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MARKETS LIVE BLOG:

STOCKS SINK AFTER REPORT SAYS BIDEN EYEING HIGHER CAPITAL GAINS TAX ON THE WEALTHY

Existing home sales drop more than expected in March; prices rise at record rate

Bradley Beal with a dunk vs the Memphis Grizzlies

Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards) with a dunk vs the Memphis Grizzlies, 03/02/2021

Latest Stories

  • SpaceX aims for 3rd crew launch hour before Friday's sunrise

    SpaceX aimed to launch its third crew a little before sunrise Friday, this time using a recycled capsule and rocket. The four astronauts, representing the U.S., Japan and France, were supposed to fly to the International Space Station on Thursday. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule requires calm waves and winds in case an emergency splashdown is needed during the climb to orbit.

  • Stimulus checks: IRS sends 2 million more payments in latest round

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  • Big Al's Sports Picks Launches A Robust Content Library To Explain Common Sports Concepts

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  • Jacksonville's Urban renewal begins with QB Trevor Lawrence

    1, 25. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-15) LAST SEASON: Jacksonville dropped its final 15 games, a franchise-record skid that got general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Doug Marrone fired. The losing streak also allowed the Jaguars to land the No. 1 pick for the first time in their 26-year history. Hello, Trevor Lawrence! Jacksonville has used six starting quarterbacks in the past three years: Gardner Minshew, Jake Luton, Mike Glennon, Nick Foles, Blake Bortles and Cody Kessler. That inconsistency at the all-important position has led to a 12-36 record since making the AFC championship game in 2017. FREE AGENCY: With more money and more holes than anyone else, Jacksonville chose the value route. New coach Urban Meyer and general manager Trent Baalke avoided the highest-priced free agents and ended up signing 14 newcomers, including WR Marvin Jones, CB Shaquil Griffin, S Rayshawn Jenkins and DL Roy Robertson-Harris. Jacksonville also traded for DT Malcom Brown. The most surprising decision was re-signing more than a dozen guys from the previous regime, including LT Cam Robinson, DE Dawuane Smoot and CBs Tre Herndon and Sidney Jones. THEY NEED: QB, S, TE, DL, OLB, RB. THEY DON’T NEED: OL, WR, ILB, CB, P, K. POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: Clemson’s Lawrence is the slam-dunk choice, pairing him and Meyer as the faces of the franchise for the foreseeable future. OUTLOOK: It’s no coincidence that Meyer’s foray into the NFL comes with a team he can shape quickly. The longtime college coach with three national championships has 10 draft picks, including five of the first 65 selections, and will put his blueprint on a small-market franchise that has enjoyed little success over the past two decades. Knowing Lawrence was a viable QB option surely swayed Meyer’s decision to leave the broadcast booth and return to the sideline. Lawrence is widely regarded as the most NFL-ready QB prospect since Andrew Luck and should give Meyer and Jacksonville a chance for early and sustained success. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL The Associated Press

  • Kumbh Mela and election rallies: How two super spreader events have contributed to India’s massive second wave of COVID-19 cases

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  • Stocks Drop on Biden Plan to Lift Capital-Gain Tax: Markets Wrap

    (Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks fell after President Joe Biden was said to propose doubling the capital gains tax to near 40% for the wealthy.The S&P 500 turned lower after Bloomberg News reported the likely proposed plan on how investment income is taxed. Speculation arose that some investors may sell shares before any change is made to capture the lower rate. Stocks had been mixed throughout the session amid mixed economic data and renewed concern the pandemic was worsening in some major economies.Most major groups in the S&P 500 fell, led by commodity, consumer and technology shares. AT&T Inc. rallied after beating profit estimates amid gains in wireless customers and growth in subscribers to its streaming service. Data Thursday showed sales of previously owned U.S. homes slid in March to a seven-month low, while jobless claims posted an unexpected decline last week.A gauge of market breadth suggests investor concerns remain. The percentage of Russell 2000 members trading above their 50-day moving average fell below 40%, compared to about 80% for the large-cap S&P 500, a smidgen off a record gap, according to data compiled by Bloomberg going back to 1995. It’s too early to tell whether this can morph into something larger, but previous instances have led to subsequent pressure on U.S. stocks, wrote Sundial Capital Research founder Jason Goepfert in a note to clients.Elsewhere, the euro fell after European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said the institution isn’t discussing the phasing out of its emergency bond buying even as it sees signs that the economy is starting to shake off the coronavirus pandemic.Here are some key events to watch this week:U.S. releases new home sales data Friday.These are some of the main moves in markets:StocksThe S&P 500 fell 0.4% at 1:33 p.m. New York time.The Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbed 0.7%.The MSCI All-Country World Index gained 0.1%.CurrenciesThe Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index increased 0.2%.The euro declined 0.2% to $1.2005.The Japanese yen weakened 0.1% to 108.15 per dollar.BondsThe yield on 10-year Treasuries was little changed at 1.56%.Germany’s 10-year yield climbed one basis point to -0.25%.Britain’s 10-year yield was unchanged at 0.74%.CommoditiesWest Texas Intermediate crude was little changed at $61.33 a barrel.Gold fell 0.6% to $1,782.80 an ounce.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

