washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Blast at Yemen's Aden airport as new Cabinet members land

SANAA , Yemen ( AP ) — A large explosion struck the airport in the southern Yemeni city of Aden on Wednesday , shortly before a plane carrying the newly formed Cabinet landed there , security officials said .
Initial reports said at least four people were killed and dozens were wounded .
The source of the blast was not immediately clear and no group claimed responsibility for the explosion .
No one on the government plane was hurt but officials at the scene said they saw bodies lying on the tarmac and elsewhere at the airport .
The officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not authorized to talk to the media .
Yemeni Communication Minister Naguib al-Awg , who was also on the government plane , told The Associated Press that he heard two explosions , suggesting they were drone attacks .
Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed and the others were quickly whisked away from the airport to the Mashiq Palace in the city .
“ It would have been a disaster if the plane was bombed , ” he said , insisting the plane was the target of the attack as it was supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy head of Aden ‘ s health office , told the AP that at least four people were killed in the explosion .
He said dozens were wounded but did not elaborate .
Images shared on social media from the scene showed rubble and broken glass strewn about near the airport building and at least two lifeless bodies , one of them charred , lying on the ground .
In another image , a man was trying to help another man whose clothes were torn to get up from the ground .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sworn in last week as part of a reshuffle following a deal with rival southern separatists .
Yemen ‘ s internationally recognized government has worked mostly from self-imposed exile in the Saudi capital of Riyadh during the country ’ s years-long civil war .
Yemen ‘ s embattled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi , in exile in Saudi Arabia , announced a Cabinet reshuffle earlier this month .
The reshuffle was seen as a major step toward closing a dangerous rift between Hadi ’ s government and southern separatists backed by the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at war with with Iran-allied Houthi rebels , who control most of northern Yemen as well as the country ’ s capital , Sanaa .
Last year , the Houthis fired a missile at a military parade of newly graduated fighters of a militia loyal to the UAE at a military base in Aden , killing dozens .
Yemen , the Arab world ’ s poorest country , has been engulfed in civil war since 2014 , when the Shiite Houthi rebels overran the north and Sanaa .
The following year , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Houthis and restore Hadi ’ s government to power .
The war has killed more than 112,000 , including thousands of civilians .
The conflict also resulted in the world ’ s worst humanitarian crisis .

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — A large explosion struck the airport in the southern Yemeni city of Aden on Wednesday, shortly after a plane carrying the newly formed Cabinet landed there, security officials said. At least 22 people were killed and 50 were wounded in the blast.
The source of the explosion was not immediately clear and no group claimed responsibility for attacking the airport. No one on the government plane was hurt.
Officials later reported another explosion close to a palace in the city where the Cabinet members were transferred following the airport attack. And the Saudi-led coalition later shot down a bomb-laden drone that attempted to target the palace, according to Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV channel.
The Cabinet reshuffle was seen as a major step toward closing a dangerous rift between the government of embattled Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, and southern separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government is at war with Iran-allied Houthi rebels, who control most of northern Yemen as well as the country’s capital, Sanaa.
AP footage from the scene at the airport showed members of the government delegation disembarking as the blast shook the grounds. Many ministers rushed back inside the plane or ran down the stairs, seeking shelter.
Thick smoke rose into the air from near the terminal building. Officials at the scene said they saw bodies lying on the tarmac and elsewhere at the airport.
Yemeni Communication Minister Naguib al-Awg, who was on the plane, told The Associated Press that he heard two explosions, suggesting they were drone attacks. Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed and the others were quickly whisked from the airport to Mashiq Palace.
Military and security forces sealed off the area around the the palace.
“It would have been a disaster if the plane was bombed,” al-Awg said, insisting the plane was the target of the attack as it was supposed to land earlier.
Prime Minister Saeed tweeted that he and his Cabinet were safe and unhurt. He called the explosions a “cowardly terrorist act” that was part of the war on “the Yemeni state and our great people.”
Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak blamed the Houthis for the attacks without offering evidence. Houthi officials did nor answer phone calls from the AP seeking comment.
Mohammed al-Roubid, deputy head of Aden’s health office, told the AP that at least 16 people were killed in the explosion and 60 were wounded. Later, the Interior Ministry raised the casualty toll to at least 22 dead and 50 wounded.
Images shared on social media from the scene showed rubble and broken glass strewn about near the airport building and at least two lifeless bodies, one of them charred, lying on the ground. In another image, a man tries to help another man whose clothes were torn to get up from the ground.
The International Committee for the Red Cross said one of its workers was killed and three others were wounded in the airport attack. It said two more were still unaccounted for. “Our staff were transiting through the airport with other civilians. This is a tragic day for us and the people of #Yemen,” the ICRC tweeted.
The ICRC did not provide further details, including the nationalities of the causalities. Lebanon’s official news agency reported that Lebanon resident Yara Khawaja, the ICRC’s spokeswoman in Yemen, was wounded in the blast.
Officials said another explosion hit close to the heavily fortified Mashiq Palace, where the Cabinet members were taken following the explosion at the airport. The source of that blast and whether it occurred before or after the Cabinet members’ arrival were not immediately known. There were no immediate reports of fatalities and the officials said the Cabinet members arrived safely.
U.N. special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, condemned the explosion as an “unacceptable act of violence.” He said in a tweet that it was “a tragic reminder of the importance of bringing #Yemen urgently back on the path towards peace.”
Anwar Gargash,, the United Arab Emirates’ minister of state for foreign affairs, said the attacks on Aden’s airport were meant to destroy the power-sharing deal between Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the southern separatists.
U.S. Ambassador in Yemen Christopher Henzel said the U.S. condemned the attacks in Aden. “We stand with the Yemeni people as they strive for peace, and we support the new Yemeni Government as it works towards a better future for all Yemenis,” he said.
Egypt, Jordan and the Arab League also condemned the attacks.
The Yemeni ministers were returning to Aden from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, after being sworn in last week as part of a reshuffle following a deal with rival southern separatists. Yemen’s internationally recognized government has worked mostly from self-imposed exile in Riyadh during the country’s years-long civil war.
The Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, described the attack as a “cowardly terrorist act targeting the Yemeni people, their security and stability.”
Despite “the disappointment and confusion caused by those who create death and destruction,” the peace agreement between the government and southern separatists “will go forward,” he said.
Hadi, in exile in Saudi Arabia, announced a Cabinet reshuffle earlier this month. Naming a new government was part of a power-sharing deal between the Saudi-backed Hadi and the Emirati-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council, an umbrella group of militias seeking to restore an independent southern Yemen, which existed from 1967 until unification in 1990.
The blast underscores the dangers facing Hadi’s government in the port city, which was a scene of bloody fighting between forces of the internationally recognized government and the UAE-backed separatists.
In a video message posted on his Twitter account later, Saeed, the Yemeni prime minister, said his government was in Aden “to stay.” The city has been the seat of Hadi’s government since Houthi rebels overran the capital Sanaa in 2014.
Last year, the Houthis fired a missile at a military parade of newly graduated fighters of a militia loyal to the UAE at a military base in Aden, killing dozens.
In 2015, then-Yemeni Prime Minister Khaled Bahah and members of his government survived a missile attack, blamed on the Houthis, on an Aden hotel used by the government.
Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest country, has been engulfed in civil war since 2014, when the Shiite Houthi rebels overran the north and Sanaa. The following year, a Saudi-led military coalition intervened to wage war on the Houthis and restore Hadi’s government to power.
The war has killed more than 112,000, including thousands of civilians. The conflict also resulted in the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
___
Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Maggie Michael in Cairo contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Edmunds: The Chevrolet Corvette vs. the Porsche 911

The Chevrolet Corvette and the Porsche 911 are closer competitors than they ’ ve ever been before .
Both cars were redesigned for 2020 , with big changes for the Corvette and small but effective evolutions for the 911 .
The recent switch of the Corvette from a front-engine to a mid-engine layout brought significant improvements in handling and overall performance .
Interior quality is higher , too .
Are these changes enough to vault the Corvette past the Porsche 911 , long the benchmark of an everyday sports car ?
Edmunds ’ experts compared them to find out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the C8 , is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine .
Standard Corvettes are rated at 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque .
Opting for the Z51 performance package bumps power up slightly to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft. Every Corvette comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission .
While you might miss the fun of rowing your own gears , a dual-clutch transmission shifts more quickly than a manual or a traditional automatic .
Naturally , every tenth of a second counts when it comes to acceleration bragging rights .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corvette coupe with the Z51 package accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds .
This is impressive acceleration for a base Corvette .
The 911 , however , is hardly sucking wind .
Powering the standard 911 Carrera coupe is a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with 379 horsepower and 331 lb-ft .
It comes standard with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic .
You can get a 911 with a manual transmission too .
At the Edmunds test track , an automatic-equipped 911 ripped from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Though higher-performance variants of the Corvette are sure to come along , Chevrolet is , for now , only offering the one V8 engine .
Porsche has more available powertrain upgrades , starting with the 443-horsepower Carrera S and going all the way up to the 2021 640-horsepower Turbo S. Just know that these take you well past the price of a fully loaded Corvette .
In the handling department , these two icons are equally impressive .
They are easy to drive fast thanks to high handling limits and excellent steering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slight edge , though , when it comes to overall driving engagement .
The Porsche 911 shines in its performance , but its interior technology let us down .
It does not offer Android Auto compatibility , and some of our experts find its touchscreen and control knob a bit of a reach .
Meanwhile , the Corvette ’ s infotainment screen has crisp graphics and supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration .
The Corvette also offers a better-sounding stereo system in its base form .
An in-car vehicle data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use at racetracks for high performance driving , comes standard on most Corvette trim levels too .
The Corvette ’ s driver-focused cockpit , with its center console angled toward the driver , can look strange at first .
But the real-world experience is pleasingly distinctive and provides easy access to all the cabin ’ s controls .
This newest Corvette is more comfortable than ever too .
Whether you ’ re in the city or on the highway , it provides a well-damped and quiet ride .
As you might expect from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more refined than the Corvette ’ s .
On the highway , the 911 is a bit noisier than the standard Corvette , and its engine can sound a little rougher at lower speeds .
Rev up the 911 , though , and you ’ ll enjoy the classic sound of Porsche ’ s six-cylinder engine .
The 911 offers similar comfort no matter which variant you decide to purchase .
Yet one key advantage the 911 has is a rear seat .
It ’ s tiny , but you can use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids in a pinch .
The Corvette is a two-seater only .
One of the Corvette ’ s strongest virtues has always been its value for money ― it offers big V8 power at a reasonably attainable price .
The base Corvette starts at $ 59,995 including destination .
Sure , we ’ d opt for some extras that bring the price up , but that ’ s still lower than the 911 .
The base Porsche 911 checks in with a manufacturer ’ s suggested retail price of $ 98,750 ( including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spring for the more powerful Carrera S , that price shoots up to $ 114,650 .
Porsche offers more in the way of customizing options , such as special colors and configurations , but those again further boost the price .
EDMUNDS SAYS : It was a close race , but the Corvette beat out the 911 and even earned the Edmunds Top Rated award for best sports car .
It does so by offering astonishing performance , a premium interior and excellent on-road comfort at price that significantly undercuts the 911 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds .
Travis Langness is an Automotive Editor at Edmunds .
Twitter : @ travislangness .

