“No statistical difference between the group wearing masks and the group that did not wear them.” – Researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital conducted the study in April and May of this year, recruiting over 6,024 volunteers – 6:31 AM 11/19/2020

A Danish study suggests face masks may only offer limited protection against COVID-19 https://trib.al/CnD5Xqx 

Face masks do NOT protect wearer from coronavirus, Danish study finds

A new study from Denmark found, after one month, 1.8% of a group wearing masks had been infected with the virus and 2.1% in the unmasked group had tested positive for COVID-19.

dailymail.co.uk

COVID-19: One in seven UK companies ‘at risk of collapse’ http://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-one-in-seven-uk-companies-at-risk-of-collapse-12136139 …

COVID-19: One in seven UK companies ‘at risk of collapse’

One in seven companies is at risk of collapse in the next three months, according to a survey by the Office for National Statistics.

news.sky.com

#Захарова: Полагаем, что в Вашингтоне должны проанализировать и осознать все последствия своей -летней военной кампании в Афганистане, имея в виду в первую очередь жертвы среди мирного гражданского населения в результате ошибочных авиаударов США и НАТО

Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejects the Trump campaign’s claim that Philadelphia violated state election law in the way it handled ballot observers at a city ballot counting center. https://on.msnbc.com/38WqldB 

Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejects Trump campaign claim of problems with ballot observers

The ruling is likely to undercut the Trump campaign’s case in federal court contesting the results of the election.

nbcnews.com

Covid vaccines should not be seen as ‘unicorn’ solution, says WHO chief – video https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2020/nov/18/covid-vaccines-should-not-be-seen-as-unicorn-solution-says-who-chief-video?CMP=twt_a-world_b-gdnworld …

Covid vaccines should not be seen as ‘unicorn’ solution, says WHO chief – video

The warning comes after positive efficacy results from late-stage trials of two potential Covid-19 vaccines

theguardian.com

German riot police fire water cannons at unmasked protesters as thousands gather for demonstration against lockdown measures https://trib.al/zE1Vfmv 

German police fire water cannons at crowd in huge Berlin protest

Thousands of anti-lockdown protesters gathered in Berlin on Wednesday ahead of a government vote. Police dispersed the crowd with water cannon after they refused to wear masks.

dailymail.co.uk

Builder, 51, who died after falling from a 10ft ladder was actually killed by coronavirus, doctors say https://trib.al/n5DdoAz 

Builder who died after falling from ladder was killed by Covid-19

Doctors diagnosed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a post-mortem on the man in Croatia. They said this had been triggered by the virus, and was the cause of death.

dailymail.co.uk

As Russia struggles to handle the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Moscow has begun converting sites such as a massive ice skating rink into makeshift hospitals for treating Covid-19 patientshttps://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/11/18/moscow-medics-battle-coronavirus-on-converted-ice-rink-a72078 …

Moscow Medics Battle Coronavirus On Converted Ice Rink

Gallery | The capital’s main speed-skating venue is now being used to treat hundreds of coronavirus patients.

themoscowtimes.com

An injured humpback whale first spotted off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula 5 years ago re-appeared more than 6,000 kilometers west in Southern California Tuesdayhttps://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/11/18/injured-humpback-whale-migrates-from-russia-to-southern-california-a72081 …

Injured Humpback Whale Migrates From Russia to Southern California

The whale, nicknamed Lomot (Russian for “chunk” or “hunk”), didn’t let its damaged tail stop it from crossing the Pacific Ocean.

themoscowtimes.com

Pet kitty chases away four-tonne elephant that wandered into its garden looking for food in Thailand https://trib.al/2ReK2Dh 

Pet kitty chases away elephant that wandered into garden in Thailand

A pet cat has been pictured chasing away a huge four-tonne elephant that had wondered onto the moggy’s territory in Thailand in search of food on Tuesday night.

dailymail.co.uk

Is testicle pain potentially a sign of Covid? Turkish man who had no other symptoms is diagnosed with virus https://trib.al/mIUipji 

How a man’s testicle pain turned out to be a sign of Covid-19

The anonymous man, from Turkey, had swelling and pain in his testes. Tests showed he had the coronavirus, therefore the doctors suspected the testicular pain was his first symptom.

dailymail.co.uk

Iran’s Rouhani calls U.S. “a terrorist” after rocket attack on Baghdad embassy kills child https://www.newsweek.com/iran-rouhani-calls-us-terrorist-rocket-attack-us-baghdad-embassy-kills-child-1548279?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1605691753 …

Iran’s Rouhani calls U.S. “a terrorist” after rocket attack on Baghdad embassy kills child

Tehran is waiting to see what President-elect Joe Biden does, while Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are continuing attacks against American interests.

newsweek.com

#Gospel of the Day (Luke 19,11-28)
“I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”http://ow.ly/Hq1P50CkuDP 

Good to see President @Zourabichvili_S in Tbilisi today. U.S. cooperation with Georgia is of paramount importance, and our support for Georgia’s sovereignty in the face of Russian occupation is unwavering.

Republicans start turning the page on Trump era http://hill.cm/HEWdbAT 

A coronavirus surge in South Korea and Japan has pushed the number of new infections in those countries to heights not seen since August. https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/coronavirus-surge-in-japan-pushes-tokyo-to-new-pandemic-high-and-reaches-us-base-1.652525 …

Coronavirus surge in Japan pushes Tokyo to new pandemic high and reaches US base

A coronavirus surge in South Korea and Japan has pushed the number of new infections in those countries to heights not seen since August.

stripes.com

Two armed burglars assault a woman and a baby and hold two other people hostage in Queens https://trib.al/CVO08WW 

Two armed men ‘take two women hostage inside a Queens home’

NYPD arrested two armed men just after 2am this morning after several people held against their will were freed in tense hostage negotiations on 125th Street in Queens, New York.

dailymail.co.uk

Biden on Thanksgiving: “There should be no group more than 10 people” http://hill.cm/tgZ2mB7 

The Palestinian Authority’s resumption of civilian and security coordination with Israel is yet another message to the Palestinians that their leadership has no clear strategy | Analysis https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-by-renewing-israel-cooperation-palestinian-authority-leadership-admits-failure-1.9315600 …

By renewing cooperation with Israel, Palestinian Authority leadership admits failure

***

haaretz.com

Girl, seven, is ‘gang-raped by killers who cut out her liver and lungs in a black magic ritual’ in India https://trib.al/rp0TahD 

Girl is ‘gang-raped and killed for black magic ritual’ in India

The girl went missing from her Kanpur home on the night of Diwali and the remains of her body were found in a jungle, with her clothes under a nearby tree (stock photo).

dailymail.co.uk

Can Donald Trump pardon himself before leaving office? https://www.newsweek.com/can-donald-trump-pardon-himself-leaving-office-1548274?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1605693372 …

Can Donald Trump pardon himself before leaving office?

No president has tried to use the pardon power in this way—and legal scholars are divided over whether it would be possible.

newsweek.com

America’s highest-paid Governor Andrew Cuomo will receive a $25K raise in January https://trib.al/wZO6hGA 

Gov Cuomo will get a $25K raise in 2021 despite mounting NY deficit

Gov Cuomo is set to receive a $25,000 pay raise in January 2021, increasing his salary from $225,000 to $250,000 and cementing him as the highest-paid governor in the country.

dailymail.co.uk

Palestinians report record number of new coronavirus infections as health officials fear collapse | Live Updates https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/coronavirus-covid-vaccine-israel-west-bank-gaza-lockdown-live-1.9315281 …

Coronavirus Israel live: Netanyahu says has agreed with Moderna on greater vaccine supply

***

haaretz.com

.@tomfriedman asks: Are we supposed to forget this G.O.P.’s behavior as soon as Trump leaves, and let its leaders say, “He’s gone now, so you can trust us to do the right things again”? https://nyti.ms/2UyrbVv 

Opinion | How Can We Trust This G.O.P. in Power Again?

