upi--2020-12-20--Army CID: Missing Fort Drum soldier found dead

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- Officials said Sunday that a U.S. soldier missing from New York 's Fort Drum has been found dead .
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command said an investigation into the death of Cpl .
Hayden Allen Harris , 20 , was ongoing and that local law enforcement suspects foul play .
`` We are working closely with several law enforcement agencies , '' Army CID spokesman Chris Grey said in a press release .
The Army CID said Harris was last heard from between 8 p.m. Thursday and 6:30 a.m. Friday .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , about 14 miles southwest of Fort Drum , `` for some type of vehicle transaction , '' the CID statement said .
Members of his unit reported him missing within hours of their last contact with Harris , a release from Fort Drum said .
The 2016 Ford Mustang Coupe that he drove has been accounted for , though no other information concerning his disappearance or the discovery of his body has been released .
`` We are devastated , '' Brig .
Gen. Brett Funck , acting senior commander , Fort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
`` His death is a tremendous loss for his loved ones , this division and our nation . ''
Harris was posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal and awarded the Army Commendation Medal , Fort Drum said .
`` It was well known here that Cpl .
Harris was a great soldier , and as we share our grief with his friends and family , I hear again and again how he was also -- and most importantly -- a really wonderful , caring person , '' Funck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother , father and sister .
The Army CID is seeking anyone with information concerning Harris ' death to contact Fort Drum immediately .

Cpl. Hayden Allen Harris, 20, was reported missing over the weekend when he never returned to Fort Drum after he was reportedly traveling to Watertown to participate in a vehicle transaction. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Fort Drum/ Website
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Officials said Sunday that a U.S. soldier missing from New York's Fort Drum has been found dead. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command said an investigation into the death of Cpl. Hayden Allen Harris, 20, was ongoing and that local law enforcement suspects foul play. Advertisement
"We are working closely with several law enforcement agencies," Army CID spokesman Chris Grey said in a press release.
The Army CID said Harris was last heard from between 8 p.m. Thursday and 6:30 a.m. Friday. He was to meet someone in Watertown, N.Y., about 14 miles southwest of Fort Drum, "for some type of vehicle transaction," the CID statement said.
Members of his unit reported him missing within hours of their last contact with Harris, a release from Fort Drum said.
The 2016 Ford Mustang Coupe that he drove has been accounted for, though no other information concerning his disappearance or the discovery of his body has been released.
"We are devastated," Brig. Gen. Brett Funck, acting senior commander, Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division, said in a statement. "His death is a tremendous loss for his loved ones, this division and our nation."
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Harris was posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal and awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Fort Drum said.
"It was well known here that Cpl. Harris was a great soldier, and as we share our grief with his friends and family, I hear again and again how he was also -- and most importantly -- a really wonderful, caring person," Funck said.
Harris is survived by his mother, father and sister.
The Army CID is seeking anyone with information concerning Harris' death to contact Fort Drum immediately.


upi--2020-12-20--NHL, players officially agree to 56-game season beginning Jan. 13

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- The NHL and its players reached an official agreement Sunday to hold a 56-game season starting Jan. 13 .
The league 's board of governors voted to approve the agreement , which was supported by the NHL Players Association 's executive board Friday night .
The 2020-21 regular season is now scheduled to run through May 8 , with a 16-team playoff field to follow .
`` The National Hockey League looks forward to the opening of our 2020-21 season , especially since the return to play in 2019-20 was so successful in crowning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Sunday .
`` While we are well aware of the challenges ahead , as was the case last spring and summer , we are continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our participants and the communities in which we live and play .
And , as was the case last spring and summer , I thank the NHLPA , particularly executive director Don Fehr , for working cooperatively with us to get our league back on the ice . ''
Under the approved plan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- North , Central , East and West -- and all will play within each other through the first two rounds of the playoffs to limit travel during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
Each club in the East , Central and West will play every team in its division eight times , while the North Division -- consisting of only seven Canadian teams -- will compete against every team in its division nine or 10 times .
The top four teams in each division will qualify for the postseason , which will conclude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the league plans to hold games in teams ' home arenas with the understanding that fans wo n't be allowed to attend in most venues .
The NHL , however , is allowing for the possibility of playing games at neutral sites should it become necessary .
Most of the league will open formal training camp Jan. 3 .
The seven teams that did n't qualify for the playoffs last season can start as soon as Dec. 31 .
There will be no preseason games .
`` The players are pleased to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will be unique but also very exciting for the fans and players alike , '' NHLPA executive director Don Fehr said .
`` During these troubled times , we hope that NHL games will provide fans with some much needed entertainment as the players return to the ice . ''
The NHL completed last season at bubble sites in Toronto and Edmonton .
This season has been delayed because of ongoing concerns related to the coronavirus .

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and the league announced Sunday that the 2020-21 regular season is now scheduled to run through May 8, with a 16-team playoff field to follow. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The NHL and its players reached an official agreement Sunday to hold a 56-game season starting Jan. 13. The league's board of governors voted to approve the agreement, which was supported by the NHL Players Association's executive board Friday night. The 2020-21 regular season is now scheduled to run through May 8, with a 16-team playoff field to follow. Advertisement
"The National Hockey League looks forward to the opening of our 2020-21 season, especially since the return to play in 2019-20 was so successful in crowning a Stanley Cup champion," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Sunday.
"While we are well aware of the challenges ahead, as was the case last spring and summer, we are continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our participants and the communities in which we live and play. And, as was the case last spring and summer, I thank the NHLPA, particularly executive director Don Fehr, for working cooperatively with us to get our league back on the ice."
Under the approved plan, there will be four divisions this season -- North, Central, East and West -- and all will play within each other through the first two rounds of the playoffs to limit travel during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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Each club in the East, Central and West will play every team in its division eight times, while the North Division -- consisting of only seven Canadian teams -- will compete against every team in its division nine or 10 times. The top four teams in each division will qualify for the postseason, which will conclude around mid-July.
As of now, the league plans to hold games in teams' home arenas with the understanding that fans won't be allowed to attend in most venues. The NHL, however, is allowing for the possibility of playing games at neutral sites should it become necessary.
Most of the league will open formal training camp Jan. 3. The seven teams that didn't qualify for the playoffs last season can start as soon as Dec. 31. There will be no preseason games.
"The players are pleased to have finalized agreements for the upcoming season, which will be unique but also very exciting for the fans and players alike," NHLPA executive director Don Fehr said. "During these troubled times, we hope that NHL games will provide fans with some much needed entertainment as the players return to the ice."
The NHL completed last season at bubble sites in Toronto and Edmonton. This season has been delayed because of ongoing concerns related to the coronavirus.


upi--2020-12-20--Britain enters highest-level lockdown amid new 'out of control' COVID-19 strain