The Chevrolet Corvette and the Porsche 911 are closer competitors than they’ve ever been before. Both cars were redesigned for 2020, with big changes for the Corvette and small but effective evolutions for the 911.
The recent switch of the Corvette from a front-engine to a mid-engine layout brought significant improvements in handling and overall performance. Interior quality is higher, too. Are these changes enough to vault the Corvette past the Porsche 911, long the benchmark of an everyday sports car? Edmunds’ experts compared them to find out.
PERFORMANCE
The eighth-generation Corvette, often referred to as the C8, is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine. Standard Corvettes are rated at 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. Opting for the Z51 performance package bumps power up slightly to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft. Every Corvette comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While you might miss the fun of rowing your own gears, a dual-clutch transmission shifts more quickly than a manual or a traditional automatic.
Naturally, every tenth of a second counts when it comes to acceleration bragging rights. During Edmunds’ testing, the 2020 Corvette coupe with the Z51 package accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. This is impressive acceleration for a base Corvette.
The 911, however, is hardly sucking wind. Powering the standard 911 Carrera coupe is a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with 379 horsepower and 331 lb-ft. It comes standard with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. You can get a 911 with a manual transmission too. At the Edmunds test track, an automatic-equipped 911 ripped from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, right on the Chevy’s heels.
Though higher-performance variants of the Corvette are sure to come along, Chevrolet is, for now, only offering the one V8 engine. Porsche has more available powertrain upgrades, starting with the 443-horsepower Carrera S and going all the way up to the 2021 640-horsepower Turbo S. Just know that these take you well past the price of a fully loaded Corvette.
In the handling department, these two icons are equally impressive. They are easy to drive fast thanks to high handling limits and excellent steering feel. We give the 911 a slight edge, though, when it comes to overall driving engagement.
Winner: 911
IN-VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
The Porsche 911 shines in its performance, but its interior technology let us down. It does not offer Android Auto compatibility, and some of our experts find its touchscreen and control knob a bit of a reach.
Meanwhile, the Corvette’s infotainment screen has crisp graphics and supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. The Corvette also offers a better-sounding stereo system in its base form. An in-car vehicle data and video recorder, which you can use at racetracks for high performance driving, comes standard on most Corvette trim levels too.
Winner: Corvette
COMFORT AND INTERIOR
The Corvette’s driver-focused cockpit, with its center console angled toward the driver, can look strange at first. But the real-world experience is pleasingly distinctive and provides easy access to all the cabin’s controls. This newest Corvette is more comfortable than ever too. Whether you’re in the city or on the highway, it provides a well-damped and quiet ride.
As you might expect from the more expensive Porsche, its cabin is more refined than the Corvette’s. On the highway, the 911 is a bit noisier than the standard Corvette, and its engine can sound a little rougher at lower speeds. Rev up the 911, though, and you’ll enjoy the classic sound of Porsche’s six-cylinder engine.
The 911 offers similar comfort no matter which variant you decide to purchase. Yet one key advantage the 911 has is a rear seat. It’s tiny, but you can use it to take along a couple of kids in a pinch. The Corvette is a two-seater only.
Winner: 911
VALUE
One of the Corvette’s strongest virtues has always been its value for money ― it offers big V8 power at a reasonably attainable price. The base Corvette starts at $59,995 including destination. Sure, we’d opt for some extras that bring the price up, but that’s still lower than the 911.
The base Porsche 911 checks in with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $98,750 (including destination). And if you want to spring for the more powerful Carrera S, that price shoots up to $114,650. Porsche offers more in the way of customizing options, such as special colors and configurations, but those again further boost the price.
Winner: Corvette
EDMUNDS SAYS: It was a close race, but the Corvette beat out the 911 and even earned the Edmunds Top Rated award for best sports car. It does so by offering astonishing performance, a premium interior and excellent on-road comfort at price that significantly undercuts the 911.
___
This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Travis Langness is an Automotive Editor at Edmunds. Twitter: @travislangness.
Related links:
-2020 Chevrolet Corvette review: https://edmu.in/3r4PlpD
-2020 Porsche 911 review: https://edmu.in/2KBt5mn
-Chevrolet Corvette vs. Ford Shelby GT500 vs. Porsche 911 Comparison Video: https://bit.ly/37CiuAz


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Nine injured, some 200 evacuated after landslide in Norway

HELSINKI ( AP ) - A landslide smashed into a residential area near the Norwegian capital Wednesday , injuring nine people and destroying several homes , authorities said .
Some 200 people have been evacuated amid fears of further landslides .
Norwegian police were alerted at 4 a.m. to the slip in the village of Ask , in the municipality of Gjerdrum , some 20 kilometers ( 12 miles ) north of Oslo .
Photos taken in the area showed at least eight homes destroyed .
Some 40 ambulances were sent to the scene and evacuation was continuing as officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landslides .
Police spokesman Roger Pettersen told the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK that there were no reports of missing , but officials could not rule out that there were people in collapsed buildings .
“ Clearing work is being done , ” he said .
None of the injured was reported to be seriously hurt .
“ It hurts to see how the forces of nature have ravaged Gjerdrum .
My thoughts go to all those affected by the landslide .
Now it is important that the emergency services get their job done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted .
The area where Ask is located is known for having a lot of so-called quick clay , a form of clay that can change from solid to liquid form .
There have been previous landslides reported in the area .

HELSINKI (AP) - A landslide smashed into a residential area near the Norwegian capital Wednesday, injuring at least 10 people, leaving 21 unaccounted for and destroying several homes, authorities said. Some 700 people were evacuated amid fears of further landslides.
Norwegian police were alerted at 4 a.m. to the slide in the village of Ask, in the municipality of Gjerdrum, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Oslo.
The landslide cut across a road through Ask, leaving a deep ravine that cars could not pass. Video footage showed dramatic scenes including one house falling into the ravine. Photos showed at least eight homes destroyed.
Police spokesman Roger Pettersen told Norwegian media there were no reports of missing, but officials could not rule out the possibility of people in collapsed buildings. He said some 21 people registered to live in the area are uncounted for.
“The 21 people may have evacuated themselves but may also still be in the landslide area,” Pettersen told news agency NTB.
One of the injured was seriously hurt, while nine had lighter injuries. Weather at the time was reported to be challenging, with snow and full winter conditions.
Ask is home to some 5,000 people.
“It hurts to see how the forces of nature have ravaged Gjerdrum. My thoughts go to all those affected by the landslide. Now it is important that the emergency services get their job done,” Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg tweeted.
In a separate statement, she called the disaster “probably one of the biggest landslides we have had, and with the biggest consequences.”
The area where Ask is located is known for having a lot of so-called quick clay, a form of clay that can change from solid to liquid form. There have been previous landslides reported there.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Uganda rights lawyer freed on bail after week in detention

KAMPALA , Uganda ( AP ) - A prominent rights attorney jailed in Uganda over criminal charges was freed on bail on Wednesday amid intense pressure from the international community and watchdog groups urging authorities to respect human rights ahead of elections in January .
Nicholas Opiyo had spent a week in prison , charged with money laundering after officials queried a $ 340,000 transfer into a bank account held by the rights group he leads .
His lawyers say he is innocent , and his group , Chapter Four Uganda , calls the charges frivolous .
Opiyo has represented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups .
He is notably one of a few lawyers known to represent homosexuals in a country where same-sex relations are criminalized .
The U.S. had called for his immediate release .
Representatives of foreign embassies sat in the courtroom as his bail application was heard .
He appeared via video link from the maximum-security prison .
Critics of the government insist Opiyo is targeted because of his work tracking alleged rights abuses by security forces ahead of elections on Jan. 14 .
President Yoweri Museveni , who has held power since 1986 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ singer and lawmaker Bobi Wine , who has rallied impoverished young people .
Wine , whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu , has been arrested many times and accused of disrupting public order .
On Wednesday , his party said he and his campaign team were arrested again while traveling in an island region outside Kampala , the capital .
Wine ’ s arrest in November trigged deadly riots that were violently quelled by security forces .
Police often use force to break up raucous crowds , sometimes with deadly consequences .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least two journalists were injured by police on Sunday .
“ We are gravely concerned by the election-related violence , the excessive use of force by security personnel , as well as the increasing crackdown on peaceful protesters , political and civil society leaders and human rights defenders , ” a group of United Nations experts on human rights said in a statement on Tuesday .
They added : “ Since the publication of the guidelines on the conduct of elections during COVID-19 in June by the Uganda Electoral Commission , we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and misuse and abuse of health-related restrictions to curb dissent in the country.
” Museveni , for decades a U.S. security ally , has angrily alleged that outside groups are meddling in politics , a claim echoed by other officials .
Wine and other opposition figures are accused of being under the influence of Western governments seeking regime change .
Wine has urged the 76-year-old Museveni to retire peacefully , saying his time is over .
But Museveni ’ s supporters say he is their best candidate , citing his popularity in many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned campaign events in some urban areas , including Kampala , citing an urgent need to control the spread of the coronavirus .
That decision has been criticized by some who see it as a ploy to prevent opposition figures from displaying their support in areas where the ruling party is not so popular .
Museveni is able to seek more time in office after lawmakers removed the last constitutional obstacle - age limits - to a possible life presidency .
Uganda has not seen a peaceful transfer of power since independence from @ @ @ @

