The first trucks carrying the COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use in the US pulled out of a Pfitzer manufacturing plant in Michigan on Sunday

Nurse gets New York’s first Covid-19 vaccine as US rollout begins

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is in the news ever since the coronavirus pandemic began in the United States, finds himself in a new controversy after a former aide claimed that he sexually harassed her.&nbsp;

Lindsey Boylan, who is running for Manhattan borough president, said that Cuomo "sexually harassed" her "for years" in a tweet on Sunday.

"Many saw it, and watched," the tweet further said.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-april-vaccine-will-be-available-to-entire-population-except-new-york-says-trump-while-hitting-out-at-governor-cuomo-343180">In April, vaccine will be available to entire population except New York, says Trump while hitting out at Governor Cuomo</a>

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yes, <a href="https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYGovCuomo</a> sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it, and watched. 
 
I could never anticipate what to expect: would I be grilled on my work (which was very good) or harassed about my looks. Or would it be both in the same conversation? This was the way for years.
— Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) <a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyBoylan/status/1338125549756182529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I could never anticipate what to expect: would I be grilled on my work (which was very good) or harassed about my looks. Or would it be both in the same conversation? This was the way for years."

Reacting on Cuomo being is in the race to become President-elect Joe Biden's Attorney General, Boylan said that it will be " more scary" to give Cuomo "more control" in another tweet.&nbsp;

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I’m angry to be put in this situation at all. That because I am a woman, I can work hard my whole life to better myself and help others and yet still fall victim as countless women over generations have. Mostly silently. 
 
I hate that some men, like <a href="https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYGovCuomo</a> abuse their power.
— Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) <a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyBoylan/status/1338128200342384641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I saw how he wielded power for years. He takes advantage of people, including me," she said, adding that she hopes Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris don't consider him for the position.&nbsp;

"This right here is one of a million reasons women don’t speak up about sexual harassment. &nbsp;Sexual harassment in the workplace from someone powerful like their boss. The governor," Boylan in another tweet said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This right here is one of a million reasons women don’t speak up about sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace from someone powerful like their boss. The governor.
— Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) <a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyBoylan/status/1338111685274505216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Cuomo has denied these claims, with his press secretary Caitlin Girouard saying, "There is simply no truth to these claims," as quoted by The Guardian.

 
&nbsp;

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is in the news ever since the coronavirus pandemic began in the United States, finds himself in a new controversy after a former aide claimed that he sexually harassed her.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is in the news ever since the coronavirus pandemic began in the United States, finds himself in a new controversy after a former aide claimed that he sexually harassed her. Lindsey Boylan, who is running for Manhattan borough president, said that Cuomo "sexually harassed" her "for years" in a tweet on Sunday. "Many saw it, and watched," the tweet further said. Also read | In April, vaccine will be available to entire population except New York, says Trump while hitting out at Governor Cuomo Yes, @NYGovCuomo sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it, and watched. I could never anticipate what to expect: would I be grilled on my work (which was very good) or harassed about my looks. Or would it be both in the same conversation? This was the way for years. — Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) December 13, 2020 × "I could never anticipate what to expect: would I be grilled on my work (which was very good) or harassed about my looks. Or would it be both in the same conversation? This was the way for years." Reacting on Cuomo being is in the race to become President-elect Joe Biden's Attorney General, Boylan said that it will be " more scary" to give Cuomo "more control" in another tweet. I’m angry to be put in this situation at all. That because I am a woman, I can work hard my whole life to better myself and help others and yet still fall victim as countless women over generations have. Mostly silently. I hate that some men, like @NYGovCuomo abuse their power. — Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) December 13, 2020 × "I saw how he wielded power for years. He takes advantage of people, including me," she said, adding that she hopes Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris don't consider him for the position. "This right here is one of a million reasons women don’t speak up about sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace from someone powerful like their boss. The governor," Boylan in another tweet said. This right here is one of a million reasons women don’t speak up about sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace from someone powerful like their boss. The governor. — Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) December 13, 2020 × Cuomo has denied these claims, with his press secretary Caitlin Girouard saying, "There is simply no truth to these claims," as quoted by The Guardian.

Former aide of New York Governor Cuomo accuses him of sexual harassment

A gunman shouting "Kill me!" opened fire from the steps of New York City's Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine just after an outdoor choir performance there on Sunday, and was himself shot dead by police, according to police and a Reuters photographer at the scene.

New York church shooting: 2 semi-automatic firearms were retrieved from scene

Gunman shot dead by police at NYC church after concert; no one else wounded

Several people has been injured after a women drove her car into the crowd of protesters in Manhattan, New York city on Friday. Six injured as car rams into protesters, investigations are currently underway.

Car rams into protest in Manhattan, investigation underway

A rat helping a chef churn out lip-smacking food can only happen in movies like Ratatouille. In reality, rats are a menace to hotels and restaurants. The rodent may be an important part of ecosystem, food chains and whatnot, nobody wants anything to do with rats around their food.

A sustained onslaught from rats has brought a branch of fast-food giant Chipotle to its knees. These rats not only took liking to Avocado, the favourite snack staple of New Yorkers, but also attacked staff of the restaurant, as per news reports.

This branch of&nbsp;Chipotle is located in Upper Manhattan.

“It’s pure chaos every time a rat appears,” an employee named Melvin Paulino was quoted by New York Post as saying.

The rat infestation is so much that even though the restaurant is shut, employees have to come to clean-up so that the problem doesn't get worse.

The issue began in Summer this year when the staff found half-eaten Avocados. The rats took particular liking to the expensive fruit so much that the staff was forced to keep Avocados inside freezers just to save them from rats.

But then, more issues started. Bags of rice were found to have been chewed open, the rice eaten. And the mice also took to chewing electric wires that resulted in problems for computer systems in the store.

Efforts were made to contain the damage. But the problem became so big that the store could no longer handle orders as computer systems and wires were too badly damaged by the rats.

A rat helping a chef churn out lip-smacking food can only happen in movies like Ratatouille. In reality, rats are a menace to hotels and restaurants. The rodent may be an important part of ecosystem, food chains and whatnot, nobody wants anything to do with rats around their food.

A rat helping a chef churn out lip-smacking food can only happen in movies like Ratatouille. In reality, rats are a menace to hotels and restaurants. The rodent may be an important part of ecosystem, food chains and whatnot, nobody wants anything to do with rats around their food. A sustained onslaught from rats has brought a branch of fast-food giant Chipotle to its knees. These rats not only took liking to Avocado, the favourite snack staple of New Yorkers, but also attacked staff of the restaurant, as per news reports. This branch of Chipotle is located in Upper Manhattan. “It’s pure chaos every time a rat appears,” an employee named Melvin Paulino was quoted by New York Post as saying. The rat infestation is so much that even though the restaurant is shut, employees have to come to clean-up so that the problem doesn't get worse. The issue began in Summer this year when the staff found half-eaten Avocados. The rats took particular liking to the expensive fruit so much that the staff was forced to keep Avocados inside freezers just to save them from rats. But then, more issues started. Bags of rice were found to have been chewed open, the rice eaten. And the mice also took to chewing electric wires that resulted in problems for computer systems in the store. Efforts were made to contain the damage. But the problem became so big that the store could no longer handle orders as computer systems and wires were too badly damaged by the rats.

