washingtontimes--2020-11-22--New Mexico reports 2,468 new COVID-19 cases, 33 more deaths

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - Health officials in New Mexico on Sunday reported 2,468 new COVID-19 cases and 33 additional deaths .
That increases the state ’ s totals to 81,896 cases and 1,383 known deaths since the pandemic began .
The New Mexico Department of Health on Saturday reported 2,342 new coronavirus cases and 25 deaths .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .
For most people , the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
A new edict announced Thursday allows the New Mexico Department of Health to shut down workplaces for two weeks if they have four or more coronavirus cases in a 14-day period .
More than 20 essential businesses across the state were shut down as of Friday , of which nearly half were grocery @ @ @ @ @

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Health officials in New Mexico on Sunday reported 2,468 new COVID-19 cases and 33 additional deaths.
That increases the state’s totals to 81,896 cases and 1,383 known deaths since the pandemic began.
The New Mexico Department of Health on Saturday reported 2,342 new coronavirus cases and 25 deaths.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.
But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
A new edict announced Thursday allows the New Mexico Department of Health to shut down workplaces for two weeks if they have four or more coronavirus cases in a 14-day period.
More than 20 essential businesses across the state were shut down as of Friday, of which nearly half were grocery stores or major retailers.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Joe Biden won illegal votes from thousands of noncitizens, study shows

A new study estimates that presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden benefited from thousands of illegal votes by noncitizens , providing President Trump ’ s backers another potential argument for a fraud-tainted election .
The study comes from the nonprofit research institute Just Facts , and its president , James D. Agresti , who looked at election returns from seven battleground states : Arizona , Georgia , Michigan , Nevada , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
He compared U.S. Census numbers on noncitizens ( a total of 21.7 million ) with each battleground state ’ s demographics and election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling of noncitizens .
The 2008-13 surveys show that a significant number of noncitizens register to vote and cast ballots , despite a federal law against it , and overwhelmingly vote for Democrats .
Based in New Jersey , Just Facts concluded that thousands of “ extra ” noncitizen votes went to Mr. Biden , enough to flip Arizona ( plus 51,081 ) and Georgia ( plus 54,950 ) , but not sufficient to flip the election .
“ This is just one kind of fraud , ” Mr. Agresti told The Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sizable number , which is the point .
It also decimates the predominant narrative that there is no evidence of large-scale fraud in U.S. elections.
” Mr. Trump is contesting the election in court on two major contentions : invalid mailed ballots because of fake signatures or other flaws , and a computer voting system that , his legal team says , switched Trump votes to Biden votes .
The latter claim remains unproven .
At this point there does not appear to be a formal Trump argument on noncitizen voting .
Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump for not conceding .
He believes he would win the election if only legal votes are counted and fraudulent ones are thrown out .
On voting by noncitizens , Mr. Agresti says Democrats , in effect , offer inducements to undocumented immigrants to break the law .
In the election cycle , various Democratic presidential candidates promised free health care , citizenship , open borders , no deportations and sanctuary cities .
Over the years , Democrats also have gone to court to block states that try to enforce the noncitizen voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Said Mr. Agresti ’ s study : “ A wealth of facts show that there are ample openings for noncitizens to illegally vote and that roughly 16 % of them voted in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.
” He promotes Just Facts as a conservative/libertarian research nonprofit that combats what he believes are false news media and liberal narratives .
The noncitizen vote issue divides along ideological lines .
Liberals generally contend that the illegal voting is minuscule and that cited polls have too small a sample .
Mr. Trump set up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registration lists to produce a definitive finding .
But Democrat-run states balked at turning over data and the commission went away .
Conservatives say former President Barack Obama gave the green light to fraud right before the 2016 election when he was asked if undocumented immigrants would be deported if they voted .
“ Not true , ” Mr. Obama answered at the time .
“ And the reason is , first of all , when you vote , you are a citizen yourself .
And there is not a situation where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people start investigating , et cetera.
” Poll evidence from 2008 to 2013 seems to confirm that substantial numbers of noncitizens vote .
For example , a 2012 Harvard/YouGov survey found that 14 % of self-identified noncitizens responded that they were registered to vote and 9 % said they “ definitely ” voted .
Of those , 80 % said they voted for Mr. Obama .
All the follow-up data , such as checks of actual rosters , indicate that 2.8 million to 7.9 million noncitizens were registered to vote in 2008 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ground zero on the noncitizen debate had resided at Old Dominion University in Norfolk , Virginia , and political science professor Jesse Richman .
Based on the same census data and polling as Just Facts , Mr. Richman published what appear to be the first comprehensive studies that show significant numbers of noncitizens voting .
He estimated that 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton garnered thousands of noncitizens votes .
His numbers prompted Mr. Trump to make unsubstantiated claims about the popular vote he had lost .
Other political science professors reacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter calling for colleagues to blacklist his studies .
“ The scholarly political science community has generally rejected the findings in the Richman et al .
study and we believe it should not be cited or used in any debate over fraudulent voting , ” the letter said .
The Harvard/YouGov survey , known officially as the Cooperative Congressional Election Study , contains too small a sample of noncitizens to draw conclusions , the blacklisters said .
“ I agree with the authors of the letter that the upper end of this interval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s rhetoric , ” Mr. Richman wrote in a blog .
“ I have , as noted above , attempted to push back against this .
I will continue to do so as I think it is important that people not get fooled by an extreme upper end estimate that is almost certainly way way way too high.
” He added : “ We show that even if their response error argument is correct , there is still significant evidence of non-citizen participation in the U.S. electoral system.
” Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegally registered to vote .
The state compared drivers licenses , which contain immigration status , to voter rolls .

A new study estimates that presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden benefited from thousands of illegal votes by noncitizens, providing President Trump’s backers with another potential argument for a fraud-tainted election.
The study comes from the nonprofit research institute Just Facts, and its president, James D. Agresti, who looked at election returns from seven battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
He compared U.S. Census numbers on noncitizens (a total of 21.7 million) with each battleground state’s demographics and election results. He then applied previous election polling of noncitizens.
The 2008-13 surveys show that a significant number of noncitizens register to vote and cast ballots, despite a federal law against it, and overwhelmingly vote for Democrats.
Based in New Jersey, Just Facts concluded that thousands of “extra” noncitizen votes went to Mr. Biden, enough to flip Arizona (plus 51,081) and Georgia (plus 54,950), but not sufficient to flip the election.
“This is just one kind of fraud,” Mr. Agresti told The Washington Times. “It’s a sizable number, which is the point. It also decimates the predominant narrative that there is no evidence of large-scale fraud in U.S. elections.”
Mr. Trump is contesting the election in court on two major contentions: invalid mailed ballots because of fake signatures or other flaws, and a computer voting system that, his legal team says, switched Trump votes to Biden votes. The latter claim remains unproven.
At this point there does not appear to be a formal Trump argument on noncitizen voting.
Democrats and the liberal media are beleaguering Mr. Trump for not conceding. He believes he would win the election if only legal votes are counted and fraudulent ones are thrown out.
On voting by noncitizens, Mr. Agresti says Democrats, in effect, offer inducements to undocumented immigrants to break the law. In the election cycle, various Democratic presidential candidates promised free health care, citizenship, open borders, no deportations and sanctuary cities.
Over the years, Democrats also have gone to court to block states that try to enforce the noncitizen voting ban by requiring proof of citizenship.
Said Mr. Agresti’s study: “A wealth of facts show that there are ample openings for noncitizens to illegally vote and that roughly 16% of them voted in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.”
He promotes Just Facts as a conservative/libertarian research nonprofit that combats what he believes are false news media and liberal narratives.
The noncitizen vote issue divides along ideological lines. Liberals generally contend that the illegal voting is minuscule and that cited polls have too small a sample.
Mr. Trump set up a blue-ribbon commission to delve into voter registration lists to produce a definitive finding. But Democrat-run states balked at turning over data and the commission went away.
Conservatives say former President Barack Obama gave the green light to fraud right before the 2016 election when he was asked if undocumented immigrants would be deported if they voted.
“Not true,” Mr. Obama answered at the time. “And the reason is, first of all, when you vote, you are a citizen yourself. And there is not a situation where the voting rolls somehow are transferred over and people start investigating, et cetera.”
Poll evidence from 2008 to 2013 seems to confirm that substantial numbers of noncitizens vote. For example, a 2012 Harvard/YouGov survey found that 14% of self-identified noncitizens responded that they were registered to vote and 9% said they “definitely” voted. Of those, 80% said they voted for Mr. Obama.
All the follow-up data, such as checks of actual rosters, indicate that 2.8 million to 7.9 million noncitizens were registered to vote in 2008, Just Facts says.
In previous elections, ground zero on the noncitizen debate had resided at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and political science professor Jesse Richman.
Based on the same census data and polling as Just Facts, Mr. Richman published what appear to be the first comprehensive studies that show significant numbers of noncitizens voting. He estimated that 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton garnered thousands of noncitizens votes. His numbers prompted Mr. Trump to make unsubstantiated claims about the popular vote he had lost.
Other political science professors reacted by bullying Mr. Richman in an open letter calling for colleagues to blacklist his studies.
“The scholarly political science community has generally rejected the findings in the Richman et al. study and we believe it should not be cited or used in any debate over fraudulent voting,” the letter said.
The Harvard/YouGov survey, known officially as the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, contains too small a sample of noncitizens to draw conclusions, the blacklisters said.
Mr. Richman has defended his landmark work.
“I agree with the authors of the letter that the upper end of this interval may have played an unfortunate role in the president’s rhetoric,” Mr. Richman wrote in a blog. “I have, as noted above, attempted to push back against this. I will continue to do so as I think it is important that people not get fooled by an extreme upper end estimate that is almost certainly way way way too high.”
He added: “We show that even if their response error argument is correct, there is still significant evidence of non-citizen participation in the U.S. electoral system.”
Last year, Texas officials found 95,000 noncitizens illegally registered to vote. The state compared drivers licenses, which contain immigration status, to voter rolls.
• Rowan Scarborough can be reached at rscarborough@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--In Italy, theater reopens in town devastated by COVID

MILAN ( AP ) - In a signal of rebirth , the Donizetti theater in the northern Italian city of Bergamo , devastated by the coronavirus pandemic , reopened this weekend after three years of renovations .
But the planned gala celebration had to be postponed , and new productions for an annual festival dedicated to the city ’ s native composer Gaetano Donizetti had to be streamed online from an empty theater .
Festival musical director Riccardo Frizza said the autumn festival was envisioned as a life-affirming moment for the city and province , where 6,000 people died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the summer he conducted Donizett ’ s Requiem , performed outside the city ’ s cemetery in tribute to the dead .
“ You have to know that in my festival orchestra and in the chorus there are people who lost two or three family members , ’ ’ Frizza said .
“ We couldn ’ t do the festival without having done this tribute to those who aren ’ t with us anymore.
” Plans for an audience had to be scrapped after the virus started to resurge in October , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the spring , when images of army trucks transporting the dead to other regions for cremation laid bare the pandemic ’ s toll .
The calendar was cut to three productions .
All three weekend performances of Donizetti ’ s “ Marino Faliero , ” “ Le Nozze in Villa ” and “ Belisario ” are available online indefinitely for a subscription price of 59 euros ( $ 70 . )
Frizza said the money is needed to help freelance singers and musicians recoup some income during a year in which classical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Italy shut all theaters in February , and there was a tentative reopening over the summer .
While some other theaters are offering free online streaming of their archives , Frizza said few are offering new opera productions .
The Donizetti theater package includes extras like commentary , interviews and a virtual tour of the renovated theater , its frescoed ceilings given a fresh vibrancy .
Another Donizetti opera filmed last year , “ L ’ Ange De Nisida , ” will be released on Wednesday .
By comparison , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will broadcast a Dec. 7 concert on state television , substituting its traditional gala season-opener .
To ensure the health of the Donizetti Festival orchestra , singers and chorus , strict protocols were put into place , including weekly testing and separate rehearsals .
During the weekend performances , the chorus , most of the orchestra and Frizza wore masks .
At La Scala , more than 40 members of the chorus have tested positive for the virus , plus another 18 in the orchestra .
Frizza , who suffered a mild bout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Italy was in total lockdown , said no one in the festival contracted the virus during the rehearsals .
That ’ s critical to allowing the live performances to go ahead despite the partial lockdown in Lombardy .
“ No one can imagine the March lockdown without music , without books , without televised performances , ” Frizza said .
“ The pandemic has taught those who hadn ’ t understood before , the importance of culture , arts and beauty in the world .
”

MILAN (AP) - In a signal of rebirth, the Donizetti theater in the northern Italian city of Bergamo, devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, reopened this weekend after three years of renovations.
But the planned gala celebration had to be postponed, and new productions for an annual festival dedicated to the city’s native composer Gaetano Donizetti had to be streamed online from an empty theater.
Festival musical director Riccardo Frizza said the autumn festival was envisioned as a life-affirming moment for the city and province, where 6,000 people died in a single month last spring. In the summer he conducted Donizett’s Requiem, performed outside the city’s cemetery in tribute to the dead.
“You have to know that in my festival orchestra and in the chorus there are people who lost two or three family members,’’ Frizza said. “We couldn’t do the festival without having done this tribute to those who aren’t with us anymore.”
Plans for an audience had to be scrapped after the virus started to resurge in October, even if Bergamo itself is experiencing lighter contagion than the spring, when images of army trucks transporting the dead to other regions for cremation laid bare the pandemic’s toll. The calendar was cut to three productions.
All three weekend performances of Donizetti’s “Marino Faliero,” “Le Nozze in Villa” and “Belisario” are available online indefinitely for a subscription price of 59 euros ($70.) Frizza said the money is needed to help freelance singers and musicians recoup some income during a year in which classical music has been all but shutdown by the coronavirus.
Italy shut all theaters in February, and there was a tentative reopening over the summer.
While some other theaters are offering free online streaming of their archives, Frizza said few are offering new opera productions. The Donizetti theater package includes extras like commentary, interviews and a virtual tour of the renovated theater, its frescoed ceilings given a fresh vibrancy. Another Donizetti opera filmed last year, “L’Ange De Nisida,” will be released on Wednesday.
By comparison, Milan’s famed La Scala theater will broadcast a Dec. 7 concert on state television, substituting its traditional gala season-opener.
To ensure the health of the Donizetti Festival orchestra, singers and chorus, strict protocols were put into place, including weekly testing and separate rehearsals. During the weekend performances, the chorus, most of the orchestra and Frizza wore masks.
At La Scala, more than 40 members of the chorus have tested positive for the virus, plus another 18 in the orchestra.
Frizza, who suffered a mild bout with the virus during the March peak when Italy was in total lockdown, said no one in the festival contracted the virus during the rehearsals. That’s critical to allowing the live performances to go ahead despite the partial lockdown in Lombardy.
“No one can imagine the March lockdown without music, without books, without televised performances,” Frizza said. “The pandemic has taught those who hadn’t understood before, the importance of culture, arts and beauty in the world.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--German warship searches Libya-bound Turkish freighter

ANKARA , Turkey ( AP ) - Turkey and Germany were at loggerheads on Monday after a German frigate enforcing an arms embargo against Libya intercepted a Turkish freighter in the Mediterranean sea and carried out what a senior Turkish official dismissed as an “ illegal ” search .
Turkey said personnel from the German frigate Hamburg were flown by helicopter aboard the freighter Rosaline-A on Sunday as its sailed off the Libyan coast to carry out an hours-long search .
Germany ’ s Defense Ministry said Turkey ordered a halt to the search , forcing the German personnel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their search , the German team had found no cargo that contravened the arms embargo , German Defense Ministry spokesman Christian Thiels told reporters in Berlin .
This was the second incident between Turkey and naval forces from a NATO ally country enforcing an arms blockade against Libya .
In June , NATO launched an investigation over an incident between Turkish warships and a French naval vessel in the Mediterranean , after France said one of its frigates was “ lit up ” three times by Turkish naval targeting radar when it tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of involvement in arms trafficking .
A Turkish government official said the German warship ’ s personnel boarded Rosaline-A without Turkey ’ s permission in violation of maritime laws .
They ended the search around dawn after “ understanding that there was nothing but humanitarian aid , biscuits and other material such as paints on board , ” the official said .
The Rosaline-A continued on its way to Misrata after the search , the official said , adding that Turkey planned to lodge formal complaints about the incident .
The official spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish government rules .
Thiels , the German Defense Ministry spokesman , said the German crew requested permission to board .
“ Upon receiving no reply , a German search team was brought by helicopter to the freighter and commenced the search , and the crew was ‘ cooperative ’ , ” Thiels said .
While the team continued its search , German authorities were notified by Turkey that they were disallowing it .
The search was then ended and the team sent back to the frigate , Thiels said .
The German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship came from mission ’ s operational headquarters in Rome .

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey summoned top diplomats representing the European Union, Germany and Italy on Monday after a German frigate that is part of a EU mission enforcing an arms embargo against Libya intercepted a Turkish freighter in the Mediterranean sea and carried out what a senior Turkish official dismissed as an “illegal” search.
Turkey said personnel from the German frigate Hamburg were flown by helicopter aboard the Libya-bound freighter Rosaline-A on Sunday to carry out an hours-long search without the captain or the Turkish government’s permission to board. The captain and crew were forcibly searched and held in one part of the vessel as the German team searched the ship “by force,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
Germany’s Defense Ministry said Turkey ordered a halt to the search, forcing the German personnel to depart before completing their work. During their search, the German team had found no cargo that contravened the arms embargo, German Defense Ministry spokesman Christian Thiels told reporters in Berlin.
This was the second incident between Turkey and naval forces from a NATO ally country enforcing an arms blockade against Libya. In June, NATO launched an investigation over an incident between Turkish warships and a French naval vessel in the Mediterranean, after France said one of its frigates was “lit up” three times by Turkish naval targeting radar when it tried to approach a Turkish civilian ship suspected of involvement in arms trafficking.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the German warship’s personnel conducted the search despite the captain’s statements about what his ship was carrying. The search ended after Turkey’s “persistent objections,” it said.
“We protest this act which was unauthorized and conducted by force,” Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement. He added that Turkey may seek compensation for damage or losses.
Aksoy renewed Turkey’s criticism of the Rome-headquartered EU naval mission which aims to halt arm shipments to Libya and which Ankara has accused of favoring Libya’s eastern-based forces against the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.
Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onel later summoned the Italian ambassador, the German Embassy’s Charge d’ Affaires as well as the EU’s envoy to Turkey to formally protest the incident, the ministry said.
A senior official said the German team terminated its search aboard the Rosaline-A around dawn after “understanding that there was nothing but humanitarian aid, biscuits and other material such as paints on board.”
The freighter continued on its way to Misrata after the search, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with Turkish government rules.
Thiels, the German Defense Ministry spokesman, said the German crew requested permission to board.
“Upon receiving no reply, a German search team was brought by helicopter to the freighter and commenced the search, and the crew was ‘cooperative’,” Thiels said.
While the team continued its search, German authorities were notified by Turkey that they were disallowing it. The search was then ended and the team sent back to the frigate, Thiels said.
The German official said the order to board the ship came from mission’s operational headquarters in Rome.
__
Associated Press writer David Rising in Berlin contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--North Dakota starts free rapid COVID-19 testing for teachers

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - North Dakota health officials are rolling out free rapid COVID-19 testing for teachers , staff and school administrators this week as part of a pilot project designed to slow the virus ’ spread by identifying and quickly isolating people who may be asymptomatic .
Testing of K-12 teachers will start in the Fargo and West Fargo school districts and will be expanded to other districts in coming days and weeks .
Teachers , staff and administrators who work closely with students are being encouraged to get tested weekly through Dec. 31 .
Students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effort .
“ Deploying these rapid tests to K-12 school districts will help to quickly identify and isolate asymptomatic carriers and prevent further spread of the virus to bend the curve in the right direction , while helping schools remain open or return to in-person learning , ” said Gov .
Doug Burgum .
“ Conducting this testing before and after Thanksgiving will also provide insights and help us fine-tune our strategy for reducing community spread , thereby protecting our health care capacity.
” State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said the rapid testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mitigation strategies schools are already using to keep in-person learning safe .
North Dakota ranks first in the country in new COVID-19 cases per capita , with 2,418 new cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks .
One in every 86 people in North Dakota tested positive in the past week .
November is on track to become North Dakota ’ s deadliest month from COVID-19 .
Health officials reported six new deaths on Sunday , bringing the statewide death toll to 840 since the pandemic began .
Data show 274 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November , just under the October tally of 285 .
More than half of the statewide deaths have occurred in the past few weeks .
To test the teachers , the state will use Abbott BinaxNOW point-of-care antigen tests , which can diagnose a coronavirus infection in 15 minutes .
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is allocating 220,000 BinaxNOW tests to North Dakota by the end of the year .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota health officials are rolling out free rapid COVID-19 testing for teachers, staff and school administrators this week as part of a pilot project designed to slow the virus’ spread by identifying and quickly isolating people who may be asymptomatic.
Testing of K-12 teachers will start in the Fargo and West Fargo school districts and will be expanded to other districts in coming days and weeks. Teachers, staff and administrators who work closely with students are being encouraged to get tested weekly through Dec. 31. Students will not be tested as part of the effort.
“Deploying these rapid tests to K-12 school districts will help to quickly identify and isolate asymptomatic carriers and prevent further spread of the virus to bend the curve in the right direction, while helping schools remain open or return to in-person learning,” said Gov. Doug Burgum. “Conducting this testing before and after Thanksgiving will also provide insights and help us fine-tune our strategy for reducing community spread, thereby protecting our health care capacity.”
State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said the rapid testing will add an additional layer to strong mitigation strategies schools are already using to keep in-person learning safe.
North Dakota ranks first in the country in new COVID-19 cases per capita, with 2,418 new cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. One in every 86 people in North Dakota tested positive in the past week.
November is on track to become North Dakota’s deadliest month from COVID-19. Health officials reported six new deaths on Sunday and three on Monday, bringing the statewide death toll to 843 since the pandemic began. Data shows 277 of the deaths have occurred this month so far, just under the October tally of 285. More than half of the statewide deaths have occurred in the past few weeks.
Officials confirmed 710 new positive tests in the last day, the lowest daily total since 527 cases were reported on Oct. 26. The overall total stands at 73,397.
To test the teachers, the state will use Abbott BinaxNOW point-of-care antigen tests, which can diagnose a coronavirus infection in 15 minutes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is allocating 220,000 BinaxNOW tests to North Dakota by the end of the year.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Thanksgiving lessons jettison Pilgrim hats, welcome truth

BOSTON ( AP ) - A friendly feast shared by the plucky Pilgrims and their native neighbors ?
That ’ s yesterday ’ s Thanksgiving story .
Students in many U.S. schools are now learning a more complex lesson that includes conflict , injustice and a new focus on the people who lived on the land for hundreds of years before European settlers arrived and named it New England .
Inspired by the nation ’ s reckoning with systemic racism , schools are scrapping and rewriting lessons that treated Native Americans as a footnote in a story about white settlers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students are hearing what scholars call “ hard history ” - the more shameful aspects of the past .
Students still learn about the 1621 feast , but many are also learning that peace between the Pilgrims and Native Americans was always uneasy and later splintered into years of conflict .
On Cape Cod , language arts teacher Susannah Remillard long found that her sixth grade students had been taught far more about the Pilgrims than the Wampanoag people , the Native Americans who attended the feast .
Now she ’ s trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students to rewrite the Thanksgiving story using historical records , and then she asks them to write a poem from the perspective of a person from that time , half settlers and half Wampanoag .
“ We carry this Colonial view of how we teach , and now we have a moment to step outside that and think about whether that is harmful for kids , and if there isn ’ t a better way , ” said Remillard , who teaches at Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School in East Harwich , Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a point where people are now ready to listen.
” In Arlington Public Schools near Boston , students until recently dressed annually in Colonial attire .
Now taboo , the costumes were abolished in 2018 , and the district is working to expand and correct classroom teachings on Native Americans , including debunking Thanksgiving myths .
Students as young as kindergarten are now being taught that harvest feasts have been part of Wampanoag life since long before 1621 , and that thanksgiving is a daily part of life for many tribes .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pilgrims and Wampanoag were not friends , and that it ’ s important to “ unlearn ” false notions around the feast .
“ We don ’ t want the coloring books of the Pilgrims and the Native Americans , ” said Crystal Power , a social studies coach .
“ We want students to engage with what really happened , with who lived here first , and to understand that there was no such thing as the New World .
It was only new from one side ’ s perspective.
” Advocates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still much to improve .
Change has been slow and spotty , they say , and many schools cling to insensitive traditions , including costumed dramas and paper headdresses .
“ Progress seems to be gaining momentum , but there ’ s still a lot of work to do , ” said Ed Schupman , manager of Native Knowledge 360 , the national education initiative at the National Museum of the American Indian , and a citizen of the Muscogee ( Creek ) Nation of Oklahoma .
“ Change is still needed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some places.
” Schupman and the museum have worked with states as they create new teaching standards on Indigenous cultures .
Montana in 1999 was among the first to require schools to teach tribal histories and is now joined by Washington , Oregon and others .
Even in states where it isn ’ t mandatory , however , classrooms are becoming more inclusive .
After national protests over killings of Black people by police , Arlington ’ s history department created a committee to examine race , which led to discussions about expanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Native Americans and other groups too often left out .
In recent guidance , the nearby Brookline school district urged teachers to incorporate native perspectives even on topics not necessarily specific to Indigenous people .
It encourages lessons , for example , on the coronavirus ’ impact on Native Americans , and on Neilson Powless , who recently became the first Native American in the Tour de France .
Although schools say parents have mostly embraced the changes , they acknowledge it can be polarizing .
Prominent lawmakers have resisted efforts to rethink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arkansas , a Republican who last week blasted “ revisionist charlatans of the radical left.
” “ Too many may have lost the civilizational self-confidence needed to celebrate the Pilgrims , ” Cotton said .
School officials say they aren ’ t changing history , but adding parts that have been left out .
Standard social studies textbooks have included little about Native Americans , and alternatives were long elusive .
Teachers say that ’ s changing , thanks to native scholars who have authored children ’ s books , lesson plans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , every public school is getting copies of a new state history book co-written by a Wampanoag author and historian .
The book was published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower ’ s arrival , but it notably begins thousands of years earlier , with the history of the Wampanoag people .
Many schools are also adding lessons on native cultures through the year , including around Columbus Day , which some districts now mark as Indigenous Peoples Day .
More are also looking for ways to bring Indigenous voices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , schools around Boston hosted annual visits from Annawon Weeden , a performing artist and member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe .
Weeden makes a point of arriving in modern clothes to dispel faulty notions about Indigenous people .
Only after taking questions and debunking myths does he change into traditional regalia and demonstrate tribal dances .
“ A lot of the kids think we ’ re only in the past .
A lot of the kids think we live in a longhouse or a teepee or whatever , ” Weeden said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to defeat .
”

BOSTON (AP) - A friendly feast shared by the plucky Pilgrims and their native neighbors? That’s yesterday’s Thanksgiving story.
Students in many U.S. schools are now learning a more complex lesson that includes conflict, injustice and a new focus on the people who lived on the land for hundreds of years before European settlers arrived and named it New England.
Inspired by the nation’s reckoning with systemic racism, schools are scrapping and rewriting lessons that treated Native Americans as a footnote in a story about white settlers. Instead of making Pilgrim hats, students are hearing what scholars call “hard history” - the more shameful aspects of the past.
Students still learn about the 1621 feast, but many are also learning that peace between the Pilgrims and Native Americans was always uneasy and later splintered into years of conflict.
On Cape Cod, language arts teacher Susannah Remillard long found that her sixth grade students had been taught far more about the Pilgrims than the Wampanoag people, the Native Americans who attended the feast. Now she’s trying to balance the narrative.
She asks students to rewrite the Thanksgiving story using historical records, and then she asks them to write a poem from the perspective of a person from that time, half settlers and half Wampanoag.
“We carry this Colonial view of how we teach, and now we have a moment to step outside that and think about whether that is harmful for kids, and if there isn’t a better way,” said Remillard, who teaches at Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School in East Harwich, Massachusetts. “I think we are at a point where people are now ready to listen.”
In Arlington Public Schools near Boston, students until recently dressed annually in Colonial attire. Now taboo, the costumes were abolished in 2018, and the district is working to expand and correct classroom teachings on Native Americans, including debunking Thanksgiving myths.
Students as young as kindergarten are now being taught that harvest feasts have been part of Wampanoag life since long before 1621, and that thanksgiving is a daily part of life for many tribes.
They’re also being taught that the Pilgrims and Wampanoag were not friends, and that it’s important to “unlearn” false notions around the feast.
“We don’t want the coloring books of the Pilgrims and the Native Americans,” said Crystal Power, a social studies coach. “We want students to engage with what really happened, with who lived here first, and to understand that there was no such thing as the New World. It was only new from one side’s perspective.”
Advocates for Indigenous education caution there’s still much to improve. Change has been slow and spotty, they say, and many schools cling to insensitive traditions, including costumed dramas and paper headdresses.
“Progress seems to be gaining momentum, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” said Ed Schupman, manager of Native Knowledge 360, the national education initiative at the National Museum of the American Indian, and a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma. “Change is still needed, and it has only been significant in some places.”
Schupman and the museum have worked with states as they create new teaching standards on Indigenous cultures. Montana in 1999 was among the first to require schools to teach tribal histories and is now joined by Washington, Oregon and others.
Even in states where it isn’t mandatory, however, classrooms are becoming more inclusive.
After national protests over killings of Black people by police, Arlington’s history department created a committee to examine race, which led to discussions about expanding and correcting teachings about African Americans, Native Americans and other groups too often left out.
In recent guidance, the nearby Brookline school district urged teachers to incorporate native perspectives even on topics not necessarily specific to Indigenous people. It encourages lessons, for example, on the coronavirus’ impact on Native Americans, and on Neilson Powless, who recently became the first Native American in the Tour de France.
Although schools say parents have mostly embraced the changes, they acknowledge it can be polarizing. Prominent lawmakers have resisted efforts to rethink Thanksgiving, including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a Republican who last week blasted “revisionist charlatans of the radical left.”
“Too many may have lost the civilizational self-confidence needed to celebrate the Pilgrims,” Cotton said.
School officials say they aren’t changing history, but adding parts that have been left out. Standard social studies textbooks have included little about Native Americans, and alternatives were long elusive. Teachers say that’s changing, thanks to native scholars who have authored children’s books, lesson plans and other materials.
In Massachusetts this year, every public school is getting copies of a new state history book co-written by a Wampanoag author and historian. The book was published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s arrival, but it notably begins thousands of years earlier, with the history of the Wampanoag people.
Many schools are also adding lessons on native cultures through the year, including around Columbus Day, which some districts now mark as Indigenous Peoples Day. More are also looking for ways to bring Indigenous voices directly into the classroom.
Before the pandemic, schools around Boston hosted annual visits from Annawon Weeden, a performing artist and member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.
Weeden makes a point of arriving in modern clothes to dispel faulty notions about Indigenous people. Only after taking questions and debunking myths does he change into traditional regalia and demonstrate tribal dances.
“A lot of the kids think we’re only in the past. A lot of the kids think we live in a longhouse or a teepee or whatever,” Weeden said. “Stereotypes like those are very hard to defeat.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut tests positive for COVID-19

VERNON , Conn. ( AP ) - U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut has tested positive for the coronavirus and @ @ @ @ @ he announced .
Courtney said Sunday that he learned last week he had been exposed @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 .
“ Upon learning of that initial exposure , I immediately began @ @ @ @ @ laid out by the CDC and by my doctor while I waited to get a @ @ @ @ @ Democrat said in a statement .
The first test was negative , but the 67-year-old @ @ @ @ @ symptoms and got a second test , which came back positive , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ s 2nd District , said he would continue to carry out his duties while @ @ @ @ @ Courtney is the second member of the state ’ s five-member House delegation to contract @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the virus in September .

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Teachers’ unions on Monday said all Connecticut public schools should switch to full-time remote learning until at least mid-January unless statewide coronavirus safety protocols are established and strictly enforced.
A coalition of unions cited surging COVID-19 infections in the state. They said seven of Connecticut’s eight counties have virus levels that require remote learning or a hybrid of in-person and remote learning under state guidance, but many schools continue to hold in-person classes full time.
“The (federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says schools are not the safest place during the pandemic, and in-person learning is a high-risk activity,” said Jeff Leake, president of the Connecticut Education Association. “The state must take steps now to strengthen safety or else move to all distance learning as we brace for this second wave of the virus.”
The unions made a host of recommendations in a new report, including that school districts be more transparent by publicly releasing COVID-19 infection data by school building and the number of staff and students who need to quarantine.
The unions also recommended establishing statewide protocols for the reporting and public notification of positive virus cases, contact tracing, quarantines, social distancing, testing and the availability of personal protective equipment, among many other things.
If the state cannot establish and enforce those protocols, schools should close and switch to remote-only learning after Thanksgiving through Jan. 18, the unions said.
Last week, the state reported a 70% increase in positive virus tests among public and private school students compared with the previous week. Nearly 1,150 students tested positive and nearly 490 educators tested positive, a 49% increase over the previous week. Connecticut has nearly 528,000 public school students and 52,000 educators.
Gov. Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona on Monday repeated their previous comments about schools not being a major source of virus transmission. Lamont said the main source continues to be social gatherings.
Lamont said schools have taken a number of precautions including improving ventilation systems, sanitizing classrooms and enforcing mask wearing and social distancing. He also said the state is providing 50,000 to 75,000 rapid virus tests per week for schools and has started a pilot program that puts college students in public schools to alleviate teacher shortages.
Cardona said state officials have been letting local officials make the call on whether to close schools and switch to remote learning, based on the severity of the virus outbreak in their communities.
On Monday, the state reported nearly 5,300 new virus infections and 43 more deaths since Friday. Officials said 875 people were hospitalized, up 27 since Friday. The state also surpassed 3 million total tests performed during the pandemic.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Connecticut has risen over the past two weeks from about 988 new cases per day on Nov. 8 to 1,832 new cases per day on Nov. 22.
Lamont urged volunteers to sign up to help at virus testing sites, nursing homes, hospitals, food distribution events and schools to help with staffing shortages. More information on volunteering is available at www.ct.gov/stepupct.
In other coronavirus news around the state:
___
PRISON TESTING
Connecticut prison officials said Monday that a new round of coronavirus testing of more than 8,600 inmates found that just under 1% of them were positive, a significantly lower rate than in previous testing.
Officials said 80 inmates tested positive during a third round of mass testing that ran from Oct. 6 to Nov. 13.
The first round of testing from May to June found that 9% of inmates, or 832, were infected. The positivity rate dipped to 3% in the second round of testing from July to September, when 241 prisoners tested positive. Prison officials credited the lower rates to following protocols for mask wearing and cleaning.
Since the pandemic began, nearly 1,750 inmates have tested positive for the virus and eight have died. Prison officials said 126 employees are currently recovering from COVID-19. Just under 9,300 people are detained in 14 state correctional facilities.
___
COURTNEY TESTS POSITIVE
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut has tested positive for the coronavirus and is isolating at home.
Courtney said Sunday that he learned last week he had been exposed to someone who later tested positive for COVID-19.
“Upon learning of that initial exposure, I immediately began following the strict isolation guidelines laid out by the CDC and by my doctor while I waited to get a coronavirus test,” the Democrat said in a statement.
The first test was negative, but the 67-year-old Courtney began to experience mild symptoms and got a second test, which came back positive, he said.
Courtney, who represents Connecticut’s 2nd District, is the second member of the state’s five-member House delegation to contract COVID-19. Democrat Jahana Hayes tested positive for the virus in September.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Lincoln man accused of waving chain saw at neighbor

LINCOLN , Neb .
( AP ) - A Lincoln man is accused of waving a chain saw at a @ @ @ @ @ epithets at her .
The Lincoln Journal Star reports a woman was entering her apartment @ @ @ @ @ 41-year-old man allegedly confronted her with a chain saw , told her to leave the @ @ @ @ @ .
The woman ran away and called the police .
The man was arrested on @ @ @ @ @ .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear if he has been charged .

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A Lincoln man is accused of waving a chain saw at a Black neighbor and yelling racial epithets at her.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports a woman was entering her apartment building Saturday afternoon when a 41-year-old man allegedly confronted her with a chain saw, told her to leave the property and yelled racial epithets.
The woman ran away and called the police. The man was arrested on suspicion of making terroristic threats. It wasn’t immediately clear if he has been charged.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Ground broken for Detroit development to assist LGBTQ youth

DETROIT ( AP ) - Ground has been broken on a development that will provide housing , a health clinic @ @ @ @ @ youth in Detroit .
The $ 15 million , 43-unit , 44,000-square-foot ( 4,087-square-meter ) @ @ @ @ @ also will tackle issues that can lead to homelessness , according to the city ’ @ @ @ @ @ .
The development will be a few miles north of downtown and feature 32 studio @ @ @ @ @ Thirty-four units will be supported by vouchers that will cover most , if not all @ @ @ @ @ housing expenses .
Eight other units will be offered at low cost for residents earning @ @ @ @ @ of the area median income .
An on-site space will be used for support services @ @ @ @ @ Center and Southwest Solutions for group therapy and case management .
Primary care doctors and @ @ @ @ @ will also be available at the center .

DETROIT (AP) - Ground has been broken on a development that will provide housing, a health clinic and community space for LGBTQ youth in Detroit.
The $15 million, 43-unit, 44,000-square-foot (4,087-square-meter) mixed-use Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center also will tackle issues that can lead to homelessness, according to the city’s Housing & Revitalization Department.
The development will be a few miles north of downtown and feature 32 studio and 11 one-bedroom apartments. Thirty-four units will be supported by vouchers that will cover most, if not all, of the residents’ housing expenses.
Eight other units will be offered at low cost for residents earning no more than 30% of the area median income.
An on-site space will be used for support services provided by the Ruth Ellis Center and Southwest Solutions for group therapy and case management. Primary care doctors and addiction and mental health counselors will also be available at the center.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Fishing license fees going down in Kansas

WICHITA , Kan. ( AP ) - It will be a little less expensive to fish in Kansas starting Jan. @ @ @ @ @ reports that on Thursday , the Kansas Wildlife Parks and Tourism Commission announced several change @ @ @ @ @ Among them : The cost of a one-day fishing license was reduced to $ 6 @ @ @ @ @ non-residents , the price dropped to $ 10 from $ 14.50 .
Fisheries Programs Specialist @ @ @ @ @ of fishing permits being sold had dropped dramatically since 2016 .
That year , the @ @ @ @ @ license .
Now , the state is selling about 35,000 annually .
The commission also @ @ @ @ @ Kansas children under age 16 .
It will cost $ 7 and allow them to @ @ @ @ @ youth could fish for trout for free but keep only two .

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - It will be a little less expensive to fish in Kansas starting Jan. 1.
The Wichita Eagle reports that on Thursday, the Kansas Wildlife Parks and Tourism Commission announced several change related to outdoor recreation. Among them: The cost of a one-day fishing license was reduced to $6 from $8.50. For non-residents, the price dropped to $10 from $14.50.
Fisheries Programs Specialist David Breth said the number of fishing permits being sold had dropped dramatically since 2016. That year, the state sold around 60,000 one-day license. Now, the state is selling about 35,000 annually.
The commission also approved a trout permit for Kansas children under age 16. It will cost $7 and allow them to keep five trout. Previously youth could fish for trout for free but keep only two.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Walz to announce technology to help spread slow of COVID-19

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Gov .
Tim Walz plans to unveil a new technology Monday that ’ s designed @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 , which has been surging in the state this month .
Minnesota health @ @ @ @ @ cases on Sunday , lifting the total number of positive cases to more than 270,000 @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Officials also confirmed 40 deaths due to complications from COVID-19 in the last @ @ @ @ @ of 3,241 fatalities .
There were 1,591 new cases per 100,000 people in Minnesota over @ @ @ @ @ which ranks sixth in the country for new cases per capita .
One in every @ @ @ @ @ positive in the past week .
Walz will announce the new technology alongside Minnesota IT @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota Department of Health Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Gov. Tim Walz and other Minnesota officials urged residents Monday to download a free app for their smartphones that will notify them if someone who’s been near them later tests positive for the coronavirus and will allow them to warn others anonymously if they test positive themselves.
Walz also said he plans to call a special legislative session to pass a relief package to help small businesses cope with the impacts of his moves last week to tighten restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, which included a four-week closure of restaurants and bars, except for takeout and delivery, and a similar shutdown of gyms and amateur sporting events.
“It’s absolutely critical that we get something quickly to these businesses, we get something that makes a material difference to them and bridges the gap until the federal government can do what they need to do,” the Democratic governor said.
Walz told reporters that he plans to announce details Tuesday, but that the proposals will include sales tax forgiveness for businesses that sell food and beverages; waiving state licensing fees; direct relief for individual workers; grants to provide food to health care workers, homeless shelters and long-term care facilities; a state tax credit for food donations by the hospitality industry; and lifting the expiration date on a state COVID-19 relief fund.
The governor said he’s been working on details with Democratic House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler and the business community. But he acknowledged that there was no deal yet, and that he had yet to consult with Republican leaders
Tarek Tomes, the state’s information technology commissioner, stressed that using the COVIDaware MN app is voluntary, and that the system contains ample privacy safeguards for those who opt in. It uses exposure notification technology developed by Google and Apple that is already being used under different names in around 20 other states and 35 countries around the world to try to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“If communities are willing to adopt the app, use it to report positive test results and follow health recommendations when notified of an exposure, this app can help us return to many of the activities we miss so much, and save lives,” Tomes said.
People can download the app from Apple’s App Store for iPhones or Google Play for Android phones. It uses Bluetooth technology to detect when a user has been within 6 feet (1.8 meters) of another user for 15 minutes, which is the federal definition of close contact. Anyone who tests positive will now be asked by contact tracers if they’re using the app. If they are, they’ll get a verification code to enter into the app that will trigger alerts to every other user who’s been that close to them in the preceding two weeks.
The app doesn’t tell a user to whom they were exposed, where or precisely when. But it then provides users information on how to get tested and how to keep themselves and people around them safe, including self-quarantining for 14 days.
Tomes said the system is based on anonymous keys, which are random numbers that change frequently. It does not use any information that would identify a user, nor does it share users’ identifying information with Apple, Google or the state. It does not use GPS or any other technology that would track a user’s location. The keys are deleted after two weeks.
The app will supplement the state’s contact tracing efforts and will flag exposures that are now difficult to trace because people often don’t know where or from whom they contracted the virus, said Kris Ehresmann, the infectious disease director at the Minnesota Department of Health. She said the department is working with universities that are eager to promote the app within their communities.
Virginia in August became the first state to launch the system. Colorado was the most recent before Minnesota. More than 1 million people in Colorado opted in within its first couple weeks, Tomes said. How useful it becomes in Minnesota will depend on how many people participate, but he said an Oxford University study found that an adoption rate as low as 15% could reduce the spread by about the same amount.
Penetration in some European counties quickly reached 20% to 35%, said Ramesh Raskar, founder of the PathCheck Foundation, a spinoff from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which is promoting the technology and helped develop the application for Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Health on Monday reported 24 more COVID-19 deaths and 6,353 new coronavirus infections, raising the totals for pandemic to 3,265 deaths and 276,500 cases. Monday’s numbers tend to be lower than in the rest of the week because of less testing on weekends. Ehresmann said she expects the state to top 300,000 cases around Thanksgiving. Minnesota hospitals were treating 1,778 people for COVID-19 as of Monday, including 364 in intensive care.
Also Monday, FightCovidMN - a partnership of the state’s hospitals, care systems, health plans and other groups - launched an edgy public service announcement campaign, “COVID-19 Isn’t Taking A Holiday,” to urge Minnesotans to mask up, keep their distance and fight community spread.
“We’re sure it’s good, but is Grandma’s pumpkin pie really to die for?” asks one of the spots.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Police: 3 injured in shooting at family gathering in Florida

HOMESTEAD , Fla. ( AP ) - Three people were injured Sunday night when someone began shooting at a group @ @ @ @ @ gathering in Homestead , police said .
A police officer for the Miami-Dade County school @ @ @ @ @ party returned fire , news outlets reported .
One man was airlifted to a trauma @ @ @ @ @ reported to be in good condition .
The other two were taken to Homestead Hospital @ @ @ @ @ happened around 9 p.m. Sunday .
Police said the gunman ran from the area .
@ @ @ @

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) - Three people were injured Sunday night when someone began shooting at a group gathered outside during a family gathering in Homestead, police said.
A police officer for the Miami-Dade County school system who was attending the party returned fire, news outlets reported. One man was airlifted to a trauma center, where he was reported to be in good condition. The other two were taken to Homestead Hospital.
The officer wasn’t injured, police said.
Investigators say the shooting happened around 9 p.m. Sunday.
Police said the gunman ran from the area. An investigation continues.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--UK Supreme Court to decide whether IS bride can return

LONDON ( AP ) - Britain ’ s Supreme Court is set to decide whether a woman who ran away from her London home as a teenager to join the Islamic State group in Syria can return to the U.K .
The British government is fighting to keep Shamima Begum from coming back to the country where she was born .
At a hearing beginning on Monday , it is challenging a lower court ’ s ruling that Begum can return to Britain to mount a legal challenge aimed at restoring her U.K. citizenship , which was revoked on national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in July that “ the only way in which she can have a fair and effective appeal is to be permitted to come into the United Kingdom.
” But James Eadie , a lawyer acting for the U.K. government , told the Supreme Court justices that Begum “ is considered to pose a real and current threat to national security.
” Begum , now 21 , was one of three east London schoolgirls who traveled to Syria in 2015 to live under IS rule .
She says she married an Islamic State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , all of whom have died .
She resurfaced at a refugee camp in Syria in 2019 and told reporters she wanted to come home , but was denied the chance when then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid revoked her citizenship .
He argued that she was Bangladeshi by descent and could go there .
The situation has thrown into sharp relief the larger question of how Western societies deal with people who joined IS but want to go back to their home countries .
Begum challenged the decision , arguing she is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Javid ’ s decision left her stateless .
The hearing in front of five Supreme Court judges is scheduled to last two days , with the court likely to give its ruling at a later date .

LONDON (AP) - Britain’s Supreme Court is set to decide whether a woman who ran away from her London home as a teenager to join the Islamic State group in Syria can return to the U.K.
The British government is fighting to keep Shamima Begum from coming back to the country where she was born.
At a hearing beginning on Monday, it is challenging a lower court’s ruling that Begum can return to Britain to mount a legal challenge aimed at restoring her U.K. citizenship, which was revoked on national security grounds.
The Court of Appeal said in July that “the only way in which she can have a fair and effective appeal is to be permitted to come into the United Kingdom.”
But James Eadie, a lawyer acting for the U.K. government, told the Supreme Court justices that Begum “is considered to pose a real and current threat to national security.”
Begum, now 21, was one of three east London schoolgirls who traveled to Syria in 2015 to live under IS rule. She says she married an Islamic State member from the Netherlands and had three children, all of whom have died.
She resurfaced at a refugee camp in Syria in 2019 and told reporters she wanted to come home, but was denied the chance when then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid revoked her citizenship. He argued that she was Bangladeshi by descent and could go there.
The situation has thrown into sharp relief the larger question of how Western societies deal with people who joined IS but want to go back to their home countries.
Begum challenged the decision, arguing she is not the citizen of another country and that Javid’s decision left her stateless.
The hearing in front of five Supreme Court judges is scheduled to last two days, with the court likely to give its ruling at a later date.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--1 dead, 1 injured in St. Louis shooting

1 dead, 1 injured in St. Louis shooting

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - One man is dead and a second is injured after a shooting in north @ @ @ @ @ happened just before 1 a.m. Monday .
KSDK-TV reports that officers responded to the Baden @ @ @ @ @ shot in the leg .
He was taken to a hospital , where he later @ @ @ @ @ police were told that a second victim had a graze wound .
He is hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ a surge in killings since the summer .
All told , 237 killings have been @ @ @ @ @ to 176 at the same time in 2019 .

ST. LOUIS (AP) - One man is dead and a second is injured after a shooting in north St. Louis.
The shooting happened just before 1 a.m. Monday. KSDK-TV reports that officers responded to the Baden neighborhood and found a man shot in the leg. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
Minutes later, police were told that a second victim had a graze wound. He is hospitalized.
St. Louis has seen a surge in killings since the summer. All told, 237 killings have been reported this year, compared to 176 at the same time in 2019.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Tourists few, NY gift shops struggle but don't lose (heart)

NEW YORK ( AP ) - In souvenir shops from Times Square to the World Trade Center , shelves full of T-shirts and trinkets still ( heart ) New York .
But the proprietors wonder when their customers will , again .
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a voracious bite out of a slice of New York life as recognizable as a piece of pizza : the gifts-slash-luggage-and-sometimes-slash-electronics stores that dot tourist-friendly areas , offering Statue of Liberty figurines , toy taxis , NYPD ballcaps , Big Apple fridge magnets and anything and everything emblazoned with the famous “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The memento markets are enough of a New York institution that a recent ” Saturday Night Live ” skit was set in one .
Like the miniature-skyline snow globes they sell , the shops are a microcosm of a city that has thrived on drawing visitors from around the world and now is feeling their near-absence .
“ It ’ s a fight for survival , ” Ali Zaidi said one recent morning at his shop two blocks from the World Trade Center .
And with coronavirus cases rising and winter approaching , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a busy holiday season instead is ” getting worse and worse , day by day.
” Before the pandemic , his Broadway Gifts store generally got hundreds of customers a day - many tourists , but also local office workers looking for gloves , cell phone chargers or other practical items , he said .
Now , with few out-of-town visitors and many locals still working from home , an average day might bring 25 to 50 people and $ 300 or less in sales , a small fraction of business as usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ souvenir store in midtown Manhattan .
After being closed for more than three months after the city shut down nonessential retail in March , Zaidi says he ’ s used all the business ’ savings to keep it going , while getting some breaks from his landlords and keeping his staff as small as possible - it ’ s just him and three relatives .
Still , he had to cut back sharply on ordering Christmas merchandise , he said .
“ I wish I could provide more to my customers , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nice ornaments on their trees , ” said Zaidi , who says he ’ s in the the business not just for a livelihood , but because selling gifts “ brings joy to others.
” Nonetheless , he ’ s says he ’ s “ very optimistic ” that the pandemic will eventually be quashed and business will recover .
“ We have to give positive energy in the city to bring it back to life , ” Zaidi said .
After setting records year after year since 2010 , travel to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the pandemic shuttered Broadway theaters , closed many other attractions for months and ushered in federal bans on some foreign visitors and New York quarantine rules affecting many interstate arrivals .
City tourism agency NYC & Co. is now projecting visitors will total about 23 million this year , an “ unmatched drop ” from over 66 million last year , though the agency forecasts the numbers will rebound to reach new records by 2024 .
Hotel occupancy is currently down about 80 % from normal , and traffic at metro area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hotel Association of New York City and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey .
In souvenir shops around Times and Herald squares , browsers were scant on a recent midday afternoon .
Workers spoke of trimmed-down staffs and , in some places , hours passing between sales .
A bit farther south , near the landmark Flatiron Building , Alper Tutus sported a “ New York tough ” face mask as he surveyed the wares he has curated during 35 years in the electronics and souvenir business .
Pointing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T-shirts and other specialties , he recalled the pre-pandemic days when customers lined up at the register that put his two daughters through college .
Nowadays , Tutus worries about covering the shop ’ s expenses , with monthly rent he said is in the tens of thousands of dollars .
The situation got him down for a while , but he believes in the city ’ s potential and his own : “ I never give up , ” he said .
Working seven days a week , the septuagenarian says he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he hopes the state or federal government can come up with some more aid for shops like his .
While hotels , restaurants and other businesses are important to the city ’ s tourism , he says souvenir shops have their own special place , providing tangible connections to the city that visitors take home with them .
“ It reflects your love , reflects your memories , ” Tutus said .
“ These little , little things , they make them so happy .
”

NEW YORK (AP) - In souvenir shops from Times Square to the World Trade Center, shelves full of T-shirts and trinkets still (heart) New York. But the proprietors wonder when their customers will, again.
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a voracious bite out of a slice of New York life as recognizable as a piece of pizza: the gifts-slash-luggage-and-sometimes-slash-electronics stores that dot tourist-friendly areas, offering Statue of Liberty figurines, toy taxis, NYPD ballcaps, Big Apple fridge magnets and anything and everything emblazoned with the famous “I (HEART) NY” logo.
Like the miniature-skyline snow globes they sell, the shops are a microcosm of a city that has thrived on drawing visitors from around the world and now is feeling their near-absence.
“It’s a fight for survival,” Ali Zaidi said one recent morning at his shop two blocks from the World Trade Center. And with coronavirus cases rising and winter approaching, what would normally be the build-up to a busy holiday season instead is ”getting worse and worse, day by day.”
Before the pandemic, his Broadway Gifts store generally got hundreds of customers a day - many tourists, but also local office workers looking for gloves, cell phone chargers or other practical items, he said. Now, with few out-of-town visitors and many locals still working from home, an average day might bring 25 to 50 people and $300 or less in sales, a small fraction of business as usual, says Zaidi, who has another souvenir store in midtown Manhattan.
After being closed for more than three months after the city shut down nonessential retail in March, Zaidi says he’s used all the business’ savings to keep it going, while getting some breaks from his landlords and keeping his staff as small as possible - it’s just him and three relatives. Still, he had to cut back sharply on ordering Christmas merchandise, he said.
“I wish I could provide more to my customers, so they could have a nice Christmas with nice ornaments on their trees,” said Zaidi, who says he’s in the the business not just for a livelihood, but because selling gifts “brings joy to others.”
Nonetheless, he’s says he’s “very optimistic” that the pandemic will eventually be quashed and business will recover.
“We have to give positive energy in the city to bring it back to life,” Zaidi said.
After setting records year after year since 2010, travel to the United States’ biggest city has plummeted since the pandemic shuttered Broadway theaters, closed many other attractions for months and ushered in federal bans on some foreign visitors and New York quarantine rules affecting many interstate arrivals.
City tourism agency NYC & Co. is now projecting visitors will total about 23 million this year, an “unmatched drop” from over 66 million last year, though the agency forecasts the numbers will rebound to reach new records by 2024. Hotel occupancy is currently down about 80% from normal, and traffic at metro area airports about 75%, according to the Hotel Association of New York City and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
Freestanding gift, souvenir and novelty shops totaled about 4,000 employees and $125 million in payroll last year, according to the city Economic Development Corp. But if their economic footprint is small - about 0.1% of private-sector jobs citywide - the shops’ symbolic presence is bigger. They’re enough of a New York institution that a recent ”Saturday Night Live” skit was set in one.
In souvenir shops around Times and Herald squares, browsers were scant on a recent midday afternoon. Workers spoke of trimmed-down staffs and, in some places, hours passing between sales.
A bit farther south, near the landmark Flatiron Building, Alper Tutus sported a “New York tough” face mask as he surveyed the wares he has curated during 35 years in the electronics and souvenir business.
Pointing out an extensive postcard selection, movie-star T-shirts and other specialties, he recalled the pre-pandemic days when customers lined up at the register that put his two daughters through college.
Nowadays, Tutus worries about covering the shop’s expenses, with monthly rent he said is in the tens of thousands of dollars.
The situation got him down for a while, but he believes in the city’s potential and his own: “I never give up,” he said.
Working seven days a week, the septuagenarian says he’s been talking with his landlord, and he hopes the state or federal government can come up with some more aid for shops like his.
While hotels, restaurants and other businesses are important to the city’s tourism, he says souvenir shops have their own special place, providing tangible connections to the city that visitors take home with them.
“It reflects your love, reflects your memories,” Tutus said. “These little, little things, they make them so happy.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli PM, flew to Saudi Arabia, met crown prince: Reports

JERUSALEM ( AP ) — Israeli media reported Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , which would mark the first known encounter between senior Israeli and Saudi officials .
Hebrew-language media cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying that Netanyahu and Yossi Cohen , head of Israel ‘ s Mossad spy agency , flew to the Saudi city of Neom on Sunday , where they met with the crown prince .
The prince was there for talks with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ just after 1740 GMT from Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv , according to data from website FlightRadar24.com .
The flight traveled south along the eastern edge of the Sinai Peninsula before turning toward Neom and landing just after 1830 GMT , according to the data .
The flight took off from Neom around 2150 GMT and followed the same route back to Tel Aviv .
The Israeli prime minister ’ s office did not respond to requests for comment .
Officials in Saudi Arabia did not respond to requests for comment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netanyahu ’ s reported visit .
Pompeo traveled with an American press pool on his trip throughout the Mideast , but left them at the Neom airport when he went into his visit with the crown prince .
While Bahrain , Sudan and the United Arab Emirates have reached deals under the Trump administration to normalize ties with Israel , Saudi Arabia so far has remained out of reach .
King Salman long has supported the Palestinians in their effort to secure an independent state .
However , analysts and insiders suggest his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salman , likely is more open to the idea of normalizing relations without major progress in the moribund peace process .
The kingdom approved the use of Saudi airspace for Israeli flights to the UAE , a decision announced the day after Jared Kushner , Trump ’ s son-in-law and senior adviser , met with Prince Mohammed in Riyadh .
Bahrain normalizing ties also suggest at least a Saudi acquiescence to the idea , as the island kingdom relies on Riyadh .
Israel has long had clandestine ties to Gulf Arab states that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have confronted a shared threat in Iran .

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli media reported Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which would mark the first known encounter between senior Israeli and Saudi officials.
Hebrew-language media cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying that Netanyahu and Yossi Cohen, head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, flew to the Saudi city of Neom on Sunday, where they met with the crown prince. The prince was there for talks with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
A Gulfstream IV private jet took off just after 1740 GMT from Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, according to data from website FlightRadar24.com. The flight traveled south along the eastern edge of the Sinai Peninsula before turning toward Neom and landing just after 1830 GMT, according to the data. The flight took off from Neom around 2150 GMT and followed the same route back to Tel Aviv.
The Israeli prime minister’s office did not respond to requests for comment. Officials in Saudi Arabia did not respond to requests for comment, nor did its state-run media immediately acknowledge Netanyahu’s reported visit.
Pompeo traveled with an American press pool on his trip throughout the Mideast, but left them at the Neom airport when he went into his visit with the crown prince.
While Bahrain, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates have reached deals under the Trump administration to normalize ties with Israel, Saudi Arabia so far has remained out of reach.
King Salman long has supported the Palestinians in their effort to secure an independent state. However, analysts and insiders suggest his 35-year-old son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, likely is more open to the idea of normalizing relations without major progress in the moribund peace process.
The kingdom approved the use of Saudi airspace for Israeli flights to the UAE, a decision announced the day after Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, met with Prince Mohammed in Riyadh. Bahrain normalizing ties also suggest at least a Saudi acquiescence to the idea, as the island kingdom relies on Riyadh.
Israel has long had clandestine ties to Gulf Arab states that have strengthened in recent years as they have confronted a shared threat in Iran.
___
Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Burkina Faso counts ballots; extremist threats affected vote

OUAGADOUGOU , Burkina Faso ( AP ) - Votes are being counted in Burkina Faso after Sunday ’ s presidential and legislative elections , where threats of extremist violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State prevented parts of the country from casting ballots .
Election workers began the counting after polls closed by holding the ballots up for observers and marking the votes on a chalkboard beside the candidate ’ s name .
Preliminary results are expected within the next two days .
While there were no reported incidents of major attacks , threats of violence prevented people from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , in the North , Sahel and East regions .
Nearly 3,000 polling stations expected to open yesterday didn ’ t , preventing up to 350,000 people from voting , said Newton Ahmed Barry , president for the National Independent Electoral Commission , on local television .
In Tapoa province in the east , 224 polling stations out of 335 didn ’ t open , according to a report from CODEL , a local organization monitoring the elections .
CODEL said it was “ concerned about the situation in areas weakened by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sahel and Center North , the epi-centers of the violence , told the AP people were angry about not being able to vote .
“ I ’ m upset and people are complaining because they thought they ’ d be able to vote and couldn ’ t , ” Saidou Wily , a government official in Barsalogho town in the Center-North , said by phone yesterday .
At least 37 villages in the region expecting to vote , were unable to , he said .
Some open polling stations had to close early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commune in the Sahel ’ s Oudalan province , the polls closed three hours ahead of schedule , according to a post election report from the West African Network of Peace building , an organization focused on human rights .
There were also some reports of fights between political activists in the West and Center North and attempts to “ influence voting ” by supporters of candidates and political parties , according to an internal report from a local human rights group seen by the AP .
Halidou Ouedraogo , president of CODEL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the east where no ballot paper was available , so approximately 30 people voted on fake ballots .
But this was detected and rectified , he said .
Burkina Faso observers say that this election is a major test for the nation ’ s young democracy in the face of rising extremist attacks and the violence and intimidation show how limited the authorities ’ control and legitimacy really are .
Whoever “ wins ( the election ) will confront the challenge not just of restoring security , but also showing Burkinabe that every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati in the United States .
President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has promised to secure the country and is vying for another five years against 12 other candidates .
Kabore is expected to win , but the opposition hopes to split the vote , depriving him of the 51 % support needed for an outright victory in the first round .
Then it plans to form a coalition behind the strongest opposition candidate for the second round .
A change in Burkina Faso @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that election results will be valid even if people can ’ t vote in parts of the country .
Opposition candidates accused the ruling party of fraud , including bribing people .
The parties also accused the National Independent Electoral Commission of making changes to the electoral map , said Zephirin Diabre , a leading candidate from the Progress and Change Party .
After voting in Ouagadougou , he told the media that he will congratulate whoever the winner is , but “ won ’ t accept results that are stained with fraud @ @ @ @

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) - Votes are being counted in Burkina Faso after Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections, where threats of extremist violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State prevented parts of the country from casting ballots.
Election workers began the counting after polls closed by holding the ballots up for observers and marking the votes on a chalkboard beside the candidate’s name. Preliminary results are expected within the next two days.
While there were no reported incidents of major attacks, threats of violence prevented people from casting ballots in hard-hit parts of the country, in the North, Sahel and East regions. Nearly 3,000 polling stations expected to open yesterday didn’t, preventing up to 350,000 people from voting, said Newton Ahmed Barry, president for the National Independent Electoral Commission, on local television.
In Tapoa province in the east, 224 polling stations out of 335 didn’t open, according to a report from CODEL, a local organization monitoring the elections. CODEL said it was “concerned about the situation in areas weakened by insecurity”. Local officials in the Sahel and Center North, the epi-centers of the violence, told the AP people were angry about not being able to vote.
“I’m upset and people are complaining because they thought they’d be able to vote and couldn’t,” Saidou Wily, a government official in Barsalogho town in the Center-North, said by phone yesterday. At least 37 villages in the region expecting to vote, were unable to, he said.
Some open polling stations had to close early due to security concerns. In Markoye Commune in the Sahel’s Oudalan province, the polls closed three hours ahead of schedule, according to a post election report from the West African Network of Peace building, an organization focused on human rights.
There were also some reports of fights between political activists in the West and Center North and attempts to “influence voting” by supporters of candidates and political parties, according to an internal report from a local human rights group seen by the AP. Halidou Ouedraogo, president of CODEL, said there were some areas in the east where no ballot paper was available, so approximately 30 people voted on fake ballots. But this was detected and rectified, he said.
Burkina Faso observers say that this election is a major test for the nation’s young democracy in the face of rising extremist attacks and the violence and intimidation show how limited the authorities’ control and legitimacy really are. Whoever “wins (the election) will confront the challenge not just of restoring security, but also showing Burkinabe that every citizen matters,” said Alex Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati in the United States.
President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has promised to secure the country and is vying for another five years against 12 other candidates. Kabore is expected to win, but the opposition hopes to split the vote, depriving him of the 51% support needed for an outright victory in the first round. Then it plans to form a coalition behind the strongest opposition candidate for the second round.
A change in Burkina Faso’s electoral code this year means that election results will be valid even if people can’t vote in parts of the country.
Opposition candidates accused the ruling party of fraud, including bribing people. The parties also accused the National Independent Electoral Commission of making changes to the electoral map, said Zephirin Diabre, a leading candidate from the Progress and Change Party.
After voting in Ouagadougou, he told the media that he will congratulate whoever the winner is, but “won’t accept results that are stained with fraud and irregularities.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--European powers see hope for Iran accord in US transition

BERLIN ( AP ) - The German , French and British foreign ministers were meeting Monday to discuss the future of the international agreement on Iran ’ s nuclear program amid hopes that the incoming U.S. administration might help breathe new life into the accord , Germany ’ s Foreign Ministry said .
The three European powers have spearheaded efforts to keep alive the agreement , concluded in Vienna in 2015 and officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action , or JCPOA .
Russia and China also remain on board .
President-elect Joe Biden has said he hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions .
President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement in 2018 and imposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran , which responded by publicly abandoning nuclear restrictions in the agreement .
Monday ’ s meeting at a government guest house in Berlin , which wasn ’ t announced in advance , aimed to discuss “ what a further approach involving all signatories to the JCPOA , and perhaps also with a new U.S. administration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman Andrea Sasse told reporters .
“ We are confident that a constructive approach by the U.S. toward the Vienna nuclear agreement could contribute significantly to breaking the current negative spiral we are seeing with Iran , and opening new prospects for the preservation of the JCPOA , ” she added .
Sasse renewed calls for Iran to stop its violations of the agreement and comply with all of its provisions in full .
She said Monday ’ s meeting also would address Iran ’ s missile program and wider regional role - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear agreement , to the displeasure of its critics .
Asked whether the Europeans fear Trump taking further steps against Iran before he leaves office that would undermine their hopes , Sasse replied : “ if there are such measures , we will evaluate them if they happen .
”

BERLIN (AP) - The German, French and British foreign ministers were meeting Monday to discuss the future of the international agreement on Iran’s nuclear program amid hopes that the incoming U.S. administration might help breathe new life into the accord, Germany’s Foreign Ministry said.
The three European powers have spearheaded efforts to keep alive the agreement, concluded in Vienna in 2015 and officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. Russia and China also remain on board.
President-elect Joe Biden has said he hopes to return the U.S. to the accord, in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement in 2018 and imposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran, which responded by publicly abandoning nuclear restrictions in the agreement.
Monday’s meeting at a government guest house in Berlin, which wasn’t announced in advance, aimed to discuss “what a further approach involving all signatories to the JCPOA, and perhaps also with a new U.S. administration, could look like,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Andrea Sasse told reporters.
“We are confident that a constructive approach by the U.S. toward the Vienna nuclear agreement could contribute significantly to breaking the current negative spiral we are seeing with Iran, and opening new prospects for the preservation of the JCPOA,” she added.
Sasse renewed calls for Iran to stop its violations of the agreement and comply with all of its provisions in full. She said Monday’s meeting also would address Iran’s missile program and wider regional role - issues that are not addressed by the nuclear agreement, to the displeasure of its critics.
Asked whether the Europeans fear Trump taking further steps against Iran before he leaves office that would undermine their hopes, Sasse replied: “if there are such measures, we will evaluate them if they happen.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Tottenham loses more than $85M, debt climbs due to pandemic

LONDON ( AP ) - Premier League leader Tottenham has reported annual losses of 63.9 million pounds ( $ 85.4 million ) due to the coronavirus pandemic and fans being shut out of stadiums .
“ We are currently in the midst of one of the most challenging times ever experienced , ” Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said Monday , announcing the financial results for the fiscal year ending June 30 .
In 2018-19 , Tottenham made a profit of 68.6 million pounds ( $ 91.7 million ) during its first partial season in its new 1.2 billion-pound ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t been allowed in to watch Jose Mourinho ’ s side at the north London venue since March .
If coronavirus restrictions prevent supporters returning this season , which runs through May , Tottenham fears losing out on more than 150 million pounds ( $ 200 million ) in revenue .
The 2019 Champions League finalists failed to qualify for this season after four years in Europe ’ s elite and lucrative club competition .
Revenue dropped from 460.7 million pounds ( $ 615.6 million ) to 402.4 million pounds ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season finished beyond the end of the financial year due to the pandemic .
Tottenham ’ s debt has climbed 13 % to 604.6 million pounds ( $ 807.8 million ) .
Tottenham is hoping the development of COVID-19 vaccines will accelerate the return of fans to stadiums .
“ We have spent the past months preparing our stadium , testing our digital ticketing process and registering ID validation for fans , ” Levy said .
“ Premier League clubs are entirely capable , similar to the experience in several other countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing , exemplary hygiene standards , qualified stewards , testing capabilities and diverse travel plans , operating in some of the most technologically advanced venues in the world.
” Tottenham has just completed a weekend top of the league for the first time since 2014 after beating Manchester City 2-0 on Saturday .

LONDON (AP) - Premier League leader Tottenham has reported annual losses of 63.9 million pounds ($85.4 million) due to the coronavirus pandemic and fans being shut out of stadiums.
“We are currently in the midst of one of the most challenging times ever experienced,” Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said Monday, announcing the financial results for the fiscal year ending June 30.
In 2018-19, Tottenham made a profit of 68.6 million pounds ($91.7 million) during its first partial season in its new 1.2 billion-pound ($1.6 billion) stadium. Fans haven’t been allowed in to watch Jose Mourinho’s side at the north London venue since March.
If coronavirus restrictions prevent supporters returning this season, which runs through May, Tottenham fears losing out on more than 150 million pounds ($200 million) in revenue. The 2019 Champions League finalists failed to qualify for this season after four years in Europe’s elite and lucrative club competition.
Revenue dropped from 460.7 million pounds ($615.6 million) to 402.4 million pounds ($537.7 million) in 2019-20 as the season finished beyond the end of the financial year due to the pandemic. Tottenham’s debt has climbed 13% to 604.6 million pounds ($807.8 million).
Tottenham is hoping the development of COVID-19 vaccines will accelerate the return of fans to stadiums.
“We have spent the past months preparing our stadium, testing our digital ticketing process and registering ID validation for fans,” Levy said. “Premier League clubs are entirely capable, similar to the experience in several other countries, of responsibly delivering outdoor events with social distancing, exemplary hygiene standards, qualified stewards, testing capabilities and diverse travel plans, operating in some of the most technologically advanced venues in the world.”
Tottenham has just completed a weekend top of the league for the first time since 2014 after beating Manchester City 2-0 on Saturday.
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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Speedboat taking migrants to Greece partially sinks; 1 dead

ATHENS , Greece ( AP ) - A speedboat that appeared to have been smuggling migrants to the Greek island @ @ @ @ @ partially sank before reaching land , leaving one person dead , Greece ‘ s coast @ @ @ @ @ coast guard said it received information about the speedboat near the northwestern coast of Rhodes @ @ @ @ @ people who had been on board were found safe on the nearby shore , while @ @ @ @ @ was recovered .
The survivors told authorities that 14 people had been on the speedboat @ @ @ @ @ patrol boats were searching the area in case more people might have been on board @ @ @ @ @ the most popular routes into the 27-nation European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty @ @ @ @ @ the Middle East .

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - A speedboat that appeared to have been smuggling migrants to the Greek island of Rhodes from nearby Turkey partially sank before reaching land, leaving one person dead, Greece’s coast guard said Monday.
The coast guard said it received information about the speedboat near the northwestern coast of Rhodes on Monday morning. Thirteen people who had been on board were found safe on the nearby shore, while the body of one man was recovered.
The survivors told authorities that 14 people had been on the speedboat. However, coast guard patrol boats were searching the area in case more people might have been on board.
Greece remains one of the most popular routes into the 27-nation European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Police: 1 killed, 6 hurt in shooting at Brooklyn apartments

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A young woman has died and six other people were wounded in a shooting at an apartment building in Brooklyn that followed an earlier shooting near a Sweet 16 birthday party , police said .
The first shooting happened shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday in the East New York neighborhood and left a 17-year-old boy wounded in the leg , New York Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Kemper said during a news conference .
It wasn ’ t known what prompted that shooting .
The second shooting took place about 11:15 p.m. in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s believed to be related to the first shooting .
A 20-year-old woman was taken to a hospital , where she was pronounced dead , police said .
Others shot at the apartment building ranged in age from 14 to 19 years old , according to preliminary information from police .
They were expected to survive , police said .
No arrests were immediately reported .
Police said they were looking for more than one suspect in the apartment shooting .
Police have not yet released a description of the shooters in @ @ @

NEW YORK (AP) - A young woman has died and six other people were wounded in a shooting at an apartment building in Brooklyn that followed an earlier shooting near a Sweet 16 birthday party, police said.
The first shooting happened shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday in the East New York neighborhood and left a 17-year-old boy wounded in the leg, New York Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Kemper said during a news conference. It wasn’t known what prompted that shooting.
The second shooting took place about 11:15 p.m. in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, and police said it’s believed to be related to the first shooting. A 20-year-old woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said.
Others shot at the apartment building ranged in age from 14 to 19 years old, according to preliminary information from police. They were expected to survive, police said.
No arrests were immediately reported. Police said they were looking for more than one suspect in the apartment shooting.
Police have not yet released a description of the shooters in either incident.