Women of Color Die of Cancer at Higher Rates Than White Women

 

Before she walked into the office, Adrienne Moore already knew what doctors were going to tell her: her cancer had returned. Thirteen years after beating ovarian cancer, she now had endometrial cancer. What Moore was not prepared to hear that it was at an advanced stage 3, and treatment would be difficult. This was shocking because for nine months, Moore had insisted that doctors take her list of health concerns seriously. These included having a menstrual cycle that vacillated between absent, spotty, and so heavy she needed a rolled-up towel to help soak up blood, as well as pelvic pain. She also attended every appointment with copies of her medical file, and she let all her physicians know that she was a cancer survivor. Moore was told—repeatedly—by doctors that she had no reason to worry. "I'd ask, 'Should I be concerned?' And they'd say, 'No, you're a Black woman, you get fibroids. You're a Black woman, you might have thickening of the uterus,' says the 50-year-old respiratory therapist.

Some could hear Moore's story and chalk it up to one woman's unfortunate experience. But the truth is that what happened to her mirrors reality for many Black women in the United States. At times she was uninsured—meaning diagnostic tests were not ordered by physicians because she could not afford to pay for them out of pocket. And many of her doctors were white men who, she says, "spoke at, not to" her.

‘Children Of Blood And Bone’ Author Tomi Champion-Adeyemi

 

Nigerian-American author Tomi Champion-Adeyemi, who wrote the New York Times bestselling novel, Children of Blood and Bone, which was released in 2018 via Henry Holt Books.

At just 23-years-old, Adeyemi landed a high figure publishing deal for her debut novel, which stayed at No. 1 on the NYT bestseller list for 25 consecutive weeks. Children of Blood and Bone, the first in the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, picked up the Andre Norton Nebula Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and the Hugo Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book.

'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' To End After 19 Seasons

 

Ellen DeGeneres has broken her silence on news that her talk show will end after its 19th season.

“I’m announcing that next season, Season 19, is going to be my last season. So, the past 18 years, you have to know, has changed my life,” she said Wednesday, taping the opening of the May 13 episode. “You all have changed my life and I am forever grateful to all of you for watching, for laughing, for dancing… sometimes crying. This show has been the greatest experience of my life, and I owe it all to you. Thank you.”

Early Wednesday morning, news leaked that the long-running talk show, which has been embroiled in controversy and toxic workplace accusations since last summer, will enter is final chapter. During her opening monologue, the Game of Games host and comedian shared that ending the talk show was a decision she meditated on for a while and said she knew that Season 19 would be her final one.

She then reflected on the number 19, jokingly tying her final season to the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote, and to potassium, which is number 19 on the periodic table. But beyond coincidences, the actress said had a feeling that it was time to move on.

“You may wonder why I’ve decided to end after 19 seasons. The truth is, I always trust my instincts,” she continued. “My instinct told me it’s time. As a comedian, I’ve always understood the importance of…timing. In all seriousness, I truly have felt like next season was the right time to end this amazing chapter.”

How To Boost Your entry-level IT certifications to launch your career in 2021

 

According to the 2021 IT Salary report from Robert Half, IT professionals holding the following popular certifications can earn 5% to 10% more than their peers. Whether you’re just starting out and building your resume or you’ve been in the industry for 20 years, there’s a certification that can help boost your salary and your career. As you grow in your career, you’ll want to consider more advanced certifications to continue your professional development. By then, you’ll know what specialities to focus on and what skills you need for your desired career path. But at the entry-level, it’s better to stick with more generalized certifications that will help get your foot in the door.

Certifications give your resume more credibility and can make you more marketable to recruiters and hiring managers. And at the entry-level, they’re a great way to stand out from other candidates — and even boost your pay.

Many certifications require passing two or more exams, and both cert sponsors and third-party training and study providers will often offer bundles to match (this kind of thing is common for CCNA, and more advanced Cisco Professional certs, and for MCSA, MCSE, and MCSD certifications, too). If you sign up for a comprehensive offering (which usually means exams or exams plus training for cert sponsors, or a variety of bundling deals from training or cert prep materials companies), you will typically save 15-25 per cent over the normal costs for the items involved, with savings up to 45 per cent occasionally available.

Take advantage of "all you can eat" offers spotoclub  dump

Flu Has Disappeared Worldwide during the COVID Pandemic

 

Since the novel coronavirus began its global spread, influenza cases reported to the World Health Organization have dropped to minuscule levels. The reason, epidemiologists think, is that the public health measures taken to keep the coronavirus from spreading also stop the flu. Influenza viruses are transmitted in much the same way as SARS-CoV-2, but they are less effective at jumping from host to host.

As Scientific American reported last fall, the drop-off in flu numbers was both swift and universal. Since then, cases have stayed remarkably low. “There’s just no flu circulating,” says Greg Poland, who has studied the disease at the Mayo Clinic for decades. The U.S. saw about 600 deaths from influenza during the 2020-2021 flu season. In comparison, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated there were roughly 22,000 deaths in the prior season and 34,000 two seasons ago.

Because each year’s flu vaccine is based on strains that have been circulating during the past year, it is unclear how next year’s vaccine will fare, should the typical patterns of the disease return. The WHO made its flu strain recommendations for vaccines in late February as usual, but they were based on far fewer cases than in a common year. At the same time, with fewer virus particles circulating in the world, there is less chance of an upcoming mutation, so it is possible the 2021–2022 vaccine will prove extra effective.

Why Do People in Relationships Cheat? A new study breaks down the reasons—they’re complicated

 

Cheating: it’s the ultimate relationship violation and a notorious relationship killer. A favorite gossiping pastime, the phenomenon is frequently discussed but difficult to study. The goal is to avoid getting caught, so why confess infidelity in the name of science?

But scientists can offer us new insight on a topic often shrouded in stigma and mystery. As researchers have recently demonstrated, cheating is rarely a simple affair. There are many reasons why people cheat, and the patterns are more complex than common stereotypes suggest. A fascinating new study sheds some light on these motivations.

The investigation included 495 people (87.9 percent of whom identified as heterosexual), who were recruited through a participant pool at a large U.S. university and through Reddit message boards with relationship themes. The participants admitted to cheating in their relationship and answered the question at the root of the mystery: Why did you do it? An analysis revealed eight key reasons: anger, self-esteem, lack of love, low commitment, need for variety, neglect, sexual desire, and situation or circumstance. These motivations not only influenced why people cheated but how long they did so, their sexual enjoyment, their emotional investment in the affair and whether their primary relationship ended as a result.

