The U.S. Department of Energy has released a report that finds it’s highly likely that the Covid-19 pandemic was caused by a laboratory leak from a facility in Wuhan, China. The report also admits to having “low confidence” in its findings, but this is actually a sign of strength. It’s a refreshing break from the overconfidence we’ve seen in the debate around Covid’s origin.

The lab leak hypothesis has been gaining traction for several months, but the Department of Energy’s report finally provides much-needed support. This resource-intensive investigation involved contributions from three different agencies: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.

Although the report’s authors did not definitively conclude that a lab leak was to blame,

President Joe Biden's student debt relief plan, which impacts millions of borrowers who could see their loans wiped away or reduced, is heading to the Supreme Court. The court has scheduled two hours of arguments in the case Tuesday, though it is likely to go longer. If the plan passes, 43 million borrowers will have some loan forgiveness, with 20 million of those becoming eligible for complete relief.

Payments on federal student loans remain paused for the time being and interest rates on these loans are set at zero percent. Collections agencies are further barred from attempting to collect overdue debts. However, payments could remain paused through August only if the court issues its decision soon.

Biden's debt forgiveness plan applies only to loans issued before June 30, 2022, meaning students who just started their studies and who borrowed this year are ineligible for the plan.

If Biden's plan does pass, borrowers in

On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that gives him new power over Walt Disney World, effectively punishing the entertainment giant for speaking out against his political agenda. At a Reedy Creek fire station in Lake Buena Vista, DeSantis made a statement about the new law: "Today, the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end. There's a new sheriff in town and accountability will be the order of the day."

The bill seeks to take control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the government body that has granted Disney special powers for more than fifty years. Under the law, DeSantis is able to replace the current board, which is mostly composed of people with Disney ties, with a board in which he hand-picks the members.

The move comes nearly one year after the company spoke out against a Florida bill - which DeSantis later signed

Last night, the finale of America’s Got Talent: All-Stars saw the Top 11 contestants giving it their all in hope to win the title and get their show in Las Vegas. The finalists have all been seen by America via their incredible performances on the show, which they have all immensely improved since their first performance on the show.

Amongst these talented acts were Light Balance Kids, a dance group who earned a golden buzzer; Detroit Youth Choir, a chorale group also earning a golden buzzer; Mike E. Winfield, a stand-up comedian who gained a golden buzzer; Aidan McCann, a child magician who also was given the golden buzzer; and Tom Ball, a singer who was chosen to move forward in the last audition. The superfans voted for hand-balancers Bello Sisters, aerialist Aidan Bryant, saxophonist

On Tuesday, February 27th, the Supreme Court heard arguments on President Joe Biden's plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loans for most borrowers, at an estimated cost of $400 billion. The plan has been blocked by legal challenges from six Republican-led states that argue the president has acted outside of his authority, and the question of whether Biden's plan is legal now rests with the Supreme Court. The government has reported that 26 million borrowers have applied for student loan relief, 16 million of which had had their relief approved.

If the Supreme Court decides the president acted within his authority, the debt cancellation plan could benefit 43 million borrowers overall, with 20 million people having their debt erased entirely. Opponents of the plan argue it an abuse of executive authority that rewards those without need and bypasses Congress. Meanwhile, the White House insists its plan falls comfortably within the plain text of the existing HERO

The Westfield area is preparing for a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday. The Department of Public Works is ready for whatever conditions arise, stocking up on salt mixtures and materials to keep the roads safe. Acting director Francis Cain said they would be pre-treating roads and re-applying product and plowing as needed. Local hardware stores are stocking shovels and ice melt, as well as other winter weather necessities.

Westfield Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said he would wait until later in the day on Monday to decide whether to call a snow day on Tuesday. Last year the district had five snow days built into their calendar, and so far only one has been used. If the superintendent decides on a snow day, that would be the second this year and would push the last day of school back to June 21st.

Residents and visitors to the Westfield area should

A US intelligence assessment from the Department of Energy's Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence has reignited the debate over Covid-19's origins. The new assessment endorses the "lab leak theory" - the minority view that the virus occurred as a result of work in a Chinese lab - and has sparked responses from members of Congress who have pushed for an investigation into the origins.