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) - A prominent rights attorney jailed in Uganda over criminal charges was freed on bail on Wednesday amid intense pressure from the international community and watchdog groups urging authorities to respect human rights ahead of elections in January.
Nicholas Opiyo had spent a week in prison, charged with money laundering after officials queried a $340,000 transfer into a bank account held by the rights group he leads. His lawyers say he is innocent, and his group, Chapter Four Uganda, calls the charges frivolous.
Opiyo has represented pro-democracy activists, opposition figures and minority groups. He is notably one of a few lawyers known to represent homosexuals in a country where same-sex relations are criminalized.
The U.S. had called for his immediate release. Representatives of foreign embassies sat in the courtroom as his bail application was heard. He appeared via video link from the maximum-security prison.
Critics of the government insist Opiyo is targeted because of his work tracking alleged rights abuses by security forces ahead of elections on Jan. 14.
President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986, faces a strong challenge from popular singer and lawmaker Bobi Wine, who has rallied impoverished young people.
Wine, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has been arrested many times and accused of disrupting public order. On Wednesday, his party said he and his campaign team were arrested again while traveling in an island region outside Kampala, the capital.
Wine’s arrest in November trigged deadly riots that were violently quelled by security forces.
Police often use force to break up raucous crowds, sometimes with deadly consequences. A bodyguard for Wine was killed and at least two journalists were injured by police on Sunday.
“We are gravely concerned by the election-related violence, the excessive use of force by security personnel, as well as the increasing crackdown on peaceful protesters, political and civil society leaders and human rights defenders,” a group of United Nations experts on human rights said in a statement on Tuesday.
They added: “Since the publication of the guidelines on the conduct of elections during COVID-19 in June by the Uganda Electoral Commission, we have witnessed gradual shrinking of civic space, and misuse and abuse of health-related restrictions to curb dissent in the country.”
Museveni, for decades a U.S. security ally, has angrily alleged that outside groups are meddling in politics, a claim echoed by other officials. Wine and other opposition figures are accused of being under the influence of Western governments seeking regime change.
Wine has urged the 76-year-old Museveni to retire peacefully, saying his time is over. But Museveni’s supporters say he is their best candidate, citing his popularity in many rural areas.
Electoral authorities on Saturday banned campaign events in some urban areas, including Kampala, citing an urgent need to control the spread of the coronavirus. That decision has been criticized by some who see it as a ploy to prevent opposition figures from displaying their support in areas where the ruling party is not so popular.
Museveni is able to seek more time in office after lawmakers removed the last constitutional obstacle - age limits - to a possible life presidency.
Uganda has not seen a peaceful transfer of power since independence from Britain in 1962.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--'Craziest party ever': Superstar DJ Guetta upbeat for 2021

PARIS ( AP ) - Superstar DJ David Guetta has been brought back to Earth by the coronavirus pandemic and says his music has benefitted as a result .
Back in his native Paris to record a New Year ’ s Eve show , the composer of ear-worm dance hits said he has produced “ tons of new music ” while hunkering down during the pandemic .
The French DJ says he spent much of 2020 in Miami .
By bringing the nightclubbing industry to a halt , the virus has been bad for his business of globe-trotting from party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuck at home got creative juices flowing .
“ I realized how my lifestyle is not healthy , the fact that I am constantly on a plane , being jet-lagged and all of this , you know ?
Just to be able to wake every day at the same time , in the same bed , and go make music after my breakfast , that was kind of crazy .
I haven ’ t done this for 20 years , ” Guetta told The Associated Press before recording his show at Paris ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am one of the lucky ones .
I have money on the side , I didn ’ t need to stress about how am I going to eat next week or next month , ” he said .
“ But I have to say , as an artist , it was incredibly creative.
” With lights and lasers slicing through the darkness of Paris , but with no crowds because of a virus curfew , Guetta recorded his hour-long show in front of the futuristic glass pyramid that covers the main entrance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Mona Lisa ” and the world ’ s most-visited museum before virus lockdowns closed its doors this year .
Guetta ’ s show will be streamed on multiple platforms , part of pandemic-altered New Year ’ s festivities this year .
Like night owls everywhere , Guetta is hoping 2021 will be better , with a victory over the virus that would allow for the reopening of dance venues and “ the craziest party ever.
” “ I told my kids already , I ’ m like : ‘ Listen , guys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they open , I ’ m gone.
’ I ’ m going to play every single day , ” he said .
“ People are going to party like they have never partied before .
”

PARIS (AP) - Superstar DJ David Guetta has been brought back to Earth by the coronavirus pandemic and says his music has benefitted as a result.
Back in his native Paris to record a New Year’s Eve show, the composer of ear-worm dance hits said he has produced “tons of new music” while hunkering down during the pandemic.
The French DJ says he spent much of 2020 in Miami. By bringing the nightclubbing industry to a halt, the virus has been bad for his business of globe-trotting from party to party.
But Guetta says being stuck at home got creative juices flowing.
“I realized how my lifestyle is not healthy, the fact that I am constantly on a plane, being jet-lagged and all of this, you know? Just to be able to wake every day at the same time, in the same bed, and go make music after my breakfast, that was kind of crazy. I haven’t done this for 20 years,” Guetta told The Associated Press before recording his show at Paris’ Louvre Museum on Tuesday night.
“I am one of the lucky ones. I have money on the side, I didn’t need to stress about how am I going to eat next week or next month,” he said. “But I have to say, as an artist, it was incredibly creative.”
With lights and lasers slicing through the darkness of Paris, but with no crowds because of a virus curfew, Guetta recorded his hour-long show in front of the futuristic glass pyramid that covers the main entrance to the Louvre, home to the “Mona Lisa” and the world’s most-visited museum before virus lockdowns closed its doors this year.
Guetta’s show will be streamed on multiple platforms, part of pandemic-altered New Year’s festivities this year.
Like night owls everywhere, Guetta is hoping 2021 will be better, with a victory over the virus that would allow for the reopening of dance venues and “the craziest party ever.”
“I told my kids already, I’m like: ‘Listen, guys, enjoy while I am here because when they open, I’m gone.’ I’m going to play every single day,” he said. “People are going to party like they have never partied before.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Asia Today: Thailand reports 250 new coronavirus cases

BANGKOK ( AP ) - Thailand has reported 250 new cases of the coronavirus , including 241 local transmissions , as the country grapples with an intensifying outbreak of the virus .
After months of seeming to have the COVID-19 situation under control , Thailand has seen two major clusters developing since mid-December .
One has mainly infected hundreds of migrant workers from Myanmar at a seafood market near Bangkok , while in recent days a cluster has grown connected to a gambling den in an eastern province .
Bangkok has been designated a zone 2 area , meaning that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed there , and the the number is likely to increase .
Banglamung district in Chonburi province , southeast of Bangkok , has closed nonessential shops , while restaurants are allowed to serve only takeaway .
The province also has shut schools and ordered 24-hour convenience stores to close between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m .
Earlier this week , officials in Bangkok announced new restrictions , including the closure of some entertainment facilities during the New Year ’ s holiday .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : — A Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be 79.3 % effective at preventing infection in the final round of testing , in the first official announcement from a Chinese vaccine company of Stage 3 data .
The Beijing Institute of Biological Products , a subsidiary of state-owned Sinopharm , has produced a two-dose vaccine that can be stored in normal refrigerators .
Its effectiveness is below Moderna ’ s vaccine , which is more than 94 % effective , and Pfizer ’ s , which is 95 % effective .
Scientists had cautioned that COVID-19 vaccines might only be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which generally are about 50 % effective .
However , the final proof of the vaccine ’ s effectiveness will depend on publication of scientific data as the company ’ s disclosure did not provide additional information .
The vaccine has already been in use in China under emergency approval since at least July .
It has not yet received final market approval and is under review by China ’ s medical authorities .
— Taiwan has announced its first confirmed case of the new coronavirus variant that was found in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boy who returned from the U.K. on Sunday and is now receiving treatment , the Central Epidemic Command Center said Wednesday .
In response , Taiwan is further tightening travel restrictions , requiring business travelers who previously could apply for shorter quarantines to do a full 14-day period and suspending international transfers at the airport from Jan. 1 , Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung said .
The island already has strict border control measures in place , allowing in only Taiwanese passport holders and those with special visas or residence permits .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is bigger than earlier waves and could turn explosive at any time , Gov .
Yuriko Koike said Tuesday as the Japanese capital reported 944 new cases , its second-highest number since the pandemic began .
“ I must say the situation is quite severe , ” she said , urging residents to stay home and avoid parties , traveling and shrine visits during the New Year holiday .
She said her requests for people to stay home and for drinking places to close early are a last-ditch effort to slow infections without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was under a seven-week non-binding emergency in the spring when non-essential businesses were requested to close and people were asked to work from home .
Tokyo ’ s new cases on Tuesday were just five short of its record 949 reported on Saturday and brought the capital ’ s total to 58,840 .
Japan added 3,601 new cases Monday , bringing the national total to 226,596 , including 3,349 deaths , the health ministry said .
Tokyo coronavirus taskforce experts said nearly three-quarters of the 4,000 hospital beds currently available in Tokyo have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within two weeks unless people share a sense of crisis and reduce their activities immediately .
Koike said the New Year holiday will be a critical turning point that determines whether a further acceleration of infections can be halted .
“ The actions of each of us determines our fate in the coming year , ” she said .
— India is extending the suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom until Jan. 7 due to the the spread of a coronavirus variant .
The resumption of flights after that date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in a tweet on Wednesday .
India ’ s Health Ministry has confirmed 20 people who returned from the UK before the suspension have been found infected with the new variant .
India on Wednesday maintained an overall downward trend and reported 20,549 new cases of the virus in the past 24 hours , taking its total up to 10.24 million confirmed infections .
Another 286 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours , taking total fatalities to 148,439 .
India is expected to start a vaccination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next month .

