washingtontimes--2020-10-13--Joe Biden gaffes raise questions about mental capacity, cognitive ability

No sooner had Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden put the “ gaffe machine ” narrative to rest with a relatively flub-free debate than he revved it up again with one appearance in Ohio .
Mr. Biden said he was running for the Senate .
He mixed up former Sens .
Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy .
He gave the wrong voter-registration website .
He forgot the name of Sen. Mitt Romney , calling him “ the senator who was a Mormon , the governor , OK ?
” Every politician makes misstatements — even the unflappable President Obama once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — but Mr. Biden ’ s pattern of blunders has raised questions about whether the former vice president still has what it takes as he approaches his 78th birthday .
Former White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson , who served from 2013 to 2018 in the Obama and Trump administrations , said bluntly Tuesday that Mr. Biden “ is not up to the job.
” “ I ’ ve watched Joe Biden on the campaign trail and I ’ m concerned that he does not have the mental capacity , the cognitive ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He routinely gets lost in the middle of a thought and can ’ t recalibrate , ” Dr. Jackson said on a press call arranged by the Trump campaign .
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates dismissed the claims , saying , “ I refer you to the first debate.
” Dr. Jackson was careful to note that he never treated Mr. Biden and was “ not remotely trying to diagnose him with anything .
I ’ m saying it as a concerned citizen , ” but the view that he may no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hardly an outlier .
Wilfred Reilly , associate professor of political science at Kentucky State University , said he tries to avoid “ diagnosing people on the stump , ” but that he also believes that Mr. Biden isn ’ t the same as he was in his Senate heyday .
“ I will say , just as a citizen observer , it definitely looks like Joe Biden has lost a step with age , ” said Mr. Reilly .
“ If you compare 1994 Joe Biden arguing for the crime bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caucus or reporters from The New York Times — if you compare that figure to Joe Biden today , there ’ s definitely been some change , and it ’ s not in a positive direction.
” Mr. Biden ’ s stumbles during the presidential race are well-documented .
He said 120 million Americans had died from the coronavirus in June — it was 120,000 — and then made the same mistake in September , saying 200 million had died .
Numbers in general are a problem .
“ COVID has taken this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has taken more than 100 year , ” Mr. Biden told a Pittsburgh crowd in September .
“ Look , the lives , it ’ s just , when you think about it , more lives this year than any other year for the past hundred years.
” He blanked in March on the Declaration of Independence , telling a Houston crowd , “ We hold these truths to be self-evident : all men and women created by , go , you know the thing.
” Rick Manning , president of the free-market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should expect Mr. Biden , who turns 78 on Nov. 20 , to improve with age .
“ This is as good as he gets , ” said Mr. Manning , who worked for the George W. Bush administration .
“ If we were looking at somebody who was just occasionally forgetting something , which we all do , that would be one thing .
But we ’ re looking at somebody who is a serial forgetter.
” As a result , he said , “ I think it ’ s reasonable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly in decline with their finger on the button.
” Mr. Biden ’ s other gaffe problem has less to do with memory lapses and more to do with a propensity to fall back on race and religion when describing people .
His attempt Monday to describe Mr. Romney as a “ Mormon ” is one example .
His tendency to use racial stereotypes has also been on display in the campaign .
Last month , he sought to praise essential workers by stating : “ They ’ re saying , ‘ Geez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay sequestered in my home is because some Black woman was able to stack the grocery shelf.
’ ” In May , he landed in the hot seat by telling “ The Breakfast Club ” co-host Charlamagne tha God , “ If you have a problem figuring out whether you ’ re for me or Trump , then you ain ’ t Black.
” Asked by CBS News reporter Errol Barnett if he had taken a cognitive test , Mr. Biden said he had not , and snapped , “ That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go on this program here , take a test where you ’ re taking cocaine or not ?
What do you think ?
Huh ?
Are you a junkie ?
” Mr. Barnett , who is Black , was interviewing the former vice president in August for the National Association of Black Journalists .
“ He ’ s not all there , and I wouldn ’ t say he ’ s at the top of his game , would you ?
” Mr. Trump told reporters later .
The same month , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrast the Black and Hispanic communities .
“ By the way , what you all know but most people don ’ t know , unlike the African American community with notable exceptions , the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community with incredibly different attitudes about different things , ” Mr. Biden said .
During the Democratic primary last year , Mr. Biden said in Iowa that , “ We have this notion that somehow if you ’ re poor , you can not do it .
Poor kids are just as bright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Such comments go way back .
Back in 2006 , before Mr. Obama tapped him as his running mate , Mr. Biden said , “ You can not go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin ’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent .
I ’ m not joking.
” Mr. Biden or his staff has apologized for or explained the remarks , none of which has appeared to damage his standing with minority voters .
“ There are many major , serious gaffes , from Biden saying things like , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smart as white kids , or , you ’ re not Black if you don ’ t vote for me , that would end the career of a mid-level Republican candidate , ” Mr. Reilly said .
The comments are memorable , and yet little of it has stuck to Mr. Biden , whose camp has deflecting the issue in part by turning the discussion back to President Trump .
Jill Biden shut down a question last month in an interview with CNN ’ s Jake Tapper .
After he asked about Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she responded , “ Oh , you can ’ t even go there.
” “ After Donald Trump , you can not even say the word gaffe , ” she said .
Mr. Trump has countered that Mr. Biden is held to a friendlier standard by the media .
After Monday ’ s Biden gaffe-fest , the president tweeted , “ If I did any of this , it would be disqualifying.
” He may be right .
“ There ’ s more than a bit of a double standard here , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he [ Biden ] has got a good campaign team , and the media ’ s playing along because he ’ s not Trump , ” Mr. Reilly continued .
“ I don ’ t know how much that ’ s actually going to hurt him.
” Indeed , the Biden team has proven adept at limiting the candidate ’ s exposure by calling a lid on campaigning early in the day , restricting access to press questions , and holding many events remotely , hence the nickname “ Hidin ’ Biden.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The RealClearPolitics polling average as of Tuesday showed Mr. Biden leading Mr. Trump by 10 percentage points .
Does the campaign need to address the gaffe issue ?
“ The Biden campaign is addressing it .
That ’ s why they ’ re hiding him , ” Mr. Manning said .
“ They are dealing with it by isolating him .
”

No sooner had Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden put the “gaffe machine” narrative to rest with a relatively flub-free debate than he revved it up again with one appearance in Ohio.
Mr. Biden said he was running for the Senate. He mixed up former Sens. Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy. He gave the wrong voter-registration website. He forgot the name of Sen. Mitt Romney, calling him “the senator who was a Mormon, the governor, OK?”
Every politician makes misstatements — even the unflappable President Obama once said he had been to 57 states — but Mr. Biden’s pattern of blunders has raised questions about whether the former vice president still has what it takes as he approaches his 78th birthday.
Former White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson, who served from 2013 to 2018 in the Obama and Trump administrations, said bluntly Tuesday that Mr. Biden “is not up to the job.”
“I’ve watched Joe Biden on the campaign trail and I’m concerned that he does not have the mental capacity, the cognitive ability, to serve as our commander-in-chief. He routinely gets lost in the middle of a thought and can’t recalibrate,” Dr. Jackson said on a press call arranged by the Trump campaign.
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates dismissed the claims, saying, “I refer you to the first debate.”
Dr. Jackson was careful to note that he never treated Mr. Biden and was “not remotely trying to diagnose him with anything. I’m saying it as a concerned citizen,” but the view that he may no longer command the facts like he once did is hardly an outlier.
Wilfred Reilly, associate professor of political science at Kentucky State University, said he tries to avoid “diagnosing people on the stump,” but that he also believes that Mr. Biden isn’t the same as he was in his Senate heyday.
“I will say, just as a citizen observer, it definitely looks like Joe Biden has lost a step with age,” said Mr. Reilly. “If you compare 1994 Joe Biden arguing for the crime bill with these power players like the Black Caucus or reporters from The New York Times — if you compare that figure to Joe Biden today, there’s definitely been some change, and it’s not in a positive direction.”
Mr. Biden’s stumbles during the presidential race are well-documented. He said 120 million Americans had died from the coronavirus in June — it was 120,000 — and then made the same mistake in September, saying 200 million had died.
Numbers in general are a problem. “COVID has taken this year, just since the outbreak, has taken more than 100 year,” Mr. Biden told a Pittsburgh crowd in September. “Look, the lives, it’s just, when you think about it, more lives this year than any other year for the past hundred years.”
He blanked in March on the Declaration of Independence, telling a Houston crowd, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: all men and women created by, go, you know the thing.”
Rick Manning, president of the free-market Americans for Limited Government, said nobody should expect Mr. Biden, who turns 78 on Nov. 20, to improve with age.
“This is as good as he gets,” said Mr. Manning, who worked for the George W. Bush administration. “If we were looking at somebody who was just occasionally forgetting something, which we all do, that would be one thing. But we’re looking at somebody who is a serial forgetter.”
As a result, he said, “I think it’s reasonable to ask whether you want somebody who is clearly in decline with their finger on the button.”
Mr. Biden’s other gaffe problem has less to do with memory lapses and more to do with a propensity to fall back on race and religion when describing people. His attempt Monday to describe Mr. Romney as a “Mormon” is one example.
His tendency to use racial stereotypes has also been on display in the campaign.
Last month, he sought to praise essential workers by stating: “They’re saying, ‘Geez, the reason I was able to stay sequestered in my home is because some Black woman was able to stack the grocery shelf.’”
In May, he landed in the hot seat by telling “The Breakfast Club” co-host Charlamagne tha God, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t Black.”
Asked by CBS News reporter Errol Barnett if he had taken a cognitive test, Mr. Biden said he had not, and snapped, “That’s like saying, you, before you go on this program here, take a test where you’re taking cocaine or not? What do you think? Huh? Are you a junkie?”
Mr. Barnett, who is Black, was interviewing the former vice president in August for the National Association of Black Journalists.
“He’s not all there, and I wouldn’t say he’s at the top of his game, would you?” Mr. Trump told reporters later.
The same month, Mr. Biden sought in an NPR interview to contrast the Black and Hispanic communities.
“By the way, what you all know but most people don’t know, unlike the African American community with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community with incredibly different attitudes about different things,” Mr. Biden said.
During the Democratic primary last year, Mr. Biden said in Iowa that, “We have this notion that somehow if you’re poor, you cannot do it. Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as White kids.”
Such comments go way back. Back in 2006, before Mr. Obama tapped him as his running mate, Mr. Biden said, “You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.”
Mr. Biden or his staff has apologized for or explained the remarks, none of which has appeared to damage his standing with minority voters.
“There are many major, serious gaffes, from Biden saying things like, I think poor kids are just as smart as white kids, or, you’re not Black if you don’t vote for me, that would end the career of a mid-level Republican candidate,” Mr. Reilly said.
The comments are memorable, and yet little of it has stuck to Mr. Biden, whose camp has deflecting the issue in part by turning the discussion back to President Trump.
Jill Biden shut down a question last month in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. After he asked about Mr. Biden’s “occasional gaffe,” she responded, “Oh, you can’t even go there.”
“After Donald Trump, you cannot even say the word gaffe,” she said.
Mr. Trump has countered that Mr. Biden is held to a friendlier standard by the media. After Monday’s Biden gaffe-fest, the president tweeted, “If I did any of this, it would be disqualifying.”
He may be right. “There’s more than a bit of a double standard here,” said Mr. Reilly.
“But he [Biden] has got a good campaign team, and the media’s playing along because he’s not Trump,” Mr. Reilly continued. “I don’t know how much that’s actually going to hurt him.”
Indeed, the Biden team has proven adept at limiting the candidate’s exposure by calling a lid on campaigning early in the day, restricting access to press questions, and holding many events remotely, hence the nickname “Hidin’ Biden.”
So far it’s working. The RealClearPolitics polling average as of Tuesday showed Mr. Biden leading Mr. Trump by 10 percentage points.
Does the campaign need to address the gaffe issue? “The Biden campaign is addressing it. That’s why they’re hiding him,” Mr. Manning said. “They are dealing with it by isolating him.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Iran virus death toll hits record high, 3rd time in week