  • The Moinian Group to Acquire Final 20-Percent of Sky, Taking Full Ownership of Manhattan’s Largest Residential Tower

    The Moinian Group announced today that it has reached an agreement to reacquire the final 20-percent ownership in Sky, Manhattan’s largest residential tower. Upon completion of the transaction, set to close in the second quarter of this year, The Moinian Group will become 100-percent owner of the property it developed at 605 West 42nd Street. The Moinian Group previously sold a minority interest in the project to SL Green, and will now reacquire the remaining ownership interest from the REIT.

  • Workforce Management Software Market Research Report by Software Type, by End-User, by Deployment - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

    Workforce Management Software Market Research Report by Software Type (HR Management, Labor Forecast and Scheduling, Task Management, Time and Attendance Management, and Workforce Analytics), by End-User (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Transport, Business & Finance, Chemicals & Materials, and Consumer Goods & Retail), by Deployment - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19New York, April 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Workforce Management Software Market Research Report by Software Type, by End-User, by Deployment - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05911962/?utm_source=GNW Market Statistics:The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. This helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available.1. The Global Workforce Management Software Market is expected to grow from USD 3,566.62 Million in 2020 to USD 5,195.64 Million by the end of 2025.2. The Global Workforce Management Software Market is expected to grow from EUR 3,127.28 Million in 2020 to EUR 4,555.64 Million by the end of 2025.3. The Global Workforce Management Software Market is expected to grow from GBP 2,780.16 Million in 2020 to GBP 4,049.97 Million by the end of 2025.4. The Global Workforce Management Software Market is expected to grow from JPY 380,649.00 Million in 2020 to JPY 554,506.95 Million by the end of 2025.5. The Global Workforce Management Software Market is expected to grow from AUD 5,179.21 Million in 2020 to AUD 7,544.76 Million by the end of 2025.Market Segmentation & Coverage:This research report categorizes the Workforce Management Software to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:Based on Software Type, the Workforce Management Software Market studied across HR Management, Labor Forecast and Scheduling, Task Management, Time and Attendance Management, and Workforce Analytics. Based on End-User, the Workforce Management Software Market studied across Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Transport, Business & Finance, Chemicals & Materials, Consumer Goods & Retail, Energy & Natural Resources, Food & Beverage, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing & Construction, Pharmaceuticals, and Telecommunications & Computing. Based on Deployment, the Workforce Management Software Market studied across On-Cloud and On-Premise. Based on Geography, the Workforce Management Software Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Company Usability Profiles:The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Workforce Management Software Market including 7shifts, Active Operations Management International LLP, ADP LLC, Advanced Computer Software Group Ltd., Atoss Software AG, BambooHR LLC, Blue Yonder, DVSAnalytics, Inc., GE Digital, IBM Corporation, Infor Inc, iSolved HCM, Kronos Incorporated, NICE Systems Ltd., Oracle Corporation, Replicon Inc., Roubler UK Limited Company, SAP SE, SISQUAL WFM, SumTotal Systems LLC By Skillsoft, Tamigo UK Ltd, Verint Systems Inc, Workday Inc., WorkForce Software LLC, and Zebra Technologies Corporation. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.FPNV Positioning Matrix:The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Workforce Management Software Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.Competitive Strategic Window:The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.The report provides insights on the following pointers:1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developmentsThe report answers questions such as:1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Workforce Management Software Market?2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Workforce Management Software Market during the forecast period?3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Workforce Management Software Market?4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Workforce Management Software Market?5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Workforce Management Software Market?6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Workforce Management Software Market?Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05911962/?utm_source=GNWAbout ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.__________________________ CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001

  • RCB vs RR Live Score, IPL 2021, Match 16: Padikkal, Kohli pyrotechnics help Bangalore humble Rajasthan

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  • AT&T Adds 2.7 Million HBO Max Subscribers in Q1

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  • Estateably Launches Estate Administration Software in Alberta

    Estateably, a Montreal-based technology company, announced the expansion of its estate administration software to Alberta. The Estateably platform responds to the growing needs of law and accounting professionals in Alberta dealing with an aging population for a secure, cloud-based, transparent, and cost-effective solution. Demand for modern tools has been accelerated by the pandemic, with an office-based industry going remote overnight.

