washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Zambia's risk of default highlights Africa's debt crisis

KAMPALA , Uganda ( AP ) - Facing financial difficulties aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic , the southern African nation of Zambia appears headed for a default on debt owed to private investors .
One of the world ’ s top copper producers , Zambia for years has been heavily indebted but now could get an undesired reputation for financial unreliability if a group of investors who hold $ 3 billion of the country ’ s eurobonds insist on payments that have come due .
Zambia seeks a holiday of six months , but the bondholders ’ final decision is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong example of the debt distress for other governments in Africa even as they try to focus limited resources on urgent problems such as healthcare and education .
How Zambia fares will be watched by other nations that owe large amounts not just to private bondholders but also to commercial banks and state lenders such as China .
A debt moratorium granted by G20 countries in response to the pandemic that freed up to $ 20 billion for low-income nations ends in late December , and African governments seek an extension to free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic and help battered economies .
A default on private debt is damaging in the eyes of investors , and credit rating agency Fitch downgraded Zambia to almost junk status after the government sought to delay interest payments to bondholders in September .
Zambia ’ s looming default “ definitely sends a wrong signal in the eyes of investors , ” said Stephen Kaboyo , a Ugandan analyst who runs the asset management firm Alpha Capital Partners .
“ There ’ s always peer comparison , ” he said .
“ They ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ” Abebe Selassie , the director in charge of Africa at the International Monetary Fund , sought to allay the concern in a news conference on Oct. 22 , saying he hoped the market would differentiate Zambian assets from others in Africa .
“ That ’ s what we ’ re seeing so far , and I hope that will continue to be the case , as is the case elsewhere , ” he said .
The South Africa-based research firm NKC African Economics in an assessment related to Zambia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagion risk in the broader region and warned that pandemic-related disruptions to global trade could raise default risk in the entire sub-Saharan African region .
A “ prolonged external shock may disrupt refinancing efforts ” in Kenya , Ghana and Senegal in the debt cycle that begins in 2021 , it said .
Many sub-Saharan African countries , from Cameroon to Kenya , have issued eurobonds over the years , amassing debt that is maturing at a time of rising financial burden amid the pandemic .
The World Bank and IMF have announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billions in debt payments , and some African countries have secured more loans from those institutions .
But debt-related anxiety will deepen as the year winds down .
Nathan Hayes , an analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit , told The Associated Press that for Africa “ the picture in 2021 looks different ” because $ 20 billion in private obligations are coming due in addition to $ 14 billion in bilateral debt .
“ These debts are highly unlikely to be part of any renewed suspension initiative , as it would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially restrict market access at a crucial time , ” he said .
The servicing burden will rise again in 2021 , putting pressure on governments .
Appetite for debt has grown tremendously in Africa as governments launch ambitious public works they believe will underpin growth for years to come .
The projects are often funded by Chinese capital and built with Chinese expertise .
In turn , China has been keen to exploit Africa ’ s vast natural resources in countries such as Zambia , which also is a major producer of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other outside sources , Zambian authorities have been spending on everything from highways to airports in projects sometimes tainted by official corruption .
Such spending likely will slow down because of pressure to reduce arrears , and there are multiple reports of stalled projects , including a $ 450 million dam .
China holds about a third of Africa ’ s sovereign debt , and there have been concerns that heavily indebted countries could fall into a trap and even lose their sovereignty .
Although largely silent about global calls for debt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a willingness to renegotiate and restructure debts to African countries , particularly those with significant commodity exports such as oil , according to Hayes .
It remains unclear if the international community will do more to help African governments in serious debt distress .
African finance ministers have asked the international community for a $ 100 billion stimulus package , of which $ 44 billion would come from a freeze on servicing debt .
They have also said an additional $ 50 billion may be needed in 2021 .
But while African governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win cancellations , sovereign bonds are a different matter .
A government is “ finished ” if it can ’ t be relied on to make payments on sovereign bonds , said analyst Julius Mukunda , who heads a budget advocacy group that has been raising alarm over Uganda ’ s spiraling debt levels .
Although Uganda has never issued eurobonds , he said , “ we have a problem ” as the East African country spends far more of its budget on foreign interest payments than on the agriculture sector , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Zambia is concerned , “ they have to borrow to repay the debt , ” he said .
“ You need an IMF package to rescue you .
”

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) - Facing financial difficulties aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic, the southern African nation of Zambia appears headed for a default on debt owed to private investors.
One of the world’s top copper producers, Zambia for years has been heavily indebted but now could get an undesired reputation for financial unreliability if a group of investors who hold $3 billion of the country’s eurobonds insist on payments that have come due. Zambia seeks a holiday of six months, but the bondholders’ final decision is pending.
The cash-strapped country is a strong example of the debt distress for other governments in Africa even as they try to focus limited resources on urgent problems such as healthcare and education. How Zambia fares will be watched by other nations that owe large amounts not just to private bondholders but also to commercial banks and state lenders such as China.
A debt moratorium granted by G20 countries in response to the pandemic that freed up to $20 billion for low-income nations ends in late December, and African governments seek an extension to free up further resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and help battered economies.
A default on private debt is damaging in the eyes of investors, and credit rating agency Fitch downgraded Zambia to almost junk status after the government sought to delay interest payments to bondholders in September.
Zambia’s looming default “definitely sends a wrong signal in the eyes of investors,” said Stephen Kaboyo, a Ugandan analyst who runs the asset management firm Alpha Capital Partners. “There’s always peer comparison,” he said. “They ask themselves, ‘Who is next?’”
Abebe Selassie, the director in charge of Africa at the International Monetary Fund, sought to allay the concern in a news conference on Oct. 22, saying he hoped the market would differentiate Zambian assets from others in Africa.
“That’s what we’re seeing so far, and I hope that will continue to be the case, as is the case elsewhere,” he said.
The South Africa-based research firm NKC African Economics in an assessment related to Zambia’s troubles said it saw “moderate” contagion risk in the broader region and warned that pandemic-related disruptions to global trade could raise default risk in the entire sub-Saharan African region.
A “prolonged external shock may disrupt refinancing efforts” in Kenya, Ghana and Senegal in the debt cycle that begins in 2021, it said.
Many sub-Saharan African countries, from Cameroon to Kenya, have issued eurobonds over the years, amassing debt that is maturing at a time of rising financial burden amid the pandemic.
The World Bank and IMF have announced some relief measures, including freeing up billions in debt payments, and some African countries have secured more loans from those institutions. But debt-related anxiety will deepen as the year winds down.
Nathan Hayes, an analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit, told The Associated Press that for Africa “the picture in 2021 looks different” because $20 billion in private obligations are coming due in addition to $14 billion in bilateral debt.
“These debts are highly unlikely to be part of any renewed suspension initiative, as it would be negatively reflected in sovereign credit ratings and potentially restrict market access at a crucial time,” he said. The servicing burden will rise again in 2021, putting pressure on governments.
Appetite for debt has grown tremendously in Africa as governments launch ambitious public works they believe will underpin growth for years to come. The projects are often funded by Chinese capital and built with Chinese expertise. In turn, China has been keen to exploit Africa’s vast natural resources in countries such as Zambia, which also is a major producer of cobalt.
Backed by credit from China and other outside sources, Zambian authorities have been spending on everything from highways to airports in projects sometimes tainted by official corruption. Such spending likely will slow down because of pressure to reduce arrears, and there are multiple reports of stalled projects, including a $450 million dam.
China holds about a third of Africa’s sovereign debt, and there have been concerns that heavily indebted countries could fall into a trap and even lose their sovereignty. Although largely silent about global calls for debt relief to Africa, China has indicated a willingness to renegotiate and restructure debts to African countries, particularly those with significant commodity exports such as oil, according to Hayes.
It remains unclear if the international community will do more to help African governments in serious debt distress.
African finance ministers have asked the international community for a $100 billion stimulus package, of which $44 billion would come from a freeze on servicing debt. They have also said an additional $50 billion may be needed in 2021.
But while African governments can negotiate around bilateral debt and even win cancellations, sovereign bonds are a different matter.
A government is “finished” if it can’t be relied on to make payments on sovereign bonds, said analyst Julius Mukunda, who heads a budget advocacy group that has been raising alarm over Uganda’s spiraling debt levels.
Although Uganda has never issued eurobonds, he said, “we have a problem” as the East African country spends far more of its budget on foreign interest payments than on the agriculture sector, a backbone of the economy.
As far as Zambia is concerned, “they have to borrow to repay the debt,” he said. “You need an IMF package to rescue you.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Florida’s Seminole Tribe reclaims ancestors, artifacts

