Don’t worry — the Annabelle doll did not actually escape from the Warrens’ Occult Museum

Multiple reports say the doll's alleged escape was nothing more than a hoax 32. "Annabelle." A couple begins to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists. $84.3 million. 32. "Annabelle." A couple begins to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists. $84.3 million. If you’ve seen “The Conjuring” horror film series, you already know how spooky the haunted Annabelle doll is. On Friday, some internet users were convinced that the doll had “escaped” from the Warrens’ Occult Museum, located in Monroe, Connecticut. But, other reports say that isn’t the case. According to an article from Newsweek, the rumor of Annabelle’s alleged escape began after an internet user changed Annabelle’s Wikipedia page, claiming she had escaped from the museum Friday morning. The Wikipedia page has since been corrected. The museum was closed due to a zoning violation late last year and according to Newsweek, the doll is no longer on display. Annabelle is currently in the possession of Edward and Lorraine Warrens’ son-in-law, Tony Spera. If you’re unfamiliar with the story behind Annabelle, or if you haven’t watched “The Conjuring,” it’s quite a haunting tale. Annabelle was first owned by two women who claimed the doll was “moving through their apartment” and was leaving written notes, according to Newsweek. The owners of the doll then consulted with a psychic. Some paranormal experts claim the doll was tied to a demonic spirit, pretending to be a child, Newsweek reports. Eventually, the doll went into the Warrens’ possession, which led to Annabelle being housed in their museum prior to its closure. Even on the Warrens’ first car ride with the doll, Newsweek said the pair claimed they were put in serious danger and they believed Annabelle caused their car’s brakes to fail. Although the escape was nothing more than a hoax, some of the social media reactions were priceless. Some of the reactions are listed below:

Robert Trump: Five things to know about the Dutchess resident

Robert Trump, a Dutchess County resident and brother of President Donald Trump, has been hospitalized. The president visited his 72-year-old brother at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan Friday. The White House did not immediately release details about why Robert Trump ad been hospitalized, but officials said that he was seriously ill. “I hope he’s okay,”Trump said shortly before arriving at the hospital. “He’s having a tough time.”

So who is Robert Trump? Here are five things to know about him. Dutchess County home, business The Trump family maintains strong ties to Dutchess. Robert lives in Millbrook, according to Sheriff Butch Anderson, who calls him "a personal friend." Robert's wife owned Monte's Local Kitchen & Tap Room in Amenia, which closed June 22. The exterior of Monte's Local Kitchen & Tap Room in Amenia, photographed Jan. 27, 2017. Robert, born two years after Donald, is retired, according to Business Insider. He had followed his older brother into the Trump Organization and became a top executive in the family business, according to publication. He was married to socialite Blaine Trump for two-and-a-half decades but the two divorced in 2007. In addition to Robert's Dutchess ties, Donald owns Trump National Golf Club, Hudson Valley, in Stormville.

Community involvement Anderson noted the generosity and philanthropy of his friend of more than 15 years. “He is an extremely grateful man,” Anderson said. “He gave to a lot of organizations and orphanages, especially for animals. He gave to a lot of children’s’ functions. He was always willing to help the children. That’s where we became friends.” In March 2016, Robert and Anderson were among 150 guests on hand as Frank Spano of Amenia, a veteran of World War II, enjoyed a 100th birthday celebration at Monte's. Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and state Sen. Sue Serino, R-Hyde Park were also in attendance. In 2017, Robert Trump joined New York Yankees President Randy Levine of Pawling and Molinaro at a fundraiser at Monte's to benefit "Patriots and Ponies." The partnership between the Hudson Valley Hero Project and Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue focused on equine-based psychotherapy to veterans. The RST All American Burger According the archived menu for Monte's, the restaurant had a meal named after Robert Trump. Get the Daily Briefing newsletter in your inbox. Start your day with the morning's top news Delivery: Daily Your Email The "RST All American Burger" was an eight-ounce hamburger with cheese, lettuce, aioli and homemade pickles. Served with truffle fries, it cost $17.50. Ongoing illness According to the New York Times, Robert Trump has been ailing for months and was also hospitalized in June. However, officials have declined to detail the illness. "I have a wonderful brother. We’ve had a great relationship for a long time," Trump told reporters on Friday. "He's in the hospital right now. He’s having a hard time." New book by Mary Trump. 'Too Much and Never Enough' Robert led the unsuccessful charge in a recent family dispute that revolved around a tell-all book that his niece wrote about President Trump. Robert Trump in Dutchess County Supreme Court had sued Mary Trump to block publication of a book promoted to contain an "insider's perspective" of "countless holiday meals," "family interactions" and "family events." Ultimately, the court cleared the way for Simon & Schuster to publish "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man." Robert is not frequently mentioned in the book that seeks to trace how family members were affected by the president’s father, a successful real estate owner, and how the president may have developed some of the traits that have been most apparent at the White House.

