washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Speaker snared in Ohio bribery probe liked to play long game

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) - Tension was thick in the air .
After 10 consecutive votes in which another man had garnered more support than Larry Householder ’ s favored candidate to be the next Ohio House speaker , Householder leaned back quietly in his chair , arms confidently propped behind his head .
As usual , he was playing the long game .
The Republican now accused in a $ 60 million federal bribery probe had contributed to a monthslong impasse over the speakership that brought Ohio lawmaking to a standstill in 2018 and left a trail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path .
The previous House speaker had resigned amid scandal .
Householder wanted a proxy in the job until he could run for the full two-year term himself a few months later .
Even if his man lost now , though , he was counting votes and sizing up loyalties for the future as the roll was taken again and again .
The leading candidate , then-Rep. Ryan Smith , became speaker that day on the 11th vote .
But Householder would take the job six months later with crucial support he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promises of bipartisan cooperation , the master dealmaker had once again gotten what he wanted .
“ Either over the last 18 years , this dais has gotten smaller or I have gotten larger , ” Householder , who had put on a few pounds since last serving as speaker from 2001 to 2004 , quipped in his slight southern Ohio drawl as he took the gavel .
His triumphant return had been achieved , a feat federal prosecutors now say was fueled by millions of dollars of bribe money funneled to Householder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nuclear bailout bill he would champion soon after his ascendancy .
According to the criminal complaint , Householder and his associates spent the money to boost themselves politically and personally , to stage often nasty campaigns to elect Householder loyalists , to buy votes for the bailout bill and to poison subsequent efforts to repeal it .
Householder , 61 , was widely believed to have been positioning himself to run for governor .
With a down-home demeanor and a degree in political science , the farm kid and one-time insurance agent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work with Ohio voters .
Two icons of Ohio politics - four-term governor James Rhodes and Democrat Vern Riffe , the battleground state ’ s longest-serving House speaker - were from the same eastern Ohio region .
Dressed in full camo , Householder declared himself “ a pro-gun , pro-life , Christian conservative ” in a sharply produced 2018 campaign ad in which he shot a television set with a rifle .
He ’ s a Trump supporter who clashed with GOP Gov .
Mike DeWine over wearing masks to curb the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don one until after his arrest Tuesday , when he wore a mask as he exited the federal courthouse .
Republican Richard Finan , who was Ohio Senate president when Householder was last speaker , remembers Householder being under the cloud of a different FBI investigation when he left office due to term limits in 2004 .
“ I was not surprised , ” Finan said of Householder ’ s arrest .
“ My dealings with him when I was there were not good.
” The earlier probe resulted in no charges and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was questioned by the FBI .
It stemmed from allegations of heavy-handed fundraising tactics used by Householder and his team , including aides who had authored a secret memo outlining a plot to “ dismantle ” the political career of then-Secretary of State Ken Blackwell , a Black Republican whose rising political star stood to outshine Householder ’ s .
Finan has a vivid memory of participating in hourslong budget negotiations with Householder and then-Gov .
Bob Taft , all three Republicans , as they tried to resolve a $ 1.5 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deal was finally hammered out around midnight and Taft suggested the “ Big Three ” go out into the hall as a group and tell the press .
“ We walked out the door of the governor ’ s office , I turned around and looked for Larry .
He wasn ’ t there .
He had gone out the back door , ” Finan said .
“ He went back over to the House and the next day he announced a totally different proposal supported by the OEA.
” The Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest teachers union , a generous political player .
Ohio is a closely divided state when it comes so politics , so not everyone saw that 2001 school-funding deal , which ultimately went nowhere , as a negative .
Bill Phillis , an education lobbyist who helped negotiate it , said he didn ’ t have a problem with Householder bucking fellow Republicans .
In Householder ’ s nearly two-decade absence from the Statehouse , the state ’ s unconstitutional school-funding system has never been fixed .
Phillis said the speaker was trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m distraught that the school funding issue is not yet resolved , and I think Larry Householder had in mind resolving it , ” he said .
Householder has thus far ignored calls for his resignation from Democrats and Republicans alike .
But , with his preliminary hearing in the federal probe set for August , the long game on Householder ’ s policy agenda and political aspirations is now on a different timetable .

