washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Turkey denies deliberately holding Greek plane in the air

ANKARA , Turkey ( AP ) - Turkey on Thursday denied accusations by Greece that Ankara refused an overflight permit to a plane carrying Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias , forcing the aircraft to remain in the air for 20 minutes .
Greek state broadcaster ERT reported that the plane carrying Dendias back from a visit to Baghdad the previous day was kept circling over Mosul for 20 minutes because Turkish authorities weren ’ t granting it permission to fly through Turkish airspace back to Greece .
Turkey ’ s Foreign Ministry denied any deliberate move to hold up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insisting the plane hadn ’ t provided the required flight plan .
The incident comes amid renewed tensions between Greece and Turkey over sea boundaries and energy drilling rights , after Ankara redeployed its search vessel , Oruc Reis , this week for a new energy exploration mission in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean .
Those tensions had flared up over the summer , triggering fears of a confrontation between the two historic rivals and NATO allies .
Both countries have this week accused each other of engaging in “ provocations ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of talks between Athens and Ankara aimed at resolving disputes .
Those talks were last held in 2016 .
According to the Turkish ministry , the plane that took Dendias to Iraq broke down there , and the Greek government then allocated a second plane , which took off without the required flight plan .
“ When the aforementioned aircraft arrived at our airspace , the plan was urgently requested from the Iraqi authorities , and after the plan was received , the flight was carried out safely , ” the ministry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular briefing , the Greek government spokesman , Stelios Petsas , said that in response that “ the necessary actions have been taken by the foreign ministry , with a relevant complaint.
” “ It is one more provocation , in the continued provocations by the Turkish side , ” Petsas said .
“ But I would like to remain on the fact that various explanations were given , also from the Turkish side , and we hope that this phenomenon and this incident is never repeated in the future .
”

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - France warned Turkey on Thursday that it could face European Union sanctions for its “provocations,” after Ankara redeployed its search vessel on a new energy exploration mission in the eastern Mediterranean.
Speaking in Paris after a meeting of the French-German-Polish ‘Weimar Triangle,’ French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian reiterated the EU stance that unless Turkey shows “respect for the integrity of Greece and Cyprus” then the December European Council will consider initiating sanctions.
“We are forced to note that there are permanent acts of provocation on the part of Turkey which are not bearable, and therefore we really wish that Turkey clarifies its positions and returns to a spirit of dialogue,” he said.
Turkey redeployed its search vessel, Oruc Reis, near the Greek island of Kastellorizo, reigniting tensions between Greece and Turkey over sea boundaries and energy drilling rights, and putting the future of the planned resumption of talks between Athens and Ankara to resolve disputes into doubt. Those talks were last held in 2016.
Those tensions had flared up over the summer, triggering fears of a confrontation between the two historic rivals and NATO allies.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he understood Greece’s unwillingness to engage in dialogue due to Turkey’s decision to again dispatch its ship.
Given Berlin’s efforts to mediate between the parties “the behavior by Turkey to conduct another provocation, resulting in the already agreed process of dialogue not taking place, is more than annoying, including for us in our role as intermediary,” Maas said.
Maas said he continues to believe the conflict can be solved through dialogue and not with naval ships, and stressed Germany’s hope that there might be progress next week.
“And if there isn’t, then the European Union will have to face the question of how to deal with this and what consequences this will have,” Maas said.
Commenting on his arrival for a EU summit in Brussels, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he would inform his colleagues “about Turkey’s new provocations against Greece and against Cyprus.”
“Unfortunately Turkey appears to remain constant in its provocative and aggressive behavior,” he said. “The European Union must also show the same consistency regarding the implementation of decisions it has taken, in order for this behavior, if it continues, to have the corresponding consequences.”
Both Turkey and Greece have this week accused each other of engaging in “provocations,” including plans to hold military drills in the Aegean Sea later this month to coincide with the other country’s national public holiday. Turkey also drew international criticism this week for its decision to open the beachfront of the fenced-off suburb of Varosha in divided Cyprus’ breakaway Turkish Cypriot north.
Varosha remained off-limits and in Turkish military control after its Greek Cypriot residents fled before advancing troops in 1974 when Turkey invaded and sliced the island along ethnic lines following a coup by supporters of union with Greece.
Earlier on Thursday, Turkey denied accusations by Greece that Ankara refused an overflight permit to a plane carrying Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, forcing the aircraft to remain in the air for 20 minutes.
Greek state broadcaster ERT reported that the plane carrying Dendias back from a visit to Baghdad the previous day was kept circling over Mosul for 20 minutes because Turkish authorities weren’t granting it permission to fly through Turkish airspace back to Greece.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry denied any deliberate move to hold up the plane before entering the Turkish airspace, insisting the plane hadn’t provided the required flight plan.
According to the Turkish ministry, the plane that took Dendias to Iraq broke down there, and the Greek government then allocated a second plane, which took off without the required flight plan.
“When the aforementioned aircraft arrived at our airspace, the plan was urgently requested from the Iraqi authorities, and after the plan was received, the flight was carried out safely,” the ministry said.
Asked about the incident during a regular briefing, the Greek government spokesman, Stelios Petsas, said Athens had lodged a complaint over the incident.
“It is one more provocation, in the continued provocations by the Turkish side,” Petsas said. “But I would like to remain on the fact that various explanations were given, also from the Turkish side, and we hope that this phenomenon and this incident is never repeated in the future.”
___
Frank Jordans reported from Berlin. Elena Becatoros in Athens contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Space probe makes 1st Venus fly-by on way to Mercury

BERLIN ( AP ) — A spacecraft bound for Mercury swung by Venus on Thursday , using Earth ’ s neighbor to adjust its course on the way to the solar system ’ s smallest and innermost planet .
Launched almost two years ago , the European-Japanese probe BepiColombo took a black-and-white snapshot of Venus from a distance of 17,000 kilometers ( 10,560 miles ) , with some of its own instruments in the frame .
The fly-by is the second of nine so-called planetary gravity assists that the spacecraft needs for its seven-year trip to Mercury .
The first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
The European Space Agency has described the 1.3 billion-euro ( $ 1.5 billion ) mission as one of its most challenging yet .
Mercury ’ s extreme temperatures , the intense gravity pull of the sun and blistering solar radiation make for hellish conditions .
BepiColombo will make one more fly-by of Venus and six of Mercury itself to slow down before its arrival in 2025 .
Once there , the spacecraft will split in two , releasing a European orbiter nicknamed Bepi that will swoop into Mercury ’ s inner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency , gathers data from a greater distance .
Both probes are designed to cope with temperatures varying from 430 degrees Celsius ( 806 degrees Fahrenheit ) on the side facing the sun , and -180 degrees Celsius ( -292 F ) in Mercury ’ s shadow .
Researchers hope the BepiColombo mission will help them understand more about Mercury , which is only slightly larger than Earth ’ s moon and has a massive iron core .
The last spacecraft to visit Mercury was NASA ’ s Messenger probe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a four-year orbit .
Before that , NASA ’ s Mariner 10 flew past the planet in the mid-1970s .

