35 Burst results for "Frank Langfitt"
90.3 KAZU
"frank langfitt" Discussed on 90.3 KAZU
"Come through the food bank grabbing these free D I y air filters. They mentioned sore throats. Kids with asthma headaches like Freddie's. 40 fans are gone. In 20 minutes, It feels a little bit maybe like a band Aid. Amy Sullenberger is the director of climate Smart Missoula, the small nonprofit that's providing these air filters. Hillenburg says this work is a reflection of the reality. Climate change is here. It's happening. The reason we're doing this is because we have longer hotter, drier, smoky or summers, so we need to adapt, she says. Not down the road, but right now. Nathan Rott NPR NEWS, Missoula, Montana. This is NPR news. If it's happening around the world, NPR's Frank Langfitt is in London covering this one. Hey, Frank. Good morning, Cuba is experiencing its biggest anti government protests that's happening here at home. On a blistering hot day in Twin Falls, Idaho, joined the northeast border of Mississippi, where the river nourishes rich and green Morning edition from NPR News will take you there wherever the story is. Listen every weekday. Start your day with NPR news and morning edition until.
Here & Now
"frank langfitt" Discussed on Here & Now
"And the results of our reader poll patrick great to have you always my pleasure The taliban rapid takeover of afghanistan last week sent shockwaves through western capitals including london. The united kingdom has been a staunch american ally in afghanistan. Some british soldiers who served there including members of the british parliament were angered by the american pullout and struck by the speed of the afghan army's collapse. Here's tom coogan hot. A member of parliament in the conservative party. Who served in helmand province mr speaker. This is what defeat looks like it when you no longer have the choice to how to help doesn't need to defeat but at the moment down well feels like it for return to. Npr's london correspondent. Frank langfitt hi frank. List so frank. British soldiers fought side by side with americans in afghanistan almost from the very very beginning. How is this going over in the uk not well. I mean across the board. I think we receive from the public. If you look at some recent polling it shows that more britons oppose the withdrawal than supported and particularly that hard when it became clear that the taliban would be taking over the whole country. Or most i should say most of the country and most you're also say the war which cost more than four hundred and fifty british military and civilian lives generally achieve anything. They you'll get public figures. They've been critical to former prime minister. Tony blair he called the withdrawal tragic dangerous and unnecessary and said it was based on what he called an imbecilic slogans a very strong words for foreign prime minister. He's talking about president. Biden's pledge jan the forever wars and then blair when even further it's just about the afghan people as us out security. Because you've now got this group back in charge of afghanistan they will give protection and sucker to al qaeda. You've got isis already in the country. Trying to operate at the same time you look around the world and the only people really cheering this decision of the people hostile to western interests. Although for tony blair he would obviously be at least partly influenced by need to make his decision to go into afghanistan. Worthwhile right And obviously yeah and british combat. Truce left the country more than seven years ago. So what is boris johnson. The current prime minister. What is he saying about this right now. The british were trying to fly out. As many people's they can't out of the airport in kabul. Before the americans plan pull out which is around august thirty first g seven meeting tomorrow. Johnson says he's gonna press by to extend that a us military at the airport beyond the thirty first which the white house is already appears to be. considering now. johnson's with he's been saying is he sort of suggested. The defeat of afghan forces was was inevitable and he downplayed. Britain's reason involvement like you were pointing out in the country. This is what he told a. Recent press conference. We've known for a long time. This was the way things were going. And as i said before this is a mission whose military component really ended for for the uk in two thousand fourteen. And i wonder frank how this might affect future requests by either nation. Get involved in military actions right. I mean the uk and the us have been close allies for a long time. They often support each other even militarily. Could that change. I don't know that it could change. But there is real anger here and this isn't the first time that certainly certainly i guess british citizens to some degree feel burned. The iraq war is a very bitterly. Felt here it. It really has damaged tony. Blair's reputation almost probably irreparably. Let's by the view of many britons here and he is also at the official level. Your sense of helplessness. The united kingdom has always been the junior partner in what is called the special relationship this relationship that goes back to world war two fighting wars together being very close allies shared language shared political system but the uk hates when the us emphasizes that it. It doesn't have that much power by making these sort of unilateral decisions. That said celeste. Human you think about post brexit britain. The country needs friends india. Free trade deal from the. Us doesn't have another partner anywhere nearly as powerful for shore and so i think while there's bitterness here and there's wariness it's not expected to have a lasting impact on the over overlordship. Although you mentioned breakfast that has obviously caused a lot of political chaos in britain but brexit is also based on this divide among the populace. Right those who want to be engaged with the broader world and those who don't and it would seem to me that this argument over what's happening or debate over what's happening in afghanistan and Getting people out of afghanistan that might also be feeding into that brexit debate. I think that people do want. There's a lot of support actually from bringing in refugees. Even though there was a lot of obviously the majority country voted to leave the european union. There is support for bringing afghan refugees. And i think that what's interesting there. So last is that a british people. The people who supported brexit they wanted more control over their laws and and things along those lines and borders when it comes to humanitarian issues. Which is the way that they would view this. They actually are. I think could be quite open And so i think that there's a division there And i think also british people feel like we did commit to the afghan people and they need our help and they feel badly. I think many feel badly that they you know the british military feels like it's leaving.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"frank langfitt" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"It's morning edition from NPR News. I'm Sarah McCammon and I'm Steve Inskeep. Good morning. The United States and the European Union have reached the truth on a long running and costly trade dispute involving two big aircraft makers Boeing in the United States and Airbus in Europe. The US and EU say they're doing this to focus on a common competitor, China. This is the latest in a theme during President Biden's trip through Europe. NPR's Frank Langfitt has been covering at all. Hey there, Frank. Hey, Good morning, Steve. And I want people to remember you're in Europe. Now. You've covered China in the past, so you're well position to cover this story. What was this dispute about? Well, it's it's quite a story. This goes back like 17 years is quite a saga. The US accused the EU of illegally subsidizing the aircraft maker Airbus. They won tariffs at the WTO, the World Trade Organization than the EU also made similar accusations and they got tariffs. So all together like I think it's 11.5 billion, they were able to hit each other's exports with tariffs. You're talking everything sticking from tractors to wine to cheese. I even went up to a Scottish whiskey maker and under the rules of the double T W T o. If you win these tariffs, you can hit all kinds of products. And so there's basically been the stalemate and really a cause of friction between these two enormous economies, the European Union and the number one economy in the world, the United States, so it's touched many things beyond aircraft makers then and why. Why would they end the dispute now? China. I mean, it's the answer to a lot of questions these days. If you remember you go back to the eighties, and the nineties, Um China was the workshop of the world made toys made T shirts. China has been climbing the value chain over the last 25 years there working on AI Internet they want to build Brig. World brands, and one of those is they want to get into airline airplane manufacturing. They have a company based in Shanghai when I was there, back in 2000, you know, 56 years ago called the Commercial Aircraft Corporation or Komac, and what the Americans are saying is that it's on track to become a legitimate rival of these two other companies, And it surprised me a little bit because I remember covering Komac and back Then a number of years ago, people in the airline industry thought, uh, It's so complicated. The Chinese are not going to be able to do this that quickly. But apparently from the EU and US perspective, the Chinese are really coming along. And this is what Catherine tie I should say she is the the U. S Trade representative. This is what she said to reporters in Brussels just moments ago. Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat. We agreed to work together to challenge and counter China's non market practices in the sector in specific ways that reflect our standards for fair competition, Frank I certainly didn't know they were going to take this step, but you can sort of see it coming at the beginning of the Biden administration when you heard people close to the administration indicate that President Biden wanted to confront China in coordination with US allies and especially U. S allies in Europe. Absolutely. And I think what's interesting is that he so far the trip is going at least rhetorically pretty well for him, and that he's gotten supported the G seven to call out China on human rights in NATO. What we saw just yesterday, calling China challenge to the international system. And so what we're seeing is more of it now, basically people putting down their trade weapons and saying, We're really going to focus on what we think is the real challenge economically. China Frank. Thanks for your insights, as always. Great to talk. Steve NPR's Frank Langfitt is in London. Yeah. Mhm. It's morning edition from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep. And I'm Sarah McCammon. You know Michael Hill at Michael Hill, NJ on Twitter MARKETPLACE Morning reporters coming up next and then in about 10 minutes at nine o'clock, it's the BBC news hour on 93.9 FM. Let's check in with London to hear what they're working on. London Good morning. Good morning. W N Y. C. I'm Razia Iqbal On today's news hour. Thousands of security personnel are deployed in Jerusalem to police, a controversial march by Jewish nationalists and the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte refuses to cooperate with an investigation into the thousands of deaths reported during his war on drugs. BBC news hour Coming up at nine on 93.9 FM.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"frank langfitt" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"From NPR News. I'm Sarah McCammon. And I'm Steve Inskeep. Good morning, Sarah. Glad you're with us these few days. Thank you. The last time that NATO leaders got together, it was 2018 Donald Trump was the president of the United States then, and he fought publicly with the allies over defense spending. Now, as the Allies meet at NATO headquarters this week, a new president promises a new tone. In Brussels. I'll make it clear to the United States commitment to our NATO alliance, and Article five is rock solid and just sacred obligation We have under Article five Article five. That's the provision that an attack on one of the NATO countries is considered an attack against all of them. They all come to each other's defense it was invoked with the United States was attacked. After 9 11, NPR's London correspondent, Frank Langfitt is going to help us talk through this. Hey there, Frank. Hey, Good morning, and we also have NPR White House correspondent Frank Ordonez, who's traveling with the president. Hello to you, Franco. So we've got Frank and Franco. We can have a frank discussion here and Frank, let's start with you. What are these leaders see as their mission in the world. Um, I think that what you're seeing in particularly in Biden is that after decades of support for NATO, he does want to see some change. And I think that it's important. Remember, NATO was created more than seven decades ago to defend Europe against the Soviet Union since the end of the Cold War. It's constantly have this challenge to evolve today we're looking at, you know a world of cyber attacks, a far more assertive China, and I think what we're probably going to hear from Biden today is asking NATO to step up and adapt. Okay, Franco, asking NATO to step up and adapt by doing what Well, you know, he's talked a lot about wanting like minded countries to provide a better model. You know Mendoza of autocracies like China and Russia, you know in this I just noted this NATO meeting comes just before he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, and that actually could kind of help Biden with these meetings. Here's how Charles Kupchan, a senior advisor in the Obama administration. He explained it to me. Putin does keep behaving in ways that makes it easy to build a consensus for strength within the NATO alliance. So what Biden wants is to build consensus around some changes. He wants to see NATO modernize to look at other challenges like climate change things that can also stabilized, destabilized regions and also hacking. Just for example, there's Way to invoke Article five So that NATO member a NATO member hit by a cyber attack can get more support from allies to defend or recover from it, Frank Langfitt. We're talking here about threats that I think people did not envision in the 19 forties, when NATO was structured as a way to have an alliance to deal with Russian armies in In Eastern Europe. What are NATO's capabilities today? And how do they compare to these challenges? I think it's really It's tricky and really interesting, Steve, you know, President Biden has been very blunt that he thinks China's America's biggest geopolitical challenge, but you know, Europe is many thousands of nautical miles away from a place like the South China Sea. And when you look at the NATO nations, the US is far and away the dominant military. The next two largest navies, Britain and France. They're tiny. By comparison, Britain is actually sending an aircraft carrier with American fighters on board right now out towards the South China. Symbolic, I think, And so I think NATO can be helpful from analysts that I talked to in Brussels is, they say, taking more responsibility for defense in its neighborhood, freeing up the US to focus a bit more on Asia. As Franco was pointing out cyber security which NATO has made a priority, and it's a way that it can remain relevant to the U. S. And the other members. Well, Franco, what is the plan for Afghanistan, which we should note was a NATO conflict. NATO nations have been alongside the United States troops throughout the last 20 years. Yeah, by the National Security Advisor Jake sold and told US reporters yesterday But that is going to be a focus today. They're aiming to finish the draw down by September, 11th. The anniversary of the attacks on the US that started this long war. One big issue is, though, how to keep an embassy presence there how to secure that embassy pregnancy. Not to mention to provide support to Afghan security forces and humanitarian aid, especially to women and girls. Yeah, you got to got to ask how you support that embassy. How do you support an international airport in case the people at the embassy ever need to leave a lot of questions? And I want to know something else. Frank Ordonez is, you know very well traveling with the president. This is one of a string of meetings he's having. The last was with the G seven leaders, the leaders of the world's largest economies, and they do include some NATO allies. But it's a It's a different group of people. How did that go for the president? Well, I mean, for the most part went well. There was a lot warmth on display, especially with French President Emmanuel Macron. They actually had a long embrace while walking on the beach. You know, today, Biden has another one of these big one on one meetings while he's at NATO. This time, it's with Turkish President Erdogan. This one could be a little more tricky. There are lingering issues over defense sales. And earlier this year, Biden used the word genocide to describe the mass killings of Armenians by Turks more than a century ago. Erdogan has rejected that, says the characterization and said it would hurt relations and you know, as you know, relations are definitely rocky right now. Another thing, Frank Langfitt, how are these world leaders coordinating their responses to the ongoing pandemic? Well, one thing they did, as they said they were going to donate over the next year. 870 million doses, and I think they had to do that because you can't have a bunch of rich nation leaders meeting on a beach and you know in south west of England and not responding what's happening with the vaccine. Um, another thing that they're doing, which is interesting going back to what Frank has been talking about China keeps coming up. Biden was able, I think to push to get a number of ways for the leaders to address China. One is a global infrastructure program that would help developing countries and compete with China's belt and road initiative. It's worth mentioning that things started that the Chinese more than eight years ago, and it's a huge project. Also criticizing China's human rights abuses for detaining million. About a million weaker is in the country's far northwest region in Xinjiang and as well as repression of democracy in Hong Kong. In diplomatic terms. This was fairly pointed given the last meeting, which was in 2000 and 19. That was when President Trump attempted. There was no mention of China at all. Well, let's circle back if we can, at the end to the threat that NATO was founded to deal with the Soviet Union, then Russia. Now we've mentioned that President Biden will meet Russia's President Putin on Wednesday. Franco, what are they going to do? Well, you know, details of that Geneva summit are still being worked out. We learned this weekend that there will be two sessions one, a larger circle of US and Russian advisors. And then a smaller one for the leaders. But what we won't see is Biden and Putin standing together.