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Tension was thick in the air. After 10 consecutive votes in which another man had garnered more support than Larry Householder’s favored candidate to be the next Ohio House speaker, Householder leaned back quietly in his chair, arms confidently propped behind his head.
As usual, he was playing the long game.
The Republican now accused in a $60 million federal bribery probe had contributed to a monthslong impasse over the speakership that brought Ohio lawmaking to a standstill in 2018 and left a trail of intimidated, disheartened representatives in its path.
The previous House speaker had resigned amid scandal. Householder wanted a proxy in the job until he could run for the full two-year term himself a few months later. Even if his man lost now, though, he was counting votes and sizing up loyalties for the future as the roll was taken again and again.
The leading candidate, then-Rep. Ryan Smith, became speaker that day on the 11th vote. But Householder would take the job six months later with crucial support he had lined up - from Democrats. With promises of bipartisan cooperation, the master dealmaker had once again gotten what he wanted.
“Either over the last 18 years, this dais has gotten smaller or I have gotten larger,” Householder, who had put on a few pounds since last serving as speaker from 2001 to 2004, quipped in his slight southern Ohio drawl as he took the gavel.
His triumphant return had been achieved, a feat federal prosecutors now say was fueled by millions of dollars of bribe money funneled to Householder and his associates for the passage of a nuclear bailout bill he would champion soon after his ascendancy.
According to the criminal complaint, Householder and his associates spent the money to boost themselves politically and personally, to stage often nasty campaigns to elect Householder loyalists, to buy votes for the bailout bill and to poison subsequent efforts to repeal it.
Householder, 61, was widely believed to have been positioning himself to run for governor. With a down-home demeanor and a degree in political science, the farm kid and one-time insurance agent who’s the father of six has the rural Appalachian profile that tends to work with Ohio voters. Two icons of Ohio politics - four-term governor James Rhodes and Democrat Vern Riffe, the battleground state’s longest-serving House speaker - were from the same southeastern Ohio region.
Dressed in full camo, Householder declared himself “a pro-gun, pro-life, Christian conservative” in a sharply produced 2018 campaign ad in which he shot a television set with a rifle. He’s a Trump supporter who clashed with GOP Gov. Mike DeWine over wearing masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus, refusing to don one until after his arrest Tuesday, when he wore a mask as he exited the federal courthouse.
Republican Richard Finan, who was Ohio Senate president when Householder was last speaker, remembers Householder being under the cloud of a different FBI investigation when he left office due to term limits in 2004.
The earlier FBI probe of Householder resulted in no charges and was ultimately dropped, but Finan said he was questioned by the FBI. It stemmed from allegations of heavy-handed fundraising tactics used by Householder and his team, including aides who had authored a secret memo outlining a plot to “dismantle” the political career of then-Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a Black Republican whose rising political star stood to outshine Householder’s.
“I was not surprised,” Finan said of Householder’s arrest. “My dealings with him when I was there were not good.”
It began with Finan having to find a place in the Senate for then-state Rep. Bill Harris after that era’s ugly speaker fight. Then-Speaker JoAnn Davidson had struck a deal allowing Harris and Householder to share the speakership, each taking a year. Householder worked secretly against the deal for months until he lined up enough votes to call it off and take the job for himself.
Finan has a vivid memory of participating in hourslong budget negotiations with Householder and then-Gov. Bob Taft, all three Republicans, as they tried to resolve a $1.5 billion shortfall back in 2001. Finan said the deal was finally hammered out around midnight and Taft suggested the “Big Three” go out into the hall as a group and tell the press.
“We walked out the door of the governor’s office, I turned around and looked for Larry. He wasn’t there. He had gone out the back door,” Finan said. “He went back over to the House and the next day he announced a totally different proposal supported by the OEA.”
The Ohio Education Association is the state’s largest teachers union, a generous political player.
Ohio is a closely divided state when it comes to politics, though, so not everyone saw that 2001 school-funding deal, which ultimately went nowhere, as a negative.
Bill Phillis, an education lobbyist who helped negotiate it, said he didn’t have a problem with Householder bucking fellow Republicans. In Householder’s nearly two-decade absence from the Statehouse, the state’s unconstitutional school-funding system has never been fixed. Phillis said the speaker was trying to spearhead a bipartisan solution.
“I’m distraught that the school funding issue is not yet resolved, and I think Larry Householder had in mind resolving it,” he said.
Householder has thus far ignored calls for his resignation from Democrats and Republicans alike. But, with his preliminary hearing in the federal probe set for August, the long game on Householder’s policy agenda and political aspirations is now on a different timetable.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--2 coaches injured in suburban Milwaukee basketball brawl

GERMANTOWN , Wis. ( AP ) - Two coaches were taken to the hospital after they were injured in a @ @ @ @ @ girls basketball game .
Officials said at least three men were causing problems at a @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin Playground Elite at Germantown High School Wednesday .
The game was stopped and the @ @ @ @ @ .
Police say it ’ s not clear what was said , but surveillance video @ @ @ @ @ on the bench and , throwing a punch that ignited a brawl .
Blizzard president @ @ @ @ @ the coaches was hit in the eye and had broken bones .
Germantown police are @ @ @ @ @ District , which had rented the gym for the tournament , canceled the remainder of @ @ @

GERMANTOWN, Wis. (AP) - Two coaches were taken to the hospital after they were injured in a brawl at a suburban Milwaukee girls basketball game.
Officials said at least three men were causing problems at a Wisconsin Blizzard game against the Wisconsin Playground Elite at Germantown High School Wednesday.
The game was stopped and the men were asked to leave. Police say it’s not clear what was said, but surveillance video shows the men closing in on the bench and, throwing a punch that ignited a brawl.
Blizzard president Richard Kuranda says one of the coaches was hit in the eye and had broken bones.
Germantown police are investigating. The Germantown School District, which had rented the gym for the tournament, canceled the remainder of the games.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Arrest in death of woman whose body was found in suitcase

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - A New Jersey man has been charged in connection with the death of a woman @ @ @ @ @ in a suitcase in a Philadelphia neighborhood last month .
Aaron Mosher , of Brown @ @ @ @ @ criminal conspiracy , tampering with evidence , abuse of corpse and obstruction of justice .
@ @ @ @ @ Friday if he ’ s retained an attorney .
The counts stem from the death @ @ @ @ @ body was found June 11 on a sidewalk near a train station .
Authorities have @ @ @ @ @ the discovery or said whether Mosher and the woman knew each other .
The woman @ @ @ @ @ has not been released .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A New Jersey man has been charged in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase in a Philadelphia neighborhood last month.
Aaron Mosher, of Brown Mills, is charged with criminal conspiracy, tampering with evidence, abuse of corpse and obstruction of justice. It wasn’t known Friday if he’s retained an attorney.
The counts stem from the death of a 25-year-old woman whose body was found June 11 on a sidewalk near a train station. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the discovery or said whether Mosher and the woman knew each other.
The woman’s cause of death has not been released.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Coast Guard crew rescues fisherman after boat capsizes

ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. ( AP ) - The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a commercial fisherman on Thursday after his boat capsized in the Gulf of Mexico .
The agency received an emergency alert at 8:56 a.m. from the Jenny Lynn , broadcasting its location , according to a news release .
A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew dispatched from Air Station Clearwater found Robert Heart , 48 , clinging to a cooler in the water near the capsized 36-foot ( 10.9-meter ) boat .
The Coast Guard reported that 3 to 4-foot ( 1 to 1.2-meters ) seas in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the crew took him to a Tampa hospital for a medical evaluation .
His condition was not immediately known .
On Wednesday , the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback made contact with the Jenny Lynn when it was dispatched to help 15-year-old boy who had fallen ill onboard , the news release said .
They took the boy and his father to the Sector St. Petersburg base .
Heart told the crew that day that the boat was no longer working under its own power and that a sister ship was on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the agency , the news release said .
The Coast Guard is now investigating what happened to the boat .

