A Columbia University analysis estimates that tens of thousands of U.S. deaths could have been prevented with earlier lockdowns. Also, new coronavirus data shows declines in new cases of the virus, hospitalizations and deaths across all but a few areas of the United States. So what about the cities where cases have merely plateaued? And, Syrian officials who fled the nation's civil war are on trial in Germany, charged with war crimes.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

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A standoff at Columbia, as students defy the university's order to disband the protest against the Gaza war. In Charlotte, an effort to serve a warrant on a fugitive suspect turned deadly, with four officers killed and four more wounded. And Ukraine prepares to receive U.S. military aid that can't come soon enough.

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Today's episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Denice Rios, Nick Spicer, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.

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Columbia Standoff, Charlotte Shooting, Ukraine Awaits Aid

The International Criminal Court is reportedly weighing arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Student protests over Israel's war in Gaza are spreading to new campuses, but at Columbia, the university and protesters both appear to be working to de-escalate. And Spain's prime minister says he's staying in office — despite allegations of corruption against his wife.

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Today's episode of Up First was edited by Vincent Ni, Russell Lewis, Nick Spicer, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.

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Mideast Latest, Campus Protests, Spain's Prime Minister

From brightening ocean clouds to launching sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, some entrepreneurs and scientists are testing technology that could reflect sunlight back into space to combat global warming. There's evidence some types of solar geoengineering could lower global temperatures a lot. But along with potential benefits come huge potential risks. Experts say the science isn't settled and regulations aren't keeping up. Today on The Sunday Story, a journey into the world of solar geoengineering.

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The Sunday Story: Startups want to cool Earth by reflecting sunlight

Campus demonstrations in support of Gaza have spread to schools unaccustomed to such activism. In New York City and Washington, D.C., Donald Trump's attorneys defended him and made some extreme claims. An independent investigation finds Israel has not supported claims that a significant number of workers at the The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East are members of Hamas.

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Student Protests Continue, The Week In Trump Trials, UNRWA Report

As protests and arrests continue at college campuses across the U.S.. are the students calling for divestment in Israel getting closer to their demands? The U.S. Supreme Court took nearly three hours to debate whether a president should have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution. And New York State's highest court has overturned the criminal conviction of former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

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Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrea de Leon, Meghan Sullivan, H-J Mai, Elana Perl, Jan Johnson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, our technical director is Zac Coleman, and our Executive Producer is Erika Aguilar.

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Thursday, May 21, 2020

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