News Sparks: Two Iranians Indicted for Interfering in US Elections; U.S Signs $5.29 Billion Deal with Pfizer for Anti-Covid Pill; And More News

Two Iranians Indicted for Threatening Voters in 2020 Election

The Justice Department has indicted two Iranian hackers for interfering in the U.S. Presidential elections of 2020 by threatening Democratic voters and trying to persuade them to change their party affiliation and vote for then President Trump.

The two Iranian nationals, Seyyed Mohammad Hosein Musa Kazemi and Sajjad Kashian will be facing sanctions, the Treasury Department announced, they are reportedly in Iran and not in U.S. custody. 

“This indictment details how two Iran-based actors waged a targeted, coordinated campaign to erode confidence in the integrity of the US electoral system and to sow discord among Americans,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the head of the Justice Department’s national security division, said in a statement.

The U.S. to Pay Pfizer $5.29 Billion for Anti-Covid Pill

While Pfizer has submitted its treatment pill that is said to reduce the risk of serious illness and death in COVID-19 patients, the United States has signed a multi-billion dollar deal with the company to secure 10 million treatment courses if regulators authorize it.

The price per treatment is roughly $529 and Pfizer said it will be ready to start deliveries of the treatment as soon as the pill is approved. "While this pill still requires a full review by the Food and Drug Administration, I have taken immediate steps to secure enough supply for the American people," President Joe Biden said in a statement.

Longest Partial Lunar Eclipse in Centuries Coming Tonight

NASA said that Thursday overnight and into Friday morning, there will be a partial lunar eclipse for as long as 3 hours and 28 minutes, making it the longest partial eclipse in nearly 600 years. 

Weather permitting, the eclipse will be visible throughout much of the globe where the Moon appears above the horizon during the eclipse,  while North America will have the best location to see the entirety of the eclipse. The partial eclipse will begin a little after 2:00 a.m. EST on Nov 19, reaching its maximum at 4:00 a.m. EST.

You won’t need any special glasses to see the partial lunar eclipse, according to 

NASA. Just wake up, get out of bed, and go outside to see the last lunar eclipse of 2021!