CLEWISTON , Fla. ( AP ) - For decades , Florida ’ s Seminole Tribe has been fighting to reclaim their ancestors who were stolen from burial sites across the state during the height of colonialism in North America .
Now , thanks to a brand new policy at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History , they ’ ll have the chance to bring their ancestors back home .
The conflict stemmed from imprecise labeling and record keeping when the remains and artifacts were exhumed from burial grounds .
Throughout the 1900s , the Smithsonian obtained human remains and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including nearly 1,500 Seminole ancestors and tens of thousands of archaeological artifacts that had been exhumed from burial sites across the state , according to the tribe .
In some cases , archaeologists said they weren ’ t sure which native tribe the remains belonged to .
They labeled them “ culturally unaffiliated.
” Those remains ended up on display at the Smithsonian but weren ’ t tied to any specific tribe .
And because legislation such as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act didn ’ t apply to the Smithsonian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the museum didn ’ t have to set up a framework for native tribes to reclaim their ancestors to bring them back to their rightful resting place , according to the Seminole Tribe .
Facing mounting pressure from many native tribes , including the Seminoles , the Smithsonian changed course and decided to allow the tribes to reclaim their ancestors , even if archaeologists hadn ’ t said the remains came from a specific tribe .
The victory opens the door for native tribes to begin that process and remedies some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legacy of colonialism , said Paul Backhouse , historic preservation officer for the Seminoles .
“ It ’ s hugely significant right now for Indian Country in general and for the Seminole tribe in Florida , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a huge victory for indigenous rights.
” Other native tribes have also been fighting for the change , Backhouse said .
The policy needed to be updated to give equal weight to tribal knowledge and oral histories that could identify their ancestors , even when archaeologists could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue for Native American tribes who always have known who they belong to , because they ’ re their ancestors , ” Backhouse said .
“ Just because there wasn ’ t an object buried with them that indicates they ’ re Seminole doesn ’ t mean they ’ re not ancestors of Seminole and Miccosukee populations that still live in Florida.
” For years , Native American groups have been seen as the “ other , ” as objects of examination rather than characters in their own story , Backhouse said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ same goal for years , but the Smithsonian turned them away , said Bill Billeck , the museum ’ s head of repatriation .
Now that the Seminole Tribe has won , the museum will inform the rejected tribes of the policy change , he said .
The new policy , officially adopted Oct. 5 , affects Native American tribes , Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian organizations .
As for the archaeological artifacts , those could be anything native-made or even trade items from contact with Europeans , Billeck said .
Backhouse said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had with them when they died .
That could include pottery , jewelry , hand-carved bone tools , arrowheads , and wooden effigies .
The Smithsonian has returned about 6,200 ancestors and over 200,000 artifacts that they know belonged to certain tribes and were so deemed “ culturally affiliated ” with that tribe .
Now , when tribes request to reclaim their ancestors who have been labeled “ culturally unaffiliated , ” Billeck ’ s staff will have to handle it on a case by case basis , he said .
Tina Osceola @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Florida and associate justice for the tribal court , said the victory had been a long time coming and was generations overdue .
“ I hope that the nation and world will shift their beliefs that our culture and people are only valuable when owned , displayed or studied , ” she said .
The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Museum in Clewiston posted about the victory on Facebook , and shared a photo from when tribe members visited Washington , D.C. , to push Congress to change the policy .
They shared the social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ # NoMoreStolenAncestors .
In the Seminole language , Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki means a place to learn and a place to remember .

BROOKE BAITINGER, South Florida Sun Sentinel

CLEWISTON, Fla. (AP) - For decades, Florida’s Seminole Tribe has been fighting to reclaim their ancestors who were stolen from burial sites across the state during the height of colonialism in North America.
Now, thanks to a brand new policy at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, they’ll have the chance to bring their ancestors back home.
The conflict stemmed from imprecise labeling and record keeping when the remains and artifacts were exhumed from burial grounds.
Throughout the 1900s, the Smithsonian obtained human remains and archaeological artifacts through donations and acquisitions - including nearly 1,500 Seminole ancestors and tens of thousands of archaeological artifacts that had been exhumed from burial sites across the state, according to the tribe.
In some cases, archaeologists said they weren’t sure which native tribe the remains belonged to. They labeled them “culturally unaffiliated.”
Those remains ended up on display at the Smithsonian but weren’t tied to any specific tribe. And because legislation such as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act didn’t apply to the Smithsonian when it was passed in 1990, the museum didn’t have to set up a framework for native tribes to reclaim their ancestors to bring them back to their rightful resting place, according to the Seminole Tribe.
Facing mounting pressure from many native tribes, including the Seminoles, the Smithsonian changed course and decided to allow the tribes to reclaim their ancestors, even if archaeologists hadn’t said the remains came from a specific tribe.
The victory opens the door for native tribes to begin that process and remedies some of the damage inflicted upon Native American tribes by the legacy of colonialism, said Paul Backhouse, historic preservation officer for the Seminoles.
“It’s hugely significant right now for Indian Country in general and for the Seminole tribe in Florida,” he said. “It’s a huge victory for indigenous rights.”
Other native tribes have also been fighting for the change, Backhouse said. The policy needed to be updated to give equal weight to tribal knowledge and oral histories that could identify their ancestors, even when archaeologists could not.
“That’s a big issue for Native American tribes who always have known who they belong to, because they’re their ancestors,” Backhouse said. “Just because there wasn’t an object buried with them that indicates they’re Seminole doesn’t mean they’re not ancestors of Seminole and Miccosukee populations that still live in Florida.”
For years, Native American groups have been seen as the “other,” as objects of examination rather than characters in their own story, Backhouse said.
Many other tribes have fought for the same goal for years, but the Smithsonian turned them away, said Bill Billeck, the museum’s head of repatriation. Now that the Seminole Tribe has won, the museum will inform the rejected tribes of the policy change, he said.
The new policy, officially adopted Oct. 5, affects Native American tribes, Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian organizations.
As for the archaeological artifacts, those could be anything native-made or even trade items from contact with Europeans, Billeck said. Backhouse said it’s anything that the ancestors had with them when they died.
That could include pottery, jewelry, hand-carved bone tools, arrowheads, and wooden effigies.
The Smithsonian has returned about 6,200 ancestors and over 200,000 artifacts that they know belonged to certain tribes and were so deemed “culturally affiliated” with that tribe. Now, when tribes request to reclaim their ancestors who have been labeled “culturally unaffiliated,” Billeck’s staff will have to handle it on a case by case basis, he said.
Tina Osceola, a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and associate justice for the tribal court, said the victory had been a long time coming and was generations overdue.
“I hope that the nation and world will shift their beliefs that our culture and people are only valuable when owned, displayed or studied,” she said.
The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Museum in Clewiston posted about the victory on Facebook, and shared a photo from when tribe members visited Washington, D.C., to push Congress to change the policy. They shared the social media hashtag related to their efforts: #NoMoreStolenAncestors.
In the Seminole language, Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki means a place to learn and a place to remember.


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--St. Petersburg couple builds own ‘nursing home’ next door

ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. ( AP ) - When Jay and Becky Morgan grow older and require more care , they won ’ t need to tour nursing homes or move into a senior living complex .
They ’ ll simply move into their guest house next door .
The guest house is a miniature version of the couple ’ s 1,450-square-foot main home , built in 1926 and updated to look like a Craftsman , except it ’ s fully handicapped-accessible .
“ Our goal for doing all this was to basically have this be our future nursing home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 69 , the former director of the Sunshine Senior Center in St. Petersburg , and his wife , Becky Morgan , 67 , the former director of Stetson College of Law ’ s elder law program , have plenty of insights into nursing homes and assisted-living facilities .
They decided it wasn ’ t the lifestyle for them .
“ Both my wife and I are kind of independent folk , and that does not attract us , ” Jay Morgan said .
“ We don ’ t want to have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a schedule , have people checking up on us all the time .
It ’ s too much of a controlled environment.
” So in 2014 , the Morgans bought the small home next to the house they ’ ve lived in since the 1980s .
They tore it down and built a 736-square-foot cottage that will allow them to keep living in their Five Points neighborhood if they become more frail .
The couple would pay professionals or ask family members to live in the main house to take care of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone would share common areas - the screen porch , the kitchen , possibly the garage .
“ I mean , it ’ s almost like long-term-care insurance , ” he said .
“ Just knowing that you ’ re going to be taken care of and in a place you want to be and not have to be uprooted and put in assisted living or a nursing home.
” The project cost about $ 400,000 , Morgan said .
Building a new structure would be too expensive for many seniors , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Build , who built the cottage .
“ The Morgans are pretty much an outlier on the structure they created , ” Zdrojewski said .
“ Most people can get by with modifications to their original structure , which is more cost effective.
” The pandemic-induced isolation and widespread deaths at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities have more seniors thinking of ways to age in place , Zdrojewski said .
The Morgans completed their guest house in 2019 .
Zdrojewski has a master ’ s degree in aging and neuroscience , and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 percent of its projects .
Universal design makes homes accessible for people of all abilities , he said .
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry gave the Morgans ’ project a Contractor of the Year award for universal design in 2018 .
The contractor raised the Morgan home ’ s surrounding soil to negate the need for steps .
The elevation of flooring in the guest house and the ground floor of the main house doesn ’ t change more than a quarter inch , so wheelchairs can cross smoothly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pull underneath .
“ So if it was a driver with a wheelchair coming back from a doctor ’ s appointment or something , you wouldn ’ t be left out in the rain , ” Zdrojewski said .
The guest house bedroom and bathroom are big enough to accommodate wheelchairs and a hospital bed .
The bathroom ’ s brown mosaic tile leaves slight outlines in the shower , toilet area and around the sink , so people with impaired vision can still navigate the room .
The shower has backing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upgraded to handle medical equipment .
The guest house has a living room and kitchenette with a microwave , but the couple plans to use the oven in the main house , as well .
Zdrojewski ’ s company typically gets three or four requests for universal design work a year , he said .
This year , it has been six or seven .
“ People are a little bit more nervous now about being in assisted-care facilities and nursing homes , ” he said .
“ So they ’ re really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay in their homes a little bit longer.
” About 80 percent of Strobel ’ s universal design projects are modifications made to existing homes , and 20 percent are an addition or detached structure .
Zdrojewski predicts more interest in universal design .
A lot of clients make accessibility upgrades to their homes , he said , but this is the first time he ’ s had clients do this .
For now , the Morgans are happy in their main house .
Jay has retired , but Becky still teaches at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay in the guest house .
They love their neighborhood , the stores nearby , the safety .
“ Who knows what the future holds , ” Morgan said .
“ But we have a facility that ’ s adaptable .
”

