washingtontimes--2020-11-27--Cher to visit Pakistan to help 'world's loneliest elephant'

ISLAMABAD ( AP ) - Iconic singer and actress Cher is in Pakistan to celebrate the departure of Kaavan , dubbed the “ world ’ s loneliest elephant , ” who will soon leave a Pakistani zoo for better conditions after years of lobbying by animal rights groups and activists .
Because of security concerns , Cher ’ s schedule was not made public .
However , she met Friday with Prime Minister Imran Khan and was expected to visit Kaavan later in the trip , according to the prime minister ’ s office .
Khan ’ s office released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prime minister outside on the expansive grounds of Khan ’ s residence .
Kaavan , the elephant has languished in the zoo for 35 years , and lost his partner in 2012 .
He was diagnosed by veterinarians as both overweight and malnourished , and also suffers behavioral issues due to his isolation .
Kaavan is set to leave for a sanctuary in Cambodia on Sunday , said Martin Bauer of Four Paws International , a global animal welfare group that ’ s led the charge to save him since 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has been a loud voice advocating for his resettlement .
Four Paws , which often carries out animal rescue missions , has provided the medical treatment needed before Kaavan can travel and will accompany him to the sanctuary .
Even after he ’ s in Cambodia , he ’ ll require years of physical and even psychological assistance , Bauer said .
Because of the abysmal living conditions blamed on systemic negligence , Pakistan ’ s high court in May ordered the closure of Marghazar Zoo in the capital of Islamabad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his life .
A medical examination in September showed Kaavan ’ s nails were cracked and overgrown - the result of years of living in an improper enclosure with flooring that damaged his feet .
The elephant has also developed stereotypical behavior , shaking his head back and forth for hours , which the medical team of wildlife veterinarians and experts blamed on his utter boredom .
For the past three months , a Four Paws team including veterinarian Dr. Amil Khalil and the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board has been readying Kaavan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , and returned to the zoo in August , where he was heartbroken at the animal ’ s condition .
Khalil has spent the last three months trying to get him ready for his trip to Cambodia .
Kaavan was put on a diet of fruit and vegetables , and as a result has lost half a ton ( 450 kilograms ) , he said .
Previously , Kaavan was eating 250 kilograms ( 550 pounds ) of pure sugar cane every day , with an occasional fruit and vegetable .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 30 years that he developed an strong emotional bond with a rescue animal .
Now , the “ world ’ s loneliest elephant ” comes lumbering over when he hears Khalil ’ s voice .
“ I was always moving , so never allowed myself to develop an emotional attachment , ” but with Kaavan he couldn ’ t resist , Khalil said .
He said he has pampered and protected him for the past three months , cajoling him into losing weight as well as being less fidgety and more relaxed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cambodia .
Khalil said there are many elephants at the sanctuary , but in particular three female elephants are awaiting Kaavan ’ s arrival .
Khalil joked that Kaavan might just find a girlfriend there - who knows ?
Bauer lauded the powerful impact celebrity voices can have for animal rights .
“ Celebrities lending their voices to good causes are always welcomed , as they help starting public discourse and raising pressure on responsible authorities , ” he said .
“ Around the globe there are animal lovers , famous and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single one of them is crucial , ” he added .

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Iconic singer and actress Cher is in Pakistan to celebrate the departure of Kaavan, dubbed the “world’s loneliest elephant,” who will soon leave a Pakistani zoo for better conditions after years of lobbying by animal rights groups and activists.
Because of security concerns, Cher’s schedule was not made public. However, she met Friday with Prime Minister Imran Khan and was expected to visit Kaavan later in the trip, according to the prime minister’s office. Khan’s office released a video of the singer sitting with the prime minister outside on the expansive grounds of Khan’s residence.
Kaavan is set to leave for a sanctuary in Cambodia on Sunday, said Martin Bauer, spokesman for Four Paws International, a global animal welfare group that’s led the charge to save Kaavan since 2016..
The animal has languished in the zoo for 35 years, most of those years in chains, and lost his partner in 2012. She died after an infection turned gangrenous and her body lay beside Kaavan for several days before being removed, said Dr. Amir Khalil, veterinarian with Four Paws. Khalil said Kaavan was heartbroken after his partner died.
Activists dubbed Kaavan the “world’s loneliest elephant” after his plight gained international attention and the unhappy elephant was diagnosed as emotionally as well as physically damaged.
Khalil has treated the elephant’s many wounds and ailments over the past three months. Kaavan has been diagnosed by veterinarians as both overweight and malnourished, and also suffers behavioral issues due to his isolation.
Cher took up Kaavan’s cause and has been a loud voice advocating for his resettlement. Four Paws, which often carries out animal rescue missions, will accompany Kaavan to the sanctuary.
In a tweet following her meeting with Pakistan’s prime minister, Cher said she thanked Khan “for making it possible for me to take Kaavan to Cambodia.” She tweeted she was making a documentary on Kaavan and said, “think documentary will be heartwarming.”
Even after he’s in Cambodia, Kaavan will require years of physical and even psychological assistance, Bauer said.
Because of the abysmal living conditions blamed on systemic negligence, Pakistan’s high court in May ordered the closure of Marghazar Zoo in the capital of Islamabad, where Kaavan has lived for much of his life.
A medical examination in September showed Kaavan’s nails were cracked and overgrown - the result of years of living in an improper enclosure with flooring that damaged his feet.
The elephant has also developed behaviors including shaking his head back and forth for hours, which the medical team of wildlife veterinarians and experts blamed on his utter boredom.
For the past three months, a Four Paws team including veterinarian Khalil and the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board have been readying Kaavan to leave.
Khalil first met Kaavan in 2016 and returned to the zoo in August, where he was saddened by the animal’s condition. Khalil has spent the last three months trying to get him ready for his trip to Cambodia.
Kaavan was put on a diet of fruit and vegetables and has lost half a ton (450 kilograms), he said. Previously, Kaavan was eating 250 kilograms (550 pounds) of pure sugar cane every day, with an occasional fruit and vegetable.
The veterinarian said this was the first time in 30 years that he developed a strong emotional bond with a rescue animal. Now, the “world’s loneliest elephant” comes lumbering over when he hears Khalil’s voice.’
“I was always moving, so never allowed myself to develop an emotional attachment,” but with Kaavan he couldn’t resist, Khalil said. He said he has pampered and protected him for the past three months, cajoling him into losing weight as well as being less fidgety and more relaxed so he can make the trip to Cambodia.
Khalil said there are many elephants at the sanctuary, but in particular three female elephants are awaiting Kaavan’s arrival. Khalil joked that Kaavan might just find a girlfriend there.
Bauer lauded the powerful impact celebrity voices can have for animal rights.
“Celebrities lending their voices to good causes are always welcomed, as they help starting public discourse and raising pressure on responsible authorities,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--Academic detained in Iran for 2 years returns to Australia

CANBERRA , Australia ( AP ) - British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert arrived back in Australia on Friday and will soon reunite with her family after more than two years in an Iranian prison .
Moore-Gilbert was met by public health officials and members of the Australian Defense Force after leaving her plane at Canberra Airport , less than 24 hours after being released from prison in Iran .
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has said Moore-Gilbert , 33 , will have to undergo quarantine due to COVID-19 concerns .
The academic from Melbourne University was released after 804 days behind bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in exchange for the release of three Iranians who were held in Thailand .
Australian media reported on Friday that Iranian authorities had detained her after discovering she was in a relationship with an Israeli citizen , which led to claims she was a spy for Israel .
Fairfax Media reported that the Australian government played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in bringing Thailand to the table and engineering the prisoner swap .
Fairfax said the discovery of Moore-Gilbert ’ s Israeli boyfriend led to Iranian authorities stopping her at Tehran ’ s airport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country in 2018 after attending an academic conference .
Authorities sentenced her to 10 years in prison for espionage .
The Australian government and Moore-Gilbert rejected the allegations as baseless .
Fairfax Media cited unidentified Australian government sources as saying the at-times delicate negotiations took more than six months .
In Bangkok , Thai officials said they transferred three Iranians involved in a botched 2012 bomb plot back to Tehran .
While they declined to call it a swap and Iran referred to the men as “ economic activists , ” the arrangement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who were linked to a wider bomb plot targeting Israeli diplomats , return home to a hero ’ s welcome .
They wore Iranian flags draped over their shoulders , their faces largely obscured by black baseball caps and surgical masks .
It was a sharp contrast to other prisoner exchanges Iran has trumpeted in the past , in which television anchors repeatedly said their names and broadcasters aired images of them reuniting with their families .
In Australia , Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Thursday he was “ thrilled and relieved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that it would take time for her to process her “ horrible ” ordeal .
“ The tone of her voice was very uplifting , particularly given what she has been through , ” Morrison told Australia ’ s Network Nine .
Despite her ordeal , Moore-Gilbert said in a statement that she had “ nothing but respect , love and admiration for the great nation of Iran and its warm-hearted , generous and brave people.
” Asked about the swap , Morrison said he “ wouldn ’ t go into those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other.
” However , he said he could assure Australians there had been nothing done to prejudice their safety and no prisoners were released in Australia .

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert arrived back in Australia on Friday and will soon reunite with her family after more than two years in an Iranian prison.
Moore-Gilbert was met by public health officials and members of the Australian Defense Force after leaving her plane at Canberra Airport, less than 24 hours after being released from prison in Iran.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has said Moore-Gilbert, 33, will have to undergo quarantine due to COVID-19 concerns.
The academic from Melbourne University was released after 804 days behind bars on spying charges. She was freed in exchange for the release of three Iranians who were held in Thailand.
Australian media reported on Friday that Iranian authorities had detained her after discovering she was in a relationship with an Israeli citizen, which led to claims she was a spy for Israel.
Fairfax Media reported that the Australian government played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in bringing Thailand to the table and engineering the prisoner swap.
Fairfax said the discovery of Moore-Gilbert’s Israeli boyfriend led to Iranian authorities stopping her at Tehran’s airport as she was about to leave the country in 2018 after attending an academic conference. Authorities sentenced her to 10 years in prison for espionage. The Australian government and Moore-Gilbert rejected the allegations as baseless.
Fairfax Media cited unidentified Australian government sources as saying the at-times delicate negotiations took more than six months.
In Bangkok, Thai officials said they transferred three Iranians involved in a botched 2012 bomb plot back to Tehran. While they declined to call it a swap and Iran referred to the men as “economic activists,” the arrangement freed Moore-Gilbert and saw the three men, who were linked to a wider bomb plot targeting Israeli diplomats, return home to a hero’s welcome.
They wore Iranian flags draped over their shoulders, their faces largely obscured by black baseball caps and surgical masks. It was a sharp contrast to other prisoner exchanges Iran has trumpeted in the past, in which television anchors repeatedly said their names and broadcasters aired images of them reuniting with their families.
In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Thursday he was “thrilled and relieved” that Moore-Gilbert had been released but added that it would take time for her to process her “horrible” ordeal.
“The tone of her voice was very uplifting, particularly given what she has been through,” Morrison told Australia’s Network Nine.
Despite her ordeal, Moore-Gilbert said in a statement that she had “nothing but respect, love and admiration for the great nation of Iran and its warm-hearted, generous and brave people.”
Asked about the swap, Morrison said he “wouldn’t go into those details, confirm them one way or the other.” However, he said he could assure Australians there had been nothing done to prejudice their safety and no prisoners were released in Australia.


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--AP PHOTOS: Greece puts faith in online schooling

ATHENS , Greece ( AP ) - There ’ s just 10 minutes left to come up with a story using items scattered on the prep table : Leaves and ferns from the schoolyard , scissor-cut scraps of colored paper , a glue stick , and two hand puppets - a long-tailed squirrel and a blue hedgehog .
When class begins , two teachers put on raspy play-voices and let the puppets , Jo the hedgehog and Joo the squirrel , greet their preschool students - except the desks in front of them are all empty .
As European governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken the additional step of moving all school and university tuition to remote classrooms to cope with an alarming rise of COVID-19 infections .
Jo and Joo , hovering over a laptop camera , bob to music and welcome 4-year-olds as they appear onscreen : “ Hello Marios !
” … “ Oh Theodora , you have the Christmas tree up already.
” Finishing each other ’ s sentences : “ There is this virus that has closed all the schools .
But we can keep playing and learning new things.
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here is being held live online with teachers sitting in closed classrooms or broadcasting on state television .
The shutdown expanded to all school grades on Nov. 16 .
“ We ’ re trying to keep everyone in touch , the kids with their teachers and the kids with each other , ” says Ioanna Kabouri , principal at the preschool in the mixed-income Halandri area , north of Athens .
“ People can ’ t go outside so we use materials that children can find around the house or nearby , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The priority for most European Union governments has been to keep schools running through the winter , typically using online material only for middle-schoolers or to help reduce crowding .
But Greek policymakers say the shutdown reduces daily movement for an estimated 2.3 million people — children , teachers , parents - out of a population of 10.7 million , providing a vital pause for the overwhelmed state-run health system .
The pandemic has hit Greece hard in recent weeks for the first time , following a successful lockdown in the spring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 30 times higher than the previous peak recorded in April , based on rolling average data .
The rate of death is currently about 15 times higher .
“ Nothing can replace face-to-face teaching in a classroom setting .
… But the pandemic can ’ t stop education .
So we all have a duty , the state and the education community , to make sure the education process continues as smoothly as possible , ” Education Minister Niki Kerameus told the AP .
The jump to online learning in a country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of online services has not been without problems .
An online platform used for live lessons suffered crashes in the early stages and some households with more than one child reported bandwidth problems or lacked the necessary number of networked devices .
Left unsupervised , some children joined chat groups to coordinate pranks on teachers .
Kerameus said the program had been successful in its aim to keep children engaged with their schools during the lockdown and keep up with the curriculum .
“ I ’ ve always said , schools will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the first to reopen , ” she said , visiting a classroom at a school , converted into a studio for recording lessons .
She thanked teachers who volunteered to go on national television .
Math teacher Rania Koukli runs a YouTube education channel with her husband and was picked by a state education board to present elementary-grade lessons .
TV teachers , she said , were amused that ratings on a seldom-watched state television channel had skyrocketed to rival popular talk shows and live sporting events .
“ Sometimes kids recognize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re that teacher , ’ they ’ ll say.
” With mic transmitters strapped to her belt and standing in front of studio lights and a semicircle of black sound curtains , Koukli says she enjoys the challenge .
“ I just imagine that I ’ m in a class full of children and that they are ready to ask questions .
There ’ s no one there , but that ’ s what I keep in my head , ” she said .
“ I think this type of remote learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t replace the classroom but it ’ s helpful .
When the kids come back to school , then we ’ ll know how good a job we ’ ve done.
” Follow Gatopoulos at https : //twitter.com/dgatopoulos and Stavrakis at https : //twitter.com/TStavrak

DEREK GATOPOULOS and THANASSIS STAVRAKIS

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - There’s just 10 minutes left to come up with a story using items scattered on the prep table: Leaves and ferns from the schoolyard, scissor-cut scraps of colored paper, a glue stick, and two hand puppets - a long-tailed squirrel and a blue hedgehog.
When class begins, two teachers put on raspy play-voices and let the puppets, Jo the hedgehog and Joo the squirrel, greet their preschool students - except the desks in front of them are all empty.
As European governments double down on restrictions, Greece has taken the additional step of moving all school and university tuition to remote classrooms to cope with an alarming rise of COVID-19 infections.
Jo and Joo, hovering over a laptop camera, bob to music and welcome 4-year-olds as they appear onscreen: “Hello Marios!”…“Oh Theodora, you have the Christmas tree up already.” Finishing each other’s sentences: “There is this virus that has closed all the schools. But we can keep playing and learning new things.”
As part of a pre-Christmas lockdown, schooling here is being held live online with teachers sitting in closed classrooms or broadcasting on state television. The shutdown expanded to all school grades on Nov. 16.
“We’re trying to keep everyone in touch, the kids with their teachers and the kids with each other,” says Ioanna Kabouri, principal at the preschool in the mixed-income Halandri area, north of Athens.
“People can’t go outside so we use materials that children can find around the house or nearby, like making things like collages with leaves.”
The priority for most European Union governments has been to keep schools running through the winter, typically using online material only for middle-schoolers or to help reduce crowding.
But Greek policymakers say the shutdown reduces daily movement for an estimated 2.3 million people — children, teachers, parents - out of a population of 10.7 million, providing a vital pause for the overwhelmed state-run health system.
The pandemic has hit Greece hard in recent weeks for the first time, following a successful lockdown in the spring.
Daily infection levels in November are up to 30 times higher than the previous peak recorded in April, based on rolling average data. The rate of death is currently about 15 times higher.
“Nothing can replace face-to-face teaching in a classroom setting. … But the pandemic can’t stop education. So we all have a duty, the state and the education community, to make sure the education process continues as smoothly as possible,” Education Minister Niki Kerameus told the AP.
The jump to online learning in a country lagging the EU average in the use of online services has not been without problems.
An online platform used for live lessons suffered crashes in the early stages and some households with more than one child reported bandwidth problems or lacked the necessary number of networked devices. Left unsupervised, some children joined chat groups to coordinate pranks on teachers.
Kerameus said the program had been successful in its aim to keep children engaged with their schools during the lockdown and keep up with the curriculum.
“I’ve always said, schools will be the last to close in a lockdown and the first to reopen,” she said, visiting a classroom at a school, converted into a studio for recording lessons. She thanked teachers who volunteered to go on national television.
Math teacher Rania Koukli runs a YouTube education channel with her husband and was picked by a state education board to present elementary-grade lessons.
TV teachers, she said, were amused that ratings on a seldom-watched state television channel had skyrocketed to rival popular talk shows and live sporting events.
“Sometimes kids recognize me outside of school. ‘You’re that teacher,’ they’ll say.”
With mic transmitters strapped to her belt and standing in front of studio lights and a semicircle of black sound curtains, Koukli says she enjoys the challenge.
“I just imagine that I’m in a class full of children and that they are ready to ask questions. There’s no one there, but that’s what I keep in my head,” she said.
“I think this type of remote learning is here to stay. It doesn’t replace the classroom but it’s helpful. When the kids come back to school, then we’ll know how good a job we’ve done.”
___
Follow Gatopoulos at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos and Stavrakis at https://twitter.com/TStavrak
___
Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--German coronavirus cases now above 1 million

BERLIN ( AP ) - Germany hit another grim milestone in the coronavirus pandemic on Friday , ticking above 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
The Robert Koch Institute , the country ’ s disease control center , said that Germany ’ s 16 states reported 22,806 cases overnight for a total since the start of the outbreak of 1,006,394 .
Despite the high number of infections , Germany has seen fewer deaths than many other European countries , with 15,586 - compared with more than 50,000 in Britain , Italy and France , for example .
A rapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing and a robust hospital system have been credited with helping keep the fatalities down .
A total of 696,100 people have recovered from the virus , according to the Robert Koch Institute ’ s figures .
The country is almost a month in to a so-called “ wave-breaker ” shutdown instituted Nov. 2 after an alarming rise in daily figures to new record highs .
Friday ’ s total was slightly less than that reported a week ago and officials say the new measures have succeeded in halting the surge .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this week to extend the shutdown well into December and add more restrictions to try to now bring the numbers down to below 50 per 100,000 inhabitants each week .
It ’ s only at that level or below that officials say they can effectively trace outbreaks to implement quarantines when necessary .
Currently the country is seeing about 138 cases per 100,000 according to the Robert Koch Institute .

BERLIN (AP) - Germany hit another grim milestone in the coronavirus pandemic on Friday, ticking above 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The Robert Koch Institute, the country’s disease control center, said that Germany’s 16 states reported 22,806 cases overnight for a total since the start of the outbreak of 1,006,394.
Despite the high number of infections, Germany has seen fewer deaths than many other European countries, with 15,586 - compared with more than 50,000 in Britain, Italy and France, for example.
A rapid response to the initial outbreak, massive testing and a robust hospital system have been credited with helping keep the fatalities down. A total of 696,100 people have recovered from the virus, according to the Robert Koch Institute’s figures.
The country is almost a month in to a so-called “wave-breaker” shutdown instituted Nov. 2 after an alarming rise in daily figures to new record highs. Friday’s total was slightly less than that reported a week ago and officials say the new measures have succeeded in halting the surge.
But Chancellor Angela Merkel and state governors decided earlier this week to extend the shutdown well into December and add more restrictions to try to now bring the numbers down to below 50 per 100,000 inhabitants each week. It’s only at that level or below that officials say they can effectively trace outbreaks to implement quarantines when necessary.
Currently the country is seeing about 138 cases per 100,000 according to the Robert Koch Institute.


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--Government officials say Australian academic freed from Iran prison after more than 800 days has arr

CANBERRA , Australia ( AP ) - Government officials say Australian academic freed from Iran prison after more than 800 @ @ @ @ @ .

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Government officials say Australian academic freed from Iran prison after more than 800 days has arrived back home.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--Excerpts of letters sent to Santa

Excerpts of letters sent to Santa

Excerpts from letters sent to Santa that have been received by his sorting office in France : “ Father Christmas , if the coronavirus allows it , would it be possible to drop in on the night of the 24th … We ’ ll put out a cake for you and carrots for the reindeer ” - The Theron family .
“ I hope that you are well .
I also hope the elves and you aren ’ t infected ” - Lina , age 9 .
“ I want this epidemic to stop , so I can see my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I want to meet you but we can ’ t because there is the virus ” - William .
“ I didn ’ t put many toys on my list .
I understand that this year is difficult with the virus … P.S .
I broke my arm ” - Louis , age 9 .
“ I ’ m going to turn 6 .
I won ’ t be able to celebrate my birthday because of the sick people ” - Leana .
“ Even with the sickness , I hope to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give you a hug and a kiss … I would like a brother and a little sister .
I have a fish and a frog ” - Rosay .
“ It ’ s been many years since I have written to you .
In lockdown , I decided to pick up my pen again … Father Christmas , for me , an independent student , this has been a tough year … ” Alexis , 22 .
“ Don ’ t forget your lockdown pass and your mask , so you aren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 54 .

Excerpts from letters sent to Santa that have been received by his sorting office in France:
___
“Father Christmas, if the coronavirus allows it, would it be possible to drop in on the night of the 24th … We’ll put out a cake for you and carrots for the reindeer” - The Theron family.
___
“I hope that you are well. I also hope the elves and you aren’t infected” - Lina, age 9.
___
“I want this epidemic to stop, so I can see my family without fear” - Eglantine.
___
“I want to meet you but we can’t because there is the virus” - William.
___
“I didn’t put many toys on my list. I understand that this year is difficult with the virus … P.S. I broke my arm” - Louis, age 9.
___
“I’m going to turn 6. I won’t be able to celebrate my birthday because of the sick people” - Leana.
___
“Even with the sickness, I hope to see you, because I want to give you a hug and a kiss … I would like a brother and a little sister. I have a fish and a frog” - Rosay.
___
“It’s been many years since I have written to you. In lockdown, I decided to pick up my pen again … Father Christmas, for me, an independent student, this has been a tough year …” Alexis, 22.
___
“Don’t forget your lockdown pass and your mask, so you aren’t fined” - Carole, age 54.


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--In Santa's mailbag, a peek into children's pandemic worries

LIBOURNE , France ( AP ) - Jim , from Taiwan , slipped a face mask inside the greeting card he sent to Santa and marked “ I ( heart ) u.
” Alina , 5 , asked in her Santa letter written with an adult ’ s help that he please use the front door when he drops in , because the back door is reserved for Grandma and Grandpa to minimize their risk of contamination .
And spilling out her heavy little heart to “ Dear Father Christmas , ” 10-year-old Lola wrote that she is wishing “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that this virus no longer exists.
” “ My mother is a care-giver and sometimes I am scared for her , ” Lola explained , signing off her handwritten letter with , “ Take care of yourself Father Christmas , and of the Elves.
” The emotional toll wrought by the pandemic is jumping off pages in the deluge of “ Dear Santa ” letters now pouring into a post office in southwest France that sorts and responds to his mail from around the world .
Arriving by the tens of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - some mere scribbles , other elaborate labors of love in colored pens - are revealing windows into the tender minds of their young authors , and of adult Santa fans also asking for respite and happiness , at the tail end of a year of sickness and tumult .
Like this letter from young Zoe , who limited her requests to a music player and amusement park tickets because “ this year has been very different from others because of COVID-19.
” “ That ’ s why I am not asking you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid infection , ” Zoe wrote , signing off with “ Merci !
” and a heart .
In theory , and often in practice , any letter addressed “ Pere Noel ” - French for Father Christmas - and slipped into any post box around the world is likely to wend its way to the sorting office in France ’ s Bordeaux region that has been handling his mail since 1962 .
Toiling out of sight among vineyards , his secretariat of workers ( who call themselves “ elves ” ) spends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open envelopes decorated with hearts , stickers and colors , and spreading Santa magic by responding on his behalf .
From the first letters opened at the secretariat from Nov. 12 , it quickly became apparent how the pandemic is weighing on children , says the chief elf , Jamila Hajji .
Along with the usual pleas for toys and gadgets were also requests for vaccines , for visits from grandparents , for life to return to the way it was .
One letter in three mentions the pandemic in some way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been very affected by COVID , more than we think .
They are very worried .
And what they want most of all , apart from presents , is really to be able to have a normal life , the end of COVID , a vaccine , ” she says .
“ The letters to Father Christmas are a sort of release for them .
All this year , they have been in lockdowns , they have been deprived of school , deprived of their grandpas and grandmas .
Their parents have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So we , of course , can tell that the children are putting into words everything they have felt during this period.
” “ We are like elf therapists , ” she adds .
Replying to 12,000 letters per day , the team of 60 elves sets aside some that move them or catch the eye .
Lola ’ s is among those that have stood out so far , with its heartfelt confession to Santa that “ this year more than the others , I need magic and to believe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that children are confiding worries that they may not have shared with parents .
Emma Barron , a psychiatrist specializing in the mental health of children and adolescents at the Robert Debré pediatric hospital in Paris , says landmark dates , including birthdays and holidays like Christmas , provide structure in childhood .
Amid the pandemic ’ s uncertainty , the Dec. 25 anchor of Christmas is particularly important to kids this year .
“ Children are quite surprising in that they can adapt to many things , ” Barron says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like that are an integral part of children ’ s mental stability.
” As the letters flood in , it ’ s also clear that this goes beyond childhood .
Santa is proving a beacon to adults , too , with some writing to him for the first time since they were kids .
One asked for “ a pandemic of love.
” A 77-year-old lamented that “ lockdown is no fun !
I live alone.
” A grandparent asked Santa to “ say ‘ Hi ’ to my two grandkids that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year because of the health situation.
” “ Your mission will be hard this year , ” wrote Anne-Marie , another adult suppliant .
“ You will need to sprinkle stars across the entire world , to calm everyone and revive our childhood souls , so we can dream , at last , and let go .
”

LIBOURNE, France (AP) - Jim, from Taiwan, slipped a face mask inside the greeting card he sent to Santa and marked “I (heart) u.” Alina, 5, asked in her Santa letter written with an adult’s help that he please use the front door when he drops in, because the back door is reserved for Grandma and Grandpa to minimize their risk of contamination.
And spilling out her heavy little heart to “Dear Father Christmas,” 10-year-old Lola wrote that she is wishing “that my aunt never has cancer again and that this virus no longer exists.”
“My mother is a care-giver and sometimes I am scared for her,” Lola explained, signing off her handwritten letter with, “Take care of yourself Father Christmas, and of the Elves.”
The emotional toll wrought by the pandemic is jumping off pages in the deluge of “Dear Santa” letters now pouring into a post office in southwest France that sorts and responds to his mail from around the world.
Arriving by the tens of thousands, the letters, notes and cards - some mere scribbles, other elaborate labors of love in colored pens - are revealing windows into the tender minds of their young authors, and of adult Santa fans also asking for respite and happiness, at the tail end of a year of sickness and tumult.
Like this letter from young Zoe, who limited her requests to a music player and amusement park tickets because “this year has been very different from others because of COVID-19.”
“That’s why I am not asking you for many thing(s) to avoid infection,” Zoe wrote, signing off with “Merci!” and a heart.
In theory, and often in practice, any letter addressed “Pere Noel” - French for Father Christmas - and slipped into any post box around the world is likely to wend its way to the sorting office in France’s Bordeaux region that has been handling his mail since 1962. Toiling out of sight among vineyards, his secretariat of workers (who call themselves “elves”) spends the months of November and December slicing open envelopes decorated with hearts, stickers and colors, and spreading Santa magic by responding on his behalf.
From the first letters opened at the secretariat from Nov. 12, it quickly became apparent how the pandemic is weighing on children, says the chief elf, Jamila Hajji. Along with the usual pleas for toys and gadgets were also requests for vaccines, for visits from grandparents, for life to return to the way it was. One letter in three mentions the pandemic in some way, Hajji says.
“The kids have been very affected by COVID, more than we think. They are very worried. And what they want most of all, apart from presents, is really to be able to have a normal life, the end of COVID, a vaccine,” she says.
“The letters to Father Christmas are a sort of release for them. All this year, they have been in lockdowns, they have been deprived of school, deprived of their grandpas and grandmas. Their parents have been occupied by the health crisis and whatnot. So we, of course, can tell that the children are putting into words everything they have felt during this period.”
“We are like elf therapists,” she adds.
Replying to 12,000 letters per day, the team of 60 elves sets aside some that move them or catch the eye. Lola’s is among those that have stood out so far, with its heartfelt confession to Santa that “this year more than the others, I need magic and to believe in you.” The elves say their sense is that children are confiding worries that they may not have shared with parents.
Emma Barron, a psychiatrist specializing in the mental health of children and adolescents at the Robert Debré pediatric hospital in Paris, says landmark dates, including birthdays and holidays like Christmas, provide structure in childhood. Amid the pandemic’s uncertainty, the Dec. 25 anchor of Christmas is particularly important to kids this year.
“Children are quite surprising in that they can adapt to many things,” Barron says. “But rhythms, rituals and things like that are an integral part of children’s mental stability.”
As the letters flood in, it’s also clear that this goes beyond childhood. Santa is proving a beacon to adults, too, with some writing to him for the first time since they were kids.
One asked for “a pandemic of love.” A 77-year-old lamented that “lockdown is no fun! I live alone.” A grandparent asked Santa to “say ‘Hi’ to my two grandkids that I won’t be able to see this year because of the health situation.”
“Your mission will be hard this year,” wrote Anne-Marie, another adult suppliant. “You will need to sprinkle stars across the entire world, to calm everyone and revive our childhood souls, so we can dream, at last, and let go.”
—
Follow AP’s virus coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--S. Korea agency says N. Korea executed people, shut capital

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered at least two people executed , banned fishing at sea and locked down the capital , Pyongyang , as part of frantic efforts to guard against the coronavirus and its economic damage , South Korea ’ s spy agency told lawmakers Friday .
Kim ’ s government also ordered diplomats overseas to refrain from any acts that could provoke the United States because it is worried about President-elect Joe Biden ’ s expected new approach toward North Korea , lawmakers told reporters after attending a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of the lawmakers , Ha Tae-keung , quoted the NIS as saying Kim is displaying “ excessive anger ” and taking “ irrational measures ” over the pandemic and its economic impact .
Ha said the NIS told lawmakers that North Korea executed a high-profile money changer in Pyongyang last month after holding the person responsible for a falling exchange rate .
He quoted the NIS as saying that North Korea also executed a key official in August for violating government regulations restricting goods brought from abroad .
The two people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea has also banned fishing and salt production at sea to prevent seawater from being infected with the virus , the NIS told lawmakers .
North Korea recently placed Pyongyang and northern Jagang province under lockdown over virus concerns .
Earlier this month , it imposed lockdown measures in other areas where officials found unauthorized goods and foreign currencies that were brought in , Ha cited the NIS as saying .
North Korea also made an unsuccessful hacking attempt on at least one South Korean pharmaceutical company that was trying to develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The agency has a mixed record in confirming developments in North Korea , one of the world ’ s most secretive nations .
The NIS said it couldn ’ t immediately confirm the lawmakers ’ accounts .
North Korea has maintained that it hasn ’ t found a single coronavirus case on its soil , a claim disputed by outside experts , although it says it is making all-out efforts to prevent the virus ’ s spread .
A major outbreak could have dire consequences because the North ’ s health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chronic lack of medical supplies .
The pandemic forced North Korea to seal its border with China , its biggest trading partner and aid benefactor , in January .
The closure , along with a series of natural disasters over the summer , dealt a heavy blow to the North ’ s economy , which has been under punishing U.S.-led sanctions .
North Korea ’ s trade with China in the first 10 months of this year totaled $ 530 million , about 25 % of the corresponding figure last year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up four times , Ha quoted the NIS as saying .
North Korea monitoring groups in Seoul said the North Korean won-to-dollar exchange rate has recently fallen significantly because people found few places to use foreign currency after smuggling was largely cut off following the closure of the China border .
According to the NIS briefing , North Korea ordered overseas diplomatic missions not to provoke the United States , warning their ambassadors of consequences if their comments or acts related to the U.S. cause any trouble in ties with Washington .
North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Biden ’ s election victory over President Donald Trump , with whom Kim held three summits in 2018-19 over the North ’ s nuclear arsenal .
While the diplomacy eventually stalled , the meetings helped Kim and Trump build up personal ties and stop the crude insults and threats of destruction they had previously exchanged .
Lawmaker Kim Byung-kee cited the NIS as saying that North Korea is displaying anxiety as its friendly ties with Trump become useless and it has to start from scratch in dealing with the incoming Biden administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea will resume major missile tests soon to try to get Biden ’ s attention .
During past government changes in the U.S. , North Korea often conducted big weapons launches in an attempt to increase its leverage in negotiations with a new U.S. administration .
The NIS expects North Korea will hold a military parade ahead of a ruling party congress in January in a show of force timed with Biden ’ s inauguration .
North Korea is also likely to use the Workers ’ Party congress to lay out its basic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited the NIS as saying .
Kim Jong Un has said the congress , the first of its kind in four years , will set new state objectives for the next five years .
In a highly unusual admission of its policy failure in August , the Workers ’ Party said North Korea ’ s economy had not improved due to severe internal and external barriers and that its previous developmental goals had been seriously delayed .
This story has been corrected to show that North Korea closed its border with China in @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered at least two people executed, banned fishing at sea and locked down the capital, Pyongyang, as part of frantic efforts to guard against the coronavirus and its economic damage, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers Friday.
Kim’s government also ordered diplomats overseas to refrain from any acts that could provoke the United States because it is worried about President-elect Joe Biden’s expected new approach toward North Korea, lawmakers told reporters after attending a private briefing by the National Intelligence Service.
One of the lawmakers, Ha Tae-keung, quoted the NIS as saying Kim is displaying “excessive anger” and taking “irrational measures” over the pandemic and its economic impact.
Ha said the NIS told lawmakers that North Korea executed a high-profile money changer in Pyongyang last month after holding the person responsible for a falling exchange rate. He quoted the NIS as saying that North Korea also executed a key official in August for violating government regulations restricting goods brought from abroad. The two people weren’t identified by name.
North Korea has also banned fishing and salt production at sea to prevent seawater from being infected with the virus, the NIS told lawmakers.
North Korea recently placed Pyongyang and northern Jagang province under lockdown over virus concerns. Earlier this month, it imposed lockdown measures in other areas where officials found unauthorized goods and foreign currencies that were brought in, Ha cited the NIS as saying.
North Korea also made an unsuccessful hacking attempt on at least one South Korean pharmaceutical company that was trying to develop a coronavirus vaccine, the NIS said.
The agency has a mixed record in confirming developments in North Korea, one of the world’s most secretive nations. The NIS said it couldn’t immediately confirm the lawmakers’ accounts.
North Korea has maintained that it hasn’t found a single coronavirus case on its soil, a claim disputed by outside experts, although it says it is making all-out efforts to prevent the virus’s spread. A major outbreak could have dire consequences because the North’s health care system remains crippled and suffers from a chronic lack of medical supplies.
The pandemic forced North Korea to seal its border with China, its biggest trading partner and aid benefactor, in January. The closure, along with a series of natural disasters over the summer, dealt a heavy blow to the North’s economy, which has been under punishing U.S.-led sanctions.
North Korea’s trade with China in the first 10 months of this year totaled $530 million, about 25% of the corresponding figure last year. The price of sugar and seasoning has shot up four times, Ha quoted the NIS as saying.
North Korea monitoring groups in Seoul said the North Korean won-to-dollar exchange rate has recently fallen significantly because people found few places to use foreign currency after smuggling was largely cut off following the closure of the China border.
According to the NIS briefing, North Korea ordered overseas diplomatic missions not to provoke the United States, warning their ambassadors of consequences if their comments or acts related to the U.S. cause any trouble in ties with Washington.
North Korea’s government has remained silent over Biden’s election victory over President Donald Trump, with whom Kim held three summits in 2018-19 over the North’s nuclear arsenal. While the diplomacy eventually stalled, the meetings helped Kim and Trump build up personal ties and stop the crude insults and threats of destruction they had previously exchanged.
Lawmaker Kim Byung-kee cited the NIS as saying that North Korea is displaying anxiety as its friendly ties with Trump become useless and it has to start from scratch in dealing with the incoming Biden administration.
Experts have been debating whether North Korea will resume major missile tests soon to try to get Biden’s attention. During past government changes in the U.S., North Korea often conducted big weapons launches in an attempt to increase its leverage in negotiations with a new U.S. administration.
The NIS expects North Korea will hold a military parade ahead of a ruling party congress in January in a show of force timed with Biden’s inauguration. North Korea is also likely to use the Workers’ Party congress to lay out its basic policies toward the U.S., Kim Byung-kee cited the NIS as saying.
Kim Jong Un has said the congress, the first of its kind in four years, will set new state objectives for the next five years. In a highly unusual admission of its policy failure in August, the Workers’ Party said North Korea’s economy had not improved due to severe internal and external barriers and that its previous developmental goals had been seriously delayed.
___
This story has been corrected to show that North Korea closed its border with China in January, not June.


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--China hikes taxes on Australian wine amid political tension

BEIJING ( AP ) - China on Friday added wine to the growing list of Australian goods barred from its markets in a trade war against Australia over disputes including its support for a probe into the origin of the coronavirus .
The Ministry of Commerce imposed import taxes of up to 212.1 % , effective Saturday , which Australia ’ s trade minister said make Australian wine unsellable in China , his country ’ s biggest export market .
China increasingly is using its populous market as leverage to extract political concessions and increase its strategic influence .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beef , coal , barley , seafood , sugar and timber from Australia after it supported calls for a probe into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic , which began in China in December .
China ’ s ruling Communist Party is trying to deflect criticism of its handling of the outbreak , which plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s , by arguing the virus came from abroad , despite little evidence to support that .
Meanwhile , Australia is working on a mutual defense treaty with Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategic rival , and has joined Washington and Southeast Asian governments in expressing concern about China ’ s construction of military facilities on islands in the disputed South China Sea , a busy trade route .
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman called on Australia to “ do something conducive ” to improve relations but gave no details .
“ Some people in Australia adhering to the Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice have repeatedly taken wrong words and deeds on issues concerning China ’ s core interests , ” said the spokesman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s concerns seriously , instead of harming China ’ s national interests under the banner of safeguarding their own national interests , ” Zhao said .
Australia ’ s main stock market index fell 0.5 % on Friday following the news .
“ To a certain extent , this is Australia ’ s fault for allowing itself to become a one-trick pony export-wise to China , ” market analyst Jeffrey Halley of Oanda said in a report .
The Chinese market is especially important at a time when China is recovering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Europe and other major economies are struggling with anti-disease controls that depress demand .
The Ministry of Commerce said the wine tariffs are in response to complaints Chinese producers were damaged by improperly low-priced Australian imports .
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the accumulation of Chinese sanctions suggested they were due to “ other factors ” but gave no details .
“ The Australian government categorically rejects any allegation that our wine producers are dumping product into China , ” Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said .
Australia has imposed restrictions meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaints Beijing might be trying to manipulate its government .
Australia also has joined the United States in imposing curbs on use of technology from Chinese telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies Ltd. on security grounds .

BEIJING (AP) - China on Friday added wine to the growing list of Australian goods barred from its markets in a trade war against Australia over disputes including its support for a probe into the origin of the coronavirus.
The Ministry of Commerce imposed import taxes of up to 212.1%, effective Saturday, which Australia’s trade minister said make Australian wine unsellable in China, his country’s biggest export market.
China increasingly is using its populous market as leverage to extract political concessions and increase its strategic influence.
Earlier, China stopped or reduced imports of beef, coal, barley, seafood, sugar and timber from Australia after it supported calls for a probe into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic, which began in China in December.
China’s ruling Communist Party is trying to deflect criticism of its handling of the outbreak, which plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s, by arguing the virus came from abroad, despite little evidence to support that.
Meanwhile, Australia is working on a mutual defense treaty with Japan, which Chinese leaders see as a strategic rival, and has joined Washington and Southeast Asian governments in expressing concern about China’s construction of military facilities on islands in the disputed South China Sea, a busy trade route.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman called on Australia to “do something conducive” to improve relations but gave no details.
“Some people in Australia adhering to the Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice have repeatedly taken wrong words and deeds on issues concerning China’s core interests,” said the spokesman, Zhao Lijian.
Australia should “take China’s concerns seriously, instead of harming China’s national interests under the banner of safeguarding their own national interests,” Zhao said.
Australia’s main stock market index fell 0.5% on Friday following the news.
“To a certain extent, this is Australia’s fault for allowing itself to become a one-trick pony export-wise to China,” market analyst Jeffrey Halley of Oanda said in a report.
The Chinese market is especially important at a time when China is recovering from the coronavirus while the United States, Europe and other major economies are struggling with anti-disease controls that depress demand.
The Ministry of Commerce said the wine tariffs are in response to complaints Chinese producers were damaged by improperly low-priced Australian imports.
Australia’s government denied subsidizing wine exports.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the accumulation of Chinese sanctions suggested they were due to “other factors” but gave no details.
“The Australian government categorically rejects any allegation that our wine producers are dumping product into China,” Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said.
Australia has imposed restrictions meant to block foreign influence in its politics following complaints Beijing might be trying to manipulate its government.
Australia also has joined the United States in imposing curbs on use of technology from Chinese telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies Ltd. on security grounds.


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--Top California air, climate regulator hopes to run Biden EPA

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - Over four decades , Mary Nichols has been the regulator behind some of the nation ’ s most ambitious climate policies and , in recent years , she ’ s been their staunchest defender against President Donald Trump ’ s effort to dismantle them .
With Joe Biden heading to the White House , Nichols hopes she is not done yet .
Nichols , 75 , ends her second tenure as chair of the California Air Resources Board next month , a job that ’ s made her the top air and climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ populous and economically influential state .
She is viewed as a leading contender to be named as Biden ’ s administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency .
Heather McTeer Toney , senior director of Moms Clean Air Force , and Mustafa Santiago Ali of the National Wildlife Federation , both former EPA officials , also have support for the job .
Biden has signaled climate change will be a top priority .
For Nichols , it would cap a career of championing stringent air pollution rules , negotiating landmark vehicle emissions standards and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She worked at the EPA from 1993 to 1997 as head of the Office of Air and Radiation .
“ Not everybody has actually run a climate action program , or an air program for that matter .
And I like working with large bureaucracies , ” Nichols told The Associated Press .
“ If they offered it , I would take it.
” Biden ’ s transition team hasn ’ t said when he ’ ll announce environmental and energy nominees , and Nichols hadn ’ t been interviewed as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , who was previously California ’ s attorney general .
If Republicans hold the Senate , she may have a tough road to confirmation due to their opposition to environmental and business regulation .
Republicans loyal to Trump are sure to oppose her , as California styled itself as the resistance to his administration .
To her allies , Nichols ’ decades of experience implementing climate policy and her long relationships make her an ideal candidate to lead the agency as it goes through the arduous process of reversing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s tenure , she fought to preserve California ’ s ability to set its own automobile emissions standards and resisted his efforts to roll back power plant pollution regulations .
“ There ’ s no one in America who combines both the technical and political work and experience as Mary Nichols has , ” said former California Gov .
Jerry Brown , who first made Nichols chair of the California board in the late 1970s .
“ Having that wide scope of time and experience is invaluable , totally unique , and absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate.
” David Pettit , an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council in Los Angeles , called her “ the most important actor in the climate change movement in California.
” But environmental groups are not united behind Nichols .
Cities like Los Angeles and Fresno have some of the nation ’ s dirtiest air and high childhood asthma rates .
Critics of California ’ s climate approach say the state ’ s policies have left low-income communities behind .
The California Environmental Justice Alliance and Friends of the Earth sent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday saying Nichols has ignored their suggestions and backed policies that favor industry over people .
“ There are just numerous examples of how Mary Nichols has neglected environmental justice and communities of color , ” said Gladys Limon , CEJA ’ s executive director .
Washington-based Food and Water Action isn ’ t taking a position on Nichols as a potential nominee , but senior energy policy analyst Jim Walsh said California has pursued a “ flawed model that says that we can just make fossil fuels better.
” Nichols began her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when she brought a lawsuit under the Clean Air Act over dirty air in Southern California .
Her current stint on the air board began in 2007 under then-Gov .
Arnold Schwarzenegger , a Republican .
Transportation makes up the largest portion of the nation ’ s greenhouse gas emissions , and no state has had more power in reducing them than California , which holds a major share of the American car market .
The state won the power decades ago to implement its own emissions standards as smog choked Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bush administration denied California ’ s request to set higher vehicle emissions standards , which in turn dictate gas mileage .
But the automakers sensed a political change was coming , and by the time President Barack Obama took office in 2009 , Nichols was already in talks with car makers and federal officials about setting one national emissions standard , built off California ’ s rules .
Three years later , Obama announced a requirement for the new fleet of vehicles to get 36 miles per gallon real-world driving by 2025 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into his tenure , Trump moved to roll back those standards and revoke California ’ s authority to set its own .
Nichols helped persuade five companies - Ford , Honda , Volkswagen , Volvo and BMW - to buck Trump .
A lawsuit is still winding through the courts , but on Monday , General Motors pulled out and joined with California .
Other auto makers may soon do the same , and Biden is likely to end the efforts .
Nichols said she never spoke to Trump throughout the ordeal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s cap-and-trade program , which requires polluters to buy or hold credits to emit carbon , though it lost in court .
Some environmental groups oppose the market-based system , arguing it gives polluters too much leeway to continue spewing emissions .
Nichols said the air board is working to reduce pollution in the most polluted areas , but acknowledged there ’ s more work to be done .
As Nichols prepares to leave the air board , California is pursuing more ambitious goals , including net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 and ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They are aggressive targets that Nichols sees as necessary to “ avoid catastrophe.
” Biden has proposed net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 , which he says will mean a transition away from fossil fuels , though he is not calling for a ban .
Nichols said banning oil production or refining could be an effective strategy but it would need to be coupled with major efforts to help the workforce adapt .
California is one of the nation ’ s main oil-producing states .
Even a hint at moving away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington .
To Brown , the former California governor , Nichols has the experience to navigate them .
“ The politics of regulating emissions from all the powerful industries in California is not straightforward , are not harmonious or easy , ” Brown said .
“ She ’ s been able to work through the challenges.
” Associated Press writers Tom Krisher in Detroit and Ellen Knickmeyer and Matthew Daly in Washington contributed .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Over four decades, Mary Nichols has been the regulator behind some of the nation’s most ambitious climate policies and, in recent years, she’s been their staunchest defender against President Donald Trump’s effort to dismantle them.
With Joe Biden heading to the White House, Nichols hopes she is not done yet.
Nichols, 75, ends her second tenure as chair of the California Air Resources Board next month, a job that’s made her the top air and climate regulator for the nation’s most populous and economically influential state. She is viewed as a leading contender to be named as Biden’s administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Heather McTeer Toney, senior director of Moms Clean Air Force, and Mustafa Santiago Ali of the National Wildlife Federation, both former EPA officials, also have support for the job. Biden has signaled climate change will be a top priority.
For Nichols, it would cap a career of championing stringent air pollution rules, negotiating landmark vehicle emissions standards and implementing California’s carbon trading system. She worked at the EPA from 1993 to 1997 as head of the Office of Air and Radiation.
“Not everybody has actually run a climate action program, or an air program for that matter. And I like working with large bureaucracies,” Nichols told The Associated Press. “If they offered it, I would take it.”
Biden’s transition team hasn’t said when he’ll announce environmental and energy nominees, and Nichols hadn’t been interviewed as of midweek. Nichols has worked before with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who was previously California’s attorney general. If Republicans hold the Senate, she may have a tough road to confirmation due to their opposition to environmental and business regulation. Republicans loyal to Trump are sure to oppose her, as California styled itself as the resistance to his administration.
To her allies, Nichols’ decades of experience implementing climate policy and her long relationships make her an ideal candidate to lead the agency as it goes through the arduous process of reversing Trump administration actions. During Trump’s tenure, she fought to preserve California’s ability to set its own automobile emissions standards and resisted his efforts to roll back power plant pollution regulations.
“There’s no one in America who combines both the technical and political work and experience as Mary Nichols has,” said former California Gov. Jerry Brown, who first made Nichols chair of the California board in the late 1970s. “Having that wide scope of time and experience is invaluable, totally unique, and absolutely essential to deal with the complexities of climate.”
David Pettit, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council in Los Angeles, called her “the most important actor in the climate change movement in California.”
But environmental groups are not united behind Nichols. Cities like Los Angeles and Fresno have some of the nation’s dirtiest air and high childhood asthma rates. Critics of California’s climate approach say the state’s policies have left low-income communities behind. The California Environmental Justice Alliance and Friends of the Earth sent a letter to Biden’s transition team Tuesday saying Nichols has ignored their suggestions and backed policies that favor industry over people.
“There are just numerous examples of how Mary Nichols has neglected environmental justice and communities of color,” said Gladys Limon, CEJA’s executive director.
Washington-based Food and Water Action isn’t taking a position on Nichols as a potential nominee, but senior energy policy analyst Jim Walsh said California has pursued a “flawed model that says that we can just make fossil fuels better.”
Nichols began her fight against air pollution in the 1970s, when she brought a lawsuit under the Clean Air Act over dirty air in Southern California. Her current stint on the air board began in 2007 under then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican.
Transportation makes up the largest portion of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, and no state has had more power in reducing them than California, which holds a major share of the American car market. The state won the power decades ago to implement its own emissions standards as smog choked Southern California.
But in 2007, the Bush administration denied California’s request to set higher vehicle emissions standards, which in turn dictate gas mileage.
But the automakers sensed a political change was coming, and by the time President Barack Obama took office in 2009, Nichols was already in talks with car makers and federal officials about setting one national emissions standard, built off California’s rules. Three years later, Obama announced a requirement for the new fleet of vehicles to get 36 miles per gallon real-world driving by 2025, a major step forward.
Just months into his tenure, Trump moved to roll back those standards and revoke California’s authority to set its own. Nichols helped persuade five companies - Ford, Honda, Volkswagen, Volvo and BMW - to buck Trump. A lawsuit is still winding through the courts, but on Monday, General Motors pulled out and joined with California. Other auto makers may soon do the same, and Biden is likely to end the efforts.
Nichols said she never spoke to Trump throughout the ordeal.
The Trump administration also targeted California’s cap-and-trade program, which requires polluters to buy or hold credits to emit carbon, though it lost in court. Some environmental groups oppose the market-based system, arguing it gives polluters too much leeway to continue spewing emissions.
Nichols said the air board is working to reduce pollution in the most polluted areas, but acknowledged there’s more work to be done.
As Nichols prepares to leave the air board, California is pursuing more ambitious goals, including net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 and ending sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. They are aggressive targets that Nichols sees as necessary to “avoid catastrophe.”
Biden has proposed net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which he says will mean a transition away from fossil fuels, though he is not calling for a ban. Nichols said banning oil production or refining could be an effective strategy but it would need to be coupled with major efforts to help the workforce adapt. California is one of the nation’s main oil-producing states.
Even a hint at moving away from those industries will bring sharp political fights in Washington. To Brown, the former California governor, Nichols has the experience to navigate them.
“The politics of regulating emissions from all the powerful industries in California is not straightforward, are not harmonious or easy,” Brown said. “She’s been able to work through the challenges.”
___
Associated Press writers Tom Krisher in Detroit and Ellen Knickmeyer and Matthew Daly in Washington contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--The Latest: Australian state marks 28 days with no new case

LISBON , Portugal — Portugal ’ s prime minister is repudiating a report saying that elderly people could be put at the back of the line when COVID-19 vaccinations become available .
Prime Minister Antonio Costa tweeted Friday , “ There are technical criteria which can never be accepted by politicians .
It is inadmissible to stop protecting life in accordance with age .
Lives have no expiry date.
” Costa ’ s comments appeared to corroborate a report in weekly newspaper Expresso on Friday that officials tasked with drawing up the country ’ s vaccination plans had proposed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 would be among the last to be inoculated .
The spokesman for Portugal ’ s National Health Council , Jorge Torgal , told Portuguese radio station TSF the draft was drawn up at a time when scientific evidence suggested vaccines would not be effective in the elderly .
The Portuguese government has been widely criticized for its delay in drawing up its vaccine plans .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : - The pandemic is turning this into a holiday shopping season like no other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with latte-smelling Play-Doh and Legos that turn into Warhols .
- The deluge of “ Dear Santa ” letters pouring into a French post office that sorts and responds to Kris Kringle ’ s mail offers a glimpse into the worries and hopes of children around the world awaiting a pandemic-hit Christmas .
- Greece has moved all school and university classes to a remote format .
State television is making and broadcasting lessons , while teachers speak to students online from empty classrooms .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ milestone in the coronavirus pandemic , reporting a total of more than 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
The country ’ s disease control center said Friday that Germany ’ s 16 states reported 22,806 cases overnight for a national total of 1,006,394 since the start of the pandemic .
However , Germany has reported fewer virus-related deaths than many other European countries : 15,586 compared with more than 50,000 in Britain , Italy and France .
The country is almost a month in to a so-called “ wave-breaker ” shutdown instituted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new record highs .
Officials say the new measures have succeeded in halting the surge .
But Chancellor Angela Merkel and state governors decided earlier this week to extend the shutdown well into December and add more restrictions to try to bring the numbers down to below 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants each week .
BANGKOK - Thailand has signed a deal to procure 26 million doses of the trial coronavirus vaccine developed by pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca in collaboration with Oxford University .
The doses expected to be delivered in mid-2021 would cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 69 million .
Thailand ’ s National Vaccine Institute signed a non-refundable advance market commitment contract worth 2.38 billion baht ( $ 79 million ) with AstraZeneca to reserve the supply of the vaccine candidate .
Another 3.67 billion baht ( $ 121 million ) agreement for the purchase of the trial vaccine , known as AZD1222 , was signed by the Health Ministry ’ s Disease Control Department .
A government spokesman said Friday that officials are still deciding who should receive the vaccine first .
A separate deal signed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AstraZeneca vaccine .
Thailand has had 3,961 confirmed cases of the coronavirus since January , including 60 deaths MOSCOW — Russia has reported a sharp daily spike in coronavirus cases .
Officials reported 27,543 new confirmed infections Friday , over 2,000 more than the day before .
Moscow and St , Petersburg reported record numbers of new cases , with 7,918 and 3,687 , respectively .
The surge brought Russia ’ s total in the pandemic to over 2.2 million , the fifth-highest number in the world .
Russia ’ s coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
Russia has been swept by a fall resurgence of the virus .
The numbers of confirmed cases and deaths are hitting new highs almost daily and significantly exceeding the levels reported during the country ’ s spring outbreak .
Russian authorities have rejected the idea of another nationwide lockdown or the widespread closure of businesses to slow infections .
MELBOURNE , Australia - From nearly 8,000 active cases in August and more than 800 deaths in the Australian state of Victoria to the elimination of the coronavirus : It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he thought was unthinkable only three months ago .
Friday marked four weeks without a new case of COVID-19 and 9,828 Victorians were tested in the past 24 hours .
Health authorities say 28 days with no new cases means the virus has been eliminated from the community , given that the time represents two 14-day incubation periods .
Victoria reached 7,880 active cases on Aug. 11 .
The last COVID-19 patient in a Victorian hospital was discharged on Monday , leaving the state without an active case .
The resurgence had forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curfew and travel and family gathering restrictions .
Premier Daniel Andrews was criticized repeatedly over several months for his strict guidelines .
“ It is an emotional thing .
My training makes me wary about ever saying we ’ ve reached the finish line here , ” Melbourne doctor Stephen Parnis told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio .
“ But the fact that in about three months we ’ ve gotten to this point , no one would have been able to suggest that would even come close to this.
” Australia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 819 of them are from Victoria .
MADRID - Health Minister Salvador Illa says Spain will be able to vaccinate its 47 million residents against the coronavirus in three waves starting in January and ending “ during the months of summer.
” Some 2.5 million people , including residents and personnel working in nursing homes , health workers and people with dependency , will be prioritized for the first batch of vaccines that Spain expects to administer between January and March , Illa said Friday .
He said that experts are analyzing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other groups in the March to June vaccination campaign and for the last batch , over the summer , depending on their risk of contagion and the availability of vaccine doses .
Spain has closed contracts to purchase 140 million doses that could cover 80 million people .
Asked about questions raised about preliminary results from a proposed vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University , Illa said the European Union ’ s strategy of purchasing vaccines from at least seven different manufacturers takes into account that some might not get final approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that does not have the guarantees of safety and efficacy , ” Illa said .
A recent decline in the number of daily coronavirus infections in Spain has given a slight respite to hospitals , where 12 % of normal beds and 28 % of intensive care beds are treating COVID-19 patients .
But the number of daily fatalities remains high .
The country has recorded 1.6 million coronavirus infections and 44,300 deaths .
COPENHAGEN , Denmark - Some 30 people - reportedly including doctors - have been fined a total of 165,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a family party in Norway that failed to respect local restrictions , a Norwegian newspaper said Friday .
Police had to stop the party held northeast of Oslo that took place in early November .
Some of the participants came from Denmark a few days ahead of the party and were fined for violating the 14-day self-quarantine restriction , police spokeswoman Sikke Folgeroe told the Romerike Blad newspaper .
A total of 22 fines were handed out , three of them of 20,000 kroner ( $ 2,260 ) .
Police didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who organized the party were doctors .
TOKYO - Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his family will not offer their New Year greetings from the palace balcony due to concerns over the country ’ s struggles with a resurgence of coronavirus infections .
The Imperial Household Agency said in a statement Friday that the annual greetings on Jan. 2 will not be held .
The event traditionally draws tens of thousands of well-wishers to the palace garden .
The greeting was last canceled in 1990 following the death of Naruhito ’ s grandfather .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ made public appearances since the pandemic began , due to cancelation of palace events .
Experts have urged the government to reduce social and business activity before the holiday season because of a rise in serious coronavirus cases .
Tokyo reported 570 new COVID-19 cases on Friday , a new record for Japan ’ s capital city as the country faces a surge in infections .
Nationwide , Japan had nearly 140,000 cases and more than 2,000 deaths .
SEOUL , South Korea - South Korea ’ s daily coronavirus tally is above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s prime minister is urging the public to stay at home this weekend to contain a viral resurgence .
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Friday that people should avoid social gatherings and refrain from going out in public this weekend .
South Korea has seen a spike in fresh infections since it eased tough social distancing rules last month .
Authorities reported 569 newly confirmed infections over the past 24 hours , raising the country ’ s total to 32,887 for the pandemic , with 516 deaths .
The 583 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time that South Korea ’ s daily tally had exceeded 500 since March .

MIAMI (AP) - SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois has risen above 12,000 deaths from COVID-19, while also surpassing the 700,000 mark for confirmed coronavirus infections.
The latest 1,000 deaths were recorded in just nine days - matching the state’s deadliest period previously in the pandemic in late April and early May, according to an Associated Press review of the data.
After a quiet summer, the virus aggressively returned in October. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases jumped from 500,000 to 700,000 over the past 17 days.
___
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
- Black Friday offers beacon of hope to struggling stores
- Empty seats, delivered feasts as virus changes Thanksgiving
- UK asks regulator to assess AZ-Oxford vaccine amid questions
- The pandemic is turning this into a holiday shopping season like no other. Toy companies are targeting stuck-at-home grown-ups with latte-smelling Play-Doh and Legos that turn into Warhols.
- The deluge of “Dear Santa” letters pouring into a French post office that sorts and responds to Kris Kringle’s mail offers a glimpse into the worries and hopes of children around the world awaiting a pandemic-hit Christmas.
- Greece has moved all school and university classes to a remote format. State television is making and broadcasting lessons, while teachers speak to students online from empty classrooms.
___
Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
MEXICO CITY - Mexico reported a record daily increase in the number of coronavirus cases Friday, with 12,081 more infections reported.
The Health Department said the situation constituted an “alert,” and said that nationwide, infections had risen by over 8% last week.
Most of the newly-reported infections occurred in previous weeks, but tests results were reported Friday. The rise was greatest in Mexico City, where detected infections rose by over 34% last week.
City authorities have increased testing in the capital, including the use of antigen tests, and said that the larger number of tests may account for the rise.
In most parts of Mexico, only people with serious symptoms are tested, leading to an undercount of infections.
___
ATLANTA - A panel of U.S. advisers will meet Tuesday to vote on how scarce, initial supplies of a COVID-19 vaccine will be given out once one has been approved.
Experts have proposed giving the vaccine to health workers first. High priority also may be given to workers in essential industries, people with certain medical conditions and people age 65 and older.
Tuesday’s meeting is for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group established by the CDC. The panel of experts recommends who to vaccinate and when — advice the government almost always follows.
Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have asked the FDA to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Moderna Inc. is expected to also seek emergency use of its vaccine soon.
___
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County has announced a new stay-home order amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the nation’s most populous county.
The three-week order takes effect Monday. It was announced Friday as the county confirmed 24 new deaths from COVID-19 and 4,544 new virus infections. Nearly 2,000 people in the county are hospitalized.
The order advises people to stay home “as much as possible” and to wear face coverings when they go out. It bans people from gathering with others who aren’t in their households, publicly or privately. Church services and protests are exempted as “constitutionally protected rights.”
Businesses can remain open but with limited capacity. Beaches, trails, and parks also will remain open.
___
MIAMI - South Florida Congressman-elect Carlos Gimenez has tested positive for coronavirus.
His campaigned announced Friday that the former Miami-Dade County mayor and his wife, Lourdes, tested positive Thursday for COVID-19 after having mild symptoms.
They said they’re self-isolating at home, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and advice from medical professionals.
“I will continue attending New Member Orientation virtually and preparing our office to serve the people of Florida’s 26th Congressional District from Westchester to Key West until I can resume my normal schedule,” Gimenez said in a statement. “I am extremely grateful for all of the incredible health care workers who are tirelessly dedicated to their patients.”
Gimenez served as Miami-Dade mayor from 2011 until this month. The Republican won his congressional race in the Nov. 3 general election and is set to assume office Jan. 3.
___
BRUSSELS - Belgium has relaxed some rules imposed to contain the coronavirus resurgence but is remaining strict on family gatherings over Christmas.
Now that all the virus indicators are declining, the government said Friday that non-essential shops could open under restricted conditions next week. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said that beyond containing the virus, everyone had to make sure that loneliness did not strike.
“We must also be sure that during Christmas and New Year people are not alone, so that is why on the evening of December 24 or 25 isolated people, people living alone, will have the possibility to invite up to two people inside their home,” De Croo said.
One of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, Belgium has reported more than 16,000 deaths linked to the coronavirus.
___
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Holiday traditions have been upended across Kansas due to the coronavirus, forcing Santa to stay firmly on the ground in one city and transforming parades elsewhere.
In Lawrence, hundreds usually turn out on the Friday after Thanksgiving to watch firefighters use a ladder truck to rescue Santa from the top of Weaver’s Department Store.
But that’s not happening this year as the pandemic strains hospitals.
Instead, Santa will appear on the first three Saturdays of December atop a truck decked out in garlands, poinsettias and pine cones, the Lawrence Journal-World reports.
The city’s hospital, Lawrence Memorial, has been converting more rooms for COVID-19 patients and 26 coronavirus patients were being treated there on Friday.
___
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - South Dakota on Friday reported 39 deaths from COVID-19, pushing the state to record more deaths in November than all other months of the pandemic combined.
The state’s tally of COVID-19 deaths stands at 888 after the Department of Health reported the death records from a two-day period stretching over the Thanksgiving holiday. The total number of deaths has more than doubled since November began, with 463 reported this month.
The state currently has a death rate of about 100.7 deaths per 100,000 people.
___
MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Department of Health has reported 101 more COVID-19 deaths, the first time the state has topped 100 single-day deaths since the start of the pandemic.
The state health department reported 5,704 new cases on Friday, putting the state at 3,476 deaths and 295,001 cases since March.
More than 1,800 patients are hospitalized, including more than 380 in intensive care, as dramatic case growth over the past month has led to increasing hospitalizations and deaths.
The figures reported on Friday reflect data acquired by the health department as of Wednesday.
___
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa has reported that 37 people died of the coronavirus in the past day.
The state Department of Public Health on Friday said the additional deaths bring the total to 2,349.
In the past 24 hours as of Friday morning, there were 1,266 new confirmed cases.
Iowa has long had some of the nation’s highest coronavirus infection rates, but in the past week its numbers have improved slightly.
___
LONDON - The World Health Organization’s top scientist says more data is needed to determine if the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca works.
Oxford and AstraZeneca reported Monday that their vaccine appeared 62% effective in people who received two doses and 90% effective when volunteers were given a half dose followed by a full dose. They later acknowledged a manufacturing issue had resulted in a half dose mistakenly being administered as the first dose to some participants.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHO’s chief scientist, said at a Friday news conference that “the numbers are still too small to really come to any definitive conclusions.”
In the study, 2,741 people got a half dose followed by a full dose while 8,895 people got two full doses. None of the people in the half-dose regimen were over age 55.
“It’s very hard to compare these two groups,” Swaminathan said.
Swaminathan said the agency had heard AstraZeneca would like to conduct a full study testing the half dose followed by a full-dose regimen, noting that the other ongoing research evaluating the vaccine uses two full doses.
___
LONDON - Ireland is easing its coronavirus restrictions, with most businesses allowed to reopen next week.
For six weeks, Ireland has been under tight restrictions, with many businesses shut and people restricted to a 3-mile (5-kilometer) radius of their home.
The government says shops, hairdressers, gyms, cinemas, museums and galleries will be allowed to open starting Tuesday, and religious services can resume. Restaurants and pubs that serve food will be able to open from Dec. 4, though bars that only serve drinks have to stay shut.
Ireland plans to ease restrictions further over Christmas, allowing people to travel and up to three households to gather between Dec 18 and Jan. 6.
Ireland, with a population of almost 5 million, has recorded more than 2,000 coronavirus-related deaths.
Prime Minister Micheal Martin acknowledged the hardship many faced, but said the nation’s “sacrifices” were working and had driven down the infection rate to one of the lowest in Europe.
___
TORONTO - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he expects more than half of Canadians to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by next September.
Trudeau’s government is facing criticism after he said Canada will have to wait for a vaccine because the first ones that roll off assembly lines are likely to be given to citizens of the country they are made in. He noted earlier this week that the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany have mass vaccine-production facilities but Canada does not.
Trudeau says Canada has signed deals that could give it the most per capita vaccines in the world. But when Canadians will get the first doses remains an open question. Toronto is on lockdown and the country’s largest province of Ontario is reporting a record 1,855 cases on Friday.
__
GENEVA - Scientists at the World Health Organization estimate that about 60 to 70% of people in countries will need to be vaccinated against the coronavirus to achieve any type of herd immunity.
At a press briefing on Friday, WHO vaccines expert Dr. Kate O’Brien said it was still unclear if vaccines against COVID-19 might reduce the amount of time people are infectious or their ability to spread the virus. But she said modelling studies suggest up to 70% of the population will need to be immunized so that people are protected from the disease.
“It’s really important that we actually start to get more information about what the vaccines do, not just for preventing disease, but for actually preventing the acquisition of the virus,” said O’Brien, director of the U.N. health agency’s department of immunization, vaccines and biologicals.
Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO’s emergencies chief, noted that in some situations, targeting certain groups for vaccination may be more important than immunizing the entire population.
“We’ve seen in many clusters that only 20% of the cases go on to transmit to others, 80% don’t transmit to anybody else,” he said. “I think we’ll need to be much more surgical and precise in exactly who we target for vaccination. It may be much more important to target certain sections of the community.”
__
PHOENIX - Arizona has reported more than 4,000 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases for the third time in a week as related hospitalizations continued to increase during the current surge in the pandemic.
The Department of Health Services’ coronavirus dashboard Friday reported 4,314 additional cases and 20 deaths, increasing the state’s totals to 318,638 cases and 6,588 deaths.
The dashboard reported that 2,301 people were hospitalized for COVID-19 as of Thursday, including 532 in beds in intensive-care units.
Rep. Andrés Cano, a Democrat, announced on social media Wednesday that he is in isolation but is not symptomatic. Cano was reelected this month.
Last week, Democratic Rep. Arlando Teller of Chinle announced he also tested positive and was isolating. The most serious case involved Rep. Lorenzo Sierra, who spent several days on a ventilator after becoming ill in October. He has now recovered.


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--Pictures of Week in Latin America & Caribbean Photo Gallery

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press Photographers in Latin America @ @ @ @ @ was curated by AP photojournalist Ramon Espinosa in Havana .

NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020
This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press Photographers in Latin America and the Caribbean. It was curated by AP photojournalist Ramon Espinosa in Havana.
Follow AP visual journalism:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com


washingtontimes--2020-11-27--New Mexico's daily count of COVID-19 cases trending down

ALBUQUERQUE , N.M. ( AP ) - New Mexico ’ s daily count of confirmed COVID-19 cases has been trending @ @ @ @ @ the record highs reported earlier this month .
State health officials on Thursday reported an @ @ @ @ @ the statewide total to just under 89,800 since the pandemic began .
The death toll @ @ @ @ @ hospitalizations remain high with 880 people being treated around the state .
New Mexico has @ @ @ @ @ health restrictions in place , including capacity limits at grocery stores and other essential businesses @ @ @ @ @ closed , face masks are mandatory , gatherings of more than five people are prohibited @ @ @ @ @ indication when schools will be able to bring students back to the classroom .
Democratic @ @ @ @ @ is expected to announce whether any changes will be made Monday , when the current @ @ @ @ @ to expire .

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico’s daily count of confirmed COVID-19 cases has been trending down over recent days from the record highs reported earlier this month, but nearly every county remained deep in the red zone Friday as the state was just days away from launching its new “red to green” system for reopening.
State officials announced that the transition will begin next Wednesday to the tiered county-by-county risk system. Counties will be able to shed burdensome public health restrictions as soon as they meet key metrics related to positivity and spread rates within their boundaries.
Only Los Alamos County in north-central New Mexico is anywhere near meeting the benchmarks. All other counties, including the state’s most populous ones, will have significant ground to make up, meaning it could be many more weeks before they see relief.
New Mexico has some of the toughest public health restrictions in place, with closures extending to all restaurants and many other businesses. Essential businesses such as grocery stores are still open but can have only a certain number of customers inside at a time - a restriction that has led to waiting lines.
Face masks are mandatory, gatherings of more than five people are prohibited and there’s no indication when schools will be able to bring students back to the classroom.
“It’s been a difficult year and an especially difficult past month,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “We must remain as vigilant as ever to contain and beat the virus. We also must look for ways to lessen the burden on our communities wherever possible, while never swerving from our top priority - protecting New Mexicans and saving lives.”
The Democratic governor was facing a deadline Monday for deciding how to proceed after what state officials termed a two-week “reset” to address spiking COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The current public health order was set to expire Monday, but officials said its provisions will remain in effect until the new framework takes effect.
Under the system, counties where the virus is more prevalent will operate under more restrictive measures while those where spread is suppressed will face fewer restrictions.
The state Health Department maintains an official map displaying each county’s level on its COVID-19 webpage. Red signifies very high risk where average daily cases are 8 or more per 100,000 and test positivity is 5% or greater. Yellow is high risk and green is medium risk.
The map is updated every other week to capture an average over time that more accurately conveys the spread rate, officials said.
When a county fails to meet the benchmarks for per-capita incidence of new cases and average test positivity for a given level, officials said it will begin operating at the next most restrictive level within 48 hours. When a county’s risk level drops on the map, officials said it can immediately begin operating with fewer restrictions.
New Mexico has reported more than 91,850 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. The death toll stands at 1,504, with an additional 35 deaths reported Friday.