washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Suu Kyi party set to win Myanmar vote with little opposition

YANGON , Myanmar ( AP ) - Voting was underway in Myanmar ’ s elections on Sunday , with the party of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi heavily favored to retain power it had wrestled from the powerful military five years ago .
More than 90 parties are competing for seats in the lower and upper houses of Parliament , while there are also elections at the state and regional levels .
With the opposition in disarray , Suu Kyi remains Myanmar ’ s most popular politician .
But her government has fallen short of expectations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread poverty and a failure to ease tensions among the country ’ s fractious ethnic groups .
There are more than 37 million people eligible to vote , including 5 million first-timers .
Fear of the coronavirus and safety measures put in place to contain it may hurt voter turnout .
Traditional campaigning was severely limited by social distancing and quarantines in some areas .
Suu Kyi ’ s party , the National League for Democracy , won the last elections in 2015 in a landslide , ending more than five decades of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party ’ s main challenger , as it was five years ago , is the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party , which has led the opposition in Parliament .
The ability of Suu Kyi ’ s administration to run the country has been hamstrung by a clause in the 2008 army-drafted constitution giving the military 25 % of the seats in Parliament , allowing it to block constitutional reforms .
The Election Commission said it would begin to announce results Monday morning .
But it may take up to a week to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will come from remote jungle areas .
With little sign of major interest in policy debates , the vote is seen as a referendum on Suu Kyi ’ s leadership .
“ There is no major party really putting an alternative , a credible alternative , forward , ” Yangon-based political analyst Richard Horsey said , explaining part of the reason Suu Kyi ’ s side has a winning hand in Myanmar ’ s heartland , where its ethnic Burman majority lives .
Even more important for the ruling party ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the personal support , even love , that many people have for Aung San Suu Kyi herself , almost irrespective of how the government administration performs , how the economy performs and so on.
” The love does not extend to the borderlands , the states occupied by the myriad ethnic minorities who have been seeking greater political autonomy for decades .
Suu Kyi ’ s ambitious plans to reconcile with the minorities have foundered .
Their grievances have frequently erupted into armed rebellion , posing major threats to national security .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Suu Kyi ’ s party on a constituency by constituency basis to ensure victory against candidates from the Union Solidarity and Development Party .
But this year , the ethnic parties , disappointed with her failure to reach a deal to expand their political rights , will be supporting only their own candidates .
The Election Commission caused major controversy when it canceled voting in some areas where parties critical of the government were certain to win seats .
The commission blamed armed insurgency , but critics said the agency was carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than 1 million people are estimated to have been disenfranchised .
The plight of Myanmar ’ s Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority - an issue of concern to foreign friends of the country - played no real role in the campaign .
A brutal 2017 counterinsurgency campaign by Myanmar ’ s army drove about 740,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh , leading to a World Court investigation of possible genocide .
Long-standing prejudice against the Rohingya , whom many consider illegal immigrants from South Asia despite their families having been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deprived most of Myanmar citizenship and basic rights , including voting .
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday expressed concern at the “ legal limbo ” of the Rohingya in the western state of Rakhine and their inability to vote , U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said .
“ It is important that everyone have a voice and be able to participate in these elections in a very … inclusive way , ” Dujarric said .

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Voters in Myanmar’s biggest city, Yangon, turned up in large numbers Sunday to vote in nationwide elections that are expected to return to power the party of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won the last elections in 2015 in a landslide, ending more than five decades of military-dictated rule in the country.
With Myanmar under threat from a coronavirus surge, mask wearing was mandatory in the lines at polling stations, and many voters also donned plastic face shields and gloves. Body temperatures were taken and hand sanitizing gel was freely dispensed by officials, but social distancing rules were only fitfully observed.
Traditional campaigning ahead of the election was severely limited by social distancing and quarantines in some areas.
“The voter turnout here is more than we expected,” said Zaw Win Tun, a neighborhood administrator and official at Yangon’s Pho Myae polling station. “I think people are excited to vote, as they would like to escape from the political struggles. They want real democracy.” He did not elaborate, but appeared to be referring to a power struggle between Suu Kyi’s civilian government and the military.
The ability of Suu Kyi’s administration to run the country has been hamstrung by a clause in the 2008 army-drafted constitution giving the military 25% of the seats in Parliament, allowing it to block constitutional reforms.
At another polling station, 19-year-old Eaint Yadanar Oo said she was excited because it was her first time voting.
“I came here to vote to perform my civic duty,” she said. She explained that she was afraid of the coronavirus pandemic, but that she “came here with full protection because I want better educational and job opportunities.”
More than 90 parties competed for seats in the lower and upper houses of Parliament, while there were also elections at the state levels. There were more than 37 million people eligible to vote, including 5 million first-timers.
With the opposition in disarray, Suu Kyi, who is the nation’s leader with the title of state counsellor, remains Myanmar’s most popular politician. But her government has fallen short of expectations, with economic growth doing little to alleviate widespread poverty and a failure to ease tensions among the country’s fractious ethnic groups.
Suu Kyi, 75, cast her ballot late last month in the capital, Naypyitaw, as citizens 60 years of age and over were encouraged to vote in advance, along with those who were forced by the coronavirus to stay away from their home constituencies.
Her party’s main challenger, as it was five years ago, was the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, which has led the opposition in Parliament.
The Election Commission said it would begin to announce results Monday morning. Polling stations began tallying the ballots as soon as voting ended, but it may take up to a week to collect all the votes, some of which will come from remote jungle areas.
The election was widely seen as a referendum on Suu Kyi’s leadership.
“There is no major party really putting an alternative, a credible alternative, forward,” Yangon-based political analyst Richard Horsey said, explaining part of the reason Suu Kyi’s side has a winning hand in Myanmar’s heartland, where its ethnic Burman majority lives.
Even more important for the ruling party’s prospects, he said, is “the personal support, even love, that many people have for Aung San Suu Kyi herself, almost irrespective of how the government administration performs, how the economy performs and so on.”
One such fan was 32-year-old voter Mee Mee, a business owner. She said she was excited because in her travels around the country she could see changes and development initiated by Suu Kyi’s government putting the country on the right track.
“I like Auntie Suu. She’s good,” said Mee Mee, referring to Suu Kyi by how she is popularly known. “I believe in her and what she’s doing.”
Hundreds of NLD supporters gathered Sunday evening in from of the party’s headquarters in Yangon to celebrate what they expect to be a victory. Myo Nyunt, a party executive and spokesperson, came out to urge them to celebrate at home, but instead the crowd grew larger, waving flags and singing songs.
Aung Sithu, 38, said he came with his 4-year-old daughter to cheer for Suu Kyi. “I am worried about the virus, but I have to come here and show my support,” he said.
The affection for Suu Kyi does not extend to the borderlands, the states occupied by the myriad ethnic minorities who have been seeking greater political autonomy for decades.
Suu Kyi’s ambitious plans to reconcile with the minorities have foundered. Their grievances have frequently erupted into armed rebellion, posing major threats to national security.
The ethnic political parties in 2015 had cooperated with Suu Kyi’s party to ensure victory against candidates from the Union Solidarity and Development Party. But this year, the ethnic parties, disappointed with her failure to reach a deal to expand their political rights, supported only their own candidates.
The Union Election Commission caused major controversy when it canceled voting in some areas where parties critical of the government were certain to win seats. The commission said those areas were dangerous because of insurgencies, but critics said the agency was carrying out the NLD’s bidding. More than 1 million people are estimated to have been disenfranchised.
The plight of Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority - an issue of major concern outside the country - played no real role in the campaign. A brutal 2017 counterinsurgency campaign by Myanmar’s army drove about 740,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh, leading to a World Court investigation of possible genocide.
Long-standing prejudice against the Rohingya, whom many consider illegal immigrants from South Asia despite their families having been settled in Myanmar for generations, has deprived most of Myanmar citizenship and basic rights, including voting.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--1 killed, 1 wounded in Omaha shooting, police say

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) - Authorities are investigating an Omaha shooting that left one man dead and @ @ @ @ @ Omaha World-Herald reports that police said in a news release that officers responded early Saturday @ @ @ @ @ disturbance and found the two victims .
Both were transported to Nebraska Medical Center , @ @ @ @ @ of his injuries .
The second victim was in critical condition .

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Authorities are investigating an Omaha shooting that left one man dead and another critically injured.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that police said in a news release that officers responded early Saturday to a call about a disturbance and found the two victims.
Both were transported to Nebraska Medical Center, where 21-year-old Gabriel Miller died of his injuries. The second victim was in critical condition.
The investigation is ongoing.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Polls open for elections in Myanmar, with the ruling party of Aung San Suu Kyi expected to be return

YANGON , Myanmar ( AP ) - Polls open for elections in Myanmar , with the ruling party of Aung @ @ @ @ @ be returned to power .

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Polls open for elections in Myanmar, with the ruling party of Aung San Suu Kyi expected to be returned to power.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--New Mexico again reports nearly 1,300 additional COVID cases

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - New Mexico on Saturday for the second day in a row reported nearly 1,300 additional COVID-19 cases and 16 additional deaths .
Officials said there are 1,287 additional cases , a one-day record that was the same number reported Friday .
But they said Saturday that 10 of the cases reported Friday had turned out to be duplicates or not lab-confirmed .
With those adjustments and the latest reported cases , the statewide case total reached 53,671 with 1,104 deaths .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .
State officials warned Thursday that new records would be set over the coming weeks as the rate of spread remains high .
“ The virus doesn ’ t stop spreading on its own .
And it spreads exponentially , which means : We will see a whole lot more illness and death in our state unless and until New Mexicans turn it around , ” Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham tweeted Friday .
For most people , the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
The vast majority of people recover .