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- Britain went into a Tier 4 lockdown on Sunday , including banning activities during Christmas , amid a newly identified strain of COVID-19 that a top health official describes as `` out of control . ''
Subsequently , several European nations , including France , Italy , Germany , Netherlands , Austria , Belgium , Ireland , the Czech Republic and Bulgaria , have temporarily banned travel from Britain .
Most nations ' restriction are 1-2 days to assess the situation though orders by Germany and Netherlands are at least through at least Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London , Brussels and Amsterdam at midnight Monday for 24 hours as a `` precaution , '' but trains will operate between London and Paris .
The world is in the midst of another wave of the pandemic with the death toll nearing 1.7 million and cases passing 77 million , according to Worldometers.info tracking .
More than 1 million cases are being announced every two days and more than 80,000 have died in the past week .
For several months , the United States has had the most deaths , passing 300,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Johns Hopkins tracking .
It has been almost one year since the first death was announced in Mainland China on Jan. 11 .
On Dec. 31 , the government in Wuhan confirmed that health authorities were treating dozens of cases of a type of pneumonia .
By March , the outbreak had spread to Europe , including Italy , France , Spain and Britain .
In Britain , deaths had reached a peak of 1,166 on April 21 but had dropped to single digits many days during the summer .
Subsequently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily death count hit 696 on Nov. 25 with 326 Sunday .
Cases reached a record 35,928 cases Sunday with the high early in the pandemic 7,860 on April 10 .
Britain is sixth overall with 67,401 deaths , behind the United States then Brazil with 186,733 and Mexico with 117,876 .
With the new wave , Britain 's restrictions are among the strongest in the world .
`` The only way you can do that is by restricting social contacts and essentially , especially in Tier 4 areas , everybody needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus and that is the way that we can get it under control and keep people safe , '' Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday .
Hancock described the conditions as `` an awful end to what has been a difficult year . ''
He noted it will be difficult to ease the restrictions .
`` Given how much faster this new variant spreads , it 's going to be very difficult to keep it under control until we have the vaccine rolled out . ''
Britain was the first nation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Operation Warp Speed Lead Moncef Slaoui said Sunday it is `` very unlikely '' that the currently available vaccines would not be effective against the new variant .
This new variant , originating from southeast England , has been identified in Denmark , the Netherlands and as far as Australia , World Health Organization COVID-19 technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove said on Sunday .
`` We understand that the virus does not cause more severe disease from the preliminary information that [ Britain ] shared with us , although again those studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this variant , '' she said .
During a nationally televised address Saturday , Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he `` bitterly regretted '' have to announce the restrictions but noted the new strain is 70 % more transmissible .
`` The message is that this is the year to lift a glass to those who are n't there , in the knowledge that it 's precisely because they 're not there to celebrate Christmas with you this year that we all have a better chance that they 'll be there next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , flights and trains from Britain will be blocked for a 24-hour period , Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Sunday morning .
He said the initial ban would last a day `` because the scientific consultation is still ongoing , '' on the variant .
Belgium ranks 18th with the most deaths at 18,545 with 90 reported Sunday .
In all , nine countries are in the top 20 for most deaths .
On Sunday , Europe reported 3,070 new deaths after 4,265 Saturday with 184,818 new cases Sunday after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one time was the epicenter of the world , is in fifth place with 68,799 deaths after a record 993 on Dec. 3 and 15,104 infections on Sunday after a record 40,896 on Nov. 13 .
Italy reported 352 deaths Sunday .
France is seventh with 60,549 deaths , including 131 Sunday after 932 on Nov. 13 that was the most since a record of 1,437 in April .
The nation also reported 12,799 cases after a record 86,852 on Oct. 31 .
Last week , Russia moved past Spain into ninth place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , including 511 Sunday as well as 28,948 cases after record 29,039 Dec. 6 and fourth overall with 2,848,377 .
No .
10 Spain does n't report data over the weekend and has a total of 48,926 .
Also in the top 20 are Germany with 26,765 , including 350 Sunday but a record 838 two days ago , as well as a cases mark of 31,553 that day .
Before mid-November , the greatest number of deaths was 333 on April 8 .
Germany went into lockdown last Wednesday and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will ease from Christmas Eve until Dec. 26 .
Poland is 15th with 25,397 deaths , including 143 Sunday but a record 674 on Nov. 25 .
Several European nations have been in lockdown .
Italy will go into a nationwide `` red zone '' lockdown during the Christmas and new year period .
Non-essential shops will close , along with bars and restaurants , unless they provide home delivery .
Last week no nations were in the `` red zone '' with most Italian regions classified as yellow zones with fewer restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown on Tuesday but President Emmanual Macron , who announced last week he has contracted the virus , has imposed an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew until mid-January , apart from Christmas Eve .
Museums , theaters and cinemas will be closed until at least next month .
It also includes restaurants , bars and cafes .
French ski resorts will remain closed Spain has ruled out a nationwide lockdown but regional authorities have the power to restrict movement .
Spain 's health minister , Salvador Illa , said Friday the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` we have taken drastic measures when they have been necessary . ''
Among the continents , Europe has the most deaths with 492,125 and cases with 21,329,429 .
Asia is close behind in cases with 19,780,908 but fourth in deaths with 322,413 .
South Korea and Japan have been experiencing record cases though those figures are far below other countries in the world .
On Saturday , South Korea recorded a record 1,097 new cases , including 1,027 locally transmitted .
There were 15 new deaths .
On Sunday , it record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total of 50,591 infections and 698 fatalities .
On Friday , the federal government ordered hospitals to set aside 1 % of all licensed beds for severe cases .
Last week , Japan set records for deaths -- 53 each on consecutive days -- for a total of 2,930 , including 13 on a cruise ship , and cases 3,211 Thursday .
Sunday 's increases were 36 deaths and 2,496 cases .
Japan never has had a hard lockdown but encouraged people to follow social distancing precautions , including wearing masks , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mainland China is the original epicenter but has n't reported a death since April 26 and has dropped to 42nd place with 4,634 , behind Guatemala with 4,656 and Austria with 5,351 .
It added 23 cases Sunday .
Two Asian nations are in the top 10 for most deaths : India and Iran .
India is third in deaths behind the U.S. and Brazil with 145,477 , including 341 Sunday .
The daily high was 1,299 .
India becomes only the second nation to pass 10 million cases , adding 26,624 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the high 97,894 in September .
The nation , which has the second-biggest population in the world with 1.37 billion , plans to vaccinate 300 million people with the first vaccine doses from three candidates .
These include 30 million essential workers and 270 million who are vulnerable .
The nation has conducted the second-most tests , 161 million behind the U.S. with 232.7 million .
Iran is in eighth place for most deaths at 53,625 , including 177 Sunday after a record 486 on Nov. 16 and 6,312 cases after a record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benjamin Netanyahu became the first person to be vaccinated in the nation with a dose of Pfizer/BioNTech at the Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv .
`` This is a great day , '' Netanyahu told reporters at the center .
`` I believe in this vaccine and I am doing this to serve as a role model and encourage people to get vaccinated . ''
On Sunday , Israel health workers and nursing home residents will begin receiving the vaccine .
South America has the third-most deaths , 348,844 , and fourth-most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four spots in the top 20 for most deaths : Brazil in second with 186,773 , Argentina in 11th with 41,813 , Colombia in 12th with 40,475 , Peru in 13th with 37,103 .
Chile has dropped to 21st with 16,154 .
Brazil passed 7 million cases last week and is third overall , including 49,423 Saturday and 25,445 Sunday .
Brazil surpassed 68,000 cases three times last week .
Between mid-August and late November , it had n't exceeded 50,000 .
The high was 70,869 on July 29 .
Deaths are lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 , including 669 Sunday with it surpassing 1,000 for the first time since mid-September with 1,054 Thursday .
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro , who has downplayed the seriousness of the virus though he contracted it himself in July , also is critical of vaccines .
He has said that the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech could turn people who take it into `` crocodiles . ''
On Thursday , he said : `` In the Pfizer contract it 's very clear : 'we 're not responsible for any side effects ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it 's your problem . ''
Trials have been underway in Brazil .
The vaccine will be free but Bolsonaro said he wo n't get the shot .
`` If you become superhuman , if a woman starts to grow a beard or if a man starts to speak with an effeminate voice , they will not have anything to do with it , '' Bolsonaro said .
Last week , Mexico approved emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine , joining Britain , U.S. and Canada .
Meanwhile , Mexico City will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mexican Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hugo Lopez-Gatell said during a news conference on Friday .
The adjacent state of Mexico banned will all nonessential activity , starting Saturday and lasting until Jan. 10 .
`` We are now at the levels we were in during the highest moment in June , '' Alfredo Del Mazo , the governor of the state of Mexico , said last week .
In North America , Mexico is in fourth place in the world for deaths at 117,876 , including 627 Sunday , and 13th in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , closed to a record 12,253 last week .
The nation reported 762 deaths Saturday compared with a high of 1,092 on June 4 .
Canada ranks 23rd in the world for deaths at 14,228 , including 114 Saturday and 74 Sunday .
On Dec. 11 , there were 142 fatalities , which is the most since a record 222 on May 31 .
The cases are 507,795 , including 6,248 additional infections on Saturday and 6,201 on Sunday after a record 8,119 Monday .
Between May 26 and Aug. 30 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theresa Tam , who is Canada 's chief public health officer is urging tougher restrictions in parts of the country .
`` You can have very stringent restrictive public health measures but the public has to be on board , '' she told reporters Friday .
`` We are still accelerating and we 're still increasing , so that epidemic curve in many parts of the country is not bending . ''
Last week , Canada , Mexico and the U.S. extended their travel ban another month through Jan. 21 .
Canadian Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 11 that `` to keep Canadians safe , we 've extended the measures currently in place at the Canada-US border by another 30 days . ''
All but around 19,000 of the total 475,509 deaths in North America are in those three nations .
The total number of cases : 21,003,870 .
Oceania , with only 42.3 million people , has 1,046 deaths and 47,341 .
New Zealand 's deaths have remained at 25 since Sept. 16 and Australia 's toll has remained at 908 since Nov. 30 .
New Zealand reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one week , for a total of 2,116 and Australia was up 44 Sunday for 28,172 , an increase of 147 in seven days .
But there has been an outbreak in the Sydney area , with Northern Beaches 30 new cases recorded in the previous 24 hours .
More than 250,000 residents have been banned from leaving their homes for non-essential purposes until Wednesday .
Throughout the Greater Sydney area , household gatherings are capped at 10 people and venues at 300 .
At 11:59 p.m. Sunday , Victoria , which includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greater Sydney and the Central Coast .
`` We have taken this step because as it stands now , the kind of baseline public health measures we have in place in Victoria are in fact stronger than those that are in New South Wales at the moment , '' Premier Daniel Andrews said Sunday .
Melbourne 's second lockdown began in July and ended last month .
In Africa , there have been 59,195 , which increased by 2,400 in one week and 2,523,478 cases .
South Africa leads the continent with 24,691 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , including 152 Sunday followed by Egypt at 7,069 after gaining 28 more Saturday .
South Africa has the 18th-most cases in the world at 921,922 , including 9,445 Officials do n't expect the continent to begin getting vaccinations until April .
`` Africa is often holding the short end of the stick , '' said Ahmed Ogwell Ouma , deputy director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report by The Washington Post .
Logistical challenges include the lack of cold rooms and other high-tech freezers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Africa , Egypt and Kenya participated in trials of vaccines .

