thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-28--Hong Kong's Leader Says She Relies On 'Piles Of Cash' Because Of U.S. Sanctions

Hong Kong ’ s chief executive , Carrie Lam , said in an interview Saturday that she has no bank account and relies upon “ piles of cash ” for her finances because of U.S. sanctions against the city .
Lam told the Hong Kong International Business Channel that she had “ no banking services made available to her ” and mused — perhaps facetiously — that it was a unique distinction to be in such a position .
“ I ’ m using cash every day , ” Lam said .
She added : “ I have piles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying me cash for my salary , because I don ’ t have a bank account .
I don ’ t want to sort of deter people from serving in a public position , because it ’ s very honorable in this set of circumstances to be so unjustifiably sanctioned by the U.S. government .
It ’ s an honor.
” The U.S. sanctioned Lam and other senior members of Hong Kong ’ s local government because of a controversial national security law passed in June .
The national security law superseded local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a semi-autonomous city technically beholden to mainland China but with its own government and constitution .
Beijing has used the law to crack down on pro-democracy protesters who have been a regular presence in Hong Kong ’ s streets since last year .
“ The People ’ s Republic of China and Hong Kong-based officials continue to dismantle the promised autonomy and freedoms of Hong Kong through politically motivated arrests , ” and the sanctions were designed to rectify this , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued earlier this month .
Lam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as chief executive in 2017 largely because of her mishandling of Hong Kong ’ s protest movement .
She called the sanctions inconvenient in August but added that her administration was honored to uphold the national security law .
Even without a bank account , Lam still receives an annual salary of about HK $ 5.21 million — more than $ 672,000 — which is more than President Donald Trump ’ s salary of about $ 400,000 .
That makes her one of the highest-paid leaders in the world .
Due to U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to banking services , claiming “ I have piles of cash at home - the govt is paying me cash for my salary because I don ’ t have a bank account ” Earning $ 5 million HKD p.a.
, her house must look like it ’ s inhabited by a drug lord .
pic.twitter.com/oqr2cGGsyg — Jack Hazlewood ( @ JackHHazlewood ) November 27 , 2020 Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam is rich in cash because she doesn ’ t have a bank account following US sanctions .
Would be interesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monthly salary is transported to her in cash !
https : //t.co/DDqwwxkKy8 pic.twitter.com/awhRxKD6Em — Kris Cheng ( @ krislc ) November 27 , 2020 So many takes on this ludicrous news , the quote tweets are great !
But to me , I just have an image of Carrie Lam doing swimming laps in her pool of cash like Donald Duck .
& that image makes me despise her more 😡 Did she sign a devil 's pact & her dream is to swim in HKers ' cash ?
https : //t.co/uTGrrwqlY6 — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 , 2020

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Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, said in an interview Saturday that she has no bank account and relies upon “piles of cash” for her finances because of U.S. sanctions against the city.
Lam told the Hong Kong International Business Channel that she had “no banking services made available to her” and mused — perhaps facetiously — that it was a unique distinction to be in such a position.
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“I’m using cash every day,” Lam said. She added: “I have piles of cash at home. The government is paying me cash for my salary, because I don’t have a bank account. I don’t want to sort of deter people from serving in a public position, because it’s very honorable in this set of circumstances to be so unjustifiably sanctioned by the U.S. government. It’s an honor.”
The U.S. sanctioned Lam and other senior members of Hong Kong’s local government because of a controversial national security law passed in June.
The national security law superseded local laws of Hong Kong, which is a semi-autonomous city technically beholden to mainland China but with its own government and constitution. Beijing has used the law to crack down on pro-democracy protesters who have been a regular presence in Hong Kong’s streets since last year.
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“The People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong-based officials continue to dismantle the promised autonomy and freedoms of Hong Kong through politically motivated arrests,” and the sanctions were designed to rectify this, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued earlier this month.
Lam’s popularity plummeted after her appointment as chief executive in 2017 largely because of her mishandling of Hong Kong’s protest movement. She called the sanctions inconvenient in August but added that her administration was honored to uphold the national security law.
Even without a bank account, Lam still receives an annual salary of about HK$5.21 million — more than $672,000 — which is more than President Donald Trump’s salary of about $400,000. That makes her one of the highest-paid leaders in the world.
Her statements about cash earned little sympathy from Hong Kong Twitter users.
Note to those who don’t believe Magnitsky sanctions work.
The best 56 seconds of this week. #CallousCarrie #StandwithHongKong pic.twitter.com/cdWnHZnK2J — Luke de Pulford 裴倫德 (@lukedepulford) November 27, 2020
Due to U.S. sanctions, Carrie Lam no longer has access to banking services, claiming “I have piles of cash at home - the govt is paying me cash for my salary because I don’t have a bank account”
Earning $5 million HKD p.a., her house must look like it’s inhabited by a drug lord. pic.twitter.com/oqr2cGGsyg — Jack Hazlewood (@JackHHazlewood) November 27, 2020
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Already people are having a lot of fun with this. First graphic is from @StandNewsHK pic.twitter.com/Ilh2youL9C — Jack Hazlewood (@JackHHazlewood) November 27, 2020
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam is rich in cash because she doesn’t have a bank account following US sanctions. Would be interesting to know how her HK$400,000 monthly salary is transported to her in cash!https://t.co/DDqwwxkKy8 pic.twitter.com/awhRxKD6Em — Kris Cheng (@krislc) November 27, 2020
So many takes on this ludicrous news, the quote tweets are great!
But to me, I just have an image of Carrie Lam doing swimming laps in her pool of cash like Donald Duck. & that image makes me despise her more 😡
Did she sign a devil's pact & her dream is to swim in HKers' cash? https://t.co/uTGrrwqlY6 — Mandy 😷 (@MandyDUBHKG) November 27, 2020
Your average working class Hong Konger living in 2 square meter coffin apartment hearing about Carrie Lam’s piles of cash pic.twitter.com/wgwt7FIVg7 — Drew Pavlou 柏乐志 (@DrewPavlou) November 27, 2020
Please somebody for the love of god rob carrie lam — 相當殘破 (@sonofjorn) November 27, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-28--Iran’s Supreme Leader Vows Revenge Over Slain Scientist

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) — Iran ’ s supreme leader on Saturday demanded the “ definitive punishment ” of those behind the killing of a scientist who led Tehran ’ s disbanded military nuclear program , as the Islamic Republic blamed Israel for a slaying that has raised fears of reignited tensions across the Middle East .
After years of being in the shadows , the image of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh suddenly was to be seen everywhere in Iranian media , as his widow spoke on state television and officials publicly demanded revenge on Israel for the scientist ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of killing Iranian scientists a decade ago amid earlier tensions over Tehran ’ s nuclear program , has yet to comment on Fakhrizadeh ’ s killing Friday .
However , the attack bore the hallmarks of a carefully planned , military-style ambush , the likes of which Israel has been accused of conducting before .
The attack has renewed fears of Iran striking back against the U.S. , Israel ’ s closest ally in the region , as it did earlier this year when a U.S. drone strike killed a top Iranian general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft carrier back into the region , while an Iranian lawmaker suggested throwing out U.N. nuclear inspectors in response to the killing .
Iran ’ s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Fakhrizadeh “ the country ’ s prominent and distinguished nuclear and defensive scientist.
” Khamenei , who has the final say on all matters of state , said Iran ’ s first priority after the killing was the “ definitive punishment of the perpetrators and those who ordered it.
” He did not elaborate .
“ We will respond to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , ” Rouhani said .
“ The Iranian nation is smarter than falling into the trap of the Zionists .
They are thinking to create chaos.
” Both Rouhani and Khamenei said that Fakhrizadeh ’ s death would not stop the nuclear program .
Iran ’ s civilian atomic program has continued its experiments and now enriches a growing uranium stockpile up to 4.5 % purity in response to the collapse of Iran ’ s nuclear deal after the U.S.′ 2018 withdrawal from the accord .
That ’ s still far below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts warn Iran now has enough low-enriched uranium for at least two atomic bombs if it chose to pursue them .
Fakhrizadeh headed Iran ’ s so-called AMAD program that Israel and the West have alleged was a military operation looking at the feasibility of building a nuclear weapon .
The International Atomic Energy Agency says that “ structured program ” ended in 2003 .
Iran long has maintained its nuclear program is peaceful .
Soleimani ’ s death led to Iran retaliating with a ballistic missile barrage that injured dozens of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces at its disposal all around Israel , including troops and proxies in neighboring Syria , Hezbollah in Lebanon and Islamic Jihad — and to a lesser extent Hamas — in the Gaza Strip .
The Iranian Guard ’ s naval forces routinely shadow and have tense encounters with U.S. Navy forces in the Persian Gulf as well .
Hours after the attack , the Pentagon announced it had brought the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier back into the Middle East , an unusual move as the carrier already spent months in the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces in Afghanistan and Iraq as the reason for the decision , saying “ it was prudent to have additional defensive capabilities in the region to meet any contingency.
” Iran also could throw out inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency , who have provided an unprecedented , realtime look at Iran ’ s nuclear program since the deal .
Nasrollah Pezhmanfar , a hard-line lawmaker , said a statement calling to expel the “ IAEA ’ s spy inspections ” could be read Sunday , the parliament ’ s official website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s attack happened in Absard , a village just east of the capital that is a retreat for the country ’ s elite .
Iranian state television said an old truck with explosives hidden under a load of wood blew up near a sedan carrying Fakhrizadeh .
As Fakhrizadeh ’ s sedan stopped , at least five gunmen emerged and raked the car with rapid fire , the semiofficial Tasnim news agency said .
The precision of the attack led to the suspicion of Israel ’ s Mossad intelligence service being involved .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack Saturday .
In Tehran , a small group of hard-line protesters burned images of Trump and President-elect Joe Biden , who has said his administration will consider reentering Tehran ’ s nuclear deal with world powers .
While burning an American and Israeli flag , the hard-liners criticized Iran ’ s foreign minister who helped negotiate the nuclear deal , showing the challenge ahead of Tehran if officials chose to come back the accord .

