newsweek--2020-11-27--Blood Test That Detects 50 Types of Cancer To Be Tested

A blood test that may be able to spot more than 50 types of cancer at an early stage is to be trialed by the U.K. 's National Health Service ( NHS ) .
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said he hopes the Galleri blood test will be a `` gamechanger '' for early cancer diagnosis , with the potential to save many lives .
The blood test will be offered to 165,000 people in England from mid-2021 , the vast majority of whom have no signs of the disease .
NHS England hopes the test may prove particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are hard to spot and so have worse survival rates , such as head and neck , ovarian , pancreatic , oesophageal , and some blood cancers .
The Galleri test , developed with funding by U.S. company Grail , checks for molecular changes .
Stevens said : `` Early detection – particularly for hard-to-treat conditions like ovarian and pancreatic cancer – has the potential to save many lives .
This promising blood test could therefore be a game-changer in cancer care , helping thousands more people to get successful treatment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at stage one typically have between five and 10 times the chance of surviving compared with those found at stage four .
The pilot will include 140,000 participants aged 50 to 79 who have no symptoms but will have annual blood tests for three years .
People will be identified through NHS records and randomly selected for invitation to join the trial .
Anyone with a positive test will be referred to the NHS for investigation .
Another 25,000 people will be identified through their GP as having possible cancer symptoms , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be offered blood testing to speed up their diagnosis after being referred to hospital in the normal way .
Results of the trial are expected by 2023 , and if outcomes are positive , then it will be expanded to involve around one million participants across 2024 and 2025 .
U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said : `` This exciting and groundbreaking new blood test from Grail will give us another tool to give more people the very best chance of survival , demonstrating how the U.K. continues to lead the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help patients . ''
Cancer charities have welcomed the trial .
Chief executive of Target Ovarian Cancer , Annwen Jones , said : `` At the moment two-thirds of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed late when the cancer is much harder to treat .
This test , if proven to be effective , could be a major turning point in diagnosing ovarian cancer in this country , saving thousands of lives every year . ''
Sir Harpal Kumar , Grail 's president in Europe , and a former chief executive of Cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a groundbreaking and potentially life-saving advance that could have a tremendous human and economic benefit . ''

A blood test that may be able to spot more than 50 types of cancer at an early stage is to be trialed by the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS).
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said he hopes the Galleri blood test will be a "gamechanger" for early cancer diagnosis, with the potential to save many lives.
The blood test will be offered to 165,000 people in England from mid-2021, the vast majority of whom have no signs of the disease. NHS England hopes the test may prove particularly useful at detecting early signs of cancers that are hard to spot and so have worse survival rates, such as head and neck, ovarian, pancreatic, oesophageal, and some blood cancers.
The Galleri test, developed with funding by U.S. company Grail, checks for molecular changes. Stevens said: "Early detection – particularly for hard-to-treat conditions like ovarian and pancreatic cancer – has the potential to save many lives. This promising blood test could therefore be a game-changer in cancer care, helping thousands more people to get successful treatment."
Patients who have their condition diagnosed at stage one typically have between five and 10 times the chance of surviving compared with those found at stage four. The pilot will include 140,000 participants aged 50 to 79 who have no symptoms but will have annual blood tests for three years.
People will be identified through NHS records and randomly selected for invitation to join the trial. Anyone with a positive test will be referred to the NHS for investigation.
Another 25,000 people will be identified through their GP as having possible cancer symptoms, such as a lump or discharge. They will be offered blood testing to speed up their diagnosis after being referred to hospital in the normal way.
Results of the trial are expected by 2023, and if outcomes are positive, then it will be expanded to involve around one million participants across 2024 and 2025.
U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "This exciting and groundbreaking new blood test from Grail will give us another tool to give more people the very best chance of survival, demonstrating how the U.K. continues to lead the way in using the latest innovative treatments to help patients."
Results of the trial are expected in 2023 Justin Tallis/Getty
Cancer charities have welcomed the trial. Chief executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, Annwen Jones, said: "At the moment two-thirds of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed late when the cancer is much harder to treat. This test, if proven to be effective, could be a major turning point in diagnosing ovarian cancer in this country, saving thousands of lives every year."
Sir Harpal Kumar, Grail's president in Europe, and a former chief executive of Cancer Research U.K., described Galleri as "a groundbreaking and potentially life-saving advance that could have a tremendous human and economic benefit."


newsweek--2020-11-27--What Is Section 230 and Can It Be 'Terminated'?

An ageing U.S. law that facilitated the rise of Facebook , Twitter and YouTube has once again been thrust into the spotlight this week after President Donald Trump said that it should be `` terminated '' over national security concerns .
The legal provision , Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 , is facing growing opposition from both sides of the political divide , despite claims from social media and tech giants that it is critical to their continued existence .
Section 230 offers a degree of immunity to websites for any content uploaded by third parties—be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media post , classified ad or user review .
It gives sites acting in `` good faith '' the protection to remove any objectionable material , regardless of whether it is `` constitutionally protected . ''
The law is broad , saying that the rules apply to any `` provider or user of an interactive computer service . ''
Section 230 does not offer a total blanket protection , however , and exemptions are in place meaning lawsuits are possible for criminal and intellectual property cases .
What does the legalese mean in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let users post status updates , product reviews , forum messages or upload videos without having to vet or pre-approve the content , and without fearing it could result in a lawsuit .
In theory , a lack of Section 230 protection would mean websites and users have to aggressively monitor the content being shared online—a radically different business model to many of the mainstream social media or tech companies that are structured around user-generated content over a paywall or subscription service .
`` Given the sheer size of user-generated websites it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objectionable content from cropping up on their site , '' the Electronic Frontier Foundation , a digital rights organization , explains online .
`` Rather than face potential liability for their users ' actions , most would likely not host any user content at all or would need to protect themselves by being actively engaged in censoring what we say , what we see , and what we do online . ''
While it has been referred to as the backbone of the modern internet , calls to revoke or reform the provision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While they have different reasons , both President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden have both voiced the opinion that Section 230 should be revoked .
Trump has suggested social media sites are censoring conservative voices , including his own , while Biden previously told The New York Times the law needed changing as the platforms have played a key role in the spreading of viral misinformation .
Senator Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) tweeted in May that Facebook and Twitter should be seen as publishers if they continue to `` editorialize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Trump unveiled an executive order declaring Section 230 needed to be clarified as the social networks were now too powerful .
It read : `` Section 230 was not intended to allow a handful of companies to grow into titans controlling vital avenues for our national discourse under the guise of promoting open forums for debate , and then to provide those behemoths blanket immunity when they use their power to censor content and silence viewpoints that they dislike . ''
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg , Google CEO Sundar Pichai and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee on Commerce , Science , and Transportation last month , a hearing that questioned if 230 immunity enabled `` bad behavior . ''
Out of the trio , it was Zuckerberg who voiced support for the law to be updated , noting that politicians on both sides were `` unhappy with the status quo . ''
`` I believe Congress should update the law to make sure it 's working as intended .
We support the ideas around transparency and industry collaboration that are being discussed in some of the current bipartisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would be `` ready to work with Congress '' on shaping any future regulation .
It remains to be seen if the internet law will be `` terminated '' under the incoming Biden administration , as Trump has urged .
As noted by Reuters , only Congress can change Section 230 .
While some proposals exist , no decision is likely until next year .
Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) chairman Ajit Pai said October 15 that his agency had the `` legal authority to interpret Section 230 , '' but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imminent , and the move was criticized by Democrats .
As noted by The Wall Street Journal Thursday , the decision will now fall on Biden 's FCC pick .
The president-elect has not formally proposed a Section 230 repeal .
And while there appears to be consensus among politicians that some aspects should be clarified , it 's clear that an broad agreement in Congress is unlikely .
`` Repealing it outright is not viable , '' Representative Anna Eshoo ( D-CA ) said last month , although conceded it will `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Democratic Senator Ron Wyden , who originally co-authored the 1996 provision , blasted Republicans ' arguments about revoking the Section 230 provision after the trio of tech giant bosses testified before the congressional committee on October 28 .
`` I do n't believe my Republican colleagues have read the First Amendment , let alone Section 230 .
Their obsession with forcing private companies to print misinformation , lies and hate speech is unconstitutional , '' Sen. Wyden said in a statement .
Experts have previously told Newsweek it is unlikely Section 230 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see amendments or clarifications to the current provision .
Angelo Carusone , CEO of watchdog Media Mattes , told Newsweek : `` Modifications to it or additional laws that both establish more legal safeguards for negligence in addressing extremism , dangerous disinformation and other inauthentic activity—as well as liability for violating those safeguards—is extremely likely . ''

