washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Defund police movement drives cops to back Trump

Retired cop Paul Beakman Jr. has been a pro-union Democrat his entire life .
He heads two western New York police associations and is even running as a Democrat for city alderman in Lockport , New York .
So he surprised himself when he attended a Trump rally last month outside of Harrisburg , Pennsylvania — and wept at the outpouring of respect and support he felt for law enforcement .
“ I couldn ’ t believe it , ” he told The Washington Times .
“ I just started crying .
I am used to hearing about cops being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrown at us .
And here we were with 17,000 real Americans cheering for us.
” To endorse Mr. Trump , police unions and associations across the country are bucking the AFL-CIO .
They also are mobilizing like never before .
Mr. Beakman said he will remain a Democrat , but plenty of his brothers and sisters in blue are making a clean break from the Democratic Party .
“ We ’ ve always been active , but the future of policing depends on this election , ” said Paul DiGiacomo , president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Endowment Association .
“ The safety of our members depends on this election .
This is make-or-break for law enforcement.
” The shift could play a role in the Nov. 3 presidential election .
Harvard University researcher Michael Zoorob studied the police union support for Mr. Trump in the 2016 election and found police accounted for more than 13,000 votes in Michigan — greater than Mr. Trump ’ s margin of victory over Hillary Clinton — and more than 27,000 votes in Pennsylvania .
Those votes could help Mr. Trump make up ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double digits , according to some national polls .
Union chapters that have never endorsed political candidates at any level are siding with the president , and that advocacy is trickling down to other offices .
Mr. Beakman ’ s organizations made first-ever endorsements this year to back a Republican slate of candidates .
The North Carolina Police Benevolent Association has endorsed state and regional candidates for 40 years but this year made Mr. Trump their first federal endorsement in nearly 20 years .
“ Because of this particular election process with ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get involved in this presidential election , ” said the association ’ s executive director , John Midgette .
The series of defections is a major embarrassment for Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden , who during more than four decades in Washington was seen as a key ally of both unions and police .
Mr. Biden was the driving force behind the 1994 crime bill that included grant money to help communities hire 100,000 more police officers .
It empowered them with new tools and heightened penalties for criminals .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in leftover campaign funds to build a memorial for fallen law enforcement in his home state of Delaware .
But the fracture line between Mr. Biden and police widened this year after the death of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests .
As racial justice protests broke out across the country , with some turning into violent riots , Mr. Biden called for dramatic overhauls to policing .
He has proposed more investigations into local departments .
Asked at the first presidential debate whether he would call Democratic leaders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lid on more than 100 days of mayhem , he demurred , saying it ’ s not his place because he isn ’ t in office .
He also sought to distance himself from the 1994 crime bill , which has been blamed for the mass incarcerations of Black men .
Mr. Trump , meanwhile , unabashedly voiced support for law enforcement .
He chided Mr. Biden for what the president says has been a tepid denunciation of rioters .
Mr. Trump says Mr. Biden is so worried about angering his party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawless demonstrators over police .
Law enforcement organizations have seized on the contrast and have mobilized for a candidate like never before .
The National Association of Police Organizations , which endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 because Mr. Biden was on the ticket , has endorsed Mr. Trump .
It did not endorse a candidate in 2016 .
The Fraternal Order of Police , the nation ’ s largest police union , also has endorsed Mr. Trump , though it did so in 2016 as well .
Mr. Trump picked up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Associations and the NYC Police Benevolent Association .
Even the Delaware Fraternal Order of Police in Mr. Biden ’ s backyard broke for Mr. Trump .
“ Trump is the only candidate who is even mentioning the word police in a positive manner , ” said Mr. DiGiacomo , who said this is the first year he can remember the NYCDEA backing a White House nominee .
“ The other candidate is afraid to say police in a positive way , and I find that disturbing.
” The fissure goes beyond mere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registration drive for its members and has several initiatives to educate members about local , state and national candidates .
A group of retired Philadelphia police officers has formed a political action committee , Protect our Police , to target political candidates who are advocating for slashes to police department budgets .
It raised $ 750,000 in its first three weeks .
Mr. Biden has picked up some backing .
The National Coalition of Justice Practitioners , a group of more than 10,000 high-ranking law enforcement officers , is supporting him , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hailing the former vice president .
Charles P. Wilson , chairman of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives , has personally endorsed Mr. Biden .
His organization can not support a political candidate because it is a nonprofit .
“ I believe the police reform platform Mr. Biden is putting forward is one that will work , ” he said .
“ It is one that represents the true concepts of police accountability and rule of law .
The concepts the current administration is putting out there are divisive and discriminatory.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for Mr. Trump within law enforcement organizations is as strong as their leaders claim .
None of the organizations has conducted significant membership polls to learn where they stand , he said .
“ Those who are in opposition to those endorsements have just not forcefully come out because they still have to work with those stupid sons of bitches , ” he said .
Mr. Beakman , though , sees a complete change of mindset for many officers .
After he attended the Trump rally last month , he posted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Make America Great Again face mask and hat at the rally .
If he had done that a year ago , he said , he would have been blasted by colleagues .
When he did it last month , there was largely silence .
James Albert , the sheriff in Westmoreland County , Pennsylvania , wrote a scathing op-ed in a local paper explaining why he changed his party affiliation to Republican .
Mr. Albert , 70 , who was a Democrat his entire life , said he was outraged by Democrats ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule and attacks against law enforcement.
” “ These outrageous , lawless acts have been met with silence , acquiescence and , in some instances , outright support from the local , state and national leadership of the Democratic Party , ” he wrote .
He is not the only sheriff to publicly break from the Democratic Party .
Tom Latham , the sheriff for Posey County , Indiana , posted on Facebook that he has switched parties to become a Republican .
He said the Democratic Party had gone too far and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Vanderburgh County , Indiana , County Sheriff Dave Wedding , elected twice to office as a Democrat , announced last month that he has also switched to the Republican Party .
Despite his frustration with his party , Mr. Beakman said , he doesn ’ t want to leave it .
“ If I leave the party , there will be no voice to say these guys are going in the wrong direction , ” he said .
“ I spent my life as a union leader , and I do believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party used to talk about .
If I walked away from this , who is going to sit there and say you guys are wrong ?
”

Retired cop Paul Beakman Jr. has been a pro-union Democrat his entire life. He heads two western New York police associations and is even running as a Democrat for city alderman in Lockport, New York.
So he surprised himself when he attended a Trump rally last month outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — and wept at the outpouring of respect and support he felt for law enforcement.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he told The Washington Times. “I just started crying. I am used to hearing about cops being spit on and having bags of feces thrown at us. And here we were with 17,000 real Americans cheering for us.”
To endorse Mr. Trump, police unions and associations across the country are bucking the AFL-CIO.
They also are mobilizing like never before.
Mr. Beakman said he will remain a Democrat, but plenty of his brothers and sisters in blue are making a clean break from the Democratic Party.
“We’ve always been active, but the future of policing depends on this election,” said Paul DiGiacomo, president of the New York City Detectives’ Endowment Association. “The safety of our members depends on this election. This is make-or-break for law enforcement.”
The shift could play a role in the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Harvard University researcher Michael Zoorob studied the police union support for Mr. Trump in the 2016 election and found police accounted for more than 13,000 votes in Michigan — greater than Mr. Trump’s margin of victory over Hillary Clinton — and more than 27,000 votes in Pennsylvania.
Those votes could help Mr. Trump make up ground even as he trails Mr. Biden by double digits, according to some national polls.
Union chapters that have never endorsed political candidates at any level are siding with the president, and that advocacy is trickling down to other offices.
Mr. Beakman’s organizations made first-ever endorsements this year to back a Republican slate of candidates.
The North Carolina Police Benevolent Association has endorsed state and regional candidates for 40 years but this year made Mr. Trump their first federal endorsement in nearly 20 years.
“Because of this particular election process with ‘defund the police,’ we decided to get involved in this presidential election,” said the association’s executive director, John Midgette.
The series of defections is a major embarrassment for Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden, who during more than four decades in Washington was seen as a key ally of both unions and police.
Mr. Biden was the driving force behind the 1994 crime bill that included grant money to help communities hire 100,000 more police officers. It empowered them with new tools and heightened penalties for criminals.
In 2009, Mr. Biden donated $26,000 in leftover campaign funds to build a memorial for fallen law enforcement in his home state of Delaware.
But the fracture line between Mr. Biden and police widened this year after the death of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests.
As racial justice protests broke out across the country, with some turning into violent riots, Mr. Biden called for dramatic overhauls to policing. He has proposed more investigations into local departments. Asked at the first presidential debate whether he would call Democratic leaders in Oregon and tell them to put a lid on more than 100 days of mayhem, he demurred, saying it’s not his place because he isn’t in office.
He also sought to distance himself from the 1994 crime bill, which has been blamed for the mass incarcerations of Black men.
Mr. Trump, meanwhile, unabashedly voiced support for law enforcement. He chided Mr. Biden for what the president says has been a tepid denunciation of rioters.
Mr. Trump says Mr. Biden is so worried about angering his party’s left wing that he is embracing lawless demonstrators over police.
Law enforcement organizations have seized on the contrast and have mobilized for a candidate like never before.
The National Association of Police Organizations, which endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 because Mr. Biden was on the ticket, has endorsed Mr. Trump. It did not endorse a candidate in 2016.
The Fraternal Order of Police, the nation’s largest police union, also has endorsed Mr. Trump, though it did so in 2016 as well.
Mr. Trump picked up the backing of the International Union of Police Associations and the NYC Police Benevolent Association.
Even the Delaware Fraternal Order of Police in Mr. Biden’s backyard broke for Mr. Trump.
“Trump is the only candidate who is even mentioning the word police in a positive manner,” said Mr. DiGiacomo, who said this is the first year he can remember the NYCDEA backing a White House nominee. “The other candidate is afraid to say police in a positive way, and I find that disturbing.”
The fissure goes beyond mere endorsements.
The NYCDEA launched a voter registration drive for its members and has several initiatives to educate members about local, state and national candidates.
A group of retired Philadelphia police officers has formed a political action committee, Protect our Police, to target political candidates who are advocating for slashes to police department budgets. It raised $750,000 in its first three weeks.
Mr. Biden has picked up some backing. The National Coalition of Justice Practitioners, a group of more than 10,000 high-ranking law enforcement officers, is supporting him, and 190 law enforcement officers signed a statement hailing the former vice president.
Charles P. Wilson, chairman of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives, has personally endorsed Mr. Biden. His organization cannot support a political candidate because it is a nonprofit.
“I believe the police reform platform Mr. Biden is putting forward is one that will work,” he said. “It is one that represents the true concepts of police accountability and rule of law. The concepts the current administration is putting out there are divisive and discriminatory.”
Mr. Wilson said he doubts the support for Mr. Trump within law enforcement organizations is as strong as their leaders claim. None of the organizations has conducted significant membership polls to learn where they stand, he said.
“Those who are in opposition to those endorsements have just not forcefully come out because they still have to work with those stupid sons of bitches,” he said.
Mr. Beakman, though, sees a complete change of mindset for many officers.
After he attended the Trump rally last month, he posted a picture to Facebook of himself wearing a Make America Great Again face mask and hat at the rally. If he had done that a year ago, he said, he would have been blasted by colleagues. When he did it last month, there was largely silence.
James Albert, the sheriff in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, wrote a scathing op-ed in a local paper explaining why he changed his party affiliation to Republican.
Mr. Albert, 70, who was a Democrat his entire life, said he was outraged by Democrats’ refusal to condemn “arson, mob rule and attacks against law enforcement.”
“These outrageous, lawless acts have been met with silence, acquiescence and, in some instances, outright support from the local, state and national leadership of the Democratic Party,” he wrote.
He is not the only sheriff to publicly break from the Democratic Party. Tom Latham, the sheriff for Posey County, Indiana, posted on Facebook that he has switched parties to become a Republican. He said the Democratic Party had gone too far and “demeaned and demonized” police.
In Vanderburgh County, Indiana, County Sheriff Dave Wedding, elected twice to office as a Democrat, announced last month that he has also switched to the Republican Party.
Despite his frustration with his party, Mr. Beakman said, he doesn’t want to leave it.
“If I leave the party, there will be no voice to say these guys are going in the wrong direction,” he said. “I spent my life as a union leader, and I do believe in some of the things the Democratic Party used to talk about. If I walked away from this, who is going to sit there and say you guys are wrong?”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Lebanon, Israel to begin indirect talks over maritime border

NAQOURA , Lebanon ( AP ) - Lebanon and Israel began indirect talks on Wednesday over their disputed maritime border , with American officials mediating the talks that both sides insist are purely technical and not a sign of any normalization of ties .
The U.S. has been mediating the issue for about a decade , but only earlier this month was a breakthrough reached on an agreement for a framework for U.S.-mediated talks .
The development comes against the backdrop of Lebanon ’ s spiraling economic crisis , the worst in its modern history , and following a wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influential former Cabinet ministers allied with the militant Hezbollah group .
Israel , the United States , as well as some other Western and Arab countries consider the Iran-allied Hezbollah a terrorist organization .
Beirut hopes that oil and gas discoveries in its territorial waters will help it overcome the crisis and pay back its massive debt that stands at 170 % of the GDP , making it one of the highest in the world .
Israel already has developed a natural gas industry elsewhere in its economic waters , producing enough gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighboring Egypt and Jordan .
The U.S.-mediated talks began at a U.N. post along the border known as Ras Naqoura , on the edge of the Lebanese border town of Naqoura .
The Lebanese delegation will speak through U.N. and U.S. officials to the Israelis .
Wednesday ’ s talks took place in an outdoor setting because of the coronavirus .
Lebanon and Israel have been hit hard by the virus , and both have reported thousands of new cases in recent days .
Later , local media in Beirut reported that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint photo with the Israeli team and the U.S. and U.N. officials .
A photo released after the meeting showed the U.S. and U.N. officials without the Lebanese or the Israelis .
Lebanon ’ s state news agency said Wednesday ’ s session ended around noon and that the next session will be held on Oct. 28 .
A statement by the president ’ s office said the next session will take place on Oct. 26 .
There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy .
The Lebanese delegation headed back to Beirut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attend a lunch hosted by U.N. officials .
The Israeli delegation also did not take part in the lunch , according to a U.N. official , who spoke condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the talks .
Israel and Lebanon have no diplomatic relations and are technically in a state of war .
They each claim about 860 square kilometers ( 330 square miles ) of the Mediterranean Sea as being within their own exclusive economic zones .
A joint statement released by the U.S. State Department and Jan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lebanon , said the two teams “ held productive talks and reaffirmed their commitment to continue negotiations later this month.
” The head of the Lebanese delegation , Brig .
Gen. Bassam Yassin , said it was “ the first step of a thousand-mile journey , ” according to a text released the Lebanese army .
Yassin said Beirut hopes that the talks will be concluded within a “ reasonable period , ” adding that the negotiations will be based on international law , the 1949 Lebanon Israel Armistice Agreement , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that drew the boundaries between the British mandate of Palestine and the French mandate of Lebanon .
The Israeli delegation was led by the director-general of the Energy Ministry , Udi Adiri .
A statement by the Israeli delegation said the sides discussed Wednesday the “ processes for continuing the discussions and set the agenda for future talks.
” The team members reported back to Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz , who approved they continue with the talks in the coming weeks .
“ We have no illusions .
Our aim is not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some kind of peace process , ” said a senior official with Israel ’ s energy ministry , speaking on condition of anonymity under regulations .
“ Our aim is very strict and limited and therefore hopefully achievable.
” Lebanon , which began offshore drilling earlier this year and hopes to start drilling for gas in the disputed area in the coming months , has divided its expanse of waters into 10 blocs , of which three are in the area under dispute with Israel .
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American diplomat for the Middle East , and American Ambassador John Desrocher who serve as the U.S. mediators for these negotiations , attended Wednesday ’ s meeting .
The Lebanese team had met Lebanon ’ s President Michel Aoun on Tuesday , who stressed the talks “ are technical negotiations that only deal with marking the maritime border.
” Hezbollah said last week the talks do not indicate a reconciliation with Israel .
Its bloc in parliament said that defining the border of “ national sovereignty ” is the job of the Lebanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its Shiite ally , the Amal group of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri , released a joint statement expressing reservations that the Lebanese team includes civilians , and called for the delegation to be reformed so that it only includes members of the military .
Ras Naqoura already hosts monthly tripartite , indirect Israel-Lebanon meetings over violations along the land border .
Israel and Lebanon also held indirect negotiations in the 1990s , when Arab states and Israel worked on peace agreements .
The Palestinians and Jordan signed agreements with Israel at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem .

BILAL HUSSEIN, BASSEM MROUE and JOSEF FEDEMAN

NAQOURA, Lebanon (AP) - Lebanon and Israel began indirect talks on Wednesday over their disputed maritime border, with American officials mediating the talks that both sides insist are purely technical and not a sign of any normalization of ties.
The U.S. has been mediating the issue for about a decade, but only earlier this month was a breakthrough reached on an agreement for a framework for U.S.-mediated talks.
The development comes against the backdrop of Lebanon’s spiraling economic crisis, the worst in its modern history, and following a wave of U.S. sanctions that recently included two influential former Cabinet ministers allied with the militant Hezbollah group. Israel, the United States, as well as some other Western and Arab countries consider the Iran-allied Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
Beirut hopes that oil and gas discoveries in its territorial waters will help it overcome the crisis and pay back its massive debt that stands at 170% of the GDP, making it one of the highest in the world.
Israel already has developed a natural gas industry elsewhere in its economic waters, producing enough gas for domestic consumption and to export to neighboring Egypt and Jordan.
The U.S.-mediated talks began at a U.N. post along the border known as Ras Naqoura, on the edge of the Lebanese border town of Naqoura. The Lebanese delegation will speak through U.N. and U.S. officials to the Israelis.
Wednesday’s talks took place in an outdoor setting because of the coronavirus. Lebanon and Israel have been hit hard by the virus, and both have reported thousands of new cases in recent days.
Later, local media in Beirut reported that the Lebanese delegation refused to appear in a joint photo with the Israeli team and the U.S. and U.N. officials. A photo released after the meeting showed the U.S. and U.N. officials without the Lebanese or the Israelis.
Lebanon’s state news agency said Wednesday’s session ended around noon and that the next session will be held on Oct. 28. A statement by the president’s office said the next session will take place on Oct. 26. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy.
The Lebanese delegation headed back to Beirut immediately after the session and did not attend a lunch hosted by U.N. officials. The Israeli delegation also did not take part in the lunch, according to a U.N. official, who spoke condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the talks.
Israel and Lebanon have no diplomatic relations and are technically in a state of war. They each claim about 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea as being within their own exclusive economic zones.
A joint statement released by the U.S. State Department and Jan Kubis, the U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, said the two teams “held productive talks and reaffirmed their commitment to continue negotiations later this month.”
The head of the Lebanese delegation, Brig. Gen. Bassam Yassin, said it was “the first step of a thousand-mile journey,” according to a text released the Lebanese army.
Yassin said Beirut hopes that the talks will be concluded within a “reasonable period,” adding that the negotiations will be based on international law, the 1949 Lebanon Israel Armistice Agreement, and the 1923 Paulet–Newcombe Agreement between France and Britain that drew the boundaries between the British mandate of Palestine and the French mandate of Lebanon.
The Israeli delegation was led by the director-general of the Energy Ministry, Udi Adiri. A statement by the Israeli delegation said the sides discussed Wednesday the “processes for continuing the discussions and set the agenda for future talks.” The team members reported back to Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, who approved they continue with the talks in the coming weeks.
“We have no illusions. Our aim is not to create here some kind of normalization or some kind of peace process,” said a senior official with Israel’s energy ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity under regulations. “Our aim is very strict and limited and therefore hopefully achievable.”
Lebanon, which began offshore drilling earlier this year and hopes to start drilling for gas in the disputed area in the coming months, has divided its expanse of waters into 10 blocs, of which three are in the area under dispute with Israel.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker, the top American diplomat for the Middle East, and American Ambassador John Desrocher who serve as the U.S. mediators for these negotiations, attended Wednesday’s meeting.
The Lebanese team had met Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun on Tuesday, who stressed the talks “are technical negotiations that only deal with marking the maritime border.”
Hezbollah said last week the talks do not indicate a reconciliation with Israel. Its bloc in parliament said that defining the border of “national sovereignty” is the job of the Lebanese state.
Early Wednesday, Hezbollah and its Shiite ally, the Amal group of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, released a joint statement expressing reservations that the Lebanese team includes civilians, and called for the delegation to be reformed so that it only includes members of the military.
Ras Naqoura already hosts monthly tripartite, indirect Israel-Lebanon meetings over violations along the land border.
Israel and Lebanon also held indirect negotiations in the 1990s, when Arab states and Israel worked on peace agreements. The Palestinians and Jordan signed agreements with Israel at the time but Lebanon and Syria did not.
___
Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Fellowships helping former players get NFL jobs

Lance Schulters faced a dilemma when his decade as an NFL player was ending .
Schulters knew he wanted to continue in the game , possibly in coaching .
The problem : He was told to basically start from scratch , sort of like a proven chef being told to work the grill at McDonald ’ s .
“ Why do I have to do that , like go back to college or high school … why have to start from the bottom if I have the knowledge already from playing for 10 years ?
Why go through that grunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schulters was introduced to the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship , now in its fourth decade of providing opportunities for minorities .
The fellowship program ’ s objective is to use NFL clubs ’ training camps , offseason workout programs and minicamps to give coaches opportunities to observe , participate , gain experience and , ultimately , get a full-time NFL coaching position .
All 32 NFL clubs participate each year .
“ I think the impact of the Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship is amazing because it has opened up so many opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have gotten them , especially coaches of color , ” says Washington ’ s Ron Rivera , one of six minority head coaches in the league now that Raheem Morris ( Atlanta ) and Romeo Crennel ( Houston ) are interims .
“ The thing that I really appreciate about the Bill Walsh Fellowship is that by getting the opportunity that I was given , I earned everything I ’ ve gotten from that point other than getting the Bill Walsh opportunity.
” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and former NFL head coaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the program , too .
“ The Fellowship is a critical avenue for minorities to gain experience and exposure , ” Tomlin explains .
“ And not only short-term experience and exposure , but long term .
The fact that the program is now for the entirety of the season I think is really beneficial to growth .
We talk about network a lot , but the actual growth and the vocation of coaching and the exposure that you get over the course of that length of that season is invaluable.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now is a defensive assistant with the Falcons .
“ The Bill Walsh Fellowship gave me the chance to be at the level I want and learn from the guys at the top level , ” says Schulters , “ and take info from them to better myself , and that is how I approached it .
“ This provides us with more opportunities to get into the business of coaching as minorities .
A chance to continue to get our foot in the door where the place might be shut otherwise.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named after the Hall of Fame coach of the 49ers , is supplemented by a similar program for minorities seeking to enter football front offices .
Since 2015 , the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship Program has served to expose former NFL players , as well as college recruiting and personnel staff , to careers in pro football scouting .
The fellowship provides participants access to NFL club business and the skills needed for a career in NFL scouting .
Buffalo has two of its graduates on staff : RJ Webb , a scouting assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keith Jennings , the team ’ s representative in the BLESTO scouting service .
They took divergent routes to get where they are , but without Nunn-Wooten -named after Bill Nunn , a former Steelers scout and executive nominated for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 , and John Wooten , chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation - who know where they would be ?
“ As a former player , I spent my last year in the league on IR and trying to soak in as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You kind of start looking at how things unfold and rosters are made and that kind of took up my interest when I with the Panthers in 2013 .
“ In 2014 , I did medical device sales but football always was on my mind.
” He found his way to the Nunn-Wooten fellowship , applying for and getting a scholarship .
After finishing the program , it was suggested that Webb reach out to the Bills because he was in Carolina with Sean McDermott , now the Buffalo coach .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Brandon Beane emailed me back in about four minutes and said their assistant GM would call me and they wanted me to come in , ” Webb says .
“ He asked , ` Can you let me know by the end of the day ?
′ I said , ` Absolutely .
I am in.
’ “ And he was , displaying the cachet the Nunn-Wooten program carries in the NFL .
Jennings , a tight end for eight seasons , mostly with Chicago , took a different path that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When I retired from the Bears ( in 1998 ) , I went into the business world , and I was sort of done with football , ” Jennings says .
“ And then I moved back to Clemson after being in the business world , and after speaking with a lot of the football players and telling them how important education was , I felt like a hypocrite .
So I went back to college to get my degree in business .
“ When I was playing in the NFL a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of players and it sort of piqued my interest in what they were doing .
I knew I didn ’ t want to coach .
But I was interested in the scouting business.
” He was accepted for a Nunn-Wooten scholarship and it led to Beane hiring him for the Bills .
“ When you get these fellowships , well , I needed a path for myself , ” Jennings says .
“ You just wanted to get in the door , and sometimes when you get in the door , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be getting the jobs .
Those guys at the Bills were there when I was coming through ( the door ) .
I would ask them things , always call them , and one thing I didn ’ t want is to be out of sight , out of mind .
I was always asking , ` How can I help ?
’ And then I did .
“ But it is tough to get the seat at the table.
” Tough but hardly impossible , thanks to the Walsh and Nunn-Wooten projects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing a regular 9 to 5 job , ” Schulters says .
“ I don ’ t have the passion for that .
I have the passion for being in the game and I knew this was my way of getting back in and giving back .
”

Lance Schulters faced a dilemma when his decade as an NFL player was ending.
Schulters knew he wanted to continue in the game, possibly in coaching. The problem: He was told to basically start from scratch, sort of like a proven chef being told to work the grill at McDonald’s.
“Why do I have to do that, like go back to college or high school … why have to start from the bottom if I have the knowledge already from playing for 10 years? Why go through that grunt work?” he asks.
Then Schulters was introduced to the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, now in its fourth decade of providing opportunities for minorities. The fellowship program’s objective is to use NFL clubs’ training camps, offseason workout programs and minicamps to give coaches opportunities to observe, participate, gain experience and, ultimately, get a full-time NFL coaching position. All 32 NFL clubs participate each year.
“I think the impact of the Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship is amazing because it has opened up so many opportunities for so many coaches that otherwise may not have gotten them, especially coaches of color,” says Washington’s Ron Rivera, one of six minority head coaches in the league now that Raheem Morris (Atlanta) and Romeo Crennel (Houston) are interims. “The thing that I really appreciate about the Bill Walsh Fellowship is that by getting the opportunity that I was given, I earned everything I’ve gotten from that point other than getting the Bill Walsh opportunity.”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and former NFL head coaches Lovie Smith and Marvin Lewis came out of the program, too.
“The Fellowship is a critical avenue for minorities to gain experience and exposure,” Tomlin explains. “And not only short-term experience and exposure, but long term. The fact that the program is now for the entirety of the season I think is really beneficial to growth. We talk about network a lot, but the actual growth and the vocation of coaching and the exposure that you get over the course of that length of that season is invaluable.”
Schulters spent time coaching in Seattle and now is a defensive assistant with the Falcons.
“The Bill Walsh Fellowship gave me the chance to be at the level I want and learn from the guys at the top level,” says Schulters, “and take info from them to better myself, and that is how I approached it.
“This provides us with more opportunities to get into the business of coaching as minorities. A chance to continue to get our foot in the door where the place might be shut otherwise.”
The Walsh project, inspired by and named after the Hall of Fame coach of the 49ers, is supplemented by a similar program for minorities seeking to enter football front offices.
Since 2015, the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship Program has served to expose former NFL players, as well as college recruiting and personnel staff, to careers in pro football scouting. The fellowship provides participants access to NFL club business and the skills needed for a career in NFL scouting.
Buffalo has two of its graduates on staff: RJ Webb, a scouting assistant at the Bills’ offices, and Keith Jennings, the team’s representative in the BLESTO scouting service. They took divergent routes to get where they are, but without Nunn-Wooten -named after Bill Nunn, a former Steelers scout and executive nominated for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, and John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation - who know where they would be?
“As a former player, I spent my last year in the league on IR and trying to soak in as much as you can,” Webb says. “You kind of start looking at how things unfold and rosters are made and that kind of took up my interest when I with the Panthers in 2013.
“In 2014, I did medical device sales but football always was on my mind.”
He found his way to the Nunn-Wooten fellowship, applying for and getting a scholarship. After finishing the program, it was suggested that Webb reach out to the Bills because he was in Carolina with Sean McDermott, now the Buffalo coach. Current Bills general manager Brandon Beane responded.
“Brandon Beane emailed me back in about four minutes and said their assistant GM would call me and they wanted me to come in,” Webb says. “He asked, `Can you let me know by the end of the day?′ I said, `Absolutely. I am in.’ “
And he was, displaying the cachet the Nunn-Wooten program carries in the NFL.
Jennings, a tight end for eight seasons, mostly with Chicago, took a different path that led him to the fellowship.
“When I retired from the Bears (in 1998), I went into the business world, and I was sort of done with football,” Jennings says. “And then I moved back to Clemson after being in the business world, and after speaking with a lot of the football players and telling them how important education was, I felt like a hypocrite. So I went back to college to get my degree in business.
“When I was playing in the NFL a lot of scouts would talk to me about a lot of players and it sort of piqued my interest in what they were doing. I knew I didn’t want to coach. But I was interested in the scouting business.”
He was accepted for a Nunn-Wooten scholarship and it led to Beane hiring him for the Bills.
“When you get these fellowships, well, I needed a path for myself,” Jennings says. “You just wanted to get in the door, and sometimes when you get in the door, it doesn’t mean you will be getting the jobs. Those guys at the Bills were there when I was coming through (the door). I would ask them things, always call them, and one thing I didn’t want is to be out of sight, out of mind. I was always asking, `How can I help?’ And then I did.
“But it is tough to get the seat at the table.”
Tough but hardly impossible, thanks to the Walsh and Nunn-Wooten projects.
“I couldn’t see doing a regular 9 to 5 job,” Schulters says. “I don’t have the passion for that. I have the passion for being in the game and I knew this was my way of getting back in and giving back.”
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--4th down tries on a record-setting pace early in NFL season

Teams have been going for it , and converting , on fourth down at an unprecedented rate this season in the NFL .
There have been few games where fourth-down decisions had as big an impact as last Sunday night in Seattle , when the Seahawks used two fourth-down conversions after stopping Minnesota on fourth-and-1 to beat the Vikings 27-26 .
In all , teams have gone for it on fourth down 188 times this season with 108 conversions , the most through five weeks since at least 1991 .
The 57.4 % conversion rate is second highest in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The increase is a sign of greater influence from analytics , which show teams should go for it on fourth down at a much higher rate than they do .
The numbers pointed in favor of the Vikings ’ decision to bypass a short field goal that would have put them up by eight points in favor of trying to convert and run out the clock .
According to EdjSports , the decision increased Minnesota ’ s chances of winning by 2.1 percentage points .
The move backfired , especially when Russell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game-winning drive for the Seahawks .
Seattle became the second team in the past four seasons to convert two fourth downs on a game-winning drive that overcame a deficit in the final five minutes of a game , joining the Bengals , who did it against Atlanta in 2018 .
While going for it when behind late in the fourth quarter is typical , some of the other decisions haven ’ t been .
Tampa Bay became the second team to go for it from inside its own 20 in the first half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams have gone for it 56 times on fourth down in the first half this season , converting 35 of them for a 62.5 % clip .
COMEBACK KIDS : It seems like every week a team is making a notable comeback or blowing a big lead , depending on the perspective .
The Chargers are the latest , having blown 17-point leads in losses the past two weeks to Tampa Bay and New Orleans .
The Chargers are the first team since the 2003 Falcons to lose back-to-back games despite leading by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been 1-35 since Drew Brees arrived in 2006 when falling behind by at least 17 points with the other win coming in 2009 against Miami .
A team has rallied from at least 16 points to win each week this season with the six comebacks in all , more than the NFL had in four of the past five seasons .
DAK ’ S DONE : Dak Prescott ’ s prolific season got cut short by 11 games when he went down with a season-ending injury for Dallas .
Had he thrown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have been a record-setting one .
Prescott finished with 222 attempts this season , two shy of the minimum to qualify for records .
Prescott averaged 371.2 yards passing per game , which would have shattered the mark of 342.3 set by Peyton Manning in 2013 .
WINLESS NOTES : The Jaguars became the first team in NFL history to lose three consecutive games to winless teams , excluding season openers with losses to Miami , Cincinnati and Houston the past three games .
That streak will end when Jacksonville faces the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49ers are at the other end , with their only two wins of the season coming against the winless New York Jets and Giants .
QB RUNS : Arizona ’ s Kyler Murray ran for his fifth TD of the season last week , joining Terry Bradshaw ( 1972 ) , Cam Newton ( 2011 ) and Kordell Stewart ( 1997 ) as the only QBs since the merger with five TD runs in the first five games of the season .
Overall , the 2,621 yards rushing and 36 TDs from quarterbacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five weeks .

Teams have been going for it, and converting, on fourth down at an unprecedented rate this season in the NFL.
There have been few games where fourth-down decisions had as big an impact as last Sunday night in Seattle, when the Seahawks used two fourth-down conversions after stopping Minnesota on fourth-and-1 to beat the Vikings 27-26.
In all, teams have gone for it on fourth down 188 times this season with 108 conversions, the most through five weeks since at least 1991. The 57.4% conversion rate is second highest in that span to the 58.7% in 2012.
The increase is a sign of greater influence from analytics, which show teams should go for it on fourth down at a much higher rate than they do.
The numbers pointed in favor of the Vikings’ decision to bypass a short field goal that would have put them up by eight points in favor of trying to convert and run out the clock. According to EdjSports, the decision increased Minnesota’s chances of winning by 2.1 percentage points.
The move backfired, especially when Russell Wilson converted two fourth downs on the game-winning drive for the Seahawks. Seattle became the second team in the past four seasons to convert two fourth downs on a game-winning drive that overcame a deficit in the final five minutes of a game, joining the Bengals, who did it against Atlanta in 2018.
While going for it when behind late in the fourth quarter is typical, some of the other decisions haven’t been. Tampa Bay became the second team to go for it from inside its own 20 in the first half of a game.
In all, teams have gone for it 56 times on fourth down in the first half this season, converting 35 of them for a 62.5% clip.
COMEBACK KIDS: It seems like every week a team is making a notable comeback or blowing a big lead, depending on the perspective. The Chargers are the latest, having blown 17-point leads in losses the past two weeks to Tampa Bay and New Orleans. The Chargers are the first team since the 2003 Falcons to lose back-to-back games despite leading by at least 17 points.
The Saints had been 1-35 since Drew Brees arrived in 2006 when falling behind by at least 17 points with the other win coming in 2009 against Miami.
A team has rallied from at least 16 points to win each week this season with the six comebacks in all, more than the NFL had in four of the past five seasons.
DAK’S DONE: Dak Prescott’s prolific season got cut short by 11 games when he went down with a season-ending injury for Dallas. Had he thrown just two more passes, it still could have been a record-setting one. Prescott finished with 222 attempts this season, two shy of the minimum to qualify for records. Prescott averaged 371.2 yards passing per game, which would have shattered the mark of 342.3 set by Peyton Manning in 2013.
WINLESS NOTES: The Jaguars became the first team in NFL history to lose three consecutive games to winless teams, excluding season openers with losses to Miami, Cincinnati and Houston the past three games. That streak will end when Jacksonville faces the one-win Detroit Lions on Sunday.
The 49ers are at the other end, with their only two wins of the season coming against the winless New York Jets and Giants.
QB RUNS: Arizona’s Kyler Murray ran for his fifth TD of the season last week, joining Terry Bradshaw (1972), Cam Newton (2011) and Kordell Stewart (1997) as the only QBs since the merger with five TD runs in the first five games of the season. Overall, the 2,621 yards rushing and 36 TDs from quarterbacks are the most in NFL history through five weeks.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Restrictions to protect rare whales extended to Oct. 20

NANTUCKET , Mass .
( AP ) - The federal government has extended protections designed to keep rare whales safe @ @ @ @ @ 20 .
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is asking mariners to go slowly through @ @ @ @ @ or avoid it completely .
NOAA started the protections after an Aug. 31 sighting of @ @ @ @ @ right whales .
The right whales number only about 400 and they are vulnerable to @ @ @ @ @ fishing gear .
An aerial survey found an aggregation of whales again on Oct. 4 @ @ @ @ @ located off of southern New England and east of Long Island , New York .

NANTUCKET, Mass. (AP) - The federal government has extended protections designed to keep rare whales safe off New England until Oct. 20.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is asking mariners to go slowly through an area south of Nantucket or avoid it completely. NOAA started the protections after an Aug. 31 sighting of a group of North Atlantic right whales.
The right whales number only about 400 and they are vulnerable to ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. An aerial survey found an aggregation of whales again on Oct. 4.
The slow zone is located off of southern New England and east of Long Island, New York.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Asian shares track Wall Street decline on pandemic jitters

Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower on Thursday as hopes U.S. leaders will agree on a new economic stimulus before the Nov. 3 presidential election faded .
In Seoul , the company that manages boy band BTS made its market debut amid criticism by Chinese internet users after the group ’ s leader thanked Korean War veterans for their sacrifices .
Big Hit Entertainment Ltd. ’ s share price more than doubled by mid-morning .
But Seoul ’ s Kospi still fell 1 % , to 2,346.45 .
Wall Street ’ s benchmark S & P ; 500 index closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he and congressional leaders were “ far apart ” on new aid for the struggling U.S. economy .
Consumer spending , the main U.S. economic engine , weakened after earlier additional unemployment benefits expired .
Mnuchin “ added another nail to the coffin on pre-election stimulus , ” Jingyi Pan of IG said in a report .
The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.1 % to 3,337.51 and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo fell 0.5 % to 23,517.63 .
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 1.2 % to 24,370.76 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Sydney gained 0.8 % to 6,230.10 .
New Zealand , Singapore and Jakarta also retreated .
Thailand ’ s benchmark lost 1 % after the government declared a “ severe state of emergency ” following a rally Wednesday of thousands of protesters demanding democratic change , the third major gathering by activists .
Thai police dispersed a group of pro-democracy protesters early Thursday who had camped out overnight outside the office of the prime minister to demand his resignation .
Police said they had arrested 20 people .
Mnuchin and Nancy Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Representatives , talked by phone Wednesday but reached no agreement , according to Pelosi aide Drew Hammill .
Mnuchin said it would be difficult to complete an agreement before next month ’ s presidential election .
On Wall Street , companies that rely on consumer spending , banks and technology and communication stocks bore the brunt of the selling .
The S & P ; 500 fell to 3,488.67 .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.6 % to 28,514 .
The Nasdaq composite slid 0.8 % to 11,768.73 .
Investors are swinging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that helped to propel an earlier market rally and unease about lackluster U.S. economic activity .
Major U.S. companies have begun reporting quarterly earnings this week .
Bank of America sank 5.3 % after its revenue fell short of analysts ’ forecast .
Wells Fargo dropped 6 % after its earnings were lower than Wall Street expected .
The Federal Reserve has indicated that it will keep interest rates at nearly zero for a while to support the economy , even if inflation hits its target level .
In energy markets , benchmark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41.11 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange .
Brent crude , used to price international oils , added 6 cents to $ 43.38 per barrel in London .
The dollar gained to 105.26 yen from Wednesday ’ s 105.15 yen .
The euro declined to $ 1.1750 from $ 1.1753 .

Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower on Thursday as hopes U.S. leaders will agree on a new economic stimulus before the Nov. 3 presidential election faded.
Benchmarks in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong declined. Sydney advanced.
In Seoul, the company that manages boy band BTS made its market debut amid criticism by Chinese internet users after the group’s leader thanked Korean War veterans for their sacrifices. Big Hit Entertainment Ltd.’s share price more than doubled by mid-morning. But Seoul’s Kospi still fell 1%, to 2,346.45.
Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index closed down 0.7% on Wednesday after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he and congressional leaders were “far apart” on new aid for the struggling U.S. economy. Consumer spending, the main U.S. economic engine, weakened after earlier additional unemployment benefits expired.
Mnuchin “added another nail to the coffin on pre-election stimulus,” Jingyi Pan of IG said in a report.
The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.1% to 3,337.51 and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo fell 0.5% to 23,517.63. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 1.2% to 24,370.76.
The S&P-ASX 200 in Sydney gained 0.8% to 6,230.10. New Zealand, Singapore and Jakarta also retreated.
Thailand’s benchmark lost 1% after the government declared a “severe state of emergency” following a rally Wednesday of thousands of protesters demanding democratic change, the third major gathering by activists.
Thai police dispersed a group of pro-democracy protesters early Thursday who had camped out overnight outside the office of the prime minister to demand his resignation. Police said they had arrested 20 people.
Mnuchin and Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives, talked by phone Wednesday but reached no agreement, according to Pelosi aide Drew Hammill. Mnuchin said it would be difficult to complete an agreement before next month’s presidential election.
On Wall Street, companies that rely on consumer spending, banks and technology and communication stocks bore the brunt of the selling.
The S&P 500 fell to 3,488.67. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.6% to 28,514. The Nasdaq composite slid 0.8% to 11,768.73.
Investors are swinging between optimism about a possible coronavirus vaccine that helped to propel an earlier market rally and unease about lackluster U.S. economic activity.
Major U.S. companies have begun reporting quarterly earnings this week.
Bank of America sank 5.3% after its revenue fell short of analysts’ forecast. Wells Fargo dropped 6% after its earnings were lower than Wall Street expected.
The Federal Reserve has indicated that it will keep interest rates at nearly zero for a while to support the economy, even if inflation hits its target level.
In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude gained 7 cents to $41.11 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, added 6 cents to $43.38 per barrel in London.
The dollar gained to 105.26 yen from Wednesday’s 105.15 yen. The euro declined to $1.1750 from $1.1753.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--World Bank approves $12B to finance virus vaccines, care

The World Bank has approved $ 12 billion in financing to help developing countries buy and distribute coronavirus vaccines , tests , and treatments , aiming to support the vaccination of up to 1 billion people .
The $ 12 billion “ envelope ” is part of a wider World Bank Group package of up to $ 160 billion to help developing countries fight the COVID-19 pandemic , the bank said in a statement late Tuesday .
The World Bank said its COVID-19 emergency response programs are already reaching 111 countries .
Citizens in developing countries also need access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We are extending and expanding our fast-track approach to address the COVID emergency so that developing countries have fair and equal access to vaccines , ” said the bank ’ s president , David Malpass , said in the statement .
“ Access to safe and effective vaccines and strengthened delivery systems is key to alter the course of the pandemic and help countries experiencing catastrophic economic and fiscal impacts move toward a resilient recovery , ” he said .
The International Finance Corporation , the private sector lending arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine manufacturers through a $ 4 billion Global Health Platform , the World Bank said .
Researchers are working on developing more than 170 potential COVID-19 vaccines .
Development and deployment of such preventive vaccines is crucial to helping stem outbreaks of the coronavirus that has killed more than 1 million people and sickened more than 38 million , while devastating economies and leaving many millions jobless .
The world ’ s richest countries have locked up most of the world ’ s potential vaccine supply through 2021 , raising worries that poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get the shots .
Meanwhile , an ambitious international project to deliver coronavirus vaccines to the world ’ s poorest people , called Covax , is facing potential shortages of money , cargo planes , refrigeration and vaccines themselves .
The World Bank said it will draw on expertise and experience from its involvement in many large-scale immunization programs and other public health efforts .
The funding also is meant to help countries access tests and treatments and to support management of supply chains and other logistics for vaccinations in developing countries @ @ @ @ @

The World Bank has approved $12 billion in financing to help developing countries buy and distribute coronavirus vaccines, tests, and treatments, aiming to support the vaccination of up to 1 billion people.
The $12 billion “envelope” is part of a wider World Bank Group package of up to $160 billion to help developing countries fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank said in a statement late Tuesday.
The World Bank said its COVID-19 emergency response programs are already reaching 111 countries.
Citizens in developing countries also need access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, it said.
“We are extending and expanding our fast-track approach to address the COVID emergency so that developing countries have fair and equal access to vaccines,” said the bank’s president, David Malpass, said in the statement.
“Access to safe and effective vaccines and strengthened delivery systems is key to alter the course of the pandemic and help countries experiencing catastrophic economic and fiscal impacts move toward a resilient recovery,” he said.
The International Finance Corporation, the private sector lending arm of the World Bank is investing in vaccine manufacturers through a $4 billion Global Health Platform, the World Bank said.
Researchers are working on developing more than 170 potential COVID-19 vaccines.
Development and deployment of such preventive vaccines is crucial to helping stem outbreaks of the coronavirus that has killed more than 1 million people and sickened more than 38 million, while devastating economies and leaving many millions jobless.
The world’s richest countries have locked up most of the world’s potential vaccine supply through 2021, raising worries that poor and vulnerable communities will not be able to get the shots. Meanwhile, an ambitious international project to deliver coronavirus vaccines to the world’s poorest people, called Covax, is facing potential shortages of money, cargo planes, refrigeration and vaccines themselves.
The World Bank said it will draw on expertise and experience from its involvement in many large-scale immunization programs and other public health efforts.
The funding also is meant to help countries access tests and treatments and to support management of supply chains and other logistics for vaccinations in developing countries, the bank said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Coronavirus lockdown 2.0 deepens divisions in Israel

JERUSALEM ( AP ) - When Israel went into lockdown last spring , Jerusalem pub owner Leon Shvartz moved quickly to save his business - shifting to a delivery and takeaway model that kept him afloat throughout the summer .
Then came the second lockdown .
With restaurants and shops shuttered again , Shvartz ’ s business is struggling to survive .
He has laid off 16 of his 17 employees .
By contrast , Israeli software maker Bizzabo , which operates in the hard-hit conference-management sector , quickly reinvented itself last spring by offering “ virtual events.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expanding its workforce .
Such tales of boom and bust reflect Israel ’ s growing “ digital divide.
” Even before the pandemic , Israel had one of the largest income gaps and poverty rates among developed economies , with a few high earners , mostly in the lucrative high-tech sector , while many Israelis barely get by as civil servants , in service industries or as small business owners .
Those gaps have widened as the second nationwide lockdown , imposed last month , dealt a new blow to an economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of restrictions .
The fallout from the pandemic has also deepened long-simmering divisions among Israeli Jews , pitting a largely secular majority against a powerful ultra-Orthodox minority .
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , a target of months of mass protests over his perceived mishandling of the pandemic , has been seen as favoring his ultra-Orthodox partners at the expense of the greater good .
In trying to contain the latest outbreaks , Netanyahu opted for an economically devastating blanket lockdown instead of targeted restrictions in infection hot spots , including many ultra-Orthodox communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The deep tear in Israel ’ s social fabric prompted a warning from Israel ’ s figurehead president , Reuven Rivlin .
“ I feel the air is full of gunpowder .
I feel the fury on the streets , ” Rivlin told parliament this week .
“ Israel ’ s tribalism is breaking out through the cracks , and accusatory fingers are pointed from one part of society to the other , one tribe to the other.
” Netanyahu initially won plaudits for his handling of the virus crisis , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lockdown , which appeared to bring the outbreak under control .
But the lockdown came at a great cost , pushing unemployment near 35 % in April as hundreds of thousands were either laid off or furloughed , mainly in low-paying jobs such as retail , travel and hospitality .
Although most jobs gradually returned as the economy reopened , the caseload dramatically spiked in the fall , forcing the government to declare a second , open-ended lockdown last month .
According to official figures , over 967,000 people , or almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are again out of work .
Shvartz , who owns two bars and a craft beer company , Biratenu , managed to scrape by with his mail-order business until restaurants reopened over the summer .
But safety regulations limited the number of customers he could serve , cutting sales .
Shvartz let a third of his staff go and cut his own salary .
Then , the government announced its second lockdown .
Now , he and his lone employee are again focused on the delivery business .
“ It looks like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimates business is down at least 60 % from pre-pandemic levels .
Alon Alroy , a Bizzabo co-founder , faced a similar existential crisis in early March , when he realized the business of managing conferences was about to dry up .
In what he described as “ the toughest month we ’ ve ever had , ” he let go a quarter of his workforce as his team scrambled to come up with a new strategy .
By the end of the month , they decided to focus on “ virtual events.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was to go beyond standard Zoom calls and create an environment for engagement .
The software allows participants at large online gatherings to network or break away for private meetings , just as they would at an old-fashioned business conference .
“ Everyone knew the events industry could disappear unless we invented , in a way , the event technology space , ” he said , speaking from New York .
After its two strongest quarters on record , Bizzabo has rehired its laid-off workers and brought an additional 40 people on board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at offices in Israel and New York .
While some Israeli high-tech firms have been affected by the economic downturn , the industry as a whole is experiencing perhaps its strongest year ever .
According to the nonprofit Start-Up Nation Central , Israeli firms are having little difficulty attracting investors .
“ Israeli tech companies raised $ 7.24 billion this year , which is a 30 % increase over the same period last year , ” said Uri Gabai , the group ’ s co-general manager .
Jon Medved , founder and chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the strong Israeli tech scene , in contrast to the rest of the economy , is reflective of a global trend .
“ It ’ s just more accentuated , ” he said .
“ What we ’ ve noticed going on worldwide is that there really is a very strong two-tier-economy impact of the virus.
” Medved said Israel is well-positioned , given the many firms focused on sectors that have thrived during the crisis .
They include digital health care and telemedicine , artificial intelligence , cyber security , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Israel ’ s newly established ties with the United Arab Emirates have brought a new source of cash-rich investors .
But as Israel ’ s technology scene thrives , many others are being left behind , creating divisions that have fueled angry protests .
For over three months , thousands of Israelis have held weekly demonstrations calling for Netanyahu to resign , primarily because of his handling of the economy .
Many of the protesters are people who have lost their jobs or businesses .
Much public anger has also turned toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public safety rules , sent coronavirus rates skyrocketing and vociferously resisted calls for targeted lockdowns .
Critics accuse Netanyahu of coddling his political allies to help protect himself as he goes on trial for corruption .
Israeli economist Dan Ben-David , founder of the Shoresh Institution and a professor at Tel Aviv University , has been warning about these divisions for years , saying they are rooted in the country ’ s education system .
He said schools in outlying rural areas , Arab communities and the ultra-Orthodox sector have long been neglected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the modern world .
“ About half the children in Israel today are getting a Third World education , ” he said .
In the case of the ultra-Orthodox , the neglect is intentional - religious leaders use their political clout to fund an education system that promotes the study of scripture over subjects such as math and English .
“ We ’ re the only nation in the entire developed world that allows parents to deprive their children of a core curriculum , ” he said .
“ The fact that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes us complicit in all of this .
”

JERUSALEM (AP) - When Israel went into lockdown last spring, Jerusalem pub owner Leon Shvartz moved quickly to save his business - shifting to a delivery and takeaway model that kept him afloat throughout the summer. Then came the second lockdown.
With restaurants and shops shuttered again, Shvartz’s business is struggling to survive. He has laid off 16 of his 17 employees.
By contrast, Israeli software maker Bizzabo, which operates in the hard-hit conference-management sector, quickly reinvented itself last spring by offering “virtual events.” It has more than doubled its sales and is expanding its workforce.
Such tales of boom and bust reflect Israel’s growing “digital divide.”
Even before the pandemic, Israel had one of the largest income gaps and poverty rates among developed economies, with a few high earners, mostly in the lucrative high-tech sector, while many Israelis barely get by as civil servants, in service industries or as small business owners.
Those gaps have widened as the second nationwide lockdown, imposed last month, dealt a new blow to an economy already hit hard by the first round of restrictions.
The fallout from the pandemic has also deepened long-simmering divisions among Israeli Jews, pitting a largely secular majority against a powerful ultra-Orthodox minority.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a target of months of mass protests over his perceived mishandling of the pandemic, has been seen as favoring his ultra-Orthodox partners at the expense of the greater good. In trying to contain the latest outbreaks, Netanyahu opted for an economically devastating blanket lockdown instead of targeted restrictions in infection hot spots, including many ultra-Orthodox communities, presumably to avoid upsetting his allies.
The deep tear in Israel’s social fabric prompted a warning from Israel’s figurehead president, Reuven Rivlin.
“I feel the air is full of gunpowder. I feel the fury on the streets,” Rivlin told parliament this week. “Israel’s tribalism is breaking out through the cracks, and accusatory fingers are pointed from one part of society to the other, one tribe to the other.”
Netanyahu initially won plaudits for his handling of the virus crisis, after he quickly sealed the border and imposed a lockdown, which appeared to bring the outbreak under control.
But the lockdown came at a great cost, pushing unemployment near 35% in April as hundreds of thousands were either laid off or furloughed, mainly in low-paying jobs such as retail, travel and hospitality.
Although most jobs gradually returned as the economy reopened, the caseload dramatically spiked in the fall, forcing the government to declare a second, open-ended lockdown last month. According to official figures, over 967,000 people, or almost a quarter of the work force, are again out of work.
Shvartz, who owns two bars and a craft beer company, Biratenu, managed to scrape by with his mail-order business until restaurants reopened over the summer. But safety regulations limited the number of customers he could serve, cutting sales.
Shvartz let a third of his staff go and cut his own salary. Then, the government announced its second lockdown. Now, he and his lone employee are again focused on the delivery business.
“It looks like a garage,” he said. He estimates business is down at least 60% from pre-pandemic levels.
Alon Alroy, a Bizzabo co-founder, faced a similar existential crisis in early March, when he realized the business of managing conferences was about to dry up. In what he described as “the toughest month we’ve ever had,” he let go a quarter of his workforce as his team scrambled to come up with a new strategy.
By the end of the month, they decided to focus on “virtual events.” The key, he said, was to go beyond standard Zoom calls and create an environment for engagement.
The software allows participants at large online gatherings to network or break away for private meetings, just as they would at an old-fashioned business conference.
“Everyone knew the events industry could disappear unless we invented, in a way, the event technology space,” he said, speaking from New York.
After its two strongest quarters on record, Bizzabo has rehired its laid-off workers and brought an additional 40 people on board. It now employs about 150 people at offices in Israel and New York.
While some Israeli high-tech firms have been affected by the economic downturn, the industry as a whole is experiencing perhaps its strongest year ever.
According to the nonprofit Start-Up Nation Central, Israeli firms are having little difficulty attracting investors. “Israeli tech companies raised $7.24 billion this year, which is a 30% increase over the same period last year,” said Uri Gabai, the group’s co-general manager.
Jon Medved, founder and chief executive of Israeli venture capital firm OurCrowd, said the strong Israeli tech scene, in contrast to the rest of the economy, is reflective of a global trend.
“It’s just more accentuated,” he said. “What we’ve noticed going on worldwide is that there really is a very strong two-tier-economy impact of the virus.”
Medved said Israel is well-positioned, given the many firms focused on sectors that have thrived during the crisis. They include digital health care and telemedicine, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and technologies for banks and online retailers. Israel’s newly established ties with the United Arab Emirates have brought a new source of cash-rich investors.
But as Israel’s technology scene thrives, many others are being left behind, creating divisions that have fueled angry protests.
For over three months, thousands of Israelis have held weekly demonstrations calling for Netanyahu to resign, primarily because of his handling of the economy. Many of the protesters are people who have lost their jobs or businesses.
Much public anger has also turned toward ultra-Orthodox leaders, whose communities have flouted public safety rules, sent coronavirus rates skyrocketing and vociferously resisted calls for targeted lockdowns. Critics accuse Netanyahu of coddling his political allies to help protect himself as he goes on trial for corruption.
Israeli economist Dan Ben-David, founder of the Shoresh Institution and a professor at Tel Aviv University, has been warning about these divisions for years, saying they are rooted in the country’s education system.
He said schools in outlying rural areas, Arab communities and the ultra-Orthodox sector have long been neglected, leaving their students poorly prepared for the modern world.
“About half the children in Israel today are getting a Third World education,” he said.
In the case of the ultra-Orthodox, the neglect is intentional - religious leaders use their political clout to fund an education system that promotes the study of scripture over subjects such as math and English.
“We’re the only nation in the entire developed world that allows parents to deprive their children of a core curriculum,” he said. “The fact that we’ve been allowing it for decades makes us complicit in all of this.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Russian-US crew launches on fast track to the space station

MOSCOW ( AP ) — A trio of space travelers blasted off to the International Space Station on Wednesday , using for the first time a fast-track maneuver that allowed them to reach the orbiting outpost in just a little over three hours .
NASA ’ s Kate Rubins along with Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos lifted off as scheduled Wednesday morning from the Russia-leased Baikonur space launch facility in Kazakhstan for a six-month stint on the station .
For the first time , they tried a two-orbit approach and docked with the space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours after lift-off .
Previously it took twice as long for crews to reach the station .
Aboard the station , they were welcomed by the station ’ s NASA commander , Chris Cassidy , and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner , who have been aboard the complex since April and are scheduled to return to Earth in a week .
Speaking during Tuesday ’ s pre-launch news conference at Baikonur , Rubins emphasized that the crew spent weeks in quarantine at the Star City training facility outside Moscow and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
“ We spent two weeks at Star City and then 17 days at Baikonur in a very strict quarantine , ” Rubins said .
“ During all communications with crew members , we were wearing masks .
We made PCR tests twice and we also made three times antigen fast tests.
” She said she was looking forward to scientific experiments planned for the mission .
“ We ’ re planning to try some really interesting things like bio-printing tissues and growing cells in space and , of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Rubins said .
Ryzhikov , who will be the station ’ s skipper , said the crew will try to pinpoint the exact location of a leak at a station ’ s Russian section that has slowly leaked oxygen .
The small leak hasn ’ t posed any immediate danger to the crew .
“ We will take with us additional equipment which will allow us to detect the place of this leak more precisely , ” he told reporters .
“ We will also take with us additional improved hermetic material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In November , Rubins , Ryzhikov and Kud-Sverchkov are expected to greet NASA ’ s SpaceX first operational Crew Dragon mission , which is bringing NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins , Victor Glover and Shannon Walker , and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi to the space station aboard the Crew Dragon vehicle .
It follows a successful Demo-2 mission earlier this year .
The Crew Dragon mission was pushed back from Oct. 31 into November , and no new date has been set yet .
The delay is intended to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review data from an aborted Falcon 9 launch earlier this month .

MOSCOW (AP) — A trio of space travelers blasted off to the International Space Station on Wednesday, using for the first time a fast-track maneuver that allowed them to reach the orbiting outpost in just a little over three hours.
NASA’s Kate Rubins along with Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos lifted off as scheduled Wednesday morning from the Russia-leased Baikonur space launch facility in Kazakhstan for a six-month stint on the station.
For the first time, they tried a two-orbit approach and docked with the space station in just a little over three hours after lift-off. Previously it took twice as long for crews to reach the station.
Aboard the station, they were welcomed by the station’s NASA commander, Chris Cassidy, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, who have been aboard the complex since April and are scheduled to return to Earth in a week.
Speaking during Tuesday’s pre-launch news conference at Baikonur, Rubins emphasized that the crew spent weeks in quarantine at the Star City training facility outside Moscow and then on Baikonur to avoid any threat from the coronavirus.
“We spent two weeks at Star City and then 17 days at Baikonur in a very strict quarantine,” Rubins said. “During all communications with crew members, we were wearing masks. We made PCR tests twice and we also made three times antigen fast tests.”
She said she was looking forward to scientific experiments planned for the mission.
“We’re planning to try some really interesting things like bio-printing tissues and growing cells in space and, of course, continuing our work on sequencing DNA,” Rubins said.
Ryzhikov, who will be the station’s skipper, said the crew will try to pinpoint the exact location of a leak at a station’s Russian section that has slowly leaked oxygen. The small leak hasn’t posed any immediate danger to the crew.
“We will take with us additional equipment which will allow us to detect the place of this leak more precisely,” he told reporters. “We will also take with us additional improved hermetic material which will allow to fix the leak.”
In November, Rubins, Ryzhikov and Kud-Sverchkov are expected to greet NASA’s SpaceX first operational Crew Dragon mission, which is bringing NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi to the space station aboard the Crew Dragon vehicle. It follows a successful Demo-2 mission earlier this year.
The Crew Dragon mission was pushed back from Oct. 31 into November, and no new date has been set yet. The delay is intended to give SpaceX more time to conduct tests and review data from an aborted Falcon 9 launch earlier this month.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--China's Xi promises changes to promote tech center Shenzhen

BEIJING ( AP ) - President Xi Jinping on Wednesday promised new steps to promote development of China ’ s biggest tech center , Shenzhen , amid a feud with Washington that has disrupted access to U.S. technology and is fueling ambitions to create Chinese suppliers .
In a speech marking the 40th anniversary of the former fishing village adjacent to Hong Kong being declared the first area for the ruling Communist Party to allow free enterprise , Xi promised to ease regulations to encourage new industries .
Xi called for “ the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” alluding to ambitions to become a global competitor in fields from telecoms and bio-tech to electric cars and renewable energy .
Companies in Shenzhen including Huawei Technologies Ltd. , a maker of smartphones and switching equipment that is China ’ s first global tech brand , play a key role in those plans .
That has made them targets of U.S. complaints they might be security threats or erode American industrial dominance .
The party leadership is issuing more than 60 policy changes or new guidelines , Xi said in the speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and officials .
He gave no details but said Shenzhen would have “ more autonomy in important areas.
” The audience , all of whom wore masks , included Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei and Zhong Nanshan , a prominent scientist who in January became the first to publicly confirm human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus .
Shenzhen is symbolically important in Chinese politics as part of a 1992 tour by retired supreme leader Deng Xiaoping .
He called on the leadership to revive his “ reform and opening up ” strategy following the political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests .
Then-President Jiang Zemin eventually sided with Deng and committed to market-oriented changes that helped to ignite decades of explosive economic growth .
China ’ s efforts to create its own tech competitors have added to tensions that prompted President Donald Trump to hike import duties on Chinese goods in 2018 .
Washington has blocked Huawei ’ s access to American components and technology .
That threatens to cripple its sales of smartphones and switching equipment .
Trump issued an order in August that declared WeChat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another Shenzhen tech giant , Tencent Holding Ltd. , a threat to national security .
Economists warn other Chinese technology producers might be disrupted by U.S. curbs on access to American components and services such as Google ’ s Android smartphone operating system .
That has added urgency to the party ’ s work on nurturing Chinese creators of processor chips and other high-tech components , an effort that is focused on Shenzhen and a handful of other tech centers .
Shenzhen grew from a village of 30,000 people in 1980 to about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.7 trillion yuan ( $ 400 billion ) last year was larger than that of South Africa , a country of 58 million people .
Shenzhen is cited as the region ’ s economic engine in government plans to integrate and develop cities at the mouth of Guangdong Province ’ s Pearl River .
That has stirred unease in Hong Kong that the territory ’ s status as a business hub might erode .
Downtown is a forest of office towers to rival Manhattan or neighboring Hong Kong .
The Ping An Finance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skyscraper at 599 meters ( 1,965 feet ) .
The city also is home to one of the mainland ’ s two stock exchanges .
Despite its wealth and a population nearly double that of New York City , Shenzhen has the air of a leafy but uneventful business park .
Parking lots of major tech and finance companies are filled with executives ’ European and Japanese luxury cars late into the night .
But parents complain there are too few schools for all the city ’ s children , few parks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

BEIJING (AP) - President Xi Jinping on Wednesday promised new steps to promote development of China’s biggest tech center, Shenzhen, amid a feud with Washington that has disrupted access to U.S. technology and is fueling ambitions to create Chinese suppliers.
In a speech marking the 40th anniversary of the former fishing village adjacent to Hong Kong being declared the first area for the ruling Communist Party to allow free enterprise, Xi promised to ease regulations to encourage new industries.
Xi called for “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” and “optimizing and upgrading production,” alluding to ambitions to become a global competitor in fields from telecoms and bio-tech to electric cars and renewable energy.
Companies in Shenzhen including Huawei Technologies Ltd., a maker of smartphones and switching equipment that is China’s first global tech brand, play a key role in those plans. That has made them targets of U.S. complaints they might be security threats or erode American industrial dominance.
The party leadership is issuing more than 60 policy changes or new guidelines, Xi said in the speech in Shenzhen to an audience of businesspeople and officials. He gave no details but said Shenzhen would have “more autonomy in important areas.”
The audience, all of whom wore masks, included Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei and Zhong Nanshan, a prominent scientist who in January became the first to publicly confirm human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus.
Shenzhen is symbolically important in Chinese politics as part of a 1992 tour by retired supreme leader Deng Xiaoping. He called on the leadership to revive his “reform and opening up” strategy following the political chill that set in after the 1989 crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests.
Then-President Jiang Zemin eventually sided with Deng and committed to market-oriented changes that helped to ignite decades of explosive economic growth.
China’s efforts to create its own tech competitors have added to tensions that prompted President Donald Trump to hike import duties on Chinese goods in 2018.
Washington has blocked Huawei’s access to American components and technology. That threatens to cripple its sales of smartphones and switching equipment. Trump issued an order in August that declared WeChat, a popular messaging service operated by another Shenzhen tech giant, Tencent Holding Ltd., a threat to national security.
Economists warn other Chinese technology producers might be disrupted by U.S. curbs on access to American components and services such as Google’s Android smartphone operating system.
That has added urgency to the party’s work on nurturing Chinese creators of processor chips and other high-tech components, an effort that is focused on Shenzhen and a handful of other tech centers.
Shenzhen grew from a village of 30,000 people in 1980 to about 13 million. Its economic output of 2.7 trillion yuan ($400 billion) last year was larger than that of South Africa, a country of 58 million people.
Shenzhen is cited as the region’s economic engine in government plans to integrate and develop cities at the mouth of Guangdong Province’s Pearl River. That has stirred unease in Hong Kong that the territory’s status as a business hub might erode.
Downtown is a forest of office towers to rival Manhattan or neighboring Hong Kong. The Ping An Finance Center is the world’s fourth-tallest skyscraper at 599 meters (1,965 feet). The city also is home to one of the mainland’s two stock exchanges.
Despite its wealth and a population nearly double that of New York City, Shenzhen has the air of a leafy but uneventful business park.
Parking lots of major tech and finance companies are filled with executives’ European and Japanese luxury cars late into the night. But parents complain there are too few schools for all the city’s children, few parks and too little for families to do.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Asia Today: India reports 63,000 new cases, China tests 4.2M

NEW DELHI ( AP ) — India has confirmed more than 63,000 new cases of the coronavirus , an increase of over 8,000 from the previous day but still far fewer than it was reporting a month ago , when the virus was at its peak in the country .
The Health Ministry reported 63,509 new cases on Wednesday , raising India ’ s total to more than 7.2 million , second in the world behind the U.S .
The ministry also reported 730 fatalities in the past 24 hours , raising the death toll to 110,586 .
The country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day last month .
According to the Health Ministry , India ’ s average number of daily cases dropped to 72,576 last week from 92,830 during the week of Sept. 9-15 , when the virus peaked .
Over the last month , the country has been seeing a trend of declining cases on a week-to-week basis .
On Tuesday , India registered 55,342 new cases , its lowest single-day tally since mid-August .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : China says it has carried out more than 4.2 million tests in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with no new cases of the coronavirus among the almost 2 million results received .
The city has reported a total of 12 cases , six with symptoms and six without , since the new outbreak was first spotted over the weekend at a hospital .
China on Wednesday reported 27 new cases , including 13 of local transmission and 14 brought from outside the country .
The local cases included seven that had been shifted to confirmed from asymptomatic .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear whether any of those involved cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a total of 4,634 deaths among 85,611 confirmed cases of COVID-19 .

NEW DELHI (AP) — India has confirmed more than 63,000 new cases of the coronavirus, an increase of over 8,000 from the previous day but still far fewer than it was reporting a month ago, when the virus was at its peak in the country.
The Health Ministry reported 63,509 new cases on Wednesday, raising India’s total to more than 7.2 million, second in the world behind the U.S. The ministry also reported 730 fatalities in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 110,586. The country was seeing more than 1,000 deaths per day last month.
According to the Health Ministry, India’s average number of daily cases dropped to 72,576 last week from 92,830 during the week of Sept. 9-15, when the virus peaked. Over the last month, the country has been seeing a trend of declining cases on a week-to-week basis.
On Tuesday, India registered 55,342 new cases, its lowest single-day tally since mid-August.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
China says it has carried out more than 4.2 million tests in the northern port city of Qingdao, with no new cases of the coronavirus among the almost 2 million results received.
The city has reported a total of 12 cases, six with symptoms and six without, since the new outbreak was first spotted over the weekend at a hospital. China on Wednesday reported 27 new cases, including 13 of local transmission and 14 brought from outside the country.
The local cases included seven that had been shifted to confirmed from asymptomatic. It wasn’t immediately clear whether any of those involved cases reported in Qingdao. China has reported a total of 4,634 deaths among 85,611 confirmed cases of COVID-19.