washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Arizona civil rights leader, former councilman dies at 93

PHOENIX ( AP ) - Arizona civil rights leader Calvin C. Goode , who spent more than two decades on the Phoenix City Council fighting to improve the low-income Black neighborhoods he represented , died Wednesday , his family said .
Goode died at age 93 of an illness unrelated to COVID-19 , the family said in a statement .
During his tenure , Goode often disagreed with other council members , voting in the 1980s against freeway expansion projects he argued would destroy neighborhoods .
Originally from Oklahoma , Goode attended a high school for Black students and went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ master ’ s degrees from Arizona State University .
He worked 30 years for the Phoenix Union High School District and ran his own tax accounting business .
In 1971 , he became the second African American elected to the council , representing much of southeast Phoenix and Ahwatukee Foothills .
Goode lost a mayoral bid in 1990 and retired from the council in 1994 .
He had long lived in Phoenix ’ s Eastlake Park neighborhood , an area that was shaped by the city ’ s earlier segregation and played a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history .
An amphitheater in the park and a municipal building in downtown are dedicated to him .
Goode was mourned Wednesday evening by current council members and other Arizona politicians .

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona civil rights leader Calvin C. Goode, who spent more than two decades on the Phoenix City Council fighting to improve the low-income Black neighborhoods he represented, died Wednesday, his family said.
Goode died at age 93 of an illness unrelated to COVID-19, the family said in a statement.
During his tenure, Goode often disagreed with other council members, voting in the 1980s against freeway expansion projects he argued would destroy neighborhoods.
Originally from Oklahoma, Goode attended a high school for Black students and went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arizona State University. He worked 30 years for the Phoenix Union High School District and ran his own tax accounting business.
In 1971, he became the second African American elected to the council, representing much of southeast Phoenix and Ahwatukee Foothills. Goode lost a mayoral bid in 1990 and retired from the council in 1994.
He had long lived in Phoenix’s Eastlake Park neighborhood, an area that was shaped by the city’s earlier segregation and played a key role in Arizona’s Black history.
An amphitheater in the park and a municipal building in downtown are dedicated to him.
Goode was mourned Wednesday evening by current council members and other Arizona politicians.
Memorial services are pending.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Hawaii delays state furloughs after virus relief bill passes

HONOLULU ( AP ) - Hawaii Gov .
David Ige on Wednesday said the passage of a new coronavirus relief bill by the U.S. Congress this week has prompted him to delay the implementation of state worker furloughs previously due to begin on Jan. 1 .
Ige wrote in an email to state employees that he wasn ’ t able to say when furloughs would begin , adding “ this is a very fluid situation.
” The U.S. House and Senate passed a $ 900 billion relief measure this week .
But shortly afterward , President Donald Trump signaled he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he called on lawmakers to increase direct payments for most Americans from $ 600 to $ 2,000 for individuals and $ 4,000 for couples , a boost most Republicans strongly oppose .
The governor said he was hopeful the bill would become law soon .
“ I know this uncertainty makes things difficult for you and your families , ” Ige said in his email .
“ We are continuing to monitor the latest information and will provide an update as soon as we can.
” Earlier this month , Ige said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help plug a $ 1.4 billion hole the pandemic has blown open in the annual state budget .
About 10,000 state workers would have to stay home two days a month under the plan , resulting in about a 9 % salary cut .
The state Department of Education released modified furlough plans for its more than 20,000 employees , taking into account the academic calendar to minimize the affect the days off would have on student instruction .
Unions representing state workers have vowed to take unspecified measures stop the unilateral implementation @ @ @

HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Wednesday said the passage of a new coronavirus relief bill by the U.S. Congress this week has prompted him to delay the implementation of state worker furloughs previously due to begin on Jan. 1.
Ige wrote in an email to state employees that he wasn’t able to say when furloughs would begin, adding “this is a very fluid situation.”
The U.S. House and Senate passed a $900 billion relief measure this week. But shortly afterward, President Donald Trump signaled he disagreed with the legislation. On Tuesday, he called on lawmakers to increase direct payments for most Americans from $600 to $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for couples, a boost most Republicans strongly oppose.
The governor said he was hopeful the bill would become law soon.
“I know the uncertainty makes things difficult for you and your families,” Ige said in his email. “We are continuing to monitor the latest information and will provide an update as soon as we can.”
Earlier this month, Ige said he would furlough most state employees to help plug a $1.4 billion hole the pandemic has blown open in the annual state budget.
About 10,000 state workers would have to stay home two days a month under the plan, resulting in about a 9% salary cut. The state Department of Education released modified furlough plans for its more than 20,000 employees, taking into account the academic calendar to minimize the affect the days off would have on student instruction.
Unions representing state workers have vowed to take unspecified measures stop the unilateral implementation of furloughs.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Alan Ray, illegal immigrant, stole identities to get relief funds,  prosecutors say

Federal prosecutors announced charges Wednesday against an illegal immigrant from Britain who they say stole dozens of identities and then used some of them to apply for and receive unemployment benefits from coronavirus relief funds .
Investigators were tipped to the man , identified as Alan Ray , by Wynn Las Vegas , which reported opening a package Mr. Ray had tried to send , and finding two dozen unemployment benefit debit cards , all in different names .
When the FBI tracked down the identities , it found at least 60 unemployment claims filed in Nevada and California under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 930,00 in approved benefits .
More than $ 215,000 in other benefits were not yet approved .
FBI Special Agent Christina D. Burt , in an affidavit filed in the case , said Mr. Ray has been deported in 2011 for overstaying a visa , and had a final order of removal lodged against him .
It ’ s not clear when he snuck back into the U.S. , though at the time he was caught he was using several stolen identities , and had checked in to the Wynn with one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as 6 feet , 3 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds .
He is in fact eight inches shorter and 75 pounds lighter , the FBI said .
California ’ s unemployment program has proved to be a major source of fraud during the coronavirus pandemic .
Fontrell Antonio Baines , a rapper who goes by the name Nuke Bizzle , faces charges of using stolen identities to collect unemployment benefits .
Authorities arrested Mr. Baines after he posted a rap video bragging about the scam , including riffling through a bunch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit applications .
The video contained a disclaimer saying the documents weren ’ t real , but investigators said the envelopes did in fact show stolen identities that were used to apply for benefits in California .
Nevada U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich , in announcing the charges , also said his office has received funding to hire a prosecutor dedicated to pursuing cases involving federal coronavirus relief .
“ If fraudsters don ’ t understand it by now , they should quickly realize that our office is prioritizing the investigation and prosecution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system and harm Nevadans in need , ” he said .
Ten people were charged by his office in October with unemployment fraud .
Mr. Ray faces charges of possession of unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft .

Federal prosecutors announced charges Wednesday against an illegal immigrant from Britain who they say stole dozens of identities and then used some of them to apply for and receive unemployment benefits from coronavirus relief funds.
Investigators were tipped to the man, identified as Alan Ray, by Wynn Las Vegas, which reported opening a package Mr. Ray had tried to send, and finding two dozen unemployment benefit debit cards, all in different names.
When the FBI tracked down the identities, it found at least 60 unemployment claims filed in Nevada and California under the names, totaling more than $930,000 in approved benefits. More than $215,000 in other benefits were not yet approved.
FBI Special Agent Christina D. Burt, in an affidavit filed in the case, said Mr. Ray has been deported in 2011 for overstaying a visa, and had a final order of removal lodged against him.
It’s not clear when he snuck back into the U.S., though at the time he was caught he was using several stolen identities, and had checked in to the Wynn with one of those.
One identity had Mr. Ray as 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds. He is in fact eight inches shorter and 75 pounds lighter, the FBI said.
California’s unemployment program has proved to be a major source of fraud during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fontrell Antonio Baines, a rapper who goes by the name Nuke Bizzle, faces charges of using stolen identities to collect unemployment benefits.
Authorities arrested Mr. Baines after he posted a rap video bragging about the scam, including riffling through a bunch of envelopes he said in the video were benefit applications.
The video contained a disclaimer saying the documents weren’t real, but investigators said the envelopes did in fact show stolen identities that were used to apply for benefits in California.
Nevada U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich, in announcing the charges, also said his office has received funding to hire a prosecutor dedicated to pursuing cases involving federal coronavirus relief.
“If fraudsters don’t understand it by now, they should quickly realize that our office is prioritizing the investigation and prosecution of those trying to exploit the unemployment system and harm Nevadans in need,” he said.
Ten people were charged by his office in October with unemployment fraud.
Mr. Ray faces charges of possession of unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--China steps up pressure on Alibaba with anti-monopoly probe

BEIJING ( AP ) - Chinese regulators on Thursday announced an anti-monopoly investigation of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group , stepping up official efforts to tighten control over China ’ s fast-growing tech industries .
The market regulator said it was looking into Alibaba ’ s policy of “ choose one of two , ” which requires business partners to avoid dealing with competitors .
The one-sentence statement gave no details of possible penalties or a timeline to announce a result .
Chinese leaders said earlier an economic priority in the coming year will be to step up anti-monopoly enforcement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tightening control over Alibaba and other dominant internet companies that are expanding into finance , health care and other businesses .
Alibaba ’ s founder , Jack Ma , is China ’ s richest entrepreneur and one of the country ’ s best-known figures .
Regulators earlier forced the suspension of the stock market debut of Ant Group , an online finance platform spun off from Alibaba .
A separate announcement Thursday said officials of Ant had been summoned to meet with regulators .
Alibaba , the world ’ s biggest e-commerce company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company were fined in mid-December for failing to apply for official approval before proceeding with some acquisitions .
In November , the government released proposed regulations aimed at preventing anti-competitive behavior by internet companies such as signing exclusive contracts and using subsidies to squeeze out competitors .

