npr--2020-12-29--1st U.S. Case Of U.K. Coronavirus Variant Found In Colorado

1st U.S. Case Of U.K. Coronavirus Variant Found In Colorado A case of the new coronavirus variant initially seen in the United Kingdom has been found in Colorado , state officials said , marking the first time the variant has been officially documented in the United States .
Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis said that the man who tested positive is in his 20s , has not been traveling and is currently isolating .
`` The individual has no close contacts identified so far , but public health officials are working to identify other potential cases and contacts through thorough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The variant , to which scientists in the U.K. alerted the public in mid-December , is expected to spread more quickly and has 17 mutations , NPR 's Michaeleen Doucleff reported .
Coronavirus cases have notably increased in England over the past few weeks .
On Monday , a record 41,460 cases were reported in the country , according to Johns Hopkins University .
In December alone , the country has reported more than 700,000 cases .
Just days ago the first case of this virus variant was also found in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the U.K. , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that anyone coming to the U.S. from the U.K. must receive a negative coronavirus test result before beginning the trip .

Colorado Health Officials Find Possible 2nd Case Of U.K. Coronavirus Variant
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Zalubowski/AP David Zalubowski/AP
Updated at 3:30 p.m. ET Wednesday
Colorado health officials say they may have found a second case of a coronavirus variant that was first identified in the United Kingdom. Officials are currently conducting more genetic testing to determine if the variant is present.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced one confirmed case on Tuesday, marking the first time the variant has been officially documented in the United States.
According to the state's public health department, both the confirmed and possible cases were contracted by members of the Colorado National Guard who had been assisting at a nursing home in Simla, Colo., about 50 miles northeast of Colorado Springs.
Polis said Tuesday that the confirmed case is a man in his 20s who has not been traveling. Details of the second Guard member have not been released. Both individuals are isolating.
All the residents at the 26-person nursing home where the Guard members were working have tested positive for the coronavirus but are not believed to have contracted the variant from the U.K., Colorado Public Radio reported.
The variant, to which scientists in the U.K. alerted the public in mid-December, is believed to spread more quickly and has 17 mutations, NPR's Michaeleen Doucleff reported.
Coronavirus cases have notably increased in the U.K. over the past few weeks. On Tuesday, a record 53,275 cases were reported, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the past month alone, more than 768,000 cases were reported.
Just days ago the first case of the coronavirus variant outside of the U.K. was found in France.
In response to the news from the U.K., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that anyone coming to the U.S. from the U.K. must receive a negative coronavirus test result within 72 hours of beginning the trip.
Colorado Public Radio and Community Radio for Northern Colorado contributed to this report.


npr--2020-12-30--California Identifies A Case Of Coronavirus Variant First Seen In U.K.

California Identifies A Case Of Coronavirus Variant First Seen In U.K .
The new highly contagious coronavirus strain from the U.K. has spread to Southern California , Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday .
He made the statement during an online conversation about the pandemic with Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's leading infectious disease expert , but Newsom offered little additional information about the circumstances of the diagnosis .
The first case of the coronavirus variant in the U.S. was detected in Colorado on Tuesday .
Experts have said it spreads faster than the common strain .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports of the latest case and suggested there are likely others in California and other states due to international travel .
`` I do n't think that Californians should feel that this is something odd .
This is something that 's expected , '' Fauci said .
He added there is `` no indication that it increases the virulence '' of the infection any more than the variant that has been present in the U.S. since February .
Nor is there any evidence it can evade `` the protection that 's afforded by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
British scientists identified the variant publicly earlier this month , and it has now spread in the U.K. and to other countries .
The soaring number of coronavirus cases in California has stretched many hospitals beyond capacity , with some reporting they are out of intensive care unit beds and ventilators , and are turning away arriving ambulances .
As a result , state officials on Monday instructed hospital leaders to prepare for the possibility of implementing `` crisis care '' guidelines , which means rationing treatment , medicine and supplies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's top health official announced an extension of lockdown restrictions for nearly half of California counties , including Los Angeles and others in the San Joaquin Valley .
Earlier on Wednesday , Newsom laid out a plan to phase in in-person learning in 2021 , starting with students below kindergarten age .
He also allocated $ 2 billion in the proposed budget to help with coronavirus testing , personal protective equipment and other supplies as schools reopen .
Newsom explained the recommendation is science-based , relying on evidence indicating children are less likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their communities .
He also noted increased benefits from in-person instruction , particularly for the youngest students .
`` As a father of four , I know firsthand what parents , educators and pediatricians continue to say : In person is the best setting to meet not only the learning needs but the mental health and social-emotional needs of our kids , '' Newsom said .
During the joint virtual news conference , Fauci acknowledged the delivery and dissemination of COVID-19 vaccines have fallen behind the expected timeline set by leaders of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But he remains confident that `` we are going to gain momentum to be able to catch up . ''
`` By the time we get to the early fall , we will have enough good herd immunity that we will be able to get to some semblance of normality , '' he said .
Fauci expects herd immunity will be achieved when 70 % to 85 % of the U.S. population has been vaccinated .
`` I believe strongly that if we pull together as a nation , public health measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can crush this outbreak within this time frame , '' he added before signing off .

California Identifies A Case Of Coronavirus Variant First Seen In U.K.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Office of the Governor/AP Office of the Governor/AP
The new highly contagious coronavirus strain from the U.K. has spread to Southern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday.
He made the statement during an online conversation about the pandemic with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, but Newsom offered little additional information about the circumstances of the diagnosis.
The first case of the coronavirus variant in the U.S. was detected in Colorado on Tuesday. Experts have said it spreads faster than the common strain.
Fauci said he wasn't surprised by reports of the latest case and suggested there are likely others in California and other states due to international travel.
"I don't think that Californians should feel that this is something odd. This is something that's expected," Fauci said. He added there is "no indication that it increases the virulence" of the infection any more than the variant that has been present in the U.S. since February. Nor is there any evidence it can evade "the protection that's afforded by the antibodies that are induced by vaccines."
British scientists identified the variant publicly earlier this month, and it has now spread in the U.K. and to other countries.
The soaring number of coronavirus cases in California has stretched many hospitals beyond capacity, with some reporting they are out of intensive care unit beds and ventilators, and are turning away arriving ambulances. As a result, state officials on Monday instructed hospital leaders to prepare for the possibility of implementing "crisis care" guidelines, which means rationing treatment, medicine and supplies.
A day later, the state's top health official announced an extension of lockdown restrictions for nearly half of California counties, including Los Angeles and others in the San Joaquin Valley.
Earlier on Wednesday, Newsom laid out a plan to phase in in-person learning in 2021, starting with students below kindergarten age. He also allocated $2 billion in the proposed budget to help with coronavirus testing, personal protective equipment and other supplies as schools reopen.
Newsom explained the recommendation is science-based, relying on evidence indicating children are less likely to acquire the virus in school than in their communities. He also noted increased benefits from in-person instruction, particularly for the youngest students.
"As a father of four, I know firsthand what parents, educators and pediatricians continue to say: In person is the best setting to meet not only the learning needs but the mental health and social-emotional needs of our kids," Newsom said.
During the joint virtual news conference, Fauci acknowledged the delivery and dissemination of COVID-19 vaccines have fallen behind the expected timeline set by leaders of the federal government's Operation Warp Speed. But he remains confident that "we are going to gain momentum to be able to catch up."
"By the time we get to the early fall, we will have enough good herd immunity that we will be able to get to some semblance of normality," he said.
Fauci expects herd immunity will be achieved when 70% to 85% of the U.S. population has been vaccinated.
"I believe strongly that if we pull together as a nation, public health measures seriously and uniformly, I believe that we can crush this outbreak within this time frame," he added before signing off.


npr--2020-12-30--There's A White House Clash Over Whether To Extend Freeze On Many Work Visas

There 's A White House Clash Over Whether To Extend Freeze On Many Work Visas A clash has broken out between factions at the White House over whether to extend an expiring freeze on various temporary work visas , including those used by foreign high-tech workers and by au pairs , according to two sources familiar with the discussions .
The measure , which President Trump signed earlier in 2020 , is due to expire at the end of the year , on Thursday .
The business community has pushed to lift the six-month moratorium , arguing it threatens America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extension say the conditions created by the pandemic that warranted the suspension still exist .
Advocates for an extension also argue it would tie the hands of President-elect Joe Biden , who would need to weigh the political implications of lifting the moratorium next year when many U.S. workers will likely remain jobless because of the pandemic .
The White House declined to comment , and the Biden transition did not immediately respond to questions .
The two sources familiar with the debate sought anonymity to detail internal White House deliberations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ entry to non-U.S. citizens who `` present a risk to the U.S. labor market following the coronavirus outbreak . ''
Among those are holders of high-skilled H-1B visas , used in the tech industry , as well as executive L-1 visas and certain J-1 visas used by au pairs .
The measure was aimed at applicants for new visas .
The proclamation was actually an extension of Trump 's earlier `` Buy American , Hire American '' executive order , which called for federal agencies to take stronger action to enforce immigration laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signing in June not only put foreign workers ' plans on hold , it also left thousands of American parents expecting the help of an au pair scrambling for child care .
The ban came at a particularly difficult time as the demand for child care exploded when schools and day cares shut down because of the pandemic .
Ahead of the moratorium 's expiration , advocate groups on both sides of the issue have exerted strong pressure on the White House .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules would `` devastate companies across various industries '' if allowed to stand .
`` Banning critical and skilled workers from entering the country was a mistake , and it disrupted manufacturers ' fight against COVID-19 at exactly the wrong time , '' NAM 's general counsel , Linda Kelly , told NPR in a statement Wednesday .
`` Manufacturers ' legal case halted the ban and ensured we could continue leading our pandemic response and economic recovery .
Any effort to extend this misguided and unlawful policy would only hamper recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment in our nation 's history . ''
In October , a judge blocked the Trump administration 's ban on many foreign worker visas , but the ruling only applied to the companies represented by the business groups involved in the case .
Advocates who favor tighter immigration restrictions argue the public health and economic crisis created by the pandemic is still the same as it was six months ago .
Dan Stein , president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform , wrote a letter this week urging Trump to extend the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would leave Biden with a tough policy and political decision .
`` If Joe Biden does end up entering the Oval Office and quickly rescinds this Proclamation , he will have to answer to the American people and tell them why he decided to increase immigration and restore unfettered access to guest workers in the midst of the greatest economic crisis in living memory , '' Stein wrote in the letter that has also been circulated around Capitol Hill .

