npr--2020-11-27--6 U.S. Citgo Executives Convicted And Sentenced in Venezuela

6 U.S. Citgo Executives Convicted And Sentenced in Venezuela Six U.S. oil executives held for three years in Venezuela were convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms Thursday .
Known as the Citgo 6 , the men are all employees of the Houston-based refining company of the same name , which is owned by Venezuela 's state oil company , PDVSA .
Five of the men , Gustavo Cárdenas , Jorge Toledo , Jose Luis Zambrano and Alirio Zambrano , and Tomeu Vadell , all U.S. citizens , were sentenced to eight years and 10 months .
Jose Pereira , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received 13 years , The Associated Press reports .
Thursday 's sentencing is the culmination of a saga that began Nov. 21 , 2017 , the day the men arrived for what they were told was a sudden business meeting in the country 's capital of Caracas .
Once in the boardroom , however , military intelligence officers stormed the room .
Officers demanded the men hand over passports and other identification cards , and then hauled them off to jail , the AP and the Financial Times report .
They were charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to refinance around $ 4 billion of Citgo bonds .
All six maintain their innocence .
CNN reports that appeals will be made for the men .
The arrests came at a tumultuous time for the country , when relations between the Trump administration and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro began to deteriorate .
Maduro launched a purge of PDVSA following the arrest of the men .
Since then , the country has slid into its worst-ever economic meltdown , including the collapse of its oil industry .
The trial of the six , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began in August .
Closing arguments were made Thursday , and immediately after , Judge Lorena Cornielles sentenced the men to prison , according to the AP .
Citgo said in a statement sent to NPR that company representatives have only seen media reports of their colleagues ' conviction .
`` While we do not have first-hand knowledge of these reported convictions , we are distressed to read about this outcome , '' the company said in a statement .
`` We continue to pray for them and their families and hope for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompt release .
We also hope that the Venezuelan authorities honor the request of the United States Government that they be released . ''
On Nov. 21 , the anniversary of the Citgo 6 's arrest , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. will continue to do the `` utmost '' to bring the men home .
`` The U.S. government has repeatedly called for the unconditional release of the CITGO-6 and their return to the United States .
These six Americans and their families have suffered long enough ; it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside and let these families be reunited , '' Pompeo said in his statement .
A representative with the U.S. State Department did n't immediately respond to a request for a comment on Thursday 's sentencing .

6 U.S. Citgo Executives Convicted And Sentenced In Venezuela
Enlarge this image toggle caption SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
Six U.S. oil executives held for three years in Venezuela were convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms Thursday.
Known as the Citgo 6, the men are all employees of the Houston-based refining company of the same name, which is owned by Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA.
Five of the men, Gustavo Cárdenas, Jorge Toledo, Jose Luis Zambrano and Alirio Zambrano, and Tomeu Vadell, all U.S. citizens, were sentenced to eight years and 10 months. Jose Pereira, a permanent resident of the U.S., received 13 years, The Associated Press reports.
Thursday's sentencing is the culmination of a saga that began Nov. 21, 2017, the day the men arrived for what they were told was a sudden business meeting in the country's capital of Caracas. Once in the boardroom, however, military intelligence officers stormed the room. Officers demanded the men hand over passports and other identification cards, and then hauled them off to jail, the AP and the Financial Times report.
They were charged with embezzlement tied to a never-executed proposal to refinance around $4 billion of Citgo bonds. All six maintain their innocence.
CNN reports that appeals will be made for the men.
The arrests came at a tumultuous time for the country, when relations between the Trump administration and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro began to deteriorate. Maduro launched a purge of PDVSA following the arrest of the men. Since then, the country has slid into its worst-ever economic meltdown, including the collapse of its oil industry.
The trial of the six, which was shut to the media, began in August. Closing arguments were made Thursday, and immediately after, Judge Lorena Cornielles sentenced the men to prison, according to the AP.
Citgo said in a statement sent to NPR that company representatives have only seen media reports of their colleagues' conviction.
"While we do not have first-hand knowledge of these reported convictions, we are distressed to read about this outcome," the company said in a statement. "We continue to pray for them and their families and hope for a resolution that will lead to their prompt release. We also hope that the Venezuelan authorities honor the request of the United States Government that they be released."
On Nov. 21, the anniversary of the Citgo 6's arrest, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. will continue to do the "utmost" to bring the men home.
"The U.S. government has repeatedly called for the unconditional release of the CITGO-6 and their return to the United States. These six Americans and their families have suffered long enough; it is time for Maduro to put politics aside and let these families be reunited," Pompeo said in his statement.
A representative with the U.S. State Department didn't immediately respond to a request for a comment on Thursday's sentencing.


npr--2020-11-26--Death Threats, Even In Writing, Can Be Grounds For Asylum, Appeals Court Says

Death Threats , Even In Writing , Can Be Grounds For Asylum , Appeals Court Says The first death threat came in the form of a note slipped under the front door .
The former Colombian police officer had spent his career fighting rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia — also known as FARC — and now that he was retired , they promised to hunt him down .
`` Now that you 're out of the police we will take care of the pending issues , '' read the note in Spanish , recounted in court filings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area . ''
The paper bore the FARC logo .
Over the next few months , FARC would send four more death threats to Edier de Jesus Rodriguez Bedoya .
But that was n't enough for the Department of Justice , whose Board of Immigration Appeals ( BIA ) rejected his asylum request .
On Wednesday , a federal appeals court overturned that decision , saying that the BIA did not follow the law when it denied Bedoya 's asylum application .
The BIA had said that threats of death were n't enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals said that BIA had set the bar too high .
`` As we have repeatedly explained , a threat of death qualifies as past persecution , '' wrote Judge Robert King for the unanimous three-judge panel .
Although the written threats never explicitly said they would `` kill '' the officer , `` their meaning is plain and unambiguous , '' the court wrote .
It 's a rebuke of the BIA at a time when more and more claims are being denied .
An analysis earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization Human Rights First found far fewer people are being granted asylum than in the past .
The current grant rate is 40 percent lower than the average during the Barack Obama and George W. Bush administrations , the group said .
The decision `` is a good example in a line of recent opinions from the Fourth Circuit and other circuits slapping down the BIA for ignoring or openly disagreeing with controlling circuit precedent , '' said Bradley Banias , who argued the case on behalf of Bedoya .
`` It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refusal to follow 4th Circuit precedent , and it will make a very big difference in my clients ' lives . ''
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to increase the number of refugees admitted to the country .
For fiscal year 2021 , Trump set the cap at 15,000 — the lowest ever .
Biden promises to increase the cap to 125,000 at first , and then raise that number over time .
Biden has also criticized the Trump Administration 's asylum policies , and has promised to increase the number of asylum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmed immigration courts .
In its opinion , the Fourth Circuit recounted Bedoya 's story .
In 1995 , then Officer Bedoya had investigated FARC rebels , passing along intelligence to the Colombian Army and leading to the death of at least three FARC guerillas .
A year later , FARC killed Bedoya 's friend for lying about Bedoya 's identity in an attempt to protect him .
In 2012 , after two decades of service , Officer Bedoya had retired from the National Police of Columbia .
But FARC had n't forgotten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first death threat , adding that `` the matter on 1995 is still pending . ''
Two months later , another note , bearing the same FARC logo .
`` You do not seem to believe , '' it said .
`` You better know that we are close to you . ''
Bedoya began fearing for his safety , and that of his family .
He contacted local authorities , but they declined to open an investigation .
A short time later , the text messages started .
`` Does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will hunt you , '' the first text said .
`` And if not , we will catch one of your children and let 's see if you appear . ''
Later that day , a second text : `` Including the daughter you have in Medellin . ''
Fearing for his life , Bedoya purchased airline tickets to the U.S. Just days later , he received a third text , from the same unknown number : `` Let it be at the end of the month . ''
Bedoya and his family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and applied for asylum .
FARC was systematically targeting retired Colombian police officers who had fought against them , he told an immigration judge .
If Bedoya returned to Colombia , he feared , FARC would make good on its threats .
The immigration judge denied his petition .
Bedoya had n't shown that he had suffered past persecution , the judge concluded .
And the 2013 threats did n't count as persecution because they were in writing , the judge said ; FARC had never approached Bedoya in person .
Bedoya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Immigration Appeals at the Department of Justice , which agreed with the immigration judge .
On Wednesday , the Fourth Circuit ruled that the BIA had gotten it wrong : Death threats alone count as persecution , even if they 're not delivered in person .
`` Written home-delivered death threats and text messages can easily be more menacing than verbal threats , in that they show that the writer and sender knows where his target lives and the relevant personal cellphone number , '' Judge King wrote .
Wednesday 's decision will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jurisdiction , said immigration attorney Jim Hacking .
`` No aspect of legal immigration has been under greater assault than our asylum system , '' he told NPR .
`` Hopefully , this case represents a solid first step to restoring sanity to the asylum process . ''