A giant piece of space junk is hurtling towards Earth. Here’s how worried you should be

 

A large piece of space debris, possibly weighing several tonnes, is currently on an uncontrolled reentry phase (that’s space speak for “out of control”), and parts of it are expected to crash down to Earth over the next few weeks. If that isn’t worrying enough, it is impossible to predict exactly where the pieces that don’t burn up in the atmosphere might land. Given the object’s orbit, the possible landing points are anywhere in a band of latitudes “a little farther north than New York, Madrid and Beijing and as far south as southern Chile and Wellington, New Zealand”.

The debris is part of the Long March 5B rocket that recently successfully launched China’s first module for its proposed space station. The incident comes roughly a year after another similar Chinese rocket fell to Earth, landing in the Atlantic Ocean but not before it reportedly left a trail of debris in the African nation of Cote D'Ivoire. At the time, experts noted this was one of the largest pieces of human-made debris ever to fall to Earth. We cannot say with certainty what fate awaits this latest piece of space junk.

The Indian government is silencing its critics on Twitter and Facebook.

A major battle over free speech on social media is playing out in India during the pandemic, As the coronavirus pandemic rages in India, claiming thousands of lives, many Indians are turning to social media to demand that the government handle the public health crisis better. And now, the government is silencing these critics in its latest threat to the future of free speech on the internet in the world’s second-most populous country.

In recent weeks, the Indian government has requested that companies like Twitter take down content that it says contains misinformation about the Covid-19 pandemic. But critics say that India’s political leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using the premise of misinformation to overreach and suppress criticism of the administration’s handling of the pandemic.

A similar debate has also played out in the US around how companies like Twitter and Facebook should moderate harmful speech on their platforms, particularly when that speech comes from world leaders. But the issue has taken on an increased intensity in India, where the government is more aggressively and directly pressuring tech companies to block content it takes issue with.

“Internet companies are stuck between a rock and a hard place,” said Anupam Chander, a law professor at Georgetown University who focuses on the regulation of international speech online. “They face a government that is accusing them of essentially abetting a violation of law. At the same time, there are huge free expression concerns here.”

Christina Aguilera Talks Confidence and Working Through Insecurities in the Public Eye

 

Over the past 20 years, while Christina Aguilera has been topping the music charts, her voice has been described as soulful and powerful, with just a bit of grit. Interestingly enough, those words also perfectly reflect who she is in her life at this very moment. Having turned 40, the singer says she's been doing a lot of reflection and is determined to live every moment for herself—and to stop worrying about what others think.

As Christina talks about this goal, a mix of vulnerability and determination shines through. "No matter what I've been through—successes, childhood trauma, hardships—I still have a fighting spirit," she says. "I never want to stop learning and growing to be the best person I can be." 

Christina was just 9 years old when she commanded the stage on Star Search. At 13, she more than held her own on The All New Mickey Mouse Club alongside costars Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. By 19, she had released her debut album and won a Grammy for Best New Artist. In 2002 came her album Stripped. With empowering anthems like "Beautiful," everything about the effort seems to message staying true to yourself. More albums followed, as did roles in movies and TV shows. The other role Christina takes very seriously: being "mama bear" to her kids—Max, 13, and Summer, 6.

So, hearing that she has gotten caught up with what others think? It's a bit surprising. And when we tell Christina that, she laughs—and says that as she's been more open, she's been getting this reaction more and more. But then, she's quick to insist that everyone has their struggles—even world-famous, award-winning singers. 

Bill and Melinda Gates divorce after 27 years of marriage

 

Bill and Melinda Gates have announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage, saying "we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple".

"After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage," the pair tweeted. They first met in the 1980s when Melinda joined Bill's Microsoft firm. The billionaire couple have three children and jointly run the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The organisation has spent billions fighting causes such as infectious diseases and encouraging vaccinations in children. The Gates - along with investor Warren Buffett - are behind the Giving Pledge, which calls on billionaires to commit to giving away the majority of their wealth to good causes.

Bill Gates, 65, is the fourth wealthiest person in the world, according to Forbes, and is worth $124bn (£89bn).

He made his money through the firm he co-founded in the 1970s, Microsoft, the world's biggest software company. The pair both posted the statement announcing their divorce on Twitter. "Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives,"

The Reason treating Covid-19 with drugs is harder than you think

 

Viruses are much more varied, rapidly evolving and hard to access than bacteria – so scientists searching for drug-based treatments have their work cut out.While there are anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce the risk of death from Covid-19, such as dexamethasone and tocilizumab, they are only given to people hospitalised with severe Covid-19. But Johnson wants drugs that can be taken at home, in pill form, that stop people ending up in hospital on a ventilator.

It usually takes years to develop and approve new antiviral drugs because the discovery pipeline involves a painstaking process of identifying chemical compounds that target the virus and then testing their efficacy and safety. For this reason, scientists are also looking at reusing existing drugs that have been approved for treating other viruses or diseases.

Unlike broad-spectrum antibiotics, which can be used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, drugs that work against one type of virus rarely work at treating other viruses. For example, remdesivir, originally developed for treating hepatitis C, was at one point suggested as a treatment for Covid-19, but clinical trials have shown that it has only a limited effect against this coronavirus.The reason there are few effective broad-spectrum antivirals is that viruses are much more diverse than bacteria, including in how they store their genetic information (some in the form of DNA and some as RNA). Unlike bacteria, viruses have fewer of their own protein building blocks that can be targeted with drugs.

For a drug to work, it has to reach its target. This is particularly difficult with viruses because they replicate inside human cells by hijacking our cellular machinery. The drug needs to get inside these infected cells and act on processes that are essential for the normal functioning of the human body. Unsurprisingly, this often results in collateral damage to human cells, experienced as side-effects.Targeting viruses outside cells – to stop them from gaining a foothold before they can replicate – is possible, but is also difficult because of the nature of the virus shell. The shell is extraordinarily robust, resisting the negative effects of the environment on the way to its host. Only when the virus reaches its target does its shell decompose or eject its contents, which contain its genetic information.

Learn The Best Tips for Passing a Certification Exam? Career Development, Career Placement, Certifications in IT, Employment Opportunities.

 

Deciding to get a new certification or license is exciting! Pursuing a license could mean you’re exploring a new profession or looking to advance in your current career. Learn More Here

 Many industries require some type of certification before you can start working. Gathering experience and developing specialized skills that will separate you from others in the IT marketplace is the best way to succeed. After discussing which IT certifications are best to pursue in 2021, let’s discuss some essential tips for passing certification exams.

the dynamics of Studying for a certification exam is very different from an academic exam. These tests are typically long and cover a lot of material. Luckily, most testing organizations give outlines that list the topics covered and the number of questions for each topic. You won’t find much guidance beyond test outlines. This could be difficult if you’re tackling your first certification exam. On top of that, you’re likely also balancing a job, family obligations, and other responsibilities.

 Certain certification exams are challenging, especially those for expert- and professional-level credentials, and they require a strategic approach and serious preparation. Here are some valuable tips that will improve your chances of success & To help take the stress out of studying, we put together a guide to prepare you for the important job of studying for a certification exam from spoto learn more. 

1. Understand the Objectives, Exam Questions, and Exam Format: To pass your next certification exam, you will need to research the exam objectives and the format of the exam in order to have a clear target that you want to hit. When you know what to expect, it will give you peace of mind when taking the actual exam. Find out more about the skills you need to develop to get certified. Break the objectives into chunks to structure your learning and cover all the skills you need to. As for the exam format, is it multiple-choice, multiple-answer, performance-based, or something else? What’s the passing score? What is the length of the exam?

Get the lowest price of Cisco, PMP, ISACA, AWS, and other IT exams.

Navy SEAL teams plagued by "lawlessness" within their ranks

 

Both former and active-duty Navy SEALs are sounding the alarm over well-documented cases of criminality, drug use and exploitation of the elite military unit's brand, just as they prepare to mark 10 years since a SEAL team killed Osama bin Laden in a daring raid in Pakistan.

Ceniplug News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge spoke with more than a dozen people in the SEAL community, including current and former SEALs,  on the condition of anonymity. They told her that while the vast majority of their fellow SEALs serve honorably, there is a corrupt element in their brotherhood.

"We love the job. We love the community. But it has taken a wrong turn," one SEAL told Herridge.

Three of them agreed to sit down with ceniplug News for interviews on the condition that their voices be changed and their identities hidden. 

Days after September 11, 2001, standing at Ground Zero in New York, President George W. Bush launched a massive global manhunt for the chief culprit behind the terror attacks. A decade later, the search ended at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where SEAL Team 6 had zeroed in on Osama bin Laden

Herridge asked the three SEALs who spoke to CBS News why they'd insisted on hiding their identities. "We are risking a lot to be here, risking careers, possible safety," replied one of the men. The group claims there are bad SEALs who have outsized influence on the teams.

New Heart Health Guidelines Focus on Belly Fat, Not Just Body Weight

 

When it comes to assessing your risk for heart disease, you need to think not only about how much you weigh, but where you carry any extra pounds. That’s because people who have what’s considered a healthy weight based on their body mass index (BMI) can still have an increased risk for heart disease if they have extra fat around their midsection, according to guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) published in April 2021 in Circulation.

This means that even if you’re not overweight, your next physical should involve a tape measure around your waist in addition to a check of your height and weight, according to the AHA. That’s because a growing body of evidence suggests that extra belly fat is a sign that you may have too much so-called visceral adipose tissue, a type of fat that wraps around abdominal organs and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. “Having more visceral adipose tissue is associated with greater risk of cardiovascular disease at all BMI levels,” says Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD, senior author of the AHA guidelines and an associate professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City.

Foods to Avoid If You Have Sensitive Teeth

 Having sensitive teeth is common: As many as 40 million Americans report having some pain in their teeth when eating or drinking hot, cold, acidic, sticky, or sugary foods, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).  Women and young adults as well as those with receding gum lines reported the most tooth sensitivity in a study of nearly 800 patients at dental practices in the northwestern United States that was published in The Journal of the American Dental Association in March 2013.

While foods that are very hot or very cold can cause tooth pain, avoiding these eight foods in particular may help you find relief:

Tooth Sensitivity

 

Tooth sensitivity occurs when hot, cold, sweet, or acidic substances irritate tooth nerves.

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

Teeth are covered by a protective substance called enamel. Under the gum line, the protective substance is called cementum. The layer under the enamel and cementum is the dentin. Dentin supports the enamel and protects the tooth pulp and nerve root in the middle of the tooth. A series of small tubes (tubules) runs through the dentin. Erosions in enamel and cementum allow substances to come into contact with tubules, which irritates the tooth nerve and results in pain. Cavities, gum disease, cracks in teeth, and enamel erosion may all contribute to tooth sensitivity.

How to Reduce Tooth Sensitivity

Treatments may include the use of toothpaste or fluoride gel that blocks pain sensation. A dentist may apply a crown or bonding material over the sensitive area. A gum graft may be necessary to cover a sensitive area in which gums have receded.

What Are the Three Most Common Symptoms of Undiagnosed Diabetes?

 

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that happens when blood sugar (glucose) is too high (hyperglycemia). Glucose is the body’s main source of energy, and the pancreas produces the hormone insulin that converts glucose from the food you eat into energy the body uses. When the body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t produce any at all, or the body becomes insulin resistant, glucose doesn’t reach the cells to be used for energy. This results in diabetes. 

Types of diabetes include:

Type 1 diabetes (formerly called juvenile diabetes) is an autoimmune condition in which the body does not produce insulin 

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, is a condition in which the body does not produce adequate insulin or does not use it efficiently

Gestational diabetes develops in some women during pregnancy and usually goes away after the baby is born

6 crucial steps to a good night’s sleep, according to an insomnia expert

 

• Sleep is defined as a state of unconsciousness from which a person can be aroused, therefore, external stimuli have no effect. In this state, the brain is relatively more responsive to internal stimuli than external stimuli.
• Sleep should be distinguished from coma. Coma is an unconscious state from which a person cannot be aroused.
• Sleep is essential for the normal, healthy functioning of the human body. It is a complicated physiological phenomenon that scientists do not fully understand.
• Historically, sleep was thought to be a passive state. However, sleep is now known to be a dynamic process and our brains are active during sleep.
• Sleep affects our physical and mental health and is essential for the normal functioning of all the systems of our body, including the immune system. The effect of sleep on the immune system affects one's ability to fight disease and endure sickness.
• Brain activity during sleep and wakefulness is a result of different activating and inhibiting forces that are generated within the brain. Neurotransmitters (chemicals involved in nerve signaling) control whether one is asleep or awake by acting on nerve cells (neurons) in different parts of the brain.
• Neurons located in the brainstem cause sleep by inhibiting other parts of the brain that keep a person awake.

