Guilty on All Counts | Brazen 'Big Bird' Burglary

“Murder in the full light of day.” That’s what President Joe Biden called the killing of George Floyd last night after the historic guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin’s trial. Shortly after the former police officer was found guilty on all three counts of murder and manslaughter, Biden called Floyd’s family, telling them, “We’re all so relieved.” However, Biden stressed more must be done to combat racial injustice. Chauvin will be sentenced in eight weeks and faces up to 40 years in prison, though he’s expected to appeal, arguing that the jury was prejudiced by media coverage.

Sources: NYT, Reuters

What do you think? Does Chauvin’s conviction signal fundamental change? Vote here.

2. UN Wants Proof of Life for Missing Dubai Princess

Princess or prisoner? The United Nations has asked for proof that the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is not being held against her will. Two months ago Sheikha Latifa released a video saying she was being held hostage at a villa, but the United Arab Emirates insisted she was being cared for at home. In a joint statement, UN human rights experts called for “independent verification of the conditions under which she is being held, and for her immediate release.” Latifa, 35, previously made a daring attempt to escape Dubai by sea.

Sources: The Guardian, BBC

3. Xi and Biden to Meet at Virtual Climate Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping has confirmed he’ll attend President Biden’s virtual climate summit, which starts tomorrow. Despite rising tensions between the countries, Xi, who last year pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, will deliver a speech at the Earth Day event. Biden, who rejoined the Paris climate accord after taking office, is expected to announce the U.S. will cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 50 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reintroduced her Green New Deal yesterday, slamming the “false notion that we have to choose between our planet and our economy.”

Sources: SCMP, Politico, Al Jazeera

4. Apple Rolls Out New Range of Sleek Products

Apple fanatics rejoice! The tech giant introduced new gadgets in its first product event of 2021, including tags to find lost items, a slim new iMac in seven colors and a purple iPhone. It also announced an updated iPad Pro with 5G technology and a podcast subscription service to compete with Spotify, which comes as CEO Tim Cook looks to build the company’s digital services. AirTags, bluetooth gadgets that can help you track misplaced things like your keys, will compete with a similar product from Tile Inc. and will be available from April 30.

Sources: Bloomberg, Washington Post, WSJ (sub), BI

5. Also Important …

China and Iran have topped Amnesty International’s latest list of the world’s most prolific users of capital punishment. Turkey has postponed a peace summit it was holding on Afghanistan after the Taliban refused to attend. And a study has found that six or less hours of sleep per night after the age of 50 can increase risks of dementia.

Coronavirus Update: The benefits of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine outweigh the risks, EU regulators said yesterday, though they said it should carry a warning about rare blood clots. The WHO has warned that the number of global COVID-19 cases is accelerating, with last week seeing the most new cases since the pandemic started.

What comes up if you Google “Fluffy”? Thanks to genius branding and leaning into his mother’s nickname, it’s probably hilarious comedian Gabriel Iglesias. Today Fluffy is on The Carlos Watson Show to share his best advice for up-and-coming comics and some stand-out memories from his illustrious career. Will you see him in the next action blockbuster? Watch now.

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Forget Bonnie and Clyde. Two pranksters calling themselves “The Big Bird Bandits” have amused Australia by stealing a costume worth over $120,000 from an Adelaide circus over the weekend — then returning it today with an apology in its beak. “We had a great time with Mr Bird, he's a great guy and no harm came to our friend,” it read, with the thieves apologizing for being “such a big birden.” The Sesame Street-approved yellow ostrich-feathered costume from the U.S. took months to make. Police are searching for the suspects, who could face charges.

Sources: ABC, The Australian

2. Former Children’s Commissioner Sues TikTok Over Data

The Chinese-owned app is being sued on behalf of millions of children in the EU and U.K. over allegations that it collects kids’ information, including location, phone numbers and biometric data, without the consent required by law. The case has been brought by former children’s commissioner for England Anne Longfield, who says TikTok is “a data collection service that is thinly veiled as a social network.” The company responded, “We have robust policies, processes and technologies in place to help protect all users, and our teenage users in particular,” adding it plans to fight the allegations.

Sources: BBC, Sky

3. ‘Languishing’: The New Pandemic Mental Health Buzzword

Not depressed but not okay? Just a bit meh? There’s a term for the pandemic malaise you may be feeling: “languishing.” It means you’re muddling along, but not thriving, according to psychologist Adam Grant. Languishing is the “neglected middle child of mental health,” and like “looking at your life through a foggy windshield,” Grant writes in a piece for The New York Times, explaining it might be the dominant emotion of 2021. So what can you do about it? Grant recommends focusing on manageable small goals and giving yourself some uninterrupted time when you can focus.

Sources: NYT, The Times

4. Banned Nigerian Televangelist ‘Prays’ for YouTube

He thinks you can “pray away the gay.” That’s why YouTube shut down the channel of multimillion-dollar Nigerian televangelist T.B. Joshua. In response, the leader of the Lagos-based Synagogue Church of All Nations urged followers to “pray for YouTube.” Joshua, a household name across Africa whose net worth is listed by Forbes at around $15 million, routinely posts conversion therapy videos where he slaps or chastises LGBT followers, who then testify they no longer feel same-sex attraction. His channel had nearly 2 million subscribers before it was deactivated, and Joshua said he’s appealing YouTube’s decision.

Sources: CNN, AFP

5. Six British Soccer Teams Withdraw in ‘Super Lexit’

It took Prime Minister Boris Johnson years to get Brexit done, but he’s been quicker to organize Super Lexit. All six English clubs that joined the newly formed European Super League this week have now backed out after it sparked fury among fans, the sport’s governing bodies and even politicians. Johnson, who’d vowed to use legal means if necessary to stop its formation, tweeted, “This is the right result for football fans, clubs, and communities across the country.” Italy’s Inter Milan is also set to withdraw, but none of the other Italian or Spanish teams have yet commented.

Sources: BBC, AFP

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