newsweek--2020-11-21--China Accuses U.S. and Allies of 'Racial Superiority Complex' after Hong Kong Criticism

The Chinese Embassy in the United States has defended a law disqualifying four elected pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong and accused five western countries of having a `` racial superiority complex . ''
A spokesperson for the embassy issued a statement on Saturday criticizing the Five Eyes intelligence sharing group , which consists of the U.S. , UK , Australia , New Zealand and Canada , after the countries called on China to reinstate the lawmakers .
`` Their statement has openly breached international law and basic norms governing international relations and grossly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is strongly concerned about and firmly opposed to it , '' the Chinese embassy said .
The embassy 's statement argued the decision was in accordance with China 's constitution and Hong Kong 's basic law .
They said it was `` a necessary move to uphold and safeguard the principle of 'One Country Two Systems ' as well as rule of law and the constitutional order of Hong Kong SAR [ Special Administrative Region ] .
`` It is fully legitimate , justified and in strict keeping with the Constitution and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uphold their country 's constitutional laws and honor the pledge of allegiance to their country . ''
The law disqualifies anyone from serving on the legislative council who supports independence for Hong Kong , does n't recognize Beijing 's sovereignty over the region , seeks help from foreign powers or engages in `` other acts that endanger national security , '' according to The Guardian .
The Chinese embassy 's statement went on to criticize the Five Eyes nations in stark terms , accusing the mostly western nations of having ulterior and potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart is blind , you do not expect his/her eyes to be bright , '' the statement said .
`` The Five Eyes Alliance countries , including the United States , should reflect on the racial superiority complex deep in their hearts , give up their pride and prejudice inherited from Hong Kong 's colonial rule and shed their illusion of using Hong Kong to contain China 's development and prosperity .
`` We urge them to drop their hypocrisy and double standards , stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their own governance issues that urgently need addressing .
In today 's world , no attempt to pressurize China or damage China 's sovereignty , security and development interests will ever prevail . ''
`` We urge the Chinese central authorities to re-consider their actions against Hong Kong 's elected legislature and immediately reinstate the Legislative Council members , '' foreign ministers from the five countries said in a statement on Thursday .
`` China 's action is a clear breach of its international obligations under the legally binding , UN-registered Sino-British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chinese embassy in the U.S. rejected this claim , saying the the Sino-British Joint Declaration was not the legal basis for China 's administration in Hong Kong .
`` The Joint Declaration has never conferred any power on the United Kingdom or any other country to assume any responsibility over Hong Kong after its return .
There is no legal basis or position for the Five Eyes Alliance to point fingers about Hong Kong affairs , '' the embassy said .

The Chinese Embassy in the United States has defended a law disqualifying four elected pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong and accused five western countries of having a "racial superiority complex."
A spokesperson for the embassy issued a statement on Saturday criticizing the Five Eyes intelligence sharing group, which consists of the U.S., UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, after the countries called on China to reinstate the lawmakers.
"Their statement has openly breached international law and basic norms governing international relations and grossly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. The Chinese side is strongly concerned about and firmly opposed to it," the Chinese embassy said.
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The embassy's statement argued the decision was in accordance with China's constitution and Hong Kong's basic law.
They said it was "a necessary move to uphold and safeguard the principle of 'One Country Two Systems' as well as rule of law and the constitutional order of Hong Kong SAR [Special Administrative Region].
"It is fully legitimate, justified and in strict keeping with the Constitution and other laws. People in public office must uphold their country's constitutional laws and honor the pledge of allegiance to their country."
The law disqualifies anyone from serving on the legislative council who supports independence for Hong Kong, doesn't recognize Beijing's sovereignty over the region, seeks help from foreign powers or engages in "other acts that endanger national security," according to The Guardian.
The Chinese embassy's statement went on to criticize the Five Eyes nations in stark terms, accusing the mostly western nations of having ulterior and potentially imperialist motives.
"If one's heart is blind, you do not expect his/her eyes to be bright," the statement said. "The Five Eyes Alliance countries, including the United States, should reflect on the racial superiority complex deep in their hearts, give up their pride and prejudice inherited from Hong Kong's colonial rule and shed their illusion of using Hong Kong to contain China's development and prosperity.
"We urge them to drop their hypocrisy and double standards, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, and turn their eyes to their own governance issues that urgently need addressing. In today's world, no attempt to pressurize China or damage China's sovereignty, security and development interests will ever prevail."
"We urge the Chinese central authorities to re-consider their actions against Hong Kong's elected legislature and immediately reinstate the Legislative Council members," foreign ministers from the five countries said in a statement on Thursday.
"China's action is a clear breach of its international obligations under the legally binding, UN-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration," they said.
The Chinese embassy in the U.S. rejected this claim, saying the the Sino-British Joint Declaration was not the legal basis for China's administration in Hong Kong.
"The Joint Declaration has never conferred any power on the United Kingdom or any other country to assume any responsibility over Hong Kong after its return. There is no legal basis or position for the Five Eyes Alliance to point fingers about Hong Kong affairs," the embassy said.


newsweek--2020-11-21--Calif. Gov. Newsom's Child Quarantined After Returning to Private School

One of the children of California governor Gavin Newsom has gone into quarantine for 14 days after a school classmate tested positive for the coronavirus .
Without naming either the school or which of Newsom 's children it was due to privacy reasons , Politico reported that the child had been exposed at the private school they had attended and been tested twice , five and seven days past their last contact with the COVID-positive student .
`` After being alerted by the school that a classmate tested positive for COVID-19 , the potentially exposed Newsom child began a 14-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accordance with state public health guidance for schools , '' Newsom 's spokesperson Nathan Click said in a statement .
Newsom has four children aged between four and 11 , and his whole family has tested negative for the disease .
As state health guidelines only require the quarantine of the person directly exposed to an infected person , the rest of the governor 's family is not quarantining .
`` The family has taken the potential exposure seriously and is following all state protocols , '' Click said .
Politico reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposed to COVID would move to remote learning after Thanksgiving through to mid-December , due to the increased risks posed by holiday activities .
Newsom is likely to face scrutiny from teachers unions who have urged him to close all campuses due to a spike in cases .
Last month , he said that his children had returned to in-person learning at their private school in Sacramento .
But he has faced criticism for allowing private schools to reopen while most of the state 's public schoolchildren remain at home to do distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) described how low income families have had to stay at home , while children from more affluent families could go to school for lessons as `` state-sanctioned segregation '' Meanwhile , Newsom was came under fire for attending a dinner with a dozen other people from different households at the French Laundry restaurant in Napa County , in contradiction to state guidelines forbidding gatherings of more than three households .
Accused of hypocrisy for attending the event after urging Californians to avoid traveling for Thanksgiving and limiting their socializing , Newsom apologized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement : `` We should have modeled better behavior and not joined the dinner . ''
The disease is spreading at a rapid rate in California and this week Newsom moved Napa and 40 other counties into the most restrictive coronavirus purple tier .
The graphic below by Statista shows the number of coronavirus cases in the U.S .

One of the children of California governor Gavin Newsom has gone into quarantine for 14 days after a school classmate tested positive for the coronavirus.
Without naming either the school or which of Newsom's children it was due to privacy reasons, Politico reported that the child had been exposed at the private school they had attended and been tested twice, five and seven days past their last contact with the COVID-positive student.
"After being alerted by the school that a classmate tested positive for COVID-19, the potentially exposed Newsom child began a 14-day quarantine from the date of exposure in accordance with state public health guidance for schools," Newsom's spokesperson Nathan Click said in a statement.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom pictured on January 16, in Oakland, California. One of his children has been quarantined due to possible exposure to the coronavirus. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Newsom has four children aged between four and 11, and his whole family has tested negative for the disease. As state health guidelines only require the quarantine of the person directly exposed to an infected person, the rest of the governor's family is not quarantining.
"The family has taken the potential exposure seriously and is following all state protocols," Click said.
Politico reported that the school where Newsom's child was exposed to COVID would move to remote learning after Thanksgiving through to mid-December, due to the increased risks posed by holiday activities.
Newsom is likely to face scrutiny from teachers unions who have urged him to close all campuses due to a spike in cases.
Last month, he said that his children had returned to in-person learning at their private school in Sacramento. But he has faced criticism for allowing private schools to reopen while most of the state's public schoolchildren remain at home to do distance learning .
Patrick O'Donnell (D-Long Beach) described how low income families have had to stay at home, while children from more affluent families could go to school for lessons as "state-sanctioned segregation"
Meanwhile, Newsom was came under fire for attending a dinner with a dozen other people from different households at the French Laundry restaurant in Napa County, in contradiction to state guidelines forbidding gatherings of more than three households.
Accused of hypocrisy for attending the event after urging Californians to avoid traveling for Thanksgiving and limiting their socializing, Newsom apologized for the incident, saying in a statement: "We should have modeled better behavior and not joined the dinner."
The disease is spreading at a rapid rate in California and this week Newsom moved Napa and 40 other counties into the most restrictive coronavirus purple tier.
The graphic below by Statista shows the number of coronavirus cases in the U.S.