BERLIN (AP) — A spacecraft bound for Mercury swung by Venus on Thursday, using Earth’s neighbor to adjust its course on the way to the solar system’s smallest and innermost planet.
Launched almost two years ago, the European-Japanese probe BepiColombo took a black-and-white snapshot of Venus from a distance of 17,000 kilometers (10,560 miles), with some of its own instruments in the frame.
The fly-by is the second of nine so-called planetary gravity assists that the spacecraft needs for its seven-year trip to Mercury. The first, around Earth, took place in April.
The European Space Agency has described the 1.3 billion-euro ($1.5 billion) mission as one of its most challenging yet. Mercury’s extreme temperatures, the intense gravity pull of the sun and blistering solar radiation make for hellish conditions.
BepiColombo will make one more fly-by of Venus and six of Mercury itself to slow down before its arrival in 2025. Once there, the spacecraft will split in two, releasing a European orbiter nicknamed Bepi that will swoop into Mercury’s inner orbit while Mio, built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, gathers data from a greater distance.
Both probes are designed to cope with temperatures varying from 430 degrees Celsius (806 degrees Fahrenheit) on the side facing the sun, and -180 degrees Celsius (-292 F) in Mercury’s shadow.
Researchers hope the BepiColombo mission will help them understand more about Mercury, which is only slightly larger than Earth’s moon and has a massive iron core.
The last spacecraft to visit Mercury was NASA’s Messenger probe, which ended its mission in 2015 after a four-year orbit. Before that, NASA’s Mariner 10 flew past the planet in the mid-1970s.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Israel OKs more than 3,000 West Bank settlement homes

TEL AVIV , Israel ( AP ) - Israel on Thursday pressed forward on plans for more than 3,000 West Bank settlement homes , making 2020 one of the most prolific years for settlement building , according to a settlement watchdog group .
Thursday ’ s approvals , along with more than 2,000 new homes approved a day earlier , are part of a building boom that has gained steam during the presidency of Donald Trump .
It also comes months after Israel promised to put on hold plans to annex parts of the West Bank in exchange for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emirates .
The latest approvals raised the number of settlement homes to be advanced this year to more than 12,150 , according to Peace Now , the settlement watchdog group .
It is by far the highest number of approvals since Trump took office in early 2017 and the highest since Peace Now began recording the figures in 2012 .
The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank , captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war , as part of a future independent state .
They say the growing settler population , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made it increasingly difficult to achieve their dream of independence .
A string of U.S. administrations , along with the rest of the international community , opposed Israeli settlement construction .
But Trump , surrounded by a team of advisers with close ties to the settler movement , has taken a different approach .
In contrast to its predecessors , the Trump administration has not criticized or condemned new settlement announcements , and in a landmark decision last year , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. does not consider settlements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump administration ’ s Mideast plan , unveiled early this year , calls for leaving 30 % of the West Bank , including all of Israel ’ s more than 120 settlements , under permanent Israeli control .
Buoyed by Trump ’ s stance , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intended earlier this year to push toward annexing the parts of the West Bank it would keep under the Trump plan .
But that plan was scuttled , at least temporarily , after the UAE deal was announced .
The UAE has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palestinian hopes alive .
Peace Now views the new construction as “ de facto annexation , ” which threatens the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
“ Instead of taking advantage of the agreements with the Gulf states and promoting peace with the Palestinians , ( Netanyahu ) is distorting Israel ’ s priorities and catering to a fringe minority for these settlement unit approvals that will continue to harm future prospects for peace , ” it said in a statement .
Ahmad Majdalani , a Palestinian Cabinet minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end the two-state solution through settlement activities.
” He said he believed the wave of approvals this week was in response to concerns that Trump ’ s challenger , Joe Biden , will likely be less accepting of settlement construction if elected .
“ This year was the peak of his settlement activities because he wants to create as much facts on the ground as possible , fearing any change in the White House .
Maybe that ’ s why just two weeks before American elections he pushed toward this decision , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move forward in different planning stages include hundreds of homes that were built illegally but were now being given retroactive approval .
Peace Now said many of the approved homes stretch deep into the West Bank .
The approvals add to a growing pipeline of construction that is expected to take off in the next few years .
One of those plans would build 560 homes in Har Gilo , a strategically placed settlement between the Palestinian city of Bethlehem and Jerusalem .

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Israel on Thursday pressed forward on plans for more than 3,000 West Bank settlement homes, making 2020 one of the most prolific years for settlement building, according to a settlement watchdog group.
Thursday’s approvals, along with more than 2,000 new homes approved a day earlier, are part of a building boom that has gained steam during the presidency of Donald Trump. It also comes months after Israel promised to put on hold plans to annex parts of the West Bank in exchange for a U.S.-brokered normalization deal with the United Arab Emirates.
The latest approvals raised the number of settlement homes to be advanced this year to more than 12,150, according to Peace Now, the settlement watchdog group. It is by far the highest number of approvals since Trump took office in early 2017 and the highest since Peace Now began recording the figures in 2012.
The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as part of a future independent state. They say the growing settler population, approaching 500,000 in the West Bank, has made it increasingly difficult to achieve their dream of independence.
A string of U.S. administrations, along with the rest of the international community, opposed Israeli settlement construction.
But Trump, surrounded by a team of advisers with close ties to the settler movement, has taken a different approach. In contrast to its predecessors, the Trump administration has not criticized or condemned new settlement announcements, and in a landmark decision last year, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. does not consider settlements to be illegal under international law.
The Trump administration’s Mideast plan, unveiled early this year, calls for leaving 30% of the West Bank, including all of Israel’s more than 120 settlements, under permanent Israeli control.
Buoyed by Trump’s stance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intended earlier this year to push toward annexing the parts of the West Bank it would keep under the Trump plan. But that plan was scuttled, at least temporarily, after the UAE deal was announced. The UAE has said it made this demand to keep Palestinian hopes alive.
Peace Now views the new construction as “de facto annexation,” which threatens the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Instead of taking advantage of the agreements with the Gulf states and promoting peace with the Palestinians, (Netanyahu) is distorting Israel’s priorities and catering to a fringe minority for these settlement unit approvals that will continue to harm future prospects for peace,” it said in a statement.
Ahmad Majdalani, a Palestinian Cabinet minister, said Netanyahu was working “systematically to end the two-state solution through settlement activities.” He said he believed the wave of approvals this week was in response to concerns that Trump’s challenger, Joe Biden, will likely be less accepting of settlement construction if elected.
“This year was the peak of his settlement activities because he wants to create as much facts on the ground as possible, fearing any change in the White House. Maybe that’s why just two weeks before American elections he pushed toward this decision,” he said.
The units allowed to move forward in different planning stages include hundreds of homes that were built illegally but were now being given retroactive approval. Peace Now said many of the approved homes stretch deep into the West Bank.
The approvals add to a growing pipeline of construction that is expected to take off in the next few years. One of those plans would build 560 homes in Har Gilo, a strategically placed settlement between the Palestinian city of Bethlehem and Jerusalem.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Libya says human trafficker sanctioned by UN arrested

CAIRO ( AP ) - Libyan security forces said they have arrested one of the country ’ s most wanted human traffickers in the capital , Tripoli , more than two years after the United Nations ’ Security Council imposed sanctions against him .
The arrest of Abdel-Rahman Milad , who also commanded a Coast Guard unit in the western town of Zawiya , was announced in a statement late Wednesday by the Interior Ministry of the U.N-supported government in Tripoli .
The ministry said Milad , better known as Bija , is wanted on charges of human trafficking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Embassy in Libya welcomed the arrest as a key development in fighting human trafficking in the war-torn nation .
Libya has been plagued by corruption and turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 .
It is split into two administrations .
The one in the west , including Tripoli , is ruled by the U.N.-supported government , while the east-based government is supported by powerful military commander Khalifa Hifter .
Oil-rich Libya has emerged as a major conduit for people from Africa and the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach Europe .
In June 2018 , the Security Council imposed sanctions on Milad and five other leaders of criminal networks engaged in trafficking of people and migrants from Libya .
At the time , Milad was described as the head of the Coast Guard unit in Zawiya “ that is consistently linked with violence against migrants and other human smugglers.
” U.N. experts monitoring sanctions claimed Milad and other Coast Guard members “ are directly involved in the sinking of migrant boats using firearms.
” Milad denied any links to human smuggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those of his men .
The timing of his arrest raises questions , given that he moved freely in western Libya over the past two years and fought alongside Tripoli-allied militias to repel a yearlong attack on the capital by Hifter ’ s forces .
Milad appeared in a video footage in June threatening to uncover alleged corruption of ruling bodies in Tripoli .
His arrest could threaten the western Libya militia alliance and give their rivals - Hifter ’ s forces - a window to rally support .
This could also explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Milad or other militia leaders in the past years .
Later , hundreds of Milad ’ s supporters rallied against his arrest in Zawiya and elsewhere in western Libya , accusing Interior Minister Fathi Bashaga of cracking down on certain armed group in Tripoli while sparing others , such as militias from the city of Misrat , from where the minister is from .
A spokesman for Libya ’ s Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to phone calls and messages seeking comment .
Jalel Harchaoui , a research fellow specializing in Libyan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Relations , said Bashaga has an interest in showing strength to his multiple audiences , including the international one .
“ Bija had become somewhat a celebrity outside Libya over recent years , ” he said , adding that there is a tendency to focus on individuals , blaming them for the migrant situation in Libya , rather than a structurally dysfunctional system involving many foreign governments and international players .

