npr--2020-10-07--Google And Oracle's Decade-Long Copyright Battle Reaches Supreme Court

Most of the world 's smartphones run on Google 's Android software .
But did Google play fairly when it created that software ?
That question is at the heart of a case being argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday .
It 's the culmination of a battle that started 10 years ago , when tech company Oracle first accused Google of illegally copying its code .
The code in question is about 11,000 lines , accounting for less than 0.1 % of the 15 million lines that make up Android software .
Google used parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Oracle , in those 11,000 lines — without paying any licensing fee .
Now , Oracle says Google owes it nearly $ 9 billion in damages , given the ubiquity and success of Android .
`` Google was essentially offering a competing product and using our software in that competing product and giving it away for free .
So it 's really hard to compete with that , '' Dorian Daley , Oracle 's top lawyer , told NPR .
Google argues that no one should be allowed to claim ownership of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been the settled understanding of the application of copyright to software ever since we 've been developing software , '' said Kent Walker , Google 's senior vice president of global affairs .
Given how dry and highly technical discussions of code inevitably are , it 's no surprise that both sides have turned to metaphor to make their arguments .
Oracle 's preferred analogy , which it has used in its legal filings , is to the Harry Potter book series .
It says what Google has done is like taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titles , character names , the first sentence of each paragraph — writing a new book , and selling it .
`` Those would clearly be protected under copyright law , '' Daley said .
`` It simply would n't be fair for a copyist to copy all of that , write another book for commercial gain and impact the market for the original . ''
But Google 's supporters say that metaphor is all wrong .
`` The more apt analogy would be the structure of the book itself , '' like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert Cheetham , founder and CEO of Azavea , a small software company in Philadelphia .
`` It 's the mechanism for accessing and using that book that is the interface for not just Harry Potter , but all books . ''
Cheetham sides with Google in this fight .
He says what Google did by using Java is simply how software is made : developers rely on using certain bits of code to build their programs .
Google lawyer Walker said the code in question is key to making software work across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what lets you take a picture using an iPhone stored in Google Photos and edit it on a Microsoft laptop , '' he said .
The case poses two big questions for the Supreme Court , said Tejas Narechania , assistant professor of law at the University of California , Berkeley .
`` The first is , do the copyright laws even extend to this sort of expression ? ''
he said .
In other words , does Oracle 's code get the same copyright protection as a Harry Potter book ?
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oracle can claim that sort of protection ... whether it 's fair use for Google to use [ the code ] , '' he said .
The answer to that will depend on how the justices interpret the intricacies of copyright law .
However the court rules , it will have an impact well beyond the wealthy tech giants .
The entertainment and publishing industries , which rely on copyright protection , as well as smaller companies in Silicon Valley and beyond are watching the outcome closely .
Those who back Google say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more expensive and difficult for small companies to compete .
`` It makes big companies stronger , it gives them more leverage over startups and other new businesses that are trying to compete against incumbents , '' Cheetham said Those in Oracle 's camp say if its copyright is not protected , that will discourage innovation .
`` There 's a lot of small start-up companies in the software space , some of whom rely on the copyrightability and the copyright protection that goes with the Copyright Act to justify their business model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Silicon Valley lawyer who works with start-ups and investors .
`` It 's much easier to copy software than it is to develop it , '' he said .
The case is Google LLC , Petitioner v. Oracle America , Inc. ( 18-956 ) .
Editor 's note : Google and Oracle are among NPR 's financial supporters .

Google And Oracle's Decade-Long Copyright Battle Reaches Supreme Court
Enlarge this image toggle caption Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
Most of the world's smartphones run on Google's Android software. But did Google play fairly when it created that software?
That question is at the heart of a case being argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday. It's the culmination of a battle that started 10 years ago, when tech company Oracle first accused Google of illegally copying its code.
The code in question is about 11,000 lines, accounting for less than 0.1% of the 15 million lines that make up Android software. Google used parts of a software called Java, owned by Oracle, in those 11,000 lines — without paying any licensing fee. Now, Oracle says Google owes it nearly $9 billion in damages, given the ubiquity and success of Android.
"Google was essentially offering a competing product and using our software in that competing product and giving it away for free. So it's really hard to compete with that," Dorian Daley, Oracle's top lawyer, told NPR.
Google argues that no one should be allowed to claim ownership of this kind of code. "This has been the settled understanding of the application of copyright to software ever since we've been developing software," said Kent Walker, Google's senior vice president of global affairs.
Given how dry and highly technical discussions of code inevitably are, it's no surprise that both sides have turned to metaphor to make their arguments.
Oracle's preferred analogy, which it has used in its legal filings, is to the Harry Potter book series. It says what Google has done is like taking key parts of those books — chapter titles, character names, the first sentence of each paragraph — writing a new book, and selling it.
"Those would clearly be protected under copyright law," Daley said. "It simply wouldn't be fair for a copyist to copy all of that, write another book for commercial gain and impact the market for the original."
But Google's supporters say that metaphor is all wrong.
"The more apt analogy would be the structure of the book itself," like the spine and numbered pages, said Robert Cheetham, founder and CEO of Azavea, a small software company in Philadelphia. "It's the mechanism for accessing and using that book that is the interface for not just Harry Potter, but all books."
Cheetham sides with Google in this fight. He says what Google did by using Java is simply how software is made: developers rely on using certain bits of code to build their programs.
Google lawyer Walker said the code in question is key to making software work across apps and devices. "It's what lets you take a picture using an iPhone stored in Google Photos and edit it on a Microsoft laptop," he said.
The case poses two big questions for the Supreme Court, said Tejas Narechania, assistant professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley.
"The first is, do the copyright laws even extend to this sort of expression?" he said. In other words, does Oracle's code get the same copyright protection as a Harry Potter book?
"The second question is, even if Oracle can claim that sort of protection ... whether it's fair use for Google to use [the code]," he said. The answer to that will depend on how the justices interpret the intricacies of copyright law.
However the court rules, it will have an impact well beyond the wealthy tech giants.
The entertainment and publishing industries, which rely on copyright protection, as well as smaller companies in Silicon Valley and beyond are watching the outcome closely.
Those who back Google say if Oracle wins, it will be more expensive and difficult for small companies to compete.
"It makes big companies stronger, it gives them more leverage over startups and other new businesses that are trying to compete against incumbents," Cheetham said
Those in Oracle's camp say if its copyright is not protected, that will discourage innovation.
"There's a lot of small start-up companies in the software space, some of whom rely on the copyrightability and the copyright protection that goes with the Copyright Act to justify their business model," said Bob Taylor, a Silicon Valley lawyer who works with start-ups and investors.
"It's much easier to copy software than it is to develop it," he said.
The case is Google LLC, Petitioner v. Oracle America, Inc. (18-956).
Editor's note: Google and Oracle are among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-10-07--Trump Calls His COVID-19 Diagnosis A 'Blessing,' Touts Experimental Treatment

President Trump on Wednesday boasted of his improved health in a video posted to Twitter , calling his coronavirus diagnosis `` a blessing from God . ''
The president 's video address is one of several he has posted to the social media site in the days since he was admitted to and ultimately released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda , Md .
Trump has undertaken a number of treatments for the virus , including Remdesivir , the intravenous antiviral medication , and a single dose of Regeneron 's experimental antibody cocktail .
`` I went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot , and within a very short period of time , they gave me Regeneron .
It 's called Regeneron .
And other things , too , but I think this was the key .
But they gave me Regeneron .
And it was , like , unbelievable .
I felt good immediately , '' Trump said in the nearly five -minute video .
The antibody-based drug Trump was referencing , REGN-COV2 , is made by the biotech company Regeneron .
`` They call them therapeutic , but to me , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better .
OK ?
I call that a cure , '' Trump said .
While more than 200,000 Americans have died so far from the coronavirus , Trump referred to his own experience as a `` blessing . ''
`` I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it .
This was a blessing in disguise .
I caught it , I heard about this drug .
I said 'Let me take it ' — it was my suggestion , I said 'Let me take it . '
And it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Incredible , '' Trump said in the Wednesday Twitter video , vowing that the drug would be free and that he would make China `` pay a big price '' for the virus having made its way to U.S. shores .
`` I want everybody to be given the same treatment as your president because I feel great , I feel , like , perfect , '' he said .
Shortly after the video landed on Twitter , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said on Fox News that two therapeutic treatments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FDA for emergency use authorization .
`` Two of them were put in for EUA today , '' he said .
He did not provide further details .
The drug company Lilly did file for emergency use authorization Wednesday for one of its antibody treatments ; Regeneron would n't confirm that they have applied .
The drugs referenced by Trump have only been available in very limited circumstances .
The clinical evidence in support of the drugs is preliminary , perhaps enough to support emergency use but short of the level needed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drug Administration .
Questions about effectiveness and safety remain .
Trump 's contraction of the coronavirus , which causes the illness known as COVID-19 , upended Washington politics just weeks before a contentious general election race for the White House and key congressional seats .
In addition to the president , nearly two dozen close White House contacts , including the first lady , have tested positive for the virus since Friday .
The burst of cases forced into the spotlight the administration 's handling of the virus , as well as Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his undermining of conventional health guidance to wear masks and avoid crowds to help slow the spread of the virus .
Many of those in Trump 's close contacts who recently contracted the virus also attended a Sept. 26 event held at the White House Rose Garden to announce Trump 's nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
But Trump and others have been at a flurry of events in the last couple weeks , given the crucial time in the campaign .