Death Threats, Even In Writing, Can Be Grounds For Asylum, Appeals Court Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Daniel Munoz/AFP via Getty Images Daniel Munoz/AFP via Getty Images
The first death threat came in the form of a note slipped under the front door.
The former Colombian police officer had spent his career fighting rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — also known as FARC — and now that he was retired, they promised to hunt him down.
"Now that you're out of the police we will take care of the pending issues," read the note in Spanish, recounted in court filings. "We are returning to the area." The paper bore the FARC logo. Over the next few months, FARC would send four more death threats to Edier de Jesus Rodriguez Bedoya. But that wasn't enough for the Department of Justice, whose Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) rejected his asylum request.
On Wednesday, a federal appeals court overturned that decision, saying that the BIA did not follow the law when it denied Bedoya's asylum application. The BIA had said that threats of death weren't enough to establish "persecution." But the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals said that BIA had set the bar too high.
"As we have repeatedly explained, a threat of death qualifies as past persecution," wrote Judge Robert King for the unanimous three-judge panel. Although the written threats never explicitly said they would "kill" the officer, "their meaning is plain and unambiguous," the court wrote.
It's a rebuke of the BIA at a time when more and more claims are being denied. An analysis earlier this year by the nonpartisan human rights organization Human Rights First found far fewer people are being granted asylum than in the past. The current grant rate is 40 percent lower than the average during the Barack Obama and George W. Bush administrations, the group said.
The decision "is a good example in a line of recent opinions from the Fourth Circuit and other circuits slapping down the BIA for ignoring or openly disagreeing with controlling circuit precedent," said Bradley Banias, who argued the case on behalf of Bedoya. "It is a clear repudiation of the Board's refusal to follow 4th Circuit precedent, and it will make a very big difference in my clients' lives."
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to increase the number of refugees admitted to the country. For fiscal year 2021, Trump set the cap at 15,000 — the lowest ever. Biden promises to increase the cap to 125,000 at first, and then raise that number over time. Biden has also criticized the Trump Administration's asylum policies, and has promised to increase the number of asylum officers, to take the burden off overwhelmed immigration courts.
In its opinion, the Fourth Circuit recounted Bedoya's story. In 1995, then Officer Bedoya had investigated FARC rebels, passing along intelligence to the Colombian Army and leading to the death of at least three FARC guerillas. A year later, FARC killed Bedoya's friend for lying about Bedoya's identity in an attempt to protect him.
In 2012, after two decades of service, Officer Bedoya had retired from the National Police of Colombia. But FARC hadn't forgotten. The following January, they sent the first death threat, adding that "the matter on 1995 is still pending." Two months later, another note, bearing the same FARC logo. "You do not seem to believe," it said. "You better know that we are close to you."
Bedoya began fearing for his safety, and that of his family. He contacted local authorities, but they declined to open an investigation. A short time later, the text messages started.
"Doesn't matter how much you hide, we will hunt you," the first text said. "And if not, we will catch one of your children and let's see if you appear." Later that day, a second text: "Including the daughter you have in Medellin."
Fearing for his life, Bedoya purchased airline tickets to the U.S. Just days later, he received a third text, from the same unknown number: "Let it be at the end of the month."
Bedoya and his family lawfully entered the U.S. in May 2013, and applied for asylum. FARC was systematically targeting retired Colombian police officers who had fought against them, he told an immigration judge. If Bedoya returned to Colombia, he feared, FARC would make good on its threats.
The immigration judge denied his petition. Bedoya hadn't shown that he had suffered past persecution, the judge concluded. And the 2013 threats didn't count as persecution because they were in writing, the judge said; FARC had never approached Bedoya in person.
Bedoya appealed the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals at the Department of Justice, which agreed with the immigration judge.
On Wednesday, the Fourth Circuit ruled that the BIA had gotten it wrong: Death threats alone count as persecution, even if they're not delivered in person.
"Written home-delivered death threats and text messages can easily be more menacing than verbal threats, in that they show that the writer and sender knows where his target lives and the relevant personal cellphone number," Judge King wrote.
Wednesday's decision will help others who seek asylum in that jurisdiction, said immigration attorney Jim Hacking. "No aspect of legal immigration has been under greater assault than our asylum system," he told NPR. "Hopefully, this case represents a solid first step to restoring sanity to the asylum process."


npr--2020-11-27--'World's Loneliest Elephant' Moving To Sanctuary, With Help From Cher

'World 's Loneliest Elephant ' Moving To Sanctuary , With Help From Cher Singer Cher was in Pakistan on Friday with a message for `` the world 's loneliest elephant '' : There is life after love .
Kaavan the elephant has been languishing in poor conditions in Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad since 1985 , according to the animal welfare group Four Paws International .
He was brought there as a gift from Sri Lanka at 1 year old .
Kaavan had a partner elephant , Saheli , who lived with him from 1990 to 2012 .
She died when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Four Paws told The Associated Press that Kaavan was heartbroken when she died .
He 's been alone ever since .
On Sunday , Kaavan will move to an animal sanctuary in Cambodia , where he will be able to socialize with other elephants .
Activists around the world , including local Pakistanis as well as Cher 's charity , Free the Wild , have been campaigning for years for Kaavan 's release .
Cher wrote on Twitter that she met Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to thank him for making it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has brought star power and media attention to Kaavan 's move , but Four Paws is leading the collaborative operation to transport the 5-ton elephant .
`` Transferring an adult elephant on a plane is something very , very rare , '' said Four Paws spokesperson Martin Bauer .
Previous transfers he knows of have been much shorter distances between zoos in the U.S. '' An elephant transfer by plane on this scale I think has never happened before , so we are writing history here , '' he told NPR .
Kaavan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crate and onto a cargo plane .
According to Bauer , he will be conscious for the whole 10-hour flight , with a staff of veterinarians accompanying him .
After landing , it 's an hour and a half drive to the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary in the country 's northwest .
The sanctuary has three female elephants to keep Kaavan company .
It 's `` the best hope for him , '' Bauer said .
`` The goal is to socialize him .
It will take a while because he has lived on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But yes , ultimately the goal is to bring him together with other animals because that 's what elephants want .
They 're herd animals , they always form families , and that 's also what we plan for him . ''
Animal rights activists say Kaavan spent years in chains and did n't receive appropriate veterinary care .
The Islamabad High Court ruled in May that the animals kept in Marghazar Zoo were held in cruel conditions and the zoo should be closed .
In July a court approved the plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paws has been involved in relocating other animals from the zoo , including wolves , monkeys and rabbits , and plans to relocate bears next month .
For the last three months , the focus has been preparing Kaavan for the trip .
Speaking from Pakistan , Bauer said Friday that `` everything is going according to plan '' for Kaavan .
`` He 's doing well .
He was very cooperative — because elephants can be quite stubborn — but he showed good will .
And he 's a good boy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it looks very promising that we can leave Pakistan on Sunday . ''

'World's Loneliest Elephant' Moving To Sanctuary, With Help From Cher
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anjum Naveed/AP Anjum Naveed/AP
Singer Cher was in Pakistan on Friday with a message for "the world's loneliest elephant": There is life after love.
Kaavan the elephant has been languishing in poor conditions in Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad since 1985, according to the animal welfare group Four Paws International. He was brought there as a gift from Sri Lanka at 1 year old.
Kaavan had a partner elephant, Saheli, who lived with him from 1990 to 2012. She died when an infection became gangrenous. A veterinarian with Four Paws told The Associated Press that Kaavan was heartbroken when she died. He's been alone ever since.
On Sunday, Kaavan will move to an animal sanctuary in Cambodia, where he will be able to socialize with other elephants.
Activists around the world, including local Pakistanis as well as Cher's charity, Free the Wild, have been campaigning for years for Kaavan's release. Cher wrote on Twitter that she met Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to thank him for making it possible to move the elephant.
Cher has brought star power and media attention to Kaavan's move, but Four Paws is leading the collaborative operation to transport the 5-ton elephant.
"Transferring an adult elephant on a plane is something very, very rare," said Four Paws spokesperson Martin Bauer. Previous transfers he knows of have been much shorter distances between zoos in the U.S.
"An elephant transfer by plane on this scale I think has never happened before, so we are writing history here," he told NPR.
Kaavan will be loaded into a specially built crate and onto a cargo plane. According to Bauer, he will be conscious for the whole 10-hour flight, with a staff of veterinarians accompanying him. After landing, it's an hour and a half drive to the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary in the country's northwest.
The sanctuary has three female elephants to keep Kaavan company. It's "the best hope for him," Bauer said.
"The goal is to socialize him. It will take a while because he has lived on his own for such a long time. But yes, ultimately the goal is to bring him together with other animals because that's what elephants want. They're herd animals, they always form families, and that's also what we plan for him."
Animal rights activists say Kaavan spent years in chains and didn't receive appropriate veterinary care.
The Islamabad High Court ruled in May that the animals kept in Marghazar Zoo were held in cruel conditions and the zoo should be closed. In July a court approved the plan to move Kaavan to Cambodia.
Four Paws has been involved in relocating other animals from the zoo, including wolves, monkeys and rabbits, and plans to relocate bears next month.
For the last three months, the focus has been preparing Kaavan for the trip.
Speaking from Pakistan, Bauer said Friday that "everything is going according to plan" for Kaavan.
"He's doing well. He was very cooperative — because elephants can be quite stubborn — but he showed good will. And he's a good boy. And yes, all is fine and it looks very promising that we can leave Pakistan on Sunday."


npr--2020-11-27--'Voters, Not Lawyers, Choose The President': Trump Team Dealt Another Blow In Court