There's A White House Clash Over Whether To Extend Freeze On Many Work Visas
Enlarge this image toggle caption Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
A clash has broken out between factions at the White House over whether to extend an expiring freeze on various temporary work visas, including those used by foreign high-tech workers and by au pairs, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.
The measure, which President Trump signed earlier in 2020, is due to expire at the end of the year, on Thursday.
The business community has pushed to lift the six-month moratorium, arguing it threatens America's economic interests, while proponents for an extension say the conditions created by the pandemic that warranted the suspension still exist.
Advocates for an extension also argue it would tie the hands of President-elect Joe Biden, who would need to weigh the political implications of lifting the moratorium next year when many U.S. workers will likely remain jobless because of the pandemic.
The White House declined to comment, and the Biden transition did not immediately respond to questions. The two sources familiar with the debate sought anonymity to detail internal White House deliberations.
Trump signed a proclamation in June suspending entry to non-U.S. citizens who "present a risk to the U.S. labor market following the coronavirus outbreak."
Among those are holders of high-skilled H-1B visas, used in the tech industry, as well as executive L-1 visas and certain J-1 visas used by au pairs. The measure was aimed at applicants for new visas.
The proclamation was actually an extension of Trump's earlier "Buy American, Hire American" executive order, which called for federal agencies to take stronger action to enforce immigration laws to protect U.S. workers.
But the signing in June not only put foreign workers' plans on hold, it also left thousands of American parents expecting the help of an au pair scrambling for child care. The ban came at a particularly difficult time as the demand for child care exploded when schools and day cares shut down because of the pandemic.
Ahead of the moratorium's expiration, advocate groups on both sides of the issue have exerted strong pressure on the White House.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers sued the Trump administration, charging that the rules would "devastate companies across various industries" if allowed to stand.
"Banning critical and skilled workers from entering the country was a mistake, and it disrupted manufacturers' fight against COVID-19 at exactly the wrong time," NAM's general counsel, Linda Kelly, told NPR in a statement Wednesday. "Manufacturers' legal case halted the ban and ensured we could continue leading our pandemic response and economic recovery. Any effort to extend this misguided and unlawful policy would only hamper recovery efforts and undermine innovation at this consequential moment in our nation's history."
In October, a judge blocked the Trump administration's ban on many foreign worker visas, but the ruling only applied to the companies represented by the business groups involved in the case.
Advocates who favor tighter immigration restrictions argue the public health and economic crisis created by the pandemic is still the same as it was six months ago.
Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, wrote a letter this week urging Trump to extend the measures well into 2021, noting it would leave Biden with a tough policy and political decision.
"If Joe Biden does end up entering the Oval Office and quickly rescinds this Proclamation, he will have to answer to the American people and tell them why he decided to increase immigration and restore unfettered access to guest workers in the midst of the greatest economic crisis in living memory," Stein wrote in the letter that has also been circulated around Capitol Hill.


npr--2020-12-30--Census To Miss Year-End Deadline For Delivering Numbers For House Seats

Census To Miss Year-End Deadline For Delivering Numbers For House Seats Saddled with delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic and last-minute changes by the Trump administration , the first set of 2020 census results will not be ready for release by Thursday 's year-end deadline for numbers that determine representation in Congress and the Electoral College for the next decade .
A Census Bureau employee , who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation in the workplace , confirmed to NPR that the bureau is still trying to fix irregularities uncovered in this year 's census records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials at the agency are working toward Jan. 9 as an internal target date for completing the current stage of processing records before assessing when to begin the final steps in producing new state population counts used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives and electoral votes among the states .
`` If we miss Jan. 9 , it 's hard to envision that we would get apportionment done before inauguration , '' the employee said .
Shortly after NPR published this report , the Census Bureau released a statement announcing plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state population count for apportionment in early 2021 , as close to the statutory deadline as possible . ''
`` The schedule for reporting this data is not static .
Projected dates are fluid , '' the bureau said in the announcement .
The Associated Press first reported the bureau 's plans to announce a delay .
Under federal law , the commerce secretary , who oversees the bureau , is required to report to the president the latest state population totals within nine months of Census Day , which was April 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in place by Congress in 1976 , the bureau has never failed in delivering the first set of census numbers by the end of a census year .
Before the bureau was established , the federal government did miss similar reporting deadlines in the 1800s , and Congress extended them afterward .
The final timing of the 2020 census results ' release could undermine President Trump 's efforts to make an unprecedented change to who is counted in key census numbers before leaving office .
This month , the Supreme Court ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weigh in on whether Trump can exclude unauthorized immigrants from numbers that the Constitution says must include the `` whole number of persons in each state . ''
If the first census results are not ready until after Trump 's term ends on Jan. 20 , it would be President-elect Joe Biden , not Trump , who would get control of the numbers , which are ultimately handed off to Congress for certification .

Census Missed Year-End Deadline For Delivering Numbers For House Seats
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harnik/AP Andrew Harnik/AP
Updated Friday at 2:49 p.m. ET
Saddled with delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic and last-minute changes by the Trump administration, the first set of 2020 census results were not ready for release by Thursday's year-end deadline for numbers that determine representation in Congress and the Electoral College for the next decade.
A Census Bureau employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation in the workplace, confirmed to NPR that the bureau is still trying to fix irregularities uncovered in this year's census records.
The employee told NPR that career officials at the agency are working toward Jan. 9 as an internal target date for completing the current stage of processing records before assessing when to begin the final steps in producing new state population counts used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives and electoral votes among the states.
"If we miss Jan. 9, it's hard to envision that we would get apportionment done before inauguration," the employee said.
Shortly after NPR published this report, the Census Bureau released a statement announcing plans to "deliver a complete and accurate state population count for apportionment in early 2021, as close to the statutory deadline as possible."
"The schedule for reporting this data is not static. Projected dates are fluid," the bureau said in the announcement. The Associated Press first reported the bureau's plans to announce a delay.
Under federal law, the commerce secretary, who oversees the bureau, is required to report to the president the latest state population totals within nine months of Census Day, which was April 1.
Since the Dec. 31 deadline was put in place by Congress in 1976, the bureau has never failed in delivering the first set of census numbers by the end of a census year. Before the bureau was established, the federal government did miss similar reporting deadlines in the 1800s, and Congress extended them afterward.
The final timing of the 2020 census results' release could undermine President Trump's efforts to make an unprecedented change to who is counted in key census numbers before leaving office. This month, the Supreme Court ruled it was too early for courts to weigh in on whether Trump can exclude unauthorized immigrants from numbers that the Constitution says must include the "whole number of persons in each state."
If the first census results are not ready until after Trump's term ends on Jan. 20, it would be President-elect Joe Biden, not Trump, who would get control of the numbers, which are ultimately handed off to Congress for certification.
Back in April, the Trump administration publicly acknowledged that because of COVID-19, there was a need for four-month extensions to the legal deadlines for census results, including the demographic data due to states by March 31, 2021 for the redrawing of voting districts.
But the administration made an about-face and stopped asking Congress for those extensions in July, right around the time Trump issued a presidential memorandum calling for unauthorized immigrants to be left out of census apportionment counts.
Now, lawmakers will likely have to deal with the fallout of the missed census deadline after the new Congress is in session beginning Jan. 3.
Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii who co-sponsored a bipartisan Senate bill in September to extend census deadlines, is planning to re-introduce the legislation in 2021, Schatz's communication director, Mike Inacay, tells NPR.
While the delay was long expected in a tumultuous year and there is no penalty specified by federal law for not reporting the first set of numbers on time, the moment is remarkable for the Census Bureau, which had been planning and working towards Dec. 31 for close to a decade.
"I can tell you that nowhere have I seen a greater adherence to statutorily mandated deadlines," says Edgar Chen, a former attorney in the Commerce Department's Office of the General Counsel who has also worked at the Justice and Treasury Departments.
Barry Robinson, a former chief counsel for economic affairs at the Commerce Department, recalls advising Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross during an internal meeting in 2017 about the legal obligation to adhere to the provided timelines for the census. But Robinson says, especially in light of the pandemic, the government cannot prioritize meeting deadlines over the importance of producing a complete and accurate count.
"I'm the first to say that what I'm looking at now with the delays caused by the disruption of COVID-19, I think there is a very plausible and justifiable argument for a reasonable extension of time to allow the Census Bureau to fully complete its functions," Robinson says.
U.S. census historian Margo Anderson notes that until shortly before the 1930 census, the federal government did not have legal deadlines for reporting results to the president or Congress, although census workers were instructed to turn in paper reports by set dates.
"This used to take months to get paper sent around the country so that a lot of times the deadlines would be missed simply because of more localized incidents of a natural disaster," says Anderson, author of The American Census: A Social History.
Anderson warns that the full implications of the bureau missing the first reporting deadline for the 2020 census may not be clear until later.
"We won't know whether the census is sort of up to snuff until the data start rolling out," Anderson says. "And then we may look back, realizing what was going on was much more significant. But we don't know yet."


