washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Signs of hope in Germany, France but virus strains hospitals

BERLIN ( AP ) - The surge of new coronavirus cases appears to be slowing in Germany and France , generating hopes that the two European heavyweights are beginning to regain control over the pandemic .
But authorities said Thursday that hospitals are crowded and are likely to face further strain in the coming weeks .
Countries across Europe have implemented more or less drastic lockdown measures in recent weeks as they try to tamp down a resurgence of the pandemic , with numbers of confirmed cases hitting records .
They have largely overwhelmed contact-tracing efforts even in Germany , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s first cases well and is still in better shape than most of its neighbors .
Germany ’ s health minister told his compatriots to brace for a long winter , regardless of whether a partial shutdown succeeds in bringing down the caseload .
“ This doesn ’ t mean that things can really get going again everywhere from December or January , and that we can have wedding parties or Christmas celebrations as if nothing were happening - that won ’ t work , ” Jens Spahn told RBB Inforadio .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ events with more than 10 or 15 people this winter.
” Germany embarked Nov. 2 on its four-week “ lockdown light.
” Restaurants , bars , sports and leisure facilities have closed , but schools and shops remain open .
Neighboring France , which has confirmed more infections since the pandemic started than any other European country , is two weeks into a tougher monthlong lockdown that has left most adults confined to their homes for all but one hour a day , although schools remain open .
On Thursday , the Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease control center , said 21,866 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours in the nation of 83 million .
That ’ s short of a record of 23,399 set on Saturday , but nearly 2,000 more than a week earlier .
The institute ’ s head , Lothar Wieler , said he is “ cautiously optimistic ” because “ the curve is rising somewhat less steeply , it is flattening.
” But he said “ we don ’ t yet know whether this is a stable development ” and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect the new restrictions are having .
At the same , he pointed to an increasingly strained situation in hospitals as infections once again spread to older and more vulnerable people .
As of Wednesday , there were at least 3,127 COVID-19 patients in intensive care in Germany .
“ That is already more cases in intensive care than in April , and the cases have doubled in the past two weeks , ” Wieler said .
He said that nearly half of hospitals responding to health authorities are reporting “ limited availability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staffing issues caused by infections or quarantine .
“ We must be prepared for the situation to worsen in the coming weeks , ” he said .
“ Some hospitals could reach their limits .
It is possible that patients won ’ t be able to be given optimal care everywhere .
So we must prevent the situation escalating further.
” There were similar hopes and concerns over the border in France , where the prime minister was expected to announce later Thursday that authorities are starting to regain control over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the French government , Antoine Flahault , said Thursday on BFM television that “ after two weeks of lockdown , we are seeing the epidemic get back under control .
We are no longer seeing this exponential curve.
” However , doctors warn that hospitals remain crowded and are urging the public to obey lockdown measures .
A helicopter was transporting patients Thursday from saturated hospitals in the Lyon region to the eastern city of Strasbourg .
COVID-related deaths are also still rising , and authorities say more people with the virus have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November than in the previous five months .
In Berlin , Hans Weigeldt , a senior doctor at the Bethel hospital in suburban Lichterfelde whose 36-bed COVID-19 ward is already at capacity , said that “ we probably haven ’ t yet seen the worst ” at hospitals .
But although the “ organizational efforts ” will be a challenge over the next few weeks , Weigeldt told news agency dpa that he doesn ’ t expect the kind of overcrowding seen in parts of Italy in the spring .
“ My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ The partial lockdown will show effects.
” Amid heightened virus fears and the new round of European restrictions , few people are traveling at present .
Still , German airline Lufthansa launched a test program that it hopes will ensure health on board and encourage more to fly .
All passengers on a Munich-Hamburg domestic flight Thursday morning took a so-called antigen test and were only allowed to board after the quick results showed they were negative for the coronavirus .
Passengers weren ’ t charged for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an hour earlier to allow time for the results .
“ Successful testing of entire flights could be the key to reviving international air traffic , ” airline executive Christina Foerster said .
Lufthansa did not immediately have details on how many passengers were on board the first flight .
Angela Charlton in Paris and David Rising in Berlin contributed to this report .

BERLIN (AP) - The surge of new coronavirus cases appears to be slowing in Germany and France, generating hopes that the two European heavyweights are beginning to regain control over the pandemic. But authorities said Thursday that hospitals are crowded and are likely to face further strain in the coming weeks.
Countries across Europe have implemented lockdown measures of varying intensity in recent weeks as they try to tamp down a second wave of the pandemic, with numbers of confirmed cases hitting records. They have largely overwhelmed contact-tracing efforts even in Germany, which was credited with handling the pandemic’s first cases well and is still in better shape than most of its neighbors.
One death in four in France is now linked to COVID-19, and there were more virus patients in French hospitals as of Thursday than there were during the peak of the country’s first epidemic in the spring, Prime Minister Jean Castex said.
But the number of people infected per 100,000 has been dropping for 10 days, and the number of virus patients is hospitals is expected to peak early next week, French officials reported.
“That’s good news, but not sufficient” to lift lockdowns just yet, Castex said.
Germany’s health minister told his compatriots to brace for a long winter, regardless of whether a partial shutdown succeeds in bringing down the caseload.
“This doesn’t mean that things can really get going again everywhere from December or January, and that we can have wedding parties or Christmas celebrations as if nothing were happening - that won’t work,” Jens Spahn told RBB Inforadio.
“I don’t see having events with more than 10 or 15 people this winter.”
Germany embarked Nov. 2 on its four-week “lockdown light.” Restaurants, bars, sports and leisure facilities have closed, but schools and shops remain open.
Neighboring France, which has confirmed more infections since the pandemic started than any other European country, is two weeks into a tougher monthlong lockdown that has left most adults confined to their homes for all but one hour a day, although schools remain open.
On Thursday, the Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s national disease control center, said 21,866 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours in the nation of 83 million. That’s short of a record of 23,399 set on Saturday, but nearly 2,000 more than a week earlier.
The institute’s head, Lothar Wieler, said he is “cautiously optimistic” because “the curve is rising somewhat less steeply, it is flattening.” But he said “we don’t yet know whether this is a stable development” and it’s too early to assess what effect the new restrictions are having.
At the same, he pointed to an increasingly strained situation in hospitals as infections once again spread to older and more vulnerable people. As of Wednesday, there were at least 3,127 COVID-19 patients in intensive care in Germany.
“That is already more cases in intensive care than in April, and the cases have doubled in the past two weeks,” Wieler said. He said that nearly half of hospitals responding to health authorities are reporting “limited availability” of ventilator places, principally because of staffing issues caused by infections or quarantine.
“We must be prepared for the situation to worsen in the coming weeks,” he said. “Some hospitals could reach their limits. It is possible that patients won’t be able to be given optimal care everywhere. So we must prevent the situation escalating further.”
In France, the prime minister warned that people should not be planning any big Christmas or New Year’s parties. However, he said that if hospitalization rates start to slow, the government can start allowing stores selling non-essential goods to reopen Dec. 1 after a month of forced closure. Either way, restaurants, bars, gyms and tourist sites will remain closed until further notice.
Castex promised “massive economic support” for businesses forced to close, after hundreds of billions already spent to keep people employed and to keep businesses afloat. The French government opened a counseling hotline for those suffering from the isolation of remote work.
In Berlin, Hans Weigeldt, a senior doctor at the Bethel hospital in suburban Lichterfelde whose 36-bed COVID-19 ward is already at capacity, said that “we probably haven’t yet seen the worst” at hospitals.
But although the “organizational efforts” will be a challenge over the next few weeks, Weigeldt told news agency dpa that he doesn’t expect the kind of overcrowding seen in parts of Italy in the spring.
“My feeling is that we will make it,” he said. “The partial lockdown will show effects.”
Amid heightened virus fears and the new round of European restrictions, few people are traveling at present. Still, German airline Lufthansa launched a test program that it hopes will ensure health on board and encourage more to fly.
All passengers on a Munich-Hamburg domestic flight Thursday morning took a so-called antigen test and were only allowed to board after the quick results showed they were negative for the coronavirus. Passengers weren’t charged for the test but were told to arrive an hour earlier to allow time for the results.
“Successful testing of entire flights could be the key to reviving international air traffic,” airline executive Christina Foerster said.
Lufthansa did not immediately have details on how many passengers were on board the first flight.
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Angela Charlton in Paris and David Rising in Berlin contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s coronavirus pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Authorities say fatal stabbing at state park was random act

BARABOO , Wis. ( AP ) - Authorities investigating the stabbing death of a man at Devil ’ s Lake State Park say they believe the crime was a random act .
Sauk County Det .
Lt. Chris Zunker said Wednesday investigators believe the victim , 24-year-old John Craig Schutzmer , did not know the person who killed him .
The Wauwatosa man suffered multiple stab wounds Oct. 14 along a trail near the south shore of the park .
Schutzmer died at the scene .
Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said they are hoping members of the public are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by noticing behavioral changes in the suspect .
“ Crimes like these are very often solved with community members who report critical information to law enforcement , ” Meister said .
“ We are confident there is someone out there who knows , or suspects they know , who this person is and we await their call.
” Witnesses reported seeing a man wearing a dark head covering and a dark facial covering walking toward the south shore parking lot , the State Journal reported .
Zunker says the suspect was likely triggered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the stabbing .
He says anyone who may have had “ unusual encounters ” in the park in the days before the stabbing should report them .
Zunker also said the suspect may have changed his appearance , the car he drives , shown an increased interest in the news reporting the homicide case , missed work , family events or withdrawn from other activities .