An ageing U.S. law that facilitated the rise of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube has once again been thrust into the spotlight this week after President Donald Trump said that it should be "terminated" over national security concerns.
The legal provision, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, is facing growing opposition from both sides of the political divide, despite claims from social media and tech giants that it is critical to their continued existence.
Section 230 offers a degree of immunity to websites for any content uploaded by third parties—be it in the form of a social media post, classified ad or user review.
It gives sites acting in "good faith" the protection to remove any objectionable material, regardless of whether it is "constitutionally protected." The law is broad, saying that the rules apply to any "provider or user of an interactive computer service."
Section 230 does not offer a total blanket protection, however, and exemptions are in place meaning lawsuits are possible for criminal and intellectual property cases.
What does the legalese mean in reality? It means the platforms can let users post status updates, product reviews, forum messages or upload videos without having to vet or pre-approve the content, and without fearing it could result in a lawsuit.
In theory, a lack of Section 230 protection would mean websites and users have to aggressively monitor the content being shared online—a radically different business model to many of the mainstream social media or tech companies that are structured around user-generated content over a paywall or subscription service.
"Given the sheer size of user-generated websites it would be infeasible for online intermediaries to prevent objectionable content from cropping up on their site," the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights organization, explains online.
"Rather than face potential liability for their users' actions, most would likely not host any user content at all or would need to protect themselves by being actively engaged in censoring what we say, what we see, and what we do online."
While it has been referred to as the backbone of the modern internet, calls to revoke or reform the provision are growing among both Democrats and Republicans.
While they have different reasons, both President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden have both voiced the opinion that Section 230 should be revoked.
Trump has suggested social media sites are censoring conservative voices, including his own, while Biden previously told The New York Times the law needed changing as the platforms have played a key role in the spreading of viral misinformation.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) tweeted in May that Facebook and Twitter should be seen as publishers if they continue to "editorialize and censor."
That same month, President Trump unveiled an executive order declaring Section 230 needed to be clarified as the social networks were now too powerful.
It read: "Section 230 was not intended to allow a handful of companies to grow into titans controlling vital avenues for our national discourse under the guise of promoting open forums for debate, and then to provide those behemoths blanket immunity when they use their power to censor content and silence viewpoints that they dislike."
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testified in the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation last month, a hearing that questioned if 230 immunity enabled "bad behavior."
Out of the trio, it was Zuckerberg who voiced support for the law to be updated, noting that politicians on both sides were "unhappy with the status quo."
"I believe Congress should update the law to make sure it's working as intended. We support the ideas around transparency and industry collaboration that are being discussed in some of the current bipartisan proposals," Zuckerberg said, adding he would be "ready to work with Congress" on shaping any future regulation.
It remains to be seen if the internet law will be "terminated" under the incoming Biden administration, as Trump has urged. As noted by Reuters, only Congress can change Section 230. While some proposals exist, no decision is likely until next year.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai said October 15 that his agency had the "legal authority to interpret Section 230," but it was unclear whether any changes were imminent, and the move was criticized by Democrats.
As noted by The Wall Street Journal Thursday, the decision will now fall on Biden's FCC pick. The president-elect has not formally proposed a Section 230 repeal.
And while there appears to be consensus among politicians that some aspects should be clarified, it's clear that an broad agreement in Congress is unlikely.
"Repealing it outright is not viable," Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA) said last month, although conceded it will "be on the agenda next Congress."
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who originally co-authored the 1996 provision, blasted Republicans' arguments about revoking the Section 230 provision after the trio of tech giant bosses testified before the congressional committee on October 28.
"I don't believe my Republican colleagues have read the First Amendment, let alone Section 230. Their obsession with forcing private companies to print misinformation, lies and hate speech is unconstitutional," Sen. Wyden said in a statement.
Experts have previously told Newsweek it is unlikely Section 230 will be revoked, and will instead see amendments or clarifications to the current provision.
Angelo Carusone, CEO of watchdog Media Mattes, told Newsweek: "Modifications to it or additional laws that both establish more legal safeguards for negligence in addressing extremism, dangerous disinformation and other inauthentic activity—as well as liability for violating those safeguards—is extremely likely."


newsweek--2020-11-27--1,311 People Died of COVID on Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.

Confirmed coronavirus deaths in the U.S. have reached 269,560 , with 1,311 new deaths reported on Thanksgiving , according to Worldometer .
The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in the U.S. has been rising sharply since early November , after declining from early August .
The country also reported a record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations on November 26 .
The figure was 90,481 , according to The Atlantic 's COVID Tracking Project .
Total confirmed cases in the country have passed 13.2 million , with at least 108,289 new infections reported Thursday .
The seven-day average of cases has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average peaked on November 25 , hitting 179,923 on the day before Thanksgiving , according to Worldometer .
As of Thursday , there were more than 5.1 million active cases of COVID-19 ( infected people who are being treated in hospital or recovering at home ) , according to Worldometer .
The latest figures come amid growing fears over the impact that Thanksgiving travel will have on the spread of infection .
According to the Transportation Security Administration , 1,070,967 air passengers were screened at a TSA checkpoint on November 25 .
Millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite warnings from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , as well as several state and local governments .
In a statement on November 19 , the CDC said : `` As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States , the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with .
`` Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu .
`` Celebrating virtually or with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 , poses the lowest risk for spread . ''
Thursday 's death toll was just below the 1,554 figure projected for November 26 by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington .
However , the figure for total deaths surpassed the 260,436 projected for Thanksgiving by the IHME .
By Christmas Day , the daily death count is projected to reach 3,303 while the daily case count is forecast to hit 833,165 if there is `` continued easing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not reimposed , '' according to the IHME .
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 61.1 million people since it was first reported in Wuhan , China .
More than 1.4 million people have died worldwide and more than 39.1 million have recovered as of Friday , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The graphic below , produced by Statista , shows the spread of COVID-19 cases across the U.S .
The graphic below , produced by Statista , shows the countries with the highest number of cases .

Confirmed coronavirus deaths in the U.S. have reached 269,560, with 1,311 new deaths reported on Thanksgiving, according to Worldometer.
The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in the U.S. has been rising sharply since early November, after declining from early August.
The country also reported a record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations on November 26. The figure was 90,481, according to The Atlantic's COVID Tracking Project.
Total confirmed cases in the country have passed 13.2 million, with at least 108,289 new infections reported Thursday.
The seven-day average of cases has risen sharply since early October. The average peaked on November 25, hitting 179,923 on the day before Thanksgiving, according to Worldometer.
As of Thursday, there were more than 5.1 million active cases of COVID-19 (infected people who are being treated in hospital or recovering at home), according to Worldometer.
The latest figures come amid growing fears over the impact that Thanksgiving travel will have on the spread of infection.
According to the Transportation Security Administration, 1,070,967 air passengers were screened at a TSA checkpoint on November 25. Millions more traveled for the holiday by road, despite warnings from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as several state and local governments.
In a statement on November 19, the CDC said: "As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with.
"Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.
"Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household, who are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, poses the lowest risk for spread."
Thursday's death toll was just below the 1,554 figure projected for November 26 by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
However, the figure for total deaths surpassed the 260,436 projected for Thanksgiving by the IHME.
By Christmas Day, the daily death count is projected to reach 3,303 while the daily case count is forecast to hit 833,165 if there is "continued easing of social distancing mandates and mandates are not reimposed," according to the IHME.
Travelers passing through Los Angeles airport on November 25. The country reported more than 1,300 COVID-19 deaths on Thanksgiving Day. David McNew/Getty Images
The wider picture
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 61.1 million people since it was first reported in Wuhan, China.
More than 1.4 million people have died worldwide and more than 39.1 million have recovered as of Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The graphic below, produced by Statista, shows the spread of COVID-19 cases across the U.S.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases by state in the U.S. as of earlier this week. Statista
The graphic below, produced by Statista, shows the countries with the highest number of cases.


newsweek--2020-11-27--GOP Tightens Grip on Georgia Senate Race Despite Trump Supporters Threatening Boycott: Bookmakers