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a commercial fisherman who was clinging to a cooler in the Gulf of Mexico after his boat capsized, the day after evacuating a boy and his father from the same vessel.
The agency received an emergency alert at 8:56 a.m. Thursday from the Jenny Lynn, broadcasting its location, according to a news release.
A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew dispatched from Air Station Clearwater found Robert Heart, 48, clinging to a cooler in 3 to 4-foot (1-1.2 meter) seas. He was still near the 36-foot (10.9-meter) boat, which was almost entirely under the surface.
A rescue swimmer helped Heart into a cage that was hoisted into a helicopter, whose crew took him to a Tampa hospital for a medical evaluation. His condition was not immediately known.
Heart had declined help a day earlier, when the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback responded to the Jenny Lynn to medically evacuate a 15-year-old boy who had fallen ill onboard. That crew took the boy and his father to the Sector St. Petersburg base.
Heart told the crew Wednesday that the boat was no longer working under its own power and that a sister vessel was on its way to help.
The Coast Guard is now investigating what went wrong on the boat’s ill-fated trip.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Goldman Sachs $3.9B settlement with Malaysia over 1MDB

KUALA LUMPUR , Malaysia ( AP ) — Goldman Sachs has reached a $ 3.9B settlement with Malaysia over the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund that was used to launder money .
Malaysian and U.S. prosecutors had alleged that bond sales organized by Goldman Sachs for 1MDB provided one of the means for associates of former Malaysian leader Najib Razak to steal billions over several years from a fund that was ostensibly set up to accelerate Malaysia ’ s economic development .
Najib was arrested as part of the scandal .
Two former Goldman Sachs bankers have been charged for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goldman on Friday said it had agreed to pay the government of Malaysia $ 2.5 billion and to guarantee that it gets at least $ 1.4 billion in proceeds from assets that have since been seized around the globe .
Investigations into the 1MDB scandal had been quashed by Najib ’ s government .
Its ousting in the 2018 elections ushered in Malaysia ’ s first change of power since independence from Britain in 1957 .
The new government soon reopened investigations that led to charges being filed against Najib , his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials .
Malaysia also charged U.S. bank Goldman Sachs with allegedly misleading investors over bond sales it organized for 1MDB .
Najib has called the prosecution a political attack .
The ruling alliance that ousted him collapsed in March with two-time Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigning in protest over his party forming a Malay-centric government with Najib ’ s party and several others .
The king subsequently appointed fellow party leader Muhyiddin Yassin as the new prime minister despite Mahathir ’ s insistence that he has the support of a majority of lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a no-confidence vote against Muhyiddin that has been delayed by the coronavirus , and could be held at the next sitting of Parliament in July .

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Goldman Sachs has reached a $3.9B settlement with Malaysia over the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund that was used to launder money.
Malaysian and U.S. prosecutors had alleged that bond sales organized by Goldman Sachs for 1MDB provided one of the means for associates of former Malaysian leader Najib Razak to steal billions over several years from a fund that was ostensibly set up to accelerate Malaysia’s economic development.
Najib was arrested as part of the scandal. Two former Goldman Sachs bankers have been charged for their role in helping 1MDB launder money.
Goldman on Friday said it had agreed to pay the government of Malaysia $2.5 billion and to guarantee that it gets at least $1.4 billion in proceeds from assets that have since been seized around the globe.
Investigations into the 1MDB scandal had been quashed by Najib’s government. Its ousting in the 2018 elections ushered in Malaysia’s first change of power since independence from Britain in 1957.
The new government soon reopened investigations that led to charges being filed against Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor and several former senior government officials. Malaysia also charged U.S. bank Goldman Sachs with allegedly misleading investors over bond sales it organized for 1MDB.
Najib has called the prosecution a political attack. The ruling alliance that ousted him collapsed in March with two-time Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigning in protest over his party forming a Malay-centric government with Najib’s party and several others.
The king subsequently appointed fellow party leader Muhyiddin Yassin as the new prime minister despite Mahathir’s insistence that he has the support of a majority of lawmakers. Mahathir, 94, has called for a no-confidence vote against Muhyiddin that has been delayed by the coronavirus, and could be held at the next sitting of Parliament in July.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--2 men fatally shot during filming of rap video in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE , La .
( AP ) - Two men were killed after gunfire erupted as a group gathered @ @ @ @ @ film a rap music video , according to authorities .
Baton Rouge police were called @ @ @ @ @ , where they found D ’ Andre Mills , 25 , and Landon Johnson , @ @ @ @ @ wounds , police spokesman Sgt .
L ’ Jean McKneely said Thursday .
The victims @ @ @ @ @ where they later died .
Police said a group had been shooting a rap video @ @ @ @ @ when the shooting happened .
Neighbors said more than a dozen people had gathered on @ @ @ @ @ group dispersed before police arrived , The Advocate reported .
“ The sad thing is @ @ @ @ @ , ” the newspaper quoted McKneely as saying .
“ Zero witnesses.
” Police did @ @ @ @ @ victims were involved with making the music video .

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Two men were killed after gunfire erupted as a group gathered in a Louisiana neighborhood to film a rap music video, according to authorities.
Baton Rouge police were called to the scene Wednesday night, where they found D’Andre Mills, 25, and Landon Johnson, 31, suffering from gunshot wounds, police spokesman Sgt. L’Jean McKneely said Thursday.
The victims were taken to a hospital where they later died.
Police said a group had been shooting a rap video in a Baton Rouge neighborhood when the shooting happened. Neighbors said more than a dozen people had gathered on their street, but the group dispersed before police arrived, The Advocate reported.
“The sad thing is nobody stayed on the scene,” the newspaper quoted McKneely as saying. “Zero witnesses.”
Police did not say whether the two victims were involved with making the music video.
Authorities were continuing to investigate.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Man arrested in connection with Delaware church fire

GLASGOW , Del .
( AP ) - A Delaware man has been accused of setting multiple fires inside a @ @ @ @ @ State Fire Marshal ’ s office arrested Thomas Loftis III Thursday in connection with the @ @ @ @ @ Church on Monday night , news outlets reported .
He was captured just hours after @ @ @ @ @ showed the suspect and a car they believed he used during the alleged arson , @ @ @ @ @ .
No one was injured during the blaze but the fire caused approximately $ 250,000 @ @ @ @ @ being charged with arson , burglary and criminal mischief .
It is not immediately clear @ @ @ @ @ who could comment on his behalf .
Rev .
Chuck L. Betters previously said Reach @ @ @ @ @ for in-person services in August .

