newsweek--2020-11-17--Oldest GOP Senator, Iowa's Chuck Grassley Tests Positive for COVID-19 as State Cases Increase

Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley announced Tuesday he has tested positive for COVID-19 .
Meanwhile , Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has called for a statewide mask mandate because of the rise in coronavirus cases statewide .
First voted into the U.S. Senate in 1980 , Grassley holds the record for the longest consecutive voting streak , having not missed a Senate vote since 1993 .
Currently 87 years old , Grassley is the oldest living Republican Senator .
In a Tuesday tweet , Grassley said he was `` feeling good . ''
`` I 've tested positive for coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ b following my doctors ' orders/CDC guidelines & continue to quarantine .
I 'm feeling good + will keep up on my work for the ppl of Iowa from home .
I appreciate everyone 's well wishes + prayers & look fwd to resuming my normal schedule soon . ''
Grassley serves as the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and president pro tempore of the Senate .
Grassley 's position places him third in line for the presidency , following the vice president and Speaker of the House .
Newsweek reached out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
Grassley 's diagnosis came as Iowa 's number of positive coronavirus cases has seen a marked increase .
On Tuesday , the Iowa Department of Public Health reported 3,563 new cases of COVID-19 , bringing the state total to 190,583 positive cases .
Fatalities attributed to the virus statewide numbered 2,024 .
After weeks of refusal to undertake the action , Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statewide mask mandate on Monday .
Individuals over the age of 2 are required to wear a mask in any public outdoor space and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of their households for 15 minutes or longer .
`` If Iowans do n't buy into this , '' Reynolds said Monday , `` we lose .
Businesses will close again .
More schools will be forced to go online and our health care system will fail .
The cost in human life will be high . ''
Reynolds ' proclamation placed limits on the number of people who can attend social gatherings .
No more than 15 individuals can meet indoors while a limit of 30 people was placed on outdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask mandate during a July interview with WHO radio .
`` There 's no way to enforce it , '' Reynolds said .
`` Most of the states or entities that have done that , they 've actually gone as far as to say we 're not going to enforce it , so it 's just kind of a feel-good . ''
Reynolds explained during a Tuesday news briefing that the severity of the situation in Iowa helped reverse her opinion .
`` We are at a critical component right now and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't change the trend , flatten the curve and help address the number of individuals that are being hospitalized , '' Reynolds said , `` we run the risk of stressing extending overcapacity to our hospitals . ''

Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley announced Tuesday he has tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has called for a statewide mask mandate because of the rise in coronavirus cases statewide.
First voted into the U.S. Senate in 1980, Grassley holds the record for the longest consecutive voting streak, having not missed a Senate vote since 1993. Currently 87 years old, Grassley is the oldest living Republican Senator. In a Tuesday tweet, Grassley said he was "feeling good."
"I've tested positive for coronavirus," Grassley tweeted. "I'll b following my doctors' orders/CDC guidelines & continue to quarantine. I'm feeling good + will keep up on my work for the ppl of Iowa from home. I appreciate everyone's well wishes + prayers &look fwd to resuming my normal schedule soon."
I’ve tested positive for coronavirus. I’ll b following my doctors’ orders/CDC guidelines & continue to quarantine. I’m feeling good + will keep up on my work for the ppl of Iowa from home. I appreciate everyone’s well wishes + prayers &look fwd to resuming my normal schedule soon — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) November 17, 2020
Grassley serves as the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and president pro tempore of the Senate. Grassley's position places him third in line for the presidency, following the vice president and Speaker of the House.
Newsweek reached out to the Republican Party of Iowa for comment.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday. Stefani Reynolds/Getty
Grassley's diagnosis came as Iowa's number of positive coronavirus cases has seen a marked increase. On Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported 3,563 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 190,583 positive cases. Fatalities attributed to the virus statewide numbered 2,024.
After weeks of refusal to undertake the action, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statewide mask mandate on Monday. Individuals over the age of 2 are required to wear a mask in any public outdoor space and when near others who are not a member of their households for 15 minutes or longer.
"If Iowans don't buy into this," Reynolds said Monday, "we lose. Businesses will close again. More schools will be forced to go online and our health care system will fail. The cost in human life will be high."
Reynolds' proclamation placed limits on the number of people who can attend social gatherings. No more than 15 individuals can meet indoors while a limit of 30 people was placed on outdoor gatherings.
Reynolds dismissed the idea of a mask mandate during a July interview with WHO radio.
"There's no way to enforce it," Reynolds said. "Most of the states or entities that have done that, they've actually gone as far as to say we're not going to enforce it, so it's just kind of a feel-good."
Reynolds explained during a Tuesday news briefing that the severity of the situation in Iowa helped reverse her opinion.
"We are at a critical component right now and at this point, if we don't change the trend, flatten the curve and help address the number of individuals that are being hospitalized," Reynolds said, "we run the risk of stressing extending overcapacity to our hospitals."


newsweek--2020-11-17--This Man Feeds Raccoons on His Porch Every Night, and Twitter Has Some Thoughts

Twitter has some mixed feelings about a man who has been seen on video feeding `` at least 30 '' raccoons on his porch .
A video emerged on Twitter on Monday night of a man treating several chubby raccoons to what appeared to be hot dogs ( sans the bun ) .
`` [ T ] his guy goes out every night and feeds the raccoons living near his house and it 's adorable chaos , '' a Twitter user wrote alongside the clip .
In the video , the man sits on a snow-covered bench while several heavyset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grab some off the food from a container .
Some climb on his lap , begging for food .
Others perch on his shoulder , waiting for him to hand off a hot dog .
It 's safe to say that the video has caught the attention of many people online .
While some called the man 's mealtime ritual for the raccoons adorable , others did n't find it as cute .
`` No- not adorable .
We in CO know that you do n't feed wildlife .
Also , raccoons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids , '' one person wrote .
`` It 's not adorable if you are his neighbor .
Ever had a neighbor who feeds feral cats ?
Same stupid behavior , '' another chimed in .
`` When I see raccoons , the first thing I think of is rabies , '' someone else said .
`` The second thing I think about is the damage they do to homes .
So , it 's not as warm and cuddly for me . ''
One user pointed out that feeding raccoons could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just the folks feeding them .
`` Very dangerous too .
Wild animals should not be fed by humans .
They can carry diseases .
Congregating unnaturally draws predators .
Dangerous for entire neighborhood . ''
`` Pretty dangerous .
They 're going to look for that food in the neighborhood every night ... whether he shows up or not , '' another agreed .
Some folks were also concerned about the effect the food would actually have on the raccoons .
`` This guy is single-handedly causing an ecological disaster of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because he 's a lonely old man and fat raccoons are cute , '' one person chided .
`` I just wish he 'd be a bit more considerate of their diet , if he 's going to keep inviting them , '' another noted .
`` I know he means well , and just may not understand , for example , their size is not normal . ''
`` How many times is he feeding them ? ''
a third asked .
`` They are freaking huge !
!
Lmao . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ eat plants and other animals such as : `` fruits , berries , nuts , fish , frogs , mussels , crayfish , insects , turtles , mice , rabbits , muskrats and bird eggs . ''
So , basically , not hot dogs .

Twitter has some mixed feelings about a man who has been seen on video feeding "at least 30" raccoons on his porch. A video emerged on Twitter on Monday night of a man treating several chubby raccoons to what appeared to be hot dogs (sans the bun).
"[T]his guy goes out every night and feeds the raccoons living near his house and it's adorable chaos," a Twitter user wrote alongside the clip.
this guy goes out every night and feeds the raccoons living near his house and it's adorable chaos pic.twitter.com/51uMtOvJzs — Living Morganism 🌱 (@ok_girlfriend) November 16, 2020
In the video, the man sits on a snow-covered bench while several heavyset raccoons crawl all over him, trying to grab some off the food from a container. Some climb on his lap, begging for food. Others perch on his shoulder, waiting for him to hand off a hot dog.
It's safe to say that the video has caught the attention of many people online. While some called the man's mealtime ritual for the raccoons adorable, others didn't find it as cute. "No- not adorable. We in CO know that you don't feed wildlife. Also, raccoons carry diseases that are especially dangerous for kids," one person wrote.
"It's not adorable if you are his neighbor. Ever had a neighbor who feeds feral cats? Same stupid behavior," another chimed in.
"When I see raccoons, the first thing I think of is rabies," someone else said. "The second thing I think about is the damage they do to homes. So, it's not as warm and cuddly for me."
Raccoons peek out over a tree branch in the National Park of the Basse Terre region. philippe giraud/Corbis via Getty Images
One user pointed out that feeding raccoons could have an effect on an entire neighborhood, not just the folks feeding them. "Very dangerous too. Wild animals should not be fed by humans. They can carry diseases. Congregating unnaturally draws predators. Dangerous for entire neighborhood."
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"Pretty dangerous. They're going to look for that food in the neighborhood every night...whether he shows up or not," another agreed.
Some folks were also concerned about the effect the food would actually have on the raccoons. "This guy is single-handedly causing an ecological disaster of diabetic raccoons, but free internet pass because he's a lonely old man and fat raccoons are cute," one person chided.
"I just wish he'd be a bit more considerate of their diet, if he's going to keep inviting them," another noted. "I know he means well, and just may not understand, for example, their size is not normal."
"How many times is he feeding them?" a third asked. "They are freaking huge!! Lmao."
As per Pest World, raccoons typically eat plants and other animals such as: "fruits, berries, nuts, fish, frogs, mussels, crayfish, insects, turtles, mice, rabbits, muskrats and bird eggs." So, basically, not hot dogs.


newsweek--2020-11-17--Pandemic, Unemployment Boost Resentment Against Older Generations: 'Why Should We Protect You?'