CAIRO (AP) - Libyan security forces said they have arrested one of the country’s most wanted human traffickers in the capital, Tripoli, more than two years after the United Nations’ Security Council imposed sanctions against him.
The arrest of Abdel-Rahman Milad, who also commanded a Coast Guard unit in the western town of Zawiya, was announced in a statement late Wednesday by the Interior Ministry of the U.N-supported government in Tripoli.
The ministry said Milad, better known as Bija, is wanted on charges of human trafficking and smuggling of fuel. France’s Embassy in Libya welcomed the arrest as a key development in fighting human trafficking in the war-torn nation.
Libya has been plagued by corruption and turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. It is split into two administrations. The one in the west, including Tripoli, is ruled by the U.N.-supported government, while the east-based government is supported by powerful military commander Khalifa Hifter.
Oil-rich Libya has emerged as a major conduit for people from Africa and the Middle East fleeing wars and poverty and hoping to reach Europe.
In June 2018, the Security Council imposed sanctions on Milad and five other leaders of criminal networks engaged in trafficking of people and migrants from Libya. At the time, Milad was described as the head of the Coast Guard unit in Zawiya “that is consistently linked with violence against migrants and other human smugglers.”
U.N. experts monitoring sanctions claimed Milad and other Coast Guard members “are directly involved in the sinking of migrant boats using firearms.” Milad denied any links to human smuggling and said traffickers wear uniforms similar to those of his men.
The timing of his arrest raises questions, given that he moved freely in western Libya over the past two years and fought alongside Tripoli-allied militias to repel a yearlong attack on the capital by Hifter’s forces. Milad appeared in a video footage in June threatening to uncover alleged corruption of ruling bodies in Tripoli.
His arrest could threaten the western Libya militia alliance and give their rivals - Hifter’s forces - a window to rally support. This could also explain why Tripoli authorities have not dared arrest Milad or other militia leaders in the past years.
Later, hundreds of Milad’s supporters rallied against his arrest in Zawiya and elsewhere in western Libya, accusing Interior Minister Fathi Bashaga of cracking down on certain armed group in Tripoli while sparing others, such as militias from the city of Misrat, from where the minister is from.
A spokesman for Libya’s Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to phone calls and messages seeking comment.
Jalel Harchaoui, a research fellow specializing in Libyan affairs at the Clingendael Netherlands Institute of International Relations, said Bashaga has an interest in showing strength to his multiple audiences, including the international one.
“Bija had become somewhat a celebrity outside Libya over recent years,” he said, adding that there is a tendency to focus on individuals, blaming them for the migrant situation in Libya, rather than a structurally dysfunctional system involving many foreign governments and international players.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Tanzania asks for aircraft to battle fire on Mt Kilimanjaro

NAIROBI , Kenya ( AP ) - Tanzania ’ s government is hoping helicopters and planes will help put out a fire raging on Mt .
Kilimanjaro , Africa ’ s tallest mountain at 19,443 feet ( 5,926 meters ) .
Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hamisi Kigwangalla said on Twitter Thursday that he has asked for helicopters and planes with firefighting capabilities to help the more than 500 volunteers currently battling the flames on the slopes of Kilimanjaro National Park .
The fire has spread making it more difficult to control the blaze , Kigwangalla said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dry grassland and bush , ” he said .
The fire has burned 28 square kilometers ( 11 square miles ) of vegetation and is very active in an area known as Kifunika Hill , park officials said .
The firefighters made progress in controlling the blaze , but then strong winds reignited the fires Wednesday , causing huge flames that could be seen as far as 30 kilometers ( 18 miles ) away in Moshi town , in northern Tanzania .
The rebounding fire destroyed the Horombo Tourist Camp , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solar equipment , Kigwangalla said .
The fire started on Sunday afternoon in the Whona area , a tourist stopover for those climbing Mt .
Kilimanjaro and using the Mandara and Horombo routes , he said .
The cause is still unknown , he said .

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - Tanzania’s government is hoping helicopters and planes will help put out a fire raging on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain at 19,443 feet (5,926 meters).
Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hamisi Kigwangalla said on Twitter Thursday that he has asked for helicopters and planes with firefighting capabilities to help the more than 500 volunteers currently battling the flames on the slopes of Kilimanjaro National Park.
The fire has spread making it more difficult to control the blaze, Kigwangalla said.
“The challenge is the strong wind, the dry grassland and bush,” he said.
The fire has burned 28 square kilometers (11 square miles) of vegetation and is very active in an area known as Kifunika Hill, park officials said.
The firefighters made progress in controlling the blaze, but then strong winds reignited the fires Wednesday, causing huge flames that could be seen as far as 30 kilometers (18 miles) away in Moshi town, in northern Tanzania.
The rebounding fire destroyed the Horombo Tourist Camp, including 12 huts, two toilets, and solar equipment, Kigwangalla said.
The fire started on Sunday afternoon in the Whona area, a tourist stopover for those climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and using the Mandara and Horombo routes, he said. The cause is still unknown, he said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--India rejects China criticism of development of border area

NEW DELHI ( AP ) - India on Thursday rejected criticism from China of its infrastructure building in border areas which Beijing has described as a root cause of surging tensions between the two countries .
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anuag Srivastava said the Indian government has focused on improving infrastructure in border areas “ to facilitate the economic development of these areas and also to meet India ’ s strategic and security requirements.
” India has been building roads in the mountainous area , and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday helped inaugurate 44 bridges in areas bordering China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will facilitate the movement of Indian troops to the border with China , including in eastern Ladakh , where tens of thousands of Indian and Chinese soldiers are facing each other in a monthslong standoff .
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday that China opposes the building of infrastructure with a military purpose in disputed border areas .
“ For a while , the Indian side has been stepping up infrastructure building and military deployment along the border with China .
This is the root cause of tensions , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refrain from taking actions that will complicate the situation .
The high-altitude standoff along the eastern section of what ’ s known as the Line of Actual Control - a loose demarcation - risks dramatically altering the already fraught relationship between the nuclear-armed neighbors .
The faceoff began in early May with a fierce brawl , and exploded into hand-to-hand combat with clubs , stones and fists on June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead .
China is believed to also have had casualties , but has given no numbers .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crossing into rival territory and of firing shots for the first time in 45 years .
They have held several rounds of talks on disengagement of troops and de-escalation of tensions , without any breakthrough .

NEW DELHI (AP) - India on Thursday rejected criticism from China of its infrastructure building in border areas which Beijing has described as a root cause of surging tensions between the two countries.
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anuag Srivastava said the Indian government has focused on improving infrastructure in border areas “to facilitate the economic development of these areas and also to meet India’s strategic and security requirements.”
India has been building roads in the mountainous area, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday helped inaugurate 44 bridges in areas bordering China and Pakistan.
Indian officials say this will facilitate the movement of Indian troops to the border with China, including in eastern Ladakh, where tens of thousands of Indian and Chinese soldiers are facing each other in a monthslong standoff.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday that China opposes the building of infrastructure with a military purpose in disputed border areas.
“For a while, the Indian side has been stepping up infrastructure building and military deployment along the border with China. This is the root cause of tensions,’’ he said, urging India to refrain from taking actions that will complicate the situation.
The high-altitude standoff along the eastern section of what’s known as the Line of Actual Control - a loose demarcation - risks dramatically altering the already fraught relationship between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
The faceoff began in early May with a fierce brawl, and exploded into hand-to-hand combat with clubs, stones and fists on June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead. China is believed to also have had casualties, but has given no numbers.
The Asian giants have accused each other of crossing into rival territory and of firing shots for the first time in 45 years.
They have held several rounds of talks on disengagement of troops and de-escalation of tensions, without any breakthrough.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Police release names of victims in triple shooting

PROVIDENCE , R.I. ( AP ) - Police in Providence continue to investigate a shooting in the parking lot of @ @ @ @ @ person dead and two others injured .
The man who died at the hospital after @ @ @ @ @ Island School for the Deaf on Tuesday afternoon was identified by police as Deshaun Dure @ @ @ @ @ two men injured , Omotayo Cole Adedeji , 19 , Aaron Gomes , 20 , @ @ @ @ @ hospital , Providence police said .
No arrests have been announced .
Investigators have asked @ @ @ @ @ shooting to come forward .
The victims were sitting in an SUV at about 4:30 @ @ @ @ @ struck by multiple gunshots , police have said .
A man in the car who @ @ @ @ @ bullet-riddled vehicle to the hospital , police said .
It is not believed that the @ @ @ @ @ the school .

