San Francisco in the US state of California, saw a record flooding on the last day of 2022. Heavy rains brought about a phenomenon known as an ‘atmospheric river’ leading to the closure of US highway 101, one of California’s most famous routes.

Deluge in California: Record rains hit San Francisco, flood warning issued to about 16 MN residents

It was august. A puppy was left abandoned at a California airport after an international traveler chose to continue traveling without his animal upon arrival at the city's airport, according to the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). But the puppy was lucky enough to get a forever home for himself after officially being an abandoned international traveller.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/travel-sites-see-an-uptick-as-china-loosens-international-travel-rules-546939">Travel sites see an uptick as China loosens international travel rules</a>

From the moment Polaris landed, the whole San Francisco United Airlines crew took care of him around-the-clock until they were able to obtain authorization to keep him securely in the US, according to Vincent Passafiume, director of the customer service at United.

But everything was about to change for the puppy. The Airlines ensured the 6-month-old German Shepherd met all regulations to enter the United States, including a quarantine period. The airlines selected William Dale, a pilot for United Airlines, from a pool of applicants. Director Passafiume said that it' a great feeling to see this story come full circle and that Polaris will have a loving home with United Airlines Captain Dale and his family — just in time for the holidays. No denying the fact the Santa came little early before Christmas for Polaris.

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Our beloved 🐶 Polaris is getting SO BIG. He has 1 more month of quarantine in LA before he comes back to us in SF and we find his furever home. Spent some fun time hanging with him on my way thru LA <a href="https://twitter.com/weareunited?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@weareunited</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Auggiie69?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Auggiie69</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ClarissaAtUA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ClarissaAtUA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Maddie_Queen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Maddie_Queen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tobyatunited?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tobyatunited</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeHannaUAL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MikeHannaUAL</a> <a href="https://t.co/cl2jMbaAhb">pic.twitter.com/cl2jMbaAhb</a>
— Vincent Passafiume (@vjpassa) <a href="https://twitter.com/vjpassa/status/1588602053345280000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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When the adoption was finalised on December 15, United not only threw a fun celebration at the airport in Polaris's honour but also donated $5,000 to the SF SPCA. "United's Customer Service team took on quite a challenge to ensure Polaris would be safe, healthy, and find a loving home," Lisa Feder, SF SPCA chief of rescue and welfare shared. "I only hope that we can do half as good a job of taking care of him as the United staff did," Capt. Dale shared of his family taking in the pup.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/at-least-13-people-have-been-killed-in-philippine-floods-546931">At least 13 people have been killed in Philippine floods</a>

"More than one employee said to me, 'You better take good care of him ... or else.' There was even a wag of a finger," he added, according to multiple outlets.

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It was august. A puppy was left abandoned at a California airport after an international traveler chose to continue traveling without his animal upon arrival at the city's airport, according to the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

It was august. A puppy was left abandoned at a California airport after an international traveler chose to continue traveling without his animal upon arrival at the city's airport, according to the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). But the puppy was lucky enough to get a forever home for himself after officially being an abandoned international traveller. ALSO READ | Travel sites see an uptick as China loosens international travel rules From the moment Polaris landed, the whole San Francisco United Airlines crew took care of him around-the-clock until they were able to obtain authorization to keep him securely in the US, according to Vincent Passafiume, director of the customer service at United. But everything was about to change for the puppy. The Airlines ensured the 6-month-old German Shepherd met all regulations to enter the United States, including a quarantine period. The airlines selected William Dale, a pilot for United Airlines, from a pool of applicants. Director Passafiume said that it' a great feeling to see this story come full circle and that Polaris will have a loving home with United Airlines Captain Dale and his family — just in time for the holidays. No denying the fact the Santa came little early before Christmas for Polaris. Our beloved 🐶 Polaris is getting SO BIG. He has 1 more month of quarantine in LA before he comes back to us in SF and we find his furever home. Spent some fun time hanging with him on my way thru LA @weareunited @Auggiie69 @ClarissaAtUA @Maddie_Queen @Tobyatunited @MikeHannaUAL pic.twitter.com/cl2jMbaAhb — Vincent Passafiume (@vjpassa) November 4, 2022 × When the adoption was finalised on December 15, United not only threw a fun celebration at the airport in Polaris's honour but also donated $5,000 to the SF SPCA. "United's Customer Service team took on quite a challenge to ensure Polaris would be safe, healthy, and find a loving home," Lisa Feder, SF SPCA chief of rescue and welfare shared. "I only hope that we can do half as good a job of taking care of him as the United staff did," Capt. Dale shared of his family taking in the pup. WATCH | At least 13 people have been killed in Philippine floods "More than one employee said to me, 'You better take good care of him ... or else.' There was even a wag of a finger," he added, according to multiple outlets. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Dog abandoned at San Francisco airport, pilot hooman provides a forever home

Elon Musk laid off employees earlier in one of the measures he took to cut costs after $44 billion Twitter buyout. The Twitter chief had also instructed teams to find over $1 billion in yearly infrastructure cost savings by reducing cloud services and extra server space, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

And guess what? Now Elon Musk is selling Twitter HQ items! But is it true that it is to support the company financially by garnering extra cash? According to the latest reports, Musk is prepared to auction off items from Twitter's headquarters. On January 17, Twitter CEO Elon Musk will hold an auction for items and souvenirs from the company's headquarters in San Francisco.&nbsp;

The items that will be up for sale by Heritage Global Partners are listed on the website BidSpotter. Bidding starts on January 17, 2023, at 7 a.m. Pacific Time and concludes on January 18, at 10 a.m. The firm will be floating a number of items during the bidding process, such as a sizable statue of the Twitter bird, a projector, iMac displays, espresso machines, seats, and kitchenware, with beginning bids ranging from 25 to 50 dollars.&nbsp;

Here's where you can check out the full list:&nbsp;

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It looks like Twitter is auctioning off their kitchen <a href="https://t.co/J6tWmRBZ7T">https://t.co/J6tWmRBZ7T</a>
— Eddie Codel (@ekai) <a href="https://twitter.com/ekai/status/1601304304576385024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Earlier, Musk started converting some of the Twitter headquarters' rooms into beds and most recently instructed staff to begin working solely out of Twitter's San Francisco office. Among the items up for sale are a 3-foot monument of the Twitter Bird, a 6-foot "@" sign with artificial plants that can be changed out for real plants, and bicycles that can charge your phone are just a few of the unusual items on display. Numerous display screens, iMac monitors, and grey swivel office chairs are also included in the auction's offerings, along with loads of industrial kitchen equipment including refrigerators and pizza ovens.

Elon Musk is accused of taking the controversial cost-cutting strategy, which included firing almost half of the company's personnel and prompting the workers to file a lawsuit against him. The layoffs, according to the workers, violated many labour laws. Anyone who believes the sale is a part of safeguarding finances is a "moron," according to Nick Dove, head of Heritage Global Partners, the organisation coordinating the bidding told CNN.

"They've sold for 44 billion, and we're selling a couple of chairs and desks and computers," Dove told Fortune. "So if anyone genuinely thinks that the revenue from selling a couple computers and chairs will pay for the mountain there, then they're a moron." 
&nbsp;

Elon Musk laid off employees earlier in one of the measures he took to cut costs after $44 billion Twitter buyout. The Twitter chief had also instructed teams to find over $1 billion in yearly infrastructure cost savings by reducing cloud services and extra server space, as per Reuters.

Elon Musk laid off employees earlier in one of the measures he took to cut costs after $44 billion Twitter buyout. The Twitter chief had also instructed teams to find over $1 billion in yearly infrastructure cost savings by reducing cloud services and extra server space, as per Reuters. And guess what? Now Elon Musk is selling Twitter HQ items! But is it true that it is to support the company financially by garnering extra cash? According to the latest reports, Musk is prepared to auction off items from Twitter's headquarters. On January 17, Twitter CEO Elon Musk will hold an auction for items and souvenirs from the company's headquarters in San Francisco. The items that will be up for sale by Heritage Global Partners are listed on the website BidSpotter. Bidding starts on January 17, 2023, at 7 a.m. Pacific Time and concludes on January 18, at 10 a.m. The firm will be floating a number of items during the bidding process, such as a sizable statue of the Twitter bird, a projector, iMac displays, espresso machines, seats, and kitchenware, with beginning bids ranging from 25 to 50 dollars. Here's where you can check out the full list: It looks like Twitter is auctioning off their kitchen https://t.co/J6tWmRBZ7T — Eddie Codel (@ekai) December 9, 2022 × Earlier, Musk started converting some of the Twitter headquarters' rooms into beds and most recently instructed staff to begin working solely out of Twitter's San Francisco office. Among the items up for sale are a 3-foot monument of the Twitter Bird, a 6-foot "@" sign with artificial plants that can be changed out for real plants, and bicycles that can charge your phone are just a few of the unusual items on display. Numerous display screens, iMac monitors, and grey swivel office chairs are also included in the auction's offerings, along with loads of industrial kitchen equipment including refrigerators and pizza ovens. Elon Musk is accused of taking the controversial cost-cutting strategy, which included firing almost half of the company's personnel and prompting the workers to file a lawsuit against him. The layoffs, according to the workers, violated many labour laws. Anyone who believes the sale is a part of safeguarding finances is a "moron," according to Nick Dove, head of Heritage Global Partners, the organisation coordinating the bidding told CNN. "They've sold for 44 billion, and we're selling a couple of chairs and desks and computers," Dove told Fortune. "So if anyone genuinely thinks that the revenue from selling a couple computers and chairs will pay for the mountain there, then they're a moron."