'Voters , Not Lawyers , Choose The President ' : Trump Team Dealt Another Blow In Court The Trump legal team has suffered another loss in its continuing attempts to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential election .
In a scathing opinion , a federal appeals court said Friday that a lower court acted properly when it threw out the Trump campaign 's challenge to the certification of the election results in Pennsylvania .
`` Free , fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy , '' wrote Judge Stephanos Bibas , a former member of the Federalist Society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 .
`` Charges of unfairness are serious .
But calling an election unfair does not make it so . ''
The ruling caps a tumultuous November for the Trump campaign , which has seen virtually every legal challenge to the outcome of the presidential election tossed by the courts .
Friday 's decision upholds last week 's dismissal of Trump 's bid to delay vote certification in the state .
The Trump legal team has already signaled its intention to appeal the ruling to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machinery in Pennsylvania continues to cover up the allegations of massive fraud , '' said Trump 's attorneys Jenna Ellis and Rudy Giuliani on Twitter .
`` On to SCOTUS ! ''
But a Supreme Court challenge is n't likely to succeed , according to former Acting U.S .
Solicitor General Neal Katyal , a frequent advocate before the high court .
`` It 's hard to imagine a stronger smackdown , '' Katyal said on Twitter .
The Third Circuit `` has totally destroyed Trump 's claims in Pennsylvania , '' Katyal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` I went to school with Judge Bibas , '' Katyal said .
`` He did n't suffer fools gladly then .
He 's very conservative , but that is the point : true conservatives see this lawsuit for what it is — a baseless attack on our democracy . ''
Bibas wrote that although the Trump team publicly condemns coverups and fraud , it did n't allege fraud in court .
Rather , it objected to some restrictions placed on Republican poll watchers , as well as to the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail in ballots that had been filled in improperly .
And even if the Trump campaign were correct that some ballots were improperly counted , that would n't offset Biden 's roughly 81,000 vote margin of victory , the court said .
`` Tossing out millions of mail-in ballots would be drastic and unprecedented , disenfranchising a huge swath of the electorate and upsetting all down-ballot races too , '' Bibas wrote on behalf of a panel of three judges , all of whom were appointed by Republican presidents .
Neither state nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watcher need be , the court said .
Nor does any law dictate how election officials should react if absentee voters fail to fill in their mail-in ballots perfectly .
The appeals court commended the lower court for its `` fast , fair , patient handling of this demanding litigation . ''
`` Voters , not lawyers , choose the President , '' the court wrote .
`` Ballots , not briefs , decide elections . ''

'Voters, Not Lawyers, Choose The President': Trump Team Dealt Another Blow In Court
Enlarge this image toggle caption Julio Cortez/AP Julio Cortez/AP
The Trump legal team has suffered another loss in its continuing attempts to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential election.
In a scathing opinion, a federal appeals court said Friday that a lower court acted properly when it threw out the Trump campaign's challenge to the certification of the election results in Pennsylvania.
"Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy," wrote Judge Stephanos Bibas, a former member of the Federalist Society whom President Trump nominated to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017. "Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so."
The ruling caps a tumultuous November for the Trump campaign, which has seen virtually every legal challenge to the outcome of the presidential election tossed by the courts. Friday's decision upholds last week's dismissal of Trump's bid to delay vote certification in Pennsylvania.
The Trump legal team has already signaled its intention to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. "The activist judicial machinery in Pennsylvania continues to cover up the allegations of massive fraud," Trump's attorneys Jenna Ellis and Rudy Giuliani said on Twitter. "On to SCOTUS!"
But a Supreme Court challenge isn't likely to succeed, according to former acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal, a frequent advocate before the high court. "It's hard to imagine a stronger smackdown," Katyal said on Twitter. The 3rd Circuit "has totally destroyed Trump's claims in Pennsylvania," Katyal added, calling the ruling "devastating."
"I went to school with Judge Bibas," Katyal said. "He didn't suffer fools gladly then. He's very conservative, but that is the point: True conservatives see this lawsuit for what it is — a baseless attack on our democracy."
Bibas wrote that although the Trump team publicly condemns cover-ups and fraud, it didn't allege fraud in court. Rather, it objected to some restrictions placed on Republican poll watchers as well as that some Pennsylvania counties let voters fix mail-in ballots that were filled in improperly.
But neither state nor federal law determines how close a poll watcher need be, the court said. Nor does any law dictate how election officials should react if absentee voters fail to fill in their mail-in ballots perfectly.
And even if the Trump campaign were correct that some ballots were improperly counted, that wouldn't offset Biden's roughly 81,000-vote margin of victory, the court said.
"Tossing out millions of mail-in ballots would be drastic and unprecedented, disenfranchising a huge swath of the electorate and upsetting all down-ballot races too," Bibas wrote on behalf of a panel of three judges, all of whom were appointed by Republican presidents.
"Voters, not lawyers, choose the President," the court wrote. "Ballots, not briefs, decide elections."


npr--2020-11-27--Pandemic Renews Debate Over Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Workers

Hailed as heroes during the pandemic , essential workers have cared for the elderly in nursing homes and kept food supplies moving from farms to supermarkets .
But thousands of these workers are also undocumented immigrants facing this choice to keep their jobs : ride a crowded bus or drive without license .
As COVID-19 cases surge and immigrant communities experience disproportionately higher rates of deaths and jobs losses , the debate about whether to allow undocumented immigrants in the state to get driver 's licenses is heating up in Massachusetts and in states across the South and Midwest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed their laws to allow undocumented immigrants to drive legally .
Massachusetts is home to an estimated 185,000 undocumented immigrants , 70,000 of whom are expected to apply for a driver 's license if the bill passes .
`` Many of these folks who have been hailed and praised are essential workers , whether they 're in the grocery store or helping take care of our loved ones in long-term care facilities .
These are the folks on the front lines .
How do we reward them ?
We tell them that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Brendan Crighton , the Massachusetts legislator who co-wrote the bill .
On Nantucket , a spike of 15 COVID cases earlier this fall was linked to four immigrant workers sharing one car .
Roberto Santamaria , the island 's health director , said Nantucket 's economy would grind to a halt without its immigrant workforce and that driver 's licenses are like a shield against the virus .
`` Not many people would think that this 2-inch by 3-inch piece of plastic would be considered a public health intervention , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The opposition has n't addressed these pandemic arguments .
Critics say undocumented immigrants could use driver 's licenses to vote illegally and that they do n't deserve a privilege like driving .
In Massachusetts , Republican Gov .
Charlie Baker , expressing concern about fraudulent identities , has n't budged from his stance a year ago .
`` My problem with giving licenses to people who are undocumented is just that .
There 's no documentation to back up the fact that they are who they say they are , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no cases of fraud over the five years since it allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver 's licenses .
In states like Michigan that are also trying to change the law , backers said driver 's licenses would enable the state 's 130,000 undocumented immigrants to access drive-up Covid testing .
Massachusetts lawmaker Sonia Chang-Diaz said allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses would boost job opportunities in communities hit hardest by the pandemic .
`` The granting of those driver 's licenses is a big lever to enable individuals and families to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get to them via state spending , '' she said .
Erica is an undocumented immigrant who lives outside of Boston and relies on her car for economic survival .
NPR agreed to use her first name only because she fears immigration officials .
'It 's impossible for me to have same life without the car , '' she said on a recent Monday morning .
`` Without the driver license or not , I am driving . ''
Every week she drives hundreds of miles to clean houses , to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a food pantry in Boston and to take her daughter to school and doctor 's appointments .
Until the law is changed in Massachusetts and 34 other states , the pandemic has left immigrants like Maria and her husband Jose from El Salvador with a choice between possible Covid exposure on public transit and encounters with police .
NPR agreed to use only first names for the couple who live in Springfield , Mass .
because they fear enforcement by federal immigration officials .
Scared of riding buses , they drive a car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several times by police , one of whom ordered them and their little boy out of the car alongside the highway .
`` When we drive , we 're scared that we could get stopped .
We could get our car taken away .
We could get arrested , '' said Maria , speaking through an interpreter .
`` But we have to bring our children to school .
We have to bring them to their appointments .
We need to drive . ''

Pandemic Renews Debate Over Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Workers
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Burrell/GBH Chris Burrell/GBH
Hailed as heroes during the pandemic, essential workers have cared for the elderly in nursing homes and kept food supplies moving from farms to supermarkets. But thousands of these workers are also undocumented immigrants facing this choice to keep their jobs: ride a crowded bus or drive without license.
As COVID-19 cases surge and immigrant communities experience disproportionately higher rates of deaths and jobs losses, the debate about whether to allow undocumented immigrants in the state to get driver's licenses is heating up in Massachusetts and in states across the South and Midwest.
Fifteen other states and D.C. have already changed their laws to allow undocumented immigrants to drive legally.
Massachusetts is home to an estimated 185,000 undocumented immigrants, 70,000 of whom are expected to apply for a driver's license if the bill passes.
"Many of these folks who have been hailed and praised are essential workers, whether they're in the grocery store or helping take care of our loved ones in long-term care facilities. These are the folks on the front lines. How do we reward them? We tell them that they have to break the law to drive," said Brendan Crighton, the Massachusetts legislator who co-wrote the bill.
On Nantucket, a spike of 15 COVID cases earlier this fall was linked to four immigrant workers sharing one car. Roberto Santamaria, the island's health director, said Nantucket's economy would grind to a halt without its immigrant workforce and that driver's licenses are like a shield against the virus.
"Not many people would think that this 2-inch by 3-inch piece of plastic would be considered a public health intervention, but it is," he said.
The opposition hasn't addressed these pandemic arguments. Critics say undocumented immigrants could use driver's licenses to vote illegally and that they don't deserve a privilege like driving.
In Massachusetts, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, expressing concern about fraudulent identities, hasn't budged from his stance a year ago.
"My problem with giving licenses to people who are undocumented is just that. There's no documentation to back up the fact that they are who they say they are," he said last year.
Connecticut has found no cases of fraud over the five years since it allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.
In states like Michigan that are also trying to change the law, backers said driver's licenses would enable the state's 130,000 undocumented immigrants to access drive-up Covid testing.
Massachusetts lawmaker Sonia Chang-Diaz said allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses would boost job opportunities in communities hit hardest by the pandemic.
"The granting of those driver's licenses is a big lever to enable individuals and families to earn financial capacity that we're trying to get to them via state spending," she said.
Erica is an undocumented immigrant who lives outside of Boston and relies on her car for economic survival. NPR agreed to use her first name only because she fears immigration officials.
'It's impossible for me to have same life without the car," she said on a recent Monday morning. "Without the driver license or not, I am driving."
Every week she drives hundreds of miles to clean houses, to make meals for schools, to volunteer at a food pantry in Boston and to take her daughter to school and doctor's appointments.
Until the law is changed in Massachusetts and 34 other states, the pandemic has left immigrants like Maria and her husband Jose from El Salvador with a choice between possible Covid exposure on public transit and encounters with police.
NPR agreed to use only first names for the couple who live in Springfield, Mass. because they fear enforcement by federal immigration officials. Scared of riding buses, they drive a car. But they've been pulled over several times by police, one of whom ordered them and their little boy out of the car alongside the highway.
"When we drive, we're scared that we could get stopped. We could get our car taken away. We could get arrested," said Maria, speaking through an interpreter. "But we have to bring our children to school. We have to bring them to their appointments. We need to drive."