Recent polling suggests that a majority of Americans believe the Chinese government had something to do with the virus, with 52% believing a lab leak was responsible. This has prompted Republicans in the House majority to form a subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee specifically to probe China’s role in the early spread of the virus and US government dollars that were used to finance research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Scientists are still mainly inclined to believe the virus occurred naturally in animals and spread to humans in an outbreak at a market in Wuh

The White House on Monday downplayed a report that the Department of Energy determined a lab leak was the most likely cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, informing that no government consensus has been reached yet. White House national security spokesperson, John Kirby, stated that the president "wants facts, and the whole government is designed to go get those facts and we're just not there yet."

The Energy Department has supposedly produced a study with "low confidence", containing intelligence information which led to a shift in the belief that the virus had jumped from an animal host outside a lab. Kirby and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre have refused to confirm or deny the report yet.

Since the pandemic first started in early 2020, the U.S. intelligence community has been attempting to learn more about its origin, with Republicans making particular suggestions towards a lab in Wuhan, China.

Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of Fox News and News Corp, acknowledged providing Jared Kushner, former Trump advisor and the president's son-in-law, confidential information concerning former presidential candidate Joe Biden's ad campaign and debate strategies prior to the 2020 election, according to court documents unsealed Monday. These documents were released as part of a high-stakes lawsuit between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News.

A spokesperson from Fox News declined to comment on Dominion's claims, stating that Dominion was 'mischaracterizing the facts.' They further added that Dominion was choosing to focus on 'irrelevant evidence' as an attempt to generate publicity, as opposed to factual content. This comes in light of a defamation lawsuit filed against Fox News by Dominion for $1.6 billion in damages, claiming that the network gave 'prominence to the election-fraud claims as a tactic to revive viewership.'

Fox

The U.S. Energy Department has found that the Covid pandemic most likely originated from an accidental laboratory leak, according to a classified intelligence report recently made available to key members of Congress and the White House. This shift from the previous position of the department—which was declared undecided about the origins of the coronavirus—challenges the assessments of other intelligence agencies, which have not changed their prior conclusions.

To gain clarity, officials from the Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines' office pulled together new intelligence which conveyed the Energy Department's conclusion, though it was determined to be of "low confidence". This news has sparked interest in determining the origin of the pandemic and taking any lessons into account for the future, as Covid has caused nearly seven million deaths to date.

WASHINGTON -- In a recently classified intelligence report provided to the White House and key members of Congress, the U.S. Energy Department allegedly concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak. This is a shift from its stance before, when the Energy Department was undecided on how the virus emerged.

The Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines's office noted the shift in an update to a 2021 document. These recent developments bring more attention to the possibility of a lab leak and are likely to raise further questions from the public.

While the exact origin of the virus is still unknown, the report has added to the mounting evidence that it originated in a lab. Other countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, have previously expressed a belief that Covid did not naturally occur, which supports the leaked Energy Department document.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is also

On Sunday, Feb. 26, a tornado heavily damaged several homes in Liberal, Kansas. The resulting destruction caused power outages due to downed power lines and extensive damage to multiple homes. Misgivings of a school day were lifted the morning after the storm proved to be less severe than initially anticipated. One resident, Kelli Roberts, who had been living in Liberal for 35 years remembered the harrowing experience. "It was really dark and cloudy and kind of ominous a little bit," Roberts said of what became her first experience witnessing a tornado. Roberts and her father had been eating dinner when the tornado struck, and as the house shook, she was quick to take shelter in the basement. Describing the experience once outside of the house, Roberts remarked "We made it just in time. Because we were going down the stairs, and the roof goes 'whoosh.' It (made) a big ole smash and it was so loud."

Monday's soccer game between Lazio and Sampdoria is a must-watch for fans of Italian Serie A. Lazio are fifth in the league, two points from fourth place. Meanwhile, Sampdoria are 19th and eight points away from safety but only 15 matches left to play, making this match a huge opportunity for them to gain some much-needed points.

The game will be streamed live on Paramount+ with kick-off set for 2:45pm ET, on Monday, February 27, 2023. Lazio enter the match as -240 favorites on the money line, while Sampdoria is listed at +700. The draw is priced at +330 and the over/under for total goals is 2.5.

