Italy triples pledge to provide other nations with COVID-19 vaccines
ROME (Reuters) – Italy plans to give other countries 45 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines before the end of the year, three times its original pledge, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Thursday. In a video message to a U.S.-hosted global COVID-19 Summit, Draghi said his government had previously promised to donate 15 million doses of vaccine by the end of the year. We will donate another 30 million additional doses by the end of the year to reach 45 million,” he said. Leaders from developing nations warned the U.N. General Assembly this week that COVID-19 vaccine hoarding by wealthy countries meant new coronavirus variants might emerge as infections increase in many places. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, in a speech to the U.N. on Tuesday, repeated China’s aim to provide 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to the world by the end of the year.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 19:07 UTC
Soccer-Pele sings for Santos as recovery continues
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Pele delighted fans of his former club Santos on Wednesday after his daughter posted a video of him singing the club’s anthem as the three-time World Cup winner continues his recovery from colon surgery. The former Santos, Brazil and New York Cosmos player has been in hospital since the start of September and the 80-year-old has improved enough to post videos of him doing exercises and using a stationary bicycle. On Wednesday, a singing duo called Marcia and Mykon visited him in his room and together they sang the Santos song. Pele’s daughter Kely posted the video on her Instagram page. His public appearances were already being cut before the COVID-19 pandemic and since then he has made few unnecessary forays outside his house near Santos.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 18:56 UTC
Mary Trump brands Donald Trump a "f***ing loser" after he sues her
Mary Trump, clinical psychologist and lesbian niece of Donald Trump, has called her uncle a “fucking loser” after he filed a lawsuit against her. In her memoir, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man, Mary Trump revealed that she had provided financial documents to the Times. Donald Trump had previously unsuccessfully sued his niece to prevent the book from being published last year. Mary Trump responded to the lawsuit in a blunt statement to the Daily Beast. “The Times‘ coverage of Donald Trump’s taxes helped inform citizens through meticulous reporting on a subject of overriding public interest,” they said.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 17:26 UTC
Capital Pride to host first annual Colorful Fest on third weekend in October
The Capital Pride Alliance will host the inaugural Colorful Fest, presented by Xfinity and Nissan, on Sunday, October 17. Organizers are hoping the event, which serves as a fundraiser for the Capital Pride Alliance and its GivePride365 Fund, which supports local charities and nonprofits, will become a new annual tradition, offering a fall-time event for the LGBTQ community to come together and celebrate its pride. The Colorful Fest will feature two parts: a block party and a street fair. Admission to the block party is $5, and all attendees must provide proof of vaccination to enter the parking lot. “Our goal is, as it is with the different stages of the Pride Festival, to show a variety of different types of talent,” Bos said.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 17:26 UTC
Golf-Cantlay uses gin analogy to explain Europe’s Ryder Cup dominance
If you play enough gin hands a one or two percent difference in skill translates to almost an assured win over many, many, many hands of gin,” said Cantlay. So would it surprise you if the U.S. went on a similar run to what Europe has been on for the next 20 years. “You flip a quarter it would be weird if the quarter flipped tails, heads, tails, heads, tails, heads. “You’re really going to ask a question like that and think you’re going to get the right answer? This is my first one.”By comparison, Ryder Cup team mate and world number two Dustin Johnson was much more succinct when asked the same question.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 17:15 UTC
Natick EMTs lauded for response to severe heart attack at Mass Pike plaza
FRAMINGHAM — MetroWest Medical Center recently honored five Natick emergency medical services members for their quick reaction to a report of a heart attack that occurred in May at a Mass Pike service plaza. They later provided the patient advanced life support on the way to MetroWest Medical Center, according to the release. “(EMTs and paramedics) are the first medical point of contact,” said Dr. George Kinzfogl, chief of cardiology at MetroWest Medical Center, in a statement. “Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States experiences a heart attack,” said Kinzfogl. “Here at MetroWest Medical Center we are proud to be a heart attack receiving hospital.”
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 16:41 UTC
The Lincoln-Sudbury golf team hopes to defend its title at Cape Cod National High School Invitational
CONCORD — Two years ago, the Lincoln-Sudbury boys golf team was invited to participate in the Cape Cod National Golf Club High School Invitational. After a year hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bodley is returning to Cape Cod National this weekend to lead a new contingent of Warrior golfers in a quest to win the nine-team tournament. In advance of their trip to Brewster, Bodley has yet to offer any words of wisdom to his teammates about what it's like to play at Cape Cod National. "It's a cool course we hear and we are really excited to play at Cape Cod National." Even though three of the four in the L-S contingent haven't played at Cape Cod National before, Banard isn't worried.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 16:30 UTC
Exclusive-White House backs plan for renewable energy industry tax partnerships
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House is backing a plan by House of Representatives Democrats to let renewable energy firms form tax-advantaged partnerships that the oil and gas industry has used for decades to build out the U.S. pipeline and storage infrastructure, according to three people familiar with the matter. The expansion would allow the renewable energy industry – from wind and solar to biofuels like ethanol – to form master limited partnerships, known as MLPs, that combine the funding advantages of corporations with the tax advantages of partnerships. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed White House support for the plan, which is estimated to cost the U.S. Treasury almost $1 billion in lost tax revenue over a decade. The Alerian MLP Index, a gauge of energy infrastructure MLPs, is currently valued at nearly $200 billion. The renewable energy industry has long sought access to the corporate structure as a way to even the playing field.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 15:11 UTC
Summit to debunk myths, stigma around HIV for Michigan youth
ShutterstockOrganizers of a summit about sexual health will provide a safe space for young Michiganders to have conversations about HIV prevention and care. Organizers of a summit about sexual health will provide a safe space on Friday for young Michiganders to have open, honest and affirming conversations about HIV prevention and care. More than 15,000 Michigan residents live with HIV , and the stigma associated with it often keeps people from getting tested and knowing their status.Natasha Thomas, Genesee County program coordinator for the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health , said it's important that young people are able to talk about HIV and sexual health. "She said the "HIV and You(th) Summit" is geared toward folks ages 13 to 24 and adults who work with youths. She said there are few spaces where young people can go to get up-to-date, medically accurate information about sexual health.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 14:44 UTC
Colorado's Jared Polis becomes first sitting governor to have same-sex wedding
Jared Polis (D) has become the first sitting U.S. governor to marry their same-sex partner. Polis married his husband, Marlon Reis, in a small ceremony on Sept. 15, the 18th anniversary of their first date. “We are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate our life together as a married couple,” he said. We are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate our life together as a married couple. pic.twitter.com/psBhfEoEny — Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) September 15, 2021Speaking to NPR after their wedding, Reis said that he and his husband “didn’t set out to be the first of anything.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 13:18 UTC
EU plans 120 billion euro economic boost by easing insurance rules
LONDON (Reuters) -The European Union proposed changing the bloc’s capital rules for insurers on Wednesday to release 120 billion euros ($141 billion) for repairing an economy hit by COVID and to meet climate goals without eroding policyholder protection. Britain, which is home to the world’s biggest commercial insurance market and left the EU last December, has also begun reviewing the capital rules known as Solvency II. Anticipating concerns it was rowing back on rules, the EU said Solvency II would remain the “gold standard”. ‘WRONG DIRECTION’The rule changes, which need approval from EU states and the European Parliament, would release 90 billion euros in the short term and a further 30 billion euros in the long term. EU insurance watchdog EIOPA will conduct centralised climate stress tests of the sector, with insurers also required to conduct long-term climate scenario analysis, it said.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 12:11 UTC
Exclusive-JPMorgan faces oil bribery probe in Brazil
The court documents viewed by Reuters include witness testimony from a former Petrobras fuel trader named Rodrigo Berkowitz. He has previously confirmed that his client is cooperating with U.S. and Brazilian authorities investigating the commodity trading industry. Vitol admitted wrongdoing as part of a 2020 settlement with U.S. and Brazilian authorities and has said that is pleased the matter has been resolved. The documents also included internal Petrobras files and testimony from a former Petrobras fuel trader. Among the matters Brazilian authorities are trying to determine is the timeline of the alleged JPMorgan bribery operation.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 11:41 UTC
Energy trader Vitol, China’s BYD partner on EV infrastructure
LONDON (Reuters) – Vitol has partnered with China’s BYD to allocate an initial $250 million to expand electric vehicle infrastructure in some markets, the energy trading firm said on Wednesday. “Together they will offer municipal, corporate and others a comprehensive solution including electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and depot design,” the statement said. Vitol is currently deploying over 300 electric buses in Bogota, Colombia, and is seeking additional opportunities in South America and further afield. “We are excited by the potential and intend to grow our fleet tenfold in the coming years,” Andrew de Pass, Vitol’s head of renewables, said in the statement. (Reporting by Julia Payne; editing by Jason Neely)
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 11:15 UTC
Entain soars on DraftKings bid; MGM keeps poker face
“The board of Entain will carefully consider the proposal,” said Entain, led by new CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen. DraftKings has until Oct. 19 to either make a firm bid or walk away. DraftKings’ interest comes weeks after it clinched a $1.6 billion deal to buy U.S. rival Golden Nugget. JP Morgan analysts said that to win MGM’s approval, DraftKings may have to sell Entain’s 50% stake in BetMGM to MGM, leaving DraftKings with Entain’s rest-of-the-world operations, as well as its technology and expertise. Alternatively, DraftKings could seek to merge with BetMGM, giving MGM a stake in the new company.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 09:56 UTC
Marlborough's Jim Forrest Road Race takes place for 37th year on Sunday
MARLBOROUGH — The 37th annual Jim Forrest Memorial Road Race starts at 11 a.m. Sunday from the Wayside Athletic Club on Broadmeadow Street. Thrive Support & Advocacy Inc. is hosting the event. The Worcester- and Marlborough- based nonprofit provides support services, residential programs and recreational activities for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities and their families. “It’s not an area in our agency that gets much funding from the state,” Rose said. “It’s really easy to look back at the last 18 months or so and be pessimistic or frustrated,” he said.
Source:MetroXpress
September 22, 2021 09:00 UTC