Latest News: April 2021

Friday, 30 April 2021

Do you know where plastic waste in the oceans is coming from?

The Ocean Cleanup suggests plastic pollution comes from more rivers in the world than previously thought.

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Grammy Awards scrap controversial voting committees

The anonymous committees had been accused of a lack of transparency and inclusivity in their choices.

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Tom Brady Charted a New Path. Aaron Rodgers Struggles to Do the Same.

When Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks like Brady, Rodgers and Russell Wilson grow frustrated with their teams, the nature of N.F.L. contracts makes it hard to scramble away. Brady ultimately succeeded by running out the clock.

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What to Know About the 147th Kentucky Derby

The post time for the race is 6:57 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday.

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Judge and Cole Dominate as Yankees Crush Tigers

Judge’s two homers held lead a blowout. The Mets, meanwhile, had tempers flare in a loss to Philadelphia.

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Hospital Fire Kills 15 COVID-19 Patients In Western India

Police in Bharuch, Gujarat state, say 50 other patients at the Welfare Hospital were rescued by hospital workers and firefighters from the fire that broke out early Saturday.

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India's over-18s vaccination to start

The drive has begun to lag at a time when a second deadly wave is devastating the country.

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Covid: Australians could face jail or fines if they return from India

Australia makes it temporarily illegal to return from India, which is being ravaged by Covid-19.

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'Creepy' Robot Dog Loses Job With New York Police Department

NYPD canceled its contract with Boston Dynamics last week after its test run of the company

Following public outrage, the NYPD terminated a $94,000 contract to test a canine-like surveillance device designed to keep officers out of harms way. Critics panned the tech and its potential abuses.

(Image credit: Josh Reynolds/AP)

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Pasquotank County Sheriff: Public Should See Andrew Brown Jr. Video

Protestors take to the streets on Saturday calling for the release of bodycam footage of the police killing of Andrew Brown Jr. in Elizabeth City, N.C.

Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten says he wants the bodycam footage from the killing of Andrew Brown Jr., made public.

(Image credit: Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)

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Florida plans to fine social media for banning politicians

The Florida bill proposes fines up to $250,000 per day for companies which violate the rules.

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Singapore: What's it like in the best place to live during Covid?

As the pandemic continues to devastate, one Asian island has emerged as the best place to ride it out.

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Covid: Pakistan fears 'Impending doom' threatens Pakistan

A slow vaccine roll out, no lockdown and large gatherings are concerning doctors in Pakistan.

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How a Nigerian mother fought to hold on to her child in Italy

A Nigerian woman in Italy nearly lost her son as the authorities questioned her parenting style.

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Alaska's first CSI takes on blood and burglaries in sub-zero weather

Shasta Pomeroy isn't only the first Fairbanks crime scene investigator, she's the first in the state.

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India's Covid vaccine shortage: The desperate wait gets longer

India is facing a severe shortage of vaccines amid a relentless second Covid wave. How did this happen?

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France-Algeria relations: The lingering fallout from nuclear tests in the Sahara

France says the tests were carried out in uninhabited areas but local residents beg to differ.

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An Alzheimer's Drug May Boost Cognition In People With Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X syndrome involves changes in the X chromosome, seen in the four columns of chromosomes starting on the left. Two normal X chromosomes are shown in the far-right column.

An experimental medicine seems to ease symptoms of Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder that is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disabilities and autism.

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For Virginia Republicans, Running Their Own Election Hasn't Gone Smoothly

Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase speaks at a GOP event in King William County. Chase, one of seven Republicans running for governor, has criticized the party-run nominating convention process.

For months, Republicans have cast doubt on the 2020 presidential election. Now GOP candidates for Virginia governor take issue with their own party-run nominating convention.

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Domestic Abuse Survivors Fear Deportation Under Trump Policy Biden Has Yet To Reverse

Ms. A.B. had been allowed to stay in the U.S. for years while her case is pending. She requested that NPR identify her only by her initials because she is afraid her ex-husband might find her.

Immigrant advocates want those asylum protections restored quickly, erasing Trump-era restrictions. "Women, children, families are being sent back to the very dangers that they fled," one lawyer says.

(Image credit: Kevin D. Liles for NPR)

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Biden Administration Seeks To Build Trust And Diversity Among Federal Scientists

Federal scientists, engineers and other technical workers provide crucial climate and health expertise. Here, Marybeth Head, the vessel operations coordinator for the Gray

Climate and health policies rely on scientific expertise. But the federal science workforce has been shaped by decades of political interference, underfunding and race and gender bias.

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Israel crush: Witnesses tell of people 'thrown up in the air'

Those at the Lag B'Omer festival, where dozens died, say they were "swept along" by the crowd.

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Florida Legislature Approves Election Reform Bill That Includes Restrictions

An election worker sorts vote-by-mail ballots at the Miami-Dade County Board of Elections in Doral, Fla., on Oct. 26, 2020. Florida

It's the latest Republican-led effort to alter state voting rules following record-breaking turnout during the 2020 election. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the measure into law.

(Image credit: Lynne Sladky/AP)

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These people aren't real but could help tackle bias in tech

How technology that generates fake faces is helping to tackle bias in facial recognition systems.

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Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan violence: Deadly clash amid water dispute

Thousands of people are evacuated following some of the worst border fighting in years.

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Thursday, 29 April 2021

Israel stampede: Chaotic scenes as dozens dead at religious festival

Dozens have been killed and many wounded after a stampede at an Israeli religious festival.

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Who Will Win The Kentucky Derby? Expert Picks and Predictions

Joe Drape and Melissa Hoppert weigh in on the contenders for the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby.

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As Underclassmen Flood the N.F.L. Draft, Landing Places Dry Up

Since the league began allowing underclassmen to enter the draft in 1990, the number who do so has ballooned more than threefold. There are fewer options for those who go undrafted.

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India Covid: Delhi seeks more cremation space as deaths rise

Police in India's capital ask for more cremation sites as a fatal second wave sweeps the country.

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Ghislaine Maxwell: Lawyers release photo that shows bruised face

Lawyers release a photo of the British socialite with what looks like bruising under her left eye.

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Kadarius Toney Drafted by the Giants? Fans Seem Confused

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Alex Leatherwood is Surprise Pick for Las Vegas Raiders

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Patriots Take Alabama QB Mac Jones at 15th Pick

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Dozens Reported Killed In Stampede At Israeli Festival

Israeli security officials and rescuers carry a body of a victim of an apparent stampede during Lag Ba

The disaster happened early Friday at a Jewish religious gathering for Lag BaOmer in northern Israel. Scores of people were injured.

(Image credit: AP)

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Brazil COVID-19 Deaths Top 400,000 Amid Fears Of Worsening Crisis

With little space left at Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery in Manaus, Brazil, graves of COVID-19 victims line a street, seen in an aerial photo taken on Thursday as the country passed 400,000 virus deaths.

Daily death tolls have dropped, but experts are wary of another surge. President Jair Bolsonaro, amid a Senate probe into the country's pandemic response, continues to attack health measures.

(Image credit: Michael Dantas/AFP via Getty Images)

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Patriots take pocket-passer Mac Jones.

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Dozens Injured In Stampede At Israeli Religious Festival

Tens of thousands of people had gathered at the foot of Mount Meron to celebrate Lag BaOmer, a Jewish holiday honoring Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a 2nd century sage and mystic who is buried there.

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Israel stampede: Dozens killed in crush at religious festival

Emergency services confirm dozens have been killed and many more wounded in north-east Israel.

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N.F.L. draft order and picks: Here are the first round results.

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With Zach Wilson, the Jets hope to end their decades-long QB search.

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In The Ransomware Battle, Cyber Criminals Have The Upper Hand

Washington, D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee addresses reporters in January. The police department has acknowledged that its computer network has been breached by attackers seeking a ransom. Such attacks against local governments, hospitals and corporations have been rising sharply.

Hackers say they've seized computer records from the Washington, D.C. police and are demanding ransom. As ransomware groups keep getting more sophisticated, law enforcement is struggling to keep up.

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Biden Order To Require New Cybersecurity Standards In Response To SolarWinds Attack

Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, says an upcoming executive order will strengthen U.S. cybersecurity, from setting up new ways to investigate cyberattacks to developing standards for software.

Six months after one of the largest cyber attacks in history, the White House will set up formal cyber investigations, require companies to report breaches, and set software development standards.

(Image credit: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

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Big Government Is Back, And 3 Other Takeaways From Biden's Address To Congress

President Biden addresses a joint session of Congress. Biden made the pitch for a larger federal role and marked history in the House chamber with two top women: Vice President Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

President Biden made the pitch for a larger federal role, framed new programs aiding children as essential for the middle class and marked history in the House chamber with two top women.

(Image credit: Jim Watson/AP)

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El Risitas: Man behind 'Spanish laughing guy' meme dies

Spanish comedian Juan Joya Borja, known as The Giggles, was famous for his infectious laughter.

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Dubai's Ruler Is Entangled in a Kentucky Derby Controversy

Essential Quality could win the Kentucky Derby. Activists concerned about Sheikha Latifa, the owner’s daughter, don’t think the horse should run at all.

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Britney Spears fans jubilant at news she will address court

Fans celebrated outside a California courthouse after news emerged that Britney Spears would speak in court.

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Lawyer Says Police Didn't Need To Arrest Man Who Died After Being Pinned To Ground

Julia Sherwin, lawyer for the family of Mario Gonzalez, speaks about his death in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday. Members of the Gonzalez family believe police used excessive force when they attempted to arrest him.

Mario Gonzalez, 26, died in police custody on April 19. Body camera footage showed police pinning him to the ground for several minutes.

(Image credit: Josh Edelson/AP)

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Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Afghan General Says Army Will Survive U.S. Troop Withdrawal

U.S. Army soldiers retrieve their duffel bags after they returned home from a 9-month deployment to Afghanistan on December 10, 2020 at Fort Drum, New York. Earlier this month, President Biden announced that the U.S. would withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021

Afghan Gen. Sami Sadat spoke with NPR about day-to-day life in Afghanistan, how the army will operate without U.S. support and what he's learned over the years during the war.

(Image credit: John Moore/Getty Images)

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Senate Votes To Restore Regulations On Climate-Warming Methane Emissions

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, joined by Sens. Ed Markey (left) and Martin Heinrich, discusses legislation Wednesday to reimpose regulations to reduce methane pollution from oil and gas wells.

The Trump administration rolled back the regulations last year, a move that was so controversial even some oil companies opposed it. Methane is an even more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

(Image credit: J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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Scenes From Biden's Speech To Congress, A Night Of Many Firsts

President Biden addresses an unusually small crowd of lawmakers and government officials during a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

The pandemic shaped President Biden's first joint address to Congress in many ways, from the dress code to the guest list. While most people watched remotely, photos show what it was like in the room.

(Image credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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'Frightened To Death': Cheerleader Speech Case Gives Supreme Court Pause

Brandi Levy wears her former cheerleading outfit as she looks at her mobile phone while sitting outside Mahanoy Area High School in Mahanoy City, Pa., on April 4.

At issue was whether schools may punish students for speech that occurs online and off campus but may affect school order. The case is the biggest test of student speech rights since 1969.

(Image credit: Danna Singer/ACLU / AP)

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West Bengal: India state elections go ahead as deaths hit record high

Voters go to the polls for state elections despite the state the country witnessing a second wave.

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China launches first module of new space station

It's a major step in China's ambitions to rival the United States and Russia in space exploration.

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A ‘Disappointed’ deGrom Allows One Run in Loss to Boston

The Mets’ ace allowed only three hits and struck out nine batters, but his team’s offense had absolutely nothing to offer.

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Biden pitches 'once in a generation investment' to Congress

The president lays out jobs, education and social care plans and says "America's on the move again".

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Atlanta Will Increase Capacity at Truist Park to 100 Percent

More than 40,000 fans will be permitted at the team’s games. The Yankees shut out Baltimore and Bryce Harper took a pitch to the face.

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'Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President': Women Make History At Biden's Joint Address

In a historic first, U.S. President Joe Biden was flanked by two women — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (top right) and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (top left) — as he addressed a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on April 28.

In a historic first, Biden delivered his joint address to Congress flanked by two women: Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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Sen. Scott's Republican Response To Biden's Address, Annotated

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., pictured at the Republican National Convention on Aug. 24, 2020, is giving the Republican response to President Biden

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott delivers the GOP response to President Biden's address to Congress. NPR reporters are providing live fact checks and analysis.

(Image credit: Susan Walsh/AP)

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Lawmakers Invite 'Virtual Guests' To Watch Biden's Joint Address From Afar, Too

An image from video provided by the White House shows first lady Jill Biden meeting with her virtual guests ahead of President Biden

Many Democratic lawmakers are continuing the tradition of inviting guests to the address. But with in-person attendees limited by the pandemic, they'll be watching remotely like almost everyone else.

(Image credit: White House via AP)

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Listen: Special Coverage Of Biden's Address To A Joint Session Of Congress

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company

President Biden will make his first address in front of a joint session of Congress on Wednesday — one day ahead of his 100th day in office.

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Biden's Address To Congress, Annotated

President Biden delivers an address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday night, just ahead of his 100th day in office.

President Biden makes his first joint address to Congress Wednesday night. NPR reporters are providing live fact checks and analysis of Biden's remarks.

(Image credit: Chelsea Beck for NPR)

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California's 'White Gold' Rush: Lithium In Demand Amid Surge In Electric Vehicles

Rod Colwell, CEO of Controlled Thermal Resources, is among many hoping to transform the area around California

Automakers worry about a shortage of key minerals just as production of electric vehicles is set to spike. The Biden administration has called for boosting domestic production of them.

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