npr--2020-11-06--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

Coronavirus World Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak On Sept. 28 , the world marked a tragic milestone : 1 million deaths from COVID-19 .
That 's according to a tally maintained by Johns Hopkins University .
And public health experts believe the actual toll – the recorded deaths plus the unrecorded deaths – is much higher .
While the number of cases has slowed in many countries that were hit hard early on by coronavirus , the number of new cases continues to increase .
Since early July , new daily cases averaged over 200,000 worldwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January .
At over 9 million cases , the United States leads the world 's COVID-19 crisis .
In late spring and early summer , new COVID-19 cases were largely driven by cases in the Americas .
While the U.S. has consistently had the most new daily cases of coronavirus in the region , Brazil 's new daily cases increased rapidly between May and August .
However , in September , several countries that had previously flattened their curve saw a resurgence in cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , daily case counts have risen swiftly since June , without signs of slowing down .
Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time .
The first chart compares each continent to each other , while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region .
To compare country outbreaks , the chart below graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each country 's totals to date .
This type of visualization highlights a state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In countries like Israel , which is seeing a second wave of case growth after an initial wave in April , the line forms a V-shape , as the initially bent curve spikes upwards again .
Click here to see the state-by-state breakdown of cases in the United States .
This story was originally published on @ @ @ @ @

Coronavirus world map: We've now passed the 600 million mark for infections
Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated. The last update was Sept. 5, 2022. For current data about COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data are useful resources.
In late January 2020 only a few dozen COVID-19 infections had been identified outside of China. A year later, the world tallied its first 100 million cases. It took the globe just 7 more months to pass the 200 million mark— then another 5 months to hit 300 million, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Now the virus has spread to every corner of the globe and has been blamed for more than 6 million deaths.
The United States, India and Brazil in that order have had the most COVID cases and the three nations collectively account for almost half of all recorded infections so far in the pandemic.
Explore the chart below to find a country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January 2020.
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Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time. The first chart compares each continent to each other, while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region.
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This story was originally published on March 30, 2020.


npr--2020-11-06--Coronavirus Is Surging: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Is Surging : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 9 million people in the U.S. have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 230,000 have died of COVID-19 .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily nationwide .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the risk of infection in each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita .
These color-coded risk levels were developed by a consortium of researchers and public health experts .
The group advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
Orange states may need to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and both yellow and green states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ type of visualization highlights a state 's daily growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
Since then , new cases have fallen from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to over 1,000 per day in mid October .
Explore the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita figures around the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid October , California , Florida and Texas surpass New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends , the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state , week over week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks ; those in shades of green , are declining .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies .
This may result in occasional data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases and or update their methodologies .
For example , in early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was able to reconcile the historical data .
On June 25 , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
On Sept. 2 , Massachusetts changed its methodology for counting probable cases , which lowered its overall case and death numbers .
The JHU team maintains a list of such changes .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn contributed to and Carmel @ @ @ @ @

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
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Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-11-06--'An Era Is Coming To An End': Travelers Bid Fond Farewell To Berlin's Tegel Airport

'An Era Is Coming To An End ' : Travelers Bid Fond Farewell To Berlin 's Tegel Airport Airports can be emotional places , where loved ones part ways and families reunite .
Now more than ever , as the pandemic hampers air travel , they are an embodiment of what the Germans call Fernweh , which — for want of an English word — roughly means the painful longing to be elsewhere , a wretched wanderlust or restlessness .
In Berlin , the city 's airports provoke wildly different emotions , depending on which one you 're talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were three , then two — and soon there will be just one .
But any mention of this long-awaited international airport tends to elicit expletives and laughter because of a succession of technical fiascos which set back construction by almost a decade , causing the construction budget to run over by more than $ 4.7 billion .
After postponing half a dozen times over a nine-year period , the airport finally opened on Oct. 31 , with little fanfare to save both money and face .
Even Engelbert Lütke Daldrup , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the airport , has strong feelings about the place .
`` The massive delays and construction problems made Berlin and the whole of Germany a laughing stock , '' he said at a recent press conference .
`` As a German engineer , I 'm ashamed . ''
But at Tegel , Berlin 's other airport — built 72 years ago and set to close for good on Nov. 8 — the mood is melancholic .
Although the coronavirus means that few are flying anywhere , Berliners are visiting Terminal A simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beer and quietly take their leave .
`` I came here today to take a few farewell photos , '' says Rolf Schneider , a 66-year-old retired engineer , wielding a large camera .
`` I 've flown from Tegel many times since the Wall came down , and it feels like an era is coming to an end . ''
As a resident of East Berlin , Schneider could n't fly from West Berlin 's Tegel — or anywhere else — until 1989 , when the Berlin Wall fell .
For him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was denied until middle age .
He says he knows all about Fernweh .
Tegel was built to guarantee the freedom of West Berliners .
Constructed in 1948 during the Soviet blockade of West Berlin , it enabled Allied planes to deliver much-needed postwar supplies that were also being flown into a British military air base and the city 's Tempelhof Airport , decommissioned in 2008 and now a park .
While it took just three months to build a functioning airport at Tegel — and what was , at the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replacement has taken 30 years to come to fruition .
The initial concept came after German reunification in 1990 and construction began 16 years later .
Hamburg-based aviation journalist Andreas Spaeth has reported on the entire story from start to finish .
He says he is still trying to explain why it took Berlin so long to build a new airport .
`` How the hell could this happen to Germans , of all people , so much known for their precision ? ''
he exclaims .
Spaeth says the new airport 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myth of German efficiency once and for all .
A roof turned out to be too heavy for the building ; escalators were too short .
Lights , once turned on , could n't be turned off .
Much of the airport 's décor is now outdated , he says , and even one of the gates , originally intended to serve the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet , is already obsolete because Air Berlin , the company that planned to run the plane , went bust in 2017 .
And now , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then there 's the coronavirus pandemic .
Even before it opened , the airport was already losing several million dollars a week and faces yet more debt with the airline industry in turmoil .
But Spaeth says the current lack of passengers has a silver lining .
`` Berlin airport is almost lucky in a way that this crisis happens now , '' he says .
`` They can actually calmly and quietly open the airport without being at maximum capacity demand right away . ''
Back at Tegel , the main terminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We came here today to say goodbye because over the years we 've experienced a lot at this airport , '' says Mariane Dillenberger , visiting with her husband .
`` All those memories : meeting family in arrivals , heading off on vacation .
It 's rather moving to be here , and a little bit sad , too . ''
Grabbing her husband , Rainer Dillenberger , she says : `` You should talk to my husband .
He was the one who insisted we come today .
It 's moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berliner .
Right , darling ? ''
But he politely excuses himself and turns away .
`` He ca n't talk , '' his wife explains .
`` It hurts too much .
He 's welling up with tears .
Oh , dear ! ''
Her husband 's tears signify Heimweh — the opposite of Fernweh .
They reflect a painful longing for home , a yearning for the West Berlin that is no more .
But a little bit of that bygone place can still be found at the new airport .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brandt , a Nobel Peace laureate and chancellor who worked for East and West German reconciliation — and served as West Berlin 's mayor in the mid-20th century .