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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday demanded the “definitive punishment” of those behind the killing of a scientist who led Tehran’s disbanded military nuclear program, as the Islamic Republic blamed Israel for a slaying that has raised fears of reignited tensions across the Middle East.
After years of being in the shadows, the image of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh suddenly was to be seen everywhere in Iranian media, as his widow spoke on state television and officials publicly demanded revenge on Israel for the scientist’s slaying.
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Israel, long suspected of killing Iranian scientists a decade ago amid earlier tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program, has yet to comment on Fakhrizadeh’s killing Friday. However, the attack bore the hallmarks of a carefully planned, military-style ambush, the likes of which Israel has been accused of conducting before.
The attack has renewed fears of Iran striking back against the U.S., Israel’s closest ally in the region, as it did earlier this year when a U.S. drone strike killed a top Iranian general. The U.S. military acknowledged moving an aircraft carrier back into the region, while an Iranian lawmaker suggested throwing out U.N. nuclear inspectors in response to the killing.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Fakhrizadeh “the country’s prominent and distinguished nuclear and defensive scientist.” Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of state, said Iran’s first priority after the killing was the “definitive punishment of the perpetrators and those who ordered it.” He did not elaborate.
Speaking earlier Saturday, President Hassan Rouhani blamed Israel for the killing.
“We will respond to the assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh in a proper time,” Rouhani said. “The Iranian nation is smarter than falling into the trap of the Zionists. They are thinking to create chaos.”
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Both Rouhani and Khamenei said that Fakhrizadeh’s death would not stop the nuclear program. Iran’s civilian atomic program has continued its experiments and now enriches a growing uranium stockpile up to 4.5% purity in response to the collapse of Iran’s nuclear deal after the U.S.′ 2018 withdrawal from the accord.
That’s still far below weapons-grade levels of 90%, though experts warn Iran now has enough low-enriched uranium for at least two atomic bombs if it chose to pursue them.
Analysts have compared Fakhrizadeh to being on par with Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who led America’s Manhattan Project in World War II that created the atom bomb.
Fakhrizadeh headed Iran’s so-called AMAD program that Israel and the West have alleged was a military operation looking at the feasibility of building a nuclear weapon. The International Atomic Energy Agency says that “structured program” ended in 2003. Iran long has maintained its nuclear program is peaceful.
Fakhrizadeh’s widow appeared unnamed on state television in a black chador, saying his death would spark a thousand others to take up his work.
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“He wanted to get martyred and his wish came true,” she said.
Hard-line Iranian media has begun circulating memorial images showing Fakhrizadeh standing alongside a machine-gun-cradling likeness of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, whom the U.S. killed in the January drone strike.
Soleimani’s death led to Iran retaliating with a ballistic missile barrage that injured dozens of American troops in Iraq. Tehran also has forces at its disposal all around Israel, including troops and proxies in neighboring Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Islamic Jihad — and to a lesser extent Hamas — in the Gaza Strip. The Iranian Guard’s naval forces routinely shadow and have tense encounters with U.S. Navy forces in the Persian Gulf as well.
Hours after the attack, the Pentagon announced it had brought the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier back into the Middle East, an unusual move as the carrier already spent months in the region. It cited the drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq as the reason for the decision, saying “it was prudent to have additional defensive capabilities in the region to meet any contingency.”
Iran has conducted attacks targeting Israeli interests abroad over the killing of its scientists, like in the case of the three Iranians recently freed in Thailand in exchange for a detained British-Australian academic.
Iran also could throw out inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, who have provided an unprecedented, realtime look at Iran’s nuclear program since the deal. Nasrollah Pezhmanfar, a hard-line lawmaker, said a statement calling to expel the “IAEA’s spy inspections” could be read Sunday, the parliament’s official website quoted him as saying.
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Friday’s attack happened in Absard, a village just east of the capital that is a retreat for the country’s elite. Iranian state television said an old truck with explosives hidden under a load of wood blew up near a sedan carrying Fakhrizadeh.
As Fakhrizadeh’s sedan stopped, at least five gunmen emerged and raked the car with rapid fire, the semiofficial Tasnim news agency said. The precision of the attack led to the suspicion of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service being involved. The CIA separately declined to comment on the attack Saturday.
State media has only said the attack killed Fakhrizadeh, though a statement Saturday from the European Union described the incident as killing “an Iranian government official and several civilians.” EU officials did not respond to requests for comment.
In Tehran, a small group of hard-line protesters burned images of Trump and President-elect Joe Biden, who has said his administration will consider reentering Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers. While burning an American and Israeli flag, the hard-liners criticized Iran’s foreign minister who helped negotiate the nuclear deal, showing the challenge ahead of Tehran if officials chose to come back the accord.
On Saturday night, the family of Fakhrizadeh gathered at a mosque in central Tehran for his funeral service, a website associated with Iranian state TV reported. The scientist’s body lay in a flag-draped, open coffin, his eyes closed. Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s chief justice and a leading Shiite cleric, offered prayers over his body.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-28--Retired Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh Dead At 46

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) — Tony Hsieh , the retired CEO of Las Vegas-based online shoe retailer Zappos.com who spent years working to transform the city ’ s downtown area , has died .
He was 46 .
Hsieh was with family when he died Friday , according to a statement from DTP Companies , which he founded .
Downtown Partnership spokesperson Megan Fazio said Hsieh passed away in Connecticut , KLAS-TV reported .
Puoy Premsrirut , a lawyer for Hsieh , told news outlets that Hsieh had been injured in a house fire while visiting Connecticut .
Additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An official cause of death wasn ’ t announced .
Tony Hsieh , the retired CEO of Las Vegas-based online shoe retailer Zappos.com who spent years working to transform the city ’ s downtown area , has died .
He was 46 .
“ Tony ’ s kindness and generosity touched the lives of everyone around him , and forever brightened the world , ” a DTP Companies statement said .
“ Delivering happiness was always his mantra , so instead of mourning his transition , we ask you to join us in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has lost a tremendous visionary and an incredible human being , ” the statement said .
“ His spirit will forever be a part of Zappos.
” Hsieh was a Harvard University graduate who joined the company — then called ShoeSite.com — in 1999 .
Zappos was sold to Amazon for $ 1.2 billion in 2009 , but Hsieh had remained with the company until his retirement .
For years , he also worked to revitalize downtown Las Vegas , pledging $ 350 million in 2013 for redevelopment .
The same year he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Las Vegas City Hall building .
“ Tony Hsieh played a pivotal role in helping transform Downtown Las Vegas , ” Nevada Gov .
Steve Sisolak tweeted Friday night .
“ Kathy and I send our love and condolences to Tony ’ s family and friends during this difficult time.
” A beautiful tribute to a true pioneer .
Tony Hsieh was a visionary .
He was generous with his time and willing to share his invaluable expertise with anyone .
And he was very , very cool .
https : //t.co/5A78fWpNyv — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 , 2020 “ Tony Hsieh might be the most original thinker I ’ ve ever been friends with , ” former venture investor Chris Sacca tweeted .
“ He questioned every assumption and shared everything he learned along the way .
He genuinely delighted in making anyone and everyone happy.
” Skateboarder and entrepreneur Tony Hawk added , “ Tony Hsieh was a visionary .
He was generous with his time and willing to share his invaluable expertise with anyone .
”

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tony Hsieh, the retired CEO of Las Vegas-based online shoe retailer Zappos.com who spent years working to transform the city’s downtown area, has died. He was 46.
Hsieh was with family when he died Friday, according to a statement from DTP Companies, which he founded. Downtown Partnership spokesperson Megan Fazio said Hsieh passed away in Connecticut, KLAS-TV reported.
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Puoy Premsrirut, a lawyer for Hsieh, told news outlets that Hsieh had been injured in a house fire while visiting Connecticut. Additional details weren’t immediately released. An official cause of death wasn’t announced.
Tony Hsieh, the retired CEO of Las Vegas-based online shoe retailer Zappos.com who spent years working to transform the city’s downtown area, has died. He was 46. FilmMagic via Getty Images
“Tony’s kindness and generosity touched the lives of everyone around him, and forever brightened the world,” a DTP Companies statement said. “Delivering happiness was always his mantra, so instead of mourning his transition, we ask you to join us in celebrating his life.”
Hsieh recently retired from Zappos after 20 years leading the company. The online shoe retailer shared a tribute on social media late Friday.
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“The world has lost a tremendous visionary and an incredible human being,” the statement said. “His spirit will forever be a part of Zappos.”
Hsieh was a Harvard University graduate who joined the company — then called ShoeSite.com — in 1999. Zappos was sold to Amazon for $1.2 billion in 2009, but Hsieh had remained with the company until his retirement.
For years, he also worked to revitalize downtown Las Vegas, pledging $350 million in 2013 for redevelopment. The same year he moved Zappos’ headquarters into the former Las Vegas City Hall building.
“Tony Hsieh played a pivotal role in helping transform Downtown Las Vegas,” Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak tweeted Friday night. “Kathy and I send our love and condolences to Tony’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
A beautiful tribute to a true pioneer. Tony Hsieh was a visionary. He was generous with his time and willing to share his invaluable expertise with anyone. And he was very, very cool. https://t.co/5A78fWpNyv — Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) November 28, 2020
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A wave of tributes poured out on social media as news of Hsieh’s death spread.
“Tony Hsieh might be the most original thinker I’ve ever been friends with,” former venture investor Chris Sacca tweeted. “He questioned every assumption and shared everything he learned along the way. He genuinely delighted in making anyone and everyone happy.”
Skateboarder and entrepreneur Tony Hawk added, “Tony Hsieh was a visionary. He was generous with his time and willing to share his invaluable expertise with anyone.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-28--Tokyo Olympics Announces Test Events Ahead Of 2021 Games

The Tokyo Olympics are set to open on July 23 , 2021 , after being postponed eight months ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The announcement in an online news conference came the same day that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported a one-day record of 570 new coronavirus infections in the capital .
Although Japan has handled the pandemic better than most countries , cases have been surging recently with about 2,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in a country of 125 million .
Officials said at least four of the test events will involve athletes from abroad , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and volleyball .
A track and field meet on May 9 at the new National Stadium is listed as a test event .
It is not clear if athletes from abroad will participate .
Hidemasa Nakamura , the games delivery officer , said none of the test events will allow fans from abroad , although some events will permit an unspecified number of fans from Japan .
Several of the events will not even involve athletes , testing “ operations ” only as a way to cut back on spending .
Japan has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The final game of the Japan Series of professional baseball this week drew about 19,000 fans in a 38,000-seat stadium in Fukuoka .
And a few thousand fans were allowed to attend an international gymnastics event earlier this month in Tokyo .
“ As for the number of spectators , we have to take the guidelines of the Japanese government into consideration , ” said Yasuo Mori , who works with Nakamura on games delivery .
The announcement by the Tokyo organizing committee is the latest in a campaign over the last several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sponsors and the Japanese public that the Olympics and Paralympics will take place despite the COVID-19 pandemic .
Organizers are to announce a “ toolbox ” of preliminary countermeasures next month against COVID-19 , although they are likely to be vague and subject to many changes going into next year .
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach , who was in Tokyo this month to talk up the games , acknowledged much of the planning hinges around the availability of vaccines and rapid testing .
He said they were not a “ silver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help along with social distancing , masks and near-quarantine conditions in the Athletes Village .
Bach said athletes would not be required to take a vaccine .
He said young Olympic athletes were not a priority ahead of millions of health care workers , the elderly and other vulnerable populations .
Bach suggested the IOC would cover some of the cost of the vaccine , but he gave no details as the cost continues to climb because of the postponement .
Tokyo says it is officially spending $ 12.6 billion to organize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year said it was probably twice that much .

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TOKYO (AP) — The postponed Tokyo Olympics are getting a kickstart.
Local organizers on Friday announced a series of 18 test events set to begin in March and run into May.
The Tokyo Olympics are set to open on July 23, 2021, after being postponed eight months ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The announcement in an online news conference came the same day that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported a one-day record of 570 new coronavirus infections in the capital.
Although Japan has handled the pandemic better than most countries, cases have been surging recently with about 2,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in a country of 125 million.
Officials said at least four of the test events will involve athletes from abroad, including tests in swimming, gymnastics, diving and volleyball.
A track and field meet on May 9 at the new National Stadium is listed as a test event. It is not clear if athletes from abroad will participate.
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Hidemasa Nakamura, the games delivery officer, said none of the test events will allow fans from abroad, although some events will permit an unspecified number of fans from Japan.
“No, we will not have spectators from abroad,” Nakamura said.
Several of the events will not even involve athletes, testing “operations” only as a way to cut back on spending.
Japan has held sports events recently with fans. The final game of the Japan Series of professional baseball this week drew about 19,000 fans in a 38,000-seat stadium in Fukuoka. And a few thousand fans were allowed to attend an international gymnastics event earlier this month in Tokyo.
“As for the number of spectators, we have to take the guidelines of the Japanese government into consideration,” said Yasuo Mori, who works with Nakamura on games delivery.
The announcement by the Tokyo organizing committee is the latest in a campaign over the last several months to convince a global audience, sponsors and the Japanese public that the Olympics and Paralympics will take place despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Organizers are to announce a “toolbox” of preliminary countermeasures next month against COVID-19, although they are likely to be vague and subject to many changes going into next year.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who was in Tokyo this month to talk up the games, acknowledged much of the planning hinges around the availability of vaccines and rapid testing.
He said they were not a “silver bullet” but certainly would be a help along with social distancing, masks and near-quarantine conditions in the Athletes Village.
Bach said athletes would not be required to take a vaccine. He said young Olympic athletes were not a priority ahead of millions of health care workers, the elderly and other vulnerable populations.
Bach suggested the IOC would cover some of the cost of the vaccine, but he gave no details as the cost continues to climb because of the postponement.
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Tokyo says it is officially spending $12.6 billion to organize the Olympics, although a government audit last year said it was probably twice that much.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-29--Trump's Touted 'Coronavirus Drug' Linked To Psychiatric Disorders

A drug repeatedly and erroneously pushed by President Donald Trump earlier this year as a positive treatment for coronavirus has been linked to psychiatric disorders .
Chloroquine and a related compound , hydroxychloroquine — which was heavily touted by Trump — were reviewed earlier this year by a medical agency of the European Union after notification from Spain ’ s drug authority of six cases of mental disturbances linked to coronavirus patients on high doses of the medicines .
The European Medicines Agency revealed the latest concerns Friday and has recommended that the product information for the medicines be updated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychiatric risks .
“ A review of all available data ... confirmed a link between the use of these medicines and the risk of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior , ” said an EMA statement .
Trump said in May that he had been taking hydroxychloroquine for “ weeks ” as a coronavirus preventative .
“ What do you have to lose ?
” he asked reporters .
He said the drug , taken with an antibiotic , had the potential to be “ one of the biggest game-changers in the history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 in early October , he didn ’ t take hydroxychloroquine .
He was treated with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals ’ then-experimental cocktail of monoclonal antibodies and a second antiviral drug , Remdesivir .
The federal Food and Drug Administration earlier this month granted emergency authorization to use the Regeneron treatment as well as Remdesivir in combination with another drug in the battle against COVID-19 .
Both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are commonly used to prevent malaria and are also approved to treat a number of autoimmune diseases .
There was initial enthusiasm to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug in March .
The U.S. government ordered millions of doses of the drug , and it was used in the nation ’ s veterans hospitals — until the FDA warned it was too risky to use against COVID-19 .
But a number of studies have since revealed that the drug has little to no impact on COVID-19 .
Even more disturbing , hydroxychloroquine has been linked to fatal heart arrhythmia .
The EMA statement noted that neither chloroquine nor hydroxychloroquine is authorized for the treatment of COVID-19 , but that “ both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in patients with the disease.
” It added : “ However , chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have not shown any beneficial effects in treating COVID-19 in large randomized clinical trials .
”

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A drug repeatedly and erroneously pushed by President Donald Trump earlier this year as a positive treatment for coronavirus has been linked to psychiatric disorders.
Chloroquine and a related compound, hydroxychloroquine — which was heavily touted by Trump — were reviewed earlier this year by a medical agency of the European Union after notification from Spain’s drug authority of six cases of mental disturbances linked to coronavirus patients on high doses of the medicines.
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The European Medicines Agency revealed the latest concerns Friday and has recommended that the product information for the medicines be updated to inform health care professionals of the psychiatric risks.
“A review of all available data ... confirmed a link between the use of these medicines and the risk of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior,” said an EMA statement.
Trump said in May that he had been taking hydroxychloroquine for “weeks” as a coronavirus preventative. “What do you have to lose?” he asked reporters. He said the drug, taken with an antibiotic, had the potential to be “one of the biggest game-changers in the history of medicine.”
When Trump did test positive for COVID-19 in early October, he didn’t take hydroxychloroquine. He was treated with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ then-experimental cocktail of monoclonal antibodies and a second antiviral drug, remdesivir. The federal Food and Drug Administration earlier this month granted emergency authorization to use the Regeneron treatment as well as remdesivir in combination with another drug in the battle against COVID-19.
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Both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are commonly used to prevent malaria and are also approved to treat a number of autoimmune diseases. There was initial enthusiasm to use hydroxychloroquine against the coronavirus after Trump touted the drug in March. The U.S. government ordered millions of doses of the drug, and it was used in the nation’s veterans hospitals — until the FDA warned it was too risky to use against COVID-19.
But a number of studies have since revealed that the drug has little to no impact on COVID-19. Even more disturbing, hydroxychloroquine has been linked to fatal heart arrhythmia.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-28--John Travolta Posts Emotional Message To Fans After Wife's Death