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) - For the third time in a week , Iran on Wednesday marked its highest single-day record for new deaths and infections from the coronavirus , with 279 people killed and 4,830 new patients .
Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari made the announcement as Iran struggles with the worst outbreak in the Middle East , with more than 513,000 confirmed cases .
It has seen over 29,300 deaths and 414,800 recoveries since announcing its first cases in February .
Iran has a population of more than 83 million .
In recent weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their highest-ever levels , sparking increasing concern even as government officials continue to resist a total lockdown for fear of cratering the economy , which has been hard-hit by U.S. sanctions .
On Wednesday , Iran announced a travel ban to and from five major cities , including the capital of Tehran and the holy city of Mashhad , to prevent the virus ’ s spread .
Kianoush Jahanpour , a Health Ministry spokesman , told state TV that the travel ban aims to reduce risks ahead of a religious holiday on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursdays and Fridays .
Under the plan , police will stop vehicles from entering the five cities if their license plates don ’ t match the city they ’ re entering .
Many Iranians travel to Mashhad , some 900 kilometers ( 560 miles ) northeast of Tehran , to visit the tomb of Imam Reza , Iran ’ s holiest Shia site .
The coronavirus has spread to some of the highest levels of Iran ’ s government , many of whom are older men .
Among those recently infected is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy organization , and Iran ’ s vice president in charge of budget and planning also tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday .
Also on Wednesday , the United Arab Emirates reported a record number of coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day , with 1,431 new infections .
The caseload brings the total number in the country over 110,000 , including 450 fatalities .
Recorded infections have soared again over recent weeks , as authorities have relaxed restrictions and resumed schools for in-person instruction .
Dubai , the region ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for international travelers .
While coming amid an aggressive testing campaign , the upward trend has raised fears that authorities could reinstate lockdowns in parts of the country that rely heavily on tourism and recreation .

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - For the third time in a week, Iran on Wednesday marked its highest single-day record for new deaths and infections from the coronavirus, with 279 people killed and 4,830 new cases.
A Health Ministry spokeswoman, Sima Sadat Lari, made the announcement as Iran, with a population of more than 83 million, struggles with the worst outbreak in the Middle East. Since the first cases of the virus were announced in February, the country has had more than 513,000 confirmed cases and over 29,300 deaths.
In recent weeks, Iran has seen daily death tolls spike to their highest-ever levels, sparking increasing concern even as government officials continue to resist a total lockdown for fear of cratering the economy, which has been hard-hit by U.S. sanctions.
On Wednesday, Iran announced a travel ban to and from five major cities, including the capital of Tehran and the holy city of Mashhad, to prevent the spread of the virus. Kianoush Jahanpour, a Health Ministry spokesman, told state TV that the travel ban aims to reduce risks ahead of a religious holiday on Saturday. Iran’s weekend is Thursdays and Fridays.
Under the plan, police will stop vehicles from entering the five cities if their license plates do not match the city they’re entering. Many Iranians travel to Mashhad, some 900 kilometers (560 miles) northeast of Tehran, to visit the tomb of Imam Reza, Iran’s holiest Shiite site.
The coronavirus has also spread to some of the highest levels of Iran’s government, which includes many older men. Among those recently infected is the head of the country’s atomic energy organization while Iran’s vice president in charge of budget and planning tested positive on Sunday.
Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi, who had tested positive for the virus in March after playing down its threat and refuting reports of mass deaths, told state TV on Wednesday that the country’s true death toll is about double the reported figures.
The death tolls released by the Health Ministry are based on those who had tested positive, he said. Harirchi added that there are large numbers of patients in hospitals being treated as COVID-19 cases but who had not been tested, whose tests came out as false negatives or whose symptoms are not the same as those listed by the World Health Organization and who are therefore not counted in the official numbers.
Also Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates reported a record number of coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day, with 1,431 new infections. The caseload brings the total number in the country to over 110,000, including 450 fatalities.
Recorded infections have soared again over recent weeks, as authorities have relaxed restrictions and reopened schools. Dubai, the region’s business hub, recently reopened its airport for international travelers. While coming amid an aggressive testing campaign, the upward trend has raised fears that authorities could reinstate lockdowns in parts of the country that rely heavily on tourism.
Meanwhile in Iraq, coronavirus-related deaths surpassed 10,000 from among more than 347,000 confirmed cases, according to government figures on Wednesday. The country has been grappling with a surge in cases in recent months, jumping two-fold since August.
Daily virus cases have dipped some in Iraq, averaging around 3,000-4,000 per day from a late summer peak of 5,000. But actual numbers might be higher, doctors in Baghdad and Iraq’s south said, as patients showing mild to moderate virus symptoms often stay at home and do not get tested for COVID-19.
“The case numbers are much higher than what is known because a lot of people, when they show symptoms of COVID-19, they quarantine themselves in their homes without making the test,” said Qassem Jawad, a doctor in Missan, in southern Iraq.
___
Kullab reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writer Isabel deBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Donald Trump to participate in hour-long town hall on Oct. 15

President Trump is set to participate in an hour-long town hall event with NBC News on Oct. 15 , which was supposed to be the date of the second presidential debate .
The Thursday event puts the president in direct competition with Joseph R. Biden , who is participating in his own televised town hall event at the same time on ABC in Philadelphia .
NBC announced Wednesday that the event will be outdoors at the Pérez Art Museum Miami in Florida and that Savannah Guthrie will moderate the event with Mr. Trump and Florida voters .
The network said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s recent health data and have concluded “ with a high degree of confidence ” that the president is “ not shedding infectious virus.
” NBC said the data included a PCR test collected and analyzed by the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) on Tuesday .
A Monday update from Dr. Sean P. Conley , Mr. Trump ’ s doctor , said the president tested negative for COVID-19 on consecutive days using the Abbott BinaxNOW antigen card , which is the type of test the administration has sent to nursing homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been back out on the campaign trail in recent days as he recovers from the coronavirus .
Mr. Biden will be participating in a town hall event that starts at the same time , though the portion with Mr. Biden is set to run 90 minutes .
NBC said Mr. Trump and Ms. Guthrie will be at least 12 feet apart from each other and the audience , which will be socially distanced and required to wear masks and take a temperature check beforehand .
The network said the event will follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time slot as a town hall it hosted with Mr. Biden on Oct. 5 .
Mr. Trump had lampooned that event at a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday .
“ Did you see the town hall he had with NBC ?
That was a town hall for a child — a young child , ” he said .
“ That was a beauty , right ?
That was some town hall.
” The Commission on Presidential Debates canceled the Oct. 15 debate between Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden , which was to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president refused to participate in a virtual format .

