Billionaire Ray Dalio weighed in on Moody’s recent downgrade of the U.S. creditworthiness, claiming the move understates the risk of government debt. Moody’s dropped the country from its tri…
Media Briefing: Ticks and Lyme Disease: Rising Numbers, How to Stay Safe, and New Research
Ticks and Lyme disease: Rising numbers, how to stay safe, and new research
Newswise — As warmer temperatures bring more people outdoors—and more ticks into contact with humans—the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will host an expert briefing for the media about ticks and the growing threat of Lyme and other tickborne diseases.
The briefing will be held via Zoom at 9 a.m. EDT on Thursday, May 29.
Lyme disease is on the rise in the U.S., according to the CDC, mainly in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and parts of the West. In 2023, state health departments reported more than 89,000 cases of Lyme disease in humans to the CDC, but the actual number of cases is likely much higher due to underreporting and misdiagnosis.
If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to serious complications affecting the heart, joints, and nervous system. Other tickborne illnesses are also of concern, including Powassan virus and Heartland virus. There is currently no vaccine against tickborne illnesses.
The experts, Nicole Baumgarth, DVM, PhD, and Thomas Hart, PhD, will discuss:
- Why tickborne illnesses are increasing
- The symptoms and outcomes of the illnesses
- How people can protect themselves
- The latest research
- Current status of vaccine development
Experts:
Registration required: Please register here by noon on May 28 to receive the Zoom link and password for the briefing. Questions for the experts may be submitted via the registration form in advance or via chat during the briefing.
###
Resources:
Denzel Washington skips Cannes Film Festival event after confronting photographer
No-show Denzel.
Denzel Washington skipped Monday’s “Highest 2 Lowest” press conference at the Cannes Film Festival following his headline-making exchange with a handsy photographer.
The Golden Globe winner, 70, pointed his finger and yelled at the male individual tapping on his arm, who laughed off the tense moment.
“Let me tell you — stop, stop. Never put your hands on me again,” Washington said, lip reader Jeremy Freeman told the Daily Mail Tuesday. “I’m talking to you. Stop, alright.”
When the shutterbug grabbed the “Training Day” star’s arm, Washington attempted to shake him off while seemingly repeating, “Stop it.”
It is unclear whether the Oscar winner is still in France after the altercation.
Washington’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The Tony winner, notably, is currently starring in “Othello” on Broadway in New York alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.
While he was not present at Monday’s press conference to address the drama, Spike Lee appeared to make a subtle mention of it.
“The last time I was in this room, I had to apologize for a f–k up,” the 68-year-old quipped of accidentally revealing the Palme d’Or winner in 2021. “But I won’t be apologizing today for a f–k up.”
Lee directed “Highest 2 Lowest,” marking his fifth time collaborating with Washington over the years.
The duo previously worked together on “Inside Man” (2006), “He Got Game” (1998), “Malcolm X” (1992) and “Mo’ Better Blues” (1990).
This time around, Washington plays a legendary music producer named David King targeted in a ransom plot.
His co-stars in the neo-noir crime thriller include A$AP Rocky — who walked the red carpet with his pregnant partner, Rihanna, at his side — Ice Spice and more A-listers.
The cast members received a standing ovation for their work on the film Monday night.
This story was featured on a recent episode of Page Six Radio, a daily morning show serving up the hottest celebrity headlines, exclusives, and behind-the-scenes buzz. Catch Danny, Evan and Ian chat with celebrity guests every weekday on SiriusXM from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET on Stars Ch. 109.
SiriusXM service required. See Offer Details.
Stunning New Garden Suites Debut At The Trafalgar St. James, London
Exterior of Trafalgar St James hotel, London
Stevie Campbell
The former headquarters of Cunard, the well known transatlantic shipping company founded in 1840, is today one of London’s best-located hotels, the Trafalgar St. James. On the south west corner of the John Nash designed Trafalgar square, the five-star hotel is ideally placed for art lovers, with free admission to the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery on the other side of the square. The National Gallery has just unveiled a major refurbishment and rehang of the Sainsbury wing, making it an even better time to see its collection of masterpieces of Western art from Raphael and Leonardo to Cezanne, Turner and Van Gogh. Also nearby is St Martin in the Fields, one of the most famous churches in London, offering wonderful lunchtime and evening classical concerts.
National Gallery, St Martin in the Fields and Trafalgar Square
getty
Trafalgar St. James, part of Hilton’s luxury Curio Collection, has recently launched the new Spring Garden Suites, six luxury suites, part of the hotel’s £6 million renovation, a full refurbishment of the ground and lower ground floors and the opening of Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar. The lobby opening into the restaurant and bar feels so much brighter and modern with the renovation. And there are plenty of helpful staff, ensuring that check in is a breeze.
