President Joe Biden praised the improvements in the nation’s battle against the pandemic on Tuesday at the beginning of his speech on the state of the Union.

‘Last year COVID-19 Separated us. This year, we are finally together again, “Biden said after entering the hall without masks – for a speech that was a round of applause and deputies without masks.

This was Biden’s first round of applause for the evening – where he pointed to “progress” against the virus and called on Americans to resume some of their routines.

He also spoke about the angry confrontations that erupted over schools, masks and vaccines – as well as the fierce clashes in Congress one night when he put forward a “unity agenda”.

“Let’s use this moment to reset. “Let’s stop looking at COVID-19 as a guerrilla dividing line and see it as it is: a terrible disease,” Biden said.

“Let’s stop seeing each other as enemies and start seeing ourselves as we really are: American compatriots,” he added.

He then spoke about ending some of the measures ordered by health and political officials to control the virus, which provoked a political reaction in some communities.

“We can end the closure of schools and businesses. We have the necessary tools. “It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great centers again,” Biden said.

“People working from home can feel safe to start returning to the office. We are doing this here in the federal government. Most federal workers will return to work in person. Our schools are open. Let it stay that way. “Our kids have to go to school,” Biden said.

“Last year, COVID-19 divided us. We are finally together again this year, “said President Joe Biden at the beginning of his speech on the state of the Union.

“And because 75 percent of older Americans are fully vaccinated and hospitalizations are down by 77 percent, most Americans can take off their masks, return to work, stay in the classroom and continue safely,” he said.

Biden acknowledged that Americans are “disappointed” by the pandemic, amid a series of polls showing that Americans say they think the country is on the wrong track. The pandemic also led to fierce divisions in Congress – where lawmakers clashed over mask mandates, blockades, school policies and figures, including Biden’s coronavirus adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci.

“For more than two years, COVID-19 has influenced every decision in our lives and the lives of the nation. And I know you’re tired, frustrated and exhausted. But I know that too. “Because of the progress we’ve made, because of your resilience and the tools we have, I can say tonight that we’re moving forward safely, returning to more normal routines,” Biden said.

Almost all lawmakers who attended the speech avoided the masks on Tuesday

He pointed to recent improvements in coronavirus cases after a devastating two years.

“We have reached a new moment in the fight against COVID-19, with severe cases reduced to levels not seen since last July,” he said, citing the latest mask guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“According to these new guidelines, most Americans in most parts of the country can now be without masks. And based on forecasts, more of the country will reach this point in the next few weeks. Thanks to the progress we have made over the past year, COVID-19 no longer has to control our lives. I know some people talk about “live with COVID-19”. Tonight – I say we will never accept just living with COVID-19. We will continue to fight the virus as well as other diseases. And because it is a virus that mutates and spreads, we will be on the alert, “he said.

But his remarks acknowledged that the virus had not yet been defeated, although he noted a drop in hospitalizations and infections.

“We will continue to fight the virus, as well as other diseases. And because it is a virus that mutates and spreads, we will be on the alert, “he said.

Biden advertises vaccines and boosters, antiviral drugs and tests – after millions of Americans were caught without tests when the omicron struck last fall.

He warned: “We need to prepare for new options. Over the last year, we have become much better at discovering new options. If necessary, we will be able to introduce new vaccines within 100 days, instead of many more months or years.

“And if Congress provides the funds we need, we will have ready stocks of tests, masks and pills, if necessary. I cannot promise that a new version will not appear. But I can promise you that we will do our best to be ready if it happens, “Biden said.

Masked lawmakers rejoiced in the House of Commons for the first time in months as they gathered to hear Biden’s speech.

Biden and his team of speechwriters faced a delicate task on Tuesday. The nation is escaping the omicron leap, but pandemic casualties continue to rise.

The United States has already had more than 900,000 deaths due to COVID-19. Although the omicron jump that swept the country late last year looks fatal, the total number of cases remains at about 70,000 in a moving average for seven days, with daily deaths still above 1,500.

The Centers for Disease Control eased its mask guidelines on Friday for areas that do not experience high levels of infection or severity for hospitals, and Washington lifted some of its restrictions on Monday.

His speech came in a hall of the House of Representatives that held many unmasked lawmakers for the first time in months.

There was a sense of a more traditional state of the union, with members of the Supreme Court, the president’s office and lawmakers disguised themselves after a weekend letter from Capitol doctor Brian Monahan, who wrote that lawmakers could decide whether to disguise. .

There was no mask mandate in the Senate.

Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris sat behind the president

Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the first time ordered a mandate for a mask in 2020

The President of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi for the first time imposed a mandate for a mask for the floor of the House in July 2020.

There were angry episodes involving a series of MPs who were fined by the House’s weapons sergeant for refusing to comply.

Biden spoke on Tuesday after a sharp drop in coronavirus infections

Coronavirus deaths in the United States have finally begun to decline in recent weeks

Ukraine and Russia together account for about 14% of world wheat production, according to Gro Intelligence, an agricultural data analysis firm. Both countries account for about 29% of all wheat exports. Prior to the Russian invasion, Ukraine was on track for a record year of wheat exports, while Russian wheat exports are slowing, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

“It couldn’t have happened at a worse time,” said Rob Mackie, president and CEO of the American Bakers’ Association.

As wheat prices are already rising, the conflict abroad is putting even more pressure on the still-sick supply chain. Russia is the largest exporter of wheat, while Ukraine is in the top 5. The two countries compete in export markets such as Egypt, Turkey and Bangladesh.

“Depending on how this turns out and how long it will last, wheat growers [in Ukraine] you may not be able to plant spring wheat, corn and other things. So a year can pass without any harvests, “Mackie added.

This is likely to raise the price of consumer goods in the United States such as cereals and bread. Cereals and baked goods have risen 6.8 percent in the past year due to inflation, according to the US Department of Labor. Consumer prices usually lag behind market prices for wheat, corn and grain – as these commodity prices are negotiated in advance. This means that the effect may not be felt for weeks or months.

Russia’s actions have also led to serious disruptions in Ukrainian ports, hampering the export market.

“You have all sorts of logistical constraints,” said Jim Hennegan, senior vice president of agribusiness at Gro Intelligence. For example, “Ukrainian ports [are] closed to commercial traffic, “Hennegan said. There were also reports of merchant ships being attacked.

Disruptions are straining global wheat supplies, even as demand remains the same or increases. And with less supply, prices are rising even more than during the pandemic.

Global food prices have risen by as much as 28% in 2021, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Supply chain disruptions and extreme weather conditions have contributed to higher prices.

The current situation “only contributes to the additional inflation in food prices that we are witnessing,” Hennegan said.

Food prices in the United States are not immune

Most consumer brands in the United States do not rely on imported ingredients, said Katie Dennis, who leads communications and research for the Consumer Brands Association, a U.S. trade group.

“For the US market, we import only about 8% of all the necessary things [consumer packaged goods] industry, “she said.” That’s pretty minimal. “Most imported items come from Mexico and Canada, she added.

Higher wheat prices are good news for American farmers, as more demand may be directed to the United States. However, although American companies may not be directly exposed to disturbances in Ukraine, they are also not immune to them. “It’s a global economy,” Dennis said. “The pressure on prices will be something that is felt all over the world.”

Hennegan of Gro Intelligence said that by reducing global supplies, US wheat producers could export more products. “Many times you will see demand return to the United States … when you have global events that stop surplus exports,” he said. “But it comes at a higher price.”

This may be good news for American farmers, he added, but not for consumers.

“Over the next few months, you will see what food companies will do … with the higher prices they have to contend with,” Hennegan said. Manufacturers of food and consumer goods can choose take on some of the price increases, but are more likely to continue to pass them on to consumers, he noted.

The producer price index, which tracks average changes in the prices at which U.S. producers receive payments for their goods and services, rose 9.7 percent in the 12 months ended January, unadjusted for seasonal fluctuations. , the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced in February.

And they are likely to raise prices further as investment costs rise, Henegan said, especially because wheat is not the only crop that is becoming more expensive.

Prices of other agricultural commodities are rising, such as corn and soybeans, not to mention oil. “He will give [consumer goods makers] even more reason to think about moving forward with these price increases, “Henegan said.

Anneken Tappe on CNN and Julia Horowitz contributed to this report.

This is one of the hottest tickets in the city, the awards season is coming.

The Vanity Fair Oscar party, known for attracting the best of the best, returns after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health and safety protocols.

With the invitations that have just started coming out this week for the ever-glamorous holiday of March 27, Page six announces that it will be held again at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, only this time the venue will be rethought as an “open space”.

Returned! The Vanity Fair Oscar party returns on March 27, 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Prestigious: The glamorous Vanity Fair party attracted the best A-listers

In line with its mysterious findings from the past, the guest list has remained a secret, but some insiders suspect the stars of the recent Hollywood edition of Vanity Fair – Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch and Kristen Stewart. – will be on the guest list.

Other notable celebrities rumored to be on hand include Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Jessica Chastain, Simu Liu and Michaela Haye Rodriguez.

The party is not just a gathering of top actors and the Hollywood elite, it attracts the best of the best in athletics, as well as rock stars and rappers, among others. In fact, former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown likened the guest list to a “mix, according to Los Angeles Magazine.

Venue: The Bash is held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, which has been redesigned as an “open space” according to Six; this astringent image of the place was taken during the last Oscar party at the Vanity Fair in 2020

The event is hosted by Vanity Fair Editor-in-Chief Radhika Jones; this is a look at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in 2020

This will be Vanity Fair’s first personal party for the 2020 awards. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration was transformed into a series of virtual events that benefited the Film and Television Fund’s efforts to alleviate the coronavirus.