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People are shopping in Burlington Arcade in London on Saturday after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered a televised statement announcing Tire 4 coronavirus restrictions, starting Sunday and lasting past Christmas. Photo by Facudo Arrizabalaga/EPA-EFE
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Britain went into a Tier 4 lockdown on Sunday, including banning activities during Christmas, amid a newly identified strain of COVID-19 that a top health official describes as "out of control." Subsequently, several European nations, including France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, have temporarily banned travel from Britain. Most nations' restriction are 1-2 days to assess the situation though orders by Germany and Netherlands are at least through at least Dec. 31. Eurostar announced train cancellations between London, Brussels and Amsterdam at midnight Monday for 24 hours as a "precaution," but trains will operate between London and Paris. Advertisement
The world is in the midst of another wave of the pandemic with the death toll nearing 1.7 million and cases passing 77 million, according to Worldometers.info tracking. More than 1 million cases are being announced every two days and more than 80,000 have died in the past week. For several months, the United States has had the most deaths, passing 300,000 Monday and 17 million cases Friday, according to Johns Hopkins tracking.
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It has been almost one year since the first death was announced in Mainland China on Jan. 11. On Dec. 31, the government in Wuhan confirmed that health authorities were treating dozens of cases of a type of pneumonia.
By March, the outbreak had spread to Europe, including Italy, France, Spain and Britain.
In Britain, deaths had reached a peak of 1,166 on April 21 but had dropped to single digits many days during the summer. Subsequently, in a new wave, the daily death count hit 696 on Nov. 25 with 326 Sunday. Cases reached a record 35,928 cases Sunday with the high early in the pandemic 7,860 on April 10.
Britain is sixth overall with 67,401 deaths, behind the United States then Brazil with 186,733 and Mexico with 117,876.
With the new wave, Britain's restrictions are among the strongest in the world.
"The only way you can do that is by restricting social contacts and essentially, especially in Tier 4 areas, everybody needs to behave as if they may well have the virus and that is the way that we can get it under control and keep people safe," Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday.
Hancock described the conditions as "an awful end to what has been a difficult year."
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He noted it will be difficult to ease the restrictions.
"Given how much faster this new variant spreads, it's going to be very difficult to keep it under control until we have the vaccine rolled out."
Britain was the first nation to approve Pfizer's vaccine two weeks ago and Operation Warp Speed Lead Moncef Slaoui said Sunday it is "very unlikely" that the currently available vaccines would not be effective against the new variant.
This new variant, originating from southeast England, has been identified in Denmark, the Netherlands and as far as Australia, World Health Organization COVID-19 technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove said on Sunday.
"We understand that the virus does not cause more severe disease from the preliminary information that [Britain] shared with us, although again those studies are underway to look at hospitalized patients with this variant," she said.
During a nationally televised address Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he "bitterly regretted" have to announce the restrictions but noted the new strain is 70% more transmissible.
"The message is that this is the year to lift a glass to those who aren't there, in the knowledge that it's precisely because they're not there to celebrate Christmas with you this year that we all have a better chance that they'll be there next year," Johnson said.
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Nations are working to restrict travel.
Starting Monday, flights and trains from Britain will be blocked for a 24-hour period, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Sunday morning.
He said the initial ban would last a day "because the scientific consultation is still ongoing," on the variant.
Belgium ranks 18th with the most deaths at 18,545 with 90 reported Sunday.
In all, nine countries are in the top 20 for most deaths. On Sunday, Europe reported 3,070 new deaths after 4,265 Saturday with 184,818 new cases Sunday after 203,730 Saturday.
Italy, which at one time was the epicenter of the world, is in fifth place with 68,799 deaths after a record 993 on Dec. 3 and 15,104 infections on Sunday after a record 40,896 on Nov. 13. Italy reported 352 deaths Sunday.
France is seventh with 60,549 deaths, including 131 Sunday after 932 on Nov. 13 that was the most since a record of 1,437 in April. The nation also reported 12,799 cases after a record 86,852 on Oct. 31.
Last week, Russia moved past Spain into ninth place, now with a total of 50,858 deaths, including 511 Sunday as well as 28,948 cases after record 29,039 Dec. 6 and fourth overall with 2,848,377.
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No. 10 Spain doesn't report data over the weekend and has a total of 48,926.
Also in the top 20 are Germany with 26,764, including 350 Sunday but a record 838 two days ago, as well as a cases mark of 31,553 that day. Before mid-November, the greatest number of deaths was 333 on April 8.
Germany went into lockdown last Wednesday and it will last until Jan. 10 though restrictions will ease from Christmas Eve until Dec. 26.
Poland is 15th with 25,397 deaths, including 143 Sunday but a record 674 on Nov. 25.
Several European nations have been in lockdown.
Italy will go into a nationwide "red zone" lockdown during the Christmas and new year period. Non-essential shops will close, along with bars and restaurants, unless they provide home delivery.
Last week no nations were in the "red zone" with most Italian regions classified as yellow zones with fewer restrictions.
France was scheduled to lift its lockdown on Tuesday but President Emmanual Macron, who announced last week he has contracted the virus, has imposed an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew until mid-January, apart from Christmas Eve. Museums, theaters and cinemas will be closed until at least next month. It also includes restaurants, bars and cafes. French ski resorts will remain closed
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Spain has ruled out a nationwide lockdown but regional authorities have the power to restrict movement. Spain's health minister, Salvador Illa, said Friday the second wave started later in other countries and "we have taken drastic measures when they have been necessary."
Among the continents, Europe has the most deaths with 492,125 and cases with 21,329,429.
Asia is close behind in cases with 19,780,908 but fourth in deaths with 322,413.
South Korea and Japan have been experiencing record cases though those figures are far below other countries in the world.
On Saturday, South Korea recorded a record 1,097 new cases, including 1,027 locally transmitted. There were 15 new deaths.
On Sunday, it record 926 cases and 24 deaths for a total of 50,591 infections and 698 fatalities.
On Friday, the federal government ordered hospitals to set aside 1% of all licensed beds for severe cases.
Last week, Japan set records for deaths -- 53 each on consecutive days -- for a total of 2,930, including 13 on a cruise ship, and cases 3,211 Thursday. Sunday's increases were 36 deaths and 2,496 cases.
Japan never has had a hard lockdown but encouraged people to follow social distancing precautions, including wearing masks, which are widely accepted there for other purposes.
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Mainland China is the original epicenter but hasn't reported a death since April 26 and has dropped to 42nd place with 4,634, behind Guatemala with 4,656 and Austria with 5,351. It added 23 cases Sunday.
Two Asian nations are in the top 10 for most deaths: India and Iran.
India is third in deaths behind the U.S. and Brazil with 145,477, including 341 Sunday. The daily high was 1,299.
India becomes only the second nation to pass 10 million cases, adding 26,624 more for a total of 10,031,223 with the high 97,894 in September.
The nation, which has the second-biggest population in the world with 1.37 billion, plans to vaccinate 300 million people with the first vaccine doses from three candidates. These include 30 million essential workers and 270 million who are vulnerable.
The nation has conducted the second-most tests, 161 million behind the U.S. with 232.7 million.
Iran is in eighth place for most deaths at 53,625, including 177 Sunday after a record 486 on Nov. 16 and 6,312 cases after a record 14,051 on Nov. 27.
Israel ranks 49th with 3,099 deaths.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the first person to be vaccinated in the nation with a dose of Pfizer/BioNTech at the Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv.
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"This is a great day," Netanyahu told reporters at the center. "I believe in this vaccine and I am doing this to serve as a role model and encourage people to get vaccinated."
On Sunday, Israel health workers and nursing home residents will begin receiving the vaccine.
South America has the third-most deaths, 348,844, and fourth-most cases, 12,473,177.
The continent has four spots in the top 20 for most deaths: Brazil in second with 186,773, Argentina in 11th with 41,813, Colombia in 12th with 40,475, Peru in 13th with 37,103. Chile has dropped to 21st with 16,154.
Brazil passed 7 million cases last week and is third overall, including 49,423 Saturday and 25,445 Sunday. Brazil surpassed 68,000 cases three times last week. Between mid-August and late November, it hadn't exceeded 50,000. The high was 70,869 on July 29.
Deaths are lower than the record of 1,554 on July 29, including 669 Sunday with it surpassing 1,000 for the first time since mid-September with 1,054 Thursday.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has downplayed the seriousness of the virus though he contracted it himself in July, also is critical of vaccines. He has said that the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech could turn people who take it into "crocodiles."
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On Thursday, he said: "In the Pfizer contract it's very clear: 'we're not responsible for any side effects'. If you turn into a crocodile, it's your problem."
Trials have been underway in Brazil. The vaccine will be free but Bolsonaro said he won't get the shot.
"If you become superhuman, if a woman starts to grow a beard or if a man starts to speak with an effeminate voice, they will not have anything to do with it," Bolsonaro said.
Last week, Mexico approved emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, joining Britain, U.S. and Canada.
Meanwhile, Mexico City will impose "extraordinary measures" on residents, Mexican Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hugo Lopez-Gatell said during a news conference on Friday.
The adjacent state of Mexico banned will all nonessential activity, starting Saturday and lasting until Jan. 10.
"We are now at the levels we were in during the highest moment in June," Alfredo Del Mazo, the governor of the state of Mexico, said last week.
In North America, Mexico is in fourth place in the world for deaths at 117,876, including 627 Sunday, and 13th in cases at 1,313,675, including 12,129, Sunday, closed to a record 12,253 last week. The nation reported 762 deaths Saturday compared with a high of 1,092 on June 4.
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Canada ranks 23rd in the world for deaths at 14,228, including 114 Saturday and 74 Sunday. On Dec. 11, there were 142 fatalities, which is the most since a record 222 on May 31. The cases are 507,795, including 6,248 additional infections on Saturday and 6,201 on Sunday after a record 8,119 Monday. Between May 26 and Aug. 30 cases were never more than 1,000.
Dr. Theresa Tam, who is Canada's chief public health officer is urging tougher restrictions in parts of the country.
"You can have very stringent restrictive public health measures but the public has to be on board," she told reporters Friday. "We are still accelerating and we're still increasing, so that epidemic curve in many parts of the country is not bending."
Last week, Canada, Mexico and the U.S. extended their travel ban another month through Jan. 21.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on Twitter on Dec. 11 that "to keep Canadians safe, we've extended the measures currently in place at the Canada-US border by another 30 days."
All but around 19,000 of the total 475,509 deaths in North America are in those three nations. The total number of cases: 21,003,870.
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Oceania, with only 42.3 million people, has 1,046 deaths and 47,341.
New Zealand's deaths have remained at 25 since Sept. 16 and Australia's toll has remained at 908 since Nov. 30.
New Zealand reported six cases Sunday, tallying 24 in one week, for a total of 2,116 and Australia was up 44 Sunday for 28,172, an increase of 147 in seven days.
But there has been an outbreak in the Sydney area, with Northern Beaches 30 new cases recorded in the previous 24 hours.
More than 250,000 residents have been banned from leaving their homes for non-essential purposes until Wednesday.
Throughout the Greater Sydney area, household gatherings are capped at 10 people and venues at 300.
At 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Victoria, which includes Melbourne, will close its border to Greater Sydney and the Central Coast.
"We have taken this step because as it stands now, the kind of baseline public health measures we have in place in Victoria are in fact stronger than those that are in New South Wales at the moment," Premier Daniel Andrews said Sunday.
Melbourne's second lockdown began in July and ended last month.
In Africa, there have been 59,195, which increased by 2,400 in one week and 2,523,478 cases.
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South Africa leads the continent with 24,691 deaths, which is 16th in the world, including 152 Sunday followed by Egypt at 7,069 after gaining 28 more Saturday. South Africa has the 18th-most cases in the world at 921,922, including 9,445
more Saturday, behind the record 13,944 on July 24.
Officials don't expect the continent to begin getting vaccinations until April.
"Africa is often holding the short end of the stick," said Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, deputy director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report by The Washington Post.
Logistical challenges include the lack of cold rooms and other high-tech freezers to store the vaccines.
People in South Africa, Egypt and Kenya participated in trials of vaccines.