npr--2020-12-30--Coronavirus Is Canceling New Year's Celebrations

Times Square will welcome the new year void of the thousands of spectators who traditionally crowd midtown Manhattan .
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb across the country , event organizers will host a virtual ball-dropping celebration .
The New York City Police Department will set up a perimeter around Times Square at approximately 3 p.m. Thursday , prohibiting vehicle and pedestrian traffic ahead of the New Year 's celebrations .
There will be no public spectator viewing areas , an NYPD news release said .
Instead , the event will be broadcast online .
The ball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the top of One Times Square .
There will be musical performances by Andra Day , Gloria Gaynor , Jimmie Allen , Machine Gun Kelly , the USO Show Troupe and more .
Additionally , first responders , front-line and essential workers will be celebrated as special guests and heroes of 2020 .
They will be some of the privileged few to celebrate the new year from Times Square .
At exactly 11:59 p.m. , Mayor Bill de Blasio will push the button which controls the Waterford Crystal 12-foot diameter ball and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing the train wreck of 2020 to a close .
The New Year 's Eve ball has dropped every year since 1907 , except in 1942 and 1943 , when the dropping was suspended because of the city black-out during World War II .
That said , crowds still gathered in the square to celebrate .
Meanwhile , 1,400 miles south in Key West , Fla. , the conch at Sloppy Joe 's will not drop for the first time in 28 years .
Key West Mayor Teri Johnston signed an emergency directive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday through Sunday .
All nonessential businesses will be closed at 10 p.m. and people who are not on essential business are required to be home between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m .
Residents can walk their dogs , but must remain within 250 feet of their home .
Half-a-world away in Hawaii , the annual fireworks display in Waikiki has been canceled because of the coronavirus .
In 2019 the tourism industry provided over 200,000 jobs across the state and generated over $ 2 billion in state tax revenue .
But according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrivals dropped 77.3 % in November from the year before .
In Los Angeles County , Calif. , COVID-19 hospitalizations are up almost 1,000 % since October .
The county reported nearly 13,000 new cases and 227 additional deaths Tuesday .
Southern California has zero ICU beds available .
Yet The Los Angeles Times reported that a Beverly Hills restaurant , La Scala , had placed invitations for a discreet New Year 's Eve gathering in customer 's take-out bags .
`` Welcome back to the 20 's Prohibition , '' the invitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out for potential New Year 's Eve dinner reservations .
`` Please keep this discreet , but tell all your friends . ''
Their invitations went viral on Twitter .
A statement posted on La Scala 's website said the notes were worded incorrectly and the restaurant never intended to violate the law .
It said the restaurant hoped by New Year 's Eve conditions would allow indoor dining .
As was the case for Thanksgiving , Christmas , Hanukkah and other recent holidays , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtually with friends and family .
The COVID-19 death toll is projected to be as high as 419,000 by mid-January .

Coronavirus Is Canceling New Year's Celebrations
Enlarge this image toggle caption Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
Times Square will welcome the new year void of the thousands of spectators who traditionally crowd midtown Manhattan. As the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb across the country, event organizers will host a virtual ball-dropping celebration.
The New York City Police Department will set up a perimeter around Times Square at approximately 3 p.m. Thursday, prohibiting vehicle and pedestrian traffic ahead of the New Year's celebrations. There will be no public spectator viewing areas, an NYPD news release said.
Instead, the event will be broadcast online. The ball will be raised at approximately 6 p.m. to the top of One Times Square. There will be musical performances by Andra Day, Gloria Gaynor, Jimmie Allen, Machine Gun Kelly, the USO Show Troupe and more. Additionally, first responders, front-line and essential workers will be celebrated as special guests and heroes of 2020. They will be some of the privileged few to celebrate the new year from Times Square.
At exactly 11:59 p.m., Mayor Bill de Blasio will push the button which controls the Waterford Crystal 12-foot diameter ball and it will start its one-minute descent, bringing the train wreck of 2020 to a close.
The New Year's Eve ball has dropped every year since 1907, except in 1942 and 1943, when the dropping was suspended because of the city black-out during World War II. That said, crowds still gathered in the square to celebrate.
Enlarge this image toggle caption AFP/AFP via Getty Images AFP/AFP via Getty Images
Meanwhile, 1,400 miles south in Key West, Fla., the conch at Sloppy Joe's will not drop for the first time in 28 years. Key West Mayor Teri Johnston signed an emergency directive enacting a curfew, in effect from Thursday through Sunday. All nonessential businesses will be closed at 10 p.m. and people who are not on essential business are required to be home between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. Residents can walk their dogs, but must remain within 250 feet of their home.
Half-a-world away in Hawaii, the annual fireworks display in Waikiki has been canceled because of the coronavirus. In 2019 the tourism industry provided over 200,000 jobs across the state and generated over $2 billion in state tax revenue. But according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, visitor arrivals dropped 77.3% in November from the year before.
In Los Angeles County, Calif., COVID-19 hospitalizations are up almost 1,000% since October. The county reported nearly 13,000 new cases and 227 additional deaths Tuesday. Southern California has zero ICU beds available. Yet The Los Angeles Times reported that a Beverly Hills restaurant, La Scala, had placed invitations for a discreet New Year's Eve gathering in customer's take-out bags.
"Welcome back to the 20's Prohibition," the invitation read. It encouraged customers to reach out for potential New Year's Eve dinner reservations. "Please keep this discreet, but tell all your friends." Their invitations went viral on Twitter.
A statement posted on La Scala's website said the notes were worded incorrectly and the restaurant never intended to violate the law. It said the restaurant hoped by New Year's Eve conditions would allow indoor dining.
As was the case for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and other recent holidays, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging people to stay home and celebrate virtually with friends and family. The COVID-19 death toll is projected to be as high as 419,000 by mid-January.


npr--2020-12-30--British Double Agent George Blake Honored At His Moscow Funeral As A Russian Hero

British Double Agent George Blake Honored At His Moscow Funeral As A Russian Hero George Blake , the former British spy-turned-KGB double agent during the height of the Cold War , was buried Wednesday in Moscow , honored as a Russian national hero .
The KGB mole escaped a U.K. prison in 1966 and fled to the Soviet Union .
Blake died Saturday in Moscow at the age of 98 .
The Soviet Union bestowed many decorations on Blake , awarded him a pension and provided him with an apartment .
He was named a KGB colonel .
A Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Colonel Blake was an outstanding professional of special courage , '' Russian President Vladimir Putin — a former KGB operative himself — said in a statement after Blake 's death .
`` He made a truly invaluable contribution to ensuring the strategic parity and the preservation of peace on the planet .
Our hearts will always cherish the warm memory of this legendary man . ''
Over the course of his career as a double agent , Blake gave up the identities of hundreds of British spies , some of whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he regretted the deaths of the agents but not spying for the Soviets , according to The New York Times .
Later he denied responsibility , telling CBC Radio that he was assured no one was executed based on the information he gave .
Blake was born in the Netherlands , where he lived for years before he was evacuated to Britain during World War II .
He then joined British intelligence .
He was working in South Korea in 1950 when North Korea invaded , capturing him and other Westerners .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American bombings of Korean cities and villages during the war made him feel he was on the wrong side .
So he made an offer .
By his account , Blake volunteered to give the KGB information — not out of coercion or for money — but because he believed in the cause .
He was later released by North Korea along with other captives .
`` I justified it in my mind by believing that I was helping , in a small way , in building a new society , '' Blake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which there would be equality , social justice , no longer any war , no longer any national conflict — that was my dream , as it were . ''
Blake was repatriated to Britain after three years in captivity in North Korea , and welcomed back as a national hero .
He again worked as a British agent and was stationed in Berlin , where he secretly fed a high volume of classified information to KGB agents .
In addition to revealing identities of British spies , Blake leaked information about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tap Red Army communications in East Berlin .
He remained undetected for a number of years .
During that time Blake married and had three children — all while keeping his double life a secret .
It was n't until 1961 that Blake was caught and thrown in prison , according to The Guardian .
He was sentenced to 42 years but made a daring escape five years after being convicted .
Friends he made inside prison helped to construct a rope ladder of knitting needles , which was thrown over the wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ladder to escape .
Blake hid with friends before fleeing to Moscow .
There , he adopted the identity of Col. Georgiy Ivanovich Bleyk , according to The Times .
He remarried ( he and his first wife divorced when he was in prison ) and had a child .
Blake 's children from his previous marriage later visited him in Russia and reconciled with their father .
He once described his time in Russia as the happiest years of his life .
Despite all his time as a mole , Blake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` To betray , you first have to belong , '' he once said .
`` I never belonged . ''
Blake acknowledged in his interview with PBS that communism in Russia never amounted to what he had hoped .
It was a perfect system that an imperfect society could not carry out , he said .
The reporter asked : Despite this , was it worth dedicating his life to the cause ?
`` Yes , '' he answered , `` because I think it is never wrong to give your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a noble experiment , even if it does n't succeed . ''

