Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Wake-Up Call: Climate Summit Is Snooze-Fest


President Biden spoke at the U.N. summit on climate change in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday, and talked about what he called the "overwhelming obligations" of the U.S. and other wealthy nations who he said are responsible for most of the contributions to climate change to poorer nations who've contributed little to it, but are feeling the effects of a warming climate. He announced he plans to work with Congress to provide $3 billion annually to help poorer countries and communities deal with climate change. Biden also spoke of the urgent need for action on climate change, saying, "None of us can escape the worst that is yet to come if we fail to seize this moment," but presenting the crisis as an opportunity to create jobs by transitioning to renewable energy and electric cars. 


Biden additionally apologized for former President Donald Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, saying, "I shouldn’t apologize, but I do apologize for the fact the United States, the last administration, pulled out of the Paris Accords and put us sort of behind the eight ball a little bit." Biden rejoined the accords after taking office.
 

➤COVID-19'S WORLDWIDE DEATH TOLL PASSSES FIVE MILLION: The worldwide death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic passed five million people on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University's count, but even that large number is likely an undercount, particularly in poor parts of the world. Covid is now the third-leading cause of death globally, after heart disease and stroke. An unusual feature of this pandemic is how hard it hit wealthy nations. The U.S., European Union, Britain and Brazil, which are all upper-middle- or high-income countries, accounted for nearly half of all reported Covid deaths, which making up only one-eighth of the world’s population. The U.S., with 745,000 deaths, has more than any other country.


➤SUPREME COURT HEARS ARGUMENTS IN TEXAS' NEW SIX-WEEK ABORTION BAN: The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday over Texas' controversial new law that bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy and is enforced by having citizens sue abortion providers or others who help facilitate an abortion after that window of time. A majority of the high court signaled it would let abortion providers pursue a court challenge to the law, but it was unclear when the court will rule and whether it would block the law that it had already allowed to go into effect for two months. Two conservative members appointed by former President Donald Trump, Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, raised questions yesterday about the law's unprecedented enforcement scheme. Justice Elena Kagan, one of the liberal justices, said if allowed to stand, the enforcement scheme would set an example for avoiding precedent on other issues, something also raised by Kavanaugh. The court will be deciding if abortion providers or the U.S. Justice Department could pursue federal court challenges over the law.

 
➤OPENING STATEMENTS TODAY IN RITTENHOUSE TRIAL: Opening statements are set to begin today in the Wisconsin murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three men, two of them fatally, during racial justice protests in Kenosha in August 2020, after a jury was seated yesterday. The 18-year-old Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, is arguing he acted in self-defense when he opened fire with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, while the other side accuses him of vigilantism. Rittenhouse, who lives in Illinois, said he went to Kenosha to protect property after arson two previous night.

🛫AMERICAN AIRLINES CANCELS MORE THAN 400 FLIGHTS: American Airlines continued to struggle with getting its operations back on track Monday, canceling more than 400 flights after it had canceled more than 1,500 over the weekend. American is still dealing with staffing shortages after air travel recovered from the depths of the pandemic faster this year than expected, and that exacerbated problems that began last Thursday and Friday when high winds reduced flights at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, its busiest hub. American was then unable to get pilots and flight attendants in position for upcoming flights.

➤MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT IN ATTACK ON AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANT, CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE: A 20-year-old California man with charged yesterday with assaulting a flight attendant on an October 27th American Airlines flight. Brian Hsu, who was returning home after having brain surgery following an assault on him last year, is claiming self-defense. He told investigators he accidentally bumped into the flight attendant and she swung her arms at him and rushed him, and he was frightened because an impact to his head, quote, "could cause him severe injury or death." He contends that when she charged him, she hit her nose against the palm of his hand, which was up in a defensive position. However, the flight attendant told investigators that after she asked Hsu, who was standing near the bathroom, to return to his seat because the fasten seatbelt sign was on, he lifted his arms as if he was going to stretch and then brought his elbow down and hit her on the head before punching her again. She suffered a fractured nose and a concussion. Hsu also claims he was in a "mental fog" after the surgery, and suffered psychological issues due to his brain injury. A judge has ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.

➤JESSE JACKSOIN HOSPITALIZED AFTER HITTING HEAD IN FALL: The Reverend Jesse Jackson was hospitalized in Washington, D.C., yesterday after falling and hitting his head while helping Howard University students who are protesting living conditions on campus. A spokesman for Jackson said the 80-year-old was entering a campus building when he fell and hit his head. A CT scan taken at the hospital was normal, according to the spokesman. Jackson, who has Parkinson's disease, was hospitalized in Chicago in August with a breakthrough Covid-19 infection. He had to undergo weeks of physical therapy in his recovery.