Twitter's headquarters auction list: What all is Elon Musk selling?

San Francisco authorities say that Twitter offices in the city are under investigation for constructing makeshift bedrooms.

WION Fineprint | Bedrooms in Twitter offices under investigation

Lawmakers in San Francisco have voted to ban the controversial policy of letting police use robots for deadly force amidst concerns over militarisation and automation of policing.&nbsp;The San Francisco police department (SFPD) has 17 robots in its arsenal that can even kill people during action.

The city’s board of supervisors have decided to prohibit the use of police robots to be used in such a lethal manner, however, they have called for further review by a committee to later decided whether to allow killer robots to be used in limited cases.

The major U-turn comes a week after the board members voted to allow robots to be armed with explosives “when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and outweighs any other force option available to SFPD”.

They had also decided that only top officers would be granted permission to authorise the deployment of robots for deadly use.

The decision to revoke the earlier move comes in the wake of a series of protests by civil society organisations and three members of the board who earlier opposed using killer robots.

On Monday, they staged a protest outside City Hall seeking to reverse the decision, with chants like “We all saw that movie … No Killer Robots.”

One of the members who opposed the move, supervisor Dean Preston, on Tuesday welcomed the decision, saying that there is no place for “killer robots”.

“The people of San Francisco have spoken loud and clear: There is no place for killer police robots in our city,” he said in a statement after the vote, according to AP news agency.

“We should be working on ways to decrease the use of force by local law enforcement, not giving them new tools to kill people.”

So far, only San Francisco and Oakland have debated on the use of lethal robots. The Oakland police wanted to arm robots with shotguns but did not proceed with the move in the face of fierce public opposition.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Lawmakers in San Francisco have voted to ban the controversial policy of letting police use robots for deadly force amidst concerns over militarisation and automation of policing.

Lawmakers in San Francisco have voted to ban the controversial policy of letting police use robots for deadly force amidst concerns over militarisation and automation of policing. The San Francisco police department (SFPD) has 17 robots in its arsenal that can even kill people during action. The city’s board of supervisors have decided to prohibit the use of police robots to be used in such a lethal manner, however, they have called for further review by a committee to later decided whether to allow killer robots to be used in limited cases. The major U-turn comes a week after the board members voted to allow robots to be armed with explosives “when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and outweighs any other force option available to SFPD”. They had also decided that only top officers would be granted permission to authorise the deployment of robots for deadly use. The decision to revoke the earlier move comes in the wake of a series of protests by civil society organisations and three members of the board who earlier opposed using killer robots. On Monday, they staged a protest outside City Hall seeking to reverse the decision, with chants like “We all saw that movie … No Killer Robots.” One of the members who opposed the move, supervisor Dean Preston, on Tuesday welcomed the decision, saying that there is no place for “killer robots”. “The people of San Francisco have spoken loud and clear: There is no place for killer police robots in our city,” he said in a statement after the vote, according to AP news agency. “We should be working on ways to decrease the use of force by local law enforcement, not giving them new tools to kill people.” So far, only San Francisco and Oakland have debated on the use of lethal robots. The Oakland police wanted to arm robots with shotguns but did not proceed with the move in the face of fierce public opposition. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

After backlash, San Francisco reverses move to permit use of ‘killer robots’ by police

Keeping with his "extremely hardcore" theme, as per reports, Elon Musk has now set up conference rooms turned bedrooms for employees at the company's headquarters in San Francisco.

It's been a month since Elon Musk took over Twitter as the Chief twit, and in this short span of time, he has fired 7,500 employees, axed executives and engineers who spoke up against his ideas and issued an ultimatum to the remaining employees: work "extremely hardcore" or leave.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;The Twitter Files: Independent journalist Matt Taibbi makes the revelation

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In the latest "shock" to them, when the disgruntled employees showed up for work on Monday (November 5), they were greeted by the sight of "modest bedrooms featuring unmade mattresses, drab curtains and giant conference-room telepresence monitors", reports Forbes.

As per the latest reports, San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection has launched an investigation into the complaint that Musk has converted the company's headquarters.

"We need to make sure the building is being used as intended," said Patrick Hannan, the department's communications director adding that residential buildings, even those meant for short stays have "different building code requirements".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/its-on-the-todo-list-musk-now-wants-to-change-twitters-word-limit-538009">'It's on the to-do list': Musk now wants to change Twitter's word limit</a>

While the makeshift bedrooms may be considered a significant upgrade from the sleeping bag situation that went viral in November after a Twitter employee tweeted a picture of herself sleeping in the office, it is still &nbsp;"disrespectful".

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When you need something from your boss at elon twitter <a href="https://t.co/hfArXl5NiL">pic.twitter.com/hfArXl5NiL</a>
— Evan Jones (@evanstnlyjones) <a href="https://twitter.com/evanstnlyjones/status/1587690084064669701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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As per a Forbes report citing an anonymous source, the move was not preceded by any discussion with the staff or even an announcement. They received no context and had to presume that the beds are for the remaining employees to stay over at the office overnight.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-brain-chip-firm-neuralink-under-lens-over-animal-abuse-claims-540404">Elon Musk’s brain chip firm Neuralink under lens over animal abuse claims</a>

"It’s not a good look," said one employee as quoted by Forbes.&nbsp;

"It’s yet another unspoken sign of disrespect. There is no discussion. Just like, beds showed up."

It remains unclear just how many beds are there, however, the anonymous source speculates that there were "four to eight" uncomfortable-looking beds on every floor.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Keeping with his "extremely hardcore" theme, as per reports, Elon Musk has now set up conference rooms turned bedrooms for employees at the company's headquarters in San Francisco.

Keeping with his "extremely hardcore" theme, as per reports, Elon Musk has now set up conference rooms turned bedrooms for employees at the company's headquarters in San Francisco. It's been a month since Elon Musk took over Twitter as the Chief twit, and in this short span of time, he has fired 7,500 employees, axed executives and engineers who spoke up against his ideas and issued an ultimatum to the remaining employees: work "extremely hardcore" or leave. Watch | The Twitter Files: Independent journalist Matt Taibbi makes the revelation In the latest "shock" to them, when the disgruntled employees showed up for work on Monday (November 5), they were greeted by the sight of "modest bedrooms featuring unmade mattresses, drab curtains and giant conference-room telepresence monitors", reports Forbes. As per the latest reports, San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection has launched an investigation into the complaint that Musk has converted the company's headquarters. "We need to make sure the building is being used as intended," said Patrick Hannan, the department's communications director adding that residential buildings, even those meant for short stays have "different building code requirements". Also read | 'It's on the to-do list': Musk now wants to change Twitter's word limit While the makeshift bedrooms may be considered a significant upgrade from the sleeping bag situation that went viral in November after a Twitter employee tweeted a picture of herself sleeping in the office, it is still "disrespectful". When you need something from your boss at elon twitter pic.twitter.com/hfArXl5NiL — Evan Jones (@evanstnlyjones) November 2, 2022 × As per a Forbes report citing an anonymous source, the move was not preceded by any discussion with the staff or even an announcement. They received no context and had to presume that the beds are for the remaining employees to stay over at the office overnight. Also read | Elon Musk’s brain chip firm Neuralink under lens over animal abuse claims "It’s not a good look," said one employee as quoted by Forbes. "It’s yet another unspoken sign of disrespect. There is no discussion. Just like, beds showed up." It remains unclear just how many beds are there, however, the anonymous source speculates that there were "four to eight" uncomfortable-looking beds on every floor. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Musk's 'hardcore' Twitter 2.0: Beds show up overnight at HQ, employees call it 'unspoken sign of disrespect'

The police in San Francisco will be able to use robots that can kill after official approval from the city’s Board of Supervisors. The official body was engaged in a heated debate over the top for quite some time but the decision was finally taken after a vote on Wednesday. &nbsp;

According to the Washington Post, the newly-approved policy will allow the police to use robots to kill “when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and officers cannot subdue the threat after using alternative force options or de-escalation tactics.”&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijing-reports-5006-covid-cases-as-china-stumbles-through-worst-outbreak-538948">Beijing reports 5,006 Covid cases as China stumbles through worst outbreak</a>

While the authorities are convinced with the current policy, it will need to pass a second round of voting before it is presented to the mayor for final approval. The measure will only be used in “extreme situations” and in order to use the robots, one of three senior police leaders will have to give approval.

