upi--2020-12-29--Watch live: Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, husband receive COVID-19 vaccine

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will receive a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday , becoming the latest high-profile figure to be inoculated .
Harris and husband Doug Emhoff will receive their first of two doses at about 10 a.m. EST in Washington , D.C. , transition officials said .
They and other top officials are receiving the vaccinations in public to build confidence among skeptical Americans who are unsure of their safety and effectiveness .
Two `` messenger RNA '' vaccines have so far been approved for use in the United States -- one from Pfizer-BioNTech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have shown both to be about 95 % effective with only mild side effects .
A number of government leaders and lawmakers have received an initial dose over the last two weeks since the vaccines were approved .
President-elect Joe Biden was inoculated last week .
He and Harris staggered their vaccinations at the recommendation of medical experts , officials said .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins also received theirs publicly last week .
Vice President Mike Pence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Surgeon General Jerome Adams were inoculated at the White House on Dec. 18 .
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress have also received their vaccinations .
President Donald Trump has not yet received the vaccine , most likely because health advice recommends that anyone who 's been treated for COVID-19 wait for 90 days to be vaccinated .

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Vice President-elect Kamala Harris receives an initial dose of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday at United Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Vice President-elect Kamala Harris received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a Washington, D.C., hospital on Tuesday. Harris received the first of two doses of the "messenger RNA" vaccine developed by Moderna in front of cameras at Washington's United Medical Center, as part of a collective effort by political leaders to build confidence for the vaccines among skeptical Americans. Advertisement
"That was easy," she exclaimed after receiving the shot.
"I want to encourage everyone to get the vaccine. This is literally about saving lives. I trust the scientists -- and it is the scientists who created and approved this vaccine. So I urge everyone, when it is your turn, get vaccinated."
Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, also received the vaccine Tuesday at Washington's only public hospital.
Harris particularly encouraged communities of color, which have been severely sickened by the coronavirus, to put aside fears or suspicions and get vaccinated.
Two mRNA vaccines have so far been approved for use in the United States -- Moderna's and another from Pfizer-BioNTech, both of which have proven to be about 95% effective with only mild side effects.
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A number of government leaders and lawmakers have also received an initial dose in recent weeks.
President-elect Joe Biden was inoculated last week. He and Harris staggered their vaccinations on advice from medical experts.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins also received theirs publicly last week. Vice President Mike Pence, second lady Karen Pence and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams were inoculated at the White House on Dec. 18.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress have also received their vaccinations. President Donald Trump has not yet received the vaccine, most likely because health advice recommends that anyone who's been treated for COVID-19 should wait for 90 days before they are vaccinated.


upi--2020-12-29--Look: Braison Cyrus, wife Stella McBride Cyrus expecting first child

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Braison Cyrus , Miley Cyrus ' younger brother , and his wife Stella McBride Cyrus , are expecting their first child together .
The couple made the announcement on Instagram Monday alongside a photo of themselves holding up ultrasound images .
`` Extremely blessed and grateful to say that @ stellamcyrus and I are expecting our first child .
This is our son and he 's due in June .
Love this little dude so much already , '' Braison Cyrus said .
`` 2020 has been a difficult year to say the least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the greatest gift of my life !
I can not wait to meet our baby boy this summer and watch him spread light and happiness to those around him .
You 're going to be the best day dad ever @ braisonccyrus , '' Stella McBride Cyrus said on her Instagram page .
Braison Cyrus and his wife celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary in November .
Braison Cyrus is a musician and has starred in 2016 film Heels .
Miley Cyrus recently released her new album titled Plastic Hearts , which contains the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prisoner . ''

Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Braison Cyrus, Miley Cyrus' younger brother, and his wife Stella McBride Cyrus, are expecting their first child together.
The couple made the announcement on Instagram Monday alongside a photo of themselves holding up ultrasound images.
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"Extremely blessed and grateful to say that @stellamcyrus and I are expecting our first child. This is our son and he's due in June. Love this little dude so much already," Braison Cyrus said.
"2020 has been a difficult year to say the least, but it has also brought me the greatest gift of my life! I cannot wait to meet our baby boy this summer and watch him spread light and happiness to those around him. You're going to be the best day dad ever @braisonccyrus," Stella McBride Cyrus said on her Instagram page.
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Braison Cyrus and his wife celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary in November. Braison Cyrus is a musician and has starred in 2016 film Heels.
Miley Cyrus recently released her new album titled Plastic Hearts, which contains the singles "Midnight Sky" and "Prisoner."


upi--2020-12-29--Trump, House Democrats await Senate's move on $2,000 stimulus raise

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- All eyes will be on the Senate on Tuesday as the chamber must stake out a position on raising the amount of stimulus payments to Americans , and it faces a tough choice -- either go back on previous fiscal concerns or oppose President Donald Trump in the final days of his presidency .
The House on Monday passed a standalone measure to increase the stimulus amount from $ 600 in the current relief package to $ 2,000 , acquiescing to a demand from Trump last week when he refused to sign the legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition in the House -- 134 voted against the raise Monday -- and there has been opposition in the Senate .
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell can take up or block the House legislation , but despite strong opposition among GOP senators he 's under intense pressure from Democrats and Trump on the issue .
Following Monday 's House vote , Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer put the onus directly on McConnell , who has yet to make any public comments on the proposal to give Americans more money .
`` Following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Tuesday ] I will move to pass the legislation in the Senate to quickly deliver Americans with $ 2,000 emergency checks , '' Schumer said in a statement .
`` Every Senate Democrat is for this much-needed increase in emergency financial relief , which can be approved tomorrow if no Republican blocks it -- there is no good reason for Senate Republicans to stand in the way . ''
`` There 's strong support for these $ 2,000 emergency checks from every corner of the country , '' he added .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans do not stand in the way of helping to meet the needs of American workers and families who are crying out for help . ''
The measure could pass in the Senate immediately if all 100 senators agree to the raise .
If even one votes against unanimous consent , it could then take days for the chamber to debate and make a roll call vote and pass it with a simple majority .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , piled on pressure by threatening to filibuster a vote to override Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless the chamber votes on the stimulus raise .
`` I 'm going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $ 2,000 direct payment to the working class , '' Sanders said in a statement .
`` Let me be clear : If Sen. McConnell does n't agree to an up or down vote to provide the working people of our country a $ 2,000 direct payment , Congress will not be going home for New Year 's Eve .
Let 's do our job . ''
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support in the Senate for the raise , added more muscle to his demand on Monday night -- underscoring what has turned into an extremely rare alliance with House Democrats , seemingly against Senate Republicans .
`` Give the people $ 2,000 , not $ 600 , '' he tweeted .
`` They have suffered enough ! ''
McConnell is in a tough spot .
Long-standing GOP opposition to greater COVID-19 emergency spending is the chief reason a relief bill was deadlocked in Congress for months .
And so now the choice is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money to struggling Americans -- or directly oppose Trump in the final weeks of his administration and risk political backlash in the coming Senate runoffs in Georgia , which could cede control of the chamber to Democrats .
Pelosi and House Democrats approved a $ 3 trillion relief package back in May , which would have funded more stimulus payments , unemployment benefits , coronavirus testing and $ 1 trillion to states and cities .
Senate Republicans and Trump never took a serious look at the bill .
Over the summer , Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to find a compromise , but failed .
Democrats refused to consider a bill costing less than $ 2 trillion .
McConnell called the figure too high and Senate Republicans in September unveiled a `` skinny '' $ 500 billion relief bill , which included no stimulus and was quickly rejected by Democrats as `` emaciated . ''
It was n't until this month , amid a historic surge in COVID-19 cases , that bipartisan support coalesced around the $ 900 billion `` compromise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelming majorities in both chambers last week .