BEIJING (AP) - Chinese regulators on Thursday announced an anti-monopoly investigation of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, stepping up the ruling Communist Party’s efforts to control fast-growing tech industries.
President Xi Jinping’s government worries about the dominance of competitors such as Alibaba, the world’s biggest e-commerce company by sales volume, and Tencent Holding, operator of the popular WeChat messaging service and Asia’s most valuable tech company. Regulators appear to be especially concerned about controlling private sector companies that are expanding into online banking at a time when Beijing is trying to reduce financial risks.
The ruling party says anti-monopoly enforcement, especially in tech industries, will be a priority next year. Since early November, regulators have tightened the reins by suspending the stock market debut of an online finance platform affiliated with Alibaba and summoned industry executives to warn them against trying to suppress competition.
“The era of free growth and ultra-high growth is really over,” said Francis Lun, CEO of Geo Securities Ltd. in Hong Kong. “The government will decide what you can do.”
Thursday’s announcement said the State Administration of Market Regulation is looking into Alibaba’s policy of “choose one of two,” which requires business partners to avoid dealing with its competitors. The one-sentence statement gave no details of possible penalties or a timeline to announce a result.
Proposed rules issued in November would ban exclusive contracts, subsidies and other tactics regulators say hurt competition.
“Reports of platform monopoly problems are increasing by the day,” the ruling party newspaper People’s Daily said in a commentary about the Alibaba probe. “Anti-monopoly has become an urgent issue.”
Internet companies in the United States face similar scrutiny. Legislators and regulators are looking at whether Facebook, Google and other companies improperly hamper competition in advertising and other areas.
Alibaba, set up in 1999, operates retail, business-to-business and consumer-to-consumer platforms. It has expanded at a breakneck pace into financial services, film production and other fields.
Alibaba’s founder, Jack Ma, is China’s richest entrepreneur and one of its most prominent businesspeople worldwide with a net worth of $59 billion. He is widely admired and a ruling party member but has run into regulatory hurdles.
In November, regulators jolted the Chinese business world by suspending the stock market debut of Ant Group, a former Alibaba subsidiary that is the world’s biggest online finance platform. It would have been the top global initial public offering this year.
Economists said regulators worried about financial risks, but businesspeople suggested Chinese leaders might have focused on Ant because Ma complained at a business conference in October that regulators failed to keep up with industry development and were blocking opportunities.
Alibaba’s CEO later praised regulators in a speech in a possible effort to repair relations.
Ma stepped down as Alibaba chairman in 2019 but still is one of its biggest shareholders and was a leader in taking Ant to market.
Also Thursday, the market regulator announced Ant executives had been summoned to meet with regulators but gave no indication about the status of its stock offering. Ant said in a separate statement it would “study and strictly comply” with regulatory requirements but gave no details.
Ant offers services ranging from banking to insurance and securities, connecting users to state-owned banks and other institutions.
Ant promotes itself as a tech brand, not a financial institution. The decision to halt its stock offering suggested regulators rejected that and might require Ant to share in lending-related risk and enforce its own controls.
Communist leaders are trying to reduce financial risk since a surge in debt prompted concern about a possible financial crisis and led international rating agencies to cut Beijing’s credit rating for government borrowing.
Ant competes with state-owned banks for business, squeezing their profits.
“You are threatening the survival of the state-owned banks,” said Lun. “That cannot happen, so the government has to crack down.”
The explosive growth of online commerce dramatically increased choices for Chinese shoppers, especially in towns and the countryside with few retail options.
China has the world’s biggest population of internet users at 940 million, according to government data. An unusually large share of the public use e-commerce and other online services, giving internet companies outsize influence in retailing, entertainment and other industries.
Also this month, Alibaba and a company spun off by Tencent Holding Ltd. were fined for failing to apply for official approval before proceeding with some acquisitions.
The ruling party also has tightened restrictions on collection and use of customers’ personal information.
On Tuesday, regulators met with executives of Alibaba and five other major Chinese internet companies and warned them not to abuse their dominance to drive out competitors through use of exclusive contracts, predatory pricing and other tactics, according to a statement by the State Administration of Market Regulation.
Other companies at the meeting were JD.com. Inc., Alibaba’s main competitor; an online grocer, Pinduoduo; Tencent; food delivery service Meituan and ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing, the statement said.
The crackdown follows a boom for internet industries after millions of Chinese families were ordered to stay home during efforts to contain the coronavirus and switched to shopping and working online.
Alibaba said revenue rose 30% over a year earlier in the three months ending in September to 155.1 billion yuan ($23.4 billion).
The company said shoppers spent 498.2 billion yuan ($75.1 billion) on its platforms from Nov. 1 to 11 during the Singles Day shopping festival. The informal holiday begun in the 1990s has become the world’s biggest retail spending period.
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Alibaba Group: www.alibaba.com
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AP video journalist Alice Fung in Hong Kong contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--John Davey, Prince George's County judge, upholds ban on indoor dining

A Prince George ’ s County Circuit Court judge on Wednesday upheld a ban on indoor dining , which dozens of restaurants and eateries opposed as a draconian restriction to curtail the spread of the coronavirus .
Judge John P. Davey ruled that the dining restriction was properly issued “ to combat an epidemic that continues to surge , and surge specifically in Prince George ’ s County.
” “ While indoor eating at restaurants is but one means of transmitting COVID-19 , the County has demonstrated that indoor eating creates an additional risk of spreading the infection because patrons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Judge Davey wrote in a six-page ruling .
County officials authorized the ban last week , citing upticks in infections , hospitalizations and deaths attributable to COVID-19 .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited a link between indoor dining and the spread of the disease .
With more than 900,000 residents , Prince George ’ s County is the second most populous jurisdiction in Maryland and has recorded more COVID-19 cases — 51,462 as of Wednesday — than any other county or municipality .
The lawsuit was one of three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Maryland and nearly 100 restaurants statewide challenging dining restrictions implemented by local officials .
The businesses joined forces seeking to reverse recent bans on indoor dining in Prince George ’ s and Montgomery counties , and a ban on indoor and outdoor dining in the city of Baltimore .
A Montgomery County Circuit Court judge held a hearing on one of the cases Wednesday .
In Montgomery County , Circuit Court Judge James Bonifant conducted an hourslong hearing that included testimony from numerous witnesses in opposition to the executive order banning indoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
Judge Bonifant was expected to issue a ruling late Wednesday .
The state ’ s most populous jurisdiction , Montgomery County , has more than 1 million residents and has recorded more deaths related to COVID-19 — 1,032 , as of Wednesday — than any other county or municipality .
Judge Davey ’ s decision followed a virtual hearing during which the plaintiffs called five witnesses to testify , including restaurateurs , association officials and a biostatistics expert .
Marshelle Burges , owner of the RIPS Country Inn in Bowie , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losses of about $ 1,500 per day and her employee payroll is twice that amount , according to the court filings .
The judge also heard testimony from three defendants — the county health officer , a physician and the vice president of the county ’ s Economic Development Corp. Dr. Eili Y. Klein , an expert witness associated with the John Hopkins University School of Medicine , testified that the county is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases .
Although it is impossible to pinpoint where the infection occurred , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not wearing masks , are creating a higher risk of transmission.
” Judge Davey said he agrees that closing local restaurants will cause a “ significant hardship to owners , employees and suppliers , ” and that closing restaurants statewide would be “ more effective.
” Additionally , he said money from the state ’ s Restaurant Resiliency Fund are “ insignificant ” compared with the losses .
“ Notwithstanding those facts , the Court believes that the County Executive has articulated a legitimate government interest to save lives and maintain sufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s County citizens , ” the judge wrote .
County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks said Wednesday in a statement that “ closing indoor dining gives me no pleasure ” but it has been her duty “ to take difficult actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.
” “ This has been an unforeseen and unprecedented time , and I will continue to take all steps possible to support our restaurant community , while preserving the health and wellbeing of Prince Georgians , ” Ms. Alsobrooks said .
The three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day after a circuit court judge in Anne Arundel County temporarily blocked County Executive Steuart Pittman ’ s prohibition on indoor dining just hours before it was set to go into effect last week .
Outdoor dining also was supposed to be banned , but Mr. Pittman changed his mind that day and decided to allow it .
Anne Arundel ’ s restaurants are allowed to keep serving patrons at the statewide limit of 25 % indoor capacity until the next hearing , scheduled for Dec. 28 .
Maryland law allows local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those implemented by Gov .
Larry Hogan , who has restricted indoor dining to 50 % and required indoor operations to close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily .
In the District , Mayor Muriel Bowser ’ s prohibition on indoor dining began Wednesday and lasts until Jan. 15 .