At present, the San Francisco Police Department possesses robots that are used mainly for reconnaissance, bomb disposal and rescue operations. However, department spokesperson Robert Rueca made it clear that they are not armed and the police will need some time to come up with the system to effectively train the robots to&nbsp;“contact, incapacitate,&nbsp;or disorient” a dangerous suspect.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-asks-elon-musk-to-visit-ukraine-before-making-peace-overtures-538990">Zelensky urges Elon Musk to visit Ukraine before proposing peace</a>

Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, expressed her concern regarding the development and said that it can be a dangerous precedent in the United States.&nbsp;

“In my knowledge, this would be the first city to take this step of passing a law authorizing killer robots,” Cahn told The Post.&nbsp;

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The police in San Francisco will be able to use robots that can kill after official approval from the city’s Board of Supervisors. The official body was engaged in a heated debate over the top for quite some time but the decision was finally taken after a vote on Wednesday.

The police in San Francisco will be able to use robots that can kill after official approval from the city’s Board of Supervisors. The official body was engaged in a heated debate over the top for quite some time but the decision was finally taken after a vote on Wednesday. According to the Washington Post, the newly-approved policy will allow the police to use robots to kill “when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and officers cannot subdue the threat after using alternative force options or de-escalation tactics.” Also read | Beijing reports 5,006 Covid cases as China stumbles through worst outbreak While the authorities are convinced with the current policy, it will need to pass a second round of voting before it is presented to the mayor for final approval. The measure will only be used in “extreme situations” and in order to use the robots, one of three senior police leaders will have to give approval. At present, the San Francisco Police Department possesses robots that are used mainly for reconnaissance, bomb disposal and rescue operations. However, department spokesperson Robert Rueca made it clear that they are not armed and the police will need some time to come up with the system to effectively train the robots to “contact, incapacitate, or disorient” a dangerous suspect. Also read | Zelensky urges Elon Musk to visit Ukraine before proposing peace Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, expressed her concern regarding the development and said that it can be a dangerous precedent in the United States. “In my knowledge, this would be the first city to take this step of passing a law authorizing killer robots,” Cahn told The Post.

San Francisco Police get special permission to use 'killer robots' after heated debate

From New York to San Fransisco: Here's the list of top 10 costliest cities in the world. Take a look!

The man accused of attacking US house speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband has pleaded not guilty. David Depape appeared in a San Francisco court yesterday to face charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

US: After attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband violent extremism warning ahead of midterms

Suspected attacker of Nancy Pelosi's husband pleads not guilty in San Francisco court

The man who attacked US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer has been charged with attempted murder among other felonies, a day after break-in at their home in San Francisco.

Police have so far not revealed the motive of Friday’s attack, even though the incident has stoked fear of political violence ahead of the midterm elections on November 8, which will decide the control of the House of Representatives and Senate.

The accused was identified as David Depape, 42— a self-described nudist activist in the Bay Area, and proponent of far-right conspiracy theories.

Depape, who is in police custody, has been booked on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, battery, burglary, and several other felonies.

On Friday, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said that police detectives, assisted by FBI agents, are yet to determine what caused the home invasion but added, "We know this was not a random act”&nbsp;and that it was targeted and "wrong."

"The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it," San Francisco police chief Bill Scott told reporters. He later&nbsp;added that Paul Pelosi was hit at least once.

According to reports, the intruder shouted, "Where is Nancy?" before attacking Paul Pelosi.

Nancy was in Washington, DC, at the time of the attack.&nbsp;After being informed of the intrusion, she rushed to the San Francisco hospital where Paul, 82, "underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands," according to Nancy's office. He is expected to make a full recovery.

In a Twitter post, Nancy said that she and her family were "heartbroken and traumatised" by the violent attack.

"Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop," Pelosi said of the incident in a letter posted to Twitter Saturday evening.

"We are grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and emergency services, and for the life-saving medical care he is receiving," she said, in her first comment about the attack.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The man who attacked US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer has been charged with attempted murder among other felonies, a day after break-in at their home in San Francisco.

The man who attacked US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer has been charged with attempted murder among other felonies, a day after break-in at their home in San Francisco. Police have so far not revealed the motive of Friday’s attack, even though the incident has stoked fear of political violence ahead of the midterm elections on November 8, which will decide the control of the House of Representatives and Senate. The accused was identified as David Depape, 42— a self-described nudist activist in the Bay Area, and proponent of far-right conspiracy theories. Depape, who is in police custody, has been booked on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, battery, burglary, and several other felonies. On Friday, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said that police detectives, assisted by FBI agents, are yet to determine what caused the home invasion but added, "We know this was not a random act” and that it was targeted and "wrong." "The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it," San Francisco police chief Bill Scott told reporters. He later added that Paul Pelosi was hit at least once. According to reports, the intruder shouted, "Where is Nancy?" before attacking Paul Pelosi. Nancy was in Washington, DC, at the time of the attack. After being informed of the intrusion, she rushed to the San Francisco hospital where Paul, 82, "underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands," according to Nancy's office. He is expected to make a full recovery. In a Twitter post, Nancy said that she and her family were "heartbroken and traumatised" by the violent attack. "Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop," Pelosi said of the incident in a letter posted to Twitter Saturday evening. "We are grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and emergency services, and for the life-saving medical care he is receiving," she said, in her first comment about the attack. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Man arrested in attack on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband faces charges

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked with a hammer after an intruder walked into their home on Friday. The attack stoked fear about about political violence ahead of the November midterm elections. Her husband was taken to a San Francisco hospital where he went for a skull fracture.

US: Nancy Pelosi's husband attacked; intruder screams 'Where is Nancy?'

Elon Musk has changed his Twitter bio to “Chief Twit” and his location to “Twitter HQ (headquarters)”, based in San Francisco, ahead of the Friday deadline to close the $44 billion acquisition deal.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Tesla chief shared a clip on the microblogging site showing him entering the main Twitter office carrying a bathroom sink.

"Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in!" the billionaire tweeted with the video of himself strolling in the lobbying area, smiling and laughing.

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Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in! <a href="https://t.co/D68z4K2wq7">pic.twitter.com/D68z4K2wq7</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1585341984679469056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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CNN had earlier reported that the 51-year-old tech mogul was expected to visit the San Francisco office this week to address the staff.

“As you’ll soon see or hear, Elon is in the SF office this week meeting with folks, walking the halls, and continuing to dive in on the important work you all do,” Twitter Chief Marketing Officer Leslie Berland told staff on Wednesday in an email, which has been accessed by CNN.

“If you’re in SF and see him around, say hi! For everyone else, this is just the beginning of many meetings and conversations with Elon,” the mail said.

According to Bloomberg, Musk is on the verge of finalising the deal, and is expected to complete the process by Friday.

The billionaire had until October 28 to close the $44 billion deal, or risk facing trial in November.

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The latest tweet by Musk is an indication that the takeover is all set in motion after he earlier backtracked upon the deal.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-plans-major-update-for-twitter-528382" hreflang="en">Elon Musk plans major update for Twitter</a>

The future of Twitter under Musk’s reign remains uncertain as he had recently told his prospective investors that he intends to downsize nearly 75 per cent of the company’s staff and that Twitter had already planned massive layoffs even if the deal did not go through, according to the Washington Post.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

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Elon Musk has changed his Twitter bio to “Chief Twit” and his location to “Twitter HQ (headquarters)”, based in San Francisco, ahead of the Friday deadline to close the $44 billion acquisition deal.

Elon Musk has changed his Twitter bio to “Chief Twit” and his location to “Twitter HQ (headquarters)”, based in San Francisco, ahead of the Friday deadline to close the $44 billion acquisition deal. On Wednesday afternoon, the Tesla chief shared a clip on the microblogging site showing him entering the main Twitter office carrying a bathroom sink. "Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in!" the billionaire tweeted with the video of himself strolling in the lobbying area, smiling and laughing. Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in! pic.twitter.com/D68z4K2wq7 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 26, 2022 × CNN had earlier reported that the 51-year-old tech mogul was expected to visit the San Francisco office this week to address the staff. “As you’ll soon see or hear, Elon is in the SF office this week meeting with folks, walking the halls, and continuing to dive in on the important work you all do,” Twitter Chief Marketing Officer Leslie Berland told staff on Wednesday in an email, which has been accessed by CNN. “If you’re in SF and see him around, say hi! For everyone else, this is just the beginning of many meetings and conversations with Elon,” the mail said. According to Bloomberg, Musk is on the verge of finalising the deal, and is expected to complete the process by Friday. The billionaire had until October 28 to close the $44 billion deal, or risk facing trial in November. × The latest tweet by Musk is an indication that the takeover is all set in motion after he earlier backtracked upon the deal. Also read | Elon Musk plans major update for Twitter The future of Twitter under Musk’s reign remains uncertain as he had recently told his prospective investors that he intends to downsize nearly 75 per cent of the company’s staff and that Twitter had already planned massive layoffs even if the deal did not go through, according to the Washington Post. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Watch: Elon Musk changes Twitter bio to 'Chief Twit', enters HQ with sink in hand

In order to scare away pigeons, the metro system in California's San Francisco Bay Area has hired a bird of prey named Pac-Man.

It is the 5-year-old Harris hawk's duty to be on the lookout for pigeons and it has taken up the perch at El Cerrito del Norte station.

Contracting with the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART), Pac-Man's handler Ricky Ortiz is a falconer with Falcon Force who began patrolling with the bird at the station this summer.