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Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said direct deposit payments could begin Tuesday and paper checks will start to be mailed out Wednesday. Pool Photo by Alex Wong/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said $600 payments would begin to be delivered Tuesday night, as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell blocked an effort by President Donald Trump and Democrats to increase stimulus payments to Americans. Mnuchin announced that the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service would begin delivering the $600 payments included in the $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill signed into law by President Donald Trump over the weekend as early as Tuesday night through direct deposit, with paper checks being mailed out Wednesday. Advertisement
"Treasury and the IRS are working with unprecedented speed to issue a second round of Economic Impact Payments to eligible Americans and their families," he said.
All eyes were on the Senate earlier in the day to see if the chamber would agree to demands by Democrats and Trump to increase the amount from $600 in the current relief package to $2,000. The House passed the increase on Monday.
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There was Republican opposition in the House -- 134 voted against the raise Monday -- and there has been opposition in the Senate. But recent GOP support for the proposal, which included both Georgia Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, were sidetracked by McConnell on Tuesday.
Instead, McConnell said the upper chamber would begin a process to consider larger stimulus payments and tie it to resolving two other Trump complaints -- election security and removing federal protections for technology companies such as Facebook and Twitter.
McConnell's move is a direct rejection of what Trump has repeatedly called for and could produce significant political backlash for Republicans as millions of Americans continue to struggle financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Democrats are expected to hold another vote this week to again pass the raise, but it's not clear what McConnell's endgame is.
Following Monday's House vote, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer put the onus directly on McConnell, who waited for days to make any public comments on the proposal to give Americans more money.
"Following the strong bipartisan vote in the House, [Tuesday] I will move to pass the legislation in the Senate to quickly deliver Americans with $2,000 emergency checks," Schumer said in a statement.
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"Every Senate Democrat is for this much-needed increase in emergency financial relief, which can be approved tomorrow if no Republican blocks it -- there is no good reason for Senate Republicans to stand in the way.
"There's strong support for these $2,000 emergency checks from every corner of the country," he added. "Leader McConnell ought to make sure Senate Republicans do not stand in the way of helping to meet the needs of American workers and families who are crying out for help."
The measure would have passed Tuesday if all 100 senators had agreed to the raise. With McConnell's block, it could now take days or weeks for the Senate to debate and convene a roll call vote for whatever agreement it finds.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Monday piled on pressure by threatening to filibuster a vote to override Trump's veto of a defense funding bill unless the chamber votes on the stimulus raise.
"I'm going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $2,000 direct payment to the working class," Sanders said in a statement.
"Let me be clear: If Sen. McConnell doesn't agree to an up or down vote to provide the working people of our country a $2,000 direct payment, Congress will not be going home for New Year's Eve. Let's do our job."
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Trump, who said Sunday he had GOP support in the Senate for the raise, added more muscle to his demand Monday night -- underscoring what has turned into an extremely rare alliance with House Democrats, seemingly against Senate Republicans.
"Give the people $2,000, not $600," he tweeted. "They have suffered enough!"
Long-standing GOP opposition to greater COVID-19 emergency spending is the chief reason a relief bill was deadlocked in Congress for months. And so McConnell's choice was to relent a bit and send more money to struggling Americans -- or directly oppose Trump in the final weeks of his administration and risk political backlash in the coming Senate runoffs in Georgia, which could cede control of the chamber to Democrats.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats approved a $3 trillion relief package in May, which would have funded more stimulus payments, unemployment benefits, coronavirus testing and $1 trillion to states and cities. Senate Republicans and Trump never took a serious look at the bill.
Over the summer, Pelosi and Schumer negotiated with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Mnuchin to find a compromise, but failed. Democrats refused to consider a bill costing less than $2 trillion.
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McConnell called the figure too high and Senate Republicans in September unveiled a "skinny" $500 billion relief bill, which included no stimulus and was quickly rejected by Democrats as "emaciated."
It wasn't until this month, amid a historic surge in COVID-19 cases, that bipartisan support coalesced around the $900 billion "compromise" relief measure. It passed with overwhelming majorities in both chambers last week.
Pictures of the Year: top U.S. news images for 2020


upi--2020-12-29--Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs lead playoff-bound Buffalo Bills to 38-9 rout of New England Patriots

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns on Monday Night Football to lead the Bills to their biggest rout of the New England Patriots in nearly 20 years .
Buffalo also completed a season sweep of New England for the first time since 1999 , and became the first AFC East team to do so since the Miami Dolphins in 2000 .
The Bills out-gained the Patriots 474 to 201 in total yards and dominated time of possession by nearly 20 minutes .
Stefon Diggs was Allen 's top target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and three touchdowns in the lopsided 38-9 victory .
`` Not to sound cliche and like a broken record , but it 's [ win ] No .
12 , '' Allen told reporters .
`` We got one game left and all that is cool , the records , this and that , but playing to get to 13-3 and give ourselves a chance in the playoffs .
`` It does n't mean much if we ca n't get it done and we 've got our mind set on bigger things and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Miami Dolphins in Buffalo . ''
Patriots quarterback Cam Newton led his team on a six-play , 38-yard drive on the opening possession .
Nick Folk ended the drive with a 45-yard field goal .
Bills kicker Tyler Bass answered with a 22-yard field goal on the next drive to tie the score midway through he first quarter .
The Bills then forced a Patriots punt before Allen put together a 12-play , 70-yard touchdown drive that ended with a five-yard rushing score by Bills running back Zack Moss 10 seconds into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rushing touchdown on the Patriots next drive , but Folk missed the point after attempt , which allowed the Bills to keep their lead .
Allen threw touchdown passes to Lee Smith and Diggs on the Bills next two drives to give Buffalo a 24-9 lead at halftime .
He threw another touchdown to Diggs on the first possession of the third quarter to increase the Buffalo lead to 22 points about four minutes into the half .
Diggs caught his third touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed 5 of 10 passes for 34 yards , and had no touchdowns or interceptions , before he was benched for Jared Stidham in the third quarter .
Stidham completed 4 of 11 passes for 44 yards and also did n't have a touchdown or an interception .
`` We just were n't able to do much in any phase of the game , '' Patriots coach Bill Belichick said .
`` They outplayed us across the board , outplayed us and out-coached us .
`` They did a good job .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can see why they 're the AFC East champions this year .
They deserve to be . ''
The Bills ' rout Monday night was their biggest margin of victory over New England since 2003 and their largest blowout of the Patriots on their home field since 1992 .
New England will also suffer its first losing season this year since the 2000 season , Belichick 's first as head coach .
The Patriots ( 6-9 ) host the New York Jets in their final game of the season and the Bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both games are scheduled for 1 p.m. EST on Sunday .

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs catches one of his three touchdown passes in a win over the New England Patriots on Monday in Foxborough, Mass. Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns on Monday Night Football to lead the Bills to their biggest rout of the New England Patriots in nearly 20 years. Buffalo also completed a season sweep of New England for the first time since 1999, and became the first AFC East team to do so since the Miami Dolphins in 2000. Advertisement
The Bills out-gained the Patriots 474 to 201 in total yards and dominated time of possession by nearly 20 minutes. Stefon Diggs was Allen's top target and had nine catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns in the lopsided 38-9 victory.
"Not to sound cliche and like a broken record, but it's [win] No. 12," Allen told reporters. "We got one game left and all that is cool, the records, this and that, but playing to get to 13-3 and give ourselves a chance in the playoffs.
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"It doesn't mean much if we can't get it done and we've got our mind set on bigger things and first things first is Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins in Buffalo."
Patriots quarterback Cam Newton led his team on a six-play, 38-yard drive on the opening possession. Nick Folk ended the drive with a 45-yard field goal.
Bills kicker Tyler Bass answered with a 22-yard field goal on the next drive to tie the score midway through he first quarter.
The Bills then forced a Patriots punt before Allen put together a 12-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that ended with a five-yard rushing score by Bills running back Zack Moss 10 seconds into the second quarter.
Newton answered with a rushing touchdown on the Patriots next drive, but Folk missed the point after attempt, which allowed the Bills to keep their lead.
Allen threw touchdown passes to Lee Smith and Diggs on the Bills next two drives to give Buffalo a 24-9 lead at halftime.
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He threw another touchdown to Diggs on the first possession of the third quarter to increase the Buffalo lead to 22 points about four minutes into the half.
Diggs caught his third touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter for the final points of the night.
Newton completed 5 of 10 passes for 34 yards, and had no touchdowns or interceptions, before he was benched for Jared Stidham in the third quarter. Stidham completed 4 of 11 passes for 44 yards and also didn't have a touchdown or an interception.
"We just weren't able to do much in any phase of the game," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "They outplayed us across the board, outplayed us and out-coached us.
"They did a good job. They're a very good football team. We can see why they're the AFC East champions this year. They deserve to be."
The Bills' rout Monday night was their biggest margin of victory over New England since 2003 and their largest blowout of the Patriots on their home field since 1992. New England will also suffer its first losing season this year since the 2000 season, Belichick's first as head coach.
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The Patriots (6-9) host the New York Jets in their final game of the season and the Bills (12-3) host the Miami Dolphins. Both games are scheduled for 1 p.m. EST on Sunday.
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-12-29--WWE Raw: Keith Lee becomes No. 1 contender

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Keith Lee became the No .
1 contender for Drew McIntyre 's WWE Championship on the final Raw of 2020 .
McIntyre kicked off the show on Monday , which began with a tribute graphic for the late Jon Huber , known as Luke Harper in WWE and Brodie in AEW .
The champ met with his friend Sheamus before Sheamus ' match against Lee to determine who will face McIntyre next for the WWE title .
McIntyre challenged Sheamus to win as he would like to face his friend in the ring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kicked him last week , telling McIntyre that he ca n't trust Sheamus .
Sheamus responded by Brogue Kicking Lee twice before their match could offiically begin .
Lee and Sheamus had a physical , back and fourth contest where both men pushed each other to the limit .
Lee was able to recover from Sheamus ' earlier attack but The Celtic Warrior nailed Lee with a Double Ax Handle from the top rope .
Lee was able to survive a White Noise from Sheamus and won the match with a thunderous Spirit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the match , then stared down Lee and held up his WWE Championship .
McIntyre will defend his title against Lee next week on Raw during Legends Night .
The special episode will feature appearances by Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan , Ric Flair and more .
Also on Raw , Alexa Bliss invited Randy Orton onto her talkshow Alexa 's Playground .
Bliss ' partner The Fiend Bray Wyatt has still been missing in action since Orton burned The Fiend alive at the TLC pay-per-view event .
Orton did not meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her from the video screen as he entered into The Firefly Funhouse .
The Viper started destroying Wyatt 's collection of puppets including Mercy The Buzzard and Abby the Witch .
Bliss then challenged Orton to met her back in the ring later that night , which Orton accepted .
Bliss , in the final segment of the night , presented Orton with a gas can and matches .
She dared Orton to light her on fire as well and poured the gasoline over her body .
Orton got a match ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , but Raw went off the air before fans could tell what happened next .
Other moments from Raw included Gran Metalik defeating The Miz ; Shayna Baszler defeating Dana Brooke ; AJ Styles defeating Elias ; Mustafa Ali defeating Ricochet ; Nia Jax entering herself into the Women 's Royal Rumble match ; Women 's Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair defeating Jax by disqualification after Baszler attacked Flair ; and The Hurt Business defeating The New Day , Jeff Hardy and Riddle .
The Miz , in a sudden turn of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Bank briefcase .
The Miz had complained to WWE that his tag team partner John Morrison had handed the referee his briefcase when it used it at TLC .
The briefcase allows The Miz to challenge for the WWE Championship at any time .

Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Keith Lee became the No. 1 contender for Drew McIntyre's WWE Championship on the final Raw of 2020.
McIntyre kicked off the show on Monday, which began with a tribute graphic for the late Jon Huber, known as Luke Harper in WWE and Brodie in AEW.
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The champ met with his friend Sheamus before Sheamus' match against Lee to determine who will face McIntyre next for the WWE title. McIntyre challenged Sheamus to win as he would like to face his friend in the ring.
Lee interrupted and referenced how Sheamus Brogue Kicked him last week, telling McIntyre that he can't trust Sheamus.
Sheamus responded by Brogue Kicking Lee twice before their match could offiically begin.
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Lee and Sheamus had a physical, back and fourth contest where both men pushed each other to the limit. Lee was able to recover from Sheamus' earlier attack but The Celtic Warrior nailed Lee with a Double Ax Handle from the top rope.
Lee was able to survive a White Noise from Sheamus and won the match with a thunderous Spirit Bomb. McIntyre, who gave commentary during the match, then stared down Lee and held up his WWE Championship.
McIntyre will defend his title against Lee next week on Raw during Legends Night. The special episode will feature appearances by Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and more.
Also on Raw, Alexa Bliss invited Randy Orton onto her talkshow Alexa's Playground. Bliss' partner The Fiend Bray Wyatt has still been missing in action since Orton burned The Fiend alive at the TLC pay-per-view event.
Orton did not meet Bliss inside the ring and instead spoke to her from the video screen as he entered into The Firefly Funhouse. The Viper started destroying Wyatt's collection of puppets including Mercy The Buzzard and Abby the Witch.
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Bliss then challenged Orton to met her back in the ring later that night, which Orton accepted.
Bliss, in the final segment of the night, presented Orton with a gas can and matches. She dared Orton to light her on fire as well and poured the gasoline over her body.
Orton got a match ready as the lights in the arena went out, but Raw went off the air before fans could tell what happened next.
Other moments from Raw included Gran Metalik defeating The Miz; Shayna Baszler defeating Dana Brooke; AJ Styles defeating Elias; Mustafa Ali defeating Ricochet; Nia Jax entering herself into the Women's Royal Rumble match; Women's Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair defeating Jax by disqualification after Baszler attacked Flair; and The Hurt Business defeating The New Day, Jeff Hardy and Riddle.
The Miz, in a sudden turn of events, was awarded back his Money in the Bank briefcase. The Miz had complained to WWE that his tag team partner John Morrison had handed the referee his briefcase when it used it at TLC. The briefcase allows The Miz to challenge for the WWE Championship at any time.


upi--2020-12-29--Good riddance to 2020, maybe -- but many of same issues will define 2021

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- With 2020 retreating into the rear-view , many are probably eager to say `` good riddance '' to some of the most upsetting stories in this year that began a new decade -- perhaps with a hope that 2021 will bring better fortunes .
Four of the year 's biggest stories -- COVID-19 , the explosion of civil unrest , the divisive 2020 presidential election and unprecedented natural disasters -- all had significant negative aspects .
As these same stories continue into and evolve in 2021 , they will be watched closely for signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps change into something more positive .
Undoubtedly , the biggest reason to bid `` sayonara '' to 2020 was the once-obscure virus that virtually took over the world .
Technically , the coronavirus actually emerged on the final day of 2019 when the Wuhan , China , Municipal Health Commission reported a cluster of pneumonia cases .
A novel coronavirus was eventually identified as the cause .
The World Health Organization published its first report on the new virus on Jan. 5 after reports surfaced of travelers from Wuhan arriving in Hong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with fevers .
Almost a year later , the global pandemic caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has killed nearly 1.8 million people and is still spreading rapidly .
There have so far been more than 81 million cases worldwide , according to Johns Hopkins University .
In addition to the colossal death toll , the World Bank predicts that the pandemic will push between 88 and 115 million people into extreme poverty .
In the coming year , the COVID-19 story will switch to efforts to control its spread with the help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globally in what is likely to be the biggest distribution effort in human history .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious diseases expert , said in November the vaccines would `` have a major positive impact '' very quickly after their initial distribution to healthcare providers and high-risk individuals .
Fauci has said `` the ordinary citizen '' should be able to get the vaccine by April , May or June , which could mark the beginning of the end of the health crisis in the United States .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was showing signs of bouncing back more quickly than expected from the COVID-19 shock , prompting many analysts to predict that 2021 -- absent any other disasters -- should mark a slow return to pre-pandemic levels of economy activity .
Depending on effectiveness of the vaccines , University of Michigan economists in November forecast that U.S. gross domestic product will grow by 4.2 % during 2021 .
Others , however , are n't as optimistic .
Phillip Braun , a specialist in emerging economies and financial markets for the Kellogg School of Management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the economy has been repeatedly underestimated .
In fact , he told UPI , `` there 's a chance that early in the year we could fall into another recession , given the level of the pandemic at this point , the [ $ 900 billion ] COVID-19 package coming out of Congress being so small and the lending restrictions being put on the Federal Reserve .
`` Because of that , I think it 's quite possible by the second or third quarter , we could find ourselves in the midst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2021 . ''
The COVID-19 resurgence that began in the fall , Braun added , will likely set the economy back and frustrate analysts who expected the vaccines would put things back on course more quickly .
`` Some were predicting we could move back to pre-pandemic trends by the end 2021 , but even with a vaccine coming through I think people are too optimistic about how long the roll-out is going to take , '' he said .
Due to the `` inadequacy '' of the stimulus bill , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bankruptcies that will draw out the recovery .
The 2020 Election and the Supreme Court If it was n't for a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic , the indisputable story of the year might have been the most divisive and contentious presidential election campaign in recent memory -- a contest that even now , eight full weeks after Election Day , still has one of the candidates refusing the reality of their defeat .
Add to the deep partisan divide of the electorate a rare Supreme Court vacancy -- just a couple weeks before Election Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the most politically consequential years on record .
The depths of the split in the United States were brought into sharp focus as President Donald Trump , responding to polls showing him behind , rolled out a strategy of confrontational `` law-and-order '' appeals to his base , painting Black Lives Matter demonstrators as dangerous and sharpening attacks on what he called `` radical left anarchists . ''
Democrats , in turn , attacked Trump and GOP supporters as existential threats to democracy as they united around Biden when he became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His eventual victory over Trump ignited spontaneous outpourings of joy from supporters -- and baseless cries of `` voter fraud '' from the president 's throng .
`` Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end -- here and now , '' Biden declared in his victory speech on Nov. 7 , promising to be a healer of the nation 's political wounds .
Whether President Biden can accomplish such a tall order will be one of the main storylines to watch in 2021 .
Trump still has n't conceded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledge that he lost fair and square -- and only a small potion of Republican lawmakers had acknowledged Biden 's victory before the Electoral College formally cast their votes in mid-December .
Many of those Senate and House Republicans return as part of the 117th Congress in January after infuriating Democrats by pushing through Trump 's Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett , the third of his presidency and one that gave conservatives a 6-3 majority on the bench .
Several GOP lawmakers have already harshly criticized some of Biden 's Cabinet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the president-elect 's efforts to heal divisions .
What might Biden 's first 100 days in office look like ?
He will be facing serious challenges on climate change , foreign policy , immigration and many other areas -- but perhaps none as pressing as the economy-pandemic dynamic .
`` I think the Biden administration will realize there has to be a balance between control of the pandemic through restrictions in daily activities and the economy , '' says University of Michigan epidemiologist Arnold Monto .
`` We 've had a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration -- the feeling that if you really try to respond appropriately with face masks and other measures , you will in some ways block economic activity , '' he said .
`` In reality , that should not be the case . ''
One thing about the new administration , Monto noted , is that it wo n't `` create differences where they do n't exist '' while attempting to control the virus .
Biden will also quickly chart a far different course than Trump on the environment as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current administration 's industry-friendly rules .
He 's already said he will immediately move to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement .
Biden 's early personnel choices , including Deb Haaland as interior secretary and Gina McCarthy as climate adviser , signal he 'll `` move quickly on meaningful environmental protections and climate action , '' Madden told UPI in an email .
`` One of the first items is unwinding the damage done , '' Alice Madden , executive director of the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources , Energy & the Environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told UPI in an email .
`` There is a long list of rollbacks of detrimental executive orders and agency rules ready to go . ''
`` As to changing the rules , the degree of difficulty depends upon where in the rule-making process the Trump administration is -- and if they proceeded legally , which can not be assumed , '' she added .
Biden 's nomination of former Secretary of State John Kerry as special presidential envoy for climate `` tells the world we are serious about taking responsibility for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Madden says .
Again , here we have another staple of 2020 that , were it not for a rare pandemic and a historically divisive presidential campaign , almost certainly would have been the year 's indisputable top story .
Even amid the worst pandemic in a century , millions of Americans of all races contributed to a civil rights movement not seen in the United States in almost 50 years .
The largest of the protests began on May 26 , a day after 46-year-old George Floyd died after a Minneapolis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a knee on his neck for several minutes .
The graphic video of his death sparked a worldwide movement of non-violent protests calling for police reforms and an end to racial inequality .
The deaths of Breonna Taylor in Louisville , Ky. , and the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wis. , added to tensions .
Some used the occasion to engage in looting and rioting .
Trump blamed the violence on `` far-left '' anti-fascist organizations and sent federal police units into cities such as Portland , Ore. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of local leaders .
The president 's response contributed to the cultural divide in the United States over social and racial justice , equality and the role of police -- and energized activists to play a key role in Biden 's eventual victory in November .
In some respects , the large-scale protests of 2020 were successful in changing the priorities of local governments .
For instance , the Washington D.C. , City Council reallocated $ 10 million in funding in the police budget .
In Minneapolis , council members succeeded this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the police department to programs for violence prevention and a mental health crisis response team .
In California , lawmakers have committed to prioritizing police reform in the upcoming legislative session after six bills on the issue failed in 2020 .
Among the likely proposals are a system for decertifying police officers who commit serious offenses or abuses and a measure mandating steps officers must take when they witness excessive force .
Nationally , Biden has said he will assemble a national police oversight commission in his first 100 days , part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have made a lot of headway , '' Black Lives Matter D.C. activist April Goggans told WUSA-TV this month while reflecting on 2020 .
`` I think the conversation around 'defund the police ' has ... brought in people who said , 'Oh this is a new idea . '
'' So , where might these movements go in 2021 ?
Because communities of color have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 , activists ' focus could broaden to include efforts for economic justice as well as criminal justice , said University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have to remember that those movements were well underway before 2016 , '' he said recently .
`` They actually originated during the Obama administration , and were focused initially on instances of police brutality in places like Chicago and Ferguson , Mo . ''
While police brutality is certain to remain a central focus , Dawson expects more attention to be given to economic issues , `` including universal healthcare . ''
He also expects activists to urge Biden to address `` economic devastation '' that many Black communities are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would really constitute a change for those communities actually are n't race-specific ; they 're universal , '' he said .
`` Or other programs that might create new job opportunities . ''
A seemingly perpetual series of natural disasters are another reason many will bid 2020 a not-so-fond farewell .
In one of the toughest years on record , wildfires ravaged the western United States and a record-setting hurricane season produced almost 30 named storms and brought death and damage to the Southeast .
Hurricanes and tropical storms battered Gulf and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance , there were five storms churning in the Atlantic simultaneously for only the second time on record .
Louisiana was hit particularly hard -- when Hurricane Zeta made landfall there on Oct. 28 , it was the record fifth named storm to hit the state in a single season .
On the other side of the nation in California , close to 10,000 wildfires were reported this year and burned nearly 4.2 million acres .
Five of the six largest fires in state history happened in 2020 , headed by the Complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million acres in northern California .
The deadliest fire was the North Complex fire , which killed 15 people and destroyed more than 2,300 structures in three northern counties .
Natural disasters will likely again be in the headlines in 2021 , especially since the initial outlook for the coming year 's Atlantic hurricane season again points to an active season .
The most likely scenarios indicate a 50 % chance of either `` above-average '' or `` very strong '' hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin again in the coming year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month by Colorado State University .
The forecast predicts a 60 % chance of at least one named hurricane making landfall along the Gulf Coast at some point during the year , while Florida and the rest of the U.S. Atlantic Coast has a 61 % chance .
The outlook for the 2021 's wildfire season in California was similarly unpromising as the old year ended .
Citing the emergence of a cooling `` La Niña '' weather pattern to the equatorial Pacific late in the year , the National Interagency Fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of California throughout the winter months and into the spring .
`` La Niña will continue to significantly impact the winter fire season in California by producing persistent drier than average conditions along with a possible higher frequency of wind events , '' the agency said .
The role of climate change in natural disasters will also be a much-discussed topic in the coming year , especially when the delayed COP26 United Nations climate change conference is held in Glasgow , Scotland , in November .
By that time , it should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of some of the hottest years ever seen on Earth -- a streak begun in 2015 when global temperatures first exceeded 1 degree Centigrade above the pre-industrial period .
At least one authoritative early prediction from Britain 's Met Office concluded that 2021 likely will break that string of ever-higher annual global mean temperatures , mainly due to the cooling effects of the La Nina pattern in the Pacific .
Its forecast of 1.03 degrees above the pre-industrial average is slightly lower than this year 's record-high level -- but no reason to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said this month .
`` The variability of the La Niña/El Niño cycle is the second most important factor in determining the Earth 's temperature , but it is simply dwarfed by the forcing effect of increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere , '' he said .