Talk about social distancing.
President Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden are set to “square off” in competing TV town hall events that are more than 1,000 miles apart on Thursday.
The setup has voters wondering why they can’t be on the same stage for a more conventional face-off less than three weeks until Election Day.
“The reality here is that they should be on the stage,” said Eric Beach, founder of the pro-Trump group Great America PAC. “Yes, it may get out of line. It may have rhetoric that is not very flattering, but you’re competing for the highest office in the land, and you need to be able to counter each other, position your ideas, and contrast each other.”
NBC News will host an hour-long, socially distanced town hall with Mr. Trump and Florida voters in Miami starting at 8 p.m. Eastern on Thursday.
Mr. Biden’s has a 90-minute ABC town hall in Philadelphia that starts at the same time.
Shaunna Thomas, executive director of the anti-sexism group UltraViolet, said NBC is bailing Mr. Trump out after he was “afraid” to debate Mr. Biden.
“From ‘Access Hollywood’ to the upcoming town hall, NBC has enabled Donald Trump for decades,” Ms. Thomas said. “By hosting this town hall for Donald Trump, NBC is complicit in his attacks on our democracy and democratic processes.”
The network suggested it was essentially giving equal time to Mr. Trump after NBC anchor Lester Holt moderated a town hall discussion with Mr. Biden on Oct. 5 in the same time slot and format.
The Commission on Presidential Debates canceled the Oct. 15 debate between Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden last week after the president balked at plans to change it to a virtual format because of his coronavirus diagnosis.
The president’s team pushed for the commission to reconsider and hold an in-person debate as scheduled. Mr. Trump has been back on the campaign trail since Monday after his physician said he was no longer at risk of spreading the virus.
Mr. Trump announced Oct. 2 that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was subsequently hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for several days.
NBC said it set up the TV town hall after federal health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, reviewed Mr. Trump’s recent health data and concluded “with a high degree of confidence” that he is “not shedding infectious virus.”
The data included a PCR test collected and analyzed by the National Institutes of Health, where Dr. Fauci serves as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
NBC said Mr. Trump and moderator Savannah Guthrie will be at least 12 feet apart from each other and the audience, which will be socially distanced and will be required to wear masks and take a temperature check beforehand.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden are still set to square off at their second and final in-person debate in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 22.
The announcement Wednesday also prompted questions as to why NBC scheduled the event to directly compete with Mr. Biden’s, depriving viewers of the chance at watching both candidates live.
The NBC event will also air on MSNBC and CNBC, increasing the likelihood that more TV viewers will be watching Mr. Trump on Thursday compared to Mr. Biden.
NBC’s Oct. 5 town hall with Mr. Biden attracted 6.7 million viewers across three networks, with an NBC audience of about 3.9 million.
An ABC town hall with Mr. Trump last month drew 3.8 million viewers.
More than 73 million viewers tuned in for the Sept. 29 presidential debate.
Though the town halls are unlikely to attract the same level of viewership, Great America PAC’s Mr. Beach said the format will likely benefit Mr. Trump.
“By going on NBC, that’s not a pro-Trump audience and he’s able to not only compete in terms of ratings but also have a message that goes out to a little bit of a different audience than he’s used to,” he said.
He said Mr. Biden and the debate commission are to blame for the canceled debate.
“If [Mr. Biden] wants ratings, he needs to answer the questions — and he hasn’t been able to do that,” Mr. Beach said. “So if he’s not able to do that and ABC’s not willing to push him on it, then nobody’s going to watch his town hall anyhow.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Bank of America profit falls 16% in third quarter

CHARLOTTE , N.C. ( AP ) - Consumer banking giant Bank of America says third-quarter profit declined 15.6 % from a year earlier , but saw less need to put aside money to cover potentially bad loans , citing improvements in the U.S. economy .
BofA was the latest major bank , after JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup , to set aside fewer dollars to cover its loan-loss reserves , after the industry set aside tens of billions of dollars in the first months of the pandemic to account for loans - once perfectly good - that were now in trouble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small businesses failed .
The North Carolina-based bank said Wednesday that it earned a profit of $ 4.88 billion , or 51 cents per share , down from a profit of $ 5.78 billion , or 56 cents per share , in the same period a year earlier .
The results missed analysts ’ estimates , who were looking for BofA to earn 53 cents a share , according to Zacks Investment Research .
BofA had $ 1.4 billion in loan-loss reserves in the third quarter , down from the $ 5.1 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
BofA ’ s loan-loss reserves were higher than JPMorgan ’ s , which only set aside $ 611 million in the quarter , but less than the $ 2.26 billion that Citigroup had set aside .
All three banks said their reasoning for setting aside less money toward potential loan losses was the relatively improving U.S. economy .
State and local economies have been doing phased reopenings since the pandemic took hold in March of this year in the U.S. , with many regions now allowing outdoor dining or the reopening of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high , the U.S. unemployment rate has fallen from its peaks hit in April and May .
Bank of America was also negatively impacted by low interest rates .
The Federal Reserve early this year cut interest rates to near zero to bolster the U.S. economy .
That made it cheaper for borrowers to get money , but it cuts into the profits of banks .
The bank ’ s net interest yield - a measurement of how much profit the bank is earning on the loans it approved - was 1.72 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % a year earlier .

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Consumer banking giant Bank of America says third-quarter profit declined 15.6% from a year earlier, but saw less need to put aside money to cover potentially bad loans, citing improvements in the U.S. economy.
BofA was the latest major bank, after JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, to set aside fewer dollars to cover its loan-loss reserves, after the industry set aside tens of billions of dollars in the first months of the pandemic to account for loans - once perfectly good - that were now in trouble as millions of workers lost jobs and small businesses failed.
The North Carolina-based bank said Wednesday that it earned a profit of $4.88 billion, or 51 cents per share, down from a profit of $5.78 billion, or 56 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier. The results missed analysts’ estimates, who were looking for BofA to earn 53 cents a share, according to Zacks Investment Research.
BofA had $1.4 billion in loan-loss reserves in the third quarter, down from the $5.1 billion it set aside in the second quarter. BofA’s loan-loss reserves were higher than JPMorgan’s, which only set aside $611 million in the quarter, but less than the $2.26 billion that Citigroup had set aside.
All three banks said their reasoning for setting aside less money toward potential loan losses was the relatively improving U.S. economy. State and local economies have been doing phased reopenings since the pandemic took hold in March of this year in the U.S., with many regions now allowing outdoor dining or the reopening of businesses and offices. While still historically high, the U.S. unemployment rate has fallen from its peaks hit in April and May.
Bank of America was also negatively impacted by low interest rates. The Federal Reserve early this year cut interest rates to near zero to bolster the U.S. economy. That made it cheaper for borrowers to get money, but it cuts into the profits of banks. The bank’s net interest yield - a measurement of how much profit the bank is earning on the loans it approved - was 1.72% in the quarter, down from 2.41% a year earlier.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Vatican trial for sex abuse in pope's youth seminary opens

VATICAN CITY ( AP ) - For the first time , a clergy sex abuse trial opened Wednesday in the Vatican ’ s criminal tribunal , with one priest accused of molesting an altar boy in the Vatican ’ s youth seminary and another priest accused of covering it up .
The case concerns the closed world of the St. Pius X youth seminary , a palazzo inside the Vatican walls just across the street from where Pope Francis lives and the criminal tribunal itself .
The seminary , which is run by a Como , Italy-based association of priests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aged 12 to 18 , who serve as altar boys at papal Masses in St. Peter ’ s Basilica .
According to the indictment read aloud Wednesday , the Rev .
Gabriele Martinelli , 28 , is accused of abusing his authority as a more senior seminarian to force a younger seminarian into “ carnal acts ” of sodomy and masturbation , using violence and threats , from 2007-2012 .
The former seminary rector , the Rev .
Enrico Radice , is charged with having helped Martinelli avoid investigators by telling the Como @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were baseless and telling Vatican prosecutors that he knew of no sexual misconduct in the seminary .
Both men appeared in the courtroom Wednesday , wearing masks as part of the Vatican ’ s anti-coronavirus restrictions , and huddled with their lawyers after the brief , eight-minute hearing .
Neither has responded publicly to the accusations .
The next hearing was scheduled for Oct. 27 , when both defendants are expected to take the stand .
The charges suggested that Radice ’ s alleged cover-up went beyond what was previously known and put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prosecutors said Wednesday that Radice not only helped Martinelli evade investigators in the years prior to becoming a priest , but also falsified a letter from the Como bishop announcing Martinelli ’ s imminent ordination .
The scandal is particularly grave because the abuse allegedly occurred within Vatican City itself , and the allegations were known since at least 2012 but were covered up by the Vatican and other church authorities until the victim and his roommate went public in 2017 .
Their stories greatly undermined Pope Francis ’ pledges of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged crimes occurred in his own backyard and had gone unpunished for years .
Eventually though , Francis waived the statute of limitations in the case and signed off on a new policy for Vatican City requiring such crimes to be reported to Vatican prosecutors .
The key whistleblower in the case , Kamil Jarzembowski , said he wrote Francis and other church authorities several letters over the years detailing what he had seen as the roommate of the alleged victim , but never received a reply : He reported seeing his roommate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martinelli would enter their dorm room .
He has said the molestation began when both were minors and continued after Martinelli turned 18 .
“ It was terrifying seeing these things because at the time I was 15 .
I had never even seen two people having sex and yet I was forced to watch these things inside the Vatican , ” Jarzembowski told The Associated Press on Wednesday .
The Polish-born Jarzembowski , once a devout altar boy , was kicked out of the seminary after he reported the misconduct to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and said he has since lost his faith entirely in the church and God .
“ Psychologically it was pretty tough to take because I came to the Vatican to serve the church .
I was a believer , ” he said .
“ And yet at night I was forced to look at these scenes , with the blackmail that if I talked I would suffer consequences.
” Usually , if it investigates sexual abuse at all , the Catholic Church prosecutes accused priests according to the canon law , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can impose a maximum penalty of defrocking .
In this case , because the alleged crimes occurred within the confines of Vatican City , the city state ’ s criminal prosecutors also have jurisdiction and decided to charge the two priests in what is believed to be the first trial of its kind in the Vatican tribunal .
The case though is emblematic of the inherent conflicts of interest in the canon law system , where Jarzembowski ’ s allegations were initially quashed after bishops declared them unfounded .
Bishops and religious superiors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse , but they have an inherent conflict of interest in favor of the accused priests since they often have invested time and money in the priests ’ training and need them to fill Mass schedules and perform pastoral work .
In this case , the charges against Radice suggest that he wanted see Martinelli ordained a priest at all cost , despite the allegations against him .
Both men are affiliated with a small Como-based association , the Opera Don Folchi , which runs the youth seminary and needs a constant supply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going .
The group has lashed out at the allegations against Martinelli and its seminary as “ mud , ” a “ violent attack on the church ” and nothing more than “ calumny and falsifications .
”