Starting their day at the bottom level entrance before scoping out the platforms, the team patrols three days a week and scares away any pigeons who are resting on a ledge or on the interior scaffolding of the station.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-casper-the-ghostly-octopus-discovered-in-waters-off-hawaii-is-likely-new-specie-505115" hreflang="en">WATCH | Casper, the ghostly octopus discovered in waters off Hawaii is likely new species</a>

According to Ortiz, "There was probably less than half of the pigeons here after the week of us flying."

He gives Pac-Man snacks throughout the day to keep his feathery friend happy on the job and to ensure that it does not feast on the pigeons or local rodents.

One of the daily riders on the route, Bethany Campbell told news agency Reuters that Pac-Man has been a hit with commuters.

Highlighting that she was first scared when she saw the hawk but now thinks it's great, Campbell said "We have family back in the Midwest and the idea of having birds here for bird eradication is just funny to them."

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

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In order to scare away pigeons, the metro system in California's San Francisco Bay Area has hired a bird of prey named Pac-Man. It is the 5-year-old Harris hawk's duty to be on the lookout for pigeons and it has taken up the perch at El Cerrito del Norte station.

In order to scare away pigeons, the metro system in California's San Francisco Bay Area has hired a bird of prey named Pac-Man. It is the 5-year-old Harris hawk's duty to be on the lookout for pigeons and it has taken up the perch at El Cerrito del Norte station. Contracting with the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART), Pac-Man's handler Ricky Ortiz is a falconer with Falcon Force who began patrolling with the bird at the station this summer. Starting their day at the bottom level entrance before scoping out the platforms, the team patrols three days a week and scares away any pigeons who are resting on a ledge or on the interior scaffolding of the station. Also see | WATCH | Casper, the ghostly octopus discovered in waters off Hawaii is likely new species According to Ortiz, "There was probably less than half of the pigeons here after the week of us flying." He gives Pac-Man snacks throughout the day to keep his feathery friend happy on the job and to ensure that it does not feast on the pigeons or local rodents. One of the daily riders on the route, Bethany Campbell told news agency Reuters that Pac-Man has been a hit with commuters. Highlighting that she was first scared when she saw the hawk but now thinks it's great, Campbell said "We have family back in the Midwest and the idea of having birds here for bird eradication is just funny to them." (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

San Francisco: 'Pac-Man' hawk hired by metro system to scare pigeons away

Let us take a look at stories generating interest across WION's social media channels.

Trending On WION: San Francisco's metro system hired a bird of prey named 'Pac-Man'

After Covid pause, Chinese New Year parade enthralls San Francisco again

The streets of San Francisco, California on Saturday (February 19) witnessed people enjoying and celebrating the city's annual Lunar New Year parade after a hiatus last year. The celebrations were cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

People were banging drums, performing on stilts, lighting firecrackers as those who participated marched from downtown through the streets toward the Chinatown neighbourhood.&nbsp;

A 20-year-old student from Stanford University named Kevin Yang travelled from Palo Alto to see the parade. "It's really great to see Asian-American representation out here in San Francisco and seeing so many faces here, definitely means that people actually care about it, and that's something we really, really like about the city," Yang said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-took-classified-material-from-white-house-says-us-national-archives-454801">Donald Trump took classified material from White House, says US National Archives</a>

The Lunar New Year celebrations started worldwide on February 1 and the festivities are still underway. The Lunar New Year, which is also known as the Chinese New Year is celebrated as the Spring Festival in China and by the Asian diaspora.&nbsp;

The celebrations have marked the end of the Year of the Ox. As per the Chinese zodiac, Ox is termed as "the good helper". It is a symbol of diligence, strength, honesty, persistence and wealth. Now, the Year of the Tiger has started.&nbsp;

The ushered in the Year of the Tiger with a celebratory lion dance and the snap, crackle and pop of firecrackers. In Chinese traditions firecrackers are believed to scare off evil spirits from the year to come and bring good fortune.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/passenger-found-alive-on-greece-italy-ferry-after-blaze-11-still-missing-454784">Passenger found alive on Greece-Italy ferry after blaze, 11 still missing</a>

The holiday also brought hope for some in the Asian and Asian-American communities, which have suffered from rising rates of hate crimes during the past two years.&nbsp;

Statistics showed that 60 hate crimes were committed against Asians in San Francisco during 2021, up from only nine the year before, city police announced last month.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The streets of San Francisco, California on Saturday (February 19) witnessed people enjoying and celebrating the city's annual Lunar New Year parade after a hiatus last year.

The streets of San Francisco, California on Saturday (February 19) witnessed people enjoying and celebrating the city's annual Lunar New Year parade after a hiatus last year. The celebrations were cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. People were banging drums, performing on stilts, lighting firecrackers as those who participated marched from downtown through the streets toward the Chinatown neighbourhood. A 20-year-old student from Stanford University named Kevin Yang travelled from Palo Alto to see the parade. "It's really great to see Asian-American representation out here in San Francisco and seeing so many faces here, definitely means that people actually care about it, and that's something we really, really like about the city," Yang said. ALSO READ | Donald Trump took classified material from White House, says US National Archives The Lunar New Year celebrations started worldwide on February 1 and the festivities are still underway. The Lunar New Year, which is also known as the Chinese New Year is celebrated as the Spring Festival in China and by the Asian diaspora. The celebrations have marked the end of the Year of the Ox. As per the Chinese zodiac, Ox is termed as "the good helper". It is a symbol of diligence, strength, honesty, persistence and wealth. Now, the Year of the Tiger has started. The ushered in the Year of the Tiger with a celebratory lion dance and the snap, crackle and pop of firecrackers. In Chinese traditions firecrackers are believed to scare off evil spirits from the year to come and bring good fortune. ALSO READ | Passenger found alive on Greece-Italy ferry after blaze, 11 still missing The holiday also brought hope for some in the Asian and Asian-American communities, which have suffered from rising rates of hate crimes during the past two years. Statistics showed that 60 hate crimes were committed against Asians in San Francisco during 2021, up from only nine the year before, city police announced last month. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese New Year parade returns to San Francisco after COVID-19 hiatus

The DNA collected as part of a rape exam in San Francisco has been used by the local police to link a woman to a crime.

The city’s district attorney has alleged that the move violates the constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and seizures as well as California’s Victims’ Bill of Rights.

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The police crime lab “attempts to identify crime suspects” by searching a law enforcement database that includes DNA collected from sexual assault victims, District Attorney Chesa Boudin said.

“Rapes and sexual assault are violent, dehumanizing, and traumatic. I am disturbed that victims who have the courage to undergo an invasive examination to help identify their perpetrators are being treated like criminals rather than supported as crime victims,” Boudin said in a statement.&nbsp;

“We should encourage survivors to come forward — not collect evidence to use against them in the future.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/assaulted-in-metaverse-woman-alleges-gang-rape-60-seconds-after-joining-metas-virtual-world-449784">Also read |&nbsp;Assaulted in Metaverse: Woman alleges 'gang rape' 60 seconds after joining Meta's virtual world</a>

“Getting a rape kit can be re-traumatizing. Having that DNA placed in a database for future use creates yet another incentive not to do it. It’s unacceptable,” said state senator Scott Wiener, who represents the city.

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said he has ordered an investigation.

“We must never create disincentives for crime victims to cooperate with police, and if it’s true that DNA collected from a rape or sexual assault victim has been used by SFPD to identify and apprehend that person as a suspect in another crime, I’m committed to ending the practice,” he said.

San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen said she learned about the alleged practice last weekend and has asked the city attorney’s office to draft legislation barring the use of rape kit evidence except to investigate the rape, the Chronicle reported.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The DNA collected as part of a rape exam in San Francisco has been used by the local police to link a woman to a crime. The city’s district attorney has alleged that the move violates the constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and seizures as well as California’s Victims’ Bill of Rights.

The DNA collected as part of a rape exam in San Francisco has been used by the local police to link a woman to a crime. The city’s district attorney has alleged that the move violates the constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and seizures as well as California’s Victims’ Bill of Rights. The police crime lab “attempts to identify crime suspects” by searching a law enforcement database that includes DNA collected from sexual assault victims, District Attorney Chesa Boudin said. “Rapes and sexual assault are violent, dehumanizing, and traumatic. I am disturbed that victims who have the courage to undergo an invasive examination to help identify their perpetrators are being treated like criminals rather than supported as crime victims,” Boudin said in a statement. “We should encourage survivors to come forward — not collect evidence to use against them in the future.” Also read | Assaulted in Metaverse: Woman alleges 'gang rape' 60 seconds after joining Meta's virtual world “Getting a rape kit can be re-traumatizing. Having that DNA placed in a database for future use creates yet another incentive not to do it. It’s unacceptable,” said state senator Scott Wiener, who represents the city. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said he has ordered an investigation. “We must never create disincentives for crime victims to cooperate with police, and if it’s true that DNA collected from a rape or sexual assault victim has been used by SFPD to identify and apprehend that person as a suspect in another crime, I’m committed to ending the practice,” he said. San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen said she learned about the alleged practice last weekend and has asked the city attorney’s office to draft legislation barring the use of rape kit evidence except to investigate the rape, the Chronicle reported. (With inputs from agencies)

San Francisco: DNA collected as part of rape exam used to link a woman to a crime

Lunar New Year celebrations and events are happening again this year in San Francisco after two challenging years of the pandemic.

