from $600 to $2,000The president was largely absent while his administration negotiated the details of the final package with Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill. But, on Sunday night, came Trump's sudden reversal. 'I am signing this bill to restore unemployment benefits, stop evictions, provide rental assistance, add money for PPP, return our airline workers back to work, add substantially more money for vaccine distribution, and much more,' Trump said of signing the legislative package that a week earlier he called a 'disgrace.' The White House issued a strongly-worded statement from the president with the signing announcement, where Trump said he was sending it back with lines marking out the spending he wants cut. 'I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill,' Trump said in the statement. Additionally, many of the spending items in the federal budget that Trump wants cut were in his original budget request to Congress earlier this year. The White House also claimed it was getting other concessions from Capitol Hill, including that the Senate will start the process for $2,000 stimulus checks, will repeal section 230 that gives protections to tech companies from lawsuits, and start investigation into voter fraud. Trump previewed his signage in a tweet shortly before signing the bill at his Mar-a-Lago club: 'Good news on Covid Relief Bill. Information to follow!' McConnell released a statement applauding Trump's signing the $900 billion relief and funding package but made no mention of the three items Trump claimed he was getting the Senate to do. 'I thank the President for signing this relief into law, along with full-year government funding legislation that will continue the rebuilding and modernization of our Armed Forces that his Administration has championed. His leadership has prevented a government shutdown at a time when our nation could not have afforded one,' McConnell said. 'I am glad the American people will receive this much-needed assistance as our nation continues battling this pandemic,' he added. He didn't mention increasing the dollar amount in the checks. TRUMP SIGNING STATEMENT As President of the United States it is my responsibility to protect the people of our country from the economic devastation and hardship that was caused by the China Virus. I understand that many small businesses have been forced to close as a result of harsh actions by Democrat-run states. Many people are back to work, but my job is not done until everyone is back to work. Fortunately, as a result of my work with Congress in passing the CARES Act earlier this year, we avoided another Great Depression. Under my leadership, Project Warp Speed has been a tremendous success, my Administration and I developed a vaccine many years ahead of wildest expectations, and we are distributing these vaccines, and others soon coming, to millions of people. As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child. As President I am demanding many rescissions under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. 2 U.S.C. 683. I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed. I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill. I am signing this bill to restore unemployment benefits, stop evictions, provide rental assistance, add money for PPP, return our airline workers back to work, add substantially more money for vaccine distribution, and much more. On Monday the House will vote to increase payments to individuals from $600 to $2,000. Therefore, a family of four would receive $5,200. Additionally, Congress has promised that Section 230, which so unfairly benefits Big Tech at the expense of the American people, will be reviewed and either be terminated or substantially reformed. Likewise, the House and Senate have agreed to focus strongly on the very substantial voter fraud which took place in the November 3 Presidential election. The Senate will start the process for a vote that increases checks to $2,000, repeals Section 230, and starts an investigation into voter fraud. Big Tech must not get protections of Section 230! Voter Fraud must be fixed! Much more money is coming. I will never give up my fight for the American people! AdvertisementHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on Trump to persuade Republicans in joining Democrats to expand the amount of the relief checks. 'Now, the President must immediately call on Congressional Republicans to end their obstruction and to join him and Democrats in support of our stand-alone legislation to increase direct payment checks to $2,000, which will be brought to the Floor tomorrow. Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need,' Pelosi said in statement Sunday night. Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer issued his own pressure. 'The House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks. Then I will move to pass it in the Senate. No Democrats will object. Will Senate Republicans?,' he said. Additionally, the current session of Congress ends on January 3rd, which leaves very little time on the calendar to get such work done. Earlier Sunday night, before leaving his Mar-a-Lago home to have dinner at his Trump International Golf Club, the president hinted at his plans, tweeting: 'Good news on Covid Relief Bill. Information to follow!' A short time later, a source confirmed to DailyMail.com that Trump signed the bill Sunday evening at Mar-a-Lago. After signing the bill, Trump still demanded the $2,000 stimulus checks for Americans in a statement that reads: 'As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child. Had Trump continued with his threat not to sign the legislation, the federal government would've run out of money at 12:01 am Tuesday. In the face of growing economic hardship and spreading disease, lawmakers urged Trump on Sunday to sign the legislation immediately, then have Congress follow up with additional aid. Aside from unemployment benefits and relief payments to families, money for vaccine distribution, businesses, cash-starved public transit systems and more is on the line. Protections against evictions also hang in the balance. Senator Lindsey Graham arrived in Mar-a-Lago to play golf with Trump on Christmas Day and discuss the legislation with the president. Other Republicans, including House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy and several Republican senators spent the weekend working to convince Trump to sign off on the bill, multiple sources told Politico. Republicans also took to the Sunday morning political shows to pressure Trump to sign the legislation. Republican Sen Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood that Trump 'wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks, but the danger is he'll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire'. 'So I think the best thing to do, as I said, sign this and then make the case for subsequent legislation,' Toomey added during his appearance on 'Fox News Sunday.' Additionally, the bipartisan group of lawmakers involved in the original negotiations issued a statement earlier Sunday demanding Trump sign the bill or veto it if he didn't like it so Congress could vote on overriding that veto. 'If your objection to the COVID-19 relief bill will prevent you from signing, please veto it immediately. You've made your position clear and rejecting it quickly will allow those in favor to act before it is too late,' the lawmakers wrote. 'Never before in your personal, professional, or political life have you been characterized as a man of inaction. Now is not the time to sit idly by - please do the right thing and sign or veto this bill immediately.' The group included Republican Senators Mitt Romney and Susan Collins along with Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. 'Relieved that this long-awaited, bipartisan emergency #COVID19 legislation has finally been signed into law. Help is now on the way to workers, families, and small businesses across the country who are desperately in need,' Romney tweeted after Trump signed the measure. Trump had demanded the size of the relief checks to be tripled from $600 to $2,000, which the House will vote on MondayIn the face of growing economic hardship and spreading disease, lawmakers urged Trump on Sunday to sign the legislation immediately, then have Congress follow up with additional aid. On Saturday, two critical unemployment programs lapsed, ending millions of people's unemployment benefits. While Trump's signature returns the benefits, there could be a delay in the checks coming during the holidays. Maryland Gov Larry Hogan, a Republican who's criticized Trump's pandemic response and his efforts to undo the election results. 'I just gave up guessing what he might do next,' he said. Republican Rep Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said too much is at stake for Trump to 'play this old switcheroo game'. 'I don't get the point,' he said. 'I don't understand what's being done, why, unless it's just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the election.' Democrats also piled onto the president. Sen. Bernie Sanders said Trump was behaving as an 'extraordinary narcissist' and was almost 'pathologically narcissistic' in his eleventh-hour crusade against the bill. 'What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel,' Sanders told ABC's 'This Week' host Jonathan Karl in a Sunday interview. 'Many millions of people are losing their extended unemployment benefits,' the independent Vermont senator continued. 'They're going to be evicted from their apartments because the eviction moratorium is ending. We are looking at a way to get the vaccine distributed to tens of millions of people. There's money in that bill.' Earlier on Saturday night, the president returned with another round of claims of election fraud in a fiery Twitter tirade in which he concluded 'We will win'. He blasted the FBI, the U.S. court system and the Department of Justice before declaring that the country's electoral system is 'like that of a third world country'. Trump called on Republicans to help him fight for the presidency as he took further hits and the press and tech companies amid allegations of voter fraud that U.S. courts and the Justice Department have deemed to be unfounded. 'Time for Republican Senators to step up and fight for the Presidency, like the Democrats would do if they had actually won,' Trump wrote in a Twitter thread. Massive late night mail-in ballot drops in swing states, stuffing the ballot boxes (on video), double voters, dead voters, ...fake signatures, illegal immigrant voters, banned Republican vote watchers, MORE VOTES THAN ACTUAL VOTERS (check out Detroit & Philadelphia), and much more,' he added, despite his campaign having so far being able to offer no evidence to prove that any of these allegations were true and his lawsuits being dismissed. 'The numbers are far greater than what is necessary to win the individual swing states, and cannot even be contested.... Courts are bad, the FBI and 'Justice' didn't do their job, and the United States Election System looks like that of a third world country,' Trump fumed. 'Freedom of the press has been gone for a long time, it is Fake News, and now we have Big Tech (with Section 230) to deal with. 'But when it is all over, and this period of time becomes just another ugly chapter in our Country's history, WE WILL WIN!!!' the president concluded. President-elect Joe Biden had called on Trump to sign the bill immediately as the midnight Saturday deadline neared for two federal programs providing unemployment aid. 'It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don t know if they ll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump s refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority,' Biden said in a statement. He accused Trump of an 'abdication of responsibility' that has 'devastating consequences.' House Democrats passed a bill this week to send millions of Americans $2,000 direct-aid payments. Donald Trump has repeatedly endorsed the idea. And yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) unveiled a bill in his chamber that would deliver on the popular goal. But the Kentucky Republican first intends to add a couple of poison pills. [McConnell] unveiled a bill that combines Trump's three demands it boosts the payments to $2,000, repeals an internet liability law known as Section 230 and sets up a commission to investigate the election. "This week, the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus," he said. According to the text of the new legislation, circulated late yesterday by a Democratic leadership aide, McConnell has effectively drafted a ransom note: senators can vote on the increased direct-aid payments, but only if he can add unrelated provisions that would make Donald Trump happy. One would establish an 18-member congressional commission to investigate election fraud that did not occur in reality. The other would eliminate Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which protects online companies from being sued into oblivion. (Imagine a landscape in which people could sue Facebook, for example, if they felt libeled by something someone had written about them.) To be sure, there's room for a credible debate about possible reforms to the existing Section 230 policy, but that would take time and careful consideration. Because Twitter hurt Donald Trump's feelings, Republicans prefer to simply scrap the provision altogether, without pesky hearings or serious efforts at policymaking, tacking it on to an unrelated proposal. This is not some kind of clumsy attempt at a compromise, with McConnell trying to trade a conservative goal for a progressive one. Rather, this is intended as sabotage: the Senate Republican leadership wants to kill the $2,000 checks, and they see these poison pills as the most convenient way to make the popular idea go away. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called it a "cynical gambit," which is an entirely accurate summary. McConnell is reluctant to simply ignore the direct-aid proposal -- in part because Trump keeps voicing support for the measure, and in part because it would affect next week's Senate runoff elections in Georgia -- and he sees these poison pills are a more convenient way to reach his goal. There is, of course, a more direct approach: McConnell could simply bring the House's CASH Act (the "Caring for Americans With Supplemental Help Act") to the Senate floor. It'd need 60 votes to advance, and by accounts, the bill isn't close to clearing that threshold, at least not yet. But this route would leave Republicans responsible for killing a popular idea, touted by, among others, their own party's president. McConnell clearly prefers the more cynical approach that would have the same effect, but would make it easier for GOP senators to pretend failure wasn't their fault. For his part, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the chamber's most enthusiastic proponent of $2,000 direct-aid checks, intends to delay a vote on overriding the president's veto of defense spending, insisting that senators can fund the military after they consider the economic-relief measure. The Vermont's senator's plan would, among other things, likely interfere with senators' holiday plans this week. The current Congress expires this weekend, and any unresolved bills would die when the clock runs out. Tick tock. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article ShareHours after the House voted Monday to boost stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) vowed to push the GOP-controlled Senate to vote on the move as well. His leverage? Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight A threat to force senators to cancel their holiday travels by throwing a wrench into Majority Leader Mitch McConnells plans for a quick vote this week on an override of President Trumps defense bill veto. Let me be clear: If Sen. McConnell doesnt agree to an up or down vote to provide the working people of our country a $2,000 direct payment, Congress will not be going home for New Years Eve, Sanders said in a statement. McConnell (R-Ky.) has not signaled how he intends to handle the Houses stimulus boost, The Washington Posts Mike DeBonis reported. McConnells office did not respond to a request for comment on Sanderss threat. AdvertisementAt least one other Democrat, Sen. Edward J. Markey (Mass. ), said he would join Sanders in blocking the veto override vote until theres also a vote scheduled on the increased stimulus payout. While the Democrats cant indefinitely delay the veto override vote, they could inconvenience Republicans and further heighten tensions in the GOP over the stimulus payments. Trump on Sunday signed a $900 billion stimulus deal but called the $600 checks measly and urged his party to up the amount. Trump appeared to back Sanderss move early Tuesday when he retweeted a post about it. Give the people $2000, not $600. They have suffered enough! Trump tweeted. The House of Representatives on Dec. 28 voted on a bipartisan basis to boost stimulus checks set to go out to American households from $600 to $2,000. (Video: The Washington Post)Democrats have largely rallied around the idea, with the vast majority in the House voting for the increase on Monday. They were joined by 44 Republican House members, but its unclear how much support the plan has among GOP senators, who have fought to keep the stimulus deal under $1 trillion. AdvertisementSanderss delay tactics revolve around another vote on Monday out of the House, which passed an override of Trumps veto of the $741 billion defense authorization bill. McConnell is expected on Tuesday to ask the Senate for unanimous consent to vote the following day on the override. But Sanders said he would object to that vote unless McConnell also schedules one on the $2,000 stimulus checks. Under Senate rules, McConnell could still force a vote on the veto override by invoking cloture, which requires 60 votes. But that would take extra time, as the liberal magazine American Prospect noted, because McConnell wont have enough senators in D.C. on Tuesday for such a move. Dragging out the Senates final week of 2020 could also force Georgia GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler to stay in D.C. during the crucial final days of campaigning for a Jan. 5 runoff election that will determine which party controls the Senate, Politico reported. Sanders said he views the larger stimulus checks as key for Americans battered by a worsening pandemic. The House has passed a $2,000 direct payment for working people. It is time for the Senate to act, he said. GiftOutline Gift Article
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###CLAIM: we already know that apple will also remove bundle charges and earpods from the range of the iphone and 12, stick to the same large notch and increase the price.
