London breed

2 California still has only 39 known omicron infections, but that could change quickly — and what it portends is very much in question . Amid concerns about the omicron variant and rising case rates, a statewide mask mandate — with some exceptions — goes back into effect today for public spaces, regardless of your vaccination status. Here’s what’s changing . San Francisco offices and gyms where everyone is fully vaccinated will not need to return to masking after California on Tuesday granted last-minute exemptions from its face mask rule. Latest updates: Apple delays return-to-office plans indefinitely: Citing ongoing pandemic concerns, including “rising cases in many parts of the world and the emergence of a new strain of the virus,” Apple announced on Wednesday that it is delaying the return of employees to the office indefinitely, according to a memo sent by chief executive Tim Cook and obtained by Bloomberg News . Cook said the staff … [Read more...] about Omicron variant in California: Apple delays return-to-office plans indefinitely

NEW YORK - In tears, Kailin See recounts a story that would not have been possible just weeks before. A man addicted to heroin, who otherwise would have injected himself alone, visited one of the country's first authorized locations to use drugs with supervision in early December. He had a job interview later that day, hoping to earn two paychecks by Christmas so he could afford gifts for his children, he told staffers at the Washington Heights site. But when he drew the drugs into his veins, he began to nod off and go pale, a sign of what could have been a lethal overdose. The trained workers sprang into action, giving him oxygen. He quickly came to, said See, one of the main organizers of the site. In nondescript commercial buildings in Washington Heights and East Harlem, workers watch people use illegal drugs and step in when they overdose, a solution to the drug crisis once considered too fringe to operate in the open. Years of legal battles and debate delayed efforts by … [Read more...] about Inside a pioneering U.S. site authorized to monitor people using drugs

The FBI's investigation into the gunman who took hostages at a Texas synagogue for over 10 hours on Saturday has spread to London and Tel Aviv, according to the top Republican in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul Michael Thomas McCaul Sunday shows - Voting rights legislation dominates Texas Republican: FBI probe into synagogue hostage taker spreads to London, Tel Aviv Sen. Brian Schatz tests positive for COVID-19 MORE (Texas). Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, McCaul told host Jake Tapper Jacob (Jake) Paul Tapper Sunday shows - Voting rights legislation dominates Texas Republican: FBI probe into synagogue hostage taker spreads to London, Tel Aviv GOP senator knocks Biden for 'spreading things that are untrue' in voting rights speech MORE that the incident was "a disturbing case that demonstrates that antisemitism is unfortunately alive and well." ADVERTISEMENT "I know the FBI has now … [Read more...] about Texas Republican: FBI probe into synagogue hostage taker spreads to London, Tel Aviv

A nine-year-old boy in Austria was forced to take a test outside in freezing temperatures after his school refused to recognize his exemption from wearing a mask in class. In the Austrian region of Styria in the town of Voitsberg on Tuesday, a nine-year-old boy named Jason was forced to complete a test outdoors in the cold winter weather for violating the elementary school’s Chinese coronavirus rules because he could not wear a mask for medical reasons. The teacher, along with the boy’s parents, agreed to have him work on the test outside as the nine-year-old wished to participate in class. However, despite getting consent from the child’s parents, the Austrian Directorate of Education said that the move was not legal, Kronen Zeitung reports . On Friday, Austrian media reported that the school had rejected Jason’s medical exemption from wearing a mask in the school because it had been signed by a doctor in the city of Graz who was known to be critical of vaccinations. … [Read more...] about Austrian School had Maskless 9-Year-Old Take Test Outside in the Cold

A retired BBC producer has been given a 20 month suspended sentence for possessing 832 indecent images of children. Victor Melleney, 76, who when raided and arrested by the police in 2018 was found to be in possession of 832 child abuse images and illegal weapons, has been handed a lenient 22-month suspended sentence by Kingston Crown Court, receiving 20 months for the child sex abuse images and 2 months for owning three tasers and a CS gas spray. The 22-month sentence was suspended because Judge Simon Bryan QC believed prison would be “particularly challenging” for Melleney due to his poor health, including a recent heart attack, and the coronavirus pandemic. Judge Bryan also said that a factor in the decision to suspend the sentence was because it would only have been a “relatively short custodial term”, the Daily Mail reports . The retired BBC producer – who previously worked on top BBC shows such as investigative journalism series Panorama and political debating … [Read more...] about BBC Producer Spared Jail After Being Caught with Child Sex Images

LONDON (Reuters) – The BBC was guilty of serious failings over Jimmy Savile, the late TV presenter revealed to have been one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders, but senior managers did not know what he was up to, a major report said on Thursday. In 2012, British police said Savile, one of the Britain’s best-known celebrities of the 1970s and 1980s, had abused hundreds of victims, mainly youngsters, at hospitals and at BBC premises over six decades until his death aged 84 in 2011. Thursday’s report by former Appeal Court judge Janet Smith, commissioned by the publicly-funded broadcaster in the wake of those revelations, concluded Savile had abused 72 victims in relation to his BBC work over almost 50 years. His crimes included raping a 10-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. Smith said while there were some reports made by staff about Savile’s conduct, these were never escalated due to a culture of “not complaining about anything”, while the BBC’s stars were treated with … [Read more...] about REPORT: BBC Guilty of ‘Serious Failings’ Over Sex Offender Jimmy Savile

Investigations into sexual abuse by late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile have widened after a wave of new allegations, the British Health Secretary said on Thursday. In all 41 National Health Service organisations are now investigating abuse by Savile, one of the biggest TV stars in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s, revealed as a prolific sex abuser after his death. Inquiries at 28 hospitals, published in June, found that Savile abused vulnerable patients in scores of hospitals and claimed to have performed oral sex acts on dead bodies. Lawyers for Savile’s victims said that it was concerning to see new worries emerge. An investigation into alleged abuse by Savile in schools and children’s homes would be delayed, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said. The transformation of the image of a once-celebrated TV figure shocked Britain and prompted national soul-searching. A wide-ranging investigation into how British institutions dealt with the protection of children from sexual abuse was … [Read more...] about Former BBC Presenter Savile Abuse Inquiry Widens

BERLIN (AP) – The Austrian government on Sunday presented revised plans for its proposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which it said will now apply to all residents age 18 and over, rather than 14 as originally intended. Officials said that a phased introduction will give people plenty of opportunity to comply. The government announced nearly two months ago that it would implement a general vaccine mandate early this year, becoming the first European country to do so. In early December, it produced a first draft, calling for the measure to be introduced in February and foreseeing fines of up to 3,600 euros ($4,100) for people who flout it. Key aspects of the plan remain in the final version, which the government aims to have parliament approve on Thursday, but officials said consultations with two opposition parties and others showed the need for significant changes to details. Chancellor Karl Nehammer said there had been concern about teenagers being punished, hence the change in … [Read more...] about Austria Outlines Vaccine Mandate Legislation for February Rollout

January is prime bald eagle nesting time in Texas, with typically one to three baby eaglets in each nest. A new project with Texas Nature Trackers is helping scientists examine and collect information on the status of Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle nesting sites across Texas. Texas Nature Trackers, a contingent of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , is a citizen monitoring effort that connects nature lovers all of ages. The organization calls on those who are able to observe a given nest through breeding season to submit weekly photo updates to the project on the app iNaturalist . The information will provide "valuable data on nest status," according to the project's page. Though they are not eagles, Osprey nest updates are also accepted. A 2021 report  by the  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revealed that U.S bald eagle populations have quadrupled since 2009. Once on the brink of extinction in the 1960s, the species is now growing thanks to conservation efforts. The … [Read more...] about TPWD wants help tracking Texas’ bald eagle population via this app

0 Pets This week's batch of adoptable pets in the Burke area are looking for their forever homes. Will you take one home? Pet News , Patch Staff Posted Reply If you've been wanting to add a fluffy ball of four-legged love and affection to your family, start with these Burke area animal shelters for a pet you can take home. Across Virginia, there are thousands of dogs, cats and other animals of all ages and sizes without a home — and many of them are located within driving distance. Looking to adopt a lovable new companion? A great place to start the search is at 4 Legged Friends, where Oprah the dog is waiting patiently, or another local rescue agency. If you aren't sure if you have time to take care of a pet year round, many shelters also offer opportunities to foster pets until they are placed in appropriate homes. Need some help in your search? Patch and Petfinder have you covered. We round up a list each week of all … [Read more...] about Burke: Dogs, Cats, Pets Available For Adoption Nearby