npr--2020-12-15--1st Patients To Get CRISPR Gene-Editing Treatment Continue To Thrive

1st Patients To Get CRISPR Gene-Editing Treatment Continue To Thrive The last thing a lot of people want to do these days is get on a plane .
But even a pandemic would not stop Victoria Gray .
She jumped at the chance to head to the airport this summer .
`` It was one of those things I was waiting to get a chance to do , '' says Gray .
She had never flown before because she was born with sickle cell disease .
She feared the altitude change might trigger one of the worst complications of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of excruciating pain .
But Gray is the first person in the United States to be successfully treated for a genetic disorder with the help of CRISPR , a revolutionary gene-editing technique that makes it much easier to make very precise changes in DNA .
About a year after getting the treatment , it was working so well that Gray felt comfortable flying for the first time .
She went to Washington , D.C. , to visit her husband , who 'd been away from months on deployment with the National Guard .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a window .
And I got to look out the window and see the clouds and everything , '' says Gray , 35 , of Forest , Miss .
Gray wore a mask the whole time to protect herself against the coronavirus , kept her distance from other people at the airport , and arrived happily in Washington , D.C. , even though she 's afraid of heights .
`` I did n't hyperventilate like I thought I would , '' Gray says , laughing as she recounts the adventure in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to follow Gray through her experience since she underwent the landmark treatment on July 2 , 2019 .
Since the last time NPR checked in with Gray in June , she has continued to improve .
Researchers have become increasingly confident that the approach is safe , working for her and will continue to work .
Moreover , they are becoming far more encouraged that her case is far from a fluke .
At a recent meeting of the American Society for Hematology , researchers reported the latest results from the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a research study , including Gray , two other sickle cell patients and seven patients with a related blood disorder , beta thalassemia .
The patients now have been followed for between three and 18 months .
All the patients appear to have responded well .
The only side effects have been from the intense chemotherapy they 've had to undergo before getting the billions of edited cells infused into their bodies .
The New England Journal of Medicine published online this month the first peer-reviewed research paper from the study , focusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patient who was treated .
`` I 'm very excited to see these results , '' says Jennifer Doudna of the University of California , Berkeley , who shared the Nobel Prize this year for her role in the development of CRISPR .
`` Patients appear to be cured of their disease , which is simply remarkable . ''
Another nine patients have also been treated , according to CRISPR Therapeutics in Cambridge , Mass.
, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston , two companies sponsoring the research .
Those individuals have n't been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials say .
But the results from the first 10 patients `` represent an important scientific and medical milestone , '' says Dr. David Altshuler , Vertex 's chief scientific officer .
The treatment boosted levels of a protein in the study subjects ' blood known as fetal hemoglobin .
The scientists believe that protein is compensating for defective adult hemoglobin that their bodies produce because of a genetic defect they were born with .
Hemoglobin is necessary for red blood cells to carry oxygen .
Analyses of samples of bone marrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the treatment , then again six months later , showed the gene-edited cells had persisted the full year — a promising indication that the approach has permanently altered her DNA and could last a lifetime .
`` This gives us great confidence that this can be a one-time therapy that can be a cure for life , '' says Samarth Kulkari , the CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics .
Gray and the two other sickle cell patients have n't had any complications from their disease since getting the treatment , including any pain attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to wean off the powerful pain medications she 'd needed most of her life .
Prior to the treatment , Gray experienced an average of seven such episodes every year .
Similarly , the beta thalassemia patients have n't needed the regular blood transfusions that had been required to keep them alive .
`` It is a big deal because we we able to prove that we can edit human cells and we can infuse them safely into patients and it totally changed their life , '' says Dr. Haydar Frangoul at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Frangoul is Gray 's doctor and is helping run the study .
For the treatment , doctors remove stem cells from the patients ' bone marrow and use CRISPR to edit a gene in the cells , activating the production of fetal hemoglobin .
That protein is produced by fetuses in the womb but usually shuts off shortly after birth .
The patients then undergo a grueling round of chemotherapy to destroy most of their bone marrow to make room for the gene-edited cells , billions of which are then infused into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the door for us to show that this therapy can not only be used in sickle cell and thalassemia but potentially can be used in other disorders , '' Frangoul says .
Doctors have already started trying to use CRISPR to treat cancer and to restore vision to people blinded by a genetic disease .
The hope to try it for many other diseases as well , including heart disease and AIDS .
The researchers stress that they will have to follow Gray and many other patients for a lot longer to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it keeps working .
But they are optimistic it will .
`` It 's amazing , '' Gray says .
`` It 's better than I could have imagined .
I feel like I can do what I want now . ''
The last year has n't always been easy for Gray , though .
Like millions of other Americans , she has been sheltering at home with three of her children , worrying about keeping them safe and helping them learn from home much of the time .
`` I 'm trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do while watch them at the same time to make sure they 're doing the things they need to do , '' Gray says .
`` It 's been a tough task . ''
But she has been able do other things she never got to do before , such as watch her oldest son 's football games and see her daughter cheerleading .
`` This is really a life-changer for me , '' she says .
`` It 's magnificent . ''
She 's now looking forward to going back to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more when the pandemic finally ends , and watching her children grow up without them worrying about their mother dying .
`` I want to see them graduate high school and be able to take them to move into dorms in college .
And I want to be there for their weddings — just everything that the normal people get to do in life .
I want to be able to do those things with my kids , '' she says .
`` I can look forward now to having grandkids one day @ @ @ @ @ @

1st Patients To Get CRISPR Gene-Editing Treatment Continue To Thrive
Enlarge this image toggle caption Victoria Gray Victoria Gray
The last thing a lot of people want to do these days is get on a plane. But even a pandemic would not stop Victoria Gray. She jumped at the chance to head to the airport this summer.
"It was one of those things I was waiting to get a chance to do," says Gray.
She had never flown before because she was born with sickle cell disease. She feared the altitude change might trigger one of the worst complications of the devastating genetic disease — a sudden attack of excruciating pain.
But Gray is the first person in the United States to be successfully treated for a genetic disorder with the help of CRISPR, a revolutionary gene-editing technique that makes it much easier to make very precise changes in DNA.
About a year after getting the treatment, it was working so well that Gray felt comfortable flying for the first time. She went to Washington, D.C., to visit her husband, who has been away for months on deployment with the National Guard.
"It was exciting. I had a window. And I got to look out the window and see the clouds and everything," says Gray, 35, of Forest, Miss.
Gray wore a mask the whole time to protect herself against the coronavirus, kept her distance from other people at the airport, and arrived happily in Washington, D.C., even though she's afraid of heights.
"I didn't hyperventilate like I thought I would," Gray says, laughing as she recounts the adventure in an interview with NPR.
NPR has had exclusive access to follow Gray through her experience since she underwent the landmark treatment on July 2, 2019. Since the last time NPR checked in with Gray in June, she has continued to improve. Researchers have become increasingly confident that the approach is safe, working for her and will continue to work. Moreover, they are becoming far more encouraged that her case is far from a fluke.
At a recent meeting of the American Society for Hematology, researchers reported the latest results from the first 10 patients treated via the technique in a research study, including Gray, two other sickle cell patients and seven patients with a related blood disorder, beta thalassemia. The patients now have been followed for between three and 18 months.
All the patients appear to have responded well. The only side effects have been from the intense chemotherapy they've had to undergo before getting the billions of edited cells infused into their bodies.
The New England Journal of Medicine published online this month the first peer-reviewed research paper from the study, focusing on Gray and the first beta thalassemia patient who was treated.
"I'm very excited to see these results," says Jennifer Doudna of the University of California, Berkeley, who shared the Nobel Prize this year for her role in the development of CRISPR. "Patients appear to be cured of their disease, which is simply remarkable."
Another nine patients have also been treated, according to CRISPR Therapeutics in Cambridge, Mass., and Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston, two companies sponsoring the research. Those individuals haven't been followed long enough to report any results, officials say.
But the results from the first 10 patients "represent an important scientific and medical milestone," says Dr. David Altshuler, Vertex's chief scientific officer.
The treatment boosted levels of a protein in the study subjects' blood known as fetal hemoglobin. The scientists believe that protein is compensating for defective adult hemoglobin that their bodies produce because of a genetic defect they were born with. Hemoglobin is necessary for red blood cells to carry oxygen.
Analyses of samples of bone marrow cells from Gray six months after getting the treatment, then again six months later, showed the gene-edited cells had persisted the full year — a promising indication that the approach has permanently altered her DNA and could last a lifetime.
"This gives us great confidence that this can be a one-time therapy that can be a cure for life," says Samarth Kulkarni, the CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics.
Gray and the two other sickle cell patients haven't had any complications from their disease since getting the treatment, including any pain attacks or hospitalizations. Gray has also been able to wean off the powerful pain medications she'd needed most of her life.
Prior to the treatment, Gray experienced an average of seven such episodes every year. Similarly, the beta thalassemia patients haven't needed the regular blood transfusions that had been required to keep them alive.
"It is a big deal because we we able to prove that we can edit human cells and we can infuse them safely into patients and it totally changed their life," says Dr. Haydar Frangoul at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville. Frangoul is Gray's doctor and is helping run the study.
For the treatment, doctors remove stem cells from the patients' bone marrow and use CRISPR to edit a gene in the cells, activating the production of fetal hemoglobin. That protein is produced by fetuses in the womb but usually shuts off shortly after birth.
The patients then undergo a grueling round of chemotherapy to destroy most of their bone marrow to make room for the gene-edited cells, billions of which are then infused into their bodies.
"It is opening the door for us to show that this therapy can not only be used in sickle cell and thalassemia but potentially can be used in other disorders," Frangoul says.
Doctors have already started trying to use CRISPR to treat cancer and to restore vision to people blinded by a genetic disease. They hope to try it for many other diseases as well, including heart disease and AIDS.
The researchers stress that they will have to follow Gray and many other patients for a lot longer to be sure the treatment is safe and that it keeps working. But they are optimistic it will.
Gray hopes so too.
"It's amazing," she says. "It's better than I could have imagined. I feel like I can do what I want now."
The last year hasn't always been easy for Gray, though. Like millions of other Americans, she has been sheltering at home with three of her children, worrying about keeping them safe and helping them learn from home much of the time.
"I'm trying to do the things I need to do while watch them at the same time to make sure they're doing the things they need to do," Gray says. "It's been a tough task."
But she has been able do other things she never got to do before, such as watch her oldest son's football games and see her daughter cheerleading.
"This is really a life-changer for me," she says. "It's magnificent."
She's now looking forward to going back to school herself, learning to swim, traveling more when the pandemic finally ends, and watching her children grow up without them worrying about their mother dying.
"I want to see them graduate high school and be able to take them to move into dorms in college. And I want to be there for their weddings — just everything that the normal people get to do in life. I want to be able to do those things with my kids," she says. "I can look forward now to having grandkids one day — being a grandmama."