###DOCS: Taking a look back at another week of news and headlines from Cupertino, this weeks Apple Loop includes surprising iPhone 12 benchmarks, big problems with iOS 14, two new iPads, Apple ignores MacOS, the good/better/best of the Apple Watch, the controversy around Apple One, and the Macs never changing system System Preferences. Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the very many discussions that have happened around Apple over the last seven days (and you can read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes). Just How Fast Is Your Next iPhone? We might not have seen the iPhone 12 family as part of Apples virtual September launch event this week, but we have seen the benchmarks pop up on the AnTuTu website. That gives us a raw comparison of the numbers from last years iPhone to this years. Philip Michaels reports some pretty shocking numbers:"Leaked benchmarks from Antutu, purportedly showing off an iPhone 12 Pro Max's performance, may help fill in some of the blanks. MySmartPrice spotted the leaked numbers, which claim to show off a device with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage running iOS 14.1. According to the leaks, the iPhone 12 Pro Max tallied a score of 572,333 on Antutu's test, which is a 9% gain over the iPhone 11 Pro Max's 524,436 result on the same test. MySmartPrice says the iPhone 12 Pro Max's reported tally would be the highest score ever posted by an iPhone, which you'd hope given that it's a new model. More at Toms Guide. BEIJING, CHINA - JULY 17: Customers visit the Apple new flagship store at Sanlitun on July 17, 2020 ... [+] in Beijing, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) VCG via Getty ImagesThe Big Problem With iOS 14Apple may not have announced a release date for the iPhone, but it did announce the release date of iOS 14. And that has caused problems. Normally Apple will provide a weeks worth of heads up time to Developers so they can ensure their apps are ready for the jump up to the next major version of iOS. Not this year... developers had less than a days notice, and they are not happy. Matt Binder reports:"Gone are the hopes of being on the store by the time users install the new iOS 14 and are looking for new apps. Gone is the chance to get some last-minute fixes into your existing apps to make sure they dont stop working outright by the time users get to upgrade their OS, explained Steve [Troughton-Smith from High Caffeine Content."There are some developers who have spent all summer working on something new, using the latest technologies, hoping to be there on day one and participate in the excitement (and press coverage) of the new iOS, he continued. For many of them, theyll be incredibly upset to have it end like this instead of a triumphant launch, and it can dramatically decrease the amount of coverage or sales they receive.More at Mashable. Take Two Tablets And Call Your iPhone In The MorningTaking the flagship spot away from the missing presumed having a good time iPhone 12 was Apples new iPad Air. Beating the smartphone as the first device with Apples new A14 ARM-based processor. Samuel Axon and Jim Salter report for Ars Technica:"The iPad Air gets the new A14 Bionic CPU, built on 5nm process technology. It's a six-core CPU with two high-performance cores and four lower-power, more efficient cores for simpler background tasks. The A14 Bionic offers a 30 percent GPU performance boost compared to previous generations, and Apple says it puts up double the graphics performance of typical laptops.As well as the increased power, 2020s iPad Air has a new design; USB-C has been added, the bezels have been trimmed away, the home button has been removed, and TouchID has been integrated into the power button. It;s not the only new iPad, as the entry-level iPad moves up rom the A10 to the A12 Bionic processor. Benjamin Mayo reports:The jump from A10 to A12 means Apples cheapest iPad will feature the Neural Engine for the first time. Apple says the A12 chip offers more than twice the performance of the top selling Windows laptop, 6x faster than the top-selling Android tablet and 6x faster than the best-selling Chromebook. "The 8th-generation iPad keeps the same price as the 7th-gen: thats $329 for general sale and $299 for education.More at 9to5Mac. Will Mac Owners Be Satisfied With Safari After macOS Delay? If you were waiting for MmcOS Big Sur to drop for your Mac or MacBook, then you are out of luck. Apple's event saw updates to iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS... but macOS has been delayed. The Big Sur release is still in the future, but a small crumb (perhaps from a cookie) has been handed to Mac fans in the form of Safari 14, presumably to offer cross-OS support with other devices. Juli Clover reports:"Safari 14 brings improved performance, customizable start pages, a Privacy Report to see which cross-site trackers are being blocked, and a new tab bar design that provides tab previews so you can see what you have open at a glance. Todays update also removes Adobe Flash." More at MacRumors. The Apple Watch Strikes ThreeTwo new Apple Watch models were launched, and as the Apple Watch Series 3 remains, there is now a low-, a mid-, and a high-level smartwatch in the classic triplet that Apple was once famous for. Todd Haselton looks over the Series 6 Apple Watch for CNBC, including the headline wellness features:"The Series 6 also has Apples most advanced sensors. You can run the ECG app for an electrocardiogram, for example, a feature thats not on the Apple Watch SE or Series 3. Its also the only model with the new blood-oxygen app. I tried that and it told me my blood oxygen was 96%, which seems good. ...Apple is careful to explain that this isnt a medical device. You can use it if youre curious about your blood oxygen when youre hiking at high altitudes, but Apple isnt making any promises about detecting low oxygen should you fall ill with coronavirus.Meanwhile, Apple has brought the SE brand to the Apple Watch, again with the promise of a cheaper mid-range slice of hardware that still delivers the core Apple experience. Chris Velazco has spent some time with the wearable to try and work out where it fits into the portfolio:"For one, the SE uses the same S5 system-in-package (or SIP) that we got in last year's Series 5, which in turn contains the same dual-core processor as the Series 4. Meanwhile, Apple has confirmed that the SE has the same compass and always-on altimeter as the Series 6, along with a very similar screen. "From what I can tell, it's the same bigger display we got in the Series 5, just without the always-on functionality enabled. And while the Series 4 was the first Apple Watch to come with heart-sensing ECG support, you simply don't get that here. Ditto for the Series 6s new blood oxygen measurement features." More at Engadget. Bouquets and Brickbats For Apple OneAlso announced alongside Apples hardware, and perhaps an indication of where Apple wishes to focus on the future, were new options for the various subscription services offered by Cupertino. Apple One takes the popular options and bundles them together while offering a discount. Brian Heater reports:"Its not quite mix and match yet, but there are three pricing tiers. Individual offers Apple Music, TV+, Arcade and iCloud for $15 a month. The Family version will get you those four services for $20 a month. For the hardcore, theres the $30 a month Premier tier, which bundles iCloud, Music, TV+, Arcade, News+ and [the new service] Fitness+.For those who have been putting off a given Apple subscription, such a bundle could certainly sweeten the pot and make it even harder for users to escape the pull of the Apple software ecosystem.More at TechCrunch. Given Apples market position, using one service to pptentiallybolster another through a bundle has drawn the eye of the competition. Spotify - which has already filed an anti-trust complaint with the European Commission against Apple - drew attention to the issue shortly ager the end of the event. "Once again, Apple is using its dominant position and unfair practices to disadvantage competitors and deprive consumers by favoring its own services. We call on competition authorities to act urgently to restrict Apples anti-competitive behavior, which if left unchecked, will cause irreparable harm to the developer community and threaten our collective freedoms to listen, learn, create, and connect." More on the Spotify statement at Apple Insider. And Finally...The look of the MacOS user interface has evolved since OSX was announced in 2000. One area has stayed relatively contestant, but the small changes highlight the thinking behind the OS over the years. "The interface started glassy and skeuomorphic, mimicking the materials used on Macs. Over the decades, it went through significant revisions. One thing that seems to have remained relatively unchanged over the years is the System Preferences screen. But, at a closer glance, well see that this mundane part of the operating system has changed quite a bit and hides some fun easter eggs and surprises." Arun Venkatesan has taken a closer look on his blog. Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Dont forget to follow me so you dont miss any coverage in the future. Last weeks Apple Loop can be read here, or this weeks edition of Loops sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.
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###CLAIM: last week the pandemic in sweden was declared essentially a viral one, with researchers suggesting swedes may have built immunity.
###DOCS: A version of this story appeared in the September 28 edition of CNNs Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction newsletter. Sign up here to receive the need-to-know headlines every weekday. CNN Nearly 1 million people across the world have died since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and new outbreaks are continuing to crop up. The World Health Organization has warned that a doubling of that number is certainly unimaginable, but its not impossible, if countries dont work together to suppress the virus spread. In the United States, India and Brazil which account for more than half of all global cases the pandemic shows no sign of slowing down. The US, which surpassed 7 million cases on Friday, could see an explosion in Covid-19 infections as fall and winter set in, health experts warn. India, which hit 6 million cases on Monday, isnt far behind the country has recorded 5 million infections in the past two months alone. And the pandemic continues to roil South America. Though Brazil is the regions worst-affected nation, with more than 4.7 million infections, Argentina, Colombia and Peru are recording thousands of new cases daily. Several countries in Europe are also seeing an increasing trend in case numbers, after lockdown policies were lifted over the summer, contributing to a new surge. Second waves are underway in the United Kingdom, Spain and France. YOU ASKED. WE ANSWEREDQ: What is aerosolized spread? Whats the difference between aerosols and droplets? A: Aerosolized spread is the potential for the coronavirus to be passed not just by respiratory droplets, but by even smaller particles called aerosols. Unlike droplets, respiratory aerosols linger in the air long after someone talks, breathes, sings, sneezes or coughs, and can spread farther than 6 feet. This becomes very relevant when you are indoors and there is poor ventilation, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said. Theres good enough data to say that aerosol transmission [of coronavirus] does occur, Fauci said, adding that theres an easy way to help minimize the risk: Wear the mask.Send your questions here. Are you a health care worker fighting Covid-19? Message us on WhatsApp about the challenges youre facing: +1 347-322-0415. WHATS IMPORTANT TODAYNew York Citys spike in cases shows coronavirus is still a force to be reckoned withAs cases spike in parts of New York City, Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that Covid-19 remains a force to be reckoned with throughout the country.Once the epicenter of the pandemic in the US, New York had boasted a test positivity rate the percentage of tests that come back positive for the virus of less than 1% for more than a month. That rate broke 1% on Saturday as Cuomo reminded New Yorkers we cannot drop our guard.Experts have cautioned that the US could see an explosion of coronavirus cases in the fall and winter as people exercise less caution and spend more time indoors. Already, 21 states are reporting more new cases in the last seven days compared with the week before, according to a CNN analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University. Some countries are eying Swedens light-touch Covid response. Its a gamble that could backfireAn expert on the spread of Covid-19 proclaimed last week that the pandemic in Sweden was essentially over the virus there was running out of steam, he said, as researchers suggest Swedes could be building immunity. Such comments have emboldened governments flirting with the idea of adopting Swedens light-touch approach, in the hope they can soften the blow to their economies. The problem is, the science isnt in on whether immunity is building in Sweden at all, after the country resisted lockdowns and let the virus spread through much of its population, Angela Dewan writes. Monthslong curfew lifted in Australia, as other countries lock downFive million residents in Melbourne, Australia, emerged from a long lockdown on Monday, with stringent restrictions loosening after nearly two months as the state continues to see a drop in coronavirus cases. Victoria states Premier Daniel Andrews announced late Sunday night that the city would enter the second step toward reopening, which included lifting a nightly curfew. Elsewhere, restrictions are being reinforced as cases surge. In Israel, which now has one of the highest rates of infection per capita, a second lockdown was tightened over the weekend to include limitations on workplaces and prayer gatherings. In Madrid, protesters took to the streets to demand that a partial lockdown be lifted. And the UK government has been enforcing lockdowns across northern England London may be next. ON OUR RADARTODAYS TOP TIPParents worried about the long-term impact of the Covid-19 crisis on their children may be surprised to hear what psychotherapist and trauma reprocessing specialist Sara Waters recommends for protecting our kids. It turns out that parents play a bigger role in how things turn out than we might have thought. In most cases, parents have more influence on the resilience, confidence and assuredness of our childrens psychological wellness during this time than any other variable.Because of mirror neurons which fire off in response to emotions, facial expressions and body language our childrens experiences of the world will reflect our own. So, whats a stressed-out parent to do? Waters shared some ideas. TODAYS PODCASTIt was very surreal here and not in that kind of fascinating, mystical way. Really in like a horrifying way. Kim Toevs, director of communicable disease for Multnomah County, OregonLocal governments may be more prepared to respond to natural disasters thanks to their coordination on Covid-19. CNNs Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to Toevs about how public health and emergency management worked faster than usual in Oregon to contain the fires and the virus. Listen Now.
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###CLAIM: the numbers of wessels and demorest are small in comparison with the number of healthcare workers who have improved their environmental footprint and their hospitals through sustainable practices on small and large scale.