British Double Agent George Blake Honored At His Moscow Funeral As A Russian Hero
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
George Blake, the former British spy-turned-KGB double agent during the height of the Cold War, was buried Wednesday in Moscow, honored as a Russian national hero. The KGB mole escaped a U.K. prison in 1966 and fled to the Soviet Union.
Blake died Saturday in Moscow at the age of 98.
The Soviet Union bestowed many decorations on Blake, awarded him a pension and provided him with an apartment. He was named a KGB colonel. A Russian espionage official called him a role model.
"Colonel Blake was an outstanding professional of special courage," Russian President Vladimir Putin — a former KGB operative himself — said in a statement after Blake's death. "He made a truly invaluable contribution to ensuring the strategic parity and the preservation of peace on the planet. Our hearts will always cherish the warm memory of this legendary man."
Over the course of his career as a double agent, Blake gave up the identities of hundreds of British spies, some of whom were executed.
Blake said in 1991 he regretted the deaths of the agents but not spying for the Soviets, according to The New York Times. Later he denied responsibility, telling CBC Radio that he was assured no one was executed based on the information he gave.
Blake was born in the Netherlands, where he lived for years before he was evacuated to Britain during World War II. He then joined British intelligence. He was working in South Korea in 1950 when North Korea invaded, capturing him and other Westerners.
In various interviews, Blake said watching the American bombings of Korean cities and villages during the war made him feel he was on the wrong side.
So he made an offer.
By his account, Blake volunteered to give the KGB information — not out of coercion or for money — but because he believed in the cause. He was later released by North Korea along with other captives.
"I justified it in my mind by believing that I was helping, in a small way, in building a new society," Blake told PBS in 1999, "in which there would be equality, social justice, no longer any war, no longer any national conflict — that was my dream, as it were."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Central Press/Getty Images Central Press/Getty Images
Blake was repatriated to Britain after three years in captivity in North Korea, and welcomed back as a national hero. He again worked as a British agent and was stationed in Berlin, where he secretly fed a high volume of classified information to KGB agents.
In addition to revealing identities of British spies, Blake leaked information about the Berlin Tunnel, a failed effort to tap Red Army communications in East Berlin.
He remained undetected for a number of years. During that time Blake married and had three children — all while keeping his double life a secret.
It wasn't until 1961 that Blake was caught and thrown in prison, according to The Guardian. He was sentenced to 42 years but made a daring escape five years after being convicted.
Friends he made inside prison helped to construct a rope ladder of knitting needles, which was thrown over the wall. Blake broke a window and used the ladder to escape.
Blake hid with friends before fleeing to Moscow. There, he adopted the identity of Col. Georgiy Ivanovich Bleyk, according to The Times. He remarried (he and his first wife divorced when he was in prison) and had a child.
Blake's children from his previous marriage later visited him in Russia and reconciled with their father. He once described his time in Russia as the happiest years of his life.
Despite all his time as a mole, Blake dismissed the idea that he betrayed Britain.
"To betray, you first have to belong," he once said. "I never belonged."
Blake acknowledged in his interview with PBS that communism in Russia never amounted to what he had hoped. It was a perfect system that an imperfect society could not carry out, he said.
The reporter asked: Despite this, was it worth dedicating his life to the cause?
"Yes," he answered, "because I think it is never wrong to give your life to a noble ideal, and to a noble experiment, even if it doesn't succeed."


npr--2020-12-30--As Statues Of America's Racist Past Were Removed This Year, So Were Tattoos

As Statues Of America 's Racist Past Were Removed This Year , So Were Tattoos The year of large racial justice protests led to an unprecedented number of Confederate symbols being removed around the country .
More than 100 Confederate symbols have been removed from public spaces or renamed since George Floyd was killed , according to a count by the Southern Poverty Law Center .
And in a similar reckoning , tattoo artists around the country say that as protests took off this year , requests to remove or cover up racist tattoos did , too .
Kyle Boykin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Confederate flag that covered his upper arm .
`` Growing up in rural , small-town Ohio , that was kind of the cool thing , '' he says .
To him , it was about being proud of his family 's history in the South .
But as Boykin got older , he began to understand that as a white man , the same Confederate flag that to him represented pride held dark reminders of slavery and white supremacy for many Black Americans .
Boykin says he was careful to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at work .
He is a safety supervisor for the transit agency in Zanesville , Ohio , where he has lived his entire life .
`` I work with everybody , of all races , sexes , everybody , rich to poor , '' he says .
`` ...
I never wanted somebody that I was trying to lend a hand to in the community to , for any reason , feel uncomfortable by anything I had on my body that was never meant for that purpose . ''
A few years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Not Hate '' added to the tattoo to clarify his intentions .
Then came George Floyd 's killing in May , which was the `` initial wow factor moment '' for Boykin .
The nationwide protests even came to Zanesville in the summer as people gathered peacefully at the county courthouse and marched through town .
Boykin recalls covert , `` subliminal '' racism from white people in his town toward people of color when he was growing up .
He watched the demonstrations closely , awaiting counterprotesters and violence .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprised me that [ protesters ] were n't met with any kind of opposition , which to me was a clear indicator that times are definitely changing , '' he says .
It was the final push to get his Confederate flag covered up .
Boykin was n't alone .
Several tattoo artists around the country said they 've had an uptick in requests to get racist tattoos removed this year , especially in early summer .
The nonprofit Atlanta Redemption Ink , which primarily helps victims of sex trafficking with cover-ups and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influx of applications specifically from people with racist tattoos .
`` We believe that the social justice movement of 2020 , along with true heart-change and desire to see hate erased is what has pushed that influx , '' says Jessica Lamb , executive director and founder of the organization .
In multiple countries , the Erasing Hate platform is behind a larger movement to expose and remove racist symbols in all forms — from public spaces to now , private ones .
Corey Fleischer started the movement in his hometown of Montreal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he removed a swastika from his neighborhood .
`` It started off as a graffiti removal movement where basically people would notify us of any graffiti or any markings of any sort of hate , anywhere around the world , '' he says .
Fleischer and his team often power-wash or pour concrete over hateful symbols in public .
But as the racial justice movement gained traction , he started hearing more and more from people who wanted to get their racist tattoos covered up .
`` It all started with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
`` It was like the gates opened and it went from a few Confederate tattoo removals over the years to , I would open up my phone every few hours and it would be somebody else messaging me .
'Hey , Erasing Hate , I have a Confederate flag .
Can you help us erase it ? '
`` With tattoos , Fleischer does n't do the removals himself .
He serves as a middleman , connecting those requesting the service to tattoo artists in his network .
`` I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Fleischer says .
`` I care about tomorrow .
You want to erase it , I 'm going to be there for you .
I 'm going to set it up for you .
And we 're just going to move forward and I 'm going to give you a new way in life . ''
Enter Billy White , the owner of Red Rose Tattoo in Zanesville .
He 's been tattooing for 16 years .
He 's the tattoo artist Fleischer works with most closely .
White started doing cover-ups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the turning point was the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville , Va. A man who identified as a neo-Nazi drove his car into a crowd of peaceful protesters , killing one person and injuring 35 .
`` The Unite the Right rally was what I consider to be like a tipping point , '' White says .
`` There was a loss of innocent life and the person that drove into that crowd was from Ohio .
I knew that it was something that I had to do to kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want Ohio to be known as the state with all the crazy racists and the people who are willing to kill for their ideology . ''
At first , White began covering up racist tattoos pro bono , no questions asked .
But he quickly realized he needed a vetting process .
White says he did n't want to `` veil white supremacy or hide it in any kind of way . ''
He wanted to make sure the clients had genuinely moved on from their racist ideologies .
He started getting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course of one or two years before committing to cover up their tattoos .
White says not everyone who requests a cover-up is truly reformed .
But this year , he says , more people seemed to be having a similar awakening as he had a few years ago .
`` I think that if this year did n't wake you up to the atrocities that our brothers and sisters are facing every day , then I do n't know what will . ''
His clients range from people formerly in white supremacist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who were forced to get tattoos while they were incarcerated .
Others are like Kyle Boykin , who made a one-time decision he regrets .
Boykin lives across town from Red Rose Tattoo .
Shortly after protests in Zanesville began , Boykin went in to have White improvise a fierce bald eagle perched on a log with colorful flowers beneath it .
`` Once that got covered up , it was like the relief of a community taking down a statue and moving forward , '' Boykin says .
`` And getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , moving forward for myself .
And I have this beautiful piece now that I can show people . ''

As Statues Of America's Racist Past Were Removed This Year, So Were Tattoos
The year of large racial justice protests led to an unprecedented number of Confederate symbols being removed around the country.
More than 100 Confederate symbols have been removed from public spaces or renamed since George Floyd was killed, according to a count by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
And in a similar reckoning, tattoo artists around the country say that as protests took off this year, requests to remove or cover up racist tattoos did, too.
Kyle Boykin was 17 when he got a tattoo of the Confederate flag that covered his upper arm. "Growing up in rural, small-town Ohio, that was kind of the cool thing," he says. To him, it was about being proud of his family's history in the South.
But as Boykin got older, he began to understand that as a white man, the same Confederate flag that to him represented pride held dark reminders of slavery and white supremacy for many Black Americans.
Boykin says he was careful to wear sleeves long enough to cover his tattoo at work. He is a safety supervisor for the transit agency in Zanesville, Ohio, where he has lived his entire life.
"I work with everybody, of all races, sexes, everybody, rich to poor," he says. "... I never wanted somebody that I was trying to lend a hand to in the community to, for any reason, feel uncomfortable by anything I had on my body that was never meant for that purpose."
A few years ago, he got the words "Heritage, Not Hate" added to the tattoo to clarify his intentions.
Then came George Floyd's killing in May, which was the "initial wow factor moment" for Boykin.
The nationwide protests even came to Zanesville in the summer as people gathered peacefully at the county courthouse and marched through town.
Boykin recalls covert, "subliminal" racism from white people in his town toward people of color when he was growing up. He watched the demonstrations closely, awaiting counterprotesters and violence.
"That didn't happen, which really surprised me that [protesters] weren't met with any kind of opposition, which to me was a clear indicator that times are definitely changing," he says.
It was the final push to get his Confederate flag covered up. Boykin wasn't alone.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kyle Boykin Kyle Boykin
Several tattoo artists around the country said they've had an uptick in requests to get racist tattoos removed this year, especially in early summer.
The nonprofit Atlanta Redemption Ink, which helps victims of sex trafficking, former gang members and people with self-harm marks, with cover-ups and removals, tells NPR it received an influx of applications specifically from people with racist tattoos.
"We believe that the social justice movement of 2020, along with true heart-change and desire to see hate erased is what has pushed that influx," says Jessica Lamb, executive director and founder of the organization.
In multiple countries, the Erasing Hate platform is behind a larger movement to expose and remove racist symbols in all forms — from public spaces to now, private ones.
Corey Fleischer started the movement in his hometown of Montreal, Canada, about 10 years ago when he removed a swastika from his neighborhood. "It started off as a graffiti removal movement where basically people would notify us of any graffiti or any markings of any sort of hate, anywhere around the world," he says.
Fleischer and his team often power-wash or pour concrete over hateful symbols in public. But as the racial justice movement gained traction, he started hearing more and more from people who wanted to get their racist tattoos covered up.
"It all started with the murder of George Floyd," he says. "It was like the gates opened and it went from a few Confederate tattoo removals over the years to, I would open up my phone every few hours and it would be somebody else messaging me. 'Hey, Erasing Hate, I have a Confederate flag. Can you help us erase it?' "
With tattoos, Fleischer doesn't do the removals himself. He serves as a middleman, connecting those requesting the service to tattoo artists in his network.
"I don't care what your backstory is," Fleischer says. "I care about tomorrow. You want to erase it, I'm going to be there for you. I'm going to set it up for you. And we're just going to move forward and I'm going to give you a new way in life."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Cy Dodson Cy Dodson
Enter Billy White, the owner of Red Rose Tattoo in Zanesville. He's been tattooing for 16 years. He's the tattoo artist Fleischer works with most closely.
White started doing cover-ups a few years ago. For him, the turning point was the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. A man who identified as a neo-Nazi drove his car into a crowd of peaceful protesters, killing one person and injuring 35.
"The Unite the Right rally was what I consider to be like a tipping point," White says. "There was a loss of innocent life and the person that drove into that crowd was from Ohio. I knew that it was something that I had to do to kind of change the narrative. I didn't want Ohio to be known as the state with all the crazy racists and the people who are willing to kill for their ideology."
At first, White began covering up racist tattoos pro bono, no questions asked.
But he quickly realized he needed a vetting process. White says he didn't want to "veil white supremacy or hide it in any kind of way." He wanted to make sure the clients had genuinely moved on from their racist ideologies.
He started getting to know his clients, some over the course of one or two years before committing to cover up their tattoos. White says not everyone who requests a cover-up is truly reformed.
But this year, he says, more people seemed to be having a similar awakening as he had a few years ago.
"I think that if this year didn't wake you up to the atrocities that our brothers and sisters are facing every day, then I don't know what will."
His clients range from people formerly in white supremacist groups, including the KKK, to people who were forced to get tattoos while they were incarcerated.
Others are like Kyle Boykin, who made a one-time decision he regrets.
Boykin lives across town from Red Rose Tattoo. Shortly after protests in Zanesville began, Boykin went in to have White improvise a fierce bald eagle perched on a log with colorful flowers beneath it.
"Once that got covered up, it was like the relief of a community taking down a statue and moving forward," Boykin says. "And getting that covered up was a personal growth, moving forward for myself. And I have this beautiful piece now that I can show people."


npr--2020-12-30--Senate GOP Rushes To Finish Defense Bill And Avoid Showdown On Relief Payments

Senate GOP Rushes To Finish Defense Bill And Avoid Showdown On Relief Payments Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , says a measure that would increase direct payments to many Americans has `` no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate . ''
McConnell is moving ahead with a plan to avoid a public rift within the GOP over stimulus payments demanded by President Trump ahead of a critical runoff election in Georgia .
Instead of putting the $ 2,000 relief payments for an up-or-down vote on their own , McConnell tied the checks to Trump 's demands to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decades-old law that would open the door for lawsuits against social media companies for the content they choose to leave up or take down .
`` The Senate is not going to split apart the three issues that President Trump linked together just because Democrats are afraid to address two of them , '' he said .
`` The Senate is not going to be bullied into rushing out more borrowed money into the hands of the Democrats ' rich friends who do n't need the help .
We just approved almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days ago .
It struck a balance between broad support for all kinds of households and a lot more targeted relief for those who need help most . ''
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , told reporters in the Capitol earlier in the day that the move was an attempt `` to kill the checks — the $ 2,000 checks desperately needed by so many American families — by tying them completely to partisan provisions that have absolutely nothing to do with helping struggling families across the country . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shield GOP members from difficult votes in the days before control of the Senate is determined in Georgia .
McConnell attempted to explain his plan on Tuesday by saying Trump tied the issues together , so the Senate will , too .
Complicating matters further , the checks are also politically entwined with a must-pass veto override on a massive defense bill .
Trump vetoed the hugely bipartisan bill over his demand to repeal the liability protections that benefit social media companies .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , had suggested he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the $ 2,000 payments , though he would have little ability to stop the eventual vote on the veto override .
`` Two-thirds of the House voted to provide those $ 2,000 checks , '' Sanders told reporters in the Capitol .
`` The overwhelming majority of Americans want that , Trump wants it , Biden wants it , Pelosi wants it , Schumer wants it .
Let 's have a vote , and let 's pass this damn thing . ''
But Wednesday night , McConnell invoked cloture , limiting debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filibuster .
The move sets the Senate up for a final vote potentially on Friday .
The complicated process comes as a growing number of Republicans have come out in favor of the checks , including Georgia Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue who are both facing Jan. 5 runoff elections .
The outcome of the Georgia races will determine control of the Senate .
Perdue and Loeffler both embraced the $ 2,000 payments after Trump threatened to block a massive government spending and coronavirus relief bill that included smaller $ 600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have campaigned as Trump allies and have benefited from the president 's support .
But expanded stimulus checks are not widely popular among Republicans , in part because the payments could cost around $ 464 billion , according to a nonpartisan congressional budget estimate .

