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Tasmanian Devils are taking the next step in a ¡°rewilding¡± project that could someday bring the species back to the Australian mainland for the first time in about 3,000 years.Actor Chris Hemsworth and his wife helped release 11 into a predator-free sanctuary north of Sydney alongside conservationists. This makes nearly 30 animals in this protected space this year.Hemsworth is from Australia. Scientists will now use tracking devices and cameras to monitor how the animals do and whether they can be released into a wild environment eventually.The project is being called #DevilComeback.Tasmanian Devils were once found in Australia, but are now only found in the wild on the island of Tasmania.According to the preservation group Aussie Ark, the animals went extinct in Australia about 3,000 years ago due to being hunted by the Dingo. There are no Dingos in Tasmania, and the Tasmanian Devil is the island¡¯s top predator.However, in 1996, scientists detected an infectious cancer affecting the Tasmanian Devil population. Roughly 90 percent of the population has died as the disease spread rapidly, according to Aussie Ark.Since then, Aussie Ark has created a breeding center for the animals. The 30 animals being released in the latest project came from this center.Tasmanian Devils prefer open forests and woodlands, and are more scavengers than hunters. They have a short life span, 5-to-6 years in the wild and about 8 years in captivity. 1455

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett served for nearly three years on the board of private Christian schools that effectively barred admission to children of same-sex parents and made it plain that openly gay and lesbian teachers weren't welcome in the classroom.The policies that discriminated against LGBTQ people and their children were in place for years at Trinity Schools Inc., which has schools in Indiana, Minnesota and Virginia.The schools are affiliated with the insular community People of Praise that has its roots in its own interpretation of the Bible. Both Barrett and her husband are longtime members of the group, and at least three of their children attended the Trinity School at Greenlawn, in South Bend, Indiana.The Associated Press spoke with more than two dozen people who said the community's teachings have been consistent for decades, holding that homosexuality is an abomination against God, sex should occur only within marriage, and marriage should only be between a man and a woman."Trinity Schools does not unlawfully discriminate with respect to race, color, gender, national origin, age, disability, or other legally protected classifications under applicable law, with respect to the administration of its programs," Trinity Schools, Inc. President Jon Balsbaugh, said an email to The Associated Press.A man who was a student at the time Barrett served as a trustee told The Associated Press that he was directed to tell gay parents of prospective students that they would not be welcome at the school while giving tours. Prior to Barrett's arrival on the board, the school voted to limit admissions to children of legal y married couples of single parents. At the time of the decision, gay marriage had not been legalized.During her confirmation hearings last week, Barrett was questioned about her views on protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. While she attempted to sidestep most answers on policy questions ¡ª as is precedent in Supreme Court confirmation hearings ¡ª Barrett did use the term "sexual preference" while telling lawmakers that she found discrimination against gay people "abhorrent."Generally thought to be outdated, "sexual preference" is deemed as offensive by "GLAAD" because it implies that a person's sexuality is a "choice" that can be "cured." Barrett later apologized for using the term when confronted by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii. 2403

The 911 call that brought police to a Starbucks in Philadelphia, resulting in the arrest of two African-American customers, lasted only seconds."Hi, I have two gentlemen at my caf¨¦ that are refusing to make a purchase or leave. I'm at the Starbucks at 18th and Spruce," a Starbucks employee told police last Thursday shortly after 4:30 p.m.The brief 911 call was among recordings released Tuesday by the Philadelphia Police. Authorities also released dispatch and officer communications.The men had initially asked to use the restroom inside the Starbucks but were told the cafe's bathrooms were for customers only. They then sat at a table without making a purchase, which many observers have noted is a common occurrence at the franchise's locations.A manager called police after the men declined to leave the premises because, they said, they were waiting for an acquaintance.The men were arrested for trespassing but no charges were filed.The incident led to protests at the Rittenhouse Square location, including one that briefly shut the location down, and criticism of the mammoth coffee chain. Some protestors called Starbucks "anti-black."Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson met with the two men on Monday and apologized for how they were treated, a company spokesperson said.The manager who called the police is no longer working at that store, the company said.Starbucks would not comment on other reports that she has left the company by mutual agreement.On Tuesday, Starbucks said it will close?its 8,000 company-owned stores in the United States for one afternoon to educate employees about racial bias. 1627