BANGKOK (AP) - Thailand has reported 250 new cases of the coronavirus, including 241 local transmissions, as the country grapples with an intensifying outbreak of the virus.
After months of seeming to have the COVID-19 situation under control, Thailand has seen two major clusters developing since mid-December. One has mainly infected hundreds of migrant workers from Myanmar at a seafood market near Bangkok, while in recent days a cluster has grown connected to a gambling den in an eastern province.
Bangkok has been designated a zone 2 area, meaning that more than 10 new cases have been confirmed there, and the the number is likely to increase.
Banglamung district in Chonburi province, southeast of Bangkok, has closed nonessential shops, while restaurants are allowed to serve only takeaway. The province also has shut schools and ordered 24-hour convenience stores to close between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Earlier this week, officials in Bangkok announced new restrictions, including the closure of some entertainment facilities during the New Year’s holiday.
Thailand has confirmed a total of 6,690 cases, including 61 deaths.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
— A Chinese company says its coronavirus vaccine was found to be 79.3% effective at preventing infection in the final round of testing, in the first official announcement from a Chinese vaccine company of Stage 3 data. The Beijing Institute of Biological Products, a subsidiary of state-owned Sinopharm, has produced a two-dose vaccine that can be stored in normal refrigerators. Its effectiveness is below Moderna’s vaccine, which is more than 94% effective, and Pfizer’s, which is 95% effective. Scientists had cautioned that COVID-19 vaccines might only be about as effective as flu vaccines, which generally are about 50% effective. However, the final proof of the vaccine’s effectiveness will depend on publication of scientific data as the company’s disclosure did not provide additional information. The vaccine has already been in use in China under emergency approval since at least July. It has not yet received final market approval and is under review by China’s medical authorities.
— Taiwan has announced its first confirmed case of the new coronavirus variant that was found in the United Kingdom. The patient is a teenage boy who returned from the U.K. on Sunday and is now receiving treatment, the Central Epidemic Command Center said Wednesday. In response, Taiwan is further tightening travel restrictions, requiring business travelers who previously could apply for shorter quarantines to do a full 14-day period and suspending international transfers at the airport from Jan. 1, Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung said. The island already has strict border control measures in place, allowing in only Taiwanese passport holders and those with special visas or residence permits.
— Tokyo’s current coronavirus upsurge is bigger than earlier waves and could turn explosive at any time, Gov. Yuriko Koike said Tuesday as the Japanese capital reported 944 new cases, its second-highest number since the pandemic began. “I must say the situation is quite severe,” she said, urging residents to stay home and avoid parties, traveling and shrine visits during the New Year holiday. She said her requests for people to stay home and for drinking places to close early are a last-ditch effort to slow infections without requiring another state of emergency. Japan was under a seven-week non-binding emergency in the spring when non-essential businesses were requested to close and people were asked to work from home. Tokyo’s new cases on Tuesday were just five short of its record 949 reported on Saturday and brought the capital’s total to 58,840. Japan added 3,601 new cases Monday, bringing the national total to 226,596, including 3,349 deaths, the health ministry said. Tokyo coronavirus taskforce experts said nearly three-quarters of the 4,000 hospital beds currently available in Tokyo have been filled and could be completely full within two weeks unless people share a sense of crisis and reduce their activities immediately. Koike said the New Year holiday will be a critical turning point that determines whether a further acceleration of infections can be halted. “The actions of each of us determines our fate in the coming year,” she said.
— India is extending the suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom until Jan. 7 due to the the spread of a coronavirus variant. The resumption of flights after that date will be strictly regulated, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in a tweet on Wednesday. India’s Health Ministry has confirmed 20 people who returned from the UK before the suspension have been found infected with the new variant. India on Wednesday maintained an overall downward trend and reported 20,549 new cases of the virus in the past 24 hours, taking its total up to 10.24 million confirmed infections. Another 286 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, taking total fatalities to 148,439. India is expected to start a vaccination drive for some 300 million people early next month.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--13 West Virginia businesses recognized for longevity

CHARLESTON , W.Va. ( AP ) - Thirteen West Virginia businesses are being recognized for being in continuous operation for @ @ @ @ @ Recipients of the West Virginia Centurion Chamber of Commerce award were announced Tuesday by Secretary @ @ @ @ @ “ These businesses have withstood generations , challenging economic times , and ever-changing technology , @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ These Centurions are anchors and leaders in our communities.
” The businesses @ @ @ @ @ Sales Company , The Bunker Hill Cemetery Association , Charles W. Cammack Children ’ s @ @ @ @ @ and Produce Company , Camp Greenbrier Inc. , Progressive Women ’ s Association , Windsor @ @ @ @ @ Industries Inc. , Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce Inc. , The Home for Aged Men @ @ @ @ @ Kelley Foundry & Machine Company and West Virginia Wesleyan College .
Each will receive a @ @ @ @ @ member of the Centurion Chamber of Commerce , the statement said .

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Thirteen West Virginia businesses are being recognized for being in continuous operation for at least 100 years.
Recipients of the West Virginia Centurion Chamber of Commerce award were announced Tuesday by Secretary of State Mac Warner.
“These businesses have withstood generations, challenging economic times, and ever-changing technology,” Warner said in a statement. “These Centurions are anchors and leaders in our communities.”
The businesses receiving awards include The Union Sales Company, The Bunker Hill Cemetery Association, Charles W. Cammack Children’s Center Inc., Ronceverte Ice and Produce Company, Camp Greenbrier Inc., Progressive Women’s Association, Windsor Coal Company LLC, Greer Industries Inc., Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce Inc., The Home for Aged Men, Raleigh General Hospital, Kelley Foundry & Machine Company and West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Each will receive a certificate recognizing them as a member of the Centurion Chamber of Commerce, the statement said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Prosecutors seek 9-year prison term for Samsung chief Lee

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) - South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday requested a nine-year prison term for Samsung ’ s de facto chief , Lee Jae-yong , during a retrial for his bribery charges , as Lee offered an apology and vowed not to be implicated in similar allegations in an apparent effort to plead for leniency .
The case is a key element in an explosive 2016 scandal that triggered months of public protests and toppled South Korea ’ s president .
The development comes as Lee faces immense pressure to navigate Samsung ’ s transition after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kun-Hee died in October at age 78 after years of hospitalization .
Special prosecutor Park Young-soo demanded the Seoul High Court sentence Lee to prison .
He said Samsung “ more actively sought unjust benefits ” than other businesses with regard to the 2016 scandal .
Park said Samsung , which is South Korea ’ s biggest company , should “ set the example ” for efforts to root out corruption .
“ Samsung is a business group with overwhelming power , and there is even a saying that South Korean companies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Park said .
“ The rule of law and the egalitarianism principle … are meant to punish those in power and those with the economic power in line with the equal standard.
” Park asked the court to sentence three former Samsung executives to seven years in prison and another former executive to five years .
Lee , 52 , vice chairman of Samsung Electronics , was sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison for offering 8.6 billion won ( $ 7 million ) in bribes to former President Park Geun-hye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get her government ’ s backing for his push to solidify his control over Samsung .
But he was freed in early 2018 after the Seoul High Court reduced his term to 2½ years and suspended his sentence , overturning key convictions and reducing the amount of his bribes .
Last year , the Supreme Court returned the case to the high court , ruling that the amount of Lee ’ s bribes had been undervalued .
It said the money that Samsung spent to purchase three racehorses used by Choi ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foundation run by Choi ’ s niece should also be considered bribes .
During Wednesday ’ s court session , Lee ’ s lawyers said the basic nature of the 2016 scandal was about ex-President Park ’ s abuse of power that infringed upon the freedom and property rights of businesses .
They said the plaintiffs weren ’ t able to resist the pressure by Park and Choi , and that both Samsung and any of the plaintiffs didn ’ t receive any special favors from Park ’ s government .
Lee apologized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything is my fault ” and that “ I deeply repent and am ashamed of myself.
” Lee said he ’ ll never engage in any activity that can cause misunderstanding and pledged to focus on making contribution to South Korean society .
Lee also reiterated his earlier promise not to pass the management rights to his children and to stop suppressing employee attempts to organize unions The Seoul High Court is to issue a ruling on Lee on Jan. 18 , according to South Korean media reports .
In September , prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manipulation , breach of trust and auditing violations related to a 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates that helped strengthen Lee ’ s control over the group ’ s crown jewel , Samsung Electronics .
Lee ’ s lawyers denied the charges , calling them “ one-sided claims.
” They say the 2015 merger was “ normal business activity .
”

