washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Two Conference USA games postponed because of COVID-19

Two Conference USA games scheduled for the weekend , including No .
19 Marshall at Florida International , have been postponed because of COVID-19 issues .
Marshall was scheduled to play Friday night , but FIU had to call off the game because of a lack of available scholarship players .
North Texas at UTEP on Saturday was called off because a surge in COVID-19 cases in El Paso , Texas , has led to a stay-at-home order in the city .
“ We send our best wishes to the entire El Paso community as the face the challenge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Texas President Neal Smatresk said in a statement .
UTEP President Heather Wilson said the school was disappointed with North Texas ’ decision not to come to El Paso .
“ We have a safe place to play and no players who are sick or in isolation , ” Wilson said in a statement .
UTEP had decided to play the game without fans in attendance .
The four schools said they are working with C-USA to reschedule the games .
The number of games involving FBS teams postponed or canceled since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For Marshall ( 5-0 ) , this is the third time this season it has had a game postponed because of an opponent ’ s struggles with COVID-19 .
The Thundering Herd did not play a nonconference game against East Carolina and a conference game against Rice in September .
The is the second game FIU ( 0-3 ) has had to postpone .
A total of seven Conference USA league games have been postponed .
This is the second time in three weeks UTEP has had to call off a home game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 issues with Southern Mississippi .
In between , the Miners played and lost at Charlotte .
“ We are proud of the diligence that our student-athletes , coaches and staff have shown to put us in a position to play every week , ” Wilson said .

Two Conference USA games scheduled for the weekend, including No. 19 Marshall at Florida International, have been postponed because of COVID-19 issues.
Marshall was scheduled to play Friday night, but FIU had to call off the game because of a lack of available scholarship players.
North Texas at UTEP on Saturday was called off because a surge in COVID-19 cases in El Paso, Texas, has led to a stay-at-home order in the city.
“We send our best wishes to the entire El Paso community as the face the challenge of dealing with the latest outbreak,” North Texas President Neal Smatresk said in a statement.
UTEP President Heather Wilson said the school was disappointed with North Texas’ decision not to come to El Paso.
“We have a safe place to play and no players who are sick or in isolation,” Wilson said in a statement.
UTEP had decided to play the game without fans in attendance.
The four schools said they are working with C-USA to reschedule the games.
The number of games involving FBS teams postponed or canceled since Aug. 26 is up to 36.
For Marshall (5-0), this is the third time this season it has had a game postponed because of an opponent’s struggles with COVID-19. The Thundering Herd did not play a nonconference game against East Carolina and a conference game against Rice in September.
The is the second game FIU (0-3) has had to postpone.
A total of seven Conference USA league games have been postponed.
This is the second time in three weeks UTEP has had to call off a home game. The first postponement was because of COVID-19 issues with Southern Mississippi. In between, the Miners played and lost at Charlotte.
“We are proud of the diligence that our student-athletes, coaches and staff have shown to put us in a position to play every week,” Wilson said.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Mexican president pledges to ban outsourcing of jobs

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador proposed Tuesday a blanket ban on sub-contracting or outsourcing of jobs by private companies , saying the practice has been abused to avoid paying employees ’ the benefits they are due by law .
The president said he would send the proposal to congress at a later date , but the plan already drew criticism from business groups that claim the change would further harm Mexico ’ s economy precisely when it is still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic .
Companies in Mexico often contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warehouse duties to temporary agencies or outside firms , to avoid the expense of having to advertise for and hire employees , or to increase their workforce for short periods of time .
Such employees frequently work at a company ’ s facilities , but are paid by another firm .
López Obrador cited abuses Tuesday in calling for the ban , including the case of one outsourcing firm accused of fraud .
The firm “ had listed 200,000 employees , to release companies from the responsibility for paying them properly , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire them in November or December to avoid paying them annual bonuses and then to rehire them in January or February , ” López Obrador said .
“ I am going to write a bill to do away with this mechanism , ” he continued .
“ We have to clean things up , we can not be accomplices to corruption or coverups.
” Mexico ’ s Employers ’ Federation , a business group , said in a statement that it opposed fraudulent uses of outsourcing like the one cited by the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have a grave impact on the already seriously deteriorated ( economic ) situation , and would mean the loss of a considerable number of legitimate and properly paid jobs.
” “ We oppose any legal reform that prohibits labor subcontracting that complies with all legal standards , ” the group said .
While Mexico ’ s minimum wage is a woefully low $ 5.50 per day - well under $ 1 per hour - benefits are proportionally slightly more generous , leaving some companies a financial incentive to avoid them .
Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and retirement plans and annual year-end bonuses and profit-sharing , where applicable .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador proposed Tuesday a blanket ban on sub-contracting or outsourcing of jobs by private companies, saying the practice has been abused to avoid paying employees’ the benefits they are due by law.
The president said he would send the proposal to congress at a later date, but the plan already drew criticism from business groups that claim the change would further harm Mexico’s economy precisely when it is still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Companies in Mexico often contract out jobs like maintenance, cleaning and warehouse duties to temporary agencies or outside firms, to avoid the expense of having to advertise for and hire employees, or to increase their workforce for short periods of time.
Such employees frequently work at a company’s facilities, but are paid by another firm.
López Obrador cited abuses Tuesday in calling for the ban, including the case of one outsourcing firm accused of fraud.
The firm “had listed 200,000 employees, to release companies from the responsibility for paying them properly, to avoid paying them their benefits, to fire them in November or December to avoid paying them annual bonuses and then to rehire them in January or February,” López Obrador said.
“I am going to write a bill to do away with this mechanism,” he continued. “We have to clean things up, we cannot be accomplices to corruption or coverups.”
Mexico’s Employers’ Federation, a business group, said in a statement that it opposed fraudulent uses of outsourcing like the one cited by the president, but said a total ban “would have a grave impact on the already seriously deteriorated (economic) situation, and would mean the loss of a considerable number of legitimate and properly paid jobs.”
“We oppose any legal reform that prohibits labor subcontracting that complies with all legal standards,” the group said.
While Mexico’s minimum wage is a woefully low $5.50 per day - well under $1 per hour - benefits are proportionally slightly more generous, leaving some companies a financial incentive to avoid them. Mexico legally requires companies to pay contributions to health and retirement plans and annual year-end bonuses and profit-sharing, where applicable.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Drones arms race under way as rivals deploy cheap UAVs

The U.S. military radically changed warfare over the past two decades with its pioneering use of armed drones on the battlefield .
That revolution in conflict , however , has sparked an urgent new mission for the Pentagon : to defend against the other guy ’ s drones .
As “ unmanned aerial vehicles ” become exponentially faster , cheaper , more deadly and more widespread around the globe , U.S. military planners are racing to develop a viable defense for suddenly vulnerable troops , tanks and ships .
Analysts and military researchers say nations , along with nonstate hostile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cartels , now grasp the immense strategic value that small drones provide and the inability of most enemies to counter them effectively .
Counterdrone platforms will become especially crucial in the coming decades as China and other rivals invest heavily in terrifying swarm technology that allows dozens or even hundreds of aircraft to harass , disrupt and in some cases destroy traditional military formations .
Through sheer numbers and ability to adjust strategy on the fly , autonomous drone swarms will be modern warfare game-changers that combine unmanned attacking vehicles with artificial intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemy sensors or overwhelm ground forces and disable large combat vehicles by peppering them with small bombs or grenades .
The swarms also will fundamentally change how militaries conduct reconnaissance or search-and-rescue missions by spreading out and providing a much more comprehensive picture of the terrain .
Drones have been credited with altering the balance of power in frozen conflicts such as the standoffs between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists or between Azerbaijan and Armenia , a clash that military strategists are studying intensely .
Defeating swarms is a central piece of a high-priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planners with an Army-led joint counter small unmanned aerial systems office early next month will release the first militarywide blueprint to fight back .
The counter-unmanned aerial systems ( C-UAS ) strategy is expected to offer a smorgasbord of solutions , including traditional anti-aircraft tactics and electronic attacks that can disrupt the links between drones and their operators .
They will also give a nod to even more cutting-edge ideas such as the use of artificial intelligence to help predict how a single attack drone or swarm is likely to behave and develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. military and its allies can ’ t solve the challenge with one stand-alone strategy and that the Pentagon and its private-industry partners must prepare for a long , grueling transition period as drones remake the face of modern warfare .
“ I think we have been in , and will be in , an arms race for some time .
As C-UAS improves , drone operators — at least the bad actors — will find ways to defeat current technologies , ” said Michael Blades , vice president of aerospace , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan .
“ At this point , speed kills .
A lot of the C-UAS solutions out there are limited on detection range , so a fast drone , by the time it gets detected , may already be too close to mitigate , ” he said .
Indeed , the speed of modern drones has proved difficult to counter with most traditional anti-aircraft methods .
The ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has offered a window into the effectiveness of small armed drones .
Each side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formations from attacks using relatively inexpensive drones .
Small drones also became favorite tools of the Islamic State group during fighting in Syria and Iraq , where they often confounded fighters who tried to hit the aircraft with guns , rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other familiar weapons .
In some cases , militaries have resorted to using major systems such as Patriot surface-to-air missiles .
In July 2018 , the Israeli military launched a Patriot missile to take out a Syrian drone that had crossed into its airspace .
Although the Patriot successfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that such tactics simply won ’ t work against swarms of small drones .
In addition to the frustrating logistical difficulty of trying to hit relatively tiny drones with huge missiles , employing Patriots also means a military could spend millions of dollars to take out aircraft that can be assembled for , at most , a few thousand dollars .
Analysts say many militaries have failed to invest in the numerous layers of defensive capability that could allow for counterstrikes against new tools such as small drones , which over time will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tanks , troop formations and other land forces .
“ Because we have not been facing enemies that can field those layers of capability , we have not invested in a lot of those layers , ” said Jack Watling , research fellow in land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies in London .
“ We ’ ve said , ‘ Well , against the threats we currently face we can prioritize our investment in the bit that gives us maximum utility today.
’ ” The result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our defense systems are very mini-max : It ’ s Patriot or nothing.
” Most modern militaries are well-schooled at targeting larger drones .
Iran ’ s armed forces , which often rely on old , substandard equipment because of a struggling economy and decadelong international arms embargo , last year shot down a U.S. RQ-4A Global Hawk drone , which is 44 feet long with a wingspan of 116 feet .
It was a key step in a series of events that nearly brought the U.S. and Iran to war , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even vaunted American drones are vulnerable to inferior enemies .
The U.S. surely will continue relying on the Global Hawk , Predator and other large drones , but military leaders and specialists say the smaller , less-expensive drones pose the biggest problems for strategists .
Such aircraft can be used for reconnaissance , resupply or other missions while flying undetected or avoiding attempts to shoot them down .
Perhaps the most ominous threat is the drone swarm .
Remote operators already can theoretically control an entire squadron of small drones , making it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target all of them with large traditional weapons .
In the future , no enemy operator will be needed as multiple drones link together and act like a swarm of insects that can make decisions in real time .
That capability has become a top priority for Beijing .
“ China also appears to be betting that swarms of low-tech drones , linked with high-tech artificial intelligence , will become the weapon of choice in future conflicts and capable of countering any military force , including that of the United States , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study published by the National Defense University .
“ China ’ s level of effort in developing UAS suggests the importance and relevance it perceives the technology holds for potential future conflict.
” “ Russia ’ s operational employment of drones in Ukraine , Iran ’ s proliferation of drone technologies , China ’ s emphasis on developing full-spectrum drone capabilities , and the evolution of drone use by nonstate actors show that Army planners must anticipate extensive UAS employment in future conflicts , ” they wrote .
Indeed , Iran used drones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on key Saudi oil facilities .
Those drones , while highly effective , were of the more traditional variety .
The use of AI in conjunction with small drones will result in even scarier , more dangerous scenarios .
Among other capabilities , AI could allow drone swarms to fly in a way that avoids radar and to organize themselves to fit through small chokepoints , meaning they will be able to defeat at least some traditional military strategies .
For military leaders , the development of AI-operated drone swarms serves as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can shift and how war planners need flexible solutions that can adapt .
“ The threat is evolving , ” said Maj. Gen. Sean A. Gainey , head of the Army-led joint counter-drone initiative .
In comments to the Army News Service , Gen. Gainey made clear that the proliferation of drones , combined with a shortfall in networked capabilities to counter them , represents a mounting problem that must be addressed .
Given the challenges of shooting at small drones with more conventional weapons , nearly 90 % of the military ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronic warfare systems , officials said .
In most cases , such systems aim to disrupt the communication links between the operator and the device itself , rendering it ineffective .
The looming Pentagon counterdrone strategy likely will focus heavily on such an approach .
Gen. Gainey said Defense Department training efforts must better incorporate counterdrone strategies to train the next generation of service members to deal with the threat .
“ We can start to institutionalize this capability and integrate it with our air and missile defense systems , ” Gen. Gainey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the schoolhouse will help the force understand how to get after this problem .
”

The U.S. military radically changed warfare over the past two decades with its pioneering use of armed drones on the battlefield.
That revolution in conflict, however, has sparked an urgent new mission for the Pentagon: to defend against the other guy’s drones.
As “unmanned aerial vehicles” become exponentially faster, cheaper, more deadly and more widespread around the globe, U.S. military planners are racing to develop a viable defense for suddenly vulnerable troops, tanks and ships.
Analysts and military researchers say nations, along with nonstate hostile actors such as terrorist groups and drug cartels, now grasp the immense strategic value that small drones provide and the inability of most enemies to counter them effectively.
Counterdrone platforms will become especially crucial in the coming decades as China and other rivals invest heavily in terrifying swarm technology that allows dozens or even hundreds of aircraft to harass, disrupt and in some cases destroy traditional military formations.
Through sheer numbers and ability to adjust strategy on the fly, autonomous drone swarms will be modern warfare game-changers that combine unmanned attacking vehicles with artificial intelligence. The drone clusters could effectively overload enemy sensors or overwhelm ground forces and disable large combat vehicles by peppering them with small bombs or grenades. The swarms also will fundamentally change how militaries conduct reconnaissance or search-and-rescue missions by spreading out and providing a much more comprehensive picture of the terrain.
Drones have been credited with altering the balance of power in frozen conflicts such as the standoffs between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists or between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a clash that military strategists are studying intensely.
Defeating swarms is a central piece of a high-priority initiative deep inside the Pentagon, where planners with an Army-led joint counter small unmanned aerial systems office early next month will release the first militarywide blueprint to fight back. The counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) strategy is expected to offer a smorgasbord of solutions, including traditional anti-aircraft tactics and electronic attacks that can disrupt the links between drones and their operators. They will also give a nod to even more cutting-edge ideas such as the use of artificial intelligence to help predict how a single attack drone or swarm is likely to behave and develop a counterattack plan.
But analysts say the U.S. military and its allies can’t solve the challenge with one stand-alone strategy and that the Pentagon and its private-industry partners must prepare for a long, grueling transition period as drones remake the face of modern warfare.
“I think we have been in, and will be in, an arms race for some time. As C-UAS improves, drone operators — at least the bad actors — will find ways to defeat current technologies,” said Michael Blades, vice president of aerospace, defense and security at the leading research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.
“At this point, speed kills. A lot of the C-UAS solutions out there are limited on detection range, so a fast drone, by the time it gets detected, may already be too close to mitigate,” he said.
Hitting the target
Indeed, the speed of modern drones has proved difficult to counter with most traditional anti-aircraft methods. The ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has offered a window into the effectiveness of small armed drones. Each side has sustained huge losses to armored vehicle formations from attacks using relatively inexpensive drones.
Small drones also became favorite tools of the Islamic State group during fighting in Syria and Iraq, where they often confounded fighters who tried to hit the aircraft with guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other familiar weapons.
In some cases, militaries have resorted to using major systems such as Patriot surface-to-air missiles. In July 2018, the Israeli military launched a Patriot missile to take out a Syrian drone that had crossed into its airspace.
Although the Patriot successfully took out the drone, specialists warn that such tactics simply won’t work against swarms of small drones. In addition to the frustrating logistical difficulty of trying to hit relatively tiny drones with huge missiles, employing Patriots also means a military could spend millions of dollars to take out aircraft that can be assembled for, at most, a few thousand dollars.
Analysts say many militaries have failed to invest in the numerous layers of defensive capability that could allow for counterstrikes against new tools such as small drones, which over time will become even more critical in attacks against tanks, troop formations and other land forces.
“Because we have not been facing enemies that can field those layers of capability, we have not invested in a lot of those layers,” said Jack Watling, research fellow in land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies in London. “We’ve said, ‘Well, against the threats we currently face we can prioritize our investment in the bit that gives us maximum utility today.’”
The result, he said, is that “our defense systems are very mini-max: It’s Patriot or nothing.”
Most modern militaries are well-schooled at targeting larger drones. Iran’s armed forces, which often rely on old, substandard equipment because of a struggling economy and decadelong international arms embargo, last year shot down a U.S. RQ-4A Global Hawk drone, which is 44 feet long with a wingspan of 116 feet.
It was a key step in a series of events that nearly brought the U.S. and Iran to war, but it also served as a reminder that even vaunted American drones are vulnerable to inferior enemies.
The U.S. surely will continue relying on the Global Hawk, Predator and other large drones, but military leaders and specialists say the smaller, less-expensive drones pose the biggest problems for strategists. Such aircraft can be used for reconnaissance, resupply or other missions while flying undetected or avoiding attempts to shoot them down.
AI and drones
Perhaps the most ominous threat is the drone swarm. Remote operators already can theoretically control an entire squadron of small drones, making it difficult, incredibly expensive and inefficient to target all of them with large traditional weapons.
In the future, no enemy operator will be needed as multiple drones link together and act like a swarm of insects that can make decisions in real time. That capability has become a top priority for Beijing.
“China also appears to be betting that swarms of low-tech drones, linked with high-tech artificial intelligence, will become the weapon of choice in future conflicts and capable of countering any military force, including that of the United States,” military researchers wrote in a recent counterdrone study published by the National Defense University. “China’s level of effort in developing UAS suggests the importance and relevance it perceives the technology holds for potential future conflict.”
“Russia’s operational employment of drones in Ukraine, Iran’s proliferation of drone technologies, China’s emphasis on developing full-spectrum drone capabilities, and the evolution of drone use by nonstate actors show that Army planners must anticipate extensive UAS employment in future conflicts,” they wrote.
Indeed, Iran used drones last year as part of its strike on key Saudi oil facilities. Those drones, while highly effective, were of the more traditional variety.
The use of AI in conjunction with small drones will result in even scarier, more dangerous scenarios. Among other capabilities, AI could allow drone swarms to fly in a way that avoids radar and to organize themselves to fit through small chokepoints, meaning they will be able to defeat at least some traditional military strategies.
For military leaders, the development of AI-operated drone swarms serves as a stark example of how rapidly the landscape can shift and how war planners need flexible solutions that can adapt.
“The threat is evolving,” said Maj. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, head of the Army-led joint counter-drone initiative. In comments to the Army News Service, Gen. Gainey made clear that the proliferation of drones, combined with a shortfall in networked capabilities to counter them, represents a mounting problem that must be addressed.
Given the challenges of shooting at small drones with more conventional weapons, nearly 90% of the military’s counter-drone options right now center on electronic warfare systems, officials said. In most cases, such systems aim to disrupt the communication links between the operator and the device itself, rendering it ineffective.
The looming Pentagon counterdrone strategy likely will focus heavily on such an approach.
Gen. Gainey said Defense Department training efforts must better incorporate counterdrone strategies to train the next generation of service members to deal with the threat.
“We can start to institutionalize this capability and integrate it with our air and missile defense systems,” Gen. Gainey said. “Having a synergy at the schoolhouse will help the force understand how to get after this problem.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Greg Abbott wins Texas Supreme Court ruling to limit number of ballot drop boxes

Texas ’ s Supreme Court backed Gov .
Greg Abbott Tuesday over his orders limiting counties to one ballot drop box apiece , ruling that he was still offering voters more choices than they usually had under state law .
The justices said there is no constitutional right to cast a ballot specifically by drop box , nor does the size of a county determine whether a voter is being mistreated .
And limiting counties to one box apiece “ plausibly decreases the opportunity for fraud , ” the court ruled .
Under state law , voters usually can only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Abbott , flexing emergency powers , ordered counties to accept ballots for several weeks beforehand this year .
Initially he also allowed multiple ballot boxes but he quickly narrowed his order , saying that for the sake of voter integrity only one box per county would be allowed .
Residents in massive jurisdictions such as Harris County , home to Houston and nearly 5 million people , complained that was unrealistic .
But the justices said Mr. Abbott was within his boundaries .
“ Limiting the number of drop-off locations — while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statutory baseline—was a rational means of achieving the valid goals of ballot integrity , fraud prevention , and voter access , ” the court said .
The ruling overturned lower court decisions that had gone against the governor .
A federal appeals court has also ruled in support of Mr. Abbott .
Both the state Supreme Court and the federal appeals court also backed the governor in another case earlier this year over attempts to expand the state ’ s absentee voting .
Texas is one of a handful of states requiring voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an absentee ballot this year .
Being a senior citizen , disabled , or absent from the state are valid excuses .
Voting-rights groups had argued fear of contracting the coronavirus should count as a disability , allowing any other to cast an absentee ballot .
Lower courts agreed , but the 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals and the state Supreme Court both rejected those arguments , saying they would make a mockery of the state ’ s laws .

Texas’s Supreme Court backed Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday over his orders limiting counties to one ballot drop box apiece, ruling that he was still offering voters more choices than they usually had under state law.
The justices said there is no constitutional right to cast a ballot specifically by drop box, nor does the size of a county determine whether a voter is being mistreated.
And limiting counties to one box apiece “plausibly decreases the opportunity for fraud,” the court ruled.
Under state law, voters usually can only drop off ballots on Election Day. Mr. Abbott, flexing emergency powers, ordered counties to accept ballots for several weeks beforehand this year.
Initially he also allowed multiple ballot boxes but he quickly narrowed his order, saying that for the sake of voter integrity only one box per county would be allowed.
Residents in massive jurisdictions such as Harris County, home to Houston and nearly 5 million people, complained that was unrealistic.
But the justices said Mr. Abbott was within his boundaries.
“Limiting the number of drop-off locations — while still expanding voting options relative to the statutory baseline—was a rational means of achieving the valid goals of ballot integrity, fraud prevention, and voter access,” the court said.
The ruling overturned lower court decisions that had gone against the governor.
A federal appeals court has also ruled in support of Mr. Abbott.
Both the state Supreme Court and the federal appeals court also backed the governor in another case earlier this year over attempts to expand the state’s absentee voting.
Texas is one of a handful of states requiring voters to have a specific reason to request an absentee ballot this year. Being a senior citizen, disabled, or absent from the state are valid excuses.
Voting-rights groups had argued fear of contracting the coronavirus should count as a disability, allowing any other to cast an absentee ballot. Lower courts agreed, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the state Supreme Court both rejected those arguments, saying they would make a mockery of the state’s laws.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Circa opening: 1st new downtown Las Vegas casino in 40 years

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) - Glitter Gulch gives way to the newest and tallest building in downtown Las Vegas when Circa Resort & Casino opens early Wednesday , offering what owner Derek Stevens calls the world ’ s largest sports betting center and a six-pool rooftop swimming stadium he expects will attract thousands of people a day .
Doors open at 12:01 a.m. to adults 21 and older , with facial coverings and temperature scans required due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Circa is the first new property to open downtown since the Sundance in 1980 .
That became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , brother Greg Stevens , bought in 2011 and renamed D Las Vegas .
The brothers also own the Golden Gate , which opened in 1906 .
Circa construction took 20 months .
Stevens declines to say what it cost because it ’ s privately owned .
He said it ’ ll employ about 1,500 people .
The casino is geared for sports fans , while Stadium Swim aims to attract ticket-buying sun-seekers .
The registration area for the 777-room hotel features the restored original neon “ Vegas Vickie ” sign the Stevens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Topless Girls of Glitter Gulch ” property on Fremont Street .
A pedestrian walkway crosses Main Street to an eight-story parking structure with almost 1,000 vehicle spaces that Stevens dubbed Garage Mahal .

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Glitter Gulch gives way to the newest and tallest building in downtown Las Vegas when Circa Resort & Casino opens early Wednesday, offering what owner Derek Stevens calls the world’s largest sports betting center and a six-pool rooftop swimming stadium he expects will attract thousands of people a day.
Doors open at 12:01 a.m. to adults 21 and older, with facial coverings and temperature scans required due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Circa is the first new property to open downtown since the Sundance in 1980. That became Fitzgeralds, which Stevens and Circa co-owner, brother Greg Stevens, bought in 2011 and renamed D Las Vegas. The brothers also own the Golden Gate, which opened in 1906.
Circa construction took 20 months. Stevens declines to say what it cost because it’s privately owned. He said it’ll employ about 1,500 people.
The casino is geared for sports fans, while Stadium Swim aims to attract ticket-buying sun-seekers.
The registration area for the 777-room hotel features the restored original neon “Vegas Vickie” sign the Stevens brothers acquired along with the old “Topless Girls of Glitter Gulch” property on Fremont Street.
A pedestrian walkway crosses Main Street to an eight-story parking structure with almost 1,000 vehicle spaces that Stevens dubbed Garage Mahal.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Electrical fire destroys home, kill 'scores' of cats, dogs

CLAREMONT , N.H. ( AP ) - An electrical fire destroyed a home and killed numerous cats and dogs inside @ @ @ @ @ Claremont , New Hampshire , said .
The Valley News reports Chief Bryan Burr said @ @ @ @ @ home when the fire was reported on Sunday .
Burr said the homeowner , a @ @ @ @ @ the 1 1/2-story , single-family structure .
He was away at the time .
Burr @ @ @ @ @ to save at least three pets , but there were “ scores ” of deceased @ @ @ @ @ Burr said the fire was likely caused by an electric overload .
He also said @ @ @ @ @ have any working smoke detectors .

CLAREMONT, N.H. (AP) - An electrical fire destroyed a home and killed numerous cats and dogs inside, the fire chief in Claremont, New Hampshire, said.
The Valley News reports Chief Bryan Burr said no one was inside the home when the fire was reported on Sunday. Burr said the homeowner, a man, lived alone in the 1 1/2-story, single-family structure. He was away at the time.
Burr said fire crews were able to save at least three pets, but there were “scores” of deceased cats and dogs inside.
Burr said the fire was likely caused by an electric overload. He also said the home didn’t have any working smoke detectors.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Lawsuit: Pipeline could push 2 fish species to extinction

ROANOKE , Va. ( AP ) - Environmental groups have filed a legal challenge against the Mountain Valley Pipeline that says the project could push two endangered species of fish to extinction .
The Roanoke Times reports that the legal challenge was filed Tuesday in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond .
It involves the Roanoke logperch and the candy darter species of fish .
The route of the 300-mile long pipeline would go from northern West Virginia to southwestern Virginia and connect with an existing pipeline in North Carolina .
The coalition of environmental groups also asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent biological opinion from the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service .
The agency had found that construction of the pipeline is not likely to jeopardize protected fish , bats and mussels .
The Sierra Club and other groups contend that the Fish and Wildlife opinion failed to adequately consider how fish would be affected by increased sedimentation caused by the steel pipe crossing streams .
A Mountain Valley spokeswoman said the “ comprehensive ” biological opinion exceeds regulatory requirements and addresses earlier issues raised by the court .
There has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work on the pipeline .
Mountain Valley has said it plans to have the pipeline finished by early next year .

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - Environmental groups have filed a legal challenge against the Mountain Valley Pipeline that says the project could push two endangered species of fish to extinction.
The Roanoke Times reports that the legal challenge was filed Tuesday in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. It involves the Roanoke logperch and the candy darter species of fish.
The route of the 300-mile long pipeline would go from northern West Virginia to southwestern Virginia and connect with an existing pipeline in North Carolina.
The coalition of environmental groups also asked the federal appeals court to review a recent biological opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency had found that construction of the pipeline is not likely to jeopardize protected fish, bats and mussels.
The Sierra Club and other groups contend that the Fish and Wildlife opinion failed to adequately consider how fish would be affected by increased sedimentation caused by the steel pipe crossing streams.
A Mountain Valley spokeswoman said the “comprehensive” biological opinion exceeds regulatory requirements and addresses earlier issues raised by the court.
There has been a string of lawsuits that have long delayed work on the pipeline. Mountain Valley has said it plans to have the pipeline finished by early next year.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--GSK says Q3  earnings fall 14.4% amid COVID-19 disruption

LONDON ( AP ) - Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline says third-quarter earnings fell 14.4 % as disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ antibiotics and consumer healthcare products .
The company said Wednesday that pretax profit dropped to @ @ @ @ @ 2.16 billion ) from 1.95 billion pounds in the same period last year .
Net @ @ @ @ @ 1.24 billion pounds .
Vaccine sales dropped 12 % as a decline in adult wellness @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Shingrix shingles vaccine , the company said .
The pandemic also cut new @ @ @ @ @ and antibiotics , leading to a 7 % decline in pharmaceutical sales .
Sales of @ @ @ @ @ as fewer customers visited pharmacies .
GSK says the “ pandemic has impacted group performance @ @ @ @ @ business , during the first nine months of 2020.
” However , it said that @ @ @ @ @ recovery in vaccination rates , including adult immunization rates in the United States returning to @ @ @ @ @ last month of the quarter .
”

LONDON (AP) - Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline says third-quarter earnings fell 14.4% as disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic reduced sales of vaccines, antibiotics and consumer healthcare products.
The company said Wednesday that pretax profit dropped to 1.67 billion pounds ($2.16 billion) from 1.95 billion pounds in the same period last year. Net income fell 19.8% to 1.24 billion pounds.
Vaccine sales dropped 12% as a decline in adult wellness visits cut demand for GSK’s Shingrix shingles vaccine, the company said. The pandemic also cut new patient prescriptions for allergy medicines and antibiotics, leading to a 7% decline in pharmaceutical sales. Sales of over-the-counter products dropped 4% as fewer customers visited pharmacies.
GSK says the “pandemic has impacted group performance, particularly in the vaccines business, during the first nine months of 2020.”
However, it said that it has seen “a recovery in vaccination rates, including adult immunization rates in the United States returning to prior year levels in the last month of the quarter.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--UK under pressure amid warning hospital cases may triple

LONDON ( AP ) - The British government is under pressure to develop a national strategy to combat a surge of COVID-19 cases and “ rescue Christmas ’ ’ as scientists warn that the number of people hospitalized with the disease in the U.K. could almost triple by the end of next month unless something more is done now .
Mark Walport , a former chief scientific officer , said Britain only needs to look across the English Channel to see what ’ s coming .
Britain ’ s current measures are similar to those in France and Spain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus and daily cases have already far outstripped those in the U.K. “ With our current measures … there ’ s little evidence that there is as much social distancing as there was when we clamped down on the first wave and so we know that the risk is significant that cases will continue to grow , ” Walport told the BBC .
It is “ not unrealistic ’ ’ that 25,000 people in the U.K. could be hospitalized by the end of November - up from about 9,000 now , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second consecutive week , the European region accounted for the biggest proportion of new infections , with more than 1.3 million cases or about 46 % of the worldwide total .
The U.N. health agency also said deaths were also on the rise in Europe , with about a 35 % spike since the previous week , and hospitalizations and ICU occupancy due to COVID-19 increased in 21 countries across Europe .
Walport ’ s assessment came as two opposition parties called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to convene a summit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ develop a coordinated plan for combatting COVID-19 .
Under the U.K. ’ s system of devolved government , Northern Ireland , Scotland and Wales have all developed their own rules to fight the pandemic .
Meanwhile , Johnson has implement a three-tiered regional strategy to applies only in England .
That has a led to a patchwork of regulations that change from one nation to the next , and sometimes from city to city .
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said the four nations must develop a unified strategy to avoid confusion and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats and Northern Ireland ’ s Alliance Party have written to Johnson asking for a summit .
“ I think they need to have some action now … because otherwise , if we don ’ t get the virus back under control , I ’ m afraid there ’ s little chance of being able to rescue Christmas , ” Davey told the BBC .
Britain already has Europe ’ s highest virus death toll , with over 45,400 confirmed deaths .
Follow all of AP ’ s coronavirus pandemic coverage at http @ @ @ @ @ @

LONDON (AP) - The British government is under pressure to develop a national strategy to combat a surge of COVID-19 cases and “rescue Christmas’’ as scientists warn that the number of people hospitalized with the disease in the U.K. could almost triple by the end of next month unless something more is done now.
Mark Walport, a former chief scientific officer, said Britain only needs to look across the English Channel to see what’s coming. Britain’s current measures are similar to those in France and Spain, where authorities are struggling to control the virus and daily cases have already far outstripped those in the U.K.
“With our current measures … there’s little evidence that there is as much social distancing as there was when we clamped down on the first wave and so we know that the risk is significant that cases will continue to grow,” Walport told the BBC.
It is “not unrealistic’’ that 25,000 people in the U.K. could be hospitalized by the end of November - up from about 9,000 now, he said.
According to results from a large, ongoing study into the COVID-19 epidemic in England, scientists estimated that there are about 96,000 new cases every day and that the outbreak is doubling in size every nine days.
“The rate of growth we’re seeing is really quite rapid,” said Steven Riley, a professor of infectious disease dynamics at Imperial College London, one of the leaders of the study funded by the Department of Health.
Riley and colleagues took samples from more than 85,000 people randomly selected across England in late October and found that about one in every 128 people in England is infected with the coronavirus.
They reported that rates were increasing among all age groups, including those most at risk: they noted a tripling of COVID-19 rates in people aged 55 to 64 and a doubling in those over 65.
“Our data shows there’s no reason to expect that exponential rise to change for the next few weeks regardless of what we do,” Riley warned. “New cases will turn into hospitalizations.” He said it was unclear whether recently imposed restrictions in northern England would be enough to stop the spiraling spread of the virus.
Riley said that if politicians were considering more stringent measures, “the (study) results argue for something sooner rather than later,” adding that “something needs to change before Christmas.”
Dr. Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia, who was not connected to the study, said it was “likely that infection rates now are very similar to and maybe even higher than at the peak in April.”
The World Health Organization said for the second consecutive week, the European region accounted for the biggest proportion of new infections, with more than 1.3 million cases or about 46% of the worldwide total. The U.N. health agency also said deaths were also on the rise in Europe, with about a 35% spike since the previous week, and hospitalizations and ICU occupancy due to COVID-19 increased in 21 countries across Europe.
Walport’s assessment came as two opposition parties called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to convene a summit of the U.K.’s four nations to develop a coordinated plan for combatting COVID-19.
Under the U.K.’s system of devolved government, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have all developed their own rules to fight the pandemic. Meanwhile, Johnson has implement a three-tiered regional strategy to applies only in England. That has a led to a patchwork of regulations that change from one nation to the next, and sometimes from city to city.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said the four nations must develop a unified strategy to avoid confusion and deliver a clear message. The Liberal Democrats and Northern Ireland’s Alliance Party have written to Johnson asking for a summit.
“I think they need to have some action now … because otherwise, if we don’t get the virus back under control, I’m afraid there’s little chance of being able to rescue Christmas,” Davey told the BBC.
Britain already has Europe’s highest virus death toll, with over 45,400 confirmed deaths.
—
Follow all of AP’s coronavirus pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Bismarck imposes mask mandate that carries no penalties

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - North Dakota ’ s capital city is imposing a mask mandate as the number of coronavirus cases continues to mount in the state .
The Bismarck City Commission voted 3-2 Tuesday night for the mandate which carries no penalties for violations .
The initial proposal commissioners discussed included fines for businesses who did not enforce the mandate .
But the penalties were removed after some commissioners said they would not vote for a mandate that penalized businesses , the Bismarck Tribune reported .
Bismarck residents must wear a mask while in indoor public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their household if 6 feet ( 1.8 meters ) of distance can not be maintained .
Dozens of residents spoke at the meeting , including several doctors who supported a mask mandate and many people who felt that a mandate would infringe on their constitutional rights and freedoms .
Bismarck joins more than half a dozen other North Dakota cities that have recently implemented mask mandates .
Gov .
Doug Burgum has resisted ordering a statewide mandate and has instead encouraged personal responsibility .
North Dakota has topped more than 200 deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting an additional 15 deaths on Tuesday .
The deaths bring the overall statewide death toll from the virus to 476 .
The sum includes 205 deaths that have occurred so far in October , surpassing the previous monthly high set in September at 123 .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota’s capital city is imposing a mask mandate as the number of coronavirus cases, deaths, and hospitalizations continue to mount in the state.
The Bismarck City Commission voted 3-2 Tuesday night for the mandate which carries no penalties for violations.
The initial proposal commissioners discussed included fines for businesses who did not enforce the mandate. But the penalties were removed after some commissioners said they would not vote for a mandate that penalized businesses, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
Bismarck residents must wear a mask while in indoor public settings and when exposed to people outside their household if 6 feet (1.8 meters) of distance cannot be maintained.
Dozens of residents spoke at the meeting, including several doctors who supported a mask mandate and many people who felt that a mandate would infringe on their constitutional rights and freedoms.
Bismarck joins more than half a dozen other North Dakota cities that have recently implemented mask mandates. Gov. Doug Burgum has resisted ordering a statewide mandate and has instead encouraged personal responsibility.
North Dakota health officials on Wednesday reported 12 hospitalizations in the last day due to the coronavirus, boosting the total number of patients in medical facilities to a record 178.
A dozen new deaths were reported, bringing the statewide death toll from the virus to 488, The sum includes 217 deaths that have occurred so far in October.
The COVID Tracking Project reported that North Dakota has had more than 1,432 new cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks, which leads the nation.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Hurricane Zeta forces Panhandle voting sites to close early

PENSACOLA , Fla. ( AP ) - Early voting locations in several counties in Florida ’ s Panhandle will be closing as Hurricane Zeta approaches the region .
While Hurricane Zeta is expected to make landfall south of New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon , Florida ’ s western Panhandle region is expected to see deteriorating weather conditions throughout day , officials said .
In the Pensacola area - long a Republican stronghold - all 10 early voting locations were closing Wednesday at 3 p.m. and won ’ t reopen until 11 a.m. on Thursday , Escambia County Supervisor of Elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s website .
The voting locations should return to the normal 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. routine on Friday and Saturday , which is the last day for early voting in Florida .
Similar hours have been posted for early voting locations in Santa Rosa County .
In neighboring Okaloosa County , Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux said all early voting locations will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday “ out of an abundance of caution , ” as the storm approaches .
Those voting locations are scheduled to reopen at 9 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of voters in Escambia registered as Republicans , 33 % as Democrats and 20 % had no party affiliation .

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - Early voting locations in several counties in Florida’s Panhandle will be closing as Hurricane Zeta approaches the region.
While Hurricane Zeta is expected to make landfall south of New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon, Florida’s western Panhandle region is expected to see deteriorating weather conditions throughout day, officials said.
In the Pensacola area - long a Republican stronghold - all 10 early voting locations were closing Wednesday at 3 p.m. and won’t reopen until 11 a.m. on Thursday, Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford said on the agency’s website.
The voting locations should return to the normal 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. routine on Friday and Saturday, which is the last day for early voting in Florida.
Similar hours have been posted for early voting locations in Santa Rosa County.
In neighboring Okaloosa County, Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux said all early voting locations will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday “out of an abundance of caution,” as the storm approaches. Those voting locations are scheduled to reopen at 9 a.m. Thursday.
As of September, 44% of voters in Escambia registered as Republicans, 33% as Democrats and 20% had no party affiliation.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Anthem tops 3Q forecasts as it absorbs big expense hit

INDIANAPOLIS ( AP ) - Anthem delivered a better-than-expected third quarter even though a jump in benefit expenses and other costs contributed to an 81 % drop in the health insurer ’ s net income .
The Blue Cross-Blue Shield coverage provider also said Wednesday that it was leaving its 2020 earnings forecast unchanged , as insurers continue to deal with uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Anthem covers more than 42 million people in several states , including big markets like New York and California .
It also runs a pharmacy benefits management business called IngenioRx .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per share in the quarter that ended September 30 .
Operating revenue , which excludes investment gains or losses , climbed 16 % to $ 30.65 billion .
Analysts expected , on average , earnings of $ 4.04 per share on $ 29.81 billion in revenue , according to Zacks Investment Research .
Higher investment income largely drove the better-than-expected performance , Jefferies analyst David Windley said in a research note .
Anthem ’ s net income fell to $ 222 million from $ 1.18 billion in last year ’ s quarter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 % , and selling , general and administrative costs soared 55 % partially due to a litigation settlement and the return of a health insurance tax this year .
Total enrollment was nearly flat compared to June , and the insurer lost 281,000 customers from its commercial and specialty coverages .
But Windley noted that that the decline in Anthem ’ s employer-sponsored group coverage slowed compared to the second quarter , which he called an encouraging trend .
Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc. said it still expects adjusted earnings for 2020 to surpass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full year , analysts expect adjusted earnings of $ 22.46 per share , according to FactSet .
Company shares dropped more than 4 % to $ 285.57 before markets opened Wednesday .
Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights ( http : //automatedinsights.com/ap ) using data from Zacks Investment Research .
Access a Zacks stock report on ANTM at https : //www.zacks.com/ap/ANTM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Anthem delivered a better-than-expected third quarter even though a jump in benefit expenses and other costs contributed to an 81% drop in the health insurer’s net income.
The Blue Cross-Blue Shield coverage provider also said Wednesday that it was leaving its 2020 earnings forecast unchanged, as insurers continue to deal with uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anthem saw its profit double earlier during the second quarter, as the pandemic forced patients to stay home and away from doctor’s offices and surgery centers. But Anthem and its competitors say health care use is starting to rebound, and now it includes the cost of caring for COVID-19 patients.
Health care use not related to COVID-19 largely returned to normal levels in the third quarter, company leaders told analysts Wednesday morning. They expect more costly procedures like joint replacement surgeries to come back faster.
Anthem covers more than 42 million people in several states, including big markets like New York and California. It also runs a pharmacy benefits management business called IngenioRx.
The insurer booked adjusted earnings of $4.20 per share in the quarter that ended Sept. 30. Operating revenue, which excludes investment gains or losses, climbed 16% to $30.65 billion.
Analysts expected, on average, earnings of $4.04 per share on $29.81 billion in revenue, according to Zacks Investment Research.
Higher investment income largely drove the better-than-expected performance, Jefferies analyst David Windley said in a research note.
Anthem’s net income fell to $222 million from $1.18 billion in last year’s quarter. The company’s benefit expense climbed 10%, and selling, general and administrative costs soared 55% partially due to a litigation settlement and the return of a health insurance tax this year.
The insurer also booked $607 million in “business optimization” charges. Spokeswoman Jill Becher said that money went toward modernizing the company’s operations. Anthem added digital technology and artificial intelligence and consolidated system platforms, among other things.
Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc. said it still expects adjusted earnings for 2020 to surpass $22.30 per share.
Analysts forecast, on average, adjusted earnings of $22.46 per share, according to FactSet.
For next year, Anthem still expects adjusted earnings per share to meet its long-term growth goal of 12% to 15%. But Chief Financial Officer John Gallina said results would be skewed toward the lower end of that range due to risks and challenges presented by the pandemic.
Company shares fell nearly 3% to $290.50 late Wednesday morning on another down day for the broader market.
_____
Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ANTM at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ANTM


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--State police seize 14 kilos of fentanyl during traffic stop

FRAMINGHAM , Mass .
( AP ) - Massachusetts State Police seized about 14 kilograms ( 31 pounds ) of @ @ @ @ @ this week , the agency said on social media .
The powerful synthetic opioid was @ @ @ @ @ stop in the northeastern part of the state , according to a t weet from @ @ @ @ @ location was not disclosed .
The stop was conducted by troopers from Troop A , @ @ @ @ @ .
Police also posted a picture of wrapped blocks of the drug and a duffel @ @ @ @ @ a cruiser .
No arrests were announced in conjunction with the seizure of the drugs @ @ @ @ @ , according to police .
No additional information was released .

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (AP) - Massachusetts State Police seized about 14 kilograms (31 pounds) of fentanyl during a traffic stop this week, the agency said on social media.
The powerful synthetic opioid was found Tuesday during a traffic stop in the northeastern part of the state, according to a t weet from the agency. The exact location was not disclosed. The stop was conducted by troopers from Troop A, which is headquartered in Danvers.
Police also posted a picture of wrapped blocks of the drug and a duffel bag on the hood of a cruiser.
No arrests were announced in conjunction with the seizure of the drugs.
The investigation is ongoing, according to police. No additional information was released.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Hundreds of Muslims hold anti-France protest in Bangladesh

DHAKA , Bangladesh ( AP ) - Hundreds of activists from an Islamist political party protested in Bangladesh ’ s capital on Wednesday against the French president ’ s support of secular laws that deem caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad as protected under freedom of speech .
The protesters from the conservative Islami Oikya Jote party carried banners calling President Emmanuel Macron “ the world ’ s biggest terrorist ” and burned and beat an effigy of him .
They also criticized the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina , saying it should condemn Macron and France .
Hasina has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports the introduction of Islamic law in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation , which is governed by a legal system largely based on British common law .
Wednesday ’ s protest at the national Baitul Mokarram Mosque in downtown Dhaka came a day after about 10,000 Muslims from another Islamist group , Islami Andolon Bangladesh , demonstrated in Dhaka to call for a boycott of French products .
Muslim-majority countries across the world have been outraged by Macron ’ s refusal last week to condemn the publication or display of caricatures of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depiction of the prophet is prohibited .
The issue has come to light again in recent days following the gruesome beheading near Paris of a French teacher who showed caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class .
The 18-year-old Chechen refugee who carried out the attack was later shot dead by police .
The teacher , Samuel Paty , has been heralded as a symbol of France ’ s staunch secular ideals and its rejection of religious intrusion in public spheres .
Macron and members of his government have vowed to continue supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expression .
Muslim politicians , religious scholars and everyday people have condemned such depictions as a form of hate speech and view them as sacrilegious and insulting to Islam .
Abul Hasnat Amini , acting chairman of the Islami Oikya Jote , said they would not hesitate to call themselves terrorists if they are so accused for favoring Islam .
“ If speaking for Islam and the prophet is considered terrorism , 90 % of the Muslims in Bangladesh will identify themselves as terrorists .
We are prepared to become terrorists in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muhammad , ” Amini told his supporters .
“ Various Arab countries have boycotted French products , we ask our government to ban all French products in Bangladesh , ” he added .
Bangladesh is governed by a secular constitution but dozens of groups , including Islami Oikya Jote and Islami Andolon Bangladesh , have long demanded the introduction of Islamic Shariah law .

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - Hundreds of activists from an Islamist political party protested in Bangladesh’s capital on Wednesday against the French president’s support of secular laws that deem caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad as protected under freedom of speech.
The protesters from the conservative Islami Oikya Jote party carried banners calling President Emmanuel Macron “the world’s biggest terrorist” and burned and beat an effigy of him.
They also criticized the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying it should condemn Macron and France. Hasina has yet to officially comment.
The party supports the introduction of Islamic law in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation, which is governed by a legal system largely based on British common law.
Wednesday’s protest at the national Baitul Mokarram Mosque in downtown Dhaka came a day after about 10,000 Muslims from another Islamist group, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, demonstrated in Dhaka to call for a boycott of French products.
Muslim-majority countries across the world have been outraged by Macron’s refusal last week to condemn the publication or display of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. In Islam, any depiction of the prophet is prohibited. The issue has come to light again in recent days following the gruesome beheading near Paris of a French teacher who showed caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class. The 18-year-old Chechen refugee who carried out the attack was later shot dead by police.
The teacher, Samuel Paty, has been heralded as a symbol of France’s staunch secular ideals and its rejection of religious intrusion in public spheres. Macron and members of his government have vowed to continue supporting such caricatures as protected under freedom of expression.
Muslim politicians, religious scholars and everyday people have condemned such depictions as a form of hate speech and view them as sacrilegious and insulting to Islam.
Abul Hasnat Amini, acting chairman of the Islami Oikya Jote, said they would not hesitate to call themselves terrorists if they are so accused for favoring Islam.
“If speaking for Islam and the prophet is considered terrorism, 90% of the Muslims in Bangladesh will identify themselves as terrorists. We are prepared to become terrorists in order to protect the honor of our Prophet Muhammad,” Amini told his supporters.
“Various Arab countries have boycotted French products, we ask our government to ban all French products in Bangladesh,” he added.
Bangladesh is governed by a secular constitution but dozens of groups, including Islami Oikya Jote and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, have long demanded the introduction of Islamic Shariah law.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--NC State's canine mascot, Tuffy II, has passed away

The Raleigh News & Observer reports that the wolf-looking , Tamaskan breed of dog died on Tuesday .
During Saturday @ @ @ @ @ , Tuffy II had roamed the sidelines of Carter-Finley Stadium as 60,000 Wolfpack fans cheered @ @ @ @ @ football team .
The school had brought back a live mascot in 2010 .
That @ @ @ @ @ 1970 that N.C. State had a live mascot on the sidelines .
Owner Joe Downey @ @ @ @ @ link after Tuffy II was diagnosed with Canine dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ decreases the ability of the heart to pump blood , which ultimately results in an @ @ @ @ @ ’ s athletics department tweeted that Tuffy II had passed away in his sleep over @ @ @ @ @ are with the Downey family , Tuffy II left a lasting impact on the NC @ @ @ @ @ department said .

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - N.C. State’s canine mascot, Tuffy II, has passed away.
The Raleigh News & Observer reports that the wolf-looking, Tamaskan breed of dog died on Tuesday.
During Saturdays in the fall, Tuffy II had roamed the sidelines of Carter-Finley Stadium as 60,000 Wolfpack fans cheered on the school’s football team.
The school had brought back a live mascot in 2010. That was the first time since 1970 that N.C. State had a live mascot on the sidelines.
Owner Joe Downey had recently posted a GoFundMe link after Tuffy II was diagnosed with Canine dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM. It’s a heart disease that decreases the ability of the heart to pump blood, which ultimately results in an enlarged heart.
The university’s athletics department tweeted that Tuffy II had passed away in his sleep over night.
“Our thoughts are with the Downey family, Tuffy II left a lasting impact on the NC State community,” the department said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--AG's letter halts order for people living in cars to move

OLYMPIA , Wash. ( AP ) - A letter from the Washington state Attorney General ’ s Office has halted the city of Olympia ’ s plans to order a community of vehicle residents to relocate .
More than half of the vehicles had already left the area by Tuesday afternoon , The Olympian reported .
Tuesday was the deadline by which city officials had given vehicle residents to move .
But the letter , dated Monday , said the Attorney General ’ s Office believes the vacate notices are a violation of Gov .
Inslee ’ s eviction moratorium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said they will not , for now , enforce the order .
“ To allow time to evaluate the position taken by the Attorney General ’ s Office in its letter , the city is pausing requiring people to vacate Ensign Road , but is encouraging people to move and is providing assistance to those who choose to do so , ” Assistant City Manager Keith Stahley said in an email to The Olympian .
Multiple complaints were filed about the sweep , the AG ’ s letter notes , including by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eviction moratorium order , which was first issued in March and has been extended and modified , prohibits the serving of notices to vacate by landlords , property owners , and property managers , and prohibits local law enforcement from enforcing such orders .
It was later amended to include “ less traditional dwellings ” where the person has been residing for more than 14 days , and specifically includes RVs and motor homes .

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - A letter from the Washington state Attorney General’s Office has halted the city of Olympia’s plans to order a community of vehicle residents to relocate.
More than half of the vehicles had already left the area by Tuesday afternoon, The Olympian reported.
Tuesday was the deadline by which city officials had given vehicle residents to move. But the letter, dated Monday, said the Attorney General’s Office believes the vacate notices are a violation of Gov. Inslee’s eviction moratorium related to the coronavirus pandemic.
City officials said they will not, for now, enforce the order.
“To allow time to evaluate the position taken by the Attorney General’s Office in its letter, the city is pausing requiring people to vacate Ensign Road, but is encouraging people to move and is providing assistance to those who choose to do so,” Assistant City Manager Keith Stahley said in an email to The Olympian.
Multiple complaints were filed about the sweep, the AG’s letter notes, including by residents themselves.
The governor’s eviction moratorium order, which was first issued in March and has been extended and modified, prohibits the serving of notices to vacate by landlords, property owners, and property managers, and prohibits local law enforcement from enforcing such orders.
It was later amended to include “less traditional dwellings” where the person has been residing for more than 14 days, and specifically includes RVs and motor homes.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Germany, France gear up for new lockdowns as virus surges

BERLIN ( AP ) - Germany and France were bracing for new lockdowns Wednesday , as governments sought to stop the fast-rising tide of coronavirus cases that are beginning to fill European hospitals .
French markets opened lower on expectations that President Emmanuel Macron will announce tough measures during a televised evening address to the nation .
Doctors in France are calling on the government to impose a new nationwide lockdown , noting that more than half of the country ’ s intensive care units are now occupied by COVID-19 patients and medical staff are under increasing strains .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a map representing COVID-cases from the European Centers for Disease Prevention and Control , signifying more than 240 cases per 100,000 people in the past two weeks .
On Tuesday alone , the country had a big spike in the number of daily deaths from COVID-19 , recording an additional 523 deaths and another 33,417 new infections .
Belgium , the Netherlands , most of Spain and the Czech Republic are seeing similarly high rates of infection , while Germany was still colored in orange - indicating that the average number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per 100,000 over the last 14 days .
Still , German Chancellor Angela Merkel was pressing governors of the country ’ s 16 states to quickly agree a partial lockdown Wednesday that could include further restrictions on public gatherings and the closure of bars and restaurants .
The plan has caused anguish in Germany ’ s hospitality industry , with thousands of venue owners staging a protest Wednesday at Berlin ’ s landmark Brandenburg Gate to demand further financial support from the government .
While Germany has fared better than many of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials warn that it , too , is beginning to lose control of the situation .
Economists said further restrictions need to be carefully calibrated to avoid dealing a second severe blow to businesses .
“ A national lockdown , as we have seen in , ravages an economy and would add significant complications to the ongoing economic recovery , ” said Fiona Cincotta , an analyst at online trading firm GAIN Capital .
But Thomas Gitzel , chief economist at Liechtenstein ’ s VP Bank Group , said a temporary lockdown could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in consumer spending as infection levels remain stubbornly high .
“ One doesn ’ t need to be a virologist to conclude that , without further restrictions , the number of new daily infections will likely rise , ” said Gitzel , adding that a short , strict lockdown could be effective .
“ The strict containment measures in March and April laid the ground for an economically successful summer.
” Wales has opted for that short , sharp approach , with a 17-day lockdown in which people can not even drive out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Germany have cited the failure by authorities in the neighboring Czech Republic to maintain their springtime successes against the virus , saying they opened too widely in the summer .
The Czech Health Ministry said the country ’ s day-to-day case increase hit a new record high of 15,663 on Tuesday - as many as Germany , which has eight times the population .
The Czech government has further tightened its regulations , imposing a nationwide curfew between 9 p.m and 6 a.m. that started Wednesday .
It previously limited free movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , made it mandatory to wear face masks indoors and outdoors and banned sport competitions , but the number of infections has continued to rise .
Several demonstrations against the virus restrictions were planned for Wednesday in the capital of Prague .
Even Sweden , which avoided a national lockdown and generally imposed far lighter measures than other European countries , is now urging people to avoid shopping centers and shops and stay away from public transportation .
The World Health Organization said more than 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases were reported last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such an exponential increase .
It said for the second consecutive week , the European region accounted for the biggest proportion of new cases , with more than 1.3 million cases or about 46 % of the worldwide total .
The U.N. health agency said deaths were also on the rise in Europe , with about a 35 % spike since the previous week .
Overall , Europe has seen more than 250,000 virus-related deaths , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
The WHO also noted that hospitalizations and ICU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries across Europe .
Maria Cheng in London and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this report .
Follow all of AP ’ s coronavirus pandemic coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

BERLIN (AP) — Germany and France were bracing for new lockdowns Wednesday, as governments sought to stop the fast-rising tide of coronavirus cases that are beginning to fill European hospitals.
French markets opened lower on expectations that President Emmanuel Macron will announce tough measures during a televised evening address to the nation.
Doctors in France are calling on the government to impose a new nationwide lockdown, noting that more than half of the country’s intensive care units are now occupied by COVID-19 patients and medical staff are under increasing strains.
Most parts of France were colored deep red on a map representing COVID-cases from the European Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, signifying more than 240 cases per 100,000 people in the past two weeks. On Tuesday alone, the country had a big spike in the number of daily deaths from COVID-19, recording an additional 523 deaths and another 33,417 new infections.
Belgium, the Netherlands, most of Spain and the Czech Republic are seeing similarly high rates of infection, while Germany was still colored in orange - indicating that the average number of new cases there is still under 120 per 100,000 over the last 14 days.
Still, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was pressing governors of the country’s 16 states to quickly agree a partial lockdown Wednesday that could include further restrictions on public gatherings and the closure of bars and restaurants.
The plan has caused anguish in Germany’s hospitality industry, with thousands of venue owners staging a protest Wednesday at Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate to demand further financial support from the government.
While Germany has fared better than many of its neighboring European countries during the pandemic, officials warn that it, too, is beginning to lose control of the situation.
Economists said further restrictions need to be carefully calibrated to avoid dealing a second severe blow to businesses.
“A national lockdown, as we have seen in, ravages an economy and would add significant complications to the ongoing economic recovery,” said Fiona Cincotta, an analyst at online trading firm GAIN Capital.
But Thomas Gitzel, chief economist at Liechtenstein’s VP Bank Group, said a temporary lockdown could be less harmful than a prolonged slump in consumer spending as infection levels remain stubbornly high.
“One doesn’t need to be a virologist to conclude that, without further restrictions, the number of new daily infections will likely rise,” said Gitzel, adding that a short, strict lockdown could be effective. “The strict containment measures in March and April laid the ground for an economically successful summer.”
Wales has opted for that short, sharp approach, with a 17-day lockdown in which people cannot even drive out of their region to England.
Officials in Germany have cited the failure by authorities in the neighboring Czech Republic to maintain their springtime successes against the virus, saying they opened too widely in the summer.
The Czech Health Ministry said the country’s day-to-day case increase hit a new record high of 15,663 on Tuesday - as many as Germany, which has eight times the population.
The Czech government has further tightened its regulations, imposing a nationwide curfew between 9 p.m and 6 a.m. that started Wednesday. It previously limited free movement, closed stores, schools and restaurants, made it mandatory to wear face masks indoors and outdoors and banned sport competitions, but the number of infections has continued to rise.
Several demonstrations against the virus restrictions were planned for Wednesday in the capital of Prague.
Even Sweden, which avoided a national lockdown and generally imposed far lighter measures than other European countries, is now urging people to avoid shopping centers and shops and stay away from public transportation.
The World Health Organization said more than 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases were reported last week - the shortest time ever for such an exponential increase.
It said for the second consecutive week, the European region accounted for the biggest proportion of new cases, with more than 1.3 million cases or about 46% of the worldwide total. The U.N. health agency said deaths were also on the rise in Europe, with about a 35% spike since the previous week. Overall, Europe has seen more than 250,000 virus-related deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
The WHO also noted that hospitalizations and ICU occupancy due to COVID-19 increased in 21 countries across Europe.
___
Maria Cheng in London and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Philadelphia stores looted during second night of unrest following police shooting

A second evening of violence broke out in Philadelphia Tuesday night following the police shooting death of a 27-year-old Black man who charged at them with a knife .
Protesters looted and ransacked stores and clashed with police across the city .
The civil unrest started Monday night just hours after the incident .
Local media covering the looting showed scenes of chaos as hundreds of people were videotaped running in and out of businesses in the city ’ s Port Richmond neighborhood .
Foot Locker , Burlington , Target and Dollar General were among the stores that were ransacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the stores with their hands full of merchandise and jumping into cars before the police arrived .
One local media outlet videoed a person carrying what appeared to be a washing machine out of a Walmart .
Some of the stores were boarded up , but the looters broke through .
On Tuesday afternoon , the Pennsylvania governor mobilized the National Guard , but that did little to quell the rioting .
The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management asked residents in certain neighborhoods to stay indoors due to the “ widespread demonstrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The White House issued a statement Wednesday morning calling the riots , “ the most recent consequence of the Liberal Democrats ’ war against the police.
” The administration again offered to deploy federal officers to deal with the unrest .
As of Wednesday morning , there was no word on how many people were arrested .
More than 90 people were arrested Monday night , including 76 arrested for burglary and 11 arrested for assaulting officers .
Police said 30 officers were injured in the unrest Monday night .
On Monday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a call about a man with a weapon in the city ’ s West Philadelphia neighborhood .
Upon arrival , the officers confronted Walter Wallace Jr. , who police say was carrying a knife .
The officers ordered him to drop the knife multiple times .
Wallace did not comply and advanced toward the officers with the knife in hand .
The officers fired at least 14 shots at him , hitting him in the shoulder and chest .
He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital a short time later .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers who shot Wallace , whose names have not been made public .
“ We support and defend these officers as they too are traumatized by being involved in a fatal shooting , ” the union said .
Wallace ’ s parents said Tuesday that they had called for an ambulance to get him help with a mental health crisis , not police intervention .
The parents said officers knew their son was in the grips of a mental health crisis because they had been to the family ’ s house three times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother , said one of the times , “ they stood there and laughed at us.
” The Wallace family ’ s attorney , Shaka Johnson , said the man ’ s wife , Dominique Wallace , is pregnant and is scheduled to have labor induced Wednesday .
Johnson said Wallace had nine children — two briefly spoke at a news conference late Tuesday , along with Wallace ’ s mother and father .
“ When you come to a scene where somebody is in a mental crisis , and the only tool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gun … where are the proper tools for the job ?
” Mr. Johnson said , arguing that Philadelphia police officers are not properly trained to handle mental health crises .
Mr. Johnson said Wallace ’ s brother had called 911 to request medical assistance and ambulance .
• This story is based in part on wire reports

A second evening of violence broke out in Philadelphia Tuesday night following the police shooting death of a 27-year-old Black man who charged at them with a knife.
Protesters looted and ransacked stores and clashed with police across the city. The civil unrest started Monday night just hours after the incident.
Local media covering the looting showed scenes of chaos as hundreds of people were videotaped running in and out of businesses in the city’s Port Richmond neighborhood.
Foot Locker, Burlington, Target and Dollar General were among the stores that were ransacked. Looters could be seen running out of the stores with their hands full of merchandise and jumping into cars before the police arrived.
One local media outlet videoed a person carrying what appeared to be a washing machine out of a Walmart.
Some of the stores were boarded up, but the looters broke through.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Pennsylvania governor mobilized the National Guard, but that did little to quell the rioting.
The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management asked residents in certain neighborhoods to stay indoors due to the “widespread demonstrations that have turned violent with looting.”
The White House issued a statement Wednesday morning calling the riots, “the most recent consequence of the Liberal Democrats’ war against the police.”
The administration again offered to deploy federal officers to deal with the unrest.
As of Wednesday morning, there was no word on how many people were arrested. More than 90 people were arrested Monday night, including 76 arrested for burglary and 11 arrested for assaulting officers.
Police said 30 officers were injured in the unrest Monday night.
On Monday afternoon, two Philadelphia police officers were dispatched to a call about a man with a weapon in the city’s West Philadelphia neighborhood. Upon arrival, the officers confronted Walter Wallace Jr., who police say was carrying a knife.
The officers ordered him to drop the knife multiple times. Wallace did not comply and advanced toward the officers with the knife in hand.
The officers fired at least 14 shots at him, hitting him in the shoulder and chest. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital a short time later.
The Philadelphia Police Union defended the two officers who shot Wallace, whose names have not been made public.
“We support and defend these officers as they too are traumatized by being involved in a fatal shooting,” the union said.
Wallace’s parents said Tuesday that they had called for an ambulance to get him help with a mental health crisis, not police intervention.
The parents said officers knew their son was in the grips of a mental health crisis because they had been to the family’s house three times on Monday.
Cathy Wallace, his mother, said one of the times, “they stood there and laughed at us.”
The Wallace family’s attorney, Shaka Johnson, said the man’s wife, Dominique Wallace, is pregnant and is scheduled to have labor induced Wednesday. Johnson said Wallace had nine children — two briefly spoke at a news conference late Tuesday, along with Wallace’s mother and father.
“When you come to a scene where somebody is in a mental crisis, and the only tool you have to deal with it is a gun … where are the proper tools for the job?” Mr. Johnson said, arguing that Philadelphia police officers are not properly trained to handle mental health crises. Mr. Johnson said Wallace’s brother had called 911 to request medical assistance and ambulance.
• This story is based in part on wire reports
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Harley-Davidson jumps into electric bicycle market

MILWAUKEE ( AP ) - Iconic motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson is jumping into the hot market for electric bicycles .
The Milwaukee-based company has unveiled a new brand known as Serial 1 Cycle Co. , taking the nickname of Harley-Davidson ’ s first motorcycle .
Serial 1 brand director Aaron Frank says the e-bicycle market is going gangbusters right now , largely due to COVID-19 .
“ With the pandemic , people were looking for a safe way to exercise and get out of the house , and people in cities were looking for a way to safely commute that didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bus , ” Frank said .
The electric bikes have a small motor and a battery that generates power assistance beyond just pedaling .
The global e-bicycle market was estimated to be over $ 15 billion in 2019 and projected to grow at an annual rate of more than 6 % from 2020 to 2025 , the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported .
The Serial 1 bikes are designed and developed in Milwaukee and are manufactured in Taiwan .
They are expected to hit the market early next year .
Prices have not yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it posted third quarter net income of $ 120 million , up 39 % from the same time in 2019 , as the company seeks to revitalize its brand .
The higher results came despite the company selling fewer motorcycles during the third quarter .

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Iconic motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson is jumping into the hot market for electric bicycles.
The Milwaukee-based company has unveiled a new brand known as Serial 1 Cycle Co., taking the nickname of Harley-Davidson’s first motorcycle.
Serial 1 brand director Aaron Frank says the e-bicycle market is going gangbusters right now, largely due to COVID-19.
“With the pandemic, people were looking for a safe way to exercise and get out of the house, and people in cities were looking for a way to safely commute that didn’t involve a subway or a bus,” Frank said.
The electric bikes have a small motor and a battery that generates power assistance beyond just pedaling.
The global e-bicycle market was estimated to be over $15 billion in 2019 and projected to grow at an annual rate of more than 6% from 2020 to 2025, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
The Serial 1 bikes are designed and developed in Milwaukee and are manufactured in Taiwan. They are expected to hit the market early next year. Prices have not yet been disclosed.
Harley-Davidson said Tuesday that it posted third quarter net income of $120 million, up 39% from the same time in 2019, as the company seeks to revitalize its brand.
The higher results came despite the company selling fewer motorcycles during the third quarter.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Seattle police say person was struck by vehicle at protest

SEATTLE ( AP ) - Police were investigating after a person was struck by a vehicle at a protest in @ @ @ @ @ West Precinct building late Tuesday .
KOMO-TV reports o fficers were clearing cars that were @ @ @ @ @ collision .
Four people were arrested in the protest , including one person who was @ @ @ @ @ and Terry streets .
Another person arrested was trying to “ de-arrest ” the suspect @ @ @ @ @ Authorities said there were no injuries in the collision .
Officers issued citations to drivers @ @ @ @ @ leave the area .

SEATTLE (AP) - Police were investigating after a person was struck by a vehicle at a protest in front of the Seattle police West Precinct building late Tuesday.
KOMO-TV reports o fficers were clearing cars that were blocking traffic to investigate the collision.
Four people were arrested in the protest, including one person who was tagging city property at Spring and Terry streets. Another person arrested was trying to “de-arrest” the suspect who had been arrested.
Authorities said there were no injuries in the collision. Officers issued citations to drivers of vehicles who refuse to leave the area.


washingtontimes--2020-10-28--Boeing makes deeper job cuts as aircraft business slows

Boeing will cut more jobs as it continues to bleed money and lose revenue during a pandemic that has smothered demand for new airline planes .
The company said Wednesday that it expects to cut its workforce to about 130,000 employees by the end of next year , down 30,000 from the start of this year .
That is far deeper than the 19,000 reduction that the company announced three months ago .
Boeing Co. updated its jobs plan on the same day it reported a $ 449 million loss for the third quarter , a swing from the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period last year .
The loss was narrower than analysts expected , however .
Boeing has been whipsawed by a drop in revenue after its 737 Max was grounded in March 2019 following two deadly crashes , and then a pandemic that has caused air travel to plunge and left airlines with more planes than they need .
The company recently lowered its forecast of demand for new planes over the next decade by 11 % because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Some analysts think even that scaled-back forecast was too rosy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Airbus dominates the aircraft-building industry , has seen orders and deliveries of new planes shrivel this year in the face of the pandemic and the grounding of the Max .
The company failed to record a single order for a new jetliner in September .
In the first nine months of the year , Boeing has delivered only 98 airline planes , compared with 301 during the same stretch of 2019 .
That drop is crucial because aircraft makers get most of their cash from sales when planes are delivered .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let it resume deliveries of new Max jets before the year ends .
Boeing has spent about two years overhauling flight-control software and computers on the plane after an automated anti-stall system pushed the noses down before crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people .
The Chicago company , which has airplane assembly plants near Seattle and in South Carolina , plans to cut its labor force by not replacing people who retire and cutting 7,000 with buyouts and layoffs through next year .
The company has borrowed billions of dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downturn , although it bypassed federal pandemic-relief funds .
Boeing said that excluding non-repeating gains , it lost $ 1.39 per share .
Analysts expected a loss of $ 2.33 per share , according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research .
The revenue also beat expectations , with the Zacks survey pointing to sales of $ 13.81 billion .
Shares of Boeing rose about 1 % in trading before the opening bell on Wednesday .
They have dropped 52 % since the start of the year , compared with an increase of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poor ’ s 500 index .

Boeing said Wednesday that it will cut 7,000 more jobs as it continues to bleed money during a pandemic that has smothered demand for new airline planes.
The company said that when retirements and other employee departures are included, its workforce will shrink to about 130,000 by the end of next year, or 30,000 fewer people than it had at the start of 2020. Just three months ago, the company figured 19,000 workers would leave.
Boeing Co. outlined the job cuts on the same day it reported a $449 million loss for the third quarter, a swing from the $1.17 billion it earned in the same period last year. The loss was not as bad as feared, however.
Revenue tumbled 29% to $14.14 billion.
Boeing has been whipsawed by falling revenue since its 737 Max was grounded in March 2019 after two deadly crashes, and then a coronavirus pandemic that caused air travel to plunge and left airlines with more planes than they need.
It has been a bruising stretch for one of America’s preeminent manufacturers. Thursday marks the second anniversary of the crash of a Lion Air 737 Max off the coast of Indonesia. Less than five months later, another Max crashed in Ethiopia. In all, 346 people died.
The virus has intensified Boeing’s financial troubles.
Air traffic in the U.S. has only recovered to about one-third of pre-pandemic levels, European traffic is similarly depressed, although the picture looks brighter in Asia.
Most experts think it will take airlines three years or longer to make a full recovery. With customers in no mood to buy expensive new planes, Boeing expects to keep burning cash. Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith said the company won’t generate cash until 2022.
The Max was Boeing’s best-selling plane, but now the company has 450 in storage that it can’t deliver. Boeing expects to ship about half of those to customers by the end of 2021, and it may have to find new buyers and reconfigure seating or other features for some, Smith said. The company also has an inventory of about 50 unsold 787s or Dreamliners.
Boeing has spent about two years overhauling flight-control software and computers on the Max, and it continues to expect that regulators will allow it to resume deliveries before the end of the year ends.
Boeing has ambitious plans to ramp up production of the Max. Cowen analyst Cai von Rumohr said that suggests the company believes airlines will still take the plane, or that it is willing to whittle down its inventory more slowly.
Last week Boeing’s biggest customer, Southwest Airlines, said that it is looking at the Airbus A220 jet. Southwest’s fleet consists entirely of Boeing 737s, and the airline was forced to cancel thousands of flights last year because of the Max grounding.
Boeing CEO David Calhoun said Wednesday that Southwest’s fleet will be mostly Boeing “for a long time coming … we hope it stays all Boeing.”
“The Max has cost us a lot of money” and has forced Boeing to borrow “to make up for the fact that we couldn’t ship the world’s most popular airplane,” Calhoun said on CNBC. “We are getting very close I believe to the finish line with respect to certifying the Max and to begin deliveries.”
After paying out $3.1 billion in cash and other compensation to Max owners, Boeing estimates it still owes customers about $6 billion for lost use of their planes.
The company has other challenges. Because of the Max crisis, it has delayed a decision whether to design a new and slightly larger plane - hesitation that could result in ceding part of the airplane market to Airbus and its A321XLR.
Boeing’s defense business has remained mostly stable, but even that is not immune to the virus.
“We believe there will be pressure on defense spending as a result of all the COVID-related spending that, of course, governments around the world have been experiencing,” Calhoun said on a call with analysts. “So I don’t think we’re looking at that world through rose-colored glasses.”
The Chicago-based company, which has airplane assembly plants near Seattle and in South Carolina, has borrowed billions of dollars in private credit to get through the downturn, although it bypassed federal pandemic-relief funds. It is giving up office space to save money, and will use company stock - not cash - to cover $4 billion in payments to employee pensions and retirement accounts.
Boeing said that excluding non-repeating gains, it lost $1.39 per share. Wall Street expected a loss of $2.35 per share, according to a FactSet survey. Revenue was lower than expected, however, with the FactSet survey pointing to sales of $14.20 billion.
Shares of Boeing closed Wednesday down $7.10, or 4.6%, at $148.14. They have dropped 54.5% this year, compared with an increase of 1.3% in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index.