Lunar new year events returns to San Francisco

As soon as the first U.S. case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus was reported in San Francisco, California officials began sounding the same message: Don’t panic.

“We are not surprised by this. This was predictable. This was predicted,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a news conference yesterday. “We should assume that it’s in other states as well.”

Omicron, a highly mutated version of the coronavirus that was first identified in South Africa, has been detected in more than 25 countries. But that still raises the question: If omicron is spreading far and wide, why was the first U.S. case discovered in San Francisco?

As with most things, there is an element of randomness here. If we think back to the spring of 2020, an early coronavirus outbreak at a Seattle nursing home signaled terrible luck — not that the city was the most infected in the nation.

It is most likely a similar situation in San Francisco. The city is one of the most vaccinated places in the country — with 77% of residents fully immunized against COVID-19 — so it is not particularly susceptible to coronavirus outbreaks.

But its popularity with global travelers does make it vulnerable to contagion imported from elsewhere.

On Tuesday, before the Bay Area case was identified, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced expanded omicron screening at San Francisco International Airport, calling it one “of the busiest international airports in the country.”

Indeed, the San Franciscan infected with omicron had returned from a trip to South Africa on Nov. 22. The patient’s symptoms began three days later.

That set off a rapid chain of events. The infected person, who is between ages 18-49, was tested Sunday and got a positive result Monday. In less than 24 hours, scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, had determined that it was omicron.

Newsom chalked up the diagnosis to California having “the most robust testing program and protocols in the nation” as well as strong collaborations with major academic centers such as UCSF.

Compared with the nation overall, California does perform genetic sequencing on a higher percentage of coronavirus samples — roughly 1 in 5. (Since August, those tests have shown that at least 98% of Californians with COVID-19 have been infected with the delta variant.)

Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s secretary of health and human services, said the San Francisco patient was self-isolating and had mild symptoms that were improving, and that no close contacts had tested positive — what he called “a testimony to the importance of vaccinations.” The patient had received two doses of the Moderna vaccine but no booster.

Though scientists must still determine how well the shots will ultimately protect against omicron, many experts expect they will ward off severe illness and death, if not infections altogether. Answers about whether omicron is more contagious or deadly remain elusive.

In light of omicron’s arrival in the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president’s top medical adviser, said Americans should not wait for pharmaceutical companies to develop a booster shot designed for the new variant and that the available doses would provide extra protection.

“Get boosted now,” he said. “We may not need a variant-specific boost.”

As soon as the first U.S. case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus was reported in San Francisco, California officials began sounding the same message: Don’t panic.

As soon as the first U.S. case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus was reported in San Francisco, California officials began sounding the same message: Don’t panic. “We are not surprised by this. This was predictable. This was predicted,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a news conference yesterday. “We should assume that it’s in other states as well.” Omicron, a highly mutated version of the coronavirus that was first identified in South Africa, has been detected in more than 25 countries. But that still raises the question: If omicron is spreading far and wide, why was the first U.S. case discovered in San Francisco? As with most things, there is an element of randomness here. If we think back to the spring of 2020, an early coronavirus outbreak at a Seattle nursing home signaled terrible luck — not that the city was the most infected in the nation. It is most likely a similar situation in San Francisco. The city is one of the most vaccinated places in the country — with 77% of residents fully immunized against COVID-19 — so it is not particularly susceptible to coronavirus outbreaks. But its popularity with global travelers does make it vulnerable to contagion imported from elsewhere. On Tuesday, before the Bay Area case was identified, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced expanded omicron screening at San Francisco International Airport, calling it one “of the busiest international airports in the country.” Indeed, the San Franciscan infected with omicron had returned from a trip to South Africa on Nov. 22. The patient’s symptoms began three days later. That set off a rapid chain of events. The infected person, who is between ages 18-49, was tested Sunday and got a positive result Monday. In less than 24 hours, scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, had determined that it was omicron. Newsom chalked up the diagnosis to California having “the most robust testing program and protocols in the nation” as well as strong collaborations with major academic centers such as UCSF. Compared with the nation overall, California does perform genetic sequencing on a higher percentage of coronavirus samples — roughly 1 in 5. (Since August, those tests have shown that at least 98% of Californians with COVID-19 have been infected with the delta variant.) Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s secretary of health and human services, said the San Francisco patient was self-isolating and had mild symptoms that were improving, and that no close contacts had tested positive — what he called “a testimony to the importance of vaccinations.” The patient had received two doses of the Moderna vaccine but no booster. Though scientists must still determine how well the shots will ultimately protect against omicron, many experts expect they will ward off severe illness and death, if not infections altogether. Answers about whether omicron is more contagious or deadly remain elusive. In light of omicron’s arrival in the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president’s top medical adviser, said Americans should not wait for pharmaceutical companies to develop a booster shot designed for the new variant and that the available doses would provide extra protection. “Get boosted now,” he said. “We may not need a variant-specific boost.”

Why Omicron was first found in San Francisco

In the space of just three blocks, hundreds of people packed in.

They clutched jars of honey, cartons of fresh peas and bouquets of flowers. Bags slung on shoulders bulged with ripe peaches, eggplants and cherries.

Other than a few masked faces, the bustling Clement Street Farmers Market on a recent Sunday felt like a relic of prepandemic times.

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The market has run without interruption through every surge of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>, and the restaurants and shops on Clement Street, the main artery of the Richmond District in the northwest corner of San Francisco, have been spared the financial ruin seen across other big cities over the past 19 months.

Few, if any, businesses on the street have permanently closed, according to Morgan Mapes, the president of the Clement Street Merchants Association. Unlike downtown San Francisco, which is now largely desolate, this commercial strip never relied on business from tourists or office workers.

“We’re in a sweet spot,” Mapes said. “We cater to our neighbors and our residents.”

The self-contained nature of Clement Street offers not only an explanation for how it survived the pandemic, but also a window into how cities may change in the next few years. The megacity where people commute for hours to work, play and shop may soon be on the wane.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/old-fake-news-sputnik-refutes-claims-russia-stole-oxford-vaccine-blueprint-419855" hreflang="en">'Old fake news': Sputnik refutes claims Russia stole Oxford vaccine blueprint</a>

Before I go on, here’s some background on Clement Street: It runs eastward for 2 1/2 miles from the northwest corner of the peninsula, and much of its length is lined with shops.

Clement Street is often thought of as San Francisco’s second Chinatown; maybe you’ve gone there for dim sum or soup dumplings. It is also where you’ll find the beloved Green Apple Books, the ever-popular Burma Superstar restaurant and Schubert’s Bakery, which is more than a century old.

Just before the pandemic, in January 2020, I stayed on Clement Street during a trip to San Francisco, because lodgings are more affordable in the quieter (and extra foggy) part of the city. I remember loving that I never had to leave the street to find food, go to the movies or meet friends at a bar.

I’ve recently learned that there’s a name for this convenience: the 15-minute city. The concept, which the mayor of Paris featured in her 2020 reelection campaign, envisions neighborhoods as complete social ecosystems, with offices, grocery stores, parks and doctors offices within a short walk or bike ride of every resident.

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Mapes believes this structure was vital to Clement Street’s success during the pandemic. Even during lockdowns, people living in the area continued to buy groceries and other goods from nearby shops.

“I don’t really leave the neighborhood for much,” said Mapes, who owns a vintage clothing store on Clement. “You have everything here.”

When I recently returned to Clement Street, the area appeared mostly untouched by the pandemic.

There was more outdoor seating on the sidewalks, but the restaurants were as crowded as ever. Customers filtered in and out of boutique shops. A neighborhood cafe where I had noticed a group of men playing cards in the mornings still seemed to be serving as a town square.

Though the “15-minute city” idea predates the coronavirus, it has gained traction during the pandemic as people spent more time in their communities and came to dread resuming their long commutes.

“The pandemic has caused us to think about how to move differently, to consume differently, to live differently,” Carlos Moreno, a Sorbonne professor and driving force behind the idea, told the BBC. “We are discovering that by working differently we have more spare time, to have more time to be with our families or friends. We are discovering and appreciating our neighborhoods much more.”

Moreno believes that cities will never go back to the way they once were, and that that’s a good thing. There will be more emphasis on walking and biking, he says, and more mixing of residential and commercial spaces as services move closer to where people live.

Proponents of the 15-minute city think it will make us happier, too, as we get to know our neighbors instead of rushing from one thing to the next.

This sense of community was already on display on Clement Street. After visiting the farmers’ market on that recent Sunday, I met Mapes at her store as she closed up for the evening.

While we sat inside, a man parked his bicycle in front of the shop. He began dusting and washing the windows of the storefront, a service he apparently wanted to provide for free.

In the space of just three blocks, hundreds of people packed in. They clutched jars of honey, cartons of fresh peas and bouquets of flowers. Bags slung on shoulders bulged with ripe peaches, eggplants and cherries.