Senate GOP Rushes To Finish Defense Bill And Avoid Showdown On Relief Payments
Enlarge this image toggle caption Susan Walsh/AP Susan Walsh/AP
Updated at 6:17 p.m. ET
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., says a measure that would increase direct payments to many Americans has "no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate."
McConnell is moving ahead with a plan to avoid a public rift within the GOP over stimulus payments demanded by President Trump ahead of a critical runoff election in Georgia.
Instead of putting the $2,000 relief payments for an up-or-down vote on their own, McConnell tied the checks to Trump's demands to investigate alleged voter fraud and to repeal a decades-old law that would open the door for lawsuits against social media companies for the content they choose to leave up or take down.
McConnell pushed back against Democrats' criticism in floor remarks Wednesday.
"The Senate is not going to split apart the three issues that President Trump linked together just because Democrats are afraid to address two of them," he said.
"The Senate is not going to be bullied into rushing out more borrowed money into the hands of the Democrats' rich friends who don't need the help. We just approved almost $1 trillion in aid a few days ago. It struck a balance between broad support for all kinds of households and a lot more targeted relief for those who need help most."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters in the Capitol earlier in the day that the move was an attempt "to kill the checks — the $2,000 checks desperately needed by so many American families — by tying them completely to partisan provisions that have absolutely nothing to do with helping struggling families across the country."
The chaotic scramble comes as McConnell attempts to shield GOP members from difficult votes in the days before control of the Senate is determined in Georgia. McConnell attempted to explain his plan on Tuesday by saying Trump tied the issues together, so the Senate will, too.
Complicating matters further, the checks are also politically entwined with a must-pass veto override on a massive defense bill. Trump vetoed the hugely bipartisan bill over his demand to repeal the liability protections that benefit social media companies.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., had suggested he will filibuster that measure until the Senate votes on the $2,000 payments, though he would have little ability to stop the eventual vote on the veto override.
"Two-thirds of the House voted to provide those $2,000 checks," Sanders told reporters in the Capitol. "The overwhelming majority of Americans want that, Trump wants it, Biden wants it, Pelosi wants it, Schumer wants it. Let's have a vote, and let's pass this damn thing."
But Wednesday night, McConnell invoked cloture, limiting debate and ending Sanders' option for a filibuster. The move sets the Senate up for a final vote potentially on Friday.
The complicated process comes as a growing number of Republicans have come out in favor of the checks, including Georgia Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue who are both facing Jan. 5 runoff elections. The outcome of the Georgia races will determine control of the Senate.
Perdue and Loeffler both embraced the $2,000 payments after Trump threatened to block a massive government spending and coronavirus relief bill that included smaller $600 checks for eligible Americans.
The two have campaigned as Trump allies and have benefited from the president's support. But expanded stimulus checks are not widely popular among Republicans, in part because the payments could cost around $464 billion, according to a nonpartisan congressional budget estimate.


npr--2020-12-30--Even With 10 Million COVID-19 Cases, A Doctor Says India 'Dodged A Bullet'

Even With 10 Million COVID-19 Cases , A Doctor Says India 'Dodged A Bullet' Although India 's COVID-19 case numbers and deaths are grim , the country has `` dodged a bullet '' in the pandemic .
That 's according to Dr. Gagandeep Kang , an infectious diseases researcher at the Christian Medical College in Vellore , India , who has worked extensively on vaccine development .
With more than 10 million coronavirus cases , India has the second-highest infection load in the world after the United States .
Nearly 150,000 people have died in India after testing positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world after the U.S. and Brazil .
But Kang says that 's much less than what she had feared .
And now she and other scientists want to know why .
India has a population of 1.4 billion people .
With fewer than 7,500 coronavirus cases per million people and a COVID-19 fatality rate of just below 1.5 % , India 's per capita infections and mortality rate are among the lowest in the world .
`` [ The virus ] could have been completely out of control in India , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-author of the recently published book Till We Win : India 's Fight Against The COVID-19 Pandemic .
She serves on several advisory boards , including for the World Health Organization and is the first Indian woman to be elected as a fellow of The Royal Society , the world 's oldest scientific society .
She talks to NPR about India 's pandemic response , its main takeaways and the road ahead .
You said that India has been very lucky when it comes to COVID-19 .
Why is that ?
There may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be our age structure , that we have much fewer elderly people and therefore mortality and severe disease in the population was relatively low .
We were hit later in the pandemic so we had a better opportunity to prepare .
We may have prior exposure to other coronaviruses which may have led this disease to be less severe .
We seem to have higher rates of asymptomatic infection so it may also mean that the virus is behaving differently in our population .
A lot of countries in Africa and South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe disease and lower mortality .
So it would be interesting from a research point of view to put all the data , all the biological samples from all the infected people , together to understand why the developing world is different .
What are the lessons that India should learn from the pandemic ?
We need a system in which people have a primary care clinic where they would get what they need for most of their infections .
A clinic that would have the ability to recognize when something might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as early as possible to the right kind of facility .
Currently in India , tertiary care hospitals [ large multi-specialty hospitals where someone is referred to by their primary physician ] are overloaded with patients .
You do n't need to go there for every illness .
In addition to building the infrastructure for primary health , the government also needs to build a structure for communication at the community level in ways that people trust .
The coronavirus has been demonized and people have been stigmatized so much that people hide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Building community trust in health information , in public health authorities , in science , we just have to do that .
The government would n't need to convert [ the enforcement of the pandemic guidelines ] into a law and order situation if they could treat it as an education and communication situation .
What 's going to be the biggest challenge for India going ahead ?
Distribution of vaccines is going to be the big one .
As long as you are looking at distributing vaccines by occupation — health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , municipal workers — that 's all doable because you know where to find them .
But once you get to finding the elderly , people with co-morbidities , I think we will start to see challenges .
My big worry is that we have so much inequity in health that the people who are going to get left out of this vaccination program are those most at risk of catastrophic health expenditures .
If we want to protect them , we need to set up systems for delivery and for monitoring health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done for adult populations .
I 'm glad to hear that the government is planning to use the election infrastructure for delivering vaccines .
[ That could involve setting up vaccination booths at locations where polling booths are set up and identifying those who need the vaccine on a priority basis through demographic data in voter lists ] .
[ India 's election system ] is practically the only thing that reaches the vulnerable parts of society .
Even with vaccines , I think we are again very lucky in India because we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are going to be able to provide to India perhaps more vaccines to more of our population than many other developing countries will have access to .
I 'm actually more worried about the rest of the world .

A Doctor Reflects On India's Pandemic Response
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gagandeep Kang Gagandeep Kang
With more than 10 million coronavirus cases, India has the second-highest infection load in the world after the United States. Nearly 150,000 people have died in India after testing positive for the virus, the third-highest death toll in the world after the U.S. and Brazil.
But Dr. Gagandeep Kang says that's much less than what she had feared. She's an infectious diseases researcher at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, India and has worked extensively on vaccine development.
"[The virus] could have been completely out of control in India," she says.
There were a few weeks when hospitals in big cities like Mumbai and New Delhi were overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. But overall, Kang says, she expected it to be much worse.
She compares India's pandemic experience to "dodging a bullet," she says.
The country has nearly 1.4 billion people. With less than 7,500 coronavirus cases per million population and a COVID-19 fatality rate of just below 1.5%, India's per capita infections and mortality rate are among the lowest in the world.
Kang and other scientists are now wondering why that was.
About Goats and Soda Goats and Soda is NPR's global health and development blog. We tell stories of life in our changing world, focusing on low- and middle-income countries. And we keep in mind that we're all neighbors in this global village. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Learn more about our team and coverage.
Kang is the co-author of the recently published book Till We Win: India's Fight Against The COVID-19 Pandemic. She serves on several advisory boards, including for the World Health Organization, and is the first Indian woman to be elected as a fellow of The Royal Society, the world's oldest scientific society.
She talks to NPR about India's pandemic response, its main takeaways and the road ahead.
Interview Highlights
You said that India has been very lucky when it comes to COVID-19. Why is that?
There may be many explanations for that. It could be our age structure, that we have much fewer elderly people and therefore mortality and severe disease in the population was relatively low. We were hit later in the pandemic so we had a better opportunity to prepare. We may have prior exposure to other coronaviruses which may have led this disease to be less severe. We seem to have higher rates of asymptomatic infection so it may also mean that the virus is behaving differently in our population.
A lot of countries in Africa and South Asia are behaving like India with lower severe disease and lower mortality. So it would be interesting from a research point of view to put all the data, all the biological samples from all the infected people, together to understand why the developing world is different.
What are the lessons that India should learn from the pandemic?
We need a system in which people have a primary care clinic where they would get what they need for most of their infections. A clinic that would have the ability to recognize when something might be a more serious issue and refer you as early as possible to the right kind of facility. Currently in India, tertiary care hospitals [large multi-specialty hospitals where someone is referred to by their primary physician] are overloaded with patients. You don't need to go there for every illness.
In addition to building the infrastructure for primary health, the government also needs to build a structure for communication at the community level in ways that people trust. The coronavirus has been demonized and people have been stigmatized so much that people hide from any aspect of testing or reporting. Building community trust in health information, in public health authorities, in science, we just have to do that. The government wouldn't need to convert [the enforcement of the pandemic guidelines] into a law and order situation if they could treat it as an education and communication situation.
What's going to be the biggest challenge for India going ahead?
Distribution of vaccines is going to be the big one. As long as you are looking at distributing vaccines by occupation — health care workers, policemen, security guards, municipal workers — that's all doable because you know where to find them. But once you get to finding the elderly, people with co-morbidities, I think we will start to see challenges.
My big worry is that we have so much inequity in health that the people who are going to get left out of this vaccination program are those most at risk of catastrophic health expenditures. If we want to protect them, we need to set up systems for delivery and for monitoring health at a level that we have never done for adult populations. I'm glad to hear that the government is planning to use the election infrastructure for delivering vaccines. [That could involve setting up vaccination booths at locations where polling booths are set up and identifying those who need the vaccine on a priority basis through demographic data in voter lists]. [India's election system] is practically the only thing that reaches the vulnerable parts of society.
Even with vaccines, I think we are again very lucky in India because we've got all these wonderful vaccine companies that are going to be able to provide to India perhaps more vaccines to more of our population than many other developing countries will have access to. I'm actually more worried about the rest of the world.


npr--2020-12-30--Europe And China Approve Landmark Investment Treaty, Snubbing U.S.