Circuit court judges in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties and the city of Baltimore on Wednesday upheld coronavirus restrictions on dining that scores of restaurants and eateries had opposed as draconian.
In Prince George’s County, Judge John P. Davey ruled that the county’s ban on indoor dining was properly issued “to combat an epidemic that continues to surge.”
“While indoor eating at restaurants is but one means of transmitting COVID-19, the County has demonstrated that indoor eating creates an additional risk of spreading the infection because patrons are removing their masks to eat,” Judge Davey wrote in a six-page ruling.
County officials authorized the ban last week, citing upticks in infections, hospitalizations and deaths attributable to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited a link between indoor dining and the spread of the disease.
With more than 900,000 residents, Prince George’s County is the second most populous jurisdiction in Maryland and has recorded more COVID-19 cases — 51,462 as of Wednesday — than any other county or municipality.
The lawsuit was one of three filed last week by the Restaurant Association of Maryland and nearly 100 restaurants statewide challenging dining restrictions implemented by local officials.
The businesses joined forces seeking to reverse recent bans on indoor dining in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, and a ban on indoor and outdoor dining in the city of Baltimore.
In Baltimore, Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill said the restriction on indoor and outdoor dining was issued to preserve public health but noted that the restaurant industry has been hit particularly hard during the pandemic, The Baltimore Sun reported.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott said in a press release Wednesday that his decision to temporarily restrict dining “was not an easy one, but was necessary.”
“We will continue to evaluate the COVID metrics on infections, hospitalizations and deaths and I will ease restrictions when it is justifiable by the data,” Mr. Scott said.
Maryland’s largest city has more than 580,000 residents and reported 30,080 COVID-19 cases and 656 related deaths Wednesday.
In Montgomery County, Judge James Bonifant conducted an hourslong hearing that included testimony from numerous witnesses in opposition to the executive order banning indoor dining that the County Council approved last week.
Judge Bonifant issued a ruling late Wednesday finding in favor of the ban.
“The county council, the county executive are trying to protect this community from death and from the virus,” Judge Bonifant said, according to The Washington Post. “I believe that standard is clear, and I believe that they are doing the best they can.”
County Executive Marc Elrich tweeted Wednesday that he was “pleased” with the ruling.
“The steps we have taken throughout the pandemic were done out of a grave concern for public health and today’s ruling supported that notion,” Mr. Elrich said.
The state’s most populous jurisdiction, Montgomery County has more than 1 million residents and has recorded more deaths related to COVID-19 — 1,032, as of Wednesday — than any other county or municipality.
Judge Davey’s decision in Prince George’s followed a virtual hearing during which the plaintiffs called five witnesses to testify, including restaurateurs, association officials and a biostatistics expert.
Marshelle Burges, owner of the RIPS Country Inn in Bowie, testified that her business is suffering revenue losses of about $1,500 per day and her employee payroll is twice that amount, according to the court filings.
The judge also heard testimony from three defendants — the county health officer, a physician and the vice president of the county’s Economic Development Corp.
Dr. Eili Y. Klein, an expert witness associated with the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, testified that the county is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. Although it is impossible to pinpoint where the infection occurred, he said, “indoor settings, where people are not wearing masks, are creating a higher risk of transmission.”
Judge Davey said he agrees that closing local restaurants will cause a “significant hardship to owners, employees and suppliers,” and that closing restaurants statewide would be “more effective.” Additionally, he said money from the state’s Restaurant Resiliency Fund are “insignificant” compared with the losses.
“Notwithstanding those facts, the Court believes that the County Executive has articulated a legitimate government interest to save lives and maintain sufficient hospital beds to care for Prince George’s County citizens,” the judge wrote.
County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks said Wednesday in a statement that “closing indoor dining gives me no pleasure” but it has been her duty “to take difficult actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.”
“This has been an unforeseen and unprecedented time, and I will continue to take all steps possible to support our restaurant community, while preserving the health and wellbeing of Prince Georgians,” Ms. Alsobrooks said.
Meanwhile, Marshall Weston, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland, said in a press release Wednesday that he was “disappointed” in the rulings.
“This decision directly impacts thousands of employees who have lost their jobs and accelerates the number of restaurants who will close permanently,” Mr. Weston said.
The three complaints against the dining ban were filed the day after a circuit court judge in Anne Arundel County temporarily blocked County Executive Steuart Pittman’s prohibition on indoor dining just hours before it was set to go into effect last week.
Outdoor dining also was supposed to be banned, but Mr. Pittman changed his mind that day and decided to allow it.
Anne Arundel’s restaurants are allowed to keep serving patrons at the statewide limit of 25% indoor capacity until the next hearing, scheduled for Dec. 28.
Maryland law allows local county officials to implement stricter rules than those implemented by Gov. Larry Hogan, who has restricted indoor dining to 50% and required indoor operations to close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.
In the District, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s prohibition on indoor dining began Wednesday and lasts until Jan. 15.
• Emily Zantow can be reached at ezantow@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Jonny Fairplay, ex-'Survivor' contestant, charged with grand larceny in Virginia

DANVILLE , Va. — A former “ Survivor ” contestant has been charged in Virginia with grand larceny , authorities said .
Jonny Fairplay , who while competing on the show in 2003 became known for orchestrating a lie that his grandmother had died , was charged after a silver necklace and furniture were taken from a residence , the Pittsylvania County Sheriff ’ s Office said .
Also charged was Fairplay ’ s mother , Patsy Terry Hall , 68 , the Danville Register & Bee reported Wednesday .
The sheriff ’ s office said Fairplay ’ s aunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ station WSET .
Sheriff ’ s office officials would not say who lived at the home , according to the Register & Bee .
Fairplay , 46 , and Hall turned themselves in at a magistrate ’ s office Friday after Danville police served them warrants , a police spokesman told the newspaper .
“ I ( we ) have been unjustly charged by a family member .
I welcome the opportunity to vindicate myself ( and my mother ) , ” Fairplay wrote in a message to The Associated Press on Wednesday @ @

DANVILLE, Va. — A former “Survivor” contestant has been charged in Virginia with grand larceny, authorities said.
Jonny Fairplay, who while competing on the show in 2003 became known for orchestrating a lie that his grandmother had died, was charged after a silver necklace and furniture were taken from a residence, the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office said. Also charged was Fairplay’s mother, Patsy Terry Hall, 68, the Danville Register & Bee reported Wednesday.
The sheriff’s office said Fairplay’s aunt filed the complaint, according to TV station WSET. Sheriff’s office officials would not say who lived at the home, according to the Register & Bee.
Fairplay, 46, and Hall turned themselves in at a magistrate’s office Friday after Danville police served them warrants, a police spokesman told the newspaper.
“I (we) have been unjustly charged by a family member. I welcome the opportunity to vindicate myself (and my mother),” Fairplay wrote in a message to The Associated Press on Wednesday evening.


washingtontimes--2020-12-23--Judge will not force county to obey subpoena on Arizona vote

PHOENIX ( AP ) - A judge in Phoenix is deciding whether to order the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to comply with a sweeping subpoena issued by Republicans in the state Senate demanding access to voting machines , copies of all mail ballots and other materials from the election that saw President-elect Joe Biden win Arizona ’ s 11 electoral votes .
Superior Court Judge Randall Warner heard arguments Wednesday from lawyers for the Senate and the Board of Supervisors , which is also controlled by Republicans , but did not immediately issue a ruling .
Sen. Eddie Farnsworth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Senate President Karen Fann issued the wide-ranging subpoena last week .
The supervisors voted 4-1 to fight it and filed a lawsuit asking for a judge to decide whether they must comply , saying lawmakers are illegally seeking access to private voting information .
The lawmakers then filed their own emergency lawsuit asking Warner to force the county to comply .
“ They are allowed to investigate and see what the facts are and make a decision , just like a grand jury , ” said Kory Langhofer , a lawyer for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another chapter in efforts by President Donald Trump and his supporters to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election in Arizona and several other states he lost .
The GOP lawmakers say they want the county to turn over voting machines and records so the Legislature can audit Maricopa County ’ s handling of the election .
No evidence of widespread voter or election fraud has emerged in Arizona , which has seen eight lawsuits challenging the results of the state ’ s presidential vote fail .
Claims of sweeping voting irregularities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several other battleground states have mainly been rejected .
Stephen Tully , a former Republican lawmaker representing the Board of Supervisors , said the lawmakers aren ’ t entitled to the court order they seek , known as a writ of mandamus , nor are they entitled to send an unknown auditor to tinker with voting machines .
“ What they ’ re trying to do is unconstitutional .
It ’ s illegal , ” Tully said .

PHOENIX (AP) - A judge in Phoenix on Wednesday rejected an effort by legislative Republicans to force the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to comply with a sweeping subpoena demanding access to voting machines, copies of all mail ballots and other materials from the election that saw President-elect Joe Biden win Arizona’s 11 electoral votes.
Superior Court Judge Randall Warner said lawmakers did not follow the appropriate procedures to enforce a legislative subpoena, but he invited them to refile their case. However, the ruling is a setback to the effort by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Eddie Farnsworth and Senate President Karen Fann to get access to materials in time to audit them and send a report to Congress before Electoral College votes are counted on Jan. 6.
The dispute is another chapter in efforts by President Donald Trump and his supporters to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election in Arizona and several other states he lost. The GOP lawmakers say they want the county to turn over voting machines and records so the Legislature can audit Maricopa County’s handling of the election.
No evidence of widespread voter or election fraud has emerged in Arizona, which has seen eight lawsuits challenging the results of the state’s presidential vote fail. Claims of sweeping voting irregularities made by Trump backers in Arizona and several other battleground states have mainly been rejected.
The Board of Supervisors, which is controlled by Republicans, voted 4-1 last week to fight the subpoena and filed a lawsuit asking for a judge to decide whether they must comply, saying lawmakers are illegally seeking access to private voting information.
The lawmakers then filed their own emergency lawsuit on Monday asking Warner to force the county to comply, hoping to speed up the process.
“They are allowed to investigate and see what the facts are and make a decision, just like a grand jury,” said Kory Langhofer, a lawyer for Fann and Farnsworth.
Stephen Tully, a former Republican lawmaker representing the Board of Supervisors, said the lawmakers aren’t entitled to the court order they seek, known as a writ of mandamus, nor are they entitled to send an unknown auditor to tinker with voting machines.
“What they’re trying to do is unconstitutional. It’s illegal,” Tully said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Worried Morocco bans parties to stem holiday virus spread

RABAT , Morocco ( AP ) - Morocco has imposed a curfew , closed restaurants in major cities and banned @ @ @ @ @ three weeks - including the usually festive New Year ’ s Eve - to curb @ @ @ @ @ .
The curfew between 9 p.m and 6 a.m went into effect Wednesday night and @ @ @ @ @ Jan. 13 .
All restaurants in the cities of Casablanca , Marrakech , Agadir and @ @ @ @ @ period , according to government orders this week .
Elsewhere , restaurants , coffee shops @ @ @ @ @ have to close at 8 p.m. Morocco has reported more than 7,000 virus-related deaths and @ @ @ @ @ the highest in the region and second-highest official figures in Africa .
The new restrictions @ @ @ @ @ launch a massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign using two different vaccines , one developed by China @ @ @ @ @ other by Britain ’ s Oxford University and AstraZeneca .
The government had promised to @ @ @ @ @ but the launch date for the campaign remains unknown .

RABAT, Morocco (AP) - Morocco has imposed a curfew, closed restaurants in major cities and banned public and private gatherings for three weeks - including the usually festive New Year’s Eve - to curb the spread of the virus.
The curfew between 9 p.m and 6 a.m went into effect Wednesday night and is set to last until Jan. 13.
All restaurants in the cities of Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir and Tangier must close for that period, according to government orders this week. Elsewhere, restaurants, coffee shops, shops and supermarkets will have to close at 8 p.m.
Morocco has reported more than 7,000 virus-related deaths and more than 420,000 cases, the highest in the region and second-highest official figures in Africa.
The new restrictions come as Morocco prepares to launch a massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign using two different vaccines, one developed by China’s Sinopharm and the other by Britain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca.
The government had promised to start the vaccinations this month but the launch date for the campaign remains unknown.
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washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Niger votes Sunday on path to 1st democratic power transfer

NIAMEY , Niger ( AP ) - Niger could see its first democratic transition of power since independence in the elections being held on Sunday amid a growing threat from jihadists in the region .
President Mahamadou Issoufou , who has served two terms , is stepping down , paving the way for the first peaceful transfer of power between two elected presidents since independence from France in 1960 .
Niger has seen four coups .
The transfer would be significant not only in Niger but also in West Africa , where leaders recently have held on for disputed third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than 7.4 million Nigeriens are registered to vote , and 30 candidates are running for president while 171 seats are being contested in the national assembly .
The next president will have to deal with major problems including extremism , poverty , displacement and corruption .
Attacks by extremists affected local elections two weeks ago as Nigeria-based Boko Haram fighters killed more than 28 people in Toumour in the Diffa region the day before the vote .
Niger also faces increasing attacks from fighters linked to the Islamic State group and al-Qaida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hundreds of thousands have been displaced despite the presence of thousands of regional and international troops .
Former foreign affairs minister Mohamed Bazoum with the current president ’ s Nigerian Party for Democracy and Socialism is among the front runners in the election .
A teacher by training , Bazoum has promised to build boarding schools for girls to encourage them to stay in school longer , which he said would help push back the age of marriage in a country with many teenage pregnancies .
Another candidate , a former head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2010 , retired Gen. Salou Djibo , has said he is best placed to fight extremism .
Ibrahim Yacoubou , a former foreign affairs minister who was kicked out of the ruling party because of indiscipline , is campaigning against corruption .
But Bazoum ’ s biggest competition comes from former President Mahamane Ousmane , who has the endorsement of opposition leader Hama Amadou , whose candidacy was rejected by the constitutional court because of a one-year prison sentence for charges of baby-trafficking .
Amadou denies the charges , calling them politically motivated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 50 % , Nigeriens will vote in a second round on Feb. 21 .

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) - Niger could see its first democratic transition of power since independence in the elections being held on Sunday amid a growing threat from jihadists in the region.
President Mahamadou Issoufou, who has served two terms, is stepping down, paving the way for the first peaceful transfer of power between two elected presidents since independence from France in 1960. Niger has seen four coups.
The transfer would be significant not only in Niger but also in West Africa, where leaders recently have held on for disputed third terms in Guinea and Ivory Coast.
More than 7.4 million Nigeriens are registered to vote, and 30 candidates are running for president while 171 seats are being contested in the national assembly.
The next president will have to deal with major problems including extremism, poverty, displacement and corruption.
Attacks by extremists affected local elections two weeks ago as Nigeria-based Boko Haram fighters killed more than 28 people in Toumour in the Diffa region the day before the vote.
Niger also faces increasing attacks from fighters linked to the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. Thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been displaced despite the presence of thousands of regional and international troops.
Former foreign affairs minister Mohamed Bazoum with the current president’s Nigerian Party for Democracy and Socialism is among the front runners in the election.
A teacher by training, Bazoum has promised to build boarding schools for girls to encourage them to stay in school longer, which he said would help push back the age of marriage in a country with many teenage pregnancies.
Another candidate, a former head of state who staged a coup in 2010, retired Gen. Salou Djibo, has said he is best placed to fight extremism.
Ibrahim Yacoubou, a former foreign affairs minister who was kicked out of the ruling party because of indiscipline, is campaigning against corruption.
But Bazoum’s biggest competition comes from former President Mahamane Ousmane, who has the endorsement of opposition leader Hama Amadou, whose candidacy was rejected by the constitutional court because of a one-year prison sentence for charges of baby-trafficking. Amadou denies the charges, calling them politically motivated.
If no one candidate wins more than 50%, Nigeriens will vote in a second round on Feb. 21.
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Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Thailand confident coronavirus outbreak is controllable

BANGKOK ( AP ) - Thailand ’ s government is confident it can contain a major coronavirus resurgence without a national lockdown , instead relying on provincial controls as the outbreak mainly among migrant seafood workers continued to spread .
“ I can assure that the government will do its best , ” Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said in a live televised address after a meeting of the government ’ s COVID-19 coordinating center .
“ The Public Health Ministry confirms to me that it is controllable if everyone gives cooperation.
” Thailand generally has been seen as successful in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-regarded public health infrastructure and people ’ s adherence to mask-wearing and other protocols .
But cases have jumped significantly since an outbreak was detected last week among migrants from Myanmar working at a seafood market in Samut Sakorn , a province near the capital Bangkok .
Millions of low-wage jobs in Thailand are filled by workers from less affluent neighboring countries , especially Myanmar .
Since Sunday , more than 1,000 migrant workers have tested positive for the virus , along with Thais working or living near the seafood market , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracers tracked possible cases by identifying vendors ’ major customers , and about 10,000 people at risk have been tested .
Cases traced to the Samut Sakhon market have been found in 27 provinces , the government said .
Health authorities on Thursday confirmed 67 new cases , bringing the nation ’ s total to 5,829 including 60 deaths .
New cases among migrant workers were not reported on Wednesday and Thursday , with the explanation that they were being rechecked .
The government ’ s strategy to contain the outbreak is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is designated a “ highly controlled ” area , where there are field hospitals to isolate patients , non-essential businesses are closed , people are supposed to work from home and New Year ’ s celebrations are banned .
The province is a center for industry , and some factories will be allowed to continue operating .
Bangkok falls into the second most serious category of “ controlled.
” Public establishments will have limited hours but can remain open .
There will be no public New Year ’ s celebrations , and private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most of the country , those provinces with fewer than 10 cases of COVID-19 , fall into two categories of surveillance .
Bangkok city authorities on Wednesday had ordered more than 700 schools and nurseries to close for 12 days as a precautionary measure .
“ The efforts of the last few days have paid off .
Statistics are on a downward trend , ” said Natapanu Nopakun , the English-language spokesman for government ’ s coronavirus-fighting agency .
“ The key word is ‘ controllable .
’ ”

BANGKOK (AP) - Thailand’s government is confident it can contain a major coronavirus resurgence without a national lockdown, instead relying on provincial controls as the outbreak mainly among migrant seafood workers continued to spread.
“I can assure that the government will do its best,” Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said in a live televised address after a meeting of the government’s COVID-19 coordinating center. “The Public Health Ministry confirms to me that it is controllable if everyone gives cooperation.”
Thailand generally has been seen as successful in combating the coronavirus due partly to its well-regarded public health infrastructure and people’s adherence to mask-wearing and other protocols.
But cases have jumped significantly since an outbreak was detected last week among migrants from Myanmar working at a seafood market in Samut Sakorn, a province near the capital Bangkok. Millions of low-wage jobs in Thailand are filled by workers from less affluent neighboring countries, especially Myanmar.
Since Sunday, more than 1,000 migrant workers have tested positive for the virus, along with Thais working or living near the seafood market, which supplies much of the country.
Contact tracers tracked possible cases by identifying vendors’ major customers, and about 10,000 people at risk have been tested. Cases traced to the Samut Sakhon market have been found in 27 provinces, the government said.
Health authorities on Thursday confirmed 67 new cases, bringing the nation’s total to 5,829 including 60 deaths. New cases among migrant workers were not reported on Wednesday and Thursday, with the explanation that they were being rechecked.
The government’s strategy to contain the outbreak is to impose restrictions by province.
Samut Sakhon is designated a “highly controlled” area, where there are field hospitals to isolate patients, non-essential businesses are closed, people are supposed to work from home and New Year’s celebrations are banned. The province is a center for industry, and some factories will be allowed to continue operating.
Bangkok falls into the second most serious category of “controlled.” Public establishments will have limited hours but can remain open. There will be no public New Year’s celebrations, and private celebrations should be limited in size. Most of the country, those provinces with fewer than 10 cases of COVID-19, fall into two categories of surveillance.
Bangkok city authorities on Wednesday had ordered more than 700 schools and nurseries to close for 12 days as a precautionary measure.
“The efforts of the last few days have paid off. Statistics are on a downward trend,” said Natapanu Nopakun, the English-language spokesman for government’s coronavirus-fighting agency. “The key word is ‘controllable.’”


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Africa CDC: New virus variant appears to emerge in Nigeria

NAIROBI , Kenya ( AP ) — Another new variant of the coronavirus appears to have emerged in Nigeria , Africa ’ s top public health official said Thursday , but he added that further investigation was needed .
The discovery could add to new alarm in the pandemic after similar variants were announced in Britain and South Africa , leading to the swift return of international travel restrictions and other measures just as the world enters a major holiday season .
“ It ’ s a separate lineage from the U.K. and South Africa , ” the head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention , John Nkengasong , told reporters .
He said the Nigeria CDC and the African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases in that country — Africa ’ s most populous — will be analyzing more samples .
“ Give us some time … it ’ s still very early , ” he said .
The alert about the apparent new variant was based on two or three genetic sequences , he said , but that and South Africa ‘ s alert late last week were enough to prompt an emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The variant was found in two patient samples collected on Aug. 3 and on Oct. 9 in Nigeria ‘ s Osun state , according to a working research paper seen by The Associated Press .
Unlike the variant seen in the U.K. , “ we haven ’ t observed such rapid rise of the lineage in Nigeria and do not have evidence to indicate that the P681H variant is contributing to increased transmission of the virus in Nigeria .
However , the relative difference in scale of genomic surveillance in Nigeria vs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to detect such changes , ” the paper says .
The news comes as infections surge again in parts of the African continent .
The new variant in South Africa is now the predominant one there , Nkengasong said , as confirmed infections in the country approach 1 million .
While the variant transmits quickly and viral loads are higher , it is not yet clear whether it leads to a more severe disease , he said .
“ We believe this mutation will not have an effect ” on the deployment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said of the South Africa variant .
South Africa ‘ s health minister late Wednesday announced an “ alarming rate of spread ” in that country , with more than 14,000 new cases confirmed in the past day , including more than 400 deaths .
It was the largest single-day increase in cases .
The country has more than 950,000 infections and COVID-19 is “ unrelenting , ” Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said .
The African continent now has more than 2.5 million confirmed cases , or 3.3 % of global cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ % over the past four weeks , Nkengasong said , including a 52 % increase in Nigeria and 40 % increase in South Africa .
For the first time since confirming sub-Saharan Africa ’ s first virus case in February , Nigeria is in the spotlight during this pandemic as infections surge .
“ Over recent weeks , we ’ ve had a huge increase in number of samples to ( Nigeria CDC ) reference lab , ” the CDC director-general Chikwe Ihekweazu tweeted on Thursday .
“ This has led to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re working around the clock , ” with many colleagues cutting short their holidays and returning to work .
Nigeria now has more than 80,000 confirmed coronavirus cases .

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Another new variant of the coronavirus appears to have emerged in Nigeria, Africa’s top public health official said Thursday, but he added that further investigation was needed.
The discovery could add to new alarm in the pandemic after similar variants were announced in Britain and South Africa, leading to the swift return of international travel restrictions and other measures just as the world enters a major holiday season.
“It’s a separate lineage from the U.K. and South Africa,” the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, told reporters. He said the Nigeria CDC and the African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases in that country — Africa’s most populous — will be analyzing more samples.
“Give us some time … it’s still very early,” he said.
The alert about the apparent new variant was based on two or three genetic sequences, he said, but that and South Africa’s alert late last week were enough to prompt an emergency meeting of the Africa CDC this week.
The variant was found in two patient samples collected on Aug. 3 and on Oct. 9 in Nigeria’s Osun state, according to a working research paper seen by The Associated Press.
Unlike the variant seen in the U.K., “we haven’t observed such rapid rise of the lineage in Nigeria and do not have evidence to indicate that the P681H variant is contributing to increased transmission of the virus in Nigeria. However, the relative difference in scale of genomic surveillance in Nigeria vs the U.K. may imply a reduced power to detect such changes,” the paper says.
The news comes as infections surge again in parts of the African continent.
The new variant in South Africa is now the predominant one there, Nkengasong said, as confirmed infections in the country approach 1 million. While the variant transmits quickly and viral loads are higher, it is not yet clear whether it leads to a more severe disease, he said.
“We believe this mutation will not have an effect” on the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines to the continent, he said of the South Africa variant.
South Africa’s health minister late Wednesday announced an “alarming rate of spread” in that country, with more than 14,000 new cases confirmed in the past day, including more than 400 deaths. It was the largest single-day increase in cases.
The country has more than 950,000 infections and COVID-19 is “unrelenting,” Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said.
The African continent now has more than 2.5 million confirmed cases, or 3.3% of global cases. Infections across the continent have risen 10.9% over the past four weeks, Nkengasong said, including a 52% increase in Nigeria and 40% increase in South Africa.
For the first time since confirming sub-Saharan Africa’s first virus case in February, Nigeria is in the spotlight during this pandemic as infections surge.
“Over recent weeks, we’ve had a huge increase in number of samples to (Nigeria CDC) reference lab,” the CDC director-general Chikwe Ihekweazu tweeted on Thursday. “This has led to an unusual delay with testing, but we’re working around the clock,” with many colleagues cutting short their holidays and returning to work.
Nigeria now has more than 80,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--No Christmas Eve joy for truckers stuck in UK virus gridlock

DOVER , England ( AP ) - Trucks inched slowly past checkpoints at the English port of Dover and headed across the Channel on Thursday to the French port of Calais , after France partially reopened its borders with Britain following a scare over a rapidly spreading new coronavirus variant .
Only a small fraction of the thousands of frustrated truck drivers and travelers have so far made it through the mass gridlock at Dover on Christmas Eve , held up by slow delivery of the coronavirus tests now demanded by France .
One by one , trucks passed toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , as authorities checked that drivers had the negative virus tests required to cross .
On the French side , the vast Calais port - which normally takes in up to 4,000 trucks a day - remained quieter than usual .
“ Due to the logistical issues that have prevented freight getting to the port , we have unfortunately only been able to transport 144 trucks out of Dover , ” shipping company DFDS said .
The company is scrambling to arrange Christmas Day sailings to help resolve the problem , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take days to clear .
One U.K. road haulage expert estimated there could be 8,000 to 10,000 trucks caught up in the chaos near Dover but a government minister said it involved some 4,000 trucks .
French Ambassador Catherine Colonna said two dozen French firefighters have been sent to Dover , bringing 10,000 coronavirus tests for drivers desperate to get home for Christmas .
British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said British and French authorities have agreed to keep the border between the countries open throughout Christmas to help truck drivers and travelers get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world began barring people from Britain last weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said large areas of southern England including London had to be placed under harsher restrictions to curb a new , more contagious version of the virus .
France ’ s temporary shutdown of the border raised the most concerns , since France is a major conduit for trade and travel between Britain and the continent .
The U.K. relies heavily on cross-Channel commercial links to the continent for food at this time of year , especially fresh fruit and vegetables @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came as Europe has been walloped by soaring new virus infections and deaths .
Europe as a whole has recorded over 500,000 virus-related deaths , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University that experts agree is probably an undercount due to missed cases and other factors .
Britain has seen soaring infection rates in recent weeks , with many hospitals nearing their capacities .
On Wednesday , the country reported another 744 deaths and a record 39,237 confirmed new cases .
Christmas gatherings and festive shopping were cancelled for millions at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the virus .
London now has the highest rate of people testing positive in the country , according to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics .
It estimated that 2.1 % of people in the capital had COVID-19 in mid-December , compared to around 1.18 % , or one in 85 people , for the wider population in England .
The majority of new positive cases in London were believed to be the coronavirus variant , the statistics office said .
In France , officials defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border after the EU ’ s transport commissioner issued unusually strong criticism .
Commissioner Adina Valean , of Romania , tweeted : “ I deplore that France went against our recommendations and brought us back to the situation we were in in March when the supply chains were interrupted.
” France ’ s European affairs minister , Clement Beaune , tweeted back that France had “ exactly followed the EU recommendation ” and is now “ more open than other European countries ” to arrivals from Britain .
China on Thursday became the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the U.K .
Follow AP ’ s coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic , https : //apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