'An Era Is Coming To An End': Travelers Bid Fond Farewell To Berlin's Tegel Airport
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bildagentur-online/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Bildagentur-online/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Airports can be emotional places, where loved ones part ways and families reunite. Now more than ever, as the pandemic hampers air travel, they are an embodiment of what the Germans call Fernweh, which — for want of an English word — roughly means the painful longing to be elsewhere, a wretched wanderlust or restlessness.
In Berlin, the city's airports provoke wildly different emotions, depending on which one you're talking about. Until a decade ago, there were three, then two — and soon there will be just one. But any mention of this long-awaited international airport tends to elicit expletives and laughter because of a succession of technical fiascos which set back construction by almost a decade, causing the construction budget to run over by more than $4.7 billion.
After postponing half a dozen times over a nine-year period, the airport finally opened on Oct. 31, with little fanfare to save both money and face.
Even Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, the latest in a series of chief executives for the airport, has strong feelings about the place.
"The massive delays and construction problems made Berlin and the whole of Germany a laughing stock," he said at a recent press conference. "As a German engineer, I'm ashamed."
But at Tegel, Berlin's other airport — built 72 years ago and set to close for good on Nov. 8 — the mood is melancholic. Although the coronavirus means that few are flying anywhere, Berliners are visiting Terminal A simply to walk about, drink an overpriced beer and quietly take their leave.
"I came here today to take a few farewell photos," says Rolf Schneider, a 66-year-old retired engineer, wielding a large camera. "I've flown from Tegel many times since the Wall came down, and it feels like an era is coming to an end."
As a resident of East Berlin, Schneider couldn't fly from West Berlin's Tegel — or anywhere else — until 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell. For him, the airport represented a freedom he was denied until middle age. He says he knows all about Fernweh.
Tegel was built to guarantee the freedom of West Berliners. Constructed in 1948 during the Soviet blockade of West Berlin, it enabled Allied planes to deliver much-needed postwar supplies that were also being flown into a British military air base and the city's Tempelhof Airport, decommissioned in 2008 and now a park.
While it took just three months to build a functioning airport at Tegel — and what was, at the time, Europe's longest runway — its contemporary replacement has taken 30 years to come to fruition. The initial concept came after German reunification in 1990 and construction began 16 years later.
Hamburg-based aviation journalist Andreas Spaeth has reported on the entire story from start to finish. He says he is still trying to explain why it took Berlin so long to build a new airport.
"How the hell could this happen to Germans, of all people, so much known for their precision?" he exclaims.
Spaeth says the new airport's series of construction issues has debunked the myth of German efficiency once and for all. A roof turned out to be too heavy for the building; escalators were too short. Lights, once turned on, couldn't be turned off.
Much of the airport's décor is now outdated, he says, and even one of the gates, originally intended to serve the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet, is already obsolete because Air Berlin, the company that planned to run the plane, went bust in 2017. And now, the A380 itself is being decommissioned.
And then there's the coronavirus pandemic. Even before it opened, the airport was already losing several million dollars a week and faces yet more debt with the airline industry in turmoil.
But Spaeth says the current lack of passengers has a silver lining. "Berlin airport is almost lucky in a way that this crisis happens now," he says. "They can actually calmly and quietly open the airport without being at maximum capacity demand right away."
Back at Tegel, the main terminal fills up with nostalgic day-trippers.
"We came here today to say goodbye because over the years we've experienced a lot at this airport," says Mariane Dillenberger, visiting with her husband. "All those memories: meeting family in arrivals, heading off on vacation. It's rather moving to be here, and a little bit sad, too."
Grabbing her husband, Rainer Dillenberger, she says: "You should talk to my husband. He was the one who insisted we come today. It's moving for him too, as a West Berliner. Right, darling?"
But he politely excuses himself and turns away.
"He can't talk," his wife explains. "It hurts too much. He's welling up with tears. Oh, dear!"
Her husband's tears signify Heimweh — the opposite of Fernweh. They reflect a painful longing for home, a yearning for the West Berlin that is no more.
But a little bit of that bygone place can still be found at the new airport. It is named after the late Willy Brandt, a Nobel Peace laureate and chancellor who worked for East and West German reconciliation — and served as West Berlin's mayor in the mid-20th century.


npr--2020-11-06--Biden Takes Leads In Pa., Ga., Putting Him On Cusp Of Electoral College Win

Biden Takes Leads In Pa. , Ga. , Putting Him On Cusp Of Electoral College Win Three days after Election Day , Democratic nominee Joe Biden took narrow leads in Pennsylvania and Georgia , according to The Associated Press , putting him on the cusp of a victory in the Electoral College .
Early Friday , Biden took a 5,500-vote lead in the Keystone State , after trailing President Trump there for days .
He also took a narrow lead in Georgia , giving the Democratic nominee the lead in a state that has n't voted for a Democrat for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticket in 1992 .
Both states remained tight with votes left to count , but those remaining votes are mail-in ballots that have broadly broken in the former vice president 's favor .
Biden also leads in the popular vote .
Georgia may remain tight and undecided , since voters there have until Friday to return overseas and active military ballots , as well as cure , or fix , mistakes on absentee ballots .
Provisional ballots also remain to be counted , as well as mail votes from some GOP-leaning counties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ still need to be counted , many from Democratic-leaning counties .
Biden has multiple paths to the presidency .
If he wins Pennsylvania , he does n't need any of the other states he 's leading in to reach 270 electoral votes .
Trump , meanwhile , must win Pennsylvania in order to retain the presidency , so both campaigns are watching the state 's returns closely .
The Pennsylvania Legislature did not adjust election law to allow election officials the ability to process mailed ballots before Election Day , resulting in several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump has maintained a steady lead in North Carolina , where there has n't been much movement , but a call has not come in part because election officials there are allowed to accept mail ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 as long as they arrive by Nov. 12 .
Biden holds leads out west in Nevada , which remains too close to call , and Arizona , which the AP has already called for Biden , though Trump continues to make up ground there and the AP is watching the race there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots remain outstanding in Clark County , home to the Democratic stronghold of Las Vegas .
Election officials in Clark County are expected to brief reporters at noon ET and announce tallies from a batch of 51,000 ballots — mostly mail .
Arizona , too , is still working on its count .
Biden has maintained a lead there , but it has slimmed as officials in Maricopa County update their tallies .
Maricopa County is home to Phoenix , a traditionally Republican county that has turned bluer this year .
Underlying all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sow doubts about the integrity of the election without evidence .
Surrogates have held press conferences in several key states to announce charges of election fraud , without evidence .
The campaign has filed lawsuits in several states , too , though judges in many cases have quickly tossed the suits .
Not long after Biden appeared in Wilmington , Del.
, on Thursday night to urge patience as mail ballots continue to be counted , the president went to the lectern in the White House briefing room to baselessly declare that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud .
Election experts long said counting the unprecedented number of mail ballots cast this year would take time , and determining a winner would not come quickly in many states where the margins were close .
That did not stop Trump from claiming falsely , `` If you count the legal votes , I easily win .
If you count the illegal votes , they can try to steal the election from us . ''
Mail ballots still being counted are legal votes .
Trump has lost Wisconsin and Michigan , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now are scrambling to renounce the president 's comments about the integrity of the election , as the country remains on edge about who will win the presidency , and whether the president will accept defeat should he lose .