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday requested a nine-year prison term for Samsung’s de facto chief, Lee Jae-yong, during his bribery retrial, where Lee apologized and vowed not to be implicated in similar allegations in an apparent plea for leniency.
The case is a key element in an explosive 2016 scandal that triggered months of public protests and toppled South Korea’s president. A ruling on Lee could send him back to prison on charges that he bribed former President Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidante to get the government’s backing for his push to solidify his control over Samsung.
The retrial comes as Lee faces immense pressure to navigate Samsung’s transition after his father and Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-Hee died in October.
A team of prosecutors led by independent counsel Park Young-soo demanded the Seoul High Court sentence Lee to prison. They said Samsung “more actively sought unjust benefits” than other businesses with regard to the 2016 scandal. The prosecutors said Samsung, which is South Korea’s biggest company, should “set the example” for efforts to root out corruption.
“Samsung is a business group with overwhelming power, and there is even a saying that South Korean companies are divided into Samsung and non-Samsung ones,” the prosecutors said in closing comments. “The rule of law and the egalitarianism principle … are meant to punish those in power and those with the economic power in line with the equal standard.”
Prosecutors also asked the court to sentence three former Samsung executives to seven years in prison and another former executive to five years.
Lee, 52, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, was sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison for offering 8.6 billion won ($7 million) in bribes to Park and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil. But he was freed in early 2018 after the Seoul High Court reduced his term to 2½ years and suspended his sentence, overturning key convictions and reducing the amount of his bribes.
Last year, the Supreme Court returned the case to the high court, ruling that the amount of Lee’s bribes had been undervalued. It said the money that Samsung spent to purchase three racehorses used by Choi’s equestrian daughter and fund a winter sports foundation run by Choi’s niece should also be considered bribes.
During Wednesday’s court session, Lee’s lawyers said the basic nature of the 2016 scandal was about ex-President Park’s abuse of power that infringed upon the freedom and property rights of businesses. The lawyers said Lee and the other ex-Samsung executives embroiled in the scandal weren’t able to resist the pressure by Park and Choi and that they and Samsung didn’t receive any special favors from Park’s government.
Lee apologized over the case, saying that “everything is my fault” and that “I deeply repent and am ashamed of myself.” Lee said he’ll never engage in any activity that can cause misunderstanding and pledged to focus on making contribution to South Korean society.
Lee also reiterated his earlier promise not to pass the management rights to his children and to stop suppressing employee attempts to organize unions.
The Seoul High Court is to issue a ruling on Jan. 18, according to South Korean media reports.
In September, prosecutors separately indicted Lee on charges of stock price manipulation, breach of trust and auditing violations related to a 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates that helped strengthen Lee’s control over the group’s crown jewel, Samsung Electronics.
Lee’s lawyers denied the charges, calling them “one-sided claims.” They say the 2015 merger was “normal business activity.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Prisoner accused of harassing widow of man he murdered

NASHVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) - A Tennessee prisoner was accused in a criminal complaint of sending harassing letters @ @ @ @ @ man he murdered .
Hank Wise sent numerous communications over several years to his victim @ @ @ @ @ to the complaint unsealed on Tuesday .
They included holiday cards in which Wise professed @ @ @ @ @ and told her that he thinks about her every day , according to a news @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Office in Nashville .
Wise is serving a 23-year sentence for shooting and @ @ @ @ @ the complaint as “ B.G.
” in front of his wife in Nashville in 2009 @ @ @ @ @ charged with mail stalking .
If convicted of the charge , Wise faces up to @ @ @ @ @ .

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee prisoner was accused in a criminal complaint of sending harassing letters to the widow of the man he murdered.
Hank Wise sent numerous communications over several years to his victim’s wife, according to the complaint unsealed on Tuesday.
They included holiday cards in which Wise professed his love for the woman and told her that he thinks about her every day, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nashville.
Wise is serving a 23-year sentence for shooting and killing a man identified in the complaint as “B.G.” in front of his wife in Nashville in 2009.
Wise has now been charged with mail stalking. If convicted of the charge, Wise faces up to five years in federal prison.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Lincoln Birthplace in Kentucky invites public to book club

HODGENVILLE , Ky. ( AP ) - The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Kentucky is inviting the public @ @ @ @ @ park rangers again for a second year .
The popular Parks and Pages book club @ @ @ @ @ continue in 2021 with a new theme : “ The Civil War : Beyond the @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
Some discussion topics will include civilians , African-American experiences , medicine @ @ @ @ @ the statement said .
The theme for the book club ’ s initial year was @ @ @ @ @ selection for 2021 is “ Behind the Scenes ” by Elizabeth Keckley .
A discussion @ @ @ @ @ held Jan. 15 at the Birthplace Visitors Center in Hodgenville and virtually on the park @ @ @ @ @ A different book will be featured each month .
More information can be found on @ @ @ @ @ .

HODGENVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Kentucky is inviting the public to read books along with park rangers again for a second year.
The popular Parks and Pages book club launched in 2020 and will continue in 2021 with a new theme: “The Civil War: Beyond the Battlefield,” officials said in a statement. Some discussion topics will include civilians, African-American experiences, medicine and prisoners of war, the statement said.
The theme for the book club’s initial year was first ladies.
The first selection for 2021 is “Behind the Scenes” by Elizabeth Keckley. A discussion of the book will be held Jan. 15 at the Birthplace Visitors Center in Hodgenville and virtually on the park’s Facebook page.
A different book will be featured each month. More information can be found on the park’s website.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Nashville man's girlfriend warned he was building bombs

NASHVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) - More than a year before Anthony Warner detonated a bomb in downtown Nashville on Christmas , officers visited his home after his girlfriend told police that he was building bombs in an RV trailer at his residence , according to documents obtained by The Associated Press .
But they were unable to make contact with him , or see inside his RV .
Officers were called to Pamela Perry ’ s home in Nashville on Aug. 21 , 2019 , after getting a report from her attorney that she was making suicidal threats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearms , the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said Tuesday in an emailed statement .
A police report said Raymond Throckmorton , the attorney , told officers that day that he also represented Warner .
When officers arrived at Perry ’ s home , police said she had two unloaded pistols sitting next to her on the porch .
She told them those guns belonged to “ Tony Warner , ” police said , and she did not want them in the house any longer .
Perry , then 62 , was then transported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health professionals on the phone .
Throckmorton told The Tennessean that Perry had fears about her safety , and thought Warner may harm her .
The attorney was also at the scene that day , and told officers Warner “ frequently talks about the military and bomb making , ” the police report said .
Warner “ knows what he is doing and is capable of making a bomb , ” Throckmorton said to responding officers .
Police then went to Warner ’ s home , located about 1.5 miles ( 2.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he didn ’ t answer the door when they knocked several times .
They saw the RV in the backyard , the report said , but the yard was fenced off and officers couldn ’ t see inside the vehicle .
The report said there also were “ several security cameras and wires attached to an alarm sign on the front door ” of the home .
Officers then notified supervisors and detectives .
“ They saw no evidence of a crime and had no authority to enter his home or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
After officers visited Warner ’ s home last August , the police department ’ s hazardous devices unit was given a copy of the police report .
During the week of August 26 , 2019 , they contacted Throckmorton .
Police said officers recalled Throckmorton saying Warner “ did not care for the police , ” and that he wouldn ’ t allow Warner “ to permit a visual inspection of the RV.
” Throckmorton disputes that he told police they couldn ’ t search the vehicle .
“ I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told The Tennessean .
“ I didn ’ t represent him anymore .
He wasn ’ t an active client .
I ’ m not a criminal defense attorney.
” Throckmorton told the newspaper he represented Warner in a civil case several years ago , and that Warner was no longer his client in August 2019 .
“ Somebody , somewhere dropped the ball , ” he said .
A day after officers visited Warner ’ s home , the police report and identifying information about Warner were sent to the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warner had prior military connections , police said .
Later that day , the police department said “ the FBI reported back that they checked their holdings and found no records on Warner at all.
” FBI spokesperson Darrell DeBusk told The Tennessean the agency had conducted a standard agency-to-agency record check .
Six days later , “ the FBI reported that Department of Defense checks on Warner were all negative , ” the police department said .
No other information about Warner came to the department or the FBI ’ s attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ At no time was there any evidence of a crime detected and no additional action was taken , ” the statement said .
“ The ATF also had no information on him.
” Warner ’ s only arrest was for a 1978 marijuana-related charge .
The bombing happened on Christmas morning , well before downtown streets were bustling with activity .
Police were responding to a report of shots fired Friday when they encountered the RV blaring a recorded warning that a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes .
Then , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the audio switched to a recording of Petula Clark ’ s 1964 hit “ Downtown ” shortly before the blast .
Dozens of buildings were damaged and several people were injured .
Investigators have not uncovered a motive for the Christmas day bombing nor was it revealed why Warner had selected the particular location , which damaged an AT & T ; building and wreaked havoc on cellphone , police and hospital communications in several Southern states as the company worked to restore service .
The company said on Monday the majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - More than a year before Anthony Warner detonated a Christmas Day bomb in downtown Nashville, officers visited his home after his girlfriend told police he was building bombs in a recreational vehicle at his residence, according to documents. But they did not make contact with him, or see inside his RV.
Those revelations, contained in a newly disclosed 2019 incident report, put Nashville’s police chief on the defensive Wednesday as he said his officers did nothing wrong and that they had handled the situation properly. He added that other than a 1970s marijuana-related arrest, Warner was “squeaky clean.”
“I believe the officers did everything they could legally. Maybe they could have followed up more, hindsight is 20/20,” Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said at a news conference.
Officers were called to Pamela Perry’s Nashville home on Aug. 21, 2019, following a report from her attorney that she was making suicidal threats while sitting on her front porch with firearms, the police department said in a statement.
According to the incident report, when officers arrived, police said she had two unloaded pistols beside her on the porch. She told them the guns belonged to “Tony Warner” and she did not want them in the house any longer. Perry, then 62, was taken for a psychological evaluation after speaking to mental health professionals.
“During that visit, before leaving for the evaluation, Perry told police that her boyfriend was making bombs in an RV,” the report stated.
The report says police went to Warner’s home, about 1 and 1/2 miles (2.4 kilometers) away, but he didn’t answer the door when they knocked repeatedly. They saw the RV but it was in a fenced-off backyard and officers couldn’t see inside the vehicle. They also spotted several security cameras and wires attached to an alarm sign on a front door.
“They saw no evidence of a crime and had no authority to enter his home or fenced property,” the police statement said, adding supervisors and detectives were then notified.
“If we could have had more to go off of, it would have been good,” Drake said.
Law enforcement officials did not publicly release the report, which was obtained only after news outlets submitted public records requests. Later, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced that Warner’s only arrest was for a 1978 marijuana-related charge.
David Rausch, the TBI’s director, had told reporters earlier this week that Warner was not on their radar. Rausch was flanked by federal and state officials - including Drake - who did not object or amend the statement.
Drake later told reporters Wednesday he didn’t learn of the report until late Sunday evening, but said he believed his officers that they could not smell any explosives and that there was no probable cause for a search warrant. He also added he didn’t know why Rausch said Warner wasn’t on anyone’s radar.
Wednesday’s developments came as federal agents were continuing to examine Warner’s digital footprint and writings, a law enforcement official said.
Investigators are scrutinizing whether Warner believed in multiple conspiracy theories after being told by some of the people they’ve interviewed that Warner believed that shape-shifting reptiles take on a human form to take over society and that he discussed taking trips to hunt aliens, the official said. Investigators have also been asking witnesses whether Warner may have believed in any conspiracies about 5G technology.
The official could not discuss the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The report also said attorney Raymond Throckmorton told officers that day that he represented Warner and told officers Warner “frequently talks about the military and bomb making,” the police report said. Warner “knows what he is doing and is capable of making a bomb,” Throckmorton told responding officers.
On Tuesday, Throckmorton told The Tennessean that Perry had fears about her safety and thought Warner might harm her.
After officers visited Warner’s home last August, the police department’s hazardous devices unit was given a copy of the police report. During the week of August 26, 2019, they contacted Throckmorton. Police said officers recalled Throckmorton saying Warner “did not care for the police,” and that he wouldn’t allow Warner “to permit a visual inspection of the RV.”
Throckmorton disputes that he told police they couldn’t search the vehicle and says that he only represented Warner in a civil case several years prior.
“Somebody, somewhere dropped the ball,” he said.
Drake said he believed the officers’ account.
A day after officers visited Warner’s home, the police report and identifying information about Warner were sent to the FBI to check their databases and determine whether Warner had prior military connections, police said. The FBI eventually reported back that they had no such records after conducting a standard agency-to-agency record check.
No other information about Warner came to the department or the FBI’s attention after August 2019, police said.
The bombing occurred Christmas morning well before downtown streets were bustling with activity. Police were responding to a report of shots fired Friday when they encountered the RV blaring a recorded warning that a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes. Then, inexplicably, the audio switched to a recording of Petula Clark’s 1964 hit “Downtown” shortly before the blast. Dozens of buildings were damaged and several people were injured.
Investigators have not uncovered a motive.
___
Hadero reported from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker contributed to this report also from Washington.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Turkey, US to discuss sanctions imposed over S-400s

