'I Took a Trip to the North Pole': Anthony Fauci Tells Children He Vaccinated Santa

THE GUARDIAN: Top US infectious diseases expert tells Sesame Street event Father Christmas is ‘good to go’ for present-delivery duty

Children around the world should not worry about the logistics of Christmas present delivery while the coronavirus pandemic rages, Dr Anthony Fauci said – because he vaccinated Santa himself.

“I took care of that for you,” the top US infectious diseases expert told CNN. “Because I was worried that you’d all be upset.

“So what I did a little while ago, I took a trip up there to the North Pole. I went there and I vaccinated Santa Claus myself. I measured his level of immunity, and he is good to go. He can come down the chimney. He can leave the presents, he can leave, and you have nothing to worry about. Santa Claus is good to go.” » | Martin Pengelly in New York | Saturday, December 19, 2020

Johnson Announces Tier 4 for London and Scraps Christmas Mixing Rules

Boris Johnson has issued a new 'stay at home' order covering London and much of the south and east of England, and dramatically curtailed plans for Christmas mixing nationwide, in response to a new fast-spreading strain of coronavirus. Just days after reaffirming the festive 'bubble' plan and claiming it would be 'inhuman' to cancel Christmas, the prime minister announced the creation of a new, stricter tier 4

Trump Remains Silent on Russia’s Cyberattack | The 11th Hour | MSNBC

Trump’s silence in the face of Russian aggression will force the incoming administration to respond. So then why has the Pentagon delayed Biden’s transition briefings? Annie Karni, A.B. Stoddard, and Jeremy Bash discuss. Aired on 12/19/2020.

Murdoch Gets Vaccinated as His Media Outlets Spread Lies, Attack Essential Workers | All In | MSNBC

After getting vaccinated, Rupert Murdoch strongly encouraged people to get the vaccine and thanked essential workers. Meanwhile, his minions at Fox News and the New York Post are spreading lies about the coronavirus and bullying health care workers. Aired on 12/18/2020.

Mehdi Hasan: ‘Where Is Donald Trump?’ | The Last Word | MSNBC

Mehdi Hasan explains why Donald Trump’s silence in the face of unprecedented crisis is “unacceptable and unforgivable.” Aired on 12/18/2020.

Winter in the Coldest City on Earth – In Pictures

THE GUARDIAN: Located south of the Arctic Circle, in Russia’s far east, Yakutsk is known for its severe climate

Yakutsk has the coldest winter temperatures of any major city, with an average monthly temperature in January of -38.6C » | Yevgeny Sofroneyev/Tass/Getty Images | Friday, December 18, 2020

Detention of Former Saudi Crown Prince 'Risks Security of West'

THE GUARDIAN: Mohammed bin Nayef does not have access to lawyer, family or doctor, according to evidence given to MPs

The detention of the former crown prince of Saudi Arabia in breach of international law is weakening the security of both the kingdom and the west, a cross-party investigatory panel of British MPs has found.

Mohammed bin Nayef was arrested in March as part of a consolidation of power ordered by the current crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.

The panel found that, since March, Bin Nayef had lost a significant amount of weight. He is “suffering from pains in his joints, particularly his knees, making it difficult for him to walk comfortably without assistance, and there is evidence of damage to his feet, adding to the pain in walking”, the panel found.

The panel also claims evidence submitted to it shows “he has not been able to contest his detention before an independent and impartial judge, has no access to a lawyer to discuss his situation and his case has not been reviewed to determine whether it is appropriate to continue his detention”. He has not been allowed to see either his family or his doctor. » | Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic editor | Thursday, December 17, 2020

Unicef to Feed Hungry Children in UK for First Time in 70-year History

THE GUARDIAN: UN agency will help fund food parcels for those affected by coronavirus crisis in Southwark, south London

Unicef has launched a domestic emergency response in the UK for the first time in its more than 70-year history to help feed children hit by the Covid-19 crisis.

The UN agency, which is responsible for providing humanitarian aid to children worldwide, said the coronavirus pandemic was the most urgent crisis affecting children since the second world war.

A YouGov poll in May commissioned by the charity Food Foundation found2.4 million children (17%) were living in food insecure households. By October, an extra 900,000 children had been registered for free school meals. » | Rhi Storer | Wednesday, December 16, 2020

This is to our enduring shame! So many untaxed billionaires; so many poor children! This is enough to bring tears to the eyes of any decent human being! Disgusting! – © Mark

Deutschland: Harter Lockdown: (Fast) nichts geht mehr

Seit Mittwoch gilt deutschlandweit der sogenannte „harte Lockdown“, die meisten Geschäfte müssen geschlossen bleiben. © REUTERS, EPA

Lacher im Bundestag: Merkel weist AfD-Impfskeptiker zurecht

Während der aktuellen Stunde im Bundestag ist Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel von einem AfD-Abgeordneten zu den kommenden Corona-Impfungen befragt worden. © AFP, EPA

The Guardian View on US Democracy: Safe – for Now

THE GUARDIAN: Republicans are finally acknowledging Joe Biden’s victory, but the damage caused by their acquiescence in Donald Trump’s lies goes deep

That the worst did not happen is a cause for relief – but not too much of it. The electoral college officially approved Joe Biden’s victory on Monday. On the same day, the attorney general, William Barr, resigned, having earned Donald Trump’s wrath by denying that there had been widespread fraud. Hours later, Mitch McConnell, the senate majority leader, finally recognised Joe Biden as president-elect. Days earlier, the supreme court unanimously rejected a preposterous lawsuit aiming to invalidate results in swing states. » | Editorial | Tuesday, December 15, 2020

1965 Intimations - John le Carré Interview

The false and lonely world of the writer.

‘Until I die, the father-son relationship will obsess me’: inside John le Carré's brutal childhood »

Claude Debussy - Arabesque No. 1 (Première arabesque)

Trump Is Spending the Last Days of His Presidency on a Literal Killing Spree

THE GUARDIAN: In disregard for political precedent or basic humanity, Trump has fast-tracked federal executions before Biden takes office

Donald Trump is on a killing spree. He is turning the anger and resentment which burnishes his brand into a virtually unprecedented string of federal executions. From 14 July 2020, when the attorney general, William Barr, restarted the federal death penalty by executing Daniel Lewis Lee, through last week, the administration has put ten people to death. Three more executions are on the docket in the days leading up to the inauguration of Joe Biden.

Last week, Trump and Barr executed Brandon Bernard even though his crime was committed when he was just 18 years old, and they killed Alfred Bourgeois even though his IQ put him in the intellectually disabled category.

Trump and Barr have turned the solemn process of punishment into an assembly line of death. In doing so they have shown themselves to be indifferent to history, inattentive to the troubling problems plaguing the federal death penalty, and out of step with the country they lead. » | Austin Sarat | Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Joe Biden's Full Address to the Nation after Electoral College Reaffirms His Victory

After the Electoral College affirmed his win, President-elect Joe Biden addressed the American people and slammed attempts by President Trump and Republicans to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Biden Tops 270 Votes in the Electoral College, Affirming His Presidential Victory

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Joseph R. Biden Jr. was affirmed as the president-elect on Monday as members of the Electoral College pushed him past the 270 threshold to win the White House, all but ending a disruptive chapter in American history in which President Trump sought to use legal challenges and political pressure to overturn the results of a free and fair election.

The president-elect passed the threshold after California cast its 55 votes for Mr. Biden on Monday evening, capping a day marked by heightened security in battleground states and an unusual level of scrutiny for what is normally a formal, procedural affair. » | Nick Corasaniti and Jim Rutenberg | Monday, December 14, 2020

Trump in Trouble as His Bankers Forced to Cooperate with Investigators

If Donald Trump seems a little more panicky than usual right now it might be because his bankers and insurance brokers have been having talks with investigators at the Manhattan District Attorney's office. The President is facing massive investigations when he leaves office and will likely be subpoenaed for testimony or depositions very soon after he loses his presidential power. Farron Cousins explains what's happening.

Speculation Swirls over Ivanka Trump’s Potential Run for US Senate in Florida

THE GUARDIAN: Trump and Kushner reportedly buying property as a potential base for soon to be ex-first daughter to launch political career

Speculation about the post-White House career of Ivanka Trump is now centered on Florida, where the soon to be ex-first daughter and senior aide to her president father has reportedly bought an expensive plot of land for a house and may be considering a run for Senate.

Ivanka Trump is frequently mentioned as desiring a political career of her own and during her time working for Donald Trump has sought to position herself as a more media-friendly version of her father. » | Guardian staff | Sunday, December 13, 2020

German Chancellor Merkel Announces Hard Holiday Lockdown | DW News

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has set the table for a bleak holiday season, announcing a raft of tough coronavirus lockdown measures, which she said were necessary to bring down the spiraling numbers of new COVID-19 cases.

From Wednesday, non-essential shops are going to close. Supermarkets, pharmacies and banks are allowed to remain open. Schools are going to be shut in principle until the 10th of January and employers are being encouraged to allow their staff to work from home as far as possible.

Chancellor Angela Merkel also made an appeal for people to limit their social contacts during the holidays. The number of people allowed to meet indoors will remain restricted to five, not including children under 14. And, in anticipation of New Year's celebrations, sales of fireworks are going to be banned.

Brexit Is the Worst Decision of Modern Times. Why Are Its Critics in Cabinet So Silent?

THE GUARDIAN: The UK will soon be on its own – sovereign, in charge and control regained. Yet none of that creates jobs or ensures a glorious future

After a lifetime close to the workings of government, I approach drafting an article about Brexit for a Sunday publication with trepidation. Both sides have said a decision will be taken today, but not what that may be; and anyway, can you believe that any decision will really be the last?

What I do know is that both sides will be presenting the story that best serves their negotiating positions and pleases their most important audiences. Facts are in short supply; there is a plethora of spin.

“Taking back control” will summon up the blood of British patriotism. The union jack prominently displayed before the negotiating table reinforces the demand for sovereignty, while a few asides about cheating foreigners reinforce national prejudices. The leadership necessary to listen to the other side, and understand where compromises may lead, all too soon becomes a cult of nationalism led by the most extreme of partisan groupings.

“I will have my cake and eat it” is rather a good joke on this side of the Channel. It has a quite different implication for the rest of Europe where sovereignty matters as well – theirs, not ours. » | Michael Heseltine | Sunday, December 13, 2020