Actor John Travolta posted a gentle , heartfelt message on social media thanking his fans for reaching out to him after his wife ’ s death from breast cancer .
Travolta ’ s wife , actress Kelly Preston , died in July after a two-year battle with the disease .
She was 57 .
“ I just wanted to take this moment to thank each and every one of you for supporting me in such an incredible way this year , ” Travolta said in a video Instagram message Thursday .
“ Happy Thanksgiving , and always , love.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and had three children : Jett ( who died in 2009 at the age of 16 following a seizure ) , Ella , and Benjamin .
Following his wife ’ s death , Travolta said in a post that Preston “ fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.
” He added : “ My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center , all the medical centers that have helped , as well as her many friends and loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kelly ’ s love and life will always be remembered .
”

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Actor John Travolta posted a gentle, heartfelt message on social media thanking his fans for reaching out to him after his wife’s death from breast cancer.
Travolta’s wife, actress Kelly Preston, died in July after a two-year battle with the disease. She was 57.
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“I just wanted to take this moment to thank each and every one of you for supporting me in such an incredible way this year,” Travolta said in a video Instagram message Thursday. “Happy Thanksgiving, and always, love.”
Travolta and Preston were married in 1991 and had three children: Jett (who died in 2009 at the age of 16 following a seizure), Ella, and Benjamin.
Following his wife’s death, Travolta said in a post that Preston “fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-28--Cindy McCain Is Reportedly Biden's Top Pick To Be Ambassador To The U.K.

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to offer lifelong Republican Cindy McCain the position of ambassador to the United Kingdom , The Times of London reported Saturday .
McCain , the widow of the late Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain , endorsed Biden in the presidential election after years of acrimony between Donald Trump and her husband .
Trump incredibly denounced the senator , a Navy pilot in Vietnam , for being shot down and locked up in Hanoi for five years as a prisoner of war .
“ I like people who weren ’ t captured , ” slammed Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a dubious complaint about “ bone spurs.
” Cindy McCain ’ s support for Biden was key in helping turn Arizona blue this election .
She even recorded an emotional political message extolling Biden ’ s friendship and cooperation with her husband that was played at the Democratic National Convention in August .
Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Arizona since 1996 .
If McCain , 66 , would like the job in London , “ it ’ s hers if she wants it , ” a Biden insider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona .
They know that.
” It ’ s still unclear if McCain — an anglophile with long , important connections to Britain — would accept the offer , according to the Times .
She has been actively engaged in promoting her late husband ’ s charitable foundations and is close to her four adult children and several grandchildren .
But when asked on ABC ’ s “ The View ” earlier this month if she would serve in a Biden administration , McCain said : “ Most of all right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be no longer divided but work together .
That ’ s the reason I endorsed Joe.
” She also said that Biden ’ s administration would be “ all-inclusive , and there is a role for Republicans in the administration.
” McCain said she finally decided to endorse Biden in September after Trump reportedly called people serving in the military and veterans “ suckers ” and “ losers.
” As the mother of veterans , wife to a veteran , and daughter of a veteran , Cindy McCain says The Atlantic magazine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegedly made about military service members was the final straw in her decision to endorse Joe Biden .
https : //t.co/PFiP1cjnFa pic.twitter.com/q4HLbmaFRH — 60 Minutes ( @ 60Minutes ) November 2 , 2020 If McCain turns down the job , other candidates under consideration include Tony Gardner , the former ambassador to the European Union in the Obama administration , according to the Times .

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President-elect Joe Biden is expected to offer lifelong Republican Cindy McCain the position of ambassador to the United Kingdom, The Times of London reported Saturday.
McCain, the widow of the late Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain, endorsed Biden in the presidential election after years of acrimony between Donald Trump and her husband.
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Trump incredibly denounced the senator, a Navy pilot in Vietnam, for being shot down and locked up in Hanoi for five years as a prisoner of war. “I like people who weren’t captured,” slammed Trump, who dodged serving in Vietnam because of a dubious complaint about “bone spurs.”
Cindy McCain’s support for Biden was key in helping turn Arizona blue this election. She even recorded an emotional political message extolling Biden’s friendship and cooperation with her husband that was played at the Democratic National Convention in August. Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Arizona since 1996.
If McCain, 66, would like the job in London, “it’s hers if she wants it,” a Biden insider told the Times. “She delivered Arizona. They know that.”
Ambassador positions are frequently given as rewards for crucial presidential support by either party.
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It’s still unclear if McCain — an anglophile with long, important connections to Britain — would accept the offer, according to the Times. She has been actively engaged in promoting her late husband’s charitable foundations and is close to her four adult children and several grandchildren.
Neither Cindy McCain nor her family has responded to the report.
But when asked on ABC’s “The View” earlier this month if she would serve in a Biden administration, McCain said: “Most of all right now, what I want is for this country to be no longer divided but work together. That’s the reason I endorsed Joe.”
She also said that Biden’s administration would be “all-inclusive, and there is a role for Republicans in the administration.”
McCain is already working on Biden’s transition team.
.@cindymccain, a member of Joe Biden’s presidential transition team, says “this is an administration that’s going to be all-inclusive.”
“There is a role for Republicans in the administration.” https://t.co/f8u2wbJuik pic.twitter.com/pnw1uvldHk — The View (@TheView) November 9, 2020
McCain said she finally decided to endorse Biden in September after Trump reportedly called people serving in the military and veterans “suckers” and “losers.”
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“It angered me a great deal,” she told “60 Minutes” in November. “So I thought I can either sit here and be angry or I can do something.”
She added: “I’m the mother of two veterans and a wife of a veteran, and my father was a veteran. They were not losers and suckers.”
As the mother of veterans, wife to a veteran, and daughter of a veteran, Cindy McCain says The Atlantic magazine’s report of derogatory comments POTUS allegedly made about military service members was the final straw in her decision to endorse Joe Biden. https://t.co/PFiP1cjnFa pic.twitter.com/q4HLbmaFRH — 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) November 2, 2020
If McCain turns down the job, other candidates under consideration include Tony Gardner, the former ambassador to the European Union in the Obama administration, according to the Times.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article said John McCain was an Air Force pilot. He was a Navy pilot.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-28--In Another Legal Blow To Trump, Pa. Supreme Court Tosses Suit Challenging Mail-In Ballots

Pennsylvania ’ s highest court dismissed a lawsuit on Saturday from U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly ( R-Pa. ) and other Republicans who ’ d sought to challenge the legitimacy of the approximately 2.6 million mail-in ballots cast in the state during the November general election .
In a unanimous decision , the Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out a lower court ’ s order ― issued by Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough on Wednesday in response to the suit ― that had temporarily halted the certification of remaining contests in the state .
The state Supreme Court said Kelly and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in filing their lawsuit , which had argued that Pennsylvania ’ s vote-by-mail statute , signed into law in 2019 , was unconstitutional .
Kelly — a vocal ally of President Donald Trump — and the other plaintiffs had sought to either toss out all mail-in ballots from the general election or to invalidate the election results entirely and order the state ’ s Republican-controlled Legislature to choose Pennsylvania ’ s presidential electors .
“ It is beyond cavil that Petitioners failed to act with due diligence in presenting the instant claim , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , using a term that means petty or unnecessary .
🚨BREAKING : We just notched another win for democracy .
The PA Supreme Court has dismissed the suit that was attempting to throw out the votes of 2.5 million Pennsylvanians and halt certification .
https : //t.co/qyMHSNwVbA — Josh Shapiro ( @ JoshShapiroPA ) November 28 , 2020 As the Philadelphia Inquirer noted , the court ’ s ruling marks the end to the many lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign and its allies to challenge Pennsylvania ’ s election results .
About @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the paper said , and the Trump campaign lost all except one .
President-elect Joe Biden won Pennsylvania by more than 81,000 votes ― a result certified by Gov .
Tom Wolf ( D ) on Tuesday .
A day later , Wolf appealed McCullough ’ s lower court decision to the state Supreme Court , saying there was no “ conceivable justification ” to stymying the certification of Pennsylvania ’ s vote .
“ Since the birth of our nation nearly 250 years ago , no court has ever issued an order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ascertainment of its presidential electors — until today , ” Wolf ’ s administration said in its appeal .

