Writing in the journal Biofuels, researchers at the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies said PPE is “essential” for protecting healthcare workers. But the “plethora” of PPE kits being used due to the pandemic will make plastic even more of a problem for our planet, the team said. Polyproylene used to make PPE is a single-use, non-woven plastic, which can take decades to decompose and so ends up in landfills or the ocean, the authors said....

According to Bloomberg, the department’s computer system was hacked on Sunday night in an attempt to “slow the agency’s computer system down”. The hack prompted the National Security Council (NSC) to advise Americans that a national lockdown was not taking place. On it’s Twitter, the NSC says: “Text message rumors of a national #quarantine are FAKE. There is no national lockdown. @CDCgov has and will continue to post the latest guidance on #COVID19....

On Thursday, a Johns Hopkins University tracker indicated there was an increase of nearly 2,000 cases since the previous day’s situation report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The vast majority of the new cases involved people in China, where the virus originated and had the greatest impact. WHO reported 72,528 cases were in China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, on Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday morning, that number had risen to 74,284, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker....

Since the first case was identified in the U.S. on January 21, more than 560 people have tested positive for the virus, including instances of community spread in multiple states. As cases increase, so does public concern about the virus, raising questions about the progress that’s being made on a vaccine and a cure. Thanks to the rapid sequencing of the virus’ genetic sequences, experts have been able to develop a potential vaccine at an unprecedented pace....

Eats: Hanoi is well known for its street fare, but if you’re looking for something a bit more upmarket, you can’t go wrong with the recently opened Verticale, helmed by Frenchman Didier Courlou, a well known chef in Vietnam and author of several cookbooks. His cuisine is a mix of French and Vietnamese, and a month after my meal, I’m still dreaming about his artichokes with Ha Long curry sauce....

Obama is appealing because he offers an immense, if unproved, potential for greatness. Hillary Clinton’s appeal lies, in large measure, in her familiarity—in the sense that with her we know pretty much what we will get. She is a bit like the comfortable neighborhood swimming pool, while Obama is more like the ocean—full of wonder, mystery, and beauty, but also peril. The problem for Clinton is that, as more and more people dive into that ocean, it becomes less and less scary, and even more people are tempted to join them....

Costa and Conte had a tempestuous relationship at Stamford Bridge despite the striker’s goals firing the Blues to the Premier League title last season. The Brazil-born Spain international was subsequently frozen out by Conte, claiming the Italian informed him he was no longer needed at the club via text message. Costa returned to former club Atletico Madrid when their transfer ban was lifted in January, but he was a keen observer of Chelsea’s trip to Camp Nou on Wednesday....

The company said in a statement: “Costco is offering a limited number of COVID-19 vaccines, typically Moderna, in select locations. “Our pharmacies will be administering COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are available, in accordance with CDC and state guidelines.” Eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination at Costco Costco said: “The US is prioritizing higher-risk individuals including health care workers, adults 65 and older and other high-risk frontline workers. Availability and eligible priority populations may differ by state....

While The Washington Post’s story, which cited anonymous sources, was light on specifics, the most serious allegations about Biden could concern a failure to declare income related to business ventures both domestic and abroad, a crime that can bring jail time, experts tell Newsweek. Whether Biden, who has long been the target of conservative media, will face charges ahead of the midterm elections—or if they will result in significant jail time—is a different story....

Last week former five-star quarterback Kyle Allen announced he was transferring after two seasons with the Aggies (and 3,532 passing yards with 33 TDs). MORE: SN All-Americans | All-Freshman team On Wednesday, reports started surfacing that Kevin Sumlin’s prized recruit from his 2015 class — five-star QB Kyler Murray — was on the verge of transferring as well. That comes a week after Murray was unofficially annointed A&M’s starting quarterback in 2016 after playing seven games as a freshman....

Over the past month the Bush administration has markedly softened its stance toward Russia, a process that culminated in the cheerful meeting between Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin last Saturday. In his speeches in Europe last week Bush was more explicit than any president before him in saying, “Russia is a part of Europe… The Europe we are building must also be open to Russia,” and “We look forward to the day when Russia is fully reformed, fully democratic and closely bound to the rest of Europe....

Symptoms of Cow’s Milk Allergy Symptoms associated with a cow’s milk allergy occur fairly quickly, with most individuals reacting within minutes to two hours after drinking milk or eating foods made with milk. Symptoms may include: Skin reactions such as rash, hives, or eczema. Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. Airway symptoms including wheezing, coughing, or a runny nose. Swelling, also known as angioedema, of the lips, tongue, or face....

His comments were incendiary enough that it hardly mattered how he wandered onto that topic. It didn’t even matter that he was probably wrong. Kobe got his headlines. He got to look the part of the established veteran concerned with the state of the game he soon will bequeath to a new generation. MORE: DeCOURCY — Kobe’s rant off-base | Top 25 players in the Class of 2015 | UNC honors Stuart Scott...

Spurred by the coup, mobs looted and burned Indian-owned shops as armed gangs roamed the streets. The military, the police and local newspapers all pledged to continue backing the government. But, just as Speight prepared to release a group of hostages, two influential ethnic Fijian groups reportedly threw their support behind the rebels. Still, former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka worked to negotiate an end to the crisis. “We are trying to avoid force,” he told reporters....

The footage, shared to Instagram by fellow passenger Alice Russo, was captured earlier this week on a flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to San Diego, California. Captioning her video, which was posted on September 10, Russo explained that the pair were “kicked off for not wearing masks properly” and they had “their masks on off the nose the whole time.” Footage of the shocking incident, which can be watched here, starts with the man, who is no longer wearing a mask at all, cursing and yelling at a flight attendant....

But for one couple, the special moment was ruined by a dog who tried to eat the cake that contained sprinkles that represented the gender. The viral clip, posted to TikTok by @daniwaiari, shows the couple sitting on the grass with a cake topped with macarons in front of them. The popular clip has been viewed five million times but the gender isn’t shown as the video is cut short due to the dog’s presence....

Tangela Parker, 49, fled with her husband Eric Parker after she shot and killed a coworker in Hickory, North Carolina on January 13, police said in a statement. Authorities say the couple may be hiding out near the North Carolina-Tennessee border in the Smoky Mountains, according to ABC Wate. The broadcaster also reported that U.S. Marshals are now offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that could lead to their arrest....

The couple fled from an exclusive hotel after allegedly raiding its cellar of rare and vintage wines. One bottle alone is said to be worth over $316,000. The heist took place at the boutique Hotel Atrio in Caceres, Spain, on October 27 last year. After dining in the hotel’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant, the pair went to their room. But police say the couple had stolen a staff pass key to the wine cellar, where they plundered 45 bottles and fled....

Louis Lozano and Eric Mitchell were terminated from the LAPD after court documents showed that they failed to respond to an active robbery at the Crenshaw Mall in western Los Angeles. The pair appealed the decision, but the termination was upheld by the court. In court filings released this past Friday, the appeals court found that the pair were “guilty on multiple counts of misconduct” after their police car’s in-vehicle dash-cam recording system captured them “willfully abdicating their duty to assist a commanding officer’s response” in order to play the game....

Palo and friend were both charged when a female student alleged the two took turns raping her. Palo argued the sex was consensual and the prosecutors later dropped the charges after finding inconsistencies in the evidence, but the school determined Palo had violated its sexual misconduct policy and removed him from the basketball team. An administrative judge later ruled Palo didn’t violate policy, but ISU President Steven Leath kept Palo off the team with the support of university regents....