JOHN LEGEND ON TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN: 'HE IS AN ENEMY OF DEMOCRACY'

Celebrities arrived to the Producer's Guild Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., Saturday (28JAN2017) night as protests sparked around the country in response to President Donald Trump's travel ban.

The executive order bans legal U.S. residents and visaholders from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the U.S. for at least 90 days.

"We support the protests," said John Legend on the red carpet before the PGA ceremony. "We donated to ACLU today and we are grateful that they were in court in Brooklyn defending the rights of immigrants and refugees to come to this country. And we reject Donald Trump's message of fear and hate and we encourage everybody out there to speak out against it. Call your Congress people, support ACLU, support IRC and all those organizations that are speaking out for immigrants and refugees. And we're going to defeat him. He is an enemy of democracy. He's an enemy of freedom. He's an enemy of inclusion and he's going to lose."

Legend, who participated in the Women's March along with his wife Chrissy Teigen, said he will do whatever he can to help the protesters.

"Chrissy marched in D.C. I marched at Sundance and we're going to do whatever we can to resist his evil regime," he said.

Legend was on hand to support "La La Land," which he appeared in and served as an executive producer on. The retro musical reaped a record-tying 14 Academy Award nominations and was also vying for top honors at the PGAs.

A protest at John F. Kennedy airport, where 12 refugees were detained Saturday, swelled to more than 2,000 people, including some celebrities. Protesters also converged in Newark, New Jersey, Denver, Chicago, Dallas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.

"Lion" star and Oscar nominee Dev Patel called the travel ban "heartbreaking."

"I mean it's completely heartbreaking to be honest. I just flew in from India yesterday and to arrive to such devastating news of such a divisive nature, it's terrible. It's heartbreaking," he said.

Trump's order immediately suspended a program that last year resettled to the U.S. roughly 85,000 people displaced by war, political oppression, hunger and religious prejudice.

He indefinitely blocked all those fleeing Syria, where a civil war has displaced millions of people, and imposed a 90-day ban on entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim majority nations.

Beverly Hills, Calif., 28 Jan. 2017

1. Wide exterior shot of the Beverly Hilton Hotel

2. Zoom out on Kerry Washington

3. Zoom out on Lily Collins

4. Fashion shot, Teresa Palmer

5. Medium shot of Colin Firth

6. Medium shot of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen

7. SOUNDBITE (English) John Legend, actor/recording artist – on the protests against President Trump's travel ban: "We support the protests. We donated to ACLU today and we are grateful that they were in court in Brooklyn defending the rights of immigrants and refugees to come to this country. And we reject Donald Trump's message of fear and hate and we encourage everybody out there to speak out against it. Call your Congress people, support ACLU, support IRC and all those organizations that are speaking out for immigrants and refugees. And we're going to defeat him. He is an enemy of democracy. He's an enemy of freedom. He's an enemy of inclusion and he's going to lose."

Reporter: "I know you both participated in the women's marches. Do you think you'll participate in these protests?"

John Legend: "Yeah, Chrissy marched in D.C. I marched at Sundance and we're going to do whatever we can to resist his evil regime. Thank you."

8. Medium of Dev Patel Speaking

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dev Patel, actor: "I mean it's completely heartbreaking to be honest. I just flew in from India yesterday and to arrive to such devastating news of such a divisive nature, it's terrible. It's heartbreaking."

10. Zoom out on Rami Malek

11. Zoom in on Thandie Newton

12. Medium of Common

13. Zoom in on Amanda Peet

14. Zoom in on Sarah Paulson

English/Nat

Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, says local news reports on his divorce case are harming his children and he will ask South African courts to put a stop to them.

South African law forbids newspapers from reporting details of divorce cases.

But some have carried allegations by lawyers for Spencer's estranged wife, ex-model Victoria Lockwood, that he had up to a dozen affairs.

The hearing is being held to decide whether the divorce case will be held in Britain or South Africa.

Earl Spencer is denying allegations that he committed adultery with 12 women within months of marrying a former model and says the reports are harming his children.

The allegations emerged at the start of a hearing to decide whether Spencer's divorce from his estranged wife, Victoria Lockwood, will take place in Britain or his adopted home of South Africa.

Cameramen and photographers thronged the street outside the Supreme Court as Lockwood and then Spencer arrived for Wednesday's hearing at Court 17 - an indication of the high media-profile the case is receiving.

Spencer's lawyers informed the Cape Times newspaper on Tuesday night that he will apply to Cape Town's Supreme Court to prevent it publishing further details.

The application will be heard later on Wednesday.

In his legal notice to the Cape Times, which printed excerpts on its front page, Spencer said the reporting was affecting his children, especially his eldest daughter Kitty, 6, who attends school in Cape Town.

Earl Spencer says that his daughter's friends were talking about the case and she had seen newspaper posters on her way to school that carried details about his alleged affairs.

The Cape Times ran its front page story on Wednesday on the legal move, but said it would not be printing any further details from the divorce case.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"On Tuesday evening our lawyers were informed that the Earl was going to seek to restrain the Cape Times from publishing any information on the divorce proceedings currently under way. Some of the reasons, the Earl claimed that we had breached and contravened section 12 of the divorce act. The act says in terms... we can only record the identities of the of parties."

SUPER CAPTION: Ronald Morris, Cape Times High Court Reporter

There were also reports that the Earl's lawyers wished to restrict TV coverage too.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I understand, although I haven't had official confirmation, that the Earl's lawyers have also approached the South African Broadcasting Corporation and asked them to desist from filming the Earl on his way to and from court. That to me would seem to be somewhat extraordinary, because it is a case which has affected wide public interest and we would be filming the Earl in public."

SUPER CAPTION: Ed Herbst, Correspondent for SABC

Foreign media are not bound by the law and the story of Spencer's alleged affairs has made headlines around the world, especially in Britain.

The Cape Times, which first started breaking the law on Tuesday morning but was quickly followed by other local media, said that it was campaigning for press freedom.

Spencer wants the divorce case to be settled in his adopted home of South Africa, while Lockwood wants it to be held in Britain.

She is arguing that the case involves two British nationals and most of the earl's assets are in Britain.

If the case is heard there Lockwood would likely get a larger court-ordered settlement than in South Africa.

The couple married in September 1989 and now live in separate houses a few streets from each other in Cape Town's plush suburbs. They have four children.

Cape Town, South Africa - November 26, 1997

1. Wide shot Cape Town Supreme Court

2. Mid shot press

3. Wide shot Lockwood walking to court

4. Lockwood walks up court steps

5. Cutaway people outside court

6. Various shots of Earl Spencer and lawyers walking to court

7. Close up of Cape Times front page

8. Set up shot Ronald Morris, Cape Times High Court Reporter

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ronald Morris, Cape Times High Court Reporter

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ed Herbst, Correspondent for SABC

11. Close up newspaper article on Spencer

12. Cutaway girls looking out of window near courthouse

13. Mid shot Earl Spencer exiting court building

14. Lockwood exiting courtroom

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SHOTLIST(including transcript):-

ALL RIGHTS AP

1. Arrival Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

2. Wide of Pitt and Jolie

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Angelina Jolie, Actress:

"Well I had been here years before on a film and loved the country and loved the people here. And when we found out we were pregnant and thinking about where we would want to go we thought we wanted to find a place that was, a beautiful place that our other children would enjoy. And we knew that this had so many wonderful sights and also the things to do here for them things that we wanted to show them, and places we wanted to spend time with them. And they have had an amazing adventure and have made many friends here. Our son has friends here now so that was why. And also we just love this part of the world. Our other daughter was born in Africa and so this is a special continent for us."

AP PHOTOS/NO ACCESS CANADA/INTERNET

4. STILL: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie listening to Marlene Mungunda, Namibian Minister of Child Welfare

ALL RIGHTS AP

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Angelina Jolie, Actress:

"June 20th is refugee day and absolutely, I celebrate it every year. And I say celebrate because I think refugees it's not, it is a very difficult thing to be, it's a tough thing but I celebrate refugees because they are the strongest people I have ever met and I think they are remarkable, what they go through, and the refugee families and the children, and how much they overcome. So I usually am in Washington and depending on where we can be now because of travel restrictions and the new baby but I may be able to make it to Washington, if not I'll be delivering a statement from Los Angeles. But just a statement of hope and hope that people stay focussed on all the refugees in the world and hope that they continue to give them to aid and support that they need."

6. Pan Brad Pitt to Angelina Jolie

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Angelina Jolie, Actress:

"We had somebody that was working with us to go to the day hospitals and to see what hey were missing, what might be useful. We wanted it to be a practical donation, it wasn't just an idea of money, but to understand what the doctors were needing, or requesting and what the patients were requesting, so I think with the people we have worked with and the local people here we have been able to make some very practical decisions and do some very substantial things."

AP PHOTOS/NO ACCESS CANADA/INTERNET

8. STILL: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie posing with Penexupifo Pohamba, Namibian First Lady

ALL RIGHTS AP

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Brad Pitt, Actor:

"I'd just like to thank the people in Namibia, they have been so gracious to us and made our stay here very special and because of that we have had an incredible time with our family exploring the country and a truly peaceful birth of our daughter, and that we are eternally grateful for and we will certainly be back." FOLLOWS ON TO

SOUNDBITE: (English) Angelina Jolie, Actress:

"Yes, just thank you to everyone in Namibia for allowing us this time in your country and we hope to return. Thank you."

10. Pitt and Jolie standing up and exiting room

PITT AND JOLIE THANK NAMIBIA FOR PEACEFUL BIRTH

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have thanked the people of Namibia for the "peaceful birth" of their daughter and said they hoped to return to the country.

AP Television News has acquired the worldwide rights to the exclusive first television interview, conducted by Nambian Broadcasting Corporation in the coastal town of Swakopmund.

The couple arrived at the interview smiling and looking relaxed and happy.

Angelina explained why they chose Namibia as the birth place for their new daughter:

"Well I had been here years before on a film and loved the country and loved the people here. And when we found out we were pregnant and thinking abut where we would want to go we thought we wanted to find a place that was...a beautiful place that our other children would enjoy. And we knew that this had so many wonderful sights and also the things to do here for them things that we wanted to show them, and places we wanted to spend time with them. "

Angelina Jolie is a frequent visitor to Africa and serves as goodwill ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

She said she will mark Refugee Day on 20 June, and described refugees as "the strongest people I have ever met."

"I usually am in Washington and depending on where we can be now because of travel restrictions and the new baby but I may be able to make it to Washington, if not I'll be delivering a statement from Los Angeles. But just a statement of hope and hope that people stay focussed on all the refugees in the world and hope that they continue to give them to aid and support that they need."

She went on to describe the ways in which she and Brad have given their thanks to the Namibian community in return for the hospitability and warmth that the community has shown them:

"We had somebody that was working with us to go to the day hospitals and to see what hey were missing, what might be useful. We wanted it to be a practical donation, it wasn't just an idea of money, but to understand what the doctors were needing, or requesting and what the patients were requesting, so I think with the people we have worked with and the local people here we have been able to make some very practical decisions and do some very substantial things."

Brad Pitt expressed how much the couple had appreciated the warmth of the Namibian people during their time there, describing how their experience had impacted on the birth of their baby Shiloh Nouvel:

"I'd just like to thank the people in Namibia, they have been so gracious to us and made our stay here very special and because of that we have had an incredible time with our family exploring the country and a truly peaceful birth of our daughter, and that we are eternally grateful for and we will certainly be back."

Jolie also expressed her own heartfelt thanks to the people of Namibia:

"Thank you to everyone in Namibia for allowing us this time in your country and we hope to return."

Jolie and Pitt had powerful help protecting their privacy from the government of Namibia, which refused to grant entry to reporters seeking to cover the birth without the actors' written permission.

The government arrested photographers, confiscated film, ringed the couple's hotel with heavy security and set up large green barriers on the beach to shield their family.

Todays interview was the couple's second public appearance since Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt was born May 27 at a private clinic in Walvis Bay.

Delivered by Caesarean section, the baby weighed 7 pounds (3.15 kilogrammes) and was said to be in good health.

The couple had sought a place where they could spend some special time with her two adopted children, 16-month-old Zahara, from Ethiopia, and four-year-old Maddox, from Cambodia.

Jolie has two adopted children: toddler Zahara, from Ethiopia, and four-year-old Maddox, from Cambodia. Both had their surnames legally changed to Jolie-Pitt after Pitt announced his intentions to co-adopt the children.

Pitt, 42, and Jolie, 31, were first linked romantically after appearing together in the 2005 movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."

CLEARANCE DETAILS

SHOCK OVER MUSLIM BAN EXPRESSED ON SAG RED CARPET

Actors expressed shock over the travel ban President Trump signed over the weekend that restricts entry from seven Muslim countries.

The actors were walking the red carpet Sunday (29 JAN. 2017) before the Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles.

Lifetime Achievement award winner Lily Tomlin was perplexed by how quickly President Trump has signed executive orders.

"I don't know what we can expect! I mean in 10 days this has been like mind-boggling. We just got to hold fast. We've got so much to stand up to, stand up against. We've got to express ourselves and be forceful and vigilant and we have to be strong, we have to. In this nine or 10 days, however long it's been and the doomsday clock has moved up to 2 1/2 minutes. The last time I did a television special 'Lily for President,' Edith Ann was the secretary of the future and the clock was like about 10 minutes to midnight. But now it's closer than it's been in 65 years," Tomlin said.

Nominated actor Dev Patel feels for the victims of the ban.

"I just flew in from India like two days ago and to receive bad news, I mean it's truly heartbreaking. I mean the first image that went through my head was just these women and children turning up to these shores with hope in their hearts and dreams in their minds and just being turned away. It's just horrible. You know it's really sad that the voice of divisiveness you know can prevail over the one of unity. So I hope, I'm glad that there's people on the streets with courage to be out there expressing love, you know," Patel said.

Six-time Tony-winning actress Audra McDonald seemed a little more optimistic.

"You know, well I mean, it feels odd to be here and to be on the red carpet when you've got such things going on. But there's a part of me that keeps thinking, you know, art keeps us connected to our humanity. So in a way it's necessary to continue to make sure that art is out there because it will hopefully keep us you know more connected in a way that we need to be so we can empathize and sympathize' s and do it we can to help," McDonald said.

Actor Matthew Modine expressed how the controversy has brought Americans together.

"You know what? I don't think he knew that he would inadvertently show how great American democracy is. That those people in all those airports across the United States and all those wonderful women that came out to March are demonstrating their First Amendment rights and showing how great this country is and how wonderful democracy is. We got to tip our hat to Donald Trump for making America great again. He said he bring us together," Modine said.

"Orange is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria spoke of Iranian director Asghar Farhadi. Since he comes from a banned country, he may not be able to attend the Oscars.

"Well, of course he would boycott the Academy (Awards)! He can't get in the country anyways so of course he's going to! Yeah, anyway, of course he's going to boycott the Academy Awards. That's all. I'm just gonna say everyone knows where I stand about this. It's almost redundant for me to talk about it. We have an idiot that is the president of the United States and I do not stand behind this idiot. In fact, in fact, I just want to say Melania, honest, as a feminist I'm worried about you and just give me a sign if you need me to rescue you," DeLaria said.

"Transparent" actor Jeffrey Tambor feels that actors have a duty to speak up.

"It's terrible. I can't think of a better time, any more auspicious time for us to be actors and get the message out. It's a hard time. You keep looking at me. It's a very interesting time. On the other hand, last week we had the march on Washington, the Women's March. It was one of the most beautiful times. So we're gonna live on both sides of the aisle a little bit right now," Tambor said.

Los Angeles, 29 Jan. 2017

1. Medium of Lily Tomlin

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lily Tomlin, Actress:

"The week ... I don't know what we can expect! I mean in 10 days this has been like mind-boggling. We just got to hold fast. We've got so much to stand up to, stand up against. We've got to express ourselves and be forceful and vigilant and we have to be strong, we have to. In this nine or 10 days, however long it's been and the doomsday clock has moved up to 2 1/2 minutes. The last time I did a television special 'Lily for President,' Edith Ann was the secretary of the future and the clock was like about 10 minutes to midnight. But now it's closer than it's been in 65 years. Thank you. Was that what I was supposed to talk about?"

3. Wide of Dev Patel speaking to reporter

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dev Patel, Actor:

"I mean, I just flew in from India like two days ago and to receive bad news, I mean it's truly heartbreaking. I mean the first image that went through my head was just these women and children turning up to these shores with hope in their hearts and dreams in their minds and just being turned away. It's just horrible. You know it's really sad that the voice of divisiveness you know can prevail over the one of unity. So I hope, I'm glad that there's people on the streets with courage to be out there expressing love, you know?"

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Audra McDonald, Actress: "You know, well I mean, it feels odd to be here and to be on the red carpet when you've got such things going on. But there's a part of me that keeps thinking, you know, art keeps us connected to our humanity. So in a way it's necessary to continue to make sure that art is out there because it will hopefully keep us you know more connected in a way that we need to be so we can empathize and sympathize' s and do it we can to help."

6. Wide of Matthew Modine

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Modine, Actor: "You know what? I don't think he knew that he would inadvertently show how great American democracy is. That those people in all those airports across the United States and all those wonderful women that came out to March are demonstrating their First Amendment rights and showing how great this country is and how wonderful democracy is. We got to tip our hat to Donald Trump for making America great again. He said he bring us together."

8. Wide of Lea DeLaria and her "Orange is the New Black" co-stars

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Lea DeLaria, Actress - on reports that director Asghar Farhadi may not be able to attend the Oscars: "Well of course he would boycott the Academy (Awards)! He can't get in the country anyways so of course he's going to! Yeah, anyway, of course he's going to boycott the Academy Awards. That's all. I'm just gonna say everyone knows where I stand about this. It's almost redundant for me to talk about it. We have an idiot that is the president of the United States and I do not stand behind this idiot. In fact, in fact, I just want to say Melania, honest, as a feminist I'm worried about you and just give me a sign if you need me to rescue you."