ANKARA , Turkey ( AP ) - Turkey and the United States are engaged in talks to form a joint working group that would take up the issue of sanctions that Washington imposed on its ally over its purchase of an advanced Russian air defense system , Turkey ’ s foreign minister said Wednesday .
In a year-end news conference assessing Turkish foreign policy , Mevlut Cavusoglu also told journalists that Turkey wants “ healthier ” relations with the United States under President-elect Joe Biden ’ s administration .
The U.S. announced sanctions earlier this month to penalize Turkey over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S-400 system , under a U.S. law known as CAATSA which aims to push back on Russian influence .
It was the first time that CAATSA had been used to penalize a U.S. ally .
The sanctions target Turkey ’ s Presidency of Defense Industries , the head of the presidency and three other senior officials .
They also include a ban on most export licenses , loans and credits to the agency .
Ties between the allies have been plagued by numerous other disputes , including the jailing of American citizens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian Kurdish fighters considered to be terrorists by Turkey and the continued U.S. residence of a Muslim cleric accused of masterminding the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey .
The U.S. had previously kicked Turkey out of its F-35 stealth jet program , saying their use alongside the Russian technology would jeopardize the safety of the fighter jets .
Washington also says the Russian system would not be interoperable with NATO systems .
“ In 2020 , our ties with the United States were overshadowed by existing problems , ” Cavusoglu said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead our relations with the new administration in a healthier manner and we are prepared to take steps to overcome existing problems.
” Cavusoglu said the proposal to set up the Turkish-U.S. working group came from the American side .
He said technical talks aimed at creating the working group have started .
Earlier this month , Cavusoglu had said Turkey was considering possible steps to reciprocate against the sanctions .

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey and the United States are engaged in talks to form a joint working group that would take up the issue of sanctions that Washington imposed on its ally over its purchase of an advanced Russian air defense system, Turkey’s foreign minister said Wednesday.
In a year-end news conference assessing Turkish foreign policy, Mevlut Cavusoglu also told journalists that Turkey wants “healthier” relations with the United States under President-elect Joe Biden’s administration.
The U.S. announced sanctions earlier this month to penalize Turkey over its procurement of Russia’s advanced S-400 system, under a U.S. law known as CAATSA which aims to push back on Russian influence. It was the first time that CAATSA had been used to penalize a U.S. ally.
The sanctions target Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries, the head of the presidency and three other senior officials. They also include a ban on most export licenses, loans and credits to the agency.
Ties between the allies have been plagued by numerous other disputes, including the jailing of American citizens and local consular staff, U.S. support for Syrian Kurdish fighters considered to be terrorists by Turkey and the continued U.S. residence of a Muslim cleric accused of masterminding the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.
The U.S. had previously kicked Turkey out of its F-35 stealth jet program, saying their use alongside the Russian technology would jeopardize the safety of the fighter jets. Washington also says the Russian system would not be interoperable with NATO systems.
“In 2020, our ties with the United States were overshadowed by existing problems,” Cavusoglu said. “In 2021, we are prepared to lead our relations with the new administration in a healthier manner and we are prepared to take steps to overcome existing problems.”
Cavusoglu said the proposal to set up the Turkish-U.S. working group came from the American side. He said technical talks aimed at creating the working group have started.
Earlier this month, Cavusoglu had said Turkey was considering possible steps to reciprocate against the sanctions.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Migrants from Bosnia camp kept in buses as relocation halted

BIHAC , Bosnia-Herzegovina ( AP ) - Hundreds of migrants from a burned-out tent camp in northwest Bosnia on Wednesday remained packed in buses where they had spent the night after an attempt to relocate them failed , reflecting confusion in the Balkan country ’ s handling of the crisis .
Bosnian authorities sent buses on Tuesday to transfer the migrants from the much-criticized Lipa camp to an army barracks in central Bosnia .
The mass move was canceled after local residents organized protests to prevent the relocation .
On Wednesday morning and later in the day , migrants were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
The Lipa camp near Bosnia ’ s border with Croatia was demolished in a fire last week and lacked basic facilities such as running water or heating .
Some 1,000 migrants were stranded there for days during a spate of snowy and windy winter weather that followed the fire .
The situation has prompted EU officials and aid groups to warn of a looming humanitarian disaster and increased pressure on Bosnia to act to move the migrants away from the camp .
The troubled Balkan country that went through a devastating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the influx of thousands of people seeking to reach Western Europe .
Bickering among Bosnia ’ s ethnically divided authorities has prevented an organized response to the crisis , leaving some 3,000 migrants sleeping rough or in makeshift tents .
The head mufti of the Islamic Community of Bosnia , Husein Kavazovic , called Wednesday for better treatment of migrants , describing the situation as “ shameful ” for both the country and the rest of Europe .
“ We do not treat people in need in such a way , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migrants are staying in the northwest corner of Bosnia , where they hope to cross into European Union member Croatia before moving on toward wealthy EU nations .
To get to Croatia , migrants use mountainous illegal routes and often face pushbacks and alleged violence at the hands of Croatia ’ s police .