newsweek--2020-11-21--'My Family Runs a Sex Toy Company'

'My Family Runs a Sex Toy Company'

My dad has worked in the sex industry for more than 20 years , but he always tried to keep family and business separate when we were growing up , so I did n't know too much about it .
I was n't really aware my dad even worked within that industry until I was around 15 .
When I did find out , I was a little shocked at first .
But my father was very open about it .
We 're a very open , close knit family who communicate well , so it was never a taboo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it very often when my sister and I were teenagers , when he did it was always with truth and openness .
That 's the relationship I have with my parents .
We did n't have a huge number of discussions around sex when I was growing up , but when we did have them they felt pretty open .
I felt comfortable sharing , perhaps not the details of my experiences , but discussing sex with my parents and asking for advice .
Up until around 2008 , my dad had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but as the internet became more significant the industry started to shift away from adult DVDs .
So , in 2015 my father launched a sex toy company , Femme Funn .
He created a fully silicone bullet vibrator which was something that had n't been available in the market previously .
It was a product he came up with after speaking with people from different backgrounds , genders and sexualities .
Around that time I had gone to study marketing and on one of my vacations home to California , my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Funn .
My dad had this amazing product that he 'd put so much effort into , but at that stage it was really just a product .
I 'd just taken a digital marketing class that had blown my mind , so I asked him to let me take a crack at creating our brand .
We have my dad as our CEO , I 'm head of marketing and my sister is head of production .
My mom does n't work within the business , but she 's supportive and my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is aware but obviously not involved .
But because we 're a family business our roles are never limited to our job titles .
We 'll also sit together to discuss designing products and look at how we can improve sales .
Although our first bullet vibrator is by far our most popular product , we have created many others by listening to feedback from women saying to us that many of the vibrators out there did n't meet specific needs .
When I first joined the team I wanted to create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused , approach to our sex toy company .
I 'm always educating myself , reading up on different blogs and looking to female leaders in the industry , whether that 's a sexologist , a sex therapist or women who are publicly speaking their minds around sex .
I look to our own community of more than 17,000 followers on Instagram—we have created a really engaged , organic community and we create polls and questionnaires , engaging people in educational content that we have created or drawn from other sources .
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideas are very much in line .
She 'll send me a suggestion of a woman in the sexual wellness industry , like a sexologist , and suggest we work with her .
And I 'll tell her that we 've already contacted that person .
My sister and I have the same level of openness with one another .
She is always coming up with ideas for products and social media .
I think it 's refreshing .
She is perhaps slightly less open with my dad as she 's his only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it was created with love , respect and openness .
There 's no taboo there .
I do n't know how many people in the general public know that we 're a family run company .
I guess they may find it interesting or shocking , but it depends on who you are as a person and how you view these things .
I ca n't really speak for the public but those who know us , know the dynamic of our family .
The people I engage with who find out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Generally they find it fun and interesting and they feel they can connect and be part of that experience .
Mainly people ask what it 's like working with my family running a sex toy company and if it 's ever awkward and weird , and I usually answer that it is n't .
A lot of my friends have asked if they can have products , or they are interested in finding out more and I love that .
I love that they feel comfortable enough asking me and that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good for them .
I think our goal really is to have as many people as possible feeling comfortable with themselves , exploring their sexuality and reaching levels of pleasure they had n't had before .
My biggest point of growth sexually would be learning to treat my female counterpart in the best way I can—absolutely putting the woman first .
But I 've always been pretty connected with my female partners and my own femininity , I have a mom who is super supportive and always made sure that I was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always had really close girlfriends , too .
I believe that connection with my partners has happened through creating a safe space to discuss what feels good and what does n't and finding out what my partner likes .
Each individual has things they need to experience pleasure or to orgasm .
My job now has given me a desire to always get there , to close the orgasm gap between men and women as much as possible .
Working with family could be risky because , of course , work is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's more tension and stress and things could easily get ugly .
I think people would be surprised to learn , for a family running a sex toy company together , how little taboo there is .
We are completely open .
Edan Raccah is head of marketing at Femme Funn .
Launched in 2015 by his father , Abe Raccah , Femme Funn is a family run sex toy company that now offers more than twenty unique sex toys .
Find out more at FemmeFunn.com or follow on Instagram @ FemmeFunn .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the writer 's own .

My dad has worked in the sex industry for more than 20 years, but he always tried to keep family and business separate when we were growing up, so I didn't know too much about it. I wasn't really aware my dad even worked within that industry until I was around 15.
When I did find out, I was a little shocked at first. But my father was very open about it. We're a very open, close knit family who communicate well, so it was never a taboo topic. Though he didn't talk about it very often when my sister and I were teenagers, when he did it was always with truth and openness. That's the relationship I have with my parents.
We didn't have a huge number of discussions around sex when I was growing up, but when we did have them they felt pretty open. I felt comfortable sharing, perhaps not the details of my experiences, but discussing sex with my parents and asking for advice.
Up until around 2008, my dad had worked in distribution within the adult industry, but as the internet became more significant the industry started to shift away from adult DVDs. So, in 2015 my father launched a sex toy company, Femme Funn. He created a fully silicone bullet vibrator which was something that hadn't been available in the market previously. It was a product he came up with after speaking with people from different backgrounds, genders and sexualities.
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Around that time I had gone to study marketing and on one of my vacations home to California, my dad mentioned he wanted to develop Femme Funn. My dad had this amazing product that he'd put so much effort into, but at that stage it was really just a product.
I'd just taken a digital marketing class that had blown my mind, so I asked him to let me take a crack at creating our brand.
We have my dad as our CEO, I'm head of marketing and my sister is head of production. My mom doesn't work within the business, but she's supportive and my younger brother is 14, so he is aware but obviously not involved.
But because we're a family business our roles are never limited to our job titles. We'll also sit together to discuss designing products and look at how we can improve sales. Although our first bullet vibrator is by far our most popular product, we have created many others by listening to feedback from women saying to us that many of the vibrators out there didn't meet specific needs.
When I first joined the team I wanted to create a really inclusive, although female driven and focused, approach to our sex toy company. I'm always educating myself, reading up on different blogs and looking to female leaders in the industry, whether that's a sexologist, a sex therapist or women who are publicly speaking their minds around sex. I look to our own community of more than 17,000 followers on Instagram—we have created a really engaged, organic community and we create polls and questionnaires, engaging people in educational content that we have created or drawn from other sources.
Getty/iStock
My sister gives me constant feedback and our ideas are very much in line. She'll send me a suggestion of a woman in the sexual wellness industry, like a sexologist, and suggest we work with her. And I'll tell her that we've already contacted that person. My sister and I have the same level of openness with one another. She is always coming up with ideas for products and social media. I think it's refreshing. She is perhaps slightly less open with my dad as she's his only daughter—they have created a healthy boundary. But it was created with love, respect and openness. There's no taboo there.
I don't know how many people in the general public know that we're a family run company. I guess they may find it interesting or shocking, but it depends on who you are as a person and how you view these things. I can't really speak for the public but those who know us, know the dynamic of our family. The people I engage with who find out are always interested in finding out more.
Generally they find it fun and interesting and they feel they can connect and be part of that experience. Mainly people ask what it's like working with my family running a sex toy company and if it's ever awkward and weird, and I usually answer that it isn't. A lot of my friends have asked if they can have products, or they are interested in finding out more and I love that.
The first bullet vibrator Edan Raccah's father worked on, the Ultra Bullet. The product was key to the launch of the family-run brand, Femme Funn, in 2015. Courtesy of Femme Funn
I love that they feel comfortable enough asking me and that they are exploring their sexuality and what feels good for them. I think our goal really is to have as many people as possible feeling comfortable with themselves, exploring their sexuality and reaching levels of pleasure they hadn't had before.
My biggest point of growth sexually would be learning to treat my female counterpart in the best way I can—absolutely putting the woman first. But I've always been pretty connected with my female partners and my own femininity, I have a mom who is super supportive and always made sure that I wasn't hyper masculine. And, I've always had really close girlfriends, too.
I believe that connection with my partners has happened through creating a safe space to discuss what feels good and what doesn't and finding out what my partner likes. Each individual has things they need to experience pleasure or to orgasm. My job now has given me a desire to always get there, to close the orgasm gap between men and women as much as possible.
Working with family could be risky because, of course, work is a different atmosphere to the home. There's more tension and stress and things could easily get ugly. I think people would be surprised to learn, for a family running a sex toy company together, how little taboo there is. We are completely open.
Edan Raccah is head of marketing at Femme Funn. Launched in 2015 by his father, Abe Raccah, Femme Funn is a family run sex toy company that now offers more than twenty unique sex toys. Find out more at FemmeFunn.com or follow on Instagram @FemmeFunn.
All views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
As told to Jenny Haward.


newsweek--2020-11-21--Joe Biden Tells Nancy Pelosi White House is 'Mi Casa, You Casa'

Former Vice President Joe Biden has told Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi that she 'll be welcome in the White House when he assumes office early next year .
Biden and his running mate , Senator Kamala Harris , met with Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday .
Biden made some brief remarks in front of the cameras before the in-person meeting with the Democratic leadership about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic at his transition headquarters in Wilmington , Delaware .
`` In my Oval Office , mi casa , you casa [ sic ] , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 'm going to need you .
I hope we 're going to spend a lot of time together . ''
All the participants in the meeting were also wearing masks and were socially distancing at separate tables .
Cameras captured only some short footage before Biden and Harris held a private meeting with Pelosi and Schumer .
The Biden-Harris transition team later released a joint readout of the meeting that did n't contain many details of the conversation .
The readout released to the press said the four Democrats `` discussed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the corresponding economic strain that communities , working families , and small businesses are experiencing across the country .
`` They agreed that Congress needed to pass a bipartisan emergency aid package in the lame duck session , and that package should include resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic , relief for working families and small businesses , support for state and local governments trying to keep frontline workers on the payroll , expanded unemployment insurance , and affordable health care for millions of families . ''
Biden also brought up his agenda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a period which is often viewed as emblematic of the next four years of a new administration .
He said his aims would include `` taking aggressive action to contain COVID-19 , providing resources to small businesses , families , schools , and state and local governments to power our economic recovery , and investing in the middle class to build back better . ''
Pelosi will almost certainly be re-elected as Speaker after Democrats retained control of the House of Representatives .
However , she will lead a reduced majority after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely predicted to increase their seats in the House and possibly take the Senate .
The balance of power in the Senate now hinges on two run-off elections in Georgia on January 5 .
If the Democratic candidates can win both , it will tip control to them and would be a major victory for an incoming Biden administration .

Former Vice President Joe Biden has told Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi that she'll be welcome in the White House when he assumes office early next year. Biden and his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, met with Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday.
Biden made some brief remarks in front of the cameras before the in-person meeting with the Democratic leadership about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.
"In my Oval Office, mi casa, you casa [sic]," Biden said, wearing a mask. "I'm going to need you. I hope we're going to spend a lot of time together."
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All the participants in the meeting were also wearing masks and were socially distancing at separate tables.
Cameras captured only some short footage before Biden and Harris held a private meeting with Pelosi and Schumer.
The Biden-Harris transition team later released a joint readout of the meeting that didn't contain many details of the conversation.
The readout released to the press said the four Democrats "discussed the surges in COVID-19 infection rates and the corresponding economic strain that communities, working families, and small businesses are experiencing across the country.
President-elect Joe Biden to Speaker Pelosi: "In my Oval Office, mi casa, you casa. I'm going to need you. I hope we're going to spend a lot of time together." pic.twitter.com/GnR3suaqJL — The Hill (@thehill) November 21, 2020
"They agreed that Congress needed to pass a bipartisan emergency aid package in the lame duck session, and that package should include resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, relief for working families and small businesses, support for state and local governments trying to keep frontline workers on the payroll, expanded unemployment insurance, and affordable health care for millions of families."
Biden also brought up his agenda for his first 100 days in office, a period which is often viewed as emblematic of the next four years of a new administration. He said his aims would include "taking aggressive action to contain COVID-19, providing resources to small businesses, families, schools, and state and local governments to power our economic recovery, and investing in the middle class to build back better."
Pelosi will almost certainly be re-elected as Speaker after Democrats retained control of the House of Representatives. However, she will lead a reduced majority after disappointing election results.
Democrats had been widely predicted to increase their seats in the House and possibly take the Senate. The balance of power in the Senate now hinges on two run-off elections in Georgia on January 5. If the Democratic candidates can win both, it will tip control to them and would be a major victory for an incoming Biden administration.


newsweek--2020-11-21--Mega Millions Results, Numbers for 11/20/20: Did Anyone Win the $188 Million?

The Mega Millions jackpot on Friday was estimated to be $ 188 million , with a cash value of $ 146.1 million .
Here is a breakdown of the winners of last night 's draw .
The winning numbers were 26,33 , 45 , 61 and 68 with the Mega Ball 17 and the Megaplier 3x , according to the Mega Millions website .
Nobody purchased a ticket that successfully matched all white numbers and the gold Mega Ball , meaning that the jackpot will roll over to the next drawing on Tuesday .
Also no ticket matched five numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million on offer .
However , there were 10 winners of the $ 10,000 prize after they correctly chose four of the white balls and the gold Mega Ball .
Seven of those winners tripled their winnings to $ 20,000 because they also purchased the additional 3x Megaplier .
Some 302 players won $ 500 by matching four numbers and , of those winners , 59 won $ 1,500 using the Megaplier .
Additionally , 763 people won $ 200 by matching three numbers and the Mega Ball , and 137 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using the Megaplier .
In total , around 494,000 tickets won at least $ 2 last night .
The lack of a winner of the big prize means that the jackpot has rolled over to $ 200 million for Tuesday 's drawing , with a cash prize of $ 155.5 million .
There have been some big winners this year .
A ticket sold in Wisconsin on 09/15/20 won a jackpot worth $ 119 million which was only the fifth Mega Millions jackpot won in the 2020 calendar year .
Other winners over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million ticket sold in Ohio and a $ 227 million ticket that was sold on 09/24/19 in the city of Cedar Park , Texas .
One of the most popular multi-states lotteries in the country , Mega Millions first launched on August 31 , 1996 as `` The Big Game . ''
Tickets are sold in 45 states , as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands .
The five states not to sell lottery tickets are Alabama , Alaska , Hawaii , Nevada , and Utah .
Drawings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WSB-TV in Atlanta by host John Crow .
Five white balls are drawn from a set of balls numbered 1 through 70 , with one gold Mega Ball drawn from a set of balls numbered 1 through 25 .
With nine different ways to win a prize , your chances of winning at least $ 2 are 1 in 24 , according to the Mega Millions website .
If you are a lucky winner , you will have between 90 days and one year to redeem your ticket , depending on local rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entitled to either a cash option or an annuity option of an initial payout followed by 29 annual payments that are each five percent larger than the previous ones .
All prizes are subject to income taxes .

The Mega Millions jackpot on Friday was estimated to be $188 million, with a cash value of $146.1 million. Here is a breakdown of the winners of last night's draw.
The winning numbers were 26,33, 45, 61 and 68 with the Mega Ball 17 and the Megaplier 3x, according to the Mega Millions website.
Nobody purchased a ticket that successfully matched all white numbers and the gold Mega Ball, meaning that the jackpot will roll over to the next drawing on Tuesday.
Also no ticket matched five numbers for the second biggest prize of $1 million on offer. However, there were 10 winners of the $10,000 prize after they correctly chose four of the white balls and the gold Mega Ball. Seven of those winners tripled their winnings to $20,000 because they also purchased the additional 3x Megaplier.
Advertisements for the Mega Millions and Powerball lottery are show in New York City in this image from October 2018. A jackpot of $188 million was up for grabs in the drawing on November 20. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Some 302 players won $500 by matching four numbers and, of those winners, 59 won $1,500 using the Megaplier. Additionally, 763 people won $200 by matching three numbers and the Mega Ball, and 137 of them tripled their prize to $600 using the Megaplier. In total, around 494,000 tickets won at least $2 last night.
The lack of a winner of the big prize means that the jackpot has rolled over to $200 million for Tuesday's drawing, with a cash prize of $155.5 million.
There have been some big winners this year. A ticket sold in Wisconsin on 09/15/20 won a jackpot worth $119 million which was only the fifth Mega Millions jackpot won in the 2020 calendar year. Other winners over the last year included a $372 million ticket sold in Ohio and a $227 million ticket that was sold on 09/24/19 in the city of Cedar Park, Texas.
How does Mega Millions work?
One of the most popular multi-states lotteries in the country, Mega Millions first launched on August 31, 1996 as "The Big Game." Tickets are sold in 45 states, as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The five states not to sell lottery tickets are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at WSB-TV in Atlanta by host John Crow.
Five white balls are drawn from a set of balls numbered 1 through 70, with one gold Mega Ball drawn from a set of balls numbered 1 through 25. With nine different ways to win a prize, your chances of winning at least $2 are 1 in 24, according to the Mega Millions website.
If you are a lucky winner, you will have between 90 days and one year to redeem your ticket, depending on local rules and regulations. All jackpot winners are entitled to either a cash option or an annuity option of an initial payout followed by 29 annual payments that are each five percent larger than the previous ones. All prizes are subject to income taxes.


newsweek--2020-11-21--Ex-Corrections Officer Gets 5 Years in Prison for Repeatedly Tasing Restrained Detainee

Mark Bryant , a former corrections officer who worked in a Tennessee jail has been sentenced to five years in prison for using excessive force while acting under color of law .
Bryant had repeatedly used a stun gun on a restrained 18-year-old detainee named Jordan Norris back on November 5 , 2016 .
Bryant had used the stun gun on Norris four times for a total duration of 50 seconds , leaving his skin burned and looking like `` raw hamburger meat , '' according to one corrections officer .
Afterward , Bryant directed officers not to report the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the incident and later gave false information about it to the FBI , according to The Tennessean .
When the incident occurred , Bryant worked as a former Cheatham County Sheriff 's deputy .
Norris had been arrested for drug possession , possession of a handgun and driving while under the influence which all violated conditions of his probation for incidents that occurred in January and February of 2016 .
During his detainment , Norris said he experienced a mental health episode that , according to police , caused him to become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrained him to a chair with leather restraints binding his wrists , ankles and waist .
Norris struggled as officers also placed a spit hood over his head .
Video of the incident shows Bryant repeatedly using his stun gun on Norris and at one point telling him , `` I 'll keep on doing it until I run out of batteries . ''
Officers are trained to use stun guns no more than three times for five seconds at a time , according to The Tennessean , though at the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the duration of taser use , Bryant 's lawyer claimed .
`` The extraordinary abuse of power displayed by Bryant was both disturbing and disappointing to the many fine men and women in law enforcement who strive every day to carry out their duties with honor and professionalism , '' U.S. Attorney Donald Q. Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee said in a statement .
`` The sentencing of former Corrections Officer Mark Bryant sends a strong message that law enforcement officers or any other government employees who abuse their authority and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prosecuted , '' Douglas Korneski , Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the FBI , said .
`` Our citizens have a fundamental and constitutional right to ethical treatment by employees of federal , state , and local government . ''
Norris died at the age of 19 in March 2019 .
He reached a civil settlement with the police department , but Bryant still faced criminal charges afterwards .

Mark Bryant, a former corrections officer who worked in a Tennessee jail has been sentenced to five years in prison for using excessive force while acting under color of law. Bryant had repeatedly used a stun gun on a restrained 18-year-old detainee named Jordan Norris back on November 5, 2016.
Bryant had used the stun gun on Norris four times for a total duration of 50 seconds, leaving his skin burned and looking like "raw hamburger meat," according to one corrections officer.
Afterward, Bryant directed officers not to report the incident. Bryant reportedly filed misleading reports about the incident and later gave false information about it to the FBI, according to The Tennessean.
A former corrections officer who repeatedly used a stun gun on a restrained detainee has been sentenced to five years in prison. In this June 12, 2020, a policeman wears a taser. Clement Mahoudeau/Getty
When the incident occurred, Bryant worked as a former Cheatham County Sheriff's deputy. Norris had been arrested for drug possession, possession of a handgun and driving while under the influence which all violated conditions of his probation for incidents that occurred in January and February of 2016.
During his detainment, Norris said he experienced a mental health episode that, according to police, caused him to become combative. Three officers handcuffed Norris and restrained him to a chair with leather restraints binding his wrists, ankles and waist. Norris struggled as officers also placed a spit hood over his head.
Video of the incident shows Bryant repeatedly using his stun gun on Norris and at one point telling him, "I'll keep on doing it until I run out of batteries."
Officers are trained to use stun guns no more than three times for five seconds at a time, according to The Tennessean, though at the time, officers had no official written policy on the duration of taser use, Bryant's lawyer claimed.
"The extraordinary abuse of power displayed by Bryant was both disturbing and disappointing to the many fine men and women in law enforcement who strive every day to carry out their duties with honor and professionalism," U.S. Attorney Donald Q. Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee said in a statement.
"The sentencing of former Corrections Officer Mark Bryant sends a strong message that law enforcement officers or any other government employees who abuse their authority and use unlawful force will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted," Douglas Korneski, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the FBI, said. "Our citizens have a fundamental and constitutional right to ethical treatment by employees of federal, state, and local government."
Norris died at the age of 19 in March 2019. He reached a civil settlement with the police department, but Bryant still faced criminal charges afterwards.
Newsweek contacted the Cheatham County Sheriff's Department for comment.


newsweek--2020-11-21--Tucker Carlson Advertiser Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, Helps Bail Out Kyle Rittenhouse

Kyle Rittenhouse , who was arrested after allegedly shooting two people during an August demonstration in Kenosha , Wisconsin , posted $ 2 million in bail on Friday with the help of MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell .
Rittenhouse was charged with first-degree intentional homicide , attempted homicide , reckless homicide , recklessly endangering safety and illegal possession of a firearm in connection with the shootings .
Rittenhouse 's attorney Lin Wood has said that Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense .
In August , Wood created a foundation designed to take donations for Rittenhouse 's defense .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail and name-checked Lindell as one of those who made a contribution .
`` KYLE RITTENHOUSE IS OUT OF JAIL , '' tweeted Wood on Friday .
`` God bless ALL who donated to help # FightBack raise required $ 2M cash bail .
Special thanks to Actor Ricky Schroder @ rickyshroder1 & Mike Lindell @ realMikeLindell for putting us over the top . ''
`` Kyle is SAFE , '' Wood continued .
`` Thanks to ALL who helped this boy . ''
Newsweek reached out to Lindell for comment .
Rittenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives after the shooting who believed the teenager to be a patriot who acted in self-defense .
Lindell , perhaps best known for his seemingly ubiquitous television advertisements , is a Republican who served as the Chairman for Trump 's re-election campaign in Minnesota .
In March , Lindell appeared at a press briefing at the White House alongside Trump .
`` Our president gave us so much hope , where , just a few short months ago , we had the best economy , the lowest unemployment and wages going up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing . ''
Trump told a September campaign rally in Minnesota that Lindell should run for governor .
Lindell was in attendance at the event .
`` He has my complete and total endorsement , '' Trump said .
`` You should run .
You 'd be a hell of a governor . ''
In October , Lindell said he would run for Governor of Minnesota if it voted Republican in the November elections .
The Associated Press projected a Minnesota win for Democratic President-elect Joe Biden after the elections .
After Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the Black Lives Matter movement in June , many of Carlson 's advertisers stopped sponsoring his program .
Lindell , however , continued to run MyPillow commercials on Carlson 's show .
According to the television tracking firm iSpot , 37.8 percent of the advertising shown on Carlson 's program between January 1 and June 30 , 2020 were MyPillow ads .
`` I feel blessed to be able to advertise on all of the major networks and national cable stations , including on Tucker Carlson Tonight , '' Lindell told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertise MyPillow to help people across the country .
I support my business , our customers and my employees . ''
Lindell has not exhibited the same attitude towards CNN .
In September , Lindell appeared in an interview with Anderson Cooper regarding a COVID-19 treatment called Oleandrin .
Lindell said he had been taking Oleandrin for months and that it had helped protect him from the coronavirus .
Cooper alleged that Oleandrin had no merit as a therapeutic and compared Lindell to a `` snake oil salesman . ''
After hiring Wood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper issue an apology for the segment .
`` Cooper 's interview of my client is the most outrageously unprofessional 'hit piece ' interview I have ever viewed , '' Wood wrote in a September letter to CNN Executive President and General Counsel David Vigilante .

Kyle Rittenhouse, who was arrested after allegedly shooting two people during an August demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin, posted $2 million in bail on Friday with the help of MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell.
Rittenhouse was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted homicide, reckless homicide, recklessly endangering safety and illegal possession of a firearm in connection with the shootings. Rittenhouse's attorney Lin Wood has said that Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense. In August, Wood created a foundation designed to take donations for Rittenhouse's defense. On Friday, Wood announced Rittenhouse's release from jail and name-checked Lindell as one of those who made a contribution.
"KYLE RITTENHOUSE IS OUT OF JAIL," tweeted Wood on Friday. "God bless ALL who donated to help #FightBack raise required $2M cash bail. Special thanks to Actor Ricky Schroder @rickyshroder1 & Mike Lindell @realMikeLindell for putting us over the top."
"Kyle is SAFE," Wood continued. "Thanks to ALL who helped this boy."
KYLE RITTENHOUSE IS OUT OF JAIL.
God bless ALL who donated to help #FightBack raise required $2M cash bail.
Special thanks to Actor Ricky Schroder @rickyshroder1 & Mike Lindell @realMikeLindell for putting us over the top.
Kyle is SAFE.
Thanks to ALL who helped this boy. — Lin Wood (@LLinWood) November 20, 2020
Newsweek reached out to Lindell for comment.
Rittenhouse had become a cause celebre for some conservatives after the shooting who believed the teenager to be a patriot who acted in self-defense.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell kept running advertisements on Tucker Carlson's Fox News program after other companies pulled their sponsorship in June. Stephen Maturen/Getty
Lindell, perhaps best known for his seemingly ubiquitous television advertisements, is a Republican who served as the Chairman for Trump's re-election campaign in Minnesota. In March, Lindell appeared at a press briefing at the White House alongside Trump.
"Our president gave us so much hope, where, just a few short months ago, we had the best economy, the lowest unemployment and wages going up," Lindell said. "It was amazing."
Trump told a September campaign rally in Minnesota that Lindell should run for governor. Lindell was in attendance at the event.
"He has my complete and total endorsement," Trump said. "You should run. You'd be a hell of a governor."
In October, Lindell said he would run for Governor of Minnesota if it voted Republican in the November elections. The Associated Press projected a Minnesota win for Democratic President-elect Joe Biden after the elections.
After Fox News host Tucker Carlson made controversial remarks about the Black Lives Matter movement in June, many of Carlson's advertisers stopped sponsoring his program. Lindell, however, continued to run MyPillow commercials on Carlson's show. According to the television tracking firm iSpot, 37.8 percent of the advertising shown on Carlson's program between January 1 and June 30, 2020 were MyPillow ads.
"I feel blessed to be able to advertise on all of the major networks and national cable stations, including on Tucker Carlson Tonight," Lindell told the Washington Post in June. "I advertise MyPillow to help people across the country. I support my business, our customers and my employees."
Lindell has not exhibited the same attitude towards CNN. In September, Lindell appeared in an interview with Anderson Cooper regarding a COVID-19 treatment called Oleandrin. Lindell said he had been taking Oleandrin for months and that it had helped protect him from the coronavirus. Cooper alleged that Oleandrin had no merit as a therapeutic and compared Lindell to a "snake oil salesman."
After hiring Wood as his attorney, Lindell demanded that Cooper issue an apology for the segment.
"Cooper's interview of my client is the most outrageously unprofessional 'hit piece' interview I have ever viewed," Wood wrote in a September letter to CNN Executive President and General Counsel David Vigilante.


newsweek--2020-11-21--Doctors, Nurses Use Emotional Social Media Pleas to Warn Americans about Deadly COVID Surge

As current COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. soar , several doctors and nurses have taken to social media in recent days to warn Americans about the deadly virus , which has killed more than 252,800 people , as of Friday , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University ( JHU ) .
Several have shared emotional pleas and personal accounts of their day-to-day experiences at the frontlines of the outbreak .
On Wednesday , Twitter user @ darakass , a Yahoo News medical contributor , tweeted : `` The situation is dire .
Hospitals are getting over run .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting sicker and dying .
It wo n't change anything about their response .
64 days .
On Thursday , user @ CoryChevalier , a palliative medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic , tweeted : `` I see our patients in need , I see our beds filling up , I see our nurses working incredibly hard , and I see our doctors and trainees do more and more to ensure patients are getting the best care .
We need help ...
Please help us ; Please Mask Up !
| # MaskUp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MDaware , a doctor at Northwestern EM ( Emergency Medicine ) , tweeted : `` please [ sic ] consider having thanksgiving on iPad so fewer people have to say goodbye to their families forever from an ICU on an iPad . ''
Earlier this week , Carol Williams , a nurse at the Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora , Illinois , made an emotional plea in a post on Facebook , asking people to `` just stop '' denying the severity of the outbreak .
The post read : `` Stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is n't .
Stop telling me the survival rate so it 's not a big deal , it is a big deal .
Stop saying healthcare workers signed up for this , we did n't .
`` Stop ignoring science based recommendations of masking , social distancing , hand hygiene , and not gathering in large crowds , they work .
Stop kidding yourself that this is n't going to affect you or someone you love or know , it will , '' the post continued .
On Tuesday , Lacie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 intensive care unit ( ICU ) at Nebraska Medicine , pleaded `` Please take it [ COVID-19 ] seriously .
Wear your mask .
And I hope I do n't see you , '' in a viral Twitter video that has received at least 5,000 likes and 2,000 retweets since it was posted .
Describing the frustration of not being able to get to patients in need of immediate emergency care quickly enough , she noted : `` Some of these things these patients need is emergent .
I need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're not getting that , they 're not getting the care they deserve because I have to wear this PPE to protect everybody .
On Monday , an ICU nurse in the Texas county of El Paso , where temporary refrigerated morgue trailers had to be deployed to cope with the rising number of COVID-19 deaths , tweeted about her emotional encounter with a COVID-19 patient who initially denied the severity of the virus despite being in intensive care but later admitted he was `` mistaken . ''
His perspective shifted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' statement from the nurse describing her personal experience of the outbreak so far .
The nurse told the patient : `` You 're the only patient of 25 that has been able to speak to me today or is even aware I 'm here '' and that `` in 10 years of being a nurse I 've done more CPR and seen more people die in the last two weeks than I have in my entire career . ''
On Sunday , a doctor 's emotional message highlighted a `` disconnect between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message was tweeted by actress June Diane Raphael who shared a screenshot of a text received from her best friend ( pulmonary and critical care doctor ) .
When Raphael asked `` how she was doing , '' the doctor , whose location is unknown , responded : `` We are overflowing our units .
We are short staffed .
We are physically , mentally and emotionally exhausted .
People here are n't wearing masks , they are having Sunday family lunches , going to church , planning for Thanksgiving .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surrounding communities ...
I drive home stunned through a college town with lines out the doors for the local bars .
`` People complain about their personal freedoms being limited and the mental effects of social distancing and wearing a mask ... but give no respect to others ' right to live and give thought to the mental effects of accidentally infecting and killing grandma or the trauma they are imposing on their healthcare workers , '' the doctor added .
On Saturday , a registered emergency room nurse from South Dakota , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter about those who test COVID-19 positive and still deny that the virus is what 's making them ill. Doering tweeted : `` As I 'm on my couch with my dog I ca n't help but think of the COVID patients the last few days .
`` The ones that stick out are those who still do n't believe the virus is real .
The ones who scream at you for a magic medicine and that Joe Biden is going to ruin the USA .
All while gasping for breath on 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there must be another reason they are sick .
They call you names and ask why you have to wear all that 'stuff ' because they do n't have COVID because it 's not real .
Yes .
This really happens , '' she added .
The latest warnings follow record current COVID-19 hospitalizations reported for 10 days in a row since November 10 , according to data compiled by The Atlantic 's The COVID Tracking Project .
According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation ( IHME ) at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case count is projected to reach around 445,148 on Thanksgiving , more than double the latest daily case tally of 187,833 reported on November 19 , with `` continued easing of social distancing mandates and mandates are not re-imposed . ''
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 57.1 million people since it was first reported in Wuhan , China .
More than 1.3 million people have died worldwide and more than 36.6 million have recovered as of Friday , according to JHU .
The graphic below , provided by Statista , illustrates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to November .
The graphic below , produced by Statista , shows the spread of COVID-19 cases across the U.S .