upi--2020-12-20--Los Angeles Lakers sign F Kyle Kuzma to multiyear extension

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- Forward Kyle Kuzma has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers , the team announced Sunday .
League sources told ESPN and the Los Angeles Times that Kuzma 's contract is worth $ 40 million over three years .
According to the outlets , the extension also includes a player option before the 2023-24 campaign .
`` It is especially gratifying for our Lakers franchise to draft , develop and now sign one of our own to a contract extension , '' Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tremendous growth over the last three years , and played a crucial role on last season 's championship team . ''
The 25-year-old Kuzma is competing for a starting job with the Lakers , who will begin their NBA title defense Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center .
He averaged a career-low 12.8 points per game in 61 contests ( nine starts ) last season .
In his first three NBA seasons , Kuzma started 114 games and averaged 16 points , 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft .
Kuzma made the All-NBA rookie first team in 2018 .
He averaged a career-best 18.7 points per game in his second season after the arrival of superstar LeBron James .

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma averaged 16 points per game over his first three NBA seasons. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Forward Kyle Kuzma has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, the team announced Sunday. League sources told ESPN and the Los Angeles Times that Kuzma's contract is worth $40 million over three years. According to the outlets, the extension also includes a player option before the 2023-24 campaign. Advertisement
"It is especially gratifying for our Lakers franchise to draft, develop and now sign one of our own to a contract extension," Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement Sunday. "Kyle has shown tremendous growth over the last three years, and played a crucial role on last season's championship team."
The 25-year-old Kuzma is competing for a starting job with the Lakers, who will begin their NBA title defense Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. He averaged a career-low 12.8 points per game in 61 contests (nine starts) last season.
In his first three NBA seasons, Kuzma started 114 games and averaged 16 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists. The Lakers selected him with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
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Kuzma made the All-NBA rookie first team in 2018. He averaged a career-best 18.7 points per game in his second season after the arrival of superstar LeBron James.


upi--2020-12-20--Watch: Baltimore Ravens WR Dez Bryant scores first touchdown since 2017

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dez Bryant caught a touchdown pass for the first time in more than three years during Sunday 's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars .
Bryant hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in the second quarter , marking the first time he had reached the end zone since Dec. 10 , 2017 .
The veteran wideout immediately celebrated the score with his signature `` X '' celebration , crossing both arms in front of his chest .
`` The meaning is to ' X ' out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and beat the odds and destroy adversity , '' Bryant said after the game .
`` That 's what it means .
That 's why I do it .
Me throwing up the ' X ' and the world seeing it , it makes me feel good . ''
Bryant 's 11-yard touchdown increased the Ravens ' lead to 26-0 over the Jaguars .
It was his only reception in the game , and Baltimore went on to win 40-14 .
`` After I realized I scored , the first person I thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Bryant , adding that he will give the ball he caught to his 5-year-old daughter .
`` I had no intentions for playing ball .
If it was n't for her , I do n't think I 'd be out here . ''
Bryant had been out of the NFL since suffering a torn Achilles tendon during a practice in November 2018 while playing for the New Orleans Saints .
He did n't play a snap in the 2018 season , and he sat out the entire 2019 campaign after going unsigned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second Pro Bowl receiver to return to the league after missing two full seasons , joining current Seattle Seahawks wideout Josh Gordon .
Bryant started on the Ravens ' practice squad in October before being elevated to the active roster in November .
`` It was just one of those moments that you could feel it , '' Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said .
`` We had a lot of conversations leading up to that .
I feel like it 's been a while coming .
He 's worked hard .
He @ @ @ @ @

1/2
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) celebrates after a touchdown catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dez Bryant caught a touchdown pass for the first time in more than three years during Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bryant hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in the second quarter, marking the first time he had reached the end zone since Dec. 10, 2017. The veteran wideout immediately celebrated the score with his signature "X" celebration, crossing both arms in front of his chest. Advertisement
"The meaning is to 'X' out the negative, to truly never give up and beat the odds and destroy adversity," Bryant said after the game. "That's what it means. That's why I do it. Me throwing up the 'X' and the world seeing it, it makes me feel good."
Bryant's 11-yard touchdown increased the Ravens' lead to 26-0 over the Jaguars. It was his only reception in the game, and Baltimore went on to win 40-14.
"After I realized I scored, the first person I thought of was my baby girl," said Bryant, adding that he will give the ball he caught to his 5-year-old daughter. "I had no intentions for playing ball. If it wasn't for her, I don't think I'd be out here."
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Bryant had been out of the NFL since suffering a torn Achilles tendon during a practice in November 2018 while playing for the New Orleans Saints. He didn't play a snap in the 2018 season, and he sat out the entire 2019 campaign after going unsigned.
The 32-year-old Bryant becomes only the second Pro Bowl receiver to return to the league after missing two full seasons, joining current Seattle Seahawks wideout Josh Gordon. Bryant started on the Ravens' practice squad in October before being elevated to the active roster in November.
"It was just one of those moments that you could feel it," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. "We had a lot of conversations leading up to that. I feel like it's been a while coming. He's worked hard. He sure earned it."
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-20--Congress reaches deal on $900B relief after resolving key difference

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Senate reached a deal on a $ 900 billion relief package from the economic effects of coronavirus , possibly by Sunday , after a key difference between Democrats and Republicans was resolved regarding the role of the Federal Reserve to intervene in lending authority .
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , announced Sunday evening that lawmakers had come to an agreement on a COVID-19 aid package and a $ 1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill but did not provide details .
A vote could be delayed until Monday because several senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN reported .
On Friday , Congress had adopted a two-day short-term funding extension to prevent a government shutdown .
The relief contains direct stimulus checks between $ 600 and $ 700 , according to a commitment GOP leaders made to Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo.
, on Friday .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , negotiated with Hawley to include the stimulus checks .
The package also includes $ 300 per week in jobless benefits , $ 330 billion for small business loans , more than $ 80 billion for schools , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President Donald Trump weighed in Saturday night on the relief bill , posting in Twitter : `` Why is n't Congress giving our people a Stimulus Bill ?
It was n't their fault , it was the fault of China .
GET IT DONE , and give them more money in direct payments . ''
McConnell , R-Ky. , required consent from all 99 of his colleagues to waive procedural hurdles .
`` If things continue on this path and nothing gets in the way , we 'll be able to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer , D-NY.
, '' said Saturday night .
`` This can not go on , '' Sen. Chris Coons , a Delaware Democrat , said .
Sen. Bill Cassidy , a Louisiana Republican , said `` I think they 're going to resolve '' any differences with a `` more narrow focus . ''
`` Now that Democrats have agreed to a version of Senator Toomey 's important language , we can begin closing out the rest of the package to deliver much-needed relief to families , workers , and businesses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for McConnell .
At around 9 p.m. , Republicans , including Sen. Pat Toomey , R-Pa. , told Schumer that they would accept language in the bill on Federal Reserve 's lending , according to the GOP aides .
In the agreement , $ 429 billion in unspent CARES Act funding would be removed for the Federal Reserve 's credit lending facilities and use as part of a new $ 900 billion coronavirus relief bill , The Hill reported .
Four facilities would be closed .
Both sides agreed to specific language instead @ @ @ @ @ @