The banana phone is back.A startup that licenses the Nokia phone brand has unveiled a new version of the 8110, a curved mobile phone that was first released in 1996 and featured in "The Matrix."The phone, which is offered in banana yellow and black, will sell for €79 (). It comes loaded with a new version of the game Snake, Finnish startup HMD said in a statement."This is a return to the glory years of Nokia," said Ian Fogg, senior analyst at IHS Markit. "But it also includes all the new technology."The 8110 comes with 4G, and a handful of apps including Google Maps, Facebook and Twitter. But it doesn't have a flashy operating system and users won't be able to download other popular apps.Fogg said that basic -- or "feature" -- phones are appealing because they are reliable, and can run for a long time on a single charge. The 8110 goes 25 days in standby mode, for example.Nokia used to be the world's largest maker of mobile phones, but it struggled to adapt to the era of smartphones and compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung.Microsoft purchased the company's handset business in 2013, but later unwound the deal. Nokia now focuses on making technology for telecommunications networks.HMD, which has licensed the Nokia brand since 2016, sold over 70 million handsets in 2017, according to IHS. That puts its sales, on an annualized basis, in the same league as Sony and Lenovo."HMD's strategy clearly aims to return Nokia to be a mobile market leader, even if it's too early for HMD to realistically target displacing Samsung or Apple," Fogg said.Nokia marketed the original 8110 as "the first of its kind in terms of its ergonomics." Its battery lasted up to six days, and it was able to store 16 ring tones and up to 324 names and numbers."It feels good in the hand and fits into any pocket. The revolutionary curved design fits the natural shape of your face," the company said in a press release at the time.  1948

Students watching the COVID-19 pandemic play out have reason to be wary of taking on additional loans for college. With what could be a slow economic recovery, signing up for an additional bill that comes each month, no matter what, might sound like a bad idea.Federal student loan payments are currently paused. But those repayments are scheduled to resume next year before current students can take advantage of the halt. And while government income-based repayment plans and forbearance can offer a respite for economic hardships, interest still continues to add up. Private loans are even less forgiving and almost always require a co-signer.But there¡¯s an alternative emerging: income share agreements, or ISAs. With these agreements, students borrow money from their school or a third-party provider and repay a fixed percentage of their future income for a predetermined amount of time after leaving school.Depending on the terms of the agreement and the student¡¯s post-graduation salary, the total repaid could be much more or far less than the amount borrowed. It¡¯s a gamble that could be worth it for students who¡¯ve exhausted federal aid and scholarships. Here¡¯s why.No co-signer requiredMost students need a co-signer to qualify for private student loans. Co-signers are on the hook for any missed payment, and a large balance can be a burden on their credit report. As families look to make ends meet, they may need that borrowing leverage for themselves.Income share agreements are co-signer-free. Instead of credit history, students typically get an ISA based on their year in school and major. The best terms are often reserved for students in high-earning majors near graduation, like seniors studying STEM fields. But high earners also risk having to repay a larger amount.If an income share agreement isn¡¯t the right fit for you and you need additional funding without a co-signer, consider a private student loan designed for independent students. These loans are often based on your earning potential and don¡¯t require co-signers. They may also offer flexible repayment options based on salary or career tenure.Unemployment safety netWith an income share agreement, if you¡¯re unemployed ¡ª or if your salary falls below a certain threshold, which can be as low as ,000 or as high as ,000 ¡ª you don¡¯t make payments. No interest accrues, and the term of your agreement doesn¡¯t change.That makes these agreements a good option for students in times of economic uncertainty, says Ken Ruggiero, chairman and CEO of consumer finance company Goal Structured Solutions, which is the parent company of student loan providers Ascent and Skills Fund and provides funding for school-based ISAs.¡°I like the idea of not having to make a payment when you¡¯re going into a recession or right after the recovery happened,¡± he says.If you¡¯re a junior, senior or graduate student poised to enter the workforce soon, that could make an income share agreement more attractive. Tess Michaels, CEO of income share agreement provider Stride Funding, says she¡¯s seen a significant increase in inquiries since the pandemic forced schools to shut down in March.But freshmen and sophomores have more time to wait out the economic fallout. If you¡¯re further from starting your career, weigh the recession-related benefits of an income share agreement against the risk of giving up a percentage of your future income. Remember, you won¡¯t know the total cost of an ISA when you sign up.But it¡¯s not right for all studentsSome colleges offer income share agreements to all students regardless of major or tenure. Still, many of these programs prioritize upperclassmen, making it harder for freshmen and sophomores to qualify.But an income share agreement might be the wrong move even if you¡¯re graduating soon. If your income is higher than average after graduation, you might pay much more than you received.Let¡¯s say you get ,000 from a private ISA company and agree to pay 9% of your salary for five years. If you earn ,000 a year (the average starting salary for a college graduate) for the length of your term, you¡¯ll repay ,950. That is equivalent to a 10.6% interest rate. In that case, a private student loan could be a better option. Fixed rates on private student loans are hovering around 4%, though independent students will likely pay more.And income share agreements have fewer protections for borrowers than student loans. Tariq Habash, head of investigations at the Student Borrower Protection Center, says that while consumer protection laws apply to these agreements, ¡°ISA providers will say there isn¡¯t really legal clarity because they¡¯re new and different.¡± He said that he saw the same thing with payday loans and fears ISAs will take advantage of the most vulnerable students.This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.More From NerdWalletHow to Get Student Loan Relief During the Coronavirus and BeyondCollege During COVID-19: Your Aid Questions AnsweredWhat to Do if There Isn¡¯t COVID-19 Student Loan ForgivenessCecilia Clark is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: cclark@nerdwallet.com. 5166

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