In the space of just three blocks, hundreds of people packed in. They clutched jars of honey, cartons of fresh peas and bouquets of flowers. Bags slung on shoulders bulged with ripe peaches, eggplants and cherries. Other than a few masked faces, the bustling Clement Street Farmers Market on a recent Sunday felt like a relic of prepandemic times. Also read | Merck seeks US FDA's authorisation for COVID-19 pill The market has run without interruption through every surge of the coronavirus, and the restaurants and shops on Clement Street, the main artery of the Richmond District in the northwest corner of San Francisco, have been spared the financial ruin seen across other big cities over the past 19 months. Few, if any, businesses on the street have permanently closed, according to Morgan Mapes, the president of the Clement Street Merchants Association. Unlike downtown San Francisco, which is now largely desolate, this commercial strip never relied on business from tourists or office workers. “We’re in a sweet spot,” Mapes said. “We cater to our neighbors and our residents.” The self-contained nature of Clement Street offers not only an explanation for how it survived the pandemic, but also a window into how cities may change in the next few years. The megacity where people commute for hours to work, play and shop may soon be on the wane. Also read | 'Old fake news': Sputnik refutes claims Russia stole Oxford vaccine blueprint Before I go on, here’s some background on Clement Street: It runs eastward for 2 1/2 miles from the northwest corner of the peninsula, and much of its length is lined with shops. Clement Street is often thought of as San Francisco’s second Chinatown; maybe you’ve gone there for dim sum or soup dumplings. It is also where you’ll find the beloved Green Apple Books, the ever-popular Burma Superstar restaurant and Schubert’s Bakery, which is more than a century old. Just before the pandemic, in January 2020, I stayed on Clement Street during a trip to San Francisco, because lodgings are more affordable in the quieter (and extra foggy) part of the city. I remember loving that I never had to leave the street to find food, go to the movies or meet friends at a bar. I’ve recently learned that there’s a name for this convenience: the 15-minute city. The concept, which the mayor of Paris featured in her 2020 reelection campaign, envisions neighborhoods as complete social ecosystems, with offices, grocery stores, parks and doctors offices within a short walk or bike ride of every resident. Also read | Women's mental health deteriorated more in Covid pandemic: Study Mapes believes this structure was vital to Clement Street’s success during the pandemic. Even during lockdowns, people living in the area continued to buy groceries and other goods from nearby shops. “I don’t really leave the neighborhood for much,” said Mapes, who owns a vintage clothing store on Clement. “You have everything here.” When I recently returned to Clement Street, the area appeared mostly untouched by the pandemic. There was more outdoor seating on the sidewalks, but the restaurants were as crowded as ever. Customers filtered in and out of boutique shops. A neighborhood cafe where I had noticed a group of men playing cards in the mornings still seemed to be serving as a town square. Though the “15-minute city” idea predates the coronavirus, it has gained traction during the pandemic as people spent more time in their communities and came to dread resuming their long commutes. “The pandemic has caused us to think about how to move differently, to consume differently, to live differently,” Carlos Moreno, a Sorbonne professor and driving force behind the idea, told the BBC. “We are discovering that by working differently we have more spare time, to have more time to be with our families or friends. We are discovering and appreciating our neighborhoods much more.” Moreno believes that cities will never go back to the way they once were, and that that’s a good thing. There will be more emphasis on walking and biking, he says, and more mixing of residential and commercial spaces as services move closer to where people live. Proponents of the 15-minute city think it will make us happier, too, as we get to know our neighbors instead of rushing from one thing to the next. This sense of community was already on display on Clement Street. After visiting the farmers’ market on that recent Sunday, I met Mapes at her store as she closed up for the evening. While we sat inside, a man parked his bicycle in front of the shop. He began dusting and washing the windows of the storefront, a service he apparently wanted to provide for free.

How one San Francisco street survived the pandemic

Several San Francisco Bay Area counties will begin loosening mask requirements for certain indoor public settings, including offices, gyms, college classrooms and churches, once they reach low COVID-19 case and hospitalisation rates and at least 80 per cent of the total population is fully vaccinated, officials announced Thursday.

The Bay Area, with among the highest vaccination rates and lowest case rates in the nation, has been cautious since the start of the pandemic, when counties regionwide issued the nation's first stay-home order in March 2020.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-jab-prevents-severe-virus-for-at-least-6-months-study-418358">Pfizer jab prevents severe virus for at least 6 months: Study</a>

After lifting some restrictions in the spring, public health officials in San Francisco, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo reinstated an indoor mask mandate in August as COVID-19 infections surged because of the highly contagious delta variant.

Since then, cases have declined, and officials have now agreed to start lifting mask mandates in some public spaces. The 80% vaccination rate includes the entire population, not just those 12 and older who are currently eligible for the shots.

"Indoor masking has helped to lower case counts, hospitalisations and COVID-19 deaths, so we don't want to remove this important layer of COVID prevention too hastily," Santa Clara Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said.

Such a change is likely weeks away in most areas, although San Francisco will begin easing the rules next week in a system that is likely to again create a patchwork of regional rules.

Christos Frangoulis, owner of the Park Street Tavern in Alameda, said the new rules don't appear to change anything for him immediately, and he's fine with that.

"I kind of expected we'd be wearing masks until at least the spring, anyway," he said.

"I'd much rather have my guests wear masks than have my doors shut again.

In Contra Costa County, where 71 per cent of the entire population is vaccinated, officials said it could be a while before people can actually start taking their masks off, given that vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 have yet to be approved.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-covid-19-caseload-tops-2367-million-419033">Global Covid-19 caseload tops 236.7 million</a>

I want to make it very clear, we are not there yet and based on the criteria it will probably take a few more weeks before we can enter a store or restaurant without a mask, Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis said.

In San Francisco, where 75 per cent of the entire population is fully vaccinated, patrons of a wide array of businesses are already required to show proof of full vaccination, including offices, gyms and college classrooms. Mayor London Breed's office said Thursday that mask requirements will be eased October 15 for those and other settings with fewer than 100 people, as long as everyone can prove they are vaccinated, the place is well ventilated and no children under 12 are present.

Patrons at San Francisco bars and restaurants must still wear a mask inside, regardless of vaccination status, unless they are eating or drinking, Breed said. The mayor last month was seen on video mask-less at a nightclub, in violation of the rules, and later told reporters that she didn't think the rules were reasonable.

Make sure you are vaccinated because of the requirements but don't feel as though you have to be micromanaged about mask wearing. We don't need the fun police to come in and tell us what we should or shouldn't be doing," she later said.

At John's Grill in San Francisco, owner John Konstin was trying to figure out whether the new guidelines meant a change for his restaurant it sounds like bars and restaurants, we still have to require masks 
It's definitely tiring,&nbsp;he said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-surpasses-700000-covid-deaths-as-california-schools-make-vaccines-compulsory-417519">US surpasses 700,000 Covid deaths as California schools make vaccines compulsory</a>

But at the end of the day, as long as we're staying safe, and cases are low, and vaccinations are high, it seems like we're doing the right thing here," noting that customers have been overwhelmingly positive about the vaccination requirement.

Indoor masking will also continue to be required at San Francisco retail stores and other shared indoor places such as common areas like elevators, lobbies and restrooms, where people from different workplace settings could interact.

State and federal rules still require masks to be worn on public transportation, in health care facilities, in adult and senior care facilities and at K-12 schools.

In Los Angeles County, the state's most populous, there are no immediate plans to adopt a similar criteria for loosening mask mandates, said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the county's Department of Public Health.

She said Northern California counties have much higher vaccination rates overall and different demographics, though she agreed with the rationale behind the guidelines.

Several San Francisco Bay Area counties will begin loosening mask requirements for certain indoor public settings, including offices, gyms, college classrooms and churches, once they reach low COVID-19 case and hospitalisation rates and at least 80 per cent of the total population is fully vaccinated, officials announced Thursday.