New York Chipotle forced to close due to Avocado-eating rats

The federal government is distributing the vaccines based on a state’s population. Cuomo said an estimated 40,000 more doses of Moderna’s vaccine are expected by the end of the month

1st batch of 170,000 doses to arrive in New York by Dec 15

A Brooklyn trial was postponed after the defense lawyers said they were unwilling to spend weeks in a cramped courtroom. In Manhattan, a woman summoned for jury duty told the court she had been sick with the coronavirus and was symptomatic. Another trial, in the Bronx, was canceled when four courthouse staff members tested positive.

Since October, state and federal court officials have taken extraordinary measures to restart criminal trials in New York City. They have constructed Plexiglas boxes with special air filters in court. They have asked witnesses to testify in face shields and have spread jurors out in courtroom galleries.

But those efforts have not stopped the virus from disrupting nearly every step of the process. The state and federal courts in the city have been able to complete only nine criminal jury trials since the pandemic hit in March, officials said. Last year, there were about 800 criminal trials in the city.

For months, the logistical problems have threatened the ability of hundreds of defendants to secure their constitutional right to a speedy trial. Now, as a second wave of the virus threatens the region, the delays are worsening — and officials foresee the backlog of unresolved cases continuing to grow.

Last month, the chief judge in New York state halted new jury trials until further notice because of surging virus cases. More than 400 defendants have been waiting in New York City jails for more than two years for their cases to be resolved, according to the mayor’s office.

“Is it fair for people to be languishing in pretrial detention and presumed innocent with no prospect of a trial in the future for them?” said New York’s chief administrative judge, Lawrence K. Marks. “A criminal justice system cannot be, in any sense of the word, fully functioning, if it is not conducting jury trials.”

And in the last week, the federal courts in the city also announced that all trials would be suspended until mid-January.

Some prosecutors, citing safety concerns, have pushed to delay trials because their witnesses live out of state or work in hospitals with COVID-19 patients. In other cases, prosecutors said the fears of catching the virus during trials had been overblown.

The problems in New York have been mirrored across the country. Federal judges in Nebraska, Nevada, Colorado and several other jurisdictions recently suspended jury trials in response to rising virus cases. A court in McKinney, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, held the state’s first virtual criminal trial last month.

Each court has determined its own protocols. One local courthouse in Orange County, California, has completed 114 criminal trials since May, while the federal courthouse across the street has determined it is unsafe to hold any trials.

In New York City courts, the challenge of preventing the virus’s spread is magnified by the dense population. In normal times, clerks, court officers and lawyers squeeze into courtroom galleries and line the crowded hallways, waiting for cases to be called.

In November, at least three dozen people who appeared in nine criminal courthouses in the city tested positive for the virus, according to the state’s court administrators.

Many judges have been eager to begin trials, worried about violating the constitutional rights of people charged with crimes. Without speedy trials, jails become overcrowded, evidence grows stale, and witnesses’ memories fade.

Early in the pandemic, after New York City officials released hundreds of inmates, the city’s jail population dropped to its lowest level since the 1940s. But the population has increased again — to 4,669 people last month — raising fears about the virus spreading among inmates and jail staff. Most of the inmates are awaiting trial, according to the Center for Court Innovation, a criminal justice nonprofit.

But one of the biggest hurdles to restarting trials has been finding defense lawyers who are willing to do them.

At a federal hearing in Manhattan, Susan Kellman, a defense lawyer, said she felt unsafe visiting her client in jail, which hindered their ability to prepare for a drug-trafficking trial that had been scheduled for October. Her client has been adamant about going to trial quickly, she said, and regularly screams at her on the telephone.

“I’m a single parent. I have two kids. I’m really not ready to die,” she told the judge, who rescheduled the trial.

In Brooklyn, Alexander Zhukov, a defendant charged in a cybercrime scheme, was finally set to begin trial last month after waiting in jail for two years. But all three of his lawyers asked to quit weeks before the start date, citing fears about the new virus wave.

Saritha Komatireddy, a prosecutor on the case, questioned why the lawyers had raised the concern for the first time so close to trial.

“They may be entitled to their own fears, but they’re not entitled to their own facts,” she said at a recent hearing. “Trials are possible.”

Out of desperation, Zhukov asked the judge if he could represent himself, even though Zhukov, a Russian national, has never studied American law.

“For me, there is no options any more,” Zhukov said at the hearing. “It’s a must choice right now. It’s the only opportunity to get to trial on time. Otherwise, it will be postponed, postponed, postponed, postponed.”

The judge assigned Zhukov a new lawyer and delayed the trial until at least February.

Courthouse security officers and defense lawyers have sued to oppose the reopening of New York’s state courts, accusing court administrators of failing to take adequate safety measures.

The chief administrative judge has said the courts are thoroughly and regularly cleaned. But a team of physicians hired by the city’s public defender groups contended in an August report that the state’s courthouses were ill-equipped to stop the spread of a virus, pointing to crowded holding cells for defendants, improperly installed plexiglass and poorly ventilated rooms.

The virus has infiltrated the city’s courtrooms in ways that threaten the health of those inside and the constitutional rights of defendants.

At a drug trial in state court in Manhattan in October, a police officer testified while wearing a see-through mask and face shield, surrounded by Plexiglas. But his testimony was interrupted by drilling noises from the sidewalk, which were audible because the courtroom’s windows had been propped open to improve ventilation.

The jurors and the defendant, Demetre Cornish, strained to hear the officer. The judge decided to close a window, but kept the others open, saying, “We want to keep the air circulating.”

Cornish was acquitted by the jury of some drug and firearm offenses but convicted of others. His lawyer, Thomas Kenniff, filed a motion Monday asking the judge to set aside the verdict, arguing that his client did not have a fair and public trial because of restrictions caused by the pandemic.

Cornish’s relatives were denied entry into the courtroom. Their presence would have “had the potential to allow jurors to see him as an individual as opposed to an anonymous masked Black man sitting in the defendant’s chair,” Kenniff wrote.

Face coverings prevented the defense from assessing facial expressions and reactions of potential jurors, Kenniff said.

And the 12-person jury had included only two Black jurors and did not reflect the demographics of the borough, Kenniff said. Some defense lawyers have raised concerns that the virus’s disproportionate effect on Black and Latino residents might make jury pools less representative.

Even before trials were halted entirely, jury selection had been transformed during the pandemic, screening out anyone uncomfortable with health risks. Once seated, juries deliberated in a separate courtroom, giving them more space than they had in cramped jury rooms.