U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.,walks from his office to the Senate floor on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Democrats and Republicans agreed on a Covid-19 relief package Sunday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate reached a deal on a $900 billion relief package from the economic effects of coronavirus, possibly by Sunday, after a key difference between Democrats and Republicans was resolved regarding the role of the Federal Reserve to intervene in lending authority. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced Sunday evening that lawmakers had come to an agreement on a COVID-19 aid package and a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill but did not provide details. Advertisement
A vote could be delayed until Monday because several senators would need to return to town, CNN reported.
On Friday, Congress had adopted a two-day short-term funding extension to prevent a government shutdown.
The relief contains direct stimulus checks between $600 and $700, according to a commitment GOP leaders made to Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., on Friday. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., negotiated with Hawley to include the stimulus checks.
The package also includes $300 per week in jobless benefits, $330 billion for small business loans, more than $80 billion for schools, and several billion dollars for vaccine distribution.
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President Donald Trump weighed in Saturday night on the relief bill, posting in Twitter: "Why isn't Congress giving our people a Stimulus Bill? It wasn't their fault, it was the fault of China. GET IT DONE, and give them more money in direct payments."
McConnell, R-Ky., required consent from all 99 of his colleagues to waive procedural hurdles.
"If things continue on this path and nothing gets in the way, we'll be able to vote tomorrow," Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-NY.," said Saturday night. "This cannot go on," Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, said.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, said "I think they're going to resolve" any differences with a "more narrow focus."
"Now that Democrats have agreed to a version of Senator Toomey's important language, we can begin closing out the rest of the package to deliver much-needed relief to families, workers, and businesses," said Doug Andres, a spokesman for McConnell.
At around 9 p.m., Republicans, including Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., told Schumer that they would accept language in the bill on Federal Reserve's lending, according to the GOP aides.
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In the agreement, $429 billion in unspent CARES Act funding would be removed for the Federal Reserve's credit lending facilities and use as part of a new $900 billion coronavirus relief bill, The Hill reported. Four facilities would be closed.
Both sides agreed to specific language instead of an agreement in principle.


upi--2020-12-20--Trump campaign petitions Supreme Court to overturn Pennsylvania election changes

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump 's reelection campaign on Sunday petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn several decisions by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court regarding the 2020 presidential election .
The campaign filed a petition for a writ of certiorari to overturn three Pennsylvania Supreme Court cases which it alleges `` illegally changed Pennsylvania 's mail balloting law immediately before and after the presidential election '' and a motion to expedite citing the Jan. 6 meeting of Congress to approve the Electoral College results which affirmed President-elect Joe Biden 's win .
`` The petition seeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointment of electors committed to Joseph Biden and allowing the Pennsylvania General Assembly to select their replacements , '' Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said in a statement .
In the petition , the Trump campaign asks the Supreme Court to overturn three rulings by the state high court that prohibited counties from comparing mail ballot signatures to those on file , said campaigns and political parties can not challenge ballots while they are being processed and counted , limiting observers to the vote count in Philadelphia and allowing ballots where voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date on the envelope to count .
The petition alleges that the decisions violate the Constitution 's due process clause , adding that it violates its equal protection guarantees by treating ballots differently in different counties and by taking the state legislature 's power to determine how federal elections are run .
In addition , it alleges that the decisions resulted in counting approximately 2.6 million mail ballots in violation of the law as enacted by the Pennsylvania Legislature '' and would mean `` over 110,000 invalid ballots were illegally counted , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The outcome of the election for the presidency of the United States hangs in the balance because the selection of presidential electors is governed by the Constitution and congressional enactment , in addition to state law enacted by the legislature , '' the motion to expedite states .
The petition also references the fact that Trump would be eligible to run again in 2024 following his loss to Biden .
`` The legal issues presented by this petition , namely , whether the alteration of state election laws by non-legislative officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recur in future elections -- including in the presidential election 2024 , in which Petitioner is constitutionally eligible to run , '' it states .
Earlier this month the Supreme Court denied a similar lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that sought to stop Pennsylvania , Georgia , Michigan and Wisconsin from voting in the Electoral College after alleging they broke the law by implementing pandemic-related changes to election policies .
Last week the Electoral College affirmed Biden 's win , casting 306 votes to elect him and Vice President-elect Kamala @ @ @ @ @ @

The Trump campaign on Sunday petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn several changes to Pennsylvania election laws before Congress meets to certify the results of November's election. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's reelection campaign on Sunday petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn several decisions by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court regarding the 2020 presidential election. The campaign filed a petition for a writ of certiorari to overturn three Pennsylvania Supreme Court cases which it alleges "illegally changed Pennsylvania's mail balloting law immediately before and after the presidential election" and a motion to expedite citing the Jan. 6 meeting of Congress to approve the Electoral College results which affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's win. Advertisement
"The petition seeks all appropriate remedies, including vacating the appointment of electors committed to Joseph Biden and allowing the Pennsylvania General Assembly to select their replacements," Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said in a statement.
In the petition, the Trump campaign asks the Supreme Court to overturn three rulings by the state high court that prohibited counties from comparing mail ballot signatures to those on file, said campaigns and political parties cannot challenge ballots while they are being processed and counted, limiting observers to the vote count in Philadelphia and allowing ballots where voters did not fill out the address or date on the envelope to count.
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The petition alleges that the decisions violate the Constitution's due process clause, adding that it violates its equal protection guarantees by treating ballots differently in different counties and by taking the state legislature's power to determine how federal elections are run.
In addition, it alleges that the decisions resulted in counting approximately 2.6 million mail ballots in violation of the law as enacted by the Pennsylvania Legislature" and would mean "over 110,000 invalid ballots were illegally counted," altering the result of the election.
"The outcome of the election for the presidency of the United States hangs in the balance because the selection of presidential electors is governed by the Constitution and congressional enactment, in addition to state law enacted by the legislature," the motion to expedite states.
The petition also references the fact that Trump would be eligible to run again in 2024 following his loss to Biden.
"The legal issues presented by this petition, namely, whether the alteration of state election laws by non-legislative officials in the states is unconstitutional, will likely recur in future elections -- including in the presidential election 2024, in which Petitioner is constitutionally eligible to run," it states.
Earlier this month the Supreme Court denied a similar lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that sought to stop Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin from voting in the Electoral College after alleging they broke the law by implementing pandemic-related changes to election policies.
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Last week the Electoral College affirmed Biden's win, casting 306 votes to elect him and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to the White House.


upi--2020-12-20--U.S. reports 196,000 new COVID-19 cases, Cuomo calls for British travel ban

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- The United States added more than 190,000 new COVID-19 cases as health officials on Sunday sought to allay concerns over a new strain reported in Europe .
The United States reported 196,295 new COVID-19 cases and 2,571 additional deaths on Saturday for a total of 17,722,193 cases and 316,932 fatalities , according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University .
The records are 3,668 deaths Wednesday and 249,709 cases Friday .
Despite cases in the United States remaining high , the Transportation Security Administration said that 1,073,563 people passed through security checkpoints on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time since the start of the pandemic that more than a million people were screened on consecutive days amid the holiday season .
California added 46,474 new cases on Sunday , bringing its total to 1,854,456 , the highest in the nation .
The state also added 161 deaths , raising its death toll to 22,593 .
Texas ranks second in the nation in cases and deaths , adding 6,224 new cases and 122 new deaths on Saturday for a total of 1,404,675 cases and a death toll of 25,348 .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a total of 1,201,566 cases , while adding 95 resident deaths to bring the death toll among Florida residents to 20,568 since the start of the pandemic .
Illinois became the fourth state to surpass 900,000 COVID-19 cases adding 6,003 infections for a total of 900,370 .
The state also added 79 deaths to bring its death toll to 15,202 .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said the state added 9,957 positive cases for the nation 's fifth-highest total at 848,042 .
The state also added 123 fatalities to its nation-leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , which are only counted in New York City , the toll is 36,431 .
Cuomo on Sunday called for the federal government to require testing for British travelers or ban them from entering the country after a new strain of COVID-19 was discovered in the nation .
`` Today that variant is getting on a plane and landing at JFK , '' he said .
`` How many times in life do you have to make the same mistake before you learn ? ''
World Health Organization COVID-19 technical lead Maria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strain of the virus was first reported in southeast England and has since been identified in Denmark , the Netherlands and as far as Australia .
U.S .
Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told CBS News ' Face the Nation on Sunday that there were `` no indications '' that the new strain would hinder the ability to vaccinate Americans or that it would be more deadly or dangerous than known strands .
`` [ It 's ] very important for people to know that viruses mutate all the time and that does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more dangerous , '' Adams said .
`` We do n't even know if it 's really more contagious yet or not or if it just happened to be a strain that was involved in a super spreader event . ''
Appearing on NBC News ' Meet the Press Vivek Murthy , President-elect Joe Biden 's choice to serve as surgeon general , echoed Adams comments , saying that `` while it seems to be more easily transmissible , we do not have evidence yet that this is a more deadly virus to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The bottom line is if you are at home and you are hearing this news , it does not change what we do in terms of precautions as individuals that can reduce the spread of the virus , '' Murthy said .
`` It turns out that masking , keeping physical distance and washing our hands ... these are still the pillars of preventing COVID transmission . ''
As Moderna joined Pfizer in distributing its COVID-19 vaccine Sunday , Operation Warp Speed Lead Moncef Slaoui on Sunday said it is `` very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be effective against the new strain .