VATICAN CITY (AP) - For the first time, a clergy sex abuse trial opened Wednesday in the Vatican’s criminal tribunal, with one priest accused of molesting an altar boy in the Vatican’s youth seminary and another priest accused of covering it up.
The case concerns the closed world of the St. Pius X youth seminary, a palazzo inside the Vatican walls just across the street from where Pope Francis lives and the criminal tribunal itself. The seminary, which is run by a Como, Italy-based association of priests, serves as a residence for boys aged 12 to 18, who serve as altar boys at papal Masses in St. Peter’s Basilica.
According to the indictment read aloud Wednesday, the Rev. Gabriele Martinelli, 28, is accused of abusing his authority as a more senior seminarian to force a younger seminarian into “carnal acts” of sodomy and masturbation, using violence and threats, from 2007-2012.
The former seminary rector, the Rev. Enrico Radice, is charged with having helped Martinelli avoid investigators by telling the Como bishop that the victim’s allegations were baseless and telling Vatican prosecutors that he knew of no sexual misconduct in the seminary.
Both men appeared in the courtroom Wednesday, wearing masks as part of the Vatican’s anti-coronavirus restrictions, and huddled with their lawyers after the brief, eight-minute hearing. Neither has responded publicly to the accusations. The next hearing was scheduled for Oct. 27, when both defendants are expected to take the stand.
The charges suggested that Radice’s alleged cover-up went beyond what was previously known and put into question Martinelli’s very ordination. Prosecutors said Wednesday that Radice not only helped Martinelli evade investigators in the years prior to becoming a priest, but also falsified a letter from the Como bishop announcing Martinelli’s imminent ordination.
The scandal is particularly grave because the abuse allegedly occurred within Vatican City itself, and the allegations were known since at least 2012 but were covered up by the Vatican and other church authorities until the victim and his roommate went public in 2017.
Their stories greatly undermined Pope Francis’ pledges of “zero tolerance” for abuse because the alleged crimes occurred in his own backyard and had gone unpunished for years. Eventually though, Francis waived the statute of limitations in the case and signed off on a new policy for Vatican City requiring such crimes to be reported to Vatican prosecutors.
The key whistleblower in the case, Kamil Jarzembowski, said he wrote Francis and other church authorities several letters over the years detailing what he had seen as the roommate of the alleged victim, but never received a reply: He reported seeing his roommate repeatedly molested by Martinelli at night when Martinelli would enter their dorm room. He has said the molestation began when both were minors and continued after Martinelli turned 18.
“It was terrifying seeing these things because at the time I was 15. I had never even seen two people having sex and yet I was forced to watch these things inside the Vatican,” Jarzembowski told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The Polish-born Jarzembowski, once a devout altar boy, was kicked out of the seminary after he reported the misconduct to the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, and said he has since lost his faith entirely in the church and God.
“Psychologically it was pretty tough to take because I came to the Vatican to serve the church. I was a believer,” he said. “And yet at night I was forced to look at these scenes, with the blackmail that if I talked I would suffer consequences.”
Usually, if it investigates sexual abuse at all, the Catholic Church prosecutes accused priests according to the canon law, the church’s in-house legal system that can impose a maximum penalty of defrocking.
In this case, because the alleged crimes occurred within the confines of Vatican City, the city state’s criminal prosecutors also have jurisdiction and decided to charge the two priests in what is believed to be the first trial of its kind in the Vatican tribunal.
The case though is emblematic of the inherent conflicts of interest in the canon law system, where Jarzembowski’s allegations were initially quashed after bishops declared them unfounded.
Bishops and religious superiors are tasked with investigating such allegations of abuse, but they have an inherent conflict of interest in favor of the accused priests since they often have invested time and money in the priests’ training and need them to fill Mass schedules and perform pastoral work.
In this case, the charges against Radice suggest that he wanted see Martinelli ordained a priest at all cost, despite the allegations against him. Both men are affiliated with a small Como-based association, the Opera Don Folchi, which runs the youth seminary and needs a constant supply of new young priests to keep it going.
The group has lashed out at the allegations against Martinelli and its seminary as “mud,” a “violent attack on the church” and nothing more than “calumny and falsifications.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--California inmate charged in 1981 death of W. Virginia woman

BECKLEY , W.Va. ( AP ) - Authorities said a California inmate has been indicted in the shooting of a West Virginia school teacher whose body was found the night before her wedding in 1981 .
Earl James Robbins , 64 , was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Cynthia Miller , news outlets reported .
Raleigh County Prosecutor Kristen Keller said investigators believe Robbins shot and killed Miller on Aug. 26 , 1981 , the day before she was set to marry Lester Police officer Gary O ’ Neal , who has since died .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robbins was interviewed after the shooting but further details on that conversation and Robbins ’ involvement won ’ t be released before trial .
Keller said the cold-case investigation also led to another indictment against Robbins , charging him with an October 1980 kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault of a child .
Keller said witnesses led to other witnesses , which is how authorities came in contact with the victim .
“ The investigation is like following a spider web , ” Keller said .
It ’ s unclear whether the two cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley State Prison in California .
He ’ s serving consecutive sentences for kidnapping and raping a woman who was acting as his real estate agent and personal assistant in Beaumont , Calif. , and for beating his brother-in-law with a hammer .
An extradition hearing will be held at a later date .
It ’ s unclear whether Robbins has an attorney to comment on his behalf .

BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) - Authorities said a California inmate has been indicted in the shooting of a West Virginia school teacher whose body was found the night before her wedding in 1981.
Earl James Robbins, 64, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Cynthia Miller, news outlets reported.
Raleigh County Prosecutor Kristen Keller said investigators believe Robbins shot and killed Miller on Aug. 26, 1981, the day before she was set to marry Lester Police officer Gary O’Neal, who has since died.
Beckley Police Sgt. Morgan Bragg said Robbins was interviewed after the shooting but further details on that conversation and Robbins’ involvement won’t be released before trial.
Keller said the cold-case investigation also led to another indictment against Robbins, charging him with an October 1980 kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault of a child.
Keller said witnesses led to other witnesses, which is how authorities came in contact with the victim.
“The investigation is like following a spider web,” Keller said.
It’s unclear whether the two cases are connected.
Robbins is incarcerated at Valley State Prison in California. He’s serving consecutive sentences for kidnapping and raping a woman who was acting as his real estate agent and personal assistant in Beaumont, Calif., and for beating his brother-in-law with a hammer.
An extradition hearing will be held at a later date.
It’s unclear whether Robbins has an attorney to comment on his behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--'Bad Decisions: The Joe Biden Story' documents nominee's political journey to the left

The political beliefs of Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden are the source of a new prime-time documentary set to air on NewsMax TV Wednesday night .
“ Bad Decisions : The Joe Biden Story ” chronicles the political and ideological journey of Mr. Biden from moderate Democrat to the far left .
“ I ’ ve been closely following politics about half as long as Biden has been a politician .
Even I was surprised at his record .
This will be an eye-opener , ” executive producer Jason Meath told The Washington Times .
“ Viewers will witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own words , and they will hear some of Biden ’ s own explanations for his actions so they can form educated opinions , ” said Mr. Meath , whose production company is based in the nation ’ s capital and provided material for the recent 2020 Republican National Convention .
The project delves into Mr. Biden ’ s actions concerning “ race , crime , foreign affairs and more , ” Mr. Meath said .
“ I must say that after 25 years in D.C. , I thought I knew everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong .
I learned a great deal in making this production , ” he said .
“ Joe Biden spent almost a half century at the very top of Washington Politics .
An experienced insider , he also became known for some of the worst decisions ever made , ” NewsMax TV noted in advance production notes .
The one-hour special airs at 9 p.m .
ET .

The political beliefs of Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden are the source of a new prime-time documentary set to air on NewsMax TV Wednesday night.
“Bad Decisions: The Joe Biden Story” chronicles the political and ideological journey of Mr. Biden from moderate Democrat to the far left.
“I’ve been closely following politics about half as long as Biden has been a politician. Even I was surprised at his record. This will be an eye-opener,” executive producer Jason Meath told The Washington Times.
“Viewers will witness the Biden record through the years in his own words, and they will hear some of Biden’s own explanations for his actions so they can form educated opinions,” said Mr. Meath, whose production company is based in the nation’s capital and provided material for the recent 2020 Republican National Convention.
The project delves into Mr. Biden’s actions concerning “race, crime, foreign affairs and more,” Mr. Meath said.
“I must say that after 25 years in D.C., I thought I knew everything about Biden. And I was very wrong. I learned a great deal in making this production,” he said.
“Joe Biden spent almost a half century at the very top of Washington Politics. An experienced insider, he also became known for some of the worst decisions ever made,” NewsMax TV noted in advance production notes.
The one-hour special airs at 9 p.m. ET.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Effort to bar LGBTQ discrimination moves ahead in Michigan

LANSING , Mich. ( AP ) - A ballot drive has turned in more than 483,000 signatures for an initiative to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in Michigan by amending the state ’ s civil rights law .
If election officials determine roughly 340,000 are valid , the bill would be placed before the Republican-led Legislature , where similar legislation has long stalled .
If lawmakers did not adopt the measure within 40 days , it would go to a statewide vote in November 2022 .
“ Michigan stands united to bring LGBTQ rights into law for the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Fair and Equal Michigan .
He called the group ’ s submission of petitions Tuesday a milestone “ as we continue the work of making sure everyone has an equal chance to succeed.
” Fair and Equal Michigan had raised nearly $ 1.6 million as of July .
Businesses , labor unions and groups that have financially supported the initiative or endorsed it include the Detroit Three automakers , Business Leaders for Michigan , Dow , the state ’ s two major utilities and the AFL-CIO .
The proposal would revise the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment , housing and public accommodations .
Religion-based discrimination , which already is barred , would be defined to include an individual ’ s “ religious beliefs.
” Last year , Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer joined with Democratic legislators to renew a push for legislation to add legal protections for LGBTQ people to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Right Act .
But legislative committees have not held hearings on the bills .
GOP lawmakers have not embraced such measures , or have insisted that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is opposed by backers of LGBTQ rights .
Twenty-one states prohibit discrimination in employment , housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity while another - Wisconsin - bars discrimination against gays and lesbians but not transgender people , according to the Human Rights Campaign , a national LGBTQ rights organization .
In June , the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a landmark federal civil rights law protects gay , lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in employment .
Backers of the Michigan measure said it would provide broader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public accommodations .