Biden Takes Leads In Pa., Ga., Putting Him On Cusp Of Electoral College Win
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mary Altaffer/AP Mary Altaffer/AP
Three days after Election Day, Democratic nominee Joe Biden took narrow leads in Pennsylvania and Georgia, according to The Associated Press, putting him on the cusp of a victory in the Electoral College.
Early Friday, Biden took a 5,500-vote lead in the Keystone State, after trailing President Trump there for days. He also took a narrow lead in Georgia, giving the Democratic nominee the lead in a state that hasn't voted for a Democrat for president since Bill Clinton was on the ticket in 1992.
Both states remained tight with votes left to count, but those remaining votes are mail-in ballots that have broadly broken in the former vice president's favor. Biden also leads in the popular vote.
Georgia may remain tight and undecided, since voters there have until Friday to return overseas and active military ballots, as well as cure, or fix, mistakes on absentee ballots. Provisional ballots also remain to be counted, as well as mail votes from some GOP-leaning counties.
In Pennsylvania, thousands of mail ballots still need to be counted, many from Democratic-leaning counties.
Biden has multiple paths to the presidency. If he wins Pennsylvania, he doesn't need any of the other states he's leading in to reach 270 electoral votes. Trump, meanwhile, must win Pennsylvania in order to retain the presidency, so both campaigns are watching the state's returns closely.
The Pennsylvania Legislature did not adjust election law to allow election officials the ability to process mailed ballots before Election Day, resulting in several days to finish counting the mailed-in ballots.
Trump has maintained a steady lead in North Carolina, where there hasn't been much movement, but a call has not come in part because election officials there are allowed to accept mail ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 as long as they arrive by Nov. 12.
Biden holds leads out west in Nevada, which remains too close to call, and Arizona, which the AP has already called for Biden, though Trump continues to make up ground there and the AP is watching the race there closely.
In Nevada, most mail ballots remain outstanding in Clark County, home to the Democratic stronghold of Las Vegas. Election officials in Clark County are expected to brief reporters at noon ET and announce tallies from a batch of 51,000 ballots — mostly mail.
Arizona, too, is still working on its count. Biden has maintained a lead there, but it has slimmed as officials in Maricopa County update their tallies. Maricopa County is home to Phoenix, a traditionally Republican county that has turned bluer this year.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
Underlying all of this, the Trump campaign continues to sow doubts about the integrity of the election without evidence. Surrogates have held press conferences in several key states to announce charges of election fraud, without evidence. The campaign has filed lawsuits in several states, too, though judges in many cases have quickly tossed the suits.
Not long after Biden appeared in Wilmington, Del., on Thursday night to urge patience as mail ballots continue to be counted, the president went to the lectern in the White House briefing room to baselessly declare that his campaign was the victim of election fraud.
Election experts long said counting the unprecedented number of mail ballots cast this year would take time, and determining a winner would not come quickly in many states where the margins were close.
That did not stop Trump from claiming falsely, "If you count the legal votes, I easily win. If you count the illegal votes, they can try to steal the election from us."
Mail ballots still being counted are legal votes. Trump has lost Wisconsin and Michigan, according to the AP.
A handful Republicans now are scrambling to renounce the president's comments about the integrity of the election, as the country remains on edge about who will win the presidency, and whether the president will accept defeat should he lose.


npr--2020-11-07--Coronavirus Is Surging: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?


npr--2020-11-07--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak


npr--2020-11-07--Biden Widens Lead In White House Race As Contest Remains Too Close To Call

Biden Widens Lead In White House Race As Contest Remains Too Close To Call Four days after Americans cast the final ballots in the 2020 White House race , votes are still being counted but Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has maintained his lead in electoral votes .
`` We 're going to win this race with a clear majority , '' Biden said late Friday , speaking alongside his running mate , Kamala Harris , in his home state of Delaware .
`` What 's becoming clear each hour is that record number of Americans , of all races @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over more of the same , '' he said .
A path to victory for the incumbent , President Trump , has narrowed , as Biden has overtaken the Republican nominee in Georgia and Pennsylvania — key battleground states that the president had banked on winning .
In Georgia , Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , a Trump ally , has predicted the state will conduct a recount given how thin the margin is .
In Pennsylvania , a federal judge on Thursday threw out a prospective lawsuit that had sought to halt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philadelphia .
The Associated Press has not yet declared a winner in either state as results remain too close call .
Georgia voters had until Friday evening to return overseas and active military ballots , as well as fix any errors on absentee ballots .
The state was on Friday still counting provisional ballots and mail-in ballots from some Republican-leaning counties .
Pennsylvania was still counting thousands of mail-in ballots on Friday from Democrat-heavy counties .
As of early Saturday morning , the Associated Press had called races in most states , allotting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump , 214 .
A total of 270 electoral votes are needed to secure the presidency .
As the likelihood that he would maintain the presidency diminished , Trump re-upped his unfounded and unprecedented attacks on the integrity of the election and accused Democrats and the media of having rigged the outcome .
`` Joe Biden should not wrongfully claim the office of the President .
I could make that claim also .
Legal proceedings are just now beginning ! ''
Trump tweeted on Friday evening .
He had previously , falsely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even as Biden has consistently maintained a lead in electoral votes since early Wednesday .
But as absentee ballots were tallied and Biden widened his lead in the race , Trump expanded the breadth of his misinformation about the election process .
The president this week said he expects `` a lot of litigation '' to contest the election 's results .
Election experts , both conservative and liberal , however , say that so far they have seen no evidence of fraud .
Biden , for his part , has continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes before either party could claim victory and has repeatedly expressed his confidence that he and running mate Kamala Harris would emerge victorious .
Amid his baseless election attacks , Trump has found himself increasingly isolated from the rest of his party , as some Republicans have either ignored or outright denounced the president 's misinformation campaign .
Aides to the president have warned him that he has few legal options to contest the election results , but Trump still wants to try , according a former campaign adviser who remains in touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ordoñez .
`` It 's dawning on him , '' the former adviser said , speaking on condition of anonymity to comment on private conversations .
`` He never thought he could lose ... and those of us who are in Trump World , we actually never believed he could lose , '' the former adviser said .
Trump 's ability to withstand crisis after crisis conditioned his team to have `` a false sense of reality because he 's survived so many times .
You just assume he 's going to survive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Biden Widens Lead In White House Race As Contest Remains Too Close To Call
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jessica McGowan/Getty Images Jessica McGowan/Getty Images
Four days after Americans cast the final ballots in the 2020 White House race, votes are still being counted but Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has maintained his lead in electoral votes.
"We're going to win this race with a clear majority," Biden said late Friday, speaking alongside his running mate, Kamala Harris, in his home state of Delaware.
"What's becoming clear each hour is that record number of Americans, of all races, faiths, religions, chose change over more of the same," he said.
A path to victory for the incumbent, President Trump, has narrowed, as Biden has overtaken the Republican nominee in Georgia and Pennsylvania — key battleground states that the president had banked on winning.
In Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Trump ally, has predicted the state will conduct a recount given how thin the margin is. In Pennsylvania, a federal judge on Thursday threw out a prospective lawsuit that had sought to halt ballot tallying in the Democratic stronghold of Philadelphia.
The Associated Press has not yet declared a winner in either state as results remain too close call. Georgia voters had until Friday evening to return overseas and active military ballots, as well as fix any errors on absentee ballots. The state was on Friday still counting provisional ballots and mail-in ballots from some Republican-leaning counties.
Pennsylvania was still counting thousands of mail-in ballots on Friday from Democrat-heavy counties.
As of early Saturday morning, the Associated Press had called races in most states, allotting to Biden 264 electoral votes, and to Trump, 214. A total of 270 electoral votes are needed to secure the presidency.
As the likelihood that he would maintain the presidency diminished, Trump re-upped his unfounded and unprecedented attacks on the integrity of the election and accused Democrats and the media of having rigged the outcome.
"Joe Biden should not wrongfully claim the office of the President. I could make that claim also. Legal proceedings are just now beginning!" Trump tweeted on Friday evening. He had previously, falsely declared himself the victor in the race, even as Biden has consistently maintained a lead in electoral votes since early Wednesday.
But as absentee ballots were tallied and Biden widened his lead in the race, Trump expanded the breadth of his misinformation about the election process. The president this week said he expects "a lot of litigation" to contest the election's results. Election experts, both conservative and liberal, however, say that so far they have seen no evidence of fraud.
Biden, for his part, has continued to push the importance of counting all votes before either party could claim victory and has repeatedly expressed his confidence that he and running mate Kamala Harris would emerge victorious.
Amid his baseless election attacks, Trump has found himself increasingly isolated from the rest of his party, as some Republicans have either ignored or outright denounced the president's misinformation campaign.
Aides to the president have warned him that he has few legal options to contest the election results, but Trump still wants to try, according a former campaign adviser who remains in touch with key players told NPR's Franco Ordoñez.
"It's dawning on him," the former adviser said, speaking on condition of anonymity to comment on private conversations. "He never thought he could lose ... and those of us who are in Trump World, we actually never believed he could lose," the former adviser said.
Trump's ability to withstand crisis after crisis conditioned his team to have "a false sense of reality because he's survived so many times. You just assume he's going to survive again," the former adviser said.


npr--2020-11-07--Suu Kyi's Party Expected To Win Myanmar Election Amid Minorities' Disenfranchisement

Voters in Myanmar will cast their ballots Sunday in the country 's second general election since the military ceded absolute power in 2011 .
While the result appears predictable — analysts believe Aung San Suu Kyi 's National League for Democracy will win again — the elections could further exacerbate the country 's ethnic tensions due to the disenfranchisement of many minorities .
The military establishment continues to wield significant political power .
And COVID-19 may dampen voter turnout .
`` It 's almost a foregone conclusion that the NLD will get back in for a variety of reasons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyi 's undiminished domestic popularity , '' says David Mathieson , an independent analyst based in Yangon , Myanmar 's commercial hub and capital .
Suu Kyi , a Nobel Peace laureate and former political prisoner who spent nearly two decades in jail or under house arrest by the military , remains a beloved figure .
`` There is almost an inherently magical connection between her and many voters , '' says Phil Robertson , the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch .
`` People ca n't even imagine not voting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ margin of victory may not be as large it was as five years ago — in part because there are few signs of tangible progress in improving people 's livelihoods in one of Asia 's poorest countries or in ending armed conflict with ethnic minority groups .
`` Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD were elected in a landslide in 2015 , including with ethnic votes , because it was expected that they would represent everybody , '' says Robertson .
`` Increasingly , what we 're seeing is she is primarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprise 65 % of the voters . ''
It 's a majority voting bloc in a country of some 53 million , one for whom the ideas of ethnicity and race are especially important in terms of who belongs and who does n't .
It helps explain the overwhelming public acceptance — and even approval — of the Myanmar military 's brutal crackdown on the Muslim minority Rohingya in Rakhine state in 2017 .
More than 750,000 Rohingya fled to safety in neighboring Bangladesh , alleging they and their families had been subjected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A 2018 United Nations Human Rights Council fact-finding mission reported that 10,000 deaths would be a `` conservative estimate . ''
Myanmar was accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice in The Hague .
Late last year , Suu Kyi personally led the country 's defense team .
`` She stood up for nation , race and religion — not the army , but for race and religion , at The Hague , '' says Mary Callahan , a Yangon-based analyst and associate professor of international studies at the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to The Hague proved wildly popular among Myanmar 's Buddhist Burman majority .
Analysts say it helped bolster her standing ahead of this year 's election .
And despite the world 's condemnation of Myanmar for its treatment of the Rohingya , the government remains defiant .
It is not allowing the vast majority of Rohingya — those who fled and those who remain — to vote in the election .
`` They were n't allowed to vote in the last election in 2015 , either , '' says Yangon-based analyst Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Crisis Group report on the upcoming election .
`` Before that , they have voted in every post-independence election since the 1940s .
So that group has been disenfranchised .
And that 's part of the systematic denial of citizenship . ''
Last month , Myanmar 's election commission also announced it would cancel voting in several conflict areas , disenfranchising more than 1.5 million voters , most of them from ethnic minorities in Kachin , Karen , Mon , Rakhine , Shan and Chin states , says Robertson .
The military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnic groups and insurgencies and they are trying to pressure them , '' says Robertson .
`` And one of the ways they 're going to do it is also by denying elections in some of those areas . ''
The army continues to loom large in Myanmar politics .
`` When the military decided unilaterally to step back from full power , it drafted a constitution which sets aside 25 % of the seats in parliament , plus control of the three security ministries , for itself , '' says Horsey .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be for hybrid governments .
The military will still have significant political power . ''
There are also worries about what might happen if ethnic parties have a poor showing in the vote , says Callahan .
While some may continue to participate in the political process , she says , others may `` give up on it all and just decide armed resistance is the only answer , especially for young people who will wonder why they 've been bothering with a system that really does n't serve them at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Myanmar late but hard , starting in September .
With nearly 57,000 confirmed cases and 1,330 deaths , Myanmar is now the worst-affected country in mainland Southeast Asia .
The virus has strained the country 's rudimentary health care system and forced widespread lockdowns , including in Yangon .
While some opposition parties suggested the election could be delayed until the COVID-19 situation improved , Suu Kyi 's government has pressed ahead and says it has taken precautions to try to ensure voters ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to voters , polling staff and volunteers , and more voting stations to try to reduce overcrowding .
But analysts believe some people may stay at home simply out of fear .
Despite the challenges , they say it 's important that elections are happening — and for the second time .
`` The fact that Myanmar shifted from decades of military dictatorship to an electoral system of deciding government is fantastic , '' says Horsey .
`` And it 's something we would have had difficulty to imagine even 10 years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he warns , that could easily exacerbate existing tensions between the Burman Buddhist majority and ethnic minorities and do little to address economic inequality in one of Southeast Asia 's poorest nations .

