South African researchers find evidence people more easily reinfected with Omicron variant than with other variants
(CNN) Researchers in South Africa reported Thursday they have found some evidence that people who had been infected once with coronavirus were more likely to be reinfected with the Omicron variant than with the Beta or Delta variants. They said it's too soon to know for sure, but a recent spike in second infections indicates to them that Omicron is more likely to reinfect people. "Contrary to our expectations and experience with the previous variants, we are now experiencing an increase in the risk of reinfection that exceeds our prior experience," Juliet Pulliam, director of the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis at Stellenbosch University, who helped lead the study team, said in a statementOmicron was only identified in November but has worried World Health Organization and other global health officials, who have designated it a variant of concern because of its many mutations affecting areas associated with transmissibility and ability to evade the immune system. Pulliam and her colleagues looked at reports of infections covering 2.7 million people in South Africa since the beginning of the pandemic, including more than 35,000 people diagnosed more than once with Covid-19.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 06:02 UTC
Cannibalistic lancetfish washes up on a San Diego beach, the first one preserved there since 1996
(CNN) Beachgoers discovered a 4-foot lancetfish washed up near the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California, San Diego Tuesday. Although not particularly rare, researchers noted it was the first lancetfish preserved by the institution since 1996, and only the 17th preserved from a San Diego beach since 1947. The finding comes just a week after a Pacific footballfish -- a deep-sea anglerfish much rarer than the lancetfish -- washed up about three miles away on Black's Beach. Manager Ben Frable told CNN the fish was found at La Jolla Shores alive but didn't survive once on land. Lancetfish, which are hermaphrodites, animals with both reproductive organs, are notorious cannibals which also feed on other fish and invertebrates.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 05:58 UTC
A 14-year-old girl was shot and killed by her brother, who was making and selling guns, Georgia sheriff says
(CNN) A 13-year-old boy who was manufacturing and selling so-called "ghost guns" has been arrested after he allegedly shot and killed his 14-year-old sister with one of his own homemade firearms, according to the Douglas County, Georgia, Sheriff's Office. But instead of buying the firearm, the pair stole the gun from the 13-year-old and fled the scene, the sheriff told reporters. The boy then shot at them as they were leaving, Pounds said, but instead struck his 14-year-old sister, who was identified by the sheriff's office as Kyra Scott. "He's selling those weapons on the streets of Douglas County, Carroll County, Atlanta -- everywhere," the sheriff said. Authorities did not detail exactly how Kyra Scott's brother was making homemade firearms or how long he'd been selling them.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 05:58 UTC
Prosecutor lays out disturbing timeline in explaining why school shooting suspect's parents were charged
(CNN) The parents of Ethan Crumbley, the suspected shooter at Oxford High School in Michigan, have each been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter. In announcing the charges Friday, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald laid out a disturbing timeline in explaining why James and Jennifer Crumbley were charged in the shooting deaths. A store employee confirmed that Crumbley's son, Ethan, was with him, the prosecutor said. On or around the same day, Ethan Crumbley posted a photo on social media with the caption: "Just got my new beauty today. The day before the shooting: Ethan Crumbley's online search alarms a teacherThe day before the shooting, a teacher at Oxford High School saw Ethan Crumbley searching online for ammunition on his phone.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 05:58 UTC
What legal analysts say about charges against parents in Michigan school shooting
(CNN) The parents of the suspect in a shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan that left four students dead this week are facing involuntary manslaughter charges in those deaths. She added that the terrorism charge in Michigan requires an act against a community, not a government. "We know that prosecutors have been reluctant to charge parents in these school shooting cases, even though in some cases, like the Crumbley cases today, parents seem to have some responsibility." Prosecutor says terrorism charge accounts for shooting's other victimsThe other uncommon charge in the case against Ethan Crumbley is one count of terrorism causing death. "I don't think it would be moral not to include that charge," McDonald told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Friday.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 05:53 UTC
US Capitol rioter 'sought to physically remove' Pelosi and McConnell, prosecutors say
(CNN) Justice Department prosecutors say they have evidence that an alleged rioter who brought a gun to the US Capitol on January 6 was targeting both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. According to a filing Thursday, Guy Reffitt , a member of the Texas Three Percenter militia, "specifically targeted at least two lawmakers -- the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and then-Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell -- whom he sought to physically remove or displace from the Capitol building." Prosecutors aim to prove the allegation at Reffitt's trial, which is tentatively scheduled for late February. He will be the first January 6 defendant to go to trial, and is facing five federal charges. Prosecutors say Reffitt wore body armor and carried his pistol and plastic cuff restraints on the Capitol grounds on January 6.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 05:53 UTC
DeSantis proposes a new civilian military force in Florida that he would control
Ron DeSantis wants to reestablish a World War II-era civilian military force that he, not the Pentagon, would control. DeSantis pitched the idea Thursday as a way to further support the Florida National Guard during emergencies, like hurricanes. The Florida National Guard has also played a vital role during the pandemic in administering Covid-19 tests and distributing vaccines. If Florida moves ahead with DeSantis' plan to reestablish the civilian force, it would become the 23rd active state guard in the country, DeSantis' office said in a press release, joining California, Texas and New York. While states and the Department of Defense share control of the National Guard, state guards are solely in the power of a governor.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 05:50 UTC
Oxford school shooting victim's brother: 'Never in my life will I feel this pain again'
A suspect was in custody and charged after Tuesday's shooting at Oxford High School, authorities said. Hana St. Juliana, 14Hana St. JulianaThe Oxford High School women's basketball team shared a tribute Wednesday to 14-year-old school shooting victim Hana St. Juliana. Justin Shilling, 17Justin Shilling, 17, was the fourth victim of the Oxford High School shooting. The family-owned business has three locations in Michigan and has employed many Oxford High School students. Oxford High School is located about 45 minutes north of Detroit, Michigan.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 05:49 UTC
10 Nostalgic BBC Christmas Idents That Will Give You A Festive Glow
In another sign that Christmas is just around the corner, the BBC has unveiled their trademark festive ident for 2021. This year’s offering features characters from the beloved Aardman Animation series Shaun The Sheep, whose festive special is at the heart of BBC One’s schedule this Christmas Day. Advertisement2017 – The Supporting ActThe BBC commissioned a special festive film in 2017, from which that year’s idents were taken from. 2002 – SnowflakesAfter BBC One did away with the balloon, they had scope to create something completely different for their festive idents in 2002. For the first time in BBC One’s history, the ident was reused the following year, which prompted a wave of complaints.
Source:Huffington Post
December 04, 2021 05:37 UTC
Omicron Variant: Everything We've Learned About The New Covid Strain So Far
andresr via Getty Images The Omicron variant means the government is now extending the booster jab programmeOmicron became a global concern last week when health experts confirmed that Covid had mutated again. Omicron is a Covid “variant of concern” which was first flagged by South African specialists and then named by the World Health Organisation (WHO). AdvertisementIt’s not yet known how deadly this particular strain is compared to previous ones such as Alpha and Delta. He pointed out that most of the mutations in the Omicron variant occurred on the spike protein, which is used by the Covid vaccines to boost the immune system. Health secretary Sajid Javid has emphasised that if Omicron is no more deadly than Delta, the restrictions will be lifted.
Source:Huffington Post
December 04, 2021 05:37 UTC
Omicron could become the dominant variant, but Delta is a problem now, Walensky says
Dr. Rochelle Walensky: These data are really starting to emerge. Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Are you worried that Omicron will become a dominant strain here? Dr. Rochelle Walensky: You know, it might and we don't yet know. And we're scaling up our rapid tests that are going to be available in lower income settings, and in more vulnerable communities so that those rapid tests will be free. Dr. Rochelle Walensky: This is really an important question and still one that is under study.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 05:32 UTC
The Michigan School Shooter Is Charged With Terrorism. Here's Why That's So Unusual.
The U.S. counted yet another school shooting this week when 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley allegedly shot four classmates to death at Oxford High School in Michigan on Tuesday. Some states’ definition of terrorism is more closely in line with international Islamic terrorism, covering acts of mass destruction that are ideologically motivated. Wiese said he did not know of another case between 2012 and this year that utilized the anti-terrorism statute. Wiese also said that he could see other states modeling anti-terrorism statutes similar to the one in Michigan. Schneider compared the anti-terrorism statute to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ― the federal racketeering law enacted in the 1970s.
Source:Huffington Post
December 04, 2021 04:25 UTC
Pan Am: The trailblazing airline that changed international travel
The rights to the brand were spun off and are now held by the Pan American World Airways, Inc. Post-war, the airline industry was tightly regulated by the US Civil Aviation Board (CAB) which doled out route allocations and maintained control over airfares. APThrough the 1960s, Pan Am was at the forefront of the airline industry with technical innovations, including the PANAMAC computer-based airline and hotel reservation system. Like other airlines, Pan Am got caught up in that decade's push towards supersonic passenger travel and showed interest in both the Anglo-French Concorde and Boeing's 2707 SSTs. Airline historians may point to the deregulation of the US airline industry in the late 1970s as a key turning point in the fate of Pan Am.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 03:41 UTC
Maryland homeowners burned down their home while attempting to rid the house of snakes
(CNN) What started as an attempt to get rid of pesky creatures ended with an entire house going up in flames. Piringer said snakes had been an ongoing issue for this owner and the previous tenant as well. "There are animal services that can come out and make recommendations, or pest control, or an exterminator," Piringer said. "We recommend you have professionals deal with any pest control issue to help maintain the situation." The status of the snakes is unknown, but as the home was left in rubble, it's assumed they no longer live there.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 03:25 UTC
VIdeo: Michigan prosecutor explains why Ethan Crumbley's parents were charged
Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald shares the timeline that led her to charge the parents of 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley with four counts of involuntary manslaughter following the Oxford High School shooting in Oakland County, Michigan.
Source:CNN
December 04, 2021 03:06 UTC