washingtontimes--2020-12-20--Canada bans flights from Britain to block new variant of coronavirus

TORONTO – Canada is banning passenger flights from the UK in a bid to block a new strain of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ A person familiar with the matter confirmed the development on condition of anonymity as they @ @ @ @ @ publicly ahead of an announcement .
France , Germany , Italy , the Netherlands , @ @ @ @ @ and Bulgaria all announced restrictions on U.K. travel , hours after British Prime Minister Boris @ @ @ @ @ and gatherings in southern England must be canceled because of rapidly spreading infections blamed on @ @ @ @ @ Johnson said Saturday that a fast-moving new variant of the virus that is 70 % @ @ @ @ @ appeared to be driving the rapid spread of new infections in London and southern England @ @ @ @ @ he stressed “ there ’ s no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or @ @ @ @ @ ” or that vaccines will be less effective against it .

TORONTO – Canada is banning passenger flights from the UK in a bid to block a new strain of coronavirus sweeping across southern England.
A person familiar with the matter confirmed the development on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly ahead of an announcement.
France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and Bulgaria all announced restrictions on U.K. travel, hours after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that Christmas shopping and gatherings in southern England must be canceled because of rapidly spreading infections blamed on the new coronavirus variant.
Johnson said Saturday that a fast-moving new variant of the virus that is 70% more transmissible than existing strains appeared to be driving the rapid spread of new infections in London and southern England in recent weeks. But he stressed “there’s no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or causes more severe illness,” or that vaccines will be less effective against it.


washingtontimes--2020-12-20--Lockheed Martin strikes $4.4B deal to buy Aerojet Rocketdyne

BETHESDA , Md .
( AP ) - Lockheed Martin is buying rocket engine manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings for $ 4.4 billion in a deal that brings together companies that already had been working together in the aeronautics industry .
The acquisition announced late Sunday is part of Lockheed Martin ‘ s attempt to gird for competition from recent industry entrants , Space X and Blue Origin , which are backed by two of the world ’ s richest men , Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos .
“ Acquiring Aerojet Rocketdyne will preserve and strengthen an essential component of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our customers and the American taxpayer , ” Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet said in a statement .
Bethesda , Maryland-based Lockheed is paying $ 56 per share , 33 % above the Friday closing price of Aerojet Rocketdyne ‘ s stock .
The final price will be reduced to $ 51 per share after accounting for a special dividend of $ 5 per share that will be paid just before the deal closes .
The companies are aiming to have the deal wrapped up during the second half of next year @

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Lockheed Martin is buying rocket engine manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings for $4.4 billion in a deal that brings together companies that already had been working together in the aeronautics industry.
The acquisition announced late Sunday is part of Lockheed Martin’s attempt to gird for competition from recent industry entrants, Space X and Blue Origin, which are backed by two of the world’s richest men, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
“Acquiring Aerojet Rocketdyne will preserve and strengthen an essential component of the domestic defense industrial base and reduce costs for our customers and the American taxpayer,” Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet said in a statement.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed is paying $56 per share, 33% above the Friday closing price of Aerojet Rocketdyne’s stock. The final price will be reduced to $51 per share after accounting for a special dividend of $5 per share that will be paid just before the deal closes. The companies are aiming to have the deal wrapped up during the second half of next year.


washingtontimes--2020-12-20--Randy Petersen, criminologist, says defunding police 'wrong'

The chants , placards and even lawmakers ’ earnest pleas to “ defund the police ” hit a nerve with Randy Petersen .
Of all the sloganeering of 2020 , he thinks that slice of anti-police rhetoric is the most dangerous .
“ I don ’ t want to say , ‘ Hey , you ’ re wrong , ’ but I do think they ’ re wrong , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t know how you would even debate that .
They are not saying improve ; they are saying destroy.
” Mr. Petersen isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is the senior researcher for Right on Crime and the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation .
In that capacity , he tries to make better cops by developing a training formula for police departments nationwide .
The goal is to help police better serve their communities and , perhaps , improve their image in the process .
“ As a profession , they feel under attack , ” he said of police officers .
“ Although I ’ ve been impressed with those who are coming in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the best time to get in in terms of making a difference.
” The “ defund the police ” message of far-left lawmakers and activists did not resonate with a broader national audience in the elections .
It likely hurt Democrats , whose House majority shrank and failed to flip a single legislative chamber in the 50 states .
In the aftermath of those down-ticket losses , party leaders have sounded cautionary notes .
Former President Barack Obama called defunding a “ snappy slogan ” that Democrats should avoid .
But neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less-explosive motto have forcefully denounced the idea behind starving police departments of money .
Proponents of defunding the police , such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York , a leader of the far-left Democratic firebrands on Capitol Hill known as “ The Squad , ” describe defunding as a way to turn inner cities into suburbanesque utopias .
“ It looks like a suburb .
Affluent white communities already live in a world where they choose to fund youth , health , housing , etc .
more than they fund police , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went viral .
Mr. Petersen said that formula would exacerbate the very problems it supposedly would fix .
“ It would be a catastrophe for us and the public , ” he said .
“ You have to see law enforcement as a core function of government and realize police are what we have for those who can ’ t afford gated communities and private security.
” It is important to train officers , he said but that training costs money .
It would be better to weed out bad cops and hire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means money .
In short , cutting police departments of funds would starve them of the very sustenance they need to improve , Mr. Petersen said .
But a big cash injection is not always what ’ s needed .
The Texas center ’ s research shows that police — and the public — benefit more from short refresher bursts of training than longer regimens .
The training , too , can be transformed .
“ Cops don ’ t really get into kickboxing fights , so there ’ s not much need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mr. Petersen said .
“ What you need is grappling at full speed — and that can be practiced .
Most of the problems we ’ ve seen have come from an officer ’ s inability to use lesser force because they couldn ’ t control the suspect.
” Indeed , some of the flashpoint incidents that spurred Black Lives Matter protests and riots stem from officers ’ lack of an alternative to lethal force .
Among them : ⦁ Rayshard Brooks was fatally shot by Atlanta police after struggling with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt .
⦁ Four Minneapolis police officers were active in subduing George Floyd , who also resisted arrest .
One officer used his knee to pin Floyd for several minutes during the struggle .
⦁ Officers in Philadelphia fatally shot Walter Wallace Jr. in October .
Wallace , who had bipolar disorder , refused repeated entreaties to drop a knife .
Some grieving members of the Wallace family blamed his death on insufficient police training .
“ People intuitively don ’ t want to kill people , unless they ’ re a psychopath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the flashpoint incidents this year emphasize the importance of gaining control without resorting to lethal force .
“ The one thing in common there is a suspect resisting arrest.
” Mr. Petersen said such tragedies are bound to repeat themselves if cities , towns and counties slash law enforcement budgets .
That also would threaten safety for all people and especially for law-abiding people who comprise the majority of residents in high-crime neighborhoods , he said .
Mr. Petersen , 49 , began to form his ideas on improved training during 21 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His voice carries a distinct Windy City accent instead of a Texas drawl .
He has drawn on research on community policing by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the zero-tolerance “ broken windows ” policies spearheaded by New York City .
He said unions can make it more difficult for police chiefs to suspend or dismiss officers .
Officers understandably hold their unions in high esteem , he said , while they feel boxed with public support seemingly at a nadir .
“ When law enforcement feels like it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to turn to for support ?
” Mr. Petersen said .
“ But the interference with legitimate discipline and termination has to stop .
I can ’ t shape the agency if I can ’ t discipline it.
” The Texas Public Policy Foundation plans to release a white paper on its formula by the end of the month and hopes police departments begin to adopt it next year .
“ The community engagement piece of it is key , and by that , I don ’ t just mean ‘ coffee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Those are good ideas and should be continued , but it has to run deeper than that.
” But reducing law enforcement budgets would cut off those ideas .
Mr. Petersen said he hopes a more practical approach and a continued emphasis on safety will prevail .
“ Right now , I think the loudest voices screaming from the rooftops are getting the most attention , ” he said .
“ But I don ’ t believe everything is broken ; I believe everything has a fix .
”

THE BIG TALK
An occasional interview series with Americans who are challenging the status quo.
The chants, placards and even lawmakers’ earnest pleas to “defund the police” hit a nerve with Randy Petersen.
Of all the sloganeering of 2020, he thinks that slice of anti-police rhetoric is the most dangerous.
“I don’t want to say, ‘Hey, you’re wrong,’ but I do think they’re wrong,” he said. “I don’t know how you would even debate that. They are not saying improve; they are saying destroy.”
Mr. Petersen isn’t exactly a disinterested observer. He is the senior researcher for Right on Crime and the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
In that capacity, he tries to make better cops by developing a training formula for police departments nationwide. The goal is to help police better serve their communities and, perhaps, improve their image in the process.
“As a profession, they feel under attack,” he said of police officers. “Although I’ve been impressed with those who are coming in for jobs in that they think this is the best time to get in in terms of making a difference.”
The “defund the police” message of far-left lawmakers and activists did not resonate with a broader national audience in the elections. It likely hurt Democrats, whose House majority shrank and failed to flip a single legislative chamber in the 50 states.
In the aftermath of those down-ticket losses, party leaders have sounded cautionary notes. Former President Barack Obama called defunding a “snappy slogan” that Democrats should avoid.
But neither Mr. Obama nor others who favor a less-explosive motto have forcefully denounced the idea behind starving police departments of money.
Proponents of defunding the police, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a leader of the far-left Democratic firebrands on Capitol Hill known as “The Squad,” describe defunding as a way to turn inner cities into suburbanesque utopias.
“It looks like a suburb. Affluent white communities already live in a world where they choose to fund youth, health, housing, etc. more than they fund police,” she said in a tweet that went viral.
Mr. Petersen said that formula would exacerbate the very problems it supposedly would fix.
“It would be a catastrophe for us and the public,” he said. “You have to see law enforcement as a core function of government and realize police are what we have for those who can’t afford gated communities and private security.”
It is important to train officers, he said but that training costs money. It would be better to weed out bad cops and hire good ones, although that too often means money. In short, cutting police departments of funds would starve them of the very sustenance they need to improve, Mr. Petersen said.
But a big cash injection is not always what’s needed. The Texas center’s research shows that police — and the public — benefit more from short refresher bursts of training than longer regimens.
The training, too, can be transformed.
“Cops don’t really get into kickboxing fights, so there’s not much need for the Korean jujitsu you often find,” Mr. Petersen said. “What you need is grappling at full speed — and that can be practiced. Most of the problems we’ve seen have come from an officer’s inability to use lesser force because they couldn’t control the suspect.”
Indeed, some of the flashpoint incidents that spurred Black Lives Matter protests and riots stem from officers’ lack of an alternative to lethal force. Among them:
• Rayshard Brooks was fatally shot by Atlanta police after struggling with officers and spinning out of their arrest attempt.
• Four Minneapolis police officers were active in subduing George Floyd, who also resisted arrest. One officer used his knee to pin Floyd for several minutes during the struggle.
• Officers in Philadelphia fatally shot Walter Wallace Jr. in October. Wallace, who had bipolar disorder, refused repeated entreaties to drop a knife. Some grieving members of the Wallace family blamed his death on insufficient police training.
“People intuitively don’t want to kill people, unless they’re a psychopath,” said Mr. Petersen, adding that the flashpoint incidents this year emphasize the importance of gaining control without resorting to lethal force. “The one thing in common there is a suspect resisting arrest.”
Mr. Petersen said such tragedies are bound to repeat themselves if cities, towns and counties slash law enforcement budgets. That also would threaten safety for all people and especially for law-abiding people who comprise the majority of residents in high-crime neighborhoods, he said.
Mr. Petersen, 49, began to form his ideas on improved training during 21 years as a police officer outside Chicago. His voice carries a distinct Windy City accent instead of a Texas drawl.
He has drawn on research on community policing by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the zero-tolerance “broken windows” policies spearheaded by New York City.
He said unions can make it more difficult for police chiefs to suspend or dismiss officers. Officers understandably hold their unions in high esteem, he said, while they feel boxed with public support seemingly at a nadir.
“When law enforcement feels like it is under attack, who are they going to turn to for support?” Mr. Petersen said. “But the interference with legitimate discipline and termination has to stop. I can’t shape the agency if I can’t discipline it.”
The Texas Public Policy Foundation plans to release a white paper on its formula by the end of the month and hopes police departments begin to adopt it next year.
“The community engagement piece of it is key, and by that, I don’t just mean ‘coffee with the chief,’” he said. “Those are good ideas and should be continued, but it has to run deeper than that.”
But reducing law enforcement budgets would cut off those ideas.
Mr. Petersen said he hopes a more practical approach and a continued emphasis on safety will prevail.
“Right now, I think the loudest voices screaming from the rooftops are getting the most attention,” he said. “But I don’t believe everything is broken; I believe everything has a fix.”
• James Varney can be reached at jvarney@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-20--Border wall forces drug smugglers to turn to drones

Drone drug-smuggling has surged so much along the U.S.-Mexico border that the Border Patrol issued a stark plea last week asking residents in southwestern Arizona to step up and help them by spotting and reporting any incursions .
A spokesman for the Border Patrol in Yuma says new border wall construction has disrupted cartels ’ normal routes and sent them into the air to try to find new ways to get narcotics from Mexico into the U.S .
But detecting drones remains a struggle for agents , and they are asking the public to pitch in .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us out should they see anything suspicious that may be a drone being used illicitly , ” said agent Benjamin Rodriguez , the Border Patrol community liaison for the Yuma region .
It ’ s difficult to say how many drone incursions there are — chiefly because it ’ s obvious to agents that they ’ re not detecting them all .
But the Border Patrol ’ s Yuma Sector says it is detecting plenty more than it did .
Over the last three months of 2019 , Yuma recorded no drone detections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week , agents spotted seven , said Macario Mora , a spokesman for the sector .
“ This could be attributable to the new wall construction , which is forcing cartels to adjust their strategy to the Border Patrol ’ s new and updated strategy and structure , ” he told The Washington Times .
High-level Homeland Security officials in Washington say the wall is also pushing drug loads underground , to tunnels , and onto the water .
But those methods require substantial investment and the cost of a blown tunnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other methods agents have seen for getting drugs over the wall include flying them by ultralight , firing them by catapult or shooting them with something like a potato cannon .
Unlike the projectile methods , a drone can be controlled and can fly deep into the U.S. and , unlike an ultralight plane , there is no need to risk a pilot and the price of a rig .
The drones that smugglers are using are generally off-the-shelf models that cost up to a few thousand dollars and are capable of carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not enough to smuggle marijuana profitably , but it ’ s perfect for harder drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin .
At $ 20,000 a pound on the streets , a 5-pound meth shipment could be worth $ 100,000 .
Smugglers will usually try to sneak over several loads with the same drone each time , Mr. Rodriguez said .
Air & Space magazine reported this summer that one recovered “ narcodrone ” revealed it had made hundreds of cross-border flights before agents nabbed it .
The COVID-19 pandemic has further upended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which often relies on people carrying moderate amounts in cars or on their bodies through official ports of entry .
With fewer small loads entering the U.S. , cartels are turning to trucks , tractor-trailers and other large-scale methods , Robert Perez , deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection , told reporters last week .
Borderwide , he said , fentanyl seizures were up 225 % in November compared with the same month in 2019 .
Methamphetamine seizures were up 43 % .
Like illegal migration , CBP figures that an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the amount getting through , so a rise in seizures means more drugs likely escaped detection as well .
Drones have been a problem for much of the past decade , and CBP has been working on ways to spot and counter them .
A federal law in 2018 gave the Department of Homeland Security the authority to try to bring down drones , known by the bureaucratic designation unmanned aircraft system , deemed to be engaged in illegal activity , and CBP is now testing counterdrone technologies , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review concluded : “ Due to technological advancements and improved costs , Transnational Criminal Organizations ( TCO ) are increasingly using UAS to smuggle contraband into the United States .
The ability for TCOs to use UAS to smuggle narcotics , contraband , and surveil law enforcement operations has empowered TCOs and made it easier for them to evade law enforcement.
” CBP awarded a contract last year to Citadel Defense for its Titan system , which can force down unauthorized drones .
Often , though , just spotting the drones comes down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Southern California was detected only because the smugglers forgot to cover one of the lights on a drone .
Agents traced the drone and found Jorge Rivera , a DJI drone and more than 13 pounds of methamphetamine .
Though agents suspected he operated the drone , Rivera insisted that was never proved .
He was convicted for picking up the drugs and sentenced to more than 12 years in prison and 10 years of probation .
Brandon Judd , president of the National Border Patrol Council , said in the years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any better at detecting or bringing down drones .
He said wall or not , drones were going to be a tactic for drug smuggling .
“ Cartels are always looking for the safest ( safe as in not getting seized ) , cost effective , and expeditious manner possible and drones make sense in all three aspects , ” he said in an email .
Yet even as drones present a threat , they mark an opportunity for agents , who themselves are flying drones to gain a better awareness of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being used up along the border to spot groups of people laid up waiting for an opportunity to break north , but also deeper into the U.S. near highway checkpoints , where they can spot people hiking through the brush to try to circumvent the barricade .

Drone drug-smuggling has surged so much along the U.S.-Mexico border that the Border Patrol issued a stark plea last week asking residents in southwestern Arizona to step up and help them by spotting and reporting any incursions.
A spokesman for the Border Patrol in Yuma says new border wall construction has disrupted cartels’ normal routes and sent them into the air to try to find new ways to get narcotics from Mexico into the U.S.
But detecting drones remains a struggle for agents, and they are asking the public to pitch in.
“We are reaching out to the public to help us out should they see anything suspicious that may be a drone being used illicitly,” said agent Benjamin Rodriguez, the Border Patrol community liaison for the Yuma region.
It’s difficult to say how many drone incursions there are — chiefly because it’s obvious to agents that they’re not detecting them all.
But the Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector says it is detecting plenty more than it did.
Over the last three months of 2019, Yuma recorded no drone detections. This year, from October to last week, agents spotted seven, said Macario Mora, a spokesman for the sector.
“This could be attributable to the new wall construction, which is forcing cartels to adjust their strategy to the Border Patrol’s new and updated strategy and structure,” he told The Washington Times.
High-level Homeland Security officials in Washington say the wall is also pushing drug loads underground, to tunnels, and onto the water. But those methods require substantial investment and the cost of a blown tunnel or seized Panga-style boat is high.
Other methods agents have seen for getting drugs over the wall include flying them by ultralight, firing them by catapult or shooting them with something like a potato cannon.
Unlike the projectile methods, a drone can be controlled and can fly deep into the U.S. and, unlike an ultralight plane, there is no need to risk a pilot and the price of a rig.
The drones that smugglers are using are generally off-the-shelf models that cost up to a few thousand dollars and are capable of carrying 2 to 5 pounds.
That’s not enough to smuggle marijuana profitably, but it’s perfect for harder drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin. At $20,000 a pound on the streets, a 5-pound meth shipment could be worth $100,000.
Smugglers will usually try to sneak over several loads with the same drone each time, Mr. Rodriguez said.
Air & Space magazine reported this summer that one recovered “narcodrone” revealed it had made hundreds of cross-border flights before agents nabbed it.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further upended the usual model for smuggling hard drugs, which often relies on people carrying moderate amounts in cars or on their bodies through official ports of entry.
With fewer small loads entering the U.S., cartels are turning to trucks, tractor-trailers and other large-scale methods, Robert Perez, deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, told reporters last week.
Borderwide, he said, fentanyl seizures were up 225% in November compared with the same month in 2019. Methamphetamine seizures were up 43%. Like illegal migration, CBP figures that an increase in encounters signals an overall increase in the amount getting through, so a rise in seizures means more drugs likely escaped detection as well.
Drones have been a problem for much of the past decade, and CBP has been working on ways to spot and counter them.
A federal law in 2018 gave the Department of Homeland Security the authority to try to bring down drones, known by the bureaucratic designation unmanned aircraft system, deemed to be engaged in illegal activity, and CBP is now testing counterdrone technologies, according to a document released over the summer.
That review concluded: “Due to technological advancements and improved costs, Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO) are increasingly using UAS to smuggle contraband into the United States. The ability for TCOs to use UAS to smuggle narcotics, contraband, and surveil law enforcement operations has empowered TCOs and made it easier for them to evade law enforcement.”
CBP awarded a contract last year to Citadel Defense for its Titan system, which can force down unauthorized drones.
Often, though, just spotting the drones comes down to luck.
One 2017 smuggling incident in Southern California was detected only because the smugglers forgot to cover one of the lights on a drone. Agents traced the drone and found Jorge Rivera, a DJI drone and more than 13 pounds of methamphetamine.
Though agents suspected he operated the drone, Rivera insisted that was never proved. He was convicted for picking up the drugs and sentenced to more than 12 years in prison and 10 years of probation.
Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said in the years since, CBP hasn’t gotten any better at detecting or bringing down drones.
“It remains a huge problem,” he said.
He said wall or not, drones were going to be a tactic for drug smuggling.
“Cartels are always looking for the safest (safe as in not getting seized), cost effective, and expeditious manner possible and drones make sense in all three aspects,” he said in an email.
Yet even as drones present a threat, they mark an opportunity for agents, who themselves are flying drones to gain a better awareness of the areas they are patrolling.
They are being used up along the border to spot groups of people laid up waiting for an opportunity to break north, but also deeper into the U.S. near highway checkpoints, where they can spot people hiking through the brush to try to circumvent the barricade.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-20--Angela Merkel pleads for coronavirus cooperation after 'lockdown lite' fails

BERLIN — Some raced to pick up toilet paper .
Others hurried to grab Yuletide gifts and sip a last warm mulled wine at Germany ’ s famed Christmas markets — those that were still open .
Some simply tried to get haircuts before service businesses were forced to close — again .
“ I didn ’ t make it in time , ” said Katrine , 51 , in Berlin , who wanted a color and trim .
“ [ My hairdresser ] was slammed .
I guess I ’ ll just have to go into the new year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets went quiet and nonessential stores and schools closed their doors as part of a hard lockdown in the face of a raging national health emergency .
Nonessential travel and shopping , and standing around outdoor tables with friends , sipping the traditional mulled wine known as gluehwein , joined eat-in dining , working out and seeing a movie as activities on the government ’ s verboten list .
The Hofbrau Berlin , the city ’ s biggest restaurant , started serving as a homeless center after its dining operations were shuttered .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel was needed because the “ lockdown lite ” that went into effect in early November , when all stores and schools were allowed to remain open , didn ’ t work .
In a country that just months ago won global praise for its initial success in combating COVID-19 , transmission rates have risen to some of the highest in the world .
Germany now ranks in the top 20 of total infections worldwide .
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Germany spiked from 21 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , according to the Robert Koch Institute , the country ’ s national agency for disease control .
That is more than three times the number — 50 — that the agency considers acceptable .
Meanwhile , the daily infection rate hit 30,000 last week — up from the high of 7,000 this spring .
Daily virus-related fatalities hit a record 952 on Wednesday in the country of 83 million .
Newspaper headlines talk of a grim winter ahead .
Bild , the country ’ s bestselling newspaper , wrote recently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has to close not solely because of corona but also because of the political handling of corona.
” President Trump , whose administration ’ s virus response was compared unfavorably with Germany ’ s in the spring and summer could not resist a little schadenfreude on Twitter .
Germany “ has consistently been used by my obnoxious critics as the country that we should follow on the way to handle the China Virus , ” Mr. Trump tweeted Dec. 9 .
“ So much for that argument.
” Ms. Merkel , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown by some of the country ’ s 16 states , begged German lawmakers to support the restrictions .
She acknowledged that November ’ s lighter measures didn ’ t work .
Close to tears in a Dec. 9 address to parliament , she pleaded with Germans to be more careful .
“ As hard as it is — and I know how much love has gone into setting up these mulled wine stands — this is not the same as agreeing only to do takeout , ” she said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my heart … but the price of 590 deaths a day is not acceptable.
” Germany , along with Asian countries such as South Korea , New Zealand and Taiwan , was once held up as a model of how countries should deal with the rapidly spreading coronavirus .
In the spring , as the U.S. endured a first deadly surge of COVID-19 , Germany ’ s death rate was among the lowest in the world .
Unlike some European peers , German hospitals never reached close to capacity in treating patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing and contact tracing systems were touted as some of the best in the world .
“ A lot of people saw the low death rates and became too complacent , ” said Stefan , 53 , who works in corporate sales in Frankfurt and raced to see his mother in Bavaria last weekend because they wouldn ’ t be able to spend Christmas together .
“ People got too casual , and now we have to pay for it .
“ And I know many people planning to defy this lockdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted how casual people became about masks and distancing after the spring ’ s tough measure were eased .
In Berlin this fall , outdoor cafe tables were often full , rarely spaced 6 feet apart and , unlike in France , hardly anyone donned a mask while walking in the streets .
Inside restaurants , bars and homes , people ate , drank and socialized together as usual .
Germany ’ s federal system , and the premium it places on building a careful consensus between the government in Berlin and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many say it is hampering efforts to move more quickly and decisively .
Many officials now say urgent measures are needed to keep Germany from falling behind its neighbors .
“ We need to be careful that Germany doesn ’ t become the problem child of Europe , ” said Markus Soeder , governor of the state of Bavaria .
That means Christmas will be a sad affair .
The government has placed a ban on singing in churches even as religious services are allowed — with masks and distancing .
Gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five people , except for children and on Christmas .
And New Year ’ s Eve ?
That crazy free-for-all in Berlin and other cities when fireworks are set off in all directions to turn streets into giant party zones ?
Nein — not this year .
There is a ban on public outdoor gatherings and the sale of fireworks .
Some states have imposed curfews .
Although most Germans accept the restrictions , businesses fret that the damage could be lasting .
The commercial restrictions and sales bans imposed this month “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire industry is now threatened with insolvency , ” Thomas Schreiber , chairman of the board of the Association of the Pyrotechnic Industry , told German daily Die Zeit .
The German Retail Association is predicting a wave of bankruptcies and warning that governmental aid to businesses hasn ’ t been enough , especially when stores are forced to shut down during their busiest season .
The situation is dire for restaurants and bars , which have been limited to offering takeout for about half the year .
Some are getting creative with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most are just hoping to hang on until next summer , when the vaccinations are well underway and the rates of infection are down .
“ After the first lockdown , we managed to come back to our ‘ before-corona income , ’ but with the arrival of autumn and the shorter and cooler days , the business dropped to less than 50 % because we had to reduce the amount of people we could serve inside , ” said Anastasia Schoeck-Bochenski who owns a bar in Berlin .
“ We definitely can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can only minimize the losses.
” The lockdown is supposed to last until Jan. 10 , but it will be extended if the caseload remains high .
Most Germans support the restrictions .
A YouGov poll released last week found that 73 % , including more than half of supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) party , favor the tougher lockdown measures .
The party has been vocal against restrictions .
Many of the 20 % who oppose harsher measures have been on the streets for months demonstrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests in Frankfurt and other cities this weekend , business owners said the unrest was hurting holiday sales further because people stayed away from city centers .
“ I ’ ve spent pretty much every weekend since April at a demonstration , ” Malin S. said in a post on Twitter .
“ I never wear a mask , ever .
I hug my friends like I always have .
And I ’ ve never had the virus .
How do supporters of the measures explain this phenomenon ?
” Some bright spots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point with pride to the work of BioNTech , a once-obscure German research firm that partnered with American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on one of the first coronavirus vaccines to hit the market .
Adding to the frustration , though , is the use of the vaccine in the U.K. and U.S. while Germany awaits approval from European Union regulators .
In the eastern state of Saxony , which has become a hot bed of protests , the rates of infection are higher than anywhere else in the country .
Hospital officials are begging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running out of capacity to treat patients .
Ms. Schoeck-Bochenski , meanwhile , said those who are protesting or failing to be careful are just making it worse for everyone else .
“ To be honest , for me the ‘ lockdown lite ’ felt like an unfair and incomplete solution — especially considering how people have been behaving in their daily lives and also those awful demonstrations , ” she said .
“ Germany decided too late on this total lockdown .
We could have had a Christmas with fewer victims and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now we are trying to [ fix ] what we didn ’ t in October and November .
”

Eros Banaj - Special to The Washington Times

BERLIN — Some raced to pick up toilet paper. Others hurried to grab Yuletide gifts and sip a last warm mulled wine at Germany‘s famed Christmas markets — those that were still open. Some simply tried to get haircuts before service businesses were forced to close — again.
“I didn’t make it in time,” said Katrine, 51, in Berlin, who wanted a color and trim. “[My hairdresser] was slammed. I guess I’ll just have to go into the new year gray.”
Across Germany last week, streets went quiet and nonessential stores and schools closed their doors as part of a hard lockdown in the face of a raging national health emergency. Nonessential travel and shopping, and standing around outdoor tables with friends, sipping the traditional mulled wine known as gluehwein, joined eat-in dining, working out and seeing a movie as activities on the government’s verboten list.
The Hofbrau Berlin, the city’s biggest restaurant, started serving as a homeless center after its dining operations were shuttered.
The crackdown mandated by the government of longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel was needed because the “lockdown lite” that went into effect in early November, when all stores and schools were allowed to remain open, didn’t work. In a country that just months ago won global praise for its initial success in combating COVID-19, transmission rates have risen to some of the highest in the world. Germany now ranks in the top 20 of total infections worldwide.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Germany spiked from 21 in November to 179 per 100,000 people last week, according to the Robert Koch Institute, the country’s national agency for disease control. That is more than three times the number — 50 — that the agency considers acceptable.
Meanwhile, the daily infection rate hit 30,000 last week — up from the high of 7,000 this spring. Daily virus-related fatalities hit a record 952 on Wednesday in the country of 83 million.
Newspaper headlines talk of a grim winter ahead. Bild, the country’s bestselling newspaper, wrote recently, “The bitter truth is that Germany has to close not solely because of corona but also because of the political handling of corona.”
President Trump, whose administration’s virus response was compared unfavorably with Germany‘s in the spring and summer could not resist a little schadenfreude on Twitter.
Germany “has consistently been used by my obnoxious critics as the country that we should follow on the way to handle the China Virus,” Mr. Trump tweeted Dec. 9. “So much for that argument.”
Ms. Merkel, who has faced persistent populist opposition to the hard lockdown by some of the country’s 16 states, begged German lawmakers to support the restrictions. She acknowledged that November’s lighter measures didn’t work. Close to tears in a Dec. 9 address to parliament, she pleaded with Germans to be more careful.
“As hard as it is — and I know how much love has gone into setting up these mulled wine stands — this is not the same as agreeing only to do takeout,” she said. “I am really sorry, from the bottom of my heart … but the price of 590 deaths a day is not acceptable.”
Backsliding
Germany, along with Asian countries such as South Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan, was once held up as a model of how countries should deal with the rapidly spreading coronavirus. In the spring, as the U.S. endured a first deadly surge of COVID-19, Germany‘s death rate was among the lowest in the world.
Unlike some European peers, German hospitals never reached close to capacity in treating patient loads, and the country’s testing and contact tracing systems were touted as some of the best in the world.
“A lot of people saw the low death rates and became too complacent,” said Stefan, 53, who works in corporate sales in Frankfurt and raced to see his mother in Bavaria last weekend because they wouldn’t be able to spend Christmas together. “People got too casual, and now we have to pay for it.
“And I know many people planning to defy this lockdown,” he said.
Many Germans interviewed noted how casual people became about masks and distancing after the spring’s tough measure were eased. In Berlin this fall, outdoor cafe tables were often full, rarely spaced 6 feet apart and, unlike in France, hardly anyone donned a mask while walking in the streets. Inside restaurants, bars and homes, people ate, drank and socialized together as usual.
Germany‘s federal system, and the premium it places on building a careful consensus between the government in Berlin and the states, is also coming under criticism. Many say it is hampering efforts to move more quickly and decisively.
Many officials now say urgent measures are needed to keep Germany from falling behind its neighbors.
“We need to be careful that Germany doesn’t become the problem child of Europe,” said Markus Soeder, governor of the state of Bavaria.
That means Christmas will be a sad affair. The government has placed a ban on singing in churches even as religious services are allowed — with masks and distancing. Gathering with family or friends is restricted to five people, except for children and on Christmas.
And New Year’s Eve? That crazy free-for-all in Berlin and other cities when fireworks are set off in all directions to turn streets into giant party zones? Nein — not this year. There is a ban on public outdoor gatherings and the sale of fireworks. Some states have imposed curfews.
Although most Germans accept the restrictions, businesses fret that the damage could be lasting.
The commercial restrictions and sales bans imposed this month “will hit the industry hard. The entire industry is now threatened with insolvency,” Thomas Schreiber, chairman of the board of the Association of the Pyrotechnic Industry, told German daily Die Zeit.
The German Retail Association is predicting a wave of bankruptcies and warning that governmental aid to businesses hasn’t been enough, especially when stores are forced to shut down during their busiest season.
The situation is dire for restaurants and bars, which have been limited to offering takeout for about half the year. Some are getting creative with deliveries and crowdfunding campaigns to survive. Most are just hoping to hang on until next summer, when the vaccinations are well underway and the rates of infection are down.
“After the first lockdown, we managed to come back to our ‘before-corona income,’ but with the arrival of autumn and the shorter and cooler days, the business dropped to less than 50% because we had to reduce the amount of people we could serve inside,” said Anastasia Schoeck-Bochenski who owns a bar in Berlin. “We definitely cannot talk about any profit here. We can only minimize the losses.”
Support and protests
The lockdown is supposed to last until Jan. 10, but it will be extended if the caseload remains high.
Most Germans support the restrictions. A YouGov poll released last week found that 73%, including more than half of supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, favor the tougher lockdown measures. The party has been vocal against restrictions.
Many of the 20% who oppose harsher measures have been on the streets for months demonstrating against masks and other measures. During protests in Frankfurt and other cities this weekend, business owners said the unrest was hurting holiday sales further because people stayed away from city centers.
“I’ve spent pretty much every weekend since April at a demonstration,” Malin S. said in a post on Twitter. “I never wear a mask, ever. I hug my friends like I always have. And I’ve never had the virus. How do supporters of the measures explain this phenomenon?”
Some bright spots have emerged in the gloom. Locals point with pride to the work of BioNTech, a once-obscure German research firm that partnered with American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on one of the first coronavirus vaccines to hit the market.
Adding to the frustration, though, is the use of the vaccine in the U.K. and U.S. while Germany awaits approval from European Union regulators.
In the eastern state of Saxony, which has become a hot bed of protests, the rates of infection are higher than anywhere else in the country. Hospital officials are begging people to be careful because they are running out of capacity to treat patients.
Ms. Schoeck-Bochenski, meanwhile, said those who are protesting or failing to be careful are just making it worse for everyone else.
“To be honest, for me the ‘lockdown lite’ felt like an unfair and incomplete solution — especially considering how people have been behaving in their daily lives and also those awful demonstrations,” she said.
“Germany decided too late on this total lockdown. We could have had a Christmas with fewer victims and fatalities,” she said. “Now we are trying to [fix] what we didn’t in October and November.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-20--Steve Daines: COVID-19 vaccine 'early Christmas present' for Americans

The first boxes of Moderna ’ s coronavirus vaccine will arrive in states on Monday , boosting the initial supply of pandemic-fighting shots by 6 million in the coming week after health care workers , Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress received the first wave of Pfizer doses .
No one ’ s happier about it than Sen. Steve Daines .
Back in March , as the coronavirus hit and Congress scrambled to cut checks to struggling Americans , the Montana Republican was looking months down the road .
What if the virus didn ’ t go away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only way out was through a vaccine ?
After a 13-year career at Procter & Gamble , Mr. Daines knew that companies weren ’ t going to spend big on a product that might not get approved by the Food and Drug Administration .
He said he asked Sen. Roy Blunt , who oversees health on the Senate Appropriations Committee , for $ 10 billion to help companies develop vaccines and start making doses before regulators weighed in .
“ That was a pretty big ask at the time , ” Mr. Daines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed the pandemic was going to end by the summer .
But many feared a second wave , including myself , and that ’ s what we ’ ve seen.
” Mr. Daines ‘ request made it into the $ 2 trillion CARES Act .
Now , the senator believes the pandemic will start to wind down within six months .
Without early manufacturing , he believes the world wouldn ’ t have seen the first vaccines until mid-2021 .
The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna ’ s vaccine late Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its shots .
“ It ’ s remarkable , nobody thought we would have an approved vaccine and see Americans vaccinated by the end of the calendar year , ” Mr. Daines said .
“ I view this as an early Christmas present that we were able to give to the American people.
” Like Pfizer , which worked with German company BioNTech , scientists at Moderna used groundbreaking “ messenger RNA ” technology to teach the body how to fight the trademark spike protein of the coronavirus .
The Pfizer vaccine requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patients who receive the Moderna vaccine should return for the second dose 28 days later .
Army Gen. Gustave Perna , a key member of President Trump ’ s “ Operation Warp Speed , ” said Moderna deliveries will ship through the week as they continue to allocate Pfizer ’ s vaccines alongside them .
Pfizer didn ’ t accept federal money for the development of its vaccine but the Trump administration spent nearly $ 2 billion to secure early doses .
Moderna , a smaller company , did accept federal help and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists on its vaccine .
Companies like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson were also boosted by Mr. Daines ‘ push and President Trump ’ s vaccine initiative , Operation Warp Speed .
Mr. Blunt credited Mr. Daines for leveraging his background in manufacturing and business and said simultaneous research and manufacturing was a “ significant step toward vaccines being available for the American public in under one year.
” The shots from Moderna can last in a refrigerator for up to a month .
Pfizer ’ s degrade after five days in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be packed in replenishments of dry ice for up to 15 days if they ’ re not used immediately .
Also , Moderna ’ s trays come in a 100-dose minimum compared to Pfizer ’ s 975 .
Those conditions make Moderna ’ s version a more appealing option for rural areas that need to allocate smaller amounts to far-flung areas , but do not have ultralow freezers and don ’ t want to waste any shots .
Federal officials are trying to boost confidence in the vaccine so the country can build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to break the pandemic .
Mr. Pence and his wife , Karen Pence , received their shots publicly on Friday , while Congress ‘ physician cleared the way for members to receive the shots as part of continuity of government operations .
Adm. Brett Giroir , the federal government ’ s coronavirus “ testing czar , ” on Sunday urged Mr. Trump to get a coronavirus vaccine to foster public trust in the process .
“ I would encourage the president to get a vaccine for his own health and safety and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who follow him so closely , ” Adm. Giroir said on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” The White House has said Mr. Trump is willing to get a vaccine but that he wants to save the initial supplies for frontline workers .
He contracted the virus in October and might have built-in immunity .
President-elect Joseph R. Biden is set to get the vaccine in public on Monday and Vice President-elect Sen. Kamala D. Harris is planning to get one next week .
Adm. Giroir said everyone who wants the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June , though Mr. Biden ’ s pick for surgeon general , Vivek Murthy , told NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press ” it might be closer to “ midsummer ” or “ early fall ” before the vaccine makes its way to the general population .
Mr. Daines , meanwhile , took part in Pfizer ’ s vaccine trial this year after his mother told him about enrollment back home in Bozeman , Montana .
It was a hot spot at the time , and scientists wanted to make sure they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission .
The senator said it was a lot like taking the flu shot .
He ’ s pretty sure he got the real thing , not a placebo , because he tested positive for antibodies later on .
He said the vaccine is clearly effective , including for older adults who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 .
“ Hope is not a strategy , ” he said .
“ A vaccine and widespread adoption of the vaccine is a strategy that ’ s going to end the pandemic .
”

The first boxes of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine will arrive in states on Monday, boosting the initial supply of pandemic-fighting shots by 6 million in the coming week after health care workers, Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress received the first wave of Pfizer doses.
No one’s happier about it than Sen. Steve Daines.
Back in March, as the coronavirus hit and Congress scrambled to cut checks to struggling Americans, the Montana Republican was looking months down the road. What if the virus didn’t go away as it got warmer, and the only way out was through a vaccine?
After a 13-year career at Procter & Gamble, Mr. Daines knew that companies weren’t going to spend big on a product that might not get approved by the Food and Drug Administration. He said he asked Sen. Roy Blunt, who oversees health on the Senate Appropriations Committee, for $10 billion to help companies develop vaccines and start making doses before regulators weighed in.
“That was a pretty big ask at the time,” Mr. Daines told The Washington Times. “Many believed the pandemic was going to end by the summer. But many feared a second wave, including myself, and that’s what we’ve seen.”
Mr. Daines’ request made it into the $2 trillion CARES Act.
Now, the senator believes the pandemic will start to wind down within six months. Without early manufacturing, he believes the world wouldn’t have seen the first vaccines until mid-2021.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna’s vaccine late Friday, one week after Pfizer won approval for its shots.
“It’s remarkable, nobody thought we would have an approved vaccine and see Americans vaccinated by the end of the calendar year,” Mr. Daines said. “I view this as an early Christmas present that we were able to give to the American people.”
Like Pfizer, which worked with German company BioNTech, scientists at Moderna used groundbreaking “messenger RNA” technology to teach the body how to fight the trademark spike protein of the coronavirus.
The Pfizer vaccine requires a booster shot 21 days later. Patients who receive the Moderna vaccine should return for the second dose 28 days later.
Army Gen. Gustave Perna, a key member of President Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed,” said Moderna deliveries will ship through the week as they continue to allocate Pfizer’s vaccines alongside them.
Pfizer didn’t accept federal money for the development of its vaccine but the Trump administration spent nearly $2 billion to secure early doses.
Moderna, a smaller company, did accept federal help and worked with the National Institutes of Health scientists on its vaccine. Companies like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson were also boosted by Mr. Daines’ push and President Trump’s vaccine initiative, Operation Warp Speed.
Mr. Blunt credited Mr. Daines for leveraging his background in manufacturing and business and said simultaneous research and manufacturing was a “significant step toward vaccines being available for the American public in under one year.”
The shots from Moderna can last in a refrigerator for up to a month. Pfizer’s degrade after five days in a normal fridge, so they need to be packed in replenishments of dry ice for up to 15 days if they’re not used immediately.
Also, Moderna’s trays come in a 100-dose minimum compared to Pfizer’s 975. Those conditions make Moderna’s version a more appealing option for rural areas that need to allocate smaller amounts to far-flung areas, but do not have ultralow freezers and don’t want to waste any shots.
Federal officials are trying to boost confidence in the vaccine so the country can build up the type of widespread immunity needed to break the pandemic.
Mr. Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, received their shots publicly on Friday, while Congress’ physician cleared the way for members to receive the shots as part of continuity of government operations.
Adm. Brett Giroir, the federal government’s coronavirus “testing czar,” on Sunday urged Mr. Trump to get a coronavirus vaccine to foster public trust in the process.
“I would encourage the president to get a vaccine for his own health and safety and also to generate more confidence among the people who follow him so closely,” Adm. Giroir said on ABC’s “This Week.”
The White House has said Mr. Trump is willing to get a vaccine but that he wants to save the initial supplies for frontline workers. He contracted the virus in October and might have built-in immunity.
President-elect Joseph R. Biden is set to get the vaccine in public on Monday and Vice President-elect Sen. Kamala D. Harris is planning to get one next week.
Adm. Giroir said everyone who wants the vaccine should be able to get one by June, though Mr. Biden’s pick for surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” it might be closer to “midsummer” or “early fall” before the vaccine makes its way to the general population.
Mr. Daines, meanwhile, took part in Pfizer’s vaccine trial this year after his mother told him about enrollment back home in Bozeman, Montana.
It was a hot spot at the time, and scientists wanted to make sure they were testing the vaccine in places with transmission.
The senator said it was a lot like taking the flu shot. He’s pretty sure he got the real thing, not a placebo, because he tested positive for antibodies later on. He said the vaccine is clearly effective, including for older adults who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.
“Hope is not a strategy,” he said. “A vaccine and widespread adoption of the vaccine is a strategy that’s going to end the pandemic.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com. • David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-20--AP source: Canada joins bans on flights from Britain in a bid to block a new strain of coronavirus

TORONTO ( AP ) - AP source : Canada joins bans on flights from Britain in a bid to block @ @ @ @ @ .

TORONTO (AP) - AP source: Canada joins bans on flights from Britain in a bid to block a new strain of coronavirus.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-12-20--Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act could delist some Chinese companies from U.S. markets

President Trump has signed into law a new measure designed to force Chinese companies linked to the military out of U.S. capital markets in a measure opposed by some in the administration who favor close business ties with Beijing .
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act prevents securities of foreign companies from being listed on any U.S. exchange if the firms fail to comply with federal Public Accounting Oversight Board ( PAOB ) audits .
The companies must also prove to the board they are not owned or controlled by foreign government , something most Chinese companies are unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the board can not audit reports from Chinese companies , the companies must be delisted from capital markets .
Chinese companies have refused to provide audit reports in the past , claiming their audits are conducted by non-U.S. public accounting firms and can not be shared with American regulators .
Administration officials familiar with the legislation said several senior officials opposed the new law and urged Mr. Trump to veto the bill , arguing that keeping Chinese companies inside U.S. markets could prevent them from investing in other foreign markets .
One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin , a former Goldman Sachs investment banker .
Two officials said Mr. Mnuchin has been a frequent critic of Mr. Trump ’ s hardline policies toward China and in the past has sought to soften new policies toward Beijing over concerns they would upset trade and financial relations .
A Treasury spokesman did not respond to an email request for comment .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , a leader behind many of the administration ’ s tougher approaches to China , said he and Mr. Mnuchin are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no clash between Secretary [ Mnuchin ] and me , ” he tweeted .
“ We are simply working to resolve interagency mechanics of an important executive order.
” The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the two Cabinet secretaries clashed over a recent executive order that blocked Americans from investing in Chinese companies tied to Beijing ’ s military .
The new law is the latest step by the Trump administration designed to prevent China from exploiting U.S. capital markets for building up its military .
Mr. Trump in November signed an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding shares in companies linked to the Chinese military .
The law applies to all companies but mentions Chinese companies in particular that would be restricted under its provision .
A senior State Department official said the law was the result of a whole-of-government approach to shady accounting practices by Chinese companies .
“ This act is long overdue , ” the official said .
“ The Trump administration should be given credit for fighting vested interests in American society that are addicted to the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) financial sugar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been making money by skirting standard international accounting practices and creating false records .
“ They have basically cheated for years , ” the official said .
Passage of the law followed a high-profile accounting scandal in April involving China ’ s Luckin Coffee , a Starbucks competitor , that admitted to reporting $ 310 million in fabricated sales .
The company was forced to leave the Nasdaq Stock Market in June .
The legislation passed with rare bipartisan support in both the House and Senate earlier this month .
Its main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisiana Republican , and Chris Van Hollen , Maryland Democrat .
“ This law will protect American retail investors and pensioners from risky investments in fraudulent , opaque Chinese companies that are listed on U.S. exchanges and trade on over-the-counter markets , ” said Sen. Marco Rubio , Florida Republican and a key proponent of restricting Chinese access to U.S. capital markets .
“ I was proud to work with Sen. Kennedy on this important legislation that sends a strong message to the Chinese Communist Party : if Chinese companies want access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with American laws and regulations for financial transparency and accountability , ” Mr. Rubio told The Washington Times .
A State Department fact sheet made public earlier this month stated that U.S. investors were funding malign Chinese companies on major indices , such as the Morgan Stanley Capital International ( MSCI ) , a major stock market index , and the Financial Times Stock Exchange Group , known as FTSE .
“ The money flowing into these index funds — often passively , by U.S. retail investors — supports Chinese companies involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State Department said Some of the Chinese companies on the indices produce technology in China that has been used in repression of ethnic Uighurs , where over 1 million people have been put in concentration camps .
The companies also are providing surveillance gear to repressive regimes such as Iran and Venezuela .
The State Department fact sheet identifies over 70 companies or subsidiaries listed on five difference MSCI and FSE indices that are involved in Chinese military activities .
Also , 22 of the 31 companies identified by the Pentagon as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are invested in U.S. financial markets .
Thirteen Chinese companies are listed on the Commerce Department ’ s Entities List that is designed to block exports of U.S. goods deemed valuable for military programs .
The companies include major Chinese military contractors , telecommunications firms and high-technology companies .
According to the State Department , Chinese stocks directly affect pension funds of American workers and retirees .
“ Some of the Chinese companies [ on MSCI Index ] present significant national security and humanitarian concerns for the United States which increases the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , public protests , trade restrictions , boycotts , and other punitive measures that jeopardize their business and profitability , ” White House National Security Adviser Robert C. O ’ Brien and National Economic Council Chairman Lawrence Kudlow stated in May .
Former White House National Security Council official Roger W. Robinson Jr. , was among the first experts to identify how China was using U.S. capital markets to finance military projects .
Mr. Robinson believes Chinese investment in U.S. capital markets is a stalking horse for China ’ s stealth financial warfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. policy toward China .
If Americans ’ pension funds and other investment portfolios became filled with Chinese securities , scores of millions of Americans would have a vested financial interest in lobbying to thwart U.S. sanctions or penalties on Beijing for fear that their retirement accounts and other investments would lose value .
“ This unanimously passed legislation is a historic achievement as it is the first investor protection bill of its kind directed at America ’ s foremost adversary , ” said Mr. Robinson , president of RWR Advisory Group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Chinese companies were given three full years to comply with PAOB audits after almost 20 years of not doing so — and receiving completely unjustified preferential treatment over American firms as a consequence.
” Mr. Robinson first disclosed that in 2018 , China Shipbuilding announced plans to build the Chinese navy ’ s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier .
Shortly after the announcement , China Shipbuilding issued a $ 1 billion bond in the German bond market in Frankfurt , part of efforts to fund the naval construction .

President Trump has signed into law a new measure designed to force Chinese companies linked to the military out of U.S. capital markets in a measure opposed by some in the administration who favor close business ties with Beijing.
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act prevents securities of foreign companies from being listed on any U.S. exchange if the firms fail to comply with federal Public Accounting Oversight Board (PAOB) audits. The companies must also prove to the board they are not owned or controlled by foreign government, something most Chinese companies are unable to do.
Under the law, if the board cannot audit reports from Chinese companies, the companies must be delisted from capital markets.
Chinese companies have refused to provide audit reports in the past, claiming their audits are conducted by non-U.S. public accounting firms and cannot be shared with American regulators.
Administration officials familiar with the legislation said several senior officials opposed the new law and urged Mr. Trump to veto the bill, arguing that keeping Chinese companies inside U.S. markets could prevent them from investing in other foreign markets.
One of those who opposed enacting the legislation was Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker.
Two officials said Mr. Mnuchin has been a frequent critic of Mr. Trump’s hardline policies toward China and in the past has sought to soften new policies toward Beijing over concerns they would upset trade and financial relations.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Mnuchin disputed the officials’ account.
“He never opposed the bill,” said Monica Crowley, assistant Treasury secretary for public affairs.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a leader behind many of the administration’s tougher approaches to China, said he and Mr. Mnuchin are not at odds.
“There is no clash between Secretary [Mnuchin] and me,” he tweeted. “We are simply working to resolve interagency mechanics of an important executive order.”
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the two Cabinet secretaries clashed over a recent executive order that blocked Americans from investing in Chinese companies tied to Beijing’s military.
The new law is the latest step by the Trump administration designed to prevent China from exploiting U.S. capital markets for building up its military. Mr. Trump in November signed an executive order the blocks U.S. investors from holding shares in companies linked to the Chinese military.
The law applies to all companies but mentions Chinese companies in particular that would be restricted under its provision.
A senior State Department official said the law was the result of a whole-of-government approach to shady accounting practices by Chinese companies.
“This act is long overdue,” the official said. “The Trump administration should be given credit for fighting vested interests in American society that are addicted to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) financial sugar high.”
The official said the CCP has been making money by skirting standard international accounting practices and creating false records. “They have basically cheated for years,” the official said.
Passage of the law followed a high-profile accounting scandal in April involving China’s Luckin Coffee, a Starbucks competitor, that admitted to reporting $310 million in fabricated sales.
The company was forced to leave the Nasdaq Stock Market in June.
The legislation passed with rare bipartisan support in both the House and Senate earlier this month. Its main sponsors were Sens. John Kennedy, Louisiana Republican, and Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Democrat.
“This law will protect American retail investors and pensioners from risky investments in fraudulent, opaque Chinese companies that are listed on U.S. exchanges and trade on over-the-counter markets,” said Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican and a key proponent of restricting Chinese access to U.S. capital markets.
“I was proud to work with Sen. Kennedy on this important legislation that sends a strong message to the Chinese Communist Party: if Chinese companies want access to U.S. capital markets, they must comply with American laws and regulations for financial transparency and accountability,” Mr. Rubio told The Washington Times.
A State Department fact sheet made public earlier this month stated that U.S. investors were funding malign Chinese companies on major indices, such as the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), a major stock market index, and the Financial Times Stock Exchange Group, known as FTSE.
“The money flowing into these index funds — often passively, by U.S. retail investors — supports Chinese companies involved in both civilian and military production,” the State Department said
Some of the Chinese companies on the indices produce technology in China that has been used in repression of ethnic Uighurs, where over 1 million people have been put in concentration camps. The companies also are providing surveillance gear to repressive regimes such as Iran and Venezuela.
The State Department fact sheet identifies over 70 companies or subsidiaries listed on five difference MSCI and FSE indices that are involved in Chinese military activities.
Also, 22 of the 31 companies identified by the Pentagon as part of the Communist Chinese military buildup are invested in U.S. financial markets.
Thirteen Chinese companies are listed on the Commerce Department’s Entities List that is designed to block exports of U.S. goods deemed valuable for military programs. The companies include major Chinese military contractors, telecommunications firms and high-technology companies.
According to the State Department, Chinese stocks directly affect pension funds of American workers and retirees.
“Some of the Chinese companies [on MSCI Index] present significant national security and humanitarian concerns for the United States which increases the risk that they could be subject to sanctions, public protests, trade restrictions, boycotts, and other punitive measures that jeopardize their business and profitability,” White House National Security Adviser Robert C. O’Brien and National Economic Council Chairman Lawrence Kudlow stated in May.
Former White House National Security Council official Roger W. Robinson Jr., was among the first experts to identify how China was using U.S. capital markets to finance military projects.
Mr. Robinson believes Chinese investment in U.S. capital markets is a stalking horse for China’s stealth financial warfare and part of a strategy to compromise U.S. policy toward China.
If Americans’ pension funds and other investment portfolios became filled with Chinese securities, scores of millions of Americans would have a vested financial interest in lobbying to thwart U.S. sanctions or penalties on Beijing for fear that their retirement accounts and other investments would lose value.
“This unanimously passed legislation is a historic achievement as it is the first investor protection bill of its kind directed at America’s foremost adversary,” said Mr. Robinson, president of RWR Advisory Group.
“It’s only a shame that Chinese companies were given three full years to comply with PAOB audits after almost 20 years of not doing so — and receiving completely unjustified preferential treatment over American firms as a consequence.”
Mr. Robinson first disclosed that in 2018, China Shipbuilding announced plans to build the Chinese navy’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Shortly after the announcement, China Shipbuilding issued a $1 billion bond in the German bond market in Frankfurt, part of efforts to fund the naval construction.
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-20--Ex-Tuskegee Airman Alfred Thomas Farrar dies at age 99

LYNCHBURG , Va. ( AP ) - Alfred Thomas Farrar , a former Tuskegee Airman , died on Thursday in Virginia only days before a ceremony planned to honor his service in the program that famously trained Black military pilots during World War II .
He was 99 .
Farrar ‘ s son , Roy , told The Associated Press on Sunday that his father died at his Lynchburg home .
Alfred Farrar would have turned 100 years old on Dec. 26 .
Farrar left his Lynchburg hometown for Tuskegee , Alabama , after graduating from high school to began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was the next best thing to do , ” Farrar had told The News & Advance in a story that ran last week .
Farrar learned to be a pilot during his time in U.S. Army Air Corps program but didn ’ t fly any combat missions overseas , according to his son .
Roy Farrar said he was proud of his father ’ s service but doesn ’ t remember him having much to say about his time as a Tuskegee Airman .
“ It was just something that he did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time , ” Roy Farrar said .
After his discharge in 1943 , Alfred Farrar studied to be an aerospace engineer and worked as an engineer with the Federal Aviation Administration for four decades .
WFXR-TV reports that the Lynchburg Area Veterans Council plans to honor Farrar and his service during the council ’ s “ troop rally ” on Christmas Day .
“ In spite of tremendous discrimination , these young American men and women served their nation with distinction and opened the door of opportunity for many other Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
Roy Farrar said several planes are expected to fly over a separate memorial ceremony for his father on his birthday this week .

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - Alfred Thomas Farrar, a former Tuskegee Airman, died on Thursday in Virginia only days before a ceremony planned to honor his service in the program that famously trained Black military pilots during World War II. He was 99.
Farrar’s son, Roy, told The Associated Press on Sunday that his father died at his Lynchburg home. Alfred Farrar would have turned 100 years old on Dec. 26.
Farrar left his Lynchburg hometown for Tuskegee, Alabama, after graduating from high school to began his aviation training in 1941.
“It was the next best thing to do,” Farrar had told The News & Advance in a story that ran last week.
Farrar learned to be a pilot during his time in U.S. Army Air Corps program but didn’t fly any combat missions overseas, according to his son.
Roy Farrar said he was proud of his father’s service but doesn’t remember him having much to say about his time as a Tuskegee Airman.
“It was just something that he did at the time, that was needed at the time,” Roy Farrar said.
After his discharge in 1943, Alfred Farrar studied to be an aerospace engineer and worked as an engineer with the Federal Aviation Administration for four decades.
WFXR-TV reports that the Lynchburg Area Veterans Council plans to honor Farrar and his service during the council’s “troop rally” on Christmas Day.
“In spite of tremendous discrimination, these young American men and women served their nation with distinction and opened the door of opportunity for many other Americans,” the council said in a statement.
Roy Farrar said several planes are expected to fly over a separate memorial ceremony for his father on his birthday this week.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--Oil well plan for North Dakota grassland frustrates some

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - A plan that designates where oil wells can be built within the Little Missouri National Grassland is frustrating conservationists , who say it allows wells near roads in certain pristine areas where new roads generally are not allowed to be built .
The plan by the U.S. Forest Service was released earlier this month for the area , which includes a large swath of western North Dakota and includes much of the Badlands .
The plan and an accompanying environmental impact statement apply to land where the federal government owns surface and mineral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for sage grouse , rare plants and bighorn sheep , the Bismarck Tribune reported that one provision of the environmental impact statement allows for oil well pads within a quarter-mile ( 402 meters ) of existing roads in what are known as “ inventoried roadless areas ” where new roads generally can not be built .
“ It obviously got me riled up , and it ’ s gotten a lot of people riled up , ” said Dave Pieper , a former grasslands supervisor who retired in 2011 after a lengthy career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that land , he said , “ is the best of what ’ s left , and there ’ s not much left.
” Grasslands supervisor Bennie South said the plan recognizes the changes in oil and gas development in North Dakota .
“ It ’ s an attempt to try to balance being productive with the resources we have but sustaining those resources and grasslands for the American people so the people can come out and enjoy those lands , ” he said .
Badlands Conservation Alliance members often camp , hunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alliance executive director Elizabeth Loos said members appreciate the remote natural beauty of the area , and being able to get away from oil and gas is important .
Pieper said he ’ s not against oil and gas development overall , but the flaring , odors and traffic can impact a person ’ s experience in the Badlands .
He said : “ It ’ s not a great experience when you ’ re camping and you hear a pump jack all night.
” Loos and Pieper said they are considering legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,752 hectares ) of unleased land where well pads could potentially be built in roadless areas , under the environmental impact statement .
Well pads can ’ t be built outside the quarter-mile zone in those areas , although wells can access minerals through horizontal drilling .
Grasslands spokeswoman Treva Slaughter said the rules outlined in the environmental impact statement were an effort to make sure oil producers “ know right off the bat what the perimeters are.
” Republican Sen. John Hoeven said the plan will help provide certainty for energy producers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good environmental stewardship .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A plan that designates where oil wells can be built within the Little Missouri National Grassland is frustrating conservationists, who say it allows wells near roads in certain pristine areas where new roads generally are not allowed to be built.
The plan by the U.S. Forest Service was released earlier this month for the area, which includes a large swath of western North Dakota and includes much of the Badlands. The plan and an accompanying environmental impact statement apply to land where the federal government owns surface and mineral rights.
While the plan offers protections for sage grouse, rare plants and bighorn sheep, the Bismarck Tribune reported that one provision of the environmental impact statement allows for oil well pads within a quarter-mile (402 meters) of existing roads in what are known as “inventoried roadless areas” where new roads generally cannot be built.
“It obviously got me riled up, and it’s gotten a lot of people riled up,” said Dave Pieper, a former grasslands supervisor who retired in 2011 after a lengthy career in the Forest Service.
Some of that land, he said, “is the best of what’s left, and there’s not much left.”
Grasslands supervisor Bennie South said the plan recognizes the changes in oil and gas development in North Dakota.
“It’s an attempt to try to balance being productive with the resources we have but sustaining those resources and grasslands for the American people so the people can come out and enjoy those lands,” he said.
Badlands Conservation Alliance members often camp, hunt and bird watch in the grassland. Alliance executive director Elizabeth Loos said members appreciate the remote natural beauty of the area, and being able to get away from oil and gas is important.
Pieper said he’s not against oil and gas development overall, but the flaring, odors and traffic can impact a person’s experience in the Badlands. He said: “It’s not a great experience when you’re camping and you hear a pump jack all night.”
Loos and Pieper said they are considering legal action.
There are 6,800 acres (2,752 hectares) of unleased land where well pads could potentially be built in roadless areas, under the environmental impact statement. Well pads can’t be built outside the quarter-mile zone in those areas, although wells can access minerals through horizontal drilling.
Grasslands spokeswoman Treva Slaughter said the rules outlined in the environmental impact statement were an effort to make sure oil producers “know right off the bat what the perimeters are.”
Republican Sen. John Hoeven said the plan will help provide certainty for energy producers, and help expand production along with good environmental stewardship.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--1 dead after fire breaks out at Davenport apartment

DAVENPORT , Iowa ( AP ) - Davenport authorities are trying to determine the cause of a fire that killed @ @ @ @ @ was found Sunday afternoon on the second floor of an apartment building .
The Quad-City @ @ @ @ @ smoke in the main hallway and sprinklers activated in the apartment .
The sprinklers had @ @ @ @ @ which was contained to the apartment .
Firefighters found the victim dead inside the apartment @ @ @ @ @ victim has not been released .

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) - Davenport authorities are trying to determine the cause of a fire that killed one person.
The victim was found Sunday afternoon on the second floor of an apartment building. The Quad-City Times reports that firefighters encountered smoke in the main hallway and sprinklers activated in the apartment. The sprinklers had put out the fire, which was contained to the apartment.
Firefighters found the victim dead inside the apartment. The name of the victim has not been released.


washingtontimes--2020-12-21--Priest injured in early morning fire at church rectory

TOWNSEND , Mass .
( AP ) - A priest was taken to the hosptal with burns suffered in a @ @ @ @ @ in Massachusetts early Monday morning .
The fire at St. John the Evangelist Catholic church @ @ @ @ @ about 2 a.m .
The priest was inside the rectory and heard the smoke detectors @ @ @ @ @ floor , Fire Chief Mark Boynton said .
He used a fire extinguisher to try @ @ @ @ @ and suffered burns to his hands , the chief said .
He was taken to @ @ @ @ @ treated and released .
No name was made public .
Crews from nearby Fitchburg , @ @ @ @ @ the multi-alarm blaze .
The cause remains under investigation , but Boynton said the fire @ @ @ @ @ the first floor .

TOWNSEND, Mass. (AP) - A priest was taken to the hosptal with burns suffered in a fire at a church rectory in Massachusetts early Monday morning.
The fire at St. John the Evangelist Catholic church rectory in Townsend was reported at about 2 a.m.
The priest was inside the three-story building and heard the smoke detectors going off on the first floor, Fire Chief Mark Boynton said.
He used a fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames and suffered burns to his hands, the chief said. He was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released.
St. John Deacon Charles Kelley said the Rev. Jeremy St. Martin was injured and was back on the scene hours later assisting fire investigators, according to The Telegram & Gazette.
“We’re grateful he’s doing well,” Kelley said. “It’s easier to replace a rectory than to replace a pastor.”
Crews from nearby Fitchburg, Pepperell and Ashby responded to the multi-alarm blaze.
The cause remains under investigation, but Boynton said the fire appears to have started on the first floor.


Editorial Roundup: Michigan

Editorial : Allow businesses to prove they can safely reopen Sunday marks the expiration of Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s second partial shutdown of Michigan ’ s economy , and there ’ s no reason to doubt it will be extended again .
The ban on indoor dining and drinking has been in place nearly five weeks in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
Whether it has worked is hard to say , due to the lag in reporting and the daily fluctuations in cases .
What ’ s certain is that it has placed many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme jeopardy .
The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association issued an update this week on the devastation caused by the closures .
Sunday marks the expiration of Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s second partial shutdown of Michigan ’ s economy , and there ’ s no reason to doubt it will be extended again .
“ The pandemic is decimating the hospitality industry in this state to a degree never seen or even imagined , ” Justin Winslow , the organization ’ s head , said in a statement .
” … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached the bottom.
” The hospitality group reports that 5,600 , or 33 % , of state restaurants expect to be out of business in six months and half of hotels say they are in danger of foreclosure .
Those are dire statistics , and behind them are hundreds of thousands of desperate waiters , bartenders , cooks , housekeepers and others who have been thrown out of their jobs .
Operators of businesses hit by the restrictions complain about the unfair nature of the latest shutdown - bars and restaurants can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gyms , stores and hair salons can .
If the mandated closures continue as expected the governor should base them on the safety of individual businesses , rather than by industry .
The risk is not the same across the board .
Many restaurants , for example , have taken extensive measures to make their establishments safer , including installing new ventilation systems and plexiglass dividers to shield customers .
They ’ ve also trained their staffs in protective protocols .
Their diligence and investment should be rewarded .
Local health departments should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars that demonstrate they can operate safely .
This would get at least some of the establishments fully open , and their employees back to work .
These businesses are on the edge of ruin , without any certainty that state or federal assistance will be enough to keep them afloat .
They should be given a chance to prove they can operate safely .
Editorial : School closures right way to go The social interaction kids get in the classroom with their peers is as important to their learning and development as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t learn well in the kind of environment offered by online courses .
And many parents struggle to balance watching their kids at home with the mandates of their job .
We understand all of those concerns , but we still think the Northeast Michigan schools who decided to keep kids learning at home through winter break - including Alpena Public Schools - made the right call .
With the virus still raging in our communities , the risk that schools might bring kids back only to have to send them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just too great .
While health experts say there ’ s little evidence the virus is spreading among students at schools , organized sports and other school-related activities are making people sick .
And the biggest issues schools have faced are staff shortages : With teachers and other employees either infected and quarantining or exposed to an infected person and quarantining , many schools just haven ’ t had enough people to bring kids into the schools .
It ’ s just not worth the risk to try to force normalcy right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep kids home was likely unpopular , but we congratulate area school leaders on making the tough decision .
Their reasoning is sound .
Two months ago , as a second tsunami of COVID-19 swept across his exhausted hometown , Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon confessed to a Free Press interviewer that he just didn ’ t understand Michiganders who bridled at government directives to wear masks and avoid gathering in groups .
A lifetime of public service had convinced him that individuals - and especially elected leaders - must sometimes subordinate their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s welfare .
Napoleon energetically supported restrictions designed to limit the spread of the virus , but his job didn ’ t allow him the luxury of burrowing with his family .
So he took what precautions he could , and accepted the increased risk he and other law enforcement professionals incurred as a corollary of their oath to protect and serve .
The virus that took Napoleon ’ s life Thursday was more subtle and insidious than any fleeing suspect ’ s deadly weapon , but make no mistake : Wayne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line of duty .
But no one should be remembered only for the circumstances of his death , and in Napoleon ’ s case , that would a special injustice .
His 45-year career was distinguished and multifaceted .
He zealously defended the integrity and decency of his fellow police officers , but never shirked his responsibility to hold them accountable , or to be accountable himself .
Free Press News Director Jim Schaefer , who covered the city and its police department as a reporter for more than a decade , remembers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handful of DPD officers who made themselves accessible even when Mayor Coleman Young sought to muzzle the department .
“ Benny was a leader , ” Schaefer explains .
“ Leaders answer questions.
” It was also Napoleon who acknowledged DPD ’ s practice of pressuring reluctant witnesses by conducting mass arrests , a constitutional violation that triggered the wrath of the U.S. Justice Department and , eventually , a costly consent decree .
The admission was in keeping with the sheriff ’ s lifelong habit of candor .
We ’ ll miss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many constituents in extending our sympathies to his family , friends and colleagues , and we hope his successors will live up to the standards he set .

Detroit News. Dec. 17, 2020.
Editorial: Allow businesses to prove they can safely reopen
Sunday marks the expiration of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s second partial shutdown of Michigan’s economy, and there’s no reason to doubt it will be extended again.
The ban on indoor dining and drinking has been in place nearly five weeks in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Whether it has worked is hard to say, due to the lag in reporting and the daily fluctuations in cases.
What’s certain is that it has placed many of the businesses selected for closure in extreme jeopardy.
The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association issued an update this week on the devastation caused by the closures.
Sunday marks the expiration of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s second partial shutdown of Michigan’s economy, and there’s no reason to doubt it will be extended again.
“The pandemic is decimating the hospitality industry in this state to a degree never seen or even imagined,” Justin Winslow, the organization’s head, said in a statement. ”…(W)e have not yet reached the bottom.”
The hospitality group reports that 5,600, or 33%, of state restaurants expect to be out of business in six months and half of hotels say they are in danger of foreclosure.
Those are dire statistics, and behind them are hundreds of thousands of desperate waiters, bartenders, cooks, housekeepers and others who have been thrown out of their jobs.
Operators of businesses hit by the restrictions complain about the unfair nature of the latest shutdown - bars and restaurants can’t open for indoor service, but gyms, stores and hair salons can.
If the mandated closures continue as expected the governor should base them on the safety of individual businesses, rather than by industry. The risk is not the same across the board.
Many restaurants, for example, have taken extensive measures to make their establishments safer, including installing new ventilation systems and plexiglass dividers to shield customers. They’ve also trained their staffs in protective protocols.
Their diligence and investment should be rewarded. Local health departments should be able to certify those restaurants and bars that demonstrate they can operate safely.
This would get at least some of the establishments fully open, and their employees back to work.
These businesses are on the edge of ruin, without any certainty that state or federal assistance will be enough to keep them afloat. They should be given a chance to prove they can operate safely.
___
Alpena News. Dec. 17, 2020.
Editorial: School closures right way to go
The social interaction kids get in the classroom with their peers is as important to their learning and development as arithmetic and biology.
Many kids just don’t learn well in the kind of environment offered by online courses.
And many parents struggle to balance watching their kids at home with the mandates of their job.
We understand all of those concerns, but we still think the Northeast Michigan schools who decided to keep kids learning at home through winter break - including Alpena Public Schools - made the right call.
Kids need consistency. Parents need predictability.
With the virus still raging in our communities, the risk that schools might bring kids back only to have to send them home again because of a virus scare was just too great.
While health experts say there’s little evidence the virus is spreading among students at schools, organized sports and other school-related activities are making people sick. And the biggest issues schools have faced are staff shortages: With teachers and other employees either infected and quarantining or exposed to an infected person and quarantining, many schools just haven’t had enough people to bring kids into the schools.
It’s just not worth the risk to try to force normalcy right now.
School leaders’ decision to keep kids home was likely unpopular, but we congratulate area school leaders on making the tough decision. Their reasoning is sound.
___
Editorial: Detroit Free Press. Dec. 20, 2020.
Napoleon’s legacy: Duty, accountability and candor
Two months ago, as a second tsunami of COVID-19 swept across his exhausted hometown, Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon confessed to a Free Press interviewer that he just didn’t understand Michiganders who bridled at government directives to wear masks and avoid gathering in groups. A lifetime of public service had convinced him that individuals - and especially elected leaders - must sometimes subordinate their own comfort and convenience to the community’s welfare.
Napoleon energetically supported restrictions designed to limit the spread of the virus, but his job didn’t allow him the luxury of burrowing with his family. So he took what precautions he could, and accepted the increased risk he and other law enforcement professionals incurred as a corollary of their oath to protect and serve.
The virus that took Napoleon’s life Thursday was more subtle and insidious than any fleeing suspect’s deadly weapon, but make no mistake: Wayne’s top cop died in the line of duty.
But no one should be remembered only for the circumstances of his death, and in Napoleon’s case, that would a special injustice. His 45-year career was distinguished and multifaceted. He zealously defended the integrity and decency of his fellow police officers, but never shirked his responsibility to hold them accountable, or to be accountable himself.
Free Press News Director Jim Schaefer, who covered the city and its police department as a reporter for more than a decade, remembers then-Inspector Napoleon as one of just a handful of DPD officers who made themselves accessible even when Mayor Coleman Young sought to muzzle the department. “Benny was a leader,” Schaefer explains. “Leaders answer questions.”
It was also Napoleon who acknowledged DPD’s practice of pressuring reluctant witnesses by conducting mass arrests, a constitutional violation that triggered the wrath of the U.S. Justice Department and, eventually, a costly consent decree.
The admission was in keeping with the sheriff’s lifelong habit of candor. We’ll miss that. We join Napoleon’s many constituents in extending our sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues, and we hope his successors will live up to the standards he set.
END