Young people across the world are increasingly frustrated with older generations amid the coronavirus pandemic , citing a lack of opportunity , a poor economy and restrictions made worse by the same old people they are intended to protect .
More than 800 people between the ages of 16 and 30 expressed their feelings about ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and their growing resentment against older generations who , they say , have failed to be leaders in nearly every country .
The Financial Times survey published Tuesday revealed scores of young people are frustrated and angry over student loan debts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 18- to 29-year-olds living with their parents .
The survey shows how the brunt of anxiety from low wages and unemployment is felt by young people , while a seemingly uncaring elder generation reaps the benefits of their efforts and youth .
On top of the economic pain , many young respondents said `` misguided '' people over 40 are often the ones defying public health guidelines and worsening the pandemic .
`` We are not in this together , millennials have to take the brunt of the sacrifice in the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from Montreal , Canada .
`` If you wo n't watch out that we do n't end up jobless and poorer , why should we protect you ? ''
The FT survey authors wrote that `` these difficulties are translating into growing resentment towards older generations , which are both better off and holding greater political sway . ''
Feelings of worthlessness , anxiety , anger and even considerations of suicide dominated many of the survey responses .
`` We are all being blamed for a crisis in leadership , '' a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , Europe and South Asia said older people are adding insult to injury by not embracing public health regulations .
But many people in their mid-twenties said they are fighting back by not following social distancing recommendations .
`` The [ older ] people in power have no skin in the game .
I refuse to stop enjoying life when no one has a plan , '' one Montreal woman said .
`` I was very strict when living at home with my older parents , said American Mary Finnegan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming an alcoholic nun for six months , I will risk COVID for a chance to go on a date again . ''
People under age 25 are 2.5 times more likely to have lost their job as a result of the pandemic versus people between the ages of 26 to 64 , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) .
And as Newsweek reported in October , U.S. Baby Boomers currently control 10 times more wealth than millennials despite those young people making up the overwhelming majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also intensified disenchantment with political institutions , the survey found .
Millennials and Generation Z are for more likely than older people to say their countries are `` out of control '' right now .
Trust in government has hit all-time lows in most developed countries , the authors note .
A study conducted by the United Kingdom–based Mental Health Foundation and the University of Cambridge warned that the mental health impact of the pandemic are sure to outlast the virus itself .
Depression , isolation and anxiety issues that were already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worsened in 2020 .
U.K. and U.S. participants between the ages of 18-29 are experiencing far higher levels of distress compared to older generations .
`` Unemployment , mental health difficulties , and uncertainty about when this will all end make for a pretty despairing outlook , '' James , 30 , from London , told FT. `` At one point I was considering suicide . ''

Young people across the world are increasingly frustrated with older generations amid the coronavirus pandemic, citing a lack of opportunity, a poor economy and restrictions made worse by the same old people they are intended to protect.
More than 800 people between the ages of 16 and 30 expressed their feelings about ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and their growing resentment against older generations who, they say, have failed to be leaders in nearly every country. The Financial Times survey published Tuesday revealed scores of young people are frustrated and angry over student loan debts, pandemic restrictions and the highest-ever recorded rates of 18- to 29-year-olds living with their parents. The survey shows how the brunt of anxiety from low wages and unemployment is felt by young people, while a seemingly uncaring elder generation reaps the benefits of their efforts and youth.
On top of the economic pain, many young respondents said "misguided" people over 40 are often the ones defying public health guidelines and worsening the pandemic.
"We are not in this together, millennials have to take the brunt of the sacrifice in the situation," said Polina R., 30, from Montreal, Canada. "If you won't watch out that we don't end up jobless and poorer, why should we protect you?"
The FT survey authors wrote that "these difficulties are translating into growing resentment towards older generations, which are both better off and holding greater political sway." Feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, anger and even considerations of suicide dominated many of the survey responses. "We are all being blamed for a crisis in leadership," a 23-year-old French man lamented.
Respondents in the United States, Europe and South Asia said older people are adding insult to injury by not embracing public health regulations. But many people in their mid-twenties said they are fighting back by not following social distancing recommendations. "The [older] people in power have no skin in the game. I refuse to stop enjoying life when no one has a plan," one Montreal woman said.
"I was very strict when living at home with my older parents, said American Mary Finnegan, 23. "Now, after becoming an alcoholic nun for six months, I will risk COVID for a chance to go on a date again."
People under age 25 are 2.5 times more likely to have lost their job as a result of the pandemic versus people between the ages of 26 to 64, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). And as Newsweek reported in October, U.S. Baby Boomers currently control 10 times more wealth than millennials despite those young people making up the overwhelming majority of the workforce.
The coronavirus pandemic has also intensified disenchantment with political institutions, the survey found. Millennials and Generation Z are for more likely than older people to say their countries are "out of control" right now. Trust in government has hit all-time lows in most developed countries, the authors note.
A study conducted by the United Kingdom–based Mental Health Foundation and the University of Cambridge warned that the mental health impact of the pandemic are sure to outlast the virus itself. Depression, isolation and anxiety issues that were already simmering in societies across the world have worsened in 2020. U.K. and U.S. participants between the ages of 18-29 are experiencing far higher levels of distress compared to older generations.
"Unemployment, mental health difficulties, and uncertainty about when this will all end make for a pretty despairing outlook," James, 30, from London, told FT. "At one point I was considering suicide."


newsweek--2020-11-17--How the Most Powerful Latina in the White House Helps Biden—and Harris Too

Julie Chavez Rodriguez , the granddaughter of labor icon Cesar Chavez and an Obama administration veteran , is joining President-elect Joe Biden 's senior White House team as the director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs , his transition team announced Tuesday .
The other senior hires are Anthony Bernal , senior adviser to Jill Biden , Mike Donilon , senior adviser to the president , Dana Remus , counsel to the president , Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon , Jill Biden 's chief of staff , and Steve Ricchetti , counselor to the president .
They join Jen O'Malley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff , and Cedric Richmond , senior adviser to the president and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement .
`` I am proud to announce additional members of my senior team who will help us build back better than before , '' Biden said in a statement .
`` America faces great challenges , and they bring diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to tackling these challenges and emerging on the other side a stronger , more united nation . ''
Chavez Rodriguez , who served as deputy campaign manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisor to Senator Kamala Harris ' presidential campaign before she joined Biden as his running mate , brings a wealth of political experience that was forged , first and foremost , as an organizer .
By age 10 , she was handing out union leaflets and had been detained at a boycott .
In her previous White House role as deputy director of public engagement , senior policy adviser and special assistant to President Barack Obama , she helped develop support for his immigration agenda , including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversaw engagement with immigrant , Muslim , Latino , and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities , as well as veterans , LGBTQ , education , labor and progressive groups .
Then , as the Trump era began , she went back home to California to help immigrant communities dealing with the legal fallout of the Muslim ban .
She served as California state director and senior adviser to Harris , where she was the key representative to the senator for constituents and elected leaders throughout the state .
`` Julie is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a public servant , as her entire career has been about fighting for justice and equality , and it 's really exciting that she 's been elevated to this role , '' said Sergio Gonzales , a former Harris senior adviser .
As the director of intergovernmental affairs , Chavez Rodriguez will serve dual roles , Democrats said , both as a gatekeeper to the Biden administration for the elected officials in states and cities making proposals to the White House and as a window to local communities , so the administration can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's going to be a big job because so many states and localities and cities are in pain right now due to the crisis , '' Gonzales said , speaking of the worsening coronavirus pandemic the Trump administration has been unable to control .
While Chavez Rodriguez will fill the role of a key adviser to Biden , those who spoke with Newsweek noted an additional political consideration as well .
`` It would put Kamala Harris in a perfect position to develop relationships with local governments and local elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board early with Kamala 2024 , '' a top Democratic strategist said .
`` There 's no question about that , '' said Maria Cardona , a veteran Democratic strategist and CNN political commentator .
`` This will be a boon for the vice president should she want to run in 2024 or 2028 .
Kamala is going to be the consummate team player for Biden , fully supporting him , but whatever relationships Julie is able to garner and nurture will also be Kamala 's and not just if she decides to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president . ''
Nathaly Arriola , an Obama White House alumna , who helped advise the Biden campaign on paid media strategy , sought to tamp down any political reverberations regarding the hire .
`` To say it 's good for Kamala , that 's fair , but it 's also great for Biden , where she will be a trusted adviser , '' she said .
While Chavez Rodriguez did not respond to a Newsweek request for comment , she laid out some of her broad personal priorities in an interview with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Convention in August .
She said she wants to work on DACA and immigration reform again , expand the Affordable Care Act and also help modernize digital infrastructure in rural communities .
`` Those are my end goals , '' she said .

Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of labor icon Cesar Chavez and an Obama administration veteran, is joining President-elect Joe Biden's senior White House team as the director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, his transition team announced Tuesday.
The other senior hires are Anthony Bernal, senior adviser to Jill Biden, Mike Donilon, senior adviser to the president, Dana Remus, counsel to the president, Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon, Jill Biden's chief of staff, and Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president. They join Jen O'Malley Dillon, the new deputy chief of staff, and Cedric Richmond, senior adviser to the president and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
"I am proud to announce additional members of my senior team who will help us build back better than before," Biden said in a statement. "America faces great challenges, and they bring diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to tackling these challenges and emerging on the other side a stronger, more united nation."
Chavez Rodriguez, who served as deputy campaign manager for Biden and previously was a senior advisor to Senator Kamala Harris' presidential campaign before she joined Biden as his running mate, brings a wealth of political experience that was forged, first and foremost, as an organizer.
By age 10, she was handing out union leaflets and had been detained at a boycott. In her previous White House role as deputy director of public engagement, senior policy adviser and special assistant to President Barack Obama, she helped develop support for his immigration agenda, including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. She also oversaw engagement with immigrant, Muslim, Latino, and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, as well as veterans, LGBTQ, education, labor and progressive groups.
Then, as the Trump era began, she went back home to California to help immigrant communities dealing with the legal fallout of the Muslim ban. She served as California state director and senior adviser to Harris, where she was the key representative to the senator for constituents and elected leaders throughout the state.
"Julie is the emblem of what it means to be a public servant, as her entire career has been about fighting for justice and equality, and it's really exciting that she's been elevated to this role," said Sergio Gonzales, a former Harris senior adviser.
As the director of intergovernmental affairs, Chavez Rodriguez will serve dual roles, Democrats said, both as a gatekeeper to the Biden administration for the elected officials in states and cities making proposals to the White House and as a window to local communities, so the administration can receive feedback and best implement its policies.
"It's going to be a big job because so many states and localities and cities are in pain right now due to the crisis," Gonzales said, speaking of the worsening coronavirus pandemic the Trump administration has been unable to control.
While Chavez Rodriguez will fill the role of a key adviser to Biden, those who spoke with Newsweek noted an additional political consideration as well.
"It would put Kamala Harris in a perfect position to develop relationships with local governments and local elected officials to figure out who is on board early with Kamala 2024," a top Democratic strategist said.
"There's no question about that," said Maria Cardona, a veteran Democratic strategist and CNN political commentator. "This will be a boon for the vice president should she want to run in 2024 or 2028. Kamala is going to be the consummate team player for Biden, fully supporting him, but whatever relationships Julie is able to garner and nurture will also be Kamala's and not just if she decides to run for president but also as vice president."
Nathaly Arriola, an Obama White House alumna, who helped advise the Biden campaign on paid media strategy, sought to tamp down any political reverberations regarding the hire.
"To say it's good for Kamala, that's fair, but it's also great for Biden, where she will be a trusted adviser," she said.
While Chavez Rodriguez did not respond to a Newsweek request for comment, she laid out some of her broad personal priorities in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News after the Democratic Convention in August.
She said she wants to work on DACA and immigration reform again, expand the Affordable Care Act and also help modernize digital infrastructure in rural communities. "Those are my end goals," she said.


newsweek--2020-11-17--Firearm Background Checks Surge 42 Percent From October 2016 As U.S. Headed Into General Election

Presidential election years often spark a rise in firearm interest and with two months left in 2020 , background checks for firearms have already broken 21-year-old records .
As of October 31 , more than 32.3 million firearm background checks were run through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System ( NICS ) , a system used by stores to determine whether a person can legally buy or own a firearm .
Of those checks , 3.3 million were conducted in October , a 42 percent increase from the same month in 2016 .
The pandemic and civil unrest are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales , making it difficult to ascertain exactly how much the election impacted people 's decision to pursue purchasing a gun .
However , of the first 10 months of both 2016 and 2020 , October was the fourth-highest month for firearm background checks , according to the FBI .
President-elect Joe Biden has an `` F '' rating from the National Rifle Association ( NRA ) and as a senator , he helped pass the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act , which established the NICS .
Senator Biden also aided the passage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and high-capacity magazines in 1994 , a measure he said he will once again enact as president .
Once in the Oval Office , Biden plans to restrict people from purchasing more than one firearm per month .
Background checks were down in 2017 after President Donald Trump 's election victory and now that Biden 's taking over as president , experts told CNN it 's possible gun sales will increase .
Mark Oliva , director of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation , a trade group that tracks and analyzes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could depend on whether Democrats win the two Senate seats up for grabs in Georgia 's runoff election in January .
If the Democratic Party wins both , there 'll be a 50-50 tie in the Senate , giving Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , the power of casting the tie-breaking vote .
If Republicans win one of the seats , they 'll retain control .
`` The industry is taking the Biden campaign at his word , '' Oliva said .
Of the past four presidential election years , 2020 saw the greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous year .
Compared to the 38 percent increase in October 2020 from October 2019 , in October 2016 there was an 18 percent increase from the same month in 2015 , a 20 percent increase in October 2012 from October 2011 , and a 15 percent increase in October 2008 from October 2007 .
Along with breaking the record for the number of firearm background checks in a year , the 2020 presidential election year has broken records for the largest increase in firearm sales from the previous year .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made gun control part of her platform and there was a record number of firearm background checks in the months leading up to the election .
The first 10 months of 2020 has bested that record by about 10 million more background checks .
Of the top 10 highest days for firearm background checks since November 30 , 1998 , five of those days were in 2020 .
Eight of the 10 highest weeks for background checks are also in 2020 , according to the FBI .
The FBI 's data on firearm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks initiated through the NICS .
It 's not indicative of the number of firearms that are sold and on average , there 's a .5 percent denial rate , according to data from the FBI .
The 2020 election may not be the number one driver of firearm background checks , though .
The two highest months for background checks so far in 2020 were March , when lockdowns began in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 , and June when protests against police brutality turned violent in cities across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the perfect storm for big gun sales , '' Damon Bruker , a firearm salesman in Montana , told KECI .
`` We have seen a big decline in availability of virtually everything that we sell : handguns , long guns , ammunition , all that kind of stuff has really been hard to get .
It 's kind of a nationwide shortage . ''

Presidential election years often spark a rise in firearm interest and with two months left in 2020, background checks for firearms have already broken 21-year-old records.
As of October 31, more than 32.3 million firearm background checks were run through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a system used by stores to determine whether a person can legally buy or own a firearm. Of those checks, 3.3 million were conducted in October, a 42 percent increase from the same month in 2016.
The pandemic and civil unrest are likely contributing to the uptick in firearm sales, making it difficult to ascertain exactly how much the election impacted people's decision to pursue purchasing a gun. However, of the first 10 months of both 2016 and 2020, October was the fourth-highest month for firearm background checks, according to the FBI.
"This year, Americans watched as politicians used the pandemic to restrict their rights, close firearm stores, and furlough prisoners. Then, we watched riots and unrest erupt on American streets amid calls to defund the police," Amy Hunter, director of media relations for the National Rifle Association told Newsweek. "Americans often buy more firearms before an election because they're worried an anti-gun politician will soon take office. The NRA believes these were among the major contributing factors to the historic rise in gun ownership."
President-elect Joe Biden has an "F" rating from the NRA and as a senator, he helped pass the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which established the NICS. Senator Biden also aided the passage of a 10-year ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in 1994, a measure he said he will once again enact as president. Once in the Oval Office, Biden plans to restrict people from purchasing more than one firearm per month.
Background checks were down in 2017 after President Donald Trump's election victory and now that Biden's taking over as president, experts told CNN it's possible gun sales will increase. Mark Oliva, director of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade group that tracks and analyzes gun sales, told CNN that it could depend on whether Democrats win the two Senate seats up for grabs in Georgia's runoff election in January. If the Democratic Party wins both, there'll be a 50-50 tie in the Senate, giving Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the power of casting the tie-breaking vote. If Republicans win one of the seats, they'll retain control.
"The industry is taking the Biden campaign at his word," Oliva said.
A man chooses a gun at the Gun Gallery in Glendale, California, on April 18, 2007. Firearm background checks in October 2020 were up 42 percent from the same month in 2016. Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty
Of the past four presidential election years, 2020 saw the greatest increase in October firearm background checks from the previous year. Compared to the 38 percent increase in October 2020 from October 2019, in October 2016 there was an 18 percent increase from the same month in 2015, a 20 percent increase in October 2012 from October 2011, and a 15 percent increase in October 2008 from October 2007.
Along with breaking the record for the number of firearm background checks in a year, the 2020 presidential election year has broken records for the largest increase in firearm sales from the previous year.
In 2016, Democratic-candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton also made gun control part of her platform and there was a record number of firearm background checks in the months leading up to the election. The first 10 months of 2020 has bested that record by about 10 million more background checks.
Of the top 10 highest days for firearm background checks since November 30, 1998, five of those days were in 2020. Eight of the 10 highest weeks for background checks are also in 2020, according to the FBI. The FBI's data on firearm background checks only represents the number of checks initiated through the NICS. It's not indicative of the number of firearms that are sold and on average, there's a .5 percent denial rate, according to data from the FBI.
The 2020 election may not be the number one driver of firearm background checks, though. The two highest months for background checks so far in 2020 were March, when lockdowns began in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, and June when protests against police brutality turned violent in cities across the country.
"It's kind of the perfect storm for big gun sales," Damon Bruker, a firearm salesman in Montana, told KECI. "We have seen a big decline in availability of virtually everything that we sell: handguns, long guns, ammunition, all that kind of stuff has really been hard to get. It's kind of a nationwide shortage."
This article has been updated with comment from Amy Hunter.


