csmonitor--2020-11-02--Education under fire: Islamic militants attack Kabul University

Islamic State militants in Afghanistan stormed Kabul University on Monday as it hosted a book fair attended by the Iranian ambassador , sparking an hours-long gun battle and leaving at least 22 dead and 22 wounded at the war-torn country ’ s largest school .
Most of the casualties were students and there were fears the death toll could climb further with some of the wounded said to be in critical condition .
It was the second attack on an educational institution in Kabul in as many weeks .
The Taliban promptly issued a statement denying they took part in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurgents continue peace talks with representatives of Kabul ’ s United States-backed government , with the aim to help the U.S. finally withdraw from Afghanistan .
Later in the day , the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack .
As the attack unfolded , students and teachers were seen fleeing the part of the campus where law and journalism schools are located , while hand grenades exploded and automatic rifle fire could be heard .
Scores of Afghan special forces surrounded the campus , shepherding teachers and students to safety .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the Afghan capital and the Interior Ministry ’ s spokesman , Tariq Arian , said all three attackers involved in the assault were killed .
The Islamic State group said it targeted newly graduated “ judges and investigators belonging to the apostate Afghan government ” gathered at the campus , according to the SITE Intelligence Group , which monitors online messaging by terror groups .
The statement claimed only two of its fighters were involved , and posted their photographs , which conflicted with the Afghan authorities ’ report of three attackers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamic State group intended to target the Iranian envoy or the book fair specifically .
Last week , the Islamic State group also claimed responsibility for a brutal assault on a tutoring center in the Afghan capital ’ s mostly Shiite neighborhood of Dasht-e-Barchi that killed at least 24 students and wounded more than 100 others .
The peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Kabul government , known as intra-Afghan talks , were part of a deal Washington signed with the insurgents in February .
They are taking place in the Gulf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen as Afghanistan ’ s best chance at peace – though daily bloodshed has continued .
Five hours into the fighting on Monday , sporadic grenade explosions and automatic weapons fire still echoed down the empty streets surrounding the university ’ s fenced compound .
Afghan troops stood guard .
Ahmad Samim , a university student , told journalists he saw militants armed with pistols and Kalashnikov assault rifles firing at the school , the country ’ s oldest with some 17,000 students .
He said the attack happened at the university ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and journalism faculty teach .
Afghan media reported that a book exhibition was being held at the university , attended by a number of dignitaries at the time of the shooting .
None of the dignitaries were reported hurt .
While Afghan officials declined to discuss the bookfair , Iran ’ s semiofficial ISNA news agency reported Sunday that Iranian Ambassador Bahador Aminian and cultural attaché Mojtaba Noroozi were to inaugurate the fair , which was hosting some 40 Iranian publishers .
Iranian state television reported that the attack occurred , but did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranian diplomats have been targeted previously in Afghanistan , in incidents that dangerously escalated tensions between the two countries .
In 1998 , Iran held the Taliban responsible for the deaths of nine Iranian diplomats working in its consulate in northern Afghanistan , and sent reinforcements to the 580-mile-long Iran-Afghan border .
The Islamic State group ’ s affiliate in Afghanistan has declared war on the country ’ s minority Shiite Muslims and staged dozens of attacks since emerging in the region in 2014 .
A horrific attack earlier this year on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood – was blamed on the Islamic State group .
In that attack , militants killed 25 people , many of them newborn babies and mothers .
Schools have also been targeted in past attacks .
Last year , a bomb outside of the Kabul University ’ s gates killed eight people .
In 2016 , gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul , killing 13 .
Violence has been relentless even as the talks in Qatar to end more than four decades of war in Afghanistan have been painfully slow and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence .
The U.S.-Taliban deal in February allowed for the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan and set the stage for the talks underway in Doha .
The architect of Washington ’ s agreement with the Taliban , Zalmay Khalilzad , returned last week to the region , citing deep disappointment at the escalating violence in Afghanistan .
On Monday , Mr. Khalilzad was in neighboring Pakistan , where he met with the powerful army chief .
Few details of the meeting have been released but it is widely believed Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help to push the Taliban to agree to a reduction in violence .
Even though their political office is based in Qatar , Taliban leadership councils are located in Pakistan , with Islamabad being critical to pressing the insurgents into peace talks .
Though Mr. Khalilzad and the Afghan government have been calling for a cease-fire or at the very least a reduction in violence , the Taliban have refused a truce , saying a permanent end to fighting would be part of the negotiations .
Pakistan ’ s foreign ministry condemned Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it an “ act of terrorism ” that was particularly “ despicable as it targeted an institution of learning.
” Last week , a suicide bomber attacked a religious school in Pakistan ’ s northwest on the border with Afghanistan , killing eight students and wounding more than 120 .
Also on Monday , a vehicle hit a roadside mine in Afghanistan ’ s southern Helmand province , killing at least seven civilians , most of them women and children , provincial governor spokesman Omer Zwak said .
This story was reported by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Karimi and Amir Vahdat in Tehran , Iran , contributed to this report .

Islamic State militants in Afghanistan stormed Kabul University on Monday as it hosted a book fair attended by the Iranian ambassador, sparking an hours-long gun battle and leaving at least 22 dead and 22 wounded at the war-torn country’s largest school.
Most of the casualties were students and there were fears the death toll could climb further with some of the wounded said to be in critical condition.
It was the second attack on an educational institution in Kabul in as many weeks.
The Taliban promptly issued a statement denying they took part in the assault, which came as the insurgents continue peace talks with representatives of Kabul’s United States-backed government, with the aim to help the U.S. finally withdraw from Afghanistan. Later in the day, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
As the attack unfolded, students and teachers were seen fleeing the part of the campus where law and journalism schools are located, while hand grenades exploded and automatic rifle fire could be heard. Scores of Afghan special forces surrounded the campus, shepherding teachers and students to safety.
The chaos subsided as the sun set over the Afghan capital and the Interior Ministry’s spokesman, Tariq Arian, said all three attackers involved in the assault were killed.
The Islamic State group said it targeted newly graduated “judges and investigators belonging to the apostate Afghan government” gathered at the campus, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors online messaging by terror groups.
The statement claimed only two of its fighters were involved, and posted their photographs, which conflicted with the Afghan authorities’ report of three attackers. The claim did not indicate the Islamic State group intended to target the Iranian envoy or the book fair specifically.
Last week, the Islamic State group also claimed responsibility for a brutal assault on a tutoring center in the Afghan capital’s mostly Shiite neighborhood of Dasht-e-Barchi that killed at least 24 students and wounded more than 100 others.
The peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Kabul government, known as intra-Afghan talks, were part of a deal Washington signed with the insurgents in February. They are taking place in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, and are seen as Afghanistan’s best chance at peace – though daily bloodshed has continued.
Five hours into the fighting on Monday, sporadic grenade explosions and automatic weapons fire still echoed down the empty streets surrounding the university’s fenced compound. Afghan troops stood guard.
Ahmad Samim, a university student, told journalists he saw militants armed with pistols and Kalashnikov assault rifles firing at the school, the country’s oldest with some 17,000 students. He said the attack happened at the university’s eastern side, where its law and journalism faculty teach.
Afghan media reported that a book exhibition was being held at the university, attended by a number of dignitaries at the time of the shooting. None of the dignitaries were reported hurt.
While Afghan officials declined to discuss the bookfair, Iran’s semiofficial ISNA news agency reported Sunday that Iranian Ambassador Bahador Aminian and cultural attaché Mojtaba Noroozi were to inaugurate the fair, which was hosting some 40 Iranian publishers.
Iranian state television reported that the attack occurred, but did not offer information on its officials.
Iranian diplomats have been targeted previously in Afghanistan, in incidents that dangerously escalated tensions between the two countries. In 1998, Iran held the Taliban responsible for the deaths of nine Iranian diplomats working in its consulate in northern Afghanistan, and sent reinforcements to the 580-mile-long Iran-Afghan border.
The Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan has declared war on the country’s minority Shiite Muslims and staged dozens of attacks since emerging in the region in 2014. A horrific attack earlier this year on a Kabul maternity hospital – also in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood – was blamed on the Islamic State group. In that attack, militants killed 25 people, many of them newborn babies and mothers.
Schools have also been targeted in past attacks. Last year, a bomb outside of the Kabul University’s gates killed eight people. In 2016, gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul, killing 13.
Violence has been relentless even as the talks in Qatar to end more than four decades of war in Afghanistan have been painfully slow and despite repeated demands for a reduction in violence.
The U.S.-Taliban deal in February allowed for the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan and set the stage for the talks underway in Doha.
The architect of Washington’s agreement with the Taliban, Zalmay Khalilzad, returned last week to the region, citing deep disappointment at the escalating violence in Afghanistan. On Monday, Mr. Khalilzad was in neighboring Pakistan, where he met with the powerful army chief. Few details of the meeting have been released but it is widely believed Mr. Khalilzad was pressing for Pakistan’s help to push the Taliban to agree to a reduction in violence.
Even though their political office is based in Qatar, Taliban leadership councils are located in Pakistan, with Islamabad being critical to pressing the insurgents into peace talks.
Though Mr. Khalilzad and the Afghan government have been calling for a cease-fire or at the very least a reduction in violence, the Taliban have refused a truce, saying a permanent end to fighting would be part of the negotiations.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned Monday’s attack in Kabul, calling it an “act of terrorism” that was particularly “despicable as it targeted an institution of learning.” Last week, a suicide bomber attacked a religious school in Pakistan’s northwest on the border with Afghanistan, killing eight students and wounding more than 120.
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Also on Monday, a vehicle hit a roadside mine in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province, killing at least seven civilians, most of them women and children, provincial governor spokesman Omer Zwak said.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Nasser Karimi and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-11-02--A U.S. election that redefines global leadership