The GOP have tightened their grip on the Senate race in Georgia , according to bookmakers , despite supporters of Donald Trump threatening to boycott the contest .
Voters in the state will settle two runoffs on January 5 that will determine control of the U.S. Senate .
Pro-Trump Republicans took to Parler , the self-styled `` free speech '' social media network , to discourage members of their own party from voting .
Some referenced a conspiracy theory about `` rigged '' ballot machines as reason not to take part .
Bookmakers said incumbent Republican candidates David Perdue and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic challengers , Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock .
Betfair , the UK-based betting company , said the GOP was 4-9 to take the seats , implying a probability of winning of 69 percent ( shortened odds from 1-2 offered a week ago ) .
The Democrats were priced at 7-4 , longer than their odds of 6-4 seven days earlier , implying a probability of 36 percent .
Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said : `` After a week of sustained attacks by Kelly Loeffler on her Democratic rival Raphael Warnock , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runoff odds as odds on 4-9 favorites . ''
Oddschecker , which aggregates betting data from dozens of bookmakers , has the Republicans best-priced at 5-8 to take the state , a 62 percent implied probability , with the Democrats on 6-5 , implying a 45 percent chance .
An Oddschecker spokesperson said the markets had seen `` very little change in the past week , approximately a 4 percent shift in the implied chance in favor of the Republicans during that time as they seemingly tighten their grip . ''
Early voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 , with the outcome set to determine which party controls the Senate , and with it Joe Biden 's ability to push through his agenda .
Democrats control the House with a slim majority and need to win both seats for a 50-50 split .
Elsewhere in the political betting world , Trump 's odds of winning the 2024 presidential election were cut in half with some bookmakers .
Oddschecker said bettors were backing Trump to `` bounce back from his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden and reclaim the Presidency in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Over the last week , 39.7 percent of all bets on the 2024 Election winner have backed Trump , despite the 74-year-old being priced as third favorite .
`` Some bookies have cut odds on a Trump 2024 victory in half , from 12-1 into as short 6-1 with William Hill .
The best price of 7-1 is available with one firm .
`` That means the MAGA man only trails current favorite Kamala Harris ( 4-1 ) and soon to be inaugurated Joe Biden ( 9-2 ) . ''

The GOP have tightened their grip on the Senate race in Georgia, according to bookmakers, despite supporters of Donald Trump threatening to boycott the contest.
Voters in the state will settle two runoffs on January 5 that will determine control of the U.S. Senate.
Pro-Trump Republicans took to Parler, the self-styled "free speech" social media network, to discourage members of their own party from voting. Some referenced a conspiracy theory about "rigged" ballot machines as reason not to take part.
Bookmakers said incumbent Republican candidates David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler have pulled away from their Democratic challengers, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
Betfair, the UK-based betting company, said the GOP was 4-9 to take the seats, implying a probability of winning of 69 percent (shortened odds from 1-2 offered a week ago). The Democrats were priced at 7-4, longer than their odds of 6-4 seven days earlier, implying a probability of 36 percent.
Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: "After a week of sustained attacks by Kelly Loeffler on her Democratic rival Raphael Warnock, the Republicans have strengthened their position in the runoff odds as odds on 4-9 favorites."
Oddschecker, which aggregates betting data from dozens of bookmakers, has the Republicans best-priced at 5-8 to take the state, a 62 percent implied probability, with the Democrats on 6-5, implying a 45 percent chance.
An Oddschecker spokesperson said the markets had seen "very little change in the past week, approximately a 4 percent shift in the implied chance in favor of the Republicans during that time as they seemingly tighten their grip."
Family and supporters hold runoff signs as Democratic Senate candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock speaks during an Election Night event on November 3, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. The two runoff elections in Georgia will determine which party has control of the Senate in the next Congress. Jessica McGowan/Getty
Early voting in the Georgia contests starts on December 14, with the outcome set to determine which party controls the Senate, and with it Joe Biden's ability to push through his agenda.
Democrats control the House with a slim majority and need to win both seats for a 50-50 split.
Elsewhere in the political betting world, Trump's odds of winning the 2024 presidential election were cut in half with some bookmakers.
Oddschecker said bettors were backing Trump to "bounce back from his 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden and reclaim the Presidency in 2024."
The spokesperson said: "Over the last week, 39.7 percent of all bets on the 2024 Election winner have backed Trump, despite the 74-year-old being priced as third favorite.
"Some bookies have cut odds on a Trump 2024 victory in half, from 12-1 into as short 6-1 with William Hill. The best price of 7-1 is available with one firm.
"That means the MAGA man only trails current favorite Kamala Harris (4-1) and soon to be inaugurated Joe Biden (9-2)."


newsweek--2020-11-27--'The Undoing' Production Designer Lester Cohen Breaks Down Your Favorite Opulent NYC Sets

Production design for a television show can make the experience all the more immersive and engaging for viewers .
Lester Cohen , who worked on the HBO limited series The Undoing , put thought into the details of the opulence for its New York City sets .
Cohen has been in the biz for over 30 years , with previous credits including The Night Of , The Looming Tower , and White Collar .
Cohen 's work on The Undoing ties everything together so seamlessly ( and gives us major apartment envy ) .
Cohen spoke to Newsweek about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for The Undoing , along with giving some insight on why Donald Sutherland 's apartment felt like a museum .
What was your process for designing the sets for The Undoing ?
The process for me always is I start with the script , go through it , break it down , and then pull images , things that I feel relate to the character , and then share them with the director .
Sort of hone in on an identity for each of the people .
That 's always the process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ location manager named Lori Pitkus .
When you shoot , upper class New York or the super wealthy New York , it 's difficult .
These people have so much money , that there 's no amount of money a production could throw at them , make them notice in their bank account , so it 's very rare that you get entre into these super exclusive spaces .
Lori had been on for a while before I came up in the project .
The name really made some inroads , that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York .
A lot of those did n't end up being where we shot , but just getting into them and walking around was super important .
We added that into the process as well .
We go and scout things , and photograph things , and be like , 'oh I love this bathroom , ' or , 'look at that the way they 've got this giant ballroom in their house — how does that happen ? '
Things like that .
And then , in the end , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up combining some pieces of a location .
Like when you see the balcony , and the hanging out on the balcony and all that stuff , that 's one location .
Then , along with building the big ballroom , and the bedroom , and the bathroom , the other bedroom where Henry is — Franklin 's apartment is a combination of two different places .
And then the townhouse was an empty townhouse we found in the Upper East Side where the Fraser apartment is .
That was up for sale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get in there in between people living there , and make it into the home that you see in the show .
Did you pick the exact locations for the show , or were those outlined in the book ?
What locations did you/the show get to pick out specifically ?
We deviated a lot from the book in a way .
The thrust of the book is different from the thrust of the show .
The thrust of the book is you have a similar set up , but most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life back together .
I think she goes to Maine or Vermont , or someplace bucolic , and sort of rebuilt her life .
[ The show ] is much more of a psyhco-drama , murder mystery , I would say .
I noticed that the Fraser 's apartment was much more cozy and homey , while Franklin 's was colder and felt like a museum .
Why did you decorate these apartments like this ?
The idea of the Fraser apartment in the first scene in the first episode is that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't want to feel as hard-edged or as severe as some of the other wealthy places we go to .
It wanted to feel like a real home .
Part of the reason I chose the palette I did is it 's very earthy and deep and warm .
That kitchen is a safe and enveloping space .
It 's a safe , domestic vibe .
In that kitchen , which is actually the dining room of the place we were in , was almost like a service kitchen — it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all that movement in the morning , to show this family waking up and being loose and open .
So we took the dining room , added the brick wall and those beams , and the ceiling and everything , and made it into the kitchen .
But again , the exposed brick , it 's just a more contemporary aesthetic [ compared ] to her father 's , which is more old-money .
Also colorwise : Franklin 's place is very cool , we 're very conscious of that .
I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she did n't have the warmest relationship with her father .
So we wanted to reflect that in the tones .
Based on who the killer is , did you decorate their home in a certain way ?
No .
I would say this , especially in a show like this with a mystery : you do n't want to give it away .
It 's all about misdirection and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats .
So , if there are tropes there you see that are typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the show not as effective as it is .
Franklin visits the Frick often throughout the show .
He admires one painting in particular , `` The Harbor of Dieppe '' by J. W. Turner .
Why this painting ?
A couple things — one is , I think it 's a painting that he wants , but he ca n't have , you know ?
And for a man with a pretty incredible art collection , it 's that .
When Susanne [ Bier , director of the series ] and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money come from , we thought , they might be in shipping , or something like that .
The seascape , and Turner is amazing .
He walks that line between the classical and something slightly more modern in the way he painted things .
How was designing the sets for The Undoing different from other projects you 've worked on ?
A lot of the other things I 've done have been more gritty than this .
For instance , The Night Of , which is dark and brooding , and very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to also use textures and also use deep colors .
But , sort of in a more opulent world .
That 's how it 's different from me , I typically do things that are more working class .
What was your favorite set that you designed for The Undoing ?
I would say Franklin 's apartment .
We have 20-foot-high walls , 18-foot-high windows , we did all these elaborate paint effects on the walls , which you do n't see but you certainly feel .
That space is so large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we could n't get that much wallpaper even if we had money .
So we basically handpainted this tree-ay on those walls and it worked really , really well .
You definitely feel it , and it feels like there 's fabric on the walls or something , but it 's actually paint .
The intricacy of ceiling , and the wood floor ... that set was really fun to do .
The final episode of The Undoing airs on Sunday night at 9 on HBO .

Production design for a television show can make the experience all the more immersive and engaging for viewers. Lester Cohen, who worked on the HBO limited series The Undoing, put thought into the details of the opulence for its New York City sets. Cohen has been in the biz for over 30 years, with previous credits including The Night Of, The Looming Tower, and White Collar. Cohen's work on The Undoing ties everything together so seamlessly (and gives us major apartment envy).
Cohen spoke to Newsweek about the process he underwent for designing the sets for The Undoing, along with giving some insight on why Donald Sutherland's apartment felt like a museum.
What was your process for designing the sets for The Undoing?
The process for me always is I start with the script, go through it, break it down, and then pull images, things that I feel relate to the character, and then share them with the director. Sort of hone in on an identity for each of the people. That's always the process.
On this project, we had a location manager named Lori Pitkus. When you shoot, upper class New York or the super wealthy New York, it's difficult. These people have so much money, that there's no amount of money a production could throw at them, make them notice in their bank account, so it's very rare that you get entre into these super exclusive spaces.
Lori had been on for a while before I came up in the project. The name really made some inroads, that in 35 years I had never been into in New York. A lot of those didn't end up being where we shot, but just getting into them and walking around was super important.
We added that into the process as well. We go and scout things, and photograph things, and be like, 'oh I love this bathroom,' or, 'look at that the way they've got this giant ballroom in their house — how does that happen?' Things like that. And then, in the end, for Franklin's apartment, we wound up combining some pieces of a location. Like when you see the balcony, and the hanging out on the balcony and all that stuff, that's one location. Then, along with building the big ballroom, and the bedroom, and the bathroom, the other bedroom where Henry is — Franklin 's apartment is a combination of two different places.
And then the townhouse was an empty townhouse we found in the Upper East Side where the Fraser apartment is. That was up for sale, and we were fortunate enough to get in there in between people living there, and make it into the home that you see in the show.
Did you pick the exact locations for the show, or were those outlined in the book? What locations did you/the show get to pick out specifically?
We deviated a lot from the book in a way. The thrust of the book is different from the thrust of the show. The thrust of the book is you have a similar set up, but most of the novel is about the woman putting her life back together. I think she goes to Maine or Vermont, or someplace bucolic, and sort of rebuilt her life.
[The show] is much more of a psyhco-drama, murder mystery, I would say.
Nicole Kidman and Donald Sutherland in "The Undoing." David Giesbrecht/HBO
I noticed that the Fraser's apartment was much more cozy and homey, while Franklin's was colder and felt like a museum. Why did you decorate these apartments like this?
The idea of the Fraser apartment in the first scene in the first episode is that these people are living the dream. It didn't want to feel as hard-edged or as severe as some of the other wealthy places we go to. It wanted to feel like a real home. Part of the reason I chose the palette I did is it's very earthy and deep and warm. That kitchen is a safe and enveloping space. It's a safe, domestic vibe. In that kitchen, which is actually the dining room of the place we were in, was almost like a service kitchen — it was really small. We wanted to have all that movement in the morning, to show this family waking up and being loose and open. So we took the dining room, added the brick wall and those beams, and the ceiling and everything, and made it into the kitchen.
But again, the exposed brick, it's just a more contemporary aesthetic [compared] to her father's, which is more old-money. Also colorwise: Franklin's place is very cool, we're very conscious of that.
I do find out as the show goes on, she didn't have the warmest relationship with her father. So we wanted to reflect that in the tones.
Based on who the killer is, did you decorate their home in a certain way?
No. I would say this, especially in a show like this with a mystery: you don't want to give it away. It's all about misdirection and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. So, if there are tropes there you see that are typically a killer's interior, that would make the show not as effective as it is.
Franklin visits the Frick often throughout the show. He admires one painting in particular, "The Harbor of Dieppe" by J. W. Turner. Why this painting?
A couple things — one is, I think it's a painting that he wants, but he can't have, you know? And for a man with a pretty incredible art collection, it's that. When Susanne [Bier, director of the series] and I were talking about where does the money come from, we thought, they might be in shipping, or something like that. The seascape, and Turner is amazing. He walks that line between the classical and something slightly more modern in the way he painted things.
Nicole Kidman in "The Undoing" David Giesbrecht/HBO
How was designing the sets for The Undoing different from other projects you've worked on?
A lot of the other things I've done have been more gritty than this. For instance, The Night Of, which is dark and brooding, and very textural like that. This was an opportunity to also use textures and also use deep colors. But, sort of in a more opulent world. That's how it's different from me, I typically do things that are more working class.
What was your favorite set that you designed for The Undoing?
I would say Franklin's apartment. We have 20-foot-high walls, 18-foot-high windows, we did all these elaborate paint effects on the walls, which you don't see but you certainly feel. That space is so large that we wanted to do wallpaper but we couldn't get that much wallpaper even if we had money.
So we basically handpainted this tree-ay on those walls and it worked really, really well. You definitely feel it, and it feels like there's fabric on the walls or something, but it's actually paint. The intricacy of ceiling, and the wood floor...that set was really fun to do.
The final episode of The Undoing airs on Sunday night at 9 on HBO.


newsweek--2020-11-27--Topshop Owner 'Faces Collapse Within Days With 15,000 Jobs at Risk'

British retail empire Arcadia Group , responsible for Topshop , Burton , and Dorothy Perkins , is on the brink of collapse putting 15,000 jobs at risk , it has been reported .
The company , owned by billionaire businessman Sir Philip Green , is preparing to appoint administrators from Deloitte as soon as next week , Sky News reports .
The majority of the group 's 500 standalone stores are currently shut due to England 's second nationwide lockdown .
An industry source described the collapse as `` inevitable '' after talks to secure an emergency £30 million ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It could put the group 's entire 15,000-strong workforce at risk after 500 jobs were already cut from head offices earlier this year .
Most of the group 's employees have had their wages subsidized by the taxpayer this year under the government 's furlough scheme .
In a statement to Newsweek , Arcadia said it has been working on `` a number of contingency options '' .
`` We are aware of the recent media speculation surrounding the future of Arcadia , '' the group said .
`` The forced closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a material impact on trading across our businesses .
As a result , the Arcadia boards have been working on a number of contingency options to secure the future of the Group 's brands .
`` The brands continue to trade and our stores will be opening again in England and ROI as soon as the Government COVID-19 restrictions are lifted next week . ''
It did not comment on the risk to jobs .
Earlier this year , Arcadia 's former London headquarters for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bid to secure cash for the group .
Corinthian House , on Tottenham Court Road , has an asking price of £80m ( $ 106m ) .
Sky reports that there is expected to be a tussle among creditors for the company 's assets once it is formally declared bankrupt .
The Boohoo Group is named among those looking to take on Topshop , which is Arcadia 's most valuable brand , along with Topman , together worth several hundred million pounds .
Dave Gill of the retail trade union Usdaw said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for workers at Arcadia and could not have come at a worse time , just before Christmas .
`` We are seeking urgent meetings with management and we urge them to end their longstanding anti-union stance and engage with us .
In the meantime , we are providing our members with the support and advice they need at this difficult time . ''

British retail empire Arcadia Group, responsible for Topshop, Burton, and Dorothy Perkins, is on the brink of collapse putting 15,000 jobs at risk, it has been reported.
The company, owned by billionaire businessman Sir Philip Green, is preparing to appoint administrators from Deloitte as soon as next week, Sky News reports. The majority of the group's 500 standalone stores are currently shut due to England's second nationwide lockdown.
An industry source described the collapse as "inevitable" after talks to secure an emergency £30 million ($39.9m) loan ended without success. It could put the group's entire 15,000-strong workforce at risk after 500 jobs were already cut from head offices earlier this year. Most of the group's employees have had their wages subsidized by the taxpayer this year under the government's furlough scheme.
In a statement to Newsweek, Arcadia said it has been working on "a number of contingency options". "We are aware of the recent media speculation surrounding the future of Arcadia," the group said.
"The forced closure of our stores for sustained periods as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a material impact on trading across our businesses. As a result, the Arcadia boards have been working on a number of contingency options to secure the future of the Group's brands.
"The brands continue to trade and our stores will be opening again in England and ROI as soon as the Government COVID-19 restrictions are lifted next week." It did not comment on the risk to jobs.
Topshop is the most lucrative brand within the Arcadia Group empire Daniel Leal-Olivas/Getty
Earlier this year, Arcadia's former London headquarters for Burton was put up for sale in a bid to secure cash for the group. Corinthian House, on Tottenham Court Road, has an asking price of £80m ($106m).
Sky reports that there is expected to be a tussle among creditors for the company's assets once it is formally declared bankrupt. The Boohoo Group is named among those looking to take on Topshop, which is Arcadia's most valuable brand, along with Topman, together worth several hundred million pounds.
Dave Gill of the retail trade union Usdaw said: "This is a devastating blow for workers at Arcadia and could not have come at a worse time, just before Christmas.
"We are seeking urgent meetings with management and we urge them to end their longstanding anti-union stance and engage with us. In the meantime, we are providing our members with the support and advice they need at this difficult time."


newsweek--2020-11-27--'Great British Baking Show': When Will the Next Season Air on Netflix?