Still, some jurors have not seemed keen to stay for too long. A murder trial in the Bronx in July ended in an acquittal on all charges after jurors deliberated for less than an hour. A federal gun possession trial in Brooklyn last month led to a guilty verdict in 30 minutes.

Communication between lawyers and their clients, who are supposed to sit 6 feet apart during trial, has been difficult. Federal courts have provided special phones that operate like walkie-talkies, although lawyers have said that the whispered conversations are picked up by microphones used to address the court.

“The whole technology seems like it was from the days of Alexander Graham Bell,” said Eric Creizman, a lawyer whose client was convicted of securities fraud last month after a federal trial in Manhattan.

Even with careful preparations, trials have been derailed by the pandemic.

On Long Island, a judge stopped a trial after two days of testimony in September when the defendant revealed that his wife had tested positive for the virus. He said he was unable to isolate from her inside their small house. The trial resumed last month, and a jury convicted him on several drug offenses.

One or two other trials that had been halted in March may have also resumed during the pandemic, state court officials said.

“We are concerned for both victims and defendants that the wheels of justice continue to move,” said Karen Friedman Agnifilo, chief assistant to the Manhattan district attorney. “Languishing court cases is not good for anybody.”

A Brooklyn trial was postponed after the defense lawyers said they were unwilling to spend weeks in a cramped courtroom. In Manhattan, a woman summoned for jury duty told the court she had been sick with the coronavirus and was symptomatic.

A Brooklyn trial was postponed after the defense lawyers said they were unwilling to spend weeks in a cramped courtroom. In Manhattan, a woman summoned for jury duty told the court she had been sick with the coronavirus and was symptomatic. Another trial, in the Bronx, was canceled when four courthouse staff members tested positive. Since October, state and federal court officials have taken extraordinary measures to restart criminal trials in New York City. They have constructed Plexiglas boxes with special air filters in court. They have asked witnesses to testify in face shields and have spread jurors out in courtroom galleries. But those efforts have not stopped the virus from disrupting nearly every step of the process. The state and federal courts in the city have been able to complete only nine criminal jury trials since the pandemic hit in March, officials said. Last year, there were about 800 criminal trials in the city. For months, the logistical problems have threatened the ability of hundreds of defendants to secure their constitutional right to a speedy trial. Now, as a second wave of the virus threatens the region, the delays are worsening — and officials foresee the backlog of unresolved cases continuing to grow. Last month, the chief judge in New York state halted new jury trials until further notice because of surging virus cases. More than 400 defendants have been waiting in New York City jails for more than two years for their cases to be resolved, according to the mayor’s office. “Is it fair for people to be languishing in pretrial detention and presumed innocent with no prospect of a trial in the future for them?” said New York’s chief administrative judge, Lawrence K. Marks. “A criminal justice system cannot be, in any sense of the word, fully functioning, if it is not conducting jury trials.” And in the last week, the federal courts in the city also announced that all trials would be suspended until mid-January. Some prosecutors, citing safety concerns, have pushed to delay trials because their witnesses live out of state or work in hospitals with COVID-19 patients. In other cases, prosecutors said the fears of catching the virus during trials had been overblown. The problems in New York have been mirrored across the country. Federal judges in Nebraska, Nevada, Colorado and several other jurisdictions recently suspended jury trials in response to rising virus cases. A court in McKinney, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, held the state’s first virtual criminal trial last month. Each court has determined its own protocols. One local courthouse in Orange County, California, has completed 114 criminal trials since May, while the federal courthouse across the street has determined it is unsafe to hold any trials. In New York City courts, the challenge of preventing the virus’s spread is magnified by the dense population. In normal times, clerks, court officers and lawyers squeeze into courtroom galleries and line the crowded hallways, waiting for cases to be called. In November, at least three dozen people who appeared in nine criminal courthouses in the city tested positive for the virus, according to the state’s court administrators. Many judges have been eager to begin trials, worried about violating the constitutional rights of people charged with crimes. Without speedy trials, jails become overcrowded, evidence grows stale, and witnesses’ memories fade. Early in the pandemic, after New York City officials released hundreds of inmates, the city’s jail population dropped to its lowest level since the 1940s. But the population has increased again — to 4,669 people last month — raising fears about the virus spreading among inmates and jail staff. Most of the inmates are awaiting trial, according to the Center for Court Innovation, a criminal justice nonprofit. But one of the biggest hurdles to restarting trials has been finding defense lawyers who are willing to do them. At a federal hearing in Manhattan, Susan Kellman, a defense lawyer, said she felt unsafe visiting her client in jail, which hindered their ability to prepare for a drug-trafficking trial that had been scheduled for October. Her client has been adamant about going to trial quickly, she said, and regularly screams at her on the telephone. “I’m a single parent. I have two kids. I’m really not ready to die,” she told the judge, who rescheduled the trial. In Brooklyn, Alexander Zhukov, a defendant charged in a cybercrime scheme, was finally set to begin trial last month after waiting in jail for two years. But all three of his lawyers asked to quit weeks before the start date, citing fears about the new virus wave. Saritha Komatireddy, a prosecutor on the case, questioned why the lawyers had raised the concern for the first time so close to trial. “They may be entitled to their own fears, but they’re not entitled to their own facts,” she said at a recent hearing. “Trials are possible.” Out of desperation, Zhukov asked the judge if he could represent himself, even though Zhukov, a Russian national, has never studied American law. “For me, there is no options any more,” Zhukov said at the hearing. “It’s a must choice right now. It’s the only opportunity to get to trial on time. Otherwise, it will be postponed, postponed, postponed, postponed.” The judge assigned Zhukov a new lawyer and delayed the trial until at least February. Courthouse security officers and defense lawyers have sued to oppose the reopening of New York’s state courts, accusing court administrators of failing to take adequate safety measures. The chief administrative judge has said the courts are thoroughly and regularly cleaned. But a team of physicians hired by the city’s public defender groups contended in an August report that the state’s courthouses were ill-equipped to stop the spread of a virus, pointing to crowded holding cells for defendants, improperly installed plexiglass and poorly ventilated rooms. The virus has infiltrated the city’s courtrooms in ways that threaten the health of those inside and the constitutional rights of defendants. At a drug trial in state court in Manhattan in October, a police officer testified while wearing a see-through mask and face shield, surrounded by Plexiglas. But his testimony was interrupted by drilling noises from the sidewalk, which were audible because the courtroom’s windows had been propped open to improve ventilation. The jurors and the defendant, Demetre Cornish, strained to hear the officer. The judge decided to close a window, but kept the others open, saying, “We want to keep the air circulating.” Cornish was acquitted by the jury of some drug and firearm offenses but convicted of others. His lawyer, Thomas Kenniff, filed a motion Monday asking the judge to set aside the verdict, arguing that his client did not have a fair and public trial because of restrictions caused by the pandemic. Cornish’s relatives were denied entry into the courtroom. Their presence would have “had the potential to allow jurors to see him as an individual as opposed to an anonymous masked Black man sitting in the defendant’s chair,” Kenniff wrote. Face coverings prevented the defense from assessing facial expressions and reactions of potential jurors, Kenniff said. And the 12-person jury had included only two Black jurors and did not reflect the demographics of the borough, Kenniff said. Some defense lawyers have raised concerns that the virus’s disproportionate effect on Black and Latino residents might make jury pools less representative. Even before trials were halted entirely, jury selection had been transformed during the pandemic, screening out anyone uncomfortable with health risks. Once seated, juries deliberated in a separate courtroom, giving them more space than they had in cramped jury rooms. Still, some jurors have not seemed keen to stay for too long. A murder trial in the Bronx in July ended in an acquittal on all charges after jurors deliberated for less than an hour. A federal gun possession trial in Brooklyn last month led to a guilty verdict in 30 minutes. Communication between lawyers and their clients, who are supposed to sit 6 feet apart during trial, has been difficult. Federal courts have provided special phones that operate like walkie-talkies, although lawyers have said that the whispered conversations are picked up by microphones used to address the court. “The whole technology seems like it was from the days of Alexander Graham Bell,” said Eric Creizman, a lawyer whose client was convicted of securities fraud last month after a federal trial in Manhattan. Even with careful preparations, trials have been derailed by the pandemic. On Long Island, a judge stopped a trial after two days of testimony in September when the defendant revealed that his wife had tested positive for the virus. He said he was unable to isolate from her inside their small house. The trial resumed last month, and a jury convicted him on several drug offenses. One or two other trials that had been halted in March may have also resumed during the pandemic, state court officials said. “We are concerned for both victims and defendants that the wheels of justice continue to move,” said Karen Friedman Agnifilo, chief assistant to the Manhattan district attorney. “Languishing court cases is not good for anybody.”