newsweek--2020-11-17--'NCIS' Season 18: Why Maria Bello is Leaving as Jack Sloane

NCIS Season 18 may be about to air on CBS , but the show is about to see a main cast member depart as Maria Bello announces her exit from the show .
The actor , who plays forensic psychologist ( and regular foil to Gibbs ) Jacqueline `` Jack '' Sloane , announced in July that she would be leaving part-way through the current season .
In some senses , her exit from NCIS was anticipated .
When she signed up for procedural , the Coyote Ugly actor 's contract was for three years , and came to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave the show as Pauley Perrette did in 2017 , she is simply not renewing her contract .
The two-time Golden Globe nominee ( for A History of Violence and The Cooler ) already has a new project that she is working on , which might also be a reason her time as Jack Sloane is coming to an end .
The actor is currently in pre-production on The Woman King , a drama about an all-female military unit that will star Viola Davis and will be director Gina Prince-Bythewood 's follow up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guard .
This will be Bello 's debut as both the writer and producer of a movie .
Though Jack Sloane will leave during NCIS Season 18 , viewers do not have to say goodbye to the character yet .
She is due to appear in eight episodes this season in order for the show to build up to her exit .
In a recent TVLine preview of the next season , NCIS showrunners Steven Binder and Frank Cardea gave fans their first glimpse of how Bello could be exiting the series .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the things we always ask when we 're trying to figure out how to exit a character is , 'What does that character deserve ? '
Sloane is a very strong character , she 's a passionate character , and we 're going to really have her go out on a noteworthy of that .
I 'll say that . ''
He also added that they would not be rushing to find a replacement for the actor , saying : `` There 's a core team , and I think it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find so much to give her to do .
If it 's not Maria , then I do n't know if we need to necessarily fill it right away . ''
Cardea , meanwhile , promised that before Bello left the show would deal with the `` ongoing wonderment about what 's going on between her and Gibbs . ''
NCIS Season 18 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m .
ET / 7 p.m. CT on CBS .

NCIS Season 18 may be about to air on CBS, but the show is about to see a main cast member depart as Maria Bello announces her exit from the show. The actor, who plays forensic psychologist (and regular foil to Gibbs) Jacqueline "Jack" Sloane, announced in July that she would be leaving part-way through the current season.
In some senses, her exit from NCIS was anticipated. When she signed up for procedural, the Coyote Ugly actor's contract was for three years, and came to an end this year. So rather than leave the show as Pauley Perrette did in 2017, she is simply not renewing her contract.
The two-time Golden Globe nominee (for A History of Violence and The Cooler) already has a new project that she is working on, which might also be a reason her time as Jack Sloane is coming to an end.
The actor is currently in pre-production on The Woman King, a drama about an all-female military unit that will star Viola Davis and will be director Gina Prince-Bythewood's follow up to her hit Netflix movie The Old Guard. This will be Bello's debut as both the writer and producer of a movie.
Maria Bello is leaving 'NCIS' in Season 17. CBS
Though Jack Sloane will leave during NCIS Season 18, viewers do not have to say goodbye to the character yet. She is due to appear in eight episodes this season in order for the show to build up to her exit.
In a recent TVLine preview of the next season, NCIS showrunners Steven Binder and Frank Cardea gave fans their first glimpse of how Bello could be exiting the series. The former said, "one of the things we always ask when we're trying to figure out how to exit a character is, 'What does that character deserve?' Sloane is a very strong character, she's a passionate character, and we're going to really have her go out on a noteworthy of that. I'll say that."
He also added that they would not be rushing to find a replacement for the actor, saying: "There's a core team, and I think it was a function of Maria that we were able to find so much to give her to do. If it's not Maria, then I don't know if we need to necessarily fill it right away."
Cardea, meanwhile, promised that before Bello left the show would deal with the "ongoing wonderment about what's going on between her and Gibbs."
NCIS Season 18 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on CBS.


newsweek--2020-11-17--Wisconsin Reports More COVID Deaths in 24 Hours Than New Zealand, Singapore and Iceland Combined Hav

Wisconsin Reports More COVID Deaths in 24 Hours Than New Zealand, Singapore and Iceland Combined Have in 2020

Wisconsin reported more coronavirus deaths on Tuesday than New Zealand , Singapore and Iceland have reported through the entire pandemic .
The state suffered a record-high 92 COVID-19 deaths over the past 24 hours .
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services ( DHS ) , the seven-day average of new deaths reported increased by 880 percent in the past two months .
While the majority of the U.S. is undergoing a surge in new cases and hospitalizations , Wisconsin has seen its situation unravel the quickest , according to The New York Times .
At the beginning of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases a day .
This week the state was averaging more than 6,800 .
Wisconsin 's reported deaths exceeded the sum of those in New Zealand , Singapore and Iceland combined .
New Zealand , Singapore and Iceland have seen a low death toll throughout the pandemic and reported 25 , 28 and 25 , respectively in 2020 , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Adding the number of deaths from New Zealand , Singapore and Iceland total to 78 , which is 14 less than that of Wisconsin on November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5.86 million according to the U.S. Census Bureau , while the populations of New Zealand , Singapore and Iceland are 4.82 million , 5.85 million and 364,100 , respectively .
`` Far too many of our communities are in a dire situation , '' DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said in a November 11 news release .
`` To put these new data in perspective , Wisconsin is now seeing more average cases per day than New York City did at the peak of its surge last spring . ''
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an emailed statement that it continues to urge Wisconsin residents to follow health and safety guideline , including staying home and only going out for essential trips , wearing face coverings , washing your hands thoroughly and maintaining at least six feet distance between yourself and others when outside your household .
Wisconsin 's Democratic Governor Tony Evers issued an executive order on November 11 advising residents to `` stay at home to save lives . ''
The new mandate advised people to stay inside their homes—except for essential trips , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of at least six feet from others and wear a face covering .
Other local health departments in Wisconsin provided further guidance .
The Madison and Dane County Public Health Department issued an emergency order on November 17 which prohibits indoor gatherings of any size , while outdoor gatherings are permitted with 10 people or less with physical distancing .
As cases rise around the country , states , including Washington , Iowa , North Dakota and Michigan , have imposed new restrictions ahead of the holidays , with the goal of limiting @ @ @ @ @ @

Wisconsin reported more coronavirus deaths on Tuesday than New Zealand, Singapore and Iceland have reported through the entire pandemic.
The state suffered a record-high 92 COVID-19 deaths over the past 24 hours. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the seven-day average of new deaths reported increased by 880 percent in the past two months.
While the majority of the U.S. is undergoing a surge in new cases and hospitalizations, Wisconsin has seen its situation unravel the quickest, according to The New York Times. At the beginning of September, Wisconsin was averaging about 700 cases a day. This week the state was averaging more than 6,800.
Your #COVIDWI_19 update shows a record number reported since yesterday of hospitalizations at 318 and deaths at 92. The 7-day average of new deaths reported has increased 880% in two months. Dig into the #data and please, help #StopTheSpread: https://t.co/3WmxIaBc1c pic.twitter.com/8DQnIBSY3h — WIDeptHealthServices (@DHSWI) November 17, 2020
Wisconsin's reported deaths exceeded the sum of those in New Zealand, Singapore and Iceland combined.
New Zealand, Singapore and Iceland have seen a low death toll throughout the pandemic and reported 25, 28 and 25, respectively in 2020, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Adding the number of deaths from New Zealand, Singapore and Iceland total to 78, which is 14 less than that of Wisconsin on November 17.
The state's population is 5.86 million according to the U.S. Census Bureau, while the populations of New Zealand, Singapore and Iceland are 4.82 million, 5.85 million and 364,100, respectively.
"Far too many of our communities are in a dire situation," DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said in a November 11 news release. "To put these new data in perspective, Wisconsin is now seeing more average cases per day than New York City did at the peak of its surge last spring."
A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek on November 17 in an emailed statement that it continues to urge Wisconsin residents to follow health and safety guideline, including staying home and only going out for essential trips, wearing face coverings, washing your hands thoroughly and maintaining at least six feet distance between yourself and others when outside your household.
Members of the Wisconsin National Guard operate a mobile COVID-19 test center on the grounds of Miller Park on October 29 in Milwaukee. Wisconsin reported more coronavirus deaths on November 17 than New Zealand, Singapore and Iceland have reported through the entire pandemic. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images/Getty
Wisconsin's Democratic Governor Tony Evers issued an executive order on November 11 advising residents to "stay at home to save lives."
The new mandate advised people to stay inside their homes—except for essential trips, like picking up groceries or medications—maintain a distance of at least six feet from others and wear a face covering.
Other local health departments in Wisconsin provided further guidance. The Madison and Dane County Public Health Department issued an emergency order on November 17 which prohibits indoor gatherings of any size, while outdoor gatherings are permitted with 10 people or less with physical distancing.
As cases rise around the country, states, including Washington, Iowa, North Dakota and Michigan, have imposed new restrictions ahead of the holidays, with the goal of limiting the spread of the virus.


newsweek--2020-11-17--Viral Video 'Poor Anthony' Shows Parent Ranting to Teacher About Election Results Assignment: 'Nobod

Viral Video 'Poor Anthony' Shows Parent Ranting to Teacher About Election Results Assignment: 'Nobody Won!'