Environment: NPR
Two Artists Want G-7 Leaders to End E-Waste
"As president biden and the other g seven leaders from some of the world's wealthiest economies prepare to meet for a weekend summit in the english. County of cornwall. One of the biggest attractions is a two story. Sculpture that has emerged from the hills nearby. it's a reproduction of the faces of all seven leaders in the style of mount rushmore but instead of stone the sculptors material is discarded electronics. And he has named his work mount recycle more. Npr lennon correspondent. Frank langfitt cornwall and joins us now. Hey frank ohio hi so are you like literally next to the sculpture right now. What does it look like. It's fascinating and it's also become this big tourist attraction there will be sixty seven people here staring at it and what the artist has done is. He's basically like if you think example. If you look at boris johnson. His face is made of old samsung phone backings. And he's got all these old phones that is supposed to be his hair including all these wires and then right in front of me is joe. Biden joe biden. Skin basically is all these green circuit boards from inside computers. And not you'll just across. The bay is where the g. seven is meeting starting tomorrow morning. I'm just amazed that these faces are recognizable. very recognizable. everybody can tell exactly who these people are. And what do you take is the sculptors political point here. Well i think it's very it's an environmental point and i was just talking to him on the phone before you and i started talking his name's joel rush and this is how he put the messages. We have to find a way of dating with this electrical. Waste that we're producing because it we haven't got ways of Taken a pause again. We haven't got waste repairing it. We haven't got ways of getting rid of it. It's not just one nation to to give all that waste or another nation. It's a world problem. And how about all the people taking this visual in right. Now how are they reacting. It's really interesting. i think people are fascinated by obviously. It's artistically it's very very interesting but in terms of the environmental message. That joe was just mentioning. I mean i think it really resonates with people. I was talking to him named jonni let she teaches politics and i asked her what struck the most for me. It's the it's joe biden's circuit boards because they are things that we don't even see is invisible and we don't give any thought when we using this stuff
KQED Radio
"frank langfitt" Discussed on KQED Radio
"For listening and supporting us during the first day of our fundraising drive. I'm Dave Freeman. You're listening to K Q E D Today, 30. Lie from NPR news. I'm Laxmi, saying the U. S vaccination drive is now putting more focus on inoculating young people. This week, the FDA meets to decide whether to grant Fizer emergency use authorization for 12 to 15 year olds. Advisers also seeking full approval. NPR's Allison Aubrey explains what that means. Full approval would give the vaccine makers three ability to market the vaccine directly to consumers, but also full approval could pave the way for more mandatory requirements. For instance, many hospitals health care institutions, they require their employees to get the flu shot. Every year. We could see that for covert vaccines, perhaps in the military or more schools may require it. NPR's Allison Aubrey reporting more covert safety limits are being lifted in Europe. NPR's frank Langfitt reports. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce the return to indoor dining and Fewer restrictions on gatherings in a week. The government will allow people in England to meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors, while six people or two households could meet indoors. Pubs, restaurants and movie theaters have set to reopen indoors. The government insists easing restrictions are unlikely to spark a resurgence in infections. More than half the UK population has received first vaccine dose infection rates are at their lowest level since September. 2020. Frank Langfitt reporting the Dow is up nearly 300 points since the Open. You're listening to NPR knees live from KQED News. I'm Brian what the Alameda City Council voted over the weekend to develop a pilot program that will provide alternatives to policing for mental health calls. By the end of June. This decision follows the death of Mario Gonzales 26 year old Oakland father who died after Alameda police officers held him face down on the ground for roughly five minutes. The city also committed to scrutinizing use of force incidents and body camera footage more and we'll explore creating a civilian police oversight board. In Berkeley, a group of parents is threatening legal action against the local school district, demanding that it immediately opened in person instruction toe all grades by next week. KQED Sarah Hussaini reports in the demand letter. More than 40 public school families with Berkeley parents for full reopening say that the Berkeley Unified School District must expand in person learning to middle and high school Children. Unless they continued to suffer when it comes to learning loss and mental health as a result of more than a year of distance learning. In addition, they want the school board to approve a full time in person plan for the next academic year by the end of the month. The group said it has hired a law firm and have asked the district to respond by Tuesday Be USD did not respond to a request for comment. I'm Sarah Hussaini KQED knows Cruise Ray knows of the first Latino state Supreme Court justice in California history has died. Reno's Oh played a prominent role in the movement to uplift the state's poorest workers and led efforts to ban the use of the carcinogenic pesticide DDT. He was 90 years old. This is KQED news. Support for NPR this morning comes from duck to go. Privacy company committed to making privacy online simple used by tens.
NPR's Story of the Day
Prince Philip's legacy will live on in Netflix's 'The Crown'
"Philip. The royal consort of queen elizabeth. The second died this morning. At windsor castle in england. The duke of edinburgh was ninety nine years old. Npr's london correspondent. Frank langfitt joins us from belfast. Where he is covering the recent violence in northern ireland Frank just tell us more about prince philip's story and what the british public thought of a prince ville spent his early years actually traveling throughout europe e he was of royal descent himself and eventually At and had gotten to know The royal family and eventually married queen elizabeth. He was known. I think in different ways In this country over time People did make fun of him he has. She was seen as short tempered. He would tell jokes that were off color things that we would now consider even years ago politically incorrect kind of remarks. If you look at the daily mirror they number newspapers here would carry every year to they would say you know His hundreds most improper remarks was back in sixty nine. When i guess they were some financial questions he said well. If going to read next year. I'll have to give up polo. And that was one of the more minor ones that said there was also a lot of affection for him and i think respect in the sense that you know when you do a job for a very very long time and you really put your energy into it People give you a lot of credit for that. He was very dutiful. Heated thousands and thousands of royal events supporting the queen. It was a pretty thankless job in in some respects And not a great job necessarily to have today or in. The prime minister said That we give thanks to him. The nation and the kingdom give thanks to him for an extraordinary life and is his extraordinary work.
Fresh Air
Myanmar's Ambassador to the U.K. Locked Out of London Embassy
"Myanmar's ambassador to London says he's been locked out of the country's embassy His deputy reportedly has been taken has taken over the embassy in behalf of Myanmar's ruling military junta. NPR's Frank Langfitt has the story from London Quads are men stood outside the embassy in London's wealthy Mayfair section, unable to access the building amid a small crowd of protesters and Bridget police officers. I've been locked out, he told Reuters. It's kind of a coup in the middle of London. You can see that they occupy my building since the military staged a coup in February. The ambassador has broken with the ruling junta, who called for the release of detained civilian leader on Sans Souci. On this day, troops in Myanmar opened fire on pro democracy protesters, local media reports They killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens. Activists say that about 600 civilians have died at the hands of security forces
The Indicator from Planet Money
A Culinary Tour Of Brexit
"Joined today by frank langfitt. Npr's lennon correspondent. Frank hi. hey it's great to be here. Cardiff great to have you so frank from what i understand. You are about to take us on a kind of culinary tour of brexit. Today's yes that's right so quick. Refresher on brexit cardiff. Uk voted to leave the you to escape red tape in brussels. So they'd be free to cut new free trade deals. This was like a number of years ago. Two thousand sixteen. The uk finally completely got out of the eu on new year's eve which means different things to different sectors here but today we're just going to focus on one of the hardest hit that's food as specifically we're look at wasters cheese and wine because we found his each item tells a different story about the real world consequences of brexit so far. So that's our plan. And here's the menu wine cheese or oysters cardiff if you want to start with. I don't know frank. I think i'm in the mood for oysters. Let's start there good choice. We're surrounded by water here in britain so the story of oysters is that when you suddenly face new regulations doing business is so much harder and no one is feeling this more than this. Fisherman that i met is his name. Is jonathan bailey very way this is late this is this is just rain rain water. I'll get some jonathan harvest oysters on a river in the southwest of england on the day that i met him. It was raining so we were bailing out his robot. Yeah i'm assuming Frank jonathan exports his own to europe. And that's why you're talking to him so a one eight tells how that's going for him now. That brexit is reality. Things are going really badly. So before brexit when the uk was in the eu there was seamless trade like between the states in the us and jonathan dredged up his oysters. They were shipped to europe and then they were cleaned which worked out just fine now. After brexit. Those british oysters are subject to eu rules about imports. Just like any other country outside the eu. so jonathan's wasters now have to be cleaned here on this side of the english channel. And i know this doesn't really sound like a big deal but if you're in the business it is and that's because it adds costs and it means there's less time to get those oysters on a european plates before they die. A bottom line are going to die in transit so this and other changes because of brexit have really hurt the fishing industry in fact shellfish and fish exports to the eu just in january. We're down more than eighty percent year-on-year now. The government likes to call this just teething problems in trade volumes overall are already rebounding. And that is. I gotta say a staggering dropped eighty percent plus. It is dead always tres and frank. I'm no expert on this. But i mean dead. Oysters are not good tasty oysters. No and you can't any money off them. Obviously so jonathan is one of like more than forty fishermen and women around here who are pretty much out of work. This season and i asked him when we're out on his boat like how he thinks it's going to impact them in the long run. Do you think that you'll keep fishing. Or i'm sixty six. I'm wondering whether this is the moment to say the. How would you feel about not fishing anymore. I would be very very very very upset. Okay so frank. Things clearly not looking good for the fishermen on the english coast. What's next on the menu where we're headed next in in our brexit tour so next off the whales for wine and then the northwest of england for cheese wine and cheese nice pairing classic traditional. Let's do that right after a quick break. This message comes from. Npr sponsor interactive brokers the professionals gateway to the world's markets. Their clients enjoy lowest cost access to stocks options futures and fixed income from a single integrated account. Learn more at i b. k. r. dot com. This message comes from npr sponsor. Microsoft teams helping priority. Bicycles transform. the way they work when the pandemic hit they started doing virtual visits on teams. Now people worldwide can come into their showroom more at microsoft dot com slash teams. Okay frank we're done with the delicious oyster chorus. So let's continue on with this brexit culinary tour and frank. I could really use a bevy. So what were you saying about. Wine is a really good example of a frankly how brexit can cost you in the checkout line. So let's head to wales and we're gonna meet daniel lambert who imports wine. So this is all little warehouse so daniel reports tens of thousands of cases of wine each year most of it of course from europe and for daniel. This used to be really easy. We used to just have to one very very simple simplistic but now because the uk's outside of the u. it's brexit. There's so much more. I have to send the order to the producer. The producer then produces pro forma invoice which they sent back to me on the pro forma invoice. They have two quite mild a number so hunting trip daniel down a bit because he actually went on. For more than a minute but describing. The avalanche of confusing forms now has to fill out. He said each separate set of forms cost seventy five bucks so scale of one to ten. How much are you enjoying this new system. Yeah it makes sense. I mean everybody hates paperwork. Super annoying. But frank did you ask him you know what about the real impact on his business. What he said is paperwork. Costs will be passed on to consumers but some small retailers won't be able to afford the extra paperwork cost ordering different kinds of wine so in the end that's actually going to mean less variety on the shelves.