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Police in Providence continue to investigate a shooting in the parking lot of a school that left one person dead and two others injured.
The man who died at the hospital after being shot outside the Rhode Island School for the Deaf on Tuesday afternoon was identified by police as Deshaun Dure, 19. The other two men injured, Omotayo Cole Adedeji, 19, Aaron Gomes, 20, continue to recover at the hospital, Providence police said.
No arrests have been announced. Investigators have asked anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.
The victims were sitting in an SUV at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday when it was struck by multiple gunshots, police have said. A man in the car who was not injured drove the bullet-riddled vehicle to the hospital, police said.
It is not believed that the victims had any affiliation with the school.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Escaped Kentucky inmate captured in southern Indiana

HANOVER , Ind .
( AP ) - An inmate who escaped from a Kentucky jail last month by climbing @ @ @ @ @ jail window has been captured in southern Indiana , authorities said .
Anthony Martinez , @ @ @ @ @ in a wooded area near Hanover , Madison police said .
When he was located @ @ @ @ @ but was later shot with a stun gun and captured near a church .
He @ @ @ @ @ custody of the U.S .
Marshals .
State and federal investigators from Indiana came close @ @ @ @ @ 8 in nearby Scott County , but he fled on foot into an area of @ @ @ @ @ him .
Martinez , who was arrested in February on robbery charges involving multiple banks @ @ @ @ @ the Louisville Metro Corrections after apparently climbing through a hole in a fourth-floor window and @ @ @ @ @ along the building to lower himself to the ground .

HANOVER, Ind. (AP) - An inmate who escaped from a Kentucky jail last month by climbing through a hole in a jail window has been captured in southern Indiana, authorities said.
Anthony Martinez, 30, was caught Tuesday in a wooded area near Hanover, Madison police said. When he was located, he fled from authorities but was later shot with a stun gun and captured near a church. He’s now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
State and federal investigators from Indiana came close to catching Martinez on Oct. 8 in nearby Scott County, but he fled on foot into an area of thick brush and they lost him.
Martinez, who was arrested in February on robbery charges involving multiple banks, escaped Sept. 29 from the Louisville Metro Corrections after apparently climbing through a hole in a fourth-floor window and then using a hose draped along the building to lower himself to the ground.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Senate Judiciary Committee to hold vote on Amy Coney Barrett on Oct. 22

Senate Republicans scheduled a vote in the Judiciary Committee next week on Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett , overcoming Democrats ’ attempts to scuttle the quick pace to confirmation .
The committee voted 12-10 on Thursday to lock in a vote for 1 p.m. on Oct. 22 .
If Judge Barrett clears that hurdle — and it ’ s virtually certain she will — then she ’ ll move to the Senate floor for a full vote in the last week of October .
Republicans beat back Democrats ’ motion to adjourn the committee to stall Judge Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats ’ attempts to deny the committee a quorum .
He said he ’ s prepared for more tactics ahead of next week ’ s final vote .
Thursday marked the fourth and final day of the confirmation hearing on Judge Barrett , with outsiders invited to give their thoughts .
The American Bar Association , which rated her “ well qualified ” for the high court , testified , as did four supporters , picked by Republicans , and four opponents , picked by Democrats .
Two of those Democratic witnesses honed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s opponents who say she will be a key vote in a looming case that could gut the 2010 health law .
Dr. Farhan Bhatti , who practices in Michigan , said some of his patients ’ lives were saved because of the Affordable Care Act .
“ During a pandemic that continues to kill 1,000 Americans each day , people need the ACA and the freedom it provides , ” he told lawmakers .
Stacy Staggs , director of Little Lobbyists Community Engagement , said Judge Barrett could threaten the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girls , born prematurely with complex medical needs and , now 7 years old , who need constant care .
She said the cost of that care has reached into the millions of dollars .
Republicans countered with witnesses who said Judge Barrett will approach cases fairly , with an eye on the law rather than on an ideological agenda .
Retired Judge Thomas Griffith , who sat on the U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington , D.C. , said he has seen Judge Barrett issue rulings that weren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church teachings .
“ Judge Barrett is supremely well qualified , ” he told the committee .
Democrats have argued Republicans ’ speed in trying to get Judge Barrett on the high court is to try to make sure she can take part in major looming decisions .
“ The purpose of doing it is simply to have a justice on the Supreme Court — as the president said — to decide the election and to strike down the Affordable Care Act .
We have had inadequate time to review this nomination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat .
Democrats also argued that a replacement for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg should only be named by the winner of the Nov. 3 election .
They tried to halt Thursday ’ s proceedings by denying a quorum .
Only Sen. Richard J. Durbin , the No .
2 Democrat in the chamber , showed up for the start of the meeting .
He said under committee rules , at least two members of the minority party were supposed to be there to conduct business .
“ We are breaking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s beneath the dignity of this committee .
We should have played by the rules.
” Mr. Graham brushed that complaint aside and plowed ahead with the vote to schedule next week ’ s final vote — and it became clear the Democrats were mostly present but were waiting just outside the room .
They began to file in as Mr. Graham called the vote .
Even those Democrats not in the room still voted by proxy , making clear the committee was fully prepared to do business after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , drew a string of denunciations from Democrats , and counter-recriminations from Republicans , tapping decades of pent-up bad blood over judicial nominations .
Sen. Patrick Leahy , Vermont Democrat and the most senior senator in the chamber , said if Republicans pushed Judge Barrett ’ s nomination through now , it would do “ irreparable ” harm to both the Senate and the judiciary .
Mr. Graham countered that Democrats had broken that seal more than a decade ago .
He pointed to then-Sen. Barack Obama , who voted against both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court nominees , saying that while they were legally qualified , “ the critical ingredient is supplied by what is in the judge ’ s heart ” — and he found them lacking .
Even in 2005 , Mr. Obama acknowledged “ the kind of poisonous atmosphere ” that had built up around judicial picks .
If anything , it ’ s gotten worse .
In 2013 then-Majority Leader Harry Reid , Nevada Democrat , used the “ nuclear option ” shortcut to change the rules and defang the filibuster , allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House , to pack the critical federal circuit court in Washington , D.C. , with his picks .
Republicans then denied Mr. Obama his pick for the Supreme Court in 2016 , blocking action on Judge Merrick Garland for 10 months .
Democrats then attempted to filibuster President Trump ’ s pick for that seat , Judge Neil M. Gorsuch , and Republicans countered by triggering the nuclear option themselves to force through now-Justice Gorsuch .

Senate Republicans scheduled a vote in the Judiciary Committee next week on Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett, overcoming Democrats’ attempts to scuttle the quick pace to confirmation.
The committee voted 12-10 on Thursday to lock in a vote for 1 p.m. on Oct. 22. If Judge Barrett clears that hurdle — and it’s virtually certain she will — then she’ll move to the Senate floor for a full vote in the last week of October.
Republicans beat back Democrats’ motion to adjourn the committee to stall Judge Barrett, and Chairman Lindsey Graham also ignored Democrats’ attempts to deny the committee a quorum.
He said he’s prepared for more tactics ahead of next week’s final vote.
Thursday marked the fourth and final day of the confirmation hearing on Judge Barrett, with outsiders invited to give their thoughts.
The American Bar Association, which rated her “well qualified” for the high court, testified, as did four supporters, picked by Republicans, and four opponents, picked by Democrats.
Two of those Democratic witnesses honed in on Obamacare, bolstering Judge Barrett’s opponents who say she will be a key vote in a looming case that could gut the 2010 health law.
Dr. Farhan Bhatti, who practices in Michigan, said some of his patients’ lives were saved because of the Affordable Care Act.
“During a pandemic that continues to kill 1,000 Americans each day, people need the ACA and the freedom it provides,” he told lawmakers.
Stacy Staggs, director of Little Lobbyists Community Engagement, said Judge Barrett could threaten the health coverage that’s helped her twin girls, born prematurely with complex medical needs and, now 7 years old, who need constant care. She said the cost of that care has reached into the millions of dollars.
Republicans countered with witnesses who said Judge Barrett will approach cases fairly, with an eye on the law rather than on an ideological agenda.
Retired Judge Thomas Griffith, who sat on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., said he has seen Judge Barrett issue rulings that weren’t aligned with her personal beliefs or Catholic Church teachings.
“Judge Barrett is supremely well qualified,” he told the committee.
Democrats have argued Republicans’ speed in trying to get Judge Barrett on the high court is to try to make sure she can take part in major looming decisions.
“The purpose of doing it is simply to have a justice on the Supreme Court — as the president said — to decide the election and to strike down the Affordable Care Act. We have had inadequate time to review this nomination,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat.
Democrats also argued that a replacement for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg should only be named by the winner of the Nov. 3 election.
They tried to halt Thursday’s proceedings by denying a quorum. Only Sen. Richard J. Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the chamber, showed up for the start of the meeting. He said under committee rules, at least two members of the minority party were supposed to be there to conduct business.
“We are breaking the rules,” the Illinois Democrat said. “It’s beneath the dignity of this committee. We should have played by the rules.”
Mr. Graham brushed that complaint aside and plowed ahead with the vote to schedule next week’s final vote — and it became clear the Democrats were mostly present but were waiting just outside the room. They began to file in as Mr. Graham called the vote.
Even those Democrats not in the room still voted by proxy, making clear the committee was fully prepared to do business after all.
The hardball GOP move, though, drew a string of denunciations from Democrats, and counter-recriminations from Republicans, tapping decades of pent-up bad blood over judicial nominations.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, Vermont Democrat and the most senior senator in the chamber, said if Republicans pushed Judge Barrett’s nomination through now, it would do “irreparable” harm to both the Senate and the judiciary.
Mr. Graham countered that Democrats had broken that seal more than a decade ago. He pointed to then-Sen. Barack Obama, who voted against both of President George W. Bush’s Supreme Court nominees, saying that while they were legally qualified, “the critical ingredient is supplied by what is in the judge’s heart” — and he found them lacking.
Even in 2005, Mr. Obama acknowledged “the kind of poisonous atmosphere” that had built up around judicial picks.
If anything, it’s gotten worse.
In 2013 then-Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, used the “nuclear option” shortcut to change the rules and defang the filibuster, allowing Mr. Obama, by then in the White House, to pack the critical federal circuit court in Washington, D.C., with his picks.
Republicans then denied Mr. Obama his pick for the Supreme Court in 2016, blocking action on Judge Merrick Garland for 10 months.
Democrats then attempted to filibuster President Trump’s pick for that seat, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, and Republicans countered by triggering the nuclear option themselves to force through now-Justice Gorsuch.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com. • Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Office of Drug Control Policy's director retiring

CHARLESTON , W.Va. ( AP ) - West Virginia ’ s director of the Office of Drug Control Policy is @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s Department of Health .
Department spokeswoman Allison Adler told the Charleston Gazette-Mail @ @ @ @ @ Jim Justice “ will be announcing a new director soon ” to replace Bob Hansen @ @ @ @ @ agency ’ s director since December 2018 , making him the third person to oversee @ @ @ @ @ created by the Legislature in 2017 .
He helped launch the West Virginia Governor ’ @ @ @ @ @ , Prevention and Treatment , designed to direct resources toward addiction services and recovery .
@ @ @ @ @ director of addiction services at the Marshall University School of Medicine and Marshall Health Systems @ @ @ @ @ of Prestera Center .
According to data from the Office of Drug Control Policy , @ @ @ @ @ increase this year in the number of emergency calls and emergency room visits involving drug @ @ @ @ @ on fatal overdoses for 2020 won ’ t be available until next year .

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia’s director of the Office of Drug Control Policy is retiring, according to the state’s Department of Health.
Department spokeswoman Allison Adler told the Charleston Gazette-Mail on Wednesday that Gov. Jim Justice “will be announcing a new director soon” to replace Bob Hansen.
Hansen has been the agency’s director since December 2018, making him the third person to oversee the office since it was created by the Legislature in 2017. He helped launch the West Virginia Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse, Prevention and Treatment, designed to direct resources toward addiction services and recovery.
Hansen previously served as the director of addiction services at the Marshall University School of Medicine and Marshall Health Systems, he was also CEO of Prestera Center.
According to data from the Office of Drug Control Policy, the state has seen an increase this year in the number of emergency calls and emergency room visits involving drug overdoses. However, information on fatal overdoses for 2020 won’t be available until next year.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Police: Shooting in St. Louis injures 11-year-old girl

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - A shooting at an apartment in St. Louis ‘ Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood has injured an @ @ @ @ @ .
The shooting happened around 5 p.m. Wednesday , hitting the girl in one of @ @ @ @ @ .
The girl was in stable condition later Wednesday night , according to police .
@ @ @ @ @ details on the shooting , but a neighbor told television station KMOV that a she @ @ @ @ @ Police investigators also were seen combing an alleyway and street outside the apartment for evidence @ @ @ @ @ a car that crashed near the shooting scene , the station reported .
St Louis @ @ @ @ @ gun violence involving children in the last year .
More than 100 children have been @ @ @ @ @ in St. Louis this year , including several fatal shootings .

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A shooting at an apartment in St. Louis’ Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood has injured an 11-year-old girl, police said.
The shooting happened around 5 p.m. Wednesday, hitting the girl in one of her arms, police said. The girl was in stable condition later Wednesday night, according to police.
Police did not release other details on the shooting, but a neighbor told television station KMOV that a she heard dozens of gunshots.
Police investigators also were seen combing an alleyway and street outside the apartment for evidence, and police towed away a car that crashed near the shooting scene, the station reported.
St Louis has seen a surge of gun violence involving children in the last year. More than 100 children have been the victim of gun violence in St. Louis this year, including several fatal shootings.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--No charges in fatal shooting of man during home break-in

DOTHAN , Ala. ( AP ) - Authorities haven ’ t filed any charges in the death of an armed @ @ @ @ @ fatally wounded while breaking into a home in south Alabama .
Dantrail Mills , 34 @ @ @ @ @ gunshot wounds in a confrontation that occurred early Sunday , the Houston County Sheriff ’ @ @ @ @ @ .
He allegedly threw a bicycle at a window then kicked in a door and @ @ @ @ @ , who returned fire .
Investigators are still reviewing what happened but the case could @ @ @ @ @ stand your ground ” law that lets people use force to protect themselves .
Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ the people inside the house , whose names haven ’ t been released , but @ @ @ @ @ Mills , who died at a hospital on Tuesday , had been arrested multiple times @ @ @ @ @ custody through a federal program in March .

DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) - Authorities haven’t filed any charges in the death of an armed man who police say was fatally wounded while breaking into a home in south Alabama.
Dantrail Mills, 34, of Ozark suffered multiple gunshot wounds in a confrontation that occurred early Sunday, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office told new outlets. He allegedly threw a bicycle at a window then kicked in a door and shot at the male homeowner, who returned fire.
Investigators are still reviewing what happened but the case could fall under a state “stand your ground” law that lets people use force to protect themselves.
Sheriff Donald Valenza said Mills knew the people inside the house, whose names haven’t been released, but the relationship is unclear.
Mills, who died at a hospital on Tuesday, had been arrested multiple times before and was released from custody through a federal program in March.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Trump campaign says Twitter suspended its official campaign account

Trump campaign official Mike Hahn said Thursday that Twitter suspended the Trump campaign ’ s official Twitter account , @ TeamTrump , after it posted anti-Biden content .
Mr. Hahn , a social media staffer for the Trump campaign , shared on Twitter a screenshot of the message that the Trump campaign received telling it that the account was locked .
The offending tweet shared by Mr. Hahn included the message , “ Joe Biden is a liar who has been ripping off our country for years.
” “ Twitter has suspended @ TeamTrump for posting a video calling Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off our country for years , as it relates to the @ nypost article , ” Mr. Hahn tweeted .
“ 19 days out from the election.
” On Wednesday , Twitter began redirecting users who clicked on a New York Post story involving Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden ’ s son , Hunter Biden , to a webpage warning that the link containing the Post ’ s story was “ unsafe.
” Twitter also later restricted users from sharing the link in tweets or via direct messages .
The story that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the New York Post that casts doubt upon the Democratic presidential nominee ’ s repeated claims that he did not have knowledge of his son ’ s business dealings in places such as Ukraine , Russia , and China .
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said on Wednesday evening that the company had bungled its explanation of its content moderation actions .
“ Our communications around our actions on the @ nypost article was not great , ” Mr. Dorsey tweeted .
“ And blocking URL sharing via tweet or [ direct message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re blocking : unacceptable.
” Mr. Dorsey also shared a tweet-thread from a company account , @ TwitterSafety , which said the New York Post article actually violated Twitter rules because it contained images with personal and private information .
A Twitter spokesperson told The Washington Times on Thursday that accounts that tweet the material contained in the New York Post story “ may be required to delete those Tweets ” because of the company ’ s policy on hacked material and private and personal information .
If the Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story delete the tweets sharing that material , then they will be able to resume tweeting , according to Twitter .
The message the Trump campaign received , according to Mr. Hahn ’ s screenshot shows Twitter explaining that the Trump campaign ’ s account was locked because Twitter said it violated the company ’ s rules about “ posting private information .
”

Trump campaign official Mike Hahn said Thursday that Twitter suspended the Trump campaign’s official Twitter account, @TeamTrump, after it posted anti-Biden content.
Mr. Hahn, a social media staffer for the Trump campaign, shared on Twitter a screenshot of the message that the Trump campaign received telling it that the account was locked. The offending tweet shared by Mr. Hahn included the message, “Joe Biden is a liar who has been ripping off our country for years.”
“Twitter has suspended @TeamTrump for posting a video calling Joe Biden a liar who has been ripping off our country for years, as it relates to the @nypost article,” Mr. Hahn tweeted. “19 days out from the election.”
Twitter has suspended @TeamTrump for posting a video calling Joe Biden a liar who has been ripping off our country for years, as it relates to the @nypost article.
19 days out from the election. pic.twitter.com/Z9FFzridyr — Mike Hahn (@mikehahn_) October 15, 2020
On Wednesday, Twitter began redirecting users who clicked on a New York Post story involving Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, to a webpage warning that the link containing the Post’s story was “unsafe.” Twitter also later restricted users from sharing the link in tweets or via direct messages.
The story that Twitter branded unsafe includes an email published by the New York Post that casts doubt upon the Democratic presidential nominee’s repeated claims that he did not have knowledge of his son’s business dealings in places such as Ukraine, Russia, and China.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said on Wednesday evening that the company had bungled its explanation of its content moderation actions.
“Our communications around our actions on the @nypost article was not great,” Mr. Dorsey tweeted. “And blocking URL sharing via tweet or [direct message] with zero context as to why we’re blocking: unacceptable.”
Mr. Dorsey also shared a tweet-thread from a company account, @TwitterSafety, which said the New York Post article actually violated Twitter rules because it contained images with personal and private information.
A Twitter spokesperson told The Washington Times on Thursday that accounts that tweet the material contained in the New York Post story “may be required to delete those Tweets” because of the company’s policy on hacked material and private and personal information.
If the Trump campaign and others sharing the New York Post story delete the tweets sharing that material, then they will be able to resume tweeting, according to Twitter.
The message the Trump campaign received, according to Mr. Hahn’s screenshot shows Twitter explaining that the Trump campaign’s account was locked because Twitter said it violated the company’s rules about “posting private information.”
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Sweden wants to up defense budget due to regional tensions

STOCKHOLM ( AP ) - Sweden ’ s left-leaning government on Thursday proposed a 40 % increase for its defense budget from 2021-2025 with the defense minister saying the move came because the region ’ s security policy situation “ has deteriorated over time ” as “ a consequence of Russia ’ s actions.
” “ It is the largest increase in defense capability in 70 years , ” Defense Minister Peter Hulqvist told a news conference .
“ An armed attack on Sweden can ’ t be ruled out.
” The government ’ s proposal said that if an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assaults on important civilian and military targets , sabotage and “ liquidation of key people.
” The whole territory “ will be affected by intensive combat activities with major consequences locally and regionally , ” it said .
Sweden ’ s Social Democrat-Green Party minority government said it has the backing of the two smaller opposition groups - the Center Party and the Liberals .
The defense bill included increased expenditures of 27 billion kronor ( $ 3.1 billion ) , or up to 40 % compared to the previous deal .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t a NATO member , is currently 1.1 % of gross domestic product .
It wasn ’ t clear when a vote on the plan could be held in the Swedish parliament .
Hultquist said that if approved , Sweden will have a third army brigade , equipped with artillery and several local defense battalions .
In addition , the number of conscripts will increase .
In December 2017 , Sweden decided to establish the nation ’ s first new military regiment since World War II - a unit of 350 soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island of Gotland .
The permanent unit was deployed during 2018 to the island ’ s main town , Visby .
The infantry regiment there was dismantled in 2005 .
Earlier that year , Sweden introduced a military draft for both men and women .
The Scandinavian country abolished compulsory military service for men in 2010 , because there were enough volunteers to meet its military needs .
It has never had a military draft for women .

STOCKHOLM (AP) - Sweden’s left-leaning government on Thursday proposed a 40% increase for its defense budget from 2021-2025 with the defense minister saying the move came because the region’s security policy situation “has deteriorated over time” as “a consequence of Russia’s actions.”
“It is the largest increase in defense capability in 70 years,” Defense Minister Peter Hulqvist told a news conference. “An armed attack on Sweden can’t be ruled out.”
The government’s proposal said that if an attack happens, it can start with assaults on important civilian and military targets, sabotage and “liquidation of key people.” The whole territory “will be affected by intensive combat activities with major consequences locally and regionally,” it said.
Sweden’s Social Democrat-Green Party minority government said it has the backing of the two smaller opposition groups - the Center Party and the Liberals. The defense bill included increased expenditures of 27 billion kronor ($3.1 billion), or up to 40% compared to the previous deal.
The defense expenditures of Sweden, which isn’t a NATO member, is currently 1.1 % of gross domestic product.
It wasn’t clear when a vote on the plan could be held in the Swedish parliament.
Hultquist said that if approved, Sweden will have a third army brigade, equipped with artillery and several local defense battalions. In addition, the number of conscripts will increase.
In December 2017, Sweden decided to establish the nation’s first new military regiment since World War II - a unit of 350 soldiers based on the strategically important Baltic Sea island of Gotland. The permanent unit was deployed during 2018 to the island’s main town, Visby.
The infantry regiment there was dismantled in 2005. Earlier that year, Sweden introduced a military draft for both men and women. The Scandinavian country abolished compulsory military service for men in 2010, because there were enough volunteers to meet its military needs. It has never had a military draft for women.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Fred Dean, 68, fearsome pass rusher of 49ers' dynasty, dies

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - Fred Dean , the fearsome pass rusher who was a key part of the launch of the San Francisco 49ers ’ dynasty , has died .
He was 68 .
His death on Wednesday night was confirmed Thursday by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton , Ohio .
Dean was hospitalized last week with the coronavirus and was on a ventilator and in intensive care , according to former teammate Dwight Hicks .
“ The 49ers family is heartbroken to learn of the passing of one of the game ’ s all-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team said in a statement .
“ Fred not only impacted countless opposing quarterbacks throughout his career , but also the future of the game of football as one of the NFL ’ s first true pass rushing specialists.
” Dean was an undersized pass rusher who began his career as a second-round pick with the San Diego Chargers in 1975 and ended it in the Hall of Fame after being named an All-Pro twice and making four Pro Bowls .
Dean was an All-Pro for the Chargers in 1980 but had his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco during the 1981 season .
“ While it can not be said that Fred Dean ’ s greatness as an NFL player began when he came to the 49ers in 1981 , I can say as the owner of the team that the greatness of the 49ers began with Fred Dean ’ s arrival in San Francisco , ” former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo said when he introduced Dean at his Hall of Fame induction .
Dean ’ s career in San Diego ended in a contract dispute in 1981 and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He credited the trade for reviving his career .
“ I actually stepped on the other side for a minute , breathed in the air , looked at it as a rainbow , ” he said before being inducted into the Hall of Fame .
“ I made it to the other side of the rainbow .
For me , that was the pot of gold .
It was a different lifestyle for me altogether .
I felt free to perform once I got there.
” The Niners were just starting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarterback Joe Montana and Dean was the final piece they needed to become champions .
The Niners were 3-2 when Dean arrived with hopes of ending an eight-year playoff drought .
After only a couple of practices , Dean played his first game with the Niners just days after arriving against Dallas .
“ Bill Walsh told me they hadn ’ t beat ‘ em in a while , ” Dean recalled .
“ It was in the paper and everything about how they had not .
For me , it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that I still had it and could do it.
” He did just that , dominating Dallas ’ offensive line in a 45-14 win that proved to be the difference in giving San Francisco home-field advantage in the playoffs .
Sacks were not an official statistic yet , but Dean reportedly had 2 1/2 in that game , as well as several other pressures and penalties drawn .
San Francisco then won the rematch with the Cowboys three months later in the NFC title game 28-27 thanks to “ The Catch ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montana .
The Niners won their first Super Bowl two weeks later against Cincinnati .
Dean played four more seasons in San Francisco , winning a second Super Bowl following the 1984 season .
Dean had seven sacks , 93 tackles and four fumble recoveries in his rookie year .
His career sacks was 93 1/2 , according to the 49ers , but the number is unofficial because sacks were not an official NFL statistic until 1982 .
Unofficially , he had 15½ sacks in 1978 .
He contributed 12 sacks in 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His career best was 17½ in 1983 , including a then-NFL record six in one game against New Orleans .
“ He exemplified many of the values learned from this great game - commitment , integrity , courage - over the course of his life , ” Hall of Fame President and CEO David Baker said .
Dean was inducted into the shrine in 2008 .
“ I could consider it being born by the Chargers but having a renewal life with the 49ers , ” Dean said in his Hall of Fame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49ers , I found that on the other side of that bridge , on the other side was my rainbow , the true ending of a rainbow .
Not financially , but with all the people there .
”

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Fred Dean, the fearsome pass rusher who was a key part of the launch of the San Francisco 49ers’ dynasty, has died. He was 68.
His death on Wednesday night was confirmed Thursday by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Dean was hospitalized last week with the coronavirus and was on a ventilator and in intensive care, according to former teammate Dwight Hicks.
“The 49ers family is heartbroken to learn of the passing of one of the game’s all-time greats, Fred Dean,” the team said in a statement. “Fred not only impacted countless opposing quarterbacks throughout his career, but also the future of the game of football as one of the NFL’s first true pass rushing specialists.”
Dean was an undersized pass rusher who began his career as a second-round pick with the San Diego Chargers in 1975 and ended it in the Hall of Fame after being named an All-Pro twice and making four Pro Bowls.
Dean was an All-Pro for the Chargers in 1980 but had his biggest impact after being traded to San Francisco during the 1981 season.
“While it cannot be said that Fred Dean’s greatness as an NFL player began when he came to the 49ers in 1981, I can say as the owner of the team that the greatness of the 49ers began with Fred Dean’s arrival in San Francisco,” former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo said when he introduced Dean at his Hall of Fame induction.
Dean’s career in San Diego ended in a contract dispute in 1981 and he was traded to San Francisco in October.
He credited the trade for reviving his career.
“I actually stepped on the other side for a minute, breathed in the air, looked at it as a rainbow,” he said before being inducted into the Hall of Fame. “I made it to the other side of the rainbow. For me, that was the pot of gold. It was a different lifestyle for me altogether. I felt free to perform once I got there.”
The Niners were just starting to take off under coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana and Dean was the final piece they needed to become champions.
The Niners were 3-2 when Dean arrived with hopes of ending an eight-year playoff drought. After only a couple of practices, Dean played his first game with the Niners just days after arriving against Dallas.
“Bill Walsh told me they hadn’t beat ‘em in a while,” Dean recalled. “It was in the paper and everything about how they had not. For me, it was a platform for me to prove a point, that I still had it and could do it.”
He did just that, dominating Dallas’ offensive line in a 45-14 win that proved to be the difference in giving San Francisco home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Sacks were not an official statistic yet, but Dean reportedly had 2 1/2 in that game, as well as several other pressures and penalties drawn.
San Francisco then won the rematch with the Cowboys three months later in the NFC title game 28-27 thanks to “The Catch” by Dwight Clark on a pass from Montana. The Niners won their first Super Bowl two weeks later against Cincinnati.
Dean played four more seasons in San Francisco, winning a second Super Bowl following the 1984 season.
Dean had seven sacks, 93 tackles and four fumble recoveries in his rookie year. His career sacks was 93 1/2, according to the 49ers, but the number is unofficial because sacks were not an official NFL statistic until 1982.
Unofficially, he had 15½ sacks in 1978. He contributed 12 sacks in 11 games with the 49ers in 1981. His career best was 17½ in 1983, including a then-NFL record six in one game against New Orleans.
“He exemplified many of the values learned from this great game - commitment, integrity, courage - over the course of his life,” Hall of Fame President and CEO David Baker said.
Dean was inducted into the shrine in 2008.
“I could consider it being born by the Chargers but having a renewal life with the 49ers,” Dean said in his Hall of Fame speech. “And being with the 49ers, I found that on the other side of that bridge, on the other side was my rainbow, the true ending of a rainbow. Not financially, but with all the people there.”
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Foodbank: Thousands of food boxes not delivered in September

BARRE , Vt. ( AP ) - Gov .
Phil Scott on Thursday extended Vermont ’ s coronavirus-related state of emergency until Nov. 15 .
Scott said the state emergency not only helps the state to suppress the virus but it keeps protections in place to mitigate economic hardships , including expanded housing and meal delivery systems , expanded eligibility for unemployment insurance , resources for businesses and federal emergency funding .
“ Vermont has led the nation in responding to this virus .
We ’ ve worked together to keep each other safe and prevent our healthcare system from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen our economy and keep it open while many other states have had to take steps backward , ” Scott said in a written statement .
“ But we can not become complacent.
” Vermonters must continue to make smart choices , meaning “ staying six feet apart and wearing a mask ( even around friends ) , avoiding crowds , following travel guidance and washing our hands , ” he said .
In other developments related to the coronavirus in Vermont : A change in contractors for a federal food distribution program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being provided in September , according to the Vermont Foodbank .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture ’ s Farmers to Families Food Box Program is aimed at helping people in need and farmers during the coronavirus pandemic .
The USDA recently changed from using the Abbey Group , a contractor located in Vermont , to two out-of-state companies , Costa Fruit & Produce and Sysco , in the latest round .
“ Suddenly , the Department of Agriculture pulled the rug out from underneath that system , ” said Rep. Peter Welch , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abbey Group had set up a system to ensure deliveries arrived directly to recipients , even in rural areas .
Costa and Sysco do not use the same system and were not really designed to operate in such a small state with limited refrigerator and freezer space , said the Foodbank ’ s Nicole Whalen .
And they don ’ t buy from Vermont growers for the program , the Foodbank said .
The Foodbank had hoped to see 16,000 food boxes distributed in September but did not .
That led to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Whalen said .
“ During the monthlong gap in the program caused by the USDA , the Foodbank saw record numbers of people visiting one of our other food distribution programs .
Nearly double the usual turnout .
People were scrambling for other places to turn , ” she said .
“ This is a sneak peak at what we are likely to see when the Farmers to Families Food Box program ends for good in the end of October.
” The program had previously distributed tens of thousands of food boxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , with much of the food sourced locally .
Vermont ’ s congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue last month raising concerns .
The USDA said in a statement that it allocated boxes based on the state ’ s need .
“ Fewer boxes will be delivered under this round due to the shift in combination boxes ; however , the number of pounds of food being delivered is on par with previous rounds , ” it stated earlier this month .
Vermont reported 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a statewide total of 1,903 since the pandemic began .
Six of the new cases were in Chittenden County , and two each were in Washington , Lamoille and Orleans counties .
Addison and Windsor counties had one new case each .
A total of 641 travelers were being monitored , according the Vermont Department of Health .
The total number of deaths in Vermont from COVID-19 , the illness caused by the virus , has remained at 58 since late July .

BARRE, Vt. (AP) - Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday extended Vermont’s coronavirus-related state of emergency until Nov. 15.
Scott said the state emergency not only helps the state to suppress the virus but it keeps protections in place to mitigate economic hardships, including expanded housing and meal delivery systems, expanded eligibility for unemployment insurance, resources for businesses and federal emergency funding.
“Vermont has led the nation in responding to this virus. We’ve worked together to keep each other safe and prevent our healthcare system from being overwhelmed, allowing us to methodically reopen our economy and keep it open while many other states have had to take steps backward,” Scott said in a written statement. “But we cannot become complacent.”
Vermonters must continue to make smart choices, meaning “staying six feet apart and wearing a mask (even around friends), avoiding crowds, following travel guidance and washing our hands,” he said.
In other developments related to the coronavirus in Vermont:
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FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
A change in contractors for a federal food distribution program has led to thousands of meals not being provided in September, according to the Vermont Foodbank.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program is aimed at helping people in need and farmers during the coronavirus pandemic. The USDA recently changed from using the Abbey Group, a contractor located in Vermont, to two out-of-state companies, Costa Fruit & Produce and Sysco, in the latest round.
“Suddenly, the Department of Agriculture pulled the rug out from underneath that system,” said Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, according to NECN-TV.
The Abbey Group had set up a system to ensure deliveries arrived directly to recipients, even in rural areas. Costa and Sysco do not use the same system and were not really designed to operate in such a small state with limited refrigerator and freezer space, said the Foodbank’s Nicole Whalen. And they don’t buy from Vermont growers for the program, the Foodbank said.
The Foodbank had hoped to see 16,000 food boxes distributed in September but did not. That led to a spike in demand at other food services, Whalen said.
“During the monthlong gap in the program caused by the USDA, the Foodbank saw record numbers of people visiting one of our other food distribution programs. Nearly double the usual turnout. People were scrambling for other places to turn,” she said. “This is a sneak peak at what we are likely to see when the Farmers to Families Food Box program ends for good in the end of October.”
The program had previously distributed tens of thousands of food boxes at airports around the state during the pandemic, with much of the food sourced locally.
Vermont’s congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue last month raising concerns.
The USDA said in a statement that it allocated boxes based on the state’s need.
“Fewer boxes will be delivered under this round due to the shift in combination boxes; however, the number of pounds of food being delivered is on par with previous rounds,” it stated earlier this month.
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THE NUMBERS
Vermont reported 14 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday for a statewide total of 1,903 since the pandemic began. Six of the new cases were in Chittenden County, and two each were in Washington, Lamoille and Orleans counties. Addison and Windsor counties had one new case each.
A total of 641 travelers were being monitored, according the Vermont Department of Health. The total number of deaths in Vermont from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, has remained at 58 since late July.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--200 bears culled by archers in first days of New Jersey hunt

TRENTON , N.J. ( AP ) - Hunters have killed 201 bears so far during New Jersey ’ s latest black bear hunt .
The state ’ s Division of Fish & Wildlife says 66 bruins were culled on Wednesday .
That came after 73 were killed on Tuesday and 62 were killed on Monday , the hunt ’ s opening day .
The six-day hunt is restricted to Sussex , Warren , Passaic , Morris , Bergen , Hunterdon , Somerset and Mercer counties .
The first three days are restricted to hunters using archery , but starting Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ muzzleloading rifles .
Hunting is prohibited in state parks , forests and wildlife management areas .
The second segment of the hunt , for firearms only , is scheduled to begin on Dec. 7 .
Gov .
Phil Murphy has said this year could be the last for the bear hunt , which the Democrat pledged to end when he ran for governor in 2017 .
Murphy cited a new bear management plan that the state Fish and Game Council was studying .
Due to the coronavirus pandemic , no bear check stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kills and call a number for instructions .
Hunters bagged 315 bears during the 2019 hunt .
Most were killed in Sussex County .

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Hunters have killed 201 bears so far during New Jersey’s latest black bear hunt.
The state’s Division of Fish & Wildlife says 66 bruins were culled on Wednesday. That came after 73 were killed on Tuesday and 62 were killed on Monday, the hunt’s opening day.
The six-day hunt is restricted to Sussex, Warren, Passaic, Morris, Bergen, Hunterdon, Somerset and Mercer counties. The first three days are restricted to hunters using archery, but starting Thursday they also will be allowed to use muzzleloading rifles.
Hunting is prohibited in state parks, forests and wildlife management areas.
The second segment of the hunt, for firearms only, is scheduled to begin on Dec. 7.
Gov. Phil Murphy has said this year could be the last for the bear hunt, which the Democrat pledged to end when he ran for governor in 2017. Murphy cited a new bear management plan that the state Fish and Game Council was studying.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, no bear check stations are available. Hunters must tag their kills and call a number for instructions.
Hunters bagged 315 bears during the 2019 hunt. Most were killed in Sussex County.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Judge denies teachers' request for remote-only teaching

BOSTON ( AP ) - A judge has denied a request by Boston public school teachers for an injunction that would have allowed them to choose to teach remotely as long as the city ’ s coronavirus positivity rate remained higher than 4 % .
“ Even once the 4 % positive threshold is cleared , the Boston Public Schools can still compel teachers to work on-site if the Boston Public Health Commission determines that this can be done safely , ” Suffolk Superior Court Judge Robert Gordon wrote in his decision Wednesday .
The high-needs students who are currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deficits ” if the district started holding classes entirely remotely , the judge said .
Most Boston school children continue to be taught remotely .
The Boston Teachers Union filed its legal challenge on Oct. 8 after Mayor Marty Walsh said in-person classes would be pushed back for most students , but those already attending school would continue to do so .
The union said that violated a memorandum of understanding with the city regarding school safety .
“ We are pleased that the court has preserved the opportunity for our highest needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , supported with the critical services that they require and deserve , ” Walsh and Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said in a joint statement .
The union said it would continue to work with the city to make schools safe .
“ Hopefully , this ruling will accelerate our ongoing conversations with the district so that students and staff are learning and working in the safest environment possible when in-person , ” the union said in a statement .

BOSTON (AP) - A judge has denied a request by Boston public school teachers for an injunction that would have allowed them to choose to teach remotely as long as the city’s coronavirus positivity rate remained higher than 4%.
“Even once the 4% positive threshold is cleared, the Boston Public Schools can still compel teachers to work on-site if the Boston Public Health Commission determines that this can be done safely,” Suffolk Superior Court Judge Robert Gordon wrote in his decision Wednesday.
The high-needs students who are currently attending school in-person would “suffer measurable deficits” if the district started holding classes entirely remotely, the judge said. Most Boston school children continue to be taught remotely.
The Boston Teachers Union filed its legal challenge on Oct. 8 after Mayor Marty Walsh said in-person classes would be pushed back for most students, but those already attending school would continue to do so. The union said that violated a memorandum of understanding with the city regarding school safety.
“We are pleased that the court has preserved the opportunity for our highest needs students to continue learning inside our schools, supported with the critical services that they require and deserve,” Walsh and Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said in a joint statement.
The union said it would continue to work with the city to make schools safe.
“Hopefully, this ruling will accelerate our ongoing conversations with the district so that students and staff are learning and working in the safest environment possible when in-person,” the union said in a statement.