me

Puzzling polymer

Czech Republic’s  Ivana Svobodová makes a game of collecting all her thin, tiny scraps and then sitting down for a game of assemblage. Nothing goes to waste as she creates a series of puzzled brooches. The face parts mixed in with all the patterns add an element of surprise and mystery.




me

White men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery won't face Georgia hate crime charges. Here's why.

Gregory and Travis McMichael, who are accused of fatally shooting Ahmaud Arbery, a black man, will not face hate crime charges. Here's why.





me

One of world's oldest men marks 116th birthday in South Africa

South African Fredie Blom celebrated his 116th birthday on Friday unfazed by the coronavirus crisis, over 100 years since the Spanish flu pandemic killed his sister. "I have lived this long because of God's grace," said Blom, possibly one of the oldest men in the world. Lighting a cigarette, he recalled the 1918 pandemic that left tens of millions dead worldwide including his sister.





me

The reason why some people get very sick with the coronavirus, and others do not, could be hidden in their genes

Experts still aren't sure why some coronavirus cases are so much worse than others, but the answer may lie in patients' genetic differences.





me

Meghan McCain Goes Off on Kayleigh McEnany for ‘Spinning Propaganda’

Meghan McCain, The View’s resident conservative host, tore into Kayleigh McEnany for “spinning propaganda” on Thursday morning after the new White House press secretary dismissed the need for increased coronavirus testing as the economy reopens.During her press briefing on Wednesday, McEnany said it was “nonsensical” to think that every American should be able to get tested for coronavirus, even though President Donald Trump said two months earlier that “anybody that wants a test can get a test.” The hosts of The View took the press secretary to task over those remarks.Co-host Sunny Hostin said she found it “shocking” that the White House spokesperson would say that considering recent news that one of the president’s personal valets just tested positive for the virus.“So it’s obviously important enough for everyone in the White House and surrounding the president to be tested for the coronavirus, but it’s not important to the press secretary and to the administration for Americans to be tested for the coronavirus,” she declared. “And so that tells me that she is just spinning lies to the American people rather than being honest with the American people.”After first saying there has been “mixed messaging” coming not just from the White House but from medical experts since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, McCain went on to blast McEnany as a propagandist.“I think in regards to Kayleigh McEnany, she was hired for this job because she’s good at spinning propaganda, and she was good spinning propaganda before she got hired,” she exclaimed. “And you can make the argument that’s the role of any press secretaries but it’s probably a little more egregious with this particular president.”The conservative co-host then worried aloud that we were reaching a tipping point on saving the economy, criticizing the Trump administration for not taking the necessary steps to safely reopen the country.“If we don’t start getting a plan to get testing, to somehow pull ourselves out of this and get America back to work,” she proclaimed. “This is going to be far more egregious than any crisis any of us have seen in all of our lifetimes.” “If the tests aren’t important, why is the White House, and everybody else getting tested before they go before the president?” McCain concluded. “I would like to go back to work. I know you would, and I would be comfortable doing that if we all had the capacity to get tested.”Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.





me

Idaho governor appeals to Supreme Court to stop trans inmate's surgery

A lower court had ruled that the prisoner’s gender-affirming surgery is a medical necessity, and denying it constituted a violation of the Eighth Amendment.





me

‘Please Come Get Me’: Fatal Indianapolis Police Shooting May Have Aired on Facebook

