washingtontimes--2020-09-05--The Latest: Judge: Stop detaining immigrant kids in hotels

HOUSTON - A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to stop detaining unaccompanied immigrant children in hotels .
That allows for expelling them without the chance to seek refuge in the United States , a new policy the government has enacted during the coronavirus pandemic .
U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee ruled Friday the use of hotels violates a two-decade-old settlement governing the treatment of immigrant children in custody .
She ordered border agencies to stop placing children in hotels by Sept. 15 and to remove children from hotels as soon as possible .
At least 577 unaccompanied children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been held in hotels , sometimes for weeks , according to government data .
That ’ s instead of sending them to shelters operated by the Department of Health and Human Services , where minors receive legal services , education , and the chance to be placed with relatives living in the U.S. Those facilities are licensed by the states where they are located .
More than 13,000 beds in HHS facilities are currently empty .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK - Czech Republic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India ’ s coronavirus caseload has surpassed 4 million , deepening misery in the country ’ s vast hinterlands .
- Police in Australia ’ s hardest-hit Victoria state made several arrests among a crowd of about 300 people protesting the lockdown in Melbourne .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will visit Assisi next month , in his first visit outside Rome since the coronavirus pandemic .
He ’ ll journey to Assisi , the birthplace in the central Italian region of Umbria of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an authoritative papal letter to clergy and faithful worldwide , the Vatican said Saturday .
The encyclical is expected to stress the value of brotherly relations during and after the pandemic , a theme Francis evoked repeatedly during the pandemic .
Francis has stressed the coronavirus reveals the fragility of existence and the importance of helping one other , especially the poor .
Italy was put under lockdown in early March when it became the first country in Europe to feel the full brunt of the coronavirus .
PRAGUE - The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to surge in the Czech Republic , surpassing 700 for the first time .
The Health Ministry says the day-to-day increase reached a record of 798 new confirmed cases on Friday .
The announcement comes after the country registered over 600 cases the previous two days , also records at the time .
Health authorities have already imposed new restrictive measures in the Czech capital , reacting to the spike .
Starting on Wednesday , it is mandatory again to wear face masks in stores and shopping malls .
At the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be closed from midnight to 6 a.m .
The Czech Republic has 27,249 cases and 429 deaths .
MEXICO CITY - The coronavirus pandemic has hit Mexico so hard that the governments of several states ran out of death certificates .
Officials said Friday the federal forms started running out about 15 to 20 days ago in at least three states - Baja California , the State of Mexico and Mexico City .
Authorities say a million new forms have been printed and are being distributed .
The certificates are printed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem in the past .
Mexico has suffered the fourth-highest level of COVID-19 deaths in the world .
On Friday , the number of confirmed cases rose by 6,196 to 623,090 , while deaths rose by 522 to 66,851 .
Cases in Mexico now appear to have plateaued and are no longer decreasing .
SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has reported 168 new cases of the coronavirus , the third consecutive day the daily jump came below 200 in a possible sign the country is starting to see the effects of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released Saturday brought the national caseload to 21,010 , including 333 deaths .
Officials say 115 of the new cases were in the Seoul metropolitan area , home to half of the country ’ s 51 million population .
Infections were also reported in other big cities , including Bunsan , Gwangju , Daejeon and Daegu .
Authorities have decided to extend for another week tougher social distancing restrictions in the Seoul area , saying the viral spread is still at risky levels .
Restaurants are allowed to provide only takeout and home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clubs and after-school academies are closed .
Officials have also shut down churches and nightspots and shifted most schools back to remote learning nationwide .
NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana athletic and education officials are cautiously planning for high school football games to begin in October , while Gov .
John Bel Edwards is expressing hope he will be able to ease some restrictions on businesses next week .
State officials , leaders of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association and lawmakers discussed plans for resuming football at a meeting Friday amid positive trends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Later in the day , Edwards made no commitment to ease restrictions that have limited public gatherings and restaurant seating while shutting down bars since July .
But , noting that current restrictions expire next Friday , he said he hopes he will be able to move to less restrictive regulations .
He didn ’ t give any details on what looser rules might allow .
SANTA FE , N.M. - New Mexico officials say enrollment in Medicaid has increased by nearly 7 % in the state since the outset of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more families entering into poverty .
In a briefing Friday for state legislators , Human Services Secretary David Scrase praised federal legislation that increases the federal matching rate for Medicaid health care and allows the state to quickly extend no-cost coronavirus testing to the poor and undocumented immigrants .
At the same time , he says the current 6.2 % boost in federal matching funds is inadequate to keep up with rebounding demand for medical services under Medicaid and could end abruptly at the discretion of federal health regulators .
WASHINGTON - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ remain vigilant ” about the coronavirus over the Labor Day weekend .
Trump said at a White House briefing Friday that “ we need everybody to be careful ” and to “ apply common sense ” in their interactions with one another .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , said this week that several Midwestern states that have seen jumps in coronavirus caseloads should be especially vigilant during the holiday weekend .
They are North Dakota , South Dakota , Arkansas , Iowa , Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cases of COVID-19 have followed the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays .
Trump is eager to put the pandemic in the past , but he tells Americans to “ let ’ s just try to get through this one weekend .
”