###DOCS: Lois Wessel used to work as a labor and delivery nurse in community clinics in Maryland. She remembers that every time a baby was born, she would see a beautiful little creature and then shed see a whole big bag full of garbage, of sheets, supplies packaging and tubing. Shanda Demorest, also a nurse, used to work on the cardiac unit of a hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She said when many of her patients were at the end of their lives, caring for them took an astronomical and perplexing amount of resources. In birth, in sickness and in death, hospitals produce gigantic amounts of waste much of which can be avoided. In the US, the healthcare sector makes up 10% of the countrys greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study in the National Library of Medicine. The global healthcare climate footprint is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 514 coal-fired power plants, according to a report by Health Care Without Harm, a global organization that advocates for ecologically sustainable healthcare practicesIf the worlds health services were a country, it would be the fifth-largest carbon emitter on the planet, according to the organization. Now, Wessel and Demorest are a small but growing number of healthcare workers who are improving their and their hospitals environmental footprints through sustainable practices on both small and large scales. But the pandemic currently the main concern for the healthcare system, has brought new challenges for climate action. Hospitals and clinics are among the top consumers of single-use plastics in the country. Medical waste is often non-recyclable and a lot of it is incinerated, releasing toxic fumes and ashes that are hazardous to public health and the environment. Usually, nurses or assistants open all the equipment a doctor might need for a procedure: gloves, swabs, bandages, etc. Often, some of these materials are not used and have to be thrown out because they are no longer sterile. But small daily steps can make a difference. For Wessel, that means ditching the habit of having materials opened before the clinician performs a procedure. Were learning not to open everything disposable until we know that we really need it Lois WesselWere learning not to open everything disposable until we know that we really need it, Wessel said. This might sound like a small step but it is done several times a day, everyday, in numerous hospitals and clinics all over the world. Other health systems have applied these strategies on a larger scale. Staff in the UKs National Health Service Sustainable Development Unit also have worked with suppliers to design medical equipment packs instead of individually wrapped products since 2015. This reduced packaging waste by 90% (2.6 tonnes a year), according to an article published in the Nursing Times. In 2015, Carilion Clinic in Virginia also formally introduced a sustainability program to reduce its environmental footprint through multiple interventions. It saved about 30,000lb of waste and $50,000 a year from a little tweak: asking patients before sending them food they didnt want to their rooms, according to Sara Wohlford, manager of the Efficiency and Sustainability program at the clinics. Thats no small feat: it is estimated that food and catering services in the UK National Health Service produce approximately 6% of the NHSs total emissions each year. A study of three hospitals in Italy in 2019 revealed that 41.6% of food patients received in their rooms was thrown away. Carilion Clinic also started to purchase reprocessed products medical equipment that is sterilized for reuse saving $125,000 in 2019, said Wohlford. While controlling infection in a hospital setting is paramount, equipment such as washable gowns, blood pressure pumps or pulse oximeters which measure oxygen levels can be reused if processed correctly, saving hospitals from tossing out tonnes of waste. But reducing waste isnt the only hurdle, disposing of it can be just as damaging to the environment. Generally in medical settings there are two garbage cans: medical waste that needs to be incinerated, and regular waste. Where Wessel works, the medical waste bin is red. Misplacing non-infectious materials like papers or gloves in the red bin will unnecessarily increase the amount of garbage to be incinerated, thus increasing the toxic emissions of that process. Seeing that waste first-hand has turned medical practitioners not only into advocates, but into consultants. When she worked as a cardiac nurse in a big hospital in Minneapolis, Demorest saw the huge amounts of waste that went into the dailies of her job. Having grown up in nature in a rural Minnesota, she had a deep attachment to the environment and always sought sustainable practices. In the summer of 2020, she left her bedside work. Now she coaches healthcare workers on sustainable solutions from where to purchase equipment to investigating products through Practice GreenHealth. Sustainability can save hospitals, millions and millions of dollars in energy reduction Shanda DemorestSustainability can save hospitals millions and millions of dollars in energy reduction, said Demorest. Health Care Without Harm has similar guides, plus presentations and tips on how nurses can talk to hospital administrations about eco-friendly practices. They highlight how interdisciplinary collaboration can help overcome bureaucratic hurdles. Nancy Chaney is a retired nurse who has a degree in environmental sciences and a decade of experience in policy. She said part of the lag in sustainability practices is due to economics and politics. Ultimately though, she thinks there will be an implementation of these practices, out of necessity, but also because a lot of these solutions are actually cost-effective. Were seeing the larger hospitals in our bigger cities take more decisive action because they magnify the cost savings, Chaney said. It makes sense for their bottom line as well as for the environment and the people they serve.In light of the pandemic, concern over the sustainability of healthcare practices has been put aside, namely because of the need for continuous ventilation, greater hospitalization capacity and disposable equipment like gloves, masks and gowns. However, the pandemic has also brought some positive changes, advocates say. Shortage of protective equipment in the healthcare system pushed hospitals to be more stringent with its use proving that they can (and should) regulate the use of their equipment. Appointments have moved online, reducing commutes and the emissions associated with them. Most importantly, the pandemic created a collective sense of action, according to Demorest. At the Carilion Clinic, Wohlford said she is seeing more willingness to engage in sustainability practices. They want something that they feel good about, she said. In the midst of an exhausting battle with the pandemic, small impactful practices give healthcare workers something positive to focus on. BARCELONA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Hospitals and other healthcare facilities worldwide can prepare better for both climate change and future pandemics by adopting green technology and cutting planet-heating emissions from their operations and supply chains, health experts said on Wednesday. A new roadmap setting out ways for the health sector to reach net-zero emissions said healthcare has a substantial climate footprint, accounting for 4.4% of global emissions, mostly due to the use of fossil fuels for energy and products. Without action to shrink those emissions, they would more than triple by 2050, equalling the annual emissions from 770 coal-fired power plants, said the report from nonprofit network Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and engineering firm Arup. Co-author Josh Karliner of HCWH said the world was already experiencing twin climate and health emergencies, such as respiratory illness from fossil fuel pollution and injuries and smoke inhalation caused by wildfires. Health care bears the brunt of these two crises while also, ironically, contributing to them through its own emissions, he said in a statement. Its imperative for health leaders to lead by example and act now to reach zero emissions by 2050.Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has put additional strain on health systems, including a rise in intensive care patients, mass vaccinations and an increase in single-use protective equipment for staff, creating large amounts of waste. Despite this, Karliner and others said nations from Britain to Argentina and India were pressing ahead with efforts to make their health systems climate-friendly, taking advantage of increased spending to bolster health and create green jobs. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that technical and operational challenges within the health sector can be solved at a breathtaking pace when they are sufficiently focused, adequately resourced, and receive consistent political support, David Nabarro, COVID-19 special envoy for the World Health Organization (WHO), wrote in a foreword to the report. A similar well-directed effort is required to address the health impacts of climate change, he added. Maria Neira, director of public health and environment for WHO, told journalists the best way to recover from the COVID-19 crisis would be to fight climate change and air pollution, reducing peoples vulnerability to future threats. NET-ZERO NHSEnglands National Health Service (NHS) last October announced a plan to cut to net-zero the carbon footprint of its direct operations by 2040 and its supply chain by 2045. It will use measures such as new ways of delivering care at or closer to home to reduce patient journeys, greening its vehicle fleet including road-testing a zero-emissions ambulance, and building new hospitals that generate net-zero emissions. The NHS said its commitment came amid growing evidence of the health impacts of climate change and air pollution and aimed to save thousands of lives and hospitalisations. The health effects of a warming planet include deaths from heatwaves, the spread of diseases due to floods and shifts in insect populations, and more cardiac arrests and hospital admissions for stroke and asthma linked to high levels of air pollution. The new roadmap, launched at the Skoll World Forum, details national healthcare emissions data for 68 countries and recommendations on how to decarbonise the health sector. It urges wealthy countries with big-emitting health systems to cut emissions the fastest and steepest, while calling on poorer countries to develop their health infrastructure using clean energy, such as solar power, and other green technologies. K. Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India, said efforts already underway to curb emissions and energy consumption from health facilities in his country would likely pick up speed as buildings are revamped or new ones built. The pandemics disruptions to global supply chains forced India to produce some of the medical equipment it needs locally rather than importing it, which has helped reduce energy consumption and emissions, he noted. If that becomes part of the DNA of the future development of our health system, then I think we will have made a very useful transition, he said. Low-carbon measures recommended in the roadmap, if implemented, could reduce the health sectors emissions in the next three decades by the equivalent of the entire world economys emissions in 2017, the report said. The measures include powering health care with 100% renewable energy, producing low-carbon pharmaceuticals, recycling and cutting down on waste, providing sustainably grown food, and shifting to zero-emissions transport and buildings. Health Care Without Harm also urged governments to track health system emissions and identify ways to reduce them under their national climate action plans for the Paris Agreement, after Argentina became the first to do so late last year. Karliner urged hospitals and health providers to join a U.N.-backed Race to Zero campaign, which encourages businesses, cities and universities to set science-based targets for net-zero emissions. The health sector will announce its first members of that campaign in late May, he added.
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###CLAIM: he implied to me between the discussions that providing gluten free bread would be a well thought out and exciting use of my thoughts.
###DOCS: David Cassidy was bitter. And I should have left my David frozen in the 80sI took Davids wretched, left-behind iPad to the Post Office. Whats inside? asked the lady. An iPad.She looked at the name on the envelope, and an eyebrow shot up. Do you want him to sign for it?I dont care if it never arrives, I said, and she laughed. But, looking back on Davids three-and-a-half-hour visit before he stormed off more speed date than mini break I wonder if I slightly orchestrated the argument about the dog leads. If it had been Nige (The Hunk), and hed sloped back to the cottage before me bearing two of my leads, Id have probably returned, breathless, saying, Its fine! Grace and Mini ran off but I kept up since Im training for the half marathon in the spring. Would you like to see my abs?You see, the only reason women put up with men is if we fancy them. I was so dismayed by Davids face and demeanour when he arrived, the whole evening was spent moving away from his sticky embrace Id dissolve, and slide like a shapeshifter straight out of Terminator 2 when he was desperate to touch me. As he gathered (most) of his things, I told him he brings nothing to the table. Ouch! Hed been implying all week in between discussing who would provide the gluten-free bread that he uses thoughts of me to, well, get excited. I dont use thoughts of him. I do wonder, despite our protestations, whether women like sex as much as men. David is always up for it, even after a long flight. Me: Arent you tired? Jet lagged? Nursing thrombosis? Him: Yes, but we can have a go.For me, at least, sex is just another item on the To Do list*. If he removes my knickers, I cant sleep as Im thinking, I wonder where they are. They must be in a small ball; I will never find them. They should be in the laundry bin or, preferably, still on me.If he wants me to get on top, given hes tired/lazy, I cant help thinking that isnt my best angle. Lying down flat is my best angle, otherwise things go lava-like. Sex with older men can be a bit... long drawn out. They keep putting on spectacles to peer at bits of you. I slightly blame all the women who have gone before me for not speaking up and saying,No. Dont do that. Get your elbow off my hair. No, that does nothing for me. Times up!But no, women let men just limp on, emitting encouraging noises at appropriate moments, and so they never improve. Its years of social conditioning. Years of reading Jackie, desperate for a boy to like us. Which reminds me. Ive just been on a podcast about David Cassidy. I talked about how his narrow hips and feather cut, his snaggle tooth and shell necklace nestled against a hairless chest ruined any prospect of me ever having a meaningful relationship. No man ever measured up. I remember being in a car with Nige in Peru and the woman we were with from a non-governmental organisation asked me, What type of man do you go for, Liz?I replied, I like small, girly men. David Cassidy. Prince. And Nige, who as we all know is rather burly, said, Well, that rules me out, then.David, my David, is small and snake-hipped. Maybe thats why I went for him in the first place. Plus, hes called David! When I eventually met David Cassidy, at his home in Las Vegas, he turned out to be humourless. Angry, even. Bitter. Its best never to meet your idol. I should have left my David as a chimera, perfect, frozen in the early 80s, warm in my thoughts. I should have flirted with Nige. Said I like my men tall, like Liam Neeson. I had dinner with a friend before Lockdown 2**, and she suggested I just post him a plane ticket. But Im tired of doing all the running. He has to come to me. *Unless its with Nige. **That sounds a bit like a Liam Neeson movie. Contact liz at lizjonesgoddess.com and stalk her @lizjonesgoddessEveryones talking about Liz Joness Diary: The Podcast! Join Liz and her trusty (long-suffering) assistant Nicola as they dissect her weekly YOU magazine diary and delve into the archives to relive the bust-ups, betrayals, bullets... and so much more in this brilliant podcast. Theyre outspoken, outrageous and utterly hilarious. Find it now at mailplus.co.uk/lizjones, iTunes and Spotify.
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###CLAIM: white, whose head was smashed and his wrists nearly severed by stabbing wounds, suffered blunt force injuries and cuts so deep they were visible.
###DOCS: A hate crime charge has been added to attempted murder in the case of a gay Louisiana teenager who was attacked by another teen he met on a dating app last year. Police initially said the evidence did not support a hate crime in the attack on Holden White, who spent days in a coma and nearly a month in the hospital and still does not have full use of both hands. White said the other teen wrapped a cord around his neck so tightly he lost consciousness and that he woke up in a bathtub where the assailant repeatedly slashed his wrists. I was saying my final words to myself, which were just, Stay calm, White told KLFY-TV. The Lafayette parish district attorneys oOffice added the hate crime charge to the case against Chance Seneca on 20 January. Seneca earlier pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted second-degree murder in last Junes attack, and he remains jailed on a $250,000 bond. His next pretrial hearing is 3 March. Prosecutor Donald Knecht declined comment, citing the pending case. Senecas attorney, J Clay LeJeune, said he had not been told why the hate crime charge was added at this late date, but his client will also plead not guilty to it. White is convinced the attack was premeditated and that he was targeted because hes gay. He said they met on Grindr, a dating app for gay, bisexual and transgender men. White, of Lafayette, was 18 at the time, and Seneca was 19. After talking for a month, they decided to meet in person. White said Seneca picked him up and took him to a relatives home to play video games. They talked awkwardly, he recalled. White said his next memory is of being pulled backward by a cord, choked so hard that blood vessels ruptured all over his face. He said he woke up in a bathtub as Seneca sliced his wrists. The water is running, and its cold, he told the Acadiana Advocate. Lafayette police said Seneca was at the scene when authorities responded. White was found with deep cuts to both wrists, multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to the back of his head, the Advocate said. But police did not initially recommend a hate crime charge, even though Whites family accused Seneca of targeting him because hes gay. Lafayette Police Sgt Wayne Griffin said right after the attack that preliminary evidence indicated it was not a hate crime and that Seneca and White had gotten into an argument. White said the attack has left him with diminished function in his left hand, but he is determined to move on. Im a survivor, he told the Advocate.
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###CLAIM: in 2020, commodity bulls believe that demand for strength will not only come from emerging markets but also from changes in the western economy.
###DOCS: Gregor Spilker, CME GroupAT A GLANCE: A weakened U.S. dollar, zero interest rates and pent up demand may be contributing to the fourth supercycle in a century Governments and private companies are increasingly pledging carbon reduction measures, heightening demand for certain metalsCommodity super cycles are decade-long periods in which commodities trade above their long-term price trend. Some market analysts are seeing signs that a new super cycle is beginning now, pointing to a weakening dollar and supportive central banks and fiscal stimulus geared towards infrastructure spending as well as renewable energy. What was the Last Supercycle About? The last supercycle could be summarized in a word: BRIC. Brazil, Russia, India, and China represented 2.6 billion people in 2000, or about 40% of world population. The idea was that the BRIC countries were on a path of rapid industrialization, which would require an unprecedented amount of raw materials, food and energy commodities. The cycle continued for more than 10 years, starting around the turn of the millennium and lasting well into the 2010s. The commodities boom began showing signs of slowing when the great financial crisis and the subsequent Euro crisis roiled markets in 2008 and 2011. It finally came to a halt when the Chinese economy cooled off in 2015. What Speaks for a Supercycle Now? The last supercycle was supported by a steadily eroding U.S. dollar. The currency had been on a depreciating path since the bursting of the dot-com bubble in 2001. It touched record low levels just as oil prices hit all-time highs in the summer of 2008. Since then, the U.S. dollar had been appreciating until the onset of Covid-19 in March 2020. Why is it now weakening? The Federal Reserve has joined other central banks in the zero-interest rate policy (ZIRP) club as it has pulled all its levers to support the U.S. economy. Mechanically, a weak dollar often feeds into higher commodity prices. Raw materials are almost always priced in U.S. dollars, so a producer often needs to adjust prices upwards to offset the higher production costs in local currency. And on the demand side, a lower U.S. dollar means that, all else equal, commodities have become cheaper for an importing nation, leading to higher demand. Since the great financial crisis, inflation has been most notable by its absence. This is despite many warnings that quantitative easing and zero-interest rates could lead to runaway prices. Central bankers have also signaled that higher-than-average inflation wont necessarily result in an immediate rise in rates. The idea of a supercycle is further supported by pent-up demand that could be unleashed once economies reopen. And many believe that governments wont embrace the same austerity policies that they applied after the great financial crisis. Government spending is one key pillar supporting the supercycle hypothesis. In the European Union, the fiscal stimulus package of 1.8 trillion Euros comes with a shade of green, with 30% dedicated to fighting climate change. In the U.S., the Biden administration is preparing a potential $3 trillion bill aimed at infrastructure projects and climate change. The private sector is following suit, with car manufacturers in America and Europe promising to stop building vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2030 or 2035. It is likely that further commitments will be made in the months leading up to COP26, The United Nations annual Climate Change Conference. The event will be held in Glasgow, Scotland in November. Facing this increased demand, some bulls believe that supply may not be able to keep pace. What Commodities Most Stand to Benefit? A whole new market for metals such as cobalt, lithium, or nickel sulfate used in high-performance batteries is emerging to support the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). The EV revolution applies to battery-focused materials but also to traditional metal products: aluminum is favored to build lower weight vehicles, and silver is widely used in photovoltaic installations. And of course, the move to electrification could provide higher demand for copper in the years to come. As for oil markets, companies ranging from super majors to nimble shale producers have had to slash their exploration budgets, meaning that there are less new projects being developed. On the other hand, OPEC members have spare capacity to respond to stronger demand. Beyond oil, natural gas is a commodity that can act as a bridge fuel between coal and renewable energy. As coal plants are progressively taken off the grid in the U.S. and Europe, natural gas-powered generation could capture a larger share of the generation mix. How Does This Cycle Compare to the Last One? It could be said that of the four BRIC nations, only China was able to match investors high expectations from the last supercycle. From 2000 to 2020, the country increased its share of world GDP from 3.6% to 16.3%, according to World Bank. In the past decade, China has now carefully moved from an investment-driven economy to a consumption-driven model. 2020 commodity bulls believe that strong demand will not come only from emerging markets, but also from changes in Western economies. //The geopolitical backdrop to this cycle is also very different. At the start of the millennium, China had just joined the WTO, integrating the country into the world economy and further fueling its demand for commodities. Twenty years later, the U.S., China and other economies are navigating a less benign environment, where tariffs and quotas are used much more willingly. Finally, it is also worth thinking about the implications of electrification and decarbonization at large scale something that was not top of mind 20 years ago. If we are truly transitioning to an economy with a lower carbon intensity, this could, over the long-term, structurally reduce demand for fossil fuels. On the flip side, it would be dangerous to discount demand from emerging markets Africa, Southeast Asia where population growth alone could result in increasing appetite for oil. Supercycle.... or Cyclical Upswing? Genuine commodity supercycles do not come around often. Going back one century, only three or four bona fide supercycles have been identified. Each was tied to very transformational periods of economic development: the rapid industrialization of the United States (1910s), the re-industrialization of Germany and Japan following World War II (1950s), and of course, the growth in BRIC countries in the early 2000s. Many points mentioned above support the idea of a new cycle starting now, but it is still too early to say. Read more articles like this at OpenMarkets Commodity markets are roaring, stirring a debate about whether prices are headed for an extended upswing. The history of booms and busts in raw materials suggests the conditions arent right. Prices for Brent crude, the international benchmark in energy markets, have jumped 82% since the end of October. Copper is more expensive than it has been since 2011. Food hasnt cost as much since 2014, according to a United Nations index.
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###CLAIM: more than 90 house members and several senators have urged the administration to negotiate a new softwood lumber agreement to help reduce current high prices.
###DOCS: China bill amendment targets seafood slavery Presented byWith help from Steven OverlyEditors Note: Weekly Trade is a weekly version of POLITICO Pros daily Trade policy newsletter, Morning Trade. POLITICO Pro is a policy intelligence platform that combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the days biggest stories. Act on the news with POLITICO Pro. Quick Fix U.S. seafood imports from China and more than two dozen other countries would face increased scrutiny under an amendment on track to be approved this week as part of a larger package to increase U.S. competitiveness against the worlds second-largest economy. A revised South African and Indian proposal to waive intellectual property rights to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic narrows the scope slightly to "health products and technologies. It also sets the duration at an initial three years, instead of until the pandemic is over. The Commerce Department on Friday announced plans to double combined anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber to slightly more than 18 percent. The move could intensify calls in Congress for a new softwood lumber agreement. Its Monday, May 24. Welcome to Morning Trade. According to my 1974 Popular Science Homeowners Almanac, its a good week to remember the Conservation Pledge selected in a 1946 contest by Outdoor Life magazine:I give my pledge as an American to save and faithfully to defend from waste the natural resources of my country its soil and minerals, its forests, waters, and wildlife.Seems like a good guiding principle any time of year. Send us your news. [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]. Driving the DayA CLOSER LOOK AT THE WYDEN CHINA BILL AMENDMENT: A seafood provision is part of a larger trade package that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) plans to offer as an amendment to the proposed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, S. 1260 (117), aimed at China. It builds on a joint report from the Commerce and State departments last year that identified China as a significant offender in the use of forced labor in their fishing sector, with numerous reports known on Chinese-flagged and -owned vessels throughout the world. The same report listed 28 other countries accused of using forced labor to harvest seafood. The seafood provision requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to issue new regulations within a year aimed at preventing forced labor seafood imports. U.S. seafood imports from China totaled nearly $3 billion in 2018, but tumbled to just $1.6 billion last year largely because of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Its not clear how much of Chinas catch is obtained through forced labor. But Chinese seafood industry workers complain of excessive hours, poor living conditions, isolation at sea for months to years, verbal and physical abuse, nonpayment of wages and debt bondage, the joint report said. Quarterly briefings: The Wyden amendment also provides new criteria to help CBP prioritize all of its forced labor investigations and requires agency officials to brief the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees on their efforts every 90 days. GSP/MTB left out: Wyden and Finance ranking member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) had hoped to offer a bipartisan amendment to the China bill that included renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill, two tariff waiver programs. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the White House balked at including those two measures because of the optics of providing tariff relief for some Chinese goods under the MTB as part of a Chinese competitiveness bill, congressional aides said. That prompted Crapo to drop off the legislation and offer his own China bill amendment that includes GSP and MTB renewal. But that alternative is not expected to come up for a vote. Censorship sanctions: The remaining provisions in the Wyden amendment include a new focus on combating Chinese government efforts to censor foreign criticism, an issue that hit the headlines in 2019 when Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for protesters in Hong Kong. The provision requires USTR to issue an annual report identifying countries with the worst records in terms of disrupting digital trade or trying to silence critics. It also allows for the possibility of U.S. retaliatory tariffs and directs USTR to notify the U.S. attorney general if any such priority foreign country has successfully pressured an online service provider to inhibit free speech. Beefed up anti-counterfeiting efforts: Another section requires CBP to report annually on its seizures of counterfeit goods and to increase inspections from those countries that are the biggest source. CBP seized 26,503 shipments of counterfeit goods in fiscal 2020, with an estimated retail value of over $1.3 billion. China was a top source, CBP has said. Hong Kong under the microscope: The amendment also requires USTR to produce a report on how China uses Hong Kongs preferential status under U.S. law to circumvent export controls, anti-dumping and countervailing duties and foreign sanctions and on how China uses Hong Kong security forces to spy on U.S. and other foreign nationals. Spotlight on overcapacity: USTR is also directed to work with the Commerce Department to produce a report on Chinese industries with overcapacity within a year, and then to develop an action plan to address that overcapacity. INDIA, SOUTH AFRICA TWEAK VACCINE IP PROPOSAL: The revised waiver proposal still includes diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines, medical devices, personal protective equipment, their materials or components, and their methods and means of manufacture for the prevention, treatment or containment of COVID-19, according to a draft text posted online. The United States opposed South Africa and Indias original proposal, but agreed earlier this month to negotiations on a waiver just for vaccines. That leaves a large gap between the two sides. The EU, which also opposed the original proposal, will propose an alternative in early June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Friday. Crapo says congressional vote needed: Senate Republicans say Congress must approve any agreement to waive intellectual property rights protected by the relevant WTO agreement, a point that U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai appeared to dispute at a Senate Finance Committee hearing two weeks ago. A second amendment that Crapo has offered to the China bill is premised on the idea that Congressional approval would be required and it lays out the conditions the administration needs to meet to get such a vote. Cat has USTRs tongue: USTR had no reaction on Friday to India and South Africas latest waiver proposal. Nor would it say whether it agrees that any deal it reaches in Geneva would be void without a vote of approval from Congress to implement it. U.S.-SOUTH KOREA TO EXPAND VACCINE PRODUCTION: U.S. and South Korean health care companies will work together to begin producing 40 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines for South Korea, the two countries announced after the Friday summit between President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Part of the deal: The arrangement includes vaccinations for more than a half a million South Korean service members. We will provide full vaccinations for all 550,000 of those Korean forces engaging with American forces on a regular basis, both for their sake as well as the sake of the American forces, Biden said. About those in-demand semiconductors: The White House said to expect significant commitments from South Korea in helping to address the global semiconductor crisis. The boldest commitment Friday came from leading Korean companies, across a range of industries, who touted billions of dollars in expected investments in the U.S., including $17 billion for semiconductor manufacturing. The governments also pledged to facilitate mutual and complementary investments in both high-tech and auto-grade chips, as well as other critical technologies like electric vehicle batteries and 5G equipment. They will also consider setting up a supply chain task force to examine closer coordination on high-tech manufacturing. Trade Remedy CornerU.S. TO HIKE DUTIES ON SOFTWOOD LUMBER: The preliminary increase is the result of the Commerce Departments second administrative review of the duties, which were imposed early in the Trump administration. The departments new final rates will be announced in November. The proposed increase is entirely unjustified and will hurt consumers, businesses and workers on both sides of the border, Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng said in a statement. U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber products are a tax on the American people. They make housing less affordable for Americans and hinder economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.More than 90 House members and several senators have urged the Biden administration to negotiate a new softwood lumber agreement to help reduce current high prices. That would require the support of the U.S. lumber industry, which won the duties to offset what the Commerce Department agreed are unfair Canadian trade practices. The U.S. Lumber Coalition, in a statement on Friday, defended the duties, but said it remains open to a new U.S.Canada softwood lumber trade agreement if and when Canada can demonstrate that it is serious about negotiations.International Overnight The Exim Bank approved a $54.9 million loan guarantee to support GE Aviation exports to Turkish Airlines. Argentinas beef export ban to stoke beef prices worldwide, Bloomberg reports. The South China Morning Post examines whether there is still a U.S.-China trade war. China rejected European Parliament demands that it lift sanctions against EU legislators in order to save a trade deal between the two sides, the AP reports. Germany wants the European Union to create a "climate club" with other countries like the United States, Japan and possibly even China to avoid trade friction linked to green tariffs such as a planned carbon border levy, Reuters reports. Japans exports in April increased the most since 2010,Reuters reports. Turkey bans most plastic imports as EU trash found on roads,Reuters reports. THATS ALL FOR MORNING TRADE! See you again soon! In the meantime, drop the team a line: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] and [email protected]. Follow us @POLITICOPro and @Morning_Trade. Follow us on Twitter John Yearwood @john_yearwoodDoug Palmer @tradereporterGavin Bade @GavinBadeSteven Overly @StevenOverly In addition to the misery of workers, forced labor gives fishing vessels who engage in the practice an unfair cost advantage that exacerbates overfishing and the depletion of the worlds oceans, USTR said. Researchers estimate that in 2018, governments worldwide provided about $22.2 billion of harmful subsidies that made it profitable to deplete ocean stocks by overfishing. China provided about $5.9 billion worth of such subsidies, followed by Japan at $2.1 billion and the European Union at $2 billion. The United States ranked a little lower, at about $1.1 billion. A joint report from the Commerce and State departments last year identified China as a significant offender in the use of forced labor in their fishing sector, with numerous reports known on Chinese-flagged and -owned vessels throughout the world. The same report listed 28 other countries accused of using forced labor to harvest seafood. What U.S. wants: The U.S. proposal calls for the fisheries agreement to explicitly recognize the forced labor problem and require WTO members notify the organization of fishing vessels suspected of using forced labor. It also highlights the need for effective disciplines on harmful subsidies to fishing activities that may be associated with the use of forced labor. It does that by proposing to expand the scope of subsidies that would be reduced under the agreement to include activities that may be associated with the use of forced labor. For example, government subsidies that enable a vessel to offload fish and receive fuel and supplies at sea, without returning to port for long periods of time, may also allow vessels using forced labor to evade detection, USTR said. Whats next: The U.S. proposal is likely to further complicate negotiations that began two decades ago and have blown past numerous deadlines. A final agreement would require the unanimous support of all 164 WTO members, which is why it is so difficult to reach any deal in the organization. Santiago Wills of Colombia, chair of the fisheries talks, released a draft compromise text that he hoped would lead to an agreement by July 15, when ministers are scheduled to meet. I know it will not be easy for 164 members to reach consensus, but it is doable. Its time to sprint for the finish line, Wills said at the time.
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###CLAIM: tanios and khater were indicted on 10 charges relating to the 6 january, including assault against police and conspiracy to cause injury.
###DOCS: U.S. law enforcement agents have arrested two men who participated in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and charged them with assaulting a police officer who died after responding to the riot. Julian Elie Khater, 32, of Pennsylvania and George Pierre Tanios, 39, of West Virginia were arrested Sunday and are expected to appear in federal court Monday, The Washington Post first reported. AdvertisementKhater and Tanios are charged with nine counts, including assaulting U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick with a dangerous or deadly weapon. Sicknick died after the riot, though authorities have not determined his exact cause of death. Four rioters also died that day, and two police officers who responded to the attack died by suicide days later. Khater and Tanios are also charged with assaulting another Capitol police officer and a D.C. police officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon, as well as with civil disorder and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. The charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, the Post reported. Julian Khater, wearing a beanie with a pom-pom, can be seen speaking to George Tanios, wearing a red hat, in this still from video obtained by the FBI. Justice DepartmentAdvertisementSurveillance footage of the riot shows Khater and Tanios working together to assault law enforcement officers with an unknown chemical substance by spraying officers directly in the face and eyes, according to an FBI search warrant filed Sunday. Sicknick was sprayed with bear spray during the attack. Give me that bear shit, Khater can be heard telling Tanios as he reached into Tanios backpack earlier in the day, according to contemporaneously recorded open source video, authorities said. Khater later grabbed a canister from Tanios backpack, walked through the crowd outside the Capitol before holding up the item with his right hand and aiming it at the police officers, the FBI wrote in its complaint. Sicknick and the two other police officers each reacted to being sprayed in the face by retreating, bringing their hands to their faces and rushing to find water to wash out their eyes, according to the affidavit. Khater was arrested as he disembarked from an airplane at Newark Airport in New Jersey, officials said. Tanios was arrested at his residence in West Virginia. Advertisement Comment on this story Comment Gift Article ShareA U.S. magistrate on Monday ordered a West Virginia sandwich shop owner charged in the Jan. 6 assault of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick detained pending trial, decrying a culture radicalized by hate and the refusal to accept the results of the presidential election. Fast, informative and written just for locals. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. ArrowRight At a hearing for George Pierre Tanios, 39, prosecutors said that a day before the riot, Tanios visited a gun store and bought four cans of two types of bear or pepper spray, including one that appears to be the same type that a co-defendant is accused of using on Sicknick. Prosecutors also said he asked the manager of the West Virginia store whether he could bring firearms or a pepperball pistol the shop had on display into D.C.U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi cited prosecution arguments about the danger to the community posed by Tanios, of Morgantown, W.Va., who is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon against Sicknick and two other officers. Sicknick died a day after the riot, and the cause of death remains undetermined. AdvertisementAloi said he could not accept anyone who would not respond peacefully to police protecting a joint session of Congress to certify presidential election results. Why anyone thought they could be there to interrupt even in any small way, its just not healthy thinking for our society. To the extent anyone would accept that cause as normal, it needs to stop, Aloi said. Tanios, who is not charged in Sicknicks death, is also charged with civil disorder and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. Why would you not just turn the other way and go home? The fact that all of them werent thinking that is just frightening to me. There were choices all along the way, the judge said. Tanios was taken into custody March 14, as was Julian Elie Khater, 32, of State College, Pa. Authorities said they grew up together in New Jersey. AdvertisementU.S. prosecutors alleged that the men traveled and lodged together as they headed to the Capitol, where Khater said, Give me that bear s---, to Tanios on video recorded at 2:14 p.m. at the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol, where Sicknick and other officers were standing behind metal bicycle racks. Hold on, hold on, not yet, not yet . . . its still early, Tanios allegedly replied, which the FBI said showed the two were working in concert and had a plan to use the toxic spray against law enforcement.Khater allegedly deployed a canister of an unknown substance at the officers nine minutes later after he said he had been sprayed, and as the mob tried to pry the racks from police using their hands and ropes. At Mondays hearing in federal court in Clarksburg, W.Va., Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner said a search turned up an empty canister of chemical spray at Khaters house and two canisters of Frontiersman bear spray found at Tanioss house. Prosecutors also said they found a keychain chemical spray can resembling the spent one at Khaters home and the one he allegedly used on the video. AdvertisementWagner said the gun store manager produced a receipt and recalled selling two cans of Frontiersman spray and two keychain sprays to Tanios before the rally. The manager recalled that Tanios was on the phone and speaking to someone with whom he planned to go to D.C., which phone records associated with Khater and the store receipt corroborated took place about 5 p.m. on Jan. 5, Wagner said. The prosecutor added that the manager said Tanios first asked if he could legally bring a firearm or pepperball pistol into the city, to which the manager replied no. In an interview after being told his rights against self-incrimination, Khater allegedly told the FBI that Tanios bought bear spray, that Khater knew it was not intended for use against people, and that the two shared a backpack that Tanios carried, Wagner said. AdvertisementProsecutors filed charges in the Sicknick case after the FBI said tipsters contacted the agency and identified Khater and Tanios from images captured in surveillance video and officer-worn body-camera footage. It remains unclear what role, if any, the video-recorded assault on Sicknick played in his death. Then-acting U.S. attorney general Jeffrey A. Rosen said in a statement shortly after the death that Sicknick died of the injuries he suffered defending the U.S. Capitol. Capitol Police concurred, adding that Sicknick collapsed after he returned to his office following the riot. However, autopsy results remain pending. Absent a determination on the cause of Sicknicks death, the case is not a homicide. That could change, however, if evidence directly relates that chemical [Sicknick was allegedly was sprayed with] to his death, Michael R. Sherwin, the former interim U.S. attorney for D.C., told 60 Minutes in an interview aired Sunday, two days after he left the investigation. First Assistant Federal Defender L. Richard Walker blasted prosecutors argument for Tanioss detention, calling it a narrative that ignored that there was no evidence showing Tanios posed a danger, agreed with Khater or intended to spray officers. AdvertisementWalker described Tanios as a family man who has lived 10 years with the mother of their three young children; the owner of Sandwich University, a business operating several online eateries in Morgantown, home to West Virginia University; and someone with a negligible criminal record. Tanioss mother, sister, partner and other character witnesses testified on his behalf, calling him fun-loving and a tough but good boss devoted to his children. Walker said he would appeal the decision to hold Tanios, telling the court that given coronavirus pandemic backlogs, We wont have a trial for at least a year, judge. Thats why were going to fight, and were going to leave no stone unturned to fight for his release. This is going to be hard time for him if hes not released.Aloi acknowledged the defense arguments and allowed Walker to question the FBI special agent in the case via video teleconference. But the judge said it was hard for him to look at this as anything other than an assault on our nations home, and everything important to us as a people.AdvertisementAloi concluded: I struggle, because I dont know if that represents who you are, Mr. Tanios. I dont think it represents who a lot of people were on that day. But what is it that causes that behavior? And all I can think of is, theres something that causes such hate such irrational behavior, such a desire to show up to attack our country and officers in such a way that gives me no confidence whether it will stop.Separately on Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui ordered Mark Ponder of Washington detained until trial April 1. Ponder allegedly assaulted three officers and shattered a riot shield with a flagpole, which the magistrate said could have caused serious if not fatal injuries. The judge noted that Ponders record included a bank robbery and domestic assault, although police released him back into the crowd on Jan. 6 because they were overwhelmed and could not transport him. AdvertisementAlso Monday, a bond hearing was postponed for Jeffrey McKellop, 55, a former Army Special Forces soldier of Augusta County, Va., charged with assaulting four D.C. police officers, including allegedly by throwing a flagpole like a spear at a captain. A hearing was underway but continued to Tuesday after McKellop had a medical emergency while participating by videoconference from jail. GiftOutline Gift Article
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###CLAIM: the fun loving couple posed for a series of photos after the win, with julie sweetly kissing lachie 's cheek as the medal was planted.
###DOCS: AFL fans have slammed television coverage of the Brownlow Medal as awkward and 'excruciating' during the first ever virtual ceremony. The coronavirus pandemic meant the event was split into small functions across Australia on Sunday night as Lachie Neale was crowned the AFL's best and fairest player for the 2020 season. Star players gathered at six socially-distanced ceremonies including Optus Stadium in Perth, Gold Coast's Metricon Stadium, the Gabba in Brisbane and Adelaide Oval. AFL fans criticised bizarre moments such as players handing themselves their medals and 'extremely cringe interviews' drawing out the air time. 'This was one of the most underwhelming Brownlow counts/broadcasts in history with one of the most boring hosts in the history of television,' one punter said on Twitter. AFL fans have slammed the first ever virtual Brownlow Medal ceremony as 'excruciating' to watch with 'extremely cringe interviews' (2020 winner Lachie Neale pictured above)The coronavirus pandemic meant the event was split into six smaller functions around Australia on Sunday night (Gillon McLachlan pictured reading votes on the Gold Coast)The Brownlow Medal count was streamed to the rest of the country from the Gold Coast function. After an 'interminable vote count' Brisbane Lions midfielder Neale claimed the Brownlow with 31 votes, beating Port Adelaide's Travis Boak with 21 votes. Neale's former Fremantle teammate and 2019 winner, Nat Fyfe, addressed the 27-year-old from Perth after his win was announced. Fyfe ended his tribute speech by saying 'it's my great pleasure to now ask you to present yourself with the 2020 Brownlow Medal.' Despite Neale being in a room full of people at the Gabba, he was forced to pick up the medal and place it around his own neck. Fans took to social media to voice their confusion at the awkward interaction. Sydney Morning Herald sports reporter Andrew Wu asked. BROWNLOW TOP TEN: 1 - Lachie Neale - 31 2 - Travis Boak - 21 3 - Christian Petracca -20 4 - Jack Steele - 20 5 - Patrick Dangerfield - 15 6 - Dustin Martin - 15 7 - Jack Macrae - 15 8 - Luke Parker - 15 9 - Cameron Guthrie - 14 10 - Clayton Oliver - 14 Advertisement'Surely not because of social distancing, or even the optics of it. What else is the point of having an indoor gathering for a vote count?' 'A bloke presenting himself his own Brownlow is the most 2020 thing ever,' 2011 Brownlow winner Dane Swan tweeted. Mark of the Year winner Sam Walsh and Goal of the Year winner Josh Daicos were also forced to present themselves their awards. 'Sam Walsh had to present himself the "Mark of the Year" award. Surely someone in the room could've passed it to him,' sports broadcaster Sam McInnes tweeted. Fans also criticised the length of the Brownlow Medal ceremony in its virtual format. 'This is the worst zoom call I've ever been on,' one said. 'I've always thought the Brownlow Medal should be a media release maybe a media conference and nothing more,' ABC News presenter Mary Gearin wrote. 'This was the year to make it happen. But clearly not even an interminable pandemic can stop the appetite for an interminable vote count.' 'Brownlow interviews are excruciating. Get on with the damn count,' sports reporter Jack Hudson added.
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###CLAIM: he later admitted he was battling various addictions, including drugs and gambling, and enjoyed company of up to three ladies a day.
###DOCS: James Arthur has expressed regret over claiming in his 2017 autobiography, Back To The Boy, that a fling with Rita Ora turned him into a sex addict. The X Factor 2012 victor, 33, first made the shocking revelations about his relationship with the 30-year-old singer during a freestyle rap in 2013, and would later peg their brief romance to his trysts with countless other women. But in a new interview with The Sun, the singer-songwriter has admitted that he regrets making such bold public statements, particularly because he didn't consider the feelings of those involved at the time. Regrets: James Arthur, left, has expressed regret over claiming in his 2017 autobiography, Back To The Boy, that a fling with Rita Ora, right, turned him into a sex addictHe said: 'It was done at a time when there was just a lot of stuff going on. Id just made my comeback and we tried to do too much at once. When I look back at that theres certain things I wouldnt have shared or have explained in the way that I did. 'If I could stop the production of the book now I probably would because theres stuff that has affected family relationships, not long term, but at the time it hurt people. 'Theres things I shared about relationships where I should have considered the people involved a bit more, I think.' MailOnline has contacted a representative for Rita Ora for comment. Staying mum: While James has spoken about his fling with Rita on a number of occasions, the glamorous singer has remained mum on the matterBack in 2017, James discussed how his alleged affair with Rita impacted his life, as he revealed he 'turned into a s**g' following the torrid romance. Speaking with The Sun about his battle with addiction which led to his reels of romps with hundreds of women after he was left 'heartbroken' by the songstress. After first revealing their romance in a shock freestyle rap in 2013, he subsequently disclosed in 2016: 'Me and Rita were seeing each other on-and-off for a few months.' He later admitted to battling various addictions, including drugs and gambling, he and candidly confessed his romance with Rita left him having sex with hundreds of women, as he admitted he would enjoy the company of up to three ladies a day. Relationship: James is now in a long-term relationship with his dancer girlfriend Jessica GristAfter meeting Rita during his time on The X Factor, he confessed he could not believe she would be interested in him, yet insists she claimed to be in love. When she 'disappeared', James' compulsion with women began as he revealed: 'If Im honest, I became a bit of a s**g after Rita. I was chatting to hundreds of women, and I started to sleep with so many of them I lost count. 'They were usually the same type Babestation girls or glamour models. If I saw someone I fancied Id contact her on social media and tell her blatantly I wanted to have sex. 'It was ridiculously easy. There would be no emotional attachment and it would be just pure sex, and with one or two exceptions that was how it was.' Torrid: Back in 2017, James discussed how his alleged affair with Rita impacted his life, as he revealed he 'turned into a s**g' following the torrid romance. Pictured in 2019In October 2016, James told the Evening Standard: 'Me and Rita were seeing each other on-and-off for a few months. All of a sudden we just stopped talking. 'Maybe it was bad for her image to be seen with me. I was a little bitter about that because shed said she had a lot of feelings for me.' He caused shockwaves when he embarked on a rap battle on Radio 1Xtra in which he stated: 'Some peoples auras [Oras] and demeanours can deceive us, what they really want is a piece of your penis' yet he insisted it was merely wordplay. Ahead of the release of his autobiography Back To The Boy, he also discussed his battle with mental health including addiction and at some points suicidal thoughts. In December 2016, he appeared on This Morning to discuss the depths of his issues, as he said: 'I don't think I made it clear where I was mentally when I appeared on X Factor. There was so much pressure and a lot of judging. 'But I wanted to take a chance on the show because I wanted to make something of myself. X Factor seemed like the only way out. 'I've suffered with depression and I'm an anxious character. Even before the X Factor I was self-medicating quite a bit to just to get myself through the day. 'When I was on the show, everything happened so quickly and I just wasn't prepared for the level of attention and scurrility that came with it.' James is now in a long-term relationship with his dancer girlfriend Jessica Grist. Bebe Rexha has said she's not sure that Dua Lipa and Rita Ora's 'feud' will ever end. The singer, 31, has claimed that she has 'tried to always be the peace keeper' and 'bring the girls together' but her efforts have failed. She added that she would 'really love' to do a collaboration with the pair of them, but isn't sure 'that will ever happen'. Awkward: Bebe Rexha has said she's not sure that Dua Lipa and Rita Ora's feud will ever end after admitting she'd 'really love' to collaborate with the pair (pictured with Rita in 2018)Speaking about the pair's relationship to The Sun, Bebe said: 'I have really tried. I don't know what's really going on there or what the drama is. I've tried to always be the peace-keeper and bring the girls together. 'For me, I would really love to do something together but I'm not sure that will ever happen. And I won't say any more about that.' Dua and Rita, who both have Albanian heritage, have never publicly spoken about their reported feud which is believed to have begun because the pair are compared within the industry. Sad: The singer, 31, has reportedly said that she has 'tried to always be the peace keeper and 'bring the girls together' but her efforts have failed (pictured with Dua in 2019)Bebe said on Friday that her words had been taken out of context: 'Its absolute bull**** to pit women against each other, especially those who I know are GOOD PEOPLE !!! ' Bebe told the publication she thinks that women sometimes become 'competitive' with each other within the music industry. She said: 'It's weird because I know how it is to be a girl and sometimes we can get really competitive. I'm not even talking about me, Dua, Rita and Ava, I'm just talking about females in general. What happens is there's not enough women at the table.' Differences: She added that she would 'really love' to do a collaboration with the pair of them, but isn't sure 'that will ever happen' (Pictured are Bebe and Rita in 2018)The star added that because she believes the music charts are so male dominated, it leaves women musicians with an 'unspoken competitiveness' between them. She went on to say that she knows both the 'girls individually' and that they are 'all awesome chicks' so she would love to work with them together one day. It comes after Rita and Dua reportedly avoided each other at the 2019 Met Gala and its subsequent spate of after-parties. At the time the singers were said to be locked in a private feud that reached boiling point at the event in May 2019, when both stars dazzled on the red carpet at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. Candid: Speaking about the pair's relationship to The Sun, Bebe said: 'I have really tried. I don't know what's really going on there or what the drama is' (pictured are Bebe and Rita in 2019)It was understood at the time that Dua had become frustrated with repeated comparisons to her contemporary as she endeavoured to be viewed as an original artist in her own right. A source told The Sun: 'It's a shame, as they used to be very close and Dua spoke a lot about how much she admired Rita. Dua even said she wanted to be just like Rita in the future. 'But now things have gone south dramatically and she is trying to distance herself and she's making no secret of it in the industry. Rumours: Dua and Rita, who both have Albanian heritage, have never publicly spoken about their reported feud (Bebe and Dua are pictured in 2018)'Rita is desperate to avoid confrontation and went out of her way to make sure they didn't come face to face. She hates the drama but really wanted to go to the Met Gala and didn't want a row to stop that.' The two stars followed their Met Gala appearance with separate visits to Katy Perry's star-studded after-party at The Standard NYC. Rita was seen making her way inside with close friend Kate Moss, while Dua soon followed on the arm of her boyfriend, chef Isaac Carew. The two stars share similar backgrounds having both attended London's prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School after moving to the United Kingdom from their native Kosovo. MailOnline contacted a representative for further comment at the time.
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###CLAIM: the two run-off elections, which will determine control of the senate and much of the ability of joseph, r. and biden jr. to enact the democratic agenda, have already drawn enormous sums of cash, with more than 125, 000 dollars pouring into georgia in only two weeks.
###DOCS: The two Georgia runoff elections that will determine control of the Senate, and much of President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.s ability to enact a Democratic agenda, are already drawing enormous sums of cash, with more than $125 million pouring into the state in only two weeks. The two Democratic challengers, the Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, have each raised huge amounts since Nov. 3, with Dr. Warnock collecting around $40 million and Mr. Ossoff a little less than that, according to two people familiar with their fund-raising hauls. The Senate arm of the Republican Party and the two Republican incumbents, Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, announced they had pulled in $32 million in just the first six days after the election. And Ms. Loeffler, one of the wealthiest members of Congress who spent $23 million of her own money to make the runoff and can inject millions more at a moments notice, has already booked $40 million in television time. Super PACs on both sides are racing to lock up a shrinking supply of television airtime as ad rates in the Atlanta market skyrocket, with prices this week already higher than in some of the top presidential battlegrounds in October. The twin Georgia races have swiftly taken center stage in American politics, with campaign visits by potential 2024 Republican candidates like Senators Tom Cotton and Marco Rubio and Vice President Mike Pence. Mr. Biden himself is planning a trip closer to the Jan. 5 runoffs, as both parties vie for supremacy in a state that voted for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time since 1992.
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###CLAIM: `` the best thing to do is to convince her that she ca n't go any further, '' he said, `` but she ca n't. ''
###DOCS: A Canadian army veteran who killed his wife, daughter and mother before turning the gun on himself in Nova Scotia in 2017 struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder for a decade following a disastrous tour of duty in Afghanistan that a fellow soldier described during a government inquiry 'like going to hell.' Lionel Desmond, 33, shot and killed his wife Shanna, his 10-year-old daughter Aaliyah and his mother, Brenda, and then himself in the village of Upper Big Tracadie on January 3, 2017. The triple murder-suicide that rocked Nova Scotia four years ago is now the subject of a wide-ranging provincial fatality inquiry, which resumed this week after an 11-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Canadian veteran Lionel Desmond, 33 (left and right), shot and killed his wife Shanna, his 10-year-old daughter Aaliyah (pictured as a baby, right), and his mother, Brenda, and then himself in Nova Scotia in January 2017Desmond did a tour in Afghanistan in 2007 and was diagnosed with PTSD afterwards. He was among eight soldiers in his battalion to have died by suicide in the wake of the tour, according to retired Cpl Orlando Trotter. Desmond's former comrade and friend Orlando Trotter (pictured) argued that their battalion was not psychologically prepared for the realities of warTrotter told the inquiry this week that he first met and befriended Desmond during training with the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment in 2005, reported CBC. He contended that their training for combat did nothing to psychologically prepare them for the grim realities of war, including hearing constant gunfire, shooting at human beings and seeing dead bodies. He also argued that Desmond, whom he affectionately described as 'goofy,' funny and gentle, did not have the right temperament to be in a war zone. 'You take somebody like him and put him in a war zone and [say] "Take this rifle and that guy over there? Shoot him,"' Trotter testified. 'I would say it destroyed him. You have to have a certain type of personality to go into battle, and he just wasn't one of those guys. He added that Desmond, whose world revolved around family values and humor, would have been much better suited for building schools than engaging Taliban fighters in gun battles on a daily basis. Desmond, pictured left with his daughter, struggled with PTSD for a decade before carrying out the murder-suicide. His mother is pictured on the rightDuring their time in Afghanistan, their battalion, which was made of 300-400 soldiers, lost 10 service members in an improvised explosive device blast. After they returned home from their deployment, many of Trotter's comrades were diagnosed with PTSD, among them Desmond. 'That tour, that was a bad tour,' he said. 'It was a terrible tour, like going to hell, that tour. That's why so many people are struggling right now.' Trotter said that he kept in touch with Desmond and visited him several times. By 2010, he said his comrade began to talk about 'there being something wrong with his head.' He exhibited some paranoid behavior and became obsessed with making sure doors at home were secured. Desmond medically discharged from the military in 2015, and in May 2016 was admitted to a residential mental health treatment facility in Montreal, but he left the six-month program three months later after deeming it ineffective and returned to Nova Scotia, where his condition further deteriorated. Family members told an inquiry in Nova Scotia that Desmond got little to no help from the military and Veterans Affairs as he struggled with mental health problemsDesmonds relatives told the inquiry that he largely avoided talking about his experiences during the war, but he did mention seeing corpses and having to collect body parts from the battlefield, according to Global News. Both Desmond's sister, Chantel, and Trotter, his army friend, argued that he did not receive the psychiatric care he needed from Veterans Affairs in a timely manner. It was not until November 2016 - four months after he left the Montreal treatment program - that he was assigned a counselor. During that four-month gap, the inquiry learned that the veteran received no treatment for his PTSD. By then, Chantel told the inquiry her brother seemed more distant, he stopped shaving and was wearing camouflage clothing. Their older sister, Diane, testified that her previously fun-loving brother had come to fear loud noises and was easily agitated. 'He wasnt the Lionel that I knew,' she told officials. Shanna Desmond is pictured with her daughter, who was born around the time of her father's deployment to AfghanistanDesmond's family members argued that the military offered little to no help with his transition to civilian life and his serious mental health struggles. On January 3, 2017, Desmond bought a semi-automatic rifle and killed everyone at his home. His sister Chantel described in graphic detail the moment she walked into her brother's house that night and found her niece, dressed in a tank top and pajama bottoms, lying in a pool of blood, reported Atlantic CTV. She then looked over and saw her brother with a hole in his face. 'It messed up my life,' she tearfully said. 'I can still smell the blood.' The purpose of the inquiry is to allow witnesses to make recommendations to the province on policy changes concerning mental health and domestic violence in an effort to prevent future tragedies. A former Canadian judge who was jailed nine years ago for shooting dead his wife is allowed to be released from prison ahead of a new murder trial after his defense presented new evidence that she killed herself. Jacques Delisle, 85, was on Friday granted his request to be released from prison in Quebec. It comes after the Justice Department ordered a new murder trial for the ex-judge after an extensive review concluded a miscarriage of justice likely occurred in his case, CTV reported. Delisle was jailed back in 2012 after being found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his 71-year-old wife Marie Nicole Rainville. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. His wife of 49 years was found dead in their Quebec home back in 2009 after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Delisle, who had already retired as a judge at that point, has always denied killing her. Jacques Delisle, 85, was on Friday granted his request to be released from prison in Quebec. He was jailed nine years ago for shooting dead his wife, but his release has been ordered ahead of a new murder trial after his defense presented new evidence that she killed herselfDelisle was jailed back in 2012 after being found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his 71-year-old wife Marie Nicole Rainville, pictured aboveHis lawyers now say an error was made during Rainville's autopsy, which meant the trajectory of the bullet wasn't properly examined at the time of his trial. They argue that a new analysis from 10 different ballistic experts, which was completed in 2015 after he was jailed, proves that Rainville pulled the trigger herself. During his initial trial, which was widely publicized in Quebec at the time, prosecutors had argued that Delisle planned to kill his wife so he could start a new life with his mistress. They argued he wanted to get away from her because she was depressed and paralyzed on her right side after suffering a stroke. Former Quebec judge Jacques Delisle, left, walks into court with his granddaughter Anne Sophie Morency in court in 2012; this week, he was released from prison ahead of a new trialIn an interview after he was jailed, Delisle said in The Fifth Estate documentary that his wife had told him she intended to kill herself. 'I did my best to convince her not to go further in her thinking, but she was convinced,' he said. He said his wife had asked him to leave her his handgun. Delisle admitted to leaving the gun on the table and then leaving their home. He said in the documentary that he did not believe his wife would use the gun. Delisle returned home after an hour and said he found Rainville dead on their couch. Former judge Jacques Delisle, 85, has been granted a new trial over the murder of his wife in 2012. His defense lawyers, Jacques Larochelle (right) and James Lockyear (left) spoke to media on Friday after the Justice Department made the decision to release him. Delisle's defense has been that his wife committed suicideDelisle admitted that he did not tell police he had left his wife with the gun. He also never testified in his own defense. 'Now I realize that was a mistake, but it's too late,' Delisle said. 'That was not a smart decision to make. That was a sentimental decision I made. I thought of my family first.' Following his conviction, Delisle's appeal was dismissed in 2013 by the Quebec Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear his case. Justice Minister David Lametti ordered a new trial this week after reviewing the new evidence that wasn't available during Delisle's trial or appeal. The former judge's defense argued in court that the new evidence reviewed by Lametti suggests Delisle is innocent and that Rainville's death was a suicide.
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###CLAIM: another person directly knowledgeable about the matter said : `` the eu enforcement people want aon to divest the willis insurance business so that they can see if it can do it but the refusal is also looking for aon to divest its global sales of employee benefit brokerage and consultancy services.