GLASGOW, Del. (AP) - A Delaware man has been accused of setting multiple fires inside a church sanctuary.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office arrested Thomas Loftis III Thursday in connection with the blaze that erupted at Reach Church on Monday night, news outlets reported.
He was captured just hours after the office released images that showed the suspect and a car they believed he used during the alleged arson, The Delaware News Journal reported.
No one was injured during the blaze but the fire caused approximately $250,000 in damages.
Loftis is being charged with arson, burglary and criminal mischief. It is not immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.
Rev. Chuck L. Betters previously said Reach church was planning to reopen for in-person services in August.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Vietnam bans wildlife imports, markets amid new health fears

HANOI , Vietnam ( AP ) - Vietnam announced Friday that it was banning wildlife imports and would close wildlife markets in response to renewed concerns about the threat from diseases that can jump from animals to humans , such as the virus that causes COVID-19 .
An order signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Thursday bans all imports of wildlife dead or alive and includes eggs and larvae .
It also merits tougher penalties for crimes involving the trade in wildlife .
Vietnam has been a popular destination for wildlife products - often from endangered species - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in preparing exotic cuisine .
The move comes amid increased scrutiny of the health risks of the wildlife trade as the world deals with the new coronavirus , which is thought to have jumped from animals to humans .
“ The existence of wildlife markets in many locations has been a big problem in Vietnam for a long time , ” said Phuong Tham , country director for the Humane Society International Vietnam .
“ This rapacious appetite for wildlife is endangering not just these species ’ survival , but as we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is endangering people ’ s lives too .
So this ban can ’ t come soon enough , ” Tham said .
The new directive includes recommendations that conservationists have been making for years , including cracking down on domestic markets , said Steve Galster , the director of Freeland , a group working on ending the wildlife trade .
“ COVID-19 elevated the issue of wildlife trade , so Vietnamese lawmakers got involved with the issue in the past few months and helped push the directive forward , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ still has exceptions that will allow some trade in wild animals to continue , but it is a good start and can hopefully made stronger over time , Galster said .
___ Associated Press journalist Tassanee Vejpongsa in Bangkok , Thailand , contributed to this report .

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - Vietnam announced Friday that it was banning wildlife imports and would close wildlife markets in response to renewed concerns about the threat from diseases that can jump from animals to humans, such as the virus that causes COVID-19.
An order signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Thursday bans all imports of wildlife dead or alive and includes eggs and larvae. It also merits tougher penalties for crimes involving the trade in wildlife.
Vietnam has been a popular destination for wildlife products - often from endangered species - that are used in traditional medicine or in preparing exotic cuisine. The move comes amid increased scrutiny of the health risks of the wildlife trade as the world deals with the new coronavirus, which is thought to have jumped from animals to humans.
“The existence of wildlife markets in many locations has been a big problem in Vietnam for a long time,” said Phuong Tham, country director for the Humane Society International Vietnam.
“This rapacious appetite for wildlife is endangering not just these species’ survival, but as we have seen with the coronavirus outbreak, it is endangering people’s lives too. So this ban can’t come soon enough,” Tham said.
The new directive includes recommendations that conservationists have been making for years, including cracking down on domestic markets, said Steve Galster, the director of Freeland, a group working on ending the wildlife trade.
“COVID-19 elevated the issue of wildlife trade, so Vietnamese lawmakers got involved with the issue in the past few months and helped push the directive forward,” he said.
The directive is not perfect as it still has exceptions that will allow some trade in wild animals to continue, but it is a good start and can hopefully made stronger over time, Galster said.
The Australian government on Saturday welcomed the decision. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said Vietnam’s crackdown was a huge win for global public health.
“Vietnam is reducing the risk of future pandemics and showing the world how we can manage these markets into the future,” Littleproud said. “All nations have a responsibility to keep people safe from harm and regulating the production and sale of wild animals that carry diseases is a critical part of that.
He said the Vietnamese government should be congratulated for their leadership in taking “evidence-based approach to reducing the risk of animal to human diseases being spread. Australia will also continue to pursue global reforms on this issue where other opportunities exist.”
___ Associated Press journalist Tassanee Vejpongsa in Bangkok, Thailand, and Dennis Passa in Brisbane, Australia, contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Hungarian PM claims EU win but rule-of-law dispute not over

BUDAPEST , Hungary ( AP ) — Hungary ’ s prime minister on Friday touted what he called his victory at the European Union summit , where the bloc ’ s leaders decided on a massive seven-year budget and coronavirus recovery plan , but acknowledged he did not achieve his goal of de-linking EU funds from rule of law considerations .
Hungary and Poland , two nations led by right-wing populist governments , are both in the midst of EU proceedings over concerns that they are violating EU standards with laws and practices that threaten the independence of judges and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the marathon EU summit that ended Tuesday , leaders had debated tying receiving EU funds to demands that member nations follow EU democratic standards but did not explicitly do so .
“ Polish and Hungarians … thwarted the attempt of others deciding about the money due to us , ” Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday on state radio about the EU deal worth just over 1.8 trillion euros ( $ 2 trillion ) in which Hungary and Poland were considered to be among the greatest beneficiaries .
At the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any attempt to make a connection between the rule of law and the budget was … successfully rejected , ” but on Friday he acknowledged the issue is far from settled .
“ We didn ’ t win the war but simply only a very important battle , ” Orban said .
According to news site portfolio.hu , Hungary may get as much as 52.8 billion euros ( $ 61.3 billion ) from the EU in the seven-year budget period starting in 2021 , about 35 % more than in the last budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a resolution from the Hungarian parliament demanding , among other things , an end to an EU sanctioning process launched against Hungary in 2018 due to rule of law concerns .
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel , whose country holds the rotating EU presidency , said the initiative to close the proceeding “ must come from Hungary.
” “ Hungary would like - this is what Prime Minister Orban has told me - for this not to be such an impasse , ” Merkel at the end of the summit .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the decisive paths must , of course , be specified by Hungary.
” While Orban had mentioned even vetoing a deal at the summit if funds were tied to rule of law standards , it would have been highly risky to go directly against the wishes of Germany , which is Hungary ’ s largest trading partner and was strongly behind the coronavirus recovery package .
“ Viktor Orban understood that he could not fundamentally oppose German aspirations and interests , which were for there to be an agreement by all means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Center for Fair Political Analysis .
He said with Germany worried about a collapse of key export markets like Italy and Spain , “ the Hungarian government realized that the rule of law clause was not worth vetoing over.
” After the EU summit , however , EU officials reiterated that nations still must adhere to democratic standards .
There are also concerns that Hungary and Poland have refused to join the EU public prosecutor ’ s office , which will be investigating fraud connected to EU funds .
Hungary has built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small towns under Orban ’ s rule .
Some officials in Hungary and other EU nations have also been accused of obtuse land deals that gave them access to EU farm subsidies while impoverishing farmers .
“ Protecting our budget and the respect for the rule of law go hand in hand , ” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday in the EU Parliament .
“ We must also do everything we can to protect European money by stepping up the fight against fraud.
” “ This means having the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ database that puts us in the position to know who the final beneficiaries of EU funding are , ” she added .
Von der Leyen said the Commission would seek to again advance its proposal for funding cuts to member states that had a lack of judicial independence or other democratic failings .
And EU Parliament President David Sassoli said this week that tying rule of law demands to disbursements was “ a topic the Parliament cares a lot about.
” The EU legislature on Thursday adopted a resolution by a wide majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021-2027 EU budget in research and health , also expressed lawmakers ’ desire to make sure that governments violating the bloc ’ s “ fundamental values ” will have their access to EU funds blocked or limited .
The European Parliament has the final say in approving the budget .
Given that atmosphere , the Orban government is preparing supporters for new confrontations with the EU over its perceived democratic deficits .
Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga , who has faced strong criticism in the European Parliament while defending Hungarian policies , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gist of the fight is yet to come.
” “ I expect a new series of tougher , more unscrupulous attacks than ever before to begin in the fall , ” Varga said .
Analysts said the trend in the EU was to reinforce rule of law principles .
“ It ’ s evident that Viktor Orban sees , as do others , that the EU is increasingly going moving toward the implementation of these kinds of conditions and the retention of funds , ” said Andrea Virag , strategic director at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ So while they may be talking about a victory , they are readying themselves and voters that a debate about this is still to come.
” Associated Press writers Samuel Petrequin in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report .

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s prime minister on Friday touted what he called his victory at the European Union summit, where the bloc’s leaders decided on a massive seven-year budget and coronavirus recovery plan, but acknowledged he did not achieve his goal of de-linking EU funds from rule of law considerations.
Hungary and Poland, two nations led by right-wing populist governments, are both in the midst of EU proceedings over concerns that they are violating EU standards with laws and practices that threaten the independence of judges and press freedoms, and could face sanctions. At the marathon EU summit that ended Tuesday, leaders had debated tying receiving EU funds to demands that member nations follow EU democratic standards but did not explicitly do so.
“Polish and Hungarians … thwarted the attempt of others deciding about the money due to us,” Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday on state radio about the EU deal worth just over 1.8 trillion euros ($2 trillion) in which Hungary and Poland were considered to be among the greatest beneficiaries.
At the end of the summit, Orban said “any attempt to make a connection between the rule of law and the budget was … successfully rejected,” but on Friday he acknowledged the issue is far from settled.
“We didn’t win the war but simply only a very important battle,” Orban said.
According to news site portfolio.hu, Hungary may get as much as 52.8 billion euros ($61.3 billion) from the EU in the seven-year budget period starting in 2021, about 35% more than in the last budget.
Orban arrived at the EU summit with a resolution from the Hungarian parliament demanding, among other things, an end to an EU sanctioning process launched against Hungary in 2018 due to rule of law concerns.
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said the initiative to close the proceeding “must come from Hungary.”
“Hungary would like - this is what Prime Minister Orban has told me - for this not to be such an impasse,” Merkel at the end of the summit. “We will support Hungary in this. But the decisive paths must, of course, be specified by Hungary.”
While Orban had mentioned even vetoing a deal at the summit if funds were tied to rule of law standards, it would have been highly risky to go directly against the wishes of Germany, which is Hungary’s largest trading partner and was strongly behind the coronavirus recovery package.
“Viktor Orban understood that he could not fundamentally oppose German aspirations and interests, which were for there to be an agreement by all means,” said Attila Tibor Nagy of the Center for Fair Political Analysis.
He said with Germany worried about a collapse of key export markets like Italy and Spain, “the Hungarian government realized that the rule of law clause was not worth vetoing over.”
After the EU summit, however, EU officials reiterated that nations still must adhere to democratic standards. There are also concerns that Hungary and Poland have refused to join the EU public prosecutor’s office, which will be investigating fraud connected to EU funds.
Hungary has built a rash of large soccer stadiums in small towns under Orban’s rule. Some officials in Hungary and other EU nations have also been accused of obtuse land deals that gave them access to EU farm subsidies while impoverishing farmers.
“Protecting our budget and the respect for the rule of law go hand in hand,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday in the EU Parliament. “We must also do everything we can to protect European money by stepping up the fight against fraud.”
“This means having the right controls in place, including a database that puts us in the position to know who the final beneficiaries of EU funding are,” she added.
Von der Leyen said the Commission would seek to again advance its proposal for funding cuts to member states that had a lack of judicial independence or other democratic failings. And EU Parliament President David Sassoli said this week that tying rule of law demands to disbursements was “a topic the Parliament cares a lot about.”
The EU legislature on Thursday adopted a resolution by a wide majority which, while criticizing cuts to the 2021-2027 EU budget in research and health, also expressed lawmakers’ desire to make sure that governments violating the bloc’s “fundamental values” will have their access to EU funds blocked or limited.
The European Parliament has the final say in approving the budget.
Given that atmosphere, the Orban government is preparing supporters for new confrontations with the EU over its perceived democratic deficits.
Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga, who has faced strong criticism in the European Parliament while defending Hungarian policies, told the pro-government Magyar Nemzet newspaper that “the gist of the fight is yet to come.”
“I expect a new series of tougher, more unscrupulous attacks than ever before to begin in the fall,” Varga said.
Analysts said the trend in the EU was to reinforce rule of law principles.
“It’s evident that Viktor Orban sees, as do others, that the EU is increasingly going moving toward the implementation of these kinds of conditions and the retention of funds,” said Andrea Virag, strategic director at Republikon Institute, a Budapest-based liberal think-tank. “So while they may be talking about a victory, they are readying themselves and voters that a debate about this is still to come.”
___
Associated Press writers Samuel Petrequin in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Taliban say ready for talks with Kabul after Eid holiday

ISLAMABAD ( AP ) - The Taliban say they are ready for talks with Afghanistan ’ s political leadership after the Muslim holiday of Eid ul Adha at the end of July , offering to hand over the last of the government prisoners in a week ’ s time , providing the government frees the last of its Taliban prisoners .
The offer made by Taliban ’ s political spokesman Suhail Shaheen in a tweet late Thursday follows one of the most significant shakeups in the Taliban in years .
The group appointed the son of the movement ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and powerful leadership council members to its negotiation team .
In Kabul on Friday , the High Council for National Reconciliation , which was created in May to manage peace efforts with the Taliban , said it was still working through the Taliban ’ s prisoner list .
Javed Faisal , spokesman for the Afghan national security adviser ’ s office , previously said nearly 600 Taliban prisoners whose release is being sought have been convicted of serious crimes .
The government is reluctant to set them free , he said .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining Taliban prisoners before the Muslim holiday .
The release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the government and 1,000 government personnel and security officials in Taliban custody is laid out in a U.S. deal with the Taliban aimed at ending Afghanistan ’ s relentless wars .
According to the deal , the prisoner exchange is to take place ahead of talks between Kabul and the Taliban , seen as perhaps the most critical part of the deal .
Shaheen ’ s tweet was the first offer at a timeline for the negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be completed first and refused any substitutes to the list of prisoners submitted by the Taliban .
Kabul has offered to free alternative Taliban members they have in custody and who they say have not been convicted of serious crimes .
The Taliban have refused .
The government ’ s national reconciliation council membership has yet to be decided .
It is being led by Abdullah Abdullah , a candidate in last year ’ s presidential election who disputed the results and had for a time declared himself president .
He was appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political deadlock over the election , which had frustrated Washington ’ s efforts to get intra-Afghan negotiations off the ground .
Meanwhile , in the Qatar capital of Doha , where the Taliban maintain a political office , the religious movement has finalized its 20-member negotiating team , which includes 13 members of the Taliban ’ s leadership council .
Taliban officials who spoke previously said the strength of the team means it can make decisions on behalf of the movement .
The Taliban team is also led by one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ghani Baradar , who spent eight years in a jail in Pakistan after he attempted to open peace talks in 2010 with President Hamid Karzai .
Baradar ’ s independent peace overtures were apparently made without either Pakistan ’ s or the United States ’ prior approval , according to Karzai .
Karzai has said he twice asked Islamabad and Washington to free Baradar .
He was rejected both times , he said .
Now , however , Baradar speaks on the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ envoy Zalmay Khalilzad , which resulted in a peace deal between the Taliban and the U.S .
It was touted as Afghanistan ’ s best chance at peace in decades when it was signed Feb. 29 .
However , it has been bogged down over the release of prisoners .
Associated Press writer Tameem Akhgar in Kabul , Afghanistan contributed to this report

ISLAMABAD (AP) - The Taliban say they are ready for talks with Afghanistan’s political leadership after the Muslim holiday of Eid ul Adha at the end of July, offering to hand over the last of the government prisoners in a week’s time, providing the government frees the last of its Taliban prisoners.
The offer made by Taliban’s political spokesman Suhail Shaheen in a tweet late Thursday follows one of the most significant shakeups in the Taliban in years. The group appointed the son of the movement’s fearsome founder to head its military wing and powerful leadership council members to its negotiation team.
In Kabul on Friday, the High Council for National Reconciliation, which was created in May to manage peace efforts with the Taliban, said it was still working through the Taliban’s prisoner list.
Javed Faisal, spokesman for the Afghan national security adviser’s office, previously said nearly 600 Taliban prisoners whose release is being sought have been convicted of serious crimes. The government is reluctant to set them free, he said.
It seemed unlikely the government would free the remaining Taliban prisoners before the Muslim holiday.
The release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the government and 1,000 government personnel and security officials in Taliban custody is laid out in a U.S. deal with the Taliban aimed at ending Afghanistan’s relentless wars.
According to the deal, the prisoner exchange is to take place ahead of talks between Kabul and the Taliban, seen as perhaps the most critical part of the deal.
Shaheen’s tweet was the first offer at a timeline for the negotiations, however he demanded the prisoner release be completed first and refused any substitutes to the list of prisoners submitted by the Taliban.
Kabul has offered to free alternative Taliban members they have in custody and who they say have not been convicted of serious crimes. The Taliban have refused.
The government’s national reconciliation council membership has yet to be decided. It is being led by Abdullah Abdullah, a candidate in last year’s presidential election who disputed the results and had for a time declared himself president. He was appointed to head the reconciliation efforts to break the political deadlock over the election, which had frustrated Washington’s efforts to get intra-Afghan negotiations off the ground.
Meanwhile, in the Qatar capital of Doha, where the Taliban maintain a political office, the religious movement has finalized its 20-member negotiating team, which includes 13 members of the Taliban’s leadership council.
Taliban officials who spoke previously said the strength of the team means it can make decisions on behalf of the movement.
The Taliban team is also led by one of the founders of the movement, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who spent eight years in a jail in Pakistan after he attempted to open peace talks in 2010 with President Hamid Karzai.
Baradar’s independent peace overtures were apparently made without either Pakistan’s or the United States’ prior approval, according to Karzai. Karzai has said he twice asked Islamabad and Washington to free Baradar. He was rejected both times, he said.
Now, however, Baradar speaks on the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and was the leading negotiator in talks with U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, which resulted in a peace deal between the Taliban and the U.S. It was touted as Afghanistan’s best chance at peace in decades when it was signed Feb. 29. However, it has been bogged down over the release of prisoners.
____
Associated Press writer Tameem Akhgar in Kabul, Afghanistan contributed to this report
.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Chiefs' Duvernay-Tardif first to opt out of 2020 NFL season