BARABOO, Wis. (AP) - Authorities investigating the stabbing death of a man at Devil’s Lake State Park say they believe the crime was a random act.
Sauk County Det. Lt. Chris Zunker said Wednesday investigators believe the victim, 24-year-old John Craig Schutzmer, did not know the person who killed him. The Wauwatosa man suffered multiple stab wounds Oct. 14 along a trail near the south shore of the park. Schutzmer died at the scene.
Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said they are hoping members of the public are able to help them find the suspect by noticing behavioral changes in the suspect.
“Crimes like these are very often solved with community members who report critical information to law enforcement,” Meister said. “We are confident there is someone out there who knows, or suspects they know, who this person is and we await their call.”
Witnesses reported seeing a man wearing a dark head covering and a dark facial covering walking toward the south shore parking lot, the State Journal reported.
Zunker says the suspect was likely triggered by a “stressful life event” before the stabbing. He says anyone who may have had “unusual encounters” in the park in the days before the stabbing should report them.
Zunker also said the suspect may have changed his appearance, the car he drives, shown an increased interest in the news reporting the homicide case, missed work, family events or withdrawn from other activities.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Iran passes grim milestone of 40,000 deaths from coronavirus

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) - Iran on Thursday passed the grim milestone of 40,000 coronavirus deaths , with the latest 10,000 added in less than a month , as the country struggles to contain its most widespread wave of infection yet .
The Iranian health ministry announced 457 new fatalities on Thursday , along with 117,517 new infections , pushing the total case count past 726,000 , although officials have warned that ’ s a significant undercount .
The death toll has soared in recent weeks , shattering records in the nation that for months has suffered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nearly half of Iran ’ s coronavirus deaths are recorded in the capital of Tehran , according to health officials , where medical workers have warned that the health system may soon be overwhelmed and demanded a strict month-long lockdown in all provincial capitals to slow the virus ’ spread .
But the government has resisted shutting down the country , desperate to salvage an economy cratered by unprecedented American sanctions that effectively bar Iran from selling its oil internationally .
The Trump administration reimposed sanctions in 2018 after withdrawing from Tehran ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier this week , authorities ordered a month-long nightly business curfew in Tehran and 30 other major cities and towns , asking nonessential shops to keep their workers home .
Still , enforcement in the sprawling metropolis remains a challenge .
As deaths continue to surge with no end in sight , authorities have come under pressure .
The national coronavirus task force will consider a two-week nationwide lockdown proposal this weekend , Deputy Health Minister Qassem Janbabaei told the semi-official Tasnim news agency .

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran on Thursday passed the grim milestone of 40,000 coronavirus deaths, with the latest 10,000 added in less than a month, as the country struggles to contain its most widespread wave of infection yet.
The Iranian health ministry announced 457 new fatalities on Thursday, along with 117,517 new infections, pushing the total case count past 726,000, although officials have warned that’s a significant undercount.
The death toll has soared in recent weeks, shattering records in the nation that for months has suffered the worst outbreak in the Middle East.
Nearly half of Iran’s coronavirus deaths are recorded in the capital of Tehran, according to health officials, where medical workers have warned that the health system may soon be overwhelmed and demanded a strict month-long lockdown in all provincial capitals to slow the virus’ spread.
But the government has resisted shutting down the country, desperate to salvage an economy cratered by unprecedented American sanctions that effectively bar Iran from selling its oil internationally. The Trump administration reimposed sanctions in 2018 after withdrawing from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
Earlier this week, authorities ordered a month-long nightly business curfew in Tehran and 30 other major cities and towns, asking nonessential shops to keep their workers home. Still, enforcement in the sprawling metropolis remains a challenge.
As deaths continue to surge with no end in sight, authorities have come under pressure. The national coronavirus task force will consider a two-week nationwide lockdown proposal this weekend, Deputy Health Minister Qassem Janbabaei told the semi-official Tasnim news agency.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--US envoy insists pressure on Iran will persist under Biden

ABU DHABI , United Arab Emirates ( AP ) - The U.S. special representative for Iran insisted Thursday that a pressure campaign of sanctions targeting Iran would persist into the administration of Joe Biden , even as the president-elect has pledged to potentially return America to Tehran ’ s nuclear deal with world powers .
Elliot Abrams , who also serves as the U.S. special representative to Venezuela , said sanctions targeting Iran for human rights violations , its ballistic missile program and its regional influence would go on .
That , as well as continued scrutiny by United Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would maintain that pressure , he said .
Iran now has far more uranium than allowed under the deal since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 .
The Mideast also has been roiled by tensions between Tehran and Washington , which pushed the two countries to the brink of war at the beginning of the year .
“ Even if you went back to the ( deal ) and even if the Iranians were willing to return … this newly enriched uranium , you would not have solved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be permitted to violate long-term commitments it has made to the world community , ” Abrams told The Associated Press in an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi .
Iran ’ s politicians have increasingly discussed the possibility of the U.S. returning to the deal , which saw Iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions .
Alireza Miryousefi , a spokesman for Iran ’ s mission to the U.N. , dismissed Abram ’ s comments .
“ The policy of maximum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Miryousefi told the AP .
“ The U.S. effort to abuse this corrupt policy is futile and will only lead to further isolation of the U.S. on the international stage.
“ Abrams replaced Brian Hook as America ’ s envoy on Iran , who announced he ’ d leave his post in August after serving as the face of Trump ’ s maximum-pressure campaign .
That effort has floundered internationally as the U.S. and its Gulf Arab allies failed to convince the U.N. to stop an arms embargo on Iran from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enriched uranium stockpile , which would have been under 300 kilograms ( 660 pounds ) in the deal , now stands at over 2,440 kilograms ( 5,380 pounds ) , according to the latest report by U.N. inspectors .
That ’ s potentially enough material to make at least two nuclear weapons , experts say , if Iran chose to pursue the bomb .
Iran also is enriching uranium to as much as 4.5 % purity , higher than allowed under the accord but still far lower than weapons-grade levels of 90 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enrichment months after Trump ’ s pullout from the agreement , even as the deal ’ s other international partners China , France , Russia , the United Kingdom and Germany have tried unsuccessfully to salvage it .
Meanwhile , Iran has begun construction at its underground Natanz enrichment site after a fire and explosion it described as “ sabotage ” struck its advanced centrifuge assembly plant in July .
Abrams described the construction as “ another Iranian challenge ” to the International Atomic Energy Agency , the U.N. agency that Iran still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also criticized Iran for its slow response in allowing the IAEA to investigate a suspicious site outside of Tehran where it discovered particles of uranium of man-made origin .
Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes .
However , the IAEA has said Iran “ carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device ” in a “ structured program ” through the end of 2003 .
“ Iran denies that it ever had a nuclear weapons program , ” Abrams said .
“ Therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , well , things you found from 2003 , were part of our old nuclear weapons program .
They ’ re caught in their own lie.
” Abrams mentioned U.S. citizens still imprisoned by Iran , who activists and their families insist are chips in future negotiations .
He also said the United Arab Emirates ’ normalization deal with Israel also put new pressure on Iran , especially as the U.S. plans a $ 23 billion arms deal for Emiratis to purchase F-35 stealth fighter jets and drones .
“ I hope that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve built up through our sanctions program is used ( with ) any form of pressure including , for example , Iranian fears about a developing relationship between Israel and Arab states in the region , ” he said .
“ All of this pressure should be brought to bear to get Iran to change its conduct.
” In the 1980s , during the Reagan administration , Abrams worked in the State Department and convinced the sultan of Brunei to deposit $ 10 million in a White House-controlled Swiss bank account to aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressional ban .
But the White House later put the money into the wrong account in a clerical error , as investigators later discovered .
Abrams , now 72 , ultimately cooperated with those investigating the so-called Iran-Contra Affair and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges .
Then-President George H.W .
Bush pardoned him in 1992 .

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. special representative for Iran insisted Thursday that a pressure campaign of sanctions targeting Iran would persist into the administration of Joe Biden, even as the president-elect has pledged to potentially return America to Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
Elliott Abrams, who also serves as the U.S. special representative to Venezuela, said sanctions targeting Iran for human rights violations, its ballistic missile program and its regional influence would go on. That, as well as continued scrutiny by United Nations inspectors and American partners in the Mideast, would maintain that pressure, he said.
Iran now has far more uranium than allowed under the deal since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018. The Mideast also has been roiled by tensions between Tehran and Washington, which pushed the two countries to the brink of war at the beginning of the year.
“Even if you went back to the (deal) and even if the Iranians were willing to return … this newly enriched uranium, you would not have solved these really fundamental questions of whether Iran is going to be permitted to violate long-term commitments it has made to the world community,” Abrams told The Associated Press in an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Iran’s politicians have increasingly discussed the possibility of the U.S. returning to the deal, which saw Iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for Iran’s mission to the U.N., dismissed Abram’s comments.
“The policy of maximum pressure and sanctions against Iran has failed,” Miryousefi told the AP. “The U.S. effort to abuse this corrupt policy is futile and will only lead to further isolation of the U.S. on the international stage.”
Abrams replaced Brian Hook as America’s envoy on Iran, who announced he’d leave his post in August after serving as the face of Trump’s maximum-pressure campaign. That effort has floundered internationally as the U.S. and its Gulf Arab allies failed to convince the U.N. to stop an arms embargo on Iran from expiring in October.
Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, which would have been under 300 kilograms (660 pounds) in the deal, now stands at over 2,440 kilograms (5,380 pounds) , according to the latest report by U.N. inspectors. That’s potentially enough material to make at least two nuclear weapons, experts say, if Iran chose to pursue the bomb.
Iran also is enriching uranium to as much as 4.5% purity, higher than allowed under the accord but still far lower than weapons-grade levels of 90%. Tehran abandoned all limits on its enrichment months after Trump’s pullout from the agreement, even as the deal’s other international partners China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany have tried unsuccessfully to salvage it.
Meanwhile, Iran has begun construction at its underground Natanz enrichment site after a fire and explosion it described as “sabotage” struck its advanced centrifuge assembly plant in July.
Abrams described the construction as “another Iranian challenge” to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. agency that Iran still allows to monitor its nuclear sites. He also criticized Iran for its slow response in allowing the IAEA to investigate a suspicious site outside of Tehran where it discovered particles of uranium of man-made origin.
Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. However, the IAEA has said Iran “carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device” in a “structured program” through the end of 2003.
“Iran denies that it ever had a nuclear weapons program,” Abrams said. “Therefore, it can’t now say, well, things you found from 2003, were part of our old nuclear weapons program. They’re caught in their own lie.”
Abrams mentioned U.S. citizens still imprisoned by Iran, who activists and their families insist are chips in future negotiations. He also said the United Arab Emirates’ normalization deal with Israel also put new pressure on Iran, especially as the U.S. plans a $23 billion arms deal for Emiratis to purchase F-35 stealth fighter jets and drones.
“I hope that next year the leverage that we’ve built up through our sanctions program is used (with) any form of pressure including, for example, Iranian fears about a developing relationship between Israel and Arab states in the region,” he said. “All of this pressure should be brought to bear to get Iran to change its conduct.”
In the 1980s, during the Reagan administration, Abrams worked in the State Department and convinced the sultan of Brunei to deposit $10 million in a White House-controlled Swiss bank account to aid Nicaragua’s Contra rebels despite a Congressional ban. But the White House later put the money into the wrong account in a clerical error, as investigators later discovered.
Abrams, now 72, ultimately cooperated with those investigating the so-called Iran-Contra Affair and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges. Then-President George H.W. Bush pardoned him in 1992.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Election 2020 Today: Biden taps Klain, Trump voters dismayed

NEW CHIEF : President-elect Joe Biden has chosen his longtime adviser Ron Klain to reprise his role as his chief of staff , installing an aide with decades of experience in the top role in his White House .
Klain will lead a White House likely to be consumed by the response to the coronavirus pandemic .
He served as the coordinator to the Ebola health crisis in 2014 .
Klain also faces the challenge of working with a divided Congress that could include a Republican-led Senate .
TRUMP ’ S VOTERS : Across the country , many of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump are working through emotions in the wake of his loss to Biden .
Grief , anger and shock are among the feelings being expressed by those who had assumed Trump would win .
Many also are skeptical of the results , their views echoing Trump ’ s remarks since Election Day .
This despite the fact that state officials and election experts say the 2020 election unfolded smoothly across the country and without widespread irregularities .
PENTAGON TURMOIL : Abrupt changes in the Pentagon ’ s top leadership have raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do in his final two months of office .
Another concern is whether the military ’ s long-held apolitical nature could be upended .
It ’ s unclear if Trump ’ s motive for the shakeup is to strike out against those he deemed not loyal enough or if there is a broader plan to enact policy changes Trump can tout in his final days as commander in chief .
LEGAL CHALLENGES : Trump loyalists have filed at least 15 legal challenges in Pennsylvania alone in an effort to reclaim the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s action , too , on the legal front in Georgia , Arizona , Nevada and Michigan as the president insists without evidence that the election was stolen from him .
Yet Republican and Democratic election officials nationwide say there ’ s been no conspiracy .
Experts doubt the lawsuits can reverse the outcome in any state , let alone the election .
Trump confidants have suggested the challenges are designed more to stoke his base .
SENATE BLITZ : Opening salvos of Georgia ’ s twin U.S. Senate runoff campaign showcase starkly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this nascent battleground for Senate dominance .
For Democrats , it ’ s seemingly a more piecemeal , voter-by-voter approach , while Republicans are pushing a broad branding message through mass media .
Whichever strategy proves more effective on Jan. 5 will help determine the ambitions and reach of Biden ’ s tenure depending on which party ultimately controls the chamber .
QUOTABLE : “ I ’ ve already started engaging in this area .
… And if that ’ s not occurring by Friday , I will step in and push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that regardless of the outcome of the election , whichever way that it goes , people can be ready for that actual task.
” - Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma on resolving Biden ’ s access to intelligence briefings .
Money to support Trump court fight could flow to president World leaders talking to Biden about the virus , other issues Biden moves forward without help from Trump ’ s intel team

Here’s what’s happening Thursday in Election 2020.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES:
NEW CHIEF: President-elect Joe Biden has chosen his longtime adviser Ron Klain to reprise his role as his chief of staff, installing an aide with decades of experience in the top role in his White House. Klain will lead a White House likely to be consumed by the response to the coronavirus pandemic. He served as the coordinator to the Ebola health crisis in 2014. Klain also faces the challenge of working with a divided Congress that could include a Republican-led Senate.
TRUMP’S VOTERS: Across the country, many of the nearly 72 million people who voted for President Donald Trump are working through emotions in the wake of his loss to Biden. Grief, anger and shock are among the feelings being expressed by those who had assumed Trump would win. Many also are skeptical of the results, their views echoing Trump’s remarks since Election Day. This despite the fact that state officials and election experts say the 2020 election unfolded smoothly across the country and without widespread irregularities.
PENTAGON TURMOIL: Abrupt changes in the Pentagon’s top leadership have raised fears about what Trump may try to do in his final two months of office. Another concern is whether the military’s long-held apolitical nature could be upended. It’s unclear if Trump’s motive for the shakeup is to strike out against those he deemed not loyal enough or if there is a broader plan to enact policy changes Trump can tout in his final days as commander in chief.
LEGAL CHALLENGES: Trump loyalists have filed at least 15 legal challenges in Pennsylvania alone in an effort to reclaim the state’s 20 electoral votes. There’s action, too, on the legal front in Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Michigan as the president insists without evidence that the election was stolen from him. Yet Republican and Democratic election officials nationwide say there’s been no conspiracy. Experts doubt the lawsuits can reverse the outcome in any state, let alone the election. Trump confidants have suggested the challenges are designed more to stoke his base.
SENATE BLITZ: Opening salvos of Georgia’s twin U.S. Senate runoff campaign showcase starkly different approaches the two parties are taking in this nascent battleground for Senate dominance. For Democrats, it’s seemingly a more piecemeal, voter-by-voter approach, while Republicans are pushing a broad branding message through mass media. Whichever strategy proves more effective on Jan. 5 will help determine the ambitions and reach of Biden’s tenure depending on which party ultimately controls the chamber.
QUOTABLE: “I’ve already started engaging in this area. … And if that’s not occurring by Friday, I will step in and push and say this needs to occur so that regardless of the outcome of the election, whichever way that it goes, people can be ready for that actual task.” - Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma on resolving Biden’s access to intelligence briefings.
ICYMI:
Money to support Trump court fight could flow to president
World leaders talking to Biden about the virus, other issues
Biden moves forward without help from Trump’s intel team
Biden’s plea for cooperation confronts a polarized Congress
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Find AP’s full election coverage at APNews.com/Election2020.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--France's Sarkozy seeks closure of Libyan corruption case

PARIS ( AP ) - Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants authorities to drop an investigation into alleged illegal financing of his 2007 campaign by the regime of late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi , after a central accuser backtracked on claims that he had handed Sarkozy ’ s team suitcases of Libyan cash .
Sarkozy , who denies wrongdoing , has been given preliminary corruption charges in the case , under investigation since 2013 .
The probe gained traction when French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine told news site Mediapart in 2016 that he had delivered suitcases from Libya containing 5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cash to Sarkozy and his former chief of staff .
On Wednesday , Takieddine reversed course , telling BFM television from Lebanon : “ It ’ s not true .
Mr. Sarkozy did not receive financing … there was no financing of Sarkozy ’ s presidential campaign.
” Sarkozy released a statement late Wednesday on social networks saying : “ The truth is emerging at last … he never gave me money , there was never illegal financing of my 2007 campaign.
” Sarkozy said he would ask investigators to drop the charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defamation .
Investigators are examining claims that Gadhafi ’ s regime secretly gave Sarkozy 50 million euros overall for his winning 2007 French campaign .
The sum would be more than double the legal campaign funding limit at the time , 21 million euros , and would violate French rules against foreign campaign financing .
Sarkozy ’ s relationship with Gadhafi was complicated .
In 2007 , Sarkozy welcomed Gadhafi to France with high honors .
Sarkozy then put France at the forefront of NATO-led airstrikes that helped rebel fighters topple Gadhafi ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Takieddine have faced other legal troubles in France .
The former president faces trial later this month in an unrelated corruption case .

PARIS (AP) - Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants authorities to drop an investigation into alleged illegal financing of his 2007 campaign by the regime of late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, after a central accuser backtracked on claims that he had handed Sarkozy’s team suitcases of Libyan cash.
Sarkozy, who denies wrongdoing, has been given preliminary corruption charges in the case, under investigation since 2013.
The probe gained traction when French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine told news site Mediapart in 2016 that he had delivered suitcases from Libya containing 5 million euros ($6.2 million) in cash to Sarkozy and his former chief of staff.
On Wednesday, Takieddine reversed course, telling BFM television from Lebanon: “It’s not true. Mr. Sarkozy did not receive financing … there was no financing of Sarkozy’s presidential campaign.”
Sarkozy released a statement late Wednesday on social networks saying: “The truth is emerging at last … he never gave me money, there was never illegal financing of my 2007 campaign.”
Sarkozy said he would ask investigators to drop the charges against him, and sue Takieddine for defamation.
Investigators are examining claims that Gadhafi’s regime secretly gave Sarkozy 50 million euros overall for his winning 2007 French campaign. The sum would be more than double the legal campaign funding limit at the time, 21 million euros, and would violate French rules against foreign campaign financing.
Sarkozy’s relationship with Gadhafi was complicated. In 2007, Sarkozy welcomed Gadhafi to France with high honors. Sarkozy then put France at the forefront of NATO-led airstrikes that helped rebel fighters topple Gadhafi’s regime in 2011.
Sarkozy and Takieddine have faced other legal troubles in France. The former president faces trial later this month in an unrelated corruption case.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Rights group asks Pakistan to unveil whereabouts of activist

PESHAWAR , Pakistan ( AP ) - A prominent rights group Thursday asked Pakistan to immediately disclose the whereabouts of an activist who authorities acknowledged was being held on a treason charge months after his disappearance .
Pakistani rights activist Idris Khattak , who worked for both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch , went missing along with his driver on Nov. 13 last year .
Later , his driver told his family that Khattak was taken by unidentified men from his car while they were traveling in the country ’ s volatile northwest .
The request for information came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khattak ’ s disappearance until June , when the Ministry of Defense responded to his family ’ s complaint .
The ministry told a court that Khattak was in custody and faced a treason charge , which is punishable by death .
Amnesty International , on the anniversary of Khattak ’ s disappearance , in a statement said the man “ worked extensively to tackle enforced disappearance ” before he himself went missing last year .
It asked Pakistan to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding his case .
“ A year after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khattak ’ s family remain completely in the dark about where he is being kept , his state of health , and the legal process he is being put through , if any , ” said Omar Waraich , the head of South Asia at Amnesty International .
“ The Pakistani authorities must end this intolerable situation by disclosing his whereabouts and allowing him regular access to his family and lawyer , ” he added .
Waraich asked Pakistan to bring Khattak before a civilian court .
The country has witnessed an intensified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and members of civil society in recent years .

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - A prominent rights group Thursday asked Pakistan to immediately disclose the whereabouts of an activist who authorities acknowledged was being held on a treason charge months after his disappearance.
Pakistani rights activist Idris Khattak, who worked for both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, went missing along with his driver on Nov. 13 last year. Later, his driver told his family that Khattak was taken by unidentified men from his car while they were traveling in the country’s volatile northwest.
The request for information came from Amnesty.
Pakistan maintained silence over Khattak’s disappearance until June, when the Ministry of Defense responded to his family’s complaint. The ministry told a court that Khattak was in custody and faced a treason charge, which is punishable by death.
Amnesty International, on the anniversary of Khattak’s disappearance, in a statement said the man “worked extensively to tackle enforced disappearance” before he himself went missing last year.
It asked Pakistan to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding his case.
“A year after he was taken from them, Idris Khattak’s family remain completely in the dark about where he is being kept, his state of health, and the legal process he is being put through, if any,” said Omar Waraich, the head of South Asia at Amnesty International.
“The Pakistani authorities must end this intolerable situation by disclosing his whereabouts and allowing him regular access to his family and lawyer,” he added.
Waraich asked Pakistan to bring Khattak before a civilian court. The country has witnessed an intensified crackdown on human rights defenders, journalists and members of civil society in recent years.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Greek hospital workers demand more hirings in pandemic

ATHENS , Greece ( AP ) - Dozens of hospital workers have held protests at hospitals in Greece , demanding more medical staff be hired as the country struggles to contain a resurgence of the coronavirus that has led to a new lockdown being imposed .
An increase in the number of people seriously ill with COVID-19 has led the country ’ s health system to come under increasing pressure .
As of Wednesday night , Greece had a total of 1,104 intensive care unit beds , of which 496 were set aside for COVID-19 patients .
Of those , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has stressed it has massively increased the country ’ s intensive care capacity , noting there were a total of just over 500 ICU beds in Greece when it came to power after elections in mid-2019 .
“ Every humanly possible effort was made so that we can , in the intervening time between the first wave and where we are today , reinforce the ICUs with beds and personnel , ” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Thursday during a Parliament speech on the government ’ s handling of the pandemic .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been done and continues to be done.
” Mitsotakis said that no matter how many ICUs a country has , “ and obviously we prefer to have more rather than fewer , a health system can not cope if we do not hit the problem at the start of the chain .
The start of the chain is the uncontrolled spread of the virus mainly through crowding and contact with people we do not know.
” The prime minister said the resurgence of the virus in Greece and the rest of Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fun .
I ’ m not saying this as criticism , of course young people are more susceptible to such behavior .
But it ’ s an observation and it needs to be heard.
” In the initial outbreak of the pandemic in the spring , Greece imposed a lockdown early , a move that was credited with keeping the number of deaths and seriously ill very low .
But a resurgence of the virus this autumn has led to a rapidly increasing number of people in intensive care units , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday night , Greece ’ s total confirmed coronavirus cases stood at just over 63,300 with 909 deaths in this country of around 11 million people .

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Dozens of hospital workers held protests at hospitals in Greece Thursday, demanding more medical staff be hired as the country struggles to contain a resurgence of the coronavirus that has led to a new lockdown being imposed.
An increase in the number of people seriously ill with COVID-19 has brought the country’s health system under increasing pressure. As of Wednesday night, Greece had a total of 1,104 intensive care unit beds, of which 496 were set aside for COVID-19 patients. Of those, 335 are already occupied.
On Thursday, authorities reported 50 new deaths and more than 3,300 new confirmed infections - both record high daily numbers. Greece’s total confirmed COVID-19 infections stand at 66,637 with an overall death toll of 959 in the country of around 11 million.
The government has stressed it has massively increased intensive care capacity, noting there were a total of just over 500 ICU beds in Greece when it came to power after elections in mid-2019.
“Every humanly possible effort was made so that we can, in the intervening time between the first wave and where we are today, reinforce the ICUs with beds and personnel,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Thursday during a Parliament debate on the government’s handling of the pandemic. “Whatever was humanly possible … has been done and continues to be done.”
Mitsotakis said that no matter how many ICUs a country has, “and obviously we prefer to have more rather than fewer, a health system cannot cope if we do not hit the problem at the start of the chain. The start of the chain is the uncontrolled spread of the virus mainly through crowding and contact with people we do not know.”
The prime minister said the resurgence of the virus in Greece and the rest of Europe was due to “young people having fun. I’m not saying this as criticism, of course young people are more susceptible to such behavior. But it’s an observation and it needs to be heard.”
Greece imposed an early lockdown during the pandemic’s initial outbreak in the spring, a move credited with keeping the number of deaths and seriously ill very low. But a resurgence of the virus this autumn has led to a rapidly increasing number of people in intensive care units, and a sharp increase in deaths.
Those hospitalized include the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Albania, Anastasios, who was airlifted to Greece from Tirana on Wednesday after showing mild symptoms of COVID-19 and testing positive.
A hospital statement Thursday said the 91-year-old archbishop was in stable condition in intensive care with mild respiratory symptoms and a low fever.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who has been in self-quarantine since Wednesday after coming into contact with someone who tested positive, said he had received a phone call from his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, who inquired about his health.
Relations between Greece and Turkey have been particularly tense in recent months, mainly due to a dispute over drilling rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
Dendias tweeted that he had thanked Cavusoglu for the call, and stressed he was in quarantine only for preventative reasons. Greece’s deputy foreign minister is also in self-quarantine for the same reason.
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Follow Becatoros at https://twitter.com/ElenaBec
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Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--India announces $35 billion economic stimulus package

NEW DELHI ( AP ) - India ’ s finance minister on Thursday announced a $ 35.14 billion package to stimulate the economy by boosting jobs , consumer demand , manufacturing , agriculture and exports hit by the coronavirus pandemic .
Nirmala Sitharaman said the package includes 9 billion rupees ( $ 121 million ) for development of a COVID-19 vaccine by the government ’ s biotechnology department .
The announcement came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s Cabinet approved nearly 2 trillion rupees ( $ 27 billion ) in incentives over five years to manufacturers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts , pharmaceuticals , textiles and food products .
The objective of the incentives is to attract investment and enable India to become part of the global supply chain , Sitharaman said .
She also said a strong economic recovery is taking root , citing an increase in tax collections for goods and services .
The government in May announced a $ 266 billion stimulus package to boost consumer demand and manufacturing .
A large part of the package was actually loans provided by banks , many of them without collateral .
India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the April-June quarter , its worst performance in at least 24 years as the coronavirus pandemic ravaged what was once the world ’ s fastest growing major economy .
Another downturn is forecast for July-September data due to be announced later this month .
The New Delhi Television news channel said the GDP is expected to contract by 8.6 % in the quarter ending in September .

NEW DELHI (AP) - India’s finance minister on Thursday announced a $35.14 billion package to stimulate the economy by boosting jobs, consumer demand, manufacturing, agriculture and exports hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Nirmala Sitharaman said the package includes 9 billion rupees ($121 million) for development of a COVID-19 vaccine by the government’s biotechnology department.
The announcement came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet approved nearly 2 trillion rupees ($27 billion) in incentives over five years to manufacturers in 10 sectors, including automobiles and auto parts, pharmaceuticals, textiles and food products.
The objective of the incentives is to attract investment and enable India to become part of the global supply chain, Sitharaman said. She also said a strong economic recovery is taking root, citing an increase in tax collections for goods and services.
The government in May announced a $266 billion stimulus package to boost consumer demand and manufacturing. A large part of the package was actually loans provided by banks, many of them without collateral.
India’s economy contracted by 23.9% in the April-June quarter, its worst performance in at least 24 years as the coronavirus pandemic ravaged what was once the world’s fastest growing major economy. Another downturn is forecast for July-September data due to be announced later this month.
The New Delhi Television news channel said the GDP is expected to contract by 8.6% in the quarter ending in September.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Polish far-right march leaders criticized after violence

WARSAW , Poland ( AP ) - Members of Poland ’ s right-wing government have condemned leaders of an annual far-right march in Warsaw for having failed to prevent violence and injuries .
The Independence Day march Wednesday was planned to be held in cars and on motorbikes , to observe pandemic-era social distancing .
But it was joined by an aggressive crowd on foot that clashed with the police , causing injuries and allegedly setting an apartment on fire with a firecracker .
Thirty-five riot police were wounded , three of who remain hospitalized , and 36 people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Thursday .
He said people from across Poland took part in the trouble .
Amid general outrage , some government politicians blamed the violence on far-right organizers who allowed people to march on foot and even joined in themselves .
“ This is really sad that despite the assurances from the organizers … it turned out in the end that they also walked in the march on foot .
… This should not have happened , said Blazej Spychalski , spokesman for President Andrzej Duda .
Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Warsaw authorities had banned the march , which a court also declared illegal , citing the ban on gatherings of over five people intended to stop the accelerating spread of the coronavirus .
Organized by far-right groups , the massive Independence Day marches have often led to clashes with left-wing groups and the police in the past .
The Nov. 11 national holiday marks Poland ’ s regaining of sovereignty after World War I .

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Members of Poland’s right-wing government have condemned leaders of an annual far-right march in Warsaw for having failed to prevent violence and injuries.
The Independence Day march Wednesday was planned to be held in cars and on motorbikes, to observe pandemic-era social distancing. But it was joined by an aggressive crowd on foot that clashed with the police, causing injuries and allegedly setting an apartment on fire with a firecracker.
Thirty-five riot police were wounded, three of who remain hospitalized, and 36 people were arrested, Warsaw police spokesman Sylwester Marczak said Thursday.
He said people from across Poland took part in the trouble.
Amid general outrage, some government politicians blamed the violence on far-right organizers who allowed people to march on foot and even joined in themselves.
“This is really sad that despite the assurances from the organizers … it turned out in the end that they also walked in the march on foot. … This should not have happened, said Blazej Spychalski, spokesman for President Andrzej Duda.
Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin called for the organizers to face criminal charges.
Warsaw authorities had banned the march, which a court also declared illegal, citing the ban on gatherings of over five people intended to stop the accelerating spread of the coronavirus.
Organized by far-right groups, the massive Independence Day marches have often led to clashes with left-wing groups and the police in the past.
The Nov. 11 national holiday marks Poland’s regaining of sovereignty after World War I.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--The Latest: Serbia defender Milivojevic positive for virus

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world : The Baltimore Ravens say a player has tested positive for the coronavirus .
The team says the player - whose name was not released - immediately began to self-quarantine .
The organization is now in the NFL ’ s intensive protocol .
The Ravens say there were no high-risk contacts , and no other player or staff member has been required to isolate .
All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey returned Wednesday after being on the reserve/COVID-19 list .
The Serbian soccer federation says defender Luka Milivojevic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the European Championship playoff match against Scotland .
The federation says the 29-year-old Crystal Palace defender left the squad ’ s training ground near Belgrade and put himself in isolation .
German soccer club Hoffenheim says a sixth player has tested positive for the coronavirus .
Hoffenheim says defender Kevin Vogt was found to be positive in a test taken Wednesday after an earlier sample gave an inconclusive result .
The whole team was placed in isolation on Wednesday .
Five other Hoffenheim players and two staff members have tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two of those players were only found to be positive after they had joined up with their national teams .
Two more Hoffenheim players were withdrawn from their national teams as a precaution despite testing negative .

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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The Conference USA game between UAB and North Texas scheduled for Saturday won’t be played because of a COVID-19 outbreak and contact tracing among the Blazers.
The schools said there’s a possibility the game could be rescheduled.
North Texas has already had to move games with Louisiana Tech (Dec. 3) and UTEP (Dec. 12). UAB is 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the league. North Texas has only played five games, winning two and going 1-2 in C-USA.
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The Ivy League on Thursday became the first Division I conference this year to cancel all winter sports, including men’s and women’s basketball.
The decision came 13 days before the scheduled start of the college basketball season. The league had decided this past summer, when it canceled fall sports, not to allow any of its sports to start play before early December.
Coaches were informed of the news on video conference calls Thursday evening
The league was the first conference to scrap its postseason basketball tournament last March. That preceded a cascade of cancellations. All major college and professional sports were halted within days.
The Ivy League announcement affects not just basketball, but wrestling, indoor track and field, swimming, fencing and other sports.
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The women’s basketball team at Cal State University in Northridge doesn’t have enough athletes to safely compete this season after six women opted out of playing because of concerns about the novel coranvirus, the school said Thursday.
The Matadors had 12 players to start preseason camp but six of those then decided not to play. Another player can’t return to campus from out of the country because of travel limitations. That has left only six available players.
Athletic director Mike Izzi said in a statement: “Student-athlete safety will always be our priority. Given the number of students that have voluntarily elected to opt-out of competition this year, our women’s basketball team will not be able to have a healthy and safe opportunity to compete this season. There is no question that supporting the welfare of student-athletes is what drives us, making our direction clear.”
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Mississippi State starting safety Marcus Murphy says on social media that he will opt out the rest of this season, leaving the Bulldogs without their No. 4 tackler for the final four contests.
Murphy did not specify his reasons for opting out or his plans in Thursday’s post on his verified Twitter account. The junior wrote that he appreciated the support he received at MSU.
A message left with a Bulldogs football spokesman was not immediately answered.
Murphy had 34 tackles with 22 assists, a tackle for loss and pass breakup in six games this season. That included a season-best 10 stops in last week’s 24-17 victory over Vanderbilt.
The Bulldogs’ scheduled game against No. 20 Auburn on Saturday was postponed this week based on positive tests and close contacts that left the team below the required minimum of 53 scholarship student-athletes.
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The Las Vegas Raiders have placed linebacker Cory Littleton on the COVID-19 list.
The team made the announcement after practice Thursday. Littleton joins right tackle Trent Brown as Raiders currently on the COVID-19 list.
The list is used for players who either test positive for COVID-19 or have been quarantined after having been in close contact with someone who has been infected.
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Miami Dolphins linebacker Kyle Van Noy and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins went on the COVID-19 list Thursday, the latest setback for a team already in the NFL’s intensive protocol for the coronavirus.
Both players are starters. Reserve receiver Matt Cole also went on the list, and receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. was activated from the list.
The Dolphins had five assistant coaches unavailable for last week’s game at Arizona because of COVID-19 protocols, and at least one assistant tested positive. That forced the team to limit practice activities and meet virtually.
Miami hosts the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
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Oregon State says one player has tested positive for COVID-19 and three others have been isolated.
The Beavers (0-1) continued to prepare for Saturday night’s game at Washington, athletic director Scott Barnes said. The four players impacted will not be available.
Oregon State expects to identify the players before game time and will do the same with any players that test positive going forward.
The player tested positive on Monday, and the result was confirmed by another test. All of the players impacted must remain in isolation for at least 10 days.
Head coach Jonathan Smith told the team about the situation before practice on Thursday.
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The Chicago Bears activated backup safety Deon Bush from the Reserve/COVID-19 on Thursday.
Bush was one of several Bears players placed on the list last week because of positive coronavirus tests or close contacts. The team also canceled practice and closed its facility for a day.
Bush has played in six games this season and has an interception.
The Bears have lost three in a row. They host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.
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Georgia equestrian head coach Meghan Boenig has tested positive for COVID-19.
The school says she has gone into isolation and will miss Friday’s meet at South Carolina.
Assistant coaches Sara Parr and Anna Becker will guide the team during Boenig’s absence.
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UConn basketball coach Dan Hurley is considering delaying the start of his team’s season after a player’s positive coronavirus test last week forced the program to suspend all activities for two weeks.
Hurley said Thursday that he hopes the team will be able to get back to practice on Nov. 19 and play its first games on Nov. 25 and Nov. 27. But contracts for those games have not been signed and Hurley says ramping up practice after two weeks off will be difficult.
He says the team’s priority is being ready for Big East Conference play on Dec. 11.
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The Baltimore Ravens say a player has tested positive for the coronavirus. The team says the player - whose name was not released - immediately began to self-quarantine.
The organization is now in the NFL’s intensive protocol.
The Ravens say there were no high-risk contacts, and no other player or staff member has been required to isolate.
All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey returned Wednesday after being on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
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The Serbian soccer federation says defender Luka Milivojevic has tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the European Championship playoff match against Scotland.
The federation says the 29-year-old Crystal Palace defender left the squad’s training ground near Belgrade and put himself in isolation.
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German soccer club Hoffenheim says a sixth player has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Hoffenheim says defender Kevin Vogt was found to be positive in a test taken Wednesday after an earlier sample gave an inconclusive result.
The whole team was placed in isolation on Wednesday.
Five other Hoffenheim players and two staff members have tested positive for the virus in the last week. Two of those players were only found to be positive after they had joined up with their national teams.
Two more Hoffenheim players were withdrawn from their national teams as a precaution despite testing negative.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Memoir by Sen. Tammy Duckworth coming out March 30

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Sen. Tammy Duckworth has written a memoir , “ Every Day Is a Gift , ” which comes out March 30 .
Twelve , a Hachette Book Group imprint , announced the deal with Sen. Duckworth on Thursday , the 16th anniversary of the day she was shot down in a helicopter while serving in Iraq and lost both of her legs .
“ I am grateful to be able to tell my personal American story with the help of Sean and Twelve , ” the Illinois Democrat said in a statement , referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My life has been filled with unexpected challenges and painful experiences , but also with the rewards that come with service and perseverance.
” The 52-year-old Duckworth will tell of her life from her childhood in Southeast Asia and Hawaii to her 23 years in the Army to her time in public service .
She was elected in 2016 to the U.S. Senate , where she became the first sitting Senator to give birth .
Over the past year , she was mentioned as a possible running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris of California .
Financial terms for Duckworth ’ s book were not disclosed .
She was represented by Robert Barnett , the Washington attorney who also has worked on deals for Biden , now president-elect , and for former President Barack Obama .

NEW YORK (AP) - Sen. Tammy Duckworth has written a memoir, “Every Day Is a Gift,” which comes out March 30.
Twelve, a Hachette Book Group imprint, announced the deal with Sen. Duckworth on Thursday, the 16th anniversary of the day she was shot down in a helicopter while serving in Iraq and lost both of her legs.
“I am grateful to be able to tell my personal American story with the help of Sean and Twelve,” the Illinois Democrat said in a statement, referring to Twelve publisher Sean Desmond. “My life has been filled with unexpected challenges and painful experiences, but also with the rewards that come with service and perseverance.”
The 52-year-old Duckworth will tell of her life from her childhood in Southeast Asia and Hawaii to her 23 years in the Army to her time in public service. She was elected in 2016 to the U.S. Senate, where she became the first sitting Senator to give birth. Over the past year, she was mentioned as a possible running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who ended up choosing Sen. Kamala Harris of California.
Financial terms for Duckworth’s book were not disclosed. She was represented by Robert Barnett, the Washington attorney who also has worked on deals for Biden, now president-elect, and for former President Barack Obama.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Japanese automaker Nissan posts loss amid pandemic, scandal

TOKYO ( AP ) - Nissan posted a loss of 44.4 billion yen ( $ 421 million ) in the last quarter as the pandemic slammed profitability and the Japanese automaker fought to restore a brand image tarnished by a scandal centered on its former star executive Carlos Ghosn .
Nissan Motor Co. had a profit of 59 billion yen in July-September of 2019 .
Yokohama-based Nissan reported Thursday its quarterly sales dipped to 1.9 trillion yen ( $ 18 billion ) from 2.6 trillion yen a year earlier .
Nissan officials said its global sales are expected to recover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improvements continue at the current pace .
Chief Executive Makoto Uchida promised the company will work hard to recover and become “ a trusted company , ” delivering products that will be praised as “ Nissan-like.
” A section of Nissan ‘ s earnings report addressed the Ghosn case .
Former Nissan executive Greg Kelly is standing trial in Tokyo District Court on allegations of violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act in not fully disclosing Ghosn ’ s compensation .
Ghosn , who says he is innocent , jumped bail and fled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treaty with Japan .
Kelly also says he is innocent .
Nissan , as a company , is not fighting the criminal charges and has paid an administrative penalty of 1.4 billion yen ( $ 13 million ) .
The company reiterated Thursday that it took what happened seriously and has taken steps to improve governance .
In its report , Nissan accused Ghosn of misusing company assets for personal use , such as spending $ 27 million of company funds to buy homes in Beirut and Rio de Janeiro , improper use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 million to universities in Lebanon .
The company is still bleeding red ink and expects a 615 billion yen ( $ 5.8 billion ) loss for this fiscal year , which ends in March .
That is still an improvement over its earlier projection for a 670 billion yen loss ( $ 6.4 billion ) .
The maker of the Leaf electric car and Infiniti luxury models raised its fiscal year sales forecast to 7.9 trillion yen ( $ 75 billion ) , better than its earlier projection for 7.8 trillion yen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it ’ s carrying out cost cuts ; its new Rogue crossover is doing well in the U.S. market and it remains a leader in electric vehicles .
“ We will maintain the momentum from the second quarter with further financial discipline and improvement in our quality of sales , ” Uchida said , while stressing uncertainties remained because of the pandemic .
Uchida acknowledged global vehicle sales are bound to decline because of the pandemic .
The latest forecast says Nissan expects to sell 4.17 million vehicles for the fiscal year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year earlier .
The latest projection marks a 1 % improvement from an earlier forecast .
Nissan said it ’ s sticking to its plan to launch 12 new models , including a new compact car in Japan .

TOKYO (AP) - Nissan posted a loss of 44.4 billion yen ($421 million) in the last quarter as the pandemic slammed profitability and the Japanese automaker fought to restore a brand image tarnished by a scandal centered on its former star executive Carlos Ghosn.
Nissan Motor Co. had a profit of 59 billion yen in July-September of 2019.
Yokohama-based Nissan reported Thursday its quarterly sales dipped to 1.9 trillion yen ($18 billion) from 2.6 trillion yen a year earlier.
Nissan officials said its global sales are expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels by December, if improvements continue at the current pace.
Chief Executive Makoto Uchida promised the company will work hard to recover and become “a trusted company,” delivering products that will be praised as “Nissan-like.”
A section of Nissan’s earnings report addressed the Ghosn case. Former Nissan executive Greg Kelly is standing trial in Tokyo District Court on allegations of violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act in not fully disclosing Ghosn’s compensation.
Ghosn, who says he is innocent, jumped bail and fled to Lebanon, which has no extradition treaty with Japan. Kelly also says he is innocent.
Nissan, as a company, is not fighting the criminal charges and has paid an administrative penalty of 1.4 billion yen ($13 million).
The company reiterated Thursday that it took what happened seriously and has taken steps to improve governance.
In its report, Nissan accused Ghosn of misusing company assets for personal use, such as spending $27 million of company funds to buy homes in Beirut and Rio de Janeiro, improper use of the company jet and donating $2 million to universities in Lebanon.
Nissan is suing Ghosn, demanding 10 billion yen ($95 million) in damages.
The company is still bleeding red ink and expects a 615 billion yen ($5.8 billion) loss for this fiscal year, which ends in March. That is still an improvement over its earlier projection for a 670 billion yen loss ($6.4 billion).
Nissan posted a 671 billion yen loss in the previous fiscal year.
The maker of the Leaf electric car and Infiniti luxury models raised its fiscal year sales forecast to 7.9 trillion yen ($75 billion), better than its earlier projection for 7.8 trillion yen ($74 billion).
Nissan said it’s carrying out cost cuts; its new Rogue crossover is doing well in the U.S. market and it remains a leader in electric vehicles.
“We will maintain the momentum from the second quarter with further financial discipline and improvement in our quality of sales,” Uchida said, while stressing uncertainties remained because of the pandemic.
Uchida acknowledged global vehicle sales are bound to decline because of the pandemic. The latest forecast says Nissan expects to sell 4.17 million vehicles for the fiscal year, down from 4.9 million vehicles a year earlier.
The latest projection marks a 1% improvement from an earlier forecast. Nissan said it’s sticking to its plan to launch 12 new models, including a new compact car in Japan.
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Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yurikageyama


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--State-owned Emirates posts $3.8 billion in half-year losses

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates ( AP ) - Emirates Group , the owner of the Middle East ’ s biggest carrier , reported Thursday it lost $ 3.8 billion in the first half of the year , its first net loss in over three decades after the pandemic wiped out air travel .
The state-owned company said revenue for its Dubai-based airline , Emirates , had dropped 75 % to $ 3.2 billion from the same period a year ago , even with this year ’ s 52 % reduction in operating costs and rise in cargo traffic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two months as virus-induced lockdowns took hold around the world .
Even when restrictions were loosened , passenger traffic was still down 95 % from pre-pandemic levels .
Emirates flew just 1.5 million passengers between April and September .
Last year , Emirates carried around 58 million , helping Dubai ’ s airport maintain its claim of the world ’ s busiest for international travel .
“ We began our current financial year amid a global lockdown when air passenger traffic was at a literal standstill , ” said Chairman Sheikh Ahmed Bin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can predict the future , but we expect a steep recovery in travel demand once a COVID-19 vaccine is available , and we are readying ourselves to serve that rebound.
” The slackening demand for air travel has forced Emirates Group to lay off tens of thousands of workers , slashing its total workforce by 24 % to 81,334 “ in line with the company ’ s expected capacity and business activities in the foreseeable future.
” Emirates Air had already announced salary reductions for its staff , with cuts ranging from 25-30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position fell sharply to $ 5.6 billion from $ 7 billion six months earlier .
Like many other airlines worldwide that have accepted bailout money , Emirates Air acknowledged receiving a $ 2 billion lifeline from the Dubai government , which Al Makhtoum said would help “ sustain the business and see us through this challenging period.
” Although domestic routes may recover in large markets like the U.S. and Europe , the future looks increasingly uncertain as colder weather pushes life indoors and countries worldwide grapple with resurgent waves of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flights are still sitting idle , taking a heavy toll on major travel hubs like Dubai that depend on tourism , hospitality and air traffic for survival .

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Emirates Group, the owner of the Middle East’s biggest carrier, reported Thursday it lost $3.8 billion in the first half of the year, its first net loss in over three decades after the pandemic wiped out air travel.
The state-owned company said revenue for its Dubai-based airline, Emirates, had dropped 75% to $3.2 billion from the same period a year ago, even with this year’s 52% reduction in operating costs and rise in cargo traffic.
The long-haul carrier parked its planes for two months as virus-induced lockdowns took hold around the world. Even when restrictions were loosened, passenger traffic was still down 95% from pre-pandemic levels.
Emirates flew just 1.5 million passengers between April and September. Last year, Emirates carried around 58 million, helping Dubai’s airport maintain its claim of the world’s busiest for international travel.
“We began our current financial year amid a global lockdown when air passenger traffic was at a literal standstill,” said Chairman Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. “No one can predict the future, but we expect a steep recovery in travel demand once a COVID-19 vaccine is available, and we are readying ourselves to serve that rebound.”
The slackening demand for air travel has forced Emirates Group to lay off tens of thousands of workers, slashing its total workforce by 24% to 81,334 “in line with the company’s expected capacity and business activities in the foreseeable future.” Emirates Air had already announced salary reductions for its staff, with cuts ranging from 25-30%.
Emirates Group’s cash position fell sharply to $5.6 billion from $7 billion six months earlier. Like many other airlines worldwide that have accepted bailout money, Emirates Air acknowledged receiving a $2 billion lifeline from the Dubai government, which Al Makhtoum said would help “sustain the business and see us through this challenging period.”
Although domestic routes may recover in large markets like the U.S. and Europe, the future looks increasingly uncertain as colder weather pushes life indoors and countries worldwide grapple with resurgent waves of the virus. The superjumbo jets used for long-haul flights are still sitting idle, taking a heavy toll on major travel hubs like Dubai that depend on tourism, hospitality and air traffic for survival.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Federal grant to help veterans pursue agriculture careers

FRANKFORT , Ky. ( AP ) - A federal grant is being used to help establish and improve farming opportunities @ @ @ @ @ .
The $ 746,567 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be administered by @ @ @ @ @ and several partners , the state agency said .
Funding will be used to provide @ @ @ @ @ , that will prepare veterans for agriculture-related careers .
“ Creating more opportunities for our @ @ @ @ @ the men and women who have served this country , ” Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan @ @ @ @ @ able to combine this endeavor with increasing agriculture pursuits is a great benefit for veterans @ @ @ @

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A federal grant is being used to help establish and improve farming opportunities for veterans, officials said.
The $746,567 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be administered by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and several partners, the state agency said.
Funding will be used to provide education, training and networking, that will prepare veterans for agriculture-related careers.
“Creating more opportunities for our military veterans is vital for the men and women who have served this country,” Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said. “Being able to combine this endeavor with increasing agriculture pursuits is a great benefit for veterans and Kentucky.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--N.C. State Archives, library public research centers reopen

RALEIGH , N.C. ( AP ) - North Carolina ’ s depositories for old government and academic records , maps @ @ @ @ @ are reopening to the public at reduced capacity after being closed for months due to @ @ @ @ @ Archives public research locations in Raleigh and Manteo and the State Library of North Carolina @ @ @ @ @ visitors by appointment starting Thursday , with the Western Regional Archives in Asheville to follow @ @ @ @ @ up formal appointments online and are required to wear face masks inside .
Public computer @ @ @ @ @ closed .
State archivists and librarians also urged people to check their agencies ’ websites @ @ @ @ @ or access could be handled online .
Appointments at the Raleigh locations and the Outer @ @ @ @ @ scheduled for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays .
The Western Regional Archives will open @ @ @ @ @ time on Mondays , Wednesday and Fridays .

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina’s depositories for old government and academic records, maps, books and genealogical materials are reopening to the public at reduced capacity after being closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Archives public research locations in Raleigh and Manteo and the State Library of North Carolina in Raleigh planned to welcome visitors by appointment starting Thursday, with the Western Regional Archives in Asheville to follow Friday.
Guests must set up formal appointments online and are required to wear face masks inside. Public computer terminals there will also be closed. State archivists and librarians also urged people to check their agencies’ websites to determine whether research questions or access could be handled online.
Appointments at the Raleigh locations and the Outer Banks History Center can be scheduled for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. The Western Regional Archives will open for visitors at the same time on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Mexico: migrants claiming Georgia doctor abuse not deported

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Mexico ’ s Foreign Relations Department said Thursday it has visited four Mexican women who allege they were mistreated by a gynecologist at a Georgia detention center and said none of them have been deported .
The department said in a statement Thursday it will “ assist in efforts to detain the Mexicans ’ deportation and ensure that the case is heard in that country ’ s courts.
” The department said one of the four said she did not want to avoid or delay her deportation .
While people who have been deported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses in a criminal or civil case , many end up in unstable countries or situations where it becomes difficult to maintain contact with them .
The migrants ’ lawyers had argued that deportation would make it harder to get justice in the case .
Lawyers said this week that several migrants at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla , Georgia , who had made allegations against the doctor have received word that they could soon be removed from the country .
Former patients at the center complained about Dr. Mahendra Amin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on migrant women without their consent or performing procedures that were medically unnecessary and potentially endangered their ability to have children .
They allege Amin performed operations that caused or worsened their pain without explaining what he was doing or giving them an alternative .
But there hasn ’ t been evidence to support an initial claim that he performed a large number of hysterectomies .
Amin ’ s lawyer , Scott Grubman , has previously denied the doctor did anything wrong and called him a “ highly respected physician who has dedicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , underserved population in rural Georgia.
” Amin has stopped seeing women at Irwin County Detention Center .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department said Thursday it has visited four Mexican women who allege they were mistreated by a gynecologist at a Georgia detention center and said none of them have been deported.
The department said in a statement Thursday it will “assist in efforts to detain the Mexicans’ deportation and ensure that the case is heard in that country’s courts.” The department said one of the four said she did not want to avoid or delay her deportation.
While people who have been deported might still be able to serve as witnesses in a criminal or civil case, many end up in unstable countries or situations where it becomes difficult to maintain contact with them. The migrants’ lawyers had argued that deportation would make it harder to get justice in the case.
Lawyers said this week that several migrants at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia, who had made allegations against the doctor have received word that they could soon be removed from the country.
Former patients at the center complained about Dr. Mahendra Amin, who has been accused of operating on migrant women without their consent or performing procedures that were medically unnecessary and potentially endangered their ability to have children.
They allege Amin performed operations that caused or worsened their pain without explaining what he was doing or giving them an alternative. But there hasn’t been evidence to support an initial claim that he performed a large number of hysterectomies.
Amin’s lawyer, Scott Grubman, has previously denied the doctor did anything wrong and called him a “highly respected physician who has dedicated his adult life to treating a high-risk, underserved population in rural Georgia.” Amin has stopped seeing women at Irwin County Detention Center.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--39 dead after typhoon leaves high water, mud in Philippines

MANILA , Philippines ( AP ) - Thick mud and debris coated many villages around the Philippine capital Friday after a typhoon caused extensive flooding that sent people fleeing to their roofs and killed at least 39 people .
Thousands of people have been rescued , though waters have mostly receded .
The military was rescuing people in places where waters remained high .
Amphibious assault vehicles usually used in counter-insurgency operations were deployed for the rescue work , military chief of staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay said in an emergency meeting with disaster-response officials .
“ We ’ ll continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in damage assessment , ” Gapay said .
He reported 39 deaths and 32 other people missing .
Typhoon Vamco passed north of Manila between Bulacan and Pampanga provinces overnight Wednesday and early Thursday , toppling power poles and trees and damaging homes .
More than 350,000 people had been evacuated to safety , mainly residents fleeing vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas before the typhoon hit .
Philippine National Police said more than 100,000 people had been rescued , including 41,000 in the capital region .
At least 3.8 million households lost power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but crews have restored electricity in many areas and power was expected to be fully restored in about three days .
Government offices were closed and classes suspended for public schools Friday .
Vamco hit the Philippines on the heels of Typhoon Goni , one of the strongest typhoons in the world this year , which left more than 30 people dead or missing and damaged or destroyed 270,000 houses .
Tens of thousands of people remain displaced .
The Philippines is hit by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , making it one of the world ’ s most disaster-prone countries .
Associated Press journalists Aaron Favila and Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report .

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Thick mud and debris coated many villages around the Philippine capital on Friday after a typhoon killed at least 42 people and caused extensive flooding that sent people fleeing to their roofs, officials said.
Troops, police, coast guard and disaster-response teams rescued tens of thousands of people, including many who flooded radio and TV networks and social media with desperate pleas for help.
Floodwaters receded and the weather cleared in many areas after Typhoon Vamco blew out into the South China Sea on Friday, but the military said it was still rescuing people trapped in some flooded communities.
Amphibious assault vehicles usually used in counter-insurgency operations were deployed for the rescue work, military chief of staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay said in a meeting with disaster-response officials.
“We’ll continue to look for the missing, help in damage assessment,” Gapay said.
The national police reported that the death toll had risen to at least 42 with 20 missing. The government’s main disaster-response agency, which waits for provincial reports and follows a laborious process of verifying casualties, reported a much lower death count, causing confusion.
Among the dead were at least 12 villagers who were dug out from mud and rockslides in the northern provinces of Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya, police said.
After slamming into northeastern Quezon province, Vamco gained strength with sustained winds of 155 kilometers (96 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 255 kph (158 mph). It blew north of metropolitan Manila overnight Wednesday, toppling trees and power poles, swelling rivers, flooding residential communities and setting off landslides and storm surges.
In hard-hit Marikina city in the capital region and the towns of Rodriguez and Cainta in nearby Rizal province, several villages were inundated by water that reached the second and third floors of many houses, prompting hundreds of residents to flee to their roofs and call TV and radio networks or post desperate messages on social media. The panic was exacerbated by widespread power outages and loss of internet access.
Videos of Marikina showed a thick coat of muddy water covering roads and staining houses and cars. Residents carried appliances and furniture from their homes and used pails and shovels to remove the mud after the water receded.
In a televised meeting of Cabinet and disaster-response officials Friday, a reporter asked where President Rodrigo Duterte was, prompting an annoyed response from his spokesman.
“The president’s whereabouts should not be asked. That’s foolishness coming from the opposition. The president is not missing, he is always with us,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said, without offering any further details.
More than 400,000 people were evacuated to higher ground before the typhoon hit, mainly residents of vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas.
At least 3.8 million households lost power in the capital and outlying provinces, but crews later restored electricity in many areas. Government offices were closed and most classes were suspended Friday.
Vamco hit the Philippines on the heels of Typhoon Goni, one of the strongest typhoons in the world this year, which left more than 30 people dead or missing and damaged or destroyed 270,000 houses. Tens of thousands of people were still displaced when Vamco hit.
The Philippines is hit by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year and also has active seismic faults and volcanoes, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.
___
Associated Press journalist Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--How Californians voted on the 12 statewide ballot measures

Here ’ s a look at the 12 statewide measures that were on the Nov. 3 ballot in California : -PROPOSITION 14 : APPROVED .
Authorizes $ 5.5 billion in state bonds to fund stem cell research , with $ 1.5 billion dedicated to research on Alzheimer ’ s , Parkinson ’ s , stroke , epilepsy and other medical conditions .
The money would include funding for construction of research facilities .
The bonds would be paid off over about 30 years at a total cost of about $ 7.8 billion .
-PROPOSITION 15 : REJECTED .
Would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on property tax increases by permitting most commercial and industrial properties to be taxed on current market value rather than the original purchase price .
Those properties would be reassessed every three years .
Residential property wouldn ’ t have been affected .
Supporters said the measure could raise an additional $ 12.5 billion a year to fund schools and local government services .
-PROPOSITION 16 : REJECTED .
Would have allowed race , sex , color , ethnicity , and national origin to be considered in the awarding of government contracts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleges and universities .
Supporters sought to repeal a 1996 voter-passed amendment to the state Constitution that effectively banned affirmative action .
-PROPOSITION 17 : APPROVED .
Restores voting rights to people on parole .
Currently , those who have been released from state or federal prisons can not vote until they complete their parole period .
The measure permits them to vote upon release from prison .
The measure could affect an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 felons .
-PROPOSITION 18 : REJECTED .
Sought to amend California ’ s Constitution to permit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections if they turned 18 by the next general election .
At least 18 states and Washington , D.C. , have adopted laws that let people younger than 18 vote in certain circumstances .
-PROPOSITION 19 : APPROVED .
Allows homeowners who are 55 and older , disabled or wildfire victims to transfer a primary residence ’ s tax base to a replacement home , allowing them in many cases to keep their property tax payment at the same or lower level .
Also tightens rules on passing along lower taxes through inherited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to market rate if the inherited home isn ’ t used as a primary residence .
Voters in 2018 rejected a similar initiative .
-PROPOSITION 20 : REJECTED .
Would have rolled back some criminal justice changes approved by voters in 2014 and 2016 .
Supporters sought to add 22 crimes to the state ’ s list of violent offenses that make an offender ineligible for earlier parole .
Would have allowed felony charges for some theft crimes that currently can be charged only as misdemeanors and reinstated DNA collections for some crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
-PROPOSITION 21 : REJECTED .
Would have allowed local governments to establish rent control on residential properties over 15 years old .
People who own one or two single-family homes would have been exempt .
The proposal came after years of rising housing costs that have pushed many young adults to move back in with their families .
California voters also overwhelmingly rejected a more expansive rent control measure two years ago .
-PROPOSITION 22 : APPROVED .
Classifies app-based drivers for companies such as Uber , Lyft and DoorDash as independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure , heavily bankrolled by the ride-hailing firms , was pushback against a state law passed last year after the companies failed to obtain exemptions .
That law requires companies in many industries to reclassify contract workers as employees entitled to more wage protections and benefits .
The ballot measure also provided some health and wage benefits to the independent contractors .
-PROPOSITION 23 : REJECTED .
Would have required dialysis clinics to have a physician , nurse practitioner or physician assistant available during operating hours .
Also required state approval before a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinics from refusing care to patients based on who is paying , such as whether they have private insurance or Medicare .
There are about 600 dialysis clinics in California serving about 80,000 patients .
The majority are owned by two for-profit providers .
Two years ago , voters rejected another measure that would have imposed restrictions on clinic profits .
-PROPOSITION 24 : APPROVED .
Allows consumers to prevent businesses from sharing their personal information and limits businesses ’ use of geolocation , race , health or other information .
Triples fines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy .
Also creates a state agency to enforce and implement the law .
The measure builds on privacy rights in the California Consumer Privacy Act , which took effect in January .
That law limited how companies such as Google and Facebook collect and make money from personal data and allowed consumers to request deletion of their data .
-PROPOSITION 25 : REJECTED .
Asked voters to approve a state law passed in 2018 that would replace money bail with a system based on public safety and flight risk .
The measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If voters had approved , no one would pay bail and most misdemeanor suspects would remain free before trial .
However , those suspected of felonies or misdemeanor domestic violence , sex offenses or driving while intoxicated would be evaluated for their perceived risk of committing another crime or not appearing in court .

Here’s a look at the 12 statewide measures that were on the Nov. 3 ballot in California:
-PROPOSITION 14: APPROVED. Authorizes $5.5 billion in state bonds to fund stem cell research, with $1.5 billion dedicated to research on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy and other medical conditions. The money would include funding for construction of research facilities. The bonds would be paid off over about 30 years at a total cost of about $7.8 billion.
-PROPOSITION 15: REJECTED. Would have loosened some of 1978′s Proposition 13 limits on property tax increases by permitting most commercial and industrial properties to be taxed on current market value rather than the original purchase price. Those properties would be reassessed every three years. Residential property wouldn’t have been affected. Supporters said the measure could raise an additional $12.5 billion a year to fund schools and local government services.
-PROPOSITION 16: REJECTED. Would have allowed race, sex, color, ethnicity, and national origin to be considered in the awarding of government contracts, public employment and in admissions to state colleges and universities. Supporters sought to repeal a 1996 voter-passed amendment to the state Constitution that effectively banned affirmative action.
-PROPOSITION 17: APPROVED. Restores voting rights to people on parole. Currently, those who have been released from state or federal prisons cannot vote until they complete their parole period. The measure permits them to vote upon release from prison. The measure could affect an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 felons.
-PROPOSITION 18: REJECTED. Sought to amend California’s Constitution to permit 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections if they turned 18 by the next general election. At least 18 states and Washington, D.C., have adopted laws that let people younger than 18 vote in certain circumstances.
-PROPOSITION 19: APPROVED. Allows homeowners who are 55 and older, disabled or wildfire victims to transfer a primary residence’s tax base to a replacement home, allowing them in many cases to keep their property tax payment at the same or lower level. Also tightens rules on passing along lower taxes through inherited properties. Those taxes would be adjusted to market rate if the inherited home isn’t used as a primary residence. Voters in 2018 rejected a similar initiative.
-PROPOSITION 20: REJECTED. Would have rolled back some criminal justice changes approved by voters in 2014 and 2016. Supporters sought to add 22 crimes to the state’s list of violent offenses that make an offender ineligible for earlier parole. Would have allowed felony charges for some theft crimes that currently can be charged only as misdemeanors and reinstated DNA collections for some crimes that were reduced from felonies to misdemeanors.
-PROPOSITION 21: REJECTED. Would have allowed local governments to establish rent control on residential properties over 15 years old. People who own one or two single-family homes would have been exempt. The proposal came after years of rising housing costs that have pushed many young adults to move back in with their families. California voters also overwhelmingly rejected a more expansive rent control measure two years ago.
-PROPOSITION 22: APPROVED. Classifies app-based drivers for companies such as Uber, Lyft and DoorDash as independent contractors instead of full-time employees. The measure, heavily bankrolled by the ride-hailing firms, was pushback against a state law passed last year after the companies failed to obtain exemptions. That law requires companies in many industries to reclassify contract workers as employees entitled to more wage protections and benefits. The ballot measure also provided some health and wage benefits to the independent contractors.
-PROPOSITION 23: REJECTED. Would have required dialysis clinics to have a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant available during operating hours. Also required state approval before a clinic could reduce its services and prohibited clinics from refusing care to patients based on who is paying, such as whether they have private insurance or Medicare. There are about 600 dialysis clinics in California serving about 80,000 patients. The majority are owned by two for-profit providers. Two years ago, voters rejected another measure that would have imposed restrictions on clinic profits.
-PROPOSITION 24: APPROVED. Allows consumers to prevent businesses from sharing their personal information and limits businesses’ use of geolocation, race, health or other information. Triples fines for companies that violate children’s privacy. Also creates a state agency to enforce and implement the law. The measure builds on privacy rights in the California Consumer Privacy Act, which took effect in January. That law limited how companies such as Google and Facebook collect and make money from personal data and allowed consumers to request deletion of their data.
-PROPOSITION 25: REJECTED. Asked voters to approve a state law passed in 2018 that would replace money bail with a system based on public safety and flight risk. The measure has been on hold pending the referendum. If voters had approved, no one would pay bail and most misdemeanor suspects would remain free before trial. However, those suspected of felonies or misdemeanor domestic violence, sex offenses or driving while intoxicated would be evaluated for their perceived risk of committing another crime or not appearing in court.