Almost every U.S. presidential election is historic , but the 2020 one is unique in a special way : Both major candidates are foreign-policy doves .
Each promises to end overseas wars , push allies to pay more for their defense , and be skeptical of free trade pacts .
In other words , three decades after the United States became the world ’ s sole superpower , an election may see it choose to shed global power .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , for example , wants to “ end the forever wars in Afghanistan and the Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has tried to do for nearly four years .
Each has concerns about a proposed trade deal among Pacific nations .
And each wants Europe to rely less on American security forces .
To be sure , Mr. Biden would still display classic U.S. leadership on climate change , the pandemic , and a few other global issues .
But his reputation in Washington is that of someone who prefers American retrenchment in order to focus on domestic issues , especially with rising concerns about racial justice and poverty .
Like Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of Americans want to lower the number of U.S. troops in Asia , Europe , and the Middle East .
This election is thus historic in reshaping global leadership away from the U.S. and toward other nations .
Many of them are already preparing for the task .
Japan , for example , is trying to uphold free trade in Asia .
More nations are forming regional pacts on security and the environment .
Others hope to revive international bodies , such as the World Trade Organization .
More than any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge .
Last year , the European Commission decided that the continent must take on a strong “ geopolitical ” role .
This includes setting up a European military force to complement NATO , defining the West ’ s response to China , setting privacy rules for tech giants , and lifting up African nations to slow migration .
As the U.S. alters its role , “ we in Europe and especially in Germany need to take on more responsibility , ” German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the Financial Times .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the best win-win situations occur when partnerships of benefit to both sides are put into practice worldwide .
This idea is under increasing pressure , ” she said .
Germany plans to push for reform of global institutions – such as the United Nations and WTO – that the U.S. helped set up .
Here ’ s why this global shift is so important : Even if the U.S. partially withdraws even more after the election , the drive to reflect universal values in global governance will continue .
Like a superpower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implant over the past century are now leading as much as any country or person can .

Almost every U.S. presidential election is historic, but the 2020 one is unique in a special way: Both major candidates are foreign-policy doves. Each promises to end overseas wars, push allies to pay more for their defense, and be skeptical of free trade pacts. In other words, three decades after the United States became the world’s sole superpower, an election may see it choose to shed global power.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, for example, wants to “end the forever wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East,” something President Donald Trump has tried to do for nearly four years. Each has concerns about a proposed trade deal among Pacific nations. And each wants Europe to rely less on American security forces.
To be sure, Mr. Biden would still display classic U.S. leadership on climate change, the pandemic, and a few other global issues. But his reputation in Washington is that of someone who prefers American retrenchment in order to focus on domestic issues, especially with rising concerns about racial justice and poverty. Like Mr. Trump, he reads the polls showing nearly half of Americans want to lower the number of U.S. troops in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
This election is thus historic in reshaping global leadership away from the U.S. and toward other nations. Many of them are already preparing for the task. Japan, for example, is trying to uphold free trade in Asia. More nations are forming regional pacts on security and the environment. Others hope to revive international bodies, such as the World Trade Organization.
More than any other place, Europe has recognized the leadership challenge. Last year, the European Commission decided that the continent must take on a strong “geopolitical” role. This includes setting up a European military force to complement NATO, defining the West’s response to China, setting privacy rules for tech giants, and lifting up African nations to slow migration.
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As the U.S. alters its role, “we in Europe and especially in Germany need to take on more responsibility,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the Financial Times. “I’m guided by the firm conviction that the best win-win situations occur when partnerships of benefit to both sides are put into practice worldwide. This idea is under increasing pressure,” she said. Germany plans to push for reform of global institutions – such as the United Nations and WTO – that the U.S. helped set up.
Here’s why this global shift is so important: Even if the U.S. partially withdraws even more after the election, the drive to reflect universal values in global governance will continue. Like a superpower, the ideals that the U.S. helped implant over the past century are now leading as much as any country or person can.


csmonitor--2020-11-02--Why the US election winner may not be known on Tuesday night

We may not know who won the presidential election on Tuesday night .
And if so , it does not necessarily mean anything is broken , fraudulent , corrupted , or wrong .
President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested a slower-than-typical result is a sign of trouble .
“ I think it ’ s terrible that we can ’ t know the results of an election the night of the election , ” he said on Sunday .
“ I think it ’ s a terrible thing when states are allowed to tabulate ballots for a long period of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unclear what the president thinks is a long period .
But it ’ s standard practice to continue tabulating votes after Election Day .
Here ’ s a closer look at why that count could take longer than usual , and why that might mean you go to bed Tuesday without knowing the winner : The biggest factor that may slow things down this year is clear : Millions of Americans decided to vote by mail rather than risk contracting coronavirus at a polling place .
And in general , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election workers must remove the ballots from their envelopes , check for errors , sort them , and flatten them – all before they can be run through scanners the moment polls close and be tabulated .
In states with well-established vote-by-mail programs , this processing happens weeks before Election Day .
The results are often released quickly .
But several states did not have this system in place before this year and laws on the books prohibited election officials from processing the ballots well in advance of Election Day .
Without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no way to process and count all the mail votes on Election Day , while also counting all the in-person votes .
There are three important battlegrounds with restrictions on when the mail vote can be processed – Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
In those states , Republican-controlled legislatures have resisted pleas from election officials to update the laws to allow for a speedier count .
( The Michigan legislature did allow processing to begin 24 hours before Election Day in cities , but election officials say that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , they will initially report in-person votes – expected to heavily favor Mr. Trump – and gradually update with the more Democratic-leaning mail ballots later .
But don ’ t news organizations call a winner before all the votes are counted ?
Yes , there ’ s never been a presidential race in history in which all votes are counted on election night .
It ’ s just not physically possible to instantly count that many ballots – possibly as many as 150 million on the night of Nov. 3 .
Media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declare winners in thousands of races on election night based on the results that are in , voter surveys , and other political data .
But in a close race , more of the vote may need to be counted before the AP can call a winner .
Is there any hope for knowing the winner on election night ?
Sure .
Not all battleground states are slow-counting states .
So if several key states release their results promptly , one candidate may have a majority of the electoral vote – even without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or Michigan .
That becomes more likely if the races in those states are not close .
It ’ s a scenario that puts a lot of eyes on Florida .
The state allows its election offices to process mail ballots 22 days before the election .
It ’ s also the biggest swing state .
As long as the race isn ’ t too close – a big “ if ” in a place famous for tight races – there could be a close-to-complete count by midnight .
And if Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very difficult for him to reach the 270 electoral votes he needs to defeat former Vice President Joe Biden and return to the White House .
Two other Southern battlegrounds – North Carolina and Georgia – also can begin processing mail ballots early .
They are both considered critical states for Mr. Trump .
However , unlike Florida , neither state has a record of handling a large number of mail ballots .
It ’ s unclear how quickly they will count those votes .
Finally , two Midwestern states – Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processing of mail ballots .
Mr. Trump won both states handily in 2016 , but Democrats believe Mr. Biden is competitive there .
Results in those two states on election night could give hints about what lies ahead in the critical Rust Belt states that take longer to count .
What is the red mirage ?
What is the blue shift ?
Watching results come in this year may be a bit disorienting .
That ’ s because the two parties are voting in two very different ways .
Democrats have flocked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has encouraged Republicans to vote on Election Day .
Depending on which type of vote is being reported – the mail votes , the votes cast in person at early voting sites , or the Election Day vote – the results could look skewed in one candidate ’ s favor .
In general , those early processing states – Florida , Georgia , Ohio , and North Carolina – will report mail ballots first .
Those will skew Democratic .
But then those states will start tallying Election Day votes .
Those should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be heavily Democratic , then become more Republican as the night goes on .
But the pattern could be reversed in those critical Rust Belt battlegrounds of Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
There , the initial vote reported will be the heavily-Republican in-person Election Day ballots , that could be misleading – a “ red mirage.
” That ’ s because Democrats may catch up as mail ballots are tabulated in the hours and days afterward – that ’ s been referred to as the “ blue shift.
” So how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pay close attention to which vote is being reported .
Read coverage , analysis , and surveys on the race .
And wait .
Patience , America .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .

Patience, America.
We may not know who won the presidential election on Tuesday night. And if so, it does not necessarily mean anything is broken, fraudulent, corrupted, or wrong.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested a slower-than-typical result is a sign of trouble.
“I think it’s terrible that we can’t know the results of an election the night of the election,” he said on Sunday. “I think it’s a terrible thing when states are allowed to tabulate ballots for a long period of time after the election is over.”
It’s unclear what the president thinks is a long period. But it’s standard practice to continue tabulating votes after Election Day.
Here’s a closer look at why that count could take longer than usual, and why that might mean you go to bed Tuesday without knowing the winner:
What’s new this year?
The biggest factor that may slow things down this year is clear: Millions of Americans decided to vote by mail rather than risk contracting coronavirus at a polling place. And in general, those mail ballots take longer to count.
Election workers must remove the ballots from their envelopes, check for errors, sort them, and flatten them – all before they can be run through scanners the moment polls close and be tabulated. In states with well-established vote-by-mail programs, this processing happens weeks before Election Day. The results are often released quickly.
But several states did not have this system in place before this year and laws on the books prohibited election officials from processing the ballots well in advance of Election Day. Without a head start, there’s virtually no way to process and count all the mail votes on Election Day, while also counting all the in-person votes.
There are three important battlegrounds with restrictions on when the mail vote can be processed – Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
In those states, Republican-controlled legislatures have resisted pleas from election officials to update the laws to allow for a speedier count. (The Michigan legislature did allow processing to begin 24 hours before Election Day in cities, but election officials say that’s not enough of a head start.) Instead, they will initially report in-person votes – expected to heavily favor Mr. Trump – and gradually update with the more Democratic-leaning mail ballots later.
But don’t news organizations call a winner before all the votes are counted?
Yes, there’s never been a presidential race in history in which all votes are counted on election night. It’s just not physically possible to instantly count that many ballots – possibly as many as 150 million on the night of Nov. 3.
Media organizations, including The Associated Press, declare winners in thousands of races on election night based on the results that are in, voter surveys, and other political data.
But in a close race, more of the vote may need to be counted before the AP can call a winner.
Is there any hope for knowing the winner on election night?
Sure. Not all battleground states are slow-counting states. So if several key states release their results promptly, one candidate may have a majority of the electoral vote – even without knowing who won in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, or Michigan.
That becomes more likely if the races in those states are not close.
It’s a scenario that puts a lot of eyes on Florida. The state allows its election offices to process mail ballots 22 days before the election. It’s also the biggest swing state. As long as the race isn’t too close – a big “if” in a place famous for tight races – there could be a close-to-complete count by midnight. And if Mr. Trump loses Florida, it’s is very difficult for him to reach the 270 electoral votes he needs to defeat former Vice President Joe Biden and return to the White House.
Two other Southern battlegrounds – North Carolina and Georgia – also can begin processing mail ballots early. They are both considered critical states for Mr. Trump. However, unlike Florida, neither state has a record of handling a large number of mail ballots. It’s unclear how quickly they will count those votes.
Finally, two Midwestern states – Iowa and Ohio – also allow for early processing of mail ballots. Mr. Trump won both states handily in 2016, but Democrats believe Mr. Biden is competitive there. Results in those two states on election night could give hints about what lies ahead in the critical Rust Belt states that take longer to count.
What is the red mirage? What is the blue shift?
Watching results come in this year may be a bit disorienting. That’s because the two parties are voting in two very different ways. Democrats have flocked to voting by mail, while Mr. Trump has encouraged Republicans to vote on Election Day.
Depending on which type of vote is being reported – the mail votes, the votes cast in person at early voting sites, or the Election Day vote – the results could look skewed in one candidate’s favor.
In general, those early processing states – Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and North Carolina – will report mail ballots first. Those will skew Democratic. But then those states will start tallying Election Day votes. Those should lean Republican. So initial returns may be heavily Democratic, then become more Republican as the night goes on.
But the pattern could be reversed in those critical Rust Belt battlegrounds of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. There, the initial vote reported will be the heavily-Republican in-person Election Day ballots, that could be misleading – a “red mirage.” That’s because Democrats may catch up as mail ballots are tabulated in the hours and days afterward – that’s been referred to as the “blue shift.”
So how do I know who is winning?
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Pay close attention to which vote is being reported. Read coverage, analysis, and surveys on the race. And wait. Patience, America.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-11-02--Virginia showdown: What 5th District race says about 2020