Only 9 trials in 9 months: Virus wreaks havoc on NYC courts

Rihanna is not single anymore. In fact the Pop icon has been in a relationship since the beginning of the year. The singer-fashion designer was recently spotted enjoying an intimate dinner date with A$AP Rocky at a restaurant in New York.&nbsp; 
 
Several media reports state that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's romance started soon after she broke up with billionaire business mogul Hassan Jameel earlier this year.&nbsp; 
 
Over the last few months, Rihanna and A$AP have been spotted together in NYC. The couple had reportedly shared a suite together in January during their stay in the city.&nbsp; 
 
“However, Rihanna is reluctant to put a label on it as it’s so soon after Hassan. They’re really enjoying each other’s company and taking things easy as it’s still early days," the source told daily.&nbsp; 
 
The singer's friends have stated that she wants to keep it casual with A$AP right now. Her three year relationship with Jameel was kept private with the couple barely making any public appearances together.&nbsp; 
 
Prior to her business mogul beau, the makeup tycoon also dated rapper Drake and singer Chris Brown with whom she had a very public, controversial romance. 
 
A$AP and Rihanna though featured together in a campaign in July this year for her line Fenty Skin and appeared together in several promotional interviews including one with GQ- which many feel gave a hint of the ongoing romance between the two.&nbsp; 
 
In a Q&amp;A that they did with each other for the magazine, A$AP said, "I think the hardest part about working with you is not goofin’ off and laughing the whole time. Like this s— is comedy."

"That's the hardest part. You know people be so cool it's hard not to, not to laugh. That's all. But it was fun.

"The hardest part is not having too much fun. You just forget that it's still work at the end of the day." 
 
The two have been friends for a long time. In 2013 Rihanna's Diamond World Tour was opened by A$AP Rocky.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Rihanna is not single anymore. In fact the Pop icon has been in a relationship since the beginning of the year. The singer-fashion designer was recently spotted enjoying an intimate dinner date with A$AP Rocky at a restaurant in New York.

Rihanna is not single anymore. In fact the Pop icon has been in a relationship since the beginning of the year. The singer-fashion designer was recently spotted enjoying an intimate dinner date with A$AP Rocky at a restaurant in New York. Several media reports state that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's romance started soon after she broke up with billionaire business mogul Hassan Jameel earlier this year. Over the last few months, Rihanna and A$AP have been spotted together in NYC. The couple had reportedly shared a suite together in January during their stay in the city. “However, Rihanna is reluctant to put a label on it as it’s so soon after Hassan. They’re really enjoying each other’s company and taking things easy as it’s still early days," the source told daily. The singer's friends have stated that she wants to keep it casual with A$AP right now. Her three year relationship with Jameel was kept private with the couple barely making any public appearances together. Prior to her business mogul beau, the makeup tycoon also dated rapper Drake and singer Chris Brown with whom she had a very public, controversial romance. A$AP and Rihanna though featured together in a campaign in July this year for her line Fenty Skin and appeared together in several promotional interviews including one with GQ- which many feel gave a hint of the ongoing romance between the two. In a Q&A that they did with each other for the magazine, A$AP said, "I think the hardest part about working with you is not goofin’ off and laughing the whole time. Like this s— is comedy." "That's the hardest part. You know people be so cool it's hard not to, not to laugh. That's all. But it was fun. "The hardest part is not having too much fun. You just forget that it's still work at the end of the day." The two have been friends for a long time. In 2013 Rihanna's Diamond World Tour was opened by A$AP Rocky.

Rihanna spotted with rumoured boyfriend A$AP Rocky on a dinner date in NYC

The US Supreme Court has backed Christian and Jewish houses of worship challenging New York state's latest restrictions in novel coronavirus hot spots.

On Wednesday, the court on a 5-4 vote granted requests made by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and two Orthodox Jewish congregations.

The order marked one of the first consequential actions on the court of incumbent president Donald Trump's new appointee, conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who cast a deciding vote in favour of the religious groups. Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts dissented along with the court's three liberals.

An October 6 decision by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo shut down non-essential businesses in targetted areas where infections have spiked, including some Brooklyn neighbourhoods. It limited gatherings at religious institutions to 10 people in some areas and 25 in others.

The houses of worship say that the limits violated religious freedoms protected by the US Constitution’s First Amendment, and that their facilities were singled out for more stringent restrictions than essential businesses, such as food stores. The Orthodox congregations Agudath Israel of Kew Garden Hills and Agudath Israel of Madison, as well as nationwide Orthodox Jewish group Agudath Israel of America.

A federal judge in Brooklyn rejected separate requests made by the religious groups on October 9. The New York-based 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals declined emergency requests filed by both sets of challengers on November 9.

In two previous cases this year, the court on 5-4 votes turned away similar requests by churches in Nevada and California.

Those votes occurred before the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and saw her and her three liberal colleagues joined by Roberts in the majority.

(with inputs) 
&nbsp;

The US Supreme Court has backed Christian and Jewish houses of worship challenging New York state's latest restrictions in novel coronavirus hot spots. On Wednesday, the court on a 5-4 vote granted requests made by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and two Orthodox Jewish congregations.

The US Supreme Court has backed Christian and Jewish houses of worship challenging New York state's latest restrictions in novel coronavirus hot spots. On Wednesday, the court on a 5-4 vote granted requests made by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and two Orthodox Jewish congregations. The order marked one of the first consequential actions on the court of incumbent president Donald Trump's new appointee, conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who cast a deciding vote in favour of the religious groups. Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts dissented along with the court's three liberals. An October 6 decision by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo shut down non-essential businesses in targetted areas where infections have spiked, including some Brooklyn neighbourhoods. It limited gatherings at religious institutions to 10 people in some areas and 25 in others. The houses of worship say that the limits violated religious freedoms protected by the US Constitution’s First Amendment, and that their facilities were singled out for more stringent restrictions than essential businesses, such as food stores. The Orthodox congregations Agudath Israel of Kew Garden Hills and Agudath Israel of Madison, as well as nationwide Orthodox Jewish group Agudath Israel of America. A federal judge in Brooklyn rejected separate requests made by the religious groups on October 9. The New York-based 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals declined emergency requests filed by both sets of challengers on November 9. In two previous cases this year, the court on 5-4 votes turned away similar requests by churches in Nevada and California. Those votes occurred before the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and saw her and her three liberal colleagues joined by Roberts in the majority. (with inputs)

US Supreme Court backs religious groups over New York coronavirus curbs

In this video watch, mesmerizing visuals of New York's thanksgiving day parade. Take a look.

Watch: Mesmerizing visuals of 94th New York City Thanksgiving day parade

Three percent.

It is the most important number in New York City right now, a critical threshold that triggers restrictions by state and local governments in response to the coronavirus. The mayor of New York shut down public schools at 3%. The governor said that a sustained 3% level in the city would result in banning indoor dining, closing gyms and hair salons, and placing a 25-person cap on attendance at houses of worship even as the holidays approach.

But as important as that number is, it seems the city and the state can’t agree on whether we’re there yet.

That’s the situation that has played out over the past week, with Mayor Bill de Blasio saying 3% has been breached, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it is well below that. Each relies on his own statistics, which are compiled and reported in different ways, varying even on which tests to include in the calculation.

The discrepancy can be striking: On Sunday, for instance, the city said its seven-day average was 3.09%. Cuomo’s office, however, put the city’s rate more than a half-point lower, at 2.54%.

In one way, of course, not all numbers are equal, as Cuomo’s statistics from the state Department of Health govern a wider array of activities and businesses in regions all across New York. But Cuomo granted local school districts the right to set their own parameters for school shutdowns, and de Blasio, who controls the school system, set 3% as that level.

And so, in the end, it was the city’s numbers that caused the temporary pause of in-person learning in the nation’s largest school system.

Why can’t they agree on whether the city is at 3%?

The cause of the discrepancy lies in both the tests that are included and the time frame in which statistics are reported, leading to the mayor and the governor giving different numbers each day.

It is the latest discordant message between two rivals that has played out over the entire pandemic, adding a level of dysfunction and confusion to the response.

On Sunday, Cuomo suggested the city’s calculation of its positive rate was “confusing and unnecessary” and also “irrelevant” because the state numbers would govern any broader restrictions.

The state and city health departments have different accounting rules for tracking the spread of the virus. The state treats a new case as arising on the day the test results came in. The city dates each new case to the day the sample was provided.

So if an infected person goes to a clinic to have his nose swabbed Monday, that sample is often delivered to a laboratory where it is tested. If those results are reported to health authorities Wednesday, the state and city would record it differently. The state would include it with Wednesday’s tally of new cases, while the city would add it to Monday’s column.

The 3% threshold is based on a seven-day rolling average. It matters what day a new case is registered.

Another factor contributes to the discrepancy as well, which has received little attention so far: antigen tests. New York state includes the tests in its official metrics. But while they are generally faster, they are less likely to detect the infection in people with a low viral load.

New York City, however, does not include antigen tests, preferring a more sensitive one known as a polymerase chain reaction test. The city only includes PCR tests performed in a laboratory in its count. That’s why the state — which is counting both antigen and PCR tests — may have a higher tally for overall cases in New York City but a lower percentage of positives.

PCR tests in a laboratory have long been considered the gold standard because they are so unlikely to miss any infections. But some public health experts say that much of the PCR testing for the coronavirus is too sensitive, resulting in coronavirus diagnoses for people who are carrying relatively insignificant amounts of the virus and are probably not contagious.

Antigen tests, which can be performed rapidly and cheaply, detect bits of coronavirus proteins. But they are more likely to miss cases, including people recently infected who have lower viral loads.

The difference in sensitivity between the two types of tests can contribute to a gap in the positivity rates between the city and state.

In fact, the positivity rate of the same group of people — in this case, New York City residents — can vary depending on how many receive antigen tests versus traditional PCR tests. Antigen tests can miss some cases when the amount of virus is still low.

Say 1,000 people get tested. Let’s assume all have a PCR test and that 30 tests are positive, for a positivity rate of 3%. Now let’s assume half get an antigen test and half get a PCR test. Maybe only 25 tests come back positive, for a positivity rate of 2.5%.

(BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.)

“We believe in our number and our methodology,” said Bill Neidhardt, the mayor’s spokesperson, before alluding to the mayor’s decision Wednesday to declare the 3% threshold breached, rather than adopting the state’s metric in a last-minute bid to keep schools open.

“Switching up a public health standard in the middle of the morning is not a good idea for clarity and public confidence,” he said.

Gary Holmes, a spokesperson for the state Health Department, said that the state reported both types of tests “to provide the clearest possible picture of individuals diagnosed with COVID in a given time period.” A positive result on either a PCR or an antigen test requires an individual to quarantine.

On Sunday, Cuomo said the state does “hundreds of thousands of antigen tests per week,” noting frequent tests of nursing home workers, adding that excluding those would “significantly reduce the database.” Such speedy results may also be in high demand in coming weeks as people seek tests before the holidays, the governor’s office said. “It’s nice to know quickly,” Cuomo said.

There are other differences in how the city and state calculate the positivity rate that also help explain why the city’s rate is higher.

For instance, if a person tests negative repeatedly within a seven-day period, the city counts only a single test when calculating the positivity rate. But the state includes all negative tests from different days in its calculation.

On the other hand, when someone tests positive repeatedly, the city includes each positive test when calculating the positivity rate. The state, however, only counts the first positive test and ignores subsequent ones.

That last variable — whether repeated positives are counted or not — can have a big effect on the positivity rate. Gareth Rhodes, a member of Cuomo’s coronavirus task force, estimated that about 15% or 20% of positive PCR tests currently emerging from New York City were for someone who tested positive in the past.

Why does it matter?

If New York City hits 3% based on the state’s metrics, the governor has suggested it will enter into a so-called “orange zone,” the middle of three color-coded restrictions that the governor enacted in early October.

Under the governor’s plan, a so-called “red zone” is subject to the toughest restrictions, with bans on mass gatherings, indoor dining and in-person learning. Nonessential businesses would close, and religious services would be limited to either 25% capacity of houses of worship or 10 people, whichever number is lower.

“Orange zones” — which the governor said the city is in danger of falling into — allow slightly large gatherings and outdoor dining, but schools shut down, as do “high-risk” nonessential businesses like barbers and gyms. Precautionary zones — appropriately yellow — allow in-person classes but ramp up testing and put some less stringent caps on dining and gatherings.

Four of the city’s five boroughs — Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island — already have yellow zones, and Cuomo said upper Manhattan may have one imposed later this week. Staten Island may also face intensifying restrictions.

These zones are reevaluated after two weeks, and the metrics for entering and exiting each of these zones involve a complicated mix of data and a dash of deliberation. Restrictions can be modified on “expert advisement,” the state says, and include determinations based on local hospitalization rates or whether outbreaks can be traced to a single source (like a prison, gathering or group residence).

Other factors can include “compliance and enforcement actions taken by local government” as well as more vague standards like “community cooperation to reduce viral spread.”

Which, of course, could render a mere number — such as 3% — less important.

Can the city act on its own?

Based on its metrics, New York City has already hit the 3% mark. Yet it may still be some time before businesses face any restrictions.

Not only do state statistics put the city’s seven-day rolling average below that number, but New York City must breach that threshold for 10 consecutive days before the city would enter the “orange zone.”

Technically, the city could use several workarounds to target businesses it decides are contributing to virus spread. For example, the city’s Department of Health could try to close any restaurant by declaring it a public health threat.

But the governor has broad emergency powers over a range of businesses, trumping de Blasio. At news conferences, the mayor sometimes sounds a resigned note, saying that certain decisions about closures must be left to the governor.

So, for now, New Yorkers will continue to wait for the city to hit 3% … again.

Three percent. It is the most important number in New York City right now, a critical threshold that triggers restrictions by state and local governments in response to the coronavirus.

Three percent. It is the most important number in New York City right now, a critical threshold that triggers restrictions by state and local governments in response to the coronavirus. The mayor of New York shut down public schools at 3%. The governor said that a sustained 3% level in the city would result in banning indoor dining, closing gyms and hair salons, and placing a 25-person cap on attendance at houses of worship even as the holidays approach. But as important as that number is, it seems the city and the state can’t agree on whether we’re there yet. That’s the situation that has played out over the past week, with Mayor Bill de Blasio saying 3% has been breached, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it is well below that. Each relies on his own statistics, which are compiled and reported in different ways, varying even on which tests to include in the calculation. The discrepancy can be striking: On Sunday, for instance, the city said its seven-day average was 3.09%. Cuomo’s office, however, put the city’s rate more than a half-point lower, at 2.54%. In one way, of course, not all numbers are equal, as Cuomo’s statistics from the state Department of Health govern a wider array of activities and businesses in regions all across New York. But Cuomo granted local school districts the right to set their own parameters for school shutdowns, and de Blasio, who controls the school system, set 3% as that level. And so, in the end, it was the city’s numbers that caused the temporary pause of in-person learning in the nation’s largest school system. Why can’t they agree on whether the city is at 3%? The cause of the discrepancy lies in both the tests that are included and the time frame in which statistics are reported, leading to the mayor and the governor giving different numbers each day. It is the latest discordant message between two rivals that has played out over the entire pandemic, adding a level of dysfunction and confusion to the response. On Sunday, Cuomo suggested the city’s calculation of its positive rate was “confusing and unnecessary” and also “irrelevant” because the state numbers would govern any broader restrictions. The state and city health departments have different accounting rules for tracking the spread of the virus. The state treats a new case as arising on the day the test results came in. The city dates each new case to the day the sample was provided. So if an infected person goes to a clinic to have his nose swabbed Monday, that sample is often delivered to a laboratory where it is tested. If those results are reported to health authorities Wednesday, the state and city would record it differently. The state would include it with Wednesday’s tally of new cases, while the city would add it to Monday’s column. The 3% threshold is based on a seven-day rolling average. It matters what day a new case is registered. Another factor contributes to the discrepancy as well, which has received little attention so far: antigen tests. New York state includes the tests in its official metrics. But while they are generally faster, they are less likely to detect the infection in people with a low viral load. New York City, however, does not include antigen tests, preferring a more sensitive one known as a polymerase chain reaction test. The city only includes PCR tests performed in a laboratory in its count. That’s why the state — which is counting both antigen and PCR tests — may have a higher tally for overall cases in New York City but a lower percentage of positives. PCR tests in a laboratory have long been considered the gold standard because they are so unlikely to miss any infections. But some public health experts say that much of the PCR testing for the coronavirus is too sensitive, resulting in coronavirus diagnoses for people who are carrying relatively insignificant amounts of the virus and are probably not contagious. Antigen tests, which can be performed rapidly and cheaply, detect bits of coronavirus proteins. But they are more likely to miss cases, including people recently infected who have lower viral loads. The difference in sensitivity between the two types of tests can contribute to a gap in the positivity rates between the city and state. In fact, the positivity rate of the same group of people — in this case, New York City residents — can vary depending on how many receive antigen tests versus traditional PCR tests. Antigen tests can miss some cases when the amount of virus is still low. Say 1,000 people get tested. Let’s assume all have a PCR test and that 30 tests are positive, for a positivity rate of 3%. Now let’s assume half get an antigen test and half get a PCR test. Maybe only 25 tests come back positive, for a positivity rate of 2.5%. (BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.) “We believe in our number and our methodology,” said Bill Neidhardt, the mayor’s spokesperson, before alluding to the mayor’s decision Wednesday to declare the 3% threshold breached, rather than adopting the state’s metric in a last-minute bid to keep schools open. “Switching up a public health standard in the middle of the morning is not a good idea for clarity and public confidence,” he said. Gary Holmes, a spokesperson for the state Health Department, said that the state reported both types of tests “to provide the clearest possible picture of individuals diagnosed with COVID in a given time period.” A positive result on either a PCR or an antigen test requires an individual to quarantine. On Sunday, Cuomo said the state does “hundreds of thousands of antigen tests per week,” noting frequent tests of nursing home workers, adding that excluding those would “significantly reduce the database.” Such speedy results may also be in high demand in coming weeks as people seek tests before the holidays, the governor’s office said. “It’s nice to know quickly,” Cuomo said. There are other differences in how the city and state calculate the positivity rate that also help explain why the city’s rate is higher. For instance, if a person tests negative repeatedly within a seven-day period, the city counts only a single test when calculating the positivity rate. But the state includes all negative tests from different days in its calculation. On the other hand, when someone tests positive repeatedly, the city includes each positive test when calculating the positivity rate. The state, however, only counts the first positive test and ignores subsequent ones. That last variable — whether repeated positives are counted or not — can have a big effect on the positivity rate. Gareth Rhodes, a member of Cuomo’s coronavirus task force, estimated that about 15% or 20% of positive PCR tests currently emerging from New York City were for someone who tested positive in the past. Why does it matter? If New York City hits 3% based on the state’s metrics, the governor has suggested it will enter into a so-called “orange zone,” the middle of three color-coded restrictions that the governor enacted in early October. Under the governor’s plan, a so-called “red zone” is subject to the toughest restrictions, with bans on mass gatherings, indoor dining and in-person learning. Nonessential businesses would close, and religious services would be limited to either 25% capacity of houses of worship or 10 people, whichever number is lower. “Orange zones” — which the governor said the city is in danger of falling into — allow slightly large gatherings and outdoor dining, but schools shut down, as do “high-risk” nonessential businesses like barbers and gyms. Precautionary zones — appropriately yellow — allow in-person classes but ramp up testing and put some less stringent caps on dining and gatherings. Four of the city’s five boroughs — Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island — already have yellow zones, and Cuomo said upper Manhattan may have one imposed later this week. Staten Island may also face intensifying restrictions. These zones are reevaluated after two weeks, and the metrics for entering and exiting each of these zones involve a complicated mix of data and a dash of deliberation. Restrictions can be modified on “expert advisement,” the state says, and include determinations based on local hospitalization rates or whether outbreaks can be traced to a single source (like a prison, gathering or group residence). Other factors can include “compliance and enforcement actions taken by local government” as well as more vague standards like “community cooperation to reduce viral spread.” Which, of course, could render a mere number — such as 3% — less important. Can the city act on its own? Based on its metrics, New York City has already hit the 3% mark. Yet it may still be some time before businesses face any restrictions. Not only do state statistics put the city’s seven-day rolling average below that number, but New York City must breach that threshold for 10 consecutive days before the city would enter the “orange zone.” Technically, the city could use several workarounds to target businesses it decides are contributing to virus spread. For example, the city’s Department of Health could try to close any restaurant by declaring it a public health threat. But the governor has broad emergency powers over a range of businesses, trumping de Blasio. At news conferences, the mayor sometimes sounds a resigned note, saying that certain decisions about closures must be left to the governor. So, for now, New Yorkers will continue to wait for the city to hit 3% … again.