During this time of blockade and quarantine, Vanity Fair Editor-in-Chief Radhika Jones mentioned that the coveted dinner would return as glorious as it always did when she promised, “We will return with the ringing bells.”

The guest list for the latest edition of 2020 included Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Kylie Jenner, Caitlin Jenner, Laura Dern, Florence Pu, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Hailey Steinfeld, Sandra O, Scarlett Johansson, Winnie Harlowton, Winnie Harlow. Joel Madden and Nicole Richie, Lily Reinhart, Renee Zellweger, Tyrese Gibson, Anna Paquin, Kate Hudson, Alessandra Ambrosio, Heidi Klum, Usher and Billy Porter, among many others.

A-listers: The last Vanity Fair Oscars in 2020 brought together some of the most famous A-list celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Caitlin Jenner

John Legend and wife Chrissy Teigen were the image of the elegance of the 2020 holiday.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a public arts center in Beverly Hills, according to its website. www.thewallis.org.

Designed by architect Zoltan Pali before opening in October 2013, the site includes the historic Beverly Hills Post Office from 1933, the newly built 500-seat Goldsmith Theater, the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater, GROW in The Wallis: A Space For Art Education , a garden with sculptures and a coastal terrace designed by Ron Lutsk.

After accumulating such a high-class, sophisticated reputation over the years, the organizers of the Vanity Fair Oscar party have adopted some rules that include not talking about the party, as well as strict protocols around invitations and arrival times.

The 94th Academy Awards, due to be broadcast live on ABC’s Dolby Theater on Sunday, March 27, will feature three presenters: Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes.

Supermodel: Longtime supermodels Heidi Klum and Alessandra Ambrosio showcase some dance moves and high-end fashion at the Oscars

The Detroit School Board has reached an agreement with the mother of two after she was “fired from her marketing job in retaliation for requiring personal training for her children.”

• Rochester Community Schools reached an agreement with Elena Dinverno after she filed a lawsuit when senior officials contacted her employer and claimed she was threatening
• Dinverno said her rights to free speech were violated when Deputy Director Debbie Fragomeni contacted her bosses at Blake’s Hard Cider and fired her.
• Dinverno claims she has never made threats, but instead advocated reopening personal training schools in 2020 in two Facebook groups.
• Dinver’s lawyer Deborah Gordon confirmed that the case is being resolved, but did not disclose details about the agreement

from Gina Martinez for Dailymail.Com

Posted: 02:12 GMT, March 2, 2022 | Updated: 2:17 AM GMT on March 2, 2022

The Detroit School Board was settled by a Michigan a mother who claims she was fired in retaliation for insisting on personal education for her children.

Last spring, Elena Dinverno sued Rochester community schools in federal court over allegations that Deputy Director Debbie Fragomeni contacted her bosses at Blake’s Hard Cider, a family craft cider where she worked as a marketing director, and fired her.

She said her rights to free speech were violated when Fragomeni claimed she was threatening the school district after complaining that she only offered online lessons.

An undisclosed amount was agreed on Tuesday, ClickonDetroit reports.

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Rochester Community Schools reached an agreement with Elena Dinverno after she filed a lawsuit when senior officials contacted her employer and claimed she was threatening

Dinverno said her rights to free speech were violated when Deputy Director Debbie Fragomeni contacted her bosses at Blake’s Hard Cider (pictured) and fired her.

In a Rochester County case file, he admitted that the deputy warden had called, but denied any wrongdoing.

Dinverno claims she has never made threats, but instead “passionately” advocates the reopening of schools and personal instruction in 2020 in the RCS Parents for Personal Learning and Conservative Parents for Rochester groups on Facebook. FOX 2 reported.

Complaints about testimony also show that Dinverno is not the only parent who has made the area call his employer.

The district allegedly ordered staff to monitor parent groups on Facebook and separate anyone who voiced opposition to the district, and report on them to school board members, according to her lawsuit.

Dinver’s lawyer Deborah Gordon criticized the school, saying they had “no business to follow her speech.”

Dinverno’s lawyer Deborah Gordon (pictured) confirmed the dispute was resolved, but did not reveal details about the agreement.

Following the trial, there were calls from parents for Superintendent Bob Shanner (pictured) to resign.

Following the trial, there were calls from parents for Superintendent Bob Channer to resign.

On February 28, outraged parents attended a working session of the school board and called for everyone’s resignation.

“We have to deal with … the abuse and harassment of our area, which has been approved by our board of education,” Andrew Weaver told the school board.

In response to the controversy, Rochester School Board member Joe Pitel proposed an anti-revenge policy that would prohibit district officials from retaliating against people who file “bona fide complaints” or ask questions.

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