Friday, June 4, 2021

Wake-Up Call: U-S To Ship 25M Vaccine Doses Overseas

President Biden announced yesterday that the U.S. will quickly give an initial donation of 25 million doses of surplus Covid-19 vaccine to other countries through the U.N.-backed COVAX program. The donation will boost the COVAX effort, which has so far shared just 76 million vaccine doses to needy countries. The White House has announced plans to share 80 million doses globally overall by the end of this month, mostly via COVAX. Administration officials say that one-quarter of the U.S. excess supply will be kept in reserve for emergencies, and to share directly with allies and partners. More doses are expected to be shared in the coming months.

➤WHITE HOUSE WARNS COMPANIES TO INCREASE SECURITY AGAINST RANSOMWARE ATTACKS: The White House yesterday warned company executives and business leaders to increase their security against ransomware attacks, after two such attacks in recent weeks disrupted operations at a major meatpacking company and the country's biggest fuel pipeline. National Security Council cybersecurity adviser Anne Neuberger said in a letter to the executives that there's been a significant increase in both the frequency and size of the attacks, writing, "The threats are serious and they are increasing. We urge you to take these critical steps to protect your organizations and the American public." Similarly, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters, "Business leaders have a responsibility to strengthen their cyber defenses to protect the American public and our economy."

➤REPORT..AT LEAST 17 POLICE OFFICERS STILL OUT OF WORK WITH U.S. CAPITOL ATTACK INJURIES: At least 17 police officers are still out of work due to injuries they suffered nearly five months ago during the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to CBS News. The report said at least 10 Capitol Police officers were out as of yesterday, as were seven members of the D.C. Metropolitan Police, who also responded to the attack. There were more than 150 officers in all injured that day, 86 Capitol Police officers and 65 members of the Metropolitan Police. The wounds officers suffered included head wounds, cracked ribs and smashed spinal disks, according to Capitol Police Labor Committee Chairman Gus Papathanasiou.
 

➤POSTMASTER GENERAL DEJOY BEING INVESTIGATED OVER POLITICAL FUNDRAISING: The Justice Department is investigating Postmaster General Louis DeJoy over political fundraising, the Washington Post reported yesterday. A spokesperson for DeJoy confirmed the investigation, related to campaign contributions made by employees who worked for DeJoy when he was in the private sector, but he denied any wrongdoing by DeJoy. The Post reported last fall that former employees of a company that had been run by DeJoy said they were pressured to donate to Republican candidates and then reimbursed via bonuses. Encouraging a donation isn't illegal, but reimbursing campaign contributions is.

➤THIRD DEATH AFTER SUNDAY'S MIAMI MASS SHOOTING, NO ARRESTS YET: Miami police said Thursday that a third person had died as a result of Sunday's mass shooting outside a banquet hall in the city. In addition to the two people who'd previously died, 32-year-old Shaniqua Peterson was one of more than 20 people who were injured in the early morning shooting, in which three gunmen opened fire on the crowd outside the hall that had been rented for a concert. No arrests have been announced. Although the three men who arrived in an SUV opened fire indiscriminately before taking off again in the vehicle, police have said they had specific targets, and that it appeared to be related to rivalries between two groups.


➤POLL..LARGE MAJORITY BACK U-S ACTION AGAINST CHINA IF...: A new poll has found that a large majority of American voters support the U.S. taking action against China if evidence is found that proves the Covid-19 pandemic began due to a leak from a lab in Wuhan, China. In the Hill-HarrisX poll, 83 percent of registered voters backed action against China in that circumstance, with support from across party lines -- 87 percent of Republicans, 83 percent of Democrats, and 80 percent of independents. Asked about what kind of action should be taken, 30 percent would support a global tax on Chinese products to make up for the worldwide economic damage caused by the pandemic, and 25 percent would back asking China to pay reparations to the families of those killed or affected by the virus. In other potential actions, 18 percent would support travel and financial sanctions on senior Chinese Communist Party leaders responsible for the leak, and six percent would support boycotting the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.


➤CHILDREN ON TRENDY VEGAN DIETS ARE 1.2 INCHES SHORTER ON AVERAGE:  Eating a plant-based diet might not be the best thing for children. University College London researchers found that kids ages five to ten who followed a vegan diet are an average of 1.2-inches shorter than those who eat meat, and that their bones were found to be smaller and weaker. Study authors say parents should be aware of the risks of vegan diets, and children should be given vitamin B12 and vitamin D supplements to reduce potentially long-term health consequences such as bone fractures or osteoporosis later in life.

➤TRAFFIC DEATHS UP SEVEN PERCENT LAST YEAR: U.S. traffic deaths were up seven percent last year, the largest increase in 13 years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported yesterday. The rise happened even though people drove fewer miles due to the pandemic, with the NHTSA blaming motorists driving more recklessly on less crowded roads by speeding, not wearing seat belts, or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An estimated 38,680 people died in traffic accidents last year, the highest since 2007.

➤AVENGERS CAMPUS OPENING AT DISNEYLAND: The new six-acre Avengers Campus is opening at Disneyland today, featuring Marvel superheroes. Its highlights include a Spider-Man ride attraction called Web Slingers. Characters from Marvel movies will roam the park and interact with guests, and food being offered includes a cart with shawarma, a reference to a scene at the end of 2012's Avengers when the superheroes eat the Middle Eastern food after saving the world. The Avengers Campus had originally been set to open in July 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic.

➤FAMED ATTORNEY F. LEE BAILEY DEAD AT 87: Famed celebrity attorney F. Lee Bailey, whose defense clients included O.J. Simpson, Patty Hearst and the alleged Boston Strangler, died yesterday at an Atlanta hospital. He was 87. Although Bailey won acquittals for many clients, including as part of Simpson's legal "dream team" in his trial for the death of his wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, he also lost cases, including Hearst's. Bailey argued that Hearst was coerced into participating in armed robberies after the publishing heiress was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army terrorist group in February 1974, but she was convicted. Bailey was disbarred in Florida in 2001 and in Massachusetts the following year over the way he handled millions of dollars in stock owned by a convicted drug smuggler in 1994.

🐶PUPPIES ARE READY TO COMMUNICATE WITH HUMANS FROM BIRTH:  Dogs are said to be man’s best friend, and this adds to that argument. University of Arizona researchers found that puppies are born with “human-like” social skills that allow them to communicate with people from a young age, rather than learning to do so later in life. Researchers found that even before they’ve left the litter, puppies can listen to people by following cues such as pointing gestures, but it takes a little longer before they are able to communicate back. Lead study author Dr. Emily Bray adds, “Our findings might […] point to an important piece of the domestication story, in that animals with a propensity for communication with our own species might have been selected in the wolf populations that gave rise to dogs.”


➤DON’T EAT CICADAS IF YOU HAVE SEAFOOD ALLERGIES:  The cicadas of Brood X have emerged from the ground in many parts of the U.S., and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a rather strange warning—you shouldn’t eat the bugs if you’re allergic to seafood. The FDA tweeted Wednesday that people with allergies to things like shrimp should avoid eating cicadas because of their relation to sea creatures. The cicadas, which emerge every 17 years, have already surfaced in several states this year, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, Indiana and Tennessee. The plentiful insects have inspired a number of culinary creations that use the cicadas as a main ingredient.


🏀SUNS, NUGGETS ADVANCE IN NBA PLAYOFFS, REIGNING CHAMP LAKERS OUSTED: The Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets are advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs after winning their first-round match-ups yesterday. The Suns defeated the L.A. Lakers 113-100, led by 47 points from Devin Booker, to oust the reigning NBA champions 4 games to 2. The Nuggets downed the Portland Trail Blazers 126-115 to beat them 4 games to 2. Nikola Jokic had 36 points for Denver, who will take on Phoenix in Round 2.

NBA PLAYOFFS: Results from first-round games yesterday:
  • Denver Nuggets 126, Portland Trail Blazers 115 - Denver wins series 4 games to 2
  • Phoenix Suns 113, Los Angeles Lakers 100 - Phoenix wins series 4 games to 2

🏒NHL PLAYOFFS: Results from second-round games yesterday:
  • Boston Bruins 2, New York Islanders 1 (OT) - Boston leads series 2 games to 1
  • Carolina Hurricanes 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (OT) - Tampa leads series 2 games to 1

🎾DJOKOVIC, NADAL WIN IN SECOND ROUND AT FRENCH OPEN, BARTY WITHDRAWS WITH HIP INJURY: Top-seeded Novak Djokovic and Number 3 Rafael Nadal won their second-round matches at the French Open yesterday, as did eighth-seeded Roger Federer. On the women's side, top-ranked Ash Barty withdrew from her second-round match during the second set with a hip injury that had flared up during training before the tournament. Defending champion Iga Swiatek, who's seeded eighth, won to advance to the third round, as did Americans Sofia Kenin, Jennifer Brady and Coco Gauff.

🏒WINNIPEG'S SCHEIFELE SUSPENDED FOUR GAMES FOR HIT ON MONTREAL'S EVANS: The NHL suspended the Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele for four games yesterday for a hit on the Montreal Canadiens' Jake Evans the night before with 57 seconds left in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series. Evans was removed on a stretcher after the hit in his head and shoulder area that sent him crashing down to the ice just after making an empty-net goal in Montreal's 5-3 win. Evans suffered a concussion and is out indefinitely.

🏌GANNE, REID TIED IN LEAD AFTER U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN'S FIRST ROUND: Megha Ganne and Mel Reid are tied in the lead after the first round of the U.S. Women's Open Thursday, with both shooting a 4-under 67 on the Lake Course at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Ganne, a 17-year-old high school junior, is the first amateur in 15 years to have a share of the lead after any round at the Open. Three players were tied one shot back: Brooke Henderson, Angel Yin and Megan Khang.

🏀KRZYZEWSKI SAYS RETIRING TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY: One day after legendary Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski announced he would be retiring after the coming season, the 74-year-old Hall of Famer spoke in a press conference about the news with his family, friends, and former players in the audience. Krzyzewski, who led Duke to five national titles over 41 seasons, made clear he's retiring to spend more time with his wife and family, including his three daughters and grandchildren, and not because of any changes in the game. He said, "I've been in it for 46 years. You think the game has never changed?" Assistant Jon Scheyer will replace Krzyzewski after next season.
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