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A ballot drive has turned in more than 483,000 signatures for an initiative to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in Michigan by amending the state’s civil rights law.
If election officials determine roughly 340,000 are valid, the bill would be placed before the Republican-led Legislature, where similar legislation has long stalled. If lawmakers did not adopt the measure within 40 days, it would go to a statewide vote in November 2022.
“Michigan stands united to bring LGBTQ rights into law for the first time,” said Trevor Thomas, co-chair of Fair and Equal Michigan. He called the group’s submission of petitions Tuesday a milestone “as we continue the work of making sure everyone has an equal chance to succeed.”
Fair and Equal Michigan had raised nearly $1.6 million as of July. Businesses, labor unions and groups that have financially supported the initiative or endorsed it include the Detroit Three automakers, Business Leaders for Michigan, Dow, the state’s two major utilities and the AFL-CIO.
The proposal would revise the state’s 1976 law to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations. Religion-based discrimination, which already is barred, would be defined to include an individual’s “religious beliefs.”
Last year, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined with Democratic legislators to renew a push for legislation to add legal protections for LGBTQ people to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Right Act. But legislative committees have not held hearings on the bills.
GOP lawmakers have not embraced such measures, or have insisted that they be paired with a religious objections measure that is opposed by backers of LGBTQ rights.
Twenty-one states prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity while another - Wisconsin - bars discrimination against gays and lesbians but not transgender people, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ rights organization.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a landmark federal civil rights law protects gay, lesbian and transgender people from discrimination in employment. Backers of the Michigan measure said it would provide broader protections in local employment, housing and public accommodations.
___
Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Sculptor will be 1st Black woman to represent US at Biennale

Simone Leigh is renowned for creating artworks that transcend race and gender to celebrate Black women and give them a voice .
Now she ’ s sculpting her way into history .
She ’ ll be the first Black woman ever to represent the U.S. at the prestigious Venice Biennale arts festival , the State Department ’ s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Boston ’ s Institute of Contemporary Art said Wednesday .
Leigh , who lives in New York City and gives interviews infrequently , declined to comment - but it ’ s clear that the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her mind .
“ I ’ m so looking forward to a respite from this climate we are living through , ” she said in a recent Instagram post .
The Chicago native is creating a new series of sculptures for the U.S. pavilion at the 59th Biennale to be held in 2022 , said the Boston museum , which is organizing a major exhibition of Leigh ’ s work to be displayed in 2023 .
Leigh originally was to appear at next year ’ s Biennale , but the coronavirus pandemic prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year , Institute of Contemporary Art spokesperson Margaux Leonard told The Associated Press .
“ At such a crucial moment in history , I can think of no better artist to represent the United States , ” ICA director Jill Medvedow said in a statement .
“ Over the course of two decades , Simone Leigh has created an indelible body of work that centers the experiences and histories of Black women , ” she said , calling Leigh ’ s work “ probing , timely and urgent.
” Founded in 1895 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading venue for artists worldwide to call attention to war , racism , poverty , human trafficking and other issues preoccupying the planet .
Eva Respini , the ICA ’ s chief curator , said Leigh ’ s sculptures for the Biennale will highlight Black feminist thought , include works inspired by leading Black intellectuals and serve as “ a beacon in our moment.
” Leigh , 53 , is known for edgy , bold forms that draw from themes in African art .
“ Brick House , ” her towering 16-foot-tall ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman with braids , is currently installed on Manhattan ’ s elevated High Line greenway .

Simone Leigh is renowned for creating artworks that transcend race and gender to celebrate Black women and give them a voice. Now she’s sculpting her way into history.
She’ll be the first Black woman ever to represent the U.S. at the prestigious Venice Biennale arts festival, the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art said Wednesday.
Leigh, who lives in New York City and gives interviews infrequently, declined to comment - but it’s clear that the national reckoning with racial injustice has been on her mind.
“I’m so looking forward to a respite from this climate we are living through,” she said in a recent Instagram post.
The Chicago native is creating a new series of sculptures for the U.S. pavilion at the 59th Biennale to be held in 2022, said the Boston museum, which is organizing a major exhibition of Leigh’s work to be displayed in 2023.
Leigh originally was to appear at next year’s Biennale, but the coronavirus pandemic prompted organizers to delay the 2021 edition by a year, Institute of Contemporary Art spokesperson Margaux Leonard told The Associated Press.
“At such a crucial moment in history, I can think of no better artist to represent the United States,” ICA director Jill Medvedow said in a statement.
“Over the course of two decades, Simone Leigh has created an indelible body of work that centers the experiences and histories of Black women,” she said, calling Leigh’s work “probing, timely and urgent.”
Founded in 1895, the every-other-year Biennale has become a leading venue for artists worldwide to call attention to war, racism, poverty, human trafficking and other issues preoccupying the planet.
Eva Respini, the ICA’s chief curator, said Leigh’s sculptures for the Biennale will highlight Black feminist thought, include works inspired by leading Black intellectuals and serve as “a beacon in our moment.”
Leigh, 53, is known for edgy, bold forms that draw from themes in African art. “Brick House,” her towering 16-foot-tall (5-meter-tall) bronze bust of a Black woman with braids, is currently installed on Manhattan’s elevated High Line greenway.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--UnitedHealth tops profit forecast, finally hikes outlook

UnitedHealth Group beat forecasts for its earnings in the third quarter , and the U.S. ’ s largest health insurance provider finally hiked its 2020 outlook after holding off while trying to sort out COVID-19 ’ s impact .
Health insurers had approached 2020 forecasts cautiously so far this year , even though many reaped huge profits in the first half as the spreading pandemic kept people home and out of the health care system .
Both analysts and insurers have said they expected medical costs to rise in the second half of the year , as communities that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt more comfortable seeking elective surgeries .
UnitedHealth said Wednesday that both care patterns and prescription volumes approached normal levels in its recently completed quarter .
The company now expects adjusted net earnings to range between $ 16.50 to $ 16.75 per share for 2020 .
That ’ s up from a forecast it first laid out late last year for 2020 earnings of between $ 16.25 and $ 16.55 per share .
UnitedHealth usually raises its forecast a couple times during the year .
The new range mostly exceeds the average forecast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16.57 per share , according to FactSet .
Based in Minnetonka , Minnesota , UnitedHealth Group Inc. runs a health insurance business that covers about 48 million people , mostly in the United States .
Its Optum segment also runs one of the nation ’ s largest pharmacy benefit management operations as well as a growing number of clinics and urgent care and surgery centers .
Operating earnings from that segment grew 8 % to $ 2.6 billion in the quarter .
Overall , the company ’ s net income dropped 10 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , due in part to costs tied to the pandemic .
The company booked medical costs from COVID-19 care and testing .
It also gave some customers premium breaks and temporarily waived fees like co-payments for doctor visits .
In addition to that , UnitedHealth ’ s commercial insurance enrollment , which includes employer-sponsored coverage , slipped .
Many companies laid off workers earlier this year as the pandemic spread in the U.S. and the economy slowed down .
UnitedHealth ’ s adjusted earnings totaled $ 3.51 per share in the third quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 65.11 billion .
Analysts expected , on average , adjusted earnings of $ 3.10 per share in the quarter on $ 63.79 billion in revenue , according to financial data provider FactSet .
Company shares edged up about 1 % to $ 334.51 in early-morning trading Wednesday .
Shares of UnitedHealth , a Dow Jones industrial average component , have hit several all-time high prices so far this year .