Trump Calls His COVID-19 Diagnosis A 'Blessing,' Touts Experimental Treatment
Enlarge this image toggle caption Win McNamee/Getty Images Win McNamee/Getty Images
Updated Thursday at 12:48 a.m. ET
President Trump on Wednesday boasted of his improved health in a video posted to Twitter, calling his coronavirus diagnosis "a blessing from God."
The president's video address is one of several he has posted to the social media site in the days since he was admitted to and ultimately released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Trump has undertaken a number of treatments for the virus, including Remdesivir, the intravenous antiviral medication, and a single dose of Regeneron's experimental antibody cocktail.
"I went in, I wasn't feeling so hot, and within a very short period of time, they gave me Regeneron. It's called Regeneron. And other things, too, but I think this was the key. But they gave me Regeneron. And it was, like, unbelievable. I felt good immediately," Trump said in the nearly five -minute video. The antibody-based drug Trump was referencing, REGN-COV2, is made by the biotech company Regeneron.
"They call them therapeutic, but to me, it wasn't therapeutic. It just made me better. OK? I call that a cure," Trump said.
While more than 200,000 Americans have died so far from the coronavirus, Trump referred to his own experience as a "blessing."
"I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it. This was a blessing in disguise. I caught it, I heard about this drug. I said 'Let me take it' — it was my suggestion, I said 'Let me take it.' And it was incredible the way it worked. Incredible," Trump said in the Wednesday Twitter video, vowing that the drug would be free and that he would make China "pay a big price" for the virus having made its way to U.S. shores.
"I want everybody to be given the same treatment as your president because I feel great, I feel, like, perfect," he said.
Shortly after the video landed on Twitter, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said on Fox News that two therapeutic treatments for COVID-19 have been submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization. "Two of them were put in for EUA today," he said. He did not provide further details.
The drug company Lilly did file for emergency use authorization Wednesday for one of its antibody treatments; Regeneron confirmed late Wednesday it had applied for REGN-COV2 as well.
The drugs referenced by Trump have only been available in very limited circumstances. The clinical evidence in support of the drugs is preliminary, perhaps enough to support emergency use but short of the level needed for a full-blown approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Questions about effectiveness and safety remain.
Trump's contraction of the coronavirus, which causes the illness known as COVID-19, upended Washington politics just weeks before a contentious general election race for the White House and key congressional seats.
In addition to the president, nearly two dozen close White House contacts, including the first lady, have tested positive for the virus since Friday. The burst of cases forced into the spotlight the administration's handling of the virus, as well as Trump's general downplaying of the pandemic and his undermining of conventional health guidance to wear masks and avoid crowds to help slow the spread of the virus.
Many of those in Trump's close contacts who recently contracted the virus also attended a Sept. 26 event held at the White House Rose Garden to announce Trump's nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
But Trump and others have been at a flurry of events in the last couple weeks, given the crucial time in the campaign.
NPR science correspondent Joe Palca contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-07--Judge Orders Twitter To Unmask FBI Impersonator Who Set Off Seth Rich Conspiracy

Judge Orders Twitter To Unmask FBI Impersonator Who Set Off Seth Rich Conspiracy A federal judge in California has ordered that Twitter reveal the identity of an anonymous user who allegedly fabricated an FBI document to spread a conspiracy theory about the killing of Seth Rich , the Democratic National Committee staffer who died in 2016 .
The ruling could lead to the identification of the person behind the Twitter name @ whyspertech .
Through that account , the user allegedly provided forged FBI materials to Fox News .
The documents falsely linked Rich 's killing to the WikiLeaks hack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the 2016 election .
While Twitter fought to keep the user 's identity secret , U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu in Oakland , Calif. , ordered on Tuesday that the tech company must turn over the information to attorneys representing Rich 's family in a defamation suit by Oct. 20 .
It is the latest twist in a years-long saga over a conspiracy theory that rocked Washington , caused a grieving family a great deal of pain and set off multiple legal battles .
In a now-retracted story , Fox News falsely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the leak of Democratic Party emails provided to WikiLeaks , and that Rich 's slaying was related to the purported leak .
The theory was even debunked in special counsel Robert Mueller 's report .
The Washington Times later reported in 2018 that Rich 's brother , Aaron Rich , helped steal the emails in exchange for money from WikiLeaks and that he knew his brother would be killed and did nothing to stop it .
None of those allegations are true .
That story has also been retracted .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still causing real harm .
Aaron Rich filed a defamation lawsuit against money manager and former Fox News guest Ed Butowsky ; Matt Couch , a far-right activist ; America First Media , Couch 's media company ; and The Washington Times , which later reached a settlement .
As the defamation case moves toward trial , one major question has been what unnamed `` federal investigator '' supposedly reviewed an `` FBI forensic report '' and shared information with Butowsky and others .
Attorneys for Aaron Rich say they believe it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the judge 's ordering Twitter to provide information about that account could help them get closer to an answer .
`` Learning the identity of @ whysprtech is necessary in order to confirm that @ whysprtech was not in fact a FBI 'insider ' or otherwise someone who had access to non-public FBI material , '' Benedict Hu wrote in a filing .
Over the course of gathering evidence for the defamation case , nobody has been willing to confirm the identity of @ whysprtech , Hur noted .
Attorney Julie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not return requests for comment .
It is unclear if Twitter intends to appeal .
The subpoena does not seek private messages sent by the account , but merely `` limited account registration information '' and the user 's Internet Protocol address .
If Twitter complies with the judge 's order , the account information will be available to Adam Rich 's attorneys , though it could eventually become public in later court filings .
Twitter fought to have the subpoena killed .
In court filings , attorneys for the social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the First Amendment rights of a user to be anonymous .
`` Twitter 's primary goal is to ensure that the subpoena not be used to chill anonymous speech that does not rise to the level of defamation , '' Schwartz wrote in a motion to have the subpoena thrown out .
Yet lawyers for Aaron Rich said the person who hid behind the @ whyspertech Twitter handle to fuel a harmful conspiracy theory should be exposed .
`` Plaintiff seeks to demonstrate the reach of the forged FBI report on the false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not do so without serving discovery on the anonymous user who disseminated that report , '' Hur wrote .
The judge sided with Adam Rich , noting that the law `` weighs towards disclosing the anonymous user 's account information . ''
`` The information sought is proportional to the needs of the case because the subpoena is limited in scope and Twitter does not argue that responding would pose an undue burden , '' Ryu wrote .
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange , who is imprisoned in Britain awaiting the outcome of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face espionage charges , was also subpoenaed in the defamation case .
The 2016 killing of Seth Rich , in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Washington , D.C. , remains unsolved .
Law enforcement have maintained that Rich was the victim of an armed robbery .
Disclosure : NPR is involved in one of the legal battles tied to the Seth Rich controversy .
Ed Butowsky has filed a defamation suit against NPR and NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik over the network 's coverage of the Fox News story on Rich that has since @ @ @

Judge Orders Twitter To Unmask FBI Impersonator Who Set Off Seth Rich Conspiracy
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Chiu/AP Jeff Chiu/AP
Updated 8:50 p.m. ET Wednesday
A federal judge in California has ordered that Twitter reveal the identity of an anonymous user who allegedly fabricated an FBI document to spread a conspiracy theory about the killing of Seth Rich, the Democratic National Committee staffer who died in 2016.
The ruling could lead to the identification of the person behind the Twitter name @whyspertech. Through that account, the user allegedly provided forged FBI materials to Fox News. The documents falsely linked Rich's killing to the WikiLeaks hack of Democratic Party emails in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
While Twitter fought to keep the user's identity secret, U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu in Oakland, Calif., ordered on Tuesday that the tech company must turn over the information to attorneys representing Rich's family in a defamation suit by Oct. 20.
It is the latest twist in a years-long saga over a conspiracy theory that rocked Washington, caused a grieving family a great deal of pain and set off multiple legal battles.
In a now-retracted story, Fox News falsely claimed that Rich's computer was connected to the leak of Democratic Party emails provided to WikiLeaks, and that Rich's slaying was related to the purported leak. The theory was even debunked in special counsel Robert Mueller's report.
The Washington Times later reported in 2018 that Rich's brother, Aaron Rich, helped steal the emails in exchange for money from WikiLeaks and that he knew his brother would be killed and did nothing to stop it. None of those allegations are true. That story has also been retracted.
But the Rich family insists that the baseless story is still causing real harm. Aaron Rich filed a defamation lawsuit against money manager and former Fox News guest Ed Butowsky; Matt Couch, a far-right activist; America First Media, Couch's media company; and The Washington Times, which later reached a settlement.
As the defamation case moves toward trial, one major question has been what unnamed "federal investigator" supposedly reviewed an "FBI forensic report" and shared information with Butowsky and others.
Attorneys for Aaron Rich say they believe it was the now-deactivated Twitter account @whyspertech, and the judge's ordering Twitter to provide information about that account could help them get closer to an answer.
"Learning the identity of @whysprtech is necessary in order to confirm that @whysprtech was not in fact a FBI 'insider' or otherwise someone who had access to non-public FBI material," Benedict Hu wrote in a filing.
Over the course of gathering evidence for the defamation case, nobody has been willing to confirm the identity of @whysprtech, Hur noted.
Attorney Julie Schwartz, who is representing Twitter, did not return requests for comment. It is unclear if Twitter intends to appeal.
The subpoena does not seek private messages sent by the account, but merely "limited account registration information" and the user's IP address. If Twitter complies with the judge's order, the account information will be available to Aaron Rich's attorneys, though it could eventually become public in later court filings.
Twitter: Unmasking violates free speech
Twitter fought to have the subpoena killed. In court filings, attorneys for the social media giant claimed such a disclosure would violate the First Amendment rights of a user to be anonymous.
"Twitter's primary goal is to ensure that the subpoena not be used to chill anonymous speech that does not rise to the level of defamation," Schwartz wrote in a motion to have the subpoena thrown out.
Yet lawyers for Aaron Rich said the person who hid behind the @whyspertech Twitter handle to fuel a harmful conspiracy theory should be exposed.
"Plaintiff seeks to demonstrate the reach of the forged FBI report on the false information spread by Defendants, but cannot do so without serving discovery on the anonymous user who disseminated that report," Hur wrote.
The judge sided with Aaron Rich, noting that the law "weighs towards disclosing the anonymous user's account information."
"The information sought is proportional to the needs of the case because the subpoena is limited in scope and Twitter does not argue that responding would pose an undue burden," Ryu wrote.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is imprisoned in Britain awaiting the outcome of a U.S. push to have him extradited to face espionage charges, was also subpoenaed in the defamation case.
The 2016 killing of Seth Rich, in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Washington, D.C., remains unsolved. Law enforcement have maintained that Rich was the victim of an armed robbery.
Disclosure: NPR is involved in one of the legal battles tied to the Seth Rich controversy. Ed Butowsky has filed a defamation suit against NPR and NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik over the network's coverage of the Fox News story on Rich that has since been retracted.


npr--2020-10-07--Facebook Vows To Crack Down On Voter Intimidation In Election

Facebook Vows To Crack Down On Voter Intimidation In Election Facebook said on Wednesday it would crack down on efforts to intimidate voters , amid growing concerns over potential confrontations at polling places and calls from the Trump campaign for an `` army '' of poll watchers .
The company said it would remove posts urging people to monitor voting places if the posts `` use militarized language or suggest that the goal is to intimidate , exert control , or display power over election officials or voters . ''
Yet a prominent example of such a post , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's son , urges `` every able-bodied man , woman to join Army for Trump 's election security operation , '' will remain on the platform .
Facebook says it does not apply its policies retroactively .
The company will remove only new posts that use militarized language such as `` army '' or `` battle , '' Monika Bickert , head of content policy , told reporters on Wednesday .
`` Under the new policy , if that [ Trump ] video were to be posted again , we would indeed be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook also announced it will stop running all political and issue ads in the U.S. for at least a week after polls close on Election Day `` to reduce opportunities for confusion or abuse , '' amid growing expectations that the results of the presidential election may not be immediately known .
`` We know this election will be unlike any other , '' Sara Schiff , Facebook 's product lead for political advertising , told reporters .
Facebook defines `` social issue '' ads in the U.S. to cover a wide range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights , environmental politics and guns to health , immigration and education .
The post-election advertising ban brings the company in line with Google , which last month said it will not publish political ads after polls close .
Twitter and TikTok banned all political ads last year .
Facebook , which has resisted calls to fact-check political ads , had previously said it would not accept any new political ads in the week before the Nov. 3 vote .
Election watchers and social media companies say they are bracing for the possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many people are voting by mail during the pandemic .
Facebook is under pressure to rein in political content that could be used to mislead or manipulate voters , whether it comes from foreign actors like Russia , which used the platform to interfere in the 2016 presidential election , or from Americans .
That includes President Trump , who has repeatedly made false claims online about mail-in voting and attempted to undermine the legitimacy of the election .
Social media companies have tightened their rules against election misinformation and efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say Facebook in particular often waits too long to act on posts that break its rules , and has allowed the president too much leeway .
On Wednesday , Facebook also gave more details on its plans to prevent candidates from claiming premature victory or misrepresenting the vote-counting process .
Once polls close , it will run a banner with information about the counting process at the top of the Facebook and Instagram apps .
If a presidential candidate claims victory before a race is called , Facebook says it will label such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' that counting is still in progress and a winner has not been declared .
Once a winner has been declared , if another candidate or party contests the results , Facebook will update the notification at the top of its apps with the winner 's name and label posts from presidential candidates with the winner .
Editor 's note : Facebook is among NPR 's financial supporters .

Facebook Vows To Crack Down On Voter Intimidation In Election
Enlarge this image toggle caption Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
Facebook said on Wednesday it would crack down on efforts to intimidate voters, amid growing concerns over potential confrontations at polling places and calls from the Trump campaign for an "army" of poll watchers.
The company will remove posts urging people to monitor voting places if the posts "use militarized language or suggest that the goal is to intimidate, exert control, or display power over election officials or voters," Guy Rosen, head of integrity, wrote in a blog post.
Yet a prominent example of such a post, in which Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, urges "every able-bodied man, woman to join Army for Trump's election security operation," will remain on the platform. Facebook says it does not apply its policies retroactively.
The company will remove only new posts that use militarized language such as "army" or "battle," Monika Bickert, head of content policy, told reporters on Wednesday. "Under the new policy, if that [Trump] video were to be posted again, we would indeed be removing it," she said.
Facebook also announced it will stop running all political and issue ads in the U.S. for at least a week after polls close on Election Day "to reduce opportunities for confusion or abuse," amid growing expectations that the results of the presidential election may not be immediately known.
"We know this election will be unlike any other," Sarah Schiff, Facebook's product lead for political advertising, told reporters.
Facebook defines "social issue" ads in the U.S. to cover a wide range of subjects, from civil and social rights, environmental politics and guns to health, immigration and education.
The post-election advertising ban brings the company in line with Google, which last month said it will not publish political ads after polls close. Twitter and TikTok banned all political ads last year. Facebook, which has resisted calls to fact-check political ads, had previously said it would not accept any new political ads in the week before the Nov. 3 vote.
Election watchers and social media companies say they are bracing for the possibility that final results will be delayed because so many people are voting by mail during the pandemic.
Facebook is under pressure to rein in political content that could be used to mislead or manipulate voters, whether it comes from foreign actors like Russia, which used the platform to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, or from Americans. That includes President Trump, who has repeatedly made false claims online about mail-in voting and attempted to undermine the legitimacy of the election.
Social media companies have tightened their rules against election misinformation and efforts to dissuade people from voting. But critics say Facebook in particular often waits too long to act on posts that break its rules, and has allowed the president too much leeway.
On Wednesday, Facebook also gave more details on its plans to prevent candidates from claiming premature victory or misrepresenting the vote-counting process. Once polls close, it will run a banner with information about the counting process at the top of the Facebook and Instagram apps.
If a presidential candidate claims victory before a race is called, Facebook says it will label such posts to "add more specific information" that counting is still in progress and a winner has not been declared.
Once a winner has been declared, if another candidate or party contests the results, Facebook will update the notification at the top of its apps with the winner's name and label posts from presidential candidates with the winner.
Editor's note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-10-07--Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Timetable Doesn't Include Election Day

Moncef Slaoui , chief adviser to the Trump administration 's Operation Warp Speed program , has sketched out the timetable for when he thinks a COVID-19 vaccine could be ready , at least for some people living in the United States .
And Election Day does n't figure into his forecast .
He made his predictions during an online symposium organized by Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington on Tuesday .
Slaoui described the progress made by six companies supported by Operation Warp Speed .
The two farthest along are Moderna and Pfizer .
Both of their vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a technology that injects genetic instructions from the coronavirus into people , and coaxes the recipients ' cells into producing proteins that resemble a virus but are n't infections .
Vaccines using this technique can be created rapidly , but to date the Food and Drug Administration has not licensed a vaccine based on messenger RNA .
Initial testing of these vaccines was positive , and large-scale safety and efficacy trials involving tens of thousands of volunteers are underway .
Slaoui said it should n't be long before the companies know if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really say when , '' he said , `` but the expectation would be that this would happen between the month of November and December . ''
The other four vaccine efforts Operation Warp Speed is supporting – AstraZeneca/University of Oxford , Johnson & Johnson , Novavax , and Sanofi/GlaxoSmithKline — are weeks to months behind Moderna and Pfizer .
But Saloui said demonstrating that a vaccine works and getting it approved by the FDA is only half the story .
The other , more difficult half is `` to scale up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slaoui said making tens of thousands of doses in one thing : `` Producing millions or tens or hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine is a very different story . ''
Nonetheless , he said the companies are making progress .
`` We are in the process of stockpiling vaccine doses in the single-digit million doses in the month of October , November , and then in the tens of millions of doses in November , '' Slaoui said .
By January he expects there will be 30 million doses of each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be enough to immunize a good fraction of people most at risk of contracting COVID-19 by early next year , he said , `` and start to significantly impact this pandemic . ''

Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Timetable Doesn't Include Election Day
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Moncef Slaoui, chief adviser to the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed program, has sketched out the timetable for when he thinks a COVID-19 vaccine could be ready, at least for some people living in the United States.
And Election Day doesn't figure into his forecast.
He made his predictions during an online symposium organized by Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington on Tuesday.
Slaoui described the progress made by six companies supported by Operation Warp Speed.
The two farthest along are Moderna and Pfizer. Both of their vaccines are based on messenger RNA technology, a technology that injects genetic instructions from the coronavirus into people, and coaxes the recipients' cells into producing proteins that resemble a virus but aren't infections.
Vaccines using this technique can be created rapidly, but to date the Food and Drug Administration has not licensed a vaccine based on messenger RNA.
Initial testing of these vaccines was positive, and large-scale safety and efficacy trials involving tens of thousands of volunteers are underway.
Slaoui said it shouldn't be long before the companies know if the vaccines are working. "Nobody can really say when," he said, "but the expectation would be that this would happen between the month of November and December."
The other four vaccine efforts Operation Warp Speed is supporting – AstraZeneca/University of Oxford, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, and Sanofi/GlaxoSmithKline — are weeks to months behind Moderna and Pfizer.
But Saloui said demonstrating that a vaccine works and getting it approved by the FDA is only half the story. The other, more difficult half is "to scale up and to industrially manufacture these vaccines."
Slaoui said making tens of thousands of doses in one thing: "Producing millions or tens or hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine is a very different story."
Nonetheless, he said the companies are making progress.
"We are in the process of stockpiling vaccine doses in the single-digit million doses in the month of October, November, and then in the tens of millions of doses in November," Slaoui said.
By January he expects there will be 30 million doses of each one of messenger RNA vaccines. That should be enough to immunize a good fraction of people most at risk of contracting COVID-19 by early next year, he said, "and start to significantly impact this pandemic."


npr--2020-10-07--A PBR Seltzer Spiked With THC Hits Shelves, Aiming At The 'Canna-Curious'

A PBR Seltzer Spiked With THC Hits Shelves , Aiming At The 'Canna-Curious' Cans of lemon seltzer spiked with the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis – and branded with the famous Pabst Blue Ribbon logo — are rolling out in California , in a new sign of the growth of THC-infused drinks .
While a THC seltzer may seem like a niche product , it 's actually part of a larger pattern , where big companies want to learn more about a part of the cannabis market that could see explosive growth in the next few years .
And with dosage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are increasingly being compared to beer .
`` The response has been overwhelming , '' says Mark Faicol , the brand manager at Pabst Labs .
`` And right now our challenge is really producing enough product to keep up with demand from retailers . ''
The new seltzer is non-alcoholic , but it contains 5mg of THC , or tetrahydrocannabinol , along with purified water , lemon concentrate , sugar and other flavors .
It 's now being sold in cannabis dispensaries , costing $ 24 for a four-pack .
The seltzer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible in Los Angeles , Sacramento , the Bay Area , and Humboldt County .
Pabst Labs is run by former PBR employees .
Their connections eased the path to put the Pabst brewery 's name on cans that promise a different kind of buzz to PBR consumers .
So , who 's the target consumer for a THC seltzer ?
It 's aimed at what Rick Maturo , Nielsen 's associate director of client services for cannabis practice , calls the `` canna-curious '' — people who might have some experience with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now they 're being offered cannabis in a format that does n't require smoking , vaping , or eating .
Faicol says the single-serving cans and low- to medium-dosage of THC should also help ease concerns of getting too intoxicated .
He adds that the liquid extract in the seltzer will help people gauge its effects .
`` It 's going to have an onset time of 20 to 30 minutes , which is a lot quicker than many other edible products , '' he says , adding that wary drinkers could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further control their dosage .
Maturo says some people already view THC beverages in much the same way they see alcoholic beverages .
`` Certainly it 's a way to relax and unwind at the end of the day , '' he says .
`` People are using it for what we refer to as 'experience enhancement , ' so just taking a regular activity and adding a new spin to it , with either THC in this case or in some cases alcohol , '' Maturo says .
PBR cannabis seltzer began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That quiet rollout is now being expanded , with an eye toward eventually reaching markets outside of California .
`` Everyone wants it — our first initial production sold out immediately , the same with our second production run , '' Faicol says .
Faicol says the THC beverage market is predicted to eventually be worth billions of dollars .
But for now , the sector is pretty small .
THC drinks represented only about 1 % of all legal cannabis sales in 2019 – totaling around $ 64 million , Maturo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado , Washington , Oregon and Nevada — five states where cannabis has been legal long enough for Nielsen to compile a year 's worth of data .
For the THC beverage market to grow , it will have to overcome several hurdles , from marijuana 's murky regulatory standing to social norms that often support drinking Bud , not bud .
Then there are the logistical challenges of making , transporting and selling drinks — something that many cannabis companies have little experience in .
But rapid growth could come if legalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows `` a pretty big jump '' in public interest in drinking THC-infused beverages if they become legally available — which could translate into growth of about 400 % by 2025 .
`` About five times the number of folks are interested in consuming a THC beverage than what we see in terms of consumption right now , '' he says .
Products with lower-dose THC amounts , ranging from 2.5 mg to 10 mg , have encouraged some consumers to try the substance .
Often , they 're hoping to feel a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the negative aspects of alcohol , such as its higher calories and tendency to punish over-indulgers with dehydration and a hangover .
But it 's difficult for those consumers to know exactly how to calibrate their experience , or to compare it to alcohol , Maturo says .
Add in the different ways some people respond to THC , he says , and it means THC beverages at this point are `` a little bit more unpredictable than your standard alcoholic beverage would be . ''
And do n't expect to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dispensaries any time soon .
`` You 're not going to be able to go into a grocery store , obviously , and buy this , '' Faicol says .
Alcohol companies look to tap into cannabis Pabst is not the only brewer to get involved with THC-infused beers .
California 's Lagunitas Brewing Company has partnered with a THC extract company to create a separate line of hoppy seltzer drinks called Hi-Fi Hops , for instance .
Some of those companies have ties to Big Beer .
Lagunitas is owned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brewing in Colorado was founded by Keith Villa , the creator of Blue Moon Brewing Company 's flagship beer , after he retired from MillerCoors .
But none of those THC drinks bears the name of a historic U.S. beer brand like Pabst .
It 's no surprise to Maturo that Pabst would want to license its name to a cannabis beverage venture .
He says the beer company , which is headquarters in Los Angeles , is following something of a trend , as large corporations that produce consumer packaged goods look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion-dollar cannabis market .
Another factor , Maturo says , is that PBR 's loyal drinkers are less likely to have a negative reaction to the THC connection than customers of bigger mainstream brands .
Some corporations , after all , could risk a backlash if they were linked to a cannabis drink .
`` I do n't think that 's going to be very polarizing at all for them , '' he says of PBR .
Many beer and wine companies likely want to follow suit , Maturo says , after seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alcohol consumption – especially among millennials and other young Americans .
But he adds that beer companies ' initial fears about the impact of legal marijuana seem to have been overblown .
`` It 's certainly not the death knell for the alcohol industry , '' Maturo says .
`` When we do see any negative impact , it tends to be low single digits in those markets where it 's just been introduced — and typically within 18 to 24 months , we 're back to wherever those historic norms are .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are limited in how they can explore the cannabis market because of laws that prevent them from mixing alcohol and cannabis .
Pabst Blue Ribbon , for instance , ca n't hold a cannabis license `` because it 's not federally legal , '' Faicol says .
He adds that PBR does n't have a financial stake in Pabst Labs and wo n't share in the proceeds from the seltzer .
But in return for allowing its name to be used , the brewer is able to learn about the new market .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and CBD could face big changes next year , when and if the U.S. government finally delivers more clarity and guidance on the industry 's regulation .
`` I feel like we 're kind of at a precipice right now , '' Maturo says , `` where the next six months or so are going to be really integral to mapping the course of where the cannabis industry can go . ''

A PBR Seltzer Spiked With THC Hits Shelves, Aiming At The 'Canna-Curious'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pabst Labs Pabst Labs
Cans of lemon seltzer spiked with the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis – and branded with the famous Pabst Blue Ribbon logo — are rolling out in California, in a new sign of the growth of THC-infused drinks.
While a THC seltzer may seem like a niche product, it's actually part of a larger pattern, where big companies want to learn more about a part of the cannabis market that could see explosive growth in the next few years.
And with dosage amounts becoming more predictable, THC drinks are increasingly being compared to beer.
"The response has been overwhelming," says Mark Faicol, the brand manager at Pabst Labs. "And right now our challenge is really producing enough product to keep up with demand from retailers."
The new seltzer is non-alcoholic, but it contains 5mg of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, along with purified water, lemon concentrate, sugar and other flavors. It's now being sold in cannabis dispensaries, costing $24 for a four-pack. The seltzer is also sold online, with delivery possible in Los Angeles, Sacramento, the Bay Area, and Humboldt County.
Pabst Labs is run by former PBR employees. Their connections eased the path to put the Pabst brewery's name on cans that promise a different kind of buzz to PBR consumers.
Canna-curiosity
So, who's the target consumer for a THC seltzer?
It's aimed at what Rick Maturo, Nielsen's associate director of client services for cannabis practice, calls the "canna-curious" — people who might have some experience with marijuana, but aren't frequent users. Now they're being offered cannabis in a format that doesn't require smoking, vaping, or eating.
Faicol says the single-serving cans and low- to medium-dosage of THC should also help ease concerns of getting too intoxicated. He adds that the liquid extract in the seltzer will help people gauge its effects.
"It's going to have an onset time of 20 to 30 minutes, which is a lot quicker than many other edible products," he says, adding that wary drinkers could also stop halfway through a can to further control their dosage.
Maturo says some people already view THC beverages in much the same way they see alcoholic beverages.
"Certainly it's a way to relax and unwind at the end of the day," he says.
"People are using it for what we refer to as 'experience enhancement,' so just taking a regular activity and adding a new spin to it, with either THC in this case or in some cases alcohol," Maturo says.
PBR cannabis seltzer began appearing in dispensaries around two weeks ago. That quiet rollout is now being expanded, with an eye toward eventually reaching markets outside of California.
"Everyone wants it — our first initial production sold out immediately, the same with our second production run," Faicol says.
A growing market
Faicol says the THC beverage market is predicted to eventually be worth billions of dollars. But for now, the sector is pretty small. THC drinks represented only about 1% of all legal cannabis sales in 2019 – totaling around $64 million, Maturo says. Those figures reflect California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Nevada — five states where cannabis has been legal long enough for Nielsen to compile a year's worth of data.
For the THC beverage market to grow, it will have to overcome several hurdles, from marijuana's murky regulatory standing to social norms that often support drinking Bud, not bud. Then there are the logistical challenges of making, transporting and selling drinks — something that many cannabis companies have little experience in.
But rapid growth could come if legalization spreads. Maturo cites Nielsen data that shows "a pretty big jump" in public interest in drinking THC-infused beverages if they become legally available — which could translate into growth of about 400% by 2025.
"About five times the number of folks are interested in consuming a THC beverage than what we see in terms of consumption right now," he says.
The right dose?
Products with lower-dose THC amounts, ranging from 2.5 mg to 10 mg, have encouraged some consumers to try the substance. Often, they're hoping to feel a little bit of a buzz without triggering some of the negative aspects of alcohol, such as its higher calories and tendency to punish over-indulgers with dehydration and a hangover.
But it's difficult for those consumers to know exactly how to calibrate their experience, or to compare it to alcohol, Maturo says. Add in the different ways some people respond to THC, he says, and it means THC beverages at this point are "a little bit more unpredictable than your standard alcoholic beverage would be."
And don't expect to see a cannabis version of PBR outside of dispensaries any time soon.
"You're not going to be able to go into a grocery store, obviously, and buy this," Faicol says.
Alcohol companies look to tap into cannabis
Pabst is not the only brewer to get involved with THC-infused beers. California's Lagunitas Brewing Company has partnered with a THC extract company to create a separate line of hoppy seltzer drinks called Hi-Fi Hops, for instance.
Some of those companies have ties to Big Beer. Lagunitas is owned by Heineken, for instance. And Ceria Brewing in Colorado was founded by Keith Villa, the creator of Blue Moon Brewing Company's flagship beer, after he retired from MillerCoors. But none of those THC drinks bears the name of a historic U.S. beer brand like Pabst.
It's no surprise to Maturo that Pabst would want to license its name to a cannabis beverage venture. He says the beer company, which is headquarters in Los Angeles, is following something of a trend, as large corporations that produce consumer packaged goods look for ways to be part of the billion-dollar cannabis market.
Another factor, Maturo says, is that PBR's loyal drinkers are less likely to have a negative reaction to the THC connection than customers of bigger mainstream brands. Some corporations, after all, could risk a backlash if they were linked to a cannabis drink.
"I don't think that's going to be very polarizing at all for them," he says of PBR.
Many beer and wine companies likely want to follow suit, Maturo says, after seeing trends that indicated a drop in overall alcohol consumption – especially among millennials and other young Americans. But he adds that beer companies' initial fears about the impact of legal marijuana seem to have been overblown.
"It's certainly not the death knell for the alcohol industry," Maturo says. "When we do see any negative impact, it tends to be low single digits in those markets where it's just been introduced — and typically within 18 to 24 months, we're back to wherever those historic norms are."
For now, many alcohol companies are limited in how they can explore the cannabis market because of laws that prevent them from mixing alcohol and cannabis.
Pabst Blue Ribbon, for instance, can't hold a cannabis license "because it's not federally legal," Faicol says. He adds that PBR doesn't have a financial stake in Pabst Labs and won't share in the proceeds from the seltzer. But in return for allowing its name to be used, the brewer is able to learn about the new market.
The competitive landscape for products like THC and CBD could face big changes next year, when and if the U.S. government finally delivers more clarity and guidance on the industry's regulation.
"I feel like we're kind of at a precipice right now," Maturo says, "where the next six months or so are going to be really integral to mapping the course of where the cannabis industry can go."


npr--2020-10-07--Trump Back In Oval Office As Doctor Says His Vitals Remain Stable

Trump Back In Oval Office As Doctor Says His Vitals Remain Stable President Trump returned to the Oval Office on Wednesday for the first time since he was hospitalized last week , the White House confirmed .
It is unclear exactly what preventive measures are being taken to prevent further spread of the virus in the White House complex .
Already more than a dozen close aides and associates of the president have tested positive for the coronavirus .
White House official Ben Williamson said on Twitter that the administration was taking steps to ensure it was safe for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of the residence .
Trump was briefed on the economic relief negotiations and Hurricane Delta , according to White House spokesman Brian Morgenstern .
Trump tweeted that he 's talked to the governors of Texas and Louisiana about preparations for the hurricane .
Since Trump announced that he tested positive for the coronavirus late last week , the White House has tried to make the case that the president is still on the job .
They released pictures of him signing papers and on the phone while he was at Walter Reed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Md .
Trump 's physician , Sean Conley , released a memo Wednesday saying that the president has been fever-free for more than four days and that his vital signs remain stable and in a normal range .
Conley also said that Trump has been symptom-free for more than 24 hours .
Trump has needed supplemental oxygen on at least two occasions since he tested positive for the virus .
But Conley said Trump has not needed any oxygen since his initial hospitalization .
Conley 's memo also said it was `` of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday detected antibodies not detected Thursday night .
But Trump received an antibody treatment on Friday .
The maker of that treatment , Regeneron , said in a statement that it is `` likely '' the test is detecting antibodies from the therapy rather than `` self-made '' antibodies .
In other words , the results are not necessarily an indication of whether or not the president has developed immunity in a way that would clear the infection .
The White House has provided only short written updates from Trump 's doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical team held briefings from Walter Reed over the weekend .
Conley has not provided information on the state of Trump 's lungs or the last time he tested negative for the coronavirus and other relevant details about the president 's care .

Trump Back In Oval Office As Doctor Says His Vitals Remain Stable
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Trump returned to the Oval Office on Wednesday for the first time since he was hospitalized last week, the White House confirmed.
It is unclear exactly what preventive measures are being taken to prevent further spread of the virus in the White House complex. Already more than a dozen close aides and associates of the president have tested positive for the coronavirus.
White House official Ben Williamson said on Twitter that the administration was taking steps to ensure it was safe for Trump to work out of the Oval Office instead of the residence.
Trump was briefed on the economic relief negotiations and Hurricane Delta, according to White House spokesman Brian Morgenstern.
Trump tweeted that he's talked to the governors of Texas and Louisiana about preparations for the hurricane.
Since Trump announced that he tested positive for the coronavirus late last week, the White House has tried to make the case that the president is still on the job. They released pictures of him signing papers and on the phone while he was at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Trump's physician, Sean Conley, released a memo Wednesday saying that the president has been fever-free for more than four days and that his vital signs remain stable and in a normal range. Conley also said that Trump has been symptom-free for more than 24 hours.
Trump has needed supplemental oxygen on at least two occasions since he tested positive for the virus. But Conley said Trump has not needed any oxygen since his initial hospitalization.
Conley's memo also said it was "of note" that the president's labs on Monday detected antibodies not detected Thursday night. But Trump received an antibody treatment on Friday. The maker of that treatment, Regeneron, said in a statement that it is "likely" the test is detecting antibodies from the therapy rather than "self-made" antibodies. In other words, the results are not necessarily an indication of whether or not the president has developed immunity in a way that would clear the infection.
The White House has provided only short written updates from Trump's doctor over the past two days; the medical team held briefings from Walter Reed over the weekend. Conley has not provided information on the state of Trump's lungs or the last time he tested negative for the coronavirus and other relevant details about the president's care.
NPR health policy reporter Selena Simmons-Duffin contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-07--Trump Officials Ask Supreme Court To Block Order That Extends Census Counting

Trump Officials Ask Supreme Court To Block Order That Extends Census Counting The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow counting for the 2020 census to end soon .
In an emergency request on Wednesday , Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall said that the Census Bureau must immediately wrap up its field operations , now that it 's passed the bureau 's internal target date of Oct. 5 , in order to have a chance of meeting the legal deadline for delivering the first set of census results to President Trump by year 's end .
`` With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court of appeals was considering the stay application , '' Wall wrote , `` every passing day exacerbates the serious risk that the district court 's order to continue field operations and delay post processing will make it impossible for the Bureau to comply with the December 31 statutory reporting deadline . ''
The administration 's move comes hours after a federal appeals court rejected its earlier attempt to block a lower court order that extended the counting timeline for the 2020 census in order to give the bureau more time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel of the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals found that missing the Dec. 31 reporting deadline `` would likely not invalidate '' the census numbers delivered to the president and that Congress could eventually step in to approve an extension after the numbers are handed off past the deadline , as lawmakers did for the national head counts from 1810 through 1840 .
For now , the judges ruled , the tallying of the country 's residents must keep going through Oct. 31 .
The order by the 9th Circuit panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Fletcher and Marsha Berzon — did set aside part of the lower court order that had blocked the administration from trying to meet the Dec. 31 deadline , noting that it is wary of courts ordering a federal agency to miss a deadline required by law .
The Census Bureau 's associate director for the 2020 census , Al Fontenot , has said in a sworn statement that if field operations for the census continue past Oct. 5 — as they have — the bureau is not likely to produce `` a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 because of time needed to process all of the data .
Career officials have warned that the bureau has already scaled back its plans for quality checks down to about three months and that cutting them down further would increase the risks for inaccuracy .
The 9th Circuit judges found that leaving the Dec. 31 date `` as an aspiration will have no immediate impact . ''
`` Perhaps the Bureau will find that with an extraordinary effort or changes in processing capacity , it is able to meet its deadline , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Commerce may seek and receive a deadline extension from Congress .
Or perhaps the Bureau will miss the deadline , as statement after statement by everyone from agency officials to the President has stated it would , due to the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic . ''
The exact end date for this year 's census counting has been seesawing for weeks .
Last week , U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh issued a lower court order to clarify an earlier order that requires the bureau to stick with the longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
Under Koh 's order , the bureau sent a mass text to census workers that said the bureau will keep collecting data through Oct. 31 .
Since May , top career officials at the bureau have warned publicly that the agency can no longer deliver the latest state population counts to the president by the end of the year .
Those numbers are used to determine each state 's share of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives , as well as votes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade .
Those are also the same numbers from which Trump wants to exclude unauthorized immigrants despite the Constitution 's requirement to include the `` whole number of persons in each state . ''
If the bureau delivers the state counts by Dec. 31 , Trump would be able to attempt to make that unprecedented change to who counts when reapportioning House seats among the states , even if he does not win reelection .

Trump Officials Ask Supreme Court To Block Order That Extends Census Counting
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ross D. Franklin/Pool/AP Ross D. Franklin/Pool/AP
Updated at 8:44 p.m. ET
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow counting for the 2020 census to end soon.
In an emergency request on Wednesday, Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall said that the Census Bureau must immediately wrap up its field operations, now that it's passed the bureau's internal target date of Oct. 5, in order to have a chance of meeting the legal deadline for delivering the first set of census results to President Trump by year's end.
"With October 5 having come and gone while the court of appeals was considering the stay application," Wall wrote, "every passing day exacerbates the serious risk that the district court's order to continue field operations and delay post processing will make it impossible for the Bureau to comply with the December 31 statutory reporting deadline."
The administration's move comes hours after a federal appeals court rejected its earlier attempt to block a lower court order that extended the counting timeline for the 2020 census in order to give the bureau more time to get an accurate count.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that missing the Dec. 31 reporting deadline "would likely not invalidate" the census numbers delivered to the president and that Congress could eventually step in to approve an extension after the numbers are handed off past the deadline, as lawmakers did for the national head counts from 1810 through 1840.
For now, the judges ruled, the tallying of the country's residents must keep going through Oct. 31.
The order by the 9th Circuit panel — which included Judges Susan Graber, William Fletcher and Marsha Berzon — did set aside part of the lower court order that had blocked the administration from trying to meet the Dec. 31 deadline, noting that it is wary of courts ordering a federal agency to miss a deadline required by law.
The Census Bureau's associate director for the 2020 census, Al Fontenot, has said in a sworn statement that if field operations for the census continue past Oct. 5 — as they have — the bureau is not likely to produce "a complete and accurate census" by Dec. 31 because of time needed to process all of the data.
Career officials have warned that the bureau has already scaled back its plans for quality checks down to about three months and that cutting them down further would increase the risks for inaccuracy.
The 9th Circuit judges found that leaving the Dec. 31 date "as an aspiration will have no immediate impact."
"Perhaps the Bureau will find that with an extraordinary effort or changes in processing capacity, it is able to meet its deadline," the judges wrote. "Or the Department of Commerce may seek and receive a deadline extension from Congress. Or perhaps the Bureau will miss the deadline, as statement after statement by everyone from agency officials to the President has stated it would, due to the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic."
The exact end date for this year's census counting has been seesawing for weeks. Last week, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh issued a lower court order to clarify an earlier order that requires the bureau to stick with the longer schedule it had originally proposed in response to delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Under Koh's order, the bureau sent a mass text to census workers that said the bureau will keep collecting data through Oct. 31.
Since May, top career officials at the bureau have warned publicly that the agency can no longer deliver the latest state population counts to the president by the end of the year.
Those numbers are used to determine each state's share of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives, as well as votes in the Electoral College, for the next decade. Those are also the same numbers from which Trump wants to exclude unauthorized immigrants despite the Constitution's requirement to include the "whole number of persons in each state."
If the bureau delivers the state counts by Dec. 31, Trump would be able to attempt to make that unprecedented change to who counts when reapportioning House seats among the states, even if he does not win reelection.


npr--2020-10-07--Airlines, Travel Groups Warn Of More Job Cuts As COVID Aid Talks Stall

Airlines , Travel Groups Warn Of More Job Cuts As COVID Aid Talks Stall With about 40,000 workers furloughed in recent days , airlines and their employee unions are pleading with Congress and the White House to pass an extension of federal payroll support for the industry .
The labor and industry groups sent Congressional leaders a letter on Wednesday urging them to pass legislation that would provide an additional $ 25 billion in direct payroll grants to airlines , allowing them to keep paying employees through next March .
The letter noted that bipartisan majorities in Congress say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarm that negotiations over relief for the struggling industry were suspended .
`` As leaders representing airline labor unions , U.S. airlines , and trade associations representing the travel industry , we are frustrated that an agreement could not be reached to provide support to people suffering from the impact of the pandemic , '' the letter said .
It called on political leaders `` to resolve any procedural issues and proceed as quickly as possible '' to preserve the program .
Airlines and travel-related businesses are among the industries hardest hit by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down 70 percent since the pandemic began and hotel occupancy rates are down dramatically , too .
Anxiety among workers in the airline , travel and transportation industries is high amid the growing uncertainty over whether President Trump and Congress can come to an agreement on relief for the sector .
In a barrage of texts , Trump both torpedoed talks aimed at reaching a bipartisan agreement on a broad coronavirus relief package , but then resurrected hope for a standalone bill to help the airlines .
`` The House & Senate should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Payroll Support , '' the president tweeted Tuesday night , hours after he ordered his Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and other representatives to stop negotiating with Democrats on another round of coronavirus relief until after the election .
The president also called on Congress to approve an additional $ 135 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses , and approve direct payments of $ 1,200 to many Americans .
Pelosi and Mnuchin talked briefly Wednesday morning about the possibility of passing $ 25 billion in payroll support for the airlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Drew Hammill .
He said Mnuchin asked about a standalone airlines bill and Pelosi `` reminded him that Republicans blocked that bill on Friday & asked him to review '' a $ 500 million infrastructure bill that passed the House over the summer .
On Friday , Democrats tried to pass a bill quickly , by unanimous consent , which was sponsored by House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio , a Democrat from Oregon , and would provide $ 30 billion in aid to airlines .
But it was blocked by Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans objected to .
A similar bill sponsored by Republicans in the Senate was also blocked by three Senate GOP members .
The layoffs and furloughs of airline workers began after the expiration of direct payroll support authorized by Congress in the CARES act back in March .
American Airlines has begun furloughing about 19,000 workers and United is furloughing more than 13,000 .
Alaska , Allegiant , Hawaiian and Spirit have also furloughed staff since Oct. 1 and regional airlines , including Envoy , GoJet and PSA have cut some staff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November , and Southwest indicates it may have to furlough workers beginning in January .
Several airlines have vowed to recall those workers if a new agreement on airline aid can be reached soon .
Nick Calio , president of the industry group , Airlines for America , said in a statement late Tuesday that more furloughs are expected in the coming weeks because Congress did not extend the Payroll Support Program when it expired on Sept. 30 .
`` Time already ran out for U.S. airlines and many of our employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a glimmer of hope that our leaders in Washington will act and save these jobs before it 's too late to turn back the clock . ''
Sara Nelson , president of the Association of Flight Attendants , was a bit more blunt .
`` As Secretary Mnuchin and Speaker Pelosi moved close to a deal that would provide relief to working people across the country , President Trump issued one tweet to blow up the deal and leave millions of essential workers in freefall , '' Nelson said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to take control and help our nation . ''
It 's not just airline workers who are increasingly frustrated by the inability of Congress and the White House to reach an agreement on additional pandemic relief .
The U.S. Travel Association says there are more than one million jobs at risk in hotels , rental car companies , restaurants , retailers and other businesses that rely on travel and tourism .
`` We are disheartened in the extreme that Congress and the administration failed to reach agreement on the relief this industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mounting harm , '' said Roger Dow , the Association 's president , adding that cutting off further negotiations `` is woefully shortsighted . ''
`` Hardworking Americans whose livelihoods depend on travel and tourism can not wait until after the election for relief , '' he said in a statement .
`` The reality is that small businesses in every pocket of America are shuttering ( and ) needed relief months ago . ''
The group cited new data from the economic research firm Tourism Economics , which suggests that half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by December — an additional 1.3 million jobs — if there is no addition economic relief .
It 's estimated that travel supported 11 % of all pre-pandemic jobs , making a nationwide economic recovery unlikely without a dramatic rebound or federal support for the sector .

Airlines, Travel Groups Warn Of More Job Cuts As COVID-19 Aid Talks Stall
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lynne Sladky/AP Lynne Sladky/AP
With about 40,000 workers furloughed in recent days, airlines and their employee unions are pleading with Congress and the White House to pass an extension of federal payroll support for the industry.
The labor and industry groups sent congressional leaders a letter on Wednesday urging them to pass legislation that would provide an additional $25 billion in direct payroll grants to airlines, allowing them to keep paying employees through next March.
The letter noted that bipartisan majorities in Congress say they support the airline funding and it expressed alarm that negotiations over relief for the struggling industry were suspended.
"As leaders representing airline labor unions, U.S. airlines, and trade associations representing the travel industry, we are frustrated that an agreement could not be reached to provide support to people suffering from the impact of the pandemic," the letter said.
It called on political leaders "to resolve any procedural issues and proceed as quickly as possible" to preserve the program.
Airlines and travel-related businesses are among the industries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Air travel is down 70% since the pandemic began and hotel occupancy rates are down dramatically, too. Anxiety among workers in the airline, travel and transportation industries is high amid the growing uncertainty over whether President Trump and Congress can come to an agreement on relief for the sector.
In a barrage of texts, Trump both torpedoed talks aimed at reaching a bipartisan agreement on a broad coronavirus relief package, but then resurrected hope for a standalone bill to help the airlines.
"The House & Senate should IMMEDIATELY Approve 25 Billion Dollars for Airline Payroll Support," the president tweeted Tuesday night, hours after he ordered his Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and other representatives to stop negotiating with Democrats on another round of coronavirus relief until after the election.
The president also called on Congress to approve an additional $135 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses, and approve direct payments of $1,200 to many Americans.
Business American And United Airlines Announce Layoffs As Federal Payroll Support Runs Out American And United Airlines Announce Layoffs As Federal Payroll Support Runs Out Listen · 3:40 3:40
Pelosi and Mnuchin talked briefly Wednesday morning about the possibility of passing $25 billion in payroll support for the airlines, according to a tweet by Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill.
He said Mnuchin asked about a standalone airlines bill and Pelosi "reminded him that Republicans blocked that bill on Friday & asked him to review" a $500 billion infrastructure bill that passed the House over the summer.
On Friday, Democrats tried to pass a bill quickly, by unanimous consent, which was sponsored by House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, a Democrat from Oregon, and would provide $30 billion in aid to airlines. But it was blocked by Republicans after Democrats made a number of changes Republicans objected to.
A similar bill sponsored by Republicans in the Senate was also blocked by three Senate GOP members.
The layoffs and furloughs of airline workers began after the expiration of direct payroll support authorized by Congress in the CARES Act back in March.
American Airlines has begun furloughing about 19,000 workers and United is furloughing more than 13,000. Alaska, Allegiant, Hawaiian and Spirit have also furloughed staff since Oct. 1 and regional airlines, including Envoy, GoJet and PSA have cut some staff, too. Delta could begin furloughing pilots in November, and Southwest indicates it may have to furlough workers beginning in January.
Several airlines have vowed to recall those workers if a new agreement on airline aid can be reached soon.
Nick Calio, president of the industry group, Airlines for America, said in a statement late Tuesday that more furloughs are expected in the coming weeks because Congress did not extend the Payroll Support Program when it expired on Sept. 30.
"Time already ran out for U.S. airlines and many of our employees," he added. "Yet there is a glimmer of hope that our leaders in Washington will act and save these jobs before it's too late to turn back the clock."
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, was a bit more blunt.
"As Secretary Mnuchin and Speaker Pelosi moved close to a deal that would provide relief to working people across the country, President Trump issued one tweet to blow up the deal and leave millions of essential workers in freefall," Nelson said in a statement, adding "We need rational people to take control and help our nation."
It's not just airline workers who are increasingly frustrated by the inability of Congress and the White House to reach an agreement on additional pandemic relief. The U.S. Travel Association says there are more than one million jobs at risk in hotels, rental car companies, restaurants, retailers and other businesses that rely on travel and tourism.
"We are disheartened in the extreme that Congress and the administration failed to reach agreement on the relief this industry so desperately needed, despite clear evidence of mounting harm," said Roger Dow, the Association's president, adding that cutting off further negotiations "is woefully shortsighted."
"Hardworking Americans whose livelihoods depend on travel and tourism cannot wait until after the election for relief," he said in a statement. "The reality is that small businesses in every pocket of America are shuttering (and) needed relief months ago."
The group cited new data from the economic research firm Tourism Economics, which suggests that half of all travel-supported jobs will be lost by December — an additional 1.3 million jobs — if there is no addition economic relief. It's estimated that travel supported 11% of all pre-pandemic jobs, making a nationwide economic recovery unlikely without a dramatic rebound or federal support for the sector.


npr--2020-10-07--2 Men Found Guilty For Aiding Mall Attack In Kenya That Left 67 Dead

2 Men Found Guilty For Aiding Mall Attack In Kenya That Left 67 Dead Seven years after gunmen killed 67 people at an upscale mall in Nairobi , Kenya , two men have been convicted for their role in the attack .
A Kenyan court on Wednesday found two suspects , Mohamed Ahmed Abdi and Hussein Hassan Mustafa , guilty for their roles in the 2013 attack , according to the New York Times .
A third , Liban Abdullah Omar , was acquitted of charges .
None of the three were accused as gunmen , but instead of aiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy to commit terrorism and supporting a terrorist group .
A fourth suspect , Adan Dheq , was released last year due to a lack of evidence .
The convicted men are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22 , according to Reuters .
The four men , all ethnic Somalis , were first charged in November 2013 .
They each pleaded not guilty and the case went to trial .
The trial has been delayed multiple times .
The gunmen in the assault were believed by officials to be killed .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report says it 's uncertain due to the failure to keep a secure perimeter around the mall .
The attack began with grenades thrown around lunchtime on September 21 , 2013 .
Gunmen then began firing indiscriminately into the crowd .
Those killed came from 13 countries and were as young as eight years old .
The siege lasted four days as Kenyan security forces worked to subdue the attackers .
Civilians were taken hostage and many hid behind counters , under cars and other places in the mall .
The mall remained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Al-Shabab , an Islamist terror group , claimed responsibility for the attack .
It is the same group that killed 21 people in 2019 at a luxury hotel and office complex in Nairobi .
In January , the group attacked a Kenyan airfield where U.S. troops are based , killing three Americans .
In 2015 , the group killed 147 people at a university in northeast Kenya .
Kenya 's police and army were widely criticized for their response to the attack , according to the Associated Press , which notes that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before police tactical teams entered the mall .
A police officer was killed in a bout of friendly fire due to a lack of coordination between police and the military , the AP reports .
The attackers are thought to have died of smoke inhalation after the army allegedly blew up a part of the mall .
`` For as long as the authorities remain reluctant or unwilling to investigate the conduct of the security forces , '' Otsieno Namwaya of Human Rights Watch told Reuters , `` questions will persist as to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this case regardless of how the judges decide . ''
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR 's News Desk .

2 Men Found Guilty For Aiding Mall Attack In Kenya That Left 67 Dead
Enlarge this image toggle caption Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images
Seven years after gunmen killed 67 people at an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya, two men have been convicted for their role in the attack.
A Kenyan court on Wednesday found two suspects, Mohamed Ahmed Abdi and Hussein Hassan Mustafa, guilty for their roles in the 2013 attack, according to the New York Times. A third, Liban Abdullah Omar, was acquitted of charges.
None of the three were accused as gunmen, but instead of aiding the attack. They faced charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism and supporting a terrorist group. A fourth suspect, Adan Dheq, was released last year due to a lack of evidence.
The convicted men are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22, according to Reuters.
The four men, all ethnic Somalis, were first charged in November 2013. They each pleaded not guilty and the case went to trial. The trial has been delayed multiple times.
The gunmen in the assault were believed by officials to be killed. But an independent New York City Police Department report says it's uncertain due to the failure to keep a secure perimeter around the mall.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Uriel Sinai/Getty Images Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
The attack began with grenades thrown around lunchtime on September 21, 2013. Gunmen then began firing indiscriminately into the crowd.
Those killed came from 13 countries and were as young as eight years old.
The siege lasted four days as Kenyan security forces worked to subdue the attackers. Civilians were taken hostage and many hid behind counters, under cars and other places in the mall.
The mall remained closed until almost two years later.
Al-Shabab, an Islamist terror group, claimed responsibility for the attack. It is the same group that killed 21 people in 2019 at a luxury hotel and office complex in Nairobi. In January, the group attacked a Kenyan airfield where U.S. troops are based, killing three Americans.
In 2015, the group killed 147 people at a university in northeast Kenya.
Kenya's police and army were widely criticized for their response to the attack, according to the Associated Press, which notes that the attack had been going for two hours before police tactical teams entered the mall.
A police officer was killed in a bout of friendly fire due to a lack of coordination between police and the military, the AP reports. The attackers are thought to have died of smoke inhalation after the army allegedly blew up a part of the mall.
"For as long as the authorities remain reluctant or unwilling to investigate the conduct of the security forces," Otsieno Namwaya of Human Rights Watch told Reuters, "questions will persist as to whether justice has indeed been served in this case regardless of how the judges decide."
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR's News Desk.


npr--2020-10-07--It's Not Goodbye, But Not Good Either: Ruby Tuesday Declares Bankruptcy

It 's Not Goodbye , But Not Good Either : Ruby Tuesday Declares Bankruptcy Ruby Tuesday is the latest food chain to crumble under the pressure of the coronavirus pandemic .
The company filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday , hoping to restructure and emerge financially stronger .
Ruby Tuesday CEO Shawn Lederman told the court that the chain does `` not intend to reopen 185 of their restaurants that were closed during the pandemic . ''
Lederman said the company currently has 236 open dining rooms , though with seating and other restrictions .
A spokesperson told NPR the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Tennessee-based casual chain is joining many others struggling to stay relevant against a growing roster of fast-food and fast-casual rivals , finally pushed into bankruptcy by the loss of business during the pandemic .
Lederman 's court filing also cited declining mall traffic and the growing popularity of meal kits , grocery and food delivery .
`` This announcement does not mean 'Goodbye , Ruby Tuesday ' but 'Hello , to a stronger Ruby Tuesday ' , '' Lederman said in a statement announcing the bankruptcy , riffing off the lyrics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the restaurant 's founding in 1972 .
`` The almost complete elimination of in-store dining , which historically has represented over 90 % of the Company 's total sales , struck at the heart of the Company 's business model , '' he wrote in a court filing .
So far this year , a number of casual sit-down restaurants have sought bankruptcy protection , including the parent company of family-oriented Chuck E. Cheese , steakhouse chain Sizzler and California Pizza Kitchen .
The largest U.S. franchisees of Pizza Hut and Golden Corral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday 's debt is between $ 100 million and $ 500 million , according to its filings in a Delaware bankruptcy court .
Earlier this year , Ruby Tuesday became one of the corporations that faced backlash after receiving $ 10 million in federal loans through the the Paycheck Protection Program , billed as pandemic support for struggling small companies .

It's Not Goodbye, But Not Good Either: Ruby Tuesday Declares Bankruptcy
Enlarge this image toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP David J. Phillip/AP
Ruby Tuesday is the latest food chain to crumble under the pressure of the coronavirus pandemic.
The company filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday, hoping to restructure and emerge financially stronger. Ruby Tuesday CEO Shawn Lederman told the court that the chain does "not intend to reopen 185 of their restaurants that were closed during the pandemic."
Lederman said the company currently has 236 open dining rooms, though with seating and other restrictions. A spokesperson told NPR the company did not anticipate any additional closures.
The Tennessee-based casual chain is joining many others struggling to stay relevant against a growing roster of fast-food and fast-casual rivals, finally pushed into bankruptcy by the loss of business during the pandemic. Lederman's court filing also cited declining mall traffic and the growing popularity of meal kits, grocery and food delivery.
"This announcement does not mean 'Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday' but 'Hello, to a stronger Ruby Tuesday'," Lederman said in a statement announcing the bankruptcy, riffing off the lyrics of a Rolling Stones song that predates the restaurant's founding in 1972.
"The almost complete elimination of in-store dining, which historically has represented over 90% of the Company's total sales, struck at the heart of the Company's business model," he wrote in a court filing.
So far this year, a number of casual sit-down restaurants have sought bankruptcy protection, including the parent company of family-oriented Chuck E. Cheese, steakhouse chain Sizzler and California Pizza Kitchen. The largest U.S. franchisees of Pizza Hut and Golden Corral have also filed for bankruptcy.
Ruby Tuesday's debt is between $100 million and $500 million, according to its filings in a Delaware bankruptcy court. Earlier this year, Ruby Tuesday became one of the corporations that faced backlash after receiving $10 million in federal loans through the the Paycheck Protection Program, billed as pandemic support for struggling small companies.
NPR's Avie Schneider contributed to this report.


npr--2020-10-07--New Zealand Declares Victory Over Coronavirus Again, Lifts Auckland Restrictions

New Zealand Declares Victory Over Coronavirus Again , Lifts Auckland Restrictions New Zealand 's Prime Minister lifted coronavirus restrictions on its largest city on Wednesday , after the country appears to have eradicated community spread of the virus a second time .
`` We can let ourselves once again feel pride , '' said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern , `` that we managed to get to that position together . ''
After a second outbreak in August , the island country has n't had a positive case in 10 days .
On Monday , Ardern announced that New Zealand 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The prime minister said at a press conference that 179 cases have been linked to a cluster that emerged in August in Auckland .
It was the largest outbreak in the country of 5 million people , which has been widely praised for its handling of the pandemic .
After more than three months without any known coronavirus community spread , the August outbreak triggered a second round of Alert Level 3 rules in Auckland .
New Zealand 's health ministry said Wednesday that there are three new cases in `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active community cases of COVID-19 remaining . ''
`` There is 95 % probability of the cluster being eliminated , '' Ardern said .
`` I know for many this [ lockdown ] has felt harder , especially for Aucklanders , '' she said despite that , New Zealanders stuck to the plan and `` beat the virus again . ''
Soon after the first outbreak hit New Zealand earlier this year , the country set up a robust system of managed isolation and quarantine facilities in hotels around the island .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program .
The Ministry of Health set up a Covid Tracer app .
Officials encourage New Zealanders to `` create a digital diary of places you visit , '' giving contact tracers vital information to identify those you 've come in contact with if you test positive , helping to quickly break transmission .
These efforts paid off , and in late April , Ardern announced that New Zealand had `` currently '' defeated the virus .
The latest level 3 rules in Auckland were a blow to local businesses , Ardern told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident the economy will rebound quickly .
She suggested that foregoing such restrictions would have been worse : `` You only need to see around the world to see the alternative to our approach her in New Zealand . ''
Last week , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , the World Health Organization 's director-general , warned that `` every week we are adding approximately 2 million cases and we have over a million deaths worldwide . ''
He said that many countries are effectively suppressing the virus , `` with a strong leadership , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an engaged , empowered and enable population . ''
New Zealand has some of the lowest coronavirus numbers in the world , with 1,861 confirmed cases and 25 deaths , according to the Johns Hopkins University dashboard .
At Alert Level 1 , which is now the alert level of the entire country , people are still encouraged to wear face coverings `` on public transport and when you can not maintain physical distance from people you do not know . ''
Ardern said she 's not only concerned about a resurgence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complacency . ''
She added that this does n't mean `` COVID is absolutely absent from New Zealand — it means there 's no sign of it currently . ''
`` We all want to avoid further restrictions , '' Ardern added , but `` we need to stay vigilant . ''

New Zealand Declares Victory Over Coronavirus Again, Lifts Auckland Restrictions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nick Perry/AP Nick Perry/AP
New Zealand's Prime Minister lifted coronavirus restrictions on its largest city on Wednesday, after the country appears to have eradicated community spread of the virus a second time.
"We can let ourselves once again feel pride," said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, "that we managed to get to that position together."
After a second outbreak in August, the island country hasn't had a positive case in 10 days. On Monday, Ardern announced that New Zealand's latest COVID-19 cluster is "under control."
The prime minister said at a press conference that 179 cases have been linked to a cluster that emerged in August in Auckland. It was the largest outbreak in the country of 5 million people, which has been widely praised for its handling of the pandemic.
After more than three months without any known coronavirus community spread, the August outbreak triggered a second round of Alert Level 3 rules in Auckland.
New Zealand's health ministry said Wednesday that there are three new cases in "managed isolation," and "no active community cases of COVID-19 remaining."
"There is 95% probability of the cluster being eliminated," Ardern said. "I know for many this [lockdown] has felt harder, especially for Aucklanders," she said despite that, New Zealanders stuck to the plan and "beat the virus again."
Soon after the first outbreak hit New Zealand earlier this year, the country set up a robust system of managed isolation and quarantine facilities in hotels around the island.
New Zealand also implemented an aggressive contact tracing program. The Ministry of Health set up a Covid Tracer app. Officials encourage New Zealanders to "create a digital diary of places you visit," giving contact tracers vital information to identify those you've come in contact with if you test positive, helping to quickly break transmission.
These efforts paid off, and in late April, Ardern announced that New Zealand had "currently" defeated the virus.
The latest level 3 rules in Auckland were a blow to local businesses, Ardern told reporters, but she said she's confident the economy will rebound quickly.
She suggested that foregoing such restrictions would have been worse: "You only need to see around the world to see the alternative to our approach her in New Zealand."
Last week, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization's director-general, warned that "every week we are adding approximately 2 million cases and we have over a million deaths worldwide." He said that many countries are effectively suppressing the virus, "with a strong leadership, clear and comprehensive strategies and consistent communication and an engaged, empowered and enable population."
New Zealand has some of the lowest coronavirus numbers in the world, with 1,861 confirmed cases and 25 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University dashboard.
At Alert Level 1, which is now the alert level of the entire country, people are still encouraged to wear face coverings "on public transport and when you cannot maintain physical distance from people you do not know."
Ardern said she's not only concerned about a resurgence of the virus, but about "complacency." She added that this doesn't mean "COVID is absolutely absent from New Zealand — it means there's no sign of it currently."
"We all want to avoid further restrictions," Ardern added, but "we need to stay vigilant."