The United States reported 196,295 new COVID-19 cases as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for a ban on travel from Britain, where a new strain of COVID-19 was discovered. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The United States added more than 190,000 new COVID-19 cases as health officials on Sunday sought to allay concerns over a new strain reported in Europe. The United States reported 196,295 new COVID-19 cases and 2,571 additional deaths on Saturday for a total of 17,722,193 cases and 316,932 fatalities, according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University. The records are 3,668 deaths Wednesday and 249,709 cases Friday. Advertisement
Despite cases in the United States remaining high, the Transportation Security Administration said that 1,073,563 people passed through security checkpoints on Saturday after 1,066,747 flew on Friday, the first time since the start of the pandemic that more than a million people were screened on consecutive days amid the holiday season.
California added 46,474 new cases on Sunday, bringing its total to 1,854,456, the highest in the nation. The state also added 161 deaths, raising its death toll to 22,593.
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Texas ranks second in the nation in cases and deaths, adding 6,224 new cases and 122 new deaths on Saturday for a total of 1,404,675 cases and a death toll of 25,348.
No. 3 Florida added 8,401 new cases for a total of 1,201,566 cases, while adding 95 resident deaths to bring the death toll among Florida residents to 20,568 since the start of the pandemic.
Illinois became the fourth state to surpass 900,000 COVID-19 cases adding 6,003 infections for a total of 900,370. The state also added 79 deaths to bring its death toll to 15,202.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state added 9,957 positive cases for the nation's fifth-highest total at 848,042. The state also added 123 fatalities to its nation-leading death toll of 28,597. Counting probable deaths, which are only counted in New York City, the toll is 36,431.
Cuomo on Sunday called for the federal government to require testing for British travelers or ban them from entering the country after a new strain of COVID-19 was discovered in the nation.
"Today that variant is getting on a plane and landing at JFK," he said. "How many times in life do you have to make the same mistake before you learn?"
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World Health Organization COVID-19 technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove said Sunday that a new strain of the virus was first reported in southeast England and has since been identified in Denmark, the Netherlands and as far as Australia.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday that there were "no indications" that the new strain would hinder the ability to vaccinate Americans or that it would be more deadly or dangerous than known strands.
"[It's] very important for people to know that viruses mutate all the time and that does not mean that this virus is any more dangerous," Adams said. "We don't even know if it's really more contagious yet or not or if it just happened to be a strain that was involved in a super spreader event."
Appearing on NBC News' Meet the Press Vivek Murthy, President-elect Joe Biden's choice to serve as surgeon general, echoed Adams comments, saying that "while it seems to be more easily transmissible, we do not have evidence yet that this is a more deadly virus to an individual who acquires it."
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"The bottom line is if you are at home and you are hearing this news, it does not change what we do in terms of precautions as individuals that can reduce the spread of the virus," Murthy said. "It turns out that masking, keeping physical distance and washing our hands ... these are still the pillars of preventing COVID transmission."
As Moderna joined Pfizer in distributing its COVID-19 vaccine Sunday, Operation Warp Speed Lead Moncef Slaoui on Sunday said it is "very unlikely" that the currently available vaccines would not be effective against the new strain.


upi--2020-12-20--Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame selected for College Football Playoffs

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- Alabama , Clemson , Ohio State and Notre Dame will take part in the College Football Playoffs on Jan. 1 , the College Football Playoff Selection Committee announced Sunday .
No.1 Alabama ( 11-0 ) will square off against No .
4 Notre Dame ( 10-1 ) in Arlington , Texas at 5 p.m .
ET on Friday , Jan. 1 , followed by a face-off between No .
2 Clemson ( 10-1 ) and No .
3 Ohio State ( 6-0 ) at 8:45 p.m , ET in New Orleans , La , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be televised on ESPN .
Alabama and Ohio State enter the playoffs after winning their respective conference tournaments , however , prior to defeating Northwestern on Saturday , Ohio State last played on Dec. 5 as the team 's season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Notre Dame enters the playoffs after losing 34-10 to Clemson in the ACC Championship game on Saturday , while Clemson 's lone defeat came from a November game against Notre Dame during wich Clemson 's star quarterback Trevor Lawrence was sidelined after testing positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picture were No .
5 Texas A & M ( 8-1 ) and No .
6 Oklahoma ( 8-2 ) .
The Rose Bowl announced the semifinal match between the Crimson Tide and the Fighting Irish was moved from the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena , Calif. , to AT & T Stadium in Arlington , due to increasing COVID-19 cases in Southern California and restrictions preventing players ' and coaches ' families from attending .
`` We know that the decision was not an easy one to make , '' David Eads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tournament of Roses , said in a statement .
`` While we remain confident that a game could have been played at the Rose Bowl Stadium , as evident in the other collegiate and professional games taking place in the region , the projection of COVID-19 cases in the region has continued on an upward trend . ''
On Friday , Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said the team was considering declining to play in the playoffs if families were not permitted .
`` I 'm not sure we 'll play in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , '' Kelly said .
`` Why would we play if you ca n't have families at the game ?
Yeah , we would opt out .
... What 's the sense of playing a game in an area of the country where nobody can be part of it ? ''

The Alabama Crimson Tide, led by head coach Nick Saban, will enter the College Football Playoffs as the top seed alongside Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame. File Pool Photo by Kent Gidley/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame will take part in the College Football Playoffs on Jan. 1, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee announced Sunday. No.1 Alabama (11-0) will square off against No. 4 Notre Dame (10-1) in Arlington, Texas at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 1, followed by a face-off between No. 2 Clemson (10-1) and No. 3 Ohio State (6-0) at 8:45 p.m, ET in New Orleans, La, the committee announced. The games will be televised on ESPN. Advertisement
Alabama and Ohio State enter the playoffs after winning their respective conference tournaments, however, prior to defeating Northwestern on Saturday, Ohio State last played on Dec. 5 as the team's season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notre Dame enters the playoffs after losing 34-10 to Clemson in the ACC Championship game on Saturday, while Clemson's lone defeat came from a November game against Notre Dame during wich Clemson's star quarterback Trevor Lawrence was sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19.
Just outside of the playoff picture were No. 5 Texas A&M (8-1) and No. 6 Oklahoma (8-2).
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The Rose Bowl announced the semifinal match between the Crimson Tide and the Fighting Irish was moved from the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, due to increasing COVID-19 cases in Southern California and restrictions preventing players' and coaches' families from attending.
"We know that the decision was not an easy one to make," David Eads, CEO and executive director of the Tournament of Roses, said in a statement. "While we remain confident that a game could have been played at the Rose Bowl Stadium, as evident in the other collegiate and professional games taking place in the region, the projection of COVID-19 cases in the region has continued on an upward trend."
On Friday, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said the team was considering declining to play in the playoffs if families were not permitted.
"I'm not sure we'll play in the playoffs if the parents can't be there," Kelly said. "Why would we play if you can't have families at the game? Yeah, we would opt out. ... What's the sense of playing a game in an area of the country where nobody can be part of it?"


upi--2020-12-20--Moderna begins distribution of COVID-19 vaccine

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- Moderna 's COVID-19 vaccine began distribution on Sunday and is expected to reach rural areas not able to store Pfizer/BioNTech 's vaccine that began being administered last week .
The vaccine was shipped from Louisville , Ky. , and Memphis , Tenn. , beginning Sunday and will be delivered to locations in all 50 states and is set to begin being administered as soon as Monday .
`` The second vaccine from Moderna , added to the Pfizer vaccine now allows us to be on the offense , '' Gen. Gustave Perna , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Operation Warp Speed .
Drug distributor McKesson Corp. began picking up doses from the vaccine over the weekend with UPS and FedEx trucks departing on Sunday .
Overall the federal government plans to distribute 5.9 million doses of the Moderna vaccine and another 2 million doses of Pfizer 's this week .
Dr. Robert Redfield , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director , on Sunday accepted the recommendation of the agency 's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to administer Moderna 's vaccine to people aged 18 and older in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACIP voted 13-1 to prioritize adults ages 75 and older and frontline essential workers to receive COVID-19 vaccines in phase 1b of allocation , as well as prioritizing adults ages 65-75 , people ages 16-64 who have high-risk medical conditions and other essential workers in phase 1c .
`` They really serve to address the current lack of vaccine supply and address those individuals with the highest risk for disease , '' ACIP Chair Dr. Jose Romero said of the recommendations .
Operation Warp Speed Lead Moncef Slaoui told CNN the first Moderna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be administered on Monday morning .
`` It 's going to be slightly easier to distribute , '' Slaoui said .
`` Because it does n't require as low temperature as Pfizer . ''
Like the Pfizer vaccine that was administered this past week , Moderna 's vaccine is more than 90 % effective and delivered in two doses several weeks apart .
However , Moderna 's vaccine can be stored at warmer temperatures than Pfizer 's allowing it to reach more communities .
Perna said an order of Moderna 's vaccine contains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which contains 975 .
Perna on Saturday said he took full responsibility for a `` miscommunication '' that led to 10 states reporting the number of Pfizer COVID-19 doses they had been expecting to receive had been cut without explanation .
Slaoui on Sunday also said it is `` very unlikely '' that the currently available vaccines would not be effective against the new variant of COVID-19 reported in Britain .
`` Up to now , I do n't think there has been a single variant that would be resistant to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ca n't exclude it , but it 's not there now . ''
On Saturday , the CDC recommended that people who have had severe allergic reactions to any ingredients in the COVID-19 should not get the vaccine .
`` If you have had a severe allergic reaction to other vaccines or injectable therapies , you should ask your doctor if you should get a COVID-19 vaccin .
Your doctor will help you decide if it is safe for you to get vaccinated , '' the agency said .