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Nevada health officials on Saturday reported 390 additional COVID-19 cases and 13 new deaths, bringing the statewide totals to 71,102 confirmed cases and 1,388 deaths.
The vast majority of cases and deaths in Nevada have occurred in Clark County, which includes metro Las Vegas.
In other developments:
- Reno officials said a one-day closure of a small section of a downtown street for limited on-street food and drink service would be a test for helping restaurants whose operations are crimped by restrictions on mass gatherings.
Reno’s experiment Saturday follows the lead of other cities.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
- Italy leader Conte tells virus deniers: Look at the numbers
- German soccer team Union Berlin allowed 4,500 fans for exhibition
- Child care crisis pushes US mothers out of the labor force, as pandemic leaves parents with few child care options plus distance learning.
- Colleges using coronavirus dorms, quarantines to keep virus at bay, with the virus spreading through colleges at alarming rates.
- Staying connected during the coronavirus pandemic has been trying for parents and students at a Phoenix school for refugees who speak more than a dozen languages.
- Among the many summertime traditions being hit hard by the coronavirus are the nation’s county and state fairs.
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Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
PHOENIX - A suburban school district in metro Phoenix has put off its plan to return its high school to in-person instruction from remote learning starting Tuesday.
Cactus Shadows High School Principal Tony Vining announced late Friday that Cave Creek Unified School District’s sole high school didn’t “have enough staff to safely open and will need to revert to our distance learning model.”
Some Arizona schools have reopened for in-person instruction, but J.O. Combs Unified in San Tan Valley, was thwarted last month because numerous teachers called in sick while voicing concerns about the safety of reopening schools.
The state Department of Health Services on Saturday reported 836 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases with 36 additional deaths, increasing the statewide totals to 205,516 cases and 5,207 deaths.
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SANTA FE, N.M. New Mexico officials are urging residents to take precautions while celebrating Labor Day to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
The state “has made great progress in the fight against COVID-19,” but the holiday weekend will be a key to keeping spread of the virus low and to ensuring that students can return safely to school this year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement Friday.
“I ask New Mexicans to please not let their guard down - continue wearing masks and avoiding gatherings,” the governor added. “Just one large gathering can lead to hundreds of COVID-19 cases and affect an entire community’s health and safety …”
State health officials on Saturday reported 152 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and six additional deaths, increasing the statewide totals to 26,048 cases with 800 deaths.
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ST. LOUIS - Missouri added 77 COVID-19 related deaths to its total Saturday, most of which occurred weeks or months ago.
The state’s Department of Health and Senior Services blamed technical issues in a tweet for the spike that brought the state’s total number of deaths since the pandemic began to 1,639. The newly reported deaths included five that occurred over the past 24 hours, with the bulk occurring from June to August.
“Through continuing efforts to ensure data transparency and quality, DHSS analysts discovered an inconsistency in death certificate diagnosis codes when compared to case information contained in DHSS disease surveillance systems,” health officials said in a tweet. “After thorough analysis and evaluation, these additional COVID-19-associated deaths were identified. We expect to report more (although not as many as today) of these on Sunday as we work to complete this evaluation of cases.”
Health officials also reported that the number of confirmed cases had risen by 1,987 to 92,202.
Amid the rise in cases, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced Friday in a social media post that bars, restaurants and nightclubs must continue to restrict capacity to 50% and close no later than 11 p.m. each night. The restrictions were originally set to end Sept. 7.
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SAN DIEGO — San Diego State University has issued a Labor Day weekend stay-at-home order for students living on campus to limit the spread of COVID-19 as they return for the school year.
KNSD-TV reported that the order is in effect Saturday and will last through 6 a.m. Tuesday. The announcement was made Saturday, a day after the university reported an additional 120 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases linked to students both on and off campus. The university said those who violate the order could face disciplinary action, but it did not detail what those consequences would be.
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida officials are urging vigilance over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
That’s despite the fewest number of new deaths - about 60 - since mid-July. Officials have been urging Floridians to wear face masks and observe social distancing throughout the three-day holiday weekend, particularly at beaches and other public places.
On Saturday, the state reported nearly 3,700 news cases of coronavirus, pushing the total number of infections to nearly 644,000 since the outbreak began in the spring.
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DES MOINES, Iowa - An Iowa judge has refused to allow some Des Moines area bars to reopen while their lawsuit challenging Gov. Kim Reynolds’ bar closures makes its way through the courts.
The Des Moines Register reports Polk County Judge William Kelly emphasized the importance of public health in his explanation of the ruling denying a temporary injunction to the bar owners in Polk and Dallas county.
Attorney Billy Mallory, who is representing the bar owners, says he’ll appeal the denial while preparing for trial, where he will seek a permanent injunction. The suit alleges bars closures in Dallas and Polk counties are unconstitutional and unfairly targets some businesses, while restaurants and coffee shops can stay open.
In the Aug. 27 order, Reynolds required the closing of bars in Black Hawk, Johnson, Linn and Story counties. Those counties, along with Polk and Dallas, are considered hot spots for coronavirus infections.
Statewide, cases rose Saturday by 1,024 to 69,006. There’s been 23 new deaths to bring the total to 1,160, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.
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BERLIN - German soccer team Union Berlin allowed 4,500 fans at its 2-1 win over Nuremberg in a preseason exhibition match.
It was the first game any professional German soccer team played in front of so many fans since the pandemic forced the suspension of the Bundesliga in March. No fans were allowed once the league resumed after a two-month break.
Fans were only permitted to attend the game – a celebration of 100 years of Union’s stadium – under certain conditions.
Tickets were for club members only, personalized and non-transferable to ensure contact-tracing is possible. The supporters needed to show ID and their club membership card before entering and wear masks when not in their allocated place.
Stewards asked fans too close to move. Journalists had their temperatures taken and were seated apart.
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MILWAUKEE - Nine fraternities and sororities are under quarantine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison after 38 students tested positive for the coronavirus.
The orders from UW-Madison and Dane County health officials affect 420 Greek life students, who have been instructed to quarantine for two weeks, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
UW-Madison is requiring coronavirus tests for students who live in the 38 Greek life houses. The university didn’t say if the cases were linked to parties or large gatherings.
So far, 440 UW-Madison students have tested positive for the virus, according to the university.
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ROME - The daily number of coronavirus deaths in Italy has been rising, with 16 registered Saturday by the Health Ministry.
That’s five more than the previous day. However, those numbers are dramatically lower than in the early weeks of the pandemic in the nation, when hundreds of people were dying daily.
With nearly 1,700 more cases Saturday, Italy has confirmed a total of 276,338 infections. Most of the recent cases have been linked to popular holiday locales, particularly among those who vacationed on the island of Sardinia.
Italy’s known death toll stands at 35,534.
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ROME - The personal doctor of Silvio Berlusconi has expressed “cautious but reasonable optimism” for the former Italian leader’s recovery from the coronavirus.
The 83-year-old Berlusconi is hospitalized in Milan after testing positive this week.
Dr. Alberto Zangrillo said in a written statement Saturday that Berlusconi’s clinical condition remains stable.
Zangrillo said Friday, several hours after Berlusconi was admitted to San Raffaele hospital, that his patient has an early stage lung infection and was breathing on his own.
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LONDON — The head of Britain’s civil service is telling public sector bosses to get staff back to the office, as the government seeks to revive city centers.
Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill has written to government department chiefs “strongly encouraging an increased workplace attendance” and saying 80% of civil servants should be working from the office at least part-time by the end of September.
The government urged people to work from home when the country went into lockdown in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Society is gradually reopening, but many people remain reluctant to return to workplaces and public transport. That’s bad news for downtown cafes, shops and restaurants that rely on commuters for trade.
The number of new coronavirus infections in the U.K. is rising. Unions say the need for social distancing makes a full-time return to offices impractical.
Dave Penman, head of civil service union FDA, says the government needs to accept that the world of work had changed for good.
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ROME - Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte says he has no words for those who deny the coronavirus pandemic – except to look at the numbers.
Pandemic deniers and those against masks and vaccines are expected to rally in Rome on Saturday. Conte said: “To those people gathering in Rome today and who think the pandemic doesn’t exist, we reply with numbers: More than … 274,000 infected and some 35,000 dead. Period.”
The daily case load, after dropping down to below 200 at the start of summer, surpassed more than 1,700 on Friday, the biggest one-day increase since early May.
Many of the recent infections have occurred in returning vacationers, most of them young people. Conte says, “if things go badly, we’ll be able to intervene in a targeted and very circumscribed way” to manage any dramatic surge.
His country was hard hit when the outbreak first erupted in Europe and went into lockdown. Italy has confirmed nearly 275,000 coronavirus cases and counts 35,518 known dead.
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BERLIN - Germany wants to boost its public health system with 5,000 new jobs and 4 billion euros ($4.735 billion) in investment to get the country’s 375 local health offices up to speed.
The announcement by Health Minister Jens Spahn on Saturday came after a meeting with the country’s 16 state health ministers about the coronavirus pandemic. Germany wants to add are at least 1,500 new doctors, medical and administrative staff by the end of next year.
Meanwhile, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has suggested the country mourn the victims of the coronavirus pandemic at an official memorial. Steinmeier told newspaper group RND on Saturday “we must help people who are mourning and think about how we can express our compassion.”
The German president, whose office is mostly ceremonial, says he was in talks with other officials regarding a memorial.
On Saturday, Germany registered 1,378 new coronavirus infections for a total of nearly 249,000 cases. Total deaths stand at more than 9,300 people, according the country’s disease control center.
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HOUSTON - A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to stop detaining unaccompanied immigrant children in hotels.
That allows for expelling them without the chance to seek refuge in the United States, a new policy the government has enacted during the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee ruled Friday the use of hotels violates a two-decade-old settlement governing the treatment of immigrant children in custody. She ordered border agencies to stop placing children in hotels by Sept. 15 and to remove children from hotels as soon as possible.
At least 577 unaccompanied children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border since March have been held in hotels, sometimes for weeks, according to government data.
That’s instead of sending them to shelters operated by the Department of Health and Human Services, where minors receive legal services, education, and the chance to be placed with relatives living in the U.S. Those facilities are licensed by the states where they are located.
More than 13,000 beds in HHS facilities are currently empty.
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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will visit Assisi next month, in his first visit outside Rome since the coronavirus pandemic.
He’ll journey to Assisi, the birthplace in the central Italian region of Umbria of his namesake saint. He’ll sign an authoritative papal letter to clergy and faithful worldwide, the Vatican said Saturday. The encyclical is expected to stress the value of brotherly relations during and after the pandemic, a theme Francis evoked repeatedly during the pandemic.
Francis has stressed the coronavirus reveals the fragility of existence and the importance of helping one other, especially the poor.
Italy was put under lockdown in early March when it became the first country in Europe to feel the full brunt of the coronavirus.
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PRAGUE - The number of people infected with the coronavirus has continued to surge in the Czech Republic, surpassing 700 for the first time.
The Health Ministry says the day-to-day increase reached a record of 798 new confirmed cases on Friday.
The announcement comes after the country registered over 600 cases the previous two days, also records at the time.
Health authorities have already imposed new restrictive measures in the Czech capital, reacting to the spike. Starting on Wednesday, it is mandatory again to wear face masks in stores and shopping malls. At the same time, bars, restaurants and nightclubs have to be closed from midnight to 6 a.m.
The Czech Republic has 27,249 cases and 429 deaths.
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MEXICO CITY - The coronavirus pandemic has hit Mexico so hard that the governments of several states ran out of death certificates.
Officials said Friday the federal forms started running out about 15 to 20 days ago in at least three states - Baja California, the State of Mexico and Mexico City.
Authorities say a million new forms have been printed and are being distributed. The certificates are printed with special characteristics because falsification has been a problem in the past.
Mexico has suffered the fourth-highest level of COVID-19 deaths in the world. On Friday, the number of confirmed cases rose by 6,196 to 623,090, while deaths rose by 522 to 66,851. Cases in Mexico now appear to have plateaued and are no longer decreasing.
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WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is urging Americans to “remain vigilant” about the coronavirus over the Labor Day weekend.
Trump said at a White House briefing Friday that “we need everybody to be careful” and to “apply common sense” in their interactions with one another.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said this week that several Midwestern states that have seen jumps in coronavirus caseloads should be especially vigilant during the holiday weekend. They are North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri.
Past increases in cases of COVID-19 have followed the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays.
Trump is eager to put the pandemic in the past, but he tells Americans to “let’s just try to get through this one weekend.”
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washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Environment activists blockade UK newspaper printing plants

LONDON ( AP ) - Police arrested more than 70 environmental activists who blockaded two British printing plants , disrupting the distribution of several national newspapers on Saturday .
The group Extinction Rebellion said it targeted printworks at Broxbourne , north of London , and Knowsley in northwest England , that are owned by Rupert Murdoch ’ s News Corp .
Dozens of protesters locked themselves to trucks and bamboo scaffolding to block the road outside the plants .
The facilities print Murdoch-owned papers The Sun and The Times , as well as the Daily Telegraph , the Daily Mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was disrupting the newspapers “ to expose the failure of these corporations to accurately report on the climate and ecological emergency , and their consistent manipulation of the truth to suit their own personal and political agendas.
” Police said they had arrested 42 people by Saturday morning at the Broxbourne plant .
Another 30 people were arrested in Knowsley .
Extinction Rebellion said all remaining protesters ended their demonstration at 11 a.m. Newsprinters , which operates the printing plants , said the protest was an “ attack on all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson said on Twitter that “ a free press is vital in holding the government and other powerful institutions to account ” and that it “ is completely unacceptable to seek to limit the public ’ s access to news in this way.
” Journalism groups also criticized the disruption .
Ian Murray , executive director of the Society of Editors , said peaceful protest was a right , but “ it is not acceptable for those who wish only their voices to be heard to attempt to silence others.
” Extinction Rebellion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British cities since Monday as part of two weeks of civil disobedience to press for stronger action against climate change .
Hundreds of people have been arrested .
Last year , more than 1,700 arrests were made during Extinction Rebellion ’ s 10-day “ Autumn Uprising , ” which disrupted traffic and business activity in several parts of the U.K .