UnitedHealth Group beat third-quarter earnings expectations and finally hiked its 2020 forecast after holding off while trying to gauge COVID-19’s impact.
But the nation’s largest health insurance provider also is thinking conservatively about its 2021 growth prospects as the coronavirus continues to spread widely.
Health insurers have approached 2020 forecasts cautiously, even though many reaped huge profits in the first half as the pandemic kept people home and out of the health care system.
Both analysts and insurers have said they expected medical costs to rise in the second half of the year, as communities that had shut down opened back up and people felt more comfortable seeking elective surgeries.
UnitedHealth said Wednesday that both care patterns and prescription volumes approached normal levels in its recently completed quarter. The company now expects 2020 adjusted net earnings to range between $16.50 to $16.75 per share.
That compares to a forecast it first laid out late last year for earnings of between $16.25 and $16.55 per share. UnitedHealth usually raises its forecast a couple of times during the year.
The new range mostly exceeds the average forecast on Wall Street for earnings of $16.57 per share, according to FactSet.
But the range’s middle point is only about 1% higher than the same spot in the previous forecast, and it implies fourth-quarter earnings that could fall short of expectations, SVB Leerink analyst Stephen V. Tanal said in a research note.
Based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, UnitedHealth Group Inc. runs a health insurance business that covers about 48 million people, mostly in the United States.
Its Optum segment also runs one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit management operations as well as a growing number of clinics and urgent care and surgery centers.
Overall, the company’s net income dropped 10% to $3.17 billion in the quarter, due partially to costs tied to the pandemic.
The company booked medical costs from COVID-19 care and testing. It also gave some customers premium breaks and temporarily waived fees like co-payments for doctor visits.
UnitedHealth’s adjusted earnings totaled $3.51 per share in the third quarter. Revenue rose about 8% to $65.11 billion.
Analysts expected, on average, adjusted earnings of $3.10 per share in the quarter on $63.79 billion in revenue, according to financial data provider FactSet.
CEO David Wichmann told analysts Wednesday that the company still has confidence in its long-term goal of 13% to 16% earnings growth.
But he also noted that the pandemic’s impact remains a big potential challenge. They still don’t know how it will affect the economy or a return to more normal levels of health care use. He told analysts to expect UnitedHealth to begin with a conservative starting point for next year.
The company will talk more about its growth prospects at its Dec. 1 investor conference.
Company shares slipped less than 2% to $325.72 Wednesday morning, while the Dow Jones Industrial average was flat.
Shares of UnitedHealth, a Dow component, have hit several all-time high prices so far this year.
___
Follow Tom Murphy on Twitter: @thpmurphy


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Agreement reached to end homeless encampment in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - City officials have reached an agreement that will close a homeless encampment that has occupied the Benjamin Franklin Parkway since June 10 by the end of the week .
Under terms of the deal announced Tuesday night , an estimated 150 people have agreed to leave their tents .
In return , the city and the Philadelphia Housing Authority will transfer 50 properties to a land trust established by the encampment residents .
The city also will move forward to develop housing that will include self-contained units or provide units with communal kitchens and bathrooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Jim Kenney thanked camp leaders and residents for “ elevating Philadelphia ’ s affordable housing crisis in the public eye.
” Organizers said the encampment was tied to the Black Lives Matter movement and demanded equal access to fair , safe and affordable housing .
Philadelphia Housing Action , which organized the encampment , said it was conceived as a form of political protest over homeless policies and the lack of low-income housing .
“ The whole point of our protest was to make sure everybody had a house .
And we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we wanted , we did get a commitment for a significant number of housing units for a community land trust from the city and PHA and expanded options for camp residents , ” said camp organizer Sterling Johnson in a statement .
The encampment ’ s residents received donations of food , water and other items when they pitched their tents .
However , nearby residents also raised concerns about trash , violence and harassment .
“ The residents of these neighborhoods have the right to live in peace and safety , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said City Council President Darrell Clarke .
Occupants of another encampment last week accepted aid such as transitional housing in COVID-19 spaces in hotels , or residential treatment , recovery homes and shelters .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - City officials have reached an agreement that will close a homeless encampment that has occupied the Benjamin Franklin Parkway since June 10 by the end of the week.
Under terms of the deal announced Tuesday night, an estimated 150 people have agreed to leave their tents. In return, the city and the Philadelphia Housing Authority will transfer 50 properties to a land trust established by the encampment residents.
The city also will move forward to develop housing that will include self-contained units or provide units with communal kitchens and bathrooms by the end of the year.
Mayor Jim Kenney thanked camp leaders and residents for “elevating Philadelphia’s affordable housing crisis in the public eye.”
Organizers said the encampment was tied to the Black Lives Matter movement and demanded equal access to fair, safe and affordable housing. Philadelphia Housing Action, which organized the encampment, said it was conceived as a form of political protest over homeless policies and the lack of low-income housing.
“The whole point of our protest was to make sure everybody had a house. And we while we didn’t get everything we wanted, we did get a commitment for a significant number of housing units for a community land trust from the city and PHA and expanded options for camp residents,” said camp organizer Sterling Johnson in a statement.
The encampment’s residents received donations of food, water and other items when they pitched their tents. However, nearby residents also raised concerns about trash, violence and harassment.
“The residents of these neighborhoods have the right to live in peace and safety, and this agreement helps preserve that right,” said City Council President Darrell Clarke.
Occupants of another encampment last week accepted aid such as transitional housing in COVID-19 spaces in hotels, or residential treatment, recovery homes and shelters.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--'It was so abrupt': COVID-19 upends burial rites in Cameroon

YAOUNDE , Cameroon ( AP ) - The commotion broke out in the cemetery after dark , flashlights flickering wildly .
Curious , neighbors stumbled upon a dispute between a grieving family and Cameroon ’ s security forces .
The family wanted to exhume their father ’ s body from the Douala cemetery because the proper burial rites had not been carried out amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
To send him to the afterlife this way , his children said , would seal not only his fate but theirs , too .
In Cameroon , where more than 400 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have been repeatedly confronted by bereaved family members who want to adhere to tradition despite concerns that such practices further spread the virus .
“ What is clear is that there has been a lot of resistance , ” said Dr. Eric Tandi with Cameroon ’ s health ministry .
The protests are a testament to the strong influence that ancestors still play in people ’ s daily lives in this Central African nation , particularly within the traditional Bantu communities in western Cameroon .
Anthropology professor Paul Nchoji Nkwi recalled how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Yaounde once failed an exam and then insisted that the only way he ’ d know why would be by going home to Western province .
“ He said , ‘ I fear it comes from my grandmother who died so many years ago and I didn ’ t perform the rituals , ’ ” the professor said .
Bantu communities believe that deaths must be celebrated just as births and marriages are .
Funerals are typically held on Fridays and involve “ a lot of food , a lot of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massively attending , ” Nkwi said .
“ It is a celebration of the life of this person who is now leaving the stage with applause , ” he said .
“ COVID-19 has stopped that process.
” Health officials , fearing the large gatherings during the pandemic , initially decreed that all burials would be carried out by public undertakers with fewer than 10 immediate family members present .
Ultimately , though , that rule had to be relaxed .
Since June , relatives have been allowed to view the bodies of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long as they keep at a distance and do not touch the corpse .
Some find that ’ s not enough .
Relatives of one victim , Suinfo Samuel Wembe , launched a legal battle in Douala in hopes of gaining the right to exhume his body and bury it according to tradition in the Bafoussam chiefdom in western Cameroon .
A judge , though , said that can only take place one year after the COVID-19 pandemic is declared over .
Hospital officials said Wembe died of complications from the virus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ societies dictate funeral rites for notables like him , but none were followed , nephew Prince Constantin Size said .
“ It feels like the sky has fallen on us , ” he says .
Instead , Wembe ’ s body was brought to a public morgue , where no relatives were able to visit .
Hours later , he was hastily buried in a public cemetery .
“ It was so abrupt , so psychologically it is hard to accept , ” Size said .
According to tradition , Wembe should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western province , not in the city of Douala , where he lived .
His family can only wait , and still does not consider him buried .
“ Even if it takes ( the World Health Organization ) a decade to declare COVID-19 eradicated , we still consider that his body is in the morgue until the day his body is brought back home , ” Size said .

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) - The commotion broke out in the cemetery after dark, flashlights flickering wildly. Curious, neighbors stumbled upon a dispute between a grieving family and Cameroon’s security forces.
The family wanted to exhume their father’s body from the Douala cemetery because the proper burial rites had not been carried out amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
To send him to the afterlife this way, his children said, would seal not only his fate but theirs, too.
In Cameroon, where more than 400 people have died from the coronavirus, health officials have been repeatedly confronted by bereaved family members who want to adhere to tradition despite concerns that such practices further spread the virus.
“What is clear is that there has been a lot of resistance,” said Dr. Eric Tandi with Cameroon’s health ministry.
The protests are a testament to the strong influence that ancestors still play in people’s daily lives in this Central African nation, particularly within the traditional Bantu communities in western Cameroon.
Anthropology professor Paul Nchoji Nkwi recalled how one of his students at the University of Yaounde once failed an exam and then insisted that the only way he’d know why would be by going home to Western province.
“He said, ‘I fear it comes from my grandmother who died so many years ago and I didn’t perform the rituals,’” the professor said.
Bantu communities believe that deaths must be celebrated just as births and marriages are. Funerals are typically held on Fridays and involve “a lot of food, a lot of people weeping, lots of drinks and people massively attending,” Nkwi said.
“It is a celebration of the life of this person who is now leaving the stage with applause,” he said. “COVID-19 has stopped that process.”
Health officials, fearing the large gatherings during the pandemic, initially decreed that all burials would be carried out by public undertakers with fewer than 10 immediate family members present.
Ultimately, though, that rule had to be relaxed. Since June, relatives have been allowed to view the bodies of loved ones and perform traditional rites so long as they keep at a distance and do not touch the corpse.
Some find that’s not enough.
Relatives of one victim, Suinfo Samuel Wembe, launched a legal battle in Douala in hopes of gaining the right to exhume his body and bury it according to tradition in the Bafoussam chiefdom in western Cameroon.
A judge, though, said that can only take place one year after the COVID-19 pandemic is declared over.
Hospital officials said Wembe died of complications from the virus in mid-April.
The rules of traditional secret societies dictate funeral rites for notables like him, but none were followed, nephew Prince Constantin Size said.
“It feels like the sky has fallen on us,” he says.
Instead, Wembe’s body was brought to a public morgue, where no relatives were able to visit. Hours later, he was hastily buried in a public cemetery.
“It was so abrupt, so psychologically it is hard to accept,” Size said.
According to tradition, Wembe should have been buried in his home village in Western province, not in the city of Douala, where he lived.
His family can only wait, and still does not consider him buried.
“Even if it takes (the World Health Organization) a decade to declare COVID-19 eradicated, we still consider that his body is in the morgue until the day his body is brought back home,” Size said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Northern Ireland shuts schools; Liverpool slams revelers