10. Wide of actor Allen Leech

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Allen Leech, Actor: "Well I think it's extreme in the uppermost level. The fact is that these people are being banned. There are people who aren't even allowed to attend the Oscars who are nominated. And that's just the people, the high profile people. Imagine the people who are being turned away. It's disgraceful."

SOUNDBITE (English) Lesley Nicol, Actress: "It's horrific."

12. Zoom out on Jeffrey Tambor

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Tambor, Actor: "Oh terrible. Terrible. No I haven't. It's terrible. I can't think of a better time, any more auspicious time for us to be actors and get the message out. It's a hard time. You keep looking at me. It's a very interesting time. On the other hand, last week we had the march on Washington, the Women's March. It was one of the most beautiful times. So we're gonna live on both sides of the aisle a little bit right now."

14. Wide of Jeffrey Tambor arriving to the SAG Awards 15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Tambor, actor: "I think everyone is awake right now. That's what's going on and everyone is going 'yeah.' And I love what Obama says: You've got a problem? Get yourself a ballot and get yourself elected and go to the community meeting and get active."

16. Wide of carpet

SHOCK OVER MUSLIM BAN EXPRESSED ON SAG RED CARPET

Actors expressed shock over the travel ban President Trump signed over the weekend that restricts entry from seven Muslim countries.

The actors were walking the red carpet Sunday (29 JAN. 2017) before the Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles.

Lifetime Achievement award winner Lily Tomlin was perplexed by how quickly President Trump has signed executive orders.

"I don't know what we can expect! I mean in 10 days this has been like mind-boggling. We just got to hold fast. We've got so much to stand up to, stand up against. We've got to express ourselves and be forceful and vigilant and we have to be strong, we have to. In this nine or 10 days, however long it's been and the doomsday clock has moved up to 2 1/2 minutes. The last time I did a television special 'Lily for President,' Edith Ann was the secretary of the future and the clock was like about 10 minutes to midnight. But now it's closer than it's been in 65 years," Tomlin said.

Nominated actor Dev Patel feels for the victims of the ban.

"I just flew in from India like two days ago and to receive bad news, I mean it's truly heartbreaking. I mean the first image that went through my head was just these women and children turning up to these shores with hope in their hearts and dreams in their minds and just being turned away. It's just horrible. You know it's really sad that the voice of divisiveness you know can prevail over the one of unity. So I hope, I'm glad that there's people on the streets with courage to be out there expressing love, you know," Patel said.

Six-time Tony-winning actress Audra McDonald seemed a little more optimistic.

"You know, well I mean, it feels odd to be here and to be on the red carpet when you've got such things going on. But there's a part of me that keeps thinking, you know, art keeps us connected to our humanity. So in a way it's necessary to continue to make sure that art is out there because it will hopefully keep us you know more connected in a way that we need to be so we can empathize and sympathize' s and do it we can to help," McDonald said.

Actor Matthew Modine expressed how the controversy has brought Americans together.

"You know what? I don't think he knew that he would inadvertently show how great American democracy is. That those people in all those airports across the United States and all those wonderful women that came out to March are demonstrating their First Amendment rights and showing how great this country is and how wonderful democracy is. We got to tip our hat to Donald Trump for making America great again. He said he bring us together," Modine said.

"Orange is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria spoke of Iranian director Asghar Farhadi. Since he comes from a banned country, he may not be able to attend the Oscars.

"Well, of course he would boycott the Academy (Awards)! He can't get in the country anyways so of course he's going to! Yeah, anyway, of course he's going to boycott the Academy Awards. That's all. I'm just gonna say everyone knows where I stand about this. It's almost redundant for me to talk about it. We have an idiot that is the president of the United States and I do not stand behind this idiot. In fact, in fact, I just want to say Melania, honest, as a feminist I'm worried about you and just give me a sign if you need me to rescue you," DeLaria said.

"Transparent" actor Jeffrey Tambor feels that actors have a duty to speak up.

"It's terrible. I can't think of a better time, any more auspicious time for us to be actors and get the message out. It's a hard time. You keep looking at me. It's a very interesting time. On the other hand, last week we had the march on Washington, the Women's March. It was one of the most beautiful times. So we're gonna live on both sides of the aisle a little bit right now," Tambor said.

AP Entertainment

Los Angeles, 29 Jan. 2017

1. Medium of Lily Tomlin

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lily Tomlin, Actress:

"The week ... I don't know what we can expect! I mean in 10 days this has been like mind-boggling. We just got to hold fast. We've got so much to stand up to, stand up against. We've got to express ourselves and be forceful and vigilant and we have to be strong, we have to. In this nine or 10 days, however long it's been and the doomsday clock has moved up to 2 1/2 minutes. The last time I did a television special 'Lily for President,' Edith Ann was the secretary of the future and the clock was like about 10 minutes to midnight. But now it's closer than it's been in 65 years. Thank you. Was that what I was supposed to talk about?"

3. Wide of Dev Patel speaking to reporter

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dev Patel, Actor:

"I mean, I just flew in from India like two days ago and to receive bad news, I mean it's truly heartbreaking. I mean the first image that went through my head was just these women and children turning up to these shores with hope in their hearts and dreams in their minds and just being turned away. It's just horrible. You know it's really sad that the voice of divisiveness you know can prevail over the one of unity. So I hope, I'm glad that there's people on the streets with courage to be out there expressing love, you know?"

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Audra McDonald, Actress: "You know, well I mean, it feels odd to be here and to be on the red carpet when you've got such things going on. But there's a part of me that keeps thinking, you know, art keeps us connected to our humanity. So in a way it's necessary to continue to make sure that art is out there because it will hopefully keep us you know more connected in a way that we need to be so we can empathize and sympathize' s and do it we can to help."

6. Wide of Matthew Modine

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Modine, Actor: "You know what? I don't think he knew that he would inadvertently show how great American democracy is. That those people in all those airports across the United States and all those wonderful women that came out to March are demonstrating their First Amendment rights and showing how great this country is and how wonderful democracy is. We got to tip our hat to Donald Trump for making America great again. He said he bring us together."

8. Wide of Lea DeLaria and her "Orange is the New Black" co-stars

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Lea DeLaria, Actress - on reports that director Asghar Farhadi may not be able to attend the Oscars: "Well of course he would boycott the Academy (Awards)! He can't get in the country anyways so of course he's going to! Yeah, anyway, of course he's going to boycott the Academy Awards. That's all. I'm just gonna say everyone knows where I stand about this. It's almost redundant for me to talk about it. We have an idiot that is the president of the United States and I do not stand behind this idiot. In fact, in fact, I just want to say Melania, honest, as a feminist I'm worried about you and just give me a sign if you need me to rescue you."

10. Wide of actor Allen Leech

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Allen Leech, Actor: "Well I think it's extreme in the uppermost level. The fact is that these people are being banned. There are people who aren't even allowed to attend the Oscars who are nominated. And that's just the people, the high profile people. Imagine the people who are being turned away. It's disgraceful."

SOUNDBITE (English) Lesley Nicol, Actress: "It's horrific."

12. Zoom out on Jeffrey Tambor

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Tambor, Actor: "Oh terrible. Terrible. No I haven't. It's terrible. I can't think of a better time, any more auspicious time for us to be actors and get the message out. It's a hard time. You keep looking at me. It's a very interesting time. On the other hand, last week we had the march on Washington, the Women's March. It was one of the most beautiful times. So we're gonna live on both sides of the aisle a little bit right now."

14. Wide of Jeffrey Tambor arriving to the SAG Awards

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Tambor, actor: "I think everyone is awake right now. That's what's going on and everyone is going 'yeah.' And I love what Obama says: You've got a problem? Get yourself a ballot and get yourself elected and go to the community meeting and get active."

16. Wide of carpet

TAPE NUMBER: OA 345

DATELINE: February 17, 2011 Washington, DC

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 2/17/2011

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

12:47 P.M. EST

MR. CARNEY: At this rate there will be like 10 people here by next week. (Laughter.) How is everybody this morning -- or this afternoon, rather? Thanks for coming to Day 2.

All right, I just have a couple things I want to start with. Some of you have asked so I just thought I'd throw it out there at the top that the President and First Lady have both filled out their absentee ballots and those are being mailed to Chicago. I won't -- so they're exercising their franchise and are glad to do it, but I won't be giving copies of those ballots. So you don't need to ask for that.

Second announcement is the White House is pleased to confirm that President and Mrs. Obama have accepted the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen, and will travel to the United Kingdom for a state visit on May 24-26 of this year. This trip will be President Obama's first European state visit, a sign of the strength of the special relationship between our two countries, and of the United States' enduring commitment to its European and NATO allies and partners.

Further details of the trip will be made available at a later time. I hope you all can join us.

I'm not quite done. One more thing I'd like to say at the top -- hold on, please. Believe me, I'll take questions. (Laughter.) I just wanted to note -- I meant to yesterday, and I admit I was a little preoccupied -- I meant to note yesterday that it was the 25th anniversary, I believe, for Peter Maer -- is he in the house?

Q No, he's Air Force One today.

MR. CARNEY: Oh, okay. So I just want to say that -- 25 years covering the White House. He was here when I got here -- first covered the White House in the spring of '93, and he was already a grizzled veteran. (Laughter.) But I wanted to recognize that because that's a great tenure --

Q You forgot to add that he started at 12. (Laughter.)

MR. CARNEY: And with that, let's start the briefing.

Mr. Feller.

Q Thanks, Jay. I wanted to ask you about Bahrain. Can you give us the President's personal reaction to what's happening there, the crackdown in which men and women have been beaten and shot simply for protesting?

MR. CARNEY: I spoke with the President not long ago about this, before his lunch. And his view is that we oppose the use of violence by the government of Bahrain just as we oppose the use of violence by other governments in the region against peaceful protesters. We offer condolences to the families of those who were killed and injured.

And we've said repeatedly the United States believes strongly that violence is not an appropriate reaction when the peoples of this region, or any region, are peacefully protesting and airing their grievances and making reasonable demands about wanting to engage in a political process.

We believe that people have universal rights, including the right to peaceful assembly. So we continue to urge the government of Bahrain to show restraint in responding to peaceful protests. The government of Bahrain has the responsibility to maintain peace and security for its citizens and to hold accountable those who utilize excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators.

As you know, I think it's been reported that Secretary of State Clinton has been in touch, and other officials of the administration are obviously reaching out to members of the government of Bahrain to communicate this message to them.

Q Do you have any sense of how those calls are going? I'm wondering whether this is another case where the U.S. makes its stand clear, as you just did, but the leverage here is limited to actually influence these events.

MR. CARNEY: Well, Ben, I would step back and point out that our position here is reflective in many ways of what it was with the demonstrations in Egypt. We supported the people of Egypt. We didn't dictate events in Egypt. What unfolded in Egypt was the result of the actions of hundreds of thousands and millions of Egyptians. And we're not looking to dictate events or outcomes, but we are making clear what our position is -- because we believe, and the President said as long ago as his speech in Cairo, that the governments in the region need to be more responsive to their peoples in order to live up to the hopes and dreams of their people and also to -- that instability comes from not responding to the legitimate grievances and democratic aspirations of their people.

Q What gives you any confidence that making clear what your position is is going to have an effect?

MR. CARNEY: Look, this is a process that, again, is about the people, in this case, of Bahrain. Our position is clearly stated and it is applicable to countries throughout the region. And, again, as with other countries, we're not looking to dictate events but we are making very clear the values that we hold.

Q And then finally, one last one, I'm sorry. On the Fifth Fleet, any contingencies being made for that?

MR. CARNEY: I don't have anything for you on that at all, Ben.

Q Jay, we're seeing protests in many countries across the region. How does the White House analyze what is going on? Are we witnessing a full-scale revolution across North Africa and the Middle East?

MR. CARNEY: Well, each country is different. Each country has different traditions, Steve. And there is a commonality, clearly, to some of the demonstrations and the unrest we've seen, and it's reflective of a yearning by the peoples of the region, the peoples of these countries, to have a greater participation in the political process in their countries. And we support that.

And that's why we have urged the governments in the region for a long time now to respond and get ahead of that -- those demands and those aspirations expressed by their peoples, and respond to it and open up their societies in a way that will allow those countries to become more prosperous and their people to improve their lot in life.

Q In the case of Egypt, you were very vocal in calling for a peaceful transition there. Are you anywhere close to doing that for Bahrain or any of these other countries?

MR. CARNEY: Steve, I would say, again, that each country is different. What is the same is what we believe about these universal values and universal rights. And we have urged governments in the region -- the Egyptian government, the Bahraini government, but, in general, to be responsive and to open up their societies and to get ahead of the process in order to respond to the aspirations of their people.

Q Lebanon on the U.N. Security Council is working on a resolution, or has drafted a resolution, that would condemn Israel for what it calls "illegal settlement activity." Now, I know Dr. Rice has been working on an alternative up there, a presidential statement that would call the settlement activity illegitimate, not illegal. But that seems to be going nowhere. If it does come up for a vote in the U.N. Security Council, how will the United States vote on a resolution calling Israeli settlement activity illegal?

MR. CARNEY: Well, first of all, no resolution, Jake, has been put forward for a vote, and I would not want to speculate on what action the United States would take -- may or may not take on that matter. But I would also say that I'm not going to get into details of ongoing private diplomatic discussions in New York at the United Nations regarding this matter.

We, like every administration for decades, do not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity. We believe their continued expansion is corrosive not only to peace efforts and a two-state solution, which we strongly support, but to Israel's future itself. And finally, we have long said that we believe direct negotiations are the only path through which the parties will ultimately reach an agreement. And that's what we believe strongly today as we have in the past.

Q So it's the position of the White House as it has been for several White Houses that settlement activity in Israel is illegitimate, is corrosive to the peace process. Do you think it's illegal?

MR. CARNEY: What we have said is we believe it's illegitimate, and we've been very clear about that. And we also believe that the best form for making progress in the negotiations, in the peace process, is in direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians in order to reach that goal of a two-state solution with security for both states, and that it's far better to pursue that path than others.

Q Jay, I want to go back to Bahrain, because The New York Times has a story this morning saying that as far back as last summer the President ordered up a report on potential unrest in the Mideast and that that report concluded that without major change places like Egypt, Bahrain, others could face serious revolt.

And so my question is if the administration was doing all these preparations for months now, why does it seem like you're struggling still to react to various developments there? Yesterday, you said the same thing you're saying today about Bahrain. You said there can't be violence; they have to respect universal rights of freedom, et cetera. And then they had a government crackdown overnight and didn't listen to you. So if you're doing all these preps, why are you still struggling here?

MR. CARNEY: Well, Ed, I definitely do not accept the idea that we're struggling. I think if you look at the way that the events in Egypt unfolded and the consistency of our message in public and in private, that was, we believe, the right way to handle that situation. And I'm sure that along the way, as the President mentioned -- there were questions to my predecessor and others about why haven't you resolved this today or why didn't what you say yesterday produce a result overnight. And I would remind you again that this is not a process that we're looking to dictate, but we can make clear our positions and express our support for the people in the region who are peacefully demonstrating and asking for their voices to be heard.

And that's what we're doing with Bahrain and with all the countries in the region that are experiencing this unrest. We're being very consistent about where we stand. And I really think that in a moment like this with such incredible events unfolding, 24 hours is a pretty short time period to expect things to change.

Q So does that mean that you can allow another 24 hours of the government cracking down, beating people, killing people -- journalists getting caught in the crossfire?

MR. CARNEY: We've made very clear our opposition. I think I, at the top of this daily briefing, expressed our strong displeasure with violence being used against peaceful demonstrators. We simply think it is the wrong way to go. It does not -- the long-term future of any country is not made more stable or more prosperous or better for its people if a government responds in a violent way to peaceful demonstrators.

So we think our voice matters in this, and that's why we have been very clear in stating our opposition and our disappointment and displeasure with the use of violence.

Q One quick domestic issue. Speaker Boehner is out today saying that the second anniversary of the stimulus law shows that it was a failure, that it spent too much money. And last night he was on FOX saying -- criticizing the President about the deficit. He specifically said, "He wasn't elected to just sit there in the Oval Office. He was elected to lead. And if he won't lead, we will." So is he sitting around in the Oval Office waiting or is he going to lead?

MR. CARNEY: I think I said yesterday and I'd like to reiterate that this President has taken on enormous challenges and led in major ways. He has done big things. He has taken on tough issues. And he's continuing to do it. And I would point to the budget that he laid out on Monday, which is actually quite an extraordinary document. It proposes $400 billion in cuts through a freeze on non-defense discretionary spending. It proposes cuts in programs that the President quite explicitly says he supports and would not in normal times want to see cut, but he's willing to make tough choices.

And he also is very clear in his call for the need to invest in new industries, to innovate, and to focus on the education of our children -- precisely in order to grow the economy and create the jobs that will enable us not just to lead in the 21st century but to seriously deal with our long-term fiscal issues.

Q But you understand Republicans are saying investment really means piling more debt on top of a stimulus law that was almost a trillion dollars. So was it a failure or --

MR. CARNEY: But the fact is, the President's budget proposal is the only budget proposal on the table that reduces spending and reduces spending and reduces the deficits. Okay? And it is a -- we acknowledge that there is more to be done, especially on the long-term fiscal issues. But this is an extraordinary proposal and an important proposal that the President wants and believes the Congress will take seriously. And that is why he is engaged in conversations with members of Congress of both parties.

As you know, he's having lunch today with House Democratic leaders. Yesterday he had meetings also. And so -- and if I could, coming where I do from the Vice President's office prior to this, I just want to make clear that the Recovery Act, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, is responsible for as many as 3.6 million jobs and for lowering unemployment by as much as 2 percent. We understand that unemployment is still too high. We wake up every morning focused on the need to create more jobs and have the economy grow even faster and to continue to grow out of this recovery. But it is simply impossible not to acknowledge where we were versus where we are.

And the Recovery Act was a major reason why we are now in a situation where we've been growing consistently for many consecutive quarters and why we have created more than a million jobs in the last year. And remember, that first month, I believe it was January of 2009 when we came in, 740,000 jobs lost in just one month. There's quite a different atmosphere now. It's not good enough and there's more work to do, but the steps that were taken in the early parts of this President's term were vital to helping turn this around.

Yes, Chip.

Q Thanks, Jay. And on this second anniversary of the stimulus, I believe it was 90 percent that the administration said would be private sector jobs. Is that right?

MR. CARNEY: Now, I just bragged about having spent a little time on the Recovery Act in my day and I can't remember the figures exactly.

Q Anybody else? (Laughter.) Shall we take a vote? Well, do you know how they did in terms of --

MR. CARNEY: Look, I don't have the breakout. What we do know is that there has been month after month of private sector job growth that has been critical to this economic recovery. And a substantial portion of that private sector job growth has been as a result of the President's policies -- the Recovery Act and other policies that he pursued to save this economy from turning a horrible situation into a catastrophic situation in our country, with the kind of unemployment that we haven't seen since the Great Depression. He would not -- he did not want that to happen and he took the actions he saw necessary to prevent it from happening.

But this is now February of 2011, and we are focused, he is focused, the President is focused on continued economic growth, continued job creation. And he has proposed a budget that reinforces those goals and also recognizes the need, now that we're in recovery, to tighten our belts and live within our means precisely so we can continue to invest.

Q Back on Bahrain, does the President believe -- overall, looking at this as an historic -- a historic development, does the President believe that this is a positive development?

MR. CARNEY: I go with "an" with the "h."

Q An historic, a historic. (Laughter.) I'll get 20,000 emails on that correcting me whichever one you do. But does the President believe that this is an historic development -- excuse me, a positive development, a good thing?

MR. CARNEY: He thinks that democracy is a good thing. He thinks that the future of governments around the world will be more secure and more prosperous -- of states and countries around the world -- if democratic principles are pursued, if pluralism is permitted, if participation is encouraged and allowed.

So again, recognizing that each country is different, each country has different circumstances, different populations, different traditions, the overall desire for greater democratic participation for their voices to be heard is absolutely a good thing and an understandable thing.

Q And on Egypt he made very clear and Robert Gibbs made very clear that we can't dictate, we can't take sides. But clearly we've taken sides in Iran, right?

MR. CARNEY: We take sides with the people of countries who are expressing their opinions peacefully, who are making legitimate grievances known peacefully, who are assembling peacefully. And we took sides with the people of Iran. We continue to. And we take sides with the people of other regions who are trying to do that. We find very -- extraordinarily hypocritical the reaction of the Iranian government to -- on the one hand, supporting the demonstrators in Egypt and on the other hand brutally repressing their own people and preventing them for expressing their same --

Q And that's in Libya and Bahrain, too? Are we taking sides?

MR. CARNEY: Well, we have made clear -- it's not a binary choice. We are on the side of --

Q It's sounding like in Iran it's a binary choice. We're taking sides with the people against the government. Are we taking sides with the people in Bahrain and Libya?

MR. CARNEY: We are taking sides against violence, the use of violence against peaceful protesters. And we have -- it's pretty clear from what we've said about how we feel about the use of violence in Bahrain and how we felt about it in Egypt. And that's the side we're taking.

Q Last question. The other uprising -- Wisconsin -- could you weigh in on that? Is the President monitoring what's happening there with the public employees?

MR. CARNEY: I think -- I know when I read out yesterday that the President was giving some regional interviews that he spoke about this in one of his interviews and was very clear that while he understands the needs that -- the challenges that governors face to deal with their own fiscal issues and the need to make tough budget decisions, as he is making here at the federal level, what he sees happening in Wisconsin -- making it harder for public employees to collectively bargain -- seems more like an assault on unions. And he doesn't see that as a good thing.

So what he would encourage, and I think he did yesterday, and what Secretary Duncan has been doing today, is, first of all, not to vilify public employees-- because it's easy to sort of paint public employees as faceless bureaucrats, but we're talking about teachers and nurses and policemen and firemen. And he believes -- the President believes, the Secretary of Education believes that the best way to deal with this is for people to address these problems by sitting down at the table to collaborate and work out a solution.

Q So he's taking sides on that one.

MR. CARNEY: He expressed his opinion directly. You got it from the President yesterday.

Mike.

Q Jay, was the stimulus package oversold up front?

MR. CARNEY: The stimulus package, the Recovery Act, contained within it goals to improve -- to basically -- as part of a number of measures that were taken, to prevent a staggering economy from collapsing into depression; to save or create jobs; to invest in areas where future growth would help drive the overall economy. And those goals have been met.

Now, economic -- as I said yesterday, I'm not an economist but I do know that the business of predicting the future in terms of economics is tricky. And as we see all the time, some of the numbers we depend on most and cite most in the press and in the government -- GDP statistics, unemployment statistics -- are constantly being revised when new information and new data comes in.

The bigger point is there was a crisis that had to be responded to and this President did that by leading. And we believe it worked.

Q Because unemployment at the time was 8.1 percent. The charts that were initially put out suggested we would be below 7 at this point. We're at 9, so --

MR. CARNEY: Mike, we've said and I'll repeat that we don't want to relitigate the battles of the past, but this is what I was getting at in my answer. The projections that the economic team made at the time were based on the numbers that everybody had at the time, and were reflected in the projections made by a lot of outside economic analysts and institutions. The reality as time passed was that the hole we were in, this country was in as President Obama was sworn into office was much deeper than even we knew in December or November prior to that. The job loss was much more extreme, the shrinking of the economy much greater.

That was the reality that was not apparent to economists of all stripes, and it is -- was revised as we went along. The overall purpose and focus of the President's economic plans and policies were to stop the bleeding, get us into recovery, begin to grow the economy, save and create jobs. There is no question that's what he achieved.

Q Quick one on another topic?

MR. CARNEY: I want to -- I'm committed a little bit and I'll do this, but as a lot of you know, I do want to give everybody a chance. So I don't want to spend all my time on the front row. So let me take this but -- (applause) -- I love the front row. Don't get me wrong. But -- and rows two, three, four, five, six and seven.

Q Robert said he was going to start at the back row one day a week and he never followed through.

Q Pure pandering.

MR. CARNEY: That would have been quite a thing, right? (Laughter.)

Q In announcing the trip to the UK, in recent weeks the British Prime Minister, the French President, the German Chancellor have all denounced multiculturalism. Does the President share the view of his NATO allies?

MR. CARNEY: I'm not aware of those comments by those leaders.

Chuck.

Q Jay, can you give us a readout of the President's call to Palestinian President Abbas? Secretary Clinton just informed the press that that happened.

MR. CARNEY: The President did speak with President Abbas this morning. They discussed the situation in Egypt, the events in Egypt as well as the region, and the issues at the Security Council. That's all.

Q Anything about the peace process? Is there anything -- any progress that can be added on this?

MR. CARNEY: Well, you know we're committed to moving the peace process forward. We know it's a difficult issue. If it were not, if it were easy it would have been solved a long time ago.

Q When was the last time he spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu?

MR. CARNEY: I'll have to get that for you. I don't know.*

Q On Bahrain, at what point -- I mean, you say every country is different and obviously -- but at what point -- what is it going to take for the administration to take the tougher stance on the government that they took with the Egyptian government at the time? Is public pressure not going to work in this case? Is that the issue?

MR. CARNEY: Well, I would remind you of the exchange I had with Ed, which is 24 hours later the world hasn't changed. I think that's a timetable that is hard to meet in any circumstance. But I would -- I just want to point out in these comparisons between Bahrain and Iran that the consistency of the President's message on our opposition to the use of violence against peaceful protestors, our support for the right of peoples around the world to assemble peacefully, to speak freely, to have information, access to information -- those positions apply in Iran -- to Iran, to Bahrain, to Egypt.

And I think the President was very clear in espousing and enunciating those principles and his position with regards to Egypt. And I think that comparison is important to make as well when you're looking at the countries in the region.

Q Quickly on Florida, on the Florida decision on the high-speed rail. There is a report out there in Huffington Post that says the Obama administration is considering finding a way -- you're not going to move the money now right away from Florida to California, New York, Washington, that you're looking for a federal government way to still put this plan in place in Florida. Can you confirm that? Is that true? What more can you tell us about what Secretary LaHood is up to?

MR. CARNEY: I'm going to have to refer you to Secretary LaHood. I confess that I don't have any more than what I said yesterday which is what -- that we're disappointed by the decision the governor made. We think that -- and we've seen reaction to it in a bipartisan way that --

Q You don't think it's dead yet?

MR. CARNEY: Again, I don't want to speculate because I'm not aware of the report you just mentioned. And I encourage you to contact the Department of Transportation. We believe that these kinds of investments are critical for the future economic growth of this country and to allow us to compete with countries around the world where, as you know, high-speed rail is quite a bit further advanced than it is here in the United States.

Let me get to the second row. One sec, sorry.

Q To follow up on that, why, I guess, now that Florida has rejected it and three other states have rejected infrastructure spending, what does that say about the administration's broader infrastructure plans?

MR. CARNEY: Well, our support for these plans -- the President could not have been clearer in the State of the Union about the absolute importance of investing in infrastructure in order to allow us to compete and win the future in the 21st century. The decisions by individual states are the decisions they can certainly make. We think it's -- we don't support those decisions because we think it's harmful to the economic growth of those states. And certainly there are other states that are eager to participate in these programs. I know that the high-speed rail, in particular, was heavily oversubscribed in terms of the states that wanted to participate.

Q And I want to follow up, actually. The President's budget included a six-year, about half-a-trillion-dollar plan on infrastructure spending, but it doesn't say how that's going to be paid for. How is it going to be paid for?

MR. CARNEY: You're talking about the transportation?

Q Yes, I am.

MR. CARNEY: The fact is that in this area there has long been bipartisan support for the funding of our highways, roads, and ports, and in this case, some airport spending. And the -- we believe that that's necessary, again, for the continued growth of the economy and for the platform that's needed to move goods and people around the country in a way that's competitive.

It's very hard to win the economic battles of the 21st century with third-rate or third-class infrastructure.

Q Well, why not lay out a plan to pay for it?

MR. CARNEY: This is something that will be worked out, we're confident, in a bipartisan way because it has to be paid for. We've made that very clear. And if it's not, then the decision will be made that it's okay to have third-class infrastructure, which we don't think is a wise choice for our economic future.

Q What ideas are on the table?

MR. CARNEY: I'm not going to negotiate that from here, but I think, as I've said, it has to be a bipartisan agreement, as it has so often in the past.

Q Jay, can we ask about --

Q What happened to this half of the row?

Q Jump around. (Laughter.)

MR. CARNEY: I'm going to squeeze from the -- (laughter.)

You know, Mark, you're in my old seat. Did you know that? (Laughter.)

Q It hasn't been your seat in a while.

Q Ooooh --

MR. CARNEY: True enough.

Yes.

Q The House work on the continuing resolution -- Speaker Boehner says, well, that's fine, we're going to get what we passed done this week. Obviously the Senate is not going to take it up until next week. The end of next week is the deadline, and Boehner apparently saying that there is not going to be another CR unless there is some substantial budget -- substantial spending reductions in there. Is this brinkmanship now?

MR. CARNEY: Brinkmanship?

Q Yes.

MR. CARNEY: Well, as I think I said yesterday, we are committed, the President is committed to cutting spending and reducing the deficit. That's why he put forward a tough budget. It's important that we address the budget like any family would -- got to live within your means in order to have the money you need to invest, to pay for your child's education, to fix, as the President -- I've heard him say anyway -- fix a leaky roof or a broken boiler.

We've also made clear that we can't support arbitrary or irresponsible cuts that affect the essential functions of the government or hurt our ability to grow the economy, create jobs. That would be unbelievably counterproductive, because we need to grow the economy and create jobs in order to out-educate, out-build and out-innovate the rest of the world, as you've probably heard.

So we wait for Congress. We look forward to working with Congress. The President looks forward to working with Congress on the continuing resolution and on his budget and the other issues on the table.

Q The deadline is the end of next week. Is there any prospect that -- do you think this is going to be this bipartisan agreement that you're looking for between now and next week?

MR. CARNEY: I think the leaders of both parties, as well as the President, have made clear that coming to an agreement is vital for the American people and the American economy, and that the -- well, I'll leave it at that. I can point you to statements that Speaker Boehner and others have made about the need to do that.

Q Jay, up on the Hill --

MR. CARNEY: Sorry, doing the second row here.

Q Jay, notwithstanding the fact that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie counter-programmed his speech against your first briefing yesterday, does the White House welcome his participation in the 2012 presidential campaign, if he were to do that? And does he -- do you all have a sense of what the President thinks of his message?

MR. CARNEY: Well, we're focused right now on some very big issues -- dealing with the economy, dealing with international events. I don't have any comment for you on an election process that really is very far off in the future.

Mark.

Q Thanks. Earlier in the briefing you called the budget an extraordinary document. You said, the White House believes Congress will take it seriously. But if Speaker Boehner is calling it "dead, gone, over," there seems to be quite a disconnect there between your view and his. How are you going to reconcile that?

MR. CARNEY: I would remind you, Mark, that a lot of things were said in the aftermath of the midterm elections about the prospects for bipartisan cooperation on some issues that seemed really hard to resolve, where there were pretty big differences -- what we saw through the reasonable approach taken by leaders in Congress, by the President, was an ability to work through some tough issues, to compromise, to give a little on each side to get something done that the American people wanted done. And that has improved our prospects for growing the economy this year, has increased the amount of money that Americans have in their paychecks right now, and has positioned us better for growing in the future, and positioned us better, more broadly speaking, in terms of the environment that we're in for more bipartisan cooperation and compromise.

We believe that's possible. We believe that there is enough common ground and agreement on the need to grow the economy and create jobs, to be responsible and cut spending, that we can find common ground and get it done. That's what the American people want us to do. There was no clearer message that was sent in the midterm elections than that.

Q Where do you see common ground in "dead, gone, and out and over?"

MR. CARNEY: Let me go to Kate.

Q What does the President want to get out of tonight's meetings with executives? Is he going to specifically ask them to take an active, supporting role for his education and research agenda? Is corporate tax reform going to come up?

MR. CARNEY: As you know -- I think I mentioned yesterday -- you're talking about the dinner tonight in California? He's going to gather a group of business leaders to talk about technology and innovation. These are -- this is part of our economy that has been a huge contributor to economic growth in the last several decades, and we expect it will continue to be. It is a remarkable demonstration of the American capacity for creativity and innovation and leadership, and a model, really, for that kind of economic activity that we want to see in other cutting-edge industries in the United States where jobs can be created in America and kept in America. And that's what he wants to talk about.

I don't have specifics. I'm sure there will be a variety of issues discussed. But we have -- the President is committed to making investments in research and development. It's key to education. There's a lot of support among leaders of this industry for our education agenda. There's a great need in the technology industry for well-educated, appropriately educated Americans in science and technology, engineering and math. And as you know, the President is very focused on that.

Q And should we assume that the President and the First Lady aren't going to be going to the royal wedding, now that they're going to be going a month later to England?

MR. CARNEY: I send you to the First Lady's office. I don't have an answer.

Q Jay, the White House has been studying these historic examples of democracy emerging in countries around the world. Can you talk about any of the lessons that the White House has gleaned from looking at those other countries?

MR. CARNEY: Without getting into specifics about which models, I think the lessons are that you want governments, opposition movements, civil society to come together and to work out the changes that can bring about greater democracy, greater pluralism, greater participation around the table, and negotiations, rather than in any violent way. And I think that the successes -- the countries where those kind of -- the progress has been most evident, that that's been the model that we think is the best.

Q May I just follow --

MR. CARNEY: Let me bump around a little bit here. Margaret.

Q Thank you. When was the last time that the President spoke with the Bahrain leader? And forgive my ignorance on the issue -- would he speak with the King or would he speak with the Prime Minister? And if they haven't talked recently, kind of what's the calculation? Do you wait until you talk --

MR. CARNEY: I would refer you to the State Department on the protocol issues, but in this case, I don't have anything for you on when the President last spoke to leaders in Bahrain.

Q But do you know -- just since -- has he spoken directly since Cairo, since the uprising in Cairo?

MR. CARNEY: Since the uprising? I don't believe so, but I can check on that for you.

Let me go here.

Q Thank you, Jay. You said that you don't dictate policies, yet there is an impression in the Middle East that you don't support the demonstrators enough, especially in allied countries. Do you worry that the United States might risk becoming irrelevant in effecting change in the Middle East?

MR. CARNEY: What I would say -- and this is what I was getting at in answering Chuck, was that -- is that the President was extremely clear in his support for the Egyptian people, the people of a country that is a long-term ally and continues to be an ally of the United States. And he demonstrated our commitment to the principles, the universal values and rights that we believe are essential and that need to be respected around the world. And the consistency between his message around the region I think is pretty obvious.

Q Can I follow on --

Q Jay, come back in the third row --

Q Thank you, sir. Two questions about Great Britain. How closely has the President been consulting with Prime Minister Cameron, especially the fact that the United States Navy's Fifth Fleet is in the region?

MR. CARNEY: What I can tell you -- I believe we read out the fact that the President spoke with the Prime Minister over the weekend. I don't have anything more for you on that.

Q And the other is about the invitation, obviously. It's a very rare occurrence for any President to be invited to stay, literally, in Buckingham Palace. Can you tell us --

MR. CARNEY: Only the staff can go, too. (Laughter.)

Q Only the staff. (Laughter.) Anyway, is there any -- do you have any comment on the significance of that, actually staying within the Palace itself?

MR. CARNEY: I confess that I do not know the precedence for this. But he is obviously honored by the invitation and it is reflective, he believes, of the special relationship that our two countries have long had, and a special relationship that will endure.

Q The Middle East, please? May I follow up, Jay?

MR. CARNEY: Connie.

Q Thank you so much. Does the President have any concern about the billions of dollars in U.S. money going to countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, other countries which are not pro-Western? And has there been any holdup on American money to Pakistan while this diplomatic flap is still underway?

MR. CARNEY: I will just say that the United States is, as you know, on Pakistan, is focused on ensuring that the diplomatic status of Mr. Davis is honored and we're focused on having him released. But I don't have anything for you on money.

Q Could you look into the billions of dollars for that --

MR. CARNEY: Let me get to the back, the gentleman raising his pen.

Q Thank you -- oh, which pen?

MR. CARNEY: You guys look so much alike that -- (laughter.)

Q I'm assuming you meant me. Thanks, Jay.

MR. CARNEY: You go first, yes.

Q All right. Thank you very much. In his press conference the President asked those involved in the budget debate to refrain from talking about a government shutdown, which he seemed to be saying wasn't helpful to the process. He met yesterday with the Majority Leader, but the Majority Leader continues to use the specter of a government shutdown, including just about an hour ago. Does the President believe that that's helpful, these comments?

MR. CARNEY: I would refer you to what the President said in his press conference. I think he also said that in these processes there is -- that sometimes people stake out positions -- and, again, I'm speaking generally on all sides -- but that the important thing is that reasonable, calm discussions are held to ensure that the goal and focus of our policies is economic growth, job creation, living within our means, and avoiding the kind of conflict that can harm our potential to achieve those goals.

So he continues to look forward and believes that -- continues to look forward to discussions with leaders of both parties to address the CR, to address the budget, and to move forward in the way that the American people really want us to.

Now to the gentleman -- yes, sir.

Q Thank you. Thank you for paying attention to the backbenchers. My name is Andrei Sitov. When I was listening to -- hi, Jay. When I was listening to the President speak at the press conference when he was urging this uncharacteristic patience on journalists, I had the distinct impression that he was talking not about the specific episode in Egypt, but in general -- have patience; it will work. And I think what he meant was, our approach will work. Am I correct in understanding him this way? Is what happens in the Middle East these days, do you see at the White House, do you see this as a vindication of the President's approach to the region and to international relations in general?

MR. CARNEY: What you said about the counseling of patience I think applies in many ways to many issues. And that's what the President was talking about. These are -- in the same way that big problems come -- the problems that come to a President's desk are all hard. The easy ones come to desks in smaller offices to people of lower rank, and they get solved there. And the issues that dominate these briefings, that dominate his press conferences, are all thorny and tough and they take time to resolve. And I think being focused, clear about your principles, pragmatic in your approach, but, again, guided by your principles, that you can achieve big things.

That's his goal, to achieve big things on behalf of the American people. He's focused on that, whether it's in international affairs or whether it's -- or when it's dealing with domestic and economic affair.

Q And you do feel that this is connected to what you've been doing and saying?

MR. CARNEY: I do, yes.

Let me take one more. Yes, Christi.

Q The President is meeting today with lawmakers on the committees that deal with education. First of all, do you have any -- do you know anything about that meeting? Can you read it out at all?

MR. CARNEY: I can, if I can find it here. Bear with me. I know it's here somewhere. There it is. Yes, that he met -- he had a bipartisan -- speaking of bipartisanship, working together on goals that are commonly held by members of both parties -- the President had a meeting today with -- if I could just find my paper on it -- with Senators Tom Harkin, Mike Enzi, Jeff Bingaman, and Lamar Alexander -- Republicans and Democrats.

In that meeting, the President reiterated his strong belief that the nation's economic future is being decided every day in classrooms across the country and that reforming education through the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is a key priority this year. As you know, education is an absolute priority of this President and his commitment to reform is really quite profound.

During the bipartisan meeting, the President discussed his desire to find common ground on the need to redefine the federal role in education so that it is more flexible and better focused on responsibility, reform, and results. He discussed raising expectations for students and schools, boosting teacher effectiveness, and providing greater flexibility to support innovation and improvements throughout public education, including fostering a Race to the Top in our schools and providing incentives and rewards to help students make significant strides and to succeed.

The President looks forward to continuing this vital bipartisan work to ensure America's students have the skills they need to out-educate and out-compete the world and win the future. And I'll add a little bit: It was a good meeting. (Laughter.)

Q Did they talk about Wisconsin?

Q Did he restate his position on vouchers, public school vouchers -- private school vouchers?

MR. CARNEY: As you know, the President -- I don't know that he -- that that came up. But the President has been pretty clear that he doesn't believe that vouchers are a long-term solution to our education reform needs.

Q Given that that is so important to the House Republicans, is the President hopeful that there can be meaningful education reform, a real reopening and overhaul of No Child Left Behind?

MR. CARNEY: The President believes that that legislation needs to be addressed and fixed and improved, and he believes that the track record of bipartisan support for his education initiatives, and bipartisan support in general for education reform along the lines that he supports is very encouraging in terms of our ability to get something done this year.

I'm going to end it there.

Q No compromise on vouchers?

MR. CARNEY: I said what his position is, but that's all I have.

Thanks very much, guys.

Q Did he vote for Rahm?

Q Will you talk to the pool tomorrow? Are you going to California?

MR. CARNEY: Oh, yes. I am going to California with the President. I'm very disappointed you're all not coming -- I know some of you are. But I will gaggle on the flight in the morning.

Q Thanks, Jay.

MR. CARNEY: Thanks.

END

1:20 P.M. EST

WORLD TOURISM REVIEW

SHOTLIST:

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

LENGTH: 7.58

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bethlehem, West Bank – 27 November 2020

1. Close of star on top of Christmas tree

2. Wide of Christmas tree outside Church of the Nativity

3. Various of Church of the Nativity

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt - 7 March 2020

4. Mid of sign at Valley of the Kings, pan to tourists in a group

5. Mid of tourists exiting the tomb of Tutankhamen

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Karnak temple, Luxor, Egypt - 6 March 2020

6. Mid of a Far East Asian guide with Far East Asian tourists

7. Mid of a big group of Latin American and Spanish tourists with their guide

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tokyo, Japan – 19 March 2020

8. Wide of pagoda in Sensoji with cherry blossoms

9. Wide of Asakusa Nakamise Shopping street with very few people

10. Almost empty shopping street

11. Wide of entrance to Sensoji

12. Two women wearing kimonos taking pictures

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Eilat, Israel - 6 October 2020

13. Empty beach

14. Closed off playground on promenade

15. Tables stacked up

16. Taxis parked

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Yigal Zohar, taxi driver:

"It's like a ghost town, there's nothing. I can tell you with my own experience that I'm not taking any money at home."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bultan Sogottu, Issyk Kyl region, Kyrgyzstan - 31 July 2020

18. Various of empty beach

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bultan Sogottu, Issyk Kyl region, Kyrgyzstan - 1 August 2020

19. Wide of beach cafe

20. Interior of empty beach cafe

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taipei City/Airspace, Taiwan - 1 October 2020

21. Boy posing for photo in front of aircraft before StarLux "Fly to the Moon" special flight, which will take off and land at same airport for a site seeing tour from the air

22. Aircraft taking off as seen from plane window

23. Passanger on board

24. Various of screen, showing StarLux "Fly to the Moon" flight JX-8227 flying an "s-shaped" trail above Miyakojima, Japan

25. Passenger taking photo of view

26. Miyakojima, Japan, seen through plane window

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Singapore - 24 October 2020

27. Various of cabin crew serving food on grounded passenger set

28. Various of passengers eating meals

29. SOUNDBITE (English) Lee Lik Hsin, SIA executive vice-president (commercial):

"It allows us a chance to engage with our customers at a time where there is very little flying. But we do hope the flying comes back, sooner rather than later."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Venice, Italy -  27 August 2020

30. Various of Venice canals

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Venice, Italy - 26 August 2020

31. Worker putting up sign for Venice's 77th International Cinema Festival

32. Wide of bikes passing area where workers are setting up for film festival

ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Giovanni in Galdo, Italy - 19 August 2020

33. Mid of woman opening mosquito net on window in accommodation provided for free to encourage tourists to visit town

34. Wide of guests planning their day as they have breakfast

35. Wide of guests walking down street

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kigali, Rwanda - 16 July 2020

36. Various of Patrick Karangwa, CEO of Kigali 360, a company that creates virtual tours for tourists, using camera

37. Karangwa looking around with headset

38. Close of screen showing virtual tour of tourism site

39. SOUNDBITE (English) Patrick Karangwa, CEO of Kigali 360:

"It is unfortunate that the pandemic hit the industry in general, but for me as a virtual tour content creator it was actual an opportunity."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brussels, Belgium - 21 May 2020

40. Tilt-down of Grand Place

41. Women on bikes talking to each other in Grand Place

42. Belgian cyclists taking selfie in front of Manneken Pis statue

43. Close of Manneken Pis wearing face mask

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia - 6 August 2020

44. Aerial shot of river ++MUTE++

45. Various of holidaymakers on riverbank

46. Men preparing kayaks

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tracy, California - 9 June 2020

47. Aerial view of Nohr's RV Center ++MUTE++

48. Various of customers looking at camping trailers at Nohr's RV Center

49. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Nohr, Nohr's RV Center:

"So you could take an RV, go away with your family and stay out in a campground or in the woods and be by yourself. And so now the RV industry is on fire."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Neum, Bosnia Herzegovina - 30 July 2020

50. Aerial of Neum coastline, beach and hotel waterfront

52. People swimming in sea

53. Tourists boarding excursion boat

54. Boat departing

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dzharylhach Island, Kherson region, Ukraine – 18 July 2020

55. Aerial shot of uninhabited island ++MUTE++

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dzharylhach Island, Kherson region, Ukraine – 19 July 2020

56. Aerial shot of deer walking in the landscape ++MUTE++

57. Mid shot of wild duck through grass

58. Wild boars

59. Tourists arranging an excursion

60. Wide of people at the seaside

61. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Anatoliy Skachkov, tourist from Kyiv:

"Our soul relaxes here. It's almost impossible to find such an island in Ukraine, unfortunately. But here is freedom."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda – 12 July 2020

62. Rangers on boat monitoring animals

63. Rangers inspecting animals on the shorelines

64. Elephants

65. Birds

66. Hippo and hippo calf in water

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hong Kong – 25 September 2020  

67. Mid of Mickey Mouse waving to the guests in the park

68. Staff member cleaning up in the area in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle  

69. Wide of temperature screening booth located at the park entrance

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taoyuan City, Taiwan - 16 October 2020

70. Various of penguins swimming through tunnels in cafe

71. Pan of lobby at Cozzi Blu luxury hotel

72. Jellyfish-themed lights near the hotel's entrance

73. Various of hotel interior decorated with nautical items

LEADIN:

The global tourism industry saw turmoil in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to curtail travel.

STORYLINE:

Coronavirus cast a pall over Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, all but shutting down the biblical town revered as Jesus’ birthplace at the height of the normally cheery holiday season.

Missing were the thousands of international pilgrims who normally descend upon the town.

Restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops wre all closed.

The renowned Christmas tree lighting service was limited to a small group of authorized people, as well as church services on Christmas Eve.

For a town that relies so heavily on tourism, it was a disaster - but it's far from unique.

The world over, tourism businesses are suffering due to the pandemic.

Tourists had started to return to Luxor on the banks of the Nile to wonder at the grandeur and beauty of Egypt's ancient tombs.

Following the revolution in 2011, the tourist industry struggled, but slowly visitor numbers began to climb again after direct flights were reinstated and restrictions on travel lifted.

But COVID-19 cast a shadow over that recovery.

In Japan, border closures meant that once crowded tourists spots were eerily quiet.

The country escaped the worst of the virus in terms of deaths, but its economy certainly felt the impact.

It was due to host the Olympics over the summer, but that has been postponed.

Japan hopes the games will go ahead in 2021, but what form they will take and whether overseas travellers will be allowed to attend remains to be seen.

In Israel, two lockdowns over the year took their toll on tourist businesses.

The Red Sea resort city of Eilat was one of the hardest hit.

The southern Israeli city hosted two and a half million tourists in 2019, and before the COVID-19 outbreak hit had an unemployment rate of just three percent.

Some 80 percent of the people living here depend on tourism for their livelihoods.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak hit, Eilat's unemployment rate stood at just three percent.

In October, the mayor reported a massive rise to 75 percent unemployment.

"It's like a ghost town, there's nothing. I can tell you with my own experience that I'm not taking any money at home," said taxi driver Yigal Zohar.

Kyrgyzstan's emerging tourism industry was hit hard.

It had 7 million visitors in 2018 and 8.5 million in 2019.  According to the data of the World Travel Tourism Council, in 2019 tourism accounted for 8 percent of total economic activity and 8.5 of total employment.

But the pandemic destroyed hopes for the 2020 season.

Hoteliers offered discounts of up to 50 percent on normal prices, but resorts remained almost empty.

According to tourism officials, 40 percent of hotels in the region did not open.

Some companies came up up with innovative alternatives for travel-starved customers.

A Taiwanese airline launched so-called "flights to nowhere".

StarLux's flight JX-8227 took passengers on a sightseeing trip over Taiwan and a Japanese island, before landing at the same airport from where they departed.

And in Singapore, travel fans got a chance to relive the inflight experience, by dining and watching movies on a grounded plane.

The Restaurant A380 @ Changi, from Singapore Airlines, was a sell-out success with people keen to get a pre-COVID flying feel.

"It allows us a chance to engage with our customers at a time where there is very little flying. But we do hope the flying comes back, sooner rather than later," said Lee Lik Hsin, SIA executive vice-president (commercial).

Italy was the first country in Europe to be hit by the coronavirus with most of the cases among the elderly.

In Venice, the city's 77th International Film Festival went ahead.

It was a welcome boost for tourism after a desolate summer.

Face masks were required indoors and out. Reservations for all were required in advance, with theatre capacity set at less than half. The public was barred from the red carpet and paparazzi, who would normally chase after stars in rented boats, were given socially distanced positions on land.

In southern Italy, a village offered visitors free accommodation to get itself known on the tourist trail.

The scheme in San Giovanni in Galdo in the Molise region proved so popular that the home stays were booked up for the entire season.

However, with the second wave of the virus, Italy then introduced more restrictions to try to curb its spread.

In Rwanda, a tech entrepreneur created online virtual reality tours to tempt visitors back to the country.

Patrick Karangwa launched his company, Kigali 360, in 2018.

Last year, tourism brought more than $490 million in revenues to Rwanda, according to the Rwanda Development Board.

But border closures this year meant dwindling numbers.

So Karangwa's VR experiences of Rwanda's best sites were a way to get overseas visitors interested in the country when travel is possible again.

The government injected $50 million into tech-driven tourism initiatives to help with post-COVID recovery.

"It is unfortunate that the pandemic hit the industry in general, but for me as a virtual tour content creator it was actual an opportunity," says Karangwa.

The tourism sector normally accounts for almost a tenth of the European Union's economic output.

Millions of jobs are at risk, particularly in countries whose economy is propped up by tourism, such as Greece, France, Spain and Italy.

The effects were also palpable in Belgium where in 2016 the terrorist attacks damaged the tourism sector.

Brussels' Grand Place was not the bustling piazza it normally is, full of tourists.

So with no firm answer on when foreign travellers would return, many countries turned their focus to 'staycations'.

In Russia, holidaymakers flocked to rural rivers to enjoy a summer break.

This natural landscape of the Nizhny Novgorod region is became an increasingly popular vacation destination for domestic tourists.

This river site is around 100 kilometres from Moscow - far enough to feel like a real escape from city life, but close enough to travel here by bus.

Travel agencies said bookings increased threefold in 2020, and kayaks and tents were fully booked.

Also in the great outdoors, Americans eager to hit the road during the coronavirus pandemic fuelled a boom in RV sales and travel.

Sales of recreational vehicles surged, along with bookings at RV campgrounds, as vacationers sought ways to travel safely and explore nature.

Nohr's RV Center in California reported that sales roughly doubled, with many first-time buyers driving the surge.

"So you could take an RV, go away with your family and stay out in a campground or in the woods and be by yourself. And so now the RV industry is on fire," said Mike Nohr, Nohr's RV Center.

For a small number of places, the pandemic boosted business.

Neum in Bosnia reaped the rewards of more popular resorts closing amid the pandemic, as visitors looked for an alternative holiday destination on the Adriatic.

It reported record breaking numbers of tourists over the summer.

All of the 30,000 beds in the town's hotels and visitors accommodation were fully booked until the end of August.

But Bosnian tourism suffered enormous decline  with classic destinations such as Sarajevo, Mostar and the Catholic shrine of Medjugorje all reporting an 80 percent drop in visits.

Tourism is the fifth most important industry in the country, with an estimated 60,000 people making a living from it.

An uninhabited island rich in biodiversity offered Ukrainians a welcome rest in nature, away from the stress of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dzharylhach Island - a national park stretching 56 square km, is home to 200 sika deer and 170 fallow deer, world sheep, foxes and wild boar.

In the sea, three types of dolphin can be seen from the shore, the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, the short-beaked common dolphin and "Azovka", subspecies of harbor porpoise.

Tourists are allowed to pitch tents in a 45 hectare area near the lighthouse or further up on the shore.

A further 5,000 hectares are kept totally human free.

"Our soul relaxes here. It's almost impossible to find such an island in Ukraine, unfortunately. But here is freedom," said Anatoliy Skachkov, a tourist from Kyiv.

In July, Uganda began slowly reopening its tourist sector for both domestic and foreign visitors after a six month shut down due to coronavirus.

Tourism had been rising steadily in Uganda over the last few years until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the financial year 2018/2019, the tourism sector, the biggest foreign earner for the country, contributed over $1.4 billion, 7.7 percent of the country's GDP, according to the Ugandan Tourism Board.

When coronavirus broke out and travel restrictions were imposed around the world, tourists and other visitors could not get into the country.

The restrictions led to a revenue slump in the tourism sector, and hundreds lost their jobs in an industry that employs nearly 700,000 Ugandans.

According to the Ugandan Tourism Board, the country recorded a total of 1.4 million foreign visitors in 2019, but from March to June 2020, the number dropped to zero.

Hong Kong's Disneyland reopened for the second time in September as the semi-autonomous Chinese city again appeared to have brought new coronavirus cases down to near zero.

The park initially reopened in 18 June after being closed from the end of January, but was closed again in mid-July because of an increase in COVID-19 cases.

Visitors were required to wear masks at all times inside the park, except when eating and drinking, and had their temperature checked upon arrival.

Social distancing measures in queues, on rides, at shops and restaurants were the norm.

Cleansing and sanitization was increased.

Hong Kong's economy is heavily dependent on tourism and services and the government moved steadily to bring back business without sparking new outbreaks in the densely populated city of 7.5 million.

For those who could travel, a Taiwanese hotel made a unique destination.

The Cozzi Blu luxury hotel joined forces with the aquarium next door to provide a marine experience for guests.

Visitors can watch penguins swim through tunnels in the cafe, see sealife in the aquarium, before retiring to the nautically themed hotel next door.

====

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U.S. President Donald Trump on October 1st 2020 predicted the "end of the pandemic is in sight."

Trump made the remarks as he addressed the annual Alfred E. Smith dinner on October 1st.

The annual fundraising dinner for Catholic charities was held virtually for the first time because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The president used the event to defend his Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and hailed to contribution of Catholics to American life over the years.

Trump also praised New Yorkers for their 'grit' in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

***

Joe Biden says President Donald Trump testing positive for coronavirus is a "bracing reminder" of the seriousness of the virus. He also says he's received two coronavirus tests, and both came back negative.

Speaking at an event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Biden said he received a test in Delaware and one from "the former White House doctor" who came up to Delaware to administer the test, "and everything's clear."

The president said October 2nd that he and his wife, Melania Trump, tested positive for coronavirus. Biden was tested after spending nearly 90 minutes onstage with the president during their debate earlier this week.

Biden said he wished the president and the First Lady a full recovery and that "this is not a matter of politics." Biden said it was a "reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously. It is not going away automatically."

"This cannot be a partisan moment," he said. "It must be an American moment. We have to come together as a nation. I'm running as a Democrat. But I will run and govern as an American president. Whether you voted for me or against me, I will represent you."

Biden delivered the entirety of his remarks wearing a mask.

***

India crossed the mark of 100,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths on October 3rd, putting the country's toll at nearly 10% of the global fatalities and behind only the United States and Brazil.

The Health Ministry also raised the confirmed caseload to more than 6.4 million with 79,476 new infections.

The grim milestone comes at the heels of a growing crisis for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist government that has been criticised over its handling of the virus and economic impacts that have left millions jobless.

September has been India's worst month with daily cases and fatalities outstripping those in any other country.

Almost 41% of total cases and 34% of COVID-19 deaths were reported in that month alone, with nearly 1,100 people dying every day on average from the virus.

But the overall fatalities are most certainly an undercount, experts say, as deaths may have been attributed to other causes, especially in the early days when testing was extremely low for a country with a population of 1.4 billion.

India's poor track record to register mortality data even before the pandemic has further amplified questions over the actual death toll.

India's first COVID-19 death was reported on March 12. Over the next five months, the disease killed 50,000 people.

The pandemic that has saturated intensive care units and morgues and also contributed to the deaths of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses.

The Indian Medical Association on Friday said at least 500 doctors have died of the coronavirus, adding the toll could be far higher.

The association last month accused the government of "indifference" after it said there was no complete data on the number of front-line health care workers who had contracted the coronavirus and died.

Even as the numbers keep rising, India's senior health officials have used the official COVID-19 fatality rate of 1.56%, which is nearly half of the global one, as evidence of its success in fighting the pandemic and a basis for relaxing restrictions and reopening the economy.

India also has the highest number of recovered patients in the world.

Public health experts say the disorderly lockdown, which led millions of migrant workers to flee from cities to villages, possibly carrying the virus with them, further complicated the fight against the pandemic, undercutting the country's feeble health care system's ability to cope with the rising infections.

Still, India is preparing to reopen cinemas and entertainment parks with limited capacity beginning on October 15th, in an effort to revive the economy.

***

Supporters of President Donald Trump have been camped outside of the military hospital where he has been treated for COVID-19 since October 4th, publicly supporting him and sending him well wishes.

The supporters wave flags and pro-Trump banners to traffic passing by the Walter Reed Medical Center. Loud music blares from speakers along the sidewalk.

Trump said October 5th he's leaving the hospital and will continue his recovery at the White House.

He said he's feeling good and despite his attack the nation should not be afraid of the virus that has killed more than 209,000 Americans.

Trump's expected return comes after he has received an exceptionally aggressive course of treatment and a standard of care well above what is available to average Americans.

His doctor, Navy Cdr. Sean Conley, said the president would not be fully out of the woods for another week, but he said Trump had "met or exceeded all standard hospital discharge criteria."

On October 4th, Trump briefly ventured out of the hospital while contagious to salute cheering supporters by motorcade - an outing that disregarded precautions meant to contain the virus.

Less than one month before Election Day, Trump was eager to project strength despite his illness. The still-infectious president surprised supporters who had gathered outside the hospital, riding by Sunday in a black SUV with the windows rolled up. Secret Service agents inside the vehicle could be seen in masks and other protective gear.

White House officials said Trump was anxious to be released after three nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where doctors revealed on Sunday that his blood oxygen level had dropped suddenly twice in recent days and that they gave him a steroid typically only recommended for the very sick.

Trump's experience with the disease has been dramatically different from most Americans, who do not have access to the same kind of monitoring and care. While most must cope with their symptoms - and fear of whether they'll take a turn for the worse - at home and alone, Trump has been staying in the presidential suite of one of the nation's best hospitals and has been given experimental drugs not readily available to the public. He returns to the White House where there is a team of doctors on call with 24-hour monitoring.

***

US President Donald Trump briefly left the hospital October 4th in his car to wave to supporters gathered outside.

The president's visit came shortly after he promised his supporters “a surprise” in a video posted a video on social media.

“It’s been a very interesting journey," Trump said in the video.

"I learned a lot about COVID. I learned it by really going to school. This is the real school. This isn’t the let’s read the books school. And I get it, and I understand it. And it’s a very interesting thing.”

Earlier in the day, Trump's doctor said he “continued to improve” and suggested he could be discharged as early as Monday.

***

At one of Argentina's favourite holiday beach resorts, Mar del Plata, 504 small national flags were planted in honour of local people who have died of COVID-19 as the pandemic continues to spread from the country's capital to the interior provinces.

A group of anonymous neighbours planted the flags on Bristol beach, one of the city's central and best-known beaches, to draw attention to the rising numbers of COVID-19 victims.

While the number of infections and deaths begin to go down in the city of Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area, the pandemic is spreading to the interior just two months from the start of the summer season, when hundreds of thousands of tourists normally flock to the beaches.

Authorities haven't clarified yet what measures will be taken during the holiday season.

Argentina has reported more than 840,000 cases of the new coronavirus and 22,226 deaths.

***

Police officers carried out checks on October 9th in Madrid to ensure those living in the city were adhering to restrictions imposed by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Spain's government declared a state of emergency in the capital after it wresting control of efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19 from local authorities in a region that is experiencing one of Europe's most significant coronavirus outbreaks.

The step, which took immediate effect and lasts for two weeks, forced Madrid authorities to restore restrictions on travel that had been introduced by the national government but were struck down the previous day by a Madrid court ruling.

That successful legal challenge by Madrid officials was part of a long quarrel between the country's main political parties over their coronavirus response.

The central government's measures prohibit all nonessential trips in and out of the capital and nine of its suburbs, affecting some 4.8 million people.

Spain's interior minister said that more than 7,000 police officers would be deployed to ensure the restrictions are observed.

But Madrid's conservative regional government opposed those restrictions, saying they were draconian and hurt the economy claiming their more moderate measures were enough to fight COVID-19.

***

Hundreds of people gathered in the Italian capital on October 10th to protest against recent measures the government has adopted to control the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Italy is struggling with a resurgence of coronavirus infections, after winning international praise for having tamed the virus with a strict 10-week lockdown and instituted a careful, conservative reopening and contact-tracing effort, when summer vacation travelers created new clusters.

Protesters complained about new measures including a order for all Italians to wear masks outdoors or face fines of up to 1,000 euros ($1,200).

The Italian Health Ministry reported another 5,724 cases in the last 24 hours and 29 deaths. Most cases were asymptomatic and determined through increased testing - more than 133,000 in the period.

Most of the new cases are in Lombardy in the north, which tallied 1,140 new infections, followed by Campania, which includes Naples, and Veneto.

Italy has reached totals of nearly 350,000 confirmed cases and 36,140 deaths.

***

Dozens of people gathered in Prague's Old Town Square on October 18th for an outdoor Catholic mass.

Currently, indoor gatherings are limited to six people in the Czech Republic.

The priest leading the service said that while he understood the importance of the rules, "since the number of ill and severely ill is growing," it was "absurd" that other groups could meet in larger numbers.

"For instance political parties can gather with up to 100 people, but we are only allowed to pray in the church with six people. That is nonsense," said Jiri Korda.

On October 16th, coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic surpassed 10,000 in one day for the first time.

The Health Ministry said the day-to-day-increase of the new confirmed cases surged to 11,105.

It is almost 1,400 more than the previous record set a day earlier.

The country has registered a total of 160,112 cases, including 1,283 deaths.

After a series of new restrictive measures adopted by the government to slow down the surge, Health Minister Roman Prymula said he still expected a rise of those tested positive for about two weeks.

***

Czech police on October 18th used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse hundreds of protesters, who attacked them after a rally Sunday in Prague against government restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus infections.

Police rescue services said at least 20 were injured in the clashes, which erupted after a few thousand people, including soccer and ice hockey fans, rallied at Old Town Square to condemn the restrictions that include the ban of sports competitions and closure of bars and restaurants.

Public gatherings of more than six are also banned but up to 500 people are allowed to demonstrate if they are divided into separated groups of 20 and wear face masks.

Many of the demonstrators had no face coverings. After police said their number surpassed 500, the organizers ended the rally.

But some protesters remained and the square, throwing flares, beer bottles, stones and various other objects at riot police.

The Czech Republic has been facing a record surge in coronavirus infections in recent weeks.

***

DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE MEET FRONTLINE STAFF AT ST BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL IN LONDON

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge celebrated the launch of the "Hold Still" exhibition October 20th by meeting one of the photographers featured.

They met with Joyce Duah, who is an on site oncology pharmacist at St Bartholomew's hospital in central London - her photo "All in this Together" was selected for the exhibition.

They also chatted with her colleagues Amelia Chowdhury and Dipal Samuel, who are the subject of the photo.

"Hold Still" is a community photography project started by the Duchess in May, she invited people to submit a photo they had taken during lockdown, to be exhibited in various locations across the country.

***

A coronavirus testing laboratory in Rhineland-Palatinate said it was nearing its capacity as Germany's infection numbers have been increasing in the past weeks.

Bioscientia is the largest medical laboratory in Rhineland-Palatinate and one of four performance centers for COVID-19 diagnostics in Germany. 

It was the first institution in Rhineland-Palatinate to set up an outpatient smear clinic, and several thousand tests for the coronavirus are carried out daily.

The Robert Koch Institute, the country’s disease control center, says 7,595 new cases were registered on October 21st.

The number of new cases per 100,000 over the last seven days has risen to 51.3.

German states are imposing stricter coronavirus restrictions as the numbers of new infections continue to rise across the country.

The country's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, announced that all students from fifth grade up will have to start wearing masks in class when they return from the fall break on Monday.

The measure's expected to remain in place until at least the Christmas break, authorities said.

***

The Czech army is finishing setting up the first COVID-19 field hospital in Prague with a capacity of 500 beds and 10 intensive care units.

The new hospital will be ready to accept patients by the upcoming weekend, according to the military.

It was set up as a backup facility to serve Prague hospitals in case they become inundated with coronavirus patients.

A series of restrictive measures imposed by the Czech government to slow a record surge of the virus in recent weeks have failed to make a difference.

In another desperate attempt to turn things around, health minister Roman Prymula announced on October 21st a ban on free movement of people in the Czech Republic and a closure of many stores, shopping malls and hotels.

At the same time, state offices will limit their opening hours.

Approved earlier, the country also returned on Wednesday to mandatory wearing of face coverings outdoors and in the cars.

The 7-day rolling average of daily new cases in the Czech Republic has risen over the past two weeks from 29.59 new cases per 100,000 people on October 6th to 85.64 new cases per 100,000 people on October 2th.

***

On its second night of curfew, Milan's main streets and piazzas remained empty.

In the financial capital of the country known for its bustling nightlife, the city's streets were left silent on October 24th.

Restaurants, bars and theatres remained closed, with everyone told to return to their homes by 11pm.

Buses and trams continued to run with almost no passengers, as the night service continued to operate for those who needed to travel for emergency or work reasons.

Italy, where the pandemic surfaced in Europe in February, has surpassed 500,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Trying to devise a strategy to rein in the galloping contagion, government officials were huddling with regional authorities on Saturday to determine what new restrictions could be imposed on the country.

Premier Giuseppe Conte has said he doesn't want to put Italy under severe lockdown again, as he did at the pandemic's start.

In past days, several governors have ordered overnight curfews in their regions in a bid to stop people from congregating at night outside bars and other social venues.

Lombardy, of which Milan is part and where the outbreak has been most devastating, registered more than double the number of daily new cases than any other region.

The nation's confirmed death toll, second highest in Europe after Britain's, rose to 37,210, after 151 more deaths.

***

Police fired water cannon at protesters in Rome on October 27th after hundreds gathered in the Italian capital to vent their anger over the latest measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Footage showed protesters hurling what appeared to be flares towards the police.

They were protesting against new restrictions that have forced restaurants and cafes to close early and shuttered cinema, gyms and other leisure venues.

The government imposed at least a month of new restrictions across the country Sunday to fight rising coronavirus infections.

Italy has surpassed half a million confirmed coronavirus cases since February, when it became the first country in Europe stricken by the pandemic.

***

A few hundred people took to the streets of Paris to protest the French government's new lockdown and curfew measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

Mostly young men, some with yellow vests, walked through traffic calling on drivers and passers-by to join them in their fight against what they said were unfair and antidemocratic rules.

The customers of the brasseries and restaurants along the route looked on, hardly distracted by the rowdy crowd.

It was time for last orders.

France prepared October 29th to shut down again for a month to try to put the brakes on the fast-moving coronavirus.

Most said they were ready to restrict their freedoms given the rising number of virus-related deaths and COVID-19 patients filling French hospitals.

The new lockdown is gentler than what France saw in the spring, but still a shock to restaurants and other non-essential businesses ordered to close their doors in one of the world's biggest economies.

COVID-19 patients now fill 60% of French intensive care units, and France reported 244 virus-related deaths in a single day October 28th, for a total of 35,785 since the pandemic began, among the world's highest reported tolls.

***

French Opera singer Stephane Senechal sang the country's national anthem from his window on the first day of a second national lockdown.

Senechal became popular on social media during the first confinement when he started singing classic and opera songs to entertain his neighbours.

To mark the beginning of the second confinement and pay tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in Nice where three churchgoers were killed he choose to sing 'la Marseillaise'.

Speaking to the Associated Press on his choice of song he said that the anthem represents courage and strength.

"It's a freedom song. And I think about the victims when I sing it. And there are three types of victims in this moment. The victims of the virus, those who are victims of the confinement because they lost their jobs and the victims of terrorism", he said.

France entered into its second lockdown on Friday, which is expected to last for the next four weeks.

The country is also experiencing a period of heightened national security due to a terror attack on October 29th which killed three people.

***

Police were patrolling the streets of Lisbon in the early hours of November 10th as Portugal entered a state of emergency, with curfews imposed in the areas worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For at least two weeks, some seven million people, around 70 percent of the country's population, must remain at home on weekdays between 11 p.m. (2300 GMT) and 5 a.m. (0500 GMT).

At weekends, they cannot leave home after 1 p.m. (1300 GMT).

Restaurants, bars and other businesses have to close early.

On the first night of curfew, police officers across Lisbon set up road checkpoints to control drivers after 11 p.m. and controlled a few neighborhoods making sure people were aware of the new rules with businesses closing on time.

Exemptions include workers going to or returning from work.

The government has warned that the state of emergency, which grants authorities special powers, could be prolonged and measures may be tightened if the spread of the new coronavirus does not slow.

The number of cases and hospital admissions has climbed sharply in recent weeks.

***

Pfizer Inc. said November 9ththat its COVID-19 vaccine may be a remarkable 90% effective, based on early and incomplete test results that nevertheless brought widespread optimism.

Pfizer, which is developing the vaccine with its German partner BioNTech, now is on track to apply later this month for emergency-use approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, once it has the necessary safety information in hand.

Still, November 9th's announcement doesn't mean for certain that a vaccine is imminent.

This interim analysis, from an independent data monitoring board, looked at 94 infections recorded so far in a study that has enrolled nearly 44,000 people in the US and five other countries.

***

Hundreds of drones lit up Seoul's night sky on November 13th, forming colorful pictograms and messages of hope.

Organized by South Korean government, more than 300 drones flew over the Seoul Olympic Park.

This was the second drone flash mob event this year, aimed at invigorating and encouraging the public to overcome the economic difficulties and COVID-19 challenges.

More than 120 of new cases were reported Friday in densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where officials have struggled to stem transmissions tied to various places, including hospitals, nursing homes, churches, schools, restaurants and offices.

***

German police fired water cannon at demonstrators in Berlin on November 18th during a protest against coronavirus restrictions.

Police said the crowd had refused to listen to their orders to wear face masks and keep their distance from one another in line with regulations.

As the water cannon opened up outside the landmark Brandenburg Gate, police in riot gear moved through the crowd carrying away some protesters.

Thousands of people were demonstrating against the restrictions as lawmakers debated a bill that would strengthen official powers to impose further measures.

***

Hundreds of bodies are still being stored in freezer trucks at a disaster morgue set up during New York City's coronavirus surge in the spring, according to the city's Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Many of the 650 bodies at the disaster morgue on the Brooklyn waterfront are of people whose families can't be located or can't afford a proper burial, officials said.

The unit tasked with identifying bodies is set up to handle about 20 deaths a day, but during the peak of the pandemic it received as many as 200 a day, Aden Naka, deputy director of forensic investigations, told the Wall Street Journal.

Normally, the deceased would have been buried within a few weeks in a gravesite for the indigent on Hart Island in the Long Island Sound. But as COVID-19 deaths surged in New York in April, with as many as 800 deaths in one day, Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged that mass burials in temporary graves wouldn't take place.

The medical examiner's office is having trouble finding relatives of about 230 deceased people, officials said. When next of kin have been contacted, many bodies haven't been collected because families haven't arranged burial for financial reasons, nor have they requested free burial on Hart Island.

The city is slowly reducing the number of bodies in storage, with the number declining from 698 to 650 since mid-September, according to Dina Maniotis, the chief medical examiner's office's executive deputy commissioner.

New York state has reported at least 34,187 deaths of people due to COVID-19, according to data from John Hopkins University & Medicine. And at least 6,600 residents have died in nursing homes, according to state data, which doesn't state how many nursing home residents died in hospitals.

***

Belgium is set to become a hub for distributing the vaccines across the European continent and also into Africa, as companies prepare to ship vaccines for the coronavirus.

At Brussels Airport, Koen Gouweloose, the CEO of Swissport Cargo Services told The Associated Press during a tour of his company's facilities that "what we expect is that there will be a huge volume coming through."

Vaccine doses, from companies within Europe and from outside, will be temporarily stored there at sub-zero temperatures before they're shipped out by road, rail or air.

Belgium is host to a number of big pharmaceutical companies, is home to the headquarters of the European Union, and borders four EU countries.

"We are prepared, everything is done, tested," Gouweloose said.

Brussels Airport is also a major transport hub for Africa

Vaccinations against the coronavirus could start in the 27 European Union nations by Christmas and member countries must urgently prepare their logistical chains to cope with the rollout of hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccines, according to a top EU official.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also told EU lawmakers Wednesday that "the first European citizens might already be vaccinated before the end of December."

The commission, the EU's executive arm, has agreements with six potential vaccine suppliers and is working on a seventh contract.

The deals allow it to purchase over 800 million doses, more than the population of the bloc, which stands at around 460 million people.

Some vaccines would require two doses to be effective.

***

The American drugmaker Pfizer said December 2nd it would immediately begin shipping its COVID-19 vaccine to the UK, after British regulators gave its approval to the drug.

A refrigerated truck was seen leaving a Pfizer factory in Belgium, following the UK's announcement earlier on December 2nd that the vaccine had been authoritised for emergency use.

The move makes Britain the first western country to license the vaccine.

The British government said it expected to receive the vaccine "within days".

***

Thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups signed up for COVID-19 vaccinations in Moscow with the programme starting on December 5th, a precursor to a sweeping Russia-wide immunisation effort.

Three days prior President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of a "large-scale" COVID-19 immunisation campaign, even though a Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety in line with established scientific protocols.

The Russian leader said on December 2nd that more than 2 million doses of the Sputnik V jab will be available in the next few days, allowing authorities to offer jabs to medical workers and teachers across the country starting late next week.

Moscow, which currently accounts for about a quarter of the country's new daily infections, moved ahead of the curve, opening 70 vaccination facilities on December 5th.

Doctors, teachers and municipal workers were invited to book a time to receive a jab, and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that about 5,000 signed up in a few hours after the system began operating on December 4th.

Russia boasted that Sputnik V was the world's "first registered COVID-19 vaccine" after the government gave it regulatory approval in early August.

The move drew criticism from international experts, who pointed out that the vaccine had only been tested on several dozen people at the time.

Putin has shrugged off doubts about it, saying in August that one of his daughters was among the early vaccine recipients.

Over the past months, Sputnik V has been offered to medical workers and teachers, even as it was still in the middle of advanced trials.

Several top officials said they also have received the jabs, and earlier this week the Russian military began vaccinating crews of navy ships scheduled to depart on a mission.

Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said Wednesday that more than 100,000 people in Russia already have received the shots.

The free vaccine is offered to people aged 18 to 60 who don't suffer from chronic illnesses and aren't pregnant or breastfeeding.

The two-shot Sputnik V was developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Institute.

An advanced study among 40,000 volunteers was announced two weeks after the vaccine received government approval and that is still ongoing.

in November, developers of the vaccine said interim analysis of trial data showed it was 91.4% effective.

The conclusion was based on 39 infections among 18,794 study participants that received both doses of either the vaccine or a placebo, which is a much lower number of infections than Western drugmakers have looked at when assessing the effectiveness of their vaccines.

Two other Russia-designed vaccines are also undergoing tests.

Russia has been swept with a resurgence of the outbreak in the fall, with the number of new infections exceeding the levels recorded early in the pandemic, but the authorities so far have refrained from a tight lockdown imposed in the spring.

On December 5th, Russia reported a new record high of daily infections at 28,782, including 7,993 in Moscow.

The government task force has recorded a total of 42,684 virus-related deaths since the start of the outbreak.

Russia's total of over 2.4 million confirmed cases is currently the fourth-largest caseload in the world behind the United States, India and Brazil.

***

A COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use in the United States began being pulled out of a Pfizer manufacturing plant in Michigan on December 13th, with the shots that are critical to stopping the nation's coronavirus outbreak destined to reach states a day later.

The vaccines were being removed from freezers and packed into special containers, ahead of distribution to hubs across the US.

Shipments of the Pfizer vaccine will set in motion the biggest vaccination effort in American history at a critical juncture of the pandemic that has killed 1.6 million and sickened 71 million worldwide.

Initially, about 3 million doses were expected to be sent out, and the priority is health care workers and nursing home residents as infections, hospitalizations and deaths soar in the US.

***

Austria has been training dogs to sniff out COVID-positive people for almost a year and on December 14th, army specialists presented one of their canine virus detectors to the public for the first time.

During training, Belgian shepherd dog "Fantasy forever vom Seethalblick" was able to scan 250 samples in 10 minutes according to Colonel Otto Koppitsch, who heads Austria's Military Dog Centre in Kaisersteinbruch.

"The nose of a dog is able to detect COVID-positive material and point it out," he said.

By early 2021 the military hopes to have completed the training of its new sniffer dogs.

The dogs could be deployed at international airports where test results are needed immediately and passengers can't wait for the results of regular tests.

How exactly dogs are able to detect the virus is still a mystery - one possibility is that they are sensing not the virus itself but biological messengers of the immune response of infected people.

***

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, on December 17th visited a re-purposed COVID-19 vaccine ward at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

The ward, named the Edward Jenner COVID-19 Vaccination Hub, will be used as a part of the UK's coronavirus vaccination program, which began on December 8.

The royals toured the facility, before unveiling a plaque commemorating their visit.

Prince Charles had already contracted COVID-19 in March 2020, and commented to staff at the unit that he already has antibodies for the virus.

***

The coronavirus pandemic hasn't made life on the streets of Berlin any easier for Kaspars Breidaks.

For three months, the 43-year-old Latvian has faced shelters operating at reduced capacity so that people can be kept at a safe distance from one another, and a reduced ability to raise money from panhandling or collecting bottles with fewer people on the streets.

But on a chilly winter morning this week he found himself with a free hot meal and a place to warm up, after the German capital's biggest restaurant, the Hofbraeu Berlin, itself closed down due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions, shifted gears to help the homeless.

Breidaks said other homeless people at the train station had told him about the place.

Patterned after the famous beerhall of the same name in Munich, the idea of opening up the shuttered Bavarian-style beerhall near the city's landmark Alexanderplatz square to the homeless came from an employee who volunteers at a shelter.

It was a clear win-win situation, said Hofbraeu manager Bjoern Schwarz, to help out the homeless during tough times, while also giving much needed work to employees and income to the restaurant through the city-funded meals.

In cooperation with the city and two welfare organizations, the restaurant quickly developed a concept to take in up to 150 homeless in two shifts every day until the end of the winter and started serving meals on Tuesday.

It's only a small fraction of the 3,000 restaurant guests, primarily tourists, who frequently pack the establishment during good times, but the spacious halls have proved perfectly suited to bring in the homeless and give them each plenty of space to avoid infections.

For its new clientele, the restaurant opened a second-floor, wooden-decorated hall, put up forty long tables, where up to two people can sit at an appropriate distance.

"We'll offer them something different from the regular soup kitchen food, real dishes on porcelain plates, with different sides, we'll try to offer Christmas-style dishes with lot of flavors," Schwarz said.

Breidaks came to Berlin looking for work, but his job never materialized and he was left on the streets begging to try and raise enough money to replace a stolen passport and for a bus ticket back home.

He's one of an estimated 2,000 to 12,000 people living without a place to sleep in this city of 3.6 million.

Another 34,000 homeless have been put up in community shelters, hostels and apartments by the city's social services and private welfare groups.

According to Elke Breitenbach, the Berlin state government's senator for social issues whose department supports the restaurant-turned-shelter financially, the pandemic has seriously worsened the situation.

"So much has disappeared for the homeless people. So, fewer people are out and about," she said. "You can collect less and less bottles. Also with begging, they just get less money."

"They don't have enough to eat and when it's cold they must have places to warm up," Breitenbach added.

***

For some people it was business as usual in the streets of Mexico City on December 19th, despite the city returning to a lockdown that allows only basic services to operate from the weekend.

Many visited the city centre, a popular tourist spot and a hub for supplies for workshops and small industries in the Mexican capital.

Gustavo Bello, a tattoo artist, went to find last minute supplies for the upcoming weeks.

"(I agree with the measures) because it is really necessary, we need to have control of the disease and that people are aware," Bello said.

Authorities introduced several checkpoints to reduce access without fully restricting it.

Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced three weeks of new restrictions, after weeks of increased COVID-19 cases and as hospitals continue to fill.

Gatherings are not allowed, but the government did not mention any specific plans to prevent residents from doing so.

Mexico has seen more than 1.3 million confirmed coronavirus cases nationwide, with 117,248 deaths related to COVID-19.

Due to the low level of testing, authorities acknowledge the real death toll is probably closer to 150,000.

***

Workers on December 20th began packaging shipments of the second COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the US, a desperately needed boost to efforts to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control.

The much-needed shots developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health are expected to start being administered on December 21st, just three days after the Food and Drug Administration authorised their emergency rollout.

Later on December 20th, an expert committee will debate who should be next in line for early doses of the Moderna vaccine and a similar one from Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech.

Pfizer's shots were first shipped out a week ago and started being used the next day, kicking off the nation’s biggest vaccination drive.

***

President-elect Joe Biden on December 21st received his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on live television as part of a growing effort to convince the American public the inoculations are safe.

The president-elect took a dose of Pfizer vaccine at a hospital not far from his Delaware home, hours after his wife, Jill Biden, did the same. The injections came the same day that a second vaccine, produced by Moderna, will start arriving in states. It joins Pfizer's in the nation's arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now killed more than 317,000 people in the United States and upended life around the globe.

"I'm ready," said Biden, who was administered the dose at a hospital in Newark, Delaware, and declined the option to count to three before the needle was inserted into his left arm. "I'm doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it's available to take the vaccine. There's nothing to worry about."

The president-elect praised the health care workers and said President Donald Trump's administration "deserves some credit getting this off the ground." And Biden urged Americans to wear masks during the upcoming Christmas holiday and not travel unless necessary.

Other top government officials last week joined the first wave of Americans to be inoculated against COVID-19 as part of the largest vaccination campaign in the nation's history.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was the first to receive authorization, "is safe and likely efficacious" for people who have been infected with COVID-19 and "should be offered regardless of history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection."

While there is no recommended minimum wait time between infection and vaccination, because reinfection is uncommon in the three months after a person is infected, the committee said people who tested positive in the preceding 90 days "may delay vaccination until near the end of this period, if desired."

***

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) called for new lockdown restrictions on December 28th as the country's COVID-19 spike reached 1 million confirmed cases on Sunday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa called an emergency meeting on December 27th of the National Coronavirus Command Council.

The country's new variant of the coronavirus, 501.V2, is more contagious and has quickly become dominant in many areas of the resurgence, according to experts.

With South Africa's hospitals reaching capacity and no sign of the new surge reaching a peak, Ramaphosa is expected to announce a return to restrictive measures designed to slow the spread of the disease.

SAMA says hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients.

***

Chinese health regulators said on December 31st that they had given conditional approval to a coronavirus vaccine developed by state-owned Sinopharm.

Chen Shifei, the deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration, said at a news conference in Beijing that the decision had been made the previous night.

"For the vaccines that are urgently needed for responding to major public health emergency, the national drug administration can approve the registration application with conditions," said Chen.

The inactivated, two-dose vaccine is the first one approved for general use in China.

The go-ahead comes as the country carries out a campaign to vaccinate 50 million people before a major holiday for the Lunar New Year in February.

The vaccine was developed by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, a subsidiary of state-owned conglomerate Sinopharm.

The company announced Wednesday that preliminary data from last-stage trials had shown it to be 79.3% effective.

Final proof of its effectiveness will depend on publication of more data.

Sinopharm is one of at least five Chinese developers that are in a global race to create vaccines for the disease that has killed more than 1.8 million people.

Conditional approval means that research is still ongoing, and the regulators can request more safety and effectiveness data about certain populations with different health profiles, Tao Lina, a former government immunologist, said at the news conference.

Usually, it means that the drug or product in question may be restricted for certain age groups, he said.

Being asked about the price of the vaccine at the press conference, Zheng Zhongwei, a National Health Commission official said that it will be "in the limit of what people can afford," without giving a particular price.

The Beijing Institute vaccine is already under mass production, though officials did not answer questions about current production capacity.

"Production capacity is a dynamic and continuous process," said Mao Junfeng, Vice Director of the Department of Industry of Consumer Products of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

***

French police manned checkpoints in Paris ahead of midnight on December 31st, as the country's coronavirus restrictions continued into the new year.

While the country has not instituted a national lockdown, rising cases have prompted a national curfew of 8 p.m to 6 a.m, while venues in the capital remained closed.

06:01:20

00:00:00

Trump: 'End of the pandemic is in sight'

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POOL

Washington - 1st October 2020

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

" And I just want to say that the end of the pandemic is in sight and next year will be one of the greatest years in the history of our country."

00:08:08

Biden urges Americans: 'Be patriotic,' wear masks

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POOL

Grand Rapids, Michigan - 2 October 2020

2. Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden walks up to podium

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, (D) Presidential Nominee:

"We have to do our part to be responsible. It means following the science, listening to the experts, washing our hands, social distancing. It means wearing a mask in public and means encouraging others to do so as well."

00:23:03

Burials in Delhi as virus deaths reach 100.000

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

New Delhi - 3 October 2020

4. Grave digger being sprayed with sanitizer

5. Relatives and workers carry body, holding ropes and lowering body into grave

00:32:16

Trump fans gather outside of military hospital

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bethesda, Maryland - 5 October 2020

6. Trump supporters wave flag and signs in front of Walter Reed Medical Center

7. Close-up flowers in front of sign

00:40:05

Trump drive-by outside hospital, greets supporters

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Bethesda - 4 October 2020

8. Continuous shot of US President Donald Trump during drive-by outside hospital, supporters cheering

00:50:19

Hundreds of Argentine flags to honor virus deaths

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Mar del Plata, about 400 kilometers south of Buenos Aires - 8 October 2020

9. Hundreds of Argentine flags planted on Bristol beach

10. Mar del Plata resident Cecilia planting a flag

00:58:19

Police enforce Madrid virus state of emergency

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Madrid - 9 October 2020

11. Various of police stopping cars

01:07:11

Far-right supporters protest virus restrictions in Italy

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rome - 10 October 2020

12. Fake skull with face mask (Italian) reading: "I'm dead because of COVID but because I starved."

13. Demonstrators with letters in background reading: "Sovereignty"

14. Woman holding banner (Italian) reading: "It's a dictatorship, not a pandemic"

01:18:14

Dozens gather in Prague for outdoor Catholic mass

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Prague - 18 October 2020

15. Various of people gathering for an outdoor Catholic mass

01:26:15

Anti-lockdown measures demo turns violent in Prague

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Prague - 18 October 2020

16. Various of violent demonstration, fireworks exploding, tear gas

17. Man being grabbed and beaten by riot police

01:38:12

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet frontline staff at St Bartholomew's hospital in London

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UK POOL

London, 20 October 2020

18. Duke and Duchess talking to frontline staff and photographer Joyce Duah

01:46:14

Virus testing lab in Germany 'nearing capacity'

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Ingelheim - 21 October 2020

19. Laboratory

20. Lab workers

01:54:14

Czech army sets up 500 bed field hospital

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Prague, Czech Republic - 22 October 2020

21. Wide of field hospital

22. Wide of tents

02:02:07

Milan's main streets and piazzas remained empty

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Milan - 25 October 2020

++NIGHT SHOTS++

23. Empty street

24. Inside of empty tram

02:10:01

Water cannons at Rome protest against virus rules

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rome - 27 October 2020

25. Various of water cannon moving in to disperse anti-lockdown protesters

02:18:02

Hundreds of Parisians protest lockdown in streets

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Paris - 29 October 2020

26. Wide of protesters walking down street with one holding flare in the air

27. Pan of protesters pushing rubbish containers onto street

02:26:01

Paris hears window national anthem from opera singer

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Paris - 30 October 2020

28. Wide of Stephane's building

29. UPSOUND (French) Stephane Senechal singing 'La Marseillaise'

02:35:09

Police patrol Lisbon as new measures take effect

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Lisbon - 10 November 2020

30. Police checkpoint in the middle of Liberty Avenue

31. Police officer checking documents of driver

02:43:09

Various exteriors of BioNTech plant in Mainz

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Mainz - 9 November 2020

32. Various exteriors of BioNTech plant

02:51:10

Drones light up Seoul sky in message of hope

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Seoul -13 November 2020

++NIGHT SHOTS++

33. Various of drones rising

34. Various of drones forming the shape of the coronavirus and images of people wearing masks

35. Various of drones forming the shape of heart and hashtag, which thanks South Korean people for helping to contain the coronavirus

03:08:05

Police fire water cannon at Berlin virus protest

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Berlin - 18 November 2020

36. Various of water cannon being used on protesters

03:18:17

COVID bodies still in trucks at Brooklyn pier

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 24 November 2020

37. 39th Street pier lot with trucks in the distance that may contain bodies of victims who died of COVID-19 during the spring outbreak

38. Wide of lot entrance

03:26:21

ONLY ON AP Belgium to become vaccine hub

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Machelen, Belgium - 25 November 2020

39. Close of worker unloading a box from the truck with a forklift

40. Close of dry ice being poured into a box

41. Close of demonstration boxes being loaded into the refrigerated container

03:38:15

Exteriors of Pfizer manufacturing plant in Belgium

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Puurs, Belgium - 2 December 2020

42. Exterior view of Pfizer manufacturing plant

43. Truck labelled Temperature Controlled Logistics departing from factory

03:46:14

Authorities begin distributing SputnikV vaccine

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Moscow- 5 December 2020

44. Nurse showing vaccine to cameras

45. Close of nurse injecting vaccine in woman

03:55:22

Virus vaccine out of freezers for US distribution

4301569

POOL

Kalamazoo, Michigan - 13 December 2020

46. Various of freezers storing Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine being opened, vaccines being packed

04:08:13

Austrian military trains virus sniffer dogs

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Vienna - 14 December 2020

47. Dog sniffing samples for coronavirus

04:18:12

Charles, Camilla visit UK vaccination centre

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UK POOL

Gloucester - 17 December 2020

48. Prince Charles walking down corridor into ward

49. Various of Prince Charles and Camilla speaking to medical staff at vaccine centre

04:37:00

Berlin restaurant turns homeless shelter amid virus

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Berlin - 17 December 2020

50. Homeless man from Latvia, Kaspars Breidaks at Hofbraeu Berlin restaurant, Christmas decorations

51. Breidaks taking his soup

52. Sign reading (German): "Berlin Cold Relief"

04:48:06

Busy streets in Mexico City despite lockdown

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mexico City - 19 December 2020

53. People walking in downtown area under a sign that reads (Spanish): "You are in a high-risk area."

54. Health promoter offering face masks and antibacterial sanitizer

55. People walking in downtown area

04:59:19

Moderna vaccine prepared for distribution across US

4302622

POOL

Olive Branch, Mississippi - 20 December 2020

56. Various of boxes of Moderna coronavirus vaccine being labeled and put into lorries at the McKesson distribution center

05:10:10

Biden gets vaccine, says 'nothing to worry about'

4302835

POOL

Newark, Delaware - 21 December 2020

57. President-elect Joe Biden receiving his first shot of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine

58. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US President-elect:

"What I want to say is we owe these folks an awful "

59. Biden fist bumping nurse who gave him the shot

05:26:20

South Africa confirms more than one million virus cases

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Soweto - 28 December 2020

60. Woman getting tested for COVID-19

61. Nurse registering people getting tested for COVID-19

62. Woman getting tested for COVID-19

05:39:21

China conditionally approves Sinopharm vaccine

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Beijing - 31 December 2020

ARCHIVE: Beijing - 7 September 2020

63. Various of Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccines displayed at China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services

05:50:01

Paris quiet on New Year's Eve amid virus curfew

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Paris - 31 December 2020

64. Police officer on Champs Elysées

65. Wide of check point on Champs Elysées

66. Champs Elysées

***

A student protest in New Delhi turned violent on January 9th 2020 after police baton-charged demonstrators who were trying to march towards the President's residence.

Police, some in riot gear, detained several students and activists who had gathered to protest an attack at a Jawahar Lal Nehru University residence hall on Sunday night.

Eyewitnesses claimed police had been beating protesters with batons, and accused them of breaking the mobile phones of people filming the violence.

The protests, and subsequent police actions, come after the government brought in a new citizenship law, resulting in demonstrations and violent clashes around the country.

The clashes have so far led to the deaths of at least two dozen people.

The new Citizenship Amendment Act was approved by Parliament on December 11th 2019.

The law allows Hindus, Christians, and other religious minorities who are in India illegally to become citizens if they can show they were persecuted because of their religion in Muslim-majority countries Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

The law does not apply to Muslims, prompting accusations of discrimination.

Despite violent clashes in some parts of the country, peaceful protests have been taking place in some states across India.

In Gauhati, Assam, protests took place with crowds playing drums and singing.

Demonstrators were joined by singer Zubeen Garg, who said the musical performances were an attempt to find new ways to protest.

In Bangalore, Karnataka, lawyers formed a human chain around the High Court and Legislative Assembly and chanted slogans against the CAA and and a proposed National Register of Citizens.

***

Muslim women marched with Indian flags and chanted freedom slogans in Kolkata on January 16th in a protest against India's new citizenship law.

The legislation and a proposed National Register of Citizens has sparked protests across the country since Parliament approved the measure on 11 December 2019.

The law allows Hindus, Christians, and other religious minorities who are in India illegally to become citizens if they can show they were persecuted because of their religion in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, but does not apply to Muslims.

***

Hundreds of women in Gauhati in the Indian state of Assam on January 19th protested over the country's contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Assam is the centre of a decades-old movement against illegal immigrants, where demonstrators fear an influx of migrants will dilute native culture and political sway.

The law follows a contentious citizenship registry process in Assam intended to weed out people who immigrated illegally.

Nearly 2 million people in Assam were excluded from the list, about half Hindu and half Muslim, and were asked to prove their citizenship or else be considered foreign.

The bill could provide protection and a fast-track to naturalisation for many of the Hindus left off Assam's citizenship list.

The law allows Hindus, Christians, and other religious minorities who are in India illegally to become citizens if they can show they were persecuted because of their religion in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

It does not apply to Muslims.

People across India have also been protesting against the law, with many of the protests elsewhere focusing on its perceived anti-Muslim bias.

***

Clashes erupted in New Delhi on February 24th between hundreds of supporters and opponents of a new citizenship law that provides fast-track naturalisation for some foreign-born religious minorities but not Muslims.

One police officer was killed in the violence, a police spokesman said.

The protesters were blocking a busy road in a northeastern district of New Delhi, replicating similar sit-ins in several parts of India since the law was passed in December.

The rival groups hurled rocks at each other in the area and set some vehicles on fire.

Police closed access to two metro stations in the area.

Also in New Delhi, dozens of supporters of the Communist Party of India protested against the visit of US President Donald Trump.

Anti-Trump street demonstrations also broke out in the cities of Gauhati in the northeast, Kolkata in the east and Hyderabad in the south

The protests against the citizenship law have erupted across India since the it was approved by Parliament in December.

Critics say that the country is moving toward a religious citizenship test.

***

At least 20 people were killed in three days of clashes in New Delhi apparently sparked by President Donald Trump's first state visit to India, with the death toll expected to rise as hospitals were overflowed with dozens of injured people, authorities said February 26th.

New Delhi's top elected official, Chief Minister Arjind Kerjiwal, called Wednesday for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the Indian army to areas in a northeastern corner of the sprawling capital affected by the riots.

Police characterized the situation as tense but under control. Schools remained closed, and a ban on assembly continued.

The clashes between Hindu mobs and Muslims protesting a contentious new citizenship law that fast-tracks naturalization for foreign-born religious minorities of all major faiths in South Asia except Islam escalated Tuesday, according to Rouf Khan, 43, a resident of Mustafabad, an area in northeast New Delhi..

The violence cast a shadow over the first major visit to the country by US President Donald Trump.

Trump told reporters on March 25th that he had heard about the violence but had not discussed it with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

***

Four convicts were hanged in India on March 20th for the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a moving bus in New Delhi.

The men were hanged at Tihar Jail in New Delhi, Press Trust of India reported, quoting jail authorities.

Flag waving demonstrators gathered outside the prison gates with one man carrying a placard thanking judiciary.

The woman was heading home with a male friend from a movie theatre when six men tricked them onto a bus. They beat the man with a metal bar, raped the woman and used the bar to inflict massive internal injuries on her.

She died two weeks later.

The shocking violence galvanized protests across India and prompted lawmakers to stiffen penalties in sexual assault cases.

Activists say new sentencing requirements haven’t deterred rape.

The last hanging in India was in 2013.

01:01:15

00:00:00

Clashes in India as protests against law continue

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gauhati, India - 9 January, 2020

++DAY SHOTS++

1. Wide of protesters beating drums and singing, demonstrating against the Citizenship Amendment Act

Bangalore, India - 9 January, 2020

2. Lawyers holding Indian national flags and posters and forming a human chain around the High Court and Legislative Assembly in protest

New Delhi, India - 9 January, 2020

++NIGHT SHOTS++

3. Police with baton charging and hitting female protesters ++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE : EXPLETIVE USED IN UPSOUND++

4. Protesters walking holding hands during demonstrations, pan to people and police in street

00:16:03

Muslim women protest India's new citizenship law

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Kolkata, India - 16 January 2020

5. Muslim women marching with Indian flags and banners, chanting freedom slogans

00:20:03

Hundreds of women in Assam protest citizenship act

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gauhati - 19 January 2020

6. Protesters shouting slogans and carrying placards at march as policewomen walk along

7. Women sitting holding placards and shouting slogans

00:28:01

Violent protests over India citizenship law

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

New Delhi - 24 February 2020

8. Anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protesters throwing stones

9.. Burning vehicle surrounded by protesters

10. Torched vehicles, houses

00:43:00

At least 20 dead in India protests

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

New Delhi, India - 26 February 2020

11. Burning, smoldering shops in a marketplace

12. Smoke billowing above buildings

00:50:23

India hangs four men for fatal bus gang rape

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

New Delhi, India - 24 September 2014

++DAY SHOTS++

13. Mid of two of the convicted men (one in a striped T-shirt and the other with his face covered with a handkerchief) being brought out by police

14 . Wide of two convicted men being escorted to court by police officers, third man being taken out of van in background

As Saudi Arabia prepares to lift a ban on women driving, thousands have rushed to get their licenses on time.

On June 24th 2018, women will be allowed to drive, ending a ban that had stained the kingdom's reputation globally and kept women subjugated in the backseat.

"This feeling is indescribable, my happiness cannot be contained. Until now I can't believe that tomorrow is the big day, sometimes I can't even sleep because of how happy I am," said Mabkhouta Al Meri, a driving instructor at the Saudi Driving School (SDS).

In March, officials at Princess Nourah University established the first driving school for women in the capital, Riyadh.

The Saudi Driving School is one of a few catered to women across the country, with plans of expansion across all major cities.

"We end up now for over 85,000 registered and already enrolled throughout the training with the different levels we have over 5,000. And we have more than 700 already graduated and got their license," said Amel Attia from Emirates Driving Institute, who set up SDS.

Granting women the right to drive is part of a wider blueprint for the future drawn up by the country's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In an era of sustained lower oil prices, the government is pushing Saudis to become less reliant on the government for jobs, handouts and subsidies.

Some 70 percent of Saudis who work are employed in the public sector and rely on the government for their wages.

The move places Saudi women at the heart of a major transformation being spearheaded by the crown prince.

It also places women at the centre of a tug-of-war between those agitating for more openings and a religious majority that remains wary of changes that could be influenced by the West.

It was only a few years ago that religious police - known for their long beards and shorter white robes - enforced an austere interpretation of Islam that banned music of any kind in public, much less the sound of a woman's voice on loudspeakers.

They could detain groups of unmarried men and women for simply standing around or sitting together.

Unlike previous Saudi monarchs who took cautious, incremental steps to reform the country, King Salman has granted his 32-year-old son and heir, the crown prince, a free hand to usher in dramatic moves.

Under the crown prince, the message pushed by officials is that Saudi Arabia is modernizing.

However, in May, several prominent women's rights activists who were at the forefront of calls to lift the driving ban were arrested.

At least 10 are still being held in an undisclosed location with no access to lawyers.

The arrests highlight how quickly the levers of reform can be pulled back.

Three of the women still detained- Aziza al-Yousef, Loujain al-Hathloul and Eman al-Nafjan- are seen as icons of a larger democratic and civil rights push in the kingdom.

The women had also been calling for an end to guardianship laws that give male relatives final say over whether a woman can marry, obtain a passport or travel abroad.

***

Saudi women are in the driver's seat for the first time in their country and steering their way through busy city streets just minutes after the world's last remaining ban on women driving was lifted on June 24th.

It's a euphoric and historic moment for women who have had to rely on their husbands, fathers, brothers and drivers to run basic errands, get to work, visit friends or even drop kids off at school.

The ban had relegated women to the backseat, restricting when and how they move around.

But after midnight on June 24th, Saudi women finally joined women around the world in being able to get behind the wheel of a car and simply drive.

"I'm speechless. I'm so excited," said Hessah al-Ajaji, who drove her family's Lexus down the capital's busy Tahlia Street after midnight.

Al-Ajaji had a US driver's license before obtaining a Saudi one and appeared comfortable at the wheel as she pulled up and parked.

As for the male drivers on the road, "they were really supportive and cheering and smiling," she said.

In a few hours, she says she'll drive herself to work for the first time in Saudi Arabia.

For nearly three decades, outspoken Saudi women and the men who supported them had called for women to have the right to drive.

They faced arrest for defying the ban as women in other Muslim countries drove freely.

Criticism against women driving has largely been muted since King Salman announced last year that they would be allowed to drive.

Simultaneously, however, at least 10 of the most outspoken supporters of women's rights were arrested just weeks before the ban was lifted, signaling that only the king and his powerful son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will decide the pace of change.

With state-backed support for the move, many Saudis now say they support the decision allowing women to drive and see it as long overdue.

00:34:04

00:00:00

Saudi women rush to get licenses before driving ban is lifted

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Riyadh - 23 June 2018

1. Woman driving

2. Over the shoulder shot of woman driving

3. Woman's eyes in rear view mirror

00:13:23

Women in Saudi Arabia drive on the road for the first time

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Riyadh - 24 June 2018

++NIGHT SHOTS++

4. Hessah al-Ajaji, Saudi woman driving, UPSOUND: (English) "It's a historical day to be honest. I'm so excited that I can drive myself around and not wait for a driver or maybe, I don't know, I don't... I'm speechless to be honest. (smiling and laughing)"

5. Car with woman driving and women inside cheering

SHOTLIST:

Mumbai, 29 January 2007

1. Various of Indian students watching news showing winner of Celebrity British Big Brother competition

2. Various of Shilpa Shetty, Indian actress and winner of British Celebrity Big Brother, on television

New Delhi, 29 January 2007

3. Various of people walking in the street

4. SOUNDBITE: (Hindi) Vox Pop, Dev Dutt, resident:

"This is a very good thing that an Indian has won over there, its also a good thing for India and for Shilpa Shetty. Many, many congratulations to her. This is a very good thing."

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, Sushobhit Sehgal, resident:

"No, I felt it was obvious she had to win it because of the racial thing, she got a quite a lot of, you know, popularity because of that. So obviously people voted for her and she won it."

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, Jaideep Juneja, resident:

"Yeah, I think she represents the new India, the India which is right now, the one which is competitive, which will fight for its position in the world. I believe that is what she is representing."

FILE - 2005

7. Wide shot of Shilpa Shetty with Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Anil Kapoor

8. Close up of Shetty

New Delhi, 29 January 2007

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, Puneet Sharma, resident:

"I think like not even 25 or 30 percent of people are aware about, you know, what is going on because being an Indian, more people are concerned about their own jobs and everything."

FILE - recent

10. Various of Shetty dancing with Shahrukh Khan on the stage

New Delhi, 29 January 2007

11. SOUNDBITE: (Hindi) Vox Pop, Shailesh Tiwari, resident:

"These days India is doing well, its economy is on the rise and all these foreign countries like the UK and USA, they want business with India because India is a very big market for them and they don't want their relationship with India to get spoilt. So they are giving more value to this issue."

12. People walking in street

Mumbai, 29 January 2007

5. Various of Shetty's apartment in Mumbai

STORYLINE

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty's victory in the British reality TV programme "Celebrity Big Brother" was welcomed by Indians on Monday.

The 31-year-old Indian star won the public's support after a fellow contestant hurled racially tinged insults at her in an episode that led to a record 40-thousand complaints to media regulators about the programme.

"I felt it was obvious she had to win it because of the racial thing, she got a quite a lot of, you know, popularity because of that," said one New Delhi resident.

Shetty received 63 percent of viewers' telephone votes on Sunday, host Davina McCall said.

"I think she represents the new India, the India which is right now, the one which is competitive, which will fight for its position in the world," said another resident.

The Bollywood actress appeared to win the public's support after a fellow contestant, Jade Goody, allegedly used racially tinged remarks in an episode that led to a record amount of complaints to media regulators.

The reality show forced the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Treasury chief Gordon Brown and Indian Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram to comment on the incident, which South Asian and anti-racist groups said revealed the face of racism in Britain.

After the show, Shetty defended fellow contestant Jade Goody, who repeatedly reduced the Indian actress to tears by shouting at her, calling her cooking untrustworthy, mocking her accent and calling her "Shilpa Poppadom."

The Indian actress added that she didn't consider Goody a racist and wanted to put an end to the matter.

Contestants on the show are locked in a house for about three weeks and are evicted one by one until someone is chosen as the winner of a cash prize for charity.

The final six contestants were evicted from the house one by one, with the runner up being former Jackson Five leader Jermaine Jackson.

Shetty hired a British celebrity publicist to help develop her career in Britain.

He estimated on Sunday that she could earn two (m) million US dollars in the next year from new contracts after appearing on the show.

"India is doing well, its economy is on the rise and all these foreign countries like the UK and USA, they want business with India because India is a very big market for them," observed one resident.

SHOTLIST:

HEADLINE: Celebs call for action on gun violence

CAPTION: Singer Tony Bennett, Actor Adam Scott, and Martin Luther King, III were among the famous names who traveled to Washington Wednesday to call on Congress to act to stem gun violence. (Feb. 6)

AP - NO RESTRICTIONS

Washington, DC -- February 6, 2013

1. Wide shot of people walking into news conference

2. Cutaway photographers

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tony Bennett/Singer:

I still haven't gotten over Connecticut. I'd like the assault weapons to go to war, not in our own country. And I'd like assault weapons eliminated. Thank you.

4. Reporter typing on computer

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Scott/Actor:

If we as a people don't act after Sandy Hook, then what's next? If we as a people don't act after Sandy Hook, then we as a people are broken.

6. Cutaway of people watching news conference

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Kerry Kennedy/Daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

This is a picture of my father, Robert Kennedy, and me. I was four years old when my uncle President Kennedy was killed by a man with a gun and I was eight years old when my father too was gunned down.

8. Cutaway of photographer

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Kerry Kennedy/Daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

This is one of murder's greatest cruelties. It leaves the work of love undone. It is almost impossible to describe the pain of losing your father to a senseless murder or the anger and fear of knowing that that murder might have been avoided if only our leaders had acted to stop the violence.

10, Wide, pan of news conference.

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Luther King, III/Son of Martin Luther King, Jr.

As you know, this is the 50th anniversary of the march on Washing and wouldn't it be a tremendous tribute, not just to the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. And actually my mom is no longer here, Coretta Scott King, because they both dedicated their lives to one of the things, was the eradication of violence. And so we live in a nation that creates a culture of violence and that is what we've accepted. But when Americans come together and say enough is enough, we're not going going to take it anymore. And we're going to act in a civil way, then this legislation is perhaps the first thing that needs to occur.

12. Cutaway of photographer

STORYLINE:

An organization founded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino called Mayors Against Illegal Guns held a news conference in Washington Wednesday. They were joined by celebrities, politicians and people affected by gun violence. The group called on Congress to enact new laws to reduce the chances that Americans will be harmed by guns.

Singer Tony Bennett was among those in attendance. Reflecting on the killings of 20 young children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December, Bennett said, "I still haven't gotten over Connecticut. I'd like the assault weapons to go to war, not in our own country. And I'd like assault weapons eliminated."

Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. placed a photo of herself and her father on a podium. She said of his assassination, "This is one of murder's greatest cruelties. It leaves the work of love undone. It is almost impossible to describe the pain of losing your father to a senseless murder or the anger and fear of knowing that that murder might have been avoided if only our leaders had acted to stop the violence."

SHOTLIST

AP Television

Mumbai, 29 January 2007

1. Indian students watching the news on television showing the winner of the UK's "Celebrity Big Brother" competition

2. Various of Shilpa Shetty, Indian actress and winner of the British "Celebrity Big Brother," on the television

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Surendra Shetty, Shilpa's father:

"I feel very happy for her, for what she has achieved, and we feel very proud as parents and family, and I would definitely like to thank the people of UK for having supported her, and everybody overall."

4. Cutaway of the Shetty family residence

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Surendra Shetty, Shilpa's father:

"Well I always knew that my women in the house are strong women, and she is a woman of substance I know that. She could stand it."

6. Cutaway of the Shetty family residence

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Surendra Shetty, Shilpa's father:

"Overwhelming joy, pride, everything for the parents as well as for the family. And for everyone, especially in India."

8. Cutaway of Shetty family residence

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Surendra Shetty, Shilpa's father:

"(She) just said 'Daddy, I love you'. It's a long time, you know it's been 26 days, 27 days I didn't speak to her. I know my daughter is a winner and achiever, always. I knew that."

AP Television

New Delhi, 29 January 2007

10. Various shots of people walking in the street

11. SOUNDBITE: (Hindi) Vox Pop, Dev Dutt, resident:

"This is a very good thing that an Indian has won over there, its also a good thing for India and for Shilpa Shetty. Many, many congratulations to her. This is a very good thing."

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, Jaideep Juneja, resident:

"I think she represents the new India, the India which is right now, the one which is competitive, which will fight for its position in the world. I believe that is what she is representing."

AP Television File

Recent

13. Various shots of Shetty dancing with Shahrukh Khan on the stage

AP Television

New Delhi, 29 January 2007

14. SOUNDBITE: (Hindi) Vox Pop, Shailesh Tiwari, resident:

"These days India is doing well, its economy is on the rise and all these foreign countries like the UK and USA, they want business with India because India is a very big market for them and they don't want that their relationship with India to get spoilt. So they are giving more value to this issue."

15. People walking in street

SHILPA SHETTY'S FAMILY AND FANS WELCOME BIG BROTHER VICTORY

Shilpa Shetty's father Surendra Shetty spoke on Monday of his "overwhelming joy" and pride for his daughter, after she won the UK's "Celebrity Big Brother" reality TV competition on Sunday.

"I feel very happy for her, for what she has achieved, and we feel very proud as parents and family, and I would definitely like to thank the people of UK for having supported her, and everybody overall," said Surendra Shetty.

He added that he felt: "Overwhelming joy, pride, everything for the parents as well as for the family. And for everyone, especially in India."

The 31-year-old Bollywood star won the public's support after a fellow contestant hurled racially tinged insults at her in an episode that led to a record 40-thousand complaints to media regulators about the programme.

The victory was also welcomed by people in New Delhi on Monday.

"I felt it was obvious she had to win it because of the racial thing, she got a quite a lot of, you know, popularity because of that," said one New Delhi resident.

Shetty received 63 percent of viewers' telephone votes on Sunday, the show's host Davina McCall said.

"I think she represents the new India, the India which is right now, the one which is competitive, which will fight for its position in the world," said another resident.

The Bollywood actress appeared to win the UK public's support after fellow contestant, Jade Goody, used allegedly racist remarks in an episode that led to a record amount of complaints to media regulators.

The reality show forced the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Treasury chief Gordon Brown and Indian Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram to comment on the incident, which South Asian and anti-racist groups said it revealed the face of racism in Britain.

After leaving the Big Brother house, Shetty defended fellow contestant Jade Goody, who had repeatedly reduced the Indian actress to tears by shouting at her, calling her cooking untrustworthy, mocking her accent and calling her "Shilpa Poppadom." Goody had apologised to Shetty before leaving the programme, voted off by viewers.

The Indian actress added that she didn't consider Goody a racist and wanted to put an end to the matter.

Contestants on the show are locked in a house for about three weeks and are evicted one by one until someone is chosen as the winner of a cash prize for charity.

The final six contestants were evicted from the house one by one, with the runner up being former Jackson Five leader Jermaine Jackson.

Shilpa's father said he had no doubts that his daughter would be alright: "Well I always knew that my women in the house are strong women, and she is a woman of substance I know that. She could stand it."

Shetty hired a British celebrity publicist to help develop her career in Britain.

He estimated on Sunday that she could earn two (m) million US dollars in the next year from new contracts after appearing on the show.

"India is doing well, its economy is on the rise and all these foreign countries like the UK and USA, they want business with India because India is a very big market for them," observed one resident.

Actors attending the Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles on Sunday expressed shock over the travel ban US President Donald Trump signed over the weekend that restricts entry from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

Lifetime Achievement award winner Lily Tomlin was perplexed by how quickly President Trump had signed executive orders.

"I mean in 10 days this has been like mind-boggling," she said.

Nominated actor Dev Patel said he felt for the victims of the ban, telling reporters on the red carpet, "I'm glad that there's people on the streets with courage to be out there expressing love."

Six-time Tony-winning actress Audra McDonald seemed a little more optimistic.

"Art keeps us connected to our humanity", she said.

Actor Matthew Modine expressed how the controversy has brought Americans together and thanked Donald Trump for "making America great again" by bringing people together in opposition to his administration.

"Orange is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria spoke of Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, who hails from a banned country and may not be able to attend the Oscars, while "Transparent" actor Jeffrey Tambor said he felt that actors had a duty to speak up.

Los Angeles - 29 January 2017

1. Lily Tomlin, US actress (right)

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lily Tomlin, US actress:

"The week... I don't know what we can expect. I mean in 10 days this has been like mind-boggling. We've just got to hold fast. We've got so much to stand up to, stand up against. We've got to express ourselves and be forceful and vigilant and we have to be strong...we have to. In this nine or 10 days, however long it's been and the doomsday clock has been moved up to two-and-a-half minutes (to midnight). The last time I did a television special, 'Lily for President,' Edith Ann was the (fictional) Secretary of the Future and the clock was like about 10 minutes to midnight. But now it's closer than it's been in 65 years. Thank you - was that what I was supposed to talk about?"

3. Dev Patel, UK actor, speaking to reporter

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dev Patel, UK actor:

"I mean, I just flew in from India like two days ago and to receive that news, I mean it's utterly heartbreaking. I mean, the first image that went through my head was just these women and children turning up to these shores with hope in their hearts and dreams in their minds and just being turned away. It's just horrible. You know it's really sad that the voice of divisiveness, you know, can prevail over the one of unity. So I hope... I'm glad that there's people on the streets with courage to be out there expressing love, you know?"

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Audra McDonald, US actress:

"You know, well I mean, it feels odd to be here and to be on the red carpet when you've got such things going on. But there's a part of me that keeps thinking, you know, art keeps us connected to our humanity. So in a way it's necessary to continue to make sure that art is out there, because it will hopefully keep us you know more connected in a way that we need to be so we can empathise and sympathise and do what we can to help."

6. Wide of Matthew Modine, US actor

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Modine, US actor:

"You know what? I don't think he knew that he would inadvertently show how great American democracy is. That those people in all those airports across the United States and all those wonderful women that came out to march are demonstrating their First Amendment rights and showing how great this country is and how wonderful democracy is. We got to tip our hat to Donald Trump for making America great again. He said he'd bring us together."

8. Wide of Lea DeLaria, US actress (centre right), and fellow actors

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Lea DeLaria, US actress:

(on reports that Iranian director Asghar Farhadi may not be able to attend the Oscars)

"Well of course he would boycott the Academy (Awards)! He can't get in the country anyway, so of course he's going to! Yeah, anyway, of course he's going to boycott the Academy Awards. That's all. I'm just going to say everyone knows where I stand about this. It's almost redundant for me to talk about it. We have an idiot that is the President of the United States and I do not stand behind this idiot. In fact, in fact, I just want to say Melania (Trump, President Trump's wife), honest, as a feminist I'm worried about you and just give me a sign if you need me to rescue you."

10. Allen Leech, Irish actor

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Allen Leech, Irish actor:

"Well, I think it's extreme in the uppermost level. The fact is that these people are being banned. There are people who aren't even allowed to attend the Oscars who are nominated. And that's just the people, the high profile people. You think about the people who are being turned away, it's disgraceful."

Lesley Nicol, UK actress: "It's horrific."

12. Jeffrey Tambor, US actor

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Tambor, US actor:

"Oh terrible. Terrible. No I haven't. It's terrible. I can't think of a better time, or a more auspicious time for us to be actors and get the message out. It's a hard time. You keep looking at me. It's a very interesting time. On the other hand, last week we had the march on Washington (DC), the Women's March. It was one of the most beautiful times. So we're going to live on both sides of the aisle a little bit right now."

14. Tambor arriving to the SAG Awards

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Tambor, US actor:

"I think everyone is awake right now. That's what's going on and everyone is going 'yeah.' And I love what (former US President Barack) Obama says: You've got a problem? Get yourself a ballot and get yourself elected and go to the community meeting and get active."

16. Wide of carpet

Actors attending the Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles on Sunday expressed shock over the travel ban US President Donald Trump signed over the weekend that restricts entry from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

Lifetime Achievement award winner Lily Tomlin was perplexed by how quickly President Trump had signed executive orders.

"I mean in 10 days this has been like mind-boggling," she said.

Nominated actor Dev Patel said he felt for the victims of the ban, telling reporters on the red carpet, "I'm glad that there's people on the streets with courage to be out there expressing love."

Six-time Tony-winning actress Audra McDonald seemed a little more optimistic.

"Art keeps us connected to our humanity", she said.

Actor Matthew Modine expressed how the controversy has brought Americans together and thanked Donald Trump for "making America great again" by bringing people together in opposition to his administration.

"Orange is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria spoke of Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, who hails from a banned country and may not be able to attend the Oscars, while "Transparent" actor Jeffrey Tambor said he felt that actors had a duty to speak up.

Los Angeles - 29 January 2017

1. Lily Tomlin, US actress (right)

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lily Tomlin, US actress:

"The week... I don't know what we can expect. I mean in 10 days this has been like mind-boggling. We've just got to hold fast. We've got so much to stand up to, stand up against. We've got to express ourselves and be forceful and vigilant and we have to be strong...we have to. In this nine or 10 days, however long it's been and the doomsday clock has been moved up to two-and-a-half minutes (to midnight). The last time I did a television special, 'Lily for President,' Edith Ann was the (fictional) Secretary of the Future and the clock was like about 10 minutes to midnight. But now it's closer than it's been in 65 years. Thank you - was that what I was supposed to talk about?"

3. Dev Patel, UK actor, speaking to reporter

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dev Patel, UK actor:

"I mean, I just flew in from India like two days ago and to receive that news, I mean it's utterly heartbreaking. I mean, the first image that went through my head was just these women and children turning up to these shores with hope in their hearts and dreams in their minds and just being turned away. It's just horrible. You know it's really sad that the voice of divisiveness, you know, can prevail over the one of unity. So I hope... I'm glad that there's people on the streets with courage to be out there expressing love, you know?"

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Audra McDonald, US actress:

"You know, well I mean, it feels odd to be here and to be on the red carpet when you've got such things going on. But there's a part of me that keeps thinking, you know, art keeps us connected to our humanity. So in a way it's necessary to continue to make sure that art is out there, because it will hopefully keep us you know more connected in a way that we need to be so we can empathise and sympathise and do what we can to help."

6. Wide of Matthew Modine, US actor

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Modine, US actor:

"You know what? I don't think he knew that he would inadvertently show how great American democracy is. That those people in all those airports across the United States and all those wonderful women that came out to march are demonstrating their First Amendment rights and showing how great this country is and how wonderful democracy is. We got to tip our hat to Donald Trump for making America great again. He said he'd bring us together."

8. Wide of Lea DeLaria, US actress (centre right), and fellow actors

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Lea DeLaria, US actress:

(on reports that Iranian director Asghar Farhadi may not be able to attend the Oscars)

"Well of course he would boycott the Academy (Awards)! He can't get in the country anyway, so of course he's going to! Yeah, anyway, of course he's going to boycott the Academy Awards. That's all. I'm just going to say everyone knows where I stand about this. It's almost redundant for me to talk about it. We have an idiot that is the President of the United States and I do not stand behind this idiot. In fact, in fact, I just want to say Melania (Trump, President Trump's wife), honest, as a feminist I'm worried about you and just give me a sign if you need me to rescue you."

10. Allen Leech, Irish actor

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Allen Leech, Irish actor:

"Well, I think it's extreme in the uppermost level. The fact is that these people are being banned. There are people who aren't even allowed to attend the Oscars who are nominated. And that's just the people, the high profile people. You think about the people who are being turned away, it's disgraceful."

Lesley Nicol, UK actress: "It's horrific."

12. Jeffrey Tambor, US actor

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Tambor, US actor:

"Oh terrible. Terrible. No I haven't. It's terrible. I can't think of a better time, or a more auspicious time for us to be actors and get the message out. It's a hard time. You keep looking at me. It's a very interesting time. On the other hand, last week we had the march on Washington (DC), the Women's March. It was one of the most beautiful times. So we're going to live on both sides of the aisle a little bit right now."

14. Tambor arriving to the SAG Awards

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Tambor, US actor:

"I think everyone is awake right now. That's what's going on and everyone is going 'yeah.' And I love what (former US President Barack) Obama says: You've got a problem? Get yourself a ballot and get yourself elected and go to the community meeting and get active."

16. Wide of carpet