npr--2020-05-06--After Failed Coup Plot, Maduro Touts Video Of Detained American Conspirator

In a purported interrogation video released Wednesday by the Venezuelan government , one of the two former U.S. service members detained earlier this week in Venezuela acknowledged plans to help carry out a coup .
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro revealed the video at a televised address in the capital , Caracas .
The mission was `` to meet Venezuelans in Colombia , train them and come with them to Venezuela to secure Caracas and secure an airport here for follow-on , '' Luke Denman said in the video , which purported to show the U.S. Army Special Forces veteran confessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his associates hoped to oust the embattled Venezuelan leader and force him onto a plane to the U.S .
There were several clear edits over the course of the roughly 10-minute video .
NPR has not independently confirmed its authenticity .
`` I was helping Venezuelans take back control of their country , '' said Denman , whose capture by Venezuelan authorities , along with Airan Berry , was announced Monday .
Both men served in the Army 's Special Forces , also known as Green Berets , and Denman deployed to Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade ago .
The pair , who have both been out of the service for about six years , stand at the heart of an almost surreal saga that has unfolded in Venezuela over the past several days — and they are both connected with Jordan Goudreau , another former member of the special forces who runs a Florida-based private security firm under the name of SilverCorp USA .
Goudreau announced the `` daring amphibious raid '' in a recorded message posted Sunday evening .
`` Our men are continuing to fight right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video , flanked by former Venezuelan National Guard officer Javier Nieto Quintero .
`` Our units have been activated in the south , west and east of Venezuela . ''
Venezuelan security forces quickly stifled the operation — which set out from Colombia with dozens of Venezuelan military deserters participating , according to Denman .
Maduro 's government says Venezuelan forces confronted the perpetrators after they tried to land in speedboats on a beach about an hour north of Caracas , and killed at least six of the `` mercenaries '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities also captured the two Americans .
Denman said in the video that he expected to earn up to $ 100,000 for his role in training and guiding the rebels in a country he had never visited before .
Asked in the video who commands Goudreau , Denman answered : `` President Donald Trump . ''
`` There was no U.S. Government direct involvement in this operation , '' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo flatly told reporters at a briefing shortly before Maduro 's speech .
`` If we had been involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As for who bankrolled it , we 're not prepared to share any more information about what we know took place .
We 'll unpack that at an appropriate time . ''
He said the U.S. government will seek a `` path forward '' in obtaining Denman and Berry 's release .
`` We want to get every American back , '' Pompeo said Wednesday .
`` If the Maduro regime decides to hold them , we 'll use every tool that we have available to try and get them back .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Opposition leader Juan Guaidó has also denied any connection with the failed raid , despite Goudreau 's and Denman 's claims of having signed an agreement with him .
There is no love lost between Maduro 's government in Venezuela and the Trump administration , which has made repeated — and openly public — efforts to try to punish the Socialist strongman 's conduct and encourage his ouster .
Washington recognizes Guaidó as Venezuela 's legitimate leader , and federal officials have slapped Maduro and more than a dozen current and former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trafficking charges .
The U.S. government has offered a $ 15 million reward for Maduro 's capture .
Still , the embattled Venezuelan leader 's grasp on power has survived years of foreign pressure , domestic unrest and economic upheaval .
And he asserted that the U.S. president is directly behind the failed attack that he likened to the Bay of Pigs , the notorious failed invasion of Cuba backed by the U.S. in 1961 .
`` There 's the proof , '' Maduro said Wednesday , gesturing to Denman 's interrogation video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