Morning Edition
London Police Face Scrutiny Over Handling of Sarah Everard Vigil
"British government, meanwhile, is investigating how the London police handled a weekend vigil for a woman who was allegedly killed by one of their own. NPR's Frank Langfitt is in London, police say. When the Saturday night vigil turned into a protest with people packing close together to listen to speeches, they had to break it up to enforce Cove in 19 lockdown rules, the result, scuffles and police handcuffing and arresting a few protesters to the outrage of many here in the UK Race. Pedley, who's a 19 year old law student, attended the vigil. I think that they could have been more sensitive to the fact that everyone was already very upset. People just wanted Tonto here. People speak, you know when they tried to stop them speaking it just and good people even more London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has refused calls to resign, said officers had no choice but to arrest those who refused to leave. Frank Langfitt. NPR NEWS
BBC World Service
China bans BBC World News from broadcasting
"Television channel from London. NPR's Frank Langfitt reports that the move comes after a British regulator revoke the license of a Chinese state broadcaster. China's broadcast regulator accused the BBC of failing to report accurately and impartially while undermining China's national interests and ethnic solidarity. Most recently, the Chinese government criticized and denied BBC reports that women and internment camps for Wiegert and other Muslims in Xinjiang were subject to rape and torture. The BBC says it's disappointed with China's decision and insisted reports fairly impartially and without fear or favor. Chinese government already censored some BBC content on the broadcasters. TV audience in the country is tiny. The BBC has not been allowed to broadcast directly into Chinese homes. It's been available in international hotels and the homes of some foreigners and more globally minded Chinese Frank Langfitt. NPR
Marketplace
UK strips China's state media channel of broadcast license
"China has been recent years trying to improve its global image. That effort took a hit today in London, Britain's communications regulator announced it is stripping the state run China Global Television network of its broadcast license there, MPR's Frank Langfitt explains from London. The C GT N That's it's known, opened its European production center here to great fanfare about two years ago. Today off come, the British regulator announced it was pulling the network's license. Officials said. The reason was straightforward. The people in charge of CG Tien's editorial policy are ultimately beholden to China's Communist Party in British Broadcasting law forbids political bodies from controlling license holders. Thank goodness, Finally, this license has been taken away. Peter Humphrey, performer fraud investigator in Shanghai was glad to hear the news. He filed a complaint against CGT in last year. Not over Communist Party control of the network. But over Chinese state media is airing of what Humphrey says was a forced confession. It followed his arrest in 2000 and 13 on charges of illegally acquiring the personal data of Chinese nationals. Well, of course you go way up 10 personal information by illegal means. I regret what I did and apologize to the Chinese government. Humphrey insists he never actually confessed and that the interview was doctored. He also says his captors pressured him to make a statement by withholding medical treatment for his prostate cancer, considering the kind of brutal human rights violations that CD Tien has been involved with extracting and packaging forced confessions from prisoners held under torture in China, who've never been in front of a judge. I just think that we should have no organization like that on our soil in Humphries case, Afghan found CGT And had seriously breached fairness and privacy rules. It also found the network had failed to cover the Hong Kong democracy protests with quote due impartiality CG Tien was indignant with today's ruling. It blamed quote the manipulation of far right groups and had I China forces for the off calm decision, according to a statement on way ball, China's nearest equivalent Twitter. The loss of the license undermined two key Chinese government strategy. Steve saying is director of the so as China Institute at the School of Oriental and African Studies. University of London. She camping has been very clear he wants the Chinese story being told well. He wants his versions off everything being spread across the world in the most positive, light possible Sititi and is one of those instruments used for this purpose. It's hang expects the Chinese government to retaliate against BBC reporters in China. Even though the BBC is editorial independent of the British government. Peter Dahlin is the director of Safeguard Defenders Human Rights Organization, which spearheaded the campaign against C G. T n Here. The U. K stands out across Europe is having a quite well developed framework for help to regulate TV for how to control this information. The stripping of the license prohibits CG Tan from broadcasting here, but dollars, says that doesn't mean the network has to leave. Still, he does think today's move could have ripple effects are other countries going to start holding them accountable as well? I say this might be the beginning of a process that city and will find very unfavorable for their type of this information for their type of broadcasting. That would mean more challenges for a Chinese government that has invested a lot in trying to change the way it's perceived. Frank Langfitt NPR NEWS
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"We just have a minute or so left. But let me 31 about Russia while I've got you since we're talking about U. S leadership on the world stage with the arrest and now the sentencing of Alexi Navalny, the opposition leader, What kind of really test is that post for Biden? Again. It's important to stand for the right thing. It's important to try to make, uh make clear that there is some price to pay. But you know we have. We're not going toe affect the internal affairs off Russia. Putin has a very firm grip on power. He has good control over Russia's finances. There's not likely to be a crash. So you know you you do the right thing. You hope that it sends a signal and encourages the right people. You can do a little with targeted sanctions. This might be the most intelligent way to go in the future, not sanctioning the state. Sanctioning 10 people who are part of the state. Fareed Zakaria. Thank you. My pleasure. He is author of the book 10 Lessons for a post pandemic world. Captain, Sir Tom Moore was a British World War two veteran who raised more than $40 million to help his country fight the coronavirus. He died after contracting covert 19 himself. Moore was 100 years old and NPR London correspondent Frank Langfitt has this remembrance. The United Kingdom is more politically polarized today than it's been in decades. But most everybody here agrees on this. They love captain Tom Moore. Even if a year ago they've never heard of him. More captured the nation's imagination last spring when he vowed to walk 100 laps in his garden with help of Walker before he turned 100 years old, relying on social media, we hope to raise $1250 for health care workers when he surpassed nine million after less than two weeks. He was stunned, as he told NPR at the time is absolutely awesome. Is it always unbelievable with us. So for money, it's coming. I mean, I've never come across our source of money before more quickly became a household name here and an inspiration is cheerful optimism provided a morale boost to a nation whose government is widely seen to have bungled the response of the Corona virus. Britain has the highest death toll in Europe. More than 106,000. Here's captain Thomas. He was known bucking up his countrymen on Britain's ITV. Tomorrow is a good day. So you're still going to get a bus in the suddenly start shining on everyone more struck a nerve because his campaign combined two big sources of British pride and identity. United Kingdom's victory in the Second World War and the beloved and underfunded National Health Service, which has struggled at times to handle the flood of covert patients. More was also modest, classic British trade. One little soul like me isn't going to make much difference. I might have but hope because it does, but it won't really will it. In July, a ceremony in Windsor Castle Queen Elizabeth Knight didn't capping his extraordinary late life second, and last month he contracted pneumonia. His family said. Medication for that infection prevented him from getting the new vaccine. More was diagnosed with covert 19 last week. Frank Langfitt. NPR NEWS London This'll is all things considered from NPR News in your KQED traffic update at 5 18 starts with the latest on that traffic jam and conquered Here's Julie de Fish. And so before eastbound before Port Chicago Highway that hit and run crash, here's the dealing with that the center divide already really slow from Pacheco Boulevard after Willow Pass Road. Good news. Union City North 8 80 before Alvarado Niles and to wreck involving two SUVs. It's a completely cleared up now and pretty stole over the Altamont Pass. He spent 5 80 30 minutes from North Livermore Avenue to Tracy Julie, deputy for KQED. Julie will have Maurin 10 minutes. Support for KQED comes from the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. As users tweet like and share so looking Valley insiders reveal the consequences of the growing dependence on social media in this documentary feature awards eligible Bank of the West who's taking action through restrictive environmental financing policies to create positive change for people and the planet. Learn more about what Bank of the West does and doesn't finance at Bank of the west dot.
WNYC 93.9 FM
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"He has good control over Russia's finances. There's not likely to be a crash. So you know you you do the right thing. You hope that it sends the signal and encourages the right people. You can do a little with targeted sanctions. This might be the most intelligent way to go into the future. Not sanctioning the state. But sanctioning 10 people who are part of the state. Fareed Zakaria. Thank you. My pleasure. He is author of the book 10 Lessons for a post pandemic world. Captain, Sir Tom or was a British World War two veteran who raised more than $40 million to help his country fight the coronavirus. He died after contracting covert 19 himself. Moore was 100 years old and NPR London correspondent Frank Langfitt has this remembrance. The United Kingdom is more politically polarized today than it's been in decades. But most everybody here agrees on this. They love captain Tom Moore. Even if a year ago they've never heard of him. More captured the nation's imagination last spring when he vowed to walk 100 laps in his garden with help of Walker before he turned 100 years old, relying on social media, we hope to raise $1250 for health care workers. When he surpassed nine million after less than two weeks. He was stunned as he told NPR at the time is absolutely awesome. It's almost unbelievable with us. Social money is coming in, and I mean, I've never come across all sorts of money before more quickly became a household name here, and an inspiration is cheerful optimism provided a morale boost. To a nation whose government is widely seen to have bungled the response of the coronavirus. Britain has the highest death toll in Europe. More than 106,000. Here's captain Thomas. He was known bucking up his countrymen on Britain's ITV. Tomorrow is a good day. Since you're still going to get a bus in the sun will start running on everybody more struck a nerve because his campaign combined two big sources of British pride and identity. United Kingdom's victory in the Second World War and the beloved and underfunded National Health Service, which has struggled at times to handle the flood of covert patients. More was also modest, classic British trade Wonderful so lot may Isn't going to make much difference. I'm out of Bob. Hope is it does, but it won't really will it in July at a ceremony at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth knighted capping is extraordinary. Late life second, and last month, he contracted pneumonia. His family said medication for that infection prevented him from getting the new vaccine. More was diagnosed with covert 19 last week. Frank Langfitt NPR NEWS London It's double. Um, I see you're listening to all things considered just ahead after a quick break. President Biden's pick to lead the Department of Education. Is also Connecticut's first Latino education commissioner. Being bilingual, and by cultural I am as American as apple pie and rice and beans coming up. We'll hear about Miguel Cardona's long career as a public school educator. That and more right after the break, stay tuned. W N. Y C supporters include the Netflix documentary Dick Johnson is dead from filmmaker Kirsten Johnson, utilizing moviemaking magic and their families, dark humor Dad and.
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"The answer to Life's funny your questions, but first Live from NPR news. I'm Barbara Klein. Epidemiologists are tracking the spread of three Corona virus variants, one that emerged in the UK, another in Brazil and a third in South Africa, which is NPR's Rob Stein reports is raising concerns about the effectiveness of vaccines that have been developed. So far. There are laboratory studies that suggest the shots people are getting made not work as well against the variant from South Africa. And just in the last couple of days to drug companies reported some unnerve Ng findings about two new vaccines company called Novavax reporter that its vaccine appears to be far less effective against that string, too. And Johnson and Johnson reported the same thing about it's one shot vaccine. No, no, it's important to remember that scientists are stressing that all the vaccines still appear to provide pretty good protection and do appear to keep people from getting really sick and dying. With the protection just doesn't look like it's quite a strong. The South African variant has been identified in two unconnected individuals in different parts of South Carolina. The European Union has reversed its controversial decision to restrict exports of covert 19 vaccines across the Irish border into the U. K. NPR's Frank Langfitt reports from London. The Irish government welcomed the use, you turn on a move that could required customs Jack's along the border. Tween Northern Ireland, which is a part of the UK and the Irish Republic. Brussels is concerned that the border could be used as a backdoor to bring precious vaccines from the you into the UK. The EU's initial decision was seen as a blunder even by Brussels insiders. The border that divides Ireland is peaceful and wide open, but historically, it's been a flash point for violence in the battle over the fate of Northern Ireland during the so called troubles. Since the 1998 Good Friday agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland. A cardinal rule of island politics is Don't mess with the border. Frank Langfitt. NPR NEWS London Some 95.
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"Live from NPR news. I'm Barbara Klein. Epidemiologists are tracking the spread of three Corona virus variants, one that emerged in the UK, another in Brazil and a third in South Africa, which is NPR's Rob Stein reports is raising concerns about the effectiveness of vaccines that have been developed so far. Our laboratory studies that suggest this shots people are getting made not work as well against the variant from South Africa in just in the last couple of days to drug companies reported some unnerve Ng findings about two new vaccines, a company called Novavax reporter that its vaccine appears to be far less effective against that string, too. And Johnson and Johnson reported the same thing about it's one shot vaccine. No, no, it's important to remember that scientists are stressing that all the vaccines still appear to provide pretty good protection and do appear to keep people from getting really sick and dying. But the protection just doesn't look like it's quite a strong. The South African variant has been identified in two unconnected individuals. In different parts of South Carolina. The European Union has reversed its controversial decision to restrict exports of covert 19 vaccines across the Irish border into the U. K. NPR's Frank Langfitt reports from London. The Irish government welcomed the use, you turn on a move that could required customs checks along the border between Northern Ireland, which is a part of the UK and the Irish Republic. Russell's is concerned that the border could be used as a backdoor to bring precious vaccines from the EU into the U K. But they use initial decision was seen as a blunder even by Brussels insiders. The border. The divides Ireland is peaceful and wide open. But historically, it's been a flash point for violence in the battle over the fate of Northern Ireland during so called troubles since the 1998 good Friday agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland, a cardinal rule of island politics is don't mess with the border. Frank Langfitt. NPR NEWS London Some 95.
WNYC 93.9 FM
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"I'm Tanya, mostly in Los Angeles, and I'm Rachel Martin in Washington, D C. We're going to turn now to the United Kingdom, which is under another national lockdown to combat a surgeon coronavirus cases. Over 19 deaths in the UK are now approaching a loss of civilian life not seen in Britain since World War two. Paul Hunter is a professor and epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia. The last few weeks have been pretty dire. To be honest. And the impact on the health service in particular is being very part for more. We're gonna turn to NPR's London correspondent, Frank Langfitt. Good morning, Frank. Hey. Good morning. Rachel. Tell us more about the conditions right now in hospitals there. You're really bad, I think the worst than we've seen so far. 35,000 covert patients in hospitals right now, more than 1200 dying a day. That's a record level. Take Northern Ireland hostels there almost completely full over the weekend. There were people in the hospital's administrators were actually advertising on social media, asking For off duty health workers to come in one official up there, said the hospital's air facing into the abyss now here in London. It's not a lot better, cogent Conta. I was talking to him earlier. He works in an intensive care unit here and he said, where he is there time for they're running out of the oxygen that they use when they're transporting patients around the hospital. This is what he said. The most number of admissions is much higher now than it was back in March last year, when it was the peak. We're now seeing a virus that is more transmissible, but also you don't have the same lockdowns of spirit that we had back in the first lock down in in 2020, which means that we're expecting Seymour more patients. No. No reason I should add. This hasn't just been bad for patients. It's also taken a huge toll on health care workers here as it has in the states. There's a study out this morning from King's College. London found nearly half of people working in intensive care units during the first wave when they were surveyed. Reported symptoms of severe anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder and even drinking problems. So I mean, how has gotten this bad? I mean, we heard the doctor up there, saying people are just worn down by all the restrictions, so they're not being a safe as they were earlier in the pandemic is that what's largely to blame? That's one factor. I mean, he's absolutely right. I think people are burned out by lockdown. Police are still breaking a parties and card games. Another point is that the variant has been a huge factor. It's as much as 70% more infectious. And the other thing here is that You can never really develop effective test track and trace a system which is kind of astonishing, considering how long we've been dealing with that here in other countries, you see systems where their people on the phone all the time they're following up with people making sure they're quarantining. We don't really have that here and again. Paul Hunter, who just listening to out of the University of East Anglia, this is the point that he made. Having a text saying, Yeah, you should isolate isn't enough Having some the phoning you up and then telling you, you should be self isolating. And then nothing else happens isn't enough. That's bean really at the heart off why we have been able to control the epidemic. So I mean out of that I hear him, saying there needs to be more accountability that people there needs to be more mechanisms to ensure that people are abiding by these restrictions, But that's that rubs up against civil liberties issues. It does. I mean, they have emphasized that, but it also rubs up against competence. I mean, this system trust track and trace has got to work in order to finally get out of this. The other thing and answer to this is frankly, the vaccine. The government here is delivered 2.3 million doses, hoping to get out 14 million later on, but it's not coming fast enough. Mm. NPR's Frank Langfitt from London. Thank you, Frank. You're very welcome. Rachel. President Trump made a trip yesterday to the southern border. He went to highlight his immigration agenda, which he calls one of the signature accomplishments of his presidency..
WNYC 93.9 FM
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"Hold his inauguration ceremony outdoors despite threats of more extremist violence. As NPR's Scott Jet probe reports, Biden discussed the matter Monday after getting his second shot at the Corona virus vaccine. Biden says he's not afraid of attacks during his inauguration, though he's been briefed on security concerns. Last week, lawmakers in charge of the inaugural committee said the ceremony will go forward as scheduled on the capital's West front. As a show of resilience. Biden has been careful not to actively urge on a second impeachment effort, saying that's up to lawmakers in Congress. But he did say he is in discussions with lawmakers about whether a possible Senate impeachment trial in the early days of the Biden administration could be organized so that the Senate could also hold votes on his Cabinet picks. And past the additional economic stimulus that Biden says is his top immediate priority. Scott Tetro NPR NEWS Washington At least two U. S. Capitol police officers have been suspended for participating in last week's insurrection. Ohio congressman Tim Ryan says one officer is accused of taking a selfie with protesters and that the other allegedly escorted some of the rioters while donning a mag a hat. The FBI is warning of potential armed protests across the nation. NPR's Windsor Johnson reports that the threats come nearly a week after the attack on the U. S. Capitol by pro Trump supporters. The FBI is warning of potential violence at all 50 State Capitol building, starting as early as this weekend. The agency also warns that an armed group has threatened to travel to Washington, D. C on inauguration day if Congress removes President Trump from office. In the meantime, the Secret Service will begin security operations on Wednesday, nearly a week earlier than originally planned. Windsor Johnston reporting. Meanwhile, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chant Wolf abruptly resigned Monday. Adverse, replaced by the head of FEMA. In Oregon. A man allegedly angered over the election outcome, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he fired five shots at a federal courthouse building in Portland. Details from Oregon Public Broadcasting's Conrad Wilson, prosecutors say. On Friday night 39 Year old Cody Levi Melby jumped over a temporary security fence erected this summer to keep racial justice protesters outside the federal courthouse. Once over, he opened fire on the building. No one was injured in the attack, Nabi's charged with destroying federal property, a misdemeanor. He also faces several felonies and misdemeanors in state court. Several videos posted to his YouTube channel. They'll be discusses his belief and Q and on and other conspiracy theories, records show. Mel B. Was also arrested on January 6 by Oregon State police after a pro Trump stopped the steel rally outside the Oregon State House. State troopers found Melby trying several doors to get into the building. He was arrested for trespassing well in possession of a firearm for NPR news. I'm Conrad Wilson in Portland. This is NPR. New England Patriots coach Bill Bill Itics says he will not accept the presidential Medal of Freedom. In a statement released on Monday, Belichick does not say that he is turning down an offer from President Trump. He's called a friend. But the six time Super Bowl winning coach does say that the decision comes in light of the attack on the U. S. Capitol. Belichick also says that remaining true to the people, team and country outweigh the benefits of any individual award. Owners of the British foot War footwear brand, Doc Martens, are planning an initial public stock offering. NPR's Frank Langfitt has the story from London Private Equity owner premiere of Plan to sell part of its stake in the brand, a symbol of rebellious youth culture on the London Stock Exchange that would mark the latest twist and remarkable business story. A German soldier designed the boot after World War two with an air cushion sole for comfort. England's Griggs company bought exclusive licensing rights. The doc Martin became popular with male men in factory workers here. Skinheads adopted the boot in the 19 sixties as a symbol of their working class roots, followed by punks in the 19 seventies, as well as goths and schoolgirls. Permira bought the brand, which is now sold in more than 60 countries in 2000 and 13 sales of surge from 220 million that year to more than 900 million last year. Frank Langfitt NPR NEWS London In pre market treating US futures are higher following a down day on Wall Street Monday on stock markets in Asia. Shares are also in positive territory. On Monday, the Dow lost 89 points, the NASDAQ fell 100 and 65. This is NPR news. Support for NPR comes from NPR stations. Other contributors include the Lemelson Foundation, committed to improving lives through invention in the U. S, and in developing countries and working to inspire and enable the next generation of inventors. More information is available at lemelson dot org's This'd w n. Y c. 93.9 FM and AM a 20 NPR News and the New York conversation..
KCRW
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"It's morning edition from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep, and I'm no well king this morning. We have news out of London involving the founder of Wikileaks. Julian Hassan's, The U. S government has been trying to get the UK to extradite him to face espionage charges here. Ah British judge has just rejected that request. NPR's London correspondent Frank Langfitt has been following this one The morning, Frank Hey, Good morning Oil. What was the judge's reasoning here? It was fascinating and also surprising because almost everyone in the courtroom up until the end of today's hearing thought it was going to go against the sand. The judge basically accepted ASanchez lawyers and doctors who said that he suffered from a fragile mental condition a depression and that he was a suicide risk. The judge said he was a despairing man. He had the intellect and determination to get around any suicide prevention measures, and that's sending him to the American prison system would be oppressive because of his state of mind now. I can't speak to obviously a song just state of mind. But he has been transformed since when he first came on the scene International scene in 2000 and 10 hey was holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy here for almost seven years fighting extradition. And he looks to be a very, very different man. I mean, long, gray hair, and it looks like he has had a very, very rough time living inside that embassy. Was Julian Assange Ganj in court for any of this Has he said anything about any of this? He has not said anything yet, but I will tell you that when this happened, there were cheers outside of the courtroom, and you could hear people were really, really surprised because they thought he was going to be sent to the U. S. What they're saying His people who are supporting him say that his attorneys will apply for bail. I don't know if we'll get it. Because he's already shown that he's a flight risk, and the U. S is going to appeal this, so it's not over yet. Sand in this case made free speech a key part of his defense. What did the judge have to say about that? Well, this was a fascinating Noel. She rejected it, And that's why everybody in the courtroom thought this was going to go against a song. You know, Santa's always argued that back in 2010, where he basically revealed a bunch of Military secrets of the Pentagon enormous amounts that he was just acting as an investigative journalist. And some of these things that people may remember is a long time ago, but they were videos in Iraq of Apache helicopters, US Apache helicopters shooting and killing civilians. The military was extremely upset about this because they feared that it would put people at risk who work for the government. And it sounds all along, said I'm just being a reporter. Well, what happened is the U. S government argued that a sand when he alleged allegedly offered help Chelsea Manning. She was a defense intelligence analyst at the time trying to break in a password to get into the Pentagon that he went beyond the role of a journalist. And that's why most people thought until really, just not too long ago. That the judge would rule that he should go back to the states. Sanjay is a very complicated person. He hasn't just had problems with the U. S government. He's had all kinds of problems how two people in the UK see him now. Right outside of the courtroom. I would say he's certainly his supporters see him as a martyr for free speech, and they were cheering, free speech and all of that others, though, I think find him a much more complex figure. Certainly, when he first did this, I think he was he bit more is a journalist. But remember in 2016 Wiki leaks published tens of thousands of emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee that damaged Hillary Clinton helped Donald Trump and people saw him much more. As sort of a partisan provocateur. He's also very high profile. He's quite flamboyant. And so I think that his image over the last 10 years has changed a lot, and he certainly has many, many critics, even among journalists. MPR's Frank Langfitt with a surprising outcome in London. Thanks, Frank. Great to talk to Noel. This is a big week for democracy tomorrow. Georgia holds to run off elections that decide control of the U. S. Senate Wednesday. Congress formally ratifies the presidential election results. Numerous Republicans will go on the record Wednesday against a democratic election. They've said they plan to object to thoroughly documented election results there move will amplify President Trump's continuing effort to overturn his defeat. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, is leading a group of senators in promoting baseless claims. Cruz has also been campaigning in Georgia's Democratic election. NPR's Sarah McCammon reports from Atlanta. Even in Georgia. It's chilly this time of year, but not too cold for an outdoor campaign event. George has got to Senate seats on the ballot on Tuesday during a stop outside Atlanta, Texas Senator Ted Cruz warned about what he says will happen if Republicans lose control of the Senate all across the country. The forces of darkness are focused on Georgia. Cruz claimed. He alluded to unfounded and repeatedly debunked claims of election fraud by President Trump and other Republicans. But he told conservative voters those claims should not keep them from showing up for this election. If you're mad about what happened on Election day, the answer is show up on Tuesday and win a resounding victory without evidence. Cruz has cast doubt on the results of the November Election, He's gathered a group of senators to object to Biden certification as president elect. That's despite repeated affirmations by the courts, and many Republican officials that the election was legitimate. Among those officials is Georgia's own Republican secretary of state. Brad Rapids. Burger, who's been the subject of repeated attacks by President Trump since certifying Biden's victory in Georgia. In a recording obtained by Georgia Public Broadcasting, Trump can be heard pushing reference Burger to add more votes to his tally and overturn the legitimate vote count. There's nothing wrong with saying that, you know. That you've re calculated in the lengthy exchange, rapids, Burger and other Georgia officials repeatedly pushed back on the president's false statements. And even if you cut him in half, cut him in half and cut him in half again, it's more votes than we need. Mr President did challenge that you have is the data you have is wrong. Campaigning in Savannah on behalf of Democrats John Ausaf and Raphael Warnock. After the recording surfaced, Vice President elect Kamila Harris called it the voice of desperation and an abuse of power by President Trump. Meanwhile, Republicans dodged questions about the recording. After his speech outside Atlanta, I asked Cruz to respond my focus. I've been here campaigning on the ground now, This is my third trip to Georgia during this special election. I was here yesterday. Kip. I understand, But I'm gonna answer what I think matters for the voters of George and what matters for the voters of Georgia. Is the special election that it's happening on Tuesday for the United States Senate that has control of the Senate. Asked whether he will accept the results of that election, Cruise walked away from reporters, and so it all comes down to turnout on Tuesday. All right, Thank you guys, you can trust the results of the runoff. Political.
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"It's 5 20. This'll is all things considered from NPR news. I'm Michelle Martin, now to Europe, where the long and often bitter divorce between the United Kingdom and the European Union is finally complete. New Year's Day. The transition period meant to ease their separation came to an end. So now after 47 years in the European Union, Britain has severed almost all its ties with the EU and will now strike out in the tone. To examine the implications of this monumental event on both sides of the English Channel. We are joined now by NPR's London correspondent Frank Langfitt and reporter Rebecca Rosman, who is in the French port of Calais. Frank. Welcome. Thank you for joining us. Hey, it's great to be here. Michelle and Rebecca. Welcome to you high. So 4.5 years Frank and the U K out of the EU. What's been the reaction of the British people after all this time? I think there's relief, frankly, Michelle that there was some kind of free trade deal. The real concern here was there would be no deal at all that after all of this, arguing for many years, the UK would actually walk away empty handed, and that you would see tariffs and like a massive slow down at the border. Yesterday, I was there, and it was very smooth Nominee trucks even showed up. But I think most people here are glad that this very long and tortures process his concluded well, one of the big discussions over the past 4.5 years leading up to the split is would there be economic costs? So, Frank? You know, what do we know about that? Is that picture becoming clear? The cost of the break up. Yeah, I think it's going to cost the economy no doubt and the reason for that, as you normally do a free trade deals about removing barriers. This is a free trade deal that this is, ah, process that actually puts them up. So, for instance, it's going to be a next to a $10 billion in new paperwork. For British exporters. You're going to go from frictionless trade to more friction, and the expectation is U K per capita GDP here is going to grow by about 6% less than a would've. If the UK it stayed in the U. There's a economist. I know what the King's college in London named Jonathan Portis, this is how he puts it breaks. It will make us poorer or and we otherwise would have been. Then there'll be this persistent drag on growth. Some of us have. This part of this is Brexit will not be a blowout for the British economy. It will be a slow puncture. Let me talk more about trade with Rebecca Rebecca you are at the French port of Calais, where usually thousands of trucks cross the English Channel by ferry and the rail tunnel, but not for the past few days. I take it Yeah, It's been extremely quiet over here. Hardly any traffic in either direction, I would say, maybe only a third of the number of folks you'd expect on an average day. Most truckers are staying away because they feared these massive delays and hiccups as new customs forms and other regulations came into effect. Even though you know the UK is an island and there is this whole body of water separating it from mainland Europe has been easy to forget that this is an international border. But now it's back with a vengeance. And despite free trade agreement, you know no terrorist no quotas. There's still a lot of forms to fill out and fees to pay. Obviously, people won't avoid this route forever. And customs officials that I spoke with hearing can I did say they expect more delays to come starting the January Frank, Let's go back and step away just from the trade issue itself and just look more broadly at the political landscape. I mean, Brexit, bitterly divided British voters. What's the sense of how that stands Now? Is there a sense that all the intensity and anger around this is abating? Somewhat? Does it seem like the countries on the way to healing? Um, not yet, Michelle. I think that the divisions that Brexit created here or exacerbated are far from over. And I'll give an example Brexit is actually sort of dividing the United Kingdom now in almost a literal way, so One of the things is, if you remember on the island of Ireland, there was this desire to avoid a land border across the island of Ireland separating Northern Ireland, which is a part of UK with the Republic of Ireland, which is a part of the EU and in order to do that they're not going to actually have to have a regulatory border inside the United Kingdom. Basically what they say down the Irish Sea between Northern Island and the rest of the country. They're going to be checks on some products coming in safe from England, where I live into Northern Ireland, and this is really angered A lot of quite a few people. I know in Northern Ireland who've already kind of feel like The rest of the United Kingdom doesn't care about the much anyway And so one of the questions is do these sort of new divisions inside the UK actually push Northern Island closer to reunification with the Republic of Ireland in the South, which is a party you and and that's certainly the last time I was up there, which was a number of months ago in Northern Ireland. People felt like that was actually Speeding up that process and speaking of divisions inside the UK, Scotland voted heavily to stay in the EU during the Brexit referendum. What's the attitude in Scotland now? Are people in Scotland prepared to accept Brexit? No, I don't think so. There's still a lot of anger over what people in Scotland feel. They lost out particular specific benefits and Nicholas Sturgeon. She's the first minister. She basically is the leader of Scotland, she said. The answer all of this. Is to actually leave the U. K and eventually rejoined the EU and today addressing the you, she wrote, were now faced with a hard Brexit against our will. We didn't want to leave, and we hope to join you again soon. Her party's Scottish National Party is going to be running on a platform to have another independence referendum thistles in parliamentary elections in May up in Scotland and if they win big they're going to turn into Boris Johnson say You've got to give us an independence referendum, and honestly, the country could down the line. Be heading for a constitutional crisis. Where Becca What about the EU? What's been the Reaction and has that been weakened in any way by Britain's departure. I know I think that the you feels stronger than ever after Britain's departure, I would say that the last 4.5 years have been a very messy time and exhausting period for the U K in the U. Just even economically speaking growth in the U. K's financial sector was almost nothing last year. And I don't think European nations of the whole I really buying this Take back control Promise of Brexit. Rather, people really see the UK as an island. Now, you know that's isolated itself from the rest of Europe and is very much alone. What European countries are focusing on is strengthening their own ties with each other. The Franklin German alliance is stronger than ever. There's a lot of determination to address problems together. One example I can give you is earlier this year when you put out a jointly funded $918 million Pandemic Recovery Fund and leaders have really been working hard to drive.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"frank langfitt" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"Often bitter divorce between the United Kingdom and the European Union is finally complete. On New Year's Day. The transition period meant to ease their separation came to an end. So now after 47 years in the European Union, Britain has severed almost all its ties with the EU and will now strike out on the stone. To examine the implications of this monumental event on both sides of the English Channel. We are joined now by NPR's London correspondent Frank Langfitt and reporter Rebecca Rosman, who is in the French port of Calais. Frank. Welcome. Thank you for joining us. Hey, it's great to be here. Michelle and Rebecca. Welcome to you high. So 4.5 years Frank and the U K out of the EU. What's been the reaction of the British people after all this time? I think there's relief, frankly, Michelle that there was some kind of free trade deal. The real concern here was there would be no deal at all that after all of this, arguing for many years, the UK would actually walk away empty handed. And that you would see tariffs and like a massive slow down at the border. Yesterday, I was there and it was very smooth. Not many trucks even showed up, but I think most people here are glad that this very long and tortuous process is concluded. Well, one of the big discussions over the past 4.5 years leading up to the split is would there be economic costs? So, Frank? You know, what do we know about that? Is that picture becoming clear? The cost of the break up. Yeah, I think it's going to cost the economy no doubt and the reason for that, as you normally do a free trade deals about removing barriers. This is a free trade deal that this is, Ah, process actually puts them up. So, for instance, it's gonna be a next to a $10 billion in new paperwork for British exporters. You're gonna go from frictionless trade to more friction, and the expectation is U K per capita GDP here is going to grow by about 6% less than it would've. If the UK it stayed in the U. There's a economist. I know with the King's College in London named Jonathan Portis. This is how he puts it breaks. It will make us poorer or otherwise would have been that they'll be this persistent drag on growth. Some of us have described. This is Brexit will not be a blowout for the British economy, It will be a slow puncture. Let me talk more about trade with Rebecca Rebecca you are at the French port of Calais, where usually thousands of trucks cross the English Channel by ferry and the rail tunnel, but not for the past few days. I take it Yeah, It's been extremely quiet over here. Hardly any traffic in either direction. I would say maybe only a third of the number of trucks you'd expect on average day. Most truckers are staying away because they feared these massive delays and hiccups as new customs forms and other regulations came into effect. Even though you know the UK is an island and there is this whole body of water separating it from mainland Europe. It has been easy to forget that this is an international border. But now it's back with a vengeance. And despite free trade agreement, you know no terrorist no quotas. There's still a lot of forms to fill out and fees to pay. Obviously, people won't avoid this route forever. And customs officials that I spoke with here in Calais did say they expect more delays to come starting mid January. Frank. Let's go back and step away just from the trade issue itself and just look more broadly at the political landscape. I mean, Brexit bitterly divided British voters. What's the sense of how that stands Now? Is there a sense that all the intensity and anger around this is abating? Somewhat? Does it seem like the countries on the way to healing? Um, not yet, Michelle. I think that the divisions that Brexit created here or exacerbated are far from over. And I'll give an example Brexit is actually sort of dividing the United Kingdom now in almost a literal way, so One of the things is, if you remember on the island of Ireland, there was this desire to avoid a land border across the island of Ireland separating Northern Ireland, which is a part of UK with the Republic of Ireland, which is a part of the U, and in order to do that, they're not going to actually have to have a regulatory border inside the United Kingdom. Basically what they say down the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the country. They're gonna be checks on some products coming in safe from England, where I live into Northern Ireland and This is really angered. A lot of quite a few people I know in Northern Ireland who've already kind of feel like the rest of the United Kingdom doesn't care about the much anyway And so one of the questions is do these sort of new divisions inside the UK actually push Northern Island closer to reunification with the Republic of Ireland in the South, which is a party you and and that's certainly the last time I was up there, which was a number of months ago in Northern Ireland. People felt like that was actually Speeding up that process and speaking of divisions inside the UK, Scotland voted heavily to stay in the EU during the Brexit referendum. What's the attitude in Scotland? Now? Are people in Scotland prepared to accept Brexit? No, I don't think so. There's still a lot of anger over what people in Scotland feel they lost out particular specific benefits. And Nicholas Sturgeon. She's the first minister. She basically is the leader of Scotland, she said. The answer All of this is to actually leave the U. K and eventually rejoined the EU and today addressing the you, she wrote, were now faced with a hard Brexit against our will. We didn't want to leave and we hope to join you again soon. Her party, the Scottish National Party, is going to be running on a platform to have another independence referendum. This is in parliamentary elections in May up in Scotland, and if they win big, they're going to turn around a Boris Johnson say. You've got to give us an independence referendum, and honestly, the country could down the line be heading for a constitutional crisis. Where crackle What about the EU? What's been the Reaction and has that been weakened in any way by Britain's departure. I know I think that the you feels stronger than ever after Britain's departure. I would say that the last 4.5 years have been a very messy time and exhausting period for the U. K in the U. Just even economically speaking growth in the U. K's financial sector was almost nothing last year. And I don't think European nations as a whole. I really buying this Take back control Promise of Brexit. Rather, people really see the UK as an island. Now, you know that's isolated itself from the rest of Europe and is very much alone. What European countries are focusing on is strengthening their own ties with each other. The Franco German alliance is stronger than ever. There's a lot of determination to address problems together. One example I can give you is earlier this year when you put out a jointly funded $918 Million Pandemic Recovery Fund. And leaders have really been working hard to drive home this message to the European people of unity. Yesterday, France's European Affairs Minister Clement Bone made a speech at the port here and Kelly and I just wanna play a little bit of what he said. Proponent of but only three in the morning when I leave.
KPCC
"frank langfitt" Discussed on KPCC
"Line from NPR News in Washington. I'm Louise Schiavone as 2020 ends what was incomprehensible this time 12 months ago continues to rage is a global health crisis. The Corona virus pandemic has taken 1.8 million lives globally, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the U. S. 345,000 people have died. With a total of 20 million cases now identified across the nation. Equally impressive researchers around the world have now created and rushed into production. Several vaccines. The supply chain challenges, though, are significant and today adding to the difficulty of dispersing the vaccine comes a story from Grafton, Wisconsin, where a pharmacist is accused of destroying dozens of vaccine vials. Shuck corn, Bach reports. Detectives say the pharmacist that Aurora medical Center and graft in new the Moderna vaccine would be useless after being removed from refrigeration and that the company's health care employees would think they had received their first dose to protect against the coronavirus. Police say the pharmacist is now being held in jail on possible felony charges over a healthcare president Jeff Barr says his firm has checked to make sure no other vaccine was harmed. We're confident these were the only 57 vials impacted. Bar also says there's no evidence the workers who received shots face any health risks from the degraded doses. For NPR News. I'm Chuck Wambach in Milwaukee, Britain and Spain have reached a last minute Brexit deal to keep the border open between Gibraltar in Spain. As of tonight, the UK is leaving the European for good. NPR's Frank Langfitt has more to make sure people can flow easily between the British overseas territory and neighboring Spain. Gibraltar will join Europe's border free Schengen zone and follow EU rules while still remaining part of the United Kingdom. Gibraltar, voted by an overwhelming margin to stay in the U in 2016. About 15,000 Spanish workers across the border to the rock as it's known daily. The deal to keep people flowing easily between Spain and Gibraltar does nothing to address the difficulty issue of the territory sovereignty. Britain has ruled the territory on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula for more than three centuries. But Spain which seated Gibraltar to the British in 17, 13 wants it back. Frank Langfitt. NPR NEWS London The calendar has now turned a page to the New year in Europe. Fireworks exploded over Moscow..
KQED Radio
"frank langfitt" Discussed on KQED Radio
"88.5 San Francisco and kick you Ei 89.3, North Highlands and Sacramento. It's seven o'clock from wh y y in Philadelphia. I'm Terry Gross with fresh air. Happy New Year as many of us gladly say goodbye to 2020. And look forward to a new year. We'll celebrate with a performance by an interview with singer and songwriter Loudon Wainwright and Vince Giordano, who leads the band the night Hawks and place tuba base and bass saxophone. Musically there from pretty different worlds. Wainwright is known for his confessional songs about dysfunctional family. Giordano is known for playing music of the 19 twenties and thirties, but they've come together on the new album. I'd rather lead a band, which features songs by Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, Harold Arlen, Fats Waller and others. Giordano and Wainwright previously worked together on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. And Martin Scorsese's film The Aviator, You know that I haven't AM missions Fall love Depots, Asians first news. Line from NPR News in Washington. I'm Louise Schiavone as 2020 ends what was incomprehensible this time 12 months ago continues to rage is a global health crisis. The Corona virus pandemic has taken 1.8 million lives globally, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the U. S. 345,000 people have died. With a total of 20 million cases now identified across the nation. Equally impressive researchers around the world have now created and rushed into production. Several vaccines. The supply chain challenges, though, are significant and today adding to the difficulty of dispersing the vaccine comes a story from Grafton, Wisconsin, where a pharmacist is accused of destroying dozens of vaccine vials. Shuck corn, Bach reports. Detectives say the pharmacist that Aurora medical Center and graft in new the Moderna vaccine would be useless after being removed from refrigeration and that the company's health care employees would think they had received their first dose to protect against the coronavirus. Police say the pharmacist is now being held in jail on possible felony charges over a healthcare president Jeff Barr says his firm has checked to make sure no other vaccine was harmed. We're confident these were the only 57 vials impacted. Bar also says there's no evidence the workers who received shots face any health risks from the degraded doses. For NPR News. I'm Chuck Corn. Bach in Milwaukee, Britain and Spain have reached a last minute Brexit deal to keep the border open between Gibraltar and Spain. As of tonight, the UK is leaving the European for good. NPR's Frank Langfitt has more to make sure people can flow easily between the British overseas territory and neighboring Spain. Gibraltar will join Europe's border free Schengen zone and follow you rules while still remaining part of the United Kingdom. Gibraltar, voted by an overwhelming margin to stay in the EU in 2000 and 16 and about 15,000 Spanish workers across the border to the rock as it's known daily. The deal to keep people flowing easily between Spain and Gibraltar does nothing to address the difficulty issue of the territory Sovereignty. Britain has ruled the territory on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula for more than three centuries. But Spain, which seated Gibraltar to the British in 17, 13 wanted back. Frank Langfitt. NPR NEWS London The calendar has now turned a page to the New year in Europe. Fireworks exploded over Moscow, Big Ben rang out to hollow crowds in London.
All Things Considered
Gibraltar Gets Its Own Brexit Deal With Spain
"Britain and Spain reached a last minute deal to keep the border open between Travolta and Spain. Now that Brexit is complete, and as of tonight, the UK is leaving the European Union for good. NPR's Frank Langfitt has more to make sure people can flow easily between the British overseas territory and neighboring Spain. Gibraltar will join Europe's border free Schengen zone and follow EU rules while still remaining part of the United Kingdom. Gibraltar, voted by an overwhelming margin to stay in the EU in 2016. About 15,000 Spanish workers across the border to the rock as it's known daily. The deal to keep people flowing easily between Spain and Gibraltar does nothing to address the difficulty issue of the territory sovereignty. Britain has ruled the territory on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula for more than three centuries. But Spain which seated Gibraltar to the British in 17, 13 wants it back. Frank Langfitt. NPR NEWS London
KCRW
"frank langfitt" Discussed on KCRW
"For this final day of 2020 clear Skies and Bree's New Year's Eve look for some light winds and a few passing clouds in downtown L. A. And the no. See Mid upper forties tonight from NPR News. This is all things considered. I'm Elsa Chang and I'm Ari Shapiro. New Year's Eve, The ball drops the champagne corks, pop and the United Kingdom finally officially finishes its divorce from the world's largest trading block the European Union. Brexit has huge consequences for business travelers and regular people who built lives based on a Europe that spanned the English Channel. This is a big gamble for the UK one that started more than four years ago when one of the biggest cheerleaders for Brexit was a former London mayor named Boris Johnson. If we burst out of the shackles of Brussels, we would be able to begin immediately with those long neglected free trade opportunities which we can't do at the moment. British voters are known for their caution. So when the BBC announced the results of the Brexit referendum on that June night in 2016, it's stunned. The worst British people have spoken and the answer is we're out. Johnson and his fellow Brexiteers had no real plan for how to actually untangle decades of economic and legal integration with Europe and so a country known for effective, sometimes dull governance. Was plunged into years of political chaos that cost two prime ministers their jobs. First. David Cameron, the man who called the referendum even as he urged Brits to vote against it. I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain. Steers our country to its next destination. Theresa may stepped up as prime minister, and three years later she was out, too. I will shortly leave the job that it has bean the honor of my life to hold and here's where Boris Johnson re enters the picture. Now he is prime minister. This year, Johnson finally engineered Britain's departure This week he signed a new free trade deal with the EU. I think this deal means a new stability on D, a new certainty in water, sometimes being a fractious on difficult relationship. So tonight after 4.5 of the most tumultuous years in modern British politics, Brexit becomes a reality. Let's explore what that reality means, beginning where the rubber literally meets the road. On a highway outside the port of Dover along the English Channel. That's where we caught NPR's London correspondent Frank Langfitt ahead of tonight's deadline, Frank. Congratulations.
Morning Edition
U.K. and European Union reach Brexit trade deal
"Has agreed to a post Brexit free trade deal with the European Union with just a week to go before New Year's Eve deadline. We're expecting very shortly to hear from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was a key campaigner for Brexit during the landmark referendum. 4.5 years ago. We want to turn to NPR's Frank Langfitt in London. He has covered the entire Brexit saga and joins us for this moment. Good morning, Frank. But Good morning, David. Well, it feels like we're there. It is. Actually we're just watching the press conference in Brussels. The You actually announcing this and we are waiting for Prime Mr Johnson. It's yet It's feel like it's been a long time coming. Yeah. How did negotiators finally finally get across the finish line here? Well, they had the actual were one of the big sticking points believed or not. David was a matter of fish and fishing grounds. I know that that might sound kind of odd to listeners in America well, because well, because Fisher is such a small part of, say, the European well, particularly the U. K economy, but this was also A matter of how much more fish the European fleets could continue to take from UK waters, and it actually had a big symbolic value for people here. If you remember back in 2016, the Brexit campaign slogan was all about taking back control. And basically the idea was that this nation state, the United Kingdom could be better off without European Union. Making its own rules and things like that. And so it was very hard for the UK toe. Be able to say yes, you can continue to take fish out of our waters, but in the end of the UK did agree to some things for the European Union, and that seems to have gotten over the line today. I mean, this was so much more than symbolism. This called such of a debate about what to do and what Brexit could mean for the United Kingdom. Do we know what the deal does mean? Going forward? You know, we do it. We're still waiting. It's apparently 2000 pages of material start when it actually does it only but it only covers so much of the economy What it will allow. We believe Is the UK to export to the U tariff and quota free. Well, that's really important to the foot for the honor Kingdom to be able to do that to do sort of as frictionless trade as possible. And then in the shorter run. Just just this week that you are talking about there was real concern that there was no deal Brexit. If this all fell apart, you see even more chaos at the borders in about seven days when the Brexit transition period ends well, We've already got a look at what that could look like this week, France closed down the port of Dover effectively and shut down the borders with the UK over the this Corona virus variant that we've been a coronavirus parent we've been reporting on We have thousands and thousands of trucks still stuck on this Chuck's side of the channel, so they're no deal. Braxton is a great concern that things would be even worse, and Brexit would cause more damage, Frankly. I just want to be really clear here, and I know you have 2000 pages to read, so it's gonna take a lot of things that there was in here, but But it is not clear that this will make the U. K a richer country. No, no, no, not at all. And I think David's really important for people to understand. That certainly Ah, lot of economic analysts and trade analysts would say that this deal averts. You know, a real basically could be a bit of a disaster at the end of the year. But it's not. It's what we would call a very thin deal. It doesn't deal with much with services. It's mostly with trading products, imports and exports. It's a hard Brexit. And economists say, even with his deal, per capita income in this country is still going to be reduced the growth by about 6.4% over the next 10 years, so many people would say. Certainly an economic analyst would say This was a choice between bad and worse. Okay. I'm sure I'll be hearing much more from you throughout the day. Frank just restating the news. The announcement is taking place as we speak. The UK government has reached a post Brexit deal with the European Union will be following this story. NPR's Frank Langfitt force in London, Frank Thank you so much. Great to talk, Dave.
Morning Edition
Breakthrough: UK and EU reach post-Brexit trade agreement
"European Union seem ready to sign a post Brexit free trade agreement before the end of the year. New Year's Eve is the deadline. Let's remember the U. K voted to leave the EU four years ago and it has been a saga since then. And let's turn to Who else MPR's London correspondent Frank Langfitt, who has covered All the big moments in the socket. Good morning, Frank. Good morning, David. Feel like I'm gonna believe this when I see it, but it sounds like we're getting close. What? What are the sticking points here? Well, interestingly enough, One of the main sticking points was actually fishing rights. I know that may seem, you know, given this is going on for so long. That may seem very odd toe listeners. Fishing is only less than 1% of the British economy. But what mattered, I think, particularly to British negotiators and Boris Johnson is back in 2016 when there was this vote. Bars Johnson and others. Their slogan was Take back control. Take back control of our waters. You know our our money our laws from Brussels from the EU, and so that's why symbolically, this has had an outsized role in the negotiations. Boris Johnson feels like he has to deliver and bring something back where people here feel like the United Kingdom really is leaving the EU and and moving on. And so own way to determine what kind of economic future is gonna have. Okay, so so fishing. I mean, a lot of symbolism there and and on many of these issues, but also so much at stake in this deal, as you've reminded us so many times there is I mean, this is the biggest trading partner for the United Kingdom there. They're leaving what they're hoping to get out of this deal and probably will will be terrifying, Quota free access to this enormous market. Of nearly 450 million consumers, and I think, particularly with his deadline coming up. David is to get some kind of deal so we don't see more chaos of the borders at the end of this year. When there's this Brexit transition period that ends and we've gotten a sense of how bad things could be just this weekend when France closed the borders because of the Corona virus variant we've been reporting about that appears to be Highly infectious and so France block things at the port of Dover. We now have, like 6000 trucks actually stranded around that part of the county, Kent in the southeast of England, waiting truck drivers waiting for negative covert 19 tests to be able to cross back and hopefully it's most of them. This will not work out for get home for Christmas. E into that could be a lot to sort of sacrificed. Here's as this process goes forward. I guess I just wonder, Frank A simple question. If this deal is confirmed, will it make the United Kingdom richer? No. In fact, it will do it. Sort of. Ah, choice. I think economists and trade experts will tell you, David choice between bad and worse. Getting a deal will help keep trade moving as frictionless as possible across the English Channel. But this is a feared thin deal. This is we've often talked about as hard Brexit. The U. K economy will not be is integrated with EU economy. For instance, financial services They're big business here in London. They're gonna have much less access to the European market than before. An economist that I've been talking to now for years, say that over the next decade, Even with this deal, per capita income here will be more than 6% less. Then, if the UK had actually stayed in the U E. We should say this whole saga cost two prime ministers their jobs. What is amazing political about Boris Johnson? I mean, calmer times for him, If if this goes through I think so. I mean, we're expecting to see him outside of number 10 Downing Street today, basically doing a victory lap and he will get credit for actually bringing this in. On the other hand, Brexit was always a gamble for this country, You know? Can they do it on their own outside of the EU and also Brexit has been so divisive that we've now seen up in Scotland is anger over that because the Scots voted against this There's now a bigger push for Scottish independence, and that could be the next big problem that Boris Johnson has to address next year.
1A
2 guilty of manslaughter in deaths of 39 migrants in England
"Have been found guilty of manslaughter for the best last year. 39 Vietnamese migrants They all died in the sealed truck trailer. NPR's Frank Langfitt reports. Even Harrison is a truck driver from Northern Ireland. George Nikas Romanian who coordinated the operation. Police said. The smugglers packed double the so called normal number of people into a sealed refrigeration trailer in charge Passengers from 13,002 $17,000 each to be smuggled England by fairy, according to Britain's Guardian newspaper. The passengers began to run out of oxygen. Some recorded messages saying goodbye to loved ones. They died of us fix CIA or overheating Quote. You were treated worse than cattle, said Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Stop, who led the police investigation here. Human convicted of manslaughter, along with several others who pleaded guilty will be sentenced at a later date.
Morning Edition
On Brexit and Coronavirus, Boris Johnson Leaves It Late
"Johnson, called an emergency meeting this morning. A variant of the corona virus is spreading in the UK and scientists say it could be much more infectious. In the original. Other European countries, including France, Ireland and Italy, have now banned travel to and from the UK and here's Matt Handcock, Britain's health secretary, Talking in the B B C yesterday. The new variant is out of control when we need to bring it under control, and this news about the new variant has been a Um, incredibly difficult. And, frankly, in awful year, NPR's Frank Langfitt is just outside of London. Hey, Frank. Hey. Good morning, Doyle. So you have a travel ban. You have a lockdown in some parts of the UK It is sounding a lot like March and April with respect to isolation. It does. It feels very much more isolated than it did even just a few days ago here on the island of Great Britain. Now France has gone further and say no trucks coming from Britain across the English Channel on fairies. The Euro tunnel, which runs under the channel is also closed. This seems to be a precautionary measure for about 48 hours. There's a lot of concern now around the Christmas season. We've already seen backups at the port of Dover, 20. Miles long. And what's been happening is people are trying to get freight across the channel before the deadline for the Brexit transition period, which is going to end on New Year's Eve. Right now we have truckers stranded on both sides of the water and the on Lee. Good news, I'd say is that shipping containers, which are the majority of trade, they're still moving, because, of course, they're not people driving the shipping containers. Okay, let's establish something that scientists say often, which is that to say often, which is that viruses do mutate. We expect them to why our government scientists in the U. K so concerned about this particular mutation. I think a couple of reasons. One is that it quickly became the dominant version in this part of England, where I am out in London and beyond. And that's not a big problem. We saw that with the Spanish virus, not over the summer when people tourist brought it back from Spain, the problem and and in London, for instance, right now, this new Varian about over 60% of the virus is found. In London. The problem is that this domination is coinciding with exponential growth of the virus in these areas. Scientists now believe it could be up to 70% more infectious than the various mutations that are floating around this country. And that's why I think you're seeing the dramatic response of these European neighbors. And, of course, the lockdown that we have here in London. One important good news so far is there's no sign that this mutation Has more severe symptoms or or is more deadly. Okay, That's some good news. What about scientists outside of Britain? Are they expressing concern about this? They are the ones that I've talked to particularly last 24 hours, vaccine expert and epidemiologist. They don't like the data they're seeing either. This is Emma Hot Cross. She's an epidemiologist who studies coronavirus mutations of the University of Baron in Switzerland. This is what she said this morning. I do think that it's concerning And I don't say that very lightly. Certainly, as evidence has gathered with this new variant, it does seem like there might be an increased transmissibility. And so I do think we need to start being quite cautious about what we're doing about it. And as you said earlier, Frank, the timing here is really messy because Britain still hasn't been able to strike a free trade deal with the European Union. Time runs out on New Year's Eve. This can't make anything easier, Can it No, It just makes things even worse, And I don't think people would have even imagined that this was likely to happen. There's the great risk. If there's no deal on free trade, there's no free trade deal. We see customs and tariffs going up in Dover. Right now. Trucks aren't even crossing the English Channel. So it could be even more disruptive than what we imagined would do a lot more economic damage on both sides of the channel. NPR's Frank Langfitt. Thanks, Frank, great to talk to him. The
All Things Considered
Going 'the extra mile': UK, EU keep up Brexit trade talks
"The UK and the EU agreed to continue post Brexit trade talks beyond today's self imposed deadline, but they have to get some agreement before the official deadline at the end of the month as NPR's Frank Langfitt reports from London they're hoping to avoid major disruptions. Just Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von Dir Lan said he was quote responsible at this point to go the extra mile. Both sides are still far apart on issues such as European access to U K fishing grounds. And the U. K's drive for as much access to the use massive market of nearly 450 million consumers while retaining as much freedom to make its own rules and regulations. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and traders. The UK auto trade body welcomed the extension of talks, saying the UK leaving the you without a new free trade deal. Quote would be nothing less than catastrophic for the automotive sector, its workers and their families and represent a stunning failure
Morning Edition
Britain hospitals prepare for coronavirus vaccine distribution
"Medical regulator says people with a significant history of allergies should not take the newly approved cove in 19 vaccine from Fizer, NPR's Frank Langfitt reports from London to health care workers in the UK have allergic reactions. Regulatory agency said people have allergic reactions to medicines, Food or vaccines in general should steer clear of this one, which the UK began rolling out to thousands of people on Tuesday. Officials said the national health Service workers who carried adrenalin pens with them or both recovering well. Britain's regulator approved emergency use of the Fizer vaccine, which, like other covert vaccines, has been developed in record time because of the urgency of the pandemic. Given the speed vaccine, experts say the government must take even more care to monitor any bad reactions to the vaccine. You can launch the vaccine in 70 hospitals on Tuesday and plans to expand distribution to 200 family practices next week.
The Saturday Show
England to Shut Pubs, Restaurants and Most Shops as Virus Surges
"A second lock down because of a resurgence of Corona virus cases. NPR's Frank Langfitt has more all pubs and restaurants will close along with non essential retail shops, but schools and universities will remain open. Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the country Saturday. The bars is spreading even faster than the reasonable worst case scenario of our scientific advisors. Who's models, as you've just seen now suggested. Unless we act we could see death in this country running at several 1000 today, The decision is yet another U turn for Johnson, who recently dismissed the second lock down thing would be a disaster for the country.
NPR News Now
England to Shut Pubs, Restaurants and Most Shops as Virus Surges
"A resurgence of Corona virus cases will force England to enter a second lockdown starting on Thursday and it will last until early December NPR's Frank Langfitt has more from London. All pubs and restaurants will close along with non-essential retail shops but schools and universities will remain open. Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the country Saturday virus is spreading even faster than the reasonable worst case scenario of our scientific advises who's models Eve just seen nine suggests that unless we act, we could see death in this country running at several thousand today. The decision is yet another u-turn for Johnson who recently dismissed the second lockdown saying would be a disaster for the country. The move comes after a summer when life largely returned to normal here thousand Frank Langfitt NPR news London.
NPR's World Story of the Day
UK and Germany's different approaches to the pandemic
"The UK and Germany are both leading democracies and not far apart on the globe. They took very different approaches to the pandemic with very different results the UK as suffered the most covid nineteen deaths in Europe Germany with a much bigger population has lost far fewer people. NPR's correspondent in each country rob Schmitz in Berlin and Frank Langfitt in London had been talking among themselves. Hey Rob Frank. So tell me what happened in the UK. were. So many mistakes a big reason is the government honestly doesn't really seem to think ahead Boris Johnson you remember he sold Brexit to the British people in two thousand sixteen with no plan on how to execute it. So in the virus began spreading here Johnson course he's now prime minister. He was slow to recognize the threat here he is on March Third I was at movie night. where I think the rush if you credit ours patience and I shook hands of everybody. So by April Johnson an icy ICU covid nineteen I was talking to you in Boyd he's a member of the scientific group that advises the government. The UK didn't really grasped the speed with which the epidemic was entering the country under are all sorts of reasons for that, some of which are to. Lack of organisational capability sometimes when there's very high uncertainty, you simply have to shut things down really quickly and frank here in. Germany. That's what they did on January twenty seven. The first known case of coronavirus was sent to Clemson ventner chief physician at the Munich Schwab in clinic we have very similar like the boys gall. Be always prepare. Then you're watched what was happening in Italy in January where the virus was spreading pretty fast and we knew that we have to flatten the curve. So even before the first case of Covid nineteen and Germany, he was working on slowing its progress and he says the German government was involved from day one asking us what do you need we? We? We didn't have to ask them for example, Germany already had a big supply of ICU beds clouds Deutsche is at the Federation of German. You know that it's been a long debate on whether we had too many intensive care beds that warned us that often obviously that debate is over Deutsche says, Germany also has a lot of hospitals. If you take all the beds in all of Germany's hospitals, you get four times more per capita than what the UK has rob. You had slack in your system in Germany there. Was Not much here because the government had been cutting funding to the National Health Service for years, the hospitals were afraid of getting swamped with Cova patients. So they sent elderly patients back to nursing homes some broad cove with them infected other residents at least twenty, thousand nursing home residents died of covid. That's terrible in while in Germany, deaths were prevented through testing and contact tracing. The health authority in Berlin district of Hong, Kong and operator talks to man at conduct with a positive case, there are around four hundred call centers like this across Germany Peters directs this one become Austin We have traffic wardens and librarians working for us. We've recruited gardeners from parks and recreation Germany had a lot of manpower and testing to infrastructure filled with labs and university medical centers across the country. You know here the government misread the corona virus they thought it was going to spread as quickly as the flu. They didn't even try to develop a testing system where we steward he's a former British cabinet minister they were very, very confident. And slightly arrogant neb beliefs that they understood this disease better than other countries, I think the lack of scientific education amongst a lot of the British political elite meant that they were very reluctant to challenge scientists but here, Germany. Frank. A trained scientist is at the helm and Chancellor Angela Merkel. gave one of the most powerful and heartfelt speeches in her life when she made a rare national address on March. Eighteenth dusted fees above in then. Comes here. I have absolutely no doubt that we will overcome this crisis. How many victims will it claim? How many loved ones lose to a large extent? The answer lies in our own hands miracle has a doctorate in quantum chemistry, and in another speech, she patiently explain how important it was for Germany to reduce the viruses reproduction rate. Her tone was always humble and deadly serious. I'm. Doing this Icefield is off that. We are thin ice. This is a situation in which caution not over-confidence is the order of the day it really different here Johnson studied classics at Oxford University. He was president the debating society and as Prime Minister he's tried to rally the country with rhetoric. We must act like any wartime government and do whatever it takes to support our economy Johnson's Ori helped win a landslide election last year, but a pandemic, of course, not a campaign. Here's where. We store again he sees himself as somebody who is encouraging a rugby team for nineteen minute match telling them that fantastic to make them play. Well, he doesn't primarily see himself as somebody whose job is to get into uncomfortable details were chew over policy and strategy but frank, it's this chewing over of policy and strategy. This technocratic nature of the German government that may have also contributed to Germany's success hunts could is senior research fellow at Chatham House this sort of doubling down on technocracy. Populism has now been discredited by the Corona Virus. He says, that's potentially dangerous. If technocrats feel too emboldened, there might be an even bigger growth populist backlash in the future some people will blame Johnson for Britain's handling of covid campaigner. He thinks Johnson's more symptoms than 'cause captors just written a book called why the Germans do it better notes from grownup country. We've descended into believing that somehow because we always muddled through in the past muddling through is a recipe that will get us through in the future. So rob where's Germany now with crow verse? Well cases are rising deaths are not that tells us these new cases are from young people, children across the country are back in classrooms, but the German government seems so far. Okay. With the dangers of this, there remains a strong infrastructure of hospital beds, testing, tracing Germany fields, prepared and Chancellor Angela Merkel's popularity ratings are sky high eighty, six percent. WOW cases rising rapidly to we've got new strictures but Johnson actually had trouble explaining them to the nation recently the last surveys Ron Johnson is under forty percent approval rating testing capacity here still can't meet demand. And Winter's coming. NPR London correspondent Frank Langfitt, and Berlin correspondent. Rob? Schmitz.
Morning Edition
UK leader: Britain at “perilous turning point,” scraps back-to-work drive, tightens restrictions amid virus resurgence
"The prime minister of the UK announced new pandemic restrictions to help get the Corona virus under control. Mr Speaker. We will spare no effort in developing vaccines treatments. New forms of mass tested. But unless we palpably make progress, we should assume that the restrictions I've announced will remain in place. For perhaps six months. Great. Britain had been making the opposite of progress after a summer when life largely returned to normal Corona virus numbers in the UK Rose, NPR London correspondent Frank Langfitt is living all of this. Hey there, Frank. Hey, Steve. What of the restrictions and how big a difference is it? Yeah, it's one of things is sort of a curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants are going to have to close at 10 P.m. Bar's Johnson also telling people to work from home if they can to avoid spreading the disease, which is a reversal of the government's position. This is coming after we're up to about 6000 Day in terms of cases, and this is what Johnson also had to say in the House of Commons today. This is the moment when we must act. If we can curb the number of daily infections on DH, reduce the reproduction rate toe one Then Then we we can can save save lives lives protected protected in in a a chest chest on on the the most most vulnerable vulnerable and and shelter shelter the the economy. economy. And And what what he's he's saying saying here. here. Steve Steve is is the the UK UK needs needs to to do do this this now now to avoid the kind of lock down that we saw back in March, which devastated a lot of businesses here, Okay, reducing the reproduction rate to one. That's a statistic he wants each new person on average tow infect less than one new person, although just saying the pub should close it. 10. Is that really a big enough change to make a difference? No, Steve. Most people don't seem to say that I see it that way. And I will include my daughter, Catherine in that she actually works our neighborhood pub and I talked about it this morning. And she says, you know, Late at night. People do get drunk, They become affectionate and there's a lot of ignoring of social distancing, so it will help to close down a little bit earlier, But last call there was at 11 o'clock anyway, so we'll be cutting time, much in that in that pub, and she doesn't think it's going to make that much of a difference, nor, frankly, I think to a lot of people here in England who have heard these measures today. I guess it does make some difference of people do work from home instead of going into the office, if somewhere and that will help. I mean, I think that I think that that will help some a lot of people that we're not going in right now, anyway, a lot of people out of convenience and otherwise they're staying out of London. What's the scientific community saying about these measures? I think something that it needs to go further than what the Gover what Boris Johnson is talking about. Other measures could include no mixing of households or a locked down for a couple of weeks that would try to put the brakes on the virus. It's clear that the government's deeply worried about the economy and doesn't want to go that far right now because the economy's been improving, actually Steve in the past couple of 23 months, and it doesn't want that stop. Now you go into hibernation, so to speak for another six months, according to Boris Johnson, is the country ready, though, if there is a big second wave It's better In some ways, you know, they figured out ways to use steroids to cut the fatality rate. And so that's been very positive. But on the testing front, we don't have the kind of testing system that we hope to many many months ago and cure Starmer. He's the leader of the opposition Labour Party, and today this is what he had to say to Johnson. We warned the promise two months ago that testing need to be fixed by the autumn, but the government didn't listen. They pretended it wasn't a problem. They didn't act quickly enough. Now the testing system isn't working just when we need it. And I got to tell you, Steve, this is a critique you here across the country. Most people I know are stunned that after all these months, the government has not been able to build a testing system that will meet demand.