🏥NURSES GET PANIC BUTTONS AND GUARD DOGS AS VIOLENCE INCREASES AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES:  Health care workers have been dealing with a shocking amount of violence in the workplace for years, and the pandemic has only made matters worse. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a health care worker is “five times more likely to suffer violence and injury on the job than workers overall.” Nurses caring for COVID-19 patients are “more than twice as likely to be physically attacked or verbally abused at work than those who care for other patients,” according to a study by Jane Lipscomb that was recently published in the journal Workplace Health & Safety. In response to this, CoxHealth hospitals in Springfield, Mo., have provided panic buttons for staff members and are using guard dogs in certain areas. Natalie Higgins, an emergency room nurse with CoxHealth, said, "When I first started, you would see it every once in a while. It wasn't a huge ordeal. But now it's every day.” Higgins reported that staff members take de-escalation classes every year. Lipscomb recommended hospitals create safer environments by installing plexiglass partitions and choosing waiting room furniture that “can't easily be used as a weapon.”

🦃MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADES RETURNS TO NORMAL FORMAT: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is returning to its normal format this year for its 95th annual edition, after a much-reduced version last year due to the pandemic. Macy's revealed information about performers, the giant flying balloons and more yesterday, after a September announcement that the parade would be back as usual, including the two-and-a-half-mile route through Manhattan, the high-flying balloons, and spectators lining the route. Last year, everything was condensed to a one-block stretch in front of Macy's in Manhattan, many performances were pre-taped, balloons were tethered by vehicles instead of having handlers, and there weren't in-person spectators. New balloons for the Thankgiving Day parade this year on November 25h are Ada Twist, Scientist and the Pokémon characters Pikachu and Eevee, and performers will include Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Kelly Rowland, Rob Thomas, Kristin Chenoweth, Mickey Guyton, Chris Lane, and more.

🐶NEW STUDY EXPLORES WHY DOGS TILT THEIR HEADS:  There’s more to what meets the eye when a dog tilts its head. A new study published in Animal Cognition observed 40 dogs to better understand this behavior. In this study, dogs were instructed to retrieve a specific toy after hearing the toy’s name. The authors found that dogs who tilted their heads fared better than those who did not, suggesting that head tilters “may be showing signs of paying attention or even matching a name to a visual image in their heads when they hear the name of their favorite toy.” Researchers said further studies should be done on why dogs tilt their heads and that tilting to the left or right “could just be personal preference.”

🏈CHIEFS TOP GIANTS 20-17 IN 'MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL': The Kansas City Chiefs topped the New York Giants 20-17 in Monday Night Football at home last night, getting the go-ahead field goal from kicker Harrison Butker with 1:07 left in the game. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 275 yards with a touchdown.


🏈SAINTS' WINSTON OUT FOR YEAR WITH TORN ACL: New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton confirmed reports yesterday that quarterback Jameis Winston tore the ACL in his left knee and also suffered MCL damage when he was injured in a horse-collar tackle by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Devin White on Sunday. Winston is done for the season, but Payton wouldn't say whether Taysom Hill or Trevor Siemian will become the Saints' new starter.

🏈TITANS' HENRY TO HAVE FOOT SURGERY, NO TIMELNE FOR RETURN: Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, the NFL rushing leader, will have surgery today on his right foot, after undergoing tests yesterday to evaluate the severity of the injury. Head coach Mike Vrabel said they're not putting a timeline on when he'll be back. Henry was apparently injured early in Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, seen on the bench with his shoe off talking to trainers, but played the rest of the game.

🏈FORMER SUPER BOWL MVP MILLER TRADED FROM BRONCOS TO RAMS: The Denver Broncos traded linebacker Von Miller to the L.A. os Angeles Rams yesterday, surprising the former Super Bowl MVP, who was emotional as he talked to reporters about his departure. He said, "It’s hard to put the emotions into words. It’s always tough whenever you leave. . . . When I said Broncos for life, I meant that. It was an honor and a privilege to play here." Miller won the MVP in Super Bowl 50 for leading Denver to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers at the end of the 2015 season. He was also the 2011 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Rams are sending second- and third-round picks in the 2022 draft to the Broncos, and picking up $9 million of the $9.722 million left on Miller's contract.

🏒KANE GETS HAT TRICK AS BLACKHAWKS TOPS SENATORS 5-1 FOR FIRST WIN: Patrick Kane came back from missing four games due to being in the Covid-19 protocol in a big way last night, getting a hat trick as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Ottawa Senators 5-1 for their first win of the season. Kane scored one goal in the second period and two in the third and also had an assist. Brandon Hagel scored the other two goals for Chicago.

🏈RAVENS' HARRISION HIT IN LEG BY STRAY BULLET: Baltimore Ravens starting linebacker Malik Harrison was hit in the calf by a stray bullet Sunday night outside a Cleveland nightclub. The 23-year-old was treated at a hospital. Head coach John Harbaugh said Monday, "I don’t think it’s severe at all. I’m optimistic that it’s going to be OK. I feel bad for the situation. Happy that he’s OK, very grateful that he’s OK and not hurt worse."


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