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - Offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs became the first player to opt out of the upcoming NFL season due to the coronavirus pandemic on Friday .
Duvernay-Tardif earned a medical degree from McGill University in Canada and has been working to fulfill his requirements to become a doctor in the offseason .
He has been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 this summer and said in a social media post that if he is going to take any health risks , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NFL and its players association agreed earlier Friday to an opt-out clause for the upcoming season .
Those who choose to voluntarily will receive a $ 150,000 stipend rather than their contractual salary , two people with knowledge of the decisions told The Associated Press .
Those with medical opt outs will receive $ 350,000 .
The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the stipend amount was not made public .
The deadline to opt out is Aug. 3 .
Duvernay-Tardif signed a four-year deal in February 2017 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2.75 million this season .
The Chiefs welcomed rookies to training camp earlier this week , though most of their time was spent undergoing tests for COVID-19 and routine physicals .
Veterans such as Duvernay-Tardif were expected to arrive in the coming days .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif became the first player to opt out of the upcoming NFL season on Friday, choosing to put his medical degree to use on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic rather than helping the Kansas City Chiefs defend their first Super Bowl title in 50 years.
Duvernay-Tardif has been working to fulfill his requirements to become a doctor in the offseason, and has spent this summer working at a clinic in his native Canada. He said that experience helped him decide that if he was going to take any risks with his health, it would be to help patients dealing with the virus.
“This is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my life but I must follow my convictions and do what I believe is right for me personally,” Duvernay-Tardif said in his announcement on Twitter. “That is why I have decided to take the opt-out option.”
The NFL and its players association agreed earlier Friday to an opt-out clause for the upcoming season. Those who choose to voluntarily will receive a $150,000 stipend and those with medical opt outs will receive $350,00 rather than their contractual salary, two people with knowledge of the decisions told The Associated Press. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the stipend amount was not made public.
The deadline to opt out is Aug. 3, but Duvernay-Tardif made the decision before Chiefs veterans were due in camp.
“Being at the front line during this offseason has given me a different perspective on this pandemic and the stress it puts on individuals and our healthcare system,” Duvernay-Tardif said. “I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus in our communities simply to play the sport that I love.”
The Chiefs welcomed rookies to training camp earlier this week, though most of their time was spent undergoing tests for COVID-19 and routine physicals. Veterans such as Duvernay-Tardif were expected to arrive in the coming days.
The 29-year-old Duvernay-Tardif was a relative unknown when the Chiefs selected him in the sixth round of the 2014 draft out of McGill University, which plays at a level in Canada roughly equal to Division III in the U.S. But his intelligence allowed him to quickly pick up coach Andy Reid’s playbook, and a year spent learning the ropes - and building strength and more experience - pushed him into the starting lineup by the following season.
Duvernay-Tardif played well enough while starting 27 of his next 30 games that he earned a four-year, $42.36 million deal in February 2017. It would have paid him a base salary of $2.75 million this season with a $750,000 roster bonus.
Duvernay-Tardif has dealt with a series of injuries since signing the deal. He fractured his fibula in Week 5 of the 2018 season and was out until the playoffs, and he missed two games with injuries during last season’s Super Bowl run.
He played every offensive snap in the playoffs, helping the Chiefs rally to beat the San Francisco 49ers for the title.
The Chiefs signed most of their free agents from the team, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes and defensive tackle Chris Jones signed monster contracts over the summer, as they tried to bring the team back intact. They had 20 of 22 starters on offense and defense returning before Duvernay-Tardif announced his decision to opt out.
“Given the worldwide sanitary crisis we are currently experiencing, the NFL and the NFLPA have agreed to significant health and safety protocols to protect the players. There is no doubt in my mind the Chiefs’ medical staff have put together a strong plan to minimize the health risks associated with COVID-19 but some risks will remain,” he said. “I want to thank everyone in the Kansas City Chiefs organization for their support and understanding.”
___
AP Pro Football Wriiters Barry Wilner and Rob Maaddi contributed.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Zion Williamson lawyer asks judge to disregard affidavit

Lawyers for New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson asked a federal judge in North Carolina on Friday to disregard an affidavit alleging a $ 400,000 payment was made to Williamson ’ s family before the former Duke star began his lone college season .
The new filing by attorney Jeffrey Klein reiterates his earlier public assertion that the claims made in the sworn affidavit were false and that evidence meant to support those claims , such as a purported Williamson driver ’ s license , were fraudulent .
The affidavit was provided to the court in Winston-Salem , North Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gina Ford , who is seeking $ 100 million in damages from the basketball star for breach of contract .
Klein said Ford ’ s lawyers have sought to file an “ improper , legally irrelevant , and patently false set of papers … aimed at sullying the character of Mr. Williamson.
” Ford , the president of Prime Sports Marketing , filed a lawsuit last summer in a Florida state court accusing Williamson and the agency now representing him of breach of contract .
That came a week after Williamson filed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court to terminate a five-year contract with Prime Sports after moving to Creative Artists Agency LLC .
Earlier this month , Ford ’ s attorneys included a sworn affidavit from Donald Kreiss , a self-described entrepreneur from California , who said the head of a Canadian-based firm called Maximum Management Group ( MMG ) told him he paid Williamson ’ s family for his commitment to sign with MMG once he left Duke for the NBA .
The documents include a signed marketing agreement between Williamson and MMG from May 2019 ; a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposedly signed by Williamson and his stepfather agreeing to pay $ 500,000 to MMG president Slavko Duric for “ repayment of a loan ” from October 2018 ; and a copy of Williamson ’ s South Carolina driver ’ s license - which listed Williamson ’ s height as “ 284 ” and his weight as “ 6′06.
” Klein noted that the Williamson signature on the MMG agreement differs from the signature Williamson provided to Ford when he initially signed with her .
Klein asserted that Ford ’ s attorneys “ possessed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attached to the Kreiss affidavit were fraudulent .
A cursory comparison of that information readily evidences that the documents are forgeries.
” Kreiss has since told Sports Illustrated he ’ d been defrauded and never had contact with Williamson or his family .
Ford ’ s attorneys have focused their case on a contention that Williamson had violated his college eligibility , and by extension , relinquished his amateur states , before he signed his initial marketing agreement with Ford .
Williamson ’ s lawsuit to terminate his agreement with Ford stated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sports agent law , both by failing to include disclaimers about the loss of eligibility when signing the contract and the fact neither Prime Sports nor Ford were registered with the state .
Ford ’ s attorneys have argued the Uniform Athlete Agents Act wouldn ’ t apply if Williamson was ineligible to play college basketball from the start .
To bolster that argument , Ford ’ s attorneys also have sought to have last summer ’ s No .
1 overall NBA draft pick answer questions in Florida state court about whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Blue Devils .
They had also raised questions about housing for Williamson ’ s family during his Duke career in a separate filing in North Carolina .
A Florida appeals court last month granted a stay to pause the proceedings there , shifting the focus to the North Carolina case .
Duke has repeatedly declined to comment on the case because it isn ’ t involved in the litigation , but issued a statement in January that school had reviewed Williamson ’ s eligibility previously and found no concerns .