China 's president and European leaders met Wednesday to mark their agreement on an investment deal between the European Union and China despite a request for talks on the issue by the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden .
Chinese President Xi Jinping , German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron joined EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel in a video conference to conclude negotiations over the deal , which removes a number of barriers to European companies ' investment in China .
After Wednesday 's video meeting , von der Leyen tweeted : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world .
We are open for business but we are attached to reciprocity , level playing field & values .
Today , the EU & China concluded in principle negotiations on an investment agreement . ''
Negotiations had repeatedly stalled since they began in 2013 .
But after Biden won the U.S. presidential election , Chinese negotiators went into overdrive , offering various concessions on market access for European companies to help push the deal through before the end of the year .
Among other things , the investment agreement promises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies to transfer their technology to local joint-venture partner companies .
The deal is a diplomatic victory for Beijing and a domestic one for Xi .
In Washington , it will be seen as a snub to the incoming Biden administration , which last week urged the EU to wait .
`` Before President Biden has even taken the oath of office , the well has been a bit poisoned in transatlantic relations , '' said Theresa Fallon , director of the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies , a think tank in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticized by politicians in Europe because of concerns over forced labor and other human rights abuses in China , and for preempting any discussions with the Biden administration on a joint approach to Beijing .
Fallon told NPR that the push on the European side to sign the treaty was led by Merkel , who , in her final year as Germany 's chancellor , wants to seal her legacy with a historic EU-China treaty , and whose country is Europe 's largest trading partner with China .
`` After four years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU as 'worse than China , ' there is a growing anti-American sentiment '' among EU leadership , Fallon said , `` meaning 'we do n't want to do what the U.S .
says . '
`` Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying tweeted that the agreement `` demonstrates China 's determination and confidence to advance toward a higher level of opening up . ''
The deal will undergo months of debate and discussion in the European Parliament before it can go into effect , which likely will not be until 2022 .

Europe And China Approve Landmark Investment Treaty, Snubbing U.S.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Johanna Geron/Pool via AP Johanna Geron/Pool via AP
China's president and European leaders met Wednesday to mark their agreement on an investment deal between the European Union and China despite a request for talks on the issue by the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron joined EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel in a video conference to conclude negotiations over the deal, which removes a number of barriers to European companies' investment in China.
After Wednesday's video meeting, von der Leyen tweeted: "The EU has the largest single market in the world. We are open for business but we are attached to reciprocity, level playing field & values. Today, the EU & China concluded in principle negotiations on an investment agreement."
Before President Biden has even taken the oath of office, the well has been a bit poisoned in transatlantic relations.
Negotiations had repeatedly stalled since they began in 2013. But after Biden won the U.S. presidential election, Chinese negotiators went into overdrive, offering various concessions on market access for European companies to help push the deal through before the end of the year. Among other things, the investment agreement promises that China will no longer force European companies to transfer their technology to local joint-venture partner companies.
The deal is a diplomatic victory for Beijing and a domestic one for Xi. In Washington, it will be seen as a snub to the incoming Biden administration, which last week urged the EU to wait.
"Before President Biden has even taken the oath of office, the well has been a bit poisoned in transatlantic relations," said Theresa Fallon, director of the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies, a think tank in Brussels.
The deal has also been criticized by politicians in Europe because of concerns over forced labor and other human rights abuses in China, and for preempting any discussions with the Biden administration on a joint approach to Beijing.
Fallon told NPR that the push on the European side to sign the treaty was led by Merkel, who, in her final year as Germany's chancellor, wants to seal her legacy with a historic EU-China treaty, and whose country is Europe's largest trading partner with China.
"After four years of the Trump administration, which characterized the EU as 'worse than China,' there is a growing anti-American sentiment" among EU leadership, Fallon said, "meaning 'we don't want to do what the U.S. says.' "
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying tweeted that the agreement "demonstrates China's determination and confidence to advance toward a higher level of opening up."
The deal will undergo months of debate and discussion in the European Parliament before it can go into effect, which likely will not be until 2022.


npr--2020-12-30--Deadly Explosion Rocks Yemeni Airport Just As New Government Members Land

Deadly Explosion Rocks Yemeni Airport Just As New Government Members Land A large explosion rocked the airport in Aden , Yemen , on Wednesday shortly after a jet landed carrying officials of the country 's Saudi-backed government .
Dozens of casualties were reported .
Video from the scene shows hundreds of people were gathered on the tarmac when the blast struck .
People were still disembarking from the plane carrying members of Yemen 's new government when the explosion hit , causing the crowd to scatter as they rushed for cover .
At least 22 people were dead , The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filming the politicians ' long-anticipated arrival — heralded as an important step in bringing stability to Yemen , where Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in a proxy war .
Aden has been adopted as Yemen 's temporary capital because Iranian-backed Houthi rebels control the capital city , Sanaa .
There has been no claim of responsibility for the blast .
Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed — a holdover from a recent Cabinet shake-up — condemned what he called a cowardly terrorist act , saying that he and other members of the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But local news outlet Aden al-Ghad later reported that at least one junior official was killed and several officials were wounded .
Hussam Radman , a journalist and researcher at the Sana ' a Center for Strategic Studies think tank , narrowly escaped with his life , having been just 70 to 100 feet away from the initial large explosion – which set him running .
Other explosions followed , he said , leaving dozens of people wounded or dead .
`` Of course , when we heard the first explosion , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we were confused about whether it was an explosive or a drone or a rocket , '' Radman told NPR .
He added that he believes it was a missile attack – an idea that echoes several local media reports .
`` Most of us were terrified and confused because we did n't know what was happening or where the threat was coming from .
So people were running and attempting to escape the danger , '' Radman said .
`` We tried to go to an area without any asphalt because areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The survivors waited for some time , he said , before returning to the area and `` communicating with colleagues about who was alive , dead , who was well and who was wounded , the size of the damage and the victims . ''
Three Red Cross staff members were among the dead .
`` The International Committee of the Red Cross is profoundly saddened that three of our colleagues were among those killed in Aden 's airport explosion earlier today , '' the agency said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the airport when the explosion hit , the aid agency said .
Three of them were injured , including one person with serious wounds .
Doctors Without Borders said its hospital in Aden has received 17 people who were wounded in the attack , adding that another local hospital referred the cases .
It was meant to be a day to mark the success of more than a year of negotiations to end a power struggle between two groups ostensibly on the same side in Yemen 's war .
`` There was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrival of this government , '' Radman said , noting the lengthy negotiations between rivals .
The first explosion , he said , struck the reception area where the politicians were to be received .
The blast hit just minutes before the officials stepped off the plane , he added .
Saudi Arabia leads an alliance of countries and local factions against Yemen 's Houthi rebels .
But fractures in that alliance have resulted in fighting between supporters of Yemen 's exiled president and the separatist Southern Transitional Council , which seeks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The ministers landing at Aden 's airport from Saudi Arabia are part of a Cabinet meant to represent both these groups .
President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi , who did not travel with the Cabinet , has directed the military to mount a special investigation into the attack , which he said targeted the arrivals terminal of Aden International Airport .
Hadi said he spoke to the government entourage to make sure they were safe .
In response to the blast , Martin Griffiths , U.N. special envoy for Yemen , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Aden airport upon the Cabinet 's arrival and the killing and injury of many innocent civilians .
My sincere condolences and solidarity to all who lost loved ones . ''