Distribution began Sunday for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, with 5.9 million doses of the vaccine set to be sent out to all 50 states. File Photo by C.J. Gunther/EPA-EFE
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine began distribution on Sunday and is expected to reach rural areas not able to store Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine that began being administered last week. The vaccine was shipped from Louisville, Ky., and Memphis, Tenn., beginning Sunday and will be delivered to locations in all 50 states and is set to begin being administered as soon as Monday. Advertisement
"The second vaccine from Moderna, added to the Pfizer vaccine now allows us to be on the offense," Gen. Gustave Perna, who oversees the government's vaccine distribution plan Operation Warp Speed.
Drug distributor McKesson Corp. began picking up doses from the vaccine over the weekend with UPS and FedEx trucks departing on Sunday.
Overall the federal government plans to distribute 5.9 million doses of the Moderna vaccine and another 2 million doses of Pfizer's this week.
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Dr. Robert Redfield, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, on Sunday accepted the recommendation of the agency's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to administer Moderna's vaccine to people aged 18 and older in the United States.
In addition, the ACIP voted 13-1 to prioritize adults ages 75 and older and frontline essential workers to receive COVID-19 vaccines in phase 1b of allocation, as well as prioritizing adults ages 65-75, people ages 16-64 who have high-risk medical conditions and other essential workers in phase 1c.
"They really serve to address the current lack of vaccine supply and address those individuals with the highest risk for disease," ACIP Chair Dr. Jose Romero said of the recommendations.
Operation Warp Speed Lead Moncef Slaoui told CNN the first Moderna vaccine shots would "most likely" be administered on Monday morning.
"It's going to be slightly easier to distribute," Slaoui said. "Because it doesn't require as low temperature as Pfizer."
Like the Pfizer vaccine that was administered this past week, Moderna's vaccine is more than 90% effective and delivered in two doses several weeks apart. However, Moderna's vaccine can be stored at warmer temperatures than Pfizer's allowing it to reach more communities.
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Perna said an order of Moderna's vaccine contains 100 doses, compared with Pfizer's, which contains 975.
Perna on Saturday said he took full responsibility for a "miscommunication" that led to 10 states reporting the number of Pfizer COVID-19 doses they had been expecting to receive had been cut without explanation.
Slaoui on Sunday also said it is "very unlikely" that the currently available vaccines would not be effective against the new variant of COVID-19 reported in Britain.
"Up to now, I don't think there has been a single variant that would be resistant to the vaccine," he said. "We can't exclude it, but it's not there now."
On Saturday, the CDC recommended that people who have had severe allergic reactions to any ingredients in the COVID-19 should not get the vaccine.
"If you have had a severe allergic reaction to other vaccines or injectable therapies, you should ask your doctor if you should get a COVID-19 vaccin. Your doctor will help you decide if it is safe for you to get vaccinated," the agency said.


upi--2020-12-20--'Croods' sequel tops North American box office for $2.1M

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- The animated adventure , The Croods : A New Age , is the No @ @ @ @ @ America for a fourth weekend , earning an additional $ 2.1 million in receipts , @ @ @ @ @ in at No .
2 is Half Brothers with $ 270,000 , Freaky at No @ @ @ @ @ 170,000 , Come Play at No .
4 with $ 115,000 and The Grinch at @ @ @ @ @ 100,000 .
Rounding out the top tier are All My Life at No .
6 @ @ @ @ @ Him Go at No .
7 with $ 60,000 and Bolshoi Ballet : The Nutcracker @ @ @ @ @ new movies have been opening in theaters this past year due to the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ postponed until next year or have bypassed theaters altogether in favor of premieres on streaming @ @ @ @ @

Emma Stone's animated movie "The Croods: A New Age" is No. 1 at the North American box office for a fourth weekend. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The animated adventure, The Croods: A New Age, is the No. 1 movie in North America for a fourth weekend, earning an additional $2.1 million in receipts, BoxOfficeMojo.com announced Sunday. Coming in at No. 2 is Half Brothers with $270,000, Freaky at No. 3 with with $170,000, Come Play at No. 4 with $115,000 and The Grinch at No. 5 with $100,000. Advertisement
Rounding out the top tier are All My Life at No. 6 with $70,000, Let Him Go at No. 7 with $60,000 and Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker with $50,100.
Few new movies have been opening in theaters this past year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Many films have been postponed until next year or have bypassed theaters altogether in favor of premieres on streaming services or pay-per-view platforms.


upi--2020-12-20--Amazon Prime orders Season 2 of 'The Wilds'

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- Amazon Prime Video has announced it renewed its survival drama , The Wilds , @ @ @ @ @ Rachel Griffiths , Sophia Ali and Shannon Berry , the series is about a group @ @ @ @ @ a plane crash on a deserted island .
It debuted this month on the streaming @ @ @ @ @ YOUS to the fans that have gotten us here .
So much [ heart emoji @ @ @ @ @ 's creator Sarah Streicher tweeted Saturday .

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Rachel Griffiths' show "The Wilds" is getting a second season. File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Amazon Prime Video has announced it renewed its survival drama, The Wilds, for Season 2. Starring Rachel Griffiths, Sophia Ali and Shannon Berry, the series is about a group of teen girls who survive a plane crash on a deserted island. Advertisement
It debuted this month on the streaming service.
"INFINITE THANK YOUS to the fans that have gotten us here. So much [heart emoji,]" the show's creator Sarah Streicher tweeted Saturday.


upi--2020-12-20--'Riverdale' star Casey Cott is engaged

'Riverdale' star Casey Cott is engaged

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- Riverdale actor Casey Cott has announced his engagement on Instagram .
Cott posted Saturday @ @ @ @ @ and his unnamed fiancee smiling .
The bride-to-be is showing off a diamond ring on @ @ @ @ @ , which has gotten more than 1 million `` likes . ''
Cott , 28 @ @ @ @ @ three ring emojis .
E !
News and People.com -- which reported the betrothal -- @ @ @ @ @ been made public .
Cott plays Kevin on Riverdale , which is now filming its @ @ @

Casey Cott is engaged. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Riverdale actor Casey Cott has announced his engagement on Instagram. Cott posted Saturday's outdoor photo of him and his unnamed fiancee smiling. Advertisement
The bride-to-be is showing off a diamond ring on her hand in the post, which has gotten more than 1 million "likes."
Cott, 28, captioned the portrait with three ring emojis.
E! News and People.com -- which reported the betrothal -- said her name has not been made public.
Cott plays Kevin on Riverdale, which is now filming its fifth season.


upi--2020-12-20--Arie Luyendyk Jr., Lauren Burnham are expecting again

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- The Bachelor alum and race car driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. and his wife Lauren @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And then 2020 completely redeemed itself ! ''
Luyendyk Jr. , 39 , @ @ @ @ @ of him , Burnham and their 1-year-old daughter Alessi , snuggling on a couch and @ @ @ @ @ says : `` Big Sister .
July 2021 . ''
The couple announced in May @ @ @ @ @ had suffered a missed miscarriage at about five weeks into a pregnancy .
The pair @ @ @ @ @ of The Bachelor in 2017 and married in January 2019 .

Lauren Burnham (L) and Arie Luyendyk Jr. are expecting another child. File Photo by Edwin Locke/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The Bachelor alum and race car driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. and his wife Lauren Burnham are expecting another child. "And then 2020 completely redeemed itself!" Luyendyk Jr., 39, captioned Saturday's Instagram photo of him, Burnham and their 1-year-old daughter Alessi, snuggling on a couch and holding up a sign that says: "Big Sister. July 2021." Advertisement
The couple announced in May that Burnham, 29, had suffered a missed miscarriage at about five weeks into a pregnancy.
The pair met while filming Season 22 of The Bachelor in 2017 and married in January 2019.
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upi--2020-12-20--'SNL' player Alex Moffat plays Joe Biden in sketch

Dec. 20 ( UPI ) -- Saturday Night Live cast member Alex Moffat has taken over the role of President-elect Joe Biden on the sketch comedy show .
Moffat , 38 , briefly offered his impression of Biden , 78 , during this weekend 's skit about outgoing Vice President Mike Pence ( Beck Bennett ) getting the coronavirus vaccine .
Earlier in the day , actor and comedian Jim Carrey announced he would no longer play Biden on SNL , but no replacement was announced .
At the beginning of Saturday 's episode , Moffat appeared as Biden with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walking with a cane and somersaulting in front of the camera .
Pence commented , `` You look different somehow . ''
`` Yep .
I 'm like Colonel Sanders .
Every time you see me , I 'm a different guy .
There 's a good chance this time next year , I 'm going to be Mario Lopez , '' Biden quipped .
`` Now where are the vaccines at ? ''
When Pence reminded Biden he was scheduled to get his jab on Monday , Biden said , `` Yeah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it over with . ''
`` I 'm worried about you , Joe , especially since you are already in a cast on Day Minus 40 in office , '' said Maya Rudolph , playing incoming Vice President Kamala Harris .
`` You 're about to have a real leader again and we 're going to have most diverse cabinet in the history of American politics , '' Biden said .
`` And I will make sure Joe never specifies what he means by diverse , '' Harris said .
Woody Harrelson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nealon have also played Biden on SNL .