The past year has wreaked havoc with our sleeping patterns, you know this already but studies back it up. Yet sleep has a huge impact on our emotional and physical wellbeing, and a chronic lack of it puts you at greater risk of obesity and developing certain conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. If you are one of the many currently struggling with shuteye, help is at hand. Insomnia specialist Kathryn Pinkham, founder of The Insomnia Clinic and a Boots sleep expert, has shared some of her top tips for getting a good night's kip.

Build your 'sleep drive'

“In order to fall asleep quickly and get good quality sleep we need to build up a strong ‘sleep drive,’” Pinkham explains. “This is basically an appetite for sleep – the longer we have been out of bed, the bigger our appetite. “ Our bodies are designed to build up a sleep drive during the day and go to sleep when the drive is highest “to take back the debt we have been building.”  Going to bed early and waking later will mean you struggle to fall asleep or wake throughout the night (or both) as your sleep drive is simply not strong enough, so the best way to strengthen your sleep drive is to shorten the amount of time you spend in bed.“Most poor sleepers tend to go to bed early or lie in in an attempt to get more sleep, but this results in a weak sleep drive. Try going to bed later and setting your alarm earlier, even if it’s only 30 minutes each end of your sleep window; you’re creating a much stronger sleep drive which results in better quality sleep,” she says.

Ryan Giggs appears in the dock to deny assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her younger sister

 

Former Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs is accused of “humiliating and degrading” his ex-girlfriend during a three-year relationship, a court heard today.

The 47-year-old appeared in the dock at Manchester and Salford magistrates court today, facing three criminal charges including alleged attacks on two women.It is said Giggs caused actual bodily harm to his ex-girlfriend, PR executive Kate Greville, 36, at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester on November 1 last year.

He has also been charged with engaging in coercive or controlling behaviour against Ms Greville between December 2017 and November last year. And the former winger is accused of the common assault of Ms Greville’s younger sister Emma during the same incident last November. Appearing in the dock with his hands clasped in front of him, Giggs entered not guilty pleas to the charges. Prosecutor Andrea Griffiths said Giggs’s alleged offending began at the start of their romance.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram sent the case to be tried by a jury, freeing Giggs on bail until a hearing at Manchester crown court on May 26. The former footballer, wearing a suit and black face mask, was greeted by calls of “Giggsy” as he arrived at court today shortly before 10am. He stepped back from his role as Wales manager after reports of his arrest last November, in the wake of a disturbance at his home.

Woman who didn’t return VHS tape for 22 years charged with felony

 

She was on tape delay.

A Texas woman learned earlier this week that she was a wanted felon for not returning a 22-year-old VHS tape. Caron McBride lived in Oklahoma when she rented the copy of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” in 1999, Oklahoma City Fox affiliate KOKH reported. The Norman, Okla., store she rented it from, Movie Place, went out of business in 2008.

In March 2000, McBride was charged with felony embezzlement after the tape was not returned, according to KOKH.

“I had lived with a young man, this was over 20 years ago,” McBride told the station. “He had two kids, daughters that were 8, 10 or 11 years old, and I’m thinking he went and got it and didn’t take it back or something. I have never watched that show in my entire life, just not my cup of tea.”

McBride learned about the charges while trying to change her name on her driver’s license after getting married in Texas, KOKH reported. The local district attorney in Oklahoma dismissed the case Wednesday after reviewing it.

“I mean, I didn’t try to deceive anyone over ‘Samantha the Teenage Witch.’ I swear,” McBride said, getting the title character’s name wrong and indirectly strengthening her case that she never watched the show.

McBride told KOKH she lost multiple jobs over the past 20 years for unexplained reasons. She will have to sue the state of Oklahoma to clear her record.

How to Cure Adrenal Fatigue Fast

Source

Have you been watching the news, and now feel very stressed out? Well, if you've been stressed more than usual lately, you might be experiencing adrenal fatigue. Keep on scrolling down to how to help cure adrenal fatigue effectively. 

What is adrenal fatigue? 

Let's dive into biology 101. Your adrenal glands produce different hormones that are essential to the function of your body. They're about the size of a nickel and sit above your kidneys. One of the hormones that they produce is cortisol, which correlates to stress. Adrenal fatigue happens when you push your body to the point where it is experiencing chronic stress. When this happens, your body stops producing cortisol as it should. Adrenal fatigue causes various symptoms, including body aches, fever, fatigue, nervousness, low energy, and digestive problems. 

Britain is sending a huge naval force through some of the most tense waters in Asia

 

The largest naval flotilla assembled by Britain in recent years will set sail in May on a months' long voyage through the Pacific, the country's Defense Ministry said Monday.

"When our Carrier Strike Group (CSG) sets sail next month, it will be flying the flag for Global Britain -- projecting our influence, signaling our power, engaging with our friends and reaffirming our commitment to addressing the security challenges of today and tomorrow," UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Monday.

"The UK is not stepping back but sailing forth to play an active role in shaping the international system of the 21st century," Wallace said.

The strike group will be led by the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, marking its maiden deployment. The ship, one of the UK's two aircraft carriers, is the largest warship the UK has ever sent to sea.

Joining the carrier will be two destroyers, two anti-submarine frigates, a submarine and two auxiliary supply ships, a ministry statement said.

Why is tonight’s full moon called a pink supermoon?

 

If the clouds are accommodating, then tonight’s full “pink moon” will be a little bit bigger in the sky, as our planet’s only satellite is almost as close to us as its orbit allows. But there are a few misconceptions,   says Australian astrophysicist Prof Jonti Horner, about the names some people give to full moons.

Right about now in parts of North America, a native herb known as creeping phlox is coming into its pink bloom. Horner says in the United States, there’s a tendency towards using the names that Native Americans have for full moons. “Last month it was a wolf moon,” says Horner, of the University of Southern Queensland.