Deadly Explosion Rocks Yemeni Airport Just As New Government Members Land
Enlarge this image toggle caption Saleh Al-Obeidi/AFP via Getty Images Saleh Al-Obeidi/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 5:23 p.m. ET
A large explosion rocked the airport in Aden, Yemen, on Wednesday shortly after a jet landed carrying officials of the country's Saudi-backed government. Dozens of casualties were reported. Video from the scene shows hundreds of people were gathered on the tarmac when the blast struck.
People were still disembarking from the plane carrying members of Yemen's new government when the explosion hit, causing the crowd to scatter as they rushed for cover. At least 22 people were dead, The Associated Press reported.
News crews were filming the politicians' long-anticipated arrival — heralded as an important step in bringing stability to Yemen, where Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in a proxy war. Aden has been adopted as Yemen's temporary capital because Iranian-backed Houthi rebels control the capital city, Sanaa.
YouTube
There has been no claim of responsibility for the blast.
Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed — a holdover from a recent Cabinet shake-up — condemned what he called a cowardly terrorist act, saying that he and other members of the government remain in Aden and are unscathed. But local news outlet Aden al-Ghad later reported that at least one junior official was killed and several officials were wounded.
Hussam Radman, a journalist and researcher at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies think tank, narrowly escaped with his life, having been just 70 to 100 feet away from the initial large explosion – which set him running. Other explosions followed, he said, leaving dozens of people wounded or dead.
"Of course, when we heard the first explosion, we tried to understand what was happening, we were confused about whether it was an explosive or a drone or a rocket," Radman told NPR. He added that he believes it was a missile attack – an idea that echoes several local media reports.
"Most of us were terrified and confused because we didn't know what was happening or where the threat was coming from. So people were running and attempting to escape the danger," Radman said. "We tried to go to an area without any asphalt because areas with asphalt always have lots of shrapnel."
The survivors waited for some time, he said, before returning to the area and "communicating with colleagues about who was alive, dead, who was well and who was wounded, the size of the damage and the victims."
Three Red Cross staff members were among the dead.
"The International Committee of the Red Cross is profoundly saddened that three of our colleagues were among those killed in Aden's airport explosion earlier today," the agency said in a statement.
The Red Cross workers were moving through the airport when the explosion hit, the aid agency said. Three of them were injured, including one person with serious wounds.
Doctors Without Borders said its hospital in Aden has received 17 people who were wounded in the attack, adding that another local hospital referred the cases.
It was meant to be a day to mark the success of more than a year of negotiations to end a power struggle between two groups ostensibly on the same side in Yemen's war.
"There was an environment of optimism and cheer around the arrival of this government," Radman said, noting the lengthy negotiations between rivals. The first explosion, he said, struck the reception area where the politicians were to be received. The blast hit just minutes before the officials stepped off the plane, he added.
Saudi Arabia leads an alliance of countries and local factions against Yemen's Houthi rebels. But fractures in that alliance have resulted in fighting between supporters of Yemen's exiled president and the separatist Southern Transitional Council, which seeks to restore independence to the former South Yemen. The ministers landing at Aden's airport from Saudi Arabia are part of a Cabinet meant to represent both these groups.
President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who did not travel with the Cabinet, has directed the military to mount a special investigation into the attack, which he said targeted the arrivals terminal of Aden International Airport. Hadi said he spoke to the government entourage to make sure they were safe.
In response to the blast, Martin Griffiths, U.N. special envoy for Yemen, said, "I strongly condemn the attack at Aden airport upon the Cabinet's arrival and the killing and injury of many innocent civilians. My sincere condolences and solidarity to all who lost loved ones."


npr--2020-12-30--GOP Sen. Hawley Will Object To Electoral College Certification

Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo.
, said Wednesday he plans to object during the Electoral College certification process when Congress convenes next week , a move that ensures a delay in the final step to mark President-elect Joe Biden 's election victory .
`` I can not vote to certify the electoral college results on January 6 without raising the fact that some states , particularly Pennsylvania , failed to follow their own state election laws , '' Hawley said in a statement Wednesday morning .
Hawley alleged — without providing evidence — that there was an `` unprecedented effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter , to interfere in this election '' in support of Biden .
In his statement , Hawley called on Congress to investigate allegations of voter fraud and election irregularities .
No credible evidence of such fraud has been provided by President Trump or his legal team .
Hawley is the first senator to announce publicly he will object to the results .
That 's significant because the rules dictate that for an objection to be considered , a member from the House and the Senate must lodge an objection in writing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ already said he will object to the results as well .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , had reportedly urged Republicans not to object during the joint session as it puts GOP lawmakers in the uncomfortable position of supporting an objection that will likely fail and forces them to go on the record as to whether or not they concur with allegations of election fraud .
Hawley 's announcement paints a clearer picture of what the session on Jan. 6 will look like .
Biden will still be certified as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now certain there will be a debate and vote in both chambers .
Here 's what the process will look like : Both the House and Senate will retire to their own chambers to speak in favor or against the objection .
According to the Congressional Research Service , that period should not take longer than two hours .
Each chamber then votes , with a simple majority needed to uphold the objection .
Both the Senate and the House must agree to the objection for it to succeed , a requirement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlikely given the Democrats ' majority in the House .
This all stems from Trump 's baseless claims about election fraud as it became clear voters wo n't grant him a second term .
Various lawsuits filed on behalf of his campaign and his allies in states he did not win were thrown out in court .
Trump 's attorney general at the time of the election , William Barr , has said the Justice Department found no evidence of widespread fraud in this year 's election .

GOP Sen. Hawley Will Object To Electoral College Certification
Enlarge this image toggle caption Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said Wednesday he plans to object during the Electoral College certification process when Congress convenes next week, a move that ensures a delay in the final step to mark President-elect Joe Biden's election victory.
"I cannot vote to certify the electoral college results on January 6 without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws," Hawley said in a statement Wednesday morning.
Hawley alleged — without providing evidence — that there was an "unprecedented effort of mega corporations, including Facebook and Twitter, to interfere in this election" in support of Biden.
In his statement, Hawley called on Congress to investigate allegations of voter fraud and election irregularities. No credible evidence of such fraud has been provided by President Trump or his legal team.
Hawley is the first senator to announce publicly he will object to the results. That's significant because the rules dictate that for an objection to be considered, a member from the House and the Senate must lodge an objection in writing. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., has already said he will object to the results as well.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had reportedly urged Republicans not to object during the joint session as it puts GOP lawmakers in the uncomfortable position of supporting an objection that will likely fail and forces them to go on the record as to whether or not they concur with allegations of election fraud.
Hawley's announcement paints a clearer picture of what the session on Jan. 6 will look like. Biden will still be certified as the election's winner, but it's now certain there will be a debate and vote in both chambers.
Here's what the process will look like: Both the House and Senate will retire to their own chambers to speak in favor or against the objection. According to the Congressional Research Service, that period should not take longer than two hours.
Each chamber then votes, with a simple majority needed to uphold the objection. Both the Senate and the House must agree to the objection for it to succeed, a requirement that makes any ultimate success on the objection unlikely given the Democrats' majority in the House.
This all stems from Trump's baseless claims about election fraud as it became clear voters won't grant him a second term.
Various lawsuits filed on behalf of his campaign and his allies in states he did not win were thrown out in court. Trump's attorney general at the time of the election, William Barr, has said the Justice Department found no evidence of widespread fraud in this year's election.


npr--2020-12-30--Chinese Court Sentences 10 Hong Kong Democracy Activists To Prison Terms

A court on China 's mainland sentenced 10 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists to up to three years in prison Wednesday .
In the closely watched case , the activists tried this summer to flee to Taiwan via speedboat — but they were intercepted at sea and detained in China .
The main charge against the group was that it sought to cross an international border illegally .
But rather than return the activists to Hong Kong — where the police have deemed them fugitives — Chinese authorities opted to detain and prosecute them on the mainland .
The Yantian District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toughest punishment on Tang Kai-yin and Quinn Moon , who were accused of organizing the trip .
They are to serve three years and two years , respectively , along with a fine of up to around $ 3,000 .
Eight other activists were ordered to spend seven months in prison and pay smaller fines .
All of the sentences include the nearly four months the activists have already spent in custody , the South China Morning Post reported .
Two minors who were in the group of fugitives were returned to Hong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South China Morning Post .
The Global Times , a newspaper published by the Chinese Communist Party , said the trial would be closed to the public because of their age .
The pair were handed over Wednesday to Hong Kong 's police , which said they face charges , including arson .
The sentencing comes after rights groups , the U.S. and other countries said China 's authorities had failed to ensure a fair legal process for the detainees , such as allowing them access to lawyers of their own choosing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ already facing criminal charges linked to pro-democracy street protests in Hong Kong , where Beijing has been tightening its control over the territory 's political and legal institutions .
They left Hong Kong shortly after China 's central government imposed a tough new national security law on the territory .

Chinese Court Sentences 10 Hong Kong Democracy Activists To Prison Terms
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andy Wong/AP Andy Wong/AP
A court on China's mainland sentenced 10 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists to up to three years in prison Wednesday. In the closely watched case, the activists tried this summer to flee to Taiwan via speedboat — but they were intercepted at sea and detained in China.
The main charge against the group was that it sought to cross an international border illegally. But rather than return the activists to Hong Kong — where the police have deemed them fugitives — Chinese authorities opted to detain and prosecute them on the mainland.
The Yantian District People's Court in Shenzhen imposed the toughest punishment on Tang Kai-yin and Quinn Moon, who were accused of organizing the trip. They are to serve three years and two years, respectively, along with a fine of up to around $3,000.
Eight other activists were ordered to spend seven months in prison and pay smaller fines. All of the sentences include the nearly four months the activists have already spent in custody, the South China Morning Post reported.
Two minors who were in the original group of 12 fugitives were returned to Hong Kong for trial, according to the South China Morning Post. The Global Times, a newspaper published by the Chinese Communist Party, said the trial would be closed to the public because of their age. The pair were handed over Wednesday to Hong Kong's police, which said they face charges, including arson.
The sentencing comes after rights groups, the U.S. and other countries said China's authorities had failed to ensure a fair legal process for the detainees, such as allowing them access to lawyers of their own choosing.
"The Hong Kong 12 had no bail, no choice of lawyer, and no access to family," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said via Twitter. "This is a stark preview of the future of justice in a Hong Kong stripped of its protections under an authoritarian 'One Country, One System' framework."
Most of the activists who fled were already facing criminal charges linked to pro-democracy street protests in Hong Kong, where Beijing has been tightening its control over the territory's political and legal institutions. They left Hong Kong shortly after China's central government imposed a tough new national security law on the territory.