'Extremely concerning': Racist hate crimes soared after COVID lockdown eased, charity says

Victim Support said the spike could also be linked to the George Floyd murder trial and 'Stop Asian Hate' campaign.

The "Most Polluted" States in America, According to New Report

The American Lung Association has released a new list of the most polluted cities in America. In making each determination, the foundation assessed air quality along these lines: by the amount of ozone in the air; by short-term particle pollution; and by the amount of particle pollution evident in the area year-round. We've assembled this list of the most polluted states in America by the number of times localities in each state appeared on each of the three lists. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss this urgent news: Here's How You Can Catch COVID Even If You're Vaccinated. 1 California Four cities in California occupied the top four rankings in two of the ALA's lists: Ozone and year-round particle pollution. Localities in California comprised six of the 10 most polluted cities nationwide in terms of short-term particle pollution. Across all three lists, California cities occupied 27 out of the top 75 most polluted cities nationwide. 2 Arizona Phoenix occupied #5 in the ALA's list of the most polluted cities by ozone level; it was sandwiched between four California cities above and two below. Nationwide, Phoenix also came in #8 most polluted by year-round particles, and #13 by short-term particles. 3 Texas The Houston-The Woodlands area came in #11 among the 25 U.S. cities most polluted by ozone; it was preceded by seven cities in California, and El Paso and Dallas joined it on the list. McAllen-Edinburg, Texas, came in #15 in year-round particle pollution, tied with Chicago with Houston ranking at #20. 4 Oregon Medford-Grants Pass, Oregon, came in #5 among the cities most affected by year-round particle pollution. Eugene-Springfield came in #15 on the same list, and Portland, Medford-Grants Pass, and Eugene-Springfield also ranked in the top 25 cities most affected by short-term particle pollution. 5 Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska, ranked #1 in terms of short-term particle pollution, and #6 in year-round particle pollution. That was enough to secure the state a spot in the top 5 nationwide.RELATED: Signs You're Getting One of the "Most Deadly" Cancers 6 Pennsylvania Areas in Pennsylvania popped up all over the top 75 spots in the three lists, earning 8 spots either for its own cities (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Lancaster) or as part of the New York City or Washington, D.C. metro areas. 7 Utah Salt Lake City ranked as the country's #8 city most polluted by ozone and #17 on the city most polluted by short-term particles; Logan, Utah, joined it on the latter. 8 Ohio Three localities in Ohio earned spots on the top 15 cities most affected by year-round particle pollution (the Pittsburgh-Weirton-New Castle metro area, #9; Cincinnati, #11; and Cleveland, #14); Pittsburgh-Weirton-New Castle also ranked #16 on the cities with the most short-term particle pollution. 9 Washington Yakima, Washington, came in an eye-popping #5 nationwide in rankings of cities affected by short-term particle pollution. Four other localities in the state made the top 25: Spokane, Seattle, and the Salem-Portland-Vancouver metro area. 10 Colorado Denver hit #8 in the top 25 cities most polluted by ozone, with Fort Collins tying with Dallas at #17. And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

• 
  What are the most-polluting sectors globally?

  Sky News
• Ozone pollution rises across New Mexico

  Tribune Publishing

3iQ CoinShares Ether ETF Begins Trading on the TSX

Toronto, April 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. This announcement and the information contained herein is restricted and is not for release, publication, or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly in, or into or from the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. Further, this announcement is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation to buy, subscribe for or otherwise acquire any securities of 3iQ CoinShares Ether ETF in any jurisdiction in which any such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. 3iQ Corp. ("3iQ"), the largest digital asset investment fund manager in Canada with more than C$2.2 billion in assets under management, today announced the launch of the 3iQ CoinShares Ether ETF (“Ether ETF” or the “ETF"). The ETF has closed its initial offering of units and will begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") today in Canadian dollars under the symbol ETHQ and in U.S. dollars under the symbol ETHQ.U. The Ether ETF’s investment objectives are to seek to provide holders of units of the Ether ETF with: (a) exposure to digital currency Ether and the daily price movements of the U.S. dollar price of Ether, and (b) the opportunity for long-term capital appreciation. “The introduction of this new ETF format provides another way to efficiently invest in Ether. We believe 3iQ’s experience and knowledge in this area will help ETF investors achieve their goals while investing in this new technology. This ETF further solidifies 3iQ’s partnership with CoinShares” – Fred Pye, Chairman and CEO of 3iQ. Ether is the native digital asset to the Ethereum blockchain, a decentralized platform for money and new kinds of financial applications. The concept of Ethereum was developed in Canada in 2013 and subsequently launched by a group of technologists from all over the world. With a market capitalization of over C$375 billion as of April 22, 2021, Ether is the second largest digital asset behind bitcoin. About 3iQ Corp. Founded in 2012, 3iQ is Canada’s largest digital asset investment fund manager with more than C$2.2 billion in assets under management. 3iQ was the first Canadian investment fund manager to offer a public bitcoin investment fund, The Bitcoin Fund (TSX: QBTC, QBTC.U), and a public Ether investment fund, The Ether Fund (TSX: QETH.UN, QETH.U). Most recently, 3iQ launched the 3iQ CoinShares Bitcoin ETF (TSX: BTCQ, BTCQ.U). 3iQ offers investors convenient and familiar investment products to gain exposure to digital assets. For more information about 3iQ and its digital asset investment funds, visit www.3iQ.ca or follow us on Twitter @3iQ_corp. Please read the prospectus before investing. Important information about the Ether ETF is contained in the prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from 3iQ Corp. or at www.sedar.com. You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell units of the Ether ETF on a stock exchange or other alternative Canadian trading system (an “exchange”). If units of the Ether ETF are purchased or sold on an exchange, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying units of the Ether ETF and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. IMPORTANT NOTICES THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OR ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SAME WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. This announcement should not be distributed, forwarded, transmitted or otherwise disseminated in or into the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The Ether ETF’s securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or under the applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly within, into or in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or except in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with the securities laws of any relevant state or other jurisdiction of the United States. Neither this announcement, nor the fact that it has been disseminated, shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any future information that we distribute. CONTACT: Fred Pye 3iQ Corp. (416) 639-2130 fred.pye@3iq.ca