The pandemic isn't stopping climate change. America is facing a monkey shortage. It's Thursday's news.
Thousands of square miles in the western United States are burning. In its race to develop a coronavirus vaccine, America is facing a monkey shortage. And, about that COVID-19 relief bill...
The Short List newsletter is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here!
Another coronavirus relief package rejected
It's becoming increasingly unlikely that Congress will pass a coronavirus relief package ahead of the November election . Senate Democrats blocked a $300 billion COVID-19 stimulus bill Thursday, with Republicans acknowledging that the proposal stood little chance. Dubbed the the Delivering Immediate Relief to America's Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act, it offered additional unemployment benefits for out-of-work Americans, funding for schools and liability protections for businesses and health care facilities. Lawmakers have only weeks left in session before the election and need to pass a series of spending bills to avert a government shutdown at the end of the month.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, arrive to watch the flag-draped casket of the late Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., as is carried by a joint services military honor guard from Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
Brendan Smialowski, AP
The West is on fire
At least seven people are dead. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed. And more than 100 major fires have scarred almost 7,000 square miles in the western United States — a swath of land larger than the state of Connecticut . And authorities say they really don't know just yet how much damage the infernos have done. In better news: The strong, gusty winds over the West are expected to weaken Thursday and into the weekend, the National Weather Service said. However, low humidity and warmer temperatures will be enough for elevated fire concerns to remain.
The pandemic isn't halting climate change. But climate change may exacerbate future pandemics
The coronavirus pandemic isn't stopping climate change, according to a new United Nations report. In fact, the world is getting closer to passing a temperature limit set by global leaders five years ago. "Record heat, ice loss, wildfires, floods and droughts continue to worsen, affecting communities, nations and economies around the world," wrote United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Not only that, but COVID-19 may only be the beginning of global pandemics – a future scenario in which climate change may also play a role . "We have entered a pandemic era," said a recent study in the journal Cell, written by Dr. Anthony Fauci and medical historian Dr. David Morens.
Diana Rigg, a British actress who became a 1960s style icon as secret agent Emma Peel in the TV series "The Avengers," dies of cancer at the age of 82.
Both President Donald Trump and Bob Woodward have drawn outrage after details from the veteran journalist's upcoming book, "Rage," were made public Wednesday . Trump told Woodward early on that he knew the coronavirus was highly contagious and "deadly stuff," even as he downplayed the threat in public. But many critics said Woodward might have saved lives if he had shared that information sooner, accusing him of putting book sales over people. Woodward, in an interview with the AP, said he needed time to determine whether Trump's statements about COVID-19 were accurate. In a tweet Thursday, Trump said that the fact Woodward sat on the revelations for so long indicates the journalist approved of his response to the pandemic.
President Trump doesn't dispute downplaying COVID in order to reduce 'panic'
ap
America is facing a monkey shortage
Critical to the development of a coronavirus vaccine, the scientific community is facing a monkey shortage . Before drug companies call on human volunteers, monkeys are used in preclinical trials to test a vaccine's safety and effectiveness. But with more than 100 vaccines in development around the world, there aren't enough monkeys to go around. Nonhuman primate research centers have been strained in recent years because of restrictions on imported monkeys from countries such as China and India, and a lack of funding to support domestic breeding. While animal rights advocates condemn using primates in experiments, researchers say it's essential for development of medical science.
No comments:
Post a Comment