Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee whose policies he said were&nbsp;stopping state farmers from taking benefit of PM-KISAN scheme. The scheme is central government's flagship scheme. He was addressing a virtual event after releasing over Rs 18,000 crore to more than nine crore farmer families under 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi' (PM-KISAN)

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to small and marginal farmers, payable in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

During his address Modi wondered why protests were not visible against West Bengal's decision of not implementing the scheme while there were agitations against the new farmer bills.

He said the entire country is benefiting from the PM-KISAN programme, but only one state, West Bengal, has not implemented this scheme.

As a result, over 70 lakh farmers are not able to take benefit of this scheme and this money is not reaching them, he said, adding that this is because of political reasons.

Modi said more than 23 lakh West Bengal farmers have applied online to take advantage of this scheme, but the state government has stopped the verification process for&nbsp;a long.

"Why there was no protest for ensuring PM-KISAN money," he said.

"If you listen to 15 years old speech of Mamta Ji, then you will know how much this ideology has ruined Bengal," he said.

Modi said everyone knows how the state has been ruined by the political ideology of those who ruled there for decades.

"The public is watching those doing selfish politics very closely. The parties that do not speak on the benefit of farmers in West Bengal are engaged in harassing the citizens of Delhi here in the name of the farmers and are ruining the economy of the country," he said.

(With PTI inputs)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee whose policies he said were stopping state farmers from taking benefit of PM-KISAN scheme.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee whose policies he said were stopping state farmers from taking benefit of PM-KISAN scheme. The scheme is central government's flagship scheme. He was addressing a virtual event after releasing over Rs 18,000 crore to more than nine crore farmer families under 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi' (PM-KISAN) Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to small and marginal farmers, payable in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. During his address Modi wondered why protests were not visible against West Bengal's decision of not implementing the scheme while there were agitations against the new farmer bills. He said the entire country is benefiting from the PM-KISAN programme, but only one state, West Bengal, has not implemented this scheme. As a result, over 70 lakh farmers are not able to take benefit of this scheme and this money is not reaching them, he said, adding that this is because of political reasons. Modi said more than 23 lakh West Bengal farmers have applied online to take advantage of this scheme, but the state government has stopped the verification process for a long. "Why there was no protest for ensuring PM-KISAN money," he said. "If you listen to 15 years old speech of Mamta Ji, then you will know how much this ideology has ruined Bengal," he said. Modi said everyone knows how the state has been ruined by the political ideology of those who ruled there for decades. "The public is watching those doing selfish politics very closely. The parties that do not speak on the benefit of farmers in West Bengal are engaged in harassing the citizens of Delhi here in the name of the farmers and are ruining the economy of the country," he said. (With PTI inputs)

PM Modi accuses Mamata Banerjee of blocking benefits for farmers

There is a time in perhaps most boys' life when his collection of Hot Wheels is his most prized possession. The nicely made toy cars zoom and whizz past the loops and whatnot. But these cars sometimes can cost a fortune, or if you are on the right side of the deal table, can even earn a fortune.

Bruce Pascal is one such guy. He is a commercial real-estate executive based in Washington DC area. He owns a Hot Wheels that has a value of 150,000 US Dollars.

The car in question isn't a supercar or miniature version of Batmobile but a 1969 version of 'beach bomb' Volkswagon bus.

Value of a collectible increases with its rarity and how old it is.

But before you dig up your closet to unearth you childhood toy collection, hear why Pascal's car is fetching the amount.

The 'beach bomb' car he owns was not sold in the open market. It was only made for testing inside Mattel's corporate offices.

The thing with Hot Wheels is, it is not just supposed to look slick but is also supposed run smoothly on the tracks Mattel provides.

Thing with the 'beach bomb' car is, the model flipped every time it was sped up rubber loops. To solve this problem, Mattel made modifications to the design and made the base heavier. But it didn't work during the testing.

However, this base-heavy version of the beach bomb car with two tiny surfboards protruding from the back has become stuff of legends. Only 50 models are believed to be there in the world.

Mattel eventually made more modifications to the car and the model that finally made its way to the market had surfboards coming out from its sides.&nbsp;

There is a time in perhaps most boys' life when his collection of Hot Wheels is his most prized possession. The nicely made toy cars zoom and whizz past the loops and whatnot.

There is a time in perhaps most boys' life when his collection of Hot Wheels is his most prized possession. The nicely made toy cars zoom and whizz past the loops and whatnot. But these cars sometimes can cost a fortune, or if you are on the right side of the deal table, can even earn a fortune. Bruce Pascal is one such guy. He is a commercial real-estate executive based in Washington DC area. He owns a Hot Wheels that has a value of 150,000 US Dollars. The car in question isn't a supercar or miniature version of Batmobile but a 1969 version of 'beach bomb' Volkswagon bus. Value of a collectible increases with its rarity and how old it is. But before you dig up your closet to unearth you childhood toy collection, hear why Pascal's car is fetching the amount. The 'beach bomb' car he owns was not sold in the open market. It was only made for testing inside Mattel's corporate offices. The thing with Hot Wheels is, it is not just supposed to look slick but is also supposed run smoothly on the tracks Mattel provides. Thing with the 'beach bomb' car is, the model flipped every time it was sped up rubber loops. To solve this problem, Mattel made modifications to the design and made the base heavier. But it didn't work during the testing. However, this base-heavy version of the beach bomb car with two tiny surfboards protruding from the back has become stuff of legends. Only 50 models are believed to be there in the world. Mattel eventually made more modifications to the car and the model that finally made its way to the market had surfboards coming out from its sides.

There's a Hot Wheels car worth USD 150,000

Intact fossils are something like a goldmine for Paleontologists. But fossils have limitations so to speak. This is because soft tissues are seldom preserved in a fossil. But remains preserved in permafrost? Well, that is another thing.

One such perfectly preserved wolf has been found in Canada. The animal was covered by permafrost and is 57,000 years old! Due to its preservation in ice, the wolf's soft tissues and even fur is intact and this has opened doors for scientists to study animals in that era in great detail.

It is a female wolf puppy and has been found in Yukon, Canada. It has been named Zhur. Researchers have been quoted to call it "the oldest, most complete wolf"

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rock-collected-220-years-ago-turns-out-to-be-an-entirely-new-mineral-351971">Rock collected 220 years ago turns out to be an entirely new mineral</a>

The wolf was found in Klondike goldfields, near Dawson City by a gold miner who was blasting a wall of frozen mud.&nbsp;

X-ray technique analysis has revealed that the puppy was 6-7 weeks old. Researchers say that the puppy lived during times when ice sheets were receding. This means that there was a lot of freshwater around when it was alive.

Intact fossils are something like a goldmine for Paleontologists. But fossils have limitations so to speak. This is because soft tissues are seldom preserved in a fossil.

Intact fossils are something like a goldmine for Paleontologists. But fossils have limitations so to speak. This is because soft tissues are seldom preserved in a fossil. But remains preserved in permafrost? Well, that is another thing. One such perfectly preserved wolf has been found in Canada. The animal was covered by permafrost and is 57,000 years old! Due to its preservation in ice, the wolf's soft tissues and even fur is intact and this has opened doors for scientists to study animals in that era in great detail. It is a female wolf puppy and has been found in Yukon, Canada. It has been named Zhur. Researchers have been quoted to call it "the oldest, most complete wolf" Also Read | Rock collected 220 years ago turns out to be an entirely new mineral The wolf was found in Klondike goldfields, near Dawson City by a gold miner who was blasting a wall of frozen mud. X-ray technique analysis has revealed that the puppy was 6-7 weeks old. Researchers say that the puppy lived during times when ice sheets were receding. This means that there was a lot of freshwater around when it was alive.

Goldminer finds perfectly preserved wolf in Canadian permafrost

Ever wondered during Chemistry class why there were almost no new elements discovered than those already in the periodic table? Well, it may have led you to believe that humans have found everything there is about nature. But just when we become comfortable in such a thought, nature spins out a surprise and we realise we are yet to grasp the full wonder.

A sample of rock was collected from a mine in Cornwall, England some 220 years ago. It was catalogued as something else and kept in London's Natural History Museum since 1964. But now it has been found that sample contained an entirely new species of minerals.