Several San Francisco Bay Area counties will begin loosening mask requirements for certain indoor public settings, including offices, gyms, college classrooms and churches, once they reach low COVID-19 case and hospitalisation rates and at least 80 per cent of the total population is fully vaccinated, officials announced Thursday. The Bay Area, with among the highest vaccination rates and lowest case rates in the nation, has been cautious since the start of the pandemic, when counties regionwide issued the nation's first stay-home order in March 2020. Also Read | Pfizer jab prevents severe virus for at least 6 months: Study After lifting some restrictions in the spring, public health officials in San Francisco, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo reinstated an indoor mask mandate in August as COVID-19 infections surged because of the highly contagious delta variant. Since then, cases have declined, and officials have now agreed to start lifting mask mandates in some public spaces. The 80% vaccination rate includes the entire population, not just those 12 and older who are currently eligible for the shots. "Indoor masking has helped to lower case counts, hospitalisations and COVID-19 deaths, so we don't want to remove this important layer of COVID prevention too hastily," Santa Clara Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said. Such a change is likely weeks away in most areas, although San Francisco will begin easing the rules next week in a system that is likely to again create a patchwork of regional rules. Christos Frangoulis, owner of the Park Street Tavern in Alameda, said the new rules don't appear to change anything for him immediately, and he's fine with that. "I kind of expected we'd be wearing masks until at least the spring, anyway," he said. "I'd much rather have my guests wear masks than have my doors shut again. In Contra Costa County, where 71 per cent of the entire population is vaccinated, officials said it could be a while before people can actually start taking their masks off, given that vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 have yet to be approved. Also Read | Global Covid-19 caseload tops 236.7 million I want to make it very clear, we are not there yet and based on the criteria it will probably take a few more weeks before we can enter a store or restaurant without a mask, Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis said. In San Francisco, where 75 per cent of the entire population is fully vaccinated, patrons of a wide array of businesses are already required to show proof of full vaccination, including offices, gyms and college classrooms. Mayor London Breed's office said Thursday that mask requirements will be eased October 15 for those and other settings with fewer than 100 people, as long as everyone can prove they are vaccinated, the place is well ventilated and no children under 12 are present. Patrons at San Francisco bars and restaurants must still wear a mask inside, regardless of vaccination status, unless they are eating or drinking, Breed said. The mayor last month was seen on video mask-less at a nightclub, in violation of the rules, and later told reporters that she didn't think the rules were reasonable. Make sure you are vaccinated because of the requirements but don't feel as though you have to be micromanaged about mask wearing. We don't need the fun police to come in and tell us what we should or shouldn't be doing," she later said. At John's Grill in San Francisco, owner John Konstin was trying to figure out whether the new guidelines meant a change for his restaurant it sounds like bars and restaurants, we still have to require masks It's definitely tiring, he said. Also Read | US surpasses 700,000 Covid deaths as California schools make vaccines compulsory But at the end of the day, as long as we're staying safe, and cases are low, and vaccinations are high, it seems like we're doing the right thing here," noting that customers have been overwhelmingly positive about the vaccination requirement. Indoor masking will also continue to be required at San Francisco retail stores and other shared indoor places such as common areas like elevators, lobbies and restrooms, where people from different workplace settings could interact. State and federal rules still require masks to be worn on public transportation, in health care facilities, in adult and senior care facilities and at K-12 schools. In Los Angeles County, the state's most populous, there are no immediate plans to adopt a similar criteria for loosening mask mandates, said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the county's Department of Public Health. She said Northern California counties have much higher vaccination rates overall and different demographics, though she agreed with the rationale behind the guidelines.

San Francisco bay area to drop some indoor mask mandates

A high profile luxury multi-storey building in San Francisco, US is sinking, putting a halt to a $100 million repair work, amid reports that the building has tilted even more.&nbsp;

The suspension of work will give engineers some time to understand why the Millennium Tower in the city’s downtown has sunk another inch (2.5 centimetres) during the repair.&nbsp; The&nbsp;58-storey property is the tallest residential building in San Francisco.

During the work to reinforce the foundation of the 58-story tower to prevent additional tilting, engineers and other experts have found out that the building had sunk an inch in the months since work began.&nbsp;

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Doug Elmets, the spokesman for the Millennium Tower, said in a statement as quoted by The Guardian that the installation project, itself part of a "legal settlement" to a lawsuit from apartment owners in the building, would be paused for up to a month as engineers tried to learn more about the "increased settlement rate and available means of mitigating this."&nbsp;

As per a report published by San Francisco Chronicle, a spokesperson for the Millennium Tower Association said the building is safe, however, the work has been suspended as a cautionary step.&nbsp;

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The luxury building opened in 2009 and all 419 apartments quickly sold out. High-profile residents have included former San Francisco 49er Joe Montana, late venture capitalist Tom Perkins and Giants outfielder Hunter Pence.&nbsp;

However, after over a decade, the building had sunk an estimated 16 inches and leaned 2 inches at its base and 6 at its peak, which has prompted a lawsuit from residents.&nbsp;

A high profile luxury multi-storey building in San Francisco, US is sinking, putting a halt to a $100 million repair work, amid reports that the building has tilted even more.

A high profile luxury multi-storey building in San Francisco, US is sinking, putting a halt to a $100 million repair work, amid reports that the building has tilted even more. The suspension of work will give engineers some time to understand why the Millennium Tower in the city’s downtown has sunk another inch (2.5 centimetres) during the repair. The 58-storey property is the tallest residential building in San Francisco. During the work to reinforce the foundation of the 58-story tower to prevent additional tilting, engineers and other experts have found out that the building had sunk an inch in the months since work began. ALSO READ | Tom Cruise just got burgled: Thieves steal millions while he was shooting for 'Mission: Impossible 7' Doug Elmets, the spokesman for the Millennium Tower, said in a statement as quoted by The Guardian that the installation project, itself part of a "legal settlement" to a lawsuit from apartment owners in the building, would be paused for up to a month as engineers tried to learn more about the "increased settlement rate and available means of mitigating this." As per a report published by San Francisco Chronicle, a spokesperson for the Millennium Tower Association said the building is safe, however, the work has been suspended as a cautionary step. ALSO READ | Lawmakers throw bottles at each other, as brawl breaks out in Armenian parliament The luxury building opened in 2009 and all 419 apartments quickly sold out. High-profile residents have included former San Francisco 49er Joe Montana, late venture capitalist Tom Perkins and Giants outfielder Hunter Pence. However, after over a decade, the building had sunk an estimated 16 inches and leaned 2 inches at its base and 6 at its peak, which has prompted a lawsuit from residents.

Pisa tower of USA? Engineers baffled as San Francisco's tallest luxury residential building keeps sinking and tilting

The city of&nbsp;San&nbsp;Francisco&nbsp;has announced it will require all municipal employees&nbsp;to be vaccinated against Covid-19, or they could face penalties up to and including dismissal.

The new rule, announced Wednesday, will not take effect until the vaccines have received full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, which has so far green-lit their use on an emergency basis due to the pandemic.

San&nbsp;Francisco&nbsp;will then require its 35,000 employees, including police and firefighters, to be vaccinated. Those who fail to comply and do not receive an exemption for medical or religious reasons will be punished or could even be fired.

"It's really a decision for the health and safety of our employees and our public that we serve," said Carol Isen, the city's director of human resources.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chauvin-gets-22-12-years-in-prison-for-george-floyds-death-394037">Also Read |&nbsp;Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death</a>

"It's about protecting the city as an employer from what we deem to be unacceptable risk."

The local branch of the Service Employees International Union, which represents around 20,000 city employees, called the move a "threatening mandate" and said such a requirement must be negotiated and not imposed.

This week, more than 150 employees at one of Texas's largest hospitals were fired or resigned after refusing to comply with a Covid vaccination requirement.

Officials at Houston Methodist had told its staff they needed to have received a Covid vaccination by June 7.

Some staff members had filed a lawsuit against the hospital, accusing it of "forcing its employees to be human 'guinea pigs' as a condition for continued employment."

The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge who said the vaccines' safety was not at issue.

The city of&nbsp;San&nbsp;Francisco, which adopted measures early on in the US coronavirus outbreak to stop its spread, has one of the highest vaccination rates in California: about 80 percent of residents 12 and over have received at least one dose.

The city of San Francisco has announced it will require all municipal employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, or they could face penalties up to and including dismissal.

The city of San Francisco has announced it will require all municipal employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, or they could face penalties up to and including dismissal. The new rule, announced Wednesday, will not take effect until the vaccines have received full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, which has so far green-lit their use on an emergency basis due to the pandemic. San Francisco will then require its 35,000 employees, including police and firefighters, to be vaccinated. Those who fail to comply and do not receive an exemption for medical or religious reasons will be punished or could even be fired. "It's really a decision for the health and safety of our employees and our public that we serve," said Carol Isen, the city's director of human resources. Also Read | Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death "It's about protecting the city as an employer from what we deem to be unacceptable risk." The local branch of the Service Employees International Union, which represents around 20,000 city employees, called the move a "threatening mandate" and said such a requirement must be negotiated and not imposed. This week, more than 150 employees at one of Texas's largest hospitals were fired or resigned after refusing to comply with a Covid vaccination requirement. Officials at Houston Methodist had told its staff they needed to have received a Covid vaccination by June 7. Some staff members had filed a lawsuit against the hospital, accusing it of "forcing its employees to be human 'guinea pigs' as a condition for continued employment." The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge who said the vaccines' safety was not at issue. The city of San Francisco, which adopted measures early on in the US coronavirus outbreak to stop its spread, has one of the highest vaccination rates in California: about 80 percent of residents 12 and over have received at least one dose.

San Francisco to require city employees to get Covid vaccine

Two stolen hand-carved artifacts, sandstone lintels dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries, were returned to the Thai government on Tuesday in a ceremony more than 50 years overdue.

Ceremony marks return of stolen Thai antiquities

Vedika Jawa's mission to sweeten the lives of those in need began when she was just 13, on a family trip to San Francisco. She could not help but see the multitudes living on the streets. She returned home to Fremont, California, determined to help. Reaching out out to homeless shelters, she offered to bake sweet treats.

US teen baker sweetens lives of those in need

San Francisco-based cellular agriculture startup Wildtype has unveiled the latest prototype of its cell-based salmon.

Salmon that doesn't come from ocean

Police arrested a man who they said is suspected of stabbing two Asian American women without warning Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco's Mid-Market neighbourhood.

Officers sent to the scene shortly before 5 pm found the wounded women, who were taken to a hospital. There was no immediate word on the condition of the women, who were 65 and 85.

Witnesses told KPIX-TV that a man clutching a knife was walking down Market Street when he approached a bus stop, stabbed the women and then walked away.