As current COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. soar, several doctors and nurses have taken to social media in recent days to warn Americans about the deadly virus, which has killed more than 252,800 people, as of Friday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
Several have shared emotional pleas and personal accounts of their day-to-day experiences at the frontlines of the outbreak.
On Wednesday, Twitter user @darakass, a Yahoo News medical contributor, tweeted: "The situation is dire. Hospitals are getting over run. Healthcare workers are exhausted. People are getting sicker and dying. It won't change anything about their response. 64 days.
On Thursday, user @CoryChevalier, a palliative medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic, tweeted: "I see our patients in need, I see our beds filling up, I see our nurses working incredibly hard, and I see our doctors and trainees do more and more to ensure patients are getting the best care. We need help...Please help us; Please Mask Up! | #MaskUp."
Last week, user @MDaware, a doctor at Northwestern EM (Emergency Medicine), tweeted: "please [sic] consider having thanksgiving on iPad so fewer people have to say goodbye to their families forever from an ICU on an iPad."
please have consider having thanksgiving on iPad so fewer people have to say goodbye to their families forever from an ICU on an iPad — Seth Trueger (@MDaware) November 13, 2020
Earlier this week, Carol Williams, a nurse at the Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Illinois, made an emotional plea in a post on Facebook, asking people to "just stop" denying the severity of the outbreak.
The post read: "Stop thinking this is just like the flu, it isn't. Stop telling me the survival rate so it's not a big deal, it is a big deal. Stop saying healthcare workers signed up for this, we didn't.
"Stop ignoring science based recommendations of masking, social distancing, hand hygiene, and not gathering in large crowds, they work. Stop kidding yourself that this isn't going to affect you or someone you love or know, it will," the post continued.
I see our patients in need, I see our beds filling up, I see our nurses working incredibly hard, and I see our doctors and trainees do more and more to ensure patients are getting the best care. We need help...Please help us; Please Mask Up! | #MaskUp https://t.co/NeIAfvpw6E — Cory Chevalier, MD (@CoryChevalier) November 19, 2020
On Tuesday, Lacie Gooch, a nurse working in a COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) at Nebraska Medicine, pleaded "Please take it [COVID-19] seriously. Wear your mask. And I hope I don't see you," in a viral Twitter video that has received at least 5,000 likes and 2,000 retweets since it was posted.
Describing the frustration of not being able to get to patients in need of immediate emergency care quickly enough, she noted: "Some of these things these patients need is emergent. I need to be taking care of them right now and they're not getting that, they're not getting the care they deserve because I have to wear this PPE to protect everybody.
The situation is dire.
Hospitals are getting over run.
Healthcare workers are exhausted.
People are getting sicker and dying.
It won't change anything about their response.
64 days. https://t.co/oPeIFjnt15 — Dara Kass, MD (@darakass) November 18, 2020
On Monday, an ICU nurse in the Texas county of El Paso, where temporary refrigerated morgue trailers had to be deployed to cope with the rising number of COVID-19 deaths, tweeted about her emotional encounter with a COVID-19 patient who initially denied the severity of the virus despite being in intensive care but later admitted he was "mistaken."
His perspective shifted, however, following a "brutally honest" statement from the nurse describing her personal experience of the outbreak so far.
The nurse told the patient: "You're the only patient of 25 that has been able to speak to me today or is even aware I'm here" and that "in 10 years of being a nurse I've done more CPR and seen more people die in the last two weeks than I have in my entire career."
On Sunday, a doctor's emotional message highlighted a "disconnect between hospitals and surrounding communities". The message was tweeted by actress June Diane Raphael who shared a screenshot of a text received from her best friend (pulmonary and critical care doctor).
When Raphael asked "how she was doing," the doctor, whose location is unknown, responded: "We are overflowing our units. We are short staffed. We are physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. People here aren't wearing masks, they are having Sunday family lunches, going to church, planning for Thanksgiving.
"There is such a disconnect between hospitals and surrounding communities...I drive home stunned through a college town with lines out the doors for the local bars.
"People complain about their personal freedoms being limited and the mental effects of social distancing and wearing a mask...but give no respect to others' right to live and give thought to the mental effects of accidentally infecting and killing grandma or the trauma they are imposing on their healthcare workers," the doctor added.
On Saturday, a registered emergency room nurse from South Dakota, Jodi Doering, also spoke out on Twitter about those who test COVID-19 positive and still deny that the virus is what's making them ill.
Doering tweeted: "As I'm on my couch with my dog I can't help but think of the COVID patients the last few days.
"The ones that stick out are those who still don't believe the virus is real. The ones who scream at you for a magic medicine and that Joe Biden is going to ruin the USA. All while gasping for breath on 100% Vapotherm.
"They tell you there must be another reason they are sick. They call you names and ask why you have to wear all that 'stuff' because they don't have COVID because it's not real. Yes. This really happens," she added.
The latest warnings follow record current COVID-19 hospitalizations reported for 10 days in a row since November 10, according to data compiled by The Atlantic's The COVID Tracking Project.
According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, the country's daily case count is projected to reach around 445,148 on Thanksgiving, more than double the latest daily case tally of 187,833 reported on November 19, with "continued easing of social distancing mandates and mandates are not re-imposed."
Medical workers outside NYU Langone Health hospital as people applaud to show their gratitude to medical staff and essential workers during the pandemic on May 26 in New York City. Doctor and nurses have taken to social media in recent days with emotional pleas warning Americans about the deadly virus. Getty Images
The wider picture
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 57.1 million people since it was first reported in Wuhan, China.
More than 1.3 million people have died worldwide and more than 36.6 million have recovered as of Friday, according to JHU.
The graphic below, provided by Statista, illustrates the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations from March to November.
STATISTA
The graphic below, produced by Statista, shows the spread of COVID-19 cases across the U.S.


newsweek--2020-11-20--'Star Wars' Writer Says Disney is Refusing to Pay Royalties Because it Bought Rights Not 'Liabilitie

'Star Wars' Writer Says Disney is Refusing to Pay Royalties Because it Bought Rights Not 'Liabilities'

The author of multiple Star Wars novels says Disney has refused to pay him owed royalties while claiming they are under no obligation after purchasing the property in 2012 .
Alan Dean Foster was the ghostwriter of a novelization of the original film , titled Star Wars : From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker and credited to Star Wars creator and director George Lucas .
He also wrote the first installment 's original sequel , Splinter of The Mind 's Eye , as well as the novelization of 2015 's Star Wars : The Force Awakens and two other stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foster says royalties for the early books stopped coming after Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012 .
`` When you purchased Lucasfilm you acquired the rights to some books I wrote , '' Foster wrote in a letter addressed to `` Mickey , '' which was published Wednesday by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America ( SFWA ) .
`` STAR WARS , the novelization of the very first film .
SPLINTER OF THE MIND 'S EYE , the first sequel novel .
You owe me royalties on these books .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused Disney of not paying him royalties that he is owed for the novelizations of three Alien films , a franchise the company owns after purchasing 20th Century Fox in 2019 .
`` All these books are all still very much in print , '' wrote Foster .
`` They still earn money .
For you .
When one company buys another , they acquire its liabilities as well as its assets .
You 're certainly reaping the benefits of the assets .
I 'd very much like my miniscule ( though it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` My wife has serious medical issues and in 2016 I was diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer , '' he continued .
`` We could use the money .
Not charity : just what I 'm owed ... Maybe someone in the right position just has n't received the word , though after all these months of ignored requests and queries , that 's hard to countenance . ''
Foster added that he had refused an alleged demand from Disney to sign a non-disclosure agreement ( NDA ) before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company told The Verge that it had not corresponded with Foster since March and had only asked for an `` emailed request for confidentiality '' about any discussions , rather than a formal NDA .
SFWA President Mary Robinette Kowal said that Disney 's reasoning for not paying Foster is that they bought the rights to the intellectual property of the sci-fi franchises , but not the accompanying contractual obligations , asserting that `` they have the right to publish work , but are not obligated to pay the writer no matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that allowing Disney to continue to ignore contract obligations would be a threat to all writers and could `` fundamentally alter the way copyright and contracts operate in the United States . ''
She urged Foster 's fans to `` let Disney know '' if they feel that `` a writer 's work has value . ''
Newsweek reached out to Disney for comment .

The author of multiple Star Wars novels says Disney has refused to pay him owed royalties while claiming they are under no obligation after purchasing the property in 2012.
Alan Dean Foster was the ghostwriter of a novelization of the original film, titled Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker and credited to Star Wars creator and director George Lucas. He also wrote the first installment's original sequel, Splinter of The Mind's Eye, as well as the novelization of 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens and two other stories set in the Star Wars universe. Foster says royalties for the early books stopped coming after Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012.
"When you purchased Lucasfilm you acquired the rights to some books I wrote," Foster wrote in a letter addressed to "Mickey," which was published Wednesday by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). "STAR WARS, the novelization of the very first film. SPLINTER OF THE MIND'S EYE, the first sequel novel. You owe me royalties on these books. You stopped paying them."
"Star Wars" creator George Lucas takes part in a lightsaber duel with Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on August 14, 2010. Todd Anderson/Disney/Getty
Foster also accused Disney of not paying him royalties that he is owed for the novelizations of three Alien films, a franchise the company owns after purchasing 20th Century Fox in 2019.
"All these books are all still very much in print," wrote Foster. "They still earn money. For you. When one company buys another, they acquire its liabilities as well as its assets. You're certainly reaping the benefits of the assets. I'd very much like my miniscule (though it's not small to me) share."
"My wife has serious medical issues and in 2016 I was diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer," he continued. "We could use the money. Not charity: just what I'm owed... Maybe someone in the right position just hasn't received the word, though after all these months of ignored requests and queries, that's hard to countenance."
Foster added that he had refused an alleged demand from Disney to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before even discussing the matter. However, a Disney spokesperson told Newsweek that the company had not corresponded with Foster since March, with discussions focused on the Alien franchise only. The spokesperson said the company did not hear back from Foster after asking for an email confidentiality request concerning discussions, rather than a formal NDA.
SFWA President Mary Robinette Kowal said that Disney's reasoning for not paying Foster is that they bought the rights to the intellectual property of the sci-fi franchises, but not the accompanying contractual obligations, asserting that "they have the right to publish work, but are not obligated to pay the writer no matter what the contract says."
Kowal warned that allowing Disney to continue to ignore contract obligations would be a threat to all writers and could "fundamentally alter the way copyright and contracts operate in the United States." She urged Foster's fans to "let Disney know" if they feel that "a writer's work has value."
On Monday, Disney said it had reestablished communications with Foster and expects to meet with him to discuss the issue soon.
Update, 11/23 5:20 p.m.: This article has been updated to include new information and details from a Disney spokesperson.


newsweek--2020-11-20--Seattle City Council Approves 17% Cut to Police Department's Budget

The Seattle City Council approved a plan to cut the budget of the Seattle Police Department by 17 percent next year , while rejecting a proposed hiring freeze .
A budget committee of the council voted against a hiring freeze proposed by Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Tammy Morales on Thursday , which would have redirected just over $ 9 million from police to `` community-led public safety investments . ''
However , the committee approved budget cuts while amending Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan 's proposed 2021 police budget .
The cuts would eliminate 93 positions within the department that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employed would be laid off by next summer .
Under the plan to pause police hiring , 51 of the 1,311 officers that the department now expects to employ by the end of 2021 would not have been hired .
The council rejected the proposal with a 7-2 vote .
They also rejected a proposal from Morales that would have reduced hiring by 50 percent in a 6-2 vote , with one abstention .
The hiring freezes could potentially be revisited when the council holds a full vote on Monday , although they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would be required to change course .
Seattle lawmakers are likely to move forward with several other proposals concerning policing , such as separating 911 dispatch and mental health workers from the police department .
If the council ultimately votes in favor of the approved cuts , the action would fall well short of what had been hoped for by activists calling for the police department to be defunded in the wake of mass protests against police brutality and racial injustice over the summer .
Sawant , a Socialist , lashed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over their opposition to her plan on Wednesday .
She accused them and other Democrats of betraying those who sought change after the May 25 death of George Floyd , while calling for a new political party `` for the working class . ''
`` After months of declaring that Black Lives Matter , every single Democratic City Councilmember voted against the Peoples Budget & my office 's proposal to develop legislation to establish an elected community oversight board with full powers over police , including hiring & firing , '' Sawant tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats have betrayed promises made during the height of # JusticeForGeorgeFloyd , '' she continued .
`` Demonstrating yet again that our movements , and movement leadership , need to be independent of the political establishment .
And that we need a new party for the working class . ''
Prior to the presidential election , President Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly accused President-elect Joe Biden of being in favor of proposals to `` defund the police . ''
Biden never supported the proposals and had instead called for police funding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsweek reached out to the Seattle Police Department for comment .

The Seattle City Council approved a plan to cut the budget of the Seattle Police Department by 17 percent next year, while rejecting a proposed hiring freeze.
A budget committee of the council voted against a hiring freeze proposed by Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Tammy Morales on Thursday, which would have redirected just over $9 million from police to "community-led public safety investments."
However, the committee approved budget cuts while amending Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan's proposed 2021 police budget. The cuts would eliminate 93 positions within the department that are already vacant, while 35 officers currently employed would be laid off by next summer.
Under the plan to pause police hiring, 51 of the 1,311 officers that the department now expects to employ by the end of 2021 would not have been hired. The council rejected the proposal with a 7-2 vote. They also rejected a proposal from Morales that would have reduced hiring by 50 percent in a 6-2 vote, with one abstention.
The hiring freezes could potentially be revisited when the council holds a full vote on Monday, although they do not appear to have the support that would be required to change course. Seattle lawmakers are likely to move forward with several other proposals concerning policing, such as separating 911 dispatch and mental health workers from the police department.
If the council ultimately votes in favor of the approved cuts, the action would fall well short of what had been hoped for by activists calling for the police department to be defunded in the wake of mass protests against police brutality and racial injustice over the summer.
Adrian Diaz, currently the interim chief of the Seattle Police Department, speaks during a press conference announcing the resignation of former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best while Mayor Jenny Durkan watches in Seattle, Washington on August 11, 2020. Karen Ducey/Getty
Sawant, a Socialist, lashed out at her Democratic colleagues on social media over their opposition to her plan on Wednesday. She accused them and other Democrats of betraying those who sought change after the May 25 death of George Floyd, while calling for a new political party "for the working class."
"After months of declaring that Black Lives Matter, every single Democratic City Councilmember voted against the Peoples Budget & my office's proposal to develop legislation to establish an elected community oversight board with full powers over police, including hiring & firing," Sawant tweeted.
"In city after city, Democrats have betrayed promises made during the height of #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd," she continued. "Demonstrating yet again that our movements, and movement leadership, need to be independent of the political establishment. And that we need a new party for the working class."
After months of declaring that Black Lives Matter, every single Democratic City Councilmember voted against the Peoples Budget & my office's proposal to develop legislation to establish an elected community oversight board with full powers over police, including hiring & firing. — Kshama Sawant (@cmkshama) November 19, 2020
Prior to the presidential election, President Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly accused President-elect Joe Biden of being in favor of proposals to "defund the police." Biden never supported the proposals and had instead called for police funding to be increased to fuel reform efforts.
Newsweek reached out to the Seattle Police Department for comment.


newsweek--2020-11-20--Pennsylvania Governor Confident of Biden Win as House Republicans Call for Election Audit

Pennsylvania 's House of Representatives voted to allow an audit of the presidential election results to be performed by a state committee on Friday .
Some Democrats have criticized the audit and expressed the opinion that President-elect Joe Biden will be ultimately be declared the election winner .
Sponsored by House Republicans , the audit is expected to be conducted by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee and completed by February .
Election results in Pennsylvania have been challenged by the legal team of President Donald Trump , who has alleged without evidence that widespread voting fraud contributed to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to concede to Biden and has claimed several times that he is the true winner of the election .
According to the text of House Resolution 1100 , the audit is necessary because `` Pennsylvania citizens have questioned the process by which the 2020 general election has been conducted , regardless of which candidate or party may prevail . ''
The document alleges that a `` litany of inconsistencies '' occurred during the election because of decisions made by federal and state courts including prohibiting signature requirements for mail-in voting and `` counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling requiring ballots received after election day to be segregated . ''
Resolution sponsor , Republican Representative Jesse Topper said the audit was `` about our process moving forward and through these unprecedented times we conducted in a global pandemic .
We made changes to the election law , '' according to WFMZ .
In a Thursday statement , Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf described the audit as `` unnecessary and duplicative , '' noting that the Legislative Budget Finance Committee tasked with completing the audit has `` no expertise or role in election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Republicans interfering in an existing and trustworthy audit process , especially when they were on the ballot , they should allow the non-partisan experts to do their job , '' Wolf wrote .
`` That is the best way to ensure the public can have faith in the audit results . ''
Newsweek reached out to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party for comment .
Pennsylvania is expected to certify its ballots on Monday .
Trump 's campaign has filed suit to prevent the certification from occurring in order to investigate claims of election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani alleged that 682,770 ballots `` were cast , put in , and they were n't inspected which renders them ballots that are null and void , can not be counted , have to be removed from the vote . ''
Giuliani presented no clear evidence to back up his allegations .
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman told CNN 's Erin Burnett on Friday that regardless of how Trump attempts to alter the results of Pennsylvania 's election , the `` facts are on our side .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the President-Elect , and he 's up over 83,000 votes , '' Fetterman said .
`` Again , unless there 's some enchanted little village of 90,000 Trump voters that we may have missed over the last two weeks since the election , you know , this is ball game in Pennsylvania .
And , again , it 's ball game and we have a president-elect , Joe Biden . ''

Pennsylvania's House of Representatives voted to allow an audit of the presidential election results to be performed by a state committee on Friday. Some Democrats have criticized the audit and expressed the opinion that President-elect Joe Biden will be ultimately be declared the election winner.
Sponsored by House Republicans, the audit is expected to be conducted by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee and completed by February. Election results in Pennsylvania have been challenged by the legal team of President Donald Trump, who has alleged without evidence that widespread voting fraud contributed to a projected Biden victory. Trump has yet to concede to Biden and has claimed several times that he is the true winner of the election.
According to the text of House Resolution 1100, the audit is necessary because "Pennsylvania citizens have questioned the process by which the 2020 general election has been conducted, regardless of which candidate or party may prevail."
The document alleges that a "litany of inconsistencies" occurred during the election because of decisions made by federal and state courts including prohibiting signature requirements for mail-in voting and "counties not following the United States Supreme Court ruling requiring ballots received after election day to be segregated."
Resolution sponsor, Republican Representative Jesse Topper said the audit was "about our process moving forward and through these unprecedented times we conducted in a global pandemic. We made changes to the election law," according to WFMZ.
Pennsylvania's House of Representatives approved an audit of the state's election ballots, although Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said Thursday it was unnecessary. Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images for Pennsylvania Conference for Women/Getty
In a Thursday statement, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf described the audit as "unnecessary and duplicative," noting that the Legislative Budget Finance Committee tasked with completing the audit has "no expertise or role in election administration."
"Instead of the House Republicans interfering in an existing and trustworthy audit process, especially when they were on the ballot, they should allow the non-partisan experts to do their job," Wolf wrote. "That is the best way to ensure the public can have faith in the audit results."
Newsweek reached out to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party for comment.
Pennsylvania is expected to certify its ballots on Monday. Trump's campaign has filed suit to prevent the certification from occurring in order to investigate claims of election manipulation. During a Thursday press conference, Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani alleged that 682,770 ballots "were cast, put in, and they weren't inspected which renders them ballots that are null and void, cannot be counted, have to be removed from the vote." Giuliani presented no clear evidence to back up his allegations.
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman told CNN's Erin Burnett on Friday that regardless of how Trump attempts to alter the results of Pennsylvania's election, the "facts are on our side."
"The bottom line is Biden is the President-Elect, and he's up over 83,000 votes," Fetterman said. "Again, unless there's some enchanted little village of 90,000 Trump voters that we may have missed over the last two weeks since the election, you know, this is ball game in Pennsylvania. And, again, it's ball game and we have a president-elect, Joe Biden."


newsweek--2020-11-20--40% of Top Pentagon Positions Empty After Donald Trump's Firing of Mark Esper

Following President Donald Trump 's firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper on November 9 , 40 percent of the top positions at the Department of Defense ( DoD ) do n't have approved appointees overseeing them .
Currently , 24 of the top 60 positions at the DoD are n't occupied by individuals who were confirmed by the Senate , according to Defense News .
Rather the 24 positions are filled by non-appointed workers who are operating on the president 's behest as acting or `` performing-the-duties-of '' capacities .
While a majority of the department 's vacancies are reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense the following positions remain vacant : five undersecretaries , five deputy undersecretaries , nine assistant secretaries as well as the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation , the department 's Inspector General and a General Counsel of the Army .
With only 61 days left until Inauguration Day , it 's unlikely that President Donald Trump will fill these 24 positions with Senate-approved appointees—even though he has put forth nominees for 11 of the positions—because the Senate approval process can take several months to over half a year .
Senate approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely considering that the Senate only has about 14 working days left , former Senate Armed Services Committee staff director , Arnold Punaro , told Defense News .
During those 14 remaining days , the Senate is likely to stay preoccupied with Trump 's continued disputes about the election 's outcomes , the Georgia runoff election that will determine party control of the Senate and the appointing of conservative judges before President-elect Joe Biden takes office .
Shortly after Esper 's firing both James Anderson , the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence , resigned .
Trump immediately appointed Director of the National Counterterrorism Center , Christopher Miller , to fill Esper 's previous position upon Esper 's firing .
Miller has served as the counterterrorism head since August 10 .
Esper was Trump 's second Defense secretary after James Mattis who resigned in December 2018 following disagreements with Trump 's troop withdrawals from Syria and Afghanistan .
Trump reportedly became angered over the summer when Esper publicly opposed the president 's use of military forces to attack racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No modern president has ever fired their top Pentagon chief after losing re-election .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) called Esper 's firing `` disturbing evidence '' that Trump is now `` intent on using his final days in office to sow chaos in our American Democracy and around the world . ''
`` Again and again , Trump 's recklessness endangers our national security , '' she continued .
`` It is disturbing and dangerous that , at this precarious moment , our military will now be led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this position by the Senate . ''
Newsweek contacted the Department of Defense for comment .

Following President Donald Trump's firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper on November 9, 40 percent of the top positions at the Department of Defense (DoD) don't have approved appointees overseeing them.
Currently, 24 of the top 60 positions at the DoD aren't occupied by individuals who were confirmed by the Senate, according to Defense News. Rather the 24 positions are filled by non-appointed workers who are operating on the president's behest as acting or "performing-the-duties-of" capacities.
While a majority of the department's vacancies are reportedly within the Office of the Secretary of Defense the following positions remain vacant: five undersecretaries, five deputy undersecretaries, nine assistant secretaries as well as the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, the department's Inspector General and a General Counsel of the Army.
About 40 percent of the top positions at the Pentagon are now empty, following the recent firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper (L) by President Donald Trump (R). In this July 23, 2019 photo, Esper speaks after he was sworn in as Trump looks on. Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty
With only 61 days left until Inauguration Day, it's unlikely that President Donald Trump will fill these 24 positions with Senate-approved appointees—even though he has put forth nominees for 11 of the positions—because the Senate approval process can take several months to over half a year.
Senate approval for Trump's nominees seems even less likely considering that the Senate only has about 14 working days left, former Senate Armed Services Committee staff director, Arnold Punaro, told Defense News.
During those 14 remaining days, the Senate is likely to stay preoccupied with Trump's continued disputes about the election's outcomes, the Georgia runoff election that will determine party control of the Senate and the appointing of conservative judges before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
Shortly after Esper's firing both James Anderson, the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and Joseph Kernan, the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, resigned.
Trump immediately appointed Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Christopher Miller, to fill Esper's previous position upon Esper's firing. Miller has served as the counterterrorism head since August 10.
Esper was Trump's second Defense secretary after James Mattis who resigned in December 2018 following disagreements with Trump's troop withdrawals from Syria and Afghanistan.
Trump reportedly became angered over the summer when Esper publicly opposed the president's use of military forces to attack racial justice protesters in the nation's capital.
No modern president has ever fired their top Pentagon chief after losing re-election.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called Esper's firing "disturbing evidence" that Trump is now "intent on using his final days in office to sow chaos in our American Democracy and around the world."
"Again and again, Trump's recklessness endangers our national security," she continued. "It is disturbing and dangerous that, at this precarious moment, our military will now be led by an official who has not been confirmed for this position by the Senate."
Newsweek contacted the Department of Defense for comment.