President Donald Trump takes off his face mask as he returns to the White House after undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 5. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- With 2020 retreating into the rear-view, many are probably eager to say "good riddance" to some of the most upsetting stories in this year that began a new decade -- perhaps with a hope that 2021 will bring better fortunes. Four of the year's biggest stories -- COVID-19, the explosion of civil unrest, the divisive 2020 presidential election and unprecedented natural disasters -- all had significant negative aspects. Advertisement
As these same stories continue into and evolve in 2021, they will be watched closely for signs that the bad news they wrought could perhaps change into something more positive.
The rise of COVID-19
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Undoubtedly, the biggest reason to bid "sayonara" to 2020 was the once-obscure virus that virtually took over the world. Technically, the coronavirus actually emerged on the final day of 2019 when the Wuhan, China, Municipal Health Commission reported a cluster of pneumonia cases. A novel coronavirus was eventually identified as the cause.
The World Health Organization published its first report on the new virus on Jan. 5 after reports surfaced of travelers from Wuhan arriving in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Singapore with fevers.
Almost a year later, the global pandemic caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has killed nearly 1.8 million people and is still spreading rapidly. There have so far been more than 81 million cases worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.
In addition to the colossal death toll, the World Bank predicts that the pandemic will push between 88 and 115 million people into extreme poverty.
In the coming year, the COVID-19 story will switch to efforts to control its spread with the help of new vaccines to be rolled out globally in what is likely to be the biggest distribution effort in human history.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, said in November the vaccines would "have a major positive impact" very quickly after their initial distribution to healthcare providers and high-risk individuals.
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Fauci has said "the ordinary citizen" should be able to get the vaccine by April, May or June, which could mark the beginning of the end of the health crisis in the United States.
The U.S. economy, meanwhile, by summer was showing signs of bouncing back more quickly than expected from the COVID-19 shock, prompting many analysts to predict that 2021 -- absent any other disasters -- should mark a slow return to pre-pandemic levels of economy activity.
Depending on effectiveness of the vaccines, University of Michigan economists in November forecast that U.S. gross domestic product will grow by 4.2% during 2021.
Others, however, aren't as optimistic.
Phillip Braun, a specialist in emerging economies and financial markets for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, said the trauma to the economy has been repeatedly underestimated.
In fact, he told UPI, "there's a chance that early in the year we could fall into another recession, given the level of the pandemic at this point, the [$900 billion] COVID-19 package coming out of Congress being so small and the lending restrictions being put on the Federal Reserve.
"Because of that, I think it's quite possible by the second or third quarter, we could find ourselves in the midst of a double-dip recession across this year and 2021."
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The COVID-19 resurgence that began in the fall, Braun added, will likely set the economy back and frustrate analysts who expected the vaccines would put things back on course more quickly.
"Some were predicting we could move back to pre-pandemic trends by the end 2021, but even with a vaccine coming through I think people are too optimistic about how long the roll-out is going to take," he said.
Due to the "inadequacy" of the stimulus bill, he predicts this winter might see many more bankruptcies that will draw out the recovery.
The 2020 Election and the Supreme Court
If it wasn't for a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, the indisputable story of the year might have been the most divisive and contentious presidential election campaign in recent memory -- a contest that even now, eight full weeks after Election Day, still has one of the candidates refusing the reality of their defeat.
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Add to the deep partisan divide of the electorate a rare Supreme Court vacancy -- just a couple weeks before Election Day, no less -- and 2020 was one of the most politically consequential years on record.
The depths of the split in the United States were brought into sharp focus as President Donald Trump, responding to polls showing him behind, rolled out a strategy of confrontational "law-and-order" appeals to his base, painting Black Lives Matter demonstrators as dangerous and sharpening attacks on what he called "radical left anarchists."
Democrats, in turn, attacked Trump and GOP supporters as existential threats to democracy as they united around Biden when he became the presumptive presidential nominee in March. His eventual victory over Trump ignited spontaneous outpourings of joy from supporters -- and baseless cries of "voter fraud" from the president's throng.
"Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end -- here and now," Biden declared in his victory speech on Nov. 7, promising to be a healer of the nation's political wounds.
Whether President Biden can accomplish such a tall order will be one of the main storylines to watch in 2021. Trump still hasn't conceded -- and almost certainly never will publicly acknowledge that he lost fair and square -- and only a small potion of Republican lawmakers had acknowledged Biden's victory before the Electoral College formally cast their votes in mid-December.
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Many of those Senate and House Republicans return as part of the 117th Congress in January after infuriating Democrats by pushing through Trump's Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, the third of his presidency and one that gave conservatives a 6-3 majority on the bench.
Several GOP lawmakers have already harshly criticized some of Biden's Cabinet nominations, signaling a rough road ahead for the president-elect's efforts to heal divisions.
What might Biden's first 100 days in office look like? He will be facing serious challenges on climate change, foreign policy, immigration and many other areas -- but perhaps none as pressing as the economy-pandemic dynamic.
"I think the Biden administration will realize there has to be a balance between control of the pandemic through restrictions in daily activities and the economy," says University of Michigan epidemiologist Arnold Monto.
"We've had a great deal of emphasis on the economy under the Trump administration -- the feeling that if you really try to respond appropriately with face masks and other measures, you will in some ways block economic activity," he said. "In reality, that should not be the case."
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One thing about the new administration, Monto noted, is that it won't "create differences where they don't exist" while attempting to control the virus.
Biden will also quickly chart a far different course than Trump on the environment as he looks to roll back as many of the current administration's industry-friendly rules. He's already said he will immediately move to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement.
Biden's early personnel choices, including Deb Haaland as interior secretary and Gina McCarthy as climate adviser, signal he'll "move quickly on meaningful environmental protections and climate action," Madden told UPI in an email.
"One of the first items is unwinding the damage done," Alice Madden, executive director of the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy & the Environment at the University of Colorado Law School, told UPI in an email. "There is a long list of rollbacks of detrimental executive orders and agency rules ready to go."
"As to changing the rules, the degree of difficulty depends upon where in the rule-making process the Trump administration is -- and if they proceeded legally, which cannot be assumed," she added.
Biden's nomination of former Secretary of State John Kerry as special presidential envoy for climate "tells the world we are serious about taking responsibility for our emissions and instituting climate action," Madden says.
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Social equality and justice
Again, here we have another staple of 2020 that, were it not for a rare pandemic and a historically divisive presidential campaign, almost certainly would have been the year's indisputable top story.
Even amid the worst pandemic in a century, millions of Americans of all races contributed to a civil rights movement not seen in the United States in almost 50 years.
The largest of the protests began on May 26, a day after 46-year-old George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground with a knee on his neck for several minutes. The graphic video of his death sparked a worldwide movement of non-violent protests calling for police reforms and an end to racial inequality.
Advertisement
The deaths of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., and the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., added to tensions. Some used the occasion to engage in looting and rioting.
Trump blamed the violence on "far-left" anti-fascist organizations and sent federal police units into cities such as Portland, Ore., and Seattle, over the objections of local leaders.
The president's response contributed to the cultural divide in the United States over social and racial justice, equality and the role of police -- and energized activists to play a key role in Biden's eventual victory in November.
In some respects, the large-scale protests of 2020 were successful in changing the priorities of local governments. For instance, the Washington D.C., City Council reallocated $10 million in funding in the police budget.
In Minneapolis, council members succeeded this month in shifting nearly $8 million away from the police department to programs for violence prevention and a mental health crisis response team.
In California, lawmakers have committed to prioritizing police reform in the upcoming legislative session after six bills on the issue failed in 2020.
Among the likely proposals are a system for decertifying police officers who commit serious offenses or abuses and a measure mandating steps officers must take when they witness excessive force.
Advertisement
Nationally, Biden has said he will assemble a national police oversight commission in his first 100 days, part of a larger overhaul plan.
"We have made a lot of headway," Black Lives Matter D.C. activist April Goggans told WUSA-TV this month while reflecting on 2020. "I think the conversation around 'defund the police' has...brought in people who said, 'Oh this is a new idea.'"
So, where might these movements go in 2021?
Because communities of color have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, activists' focus could broaden to include efforts for economic justice as well as criminal justice, said University of Chicago political science professor Michael Dawson.
"We have to remember that those movements were well underway before 2016," he said recently.
"They actually originated during the Obama administration, and were focused initially on instances of police brutality in places like Chicago and Ferguson, Mo."
While police brutality is certain to remain a central focus, Dawson expects more attention to be given to economic issues, "including universal healthcare."
He also expects activists to urge Biden to address "economic devastation" that many Black communities are seeing.
"Some of the things that would really constitute a change for those communities actually aren't race-specific; they're universal," he said. "Or other programs that might create new job opportunities."
Advertisement
Nonstop natural disasters
A seemingly perpetual series of natural disasters are another reason many will bid 2020 a not-so-fond farewell.
In one of the toughest years on record, wildfires ravaged the western United States and a record-setting hurricane season produced almost 30 named storms and brought death and damage to the Southeast.
Hurricanes and tropical storms battered Gulf and Atlantic coastlines. In mid-September, for instance, there were five storms churning in the Atlantic simultaneously for only the second time on record.
Louisiana was hit particularly hard -- when Hurricane Zeta made landfall there on Oct. 28, it was the record fifth named storm to hit the state in a single season.
On the other side of the nation in California, close to 10,000 wildfires were reported this year and burned nearly 4.2 million acres. Five of the six largest fires in state history happened in 2020, headed by the Complex fire in August that torched more than 1 million acres in northern California.
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The deadliest fire was the North Complex fire, which killed 15 people and destroyed more than 2,300 structures in three northern counties.
Natural disasters will likely again be in the headlines in 2021, especially since the initial outlook for the coming year's Atlantic hurricane season again points to an active season.
The most likely scenarios indicate a 50% chance of either "above-average" or "very strong" hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin again in the coming year, according to an early analysis published this month by Colorado State University.
The forecast predicts a 60% chance of at least one named hurricane making landfall along the Gulf Coast at some point during the year, while Florida and the rest of the U.S. Atlantic Coast has a 61% chance.
The outlook for the 2021's wildfire season in California was similarly unpromising as the old year ended.
Citing the emergence of a cooling "La Niña" weather pattern to the equatorial Pacific late in the year, the National Interagency Fire Center predicted intensifying drought conditions for much of California throughout the winter months and into the spring.
"La Niña will continue to significantly impact the winter fire season in California by producing persistent drier than average conditions along with a possible higher frequency of wind events," the agency said.
Advertisement
The role of climate change in natural disasters will also be a much-discussed topic in the coming year, especially when the delayed COP26 United Nations climate change conference is held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November.
By that time, it should be apparent if 2021 will continue a pattern of some of the hottest years ever seen on Earth -- a streak begun in 2015 when global temperatures first exceeded 1 degree Centigrade above the pre-industrial period.
At least one authoritative early prediction from Britain's Met Office concluded that 2021 likely will break that string of ever-higher annual global mean temperatures, mainly due to the cooling effects of the La Nina pattern in the Pacific.
Its forecast of 1.03 degrees above the pre-industrial average is slightly lower than this year's record-high level -- but no reason to celebrate, Met Office scientist Nick Dunstone said this month.
"The variability of the La Niña/El Niño cycle is the second most important factor in determining the Earth's temperature, but it is simply dwarfed by the forcing effect of increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," he said.
Pictures of the Year: Top images from 2020


upi--2020-12-29--New York imposes 6-month moratorium on evictions, foreclosures

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has signed into law legislation that places a moratorium on evictions and foreclosure proceedings throughout the state in an effort to stop thousands of residents from losing their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Cuomo signed the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 on Monday soon after it passed the New York Senate 40 to 21 and the New York Assembly 99 to 47 .
`` As we fight our way through the marathon this pandemic has become , we need to make sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that protection , '' Cuomo said in a statement .
`` This law adds to previous executive orders by protecting the needy and vulnerable to who , through no fault of their own , face eviction during an incredibly difficult period for New York . ''
The law places a moratorium on residential evictions for tenants who have `` endured COVID-related hardship '' until May 1 , 2021 .
The Tenants must submit a declaration or document that states the hardship they have experienced to prevent eviction .
It also prohibits forecloses until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and small landlords who own 10 or fewer residential dwellings .
They are also required to file a hardship declaration with their mortgage lender or other foreclosing party or court .
It also prohibits negative credit reporting and discrimination in extending credit for those who have fallen behind on mortgage payments for properties where they reside .
The law , however , does not absolve the financial obligations of renters or homeowners but provides a four-month pause , state Sen. Pete Harckham said in a statement .
`` Ensuring that our friends and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this extensive and unforeseen economic downturn was a necessary action , '' he said .
`` Allowing people to be put out into the streets during a pandemic is inhumane and will exacerbate the public health crisis . ''
The legislation was signed a day after President Donald Trump signed a $ 900 billion coronavirus relief bill , which included $ 1.3 billion in rent and eviction relief for the state that Sen. Chuck Schumer described as `` historic and unprecedented . ''
New York has been one of the hardest-hit states to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections , including nearly 30,000 deaths .
Cuomo on Monday announced the state had received an 259,000 additional vaccine doses , 139,400 from Pfizer and 119,600 from Moderna .

The Library Lions outside of the New York Public Library are outfitted with face masks and holiday Christmas wreaths in New York City on December 10. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed into law legislation that places a moratorium on evictions and foreclosure proceedings throughout the state in an effort to stop thousands of residents from losing their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cuomo signed the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 on Monday soon after it passed the New York Senate 40 to 21 and the New York Assembly 99 to 47. Advertisement
"As we fight our way through the marathon this pandemic has become, we need to make sure New Yorkers still have homes to provide that protection," Cuomo said in a statement. "This law adds to previous executive orders by protecting the needy and vulnerable to who, through no fault of their own, face eviction during an incredibly difficult period for New York."
The law places a moratorium on residential evictions for tenants who have "endured COVID-related hardship" until May 1, 2021. The Tenants must submit a declaration or document that states the hardship they have experienced to prevent eviction.
It also prohibits forecloses until May 1, 2021, on homeowners and small landlords who own 10 or fewer residential dwellings. They are also required to file a hardship declaration with their mortgage lender or other foreclosing party or court.
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It also prohibits negative credit reporting and discrimination in extending credit for those who have fallen behind on mortgage payments for properties where they reside.
The law, however, does not absolve the financial obligations of renters or homeowners but provides a four-month pause, state Sen. Pete Harckham said in a statement.
"Ensuring that our friends and neighbors can remain in their homes during this extensive and unforeseen economic downturn was a necessary action," he said. "Allowing people to be put out into the streets during a pandemic is inhumane and will exacerbate the public health crisis."
The legislation was signed a day after President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill, which included $1.3 billion in rent and eviction relief for the state that Sen. Chuck Schumer described as "historic and unprecedented."
New York has been one of the hardest-hit states to the pandemic, suffering more than 932,000 infections, including nearly 30,000 deaths.
Cuomo on Monday announced the state had received an 259,000 additional vaccine doses, 139,400 from Pfizer and 119,600 from Moderna.


upi--2020-12-29--WHO: COVID-19 is a 'wake-up call' as larger threats loom

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- In its final press conference of the year , experts with the World Health Organization urged the international community to view the current coronavirus pandemic as a `` wake-up call '' as worse health crises loom .
Dr. Mike Ryan , the WHO Emergencies Program head , said Monday during a virtual press conference of U.N. health body officials that they must learn from the current health crisis to honor those who have lost their lives to it and to prepare for the next pandemic , `` which may be more severe . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` It spread around the world extremely quickly and has affected every corner of this planet , but this is not necessarily the big one . ''
He said since we live on a fragile planet within an increasingly complex global system the threat of pandemics will continue and if there is only one lesson to be learned from COVID-19 and the tragedy and loss it has wrought it is that `` we need to get our act together . ''
`` We need to get ready for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future , '' he said .
`` In this , we must honor those we have lost by getting better at what we do every day . ''
The press conference was held days ahead of the one-year anniversary since WHO learned on Dec. 31 , 2019 , from Chinese health authorities of people falling ill from a `` pneumonia with unknown cause '' in Wuhan city .
In March , it declared the outbreak a pandemic , during which more than 81.2 million people have contracted the virus , including 1.77 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University .
Maria Van Kerkhove , WHO 's technical lead on COVID-19 , said countries that had experienced infectious disease outbreaks , such as SARS in 2003 , MERS in 2015 and others , had a response that was conducted by `` muscle memory '' and a health infrastructure and workforce built from trauma .
`` It may not be the most high-income countries across in the world but using the resources , the people , the communities to the best of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having that trauma of previous outbreaks when they heard our warnings early on ... used that as a call to say this is something big , '' she said .
She told reporters that she hopes they have all gained that same muscle memory through this traumatic year to propel the international community to build societies `` that are prepared for the next one . ''
`` We are leaning .
We will continue to learn and I am hopeful that we will be better prepared for the next one , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go from this pattern of urgency to neglect . ''

Healthcare workers push a hospital bed down a hallway at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City in early December. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- In its final press conference of the year, experts with the World Health Organization urged the international community to view the current coronavirus pandemic as a "wake-up call" as worse health crises loom. Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO Emergencies Program head, said Monday during a virtual press conference of U.N. health body officials that they must learn from the current health crisis to honor those who have lost their lives to it and to prepare for the next pandemic, "which may be more severe." Advertisement
"This pandemic has been very severe," he said. "It spread around the world extremely quickly and has affected every corner of this planet, but this is not necessarily the big one."
He said since we live on a fragile planet within an increasingly complex global system the threat of pandemics will continue and if there is only one lesson to be learned from COVID-19 and the tragedy and loss it has wrought it is that "we need to get our act together."
"We need to get ready for something which may be more severe in the future," he said. "In this, we must honor those we have lost by getting better at what we do every day."
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The press conference was held days ahead of the one-year anniversary since WHO learned on Dec. 31, 2019, from Chinese health authorities of people falling ill from a "pneumonia with unknown cause" in Wuhan city.
In March, it declared the outbreak a pandemic, during which more than 81.2 million people have contracted the virus, including 1.77 million who have died from COVID-19, according to a live tracker of the virus by Johns Hopkins University.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical lead on COVID-19, said countries that had experienced infectious disease outbreaks, such as SARS in 2003, MERS in 2015 and others, had a response that was conducted by "muscle memory" and a health infrastructure and workforce built from trauma.
"It may not be the most high-income countries across in the world but using the resources, the people, the communities to the best of their abilities and in doing so and having that trauma of previous outbreaks when they heard our warnings early on ... used that as a call to say this is something big," she said.
She told reporters that she hopes they have all gained that same muscle memory through this traumatic year to propel the international community to build societies "that are prepared for the next one."
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"We are leaning. We will continue to learn and I am hopeful that we will be better prepared for the next one," she said. "But we cannot go from this pattern of urgency to neglect."


upi--2020-12-29--Experts: Amid setbacks, reason for hope against COVID-19 as 2020 ends

As 2020 careens to a close , one thing is clear : With infections topping 19 million and a death toll over 333,000 , the COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearly every facet of American life .
As a new year nears , two leaders in the response to the pandemic talked over mistakes made , hard lessons learned and new reasons for hope .
No one can say the United States has performed well against COVID-19 , said Dr. David Shulkin .
He 's former Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Trump administration and a former CEO at the Beth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's often hard to look back and to criticize what 's happened , but in April it was already clear that we were already starting from behind , '' Shulkin said in a recent interview with `` HD Live ! ''
For starters , he believes the United States dropped the ball on surveillance early on : Failing to recognize the scale of the virus ' winter spread and then failing to quickly organize effective testing .
Since then , things have only gone from bad to worse , Shulkin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're looking at widespread escalation of the virus . ''
Overall , `` I do think that this handling of the pandemic has continued to be worse than I think almost anybody had anticipated , '' Shulkin added , with the exception being vaccine development .
So , Americans are living through `` a very interesting time right now , '' he said .
It 's a time `` where we have so many people suffering , so many people dying , no real evidence that the infection is slowing , yet [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually watching this vaccine being administered and knowing that it 's a matter of time before we can get this under control . ''
However , the unprecedented speed of vaccine development is n't the only medical achievement worth acknowledging , added Dr. Joel Zivot , who also spoke to `` HD Live ! ''
He 's associate professor of anesthesiology and surgery at Emory University .
Zivot is also on the front lines of the pandemic , treating ICU patients with COVID-19 at Emory Decatur Hospital in Georgia .
He said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a severe form of COVID-19 back in March , `` I thought , 'We 're going to be in trouble . '
Truthfully , in the beginning , the wonder was , would all of these patients just die ? ''
Instead , scientists and health care workers have `` risen to the occasion , to the extent that we can , '' Zivot said , and many lives are being saved now that might otherwise have been lost .
Still , `` we 're stretched thinly , we are , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging , but we 've learned a lot and we 've helped people survive , '' Zivot said .
`` And for that -- even just for us to know that people could survive COVID -- that was a huge thing to recognize . ''
It 's been a tough road , eased somewhat by the rapid pace of groundbreaking science .
`` First of all there 's been , of course , effective research that has shown some pharmaceutical interventions that have some benefit .
We 've [ also ] brought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in caring for these patients .
We 've figured out how to don and doff our PPE , outerwear , masks , '' Zivot explained .
`` And I think we [ physicians ] do a good job supporting each other , '' he added , including good support of health care workers from the medical institutions themselves .
Still , learning to navigate the pandemic has come at enormous cost , said Shulkin , and there 's been `` tremendous '' stress among health care workers .
That underscores the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health as well as physical health , '' he said .
The lessons of 2020 mean that `` health care in general is going to be changed forever , '' Shulkin believes , for `` the health care professionals themselves , as well as the patients in terms of how they 're going to want to get care in the future . ''
Staff `` are getting burned out , staff are getting sick themselves , '' Shulkin said .
`` And many are experiencing emotional impacts of this pandemic .
And therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retirements , and people just leaving the profession . ''
The breathtaking speed at which multiple safe , effective vaccines against the new coronavirus have emerged and been distributed is the one clear victory this year against COVID-19 , both experts agreed .
And while `` vaccine hesitancy '' remains an issue among Americans in terms of uptake , there are signs that the shots are quickly gaining acceptance .
Shulkin attributed skepticism about COVID-19 vaccines to `` a lack of public confidence in our scientific institutions , and the questioning of science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
But he believes that `` the majority of Americans will choose to get this vaccine '' if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other government agencies continue to reassure the public by embracing transparency , data-sharing and a cautious `` no-short-cut '' approach .
Indeed , recent polls show the number of Americans now willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine has topped 70 % .
Even so , vaccinating the whole country will take time , during which more contagious COVID strains may emerge .
And some of those strains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned .
So he stressed the importance of continuing to adhere to `` non-pharmacological interventions , like social distancing , mask-wearing and hand-washing . ''
All are a bulwark against transmission , he said .
`` These are not fancy things .
They 're not expensive things in the moment , but they are bothersome and difficult things .
But now is the time , in particular I think , where we need to be certain that we are doing all of these things , so we can reduce the rapidity of spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more on COVID-19 symptoms at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

