Violence triggered hunger crises in 2024Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is making a comeback that no one asked for. Recent federal data shows that cases of the vaccine-preventable disease this year have reached the highest levels in a decade. As of December 14, there have been 32,085 cases of pertussis reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this year. The toll represents a fivefold increase from the tally recorded in 2023, which only saw around 6,500 cases. There are several factors to blame for the surge, experts say, including declining vaccination rates. Pertussis is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis . The infection typically causes respiratory symptoms, most notably fits of coughing that have inspired its nickname (the “whooping” refers to the noise people often make when trying to breath after coughing). Though pertussis is typically mild in adults, the infection can be more serious in young children or other vulnerable populations, such as people with weakened immune systems. While the first pertussis vaccine was invented over a century ago , it wasn’t widely recommended and used until the late 1940s, when it paired with vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria. The combination shot has been a mainstay of vaccination programs in the U.S. ever since, and it’s helped greatly reduce the burden of pertussis. Prior to mass vaccination, for instance, there were between 100,000 and 300,000 cases of pertussis reported annually in the U.S. Since 2000, the U.S. had tens of thousands of annually reported pertussis cases. But as with many infectious diseases, the covid-19 pandemic indirectly reduced the spread of pertussis, thanks in part to people practicing social distancing. With the world and people’s social habits having largely returned to normal, the incidence of these diseases has climbed back up as well. So at least part of this year’s spike in cases could simply be a return to pre-pandemic trends, according to the CDC . That said, this year’s tally is unusually high for modern times. It’s the highest number of cases seen since 2014, when there were 32,971 cases. And in some states, experts and health officials have blamed lowering vaccination rates among residents and their children for the rise. Another important factor concerns the vaccine itself. In the U.S. and many other countries, people have switched to a newer, different form of the pertussis vaccine. While this vaccine is safer than the older, whole-cell version, evidence has shown that it provides less immediate and sustained protection from pertussis overall. As a result of this switch, experts have argued that future outbreaks of pertussis are likely to be larger when they happen. Still, vaccination remains the most crucial tool to keeping pertussis in check, and the less people are vaccinated against it, the greater the risk of sustained outbreaks. Worldwide—especially in countries with low vaccination coverage—pertussis causes 2.4 million annual cases, along with 161,000 deaths in children under five each year. In the U.S., about 80% of children under two have received the recommended full series of DTaP shots, 90% of teens have received at least one shot of the Tdap vaccine, and only 43% of adults over 18 have received a Tdap shot in the last ten years (boosters are recommended every decade).
Black Kos: What New Year's resolutions can our not-Black friends make to change what lies ahead?
NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVLV). Shareholders who purchased shares of EVLV during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery. CONTACT US HERE: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/evolv-technologies-holdings-inc-loss-submission-form-2/?id=113434&from=3 CLASS PERIOD: August 19, 2022 to October 30, 2024 ALLEGATIONS: According to the filed complaint, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: Company’s financial statements prepared for the periods between Q2 2022 through Q2 2024 contained material misstatements relating to improper revenue recognition and other reported metrics that are a function of revenue. In truth, Evolv’s sales, including sales to one of its largest channel partners, were subject to extra-contractual terms and conditions not shared with the Company’s accounting personnel, distorting the Company’s reported revenue and other metrics that are a function of revenue during the Class Period. What’s more, far from the Company’s touted “growing momentum” and “continued traction” with channel partners, the Company’s personnel was engaged in misconduct concerning sales to one of the Company’s largest channel partners. DEADLINE: December 31, 2024 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/evolv-technologies-holdings-inc-loss-submission-form-2/?id=113434&from=3 NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of EVLV during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is December 31, 2024. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case. WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is a nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: The Gross Law Firm 15 West 38th Street, 12th floor New York, NY, 10018 Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com Phone: (646) 453-8903Work on one of the state's largest solar farms has kicked off in the Upper Hunter. Login or signup to continue reading The $880 million Goulburn River solar farm, located near Merriwa, will produce 1.3 terawatt hours of renewable energy annually, enough to power 225,000 homes. The 1249 hectare project, which will save about 910,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, is due to commence operating by the end of 2026. The project will generate 350 construction jobs and support the local regional economy by preferencing local workers and businesses in the construction and operation of the project. Located between the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and the Hunter-Central Coast REZ , the project will have direct access to the existing electricity transmission network. It was recently announced as a successful project under the Australian Government's Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS). The program aims to accelerate investment in renewable energy generation and storage to ensure a reliable and affordable energy transition. "Australia is perfectly positioned to deliver on its energy transition, with abundant renewable resources that not only meet domestic needs but also offer significant potential for energy exports. While there's ongoing debate about the role of nuclear, the reality is that we have solutions today for firmed renewables - wind and solar backed by batteries - which are already proving to be the most cost-effective and reliable energy solution," Lightsource bp chief operating officer Adam Pegg said. "These projects set a new benchmark for how we approach all future developments, demonstrating how market-driven innovation can deliver cost-effective solutions that meet growing energy demands. By embracing firmed renewables, we can build a modern energy grid that is cleaner, more resilient, and capable of powering the nation's growth, driving both economic progress and sustainable development in a rapidly changing world." Lightsource bp has also begun work on its Woolooga Battery Energy Storage System in Queensland. In late 2023, Lightsource bp was awarded a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA) after a competitive tender process with the NSW government to provide long-duration energy storage services. As part of this, a long-duration battery will be installed at a later stage to enable hybridisation. The Independent Planning Commission will hold a public hearing next year into the proposed large-scale solar farm near Muswellbrook. OX2 in partnership with Idemitsu Australia proposes to develop a solar generation facility and associated infrastructure to be known as the Muswellbrook Solar Farm . The project includes a 135( MW) solar farm with battery storage. The site is located approximately 2.5km east of Muswellbrook, adjacent to the Muswellbrook Coal Mine, on land primarily owned by Idemitsu, the mine operator. It is accessed from Muscle Creek Road within the Muswellbrook Shire Council local government area and Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone. Coal mining operations at the Muswellbrook Coal Company site were completed at the beginning of 2023, after 115 years of operation. Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues. Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. 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KATE Moss has split from aristocrat boyfriend Count Nikolai von Bismarck after nine years together. Pals say the fun-loving supermodel , who turned 50 this year, has moved out of the London home she shared with the 37-year-old teetotal photographer. Meanwhile, Nikolai , who shares his family name with the legendary World War Two German battleship, wants a “quieter life”. A source said: “ Kate and Nikolai have been on and off for months, and eventually Kate felt the time was right to move on and cut ties. “She felt they were going on different journeys in life. And, at 50, Kate feels fabulous and like she wants to get back out there and have some fun in time for Christmas . “Despite being 13 years her junior, Nikolai wants to enjoy a quieter life. He remains on his sober path and they just have increasingly different hobbies and wants. READ MORE ON KATE MOSS “Her pals have been rallying around her, and are super supportive. “Obviously it’s a bit awkward because they move in similar social circles and he is the son of her great family friend Debbie von Bismarck. “But she and Nikolai remain on friendly terms, and are both adamant there won’t be any tension or hostility.” Pals say Kate has moved out of the couple’s London home. Most read in Celebrity They were family friends for four years before getting together in 2015. Harrow-educated Nikolai was rumoured to have dated Princess Beatrice. He is a great-great-grandson of 19th-century German Chancellor Otto, Prince of Bismarck. Giant World War Two battleship The Bismarck was named after him. It was sunk by the Royal Navy off France in 1941. Nikolia went sober in 2017 and Kate — once dubbed Late Moss by pals because of her love of all-nighters — gave up booze a year later. Two years ago she launched her own wellness range Cosmoss. In January they celebrated Kate’s 50th in Paris despite previous reports they were no longer dating . In recent months, Kate has been seen enjoying nights out while Nikolai has said he enjoys “being out of the limelight”. In May, it was revealed that Kate had struck up a close friendship with singer Skip Marley , grandson of late reggae legend Bob. The pair were snapped holding hands after a performance at the MedBodrum festival in Turkey . Meanwhile, Nikolai was linked to French-American model and actress Camille Rowe, an ex of Harry Styles . However, pals later suggested Kate and Nikolai had a “bohemian” relationship and were still together. Some friends believe Kate Moss has never got over a three-year relationship with Johnny Depp , which ended in 1997. She also famously dated Babyshambles wildman Pete Doherty, before marrying The Kills frontman Jamie Hince in 2011. They divorced four years later. She has a model daughter, Lila, from her relationship with publisher Jefferson Hack, in 2002. MOSS HAVE BEEN LOVE... BUT IT'S OVER NOW JOHNNY DEPP KATE led a Hollywood lifestyle with heart-throb Depp from 1994 to 1997. Things got off to a tempestuous start when Depp trashed a New York hotel room after a pal was said to have “screwed” him over. Depp caused £8,000 damage in the rampage while Kate slept. JEFFERSON HACK SHE dated fashion mogul Hack after her relationship with guitarist Antony Langdon. Their daughter, Lila Grace, was born in 2002, but her parents split in 2004. Reports suggest the pair continued to spend time with Lila Grace, who also chose a fashion career. PETE DOHERTY KATE met Pete at her 31st birthday bash in January 2005. In September, images emerged of her preparing cocaine — leading to her being dropped by two fashion houses. She and Pete split, reunited, went to rehab together, got engaged, then parted for good in July 2007. JAMIE HINCE KATE and Hince started dating in 2007 after mutual friends set them up. One year on they got engaged in Amsterdam and married in 2011 at a glitzy bash in Gloucs. READ MORE SUN STORIES They divorced in 2016. Kate is believed to have kept most of their combined wealth in an out-of-court deal.
US stocks are trading near their records as Wall Street takes Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs in stride, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 rose 0.3 per cent in morning trading and was on track to squeak past its all-time high set a couple of weeks ago. The Dow Jones lost 270 points, or 0.6 per cent, from its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.6 per cent higher. Wall Street has climbed despite Donald Trump’s tariffs threat. Credit: AP The Australian sharemarket is set to climb, with futures at 5.02am AEDT pointing to a rise of 41 points, or 0.5 per cent, at the open. The ASX lost 0.7 per cent on Tuesday. The Australian dollar lost ground. It was 0.8 per cent lower at 64.53 US cents at 5.13am AEDT. Stock markets abroad were down, but mostly only modestly, after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. Stock indexes were down 0.1 per cent in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada’s main index was down 0.4 per cent. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs, but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for US companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. General Motors sank 7.3 per cent, and Ford Motor fell 1.8 per cent. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beers in the United States, dropped 4.4 per cent. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause US households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun cutting its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple of months ago to offer support to the job market. While lower interest rates can boost the overall economy and prices for investments, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. Unlike tariffs in Trump’s first term, his proposal from Monday night would affect products across the board. Trump’s tariff talk came almost immediately after US stocks rose Monday amid excitement about his pick for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent. The hope was the hedge-fund manager could steer Trump away from policies that balloon the US government deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through taxes and other revenue. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another set of mixed profit reports from US retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates instituted by the Fed to get inflation under control. Kohl’s tumbled 20.4 per cent after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear, which helped drag its revenue lower. Kingsbury said a day earlier that he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 8 per cent after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 2.4 per cent. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among US consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. J.M. Smucker jumped 7.6 per cent for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500 after topping analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up US indexes. Gains of 2.7 per cent for Amazon and 1.9 per cent for Microsoft were two of the strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. In the bond market, Treasury yields rose following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.31 per cent from 4.28 per cent late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41 per cent level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $US99,000 for the first time late last week. It’s since dipped back toward $US93,400, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that had earlier taken over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled over into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day’s trading. Get it each we e kday afternoon .Dragons officially sign Australian rugby star ahead of Christmas break