Suu Kyi's Party Expected To Win Myanmar Election Amid Minorities' Disenfranchisement
Enlarge this image toggle caption Aung Shine Oo/AP Aung Shine Oo/AP
Voters in Myanmar will cast their ballots Sunday in the country's second general election since the military ceded absolute power in 2011.
While the result appears predictable — analysts believe Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy will win again — the elections could further exacerbate the country's ethnic tensions due to the disenfranchisement of many minorities. The military establishment continues to wield significant political power. And COVID-19 may dampen voter turnout.
"It's almost a foregone conclusion that the NLD will get back in for a variety of reasons, most of which is Aung San Suu Kyi's undiminished domestic popularity," says David Mathieson, an independent analyst based in Yangon, Myanmar's commercial hub and capital.
Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate and former political prisoner who spent nearly two decades in jail or under house arrest by the military, remains a beloved figure.
"There is almost an inherently magical connection between her and many voters," says Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch. "People can't even imagine not voting for her."
But her party's margin of victory may not be as large it was as five years ago — in part because there are few signs of tangible progress in improving people's livelihoods in one of Asia's poorest countries or in ending armed conflict with ethnic minority groups.
"Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD were elected in a landslide in 2015, including with ethnic votes, because it was expected that they would represent everybody," says Robertson. "Increasingly, what we're seeing is she is primarily interested just in the ethnic Burmans who comprise 65% of the voters."
It's a majority voting bloc in a country of some 53 million, one for whom the ideas of ethnicity and race are especially important in terms of who belongs and who doesn't.
It helps explain the overwhelming public acceptance — and even approval — of the Myanmar military's brutal crackdown on the Muslim minority Rohingya in Rakhine state in 2017. More than 750,000 Rohingya fled to safety in neighboring Bangladesh, alleging they and their families had been subjected to rape, murder and torture. A 2018 United Nations Human Rights Council fact-finding mission reported that 10,000 deaths would be a "conservative estimate."
Myanmar was accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Late last year, Suu Kyi personally led the country's defense team.
"She stood up for nation, race and religion — not the army, but for race and religion, at The Hague," says Mary Callahan, a Yangon-based analyst and associate professor of international studies at the University of Washington.
Suu Kyi's decision to go to The Hague proved wildly popular among Myanmar's Buddhist Burman majority. Analysts say it helped bolster her standing ahead of this year's election.
And despite the world's condemnation of Myanmar for its treatment of the Rohingya, the government remains defiant. It is not allowing the vast majority of Rohingya — those who fled and those who remain — to vote in the election.
"They weren't allowed to vote in the last election in 2015, either," says Yangon-based analyst Richard Horsey, the author of a recent International Crisis Group report on the upcoming election. "Before that, they have voted in every post-independence election since the 1940s. So that group has been disenfranchised. And that's part of the systematic denial of citizenship."
Last month, Myanmar's election commission also announced it would cancel voting in several conflict areas, disenfranchising more than 1.5 million voters, most of them from ethnic minorities in Kachin, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shan and Chin states, says Robertson.
The military is "prosecuting a war against certain ethnic groups and insurgencies and they are trying to pressure them," says Robertson. "And one of the ways they're going to do it is also by denying elections in some of those areas."
The army continues to loom large in Myanmar politics.
"When the military decided unilaterally to step back from full power, it drafted a constitution which sets aside 25% of the seats in parliament, plus control of the three security ministries, for itself," says Horsey. "So this constitution and these elections will be for hybrid governments. The military will still have significant political power."
There are also worries about what might happen if ethnic parties have a poor showing in the vote, says Callahan. While some may continue to participate in the political process, she says, others may "give up on it all and just decide armed resistance is the only answer, especially for young people who will wonder why they've been bothering with a system that really doesn't serve them at all."
In addition, the election comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Myanmar late but hard, starting in September. With nearly 57,000 confirmed cases and 1,330 deaths, Myanmar is now the worst-affected country in mainland Southeast Asia. The virus has strained the country's rudimentary health care system and forced widespread lockdowns, including in Yangon.
While some opposition parties suggested the election could be delayed until the COVID-19 situation improved, Suu Kyi's government has pressed ahead and says it has taken precautions to try to ensure voters' safety — by providing personal protection equipment to voters, polling staff and volunteers, and more voting stations to try to reduce overcrowding. But analysts believe some people may stay at home simply out of fear.
Despite the challenges, they say it's important that elections are happening — and for the second time.
"The fact that Myanmar shifted from decades of military dictatorship to an electoral system of deciding government is fantastic," says Horsey. "And it's something we would have had difficulty to imagine even 10 years ago."
But it's an election, he warns, that could easily exacerbate existing tensions between the Burman Buddhist majority and ethnic minorities and do little to address economic inequality in one of Southeast Asia's poorest nations.


npr--2020-11-07--Will This Election Be A Replay Of 'Bush v. Gore' At The Supreme Court? Not Likely

Will This Election Be A Replay Of 'Bush v. Gore ' At The Supreme Court ?
Not Likely With President Trump railing about `` fraud , '' and pointing to the Supreme Court — with three of his appointees — as the final arbiter , the question many are asking is this : What are the chances that the high court will actually get involved ?
In short , will 2020 be a replay of Bush v. Gore ?
Election experts of all political persuasions say it is highly unlikely .
The best bet the president might have is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the justices to intervene , both times unsuccessfully .
On the first try , the GOP challenged a decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court .
The state court , interpreting the state constitution , extended the time for receiving absentee ballots by three days , as long as the ballots were postmarked by Election Day or had no legible postmark .
The U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked 4-to-4 when the presented with the issue the first time in late October .
That meant the state court decision remained in place .
On a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania officials agreed to segregate those votes received after Election Day .
The Trump campaign is still trying to get the Supreme Court to intervene , asking for it to hear arguments in the case .
But experts say that while that is possible , it is unlikely , for the simple reason that the votes that were received after Election Day are sufficiently small in number that even now , with ballots still being counted in Pennsylvania , Joe Biden 's lead is far more than the number of ballots received after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens , I do n't see a viable path for Trump to litigate his way out of an Electoral College loss , '' says election law expert Richard Hasen , of the University of California , Irvine .
Florida State University law professor Michael Morley agrees , noting that Biden still has several paths to victory .
If Biden carries Pennsylvania , where his lead is growing substantially , he does n't need to carry any other state to win .
And if he does n't carry Pennsylvania , he has other paths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Biden win in Arizona holds , the former vice president needs only Nevada or Georgia to win , and for now , he is leading in both .
`` The easy thing '' [ for the justices ] to do is to say , 'Why bother , ' '' says professor Derek Muller , of the University of Iowa School of Law .
Muller notes that some conservative Supreme Court justices have expressed an interest in `` revisiting '' the question of whether a state legislature 's majority party view of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interpretation .
But , he adds , that it is `` unlikely '' the justices want to insert themselves into the political brambles when , as of now , there is no evidence of major fraud or misbehavior that would make a difference to the outcome of the election .
Right now , Trump , whether he likes it or not , would appear to be `` outside what 's called the margin of litigation , '' observes professor Edward Foley , director of The Ohio State University election law program .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Kerry in 2004 , Foley explains .
Kerry was teed up and ready to bring legal challenges in Ohio , but , `` the votes just were n't there '' in large enough numbers to justify the litigation .
The margin of litigation , however , does not seem to be something President Trump is thinking about right now .
Appearing at the microphones Thursday night , he said , `` We think there 's going to be a lot of litigation because we have so much evidence , so much proof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , perhaps at the highest court in the land .
... We ca n't have an election stolen like this . ''
But at the same time that Trump was calling for a halt to the counting in states where his lead was disappearing , he wanted the vote counting to continue in places where it was Biden 's lead that was eroding .
Trump campaign legal adviser Harmeet Dhillon told Fox Business that the campaign is hoping new Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett will help Trump win the presidency if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court .
`` We 're waiting for the United States Supreme court — of which the president has nominated three justices — to step in and do something , '' Dhillon said .
`` And hopefully Amy Coney Barrett will come through . ''
Election experts , both conservative and liberal , however , say that so far they have seen no evidence of fraud .
Rather , as professor Muller puts it , the allegations have been `` nitpicky stuff , '' like observers who wanted to be , and were ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot counters .
Indeed , in an era when TV cameras are literally in the vote-counting centers recording what goes on , it makes it more difficult to cry `` foul . ''
In fact , even in Georgia , where the current margin of victory for Biden is so slim there is expected to be a recount , and where all the statewide officials are Republican , those overseeing the ballot count have said there is no evidence of fraud .
There are some theoretical moves that the Trump campaign could undertake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislatures try to substitute GOP Electoral College delegates for Democratic delegates in states where Biden has won more recorded votes .
But that would require extraordinary Republican maneuvers in the U.S. Senate — something not seen since the extraordinarily divisive and problematic post civil war election of 1876 .
Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , said Thursday that `` everything should be on the table . ''
But Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell refused to say anything other than that all ballots should be counted .

Will This Election Be A Replay Of Bush v. Gore At The Supreme Court? Not Likely
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robert F. Bukaty/AP Robert F. Bukaty/AP
With President Trump railing about "fraud" and pointing to the Supreme Court — with three of his appointees — as the final arbiter, the question many are asking is this: What are the chances that the high court will actually get involved? In short, will 2020 be a replay of Bush v. Gore?
Election experts of all political persuasions say it is highly unlikely. The best bet the president might have is in Pennsylvania, where Republicans twice before asked the justices to intervene, both times unsuccessfully. On the first try, the GOP challenged a decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The state court, interpreting the state constitution, extended the time for receiving absentee ballots by three days, as long as the ballots were postmarked by Election Day or had no legible postmark.
The U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 when the presented with the issue the first time in late October. That meant the state court decision remained in place. On a second try, the vote was 8-0 after Pennsylvania officials agreed to segregate those votes received after Election Day.
The Trump campaign is still trying to get the Supreme Court to intervene, asking for it to hear arguments in the case. But experts say that while that is possible, it is unlikely, for the simple reason that the votes that were received after Election Day are sufficiently small in number that Joe Biden's lead is far more than the number of ballots received after Election Day.
"Unless something new happens, I don't see a viable path for Trump to litigate his way out of an Electoral College loss," says election law expert Richard Hasen, of the University of California, Irvine.
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Florida State University law professor Michael Morley agrees, noting that Biden still has several paths to victory.
If Biden carries Pennsylvania, where his lead is growing substantially, he doesn't need to carry any other state to win.
And if he doesn't carry Pennsylvania, he has other paths to victory. Assuming the AP projection of a Biden win in Arizona holds, the former vice president needs only Nevada or Georgia to win, and for now, he is leading in both.
"The easy thing" [for the justices] to do is to say, 'Why bother?' " says professor Derek Muller, of the University of Iowa School of Law. Muller notes that some conservative Supreme Court justices have expressed an interest in "revisiting" the question of whether a state legislature's majority-party view of the law supersedes a state supreme court interpretation. But, he adds, that it is "unlikely" the justices want to insert themselves into the political brambles when, as of now, there is no evidence of major fraud or misbehavior that would make a difference to the outcome of the election.
Right now, Trump, whether he likes it or not, would appear to be "outside what's called the margin of litigation," observes professor Edward Foley, director of The Ohio State University election law program. That's what happened to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004, Foley explains. Kerry was teed up and ready to bring legal challenges in Ohio, but, "the votes just weren't there" in large enough numbers to justify the litigation.
The margin of litigation, however, does not seem to be something President Trump is thinking about right now. Appearing at the microphones Thursday night, he said, "We think there's going to be a lot of litigation because we have so much evidence, so much proof. And it's going to end up, perhaps at the highest court in the land. ... We can't have an election stolen like this."
But at the same time that Trump was calling for a halt to the counting in states where his lead was disappearing, he wanted the vote counting to continue in places where it was Biden's lead that was eroding.
Trump campaign legal adviser Harmeet Dhillon told Fox Business that the campaign is hoping new Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett will help Trump win the presidency if a case makes it to the Supreme Court.
"We're waiting for the United States Supreme Court — of which the president has nominated three justices — to step in and do something," Dhillon said. "And hopefully Amy Coney Barrett will come through."
Election experts, both conservative and liberal, however, say that so far, they have seen no evidence of fraud. Rather, as professor Muller puts it, the allegations have been "nitpicky stuff," like observers who wanted to be, and were ultimately allowed to be, closer to the ballot counters. Indeed, in an era when TV cameras are literally in the vote-counting centers recording what goes on, it makes it more difficult to cry "foul."
In fact, even in Georgia, where the current margin of victory for Biden is so slim there is expected to be a recount and where all the statewide officials are Republican, those overseeing the ballot count have said there is no evidence of fraud.
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There are some theoretical moves that the Trump campaign could undertake — for instance having some Republican-controlled state legislatures try to substitute GOP Electoral College delegates for Democratic delegates in states where Biden has won more recorded votes. But that would require extraordinary Republican maneuvers in the U.S. Senate — something not seen since the extraordinarily divisive and problematic election of 1876.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Thursday that "everything should be on the table." But Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell refused to say anything other than that all ballots should be counted.


npr--2020-11-07--Need A Reminder Of How Gorgeous Earth Is? Peep These Photo Award Winners

Need A Reminder Of How Gorgeous Earth Is ?
Peep These Photo Award Winners Want a reminder of how gorgeous our world is — you know , back before all we were thinking about was COVID-19 and lockdowns and vaccine trials ?
Take a look at the winning entries of the 2020 Siena International Photo Awards , an annual contest organized by a group of photographers and enthusiasts from Siena , Italy , that aims to showcase images of beauty , culture and nature across the globe .
Awash in vibrant color , texture and movement , the images feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mid-air .
Two women pose for a selfie .
Birds scatter across the sky .
Teresa Scarcella , a spokesperson for SIPA , says it was `` strange '' to look through the photos for this year 's awards in the middle of a pandemic .
`` It 's like when you 're watching a movie and people are going around without masks and kissing each other — you think , what are they doing ? ''
The images make her `` nostalgic '' for pre-pandemic life , she says .
Next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 , will have a category devoted to life under COVID-19 .
Here 's a selection of photos from the countries of the Global South that we cover in our blog .

Need A Reminder Of How Gorgeous Earth Is? Peep These Photo Award Winners
Want a reminder of how gorgeous our world is — you know, back before all we were thinking about was COVID-19 and lockdowns and vaccine trials?
Take a look at the winning entries of this year's Siena International Photo Awards, an annual contest organized by a group of photographers and enthusiasts from Siena, Italy, that aims to showcase images of beauty, culture and nature across the globe.
Awash in vibrant color, texture and movement, the images feel light and carefree. A child jumps in midair. Two women pose for a selfie. Birds scatter across the sky.
Teresa Scarcella, a spokesperson for SIPA, says it was "strange" to look through the photos for this year's awards in the middle of a pandemic. "It's like when you're watching a movie and people are going around without masks and kissing each other — you think, what are they doing?"
The images make her "nostalgic" for pre-pandemic life, she says.
Next year's contest, open until January 2021, will have a category devoted to life under COVID-19.
Here's a selection of photos from the countries of the global south that we cover in our Goats and Soda blog.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Xuebiao Yang Xuebiao Yang
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paula Bronstein Paula Bronstein
Enlarge this image toggle caption Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn
Enlarge this image toggle caption Navin Kumar Navin Kumar
Enlarge this image toggle caption Suvro Paul Suvro Paul
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jose Fragozo Jose Fragozo
Enlarge this image toggle caption Azim Khan Ronnie Azim Khan Ronnie


npr--2020-11-07--Senate Control Likely Decided By Fate Of 2 Georgia Runoff Races

Senate Control Likely Decided By Fate Of 2 Georgia Runoff Races Control of the Senate may hinge on Georgia 's two runoff races in January as no candidate in either contest has reached a required 50 % threshold in votes to win outright .
That means Georgia , which is also still counting ballots in a neck-and-neck presidential race expected to go to a recount , is shaping up to be ground zero for whether Congress will be divided again next year .
`` All eyes will be on Georgia for the next two months , '' Emory University political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There will be record spending , unprecedented campaigning and tons of mudslinging in these races — more than what we 're used to seeing . ''
Currently , Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate .
With several races undecided , Democrats have gained one new seat in the Senate but would need two more for a 50-50 split .
Then , if Joe Biden wins the White House , Kamala Harris as vice president would cast tiebreaking votes in the chamber .
A narrowly divided Senate , regardless of who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president will need cross-party cooperation in many cases to move any significant legislative priorities forward .
Democrats will retain their majority in the House of Representatives but have a smaller margin .
For now , final calls need to be made in two other pending Senate races in North Carolina and Alaska .
Republicans in both cases said they are confident they will pull out wins , making a Democratic sweep of both Georgia races the only path left for Democrats to gain the majority .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 'll keep his job , or if Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will move into that leadership slot .
However , McConnell noted that Republicans outperformed pundits ' expectations that the GOP would lose Senate control outright with the November elections .
Now , just like everyone else , he 's in wait-and-see mode .
`` I 'm not certain I 'm the majority leader yet — as you all may have noticed — that will be determined in Georgia , '' McConnell told reporters Friday in Kentucky .
`` So this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national election . ''
Georgia has been a red stronghold in recent years , but the changing electorate has given Democrats hope in 2020 , Gillespie said .
Especially when compared to the last time the state saw a Senate runoff in 2008 .
That year , Republican incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss beat Democrat Jim Martin by more than 300,000 votes .
`` Democrats are in a stronger position than the last time there was a Senate runoff .
Back then , all signs pointed to Republicans having a numerical advantage in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recent close elections suggest that there are far more Democrats relative to Republicans in the state now . ''
The state has n't had a Democratic senator since 2005 when Zell Miller finished out his term .
Gillespie and other experts said the races will come down to turnout .
The first Georgia Senate race designated as a runoff will feature GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler , who was appointed to her seat earlier this year , against the Democratic challenger , Raphael Warnock , an African American pastor from Atlanta .
The two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fill the rest of the term for a seat vacated by retired Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson .
In the second race , Republican incumbent Sen. David Perdue will face Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff , a documentary filmmaker .
Perdue initially secured more than 50 % of ballots in earlier counts , only to see that margin shrink below the required watermark as the counting continued .
In North Carolina , the AP shows Tillis is ahead by nearly 100,000 votes out of 5 million , with 93 % of the results in .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed victory for a second term , but his opponent , Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham , has n't conceded .
`` I did have a heavy burden on me , thinking that North Carolina could be the majority maker for the U.S. Senate , '' Tillis said in a speech late Tuesday .
Cunningham 's camp has noted , however , that the State Board of Elections continues to count ballots and it 's waiting for every last vote to be counted .
However , Cunningham will have a steep deficit to overcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots .
In Alaska , Sen. Dan Sullivan remains significantly ahead with about half of the votes counted .
`` Tonight , we saw a handful of Democratic candidates , with an advantage of tens of millions dollars , fall flat when finally faced with the voters , '' Sullivan said on Twitter on Wednesday .
`` Money alone ca n't win these races — ideas and records do — and I 'm confident that trend will continue in Alaska.
`` His Democratic challenger , Al Gross , has argued that his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We believe we will win once every vote has been counted in the state , '' Gross said in a tweet Thursday .
Kevin McLaughlin , executive director at National Republican Senatorial Committee , said Gross ' claims were `` delusional '' and that the Democrat wo n't be able to catch up to Sullivan 's lead .
The AP shows that Sullivan is at 62 % of the vote tallied so far , or nearly 200,000 votes .
Gross is at 32 % , or more than 61,000 votes .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runoffs Georgia 's runoffs would put the state in the spotlight like never before , said Trey Hood , politics professor at the University of Georgia .
Hood said the races could come down to voters of color , especially African Americans , and whether Democrats can improve on past Democratic performances by candidates such as Hillary Clinton to boost their share of white voters .
`` There 's a very high base of minority voters in Georgia , especially African American voters , and so a lot of what happens in any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Hood said .
Also , `` Biden was able to increase his white vote share , which is where Hillary Clinton and other Democratic candidates have been lacking . ''
In Georgia 's special election runoff , Loeffler will have to revisit controversies that have plagued her first year in office .
She was n't Trump 's first choice to fill the seat — he had urged the appointment of GOP Rep. Doug Collins instead .
And Loeffler , a business executive who is married to the CEO of the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was accused of dumping $ 20 million in stocks after a closed-door Senate briefing on the coronavirus in January .
A review by federal regulators found no wrongdoing .
She has also held a stake in the WNBA team , the Atlanta Dream , and previously headed up a subsidiary under NYSE owner , Intercontinental Exchange .
She also faced controversy from WNBA players concerned about her remarks regarding the Black Lives Matter movement .
In the end , Loeffler thwarted a challenge from Collins , who ran as a key Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Loeffler also built up her credentials as a loyal Trump supporter along the way .
In the midst of this intraparty fight , Warnock overcame competition from a long list of Democratic challengers .
In Georgia 's other Senate race , Perdue is seeking a second term as senator against Ossoff , a former media executive .
In 2017 , Ossoff set fundraising records in a special election for a suburban Atlanta House seat .
But he was dealt a stinging defeat by Republican Karen Handel .
The following year , Democrat Lucy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perdue , who was elected in 2014 , has been considered a key Trump ally .
He drew criticism in October that he purposely mocked Sen. Harris ' first name , Kamala .
Ossoff has also accused Perdue of running an ad targeting his Jewish heritage by showing him with an enlarged nose , calling it an `` anti-Semitic trope . ''
Perdue is a cousin to Trump Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue .
The senator won his first term by fewer than 8 percentage points .

Senate Control Likely Decided By Fate Of 2 Georgia Runoff Races
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brynn Anderson/AP Brynn Anderson/AP
Control of the Senate may hinge on Georgia's two runoff races in January as no candidate in either contest has reached a required 50% threshold in votes to win outright.
That means Georgia, which is also still counting ballots in a neck-and-neck presidential race expected to go to a recount, is shaping up to be ground zero for whether Congress will be divided again next year.
"All eyes will be on Georgia for the next two months," Emory University political science professor Andra Gillespie said. "There will be record spending, unprecedented campaigning and tons of mudslinging in these races — more than what we're used to seeing."
Currently, Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate. With several races undecided, Democrats have gained one new seat in the Senate but would need two more for a 50-50 split. Then, if Joe Biden wins the White House, Kamala Harris as vice president would cast tiebreaking votes in the chamber.
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A narrowly divided Senate, regardless of who is in control, means whoever is president will need cross-party cooperation in many cases to move any significant legislative priorities forward. Democrats will retain their majority in the House of Representatives but have a smaller margin.
For now, final calls need to be made in two other pending Senate races in North Carolina and Alaska. Republicans in both cases said they are confident they will pull out wins, making a Democratic sweep of both Georgia races the only path left for Democrats to gain the majority.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he isn't sure if he'll keep his job, or if Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will move into that leadership slot. However, McConnell noted that Republicans outperformed pundits' expectations that the GOP would lose Senate control outright with the November elections.
Now, just like everyone else, he's in wait-and-see mode.
"I'm not certain I'm the majority leader yet — as you all may have noticed — that will be determined in Georgia," McConnell told reporters Friday in Kentucky. "So this is not yet decided in this overwhelmingly close national election."
Georgia has been a red stronghold in recent years, but the changing electorate has given Democrats hope in 2020, Gillespie said. Especially when compared to the last time the state saw a Senate runoff in 2008.
That year, Republican incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss beat Democrat Jim Martin by more than 300,000 votes.
"Democrats are in a stronger position than the last time there was a Senate runoff. Back then, all signs pointed to Republicans having a numerical advantage in the state," Gillespie said. "Recent close elections suggest that there are far more Democrats relative to Republicans in the state now."
The state hasn't had a Democratic senator since 2005 when Zell Miller finished out his term. Gillespie and other experts said the races will come down to turnout.
The first Georgia Senate race designated as a runoff will feature GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was appointed to her seat earlier this year, against the Democratic challenger, Raphael Warnock, an African American pastor from Atlanta. The two are vying in a special election to fill the rest of the term for a seat vacated by retired Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson.
In the second race, Republican incumbent Sen. David Perdue will face Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff, a documentary filmmaker. Perdue initially secured more than 50% of ballots in earlier counts, only to see that margin shrink below the required watermark as the counting continued.
Other Senate race calls pending
In North Carolina, the AP shows Tillis is ahead by nearly 100,000 votes out of 5 million, with 93% of the results in. Tillis, for his part, has claimed victory for a second term, but his opponent, Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham, hasn't conceded.
"I did have a heavy burden on me, thinking that North Carolina could be the majority maker for the U.S. Senate," Tillis said in a speech late Tuesday.
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Cunningham's camp has noted, however, that the State Board of Elections continues to count ballots and it's waiting for every last vote to be counted. However, Cunningham will have a steep deficit to overcome to turn around the current trajectory of ballots.
In Alaska, Sen. Dan Sullivan remains significantly ahead with about half of the votes counted.
"Tonight, we saw a handful of Democratic candidates, with an advantage of tens of millions dollars, fall flat when finally faced with the voters," Sullivan said on Twitter on Wednesday. "Money alone can't win these races — ideas and records do — and I'm confident that trend will continue in Alaska. "
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His Democratic challenger, Al Gross, has argued that his campaign still sees a path to victory.
"We believe we will win once every vote has been counted in the state," Gross said in a tweet Thursday.
Kevin McLaughlin, executive director at National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Gross' claims were "delusional" and that the Democrat won't be able to catch up to Sullivan's lead.
The AP shows that Sullivan is at 62% of the vote tallied so far, or nearly 200,000 votes. Gross is at 32%, or more than 61,000 votes.
What issues and voters could matter in Georgia runoffs
Georgia's runoffs would put the state in the spotlight like never before, said Trey Hood, politics professor at the University of Georgia.
Hood said the races could come down to voters of color, especially African Americans, and whether Democrats can improve on past Democratic performances by candidates such as Hillary Clinton to boost their share of white voters.
"There's a very high base of minority voters in Georgia, especially African American voters, and so a lot of what happens in any election is based on African American turnout," Hood said. Also, "Biden was able to increase his white vote share, which is where Hillary Clinton and other Democratic candidates have been lacking."
In Georgia's special election runoff, Loeffler will have to revisit controversies that have plagued her first year in office.
She wasn't Trump's first choice to fill the seat — he had urged the appointment of GOP Rep. Doug Collins instead. And Loeffler, a business executive who is married to the CEO of the company that owns the New York Stock Exchange, was accused of dumping $20 million in stocks after a closed-door Senate briefing on the coronavirus in January. A review by federal regulators found no wrongdoing.
She has also held a stake in the WNBA team, the Atlanta Dream, and previously headed up a subsidiary under NYSE owner, Intercontinental Exchange. She also faced controversy from WNBA players concerned about her remarks regarding the Black Lives Matter movement.
In the end, Loeffler thwarted a challenge from Collins, who ran as a key Trump defender during the House impeachment probe. Loeffler also built up her credentials as a loyal Trump supporter along the way.
In the midst of this intraparty fight, Warnock overcame competition from a long list of Democratic challengers.
In Georgia's other Senate race, Perdue is seeking a second term as senator against Ossoff, a former media executive.
In 2017, Ossoff set fundraising records in a special election for a suburban Atlanta House seat. But he was dealt a stinging defeat by Republican Karen Handel. The following year, Democrat Lucy McBath won the seat against Handel.
Perdue, who was elected in 2014, has been considered a key Trump ally. He drew criticism in October that he purposely mocked Sen. Harris' first name, Kamala.
Ossoff has also accused Perdue of running an ad targeting his Jewish heritage by showing him with an enlarged nose, calling it an "anti-Semitic trope."
Perdue is a cousin to Trump Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. The senator won his first term by fewer than 8 percentage points.