Not again: Scientists accuse US of creating deadlier, more contagious flu virus that can jump from birds to humans…like Covid
Scientist Brian Hooker told Iversen the CDC’s Influenza Division infected ferrets with the currently circulating H5N1 avian influenza strain, then infected human lung cells, to make the virus more infective to humans.
Their justification, he said, is to be prepared for a zoonotic outbreak, where a virus from a bird or other animal jumps to humans.
Accustomed to friendly crowds, Trump faces hostile audience at Libertarian convention
Libertarians, who prioritise small government and individual freedoms, are often sceptical of the former president, and his invitation to address the convention has divided the party. Trump tried to make light of that by referring to the four criminal indictments against him and joking, “If I wasn’t a Libertarian before, I sure as hell am a Libertarian now.”
Black Lives Matter: Four years after George Floyd murder, US police reforms drag on in Congress
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was initially introduced in 2021 to stop aggressive law enforcement tactics, misconduct and racial bias, has faced repeated roadblocks in Congress and has yet to move forward.
South Dakota bans pronouns, ethnic tags by universities as it grapples with violent history of conflict with tribes
Policies targeting gender pronoun use have focused mainly on K-12 students, although some small religious colleges have also restricted pronoun use. Houghton University in western New York fired two dorm directors last year after they refused to remove gender pronouns from their work email signatures.
Trump’s allegations that agents in classified documents probe plotted to assassinate him irks prosecutors
Prosecutors on special counsel Jack Smith’s team said in court papers late on Friday that Trump’s statements falsely suggesting that federal agents “were complicit in a plot to assassinate him” expose law enforcement – some of whom prosecutors noted will be called as witnesses at his trial – “to the risk of threats, violence, and harassment.”
Coming to America: Low-paid humans behind AI’s data in Kenya petition Biden to free them from ‘modern day slavery’ as President Ruto visits US
On Wednesday, 97 African workers who do AI training work or online content moderation for companies like Meta and OpenAI published an open letter to President Joe Biden, demanding that US tech companies stop “systemically abusing and exploiting African workers.”
VP Harris announces during Kenya’s President Ruto’s US tour plans to raise internet access in Africa by 80 per cent
Africa has struggled to receive the capital needed to build up its industrial and technological sectors. The United Nations reported last year that foreign direct investment in the continent fell to $45 billion in 2022, from a record high $80 billion in 2021.
US House given details of how White House top officials scrambled to hide sensitive emails of how America funded Wuhan to develop Covid
The committee may recommend that the US Department of Justice investigate Morens for making false statements, a crime in violation of Title 18 US Code Section 1001. The testimony follows revelations last week that Morens stated he would delete any “smoking guns” implicating a connection between Daszak’s organisation and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Biden, Kenya’s President Ruto vow to defend democracy and rule of law in Africa and beyond
On Thursday evening, Ruto was the guest of honour at a lavish state dinner that drew a wide range of guests, from singer-songwriter Don McLean to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the CEOs of Walmart and Pfizer as well as former President Bill Clinton. Former President Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, made a brief appearance before the meal.
US ‘repays’ Kenya’s deployment of 1,000 security officers to Haiti with offers to ‘modernise’ police service
A $60 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation will fund a four-year programme focusing on the transportation needs of underserved groups in Kenya, safer options for women and pedestrians, and climate-friendly public transportation.