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Pennsylvania’s highest court dismissed a lawsuit on Saturday from U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and other Republicans who’d sought to challenge the legitimacy of the approximately 2.6 million mail-in ballots cast in the state during the November general election.
In a unanimous decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out a lower court’s order ― issued by Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough on Wednesday in response to the suit ― that had temporarily halted the certification of remaining contests in the state.
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The state Supreme Court said Kelly and the other Republican plaintiffs were much too late in filing their lawsuit, which had argued that Pennsylvania’s vote-by-mail statute, signed into law in 2019, was unconstitutional.
Kelly — a vocal ally of President Donald Trump — and the other plaintiffs had sought to either toss out all mail-in ballots from the general election or to invalidate the election results entirely and order the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature to choose Pennsylvania’s presidential electors.
The state Supreme Court, however, scoffed at the idea.
“It is beyond cavil that Petitioners failed to act with due diligence in presenting the instant claim,” the court wrote in its opinion, using a term that means petty or unnecessary.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D) celebrated the ruling as “another win for democracy.”
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🚨BREAKING: We just notched another win for democracy.
The PA Supreme Court has dismissed the suit that was attempting to throw out the votes of 2.5 million Pennsylvanians and halt certification. https://t.co/qyMHSNwVbA — Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) November 28, 2020
As the Philadelphia Inquirer noted, the court’s ruling marks the end to the many lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign and its allies to challenge Pennsylvania’s election results. About a dozen legal challenges were filed, the paper said, and the Trump campaign lost all except one.
President-elect Joe Biden won Pennsylvania by more than 81,000 votes ― a result certified by Gov. Tom Wolf (D) on Tuesday. A day later, Wolf appealed McCullough’s lower court decision to the state Supreme Court, saying there was no “conceivable justification” to stymying the certification of Pennsylvania’s vote.
“Since the birth of our nation nearly 250 years ago, no court has ever issued an order purporting to interfere with a state’s ascertainment of its presidential electors — until today,” Wolf’s administration said in its appeal.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-29--New York City To Reopen Schools, Even As Virus Spread Intensifies

NEW YORK ( AP ) — New York City will reopen its school system to in-person learning , and increase the number of days a week many children attend class , even as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies in the city , Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday .
The announcement marks a major policy reversal for the nation ’ s largest school system , just 11 days after de Blasio , a Democrat , announced that schools were shutting down because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city .
Some elementary schools and pre-kindergarten programs will resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , the mayor said .
Others will take longer to reopen their doors .
The plan for reopening middle and high schools is still being developed , de Blasio said .
“ We feel confident that we can keep schools safe , ” he said .
About 190,000 students will be eligible to return to classrooms in the first round of reopening , just a fraction of the more than 1 million total pupils in the system .
The great majority of parents have opted to have their kids learn remotely by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those returning in person will be able to attend five days of class a week , up from one to three days previously .
Elementary school students attending in person will be required to undergo frequent testing for the virus .
Previously , the city had set a target of testing 20 % of teachers and students in each school building once a month .
Now , the testing will be weekly .
The mayor said the city was doing away with its previous trigger for closing schools , which was when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests conducted in the city over a seven-day period came back positive .
New York City exceeded that threshold early in November , and things have slightly worsened since then .
More than 9,300 New York City residents have tested positive for the virus over the past seven days .

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NEW YORK (AP) — New York City will reopen its school system to in-person learning, and increase the number of days a week many children attend class, even as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies in the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday.
The announcement marks a major policy reversal for the nation’s largest school system, just 11 days after de Blasio, a Democrat, announced that schools were shutting down because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
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Some elementary schools and pre-kindergarten programs will resume classes Dec. 7, a week from Monday, the mayor said. Others will take longer to reopen their doors.
The plan for reopening middle and high schools is still being developed, de Blasio said.
“We feel confident that we can keep schools safe,” he said.
BREAKING: @NYCMayor Bill de Blasio says @NYCSchools will reopen elementary schools next week from Monday, December 7 pic.twitter.com/3frStZJ57a — Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) November 29, 2020
About 190,000 students will be eligible to return to classrooms in the first round of reopening, just a fraction of the more than 1 million total pupils in the system. The great majority of parents have opted to have their kids learn remotely by computer.
De Blasio said that many of those returning in person will be able to attend five days of class a week, up from one to three days previously.
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Elementary school students attending in person will be required to undergo frequent testing for the virus. Previously, the city had set a target of testing 20% of teachers and students in each school building once a month. Now, the testing will be weekly.
The mayor said the city was doing away with its previous trigger for closing schools, which was when 3% or more of the virus tests conducted in the city over a seven-day period came back positive.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-29--Fauci Warns Of COVID-19 'Surge Upon A Surge' As Millions Travel Over Holidays

Dr. Anthony Fauci , the top infectious disease expert on the White House ’ s coronavirus task force , predicted Sunday that the number of COVID-19 infections will skyrocket over the next several weeks as millions of Americans travel during the holiday season .
The U.S. experienced a surge in cases , hospitalizations and deaths in recent months , and public health officials warned that those numbers could jump during the winter as Americans experience “ COVID fatigue.
” Fauci and other task force members urged Americans to refrain from traveling to visit loved ones over the holidays to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans bucked that advice and packed airports in the days leading up to Thanksgiving .
“ We have to be careful now , ” Fauci told ABC ’ s “ This Week ” on Sunday .
“ There almost certainly is going to be an uptick because of what ’ s happened with the travel.
” He added : “ We may see a surge upon a surge .
We don ’ t want to frighten people , but that ’ s just the reality .
We said that these things would happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and as we began traveling , and they ’ ve happened .
It ’ s gon na happen again.
” Fauci said it ’ s unlikely the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will relax its holiday gathering guidelines ahead of Christmas .
NEW : “ We may see a surge upon a surge .
We don ’ t want to frighten people but that ’ s just the reality , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci tells @ MarthaRaddatz , adding that he does n't expect a relaxation of restrictions or travel advisories for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pic.twitter.com/6EdUgRD5Oo — ABC News ( @ ABC ) November 29 , 2020 The true effect of Thanksgiving travel likely won ’ t begin showing up in data until the second week of December .
That ’ s because there are often delays in tracing and reporting the virus ’ s spread , and it can take time for symptoms to appear , for people to get tested and for them to receive results .
“ We do know that it does work , ” Fauci said of the effort .
“ Countries that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Hang in there a bit longer , ” he added .
“ Help is on the way ” in the form of efficacious vaccines , with the first doses expected to arrive in the next few weeks , he said .
The U.S. as of Sunday continued to lead the world in reported COVID-19 cases and deaths : 13.2 million cases and more than 266,000 deaths , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .

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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert on the White House’s coronavirus task force, predicted Sunday that the number of COVID-19 infections will skyrocket over the next several weeks as millions of Americans travel during the holiday season.
The U.S. experienced a surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths in recent months, and public health officials warned that those numbers could jump during the winter as Americans experience “COVID fatigue.”
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Fauci and other task force members urged Americans to refrain from traveling to visit loved ones over the holidays to avoid spreading the virus. But millions of Americans bucked that advice and packed airports in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
“We have to be careful now,” Fauci told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “There almost certainly is going to be an uptick because of what’s happened with the travel.”
He added: “We may see a surge upon a surge. We don’t want to frighten people, but that’s just the reality. We said that these things would happen as we got into the cold weather and as we began traveling, and they’ve happened. It’s gonna happen again.”
Fauci said it’s unlikely the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will relax its holiday gathering guidelines ahead of Christmas.
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NEW: “We may see a surge upon a surge. We don’t want to frighten people but that’s just the reality,” Dr. Anthony Fauci tells @MarthaRaddatz, adding that he doesn't expect a relaxation of restrictions or travel advisories for the Christmas season. https://t.co/g83NWiq56a pic.twitter.com/6EdUgRD5Oo — ABC News (@ABC) November 29, 2020
The true effect of Thanksgiving travel likely won’t begin showing up in data until the second week of December. That’s because there are often delays in tracing and reporting the virus’s spread, and it can take time for symptoms to appear, for people to get tested and for them to receive results.
Fauci pleaded Sunday with Americans to continue to adhere to COVID-19 mitigation measures, including wearing masks, avoiding crowds and washing hands.
“We do know that it does work,” Fauci said of the effort. “Countries that have mitigated have turned around the surge.”
“Hang in there a bit longer,” he added. “Help is on the way” in the form of efficacious vaccines, with the first doses expected to arrive in the next few weeks, he said.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-29--Fox News Lets Trump Spew Lies Unchecked In First Interview Since Election Day

Trump joined “ Sunday Morning Futures ” by phone , where he ranted about the election results and pushed unsubstantiated allegations of ballot-counting irregularities and a “ rigged ” election in favor of President-elect Joe Biden .
Host Maria Bartiromo , one of Trump ’ s most fawning cable news allies , mostly sat back and let the president peddle baseless conspiracy theories to her hundreds of thousands of viewers .
When she did chime in , it was to encourage his defiance and sow doubt about the electoral process .
“ This is disgusting and we can not allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Bartiromo said after Trump whined that the Justice Department is “ missing in action ” when it comes to investigating his voter fraud claims .
Election officials across the country ― Republicans and Democrats alike ― as well as international election observers have declared the 2020 presidential election to have been free and fair and without widespread issues .
Trump ’ s exchange with Bartiromo followed months of the president bashing Fox News for being too tough on him at times .
He has encouraged his supporters to tune in instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Newsmax , which often parrot his nonsensical claims .
In his rambling interview , in which Bartiromo peppered in a few softball questions , Trump repeatedly lied that Republican poll watchers were not allowed near the vote-counting process in “ just about all of the states.
” Though the Trump campaign ’ s legal team , headed by Rudy Giuliani , has made this claim in public numerous times , it has shied away from the assertion in the courtroom .
In one case , a campaign lawyer admitted to a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ nonzero number ” of people present in Philadelphia during ballot-counting .
Trump also claimed Sunday that world leaders have been calling him to congratulate him on his win ( he didn ’ t win ) and telling him “ that ’ s the most messed up election I ’ ve ever seen.
” In fact , as CNN pointed out , nearly every major U.S. ally has called Biden to congratulate him , including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
Bartiromo asked Trump several times to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team will present in court to overturn Biden ’ s win .
But Trump continued to offer vague allegations instead .
“ We ’ re trying to put the evidence in and the judges won ’ t allow us to do it , ” Trump lied .
“ We have so much evidence.
” He then took aim at Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp , a Republican , for not doing more to stop the certification of election results in the state , where Biden won by a razor-thin margin .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed , adding that the U.S. is “ doing better than the rest of the world ” when it comes to the pandemic .
As of Sunday , the U.S. continued to lead the world in reported COVID-19 infections and deaths .
More than 13.2 million cases have been recorded nationwide with at least 266,000 deaths , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .

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Fox News on Sunday offered President Donald Trump a platform to spew lies about voter fraud unchecked for nearly 45 minutes in his first interview since Election Day.
Trump joined “Sunday Morning Futures” by phone, where he ranted about the election results and pushed unsubstantiated allegations of ballot-counting irregularities and a “rigged” election in favor of President-elect Joe Biden.
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Host Maria Bartiromo, one of Trump’s most fawning cable news allies, mostly sat back and let the president peddle baseless conspiracy theories to her hundreds of thousands of viewers. When she did chime in, it was to encourage his defiance and sow doubt about the electoral process.
“This is disgusting and we cannot allow America’s election to be corrupted,” Bartiromo said after Trump whined that the Justice Department is “missing in action” when it comes to investigating his voter fraud claims.
Election officials across the country ― Republicans and Democrats alike ― as well as international election observers have declared the 2020 presidential election to have been free and fair and without widespread issues.
Trump’s exchange with Bartiromo followed months of the president bashing Fox News for being too tough on him at times. He has encouraged his supporters to tune in instead to far-right outlets like One America News and Newsmax, which often parrot his nonsensical claims.
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Trump whines at length that the DOJ and FBI aren't doing more to help him overturn his loss to Biden pic.twitter.com/7Ik0NiB7lO — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 29, 2020
In his rambling interview, in which Bartiromo peppered in a few softball questions, Trump repeatedly lied that Republican poll watchers were not allowed near the vote-counting process in “just about all of the states.”
Though the Trump campaign’s legal team, headed by Rudy Giuliani, has made this claim in public numerous times, it has shied away from the assertion in the courtroom. In one case, a campaign lawyer admitted to a federal judge in Pennsylvania that Trump had a “nonzero number” of people present in Philadelphia during ballot-counting.
Trump also claimed Sunday that world leaders have been calling him to congratulate him on his win (he didn’t win) and telling him “that’s the most messed up election I’ve ever seen.”
In fact, as CNN pointed out, nearly every major U.S. ally has called Biden to congratulate him, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
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What’s more, the White House hasn’t released any phone calls between Trump and a foreign leader since the end of October.
Bartiromo asked Trump several times to lay out what specific evidence his legal team will present in court to overturn Biden’s win. But Trump continued to offer vague allegations instead.
“We’re trying to put the evidence in and the judges won’t allow us to do it,” Trump lied. “We have so much evidence.”
He then took aim at Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, for not doing more to stop the certification of election results in the state, where Biden won by a razor-thin margin.
“I’m ashamed that I endorsed him,” Trump said.
The president wrapped up his interview by complaining that his administration’s COVID-19 response isn’t getting high enough marks in the press.
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“I came up with vaccines,” Trump claimed, adding that the U.S. is “doing better than the rest of the world” when it comes to the pandemic.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-29--Joe Biden Fractures Foot While Playing With Dog, Doctor Says

President-elect Joe Biden fractured several bones in his foot on Saturday and will likely require a walking boot for several weeks , his doctor announced late Sunday .
Biden sustained the injury while playing with his dog Major , his office said Sunday .
“ Out of an abundance of caution , he will be examined this afternoon by an orthopedist , ” Biden ’ s office said in a statement .
His doctor said later Sunday the president-elect had sustained several small , hairline fractures in his foot .
Following the results of the CT scan Biden received tonight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement saying that the President-elect will likely be in a walking boot “ for several weeks.
” pic.twitter.com/JeHWmKO5AE — Sarah Mucha ( @ sarahmucha ) November 30 , 2020 Biden arrived at Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists in Newark , Delaware , around 4 p.m .
ET , according to a pool reporter traveling with Biden ’ s transition team .
“ The van was maneuvered so that reporters and photographers could not see the president elect as he left the motorcade and entered the building , ” the reporter wrote in the pool report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the oldest president to ever enter office when he is sworn in on Jan. 20 .
President Donald Trump , 74 , has repeatedly attempted to portray Biden as senile and fragile because of his age .
Biden has waved off such attacks , arguing that he ’ s more physically fit than Trump .
“ When it comes to Donald Trump versus me : Just look at us , ” Biden told CNN in September .
“ Who seems to be in shape ?
Who ’ s able to move around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former vice president “ healthy ” and “ vigorous ” in a three-page medical summary of Biden ’ s health released last year .

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President-elect Joe Biden fractured several bones in his foot on Saturday and will likely require a walking boot for several weeks, his doctor announced late Sunday.
Biden sustained the injury while playing with his dog Major, his office said Sunday.
“Out of an abundance of caution, he will be examined this afternoon by an orthopedist,” Biden’s office said in a statement.
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His doctor said later Sunday the president-elect had sustained several small, hairline fractures in his foot.
Following the results of the CT scan Biden received tonight, his personal physician has released a statement saying that the President-elect will likely be in a walking boot “for several weeks.” pic.twitter.com/JeHWmKO5AE — Sarah Mucha (@sarahmucha) November 30, 2020
Biden arrived at Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists in Newark, Delaware, around 4 p.m. ET, according to a pool reporter traveling with Biden’s transition team.
“The van was maneuvered so that reporters and photographers could not see the president elect as he left the motorcade and entered the building,” the reporter wrote in the pool report.
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At age 78, Biden will be the oldest president to ever enter office when he is sworn in on Jan. 20. President Donald Trump, 74, has repeatedly attempted to portray Biden as senile and fragile because of his age.
Biden has waved off such attacks, arguing that he’s more physically fit than Trump.
“When it comes to Donald Trump versus me: Just look at us,” Biden told CNN in September. “Who seems to be in shape? Who’s able to move around?”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-29--Completed Wisconsin Recount Confirms Biden's Win Over Trump

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) — Wisconsin finished its recount of votes cast in this month ’ s presidential election on Sunday , with only miniscule changes in the results that saw Democrat Joe Biden defeat Republican Donald Trump in the battleground state .
Dane County , which includes the state capital of Madison , reported only small changes in its vote totals , mirroring the earlier results of the recount conducted in Milwaukee County .
Trump gained 45 votes in Dane County , according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel .
Biden won the state by nearly 20,600 votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties was about 2-to-1 .
“ As we have said , the recount only served to reaffirm Joe Biden ’ s victory in Wisconsin , ” Danielle Melfi , who led Biden ’ s campaign in Wisconsin , said in a statement to The Associated Press .
Trump ’ s next move in Wisconsin will likely be in court .
Trump campaign officials didn ’ t immediately respond to AP requests for comment .
In Milwaukee County , Biden ’ s lead increased by 132 votes after county election officials recounted the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump paid to have a recount in both counties and his attorneys appear ready for a legal challenge seeking to toss tens of thousands of ballots .
The president ’ s campaign will need to act quickly .
The deadline to certify the vote is Tuesday .
Certification is done by the Democratic chair of the Wisconsin Election Commission , which is bipartisan .
The Wisconsin Voters Alliance , a conservative group , has already filed a lawsuit against state election officials seeking to block certification of the results .
It makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make .
Another suit filed over the weekend by Wisconsin resident Dean Mueller argues that ballots placed in drop boxes are illegal and must not be counted .
Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers ’ attorneys have and asked the state Supreme Court to dismiss the suit .
Evers , a Democrat , said the complaint is a “ mishmash of legal distortions ” that uses factual misrepresentations in an attempt to take voting rights away from millions of Wisconsin residents .
Trump ’ s attorneys have complained about absentee ballots where voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” allowing them to cast an absentee ballot without showing a photo ID ; ballots that have a certification envelope with two different ink colors , indicating a poll worker may have helped complete it ; and absentee ballots that don ’ t have a separate written record for its request , such as in-person absentee ballots .
Election officials in the two counties have counted those ballots during the recount , but marked them as exhibits at the request of the Trump campaign .
Trump ’ s campaign has already failed elsewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which experts widely agree doesn ’ t exist .
Trump legal challenges have failed in Arizona , Georgia , Michigan , Nevada and Pennsylvania .

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin finished its recount of votes cast in this month’s presidential election on Sunday, with only miniscule changes in the results that saw Democrat Joe Biden defeat Republican Donald Trump in the battleground state.
Dane County, which includes the state capital of Madison, reported only small changes in its vote totals, mirroring the earlier results of the recount conducted in Milwaukee County. Trump gained 45 votes in Dane County, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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Biden won the state by nearly 20,600 votes and his margin in Milwaukee and Dane counties was about 2-to-1.
“As we have said, the recount only served to reaffirm Joe Biden’s victory in Wisconsin,” Danielle Melfi, who led Biden’s campaign in Wisconsin, said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Trump’s next move in Wisconsin will likely be in court. Trump campaign officials didn’t immediately respond to AP requests for comment.
In Milwaukee County, Biden’s lead increased by 132 votes after county election officials recounted the more than 450,000 votes that were cast there.
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Trump paid to have a recount in both counties and his attorneys appear ready for a legal challenge seeking to toss tens of thousands of ballots.
The president’s campaign will need to act quickly. The deadline to certify the vote is Tuesday. Certification is done by the Democratic chair of the Wisconsin Election Commission, which is bipartisan.
The Wisconsin Voters Alliance, a conservative group, has already filed a lawsuit against state election officials seeking to block certification of the results. It makes many of the claims Trump is expected to make.
Another suit filed over the weekend by Wisconsin resident Dean Mueller argues that ballots placed in drop boxes are illegal and must not be counted.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ attorneys have and asked the state Supreme Court to dismiss the suit. Evers, a Democrat, said the complaint is a “mishmash of legal distortions” that uses factual misrepresentations in an attempt to take voting rights away from millions of Wisconsin residents.
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Trump’s attorneys have complained about absentee ballots where voters identified themselves as “indefinitely confined,” allowing them to cast an absentee ballot without showing a photo ID; ballots that have a certification envelope with two different ink colors, indicating a poll worker may have helped complete it; and absentee ballots that don’t have a separate written record for its request, such as in-person absentee ballots.
Election officials in the two counties have counted those ballots during the recount, but marked them as exhibits at the request of the Trump campaign.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-29--Supreme Court Weighs Trump Bid To Bar Illegal Immigrants From Census Count

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - The Supreme Court on Monday is set to take up President Donald Trump ’ s unprecedented and contentious effort to exclude illegal immigrants from the population totals used to allocate U.S. House of Representatives districts to states .
The challengers to Trump ’ s July directive include various states led by New York , cities , counties and immigrant rights groups .
They have argued that the Republican president ’ s move could leave several million people uncounted and cause California , Texas and New Jersey to lose House seats , which are based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decennial census .
The court , which has a 6-3 conservative majority including three justices appointed by Trump , is scheduled to hear an 80-minute oral argument by teleconference .
Trump lost his bid for re-election on Nov. 3 .
This case focuses on one of several policy moves his administration is rushing to complete before Democratic President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20 .
The census in mandated by the U.S. Constitution .
The challengers argued that Trump is prohibited by the Constitution ’ s text from excluding illegal immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires that the apportionment of House seats be based upon the “ whole number of persons in each state.
” The challengers said Trump ’ s plan , undertaken as part of the government ’ s responsibility to administer the 2020 census , also violates a federal law called the Census Act that outlines how a census must be conducted .
They said Trump ’ s plan would weaken the political power of states with larger numbers of illegal immigrants , including heavily Democratic California , by undercounting their true populations and depriving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loses House districts , that likely would mean Democrats lose House seats , benefiting Trump ’ s fellow Republicans .
There are an estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally .
Until now , the government ’ s practice was to count all people regardless of their citizenship or immigration status .
“ That ’ s what everyone has always thought , ” said Dale Ho , a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union , which represents immigrant groups in the case .
Ho said he is optimistic the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tout the importance of interpreting laws as written , would view this one as a “ rather easy case.
” Trump ’ s lawyers argued in court papers that the president acted within his authority and that the challengers lacked the necessary legal standing to bring the case .
Trump ’ s administration “ has virtually unfettered discretion as to what data will be used in enumerating individual persons in each state for purposes of the decennial census and apportionment , ” Acting Solicitor General Jeff Wall wrote .
The court is deciding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a ruling due before the end of the year .
That would make it difficult for the incoming Biden administration to revisit Trump ’ s plan if it is upheld .
Trump ’ s hardline stance toward immigration has been a hallmark of his presidency .
The Supreme Court last year ruled 5-4 against Trump ’ s effort to add a citizenship question to the census .
Critics said the question was intended to frighten immigrants from taking part in the population count and artificially reduce population numbers in heavily Democratic areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chief Justice John Roberts joined the liberal justices in that ruling .
But the addition of Trump ’ s third appointee Amy Coney Barrett to the court changes its dynamics , as seen in action by the justices on Wednesday in a case in which they backed Christian and Jewish houses of worship that challenged New York state ’ s latest restrictions in novel coronavirus hot spots .
Roberts dissented along with the court ’ s three liberals but Barrett ’ s vote in favor of the religious groups proved decisive .

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Monday is set to take up President Donald Trump’s unprecedented and contentious effort to exclude illegal immigrants from the population totals used to allocate U.S. House of Representatives districts to states.
The challengers to Trump’s July directive include various states led by New York, cities, counties and immigrant rights groups. They have argued that the Republican president’s move could leave several million people uncounted and cause California, Texas and New Jersey to lose House seats, which are based on a state’s population count in the decennial census.
The court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority including three justices appointed by Trump, is scheduled to hear an 80-minute oral argument by teleconference.
Trump lost his bid for re-election on Nov. 3. This case focuses on one of several policy moves his administration is rushing to complete before Democratic President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.
The census in mandated by the U.S. Constitution. The challengers argued that Trump is prohibited by the Constitution’s text from excluding illegal immigrants from the population count. The Constitution requires that the apportionment of House seats be based upon the “whole number of persons in each state.”
The challengers said Trump’s plan, undertaken as part of the government’s responsibility to administer the 2020 census, also violates a federal law called the Census Act that outlines how a census must be conducted.
They said Trump’s plan would weaken the political power of states with larger numbers of illegal immigrants, including heavily Democratic California, by undercounting their true populations and depriving them of House seats. If California loses House districts, that likely would mean Democrats lose House seats, benefiting Trump’s fellow Republicans.
There are an estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally. Until now, the government’s practice was to count all people regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.
“That’s what everyone has always thought,” said Dale Ho, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents immigrant groups in the case.
Ho said he is optimistic the court’s conservatives, who often tout the importance of interpreting laws as written, would view this one as a “rather easy case.”
Trump’s lawyers argued in court papers that the president acted within his authority and that the challengers lacked the necessary legal standing to bring the case. Trump’s administration “has virtually unfettered discretion as to what data will be used in enumerating individual persons in each state for purposes of the decennial census and apportionment,” Acting Solicitor General Jeff Wall wrote.
The court is deciding the case on a expedited schedule, with a ruling due before the end of the year. That would make it difficult for the incoming Biden administration to revisit Trump’s plan if it is upheld.
Trump’s hardline stance toward immigration has been a hallmark of his presidency.
The Supreme Court last year ruled 5-4 against Trump’s effort to add a citizenship question to the census. Critics said the question was intended to frighten immigrants from taking part in the population count and artificially reduce population numbers in heavily Democratic areas, also to benefit Republicans.
Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts joined the liberal justices in that ruling. But the addition of Trump’s third appointee Amy Coney Barrett to the court changes its dynamics, as seen in action by the justices on Wednesday in a case in which they backed Christian and Jewish houses of worship that challenged New York state’s latest restrictions in novel coronavirus hot spots.
Roberts dissented along with the court’s three liberals but Barrett’s vote in favor of the religious groups proved decisive.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-29--Every Senior Member Of The Biden-Harris Communications Team Will Be A Woman

President-elect Joe Biden said Sunday that a woman will fill every senior communications role in his new administration , the first time that female officials will hold all such roles .
“ Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a president , and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House , ” Biden said in a statement in an apparent dig at President Donald Trump ’ s own communications staff .
“ I am proud to announce today the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of women , ” he added .
“ These qualified , experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better.
” The group of seven women will include a longtime aides and Democratic stalwarts who have deep experience in Washington , led by Kate Bedingfield as White House communications director and Jen Psaki as White House press secretary .
I ’ m unspeakably proud to have the opportunity to serve as White House Communications Director for @ joebiden .
Working for him as VP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into what kind of capable , compassionate , clear-eyed president he will be and it will be a profound honor to 1/ — Kate Bedingfield ( @ KBeds ) November 29 , 2020 “ I ’ m unspeakably proud to have the opportunity to serve as White House Communications Director for [ Joe Biden ] , ” Bedingfield wrote on Twitter .
“ Working for him as VP and on this campaign gave me insight into what kind of capable , compassionate , clear-eyed president he will be , and it will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of his work.
” Honored to work again for @ JoeBiden , a man I worked on behalf of during the Obama-Biden Admin as he helped lead economic recovery , rebuilt our relationships with partners ( turns out good practice ) and injected empathy and humanity into nearly every meeting I sat in .
— Jen Psaki ( @ jrpsaki ) November 29 , 2020 “ This is a team of some of the most talented , battle-tested communicators out there … who are also all women , most diverse team in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids , ” Psaki tweeted after the announcement .
All of the names were released at once to “ signal that the various top administration offices will coordinate closely , ” top Biden campaign aide Anita Dunn told The Washington Post .
The other women on the team : Elizabeth Alexander , who will serve as communications director for first lady Jill Biden ; Ashley Etienne , communications director for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris ; Karine Jean Pierre , principal deputy press secretary ; Symone Sanders , senior advisor and chief spokesperson for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House communications director .
The announcement is the latest move by Biden and Harris to build an administration that mirrors the makeup of America , a pledge Biden touted throughout his campaign .
Biden previously named Janet Yellen as his pick for teasury secretary , and he is reportedly expected to name two other women this week to round out his economic team : Neera Tanden and Cecilia Rouse .
“ Our country is facing unprecedented challenges — from the coronavirus pandemic to the economic crisis to the climate crisis and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said in a statement .
“ To overcome these challenges , we need to communicate clearly , honestly and transparently with the American people , and this experienced , talented and barrier-shattering team will help us do that .
“ These communications professionals express our commitment to building a White House that reflects the very best of our nation , ” she added .

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President-elect Joe Biden said Sunday that a woman will fill every senior communications role in his new administration, the first time that female officials will hold all such roles.
“Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a president, and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House,” Biden said in a statement in an apparent dig at President Donald Trump’s own communications staff.
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“I am proud to announce today the first senior White House communications team comprised entirely of women,” he added. “These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better.”
The group of seven women will include a longtime aides and Democratic stalwarts who have deep experience in Washington, led by Kate Bedingfield as White House communications director and Jen Psaki as White House press secretary.
I’m unspeakably proud to have the opportunity to serve as White House Communications Director for @joebiden. Working for him as VP and on this campaign gave me insight into what kind of capable, compassionate, clear-eyed president he will be and it will be a profound honor to 1/ — Kate Bedingfield (@KBeds) November 29, 2020
“I’m unspeakably proud to have the opportunity to serve as White House Communications Director for [Joe Biden],” Bedingfield wrote on Twitter. “Working for him as VP and on this campaign gave me insight into what kind of capable, compassionate, clear-eyed president he will be, and it will be a profound honor to be one small part of his work.”
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Honored to work again for @JoeBiden, a man I worked on behalf of during the Obama-Biden Admin as he helped lead economic recovery, rebuilt our relationships with partners (turns out good practice) and injected empathy and humanity into nearly every meeting I sat in. — Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) November 29, 2020
“This is a team of some of the most talented, battle-tested communicators out there … who are also all women, most diverse team in history and also 6 Moms of young kids,” Psaki tweeted after the announcement.
All of the names were released at once to “signal that the various top administration offices will coordinate closely,” top Biden campaign aide Anita Dunn told The Washington Post.
The other women on the team: Elizabeth Alexander, who will serve as communications director for first lady Jill Biden; Ashley Etienne, communications director for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris; Karine Jean Pierre, principal deputy press secretary; Symone Sanders, senior advisor and chief spokesperson for Harris; and Pili Tobar, deputy White House communications director.
The announcement is the latest move by Biden and Harris to build an administration that mirrors the makeup of America, a pledge Biden touted throughout his campaign. Biden previously named Janet Yellen as his pick for teasury secretary, and he is reportedly expected to name two other women this week to round out his economic team: Neera Tanden and Cecilia Rouse.
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“Our country is facing unprecedented challenges — from the coronavirus pandemic to the economic crisis to the climate crisis and a long-overdue reckoning over racial injustice,” Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said in a statement. “To overcome these challenges, we need to communicate clearly, honestly and transparently with the American people, and this experienced, talented and barrier-shattering team will help us do that.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-29--Fox News Host Pulls Apart Election Lies Trump Spouted On Network Hours Earlier

Fox News host Eric Shawn on Sunday debunked election disinformation that President Donald Trump shared on the same network only hours earlier .
Trump unloaded a stream of baseless claims about a rigged election in his first televised interview since the election to his devout Fox News ally Maria Bartiromo , who encouraged the allegations and allowed them to go largely unchallenged .
But Fox weekend anchor Shawn pointed out on “ America ’ s News Headquarters ” that Trump ’ s campaign has failed to prove any of his accusations in court .
“ In fact , your government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― many of them Republican , including Trump appointed officials ― say that the president ’ s claims are false and unsubstantiated , ” he told viewers .
He invited Axios political reporter Hans Nichols to help dismantle many of Trump ’ s claims , including that ballots counted after the initial tallies on election night were somehow fraudulent .
“ Every swing state that we ’ re talking about , and they did these massive dumps of votes , ” Trump said .
“ And all of a sudden , I went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a little.
” “ Well , officials say these are not illegal dumps , ” Shawn said .
“ That ’ s just the counting of the many mail-in ballots that are entered into the computer system.
” Biden overtook Trump in several battleground states where Trump initially led on election night as absentee and mail-in ballots were counted in subsequent days , a standard and legitimate procedure .
Trump also asserted that President-elect Joe Biden couldn ’ t possibly have received more votes than former President Barack Obama .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he can ’ t wrap his brain or mind around the fact , he can ’ t process the fact that someone who he thinks is so inferior to him won the election , ” Shawn said .
Trump ’ s allies at Fox News , including Bartiromo and prime-time opinion hosts , helped him amplify false claims of election fraud .
But some members of the network ’ s hard news division pushed back and fact-checked the unsubstantiated assertions .
Shawn participated in a similar segment two weeks ago after Bartiromo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theories about voter fraud .

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Trump unloaded a stream of baseless claims about a rigged election in his first televised interview since the election to his devout Fox News ally Maria Bartiromo, who encouraged the allegations and allowed them to go largely unchallenged.
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But Fox weekend anchor Shawn pointed out on “America’s News Headquarters” that Trump’s campaign has failed to prove any of his accusations in court.
“In fact, your government, election officials, experts and others ― many of them Republican, including Trump appointed officials ― say that the president’s claims are false and unsubstantiated,” he told viewers.
He invited Axios political reporter Hans Nichols to help dismantle many of Trump’s claims, including that ballots counted after the initial tallies on election night were somehow fraudulent.
“Every swing state that we’re talking about, and they did these massive dumps of votes,” Trump said. “And all of a sudden, I went from winning by a lot to losing by a little.”
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“Well, officials say these are not illegal dumps,” Shawn said. “That’s just the counting of the many mail-in ballots that are entered into the computer system.”
Biden overtook Trump in several battleground states where Trump initially led on election night as absentee and mail-in ballots were counted in subsequent days, a standard and legitimate procedure.
Trump also asserted that President-elect Joe Biden couldn’t possibly have received more votes than former President Barack Obama.
“It seems that we have a president who, he can’t wrap his brain or mind around the fact, he can’t process the fact that someone who he thinks is so inferior to him won the election,” Shawn said.
Trump’s allies at Fox News, including Bartiromo and prime-time opinion hosts, helped him amplify false claims of election fraud. But some members of the network’s hard news division pushed back and fact-checked the unsubstantiated assertions.
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Shawn participated in a similar segment two weeks ago after Bartiromo gave airtime to Trump lawyers who peddled conspiracy theories about voter fraud.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-11-30--Sri Lanka Prison Riot Over COVID-19 Conditions Leaves 8 Dead, Over 50 Wounded

COLOMBO ( Reuters ) ― At least eight prisoners were killed and more than 50 injured in clashes with guards at a Sri Lankan prison , officials said on Monday , as authorities tried to quell a protest over rising corornavirus infections in the country ’ s crowded jails .
Sri Lanka has witnessed an upsurge in coronavirus cases in the past month and over-congested prisons across the country have reported thousands of fresh infections .
Inmates have staged protests in recent weeks demanding an increase in coronavirus testing and new isolation facilities for infected prisoners .
The latest clash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the capital Colombo started on Sunday when some inmates protested against prisoners infected by the Covid-19 virus being transferred from other facilities to Mahara .
A family member of an inmate pleads to a police officer as she seeks information on the condition of her relative outside the Mahara prison complex in Mahara , outskirts of Colombo , Sri Lanka , Monday , Nov. 30 , 2020 .
( AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena ) “ We can ’ t say it for certain but most of the deaths and injuries appear to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rohana , a senior police official tracking the incident .
Hundreds of additional police were deployed to help the guards and strengthen security at the prison .
“ A majority of prisoners injured in the Mahara jail clashes were in critical condition , ” said Shelton Perera , director of the Ragama Hospital where inmates from the prison were undergoing treatment .
The John Hopkins University ’ s latest data on Sri Lanka says the country has had 22,988 coronavirus cases and 109 deaths .

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COLOMBO (Reuters) ― At least eight prisoners were killed and more than 50 injured in clashes with guards at a Sri Lankan prison, officials said on Monday, as authorities tried to quell a protest over rising corornavirus infections in the country’s crowded jails.
Sri Lanka has witnessed an upsurge in coronavirus cases in the past month and over-congested prisons across the country have reported thousands of fresh infections.
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Inmates have staged protests in recent weeks demanding an increase in coronavirus testing and new isolation facilities for infected prisoners.
The latest clash at Mahara prison situated on the outskirts of the capital Colombo started on Sunday when some inmates protested against prisoners infected by the Covid-19 virus being transferred from other facilities to Mahara.
A family member of an inmate pleads to a police officer as she seeks information on the condition of her relative outside the Mahara prison complex in Mahara, outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) ASSOCIATED PRESS
“We can’t say it for certain but most of the deaths and injuries appear to be due to gunshots,” said Ajith Rohana, a senior police official tracking the incident.
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Hundreds of additional police were deployed to help the guards and strengthen security at the prison.
“A majority of prisoners injured in the Mahara jail clashes were in critical condition,” said Shelton Perera, director of the Ragama Hospital where inmates from the prison were undergoing treatment.
The John Hopkins University’s latest data on Sri Lanka says the country has had 22,988 coronavirus cases and 109 deaths.