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico on Saturday for the second day in a row reported nearly 1,300 additional COVID-19 cases and 16 additional deaths.
Officials said there are 1,287 additional cases, a one-day record that was the same number reported Friday. But they said Saturday that 10 of the cases reported Friday had turned out to be duplicates or not lab-confirmed.
With those adjustments and the latest reported cases, the statewide case total reached 53,671 with 1,104 deaths.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested. Studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
State officials warned Thursday that new records would be set over the coming weeks as the rate of spread remains high.
“The virus doesn’t stop spreading on its own. And it spreads exponentially, which means: We will see a whole lot more illness and death in our state unless and until New Mexicans turn it around,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham tweeted Friday.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The vast majority of people recover.
In other developments:
- The Navajo Nation, which sprawls across New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, reported 158 new coronavirus cases and no recent deaths. The sprawling reservation has had a total of 12,447 cases and 591 deaths.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Nebraska patrol investigating ‘suspicious’ inmate death

LINCOLN , Neb .
( AP ) - Authorities are investigating the death of an Iowa inmate who was found @ @ @ @ @ sheet on his cell floor at the State Penitentiary in Lincoln .
The Lincoln Journal-Star @ @ @ @ @ made Friday to revive 20-year-old Kevin Carter , but were unsuccessful .
Carter was serving @ @ @ @ @ for terroristic threats and the use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony in @ @ @ @ @ investigation into the circumstances of Carter ’ s death are still very preliminary , ” @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The initial indications are that this death is suspicious .
We will know @ @ @ @ @ in the coming days.
” A grand jury will be called to review the death @

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Authorities are investigating the death of an Iowa inmate who was found unresponsive and covered with a sheet on his cell floor at the State Penitentiary in Lincoln.
The Lincoln Journal-Star reports that multiple attempts were made Friday to revive 20-year-old Kevin Carter, but were unsuccessful. Carter was serving a six- to nine-year sentence for terroristic threats and the use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony in Douglas County.
“The investigation into the circumstances of Carter’s death are still very preliminary,” said Corrections Director Scott Frakes. “The initial indications are that this death is suspicious. We will know more as witnesses are interviewed in the coming days.”
A grand jury will be called to review the death.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Washington seeks a spike in new cases of coronavirus

OLYMPIA , Wash ( AP ) - Washington set a daily record for new coronavirus cases , with 1,777 new cases announced Saturday , and the state Department of Health warned that COVID-19 cases are spreading in the Puget Sound region .
In a written statement , the health agency said that the high numbers the state has seen over the past week reflect an overall surge that started in mid-September .
King , Snohomish and Pierce counties are currently the hot spots in the region , officials said .
“ COVID-19 is currently spreading very quickly in Washington state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wiesman .
“ We are very concerned that disease transmission will only grow over the next few weeks with the holidays coming up .
The threat to overwhelming not just our hospital systems , but our ability to do contact tracing , is real .
We need everyone in Washington state to take action now to stop the spread.
” The update brings the state ’ s totals to more than 116,000 confirmed cases and 2,4319 deaths .
For most , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three weeks , although long-term effects are unknown .
But for some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .

OLYMPIA, Wash (AP) - Washington set a daily record for new coronavirus cases, with 1,777 new confirmed cases announced Saturday, and the state Department of Health warned that COVID-19 cases are spreading in the Puget Sound region.
In a written statement, the health agency said that the high numbers the state has seen over the past week reflect an overall surge that started in mid-September. King, Snohomish and Pierce counties are currently the hot spots in the region, officials said.
“COVID-19 is currently spreading very quickly in Washington state,” said Secretary of Health John Wiesman. “We are very concerned that disease transmission will only grow over the next few weeks with the holidays coming up. The threat to overwhelming not just our hospital systems, but our ability to do contact tracing, is real. We need everyone in Washington state to take action now to stop the spread.”
The update brings the state’s totals to more than 116,000 confirmed cases and 2,439 deaths.
For most, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks, although long-term effects are unknown. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Convention centers, museums become classrooms amid pandemic

MISSION , Kan. ( AP ) - In ordinary times , the airy convention center on a 61-acre site in Hesston , Kansas , hosts weddings , corporate retreats and church events .
During the pandemic , it has become a schoolhouse for the district ’ s seventh- and eighth-graders .
Megan Kohlman teaches literature and writing inside one of the rooms , separated from a math teacher ’ s space by only a plastic sheet .
It ’ s hardly ideal , but for her it ’ s an upgrade from distance learning in the spring , when she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young children .
“ Everyone just really believes in the power of having kids with us as much as we can , ” Kohlman said .
Some schools are getting creative about finding extra square footage to facilitate social distancing and reduce the health risks associated with in-person learning .
Districts are setting up makeshift outdoor shelters , bringing in trailers to house classrooms and making use of otherwise empty spaces like museums .
As infection rates rise across the county with the arrival of colder weather , some education leaders say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
School systems could take cues from the health care system , which has found ways to increase capacity when coronavirus cases surge , said Joseph Allen , a Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health associate professor of exposure science who runs the school ’ s Healthy Buildings Program .
He said the costs of keeping kids out of school are “ devastating.
” “ With schools , we seem to be stuck in this closed mindset where it is only in schools or in the existing setup or it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson is holding up the Hesston district ’ s plan as a model to be replicated .
He said his visits to dozens of school districts revealed many were struggling regardless of whether they were offering in-person , virtual or hybrid instruction .
In nearly every district , officials told him the models they were using were unsustainable because of the stress on everyone involved .
“ We ’ ve got to change it .
But we ’ ve got to change it in a way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for bringing kids back , ” he said .
He also is promoting the efforts in Topeka schools , where office space and music rooms have been transformed into classrooms and some central office staff turned into teachers to keep classes small .
“ It really is all hands on deck , ” said Topeka school district Superintendent Tiffany Anderson .
In Hesston , seventh- and eighth-graders started the fall semester at the Cross Wind Conference Center , which had been sitting unused amid the pandemic .
That created room for the fifth- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle school , including in the gymnasium and choir room .
The two grades returned to the middle school for two weeks when coronavirus numbers temporarily improved , but then returned to the conference center as the numbers worsened .
The number of cases has risen 77 % over the past two weeks in the surrounding county .
If the coronavirus numbers continue to rise in the community , second- and fourth-graders will be moved from their normal classrooms into churches .
In a district with only 820 students , Hesston Superintendent Ben @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they could be for a larger school system .
In New York City , Council Member Ben Kallos pushed for unused commercial space to be repurposed as classrooms , along with libraries and senior centers .
But the idea faltered amid concerns about codes , costs and logistics .
“ New York City had a blight of empty storefronts before the pandemic , which has only gotten worse , and it seems only natural that the city could have activated each and every one of these spaces to serve our children in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and frankly irresponsible that the city didn ’ t do it , ” Kallos said .
However , some 1,100 New York City schools have been approved to spend part of their day outdoors .
The city ’ s schools have sufficient indoor space for social distancing but are also using “ alternative space ” like holding classes in parks or closed streets , said NYC Department of Education spokesperson Katie O ’ Hanlon .
Nationwide , dozens of school systems have shifted instruction outdoors or are making plans to do so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schoolyards America , a Berkeley , California , nonprofit that advocates for outdoor education .
In New Orleans , the Louisiana Children ’ s Museum has been repurposed as a classroom for about 60 charter school students since it was forced to close earlier this year because of the coronavirus .
Preschoolers and kindergartners from Langston Hughes Academy can spread out among the indoor exhibits , including a nearly $ 1 million water table that allows them to get their hands wet as they explore replicas of the locks and dams in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wander through and trees to climb .
“ If this building were empty day in and day out , it would just be depressing , ” museum CEO Julia Bland said .
“ The teachers have been totally engaged by this .
They say they have never been so excited about going to work.
” Samantha Keppler , assistant professor at the University of Michigan ’ s business school , wrote in the spring that schools could harness the power of relationships with churches and other community organizations to add space to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it hasn ’ t happened as frequently as she had hoped .
“ I think it is surprising where in big cities where the YMCA is literally across the street and they have a relationship and are running their afterschool program that they haven ’ t used this , ” she said .

MISSION, Kan. (AP) - In ordinary times, the airy convention center on a 61-acre site in Hesston, Kansas, hosts weddings, corporate retreats and church events. During the pandemic, it has become a schoolhouse for the district’s seventh- and eighth-graders.
Megan Kohlman teaches literature and writing inside one of the rooms, separated from a math teacher’s space by only a plastic sheet. It’s hardly ideal, but for her it’s an upgrade from distance learning in the spring, when she juggled instruction with care of her own young children.
“Everyone just really believes in the power of having kids with us as much as we can,” Kohlman said.
Some schools are getting creative about finding extra square footage to facilitate social distancing and reduce the health risks associated with in-person learning. Districts are setting up makeshift outdoor shelters, bringing in trailers to house classrooms and making use of otherwise empty spaces like museums. As infection rates rise across the county with the arrival of colder weather, some education leaders say they wish such approaches were taken more widely.
School systems could take cues from the health care system, which has found ways to increase capacity when coronavirus cases surge, said Joseph Allen, a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health associate professor of exposure science who runs the school’s Healthy Buildings Program. He said the costs of keeping kids out of school are “devastating.”
“With schools, we seem to be stuck in this closed mindset where it is only in schools or in the existing setup or it is not going to happen,” Allen said.
Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson is holding up the Hesston district’s plan as a model to be replicated. He said his visits to dozens of school districts revealed many were struggling regardless of whether they were offering in-person, virtual or hybrid instruction. In nearly every district, officials told him the models they were using were unsustainable because of the stress on everyone involved.
“We’ve got to change it. But we’ve got to change it in a way that we aren’t trading out safety for bringing kids back,” he said.
He also is promoting the efforts in Topeka schools, where office space and music rooms have been transformed into classrooms and some central office staff turned into teachers to keep classes small.
“It really is all hands on deck,” said Topeka school district Superintendent Tiffany Anderson.
In Hesston, seventh- and eighth-graders started the fall semester at the Cross Wind Conference Center, which had been sitting unused amid the pandemic. That created room for the fifth- and sixth-graders to spread out in the middle school, including in the gymnasium and choir room. The two grades returned to the middle school for two weeks when coronavirus numbers temporarily improved, but then returned to the conference center as the numbers worsened. The number of cases has risen 77% over the past two weeks in the surrounding county.
If the coronavirus numbers continue to rise in the community, second- and fourth-graders will be moved from their normal classrooms into churches.
In a district with only 820 students, Hesston Superintendent Ben Proctor acknowledges logistical challenges are not what they could be for a larger school system.
In New York City, Council Member Ben Kallos pushed for unused commercial space to be repurposed as classrooms, along with libraries and senior centers. But the idea faltered amid concerns about codes, costs and logistics.
“New York City had a blight of empty storefronts before the pandemic, which has only gotten worse, and it seems only natural that the city could have activated each and every one of these spaces to serve our children in this time of need. It is disappointing and frankly irresponsible that the city didn’t do it,” Kallos said.
However, some 1,100 New York City schools have been approved to spend part of their day outdoors. The city’s schools have sufficient indoor space for social distancing but are also using “alternative space” like holding classes in parks or closed streets, said NYC Department of Education spokesperson Katie O’Hanlon.
Nationwide, dozens of school systems have shifted instruction outdoors or are making plans to do so, said Sharon Danks, CEO of Green Schoolyards America, a Berkeley, California, nonprofit that advocates for outdoor education.
In New Orleans, the Louisiana Children’s Museum has been repurposed as a classroom for about 60 charter school students since it was forced to close earlier this year because of the coronavirus. Preschoolers and kindergartners from Langston Hughes Academy can spread out among the indoor exhibits, including a nearly $1 million water table that allows them to get their hands wet as they explore replicas of the locks and dams in the Mississippi River. Outside there are gardens to wander through and trees to climb.
“If this building were empty day in and day out, it would just be depressing,” museum CEO Julia Bland said. “The teachers have been totally engaged by this. They say they have never been so excited about going to work.”
Samantha Keppler, assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s business school, wrote in the spring that schools could harness the power of relationships with churches and other community organizations to add space to make school reopening safer. She said it hasn’t happened as frequently as she had hoped.
“I think it is surprising where in big cities where the YMCA is literally across the street and they have a relationship and are running their afterschool program that they haven’t used this,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Trump, RNC sue Arizona over rejected votes

President Trump ’ s campaign and the Republican National Committee sued Arizona Saturday , claiming voting machines in Maricopa County @ @ @ @ @ in person on Election Day .
The lawsuit claims poll workers inaccurately instructed voters on @ @ @ @ @ , where too many selections are made .
The complaint says voters are supposed to @ @ @ @ @ the error and that the campaign has witnesses who saw the problem .
“ Poll @ @ @ @ @ new voting machines in Maricopa County , and improperly pressed and told voters to press @ @ @ @ @ significant errors , ” said Matt Morgan , general counsel for Trump 2020 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ voting machines disregarded votes cast by voters in person on Election Day in Maricopa County.
@ @ @ @ @ ballots inspected .
The Arizona filing comes as the president also has ongoing litigation in @ @ @ @ @ to concede the election .

President Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee sued Arizona Saturday, claiming voting machines in Maricopa County rejected votes that were cast in person on Election Day.
The lawsuit claims poll workers inaccurately instructed voters on how to override overvote ballots, where too many selections are made.
The complaint says voters are supposed to have an opportunity to correct the error and that the campaign has witnesses who saw the problem.
“Poll workers struggled to operate the new voting machines in Maricopa County, and improperly pressed and told voters to press a green button to override significant errors,” said Matt Morgan, general counsel for Trump 2020. “The result is that the voting machines disregarded votes cast by voters in person on Election Day in Maricopa County.”
The campaign wants overvoted ballots inspected.
The Arizona filing comes as the president also has ongoing litigation in other battleground states, refusing to concede the election.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Renowned world correspondent Seymour Topping dead at 99

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Seymour Topping , among the most accomplished foreign correspondents of his generation for The Associated Press and the New York Times and later a top editor at the Times and administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes , died on Sunday .
He was 98 .
Topping passed away peacefully at White Plains Hospital , his daughter Rebecca said in an emailed statement .
As a correspondent for the AP in 1949 , he was eyewitness to the fall of Nanking , then the capital of Chiang Kai-shek ’ s Nationalist government , to Mao Zedong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the key victory in the Communist conquest of China , and Topping was first to report it to the world .
After the Communists consolidated their hold and publicly aligned with Soviet leader Josef Stalin , Topping and other American correspondents were ousted from the mainland , with Topping arriving in Hong Kong in late 1949 .
From there , after a home leave visit to the United States and an urgent detour to Canada to visit and marry his future wife , Audrey , he returned to the AP bureau in Hong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Communist authorities would agree to his request to go back to China .
While awaiting their answer , Topping accepted an assignment in French Indochina .
As he recounted it in a 1972 memoir of his reporting career in Asia , “ Journey Between Two Chinas , ” the AP wanted him to “ go to a funny little country whose name was sometimes mixed up by our editors in New York with Indonesia .
It was Indochina .
There was some kind of trouble in Vietnam , and would I go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Audrey had just checked into the Continental Hotel in Saigon in February 1950 when a plastic bomb thrown by a cycle driver ripped through a café across the square , shaking the hotel .
He rushed out to a scene of chaos .
“ French soldiers and sailors , dead and wounded , lay amid overturned tables and shattered glass inside the café and outside on the sidewalk terrace where they had been sipping drinks , ” he wrote .
“ The war was on in the South in full fury.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote presciently about the strength of the insurgency against the French colonial occupiers of Indochina and the long and bloody struggle that would continue almost without interruption until the final U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975 .
After postings to London as diplomatic correspondent and West Berlin as bureau chief for the AP , Topping in 1959 joined the Times , where he was to work for the next 34 years .
Known as “ Top , ” he was chief correspondent in Moscow and Southeast Asia , foreign editor , assistant managing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managing editor under Times Executive Editor A.M. Rosenthal for 10 years from 1977 to 1987 .
He became director of editorial development for the New York Times newspaper group until his retirement in 1993 from the company .
For the next decade , he served as administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes at Columbia University and simultaneously held the San Paolo Professor of International Journalism Chair at Columbia Journalism School .
“ As the longstanding dean of the Pulitzer Prizes , Seymour Topping set the highest standard of excellence and integrity for judging and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and letters , ” said Dana R. Canedy , the current prize administrator .
“ His vision and leadership as Pulitzer administrator have withstood the test of time and continue to influence the prize awarding process.
” He stopped teaching in 2002 .
He remained engaged in writing and in international affairs and journalism as a member of the International Press Institute and the Council of Foreign Relations , among other organizations , and was a frequent attendee at events at the AP and the Overseas Press Club well into his 90s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harlem , New York , Topping was the son of Eastern European Jewish immigrants .
He wrote that he developed a fascination with China at a young age and decided at 16 as a high school editor that he wanted to become a newspaper correspondent there .
That led him to enroll at the University of Missouri , whose journalism school had connections to China and the Far East , and he graduated in 1943 .
After serving as a U.S. infantry soldier in the Pacific in World War II , Topping demobilized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his journalist training to work in 1946 , first as a part-time stringer and then as a staff reporter in Asia for the International News Service .
From there , he was sent to China and landed a better-paying job with the AP in Shanghai in 1948 .
Topping covered the pivotal battle of Huai-Hai and then remained in Nanking as diplomats and Nationalist government officials and troops fled the oncoming Red Army .
Topping was there when Mao ’ s forces swept in the night of April 24 and clandestine Communists emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city .
An Agence France-Presse reporter with Topping won a coin toss to telegraph word to his editors first , Topping recalled , but Paris editors held onto his colleague ’ s three-word flash , awaiting details .
Instead , Topping ’ s longer dispatch went out immediately on the AP ’ s wires , after which lines from the city were cut .
He had achieved a world beat on the story .
Topping met Audrey Rodding , who became his wife and collaborator of 69 years , in 1948 while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Nanking .
She was the daughter of Canadian diplomat Chester A. Ronning and was from a family of Lutheran missionaries in China .
While a reporter and then an editor at the Times , Topping was frustrated that he had never been able to return to China .
The United States had never recognized the People ’ s Republic of China , which in turn would not admit journalists from the United States throughout the 1950s and ’ 60s .
Topping ’ s chance finally came in 1971 in the wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States and China .
Topping had met Chou En-lai during the Chinese civil war .
In 1971 , Audrey , then working as a freelance photographer and writer while accompanying her father on a diplomatic mission to China , sent word that Chou had agreed to invite Topping back .
“ How I had longed these many years to see again the panorama of villages , the tile-roof dwellings … and the cities surging with the torrential energies of a people unlike any other , ” he wrote in the prologue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Besides “ Journey Between Two Chinas , ” published in 1972 , Topping authored “ On the Front Lines of the Cold War : An American Correspondent ’ s Journal from the Chinese Civil War to the Cuban Missile Christ and Vietnam , ” published in 2010 .
He also wrote two historical novels , one based on the Chinese civil war and one on Vietnam in 1945 entitled “ Fatal Crossroads.
” After their move back to the United States from Berlin in 1966 when Topping was appointed the Times ’ foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New York .
Survivors include his wife , Audrey , and four of their five daughters : Karen Cone , Rebecca ( Robin ) Topping , Lesley Topping and Joanna Topping .
A fifth daughter , Susan Topping , died in 2015 .
This story has been corrected to show that Seymour Topping passed away at age 98 , not 99 .

NEW YORK (AP) - Seymour Topping, among the most accomplished foreign correspondents of his generation for The Associated Press and the New York Times and later a top editor at the Times and administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes, died on Sunday. He was 98.
Topping passed away peacefully at White Plains Hospital, his daughter Rebecca said in an emailed statement.
As a correspondent for the AP in 1949, he was eyewitness to the fall of Nanking, then the capital of Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government, to Mao Zedong’s Red Army. It was the key victory in the Communist conquest of China, and Topping was first to report it to the world.
After the Communists consolidated their hold and publicly aligned with Soviet leader Josef Stalin, Topping and other American correspondents were ousted from the mainland, with Topping arriving in Hong Kong in late 1949. From there, after a home leave visit to the United States and an urgent detour to Canada to visit and marry his future wife, Audrey, he returned to the AP bureau in Hong Kong.
He was hoping that the Chinese Communist authorities would agree to his request to go back to China. While awaiting their answer, Topping accepted an assignment in French Indochina.
As he recounted it in a 1972 memoir of his reporting career in Asia, “Journey Between Two Chinas,” the AP wanted him to “go to a funny little country whose name was sometimes mixed up by our editors in New York with Indonesia. It was Indochina. There was some kind of trouble in Vietnam, and would I go there for a month?” He and Audrey had just checked into the Continental Hotel in Saigon in February 1950 when a plastic bomb thrown by a cycle driver ripped through a café across the square, shaking the hotel. He rushed out to a scene of chaos.
“French soldiers and sailors, dead and wounded, lay amid overturned tables and shattered glass inside the café and outside on the sidewalk terrace where they had been sipping drinks,” he wrote. “The war was on in the South in full fury.”
Over the next two years, Topping wrote presciently about the strength of the insurgency against the French colonial occupiers of Indochina and the long and bloody struggle that would continue almost without interruption until the final U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975.
After postings to London as diplomatic correspondent and West Berlin as bureau chief for the AP, Topping in 1959 joined the Times, where he was to work for the next 34 years.
Known as “Top,” he was chief correspondent in Moscow and Southeast Asia, foreign editor, assistant managing editor, deputy managing editor and finally managing editor under Times Executive Editor A.M. Rosenthal for 10 years from 1977 to 1987. He became director of editorial development for the New York Times newspaper group until his retirement in 1993 from the company.
For the next decade, he served as administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes at Columbia University and simultaneously held the San Paolo Professor of International Journalism Chair at Columbia Journalism School.
“As the longstanding dean of the Pulitzer Prizes, Seymour Topping set the highest standard of excellence and integrity for judging and awarding the prizes in journalism and arts and letters,” said Dana R. Canedy, who recently stepped down as the prize’s administrator. “His vision and leadership as Pulitzer administrator have withstood the test of time and continue to influence the prize awarding process.”
He stopped teaching in 2002. He remained engaged in writing and in international affairs and journalism as a member of the International Press Institute and the Council of Foreign Relations, among other organizations, and was a frequent attendee at events at the AP and the Overseas Press Club well into his 90s.
Born Dec. 11, 1921, in Harlem, New York, Topping was the son of Eastern European Jewish immigrants. He wrote that he developed a fascination with China at a young age and decided at 16 as a high school editor that he wanted to become a newspaper correspondent there.
That led him to enroll at the University of Missouri, whose journalism school had connections to China and the Far East, and he graduated in 1943. After serving as a U.S. infantry soldier in the Pacific in World War II, Topping demobilized in the Philippines and began to put his journalist training to work in 1946, first as a part-time stringer and then as a staff reporter in Asia for the International News Service.
From there, he was sent to China and landed a better-paying job with the AP in Shanghai in 1948. Topping covered the pivotal battle of Huai-Hai and then remained in Nanking as diplomats and Nationalist government officials and troops fled the oncoming Red Army.
Topping was there when Mao’s forces swept in the night of April 24 and clandestine Communists emerged in the open to seize control of the city. An Agence France-Presse reporter with Topping won a coin toss to telegraph word to his editors first, Topping recalled, but Paris editors held onto his colleague’s three-word flash, awaiting details.
Instead, Topping’s longer dispatch went out immediately on the AP’s wires, after which lines from the city were cut. He had achieved a world beat on the story.
Topping met Audrey Ronning, who became his wife and collaborator of 69 years, in 1948 while she was an 18-year-old student at the University of Nanking. She was the daughter of Canadian diplomat Chester A. Ronning and was from a family of Lutheran missionaries in China.
While a reporter and then an editor at the Times, Topping was frustrated that he had never been able to return to China. The United States had never recognized the People’s Republic of China, which in turn would not admit journalists from the United States throughout the 1950s and ’60s. Topping’s chance finally came in 1971 in the wake of the “pingpong diplomacy” between the United States and China.
Topping had met Chou En-lai during the Chinese civil war. In 1971, Audrey, then working as a freelance photographer and writer while accompanying her father on a diplomatic mission to China, sent word that Chou had agreed to invite Topping back.
“How I had longed these many years to see again the panorama of villages, the tile-roof dwellings … and the cities surging with the torrential energies of a people unlike any other,” he wrote in the prologue of “Journey Between Two Chinas.”
Besides “Journey Between Two Chinas,” published in 1972, Topping authored “On the Front Lines of the Cold War: An American Correspondent’s Journal from the Chinese Civil War to the Cuban Missile Christ and Vietnam,” published in 2010. He also wrote two historical novels, one based on the Chinese civil war and one on Vietnam in 1945 entitled “Fatal Crossroads.”
After their move back to the United States from Berlin in 1966 when Topping was appointed the Times’ foreign editor, the Toppings settled in Scarsdale, New York.
Survivors include his wife, Audrey, and four of their five daughters: Karen Cone, Rebecca (Robin) Topping, Lesley Topping and Joanna Topping. A fifth daughter, Susan Topping, died in 2015.
__
This story has been corrected to show that Seymour Topping passed away at age 98, not 99. It also corrects the maiden name of his wife. It is Ronning, not Rodding.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Carroll College scientist tests wastewater for COVID-19

HELENA , Mont .
( AP ) - When Carroll College neuroscientist Stefanie Otto-Hitt planned a sabbatical for this semester , testing wastewater for traces of COVID-19 was the last thing she expected to do .
Otto-Hitt said she had previously planned a different project for the sabbatical , but ended up doing this after local public health officials reached out in an effort to find a local partner for testing .
Otto-Hitt said she ultimately feels the testing project is not only more timely , but significantly better than her originally planned sabbatical project .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Otto-Hitt told the Independent Record .
“ I felt very comfortable jumping in.
” Otto-Hitt is working alongside Dr. Ashley Beck , a geneticist , and Dr. Theresa McHugh , a microbiologist , on the testing .
Their first data point was published on Aug. 10 and has essentially shown that there is more COVID-19 in the community than there are positive tests reported .
The research received the green light around the end of July .
At the start of the research , Otto-Hitt spent time looking into what other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She found that using polyethylene glycol ( PEG ) as an agent to concentrate viruses from large volumes of wastewater had been used previously for this type of research .
This substance acts as a binding agent , essentially attracting the virus particles and making them heavy , allowing them to be separated from other parts of the wastewater .
Following virus concentration with PEG , the RNA genomes are extracted and then converted into viral DNA , which is a more stable molecule for the testing procedure .
The viral DNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Polymerase Chain Reaction , or PCR .
The PCR process specifically seeks out and amplifies two regions of the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome that are unique to that virus , namely the N1 and N2 genes .
The results of the PCR process are compared to known concentrations of the SARS-CoV-2 genome ; this final analysis lets the scientists determine just how much SARS-CoV-2 is in the wastewater sample .
This process is essentially a “ community surveillance ” technique in regards to potential overall COVID-19 infection rates .
It bypasses the limitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their waste instead .
Otto-Hitt said they were essentially running blind during the first couple of tests , with around a 50 % return rate on samples .
Now every sample is testing positive for traces of the virus .
In mid-October , the scientists saw a huge spike in the number of cases in the wastewater tests .
Otto-Hitt at that time completed the entire process over again to see if the results replicated , which they did .
“ The hope is that by doing this we can use the data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the week of Oct. 26 , Otto-Hitt ’ s work showed more returns and a rising number of SARS-CoV-2 genomic copies in the city ’ s wastewater in Helena .
The number of genomic copies is fairly close to the number of daily active cases and similar to the number of daily new cases , except for an enormous spike in daily new cases the week prior on Oct. 25 .
However , East Helena ’ s wastewater tells a very different story .
After an enormous spike the week prior , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was more than halved the following week .
This data show that East Helena is still at an elevated level of genomic copies in the wastewater when compared to two weeks ago , but is more in line with previous readings than the massive spike in genomic copies on Oct. 21 .
Otto-Hitt said learning the safety precautions of working with wastewater was a new process for her .
The wastewater itself is provided by local treatment facilities and is taken from the intake at that facility before any processing is done .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s drinking water is not affected by the presence of COVID-19 in wastewater .
Leland said Helena ’ s tap water comes from two different sources : Ten Mile Creek ’ s drainage around Rimini and the Regulating Reservoir .
That raw water is treated through a sedimentation , filtration and disinfection process before entering the distribution system .
Leland said the city maintains a chlorine residual in the distribution system to ensure the safety of the water from pathogens .
Both sources of the raw water are above the discharge of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Leland .
The Ten Mile drainage , which is the primary source of drinking water , is collected at the headwaters of the drainage , mostly above Rimini .
Additionally , studies by both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown that COVID-19 is not present in drinking water and that the virus can not survive the treatment and disinfection process .
For more information from the EPA , visit its website ( https : //www.epa.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-drinking-water-and-wastewater ) and search for “ coronavirus and drinking water @ @ @ @

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - When Carroll College neuroscientist Stefanie Otto-Hitt planned a sabbatical for this semester, testing wastewater for traces of COVID-19 was the last thing she expected to do.
Otto-Hitt said she had previously planned a different project for the sabbatical, but ended up doing this after local public health officials reached out in an effort to find a local partner for testing. Otto-Hitt said she ultimately feels the testing project is not only more timely, but significantly better than her originally planned sabbatical project.
“I’m a lover of techniques and new research,” Otto-Hitt told the Independent Record. “I felt very comfortable jumping in.”
Otto-Hitt is working alongside Dr. Ashley Beck, a geneticist, and Dr. Theresa McHugh, a microbiologist, on the testing. Their first data point was published on Aug. 10 and has essentially shown that there is more COVID-19 in the community than there are positive tests reported. The research received the green light around the end of July.
At the start of the research, Otto-Hitt spent time looking into what other scientists were doing for COVID-19 wastewater testing. She found that using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as an agent to concentrate viruses from large volumes of wastewater had been used previously for this type of research. This substance acts as a binding agent, essentially attracting the virus particles and making them heavy, allowing them to be separated from other parts of the wastewater.
Following virus concentration with PEG, the RNA genomes are extracted and then converted into viral DNA, which is a more stable molecule for the testing procedure. The viral DNA is then subjected to an amplification process called Polymerase Chain Reaction, or PCR. The PCR process specifically seeks out and amplifies two regions of the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome that are unique to that virus, namely the N1 and N2 genes. The results of the PCR process are compared to known concentrations of the SARS-CoV-2 genome; this final analysis lets the scientists determine just how much SARS-CoV-2 is in the wastewater sample.
This process is essentially a “community surveillance” technique in regards to potential overall COVID-19 infection rates. It bypasses the limitation of testing every individual person by testing their waste instead.
Otto-Hitt said they were essentially running blind during the first couple of tests, with around a 50% return rate on samples. Now every sample is testing positive for traces of the virus. In mid-October, the scientists saw a huge spike in the number of cases in the wastewater tests. Otto-Hitt at that time completed the entire process over again to see if the results replicated, which they did.
“The hope is that by doing this we can use the data retrospectively,” Otto-Hitt said.
During the week of Oct. 26, Otto-Hitt’s work showed more returns and a rising number of SARS-CoV-2 genomic copies in the city’s wastewater in Helena. The number of genomic copies is fairly close to the number of daily active cases and similar to the number of daily new cases, except for an enormous spike in daily new cases the week prior on Oct. 25.
However, East Helena’s wastewater tells a very different story. After an enormous spike the week prior, the number of genomic copies in the wastewater was more than halved the following week. This data show that East Helena is still at an elevated level of genomic copies in the wastewater when compared to two weeks ago, but is more in line with previous readings than the massive spike in genomic copies on Oct. 21.
Otto-Hitt said learning the safety precautions of working with wastewater was a new process for her. The wastewater itself is provided by local treatment facilities and is taken from the intake at that facility before any processing is done.
City engineer Ryan Leland said Helena’s drinking water is not affected by the presence of COVID-19 in wastewater.
Leland said Helena’s tap water comes from two different sources: Ten Mile Creek’s drainage around Rimini and the Regulating Reservoir. That raw water is treated through a sedimentation, filtration and disinfection process before entering the distribution system. Leland said the city maintains a chlorine residual in the distribution system to ensure the safety of the water from pathogens.
Both sources of the raw water are above the discharge of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, said Leland. The Ten Mile drainage, which is the primary source of drinking water, is collected at the headwaters of the drainage, mostly above Rimini.
Additionally, studies by both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown that COVID-19 is not present in drinking water and that the virus cannot survive the treatment and disinfection process.
For more information from the EPA, visit its website (https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-drinking-water-and-wastewater) and search for “coronavirus and drinking water and wastewater.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--5 states OK measures eradicating racist language, symbols

BIRMINGHAM , Ala. ( AP ) - Alabama voters reversed themselves from a few years ago and removed racist vestiges of segregation from the state constitution that courts long ago ruled unconstitutional .
Rhode Island did a similar a U-turn to eradicate the word “ plantations ” from the state ’ s official name .
In a year when discussions of racial justice have dominated U.S. society like few others , five states voted to cleanse the public sphere of words , phrases and symbols that to many were painful reminders of the nation ’ s history of slavery and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brendan Skip Mark , who teaches political science at the University of Rhode Island , believes the decisions were linked to the revulsion and widespread protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota in May .
“ In many ways this has sparked a national conversation on race , and I think we ’ ve seen a lot of people who are more willing to take concrete steps to address racism than they were in the past , ” Mark said .
In addition to the votes in Alabama and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nebraska decided to strip their constitutions of unenforceable provisions that allowed slavery as a punishment for criminal convictions .
And Mississippi voters approved a state flag without the familiar X-shaped design of the Confederate battle flag .
The votes are a positive sign in a nation where racial tension always has existed , said Stacy Moak , who teaches in the social work department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham .
“ Affirmative votes for these changes shows a willingness on the part of Americans to provide for a more inclusive community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not enough - but they are encouraging signs of progress in the right direction , ” she said in an interview conducted by email .
The Alabama measure begins the process of removing Jim Crow language from the 1901 Constitution that was intended to entrench white supremacy .
Voters in the mostly white , conservative state had rejected similar proposals twice since 2000 .
Courts had previously struck down the legality of the segregationist provisions that were enshrined in the document long ago , but the language banning mixed-race marriage , allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Glenn Crowell , a Black Republican from Montgomery , was among the roughly 67 % of voters who supported scrapping those sections .
“ It just doesn ’ t make any sense nowadays , ” said Crowell , 63 .
Yet another statewide vote will be required to approve the revisions after legislators consider a draft in 2022 .
In neighboring Mississippi , about 71 % of voters approved a new state flag featuring a magnolia and the words “ In God We Trust ” to replace the Confederate-themed flag that state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation erupted in demonstrations following Floyd ’ s killing .
Mississippi voters also eliminated an 1890s provision that aimed to ensure white control of the state by requiring majorities of both the popular vote and the 122 state House districts to win statewide office .
Now , only a popular vote majority is required .
To the west , Utah and Nebraska approved provisions similar to Alabama ’ s to delete constitutional language allowing slavery as a possible punishment in criminal cases .
The measures , which passed by 81 % in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got relatively little attention before the vote .
But the fact that states even placed the measures on ballots shows that protests and the national discussion on racism are having an impact , said Deirdre Cooper Owens , director of the humanities in medicine program at the University of Nebraska .
“ Symbolism matters , and so does language , ” she said by email .
The vote was closest in Rhode Island , once a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade , where about 53 % of voters supported the proposal to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” from the state ’ s formal name , first adopted in 1790 .
A similar measure failed in 2010 .
Like elsewhere in the country , Rhode Island has seen protests over Floyd ’ s death , and in racially diverse Providence , a truth commission was established to consider the state ’ s historic ties to slavery , land seizures , systemic racism and possible reparations .
“ This ballot initiative is part of a broader shift in Rhode Island to reconcile with the past , ” said Mark , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a unique moment in history.
” All those ballot measures involved changing symbols or wiping away reminders of injustices of long ago .
In California , where voters were asked to reconsider a more contemporary race-related issue , they balked .
The liberal-minded state rejected a proposition that would have repealed a 1996 initiative prohibiting affirmative action programs in public employment , education or contracting .
Supporters said the measure lost for several reasons , including a lack of time to persuade voters during a busy election year .

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Alabama voters reversed themselves from a few years ago and removed racist vestiges of segregation from the state constitution that courts long ago ruled unconstitutional. Rhode Island did a similar a U-turn to eradicate the word “plantations” from the state’s official name.
In a year when discussions of racial justice have dominated U.S. society like few others, five states voted to cleanse the public sphere of words, phrases and symbols that to many were painful reminders of the nation’s history of slavery and the systematic oppression of Black people.
Brendan Skip Mark, who teaches political science at the University of Rhode Island, believes the decisions were linked to the revulsion and widespread protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota in May.
“In many ways this has sparked a national conversation on race, and I think we’ve seen a lot of people who are more willing to take concrete steps to address racism than they were in the past,” Mark said.
In addition to the votes in Alabama and Rhode Island, residents of Utah and Nebraska decided to strip their constitutions of unenforceable provisions that allowed slavery as a punishment for criminal convictions. And Mississippi voters approved a state flag without the familiar X-shaped design of the Confederate battle flag.
The votes are a positive sign in a nation where racial tension always has existed, said Stacy Moak, who teaches in the social work department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“Affirmative votes for these changes shows a willingness on the part of Americans to provide for a more inclusive community. These changes, by themselves, are not enough - but they are encouraging signs of progress in the right direction,” she said in an interview conducted by email.
The Alabama measure begins the process of removing Jim Crow language from the 1901 Constitution that was intended to entrench white supremacy. Voters in the mostly white, conservative state had rejected similar proposals twice since 2000.
Courts had previously struck down the legality of the segregationist provisions that were enshrined in the document long ago, but the language banning mixed-race marriage, allowing poll taxes and mandating school segregation remained.
Glenn Crowell, a Black Republican from Montgomery, was among the roughly 67% of voters who supported scrapping those sections.
“It just doesn’t make any sense nowadays,” said Crowell, 63. Yet another statewide vote will be required to approve the revisions after legislators consider a draft in 2022.
In neighboring Mississippi, about 71% of voters approved a new state flag featuring a magnolia and the words “In God We Trust” to replace the Confederate-themed flag that state legislators voted to retire in June after the nation erupted in demonstrations following Floyd’s killing.
Mississippi voters also eliminated an 1890s provision that aimed to ensure white control of the state by requiring majorities of both the popular vote and the 122 state House districts to win statewide office. Now, only a popular vote majority is required.
To the west, Utah and Nebraska approved provisions similar to Alabama’s to delete constitutional language allowing slavery as a possible punishment in criminal cases.
The measures, which passed by 81% in Utah and 68% in Nebraska, got relatively little attention before the vote.
But the fact that states even placed the measures on ballots shows that protests and the national discussion on racism are having an impact, said Deirdre Cooper Owens, director of the humanities in medicine program at the University of Nebraska.
“Symbolism matters, and so does language,” she said by email.
The vote was closest in Rhode Island, once a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, where about 53% of voters supported the proposal to strip the words “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s formal name, first adopted in 1790. A similar measure failed in 2010.
Like elsewhere in the country, Rhode Island has seen protests over Floyd’s death, and in racially diverse Providence, a truth commission was established to consider the state’s historic ties to slavery, land seizures, systemic racism and possible reparations.
“This ballot initiative is part of a broader shift in Rhode Island to reconcile with the past,” said Mark, the political scientist. “I think this is a unique moment in history.”
All those ballot measures involved changing symbols or wiping away reminders of injustices of long ago. In California, where voters were asked to reconsider a more contemporary race-related issue, they balked.
The liberal-minded state rejected a proposition that would have repealed a 1996 initiative prohibiting affirmative action programs in public employment, education or contracting. Supporters said the measure lost for several reasons, including a lack of time to persuade voters during a busy election year.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Utah brewers are feeling the effects of year-old beer law

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - Over the past year - ever since Utah rewrote its century-old alcohol laws and allowed stronger beer in grocery stores - beer aisle winners and losers have emerged .
Consumers who for the first time since Prohibition can buy cold beer that is 5 % alcohol-by-volume in a retail outlet are among the triumphant , the Salt Lake Tribune reports .
Joining them are large brewers like Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors that are no longer bound by the old 4 % ABV ( or 3.2 % by weight ) limit and can stock a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelves .
Grocery and convenience stores also are victors , seeing beer sales - and profits - go up .
Why , even the state Legislature has received kudos from drinkers - who often disagree with the state ’ s conservative alcohol policies - for bringing the beer selection closer to par with other states .
That leaves only one group in the loser ’ s circle : Utah beer brewers .
Since Nov. 1 , 2019 , Utah ’ s craft brewers have watched their liquor store sales drop by more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid the state more in excise taxes .
The price per barrel jumped from $ 12.80 - already the highest in the nation - to $ 13.10 when the law went into effect .
“ It ’ s worse than I thought it would be , ” said Peter Erickson , co-founder of Epic Brewing Co. in Salt Lake City .
“ Even before COVID , we laid off 25 people , mostly due to the lost sales at the DABC ( Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control ) stores.
” Epic is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its business model focuses on mostly heavy beers that are 5 % ABV or higher .
Under state law , those stronger beers must still be sold in state-run liquor stores and are subject to a 66.5 % markup .
But others , like Uinta Brewing Co. , have experienced similar declines , said president Jeremy Ragonese .
The damage has been easier to manage , though , as the company has a larger out-of-state market “ and is not as reliant ( on liquor store sales ) as some of the smaller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Utah beer brewers has been exacerbated by the pandemic .
Beer sales dropped again when bars and restaurants closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
And businesses that have reopened are not operating at full capacity .
All combined , Ragonese said , “ small local brewers who relied almost entirely with taproom and the DABC channel have really struggled.
” The Utah Brewers Guild actually predicted a large drop in sales when the beer law was first proposed .
The guild fought the plan , arguing that raising the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 5 % ABV only benefited the mega brewers .
But the argument carried little weight with lawmakers , the majority of whom are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and do not drink alcohol for religious reasons .
And it angered many consumers .
The Brewers Guild ’ s lobbying efforts also were no match for the Responsible Beer Choice Coalition - a political action committee formed by small-business owners , Utah grocery stores , convenience stores , beer distributors and large brewers .
One year in to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mixed .
Some feel that grocery stores like Harmons and Whole Foods have created a good mix of small craft beers and national brands .
“ We ’ ve noticed breweries like T.F .
Brewing and Kiitos have a much better shelf presence , ” said Annie Harwood Anthony of Sandy .
“ The biggest ‘ win ’ for us … is that Harmons now sells our favorite light beer , Montucky Cold Snacks.
” ( She served the Montana beer at her wedding . )
“ I now buy beer at grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Tom Lerner of Park City .
“ The Whole Foods by me carries Grid City and Level Crossing beer that I like and I can ’ t get down to the ( Salt Lake City ) breweries very often , so it ’ s a plus.
” Others beer buyers are less enamored - saying that most of what ’ s available in grocery stores is from big , national brands .
“ ( In ) the first few months , the selection in the stores changed a lot , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But now they ’ ve settled into the same old stuff .
They still have too much space devoted to the national brands - and seltzers.
” “ The raise in ABV has not caused me to buy more beer in the grocery stores , mainly because the shelf space is controlled so much by the big macro beer companies , ” he said .
Pressure from the distributors forces stores to give “ less and less space to small local independent breweries that make beer that is far superior to the big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - many top sellers - moved out of the Utah liquor stores with the law change .
And it ’ s had an impact on the DABC ’ s bottom line , said executive director Sal Petilos .
The losses tally into the millions , Petilos told the state liquor commission this week , “ but we are not going to get a realistic view of the impact until December .
That ’ s when we can compare apples to apples.
” But they have an idea .
Since the start of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency has seen retail sales drop 5.25 % - or $ 6.2 million - over the same three months in 2019 .
Loss of heavy beer is one factor .
But liquor purchases at restaurants and bars are down 60 % because of the pandemic .
Additionally , the DABC reduced hours at some stores because of staff shortages , said Petilos .
This month , those stores are expected to extend their operating hours .
While the stronger beer law hasn ’ t helped some brewers or the DABC , grocery stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dave Davis president of the Utah Food Industry Association .
“ At the retail level , we are seeing sales increase , ” he told the Legislature ’ s Beer Availability Working group last month .
But exact percentages are difficult to calculate because the pandemic has increased overall grocery sales in 2020 .
“ It ’ s just a bizarre year , ” Davis said .
“ It ’ s hard to draw any significant conclusions.
” We don ’ t need a stronger beer to understand that .

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Over the past year - ever since Utah rewrote its century-old alcohol laws and allowed stronger beer in grocery stores - beer aisle winners and losers have emerged.
Consumers who for the first time since Prohibition can buy cold beer that is 5% alcohol-by-volume in a retail outlet are among the triumphant, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Joining them are large brewers like Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors that are no longer bound by the old 4% ABV (or 3.2% by weight) limit and can stock a variety of previously banned beers on the shelves.
Grocery and convenience stores also are victors, seeing beer sales - and profits - go up.
Why, even the state Legislature has received kudos from drinkers - who often disagree with the state’s conservative alcohol policies - for bringing the beer selection closer to par with other states.
That leaves only one group in the loser’s circle: Utah beer brewers.
Since Nov. 1, 2019, Utah’s craft brewers have watched their liquor store sales drop by more than 40%. They’ve also paid the state more in excise taxes. The price per barrel jumped from $12.80 - already the highest in the nation - to $13.10 when the law went into effect.
“It’s worse than I thought it would be,” said Peter Erickson, co-founder of Epic Brewing Co. in Salt Lake City. “Even before COVID, we laid off 25 people, mostly due to the lost sales at the DABC (Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control) stores.”
Epic is likely one of the hardest hit, as its business model focuses on mostly heavy beers that are 5% ABV or higher. Under state law, those stronger beers must still be sold in state-run liquor stores and are subject to a 66.5% markup.
But others, like Uinta Brewing Co., have experienced similar declines, said president Jeremy Ragonese. The damage has been easier to manage, though, as the company has a larger out-of-state market “and is not as reliant (on liquor store sales) as some of the smaller local brewers.”
Ragonese said the state of Utah beer brewers has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Beer sales dropped again when bars and restaurants closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. And businesses that have reopened are not operating at full capacity.
All combined, Ragonese said, “small local brewers who relied almost entirely with taproom and the DABC channel have really struggled.”
The Utah Brewers Guild actually predicted a large drop in sales when the beer law was first proposed.
The guild fought the plan, arguing that raising the maximum alcohol content of grocery store beer to 5% ABV only benefited the mega brewers. But the argument carried little weight with lawmakers, the majority of whom are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and do not drink alcohol for religious reasons.
And it angered many consumers.
The Brewers Guild’s lobbying efforts also were no match for the Responsible Beer Choice Coalition - a political action committee formed by small-business owners, Utah grocery stores, convenience stores, beer distributors and large brewers.
One year in to the new law, consumer response is mixed. Some feel that grocery stores like Harmons and Whole Foods have created a good mix of small craft beers and national brands.
“We’ve noticed breweries like T.F. Brewing and Kiitos have a much better shelf presence,” said Annie Harwood Anthony of Sandy. “The biggest ‘win’ for us … is that Harmons now sells our favorite light beer, Montucky Cold Snacks.” (She served the Montana beer at her wedding.)
“I now buy beer at grocery stores where I never did before,” said Tom Lerner of Park City. “The Whole Foods by me carries Grid City and Level Crossing beer that I like and I can’t get down to the (Salt Lake City) breweries very often, so it’s a plus.”
Others beer buyers are less enamored - saying that most of what’s available in grocery stores is from big, national brands.
“(In) the first few months, the selection in the stores changed a lot,” said Taylor Mackert of Springville. “But now they’ve settled into the same old stuff. They still have too much space devoted to the national brands - and seltzers.”
Jay Crosthwait of Brigham City agrees.
“The raise in ABV has not caused me to buy more beer in the grocery stores, mainly because the shelf space is controlled so much by the big macro beer companies,” he said. Pressure from the distributors forces stores to give “less and less space to small local independent breweries that make beer that is far superior to the big companies.”
More than 100 heavy beers - many top sellers - moved out of the Utah liquor stores with the law change. And it’s had an impact on the DABC’s bottom line, said executive director Sal Petilos.
The losses tally into the millions, Petilos told the state liquor commission this week, “but we are not going to get a realistic view of the impact until December. That’s when we can compare apples to apples.”
But they have an idea. Since the start of the 2020-21 fiscal year in July, the agency has seen retail sales drop 5.25% - or $6.2 million - over the same three months in 2019.
Loss of heavy beer is one factor. But liquor purchases at restaurants and bars are down 60% because of the pandemic. Additionally, the DABC reduced hours at some stores because of staff shortages, said Petilos. This month, those stores are expected to extend their operating hours.
While the stronger beer law hasn’t helped some brewers or the DABC, grocery stores have benefited from the change, said Dave Davis president of the Utah Food Industry Association.
“At the retail level, we are seeing sales increase,” he told the Legislature’s Beer Availability Working group last month. But exact percentages are difficult to calculate because the pandemic has increased overall grocery sales in 2020.
“It’s just a bizarre year,” Davis said. “It’s hard to draw any significant conclusions.”
We don’t need a stronger beer to understand that.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Beijing noodle restaurant remembers Biden's 2011 visit

Management has hung up photos of the U.S. president-elect from when , as vice president , he stopped by for a bowl of noodles and dumplings in 2011 .
“ We are very happy that Biden was elected , ” manager Yao Yan said Sunday .
“ We have already met each other , and we can say that we are old friends.
” Biden was visiting Beijing with his granddaughter Naomi .
They were being shown around by then-American Ambassador Gary Locke .
In what Chinese newspapers dubbed “ noodle diplomacy , ” Biden ate at a low table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smile .
“ Biden was very friendly with Chinese customers , ” said Yao .
“ After that , everyone applauded for Biden .
There was the feeling of the joy of laughter , and a cheerful mood , ” Yao said .
“ Biden is a very humorous and kind person.
” Customer Lan Ziyi expressed surprise Biden sat at the same tables .
Lan took it as a promising sign for relations between China and the U.S. that have sunk to their lowest level in decades .
Yao said Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk about our old days and friendship while he tastes our snacks and hope that our friendship will last longer , ” Yao said .

BEIJING (AP) - The Yaoji Chaogan noodle restaurant beneath Beijing’s 600-year-old Drum Tower knows Joe Biden.
Management has hung up photos of the U.S. president-elect from when, as vice president, he stopped by for a bowl of noodles and dumplings in 2011.
“We are very happy that Biden was elected,” manager Yao Yan said Sunday. “We have already met each other, and we can say that we are old friends.”
Biden was visiting Beijing with his granddaughter Naomi. They were being shown around by then-American Ambassador Gary Locke.
In what Chinese newspapers dubbed “noodle diplomacy,” Biden ate at a low table before giving onlookers a thumbs-up and a smile.
“Biden was very friendly with Chinese customers,” said Yao.
“After that, everyone applauded for Biden. There was the feeling of the joy of laughter, and a cheerful mood,” Yao said. “Biden is a very humorous and kind person.”
Customer Lan Ziyi expressed surprise Biden sat at the same tables. Lan took it as a promising sign for relations between China and the U.S. that have sunk to their lowest level in decades.
Yao said Biden is welcome to return.
“We can talk about our old days and friendship while he tastes our snacks and hope that our friendship will last longer,” Yao said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Thai police use water cannons on pro-democracy protesters

BANGKOK ( AP ) - Pro-democracy protesters in Thailand were confronted by riot police and sprayed by water cannons Sunday as they tried to approach Bangkok ’ s Grand Palace to deliver letters about their political grievances addressed to the country ’ s king .
The pro-democracy movement has been pushing a bold challenge to reform the country ’ s monarchy with almost daily demonstrations .
Sunday marked the second time water cannons were used against them during several months of demonstrations .
The protesters pushed aside one of several buses that along with barbed wire was serving as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ palace , which houses the royal offices but is only used by King Maha Vajiralongkorn on infrequent ceremonial occasions .
The attempt to break through came after police had declared their march illegal and asked for protesters to send representatives to talk .
The protesters had met earlier at Bangkok ’ s Democracy Monument and marched as darkness fell , pushing past an initial thin line of police .
Protesters threw objects at police during the melee , but both sides backed off after a few minutes , and it appeared that order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The water cannons were employed by the police for just a short time , and it appeared that no one suffered any serious injuries .
“ People just wanted to submit the letters .
There was no sign of violence from protesters at all , ” said protester Thawatchai Tongsuk , 36 .
“ If the police gave way , I believe that the leaders would have submitted the letters and then been finished .
Everyone would go home.
” “ The more violence they use , the more people will join the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrators had solicited letters to the king from protest supporters that were deposited in mock red postboxes on wheels that marchers said they intended to deliver .
The action was the latest gimmick by the protest movement to maintain public interest in their cause .
The student-led movement , which over several months has seized the political initiative , has put enough pressure on the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to call for Parliament to deal with at least some of their demands .
They are seeking Prayuth ’ s resignation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more democratic and reforms to the monarchy to make it more accountable .
The protesters believe Prayuth lacks legitimacy because he came to power after an election last year whose rules were set up under military rule .
Prayuth as army chief in 2014 led a coup ousting an elected government and then headed the junta that ran the country until last year ’ s polls .
A new constitution was put into effect by the junta that the protesters also consider illegitimate and anti-democratic .
The third demand , calling for reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversial .
The monarchy has traditionally been an untouchable institution , regarded by most Thais as the heart and soul of the nation .
A lese majeste law mandates a prison term of up to 15 years for anyone who defames the king or his close family .
Until the protesters raised the issue , public criticism of the royal institution was virtually unknown .
While the protesters have increasingly put the monarchy issue front and center , they have received serious pushback .
Even the main opposition party , otherwise sympathetic to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not want to amend laws covering the monarchy , and royalists have started holding counter-demonstrations .
A few dozen rallied briefly Sunday across from the main protest .
Parliament has agreed to debate amending the constitution and political leaders are discussing setting up a reconciliation committee , an effort that so far has been rejected by the protesters .
But Prayuth has insisted he won ’ t step down , and any effort to reform the monarchy seems to be a dead end , leaving the situation deadlocked .

BANGKOK (AP) - Pro-democracy protesters in Thailand were confronted by riot police and sprayed by water cannons Sunday as they tried to approach Bangkok’s Grand Palace to deliver letters about their political grievances addressed to the country’s king.
The pro-democracy movement has been pushing a bold challenge to reform the country’s monarchy with almost daily demonstrations. Sunday marked the second time water cannons were used against the protesters during several months of demonstrations.
The melee was brief, and police later allowed the protesters to place four red mock mailboxes near the palace walls into which protesters could place their letters. People then went home, ending the protest.
The police had let loose with their water cannons when protesters pushed aside one of several buses serving as a barrier to marchers trying to approach the palace, which houses the royal offices but is only used by King Maha Vajiralongkorn on infrequent ceremonial occasions. The attempt to break through came after police had declared their march illegal and asked for protesters to send representatives to talk.
The protesters had met earlier at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument and marched as darkness fell, pushing past an initial thin line of police. Protesters threw objects at police during the melee, but both sides backed off after a few minutes and it appeared that no one suffered any serious injuries.
“People just wanted to submit the letters. There was no sign of violence from protesters at all,” said protester Thawatchai Tongsuk, 36. “If the police gave way, I believe that the leaders would have submitted the letters and then been finished. Everyone would go home.”
“The more violence they use, the more people will join the protest,” Thawatchai said.
The demonstrators had solicited letters to the king from protest supporters that marchers said they intended to deliver, though the action was clearly a symbolic one, with the ultimate disposition of the missives unclear. It was the latest gimmick by the protest movement to maintain public interest in their cause.
The student-led movement, which over several months has seized the political initiative, has put enough pressure on the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to call for Parliament to deal with at least some of their demands.
They are seeking Prayuth’s resignation, changes to the constitution to make it more democratic and reforms to the monarchy to make it more accountable.
The protesters believe Prayuth lacks legitimacy because he came to power after an election last year whose rules were set up under military rule. Prayuth as army chief in 2014 led a coup ousting an elected government and then headed the junta that ran the country until last year’s polls.
A new constitution was put into effect by the junta that the protesters also consider illegitimate and anti-democratic.
The third demand, calling for reform of the monarchy, is the most controversial. The monarchy has traditionally been an untouchable institution, regarded by most Thais as the heart and soul of the nation. A lese majeste law mandates a prison term of up to 15 years for anyone who defames the king or his close family.
Until the protesters raised the issue, public criticism of the royal institution was virtually unknown.
While the protesters have increasingly put the monarchy issue front and center, they have received serious pushback. Even the main opposition party, otherwise sympathetic to their other points, has said it does not want to amend laws covering the monarchy, and royalists have started holding counter-demonstrations. A few dozen rallied briefly Sunday across from the main protest.
Parliament has agreed to debate amending the constitution and political leaders are discussing setting up a reconciliation committee, an effort that so far has been rejected by the protesters.
But Prayuth has insisted he won’t step down, and any effort to reform the monarchy seems to be a dead end, leaving the situation deadlocked.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Gunbattle in Kashmir kills 4 Indian soldiers, 3 rebels

SRINAGAR , India ( AP ) - A fierce gunbattle on Sunday left four Indian soldiers and three insurgents dead in Indian-controlled Kashmir , an Indian army official said .
The fighting in Kupwara district started at around 1 a.m. after the Indian paramilitary soldiers spotted the rebels around 3.5 kilometers ( 2 miles ) into India ’ s side of the cease-fire line dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan , said army spokesperson Col. Rajesh Kalia .
The army rushed troop reinforcements in after the first three hours of exchange of gunfire killed one Indian paramilitary soldier and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a lull of several hours , killing three Indian army soldiers and injuring another two , he said , adding that two more insurgents were killed before the firing subsided .
India accuses Pakistan of arming and training insurgents to attack Indian soldiers and other targets in the region , a charge Islamabad denies .
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan , but the rivals each claim the region in its entirety .
The two countries have fought three wars , two of them over control of Kashmir , since British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rebels have been fighting against Indian rule since 1989 .
Most Muslim Kashmiris support the rebel goal that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country .
Tens of thousands of civilians , rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict .

SRINAGAR, India (AP) - A fierce gunbattle on Sunday left four Indian soldiers and three insurgents dead in Indian-controlled Kashmir, an Indian army official said.
The fighting in Kupwara district started at around 1 a.m. after the Indian paramilitary soldiers spotted the rebels around 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) into India’s side of the cease-fire line dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan, said army spokesperson Col. Rajesh Kalia.
The army rushed troop reinforcements in after the first three hours of exchange of gunfire killed one Indian paramilitary soldier and one rebel, Kalia said.
Fighting resumed after a lull of several hours, killing three Indian army soldiers and injuring another two, he said, adding that two more insurgents were killed before the firing subsided.
India accuses Pakistan of arming and training insurgents to attack Indian soldiers and other targets in the region, a charge Islamabad denies.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but the rivals each claim the region in its entirety. The two countries have fought three wars, two of them over control of Kashmir, since British colonialists granted them independence in 1947.
Rebels have been fighting against Indian rule since 1989. Most Muslim Kashmiris support the rebel goal that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--UK does a U-turn, backs soccer star's child hunger campaign

LONDON ( AP ) - The British government has made another abrupt about-face and now says it will provide free meals to disadvantaged children in England over the upcoming holidays following a hugely popular child hunger campaign by soccer star Marcus Rashford .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson phoned the 23-year-old Manchester United striker after his team ’ s Premier League victory over Everton on Saturday to inform him of the government ’ s decision to spend 170 million pounds ( $ 220 million ) in extra funding to support needy families over the coming year .
“ Following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation with the prime minister to better understand the proposed plan , and I very much welcome the steps that have been taken to combat child food poverty in the U.K. , ” Rashford said .
His petition demanding the Conservative government pay for free school meals for disadvantaged students over the holidays attracted more than 1 million signatures .
The money will be handed to local authorities by December in time to support families over Christmas , many of whom are facing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Rashford , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ childhood experiences of relying on free school lunches and food banks , said the steps taken will improve the lives of nearly 1.7 million children in the U.K. over the next 12 months , “ and that can only be celebrated.
” Rashford said he was “ so proud ” of those who backed his campaign against child hunger and that he was “ overwhelmed by the outpouring of empathy and understanding.
” It ’ s the second time this year that Rashford has forced the government to change its policies .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meals for poor students over the summer holidays after initially resisting .
The new money will pay for the COVID Winter Grant Scheme to support families over Christmas while the Holiday Activities and Food program will be extended to cover the Easter , summer and Christmas breaks in 2021 .
As part of the package , Healthy Start payments , which help expectant mothers and those on low incomes with young children buy fresh fruit and vegetables , are to rise from 3.10 pounds to 4.25 pounds ( $ 3.61 to $ 4.94 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We want to make sure vulnerable people feel cared for throughout this difficult time and , above all , no one should go hungry or be unable to pay their bills this winter , ” said Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey .
The new money comes a month after the Conservative government failed to back a motion from the opposition Labour Party to extend free school meals .
Labour ’ s education spokesperson , Kate Green , accused the government of “ incompetence and intransigence ” for waiting until after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the announcement , and of creating “ needless and avoidable hardship for families across the country.
” Businesses and local governments stepped into the breach following the government ’ s failure to pay for free school meals in October .
England ’ s children ’ s commissioner , Anne Longfield , welcomed the government ’ s announcement Sunday but called on it to “ go further ” with benefit payments .
“ Hunger does not take a holiday when schools close and a long-term solution to the growing number of children in poverty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Anna Taylor , executive director of the Food Foundation thinktank , also welcomed the government ’ s change of heart , saying it was a “ big win ” for disadvantaged children .
But she said the government needs to help another 1.7 million poor students who miss out on free school lunches because the qualifying income is set far too low .
“ Children ’ s food poverty , like the pandemic , will not go away until we have a lasting solution in place , ” she said .
Follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

LONDON (AP) - The British government has made another abrupt about-face and now says it will provide free meals to disadvantaged children in England over the upcoming holidays following a hugely popular child hunger campaign by soccer star Marcus Rashford.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson phoned the 23-year-old Manchester United striker after his team’s Premier League victory over Everton on Saturday to inform him of the government’s decision to spend 170 million pounds ($220 million) in extra funding to support needy families over the coming year.
“Following the game today, I had a good conversation with the prime minister to better understand the proposed plan, and I very much welcome the steps that have been taken to combat child food poverty in the U.K.,” Rashford said. His petition demanding the Conservative government pay for free school meals for disadvantaged students over the holidays attracted more than 1 million signatures.
The money will be handed to local authorities by December in time to support families over Christmas, many of whom are facing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rashford, who has eloquently spoken about his own childhood experiences of relying on free school lunches and food banks, said the steps taken will improve the lives of nearly 1.7 million children in the U.K. over the next 12 months, “and that can only be celebrated.”
Rashford said he was “so proud” of those who backed his campaign against child hunger and that he was “overwhelmed by the outpouring of empathy and understanding.”
It’s the second time this year that Rashford has forced the government to change its policies. In June, it agreed to keep funding meals for poor students over the summer holidays after initially resisting.
The new money will pay for the COVID Winter Grant Scheme to support families over Christmas while the Holiday Activities and Food program will be extended to cover the Easter, summer and Christmas breaks in 2021.
As part of the package, Healthy Start payments, which help expectant mothers and those on low incomes with young children buy fresh fruit and vegetables, are to rise from 3.10 pounds to 4.25 pounds ($3.61 to $4.94) a week beginning in April 2021.
“We want to make sure vulnerable people feel cared for throughout this difficult time and, above all, no one should go hungry or be unable to pay their bills this winter,” said Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey.
The new money comes a month after the Conservative government failed to back a motion from the opposition Labour Party to extend free school meals.
Labour’s education spokesperson, Kate Green, accused the government of “incompetence and intransigence” for waiting until after the October fall school break to make the announcement, and of creating “needless and avoidable hardship for families across the country.”
Businesses and local governments stepped into the breach following the government’s failure to pay for free school meals in October.
England’s children’s commissioner, Anne Longfield, welcomed the government’s announcement Sunday but called on it to “go further” with benefit payments.
“Hunger does not take a holiday when schools close and a long-term solution to the growing number of children in poverty is urgently required,” she said.
Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation thinktank, also welcomed the government’s change of heart, saying it was a “big win” for disadvantaged children. But she said the government needs to help another 1.7 million poor students who miss out on free school lunches because the qualifying income is set far too low.
“Children’s food poverty, like the pandemic, will not go away until we have a lasting solution in place,” she said.
___
Follow all of AP’s coronavirus pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak