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Trump Scandal Overflows Social Networks

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Trump Scandal Overflows Social Networks
Cristian Carlos. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

This weekend, the news The Washington Post published a phone call where the current US President, Donald Trump, called Brad Raffensperger, Secretary of State of Georgia to "find" those 11,780 votes needed to turn around the result of the last general election held on November 3; the same one where his Democratic counterpart, Joe Biden, was finally elected to the US presidential succession.

In the call, which lasts just over an hour, you can hear US President Donald Trump trying to persuade Secretary Raffensperger to avoid a "big risk".

However, Brad Raffensperger remained stoic in front of the president when he told him that, in the state of Georgia, "a fair election" was held and that the vote count figures "are correct".

As President Trump threatened Georgia's Secretary of State, social networks began to react to the leak of The Washington Post with the hashtag #TrumpTapes -replicated more than 400,000 times before midnight on Sunday- and trends such as #TrumpBegged and #TrumpMeltdownwhere Twitter users mocked the tycoon for "begging" Raffensperger, managed to get to the top of the general trends -"trending topics"- of Twitter in the US.

In states like Georgia and Washington, trends showed terms like "Secretary of State"that they reached more than 1 million tweetsminutes before midnight on Sunday. "Ga SoS" - "Georgia Secretary of State", with 35,000 results, Fulton County -127,000 tweets-, #ImpeachTrump, Nixon -by the Watergate case, also exposed by The Washington Post- also reached high positions already reached at night by exceeding the barrier of 6,000 tweets.

Let's start with outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump, who, via his Twitter account, stated "I spoke with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger yesterday about Fulton County and voter fraud in Georgia. He was unwell or unable to respond to issues such as 'ballots under the table', ballot destruction, out-of-state 'voters', deaths and more. He has no idea!".

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1345731043861659650

However, Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, before The Washington Post leak the call, he said on Twitter: "With all due respect, President Trump, what you say is not true. The truth will come out."

At noon, The Washington Post, leaked the call held between Trump and Raffensperger.

Eric Holder, former U.S. Attorney General, said: "While listening to the recording, please note this federal criminal statute"and attached title 52 of the U.S. Code, which establishes criminal liability in electoral matters.


American writer Don Winslow called in several tweets to ask what other calls the president might have made that could be linked to acts of corruption during his time in the White House, adding that "Any Republican who does not demand Trump's immediate resignation is a perpetual accomplice.".

Daniel S. Goldman, attorney at the U.S. House of Representatives Congregation, who also participated in the trial of impeachment to Donald Trump pointed out that the recording could be considered a direct threat to Raffensperger: «“This can be expensive for you.”. I've handled extortion cases within the mafia with similar words."

"Your best defense should be your dementia»said attorney Michael R. Bromwich:

Senator David Shafer, president of the Republican Party in Georgia, despite evidence by The Washington PostThe president, who is also a member of the U.S. Congress, said the released recording "is substantially edited and omits the stipulation that all discussions were for the purpose of resolving a dispute and were confidential under federal and state law.

Amy Gardner, from The Washington Post responded to Shafer: "This is false. We published the entire call, from beginning to end. There's no mention of it being a confidential settlement meeting. None."

Bernie Sanders, a state senator from Vermont, also spoke out on the issue, saying, "No, Donald Trump, there are no votes I have to find. The American people have spoken, and at 12:01 p.m. on January 20, you will no longer be president:

Prominent U.S. political journalists equated the election results with an attempted coup by the Republicans themselves in the U.S. Senate against Donald Trump:

It should be noted that no multimedia material was uploaded to Twitter from The Washington PostHowever, it was Keith Edwards, advisor to John Ossoff, who uploaded the video recording, whose reproductions, only in the social network reach more than 12 million reproductions, 84 thousand times marked as "I like" and generated a discussion of more than 16 thousand responses:

California to allocate $2 billion for safe reopening of schools

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California to allocate $2 billion for safe reopening of schools
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

California Governor Gavin Newsom launched the "Safe Schools for All" program, which will provide a $2 billion budget to support various safety measures so that schools can reopen for learning in person this spring. 

The budget represents providing a one-time payment of 450 per student to school districts offering in-person instruction to help cover additional costs related to the virus, such as testing and purchasing protective equipment for teachers, primarily mouth guards.

"As a parent of four children, I know firsthand what parents, educators and pediatricians continue to say: in person is the best environment to meet not only the learning needs, but the mental health and social-emotional needs of our children," Gov. Newsom said in a statement.

"My administration focuses on getting students back into the classroom in a way that cares for the health of students and teachers. By taking a phased approach with virus mitigation and prevention, we can get our children back into school to support learning needs and restore the benefits of in-person instruction," he added.

It should be noted that the administration's strategy focuses on ensuring implementation and building confidence by bringing back the youngest children - TK-2 - and then gradually at other grade levels during the spring. 

This statement recognizes that younger children are at less risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19, although distance education will also continue to be an option for parents and students who prefer it and for those whose health condition does not allow them to return to school in the short term.

Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino), chair of the Senate Education Committee, said it is "a step forward in ensuring that all children, regardless of where they live or are enrolled in school, have the ability to receive quality instruction in California. 

Assemblyman Patrick O'Donnell, D-Long Beach, and chair of the Assembly's Education Committee, added that providing in-person instruction to as many California students as safely and quickly as possible should be a team effort. 

"We agree that, even during a global pandemic, learning is non-negotiable and students learn best when they can be taught in school safely. The Governor's plan is a first step toward reopening schools safely and I look forward to continuing discussions with him and the Legislature on this critical issue," he said.

Trees of gratitude fill Palo Alto municipality with hope

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Trees of gratitude fill Palo Alto municipality with hope
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

About 50 mouth covers made by residents of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, along with hundreds of messages of gratitude and hope, have given new life to two trees in this place under the project called "Gratitude Trees.

The intervention is an effort by community residents Connie Chuang, David Peng and Debra Cen, who wanted to honor the employees - the frontline health workers, teachers and essential workers who have risked their own lives to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It should be noted that the trees have been decorated since 2012, when a resident began decorating them almost every month for the holidays starting with Halloween. While a sign posted on the site encourages people to add their own unused masks and write their own messages on the trees on Bryant Street and Lowell Avenue.  

"I thought decorating these two famous trees in our neighborhood would be a great way to honor tradition and show love and care during the pandemic. So we came together to start the project," according to Debra Cen. 

For his part, Chuang, who declares that he was skeptical of the use of the mask at the beginning of the pandemic, but that he is the creator of several of the masks, points out that the joint work of the community has become something artistic, significant, brilliant and joyful, with positive intentions of promoting art, community health and solidarity. 

The messages that people have left reflect hope, gratitude, although they are also a tribute to the human losses: "Your life was marked by joy: go enjoy your coffee, a walk, your family", you can read in one of them. 

The masks also change continuously, as some people have taken them away and have had to keep replacing them. But there have also been many others who have added their own mask.

Bay Area Transportation to Receive 975mm Stimulus for COVID-19

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Bay Area Transportation to Receive 975mm Stimulus for COVID-19
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

The $900 billion stimulus, which was recently approved by the U.S. Congress to help address the COVID-19 crisis, also includes $14 billion in compensation for public transportation systems across the country, of which about $975 million is expected to go to the Bay Area. 

Bay Area public transportation agencies had warned of possible service and job cuts after the coronavirus left severe impacts on their budgets, which could be overtaken by the stimulus that the region's operators are prepared to receive.

However, there is still an unclear picture of when passengers will return to buses, trains and ferries in large numbers, so the long-term future of the transit system network linking the Bay Area is far from secure.

BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said they will work in coordination with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to distribute the funds, which will be of great help to "avoid the need to send out layoff notices at the moment.

For his part, San Francisco's transportation director and head of the city's Muni system, Jeffrey Tumlin, noted through his Twitter account that "mass layoffs and more service cuts are off the table.

So it will now be up to the MTC to distribute the funds among the region's approximately two dozen public transportation agencies, a process expected to take place in early 2021.

It should be noted that public transport in the country has faced a serious crisis in the months since widespread closures took most passengers off the roads, although local buses and trains have continued to carry thousands of essential workers and those unable or unwilling to drive.

BART has been among the most vulnerable transport systems because it depends on passenger fares for most of its budget. While bus systems have had a relatively more stable base because they are financed primarily by tax revenues that have remained strong, they have also lost millions of dollars in passenger revenue.

A first federal aid package in March 2020 bolstered transit agencies' finances for a while, but as the pandemic dragged on and funds dried up, agencies warned of job and service cuts that would lead to more traffic, more vehicle emissions and a stalled economic recovery if aid did not arrive.

International news summary

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International news summary
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

World receives 2021 in the midst of a peak for COVID-19 

Different countries around the world welcomed the year 2021 with fireworks displays, but with empty streets and little celebration, in the face of restrictions imposed by states, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The celebrations were held without crowds, amid fears about the circulation of a new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus, which has mainly affected the UK and Germany, but has already been detected in other countries, such as the US.

2020, a year that was marked by this new disease, ends with more than 83.1 million new cases worldwide, as well as 1.8 million deaths.

UK and EU reach historic Brexit agreement

After months of arduous negotiations, the United Kingdom and the European Union reached an agreement on the Brexit, which is beneficial to both parties, and which will serve to regulate trade and security relations in the future.

It should be noted that the deadline for the formal completion of Brexit ended on December 31st as a result of a referendum organised in 2016, where 52 percent of UK voters decided that the nation should disassociate itself from the European bloc.

This new agreement, which is expected to enter into force on 1 January, has yet to become law, and the British and European Union parliaments must ratify it, which is expected to happen in the next few days.

Earthquake in Croatia leaves material and human losses

An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 left at least 7 people dead and considerable material damage in the city of Petrinja, in Croatia, a phenomenon that was also felt in the country's capital, Zagreb, as well as in other latitudes of Central Europe.

The mayor of Petrinja, Darinko Dumbovic, commented last Tuesday that the town "is in ruins. There are dead, wounded and missing. There is no house that has not been damaged. Ambulances can't reach everywhere. It is chaos.

Pierre Cardin, fashion revolutionary, passes away

French fashion designer Pierre Cardin died last Tuesday, December 29, 2020, at the age of 98, in a hospital in Neuilly, near the French capital.

Cardin is considered a promoter of the revolution at the end of the 60s and 70s of the last century, due to his futuristic designs. He was also a pioneer in business, licensing his name on other products.

94 low-income housing projects are completed in California

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94 low-income housing projects are completed in California
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that all 94 projects in the Homekey Program - low-income housing grants - have closed escrow, meaning that there will be buildings providing 6,029 critical need housing units for homeless people throughout California. 

In this regard, the official emphasized that a total of $750 million in dollars from the Federal Assistance Fund for COVID-19 has been allocated to 51 applicants for the 94 projects. 

Such critical investments allow high-risk populations to follow public health guidelines to curb the spread of IDOC-19, using innovative approaches, such as converting temporary, uncrowded housing, including hotels, motels, empty apartment buildings and other properties, into permanent ones, he noted.

In a statement, the state government stressed that long-term housing is for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and that $96 million in operating support, a combination of state funds and philanthropic investment, has been granted in full. 

Thus, in total, Homekey used $846 million to quickly purchase and subsidize all six thousand 029 units in less than six months from start to finish.

"In a matter of months and in the midst of a pandemic, we did what many said was impossible: California created more than 6,000 new units, on time and under budget, helping thousands of homeless Californians move from cars and tents to housing," Newsom said. 

He added that Homekey has been made possible by federal support to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Legislature's partnership and local leaders who "didn't settle for excuses and instead set to work to make history.

The statewide average cost for Homekey per unit is $123,987 and the statewide average local cost is $23,987, making the total average cost per unit $147,974.

"With equity and inclusion built into Homekey, communities and Californians who are too often overlooked will benefit, including at-risk youth and former foster youth, LGBTTTIQ+ youth, people living with HIV, essential farm workers, vulnerable seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and women escaping domestic violence," said Gustavo Velasquez, director of the Department of Housing and Community Development -HCD.

The purpose of "Homekey" and procurement is to create permanent places for at-risk homeless people to live safely, protecting them from many public health risks, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HCD began accepting applications for Homekey on July 22, 2020, and by the priority application deadline of August 13, a total of 138 applications had been received from 67 jurisdictions across the state, totaling nearly $1.06 billion requested.

As of December 29, 2020, all 51 local agencies that received awards had obtained their funding and purchased and closed their project escrow.

In addition to funding to acquire units, the 51 grantees have received at least one operating support grant from philanthropic sources or the state General Fund to help ensure the long-term viability of each applicant's Homekey portfolio.

COVID-19: Stanford Students Create Foundation to Donate Computers to Affected Youth

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COVID-19: Stanford Students Create Foundation to Donate Computers to Affected Youth
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

Stanford University seniors Isabel Wang and Margot Bellot created the non-profit organization "Bridging Tech," which provides refurbished computers to students affected by homelessness and vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thus, young entrepreneurs seek to close the digital gap between children and youth, after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic forced education to be provided via the Internet. Young people and children have found it difficult to keep up with academics due to limited or no access to computers.

"In response to COVID-19, we created Bridging Tech, so that children affected by homelessness can have equal opportunities to learn," said Isabel Wang.

It should be noted that since April, Wang and her Stanford senior Margot Bellon have been busy taking their charity to scale, as they have assembled a large network of volunteers, partnered with other organizations and donated hundreds of pieces of equipment to students in shelters. 

Also, in these months, Bridging Tech has expanded its services beyond the Bay Area and is now operating in numerous states. As the Christmas season approaches, they hope to double their donations before the end of the year. 

"Our ultimate goal is to help bridge the educational gap and ensure that all of these students have an equal opportunity to go to school, succeed and get jobs," Bellon said.

Shortly after schools in the United States changed the type of instruction from face-to-face to online courses, Bellon and Wang were frustrated with how the change was affecting students who did not have access to computers outside their schools.

"What we learned when we created Bridging Tech is that there are 11 million children in the United States alone who do not have their own laptop, desktop, or a suitable device for learning at home," Wang said.

Similarly, this digital divide has been exacerbated by the pandemic and could have long-term adverse effects on students, since not having access to a device prevented them from going to school at all, which was almost a guarantee that they would be delayed a grade.

Bellon and Wang focused their services on K-12 students, who are generally the most disadvantaged and most likely not to have a computer, so they devised a process for acquiring laptops and delivering them.

After identifying donors, willing to give up their old computers, volunteers retrieve the devices, then hand them over refurbished to students personally at a local shelter, who can keep them permanently.

To date, Bridging Tech has donated 437 computers to students in numerous cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York, and is expected to deliver another 400 by the end of 2020. In the coming months, they also hope to expand the organization beyond large urban centers.

"You need to have a laptop to learn, especially at this particular time because of the pandemic," Wang said. "If you don't have access to technology from the beginning, you won't be able to catch up, which is why it's so important that we provide these tools.

For more information, donations, involvement in the project and how to become a beneficiary of the foundation, you can go to www.bridgingtech.org.

COVID-19: Doctors in Mexico denounce vaccination irregularities

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COVID-19: Doctors in Mexico denounce vaccination irregularities
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]

Yesterday, December 30th, medical personnel demonstrated in Periférico Oriente, from noon until about 2:00 p.m., in front of Jacarandas, in the "El Vergel" Military Hospital, where they claimed not to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, as personnel notified them that they were suspended.

In view of the inconvenience and the concern to continue working without having more protection than that which they carry in their equipment, the demonstrators closed the circulation in the direction of Cuemanco, waiting for the authorities to listen to their request to be immunized.

The demonstration follows an earlier one on December 25, when doctors and nurses at La Raza Hospital, part of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), reported that they had not been given the COVID-19 vaccine. 

At that time, they said that the 22 doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech Pharmaceuticals, destined for that hospital at that time, were not applied to those facing COVID on the front line, but to hospital officials.

The Animal Politics media reported that the protesters carried signs that said Doctors and nurses carried signs that said "Vaccinate the operative, not the manager", "Inhumane selfish managers", "Applause no, vaccine yes".

Thus, last week, the head of the IMSS, Zoé Robledo, was questioned because of complaints from doctors and nurses, however, he denied what happened and said that only one manager was vaccinated.

The official also noted that the 22 people selected to be vaccinated belong to various categories such as doctors, residents, nurses, radiologists, chemists, ambulance people, and cleaners, among others.

In that sense, he said there is an important criterion for the selection of those who should be vaccinated first, because it starts with those most vulnerable, who work in the area of COVID, and who have risk factors such as being over 60 years or have a chronic degenerative disease.

In addition, yesterday afternoon, the Ministry of Health of the State of Mexico reported that it will sanction the director of the Medical Center "Lic. Adolfo Lopez Mateos", after being identified in social networks as #LordVacuna, after having his family in the line to be immunized against COVID-19.

The case began to resonate on social networks on December 29th, where several users revealed the doctor's alleged identity and baptized him as #LordVacuna, a title that reached great relevance on Twitter.

After the situation, the Mexican health agency explained that the director of the medical center will face sanctions, first, by the internal control body of the Ministry of Health, and then give a hearing to the Comptroller General of the State of Mexico.

He also announced that the filter for registering candidates to receive the vaccine will be strengthened "in order to prevent these practices from being repeated".

The 5 most curious notes of December

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The 5 most curious notes of December
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

Walt Disney will no longer put digital covers on visitors' photos

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, people can still go to Disney World in Florida as long as they make their reservations early, maintain a healthy distance in lines, undergo temperature checks and wear their mask at all times.

Last July, it was reported that the park was not handing out photos at the rides to people not wearing their masks. Walt Disney World argued that a policy was due that allowed it to withhold photos if someone was doing something unsafe or inappropriate.

This measure was not taken in the best way by the visitors, so he started to add digitally the mask. However, he announced that he will stop doing this and they are confident that visitors will wear the masks to avoid further spread of the virus.

Aliens are real 

Although it may sound delirious, Israel's former head of space security, Haim Eshed, stated in an interview that aliens are real. He also said that Donald Trump knows this and not only that, but that he has a pact with an "intergalactic federation" to keep it a secret. 

Haim Eshed, 81, who spent three decades at the head of the Israeli Defense Ministry's space directorate, added that "the Unidentified Flying Objects have asked not to publish that they are here, since humanity is not yet ready.

Bethlehem among sharks

A couple of divers dived for several minutes into a tank full of gray sharks, which also contained life-size figures of Mary, Joseph and the Three Kings, to mount the representation of the birth of Jesus in an extreme version.

The attraction is part of the traditional show known as Belén acuático, offered by the Zoo Aquarium of Madrid, which is installed in early December to delight visitors in this season decembrina. 

Paris City Hall Fined for Hiring Too Many Women

The Ministry of the Civil Service fined the City of Paris the not inconsiderable amount of 90,000 euros for not respecting gender parity and hiring too many women, since there are 11 women on its staff and only five senior positions for men.

According to the local Parity Law, no one sex can hold more than 60 percent of the positions in the administrations, and although the law was created to increase women's participation in these positions, the fine seems to have come out of a "world upside down". 

Adolf Hitler sweeps away Namibian elections

Adolf Hitler Uunona is the new district administrator of the SWAPO party's Ompundja district in northern Namibia. He won 84.88 percent of the votes in the regional elections, which can be considered a resounding success over his opponents.

Unona, 54, says he is used to being teased by name. "My father gave me that name and I probably didn't understand what it stood for, although as a child I didn't know either. As I grew up, I realized I was a man who wanted to subdue the whole world and I had nothing to do with that," he said in an interview.

Weekly Summary, Latin America

Peninsula 360 Press
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Weekly Summary, Latin America
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

In historic session, Argentina legalizes abortion

With 38 votes in favor, 29 against and one abstention, Argentina's Senate took a historic step and approved a law to legalize abortion last Wednesday, after decades of struggle by women's movements seeking to guarantee this right in the country.

The law establishes that women and other persons with gender identities who have the capacity to gestate have the right to access voluntary termination of pregnancy up to the 14th week of the gestational process. After that time, abortion is only legal in cases of rape or risk to the pregnant woman.

President Alberto Fernandez said on Twitter that "safe, legal and free abortion is the law. That's what I committed myself to, that it would be on election day. Today we are a better society that extends rights to women and guarantees public health.

Thus, Argentina joins a list that includes nations and other regions of Latin America such as Uruguay, Cuba, Mexico City, the state of Oaxaca -also in Mexico-, the Antilles and French Guiana, where abortion is not criminalized. 

Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico initiate vaccination against COVID-19

Countries such as Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica began their massive COVID-19 vaccination programs during the week, in a process that is expected to require the entire following year, and even extend into early 2020.

Mexico received a first batch of 3,000 vaccines last Thursday, out of a total of 34 million, while Chile received its first 10,000 doses of 10 million, and Costa Rica almost 10,000 units, all from Pfizer-BioNTech. Argentina received 300,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine.

Cuba closes doors to U.S. and Mexican travelers for COVID-19

The Cuban government announced new measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including limiting entry to travelers from the United States, Mexico, Panama, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and Haiti, beginning January 1, 2021.

This measure was taken after the island recorded a peak in the past few days, whose source of infection was mainly abroad, and despite the fact that the number of infections is relatively low, with just over 11,000 cases among the more than 11.2 million inhabitants.

Ecuador starts electoral process

Ecuador officially begins its electoral process on December 31st, with a historic record of 16 candidates seeking to succeed current President Lenin Moreno in the general elections to be held on February 7th, 2021.

In an environment hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) estimates that the region's economies will shrink by an average of 7.7 percent by 2020 - the largest in 120 years - which will undoubtedly set the course for elections in Latin America, where Peru and Chile will also elect a president in 2021.

Mexico is the third most visited place in the world

Mexico was ranked as the third most visited country in the world and the fourteenth in terms of foreign exchange earnings from tourism, according to preliminary data from the World Tourism Barometer of the Tourism Organization -WTO-, for December 2020.

The above, due to the falls that all countries in the world have presented as a result of the global crisis that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic, to which many countries had to close their borders -except Mexico-, hitting that sector.

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