LONDON (AP) - Police arrested more than 70 environmental activists who blockaded two British printing plants, disrupting the distribution of several national newspapers on Saturday.
The group Extinction Rebellion said it targeted printworks at Broxbourne, north of London, and Knowsley in northwest England, that are owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.
Dozens of protesters locked themselves to trucks and bamboo scaffolding to block the road outside the plants. The facilities print Murdoch-owned papers The Sun and The Times, as well as the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Financial Times.
The group said it was disrupting the newspapers “to expose the failure of these corporations to accurately report on the climate and ecological emergency, and their consistent manipulation of the truth to suit their own personal and political agendas.”
Police said they had arrested 42 people by Saturday morning at the Broxbourne plant. Another 30 people were arrested in Knowsley. Extinction Rebellion said all remaining protesters ended their demonstration at 11 a.m.
Newsprinters, which operates the printing plants, said the protest was an “attack on all of the free press.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter that “a free press is vital in holding the government and other powerful institutions to account” and that it “is completely unacceptable to seek to limit the public’s access to news in this way.”
Journalism groups also criticized the disruption. Ian Murray, executive director of the Society of Editors, said peaceful protest was a right, but “it is not acceptable for those who wish only their voices to be heard to attempt to silence others.”
Extinction Rebellion has blocked roads and bridges in several British cities since Monday as part of two weeks of civil disobedience to press for stronger action against climate change. Hundreds of people have been arrested.
Last year, more than 1,700 arrests were made during Extinction Rebellion’s 10-day “Autumn Uprising,” which disrupted traffic and business activity in several parts of the U.K.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--As Africa's COVID-19 cases rise, faith is put to the test

KAMPALA , Uganda ( AP ) — The COVID-19 pandemic is testing the patience of some religious leaders across Africa who worry they will lose followers , and funding , as restrictions on gatherings continue .
Some evangelical Christian leaders in Uganda have launched a campaign with the now-universal phrase of protest : “ I can ’ t breathe.
” Their members vow to occasionally put on the burlap costumes they say resemble the sackcloth worn by biblical prophets .
“ Uganda is a God-fearing nation but , unfortunately , due to the lockdown , the citizens of our great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s intervention , ” Betty Ochan , leader of the opposition in Uganda ’ s national assembly , recently wrote in the local Daily Monitor newspaper .
“ The devil is taking dominance .
If people do not worship God together , they are spiritually derailed.
” From Nigeria to Zimbabwe , people are speaking out — or sneaking out to worship - as they argue that limits on religion could lead to a crisis of faith .
“ I am appalled that some people have the audacity to tell us how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Chris Oyakhilome , president of the Lagos-based megachurch known as Christ Embassy .
“ How dare you .
What in the world do you think you are ?
” Church services in Nigeria resumed last month but are limited to an hour , a severe test for some in a country where worship can spill from a Sunday morning into the afternoon .
Some ministers in Nigeria , Africa ’ s most populous country , have sparked a separate controversy for saying followers should continue paying their tithes into designated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been accused of maintaining lavish lifestyles at the expense of their followers .
But the larger concerns are rooted in the very nature of belief .
“ Coming together is very important from an African point of view , ” said Christopher Byaruhanga , a professor of systematic and historical theology at Uganda Christian University .
“ We Africans want to live in a community .
So the coronavirus is now redefining that community.
” Coming together to worship is part of the “ accountability ” that builds trust as people share their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall levels of religious commitment ” in sub-Saharan Africa are among the highest in the world , according to a 2018 study by the Pew Research Center .
The region ’ s number of Christians grew from about 7 million in 1900 to 470 million by 2010 , when it was home to 21 % of the world ’ s Christians and 15 % of all Muslims .
Christians strongly associate their faith with the brick-and-mortar buildings of their parishes , said the Rev .
Charles Odurkami , an emeritus bishop in Uganda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ Of course , in Africa some people worship with two feet .
One foot in traditional culture and another foot in Christianity.
” Another religious leader in Uganda , a self-described prophet who leads a congregation of thousands in Kampala , has criticized attempts to negotiate with the government to reopen houses of worship .
“ It ’ s disrespectful … if a so-called pastor goes on his knees and begs a politician to open up , ” Elvis Mbonye recently told a local broadcaster .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me the permission , the right , the directives.
” Hajji Ramadhan Mugalu , secretary-general of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council , said Muslims “ are losing out on the … social aspect ” while mosques remain closed .
“ If arcades and malls have been opened , our prayer is that these places of worship should also be opened , ” he said .
“ Yes , they can pray at home , but congregational prayer is very powerful.
” Authorities in Uganda and other countries say they will follow the advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worship to resume normal operations .
In Tanzania , however , President John Magufuli has alarmed health experts by asserting that divine power would offer protection from the virus .
The country hasn ’ t updated its number of infections - just over 500 - since April .
In South Africa , which makes up roughly half of the African continent ’ s 1.2 million confirmed coronavirus infections , the pandemic has challenged people ’ s relationship with their faith , said Mosa Sona , bishop at Grace Bible Church in the Johannesburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a believer that practices his faith in the midst of a crowd , at a building called a church , or does it matter when I am all alone at home ?
” asked Sona , whose church was among the first to stream sermons online .
Others insist on staying physically in touch with their coreligionists , no matter what pandemic restrictions say .
In Zimbabwe , the government has encouraged people to pray at home .
But that wasn ’ t an option for Amos Mazikande , who recently went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group to seek a cure for his daughter ’ s persistent headaches .
The family used back roads to avoid police on their way to an open ground where services are held in the capital , Harare .
“ Coronavirus will be defeated by the Holy Spirit , so we don ’ t have to fear it , ” Mazikande said .
Across the country , apostolic believers line up to collect “ holy ” water , oil , pieces of cloth and clay pots that they believe offer protection from “ evil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At a recent service , about a dozen worshippers huddled to sing and dance , some with face masks dangling from their chins .
Under a nearby tree , a woman knelt while the leader sprinkled water and vigorously shook her head in an apparent healing session .
Some say such scenes show the pandemic is strengthening people ’ s faith no matter how they worship .
Etienne Bonkoungou , a chaplain in Burkina Faso ’ s capital , Ouagadougou , said he has noticed that since normal church services recently resumed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regularly before the pandemic now show up every week .
“ People found it necessary to get closer to God because they said it ’ s only God that can deliver them , ” Bonkoungou said .
Farai Mutsaka in Harare , Zimbabwe ; Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg ; Sam Mednick in Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso ; and Sam Olukoya in Lagos , Nigeria , contributed .