###DOCS: [1/3] An office building with Aon logo is seen amidst the easing of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in the Central Business District of Sydney, Australia, June 3, 2020. REUTERS/Loren ElliottBRUSSELS, March 3 (Reuters) - Aon (AON.N) will face a list of objections by the EU's antitrust watchdog which it must overcome with concessions to proceed with its $30 billion bid for Willis Towers Watson (WLTW.O), two people familiar with the matter said. The negotiations may derail Aon's goal of closing the deal in the first half of the year unless it offers concessions in the coming weeks to stave off the charge sheet, the people said. The deal, announced a year ago, would create the world's largest insurance broker, putting the merged entity ahead of world No. 1 Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc (MMC.N). The insurance industry has seen a wave of consolidation triggered by falling valuations, companies seeking to boost their business models, soaring COVID-19 related claims, and other challenges such as climate change. The European Commission, which suspended its investigation into the deal last month while waiting for Aon to provide requested information, is concerned the takeover may drive up prices and hold back innovation. The EU enforcer and Aon declined to comment. Aon shares extended losses and were down 0.5% while Willis erased earlier gains and were 0.6% lower by 1655 GMT. The Commission is readying a statement of objections, a charge sheet setting out possible competitive harm, the people said. Companies have about two weeks to respond and can request a closed-door hearing. Aon could stave off the charge sheet by offering concessions to address EU regulators' concerns. The company has been in informal discussions about concessions but has not made an official offer to date, the people said. The EU enforcer wants Willis' reinsurance business to be divested, which Aon has refused, and it is also looking to see if the companies may have to sell the global coordination of employee benefits broking and consultancy services, another person with direct knowledge of the matter said. Finding the right concessions that would satisfy large multinational clients, a key focus of the Commission's questionnaires sent to rivals and customers, will not be easy, said a person who had received several such documents. "In order for a fourth competitor or third competitor to merge, they would need to replace Willis. Replacing Willis means replacing Willis' footprints, their data analytic skill abilities, their cross risk capability, these are really expensive, hard things to build," the person said. The deal has also fuelled concerns with the Australian antitrust watchdog which last month said it could significantly hurt competition in commercial risk, reinsurance and employee benefits broking and advisory services in Australia. read moreReporting by Foo Yun CheeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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###CLAIM: the indiana republican added : `` the election will determine whether our highest ideals are respected by the united states. ''
###DOCS: At a White House event last week, Donald Trump made some unscripted comments, about law enforcement, which at the time, weren't altogether clear. "We'll be doing things that you'll be, I think, very impressed with," the president said. "[Crime] numbers are going to be coming down even if we have to go in and take over cities.... You're supposed to wait for [local officials] to call, but they don't call." In other words, Trump encouraged people to believe urban crime rates necessitate federal officials "going in and taking over cities," whether local officials like it or not. A few days later, Americans learned what the president's plans look like in practice. [A]t the urging of President Donald Trump, federal officers are roaming the streets of Oregons biggest city in unmarked vehicles, detaining protesters without identifying themselves. Multiple reports and videos clearly show heavily armed federal law enforcement officers dressed in camouflage stepping out of unmarked civilian vans and forcibly detaining anti-racism and anti-police brutality demonstrators on the streets of Portland, often far away from any federal property (where federal officials have jurisdiction). In many instances, those taken into custody hadnt clearly violated any laws. As Vox's explainer on this noted, all of these developments have unfolded against the wishes of Oregon's elected leaders and the residents of Portland. The Republican administration has been explicit in saying it does not care. Indeed, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf -- who, like several current DHS leaders, has not been confirmed by the Senate -- appeared on Fox News yesterday morning and said he has no interest in waiting for "invitations" from state or local officials. The acting cabinet secretary added that he's prepared to dispatch federal troops into American cities "whether they like us there or not." Last week, Vice President Mike Pence delivered a speech in which he argued that the 2020 presidential election is "about whether America remains America." The Indiana Republican added that the election will determine whether the United States respects the country's "highest ideals." He did not appear to be kidding. As scary as the scenes out of Portland have been, there's no reason to assume these confrontations will be limited to Oregon's largest city. On the contrary, Trump is moving forward with plans to deploy federal law enforcement to Chicago, with New York, Philadelphia, Detroit and others on his list. A reporter asked the president yesterday about his policy to dispatch federal troops into American cities, and Trump replied, "Well, it depends on what your definition of 'troops' is." How reassuring. The dynamic is an extraordinary one. An American president with authoritarian instincts is dispatching paramilitary forces in his own country, who've been seen snatching uncharged civilians from public sidewalks and throwing them into unmarked vehicles. In the face of fierce pushback, that same president is so pleased with the developments that he looks for other American communities where he can do the same thing. It's worth pausing to reflect on why this is happening here. The official line is that urban areas in the United States have unraveled into Mad-Max-style hellscapes -- Trump said yesterday that Chicago is "worse than Afghanistan, by far" -- necessitating federal intervention to prevent nightmarish chaos. That, of course, is ridiculous: some cities certainly have problems with crime, but overall crime rates are still much lower than they were in, say, the early 1990s. The more sensible explanation includes two straightforward truths. The first is that the president, still convinced that a "law and order" message will boost his prospects for a second term, wants the public to be terrified. As we discussed last week, the politics is counter-intuitive: common sense suggests that an incumbent president, in the midst of a campaign, would be eager to brag to the public about the nation's relatively low crime rates. Trump's doing the opposite, hoping to convince voters that dangerous people are lurking outside their homes; they should blame Democrats; and Americans can look to the White House to send armed federal troops onto public streets to keep people safe. It's an ugly pitch, based on less-than-subtle racism and irrational fears, but in 2020, the president may very well have come to the conclusion that he doesn't have much else to run on. The other element to keep in mind is the White House's eagerness to change the public conversation. As the editorial board of the Washington Post noted this morning, "The president is a master of distraction and misdirection; predictably, he has seized on the disorder in Portland to deflect attention from the pandemic and to exploit the countrys deepening tribal divisions, which have served his political purposes so well." As a rule, I'm skeptical of political analysis that says Trump is doing x in order to distract attention from y, but in this instance, it's a difficult observation to simply cast aside. Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic has been a brutal failure, and the more Americans notice his ineptitude on the biggest crisis of his presidency, the more likely it is he'll lose in the fall. The White House clearly sees the need to shift the national focus -- and having Trump, in his own words, "go in and take over cities," is a conversation the West Wing prefers. Put it this way: if Trump enjoyed a double-digit lead in the polls, and coronavirus cases were dwindling, does anyone seriously believe we'd be watching gut-wrenching images out of Portland right now? Comment on this story Comment Gift Article ShareThis story was featured in Drop Me The Link, our one-story election newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox three times a week. Disaster. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight War zone. Carnage in American cities. The descriptions of events in Portland, Ore., were emblazoned this week across scenes of mayhem playing in a loop on Fox News and pumped out by right-wing influencers on social media. The dystopian portrait has turned the liberal city into a test case for President Trumps latest performance of law and order the catchphrase he is making a focal point of his flagging reelection campaign by portraying Democrats as presiding over urban battle zones in which demonstrators are desecrating federal property. The Trump administration has escalated tensions, local officials argue, by sending camouflaged officers to confront activists, most of whom have practiced nonviolence. The president, while devolving control of the coronavirus response to state and local authorities, has vowed to replicate the federal crackdown in Chicago, New York and other Democratic-controlled cities seeing sustained protests after the police killing of George Floyd. And he is being cheered on by provocateurs online and in the media pointing to the backlash against federal mobilization as a sign that a still more severe response is needed. AdvertisementVideo posted by conservative activist Andy Ngo, showing a scuffle with armed agents in military fatigues, became fodder for Ben Shapiros Daily Wire website to label protesters rioters. Sean Hannity, the Fox News host, thundered: The presidents right. This is a war zone.Three Portland mothers talk about the "Wall of Moms" demonstrations and why they think they're needed to protect protesters from federal agents. (Video: The Washington Post)The decision to insert the federal government into spasms of racial unrest so close to a national election as the Trump administration strains to respond to a pandemic that has claimed more than 140,000 American lives resembles efforts to arouse fear of the migrant caravan heading to the U.S. border in the lead-up to the midterm elections in 2018. Those efforts sputtered, with suburban voters propelling Democrats to a House majority. Similarly, the administrations moves now to dominate the streets, as Trump characterized his vision, risks backlash in both parties. AdvertisementIf there is something that is perceived as too strong and bordering on totalitarianism, thats not right, and I dont think people in the heartland want government crackdowns, if you want to call it that, going too far, said Scott Frostman, the Republican chairman in Sauk County, Wis., a political bellwether an hour from Madison. Trumps quest to magnify urban violence comes as his campaign seeks to denigrate Joe Biden as weak on crime. The line of argument, backed by millions of dollars boosting television ads painting a grim portrait of Bidens America, is at odds with criticism of the presumptive Democratic nominee as an advocate for the 1994 crime bill, which is frequently blamed for mass incarceration. Recently, the president has portrayed his opponent as a vessel for rules intended to combat housing discrimination, which Trump asserted would abolish our beautiful and successful suburbs. And he has falsely accused the former vice president of supporting calls to defund the police. Biden has embraced reforms but has not endorsed cutting funds for law enforcement. AdvertisementBiden on Tuesday denounced Trumps tactics in Portland, while also taking pains to show he sees a role for federal authorities. Of course the U.S. government has the right and duty to protect federal property, the former vice president said in a statement. The Obama-Biden administration protected federal property across the country without resorting to these egregious tactics and without trying to stoke the fires of division in this country.That measured view found little purchase within the Webs fractured information ecosystem, which privileges the most extreme positions. Among the highest-performing Facebook posts on Tuesday about Portland were by conservative media or activists lambasting Democrats for resisting the presidents moves. The attacks are escalating and theyre going to kill people, claimed a Blue Lives Matter page, linking to a video of protesters barricading a county courthouse. Mark Levin, the talk radio host, mourned, Another city goes to hell, earning more than 12,000 shares. AdvertisementNeither the chaos depicted in conservative media nor the presidents caricature of protesters as extremists who hate our country is reflected in what the citys leaders describe as mostly peaceful assemblies, including by dozens of women who this week formed a wall of moms around demonstrators. Local officials have condemned the presence of federal forces, who have struck a protester in the head with a less-lethal round and whisked others away in unmarked vans. Members of the Trump administration have justified the deployment in the name of safeguarding federal property, while also pointing to dangers to federal personnel. Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, told Fox News he does not require invitations by the state, state mayors or state governors to do our job.Tactical teams from Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protection are on the ground in Portland, those agencies confirmed, while the full extent of the deployment prepared for other cities, as well as the underlying legal justification, was not clear. Democratic governors and other officials vowed to pursue litigation to halt what they condemned as a violation of constitutional rights and a slide into authoritarianism. AdvertisementPortland will not be a proving ground for fascism, said Chloe Eudaly, a city commissioner, adding in an interview that the arrival of federal forces has done nothing but escalate tensions.Graffiti has been scrawled on the federal courthouse and on a nearby county jail, Eudaly said. There have been scattered acts of property destruction and vandalism visited on nearby properties, she added. But Portland, she said, has not been seized by violence, a point brought home by residents who undertook a social media campaign to depict everyday life unfolding in the riverside city. The justification offered by the Trump administration represents an excuse rather than a real reason for these deployments, said Margo Schlanger, a law professor at the University of Michigan who served as an officer for civil rights and civil liberties at the Department of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama. If the courts dont put it down, we should be very worried, she said, condemning in particular accounts of protesters being detained without justification by unidentified tactical teams. AdvertisementAny identification beyond an insignia indicating that theyre law enforcement would put agents at risk, maintained White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who began her Tuesday briefing warning of violence, chaos and anarchy in Portland. Trumps allies in Congress blanketed the airwaves with similar talking points. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) went on Fox News to argue Trump bore no blame for unrest unfolding during his presidency because the violence was concentrated in cities governed by Democrats. As he spoke, tape rolled of federal agents beating a Navy veteran who had approached them with a question, Why are you not honoring your oath?The conservative messaging, even when it clashes with video evidence, resonates with activists across the right-wing spectrum, said Heidi Beirich, co-founder and executive vice president of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. Whether were talking about white supremacist groups or militias closer to the mainstream, they view cities as hellscapes where black protesters and antifa are out of control and Trumps moves are protecting real Americans.AdvertisementBut in some of the places that could decide the November election, uncertainty marked reactions to the show of federal force, which upended principles of limited government long claimed by conservatives. Typically conservatives favor less government intervention, said Frostman, the Republican chairman in Sauk County. So the idea that the federal government is coming into cities does that make it more challenging for us as a more conservative group? Is there going to be a threat to shut me down, or my ability to speak or to gather?He said voters in the county fear unrest and anarchy, estimating that urban violence was a more deeply felt concern than a porous border with Mexico. But they also hold fast to bedrock principles of free speech and assembly, he said, and are cognizant about the level of control you impose.AdvertisementIn Erie County, Pa., another political battleground that could prove decisive in November, residents get a different view of whats happening depending on the station they tune in to, said the countys GOP chairman, Verel Salmon. Salmon, a former schools superintendent, said he was unsure about some of the details in Portland but favored efforts to protect property. I dont know the details of who said what and so forth, but the concept of protecting federal property is sound, he said. Its not random arrests for no reason. People are engaging in negative acts that will cost taxpayers dearly.The confusion caused by incomplete accounts, jumbled by outright falsehoods, serves the presidents agenda, said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a professor of communication at University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg School for Communication. The framing of this is dramatically different news channel to news channel, and this is an instance in which the visuals are difficult to understand because youre seeing people in what look to be a kind of military uniform, and its unfolding at night, said Jamieson, a co-author of a recent peer-reviewed study finding that Americans who rely on conservative outlets, such as Fox News and Rush Limbaugh, were more likely to put stock in conspiracy theories about the coronavirus. Even as conservative pundits raise alarm about turmoil in Portland, she said, they have not yet produced imagery to support their warnings. Still, the persistent verbal reinforcement makes you think you are seeing a reality when in fact what youre seeing is selected distortion.Sometimes, however, the visual evidence cuts in the exact opposite direction. A Fox alert this week about the 54th straight night of Portland protests led with a clip of a crowd singing the gospel that became an anthem of the civil rights movement, We Shall Overcome.GiftOutline Gift Article
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###CLAIM: `` this club, with its rich heritage, brilliant academy and passionate fan base, has a solid foundation for building.
