washingtontimes--2020-11-10--Puerto Rico unearths uncounted ballots 1 week after election

SAN JUAN , Puerto Rico ( AP ) - Puerto Rico ’ s elections commission said Tuesday that it has discovered more than 100 briefcases containing uncounted ballots a week after the U.S. territory held its general election , drawing criticism and scorn from voters who now question the validity of the outcomes of certain races .
Francisco Rosado , the commission ’ s new president , said the briefcases were found in a secured vault and blamed the situation on what he said was an underfunded and understaffed administrative board responsible for counting a record number of absentee and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified , much to our regret , a disorganization in the handling of material in the vaults , ” he said at a press conference .
“ Misplaced .
Poorly organized .
We have to admit that.
” Rosado said he didn ’ t know yet how many total votes are in the 126 briefcases , noting some contained three ballots and others 500 ballots .
Officials initially said there were 182 briefcases but later revised the number .
“ Every vote will be counted , ” he said .
“ I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to trust the transparency of the process.
” The discovery is the latest misstep for a commission that botched the island ’ s primaries in August so badly that a second round of voting was held , an unprecedented situation that led to the commission ’ s previous president to resign a month later .
Then the commission was criticized for taking a record four days after the Nov. 3 general election to finalize counting nearly all votes , only to announce on Tuesday that it had discovered more briefcases .
Traditionally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night of the election .
Roberto Iván Aponte , electoral commissioner for Puerto Rico ’ s Independence Party , said in a phone interview that he expects all votes inside the newly discovered suitcases to be counted by Thursday at the latest .
He said those votes could affect races like the one for mayor of Culebra , a popular tourist island just east of Puerto Rico .
The mayor elect won only by two votes , according to preliminary results .
Aponte and other officials blame the ongoing problems on a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June just two months before the primary that led to several changes including the softening of restrictions for absentee and early voting and eliminating departments and high-ranking positions within the elections commission , which led to the departure of longtime officials .
This year , Puerto Rico received more than 220,000 absentee and early votes , a record for officials who have been overwhelmed by the paperwork .
Aponte warned that the commission ’ s ongoing problems is sowing doubt among voters .
“ After these elections , there has to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be handled , ” he said , referring to absentee and early votes .

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Puerto Rico’s elections commission said Tuesday that it has discovered more than 100 briefcases containing uncounted ballots a week after the U.S. territory held its general election, drawing criticism and scorn from voters who now question the validity of the outcomes of certain races.
Francisco Rosado, the commission’s new president, said the briefcases were found in a secured vault and blamed the situation on what he said was an underfunded and understaffed administrative board responsible for counting a record number of absentee and early votes.
“We’ve identified, much to our regret, a disorganization in the handling of material in the vaults,” he said at a press conference. “Misplaced. Poorly organized. We have to admit that.”
Rosado said he didn’t know yet how many total votes are in the 126 briefcases, noting some contained three ballots and others 500 ballots. Officials initially said there were 182 briefcases but later revised the number.
“Every vote will be counted,” he said. “I have to tell the people of Puerto Rico to trust the transparency of the process.”
The discovery is the latest misstep for a commission that botched the island’s primaries in August so badly that a second round of voting was held, an unprecedented situation that led to the commission’s previous president to resign a month later. Then the commission was criticized for taking a record four days after the Nov. 3 general election to finalize counting nearly all votes, only to announce on Tuesday that it had discovered more briefcases. Traditionally, the commission releases final vote counts the night of the election.
Roberto Iván Aponte, electoral commissioner for Puerto Rico’s Independence Party, said in a phone interview that he expects all votes inside the newly discovered suitcases to be counted by Thursday at the latest. He said those votes could affect races like the one for mayor of Culebra, a popular tourist island just east of Puerto Rico. The mayor elect won only by two votes, according to preliminary results.
Aponte and other officials blame the ongoing problems on a new law that Gov. Wanda Vázquez approved in June just two months before the primary that led to several changes including the softening of restrictions for absentee and early voting and eliminating departments and high-ranking positions within the elections commission, which led to the departure of longtime officials. This year, Puerto Rico received more than 220,000 absentee and early votes, a record for officials who have been overwhelmed by the paperwork.
Aponte warned that the commission’s ongoing problems is sowing doubt among voters.
“After these elections, there has to be a serious evaluation of how those votes will be handled,” he said, referring to absentee and early votes.


washingtontimes--2020-11-10--First openly gay justice confirmed to California high court

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California has confirmed its first openly gay justice to the state Supreme Court .
The Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed Justice Martin Jenkins on Tuesday , praising him for his “ brilliant intellect , first-class temperament , and boundless humanity.
” Gov .
Gavin Newsom nominated Jenkins last month to replace Justice Ming Chin , who retired on Aug. 31 .
During a news conference last month , Jenkins said his identity as a gay man has been “ perhaps the greatest challenge of my life.
” Jenkins , who is Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Leondra Kruger , who is also Black ; Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar , who is Latino ; two Asian Americans , Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye and Justice Goodwin Liu ; and white justices Joshua Groban and Carol Corrigan .
The job comes with a $ 261,949 salary .
Jenkins grew up in a two-bedroom , one bathroom house in San Francisco .
His dad was a clerk and janitor at the city ’ s iconic Coit Tower .
He played football at Santa Clara University and dreamed of a career in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to law school at the urging of his coach .
Jenkins graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1980 .
He worked as a prosecutor in Alameda County and as a civil rights attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Reagan administration .
A lifelong registered Democrat , Jenkins has been appointed to four judgeships by both Democrats and Republicans .
Democratic President Bill Clinton made him a federal judge in 1998 , and California Republican Gov .
Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him to the state Courts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year and joined Newsom ’ s administration as the judicial appointment secretary , helping Newsom vet potential appointments for judgeships .
“ Justice Jenkins embodies the qualities sought in a Supreme Court candidate : collegiality , writing ability , scholarship and distinction in the legal profession coupled with an unparalleled breadth of experience , ” Aminder Singh , chair of the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation , wrote in a report summarizing Jenkin ’ s qualifications .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California has confirmed its first openly gay justice to the state Supreme Court.
The Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed Justice Martin Jenkins on Tuesday, praising him for his “brilliant intellect, first-class temperament, and boundless humanity.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated Jenkins last month to replace Justice Ming Chin, who retired on Aug. 31. During a news conference last month, Jenkins said his identity as a gay man has been “perhaps the greatest challenge of my life.”
Jenkins, who is Black, joins a diverse court that includes Justice Leondra Kruger, who is also Black; Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar, who is Latino; two Asian Americans, Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye and Justice Goodwin Liu; and white justices Joshua Groban and Carol Corrigan. The job comes with a $261,949 salary.
Jenkins grew up in a two-bedroom, one bathroom house in San Francisco. His dad was a clerk and janitor at the city’s iconic Coit Tower. He played football at Santa Clara University and dreamed of a career in the NFL. But he decided to go to law school at the urging of his coach.
Jenkins graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1980. He worked as a prosecutor in Alameda County and as a civil rights attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Reagan administration.
A lifelong registered Democrat, Jenkins has been appointed to four judgeships by both Democrats and Republicans. Democratic President Bill Clinton made him a federal judge in 1998, and California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him to the state Courts of Appeal in 2008.
Jenkins retired last year and joined Newsom’s administration as the judicial appointment secretary, helping Newsom vet potential appointments for judgeships.
“Justice Jenkins embodies the qualities sought in a Supreme Court candidate: collegiality, writing ability, scholarship and distinction in the legal profession coupled with an unparalleled breadth of experience,” Aminder Singh, chair of the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, wrote in a report summarizing Jenkin’s qualifications.


washingtontimes--2020-11-10--Donald Trump campaign requests hand recount in Georgia

ATLANTA — Republicans are making more demands of Georgia ’ s chief elections officer as they seek to overturn Democrat Joe Biden ’ s 12,000-vote lead in the state ’ s presidential race .
U.S. Rep. Doug Collins , who ’ s leading President Donald Trump ’ s recount team in Georgia , and state Republican Party Chairman David Shafer sent a letter to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Tuesday requesting that he order a hand recount of Georgia ’ s nearly 5 million ballots before certifying the results .
The move comes a day after Republican U.S. Sens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Raffensperger ’ s resignation , claiming he ran the election poorly but citing no specific incidents of wrongdoing .
Perdue will face Democrat Jon Ossoff and Loeffler will face Democrat Raphael Warnock in Jan. 5 runoffs that are likely to determine which party controls the U.S. Senate .
Raffensperger has refused to step down and defended how his office conducted the election .
His office has refuted a number of claims made by Trump supporters .
“ The process of reporting results has been orderly and followed the law , ” Raffensperger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Where there have been specific allegations of illegal voting , my office has dispatched investigators.
” “ This is not about anything but a fair process and election , ” Collins said in an interview with The Associated Press .
“ This is not about sour grapes .
It ’ s not about anything else .
It ’ s just about saying , let ’ s restore the integrity , because we ’ ve got more elections here in Georgia in a very short time.
” The race for president in Georgia is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , Biden led Trump by 12,651 votes out of nearly 5 million votes counted .
Nearly all ballots have been counted , though counties have until Friday to certify their results .
Georgia law outlines several steps that must be completed before results are official .
First , Raffensperger must decide whether to conduct an audit of the race .
Under Georgia law , Raffensperger must select one Georgia race to audit and provide statistical evidence on whether the vote count was accurate .
The audit will include hand-counting a random sample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If he chooses the race for president , the margin is so tight that an audit would effectively require a statewide hand count of every ballot cast , Raffensperger said Tuesday .
Raffensperger is expected to announce on Wednesday which race will be audited .
There is no mandatory recount law in Georgia .
However , regardless of whether the presidential race is audited , Trump could likely request an optional recount .
State law provides that option to a trailing candidate if the margin is less than 0.5 percentage points .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points as of Tuesday afternoon .
Collins and Shafer also requested that election officials recanvass the results for Perdue ’ s Senate seat and a state Public Service Commission seat held by Lauren “ Bubba ” McDonald .
The AP called a runoff in Perdue ’ s race and hasn ’ t made a call yet in McDonald ’ s race , where the Republican leads but is short of reaching a majority of votes , as required by Georgia law .
Additionally , Collins and Shafer asked Raffensperger to verify the validity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and confirm the ballots include the proper notations , check in-person and mail-in ballots to make sure no one cast one of each , check that no one who ’ s not eligible was able to vote and trace the ballots ’ chain of custody to confirm that they were legally cast .
There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election .
In fact , election officials from both political parties have stated publicly that the election went well and international observers confirmed there were no serious irregularities .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies have pointed to are typical in every election : problems with signatures , as well as the potential for a small number of ballots miscast or lost .
With Biden leading Trump by wide margins in key states , none of those issues would affect the election ’ s outcome .
Trump ’ s campaign has also complained that their poll watchers were unable to scrutinize the voting process , including in Georgia ’ s Fulton County .
Many legal challenges based on those complaints have been tossed out by judges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the complaints show any evidence that the election ’ s outcome was affected .
Cathy Cox , dean of Mercer University law school and a former Georgia secretary of state , said the election law places the burden of proof on Trump and his allies to show evidence of vote fraud .
“ All I ’ ve heard is noise and innuendo , rumor and gossip , ” said Cox , a Democrat who served as Georgia ’ s top elections official from 1999 until 2007 .
“ Just throwing junk at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy it.
” Associated Press writers Ben Nadler and Russ Bynum in Savannah , Georgia , contributed to this report .

ATLANTA — Republicans are making more demands of Georgia’s chief elections officer as they seek to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s 12,000-vote lead in the state’s presidential race.
U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, who’s leading President Donald Trump’s recount team in Georgia, and state Republican Party Chairman David Shafer sent a letter to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Tuesday requesting that he order a hand recount of Georgia’s nearly 5 million ballots before certifying the results.
The move comes a day after Republican U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler called for Raffensperger’s resignation, claiming he ran the election poorly but citing no specific incidents of wrongdoing. Perdue will face Democrat Jon Ossoff and Loeffler will face Democrat Raphael Warnock in Jan. 5 runoffs that are likely to determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.
Raffensperger has refused to step down and defended how his office conducted the election. His office has refuted a number of claims made by Trump supporters.
“The process of reporting results has been orderly and followed the law,” Raffensperger said in a Monday statement. “Where there have been specific allegations of illegal voting, my office has dispatched investigators.”
“This is not about anything but a fair process and election,” Collins said in an interview with The Associated Press. “This is not about sour grapes. It’s not about anything else. It’s just about saying, let’s restore the integrity, because we’ve got more elections here in Georgia in a very short time.”
The race for president in Georgia is too close to call. As of Tuesday, Biden led Trump by 12,651 votes out of nearly 5 million votes counted. Nearly all ballots have been counted, though counties have until Friday to certify their results.
Georgia law outlines several steps that must be completed before results are official.
First, Raffensperger must decide whether to conduct an audit of the race. Under Georgia law, Raffensperger must select one Georgia race to audit and provide statistical evidence on whether the vote count was accurate. The audit will include hand-counting a random sample of ballots to check for accuracy. If he chooses the race for president, the margin is so tight that an audit would effectively require a statewide hand count of every ballot cast, Raffensperger said Tuesday.
Raffensperger is expected to announce on Wednesday which race will be audited.
There is no mandatory recount law in Georgia. However, regardless of whether the presidential race is audited, Trump could likely request an optional recount. State law provides that option to a trailing candidate if the margin is less than 0.5 percentage points. Biden’s lead stood at 0.25 percentage points as of Tuesday afternoon.
Collins and Shafer also requested that election officials recanvass the results for Perdue’s Senate seat and a state Public Service Commission seat held by Lauren “Bubba” McDonald. The AP called a runoff in Perdue’s race and hasn’t made a call yet in McDonald’s race, where the Republican leads but is short of reaching a majority of votes, as required by Georgia law.
Additionally, Collins and Shafer asked Raffensperger to verify the validity of signatures on 1.4 million mailed-in ballots and confirm the ballots include the proper notations, check in-person and mail-in ballots to make sure no one cast one of each, check that no one who’s not eligible was able to vote and trace the ballots’ chain of custody to confirm that they were legally cast.
There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. In fact, election officials from both political parties have stated publicly that the election went well and international observers confirmed there were no serious irregularities.
The issues Trump’s campaign and its allies have pointed to are typical in every election: problems with signatures, as well as the potential for a small number of ballots miscast or lost. With Biden leading Trump by wide margins in key states, none of those issues would affect the election’s outcome.
Trump’s campaign has also complained that their poll watchers were unable to scrutinize the voting process, including in Georgia’s Fulton County. Many legal challenges based on those complaints have been tossed out by judges, some within hours of filing. None of the complaints show any evidence that the election’s outcome was affected.
Cathy Cox, dean of Mercer University law school and a former Georgia secretary of state, said the election law places the burden of proof on Trump and his allies to show evidence of vote fraud.
“All I’ve heard is noise and innuendo, rumor and gossip,” said Cox, a Democrat who served as Georgia’s top elections official from 1999 until 2007. “Just throwing junk at the wall to see if somebody will buy it.”
___
Associated Press writers Ben Nadler and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-10--Gavin Newsom, California governor, issues 10 pardons to block deportations

California Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued 10 pardons Tuesday to immigrants he said risked being deported as long as they had crimes on their records .
Among the pardons were several convicted drug dealers and killers , including gang members .
The pardons are part of a strategy of resistance some Democratic governors adopted under the Trump administration , moving to protect immigrants who under the law should face deportation because of their crimes .
Pardons could remove the justification for deportation , though there is no guarantee the federal government will consider the pardons in its removal decisions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nguyen , convicted in 2003 of being part of a Vietnamese gang , the Viet Warriors , that targeted and knifed to death a fellow high school student in an after school attack .
The slain student was unarmed .
Mr. Newsom said a state court had issued Mr. Nguyen a certificate of rehabilitation as proof that he is “ living an upright life.
” Somdeng Thongsy , who in 1997 was convicted of second degree murder and attempted second degree murder stemming from a gang rumble , also earned a pardon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shot and killed one rival gang member , and wounded two others .
Mr. Newsom said in his pardon the man has turned his life around .
“ He has demonstrated that he is living an upright life and has demonstrated his fitness for restoration of civic rights and responsibilities , ” the governor wrote .
Also pardoned was Tung Do , who racked up convictions in 2000,2003 and 2006 for selling cocaine , dealing in stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime , and Saengsavan Choum , who was convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a drive-by gang killing .
Immigrant-rights groups have pushed the pardon strategy as a means of thwarting President Trump ’ s immigration agenda .
Mr. Newsom and New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo have been particularly active in issuing pardons .
The 10 pardons to block deportations were part of a broader set of 22 pardons and 13 commutations Mr. Newsom issued Tuesday .

Duc Nguyen was running with a California gang, the Viet Warriors, in 2000, when they targeted a fellow high school student, attacked him after school and killed him.
This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued Mr. Nguyen a pardon, saying he had turned his life around — and besides, he was facing deportation because the voluntary manslaughter conviction was on his record.
It was one of 10 such pardons Mr. Newsom, a Democrat, issued this week to try to stymy deportations, part of immigrant-rights groups’ strategy of resistance under President Trump.
Mr. Newsom, in his pardon order, said a state court had issued Mr. Nguyen a certificate of rehabilitation as proof that he is “living an upright life.”
Somdeng Thongsy, who in 1997 was convicted of second degree murder and attempted second degree murder stemming from a gang rumble, also earned a pardon. Mr. Thongsy, 17. at the time, shot and killed one rival gang member and wounded two others.
Mr. Newsom said in his pardon the former gang member has turned his life around.
“He has demonstrated that he is living an upright life and has demonstrated his fitness for restoration of civic rights and responsibilities,” the governor wrote.
Also pardoned was Tung Do, who racked up convictions in 2000, 2003 and 2006 for selling cocaine, dealing in stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime, and Saengsavan Choum, who was convicted in 1999 of being the driver in a drive-by gang killing.
The cases generally seem to involve migrants who came to the U.S. legally, including some who arrived as refugees, then went on to win legal permanent residency.
There is no rule requiring federal officers to abide by the pardons.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said decisions about deportations in cases involving legal permanent residents are made by the immigration courts, and the agency carries out those judges’ orders.
Immigrant-rights groups have pushed the pardon strategy as a means of thwarting President Trump’s immigration agenda.
Mr. Newsom and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo have been particularly active in issuing pardons.
Mr. Newsom has now issued more than 20 pardons intended to block deportations, including in June to a Cambodian woman who was already deported, but who figures the pardon can aid her attempt to come back.
Don Rosenberg, a Californian and president of Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime, blasted Mr. Newsom’s pardons as “sick,” and he urged the feds to ignore the reprieves in any deportation decisions.
“ICE should target any illegal alien or immigrant that per the law should be deported. ICE does not need any reason to deport those who are here illegally other than that,” he said.
He said if ICE shows governors their pardons are irrelevant, it could get them to stop issuing new ones. Mr. Rosenberg also wondered whether other convicts might have a legal case if they don’t get pardons while an immigrant facing deportation does.
Mr. Rosenberg became active on the issue after his son, riding on a motorcycle, was killed by an immigrant driving without a license who struck Drew Rosenberg, drove over him, then backed up and drove over him again.
Monday marks 10 years since that death, and Mr. Rosenberg invested years in getting the killer, Roberto Gallo, deported.
“Had Newsom been governor would he have pardoned him?” Mr. Rosenberg wondered.
Many of this week’s pardons stemmed from cases involving migrants from Asia in northern California.
The Washington Times reached out to a lawyer who has pushed the governor for pardons, and to a national immigration organization that has championed the pardon strategy, but didn’t hear back Wednesday, a federal holiday.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-10--Calls to punish police who fired at Mexico women's protest

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Authorities in the Mexican resort of Cancun were urged Tuesday to punish police who fired into the air to disperse a protest over the killings of women , but they disagreed over whether state or municipal police were to blame .
A journalist was among the unspecified number of people injured when protesters rushed to escape as the shots rang out .
The U.N. Human Rights Office in Mexico said it “ condemns the excessive use of force , including the use of firearms , in the demonstration.
” Around midnight Monday , Carlos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of Quintana Roo , blamed Cancun municipal police , who he said fired shots into the air after protesters tried to break into the Cancun city hall .
Gov .
Joaquin said he “ completely condemned ” the use of guns , adding the police had purportedly fired warning shots at city hall “ to protect the physical safety of the employees who work there.
” He called on Cancun ’ s mayor to fire the city police chief .
Mayor Mara Lezama initially blamed state police and called their actions “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police chief Alberto Capella denied his officers fired the shots .
Lezama later announced the city ’ s police chief had been fired .
The Feminist Collective of Quintana Roo also called for Capella to be fired .
Technically , city police are under the command of state forces .
The incident once again displayed Mexico ’ s lack of experience in using less-than-lethal force .
“ At no time was any other method of dissuasion employed , ” said Lizbeth Lugo , of the feminist organization Siempre Unidas ( Always United ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hesitation , ” López Obrado said .
“ Force must not be used , weapons must not be used , opening fire , that is part of authoritarian attitudes that do not fit in the new era.
” Monday evening ’ s demonstration was called to protest the recent killings of women in Quintana Roo , the state where Cancun is located .
Earlier in the day , prosecutors announced that the body of a 20-year-old woman had been found in Cancun about two days after she went missing .
A total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first nine months of the year , although the motive in most of the cases were not believed to be reasons of gender .
A video posted by the Quintana Roo Network of Journalists showed a throng of about 100 protesters at city hall during the protest .
Some smashed windows and burned documents outside the building , while others were tearing down a plywood barrier at an entrance .
A few shots are heard on the video , people begin running , and then bursts of gunfire are heard .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s groups earlier Monday to promise no efforts would be spared in investigating the most recent killing .
On Monday , Joaquin wrote in his Twitter account : “ I gave orders that there be no attacks and no guns at the marches scheduled for today .
I will investigate the irresponsible person who gave orders that contradicted that .
”

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Authorities in the Mexican resort of Cancun were urged Tuesday to punish police who fired into the air to disperse a protest over the killings of women, but they disagreed over whether state or municipal police were to blame.
A journalist was among the unspecified number of people injured when protesters rushed to escape as the shots rang out. The U.N. Human Rights Office in Mexico said it “condemns the excessive use of force, including the use of firearms, in the demonstration.”
Around midnight Monday, Carlos Joaquin, governor of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo, blamed Cancun municipal police, who he said fired shots into the air after protesters tried to break into the Cancun city hall.
Gov. Joaquin said he “completely condemned” the use of guns, adding the police had purportedly fired warning shots at city hall “to protect the physical safety of the employees who work there.”
He called on Cancun’s mayor to fire the city police chief. Mayor Mara Lezama initially blamed state police and called their actions “improper, illegal and immoral.” State police chief Alberto Capella denied his officers fired the shots.
Lezama later announced the city’s police chief had been fired.
The Feminist Collective of Quintana Roo also called for Capella to be fired. Technically, city police are under the command of state forces.
The incident once again displayed Mexico’s lack of experience in using less-than-lethal force. “At no time was any other method of dissuasion employed,” said Lizbeth Lugo, of the feminist organization Siempre Unidas (Always United).
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called on Gov. Joaquin to investigate.
“Action should be taken without hesitation,” López Obrado said. “Force must not be used, weapons must not be used, opening fire, that is part of authoritarian attitudes that do not fit in the new era.”
Monday evening’s demonstration was called to protest the recent killings of women in Quintana Roo, the state where Cancun is located. Earlier in the day, prosecutors announced that the body of a 20-year-old woman had been found in Cancun about two days after she went missing. A total of 58 women were killed in the state in the first nine months of the year, although the motive in most of the cases were not believed to be reasons of gender.
A video posted by the Quintana Roo Network of Journalists showed a throng of about 100 protesters at city hall during the protest. Some smashed windows and burned documents outside the building, while others were tearing down a plywood barrier at an entrance. A few shots are heard on the video, people begin running, and then bursts of gunfire are heard.
Gov. Joaquin had met with women’s groups earlier Monday to promise no efforts would be spared in investigating the most recent killing. On Monday, Joaquin wrote in his Twitter account: “I gave orders that there be no attacks and no guns at the marches scheduled for today. I will investigate the irresponsible person who gave orders that contradicted that.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-10--Judge rejects bid to dismiss central Arizona murder case

FLAGSTAFF , Ariz. ( AP ) - The judge overseeing a murder trial in central Arizona quickly rejected a defense request Tuesday to dismiss the charges against the man accused in the death of his ex-girlfriend and his unborn child more than 20 years ago .
Marisol Gonzalez was 17 when she was fatally shot in a Cottonwood alley in March of 1997 , the day she was scheduled to be induced to deliver the boy she named Andrew .
Cecilio Cruz is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in the deaths .
The state rested its case Tuesday after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gonzalez ’ s family , law enforcement officials who investigated the case , neighbors and experts who analyzed evidence .
Defense attorney Alex D. Gonzalez immediately argued in a routine motion that the case should not go to the jury .
He said the prosecutor had not produced substantial evidence to warrant a conviction .
“ At the end of the day , the state ’ s evidence is speculation , no concrete evidence my client killed Marisol , ” he said .
Authorities have said all along that the evidence is circumstantial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting , Cruz didn ’ t confess , the weapon never was found , and no DNA or physical evidence ties Cruz to the crime .
Prosecutor Steve Young argued Cruz had motive .
Cruz and Marisol Gonzalez lived on opposite sides of that alley and dated as teenagers .
They broke up before she found out she was pregnant , and Cruz had another girlfriend who also was carrying his child .
He also pointed to testimony about gunshots being heard in the hours before Gonzalez ’ s body was found , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about not wanting to marry him if Gonzalez had the baby .
Judge Jennifer Campbell , who is presiding over the case in Prescott , noted testimony from witnesses about animus between Cruz and Gonzalez and the suspicious location of Gonzalez ’ s death in considering the defense request .
While there is no proof of firearms being in Cruz ’ s home that day , his brother and others have said weapons were kept in the house .
“ We don ’ t have to have them there on that day for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Campbell said before denying the defense request .

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - The judge overseeing a murder trial in central Arizona quickly rejected a defense request Tuesday to dismiss the charges against the man accused in the death of his ex-girlfriend and his unborn child more than 20 years ago.
Marisol Gonzalez was 17 when she was fatally shot in a Cottonwood alley in March of 1997, the day she was scheduled to be induced to deliver the boy she named Andrew. Cecilio Cruz is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in the deaths.
The state rested its case Tuesday after calling about two dozen witnesses, including Gonzalez’s family, law enforcement officials who investigated the case, neighbors and experts who analyzed evidence.
Defense attorney Alex D. Gonzalez immediately argued in a routine motion that the case should not go to the jury. He said the prosecutor had not produced substantial evidence to warrant a conviction.
“At the end of the day, the state’s evidence is speculation, no concrete evidence my client killed Marisol,” he said.
Authorities have said all along that the evidence is circumstantial. There are no eyewitnesses to the shooting, Cruz didn’t confess, the weapon never was found, and no DNA or physical evidence ties Cruz to the crime.
Prosecutor Steve Young argued Cruz had motive. Cruz and Marisol Gonzalez lived on opposite sides of that alley and dated as teenagers. They broke up before she found out she was pregnant, and Cruz had another girlfriend who also was carrying his child.
“He talked about wanting Marisol dead,” Young said.
He also pointed to testimony about gunshots being heard in the hours before Gonzalez’s body was found, and testimony from Cruz’s then-girlfriend about not wanting to marry him if Gonzalez had the baby.
Judge Jennifer Campbell, who is presiding over the case in Prescott, noted testimony from witnesses about animus between Cruz and Gonzalez and the suspicious location of Gonzalez’s death in considering the defense request. While there is no proof of firearms being in Cruz’s home that day, his brother and others have said weapons were kept in the house.
“We don’t have to have them there on that day for us to consider it substantial evidence,” Campbell said before denying the defense request.
The trial resumes Wednesday.