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic is testing the patience of some religious leaders across Africa who worry they will lose followers, and funding, as restrictions on gatherings continue. Some evangelical Christian leaders in Uganda have launched a campaign with the now-universal phrase of protest: “I can’t breathe.”
Their members vow to occasionally put on the burlap costumes they say resemble the sackcloth worn by biblical prophets.
“Uganda is a God-fearing nation but, unfortunately, due to the lockdown, the citizens of our great country cannot gather to seek God’s intervention,” Betty Ochan, leader of the opposition in Uganda’s national assembly, recently wrote in the local Daily Monitor newspaper. “The devil is taking dominance. If people do not worship God together, they are spiritually derailed.”
From Nigeria to Zimbabwe, people are speaking out — or sneaking out to worship - as they argue that limits on religion could lead to a crisis of faith.
“I am appalled that some people have the audacity to tell us how many hours we can spend in church,” said Chris Oyakhilome, president of the Lagos-based megachurch known as Christ Embassy. “How dare you. What in the world do you think you are?”
Church services in Nigeria resumed last month but are limited to an hour, a severe test for some in a country where worship can spill from a Sunday morning into the afternoon.
Some ministers in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, have sparked a separate controversy for saying followers should continue paying their tithes into designated bank accounts. Some ministers have long been accused of maintaining lavish lifestyles at the expense of their followers.
But the larger concerns are rooted in the very nature of belief.
“Coming together is very important from an African point of view,” said Christopher Byaruhanga, a professor of systematic and historical theology at Uganda Christian University. “We Africans want to live in a community. So the coronavirus is now redefining that community.”
Coming together to worship is part of the “accountability” that builds trust as people share their testimonies, he said.
The “overall levels of religious commitment” in sub-Saharan Africa are among the highest in the world, according to a 2018 study by the Pew Research Center. The region’s number of Christians grew from about 7 million in 1900 to 470 million by 2010, when it was home to 21% of the world’s Christians and 15% of all Muslims.
Christians strongly associate their faith with the brick-and-mortar buildings of their parishes, said the Rev. Charles Odurkami, an emeritus bishop in Uganda.
“Africans are notoriously religious,” he said. “Of course, in Africa some people worship with two feet. One foot in traditional culture and another foot in Christianity.”
Another religious leader in Uganda, a self-described prophet who leads a congregation of thousands in Kampala, has criticized attempts to negotiate with the government to reopen houses of worship.
“It’s disrespectful … if a so-called pastor goes on his knees and begs a politician to open up,” Elvis Mbonye recently told a local broadcaster. “I will not ask any man to give me the permission, the right, the directives.”
Hajji Ramadhan Mugalu, secretary-general of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, said Muslims “are losing out on the … social aspect” while mosques remain closed.
“If arcades and malls have been opened, our prayer is that these places of worship should also be opened,” he said. “Yes, they can pray at home, but congregational prayer is very powerful.”
Authorities in Uganda and other countries say they will follow the advice of health experts on allowing places of worship to resume normal operations. In Tanzania, however, President John Magufuli has alarmed health experts by asserting that divine power would offer protection from the virus. The country hasn’t updated its number of infections - just over 500 - since April.
In South Africa, which makes up roughly half of the African continent’s 1.2 million confirmed coronavirus infections, the pandemic has challenged people’s relationship with their faith, said Mosa Sona, bishop at Grace Bible Church in the Johannesburg township of Soweto.
“Am I a believer that practices his faith in the midst of a crowd, at a building called a church, or does it matter when I am all alone at home?” asked Sona, whose church was among the first to stream sermons online.
Others insist on staying physically in touch with their coreligionists, no matter what pandemic restrictions say.
In Zimbabwe, the government has encouraged people to pray at home. But that wasn’t an option for Amos Mazikande, who recently went to a “prophet” with his apostolic group to seek a cure for his daughter’s persistent headaches.
The family used back roads to avoid police on their way to an open ground where services are held in the capital, Harare.
“Coronavirus will be defeated by the Holy Spirit, so we don’t have to fear it,” Mazikande said.
Across the country, apostolic believers line up to collect “holy” water, oil, pieces of cloth and clay pots that they believe offer protection from “evil spirits” that bring poverty and disease.
At a recent service, about a dozen worshippers huddled to sing and dance, some with face masks dangling from their chins. Under a nearby tree, a woman knelt while the leader sprinkled water and vigorously shook her head in an apparent healing session.
Some say such scenes show the pandemic is strengthening people’s faith no matter how they worship.
Etienne Bonkoungou, a chaplain in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, said he has noticed that since normal church services recently resumed, people who didn’t attend regularly before the pandemic now show up every week.
“People found it necessary to get closer to God because they said it’s only God that can deliver them,” Bonkoungou said.
___
Farai Mutsaka in Harare, Zimbabwe; Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg; Sam Mednick in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; and Sam Olukoya in Lagos, Nigeria, contributed.
___
Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Iran begins new school year amid virus concerns

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) - Iran on Saturday opened the new school year after nearly seven months of @ @ @ @ @ conference , President Hassan Rouhani said the education of 15 million students is as important @ @ @ @ @ “ Education will not be closed in our country even under the worst situation , @ @ @ @ @ authorities to implement health measures in schools to the level of those in military garrisons @ @ @ @ @ came as many expressed concern over a possible increase in infections , including medical professionals @ @ @ @ @ task force should defend lives of millions of students , ” said Abbas Aghazadeh , @ @ @ @ @ of the medical council .
“ Prevent physical reopening of all schools across the country.
@ @ @ @ @ used distance learning via internet apps and TV programs .
Authorities say the system will @ @ @ @ @ .
Iran ’ s death toll from COVID-19 has so far passed 22,000 out of @ @ @ @ @ country has had the first and worst outbreak in the region .

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran on Saturday opened the new school year after nearly seven months of closure.
In a video conference, President Hassan Rouhani said the education of 15 million students is as important as the health system.
“Education will not be closed in our country even under the worst situation,” he said, urging authorities to implement health measures in schools to the level of those in military garrisons.
The reopening of schools came as many expressed concern over a possible increase in infections, including medical professionals.
“The national COVID-19 task force should defend lives of millions of students,” said Abbas Aghazadeh, a member of the board of the medical council. “Prevent physical reopening of all schools across the country.”
Iran has so far used distance learning via internet apps and TV programs. Authorities say the system will continue for undergraduate university students.
Iran’s death toll from COVID-19 has so far passed 22,000 out of 382,772 confirmed cases. The country has had the first and worst outbreak in the region.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir sets world mark in half marathon

PRAGUE ( AP ) - Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya set a world record in the women ’ s-only race in @ @ @ @ @ 1 hour , 5 minutes and 34 seconds .
The 26-year-old Jepchirchir broke away from @ @ @ @ @ after about 20 minutes and was cruising at the 16.5-lap course in the Czech capital @ @ @ @ @ Saturday morning .
The previous record of 1:06:11 was set by Netsanet Gudeta of Ethiopia @ @ @ @ @ half marathon championships in Valencia , Spain .
“ I was thinking to run maybe @ @ @ @ @ m so happy , ” Jepchirchir said .

PRAGUE (AP) - Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya set a world record in the women’s-only race in the half marathon, clocking 1 hour, 5 minutes and 34 seconds.
The 26-year-old Jepchirchir broke away from a small field of runners after about 20 minutes and was cruising at the 16.5-lap course in the Czech capital’s Letna Park on Saturday morning.
The previous record of 1:06:11 was set by Netsanet Gudeta of Ethiopia in 2018 at the world half marathon championships in Valencia, Spain.
“I was thinking to run maybe 1:04:50, but I’m so happy,” Jepchirchir said.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--China jails 2 for hiding trip to city at center of outbreak

BEIJING ( AP ) - Two people who returned to their hometown after contracting the coronavirus in the Chinese city @ @ @ @ @ outbreak in January have been sentenced to prison for failing to quarantine themselves or report @ @ @ @ @ from Wuhan , the pair visited supermarkets and other public places in the western city @ @ @ @ @ for more than a week before showing symptoms , the People ’ s Court of @ @ @ @ @ Saturday on its social media account .
It said one defendant , identified only by @ @ @ @ @ the Wuhan trip when questioned by health workers .
The court said 306 people who @ @ @ @ @ were isolated for observation but gave no indication whether any was infected .
Deng was @ @ @ @ @ charges of obstructing disease control , the court said .
The other , identified by @ @ @ @ @ sentenced to nine months .
Both sentences were postponed for 18 months .

BEIJING (AP) - Two people who returned to their hometown after contracting the coronavirus in the Chinese city at the center of the outbreak in January have been sentenced to prison for failing to quarantine themselves or report the visit.
After returning from Wuhan, the pair visited supermarkets and other public places in the western city of Yibin in Sichuan province for more than a week before showing symptoms, the People’s Court of Cuping District in Yibin said Saturday on its social media account.
It said one defendant, identified only by the surname Deng, concealed the Wuhan trip when questioned by health workers.
The court said 306 people who had contact with the pair were isolated for observation but gave no indication whether any was infected.
Deng was sentenced to 11 months on charges of obstructing disease control, the court said. The other, identified by the surname Tian, was sentenced to nine months. Both sentences were postponed for 18 months.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Woman wanted her land to be a park. Now it may be houses.

DUNEDIN , Fla. ( AP ) - More than a decade before she died , philanthropist Gladys Douglas began the work to fulfill her life ’ s dream .
She wanted the roughly 44 acres of woods surrounding her home near Virginia and Keene roads , and the 50-acre adjoining lake , to be preserved forever as a nature park amid the concrete sprawl of Pinellas County .
She met with county and City of Dunedin officials to discuss a sale so the proceeds could be donated to local nonprofits .
She planned with her estate attorney and kept extensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistant .
After she died in July 2019 at 95 , her family reignited the discussions with local government they had been spearheading while Douglas was too ill to continue them herself .
The Douglas acreage ranked No .
1 on a list of 60 properties Pinellas County hoped to acquire for preservation , but Director of Parks and Conservation Resources Paul Cozzie said appraisal prices topping $ 11 million prevented the county from buying it .
Now , a year after her death , Douglas ’ 44 acres are under contract to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fulfilling her worst fear .
“ Even in a bad economy right now , this would have been a park to last hundreds of years for the public , ” said Douglas ’ stepson , Bob Hackworth Jr. , a former Dunedin mayor .
“ So the cost is not that much .
In fact , it ’ s priceless.
” Amid the wooded property is about 16 acres of a rare acidic , sandy soil known as sand pine rosemary scrub , 99 percent of which in Pinellas County has been lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessment of the property .
About 3 acres of an even rarer ecosystem , elevated rosemary bald , sit in the center of the scrub , the last of its kind in the county , according to research conducted by the University of Florida in 2013 .
To walk around the woods , as Douglas did throughout her life , is a chance to see the state-threatened gopher tortoises , otters , a golden eagle , bobcats and a variety of other plant and animal species .
Douglas ’ s widower , Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home with a tennis court on the eastern edge of the property while tenants live in a nearby trailer .
Douglas conveyed the adjoining 50-acre lake to the Southwest Florida Water Management District for stormwater management in 1986 , but the younger Hackworth said arrangements were discussed to provide access to the lake within the proposed park .
Following the $ 11.7 million appraisal in 2018 of the 44 acres , the county in April conducted a second appraisal of just the 33-acre portion that did not include the home , trailer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at $ 5.2 million , still above what the county and city were able to pay , given the county has set aside $ 15 million to acquire property for preservation over the next 10 years , Cozzie said .
“ We all spent a lot of time trying to find a way to make this work , but in the end , unfortunately , we weren ’ t able to get there , ” said Dunedin Parks and Recreation Director Vince Gizzi , who worked with Cozzie on the analysis .
Hackworth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not control the Douglas estate , sees the sale to the developer as a loss to the public caused by indifference from government officials .
“ The lack of resources answer is not legitimate , ” Hackworth said .
“ There is state funding , federal funding .
You can ’ t preserve land unless you buy it , and that ’ s for generations , not this fiscal year or next fiscal year , it ’ s forever.
” Attorney Nathan Hightower , a co-trustee of the estate , said he tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with repeated attempts to get county and city officials to begin negotiations .
A letter he sent to then-assistant Pinellas County Administrator Jacob Stowers in October went unanswered .
Hightower said the county eventually conducted the appraisal in April following his repeated inquiries but left the estate with no direction .
“ I think what I tried to do is to honor her wishes by giving the appropriate people more than reasonable time to be able to do what they needed to do in order to secure that property , ” Hightower said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well known , a preservation requirement was not written into her will or trust , Hightower said .
The written directive was to distribute the proceeds of the sale of the land to her daughter , Ann Whitley , now in her 70s , and four of her most valued nonprofits .
After more than a year of waiting on local government , Hightower said he had an obligation to sell the property to a willing buyer and disburse the proceeds .
“ Her express wishes were for certain charitable organizations and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what she had when she died , and you couldn ’ t do that by giving this property away or selling at such a low price , ” Hightower said .
Hightower declined to disclose the sale price or the name of the buyer , but Hackworth said the property is under contract for $ 14.5 million with Pulte Homes , the third largest homebuilder in the U.S. All across Pinellas County , development is closing in on the last remaining greenspaces .
A developer has applied for a ( still pending ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the 96-acre Tides Golf Club in Seminole .
On November ’ s ballot , Clearwater voters will be asked whether the city should lease most of The Landings Golf Club ’ s 77 acres for a developer to build a light manufacturing complex .
Last year , a developer successfully requested Tarpon Springs annex 44 acres of woods into the city , which will allow him to build twice as many homes than if the property had remained in the unincorporated county .
A group of residents is trying to raise $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woods in Tarpon Springs that Pinellas County Schools had planned to sell to a developer .
The sprawl of the state ’ s most densely populated county weighed on Douglas , and she saw her property as future vestige for nature , said Terry Fortner , a friend who worked as Douglas ’ s assistant for 40 years .
After moving to Florida in the 1950s following work in Washington , D.C. , for the Air Force and Navy , Douglas became a renowned philanthropist and volunteer .
She supported the Dunedin Fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation , the First Presbyterian Church of Dunedin and more .
Her oasis was her property , where she kept her garden and enjoyed listening to the birds while drinking coffee with her husband on the porch .
Today she is buried in the adjacent Dunedin Cemetery in a plot that borders the property line of her woods .
“ She would not at all be happy with this , ” Fortner said .
“ When she had her strokes , she would look at me and say ‘ Terry , Terry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to do with the frustration of her situation of not being able to communicate , but she was agitated to finish the work she started .
That never happened .
”

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) - More than a decade before she died, philanthropist Gladys Douglas began the work to fulfill her life’s dream.
She wanted the roughly 44 acres of woods surrounding her home near Virginia and Keene roads, and the 50-acre adjoining lake, to be preserved forever as a nature park amid the concrete sprawl of Pinellas County.
She met with county and City of Dunedin officials to discuss a sale so the proceeds could be donated to local nonprofits. She planned with her estate attorney and kept extensive notes on the project with her personal assistant.
After she died in July 2019 at 95, her family reignited the discussions with local government they had been spearheading while Douglas was too ill to continue them herself.
The Douglas acreage ranked No. 1 on a list of 60 properties Pinellas County hoped to acquire for preservation, but Director of Parks and Conservation Resources Paul Cozzie said appraisal prices topping $11 million prevented the county from buying it. Now, a year after her death, Douglas’ 44 acres are under contract to be sold to a housing developer, fulfilling her worst fear.
“Even in a bad economy right now, this would have been a park to last hundreds of years for the public,” said Douglas’ stepson, Bob Hackworth Jr., a former Dunedin mayor. “So the cost is not that much. In fact, it’s priceless.”
Amid the wooded property is about 16 acres of a rare acidic, sandy soil known as sand pine rosemary scrub, 99 percent of which in Pinellas County has been lost to development, according to a habitat assessment of the property.
About 3 acres of an even rarer ecosystem, elevated rosemary bald, sit in the center of the scrub, the last of its kind in the county, according to research conducted by the University of Florida in 2013.
To walk around the woods, as Douglas did throughout her life, is a chance to see the state-threatened gopher tortoises, otters, a golden eagle, bobcats and a variety of other plant and animal species.
Douglas’s widower, Bob Hackworth Sr., still lives in the home with a tennis court on the eastern edge of the property while tenants live in a nearby trailer.
Douglas conveyed the adjoining 50-acre lake to the Southwest Florida Water Management District for stormwater management in 1986, but the younger Hackworth said arrangements were discussed to provide access to the lake within the proposed park.
Following the $11.7 million appraisal in 2018 of the 44 acres, the county in April conducted a second appraisal of just the 33-acre portion that did not include the home, trailer and tennis courts.
That appraisal came in at $5.2 million, still above what the county and city were able to pay, given the county has set aside $15 million to acquire property for preservation over the next 10 years, Cozzie said.
“We all spent a lot of time trying to find a way to make this work, but in the end, unfortunately, we weren’t able to get there,” said Dunedin Parks and Recreation Director Vince Gizzi, who worked with Cozzie on the analysis.
Hackworth, who along with his father does not control the Douglas estate, sees the sale to the developer as a loss to the public caused by indifference from government officials.
“The lack of resources answer is not legitimate,” Hackworth said. “There is state funding, federal funding. You can’t preserve land unless you buy it, and that’s for generations, not this fiscal year or next fiscal year, it’s forever.”
Attorney Nathan Hightower, a co-trustee of the estate, said he tried to carry out Douglas’s wishes with repeated attempts to get county and city officials to begin negotiations.
A letter he sent to then-assistant Pinellas County Administrator Jacob Stowers in October went unanswered. Hightower said the county eventually conducted the appraisal in April following his repeated inquiries but left the estate with no direction.
“I think what I tried to do is to honor her wishes by giving the appropriate people more than reasonable time to be able to do what they needed to do in order to secure that property,” Hightower said.
While Douglas’s desire was well known, a preservation requirement was not written into her will or trust, Hightower said.
The written directive was to distribute the proceeds of the sale of the land to her daughter, Ann Whitley, now in her 70s, and four of her most valued nonprofits.
After more than a year of waiting on local government, Hightower said he had an obligation to sell the property to a willing buyer and disburse the proceeds.
“Her express wishes were for certain charitable organizations and people in her family to receive some of what she had when she died, and you couldn’t do that by giving this property away or selling at such a low price,” Hightower said.
Hightower declined to disclose the sale price or the name of the buyer, but Hackworth said the property is under contract for $14.5 million with Pulte Homes, the third largest homebuilder in the U.S.
All across Pinellas County, development is closing in on the last remaining greenspaces. A developer has applied for a (still pending) land use change to construct 273 homes on the 96-acre Tides Golf Club in Seminole. On November’s ballot, Clearwater voters will be asked whether the city should lease most of The Landings Golf Club’s 77 acres for a developer to build a light manufacturing complex.
Last year, a developer successfully requested Tarpon Springs annex 44 acres of woods into the city, which will allow him to build twice as many homes than if the property had remained in the unincorporated county. A group of residents is trying to raise $3 million to preserve 14 acres of woods in Tarpon Springs that Pinellas County Schools had planned to sell to a developer.
The sprawl of the state’s most densely populated county weighed on Douglas, and she saw her property as future vestige for nature, said Terry Fortner, a friend who worked as Douglas’s assistant for 40 years.
After moving to Florida in the 1950s following work in Washington, D.C., for the Air Force and Navy, Douglas became a renowned philanthropist and volunteer. She supported the Dunedin Fine Arts Center, Morton Plant Mease Healthcare Foundation, the First Presbyterian Church of Dunedin and more.
Her oasis was her property, where she kept her garden and enjoyed listening to the birds while drinking coffee with her husband on the porch. Today she is buried in the adjacent Dunedin Cemetery in a plot that borders the property line of her woods.
“She would not at all be happy with this,” Fortner said. “When she had her strokes, she would look at me and say ‘Terry, Terry,’ and I knew it not only had to do with the frustration of her situation of not being able to communicate, but she was agitated to finish the work she started. That never happened.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Pensacola man recalls watching history unfold in Tokyo Bay