New Suites
A new garden suite at The Trafalgar
Pellier Photography
The new Spring Garden Suites are tucked away on the lower ground floor but they are astonishingly bright, thanks to a clever lighting system that emulates daylight. The hotel has used innovative lighting company Light Cognitive to create the most realistic lighting effect possible. Light Cognitive used an LED innovation that follows nature’s circadian rhythm. The lighting design is claimed to help to improve mood, sleep and health for guests. The warm, sophisticated interiors from from Design LSM (the award-winning studio behind another Hilton property, 100 Queen’s Gate and restaurants Cinnamon Bazaar and Gaucho) are from a contrasting palette of bold colors against natural tones of dark oak and rattan.
A lounge in new garden suite at the Trafalgar
Pellier Photography
Each suite has great amenities from a Nespresso Vertuo coffeemaker, a Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and Molton Brown toiletries. As well as being well away from the bustling Trafalgar Square above, a super comfortable bed and a sleep sound machine ensures a restful night’s sleep. The six subterranean Spring Garden suites are in addition to the hotel’s 131 bedrooms and suites on the upper floors.
New Restaurant and Wine Bar
Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar at Trafalgar St James, London
Pellier Photography
The redesigned lobby flows nicely into the elegant new restaurant and bar, also designed by Design LSM. Hotel guests can have breakfast at all-day destination, the Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar. For guests and outside visitors, the Rockwell is an inviting oasis of calm, right on the corner of London’s most famous square, a major tourist destination. The menu offers deli-style dishes and small plates for lunch and dinner, including Sussex Wagyu Beef, cured meats and cheeses. Menu highlights include Iberico ham croquetas and an incredibly delicious vegan pasta dish – Cavatelli with cavolo nero pesto, chilli, and Stracciatella cheese that you’d never guess is vegan. The wine list is comprehensive with wines from 15 countries including some of England’s finest sparkling wines.
Rooftop Bar
The Rooftop bar at Trafalgar St James
Trafalgar St James
For panoramic views, The Rooftop definitely deserves its title as one of London’s top skyline bars. Sip on the excellent cocktails and enjoy succulent burgers, prawn bao buns or nibbles while surveying Trafalgar Square, the London Eye and many more of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. Booking in advance is recommended.
An overnight stay in a Garden Suite is from £479 (room only).
New US ambassador to Mexico formally arrives at time of busy binational agenda
MEXICO CITY — A former U.S. Army and CIA officer formally presented his credentials to Mexico’s president Monday as the new United States ambassador to that country at a moment of increased U.S. pressure to fight the drug cartels and delicate trade negotiations.
Amb. Ron Johnson, who served as ambassador to El Salvador during the first administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, met with President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace along with his wife Alina Johnson. He left without making comments to the press.
A U.S. special forces veteran, Johnson formed a close bond with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, frequently appearing in the president’s social media feed celebrating occasions outside of government functions.
Johnson had been a U.S. military adviser in El Salvador during that country’s civil war in the 1980s and pursued war criminals in the Balkans in the 1990s.
His arrival in Mexico comes in the first year of Sheinbaum’s presidency. She has shown greater willingness to take a harder stance against the country’s powerful drug cartels than her predecessor and an ability to manage the sometimes erratic diplomacy of the Trump administration.
Trump designated several Mexican cartels foreign terrorist organizations this year and U.S. prosecutors announced the first terrorism-related charges against people accused of working with the cartels last week. He has also announced and then suspended most tariffs on imports from Mexico.
Immigration has been at the top of Trump’s agenda, but the flow of migrants across the U.S. border that had already been falling in the final months of the Biden administration has slowed to a comparative trickle.
Sheinbaum also recently announced that Mexico would increase the amount of water it sends to the Rio Grande in an attempt to make up a water debt to Texas farmers.
The deadly wreck of a Mexican Navy tall ship with the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday adds one more binational issue to the relationship. Two sailors died and the incident is under investigation.
____
Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Home Depot says it’s keeping prices steady after Trump berates Walmart
Home Depot said it’s keeping its prices steady, after President Trump berated Walmart for warning of forthcoming price hikes related to tariffs.
The home improvement retailer said it’s both working with suppliers to hold prices where they are and is also moving production out of China, to avoid steep levies. A 30% tariff is currently in effect on most goods from China.
“Because of our scale, the great partnerships we have with our suppliers and productivity that we continue to drive in our business, we intend to generally maintain our current pricing levels across our portfolio,” Home Depot CFO Richard McPhail told CNBC.
More than half of the goods Home Depot sells are domestically produced. The company is aiming to further reduce its reliance on China and other countries. Within a year, no country outside of the U.S. “will represent more than 10%” of purchases, McPhail said.