npr--2020-12-15--Poll: Despite Record Turnout, 80 Million Americans Didn't Vote. Here's Why

More Americans voted in 2020 than in any presidential election in 120 years .
About 67 % of eligible voters cast ballots this year , but that still means a third did not .
That amounts to about 80 million people who stayed home .
To better understand what motivates these nonvoters , NPR and the Medill School of Journalism commissioned Ipsos to conduct a survey of U.S. adults who did n't vote this year .
The Medill school 's graduate students did deep dives into various aspects of the survey here .
• not being registered to vote ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in politics ( 23 % ) • being undecided on whom to vote for ( 10 % ) They are disengaged , disaffected and do n't believe politics can make a difference in their lives .
They are also more likely to be Latino , younger , make less money and have lower levels of education than voters .
Difficulty voting does n't appear to be a major reason why they do n't vote .
Three-quarters said they think it 's at least somewhat easy to vote .
It 's more that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apathy .
They are generally detached from the news and pessimistic about politics , the survey found .
Politics is simply not the way to make change , they said .
Two-thirds of nonvoters agree , for example , that voting has little to do with the way that real decisions are made in this country ; they are 21 points more likely to say so than people who voted .
A majority also said they believe it makes no difference who is elected president and that things will go on just as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points more likely to say that than people who voted .
( Read more about why they did n't vote , in their own words . )
These 80 million Americans are also less engaged in their communities and have less confidence even in their local governments .
They 're also less likely to volunteer or to be civically engaged — doing things like sending letters to the news media and elected officials or participate in marches , protests and demonstrations .
Nonvoters are also more likely than voters to say that traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people like me , the mainstream media is more interested in making money than telling the truth , the American economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful , success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside our control ; and to feel that most issues discussed in Washington do n't affect them personally .
They are also less likely to say that elections in this country are free and fair for all ; to have a favorable opinion of the news media ; to watch , read or listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discuss politics with friends or family .
If family and friends vote , that makes people more likely to vote , the survey found .
Nonvoters also mostly shunned news of the presidential election .
For example , only 38 % said they followed stories about the presidential and congressional campaigns in 2020 at least fairly closely , compared to 79 % of people who voted .
And they were far less likely to have watched the debates or conventions .
Less than a third watched the presidential debates , compared to almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , two-thirds of nonvoters said they did n't watch the presidential or vice presidential debates or either the Republican or Democratic conventions .
Campaigns , which have sophisticated data programs showing which are the highest-propensity voters , do n't seem to view this group as worth much effort .
Less than a quarter of nonvoters said campaigns had reached out to them , offered information or asked them to vote .
That 's compared to almost half of voters .
Not much , it seems , would motivate them to vote , either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encourage people to vote , the top answer was none or nothing ( 35 % ) .
That was followed by cleaning up government ( 27 % ) , having more candidates to choose from ( 20 % ) , being automatically registered to vote ( 16 % ) and making Election Day a national holiday ( 15 % ) .
Making Election Day a national holiday , incidentally , was the top answer for voters ( 42 % ) , showing the disconnect between the groups .
There are strong socioeconomic correlations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tend to make less money , have lower levels of education , be less likely to own their home or be married .
While only 21 % of voters made $ 50,000 a year or less , 43 % of nonvoters did .
Just over a quarter of voters had a high school degree or less , but a majority ( 52 % ) of nonvoters did .
Sixty percent of voters said they were married , but just 44 % of voters did , which impacts economic power in a society when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more expensive parts of the country .
Nonvoters were also more likely to be young and Latino .
Thirty-five percent of nonvoters in this survey were between the ages of 18 to 34 , compared to 24 % of voters .
And notably , a quarter of nonvoters were Hispanic , compared to just 7 % of voters .
Latinos tend to lean Democratic , and voter-registration efforts with Latinos in most presidential years are key for Democrats .
That was hampered in this year of coronavirus , and Democrat Joe Biden wound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like South Texas and South Florida .
Latinos are also more likely than other groups to say they are not interested in politics and most have n't voted in any other recent elections .
The top reason Latinos give for why they do n't vote is that they do n't care much about politics , but another is that they have never been registered .
Only 52 % of Latinos surveyed overall said they were registered .
That compares to 80 % of white respondents and 78 % of Black Americans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whopping three-quarters among Latinos who did not vote .
Overall , 70 % of nonvoters said they were not registered to vote .
NPR and the Medill School of Journalism , Media , Integrated Marketing Communication commissioned Ipsos to conduct a survey of U.S. adults who voted and did not vote in the 2020 presidential election .
The survey of 1,843 adults included 1,103 nonvoters and 740 voters .
The survey was conducted using Ipsos ' online KnowledgePanel from Nov. 4 to 13 .
Overall , the survey has a +/-2.9 percentage point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for nonvoters , it is +/- 3.5 points ; for voters , it is +/- 3.9 percentage point margin .
The Medill School of Journalism 's stories , produced by graduate students in its Washington program , are available at www.nonvoters2020.com .

Poll: Despite Record Turnout, 80 Million Americans Didn't Vote. Here's Why
Enlarge this image toggle caption Caroline Amenabar/NPR; Eric Ray/Flickr Caroline Amenabar/NPR; Eric Ray/Flickr
More Americans voted in 2020 than in any other presidential election in 120 years. About 67% of eligible voters cast ballots this year, but that still means a third did not.
That amounts to about 80 million people who stayed home.
To better understand what motivates these nonvoters, NPR and the Medill School of Journalism commissioned Ipsos to conduct a survey of U.S. adults who didn't vote this year. The Medill school's graduate students did deep dives into various aspects of the survey here.
Nonvoters' reasons for not voting include:
not being registered to vote (29%)
not being interested in politics (23%)
not liking the candidates (20%)
a feeling their vote wouldn't have made a difference (16%)
being undecided on whom to vote for (10%)
They are disengaged, disaffected and don't believe politics can make a difference in their lives. They are also more likely to be Latino, younger, make less money and have lower levels of education than voters.
A lack of engagement overall
Difficulty voting doesn't appear to be a major reason why they don't vote. Three-quarters said they think it's at least somewhat easy to vote.
It's more that these voters feel a sense of alienation and apathy. They are generally detached from the news and pessimistic about politics, the survey found.
Politics is simply not the way to make change, they said. Two-thirds of nonvoters agree, for example, that voting has little to do with the way that real decisions are made in this country; they are 21 points more likely to say so than people who voted.
A majority also said they believe it makes no difference who is elected president and that things will go on just as they did before. Nonvoters were 29 points more likely to say that than people who voted. (Read more about why they didn't vote, in their own words.)
These 80 million Americans are also less engaged in their communities and have less confidence even in their local governments. They're also less likely to volunteer or to be civically engaged — doing things like sending letters to the news media and elected officials or participating in marches, protests and demonstrations.
Nonvoters are also more likely than voters to say that traditional parties and politicians don't care about people like me; the mainstream media is more interested in making money than telling the truth; the American economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful; success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside our control; and to feel that most issues discussed in Washington don't affect them personally.
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They are also less likely to say that elections in this country are free and fair for all; to have a favorable opinion of the news media; to watch, read or listen to news every day; or to discuss politics with friends or family. If family and friends vote, that makes people more likely to vote, the survey found.
Nonvoters also mostly shunned news of the presidential election. For example, only 38% said they followed stories about the presidential and congressional campaigns in 2020 at least fairly closely, compared with 79% of people who voted.
And they were far less likely to have watched the debates or conventions. Less than a third watched the presidential debates, compared with almost two-thirds of voters. What's more, two-thirds of nonvoters said they didn't watch the presidential or vice presidential debates or either the Republican or Democratic conventions.
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Campaigns, which have sophisticated data programs showing which are the highest-propensity voters, don't seem to view this group as worth much effort. Less than a quarter of nonvoters said campaigns had reached out to them, offered information or asked them to vote. That's compared to almost half of voters.
Not much, it seems, would motivate them to vote, either. Asked what they think would most encourage people to vote, the top answer was none or nothing (35%). That was followed by cleaning up government (27%), having more candidates to choose from (20%), being automatically registered to vote (16%) and making Election Day a national holiday (15%).
Making Election Day a national holiday, incidentally, was the top answer for voters (42%), showing the disconnect between the groups.
Who are nonvoters?
There are strong socioeconomic correlations between voting and not voting.
Nonvoters tend to make less money, have lower levels of education, be less likely to own their home or are less likely to be married.
While only 21% of voters made $50,000 a year or less, 43% of nonvoters did. Just over a quarter of voters had a high school degree or less, but a majority (52%) of nonvoters did. Sixty percent of voters said they were married, but just 44% of voters did, which impacts economic power in a society when dual-income households are becoming increasingly necessary in more expensive parts of the country.
Nonvoters were also more likely to be young and Latino. Thirty-five percent of nonvoters in this survey were between the ages of 18 and 34, compared with 24% of voters. And notably, a quarter of nonvoters were Hispanic, compared with just 7% of voters.
Latinos tend to lean Democratic, and voter-registration efforts with Latinos in most presidential years are key for Democrats. That was hampered in this year of the coronavirus, and Democrat Joe Biden wound up underperforming in some heavily Latino areas such as South Texas and South Florida.
Latinos are also more likely than other groups to say they are not interested in politics and most haven't voted in any other recent elections.
The top reason Latinos give for why they don't vote is that they don't care much about politics, but another is that they have never been registered.
Only 52% of Latinos surveyed overall said they were registered to vote. That compares to 80% of white respondents and 78% of Black Americans.
But three-quarters of Latino nonvoters surveyed are not registered.
Overall, 70% of nonvoters said they were not registered to vote.
NPR and the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communication commissioned Ipsos to conduct a survey of U.S. adults who voted and did not vote in the 2020 presidential election. The survey of 1,843 adults included 1,103 nonvoters and 740 voters. The survey was conducted using Ipsos' online KnowledgePanel from Nov. 4-13.
Overall, the survey has a +/-2.9 percentage point margin of error for all adults; for nonvoters, it is +/- 3.5 points; for voters, it is +/- 3.9 percentage point margin.
The Medill School of Journalism's stories, produced by graduate students in its Washington program, are available at www.nonvoters2020.com.