washingtontimes--2020-11-10--Moderates will wield most influence with Senate's razor-thin majority

The battle for the Senate won ’ t be decided until the January run-offs in Georgia , and yet the inevitability of a razor-thin majority means that the stock of the moderate Manchins and Murkowskis is already going through the roof .
A clutch of Republican moderates — Alaska ’ s Lisa Murkowski , Maine ’ s Susan M. Collins and Utah ’ s Mitt Romney — appear poised to wield outsized power if the Alaska seat goes as expected to Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan , and just one of the two Georgia seats stays red .
“ If I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invest in Susan Collins , Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney , ” said Ross Baker , political science professor at Rutgers University .
“ They really will , I think , assume an enormously influential position in the 117th Congress.
” The path to a Senate majority is more difficult for Democrats , but if they prevail , look for Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia , the chamber ’ s most conservative Democrat , to become the party ’ s critical swing vote .
A Jan. 5 run-off victory by either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Kelly Loeffler , would give Republicans 51 seats , putting the formidable political skills of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to the test in keeping the caucus united .
“ The challenge for Sen. McConnell is to hold those three in on close votes , ” Mr. Baker said .
“ The challenge for [ Senate Minority Leader ] Chuck Schumer is to try to lure them across the line on close votes.
” On the other hand , if Democrats run the table in Georgia , they would move from 48 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being broken by the vice president — which , unless the Trump campaign upends the vote count in key states , would be Democrat Kamala D. Harris .
Under that scenario , all eyes would be on Mr. Manchin , particularly on energy and climate change issues , which would have major repercussions for coal country .
He could have some company in the blue dog caucus with Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Democratic newcomers John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Mark Kelly of Arizona , who are expected to trend to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-term governor , Mr. Hickenlooper , a geologist by training , was a champion of Colorado ’ s oil-and-gas industry over the objections of the state ’ s powerful environmental movement , at one point drinking fracking fluid to prove its safety .
Mr. Kelly , the former astronaut , may be best known for his gun-control advocacy , but he also represents voters who backed former Vice President Joseph R. Biden while reelecting Republicans to majorities in both houses of the state legislature , defying predictions of a blue wave .
Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying that “ we get this sort of conversation in the wake of every election.
” “ I ’ m sure that some point a group of moderates will coalesce and exert their influence , ” said Mr. McKenna , whose column appears in The Washington Times .
“ I ’ m equally certain that this Congress will not be that time.
” He said it ’ s more likely that moderate Democrats will split with their party on crucial votes than the other way around , given Mr. Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and energy .
Any push by Mr. Biden to follow through on raising taxes and clamping down on the oil-and-gas industry “ will tend to lead senators into their respective corners , ” Mr. McKenna said in an email .
“ It ’ s a challenge to compromise with someone who wants you to take your money and your job , ” he said .
“ It is more likely that moderate ( and energy state ) Democrats — Manchin , Casey , Hickenlooper — will wind up voting with Republicans more often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had remained president.
” Tight Senate majorities have been the rule rather than the exception since 2009 , when Democrats enjoyed a 60-seat lead and leveraged it to pass the Affordable Care Act , signed by President Obama .
The senator to watch most closely in the 117th Congress may be Ms. Murkowski , who faces reelection in November 2022 .
Ms. Collins was reelected last week and Mr. Romney doesn ’ t go before the voters until 2024 .
“ What McConnell cares about is being majority leader and not minority leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If Lisa Murkowski needs to do something that is going to cause her to vote with the Democrats , he ’ ll give her the OK.
He ’ ll greenlight it for her if it ’ s important to Alaska.
” Republicans to date have lost net one Senate seat with losses by Sens .
Cory Gardner of Colorado and Martha McSally of Arizona , and the defeat of Sen. Doug Jones , Alabama Democrat , to Republican Tommy Tuberville , the former Auburn football coach .
In Georgia last week , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % threshold needed to win the seat outright .
Instead , he and Democrat Jon Ossoff , who won 47.9 % of the vote to Mr. Perdue ’ s 49.7 % , will meet again in a runoff .
Ms. Loeffler , who was appointed to fill the Senate vacancy in 2019 , will square off against Democrat Raphael Warnock after no candidate reached 50 % in the crowded Nov. 3 jungle primary .
If Republicans take both Georgia Senate seats , the party would hold a 52-vote majority — just one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That isn ’ t much of a surplus , even with Vice President Mike Pence as the deciding vote , and yet Mr. McConnell typically gets his way when the chips are down , moderates or no moderates .
“ Assuming Republicans win in Georgia , it will be Sen. McConnell ’ s world , ” Mr. McKenna said .
“ We will just live in it .
”

The battle for the Senate won’t be decided until the January run-offs in Georgia, and yet the inevitability of a razor-thin majority means that the stock of the moderate Manchins and Murkowskis is already going through the roof.
A clutch of Republican moderates — Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, Maine’s Susan M. Collins and Utah’s Mitt Romney — appear poised to wield outsized power if the Alaska seat goes as expected to Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, and just one of the two Georgia seats stays red.
“If I were investing in senators, I would invest in Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney,” said Ross Baker, political science professor at Rutgers University. “They really will, I think, assume an enormously influential position in the 117th Congress.”
The path to a Senate majority is more difficult for Democrats, but if they prevail, look for Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, the chamber’s most conservative Democrat, to become the party’s critical swing vote.
A Jan. 5 run-off victory by either Georgia incumbent, Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, would give Republicans 51 seats, putting the formidable political skills of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to the test in keeping the caucus united.
“The challenge for Sen. McConnell is to hold those three in on close votes,” Mr. Baker said. “The challenge for [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer is to try to lure them across the line on close votes.”
On the other hand, if Democrats run the table in Georgia, they would move from 48 to 50 senators, with the tie being broken by the vice president — which, unless the Trump campaign upends the vote count in key states, would be Democrat Kamala D. Harris.
Under that scenario, all eyes would be on Mr. Manchin, particularly on energy and climate change issues, which would have major repercussions for coal country.
He could have some company in the blue dog caucus with Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Democratic newcomers John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Mark Kelly of Arizona, who are expected to trend to the center on some issues.
As the two-term governor, Mr. Hickenlooper, a geologist by training, was a champion of Colorado’s oil-and-gas industry over the objections of the state’s powerful environmental movement, at one point drinking fracking fluid to prove its safety.
Mr. Kelly, the former astronaut, may be best known for his gun-control advocacy, but he also represents voters who backed former Vice President Joseph R. Biden while reelecting Republicans to majorities in both houses of the state legislature, defying predictions of a blue wave.
Republican strategist Michael McKenna challenged the rising-moderates speculation, saying that “we get this sort of conversation in the wake of every election.”
“I’m sure that some point a group of moderates will coalesce and exert their influence,” said Mr. McKenna, whose column appears in The Washington Times. “I’m equally certain that this Congress will not be that time.”
He said it’s more likely that moderate Democrats will split with their party on crucial votes than the other way around, given Mr. Biden’s aggressive agenda on issues such as taxes and energy.
Any push by Mr. Biden to follow through on raising taxes and clamping down on the oil-and-gas industry “will tend to lead senators into their respective corners,” Mr. McKenna said in an email.
“It’s a challenge to compromise with someone who wants you to take your money and your job,” he said. “It is more likely that moderate (and energy state) Democrats — Manchin, Casey, Hickenlooper — will wind up voting with Republicans more often than they would have if Mr. Trump had remained president.”
Tight Senate majorities have been the rule rather than the exception since 2009, when Democrats enjoyed a 60-seat lead and leveraged it to pass the Affordable Care Act, signed by President Obama.
The senator to watch most closely in the 117th Congress may be Ms. Murkowski, who faces reelection in November 2022. Ms. Collins was reelected last week and Mr. Romney doesn’t go before the voters until 2024.
“What McConnell cares about is being majority leader and not minority leader,” Mr. Baker said. “If Lisa Murkowski needs to do something that is going to cause her to vote with the Democrats, he’ll give her the OK. He’ll greenlight it for her if it’s important to Alaska.”
Republicans to date have lost net one Senate seat with losses by Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Martha McSally of Arizona, and the defeat of Sen. Doug Jones, Alabama Democrat, to Republican Tommy Tuberville, the former Auburn football coach.
In Georgia last week, Mr. Perdue fell just short of hitting the 50% threshold needed to win the seat outright. Instead, he and Democrat Jon Ossoff, who won 47.9% of the vote to Mr. Perdue’s 49.7%, will meet again in a runoff.
Ms. Loeffler, who was appointed to fill the Senate vacancy in 2019, will square off against Democrat Raphael Warnock after no candidate reached 50% in the crowded Nov. 3 jungle primary.
If Republicans take both Georgia Senate seats, the party would hold a 52-vote majority — just one seat shy of their current 53 seats.
That isn’t much of a surplus, even with Vice President Mike Pence as the deciding vote, and yet Mr. McConnell typically gets his way when the chips are down, moderates or no moderates.
“Assuming Republicans win in Georgia, it will be Sen. McConnell’s world,” Mr. McKenna said. “We will just live in it.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-10--Democrats in Arizona Legislature pick leaders for new term

PHOENIX ( AP ) - Democrats in the Arizona Legislature chose new leaders Tuesday for the two-year term that starts in January .
Rebecca Rios was unanimously chosen to lead members of the minority party in the Senate .
She represents a Phoenix district and joined the Senate in 2019 after previously leading Democrats in the House and serving in both chambers beginning in the mid-1990s with a break .
Sen. Lupe Contreras was chosen as the Democrats ’ assistant minority leader .
The vote in the House was more divisive after Rep. Charlene Fernandez bowed out as minority leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats ’ high hopes to gain control of the Legislature for the first time in decade fall flat .
Chosen to lead House Democrats as minority leader was Rep. Reginald Bolding .
He represents the Laveen area and has been in the House since winning his first election in 2014 .
Rep. Jennifer Longdon was chosen as assistant minority leader .
She ’ s entering her second term in the House and represents parts of central Phoenix .
The Legislature ’ s Republicans chose their leaders last week , reelecting Sen. Karen Fann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Rep. Rusty Bowers to lead his caucus and the chamber ’ s business as House speaker .
Democrats were hoping to win a majority of the 60-member House in last week ’ s election for the first time since the mid-1960s but apparently failed to do so despite millions in spending targeting Republicans .
With vote counts ongoing and the outcome of some races still uncertain , it appears likely House Republicans will retain their 31-29 majority .
Democrats appear to have gained one seat in the west Phoenix suburbs but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s own district , which runs from the southwest Phoenix suburbs to Yuma .

PHOENIX (AP) - Democrats in the Arizona Legislature chose new leaders Tuesday for the two-year term that starts in January.
Rebecca Rios was unanimously chosen to lead members of the minority party in the Senate. She represents a Phoenix district and joined the Senate in 2019 after previously leading Democrats in the House and serving in both chambers beginning in the mid-1990s with a break.
Sen. Lupe Contreras was chosen as the Democrats’ assistant minority leader.
The vote in the House was more divisive after Rep. Charlene Fernandez bowed out as minority leader on Saturday following an election that saw Democrats’ high hopes to gain control of the Legislature for the first time in decade fall flat.
Chosen to lead House Democrats as minority leader was Rep. Reginald Bolding. He represents the Laveen area and has been in the House since winning his first election in 2014.
Rep. Jennifer Longdon was chosen as assistant minority leader. She’s entering her second term in the House and represents parts of central Phoenix.
The Legislature’s Republicans chose their leaders last week, reelecting Sen. Karen Fann for another two-year stint as Senate president and Rep. Rusty Bowers to lead his caucus and the chamber’s business as House speaker.
Democrats were hoping to win a majority of the 60-member House in last week’s election for the first time since the mid-1960s but apparently failed to do so despite millions in spending targeting Republicans. With vote counts ongoing and the outcome of some races still uncertain, it appears likely House Republicans will retain their 31-29 majority.
Democrats appear to have gained one seat in the west Phoenix suburbs but also lost one seat to Republicans in Fernandez’s own district, which runs from the southwest Phoenix suburbs to Yuma.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Police: Would-be carjacker shot, wounded by off-duty officer

NEW YORK ( AP ) - An off-duty police officer shot and wounded an armed man during an attempted carjacking @ @ @ @ @ police said .
The officer fired after the man had shot at him and barely @ @ @ @ @ Detectives Rodney Harrison said at a news conference at the shooting scene .
The confrontation @ @ @ @ @ in the Canarsie neighborhood .
The officer was driving home when a man approached his @ @ @ @ @ driver ’ s-side window with a gun , Harrison said .
The officer pulled away @ @ @ @ @ car , Harrison said .
The man fired at the officer and the officer returned @ @ @ @ @ man in the chest , he said .
The would-be carjacker was hospitalized in serious @ @ @ @ @ His name was not immediately released .
Charges against him were pending .
The officer @ @ @ @ @ Harrison said .
Harrison said there was no indication that the man was intentionally targeting @ @ @ @ @ guns and a knife were recovered at the scene , he said .

NEW YORK (AP) - An off-duty New York City police officer shot and wounded an armed man who was apparently trying to carjack the officer’s car early Wednesday, police said.
The officer fired after the man had shot at him and barely missed him, Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison said at a news conference at the shooting scene in Brooklyn.
The confrontation happened just after 2 a.m. in the Canarsie neighborhood. The officer was driving home when a man approached his car and knocked on the driver’s-side window with a gun, Harrison said.
The officer pulled away and got out of his car, Harrison said. The man fired at the officer and the officer returned fire, striking the other man in the chest, he said.
The would-be carjacker was hospitalized in serious condition, police said. His name was not immediately released. Charges against him were pending. The officer was evaluated for tinnitus, Harrison said.
Surveillance video posted on Twitter by a reporter for News 12 Brooklyn shows the man falling to the street after the officer fires at him.
Harrison said there was no indication that the man was intentionally targeting a police officer.
Two guns and a knife were recovered at the scene, he said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Pope Francis vows to end sexual abuse after McCarrick report

ROME ( AP ) - Pope Francis pledged Wednesday to rid the Catholic Church of sexual abuse and offered prayers to victims of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick , a day after the Vatican released a detailed report into the decadeslong church cover-up of his sexual misconduct .
Francis concluded his weekly general audience Wednesday by recalling that the report into the “ painful case ” of the former high-ranking American cardinal had been released the previous day .
“ I renew my closeness to victims of any abuse and commitment of the church to eradicate this evil , ” Francis said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a minute , apparently in prayer .
The Vatican report blamed a host of bishops , cardinals and popes for downplaying and dismissing mountains of evidence of McCarrick ’ s misconduct starting in the 1990s .
In particular , it blamed St. John Paul II for having appointed McCarrick archbishop of Washington in 2000 , and making him a cardinal , despite having commissioned an inquiry that found he shared his bed with seminarians .
In his remarks Wednesday , however , Francis held John Paul up for praise .
Noting that Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francis quoted John Paul as telling young people what it means to be truly free .
“ While we thank the Lord for the gift of national and personal freedom , what St. John Paul II taught young people comes to mind , ” Francis said .
He then cited the Polish pope as saying that being free means being “ a man of upright conscience , to be responsible , to be a man ‘ for others.
’ ” Francis defrocked the 90-year-old McCarrick last year after a separate Vatican investigation found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children .

ROME (AP) - Pope Francis pledged Wednesday to rid the Catholic Church of sexual abuse and offered prayers to victims of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a day after the Vatican released a detailed report into the decadeslong church cover-up of his sexual misconduct.
The Vatican report blamed a host of bishops, cardinals and popes for downplaying and dismissing mountains of evidence of McCarrick’s misconduct starting in the 1990s - but largely spared Francis. Instead, it laid the lion’s share of the blame on St. John Paul II, a former pope, for having appointed McCarrick archbishop of Washington in 2000, and making him a cardinal, despite having commissioned an inquiry that found he had slept with seminarians.
Francis concluded his weekly general audience Wednesday by recalling that the report into the “painful case” of the former high-ranking American cardinal had been released the previous day.
“I renew my closeness to victims of any abuse and commitment of the church to eradicate this evil,” Francis said. He then paused silently for nearly a minute, apparently in prayer.
Francis defrocked the 90-year-old McCarrick last year after a separate Vatican investigation found he sexually abused children as well as adults. Francis authorized the more in-depth study into McCarrick’s rise through the hierarchy after revelations that it was an open secret in the U.S. and Vatican hierarchies that he behaved inappropriately with seminarians, sleeping with them in his bed on weekend getaways.
The report raised uncomfortable questions about John Paul and his trusted secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who has been subject to increasing scrutiny and criticism in his native Poland over allegations he covered up other cases of clergy sexual abuse.
Just this week, the head of Poland’s bishops conference, Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, said he hoped an “appropriate commission of the Holy See will clarify all the doubts” about Dziwisz’s record - scrutiny Dziwisz himself said he welcomed.
In his remarks Wednesday, Francis held up for praise John Paul, who was beloved in his native Poland and by many Catholics elsewhere but has come under criticism for his failure to take action against pedophile priests. Noting that Wednesday marked Poland’s independence day, Francis quoted John Paul as telling young people what it means to be truly free.
“While we thank the Lord for the gift of national and personal freedom, what St. John Paul II taught young people comes to mind,” Francis said. He then cited the former pope as saying that being free means being “a man of upright conscience, to be responsible, to be a man ‘for others.’”
The Vatican report noted that John Paul - and presumably Dziwisz, too - often dismissed allegations of sexual impropriety involving priests because of their experience in Communist Poland, when many priests were discredited with false allegations.
The Vatican report found that John Paul initially agreed to take McCarrick off the list of candidates to be archbishop of Washington after his own ambassador to the U.S. determined that there was a reasonable doubt about McCarricks’ “moral maturity” given the allegations of sexual misconduct. The ambassador, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, concluded that it would be “imprudent” to promote him given the chance the rumors could become public.
John Paul initially agreed. But he changed his mind after McCarrick made a last-ditch, handwritten appeal in an Aug. 6, 2000, letter addressed to Dziwisz, denying he ever had “sexual relations” with anyone.
The Vatican report went into great detail, including with substantial footnotes, about what Dzwisz did with the letter next, suggesting that the Polish secretary had something to hide about his involvement.
For starters, McCarrick’s letter begins by referencing a previous letter he wrote to Dziwisz about his possible promotion, but which has disappeared from the Vatican archives.
Subsequently, the report says Dzwisz ordered that his name be removed from McCarrick’s Aug. 6 letter when it went into the archives. Both points suggest Dziwisz wanted to remove any trace of his involvement in the appointment or in having possibly tipped McCarrick off to the fact that his promotion had been imperiled.
The authoritative archbishop of New York, Cardinal John O’Connor, had warned John Paul not to promote McCarrick in an Oct. 28, 1999, letter he wrote shortly before he died. He cited multiple claims that McCarrick would invite seminarians to his beach house and into his bed and enclosed four anonymous letters that had been sent to him and other U.S. churchmen in 1992-1993, alleging McCarrick sexually abused children and seminarians.
“I found out that he had written to the Holy Father,” McCarrick said of O’Connor in an interview with Vatican officials who prepared the report. “I had friends in the Curia and one of them tipped me off about it but I don’t remember who.”
In Poland, the McCarrick scandal and the roles played by John Paul and Dziwisz in the cover-up have only fueled criticism of the Catholic hierarchy amid its own clergy abuse scandal that has seen several top bishops and even cardinals fall.
“If anyone is going to bury the legend of St. John Paul II, it will be Cardinal Dziwisz,” tweeted Tomasz Rozek, a journalist for the Catholic weekly “Gosc Niedzielny” (Sunday Visitor).
___
Associated Press writer Monika Scislowska contributed from Warsaw, Poland.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Pandemic spurs EU to seek more preparation, coordination

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - The European Union is proposing plans to improve the preparedness and coordination of its 27 member nations in the event of a future public health emergency like the coronavirus pandemic .
When COVID-19 struck European countries with varying intensity during the spring , the EU found its ability to organize a common response lacking since the bloc ’ s policies largely left members to their own devices .
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that the “ pandemic has highlighted the need for more coordination in the EU , more resilient health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crises.
” The commission laid out a series of proposals to reinforce surveillance across borders , streamline data reporting and to boost the powers of EU agencies like the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the European Medicines .
Von der Leyen also wants to see the creation of a Health Emergency Response Authority by the end of next year .
“ The pandemic taught us that we save more lives when we work together , ” she said .
The 27-nation EU ’ s total confirmed death toll in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission proposal now goes to the member countries and the European Parliament for consideration .

BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union is proposing plans to improve the preparedness and coordination of its 27 member nations in the event of a future public health emergency like the coronavirus pandemic.
When COVID-19 struck European countries with varying intensity during the spring, the EU found its ability to organize a common response lacking since the bloc’s policies largely left members to their own devices.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that the “pandemic has highlighted the need for more coordination in the EU, more resilient health systems, and better preparation for future crises.”
The commission laid out a series of proposals to reinforce surveillance across borders, streamline data reporting and to boost the powers of EU agencies like the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the European Medicines.
Von der Leyen also wants to see the creation of a Health Emergency Response Authority by the end of next year.
“The pandemic taught us that we save more lives when we work together,” she said.
The 27-nation EU’s total confirmed death toll in the pandemic is nearing 200,000.
The European Commission proposal now goes to the member countries and the European Parliament for consideration.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Sioux Falls rejects mask mandate, mayor breaks tie vote

SIOUX FALLS , S.D .
( AP ) - Sioux Falls ’ mayor cast the tie-breaking vote that defeated a proposed mask mandate in the state ’ s largest city Tuesday night .
After more than two hours of public comment , Mayor Paul TenHaken rejected the mandate after the City Council tied 4-4 on the ordinance .
The mandate would have required face coverings to be worn by people in most indoor public places where 6-foot social distancing was not achievable .
Violations carried a $ 50 fine .
“ I believe the small uptick we ’ ll see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ division that this will create , ” TenHaken said as he ended debate .
Councilor Greg Neitzert said he did not want to live in a city where people are calling the police because someone isn ’ t wearing a mask .
“ It ’ s not just about health , ” Neitzert said .
“ We also have to look at principles.
” The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce opposed it , saying there wasn ’ t enough clarity around potential effects on businesses , the Argus Leader reported .
Several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandate .

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota on Wednesday reported 27 new COVID-19 deaths, one of the state’s highest single-day totals during the pandemic.
The Department of Health has already reported 142 deaths during the month of November, setting a pace of deaths likely to surpass October’s 202 reported deaths. During that month, South Dakota had the nation’s second-highest number of COVID-19 deaths per capita, according to Johns Hopkins data.
The 27 deaths reported Tuesday was the second-highest single-day tally yet. The highest single-day death toll came last week with 28.
The state has spent weeks dealing with one of the nation’s worst rates for coronavirus cases per capita. There were 1,882 new cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins researchers. That means that roughly one out of every 53 people has tested positive in the past two weeks.
Hospitalizations had soared to new highs this week, but dropped for the first time in five days on Wednesday. There are currently 543 people hospitalized by the virus, health officials reported.
Meanwhile, the state’s largest city, Sioux Falls, rejected a proposed mask mandate on Tuesday night. Mayor Paul TenHaken cast the tie-breaking vote after the City Council was split on the ordinance.
The mandate would have required face coverings to be worn by people in most indoor public places where 6-foot social distancing was not achievable. Violations carried a $50 fine.
“I believe the small uptick we’ll see in compliance is not worth the community division that this will create,” TenHaken said as he ended debate.
Councilor Greg Neitzert said he did not want to live in a city where people are calling the police because someone isn’t wearing a mask.
“It’s not just about health,” Neitzert said. “We also have to look at principles.”
The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce opposed it, saying there wasn’t enough clarity around potential effects on businesses, the Argus Leader reported. Several faith leaders in the city supported the mandate.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Japanese company busy making Joe Biden rubber masks

SAITAMA , Japan ( AP ) - While surgical masks have been highly sought after this year , Joe Biden rubber masks are also seeing some demand .
Ogawa Studios , a Japanese manufacturer , began producing masks resembling the U.S. president-elect in the middle of October , ahead of last week ’ s election .
Workers in Saitama , a city north of Tokyo , mold rubber to form a likeness of Biden ’ s face , while features including his pearly white teeth and blue eyes are hand-painted .
“ Biden ’ s keywords are dialogue and healing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ image of a gentle expression , ” said Kouki Takahashi , from the administration department of Ogawa Studios .
So far , around 1,000 masks have been sold .
The same manufacturer was flooded with orders for Trump masks before Trump ’ s inauguration as president four years ago .
While sales of Trump and Biden masks were about the same last month , Takahashi said they are seeing more sales in November for the president-elect .
The manufacturer said making politicians ’ masks is good for business .
“ Compared to character @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long time , so their total sales tend to grow significantly as their popularity continues to grow , ” Takahashi said .
Trump and Biden masks are both sold for 2,400 yen ( $ 23 ) apiece in Japan .

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) - While surgical masks have been highly sought after this year, Joe Biden rubber masks are also seeing some demand.
Ogawa Studios, a Japanese manufacturer, began producing masks resembling the U.S. president-elect in the middle of October, ahead of last week’s election.
Workers in Saitama, a city north of Tokyo, mold rubber to form a likeness of Biden’s face, while features including his pearly white teeth and blue eyes are hand-painted.
“Biden’s keywords are dialogue and healing, so we created it with the image of a gentle expression,” said Kouki Takahashi, from the administration department of Ogawa Studios.
So far, around 1,000 masks have been sold.
The same manufacturer was flooded with orders for Trump masks before Trump’s inauguration as president four years ago.
While sales of Trump and Biden masks were about the same last month, Takahashi said they are seeing more sales in November for the president-elect.
The manufacturer said making politicians’ masks is good for business.
“Compared to character products, politicians are in office for a long time, so their total sales tend to grow significantly as their popularity continues to grow,” Takahashi said.
Trump and Biden masks are both sold for 2,400 yen ($23) apiece in Japan.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Military-backed party rejects Myanmar election as unfair

YANGON , Myanmar ( AP ) - Myanmar ’ s military-backed main opposition party said Wednesday that it is rejecting the results of last weekend ’ s general election , citing unfairness .
Unofficial results showed Tuesday that the ruling National League for Democracy party of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi won a majority of seats in Parliament , giving it a second five-year term in power .
At a news conference Wednesday in Yangon , Myanmar ’ s largest city , an official from the Union Solidarity and Development Party read a statement demanding that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and work with the military so that the election can be free , fair and unbiased .
A member of the Union Election Commission said in a separate new conference in Naypyitaw , the capital , that the commission has “ no comment on the USDP ’ s accusations , as we don ’ t know what kind of facts or evidence their accusations are based on.
” Outside the UEC office , about 50 protesters from various groups held placards challenging the validity of the election before they were asked by police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one day after party chairman Than Htay said that the election process is not yet over .
“ There have been many contentious events during the whole voting process , whether in line with the law or not , and more facts are coming out , ” Than Htay said in a video message posted on Facebook on Tuesday .
“ We will continue working according to the law to receive the final result.
” Yway Mal , an independent vote counting service , said that as of Wednesday , Suu Kyi ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the combined upper and lower houses , exceeding the 322 needed for control .
The USDP has so far captured 21 seats , while 48 were won by other parties , Yway Mal said .
The official results of Sunday ’ s election posted online by the Union Election Commission are lagging far behind the unofficial results , but they show the advantage going to Suu Kyi ’ s NLD .
They also confirmed that Suu Kyi won the seat she contested .
The NLD claimed victory on Monday .
The Carter Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the efforts of the election administration , election contestants , citizen observers , media , and voters to overcome the challenges that COVID-19 presented to the conduct of Myanmar ’ s general elections.
” While it found voters were able to freely express their will at the polls and choose their elected representatives , the Carter Center “ also noted that the quality of democracy in Myanmar continues to be undermined by serious deficiencies in the legal framework , including the reserved seats for military appointees , as well as by ongoing conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the exclusion of more than two million people from the electoral process because of violence or discrimination .
”

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar’s military-backed main opposition party said Wednesday that it is rejecting the results of last weekend’s general election, citing unfairness.
Unofficial results showed Tuesday that the ruling National League for Democracy party of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi won a majority of seats in Parliament, giving it a second five-year term in power.
At a news conference Wednesday in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, an official from the Union Solidarity and Development Party read a statement demanding that the Union Election Commission hold another vote, and work with the military so that the election can be free, fair and unbiased.
A member of the Union Election Commission said in a separate new conference in Naypyitaw, the capital, that the commission has “no comment on the USDP’s accusations, as we don’t know what kind of facts or evidence their accusations are based on.”
Outside the UEC office, about 50 protesters from various groups held placards challenging the validity of the election before they were asked by police to leave.
The USDP statement comes one day after party chairman Than Htay said that the election process is not yet over.
“There have been many contentious events during the whole voting process, whether in line with the law or not, and more facts are coming out,” Than Htay said in a video message posted on Facebook on Tuesday. “We will continue working according to the law to receive the final result.”
Yway Mal, an independent vote counting service, said that as of Wednesday, Suu Kyi’s party had won 361 seats in the combined upper and lower houses, exceeding the 322 needed for control.
The USDP has so far captured 21 seats, while 48 were won by other parties, Yway Mal said.
The official results of Sunday’s election posted online by the Union Election Commission are lagging far behind the unofficial results, but they show the advantage going to Suu Kyi’s NLD. They also confirmed that Suu Kyi won the seat she contested. The NLD claimed victory on Monday.
The Carter Center issued a statement Tuesday that “commended the efforts of the election administration, election contestants, citizen observers, media, and voters to overcome the challenges that COVID-19 presented to the conduct of Myanmar’s general elections.”
While it found voters were able to freely express their will at the polls and choose their elected representatives, the Carter Center “also noted that the quality of democracy in Myanmar continues to be undermined by serious deficiencies in the legal framework, including the reserved seats for military appointees, as well as by ongoing conflict in many areas of the country and by the exclusion of more than two million people from the electoral process because of violence or discrimination.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Council passes ordinance to make Edison mayor fulltime post

EDISON , N.J. ( AP ) - A New Jersey township might get a fulltime mayor with an $ 85,000 @ @ @ @ @ Edison Township Council on Monday passed an ordinance that would change the post in 2022 @ @ @ @ @ mayor ’ s pay to $ 135,000 .
Council President Joyce Ship Freeman abstained from @ @ @ @ @ Tom Lankey told The Home News Tribune he ’ s studying whether to veto the @ @ @ @ @ a senior vice president for JFK Health System and also serves part-time as board chairman @ @ @ @ @ Joe Coyle , who proposed the ordinance , said Lankey is hardpressed to explain how @ @ @ @ @ while trying to “ effectively govern on behalf of 100,000 residents.
” “ Simply put @ @ @ @ @ who will commit that this will be a full-time job if elected in 2022 , @ @ @ @

EDISON, N.J. (AP) - A New Jersey township might get a fulltime mayor with an $85,000 raise in salary.
The Edison Township Council on Monday passed an ordinance that would change the post in 2022 from part-time and raise the mayor’s pay to $135,000. Council President Joyce Ship Freeman abstained from the 4-2 vote.
Mayor Tom Lankey told The Home News Tribune he’s studying whether to veto the ordinance.
Lankey works as a senior vice president for JFK Health System and also serves part-time as board chairman for a bank.
Councilman Joe Coyle, who proposed the ordinance, said Lankey is hardpressed to explain how he can juggle those jobs while trying to “effectively govern on behalf of 100,000 residents.”
“Simply put, residents want a mayor who will commit that this will be a full-time job if elected in 2022,” Coyle said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Smart tactics for millennials flocking to buy life insurance

Life insurance applications for Americans have jumped in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic has made us more aware of our own mortality .
No one has been more interested in their own life insurance gaps than the under-45 crowd .
Application activity has grown almost twice as fast this year for Americans 44 and younger as for those 45-59 , according to research through September from MIB Group , a data-sharing service for insurance companies .
Younger buyers are often first-time applicants , digging into the details to understand how life insurance works .
If you ’ re looking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ease your way through the application process and get the most out of your new coverage .
Many young Americans are still near the beginning of their financial journeys .
Jobs , homes , cities and relationships will likely change over the next decade , which means needs and dependencies may change too .
“ The question of who needs life insurance is very personal , but an easy way to know if you need life insurance is to consider if someone would suffer financially if you were to pass away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of industry group Life Happens , said in an email .
“ If the answer is yes , then you should consider life insurance.
” She recommends focusing on two main issues : replacing your income and repaying your debts if you die .
That means thinking ahead to cover your growing financial commitments as your life changes .
For example , a new homeowner can skip mortgage protection insurance , which pays off your loan if you die , and choose a term life policy instead , suggests Roslyn Lash , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ The 7 Fruits of Budgeting.
” Your mortgage debt will shrink over time , but your life insurance benefit stays the same - so if you die , some of the money could be used for other priorities , such as sending a child to college .
SKIP THE MEDICAL EXAM WHILE YOU CAN Life insurance applications are notoriously frustrating .
You might expect to fill out forms , explain medications and take a life insurance medical exam just to find out if you ’ re approved .
While this process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now available .
“ The use of e-signature , no blood or urine tests , and online applications all have made life insurance more accessible to more people , ” Stafford said .
In a growing practice called “ accelerated underwriting , ” many insurers now rely on your prescription drug use , data about you from MIB Group and electronic health records to speed the process , according to the Society of Actuaries .
Accelerated applications can cut approval times down from weeks to hours , according to the National Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exam required .
Young buyers are often the most likely to be approved , and there ’ s almost no downside .
Most insurers will simply have you take a medical exam if you aren ’ t approved without one .
Buying now rather than later can help you save money on life insurance , which makes sense : The older you get , the more risk you pose to your life insurance company .
The result is that a policy for a 25-year-old is likely to be much less expensive than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millennials may not realize the value of buying life insurance while they ’ re young and healthy .
Research by the life insurance trade group LIMRA shows that half of millennials overestimate the cost of coverage .
Only 52 % own life insurance , even though 80 % recognize they need it , according to LIMRA .
But the 2020 pandemic is providing new motivation .
In October , nearly 1 in 3 millennials said they feel an increased need for life insurance due to COVID-19 , according to consumer research from LIMRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to figure out is how much you need and for how long you need it .
Think about the people who depend on you .
How much money would they need to pay off the house ?
How long would they need to finish school or find a job ?
Stafford suggested starting with a general guide to determine your coverage need : 10 times your annual salary .
“ But since finances are complicated , working with a financial professional can help you figure out how much coverage you need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet .
Andrew Marder is a writer at NerdWallet .
Email : amarder @ nerdwallet.com

Life insurance applications for Americans have jumped in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic has made us more aware of our own mortality.
No one has been more interested in their own life insurance gaps than the under-45 crowd. Application activity has grown almost twice as fast this year for Americans 44 and younger as for those 45-59, according to research through September from MIB Group, a data-sharing service for insurance companies.
Younger buyers are often first-time applicants, digging into the details to understand how life insurance works. If you’re looking for a policy, here’s how to ease your way through the application process and get the most out of your new coverage.
PLAN FOR TOMORROW, NOT TODAY
Many young Americans are still near the beginning of their financial journeys. Jobs, homes, cities and relationships will likely change over the next decade, which means needs and dependencies may change too.
“The question of who needs life insurance is very personal, but an easy way to know if you need life insurance is to consider if someone would suffer financially if you were to pass away,” Faisa Stafford, president and CEO of industry group Life Happens, said in an email. “If the answer is yes, then you should consider life insurance.”
She recommends focusing on two main issues: replacing your income and repaying your debts if you die. That means thinking ahead to cover your growing financial commitments as your life changes.
For example, a new homeowner can skip mortgage protection insurance, which pays off your loan if you die, and choose a term life policy instead, suggests Roslyn Lash, a financial educator in North Carolina and author of “The 7 Fruits of Budgeting.” Your mortgage debt will shrink over time, but your life insurance benefit stays the same - so if you die, some of the money could be used for other priorities, such as sending a child to college.
SKIP THE MEDICAL EXAM WHILE YOU CAN
Life insurance applications are notoriously frustrating. You might expect to fill out forms, explain medications and take a life insurance medical exam just to find out if you’re approved.
While this process is still out there, simpler options are now available. “The use of e-signature, no blood or urine tests, and online applications all have made life insurance more accessible to more people,” Stafford said.
In a growing practice called “accelerated underwriting,” many insurers now rely on your prescription drug use, data about you from MIB Group and electronic health records to speed the process, according to the Society of Actuaries.
Accelerated applications can cut approval times down from weeks to hours, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, with no medical exam required. Young buyers are often the most likely to be approved, and there’s almost no downside. Most insurers will simply have you take a medical exam if you aren’t approved without one.
DON’T ASSUME LIFE INSURANCE IS EXPENSIVE
Buying now rather than later can help you save money on life insurance, which makes sense: The older you get, the more risk you pose to your life insurance company. The result is that a policy for a 25-year-old is likely to be much less expensive than the same coverage for a 45-year-old.
Many millennials may not realize the value of buying life insurance while they’re young and healthy. Research by the life insurance trade group LIMRA shows that half of millennials overestimate the cost of coverage. Only 52% own life insurance, even though 80% recognize they need it, according to LIMRA.
But the 2020 pandemic is providing new motivation. In October, nearly 1 in 3 millennials said they feel an increased need for life insurance due to COVID-19, according to consumer research from LIMRA.
To get started, all you have to figure out is how much you need and for how long you need it. Think about the people who depend on you. How much money would they need to pay off the house? How long would they need to finish school or find a job?
Stafford suggested starting with a general guide to determine your coverage need: 10 times your annual salary. “But since finances are complicated, working with a financial professional can help you figure out how much coverage you need for your own personal situation,” she said.
__________________________
This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Andrew Marder is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: amarder@nerdwallet.com
RELATED LINKS:
NerdWallet: How Does Life Insurance Work? http://bit.ly/nerdwallet-life-insurance
MIB Group: Request a copy of your report https://www.mib.com/request_your_record.html


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--France: Several wounded in explosion at Saudi cemetery

PARIS ( AP ) — Multiple people were wounded on Wednesday when an explosive device hit an international ceremony commemorating the end of World War I at a cemetery in the Saudi Arabian city of Jiddah , according to French government officials .
Several countries had representatives at the ceremony , held at a cemetery for non-Muslim dead , the officials from the French Foreign Ministry said .
The identities of the victims were unclear .
Wednesday marks the 102nd anniversary of the armistice ending World War I and is commemorated in several European countries .
The French officials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line with regulations , condemned the attack .
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion .
Saudi officials and state-run media in the kingdom have not commented on the attack at the cemetery .
Jiddah , the Red Sea port city , saw its Ottoman troops surrender to the local troops backed by the British in 1916 amid the war .
That sparked the start of the Kingdom of Hejaz , which later became part of Saudi Arabia in 1932 Wednesday ’ s attack follows on the heels of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard at the French Consulate in the city of Jiddah .
The stabbing was carried out by a Saudi man , who was arrested .
His motives remain unclear .
France has urged its citizens in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim-majority countries to be “ on maximum alert ” amid heightened tensions after an assailant decapitated a French middle school teacher who showed caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class .
The French president ’ s support for caricatures as a cornerstone of free speech has riled some Muslims who view the depictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech .
Saudi King Salman is scheduled to deliver an annual address to the nation on Wednesday , laying out policy priorities for the coming year .

PARIS (AP) — Three people were wounded Wednesday when an improvised explosive device targeted a ceremony of French, American, British, Italian and Greek officials commemorating the end of World War I at a cemetery in the Saudi city of Jiddah, according to official statements.
The ceremony was held at a cemetery for non-Muslim dead, French Foreign Ministry officials said.
“Such attacks on innocent people are shameful and entirely without justification,” said a joint statement issued by the embassies of the five countries in attendance. The group also acknowledged the work of Saudi first responders at the scene.
Hours after the attack, Saudi state-media quoted a local official acknowledging the attack and saying a Greek consulate employee and Saudi security man were lightly wounded in the incident. The British government said one U.K. national suffered minor injuries.
The Saudi official said an investigation was underway.
Greece’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and said a Greek policeman serving in the Greek Consulate in Jeddah was wounded. The policeman had been accompanying a consulate employee attending the ceremony. The ministry said the wounded policeman was in good health and had been hospitalized but his life was not in danger.
Saudi state television also broadcast from outside the cemetery and said the security situation had stabilized.
Wednesday’s attack follows on the heels of a stabbing Oct. 29 that lightly wounded a guard at the French Consulate in the same city. The stabbing was carried out by a Saudi man, who was arrested. His motives remain unclear.
France has suffered two deadly attacks by foreign-born Muslims in the past month. A teacher was beheaded outside Paris for showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad to his class for a debate on free expression, and three people were later killed in a church in the southern city of Nice.
The depictions of the prophet sparked protests and calls for boycotts of French products among some Muslims in the Middle East and South Asia. France has urged its citizens in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim-majority countries to be “on maximum alert” amid the heightened tensions.
Wednesday marked the 102nd anniversary of the armistice ending World War I and is commemorated in several European countries.
Nadia Chaaya, an official who represents French citizens living in Saudi Arabia, was at the ceremony when it came under attack. She told The Associated Press there were about 20 people of different nationalities in attendance, making it difficult to say whether French diplomats were specifically targeted.
She earlier told the French network BFM about the moment she heard an explosion as the consul general was near the end of his speech.
“At that moment we didn’t really understand, but we felt that we were the target because directly we saw the smoke and we were of course in panic mode,” she said. “We tried to understand, and we were most of all afraid to see if there was going to be a second wave.”
Jiddah, the Red Sea port city, saw its Ottoman troops surrender to the local troops backed by the British in 1916 amid the war. That sparked the start of the Kingdom of Hejaz, which later became part of Saudi Arabia’s founding in 1932.
Jiddah’s Non-Muslim Cemetery sits nears the city’s docks, hidden behind trees alongside a major thoroughfare in the city. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission shows just one soldier buried at the cemetery, Pvt. John Arthur Hogan, who died in June 1944.
Across France, which was particularly devastated by years of trench warfare in World War I, ceremonies were held Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the armistice but also to honor all those who have died for France, including during the Second World War and in current military operations abroad and at home, where troops are deployed to protect against terrorist attacks.
Diplomatic posts have been targeted in the past in Saudi Arabia. A 2004 armed assault on the U.S. Consulate in Jiddah blamed on al-Qaida killed five employees. In 2016, a suicide bomber blew himself up near that same U.S. Consulate, wounding two guards.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has come under particular scrutiny among some Muslim leaders for his description of the caricatures of Prophet Muhammad as a protected cornerstone of free speech and France’s secular ideals. This has riled some Muslims who view the depictions as blasphemous and a form of hate speech.
Saudi Arabia’s monarch and top clerics are among those who have condemned the depictions, but top Saudi clerics have also called for calm and urged people to follow the prophet’s example of “mercy, justice, tolerance.”
King Salman is scheduled to deliver an annual address to the nation on Wednesday, laying out policy priorities for the coming year.
___
Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell and Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--6 Italian execs arrested in probe linked to bridge collapse

MILAN ( AP ) - Italian financial police on Wednesday issued arrest warrants against six current and former managers of Italy ’ s main private highway operator as part of investigations stemming from the Genoa bridge collapse that killed 43 people in August 2018 .
Former CEO Giovanni Castelluci , maintenance director Michele Donferri Mitelli and operations manager Paolo Berti were placed under house arrest .
While financial police said restrictive measures also applied to three current employees , Autostrade said one had already left the company and two have been suspended .
All are investigated for safety lapses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police , documents have emerged indicating that the six were aware that defective highway sound barriers had been installed in some parts of the company ’ s vast highway network , and resisted taking action to substitute them or otherwise ensure their safety .
Autostrade said in a statement that the barriers in question were installed on 60 kilometers ( 37 miles ) of the company ’ s 3,000-kilometer network , and that work has already been carried out to secure the barriers after the company became aware of an investigation last December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saw its shares fall 2.8 % at 15.08 euros ( $ 17.76 ) .
Atlantia , which is controlled by the Benetton family , has agreed to exit the company that manages most of Italy ’ s toll roads and bridges , but terms are still being worked out .
The deal avoids the possibility that the government would remove Autostrade ’ s concessions to run toll highways and bridges throughout the country .
A replacement bridge was opened with much fanfare this summer .

MILAN (AP) - Italian financial police on Wednesday issued arrest warrants against six current and former managers of Italy’s main private highway operator as part of investigations stemming from the Genoa bridge collapse that killed 43 people in August 2018.
Former CEO Giovanni Castelluci, maintenance director Michele Donferri Mitelli and operations manager Paolo Berti were placed under house arrest. While financial police said restrictive measures also applied to three current employees, Autostrade said one had already left the company and two have been suspended. All are investigated for safety lapses and public contract fraud.
According to financial police, documents have emerged indicating that the six were aware that defective highway sound barriers had been installed in some parts of the company’s vast highway network, and resisted taking action to substitute them or otherwise ensure their safety.
Autostrade said in a statement that the barriers in question were installed on 60 kilometers (37 miles) of the company’s 3,000-kilometer network, and that work has already been carried out to secure the barriers after the company became aware of an investigation last December.
Atlantia SpA, which controls Autostrade, saw its shares fall 2.8% at 15.08 euros ($17.76).
Atlantia, which is controlled by the Benetton family, has agreed to exit the company that manages most of Italy’s toll roads and bridges, but terms are still being worked out. The deal avoids the possibility that the government would remove Autostrade’s concessions to run toll highways and bridges throughout the country.
A replacement bridge was opened with much fanfare this summer.