The new mineral has been named Kernowite, after the Cornish language word Kernow which means a county. The mineral was found by a team at Natural History Museum.

The county of Kernow is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. But a mine was active in St Day village in the county between 1790 and 1909.

The mine has now been demolished and there is a housing complex at the location.

This means that there is no way to go back and collect more rock samples.&nbsp;

Given all this, it amazes us to think that new minerals are still being discovered in year 2020 and nature has many secrets still to be discovered.

Ever wondered during Chemistry class why there were almost no new elements discovered than those already in the periodic table? Well, it may have led you to believe that humans have found everything there is about nature.

Ever wondered during Chemistry class why there were almost no new elements discovered than those already in the periodic table? Well, it may have led you to believe that humans have found everything there is about nature. But just when we become comfortable in such a thought, nature spins out a surprise and we realise we are yet to grasp the full wonder. A sample of rock was collected from a mine in Cornwall, England some 220 years ago. It was catalogued as something else and kept in London's Natural History Museum since 1964. But now it has been found that sample contained an entirely new species of minerals. The new mineral has been named Kernowite, after the Cornish language word Kernow which means a county. The mineral was found by a team at Natural History Museum. The county of Kernow is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. But a mine was active in St Day village in the county between 1790 and 1909. The mine has now been demolished and there is a housing complex at the location. This means that there is no way to go back and collect more rock samples. Given all this, it amazes us to think that new minerals are still being discovered in year 2020 and nature has many secrets still to be discovered.

Rock collected 220 years ago turns out to be an entirely new mineral

Today in history: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Indian plane hijacked, and more

About 500 relative of coronavirus victims are suing Italian state for 100 million euros (USD 122 million) alleging failure in early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. A group by the name of "Noi Denunceremo" (We Will Denounce) is driving the action. The group has already filed around 300 complaints in prosecutors in Lombardy region. This region has suffered most from first wave of the virus. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-will-stay-with-us-for-the-next-10-years-says-vaccine-creator-351920">Also read | Coronavirus will stay with us for the next 10 years, says vaccine creator</a> 
 
The legal action targets PM Giuseppe Conte Health Minister Roberto Speranza and the president of the Lombardy region, Attilio Fontana, the group said in a statement. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-us-nurse-passes-out-after-getting-pfizer-biontechs-covid-19-vaccine-350712">Watch: US nurse passes out after getting Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine</a>

Italy was the first country outside China to suffer a major outbreak of coronavirus and remains one of the worst hit, with almost 70,000 reported deaths so far. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-trial-volunteers-who-got-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-developed-bells-palsy-348547">Also read: Four trial volunteers who got Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine developed Bell's palsy</a>

The lawsuit alleges "serious omissions" by the Lombardy and central governments, starting with a decision to reopen the Alzano hospital on February 23 after it was shut following the detection of the first Covid-19 cases.

The statement also cited a "severe delay" in closing off the infected towns of Alzano and Nembro, as well as a lack of up-to-date pandemic plans at both local and regional levels.

"This proceeding is to be considered a Christmas gift to those who should have done what they were supposed to do and did not do, while in Italy on December 25, there will be 70,000 empty chairs," said Noi Denunceremo president Luca Fusco.

"With proper planning, as requested over and over again by the European Union and World Health Organization, we are sure there would have been many fewer."

Half of the coronavirus deaths recorded in Italy have been since mid-July, when infections reached their lowest point, which means that the second wave looks set to be least as deadly as the first.

(With AFP inputs)

About 500 relative of coronavirus victims are suing Italian state for 100 million euros (USD 122 million) alleging failure in early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.

About 500 relative of coronavirus victims are suing Italian state for 100 million euros (USD 122 million) alleging failure in early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. A group by the name of "Noi Denunceremo" (We Will Denounce) is driving the action. The group has already filed around 300 complaints in prosecutors in Lombardy region. This region has suffered most from first wave of the virus. Also read | Coronavirus will stay with us for the next 10 years, says vaccine creator The legal action targets PM Giuseppe Conte Health Minister Roberto Speranza and the president of the Lombardy region, Attilio Fontana, the group said in a statement. Watch: US nurse passes out after getting Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine Italy was the first country outside China to suffer a major outbreak of coronavirus and remains one of the worst hit, with almost 70,000 reported deaths so far. Also read: Four trial volunteers who got Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine developed Bell's palsy The lawsuit alleges "serious omissions" by the Lombardy and central governments, starting with a decision to reopen the Alzano hospital on February 23 after it was shut following the detection of the first Covid-19 cases. The statement also cited a "severe delay" in closing off the infected towns of Alzano and Nembro, as well as a lack of up-to-date pandemic plans at both local and regional levels. "This proceeding is to be considered a Christmas gift to those who should have done what they were supposed to do and did not do, while in Italy on December 25, there will be 70,000 empty chairs," said Noi Denunceremo president Luca Fusco. "With proper planning, as requested over and over again by the European Union and World Health Organization, we are sure there would have been many fewer." Half of the coronavirus deaths recorded in Italy have been since mid-July, when infections reached their lowest point, which means that the second wave looks set to be least as deadly as the first. (With AFP inputs)

Families of coronavirus victims sue Italy for 100 million euros

Asian markets struck a hopeful tone on Thursday at a potential Brexit deal and economic recovery prospects Australia's S&amp;P/ASX 200 was up 0.78% in early trading, while Japan's Nikkei 225 futures were up 0.07%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures inched up 0.17%.

Investors cheered a potential Brexit trade deal between Britain and the European Union that raised hopes the estranged allies would avoid a turbulent economic rupture on New Year's Day.

"The framework for a Brexit trade deal gave investors the green light to start buying everything in Europe," said Edward Moya, Senior Market Analyst, at OANDA in New York. He was quoted by Reuters.

A potential Brexit deal also boosted sterling, which went up 0.13% against the dollar at $1.3509 after closing up 0.9%. The pound also rose after Francen lifted ban on freight coming from Britain.

Wall Street ended mostly higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing up 0.38% and the S&amp;P 500 edging 0.07% higher. The Nasdaq Composite declined 0.29%.

A raft of mixed U.S. economic data showed lower jobless claims and an uptick in new orders for durable goods, but also a pullback in consumer spending, falling personal income and fading sentiment as the holiday shopping season nears its end amid a resurgent pandemic.

Investors largely shrugged off comments by President Trump saying a nearly $900 billion stimulus bill, agreed upon after months of wrangling in Congress, was "a disgrace" that he might not sign. Trump said he wanted to increase "ridiculously low" $600 payments for individuals to $2,000, in a video posted to Twitter.

"Risk-on sentiment is guiding markets so far today and it appears to be weighted more toward possible optimism toward a Brexit deal and the cherry-picked parts of U.S. releases, rather than Trump's reckless antics over signing the stimulus and funding bill," said Derek Holt, head of capital markets Economics at Scotiabank.

Oil prices settled more than 2% higher as draws in U.S. inventories of crude, gasoline and distillates lifted investors' hopes for some return in fuel demand

(With Reuters inputs)

Asian markets struck a hopeful tone on Thursday at a potential Brexit deal and economic recovery prospects Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.78% in early trading, while Japan's Nikkei 225 futures were up 0.

