Elon Musk Thinks Cannibals Are Invading the United States – Futurism

In his latest racist outburst, multihyphenate billionaire Elon Musk joined other conservative pundits in accusing Haitian migrants of being "cannibals," arguing that they shouldn't be allowed to move to the US.

The news comes after political unrest in the island nation came to a head this week. On Monday, Haiti's prime minister Ariel Henry agreed to resign if other Caribbean nations were to form a transitional government on behalf of the country. The statement angered Haitians, triggering mass protests, with tires being burned in the streets.

Meanwhile, Musk took to his social media platform X to further unverified and sensationalist claims of cannibalism arising out of the conflict, as NBC reports.

Case in point, today, the mercurial CEO tweeted a link to a video that claimed to show evidence of cannibalism in Haiti in response to the report.

The video was promptly taken down by X, Axios reports, which stated that the video had violated its rules.

In other words, even Musk's own social media company isn't willing to support his increasingly racist anti-immigration posts.

Ever since Musk took over the company formerly known as Twitter, hate speech has flourished on the platform. The billionaire has spread his own share of misinformation as well, from bogus COVID-19 data to false information about the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Musk has also made plenty of his own racist remarks on his platform. In January, he argued that Black students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have lower IQs and therefore shouldn't become pilots ridiculous claims that were met with horror by civil rights groups.

Most recently, the billionaire took aim at the people of Haiti, playing into debunked tropes.

Over the weekend, Musk tweeted "cannibal gangs..." in response to a clip by right-wing commentator Matt Walsh about unrest in Haiti.

"Civilization is fragile," he wrote in response to another since-deleted video, which claimed to show footage of a "cannibal gang eating body parts."

This week, Musk joined right-wing commentator Ian Miles Cheong, who argued on X earlier this week that there were "cannibal gangs in Haiti who abduct and eat people."

"If wanting to screen immigrants for potential homicidal tendencies and cannibalism makes me 'right wing,' then I would gladly accept such a label!" an incensed Musk wrote in a reply to a separate post in which Cheong complained about the NBC report. "Failure to do so would put innocent Americans in [sic] mortal risk," he added, failing to provide any evidence for his outlandish claims.

As experts have since pointed out, the posts were likely the result of gang propaganda campaigns designed to stoke fear, as NBC reports. While it's still possible that the odd gang leaders are indeed capable of such ghoulish acts, generalizing these claims is not only misleading a State Department spokesperson told the broadcaster that it had received no credible reports of cannibalism but even clearly playing into racist tropes that date back to colonial times.

There's also the issue of basic human decency. Through no fault of its residents, Haiti is in crisis; instead of wondering how the country he immigrated to could help, Musk is punching down at the most extreme examples of social dysfunction he can find online.

"It is very disturbing that Elon Musk would repeat these absurdities that do, indeed, have a long history," Yale University professor of French and African diaspora studies Marlene Daut told NBC.

In short, it's yet another troubling sign of Musk's descent into extreme right-wing circles, while using his considerable following and social media network to further conspiracy theories and racist disinformation.

"A whole population is getting blamed for what some psycho gang members are doing," Washington-based lawyer and moderator of the subreddit r/Haiti, told NBC. "It is racist. It is dehumanizing."

More on Musk: Elon Musk Deletes Tweet Saying Ex-Wives Responsible for Collapse of Civilization

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Elon Musk Thinks Cannibals Are Invading the United States - Futurism

Investment starting to pay returns for women’s football in Oceania nations – Friends of Football

Efforts to help improve womens football in the Oceania region are bearing fruit, say football leaders.

FIFA Chief Womens Football Officer and former Samoa international Dame Sarai Bareman says the shining example was the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

Its clear that the impact stretched far beyond the two hosts and into the wider Oceania region, she said.

FIFAs provision of a range of on and off-field development activities in recent years has helped fast-track growth, and led to more examples of progress at OFC Womens Olympic Qualifier tournament in Samoa.

From infrastructure upgrades notably at the hosts Football Federation Samoa Football Stadium to the provision of high-performance coaches, and financial packages supporting the national teams, the support has been broad and wide-ranging.

Main photo: Solomon Islands Ileen Pegi was one of the emerging players at the OFC Womens Olympic Qualifier Tournament in Samoa. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.

Dame Sarai said it was pleasing to see so many competitive matches and such a lift in the quality of football at the tournament.

Its a testament to the hard work that is being done by OFC and its member associations.

Major competitions play such a crucial role in the growth of womens football. Last year, we saw Papua New Guinea come so close to qualifying for the FIFA Womens World Cup.

The levelling of competition across the confederation reflects the commitment to improvement from both the world governing body and the respective member associations.

FIFA has delivered 77 programmes to Oceanian nations since first launching the Womens Development Programmes in the region.

Notably, FIFA launched a pilot programme to help Pacific national teams prepare for the OFC Womens Nation Cup 2022.

This turned into a fully-fledged programme that supported a range of identified nations to prepare for the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup.

Samoa, for instance, is enjoying a significant period of growth.

In February 2024, experienced administrator Ronna Lee Galumalemana became the new CEO at Football Federation Samoa (FFS), one of the few women to lead a member association in the region.

FFS President Sam Petaia says FIFA has invested more than USD$5 million for infrastructure in the past few years. Such investment has allowed FFS to host several OFC tournaments over the coming year.

Apia Park will be the main FFS administrative headquarters, while the existing Tuanaimato facility will be developed into a high-performance centre.

As part of FIFA 3.0 the academy will be developed with a gym, training pitches and player accommodation, sports science and anti-doping being housed on the site.

FIFA, through their infrastructure assistance, have given us a platform, that our Federation can challenge rugby, Petaia said.

Its about giving opportunities to kids. [Football is] the most well-funded, and the most popular grassroots programme in the country. But when they transition from primary school to secondary school, that is when we tend to lose a lot of the football players to rugby.

We have systems in place that we will make sure we try to hold onto our players, so they know theres something for them when they leave primary school. So its about us building programmes we can sustain. In five to 10 years look out, that landscape can change.

FFS Technical Director Ravinesh Kumar said: I think the FIFA Womens World Cup had a great impact on the young people, young girls as well.

We had our holiday programmes in December and we could clearly see that there is a link, between the FIFA Womens World Cup brought to Oceania and the interest it creates in our local kids. And now the Olympic qualifiers have backed up that interest, in our girls especially.

We could see a lot of girls have come in to watch the Olympic qualifiers.

Excerpt from:

Investment starting to pay returns for women's football in Oceania nations - Friends of Football

Space exploration and colonisation: US, China, Russia and others | TheCable – TheCable

Space exploration is dynamic and developments have been ongoing over the years with several countries actively engaged in space exploration; and have demonstrated interest in the long-term goal of space colonization. Three prominent countries at the fore of space exploration and showing interest in colonization include the United States, China, and Russia.

The United States, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), has played a lead role in space exploration since when it was established in 1958. They have a rich history of crewed space missions, which included the Apollo moon landings. In recent years, NASA has paid more attention to projects some of which are:

These are just a few, and NASA is working on various other scientific missions, technological advancements, and international collaborations. For the latest updates and detailed information, its recommended to visit NASAs official website and follow their press releases and mission updates.

Private Companies: SpaceX, or Space Exploration Technologies Corp., founded by Elon Musk in 2002, is a private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company. They have been driving interesting activity in various space exploration initiatives. This is aimed at revolutionizing space travel and making it more accessible. Some space exploration activities and projects that SpaceX has been working on include:

Another country doing some work is China. China National Space Administration (CNSA) has been actively working on space exploration with some achievements under its belt. It is noteworthy to mention that the space industry is evolving rapidly. Here are some major areas of Chinas space exploration efforts:

Furthermore, the Russian Roscosmos has a long history in space exploration, with a rich history of achievements dating back to the era of the Soviet Union. Here are some major areas of Roscosmoss space exploration efforts:

Besides, several African countries have shown an increasing interest in space exploration and have taken steps to develop their space capabilities. It is important to say that Africas involvement in space activities varies among its countries. Here are some major aspects of space exploration in Africa:

While these examples demonstrate the progress made by some African countries in space exploration, it is important to recognize that the level of involvement varies across the continent, and yes more work can be done through private organizations active involvement. Collaboration and the sharing of resources and expertise have been major conversations in promoting Africas presence in space exploration. Continued efforts and investments are likely to shape Africas role in future space activities.

In conclusion, while space exploration has led to numerous benefits and advancements, some challenges need to be addressed, including cost, environmental impact, and ethical considerations. Continued international collaboration and responsible exploration practices are crucial for ensuring the sustainable development of space activities.

Thank you for the investment in time, and I am open to conversations on furthering these thoughts. To be notified each time I publish a new post, follow my Medium: https://medium.com/@roariyo and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olufemi-ariyo-923ba6130/ or send an email to [emailprotected]

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Space exploration and colonisation: US, China, Russia and others | TheCable - TheCable

America Divided Part II: Mideast war magnifies free speech challenges on college campuses – The Daily Reflector

Since Hamas Oct. 7 attacks inside Israel and U.S. support for the resulting war in Gaza, protests and rallies have sprouted at college campuses across the U.S.

Tempers have flared, and tensions have risen.

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A pro-Israel demonstrator shouts at Palestinian supporters during a protest at Columbia University, Oct. 12, 2023, in New York. More than 40 U.S. colleges and universities face federal investigations for shared ancestry discrimination under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in the wake of anti-war and anti-Israel protests on campus.

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American colleges have become places of anguish, with Jewish and other pro-Israel students condemning the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, while Muslim and progressive students are pressing for recognition of suffering by Palestinians in Gaza.

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Jewish Rutgers University students and community members hold a vigil in support of Israel on Oct. 25, 2023, in New Brunswick, N.J..

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An anti-war protester interrupts President Joe Biden during a campaign event touting abortion rights on the campus of George Mason University in Virginia, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. College campuses have become epicenters for protests against U.S. (and Bidens) support for Israels war versus Hamas in Gaza.

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America Divided Part II: Mideast war magnifies free speech challenges on college campuses - The Daily Reflector

Democratic operative admits to commissioning Biden AI robocall in New Hampshire – The Washington Post

A longtime Democratic consultant working for a rival candidate admitted that he commissioned the artificial intelligence-generated robocall of President Biden that was sent to New Hampshire voters in January and triggered a state criminal investigation.

Steve Kramer, who worked for the long-shot Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips, said in a phone interview with The Washington Post that he sent out the AI-generated robocall telling voters to not vote to just under 5,000 people listed as most likely Democrats to vote in the New Hampshire primary, marking one of the first major uses of AI to disrupt the 2024 presidential election cycle.

The Phillips campaign paid Kramer roughly $250,000 to get Phillips, a third-term congressman from Minnesota challenging Biden, on the ballot in New York and Pennsylvania, according to federal campaign filings. Federal Communications Commission has issued him a subpoena for his involvement, Kramer said.

After the robocall, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a ruling that clarified generating a voice with AI for robocalls is illegal and swiftly issued a cease-and-desist letter to Kramer for originating illegal spoofed robocalls using an AI-generated voice in New Hampshire and issued a public notice to U.S.-based voice providers regarding blocking traffic related to the call.

The agency is working diligently including through all the tools available through its investigations to ensure that harmful misuse of AI technologies do not compromise the integrity of our communications networks, FCC spokesperson Will Wiquist said in a statement.

Kramer also shared details about how he created the robocall, confirming several details previously under speculation. He used software from the artificial intelligence voice cloning company Eleven Labs to create a deepfake voice of Biden in less than 30 minutes.

The calls, he added, were delivered by Voice Broadcasting, an entity associated with Life Co., which was at the center of the criminal investigation opened by New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella in early February into the Biden AI robocall. Kramer said the reason he created the robocall was to raise awareness about the dangers AI poses in political campaigns.

If anybody can do it, whats a person with real money, or an entity with real money, going to do? he said.

Kramers incident highlights the ease and accessibility by which AI-generated technology is making its way into the 2024 campaign cycle, allowing nearly anyone to use a wide array of tools to inject chaos and confusion into the voting process.

It also foreshadows a new challenge for state regulators, as increasingly advanced AI tools create new opportunities to interfere in elections across the world by creating fake audio recordings, photos and even videos of candidates, muddying the waters of reality.

The New Hampshire attorney generals investigation into the robocall remains active and ongoing, said Michael Garrity, a spokesman for the office.

Phillips and his campaign have condemned the robocalls. Katie Dolan, a spokeswoman for the Phillips campaign, said Kramers contract was finished before they became aware of his involvement in the robocall.

We are disgusted to learn that Mr. Kramer is behind this call, and we absolutely denounce his actions, she said. Kramers involvement was first reported by NBC News.

The robocall using an AI-generated voice that sounded like Biden targeted thousands of New Hampshire voters the weekend before the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary, telling them their vote would not make a difference, according to investigators.

The call, which began with a catchphrase of Bidens, calling the election a bunch of malarkey, told voters: Its important that you save your vote for the November election. The call appeared to come from the number of the former New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Kathy Sullivan, who was helping an effort to get voters to write in Bidens name to show their support for the president, even though he wasnt on the ballot. Sullivan and others reported the call to the states attorney general.

In early February, Formella announced a criminal investigation into the matter, and sent the telecom company, Life Corp., a cease-and-desist letter ordering it to immediately stop violating the states laws against voter suppression in elections.

A multistate task force was also prepared for potential civil litigation against the company, and the FCC ordered Lingo Telecom to stop permitting illegal robocall traffic, after an industry consortium found that the Texas-based company carried the calls on its network.

Dont try it, Formella said in the February news conference. If you do, we will work together to investigate, we will work together with partners across the country to find you, and we will take any enforcement action available to us under the law. The consequences for your actions will be severe.

The robocall incident is also one of several episodes that underscore the need for better policies within technology companies to ensure their AI services are not used to distort elections, AI experts said.

In late January, ChatGPT creator OpenAI banned a developer from using its tools after the developer built a bot mimicking Phillips. His campaign had supported the bot, but after The Post reported on it, OpenAI deemed that it broke rules against use of its tech for campaigns.

Paul Barrett, deputy director of the New York University Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, said in an email that it is apparent how powerful AI deepfakes can be in disrupting elections. The new technology makes it far easier for nonexperts to generate highly persuasive content that is fraudulent and can potentially mislead people about when, how, or where to vote, he said.

This is also not the first time Kramer has used AI to spoof a politicians voice. Last year, he created an AI-generated robocall of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) asking nearly 300 likely Republican voters in South Carolina whom they would support if former president Donald Trump wasnt on the ballot.

Kramer, who said he plans to support Biden if he wins the Democratic nomination, said he hopes his actions have inspired regulators to take notice of AIs potential impact on the election.

Its here now, he said, referring to AI, and I did something about it.

Clara Ence Morse, Eva Dou, and Razzan Nakhlawi contributed to this report.

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Democratic operative admits to commissioning Biden AI robocall in New Hampshire - The Washington Post

Steward Health Care news: ER near Boston put patients in jeopardy – The Boston Globe

Two weeks after the patients death on Sept. 13, state health inspectors arrived at the hospital, owned by for-profit Steward Health Care, to investigate. During their review of patient records, they found an emergency department with recurring staffing problems that at times seemed to be in near-meltdown.

Extremely sick patients had no assigned nurses, including one patient who was previously found unresponsive in a hallway. In another instance, an overworked nurse who was extremely busy and was behind, trying to catch up left a patient who had been vomiting in the waiting room for more than 10 hours. A friend discovered the patient barely conscious; the person was intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit, according to a state inspection report. It is unclear from the report if those patients survived, and hospital officials declined to provide that information.

State and federal officials declared the safety lapses put patients in immediate jeopardy, a severe sanction that required Good Samaritan to develop a plan within 23 days to fix its emergency department or risk losing its Medicare funding. Good Samaritan executives said they addressed the problems immediately, including bringing in more staff.

The hazards in the hospitals emergency department should not have been a surprise to state and federal regulators. Inspectors for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health had found serious patient safety violations in Good Samaritans emergency department three other times since 2021, documents obtained by the Globe show. After each inspection, investigators required the hospital to produce an improvement plan, but their visits resulted in little lasting change.

It wasnt until Jan. 31, when the seriousness of the financial crisis engulfing the company had become public, that the health department began sending daily monitors to Good Samaritan and other Steward hospitals, raising concerns about why the state didnt do more sooner.

While emergency departments are under strain across Massachusetts and the country, staff at Good Samaritan have been especially overwhelmed as they try to treat thousands of additional patients after two nearby hospitals shut their doors. At the same time, nurses have told state inspectors that private equity-backed Steward has neglected to hire enough staff and buy enough supplies.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association, the union that represents nurses at the hospital, warned state and federal health officials in 2021 and 2022 about the deterioration of the emergency department. Among the problems they cited: the potentially avoidable deaths of two patients, patients without nurses, patients being left in the waiting room for hours without being reevaluated, and managements failure to follow through on its promises, according to a letter and a memo obtained by the Globe.

Last March, emergency room nurses spoke directly to Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh about their concerns when Massachusetts officials visited Good Samaritan after a fire shut down nearby Brockton Hospital.

In September, on the day the patient died while in the registration line, 19 nurses were supposed to be on duty, according to an internal staffing report. There were eight.

Dr. Robbie Goldstein, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said the patients death was a tragic event and for all us it really gave us significant pause. But he said inspectors have provided close oversight of the Good Samaritan emergency department since 2021; the department thoroughly investigated every complaint, required an improvement plan, and revisited the hospital once after each plan was submitted to ensure its implementation, he told the Globe.

He acknowledged the department did not send in regular monitors until two weeks ago, but said that step has traditionally been taken only during nursing strikes.

Do I think that we will change the way that we provide oversight, evaluate facilities, and intervene at times of financial distress? Absolutely. That story is being written right now, Goldstein said.

He said he recognizes the situation at Good Samaritan and other Steward hospitals is hard for patients and Steward staff. We are working 24/7 with Steward and with the rest of health care to make sure that we can address the challenges that people are facing, he added.

The inspections of Good Samaritan were conducted by state officials on behalf of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which issues reports called statements of deficiencies when it finds problems. Those reports include descriptions of incidents but not patients names or other identifying details.

In a statement emailed to the Globe, Good Samaritan president Matt Hesketh said that after the immediate jeopardy findings on Sept. 26 and 28, the hospital immediately hired technicians to help assess the vital signs of patients in the waiting room, and deployed nurse practitioners and physician assistants to help triage walk-in patients steps that were part of the improvement plan. The hospital also is offering $40,000 signing bonuses to nurses hired to work in the emergency department.

Inspectors from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently visited the hospital and we remain in full compliance with all guidelines and protocols, Hesketh said.

We have faced unprecedented challenges over the past few years, however, the safety of our patients and providing excellent, compassionate care is our focus day in and day out, he added.

Goldstein, however, said that monitors stationed at Good Samaritan and other Steward hospitals have received additional complaints about patient care, and that the department is investigating the allegations. He did not describe the nature of them.

Experts in emergency medicine and patient safety consulted by the Globe could not assess whether the issues at Good Samaritan were more severe than elsewhere.

Theres a lot of bad things there, said Dr. Joseph C. Tennyson, president of the Massachusetts College of Emergency Physicians, an advocacy group for doctors, after being told of the reports. But he added, Bad things like this are happening everywhere right now because the capacity doesnt exist.

Just two weeks ago, the state Department of Public Health designated hospitals in Greater Boston and north of the city as Tier 3, meaning they have a high risk of capacity problems throughout their hospitals and need to meet more frequently with health officials and one another to coordinate patient load. Good Samaritan and other hospitals south of Boston have been in Tier 3 for the past year, after Brockton Hospital closed.

Patients have suffered because of delays at other hospitals. A disabled patient became unresponsive in the emergency department waiting room at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton in November 2022, during a six-hour wait for care. He died several hours later.

The patient, a 74-year-old man, checked in about 8:30 p.m. complaining of a cough and other respiratory symptoms. The triage nurse ordered lab tests and a chest X-ray and sent him to the waiting room, but failed to measure his blood oxygen level, according to a state inspection report. Another nurse told inspectors the triage nurse was running behind and there were too many patients waiting to be triaged. When his guardian the man was disabled, according to a relative told staff he did not look well, they found him unresponsive. Death records show he had the flu and pneumonia, and died of sepsis.

Laura Oggeri, a spokesperson for Mass General Brigham, which owns Cooley Dickinson, said that she could not discuss a specific case due to patient confidentiality rules, but that the hospital now requires mandatory additional medical reassessments for those waiting for care.

While many emergency departments are struggling with severe overcrowding amid a national shortage of nurses, they differ in how effectively they respond, said Barbara Fain, executive director of the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety, a Massachusetts state agency.

We do know that there is wide variability in the safety cultures of different hospitals, and that is really driven by the leadership, she said.

Dr. Zirui Song, associate professor of health care policy and medicine at Harvard Medical School, said the circumstances at Good Samaritan might be attributable to staffing reductions. A study he and others published in December found that after hospitals are acquired by a private equity company, they experience a 25 percent increase in adverse events, such as infections and falls. This is happening even as other hospitals are seeing a decline in such events, he said.

One of the primary hypotheses that we have is that staffing reductions after a private equity acquisition might explain these findings, Song said, and that might apply as well to the emergency department.

Song, an internist at Massachusetts General Hospital, called what happened to patients at Good Samaritan gut-wrenching and heart-breaking and not something he would expect to see at Mass. General, even when the emergency department is extremely busy. Patients with chest pain and shortness of breath are typically worked up fairly rapidly, he said.

So the fact the E.D. is full does not mean that these adverse events . . . are acceptable or expected, he said.

But sometimes they are unavoidable, said Tennyson, the emergency physicians group president. As an emergency department physician, he said, he has seen patients designated ESI 2 the second most severe level of patient illness who have waited 14 hours or longer. Ideally a patient with chest pain would be seen right away and get an electrocardiogram, a recording of the hearts electrical activity that can help diagnose a heart attack, within 10 minutes, said Tennyson, who is chief of emergency medicine at UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital.

But its not uncommon for a chest pain patient to have to wait in a busy ER, because there are five or six people or more that are having chest pain, and most of them are not having a heart attack, Tennyson said.

Those situations are painful and demoralizing for the staff, he said.

To see somebody in the waiting room that you absolutely know you need to go see, that you need to get seen right away, and theres no way to do it thats injurious and its contributing to burnout, he said.

Liz Kowalczyk can be reached at lizbeth.kowalczyk@globe.com. Felice J. Freyer can be reached at felice.freyer@globe.com. Follow her @felicejfreyer.

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Steward Health Care news: ER near Boston put patients in jeopardy - The Boston Globe

‘There was a lot of anxiety’: Florida’s immigration crackdown is causing patients to skip care – POLITICO

One pregnant patient experiencing alarming pain nearly refused to go to an emergency room out of fear that shed be arrested and deported, she said. A staffer at the clinic had to personally escort the patient to the hospital.

There has definitely been an uptick in the nervousness and apprehension that a lot of immigrants already had when they had to think about getting treatment, Thomas said. But I have faith that we will get through this.

DeSantis law is even affecting clinics and organizations that dont receive federal dollars, and the law applies to migrants even though they dont receive Medicaid assistance.

Officials with the Consulate of Mexico in Orlando, which for years has operated a program offering free health care to migrants from all over the world, said fewer migrant women have shown up for free medical check-ups and prenatal care since the law took effect in May. The number of patients accessing free mammograms services, for example, has dropped 18 percent, according to the consulate.

This fear of anything health related has negatively affected the prevention of diseases within our migrant community, the consulate said in a statement.

The consulate does not receive Medicaid reimbursements.

While several states have cracked down on immigration in recent years including a law in Texas that makes it a crime to enter the state illegally from a foreign country Floridas law is believed to be the only one in the nation that requires hospitals to ask patients about their immigration status.

Undocumented immigrants in general arent eligible for federal health benefits, but some states access Medicaid dollars to help undocumented immigrants. Last year, California became the first state in the country to offer health insurance to undocumented immigrants through its Medi-Cal program, which is supported through state and federal taxes..

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'There was a lot of anxiety': Florida's immigration crackdown is causing patients to skip care - POLITICO

From the Caribbean’s tallest falls to a hidden cenote: Seek adventure in the Dominican Republic – Euronews

Embarking on a Caribbean getaway in 2024? Prepare to be captivated beyond the sun-kissed beaches.

The Dominican Republic is synonymous with crystal-clear waters and idyllic, white sand beaches.

A day spent lounging beneath swaying coconut trees is the ideal refuge from Europes chilly winters, allowing you to return to the office flaunting that enviable sun-kissed tan.

In the Dominican Republic there are more than 200 beaches - from the famous Playa Bvaro in Punta Cana to Playa Fernanda in Miches, says Enrique Penson, director of Economic Studies at the countrys Ministry of Tourism.

Yet, the country's charm goes well beyond its pristine coastlines. Majestic waterfalls, lush national parks, and aromatic cacao plantations await your exploration.

In 2023 the country hosted 10 million visitors and that is because the Dominican Republic has it all, says Penson. Besides stunning beaches, magnificent nature and experiences, the best is the Dominican people's warmth and hospitality.

Heres how to get the best out of your visit to the stunning Caribbean nation.

Foodies should make a beeline for the cacao trails in San Francisco de Macors, in the northeast Duarte province.

Making up 10 per cent of the Dominican Republics lush green expanse, cacao plantations are vital to preserve the island's natural environment. Renowned as the worlds premier producer of organic cocoa, the island is the perfect place to experience the captivating floral aroma of unprocessed cocoa fruit.

Step into the enchanting haciendas de cacao, where visitors not only explore plantations and gain insights into the chocolate-making process but also have the opportunity to actively participate in cacao cultivation and harvesting alongside local producers.

Among the most popular cacao trails is that of Finca La Esmeralda. For the ultimate experience, plan your visit during the harvest period, which occurs twice a year from September to December and January to May.

The picturesque landscape of the Dominican Republic is graced with awe-inspiring waterfalls. Venture into the Saman Peninsula for the the perfect blend of beautiful beaches and trekking experiences, recommends Penson.

Here, you can discover the allure of El Limn Waterfall, which cascades from tropical surroundings. One of the most remarkable experiences in this region involves a horse ride through lush paths, allowing you to immerse yourself in the stunning nature.

The peninsula is also home to the protected Parque Nacional Los Haitises. Its remarkable limestone karsts, sinkholes and mangroves served as the filming location for the iconic Jurassic Park. Spanning 1,600 km-squared, its ancient rock formations date back 50 million years.

Further northwest, near Puerto Plata, the 27 Charcos de Damajagua awaits - a collection of 27 waterfalls that captivate thrill-seekers. This natural playground invites exploration through hiking and swimming, rewarding visitors with exhilarating cliff jumps and natural slides.

The pinnacle of waterfall grandeur, however, lies in Salto de La Jalda, the Caribbean's highest waterfall, standing at over 120 metres. Tucked within the National Park of La Jalda in Miches, reaching it can be an adventure in itself. Whether by a scenic two-hour hike or a helicopter excursion, both routes offer a chance to delve into the forest and experience the biodiversity of its flora and fauna first-hand.

For a touch of magic, venture into Punta Cana's Hoyo Azul, a mesmerising blue sinkhole nestled in lush rainforest. This cenote is often referred to as the "Indigenous eye. You'll find this hidden oasis discreetly tucked away inside the Scape Park, within the captivating Cap Cana area.

Take a revitalising dip in its natural, cold spring waters, which boast a depth of 14 metres and are embraced by a 75-metre-tall limestone cliff adorned with lush vegetation. To reach Hoyo Azul you have to cross a suspension bridge and meander through an orchid garden.

A must visit for nature enthusiasts, this unique site seamlessly blends adventure, nature and tranquillity in the heart of Punta Cana's captivating landscapes.

The Dominican Republic's cultural fusion shines through its vibrant people, who eagerly share their traditions.

The culinary landscape is a fusion of Tano, Spanish and African influences. The national dish, La Bandera Dominicana, is a hearty amalgamation of rice, beans, meat (often chicken or beef), and salad. Fresh seafood dishes, like pescado con coco (fish in coconut sauce), captivate taste buds with their vibrant flavours.

"Fish from any of our coasts is our main dish - always fresh, savoury, and complemented by our traditional sauces crafted from local ingredients," says Penson.

Beyond the national dish, start your day with mang, a breakfast staple made from mashed plantains, or savour the comforting sancocho, a stew filled with various meats and vegetables.

For a sweet and savoury experience, indulge in pasteln de pltano maduro, a dish that layers ripe plantains, meat and cheese. Each bite reflects the diverse cultural influences that have shaped Dominican cuisine, making it an essential part of your travel adventure in this vibrant Caribbean destination.

To truly grasp the essence of Dominican culture and their zest for life, learn the steps of merengue and bachata, two vibrant Caribbean dance styles recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

"Any Dominican will gladly guide you through the steps of merengue and bachata. We carry the beats of these dances within us, cherishing the joy of dancing, and we love it when foreigners express an interest in learning," encourages Penson.

Don't miss the opportunity to attend merengue festivals held in various cities across the Dominican Republic, including the lively celebrations in Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata.

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From the Caribbean's tallest falls to a hidden cenote: Seek adventure in the Dominican Republic - Euronews

Where are the best surf beaches in Costa Rica – TravelDailyNews International – TravelDailyNews International

Join us on a journey to discover some of Costa Ricas best surf beaches, each with their unique charm and surfing potential.

Costa Rica, home to a myriad of golden beaches, lush rainforests, and vibrant culture, is renowned among surf enthusiasts from around the globe. One of the unique features of this abundant country lies in its dual coastlines, allowing surfers the opportunity to ride the waves of both the Pacific and Caribbean oceans. This Central American paradise truly is a surfers dream destination, whether youre just starting out on the board, or youre a seasoned wave rider.

Pacific coast rollers Lets begin our journey along Costa Ricas Pacific coastline, stretching along the western side of the country. This rugged and dramatic shoreline is characterized by pristine sandy beaches, dominated by towering cliffs and the countrys iconic lush rainforests that cascade down to the waters edge. The Pacific coast stands out from its Caribbean counterpart thanks to the raw power of its waves, which create a whole host of exciting opportunities for surfers in search of exhilaration. Some of this coastlines highlights include:

Tamarindo Tamarindo Beach is renowned among surfers worldwide, thanks to its spectacular sunsets and abundant wildlife. It also provides surfers with some exciting waves to tackle, leading this small town to gain a reputation as a top destination for surfers.

Tamarindos beauty lies in its strategic location, which has also resulted in its development as a cosmopolitan coastal town. Nowadays, there are various large resorts, with lots of places to eat and shop. Tamarindo is also well-connected, which results in plenty of visitors keen to enjoy its surfing opportunities.

Santa Teresa While Tamarindo might be world-famous, Santa Teresa is perhaps its opposite; far from the well-trodden surfer routes, this stunning small town emerges as a Pura Vida hideaway, quietly tucked away on Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula. Perhaps the worlds best-kept secret, Santa Teresa is home to secluded beaches, stunning sunsets, and fantastic surf opportunities not to mention a true sense of authenticity. Lacking large resorts and their accompanying tourists, Santa Teresa makes up for what it lacks in flamboyance with its unassuming beauty. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants here, making it a great place to enjoy a vacation. The waves can be feisty here, too, so its worth considering taking a lesson or two if youre a first-timer in the area.

It is worth making a detour here: This off-the-beaten-path haven is home to some hidden gems, such as Costa Ricas ultimate surf and yoga retreat (https://www.surfandyogacostarica.com/), where you can enjoy the thrill of riding the waves and all the wellbeing benefits of yoga and meditation in the very same stay.

Hermosa Hermosa attracts experienced surfers from all over the world, but its not the place for beginners as the waves are consistently large. Its often quieter than some of the better-known beaches, but bear in mind that the sand here is black its best not to walk on it barefoot as it heats up quickly.

Caribbean Coast Lets move to the other side of the country and find out what Costa Ricas eastern coast has to offer its surfing visitors. Generally speaking, the Caribbean coast is said to offer a more laid-back vibe. The beaches here are known for their coral reefs rather than their giant rollers, with gentler waves that appeal to surfers first starting out. Thats not to say this coastline doesnt sometimes experience more substantial waves, and its worth consulting this wave height forecaster before visiting especially if youre a surfing novice.

Puerto Viejo Puerto Viejo is home to a great selection of restaurants and bars while preserving a relaxed vibe. Surfers head to Puerto Viejo to enjoy the surf and soak up its colorful architecture, lively markets, and abundant wildlife. Puerto Viejo can be prone to some more lively waves, so its a good place for more experienced surfers to hone their skills.

Playa Chiquita Playa Chiquita blends natural beauty with an enviable laid-back atmosphere. Whats more, it enjoys a consistent, gentle swell, making it an excellent setting for beginners as well as others who perhaps need to hone their skills before heading westward to the Pacific! Playa Chiquita enjoys beautiful, lush surroundings, which only add to its allure. This unrivaled backdrop makes for an exhilarating place to unwind after a day enjoying the simple pleasures of riding the waves.

Whether youre after the adrenaline rush of larger, more spirited waves, or youre after a beginner-friendly destination, theres a Costa Rican surf beach for everyone. The only problem might be choosing where to head to first!

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AWS to invest $15bn in cloud computing in Japan – DatacenterDynamics

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is planning to invest 2.26 trillion yen ($15.24 billion) in expanding its cloud computing infrastructure in Japan by 2027.

As part of this investment, the company will seek to expand its data center facilities in Tokyo and Osaka.

The cloud giant previously invested 1.51 trillion yen (~$10.2bn) between 2011 and 2022 in the country. Yearly, this works out at just under $1bn spent per year. The new announcement will see this increase to more than $5bn a year for the next three years.

"The adoption of digital technology has become a source of a countrys competitiveness, said Takuya Hirai, former digital minister and current chair of headquarters for the promotion of a digital society in Japans Liberal Democratic Party.

The development of digital infrastructure in Japan is key to strengthening the country's industrial competitiveness, and data centers play an important role to this end. It promotes the use of important technologies such as AI [artificial intelligence] and improves the capabilities of research and development in Japan."

The digital infrastructure in the country is also the backbone of AWS' artificial intelligence solutions. AWS provides generative AI services to Japanese customers including Asahi Group, Marubeni, and Nomura Holdings.

AWS first entered Japan in 2009. The company launched its first cloud region in the country in 2011 in Tokyo, and another in Osaka in 2021.

Amazon's Bedrock AI offering was made available in Tokyo in October 2023. The company also invested $100m in a generative AI innovation center in June 2023.

It is currently estimated that the latest investment will contribute 5.57 trillion yen (~$37.6bn) to Japans GDP and support an average of 30,500 full-time jobs in Japanese businesses each year.

Japan's government is seeking to catch up in AI development. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has met with the heads of OpenAI and Nvidia in the past year to discuss AI regulation and infrastructure.

In December 2023, Minister Ken Saito announced the government would double down on its pledge to support the domestic chip manufacturing industry.

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AWS to invest $15bn in cloud computing in Japan - DatacenterDynamics

A week into 2024 and Big Tech has earned enough to pay off all 2023 fines – TechRadar

2023 surely was an eventful year in tech. To cite just a few key moments, generative AI became mainstream thanks to software like ChatGPT; we had to say goodbye to the iconic blue bird while welcoming Twitter's new name (I know very well the pain of writing 'X, formerly known as Twitter' over the past six months); and big tech companies got fined the most under GDPR's data abuses for a total of more than $3 billion.

Well, on the latter point, data protection regulators' efforts turned out to be not as effective as it was hoped they'd be.

Swiss privacy firm behind popular email and VPN service, Proton reported that only after a week into 2024 the likes of Meta, Google, Apple and Microsoft earned enough to pay off all last year's fines. Let's take a look at what needs to change and, most importantly, what you can do in the meantime to truly protect your privacy.

"Whats clear is that these fines, though they appear to be a huge amount of money, in reality are just a drop in the ocean when it comes to the revenues that the tech giants are making. In other words, they arent a deterrent at all," Jurgita Miseviciute, Head of Public Policy & Government Affairs at Proton, told me.

Researchers at Proton have calculated that Alphabet (Google's parent company) needs only a bit more than a day to pay off its $941 million fines. Amazon and Apple's earnings of just a few hours are then enough to repay their data protection's sanctions of $111.7 and $186.4 million respectively.

While biggest data abuse perpetrator Meta, which got a record $1.3bn fine for its (mis)handling of EU user data in May last year, managed to accumulate all the necessary money in just about five working days.

These findings make it clear that data regulators' fines, as founder and CEO of Proton Andy Yen put it, are "little more than pocket change for these companies" instead of a mean to stop them abusing users' data. Not only that, he said, as "these minuscule fines essentially give the green light to tech giants to run riot in a marketplace skewed in their favor."

It's also quite common that big tech firms might appeal to these sanctions or simply refuse to pay, delaying the repayment for years. Take how Google contested India's fine, for instance, about the Android-related inquiry for abusing its dominant position in the market which started in 2019.

On this point, Yen said: "Its the average consumer that's losing outfacing higher prices, less choice, and no privacy. It has to stop and we need real, tangible change that puts people first, not profits."

According to Miseviciute, there are two main things that must happen for things to really change.

Did you know?

Fully enforced in May 2023, the EU Digital Market Act (DMA) brought new obligations for tech companies to ensure fair competition and protect people's digital rights. A similar bill, so-called Digital Markets, Consumer and Competition Bill (DMCC) is currently passing through the UK Parliament, too.

For starters, she believes that governments have to issue fines with a real financial effect in order to fight back against big monopolies.

"Thats why fines up to even 20% of global revenues for breaches of laws such as the EUs DMA [Digital Market Act] and up to 10% in case of the proposed DMCC [Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers] Bill in the UK are a step in the right direction," she told me.

If heavier sanctions are important, they are not everything. Miseviciute explained that regulators need to combine these with practical measures such as enforced behavioral and structural changes, for example.

Again, she sees the EU quite well-placed to do so due to the new powers gained with the DMA. However, elsewhere there are also some small steps in this direction.

"We hope Googles antitrust trial in the US serves as a catalyst for comprehensive antitrust regulation on the other side of the Atlantic. We also see promising potential regulatory developments in South Korea, Japan, Australia and other major jurisdictions," she told me.

"If you open up the marketplace, and you give innovators like Proton a chance to succeed, youll get solutions that are more private and more secure for consumers."

As we have seen, 2023 was yet another hard year for our online privacy.

The US, for instance, still lacks a federal data protection law with the proposed ADPPA being stalled at the time of writing. Enforced in August last year, India's new privacy law was strongly criticized for favoring government and big tech instead of citizens. Well, where allegedly strong legislations are in place like in the EU, these seem to have not enough teeth just yet.

Commenting on this point, Miseviciute told me: "Until laws like the DMA in the EU and the proposed DMCC in the UK are effectively put into practice we are living in a world where big tech rules the internetand all our privacy is at the mercy of their surveillance capitalism business model."

Did you know?

Two thirds of people in the UK would rather lose their passport than access to their email account. Yet, despite these concerns, most of them lack the necessary knowledge and tools to protect their digital privacy. Big Tech knows that, researchers revealed.

The glimpse of light in this gloomy scenario is that it's ultimately our choice if we want to keep using data-hungry products. Luckily, there are some smaller companies offering privacy-first alternatives you can switch to.

On its part, Proton appear to have been working hard to cut Google out of our digital life. Likewise the popular service, the Swiss-based provider offers an encrypted email service Proton Mail (which even beat the big tech giant by landing with a standalone desktop app in December), secure calendar and its own cloud storage Proton Drive, too.

Proton's product offering also includes one of the best virtual private network apps on the market (Proton VPN) to help you boosting your anonymity while browsing among other things, as well as a password manager tool (Proton Pass) to secure all your login details. Even better as all the provider's services come both with free and paid plans.

However, Proton is just one of the many companies developing privacy-first alternatives to big tech software. Worth a mention there are also encrypted messaging app Signal if you wish to replace WhatsApp with a more secure application and Mullvad browser to make the switch from Safari and Chrome.

Compare today's best overall VPNs

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

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A week into 2024 and Big Tech has earned enough to pay off all 2023 fines - TechRadar

Sweden seeks to tighten NATO’s grip in Baltic Sea with 2 new submarines – POLITICO Europe

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KARLSKRONA, Sweden Theyve been on the drawing board for more than a decade, but in the heart of a vast assembly hall in a shipyard on the Baltic Sea coast, Swedens two new A26 attack submarinesare finally coming together.

Set for launch in 2027 and 2028, the 66-meter-long diesel-electric subs, named Blekinge and Skne after two Swedish counties, are designed to patrol NATOs eastern reaches under the Baltic Sea, tracking and countering Moscows maritime moves amid ever worsening relations between Russia and Europe.

The two are Swedens first new subs to be built since the mid-1990s and will join four older vessels in the Nordic states fleet.

We have a long history of building submarines, said Mats Wicksell, the head of Kockums, a business area of Swedish military equipment manufacturer Saab which is building the A26s. But this is still a big step forward for us.

The looming Swedish launches underscore a nascent subsea renewal in Northern Europe, where the Norwegian navy recently ordered four new submarines from Germanys ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The Netherlands has received bids from TKMS, Saab Kockums and Frances Naval Group to build four submarines, while Denmark, which disposed of its fleet in 2004, recently suggested itmightreverse that move.

This expansion will partially bridge the gap to NATOs biggest European fleets, which are set for slight growth this decade, according to a report by Swedens Defense Research Agency. Six new French Barracuda class submarines are entering service and two further Type 212 subs will join an existing German fleet of six. The U.K.s fleet of Astute class submarines will total seven by the end of the decade and the Italian Todaro class submarines eight.

The European upgrades come amid a Russian PR drive about additions to its own fleet. In December, President Vladimir Putin posed on the dockside at Russias White Sea submarine production hub at Severodvinsk alongside two new vessels, the Krasnoyarsk and Emperor Alexander the Third.

The Russian navy will have 50 submarines in 2030, according to the Swedish report.

The U.S. submarine fleet is set to shrink slightly in numerical terms to 57 by 2030, but the continued introduction of the new Virginia class will serve to maintain and even widen America's technological advantage over its rivals during the same period, the Swedish report said.

Visited on a recent weekday, the Saab shipyard in the southern Swedish naval town of Karlskrona was humming with activity.

The partially built Blekinge was shrouded in scaffolding, while metal workers prepared further steel hull sections for highly skilled welders to later stitch together into a whole capable of withstanding blasts from mines and impact with the seabed. In another area, electricians threaded seemingly endless reams of wiring into high-tech interiors.

For Sweden, the long delayed new submarines they were initially supposed to enter service in 2018 and 2019 will be a shot in the arm in a rapidly deteriorating security environment.

Sweden has seenincursionsby an unidentified submarine in its territorial waters as well as explosions crippling the Russian-built Nord Stream natural gas pipelines in its maritime exclusive economic zone in 2022 and the severing of a subsea communications cable linkto Estoniain 2023.

Sweden reinstated conscription and remilitarized its strategically placed Baltic Sea of Gotland in the wake of Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014. Since the Kremlins full scale attack on Ukraine in 2022, it has boosted defense spending by 30 percent between 2023 and 2024 and applied to join NATO.

In early January, the Swedish government and the head of its armytoldcitizens to prepare themselves for war.

Theplan tolaunch the A26s has been a key pillar in Stockholms claim that it cancontributeto NATOs military strength,and isnt applying to join the alliance solely to benefit from its mutual defense guarantees.

Since the accession to NATO of the Baltic States in 2004 and Finland last April, the alliance has faced a headache over how to protect maritime supply lines to those states and restrict access to Russia in the event of conflict with the Kremlin.

Carl Gyhlenius, a Swedish former submarine commander and now a planner for the countrys navy, said he felt that NATO was getting a missing jigsaw piece with Sweden's NATO accession delayed by foot-dragging from Turkey and Hungary.

The Baltic Sea is hard to deal with if you don't have the necessary experience, and the fact that another country is joining NATO which has this as its backyard, with that regional expertise, that should ease operational problems, Gyhlenius said.

The Baltic is widely seen as a tricky operating environment because its varying salt levels affect sonar. It is also shallow and heavily trafficked, which increases collision risk.

On a recent visit to Stockholm, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg praised Swedens defense industry saying it offered advanced technology across a range of branches addingthat the NATO accession of the Nordic statewill be a big advantagefor the alliance as it seeks to maintainits technological edgeoveritsrivals.

Swedens first submarine, called the Shark, was launched in 1904, and over the decades that followed the Swedish navyexpanded its underwater capabilities as part of its broader effort to mount a credible national defense as a neutral state betweenEast andWest.

Toward the end of the last century,Swedish engineers achieved a technical breakthrough with a system called air independent propulsion (AIP) which allowed Swedish submarines to operate for longer periods without surfacing, aiding their ability to evade detection.

Following the end of the Cold War, Sweden cut back on defense spending and its submarine program was largely on hold foradecade until 2010, when Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors announced a plan to build the A26.

Through this significant renewal, we are ensuring that the Swedish submarine fleet will continue to maintain the highest international class, he said. Modern submarines represent a significant obstacle to any actor who wants to use the Baltic Sea for anything other than peaceful shipping.

In the years since, the A26 project has been criticized for delays and cost overruns.

But its defenders say the wait and extra cost will be justified by the delivery of vessels tailor-made for Baltic Sea conditions at a time when control of that waterway is geopolitically vital.

In its promotional material, Saab notes that the dimensions of the A26 as well as its updated AIP system and new sonar-defeating hull design make it ideally suited to the Baltic.

It also has a new modular design, which will allow obsolete technology to be replaced with new systems more easily and a new portal toward the front of the boat will also allow easier interaction between the crew inside the vessel and divers or unmanned vessels operating outside, Saab says.

Kockums chief Wicksell said the A26 represents value for money because its combination of stealth and advanced weapons systems can help ward off foes and reduce the risk of a costly future conflict.

If I know there is something out there but I dont know where it is and I cant defend myself against it, that is a deterrent, he said.

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Sweden seeks to tighten NATO's grip in Baltic Sea with 2 new submarines - POLITICO Europe

Proviso Suburbs Are Regulating Unscheduled Buses As Migrant Crisis Enters Harsh Winter – Village Free Press |

Migrants in tents outside of the 15th District Chicago Police station in the citys Austin community in October 2023. The city has since relocated the migrants, but now suburban officials are taking measures to regulate unscheduled buses that may be unsafely dropping the asylum-seekers off in municipalities. | File

Monday, January 15, 2024 || By Michael Romain || michael@wearejohnwilk.com

Suburbs across Proviso Township have recently enacted legislation to address the wave of buses carrying migrants to various points across the Chicago area and burdening resource-strapped municipalities.

The villages of Bellwood, Broadview, Hillside and Westchester are among the municipalities whose boards have voted on ordinances or whose mayors have issued executive orders since December designed to introduce fines, penalties and restrictions for buses illegally dropping off passengers.

The primary aim is to safeguard the health and safety of both residents and bus occupants, Hillside village officials explained in a statement posted to the villages website on Dec. 29.

The Village lacks the resources to adequately support these migrants, Hillside officials added. Collaborative efforts with Local, State, County, and regional authorities are underway to address these concerns.

CNN reported in December that since April 2022, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has sent more than 90,000 asylum-seeking migrants from Latin America to various Democratic-run sanctuary cities, including Chicago.

Border authorities encountered more than 225,000 migrants along the US-Mexico border in December alone, marking the highest monthly total recorded since 2000, according to preliminary Homeland Security statistics shared with CNN, the outlet reported.

In their various ordinances and executive orders, Proviso-area village officials explained that the legislation regulating unscheduled buses is time-sensitive due to the onset of the frigid winter weather.

Entities sending such charter buses know, or should know, that the passengers on such buses are likely to seek emergency shelter and other immediate services from the municipality upon or soon after arrival in the municipality, reads the ordinance the Westchester village board unanimously passed on Jan. 9.

Local police departments have been tasked with enforcing the new regulations. In a statement shared with WGN 9, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson said that any violation of her executive order by any bus company or bus driver, regardless of origin or destination, authorizes the seizure and impoundment of the bus by the Broadview Police Department as well as criminal charges to be filed against the company and driver.

Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills said his department is requesting bus companies notify us five days in advance, adding that they need to know how many people are coming under the age of 18 (and) how many adults so we know how many are arriving in the Village of Broadview, WGN reported.

Mayor Thompson issued her executive order in December. The Broadview village board is poised to vote on a series of ordinances regulating unscheduled buses at a regular meeting on Jan. 16.

State opens migrant shelter

Earlier this month, Capitol News Illinois reported that another migrant shelter opened in Chicago on Jan. 10, the states latest step in dealing with an influx of more than 30,000 asylum seekers sent to Illinois from states on the southern U.S. Border since summer 2022.

The recently opened shelter is located in a former CVS in Chicagos Little Village neighborhood and is expected to host about 220 migrants. The shelter is part of a $160 million state spending plan for migrant assistance that Gov. JB Pritzker announced in November, Capitol News Illinois reported.

The new site is one of several that houses migrants, mostly from Venezuela, that have arrived in Chicago over the past year. Roughly 250 migrants are currently staying at OHare International Airport and another 280 people slept in city buses at a so-called landing zone facility in the South Loop.

Possible causes of the Venezuelan migrant crisis

Most of the migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border into the United States come from Venezuela. According to data from the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela, roughly 8 million Venezuelans have fled their homes since the countrys economy collapsed in 2014. Most of those refugees have settled in about two dozen Caribbean and Latin America countries.

Critics of Venezuelas left-wing government have argued that the countrys economic collapse was due to corruption and economic mismanagement.

According to the nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington, D.C. think tank, Venezuela is an example of a petrostate, where the government is highly dependent on fossil fuel income, power is concentrated, and corruption is widespread.

Petrostates are vulnerable to what economists call Dutch disease, in which a government develops an unhealthy dependence on natural resource exports to the detriment of other sectors.

When the price of oil plunged from more than $100 per barrel in 2014 to under $30 per barrel in early 2016, Venezuela entered an economic and political spiral, and despite rising prices since then, conditions remain bleak, the Council argued.

But other experts argue that the United States foreign policy also plays a critical role in the Latin American countrys collapse.

Last year, Juan Gonzlez, a reporter and senior fellow at the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois at Chicago, told WBEZ that the influx of Venezuelan migrants to the United States is a relatively new phenomenon. Its only really happened in the last three or four years. But now Venezuelans have become the fastest growing group of the Latino community in the United States.

Gonzlez said that economic sanctions lodged by the United States against Venezuela constituted an economic war against the country. The sanctions have been under Presidents Obama, Trump and Biden, he said.

The result has been an almost complete economic collapse of the country. Besides perhaps war, it is difficult to think of a tool of foreign policy that today causes more economic and humanitarian destruction than economic sanctions, Gonzlez told WBEZ.

For instance, Citgo petroleum, a major petroleum company in this country, is a Venezuelan-owned company, he added. The Trump administration froze all the assets of Citgo. The company takes in about $24 billion in oil revenues in the United States. None of that money, though, can go to Venezuela, which is its owner.

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Proviso Suburbs Are Regulating Unscheduled Buses As Migrant Crisis Enters Harsh Winter - Village Free Press |

NASA and Russia will keep launching each other’s astronauts to ISS until 2025: report – Space.com

NASA and Russia have agreed to keep launching American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts on each other's spacecraft, media reports suggest.

Roscosmos announced both it and NASA will continue the International Space Station launches with each other's crew members through at least 2025, "to maintain the reliability of the ISS as a whole," according to multiple reports including the Moscow Times.

A NASA spokesperson confirmed the agreement in an email to Space.com. "NASA and Roscosmos have amended the integrated crew agreement to allow for a second set of integrated crew missions in 2024 and one set of integrated crew missions in 2025," the spokesperson wrote. "For continued safe operations of the space station, the integrated crew agreement helps ensure that each crewed spacecraft docked to the station includes an integrated crew with trained crew members in both the Russian and U.S. Operating Segment systems."

NASA and Roscosmos have an existing agreement to launch crew members on each other's spacecraft, to allow for independent launch access for both nations and backup in case of trouble. Right now the manifest includes SpaceX Dragon for NASA missions, and Soyuz for Russia. (When Boeing Starliner is ready, presumably it will be included too for U.S. missions.)

The ISS is manifested to last until at least 2030, as most of the international coalition has agreed to stick with it. Russia will remain until 2028 or so, based on the most recent reports; the country is working on a different set of space plans in the future.

Related: NASA working to get private space stations up and running before ISS retires in 2030

Though NASA and Russia are the chief ISS partners alongside the European Space Agency, Japan and Canada, relations changed in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine to the condemnation of most of the world. Most space partnerships were severed with Russia aside from the ISS, which remains for space policy reasons.

Russia and NASA operate different segments of the space station with different operational responsibilities. They also send up cargo ships for resupply missions and interface with the crew in independent mission controls.

Since 2022, Russia has teamed up with China to launch a moon-facing alliance. NASA also has its own group, under the Artemis Accords, a coalition of 30-plus nations that themselves promise peaceful space exploration norms with a subset of countries also participating in moon exploration.

The Artemis Accords aim to put astronauts on the moon no earlier than 2025 with Artemis 3, and have already launched Artemis 1 (uncrewed) in 2022 around the moon. Artemis 2, with four astronauts on board, should launch around the moon in 2024 or so.

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NASA and Russia will keep launching each other's astronauts to ISS until 2025: report - Space.com

Covid Has Resurged, but Scientists See a Diminished Threat – The New York Times

The holidays have come and gone, and once again Americans are riding a tide of respiratory ailments, including Covid. But so far, this winters Covid uptick seems less deadly than last years, and much less so than in 2022, when the Omicron surge ground the nation to a halt.

Were not seeing the signs that would make me think that were heading into another severe wave, said Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. So far, were in relatively good shape.

Still, there are few masks in sight, and just a fraction of the most vulnerable people have received the latest Covid shots, she noted.

Its not too late, Dr. Rivers added. We have not even reached peak yet for Covid, and once you reach peak, you still have to get down the other side. That leaves plenty of time for the vaccine to provide some protection.

Federal officials are relying on limited data to measure this years spread. After the end of the public health emergency in May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped tracking the number of Covid infections. The agency now has only partial access to information from states about vaccination rates.

But trends in wastewater data, positive tests, emergency department visits, hospitalization rates and deaths point to a rise in infections in all regions of the nation, according to the C.D.C. These patterns have prompted many hospitals to reinstate mask policies, after initially resisting a return to them this fall.

As in previous years, the numbers have steadily been rising all winter, and are expected to increase further after holiday travel and get-togethers.

Many of the infections are caused by a new variant, JN.1, which has rapidly spread across the world in recent weeks. I think that theres no doubt its helping drive, pretty substantially, this winter wave, said Katelyn Jetelina, a public health expert and author of a widely read newsletter, Your Local Epidemiologist.

Unfortunately, its coming at the same exact time as us opening up our social networks due to the holidays, she said, so theres kind of a perfect storm going on right now.

Some scientists have pointed to rising levels of the virus in sewage samples as an indicator that infections are at least as high this year as they were at this time last year. But Dr. Rivers urged caution in interpreting wastewater data as a proxy for infections and said hospitalizations were a more reliable metric.

In the week that ended on Dec. 23, hospitalizations rose by nearly 17 percent from the previous week. There were about 29,000 new hospital admissions, compared with 39,000 the same week last year and 61,000 in 2021.

And weekly hospitalizations are increasing more slowly than in previous years, Dr. Rivers said.

Covid is still claiming at least 1,200 lives per week. But that number is about one-third the toll this time last year and one-eighth that in 2021.

We are in this pretty big infection surge right now, but whats really interesting is how hugely hospitalizations have and continue to decouple from infections, Dr. Jetelina said.

She said she worried most about hospitals buckling under the weight of multiple epidemics at once. Even in years before the pandemic, outbreaks of just influenza and respiratory syncytial virus could strain hospitals; rising Covid rates now overlap both illnesses, adding to the burden.

The C.D.C. estimates that so far this season, there have been at least 7.1 million illnesses, 73,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths from the flu.

While Covid tends to be mild in children and young adults, influenza and R.S.V. are most risky for young children and older adults. All three diseases are particularly dangerous for infants.

Emergency department visits for Covid are highest among infants and older adults. While R.S.V. has leveled off in some parts of the country, hospitalization rates remain high among young children and older adults.

The JN.1 variant accounts for nearly half of all Covid cases in the United States, nearly six times the prevalence just a month ago. The variant has one mutation that gives it a greater ability to sidestep immunity than its parent, BA.2.86, which was limited in its spread.

JN.1 may in fact be less transmissible than previous variants. But its immune evasiveness, coupled with the disappearance of preventive measures like masks, may explain its exponential growth worldwide, said Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician and postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University.

Still, JN.1 does not appear to cause more severe illness than previous variants, and the current vaccines, tests and treatments work well against all of the current variants.

Experts urged all Americans including those not at high risk of severe illness to opt for vaccines against both Covid and flu, to use masks and air purifiers to prevent infections, to be tested and treated and to stay home if they become ill.

Even those who do not become severely sick run the risk of long-term complications with every new viral infection, researchers noted.

Im not at high risk, to be honest Im young and vaccinated, Dr. Rivers said. But I continue to take precautions in my own life because I do not want to deal with that disruption, and the risk that I could develop a longer-term illness.

But few Americans are following that advice. As of Dec. 23, only 19 percent of adults had received the latest Covid vaccine, and about 44 percent had opted for the annual flu shot. Just over 17 percent of adults aged 60 and older had received the vaccine for R.S.V.

Even among those 75 and older, who are at highest risk from Covid, only about one in three have received the latest shot, according to the C.D.C.

Many people dont realize that shots that protect against the newest variants are available, or that they should be vaccinated even if they are not at high risk, said Gigi Gronvall, a biosecurity expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Even if the Covid vaccine does not prevent infection, it can shorten the duration and severity of illness, and minimize the risk of long-term symptoms, including brain fog, fatigue, movement problems and dizziness collectively known as long Covid.

Im sure also there are plenty of people who are actively hostile to the idea, but most of the people I encounter, they just dont even know about it, Dr. Gronvall said.

Poor availability of the shots, particularly for children and older adults, has also limited the vaccination rates.

Dr. Gronvall struggled to find a Covid vaccine for her teenage son. Dr. Jetelina has yet to find any for her young children. She said her grandparents, who are both in their mid-90s, also had an incredibly challenging time.

One of them is in a nursing home and still hasnt been immunized because she happened to be sick the one day the vaccines were offered.

Many nursing home residents and staff members remain unvaccinated, because the staff doesnt understand the benefits, said Dr. Karan, who worked with nursing facilities in Los Angeles County.

Financial incentives can improve vaccine coverage, but the lack of awareness about the benefits is a major problem, he said.

Experts also urged people who develop symptoms to take a test and ask for antiviral drugs Tamiflu for influenza, Paxlovid for Covid especially if they are at high risk of complications.

Paxlovid is still available free of charge to most people, but many patients and even doctors avoid it out of a mistaken belief that it causes Covid symptoms to rebound, experts said. Recent studies did not find a relationship between antiviral drugs and symptom rebound.

For many viruses, including the flu, we know that earlier use of antivirals is going to be beneficial, Dr. Karan said. You stop viral replication quickly, you have less of an immune dysregulation thereafter.

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Covid Has Resurged, but Scientists See a Diminished Threat - The New York Times

The death rate of COVID-19 infection in different SARS-CoV-2 variants was related to C-reactive protein gene … – Nature.com

The findings of this comprehensive study demonstrate considerable evidence that there are associations between two polymorphisms of the CRP gene (rs1205 and rs1800947) with COVID-19 mortality.

CRP levels were statistically significantly higher in deceased patients than in recovered patients, as shown in this study. Several studies have found that CRP can be used as a biomarker for COVID-19 infection severity and mortality8,19. Angiotensin II converting enzyme (ACE2) can produce CRP when it interacts with SARSCoV220. The production of CRP by hepatocytes is stimulated by cytokines like interleukin6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) during COVID-19 development21. In one sense, CRP is responsible for activating the complement system, which contributes to inflammation. In contrast, severe COVID-19 patients will significantly damage their alveolar epithelial and endothelial barriers. The alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells are capable of producing a variety of cytokines and chemokines during an infection with SARS-CoV-2. In this phase, adaptive immunity is challenged by the significant decreases in lymphocytes and the T-cell-mediated immunosuppression. Therefore, in the context of COVID-19, uncontrolled SARS-CoV-2 infection could result in considerable macrophage infiltration, exacerbating acute lung damage22,23.

A number of SNPs are associated with plasma levels of CRP on the CRP gene. In addition to rs1205 and rs1800947 in the 3- and 5-flanking regions, rs1417938 is present in the intron, and rs1800947 appears in exon 224,25.

Currently, this is the first study to evaluate the relationship between CRP rs1205 and rs1800947 and COVID-19 mortality. COVID-19 death rates were significantly higher in patients with the CRP rs1205 T allele. In all patients, the MAF (T allele) was 0.42, which was lower in recovered patients (0.30) than in died patients (0.55). In other regions, the T allele was found in 0.597 Asians, 0.609 East Asians, 0.342 South Asians, 0.545 other Asians, 0.332 Europeans, 0.333 Latin Americans, and 0.201 Africans, as reported in the NCBI dbSNP database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/snp/rs1205).

Several studies have demonstrated that CRP levels are functionally influenced by the rs1205 SNP. CRP is a major component of the innate immune system, so this SNP may have an impact on SARS-Co-2 pathogenesis. A genome-wide association meta-analysis found that an intron variant (rs67579710) was associated with COVID-19 hospitalizations in 24,741 cases and 2,835,201 controls. Due to its location within the thrombospondin-3 gene, this variant may affect thrombosis related to COVID-19 rather than inflammatory pathways26,27.

According to the current study, all three variants of CRP rs1205 T allele were correlated with COVID-19 mortality. Several studies have found that CRP rs1205 affects both clinical outcomes and vaccination outcomes. It has been suggested that the frequency of rs1205 T allele was significantly higher in patients with community-acquired pneumonia compared with healthy controls, and T allele was associated with an increased risk of infection. Furthermore, the rs1205 CT and TT genotypes were substantially more common in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia than those with non-severe community-acquired pneumonia18.

As shown in our study, numerous studies with different diseases have shown that the rs1205 T allele is associated with lower serum CRP levels18,28. Since the rs1205 TT genotype results in lower serum CRP levels and is associated with lymph node metastasis in this form of cancer, rs1205 may be associated with thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer, myocardial infarction, systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis29,30. In studies with higher baseline CRP levels, pre-eclampsia risk is positively correlated with CRP genotypes. In contrast, as in the current study, CRP genotypes (including the rs1205 T allele) associated with lower CRP levels and have been correlated with greater infectious load. There may have been balanced selection on CRP polymorphisms during evolution because of these disparate effects18,31,32.

In this study, patients with the CRP rs1800947 G allele had a significantly higher death rate from COVID-19. In all patients, the MAF (G allele) was 0.47, with recovery patients having a lower value (0.40) than dying patients having a higher value (0.54). A study in Iran found that the frequency of G-allele was 0.45, which is similar to what we found in our study33. According to NCBI dbSNP database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/snp/rs1800947), Asians and East Asians were most likely to have the G allele 0.036, South Asians 0.000, other Asians 0.040, Europeans 0.056, Latin Americans 0.024, and Africans 0.010, respectively.

According to our results, the COVID-19 mortality rate was correlated with CRP rs1800947 GG genotype in all three variants, as well as with CRP rs1800947 CG genotype in the Alpha and Delta variants of the gene.

There is a strong association between the CRP rs1800947 and CRP expression and it has been shown to be associated with heart disease, diabetes, and cancer33,34,35. In contrast to the results of this study, previous reports have demonstrated that C-allele carriers have lower plasma levels of CRP than GG genotype. Clinical diagnosis and severity assessment of community-acquired pneumonia and COVID-19 are based on serum CRP levels19,36,37. The high mortality rate in deceased people infected with COVID-19 with GG genotype could be due to their higher serum CRP levels.

There is no correlation between the majority of SNPs and diseases or functional issues. In contrast, if SNPs are located on genes or regulatory regions such as promoters, enhancers, they may influence the function of genes involved in disease mechanisms36. CRP rs1800947 may have different effects. Since the rs1800947 SNP is silent, the mechanism behind expressed CRP levels could be linkage disequilibrium between the rs1800947 polymorphism and other functional SNPs both inside and outside the CRP gene. There is also the possibility that this polymorphism alters the kinetics of CRP translation, causing variable levels of CRP throughout the body38.

In this study, several limitations were observed that should be considered in future studies. Because there were no healthy controls in this study, the outcomes were not compared with healthy controls. This study should be confirmed with more research on other ethnic groups in Iran, since this country has a variety of ethnicities.

In conclusion, this study showed that COVID-19 mortality rate was correlated with CRP rs1205 TT genotypes and CRP rs1800947 GG genotypes across all three variants. In addition, higher CRP levels were observed in individuals with the CRP rs1205 CC genotype and the CRP rs1800947 GG genotype. To verify these findings, further research should be conducted in other regions.

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The death rate of COVID-19 infection in different SARS-CoV-2 variants was related to C-reactive protein gene ... - Nature.com

A new COVID variant is dominant in the US: Know these symptoms – Yahoo News

A heavily mutated, fast-spreading new COVID-19 variant called JN.1 is on the rise in the United States. Last month, JN.1 swept the country and quickly overtook other variants of the coronavirus to become the dominant strain nationwide.

The highly contagious omicron subvariant now accounts for over 60% of all infections in the U.S., and it's expected to continue driving an increasing number of cases as the country approaches peak respiratory virus season. In fact, data show and some experts say the country is currently in its second-largest COVID wave, smaller than only the omicron surge in late 2021 and early 2022.

JN.1 is also gaining speed in other parts of the world. On Dec. 18, the World Health Organization classified JN.1 as a variant of interest due to its rapidly increasing spread globally.

In the U.S., the share of cases caused by the JN.1 variant has nearly doubled in recent weeks. JN.1 is currently considered the fastest-growing variant in the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

During a two-week period ending on Dec. 23, JN.1 accounted for about 44% of cases in the U.S., per the CDCs latest data. This was a steep increase from the previous two-week period ending on Dec. 9, when JN.1 made up 21% of cases.

After JN.1, the next most common strain in the U.S. right now is the HV.1 subvariant, which comprised about 22% of cases as of Dec. 23.

Scientists around the world have been closely monitoring JN.1, which has sparked some concern due to its rapid growth and large number of mutations. However, the new variant is closely related to a strain we've seen before: BA.2.86, aka "Pirola," which has been spreading in the U.S. since the summer.

JN.1 has one additional mutation compared to BA.2.86, which has more than 30 mutations that set it apart from the omicron XBB.1.5 variant. XBB.1.5 was the dominant strain for most of 2023 and it's the variant targeted in the updated COVID-19 vaccines, TODAY.com previously reported.

All of the COVID-19 variants that have gained dominance in the U.S. in the last year are descendants of omicron, which began circulating in late 2021. Since emerging, JN.1 has overtaken its parental strain BA.2.86, as well as HV.1, EG.5 or Eris and XBB.1.16, aka Arcturus.

JN.1's growth comes as COVID hospitalizations rise, influenza continues to spread and RSV activity remains high in many places, according to a Dec. 14 update from the CDC. The agency warned that at the end of the month, emergency rooms and hospitals could become strained, similarly to last year, especially in the South.

Will JN.1 cause a COVID-19 surge? Does JN.1 have different symptoms and is it still detected by COVID tests? Does it respond to vaccines and treatments? Here's what experts know about JN.1 so far.

JN.1 was first reported in August 2023 and it has spread to at least 41 countries so far, according to the WHO. It was first detected in the U.S. in September, the CDC said.

Just like the other newer variants, JN.1 is part of the omicron family.

"Think of (the variants) as children and grandchildren of omicron. They're part of the same extended family, but they each have their own distinctive personalities," Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.

JN.1 descended from BA.2.86, which is a sublineage of the omicron BA.2 variant, TODAY.com previously reported that's what sets JN.1 and BA.2.86 apart from the other prevailing variants like HV.1 and EG.5, which descended from omicron XBB.

When its parent BA.2.86 emerged, everybody was worried because it had a lot of mutations and looked like it was going to evade a lot of the immunity from vaccines and infection in the population, Andrew Pekosz, Ph.D., professor and vice chair in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, tells TODAY.com. But (BA.2.86) sort of fizzled out, he adds.

Laboratory data suggest that Pirola is less contagious and immune-evasive than scientists once feared, NBC News reported.

JN.1, however, picked up an additional mutation in its spike protein called L455S, says Pekosz. Spike proteins help the virus latch onto human cells and play a crucial role in helping SARS-CoV-2 infect people, per the CDC. This mutation may affect JN.1's immune escape properties, says Pekosz.

"Now it's circulating and growing at a really fast rate compared to other variants, as well as the parent its derived from (BA.2.86), says Pekosz.

In early November, JN.1 accounted for fewer than 1% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Several weeks later, it was driving over 20% of cases, Dr. Michael Phillips, chief epidemiologist at NYU Langone Health, tells TODAY.com. Now, it's the dominant strain in the U.S.

Its not known whether JN.1 causes different symptoms from other variants, according the CDC.

Right now, theres nothing that says that JN.1 infection is any different from previous COVID variants in terms of disease severity or symptoms, but were paying close attention, says Pekosz.

The symptoms of JN.1 appear to be similar to those caused by other strains, which include:

According to the CDC, the type and severity of symptoms a person experiences usually depends more on a persons underlying health and immunity rather than the variant which caused infection.

While severe infections do still occur, overall (COVID-19) is causing a lot of milder illness, says Schaffner.

Some doctors have reported that upper respiratory symptoms seem to follow a pattern of starting with a sore throat, followed by congestion and a cough, NBC News previously reported.

The virus is adapting. ... I think its getting better at infecting humans and evading pre-existing immunity in the population ... but its not changing symptomology too much, says Pekosz.

At this time, theres no evidence that JN.1 causes more severe infection, the experts note.

One of the things these (omicron variants) have in common is that they are highly contagious, and as new variants crop up, they seem to be as contagious or even more contagious than the previous variants, says Schaffner.

According to the CDC, the continued growth of JN.1 suggests that the variant is either more transmissible or better at evading our immune systems.

Its probably a little bit more transmissible than its parental virus because weve seen an increase in case numbers that we didnt with (BA.2.86), says Pekosz. However, it is too early to tell how exactly JN.1's transmissibility or immune escape properties compare to other variants, such as HV.1, the experts note.

Many of the newer strains, including JN.1, have another mutation that affects how strongly the spike protein binds to cells in the respiratory tract, says Pekosz. We know that its probably helping the virus become better at replicating and helping the virus evade more of that pre-existing immune response, he adds.

JN.1 does not pose an increased public health risk compared to other variants currently in circulation, the CDC and WHO said.

The genetic changes in JN.1 could give it an advantage over other variants, but its unclear how that will affect cases in the coming months. So far, there doesnt seem to be a massive increase in transmission. ... We would be concerned if there was a huge surge in cases, says Pekosz.

Right now, JN.1 is increasing in terms of the percentage of COVID-19 cases its causing, and theres also been a slight increase in total cases," says Pekosz.

Test positivity, an early indicator of case levels, is also on the rise, says Phillips the rate was 12.7% during the week ending on Dec. 23, up from about 12% the week prior, per the CDC. (The CDC no longer tracks the total number of cases in the U.S.).

Hospitalizations have also risen by 17% and ICU admissions by 16.4% in the last two weeks, according to an NBC News analysis.

"The good news is that as of yet we're not seeing severe disease or hospitalizations going up significantly, and ICU admissions are still very low, but we're going to watch these carefully," says Phillips.

COVID-19 activity was expected to rise around this time as the U.S. enters winter and respiratory virus season, the experts note. In recent years, the virus has followed a pattern of increasing and peaking around new year, according to the CDC.

"Right now, we do not know to what extent JN.1 may be contributing to these increases or possible increases through the rest of December," the CDC said. Only time will tell whether JN.1 or another variant will cause a surge in infections this winter.

All COVID-19 diagnostic tests including rapid antigen tests and PCR tests are expected to be effective at detecting JN.1, as well as other variants, according to the CDC.

Testing is an important tool to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, especially ahead of indoor gatherings, says Schaffner.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are often indistinguishable from those caused by other viruses spreading right now, the experts note. These include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and rhinovirus, which causes the common cold.

The experts urge anyone who becomes ill or is exposed to COVID-19 to take a test, especially people at higher risk of severe disease, such as people over the age of 65, who are immunocompromised and who have underlying health conditions.

Every American can order four free at-home COVID-19 tests from the government, which will be delivered by mail via the U.S. Postal Service. To order your free tests, go to COVIDTests.gov.

"Get tested because, whether it's COVID or flu, we have treatment available," says Schaffner. Current treatments are also expected to be effective against JN.1, the CDC said.

"JN.1 should be just as sensitive to the antivirals available as any other variants," says Pekosz, adding that antivirals like Paxlovid are most effective when taken within the first few days after infection.

The new, updated COVID-19 vaccines, recommended for everyone 6 months and older, are expected to increase protection against JN.1, as well as other variants, the CDC said.

Although the shots target omicron XBB.1.5, which has since been overtaken by HV.1, JN.1, EG.5 and others, there is still evidence that it will protect against new strains circulating this winter, TODAY.com previously reported.

Data from laboratory studies show that the vaccine appears to generate a strong immune response against JN.1's parent strain, BA.2.86, Schaffner notes.

The new vaccines also protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death, the experts emphasize. So even if you get COVID-19 after vaccination, the infection will likely be milder and it can keep you out of the hospital, Phillips adds.

However, uptake of the updated booster among the U.S. population has been low so far, the experts say. As of Dec. 22, only about 18% of adults and 7% of children have gotten the updated vaccine, according to the latest CDC data on vaccination trends.

On Dec. 14, CDC officials issued an alert to warn about low vaccination rates against COVID-19, flu and RSV in the U.S.

Now is the best time to get vaccinated if you haven't already, the experts say. "The sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner you'll be protected and it does take seven to 10 days for protection to build up to the maximum," says Schaffner.

Phillips recommends everyone, especially high-risk individuals, to get the seasonal influenza shot, as well. Hospitalizations for flu increased 200% over the past month, according to the CDC's Dec. 14 warning.

"Getting vaccinated is the best present you can give yourself and your family this holiday season," Schaffner adds.

Every day, but especially during respiratory virus season, people can take steps to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

The experts encourage everyone to:

Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

Test if you have symptoms.

Isolate if you have COVID-19.

Avoid contact with sick people.

Improve ventilation.

Wear a mask in crowded, indoor spaces.

Wash your hands with soap and water.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

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A new COVID variant is dominant in the US: Know these symptoms - Yahoo News

COVID increases risk of schizophrenia? Read what a new study has found – IndiaTimes

COVID cases are increasing globally. India recorded more than 4,400 COVID cases as on Friday. Cases of COVID have been increasing in the country ever since the first case of JN.1 variant was detected in Kerala. The JN.1 variant, an offshoot of the BA.2.86 variant is currently responsible for more than 60% of COVID cases in the US. In view of the emerging variants of the COVID-causing coronavirus, it is essential to know about the effects of the virus on the human body. A new study has shed light on the effect of COVID on the cognitive function of the brain. The study, not peer-reviewed yet, found a substantial increase in the likelihood of being diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorder (SSPD) after experiencing moderate to severe illness due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, in comparison to a group of individuals who had non-Covid Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Our study is consistent with the known neurotropism of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other reports of increased risk of major psychiatric disorders following Covid-19 infection, said Asif Rahman, from the Department of Industrial & Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University. Further research is required to identify specific characteristics of populations and individuals who may be at a particularly high risk of developing SSPD and potentially other significant psychiatric conditions following Covid-19 infection. Understanding these psychiatric risks associated with Covid-19 is an essential component of our strategy to address the evolving landscape of long-Covid, added Rahman, in the paper posted on a preprint site. Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by distorted thinking, disrupted emotions, and abnormal perceptions of reality. It typically manifests in early adulthood, impacting a person's ability to function in daily life. Common symptoms include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions), delusions (false beliefs resistant to reason), disorganized thinking, and impaired social or occupational functioning. Long-term high fat diets linked to increased risk of COVID, finds study The exact cause of schizophrenia is unclear, but a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors likely contribute. Genetic predisposition, neurotransmitter imbalances (particularly involving dopamine), and structural brain abnormalities are implicated. Subtypes of schizophrenia exist, with paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, residual, and undifferentiated forms identified. Treatment often involves antipsychotic medications to manage symptoms, therapy to enhance coping skills and social functioning, and support from mental health professionals, family, and friends. While medication can help control symptoms, the course of schizophrenia varies, and individuals may experience periods of remission and relapse. Early intervention and ongoing support are crucial for managing the condition. Stigma surrounding schizophrenia persists, highlighting the importance of education and understanding to promote empathy and effective mental health care.

How did the researchers find this correlation? Different from other studies, the team took acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and COVID lab negative cohorts as control groups to accurately gauge the impact of COVID on SSPD. Data from 19,344,698 patients were methodically filtered to create propensity-matched cohorts: ARDS, Covid-positive, and Covid-negative. They analyzed the hazard rate of new-onset SSPD across three distinct time intervals: 0-21 days, 22-90 days, and beyond 90 days post-infection. COVID positive patients consistently exhibited a heightened hazard ratio across all intervals, the findings showed. These are notably higher than both ARDS and Covid-19 lab-negative patients, the team said. Intriguingly, our data indicated that younger individuals face a heightened risk of SSPD after contracting Covid-19, a trend not observed in the ARDS and Covid-negative groups, they added.

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COVID increases risk of schizophrenia? Read what a new study has found - IndiaTimes

The Dutch Under Nazi Rule: German WWII Occupation of the Netherlands – The Collector

Despite the fact that the Netherlands was a neutral country, it formed a strategically vital target for the Germans, who invaded on May 10, 1940. Five days later, after the bombing of Rotterdam, the Dutch surrendered.

The occupation lasted almost five years; for the Dutch, it was the most difficult period in their countrys history.

Dutch resolve, however, was not broken, and resistance continued amid brutal reprisals, starvation, and mass deportations that would see the Netherlands lose three-quarters of its Jewish population.

On May 10, 1940, Germany launched an invasion of the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium as part of Operation Fall Gelb (Operation Case Yellow) without any formal declaration of war. Clearly unprepared for modern styles of warfare, the Netherlands fell quickly.

It was one of the first examples of using paratroopers to seize objectives before the advance of the main ground forces. For the Germans, the entire operation was a stunning success.

The German advances were overwhelming, and the bombing of Rotterdam left incredible destruction. The Dutch knew that further resistance would be futile and only leave more destruction in its wake.

By May 14, the Dutch army had surrendered, although a small contingent in Zeeland continued fighting until May 17.

Queen Wilhelmina fled the country and formed a government-in-exile in the United Kingdom. Many believed that she had abandoned her country, but she was adamant that she would never become a puppet ruler under the Germans, and today, her flight is seen as a pragmatic move. She continued to address the Dutch people via radio throughout the war. The rest of her family escaped to Canada. The escape of the Dutch royal family was achieved with the assistance of the British, who led a rescue mission.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the Dutch had remained neutral in the hopes that they could avoid the conflict, but after the invasions of Denmark and Norway, it became clear to most that the Netherlands was likely a prime target. Hasty preparations were made, but it was not enough.

There was a significant amount of denial within the country, with many people expecting Germany to leave the Netherlands alone. Nevertheless, for those who were more pragmatic and for those living in hope, the reaction was the same. Outrage swept the country.

A few days later, the fighting was over, and the emotion of outrage was joined with relief, humiliation, and a sense of abandonment, as many Dutch felt that the French and British should have stationed troops in the Netherlands to protect it from German invasion.

From the German perspective, the Dutch constituted fellow Aryans, and the Germans intended to treat the Dutch people a lot better than the citizens of many other conquered areas of Europe. From the Dutch perspective, they didnt expect to be treated well, as they had a significant distrust of the Germans.

For a minority of Dutch people, the invasion was a blessing. The Dutch Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging (National-Socialist movement / NSB) welcomed the German occupation as it brought the members of this right-wing movement significant power. Its leader, Anton Mussert, had expected to be installed as the ruler of a Dutch state allied to the Germans, but in reality, the occupation was under the control of the Austrian politician Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who served as the Reichskommissar of the Netherlands from May 29, 1940, to May 7, 1945.

The distrust of the Germans was exacerbated by the immediate effects of the German occupation in terms of food. The Germans blockaded the ports and effectively ended the importation of foodstuffs from abroad. Instead, the Dutch people would be fed by the Germans with careful rationing. The food that was distributed was healthy and based on modern dietary needs. It was low in fat, and the Dutch, who were used to a high-fat diet, began to lose weight; many assumed the Germans were starving them. This turned out not to be the case, at least not at this point in the occupation. Later on, as the Germans became more harsh towards the Dutch people, the threat of famine would turn into a reality.

Many Dutch people believed the occupation would be short-lived, some expecting it to be over by Christmas. Until then, they adopted a policy of conforming to the desires of the occupiers, or at least the appearance of conformity.

While the German soldiers, on the whole, treated the Dutch well during the beginning of the occupation, German leadership took control of all aspects of society and the economy, banning free speech and propagating Nazi ideology among the populace of the Netherlands. Naturally, most Dutch people saw this as an attempt to convert the country. While the NSB saw some initial growth, swelling to around 100,000 members, it remained a fringe group in terms of the total population and was utterly despised by the rest of Dutch society.

Before the war, Dutch society had been fractured and split along social, religious, and political lines. With the exception of the small minority of those who supported the NSB and the Nazis, the vast majority of the Dutch population found itself with a common enemy, and as such, a sense of unity thrived.

Around 5% of the Dutch people joined the resistance. While this may (or may not) have been a relatively small percentage, this was the section of society that went into hiding and used violent tactics to strike at German assets. Other forms of resistance were common and were much less active. The Dutch people took to hiding those wanted by the Germans. In particular, Jewish people found hope and protection in the families that secreted them away in the attics of houses. The famous Anne Frank was one of these Jews who were looked after by compassionate and brave Dutch people.

When those in the Dutch resistance were caught and executed, the Dutch were horrified. Given the initial attitude of the Germans towards the Dutch at the beginning of the occupation, it came as a shock. Especially since in the Netherlands, the death penalty had been outlawed for many decades, and the Dutch were not used to anybody being executed.

It was also not just Jewish people who the Nazi occupiers were after. Communists and outspoken critics of the regime were targeted, as well as people with mental disabilities.

Life was tough for everybody under Nazi occupation. Forced labor was implemented, and adult men were drafted to work in German factories, which were often targeted by Allied bombing runs.

After the German conquest of the Netherlands, a Joodse Raad was created, a council that acted as a liaison between the Jews and the Nazi occupiers. The Raad was run by Abraham Asscher and David Cohen, supplied the Germans with information, and was responsible for organizing and selecting Jews for deportation. Asscher and Cohen were both tried for collaboration by the Jewish Community in the Netherlands after the war but were exonerated. Many Jews found themselves in difficult situations, being forced to collaborate on pain of death.

For their part, the Dutch did not sit quietly and do nothing. With the first waves of antisemitic policies came pushback in the form of protests and strikes from the Dutch populace. In February 1941, a strike was met with violent suppression by the Nazi regime, which tried thereafter to limit the amount of violence dealt to non-Jewish Dutch people.

This situation of being forced to collaborate was not just a situation for the Jews. Many Dutch people, especially those in the government and the police, were compelled to perform heinous acts in order to protect themselves and their families. Forced collaboration was an incredibly difficult issue that raised many questions, especially after the war, when people were put on trial for their assistance to the Nazi regime.

The outcome of the Nazi policies in the Netherlands was that over 70% of Dutch Jews were deported. This was a higher proportion than in any other German-occupied territory in Western Europe.

Not all collaboration was forced, however. Some elements of Dutch society supported the Nazis and did so openly. Up to 25,000 Dutch men even volunteered to join the German army and the Waffen-SS.

Hope became a reality in September 1944 with the beginning of Operation Market Garden. Although the operation achieved very limited gains, it represented the beginning of the collapse of German resistance. In the following months, the Netherlands was freed from German control bit by bit. The Allies, however, concentrated their efforts on Germany, not the Netherlands, and Berlin fell before Amsterdam was liberated. Many parts of the Netherlands were only free of German occupation once the Germans had officially surrendered.

However, the months in which liberation was achieved were not as happy as they could have been. The Germans cut off supply to the western region of the country where 4.5 million people lived, and as a result of the Hongerwinter (Hunger Winter), around 18,000 Dutch people starved to death, with relief only arriving as late as May 1945, with the complete surrender of the German forces in Europe.

By the end of the war, 205,901 Dutch people had died from war-related causes. Just over half of them were victims of the Holocaust. This total represented 2.36% of the entire Dutch population at the time and was the highest proportion in Western Europe.

For Dutch people today, the occupation of their country represents an awful time in their history. Generally being a liberal people who value freedom, the five years of Nazi governance is seen as a time that flew directly in the face of Dutch beliefs.

Not only did it aggravate Dutch ways of life, but it humiliated the Dutch people, who, for the most part, did what they could to resist.

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The Dutch Under Nazi Rule: German WWII Occupation of the Netherlands - The Collector

War, Talmud, and agriculture – opinion – The Jerusalem Post

Variations on the words unity and togetherness have become common in Israeli discourse since October 7. The slogan together we will win is evident everywhere, although apparently not in ultra-orthodox neighborhoods, in which military service is negligible to non-existent. Nevertheless, politicians from that segment of the population draw on unity in their comments and interviews. I have recently seen such by Yitzchak Goldknopf and Arye Deri, leaders of Ashkenazi and Sephardi ultra-Orthodox parties, respectively.

Let me use this platform to suggest how they may express that very unity that they praise. My suggestion will enable them to generate goodwill among the general public, which at this time is doubly sensitive to unequal burden-sharing. This is not about large matters such as compulsory military service or the absence of basic schooling but about small things. How small? From an avocado to an orange, through a cucumber, and onto radishes.

It is no secret that the agricultural sector is in a severe crisis. Farmers and their laborers were murdered while others were evacuated; access to fields was limited by the army; and foreign workers have left. Volunteers attempt to fill this void. Young and old, they pick, pack, and prepare for the next cycle. They attempt to assist the landowners, both private and communal, while helping prevent a rise in the cost of living, which affects us all.

No one expects an unqualified yeshiva student to show up on the frontline and shed his blood. Instead, they could shed some sweat. About a third of some 30,000 foreign workers in the agricultural sector have left the country since October 7. There are about 150,000 full-time students in yeshivot. If they would each allocate one day a week, perhaps not all of them but most, even every fortnight, possibly only on Friday, which is a day off, they could fill the gap, at least until more workers arrive from abroad.

They would thus become a link in a historical chain of tillers of soil, headed by our patriarch Isaac, who sowed in Gerar (apparently between Netivot and Ofakim, not far from Gaza) and reaped a hundredfold. Archeology and our sources testify to our agrarian roots. True, there were limits on land ownership in the Diaspora. But the impression that our forefathers saw produce only in the market is wrong.

Thus, in Hungary last century, my late grandfather owned a threshing machine, which supplemented his earnings as a Talmud teacher, and my late father subsidized his yeshiva studies by pressing grapes for wine. As an added value, such involvement would allow yeshiva students to understand the practical meaning of many agriculture-focused discussions that they see on the page.

They cannot be expected to be as proficient as professional laborers, and work would be adapted to the personal abilities of each one. True, such an enterprise would require a little slowing of their studies. In that, they would join all Israeli students who were called up on October 7 and those whose studies have been interrupted.

Initiatives along these lines, such as those of Karlin Hassidim, are to be applauded, but they are not enough. An extensive and systematic effort by the entire sector will prove to the Israeli public that among the ultra-orthodox and the politicians who represent them, unity is not a theoretical concept that applies to others but applies to them too, as part of the nation as it faces unprecedented challenges.

The writer was Israels first ambassador to the Baltic republics after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, ambassador to South Africa, and congressional liaison officer at the embassy in Washington. She is a graduate of Israels National Defense College.

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War, Talmud, and agriculture - opinion - The Jerusalem Post