A 54-year-old San Francisco man was arrested on suspicion of committing the attack several hours later, police told the station.

Police didn't immediately indicate whether the women were specifically targeted or whether the attack might be a hate crime.

Asian Americans have been the targets of unprovoked attacks in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in the nation in recent months.

California prosecutors have filed assault and hate crime charges against a man accused of an attack last week in which he allegedly yelled racial slurs before knocking down Carl Chan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.

In separate San Francisco attacks in March, an 83-year-old Vietnamese man was knocked down and broke his neck in the fall, and a 77-year-old woman was similarly attacked. Police arrested a man on charges of assault and elder abuse in both cases.

Another 83-year-old San Francisco Bay Area man was pushed down in February, broke a hip and spent weeks in the hospital and in rehabilitation.

In New York, a man was arrested last month on hate crimes charges in connection with last month's attack on a Chinese immigrant in East Harlem.

The 61-year-old victim was collecting cans when he was attacked from behind, knocked to the ground and kicked in the head.

That attack echoed an earlier assault on a Filipina American woman near Times Square. A parolee who had been convicted of killing his mother two decades ago was arrested.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Police arrested a man who they said is suspected of stabbing two Asian American women without warning Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco's Mid-Market neighbourhood.

Police arrested a man who they said is suspected of stabbing two Asian American women without warning Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco's Mid-Market neighbourhood. Officers sent to the scene shortly before 5 pm found the wounded women, who were taken to a hospital. There was no immediate word on the condition of the women, who were 65 and 85. Witnesses told KPIX-TV that a man clutching a knife was walking down Market Street when he approached a bus stop, stabbed the women and then walked away. A 54-year-old San Francisco man was arrested on suspicion of committing the attack several hours later, police told the station. Police didn't immediately indicate whether the women were specifically targeted or whether the attack might be a hate crime. Asian Americans have been the targets of unprovoked attacks in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in the nation in recent months. California prosecutors have filed assault and hate crime charges against a man accused of an attack last week in which he allegedly yelled racial slurs before knocking down Carl Chan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. In separate San Francisco attacks in March, an 83-year-old Vietnamese man was knocked down and broke his neck in the fall, and a 77-year-old woman was similarly attacked. Police arrested a man on charges of assault and elder abuse in both cases. Another 83-year-old San Francisco Bay Area man was pushed down in February, broke a hip and spent weeks in the hospital and in rehabilitation. In New York, a man was arrested last month on hate crimes charges in connection with last month's attack on a Chinese immigrant in East Harlem. The 61-year-old victim was collecting cans when he was attacked from behind, knocked to the ground and kicked in the head. That attack echoed an earlier assault on a Filipina American woman near Times Square. A parolee who had been convicted of killing his mother two decades ago was arrested.

Two Asian American women stabbed in San Francisco attack

If you've been driving in California's central valley this week and spotted a bear walking on its hind legs, you're not imagining it. But don't worry, it's also not a real bear; it's just a man wearing a bear suit.

Jesse Larios says he does not know exactly what inspired him to dress up as the character he has named Bearsun and start the over 400-mile (644-km) trip, but he has been pleased with the attention the move has received.

"It was an impulsive decision for sure. I didn't plan it out. I had the basics down. I was like ok, cool, I'm going to walk," Larios said during a stop in Gilroy on Wednesday (April 21).

The impulse decision by Larios has morphed into something bigger. His journey has drawn fans from all over, including some who wanted to donate.

Larios has taken the fans up on their offers and started a GoFundMe account. Upon reaching&nbsp;San&nbsp;Francisco, Larios said he plans to hold an online vote to determine where to donate the money. As of Wednesday, he had raised $7,100.

"I just want to help people out," he said.

With news of his journey spreading, some folks have taken to searching him out and stopping for photos.

Crystal Gomez, 37, loaded up the family from nearby Gilroy and brought them to see "Bearsun."

"I just think it's awesome that he's doing that. It's cool that the kids got to see this because you know that's a far walk from LA to&nbsp;San&nbsp;Francisco, so yeah. I just think it's amazing," Gomez said.

Larios has been making stops along the way to sleep and eat but not much else. He started the journey on April 12. The trip has already taken longer than anticipated but he's not in a huge rush.

Instead, he's walking, enjoying the views, which he posts on Instagram, and taking inspiration from the journey and all the folks he's met along the way.

"Everything's been pretty wild, to be honest," Larios said. "It inspires me to do new things. It brings new ideas. It fuels my creativity. It helps out a lot and it feels good too."

(With inputs from agencies)

If you've been driving in California's central valley this week and spotted a bear walking on its hind legs, you're not imagining it. But don't worry, it's also not a real bear; it's just a man wearing a bear suit.

If you've been driving in California's central valley this week and spotted a bear walking on its hind legs, you're not imagining it. But don't worry, it's also not a real bear; it's just a man wearing a bear suit. Jesse Larios says he does not know exactly what inspired him to dress up as the character he has named Bearsun and start the over 400-mile (644-km) trip, but he has been pleased with the attention the move has received. "It was an impulsive decision for sure. I didn't plan it out. I had the basics down. I was like ok, cool, I'm going to walk," Larios said during a stop in Gilroy on Wednesday (April 21). The impulse decision by Larios has morphed into something bigger. His journey has drawn fans from all over, including some who wanted to donate. Larios has taken the fans up on their offers and started a GoFundMe account. Upon reaching San Francisco, Larios said he plans to hold an online vote to determine where to donate the money. As of Wednesday, he had raised $7,100. "I just want to help people out," he said. With news of his journey spreading, some folks have taken to searching him out and stopping for photos. Crystal Gomez, 37, loaded up the family from nearby Gilroy and brought them to see "Bearsun." "I just think it's awesome that he's doing that. It's cool that the kids got to see this because you know that's a far walk from LA to San Francisco, so yeah. I just think it's amazing," Gomez said. Larios has been making stops along the way to sleep and eat but not much else. He started the journey on April 12. The trip has already taken longer than anticipated but he's not in a huge rush. Instead, he's walking, enjoying the views, which he posts on Instagram, and taking inspiration from the journey and all the folks he's met along the way. "Everything's been pretty wild, to be honest," Larios said. "It inspires me to do new things. It brings new ideas. It fuels my creativity. It helps out a lot and it feels good too." (With inputs from agencies)

Los Angeles man wearing bear suit hits highway to San Francisco

Microsoft reportedly held talks in recent months to acquire the $51-billion social media firm Pinterest, the media reported on Thursday. 
 
According to The Financial Times, the tech giant aimed to acquire Pinterest, a platform popular for sharing and discovering recipes, home ideas, style inspiration and other ideas, to create a portfolio of active online communities that could run on its Cloud computing platform. 
 
"The talks were currently not active, said one of the people briefed," the report said. 
 
Both Microsoft and Pinterest declined to comment on the report. 
 
Pinterest, whose market value increased more than 600 per cent during the pandemic, plans to remain an independent company. 
 
Microsoft earlier made an attempt to acquire TikTok but the deal did not materialise. 
 
The tech giant has acquired some significant companies under CEO Satya Nadella, like LinkedIn for $26 billionand open source code repository GitHub for $7.5 billion. 
 
Microsoft also cacquired private gaming company ZeniMax for $7.5 billion last year. 
 
Pinterest reported strong fourth quarter financial results last week, with $706 million in revenue. 
 
The company`s US revenue jumped 67 per cent (year over year) to $582 million while its international revenue was up 145 per cent year over year to $123 million. 
 
Pinterest said its international user base expanded 46 per cent to 361 million.

Microsoft reportedly held talks in recent months to acquire the $51-billion social media firm Pinterest, the media reported on Thursday. According to The Financial Times, the tech giant aimed to acquire Pinterest, a platform popular for sharing and discovering recipes, home ideas, style inspiration and other ideas, to create a portfolio of active online communities that could run on its Cloud computing platform.

Microsoft reportedly held talks in recent months to acquire the $51-billion social media firm Pinterest, the media reported on Thursday. According to The Financial Times, the tech giant aimed to acquire Pinterest, a platform popular for sharing and discovering recipes, home ideas, style inspiration and other ideas, to create a portfolio of active online communities that could run on its Cloud computing platform. "The talks were currently not active, said one of the people briefed," the report said. Both Microsoft and Pinterest declined to comment on the report. Pinterest, whose market value increased more than 600 per cent during the pandemic, plans to remain an independent company. Microsoft earlier made an attempt to acquire TikTok but the deal did not materialise. The tech giant has acquired some significant companies under CEO Satya Nadella, like LinkedIn for $26 billionand open source code repository GitHub for $7.5 billion. Microsoft also cacquired private gaming company ZeniMax for $7.5 billion last year. Pinterest reported strong fourth quarter financial results last week, with $706 million in revenue. The company`s US revenue jumped 67 per cent (year over year) to $582 million while its international revenue was up 145 per cent year over year to $123 million. Pinterest said its international user base expanded 46 per cent to 361 million.

Microsoft planned to buy social media firm Pinterest: Report

Satellite images shows that Iran has started construction at its Natanz nuclear facility. The pictures from the San Francisco-based Planet Labs shows what appears to be construction equipment.

Satellite photos show activity at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility

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