Home Depot’s commitment to avoiding price hikes comes after Walmart last week warned that even lower tariffs on China would force the world’s largest retailer to raise prices on certain items.
“We can control what we can control,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said on the company’s first quarter earnings call on May 8. “Even at the reduced levels, the higher tariffs will result in higher prices,” he added.
President Trump later berated the company for saying that tariffs would lead to price hikes for consumers.
“Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected. Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!” Mr. Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Data shows that businesses typically pass on some or all of increased costs from tariffs to consumers. And while economists agree that tariffs hit U.S. companies and their customers hardest, the White House has repeatedly asserted that the burden should fall on the U.S.’ trade partners.
“He maintains the position that foreign countries absorb these tariffs,” Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told reporters at a briefing on Monday.
Exclusive: Opioid use disorder costs almost $700K per case
The cost burden falls unevenly, with states in a belt from Appalachia to New England paying more.
Rapper’s former assistant David James testifies against him I Live Updates from Fox News Digital
Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested
in September 2024 in New York and was indicted on federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He is accused of running a criminal enterprise through his many businesses including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global, among others.
He used “firearms, threats of violence, coercion, and verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse” to fulfill his sexual desires, according to the unsealed indictment obtained by Fox News Digital.
During the first week of the trial, the prosecution called the rapper’s ex-girlfriend of over a decade, Cassie Ventura
, to the stand. She testified to the alleged abuse she endured over the course of their relationship.
She testified to being forced by the rapper to participate in “freak offs,” which were described in the indictment as “elaborate produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded.”
Cassie explained she would often disassociate during the “freak offs” and would take various drugs to get through them. She described the “freak offs” as a job, saying they would last anywhere from 24 to 72 hours, with the longest “freak off” she can remember lasting four days.
Combs and his staff allegedly transported commercial sex workers across state lines and internationally for the “freak offs,” which regularly occurred and sometimes lasted multiple days, often including multiple sex workers.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich and Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
10 brands Brits want back on the high street – from Debenhams to Woolworths
Whatever you think of different shopping brands, one thing is certain: British high streets are shrinking as more and more close down.
It’s been a while since Woolworths and Debenhams shut for good, but Poundland is about to close hundreds of stores and Hobbycraft will also shut a number of branches in the latest blow for shoppers.
Despite the gloomy outlook, some brands are turning the tides and reopening branches.
Music store HMV reopened its iconic Oxford Street store in 2023, four years after it closed, and earlier this year Topshop suggested it could be making a return to the high street.
And new figures have revealed the top 10 brands shoppers want to see make a comeback.
Experts analysed search data and found Debenhams is an extremely popular choice, with the brand receiving nearly 500,000 searches every month.
Customers also want to see Dorothy Perkins, Toys R Us and Mothercare reopen their physical shops.
Boohoo bought Debenhams back in 2021, but not its high street shops, which meant they eventually closed.
Since then Boohoo has changed its name to Debenhams, reviving the brand, and its chief executive says it will become ‘Britain’s online department store’.
Richard Hunt, director of Liquidation Centre which helps businesses closing down, said: ‘The combination of failing to adapt to shifting consumer habits towards online shopping alongside the financial impact of Brexit and the pandemic contributed towards Debenhams’ financial strain.
‘However, their issues began years prior to these events, with the company carrying unsustainable debts due to poor financial decisions.
‘Their online-only comeback will be exciting for many fans, but it also serves as a stark reminder of their failure to compete effectively on the high street amid a changing market.’
Dorothy Perkins was also acquired by Boohoo after its previous owner, Arcadia Group, fell into administration in 2020.
The brand collapsed after failing to compete with online retailers, with high overheads leading to crippling financial issues.
Toys R Us, which receives about 61,000 searches every month, went into administration in 2018 after racking up a £15million tax bill.
Poor sales and struggling to keep up with technology meant the brand wasn’t able to pay off its debts.
Mr Hunt said the current economic climate poses an increasing risk, especially to retail businesses, with even well-loved household names falling by the wayside in recent years.
He explained: ‘It is much easier to lose consumers than to retain them, which is why regular market research and competitor analysis are so essential.
‘Staying ahead of the curve as conditions evolve is critical to long-term survival.
‘As we’ve seen, poor financial management and decisions have contributed to the downfall of several once-iconic household brands, proving how crucial it is to have effective financial strategies and management in place.
‘If a business reaches the point where liquidation becomes a risk, swift action is vital.
‘Seeking advice from a licensed insolvency practitioner (IP) can help clarify your options and potentially avoid insolvency altogether.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Boux Avenue’s must-have lingerie set is under £25 – and supports cancer charity, The Eve Appeal
MORE: Greggs fans outraged by ‘tragic’ change bakery is making to its stores
MORE: These are the 9 best (and most comfortable!) ballet flats to wear this summer