  • Gunmen kill two Guard members in Iran’s Kurdish area

    Unknown gunmen suspected of terrorism killed two members of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, the official IRNA news agency reported on Thursday. The Guard members also killed two gunmen and wounded several of their accomplices in the Wednesday night shootout near Kurdish town of Marivan, near the border of Iraq. The report identified the fallen Guard members as Osman Jahani and Nasser Amini without giving their rank.

  • Virat Kohli Becomes First to Reach 6,000 Runs in IPL History

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  • UPDATE 1-New York City sues Exxon, BP, Shell in state court over climate change

    New York City is suing three major oil companies and the top industry trade group in state court, arguing that the companies are misrepresenting themselves by selling fuels as "cleaner" and advertising themselves as leaders in fighting climate change. The lawsuit comes after a federal appeals court this month rejected the city's effort to hold five major oil companies liable to help pay the costs of harm caused by global warming. The lawsuit filed on Thursday said Exxon Mobil Corp, BP Plc, Royal Dutch Shell and industry group the American Petroleum Institute "have systematically and intentionally misled consumers" through fuel sales at branded stations as "cleaner" and "emissions-reducing" while not disclosing climate impacts.

  • The Latest: Pope Francis praises efforts in climate summit

    WASHINGTON — The Latest on President Joe Biden's global climate summit (all times local): 1:20 p.m. Pope Francis is urging participants in the U.S.-hosted global climate summit to ensure that the post-pandemic world is cleaner, purer and preserved. Francis delivered a short video message Thursday to the summit, praising the initiative. He said: “I wish you success in this beautiful decision to meet, walk together going forward, and I am with you all the way.” Francis has made his environmental appeal a hallmark of his papacy, denouncing how wealthy countries have plundered God’s creation for profit at the expense of poor and indigenous people. In his message, Francis said the coronavirus pandemic has provided world leaders with an opportunity to come out better than before. He said: “And our concern is to see that the environment is cleaner, more pure and preserved.” ___ HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GLOBAL CLIMATE SUMMIT: Saying the United States and other big economies “have to get this done,” President Joe Biden opened a global climate summit aimed at getting world leaders to dig deeper on emissions cuts. Read more: — What to Watch: In Biden climate show, look for cajoling, conflict, pathos ___ HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON: 11:55 a.m. International climate activist Greta Thunberg has urged Congress to end fossil fuel subsidies at a House Oversight Committee hearing on the issue. The hearing took place Thursday, the day the Biden administration convened a summit of world leaders to discuss taking action to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Thunberg was one of several activists and policy experts who testified at the hearing, convened by Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who chairs the environment subcommittee. Thunberg says, “The fact that we are still having this discussion and even more that we are still subsidizing fossil fuels directly or indirectly using taxpayer money is a disgrace.” Hours before Thunberg testified, NowThis released a video featuring Thunberg criticizing the targets for emissions reduction world leaders are discussing at the Leaders’ Climate Summit. Thunberg says in the video leaders present “very insufficient targets.” ___ 11:45 a.m. After livestreamed remarks by dozens of world leaders at the U.S.-hosted global climate summit, the conversation has turned to money. President Joe Biden says, “Good ideas and good intentions aren’t good enough.” He says, “We need to ensure that the financing will be there.” Biden says combatting climate change will require mobilizing finance on an unprecedented scale. He says the U.S. on Thursday would announce an international climate finance plan, involving not only governments but also the private sector. He calls on Wall Street to join the climate fight. Biden says investing in green businesses isn’t a drain on the economy but an opportunity. He says climate change “is more than a threat” and presents the largest opportunities for job creation in the future. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the amount of money pledged by developed countries to help developing countries leapfrog to cleaner technologies needs to be increased. ___ 11:35 a.m. Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has shifted his tone on preservation of the Amazon rainforest at the U.S.-led climate summit, exhibiting willingness to step up commitment even as many critics continue doubting his credibility. Bolsonaro said Thursday he agrees with U.S. President Joe Biden’s “call for the establishment of ambitious commitments.” Brazil’s leader says he is “determined that our climate neutrality will be reached by 2050.” Bolsonaro also said he would double the amount of money for environmental authorities’ oversight. It’s unclear how that reconciles with immediate spending, as the 2021 budget outlook for the environment ministry is the lowest for any year this century. The speech shows Bolsonaro’s administration realizes it needs to at least start talking the talk in the face of international and domestic pressure. Dan Wilkinson runs Human Rights Watch’s environmental program and says this is “a different tone from the Bolsonaro who was in complete denial two years ago.” Wilkinson says it’s “going to be hard for anyone to take it seriously.” Bolsonaro says Brazil requires outside funds to curb deforestation of the world’s largest tropical rainforest. Last week a group of 15 U.S. senators penned a letter to Biden complaining of Bolsonaro’s woeful environmental track record and urging the U.S. to condition any support for Amazon preservation on significant progress reducing deforestation. ___ 11:20 a.m. Youth activist Xiye Bastida has told world leaders the climate crisis is the result of powerful people like them who are “perpetuating and upholding the harmful systems of colonialism, oppression, capitalism and market-oriented brainwashed solutions? to global problems. In a hard-hitting speech Thursday at the virtual climate summit, the Mexican teenager said solutions to global warming “must be aligned with the fact that climate justice is social justice.? She says current economic and political systems “rely on the existence of sacrifice zones” that “target the global South and Black and brown communities to the global North.” She says instead of just talking about climate change, world leaders “need to accept that the era of fossil fuels is over.” She demands an immediate transition to renewable energy worldwide and an end to fossil fuel subsidies and infrastructure, including new pipelines. The 19-year-old Bastida is a leader of Fridays for Future, an international youth movement that includes Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. Thunberg spoke to the U.S. Congress at a separate event. ___ 10 a.m. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for international co-operation to tackle climate change at a virtual climate summit convened by U.S. President Joe Biden. In his speech, Putin urged “broad and effective international co-operation in the calculation and monitoring of volumes of all types of harmful emissions into the atmosphere.” Putin said Thursday, “Russia is genuinely interested in galvanizing international co-operation so as to look further for effective solutions to climate change as well as to all other vital challenges.” Putin says Moscow is ready to offer a number of joint projects and consider preferences for foreign companies willing to invest in clean technologies, including those in Russia. The Russian leader says he has tasked the government to “significantly cut the accumulated volume of net emissions” by 2050 in Russia, refraining from naming a concrete goal. ___ 9:50 a.m. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has welcomed the United States’ new commitment to halve emissions as a “game-changing” announcement. Johnson will be hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow later this year. As host of COP-26, Johnson said Thursday at President Joe Biden’s climate summit he wanted to see “similar ambitions” around the world. Johnson says, “I think we can do it. To do it we need scientists in all of our countries to work together to produce the technological solutions that humanity is going to need.” He says the developed world will have to find more resources to support developing countries’ move to a greener future. He says, “It’s going to mean the richest nations coming together and exceeding the $100 billion commitment they already made in 2009.” Johnson stresses the economic dividend that could emerge from efforts to tackle climate change. ___ 9:30 a.m. South Korean President Moon Jae-in says his country will no longer finance the construction of coal power plants in other nations as he promises stronger contributions to international efforts to curb global warming. In a virtual climate summit convened by President Joe Biden on Thursday, Moon said his country will provide a more ambitious target for reducing carbon emissions by the end of the year. South Korea in December had announced a 2030 target to cut its carbon emissions by 24.4% from the country’s 2017 level. South Korea has faced international criticism for its continued investment in coal plants in other countries even as it pushes to phase out coal power at home. Moon’s office says his pledge doesn’t affect South Korea’s participation in ongoing projects to build two new coal plants in Indonesia and another one in Vietnam. ___ 9:20 a.m. World leaders including China’s President Xi Jinping, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel are addressing a virtual global summit on climate change hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden. Speaking from their home countries, the world leaders pledge action to lower carbon emissions, although they differ on details. Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga emphasized the global nature of the event, saying, “Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, everyone.” He was speaking at nearly 10 p.m. in Japan and in the morning on the U.S. East Coast. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the effort “is not bunny hugging” but is about growth and jobs — and the survival of the planet. Merkel calls the battle against climate change “a huge task.” Putin’s remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron began but had technical difficulties. Putin boasted that his country has significantly reduced its carbon emissions and will met an ambitious goal for 2050. Then Macron spoke again. ___ 9:10 a.m. India’s prime minister says he and U.S. President Joe Biden are launching an Indo-U.S. climate and clean energy agenda for 2030 partnership that will mobilize investments, demonstrate clean technology and enable green collaboration. Narendra Modi told world leaders at a virtual summit called by Biden on Thursday that India is doing its part and its renewable energy target of 450 gigawatts by 2030 shows its commitment to clean energy. India also has taken several bold steps in promoting clean energy, energy efficiency, afforestation and biodiversity. Modi says India has taken the lead in multilateral initiatives, such as the International Solar Alliance and the coalition of disaster resilient infrastructure. Modi says India’s per capita carbon footprint was 60% lower than the global average because of its lifestyle, which is still rooted in sustainable traditional practices. ___ 8:45 a.m. China’s President Xi Jinping reiterates his country’s pledge to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Xi spoke at the global climate summit hosted by the United States on Thursday. He says, “We must be committed to green development. To improve the environment is to boost productivity.” Xi says developed countries, responsible for greater historical carbon emissions, should bear more responsibility for making changes at home and helping developing countries finance their transition to low-carbon economies. He says, “We must be committed to the principle to common but differentiated responsibilities.” Xi emphasizes that China is aiming to move from peak carbon to net zero in a short time period –- just 30 years, or the span of one generation. ___ 8:35 a.m. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says the world is “at the verge of the abyss” because of climate change and must take aggressive steps to avoid catastrophe. Speaking at a global virtual summit on climate change Thursday, Guterres called for world leaders to build a global coalition for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 — “every country, every region, every city, every company and every industry.? Guterres says the next decade must be one of transformation, with major polluters such as the United States and other advanced countries submitting detailed, ambitious plans to slow climate change. Guterres says countries around the world must put a price on carbon, end subsidies for fossil fuels, ramp up investments in renewable energy and green infrastructure and stop the financing of coal and the building of new coal power plants. He calls for advanced countries to phase out coal by 2030, with other countries phasing it out by 2040. ___ 8:30 a.m. The U.S. climate summit has started with an audio glitch, audio glitch. For the first few minutes, during nearly all of Vice-President Kamala Harris’ introduction of President Joe Biden, praising his history of climate advocacy, every word echoed. Echoed. Then when Biden came on, the video and the audio were out of sync, while he urged the world “to move now” on what he called “the climate crisis.” Biden said Thursday, “The cost of inaction keeps mounting. The United States isn’t waiting.” Harris ticked off recent climate disasters including hurricanes hitting Central America during a year of record Atlantic storms. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls the problem “an existential threat” and says the world is “on red alert.” Biden says this is the “decisive decade.” He says, “This is the decade we must make decisions that will avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis.” Biden says the richest economies “have to step up.” ___ 8 a.m. The Biden administration has opened a global climate summit including 40 world leaders. President Joe Biden is pledging to cut at least in half the climate-wrecking coal and petroleum fumes that the U.S. pumps out. That’s a commitment Biden hopes will spur China and other big polluters to speed up efforts of their own. Former Vice-President Al Gore praised the pledge on Thursday, saying, “Today President Biden showed that his administration is up to the task of tackling climate change.” Japan also announced a new target, pledging to cut its emissions 46% below 2013 levels by 2030. The two-day summit will include China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and the pope and will be livestreamed. The Associated Press

  • Franklin County fears new charter school would hurt court-ordered desegregation plan

    Franklin is among the last North Carolina school districts under a federal desegregation order. But the charter school says it would help with diversity efforts.

  • Barcelona stand by European Super League: ‘It would have been an historical error not to join’

    Barcelona have defended their role in plotting the doomed European Super League, claiming it would have been an “historical error” not to join the breakaway. In a statement on Thursday evening, the club reaffirmed its belief that “ there is a need for structural reforms to guarantee the financial sustainability and feasibility of world football”. Unlike the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’, LaLiga rivals Atletico Madrid and both Milan clubs, the Catalan giants did not formally withdraw from the controversial tournament, meaning they, Real Madrid and Juventus are the only founder members not to have done so.