DOVER, England (AP) - Truckers and travelers stuck in a days-long gridlock at the English port of Dover started heading to France on Thursday after the country partially reopened its borders with Britain following international concern over a rapidly spreading new coronavirus variant.
However, thousands of stranded truck drivers still awaited their turns to cross the English Channel, held up by the slow delivery of coronavirus tests. Trucks inched slowly forward to the ferries and trains that link Britain with France, as authorities checked that drivers could show the negative virus tests now required to cross.
Officials warned the backlog could take days to clear, and many truckers will likely spend Christmas waiting in their cabs.
Dozens of countries swiftly halted travel from the U.K. last weekend after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said London and other areas of southern England had to close all non-essential stores and call off holiday plans to curb a new, much more contagious version of the virus.
China on Thursday became the latest nation to suspend flights to and from the U.K., further isolating the country.
But infection rates continue to soar, particularly in London and surrounding areas. The capital now has the highest rate of people testing positive in the country, according to the latest figures. The Office for National Statistics estimated that 2.1% of the people in London had COVID-19 in mid-December, compared to around 1.18%, or one in 85 people, for the wider population in England. The figures do not include people in hospitals or care homes.
The majority of new positive cases confirmed in London were believed to be the coronavirus variant, the statistics office said. For England as a whole, it estimated that about half of all new cases could be the new variant.
Officials say the new variant is dangerous because it is more transmissible, though they stress there is no evidence it makes people more ill. Christmas gatherings and festive shopping were cancelled for millions at the last minute in a bid to control the spread of the virus and ensure hospitals, many of which are nearing capacity, are not overwhelmed.
In Dover, two dozen French firefighters and British military were working with health officials to test thousands of truckers, who must return a negative COVID-19 test to make the crossing.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Twitter that of the 2,367 virus tests administered at the port as of Thursday afternoon, just three turned out positive.
The operators of the Channel Tunnel, also known as the Eurotunnel or “Chunnel,” told The Associated Press that the backlog is slowly clearing and around 1,200 trucks so far passed Thursday through the underwater railway passage that runs from England to France.
But some 5,000 drivers remained stranded at the Dover ferry crossing, and a Dover port spokeswoman said just about 700 trucks have departed.
British and French authorities have agreed to keep the border between the countries open throughout Christmas to help truck drivers and travelers get home.
“Normally, we close on the 25th, but now, given the situation, the port will remain open,” said Jean-Marc Puissesseau, president of the French ports of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. Extra staff members agreed to work the holiday,
France’s temporary shutdown of the border raised the most concerns because France is a major conduit for trade and travel between Britain and the continent. The U.K. relies heavily on cross-Channel commercial links to the continent for food at this time of year, especially fresh fruit and vegetables.
The announcement of the coronavirus variant came as Europe has been walloped by soaring new virus infections and deaths. Europe as a whole has recorded over 500,000 virus-related deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University that experts agree is probably an undercount due to missed cases and other factors.
In France, officials defended the country’s handling of the border after the EU’s transport commissioner issued unusually strong criticism.
Commissioner Adina Valean, of Romania, tweeted: “I deplore that France went against our recommendations and brought us back to the situation we were in in March when the supply chains were interrupted.”
France’s European affairs minister, Clement Beaune, tweeted back that France had “exactly followed the EU recommendation” and is now “more open than other European countries” to arrivals from Britain.
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Angela Charlton contributed from Paris.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Court orders release of man charged in Daniel Pearl killing

KARACHI , Pakistan ( AP ) — A provincial court in Pakistan on Thursday ordered the release of a British-born Pakistani man charged in the 2002 murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl , his defense lawyer said .
The Sindh High Court ’ s release order overturns a decision by Pakistan ’ s top court that Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh , the key suspect in Pearl ’ s slaying , should remain in custody , his lawyer said .
Sheikh was acquitted of murdering Pearl earlier this year , but has been held while Pearl ’ s family appeals the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A. Sheikh , with whom he is not related , called for his client ’ s immediate release .
“ The detention order is struck down , ” said Faisal Siddiqi , the Pearl family ’ s lawyer .
Sheikh will be freed until the appeal is completed , he said , but will be returned to prison if the family is successful in overturning the acquittal .
Sheikh was sentenced to death and three others were sentenced to life in prison for their role in the plot .
But in April , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the three others , a move that stunned the U.S. government , Pearl ’ s family and journalism advocacy groups .
The acquittal is now being appealed separately by both the government and Pearl ’ s family .
The government has opposed Sheikh ’ s release , saying it would endanger the public .
The Supreme Court will resume its hearing on Jan. 5 .
Sheikh was convicted of helping lure Pearl to a meeting in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi , in which he was kidnapped .
Pearl had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard C. Reid , dubbed the “ Shoe Bomber ” after trying to blow up a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives hidden in his shoes .
A gruesome video of Pearl ’ s beheading was sent to the U.S. consulate .
The 38-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter from Encino , California was abducted Jan. 23 , 2002 .
In Sheikh ’ s original trial , emails between Sheikh and Pearl presented in court showed Sheikh gained Pearl ’ s confidence sharing their experiences as both waited for the birth of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marianne Pearl gave birth to a son , Adam , in May 2002 .
Evidence entered into court accused Sheikh of luring Pearl to his death , giving the American journalist a false sense of security as he promised to introduce him to a cleric with militant links .
Associated Press writer Kathy Gannon in Islamabad contributed to this report .

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — A provincial court in Pakistan on Thursday ordered the release of a British-born Pakistani man charged in the 2002 murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, his defense lawyer said.
The Sindh High Court’s release order overturns a decision by Pakistan’s top court that Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the key suspect in Pearl’s slaying, should remain in custody, his lawyer said. Sheikh was acquitted of murdering Pearl earlier this year, but has been held while Pearl’s family appeals the acquittal.
Sheikh’s lawyer Mehmood A. Sheikh, with whom he is not related, called for his client’s immediate release.
“The detention order is struck down,” said Faisal Siddiqi, the Pearl family’s lawyer. Sheikh will be freed until the appeal is completed, he said, but will be returned to prison if the family is successful in overturning the acquittal.
Sheikh was sentenced to death and three others were sentenced to life in prison for their role in the plot. But in April, the Sindh High Court acquitted him and the three others, a move that stunned the U.S. government, Pearl’s family and journalism advocacy groups.
The acquittal is now being appealed separately by both the government and Pearl’s family. The government has opposed Sheikh’s release, saying it would endanger the public. The Supreme Court will resume its hearing on Jan. 5.
Sheikh was convicted of helping lure Pearl to a meeting in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, in which he was kidnapped. Pearl had been investigating the link between Pakistani militants and Richard C. Reid, dubbed the “Shoe Bomber” after trying to blow up a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives hidden in his shoes.
A gruesome video of Pearl’s beheading was sent to the U.S. consulate. The 38-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter from Encino, California was abducted Jan. 23, 2002.
In Sheikh’s original trial, emails between Sheikh and Pearl presented in court showed Sheikh gained Pearl’s confidence sharing their experiences as both waited for the birth of their first child. Pearl’s wife Marianne Pearl gave birth to a son, Adam, in May 2002.
Evidence entered into court accused Sheikh of luring Pearl to his death, giving the American journalist a false sense of security as he promised to introduce him to a cleric with militant links.
___
Associated Press writer Kathy Gannon in Islamabad contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--The Latest: Russia counts 29,900 new cases, a daily high

ROME - Police in Italy are out in force to implement new COVID-19 travel restrictions aimed at preventing far-flung families from gathering for Christmas as public health officials appeal for common sense to protect the elderly from infection .
Italy went into a modified nationwide lockdown Thursday for the Christmas and New Year period .
Restrictions on personal movement and commercial activity mirror those during the 10 weeks of hard lockdown Italy imposed from March to May when the country became the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe .
Italy is on track Thursday to pass the 2 million mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case was registered Feb. 20-21 .
On Wednesday , the country crossed another psychological threshold when its confirmed death toll passed 70,000 , the highest in Europe .
Of particular concern is the traditional Christmas Eve dinner , usually a multi-course , multi-generational affair that is a staple of Italian family life over the holidays .
Italians on Thursday lined up at bakeries , fish markets and grocery stores for last-minute shopping to prepare their “ cenone , ” even as government officials appealed to families to limit gatherings to no more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
- Coronavirus dampens Christmas joy in Bethlehem and elsewhere - Africa CDC : New virus variant appears to emerge in Nigeria - Nurses fear what ’ s to come : ‘ Walk down our unit for a day ’ - Politicians and vaccines : Set an example or cut in line ?
- Studies find having COVID-19 may protect against reinfection - Russia ’ s Health Ministry has agreed to cut the size of a study of a domestically developed coronavirus vaccine and to stop the enrollment of volunteers .
- No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK virus gridlock HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : BELGRADE , Serbia - Serbia ’ s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic was the first to get vaccinated against the coronavirus in a show to the generally skeptical population in the Balkan country that the vaccine is safe .
She and another Serbian government minister received the first shots of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in a live TV broadcast on Thursday in what marked the start of the vaccination campaign in the country of 7 million people .
Those older than 70 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday received the first batch of 4,800 vaccines against the new coronavirus developed by BioNTech and Pfizer .
Serbia is also testing the Russian Sputnik V vaccine .
Polls show that a large segment of Serbia ’ s population is prone to different conspiration theories and is reluctant to get vaccinated .
Serbian officials have said that an unspecified number of different vaccines will arrive in the weeks and months to come and that mass vaccination should start early next year .
DUBAI , United Arab Emirates - Kuwait has started its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shots given to healthcare and essential workers , older adults and those with chronic health conditions .
Kuwait ’ s minister of health announced Thursday that batches of the coronavirus vaccine created by American drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech would arrive each month until all residents of the oil-rich Persian Gulf sheikhdom had been vaccinated .
Kuwait ’ s prime minister received the first jab that marked the official opening of the mass inoculation drive .
The first shipment of 150,000 Pfizer doses arrived in industrial freezers on Wednesday , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be delivered in the first quarter of 2021 .
Kuwait has recorded more than 148,770 coronavirus infections and 920 deaths , a relatively high confirmed infection rate per population in the tiny state of 4.2 million .
NAIROBI , Kenya - Africa ’ s top public health official says another new variant of the coronavirus appears to have emerged in Nigeria , but further investigation is needed .
John Nkengasong , the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters on Thursday that “ it ’ s a separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He said the Nigeria CDC and the African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases will analyze more samples .
The new variant in South Africa is now the predominant one there , Nkengasong said , as confirmed infections in the country approach 1 million .
While the variant transmits quickly and viral loads are higher , it is not yet clear whether it leads to a more severe disease , he said .
He said health authorities believe the the South Africa variant “ will not have an effect ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continent .
Nigeria is Africa ’ s most populous country .
The new variant in South Africa now makes up most of the country ’ s rapidly rising new cases .
South Africa ’ s health minister says there is an “ alarming rate of spread.
” PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron no longer has virus symptoms and is leaving isolation after a week with COVID-19 , but is urging the French public to limit contacts and remain vigilant to keep infections under control during the Christmas holiday season .
Macron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday that he is finishing a week of isolation at a presidential retreat in Versailles based on French health protocols , which recommend seven days of confinement following a positive virus test .
French authorities lifted virus restrictions for the holidays but infections remain high , and some doctors are urging new lockdown measures .
As families prepare to gather for traditional Christmas Eve dinners Thursday , infectious disease specialist Karine Lacombe warned that the meal “ is one of the most risky situations for transmitting the virus.
” But she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying year , “ It ’ s important to take into account the need to have some conviviality , it ’ s a balance between the benefit and the risk.
” France recorded nearly 15,000 new infections Wednesday and a total of 61,978 virus-related deaths throughout the pandemic , among the world ’ s highest official death tolls .
PARIS - France ’ s High Authority for Health has released its vaccination guidelines for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine based on European Union approval of the drug .
Vaccinations are scheduled to start on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other EU countries .
France will prioritize the elderly , based on the high impact on older populations in previous virus surges in France .
The French medical safety agency will monitor for eventual problems .
France will not make the vaccine obligatory , and will require authorities to register consent from those vaccinated .
The agency says more study must be done to determine if it is effective against new variants .
It says anyone over 16 can get vaccinated except for pregnant women or people with severe allergies .
People who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three months to get vaccinated .
COLOMBO , Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan authorities have imposed lockdown on three towns on the outskirt of the capital Colombo , in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 during holiday period .
Kosgama , Awissawella and Ruwanwella towns which are located about 60 kilometers east of Colombo went under lockdown from Thursday noon .
Dozens of towns and villages in different parts of the country have been kept under lockdown since a resurgence of the coronavirus appeared in the Indian ocean island nation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of positive cases since March reached 38,639 on Thursday with 184 fatalities .
BANGKOK , Thailand - There is little holiday cheer for tourism-dependent Thailand , as the country grapples with a struggling economy and an unexpected spike of new coronavirus despite strict border controls that have effectively blocked tourists from entering the kingdom .
The Christmas and New Year ’ s holidays are typically peak season for the tropical country ’ s hotels , restaurants , bars and often naughtier-than-nice entertainment venues , with visitors from Europe and other parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto the country ’ s sun-kissed beaches .
Many of those businesses have decided it ’ s not even worth reopening , or have gone out of business altogether .
Tourism numbers have plunged nearly 80 percent to 6.7 million through October , according to the most recent figures .
But any hopes of a return to normalcy were dashed in recent days as the country recorded a new cluster of more than 1,000 cases near Bangkok after months of reporting little to no transmission .
Authorities responded on Christmas Eve by announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provinces that including canceling New Year ’ s Eve celebrations , but they are stopping short of implementing a nationwide lockdown for now .
MOSCOW - Russian authorities reported 29,935 new coronavirus cases on Thursday , the highest daily spike in the pandemic .
This is nearly 2,700 infections more than was registered the previous day .
Russia ’ s total of over 2.9 million remains the fourth largest coronavirus caseload in the world .
The government ’ s coronavirus task force has also registered more than 53,000 deaths in all .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the outbreak this fall , with numbers of confirmed COVID-19 infections and deaths significantly exceeding those reported in the spring .
The country ’ s authorities have resisted imposing a second nationwide lockdown or a widespread closure of businesses .
Earlier this month , mass vaccination against COVID-19 started in Russia with Sputnik V - a domestically developed coronavirus vaccine that is still undergoing advanced studies among tens of thousands of people needed to ensure its safety and effectiveness .
Russia has been widely criticized for giving Sputnik V regulatory approval in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a few dozen people .
BEIJING - China will suspend flights to and from the UK , joining a growing list of countries who have instituted travel bans , in light of a new variant of the coronavirus , its Foreign Ministry announced Thursday .
It did not offer details on when flights would stop .
On Tuesday , the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in London said it will suspend its operation until further notice .
Non-Chinese passport holders from the UK were already banned from traveling to China in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections Thursday , which brought the country ’ s total to 1,001,132 .
Ukraine has also reported 17,395 deaths in the pandemic .
The rapid rise in virus cases in Ukraine has started in September and put a strain on the country ’ s health care system .
In a bid to curb the spread of contagions , Ukrainian authorities decided to impose tight lockdown restrictions in January .
Restaurants , bars , malls , gyms , theaters , cinemas and other non-essential businesses will be closed between Jan. 8 and Jan. 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and schools and other educational facilities - with the exception of day care centers - will be on vacation .
Only grocery shops , pharmacies , banks , post offices , hotels and public transport will operate during this period of time .
TOKYO - The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has reported 888 newly confirmed coronavirus cases as of Thursday , an all time daily high .
The previous highest number of newly confirmed cases was 821 .
Tokyo Gov .
Yuriko Koike reiterated calls for residents to stay home unless absolutely necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and avoid crowds .
She noted a growing number of people were becoming infected in their homes or in offices .
The city government has urged Japanese to wear masks even inside their own homes and to open windows once every two hours to improve ventilation .
Authorities are especially concerned about an increase in severe COVID-19 cases , especially among older Japanese , which is straining medical facilities .
Japan has the world ’ s oldest population .
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil has become the latest country to bar flights from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent contagion from a new strain of the coronavirus .
The government announced in an extra edition of the country ’ s official gazette released late Wednesday that it is temporarily prohibiting flights either originating in the U.K. or passing through .
The government also is suspending authorization for foreigners who have been in the U.K. in the preceding 14 days from boarding Brazil-bound flights .
The new rules take effect Friday .
MEXICO CITY - Mexico now has more people hospitalized for COVID-19 than it saw at the peak of the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Health Department says 18,301 people are in hospitals across Mexico being treated for the disease that can be caused by the coronavirus .
That is 0.4 % more than in July .
Mexico City is the epicenter of the current wave of infections and 85 % of its hospital beds are in use .
The state of Morelos , just south of the capital , became the fourth of Mexico ’ s 32 states to declare a “ red ” alert , which will lead to a partial lockdown and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical personnel will be first in line Thursday when vaccinations with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine begin Thursday in Mexico City .