While the number of cases of COVID-19, and death attributed to it, continue to climb, experts say there is reason for hope in the new year. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
As 2020 careens to a close, one thing is clear: With infections topping 19 million and a death toll over 333,000, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearly every facet of American life. As a new year nears, two leaders in the response to the pandemic talked over mistakes made, hard lessons learned and new reasons for hope. Advertisement
No one can say the United States has performed well against COVID-19, said Dr. David Shulkin. He's former Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Trump administration and a former CEO at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.
"It's often hard to look back and to criticize what's happened, but in April it was already clear that we were already starting from behind," Shulkin said in a recent interview with "HD Live!"
For starters, he believes the United States dropped the ball on surveillance early on: Failing to recognize the scale of the virus' winter spread and then failing to quickly organize effective testing.
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Since then, things have only gone from bad to worse, Shulkin said, so that today "we're looking at widespread escalation of the virus."
Overall, "I do think that this handling of the pandemic has continued to be worse than I think almost anybody had anticipated," Shulkin added, with the exception being vaccine development.
So, Americans are living through "a very interesting time right now," he said. It's a time "where we have so many people suffering, so many people dying, no real evidence that the infection is slowing, yet [we also have] the optimism of actually watching this vaccine being administered and knowing that it's a matter of time before we can get this under control."
However, the unprecedented speed of vaccine development isn't the only medical achievement worth acknowledging, added Dr. Joel Zivot, who also spoke to "HD Live!" He's associate professor of anesthesiology and surgery at Emory University.
Zivot is also on the front lines of the pandemic, treating ICU patients with COVID-19 at Emory Decatur Hospital in Georgia.
He said that after caring for his first patient with a severe form of COVID-19 back in March, "I thought, 'We're going to be in trouble.' Truthfully, in the beginning, the wonder was, would all of these patients just die?"
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Instead, scientists and health care workers have "risen to the occasion, to the extent that we can," Zivot said, and many lives are being saved now that might otherwise have been lost. Still, "we're stretched thinly, we are," he added.
"It's difficult and challenging, but we've learned a lot and we've helped people survive," Zivot said. "And for that -- even just for us to know that people could survive COVID -- that was a huge thing to recognize."
It's been a tough road, eased somewhat by the rapid pace of groundbreaking science.
"First of all there's been, of course, effective research that has shown some pharmaceutical interventions that have some benefit. We've [also] brought to bear some basic principles of critical care in caring for these patients. We've figured out how to don and doff our PPE, outerwear, masks," Zivot explained.
"And I think we [physicians] do a good job supporting each other," he added, including good support of health care workers from the medical institutions themselves.
Still, learning to navigate the pandemic has come at enormous cost, said Shulkin, and there's been "tremendous" stress among health care workers. That underscores the fact that the pandemic is ultimately "about emotional health as well as physical health," he said.
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The lessons of 2020 mean that "health care in general is going to be changed forever," Shulkin believes, for "the health care professionals themselves, as well as the patients in terms of how they're going to want to get care in the future."
Staff "are getting burned out, staff are getting sick themselves," Shulkin said. "And many are experiencing emotional impacts of this pandemic. And therefore, we're seeing higher levels of retirements, and people just leaving the profession."
The breathtaking speed at which multiple safe, effective vaccines against the new coronavirus have emerged and been distributed is the one clear victory this year against COVID-19, both experts agreed.
And while "vaccine hesitancy" remains an issue among Americans in terms of uptake, there are signs that the shots are quickly gaining acceptance.
Shulkin attributed skepticism about COVID-19 vaccines to "a lack of public confidence in our scientific institutions, and the questioning of science in general by some of our politicians."
But he believes that "the majority of Americans will choose to get this vaccine" if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other government agencies continue to reassure the public by embracing transparency, data-sharing and a cautious "no-short-cut" approach.
Indeed, recent polls show the number of Americans now willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine has topped 70%.
Advertisement
Even so, vaccinating the whole country will take time, during which more contagious COVID strains may emerge. And some of those strains may even be more virulent, Zivot warned.
So he stressed the importance of continuing to adhere to "non-pharmacological interventions, like social distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing."
All are a bulwark against transmission, he said.
"These are not fancy things. They're not expensive things in the moment, but they are bothersome and difficult things. But now is the time, in particular I think, where we need to be certain that we are doing all of these things, so we can reduce the rapidity of spread," Zivot said.
There's more on COVID-19 symptoms at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-12-29--Famous birthdays for Dec. 29: Alison Brie, Paula Poundstone

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Capricorn .
-- Andrew @ @ @ @ @ the United States , in 1808 -- Gen. Billy Mitchell , father of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ -- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Rick Danko in 1943

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Alison Brie arrives on the red carpet at the 36th annual MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on August 26, 2019. The actor turns 38 on December 29. File Photo by Serena Xu-Ning/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Capricorn. They include: Advertisement
-- Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh, who patented a waterproof fabric, in 1766
-- Industrialist Charles Goodyear in 1800
-- Andrew Johnson, 17th president of the United States, in 1808
-- Gen. Billy Mitchell, father of the U.S. Air Force, in 1879
-- Golf course designer Pete Dye in 1925
-- Actor Inga Swenson in 1932 (age 88)
-- Actor Ed Flanders in 1934
-- Actor Mary Tyler Moore in 1936
Photo by UPI/File
-- Football Hall of Fame member Ray Nitschke in 1936
-- Actor Jon Voight in 1938 (age 82)
-- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Rick Danko in 1943
-- Singer Marianne Faithfull in 1946 (age 74)
-- Actor Ted Danson in 1947 (age 73)
-- Actor Jon Polito in 1950
-- Singer Yvonne Elliman in 1951 (age 69)
-- Comedian Paula Poundstone in 1959 (age 61)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
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-- Actor Michael Cudlitz in 1964 (age 56)
-- Television journalist Ashleigh Banfield in 1967 (age 53)
-- Actor Jude Law in 1972 (age 48)
-- Actor Mekhi Phifer in 1974 (age 46)
-- Actor Danny McBride in 1976 (age 44)
-- Actor Diego Luna in 1979 (age 41)
-- Actor Alison Brie in 1982 (age 38)
-- Actor Jane Levy in 1989 (age 31)
-- Actor Ross Lynch in 1995 (age 25)
-- Actor Dylan Minnette in 1996 (age 24)


upi--2020-12-29--On This Day, Dec. 29: Germans firebomb London during WWII

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1170 , Anglican churchman/politician Thomas Becket was killed at Britain 's Canterbury Cathedral .
In 1845 , Texas was admitted into the United States as the 28th state .
In 1848 , gaslights were installed at the White House for the first time .
In 1851 , the first chapter of the Young Men 's Christian Association -- the YMCA -- opened in Boston .
In 1890 , more than 200 Lakota men , women and children were massacred by the U.S. 7th Cavalry at Wounded Knee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London had its most devastating air raid when Germans firebombed the city .
In 1975 , a terrorist bomb exploded at LaGuardia Airport in New York City , killing 11 people and injuring 75 .
In 1983 , the United States announced its withdrawal from UNESCO , charging the U.N. cultural and scientific organization was biased against Western nations .
In 1989 , playwright Vaclav Havel was sworn in as the first non-communist president of Czechoslovakia since 1948 .
In 1992 , a Cuban airliner was hijacked to Miami as part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people aboard sought and were granted political asylum .
In 2007 , the New England Patriots became the first NFL team to finish the regular season with a 16-0 record .
Quarterback Tom Brady also set the record for most touchdown passes in a season at 50 , a record broken in 2013 by Peyton Manning .
In 2016 , the Obama administration announced the expulsion of 25 Russian diplomats and news sanctions as punishment for meddling in the U.S. presidential election .
In 2018 , Egyptian forces killed 40 militants in raids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giza and North Sinai governorate .

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St. Paul's Cathedral is surrounded by smoke during the German bombing of London on December 29, 1940, as part of World War II. File Photo courtesy the Imperial War Museum
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1170, Anglican churchman/politician Thomas Becket was killed at Britain's Canterbury Cathedral. Advertisement
In 1845, Texas was admitted into the United States as the 28th state.
In 1848, gaslights were installed at the White House for the first time.
In 1851, the first chapter of the Young Men's Christian Association -- the YMCA -- opened in Boston.
In 1890, more than 200 Lakota men, women and children were massacred by the U.S. 7th Cavalry at Wounded Knee Creek, S.D.
In 1940, London had its most devastating air raid when Germans firebombed the city.
In 1975, a terrorist bomb exploded at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, killing 11 people and injuring 75.
In 1983, the United States announced its withdrawal from UNESCO, charging the U.N. cultural and scientific organization was biased against Western nations.
In 1989, playwright Vaclav Havel was sworn in as the first non-communist president of Czechoslovakia since 1948.
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File Photo by Sean Gallup/UPI
In 1992, a Cuban airliner was hijacked to Miami as part of a mass defection. Forty-eight of the 53 people aboard sought and were granted political asylum.
In 2007, the New England Patriots became the first NFL team to finish the regular season with a 16-0 record. Quarterback Tom Brady also set the record for most touchdown passes in a season at 50, a record broken in 2013 by Peyton Manning.
In 2016, the Obama administration announced the expulsion of 25 Russian diplomats and news sanctions as punishment for meddling in the U.S. presidential election.
In 2018, Egyptian forces killed 40 militants in raids on three hideouts in the country's Giza and North Sinai governorate.


upi--2020-12-29--Florida professor predicts Amazon rainforest collapse by 2064

ORLANDO , Fla. , Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- The world 's largest rainforest ecosystem , the Amazon , will collapse and largely become a dry , scrubby plain by 2064 because of climate change and deforestation , a University of Florida professor predicts .
That forecast , published online in the journal Environment , gives the most specific date yet for the general demise of the Brazilian ecosystem , according to scientists familiar with Amazonian research .
The article , Collision Course : Development Pushes Amazonia Toward Its Tipping Point , was written by Robert Walker , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Center for Latin American Studies , who describes himself as a land change scientist .
`` The best way to think of the forest ecosystem is that it 's a pump , '' Walker told UPI .
`` The forest recycles moisture , which supports regional rainfall .
If you continue to destroy the forest , the rainfall amount drops ... and eventually , you wreck the pump . ''
Walker said he 's spent a lot of time in the Amazon region talking to farmers and loggers who live there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government resources ultimately drives much of the deforestation .
`` The people there , they do n't worry so much about biodiversity , the environment , when they have to worry about eating their next meal , '' he said .
The rainforest can recover from periodic drought if those dry spells come years apart , according to Walker 's article .
But a severe drought in 2005 began a period of more frequent and longer drought periods .
The Amazon covers about 2.7 million square miles , a little less than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has shrunk by about 20 percent since intense development began , Walker noted .
`` If southern Amazonia 's dry season continues lengthening as it has over the past few decades , the drought of 2005 will become the region 's new normal before the end of the century , '' Walker wrote .
Such longer periods of drought are due not only to deforestation , but to global warming and climate change , Walker said .
That global impact means local actions wo n't be enough to save the Amazon , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dioxide -- a major contributor to climate change .
The dry season has lengthened in the south by an additional 6.5 days per decade , Walker wrote .
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has noted Increasing fire activity in the Brazilian rainforest , as seen by satellites .
The `` rainforest has experienced three major droughts , considered once-in-a-century events in 2005 , 2010 , and in 2015-2016 , '' the agency said in a 2019 update .
Environmental advocacy in Brazil and around the world was strong in the 1980s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has collapsed since then .
`` The upshot is that the deforestation rate has begun to rise , if slowly , after reaching its historic low point in 2012 , '' Walker wrote , noting that Bolsonaro 's administration `` appears intent on scrapping all remaining restraints on the unfettered exploitation of Amazonia 's natural resources . ''
The unique characteristic about the article is the specific predicted date for the Amazon 's demise , said another Amazon researcher , Nathan Moore , associate professor of geology at Michigan State University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that we can see the edge , '' Moore said .
`` [ Walker ] offers the first estimate , the year 2064 , as when we will certainly have seen cataclysmic die-back . ''
Moore noted that other researchers have only given estimates in broad terms .
`` Everyone wants to just wave their hands and say 'later in the century ' or something .
So Walker is making a real commitment here , '' Moore said .
Large areas of the forest will become grassland and will not return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` All of the huge benefits of this massive forest will be gone , too -- abundant water and timber , food , new medicines , '' Moore said .

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A gold mine in the Amazon rainforest is one example of environmental destruction that could result in collapse of the ecosystem by 2064. Photo courtesy of Robert Walker/University of Florida
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The world's largest rainforest ecosystem, the Amazon, will collapse and largely become a dry, scrubby plain by 2064 because of climate change and deforestation, a University of Florida professor predicts. That forecast, published online in the journal Environment, gives the most specific date yet for the general demise of the Brazilian ecosystem, according to scientists familiar with Amazonian research. Advertisement
The article, Collision Course: Development Pushes Amazonia Toward Its Tipping Point, was written by Robert Walker, a professor on the faculty of the university's Center for Latin American Studies, who describes himself as a land change scientist.
"The best way to think of the forest ecosystem is that it's a pump," Walker told UPI. "The forest recycles moisture, which supports regional rainfall. If you continue to destroy the forest, the rainfall amount drops ... and eventually, you wreck the pump."
Advertisement
Walker said he's spent a lot of time in the Amazon region talking to farmers and loggers who live there. He said poverty and poor use of government resources ultimately drives much of the deforestation.
"The people there, they don't worry so much about biodiversity, the environment, when they have to worry about eating their next meal," he said.
The rainforest can recover from periodic drought if those dry spells come years apart, according to Walker's article. But a severe drought in 2005 began a period of more frequent and longer drought periods.
The Amazon covers about 2.7 million square miles, a little less than the lower 48 U.S. states. But it has shrunk by about 20 percent since intense development began, Walker noted.
"If southern Amazonia's dry season continues lengthening as it has over the past few decades, the drought of 2005 will become the region's new normal before the end of the century," Walker wrote.
Such longer periods of drought are due not only to deforestation, but to global warming and climate change, Walker said.
That global impact means local actions won't be enough to save the Amazon, which stores large amounts of carbon from carbon dioxide -- a major contributor to climate change. The dry season has lengthened in the south by an additional 6.5 days per decade, Walker wrote.
Advertisement
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has noted Increasing fire activity in the Brazilian rainforest, as seen by satellites.
The "rainforest has experienced three major droughts, considered once-in-a-century events in 2005, 2010, and in 2015-2016," the agency said in a 2019 update.
Environmental advocacy in Brazil and around the world was strong in the 1980s and 1990s, Walker said, but it has collapsed since then.
His article takes aim at Brazil's conservative president, Jair Bolsonaro.
"The upshot is that the deforestation rate has begun to rise, if slowly, after reaching its historic low point in 2012," Walker wrote, noting that Bolsonaro's administration "appears intent on scrapping all remaining restraints on the unfettered exploitation of Amazonia's natural resources."
The unique characteristic about the article is the specific predicted date for the Amazon's demise, said another Amazon researcher, Nathan Moore, associate professor of geology at Michigan State University.
"The new thing ... here is saying that we can see the edge," Moore said. "[Walker] offers the first estimate, the year 2064, as when we will certainly have seen cataclysmic die-back."
Moore noted that other researchers have only given estimates in broad terms.
"Everyone wants to just wave their hands and say 'later in the century' or something. So Walker is making a real commitment here," Moore said.
Advertisement
Large areas of the forest will become grassland and will not return to a rainforest state, he said.
"All of the huge benefits of this massive forest will be gone, too -- abundant water and timber, food, new medicines," Moore said.


upi--2020-12-29--Texas Bowl canceled due to COVID-19 issues at TCU

Dec. 29 ( UPI ) -- The Mercari Texas Bowl between Arkansas and TCU has been called off because of COVID-19 complications within TCU 's football program , bowl officials said Tuesday .
The game , which was set for New Year 's Eve at NRG Stadium in Houston , was canceled due to an increase in positive COVID-19 tests and injuries at TCU .
TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati said those issues left the Horned Frogs unable to field a full team against the Razorbacks in Thursday 's bowl game .
`` Over the last 24 hours , between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injuries and other circumstances , we have fallen below the established Big 12 Conference threshold for student-athlete availability that we have abided by all season , '' Donati said in a statement Tuesday .
`` As such , we very regrettably will not be able to participate in Thursday night 's Mercari Texas Bowl against Arkansas . ''
The game was set to be Arkansas ' first bowl appearance since 2016 .
The Razorbacks joined Missouri , Tennessee and South Carolina as Southeastern Conference teams that accepted a bowl invite but wo n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 issues .
The Horned Frogs conclude the 2020 season with a 6-4 record .
It is the second game this season that TCU had to cancel due to coronavirus-related issues .
The school also scrapped its season opener against SMU .

TCU head coach Gary Patterson and the Horned Frogs conclude the 2020 season with a 6-4 record. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The Mercari Texas Bowl between Arkansas and TCU has been called off because of COVID-19 complications within TCU's football program, bowl officials said Tuesday. The game, which was set for New Year's Eve at NRG Stadium in Houston, was canceled due to an increase in positive COVID-19 tests and injuries at TCU. Advertisement
TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati said those issues left the Horned Frogs unable to field a full team against the Razorbacks in Thursday's bowl game.
"Over the last 24 hours, between a combination of COVID-19 related issues, injuries and other circumstances, we have fallen below the established Big 12 Conference threshold for student-athlete availability that we have abided by all season," Donati said in a statement Tuesday.
"As such, we very regrettably will not be able to participate in Thursday night's Mercari Texas Bowl against Arkansas."
The game was set to be Arkansas' first bowl appearance since 2016. The Razorbacks joined Missouri, Tennessee and South Carolina as Southeastern Conference teams that accepted a bowl invite but won't play in a postseason contest because of COVID-19 issues.
The Horned Frogs conclude the 2020 season with a 6-4 record. It is the second game this season that TCU had to cancel due to coronavirus-related issues. The school also scrapped its season opener against SMU.