npr--2020-11-27--French Police Officers In Custody After Video Emerges Of Brutal Beating Of Black Man

French Police Officers In Custody After Video Emerges Of Brutal Beating Of Black Man Four French police officers have been suspended and are in custody after a video that shows them brutally beating a Black man was posted online Thursday .
The incident has provoked an outcry across France and comes as President Emmanuel Macron 's government is trying to push through controversial legislation that would restrict the filming of police .
Civic and journalist freedom groups oppose the bill , calling it a shield for brutality .
Michel Zecler , a 41-year-old music producer , was not wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures — when police officers saw him walking in Paris last Saturday .
As he tried to enter his music studio , the police officers pushed him through the doorway and pummeled him repeatedly with their fists and a billy club .
The beating stopped when others in the building came to Zecler 's aid , though police later threw a tear-gas canister through the window to force him to leave his studio and arrested Zecler and others .
The police were unaware they were being filmed by a surveillance camera .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Loopsider , a French digital news outlet , and has been viewed more than 8 million times .
`` I thought it was my last day , '' Zecler , wearing an arm sling , told Loopsider in an interview .
Zecler spent 48 hours in jail after officers accused him of violence , resisting arrest and trying to take their weapons .
The video shows Zecler is clearly overwhelmed , and Zecler 's lawyer has told French media that a formal complaint has been filed against the police officers , who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days earlier , scenes of police brutally clearing migrants from an encampment in Paris sparked similar outrage .
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on a news broadcast Thursday that the officers had `` sullied the uniform of the Republic '' and would be fired .
But he defended French police in general , arguing that the vast majority of security forces act professionally .
Darmanin said there are fewer than 10,000 incidents flagged every year out of a total of roughly 3 million police operations .
The incident is feeding a groundswell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The French president has been accused of veering far to the right on security matters .
An editorial in influential daily Le Monde said on Friday it 's too late for the interior minister to simply find the video `` shocking . ''
The newspaper said he must address the grave leadership crisis within the French police and called for an immediate withdrawal of the security bill .

French Police Officers In Custody After Video Emerges Of Brutal Beating Of Black Man
Enlarge this image toggle caption AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images
Four French police officers have been suspended and are in custody after a video that shows them brutally beating a Black man was posted online Thursday.
The incident has provoked an outcry across France and comes as President Emmanuel Macron's government is trying to push through controversial legislation that would restrict the filming of police. Civic and journalist freedom groups oppose the bill, calling it a shield for brutality.
Michel Zecler, a 41-year-old music producer, was not wearing a face mask — required under current COVID-19 measures — when police officers saw him walking in Paris last Saturday. As he tried to enter his music studio, the police officers pushed him through the doorway and pummeled him repeatedly with their fists and a billy club.
The beating stopped when others in the building came to Zecler's aid, though police later threw a tear-gas canister through the window to force him to leave his studio and arrested Zecler and others.
The police were unaware they were being filmed by a surveillance camera.
The video was posted on social media by Loopsider, a French digital news outlet, and has been viewed more than 8 million times.
"I thought it was my last day," Zecler, wearing an arm sling, told Loopsider in an interview.
Zecler spent 48 hours in jail after officers accused him of violence, resisting arrest and trying to take their weapons.
The video shows Zecler is clearly overwhelmed, and Zecler's lawyer has told French media that a formal complaint has been filed against the police officers, who are also accused of fabricating evidence.
Just days earlier, scenes of police brutally clearing migrants from an encampment in Paris sparked similar outrage.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on a news broadcast Thursday that the officers had "sullied the uniform of the Republic" and would be fired.
But he defended French police in general, arguing that the vast majority of security forces act professionally. Darmanin said there are fewer than 10,000 incidents flagged every year out of a total of roughly 3 million police operations.
The incident is feeding a groundswell of opposition to Macron's security bill. The French president has been accused of veering far to the right on security matters.
An editorial in influential daily Le Monde said on Friday it's too late for the interior minister to simply find the video "shocking." The newspaper said he must address the grave leadership crisis within the French police and called for an immediate withdrawal of the security bill.


npr--2020-11-27--North Korea Executed Coronavirus Rule-Breaker, Says South Korean Intelligence

North Korea is taking increasingly harsh measures to stop the coronavirus from entering the country , including executing an official in August who violated anti-virus rules , South Korean intelligence officials told lawmakers on Friday .
In a closed-door briefing to a parliamentary intelligence committee on Friday , the officials told lawmakers that the executed North Korean had brought goods through customs in the city of Sinuiju on North Korea 's border with China , in violation of coronavirus-related quarantine measures .
North Korea also has locked down the capital , Pyongyang , and prohibited fishing and salt production in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to block COVID-19 , lawmakers cited the intelligence officials as saying .
Lawmaker Ha Tae-keung , who is on the intelligence committee , told reporters after the briefing that North Korea has refused to take delivery of 110,000 tons of rice promised by China .
The rice is sitting in northeastern China 's port of Dalian , he said , because North Korea fears the coronavirus could enter the country with the shipment .
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un `` has been expressing emotional excess , anger and signs of stress , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ha told reporters .
Most of North Korea 's trade — both legal commerce and extensive smuggling — goes through China , and the border closure after the coronavirus broke out has sent food and commodities prices surging in sanctions-hit North Korea , according to news reports .
Trade with China plummeted 73 % from January to September , year-on-year , according to a report by the Korea International Trade Association .
By contrast , trade dropped 57 % following the latest batch of international sanctions , imposed in 2017 .
North Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus out of the country .
Despite testing thousands of suspected cases , it claims not to have a single confirmed case , although health experts say smugglers could have brought the virus in from China .
Lawmaker Ha added that South Korea 's intelligence service foiled an attempt by the North to hack into a South Korean drugmaker working on a coronavirus vaccine .
Observers are now waiting to see whether the struggle against COVID-19 will force the cancellation of a national congress of the ruling Workers ' Party in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to unveil a raft of new domestic and foreign policies .
In a sign that Kim is keeping his options open with the incoming Biden administration , intelligence officials told lawmakers Friday that Pyongyang has instructed diplomats not to antagonize the United States , and that ambassadors will be held responsible for any missteps .
`` We 've been told that there have been orders to exercise utmost prudence in language , '' lawmaker Kim Byung-kee told reporters .

North Korea Executed Coronavirus Rule-Breaker, Says South Korean Intelligence
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jon Chol Jin/AP Jon Chol Jin/AP
North Korea is taking increasingly harsh measures to stop the coronavirus from entering the country, including executing an official in August who violated anti-virus rules, South Korean intelligence officials told lawmakers on Friday.
In a closed-door briefing to a parliamentary intelligence committee on Friday, the officials told lawmakers that the executed North Korean had brought goods through customs in the city of Sinuiju on North Korea's border with China, in violation of coronavirus-related quarantine measures.
North Korea also has locked down the capital, Pyongyang, and prohibited fishing and salt production in the ocean as part of its restrictions to block COVID-19, lawmakers cited the intelligence officials as saying.
Lawmaker Ha Tae-keung, who is on the intelligence committee, told reporters after the briefing that North Korea has refused to take delivery of 110,000 tons of rice promised by China. The rice is sitting in northeastern China's port of Dalian, he said, because North Korea fears the coronavirus could enter the country with the shipment.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "has been expressing emotional excess, anger and signs of stress, and increasingly giving unreasonable orders," Ha told reporters.
Most of North Korea's trade — both legal commerce and extensive smuggling — goes through China, and the border closure after the coronavirus broke out has sent food and commodities prices surging in sanctions-hit North Korea, according to news reports.
Trade with China plummeted 73% from January to September, year-on-year, according to a report by the Korea International Trade Association. By contrast, trade dropped 57% following the latest batch of international sanctions, imposed in 2017.
North Korea claims to have been successful in keeping the coronavirus out of the country. Despite testing thousands of suspected cases, it claims not to have a single confirmed case, although health experts say smugglers could have brought the virus in from China.
Lawmaker Ha added that South Korea's intelligence service foiled an attempt by the North to hack into a South Korean drugmaker working on a coronavirus vaccine.
Observers are now waiting to see whether the struggle against COVID-19 will force the cancellation of a national congress of the ruling Workers' Party in January, at which Kim Jong Un is expected to unveil a raft of new domestic and foreign policies.
In a sign that Kim is keeping his options open with the incoming Biden administration, intelligence officials told lawmakers Friday that Pyongyang has instructed diplomats not to antagonize the United States, and that ambassadors will be held responsible for any missteps.
"We've been told that there have been orders to exercise utmost prudence in language," lawmaker Kim Byung-kee told reporters.