npr--2020-12-15--Kabul's Deputy Governor Killed In Bomb Blast

The deputy governor of Kabul was killed in a blast on Tuesday morning in the Afghan capital , after a bomb attached to his armored vehicle by a magnet was detonated .
Mahbubullah Muhibbi is the latest – and one of the highest-profile — victims of shadowy assailants who have been killing journalists , police , security forces , judicial authorities and senior administrators , largely across Kabul , but also in other parts of Afghanistan .
Just hours before Muhibbi and his secretary were killed in the blast , local media outlet TOLO reported that gunmen opened fire on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire on the outskirts of Kabul , killing at least one .
And in the central province of Ghor , local Afghan media reported that another magnetic bomb on a vehicle killed a provincial council member .
While such killings have long plagued Afghanistan , they appear to be on the rise since the Taliban signed an agreement with the United States that will see foreign forces withdraw by spring .
President Trump most recently ordered that only 2,500 American forces should remain in Afghanistan by January 15 – just five days before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's not clear whether the Taliban are quietly behind some of these killings : they have long seen Afghan authorities and security forces as their bitterest enemies .
But the simple fact of foreign forces withdrawing could have empowered other militant groups as well .
ISIS is also active in Kabul , and so are shadowy gunmen acting at the behest of rivals or criminal gangs .
On Friday , an Afghan journalist was found with wounds to his neck on one of the hills that dot Kabul ; he died shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist was shot dead in the southern city of Jalalabad .

Kabul's Deputy Governor Killed In Bomb Blast
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The deputy governor of Kabul was killed in a blast on Tuesday morning in the Afghan capital, after a bomb attached to his armored vehicle by a magnet was detonated.
Mahbubullah Muhibbi is the latest – and one of the highest-profile — victims of shadowy assailants who have been killing journalists, police, security forces, judicial authorities and senior administrators, largely across Kabul, but also in other parts of Afghanistan.
Just hours before Muhibbi and his secretary were killed in the blast, local media outlet TOLO reported that gunmen opened fire on policemen who were warming themselves by a fire on the outskirts of Kabul, killing at least one.
And in the central province of Ghor, local Afghan media reported that another magnetic bomb on a vehicle killed a provincial council member.
While such killings have long plagued Afghanistan, they appear to be on the rise since the Taliban signed an agreement with the United States that will see foreign forces withdraw by spring. President Trump most recently ordered that only 2,500 American forces should remain in Afghanistan by January 15 – just five days before his successor Joe Biden is inaugurated.
It's not clear whether the Taliban are quietly behind some of these killings: they have long seen Afghan authorities and security forces as their bitterest enemies. But the simple fact of foreign forces withdrawing could have empowered other militant groups as well. ISIS is also active in Kabul, and so are shadowy gunmen acting at the behest of rivals or criminal gangs.
On Friday, an Afghan journalist was found with wounds to his neck on one of the hills that dot Kabul; he died shortly after. The day before, a journalist was shot dead in the southern city of Jalalabad.


npr--2020-12-15--Amazon, TikTok, Facebook, Others Ordered To Explain What They Do With User Data

Amazon , TikTok , Facebook , Others Ordered To Explain What They Do With User Data The Federal Trade Commission is demanding that nine social media and tech companies share details on how they harness users ' data and what they do with the information .
Amazon.com , TikTok owner ByteDance , Discord , Facebook , Reddit , Snap , Twitter , WhatsApp ( also owned by Facebook ) , and YouTube were sent orders by the FTC on Monday to provide the commission with details on their data collection and advertising practices .
The companies have 45 days to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these companies did n't immediately respond to NPR 's request for comment .
The inquiry is the latest move by federal regulators to crack the whip on big tech in an attempt to monitor their activities .
Increased scrutiny by federal and state officials this year has pushed major social media websites and apps to answer for perceived improper uses of consumer data and violations of federal anti-monopoly law .
This order comes just a week after the FTC and 48 attorneys general across the country filed lawsuits against Facebook , accusing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monopoly .
The company has denied this claim .
The FTC 's request for information covers a wide scope in order `` to understand how business models influence what Americans hear and see , with whom they talk , and what information they share . ''
The agency is using its authority under Section 6 ( b ) of the FTC Act , which allows it to undertake broad studies separate from law enforcement .
`` Critical questions about business models , algorithms , and data collection and use have gone unanswered .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark about what social media and video streaming services do to capture and sell users ' data and attention , '' FTC Commissioners Rohit Chopra , Rebecca Slaughter , and Christine Wilson said in a statement .
`` It is alarming that we still know so little about companies that know so much about us . ''
The commission wants the tech companies to detail how many users each company has , how active they are , and what else is known about them .
The inquiry also asks the social media and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how they process the data collected and how advertising and engagement practices impact young , underage users .
The commissioners voted to issue Monday 's orders in a 4-1 vote .
Republican Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips dissented .
In a statement , Phillips wrote , `` The breadth of the inquiry , the tangential relationship of its parts , and the dissimilarity of the recipients combine to render these orders unlikely to produce the kind of information the public needs , and certain to divert scarce Commission resources better directed elsewhere .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups have placed big tech under the microscope this year in particular , following revelations showing questionable practices by major websites and apps .
The Wall Street Journal has reported on how apps share user information with Facebook .
The newspaper also recently revealed that Amazon was scooping up data from independent sellers and using it to create its own competing products .
Amazon executives have denied this .
This summer , Facebook 's Mark Zuckerberg , Amazon 's Jeff Bezos , Google 's Sundar Pichai and Apple 's Tim Cook testified virtually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monopoly power .
During this hearing , Bezos acknowledged the $ 1 trillion company may be misusing data to push out independent sellers .
He said the company is undergoing an internal investigation into the matter .
This year alone has brought major lawsuits against tech companies .
In addition to the blockbuster lawsuit filed against Facebook last week , the U.S. Justice Department and 11 states sued Google , alleging the company violated competition law .
How these companies interact with underage users and what information gleaned from their activity has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August , the parents of dozens of minors sued TikTok in federal court , alleging that the popular video-sharing app collects information about their users ' facial characteristics , locations and close contacts .
The company then sends that data to servers in China without users knowing and potentially shares it with the Chinese Communist Party , the lawsuit alleges .
The Trump administration considers TikTok a national security threat because the parent company is based in China and it shares concerns that information from U.S.-based users is being collected by Beijing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can share user information to its servers , if it chooses to , without breaking U.S. law .
Civil rights groups and consumer groups are urging regulators to go further and examine popular dating apps , Grindr , Tinder and OKCupid .
The Norwegian Consumer Council published a report in January showing 10 apps collected sensitive information including a user 's exact location , sexual orientation , religious and political beliefs , drug use and other information in a practice called `` data harvesting . ''
The apps then transmitted the personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies .

Amazon, TikTok, Facebook, Others Ordered To Explain What They Do With User Data
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Piermont/AFP/Getty Images Eric Piermont/AFP/Getty Images
Updated Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. ET
The Federal Trade Commission is demanding that nine social media and tech companies share details on how they harness users' data and what they do with the information.
Amazon.com, TikTok owner ByteDance, Discord, Facebook, Reddit, Snap, Twitter, WhatsApp (also owned by Facebook) and YouTube were sent orders by the FTC on Monday to provide the commission with details on their data collection and advertising practices. The companies have 45 days to respond to the order.
In a statement to NPR, a representative for Discord said it "takes user privacy very seriously" and that the company looks forward to answering FTC's questions. They added that the company makes no money from advertising, selling user data, or sharing users' personal information with others.
Representatives for the other companies didn't respond to NPR's request for comment.
The inquiry is the latest move by federal regulators to crack the whip on Big Tech in an attempt to monitor their activities. Increased scrutiny by federal and state officials this year has pushed major social media websites and apps to answer for perceived improper uses of consumer data and violations of federal anti-monopoly law.
This order comes just a week after the FTC and 48 attorneys general across the country filed lawsuits against Facebook, accusing the social media giant of unlawfully maintaining a monopoly. The company has denied this claim.
The FTC's request for information covers a wide scope in order "to understand how business models influence what Americans hear and see, with whom they talk, and what information they share." The agency is using its authority under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act, which allows it to undertake broad studies separate from law enforcement.
"Critical questions about business models, algorithms, and data collection and use have gone unanswered. Policymakers and the public are in the dark about what social media and video streaming services do to capture and sell users' data and attention," FTC Commissioners Rohit Chopra, Rebecca Slaughter and Christine Wilson said in a statement. "It is alarming that we still know so little about companies that know so much about us."
The commission wants the tech companies to detail how many users each company has, how active they are and what else is known about them. The inquiry also asks the social media and video streaming companies to hand over information on how they process the data collected and how advertising and engagement practices impact young, underage users.
The commissioners voted to issue Monday's orders in a 4-1 vote. Republican Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips dissented.
In a statement, Phillips wrote, "The breadth of the inquiry, the tangential relationship of its parts, and the dissimilarity of the recipients combine to render these orders unlikely to produce the kind of information the public needs, and certain to divert scarce Commission resources better directed elsewhere."
Big Tech scrutiny
Lawmakers and civil and consumer rights groups have placed Big Tech under the microscope this year in particular, following revelations showing questionable practices by major websites and apps.
The Wall Street Journal has reported on how apps share user information with Facebook. The newspaper also recently revealed that Amazon was scooping up data from independent sellers and using it to create its own competing products. Amazon executives have denied this.
This summer, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Google's Sundar Pichai and Apple's Tim Cook testified virtually before Congress about Silicon Valley's perceived monopoly power.
During this hearing, Bezos acknowledged the $1 trillion company may be misusing data to push out independent sellers. He said the company is undergoing an internal investigation into the matter.
This year alone has brought major lawsuits against tech companies. In addition to the blockbuster lawsuit filed against Facebook last week, the U.S. Justice Department and 11 states sued Google, alleging the company violated competition law.
How these companies interact with underage users and what information gleaned from their activity has also been the subject of litigation.
In August, the parents of dozens of minors sued TikTok in federal court, alleging that the popular video-sharing app collects information about their users' facial characteristics, locations and close contacts. The company then sends that data to servers in China without users knowing and it is potentially shares it with the Chinese Communist Party, the lawsuit alleges.
The Trump administration considers TikTok a national security threat because the parent company is based in China, and it shares concerns that information from U.S.-based users is being collected by Beijing. TikTok denies these allegations but says it can share user information to its servers, if it chooses to, without breaking U.S. law.
Civil rights groups and consumer groups are urging regulators to go further and examine popular dating apps Grindr, Tinder and OKCupid.
The Norwegian Consumer Council published a report in January showing 10 apps collected sensitive information including a user's exact location, sexual orientation, religious and political beliefs, drug use and other information in a practice called "data harvesting." The apps then transmitted the personal data to at least 135 third-party companies.


npr--2020-12-14--With Electoral College Vote, More Republicans Recognize Biden As President-Elect

With Electoral College Vote , More Republicans Recognize Biden As President-Elect With the Electoral College votes now complete , a new wave of Senate Republicans are acknowledging what 's been clear for weeks : Joe Biden is the president-elect .
In the days after the Nov. 3 election , only a handful of GOP senators — mostly moderates — recognized the win for Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .
Since then , many of the chamber 's Republicans have deferred to President Trump 's legal challenges instead .
That began to change on Monday .
In some cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grassley , they are admitting it somewhat reluctantly .
`` It does n't matter what Chuck Grassley thinks , the Constitution has answered that question for you , '' Grassley said moments after California 's electoral votes affirmed Biden 's win .
`` That 's all I can say on it . ''
However , a new wave of members leaned into plans for an upcoming Biden presidency .
`` It certainly looks that way , and I think it 's time to turn the page and begin a new administration , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told a Capitol Hill pool reporter .
Others in that camp included Senate Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota and Sens .
Roy Blunt of Missouri , John Cornyn of Texas , Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota .
`` At some point you have to face the music .
And I think once the Electoral College settles the issue today , it 's time for everybody to move on , '' Thune told reporters .
Tillis said Biden is the president-elect , pending remaining legal issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Tillis said .
`` But I do n't want to discount valid , legal disputes that 'll be settled over the next couple weeks . ''
When asked , Cramer stopped short of using the phrase `` president-elect '' to describe Biden , but conceded that appeared to be the case .
`` I guess if that 's what you officially call somebody after the Electoral College , I 'm fine with that , '' Cramer said .
Sen .
Rob Portman of Ohio was among those who issued clear statements affirming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump , the Electoral College vote today makes clear that Joe Biden is now President-Elect , '' he said .
Retiring Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander took that acknowledgment a step further , urging Trump end his claims .
`` The presidential election is over .
States have certified the votes .
Courts have resolved disputes .
The electors have voted .
I hope that President Trump will put the country first , take pride in his considerable accomplishments , and help president-elect Biden get off to a good start , '' Alexander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an orderly transition of power is crucially important . ''
Still , many of their colleagues remain holdouts .
And some declined to comment , including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky , who did n't respond to repeated questions from reporters on Monday .
`` I 'd call him Joe until he gets sworn in , '' said South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham when asked , before noting some legal challenges remain .
Sens .
Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and John Barrasso of Wyoming were among those that still were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president-elect .
`` Not yet , '' Inhofe said .
The unsuccessful Trump and Republican-led efforts to overturn the elections — which cite baseless claims of widespread voter fraud — are part of one reason retiring Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell told CNN on Monday he was leaving his party to become an independent .

With Electoral College Vote, More Republicans Recognize Biden As President-Elect
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images
With the Electoral College votes now complete, a new wave of Senate Republicans are acknowledging what's been clear for weeks: Joe Biden is the president-elect.
In the days after the Nov. 3 election, only a handful of GOP senators — mostly moderates — recognized the win for Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Since then, many of the chamber's Republicans have deferred to President Trump's legal challenges instead.
That began to change on Monday. In some cases, such as that of Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, they are admitting it somewhat reluctantly.
"It doesn't matter what Chuck Grassley thinks, the Constitution has answered that question for you," Grassley said moments after California's electoral votes affirmed Biden's win. "That's all I can say on it."
However, a new wave of members leaned into plans for an upcoming Biden presidency.
"It certainly looks that way, and I think it's time to turn the page and begin a new administration," Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia told a Capitol Hill pool reporter.
Others in that camp included Senate Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota and Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, John Cornyn of Texas, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota.
"At some point you have to face the music. And I think once the Electoral College settles the issue today, it's time for everybody to move on," Thune told reporters.
Tillis said Biden is the president-elect, pending remaining legal issues.
"He's presumptive president," Tillis said. "But I don't want to discount valid, legal disputes that'll be settled over the next couple weeks."
When asked, Cramer stopped short of using the phrase "president-elect" to describe Biden, but conceded that appeared to be the case.
"I guess if that's what you officially call somebody after the Electoral College, I'm fine with that," Cramer said.
Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio was among those who issued clear statements affirming the win.
"Although I supported President Trump, the Electoral College vote today makes clear that Joe Biden is now President-Elect," he said.
Retiring Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander took that acknowledgment a step further, urging Trump end his claims.
"The presidential election is over. States have certified the votes. Courts have resolved disputes. The electors have voted. I hope that President Trump will put the country first, take pride in his considerable accomplishments, and help president-elect Biden get off to a good start," Alexander said. "Especially during this pandemic, an orderly transition of power is crucially important."
Still, many of their colleagues remain holdouts. And some declined to comment, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who didn't respond to repeated questions from reporters on Monday.
"I'd call him Joe until he gets sworn in," said South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham when asked, before noting some legal challenges remain.
Sens. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and John Barrasso of Wyoming were among those that still weren't ready on Monday to acknowledge the president-elect.
"Not yet," Inhofe said.
The unsuccessful Trump and Republican-led efforts to overturn the elections — which cite baseless claims of widespread voter fraud — are part of one reason retiring Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell told CNN on Monday he was leaving his party to become an independent.


npr--2020-12-15--Health Workers 'Feeling Good As Hell' As Hospitals Begin COVID Vaccine Injections