Annabelle didn't actually 'escape' the Warren museum, but in 2020 it totally felt possible

If you’ve ever seen any movie in James Wan’s The Conjuring series, you know how terrifying the Annabelle doll that inspired the franchise is. And you know that doll is absolutely haunted. You take anything surrounding that doll seriously. That’s why when Twitter caught wind that Annabelle had somehow “escaped” the Warren Occult Museum in Connecticut, it was time to panic. Annabelle escaped? Nah, 2020 is really the end of the world. Put a stamp on it. Accounts around the platform were leaking news and rumors that the absolutely terrifying doll had somehow found its way out. And, fam, when I say terrifying? I mean, look at this thing. The internet was done. Terrified. 2020 all of a sudden not only got worse, but it got haunted. WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT PLEASEEEE. 2020 JUST GOT WORSE WHO TF SAID IT COULDN’T GET WORSE CAUSE ANNABELLE JUST ESCAPED THE MUSEUM- #Annabelle pic.twitter.com/7dZ8ZlH34G

Fam, look at this. Everyone was rightly terrified. Turns out, though, there’s nothing to worry about. Annabelle didn’t actually escape — the rumors have been debunked. She doesn’t even live in that museum anymore because the museum has been closed since 2019. So, technically, she can’t escape from somewhere she wasn’t in the first place. Should we be less terrified? Nah. Definitely not

Bayern Munich thrash Barcelona to reach Champions League semifinals

Bayern Munich totally embarrassed Barcelona in a 8-2 Champions League win on Friday night to book a spot in the semifinals of the tournament in Lisbon. The loss was Barcelona's worst-ever in the Champions League, while Bayern became the first team to score eight goals in a UCL knockout-round game. The match got off to a cracking start with Thomas Muller putting Bayern ahead early and David Alaba conceding an own goal to Barcelona minutes later to put the scoreline at 1-1 inside of the opening 10 minutes. - Ratings: Barca woeful all over the field in defeat - Marcotti: Bayern's brilliance the story of the game - Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only) - Champions and Europa League fixture schedules Bayern then went back in front just past the 20-minute mark when Ivan Perisic picked up a pass from Serge Gnabry and fired past Marc-Andre ter Stegen with a shot that took a slight deflection and wound up in the roof of the net. 

 It was 4-1 in Bayern's favour soon after as a rapid-fire few minutes saw Muller set up Gnabry with a lovely first-time pass for a goal before notching his second of the match at the near post from a Joshua Kimmich assist. EDITOR'S PICKS Champions League, Europa League fixtures schedule The German champions took the three-goal lead into the dressing room, with Barcelona reeling after an opening 45 minutes that saw them concede four in the opening half of a UCL knockout-round game for the first time in club history. After the match, Barca defender Gerard Pique said: "I'm in pain. We all are. We can't compete like that. It's very, very tough to take. Nothing more is worth saying. The club needs changes. Not just the players, I don't want to point out anyone. "But football is a sport where change is constantly required. We must change the dynamic we are on because I believe we have just hit bottom. We have to look around, we have to trust that people will do the right things for the club." Luis Suarez looked to have given Barca a lifeline in the second half with an early goal, but Bayern hit right back when Alphonso Davies tip-toed down the endline and cut a pass back to Kimmich for an easy first time finish to make it 5-2. Bayern continued to pile on, this time through Robert Lewandowski, who headed home a cross from Barcelona loanee Philippe Coutinho. Getty Coutinho then scored a goal of his own minutes later and added a second before full-time to complete the Bundesliga champions' 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona. "It's tough to explain," said Muller after the match. "I think in this moment our team is in incredible shape. "Thanks for the man of match trophy -- maybe we have 12 to 15 players who deserve it. We worked so hard and have this intensity. It's tough to beat us. It was so much fun today. "For our style of players it doesn't matter about the names of players we are facing. When someone presses and dribbles, it's not a problem. Then we catch the ball and have so much talent in the offensive line." Hansi Flick's side, who are 9-0 in the Champions League this season, now await the winner of Saturday's match between Manchester City and Lyon to see who they'll face in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Bayern Munich thrash Barcelona to reach Champions League semifinals

Bayern Munich totally embarrassed Barcelona in a 8-2 Champions League win on Friday night to book a spot in the semifinals of the tournament in Lisbon. The loss was Barcelona's worst-ever in the Champions League, while Bayern became the first team to score eight goals in a UCL knockout-round game.The match got off to a cracking start with Thomas Muller putting Bayern ahead early and David Alaba conceding an own goal to Barcelona minutes later to put the scoreline at 1-1 inside of the opening 10 minutes. - Ratings: Barca woeful all over the field in defeat - Marcotti: Bayern's brilliance the story of the game - Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only) - Champions and Europa League fixture schedules

Bayern Munich totally embarrassed Barcelona in a 8-2 Champions League win on Friday night to book a spot in the semifinals of the tournament in Lisbon. The loss was Barcelona's worst-ever in the Champions League, while Bayern became the first team to score eight goals in a UCL knockout-round game.The match got off to a cracking start with Thomas Muller putting Bayern ahead early and David Alaba conceding an own goal to Barcelona minutes later to put the scoreline at 1-1 inside of the opening 10 minutes. - Ratings: Barca woeful all over the field in defeat - Marcotti: Bayern's brilliance the story of the game - Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only) - Champions and Europa League fixture schedulesBayern then went

Bayern Munich totally embarrassed Barcelona in a 8-2 Champions League win on Friday night to book a spot in the semifinals of the tournament in Lisbon. The loss was Barcelona's worst-ever in the Champions League, while Bayern became the first team to score eight goals in a UCL knockout-round game. The match got off to a cracking start with Thomas Muller putting Bayern ahead early and David Alaba conceding an own goal to Barcelona minutes later to put the scoreline at 1-1 inside of the opening 10 minutes. - Ratings: Barca woeful all over the field in defeat - Marcotti: Bayern's brilliance the story of the game - Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only) - Champions and Europa League fixture schedules Bayern then went back in front just past the 20-minute mark when Ivan Perisic picked up a pass from Serge Gnabry and fired past Marc-Andre ter Stegen with a shot that took a slight deflection and wound up in the roof of the net. It was 4-1 in Bayern's favour soon after as a rapid-fire few minutes saw Muller set up Gnabry with a lovely first-time pass for a goal before notching his second of the match at the near post from a Joshua Kimmich assist. EDITOR'S PICKS Champions League, Europa League fixtures schedule The German champions took the three-goal lead into the dressing room, with Barcelona reeling after an opening 45 minutes that saw them concede four in the opening half of a UCL knockout-round game for the first time in club history. After the match, Barca defender Gerard Pique said: "I'm in pain. We all are. We can't compete like that. It's very, very tough to take. Nothing more is worth saying. The club needs changes. Not just the players, I don't want to point out anyone. "But football is a sport where change is constantly required. We must change the dynamic we are on because I believe we have just hit bottom. We have to look around, we have to trust that people will do the right things for the club." Luis Suarez looked to have given Barca a lifeline in the second half with an early goal, but Bayern hit right back when Alphonso Davies tip-toed down the endline and cut a pass back to Kimmich for an easy first time finish to make it 5-2. Bayern continued to pile on, this time through Robert Lewandowski, who headed home a cross from Barcelona loanee Philippe Coutinho. Coutinho then scored a goal of his own minutes later and added a second before full-time to complete the Bundesliga champions' 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona. "It's tough to explain," said Muller after the match. "I think in this moment our team is in incredible shape. "Thanks for the man of match trophy -- maybe we have 12 to 15 players who deserve it. We worked so hard and have this intensity. It's tough to beat us. It was so much fun today. "For our style of players it doesn't matter about the names of players we are facing. When someone presses and dribbles, it's not a problem. Then we catch the ball and have so much talent in the offensive line." Hansi Flick's side, who are 9-0 in the Champions League this season, now await the winner of Saturday's match between Manchester City and Lyon to see who they'll face in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Live Report - England v Pakistan, 2nd Test

Welcome to mb101032.blogpsot.com live updates on the 2nd Test between England and Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl. We've also got traditional ball-by-ball, too. If the blog doesn't load for you straight away, please refresh your page. Fawad Alam and the cruelty of batting: a 10-year wait ends in a duck Wait 10 years, 259 days. Play 12,742 balls of first-class cricket. Average 56 in that time. All for this punchline: in the time it took you to read those sentences but not fully digest those numbers, it's already over. Four balls, one contact between bat and ball, zero runs. Life is cruel and still it has nothing on the cruelty of batting. Who better to know this than Fawad Alam? For it to be on referral too, because there's nothing quite like the DRS to prolong and accentuate the torture of batting. What else but something as unforgiving as batting could, after all, accommodate a state in between life and death? Exhale out relief on being given not out. Inhale in nerves upon referral. No chance to exhale. It's over. He wasn't even there long enough for Sky Sports to do the inevitable Third Man ostensibly on his stance but really as an excuse to watch some classic Shivnarine Chanderpaul footage. That stance itself feels like a cruel twist now. If you put it against the stance from his earliest days, it could be two different batsmen. He used to have a little shuffle across but remained more or less side on before, still unexplained, the guard became this open invitation for a brawl. Even then it was fine hidden away in deepest, darkest domestic cricket, sighted occasionally on Quaid-e-Azam trophy streams. Now it's out there for eternity and no matter what runs he scores in the second innings, or however many more Test innings he plays, it consigns him forever to pop up in a listicle on weird stances (we'll do one most probably). That will accompany the other listicles he's destined to appear in, on long-suffering domestic toilers (done that already) or on records pages for the longest gaps between appearances (ditto). A career of 17 years and counting, reduced to three lists. And the memes won't stop for a while yet. Cruel doesn't begin to describe it. He was on a hiding to nothing coming in at the fall of Asad Shafiq's wicket and in contributing zero to a partnership of three with Babar Azam. The latter is a generational talent, the former the guy who really could've been, both of whom the manner in which they score compensates to some degree for the number of runs they score. Pure, pristine techniques, every shot a picture. And here is Alam. The minute he arrived, cricket orthodoxy blew up: how can he play at this level with a stance like that? The minute he left, it continued blowing up: see, he can't play at this level taking guard like that. Fawad Alam was out lbw on review Visionhaus/Getty Images All those years, his best years, that he couldn't get in because there was nowhere to get in to with Pakistan's middle order. Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq and Shafiq had the absolute run of those surfaces in the UAE. All those years of bounty, eventually the return of Tests to Pakistan and he gets a call-up in England. And after his captain chooses to bat first, the weather conspires against that decision. This Test has been preceded by days of unbearable heat and unflinching sunshine only to welcome Alam back with muggy, overcast skies, heavier with the threat of rain than actual rain. A day on which 126 for 5 is about par for most sides, let alone Pakistan, and every run seems to have been edged to third man. Against an English attack currently so deep they're literally drawing straws to see who sits out a Test. No Jofra today, no matter, here's a leftie who looks seven but swings it mean like the expression on his face when he runs in. Sam Curran might've actually been relief but Alam started against Stuart Broad whose stock ball these days is simply the one that gets the left-hander - any left-hander - out. There's cockfights in this world that are not as cruel as this. Three balls from Broad, the best result of which for Alam is a toss-up between all three: the nervy jab at the first, the leave-alone of the second, or being beaten square by the third. Alam's fourth ball is from Chris Woakes who, for this fleeting moment in our existence post Old Trafford, is the best allrounder in England and given that the actual best allrounder in England is the best allrounder in the world, means he's not to be trifled with. It's the last ball Alam plays and even physics is not his friend. It's slanting across him as it lands, and even though it straightens marginally to beat his inside edge, it's this close to being umpire's call on where it pitched and that close to being umpire's call on where it hit the stumps. Nearly 11 years and undone not just by a computer but by millimetres. As parting insult, as he's struck, he looks like a combination of a batsman winded by a hit on the box and bowled by a grubber. A bad day to be Fawad Alam, a great day to be a meme.

Fawad Alam and the cruelty of batting: a 10-year wait ends in a duck

Wait 10 years, 259 days. Play 12,742 balls of first-class cricket. Average 56 in that time. All for this punchline: in the time it took you to read those sentences but not fully digest those numbers, it's already over. Four balls, one contact between bat and ball, zero runs. Life is cruel and still it has nothing on the cruelty of batting. Who better to know this than Fawad Alam? For it to be on referral too, because there's nothing quite like the DRS to prolong and accentuate the torture of batting. What else but something as unforgiving as batting could, after all, accommodate a state in between life and death? Exhale out relief on being given not out. Inhale in nerves upon referral. No chance to exhale. It's over. He wasn't even there long enough for Sky Sports to do the inevitable Third Man ostensibly on his stance but really as an excuse to watch some classic Shivnarine Chanderpaul footage. That stance itself feels like a cruel twist now. If you put it against the stance from his earliest days, it could be two different batsmen. He used to have a little shuffle across but remained more or less side on before, still unexplained, the guard became this open invitation for a brawl. Even then it was fine hidden away in deepest, darkest domestic cricket, sighted occasionally on Quaid-e-Azam trophy streams. Now it's out there for eternity and no matter what runs he scores in the second innings, or however many more Test innings he plays, it consigns him forever to pop up in a listicle on weird stances (we'll do one most probably). ALSO READ: Asad Shafiq and Fawad Alam: A tale of intertwined destinies That will accompany the other listicles he's destined to appear in, on long-suffering domestic toilers (done that already) or on records pages for the longest gaps between appearances (ditto). A career of 17 years and counting, reduced to three lists. And the memes won't stop for a while yet. Cruel doesn't begin to describe it. He was on a hiding to nothing coming in at the fall of Asad Shafiq's wicket and in contributing zero to a partnership of three with Babar Azam. The latter is a generational talent, the former the guy who really could've been, both of whom the manner in which they score compensates to some degree for the number of runs they score. Pure, pristine techniques, every shot a picture. And here is Alam. The minute he arrived, cricket orthodoxy blew up: how can he play at this level with a stance like that? The minute he left, it continued blowing up: see, he can't play at this level taking guard like that. Fawad Alam was out lbw on review Visionhaus/Getty Images All those years, his best years, that he couldn't get in because there was nowhere to get in to with Pakistan's middle order. Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq and Shafiq had the absolute run of those surfaces in the UAE. All those years of bounty, eventually the return of Tests to Pakistan and he gets a call-up in England. And after his captain chooses to bat first, the weather conspires against that decision. This Test has been preceded by days of unbearable heat and unflinching sunshine only to welcome Alam back with muggy, overcast skies, heavier with the threat of rain than actual rain. A day on which 126 for 5 is about par for most sides, let alone Pakistan, and every run seems to have been edged to third man. Against an English attack currently so deep they're literally drawing straws to see who sits out a Test. No Jofra today, no matter, here's a leftie who looks seven but swings it mean like the expression on his face when he runs in. Sam Curran might've actually been relief but Alam started against Stuart Broad whose stock ball these days is simply the one that gets the left-hander - any left-hander - out. There's cockfights in this world that are not as cruel as this. Three balls from Broad, the best result of which for Alam is a toss-up between all three: the nervy jab at the first, the leave-alone of the second, or being beaten square by the third. Alam's fourth ball is from Chris Woakes who, for this fleeting moment in our existence post Old Trafford, is the best allrounder in England and given that the actual best allrounder in England is the best allrounder in the world, means he's not to be trifled with. It's the last ball Alam plays and even physics is not his friend. It's slanting across him as it lands, and even though it straightens marginally to beat his inside edge, it's this close to being umpire's call on where it pitched and that close to being umpire's call on where it hit the stumps. Nearly 11 years and undone not just by a computer but by millimetres. As parting insult, as he's struck, he looks like a combination of a batsman winded by a hit on the box and bowled by a grubber. A bad day to be Fawad Alam, a great day to be a meme.

ROAD TRIP MANHATTAN NEW YORK TO PATTERSON GREAT FALLS NEW JERSEY

 

Russia offers to help US with Covid-19 vaccine; US says no

Russian officials in Moscow tell CNN they have offered "unprecedented cooperation" with Operation Warp Speed (OWS), the US multi-agency body set up to accelerate access to effective Covid-19 vaccines and treatments. But the officials told CNN that the "US is not currently open" to the Russian medical advances. "There is a general sense of mistrust of Russia on the American side and we believe that technologies -- including vaccine, testing and treatments -- are not being adopted in US because of that mistrust," one senior Russian official told CNN. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the new Russian vaccine. She said that American vaccines go through "rigorous" Phase 3 testing and high standards. Content by CNN Underscored The best office chairs of 2020 In an effort to discover which office chairs are actually comfortable, we spent more than a month testing 11 different options varying in price, function and style. Other US officials told CNN the Russian vaccine is considered so half-baked in the United States that it hadn't even piqued US interest in a serious way before the rollout. "There's no way in hell the US tries this (Russian vaccine) on monkeys, let alone people," one US government public health official said. Russia announced on Tuesday that it had developed a vaccine against the coronavirus and President Vladimir Putin said his own daughter had received it. But tests are yet to be completed and some experts are skeptical about the claims. The race to find an effective vaccine -- more than 20 are in trials around the world -- has global implications, not just for the health of billions of people, but potential billions in revenue for the successful developer and manufacturer. Russia says US firms interested Russian officials tell CNN that Russia is open to sharing information about the vaccine and that it would allow US pharmaceutical companies to produce the Russian vaccine on American soil. CNN previously reported that Russia says some US pharmaceutical companies are interested in learning about the Russian vaccine, although the names of the firms have not been disclosed. Hear Russian CEO's vaccine rollout plan that made Dr. Gupta suspicious 05:29 Following the rebuff from the United States, the Russian sources say Washington should "seriously consider adopting" the vaccine, telling CNN the newly approved Russian coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, could save American lives. "If our vaccine proves to be one of the most effective, questions will be asked why the US did not explore this option any deeper, why politics got in way of access to a vaccine," one senior Russian official told CNN. CNN has contacted the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and Operation Warp Speed for comment. Russia's sovereign wealth fund said in a news conference on Tuesday that at least 20 countries in Latin America, the Middle East and Asia have expressed interest in the vaccine. Notably, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte says he has so much confidence in the vaccine that he'll take it when it arrives in his country, and Mexico's foreign minister said on Thursday morning that Mexico is in "in talks" with Russia about the vaccine. No testing data released Developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Institute, the vaccine was approved by the Russian government before beginning crucial Phase 3 trials in which it would be administered to thousands of people. Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced earlier this week that Phase 3 trials of the vaccine would start this past Wednesday in Russia. Russia hasn't released any scientific data on its testing and CNN is unable to verify the vaccine's claimed safety or effectiveness. A senior US official and an adviser to the US government tell CNN that there are no procured samples of the newly announced Russia Covid-19 vaccine in the possession of the US government. "They have enough disease now in Russia that they could conduct clinical trials but they don't appear to have done that at a large enough scale," said the government adviser who spoke to CNN on the condition no name be used. "There have been no trials of this vaccine. They've done too little work on humans to decide if it works on a larger scale. We're talking totally inadequate safety data." 'Of course I wouldn't take this': Dr. Gupta on Russia vaccine 02:00 Russia enacted a law in April which eliminated the requirement for crucial Phase 3 trials to be conducted before approval. This has allowed researchers to fast-track the vaccine development process. "There's all of this discussion about Emergency Use Authorization -- in the case of a pandemic, there are a number of points where you could make a judgment to say the potential benefits of this vaccine outweigh the risks so we give it Emergency Use Authorization to get it approved quickly. That's basically what Russia just did. It's the October surprise we all fear," the senior US official said. "But in the end, the risks are far too great. The blowback in this country would be horrific," the senior US official added. Russia's coronavirus vaccine will be gradually rolled out to high-risk people before a mass vaccination of Russians begins in October. CNN gains exclusive access to Russian testing facility 04:16 A former senior US administration official called the Russian vaccine "a joke," adding that Russia didn't complete the three phases of testing, and so no one -- not the World Health Organization or the US -- is taking it too seriously. The source continued to say that China is "much closer to winning the vaccine race." US government officials and government advisers told CNN they believe China is much more serious and responsible with its own testing. "China is very much wanting to join the world of normal response and regulation and they are trying to do that," one official said. The American sources noted that they believe the only reason Russia is doing this is for leverage -- mostly, in the hope of exchanging it for strategic assets. Putin, like Trump, is under significant pressure to demonstrate formidable efforts to defeat the virus. "No one will dare question him (Putin), and Russian standards for efficacy don't match those of the US," one former official said. This story was reported and written by Matthew Chance and Zahra Ullah in Moscow, and Vivian Salama in Washington DC.

Israel, UAE reach historic peace deal: ‘We can make a wonderful future

Third-ever peace treaty between Israel and an Arab state includes embassies, direct flights; agreement “suspends” annexation, but Netanyahu says: “I will never give up on our right to our land.” By LAHAV HARKOV, OMRI NAHMIAS AUGUST 13, 2020 22:45Email Twitter Facebook fb-messenger L-R: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo credit: REUTERS) L-R: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo credit: REUTERS) Advertisement Israel and the UAE agreed to full normalization of relations in a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, marking the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country in 25 years. Israel agreed to suspend its planned extension of sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria to facilitate relations with the UAE and potentially other Arab and Muslim countries. Read More Related Articles Qatari academic blames Lebanese girls, gays, plastic surgery for blast A Jewish guide to Joe Biden’s VP short list Man Who Predicted Trump's Win Makes Another Prediction (betterlyfe.news) Recommended by The agreement will include establishing embassies and exchanging ambassadors, investments into the Israeli economy, trade, direct flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, an investment in Israeli efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine – as first reported in The Jerusalem Post last month – and cooperation in matters of energy and water. An important element of the deal for the UAE is the expectation that its citizens would be able to visit the Al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal “full, formal peace” with “one of the strongest countries in the world.” “Together we can bring a wonderful future. It is an incomparably exciting moment,” Netanyahu said. “I have the great privilege to make the third peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country, the UAE.” Netanyahu wished Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed “Salam Aleykum v’Shalom Aleynu – peace unto you and peace unto us.” Trump said in a statement posted to his twitter account: “Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s most dynamic societies and advanced economies will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people relations.” Latest articles from Jpost TOP ARTICLES 1/5 READ MORE Israel, UAE reach historic peace deal: ‘We can make a wonderful future’ In subsequent remarks in the Oval Office, Trump alluded to “many more countries” in the region normalizing ties with Israel, and “some very exciting things including, ultimately with the Palestinians.” Netanyahu said he has “reason to be very optimistic that today’s announcement w the UAE will be joined by more countries in this expanding circle of peace.” The agreement “ushers in a new era of peace between Israel and the Arab world,” he said. Sources in Washington and Jerusalem said the Trump administration is in talks with other Gulf States to reach normalization agreements with Israel. Bahrain is likely to be next, to the extent that there was a chance they would have announced normalization before the UAE. The US president also mentioned Iran, about which the UAE and other Gulf States share concerns with Israel, saying that he will make a deal with them “within 30 days” if he wins the election. Trump said the Iranians are “dying to make a deal,” but would prefer that it be with the Democratic candidate for president, Joe Biden, “because that would be like a dream” for them. Trump's Special Adviser Jared Kushner clarified that the deal would not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. Netanyahu remarked that the moves towards normalization were kept tightly under wraps because Iran would have liked to sabotage them. Iran has played a major role in the closer ties between Israel and Gulf States since the previous US government and other world powers signed the nuclear deal with Tehran in 2015. The countries began cooperating on national security and that moved to other issues after trust was built between them, to the point that an American source said normalization seemed inevitable. Netanyahu touted a formula of “peace for peace,” based on shared interests, emphasizing economic cooperation, and peace that comes from a position of strength, rather than peace in exchange for concessions. However, bin Zayed presented the matter as though he had exacted concessions from Israel, emphasizing the suspension of sovereignty plans over normalization. He tweeted that “an agreement was reached to stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories. The UAE and Israel also agreed to cooperation and setting a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship.” Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah a-Sisi similarly called it “the agreement to stop Israel’s annexation of the Palestinian Territories and taking steps to bring Peace to the Middle East.” He said in a tweet that he “values the efforts... in order to achieve prosperity and stability for our region.” The Trump administration’s “Vision for Peace” would allow Israel to apply its law to 30% of Judea and Samaria, including all settlements and the Jordan Valley. The rest of the West Bank would be designated for an eventual Palestinian state, which would receive recognition and a $50 billion aid package from the US if it meets a list of pre-conditions, including demilitarization and stopping incitement and salaries for terrorists. Netanyahu said that he still plans to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. “I’m not giving up on it. It’s on the table because of me. Trump put sovereignty into his peace plan because I asked for it,” Netanyahu said. “But in the first place I said again and again that we would only implement sovereignty in coordination with the US. Without support from the US, in the best case it would be worthless, and in the worst case, it would hurt ties very much.” Netanyahu emphasized that he “did not and will not remove sovereignty from the agenda... I will never give up on our right to our land.” Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem and Washington pointed to the use of the word “suspend,” which implies that the pause is only temporary. The wording was agreed upon by all three sides. It is unclear for how long annexation would remain suspended, but it is unlikely that anything would happen before the end of this year, the Washington source said. The Trump peace team’s efforts gained steam in July and led to Israel’s decision to skip the original July 1 date that Netanyahu had discussed for sovereignty moves. The administration felt that the opportunity for Israel to normalize ties with the UAE was a “better choice.” “In the long term, this will solidify security,” one American official said. Peace between Israel and the UAE presented an opportunity for “real peace” unlike the cold peace it has with Egypt and Jordan, since Israel and the UAE were never enemies that fought a war against each other. Sovereignty moves would have stopped the momentum towards normalization with Gulf States, another source said. The American source said: “Israel was presented with two opportunities and chose one. They’re aggressively pursuing [normalization] and not complicating it by doing sovereignty.” Trump called the diplomatic breakthrough a “labor of love for a lot of people in the room,” speaking to how it is also an achievement for Special Adviser to the President Jared Kushner, who heads the Middle East peace team, and Special Representative for International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz, who worked behind the scenes in recent months to promote normalization between Israel and the Arab world, and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. Friedman said “the normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE will make Israel stronger and safer and will likely lead to additional exciting opportunities and incremental prosperity for Israel, its neighbors and the entire region.” A senior Likud source remarked that “the Israeli and international Left always said we can’t bring peace with Arab states without peace with the Palestinians, that there is no other way than withdrawing to ‘67 lines, evacuating settlements, dividing Jerusalem and establishing a Palestinian state. For the first time in history Prime Minister Netanyahu broke the paradigm of ‘land for peace’ and brought ‘peace for peace.’” Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi praised the agreement, saying “the good news of normalization with the UAE is important and an opening to more agreements.” Ashkenazi also praised “avoiding the one-sided annexation plan,” and called for the complete Trump peace plan to be implemented. Yamina leader Naftali Bennett praised the normalization, saying “relations between the countries are no longer held hostage by Palestinian recalcitrance,” but slammed Netanyahu for suspending sovereignty plans. “It’s unfortunate that Netanyahu gave up a once-in-a-century chance to apply sovereignty to the Jordan Valley, Ma’aleh Adumim, Bet El and the rest of Israeli settlements,” he said. “It is tragic that Netanyahu did not seize the moment and didn’t have the courage to apply sovereignty to a centimeter of the Land of Israel, but sovereignty over the parts of our homeland will come from somewhere else.” Joint List MK Mtanes Shihadeh accused the UAE of a “betrayal... no less than a knife in the back of the Palestinian people and the Arab nations.” Shehadeh posited that “Netanyahu and Israel never really meant to annex, but in order for him to abandon the plan, the UAE agreed to make its secret relations open. Nothing will change and anyone who thinks the Palestinians will disappear are mistaken.” Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden said “the UAE’s offer to publicly recognize the State of Israel is a welcome, brave and badly-needed act of statesmanship. Annexation would be a bloody blow to the course of peace, which is why I oppose it now and would oppose it as president.”