A viral video of a parent complaining to a third grade teacher about an assignment where students were told to color in an electoral college map with the results of the election , has people on Twitter feeling bad for the student and the teacher .
The video shows a worksheet for a student named Anthony , where the class seemingly was instructed to color in each state based on who won it in the election , with students coloring states blue for states President-Elect Joe Biden won and red for states President Donald Trump won .
At the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each candidate was projected to receive and who won .
Anthony filled in that Biden won 306 electoral votes while Trump received 232 , and that Biden is the winner .
The parent can be heard ranting to the teacher on speaker phone .
The parent says that students should have indicated states where Trump has filed lawsuits and challenged election results .
Lawsuits have been filed in Pennsylvania , Michigan , Georgia , Arizona , Nevada , and Wisconsin .
While Georgia 's has been dismissed , some lawsuits are still pending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in PA , one in NV ) .
`` It should n't just be to Anthony .
The entire class should have this done again , and X 's should be put , or different colors should be put on the homework or a new sheet , and let them understand what the process is .
I 'm not the only parent who thinks this .
I 'm just the only parent who 's not afraid to get , stand up and say something , '' the parent said .
After a pause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Anthony about the assignment , but the parent says that she thinks the whole class should be addressed .
`` You 're just gon na talk to Anthony ?
This assignment 's not gon na get redone and have everybody understand that we have six states at this point-there were seven when this assignment was done-there 's six that are still in litigation and why , '' she said .
Due to Trump 's challenges to the election results , the parent told the teacher that she believes the results should 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the election ? '
Should 've been-the answer was 'Nobody . '
That was the answer nobody-not Joe Biden .
Not-it was nobody .
It should not just be told to my son . ''
The parent then said she thought that it was wrong for the teacher to use election results found on Google .
She cited the National Archives , which have yet to include any results for the election , and conservative news outlet One America News as the maps she referred to in disputes about electoral college results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them about that , that 's not what you told them to color in .
He told me you went up to there and put up a map .
I pulled up a map .
I did n't go to Google .
I went to the national archives , and then , I also went to OAN , and it had exactly what he and I had been talking about , '' she said .
The video of the call has since been viewed over a million times .
Many people on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher the mother was complaining to , but for Anthony as well .
`` We do n't pay elementary school teachers anything remotely what they 're worth , '' one person on Twitter wrote .
As the election results have been called by most major outlets showing Biden as the next president , other people also latched onto the fact that the mother used OAN , who have been known to peddle conspiracy theories as the reason the mother is asking the teacher to give her students incorrect information .

A viral video of a parent complaining to a third grade teacher about an assignment where students were told to color in an electoral college map with the results of the election, has people on Twitter feeling bad for the student and the teacher.
The video shows a worksheet for a student named Anthony, where the class seemingly was instructed to color in each state based on who won it in the election, with students coloring states blue for states President-Elect Joe Biden won and red for states President Donald Trump won. At the bottom, students wrote how many electoral votes each candidate was projected to receive and who won. Anthony filled in that Biden won 306 electoral votes while Trump received 232, and that Biden is the winner. The parent can be heard ranting to the teacher on speaker phone.
The parent says that students should have indicated states where Trump has filed lawsuits and challenged election results. Lawsuits have been filed in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin. While Georgia's has been dismissed, some lawsuits are still pending and three have been upheld (two in PA, one in NV).
"It shouldn't just be to Anthony. The entire class should have this done again, and X's should be put, or different colors should be put on the homework or a new sheet, and let them understand what the process is. I'm not the only parent who thinks this. I'm just the only parent who's not afraid to get, stand up and say something," the parent said.
After a pause, the teacher says she'll speak to Anthony about the assignment, but the parent says that she thinks the whole class should be addressed. "You're just gonna talk to Anthony? This assignment's not gonna get redone and have everybody understand that we have six states at this point-there were seven when this assignment was done-there's six that are still in litigation and why," she said.
Due to Trump's challenges to the election results, the parent told the teacher that she believes the results should've been different. "The answer 'Who won the election?' Should've been-the answer was 'Nobody.' That was the answer nobody-not Joe Biden. Not-it was nobody. It should not just be told to my son."
The parent then said she thought that it was wrong for the teacher to use election results found on Google. She cited the National Archives, which have yet to include any results for the election, and conservative news outlet One America News as the maps she referred to in disputes about electoral college results. "If you did talk to them about that, that's not what you told them to color in. He told me you went up to there and put up a map. I pulled up a map. I didn't go to Google. I went to the national archives, and then, I also went to OAN, and it had exactly what he and I had been talking about," she said.
The video of the call has since been viewed over a million times.
Many people on Twitter expressed their sympathy not only for the teacher the mother was complaining to, but for Anthony as well. "We don't pay elementary school teachers anything remotely what they're worth," one person on Twitter wrote.
I don’t know who I feel worse for, this teacher, or Anthony... https://t.co/7PazOod7pE — Robin Marty (@robinmarty) November 17, 2020
We massively underestimate the trickle-down damage from DJT's mind-fing behavior.
Here's a heartbreaking example. Poor Anthony.
(Also, we are not paying our teachers nearly enough.) https://t.co/TXMFaCrLsy — Avinash Kaushik (@avinash) November 17, 2020
This poor teacher sounds like she just cried or is about to cry and I'm so sorry our educators are made to deal with this garbage. https://t.co/H8HM90sIsF — Joanna Robinson 🇺🇸✌🏳🌈💙 (@jowrotethis) November 17, 2020
We don't pay elementary school teachers anything remotely what they're worth. https://t.co/VqGMwfm9b3 — Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) November 17, 2020
As the election results have been called by most major outlets showing Biden as the next president, other people also latched onto the fact that the mother used OAN, who have been known to peddle conspiracy theories as the reason the mother is asking the teacher to give her students incorrect information.
"I went to OAN."
Stay strong, Anthony. https://t.co/l8mXd8fRP4 — Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) November 17, 2020
What if the mother of a third grader watched OAN for her news. Well, here's a way you can find out.
Let's just say it creates problems.
To the teacher... thank you for sharing this. https://t.co/ouDhWNjCzq — Mike Armstrong (@ArmstrongGN) November 17, 2020


newsweek--2020-11-17--This Harry Potter-Inspired "Flying" Broomstick Will Make Your Muggle Dreams Come True

It 's a bird !
It 's a plane !
No , it 's the Golden Snitch ?
Though it has been years since a new Harry Potter movie or book has been released , the fervor of the mega-blockbuster 's fan base is one of the strongest in the world .
From page to screen to now stages both on Broadway and in the West End , the magical world created by J.K. Rowling has lived on .
In recent months , Rowling has received backlash in response to comments the author made on social media in regards to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of the series ' stars , including Daniel Radcliffe , to speak out in support of the LGBTQIA community and reminded readers that their relationship with the book is `` sacred . ''
Some fans have decided to distance themselves from the franchise whereas others have chosen to focus on the world Rowling created — rather than Rowling herself .
For years , fans of the franchise have taken their love of Potter to the field and created their own muggle-adjusted version of Quidditch — a game played by the young wizards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version which is sometimes even played as an intramural sport on college campuses does not require a flying broomstick .
But this new invention out of Brazil could take Quidditch to the next level .
The idea was sparked earlier this year by Alessandro Russo , who with the help of Henrique Suarez , created the first functional prototype for a motorized broomstick .
The company is called Nuvem Vassouras and so far their Instagram page has amassed just over 3,000 fans waiting for the broom 's official release which will cost about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portuguese means cloud and vassouras translates to brooms .
There are four different versions of the broomstick , each will be sold to give buyers options .
`` We believe that each wizard will connect with a different version of the broom , just as we on the team have different personalities and each has their favorite , '' Cecília Bohrer , the director of marketing at Nuvem Vassouras tells Newsweek .
So how exactly do these magical broomsticks work ?
Well , it 's not quite magic .
The brooms come mounted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a motorized wheel — or unicycle .
When customers buy the broom , the wheel is not included , though the company has just closed a deal with a Brazilian unicycle distributor where buyers can buy the products together if they choose .
Though not the zippiest form of transportation , only hitting about 37mph , Russo says he jumps on his broomstick and takes it to the bakery , as he tells Reuters .
`` We will start selling our brooms in Brazil later this year and we hope that soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globally , '' Bohrer tells Newsweek .
`` Our desire is to see more and more wizards and witches flying around the world ! ''
For now , the team is offering `` flight classes '' to learn how to `` fly '' on the new form of transportation .
The classes are offered out of the city of Belo Horizonte and will cost less than $ 20 USD .
Bohrer says there are also plans to make the broomsticks compatible with the two-wheeled hoverboards .