Asian markets struck a hopeful tone on Thursday at a potential Brexit deal and economic recovery prospects Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.78% in early trading, while Japan's Nikkei 225 futures were up 0.07%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures inched up 0.17%. Investors cheered a potential Brexit trade deal between Britain and the European Union that raised hopes the estranged allies would avoid a turbulent economic rupture on New Year's Day. "The framework for a Brexit trade deal gave investors the green light to start buying everything in Europe," said Edward Moya, Senior Market Analyst, at OANDA in New York. He was quoted by Reuters. A potential Brexit deal also boosted sterling, which went up 0.13% against the dollar at $1.3509 after closing up 0.9%. The pound also rose after Francen lifted ban on freight coming from Britain. Wall Street ended mostly higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing up 0.38% and the S&P 500 edging 0.07% higher. The Nasdaq Composite declined 0.29%. A raft of mixed U.S. economic data showed lower jobless claims and an uptick in new orders for durable goods, but also a pullback in consumer spending, falling personal income and fading sentiment as the holiday shopping season nears its end amid a resurgent pandemic. Investors largely shrugged off comments by President Trump saying a nearly $900 billion stimulus bill, agreed upon after months of wrangling in Congress, was "a disgrace" that he might not sign. Trump said he wanted to increase "ridiculously low" $600 payments for individuals to $2,000, in a video posted to Twitter. "Risk-on sentiment is guiding markets so far today and it appears to be weighted more toward possible optimism toward a Brexit deal and the cherry-picked parts of U.S. releases, rather than Trump's reckless antics over signing the stimulus and funding bill," said Derek Holt, head of capital markets Economics at Scotiabank. Oil prices settled more than 2% higher as draws in U.S. inventories of crude, gasoline and distillates lifted investors' hopes for some return in fuel demand (With Reuters inputs)

Asian markets rise at the prospect of a Brexit deal

Millions of COVID-19 vaccines are sitting unused in U.S. hospitals and elsewhere a week into the massive inoculation campaign, putting the government's target for 20 million vaccinations this month in doubt.

As of Wednesday morning, only 1 million shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine had been given, about one-third of the first shipment sent last week. Over 9.5 million doses of vaccines, including Moderna's, have now been sent to states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While hospitals have started giving out Moderna's vaccine, the CDC has not yet reported that data and there may be a lag in reporting shots given of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

The slow pace has barely picked up from the first week when 614,000 shots were given although nearly 2.9 million were shipped.

Hospitals said the first COVID-19 vaccinations started slowly last Monday as they navigated preparing the previously frozen shots for use, finding employees to run the vaccination clinics, and ensuring proper social distancing both before and after vaccination. Some said they did only about 100 shots the first day.

They were contending with a COVID-19 surge, as cases around the United States surpassed 18 million with 323,000 deaths.&nbsp;

The Trump administration promised to vaccinate 20 million by the end of the year while providing little funding to achieve the goal.

That's nine days to give out nearly 19 million shots or over 2 million people vaccinated a day including on Christmas Day.

Almost 5.9 million doses of Moderna Inc's vaccine should go out this week and an additional 2 million doses from Pfizer and partner BioNTech.

"The commitment that we can make is to make vaccine doses available," U.S. Operation Warp Speed chief adviser Dr. Moncef Slaoui said on a Wednesday press call. He noted the rate of people getting a shot in their arm is "slower than we thought it would be."

Two more vaccines may be approved in February from Johnson &amp; Johnson Inc and AstraZeneca Plc.

The government's goal is 100 million Pfizer and Moderna shots in arms by March 1.

Operation Warp Speed's General Gustave Perna, who is leading the vaccine distribution effort, on Monday said that the CDC data reflects a reporting lag and that the number of vaccinations will catch up as time goes on.

The CDC said its data may also reflect a lag between vaccine dosing and state reporting. Most nursing home vaccinations only began in mass this week, and the CDC data does not specify how many doses from the first shipment were being held by states for that group.

STAFF STRETCHED THIN

Margaret Mary Health, a 25-bed rural hospital in Indiana, built a drive-thru vaccination clinic at a local fire station and one at a local recreation center to vaccinate healthcare workers in the surrounding counties, according to Chief Executive Officer Tim Putnam.

Putnam, who has done traffic control at the clinic's drive-thru, said they have used about 400 of 1,100 doses received.

"We're asking for volunteers from our staff, volunteers from the local community college to step in and build this process from the ground up," he said.

Some of the largest U.S. hospitals inoculated more than 1,000 people per day, having done dry runs of the vaccine delivery and rollout.

Vermont, Delaware and Idaho were among states that confirmed their states had given only thousands of doses - a fraction of those available to them - during the first week.

Jason Schwartz, assistant professor of health policy at Yale School of Public Health, described the initial tally as "discouraging" and said "the challenges of getting vaccines out as quickly as we're able to manufacture them will only grow."

Johnson &amp; Johnson's one-shot vaccine could speed deployment because it requires a conventional refrigerator and has no specialized procedures to thaw out and administer, said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association for Immunization Managers trade group. AstraZeneca's two dose vaccine also can be stored in a refrigerator.

"When it's refrigerator-stable and a one-dose regimen, it can't get any easier than that," Hannan said.

HOSPITALS START SLOWLY BUT SPEED UP

Dr. Saul Weingart, the chief medical officer of Tufts Medical Center in Boston, said the hospital had given about 750 doses of the around 3,000 available as of Friday. It started with 100 shots per day and worked up to about 450, he said.

He said experts at the hospital modeled that giving Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine would take 10 minutes, about two to three times as long as a flu shot, due to the procedures needed because the vaccine is stored in a deep freeze. Patients need to socially distance before and after being given the vaccine and be monitored for allergic reactions.

The United States gives 170 million flu vaccinations each year within a few months, but for the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States must give about three times that number of shots - the Pfizer and Moderna shots are two doses - to reach most Americans by July. At its current pace, the U.S. appears to have the capacity to administer less than a third of the shots that are shipped in a given week, underscoring the gap.

A spokesperson for Houston Methodist, a hospital in Houston, Texas, said it had given 8,300 employees the vaccine as of Monday with about 7,000 doses left from the first shipment.

The University of Southern California's Keck Medicine medical school has vaccinated over 3,000 employees and said it will take six weeks for everyone, similar to its flu vaccination schedule.

States and health departments need federal money to hire staff, from data center workers to track inoculations to call center employees to field questions, said Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs of the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

The U.S. Congress's current coronavirus aid package sets aside more than $8 billion for vaccine distribution but is delayed.

"You can't hire someone in December and train them up if you don’t know you can pay them in January," Casalotti said.

Millions of COVID-19 vaccines are sitting unused in U.S. hospitals and elsewhere a week into the massive inoculation campaign, putting the government's target for 20 million vaccinations this month in doubt.