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - When Jay and Becky Morgan grow older and require more care, they won’t need to tour nursing homes or move into a senior living complex. They’ll simply move into their guest house next door.
The guest house is a miniature version of the couple’s 1,450-square-foot main home, built in 1926 and updated to look like a Craftsman, except it’s fully handicapped-accessible.
“Our goal for doing all this was to basically have this be our future nursing home,” said Jay Morgan.
Morgan, 69, the former director of the Sunshine Senior Center in St. Petersburg, and his wife, Becky Morgan, 67, the former director of Stetson College of Law’s elder law program, have plenty of insights into nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. They decided it wasn’t the lifestyle for them.
“Both my wife and I are kind of independent folk, and that does not attract us,” Jay Morgan said. “We don’t want to have the same meals all the time, be on a schedule, have people checking up on us all the time. It’s too much of a controlled environment.”
So in 2014, the Morgans bought the small home next to the house they’ve lived in since the 1980s. They tore it down and built a 736-square-foot cottage that will allow them to keep living in their Five Points neighborhood if they become more frail.
The couple would pay professionals or ask family members to live in the main house to take care of them, Jay Morgan said. And everyone would share common areas - the screen porch, the kitchen, possibly the garage.
“I mean, it’s almost like long-term-care insurance,” he said. “Just knowing that you’re going to be taken care of and in a place you want to be and not have to be uprooted and put in assisted living or a nursing home.”
The project cost about $400,000, Morgan said. Building a new structure would be too expensive for many seniors, said Mark Zdrojewski, president of Strobel Design Build, who built the cottage.
“The Morgans are pretty much an outlier on the structure they created,” Zdrojewski said. “Most people can get by with modifications to their original structure, which is more cost effective.”
The pandemic-induced isolation and widespread deaths at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities have more seniors thinking of ways to age in place, Zdrojewski said. The Morgans completed their guest house in 2019.
Zdrojewski has a master’s degree in aging and neuroscience, and his company incorporates so-called universal design features into 90 percent of its projects. Universal design makes homes accessible for people of all abilities, he said.
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry gave the Morgans’ project a Contractor of the Year award for universal design in 2018.
The contractor raised the Morgan home’s surrounding soil to negate the need for steps. The elevation of flooring in the guest house and the ground floor of the main house doesn’t change more than a quarter inch, so wheelchairs can cross smoothly. A covered portico in between allows drivers to pull underneath.
“So if it was a driver with a wheelchair coming back from a doctor’s appointment or something, you wouldn’t be left out in the rain,” Zdrojewski said.
The guest house bedroom and bathroom are big enough to accommodate wheelchairs and a hospital bed. The bathroom’s brown mosaic tile leaves slight outlines in the shower, toilet area and around the sink, so people with impaired vision can still navigate the room.
The shower has backing for future handrails. Electrical outlets were upgraded to handle medical equipment.
The guest house has a living room and kitchenette with a microwave, but the couple plans to use the oven in the main house, as well.
Zdrojewski’s company typically gets three or four requests for universal design work a year, he said. This year, it has been six or seven.
“People are a little bit more nervous now about being in assisted-care facilities and nursing homes,” he said. “So they’re really trying to look and find ways to stay in their homes a little bit longer.”
About 80 percent of Strobel’s universal design projects are modifications made to existing homes, and 20 percent are an addition or detached structure.
Zdrojewski predicts more interest in universal design. A lot of clients make accessibility upgrades to their homes, he said, but this is the first time he’s had clients do this.
For now, the Morgans are happy in their main house. Jay has retired, but Becky still teaches at Stetson. Their friends frequently visit and stay in the guest house. They love their neighborhood, the stores nearby, the safety.
“Who knows what the future holds,” Morgan said. “But we have a facility that’s adaptable.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Algeria votes on new constitution painted as pro-democratic

ALGIERS , Algeria ( AP ) - Algerians were voting Sunday on whether to approve a revised constitution that imposes term limits , promises new freedoms and aims at answering demands from pro-democracy protesters who pushed out their long-serving , autocratic president last year .
However , opponents of the constitution were barred from campaign venues or from expressing their views on public television or radio , so they are calling for a boycott .
The referendum is taking place symbolically on the 68th anniversary of the beginning of Algeria ’ s war for independence from France .
Pro-democracy activists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go far enough to open up politics to a new generation of leaders .
Islamist parties say it doesn ’ t do enough to promote Islam and the Arabic language , and oppose a measure on religious freedom .
Meanwhile , the man who pushed for the referendum , President Abdelmadjid Tebboune , is hospitalized in Germany after several people in his administration showed symptoms of the virus .
The 74-year-old ’ s exact ailment and whereabouts are unclear , though his office said in a statement Thursday his status is “ reassuring.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatic new measure is one allowing the Algerian military to intervene abroad , in U.N. or African Union peacekeeping operations , a major change from the current doctrine of non-interference .
The military has long played a key role in Algeria , and military chief Gen. Said Bengriha has campaigned around the country for a “ yes ” vote .
The revision of the constitution was among promises the president made when he was elected in December .
It limits presidents and parliament members to two terms , makes it easier to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers to the prime minister , among other changes .
In a final campaign rally Wednesday , Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerrad said it will “ make it possible to definitively turn the page on the old practices of management of public affairs , with the emergence of new institutions and new methods of exercising responsibilities based on democracy , competence , transparency.
” He insisted that it “ reflects the major demands ” of the Hirak protest movement , and will allow young people and non-governmental actors more of a say in Algerian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who want a wholesale overhaul of Algeria ’ s leadership , see the referendum as an effort to look progressive while leaving the overall power structure in place .
“ It is a denial of democracy , ” professor Rachid Tlemçani told The Associated Press .
“ This revision is cosmetics to give a new face to the same system , which will not change.
” Some 23.5 million Algerian voters are eligible in to take part , though turnout is expected to be low because of the calls for a boycott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the virus , which is linked to at least 1,964 deaths in Algeria and has infected more than 57,000 people .
Voting stations include primary schools that were disinfected for the referendum , with masks required .
Voting began Friday in the sparsely populated Algerian desert , as election officials traveled in all-terrain vehicles to reach remote voters .
Nearly 1 million Algerian voters abroad were allowed to start voting Saturday .

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) - Algerians voted Sunday on whether to approve a revised constitution that imposes term limits, promises new freedoms and is aimed at answering demands from pro-democracy protesters who pushed out their long-serving, autocratic president last year.
Turnout hit a record low, however, as opponents of the amended constitution called for a boycott after they were barred from campaign venues or from expressing their views on public television or radio. The referendum took place symbolically on the 68th anniversary of the beginning of Algeria’s war for independence from France.
Results are expected to be announced by the interior minister Monday.
Overall turnout was just 23.7%, the lowest of any Algerian election to date, electoral authority president Mohamed Charfi told reporters after polls closed, saying the virus pandemic scared many voters away. There is no minimum turnout required to make the referendum valid.
In one example of public discontent, residents in the opposition bastion of Tizi-Ouzou shut down voting stations to protest the referendum, prompting electoral authorities to annul the voting in 63 of the region’s 67 towns.
Pro-democracy activists say the revised charter doesn’t go far enough to open up politics to a new generation of leaders. Islamist parties say it doesn’t do enough to promote Islam and the Arabic language, and oppose a measure on religious freedom.
Meanwhile, the man who pushed for the referendum, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, is hospitalized in Germany after several people in his administration showed symptoms of the virus. The 74-year-old’s exact ailment and whereabouts are unclear, though a presidential adviser said Sunday that Tebboune was “in good health” and continuing to undergo medical examinations.
For many Algerians, the most dramatic proposed constitutional change would allow the Algerian military to intervene abroad, in United Nations or African Union peacekeeping operations, a major departure from the current doctrine of non-interference.
The military has long played a key role in Algeria, and military chief Gen. Said Bengriha has campaigned around the country for a “yes” vote.
The revision of the constitution was among promises the president made when he was elected in December. It limits presidents and parliament members to two terms, makes it easier to create political parties, and hands some presidential powers to the prime minister, among other changes.
During a final campaign rally Wednesday, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerrad said the amendments would “make it possible to definitively turn the page on the old practices of management of public affairs, with the emergence of new institutions and new methods of exercising responsibilities based on democracy, competence, transparency.”
He insisted that it “reflects the major demands” of the Hirak protest movement, and will give young people and non-governmental actors more of a say in Algerian policies.
Hirak activists and their supporters, who want a wholesale overhaul of Algeria’s leadership, see the referendum as an effort to look progressive while leaving the overall power structure in place.
“It is a denial of democracy,” professor Rachid Tlemçani told The Associated Press. “This revision is cosmetics to give a new face to the same system, which will not change.”
Some 23.5 million Algerian voters are eligible in to take part, though turnout is expected to be low because of the calls for a boycott, a lackluster campaign - and worries about the virus, which is linked to at least 1,964 deaths in Algeria and has infected more than 57,000 people.
Voting stations include primary schools that were disinfected for the referendum. Voters arrived masked and were ordered to maintain social distancing via markings on the ground and walls.
Voting began Friday in the sparsely populated Algerian desert, as election officials traveled in all-terrain vehicles to reach remote voters. Nearly 1 million Algerian voters abroad were allowed to start voting Saturday.


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Tropical Storm Eta ties record; expected to become hurricane

MIAMI ( AP ) - Forecasters expect the newly-formed Tropical Storm Eta to become a hurricane by Monday , shortly after the system formed in the Caribbean and tied the record for most named storms in a single Atlantic hurricane season .
The system had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph ( 65 kph ) Sunday morning , the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in an advisory .
It was centered 215 miles ( 345 kilometers ) south of Kingston , Jamaica , and 435 miles ( 700 kilometers ) east of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurricane by Monday .
The system is forecast to be near the northeastern coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras by Tuesday morning .
A hurricane watch was issued for parts of both countries .
Eta was moving west at about 15 mph ( 24 kph ) .
Rainfall totals could reach 15 inches ( 38 centimeters ) in parts of Jamaica , the Cayman Islands and the southern coast of Hispaniola by Thursday evening .
Isolated amounts of up to 30 inches ( 76 centimeters ) could fall in portions of Honduras and Nicaragua @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28th named Atlantic storm this season , tying the 2005 record for named storms .
However , this is the first time the Greek letter Eta is being used as a storm name because in 2005 , after the season ended meteorologists went back and determined there was a storm that should have gotten a name , but didn ’ t .
Hurricane season still has a month to go , ending Nov. 30 .
And in 2005 , Zeta formed in the end of December .

MIAMI (AP) - Rain-heavy Tropical Storm Eta grew rapidly to near hurricane strength Sunday while heading for a drenching collision with Central America, as this Atlantic hurricane system tied the record for the most named storms.
Eta had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) late Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. It was centered about 215 miles (345 kilometers) east of the Nicaragua-Honduras border and was heading westward at 13 mph (20 kph).
Forecasters expected Eta to become a hurricane during the night and it was predicted to be nearing the Nicaraguan coast early Tuesday.
Forecasters said central and northern Nicaragua into much of Honduras could get 15 to 25 inches (380 to 640 millimeters of rain, with 35 inches (890 millimeters) in isolated areas.
Heavy rains also were likely in eastern Guatemala, southern Belize and Jamaica.
Eta is the 28th named Atlantic storm this season, tying the 2005 record for named storms. However, this is the first time the Greek letter Eta is being used as a storm name because after the 2005 season ended, meteorologists went back and determined there had been a storm that should have gotten a name but didn’t.
Hurricane season still has a month to go, ending Nov. 30. And in 2005, Zeta formed toward the end of December.


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--The Latest: UK virus lockdown may last longer than 4 weeks

TEHRAN - Iran hit another single-day record for coronavirus deaths as the country grapples with a sharp spike in cases .
The Health Ministry reported Sunday that 434 people had died in 24 hours from the virus , bringing Iran ’ s death toll in the pandemic to more than 35,000 .
The ministry said it recorded 7,719 new confirmed infections since Saturday .
Iran has reported more than 620,000 confirmed virus cases in all .
Most deaths have occurred in the capital , Tehran , which is also the most populated city in Iran .
The head of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tehran , Alireza Naji , warned that Iran could reach 900 confirmed coronavirus deaths per day if more restrictions on movement and gatherings are not imposed .
Tehran ’ s City Council has proposed a two-week lockdown of the city .
For the past three weeks , Iran has banned weddings and funeral gatherings , and closed universities and schools , as well as libraries , mosques , cinemas , museums and beauty salons to try and curb the spread of the virus in Tehran .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England to enter a new lockdown as UK virus cases pass 1 million .
- Halloween in the pandemic : Costumes and candy , at a distance - Efraín Valles once guided world leaders and pop stars through the land of the Incas .
He now makes ice cream to survive .
- The Netherlands will halt its multibillion euro coronavirus bailout to national carrier KLM amid a standoff with a pilot ’ s union about the rescue package .
- Austria has announced a partial shutdown with restaurants and bars closed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leisure activities canceled and residents asked to stay home after 8 p.m.
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : PODGORICA , Montenegro - Huge crowds have attended the funeral of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro in violation of coronavirus .
Thousands on Sunday gathered outside the main church in the capital Podgorica for the liturgy and the burial of Bishop Amfilohije inside the church crypt .
The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church led the prayers inside the packed church joined by dozens of officials and clergy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
Montenegro recently has seen a surge in virus cases .
Bishop Amfilohije died on Friday of COVID-19 .
He was well-know for fighting against a new religion law in the country .
In an illustration of the bishop ’ s popularity , thousands have paid their respects since Saturday , passing by an open casket with his body .
Many kissed the bishop ’ s remains , prompting an appeal from doctors to close the coffin .
ROME - After days of protests over the Italian government ’ s pandemic restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appealed to people to put aside partisan politics and pull together .
President Sergio Mattarella on Sunday visited a cemetery near Brescia , a northern city in Lombardy , the region which has largely borne the brunt of Italy ’ s coronavirus outbreak to pay tribute to those who died from COVID-19 .
Mattarella said he chose the cemetery because that ’ s where someone carried out the “ ignoble theft ” of a cross placed there in memory of pandemic victims .
The head of state recalled Italy ’ s more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including “ the many who died in solitude.
” He called for Italians , “ whatever one ’ s role or convictions , ” to unite with the “ common aim of defending people ’ s health and assuring the economic revival of our country.
” Right-wing opposition leaders have been railing against the center-left government ’ s infection-prevention measures , contending they unfairly penalize and don ’ t reflect their input .
ROME - Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte is expected this week to order more restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lay out the next measures and press for widespread public support after a week of nightly protests by Italians angered by limits on the personal freedom and the economic damage suffered by closed businesses .
Conte was conferring on Sunday with governors and representatives from cities and towns in a bid to ensure local support .
He has said he is determined to keep schools open if possible .
For two days straight , Italy registered more than 30,000 new confirmed infections .
Just a week ago , Conte shuttered gyms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars and cafes to stop serving customers at 6 p.m. , except for takeaway and delivery service .
Particularly hard is Italy ’ s financial capital of Milan in Lombardy , the northern region where the pandemic first struck hard in Europe .
Infections are also surging in the southern Campania region , including densely populated Naples .
COLOMBO , Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka ’ s government has extended a three-day quarantine curfew imposed in the country ’ s Western Province for a further week as the number of COVID-19 cases being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Province was closed from Friday , a public holiday , so people wound not travel over a long holiday weekend .
At least three big COVID-19 clusters have been reported in the province since October .
Sri Lanka has reported 10,663 cases so far with 20 deaths .
LONDON - A British government minister says a new national lockdown in England may have to last longer than the planned four weeks if coronavirus infection rates don ’ t fall quickly enough .
The lockdown is due to run from Thursday until Dec. 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is needed to stop hospitals becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients within weeks .
Cabinet minister Michael Gove said Sunday that “ with a virus this malignant , and with its capacity to move so quickly , it would be foolish to predict with absolute certainty what will happen in four weeks ’ time.
” Under the new restrictions , bars and restaurants can only offer take-out , non-essential shops must close and people will only be able to leave home for a short list of reasons including exercise .
Other venues that must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pools , golf courses , driving ranges , dance studios , horse riding centers , soft play facilities , climbing walls , water parks and theme parks .
JERUSALEM - Israel reopened elementary school classes after a six-week shutdown on Sunday as the country eases restrictions following a nationwide lockdown that began in September .
First to fourth grade students will attend school four days a week , with up to 20 students in each class .
Students and teachers are required to wear face masks in class .
Group prayers are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoors and 20 in open spaces .
Hairdressers and beauty salons across the country have too been allowed to reopen .
Other businesses , including street shops , will remain closed until next Sunday .
Israel imposed a second nationwide lockdown on Sept. 18 as the country saw one of the highest per capita infection rates .
Israel ’ s Health Ministry has recorded over 314,000 cases of the coronavirus and 2,541 deaths .
COLOMBO , Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka ’ s government has extended a three-day quarantine curfew imposed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further week as the number of COVID-19 cases being reported continues to surge .
The Western Province was closed from Friday , a public holiday , so people wound not travel over a long holiday weekend .
At least three big COVID-19 clusters have been reported in the province since October .
Sri Lanka has reported 10,663 cases so far with 20 deaths .
CANBERRA , Australia - Australia has recorded no new locally transmitted coronavirus infection for the first time in five months .
In Melbourne , the capital of Victoria state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in the country , residents were enjoying the first weekend of cafes , restaurants and pubs reopening to walk-in customers .
The city only has one mystery case without a known source .
There are 61 active cases left across the state , down from 70 on Saturday .
State Deputy Premier James Merlino hailed Sunday ’ s zero figures as “ another great day for Victoria , ” but urged caution ahead of Australia ’ s most-prestigious horse race on Tuesday , the Melbourne Cup , known as the “ race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gather in bars or in private homes to watch the event , a public holiday .
The race attracts crowds of more than 100,000 at Melbourne ’ s Flemington race course , but this year it will held without fans because of restrictions on public gatherings .
NEW DELHI - India reported 46,964 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours , keeping a month-long downward trend in infections .
India ’ s health ministry on Sunday also registered 470 more deaths , taking total fatalities up to 122,111 .
The latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus tally to close to 8.2 million and is only behind the U.S. India saw a steep rise in cases in July but it is seeing a slower pace of coronavirus spread since mid-September , when daily infections touched a record of 97,894 .
But health experts warn that mask and distancing fatigue is setting in and can lead to a fresh wave of infections .
Some experts question the country ’ s testing methods and warn that a major festival due in a few weeks and the winter season could result in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - A Turkish politician from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s ruling party has died from coronavirus .
Burhan Kuzu , 65 , had been receiving treatment for COVID-19 since Oct. 17 , the country ’ s health minister tweeted .
He passed away Sunday .
A constitutional lawyer and a founding member of the governing Justice and Development Party , Kuzu served in parliament four times .
Two senior officials close to Turkey ’ s leader - presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu - tweeted Saturday that they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing well .
Soylu was in a hospital .
Turkey has seen over 10,000 deaths in the pandemic but some experts have questioned whether the government is downplaying the true extent of the country ’ s outbreak with the way it counts cases .
JERUSALEM - Dozens of members of Israel ’ s Druze Arab minority stormed a hospital in northern Israel and seized the body of a sheikh who died from the coronavirus .
Later Saturday , his followers held a large funeral for him against safety guidelines .
The crowd stormed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town of Safed .
TV stations showed videos of dozens of followers entering the building .
The funeral took place in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams , which has been placed under a lockdown due to the high rate of coronavirus infections .
Thousands of Druze people participated in the funeral procession , despite a ban on large gatherings .
Later Saturday , Sheikh Muwafaq Tarif , the spiritual leader of the Druze sect , said the family of the deceased and the Druze leadership were not consulted before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He appealed for Druze to abide by health restrictions , Israel ’ s public radio Arabic service reported .
The reports say that Israeli police are investigating the incidents .
Israel has begun easing its second nationwide lockdown this month after succeeding in lowering the infection rate , which in September had risen to be one of the highest in the world .
State officials reported 977 more cases , increasing the total to 100,763 .
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases went from 584 on Oct. 16 to 874 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data analyzed by The Associated Press .
The positivity rate rose from 8 % to 10 % .
However , average number of daily deaths dropped from 7.1 to 5.6 .
Democratic Gov .
Steve Sisolak says , “ Now is not the time to get complacent or to give into COVID fatigue.
” Sisolak urged residents to wear masks , practice social distancing , frequently wash hands and avoid large crowds .
He told people to take the virus seriously to protect others and the economy .
Nevada reported no deaths on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,777 .
JUNEAU , Alaska - Lawmakers , employees and reporters must be screened for the coronavirus when entering the Alaska Capitol .
The Alaska Legislative Council approved the measure , which requires masks in the building and other legislative offices .
The council voted to keep the Capitol building closed to the public until at least January , when the next Legislature convenes .
Alaska reported 384 coronavirus cases and four deaths on Friday .
There ’ s been more than 15,000 cases and 81 confirmed deaths , according to the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ROME - Italy added a record 31,758 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours and doubled the deaths to nearly 300 on Saturday .
The Health Ministry says approximately one of every seven people receiving swab tests has tested positive in recent days .
Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte is considering more stringent virus measures .
Demonstrators took to the streets of Rome on Saturday to protest recent measures .
Italy has nearly 680,000 confirmed cases and 38,618 deaths , the second-highest deaths in Europe .
PHOENIX - Arizona reported nearly 1,900 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates in late October have started to reach levels last recorded in late May , with 880 people hospitalized for COVID-19 on Friday .
Nearly 200 were in intensive care .
The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases rose from 772 on Oct. 16 to 1,166 on Friday , according to Johns Hopkins University data analyzed by The Associated Press .
The daily deaths went from 8.6 to 9.9 and the positivity rate increased from 8.2 % to 10.5 % .
ATHENS , Greece - Greece surpassed 2,000 coronavirus cases for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Authorities says there were 2,056 new cases in the past day and six deaths .
The government announced new lockdown measures Saturday to stem the rapid rise in new cases .
The restrictions , including the closure of bars , cafes , restaurants and gyms in large swaths of the country , will take effect Tuesday through at least the end of November .
VIENNA - Austria will impose a partial shutdown Tuesday that closes restaurants , bars and recreation facilities .
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz says Austrians will stay home between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can go out for work and exercise .
He requested citizens work from home when possible .
Kurz says the restrictions will last through November .
He characterized it as a “ second lockdown ” but more lenient because schools , non-essential shops and hairdressers can stay open .
Austria has reported 301 cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days .
That compares with 110 in neighboring Germany , which is imposing a somewhat lighter four-week partial shutdown starting Monday .
Austria has confirmed a total of 106,000 coronavirus cases @ @ @ @

SAO PAULO - Protesters have gathered in Brazil’s two biggest cities to demonstrate against any mandate for the taking of a coronavirus vaccine, supporting a rejection campaign encouraged by President Jair Bolsonaro in opposition to the advice of most health professionals.
A small group of people assembled in downtown Sao Paulo on Sunday calling for the removal of Sao Paulo state Gov. Joao Doria, who has said state residents will be required to take a vaccine, likely the one being developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac and the local Butantan Institute. Demonstrators supporting Bolsonaro on the question also protested on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
The issue has become a talking point in mayoral and city council campaigns for elections later this month.
Brazil has reported more than 5.5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus infections, and about 160,000 people have died from COVID-19, the disease that can be caused by the virus.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
- UK says 4-week coronavirus lockdown may have to last longer
- Pre-election virus spike creates concern for polling places
- A company with no manufacturing facilities that is based in a luxury condo may be in line for as much as $65 million in taxpayer dollars for antiviral plasma treatments.
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Follow AP’s coronavirus pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
MEXICO CITY — Diminutive figures of skeletons in facemasks and medical caps are all too common on Mexico’s Day of the Dead altars this year.
More than 1,700 Mexican health workers are officially known to have died of COVID-19 and they’re being honored with three days of national mourning.
One is Dr. Jose Luis Linares, who attended to patients at a private clinic in a poor neighborhood in Mexico City, usually charging about 30 pesos (roughly $1.50) a consultation.
“I told him, ‘Luis, don’t go to work.’ But he told me, ‘then who is going to see those poor people,’” said his widow, Dr. María del Rosario Martínez. She said he had taken precautions against the disease because of lungs damaged by an earlier illness.
Her Day of the Dead altar this year includes - in addition to the usual marigolds and paper cutouts - little skeleton figures shown doing consultations or surgeries in honor of colleagues who have died.
Amnesty International said last month that Mexico had lost more medical professionals to the coronavirus than any other nation.
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WASHINGTON - Dr. Scott Atlas, one of President Donald Trump’s science advisers, is apologizing after appearing on the Russian state-funded TV channel RT to criticize lockdown measures aimed at stemming the coronavirus.
In a tweet Sunday, Atlas wrote he was unaware that RT was a registered foreign agent. He said he regretted the interview and apologized, particularly to the national security community, “for allowing myself to be taken advantage of.”
Atlas told RT over the weekend that he considered the COVID-19 pandemic to be mostly under control and that it was actually lockdowns that are “killing people.”
RT is registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which applies to people or companies disseminating information in the U.S. on behalf of foreign governments, political parties and other “foreign principals.”
U.S. intelligence agencies have alleged RT served as a propaganda outlet for the Kremlin as part of a multi-pronged effort to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Russia denies interfering.
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PORTLAND, Maine - Maine is reinstating restrictions meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 amid a resurgence of the virus, Gov. Janet Mills said Sunday.
Maine has been one of the most successful states at controlling the virus, but it’s dealing with a wave of new infections. The rolling average of daily cases more than doubled from below 30 per day to more than 67 by Friday. The state reported 103 infections that day, the largest single day increase in cases.
The state had been slated to reopen bars Monday, but that has been postponed to a yet-to-be-determined date, said Mills, a Democrat.
The state is removing New York, Connecticut and New Jersey from its list of states that are exempt from travel restrictions, Mills said. That means visitors from those states must quarantine for two weeks or produce a negative coronavirus test.
Maine is also reducing indoor capacity limits from 100 to 50, Mills said.
The new restrictions take effect Wednesday.
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AVENAL, Calif. — Authorities say an inmate at a central California prison has died of complications from the coronavirus, becoming the state’s 79th person known to have a fatal case of COVID-19 while incarcerated.
The Avenal State Prison inmate died at a hospital Saturday. The prisoner’s name was not released.
There have been 15,872 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state prison system.
Of the 79 state prison inmates known to have died from the coronavirus, 28 were from the San Quentin State Prison. Twenty-six were incarcerated at the California Institution for Men in Chino.
Advocates say jails and prisons nationwide are prime locations for the virus to spread between inmates and staff. Officials have released hundreds of inmates to decrease jail and prison populations across the country during the pandemic.
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ROME - The governor of the Italian region with the largest percentage of residents older than 65 has apologized for a tweet which contended the elderly aren’t indispensable to the country’s production, as Italy battles COVID-19.
The newspaper Corriere della Sera said Liguria Gov. Giovanni Toti, in a meeting Sunday with government ministers, had advocated limiting movement outside the home for those older than 70 in a bid to avoid a generalized, nationwide lockdown amid surging spread of coronavirus infections.
“For as much as every single COVID-19 victim pains us, we must keep in mind this data: Only yesterday among the 25 deaths in Liguria, 22 were very elderly patients,” Toti tweeted on Sunday.
They are “persons for the most part in retirement, not indispensable to the productive effort” of the economy, tweeted Toti, who is 52. Nearly 29 percent of Liguria’s residents are older than 65, compared to a nationwide percentage of just under 23 percent.
Maurizio Gasparri, a 64-year-old senator, slammed Toti’s assessment of the elderly’s value as “delirious.” Apologizing for what he termed “misunderstandings,” Toti later claimed his tweet was “badly extrapolated” and blamed it on an error by his social media manager.
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PARIS - French families took advantage Sunday of an exception to national virus lockdown measures to gather at cemeteries to mark All Saints’ Day and honor lost loved ones.
France’s government has shut down all nonessential businesses and ordered people to stay indoors for the next month to slow accelerating virus infections, hospitalizations and deaths. But cemeteries stayed open and church services were allowed for the All Saints’ holiday weekend.
Parisian Alice Crespel, who took her children to the cemetery in the historic Montmartre neighborhood, told The Associated Press, “It is very important to be with the kids and have them join their grandmother in a family reunion without taking risks.”
The main exception to this lockdown is schools, which are allowed to stay open to reduce learning gaps and allow their parents to keep working.
While the lockdown is currently scheduled to end Dec. 1, Health Minister Olivier Veran warned that Christmas “will not be a normal holiday” this year and cautioned against planning big New Year’s parties.
France reported 223 new virus-related deaths Saturday, for a total of 36,788, the world’s seventh-highest reported death toll. COVID patients now occupy 68% of France’s intensive care units, a proportion that has doubled in two weeks
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BEIRUT- Facing a relentless surge in cases of coronavirus infections, Lebanese authorities are lengthening a nationwide nighttime curfew and placing a number of towns and villages under total lockdown.
The Interior Ministry’s decisions Sunday increase a nighttime curfew by four hours, asking people to stay off the streets and shops to close between 9pm local time and 5am. It did not set an end date.
The Interior Ministry also put 115 towns and villages in total lockdown for a week because of a high positive infection rate and “high level of danger.” Bars and nightclubs will continue to be closed; restaurants and cafes are to continue to operate at 50% while public gatherings and parties are barred.
Lebanon, a country of over 5 million, has been witnessing a surge of infection cases, deaths and intensive care unit occupancy over the past weeks that brought the recorded cases to over 80,000. According to health ministry statistics, the number of recorded cases nearly doubled between September and October in the country that is also home to over 1 million refugees. The percentage of positive tests has increased to over 12% for every 100 tests and the average age of those who die from the virus has gone down.
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ROME - Italy registered nearly 2,000 fewer new COVID-19 infections in its daily caseload Sunday, but it also conducted some 32,000 fewer swab tests to detect the virus in the last 24 hours.
With 29,907 confirmed new infections, Italy’s total known coronavirus cases in the pandemic grew to 709,335, according to Health Ministry figures.
Weekends often see fewer tests carried out. Since Saturday, the deaths of 208 infected persons were registered, raising to 38,826 the number of known dead in the pandemic, the second-highest confirmed toll in Europe.
Italian government officials have been consulting with scientific advisers and regional and municipal representatives as Premier Giuseppe Conte ponders tighter restrictions he is expected to order this week to try to slow the galloping spread of contagion, especially in the areas of Milan in the north and Naples in the south.
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GENEVA - Authorities in Geneva say Switzerland’s largest hospital complex is facing “imminent saturation” and is preparing to airlift patients to other Swiss hospitals after a sixfold spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the last two weeks.
The Geneva canton, or region, said the University Hospitals of Geneva on Sunday counted 474 people hospitalized with coronavirus infections, including 56 in intensive care. That’s up from 78 hospitalizations and 13 people in the ICU in mid-October.
“These figures point to a severe worsening of the situation,” the canton said in a statement, noting that over 1,000 people have tested positive each day recently in the region of about 500,000 people.
Cantonal authorities held a rare Sunday news conference to announce new measures, including the closure of restaurants, bars, cinemas, gyms and other entertainment sites. Barber shops and other services requiring close physical contact are to close too. Operations at post offices, bookstores, doctors and dentist offices, repair shops and public administration offices are to continue. Geneva has already limited public gatherings to no more than five people in parks and other public spaces.
The measures begin on Monday and will last at least through Nov. 29, and amount to some of the strictest measures yet in Switzerland - a country that devolves much power and decision-making to cantonal authorities.
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WASHINGTON - The government’s top infectious diseases expert is cautioning that the U.S. will have to deal with “a whole lot of hurt” in the weeks ahead due to surging coronavirus cases. Dr. Anthony Fauci’s comments in a Washington Post interview take issue with President Donald Trump’s frequent assertion that the nation is “rounding the turn” on the virus.
Fauci says the U.S. “could not possibly be positioned more poorly” to stem rising cases as more people gather indoors during the colder fall and winter months. He says the U.S. will need to make an “abrupt change” in public health precautions.
Speaking of the risks, Fauci says he believes Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden “is taking it seriously from a public health perspective,” while Trump is “looking at it from a different perspective.” Fauci, who’s on the White House coronavirus task force, says that perspective is “the economy and reopening the country.”
In response, White House spokesman Judd Deere says Trump always puts people’s well-being first and Deere charges that Fauci has decided “to play politics” right before Tuesday’s election.
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TEHRAN - Iran hit another single-day record for coronavirus deaths as the country grapples with a sharp spike in cases.
The Health Ministry reported Sunday that 434 people had died in 24 hours from the virus, bringing Iran’s death toll in the pandemic to more than 35,000.
The ministry said it recorded 7,719 new confirmed infections since Saturday. Iran has reported more than 620,000 confirmed virus cases in all.
Most deaths have occurred in the capital, Tehran, which is also the most populated city in Iran. The head of the virology department at Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran, Alireza Naji, warned that Iran could reach 900 confirmed coronavirus deaths per day if more restrictions on movement and gatherings are not imposed.
Tehran’s City Council has proposed a two-week lockdown of the city. For the past three weeks, Iran has banned weddings and funeral gatherings, and closed universities and schools, as well as libraries, mosques, cinemas, museums and beauty salons to try and curb the spread of the virus in Tehran.
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PODGORICA, Montenegro - Huge crowds have attended the funeral of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro in violation of coronavirus.
Thousands on Sunday gathered outside the main church in the capital Podgorica for the liturgy and the burial of Bishop Amfilohije inside the church crypt.
The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church led the prayers inside the packed church joined by dozens of officials and clergy, many of whom did not wear face masks. Montenegro recently has seen a surge in virus cases.
Bishop Amfilohije died on Friday of COVID-19. He was well-know for fighting against a new religion law in the country.
In an illustration of the bishop’s popularity, thousands have paid their respects since Saturday, passing by an open casket with his body. Many kissed the bishop’s remains, prompting an appeal from doctors to close the coffin.
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ROME - After days of protests over the Italian government’s pandemic restrictions, the country’s president has appealed to people to put aside partisan politics and pull together.
President Sergio Mattarella on Sunday visited a cemetery near Brescia, a northern city in Lombardy, the region which has largely borne the brunt of Italy’s coronavirus outbreak to pay tribute to those who died from COVID-19.
Mattarella said he chose the cemetery because that’s where someone carried out the “ignoble theft” of a cross placed there in memory of pandemic victims.
The head of state recalled Italy’s more than 38,000 confirmed dead in the pandemic, including “the many who died in solitude.”
He called for Italians, “whatever one’s role or convictions,” to unite with the “common aim of defending people’s health and assuring the economic revival of our country.”
Right-wing opposition leaders have been railing against the center-left government’s infection-prevention measures, contending they unfairly penalize and don’t reflect their input.


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--70-year-old pulled out alive in Turkey as quake toll hits 60

IZMIR , Turkey ( AP ) - Rescue workers extricated a 70-year-old man from a collapsed building in western Turkey on Sunday , some 34 hours after a strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea struck Turkey and Greece , killing at least 60 people and injuring more than 900 .
It was the latest series of remarkable rescues after the Friday afternoon earthquake , which was centered in the Aegean northeast of the Greek island of Samos .
Search-and-rescue teams were working in nine toppled or damaged buildings in Izmir , Turkey ’ s third-largest city , but appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Turkey ’ s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the death toll Sunday in Izmir to 58 .
Two teenagers were killed Friday on Samos and at least 19 others were injured .
There was some debate over the magnitude of the earthquake .
The U.S. Geological Survey rated it 7.0 , while the Istanbul ’ s Kandilli Institute put it at 6.9 and Turkey ’ s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency ( AFAD ) said it measured 6.6 .
Ahmet Citim , 70 , was pulled out of the rubble in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted that Citim said : “ I never lost hope.
” The minister visited the survivor and said he was doing well .
The quake triggered a small tsunami that hit Samos and the Seferihisar district of Izmir , drowning one elderly woman .
The tremors were felt across western Turkey , including in Istanbul as well as in the Greek capital of Athens .
Hundreds of aftershocks followed .
Turkey ’ s disaster agency said 930 people were injured in Turkey alone .
Turkish Vice President Fuat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be demolished in Izmir .
“ It ’ s not the earthquake that kills but buildings , ” he added , repeating a common slogan .
Turkey has a mix of older buildings and cheap or illegal construction , which can lead to serious damage and deaths when earthquakes hit .
Regulations have been tightened in light of earthquakes to strengthen or demolish buildings and urban renewal is underway in Turkish cities but it is not happening fast enough .
Two destroyed apartment buildings in Izmir where much of the rescues are taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in 2012 and 2018 , according to the municipal agency in charge of such certificates .
Turkish media including the Hurriyet newspaper said one of the buildings , which was built in 1993 , was at risk of earthquake damage because of its low quality concrete and the lack of reinforcements .
However , the building continued to be occupied .
Turkey ’ s justice minister said prosecutors have begun investigating several collapsed buildings and promised legal repercussions if experts identified neglect .
AFAD said nearly 6,400 personnel had been activated for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food distribution , emergency help and building damage control .
Turkey is criss-crossed by fault lines and is prone to earthquakes .
In 1999 , two powerful quakes killed some 18,000 people in northwestern Turkey .
Earthquakes are frequent in Greece as well .
In a rare show of unity amid months of tense relations over energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean , Greek and Turkish government officials issued mutual messages of solidarity over the quake toll .
Pope Francis on Sunday asked the faithful to pray for the people of the Aegean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was already struggling with an economic downturn and the coronavirus pandemic .
So far , Turkey has more than 10,000 confirmed virus deaths but some experts have accused the government of concealing the true impact of the virus with the way it counts new cases .

IZMIR, Turkey (AP) - Rescue workers in western Turkey extricated a 70-year-old man from a collapsed building Sunday, some 34 hours after a strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea struck Turkey and Greece, killing at least 75 people and injuring close to 1,000.
The man was pulled out of the rubble overnight and doing well at a hospital, according to the Turkish health minister. The minister tweeted that the survivor, Ahmet Citim, told him, “I never lost hope.” The operation that saved Citim was the latest in a series of remarkable rescues after the Friday afternoon earthquake.
But on the third day since the disaster, search-and-rescue teams appeared to be finding more bodies than survivors in Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city. They continued searching in eight toppled buildings, but work was paused at one when authorities determined the damaged structure next door was also at risk of falling, forcing rescuers and people waiting outside to retreat.
The earthquake was centered in the Aegean northeast of the Greek island of Samos. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) raised the death toll Sunday in Izmir province to 73. The agency said 961 people were injured in Turkey, with more than 220 still receiving treatment Sunday.
The earthquake also killed two teenagers on Samos and injured at least 19 other people on the island.
There was some debate over the magnitude of the earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey rated it 7.0, while the Istanbul’s Kandilli Institute put it at 6.9 and AFAD said it measured 6.6.
The quake triggered a small tsunami that hit Samos and the Seferihisar district of Izmir, drowning one elderly woman. The tremors were felt across western Turkey, including in Istanbul as well as in the Greek capital of Athens. Hundreds of aftershocks followed.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said 26 badly damaged buildings would be demolished in Izmir.
“It’s not the earthquake that kills but buildings,” he added, repeating a common slogan.
Turkey has a mix of older buildings and cheap or illegal construction, which can lead to serious damage and deaths when earthquakes hit. Regulations have been tightened in light of earthquakes to strengthen or demolish buildings and urban renewal is underway in Turkish cities but it is not happening fast enough.
Two destroyed apartment buildings in Izmir where much of the rescues are taking place had received reports of “decay” in 2012 and 2018, according to the municipal agency in charge of such certificates. Turkish media including the Hurriyet newspaper said one of the apartments, which was built in 1993, was at risk of earthquake damage because of its low quality concrete and the lack of reinforcements. However, the building continued to be occupied.
A 73-year-old survivor from one of those buildings said she was on her third-floor balcony when the quake struck and believes there were at least 50 people in the building, which also had a café on the bottom floor.
“In the first tremor nothing happened. During the second tremor, the seventh floor, sixth and fourth floors fell on top of another like a sandwich,” Suzan Dere said. “The building collapsed in a cloud of dust onto the street with a very loud noise. It all happened within one minute.”
Turkey’s justice minister said prosecutors have begun investigating several collapsed buildings and promised legal repercussions if experts identified neglect.
AFAD said nearly 6,400 personnel had been activated for rescue work and hundreds of others for food distribution, emergency help and building damage control.
Turkey is crisscrossed by fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. In 1999, two powerful quakes killed some 18,000 people in northwestern Turkey. Earthquakes are frequent in Greece as well.
In a rare show of unity amid months of tense relations over energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean, Greek and Turkish government officials issued mutual messages of solidarity over the quake toll.
Pope Francis on Sunday asked the faithful to pray for the people of the Aegean Sea.
The quake occurred as Turkey was already struggling with an economic downturn and the coronavirus pandemic. So far, Turkey has more than 10,000 confirmed virus deaths but some experts have accused the government of concealing the true impact of the virus with the way it counts new cases.
___
Bilginsoy reported from Istanbul. Ayse Wieting and Robert Badendieck in Istanbul, and Frances D’Emilio in Rome contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Police arrest suspect after stabbings in Quebec City kill 2

QUEBEC CITY ( AP ) - Police in Quebec City early Sunday arrested a man on suspicion of killing two people and injuring five others in a stabbing rampage on Halloween near the provincial legislature in Quebec City .
They say a man in his mid-20s has been arrested in connection with the Halloween night attacks and taken to a hospital .
Quebec police said in a tweet their initial information indicates the motive is personal .
Police had earlier warned residents to remain indoors as they hunted for a man dressed in medieval clothing and armed with a bladed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Spokesman Etienne Doyon said police were first notified of the stabbings near the National Assembly shortly before 10:30 p.m. Saturday .
The five injured victims were taken to a hospital , and a spokeswoman said their lives do not appear to be in danger .
Police have asked any potential witnesses to contact them .
Doyon declined to offer any information about the two people who were killed , saying only that “ Our thoughts are with the family of the people who died today.
” Carlos Godoy , who lives in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had searched his backyard as they hunted for the suspect .
“ It ’ s a full moon , it ’ s October 31st .
It ’ s Halloween , and it ’ s a lockdown weekend .
No one should be out on the streets , ” Godoy said .
“ And I ’ m in an extremely quiet neighborhood because there are no tourists nowadays .
”

QUEBEC CITY (AP) - A man dressed in medieval clothing and armed with a Japanese sword was arrested Sunday on suspicion of killing two people and wounding five others on Halloween near the historic Château Frontenac hotel in Quebec City.
The attack on randomly chosen victims went on for nearly 2 1/2 hours while police pursued the man armed with a katana throughout the city’s downtown core on foot, Quebec Police Chief Robert Pigeon said.
Quebec’s prosecutor’s office said Carl Girouard, 24, faces two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder. Girouard appeared before a judge via video-conference Sunday and the next hearing in the case is expected to be on Thursday
Police said their initial information indicated the suspect’s motive was personal and not terrorism.
“Last night we were thrust into a night of horror when a 24-year-old man who does not live in Quebec City came here with the clear intention of taking as many victims as possible,” Pigeon said.
Pigeon said the suspect, who was from the Montreal area, had no criminal record, but that “in a medical context” over five years ago, he had shared his intention to commit this type of act. He said the investigation continued.
Police were first notified of the stabbings near the National Assembly shortly before 10:30 p.m. Saturday, and warned people to remain indoors as they hunted for the attacker.
The two people killed were identified as 56-year-old Francois Duchesne and 61-year-old Suzanne Clermont.
Residents huddled outside Clermont’s home, where they placed a box filled with flowers and a stuffed cat at her front door.
One neighbor said Clermont was out smoking a cigarette when she was attacked.
“She was my friend,” said Lucie Painchaud, a resident of the area for 16 years. “It’s unbelievable. I can’t still compute.”
The horror of Saturday night’s events was also setting in at the nearby Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec, where Duchesne was described as a much-loved employee.
“We are all in shock,” spokeswoman Linda Tremblay said in a statement, describing the attack as an “inexplicable and unfair tragedy.”
The five injured victims were taken to a hospital. “Some have very significant lacerations but we do not fear for their lives,” Pigeon said.
Steve Jolicoeur, a freelance photographer, said the deceased male had his throat slit. Jolicoeur said another person was cut on the shoulder while another was cut on the head and hand.
He said he witnessed the arrest of the suspect, who threw his sword in the air.
“He seemed confused,” Jolicoeur said. “He was in black clothes, like a ninja.”
Police were searching his car and residence. He was due to make a video court appearance later Sunday
Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume said Canada needs to have a debate about how to deal with mental illness. He said the attack has shaken the city, which is still recovering from a shooting at a mosque in 2017 that killed six people.
“Quebec is waking up after a night of horror. Words fail me to describe such a tragedy. I offer my condolences to the families of the victims,” Quebec Premier Francois Legault tweeted.
Carlos Godoy, who lives in the area, said police K-9 units had searched his backyard as they hunted for the suspect.
“It’s a full moon, it’s October 31st. It’s Halloween, and it’s a lockdown weekend. No one should be out on the streets,” Godoy said. “And I’m in an extremely quiet neighborhood because there are no tourists nowadays.”
The area around the Chateau Frontenac, the towering landmark of the walled old city, is usually bustling with tourists in normal times.
___
Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Aurora woman strives to sew comfortable masks

AURORA , Neb .
( AP ) - Even though Allisha Suing and her family have made more than 2,500 face masks , she doesn ’ t just throw them together .
She is careful about doing a good job .
The first three months of her work , Suing used ribbons for her masks instead of elastic .
A friend of hers found his mask uncomfortable .
“ And I didn ’ t want that for my customers , ” said the Aurora woman .
Eventually , she switched to elastic .
But she kept looking until she found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants her masks to be comfortable , and to fit her customers ’ faces .
That ’ s why she makes her product in five sizes - adult XL , adult , youth , teen , toddler .
If a customer says his mask doesn ’ t fit , she sends him a better one .
How picky is she about materials ?
She finally found a pipe cleaner that fit her standards .
“ I ’ ve gone through a lot of different brands .
But I finally found one I liked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Independent .
Pipe cleaners go into each mask to form across the nose .
Suing ’ s work began when she made masks for her family .
She and her husband , David , have two kids , Zee , 9 , and Zolee , 4 .
Then she made more masks for the friend who ’ d found his mask uncomfortable - an emergency room nurse who lives in Suing ’ s native state of Ohio .
He helped Suing design the mask that was outfitted with ribbons .
She sent 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his friends .
Suing hadn ’ t sewn on a sewing machine since she was in a seventh-grade life skills class in her hometown of Defiance , Ohio .
But she did well in that class , and she ’ s doing well today .
She kept her nose to the sewing machine when people started asking for more .
Suing has sold a good number of masks at the farmers market in Aurora , but she has sold even more online .
After the initial batches , she has been charging $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she didn ’ t want to gouge customers like some people do .
Suing is making money off of her work , but her bigger desire is to help people .
“ I wanted to be somewhat of a positive influence in this crappy situation , ” she said .
“ And if I have this skill , then why not ?
” Young people like to wear her masks because they ’ re cute .
One woman bought 18 masks for her child .
People like her face masks not just because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the fabric she chooses .
She has offered more than 70 fabric choices .
She buys the material at the JoAnne and Hobby Lobby stores in Grand Island .
Suing found a pattern that had a law-and-order theme .
She used that fabric to make 50 masks , which she sent to a woman in Arkansas whose husband is a corrections officer .
Suing started putting her masks online “ just to show what I can do , ” she said .
The masks were “ something that I was proud of.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sewing is an outlet .
“ I can channel my anxiety into it , ” she said .
Suing , 29 , is a student at Central Community College in Grand Island .
She ’ s taking five classes , one of which is in-person .
Her classroom focus is information technology .
At one point , she was making 100 masks a week .
Demand increased when Grand Island Public Schools decided on a mask mandate .
She started slowing down in late July and early August , just before school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fulfill her orders .
“ Even when I don ’ t have the time , it ’ s extremely difficult for me to tell somebody no , ” Suing said .
Her masks , which are pleated , have to be handwashed .
She uses material from 3M Filtrete Advanced Allergen filters .
Suing ’ s husband , who was in the Nebraska National Guard for 16 years , helps her cut fabric and elastic .
She also has gotten a lot of help from her best friend , Nikki Finch , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lived in Nebraska since 2012 .
She and David , a native of Fordyce , have been married and Aurora residents for five years .
Through her studies at CCC , Suing is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success .
She ’ s happy to be part of that group because it brings together “ people like myself who are go-getters , ” she said .
The members of NSLS want to be successful in life “ and they give us the tools ” to succeed , Suing said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can sit still.
” Suing ’ s house smells good because she also sells Scentsy products .
For her next project , she ’ s thinking about making neck gaiters , to help keep people warm .

AURORA, Neb. (AP) - Even though Allisha Suing and her family have made more than 2,500 face masks, she doesn’t just throw them together.
She is careful about doing a good job.
The first three months of her work, Suing used ribbons for her masks instead of elastic. A friend of hers found his mask uncomfortable. “And I didn’t want that for my customers,” said the Aurora woman.
Eventually, she switched to elastic. But she kept looking until she found a soft version of elastic.
Suing wants her masks to be comfortable, and to fit her customers’ faces. That’s why she makes her product in five sizes - adult XL, adult, youth, teen, toddler.
If a customer says his mask doesn’t fit, she sends him a better one.
How picky is she about materials? She finally found a pipe cleaner that fit her standards.
“I’ve gone through a lot of different brands. But I finally found one I liked,” she told The Grand Island Independent. Pipe cleaners go into each mask to form across the nose.
Suing’s work began when she made masks for her family. She and her husband, David, have two kids, Zee, 9, and Zolee, 4.
Then she made more masks for the friend who’d found his mask uncomfortable - an emergency room nurse who lives in Suing’s native state of Ohio.
He helped Suing design the mask that was outfitted with ribbons. She sent 10 masks to Toledo for the nurse and his friends.
Suing hadn’t sewn on a sewing machine since she was in a seventh-grade life skills class in her hometown of Defiance, Ohio. But she did well in that class, and she’s doing well today.
She kept her nose to the sewing machine when people started asking for more.
Suing has sold a good number of masks at the farmers market in Aurora, but she has sold even more online.
After the initial batches, she has been charging $5 for each mask. She said she didn’t want to gouge customers like some people do.
Suing is making money off of her work, but her bigger desire is to help people.
“I wanted to be somewhat of a positive influence in this crappy situation,” she said. “And if I have this skill, then why not?”
Young people like to wear her masks because they’re cute. One woman bought 18 masks for her child.
People like her face masks not just because they’re comfortable. They also like the fabric she chooses.
She has offered more than 70 fabric choices. She buys the material at the JoAnne and Hobby Lobby stores in Grand Island.
Suing found a pattern that had a law-and-order theme. She used that fabric to make 50 masks, which she sent to a woman in Arkansas whose husband is a corrections officer.
Suing started putting her masks online “just to show what I can do,” she said. The masks were “something that I was proud of.”
As it is for many people, sewing is an outlet. “I can channel my anxiety into it,” she said.
Suing, 29, is a student at Central Community College in Grand Island. She’s taking five classes, one of which is in-person. Her classroom focus is information technology.
At one point, she was making 100 masks a week. Demand increased when Grand Island Public Schools decided on a mask mandate.
Suing’s still making 10 or 15 a week.
She started slowing down in late July and early August, just before school started.
But she still likes to fulfill her orders.
“Even when I don’t have the time, it’s extremely difficult for me to tell somebody no,” Suing said.
Her masks, which are pleated, have to be handwashed.
She uses material from 3M Filtrete Advanced Allergen filters.
Suing’s husband, who was in the Nebraska National Guard for 16 years, helps her cut fabric and elastic.
Her son also helps.
She also has gotten a lot of help from her best friend, Nikki Finch, who lives in Grand Island.
Suing has lived in Nebraska since 2012. She and David, a native of Fordyce, have been married and Aurora residents for five years.
Through her studies at CCC, Suing is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
She’s happy to be part of that group because it brings together “people like myself who are go-getters,” she said.
The members of NSLS want to be successful in life “and they give us the tools” to succeed, Suing said. She is “not somebody who can sit still.”
Suing’s house smells good because she also sells Scentsy products.
The Aurora woman calls her business Suing Sewing.
For her next project, she’s thinking about making neck gaiters, to help keep people warm.


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Corgis and their companions gather for monthly playdates

IOWA CITY , Iowa ( AP ) - It was a perfect morning for British royalty .
Welsh corgis - Queen Elizabeth ’ s favorite dog breed - and their part-corgi brethren romped Sunday through the damp grass of Hunter ’ s Run park as their owners , bundled for the first chilly weekend of the fall , stood in clusters and talked about their dogs .
“ He always runs sideways with his butt shaking , ” Anna Mascardo , 10 , of Iowa City , said of her corgi , Perry .
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iowa City , started the Corridor Corgis club in 2018 with a gathering that included their corgis , Perry and Winston , and a third dog .
Now , aided by a Facebook page with 129 likes and Winston ’ s Instagram page , @ winstonthecorgidaily , the monthly playdates have grown to between 12 and 20 dogs .
It was a noisy party Sunday with off-leash corgis that barked when their friends arrived , barked at strange dogs and barked in what appeared to be general expressions of happiness .
Corgis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long torsos and tall ears , are herding dogs , but it was hard to tell who was herding whom .
When asked why she wanted a corgi , Betsy Wilson , 26 , of Coralville replied : “ Have you seen them ?
” “ I ’ ve always loved dogs with short little legs and big bellies , ” she said , looking at her 6-month-old corgi , Boone .
Corgis have a lot to love , added Bruno Prickett , 26 , of Coralville .
“ They ’ re low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ He doesn ’ t need a lot of room to be happy.
” Chloe Gerard , 22 , and Ryan Becker , 19 , both of Iowa City , started bringing their dog , Gus , to the Corridor Corgi meetups more than a year ago after discovering the Facebook page .
The outings are a good way for Gus to get exercise and for Gerard and Becker to learn more about the breed .
“ Gus had some problems with licking his feet , ” Gerard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” She also wondered why he was sneezing so much and other owners suggested wiping his nose and feet after walks to reduce allergens .
“ They are so low to the ground , they pick up everything.
” Podhajsky grew up with corgis - her first one was abandoned at her family farm when she was 6 - and she spreads the corgi love by wearing corgi-adorned clothing and handing out Corridor Corgi business cards .
“ Folks !
” Podhajsky shouted to the group .
“ It ’ s time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” After some wrangling , the dogs and their crouching owners smiled for the cameras .
And speaking of cheese , there were two corgis at the meetup named Cheddar , after the Pembroke Welsh corgi featured in the TV comedy show Brooklyn Nine-Nine .

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - It was a perfect morning for British royalty.
Welsh corgis - Queen Elizabeth’s favorite dog breed - and their part-corgi brethren romped Sunday through the damp grass of Hunter’s Run park as their owners, bundled for the first chilly weekend of the fall, stood in clusters and talked about their dogs.
“He always runs sideways with his butt shaking,” Anna Mascardo, 10, of Iowa City, said of her corgi, Perry.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Mascardo and Penny Podhajsky, 49, of Iowa City, started the Corridor Corgis club in 2018 with a gathering that included their corgis, Perry and Winston, and a third dog.
Now, aided by a Facebook page with 129 likes and Winston’s Instagram page, @winstonthecorgidaily, the monthly playdates have grown to between 12 and 20 dogs.
It was a noisy party Sunday with off-leash corgis that barked when their friends arrived, barked at strange dogs and barked in what appeared to be general expressions of happiness.
Corgis, known for their short legs, long torsos and tall ears, are herding dogs, but it was hard to tell who was herding whom.
When asked why she wanted a corgi, Betsy Wilson, 26, of Coralville replied: “Have you seen them?”
“I’ve always loved dogs with short little legs and big bellies,” she said, looking at her 6-month-old corgi, Boone.
Corgis have a lot to love, added Bruno Prickett, 26, of Coralville.
“They’re low maintenance, little and like to cuddle,” he said. “He doesn’t need a lot of room to be happy.”
Chloe Gerard, 22, and Ryan Becker, 19, both of Iowa City, started bringing their dog, Gus, to the Corridor Corgi meetups more than a year ago after discovering the Facebook page. The outings are a good way for Gus to get exercise and for Gerard and Becker to learn more about the breed.
“Gus had some problems with licking his feet,” Gerard said. “I posted about that.”
She also wondered why he was sneezing so much and other owners suggested wiping his nose and feet after walks to reduce allergens. “They are so low to the ground, they pick up everything.”
Podhajsky grew up with corgis - her first one was abandoned at her family farm when she was 6 - and she spreads the corgi love by wearing corgi-adorned clothing and handing out Corridor Corgi business cards.
“Folks!” Podhajsky shouted to the group. “It’s time for the group photo. Grab your dogs.”
After some wrangling, the dogs and their crouching owners smiled for the cameras. And speaking of cheese, there were two corgis at the meetup named Cheddar, after the Pembroke Welsh corgi featured in the TV comedy show Brooklyn Nine-Nine.