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's the Golden Snitch? Though it has been years since a new Harry Potter movie or book has been released, the fervor of the mega-blockbuster's fan base is one of the strongest in the world. From page to screen to now stages both on Broadway and in the West End, the magical world created by J.K. Rowling has lived on.
In recent months, Rowling has received backlash in response to comments the author made on social media in regards to the Trans community. The comments led many of the series' stars, including Daniel Radcliffe, to speak out in support of the LGBTQIA community and reminded readers that their relationship with the book is "sacred." Some fans have decided to distance themselves from the franchise whereas others have chosen to focus on the world Rowling created — rather than Rowling herself.
The NUVEM 1.0 by Nuvem Vassouras, a Brazilian company making broomsticks to be mounted on motorized wheels. Daniel Zarahi
For years, fans of the franchise have taken their love of Potter to the field and created their own muggle-adjusted version of Quidditch — a game played by the young wizards of Hogwarts. Of course, this version which is sometimes even played as an intramural sport on college campuses does not require a flying broomstick.
But this new invention out of Brazil could take Quidditch to the next level. The idea was sparked earlier this year by Alessandro Russo, who with the help of Henrique Suarez, created the first functional prototype for a motorized broomstick.
The company is called Nuvem Vassouras and so far their Instagram page has amassed just over 3,000 fans waiting for the broom's official release which will cost about $250 USD apiece. Nuvem in Portuguese means cloud and vassouras translates to brooms.
C.O.O Vinicius Sanctus and creator Alessandro Russo with two models of the brooms. Daniel Zarahi
There are four different versions of the broomstick, each will be sold to give buyers options.
"We believe that each wizard will connect with a different version of the broom, just as we on the team have different personalities and each has their favorite," Cecília Bohrer, the director of marketing at Nuvem Vassouras tells Newsweek.
So how exactly do these magical broomsticks work? Well, it's not quite magic. The brooms come mounted on a device that can be placed on a motorized wheel — or unicycle. When customers buy the broom, the wheel is not included, though the company has just closed a deal with a Brazilian unicycle distributor where buyers can buy the products together if they choose.
Though not the zippiest form of transportation, only hitting about 37mph, Russo says he jumps on his broomstick and takes it to the bakery, as he tells Reuters.
Cecília Bohrer, the director of marketing at Nuvem Vassouras, with one of the model broomsticks affixed to a motorized unicycle. Daniel Zarahi
"We will start selling our brooms in Brazil later this year and we hope that soon we will be able to sell them globally," Bohrer tells Newsweek. "Our desire is to see more and more wizards and witches flying around the world!"
For now, the team is offering "flight classes" to learn how to "fly" on the new form of transportation. The classes are offered out of the city of Belo Horizonte and will cost less than $20 USD. Bohrer says there are also plans to make the broomsticks compatible with the two-wheeled hoverboards.


newsweek--2020-11-18--Facebook Refuses to Ban Groups Behind Racist, Misogynistic Kamala Harris Posts

Facebook has chosen not to remove three groups that posted a series of racist and misogynistic posts about Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , despite the groups `` regularly '' hosting hateful material .
The posts , which included memes and comments , some of which were of a sexually graphic nature , were only removed after BBC News alerted Facebook to the groups in which they were hosted .
The posts include claims that Harris was not a US citizen , a lie that has peddled by right-wingers consistently throughout the election campaign , as well as calls for Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birthplace of her mother , and comments about her not being `` Black enough '' for the Democratic Party .
In a September blog post , Facebook said it `` will take an entire group down if it repeatedly breaks our rules or if it was set up with the intent to violate our standards . ''
According to BBC News , the three groups that it flagged to the social network 's moderators `` regularly hosted hateful material . ''
However , the social network told BBC News that it will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsweek asked Facebook if it will remove the groups .
It declined to comment , but confirmed it had removed content aimed at Harris .
Facebook said it has also banked the violating memes to stop them from appearing on the site again .
`` We define hate speech as a direct attack on people based on what we call protected characteristics—race , ethnicity , national origin , religious affiliation , sexual orientation , caste , sex , gender , gender identity and serious disease or disability , '' Facebook 's Community Standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ define attack as violent or dehumanizing speech , harmful stereotypes , statements of inferiority or calls for exclusion or segregation . ''
Facebook categorizes hate speech into `` three tiers of severity . ''
Newsweek asked the company to clarify which of the tiers the derogatory posts about Kamala Harris that were taken down fell into .
The company declined to comment , but said that violations of its Community Standards related to bullying and harassment can be tougher to detect because it requires context and can be personal in nature .
Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinformation have frequently given rise to the accusation that the site `` profits from hate . ''
The company , however , strongly disputes this , and says that any failures on its part are due to the vast scale of the site and its user base .
`` Facebook does not profit from hate , '' Nick Clegg , Facebook 's VP of global affairs and communications , wrote in a blog post in July .
`` More than 100 billion messages are sent on our services every day ...
In all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraction are hateful .
When we find hateful posts on Facebook and Instagram , we take a zero-tolerance approach and remove them ...
Unfortunately , zero tolerance does n't mean zero incidences .
`` With so much content posted every day , rooting out the hate is like looking for a needle in a haystack . ''
Newsweek was able to find further offensive memes about Kamala Harris within minutes of searching the site , and has flagged them to Facebook .
In a rebuttal to criticism from Jeff Orlowski docu-drama The Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Netflix in September , Facebook wrote : `` We know our systems are n't perfect and there are things that we miss .
But we are not idly standing by and allowing misinformation or hate speech to spread on Facebook . ''

Facebook has chosen not to remove three groups that posted a series of racist and misogynistic posts about Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, despite the groups "regularly" hosting hateful material.
The posts, which included memes and comments, some of which were of a sexually graphic nature, were only removed after BBC News alerted Facebook to the groups in which they were hosted.
The posts include claims that Harris was not a US citizen, a lie that has peddled by right-wingers consistently throughout the election campaign, as well as calls for Harris to be deported to India, the birthplace of her mother, and comments about her not being "Black enough" for the Democratic Party.
In a September blog post, Facebook said it "will take an entire group down if it repeatedly breaks our rules or if it was set up with the intent to violate our standards."
According to BBC News, the three groups that it flagged to the social network's moderators "regularly hosted hateful material." However, the social network told BBC News that it will not take action against the groups themselves.
Newsweek asked Facebook if it will remove the groups. It declined to comment, but confirmed it had removed content aimed at Harris.
Facebook said it has also banked the violating memes to stop them from appearing on the site again.
"We define hate speech as a direct attack on people based on what we call protected characteristics—race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, caste, sex, gender, gender identity and serious disease or disability," Facebook's Community Standards state.
They add: "We define attack as violent or dehumanizing speech, harmful stereotypes, statements of inferiority or calls for exclusion or segregation."
Facebook categorizes hate speech into "three tiers of severity." Newsweek asked the company to clarify which of the tiers the derogatory posts about Kamala Harris that were taken down fell into.
The company declined to comment, but said that violations of its Community Standards related to bullying and harassment can be tougher to detect because it requires context and can be personal in nature.
Facebook's struggles with combating hate speech and misinformation have frequently given rise to the accusation that the site "profits from hate."
The company, however, strongly disputes this, and says that any failures on its part are due to the vast scale of the site and its user base.
"Facebook does not profit from hate," Nick Clegg, Facebook's VP of global affairs and communications, wrote in a blog post in July.
"More than 100 billion messages are sent on our services every day ... In all of those billions of interactions a tiny fraction are hateful. When we find hateful posts on Facebook and Instagram, we take a zero-tolerance approach and remove them ... Unfortunately, zero tolerance doesn't mean zero incidences.
"With so much content posted every day, rooting out the hate is like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Newsweek was able to find further offensive memes about Kamala Harris within minutes of searching the site, and flagged them to Facebook. The social network has now removed them from its platform.
In a rebuttal to criticism from Jeff Orlowski docu-drama The Social Dilemma, one of the most-watched films on Netflix in September, Facebook wrote: "We know our systems aren't perfect and there are things that we miss. But we are not idly standing by and allowing misinformation or hate speech to spread on Facebook."
Update 11/18/20, 11:20 a.m. ET: This article was updated to add that Facebook has removed the the offensive memes that Newsweek alerted it to.


newsweek--2020-11-18--Prince Harry Joins 'Stand Up for Heroes' Comedy Night for Veterans: How to Watch

Prince Harry will join a stand-up comedy event for veterans Wednesday night—alongside Jon Stewart , Bruce Springsteen and Tiffany Haddish .
The Duke of Sussex will join a virtual broadcast of Stand Up for Heroes , founded by ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff who was injured covering the Iraq War .
It is not currently clear whether the prince will attempt a few of his own jokes or simply send a straight-faced message of support .
Either way , he will be on ABC tonight at 9 p.m .
ET and the event is also being streamed live on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heroes has been held every year since 2007 to raise money for the Bob Woodruff Foundation .
Harry 's intervention comes after the prince joined other veterans to pack and distribute food parcels for communities suffering food insecurity .
A source told Newsweek : `` He spent time volunteering with The Mission Continues Los Angeles Service Platoon and joined them in distributing meal kits to families in Los Angeles . ''
The prince and wife Meghan Markle visited Los Angeles National Cemetery on Remembrance Sunday , when the U.K. commemorates the sacrifice of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same day , Harry told the Declassified podcast said : `` Being able to wear my uniform , being able to stand up in service of one 's country , these are amongst the greatest honors there are in life .
`` To me , the uniform is a symbol of something much bigger , it 's symbolic of our commitment to protecting our country , as well as protecting our values .
`` These values are put in action through service , and service is what happens in the quiet and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens in the darkness , it 's what happens when people are n't looking .
It 's what happens on and off the battlefield .
`` It 's about carrying out our duty as soldiers .
For me as a father , a husband and as a human being , it 's about how we uphold these values in every aspect of our lives . ''
The same day , the wider royal family gathered in London at the Cenotaph for the country 's formal service to remember its war dead .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be laid on his behalf but the request was refused by palace aides .
Harry served two tours of Afghanistan , including on the front line where he killed Tablian fighters as a co-pilot gunner .
He told the BBC : `` Yeah , so lots of people have .
The squadron 's been out here .
Everyone 's fired a certain amount .
We fire when we have to .
We 're more of a deterrent than anything else . ''
He added : `` Take a life to save a life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I suppose . ''

Prince Harry will join a stand-up comedy event for veterans Wednesday night—alongside Jon Stewart, Bruce Springsteen and Tiffany Haddish.
The Duke of Sussex will join a virtual broadcast of Stand Up for Heroes, founded by ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff who was injured covering the Iraq War.
It is not currently clear whether the prince will attempt a few of his own jokes or simply send a straight-faced message of support.
Either way, he will be on ABC tonight at 9 p.m. ET and the event is also being streamed live on the channel's website.
Read more Prince Harry 'Fighting Back Tears' after Snub on Final Royal Job, Book Says Prince Harry 'Fighting Back Tears' after Snub on Final Royal Job, Book Says
Stand Up for Heroes has been held every year since 2007 to raise money for the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
Harry's intervention comes after the prince joined other veterans to pack and distribute food parcels for communities suffering food insecurity.
A source told Newsweek: "He spent time volunteering with The Mission Continues Los Angeles Service Platoon and joined them in distributing meal kits to families in Los Angeles."
Prince Harry quietly volunteered alongside @ComptonVeterans in LA on November 13, helping pack and distribute food parcels as part of their #OperationNourish program. The community-focused organisation works to improve quality of life for veterans, their families, and neighbours. pic.twitter.com/v3vdh2SIAE — Omid Scobie (@scobie) November 18, 2020
The prince and wife Meghan Markle visited Los Angeles National Cemetery on Remembrance Sunday, when the U.K. commemorates the sacrifice of fallen service men and women.
The same day, Harry told the Declassified podcast said: "Being able to wear my uniform, being able to stand up in service of one's country, these are amongst the greatest honors there are in life.
"To me, the uniform is a symbol of something much bigger, it's symbolic of our commitment to protecting our country, as well as protecting our values.
"These values are put in action through service, and service is what happens in the quiet and in the chaos.
"It's what happens in the darkness, it's what happens when people aren't looking. It's what happens on and off the battlefield.
"It's about carrying out our duty as soldiers. For me as a father, a husband and as a human being, it's about how we uphold these values in every aspect of our lives."
The same day, the wider royal family gathered in London at the Cenotaph for the country's formal service to remember its war dead.
The prince had asked for a wreath to be laid on his behalf but the request was refused by palace aides.
Harry served two tours of Afghanistan, including on the front line where he killed Tablian fighters as a co-pilot gunner.
He told the BBC: "Yeah, so lots of people have. The squadron's been out here. Everyone's fired a certain amount. We fire when we have to. We're more of a deterrent than anything else."
He added: "Take a life to save a life. That's what we revolve around, I suppose."


newsweek--2020-11-18--COVID Nurse's Viral Video Begs People to Take Outbreak Seriously Amid Record Hospitalizations

As current COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. reach a record high for the seventh day in a row , an intensive care nurse in Nebraska pleaded : `` Please take it [ COVID-19 ] seriously , '' in a Twitter video that has received at least 4,600 likes and 1,800 retweets since it was posted .
Noting the loss of COVID-19 patients in need of emergency care who `` just drop so fast , '' Lacie Gooch , an ICU nurse at Nebraska Medicine , said : `` I have seen more people sick than I 've ever seen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was tweeted Monday by Nebraska Medicine , an Omaha-based health system that includes the Nebraska Medical Center , the state 's largest hospital .
Gooch said : `` I just got off my third 12-hour shift .
Not once this week have I been in my home unit .
I have been in the COVID ICU all week and I 'm exhausted .
`` I have seen so many emergent intubations .
I have seen more people sick than I 've ever seen in my life .
They just drop so fast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital 's COVID-19 units is purely `` a place for people to go to just pass away , unfortunately . ''
The nurse described the frustration of not being able to get to patients in need of immediate emergency care quickly enough due to the time it takes to put on the extensive personal protection equipment ( PPE ) needed .
`` What 's sad is what I would normally do on my floor is just run in and start whatever life-saving measures they need .
But with COVID , I ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many precautions to be taken , such as wearing all the required PPE , before rushing over .
`` So it takes me a minute to get in there [ the patient 's room ] .
`` But 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 .
`` I leave [ the hospital ] with marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask I 'm required to wear .
We 're understaffed .
We have so much on our plates as nurses .
There 's not enough of us to help .
`` Please take it [ COVID-19 ] seriously .
Wear your mask .
And I hope I do n't see you , '' she concluded .
Gooch 's plea came as the country 's current COVID-19 hospitalizations hit a record 76,823 on Monday , according to data compiled by The Atlantic 's The COVID Tracking Project .
According to the latest projections received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention ( CDC ) from nine modeling groups in the week of November 13 : `` For December 7 , the forecasts estimate 3,200 to 19,000 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per day .
`` Three national forecasts predict a likely increase in the number of new hospitalizations per day over the next four weeks , one forecast predicts a likely decrease , and two forecasts are uncertain about the trend or predict stable numbers , '' the CDC said .
According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation ( IHME ) at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily case count is projected to reach around 268,240 by Thanksgiving and 315,314 by the same day with `` continued easing of social distancing mandates and mandates are not reimposed . ''
The latest IHME projections are nearly double the country 's latest daily case count of 161,934 reported for November 17 , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Total confirmed cases in the U.S. have surpassed 11.3 million , with 248,707 reported deaths , as of Wednesday , according to Johns Hopkins .
As of Tuesday , there were reported to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those currently infected who are being treated in hospital or recovering at home ) in the country .
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 55.6 million people since it was first reported in Wuhan , China .
Globally , more than 1.3 million people have died and more than 35.8 million have recovered as of Wednesday , according to Johns Hopkins .
The graphic below , provided by Statista , illustrates the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations reported from March to November .
The graphic below , produced by Statista , shows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

As current COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. reach a record high for the seventh day in a row, an intensive care nurse in Nebraska pleaded: "Please take it [COVID-19] seriously," in a Twitter video that has received at least 4,600 likes and 1,800 retweets since it was posted.
Noting the loss of COVID-19 patients in need of emergency care who "just drop so fast," Lacie Gooch, an ICU nurse at Nebraska Medicine, said: "I have seen more people sick than I've ever seen in my life."
The video message was tweeted Monday by Nebraska Medicine, an Omaha-based health system that includes the Nebraska Medical Center, the state's largest hospital.
Gooch said: "I just got off my third 12-hour shift. Not once this week have I been in my home unit. I have been in the COVID ICU all week and I'm exhausted.
"I have seen so many emergent intubations. I have seen more people sick than I've ever seen in my life. They just drop so fast," she added, noting one of the hospital's COVID-19 units is purely "a place for people to go to just pass away, unfortunately."
The nurse described the frustration of not being able to get to patients in need of immediate emergency care quickly enough due to the time it takes to put on the extensive personal protection equipment (PPE) needed.
"What's sad is what I would normally do on my floor is just run in and start whatever life-saving measures they need. But with COVID, I can't do that," noting the many precautions to be taken, such as wearing all the required PPE, before rushing over. "So it takes me a minute to get in there [the patient's room].
"But 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.
"I leave [the hospital] with marks all over my face from the N95 mask I'm required to wear. We're understaffed. We have so much on our plates as nurses. There's not enough of us to help.
"Please take it [COVID-19] seriously. Wear your mask. And I hope I don't see you," she concluded.
"I have seen so many emergent intubations. I've seen people more sick than I've ever seen in my life." COVID ICU nurse Lacie Gooch hopes you will listen. @UNMC_ID @unmc @Prof_Lowe @DanielWJohnson9 @KellyCawcuttMD @JamesLawler11 pic.twitter.com/Sclrap3vlQ — Nebraska Medicine (@NebraskaMed) November 17, 2020
Gooch's plea came as the country's current COVID-19 hospitalizations hit a record 76,823 on Monday, according to data compiled by The Atlantic's The COVID Tracking Project.
According to the latest projections received by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from nine modeling groups in the week of November 13: "For December 7, the forecasts estimate 3,200 to 19,000 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per day.
"Three national forecasts predict a likely increase in the number of new hospitalizations per day over the next four weeks, one forecast predicts a likely decrease, and two forecasts are uncertain about the trend or predict stable numbers," the CDC said.
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 268,240 by Thanksgiving and 315,314 by the same day with "continued easing of social distancing mandates and mandates are not reimposed."
The latest IHME projections are nearly double the country's latest daily case count of 161,934 reported for November 17, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Total confirmed cases in the U.S. have surpassed 11.3 million, with 248,707 reported deaths, as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins.
As of Tuesday, there were reported to be over 4.3 million total active cases (those currently infected who are being treated in hospital or recovering at home) in the country.
Nurses care for a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit at Regional Medical Center on May 21 in San Jose, California. A nurse in Nebraska has begged people to take the outbreak seriously in a viral video on Twitter amid record current COVID-19 hospitalizations in the country. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The wider picture
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 55.6 million people since it was first reported in Wuhan, China.
Globally, more than 1.3 million people have died and more than 35.8 million have recovered as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins.
The graphic below, provided by Statista, illustrates the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations reported from March to November.
STATISTA
The graphic below, produced by Statista, shows the spread of COVID-19 cases across the U.S.


newsweek--2020-11-18--China's Army Steps Up War Prep With Civilian Mobilization Exercise

Workers in Chinese car factories were mobilized by the People 's Liberation Army on Saturday as the country stepped up its wartime preparedness with joint military and civilian drills .
The PLA Army conducted its strategic military-civil `` deep fusion '' exercises in conjunction with the municipal government of Chongqing in southwestern China , Beijing 's official military news site JS7tv reported the day after .
Among the protocols simulated was a requisition order for large platform trailers .
Automobile factories temporarily repurposed their equipment and staff in order to convert 20-ton semi-trailer trucks into wider , sturdier vehicles capable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle tank across China 's large , integrated network of highways , the report said .
The modification reportedly took eight hours and would be key for the strategic deployment of heavy armored vehicles , which typically sacrifice speed and distance for off-road maneuverability .
Other national defense protocols practiced on the day included the shifting of car production lines to make all-terrain light combat vehicles , which are low in armor but capable of rapid troop and equipment transport , the PLA website reported .
The exercise demonstrated the country 's `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state media said , adding that the same ability to improvise could also be used for disaster relief .
On Tuesday , the PLA Navy released footage showing a large-scale amphibious landing drill being conducted in the South China Sea off the southern Chinese province of Guangdong .
The exercise , which showed tanks and soldiers storming a beach in an invasion-like scenario , is part of the navy 's joint operations drills taking place in the region between November 17 and 30 , state-run tabloid Global Times reported .
A military expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is chair of China 's Central Military Commission , had demanded improvements to the armed forces ' joint combat capabilities in response to the `` intensifying situation and increasing risk of military conflicts '' in sensitive regions including the Taiwan Strait , South China Sea , and its border with India .
In its annual report to Congress published last year , the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission highlighted the Chinese government 's `` military-civil fusion policy , '' which Beijing is implementing in order to achieve its goal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' fighting force comparable to the United States .
The November assessment had described Chinese fighter jets crossing the Taiwan Strait median line for the first time in 20 years as a `` sharp escalation '' in military pressure '' from Beijing .
PLA warplane incursions into Taiwanese airspace are now an almost daily occurrence , Taiwan 's defense ministry 's public records show .

Workers in Chinese car factories were mobilized by the People's Liberation Army on Saturday as the country stepped up its wartime preparedness with joint military and civilian drills.
The PLA Army conducted its strategic military-civil "deep fusion" exercises in conjunction with the municipal government of Chongqing in southwestern China, Beijing's official military news site JS7tv reported the day after.
Among the protocols simulated was a requisition order for large platform trailers.
Automobile factories temporarily repurposed their equipment and staff in order to convert 20-ton semi-trailer trucks into wider, sturdier vehicles capable of transporting a 40-ton Type 59 main battle tank across China's large, integrated network of highways, the report said.
The modification reportedly took eight hours and would be key for the strategic deployment of heavy armored vehicles, which typically sacrifice speed and distance for off-road maneuverability.
Other national defense protocols practiced on the day included the shifting of car production lines to make all-terrain light combat vehicles, which are low in armor but capable of rapid troop and equipment transport, the PLA website reported.
The exercise demonstrated the country's "industrial potential during wartime," Chinese state media said, adding that the same ability to improvise could also be used for disaster relief.
A People's Liberation Army Type 56 main battle tank is loaded onto the back of a modified semi-trailer truck on November 14, 2020, as part of a combat-oriented military-civilian exercise in Chongqing, China. js7tv
On Tuesday, the PLA Navy released footage showing a large-scale amphibious landing drill being conducted in the South China Sea off the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.
The exercise, which showed tanks and soldiers storming a beach in an invasion-like scenario, is part of the navy's joint operations drills taking place in the region between November 17 and 30, state-run tabloid Global Times reported.
A military expert told the tabloid that President Xi Jinping, who is chair of China's Central Military Commission, had demanded improvements to the armed forces' joint combat capabilities in response to the "intensifying situation and increasing risk of military conflicts" in sensitive regions including the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and its border with India.
Read more U.S. Warplanes Foray Into China Airspace As PLA Jets Disturb Taiwan U.S. Warplanes Foray Into China Airspace As PLA Jets Disturb Taiwan
In its annual report to Congress published last year, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission highlighted the Chinese government's "military-civil fusion policy," which Beijing is implementing in order to achieve its goal of turning the PLA into a "world-class" fighting force comparable to the United States.
The November assessment had described Chinese fighter jets crossing the Taiwan Strait median line for the first time in 20 years as a "sharp escalation" in military pressure" from Beijing.
PLA warplane incursions into Taiwanese airspace are now an almost daily occurrence, Taiwan's defense ministry's public records show.


newsweek--2020-11-18--Bitcoin Price Surges as Optimistic Investors Seek 'Hype Assets' After Vaccine, Election News

Ubiquitous cryptocurrency Bitcoin hit a three-year high this week , as optimistic investors headed for riskier assets amid positive COVID-19 vaccine news and increased certainty about the future of the U.S. leadership .
The currency , which launched in 2009 , headed above $ 18,000 , climbing almost 10 percent on Wednesday .
It had been trading at around $ 5,000 in March as investors stuck to safer investments .
The move mirrors stock markets where equities have approached record highs in recent days , with investors looking to an end in sight following promising news from both Pfizer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 1.6 percent , or 471 points , closing at a record high , the last of Wall Street 's three major indices to recover ground lost due to economic stress caused by the pandemic .
On November 9 , American pharmaceutical firm Pfizer and German biotechnology company BioNTech announced their COVID vaccine was 90 percent effective at preventing the disease .
A week later on Monday , biotechnology firm Moderna claimed its vaccine was 94.5 percent effective .
The last time Bitcoin saw a spike of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gains were largely fuelled by a swell in consumer interest , with markets closely matching trends in online search engines .
This time , some analysts say it 's different .
`` This rally is n't being driven by retail , so history is n't repeating itself yet , '' Evgeny Gaevoy , founder and CEO of crypto liquidity provider Wintermute told Newsweek .
He said some people in the market believe that cryptocurrencies have become more attractive to institutional investors , such as investment banks , pointing to an increase in traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet search trends to back this up .
Another explanation for the rally is that buying Bitcoin may act as an inflation hedge against the heavy stimulus from central banks , which is putting downward pressure on the value of traditional currencies .
Bitcoin has a limited supply , which is capped at 21 million .
With central banks pumping cash into the system across the world to deal with the pandemic , it may now seem like a better place to retain value .
A third view in the market is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by hype .
`` Bitcoin has been a slow-brewing bull market for a few months , it 's now been pushed it over the edge to this kind of parabolic curve that we 've seen before , '' Ranko Berich , head of market analysis at Monex Europe told Newsweek .
Berich compared Bitcoin with the dizzying heights car manufacturer Tesla has reached on the stock market this week following its inclusion into the S & P 500 .
He noted that `` hype assets '' such as these traditionally rely on speculation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price soars .
Concurring with this view , Craig Erlam , senior market analyst for Europe at Oanda , wrote in an email : `` There 's something about the immense gains of the last month that make me a little nervous , given past experience . ''

Ubiquitous cryptocurrency Bitcoin hit a three-year high this week, as optimistic investors headed for riskier assets amid positive COVID-19 vaccine news and increased certainty about the future of the U.S. leadership.
The currency, which launched in 2009, headed above $18,000, climbing almost 10 percent on Wednesday. It had been trading at around $5,000 in March as investors stuck to safer investments.
The move mirrors stock markets where equities have approached record highs in recent days, with investors looking to an end in sight following promising news from both Pfizer and Moderna's vaccine trials.
On Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 1.6 percent, or 471 points, closing at a record high, the last of Wall Street's three major indices to recover ground lost due to economic stress caused by the pandemic.
On November 9, American pharmaceutical firm Pfizer and German biotechnology company BioNTech announced their COVID vaccine was 90 percent effective at preventing the disease.
A week later on Monday, biotechnology firm Moderna claimed its vaccine was 94.5 percent effective.
The last time Bitcoin saw a spike of this magnitude was 2017, when price gains were largely fuelled by a swell in consumer interest, with markets closely matching trends in online search engines. This time, some analysts say it's different.
"This rally isn't being driven by retail, so history isn't repeating itself yet," Evgeny Gaevoy, founder and CEO of crypto liquidity provider Wintermute told Newsweek.
He said some people in the market believe that cryptocurrencies have become more attractive to institutional investors, such as investment banks, pointing to an increase in traffic on crypto exchanges and a change in internet search trends to back this up.
Another explanation for the rally is that buying Bitcoin may act as an inflation hedge against the heavy stimulus from central banks, which is putting downward pressure on the value of traditional currencies.
Bitcoin has a limited supply, which is capped at 21 million. With central banks pumping cash into the system across the world to deal with the pandemic, it may now seem like a better place to retain value.
A third view in the market is the rally is, yet again, driven by hype.
"Bitcoin has been a slow-brewing bull market for a few months, it's now been pushed it over the edge to this kind of parabolic curve that we've seen before," Ranko Berich, head of market analysis at Monex Europe told Newsweek.
Berich compared Bitcoin with the dizzying heights car manufacturer Tesla has reached on the stock market this week following its inclusion into the S&P 500.
He noted that "hype assets" such as these traditionally rely on speculation and optimism from retail investors when their price soars.
Concurring with this view, Craig Erlam, senior market analyst for Europe at Oanda, wrote in an email: "There's something about the immense gains of the last month that make me a little nervous, given past experience."