###DOCS: Burnley's protracted takeover was finally completed on Wednesday night, with ALK Capital confirmed as the club's new owners. Incoming chairman Alan Pace is set to speak with manager Sean Dyche on Thursday after the American management firm concluded the deal in time for next month's transfer window. Sportsmail understands ALK purchased a controlling 84 per cent stake for around 170million. Burnley's 170million takeover by ALK Captial was completed late on Wednesday nightThe move comes just in time for Sean Dyche to strengthen in the January transfer windowPace, 53, was formally managing director at Citi bank and chief executive of Real Salt Lake as they won the MLS Cup in 2009. After the deal was announced, Pace said: 'Today marks a new era for Burnley as we become stewards of this historic football club and build on the impressive work that Mike Garlick, Sean Dyche and everyone at Burnley has done to make it a financially stable, established Premier League club that is a cornerstone of the local community. 'With a rich heritage, a brilliant academy, and a passionate fan base, this club has solid foundations to build upon.' Former shareholders Mike Garlick and John Banaszkiewicz will remain as directors at Turf Moor to ensure a smooth transition in ownership. Outgoing chairman Mike Garlick (above) will stay on as a director to smooth the processGarlick told the club's official website: 'This investment represents a natural progression for Burnley Football Club. 'In Alan Pace and his team, we are welcoming committed investors to Turf Moor who will be living here in the local community and investing in the club, both on and off the football pitch, for many years to come. 'My tenure as chairman has always been about ensuring Burnley is a sustainable football club, and this investment provides a long-term plan to maintain that philosophy, whilst driving evolution and innovation.' Former chairman Garlick has been in control of the Lancashire club, with Banaszkiewicz as co-chairman, since 2012. The pair have overseen the hiring of Dyche as manager, two Premier League promotions and the 10.6million development of the club's Barnfield Training Centre. Sean Dyche will have the support of Burnley's new US owners ALK Capital in the January transfer window as he seeks to secure the Clarets Premier League status for the fifth season in a row. As reported by Sportsmail, ALK, purchased a controlling 84 per cent stake in the Lancashire club, believed to be for around 170million, in a deal that was completed on Wednesday night. Dyche will be relieved the takeover is complete before the transfer window opens, since the manager has been forced to operate on limited resources so far this season. Alan Pace of ALK Capital, which has taken over Burnley FC in a deal worth 170 millionHe made no secret of his frustration in the summer when the club secured just one significant signing Dale Stephens from Brighton - and the team has suffered injuries to key players this term. Even so, Dyche has managed his side out of the relegation zone to 16th place and with additional resources he and the club will be confident they can climb the table. We have been very, very big fans of Sean for some time, said incoming chairman Alan Pace, who is expected to meet with Dyche today. The longevity and stability of the management side has been something that has been very impactful from our perspective of the playing style and ability to perform at the level that they have.' We are very prepared to come in and support Sean and the management team,'' added Pace, speaking to the club's website. ALK Capital partners Mike Smith, Alan Pace and Stuart Hunt after the takeover was announced'We need time to get in understand more what their needs are, what they are planning for... where they are desiring to go to. 'We are fully prepared to back the manager,'Those words will be music to the ears of Clarets' fans, who were alarmed to see their side lose the momentum gained at the end of last season and struggle in the early weeks of this one, even though those within the club were confident the results would improve once the injuries abated. Pace insists he is committed to Burnley for the long term, moving to the north west with his family and planning to be hands on. After a tough start to the season, Burnley have recoved and started to climb the tableAnd he says he wants to maintain the financial stability Burnley has achieved over many years, most recently under the leadership of former chairman, Mike Garlick, who will stay on as a director, along with John Banaszkiewicz. Garlick has been in control of the Lancashire club, with Banaszkiewicz as co-chairman, since 2012 and the pair will be credited with masterminding a golden period in Burnley's history. The duo were responsible for hiring Dyche as manager, and oversaw two Premier League promotions and the 10.6million development of the club's Barnfield Training Centre. Pace, 53, was formally managing director at Citi bank and chief executive of Real Salt Lake as they won the MLS Cup in 2009. Burnley boss Sean Dyche will have money to spend in the January transfer window which can provide much needed support to players like Ashley Barnes in a squad stretched by injuries'What attracted us to Burnley had a lot to do with the passion of the fans, the quality of the club.. the longevity of the coaching staff, and the ability for us to see a path to growth, he told the clubs website. 'We would not do anything that is not on a long-term basis. This is not a short buy and flip opportunity.' ALK's acquisition of Burnley means that nine clubs in the Premier League now have American owners, or a significant investment from the US. Outgoing chairman Mike Garlick (above) will stay on as a director to smooth the process'It is not surprising to us,' said Pace. You have the number one league in the world in the number one sport. And you attract investors wanting to see that continue to grow.It appears Pace also intends to play a full role in the debate over the future structure of English football, positioning himself firmly in opposition to the power grab by the Big Six clubs that lay at the heart of Project Big Picture. Pace said in his view a combination of government, fans, owners and players was the right group to set the future course for the game. 'We fully believe there should always be multiple voices involved and heard when it comes to making decisions, he said. It requires collaboration and a willingness to listen to one another. ALK Capital has completed its takeover of Burnley, with the US investor acquiring a controlling 84% stake in the Premier League club. The Delaware-based ALK, which specialises in investments in the sport and media sectors, said its managing partner Alan Pace would take over from Mike Garlick as Burnleys chairman. Garlick, alongside former shareholder John Banaszkiewicz, will remain on ALK Capitals new board of directors at Burnley, ensuring a smooth transition to new ownership and providing valuable knowledge from his eight-year tenure as club chairman, the company said. Garlick, who had held just less than 50% of the shares, said the deal represented a natural progression for Burnley. In Alan Pace and his team, we are welcoming committed investors to Turf Moor who will be living here in the local community and investing in the club, both on and off the football pitch, for many years to come, Garlick said. My tenure as chairman has always been about ensuring Burnley is a sustainable football club, and this investment provides a long-term plan to maintain that philosophy, whilst driving evolution and innovation.Pace, the former chief executive of Major League Soccers Real Salt Lake, said the takeover completed through ALKs sports investment arm Velocity Sports Partners marked the start of an exciting journey for the entire Clarets family. He said: With a rich heritage, a brilliant academy, and a passionate fan base, this club has solid foundations to build upon.Pace has a Wall Street background, having held a senior role with Citigroup after working as a managing director for Lehman Brothers. The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email. One of ALKs first priorities is likely to be a meeting with Sean Dyche, who can expect support in the January transfer window. Pace said in an interview with Burnley club media: We are very prepared to come in and support Sean and the management team. We need time to get in and understand what their needs are, what they have been planning for, what the decisions were which they have taken so far and where they are desiring to go to but we are fully prepared to back the manager.In August ALK invested in two London-based football technology firms, AiScout and Player LENS. Both companies are involved in data analytics and predictive assessment of players.
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###CLAIM: fortunately we have a public service position that accepts the reality that the truth in the media is often no longer based on facts but simply on what one feels.
###DOCS: Mr. President,One of the most frustrating things to watch during your presidency was the continued attacks on you from fake news outlets with no accountability to truth. It is helpful early on to slip in a common Trumpian term like fake news or Deep State or alternative facts. This makes clear that you are operating in the same alternative reality as Mr. Trump. I cant imagine the frustration you and your family felt. Unfortunately, in our positions of public service, we have to accept the reality that often truth in the media is no longer based on facts but simply what one feels like saying. Media bashing is a requirement when soliciting Mr. Trump. If youre not willing to go there, dont even bother. This leads me to your recent press release stating that I am responsible for holding up a forensic audit of the Wisconsin elections. This could not be further from the truth. The segue here from sucking up to gentle criticism is a smidge bumpy. And keep in mind that truth is a malleable concept for Mr. Trump. Let me first say that very few people have the honor of being named publicly by a United States president. Now youre back on track: Having raised your concern, it is best to immediately backpedal and layer on more flattery. Plowing ahead with the details of your complaint without proper fertilizing risks getting Mr. Trumps dander up. I never imagined mine would be mentioned, much less in this light, from a President that I have publicly supported, and still support. The genius of this sentence is that it sounds as though youre expressing gratitude, even as you are expressing dismay. I feel I need to respond even though you will likely never hear of it, as the power of your pen to mine is like Thors hammer to a Bobby pin. Bonus points for going with a deity from Norse mythology. Mr. Trump clearly has a soft spot for the region, to the point that he expressed a desire for more Norwegian immigrants and even eyed buying Greenland from Denmark. Nevertheless, I need to correct your false claim against me. Oof. Another misstep: False is such a harsh, judgmental word. Would have been safer to go with inaccurate or, better still, imprecise.I never received a call from you or any of your sources asking about the election audit. If you had, I would have told you that long before your press release I called the auditor in charge of the election audit that is taking place in Wisconsin and requested a forensic component to the audit. Suggesting that Mr. Trump has behaved in any way other than perfectly is always dicey. What saves you here is immediately following up with reassurances that you, in fact, behaved exactly as he wanted. Prior to owning several businesses, I was an auditor, so I understand the importance of this being done to determine what took place in the last election. This will help guide us as legislators to put fixes in place for any issues found, and more importantly, to ensure the integrity of elections moving forward. Deft, fast pivot to expressing solidarity with Mr. Trumps contention that there were serious voting issues requiring legislative fixes.I made specific requests on procedures and locations, both of which I have not, nor will not, disclose. If I am not satisfied with the procedures performed, I will request additional work be done. If anyone illegally attempts to hinder information from being obtained, I will use my subpoena powers to get it. Always good to throw in a bit of tough-guy posturing about how none of the libs or Deep State plotters can stand in the way of your mission. This leads me back to your press release. It is false, and I dont appreciate it being done before calling me and finding out the truth. This is what both of us have fought against. It is unclear what anyone is fighting against here, but clarity should never be an impediment to flattery. Being cut from similar cloth in our backgrounds, and knowing that reparation must always be of more value than the wrong done, I have two requests. Curiously, Wikipedia identifies Mr. Kapenga as an accountant and business owner who has been in state politics for more than a decade. This would appear to make him as similar to the high-flying reality TV star and New York real estate scion as corduroy culottes are to cheetah-skin hot pants. First, I ask that you issue a press release in similar fashion that corrects the information and also encourages people to support what I have requested in the audit. Smart to sweeten your real ask by pairing it with something that Mr. Trump wants. Second, you owe me a round of golf at the club of your choice. Valiant attempt to lighten the mood while also playing to Mr. Trumps vanity regarding the family business. Plus, offering him the chance to beat you at golf is smart, even if it requires you to throw the round. I write this as I am about to board a plane due to a family medical emergency. Bold move to appeal to Mr. Trumps humanity. In addition to my Trump socks, I will pull up my Trump/Pence mask when I board the plane, as required by federal law. This bit of toadyism may feel like its going too far, but, with Mr. Trump, too far is never enough. And it never hurts to take a shot at the feds. I figure, if the liberals are going to force me to wear a mask, I am going to make it as painful for them as possible. Always remember that the throbbing heart of Trumpism is owning the libs. I will continue to do this regardless of whether or not I ever hear from you. Nice dismount! Emphasizes that you have internalized Trumpian values and will live by them even if the former president does not heed your imploration. Thank you for doing great things as our president. Always close with straight-up bootlicking. Dont try to be fancy or subtle. Respectfully,Chris KapengaWisconsin Senate President
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###CLAIM: he added that the reason for this discovery was that it represented the oldest dating of archaic monkeys in fossil records.
###DOCS: Primate fossils dating back more than 66 million years are the earliest examples of our ancient ancestors, and could hold the key to understanding life after dinosaurs. Archaeologists from the University of Washington's Burke Museum analysed several fossils of Purgatorius, the oldest members of the earliest-known primate species. The team studied fossilised teeth from the Hell Creek area of northeastern Montana dating back about 65.9 million years - 139,000 years after the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event that wiped out 75% of life on Earth including the dinosaurs. The remains belong to a group that were the ancestors of all primates, finding they lived alongside the dinosaurs, rather than emerging after they died out. These primates were able to thrive after the dinosaurs became extinct, and went on to spread and multiply, eventually leading to the emergence of modern humans. Shortly after the extinction of the dinosaurs, the earliest known archaic primates, including a new species, Purgatorius mckeeveri (foreground), quickly set themselves apart from their competition by specialising on an omnivorous diet including fruit found up in the treesA team of 10 researchers studied several fossils of Purgatorius, the oldest genus in a group of the earliest-known primates called plesiadapiforms. These remarkable ancient mammals were small-bodied, and ate specialised diets of insects and fruits that varied across species. This discovery is central to primate ancestry and paints a picture of how life on land recovered after the mass extinction event - possibly caused by an asteroid. The event wiped out all dinosaurs (except for birds) and led to the rise of mammals. Dr Gregory Wilson Mantilla, co-lead on the study said it was mind blowing to imagine and see the remains of our earliest archaic primate ancestors. He said: 'They were some of the first mammals to diversify in this new post-mass extinction world, taking advantage of the fruits and insects up in the forest canopy.' Mantilla from Burke Museum worked with Dr Stephen Chester of Brooklyn College and The Graduate Center, CUNY. 'This discovery is exciting because it represents the oldest dated occurrence of archaic primates in the fossil record,' Chester said. 'It adds to our understanding of how the earliest primates separated themselves from their competitors following the demise of the dinosaurs.' Fossils, including teeth, from the ancient mammal species helped researchers to pin their age to before the demise of the dinosaursStudy authors Gregory Wilson Mantilla and Stephen Chester search for fossils in MontanaPURGATORIUS: OUR OLDEST PRIMATE ANCESTORS Long before humans, apes, lemurs and gorillas, primates were small creatures feasting on fruit and insects. Purgatorius is a genus of extinct species thought to be early primates. They date back more than 65 million years and likely lived alongside the dinosaurs - at least for a short time. After the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs mammals, including Purgatorius, went on to thrive by specialising in fruit and insects that survived the event. AdvertisementBased on the age of the fossils, about 65.9 million years, the team estimates that the ancestor of all primates likely emerged by the Late Cretaceous. This means they lived alongside the dinosaurs, at least for a short period of time before they were wiped out, along with most life on Earth. The fossils include two species of Purgatorius - Purgatorius janisae and a new species described by the team called Purgatorius mckeeveri. Three of the teeth found have distinct features compared to any previously-known Purgatorius species and led to the description of the new species. The new species Purgatorius mckeeveri is named after Frank McKeever, who was among the first residents of the area where the fossils were discovered. 'This was a really cool study to be a part of, particularly because it provides further evidence that the earliest primates originated before the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs,' Co-author Brody Hovatter said. 'They became highly abundant within a million years after that extinction.' 'This discovery is exciting because it represents the oldest dated occurrence of archaic primates in the fossil record,' he added. 'It adds to our understanding of how the earliest primates separated themselves from their competitors following the demise of the dinosaurs.' They were prolific breeders, with researchers discovering that within a million years of arriving in what is now northwest Montana the species outstripped other native life and dominated the insect and fruit produce. The findings have been published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
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