New York City hit a 3% positive test rate. Or did it?

The United States in the last 24 hours confirmed more than 2,200 coronavirus deaths, highest ever since May, according to a tally by the Johns Hopkins University tally on Thursday.

As per the latest updates at 0030 GMT Friday, there were 200,146 new infections and 2,239 deaths in the country in the last 24 hours, taking the total caseload to 11,698,661 and death toll to 252,419 respectively.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-person-dying-every-17-seconds-in-europe-due-to-coronavirus-who-344188">One person dying every 17 seconds in Europe due to coronavirus: WHO</a>

The US is seeing a huge uptick in cases and deaths for the last several days and US authorities have urged people to avoid travel next week for the Thanksgiving holiday.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oxford-astrazeneca-vaccine-safe-for-older-adults-results-show-344093">Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe for older adults, results show</a>

The country is recording over 1,000 Covid-19 deaths and 150,000 new cases on a daily basis.

On Thursday, the US surpassed another grim milestone of 250,000 coronavirus deaths, far more than any other country.&nbsp;

Several US cities are reimposing new restrictions, including home confinement and limiting gatherings and in the latest California on Thursday announced a night-time curfew to prevent the spread of the virus.

New York City had earlier announced that schools would be shut down again to battle the surge in Covid-19 cases.

Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden has stated clearly that there will no national shutdown as seen in some European nations due to a rise in cases. &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The United States in the last 24 hours confirmed more than 2,200 coronavirus deaths, highest ever since May, according to a tally by the Johns Hopkins University tally on Thursday.

The United States in the last 24 hours confirmed more than 2,200 coronavirus deaths, highest ever since May, according to a tally by the Johns Hopkins University tally on Thursday. As per the latest updates at 0030 GMT Friday, there were 200,146 new infections and 2,239 deaths in the country in the last 24 hours, taking the total caseload to 11,698,661 and death toll to 252,419 respectively. Also read | One person dying every 17 seconds in Europe due to coronavirus: WHO The US is seeing a huge uptick in cases and deaths for the last several days and US authorities have urged people to avoid travel next week for the Thanksgiving holiday. Also read | Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe for older adults, results show The country is recording over 1,000 Covid-19 deaths and 150,000 new cases on a daily basis. On Thursday, the US surpassed another grim milestone of 250,000 coronavirus deaths, far more than any other country. Several US cities are reimposing new restrictions, including home confinement and limiting gatherings and in the latest California on Thursday announced a night-time curfew to prevent the spread of the virus. New York City had earlier announced that schools would be shut down again to battle the surge in Covid-19 cases. Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden has stated clearly that there will no national shutdown as seen in some European nations due to a rise in cases.

Coronavirus: US continues to battle huge uptick as it sees over 2,200 new deaths

The United States on Wednesday surpassed another grim figure as it became the first country to see more than 250,000 coronavirus deaths.&nbsp;

The US has now reported 250,029 fatalities, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, the highest national death toll so far.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-participant-in-modernas-covid-19-vaccine-trials-reveals-its-side-effects-343937">A participant in Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine trials reveals its side effects</a>

The latest announcement came at a time when several US states and cities are imposing new restrictions, that include home confinement and limiting gatherings to contain the spread of the deadly virus.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/final-results-show-coronavirus-vaccine-95-effective-says-pfizer-343912">Final results show coronavirus vaccine 95% effective, says Pfizer</a>

The US now routinely is witnessing more than 1,000 Covid-19 deaths and 150,000 new cases on a daily basis.

New York City, which became the virus's epicentre when Covid-19 first hit the US, has announced that schools would be closed again to battle the surge in cases.

"We must fight back the second wave of Covid-19," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, as quoted by news agency AFP.&nbsp;

Globally, over 1.3 million people have died and more than 55 million have been infected with the coronavirus that was first detected in China late last year, as per an AFP tally.&nbsp;

Brazil has the second-highest death toll with 166,699 fatalities, followed by India with 130,993 deaths and Mexico with 99,026.

The United States on Wednesday surpassed another grim figure as it became the first country to see more than 250,000 coronavirus deaths. The US has now reported 250,029 fatalities, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, the highest national death toll so far.

The United States on Wednesday surpassed another grim figure as it became the first country to see more than 250,000 coronavirus deaths. The US has now reported 250,029 fatalities, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, the highest national death toll so far. Also read | A participant in Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine trials reveals its side effects The latest announcement came at a time when several US states and cities are imposing new restrictions, that include home confinement and limiting gatherings to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Also read | Final results show coronavirus vaccine 95% effective, says Pfizer The US now routinely is witnessing more than 1,000 Covid-19 deaths and 150,000 new cases on a daily basis. New York City, which became the virus's epicentre when Covid-19 first hit the US, has announced that schools would be closed again to battle the surge in cases. "We must fight back the second wave of Covid-19," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, as quoted by news agency AFP. Globally, over 1.3 million people have died and more than 55 million have been infected with the coronavirus that was first detected in China late last year, as per an AFP tally. Brazil has the second-highest death toll with 166,699 fatalities, followed by India with 130,993 deaths and Mexico with 99,026.

US coronavirus death toll crosses 250,000 as several cities shut down schools

Due to the economic fall out in pandemic many people in the US don't know where there next meal will come from. As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, Food Bank For New York City gave out turkeys & canned goods to hundreds of families. Many had never imagined needing handouts to survive.

Food bank for New York gives free Turkey for Thanksgiving

A federal judge in New York has ruled that Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has illegally assumed his position and invalidated Wolf's suspension for the of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

US:  New York court invalidates suspension of DACA, restored after new ruling

Investing in art is something beyond what many people can afford. But anyone can now own a small share of a masterpiece, the question is how? WION tells you in this report.

New York: Anyone can now own a small share of a masterpiece

Although the final count was still being tallied over the weekend in several battleground states, Biden’s win in Pennsylvania with its 20 electoral college votes ensured he would prevail.

Lack of clarity over presidential transition as GSA yet to green light Biden's win

China on Monday refused to congratulate Joe Biden for winning the presidential election, saying the outcome still needs to be decided.

China refuses to acknowledge Joe Biden as next president of US

The U.S. unemployment rate didn’t drop below the level it was at when Obama and Biden were elected until a year into their second term.

President-elect Joe Biden returns to battle another economic crisis

Tensions between the world's two largest economies have intensified over the past year, shaking up technology supply chains and trade relations, and stoking fears that a financial war between the two countries could be brewing.

US Election 2020: What is in store for China-U.S relation?

Will Joe Biden be good or bad for Brexit Britain? Might Washington now favour France and Germany? But What does Joe Biden's win mean for Brexit?

US election 2020: What does Joe Biden's win mean for Brexit?

European allies who regularly clashed with Trump over defense spending and trade were among some of the first to congratulate President-elect Biden.

America's foreign policy under President-elect Joe Biden

Mr Trump was on the green at his golf course in Sterling, Virginia at the time the result was announced.

Donald Trump plays golf on the day Joe Bidden declares winner

People gathered in capitals of Pennsylvania and Michigan claim ballot fraud and condemn media

US Election 2020: 'It's not over': Trump supporters protest Biden victory in Pennsylvania and Michigan

President-elect Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump has sparked celebrations all across the United States. Large crowd of people gathered in New York's Time Square waving signs & flags to celebrate Biden's win.

US Election 2020: By how many votes did Joe Biden beat Donald Trump

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York has organized a daily prayer vigil to call for peace in the face the tightly contested U.S. presidential election. Canon Patrick Malloy led a small group of people gathered on the steps of the church on Wednesday (November 4), seated on folding chairs in front of an icon and small display of burning candles.

New York church holds daily prayer vigil to 'safeguard the nation's democracy'

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member and recording artist Erika Jayne has filed for divorce from her lawyer husband Tom Girardi after 21 years of marriage.

'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' cast member and performer Erika Jayne files for divorce

New Yorkers these days are infusing positivity while battling the coronavirus pandemic. They are dancing and throwing away their anxiety

Infusing positivity while battling the coronavirus pandemic

It's understandable to want to party or arrange a get together in times of the pandemic but it's another matter to go ahead with it. What can start as a cozy affair and chitchats may soon turn into something else altogether if any of the invitees are infected with coronavirus. A similar thing happened in Suffolk County in New York. A 16th birthday party turned into a 'superspreader' event as dozens of attendees contracted coronavirus.

The party took place on September 25 at plush Miller Place Inn on Long Island. It was attended by over 80 people and 37 were left infected with coronavirus. This is not all, more than 270 people had to be quarantined.

"We've never seen a super-spreader event like this before in Suffolk County," tweeted the area's county executive on Wednesday.

"People have to act responsibly so that we do not have another economic setback."

New York state has largely kept coronavirus under control in recent months after 33,000 residents died from the virus, mainly in the spring.

But in recent weeks, infections have multiplied in some areas, especially in neighbourhoods with large Orthodox Jewish populations.

Governor Andrew Cuomo closed non-essential businesses and capped places of worship at ten people in the so-called red zones.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio defended the measures on Thursday, citing tightened restrictions in Europe where cases are on the rise.

"If for a few weeks we're asking people to do something exceptional to help stop a problem from growing and stop it from spreading, I think that's fair," he said.

(With AFP inputs)

It's understandable to want to party or arrange a get together in times of the pandemic but it's another matter to go ahead with it. What can start as a cozy affair and chitchats may soon turn into something else altogether if any of the invitees are infected with coronavirus.

It's understandable to want to party or arrange a get together in times of the pandemic but it's another matter to go ahead with it. What can start as a cozy affair and chitchats may soon turn into something else altogether if any of the invitees are infected with coronavirus. A similar thing happened in Suffolk County in New York. A 16th birthday party turned into a 'superspreader' event as dozens of attendees contracted coronavirus. The party took place on September 25 at plush Miller Place Inn on Long Island. It was attended by over 80 people and 37 were left infected with coronavirus. This is not all, more than 270 people had to be quarantined. "We've never seen a super-spreader event like this before in Suffolk County," tweeted the area's county executive on Wednesday. "People have to act responsibly so that we do not have another economic setback." New York state has largely kept coronavirus under control in recent months after 33,000 residents died from the virus, mainly in the spring. But in recent weeks, infections have multiplied in some areas, especially in neighbourhoods with large Orthodox Jewish populations. Governor Andrew Cuomo closed non-essential businesses and capped places of worship at ten people in the so-called red zones. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio defended the measures on Thursday, citing tightened restrictions in Europe where cases are on the rise. "If for a few weeks we're asking people to do something exceptional to help stop a problem from growing and stop it from spreading, I think that's fair," he said. (With AFP inputs)

New York: 'Sweet 16' party turns into a COVID-19 'superspreader' event

New Yorkers who have lost their loved ones to COVID-19, protested against Governor Andrew Cuomo. The protest was against a recently publish book on Leadership during the Pandemic by Governor Cuomo. The protest was held with a silver casket. Susan Tehran brings you more.

Symbolic funeral for New York governor's integrity

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