The pink moon is named not because it will take on a particular colour, but because of the colour of the flowering phlox. Modern skywatchers term tonight’s phenomenon a “supermoon” – a term coined by an American astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.Technically, we get a supermoon when a full moon occurs around the time our satellite reaches perigee – its closest point to the Earth.

Horner says tonight’s moon “definitely won’t be pink” but if you’re somewhere where there is pollution in the air, then it could take on a more reddish tinge.

Neighborhood surprises retiring mail carrier by filling mailboxes with presents

 

On Brett Wittwer's last day at work before retiring, the tables were turned. Wittwer, 69, spent 35 years as a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, and was used to handing people packages. 

But on March 26, residents along his mail route were giving him gift bags and boxes filled with goodies. "It was crazy," Wittwer told Good Morning America. "It kind of brings a tear to your eye." Most of his career was spent delivering mail in the Cincinnati area, and when word spread he was going to retire, people along his route used a neighborhood Facebook page to plan a surprise sendoff. 

BMW 4 Series Coupe 2021 CENIPLUG review

You do have to pinch yourself in this job sometimes. First I was lucky enough to be able to run a BMW 420d Coupé, and then the other day a chap with a lorry turned up to swap it for the top ‘non-M’ 4 Series, the M440i xDrive. 

 BMW coupés have historically always felt special, but this one is arguably even more so. Straight-six engines are a dying breed (just look at what Mercedes-Benz is up to with its new C-Class for proof), so it feels like we’re keeping a bit of the heritage going with this particular car. Day-to-day and pottering around, you don’t notice the difference in pace too much between this and the four-cylinder diesel 420d. But just occasionally the road will open up and you can stretch the 440i a bit more, letting that six pull towards its redline, as smoothly as they have done since time began. The 420d wasn’t a slouch, but you could feel it running out of puff more quickly. Having said that, I will miss the 420d’s sensible and effortless ability to eat miles: it was a remarkably composed and comfortable companion. But my heart is definitely keener on this black car. 

Cadillac Lyriq V Will Be A Classy High-Performance EV

A luxury electric crossover with even more power. Increasingly, automakers are keen to slap their most hallowed high-performance badges on new EVs. The message is clear: electric power and exhilarating driving experiences can co-exist. That's why AMG versions of Mercedes' EQ models are on the way and why Audi now has an RS e-tron GT. Cadillac looks to be following the lead of the Germans.

 Coinciding with the reveal of the Cadillac Lyriq this week, the brand said that a high-performance V variant is being considered. So we decided to envision what a Cadillac Lyriq V would look like. Compared with the regular Lyriq, the V version imagined here has unique detailing for the front grille, a unique lower lip, different wheels, and black exterior detailing that replaces some of the chrome on the standard car. The black roof contrasts nicely with the red paint. As with the normal Lyriq, there are some who believe the face is a bit too fussy. 

Understanding The Dynamics of IT Certification & The Importance of an IT certification.

Achieving IT certifications offers several benefits, including personal fulfillment, financial growth, and a boost in confidence. But most of all, they show employers that you can focus and learn and that you take your career seriously.

So, what does it take to climb the ranks of IT?

Information technology (IT) is a highly dynamic field that provides plenty of opportunities for career advancement. In 2019, the IT market exceeded $2.461 billion. Very few markets, if any, are rising as fast as information technology. And as the industry continues to evolve and change, new types of certifications continue to appear on the market.

European Super League chief claims clubs CAN'T leave: Real Madrid boss says the Premier League Big Six have 'binding contracts' and that JP Morgan has NOT pulled £3.5bn backing

Florentino Perez has warned that no club can leave the European Super League after signing binding contracts to participate and denied JP Morgan have pulled their backing to fund the competition. Speaking out yet again after a flurry of clubs withdrew, Perez - who heads the controversial competition - slammed teams for 'manipulating our project' and vowed that the tournament 'still exists' and will go ahead regardless.

 The Premier League 'Big Six' - namely Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham - were the first to pull out of the Super League 48 hours after its official founding, but Real Madrid chief Perez stated earlier this week all 12 clubs involved signed a 'legally binding contract'.

 Speaking to Spanish outlet AS, the 74-year-old has reiterated his point that the plan is only on standby and accused others of 'manipulating' what the Super League project is about to mask fears of what they could lose. When asked what penalties clubs who have withdrawn could face, Perez said: 'I'm not going to explain now what a binding contract is... But the clubs can't leave. 'Some of them, because of pressure, have had to say that they're leaving. But this project or one like it will go forward, and I hope it's soon. 'The Super League still exists, and the members are still in it. 

INDIA Hit Hard by Coronavirus second wave which is set to kill 5,700 people a Day: Already Swamped hospitals turn away patients , victims suffocate to death on wards amid oxygen shortage

Medics fear Covid-19 infections in India could climb to 500,000 per day before the virus-stricken nation reaches the peak of its second wave - as those who delay oxygen deliveries to New Delhi were today threatened with the death penalty. Another 2,624 deaths and 346,786 cases were reported in India on Saturday, although limited testing means this is likely to significantly underestimate the total. The infection total again marked the highest one-day tally of any nation since the start of the pandemic - the third time in as many days India has broken this record. However, leading virologist Shahid Jameel today warned that India has still yet to hit the peak of its second wave, with studies suggesting it may record 500,000 cases per day in the first week of May. 

 India's current fatality rate per 100,000 cases is 1.14 per cent, meaning if the nation reaches this anticipated peak there is the potential for 5,700 deaths per day. Overwhelmed hospitals have continued to beg for supplies today as Covid-19 infections soared overnight in a 'tsunami' of disease, with medics warning: 'Every hospital is running out [of oxygen]. We are running out'. At least 20 coronavirus patients died overnight at New Delhi's Jaipur Golden Hospital on Friday as the 'oxygen pressure was low,' the hospital's medical superintendent Dr Baluja said. He added: 'Our supply was delayed by seven-eight hours on Friday night and the stock we received last night is only 40 per cent of the required supply.' Elsewhere, at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, some 25 Covid-19 patients died on Thursday with reports suggesting low oxygen supplies were again the cause of the fatalities.

Thousands gather for anti-lockdown protest in London – despite pubs, shops and gyms reopening

 

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THOUSANDS gathered for anti-lockdown protests in London today - despite pubs, shops and gyms reopening. Crowds marched through the streets for the 'Unite for Freedom' rally against Covid restrictions, vaccines and passports. Signs saying "freedom is non-negotiable" were held up as people let off brightly coloured smoke flares. And activists carried giant inflatable syringes to fight against what they call "coerced vaccinations" - with not a single face mask in sight. Among them was ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers, who has organised and attended several Covid hoax marches.

 The mob ignored police warnings not to gather in large groups to make their way through the capital. Cops have vowed to crack down on anti-social behaviour at hotspots over the second weekend of freedom as temperatures hit 20C. The protest organisers had urged participants to "make as much noise as possible" during the rally but to "avoid making a crowd". However, they also encouraged people to "link arms if the police tried to intervene". 

Arsenal fans hang effigy and call for Kroenke to quit as thousands protest outside Emirates and police called

POLICE were forced to intervene as thousands of Arsenal fans gathered at the Emirates to call for Stan Kroenke's departure from the club ahead of their clash with Everton. Groups of supporters expressed their outrage at the failed European Super League breakaway attempt and general running of the club in North London on Friday. And police had to be called in as some began climbing onto the ticket office roof and throwing flares. American billionaire Kroenke, 73, joined the board of the Premier League outfit in 2008 and became majority shareholder three years later.

 In that time the side have won four FA Cups but slipped out of title contention, and are set to miss out on a top-four finish for the fifth year in a row. Already-brewing fan discontent exploded during the week as ninth-placed Arsenal signed up to the European Super League plot. Protests across all six of the English sides committed to the project led to its collapse and the Gunners' board was forced to apologise but vowed to remain in charge. However, supporters remain determined to see Kroenke and son Josh, a club director, leave the Gunners and vented their anger towards them tonight. 

'Mortal Kombat' ratchets up the gore

Any sober analysis of "Mortal Kombat" already risks overthinking it, but even taking this adaptation of the game on its decidedly R-rated terms, the movie offers few of the visceral thrills that might produce a collective audience response, which makes its consumption on HBO Max perfectly adequate. Of course, in that setting, chuckling at the clunky dialogue will also be a less communal event. Coming roughly a quarter-century after an earlier version and sequel, the movie marks the feature debut of Australian commercial director Simon McQuoid, with "Aquaman" director James Wan among the producers.

 The clear hope is to turn this into another franchise, while leaving enough scattered limbs and gore to satisfy those who simply can't wait to hear someone bellow "Finish him!" For the uninitiated (and thanks for coming this far), the minimal plot involves a newly introduced character, mixed-martial artists fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan), who is recruited to fight on behalf of Earthrealm against the evil forces of Outworld's Emperor Shang Tsung (Chin Han). 

TRAGGIC Kentucky basketball player and NBA prospect, Terrence Clarke dies at 19 following a car accident in LA

 

Kentucky basketball player and NBA prospect, Terrence Clarke, has died at the age of 19 after sustaining fatal injuries in a car accident in Los Angeles. The accident occurred on Thursday afternoon, April 22, as Clarke's vehicle collided with another that was making a left-hand turn, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department.

 The LA Fire Department transported Clark to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. His death comes a month after he declared for the 2021 NBA draft after playing his freshman season for the University of Kentucky "I am absolutely gutted and sick tonight," Kentucky men's basketball head coach John Calipari said, according to a Kentucky press release. "A young person who we all love has just lost his life too soon, one with all of his dreams and hopes ahead of him. Terrence Clarke was a beautiful kid, someone who owned the room with his personality, smile and joy. 

President Trump Says New York State Will Not Receive COVID Vaccine As Soon As It’s Available

  President Donald Trump announced Friday a coronavirus vaccine will be available in April for the entire country, except New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo fired back Friday night. The president spoke at a press conference on Operation Warp Speed and vaccine distribution. “Millions of doses will soon be going out the door,” Trump said.

Trump said two vaccines could be approved by the end of the year and be available to all Americans a few months later, but then, the president suddenly said New York will not get its vaccine unless the governor approves it. “As soon as April the vaccine will be available to the entire general population with the exception of places like New York State, where, for political reasons, the governor decided to say, and I don’t think it’s good from a political standpoint, but he wants to take his time with the vaccine,” Trump said. “We won’t be delivering it to New York until we have authorization to do so, and that pains me to say that. This is a very successful, amazing vaccine and 90% and more. But, so the governor, Governor Cuomo will have to let us know what he’s ready for it.”

Cuomo has said he won’t take the Trump administration’s word that the vaccine is safe.

“He doesn’t trust the fact that it’s this White House, this administration, so we won’t be delivering to New York until we have authorization to do so,” Trump said. “We can’t be delivering it to a state that won’t be giving it to its people immediately.”

The governor appeared on MSNBC to respond to the president’s comments.“Everything is personal with this president. There can’t be a disagreement on principle, and he retaliates,” Cuomo said.Cuomo has appointed a panel to examine any vaccine before its distributed in the state.“An overwhelming percentage of Americans are worried about political interference in the vaccination process, in the approval process by the president,” the governor said.

Research study supports cheap combo pill to lower heart risks

 

A daily pill combining four cholesterol and blood pressure medicines taken with low-dose aspirin cut the risk of heart attacks, strokes and heart-related deaths by nearly one third in a large international study that’s expected to lead to wider use of this “polypill” approach. For more than a decade, doctors have been testing whether the cheap, all-in-one combo pills could make it easier to prevent heart disease, the top killer worldwide. Friday’s results show their value — and not just for poor nations. “It’s for all sensible countries,” said Dr. Salim Yusuf of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. “If the rich countries don’t want the benefit, that’s their prerogative.” He helped lead the study and gave results at an American Heart Association conference. They also were published by the New England Journal of Medicine.

At least half a dozen companies sell polypills outside the United States, including several in Europe, but they’re not widely used or marketed. Doctors have been reluctant partly because no big, international studies have shown they can lower heart attacks and deaths — not just risk factors such as high blood pressure.“I think this will change with our results,” Yusuf said. One independent expert agreed. The study is very important and "the best data we have so far” on polypills, said Dr. Eugene Yang, a University of Washington heart specialist who leads a heart disease prevention panel for the American College of Cardiology.

Teen facing death penalty after being accused of murdering five relatives has shown ‘no remorse’

  

An Alabama teenager currently facing capital murder charges for alleging murdering five of his relatives last year, has shown “no remorse”, according to recently released court documents.

Mason Wayne Sisk, 15, is charged with fatally shooting his father, stepmother and three younger siblings in Elkmont – a small town in Northern Alabama, near the border of Tennessee – in September 2019. Court documents obtained by the local station WAAY show that the young man, who was 14 at the time of the slayings, is seemingly unaffected. In the report, his probation officer said that the teenager “does not seem bothered by the fact he’s accused of murdering his family”.

Covid cases drop in France, Czech Republic and Belgium following draconian lockdowns

 

The European countries worst-hit by Covid-19 may already be over the peaks of their second waves thanks to draconian nation lockdowns being reinstated across the continent, data suggests. After enjoying a lull in transmission throughout the summer and early autumn - thanks to the first round of nationwide shutdowns - most European countries were hit with a tsunami of new infections in mid-September.  The blitz of cases triggered a domino effect right across the continent, with nations one-by-one announcing national lockdowns in October and November, albeit shorter and less restrictive than the measures in spring.And now that the interventions have had more than a week to take effect, most of these nations are seeing infections either decreasing dramatically or flatlining.  

But EU countries that ignored calls for another national lockdown and instead stuck with regional Covid-19 strategies - most notably Italy and Spain - are still seeing infections rapidly rise Belgium, which went into its second lockdown on November 2, appears to have come out the other side of its second wave. In the days leading up to the shutdown, the country was recording almost 2,000 daily infections per million people, which was the highest on the continent. But the Belgians have managed to drive down cases to 540 per million, as of November 11 - the most recent snapshot.

The Czech Republic was one of the first EU members to go into a second national lockdown on October 21. At that point, the Czechs were reporting 1,400 cases of the disease per million every day. But, thanks to the two-week shutdown, that figure has been halved, and currently stands at 734 per million today. A dramatic plunge in cases has also been observed in France, which went into a month-long lockdown on October 30. On that date, the country had an infection rate of 730 per million people, up from just 113 per million the month before. France's case rate peaked on November 8 - it takes more than a week for interventions to take effect - but it has since fallen by more than half. The current rate is 508 people per million. 

Guinness heiress, 19, dies in pool tragedy: Family mourn ’darling angel’ whose organs have saved four lives after freak accident at summer barbecue

 

She was their ‘darling angel’ with a heart of gold and everything to live for, But tragedy has struck the aristocratic Guinness family with the death of teenage heiress Honor Uloth in a freak swimming pool accident. Last night her ‘utterly devastated’ family paid an emotional tribute – and revealed how the 19-year-old’s wish for her organs to be donated has saved other lives. They said: ‘She always made it clear that if anything happened to her, she would like her organs to be donated to those in need.‘The doctors say that, with the matches they have found, it looks like she is going to help save four lives and seriously enhance ten more.’

Miss Uloth was found unconscious at the bottom of a swimming pool during a family barbecue in the summer. This week a coroner ruled it was a tragic accident.Her family said: ‘We have lost a daughter and sister who brought untold light and joy into our lives. She was so full of fun, laughter, kindness and adventure. She had this knack of bringing people together and making them feel good.’

The eldest daughter of Rupert Uloth and Lady Louisa Jane Guinness, whose father Benjamin Guinness was the 3rd Earl of Iveagh, she was spotted in the pool by her 15-year-old brother Rufus. He dived in to help her, the inquest heard. He pulled her out, but doctors were unable to save the Oxford Brookes University history of art student. She had suffered a broken shoulder and brain injuries, and she was pronounced dead in hospital six days later.The current Earl of Iveagh and the Guinness brewery family have an estimated worth of around £906million, and Miss Uloth’s death is the latest of a series of tragedies to strike the dynasty.

England captain Harry Kane’s £100,000 Range Rover stolen by thieves in brazen daylight raid

ENGLAND star Harry Kane’s £100,000 Range Rover was stolen by thieves in a brazen daylight raid.A gang is believed to have targeted the vehicle after being filmed driving past it several times. The thieves sped off with it from outside an upmarket address in Chingford, East London,They sped off with it from outside an upmarket address in Chingford, East London.

Kane, 27, is the third Spurs player to be robbed in recent months after his team-mates Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen were attacked by armed raiders.CCTV shows a car driving past Kane’s luxury motor several times last month. Thieves then used an electronic device to open it before stealing the car from outside an address in Chingford, East London.

A source close to the £200,000-a-week striker said: “Harry feels he has been targeted by a gang who focus on footballers. The way the robbery played out didn’t feel like a coincidence.”Dad-to-be Harry called the police and got hold of CCTV film of the theft which took place at the end of October.

 “The footage shows a car driving past his motor a number of times. They were clearly doing a recce. “The road is in an upmarket residential area so it’s not hard to see why Harry and those around him think his car has been targeted.

Finally The Yorkshire Ripper is dead at 74: Serial killer Peter Sutcliffe who murdered 13 women in reign of terror during 70s and 80s dies in jail of Covid after refusing treatment

 

The Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe died this morning at the age of 74 after refusing treatment for coronavirus.    

The frail serial killer, who murdered at least 13 women in the 1970s and 1980s, died at the University Hospital of North Durham. 

His lungs failed overnight and he was pronounced dead at 1.10am, with no visitors by his bedside because of coronavirus restrictions.

The Ripper had previously signed 'do not resuscitate forms' - while friends said he astonishingly believed he would 'go to heaven' after his death because he had become a Jehovah's Witness. 

Marcella Claxton, who was attacked by Sutcliffe and left needing more than 50-stitches after being over the head with a hammer, welcomed today's news. 

She told MailOnline: 'I'm happy he's gone. I've thought about what he did to me every day since and although the news that's he's died brings those horrible memories back at least now I may be able to get some closure.

Nurse Charged With Murdering 8 Babies and Trying to Kill 10 More

  

A British nurse has been charged with murdering eight babies, as well as the attempted murders of 10 others, after a years-long investigation into an unexplained spike in baby deaths at a hospital’s neonatal unit.

It’s the third time that Lucy Letby, 30, has been arrested. She was previously detained in 2018 and 2019 as authorities probed the string of infant fatalities at the Countess of Chester Hospital in England. Both times, the nurse was released with no further action against her, but she appeared in court Thursday to finally face 18 formal charges.

In the courtroom, the nurse learned that she faces eight charges of “murder of a victim under 1 year old,” and each infant victim’s name was read aloud to her. According to BBC News, five baby boys and three girls died. They were named Cemlyn Bennett, Joseph Johnson, Barney Gee, Joseph Gelder, Eli Gelder, Elsie McNall, Daisy Parkin, and Maddie Freed.

Letby did not speak in court other than to confirm her identity and her representatives have not said whether or not she plans to plead guilty. The media has been ordered not to report the names of the alleged victims of attempted murder, but there are reportedly five boys and five girls.

The charges all relate to a string of baby deaths, and non-fatal collapses, at the Countess of Chester Hospital near Liverpool in 2015 and 2016. According to a National Health Service report into the incidents, the hospital launched a probe after resident doctors became concerned about what was described as a “higher-than-usual number of neonatal deaths on the unit, several of them being apparently ‘unexplained’ and ‘unexpected.’”

The Great Herculean Task of Saving Democracy Must Go On After Trump

 

The 2020 election, however, failed to produce a thoroughgoing repudiation of Trumpism and its race-based, grievance-driven brand of politics. Even amid a devastating pandemic and economic downturn, roughly seventy-two million Americans voted for the President, nine million more than voted for him in 2016. The Trump campaign managed to activate millions of new voters—stark evidence of the enduring appeal of Trump’s nationalistic, populist message. Democrats had believed that the great tide of immigration that is dramatically changing the country, the huge numbers of people going to the polls—this election is ultimately expected to record the highest percentage of Americans voting in a hundred and twenty years—and widespread revulsion toward the President could tip a wave of traditionally Republican states in their favor. But it became clear relatively early on Election Night that this hope had failed to materialize.

In Texas, the Biden campaign made a late push, counting on turning out supporters in the state’s booming cities and diversifying suburbs. Trump wound up winning easily, however, mostly because of his strength in rural areas and small towns, where he actually improved on his performance from four years ago. Similarly, Democrats invested heavily in Ohio, where Barack Obama won the vote in 2008 and 2012 but Hillary Clinton lost to Trump in 2016. Trump’s eight-point victory in the state, matching his 2016 margin against Clinton, was so complete that he even defeated Biden in Mahoning County, in northeastern Ohio, a place with deep union roots—the aging industrial town of Youngstown is the county seat—where a Republican Presidential candidate had not triumphed in nearly half a century. Nationally, Democrats had hoped that Trump’s toxicity would sweep them to victory in down-ballot races, but the Party lost several seats in the House, and the near-certainty that many Democrats had felt about taking back the Senate has evaporated. Though, if Democrats are able to eke out a Senate victory in January, via two runoff races in Georgia—a challenging task without alarm about Trump driving voters to the polls—the Party will achieve a fifty-fifty split in the chamber, with Vice-President Kamala Harris able to cast deciding votes.

These three women stood up to Europe's longest-serving dictator. Here's what happened to them

 

Five weeks have passed since Belarus learned the results of its presidential election, in which the country's Central Election Commission announced that President Alexander Lukashenko, often described as Europe's last dictator, had won with 80.23% of the vote.

In the weeks that have followed, the country has seen mass protests from citizens who believe the vote was rigged, violent police crackdowns on those protestors and, possibly most disturbingly, three high-profile opposition figures -- all of whom are women -- have disappeared from public view or fled Belarus.

Belarusian state media said on Tuesday that Maria Kolesnikova, a key opposition figure, had been detained on the Belarusian side of the border between Ukraine and Belarus. The statement was made by Belarusian Border Control, and aired on state TV.

"The disappearance of the candidates demonstrates beyond all doubt the brutality of this regime and how important it is that the international community doesn't lose interest in the appalling events that have unfolded since the election," Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the UK's Foreign Affairs Select Committee,

A California fire that burned more than 7,000 acres was caused by a faulty spinning smoke machine at a gender-reveal party

 

One of three major wildfires tearing through Califonia this weekend was caused by a gender reveal party.

A "smoke generating pyrotechnic device" sparked the El Dorado Fire in Yucaipa, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) said.

The fire has so far burned 7,050 acres. 

Two other major active fires — The Creek Fire and The Valley Fire — have burned 73,278 and 9,850 acres respectively.

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A fire that broke out in California and has so far burned more than 7,000 acres of woodland was caused by a gender-reveal party, authorities said.

At around 10:20 a.m. on Saturday, a "smoke generating pyrotechnic device, used during a gender reveal party" sparked a fire in the El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) said in a statement on Sunday.

Prototype of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' futuristic-looking flying wing aircraft just took its first flight in Germany

 

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

The first scaled model of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' futuristic Flying-V aircraft took flight in Germany last month in an early milestone for the program.

The Flying-V is a flying wing aircraft where the fuselage is blended with the wings to create a giant V-shaped plane.

Airlines and aircraft manufacturers are turning to flying wing designs as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional designs.

A scaled model of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' aircraft of the future just took flight for the first time in a milestone event for the Dutch flag carrier's push for more efficient and environmentally responsible aircraft.

Engineers got their first look at what might one day by the new flagship of KLM's fleet in late August when the futuristic-looking Flying-V demonstrator successfully took to the skies above Germany. The remote-controlled flight was the culmination of two-year's work of engineers from KLM and the Delft University of Technology, also known as TU Delft.

Philippine president pardons U.S. Marine jailed for transgender killing

 

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday pardoned a United States Marine convicted of killing a transgender woman in the country nearly six years ago, sparking condemnation from activists who described the move as a "mockery of justice".

Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton was jailed in 2015 for killing Jennifer Laude near a former U.S. navy base. A trial court signed off on his early release last week for good conduct, but was blocked by an appeal from Laude's lawyers.

"Cutting matters short over what constitutes time served, and since where he was detained was not in prisoner's control - and to do justice - the president has granted an absolute pardon," Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin announced on Twitter.

One of Laude's lawyer was dismayed by the pardon and questioned Duterte's commitment to a foreign policy that he insists is independent and not dictated by U.S. interests.

"We see the welfare of our countrymen are set aside," lawyer Rommel Bagares told DZBB radio.

Cristina Palabay of human rights group Karapatan described Dutere's independent foreign policy as "bankrupt".

"We view this as not only a mockery of justice but also a blatant display of servility to U.S. interest," Palabay told us.