An Indianapolis man was fatally shot by police after a high-speed chase in an incident that appeared to have been broadcast on Facebook Live, sparking outcry and protests throughout the night.More than 100 people from the community gathered at the scene of the shooting to express their outrage Wednesday night, chanting “No justice, no peace!” as they demanded answers from police about the latest officer-involved death. Protestors continued demonstrating Thursday, with dozens marching through the streets before congregating outside of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. “We deserve better,” one community activist told The Indianapolis Star. “I am disgusted, horrified, tired, and angry.”‘You’re Gonna Kill Me’: Body-Cam Footage Shows Cops Mocking Dallas Man as He DiesThe Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said the incident began around 6 p.m. when officers began pursuing a man who they observed to be driving recklessly. After the driver exited the car, an officer chased him on foot before gunfire was “exchanged” at around 6:14 p.m., police said in a press release, without revealing who fired first. In the unconfirmed Facebook video of the incident, at least 13 or 14 gunshots can be heard. In another video obtained by The Indianapolis Star, a detective who arrived after the shooting can be heard saying: “Looks like it’s going to be a closed casket, homie.” “We are aware of inappropriate comments made by an IMPD detective” on the live stream, Indianapolis MPD Chief Randal Taylor said at a Thursday press conference. “Let me be clear: These comments are unacceptable and unbecoming of our police department.” While Taylor did not confirm the authenticity of the Facebook live stream, he did stress he was “concerned with the things on social media,” stating he thinks that some comments online “lack trust as to what occurred.” Authorities have not yet identified the name of the driver but said he and the officer who shot him were both black men. Family members identified the driver to local media outlets as 21-year-old Dreasjon “Sean” Reed. The officer who fired the fatal shot has been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.“I feel like to lose a life, especially at a young age, there’s never going to be justice,” Jazmine Reed, the 21-year-old’s sister, told WISH, adding that her family watched the pursuit and shooting on Facebook as it happened. “Cause he’s gone—there’s never justice for that. Even if somebody was to get time or whatever for it, it’s never going to be justice because he’s never coming back.” The sister said she drove to the scene after watching the video, not knowing whether her brother was still alive. “I shouldn’t have to bury my little brother,” she added.The Indianapolis MPD said the incident began after two officers saw a Toyota Corolla being driven “recklessly.” They followed the driver in unmarked cars and asked for assistance as they said the vehicle continued “at a high rate of speed” and the operator was “disobeying all traffic signals” and nearly hit another car. In the Facebook video, titled “High-speed case lol,” Reed, who is shirtless, appears nervous as he speaks to his 2,000 viewers and points his camera to show the moving police cars behind him.“Almost lost him y’all!” he says. “Almost got rid of his ass!”Video Shows Florida Deputy Violently Yanking Middle Schooler’s Hair During ArrestAt one point, he appears to pull over and stop his car. Authorities say the driver disregarded “the officers’ verbal commands to stop” and ran out of the car, prompting an officer to chase him on foot.“I’m on 62nd and Michigan,” Reed says in the video, just before exiting the vehicle. “I just parked... I’m gone.” He added: “Please come get me! Please come get me! Please come get me!”Reed can then be heard running for approximately 30 seconds, as a voice behind him yells: “Stop! Stop!”“Fuck you,” Reed replies. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said during a Wednesday news conference that the officer first used his taser, but it’s unclear if it worked and is not seen on the purported video from the scene.“It is believed at this time that shots were fired by both the officer and the suspect,” Bailey said.In the video, Reed appears to start screaming before collapsing on the ground. About eight seconds later, 11 or 12 gunshots can be heard in rapid succession. The live stream did not show Reed talking about a gun or firing a weapon. After a brief pause, two more shots can be heard as the camera faces the sky while the opening lyrics of Young Dolph’s “16 Zips” appears to be playing off the phone. By the end of the gunfire, more than 4,000 people had tuned in to watch the live stream, according to the Star.Bailey said Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services arrived shortly after and pronounced the driver dead at the scene. The officer was uninjured.Taylor on Thursday stated that a “loaded gun” was recovered at the scene that appeared to have been fired twice and that it belonged to the driver. He added that disciplinary action will be taken against the detective who made the “casket” comment.After the incident, the Facebook Live video, which has been widely shared on social media, was removed from the victim’s account, Bailey said. Bailey added that authorities are aware of Facebook videos.Cop Charged With Assault After Video Shows Him Slamming Suspect’s Head Into Pavement“Both the officers and the detectives have done their due diligence in preserving that evidence through the proper legal channels, and if it’s associated that there’s information on there that’s appropriate for the investigation, they’ll utilize it,” he said.Taylor added Thursday the police officers involved in the shooting were not wearing body cameras, but he has no reason to believe they acted inappropriately. But after the press conference, dozens of protesters took to the streets demanding more police action, shouting “all lives matter,” as drivers stopped their cars and put their fists out their windows in solidarity.About eight hours after that shooting, Indianapolis police fatally shot another man during an investigation into a burglary at an apartment complex. Authorities said that around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, four officers responded to the apartment and were immediately fired upon by a man with a rifle. All four officers “returned fire” and hit the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said in a news release. In response to both incidents, Taylor stressed at a Thursday press conference that he will provide residents with “the truth whether we are right or wrong.”“We have long talked about the kind of police department we want to be—one that serves with the community, that's not policed at—a police department that is trusted, one where every resident feels a comfortable calling,” Taylor said. “We recognize and are saddened that this mutual trust that is so valued has been eroded over the last 24 hours.”Investigators are now conducting a separate investigation into that shooting, and police said there’s evidence the victim called 911 with the intent of ambushing the responding officers. “Our hearts this morning are with the families who lost loved ones during these tragic events. All of us are trying to make a new normal in an un-normal time. Incidents like these do not help restore normalcy to our community,” Chrystal Ratcliffe, the president of the NAACP branch in Indianapolis said in a statement.The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana on Thursday called for a “prompt, thorough, and transparent investigation” into Reed’s death.“Whether someone is unarmed or armed, compliant or resistant, police officers should be properly trained in de-escalation tactics and turn to the use of force only as a last resort, not a first option,” the statement read. Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.