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Alex Moffat played Joe Biden on this weekend's edition of "SNL." Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Saturday Night Live cast member Alex Moffat has taken over the role of President-elect Joe Biden on the sketch comedy show. Moffat, 38, briefly offered his impression of Biden, 78, during this weekend's skit about outgoing Vice President Mike Pence (Beck Bennett) getting the coronavirus vaccine. Advertisement
Earlier in the day, actor and comedian Jim Carrey announced he would no longer play Biden on SNL, but no replacement was announced.
At the beginning of Saturday's episode, Moffat appeared as Biden with a soft cast on his leg, walking with a cane and somersaulting in front of the camera.
Pence commented, "You look different somehow."
"Yep. I'm like Colonel Sanders. Every time you see me, I'm a different guy. There's a good chance this time next year, I'm going to be Mario Lopez," Biden quipped. "Now where are the vaccines at?"
When Pence reminded Biden he was scheduled to get his jab on Monday, Biden said, "Yeah, but Kamala wants me to get it over with."
"I'm worried about you, Joe, especially since you are already in a cast on Day Minus 40 in office," said Maya Rudolph, playing incoming Vice President Kamala Harris.
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"You're about to have a real leader again and we're going to have most diverse cabinet in the history of American politics," Biden said.
"And I will make sure Joe never specifies what he means by diverse," Harris said.
Woody Harrelson, John Mulaney, Jason Sudeikis and Kevin Nealon have also played Biden on SNL.


upi--2020-12-21--Watch: 'The Mandalorian' S3 to come after 'Boba Fett' series, Jon Favreau says

Dec. 21 ( UPI ) -- Jon Favreau , the creator , writer and executive producer of The Mandalorian , confirmed on Good Morning America Monday that Season 3 of the Star Wars series will come after The Book of Boba Fett .
Favreau released the logo for The Book of Boba Fett on GMA and detailed the production schedule for the shows on GMA .
`` So , this is actually separate from The Mandalorian Season 3 , but what we did n't say in that announcement is that the next show coming up , Kathy said the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be The Book of Boba Fett .
And then we go into production right after that on Season 3 of The Mandalorian , '' Favreau said in reference to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy .
Kennedy recently announced multiple Star Wars projects for Disney+ but did not mention The Book of Boba Fett so that fans could be surprised at the end of The Mandalorian Season 2 where the spinoff was announced , Favreau said .
The Book of Boba Fett will follow Fett ( Temuera Morrison ) and his partner Fennec Shand ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up Jabba 's palace during an end credits scene with Fett sitting on Jabba 's throne at the end .

FULL INTERVIEW: #TheMandalorian creator @Jon_Favreau show talks about the surprise scene after the credits of the show and what it means. https://t.co/H7U6vv1p9z— Good Morning America (@GMA) December 21, 2020
Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Jon Favreau, the creator, writer and executive producer of The Mandalorian, confirmed on Good Morning America Monday that Season 3 of the Star Wars series will come after The Book of Boba Fett.
Favreau released the logo for The Book of Boba Fett on GMA and detailed the production schedule for the shows on GMA.
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"So, this is actually separate from The Mandalorian Season 3, but what we didn't say in that announcement is that the next show coming up, Kathy said the next chapter, and that's going to be The Book of Boba Fett. And then we go into production right after that on Season 3 of The Mandalorian," Favreau said in reference to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.
Kennedy recently announced multiple Star Wars projects for Disney+ but did not mention The Book of Boba Fett so that fans could be surprised at the end of The Mandalorian Season 2 where the spinoff was announced, Favreau said.
The Book of Boba Fett will follow Fett (Temuera Morrison) and his partner Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen). The duo shot up Jabba's palace during an end credits scene with Fett sitting on Jabba's throne at the end.


upi--2020-12-21--Carolina Panthers fire GM Marty Hurney amid 4-10 season

Dec. 21 ( UPI ) -- The Carolina Panthers , with a 4-10 record , on Monday fired general manager Marty Hurney .
`` I notified Marty that we would not be extending his contract beyond the 2020 season , '' Panthers owner David Tepper said in a news release .
`` This was a difficult decision .
Marty has been a valuable member of our franchise and there is no way to convey my level of respect for him .
We sincerely appreciate his hard work over 19 seasons and wish him well moving forward . ''
The Panthers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under Hurney .
His contact was set to expire in June .
Hurney served as the Panthers ' general manager over two separate tenures .
He first had the role from 2002 through 2012 , and returned as general manager in 2017 .
The Panthers made the playoffs four times under Hurney , including two division titles .
They also appeared in Super Bowl XXXVIII .
He joined the Panthers in 1998 as director of football administration .
He also served as director of football operations from 1999 to 2001 .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tepper ] for the opportunity to be a part of this organization over the last three seasons , '' Hurney said .
`` I have a great relationship with Matt [ coach Matt Rhule ] and everybody in the building .
I believe this team is well-positioned for the future and wish Matt , the players and the entire organization all the best . ''
The Panthers will face the Washington Football Team at 1 p.m. EST Sunday in Landover , Md.
, and then end the regular season with a home game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Carolina Panthers on Monday fired general manager Marty Hurney, who joined the franchise's front office in 1998. Screenshot from Carolina Panthers/YouTube
Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The Carolina Panthers, with a 4-10 record, on Monday fired general manager Marty Hurney. "I notified Marty that we would not be extending his contract beyond the 2020 season," Panthers owner David Tepper said in a news release. Advertisement
"This was a difficult decision. Marty has been a valuable member of our franchise and there is no way to convey my level of respect for him. We sincerely appreciate his hard work over 19 seasons and wish him well moving forward."
The Panthers posted a 102-120 record in 14 seasons under Hurney. His contact was set to expire in June.
Hurney served as the Panthers' general manager over two separate tenures. He first had the role from 2002 through 2012, and returned as general manager in 2017. The Panthers made the playoffs four times under Hurney, including two division titles. They also appeared in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
He joined the Panthers in 1998 as director of football administration. He also served as director of football operations from 1999 to 2001.
"I want to thank Dave and Nicole [Tepper] for the opportunity to be a part of this organization over the last three seasons," Hurney said.
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"I have a great relationship with Matt [coach Matt Rhule] and everybody in the building. I believe this team is well-positioned for the future and wish Matt, the players and the entire organization all the best."
The Panthers will face the Washington Football Team at 1 p.m. EST Sunday in Landover, Md., and then end the regular season with a home game Jan. 3 against the New Orleans Saints.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-21--Watch live: Justice Dept. announces new charges in 1988 Pan Am bombing

Dec. 21 ( UPI ) -- On the 32nd anniversary of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 that killed almost 300 people over Lockerbie , Scotland , the U.S. Justice Department is expected to file new criminal charges in the infamous case .
U.S. Attorney General William Barr is expected to announce the new charges at a news conference at 10:30 a.m. EST .
The Dec. 21 , 1988 , bombing killed 259 passengers and crew and another 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie , a small town in eastern Scotland where debris from the Boeing 747 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Flight 103 originated in Frankfurt , Germany , with a Boeing 727 but switched to a 747 at London 's Heathrow Airport , where it picked up more passengers , many carrying Christmas presents .
Its final destination was Detroit .
Barr is expected to charge Libyan national Abu Agila Mas'ud for manufacturing the bomb that was smuggled on board Pan Am 's Clipper Maid of the Seas in a radio .
Barr had previously ordered an investigation into the bombing when he was attorney general under former President George H.W .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ died aboard the flight , 189 were Americans .
The only person ever held liable for the Lockerbie bombing was Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi , a Libyan intelligence officer who was convicted as an accomplice in 2001. he was granted a compassionate release eight years later and died in 2012 .

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Attorney General William Barr speaks during a news conference to provide an update on the investigation of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am flight 103 on the 32nd anniversary of the attack, at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Pool Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 21 (UPI) -- On the 32nd anniversary of one of the most high-profile aviation terrorist attacks in modern history, the U.S. Justice Department filed new charges in the case on Monday. U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced charges against Libyan national Abu Agela Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, for manufacturing the bomb that was smuggled on board Pan Am Flight 103 on Dec. 21, 1988, which later exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland. Advertisement
Mas'ud was charged with terrorism-related crimes for the bombing, which killed almost 200 American citizens. He is being held in Libya by the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord, Barr said.
"Let there be no mistake, no amount of time or distance will stop the United States and our Scottish partners in pursuing justice in this case," he said at a news conference Monday.
Barr said the key breakthrough came when the United States learned that Libyan officials were holding Mas'ud. They provided U.S. investigators with statements from he made indicating his involvement in the Lockerbie bombing.
"At long last this man responsible for killing Americans and many others will be subject to justice for his crimes," Barr said, adding that Mas'ud built the bomb and worked with two co-conspirators from a base in Malta.
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Barr said he's "optimistic" Libyan officials will agree to extradite Mas'ud to the United States to stand trial.
The midair explosion killed 259 passengers and crew and another 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie, a small town in eastern Scotland.
Flight 103 originated in Frankfurt, Germany, with a Boeing 727 but switched to a 747 at London's Heathrow Airport, where it picked up more passengers, many carrying Christmas presents. Its final destination was Detroit.
Barr had ordered an investigation into the bombing in the late 1980s when he worked in the Justice Department under former President George H.W. Bush.
The only person ever held liable for the Lockerbie bombing was Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence officer who was convicted as an accomplice in 2001. he was granted a compassionate release eight years later and died in 2012.