LONDON ( AP ) - Northern Ireland on Wednesday introduced the tightest COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom , closing schools , pubs and restaurants to slow the spread of the virus .
The move came as England ’ s new three-tiered system of restrictions took effect , with the northwestern city of Liverpool facing the most severe measures .
Authorities in the city said hospital services were already heavily stressed by virus patients and decried pictures of partiers filling the streets as bars closed ahead of a local lockdown .
The restrictions in Northern Ireland include a two-week closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pubs and restaurants , except for takeaway orders .
The announcement came after talks among political parties in the region ’ s power-sharing government that stretched from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning .
“ This is not the time for trite political points , ″ First Minister Arlene Foster told lawmakers at the regional assembly in Belfast .
“ This is the time for solutions.″ U.K. health officials were also meeting Wednesday to discuss whether to add other areas of northern England - including Manchester and Lancashire - to the highest virus risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing pubs could soon be imposed there .
Only Liverpool was placed in the highest risk category when the plan was unveiled Monday .
In the U.K. ’ s system of devolved authority , responsibility for health is controlled by regional authorities .
This means that Northern Ireland , Scotland and Wales are imposing their own COVID-19 rules .
The U.K. government controls the policy for England , but says it is coordinating with the others .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is being criticized by all sides two days after announcing his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the government ’ s science advisers had urged it to impose much tougher measures , including a two- to three-week national lockdown .
The opposition Labour Party has called for that advice to be followed , while some members of Johnson ’ s Conservative Party say the government ’ s plan already goes too far and is damaging Britain ’ s fragile economy .
Johnson , speaking to lawmakers Wednesday , said his approach was “ common-sensical ” and accused Labour Party leader Keir Starmer of wanting to close businesses in areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said a regional approach was the best way to “ avoid the misery of another national lockdown.
” However , Johnson said he was not ruling anything out in the future if the current regional approach doesn ’ t help in driving down new case numbers .
Britain already has Europe ’ s deadliest outbreak , with over 43,000 confirmed deaths , and Northern Ireland has the highest infection rate in the U.K .
Since the beginning of the pandemic , Northern Ireland has recorded 1,156 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in England and 755 in Scotland .
Greater Manchester ’ s regional government on Wednesday rejected efforts to move it into highest tier of coronavirus risk , saying infection rates and levels of hospitalization in the metropolitan area are much lower than those in Liverpool .
Local authorities also said the U.K. government wasn ’ t offering enough financial assistance to mitigate the economic impact of such a move .
“ If the government pursues its current strategy , we believe it will leave large parts of the north of England trapped in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winter , with all the damage that will do , ” the Greater Manchester Combined Authority said .
On Tuesday night in Liverpool , revelers poured into the streets to dance and taunt police as pubs closed ahead of the tough new restrictions that could keep them shuttered for months .
Social media showed the images , including one video of a police car slowly moving through the crowd as partiers banged on the side of the car .
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson wrote on Twitter : “ These pictures shame our city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unacceptable .
“ Our health service is creaking , 300 in hospital and 30 people dead in week .
Ignoring these facts is why we are in Tier 3 measures.
” Liverpool is the first city in England to be placed under the government ’ s toughest Tier 3 restrictions amid soaring rates of coronavirus infection .
The new three-tier system forces pubs and bars that don ’ t serve meals to close .
In addition , indoor social gatherings with people from other homes are banned and residents are advised not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be reviewed regularly but could last as long as six months , the government says .
Paul Brant , a member of the Liverpool City Council , told the BBC that the city ’ s hospitals are already treating more than 250 COVID-19 patients and at they will pass the peak of the first wave of the virus within 10 days if the spread of the virus doesn ’ t slow .
About 90 % of the city ’ s critical care and intensive care beds are already filled , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the hospital services here in Liverpool is crowding out anything other than dealing with COVID-19 , ” Brant said Follow all of AP ’ s coronavirus pandemic coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

LONDON (AP) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s new strategy for combating COVID-19 seemed to unravel Wednesday as regional leaders chose their own paths and the mayors of the cities facing the toughest restrictions accused Johnson of using the crisis to divide them for political advantage.
Fearing Johnson hadn’t gone far enough, two regions in the United Kingdom chose to impose tougher measures than the prime minister. Northern Ireland said it would close schools, pubs and restaurants to slow the spread of the virus, while Wales announced it would not allow in people from hot spots in other parts of the U.K.
As Liverpool, the only area that has been placed under England’s toughest restrictions, prepared for the new rules to take effect, revelers spilled into the streets as bars closed Tuesday night amid fears they may not reopen again until spring.
Social media showed the images, including one video of a police car slowly moving through the crowd as partiers banged on the side of the car.
“These pictures shame our city, attacking our brave police officers is unacceptable,” Liverpool City Mayor Joe Anderson tweeted. “Our health service is creaking, 300 in hospital and 30 people dead in week. Ignoring these facts is why we are in Tier 3 measures.”
The leader of greater Liverpool’s regional government criticized Johnson’s handling of the crisis. The government refused until last week to work with local leaders in the fight against COVID-19, and now it is trying to use Liverpool’s acceptance of tough new restrictions as a way to force other cities into doing the same, Steve Rotheram said during a video news conference with Andy Burnham, leader of the Greater Manchester Combine Authority.
“We’re not going to stand by while the government plays politics with us,” Rotheram said. “We’re not going to stand by and not do anything about holding the government to account.”
The wrangling came as England’s new three-tiered system of restrictions took effect across the country. Health officials met Wednesday to discuss whether other areas, including Manchester and Lancashire, should join Liverpool in the highest risk tier, which would bring with it additional measures such as closing pubs and banning social gatherings with other households.
Greater Manchester’s regional government on Wednesday rejected efforts to move it into the highest tier, saying infection rates and levels of hospitalization in the metropolitan area are much lower than those in Liverpool.
Burnham said the U.K. government was trying to force local leaders into making the hard decisions about which businesses to shut down without providing enough financial assistance to mitigate the economic impacts. Given the government’s current offer, the majority of regional leaders would prefer a short national lockdown to the tiered approach, Burnham said.
“We’ve gone from an approach that was about ‘whatever it takes to get the country through this’ to a penny-pinching approach to this pandemic where the cost will fall very much on people in the real world whose businesses are already close to the brink,″ he said.
Britain already has Europe’s deadliest outbreak, with more than 43,000 confirmed deaths, and Northern Ireland has the highest infection rate in the U.K.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Northern Ireland has recorded 1,156 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people, compared with 995 in Wales, 960 in England and 755 in Scotland.
In the U.K.’s system of devolved authority, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales control their own health policies and therefore their response to the pandemic. The U.K. government decides the policy for England, but says it is coordinating with the others.
But Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said he was forced to act because Johnson had ignored requests to ban travel from areas with high infection rates. He said it wasn’t an issue about the border, but a “matter of fairness.”
Northern Ireland, meanwhile, announced the tightest restrictions in the U.K., closing schools for two weeks and pubs for four weeks, except for takeout orders.
The announcement came after talks among political parties in the region’s power-sharing government that stretched from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
“This is not the time for trite political points,″ First Minister Arlene Foster told lawmakers at the regional assembly in Belfast. “This is the time for solutions.″
By contrast, Johnson and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer sparred over the government’s response to COVID-19 during their weekly question-and-answer session in the House of Commons.
Starmer contrasted Johnson’s earlier pledge that science would guide the response to COVID-19 with the recent release of a report showing that the government’s scientific advisers had recommended a tougher approach to tackling the pandemic, including a two- to three-week national lockdown to try to contain rapidly rising infection rates.
“Why did the prime minister reject that advice and abandon the science?” Starmer asked.
Johnson accused Labour of trying to exploit the crisis for the opposition party’s own political benefit. The government chose a regional, tiered approach because it had to balance the scientific advice against the economic and social harm caused by a national lockdown, Johnson said.
“I rule out nothing, of course, in combating the virus but we’re going to do it with the local, regional approach that can drive down and will drive down the virus if it is properly implemented,” he said.
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Associated Press writer Pan Pylas contributed to this report.
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Follow all of AP’s coronavirus pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Surprising things renters insurance covers — and leaves out

Insurance is designed to offer peace of mind , but there ’ s a reason your policy has all that fine print : You might not have the coverage you expect .
Like any other insurance policy , renters insurance has exclusions , and knowing about them ahead of time can help you avoid unexpected bills in a disaster .
Just as important , though , is knowing what IS covered .
All that fine print in your policy likely includes coverage you might not expect , which could save you money down the line .
Most renters know insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not realize their things are probably covered off-premises too , including when traveling .
Barbara Madvin , an insurance agent at Gaspar Insurance Services , says vehicle break-ins are some of the most common insurance claims she sees for renters .
While damage to the car itself is generally covered by your auto policy , your renters insurance pays for items stolen from the vehicle , as long as their value exceeds your deductible .
Your renters policy will also cover your belongings if you move them from your home to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house or anywhere else to protect them from a covered disaster .
In the event of a wildfire or hurricane evacuation , this can be particularly valuable , according to Christine G. Barlow , a chartered property casualty underwriter .
This coverage typically lasts 30 days .
COVERED : LIVING EXPENSES IF YOUR RENTAL IS UNINHABITABLE While your home is undergoing repairs due to a fire or other covered disaster , your insurance company will usually pay for you to maintain your normal standard of living somewhere else .
A “ normal standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might think .
For instance , if you live in a rental home with a pool that you use every day , “ the carrier needs to put you someplace where you have access to a swimming pool , ” says Barlow , who is also managing editor at FC & S ; Expert Coverage Interpretation , a trade publication .
If you have pets , your insurer should find you pet-friendly accommodations or board the animals where you normally would .
Most renters insurance covers your possessions only in the case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” listed in the policy - things like fire , theft and wind .
“ If something ’ s not mentioned in that list , then there ’ s no coverage , ” Barlow says .
For example , flood damage is almost always excluded from renters policies and typically must be purchased separately .
( One exception : USAA , which serves military families , includes flood coverage with standard renters policies . )
Madvin recommends asking whether replacement cost coverage is included in your policy .
If not , your belongings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which often isn ’ t enough to buy brand-new replacements .
Say your 10-year-old TV is stolen and replacement cost isn ’ t included .
“ The carrier ’ s going to say , ‘ OK , you paid $ 1,000 for it 10 years ago ; we ’ ll give you $ 250 for it now , ’ ” Madvin says .
With replacement cost coverage , you ’ ll receive enough to purchase a new TV .
Most renters policies cover jewelry and other costly items only up to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 .
So if you have an expensive engagement ring , for example , both Madvin and Barlow recommend adding separate coverage for it .
An appraisal is usually required .
Before buying renters insurance , take inventory of your belongings .
“ Most renters underestimate how much stuff they have , ” Barlow says , which can leave a coverage gap .
Barlow recommends using the Encircle app to upload photos of your belongings and estimate their worth .
Other similar apps include Sortly and Allstate ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoroughly .
Barlow suggests marking it with what ’ s covered in green and what isn ’ t in red .
Madvin advises paying particular attention to the policy ’ s endorsements , which are typically add-ons or exclusions to standard coverage .
Confused by all the legalese ?
Turn to an expert .
Talking through your options with an insurance agent or broker can ensure you understand the policy you ’ re buying .
“ Unless you really know insurance , ” Barlow says , “ it ’ s very easy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not realize something isn ’ t covered.
” This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet .
Sarah Schlichter is a writer at NerdWallet .
Email : sschlichter @ nerdwallet.com .
NerdWallet : What Is Renters Insurance , and What Does It Cover ?
http : //bit.ly/nerdwallet-renters-insurance

Insurance is designed to offer peace of mind, but there’s a reason your policy has all that fine print: You might not have the coverage you expect. Like any other insurance policy, renters insurance has exclusions, and knowing about them ahead of time can help you avoid unexpected bills in a disaster.
Just as important, though, is knowing what IS covered. All that fine print in your policy likely includes coverage you might not expect, which could save you money down the line.
COVERED: BELONGINGS OUTSIDE YOUR HOME
Most renters know insurance covers personal belongings within their home but may not realize their things are probably covered off-premises too, including when traveling. Barbara Madvin, an insurance agent at Gaspar Insurance Services, says vehicle break-ins are some of the most common insurance claims she sees for renters. While damage to the car itself is generally covered by your auto policy, your renters insurance pays for items stolen from the vehicle, as long as their value exceeds your deductible.
Your renters policy will also cover your belongings if you move them from your home to a storage unit, a friend’s house or anywhere else to protect them from a covered disaster. In the event of a wildfire or hurricane evacuation, this can be particularly valuable, according to Christine G. Barlow, a chartered property casualty underwriter. This coverage typically lasts 30 days.
COVERED: LIVING EXPENSES IF YOUR RENTAL IS UNINHABITABLE
While your home is undergoing repairs due to a fire or other covered disaster, your insurance company will usually pay for you to maintain your normal standard of living somewhere else.
A “normal standard of living” is broader than you might think. For instance, if you live in a rental home with a pool that you use every day, “the carrier needs to put you someplace where you have access to a swimming pool,” says Barlow, who is also managing editor at FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation, a trade publication. If you have pets, your insurer should find you pet-friendly accommodations or board the animals where you normally would.
NOT COVERED: COMMON DISASTERS
Most renters insurance covers your possessions only in the case of specific scenarios, or “named perils” listed in the policy - things like fire, theft and wind. “If something’s not mentioned in that list, then there’s no coverage,” Barlow says.
For example, flood damage is almost always excluded from renters policies and typically must be purchased separately. (One exception: USAA, which serves military families, includes flood coverage with standard renters policies.)
NOT COVERED: BRAND-NEW STUFF
Madvin recommends asking whether replacement cost coverage is included in your policy. If not, your belongings are covered only for their depreciated value, which often isn’t enough to buy brand-new replacements.
Say your 10-year-old TV is stolen and replacement cost isn’t included. “The carrier’s going to say, ‘OK, you paid $1,000 for it 10 years ago; we’ll give you $250 for it now,’” Madvin says. With replacement cost coverage, you’ll receive enough to purchase a new TV.
NOT COVERED: EXPENSIVE VALUABLES
Most renters policies cover jewelry and other costly items only up to a specific limit named in the policy, typically $1,000 to $2,000. So if you have an expensive engagement ring, for example, both Madvin and Barlow recommend adding separate coverage for it. An appraisal is usually required.
HOW TO AVOID SURPRISES
Before buying renters insurance, take inventory of your belongings. “Most renters underestimate how much stuff they have,” Barlow says, which can leave a coverage gap. Barlow recommends using the Encircle app to upload photos of your belongings and estimate their worth. Other similar apps include Sortly and Allstate’s Digital Locker.
Read your policy thoroughly. Barlow suggests marking it with what’s covered in green and what isn’t in red. Madvin advises paying particular attention to the policy’s endorsements, which are typically add-ons or exclusions to standard coverage.
Confused by all the legalese? Turn to an expert. Talking through your options with an insurance agent or broker can ensure you understand the policy you’re buying. “Unless you really know insurance,” Barlow says, “it’s very easy to miss coverages that you need or to not realize something isn’t covered.”
______________________________
This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Sarah Schlichter is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: sschlichter@nerdwallet.com.
Related Links:
NerdWallet: What Is Renters Insurance, and What Does It Cover? http://bit.ly/nerdwallet-renters-insurance


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Kyrgyz parliament confirms premier nomination in repeat vote

MOSCOW ( AP ) - Kyrgyzstan ’ s parliament on Wednesday voted again to nominate a prime minister after the country ’ s president vetoed the previous decision because of questions over its legitimacy .
The back-and-forth reflected the political crisis that has unfolded in the Central Asian country since a disputed parliamentary election triggered mass protests earlier this month .
The parliament nominated politician Sadyr Zhaparov as the new prime minister after a similar vote on Saturday , which was challenged by some lawmakers .
They said the legislators didn ’ t have a quorum to make the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decree confirming Zhaparov ’ s appointment and asked the parliament to hold another vote .
“ In order to maintain and strengthen stability in the country , all our decisions need to be legitimate and not be questioned , ” Jeenbekov said Tuesday at a meeting with Zhaparov .
The lawmakers on Wednesday also supported Zhaparov ’ s suggestions for the Cabinet .
Kyrgyzstan , a country of 6.5 million people located on the border with China , plunged into chaos last week after mass protests erupted the day after a parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruling elite winning .
Protesters stormed and seized government buildings , looting some offices , and the Central Election Commission responded by nullifying the Oct. 4 balloting .
As the unrest continued , opposition groups announced plans to form a new government and oust Jeenbekov , who faced calls from protesters to resign .
Jeenbekov said he may consider stepping down after the political situation in the country stabilizes , and declared a state of emergency in the country ’ s capital , Bishkek , in a bid to end the turmoil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend and introduced a curfew .
The move eased tensions in the city , where residents feared a wave of looting that accompanied previous uprisings and began forming vigilante groups to protect their property .
Stores and banks that were shut last week have reopened for business .
The turmoil marks the third time in 15 years that demonstrators have moved to oust a government in Kyrgyzstan , one of the poorest nations to emerge from the former Soviet Union .
As in the uprisings that ousted Kyrgyz presidents in 2005 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driven by clan rivalries that shape the country ’ s politics .
Kyrgyz media reported Wednesday that crowds of Zhaparov ’ s supporters have once again gathered in Bishkek , despite the state of emergency and a ban on rallies , and were demanding Jeenbekov ’ s resignation .

MOSCOW (AP) - Kyrgyzstan’s embattled president on Wednesday dismissed a call to step down, saying he would stay on the job until the political situation in the Central Asian country stabilizes after a disputed parliamentary election.
President Sooronbai Jeenbekov held talks with Prime Minister Sadyr Zhaparov hours after he endorsed his appointment by parliament. Zhaparov, a former lawmaker who was freed from jail by demonstrators protesting the Oct. 4 parliamentary election results, has demanded Jeenbekov’s resignation.
Jeenbekov insisted that stepping down now could trigger “unpredictable developments to the detriment of the state,” his office said. It emphasized that he will only agree to resign after “he takes the country back into the legal field, after holding parliamentary and calling presidential elections.”
About 1,000 Zhaparov supporters rallied on the central square of the capital of Bishkek despite a ban on demonstrations amid a state of emergency introduced by Jeenbekov. The crowd chanted for the president to “Go away!” and dispersed late in the evening to respect a curfew but vowed to return Thursday.
Zhaparov said he will meet again with Jeenbekov on Thursday to persuade him to step down.
The parliament nominated Zhaparov on Wednesday after Jeenbekov refused to endorse his appointment Saturday by lawmakers who met without a quorum. The president quickly approved Zhaparov for the job on Wednesday.
Kyrgyzstan, a country of 6.5 million people located on the border with China, was plunged into chaos following the Oct. 4 vote that was swept by pro-government parties. The opposition said the election was tainted by vote-buying and other irregularities.
Protesters then took over government buildings, looting some offices, and the Central Election Commission nullified the election. Jeenbekov kept a low profile in the first few days after the vote, using the infighting among protest leaders to dig in. He introduced a state of emergency in the capital that was endorsed Tuesday by parliament.
Authorities deployed troops to Bishkek over the weekend and introduced the curfew. The move eased tensions in the city, where residents feared looting that accompanied previous uprisings and began forming vigilante groups to protect property. Stores and banks that were closed last week have reopened.
The turmoil marks the third time in 15 years that demonstrators have moved to oust a government in Kyrgyzstan, one of the poorest nations to emerge from the former Soviet Union.
As in the uprisings that ousted presidents in 2005 and 2010, the current protests have been driven by clan rivalries that shape the country’s politics.
—
Associated Press writer Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed.