Group | Common News Update

Jun232022 by adminNo Comments

Bipartisan group defends sequoia tree bill in California despite environmental groups’ opposition

Science

June 23 (UPI) -- A bipartisan trio of lawmakers defended the "Save Our Sequoias Act" on Thursday despite more than 80 environmental groups signing a letter to Congress opposing the act earlier this month. The bill introduced on Wednesday is aimed at expediting reforestation and protection efforts in California's Sequoia National Forest. But more than 80 environmental organizations signed a letter to members of Congress earlier this month, arguing that the bill could do even more damage to giant sequoias by weakening environmental regulations. "Protecting the iconic Giant Sequoias is an important goal, but this legislation would weaken existing environmental law to expedite potentially harmful logging projects that undermine the ecological integrity of sequoia groves and will do nothing to...

Apr42021 by adminNo Comments

Police uncover teenage girl ‘suicide’ Instagram group

Technology

Getty ImagesSocial media groups involving teenage girls that led to "suicidal crises" and "serious self-harm" have been uncovered by police, BBC News has learned.Twelve girls, aged between 12 and 16 years old and from across southern England, were part of an Instagram chat group whose name refers to suicide.The group was discovered when three of the girls went missing and were found seriously unwell in London.Instagram says it found no suicide or self-harm related content in the group. 'Serious self-harm'BBC News has obtained a police briefing about the investigation which discovered the online groups.It says "peer-to-peer influence increased suicidal ideation amongst the children involved to the extent that several escalated to suicidal crises and serious self-harm."How can we protect soc...

Mar282021 by adminNo Comments

England Under-21s lose AGAIN as Aidy Boothroyd’s side beaten by Portugal to leave them rock bottom of Euro 2021 group

Sports

England Under-21s were left rock bottom of Euro 2021 Group D as they were beaten 2-0 by Portugal on Sunday evening. It is two straight defeats for Aidy Boothroyd’s side in the tournament without scoring a single goal. AFP England Under-21s were poor again at Euro 2021 Pressure is growing on the manager with his side struggling despite a wealth of talent at his disposal. Noni Madueke and Japhet Tanganga were given their England Under-21 debuts for the vital Euro 2021 following the opening 1-0 defeat to Switzerland. Steven and Ryan Sessegnon were also recalled by boss Aidy Boothroyd, with Callum Hudson-Odoi missing from the squad through injury. Getty England Under-21s have plenty of talent, including Arsenal’s Emile...

Feb192021 by adminNo Comments

Group of U.S. attorneys general urge President Joe Biden to cancel $50K in student debt

Business

Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A group of attorneys general from more than a dozen states called on President Joe Biden and Congress Friday to cancel up to $ 50,000 in federal student loan debt per borrower, an issue that the new administration has yet to fully embrace. In a letter addressed to Biden, the group asked the president to take executive action supporting Senate Resolution 46 and House Resolution 100, two separate measures that aim to cancel the same debt. Advertisement "When borrowers are unable to manage their Federal student loan repayment, the consequences can be catastrophic," the group wrote in the letter. "As many as one in five federal student loan borrowers are in default. Many are unable to manage their debt due to disability, illness, or job loss." The attorneys general argue tha...

Jan262021 by adminNo Comments

South African Muslim group safely buries its virus dead

World

JOHANNESBURG -- Not even the full protective gear can mask the respect with which the men wash the body of a newly deceased member of their Muslim community.“To Allah we belong. Unto him shall we return. Ghusal Room 1,” reads a sign, referring to ghusal, the Muslim cleansing ritual, at the entrance to a room designated for victims of COVID-19.The body is shrouded, placed in a coffin and buried in a nearby cemetery in Lenasia, a community of about 100,000 people on the outskirts of Johannesburg.For more than 30 years the Saaberie Chishty ambulance service, funded by community donations, has responded to medical emergencies. Now the service has greatly expanded to offer oxygen and home care for those with mild COVID-19 cases, and transport to the hospital for those with more severe illness.C...