The Great British Baking Show has been for many around the world a balm in troubling times , but the 2020 season has now come to an end , with the grand finale airing now on Netflix .
For those relying on the feel-good show to get them through this COVID-era , however , there is good news : Netflix will be airing more Great British Baking Show in just a few weeks .
On Thursday , December 3 , Netflix will release The Great British Baking Show : Holidays Season 3 , a series of festive instalments that see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stars of a beloved Irish Netflix comedy .
Though these seasons are new to American audiences , they were actually released in the United Kingdom in 2019 as two episodes , `` The Great Christmas Bake Off 2019 , '' and `` The Great New Year 's Bake Off 2019/20 . ''
The first of these sees four past Baking Show contestants return : Tom and Yan from 2017 , plus Briony and Terry from 2018 .
Plus British rockers Status Quo , who for some reason known only to GBBS makers Channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Rockin ' All Over the World . ''
The second episode , meanwhile , saw five cast members from the cult Netflix and Channel 4 comedy Derry Girls enter the Bake Off tent to be judged by Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood .
As for the next proper season of The Great British Baking Show ( known as The Great British Bake Off in the U.K. ) , that has already been confirmed .
In October , as the show was airing with massive COVID-19-boosted ratings , Channel 4 confirmed that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 , and applications are already open to the bakers .
A release date for the new season has not been confirmed , though it is expected that the show will be able to return to its late summer release date , after the coronavirus lead to the 2020 season being delayed as the production company worked out how to film the show in a pandemic .
However , now they have done that once , by quarantining the contestants and crew together in a sequestered hotel , they should be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As episodes of the Baking Show have been coming to Netflix a few days after they air in the U.K. , fans should be able to see the next season in August 2021 .
The Great British Baking Show : Holidays airs December 3 on Netflix ; Season 12 is coming in 2021 .

The Great British Baking Show has been for many around the world a balm in troubling times, but the 2020 season has now come to an end, with the grand finale airing now on Netflix.
For those relying on the feel-good show to get them through this COVID-era, however, there is good news: Netflix will be airing more Great British Baking Show in just a few weeks.
On Thursday, December 3, Netflix will release The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 3, a series of festive instalments that see iconic past contestants return as well as stars of a beloved Irish Netflix comedy.
Though these seasons are new to American audiences, they were actually released in the United Kingdom in 2019 as two episodes, "The Great Christmas Bake Off 2019," and "The Great New Year's Bake Off 2019/20."
'The Great British Baking Show' will be getting a new season – and more episodes are coming to Netflix in December. Channel 4
The first of these sees four past Baking Show contestants return: Tom and Yan from 2017, plus Briony and Terry from 2018. Plus British rockers Status Quo, who for some reason known only to GBBS makers Channel 4 end the special performing their song "Rockin' All Over the World."
The second episode, meanwhile, saw five cast members from the cult Netflix and Channel 4 comedy Derry Girls enter the Bake Off tent to be judged by Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.
As for the next proper season of The Great British Baking Show (known as The Great British Bake Off in the U.K.), that has already been confirmed. In October, as the show was airing with massive COVID-19-boosted ratings, Channel 4 confirmed that the show would return in 2021 for Season 12, and applications are already open to the bakers.
A release date for the new season has not been confirmed, though it is expected that the show will be able to return to its late summer release date, after the coronavirus lead to the 2020 season being delayed as the production company worked out how to film the show in a pandemic.
However, now they have done that once, by quarantining the contestants and crew together in a sequestered hotel, they should be able to make the next show without a delay. As episodes of the Baking Show have been coming to Netflix a few days after they air in the U.K., fans should be able to see the next season in August 2021.
The Great British Baking Show: Holidays airs December 3 on Netflix; Season 12 is coming in 2021.


newsweek--2020-11-27--Thanksgiving Day Stabbing and Shooting Leaves Two Family Members Dead

An 82-year-old man has been stabbed to death and another man fatally shot in a Thanksgiving Day incident in a New Orleans neighborhood , officials said .
Police were called to the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood around 8:45 am on Thursday .
Elijah Johnson , 82 , died of multiple stab wounds at the scene .
The second victim , 31-year-old DeFranklin Reynolds , is believed to have been Johnson 's stepson and was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital with gunshot wounds .
A third victim , a 51-year-old woman thought to be Reynolds ' mother , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable condition .
Officers told The Times-Picayune that the initial investigation suggests Reynolds stabbed his mother and stepfather Johnson , before another relative intervened and shot Reynolds .
The two deaths are being treated as homicides , New Orleans Police said .
One of Elijah Johnson 's other sons , who lives nearby dropped , off food for a Thanksgiving meal , the newspaper reported .
More than an hour later that son received a call from Johnson 's wife , who herself was injured , about the killings .
Johnson was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is not yet known what sparked the violence and an investigation is ongoing .
Police in Nevada said they have arrested two suspects after a separate shooting on Thanksgiving Day left one person dead and four others injured .
The Henderson Police Department said it had received a call about a shooting in Henderson , near Las Vegas , shortly before 1 a.m. '' Upon officers arriving on scene at the 800 block of East Lake Mead Parkway they discovered a 22-year-old male deceased from an apparent gunshot wound , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured , a 53-year-old male injured , and a 41-year-old male injured , all suffering from apparent gunshot wounds , '' the department said in a statement .
The four surviving victims were all transported to an area hospital for treatment and are expected to survive .
The suspects were described by the police as a white man with a beard between the ages of 20 and 30 and a white woman in her 20s .
Both had either tattoos or paint on their faces .
Henderson Police said the suspects are believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ randomly shooting at citizens with no apparent motive .
`` The suspects were later located and taken into custody for unrelated charges by Arizona Department of Public Safety ( AZDPS ) , '' they said in a statement .
The incident is being investigated as the thirteenth homicide for the city of Henderson for 2020 .

An 82-year-old man has been stabbed to death and another man fatally shot in a Thanksgiving Day incident in a New Orleans neighborhood, officials said.
Police were called to the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood around 8:45 am on Thursday.
Elijah Johnson, 82, died of multiple stab wounds at the scene. The second victim, 31-year-old DeFranklin Reynolds, is believed to have been Johnson's stepson and was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital with gunshot wounds.
A third victim, a 51-year-old woman thought to be Reynolds' mother, was stabbed but remains in hospital in a stable condition.
Officers told The Times-Picayune that the initial investigation suggests Reynolds stabbed his mother and stepfather Johnson, before another relative intervened and shot Reynolds.
The two deaths are being treated as homicides, New Orleans Police said.
One of Elijah Johnson's other sons, who lives nearby dropped, off food for a Thanksgiving meal, the newspaper reported. More than an hour later that son received a call from Johnson's wife, who herself was injured, about the killings.
Johnson was a ceramics specialist who installed tiles in homes. It is not yet known what sparked the violence and an investigation is ongoing.
Police were called to the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood around 8:45 am on Thanksgiving Day Larry W. Smith/Getty Images
Police in Nevada said they have arrested two suspects after a separate shooting on Thanksgiving Day left one person dead and four others injured.
The Henderson Police Department said it had received a call about a shooting in Henderson, near Las Vegas, shortly before 1 a.m.
"Upon officers arriving on scene at the 800 block of East Lake Mead Parkway they discovered a 22-year-old male deceased from an apparent gunshot wound, a 23-year-old female injured, a 18-year-old male injured, a 53-year-old male injured, and a 41-year-old male injured, all suffering from apparent gunshot wounds," the department said in a statement.
The four surviving victims were all transported to an area hospital for treatment and are expected to survive.
The suspects were described by the police as a white man with a beard between the ages of 20 and 30 and a white woman in her 20s. Both had either tattoos or paint on their faces.
Henderson Police said the suspects are believed to have been driving around the city randomly shooting at citizens with no apparent motive.
"The suspects were later located and taken into custody for unrelated charges by Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS)," they said in a statement. The incident is being investigated as the thirteenth homicide for the city of Henderson for 2020.


newsweek--2020-11-27--Russia Begins Vaccinating 400,000 Military Personnel Against COVID

Russia has started the mass inoculation of its armed forces against COVID-19 and is scaling up manufacturing of its flagship vaccine amid a record number of new daily cases .
Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday that 2,500 military personnel had already been vaccinated and tens of thousands more would receive the jab by the end of the year .
`` In accordance with the instructions of the president , the vaccination of military personnel against the new coronavirus infection has begun .
In total , it is planned to vaccinate more than 400,000 servicemen , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the news agency Tass .
Shoigu added that 500 military personnel had been involved in a COVID-19 experiment in which they were tested with plasma containing a high number of antibodies .
He said it `` has already shown its effectiveness in severe forms of the disease . ''
Russia is working on several COVID vaccines and the government has touted the most prominent—Sputnik V , developed by Gamaleya Research Institute—as having 95 percent effectiveness .
The institute said in a statement patients would need two doses that would be available for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheaper than mRNA vaccines with similar efficacy levels . ''
This is a reference to the vaccines being developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna .
Sputnik V will be free for Russian citizens .
On Friday , it was announced that Indian pharmaceutical company Hetero would manufacture more than 100 million doses of Sputnik V under a deal with Russia 's RDIF sovereign wealth fund , Reuters reported .
Siberia 's Vector Institute is developing a vaccine called EpiVacCorona , but it said additional shots would be required up to 10 months after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
The institute said on Friday it could produce up to 5 million doses of its vaccine each year .
Russia 's announcement in August that it was the first country to approve a vaccine sparked concerns over transparency and whether the development had been rushed .
It comes as Russia confirmed a record 27,543 infections in a day on Friday as hospitals struggle to cope with a second wave of the virus .
With more than 2 million infections , Russia is the fifth most affected country in the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and France .
Anastasia Rakova , deputy mayor of Moscow , which is the epicenter of the disease , said up to 1,700 new patients were being hospitalized each day .
`` The situation with coronavirus in Moscow remains very tense , '' she said .
The graphic below provided by Statista gives a snapshot of coronavirus cases around the world this week .

Russia has started the mass inoculation of its armed forces against COVID-19 and is scaling up manufacturing of its flagship vaccine amid a record number of new daily cases.
Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday that 2,500 military personnel had already been vaccinated and tens of thousands more would receive the jab by the end of the year.
"In accordance with the instructions of the president, the vaccination of military personnel against the new coronavirus infection has begun. In total, it is planned to vaccinate more than 400,000 servicemen," he told a military department meeting, according to the news agency Tass.
A nurse prepares a coronavirus vaccine in trials at a Moscow clinic on September 10. Russia will vaccinate 400,000 military personnel against the disease. NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/Getty Images
Shoigu added that 500 military personnel had been involved in a COVID-19 experiment in which they were tested with plasma containing a high number of antibodies. He said it "has already shown its effectiveness in severe forms of the disease."
Russia is working on several COVID vaccines and the government has touted the most prominent—Sputnik V, developed by Gamaleya Research Institute—as having 95 percent effectiveness.
The institute said in a statement patients would need two doses that would be available for $10 each, making it "cheaper than mRNA vaccines with similar efficacy levels." This is a reference to the vaccines being developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Sputnik V will be free for Russian citizens.
On Friday, it was announced that Indian pharmaceutical company Hetero would manufacture more than 100 million doses of Sputnik V under a deal with Russia's RDIF sovereign wealth fund, Reuters reported.
Siberia's Vector Institute is developing a vaccine called EpiVacCorona, but it said additional shots would be required up to 10 months after the first two jabs and then every three years. The institute said on Friday it could produce up to 5 million doses of its vaccine each year.
Russia's announcement in August that it was the first country to approve a vaccine sparked concerns over transparency and whether the development had been rushed.
It comes as Russia confirmed a record 27,543 infections in a day on Friday as hospitals struggle to cope with a second wave of the virus. With more than 2 million infections, Russia is the fifth most affected country in the world, behind the U.S., India, Brazil and France.
Anastasia Rakova, deputy mayor of Moscow, which is the epicenter of the disease, said up to 1,700 new patients were being hospitalized each day. "The situation with coronavirus in Moscow remains very tense," she said.
The graphic below provided by Statista gives a snapshot of coronavirus cases around the world this week.


newsweek--2020-11-27--China Media Says 'Desperate' World Leaders 'Jumped the Gun' Congratulating Biden

Chinese state media has defended President Xi Jinping 's delayed congratulatory call to projected President-elect Joe Biden , suggesting the leader was showing `` due decorum '' and expressing hope that the call opens a less combative chapter of Sino-American relations .
Xi called Biden on Thursday , making him one of the last world leaders to congratulate the Democratic nominee on his victory .
Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin were the two highest profile holdouts , and the latter still has not offered his congratulations .
Chinese state media said Xi told Biden he hoped the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirit of non-conflict , non-confrontation , mutual respect and win-win cooperation , focus on cooperation , manage differences , advance the healthy and stable development of China-US ties , and join hands with other countries and the international community to promote the noble cause of world peace and development . ''
The state-run China Daily published an editorial Thursday defending Xi 's decision to delay the call .
The president seems to have decided to congratulate Biden after the General Services Administration declared him the winner and President Donald Trump had ordered his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` That President Xi Jinping waited for the appropriate signal before sending a message to Joe Biden congratulating him on his election victory was simply showing due decorum , '' the newspaper wrote .
`` That many other leaders jumped the gun shows how desperate some countries are for a change of approach by the United States , the current U.S. administration 's brash self-centeredness having become increasingly taxing and trying , '' it added .
China Daily said Trump 's term had been especially difficult for Beijing , which had become `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'America first ' offensive . ''
China and its media organisations have expressed hope that Biden will bring an end to America 's recent combative China strategy , though analysts have warned that strategic competition between Washington , D.C. and Beijing is the new normal .
Biden has vowed to put democracy and human rights at the centre of his foreign policy , which could mean fractious ties with the Chinese Communist Party .
He has also said that while he does not see the China challenge as `` primarily a military one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and respond to aggression . ''
There is now bipartisan recognition in Washington that the China challenge needs to be addressed .
Though many disagreed with Trump 's methods , it would be hard to find lawmakers who do not agree that Beijing needs to be confronted .
Chinese media is , for now , expressing hope for dialogue and cooperation—a far cry from the vitriol with which it has covered the Trump term .
`` Recalibrating the country 's China policy is a task that should not be delayed , '' China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's policies aimed at containing China have taken a heavy toll on bilateral relations and global stability . ''
Neither the U.S. nor China has the capacity or the motive to continue the confrontation initiated by the hawkish ideologues of the incumbent U.S. administration , '' the editorial continued .
`` It is time to hit the reset button . ''

Chinese state media has defended President Xi Jinping's delayed congratulatory call to projected President-elect Joe Biden, suggesting the leader was showing "due decorum" and expressing hope that the call opens a less combative chapter of Sino-American relations.
Xi called Biden on Thursday, making him one of the last world leaders to congratulate the Democratic nominee on his victory. Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin were the two highest profile holdouts, and the latter still has not offered his congratulations.
Chinese state media said Xi told Biden he hoped the world's two largest economies would "uphold the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage differences, advance the healthy and stable development of China-US ties, and join hands with other countries and the international community to promote the noble cause of world peace and development."
The state-run China Daily published an editorial Thursday defending Xi's decision to delay the call. The president seems to have decided to congratulate Biden after the General Services Administration declared him the winner and President Donald Trump had ordered his aides to cooperate with the transition.
"That President Xi Jinping waited for the appropriate signal before sending a message to Joe Biden congratulating him on his election victory was simply showing due decorum," the newspaper wrote.
"That many other leaders jumped the gun shows how desperate some countries are for a change of approach by the United States, the current U.S. administration's brash self-centeredness having become increasingly taxing and trying," it added.
China Daily said Trump's term had been especially difficult for Beijing, which had become "the primary target of the administration's 'America first' offensive."
China and its media organisations have expressed hope that Biden will bring an end to America's recent combative China strategy, though analysts have warned that strategic competition between Washington, D.C. and Beijing is the new normal.
Biden has vowed to put democracy and human rights at the centre of his foreign policy, which could mean fractious ties with the Chinese Communist Party. He has also said that while he does not see the China challenge as "primarily a military one," his administration will "deter and respond to aggression."
There is now bipartisan recognition in Washington that the China challenge needs to be addressed. Though many disagreed with Trump's methods, it would be hard to find lawmakers who do not agree that Beijing needs to be confronted.
Chinese media is, for now, expressing hope for dialogue and cooperation—a far cry from the vitriol with which it has covered the Trump term.
"Recalibrating the country's China policy is a task that should not be delayed," China Daily argued. "The current administration's policies aimed at containing China have taken a heavy toll on bilateral relations and global stability."
Neither the U.S. nor China has the capacity or the motive to continue the confrontation initiated by the hawkish ideologues of the incumbent U.S. administration," the editorial continued. "It is time to hit the reset button."


newsweek--2020-11-27--How Much Patience Do the Conservatives Have Left With Boris Johnson?