BIHAC, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) - Uncertainty persisted Wednesday for hundreds of migrants whose relocation from a fire-damaged tent camp in Bosnia has been canceled amid protests by residents, reflecting confusion in the Balkan country’s handling of the crisis.
The migrants were supposed to move on Tuesday from the much-criticized Lipa camp in northwest Bosnia to a former army barracks in the central part of the country. Instead, they spent some 24 hours in buses before they were instructed Wednesday afternoon to disembark and return to the now-empty camp.
The migrants lit fires to warm up while waiting to see what would happen next.
Some 1,000 migrants were stranded at the camp in snowy, windy weather after it was demolished in a fire last week. the fire. The tent camp, located near the border with Croatia, lacked basic facilities such as running water and heating.
European Union officials and aid groups warned of a humanitarian disaster and increased pressure on Bosnia to move the migrants away from the camp.
The troubled Balkan country, which went through a devastating war in the 1990s, was struggling before the pandemic to respond to an influx of thousands of people seeking to reach Western Europe by crossing from Bosnia to Croatia.
Bickering among Bosnia’s ethnically divided authorities has prevented an organized response, leaving some 3,000 migrants sleeping rough or in makeshift tents.
The head mufti of the Islamic Community of Bosnia, Husein Kavazovic, called Wednesday for better treatment of the migrants, describing the situation as “shameful” for the country and the rest of Europe.
“We do not treat people in need in such a way,” he said in a statement.
Most migrants are staying in the northwest corner of Bosnia, where they hope to cross into EU member Croatia before moving on toward wealthy EU nations. To get to Croatia, migrants use mountainous illegal routes and often encounter pushbacks and alleged violence at the hands of Croatian police.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--After a year like this, expect a strange New Year's Eve

NEW YORK ( AP ) - If ever a year ’ s end seemed like cause for celebration , 2020 might be it .
Yet the coronavirus scourge that dominated the year is also looming over New Year ‘ s festivities and forcing officials worldwide to tone them down .
From New York ’ s Times Square to Sydney Harbor , big public blowouts are being turned into TV-only shows and digital events .
Fireworks displays have been canceled from the Las Vegas Strip to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris .
Even private parties in some places are restricted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people like Cesar Soltero , who was taking photos , and taking stock , in Times Square this week .
“ I ’ m going to celebrate that I ’ m alive , but I ’ m not precisely too happy for this year , ” said Soltero , 36 , an engineer visiting from Orlando , Florida , after forgoing his usual holiday trip to see family in Mexico .
Simona Faidiga and Alessandro Nunziata strolled through Times Square with their Labrador retriever puppy , Maggie , who has given Faidiga a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job .
The Italian couple moved to Miami for new jobs in March , just as the pandemic froze tourism .
He is working as a sales representative , but she is not back at work yet .
And they ’ re not ready to declare 2021 will be better , not wanting to jinx it .
“ I mean , I don ’ t think it could be worse than 2020 , ” said Nunziata , 27 .
Days ahead of the ball drop in Times Square , it clearly wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Crossroads of the World .
There was room to roam on sidewalks that would normally be all but impassable .
Vendors ’ carts and window displays at the area ’ s struggling gift shops flaunted few 2021-themed souvenirs as workers set up a stage for a celebration that will unfold this year without the usual throngs of cheering , kissing revelers .
Police will block off the area so spectators can ’ t get a glimpse .
“ It ’ s almost like a ‘ Seinfeld ’ episode , ” Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1990s “ show about nothing.
” “ This is a ball drop about nothing , where you can ’ t see , so you may as well stay home.
” The event ’ s special guests will be first responders and essential workers .
But they won ’ t be joining the mayor on stage to lead the countdown .
Instead , each guest will watch from a private , well-spaced area .
The night ’ s performances - including disco diva Gloria Gaynor ’ s singing of the apt-for-2020 anthem “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at TV audiences .
New Year ’ s Eve will look different around the world after a year in which the virus killed an estimated 1.8 million people , including more than 330,000 in the U.S. Germany banned the sale of fireworks , which residents usually set off in on the streets , and a pyrotechnics show at Berlin ’ s Brandenburg Gate is off .
So , too , are the fireworks over the River Thames in locked-down London , where New Year ’ s Eve also marks Britain ’ s final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , Big Ben , which has been largely silent since 2017 while its clock tower is restored , will sound 12 bongs at midnight .
The Netherlands moved the national countdown from an Amsterdam park to a soccer stadium , where spectators won ’ t be allowed in and pyrotechnics will be replaced with “ electric fireworks.
” In Rome , the fireworks are still on , but customary concerts in public plazas have been scrapped in favor of livestreamed performances and art installations .
Pope Francis will skip his typical Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life-sized Nativity scene in St. Peter ’ s Square and plans to deliver his New Year ’ s Day blessing indoors , to prevent crowds from gathering .
Rio de Janeiro nixed the fireworks , open-air concerts and rooftop parties that draw crowds of white-clad revelers in the Copacabana neighborhood , where only residents will be allowed in .
New Year ’ s Eve is one of the busiest days of the year at Paulo Roberto Senna ’ s Copacabana beach stand , but the 57-year-old said he was OK with the shutdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health !
” “ They tell us to stay home , but for those who don ’ t have money , where are we going to get the means to live ?
” asked Henrique , 39 .
In Russia , New Year ’ s Eve has been more widely celebrated than Christmas , which is marked on Jan. 7 by the country ’ s Orthodox Christian majority .
Public events have been banned or restricted in many regions .
But the country ’ s so-called New Year ’ s Eve capital , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourists with a week of festivities , despite pleas from residents to cancel .
Officials in Kaluga , 150 kilometers ( 90 miles ) southwest of Moscow , said virus precautions will be taken .
Poland has told residents not to circulate between 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 until 6 a.m. on Jan. 1 .
Turkey declared a four-day lockdown starting on New Year ’ s Eve , and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that security forces will inspect hotels for illicit parties .
In the U.S. , the Christmas morning bombing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee , led the city to cancel its plan to light fireworks and blow up a 2020 sign .
“ To say it would have been tone deaf would be an understatement , ” said Bruce Spyridon , president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa suggested a new way of observing the holiday by lighting candles to honor COVID-19 victims and front-line workers and to hope for a healthy 2021 .
Back in New York , yoga and stress-management instructor Allison Richard , 39 , wrote up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on confetti that will be dropped at midnight in Times Square .
“ Freedom , ” she wrote , and “ contentment , ” “ commitment , ” “ connection , ” “ prosperity ” and “ love.
” Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report .

NEW YORK (AP) - If ever a year’s end seemed like cause for celebration, 2020 might be it.
Yet the coronavirus scourge that dominated the year is also looming over New Year’s festivities and forcing officials worldwide to tone them down.
From New York’s Times Square to Sydney Harbor, big public blowouts are being turned into TV-only shows and digital events. Fireworks displays have been canceled from the Las Vegas Strip to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Even private parties in some places are restricted.
The occasion stirs mixed feelings for people like Cesar Soltero, who was taking photos, and taking stock, in Times Square this week.
“I’m going to celebrate that I’m alive, but I’m not precisely too happy for this year,” said Soltero, 36, an engineer visiting from Orlando, Florida, after forgoing his usual holiday trip to see family in Mexico.
Simona Faidiga and Alessandro Nunziata strolled through Times Square with their Labrador retriever puppy, Maggie, who has given Faidiga a lift after she lost her tour guide job.
The Italian couple moved to Miami for new jobs in March, just as the pandemic froze tourism. He is working as a sales representative, but she is not back at work yet. And they’re not ready to declare 2021 will be better, not wanting to jinx it.
“I mean, I don’t think it could be worse than 2020,” said Nunziata, 27.
Days ahead of the ball drop in Times Square, it clearly wasn’t New Year’s as usual at the Crossroads of the World. There was room to roam on sidewalks that would normally be all but impassable.
Vendors’ carts and window displays at the area’s struggling gift shops flaunted few 2021-themed souvenirs as workers set up a stage for a celebration that will unfold this year without the usual throngs of cheering, kissing revelers. Police will block off the area so spectators can’t get a glimpse.
“It’s almost like a ‘Seinfeld’ episode,” Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said, invoking the 1990s “show about nothing.” “This is a ball drop about nothing, where you can’t see, so you may as well stay home.”
The event’s special guests will be first responders and essential workers. But they won’t be joining the mayor on stage to lead the countdown. Instead, each guest will watch from a private, well-spaced area.
The night’s performances - including disco diva Gloria Gaynor’s singing of the apt-for-2020 anthem “I Will Survive” - will be aimed at TV audiences.
New Year’s Eve will look different around the world after a year in which the virus killed an estimated 1.8 million people, including more than 330,000 in the U.S.
Germany banned the sale of fireworks, which residents usually set off in on the streets, and a pyrotechnics show at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate is off.
So, too, are the fireworks over the River Thames in locked-down London, where New Year’s Eve also marks Britain’s final economic split from the European Union. However, Big Ben, which has been largely silent since 2017 while its clock tower is restored, will sound 12 bongs at midnight.
The Netherlands moved the national countdown from an Amsterdam park to a soccer stadium, where spectators won’t be allowed in and pyrotechnics will be replaced with “electric fireworks.”
In Rome, the fireworks are still on, but customary concerts in public plazas have been scrapped in favor of livestreamed performances and art installations. Pope Francis will skip his typical Dec. 31 visit to the Vatican’s life-sized Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square and plans to deliver his New Year’s Day blessing indoors, to prevent crowds from gathering.
Rio de Janeiro nixed the fireworks, open-air concerts and rooftop parties that draw crowds of white-clad revelers in the Copacabana neighborhood, where only residents will be allowed in.
New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest days of the year at Paulo Roberto Senna’s Copacabana beach stand, but the 57-year-old said he was OK with the shutdown: “No money can buy our health!”
Hot dog vendor Fabio Henrique saw it differently.
“They tell us to stay home, but for those who don’t have money, where are we going to get the means to live?” asked Henrique, 39.
In Russia, New Year’s Eve has been more widely celebrated than Christmas, which is marked on Jan. 7 by the country’s Orthodox Christian majority. Public events have been banned or restricted in many regions. But the country’s so-called New Year’s Eve capital, the city of Kaluga, is luring tourists with a week of festivities, despite pleas from residents to cancel. Officials in Kaluga, 150 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Moscow, said virus precautions will be taken.
Poland has told residents not to circulate between 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 until 6 a.m. on Jan. 1. Turkey declared a four-day lockdown starting on New Year’s Eve, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that security forces will inspect hotels for illicit parties.
In the U.S., the Christmas morning bombing of the downtown tourist district in Nashville, Tennessee, led the city to cancel its plan to light fireworks and blow up a 2020 sign.
“To say it would have been tone deaf would be an understatement,” said Bruce Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.
In Las Vegas, casino capacity is being limited to 25% and public gatherings are capped by the governor at 50 people. But despite the rules and the risk of COVID-19, tens of thousands of people are expected to mark the new year on the Strip or downtown. Police said their best guess is for 200,000 revelers.
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa suggested a new way of observing the holiday by lighting candles to honor COVID-19 victims and front-line workers and to hope for a healthy 2021.
Back in New York, yoga and stress-management instructor Allison Richard, 39, wrote up a few New Year’s wishes on confetti that will be dropped at midnight in Times Square.
“Freedom,” she wrote, and “contentment,” “commitment,” “connection,” “prosperity” and “love.”
___
Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--1 dead, 1 wounded after a party shooting in Mississippi

LOUISVILLE , Miss .
( AP ) - One man was killed and another was wounded after shots were fired at a large party in Mississippi , a sheriff said .
Winston County Sheriff Jason Pugh told WCBI-TV about 200 people were at the gathering late Saturday and early Sunday in Louisville .
Someone had rented out a club for a birthday party .
Shots were fired inside the club , Pugh said .
After people started fleeing , more shots were fired in the parking lot .
The shootings were “ very devastating for these folks ’ families in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pugh said .
“ And , Lord knows the spread of COVID that you may have had from that.
” An executive order by Gov .
Tate Reeves limits social gatherings to 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
The two men who were shot were taken to a local hospital in private vehicles , Pugh said .
One died at the hospital and the other was flown to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson for treatment .
Pugh did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party had come from neighboring Oktibbeha County , Pugh said .

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (AP) - One man was killed and another was wounded after shots were fired at a large party in Mississippi, a sheriff said.
Winston County Sheriff Jason Pugh told WCBI-TV about 200 people were at the gathering late Saturday and early Sunday in Louisville. Someone had rented out a club for a birthday party.
Shots were fired inside the club, Pugh said. After people started fleeing, more shots were fired in the parking lot.
The shootings were “very devastating for these folks’ families in the middle of the pandemic,” Pugh said. “And, Lord knows the spread of COVID that you may have had from that.”
An executive order by Gov. Tate Reeves limits social gatherings to 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The two men who were shot were taken to a local hospital in private vehicles, Pugh said. One died at the hospital and the other was flown to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson for treatment. Pugh did not immediately release their names.
Many at the party had come from neighboring Oktibbeha County, Pugh said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--North Carolina Court of Appeals gets new leader

RALEIGH , N.C. ( AP ) - Judge Donna Stroud will be the next leader of the North Carolina Court @ @ @ @ @ as chief judge by outgoing Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley .
Stroud , a @ @ @ @ @ County district judge , has served on the court since 2007 .
Starting Friday she @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t seek reelection this year and is leaving the 15-member court .
So @ @ @ @ @ who held the most seniority after McGee and also didn ’ t run .
Beasley @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , isn ’ t obligated to choose the chief judge by seniority .
Still @ @ @ @ @ the longest continuous tenure on the intermediate-level appeals court , which meets in three-judge panels @ @ @ @ @ also appointed Court of Appeals Judge Chris Dillon as chair of the Judicial Standards Commission @ @ @ @ @ next Supreme Court chief justice is Associate Justice Paul Newby , a Republican who narrowly @ @ @ @ @ month .

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Judge Donna Stroud will be the next leader of the North Carolina Court of Appeals with her appointment as chief judge by outgoing Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley.
Stroud, a registered Republican and former Wake County district judge, has served on the court since 2007.
Starting Friday she replaces Linda McGee, who didn’t seek reelection this year and is leaving the 15-member court. So is Judge Wanda Bryant, who held the most seniority after McGee and also didn’t run.
Beasley, who announced the appointment Tuesday, isn’t obligated to choose the chief judge by seniority. Still, Stroud will now have the longest continuous tenure on the intermediate-level appeals court, which meets in three-judge panels to hear cases.
Beasley also appointed Court of Appeals Judge Chris Dillon as chair of the Judicial Standards Commission, succeeding Bryant.
The next Supreme Court chief justice is Associate Justice Paul Newby, a Republican who narrowly defeated the Democrat Beasley last month.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Quake aftershocks keep people out of homes in Croatia

PETRINJA , Croatia ( AP ) - Aftershocks jolted central Croatia on Wednesday , a day after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake killed at least seven people , injured dozens and left several towns and villages in ruins .
The strongest , 4.7-magnitude tremor was recorded near the heavily damaged town of Petrinja , some 40 kilometers ( 25 miles ) southeast of the capital , Zagreb .
Many people had spent the night in tents , their cars or military barracks .
Neven Pavkovic , a resident , said the aftershocks kept him awake : “ It was a rough night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In the hard-hit village of Majske Poljane , where five people died , a little boy could be seen sleeping in a van on the chilly morning .
Sobbing villagers said they received blankets , food and other aid but don ’ t know what they will do next .
Rain that fell overnight turned the dust from the rubble into mud , adding to the hardship .
“ We can ’ t say ‘ Good morning , ’ It is not good , ” Petrinja mayor Darinko Dumbovic told Croatian radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth tremors this morning , short ones but strong .
What hasn ’ t fallen off before is falling now from the ruins of Petrinja.
” “ Fear has crept into people , ” he said .
Pope Francis prayed for the victims .
At the end of his weekly audience , he said : ” I particularly pray for those who died and for their families.
” Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the government will declare Saturday a day of national mourning .
As the government abolished a travel ban between counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus pandemic , Plenkovic appealed for respect for other measures .
“ We are still fighting COVID-19 , it wouldn ’ t be good to relax now , ” Plenkovic said at a government session .
Rescuers spent the night searching through the rubble of heavily damaged buildings for possible survivors .
Officials said a 12-year-old girl died in Petrinja , a town of some 25,000 people .
At least 26 people were hospitalized with injuries .
Tuesday ’ s quake , the strongest in Croatia since the introduction of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the region , including neighboring Bosnia , Serbia and Slovenia .
The central Croatian region was also struck by a 5.2 earthquake on Monday .
AP writers Dusan Stojanovic and Jovana Gec contributed from Belgrade , Serbia , and Colleen Barry from Milan .

PETRINJA, Croatia (AP) - A series of aftershocks jolted central Croatia on Wednesday, a day after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake killed at least seven people, injured dozens and left several towns and villages in ruins.
Authorities warned that the coronavirus could spread in crowded shelters. Many people are in tents, their cars or military barracks.
The strongest, 4.7-magnitude tremor was recorded near the heavily damaged town of Petrinja, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of the capital, Zagreb.
Neven Pavkovic, a resident, said the aftershocks kept him awake: “It was a rough night, I slept maybe half an hour.”
In the hard-hit village of Majske Poljane, where five people died, a little boy could be seen sleeping in a van on the chilly morning.
Sobbing villagers said they received blankets, food and other aid but don’t know what they will do next. Rain that fell overnight turned the dust from the rubble into mud, adding to the hardship.
“We can’t say ‘Good morning,’ It is not good,” Petrinja mayor Darinko Dumbovic told Croatian radio. “We had the third and fourth tremors this morning, short ones but strong. What hasn’t fallen off before is falling now from the ruins of Petrinja.”
“Fear has crept into people,” he said.
Pope Francis prayed for the victims. At the end of his weekly audience, he said: ”I particularly pray for those who died and for their families.”
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the government will declare Saturday a day of national mourning. As the government abolished a travel ban between counties that was imposed during the holidays because of the coronavirus pandemic, Plenkovic appealed for respect for other measures.
“We are still fighting COVID-19, it wouldn’t be good to relax now,” Plenkovic said at a government session.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said it had deployed its Croatian staff in the quake-hit area, and warned of the possible spread of the coronavirus amid the emergency.
“Hundreds of people who were forced to leave their homes are accommodated in communal buildings and tents, while others are seeking shelter in different parts of the country, increasing the risk of transmission,” a statement said.
Croatian officials said a 12-year-old girl died in Petrinja, a town of some 25,000 people. At least 26 people were hospitalized with injuries.
Tuesday’s quake, the strongest in Croatia since the introduction of the modern seismic measurement system, was felt throughout the region, including neighboring Bosnia, Serbia and Slovenia.
The central Croatian region was also struck by a 5.2 earthquake on Monday.
____
AP writers Dusan Stojanovic and Jovana Gec contributed from Belgrade, Serbia, and Colleen Barry from Milan.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--SC man wanted for infant's death arrested in Georgia

JONESBORO , Ga. ( AP ) - A South Carolina man wanted for the slaying of his girlfriend ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Georgia after being on the run more than a year .
Frederick Luma , of @ @ @ @ @ South Carolina , was arrested in Clayton County , Georgia , last week in connection @ @ @ @ @ of the child , according to the Clayton County Sheriff ’ s Office .
He @ @ @ @ @ by child abuse , WYFF-TV reported .
Details on how the child died were not @ @ @ @ @ if Luma has an attorney who could comment on his behalf .
Authorities said Luma @ @ @ @ @ warrants were issued .
He now awaits extradition back to South Carolina .

JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) - A South Carolina man wanted for the slaying of his girlfriend’s 8-month-old child was captured in Georgia after being on the run more than a year.
Frederick Luma, of Lady’s Island, South Carolina, was arrested in Clayton County, Georgia, last week in connection to the June 2019 death of the child, according to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office. He faces a charge of homicide by child abuse, WYFF-TV reported. Details on how the child died were not released.
It was unknown if Luma has an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
Authorities said Luma left Beaufort County before arrest warrants were issued. He now awaits extradition back to South Carolina.