Says Quentin Kidd , an expert on Virginia politics at Christopher Newport University : “ The idea that we ’ re talking about a district like the 5th as potentially shifting from ‘ R ’ to ‘ D , ’ I think gives you a sense of how widespread the reaction to Trump has penetrated.
” Whether Democrats can expand their majority in the U.S. House Tuesday could well depend on races like this one , and whether Republicans vote the whole party ballot .
The Democrat , Cameron Webb , is a physician and director of health policy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s School of Medicine .
He has styled his candidacy as one of unity and healing , and often promises a return to bipartisanship .
Bob Good , the Republican candidate , is a former county official and fundraiser at Liberty University who describes himself as a “ bright-red biblical conservative.
” In the primary he defeated a one-term GOP incumbent criticized for officiating at a same-sex wedding .
This year , the congressional race here is rated one of the most competitive in the country .
In 18 of the last 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District has elected a Republican representative .
In 2016 , it voted for President Donald Trump by 11 percentage points .
Like many residents of Main Street in Sperryville , Virginia , Kevin Reid prefers to let his lawn do the talking .
Among Halloween inflatables , a “ Blue Lives Matter ” flag flown on his truck , and wood saws buzzing through a home renovation , Mr. Reid displays three large signs : Trump 2020 , Daniel Gade for Senate , and Bob Good for Congress .
All three are Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Reid ’ s vote – even if as regards Mr. Good , who defeated the incumbent in the primary , Mr. Reid doesn ’ t know much about them .
“ I ’ m not going to pretend like I know everything about Bob Good , ” says Mr. Reid , a contractor , lifelong conservative , and 30-year Sperryville resident .
Republicans , he says , support traditional American values and unity .
And to him , “ it just seems like you almost can ’ t really vote [ other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Good ’ s fate Tuesday may depend on other voters in this once reliably Republican district feeling the same way – in an election that paradoxically features both hyperpartisanship and GOP concerns about the strength of President Donald Trump ’ s coattails .
After Democrats swept to control of the U.S. House in 2018 , this November ’ s electoral tides may bring yet another “ blue wave.
” Almost certain to retain their House majority , the question now is whether Democrats can further expand their margin – and areas like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cradled in the Blue Ridge Mountains , the rural town is part of Virginia ’ s 5th Congressional District , a vertical slice of state larger than New Jersey .
In 18 of the past 20 years , the 5th has elected a Republican representative .
In 2016 , it voted for Mr. Trump by 11 percentage points .
A year later , one of the district ’ s largest cities , Charlottesville , was the scene of the deadly Unite the Right Rally , which saw violent clashes between white supremacist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reaction to the competing demonstrations and the killing of a counterprotester created a defining early controversy for his presidency , which former Vice President Joe Biden later said was key to his decision to run .
The district ’ s congressional race is widely considered a toss-up .
FiveThirtyEight ’ s election forecast rates it one of the most competitive contests in the country .
Mr. Good , a former Campbell County supervisor with ties to Liberty University , faces a spirited challenge from Democrat Cameron Webb , a physician and director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Virginia ’ s School of Medicine .
Some of the uncertainty can be chalked up to local quirks , including the unusual ousting of the incumbent .
But the awkward ballet of national and local politics is also on display here .
Though the president ’ s coattails appear flimsy this year , Democrats may need split-ticket voting to flip the seat .
But in a partisan era dominated by the race for the White House , is it possible to separate the top and bottom of the ballot ?
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Speaker ] Tip O ’ Neill ’ s adage ‘ All politics is local , ’ ” says Quentin Kidd , an expert on Virginia politics at Christopher Newport University in Newport News , Virginia .
“ But the Trump era has challenged Tip O ’ Neill and his wisdom more than it ’ s ever been challenged.
” And in a catchall district like the 5th , even local politics are complicated .
Sprawling from the North Carolina border to the Washington suburbs , the district contains multitudes – from liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lynchburg .
While demographic change in other parts of the state have reshaped Virginia politics , much of the 5th ’ s electorate has remained relatively stable .
Its long stretches of rural , Southside Virginia resemble the state ’ s dominant conservative past .
Still , the 5th ’ s competitiveness is a sign of the times for Virginia Republicans , who haven ’ t won a statewide race in more than a decade and hold just four of the state ’ s 13 seats in Congress .
It ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving criticism from local Republicans for officiating at a same-sex wedding , GOP Rep. Denver Riggleman narrowly lost his party ’ s nomination to Mr. Good in a bitter and chaotic drive-in convention this summer .
The one-term incumbent , who had been endorsed by Mr. Trump , has since chosen not to endorse or meet with Mr. Good .
He hasn ’ t even conceded the primary .
“ A lot of this race has been driven by the Republicans shooting themselves in the foot , ” says Miles Coleman , associate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a nonpartisan politics newsletter published by the University of Virginia .
Mr. Good ’ s nomination , says Professor Kidd , continues a long-term trend of Virginia Republicans selecting candidates to the right of the electorate .
Mr. Good , a former athletics fundraiser at Liberty University and self-described “ bright-red biblical conservative , ” seems ordered from the same menu .
“ The idea that Republicans would go back to that kind of candidate suggests to me that the Republican Party itself is still fighting over what kind of party it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Professor Kidd .
For his part , Dr. Webb cruised through the Democratic primary and has since styled his candidacy as one of unity and healing .
While touring the 5th District , he often promises a return to bipartisanship , referencing his work as a doctor and as a White House fellow under both the Obama and Trump administrations .
His campaign has attracted national attention , helping him outraise Mr. Good by more than 3-to-1 in the third quarter .
In response , Mr. Good has accused his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socialist .
In September , his campaign ran TV ads blurring images of Dr. Webb , who is Black , into scenes of urban unrest from the summer .
Decried by some as racist , the ads also attempted to tie his rival to issues like defunding the police , “ Medicare for All , ” and the Green New Deal .
Dr. Webb retorts that he does not support these programs .
Under the long shadow of partisan politics , even a district-level race like this can seem like a referendum on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview with the Monitor , Dr. Webb says he wants voters to think local , saying he has little stake in the race for the White House and is prepared to vote across party lines if he thinks it will help the district .
“ I spend all of my time communicating about local issues , ” he says .
“ All politics is local to me in this race.
” By contrast , Mr. Good speaks to the race ’ s national implications .
A vote for him , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration ’ s agenda , or to oppose that of a potential President Biden .
“ The 5th District race here is a federal race , ” he tells the Monitor .
“ We are sending a representative to Washington to vote on national policy.
” But if focusing on Mr. Trump giveth , it also taketh away .
As the president attempts to make up ground in the polls , local allies like Mr. Good are running on frayed coattails .
“ The idea that we ’ re talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shifting from ‘ R ’ to ‘ D , ’ I think gives you a sense of how widely the reaction to Trump has penetrated , ” says Professor Kidd .
Still , many 5th District Republicans say they aren ’ t worried about broader trends .
“ The national environment will not be the ones casting their ballots in the 5th District , ” says Melvin Adams , chair of the 5th Congressional District Republican Committee .
“ It will be 5th District voters.
” And 5th District voters want someone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
Mr. Adams ’ counterpart , Suzanne Long , has different concerns .
The Democratic Committee chair says her voters value Dr. Webb ’ s acumen on local issues and his medical expertise , particularly as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge nationwide .
She also says locals want a candidate who listens .
Dr. Webb ’ s campaign , which has included visits to almost every locale in the district , including Sperryville , gives her hope .
A few weeks ago , less than a mile from Mr. Reid ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Webb stopped into Happy Camper , an outdoor equipment store owned by Robert Archer , a six-year resident .
Mr. Archer says he appreciated the visit , the conversation , and the few pictures they took together .
He plans to vote for Dr. Webb , and hopes politics can be more collegial .
It would take a different kind of politician to bring that change , he says .
But then again , a normal kind of politician wouldn ’ t have stopped by his small-town store .
“ It would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we could see politics return to service instead of power .
”

Says Quentin Kidd, an expert on Virginia politics at Christopher Newport University: “The idea that we’re talking about a district like the 5th as potentially shifting from ‘R’ to ‘D,’ I think gives you a sense of how widespread the reaction to Trump has penetrated.”
Whether Democrats can expand their majority in the U.S. House Tuesday could well depend on races like this one, and whether Republicans vote the whole party ballot.
The Democrat, Cameron Webb, is a physician and director of health policy and equity at the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine. He has styled his candidacy as one of unity and healing, and often promises a return to bipartisanship.
Bob Good, the Republican candidate, is a former county official and fundraiser at Liberty University who describes himself as a “bright-red biblical conservative.” In the primary he defeated a one-term GOP incumbent criticized for officiating at a same-sex wedding.
Are all politics truly local? We visited Virginia’s once reliably Republican 5th District, where national hyperpartisanship and GOP concerns over President Trump’s coattails are in play in a tight race for Congress.
This year, the congressional race here is rated one of the most competitive in the country.
In 18 of the last 20 years, Virginia’s 5th Congressional District has elected a Republican representative. In 2016, it voted for President Donald Trump by 11 percentage points.
Like many residents of Main Street in Sperryville, Virginia, Kevin Reid prefers to let his lawn do the talking.
Among Halloween inflatables, a “Blue Lives Matter” flag flown on his truck, and wood saws buzzing through a home renovation, Mr. Reid displays three large signs: Trump 2020, Daniel Gade for Senate, and Bob Good for Congress.
All three are Republicans, and all three will soon receive Mr. Reid’s vote – even if as regards Mr. Good, who defeated the incumbent in the primary, Mr. Reid doesn’t know much about them.
Why We Wrote This Are all politics truly local? We visited Virginia’s once reliably Republican 5th District, where national hyperpartisanship and GOP concerns over President Trump’s coattails are in play in a tight race for Congress.
“I’m not going to pretend like I know everything about Bob Good,” says Mr. Reid, a contractor, lifelong conservative, and 30-year Sperryville resident. Republicans, he says, support traditional American values and unity. And to him, “it just seems like you almost can’t really vote [other than along the] party line.”
Mr. Good’s fate Tuesday may depend on other voters in this once reliably Republican district feeling the same way – in an election that paradoxically features both hyperpartisanship and GOP concerns about the strength of President Donald Trump’s coattails.
After Democrats swept to control of the U.S. House in 2018, this November’s electoral tides may bring yet another “blue wave.” Almost certain to retain their House majority, the question now is whether Democrats can further expand their margin – and areas like Sperryville may hold part of the answer.
Cradled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the rural town is part of Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, a vertical slice of state larger than New Jersey. In 18 of the past 20 years, the 5th has elected a Republican representative. In 2016, it voted for Mr. Trump by 11 percentage points.
A year later, one of the district’s largest cities, Charlottesville, was the scene of the deadly Unite the Right Rally, which saw violent clashes between white supremacist groups and counterprotesters. Mr. Trump’s reaction to the competing demonstrations and the killing of a counterprotester created a defining early controversy for his presidency, which former Vice President Joe Biden later said was key to his decision to run.
The district’s congressional race is widely considered a toss-up. FiveThirtyEight’s election forecast rates it one of the most competitive contests in the country. Mr. Good, a former Campbell County supervisor with ties to Liberty University, faces a spirited challenge from Democrat Cameron Webb, a physician and director of health policy and equity at the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine.
Some of the uncertainty can be chalked up to local quirks, including the unusual ousting of the incumbent. But the awkward ballet of national and local politics is also on display here. Though the president’s coattails appear flimsy this year, Democrats may need split-ticket voting to flip the seat. But in a partisan era dominated by the race for the White House, is it possible to separate the top and bottom of the ballot?
“I’ve always loved [former House Speaker] Tip O’Neill’s adage ‘All politics is local,’” says Quentin Kidd, an expert on Virginia politics at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. “But the Trump era has challenged Tip O’Neill and his wisdom more than it’s ever been challenged.”
Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call/AP View caption Hide caption Cameron Webb, Democratic candidate for Virginia's 5th Congressional District, meets with student leaders on campus at the University of Virginia on Sept. 8, 2020.
Convention chaos
And in a catchall district like the 5th, even local politics are complicated.
Sprawling from the North Carolina border to the Washington suburbs, the district contains multitudes – from liberal students in Charlottesville to conservative farmers in Lynchburg. While demographic change in other parts of the state have reshaped Virginia politics, much of the 5th’s electorate has remained relatively stable. Its long stretches of rural, Southside Virginia resemble the state’s dominant conservative past.
Still, the 5th’s competitiveness is a sign of the times for Virginia Republicans, who haven’t won a statewide race in more than a decade and hold just four of the state’s 13 seats in Congress.
It’s also a product of intraparty conflict. After receiving criticism from local Republicans for officiating at a same-sex wedding, GOP Rep. Denver Riggleman narrowly lost his party’s nomination to Mr. Good in a bitter and chaotic drive-in convention this summer. The one-term incumbent, who had been endorsed by Mr. Trump, has since chosen not to endorse or meet with Mr. Good. He hasn’t even conceded the primary.
“A lot of this race has been driven by the Republicans shooting themselves in the foot,” says Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a nonpartisan politics newsletter published by the University of Virginia.
Mr. Good’s nomination, says Professor Kidd, continues a long-term trend of Virginia Republicans selecting candidates to the right of the electorate. Mr. Good, a former athletics fundraiser at Liberty University and self-described “bright-red biblical conservative,” seems ordered from the same menu.
“The idea that Republicans would go back to that kind of candidate suggests to me that the Republican Party itself is still fighting over what kind of party it’s going to be in Virginia,” says Professor Kidd.
National patterns
For his part, Dr. Webb cruised through the Democratic primary and has since styled his candidacy as one of unity and healing. While touring the 5th District, he often promises a return to bipartisanship, referencing his work as a doctor and as a White House fellow under both the Obama and Trump administrations.
His campaign has attracted national attention, helping him outraise Mr. Good by more than 3-to-1 in the third quarter.
In response, Mr. Good has accused his opponent of being something of a closeted socialist. In September, his campaign ran TV ads blurring images of Dr. Webb, who is Black, into scenes of urban unrest from the summer. Decried by some as racist, the ads also attempted to tie his rival to issues like defunding the police, “Medicare for All,” and the Green New Deal. Dr. Webb retorts that he does not support these programs.
Sound familiar?
Under the long shadow of partisan politics, even a district-level race like this can seem like a referendum on the top of the ticket.
Yet in an interview with the Monitor, Dr. Webb says he wants voters to think local, saying he has little stake in the race for the White House and is prepared to vote across party lines if he thinks it will help the district.
“I spend all of my time communicating about local issues,” he says. “All politics is local to me in this race.”
By contrast, Mr. Good speaks to the race’s national implications. A vote for him, he says, is a vote to advance the Trump administration’s agenda, or to oppose that of a potential President Biden.
“The 5th District race here is a federal race,” he tells the Monitor. “We are sending a representative to Washington to vote on national policy.”
Keeping it local
But if focusing on Mr. Trump giveth, it also taketh away.
As the president attempts to make up ground in the polls, local allies like Mr. Good are running on frayed coattails.
“The idea that we’re talking about a district like the 5th as potentially shifting from ‘R’ to ‘D,’ I think gives you a sense of how widely the reaction to Trump has penetrated,” says Professor Kidd.
Still, many 5th District Republicans say they aren’t worried about broader trends.
“The national environment will not be the ones casting their ballots in the 5th District,” says Melvin Adams, chair of the 5th Congressional District Republican Committee. “It will be 5th District voters.” And 5th District voters want someone who will reliably vote with the president, he says.
Mr. Adams’ counterpart, Suzanne Long, has different concerns. The Democratic Committee chair says her voters value Dr. Webb’s acumen on local issues and his medical expertise, particularly as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge nationwide.
She also says locals want a candidate who listens. Dr. Webb’s campaign, which has included visits to almost every locale in the district, including Sperryville, gives her hope.
A few weeks ago, less than a mile from Mr. Reid’s house on Main Street, Dr. Webb stopped into Happy Camper, an outdoor equipment store owned by Robert Archer, a six-year resident.
Mr. Archer says he appreciated the visit, the conversation, and the few pictures they took together. He plans to vote for Dr. Webb, and hopes politics can be more collegial.
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It would take a different kind of politician to bring that change, he says. But then again, a normal kind of politician wouldn’t have stopped by his small-town store.
“It would be nice,” he says “if we could see politics return to service instead of power.”


csmonitor--2020-11-02--Tourists, toilets, and 20 years: Stories from the Space Station

The International Space Station was a cramped , humid , puny three rooms when the first crew moved in .
Twenty years and 241 visitors later , the complex has a lookout tower , three toilets , six sleeping compartments , and 12 rooms , depending on how you count .
Monday marks two decades of a steady stream of people living there .
Astronauts from 19 countries have floated through the space station hatches , including many repeat visitors who arrived on shuttles for short-term construction work , and several tourists who paid their own way .
The first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sergei Krikalev and Yuri Gidzenko – blasted off from Kazakhstan on Oct. 31 , 2000 .
Two days later , they swung open the space station doors , clasping their hands in unity .
Mr. Shepherd , a former Navy SEAL who served as the station commander , likened it to living on a ship at sea .
The three spent most of their time coaxing equipment to work ; balky systems made the place too warm .
Conditions were primitive , compared with now .
Installations and repairs took hours at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground , Mr. Krikalev recalled .
“ Each day seemed to have its own set of challenges , ” Mr. Shepherd said during a recent NASA panel discussion with his crewmates .
The space station has since morphed into a complex that ’ s almost as long as a football field , with eight miles of electrical wiring , an acre of solar panels , and three high-tech labs .
“ It ’ s 500 tons of stuff zooming around in space , most of which never touched each other until it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mr. Shepherd told The Associated Press .
“ And it ’ s all run for 20 years with almost no big problems.
” “ It ’ s a real testament to what can be done in these kinds of programs , ” he said .
Mr. Shepherd is long retired from NASA and lives in Virginia Beach , Virginia .
Mr. Krikalev and Mr. Gidzenko have risen in the Russian space ranks .
Both were involved in the mid-October launch of the 64th crew .
The first thing the three did once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 2 , 2000 , was turn on the lights , which Mr. Krikalev recalled as “ very memorable.
” Then they heated water for hot drinks and activated the lone toilet .
“ Now we can live , ” Mr. Gidzenko remembers Mr. Shepherd saying .
“ We have lights , we have hot water , and we have toilet.
” The crew called their new home Alpha , but the name didn ’ t stick .
Although pioneering the way , the three had no close calls during their nearly five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and so far the station has held up relatively well .
NASA ’ s top concern nowadays is the growing threat from space junk .
This year , the orbiting lab has had to dodge debris three times .
As for station amenities , astronauts now have near-continuous communication with flight controllers and even an internet phone for personal use .
The first crew had sporadic radio contact with the ground ; communication blackouts could last hours .
While the three astronauts got along fine , tension sometimes bubbled up between them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Houston and outside Moscow .
Mr. Shepherd got so frustrated with the “ conflicting marching orders ” that he insisted they come up with a single plan .
“ I ’ ve got to say , that was my happiest day in space , ” he said during the panel discussion .
With its first piece launched in 1998 , the International Space Station already has logged 22 years in orbit .
NASA and its partners contend it easily has several years of usefulness left 260 miles up .
The Mir station – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the late 1980s and 1990s – operated for 15 years before being guided to a fiery reentry over the Pacific in 2001 .
Russia ’ s earlier stations and America ’ s 1970s Skylab had much shorter life spans , as did China ’ s much more recent orbital outposts .
Astronauts spend most of their six-month stints these days keeping the space station running and performing science experiments .
A few have even spent close to a year up there on a single flight , serving as medical guinea pigs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrast , barely had time for a handful of experiments .
The first couple weeks were so hectic – “ just working and working and working , ” according to Mr. Gidzenko – that they didn ’ t shave for days .
It took a while just to find the razors .
Even back then , the crew ’ s favorite pastime was gazing down at Earth .
It takes a mere 90 minutes for the station to circle the world , allowing astronauts to soak in a staggering 16 sunrises and 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – one American and two Russians , just like the original crew – plan to celebrate Monday ’ s milestone by sharing a special dinner , enjoying the views of Earth , and remembering all the crews who came before them , especially the first .
But it won ’ t be a day off .
“ Probably we ’ ll be celebrating this day by hard work , ” Sergei Kud-Sverchkov said Friday from orbit .
One of the best outcomes of 20 years of continuous space habitation , according to Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men still lead the pack , more crews include women .
Two women from the United States have served as space station skipper .
Commanders typically are American or Russian , but have also come from Belgium , Germany , Italy , Canada , and Japan .
While African Americans have made short visits to the space station , the first Black resident is due to arrive in mid-November on SpaceX ’ s second astronaut flight .
Massive undertakings like human Mars trips can benefit from the past two decades of international experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If you look at the space station program today , it ’ s a blueprint on how to do it .
All those questions about how this should be organized and what it ’ s going to look like , the big questions are already behind us , ” he told the AP .
Russia , for instance , kept station crews coming and going after NASA ’ s Columbia disaster in 2003 and after the shuttles retired in 2011 .
When Mr. Shepherd and his crewmates returned to Earth aboard shuttle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main objective had been accomplished .
“ Our crew showed that we can work together , ” he said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .

The International Space Station was a cramped, humid, puny three rooms when the first crew moved in. Twenty years and 241 visitors later, the complex has a lookout tower, three toilets, six sleeping compartments, and 12 rooms, depending on how you count.
Monday marks two decades of a steady stream of people living there.
Astronauts from 19 countries have floated through the space station hatches, including many repeat visitors who arrived on shuttles for short-term construction work, and several tourists who paid their own way.
The first crew – American Bill Shepherd and Russians Sergei Krikalev and Yuri Gidzenko – blasted off from Kazakhstan on Oct. 31, 2000. Two days later, they swung open the space station doors, clasping their hands in unity.
Mr. Shepherd, a former Navy SEAL who served as the station commander, likened it to living on a ship at sea. The three spent most of their time coaxing equipment to work; balky systems made the place too warm. Conditions were primitive, compared with now.
Installations and repairs took hours at the new space station, versus minutes on the ground, Mr. Krikalev recalled.
“Each day seemed to have its own set of challenges,” Mr. Shepherd said during a recent NASA panel discussion with his crewmates.
The space station has since morphed into a complex that’s almost as long as a football field, with eight miles of electrical wiring, an acre of solar panels, and three high-tech labs.
“It’s 500 tons of stuff zooming around in space, most of which never touched each other until it got up there and bolted up,” Mr. Shepherd told The Associated Press. “And it’s all run for 20 years with almost no big problems.”
“It’s a real testament to what can be done in these kinds of programs,” he said.
Mr. Shepherd is long retired from NASA and lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Mr. Krikalev and Mr. Gidzenko have risen in the Russian space ranks. Both were involved in the mid-October launch of the 64th crew.
The first thing the three did once arriving at the darkened space station on Nov. 2, 2000, was turn on the lights, which Mr. Krikalev recalled as “very memorable.” Then they heated water for hot drinks and activated the lone toilet.
“Now we can live,” Mr. Gidzenko remembers Mr. Shepherd saying. “We have lights, we have hot water, and we have toilet.”
The crew called their new home Alpha, but the name didn’t stick.
Although pioneering the way, the three had no close calls during their nearly five months up there, Mr. Shepherd said, and so far the station has held up relatively well.
NASA’s top concern nowadays is the growing threat from space junk. This year, the orbiting lab has had to dodge debris three times.
As for station amenities, astronauts now have near-continuous communication with flight controllers and even an internet phone for personal use. The first crew had sporadic radio contact with the ground; communication blackouts could last hours.
While the three astronauts got along fine, tension sometimes bubbled up between them and the two Mission Controls, in Houston and outside Moscow. Mr. Shepherd got so frustrated with the “conflicting marching orders” that he insisted they come up with a single plan.
“I’ve got to say, that was my happiest day in space,” he said during the panel discussion.
With its first piece launched in 1998, the International Space Station already has logged 22 years in orbit. NASA and its partners contend it easily has several years of usefulness left 260 miles up.
The Mir station – home to Mr. Krikalev and Mr. Gidzenko in the late 1980s and 1990s – operated for 15 years before being guided to a fiery reentry over the Pacific in 2001. Russia’s earlier stations and America’s 1970s Skylab had much shorter life spans, as did China’s much more recent orbital outposts.
Astronauts spend most of their six-month stints these days keeping the space station running and performing science experiments. A few have even spent close to a year up there on a single flight, serving as medical guinea pigs. Mr. Shepherd and his crew, by contrast, barely had time for a handful of experiments.
The first couple weeks were so hectic – “just working and working and working,” according to Mr. Gidzenko – that they didn’t shave for days. It took a while just to find the razors.
Even back then, the crew’s favorite pastime was gazing down at Earth. It takes a mere 90 minutes for the station to circle the world, allowing astronauts to soak in a staggering 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets each day.
The current residents – one American and two Russians, just like the original crew – plan to celebrate Monday’s milestone by sharing a special dinner, enjoying the views of Earth, and remembering all the crews who came before them, especially the first.
But it won’t be a day off. “Probably we’ll be celebrating this day by hard work,” Sergei Kud-Sverchkov said Friday from orbit.
One of the best outcomes of 20 years of continuous space habitation, according to Mr. Shepherd, is astronaut diversity.
While men still lead the pack, more crews include women. Two women from the United States have served as space station skipper. Commanders typically are American or Russian, but have also come from Belgium, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan. While African Americans have made short visits to the space station, the first Black resident is due to arrive in mid-November on SpaceX’s second astronaut flight.
Massive undertakings like human Mars trips can benefit from the past two decades of international experience and cooperation, Mr. Shepherd said.
“If you look at the space station program today, it’s a blueprint on how to do it. All those questions about how this should be organized and what it’s going to look like, the big questions are already behind us,” he told the AP.
Russia, for instance, kept station crews coming and going after NASA’s Columbia disaster in 2003 and after the shuttles retired in 2011.
When Mr. Shepherd and his crewmates returned to Earth aboard shuttle Discovery after nearly five months, his main objective had been accomplished.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“Our crew showed that we can work together,” he said.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-11-02--Europe heads for another lockdown to stem second COVID-19 wave

