Saturday, December 19, 2020
Breaking News: London to Enter Tier Four Covid Restrictions
The planned relaxation of Covid rules for Christmas has been scrapped for London. From midnight Sunday 20 December, a new tier four will be introduced. Those in tier four cannot mix indoors with anyone not from their household. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the changes at a Downing Street briefing after scientists said a new coronavirus variant is spreading more rapidly.
'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
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
Trump Remains Silent on Russia’s Cyberattack | The 11th Hour | MSNBC
Murdoch Gets Vaccinated as His Media Outlets Spread Lies, Attack Essential Workers | All In | MSNBC
Mehdi Hasan: ‘Where Is Donald Trump?’ | The Last Word | MSNBC
Friday, December 18, 2020
Winter in the Coldest City on Earth – In Pictures
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
Thursday, December 17, 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
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
Wednesday, December 16, 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
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
Lacher im Bundestag: Merkel weist AfD-Impfskeptiker zurecht
The Guardian View on US Democracy: Safe – for Now
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
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
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
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
Monday, December 14, 2020
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
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
Sunday, December 13, 2020
Trump in Trouble as His Bankers Forced to Cooperate with Investigators
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
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.
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)