BEIJING - Authorities in China’s northeastern port city of Dalian are testing millions of residents after seven new coronavirus cases were reported there in the last 24 hours.
The cluster that has emerged in recent days has grown to 12 cases. In five neighborhood divisions, authorities have shut schools and public spaces and are restricting anyone but essential workers from leaving their residential compounds.
Beijing is also on high alert after two asymptomatic cases were reported Thursday, in addition to two confirmed cases last week.
The city began mass testing in the neighborhood and workplace of one of the asymptomatic cases, a restaurant employee who worked handling cold chain.
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THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
- Coronavirus dampens Christmas joy in Bethlehem and elsewhere
- No Christmas Eve joy for truckers stuck in UK virus gridlock
- Africa CDC: New virus variant appears to emerge in Nigeria
- Nurses fear what’s to come: ‘Walk down our unit for a day’
- Politicians and vaccines: Set an example or cut in line?
- Studies find having COVID-19 may protect against reinfection
- Worried Morocco bans parties to stem holiday virus spread
- Russia’s Health Ministry has agreed to cut the size of a study of a domestically developed coronavirus vaccine and to stop the enrollment of volunteers.
- Santa’s ‘grandchildren’ spread joy in Italian nursing homes
- Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
SEOUL, South Korea - Christmas Day has brought South Korea its biggest daily increase in coronavirus infections of the pandemic as officials urged for citizen vigilance to help curb a viral surge that has worsened hospitalization and deaths.
The 1,241 new confirmed cases reported Friday raised the country’s total to 54,770. Officials said 17 more people had died from COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 773.
The country has been expanding its mass testing program to slow the rate of transmissions and more than 118,000 tests were conducted Thursday alone. Officials are also clamping down on private social gatherings through Jan. 3, shutting down national parks and ski resorts and setting fines for restaurants if they serve groups of five people or more.
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RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has used his Christmas message to cast more doubt on a coronavirus vaccine purchased by one of the country’s states from the Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac.
In his live broadcast on social media Thursday, Bolsonaro said “the efficacy of that vaccine of Sao Paulo seems to be very low,” though he gave nothing specific.
Sao Paulo health authorities have not presented complete trial results a week after announcing that there were encouraging phase three studies on the shot’s effectiveness.
Brazil so far has no agreements to import vaccine made by American companies Pfizer or Moderna, which have been approved by U.S. and other nations. It has a deal to secure up to 100 million doses of the potential vaccine produced by AstraZeneca.
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TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas is working through the details of exactly who will be eligible for coronavirus vaccines in exactly what order as it concentrates on giving shots mostly to health care workers this month.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly told leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature this week that the vaccines have gone mostly to health care workers, though that group also includes employees in state prisons. She said vaccines could go “almost exclusively” to health care workers into mid-January but also suggested some doses already have reached nursing homes.
Kelly told The Topeka Capital-Journal in an interview that prison inmates are to get vaccinated before the general public because they’re in “congregate” housing, but the state doesn’t expect vaccines to be available for some adults for at least several months.
The state’s vaccine plan made health care workers and nursing home workers and residents the first in line, followed by other “essential” workers and people 75 or older, particularly those at high risk of coronavirus complications.
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TRENTON, N.J. - United Airlines travelers to New Jersey’s Newark Liberty Airport from the United Kingdom will have to show a negative COVID-19 test beginning next week.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and United Airlines announced Thursday that the restriction goes into effect Monday. All United fliers with flights originating in the U.K. will have to present proof of a negative test obtained within 72 hours of departure.
The measure is being taken to curb the spread of a new strain of the coronavirus that has surfaced in the U.K.
The restriction doesn’t apply to travelers originating from outside the U.K. who connect to a Newark-bound flight in London.
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NEW YORK - The number of passengers screened for flights in the U.S. topped nearly 1.2 million Wednesday for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, but it’s still about 38.5% below the same Wednesday last year, by far the smallest percentage decline since March.
The Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday’s tally of 1.19 million was the most since mid-March.
It’s the third straight daily gain.
On the same weekday a year ago, 1.94 million passengers were screened. However, that was Christmas 2019 when travel was lighter than normal. On several days in early April after the pandemic broadsided the U.S. economy, fewer than 100,000 people were screened to board planes.
The bump comes as the CDC warns that holiday travel may increase one’s chances of getting and spreading the virus. It recommends staying home and postponing travel as the best way to protect oneself from COVID-19.
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JERUSALEM - The Israeli government says it will be imposing its third nationwide lockdown on Sunday to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet approved the movement restrictions for two weeks. It includes the shutdown of most non-essential businesses, limitations on gatherings and movement from people’s homes and reduced public transit. At the same time, classes for high school, kindergartens and some grade school students will continue.
Israel, a country of 9 million people, started rolling out coronavirus vaccinations this week and has already inoculated over 140,000 people, according to the health ministry. Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel aims to increase vaccinations to 100,000 people per day by next week.
Israel has recorded over 385,000 cases of the coronavirus since March, and 3,150 deaths. But the infection rate has shot up in recent weeks after the government started easing restrictions put in place in September.
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OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma health officials say they don’t plan to follow all of the newly released federal guidelines for vaccine distribution and will keep adults 65 and older in phase two of the state’s distribution protocol.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines over the weekend to prioritize those aged 75 and older and frontline essential workers in phase two. But Oklahoma Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye said in a statement late Wednesday that the state’s advisory committee decided it would be problematic to prioritize young and healthy workers ahead of Oklahomans in the 65-74 age group.
Along with adults 65 and older, the state also plans to prioritize adults of any age with comorbidities, including hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers or chronic lung, liver or renal diseases. The state estimates there are about 635,000 Oklahomans in these two categories.
Frye says health officials plan to closely monitor the state’s vaccine supply and could consider prioritizing those age 75 and older if supplies and provider access remains limited.
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PHOENIX - Arizona on Thursday reported over 100 additional coronavirus deaths for the sixth time in nine days as state public health officials urged caution to prevent the spread of the virus during the holidays.
The state reported 7,046 additional known COVID-19 cases and 115 deaths, increasing the state’s totals to 480,319 cases and 8,294 deaths.
Arizona had a record 4,221 people hospitalized for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the latest in series of pandemic records set this month. Only 8% of all hospital inpatient beds were available and not in use, including 7% of ICU beds.
Arizona had the third worst COVID-19 diagnosis rate among U.S. states over the past week, behind Tennessee and California. The diagnosis rate is calculated by dividing the total state population by the number of new cases over the past week.
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ISTANBUL - An infectious disease expert serving on Turkey’s medical board says an experimental vaccine developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac showed an efficacy rate of 91,25 percent based on early results of late-stage trials in the country.
CoronaVac is a so-called inactivated vaccine developed by Sinovac Biotech. Dr. Serhat Unal announced the initial results Thursday following randomized trials involving 7,371 volunteers and said the vaccine was safe.
Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said in the press conference the results were the first to be announced for CoronaVac. Sinovac had delayed announcement of results from late-stage trials to January.
Koca said the first shipment of three million doses of CoronaVac would be shipped to Turkey on Sunday and arrive Monday. He had initially announced the vaccines would arrive after Dec. 11 but said some permits caused the delay. Turkey has signed a deal for 50 million doses of the vaccine.
The health minister also said an agreement for Pfizer BioNTech’s vaccine was close. He said Turkey could get 4.5 million doses until the end of March and would have the option buy up to 30 million doses.
Turkey is among the worst-hit country’s in the world, with a seven-day average of about 23,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections daily.
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LOS ANGELES - California has become the first U.S. state to record 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases.
A tally by Johns Hopkins University on Thursday morning showed the nation’s most populous state has a total of 2,010,157 infections. There have been more than 23,000 deaths.
The grim milestone comes as the COVID-19 crisis that health officials say stems from Thanksgiving gatherings strains California’s medical system. More than 18,000 people are hospitalized and many of the state’s intensive care units are filled.
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MEXICO CITY - A Mexican nurse on Thursday became the first person in Latin America to receive a COVID-19 shot as part of an official vaccination campaign.
María Irene Ramírez, chief of intensive care nursing at the Ruben Lenero Hospital in Mexico City, received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in a ceremony broadcast live across the country.
Mexico received an initial batch of 3.000 doses of the vaccine on Wednesday even as other countries around the region prepared to start similar programs following approval of some vaccines following months of testing of several versions that involved tens of thousands of volunteers across the region.
Chile said it was receiving 10,000 doses on Thursday and Argentina, which has run into problems obtaining the Pfizer vaccine, received a flight carrying 300,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, though it cannot yet be given to people older than 60 due to a lack of testing data.
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BERLIN - Christmas Eve in Germany is shaping up as an all-too-silent night as COVID-19 cases hovered near record highs, police threatened fines for violating restrictions on gatherings and people lined up outside a shuttered nightclub to get tested for the coronavirus.
A few people were out on Thursday for last-minute shopping, but streets in Berlin were emptier than usual on a day when most shops close early for the country’s biggest family holiday. Berlin’s Kitkat Club nightclub may be closed because of the nationwide lockdown, but a few people lined up outside its doors for a virus test.
Medical association president Klaus Reinhardt cautioned that testing can miss new infections with deadly results for others and warned against “a false sense of security,” the dpa news agency reported. Police in the southern Bavaria region, which has been hard hit by the winter upsurge in infections and deaths, warned of 500 euro ($610) fines for violating a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.
Germany’s national disease control center on Thursday reported 32,195 new cases and 802 deaths, just below the peak of 33,777 cases from Dec. 18 and 962 deaths from Wednesday. The high level of infections comes ahead of the expected start of vaccinations on Sunday.
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JAKARTA, Indonesia - Christmas celebrations in Indonesia will be a low-key affair amid surging coronavirus cases in the world’s fourth most populous nation.
Earlier this month, the Indonesian government imposed a ban a large gatherings during Christmas and New Year’s eve. Churches are limited to only 50 worshippers.
Most major churches across the mostly Muslim country of 270 million obeyed the restriction on Thursday. About 10% of the population are Christians.
Church Unity General-Secretary Prist Jacklevyn Frits Manuputy said many churches in the capital Jakarta, and other cities have set up online services, as well as midnight masses. “We did all we can do to keep people connected with God during this Christmas eve,” he said.
Indonesia has reported nearly 700,000 COVID-19 cases, the largest caseload in Southeast Asia and second in Asia only to India’s 10.1 million confirmed cases. It has recorded more than 20,000 deaths.