Britain 's prime minister is facing a mutiny over COVID plans that will put 99 percent of England under tough restrictions when the country leaves lockdown .
A number of Conservative members of Parliament ( MPs ) have indicated that they will not support leader Boris Johnson after he revealed new tier restrictions , calling on the government to publish the evidence behind decisions to split the country into three levels of lockdown .
A total of 98.7 percent of the country will be under tier two or tier three restrictions , which put strict rules on the mixing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wight , Cornwall , and the Isles of Scilly in tier one .
The anti-lockdown Covid Recovery Group ( CRG ) , made up of Conservative backbenchers , has described the move as `` authoritarianism at work '' .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the move was `` necessary to protect the NHS and keep the virus under control '' .
The government has promised to publish an impact assessment early next week before MPs get a chance to vote on the new rules .
But a rebellion is growing among Johnson 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the chair of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory MPs , who has said he will vote against the measures which have `` interfered in people 's private and personal lives in a way which is unacceptable '' .
`` I have severe reservations on so many different levels , '' he told BBC Radio 4 's World At One .
`` I do think that the policies have been far too authoritarian . ''
Steve Baker , leader of the CRG , asked : `` Is it necessary and proportionate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Former minister Tobias Ellwood , the MP for Bournemouth East , tweeted : `` With only 160 cases per 100k I 'm puzzled to see us placed in this tier which will cause further hardship for our hospitality industry .
I will NOT be supporting the Gov 's motion to introduce this next week . ''
In a joint statement , Dr. Liam Fox and John Penrose , the MPs for North Somerset and Weston-super-Mare , said the decision to place the area in tier three `` is n't right nor fair '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they said , given that people have been asked to work from home and said the region was being punished for the higher infection rates nearby .
They said : `` On our own , North Somerset might well qualify to be in tier two , but we have been placed in tier three because we are regarded as ' a natural travel to work area ' along with Bristol and Gloucestershire . ''
Some Conservative MPs said their areas were leaving the national lockdown under tougher restrictions than they had entered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tonbridge , Edenbridge , and Malling in Kent , said : `` We went into lockdown at tier one and came out at tier three .
This is n't working for us . ''
Jonathan Djanogly , MP for Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire , tweeted : `` My constituency went into second lockdown ( against my wishes ) at tier one and , with great cost to the Hunts local economy , has come out of lockdown at tier two – am I missing something here !
I will need to have this justified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin said : `` Over 23 million of us were living under tier one restrictions before the lockdown – that figure will be under one million in December .
There is no logic whatsoever in having a month of lockdown only for people to have to live under an even more severe set of restrictions afterwards . ''
Former cabinet ministers Greg Clark and Damian Green were among seven Tory MPs to express their disappointment at the whole of Kent being placed into tier three .
In response , Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand why people feel frustrated , I get that .
But I really , really hope that people also understand that I think the vast majority of the British public want us to work hard , do the right thing and beat the virus together . ''
MPs have warned Johnson 's handling of the COVID crisis could put him at risk of losing the next general election , scheduled for May 2024 .
Could confidence in Johnson as leader dwindle even earlier than that ?
`` I do n't think there 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Steven Fielding , professor of political history at the University of Nottingham , tells Newsweek .
`` Next week is all about venting , backbenchers want to air their frustrations and make it known to Johnson they do n't like what is happening - but there is light at the end of the tunnel with news of a vaccine on the horizon , and I think that light will save him . ''
Handling the COVID pandemic is `` never the job Johnson wanted to do '' , Fielding says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer , Moderna and AstraZeneca , Fielding believes the more likely possibility than being ousted by his party was that Johnson would think `` I ca n't be bothered '' .
`` Johnson does n't like to give people bad news , which is why he was criticized for a lot of the COVID crisis but now that he has been able to provide good news of the vaccine , there 's light and there 's hope .
He is back to being able to bring good news , which is what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the optimism and this gung ho character .
You can start to see that returning . ''
Fielding has said previously that it was unlikely that Johnson would last that long .
When Johnson won an 80-seat majority at Britain 's 2019 General Election , it was the best Conservative result since 1987 .
`` There are still a lot of MPs who see Boris Johnson as being responsible for them being in government , '' Fielding says .
`` His handling of COVID has undermined a lot of that , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn against him as leader now . ''
Johnson 's majority in the Commons means it is unlikely his tier restrictions will be voted down , but if 40 of his own MPs rebel against him , he will have to rely on support from Labour to get it through .
Labour is expected to decide early next week whether to back the plans after consultation with government coronavirus experts .

Britain's prime minister is facing a mutiny over COVID plans that will put 99 percent of England under tough restrictions when the country leaves lockdown.
A number of Conservative members of Parliament (MPs) have indicated that they will not support leader Boris Johnson after he revealed new tier restrictions, calling on the government to publish the evidence behind decisions to split the country into three levels of lockdown.
A total of 98.7 percent of the country will be under tier two or tier three restrictions, which put strict rules on the mixing of households, with only the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly in tier one.
The anti-lockdown Covid Recovery Group (CRG), made up of Conservative backbenchers, has described the move as "authoritarianism at work". Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the move was "necessary to protect the NHS and keep the virus under control".
The government has promised to publish an impact assessment early next week before MPs get a chance to vote on the new rules. But a rebellion is growing among Johnson's own MPs, including Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, who has said he will vote against the measures which have "interfered in people's private and personal lives in a way which is unacceptable".
"I have severe reservations on so many different levels," he told BBC Radio 4's World At One. "I do think that the policies have been far too authoritarian."
Steve Baker, leader of the CRG, asked: "Is it necessary and proportionate to the threat from this disease?" Former minister Tobias Ellwood, the MP for Bournemouth East, tweeted: "With only 160 cases per 100k I'm puzzled to see us placed in this tier which will cause further hardship for our hospitality industry. I will NOT be supporting the Gov's motion to introduce this next week."
In a joint statement, Dr. Liam Fox and John Penrose, the MPs for North Somerset and Weston-super-Mare, said the decision to place the area in tier three "isn't right nor fair". The decision was "illogical", they said, given that people have been asked to work from home and said the region was being punished for the higher infection rates nearby.
They said: "On our own, North Somerset might well qualify to be in tier two, but we have been placed in tier three because we are regarded as 'a natural travel to work area' along with Bristol and Gloucestershire."
Boris Johnson on a visit to the U.K.'s military laboratory at Porton Down where COVID tests are taking place Adrian Dennis/Getty
Some Conservative MPs said their areas were leaving the national lockdown under tougher restrictions than they had entered it. Tom Tugendhat, who represents Tonbridge, Edenbridge, and Malling in Kent, said: "We went into lockdown at tier one and came out at tier three. This isn't working for us."
Jonathan Djanogly, MP for Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, tweeted: "My constituency went into second lockdown (against my wishes) at tier one and, with great cost to the Hunts local economy, has come out of lockdown at tier two – am I missing something here! I will need to have this justified before voting for it."
West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin said: "Over 23 million of us were living under tier one restrictions before the lockdown – that figure will be under one million in December. There is no logic whatsoever in having a month of lockdown only for people to have to live under an even more severe set of restrictions afterwards." Former cabinet ministers Greg Clark and Damian Green were among seven Tory MPs to express their disappointment at the whole of Kent being placed into tier three.
In response, Johnson told Sky News: "I totally understand why people feel frustrated, I get that. But I really, really hope that people also understand that I think the vast majority of the British public want us to work hard, do the right thing and beat the virus together."
MPs have warned Johnson's handling of the COVID crisis could put him at risk of losing the next general election, scheduled for May 2024. Could confidence in Johnson as leader dwindle even earlier than that?
"I don't think there'll be any real threat to his position," Steven Fielding, professor of political history at the University of Nottingham, tells Newsweek. "Next week is all about venting, backbenchers want to air their frustrations and make it known to Johnson they don't like what is happening - but there is light at the end of the tunnel with news of a vaccine on the horizon, and I think that light will save him."
Handling the COVID pandemic is "never the job Johnson wanted to do", Fielding says. Before news of successful vaccine trials from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca, Fielding believes the more likely possibility than being ousted by his party was that Johnson would think "I can't be bothered".
"Johnson doesn't like to give people bad news, which is why he was criticized for a lot of the COVID crisis but now that he has been able to provide good news of the vaccine, there's light and there's hope. He is back to being able to bring good news, which is what he wants. People like that about Johnson, the optimism and this gung ho character. You can start to see that returning."
Fielding has said previously that it was unlikely that Johnson would last that long.
When Johnson won an 80-seat majority at Britain's 2019 General Election, it was the best Conservative result since 1987. "There are still a lot of MPs who see Boris Johnson as being responsible for them being in government," Fielding says. "His handling of COVID has undermined a lot of that, but I think it's unlikely anyone will turn against him as leader now."
Johnson's majority in the Commons means it is unlikely his tier restrictions will be voted down, but if 40 of his own MPs rebel against him, he will have to rely on support from Labour to get it through. Labour is expected to decide early next week whether to back the plans after consultation with government coronavirus experts.


newsweek--2020-11-27--'Life We Treasure' Will Soon Return but Americans Must 'Remain Vigilant,' Former FDA Chief Says

Former Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) Chief Scott Gottlieb has said life may soon return to something resembling normality , but urged Americans to stay `` vigilant '' as a third wave of COVID-19 infections ravages the U.S. '' We 'll turn the corner on COVID in 2021 with the help of our technology ; but we must remain vigilant as this last uncontrolled wave sweeps the nation .
This is the most dangerous phase and we 're tired .
But stay firm , stay safe .
We 'll soon get back the life and leisures we treasure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23rd commissioner of the FDA , wrote on Twitter .
Last week , American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech submitted an Emergency Use Authorization application for their COVID-19 vaccine to the FDA .
A vaccine advisory committee from the agency is scheduled to meet on December 10 in order to discuss whether or not to approve the vaccine , which the developers say has an efficacy of 95 percent and has no serious side effects .
If the vaccine is approved at the meeting , it could be rolled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of the White House 's coronavirus vaccine effort , has said .
high-risk groups such as the elderly and health care workers would likely be first in line to receive it .
This month , American pharmaceutical company Moderna also announced that its coronavirus vaccine has an efficacy of 95 percent .
The firm is expected to follow in the footsteps of Pfizer and seek regulatory approval in the coming weeks .
With these vaccines , the U.S. could reach `` true herd immunity '' in May with 70 percent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although overcoming people 's doubts would be key to this process , he said .
`` I really hope and look forward to seeing that the level of negative perception of the vaccine decreases and people 's acceptance increases .
That is going to be critical to help us .
Most people need to be immunized before we can go back to a normal life . ''
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the U.S. government 's top infectious disease expert , told CBS News that herd immunity could be reached `` reasonably quickly '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans received the vaccine .
But some experts have warned that even with the arrival and roll out of these vaccines , life will likely not return to normal for some time because it is not yet clear whether these jabs prevent disease transmission and for how long they provide immunity .
`` We do n't have the data yet to know whether these vaccines actually prevent people from getting the virus , '' Lisa Lee , a public health expert from Virginia Tech , told Fast Company .
`` We only know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick from the virus .
These data have been released very early because they 're so promising .
But we still have a lot of analysis to do and a lot of work to do to make sure that we understand what the vaccines are preventing . ''
This means public health measures such as mask wearing will still be important over the coming months .
Furthermore , vaccinating sufficient numbers to reach herd immunity of people will be a long process .
`` It 's going to take time to manufacture and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journey of six to 12 months , in terms of getting the vaccine made , stored , distributed , allocated , and then into the population itself , '' Lee said .
`` Each of these are two-dose vaccines , between three and four weeks apart .
So even if a person gets vaccinated immediately , we still have another month to wait until the full vaccination takes effect .
So it 's going to take some time . ''
In addition , other experts have warned that the virus may never go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although it could become no more serious than a common cold within a few years , Vineet Menachery , from the University of Texas Medical Branch , told NPR .
Gottlieb 's comments that Americans should `` remain vigilant '' came as millions of people across the country traveled ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday , The Associated Press reported , despite the warnings of public health authorities not to do so , More than 90,000 people were hospitalized in the U.S. due to COVID-19 on Thursday as people celebrated Thanksgiving—a record for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new daily cases and deaths dropped significantly on Thursday compared to Wednesday , this is likely due to holiday disruption with 20 states not reporting data , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
On Wednesday , 2,284 COVID-19 deaths were recorded—the highest figure since May 7—according to the Project , while more than 182,000 new cases were reported .
In total , the U.S. is nearing 13 million confirmed COVID-19 infections , while around 260,000 people have died from the disease in the country .

Former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Chief Scott Gottlieb has said life may soon return to something resembling normality, but urged Americans to stay "vigilant" as a third wave of COVID-19 infections ravages the U.S.
"We'll turn the corner on COVID in 2021 with the help of our technology; but we must remain vigilant as this last uncontrolled wave sweeps the nation. This is the most dangerous phase and we're tired. But stay firm, stay safe. We'll soon get back the life and leisures we treasure," Gottlieb, who served as 23rd commissioner of the FDA, wrote on Twitter.
Last week, American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech submitted an Emergency Use Authorization application for their COVID-19 vaccine to the FDA.
A vaccine advisory committee from the agency is scheduled to meet on December 10 in order to discuss whether or not to approve the vaccine, which the developers say has an efficacy of 95 percent and has no serious side effects.
If the vaccine is approved at the meeting, it could be rolled out within days, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, head of the White House's coronavirus vaccine effort, has said. high-risk groups such as the elderly and health care workers would likely be first in line to receive it.
This month, American pharmaceutical company Moderna also announced that its coronavirus vaccine has an efficacy of 95 percent. The firm is expected to follow in the footsteps of Pfizer and seek regulatory approval in the coming weeks.
With these vaccines, the U.S. could reach "true herd immunity" in May with 70 percent of the population vaccinated, Slaoui told CNN, although overcoming people's doubts would be key to this process, he said.
"I really hope and look forward to seeing that the level of negative perception of the vaccine decreases and people's acceptance increases. That is going to be critical to help us. Most people need to be immunized before we can go back to a normal life."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious disease expert, told CBS News that herd immunity could be reached "reasonably quickly" next year if a sufficient number of Americans received the vaccine.
But some experts have warned that even with the arrival and roll out of these vaccines, life will likely not return to normal for some time because it is not yet clear whether these jabs prevent disease transmission and for how long they provide immunity.
"We don't have the data yet to know whether these vaccines actually prevent people from getting the virus," Lisa Lee, a public health expert from Virginia Tech, told Fast Company. "We only know that they prevent people from getting really sick from the virus. These data have been released very early because they're so promising. But we still have a lot of analysis to do and a lot of work to do to make sure that we understand what the vaccines are preventing."
This means public health measures such as mask wearing will still be important over the coming months. Furthermore, vaccinating sufficient numbers to reach herd immunity of people will be a long process.
We’ll turn the corner on Covid in 2021 with the help of our technology; but we must remain vigilant as this last uncontrolled wave sweeps the nation. This is the most dangerous phase and we’re tired. But stay firm, stay safe. We’ll soon get back the life and leisures we treasure. https://t.co/3BAhEVmazN — Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) November 26, 2020
"It's going to take time to manufacture and get enough vaccine. Probably realistically a journey of six to 12 months, in terms of getting the vaccine made, stored, distributed, allocated, and then into the population itself," Lee said. "Each of these are two-dose vaccines, between three and four weeks apart. So even if a person gets vaccinated immediately, we still have another month to wait until the full vaccination takes effect. So it's going to take some time."
In addition, other experts have warned that the virus may never go away entirely, even with a vaccine, although it could become no more serious than a common cold within a few years, Vineet Menachery, from the University of Texas Medical Branch, told NPR.
Gottlieb's comments that Americans should "remain vigilant" came as millions of people across the country traveled ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, The Associated Press reported, despite the warnings of public health authorities not to do so,
More than 90,000 people were hospitalized in the U.S. due to COVID-19 on Thursday as people celebrated Thanksgiving—a record for the pandemic.
While the number of new daily cases and deaths dropped significantly on Thursday compared to Wednesday, this is likely due to holiday disruption with 20 states not reporting data, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
On Wednesday, 2,284 COVID-19 deaths were recorded—the highest figure since May 7—according to the Project, while more than 182,000 new cases were reported.
In total, the U.S. is nearing 13 million confirmed COVID-19 infections, while around 260,000 people have died from the disease in the country.