SportsLine analyst Martin Green believes that Lazio should take the victory. As he has generated almost $33,000 for $100 bettors since

One year after Vladimir Putin sent Russian troops into Ukrainian territory, intense anti-Western rhetoric remains in place to justify the conflict. This rhetoric dates back to Ukraine's Maidan Revolution of 2014 and the Orange Revolution of 2004. Historian Francoise Thom, an expert on post-communist Russia, spoke with FRANCE 24 outlining the significant events that began this war.

The Orange Revolution centered around the 2004 elections in Ukraine, where candidate Viktor Yanukovych, backed by Putin, lost the popular vote to a pro-European candidate named Victor Yushchenko. This was a "humiliating ordeal" for Putin, according to Thom, and led to a level of paranoia that placed the blame for Yanukovych's loss on interference by the United States. Although Putin had already been vocal against NATO and the West, Ukraine's heavy pro-European leanings solidified this anti-Western rhetoric.

Since the beginning of the

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill Monday that places Disney World’s special tax district under state control. The Republican-backed bill rebrands the district as the "Central Florida Tourism Oversight District" and gives DeSantis the authority to appoint a five-person oversight board than Disney formerly held. The move follows months of conflict between DeSantis and Disney after DeSantis supported Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, which DeSantis insisted the changes to its special tax district would not result in any additional tax burden for Floridians, who were concerned the overhead would fall onto them.

The district’s debt obligations and other financial structures remained intact, and Disney is responsible for its fair share of taxes and debt according to DeSantis. The changes represent another setback for Disney which is going through a turnaround

The Supreme Court of the United States is currently hearing arguments around President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program. The program, with potential benefits estimated around $430 billion, would provide a significant financial relief for many student loan borrowers. In order to be eligible, individual borrowers must have earned less than $125,000 in either 2020 or 2021, and married couples or heads of households who made less than $250,000 annually in those years could see up to $10,000 of their federal student loan debt forgiven. Furthermore, individuals with Pell grants in college may be eligible for up to $20,000 of debt forgiveness..

Federal Direct Loans, include subsidies, unsubsidized loans, parent PLUS loans and graduate PLUS loans, are also eligible for this program, while federal student loans held by private lenders , such as some Federal Family Education Loans, are not eligible unless the borrower applies to consolidate those loans into

Britain and the EU have reached a decisive agreement to prevent a trade war, thanks to urgent efforts by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. This development, however, has led to backlash from hardline Euroskeptics in the Conservative Party, which calls for an immediate vote by Parliament.

King Charles III, who held a meeting with von der Leyen in Windsor Castle for tea, has been mentioned as a potential arbiter for the controversial deal. Ex-Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster has publicly criticized the decision, but Buckingham Palace maintains that the King is pleased to meet any world leader visiting Britain.

The crux of the matter is a set of new trade rules as it applies to Northern Ireland, a British province that shares a land border with Ireland, an EU member state. This has been the bane of Brexit negotiations for months due to the

A Chinese university has made headlines recently with a revolutionary invention- a “kissing device” intended to provide long-distance couples with a comedic and innovative way to still share intimate moments. Changzhou Vocational Institute of Mechatronic Technology has patented the invention, which came out of the long-distance struggle of inventor Jiang Zhongli, hoping the device would help lovers experience the “authentic feeling of kissing each other.”

The device is equipped with a mouth-shaped module to position the two “lovers” on either side, with pressure sensors and cutting-edge technology inside to transfer the movements and force of the kiss. It links to the phone via Bluetooth and app. Through plugging the phone into the device, the kisser can gain access to the device and their partner.

Global Times reported that the device also serves

Residents of Oklahoma are being warned to brace themselves for a powerful wind storm, with widespread severe gusts of up to 110 miles per hour and strong tornado potential, expected to hit in the evening on Sunday. The National Weather Service has warned the storm is a derecho with a line of fast-moving thunderstorms and could span across western, northern and northeastern Oklahoma.

In order to prepare for these potentially damaging winds and tornadoes, the National Weather Service has urged Oklahomans to secure loose objects and drive cautiously, or stay away from doors and windows if in the most high-risk southwestern area of the state. The Oklahoma Weather Service suggests that residents anticipate possible power outages and prepare for potential F3 tornado classification with wind speeds higher than 200 m.p.h.

Multiple wind advisories are in effect, with Sunday afternoon having the most favorable potential for supercell tornadoes and very large hail. In addition

Mumbai residents have been increasingly concerned with the city's poor air quality. On Monday morning, the city's temperature stood at 21degC while the air quality index (AQI) was at 211. These poor air quality conditions have led to increases in health concerns for adults and children alike.

The India Meteorological Department forecasts clear skies for the next 48 hours with a maximum temperature of 35degC and a minimum of 19degC. The PM2.5 and PM10 levels stood at 211 and 151 units, respectively, as of 9 am.

71-year-old Nadir Godrej, Chairman of Godrej Agrovet, told Moneycontrol during a media meet that air pollution is becoming a major factor when it comes to decisions for real estate purchases. Solutions for controlling air quality are not that difficult, according to Godrej, speaking of the government's attempt to address the problem.

After three years of the Covid-19 pandemic, US intelligence agencies have reevaluated their assessment of the virus’s origin. The Department of Energy’s Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence conducted a review based on new intelligence, "further study of academic literature, and consultation with experts outside government," according to a senior US intelligence official in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Despite the updated assessment, the source said it was similar to prior information from a House Republican Intelligence Committee report released last year.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment and Republicans in Congress have been pushing for further investigations into the lab leak theory, with House Oversight Chairman James Comer citing "classified information provided" by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in response to a request earlier this month.

The Biden administration has asserted that the largest intelligence agencies are still in agreement about the virus's origin

As a winter storm moves northeast through the country, parts of Connecticut are preparing for accumulating snowfall. The National Weather Service has issued both a winter storm watch and a winter weather advisory, predicting between 4 and 10 inches of snow by Tuesday evening.

The winter storm watch covers Litchfield County, while the remainder of the state is under a winter weather advisory. According to the National Weather Service, the southern coast of Connecticut can expect between 3-5 inches of snow between 7 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m. Tuesday. For Hartford, Tolland, and Windham County, 4-6 inches of snow is forecast between 7 p.m. Monday and 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Preceding the snowfall, residents of parts of Connecticut may experience light rain and even snow showers Tuesday morning with minor flooding in Southern Fairfield and New Haven counties

Lisa Ann Walter and Elaine Hendrix graced the red carpet of the 2023 SAG Awards on Sunday with a surprise 'Parent Trap' reunion. The two starred together in the 1998 classic Disney film, with Walter playing Chessy and Hendrix playing Meredith Blake.

Walter wore an off-the-shoulder black gown with a deep neckline, a velvet bodice, and embellished puff sleeves and skirt, while Hendrix donned a classic black tuxedo and bowtie. With their reunion, the internet went wild with fans posting about the much loved duo.

While being interviewed on the red carpet, Hendrix said that Walter asked her to accompany her as her date, saying “Lisa called me and asked me to be her date, and I’m like, 'Oh, I’m going to be your date, girl.'” to which

A new assessment issued by the United States government has determined with “low confidence" that COVID-19 likely originated from a laboratory leak in China. This assessment has sparked debate over how the pandemic was handled and continues to be a cause of tension between the US and China.

The US Department of Energy’s report comes after the National Intelligence Council and four other government agencies concluded that it is still most likely that the virus originated naturally from an infected animal. Republican lawmakers are seizing on the news as evidence that they were right all along, while some scientists remain unconvinced.

“The same people who shamed us, canceled us, & wanted to put us in jail for saying covid came from the Wuhan Lab ... are starting to say what we said all along,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.)

As the nation awaits the Supreme Court's ruling this Tuesday on two lawsuits brought against President Joe Biden's plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for federal borrowers, members of Congress and progressive advocates have united to bring the issue of higher education loan debt to the forefront of public discourse.

Democratic lawmakers have made the final call to the Supreme Court to uphold Biden's signature plan and make a judgement based upon the law as it is written. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has remarked that Biden should certainly have the authority to forgive student loan debt. But what the lawmakers, non-profits, and student debtors all want to know, is if the majority of media coverage surrounding this issue has remained impartial and informative.

A recent analysis explored the coverage of Biden's unprecedented proposal to forgive $400 billion in federal student debt, finding that 100 stories from major news outlets like Los Angeles Times