npr--2020-11-27--Top Iranian Nuclear Scientist Killed In Attack

A top Iranian scientist believed to be responsible for developing the country 's military nuclear program was killed Friday , causing outrage in Iran and raising U.S. concerns over potential retaliation .
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was in a vehicle that came under attack from `` armed terrorists , '' Iran 's Defense Ministry said in a statement .
`` In the shootout between Fakhrizadeh 's bodyguards and the terrorists , the scientist was seriously wounded and taken to hospital , '' where the medical team was unable to save him and he succumbed to his injuries , it said .
State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capital , Tehran , when it came under attack .
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack , but some senior Iranian officials said they believe Israel played a role .
`` Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist today , '' Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter .
`` This cowardice—with serious indications of Israeli role—shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators . ''
The Israeli government declined to comment on Fakhrizadeh 's killing .
In April 2018 , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned the scientist when discussing Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name , Fakhrizadeh , '' he said , while announcing that the Israeli spy agency Mossad had stolen documents from Iran about its covert nuclear activities .
In remarks Friday following news of the killing , Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Amir Hatami said Fakhrizadeh had a track record of scientific and defense innovations , and led a team that developed one of the country 's first kits for coronavirus diagnosis .
Fakhrizadeh , a professor of physics at Imam Hussein University in Tehran , was the former head of Iran 's Physics Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon declined to comment on the incident .
But a senior U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said the killing has raised concerns of blowback from Iran against U.S. forces in the region , especially in Iraq , where U.S. forces already have faced attacks from Iranian-backed militias .
It 's not the first time Fakhrizadeh faced an attempt on his life .
Israeli intelligence affairs journalist Yossi Melman reported that the Iranian scientist escaped an attempted assassination a few years ago .
In addition to Fakhrizadeh 's work as a physics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clandestine Amad plan checking the feasibility of a nuclear bomb '' and `` led its weaponization efforts , '' Melman wrote in a tweet retweeted by President Trump .
`` He was head of Iran 's secret military program and wanted for many years by Mossad . ''
The U.S .
Departments of State and Treasury started sanctioning Fakhrizadeh in 2008 , blocking him from interacting with the U.S. financial system .
The U.S. has publicly stated that Fakhrizadeh was the leader of Iran 's nuclear research program .
The killing could lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump this month raised the possibility of attacking Iran to disable its nuclear program , U.S. military and other senior officials pushed back , warning of potential retaliation against U.S. troops in the region .
Still , Israeli Defense Forces allegedly were instructed in recent weeks to prepare for the possibility that the U.S. would strike Iran before Trump leaves office , Axios reported Wednesday .
This belief was n't based on specific intelligence , but was due to the anticipation of a `` very sensitive period '' while Trump is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing senior Israeli officials .
Trita Parsi , founder of the National Iranian American Council , said in a series of tweets that Israel is a `` prime suspect '' in the attack because it has the expertise and motivation to do .
`` Conducting attacks in Iran has few down-sides for Israel right now , '' said Parsi , who has written extensively on the relationship between Iran , Israel and the U.S. `` Either Iran lashes out and sparks a broader conflict that sucks in the US , bringing about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The assassination is likely to complicate any Biden administration attempt to revive diplomacy with Iran , Parsi said .
Iranian officials have already promised the country would retaliate against the perpetrators , which they currently perceive to be Israel .
`` In the last days of their gambling ally 's political life , the Zionists seek to intensify and increase pressure on Iran to wage a full-blown war , '' said Hossein Dehghan , an adviser to Iran 's supreme leader , according to The Associated Press .
`` We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this oppressed martyr and we will make them regret their actions ! ''
Previous cyberattacks by the U.S. and Israel , and assassinations of scientists have n't stopped Iran 's nuclear program .
This attack wo n't either , said Ariane Tabatabai of the German Marshall Fund .
`` A single man was not running the entirety of Iran 's nuclear program , '' Tabatabai told All Things Considered .
`` This has become a much larger endeavor .
And yes , he was an important player .
But one of the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ develop that infrastructure , to train others , to be able to continue the program .
...
I would n't be surprised if you saw a bit more of the push within the system to go in the direction of a nuclear weapon . ''
NPR 's Peter Kenyon , Daniel Estrin , Tom Bowman , Michele Kelemen and James Doubek contributed to this report .

Top Iranian Nuclear Scientist Killed In Attack
Enlarge this image toggle caption Fars News Agency via AP Fars News Agency via AP
Updated at 6:54 a.m. ET Saturday
A top Iranian scientist believed to be responsible for developing the country's military nuclear program was killed Friday, causing outrage in Iran and raising U.S. concerns over potential retaliation.
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was in a vehicle that came under attack from "armed terrorists," Iran's Defense Ministry said in a statement. "In the shootout between Fakhrizadeh's bodyguards and the terrorists, the scientist was seriously wounded and taken to hospital," where the medical team was unable to save him, and he succumbed to his injuries, it said.
State media said the vehicle was traveling outside the capital, Tehran, when it came under attack.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but some senior Iranian officials said they believe Israel played a role.
"Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist today," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter. "This cowardice — with serious indications of Israeli role — shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators."
The Israeli government declined to comment on Fakhrizadeh's killing.
In April 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned the scientist when discussing Iran's nuclear program.
"Remember that name, Fakhrizadeh," he said, while announcing that the Israeli spy agency Mossad had stolen documents from Iran about its covert nuclear activities.
In remarks Friday following news of the killing, Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Amir Hatami said Fakhrizadeh had a track record of scientific and defense innovations and led a team that developed one of the country's first kits for coronavirus diagnosis. Fakhrizadeh, a professor of physics at Imam Hussein University in Tehran, was the former head of Iran's Physics Research Center.
It's not the first time Fakhrizadeh faced an attempt on his life. Israeli intelligence affairs journalist Yossi Melman reported that the Iranian scientist escaped an attempted assassination a few years ago.
In addition to Fakhrizadeh's work as a physics professor, "he also led the clandestine Amad plan checking the feasibility of a nuclear bomb" and "led its weaponization efforts," Melman wrote in a tweet retweeted by President Trump. "He was head of Iran's secret military program and wanted for many years by Mossad."
The U.S. State and Treasury departments started sanctioning Fakhrizadeh in 2008, blocking him from interacting with the U.S. financial system. The U.S. has publicly said that Fakhrizadeh was the leader of Iran's nuclear research program.
The State Department and Pentagon declined to comment on the matter.
But a senior U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said the killing has raised concerns of blowback from Iran against U.S. forces in the region, especially in Iraq, where these forces already have faced attacks from Iranian-backed militias.
When Trump this month reportedly raised the possibility of attacking Iran to disable its nuclear program, U.S. military and other senior officials pushed back, warning of potential retaliation against U.S. troops in the region.
Still, Israel Defense Forces allegedly were instructed in recent weeks to prepare for the possibility that the U.S. would strike Iran before Trump leaves office, Axios reported Wednesday. This belief wasn't based on specific intelligence, but was due to the anticipation of a "very sensitive period" while Trump is still commander in chief, Axios said, citing senior Israeli officials.
Trita Parsi, founder of the National Iranian American Council, said in a series of tweets that Israel is a "prime suspect" in the attack because it has the expertise and motivation to do.
"Conducting attacks in Iran has few down-sides for Israel right now," said Parsi, who has written extensively on the relationship between Iran, Israel and the United States. "Either Iran lashes out and sparks a broader conflict that sucks in the US, bringing about a US-Iran confrontation that Netanyahu long has sought."
In a letter Friday to the U.N. secretary-general and the president of the Security Council, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi, made clear he shares those suspicions.
"The cowardly assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh — with serious indications of Israeli responsibility in it — is another desperate attempt to wreak havoc on our region as well as to disrupt Iran's scientific and technological development," the ambassador said in the letter, noting that Iranian officials were "warning against any adventuristic measures by the United States and Israel."
"The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the criminal assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh," the letter added, "and expects the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Security Council to strongly condemn this inhumane terrorist act and take necessary measures against its perpetrators."
The assassination is likely to complicate any Biden administration attempt to revive diplomacy with Iran, Parsi said. Iranian officials have already promised retaliation.
"In the last days of their gambling ally's political life, the Zionists seek to intensify and increase pressure on Iran to wage a full-blown war," said Hossein Dehghan, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, according to The Associated Press. "We will descend like lightning on the killers of this oppressed martyr and we will make them regret their actions!"
Previous cyberattacks by the U.S. and Israel, and assassinations of scientists haven't stopped Iran's nuclear program. This attack won't either, said Ariane Tabatabai of the German Marshall Fund.
"A single man was not running the entirety of Iran's nuclear program," Tabatabai told NPR's All Things Considered. "This has become a much larger endeavor. And yes, he was an important player. But one of the more important parts of his role was to develop that infrastructure, to train others, to be able to continue the program. ... I wouldn't be surprised if you saw a bit more of the push within the system to go in the direction of a nuclear weapon."
NPR's Peter Kenyon, Daniel Estrin, Tom Bowman, Michele Kelemen, Colin Dwyer and James Doubek contributed to this report.


npr--2020-11-28--With Ceremony At The Vatican, Wilton Gregory Becomes 1st Black American Cardinal

With Ceremony At The Vatican , Wilton Gregory Becomes 1st Black American Cardinal Kneeling before Pope Francis , 72-year-old Wilton Gregory received the red hat and ring Saturday , becoming the first Black American cardinal in the history of Catholicism .
Gregory , the archbishop of Washington since 2019 , is one of 13 bishops and priests elevated to the College of Cardinals at the Vatican on Saturday .
With the ceremony , Francis has appointed 73 of the 128 cardinals who can elect the next pope .
Before the ceremony , Wilton told The Associated Press he viewed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholics in the United States , the heritage of faith and fidelity that we represent . ''
The ceremony , known as a consistory , was subdued compared with years past as the pandemic put a damper on what would normally be a day of pomp and circumstance .
Although St. Peter 's Basilica normally holds thousands , each cardinal was limited to 10 guests , and the basilica was mostly empty .
Guests and new cardinals alike were wearing masks .
As a precaution , the cardinal candidates who traveled to Rome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Vatican for 10 days before the ceremony .
In his homily , Pope Francis cautioned the new cardinals never to lose their connection to the people , nor to think of themselves only as `` His Eminence . ''
`` If you feel that , you are off the path , '' Francis said .
`` We too — pope and cardinals — must always see ourselves reflected in this world truth .
It is a sharpened sword ; it cuts , it proves painful , but it also heals , liberates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned the cardinals not to fall prey to corruption , or to use their positions for personal advancement .
Gregory has developed a reputation as someone who is not afraid to weigh in on salient social issues .
`` You can not be a Catholic and sit on the sidelines , '' he told young adult Catholics last year .
`` To be a member of the church means you 've got to get in and get your hands dirty in the mix of the whole arena of faith from what we believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat one another . ''
Gregory did n't hold back after President Trump visited the St. John Paul II National Shrine the day after demonstrators were tear-gassed outside the White House .
`` I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles , '' he said at the time .
This week , Gregory told the media he hopes to find common ground with President-elect Joe Biden , who will be the second Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The kind of relationship that I hope we will have is a conversational relationship where we can discover areas where we can cooperate that reflect the social teachings of the church , '' Gregory told the Catholic News Service , `` knowing full well that there are some areas where we wo n't agree . ''

With Ceremony At The Vatican, Wilton Gregory Becomes 1st Black American Cardinal
Enlarge this image toggle caption Fabio Frustaci/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Fabio Frustaci/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Kneeling before Pope Francis, 72-year-old Wilton Gregory received the red hat and ring Saturday, becoming the first Black American cardinal in the history of Catholicism.
Gregory, the archbishop of Washington since 2019, is one of 13 bishops and priests elevated to the College of Cardinals at the Vatican on Saturday. With the ceremony, Francis has appointed 73 of the 128 cardinals who can elect the next pope.
Before the ceremony, Gregory told The Associated Press he viewed his appointment as "an affirmation of Black Catholics in the United States, the heritage of faith and fidelity that we represent."
The ceremony, known as a consistory, was subdued compared with years past as the pandemic put a damper on what would normally be a day of pomp and circumstance. Although St. Peter's Basilica normally holds thousands, each cardinal was limited to 10 guests, and the basilica was mostly empty.
Guests and new cardinals alike were wearing masks. As a precaution, the cardinal candidates who traveled to Rome from abroad had been in quarantine at the Vatican for 10 days before the ceremony.
In his homily, Pope Francis cautioned the new cardinals never to lose their connection to the people, nor to think of themselves only as "His Eminence."
"If you feel that, you are off the path," Francis said. "We too — pope and cardinals — must always see ourselves reflected in this world truth. It is a sharpened sword; it cuts, it proves painful, but it also heals, liberates and converts us."
Francis also warned the cardinals not to fall prey to corruption, or to use their positions for personal advancement.
Catholic News Service YouTube
Gregory has developed a reputation as someone who is not afraid to weigh in on salient social issues. "You cannot be a Catholic and sit on the sidelines," he told young adult Catholics last year. "To be a member of the church means you've got to get in and get your hands dirty in the mix of the whole arena of faith from what we believe and profess to how we live and treat one another."
Gregory didn't hold back after President Trump visited the St. John Paul II National Shrine the day after demonstrators were tear-gassed outside the White House. "I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles," he said at the time.
This week, Gregory told the media he hopes to find common ground with President-elect Joe Biden, who will be the second Catholic president in the country's history.
"The kind of relationship that I hope we will have is a conversational relationship where we can discover areas where we can cooperate that reflect the social teachings of the church," Gregory told the Catholic News Service, "knowing full well that there are some areas where we won't agree."
Sylvia Poggioli contributed to this report.


npr--2020-11-28--Sarah Fuller Makes History As 1st Woman To Play In A Power 5 Football Game

Sarah Fuller Makes History As 1st Woman To Play In A Power 5 Football Game Sarah Fuller has made history as the first woman to play in a Power Five college football game .
The Vanderbilt University senior made her historic debut as a kicker for the Commodores in their faceoff Saturday against the University of Missouri Tigers .
She kicked off for the Commodores to start the second half , making her the first woman to see game-time action in a Power Five football game .
The Power Five consists of the biggest and most popular athletic conferences : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Big Ten Conference , Big 12 Conference and Pac-12 Conference .
Fuller joined the football team 's roster after practicing with them earlier this week , The Vanderbilt Hustler reported .
The decision to add her to the ranks reportedly came after several team specialists entered quarantines related to COVID-19 .
Although it was her first time playing for the football team , Fuller is no stranger to Vanderbilt sports .
The Wylie , Texas , native made her first start as the goalkeeper for the Vanderbilt women 's soccer team on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made three saves in a game against the University of Arkansas that won her team the SEC Tournament Championship title — its first since 1994 .
Fuller 's historic kickoff in the third quarter of Saturday 's game sent the ball 30 yards to the opposing team 's 35-yard line .
Missouri did not return the kick .
Despite Fuller making college football history , Vanderbilt was crushed by Missouri , losing the game 0-41 .
Fuller is just the third woman to play in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April Goss of Kent State , according to ESPN .
Liz Heaston was the first woman to play — and score — in a college football game , kicking two extra points that helped lead Willamette University to victory against Linfield College on Oct. 18 , 1997 .
In a Twitter post on Friday night , Fuller made clear that she knew she was breaking barriers , writing , `` Let 's make history . ''
In another nod to breaking barriers , her helmet during Saturday 's game had `` Play Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Play Like a Girl is a nonprofit that encourages girls to participate in sports as well as science , technology , engineering and math , or STEM .
Twitter users said they tuned in to Saturday 's game just to watch Fuller make history .
Fuller also received support from American tennis player Billie Jean King , who wrote in a Twitter post that `` women belong in the game . ''
King made headlines in 1973 when she defeated former men 's tennis champion Bobby Riggs in the match billed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Sarah Fuller Makes History As 1st Woman To Play In A Power 5 Football Game
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hunter Dyke/Mizzou Athletics via Getty Images Hunter Dyke/Mizzou Athletics via Getty Images
Updated at 4:38 p.m. ET
Sarah Fuller has made history as the first woman to play in a Power Five college football game.
The Vanderbilt University senior made her historic debut as a kicker for the Commodores in their faceoff Saturday against the University of Missouri Tigers. She kicked off for the Commodores to start the second half, making her the first woman to see game-time action in a Power Five football game.
What an inspiration
Sarah Fuller becomes the first woman to play in a Power 5 college football game.
(via @SECNetwork) pic.twitter.com/2hGXmcvBeK — ESPN (@espn) November 28, 2020
The Power Five consists of the biggest and most popular athletic conferences: the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference and Pac-12 Conference.
Fuller joined the football team's roster after practicing with them earlier this week, The Vanderbilt Hustler reported. The decision to add her to the ranks reportedly came after several team specialists entered quarantines related to COVID-19.
Although it was her first time playing for the football team, Fuller is no stranger to Vanderbilt sports. The Wylie, Texas, native made her first start as the goalkeeper for the Vanderbilt women's soccer team on Oct. 11. On Sunday, she made three saves in a game against the University of Arkansas that won her team the SEC Tournament Championship title — its first since 1994.
Fuller's historic kickoff in the third quarter of Saturday's game sent the ball 30 yards to the opposing team's 35-yard line. Missouri did not return the kick. Despite Fuller making college football history, Vanderbilt was crushed by Missouri, losing the game 0-41.
Fuller is just the third woman to play in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, after Katie Hnida of New Mexico and April Goss of Kent State, according to ESPN. Liz Heaston was the first woman to play — and score — in a college football game, kicking two extra points that helped lead Willamette University to victory against Linfield College on Oct. 18, 1997.
In a Twitter post on Friday night, Fuller made clear that she knew she was breaking barriers, writing, "Let's make history."
In another nod to breaking barriers, her helmet during Saturday's game had "Play Like a Girl" written on the back. Play Like a Girl is a nonprofit that encourages girls to participate in sports as well as science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.
Twitter users said they tuned in to Saturday's game just to watch Fuller make history.
I’m not invested in Vanderbilt or Missouri football teams but I am invested in the success of Sarah Fuller! #InvestInWomen pic.twitter.com/HYAo4qzQpv — Amber Jamison (@AmberJamison25) November 28, 2020
Here's why the Sarah Fuller story is awesome, whether she plays today or not. My teenage daughter came downstairs just now and immediately said, "Let's check in on the Vanderbilt game." pic.twitter.com/kh1QarFbH9 — Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) November 28, 2020
Fuller also received support from American tennis player Billie Jean King, who wrote in a Twitter post that "women belong in the game."
Football history may happen today.
Good luck to @VanderbiltU’s Sarah Fuller, goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team, who is dressing for their football team as its place-kicker.
If she plays, she will be the 1st woman to do so in Power 5 football.
Women belong in the game! https://t.co/XouFpvMRgd — Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) November 28, 2020
King made headlines in 1973 when she defeated former men's tennis champion Bobby Riggs in the match billed as the "Battle of the Sexes."


npr--2020-11-28--'We Know We Are Asking A Lot.' Los Angeles County Announces New Stay-At-Home Order

'We Know We Are Asking A Lot . '
Los Angeles County Announces New Stay-At-Home Order As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the nation , Los Angeles County has announced a new stay-at-home order that places new restrictions on businesses and gatherings but does not ban them altogether .
Friday 's announcement came on a day when the number of new cases reached 205,000 nationwide — a figure believed to be higher , in part , due to delays in reporting caused by the Thanksgiving holiday .
More than 4,500 of those cases were reported in Los Angeles County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` safer at home '' order — which takes effect Monday and runs through Dec. 20 — prohibits all public and private gatherings with individuals outside of a person 's household , with exceptions for faith-based services and protests because they are `` constitutionally protected rights . ''
Residents are advised to stay home `` as much as possible '' but to wear a mask if they do go out .
`` We know we are asking a lot from so many who have been sacrificing for months on end and we hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health safety measures that we know can slow the spread , '' Dr. Barbara Ferrer , director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health , said in a statement .
`` Acting with collective urgency right now is essential if we want to put a stop to this surge . ''
The order caps occupancy at nonessential retail stores , personal care services and libraries at 20 % , while essential businesses such as grocery stores can operate at 35 % maximum occupancy .
Businesses operating outdoors — including fitness centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , aquariums , batting cages , mini-golf and go-kart racing — are all allowed 50 % maximum occupancy .
The order does n't change anything for schools or day camps , which will be allowed to remain open as long as they adhere to reopening protocols .
If they experience an outbreak of three or more cases over a 14-day period , then they are required to close for two weeks .
The new order followed an announcement on Sunday that the county would be suspending outdoor dining at restaurants as Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hospitalizations and deaths .
The surge mirrors the trend across much of the rest of the country .
In addition to the more than 200,000 new cases reported on Friday , more than 1,400 Americans died from the virus .
The U.S. has now recorded more than 13 million cases and nearly 266,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Even with a potential vaccine becoming available for some Americans as early as December , experts worry that as the holiday season continues , it could lead to a dramatic rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proper precautions .
Last week , Pfizer and its partner , BioNTech , asked the Food and Drug Administration to grant an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine — which has been found to be 95 % effective .
A second vaccine from the biotech company Moderna is expected to be submitted for emergency authorization soon as well .
Those first vaccines , however , are only expected to be available on a limited basis for front-line health care workers and those most at risk , such as older people .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser for Operation Warp Speed , while millions of people in the U.S. could be vaccinated in the coming weeks after an emergency use authorization , it will still take months before the country reaches herd immunity .

'We Know We Are Asking A Lot.' Los Angeles County Announces New Stay-At-Home Order
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the nation, Los Angeles County has announced a new stay-at-home order that places new restrictions on businesses and gatherings but does not ban them altogether.
Friday's announcement came on a day when the number of new cases reached 205,000 nationwide — a figure believed to be higher, in part, due to delays in reporting caused by the Thanksgiving holiday. More than 4,500 of those cases were reported in Los Angeles County, along with 24 deaths.
The "safer at home" order — which takes effect Monday and runs through Dec. 20 — prohibits all public and private gatherings with individuals outside of a person's household, with exceptions for faith-based services and protests because they are "constitutionally protected rights." Residents are advised to stay home "as much as possible" but to wear a mask if they do go out.
"We know we are asking a lot from so many who have been sacrificing for months on end and we hope that L.A. County residents continue following Public Health safety measures that we know can slow the spread," Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said in a statement. "Acting with collective urgency right now is essential if we want to put a stop to this surge."
The order caps occupancy at nonessential retail stores, personal care services and libraries at 20%, while essential businesses such as grocery stores can operate at 35% maximum occupancy.
Businesses operating outdoors — including fitness centers, museum galleries, zoos, gardens, aquariums, batting cages, mini-golf and go-kart racing — are all allowed 50% maximum occupancy.
The order doesn't change anything for schools or day camps, which will be allowed to remain open as long as they adhere to reopening protocols. If they experience an outbreak of three or more cases over a 14-day period, then they are required to close for two weeks.
The new order followed an announcement on Sunday that the county would be suspending outdoor dining at restaurants as Los Angeles experiences a continued increase of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
The surge mirrors the trend across much of the rest of the country. In addition to the more than 200,000 new cases reported on Friday, more than 1,400 Americans died from the virus. The U.S. has now recorded more than 13 million cases and nearly 266,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Even with a potential vaccine becoming available for some Americans as early as December, experts worry that as the holiday season continues, it could lead to a dramatic rise in cases if people do not take proper precautions.
Last week, Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, asked the Food and Drug Administration to grant an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine — which has been found to be 95% effective. A second vaccine from the biotech company Moderna is expected to be submitted for emergency authorization soon as well.
Those first vaccines, however, are only expected to be available on a limited basis for front-line health care workers and those most at risk, such as older people. According to Moncef Slaoui, the chief scientific adviser for Operation Warp Speed, while millions of people in the U.S. could be vaccinated in the coming weeks after an emergency use authorization, it will still take months before the country reaches herd immunity.


npr--2020-11-28--Iran Vows Retaliation In 'Proper Time' For Nuclear Scientist's Killing

One day after the assassination of a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist , the country 's leaders have made clear they intend to retaliate for a slaying they blame on Israel .
In separate statements delivered Saturday , both Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani threatened an aggressive response to the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh near Tehran .
`` All relevant administrators must seriously place two crucial matters on their agenda : 1st to investigate this crime and firmly prosecute its perpetrators and its commanders , 2nd to continue the martyr 's scientific and technological efforts in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Iran 's supreme leader said on his English-language Twitter account Saturday .
Rouhani , meanwhile , directly named Israel as the suspected perpetrator of what Iranian authorities described as a daytime ambush in Absard , a district east of the Iranian capital .
The scientist , who was among several dead , had been singled out by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a 2018 presentation as a leading figure in Iran 's alleged efforts to develop a nuclear weapon .
`` We will respond to the assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a televised Cabinet meeting Saturday , according to The Associated Press .
`` The Iranian nation is smarter than falling into the trap of the Zionists .
They are thinking to create chaos . ''
He did not offer a specific time frame for the suggested reprisal .
Neither Israel nor the U.S. , a close ally , has commented publicly on the killing .
The rhetorical volleys from Iran 's leadership have stirred fears of renewed violence in the Persian Gulf , which saw a similar flare-up of tensions at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a U.S. drone strike killed a top Iranian general , Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani , which , in turn , drew an Iranian retaliation against U.S. military bases in Iraq .
Dozens of service members were diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury after the Iranian missile attacks .
Many observers are now concerned there may be further violence in store — though the American presidential election may have affected the calculus for Iranian leaders .
Whereas in January they were confronting a hard-line Trump administration that had pulled the U.S. out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incoming Biden administration could be moving toward an eventual U.S. return to the deal and a reprieve from sanctions .
Karim Sadjadpour , a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace , told NPR 's Weekend Edition that at the same time , Iranian leaders are also feeling domestic pressure to launch a violent reprisal .
`` It 's going to be difficult to reconcile these two impulses , '' Sadjadpour said , `` because if they do indeed retaliate against Israel or the United States , it 's going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to the nuclear deal . ''
Partly for that reason , some analysts are suggesting that ratcheting up tensions between Tehran and Washington was precisely the point of the killing .
`` Israeli leaders have long been concerned about the Iran nuclear deal , '' Sadjadpour said .
`` There [ were ] probably few things that could have done it more effectively . ''
Some international leaders have scrambled to tamp down the simmering antagonism .
In a statement Saturday , a spokesperson for the European Union 's diplomatic arm described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' that `` runs counter to the principle of respect for human rights the EU stands for . ''
`` In these uncertain times , it is more important than ever for all parties to remain calm and exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid escalation which can not be in anyone 's interest , '' the statement said .

Iran Vows Retaliation In 'Proper Time' For Nuclear Scientist's Killing
Enlarge this image toggle caption Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images
One day after the assassination of a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist, the country's leaders have made clear they intend to retaliate for a slaying they blame on Israel.
In separate statements delivered Saturday, both Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani threatened an aggressive response to the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh near Tehran.
"All relevant administrators must seriously place two crucial matters on their agenda: 1st to investigate this crime and firmly prosecute its perpetrators and its commanders, 2nd to continue the martyr's scientific and technological efforts in all the sectors where he was active," Iran's supreme leader said on his English-language Twitter account Saturday.
Rouhani, meanwhile, directly named Israel as the suspected perpetrator of what Iranian authorities described as a daytime ambush in Absard, a district east of the Iranian capital. The scientist, who was among several dead, had been singled out by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a 2018 presentation as a leading figure in Iran's alleged efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.
"We will respond to the assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh in a proper time," Rouhani said during a televised Cabinet meeting Saturday, according to The Associated Press. "The Iranian nation is smarter than falling into the trap of the Zionists. They are thinking to create chaos."
He did not offer a specific time frame for the suggested reprisal. Neither Israel nor the U.S., a close ally, has commented publicly on the killing.
Asia Iran's Top Nuclear Scientist Assassinated Iran's Top Nuclear Scientist Assassinated Listen · 5:28 5:28
The rhetorical volleys from Iran's leadership have stirred fears of renewed violence in the Persian Gulf, which saw a similar flare-up of tensions at the start of the year. In January, a U.S. drone strike killed a top Iranian general, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, which, in turn, drew an Iranian retaliation against U.S. military bases in Iraq. Dozens of service members were diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury after the Iranian missile attacks.
Many observers are now concerned there may be further violence in store — though the American presidential election may have affected the calculus for Iranian leaders. Whereas in January they were confronting a hard-line Trump administration that had pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal, now the incoming Biden administration could be moving toward an eventual U.S. return to the deal and a reprieve from sanctions.
Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told NPR's Weekend Edition that at the same time, Iranian leaders are also feeling domestic pressure to launch a violent reprisal.
"It's going to be difficult to reconcile these two impulses," Sadjadpour said, "because if they do indeed retaliate against Israel or the United States, it's going to make it more difficult to get that return to the nuclear deal."
Partly for that reason, some analysts are suggesting that ratcheting up tensions between Tehran and Washington was precisely the point of the killing.
"Israeli leaders have long been concerned about the Iran nuclear deal," Sadjadpour said. "There [were] probably few things that could have done it more effectively."
Some international leaders have scrambled to tamp down the simmering antagonism. In a statement Saturday, a spokesperson for the European Union's diplomatic arm described the assassination as a "criminal act" that "runs counter to the principle of respect for human rights the EU stands for."
"In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever for all parties to remain calm and exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid escalation which cannot be in anyone's interest," the statement said.