With Biden’s election, American democracy narrowly escaped disaster.

nytimes.com

Afghan Officials Downplay US Troop Reduction Reports https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/afghan-officials-downplay-us-troop-reduction-reports …

Afghan Officials Downplay US Troop Reduction Reports

Top government officials in Afghanistan are downplaying reports the United States may be planning to withdraw U.S. troops, saying local forces are independently conducting almost all security…

voanews.com

US Reports ‘Substantial Progress’ in Countering Chinese Security Threat https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-reports-substantial-progress-countering-chinese-security-threat …

US Reports ‘Substantial Progress’ in Countering Chinese Security Threat

The Justice Department is touting the success of its “China Initiative,” saying it has achieved “substantial progress” in disrupting and deterring Chinese efforts to subvert U.S. economic and…

voanews.com

US Cutting Troop Numbers in Afghanistan, Iraq by January https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-cutting-troop-numbers-afghanistan-iraq-january …

US Cutting Troop Numbers in Afghanistan, Iraq by January

The Pentagon is making plans to bring home more American troops in the coming weeks, leaving 2,500 troops in Afghanistan and 2,500 troops in Iraq by mid-January, a U.S. official has confirmed to…

voanews.com

As Russia, China, and other adversaries try to undermine confidence in American institutions, Donald Trump has been their unwitting ally. His refusal to concede defeat buttress the case our enemies make against us. More from me in @NYDailyNews: https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-how-trump-is-weakening-america-20201116-uslrz2cny5e3jouykpitezorua-story.html …

How Trump is weakening America: His refusal to concede defeat strengthens Russia and China

As Russia, China and other adversaries try to undermine our citizenry’s confidence in American institutions, Donald Trump has been their hopefully unwitting ally. Oblivious to anything not directly…

nydailynews.com

After 3 Failures, Pentagon Now Says It Won’t Be Able to Produce a ‘Clean’ Audit Until 2027 https://bit.ly/3f8XGmt 

After 3 Failures, Pentagon Now Says It Won’t Be Able to Produce a ‘Clean’ Audit Until 2027

The Defense Department was unable to complete a “clean” audit of its assets for the third year in a row.

military.com

BREAKING: Latest report from @DoD_IG concludes “It is unclear at this point whether the #Taliban is upholding its commitments”

VA Disability Claims Backlog Spiked to 300,000 During Pandemic https://bit.ly/2INfLLd 

VA Disability Claims Backlog Spiked to 300,000 During Pandemic

The VA did not restart in-person exams until late August, and then only on a limited basis.

military.com

Russia will begin to temporarily freeze-dry its coronavirus vaccine due to the difficulty of transporting the liquid vaccine doses at the exact temperatures necessary to retain efficacyhttps://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/11/17/russia-to-freeze-dry-coronavirus-vaccine-to-avoid-distribution-challenges-reuters-a72065 …

Russia to Freeze-Dry Coronavirus Vaccine to Avoid Distribution Challenges – Reuters

Trials reportedly showed the “same” immune response to freeze-dried vaccines as to liquid forms.

themoscowtimes.com

The Pentagon expects to fail its third attempt at a clean financial audit, but officials say the progress made could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. https://buff.ly/38MgaIo 

Synagogues Ask SCOTUS to Stop Gov. Cuomo from Unlawfully Targeting Jewish Community with COVID-19 Restrictions http://bit.ly/2UzGAVr 

Panic buying 2.0: Shoppers hoarding toilet paper, disinfectant and food clear shelves across the country https://trib.al/xvQ7jNF 

Panic buying 2.0: Shoppers hoard essentials amid stricter lockdowns

Images show stores in Washington, California, Virginia, Indiana and Georgia have all been affected. It is the second time this year that shoppers appear to be panic buying.

dailymail.co.uk