Millions of COVID-19 vaccines are sitting unused in U.S. hospitals and elsewhere a week into the massive inoculation campaign, putting the government's target for 20 million vaccinations this month in doubt. As of Wednesday morning, only 1 million shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine had been given, about one-third of the first shipment sent last week. Over 9.5 million doses of vaccines, including Moderna's, have now been sent to states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While hospitals have started giving out Moderna's vaccine, the CDC has not yet reported that data and there may be a lag in reporting shots given of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The slow pace has barely picked up from the first week when 614,000 shots were given although nearly 2.9 million were shipped. Hospitals said the first COVID-19 vaccinations started slowly last Monday as they navigated preparing the previously frozen shots for use, finding employees to run the vaccination clinics, and ensuring proper social distancing both before and after vaccination. Some said they did only about 100 shots the first day. They were contending with a COVID-19 surge, as cases around the United States surpassed 18 million with 323,000 deaths. The Trump administration promised to vaccinate 20 million by the end of the year while providing little funding to achieve the goal. That's nine days to give out nearly 19 million shots or over 2 million people vaccinated a day including on Christmas Day. Almost 5.9 million doses of Moderna Inc's vaccine should go out this week and an additional 2 million doses from Pfizer and partner BioNTech. "The commitment that we can make is to make vaccine doses available," U.S. Operation Warp Speed chief adviser Dr. Moncef Slaoui said on a Wednesday press call. He noted the rate of people getting a shot in their arm is "slower than we thought it would be." Two more vaccines may be approved in February from Johnson & Johnson Inc and AstraZeneca Plc. The government's goal is 100 million Pfizer and Moderna shots in arms by March 1. Operation Warp Speed's General Gustave Perna, who is leading the vaccine distribution effort, on Monday said that the CDC data reflects a reporting lag and that the number of vaccinations will catch up as time goes on. The CDC said its data may also reflect a lag between vaccine dosing and state reporting. Most nursing home vaccinations only began in mass this week, and the CDC data does not specify how many doses from the first shipment were being held by states for that group. STAFF STRETCHED THIN Margaret Mary Health, a 25-bed rural hospital in Indiana, built a drive-thru vaccination clinic at a local fire station and one at a local recreation center to vaccinate healthcare workers in the surrounding counties, according to Chief Executive Officer Tim Putnam. Putnam, who has done traffic control at the clinic's drive-thru, said they have used about 400 of 1,100 doses received. "We're asking for volunteers from our staff, volunteers from the local community college to step in and build this process from the ground up," he said. Some of the largest U.S. hospitals inoculated more than 1,000 people per day, having done dry runs of the vaccine delivery and rollout. Vermont, Delaware and Idaho were among states that confirmed their states had given only thousands of doses - a fraction of those available to them - during the first week. Jason Schwartz, assistant professor of health policy at Yale School of Public Health, described the initial tally as "discouraging" and said "the challenges of getting vaccines out as quickly as we're able to manufacture them will only grow." Johnson & Johnson's one-shot vaccine could speed deployment because it requires a conventional refrigerator and has no specialized procedures to thaw out and administer, said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association for Immunization Managers trade group. AstraZeneca's two dose vaccine also can be stored in a refrigerator. "When it's refrigerator-stable and a one-dose regimen, it can't get any easier than that," Hannan said. HOSPITALS START SLOWLY BUT SPEED UP Dr. Saul Weingart, the chief medical officer of Tufts Medical Center in Boston, said the hospital had given about 750 doses of the around 3,000 available as of Friday. It started with 100 shots per day and worked up to about 450, he said. He said experts at the hospital modeled that giving Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine would take 10 minutes, about two to three times as long as a flu shot, due to the procedures needed because the vaccine is stored in a deep freeze. Patients need to socially distance before and after being given the vaccine and be monitored for allergic reactions. The United States gives 170 million flu vaccinations each year within a few months, but for the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States must give about three times that number of shots - the Pfizer and Moderna shots are two doses - to reach most Americans by July. At its current pace, the U.S. appears to have the capacity to administer less than a third of the shots that are shipped in a given week, underscoring the gap. A spokesperson for Houston Methodist, a hospital in Houston, Texas, said it had given 8,300 employees the vaccine as of Monday with about 7,000 doses left from the first shipment. The University of Southern California's Keck Medicine medical school has vaccinated over 3,000 employees and said it will take six weeks for everyone, similar to its flu vaccination schedule. States and health departments need federal money to hire staff, from data center workers to track inoculations to call center employees to field questions, said Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. The U.S. Congress's current coronavirus aid package sets aside more than $8 billion for vaccine distribution but is delayed. "You can't hire someone in December and train them up if you don’t know you can pay them in January," Casalotti said.

Millions of US vaccine doses sit on ice, putting 2020 goal in doubt

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said his government is fully prepared to initiate Covid-19 vaccination. The vaccine`s first doses may arrive in the national capital any time after getting the Central government`s approval.

Addressing a virtual press briefing, Kejriwal said everyone is waiting for the vaccine even as the number of Covid-19 cases has gone down, the infection rate is also less than 1 per cent, daily deaths have decreased significantly and the recovery rate has improved in the national capital.

"Delhi government is fully prepared to provide vaccine to the people of Delhi. It is ready to receive the vaccine from the Central government," Kejriwal said.

He said the Central government has defined three priority categories. Among them the first doses will be administered to health care workers.

Kejriwal said that as per an estimate around 3 lakh health care workers in Delhi will receive the first dosage of the vaccine.

"Secondly, the vaccine will be given to the front-line workers like police personnel, municipal workers and civil defence personnel, whose number is around 6 lakh in Delhi. In the third category, we have identified more than 42 lakh people who are more than 50 years old or those who are comorbidity patients," said the Delhi Chief Minister.

Kejriwal said around 51 lakh people are in the Delhi government`s priority category as defined by the Central government and all such people have almost been identified. The rest of the work will be completed by next week.

Noting that each person will be administered two doses of the vaccine, totalling 1.2 crore doses, Kejriwal said the Delhi government currently has cold storage capacity of 74 lakh vaccines which will be increased to 1.15 crore within one week.

As per the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor, the registration process of these priority category people has started and they will be administered the vaccine whenever the Delhi government receives it.

"The people who are in priority category will be informed through text message on their mobile phones and they do not need to worry," he said.

Kejriwal said there are sufficient locations where these vaccines will be administered to the people.

"There will be five persons in a team at one location and these teams have already been trained, "he said.

The AAP leader added that if anyone suffers side effects after the vaccination, there is a facility for immediate treatment as well.

"Now we are waiting for the vaccine. As soon as we get these vaccines, we will start the vaccination process," he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said his government is fully prepared to initiate Covid-19 vaccination. The vaccine`s first doses may arrive in the national capital any time after getting the Central government`s approval.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said his government is fully prepared to initiate Covid-19 vaccination. The vaccine`s first doses may arrive in the national capital any time after getting the Central government`s approval. Addressing a virtual press briefing, Kejriwal said everyone is waiting for the vaccine even as the number of Covid-19 cases has gone down, the infection rate is also less than 1 per cent, daily deaths have decreased significantly and the recovery rate has improved in the national capital. "Delhi government is fully prepared to provide vaccine to the people of Delhi. It is ready to receive the vaccine from the Central government," Kejriwal said. He said the Central government has defined three priority categories. Among them the first doses will be administered to health care workers. Kejriwal said that as per an estimate around 3 lakh health care workers in Delhi will receive the first dosage of the vaccine. "Secondly, the vaccine will be given to the front-line workers like police personnel, municipal workers and civil defence personnel, whose number is around 6 lakh in Delhi. In the third category, we have identified more than 42 lakh people who are more than 50 years old or those who are comorbidity patients," said the Delhi Chief Minister. Kejriwal said around 51 lakh people are in the Delhi government`s priority category as defined by the Central government and all such people have almost been identified. The rest of the work will be completed by next week. Noting that each person will be administered two doses of the vaccine, totalling 1.2 crore doses, Kejriwal said the Delhi government currently has cold storage capacity of 74 lakh vaccines which will be increased to 1.15 crore within one week. As per the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor, the registration process of these priority category people has started and they will be administered the vaccine whenever the Delhi government receives it. "The people who are in priority category will be informed through text message on their mobile phones and they do not need to worry," he said. Kejriwal said there are sufficient locations where these vaccines will be administered to the people. "There will be five persons in a team at one location and these teams have already been trained, "he said. The AAP leader added that if anyone suffers side effects after the vaccination, there is a facility for immediate treatment as well. "Now we are waiting for the vaccine. As soon as we get these vaccines, we will start the vaccination process," he said.

Delhi govt fully prepared for COVID vaccination: Kejriwal

Internet is a wonderful place but there are many pitfalls. With net neutrality going bye-bye and several other things changing over the years, it has been important to keep yourself and your identity online safe when needed. With data of whole of our lives going digital, it doesn't hurt to guard our privacy. With trackers, cookies and whatnot, this is increasingly becoming difficult. But there's a way to keep yourself safe online. Here we recommend privacy apps that'll help you surf the net freely and securely

1. Signal (Android, iOS)

There are messaging apps galore and each one claims to be supersafe for its users. There's WhatsApp, Telegram and more.

But if you are searching for a secure messenger app that has got good endorsements, then choose Signal.

Signal protects your text, voice messages and even videos with end-t-end encryption. This bit by Signal has even found to have been useful for protesters to protect their identities.

The open-source app has got endorsements from Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists, Mozilla and even US Military.

The app is free.

 
2. Tor (Android)

Not even Google Chrome's incognito mode does what you think when it comes to anonymous web browsing. But by using Tor, its possible to come closest to true anonymity on the net.

Tor browser is available free to download for your desktop.&nbsp;

Whether you want to keep your web browsing a secret for the sake of your job or safety or you don't want companies tracking you as you surf the net, Tor browser is for you. It is available for Android but currently not for iOS.

&nbsp;

3. Onion Browser (iOS)

Don't sulk if you want to surf web anonymously and can't download Tor Browser because you don't have Android phone. Onion Browser does the same trick for iOS.

Onion browsers offers three levels of protection (gold, silver and bronze)

&nbsp;&nbsp; 
4. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser (Android,iOS)

DuckDuckGo has become quite popular in this category because of the ease of its use. It doesn't block certain of your browsing habits like Tor Browser does but offers good protection from trackers on a particular website.

It automatically blocks third-party trackers and forces websites to use encrypted (more secure) connection when available.

 
5. ProtonMail (Android,iOS)

ProtonMail lets users encrypt and later self-destruct their e-mails so they don't remain lying around in your recipient's inbox for too much time and potentially letting crawlers get the info.

ProtonMail works like Gmail but it lets users put an extra layer of security on their e-mails.

 
6. Haven (Android)

Want to stop unwanted people from sneakily checking your phone when you are not around? Haven is for you.

Haven turns your phone into a motion-sensitive camera. It can detect light, sound and vibration too.

So if someone is to break into your home when you are taking a walk. Haven will not only detect it but also send you pictures of the person.

Internet is a wonderful place but there are many pitfalls. With net neutrality going bye-bye and several other things changing over the years, it has been important to keep yourself and your identity online safe when needed.

Internet is a wonderful place but there are many pitfalls. With net neutrality going bye-bye and several other things changing over the years, it has been important to keep yourself and your identity online safe when needed. With data of whole of our lives going digital, it doesn't hurt to guard our privacy. With trackers, cookies and whatnot, this is increasingly becoming difficult. But there's a way to keep yourself safe online. Here we recommend privacy apps that'll help you surf the net freely and securely 1. Signal (Android, iOS) There are messaging apps galore and each one claims to be supersafe for its users. There's WhatsApp, Telegram and more. But if you are searching for a secure messenger app that has got good endorsements, then choose Signal. Signal protects your text, voice messages and even videos with end-t-end encryption. This bit by Signal has even found to have been useful for protesters to protect their identities. The open-source app has got endorsements from Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists, Mozilla and even US Military. The app is free. 2. Tor (Android) Not even Google Chrome's incognito mode does what you think when it comes to anonymous web browsing. But by using Tor, its possible to come closest to true anonymity on the net. Tor browser is available free to download for your desktop. Whether you want to keep your web browsing a secret for the sake of your job or safety or you don't want companies tracking you as you surf the net, Tor browser is for you. It is available for Android but currently not for iOS. 3. Onion Browser (iOS) Don't sulk if you want to surf web anonymously and can't download Tor Browser because you don't have Android phone. Onion Browser does the same trick for iOS. Onion browsers offers three levels of protection (gold, silver and bronze) 4. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser (Android,iOS) DuckDuckGo has become quite popular in this category because of the ease of its use. It doesn't block certain of your browsing habits like Tor Browser does but offers good protection from trackers on a particular website. It automatically blocks third-party trackers and forces websites to use encrypted (more secure) connection when available. 5. ProtonMail (Android,iOS) ProtonMail lets users encrypt and later self-destruct their e-mails so they don't remain lying around in your recipient's inbox for too much time and potentially letting crawlers get the info. ProtonMail works like Gmail but it lets users put an extra layer of security on their e-mails. 6. Haven (Android) Want to stop unwanted people from sneakily checking your phone when you are not around? Haven is for you. Haven turns your phone into a motion-sensitive camera. It can detect light, sound and vibration too. So if someone is to break into your home when you are taking a walk. Haven will not only detect it but also send you pictures of the person.

Privacy apps you needed to have downloaded in 2020

President Donald Trump’s denunciation of the $900 billion coronavirus relief deal drove a wedge through the Republican Party on Wednesday, drawing harsh criticism from House Republicans and threatening the delivery of unemployment checks, a reprieve on evictions and direct payments to struggling Americans.

His four-minute video on Tuesday night demanding significant changes to the bill and larger direct stimulus checks also threw a wrench into his party’s push to hold the Senate with victories in two runoff races in Georgia next month. The Republican candidates he pledged to support went from campaigning on their triumphant votes for the relief bill to facing questions on Trump’s view that the measure was a “disgrace.”

Their Democratic rivals appeared to turn a liability into a political advantage 13 days before the election on Jan. 5, agreeing with the president’s demand for $2,000 direct payment checks and calling for Republicans to accede to his wish. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Democrats prepared to move forward on Thursday with new legislation that would provide the $2,000 checks, daring Republicans to break with the president and block passage of the bill in the House.

But the effect on struggling Americans was perhaps the most profound: With no deal signed by the president, some unemployment programs are set to run out this week, and several other critical provisions are to end this month. The uncertainty that Trump injected into the process came at a perilous moment for the economy, as consumer spending and personal incomes resumed their slides.

“Does the president realize that unemployment benefits expire the day after Christmas?” an exasperated Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. and one of the key negotiators of the package, wrote on Twitter.

It is not clear whether Trump, who is furious at congressional Republicans who have acknowledged his election defeat, would actually veto the package. But given how late it is in the 116th Congress, even refusing to sign it could ensure that the bill dies with the Congress on Jan. 3 and must be taken up all over again next year.

The 5,593-page spending package would not only provide relief but also fund the government through September. With his threat, the president raised the prospects of a government shutdown beyond Monday and also jeopardized a promise of swift relief to millions of struggling Americans and businesses.

Trump on Wednesday also made good on his promise to veto a major defense policy bill, in part because it directed the military to strip the names of Confederate generals from bases. That sets up a showdown for next week; when the House returns on Monday for the override vote, it could also vote on another stopgap spending bill to prevent government funding from lapsing.

Before the turmoil, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had promised that $600 direct payments from the pandemic relief bill could be distributed as early as next week; that is an untenable timeline without Trump’s signature. The end to two expanded unemployment programs the day after Christmas could push nearly 5 million people into poverty virtually overnight, according to an estimate from researchers at Columbia University.

Some state labor departments — which administer both state and federal unemployment benefits — are already preparing for the end of the programs because of the delay in reaching an agreement, meaning some jobless workers may temporarily lose their benefits all the same because many states will not be able to reverse course in time to avoid a lapse in payments.

Frustration with Trump boiled over on Wednesday during a private conference call of House Republicans who had loyally stood by the president; many of them had joined a baseless lawsuit to try to overturn the results of election. Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader, told members that he had spoken to the president and that he had not yet committed to a veto of the bill.

But McCarthy conceded, “This bill has been tainted,” according to one person on the call.

In his videotaped statement on Tuesday, Trump accused lawmakers of putting aid for foreign governments before the needs of the American people.

Some lawmakers on the call complained about the pork projects in the spending measure; others chimed in to challenge the characterization of the projects as pork, and one longtime House Republican vented generally about voter perceptions of the package after Trump’s scathing critique.

“I don’t know if we recover from this,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., according to three officials on the call. “We will have a hell of a time getting this out of people’s head.”

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said Trump had thrown House Republicans under the bus, according to a person on the call. In a statement afterward, Bacon said, “I stand by what I said,” adding that “the COVID supplemental is a good compromise, and the president should take it."

Focused first on the general election and then on baseless attempts to reverse its outcome, Trump has largely been sidelined from the negotiations, instead dispatching Mnuchin as his main emissary.

During a private meeting with top Republicans and top Democrats to discuss the emerging relief deal, Pelosi at one point pressed Mnuchin, on speakerphone in her conference room, four times to articulate the president’s position on direct payments. “Come on, Steven,” she said when he refused to say, according to one person familiar with the meeting, who disclosed it on the condition of anonymity.

Now, in undercutting the negotiations that Mnuchin led for the White House and throwing passage of the $2.3 trillion package into limbo with little warning to top Republicans on Capitol Hill, Trump has increased the likelihood that the party will bear the brunt of the blame for the continuing delay in providing relief to Americans.

The coronavirus relief package would provide the first significant infusion of federal aid since April, when Trump signed a $1.4 trillion government funding package. In rejecting it, the president would also derail some of his own priorities tucked into the measure, like funding for his wall at the southwestern border, funding for the Pentagon and an agreement to ban surprise medical bills, which his administration had previously urged lawmakers to pass. A number of the funding provisions Trump singled out in the catchall omnibus also aligned with requests he had made in his own budget proposal.

Republicans would again be forced to choose between their party’s leadership in Congress — McCarthy and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who helped negotiate the final details of the stimulus deal — and a president known to savage anyone he views as disloyal.

Trump’s demands also provided a political gift to Democratic leadership, who have faced criticism for accepting a $900 billion relief package with $600 direct payments after months of pushing multiple multitrillion-dollar proposals that would have set the payments to twice that amount.

With the House set to convene on Christmas Eve in a so-called pro forma session — typically a brief meeting that requires one lawmaker to be present and lasts for a few minutes — Democrats plan to bring up a stand-alone bill that would provide for $2,000 direct payments to American families and ensure that the omnibus is signed. Should that request fail without unanimous consent, Democrats plan to formally bring the bill up for a vote on Monday, according to two people familiar with the plans.

“Just when you think you have seen it all, last night, the president said that he would possibly veto the bicameral agreement negotiated between Republicans and Democrats,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to Democratic colleagues. She noted that if Trump “truly wants to join us in $2,000 payments,” he should urge Republicans to allow the unanimous consent request to go through.

In a letter to House Republicans late Wednesday, McCarthy indicated that the party would put forward its own unanimous request to revisit the portion of the omnibus spending bill that funds the State Department and other related agencies. He charged that Democrats had “conveniently ignored the concerns expressed by the president” about those funds. (That legislation had also secured the support of 128 Republicans when it passed the House on Monday.)

But the Democratic argument could prove particularly potent in Georgia, where the Democratic challengers in the two runoff races have locked arms to call on their Republican opponents, Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, to support the $2,000 direct payments.

Jon Ossoff, Perdue’s Democratic opponent, posted to Twitter a series of memes and videos mocking the $600 payments supported by Republican leadership.

Raphael Warnock, Loeffler’s opponent, said in a statement, “As I’ve said from the start, the Senate should have acted on this months ago, and support for Georgians should have been far greater.” He continued: “Donald Trump is right, Congress should swiftly increase direct payments to $2,000. Once and for all, Sen. Loeffler should do what’s best for Georgia instead of focusing on what she can do for herself.”

But some Republicans, including the most outspoken House conservatives, are continuing to lobby Trump to veto the legislation.

“Republicans are in grave danger if they continue to do the very swamp crap the president ran against,” Rep. Chip Roy of Texas said in an interview, noting that it made it harder to run against Democrats as socialists when “establishment Republicans are passing massive spending and programs they then complain about.”

Roy said that if Trump vetoed the measure, lawmakers could devise a bill extending paycheck protection for businesses, hash out a compromise on unemployment benefits and direct payments, and pass legislation keeping the government open until the new Congress decided on spending levels next year. But few other lawmakers said they believed Congress would reconvene to craft a new measure during the holidays.

Michael Steele, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee and a critic of the president, noted that the foreign aid proposals to which the president was objecting were proposed by his own administration.

“The Republicans are getting punked again by the guy they shilled for, who does not care about their interests or any principle they stand for,” Steele said. “He made a four-minute video in the White House ranting about things his own administration did, and meanwhile some mom is trying to figure out how she can avoid eviction and get Christmas presents under the tree for her kids. That’s the heartbreaking part.”

Republicans in the two chambers were already at odds over the election results.

Many of the Senate Republicans are ready to move on from the Trump era while House Republicans, including the top leadership, signed on to a brief supporting a Texas lawsuit in hopes that the Supreme Court would overturn the results.

McConnell has tried to shut down the prospect of blocking the Electoral College results in the Senate next month, but House Republican leaders have not done anything in public to discourage hard-liners from trying such a move in the Democratic-controlled chamber. After Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican, told reporters this week that such an effort “would go down like a shot dog” in the Senate, Trump tweeted on Tuesday: “South Dakota doesn’t like weakness. He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!”

President Donald Trump’s denunciation of the $900 billion coronavirus relief deal drove a wedge through the Republican Party on Wednesday, drawing harsh criticism from House Republicans and threatening the delivery of unemployment checks, a reprieve on evictions and direct payments to struggling Americans.

President Donald Trump’s denunciation of the $900 billion coronavirus relief deal drove a wedge through the Republican Party on Wednesday, drawing harsh criticism from House Republicans and threatening the delivery of unemployment checks, a reprieve on evictions and direct payments to struggling Americans. His four-minute video on Tuesday night demanding significant changes to the bill and larger direct stimulus checks also threw a wrench into his party’s push to hold the Senate with victories in two runoff races in Georgia next month. The Republican candidates he pledged to support went from campaigning on their triumphant votes for the relief bill to facing questions on Trump’s view that the measure was a “disgrace.” Their Democratic rivals appeared to turn a liability into a political advantage 13 days before the election on Jan. 5, agreeing with the president’s demand for $2,000 direct payment checks and calling for Republicans to accede to his wish. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Democrats prepared to move forward on Thursday with new legislation that would provide the $2,000 checks, daring Republicans to break with the president and block passage of the bill in the House. But the effect on struggling Americans was perhaps the most profound: With no deal signed by the president, some unemployment programs are set to run out this week, and several other critical provisions are to end this month. The uncertainty that Trump injected into the process came at a perilous moment for the economy, as consumer spending and personal incomes resumed their slides. “Does the president realize that unemployment benefits expire the day after Christmas?” an exasperated Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. and one of the key negotiators of the package, wrote on Twitter. It is not clear whether Trump, who is furious at congressional Republicans who have acknowledged his election defeat, would actually veto the package. But given how late it is in the 116th Congress, even refusing to sign it could ensure that the bill dies with the Congress on Jan. 3 and must be taken up all over again next year. The 5,593-page spending package would not only provide relief but also fund the government through September. With his threat, the president raised the prospects of a government shutdown beyond Monday and also jeopardized a promise of swift relief to millions of struggling Americans and businesses. Trump on Wednesday also made good on his promise to veto a major defense policy bill, in part because it directed the military to strip the names of Confederate generals from bases. That sets up a showdown for next week; when the House returns on Monday for the override vote, it could also vote on another stopgap spending bill to prevent government funding from lapsing. Before the turmoil, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had promised that $600 direct payments from the pandemic relief bill could be distributed as early as next week; that is an untenable timeline without Trump’s signature. The end to two expanded unemployment programs the day after Christmas could push nearly 5 million people into poverty virtually overnight, according to an estimate from researchers at Columbia University. Some state labor departments — which administer both state and federal unemployment benefits — are already preparing for the end of the programs because of the delay in reaching an agreement, meaning some jobless workers may temporarily lose their benefits all the same because many states will not be able to reverse course in time to avoid a lapse in payments. Frustration with Trump boiled over on Wednesday during a private conference call of House Republicans who had loyally stood by the president; many of them had joined a baseless lawsuit to try to overturn the results of election. Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader, told members that he had spoken to the president and that he had not yet committed to a veto of the bill. But McCarthy conceded, “This bill has been tainted,” according to one person on the call. In his videotaped statement on Tuesday, Trump accused lawmakers of putting aid for foreign governments before the needs of the American people. Some lawmakers on the call complained about the pork projects in the spending measure; others chimed in to challenge the characterization of the projects as pork, and one longtime House Republican vented generally about voter perceptions of the package after Trump’s scathing critique. “I don’t know if we recover from this,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., according to three officials on the call. “We will have a hell of a time getting this out of people’s head.” Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said Trump had thrown House Republicans under the bus, according to a person on the call. In a statement afterward, Bacon said, “I stand by what I said,” adding that “the COVID supplemental is a good compromise, and the president should take it." Focused first on the general election and then on baseless attempts to reverse its outcome, Trump has largely been sidelined from the negotiations, instead dispatching Mnuchin as his main emissary. During a private meeting with top Republicans and top Democrats to discuss the emerging relief deal, Pelosi at one point pressed Mnuchin, on speakerphone in her conference room, four times to articulate the president’s position on direct payments. “Come on, Steven,” she said when he refused to say, according to one person familiar with the meeting, who disclosed it on the condition of anonymity. Now, in undercutting the negotiations that Mnuchin led for the White House and throwing passage of the $2.3 trillion package into limbo with little warning to top Republicans on Capitol Hill, Trump has increased the likelihood that the party will bear the brunt of the blame for the continuing delay in providing relief to Americans. The coronavirus relief package would provide the first significant infusion of federal aid since April, when Trump signed a $1.4 trillion government funding package. In rejecting it, the president would also derail some of his own priorities tucked into the measure, like funding for his wall at the southwestern border, funding for the Pentagon and an agreement to ban surprise medical bills, which his administration had previously urged lawmakers to pass. A number of the funding provisions Trump singled out in the catchall omnibus also aligned with requests he had made in his own budget proposal. Republicans would again be forced to choose between their party’s leadership in Congress — McCarthy and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who helped negotiate the final details of the stimulus deal — and a president known to savage anyone he views as disloyal. Trump’s demands also provided a political gift to Democratic leadership, who have faced criticism for accepting a $900 billion relief package with $600 direct payments after months of pushing multiple multitrillion-dollar proposals that would have set the payments to twice that amount. With the House set to convene on Christmas Eve in a so-called pro forma session — typically a brief meeting that requires one lawmaker to be present and lasts for a few minutes — Democrats plan to bring up a stand-alone bill that would provide for $2,000 direct payments to American families and ensure that the omnibus is signed. Should that request fail without unanimous consent, Democrats plan to formally bring the bill up for a vote on Monday, according to two people familiar with the plans. “Just when you think you have seen it all, last night, the president said that he would possibly veto the bicameral agreement negotiated between Republicans and Democrats,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to Democratic colleagues. She noted that if Trump “truly wants to join us in $2,000 payments,” he should urge Republicans to allow the unanimous consent request to go through. In a letter to House Republicans late Wednesday, McCarthy indicated that the party would put forward its own unanimous request to revisit the portion of the omnibus spending bill that funds the State Department and other related agencies. He charged that Democrats had “conveniently ignored the concerns expressed by the president” about those funds. (That legislation had also secured the support of 128 Republicans when it passed the House on Monday.) But the Democratic argument could prove particularly potent in Georgia, where the Democratic challengers in the two runoff races have locked arms to call on their Republican opponents, Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, to support the $2,000 direct payments. Jon Ossoff, Perdue’s Democratic opponent, posted to Twitter a series of memes and videos mocking the $600 payments supported by Republican leadership. Raphael Warnock, Loeffler’s opponent, said in a statement, “As I’ve said from the start, the Senate should have acted on this months ago, and support for Georgians should have been far greater.” He continued: “Donald Trump is right, Congress should swiftly increase direct payments to $2,000. Once and for all, Sen. Loeffler should do what’s best for Georgia instead of focusing on what she can do for herself.” But some Republicans, including the most outspoken House conservatives, are continuing to lobby Trump to veto the legislation. “Republicans are in grave danger if they continue to do the very swamp crap the president ran against,” Rep. Chip Roy of Texas said in an interview, noting that it made it harder to run against Democrats as socialists when “establishment Republicans are passing massive spending and programs they then complain about.” Roy said that if Trump vetoed the measure, lawmakers could devise a bill extending paycheck protection for businesses, hash out a compromise on unemployment benefits and direct payments, and pass legislation keeping the government open until the new Congress decided on spending levels next year. But few other lawmakers said they believed Congress would reconvene to craft a new measure during the holidays. Michael Steele, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee and a critic of the president, noted that the foreign aid proposals to which the president was objecting were proposed by his own administration. “The Republicans are getting punked again by the guy they shilled for, who does not care about their interests or any principle they stand for,” Steele said. “He made a four-minute video in the White House ranting about things his own administration did, and meanwhile some mom is trying to figure out how she can avoid eviction and get Christmas presents under the tree for her kids. That’s the heartbreaking part.” Republicans in the two chambers were already at odds over the election results. Many of the Senate Republicans are ready to move on from the Trump era while House Republicans, including the top leadership, signed on to a brief supporting a Texas lawsuit in hopes that the Supreme Court would overturn the results. McConnell has tried to shut down the prospect of blocking the Electoral College results in the Senate next month, but House Republican leaders have not done anything in public to discourage hard-liners from trying such a move in the Democratic-controlled chamber. After Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican, told reporters this week that such an effort “would go down like a shot dog” in the Senate, Trump tweeted on Tuesday: “South Dakota doesn’t like weakness. He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!”

Trump’s attack on Coronavirus relief divides GOP and threatens recovery

The Church of the Nativity was closed, and most souvenir shops shuttered. Hotels that are usually sold out months in advance were deserted.

Among the few signs of life on the main street in Bethlehem’s Old City last Friday were the chirping of a few birds and stray cats scavenging an overflowing garbage can.

Earlier in the month, only a few people attended the tree-lighting ceremony in Manger Square, an event that usually heralds the metamorphosis of the quiet West Bank town of Bethlehem into one of the main seasonal attractions of international Christendom.

The coronavirus pandemic has put a damper on Christmas at the place where it is said to have all begun.

“Great sadness,” Father Ibrahim Shomali, the chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said of this year’s celebrations. “We are very frustrated, but what can we do? We need to accept the reality and do the right thing.”

Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity is usually one of the social events of the year on the occupied West Bank. The ancient limestone church takes on the atmosphere of a glittering movie premiere as diplomats and Palestinian officials emerge from motorcades of shiny BMWs and Mercedes in tailored suits and elegant dresses.

This year, the ceremony will be limited to church officials, a handful of European diplomats and Bethlehem’s mayor. The Palestinian Authority imposed tough antivirus restrictions on Bethlehem on Dec. 10, setting up checkpoints around its perimeter, ordering the closing of restaurants, cafes, schools and gyms, and forbidding nearly all large gatherings.

Bethlehem has about 1,000 confirmed, active cases of COVID-19, according to official data, although the true number is thought to be much higher. All intensive care beds at hospitals are occupied, the Health Ministry said.

During a recent visit, the expansive lobby of the 222-room Bethlehem Hotel was silent. The leather couches and chairs were empty, the lights and heating were turned off, and a fine coating of dust was collecting on coffee tables.

“There’s usually nowhere to sit during this time of year,” said Elias al-Arja, the hotel owner, wearing a winter coat and a large black mask. “It ordinarily gets so crowded that there’s little room to move.”

Since March, when authorities discovered the first cases of the virus in the Bethlehem area, al-Arja said, the hotel has struggled to pay its debts. He had to lay off all but two of his 80 employees. He said he has sold his second home in Ramallah and a plot of land in Jericho to pay off debts.

“It’s been devastating,” he said.

Until the pandemic, the tourism industry in the West Bank, which relies heavily on the Christmastime business in Bethlehem, was anticipating its best year in two decades. The West Bank had more than 3 million visitors last year, tourism officials said.

And despite competition from Israeli tour providers and the challenges of doing business under occupation, Palestinian travel and tourism companies were hiring, offering new itineraries and predicting continued growth for 2020.

“We went from our highest to lowest point,” said Tony Khashram, the head of the Holy Land Incoming Tour Operators Association. “Everything fell apart in the snap of a finger.”

Tens of thousands of people in the tourism industry — including tour guides, tour operators, souvenir shop owners, and restaurant and hotel workers — have lost their jobs, the Tourism Ministry estimates. Tour operators are struggling to pay off debts and to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments due from partners abroad.

Retailers, too, have been devastated. The few merchants who opened their shops said the absence of tourists this year has sharpened their feelings of exasperation over the pandemic’s economic fallout.

“The whole world came during Christmas last year,” said Sami Khamis, whose hole-in-the-wall tea shop near Manger Square offers a specialty tea with whole pieces of fresh sage, ginger, mint, rosemary and cinnamon. “But I’m now hardly making enough money to put food on the table. This is a disastrous situation.”

The seven or eight nearby souvenir shops — which usually do a brisk trade in kaffiyehs, baby Jesus dolls on beds of straw, and olivewood crosses embedded with a vial of soil from the Mount of Olives — were all closed.

In his office overlooking the Church of the Nativity, Mayor Anton Salman said he was sad that Bethlehem would not celebrate Christmas as it normally does, but he emphasized that public health was paramount. He contracted the virus last month.

“We’ve experienced difficult circumstances during Christmas in the past,” he said, alluding to previous violent conflicts with Israel. “But the pandemic is something quite different — there are so many unknowns.”

He said the city would not abandon its traditions, just scale them down.

The Christmas Market in Manger Square, he said, was held for a single day, on Sunday, instead of the usual two. The audience for the annual scouts parade, in which dozens of boys and girls march through Bethlehem on Christmas Eve playing Palestinian anthems and Christmas songs, will be limited to local residents.

“We don’t feel like Christmas is happening,” said Lorette Zoughbi, 66, who watched the tree-lighting on television although it took place just up the street from her apartment. “There’s no special atmosphere. These days feel like any other days that come and go.”

Bethlehem’s Christians, who are mostly Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, were once the majority. But the Christian population has dwindled through emigration while the Muslim population has grown. Now Bethlehem, like all Palestinian cities in the West Bank, is predominantly Muslim.

Zoughbi, a member of a prominent Christian family in Bethlehem, has felt so bereft of Christmas spirit that she and her husband did not even bother to pull their full-sized tree out of storage. Instead, they stuck a small metal one in a corner of their apartment.

For many Palestinian Christians, the worst part of this Christmas season is having to cancel extended-family gatherings.

Zoughbi’s clan usually gathers for a dinner of qidreh, a rice and lamb dish, at a large restaurant with 150 of her relatives, often followed by an evening of drumming and singing Arabic Christmas songs.

“These are some of the only times we all come together,” she said.

Nihaya Musleh, a resident of Beit Sahour, immediately east of Bethlehem, said she had planned to host Harumiya, a local tradition in which men — or, as in her case, the family matriarch — invite their married daughters and sisters home for a special meal 40 days before Christmas.

Musleh said she and her son had invited 28 family members to her home for a luncheon, promising to enforce social distancing.

But after she spent two days cooking, Musleh said, her daughter-in-law tested positive for the virus, so she called it off.

“I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t unhappy about missing out on Harumiya,” she said. “But I’m glad we found out about the positive test the day before — it was a gift from God.”

The Church of the Nativity was closed, and most souvenir shops shuttered. Hotels that are usually sold out months in advance were deserted. Among the few signs of life on the main street in Bethlehem’s Old City last Friday were the chirping of a few birds and stray cats scavenging an overflowing garbage can.

The Church of the Nativity was closed, and most souvenir shops shuttered. Hotels that are usually sold out months in advance were deserted. Among the few signs of life on the main street in Bethlehem’s Old City last Friday were the chirping of a few birds and stray cats scavenging an overflowing garbage can. Earlier in the month, only a few people attended the tree-lighting ceremony in Manger Square, an event that usually heralds the metamorphosis of the quiet West Bank town of Bethlehem into one of the main seasonal attractions of international Christendom. The coronavirus pandemic has put a damper on Christmas at the place where it is said to have all begun. “Great sadness,” Father Ibrahim Shomali, the chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said of this year’s celebrations. “We are very frustrated, but what can we do? We need to accept the reality and do the right thing.” Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity is usually one of the social events of the year on the occupied West Bank. The ancient limestone church takes on the atmosphere of a glittering movie premiere as diplomats and Palestinian officials emerge from motorcades of shiny BMWs and Mercedes in tailored suits and elegant dresses. This year, the ceremony will be limited to church officials, a handful of European diplomats and Bethlehem’s mayor. The Palestinian Authority imposed tough antivirus restrictions on Bethlehem on Dec. 10, setting up checkpoints around its perimeter, ordering the closing of restaurants, cafes, schools and gyms, and forbidding nearly all large gatherings. Bethlehem has about 1,000 confirmed, active cases of COVID-19, according to official data, although the true number is thought to be much higher. All intensive care beds at hospitals are occupied, the Health Ministry said. During a recent visit, the expansive lobby of the 222-room Bethlehem Hotel was silent. The leather couches and chairs were empty, the lights and heating were turned off, and a fine coating of dust was collecting on coffee tables. “There’s usually nowhere to sit during this time of year,” said Elias al-Arja, the hotel owner, wearing a winter coat and a large black mask. “It ordinarily gets so crowded that there’s little room to move.” Since March, when authorities discovered the first cases of the virus in the Bethlehem area, al-Arja said, the hotel has struggled to pay its debts. He had to lay off all but two of his 80 employees. He said he has sold his second home in Ramallah and a plot of land in Jericho to pay off debts. “It’s been devastating,” he said. Until the pandemic, the tourism industry in the West Bank, which relies heavily on the Christmastime business in Bethlehem, was anticipating its best year in two decades. The West Bank had more than 3 million visitors last year, tourism officials said. And despite competition from Israeli tour providers and the challenges of doing business under occupation, Palestinian travel and tourism companies were hiring, offering new itineraries and predicting continued growth for 2020. “We went from our highest to lowest point,” said Tony Khashram, the head of the Holy Land Incoming Tour Operators Association. “Everything fell apart in the snap of a finger.” Tens of thousands of people in the tourism industry — including tour guides, tour operators, souvenir shop owners, and restaurant and hotel workers — have lost their jobs, the Tourism Ministry estimates. Tour operators are struggling to pay off debts and to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments due from partners abroad. Retailers, too, have been devastated. The few merchants who opened their shops said the absence of tourists this year has sharpened their feelings of exasperation over the pandemic’s economic fallout. “The whole world came during Christmas last year,” said Sami Khamis, whose hole-in-the-wall tea shop near Manger Square offers a specialty tea with whole pieces of fresh sage, ginger, mint, rosemary and cinnamon. “But I’m now hardly making enough money to put food on the table. This is a disastrous situation.” The seven or eight nearby souvenir shops — which usually do a brisk trade in kaffiyehs, baby Jesus dolls on beds of straw, and olivewood crosses embedded with a vial of soil from the Mount of Olives — were all closed. In his office overlooking the Church of the Nativity, Mayor Anton Salman said he was sad that Bethlehem would not celebrate Christmas as it normally does, but he emphasized that public health was paramount. He contracted the virus last month. “We’ve experienced difficult circumstances during Christmas in the past,” he said, alluding to previous violent conflicts with Israel. “But the pandemic is something quite different — there are so many unknowns.” He said the city would not abandon its traditions, just scale them down. The Christmas Market in Manger Square, he said, was held for a single day, on Sunday, instead of the usual two. The audience for the annual scouts parade, in which dozens of boys and girls march through Bethlehem on Christmas Eve playing Palestinian anthems and Christmas songs, will be limited to local residents. “We don’t feel like Christmas is happening,” said Lorette Zoughbi, 66, who watched the tree-lighting on television although it took place just up the street from her apartment. “There’s no special atmosphere. These days feel like any other days that come and go.” Bethlehem’s Christians, who are mostly Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, were once the majority. But the Christian population has dwindled through emigration while the Muslim population has grown. Now Bethlehem, like all Palestinian cities in the West Bank, is predominantly Muslim. Zoughbi, a member of a prominent Christian family in Bethlehem, has felt so bereft of Christmas spirit that she and her husband did not even bother to pull their full-sized tree out of storage. Instead, they stuck a small metal one in a corner of their apartment. For many Palestinian Christians, the worst part of this Christmas season is having to cancel extended-family gatherings. Zoughbi’s clan usually gathers for a dinner of qidreh, a rice and lamb dish, at a large restaurant with 150 of her relatives, often followed by an evening of drumming and singing Arabic Christmas songs. “These are some of the only times we all come together,” she said. Nihaya Musleh, a resident of Beit Sahour, immediately east of Bethlehem, said she had planned to host Harumiya, a local tradition in which men — or, as in her case, the family matriarch — invite their married daughters and sisters home for a special meal 40 days before Christmas. Musleh said she and her son had invited 28 family members to her home for a luncheon, promising to enforce social distancing. But after she spent two days cooking, Musleh said, her daughter-in-law tested positive for the virus, so she called it off. “I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t unhappy about missing out on Harumiya,” she said. “But I’m glad we found out about the positive test the day before — it was a gift from God.”

A COVID Christmas comes to Bethlehem

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Manas Joshi

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