npr--2020-11-28--Tony Hsieh, Former Zappos CEO, Dies At 46

Tony Hsieh , who helped grow the online company Zappos into one of the largest retailers of shoes on the Internet , died Friday after being injured in a house fire .
He was 46 .
`` The world has lost a tremendous visionary and an incredible human being , '' Zappos CEO Kedar Deshpande said in a statement .
`` We recognize that not only have we lost our inspiring former leader , but many of you have also lost a mentor and a friend . ''
Megan Fazio , a spokeswoman for Hsieh 's side venture , DTP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Hsieh died from injuries sustained in a house fire in Connecticut .
A local CBS affiliate reported that Hsieh died peacefully in Connecticut , surrounded by family .
Hsieh graduated from Harvard University in the mid-90s with a degree in computer science .
While working at Oracle , Hsieh and a college roommate created a business called LinkExchange to help companies buy advertisements on websites .
In 1998 , during the heyday of the dot-com bubble , they sold the company to Microsoft for $ 265 million .
That provided funding for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually not passionate about shoes at all , '' Hsieh told NPR 's How I Built This in 2017 .
What he was passionate about , Hsieh said , was customer service and company culture .
That 's one of the reasons he sold LinkExchange , he said : At some point the company grew so large that the corporate culture changed , and no longer appealed to Hsieh , an introvert .
With his newfound wealth , Hsieh started an incubator to invest in other companies .
One day , he got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nick Swinmurn , who had an idea for selling shoes online .
It was one of the numerous random pitches Hsieh was getting every day , and he almost deleted the email .
`` It seemed like the poster child of bad Internet ideas , '' Hsieh said : Who would actually buy shoes without seeing them in person ?
But Swinmurn intrigued Hsieh with two facts : First , footwear was a $ 40 billion industry in the United States .
Second , mail-order catalogs were , at the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country .
That was `` clear proof that people are going to remotely try on shoes , '' Hsieh said .
He spent the next 20 years leading the shoe seller to enormous success as CEO .
`` I 'm probably different from a lot of typical CEOs , '' Hsieh told How I Built This .
`` Imagine a greenhouse , where maybe at a typical company , the CEO might be the strongest and tallest , most charismatic plant that all the other plants strive to one day become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think of my role as more about being the architect of the greenhouse , and then all the plants inside will flourish and thrive on their own . ''
In 2009 , facing potential cash flow problems , Hsieh sold Zappos to Amazon for $ 1.2 billion .
He stayed on as CEO until stepping down earlier this year .
In addition to Zappos , Hsieh was known for his venture DTP Cos. , which poured hundreds of millions of dollars into revitalizing downtown Las Vegas .
By 2017 , Hsieh 's company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , according to the Review-Journal .
`` Today is a sad day , '' former Zappos Chief Operating Officer Alfred Lin said on Twitter .
`` The world lost a pioneer of company culture , the shoe industry , Downtown LV , web advertising , and also a gentle soul who gave a part of himself to countless people .
We 'll remember Tony for that and the happiness he brought to so many people . ''

Tony Hsieh, Former Zappos CEO, Dies At 46
Enlarge this image toggle caption Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
Tony Hsieh, who helped grow the online company Zappos into one of the largest retailers of shoes on the Internet, died Friday after being injured in a house fire. He was 46.
"The world has lost a tremendous visionary and an incredible human being," Zappos CEO Kedar Deshpande said in a statement. "We recognize that not only have we lost our inspiring former leader, but many of you have also lost a mentor and a friend."
Megan Fazio, a spokeswoman for Hsieh's side venture, DTP Cos., told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Hsieh died from injuries sustained in a house fire in Connecticut. A local CBS affiliate reported that Hsieh died peacefully in Connecticut, surrounded by family.
Hsieh graduated from Harvard University in the mid-90s with a degree in computer science. While working at Oracle, Hsieh and a college roommate created a business called LinkExchange to help companies buy advertisements on websites. In 1998, during the heyday of the dot-com bubble, they sold the company to Microsoft for $265 million. That provided funding for what came next.
"I'm actually not passionate about shoes at all," Hsieh told NPR's How I Built This in 2017. What he was passionate about, Hsieh said, was customer service and company culture. That's one of the reasons he sold LinkExchange, he said: At some point the company grew so large that the corporate culture changed, and no longer appealed to Hsieh, an introvert.
From The Archives: An Interview With Tony Hsieh 30:03
With his newfound wealth, Hsieh started an incubator to invest in other companies. One day, he got a voicemail from the founder of Zappos, Nick Swinmurn, who had an idea for selling shoes online. It was one of the numerous random pitches Hsieh was getting every day, and he almost deleted the email.
"It seemed like the poster child of bad Internet ideas," Hsieh said: Who would actually buy shoes without seeing them in person?
But Swinmurn intrigued Hsieh with two facts: First, footwear was a $40 billion industry in the United States. Second, mail-order catalogs were, at the time, the fastest-growing segment of the footwear industry in the country.
That was "clear proof that people are going to remotely try on shoes," Hsieh said. He spent the next 20 years leading the shoe seller to enormous success as CEO.
"I'm probably different from a lot of typical CEOs," Hsieh told How I Built This. "Imagine a greenhouse, where maybe at a typical company, the CEO might be the strongest and tallest, most charismatic plant that all the other plants strive to one day become. ... For me, I really think of my role as more about being the architect of the greenhouse, and then all the plants inside will flourish and thrive on their own."
In 2009, facing potential cash flow problems, Hsieh sold Zappos to Amazon for $1.2 billion. He stayed on as CEO until stepping down earlier this year.
In addition to Zappos, Hsieh was known for his venture DTP Cos., which poured hundreds of millions of dollars into revitalizing downtown Las Vegas. By 2017, Hsieh's company had a portfolio of about 90 properties there, according to the Review-Journal.
"Today is a sad day," former Zappos Chief Operating Officer Alfred Lin said on Twitter. "The world lost a pioneer of company culture, the shoe industry, Downtown LV, web advertising, and also a gentle soul who gave a part of himself to countless people. We'll remember Tony for that and the happiness he brought to so many people."


npr--2020-11-28--Germany Passes 1 Million Coronavirus Cases As Merkel Warns Of 'A Tough Winter'

Germany officially passed 1 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Friday as the country 's daily totals remain high through the first month of what the government calls `` lockdown light . ''
Since the beginning of November , schools and most shops have remained open , but bars , gyms and other indoor leisure centers have closed , with restaurants only open for takeaway orders .
On Wednesday , Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the country will have to live with these restrictions through at least Dec. 20 .
`` We 're in for a tough winter , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said in an address to Germany 's parliament .
`` And right now , as people start to think about Christmas and the New Year , my wish for us all is that we act responsibly and stand up for each other . ''
Merkel said most of Germany will ease social distancing measures over Christmas so that the number of people allowed to gather will rise from five to 10 , but the government is asking for people to avoid all social contact the week before visiting family for Christmas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new year is likely .
German health authorities estimate the current lockdown has reduced social contact by 40 % and prevented the exponential growth of infections .
But the daily numbers of infections in Germany remain high — hovering above 20,000 per day recently — and hospitals , while not full , are busy .
Health officials said the country expects to receive 100 million doses of the vaccine produced by German company BioNtech and Pfizer , and they hope to have the first vaccinations available for medical personnel before the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern German hospitals do n't have enough freezer space to hold the vaccine .

Germany Passes 1 Million Coronavirus Cases As Merkel Warns Of 'A Tough Winter'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Kappeler/Picture Alliance via Getty Images Michael Kappeler/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
Germany officially passed 1 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Friday as the country's daily totals remain high through the first month of what the government calls "lockdown light." Since the beginning of November, schools and most shops have remained open, but bars, gyms and other indoor leisure centers have closed, with restaurants only open for takeaway orders.
On Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the country will have to live with these restrictions through at least Dec. 20.
"We're in for a tough winter, but it will come to an end," she said in an address to Germany's parliament. "And right now, as people start to think about Christmas and the New Year, my wish for us all is that we act responsibly and stand up for each other."
Merkel said most of Germany will ease social distancing measures over Christmas so that the number of people allowed to gather will rise from five to 10, but the government is asking for people to avoid all social contact the week before visiting family for Christmas.
Merkel warned that another extension into the new year is likely. German health authorities estimate the current lockdown has reduced social contact by 40% and prevented the exponential growth of infections. But the daily numbers of infections in Germany remain high — hovering above 20,000 per day recently — and hospitals, while not full, are busy.
Health officials said the country expects to receive 100 million doses of the vaccine produced by German company BioNtech and Pfizer, and they hope to have the first vaccinations available for medical personnel before the end of the year. But there's concern German hospitals don't have enough freezer space to hold the vaccine.