Health care workers in Boston are `` feeling good as hell '' over the arrival of the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine .
Masked employees in scrubs , medical gowns , office attire , and what 's proving to be very popular camel-colored coat , performed a choreographed dance routine outside of the Boston Medical Center as inside , health care workers prepared to begin delivering injections to some of those most exposed to the virus — health care workers .
`` Why I love my job [ at the BMC } , '' President and CEO Kate Walsh jubilantly posted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people working to safely and equitably distribute vaccines to their front line colleagues getting cheered on by their friends celebrating the arrival of the vaccines ! ''
`` A great day , a great place , '' Walsh added above the video showing nearly a dozen people hair-tossing to Lizzo 's joyful anthem , `` Good As Hell . ''
The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were delivered across the country on Monday .
Distribution of the medicine began just days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer and BioNTech .
Clinical studies show it is 95 % effective .
The turnaround from the first appearance of the coronavirus in the U.S. , in February of this year , to a vaccine has been nothing short of unprecedented .
Still , people are anxious to return to so-called normal life .
Among them is an unnamed and slightly off-key singing man , who recorded a parody of The Police 's 1978 hit , Roxanne .
`` Vaaaaaaaccine , '' he yowls , in a video posted to Twitter by user @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full of optimism about the lifesaving injections : `` Vaccine , you 're about to come out and save lives ... Coronavirus I wo n't have to spend my days locked up inside .
We can open up all stores in sight .
Folks can make their money , now it wo n't be too long until it 's right . ''
The not-short tune plays over a hodgepodge montage of popular television show clips , including the Seinfeld gang doing a happy dance and Breaking Bad 's Walter White winking at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock images and what seems like amateur video of a man in a bear costume falling off a medical exam table .
Other vaccines appear to be on the way , spreading hope that the current wave of coronavirus-related deaths may be the dark before the dawn .
Pfizer rival Moderna looks close to receiving FDA authorization for its vaccine .
The neck-and-neck competition between the two companies has spawned its own set of memes , making the social media beef , one of the most 2020 things ever .
Though Pfizer clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here 's an outstanding take on what has been the most anticipated walk-off of the year .

Health Workers 'Feeling Good As Hell' As Hospitals Begin COVID Vaccine Injections
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carlos Giusti/AP Carlos Giusti/AP
5, 6, 7, 8!
Health care workers in Boston are "feeling good as hell" over the arrival of the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine.
Masked employees in scrubs, medical gowns, office attire, and what's proving to be very popular camel-colored coat, performed a choreographed dance routine outside of the Boston Medical Center as inside, health care workers prepared to begin delivering injections to some of those most exposed to the virus — health care workers.
"Why I love my job [at the BMC}," President and CEO Kate Walsh jubilantly posted on Twitter on Monday afternoon.
"Teams of people working to safely and equitably distribute vaccines to their front line colleagues getting cheered on by their friends celebrating the arrival of the vaccines!"
"A great day, a great place," Walsh added above the video showing nearly a dozen people hair-tossing to Lizzo's joyful anthem, "Good As Hell."
The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were delivered across the country on Monday. Distribution of the medicine began just days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the vaccine, which was developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. Clinical studies show it is 95% effective.
The turnaround from the first appearance of the coronavirus in the U.S., in February of this year, to a vaccine has been nothing short of unprecedented.
Still, people are anxious to return to so-called normal life. Among them is an unnamed and slightly off-key singing man, who recorded a parody of The Police's 1978 hit, Roxanne.
"Vaaaaaaaccine," he yowls, in a video posted to Twitter by user Al Fleishman.
The song is chock full of optimism about the lifesaving injections: "Vaccine, you're about to come out and save lives ... Coronavirus I won't have to spend my days locked up inside. We can open up all stores in sight. Folks can make their money, now it won't be too long until it's right."
The not-short tune plays over a hodgepodge montage of popular television show clips, including the Seinfeld gang doing a happy dance and Breaking Bad's Walter White winking at the camera. There's also plenty of stock images and what seems like amateur video of a man in a bear costume falling off a medical exam table.
Other vaccines appear to be on the way, spreading hope that the current wave of coronavirus-related deaths may be the dark before the dawn. Pfizer rival Moderna looks close to receiving FDA authorization for its vaccine.
The neck-and-neck competition between the two companies has spawned its own set of memes, making the social media beef, one of the most 2020 things ever.
Though Pfizer clearly won the race to be first, here's an outstanding take on what has been the most anticipated walk-off of the year.


npr--2020-12-15--Biden Administration: Here's Who Has Been Named So Far

Biden Administration : Here 's Who Has Been Named So Far Updated on Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m .
ET President-elect Joe Biden is assembling his inner circle of advisers and Cabinet officials as Inauguration Day on Jan. 20 draws closer .
In his latest selection , Biden tapped Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Ind.
, to lead the Department of Transportation .
Buttigieg has not previously served in federal office but gained national prominence during his presidential bid in the 2020 Democratic primaries .
If confirmed , he will be the first openly LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role .
NPR is providing information on the members of the Biden team as they are announced for the White House , national security , economic policy , additional Cabinet positions and other positions , including CDC director and economic advisers .
As Biden begins to act on some of his early promises , he is naming close advisers and aides to work with him in the White House — people who will run operations and brief him on top matters of national security , the economy and other key issues .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate confirmation .
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and soon-to-be first lady Jill Biden also are naming their top aides .
As the U.S. continues to fight through a recession brought on by the coronavirus pandemic , increased focus will be on whom Biden picks to lead his economic , financial and trade policies .
Many of these nominees will play crucial roles in determining further coronavirus relief aid .
These positions must be confirmed by the Senate .
Biden will also nominate officials to lead the federal government 's domestic and international security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence and defense as well as spearhead relations with world leaders and international coalitions .
All of these officials must also be confirmed by the Senate , with the exception of the new climate position in the National Security Council .
Biden will overhaul departments to remove Trump appointees and nominate officials who will carry out his policy agenda .
These officials require Senate confirmation .
These officials will work on Biden 's push to roll back Trump administration policies on immigration and climate as well as help with the coronavirus response .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ must also receive Senate confirmation .
This page was originally published on Nov. 17 at 11:49 a.m .
ET .

Biden Administration: Here Are His Cabinet Members And Key Advisers
Enlarge this image Caroline Amenabar/NPR, Stephen Melkisethian/Flickr Caroline Amenabar/NPR, Stephen Melkisethian/Flickr
The U.S. Senate continues to take up President Biden's nominees for key roles.
The top figures in an administration are made up of a combination of Cabinet and high-ranking nominees who require Senate confirmation, and senior advisers tapped by the president, who don't require congressional approval.
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Below, see who Biden's chosen for:
Note that Biden's original nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, Neera Tanden, withdrew from consideration on March 2.
National security: These officials oversee U.S. intelligence and defense, and spearhead relations with world leaders and international coalitions.
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Economic policy: These picks direct Biden's economic and trade policies, and the government's financial oversight.
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Additional members of Biden's Cabinet: These nominees, who all require Senate confirmation, help carry out Biden's policy agenda on issues ranging from health care to climate change.
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Other key positions: These top roles include officials who help in the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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White House: These are the top aides Biden counts on to run his White House and advise him on top policy initiatives. Most did not need confirmation by the Senate.
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NPR's Roberta Rampton contributed reporting.


npr--2020-12-15--City Of Paris Is Fined 90,000 Euros For Naming Too Many Women To Senior Positions

City Of Paris Is Fined 90,000 Euros For Naming Too Many Women To Senior Positions The city of Paris has been fined 90,000 euros for an unusual infraction : It appointed too many women to senior positions in the government .
In 2018 , 11 women and five men became senior officials .
That meant 69 % of the appointments were women — in violation of a rule that dictated at least 40 % of government positions should go to people of each gender .
In remarks on Tuesday to the capital 's governing body , Mayor Anne Hidalgo said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministry of Public Service herself — along with the women in her government .
`` So there will be many of us , '' she said .
Since 2019 , French law provides a waiver to the 40 % rule if the new hires do not lead to an overall gender imbalance , Le Monde explains .
That 's the case for the city of Paris , according to the newspaper : Women still make up just 47 % of senior executives on its government .
And female city officials are paid 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the rule change comes too late to avoid the fine .
`` It is paradoxical to blame us for appointments that make it possible to catch up on the backlog we had , '' Antoine Guillou , the mayor 's deputy in charge of human resources , told Le Monde .
Hidalgo , a member of the Socialist party who was first elected mayor in 2014 and was reelected this year , says the aim is to resolve an existing imbalance toward men .
`` Yes , we must promote women with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everywhere in France is still very great , '' she told the Paris Council .
`` So yes , to promote and one day achieve parity , we must speed up the tempo and ensure that in the nominations there are more women than men . ''
`` In Paris , we are doing everything to make it a success , and I am very , very proud of a large team of women and men who carry together this fight for equality , '' Hidalgo added .
Amélie de Montchalin , France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fine and called the provision `` absurd . ''
`` @ Anne_Hidalgo , the cause of women deserves better ! ''
Montchalin tweeted .
`` I want the fine paid by Paris for 2018 to finance concrete actions to promote women in the public service .
I invite you to the ministry to raise them ! ''

City Of Paris Is Fined 90,000 Euros For Naming Too Many Women To Senior Positions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Thibault Camus/AP Thibault Camus/AP
The city of Paris has been fined 90,000 euros for an unusual infraction: It appointed too many women to senior positions in the government.
In 2018, 11 women and five men became senior officials. That meant 69% of the appointments were women — in violation of a rule that dictated at least 40% of government positions should go to people of each gender.
In remarks on Tuesday to the capital's governing body, Mayor Anne Hidalgo said she would deliver the check to the Ministry of Public Service herself — along with the women in her government.
"So there will be many of us," she said.
Since 2019, French law provides a waiver to the 40% rule if the new hires do not lead to an overall gender imbalance, Le Monde explains. That's the case for the city of Paris, according to the newspaper: Women still make up just 47% of senior executives on its government. And female city officials are paid 6% less than their male counterparts.
But the rule change comes too late to avoid the fine.
"It is paradoxical to blame us for appointments that make it possible to catch up on the backlog we had," Antoine Guillou, the mayor's deputy in charge of human resources, told Le Monde.
Hidalgo, a member of the Socialist party who was first elected mayor in 2014 and was reelected this year, says the aim is to resolve an existing imbalance toward men.
"Yes, we must promote women with determination and vigor, because the delay everywhere in France is still very great," she told the Paris Council. "So yes, to promote and one day achieve parity, we must speed up the tempo and ensure that in the nominations there are more women than men."
"In Paris, we are doing everything to make it a success, and I am very, very proud of a large team of women and men who carry together this fight for equality," Hidalgo added.
Amélie de Montchalin, France's Minister of Public Service, lamented the fine and called the provision "absurd."
"@Anne_Hidalgo, the cause of women deserves better!" Montchalin tweeted. "I want the fine paid by Paris for 2018 to finance concrete actions to promote women in the public service. I invite you to the ministry to raise them!"


npr--2020-12-15--Biden Plans To Nominate Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm As Energy Secretary

Biden Plans To Nominate Former Michigan Gov .
Jennifer Granholm As Energy Secretary President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate former Michigan Gov .
Jennifer Granholm to be the next secretary of energy , two sources familiar with transition discussions told NPR .
Granholm will bring experience in promoting clean-energy manufacturing as Biden tries to implement a sweeping $ 2 trillion climate plan .
The selection was first reported by Politico .
Granholm has been Michigan 's attorney general and served two terms as governor until 2011 .
She was also an energy adviser to Hillary Clinton and is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Berkeley law school .
When Chrysler and General Motors faced bankruptcy during the Great Recession , Granholm worked with the Obama administration on a bailout that pushed them to invest in green technology such as battery storage .
Since then , automakers have dramatically ramped up production plans for electric cars .
`` Prior to the pandemic , clean energy was one of the fastest growing industries in Michigan , supporting over 125,000 jobs , '' she wrote in a recent The Detroit News op-ed .
Now , she said , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create jobs and help a middle class that 's been battered by the pandemic 's economic collapse .
Biden also frames his climate plan as an opportunity to create good jobs .
The plan aims to make the country 's power sector carbon neutral by 2035 but relies on technologies that have n't even been developed , or at least not yet commercialized .
Lisa Ramsden , senior climate campaigner with the environmental group Greenpeace USA , welcomed the news .
`` Jennifer Granholm has forcefully spoken out against both the Keystone XL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shifting investment from oil and gas to renewable energy solutions , '' she said in a statement .
`` That 's the kind of leadership the Department of Energy has been sorely missing . ''
Progressive climate activists had campaigned against another possible DOE nominee , Ernest Moniz , citing his ties to the fossil fuel industry .
The Department of Energy leads research into key areas experts consider essential to addressing climate change , including boosting electric vehicles and renewable energy , reducing the carbon footprints of buildings , capturing carbon from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry .
If confirmed by the Senate , Granholm will lead a DOE that is sometimes called `` the department of everything '' because its mandates extend beyond energy .
The agency was created in 1977 but has its roots in the Manhattan Project to build an atomic bomb during World War II .
The Energy Department portfolio includes managing the security of the country 's nuclear weapons stockpile , 17 national labs across the country , renewable energy and energy efficiency programs , the Strategic Petroleum Reserve , and the cleanup of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cold War .

Biden Plans To Nominate Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm As Energy Secretary
Enlarge this image toggle caption Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch
Updated 6:39 p.m. ET
President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to be the next secretary of energy, two sources familiar with transition discussions told NPR.
Granholm will bring experience in promoting clean-energy manufacturing as Biden tries to implement a sweeping $2 trillion climate plan.
The selection was first reported by Politico.
Granholm has been Michigan's attorney general and served two terms as governor until 2011. She was also an energy adviser to Hillary Clinton and is an adjunct professor at the University of California, Berkeley law school.
When Chrysler and General Motors faced bankruptcy during the Great Recession, Granholm worked with the Obama administration on a bailout that pushed them to invest in green technology such as battery storage. Since then, automakers have dramatically ramped up production plans for electric cars.
"Prior to the pandemic, clean energy was one of the fastest growing industries in Michigan, supporting over 125,000 jobs," she wrote in a recent The Detroit News op-ed. Now, she said, "low-carbon recovery measures" are needed to create jobs and help a middle class that's been battered by the pandemic's economic collapse.
Biden also frames his climate plan as an opportunity to create good jobs. The plan aims to make the country's power sector carbon neutral by 2035 but relies on technologies that haven't even been developed, or at least not yet commercialized.
Lisa Ramsden, senior climate campaigner with the environmental group Greenpeace USA, welcomed the news.
"Jennifer Granholm has forcefully spoken out against both the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines and advocated for shifting investment from oil and gas to renewable energy solutions," she said in a statement. "That's the kind of leadership the Department of Energy has been sorely missing."
Progressive climate activists had campaigned against another possible DOE nominee, Ernest Moniz, citing his ties to the fossil fuel industry.
The Department of Energy leads research into key areas experts consider essential to addressing climate change, including boosting electric vehicles and renewable energy, reducing the carbon footprints of buildings, capturing carbon from power plants and reinvigorating the nuclear power industry.
If confirmed by the Senate, Granholm will lead a DOE that is sometimes called "the department of everything" because its mandates extend beyond energy.
The agency was created in 1977 but has its roots in the Manhattan Project to build an atomic bomb during World War II.
The Energy Department portfolio includes managing the security of the country's nuclear weapons stockpile, 17 national labs across the country, renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and the cleanup of nuclear and chemical pollution leftover from the Cold War.


npr--2020-12-15--Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Named Co-chair of Bipartisan Group No Labels

Maryland 's Republican Gov .
Larry Hogan is joining the bipartisan group No Labels as its new national co-chairman .
Hogan joins Joseph Liberman , a one-time vice presidential nominee and former Connecticut senator , who served as a Democrat before switching to an independent in his final years on Capitol Hill .
Together they will help lead the organization that promotes centrist political ideas as a new Congress is set to convene early next year .
`` I am honored to help lead No Labels at a time when our message of putting aside partisan differences for the common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Hogan said in a statement Tuesday .
`` Amid this awful pandemic , the people in my state and across our country are desperate for leaders to work across the aisle and focus on solving the urgent problems we face , '' said Hogan .
Hogan , now in his second term which expires in 2022 , enjoys immense popularity in the blue state of Maryland .
He 's also displayed an independent streak , being one of the few members of the GOP to publicly criticize President Trump for his handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month , Hogan hit Trump for playing too much golf , refusing to concede election results and forcing the nation 's governors to work around the federal government to procure sufficient COVID-19 testing supplies .
`` If you had done your job , America 's governors would n't have been forced to fend for themselves to find tests in the middle of a pandemic , as we successfully did in Maryland .
Stop golfing and concede , '' Hogan said .
The president had referred to Hogan as a `` RINO ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump also blasted the governor for wasting Marylanders ' money this spring on half a million coronavirus test kits Hogan and his wife Yumi secured from South Korea .
Trump also referenced an article by the pro-Trump site Breitbart stating that the test kits were `` flawed . ''
Hogan 's alliance with No Labels comes as the organization has renewed its support for the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus as well as a group of eight centrist senators trying to push an end-of-year coronavirus relief package through a divided Congress .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on every level and he really does defy labels , '' Lieberman said in a statement .
He said he is excited to work with Hogan to build a bipartisan approach to the country 's problems as the new Congress convenes next month .
While Democrats maintain their majority in the House , it is by a slimmer margin , and the control of the Senate will be determined by a pair of runoff elections in Georgia on Jan. 5 .
`` As we approach 2021 , the choice before our leaders is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a bipartisan basis or they wo n't solve them at all , '' Lieberman said .
For Hogan , joining No Labels is another step in raising his national profile .
He just completed a term as the chairman of the National Governor 's Association and earlier this year he released a memoir , Still Standing , where he opened up about defeating non-Hodgkin 's lymphoma .
Earlier this year , Hogan publicly considered mounting a primary challenge to Trump for the Republican presidential nomination .
He ultimately stood down , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running for the White House in 2024 .

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Named Co-Chair Of Bipartisan Group No Labels
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Maryland's Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is joining the bipartisan group No Labels as its new national co-chairman.
Hogan joins Joseph Lieberman, a one-time vice presidential nominee and former Connecticut senator, who served as a Democrat before switching to an independent in his final years on Capitol Hill.
Together they will help lead the organization that promotes centrist political ideas as a new Congress is set to convene early next year.
"I am honored to help lead No Labels at a time when our message of putting aside partisan differences for the common good is needed more than ever," Hogan said in a statement Tuesday.
"Amid this awful pandemic, the people in my state and across our country are desperate for leaders to work across the aisle and focus on solving the urgent problems we face," said Hogan.
Hogan is in his second term, which expires in 2022, and enjoys immense popularity in the blue state of Maryland. He has also displayed an independent streak, being one of the few members of the GOP to publicly criticize President Trump for his handling of the coronavirus.
In a tweet last month, Hogan hit Trump for playing too much golf, refusing to concede election results and forcing the nation's governors to work around the federal government to procure sufficient COVID-19 testing supplies.
"If you had done your job, America's governors wouldn't have been forced to fend for themselves to find tests in the middle of a pandemic, as we successfully did in Maryland. Stop golfing and concede," Hogan said.
The president had referred to Hogan as a "RINO (Republican In Name Only)."
Trump also blasted the governor for wasting Marylanders' money this spring on half a million coronavirus test kits Hogan and his wife, Yumi, secured from South Korea. Trump also referenced an article by the pro-Trump site Breitbart stating that the test kits were "flawed."
Hogan's alliance with No Labels comes as the organization has renewed its support for the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus as well as a group of eight centrist senators trying to push an end-of-year coronavirus relief package through a divided Congress.
"Larry Hogan is such an exceptional leader on every level and he really does defy labels," Lieberman said in a statement.
He said he is excited to work with Hogan to build a bipartisan approach to the country's problems as the new Congress convenes next month.
While Democrats maintain their majority in the House, it is by a slimmer margin, and the control of the Senate will be determined by a pair of runoff elections in Georgia on Jan. 5.
"As we approach 2021, the choice before our leaders is simple: Washington will either solve problems on a bipartisan basis or they won't solve them at all," Lieberman said.
For Hogan, joining No Labels is another step in raising his national profile.
He just completed a term as the chairman of the National Governor's Association, and earlier this year he released a memoir, Still Standing, where he opened up about defeating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Earlier this year, Hogan publicly considered mounting a primary challenge to Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. He ultimately stood down but has left the door open to for running for the White House in 2024.


npr--2020-12-15--U.N. Report: In The Age Of Humans, 'The Dominant Risk To Our Survival Is Ourselves'

U.N. Report : In The Age Of Humans , 'The Dominant Risk To Our Survival Is Ourselves' '' Warning lights — for our societies and the planet — are flashing red . ''
That 's according to a new report from the United Nations Development Programme .
The report notes that COVID-19 has thrived `` in the cracks in societies , exploiting and exacerbating myriad inequalities in human development . ''
While the pandemic has dominated much of the world 's attention in 2020 , the report notes that existing crises continue : a historically intense Atlantic hurricane season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ species dying off in what some experts believe is a mass species extinction event .
The report argues that as humans and the planet together enter a new geological epoch — the Anthropocene , or the Age of Humans — all countries must fully account for the pressure that people are putting on the Earth while also confronting dramatic imbalances of power and opportunity .
This new era `` means that we are the first people to live in an age defined by human choice , in which the dominant risk to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steiner , the UNDP administrator .
And returning to `` normal '' after COVID-19 is n't necessarily possible or even desirable , the report posits .
`` Lurching from crisis to crisis is one of the defining features of the present day , which has something to do with the 'normalcy ' of the past , a return to which would seemingly consign the future to endless crisis management , not to human development .
Whether we wish it or not , a new normal is coming .
[ COVID-19 ] is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the report , for which Pedro Conceição , director of UNDP 's Human Development Report Office , was the lead author .
The Next Frontier : Human Development and the Anthropocene is the UNDP 's 30th annual Human Development Report and once again features its Human Development Index , which measures each country 's health , education and standard of living .
The index was created as an alternative to gross domestic product , assessing opportunity rather than simply economic output .
The United States now ranks 17th on the Human Development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranking five years ago .
When the index is adjusted for inequality , the U.S. drops another 11 places .
Norway ranks first in both measures .
This year , the UNDP introduced a new adjusted index that takes into account each country 's carbon dioxide emissions and its material footprint ( a consumption-based measure of the amount of raw materials extracted to meet domestic final demand for goods and services , regardless of where extraction occurs ) per capita as well — called the Planetary Pressures-Adjusted HDI .
The new metric is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development landscape would change if both the wellbeing of people and also the planet were central to defining humanity 's progress , '' according to a UNDP press release .
Some wealthy countries – including the United States – fare poorly on the adjusted index , while others , including Costa Rica , Moldova and Panama , move higher .
On the Planetary Pressures-Adjusted Human Development Index , the U.S. ranking drops 45 places , a reflection of the country 's outsize environmental impact amid an otherwise comparatively high quality of life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same manner .
Norway drops 15 places , Canada drops 40 spots and Australia falls 72 places .
Tiny , rich Luxembourg falls a whopping 131 places when the index is adjusted for planetary pressures .
Other countries with high human development move up when planetary pressures are taken into account : the U.K. rises 10 spots ; New Zealand moves up six .
While the report focuses on urgently needed actions rather than actors , it notes that national governments play a unique and vital role : `` Only governments have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collective action towards shared challenges , whether that is enacting and enforcing a carbon price , removing laws that marginalize and disenfranchise or setting up the policy and institutional frame-works , backed by public investment , to spur ongoing broadly shared innovation . ''
Steiner , the UNDP administrator , says that to `` survive and thrive in this new age , we must redesign a path to progress that respects the intertwined fate of people and planet and recognizes that the carbon and material footprint of the people who have more is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have less . ''
`` We are not the last generation of the Anthropocene ; we are the first to recognize it , '' he writes .
`` We are the explorers , the innovators who get to decide what this — the first generation of the Anthropocene — will be remembered for . ''
Read the report here and the overview here .

U.N. Report: In The Age Of Humans, 'The Dominant Risk To Our Survival Is Ourselves'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images
"Warning lights — for our societies and the planet — are flashing red." That's according to a new report from the United Nations Development Programme.
The report notes that COVID-19 has thrived "in the cracks in societies, exploiting and exacerbating myriad inequalities in human development."
While the pandemic has dominated much of the world's attention in 2020, the report notes that existing crises continue: a historically intense Atlantic hurricane season, raging wildfires on different continents, animal species dying off in what some experts believe is a mass species extinction event.
The report argues that as humans and the planet together enter a new geological epoch — the Anthropocene, or the Age of Humans — all countries must fully account for the pressure that people are putting on the Earth while also confronting dramatic imbalances of power and opportunity.
This new era "means that we are the first people to live in an age defined by human choice, in which the dominant risk to our survival is ourselves," writes Achim Steiner, the UNDP administrator.
And returning to "normal" after COVID-19 isn't necessarily possible or even desirable, the report posits.
"Lurching from crisis to crisis is one of the defining features of the present day, which has something to do with the 'normalcy' of the past, a return to which would seemingly consign the future to endless crisis management, not to human development. Whether we wish it or not, a new normal is coming. [COVID-19] is just the tip of the spear," says the report, for which Pedro Conceição, director of UNDP's Human Development Report Office, was the lead author.
The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene is the UNDP's 30th annual Human Development Report and once again features its Human Development Index, which measures each country's health, education and standard of living. The index was created as an alternative to gross domestic product, assessing opportunity rather than simply economic output.
The United States now ranks 17th on the Human Development Index, slipping three spaces from its ranking five years ago. When the index is adjusted for inequality, the U.S. drops another 11 places. Norway ranks first in both measures.
This year, the UNDP introduced a new adjusted index that takes into account each country's carbon dioxide emissions and its material footprint (a consumption-based measure of the amount of raw materials extracted to meet domestic final demand for goods and services, regardless of where extraction occurs) per capita as well — called the Planetary Pressures-Adjusted HDI. The new metric is meant to show "how the global development landscape would change if both the wellbeing of people and also the planet were central to defining humanity's progress," according to a UNDP press release.
Some wealthy countries – including the United States – fare poorly on the adjusted index, while others, including Costa Rica, Moldova and Panama, move higher.
On the Planetary Pressures-Adjusted Human Development Index, the U.S. ranking drops 45 places, a reflection of the country's outsize environmental impact amid an otherwise comparatively high quality of life.
Other highly developed countries are affected in the same manner. Norway drops 15 places, Canada drops 40 spots and Australia falls 72 places. Tiny, rich Luxembourg falls a whopping 131 places when the index is adjusted for planetary pressures.
Other countries with high human development move up when planetary pressures are taken into account: the U.K. rises 10 spots; New Zealand moves up six.
While the report focuses on urgently needed actions rather than actors, it notes that national governments play a unique and vital role: "Only governments have the formal authority and power to marshal collective action towards shared challenges, whether that is enacting and enforcing a carbon price, removing laws that marginalize and disenfranchise or setting up the policy and institutional frame-works, backed by public investment, to spur ongoing broadly shared innovation."
Steiner, the UNDP administrator, says that to "survive and thrive in this new age, we must redesign a path to progress that respects the intertwined fate of people and planet and recognizes that the carbon and material footprint of the people who have more is choking the opportunities of the people who have less."
"We are not the last generation of the Anthropocene; we are the first to recognize it," he writes. "We are the explorers, the innovators who get to decide what this — the first generation of the Anthropocene — will be remembered for."
Read the report here and the overview here.


npr--2020-12-15--What We Know About Russia's Latest Alleged Hack Of The U.S. Government

What We Know About Russia 's Latest Alleged Hack Of The U.S. Government Russian government hackers are believed to be responsible for infiltrating computer systems at multiple U.S. agencies in recent months , including the Pentagon , the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of the Treasury , according to government agencies and media reports .
Russia has denied the accusations .
The hack hinged on a vulnerability on a software monitoring product from SolarWinds , a company based in Austin , Texas .
The company works widely with the federal government and hundreds of large U.S. companies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitor their computer networks .
SolarWinds has some 300,000 customers but says `` fewer than 18,000 '' installed the version of its Orion products earlier this year that now appears to have been compromised .
So far , the list of affected U.S. government entities includes the Commerce Department , Department of Homeland Security , the Pentagon , the Treasury Department , the U.S .
Postal Service and the National Institutes of Health .
The incident is the latest in what has become a long list of suspected Russian electronic incursions into other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Vladimir Putin .
Multiple countries say Russia was previously found to have used hackers , bots and other means in attempts to influence elections in the U.S. and elsewhere .
Many U.S. national security agencies made major efforts to prevent Russia from interfering in this year 's election .
But those same agencies seem to have been blindsided by news that hackers — suspected to be Russia 's foreign intelligence service , the SVR — were digging around inside U.S. government systems , possibly since the spring .
`` It 's as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suddenly realize that a burglar has been going in and out of your house for the last six months , '' said Glenn Gerstell , who was the National Security Agency 's general counsel from 2015 to 2020 .
Describing some of the detective work that 's now taking place , he added , `` You 'd have to go back and look at every room to see what was taken , what might have been touched .
And of course , that 's just a horrifying thought . ''
The intruders were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` You could n't tell that they came in , you could n't tell that they left the back door open .
You could n't even tell necessarily when they came in , took a look around and when they left . ''
To carry out the attack , hackers exploited the supply chain that SolarWinds uses to distribute software updates .
The company said it has proof that when it sent updates to customers between March and June , the updates to the Orion products also included malware that gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control of the domain name that hackers used to communicate with systems that were compromised by the Orion update , according to security expert Brian Krebs .
The company 's analysis , he added , should help reveal the scope of the affected companies and agencies .
So far , some U.S. government departments and agencies have acknowledged they are investigating the breaches but have provided few details .
The White House has been silent about the suspected Russian hack .
`` This SolarWinds hack is very problematic , very troublesome , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how we should respond , '' Gerstell said .
Part of the problem , he added , is that it 's not clear what the hackers did after gaining access .
`` This is not a question of someone manipulating software to open dams or turn off electric grids , '' Gerstell said .
`` It 's not even clear that this is necessarily an attack designed to steal intellectual property the way China , for example , has stolen everything from patents for solar panels to the blueprints for fighter jets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ case of espionage , he said , of one government trying to understand what its adversary is doing .
Here 's what key players are saying about the case : SolarWinds : The company said , `` We have been advised that this incident was likely the result of a highly sophisticated , targeted , and manual supply chain attack by an outside nation state , but we have not independently verified the identity of the attacker . ''
In an Securities and Exchange Commission filing , the company said it is cooperating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community and other agencies to investigate the breach .
SolarWinds said it was alerted to an `` attack vector '' that targeted its emails and other office productivity tools .
The company added that it uses Microsoft Office 365 for its office tools .
SolarWinds said it 's working with Microsoft to determine if any customer data were exfiltrated , but it added that so far , it has not found signs of stolen data .
The company said customers affected by the vulnerability should upgrade to the latest versions of its software @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the security of your environment . ''
FireEye : The cybersecurity firm announced last week that a `` highly sophisticated state-sponsored adversary '' stole its `` red team '' tools , which are used to test security vulnerabilities in its customers ' computer networks .
FireEye 's clients include government agencies .
The company said it 's working with the FBI , Microsoft and SolarWinds .
And in an update issued late Sunday , FireEye said it has identified signs of compromised security in `` multiple organizations , '' dating back to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings of a sophisticated and meticulous attack .
`` Our analysis indicates that these compromises are not self-propagating ; each of the attacks require meticulous planning and manual interaction , '' FireEye said .
Microsoft : `` We believe this is nation-state activity at significant scale , aimed at both the government and private sector , '' the company said as it shared some details about what it called `` the threat activity we 've uncovered over the past weeks . ''
Microsoft said the malicious code in the SolarWinds update gave hackers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ network , `` which the attacker can use to gain elevated credentials . ''
It added that its Microsoft Defender software can now detect the files used in the hack .
The company applauded other firms for being open and transparent in revealing the hacking attacks , saying it will help others boost their security .
As for Microsoft itself , the company said that so far , it has n't `` found evidence of a successful attack '' in its own systems .
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency : The agency said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active exploitation of SolarWinds Orion Platform software '' that was released between March and June .
The agency is urging any affected organizations to take steps to detect intrusions and to take countermeasures .

What We Know About Russia's Alleged Hack Of The U.S. Government And Tech Companies
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag
A massive computer breach allowed hackers to spend months exploring numerous U.S. government networks and private companies' systems around the world. Industry experts say a country mounted the complex hack — and government officials say Russia is responsible.
The hackers attached their malware to a software update from SolarWinds, a company based in Austin, Texas. Many federal agencies and thousands of companies worldwide use SolarWinds' Orion software to monitor their computer networks.
SolarWinds says that nearly 18,000 of its customers — in the government and the private sector — received the tainted software update from March to June of this year.
Here's what we know about the attack:
Who is responsible?
Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, is believed to have carried out the hack, according to cybersecurity experts who cite the extremely sophisticated nature of the attack. Russia has denied involvement.
President Trump has been silent about the hack and his administration has not attributed blame. However, U.S. intelligence agencies have started briefing members of Congress, and several lawmakers have said the information they've seen points toward Russia.
Included are members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where Chairman James Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma, and the top Democrat on the panel, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, issued a joint statement Thursday saying "the cyber intrusion appears to be ongoing and has the hallmarks of a Russian intelligence operation."
After several days of saying relatively little, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on Thursday delivered an ominous warning, saying the hack "poses a grave risk" to federal, state and local governments as well as private companies and organizations.
In addition, CISA said that removing the malware will be "highly complex and challenging for organizations."
The episode is the latest in what has become a long list of suspected Russian electronic incursions into other nations under President Vladimir Putin. Multiple countries have previously accused Russia of using hackers, bots and other means in attempts to influence elections in the U.S. and elsewhere.
U.S. national security agencies made major efforts to prevent Russia from interfering in the 2020 election. But those same agencies seem to have been blindsided by the hackers who have had months to dig around inside U.S. government systems.
"It's as if you wake up one morning and suddenly realize that a burglar has been going in and out of your house for the last six months," said Glenn Gerstell, who was the National Security Agency's general counsel from 2015 to 2020.
Who was affected?
So far, the list of affected U.S. government entities reportedly includes the Commerce Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Pentagon, the Treasury Department, the U.S. Postal Service and the National Institutes of Health.
The Department of Energy acknowledged its computer systems had been compromised, though it said malware was "isolated to business networks only, and has not impacted the mission essential national security functions of the Department, including the National Nuclear Security Administration."
SolarWinds has some 300,000 customers, but it said "fewer than 18,000" installed the version of its Orion products that appears to have been compromised.
The victims include government, consulting, technology, telecom and other entities in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, according to the security firm FireEye, which helped raise the alarm about the breach.
After studying the malware, FireEye said it believes the breaches were carefully targeted: "These compromises are not self-propagating; each of the attacks require meticulous planning and manual interaction."
Microsoft, which is helping investigate the hack, says it identified 40 government agencies, companies and think tanks that have been infiltrated. While more than 30 victims are in the U.S., organizations were also hit in Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Spain, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
"The attack unfortunately represents a broad and successful espionage-based assault on both the confidential information of the U.S. government and the tech tools used by firms to protect them," Microsoft's President Brad Smith wrote.
"While governments have spied on each other for centuries, the recent attackers used a technique that has put at risk the technology supply chain for the broader economy," he added.
How did the hack work?
Hackers exploited the way software companies distribute updates, adding malware to the legitimate package. Security analysts said the malicious code gave hackers a "backdoor" — a foothold in their targets' computer networks — which they then used to gain elevated credentials.
SolarWinds traced the "supply chain" attack to updates for its Orion network products between March and June.
"After an initial dormant period of up to two weeks, it retrieves and executes commands, called 'Jobs,' that include the ability to transfer files, execute files, profile the system, reboot the machine, and disable system services," FireEye said.
The malware was engineered to be stealthy, operating in ways that would masquerade as normal activity, FireEye said. It added that the malicious software could also identify forensic and anti-virus tools that might threaten it. And it said the credentials it used to move within the system were "always different from those used for remote access."
After gaining access, Microsoft said, the intruder also made changes to ensure long-term access, by adding new credentials and using administrator privileges to grant itself more permissions.
FireEye is calling the "Trojanized" SolarWinds software Sunburst. It named another piece of malware – which it said had never been seen before — TEARDROP.
What are investigators doing now?
SolarWinds said it is cooperating with the FBI, the U.S. intelligence community and other investigating agencies to learn more about the malware and its effects. The company and security firms also said any affected agencies or customers should update to the latest software to lessen their exposure to the vulnerability.
Microsoft has now taken control of the domain name that hackers used to communicate with systems that were compromised by the Orion update, according to security expert Brian Krebs. That access can help reveal the scope of the hack, he said.
What's next for the agencies and companies that were hacked?
Kevin Mandia, CEO of FireEye, told NPR that as companies and agencies learn they've been compromised, there's much to do: They must investigate the scale and scope of the attack, and eradicate the attackers from their network if they're still active. Even if they're not still active, he predicts months of remediation ahead.
For the U.S. government, Mandia says, there are bigger questions to be addressed — including a doctrine on what the U.S. expects nations' rules of engagement to be, and what the response will be to those who violate that doctrine.
This story was first published Dec. 15 and has been updated.