Several European countries are tightening restrictions this week , starting with a partial shutdown Monday in Germany , as authorities across the continent scramble to slow a rapid rise in coronavirus infections that threatens to overwhelm their health care systems .
Britain and Austria will follow suit later in the week , closing restaurants , bars , and many leisure activities .
Italy , Greece , and Kosovo also announced new measures .
In some places , the new rules – which vary in strictness – are prompting violent protests by people frustrated at once again having to forgo freedoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are saying the controls should have come weeks ago – a reflection of the increasingly difficult balance many countries are struggling to strike between controlling the virus and boosting already damaged economies .
“ We are aware of the frustration , the sense of loss , the tiredness of citizens , also of the anger which is being manifested in these days , by citizens who find themselves living with new limits to their personal freedom , ’ ’ said Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte , as he defended his government ’ s decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been slowly ramping up for weeks in many European countries , but virus cases have continued to rise .
There was a sign of hope from hard-hit Belgium , however , where a leading virologist said that “ the high-speed train is somewhat easing up.
” Overall , Europe has seen more than 270,000 confirmed virus-related deaths , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
Experts say case and death figures understate the true toll of the pandemic due to missed cases , limited testing , and other reasons .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cinemas , gyms , and other leisure facilities closed in a four-week “ wave-breaker ” shutdown that seeks to force daily new infections back down to manageable levels .
Germans have been asked not to travel , and hotels are barred from accommodating tourists .
In a worrying sign for a country long praised for its testing and tracing abilities , German officials say they can ’ t track the source of three-quarters of new coronavirus cases .
Health Minister Jens Spahn , who himself caught the virus , says he doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chancellor Angela Merkel said the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care has doubled in 10 days , and the government couldn ’ t stand by and watch .
“ The virus punishes half-heartedness , ” she said of the new restrictions , telling Germans that “ everyone has it in their own hands ” to make them a success .
“ We will do try to do everything politically so that this is limited to November , ” Ms. Merkel told reporters in Berlin .
But she stressed that “ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people simply being sensible and playing along , and so saving others ’ lives.
” The new restrictions are still milder than the ones Germany imposed in the first phase of the pandemic in March and April .
This time , schools , nonessential shops , and hairdressers are staying open .
Officials will review the situation after two weeks .
England is headed for a tougher lockdown starting Thursday , with nonessential shops and hairdressers closing for a month and people allowed to leave home for only a short list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discouraged .
The lockdown is supposed to end on Dec. 2 , but minister Michael Gove told Sky News on Sunday that couldn ’ t be guaranteed “ with a virus this malignant , and with its capacity to move so quickly.
” The plan , which needs lawmakers ’ approval , is facing resistance from parts of Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s own Conservative Party , which worries about its economic impact .
Still , passage is virtually assured because of backing from the opposition Labour Party .
Austria is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday and until the end of November , restaurants and bars are being closed – except for deliveries and takeout , as in Germany and England – and cultural , sports , and leisure activities canceled .
Residents will be asked to stay home from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m .
They can go out to exercise or to work , among other things , and nonessential shops will remain open .
In Spain , lawmakers last week approved an extension until May 2021 of the country ’ s state of emergency .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nightly curfew and allows regions to impose more localized restrictions , such as limiting movement outside city limits on weekends .
“ These measures save lives , ” Catalonia police chief Eduard Sallent said .
“ We are enforcing a measure that is meant to prevent deaths and the collapse of our health care system.
” Spain ’ s curfew drew weekend protests in a dozen cities .
Mostly young protesters set fire to vehicles and trash cans , blocked roads , and threw objects at riot police .
Cabinet minister José Luis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ this kind of behavior is to be expected ” as people grow weary of restrictions .
Countries including hard-hit Belgium , France , Poland , and the Czech Republic already have implemented shutdowns of varying strictness .
In Italy , Mr. Conte announced new restrictions including the closure of shopping malls on weekends , and of museums .
Movement between regions will be limited and a “ late-evening ” curfew introduced , Mr. Conte said , without specifying a time or saying when the measures will take effect .
Greece announced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thessaloniki , and the northern province of Serres .
While cases have been rising and are well beyond governments ’ comfort zones across the continent , data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control show wide variations in the average number of new cases per 100,000 residents reported over the past 14 days , with Germany ’ s figure of about 215 as of Monday less than half those of Austria and the U.K .
The country currently worst hit , Belgium , has 1,735 new cases per 100,000 .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points of light ” are beginning to appear , though the situation remains “ extremely worrying.
” “ The number of infections and hospital admissions continue to rise but not as fast anymore , ” said Steven Van Gucht of the Sciensano government health group .
This story is reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers around Europe contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Several European countries are tightening restrictions this week, starting with a partial shutdown Monday in Germany, as authorities across the continent scramble to slow a rapid rise in coronavirus infections that threatens to overwhelm their health care systems.
Britain and Austria will follow suit later in the week, closing restaurants, bars, and many leisure activities. Italy, Greece, and Kosovo also announced new measures. In some places, the new rules – which vary in strictness – are prompting violent protests by people frustrated at once again having to forgo freedoms.
But in many countries, experts are saying the controls should have come weeks ago – a reflection of the increasingly difficult balance many countries are struggling to strike between controlling the virus and boosting already damaged economies.
“We are aware of the frustration, the sense of loss, the tiredness of citizens, also of the anger which is being manifested in these days, by citizens who find themselves living with new limits to their personal freedom,’’ said Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte, as he defended his government’s decision to order new measures.
Restrictions have been slowly ramping up for weeks in many European countries, but virus cases have continued to rise. There was a sign of hope from hard-hit Belgium, however, where a leading virologist said that “the high-speed train is somewhat easing up.”
Overall, Europe has seen more than 270,000 confirmed virus-related deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Experts say case and death figures understate the true toll of the pandemic due to missed cases, limited testing, and other reasons.
In Germany, restaurants, bars, theaters, cinemas, gyms, and other leisure facilities closed in a four-week “wave-breaker” shutdown that seeks to force daily new infections back down to manageable levels. Germans have been asked not to travel, and hotels are barred from accommodating tourists.
In a worrying sign for a country long praised for its testing and tracing abilities, German officials say they can’t track the source of three-quarters of new coronavirus cases. Health Minister Jens Spahn, who himself caught the virus, says he doesn’t know where he was infected.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care has doubled in 10 days, and the government couldn’t stand by and watch.
“The virus punishes half-heartedness,” she said of the new restrictions, telling Germans that “everyone has it in their own hands” to make them a success.
“We will do try to do everything politically so that this is limited to November,” Ms. Merkel told reporters in Berlin. But she stressed that “we are very much dependent on the majority of people simply being sensible and playing along, and so saving others’ lives.”
The new restrictions are still milder than the ones Germany imposed in the first phase of the pandemic in March and April. This time, schools, nonessential shops, and hairdressers are staying open. Officials will review the situation after two weeks.
England is headed for a tougher lockdown starting Thursday, with nonessential shops and hairdressers closing for a month and people allowed to leave home for only a short list of reasons including exercise. Travel is also discouraged.
The lockdown is supposed to end on Dec. 2, but minister Michael Gove told Sky News on Sunday that couldn’t be guaranteed “with a virus this malignant, and with its capacity to move so quickly.”
The plan, which needs lawmakers’ approval, is facing resistance from parts of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s own Conservative Party, which worries about its economic impact. Still, passage is virtually assured because of backing from the opposition Labour Party.
Austria is also introducing new restrictions this week. Starting Tuesday and until the end of November, restaurants and bars are being closed – except for deliveries and takeout, as in Germany and England – and cultural, sports, and leisure activities canceled.
Residents will be asked to stay home from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. They can go out to exercise or to work, among other things, and nonessential shops will remain open.
In Spain, lawmakers last week approved an extension until May 2021 of the country’s state of emergency. The measure puts into place a national nightly curfew and allows regions to impose more localized restrictions, such as limiting movement outside city limits on weekends.
“These measures save lives,” Catalonia police chief Eduard Sallent said. “We are enforcing a measure that is meant to prevent deaths and the collapse of our health care system.”
Spain’s curfew drew weekend protests in a dozen cities. Mostly young protesters set fire to vehicles and trash cans, blocked roads, and threw objects at riot police.
Cabinet minister José Luis Escrivá told Antena 3 television Monday that “this kind of behavior is to be expected” as people grow weary of restrictions.
Countries including hard-hit Belgium, France, Poland, and the Czech Republic already have implemented shutdowns of varying strictness.
In Italy, Mr. Conte announced new restrictions including the closure of shopping malls on weekends, and of museums. Movement between regions will be limited and a “late-evening” curfew introduced, Mr. Conte said, without specifying a time or saying when the measures will take effect.
Greece announced a localized lockdown in its second-largest city, Thessaloniki, and the northern province of Serres.
While cases have been rising and are well beyond governments’ comfort zones across the continent, data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control show wide variations in the average number of new cases per 100,000 residents reported over the past 14 days, with Germany’s figure of about 215 as of Monday less than half those of Austria and the U.K. The country currently worst hit, Belgium, has 1,735 new cases per 100,000.
A leading Belgian virologist said that “long-expected points of light” are beginning to appear, though the situation remains “extremely worrying.”
“The number of infections and hospital admissions continue to rise but not as fast anymore,” said Steven Van Gucht of the Sciensano government health group.
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This story is reported by The Associated Press. AP writers around Europe contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-11-02--Countdown: US presidential campaigns reach their final hours

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden have one last chance to make their case to voters in critical battleground states on Monday , the final full day of a campaign that has laid bare their dramatically different visions for tackling the nation ’ s pressing problems and for the office of the presidency itself .
The candidates are seeking to lead a nation at a crossroads , gripped by a historic pandemic that is raging anew in nearly every corner of the country and a reckoning over race .
More than 95 million people have already voted and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections officials to process the historic surge in early and mail-in ballots .
Both campaigns insist they have a pathway to victory , though Mr. Biden ’ s options for picking up the required 270 Electoral College votes are more plentiful .
Mr. Trump is banking on a surge of enthusiasm from his most loyal supporters while also threatening legal action to stop vote counting in some crucial states , including Pennsylvania .
The Republican president ’ s final day has him sprinting through five rallies , from North Carolina to Wisconsin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of his time to Pennsylvania , where a win would leave Mr. Trump with an exceedingly narrow path .
Mr. Biden was also dipping into Ohio , a show of confidence in a state where Mr. Trump won by 8 percentage points four years ago .
Heading into the closing 24 hours , Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden each painted the other as unfit for office and described the next four years in near apocalyptic terms if the other were to win .
“ The Biden plan will turn America into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letting the far-left rioters roam free to loot and burn , ” Mr. Trump thundered Sunday at a rally in Iowa , one of the five he held in battleground states .
Mr. Biden said America was on the verge of putting “ an end to a presidency that ’ s fanned the flames of hate.
” “ When America is heard , I believe the message is going to be clear : It ’ s time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home , ” Mr. Biden said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state that could decide the presidency .
As the candidates close out the campaign , the pandemic , which has killed more than 231,000 people nationwide and caused nearly 20 million to lose jobs , reached a new peak in infection rates , threatening yet another blow to lives and livelihoods of voters .
The election caps an extraordinary year that began with Mr. Trump ’ s impeachment , the near collapse of Mr. Biden ’ s candidacy during the crowded Democratic primary , and then was fully reshaped by the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been cast , through early voting or mail-in ballots , which could lead to delays in their tabulation .
Mr. Trump has spent months claiming without evidence that the votes would be ripe for fraud while refusing to guarantee that he would honor the election result .
In the starkest terms yet , Mr. Trump on Sunday threatened litigation to stop the tabulation of ballots arriving after Election Day .
As soon as polls closed in battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania , Mr. Trump said , “ we ’ re going in with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what Mr. Trump meant .
There is already an appeal pending at the Supreme Court over the counting of absentee ballots in Pennsylvania that are received in the mail in the three days after the election .
The state ’ s top court ordered the extension and the Supreme Court refused to block it , though conservative justices expressed interest in taking up the propriety of the three added days after the election .
Those ballots are being kept separate in case the litigation goes forward .
The issue could assume enormous importance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome .
Under the shadow of possible legal battles , Pennsylvania loomed as a most important battleground .
For Mr. Biden , who lives in neighboring Delaware , Pennsylvania has long been the focus of his campaign , a bulwark to block Mr. Trump from securing the electoral votes needed for reelection .
Both he and his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris , and their spouses will crisscross the state Monday – hoping to deliver a knockout blow to Mr. Trump without potential Pennsylvania legal challenges .
Mr. Trump once led comfortably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trip there comes after his ticket ’ s pushes into other formerly reliable Trump strongholds including Georgia , where the Democrats ’ most popular surrogate , former President Barack Obama , was campaigning Monday .
But even as Mr. Biden enjoyed strong poll numbers , the move to expand the map revived anxiety among Democrats scarred by Mr. Trump ’ s 2016 upset over Hillary Clinton , whose forays into red states may have contributed to losing longtime party strongholds .
Mr. Biden planned a Pittsburgh drive-in event with Lady Gaga on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rallying with Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi in Philadelphia on the eve of an election she was favored to win but didn ’ t .
Short on campaign cash , Mr. Trump has been unable to compete with Mr. Biden over the airwaves and has relied on rallies to fire up his base .
Those events , arguably the most dominant political force of the last five years , could draw to a close Monday with stops in North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , and two in Michigan .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same city where Mr. Trump held his finale four years ago .
Mr. Trump is focusing his last rounds of stops on states he won four years ago , playing defense in a campaign that has become a referendum on his handling of the pandemic .
Both parties say the election holds outsize importance .
Adam Jentleson , a progressive strategist and former top aide to ex-Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada , said the election will be the most important of the country ’ s collective lifetime because it “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a functioning , multiracial democracy that can be responsive to the will of its people.
” Republican strategist Alice Stewart said the pandemic , the economy , and race relations in America have all coincided in unprecedented ways , but that Election Day ’ s outcome won ’ t bring an immediate fix no matter what happens .
“ If 2020 is the most consequential election of our lifetime , heaven help us for 2024 , ” Ms. Stewart said .
“ I ’ m calling Noah and we ’ ll start building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by The Associated Press .
AP writers Kat Stafford in Detroit and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report .

Jonathan Lemire, Zeke Miller, Will Weissert, and Alexandra Jaffe

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden have one last chance to make their case to voters in critical battleground states on Monday, the final full day of a campaign that has laid bare their dramatically different visions for tackling the nation’s pressing problems and for the office of the presidency itself.
The candidates are seeking to lead a nation at a crossroads, gripped by a historic pandemic that is raging anew in nearly every corner of the country and a reckoning over race. More than 95 million people have already voted and it could take longer than usual for elections officials to process the historic surge in early and mail-in ballots.
Both campaigns insist they have a pathway to victory, though Mr. Biden’s options for picking up the required 270 Electoral College votes are more plentiful. Mr. Trump is banking on a surge of enthusiasm from his most loyal supporters while also threatening legal action to stop vote counting in some crucial states, including Pennsylvania.
The Republican president’s final day has him sprinting through five rallies, from North Carolina to Wisconsin. Mr. Biden, meanwhile, was devoting most of his time to Pennsylvania, where a win would leave Mr. Trump with an exceedingly narrow path. Mr. Biden was also dipping into Ohio, a show of confidence in a state where Mr. Trump won by 8 percentage points four years ago.
Heading into the closing 24 hours, Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden each painted the other as unfit for office and described the next four years in near apocalyptic terms if the other were to win.
“The Biden plan will turn America into a prison state – locking you down while letting the far-left rioters roam free to loot and burn,” Mr. Trump thundered Sunday at a rally in Iowa, one of the five he held in battleground states.
Mr. Biden said America was on the verge of putting “an end to a presidency that’s fanned the flames of hate.”
“When America is heard, I believe the message is going to be clear: It’s time for Donald Trump to pack his bags and go home,” Mr. Biden said in Philadelphia, the biggest city in a state that could decide the presidency.
As the candidates close out the campaign, the pandemic, which has killed more than 231,000 people nationwide and caused nearly 20 million to lose jobs, reached a new peak in infection rates, threatening yet another blow to lives and livelihoods of voters.
The election caps an extraordinary year that began with Mr. Trump’s impeachment, the near collapse of Mr. Biden’s candidacy during the crowded Democratic primary, and then was fully reshaped by the coronavirus outbreak.
A record number of votes have already been cast, through early voting or mail-in ballots, which could lead to delays in their tabulation. Mr. Trump has spent months claiming without evidence that the votes would be ripe for fraud while refusing to guarantee that he would honor the election result.
In the starkest terms yet, Mr. Trump on Sunday threatened litigation to stop the tabulation of ballots arriving after Election Day. As soon as polls closed in battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania, Mr. Trump said, “we’re going in with our lawyers.”
It was unclear precisely what Mr. Trump meant. There is already an appeal pending at the Supreme Court over the counting of absentee ballots in Pennsylvania that are received in the mail in the three days after the election.
The state’s top court ordered the extension and the Supreme Court refused to block it, though conservative justices expressed interest in taking up the propriety of the three added days after the election. Those ballots are being kept separate in case the litigation goes forward. The issue could assume enormous importance if the late-arriving ballots could tip the outcome.
Under the shadow of possible legal battles, Pennsylvania loomed as a most important battleground.
For Mr. Biden, who lives in neighboring Delaware, Pennsylvania has long been the focus of his campaign, a bulwark to block Mr. Trump from securing the electoral votes needed for reelection. Both he and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, and their spouses will crisscross the state Monday – hoping to deliver a knockout blow to Mr. Trump without potential Pennsylvania legal challenges.
Mr. Trump once led comfortably in Ohio. Mr. Biden’s trip there comes after his ticket’s pushes into other formerly reliable Trump strongholds including Georgia, where the Democrats’ most popular surrogate, former President Barack Obama, was campaigning Monday.
But even as Mr. Biden enjoyed strong poll numbers, the move to expand the map revived anxiety among Democrats scarred by Mr. Trump’s 2016 upset over Hillary Clinton, whose forays into red states may have contributed to losing longtime party strongholds. Mr. Biden planned a Pittsburgh drive-in event with Lady Gaga on Monday night, reminiscent of Mrs. Clinton’s rallying with Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi in Philadelphia on the eve of an election she was favored to win but didn’t.
Short on campaign cash, Mr. Trump has been unable to compete with Mr. Biden over the airwaves and has relied on rallies to fire up his base. Those events, arguably the most dominant political force of the last five years, could draw to a close Monday with stops in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and two in Michigan. The last will be in Grand Rapids, the same city where Mr. Trump held his finale four years ago.
Mr. Trump is focusing his last rounds of stops on states he won four years ago, playing defense in a campaign that has become a referendum on his handling of the pandemic. Both parties say the election holds outsize importance.
Adam Jentleson, a progressive strategist and former top aide to ex-Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, said the election will be the most important of the country’s collective lifetime because it “is about restoring the basic structure of a functioning, multiracial democracy that can be responsive to the will of its people.”
Republican strategist Alice Stewart said the pandemic, the economy, and race relations in America have all coincided in unprecedented ways, but that Election Day’s outcome won’t bring an immediate fix no matter what happens.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“If 2020 is the most consequential election of our lifetime, heaven help us for 2024,” Ms. Stewart said. “I’m calling Noah and we’ll start building the ark.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Kat Stafford in Detroit and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.