me

Cuomo says he feels like for the first time New York is 'ahead of the virus'

At his daily press conference on Friday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he feels like, for the first time, the state is “ahead” of the coronavirus because of efforts made to control the outbreak.





me

WHO: If lockdowns go on for 6 months, there could be 31 million new domestic violence cases globally

Women and children are experiencing unprecedented levels of abuse and violence at home as stress and anxiety continue to mount due to the pandemic.





me

Brazil government warns of economic collapse in 30 days

Brazil could face "economic collapse" in a month's time due to stay-at-home measures to stem the coronavirus outbreak, with food shortages and "social disorder," Economy Minister Paulo Guedes warned Thursday. Brazil, Latin America's biggest economy, is also the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the region. But far-right President Jair Bolsonaro - who appeared alongside Guedes, his free-market economics guru - opposes stay-at-home measures to slow the virus, saying they are unnecessarily damaging the economy. "Within about 30 days, there may start to be shortages on (store) shelves and production may become disorganized, leading to a system of economic collapse, of social disorder," Guedes said. "This is a serious alert." Bolsonaro, who has compared the new coronavirus to a "little flu," said he understood "the virus problem" and believed that "we must save lives." "But there is a problem that's worrying us more and more... and that's the issue of jobs, of the stalled economy," Bolsonaro added. "Fighting the virus shouldn't do more damage than the virus itself."





me

Texas governor amends lockdown and orders salon owner freed from jail

The governor's order names the Dallas hairdresser who was jailed on Tuesday for staying open.





me

A 1996 court declaration written by Tara Reade's ex-husband shows she spoke of harassment in Biden's Senate office

"It was obvious that this event had a very traumatic effect on (Reade), and that she is still sensitive and effected (sic) by it today," Dronen wrote.





me

3 nurses strangled in Mexico; border mayor gets coronavirus

Three sisters who worked in Mexico's government hospital system were found murdered by strangling, authorities in the northern border state of Coahuila announced Friday, stirring new alarm in a country where attacks on health care workers have occurred across the nation amid the coronavirus outbreak. Two of the sisters were nurses for the Mexican Social Security Institute and the third was a hospital administrator, but there was no immediate evidence the attack was related to their work. The National Union of Social Security Employees called the killings “outrageous and incomprehensible.”





me

James Clapper Said He ‘Never Saw Direct Empirical Evidence’ of Trump-Russia Collusion in FBI Interview

Former director of national intelligence James Clapper in 2018 said that he hadn't seen evidence that the Trump presidential campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 general election.Clapper was responding to a query from then-representative Tom Rooney, a Florida Republican, during an interview before the House Intelligence Committee. The transcript of the interview was released on Thursday."I never saw any direct empirical evidence that the Trump campaign or someone in it was plotting [or] conspiring with the Russians to meddle with the election," Clapper said."That's not to say that there weren't concerns about the evidence we were seeing, anecdotal evidence…[redacted]," Clapper added. "But I do not recall any instance when I had direct evidence of the content of these meetings. It's just the frequency and prevalence of them was of concern."Rooney then asked Clapper, "At what time is collusion collusion, and at what time is it just people that may have an affiliation with the campaign meeting or talking with… the Russian ambassador or somebody that's of Russian origin, and when should that be taken as something that rises to the level of an Intelligence Community concern?""I really can't answer it other than the sort of visceral reaction to why all these meetings with the Russians," Clapper responded. Clapper admitted that it would be "legitimate" for incoming Trump administration officials to meet with representatives of Russia, "but I think there is a line…between that and violating the principle that in this country we traditionally have one President and one administration at a time."The interview was part of a set of 53 transcripts of interviews held by the House Intelligence Committee as part of the Russia investigation. Current committee chairman Adam Schiff had called for the release of the transcripts in 2018.However, after 43 transcripts had been reviewed and redacted by intelligence agencies as of June 2019, Schiff refused to relase the completed transcripts to the public. Current acting DNI head Richard Grenell informed Schiff on Wednesday that all the transcripts were ready for publication.





me

Airline middle seats won't stay empty forever in the name of social distancing. Here's why

Permanently blocking middle seats and limiting the number of passengers per flight is a costly move for airlines and would increase ticket prices.





me

Google employees are told to expect to work from home for the rest of the year, but a select few will be allowed to return to offices as soon as June

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has told employees to expect to work from home for the remainder of 2020, but will open offices for certain exceptions.





me

Coronavirus: Are dentists open for emergency care? And other questions

Are dentists open for emergency care, and other questions answered by BBC experts.




me

Labour Party: Jennie Formby's departure will help Keir Starmer

Labour's General Secretary Jennie Formby standing down is a sign the party is under new management.




me

PMQs: Starmer and Johnson on UK coronavirus death rates

The Labour leader says the UK's coronavirus death figures are “not success or apparent success“.




me

Nicola Sturgeon: 'Care home situation profoundly upsetting'

Nicola Sturgeon says the situation in care homes is "profoundly upsetting".




me

Coronavirus: Government pledges £76m for abuse victims

Vulnerable children and victims of domestic violence and modern slavery will get extra support.




me

Coronavirus: Johnson reveals 'contingency plans' made during treatment

Boris Johnson says doctors had planned what to do if his coronavirus treatment went "badly wrong".




me

Coronavirus: Staggered work times considered when lockdown eases

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says it could help maintain social distancing on public transport.




me

Twycross wants government help to survive coronavirus shutdown

A large zoo says it needs government grants as it has no visitors or income but still has to look after its animals.




me

Coronavirus: Daily allowances for Lords members to be halved

With the Lords conducting most of its business remotely, fees for attending are set to be reduced.




me

Coronavirus: Doctor MP says 'government's lack of testing has cost lives’

Labour's Dr Rosena Allin-Khan questions Health Secretary Matt Hancock in the House of Commons.




me

Labour Party: Starmer moves to rein in shadow cabinet spending plans

Leaked letter from shadow minister reveals attempt to impose discipline on top team, writes Iain Watson.




me

Coronavirus: Sir Keir Starmer calls for new workplace safety standards

Sir Keir Starmer urges politicians, employers and unions to work together to address public "anxiety".




me

Why are Welsh Assembly Members changing their name?

As of 6 May, the name of Assembly Members will change to Members of the Senedd.




me

Coronavirus: MPs allowed to vote remotely for first time

The historic move will be temporary to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, says Commons speaker.




me

Coronavirus: Ministers launch hardship fund for dairy farmers

Demand for milk has dropped with the closure of cafes and restaurants during the coronavirus crisis.




me

Coronavirus: UK becomes first country in Europe to pass 30,000 deaths

The UK records a further 649 deaths, taking the total number of coronavirus deaths to 30,076.




me

Coronavirus: Boris Johnson 'bitterly regrets' care home crisis

The PM says government is "working hard" to tackle it - and sets 200,000 test aim by end of month.




me

Coronavirus: MP Nadia Whittome 'sacked' as carer after 'speaking out' about PPE

Nadia Whittome claims she was "sacked" but the care employer says she was no longer needed.




me

Met Police end probe into pro-Brexit campaigners

Leave campaigners were accused by the Electoral Commission of breaking the law over spending limits.




me

Winston Churchill's inspiring wartime speeches in Parliament

As his great grandson launches a competition to "inspire like Churchill", we look at the PM's wartime words.




me

Extra substitutes among temporary law changes when leagues resume

Teams will be allowed to use five substitutes when the season resumes after a Fifa proposal to help with fixture congestion was approved.




me

Coronavirus: Seed sales soar as more of us become budding gardeners

The lockdown has led to huge growth in the number of people buying garden seeds.




me

Dateci Voce: Italian women demand voice in Covid-19 fight

Women post selfies demanding more representation in official bodies dealing with Covid-19.




me

Coronavirus: How is Suffolk's Little America coping in lockdown?

How are the communities that rely so heavily on the US airbases coping under lockdown?




me

Quiz of the Week: What's in a (baby) name for Elon Musk?

How closely have you been paying attention to what's been going on during the past seven days?




me

Trump laments ‘heart-breaking' killing

The 25-year-old was jogging in Georgia when he was shot dead, in a video the president described as disturbing.




me

Slovenia cyclists hold anti-government protest

Thousands accused PM Janez Jansa of using the coronavirus crisis as a pretext to restrict freedoms.




me

Coronavirus: 'Phone apps helped me spend time with my dying mum'

Andrew's mother was dying in hospital under lockdown, so he used technology to spend time with her.




me

Coronavirus: Ghana's dancing pallbearers become Covid-19 meme

Social media users have adopted the troupe as a dark-humoured symbol of death in the time of Covid-19.




me

Facebook and Google extend working from home to end of year

The tech giants plan to re-open offices soon but will allow staff to work remotely throughout 2020.




me

Xbox: Microsoft reveals first games for Series X console

The Xbox team shows off new footage of the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.




me

Coronavirus: 'Plandemic' virus conspiracy video spreads across social media

A slickly-produced "documentary" has exploded across social media, peddling medical misinformation.




me

Belsen 1945: Remembering the medical students who saved lives

Two weeks after liberation, 95 London medical students arrived at Belsen to help care for survivors.




me

Lockdown homeschooling: The parents who have forgotten what they learned at school

Parents have been turning to Google to help them teach the things they’ve forgotten.