PENSACOLA , Fla. ( AP ) - Looking through a telescope atop the USS Skagit , a 19-year-old Don McCollum caught a glimpse of the fateful day when Japanese forces formally and unconditionally surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2 , 1945 , ending war in the Pacific Theater .
Now 75 years later , the 94-year-old McCollum sat in his Pensacola home in the morning to recount his experience as a Signalman third class in the US Navy during Victory Over Japan Day , or V-J Day .
He was armed with a folder full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” sepia-toned photographs of smiling sailors and a document with typewriter font that lists all the ships present that day .
“ We were not , I don ’ t know , 200 yards or something from the Missouri and since I was a Signalman up there on the bridge , I was watching some of that through the telescope , ” McCollum said , adding that he remembers seeing Japanese military representatives being served some type of refreshments that day .
“ I told my buddies , I said ‘ Golly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over there serving them something good ?
’ I said ‘ They ought to throw them over the doggone side.
’ I said ‘ Three months ago they were trying to kill us.
’ ” As soon as the formal surrender was complete , troops and cargo were immediately unloaded to begin the occupation of Japan .
McCollum said that night his ship was already on its way back to Okinawa for more cargo before heading to northern China .
“ Yes , we all had a great feeling , but ( there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
We ’ re onboard a ship .
We didn ’ t get to go ashore and celebrate or anything like that .
It was just another day for us , ” McCollum said .
Not just a simple commemoration of a document signing , Brian Crisher , assistant professor of government at the University of West Florida , said Wednesday ’ s anniversary of V-J Day is a significant milestone .
“ This was the end of a very , very long tumultuous era .
One of the things we tend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war in the Pacific had been going on long before Pearl Harbor , ” Crisher said .
“ In that sense , it ’ s probably a bigger deal than we even appreciate because it ’ s not just the end of America ’ s involvement .
It ’ s really the fall of the Japanese Empire that had been building since the turn of the 20th century.
” Japan ’ s surrender was an “ unconditional surrender , ” meaning Japan had to give up everything , including the system of government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manage to keep an emperor , but only one that is simply a figurehead with no formal power , Crisher said .
In the aftermath of the surrender , the United States had to quell pockets of resistance in Japan as well as help to rebuild the country and draft a new constitution and form of government , Crisher said .
“ It wasn ’ t just sign the dotted line .
It ’ s over .
Everybody go home , ” Crisher said .
“ There ’ s a whole host of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it ’ s a scale that today , I don ’ t think we can appreciate it.
” McCollum enlisted during World War II at just 17 years old , which required his parents ’ permission .
He served on the Skagit , an attack cargo ship , as a Signalman who changes flags and flashes lights to communicate commands to other ships , such as “ prepare to turn starboard , ” he “ Back then everybody was on the same boat , if you know what I mean .
Everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re at war because of Pearl Harbor .
Doggone it , we go in !
‘ ” McCollum said .
“ I thought ‘ Doggone , I ’ m going to go in too.
’ ” During his two-and-a-half years of service , he avoided many of the “ hot spots ” for fighting in the Pacific and large battles .
He was in Okinawa before going to Tokyo Bay , but arrived after much of the fighting subsided .
After the war , McCollum got married to his wife Annabelle , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two daughters , Janice and Donna .
He worked for a military food broker for much of his career , selling to commissaries on bases , which is what brought the Miami native to Pensacola about 40 years ago .
His older brother by two years , Bob McCollum , also served in World War II but in the European Theater .
He was sent to France on D-Day Plus 2 , or June 8 , 1944 , which was two days after a deadly invasion of Allied forces into northern France on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re both from Miami and so it was really funny because we used to go out in the water quite a bit on boats down in Miami and he ’ d get seasick quite often , so he didn ’ t go into the Navy .
And I loved it , so I went into the Navy , ” McCollum said with a laugh .
McCollum ’ s mother kept many of the letters he sent home during the war .
He had two stamped “ Tokyo Bay , ” one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola .
In the letter he kept , he wrote in part , ” ( Tokyo ) is fairly well destroyed but not nearly as much as Manila .
We brought Army signal core boys over here and had some official photographer aboard .
He took a lot of pictures , had a couple of me on the light and the flagbag so if I should happen to be in the newsreel , don ’ t be surprised .
It really gives you a good feeling to see all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … ” Janice McMillan , McCollum ’ s oldest daughter , took a particular interest in her father ’ s letters and now keeps many of them in her home .
She said she ’ s particularly interested in family genealogy and researching the family , so she liked to learn about what life was like for her family members back then .
“ I actually showed them to my son , ( Don ’ s ) grandson , this past summer when he was visiting me , so we all enjoy reading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that her son , David Zimmerman , is also a veteran .
“ He has talked to my dad about things and they have swapped stories and he ’ s got some of the pictures and everything hanging up on his wall of my dad.
” McCollum said he felt it was important for him to share his story ahead of Wednesday ’ s 75th anniversary of V-J Day because there are probably few who witnessed it who are left .
“ I was lucky because not many people were there .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever you want to call it .
So I thought ‘ Shucks , I ’ ll brag about it , ’ ” McCollum said .

MADISON ARNOLD, The Pensacola News Journal

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - Looking through a telescope atop the USS Skagit, a 19-year-old Don McCollum caught a glimpse of the fateful day when Japanese forces formally and unconditionally surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, ending war in the Pacific Theater.
Now 75 years later, the 94-year-old McCollum sat in his Pensacola home in the morning to recount his experience as a Signalman third class in the US Navy during Victory Over Japan Day, or V-J Day. He was armed with a folder full of letters home stamped “Tokyo Bay,” sepia-toned photographs of smiling sailors and a document with typewriter font that lists all the ships present that day.
“We were not, I don’t know, 200 yards or something from the Missouri and since I was a Signalman up there on the bridge, I was watching some of that through the telescope,” McCollum said, adding that he remembers seeing Japanese military representatives being served some type of refreshments that day. “I told my buddies, I said ‘Golly, why is it they’re over there serving them something good?’ I said ‘They ought to throw them over the doggone side.’ I said ‘Three months ago they were trying to kill us.’”
As soon as the formal surrender was complete, troops and cargo were immediately unloaded to begin the occupation of Japan. McCollum said that night his ship was already on its way back to Okinawa for more cargo before heading to northern China.
“Yes, we all had a great feeling, but (there was) nothing we could do about it. We’re onboard a ship. We didn’t get to go ashore and celebrate or anything like that. It was just another day for us,” McCollum said.
Not just a simple commemoration of a document signing, Brian Crisher, assistant professor of government at the University of West Florida, said Wednesday’s anniversary of V-J Day is a significant milestone.
“This was the end of a very, very long tumultuous era. One of the things we tend to forget as Americans is that the war in the Pacific had been going on long before Pearl Harbor,” Crisher said. “In that sense, it’s probably a bigger deal than we even appreciate because it’s not just the end of America’s involvement. It’s really the fall of the Japanese Empire that had been building since the turn of the 20th century.”
Japan’s surrender was an “unconditional surrender,” meaning Japan had to give up everything, including the system of government and its military structure. Japan did manage to keep an emperor, but only one that is simply a figurehead with no formal power, Crisher said.
In the aftermath of the surrender, the United States had to quell pockets of resistance in Japan as well as help to rebuild the country and draft a new constitution and form of government, Crisher said.
“It wasn’t just sign the dotted line. It’s over. Everybody go home,” Crisher said. “There’s a whole host of post-war occupation work that needs to occur and it’s a scale that today, I don’t think we can appreciate it.”
McCollum enlisted during World War II at just 17 years old, which required his parents’ permission. He served on the Skagit, an attack cargo ship, as a Signalman who changes flags and flashes lights to communicate commands to other ships, such as “prepare to turn starboard,” he
“Back then everybody was on the same boat, if you know what I mean. Everybody was gung-ho, patriotic ‘We’re at war because of Pearl Harbor. Doggone it, we go in!‘” McCollum said. “I thought ‘Doggone, I’m going to go in too.’”
During his two-and-a-half years of service, he avoided many of the “hot spots” for fighting in the Pacific and large battles. He was in Okinawa before going to Tokyo Bay, but arrived after much of the fighting subsided.
After the war, McCollum got married to his wife Annabelle, who passed away in 2007, and had two daughters, Janice and Donna. He worked for a military food broker for much of his career, selling to commissaries on bases, which is what brought the Miami native to Pensacola about 40 years ago.
His older brother by two years, Bob McCollum, also served in World War II but in the European Theater. He was sent to France on D-Day Plus 2, or June 8, 1944, which was two days after a deadly invasion of Allied forces into northern France on the beaches of Normandy.
“We’re both from Miami and so it was really funny because we used to go out in the water quite a bit on boats down in Miami and he’d get seasick quite often, so he didn’t go into the Navy. And I loved it, so I went into the Navy,” McCollum said with a laugh.
McCollum’s mother kept many of the letters he sent home during the war. He had two stamped “Tokyo Bay,” one of which he donated to the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola.
In the letter he kept, he wrote in part, ”(Tokyo) is fairly well destroyed but not nearly as much as Manila. We brought Army signal core boys over here and had some official photographer aboard. He took a lot of pictures, had a couple of me on the light and the flagbag so if I should happen to be in the newsreel, don’t be surprised. It really gives you a good feeling to see all these ships and planes flying over. …”
Janice McMillan, McCollum’s oldest daughter, took a particular interest in her father’s letters and now keeps many of them in her home. She said she’s particularly interested in family genealogy and researching the family, so she liked to learn about what life was like for her family members back then.
“I actually showed them to my son, (Don’s) grandson, this past summer when he was visiting me, so we all enjoy reading them,” McMillan said, adding that her son, David Zimmerman, is also a veteran. “He has talked to my dad about things and they have swapped stories and he’s got some of the pictures and everything hanging up on his wall of my dad.”
McCollum said he felt it was important for him to share his story ahead of Wednesday’s 75th anniversary of V-J Day because there are probably few who witnessed it who are left.
“I was lucky because not many people were there. I mean, I had that opportunity or whatever you want to call it. So I thought ‘Shucks, I’ll brag about it,’” McCollum said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Man sentenced for stealing checks from mail after hurricane

PANAMA CITY , Fla. ( AP ) - A Georgia man has been sentenced to one year and nine months in federal prison for stealing checks from the mail in the Florida Panhandle as the area was still recovering from Hurricane Michael .
Michaelo Moore , 45 , of Stone Mountain , Georgia , was sentenced Tuesday in Panama City federal court , according to court records .
He pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit mail theft and mail theft .
Panama City police arrested Moore in February 2019 , after receiving reports that he had attempted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s transient population to help him cash fraudulent checks .
A transient man told police that Moore and another man , Maurice Senior , 43 , of Atlanta , had offered to pay him to cash several stolen checks found in Moore ’ s possession , prosecutors said .
Senior was sentenced in April to 10 months in prison .
Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Oct. 10 , 2018 .
It was the first Category 5 storm to strike the contiguous United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992 .

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) - A Georgia man has been sentenced to one year and nine months in federal prison for stealing checks from the mail in the Florida Panhandle as the area was still recovering from Hurricane Michael.
Michaelo Moore, 45, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced Tuesday in Panama City federal court, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit mail theft and mail theft.
Panama City police arrested Moore in February 2019, after receiving reports that he had attempted to recruit several members of the city’s transient population to help him cash fraudulent checks. A transient man told police that Moore and another man, Maurice Senior, 43, of Atlanta, had offered to pay him to cash several stolen checks found in Moore’s possession, prosecutors said. Senior was sentenced in April to 10 months in prison.
Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Oct. 10, 2018. It was the first Category 5 storm to strike the contiguous United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--North Chile shaken by powerful quake for 2nd time this week

SANTIAGO , Chile ( AP ) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 shook northern Chile on Saturday night , the second powerful tremor to hit the country this week , though there were no reports of casualties or property damage .
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake ’ s epicenter was 45 kilometers ( 29 miles ) northwest of Ovalle in the northwest of the country , and about 400 kilometers ( 249 miles ) north of Chile ’ s capital , Santiago .
The quake struck at a depth of 30.7 kilometers ( 19 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s National Emergency Office said there had been no reports of injuries or damage .
The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean navy said the characteristics of the earthquake did pose a tsunami threat for the coast .
A magnitude 6.8 quake struck in the Pacific off the coast of northern Chile early Tuesday .
No injuries or damage were reported .
Chile lies along the Pacific basin ’ s “ Ring of Fire , ” and is frequently hit by tremors with magnitudes exceeding 6.0 .
The last major earthquake was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2010 , a magnitude 8.8 jolt that affected several Chilean regions and caused a tsunami , killing 526 people and leaving dozens missing .

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 shook northern Chile on Saturday night, the second powerful tremor to hit the country this week, though there were no reports of casualties or property damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake’s epicenter was 45 kilometers (29 miles) northwest of Ovalle in the northwest of the country, and about 400 kilometers (249 miles) north of Chile’s capital, Santiago. The quake struck at a depth of 30.7 kilometers (19 miles), it said.
Chile’s National Emergency Office said there had been no reports of injuries or damage.
The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean navy said the characteristics of the earthquake did pose a tsunami threat for the coast.
A magnitude 6.8 quake struck in the Pacific off the coast of northern Chile early Tuesday. No injuries or damage were reported.
Chile lies along the Pacific basin’s “Ring of Fire,” and is frequently hit by tremors with magnitudes exceeding 6.0. The last major earthquake was in the early morning of Feb. 27, 2010, a magnitude 8.8 jolt that affected several Chilean regions and caused a tsunami, killing 526 people and leaving dozens missing.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--South Carolina deputy shot responding to domestic call

LEXINGTON , S.C. ( AP ) - A South Carolina deputy was shot Saturday while responding to a domestic call @ @ @ @ @ , leading police to negotiate with the husband who barricaded himself inside a Lexington home @ @ @ @ @ Lexington County Sheriff ’ s Department said a deputy was treated at a hospital for @ @ @ @ @ upper body that was not life-threatening and is expected to return home Saturday .
Three @ @ @ @ @ a 911 call related to a domestic situation , the spokesman said .
While they @ @ @ @ @ was shot .
The sheriff ’ s department did not identify the suspected shooter .
@ @ @ @ @ how many or where the shots were fired .
The husband involved in the domestic @ @ @ @ @ home alone , the spokesman said .
Police began communicating with him to negotiate .
@ @ @ @ @ domestic complaint is safe after she went to a neighbor ’ s home and called @ @ @ @ @ .

LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina deputy was shot Saturday while responding to a domestic call between a husband and wife, leading police to negotiate with the husband who barricaded himself inside a Lexington home, officials said.
Mark Louis Cote, 70, was taken into custody early Sunday morning, authorities said.
The wounded deputy was treated and released Saturday from a hospital for a non life-threatening gunshot wound to the upper body, a Lexington County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Capt. Adam Myrick said.
The deputy who was shot was one of three officers responded Saturday afternoon to a 911 call related to a domestic situation, Myrick said.
At least one officer fired back, investigators said. Deputies did not say how many or where the shots were fired.
Cote barricaded himself inside the home alone and deputies negotiated with him for several hours, Myrick said..
Cote’s wife is safe after she went to a neighbor’s home and called 911, deputies said.
The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Tropical Storm Julio forms in Pacific off southwest Mexico

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Tropical Storm Julio formed Saturday in the Pacific off Mexico ’ s southwestern coast @ @ @ @ @ was expected to remain offshore and gain little strength over the next few days .
@ @ @ @ @ said the storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph ( 65 kph ) late @ @ @ @ @ center was about 130 miles ( 215 kilometers ) south-southwest of the Mexican tourist town @ @ @ @ @ the west-northwest at 20 mph ( 31 kph ) .
The center said Julio was @ @ @ @ @ while moving parallel to Mexico ’ s coast and would likely dissipate by Tuesday .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Tropical Storm Julio formed Saturday in the Pacific off Mexico’s southwestern coast, and forecasters said it was expected to remain offshore and gain little strength over the next few days.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) late Saturday. Its center was about 165 miles (265 kilometers) south of Manzanillo, Mexico, and moving to the west-northwest at 17 mph (28 kph).
The center said Julio was predicted to stay at sea while moving parallel to Mexico’s coast and would likely dissipate by Tuesday.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--AP Week in Pictures, Global

AP Week in Pictures, Global

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by The Associated Press from around the @ @ @ @ @ curated by AP photo editor Patrick Sison in New York .

AUG. 29 - SEPT. 4, 2020
This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by The Associated Press from around the world.
The selection was curated by AP photo editor Patrick Sison in New York.
Follow AP visual journalism:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Nissan's Ghosn gone, American Kelly faces Japan trial alone

TOKYO ( AP ) - His boss Carlos Ghosn escaped financial misconduct charges by fleeing the country , but another former Nissan executive is still awaiting trial in Japan : Greg Kelly .
Kelly ’ s trial in Tokyo District Court is to open Sept. 15 , nearly two years after his arrest , and the same day he turns 64 .
If convicted on charges related to underreporting Ghosn ’ s income , Kelly could face up to a decade in prison .
Even if acquitted , he has already paid a heavy price , unable to leave Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on bail .
He has yet to see his newborn grandchild .
His wife got a student visa to stay with him in Tokyo .
Kelly , like Ghosn , says he is innocent .
Tokyo prosecutors say Kelly and Ghosn , the former chairman of Nissan Motor Co. , violated financial laws by underreporting Ghosn ’ s pay by about 9 billion yen ( $ 85 million ) from 2011 through 2018 .
Jamie Wareham , Kelly ’ s lawyer in the U.S. , says a compensation agreement was never finalized .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ corporate coup ” to oust Ghosn by others at Nissan who feared he might engineer a takeover by its French alliance partner , Renault .
“ The whole thing is a fraud , ” Wareham told The Associated Press by phone .
Ghosn could have been a star witness for the defense .
But he is gone , having fled to Lebanon late last year , hidden in a box aboard a private jet .
“ He is frustrated .
He is upset , ” Wareham said of Kelly .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Japanese system.
” Nissan ’ s U.S. division hired Kelly , who has a law degree , in 1988 .
He became a representative director in 2012 , the first American on Nissan ’ s board .
Kelly worked in legal counsel and human resources at the company .
He was arrested in November 2018 , upon his arrival from the U.S. in Japan , thinking he was going to attend Nissan meetings .
Kelly has not been charged with breach of trust allegations that Ghosn is facing , which center around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purposes , including fancy homes .
Ghosn ’ s lawyers have argued the properties were needed for work , and contend that such questions could have been raised internally at the company and did not require prosecution .
Tokyo Deputy Chief Prosecutor Hiroshi Yamamoto said the preparations for Kelly ’ s trial took a long time because of the massive amounts of evidence involved .
“ We feel we have a solid case with ample evidence to win a guilty verdict , ” Yamamoto told reporters recently .
Wareham , Kelly ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equivalent of a billion pages of documents , mostly in English , that can only be examined on a computer at the Tokyo legal team ’ s office .
They have yet to hand over more than 70 7-inch-size boxes full of material marked as evidence , with only two weeks left before the trial opens .
Kelly ’ s treatment has been unfair , Wareham said .
But he is confident Kelly will be vindicated because he is so “ obviously innocent , ” he said .
Nissan was charged as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be tried together .
Nissan has acknowledged guilt and made changes to the statements on compensation .
It was fined 2.4 billion yen ( $ 22.6 million ) but still faces related charges .
In a trial likely to last about a year , Nissan employees , including former Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa , are expected to testify in support of the prosecutors .
Saikawa replaced Ghosn but resigned last year over financial misconduct allegations of his own .
He has not been charged .
Separately , Japan is seeking the extradition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son Peter Taylor , on charges of smuggling Ghosn out of Japan .
U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell issued a ruling Friday approving their extradition , but the final decision rests with the U.S. State Department .
They are being held in a Massachusetts jail without bail .
Paul Kelly , an attorney for the Taylors , said they looked forward to presenting their arguments at the State Department , including the history of Michael Taylor , a former U.S. Army Special Forces veteran , who has achieved “ stunning well documented victories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly slammed Japan ’ s court system , denouncing it as “ hostage justice.
” That is a widespread criticism given that the conviction rate is above 99 % .
Suspects are routinely grilled by police or prosecutors without a lawyer present and held for months before trial , a practice that critics say leads to false confessions and lacks a presumption of innocence .
At the heart of the whole Ghosn saga is the tendency for Japanese executives to be paid far less than their Western counterparts , while they work more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than as powerful leaders .
In 2010 , when Japan started requiring the public disclosure of individual executives ’ pay , Ghosn ’ s $ 9.5 million annual salary raised eyebrows .
Ghosn defended his higher than usual compensation as what he deserved for what he had achieved at Nissan , leading its turnaround from the brink of collapse after he was sent by Renault in 1999 .
Since Japan has no extradition treaty with Lebanon , it ’ s unlikely Ghosn will ever face trial .
But his legacy at Nissan is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ My prayers go to Greg Kelly and his family who remain trapped by the Japanese Hostage Justice System , ” Ghosn said in a tweet earlier this year .
Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston contributed to this report .
She is on Twitter at https : //twitter.com/aedurkinricher Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https : //twitter.com/yurikageyama

TOKYO (AP) - His boss Carlos Ghosn escaped financial misconduct charges by fleeing the country, but another former Nissan executive is still awaiting trial in Japan: Greg Kelly.
Kelly’s trial in Tokyo District Court is to open Sept. 15, nearly two years after his arrest, and the same day he turns 64. If convicted on charges related to underreporting Ghosn’s income, Kelly could face up to a decade in prison.
Even if acquitted, he has already paid a heavy price, unable to leave Japan and go home to Tennessee while out on bail. He has yet to see his newborn grandchild. His wife got a student visa to stay with him in Tokyo.
Kelly, like Ghosn, says he is innocent.
Tokyo prosecutors say Kelly and Ghosn, the former chairman of Nissan Motor Co., violated financial laws by underreporting Ghosn’s pay by about 9 billion yen ($85 million) from 2011 through 2018.
Jamie Wareham, Kelly’s lawyer in the U.S., says a compensation agreement was never finalized. He believes the real motive was a “corporate coup” to oust Ghosn by others at Nissan who feared he might engineer a takeover by its French alliance partner, Renault.
“The whole thing is a fraud,” Wareham told The Associated Press by phone.
Ghosn could have been a star witness for the defense. But he is gone, having fled to Lebanon late last year, hidden in a box aboard a private jet.
“He is frustrated. He is upset,” Wareham said of Kelly. “He has been abused from the beginning by the Japanese system.”
Nissan’s U.S. division hired Kelly, who has a law degree, in 1988. He became a representative director in 2012, the first American on Nissan’s board. Kelly worked in legal counsel and human resources at the company. He was arrested in November 2018, upon his arrival from the U.S. in Japan, thinking he was going to attend Nissan meetings.
Kelly has not been charged with breach of trust allegations that Ghosn is facing, which center around suspected use of Nissan money for personal purposes, including fancy homes. Ghosn’s lawyers have argued the properties were needed for work, and contend that such questions could have been raised internally at the company and did not require prosecution.
Tokyo Deputy Chief Prosecutor Hiroshi Yamamoto said the preparations for Kelly’s trial took a long time because of the massive amounts of evidence involved.
“We feel we have a solid case with ample evidence to win a guilty verdict,” Yamamoto told reporters recently.
Wareham, Kelly’s counsel, said prosecutors have sent the equivalent of a billion pages of documents, mostly in English, that can only be examined on a computer at the Tokyo legal team’s office. They have yet to hand over more than 70 7-inch-size boxes full of material marked as evidence, with only two weeks left before the trial opens.
Kelly’s treatment has been unfair, Wareham said. But he is confident Kelly will be vindicated because he is so “obviously innocent,” he said.
Nissan was charged as a company, and Nissan and Kelly will be tried together. Nissan has acknowledged guilt and made changes to the statements on compensation. It was fined 2.4 billion yen ($22.6 million) but still faces related charges.
In a trial likely to last about a year, Nissan employees, including former Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa, are expected to testify in support of the prosecutors. Saikawa replaced Ghosn but resigned last year over financial misconduct allegations of his own. He has not been charged.
Separately, Japan is seeking the extradition of two Americans, Michael Taylor and his son Peter Taylor, on charges of smuggling Ghosn out of Japan. U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell issued a ruling Friday approving their extradition, but the final decision rests with the U.S. State Department. They are being held in a Massachusetts jail without bail.
Paul Kelly, an attorney for the Taylors, said they looked forward to presenting their arguments at the State Department, including the history of Michael Taylor, a former U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, who has achieved “stunning well documented victories over criminals and terrorists.”
Ghosn has repeatedly slammed Japan’s court system, denouncing it as “hostage justice.”
That is a widespread criticism given that the conviction rate is above 99%. Suspects are routinely grilled by police or prosecutors without a lawyer present and held for months before trial, a practice that critics say leads to false confessions and lacks a presumption of innocence.
At the heart of the whole Ghosn saga is the tendency for Japanese executives to be paid far less than their Western counterparts, while they work more as part of “salaryman” teams than as powerful leaders.
In 2010, when Japan started requiring the public disclosure of individual executives’ pay, Ghosn’s $9.5 million annual salary raised eyebrows.
Ghosn defended his higher than usual compensation as what he deserved for what he had achieved at Nissan, leading its turnaround from the brink of collapse after he was sent by Renault in 1999.
Since Japan has no extradition treaty with Lebanon, it’s unlikely Ghosn will ever face trial. But his legacy at Nissan is likely to overshadow Kelly’s trial.
“My prayers go to Greg Kelly and his family who remain trapped by the Japanese Hostage Justice System,” Ghosn said in a tweet earlier this year.
___
Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston contributed to this report. She is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/aedurkinricher
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama