Chana Ewing, Founder of GEENIE joins the On the Move panel to discuss her intersectional beauty brand.
‘If people are willing to welcome you at a time of Covid-19, they will wish you to have the highest level of protection possible’
Police in Minnesota released footage Monday from the body camera of the officer who fatally shot a 20-year-old Black man in Brooklyn Center.
Prosecutors trying a white former Minneapolis police officer in George Floyd’s death put one of Floyd’s brothers on the witness stand Monday in a further effort to humanize him for the jury and counter the defense narrative that Floyd was at least partially responsible for his own death due to his use of illegal drugs. Philonise Floyd, who has frequently occupied the Floyd family's sole seat in the socially distanced courtroom, was allowed to testify under a legal doctrine called “spark of life.” The defense didn't use Philonise Floyd's appearance to discuss George Floyd's drug use.
The consensus, even among his detractors, is that should former President Donald Trump decide to make another run at the White House in 2024, he'd be the favorite to win the GOP primary. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) didn't do much to dispel that notion Monday. Haley is considered a potential 2024 candidate, but she told The Associated Press she won't enter the race if Trump launches another campaign, and was quick to say she'd support him if he did. I asked @NikkiHaley if she would support Donald Trump if he runs again in 2024. “Yes,” she told me. “I would not run if President Trump ran, and I would talk to him about it,” she added. “That’s something that we will have a conversation about, at some point.” Story upcoming pic.twitter.com/8uGwxk2s84 — Meg Kinnard (@MegKinnardAP) April 12, 2021 Haley, who served as Trump's ambassador to the United Nations for nearly two years, said she "had a great working relationship" with Trump and "appreciated the way he let me do my job." But some analysts think fear, rather than fond workplace memories, drove Haley's most recent answer. Of course, neither Haley or Trump have announced they're running, and things could change significantly by the time a decision has to be made. But, for now, it seems Trump is still looming over what otherwise could be a wide open field. More stories from theweek.comTrump finally jumps the sharkThe immense untapped potential of offshore wind7 brutally funny cartoons about Mitch McConnell's corporate hypocrisy
Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother, testified Monday as a "spark of life" witness in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin.
George Floyd’s brother Philonise, 39, took the witness stand Monday afternoon in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
Britt Reid, the former assistant coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, has been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) over the crash that put a 5-year-old girl in a coma and left her with traumatic brain injury. Mr Reid was allegedly driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.113, over the legal limit of 0.08, at the time of the 4 February crash, according to the Jackson County prosecutors office. In announcing the charges, prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said Mr Reid “acted with criminal negligence by driving at an excessive rate of speed”.
The GOP continues to struggle to maintain party unity after former President Donald Trump's election loss.
The world's smallest frog can fit on a dime. E.N. Rittmeyer et al. (2012) Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. What is the smallest animal ever? – Peter, age 9, Brookline, Massachusetts The biggest animal in the world is easy to see, if you know where to look. Living in every ocean except the Arctic, the blue whale is the largest animal on Earth — weighing as much as 200 tons with a heartbeat that can be heard up to two miles away. But the smallest animal in the world? Even if you knew where to look, could you see it? To track down the tiniest creature, scientists had to first decide what they were looking for and then, where they might find it. The first question – “What is an animal?” – is something that scientists have debated for centuries. I am an exotic animal veterinarian especially fascinated by these types of questions. What is an animal? In the language of science, an animal is an organism made of multiple cells. Cells are the building blocks of all living things – a human body, for example, is made up of trillions of cells. Some organisms, like bacteria, are made of just one cell. They are not considered animals. The simplest single-celled creatures – including bacteria – are called prokaryotes. They don’t contain a nucleus, the feature that acts like the main control center for a cell. More complex cells have an enclosed nucleus. They are called eukaryotes. Anything from an earthworm to a zebra or you are all eukaryotes and all are considered animals. The blue whale is the largest animal in the world. But what is the smallest? NOAA Photo Library If it can’t be seen, does that count? Based on this definition, an animal can be something so small that it’s not possible to see without a microscope. This is definitely not something that you would probably call an “animal.” A recent discovery is an organism that is invisible to the eye, a parasitic jellyfish called Myxozoa. They are very small and reaching barely 20 micrometers. Stretched out end to end, it would take more than 1,000 of these creatures to equal 1 inch. Probably the smallest of these parasitic jellyfish is Myxobolus shekel, which is no more than 8.5 micrometers when fully grown. This species was described in 2011, so is pretty new. So is the decision that Myxozoa are related to jellyfish, which scientists agreed on in 2015. The discovery of these types of jellyfish occur once in a while, so it is possible that a new and even smaller animal will be discovered in the future. The process of elimination Let’s assume that you’re looking for the smallest “animal” that is visible to the human eye. Some invertebrates, or animals without a backbone, and other smaller organisms are not visible to the human eye. What is left are vertebrates, animals with backbones that include mammals such as a dog, a whale or you, reptiles such as snakes or crocodiles, birds, fishes and amphibians. Most amphibians, like frogs, are born in water and breathe with gills until they mature, when they develop lungs and an ability to live on land. In this group of animals, it is the amphibians that win the prize for the smallest animal known, for the moment. Scientists traveled to New Guinea, the second largest island in the world, to study the the island’s wildlife. This is where they found the smallest known type of frog called Paedophryne amauensis. The body length of an average adult is reported at less than 8 mm, about the size of a pea. When it was discovered in 2009, it was immediately awarded the title of “world’s smallest vertebrate.” The smallest animal is a question that scientists have debated for many years. Don’t worry. The nature of science means the answers will keep changing as researchers make new discoveries. Maybe a smaller vertebrate will be discovered in a quiet forest, on an exotic island, at the bottom of a canyon or in the dark abyss of the ocean. Scientists will keep looking. Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Nicola Di Girolamo, Oklahoma State University. Read more:How did humans evolve, and will we evolve more?If everyone on Earth sat in the ocean at once, how much would sea level rise?Your brain thinks – but how? Nicola Di Girolamo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The logos may have been printed too soon. AP Photo/John BazemoreMajor League Baseball knows how to exert leverage over local lawmakers. Over 100 companies, including Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola, reacted to Georgia’s new restrictive voting law by publicly denouncing it. While some executives are discussing doing more – such as halting donations or delaying investments, MLB is among the few organizations to go beyond words: It immediately said it was going to move the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver. Both MLB’s decision to relocate the July 13 game and the many corporate press releases issued about the voting law drew a swift rebuke from Republicans, who vowed boycotts of baseball and the products these companies produce. The Senate minority leader even threatened retribution if companies didn’t stay out of politics – with an exception for campaign contributions. As a corporate governance scholar, I have studied how corporations use their economic power to get what they want from lawmakers. I believe Republicans’ angry reactions signal just how deeply concerned they are that other companies might follow MLB’s lead. The nature of corporate power To help understand why, consider this: MLB’s decision is estimated to cost Georgia as much as US0 million in lost economic activity. Corporations understand that the jobs and tax revenue they can provide – or withhold – give them power at the negotiating table. Other states are all competing for the same investments. Tesla, for example, agreed to build a factory near Reno, Nevada, in 2014 in exchange for Why Ramadan is called Ramadan: 6 questions answered https://theconversation.com/why-ramadan-is-called-ramadan-6-questions-answered-77291 Mon, 12 Apr 2021 21:07:14 +0000 tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/77291 Muslims observe a month-long fast for the holy month of Ramadan. A scholar explains the religious observance and its spiritual significance. Mohammad Hassan Khalil, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Muslim Studies Program, Michigan State University Editor’s note: Mohammad Hassan Khalil, associate professor of religious studies and director of the Muslim Studies Program at Michigan State University, answers six questions about the significance of the Muslim month of fasting. 1. Why is Ramadan called Ramadan? Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on when the new crescent moon is, or should be, visible. The Arabic term Ramadan connotes intense heat. It seems that in pre-Islamic Arabia, Ramadan was the name of a scorching hot summer month. In the Islamic calendar, however, the timing of Ramadan varies from year to year. This year Ramadan begins in most places on April 13. An Islamic year is roughly 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year. 2. What is the significance of Ramadan? Ramadan is a period of fasting and spiritual growth, and is one of the five “pillars of Islam.” The others being the declaration of faith, daily prayer, alms-giving, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. Able-bodied Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from dawn to sunset each day of the month. Many practicing Muslims also perform additional prayers, especially at night, and attempt to recite the entire Qur’an. The prevailing belief among Muslims is that it was in the final 10 nights of Ramadan that the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. 3. What is the connection between soul and body that the observance of Ramadan seeks to explain? The Qur’an states that fasting was prescribed for believers so that they may be conscious of God. By abstaining from things that people tend to take for granted (such as water), it is believed, one may be moved to reflect on the purpose of life and grow closer to the creator and sustainer of all existence. As such, engaging in wrongdoing effectively undermines the fast. Many Muslims also maintain that fasting allows them to get a feeling of poverty, and this may foster feelings of empathy. 4. Can Muslims skip fasting under certain conditions? If so, do they make up missed days? All those who are physically limited (for example, because of an illness or old age) are exempt from the obligation to fast; the same is true for anyone who is traveling. Those who are able to do so are expected to make up the missed days at a later time. One could potentially make up all of the missed days in the month immediately following Ramadan, the month of Shawwal. Those unable to fast at all (if they are financially able) are expected to provide meals to the needy as an alternative course of action. 5. What is the significance of 29 or 30 days of fasting? By fasting over an extended period of time, practicing Muslims aim to foster certain attitudes and values that they would be able to cultivate over the course of an entire year. Ramadan is often likened to a spiritual training camp. Besides experiencing feelings of hunger and thirst, believers often have to deal with fatigue because of late-night prayers and predawn meals. This is especially true during the final 10 nights of the month. In addition to being the period in which the Qur’an was believed to have been first revealed, this is a time when divine rewards are believed to be multiplied. Many Muslims will offer additional prayers during this period. 6. Do Muslims celebrate the completion of Ramadan? The end of Ramadan marks the beginning of one of two major Islamic holidays Eid al-Fitr, the “festival of the breaking of the fast.” On this day, many Muslims attend a religious service, visit relatives and friends, and exchange gifts. This is an updated version of an article originally published on May 22, 2017This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Read more:American Islam: a view from the suburbs48 hours as a Muslim American: A professor reflectsEid al-Fitr 2016: Understanding the differences among America’s Muslims Mohammad Hassan Khalil does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Joe Biden says police shooting of Daunte Wright is "no justification for violence" but that anger in Black community is "real and consequential."
The attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility is casting a major shadow over Tuesday’s resumption of indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran over resurrection of the international accord limiting Iran's nuclear program. Neither Iran nor the U.S. say the incident will crater the negotiations.
Sudan’s leader visited West Darfur province Monday following tribal violence earlier this month that killed at least 144 people, posing a challenge to the country’s fragile democratic transition. Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of the ruling sovereign council, met separately with representatives of the non-Arab Masalit and the Arab Rizeigat tribes in Genena, the provincial capital of West Darfur, the sovereign council said. Burhan, who travelled to West Darfur along with top security and military officials, vowed to take “decisive decisions” to foster security and stability in the province, the council said without elaborating.
Even before Covid-19, ‘excess deaths’ in the US were higher than in peer European countries US mortality conditions have grown far worse since 2000, the study found. Photograph: Bhakpong/Getty Images/iStockphoto How many Americans would die each year, on average, if the country had European mortality rates? Far fewer, suggests a new analysis, which compared mortality trends before the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite spending far more than other wealthy countries on healthcare, the United States has relatively higher mortality rates and lower life expectancy – attributed to a plethora of factors including obesity, opioid overdoses, gun violence, suicides, smoking, road accidents and infant deaths. Given the US does not have a universal healthcare system like most high-income European countries, researchers also think access to healthcare and medicines is patchwork, a problem exacerbated by pronounced racial and socioeconomic disparities and the rural-urban divide. In the latest analysis, the authors worked on the basis of a counterfactual assumption – what if the US had the death rates by age and sex of an average peer European country (in this case, the combined mortality rates of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, England and Wales)? – and estimated how many fewer deaths there would have been in the US in 2000, 2010 and 2017 under that assumption. The lead author, Samuel Preston, professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, first compared mortality rankings between the US and a broader set of European countries in 2010, finding that the US ranked among the worst in people aged below age 75 among the 18 countries considered. “I just decided it would be interesting to update that analysis and was surprised to find how much the excess had grown between then and now,” he said. In the latest analysis, the authors found mortality conditions in the US have worsened significantly since 2000 – and resulted in more than 400,000 excess deaths in 2017 alone. That year, Americans aged 30 to 34 were three times more likely to die than their European counterparts, which the researchers suggested was probably driven by drug overdoses – in particular opioids – as well as gun violence. Paradoxically, in 2017, the US had lower death rates in people aged over 85 – the country had 97,788 fewer deaths than if subject to the European standard. The advantage in this age range has only increased since 2000, according to the analysis published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Preston and his co-author Dr Yana Vierboom, a researcher at Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, said they weren’t sure why elderly Americans appeared to be better off. One potential explanation, said Vierboom, was that the US tends to spend more on aggressive end-of-life care and treatments. The analysis also assessed the performance of the US on years of life lost – a metric that weighed the number of excess deaths at a particular age by US life expectancy at that age (somebody who is younger has more potential years of life to live versus someone who is older). Overall, the US experienced roughly 13m years of life lost to excess deaths in 2017, which represents a 64.9% increase since 2000, after adjusting for changes in size and age distribution, the authors found. Jessica Ho, assistant professor of gerontology, sociology, and spatial sciences at the University of Southern California, attributed higher US mortality rates to a combination of behavioral and structural factors. “Americans … often practice poor health behaviors, and this may interact with structural conditions like patchwork access to health care to produce worse outcomes,” she said. “For example, high rates of homicide are related to inequality and residential segregation; high rates of firearm-related deaths are influenced by both behavioral factors and the greater availability of guns in the US.” Mauricio Avendano Pabon, professor of public policy and global health at King’s College London, suggested another explanation might be the strong governmental intervention across many dimensions of people’s lives in European countries, such as minimum wage and maternity leave. “This is, of course, true for the US as well, but in general to a much less degree. While one may argue that less intervention increases efficiency and improves economic outcomes, the market is unlikely to emphasise values that relate to people’s health or inequality.” The US Centers for Disease Control attributed 376,504 deaths to Covid-19 in 2020, a figure that was eclipsed by the excess deaths and lost years of life in 2017, the analysis found. Although drug poisoning rates have come down since 2017, the story repeats itself with Covid-19, which again had a greater mortality impact in the US than European peer countries, said Patrick Heuveline, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles, who was not involved in the analysis. Preston was one of his PhD advisers in the late 1990s. Looking at the period between 31 March 2020 and 31 March, 2021 and using the same five European countries as the standard, a little over one-third of Covid-19 deaths in the US during those 12 months (36%) were excess deaths, Heuveline estimated. So, what does the future look like for the US and peer high-income countries in Europe? It’s difficult to say for sure, Preston and Vierboom said. “Historically, the US was the first to start smoking at really high rates and then the rest of the world caught up,” noted Vierboom. “That seems to be happening with drug use, obesity etc…[the US] is like a sad trendsetter.”
Second Lieutenant Caron Nazario filed a lawsuit against two Virginia police officers who reportedly pepper-sprayed and assaulted him
British Columbia sees largest outbreak of variant found outside Brazil
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared Monday that the world’s failure to unite on tackling COVID-19 created wide inequalities, and he called for urgent action including a wealth tax to help finance the global recovery from the coronavirus. The U.N. chief said latest reports indicate that “there has been a $5 trillion surge in the wealth of the world’s richest in the past year” of the pandemic. Guterres' call followed an appeal in October by U.N. World Food Program Executive Director David Beasley to the more than 2,000 billionaires in the world, with a combined net worth of $8 trillion, to open their bank accounts.
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Kanye West agrees with Kim Kardashian West that they should have joint custody of their four children and neither of them need spousal support, according to new divorce documents. West's attorneys filed his response Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court to Kardashian West's divorce filing seven weeks earlier, which began the process of ending their 6 1/2-year marriage. West's filing was virtually identical to Kardashian West's original petition, agreeing that the marriage should end over irreconcilable differences, and that the two should share custody of their children: North, age 7, Saint, age 5, Chicago, age 3, and Psalm, who turns 2 next month.
One of the officers involved in the incident has been fired
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