After Failed Coup Plot, Maduro Touts Video Of Detained American Conspirator
Enlarge this image toggle caption Miraflores Palace presidential press office via AP Miraflores Palace presidential press office via AP
In a purported interrogation video released Wednesday by the Venezuelan government, one of the two former U.S. service members detained earlier this week in Venezuela acknowledged plans to help carry out a coup. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro revealed the video at a televised address in the capital, Caracas.
The mission was "to meet Venezuelans in Colombia, train them and come with them to Venezuela to secure Caracas and secure an airport here for follow-on," Luke Denman said in the video, which purported to show the U.S. Army Special Forces veteran confessing about an operation by which he and his associates hoped to oust the embattled Venezuelan leader and force him onto a plane to the U.S.
There were several clear edits over the course of the roughly 10-minute video. NPR has not independently confirmed its authenticity.
"I was helping Venezuelans take back control of their country," said Denman, whose capture by Venezuelan authorities, along with Airan Berry, was announced Monday. Both men served in the Army's Special Forces, also known as Green Berets, and Denman deployed to Iraq as a Special Forces communications sergeant a decade ago.
The pair, who have both been out of the service for about six years, stand at the heart of an almost surreal saga that has unfolded in Venezuela over the past several days — and they are both connected with Jordan Goudreau, another former member of the special forces who runs a Florida-based private security firm under the name of SilverCorp USA.
Goudreau announced the "daring amphibious raid" in a recorded message posted Sunday evening. "Our men are continuing to fight right now," he said in the video, flanked by former Venezuelan National Guard officer Javier Nieto Quintero. "Our units have been activated in the south, west and east of Venezuela."
Venezuelan security forces quickly stifled the operation — which set out from Colombia with dozens of Venezuelan military deserters participating, according to Denman. Maduro's government says Venezuelan forces confronted the perpetrators after they tried to land in speedboats on a beach about an hour north of Caracas, and killed at least six of the "mercenaries" and "terrorists."
Amid the fallout, authorities also captured the two Americans. Denman said in the video that he expected to earn up to $100,000 for his role in training and guiding the rebels in a country he had never visited before. Asked in the video who commands Goudreau, Denman answered: "President Donald Trump."
"There was no U.S. Government direct involvement in this operation," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo flatly told reporters at a briefing shortly before Maduro's speech. "If we had been involved, it would have gone differently. As for who bankrolled it, we're not prepared to share any more information about what we know took place. We'll unpack that at an appropriate time."
He said the U.S. government will seek a "path forward" in obtaining Denman and Berry's release.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Lamarque/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Kevin Lamarque/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
"We want to get every American back," Pompeo said Wednesday. "If the Maduro regime decides to hold them, we'll use every tool that we have available to try and get them back. It's our responsibility to do so."
Opposition leader Juan Guaidó has also denied any connection with the failed raid, despite Goudreau's and Denman's claims of having signed an agreement with him.
There is no love lost between Maduro's government in Venezuela and the Trump administration, which has made repeated — and openly public — efforts to try to punish the Socialist strongman's conduct and encourage his ouster. Washington recognizes Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate leader, and federal officials have slapped Maduro and more than a dozen current and former regime officials with severe sanctions and drug trafficking charges.
The U.S. government has offered a $15 million reward for Maduro's capture.
Still, the embattled Venezuelan leader's grasp on power has survived years of foreign pressure, domestic unrest and economic upheaval. And he asserted that the U.S. president is directly behind the failed attack that he likened to the Bay of Pigs, the notorious failed invasion of Cuba backed by the U.S. in 1961.
"There's the proof," Maduro said Wednesday, gesturing to Denman's interrogation video. "And there will be more."
NPR's Tom Bowman contributed to this story.


npr--2020-05-06--Trump Vetoes Bill To Limit Military Powers Against Iran, Calling It 'Very Insulting'

Trump Vetoes Bill To Limit Military Powers Against Iran , Calling It 'Very Insulting' President Trump on Wednesday vetoed a resolution that would have suppressed his ability to unilaterally take military action against Iran , calling the bipartisan bill an `` insulting '' attack on his presidential powers .
`` This was a very insulting resolution , introduced by Democrats as part of a strategy to win an election on November 3 by dividing the Republican Party .
The few Republicans who voted for it played right into their hands , '' the president said in a statement .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Senate was a rare pushback to the president 's war powers , even after the president vowed he would veto it .
The measure was introduced in early January after the president ordered an airstrike to kill Qassem Soleimani , one of Iran 's most powerful and beloved military leaders .
`` My Administration has taken strong actions , within statutory authority , to help keep our Nation safe , and I will not approve this resolution , which would undermine my ability to protect American citizens , service members , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty to return S.J .
Res .
68 to the Senate without my approval . ''
It 's unclear when the Senate might take a vote to attempt to override the president 's veto , but neither chamber approved the measure by a veto-proof majority ( two-thirds ) when it passed earlier this year .

Trump Vetoes Bill To Limit Military Powers Against Iran, Calling It 'Very Insulting'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pool/Getty Images Pool/Getty Images
President Trump on Wednesday vetoed a resolution that would have suppressed his ability to unilaterally take military action against Iran, calling the bipartisan bill an "insulting" attack on his presidential powers.
"This was a very insulting resolution, introduced by Democrats as part of a strategy to win an election on November 3 by dividing the Republican Party. The few Republicans who voted for it played right into their hands," the president said in a statement.
The bipartisan resolution approved by both the House and Senate was a rare pushback to the president's war powers, even after the president vowed he would veto it. The measure was introduced in early January after the president ordered an airstrike to kill Qassem Soleimani, one of Iran's most powerful and beloved military leaders.
"My Administration has taken strong actions, within statutory authority, to help keep our Nation safe, and I will not approve this resolution, which would undermine my ability to protect American citizens, service members, and interests. Therefore, it is my duty to return S.J. Res. 68 to the Senate without my approval."
It's unclear when the Senate might take a vote to attempt to override the president's veto, but neither chamber approved the measure by a veto-proof majority (two-thirds) when it passed earlier this year.


npr--2020-05-06--Facebook Oversight Board On Removing Objectionable Content Announces Members

An independent oversight board for the social media giant Facebook announced its initial 20 members today in a New York Times opinion piece .
The company has faced criticism for its handling of issues ranging from user privacy to policing hate speech to stopping the spread of disinformation .
The oversight board will make final decisions on whether specific content should be removed from Facebook .
The board is scheduled to start operating this year , according to the co-chairs , who authored the essay .
Two of the four co-chairs , Jamal Greene and Michael McConnell , are U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are Catalina Botero-Marino , a law school dean in Colombia , and Helle Thorning-Schmidt , the former prime minister of Denmark .
Of the 20-person board , which was selected by the co-chairs , nine are academics .
Five are American .
The board will eventually expand to 40 members .
The co-chairs said that the board comprises members from diverse professional , cultural and religious backgrounds , all of whom are `` committed to freedom of expression within the framework of international norms of human rights . ''
Facebook has agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which it has funded with an independent $ 130 million trust .
The co-chairs noted that while the board will implement a system for users to provide input and flag content , it wo n't be able to respond to every case .
Instead , they said it will focus on cases relevant to public discourse .
`` Cases that examine the line between satire and hate speech , the spread of graphic content after tragic events , and whether manipulated content posted by public figures should be treated differently from other content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come before the board , '' they wrote.
`` We also know that we will not be able to please everyone .
Some of our decisions may prove controversial and all will spur further debate . ''

Facebook Oversight Board On Removing Objectionable Content Announces Members
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP Mark Lennihan/AP
An independent oversight board for the social media giant Facebook announced its initial 20 members today in a New York Times opinion piece.
The company has faced criticism for its handling of issues ranging from user privacy to policing hate speech to stopping the spread of disinformation. The oversight board will make final decisions on whether specific content should be removed from Facebook.
The board is scheduled to start operating this year, according to the co-chairs, who authored the essay. Two of the four co-chairs, Jamal Greene and Michael McConnell, are U.S. law professors. The other two co-chairs are Catalina Botero-Marino, a law school dean in Colombia, and Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the former prime minister of Denmark. Of the 20-person board, which was selected by the co-chairs, nine are academics. Five are American.
The board will eventually expand to 40 members.
The co-chairs said that the board comprises members from diverse professional, cultural and religious backgrounds, all of whom are "committed to freedom of expression within the framework of international norms of human rights."
Facebook has agreed to carry out decisions of the board, which it has funded with an independent $130 million trust.
The co-chairs noted that while the board will implement a system for users to provide input and flag content, it won't be able to respond to every case. Instead, they said it will focus on cases relevant to public discourse.
"Cases that examine the line between satire and hate speech, the spread of graphic content after tragic events, and whether manipulated content posted by public figures should be treated differently from other content are just some of those that may come before the board," they wrote. " We also know that we will not be able to please everyone. Some of our decisions may prove controversial and all will spur further debate."


npr--2020-05-06--The Pandemic Emptied American Roads. But Driving Is Picking Back Up

The Pandemic Emptied American Roads .
But Driving Is Picking Back Up America is starting its engines again .
Freeways and city streets have been remarkably empty for weeks .
The coronavirus pandemic caused an unprecedented drop in U.S. traffic — total miles driven dropped by more than 40 % in the last two weeks of March , according to data collected by Arity .
In some states , mileage eventually dropped more than 60 % below what would be expected without a pandemic .
But for several weeks now , the same data shows that miles driven are starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below normal levels , but is rising consistently .
The decline in driving began well before states imposed stay-at-home orders , and the increase similarly began before those orders started to be lifted .
Arity , a spinoff of the insurance giant Allstate , pulls mobility data from smartphone apps and devices installed in cars of customers who have opted in to share their data .
The figures have been smoothed and normalized .
The decline in late March appears to be without a peacetime precedent .
And the 29 % increase between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in normal times , be a remarkable shift .
`` In a pre-COVID world , a move of 1 % or 2 % would be perceived as interesting , '' Rob Nendorf , Arity 's director of analytics , says .
Spring is usually marked by an increase in traffic , making the drop off in March even more striking .
And it 's not just that total miles driven have declined .
Americans also changed how they drive .
Cars are going faster overall , but Arity actually reports less aggressive acceleration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving patterns on emptier streets , or it may be because different kinds of trips are taking place .
And long weekend trips are a casualty of the coronavirus .
In April , weekend drives tended to be shorter than usual , making weekday and weekend trips look a lot more similar .
The reduction in driving has opened up streets — and some cities have seized the opportunity to rethink how they use their roads , installing more bike lanes or reserving more space for pedestrians .
Meanwhile , less driving means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send rebates to customers .
And now , as cars trickle back to the streets , just remember : starting a vehicle after a long hiatus has some perils .
Dead batteries are common and tires can develop flat spots .
One unfortunate NPR correspondent found a rat 's nest inside her vehicle .

The Pandemic Emptied American Roads. But Driving Is Picking Back Up
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
America is starting its engines again.
Freeways and city streets have been remarkably empty for weeks. The coronavirus pandemic caused an unprecedented drop in U.S. traffic — total miles driven dropped by more than 40% in the last two weeks of March, according to data collected by Arity.
In some states, mileage eventually dropped more than 60% below what would be expected without a pandemic.
But for several weeks now, the same data shows that miles driven are starting to climb again. Driving remains well below normal levels, but is rising consistently.
Loading...
The decline in driving began well before states imposed stay-at-home orders, and the increase similarly began before those orders started to be lifted.
Arity, a spinoff of the insurance giant Allstate, pulls mobility data from smartphone apps and devices installed in cars of customers who have opted in to share their data. The figures have been smoothed and normalized.
The decline in late March appears to be without a peacetime precedent. And the 29% increase between April 1 and May 1 would, in normal times, be a remarkable shift.
"In a pre-COVID world, a move of 1% or 2% would be perceived as interesting," Rob Nendorf, Arity's director of analytics, says.
Spring is usually marked by an increase in traffic, making the drop off in March even more striking.
And it's not just that total miles driven have declined. Americans also changed how they drive.
Cars are going faster overall, but Arity actually reports less aggressive acceleration than usual. That might reflect different driving patterns on emptier streets, or it may be because different kinds of trips are taking place. And long weekend trips are a casualty of the coronavirus. In April, weekend drives tended to be shorter than usual, making weekday and weekend trips look a lot more similar.
The reduction in driving has opened up streets — and some cities have seized the opportunity to rethink how they use their roads, installing more bike lanes or reserving more space for pedestrians. Meanwhile, less driving means fewer accidents, prompting some insurers to send rebates to customers.
And now, as cars trickle back to the streets, just remember: starting a vehicle after a long hiatus has some perils. Dead batteries are common and tires can develop flat spots. One unfortunate NPR correspondent found a rat's nest inside her vehicle.


npr--2020-05-06--Dental Hygienist Worries If People Will Get Teeth Cleaned For Fear Of Coronavirus

Dental Hygienist Worries If People Will Get Teeth Cleaned For Fear Of Coronavirus '' Let 's see – it 's not that bad ; 37 degrees , '' Candace Grenier says , reading the thermometer outside a window of her Anchorage home .
When the temperature gets above freezing , it 's a good day .
Not just because it feels better , but it 's also good for the electric bill and because Grenier can no longer justify paying $ 50 to $ 70 to get her driveway plowed .
The dental practice where she has worked for two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before her son , Ryeder , also lost his job at an auto body shop .
She had hoped to use accumulated sick leave and paid time off to cover some of her expenses , but the dental office could n't afford to pay that out .
Unemployment benefits took time to process , she says , because there have been so many layoffs .
Even when things reopen , Grenier worries people will forgo dental cleanings as they worry about getting the coronavirus by visiting a dental office .
`` People may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to take that risk , ' `` she says .
To make the most of her savings , she 's cut all luxuries — and is waiting to see if she needs to delay her mortgage payment .
She traded her specialty coffee beans for a bulk Costco version .
She also looks forward to getting her hair dyed when she can get back to work .
`` I 'm 53 , so there are definitely roots showing . ''
Read more stories in Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession .

Dental Hygienist Worries If People Will Get Teeth Cleaned For Fear Of Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Seth Franklin Seth Franklin
"Let's see – it's not that bad; 37 degrees," Candace Grenier says, reading the thermometer outside a window of her Anchorage home.
When the temperature gets above freezing, it's a good day. Not just because it feels better, but it's also good for the electric bill and because Grenier can no longer justify paying $50 to $70 to get her driveway plowed.
The dental practice where she has worked for two decades shut down in mid-March, just before her son, Ryeder, also lost his job at an auto body shop.
FACES OF THE CORONAVIRUS RECESSION Jobs lost. Businesses in peril. Meetings gone virtual. Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession offers snapshots of working Americans whose lives have been upended by the pandemic.
She had hoped to use accumulated sick leave and paid time off to cover some of her expenses, but the dental office couldn't afford to pay that out. Unemployment benefits took time to process, she says, because there have been so many layoffs.
Even when things reopen, Grenier worries people will forgo dental cleanings as they worry about getting the coronavirus by visiting a dental office. "People may decide that, 'Hey, I'm not going to take that risk,' " she says.
To make the most of her savings, she's cut all luxuries — and is waiting to see if she needs to delay her mortgage payment. She traded her specialty coffee beans for a bulk Costco version. She also looks forward to getting her hair dyed when she can get back to work. "I'm 53, so there are definitely roots showing."
Read more stories in Faces Of The Coronavirus Recession.


npr--2020-05-06--37-Year-Old Judge, Epitome Of McConnell Court Strategy, On Track For Confirmation

37-Year-Old Judge , Epitome Of McConnell Court Strategy , On Track For Confirmation A 37 year-old district court judge nominated for a seat on the powerful Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit appeared all but certain to be confirmed after a hearing Wednesday — over Democrats ' objections .
The nominee , Justin Walker , was hand picked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , for the D.C .
Circuit court , which is often called the second most important court in the country .
McConnell has put extensive time , effort and political capital into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranks with young , conservative judges .
Walker embodies that strategy .
He clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court , and for Justice Brett Kavanaugh when Kavanaugh was a judge on the D.C .
Circuit .
Walker then became a judge in the Western District of Kentucky just six months ago , a job he secured because of McConnell .
Now he looks almost certain to be confirmed for a post on the D.C .
Circuit with lifetime tenure , hearing important cases for decades and potentially on deck one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's nominee for the Supreme Court .
McConnell described Walker as a wunderkind and emphasized the rating he has received from the American Bar Association .
Opponents dug into Walker 's brief tenure as a judge at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday .
Democrats sought to portray him as too inexperienced for a federal appeals court position .
Democrats also questioned Walker about partisan statements he made on TV during Kavanaugh 's confirmation process as well as at his own investiture just a few months ago .
Several Democrats , including Sens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Illinois , zeroed in on critical remarks Walker has made about a Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act .
Walker said he was addressing the law from his perspective then as an academic and private citizen .
It would be inappropriate , he said , to opine on the matter now .
He also said the Supreme Court 's decision is now a binding precedent .
A good judge , Walker said , `` has a responsibility to go where the law leads , where the Constitution leads .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district court judge and I 've done it without any policy considerations . ''
The American Bar Association rated Walker `` unqualified '' when he was nominated for his position on the district court because of his inexperience .
The ABA now has rated Walker `` well qualified '' for the circuit court bench , which is seen through a different lens .
The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , Lindsey Graham , concurred at the session on Wednesday .
He closed the hearing by telling Walker that he 'd acquitted @ @ @

37-Year-Old Judge, Epitome Of McConnell Court Strategy, On Track For Confirmation
Enlarge this image toggle caption Caroline Brehman/AP Caroline Brehman/AP
A 37 year-old district court judge nominated for a seat on the powerful Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit appeared all but certain to be confirmed after a hearing Wednesday — over Democrats' objections.
The nominee, Justin Walker, was hand picked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for the D.C. Circuit court, which is often called the second most important court in the country.
McConnell has put extensive time, effort and political capital into reshaping the federal judiciary by filling its ranks with young, conservative judges. Walker embodies that strategy.
He clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court, and for Justice Brett Kavanaugh when Kavanaugh was a judge on the D.C. Circuit. Walker then became a judge in the Western District of Kentucky just six months ago, a job he secured because of McConnell.
Now he looks almost certain to be confirmed for a post on the D.C. Circuit with lifetime tenure, hearing important cases for decades and potentially on deck one day to serve as a Republican president's nominee for the Supreme Court.
McConnell described Walker as a wunderkind and emphasized the rating he has received from the American Bar Association.
Democrats howl
Opponents dug into Walker's brief tenure as a judge at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Democrats sought to portray him as too inexperienced for a federal appeals court position.
Democrats also questioned Walker about partisan statements he made on TV during Kavanaugh's confirmation process as well as at his own investiture just a few months ago.
Several Democrats, including Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Dick Durbin of Illinois, zeroed in on critical remarks Walker has made about a Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act.
Walker said he was addressing the law from his perspective then as an academic and private citizen. It would be inappropriate, he said, to opine on the matter now. He also said the Supreme Court's decision is now a binding precedent.
A good judge, Walker said, "has a responsibility to go where the law leads, where the Constitution leads. That's what I've done as a district court judge and I've done it without any policy considerations."
The American Bar Association rated Walker "unqualified" when he was nominated for his position on the district court because of his inexperience. The ABA now has rated Walker "well qualified" for the circuit court bench, which is seen through a different lens.
The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham, concurred at the session on Wednesday. He closed the hearing by telling Walker that he'd acquitted himself well.


npr--2020-05-06--As India Reopens Liquor Stores, Customers Line Up — But Overcrowding Forces Closures

As India Reopens Liquor Stores , Customers Line Up — But Overcrowding Forces Closures When liquor stores reopened across India on Monday for the first time in nearly six weeks , little circles painted on the pavement were supposed to help customers maintain a safe distance .
But Indians paid them little heed .
Lines formed at dawn and snaked around city blocks , stretching more than a mile in some places , with little social distancing .
In the capital New Delhi , police used batons to disperse crowds .
The chaos that ensued posed risks of infection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to reopen liquor stores or levy higher taxes to deter crowds .
The government recently extended a nationwide lockdown until May 18 , but allowed liquor stores to reopen .
For most Indian states , excise duty on alcohol accounts for 10 % to 15 % of tax revenue .
Alcohol consumption doubled in India between 2005 and 2016 .
But many of the country 's religions — Islam , Hinduism , Sikhism and Jainism , for example — prohibit or discourage drinking alcohol .
Some Indian states are dry .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates of tax , sometimes known as sin taxes , levied on items some consider immoral .
On Tuesday , India recorded nearly 3,900 new cases of COVID-19 — more than any day so far .
The country , with a population of 1.3 billion , has more than 33,000 active cases of COVID-19 and almost 1,700 deaths .
In Mumbai , which accounts for about a fifth of all of India 's COVID-19 cases so far , municipal authorities late Tuesday ordered liquor stores and other nonessential shops to close again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 % `` special corona fee '' on alcohol sales .
In the southern state of Karnataka , alcohol sales Tuesday totaled nearly $ 26 million , a single-day record .
Police in the state capital Bengaluru filed a case against one shop owner after a customer 's receipt for booze worth some $ 700 circulated on social media .
Retailers are not allowed to sell more than 2.3 liters of hard liquor or 18.2 liters of beer per customer per day .
Social media was flooded with posts marking the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows patrons waiting to buy alcohol in a hailstorm in northern India .
Another shows a man tossing flower petals on people standing in line in New Delhi .
`` You are the economy of our country , '' he says , bowing with folded hands .
`` Our government does n't have any money . ''

As India Reopens Liquor Stores, Customers Line Up — But Overcrowding Forces Closures
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP via Getty Images Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP via Getty Images
When liquor stores reopened across India on Monday for the first time in nearly six weeks, little circles painted on the pavement were supposed to help customers maintain a safe distance. But Indians paid them little heed.
Lines formed at dawn and snaked around city blocks, stretching more than a mile in some places, with little social distancing. In the capital New Delhi, police used batons to disperse crowds.
The chaos that ensued posed risks of infection, and led some states to reverse the decision to reopen liquor stores or levy higher taxes to deter crowds.
The government recently extended a nationwide lockdown until May 18, but allowed liquor stores to reopen. For most Indian states, excise duty on alcohol accounts for 10% to 15% of tax revenue.
Alcohol consumption doubled in India between 2005 and 2016. But many of the country's religions — Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism, for example — prohibit or discourage drinking alcohol. Some Indian states are dry. In others, alcohol is subject to high rates of tax, sometimes known as sin taxes, levied on items some consider immoral.
On Tuesday, India recorded nearly 3,900 new cases of COVID-19 — more than any day so far. The country, with a population of 1.3 billion, has more than 33,000 active cases of COVID-19 and almost 1,700 deaths.
In Mumbai, which accounts for about a fifth of all of India's COVID-19 cases so far, municipal authorities late Tuesday ordered liquor stores and other nonessential shops to close again. In Delhi, authorities imposed a new 70% "special corona fee" on alcohol sales.
In the southern state of Karnataka, alcohol sales Tuesday totaled nearly $26 million, a single-day record. Police in the state capital Bengaluru filed a case against one shop owner after a customer's receipt for booze worth some $700 circulated on social media. Retailers are not allowed to sell more than 2.3 liters of hard liquor or 18.2 liters of beer per customer per day.
Social media was flooded with posts marking the end of the liquor store closure. One video shows patrons waiting to buy alcohol in a hailstorm in northern India. Another shows a man tossing flower petals on people standing in line in New Delhi. "You are the economy of our country," he says, bowing with folded hands. "Our government doesn't have any money."


npr--2020-05-06--Scientists Find Nearest-Known Black Hole, In Distressingly Fitting Metaphor

If it feels as if gravity has been tugging harder than it usually does the past couple of months , it 'd be easy to guess why — what with the global pandemic , a hemorrhaging economy and the strain of staying at least six feet away from just about everyone .
So perhaps it 's an appropriate time to add news of another impossibly dark , heavy item to the list .
The European Southern Observatory announced Wednesday that a team of astronomers has discovered the closest-known black hole to Earth , roughly 1,000 light-years away .
They found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as HR 6819 , where scientists say the black hole — rendered effectively invisible by gravity so strong that even light can not escape — revealed itself in the curious orbit of the star nearer the center of the system .
`` An invisible object with a mass at least four times that of the Sun can only be a black hole , '' Thomas Rivinius , the Chile-based ESO scientist who led the study , said in a statement released Wednesday .
His team published their findings in the journal Astronomy & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anywhere near close enough for the average observer on Earth to feel its effects , to be absolutely clear .
But it is close enough that , during winter in the southern hemisphere , the two stars that are believed to compose its solar system can be seen without a telescope as a single point of light in the constellation Telescopium .
The new discovery has unseated the black hole found in system A0620–00 , which is located more than 3,000 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros — and which for years was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists had identified .
Now , that does not mean these two huge — and hugely dense — stellar objects are the only ones to be found in the Milky Way , the galaxy humans call home .
In fact , Rivinius described the discovery as merely `` the tip of an exciting iceberg . ''
`` There must be hundreds of millions of black holes out there , but we know about only very few , '' he explained .
`` Knowing what to look for should put us in a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key is that this black hole is relatively quiet .
Many of the others that have been identified in our galaxy have been spotted because of the powerful X-rays they emit when consuming the material around them .
This one , however , betrayed its location largely with the pull that it exerted on the innermost star of the system , which the team had been studying before stumbling on the invisible interloper .
Given the scale of that gravitational pull , if a star were causing it , the team would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convincing alternative , they concluded , was that they were watching the effects of a black hole .
And Marianne Heida , a co-author on the paper , says they 're already seeing signs of triple systems such as this one elsewhere in the galaxy .
`` By finding and studying them , '' she said , `` we can learn a lot about the formation and evolution of those rare stars that begin their lives with more than about eight times the mass of the Sun and end them in a supernova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Scientists Find Nearest-Known Black Hole, In Distressingly Fitting Metaphor
Enlarge this image toggle caption ESO/L. Calçada ESO/L. Calçada
If it feels as if gravity has been tugging harder than it usually does the past couple of months, it'd be easy to guess why — what with the global pandemic, a hemorrhaging economy and the strain of staying at least six feet away from just about everyone.
So perhaps it's an appropriate time to add news of another impossibly dark, heavy item to the list.
The European Southern Observatory announced Wednesday that a team of astronomers has discovered the closest-known black hole to Earth, roughly 1,000 light-years away. They found it hiding in a double-star system known as HR 6819, where scientists say the black hole — rendered effectively invisible by gravity so strong that even light cannot escape — revealed itself in the curious orbit of the star nearer the center of the system.
"An invisible object with a mass at least four times that of the Sun can only be a black hole," Thomas Rivinius, the Chile-based ESO scientist who led the study, said in a statement released Wednesday. His team published their findings in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
YouTube
The black hole is not anywhere near close enough for the average observer on Earth to feel its effects, to be absolutely clear. But it is close enough that, during winter in the southern hemisphere, the two stars that are believed to compose its solar system can be seen without a telescope as a single point of light in the constellation Telescopium.
The new discovery has unseated the black hole found in system A0620–00, which is located more than 3,000 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros — and which for years was the nearest black hole to Earth that scientists had identified.
Now, that does not mean these two huge — and hugely dense — stellar objects are the only ones to be found in the Milky Way, the galaxy humans call home. In fact, Rivinius described the discovery as merely "the tip of an exciting iceberg."
"There must be hundreds of millions of black holes out there, but we know about only very few," he explained. "Knowing what to look for should put us in a better position to find them."
The key is that this black hole is relatively quiet. Many of the others that have been identified in our galaxy have been spotted because of the powerful X-rays they emit when consuming the material around them. This one, however, betrayed its location largely with the pull that it exerted on the innermost star of the system, which the team had been studying before stumbling on the invisible interloper.
Given the scale of that gravitational pull, if a star were causing it, the team would have expected to see it. The only convincing alternative, they concluded, was that they were watching the effects of a black hole.
And Marianne Heida, a co-author on the paper, says they're already seeing signs of triple systems such as this one elsewhere in the galaxy.
"By finding and studying them," she said, "we can learn a lot about the formation and evolution of those rare stars that begin their lives with more than about eight times the mass of the Sun and end them in a supernova explosion that leaves behind a black hole."


npr--2020-05-06--Judge Rules New York's Democratic Presidential Primary Must Go On

Judge Rules New York 's Democratic Presidential Primary Must Go On New York state 's Democratic presidential primary is back on after a district court judge granted a preliminary injunction on Tuesday to reinstate the contest .
Last week the New York State Board of Elections canceled the June 23 primary , when officials removed every Democrat from the ballot except the presumptive nominee , former Vice President Joe Biden .
The board said the contest was unnecessary , especially given public health concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The action did n't apply to congressional and state-level races @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sen. Bernie Sanders , who argued that the more pledged delegates Sanders brings to the Democratic National Convention , the more influence he 'll have on the party 's rules and platform .
Sanders suspended his campaign in April , but had wanted to remain on the ballot in the remaining primaries in order to maximize his delegate count .
The judge 's ruling actually comes in response to a lawsuit filed by another former Democratic candidate .
Andrew Yang challenged the board 's decision by claiming his rights were violated when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's primary ballot .
U.S. District Court Judge Analisa Torres ruled all qualifying candidates must be reinstated on the ballot .
Torres wrote that canceling the primary deprived Yang , along with a group of his pledged delegates , of `` the opportunity to compete for delegate slots and shape the course of events at the Convention , and voters will lose the chance to express their support for delegates who share their views .
The loss of these First Amendment rights is a heavy hardship . ''
Torres also noted that while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in light of COVID-19 , `` New York is the only one to have canceled its primary , casting further doubt on Defendants ' contention that scrapping the primary is necessary to combat the risk posed by the virus . ''
Yang celebrated the decision on Twitter , saying he hopes `` the New York Board of Elections takes from this ruling a newfound appreciation of their role in safeguarding our democracy . ''
In a statement , Sanders ' campaign manager , Faiz Shakir , said he was `` glad Judge Torres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
New York State Board of Elections Commissioner Andrew Spano and co-chair Douglas Kellner could n't be reached for comment but Kellner told the New York Times that the board was `` reviewing the decision and preparing an appeal . ''
`` The Andrew Yang complaint makes no mention at all of the New York law that provides for removal from the ballot of a presidential candidate who suspends his or her campaign , '' Kellner said in a statement to NPR in April .
`` The court complaint also fails to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commissioners .
We are confident that once the court reviews the statute and the text of our resolution , it will find that Commissioner Spano and I acted appropriately in accordance with the governing provisions of the Election Law . ''
New York 's Republican presidential primary was already called off earlier this year , when no candidates aside from President Trump qualified for the ballot .

Judge Rules New York's Democratic Presidential Primary Must Go On
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
New York state's Democratic presidential primary is back on after a district court judge granted a preliminary injunction on Tuesday to reinstate the contest.
Last week the New York State Board of Elections canceled the June 23 primary, when officials removed every Democrat from the ballot except the presumptive nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden. The board said the contest was unnecessary, especially given public health concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The action didn't apply to congressional and state-level races.
The move elicited criticism from supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders, who argued that the more pledged delegates Sanders brings to the Democratic National Convention, the more influence he'll have on the party's rules and platform.
Sanders suspended his campaign in April, but had wanted to remain on the ballot in the remaining primaries in order to maximize his delegate count.
The judge's ruling actually comes in response to a lawsuit filed by another former Democratic candidate. Andrew Yang challenged the board's decision by claiming his rights were violated when his name was removed from New York's primary ballot.
U.S. District Court Judge Analisa Torres ruled all qualifying candidates must be reinstated on the ballot.
Torres wrote that canceling the primary deprived Yang, along with a group of his pledged delegates, of "the opportunity to compete for delegate slots and shape the course of events at the Convention, and voters will lose the chance to express their support for delegates who share their views. The loss of these First Amendment rights is a heavy hardship."
Torres also noted that while other states have rescheduled their primary elections in light of COVID-19, "New York is the only one to have canceled its primary, casting further doubt on Defendants' contention that scrapping the primary is necessary to combat the risk posed by the virus."
Yang celebrated the decision on Twitter, saying he hopes "the New York Board of Elections takes from this ruling a newfound appreciation of their role in safeguarding our democracy."
In a statement, Sanders' campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, said he was "glad Judge Torres has restored basic democracy in New York."
New York State Board of Elections Commissioner Andrew Spano and co-chair Douglas Kellner couldn't be reached for comment but Kellner told the New York Times that the board was "reviewing the decision and preparing an appeal."
"The Andrew Yang complaint makes no mention at all of the New York law that provides for removal from the ballot of a presidential candidate who suspends his or her campaign," Kellner said in a statement to NPR in April.
"The court complaint also fails to refer to the resolution actually adopted by the commissioners. We are confident that once the court reviews the statute and the text of our resolution, it will find that Commissioner Spano and I acted appropriately in accordance with the governing provisions of the Election Law."
New York's Republican presidential primary was already called off earlier this year, when no candidates aside from President Trump qualified for the ballot.


npr--2020-05-06--Which States Are Reopening? A State-By-State Guide

Every U.S. state has implemented restrictions designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 .
Businesses reduced or ceased operations , people transitioned into working and learning remotely , and nonessential activities were paused .
At least temporarily , much of the country was under strict orders to stay home .
State officials are now charting paths to a new normal , seeking a balance between reopening economies and protecting public health .
Many governors are outlining new frameworks and timelines for their states .
Some have also formed regional partnerships to coordinate economic recovery .
President Trump 's federal guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 1 .
Many states are extending stay-at-home orders , prolonging school closures or delaying elections until after that date .
Others are lifting restrictions and entering the first phases of their recovery plans .
While conditions and predictions differ across states , there is broad consensus that reopening will not happen overnight .
Each day brings changes .
NPR is tracking developments in all 50 states , Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia so you can see what 's changed and how states compare .
Here 's what each one has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northeast : Connecticut , Maine , Massachusetts , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New York , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , Vermont The first version of this page was originally published on March 12 .
This is a developing story .
We will continue to update as new information becomes available .
NPR 's Brakkton Booker , Merrit Kennedy , Vanessa Romo , Colin Dwyer , Laurel Wamsley , Aubri Juhasz and Bobby Allyn contributed to this report .

How Is Each State Responding To COVID-19?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robert F. Bukaty/AP Robert F. Bukaty/AP
When the coronavirus first struck the U.S. in March, every state implemented restrictions aimed at limiting its spread. Businesses closed, schools and offices went remote and much of the country was under strict orders to stay home — at least temporarily.
By mid-May, all 50 states had begun the process of easing restrictions, seeking a balance between reopening economies and protecting public health. Some took statewide approaches, some used regional frameworks and some reopened faster than others.
Health experts warned that many states and localities were moving too quickly to open safely. Coronavirus cases soon began to skyrocket in much of the country, particularly in the South and West. By early August the pandemic had entered what health officials called a "new phase," with cases widespread in rural as well as metro areas. In the fall, Midwest states have seen some of the most severe case counts and deaths.
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have continued to surge nationwide, crossing worrying new milestones at an increasingly fast pace. When the U.S. surpassed 12 million confirmed cases in mid-November, it had recorded one million new cases every six days for three weeks. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists estimate that the total number of infections may be eight times higher than reported.) By the start of December, the country had broken its previous records for the number of people hospitalized with the virus as well as its single-day death toll.
With transmission rates rising and hospital capacity dwindling, many states are slowing or altering their reopening plans, reintroducing restrictions and tightening mitigation measures. In the absence of a federal mask mandate, most states have issued their own. Many are reimposing limits on gatherings, businesses and other activities, sometimes statewide and sometimes on a county-by-county basis. State leaders are also announcing ever-evolving testing criteria, relief programs, school guidance and travel restrictions.
Each day brings changes. NPR is tracking developments in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia so you can read up on your state's COVID-19 response and how it compares to others. This rundown focuses on statewide measures — local jurisdictions may vary.
Here's what each state has done so far, by region:
Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
The first version of this page was originally published on March 12. This is a developing story. We will continue to update as new information becomes available.