Lawyers for New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson asked a federal judge in North Carolina on Friday to disregard an affidavit alleging a $400,000 payment was made to Williamson’s family before the former Duke star began his lone college season.
The new filing by attorney Jeffrey Klein reiterates his earlier public assertion that the claims made in the sworn affidavit were false and that evidence meant to support those claims, such as a purported Williamson driver’s license, were fraudulent.
The affidavit was provided to the court in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by lawyers for ex-Williamson marketing agent Gina Ford, who is seeking $100 million in damages from the basketball star for breach of contract.
Klein said Ford’s lawyers have sought to file an “improper, legally irrelevant, and patently false set of papers … aimed at sullying the character of Mr. Williamson.”
Ford, the president of Prime Sports Marketing, filed a lawsuit last summer in a Florida state court accusing Williamson and the agency now representing him of breach of contract. That came a week after Williamson filed his own lawsuit in a North Carolina federal court to terminate a five-year contract with Prime Sports after moving to Creative Artists Agency LLC.
Earlier this month, Ford’s attorneys included a sworn affidavit from Donald Kreiss, a self-described entrepreneur from California, who said the head of a Canadian-based firm called Maximum Management Group (MMG) told him he paid Williamson’s family for his commitment to sign with MMG once he left Duke for the NBA.
The documents include a signed marketing agreement between Williamson and MMG from May 2019; a December 2019 “letter of declaration” supposedly signed by Williamson and his stepfather agreeing to pay $500,000 to MMG president Slavko Duric for “repayment of a loan” from October 2018; and a copy of Williamson’s South Carolina driver’s license - which listed Williamson’s height as “284” and his weight as “6′06.”
Klein noted that the Williamson signature on the MMG agreement differs from the signature Williamson provided to Ford when he initially signed with her.
Klein asserted that Ford’s attorneys “possessed information sufficient to confirm that the documents attached to the Kreiss affidavit were fraudulent. A cursory comparison of that information readily evidences that the documents are forgeries.”
Kreiss has since told Sports Illustrated he’d been defrauded and never had contact with Williamson or his family.
Ford’s attorneys have focused their case on a contention that Williamson had violated his college eligibility, and by extension, relinquished his amateur states, before he signed his initial marketing agreement with Ford.
Williamson’s lawsuit to terminate his agreement with Ford stated that Prime Sports violated North Carolina’s sports agent law, both by failing to include disclaimers about the loss of eligibility when signing the contract and the fact neither Prime Sports nor Ford were registered with the state.
Ford’s attorneys have argued the Uniform Athlete Agents Act wouldn’t apply if Williamson was ineligible to play college basketball from the start.
To bolster that argument, Ford’s attorneys also have sought to have last summer’s No. 1 overall NBA draft pick answer questions in Florida state court about whether he received improper benefits before playing for the Blue Devils. They had also raised questions about housing for Williamson’s family during his Duke career in a separate filing in North Carolina.
A Florida appeals court last month granted a stay to pause the proceedings there, shifting the focus to the North Carolina case.
Duke has repeatedly declined to comment on the case because it isn’t involved in the litigation, but issued a statement in January that school had reviewed Williamson’s eligibility previously and found no concerns.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Floyd, the San Francisco Zoo's tallest, oldest giraffe, dies

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - Floyd , the oldest and tallest giraffe at the San Francisco Zoo , died Friday .
The 18-year-old male reticulated giraffe had joint degeneration from aging and had suffered a significant decline in health , a zoo statement said .
“ His imposing size yet serene demeanor , and independent spirit will be missed , ” the zoo said .
Floyd was 16 feet ( 4.88 meters ) tall and weighed more than 2,425 pounds ( 1,100 kilograms ) .
He was born in 2002 at the Albuquerque Zoo and transferred to San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd produced 11 offspring and had 24 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren that can be found all over the United States , the zoo said .
“ Floyd was truly one of our most beloved animals and a favorite among our guests because he was so recognizable and engaging , ” said Tanya M. Peterson , chief executive officer and executive director of the San Francisco Zoological Society .
“ We are heartbroken but know that he has touched so many during his life.
” Floyd was a reticulated giraffe , an African subspecies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ types in zoological parks .
The reticulated giraffe is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature .
Poaching has reduced its native African population by half , according to the zoo .

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Floyd, the oldest and tallest giraffe at the San Francisco Zoo, died Friday.
The 18-year-old male reticulated giraffe had joint degeneration from aging and had suffered a significant decline in health, a zoo statement said.
“His imposing size yet serene demeanor, and independent spirit will be missed,” the zoo said.
Floyd was 16 feet (4.88 meters) tall and weighed more than 2,425 pounds (1,100 kilograms).
He was born in 2002 at the Albuquerque Zoo and transferred to San Francisco in 2004.
Over his lifetime, Floyd produced 11 offspring and had 24 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren that can be found all over the United States, the zoo said.
“Floyd was truly one of our most beloved animals and a favorite among our guests because he was so recognizable and engaging,” said Tanya M. Peterson, chief executive officer and executive director of the San Francisco Zoological Society. “We are heartbroken but know that he has touched so many during his life.”
Floyd was a reticulated giraffe, an African subspecies that is among the more commonly seen types in zoological parks.
The reticulated giraffe is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Poaching has reduced its native African population by half, according to the zoo.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Sudan armed group attacks Darfur village, killing at least 7

CAIRO ( AP ) - A Sudanese paramilitary group attacked civilians in the war-scarred region of South Darfur , killing at least seven people and wounding 20 more , local activists and a rebel group said Friday .
The assault in the troubled province came a week after government-linked armed groups stormed a protest camp in North Darfur and killed 13 people .
The latest attack was staged Thursday by armed men opened fire on people who were headed to their farms in the town of Gereida , some 107 kilometers ( 66 miles ) south of South Darfur ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al-Nayer , a spokesman for a rebel group known as the Sudan Liberation Movement .
Seven people were killed , said Adam Regal , a spokesman for a local organization that helps run displacement camps in Darfur .
Late Friday , al-Nayer put the death toll at 15 , saying several more people had succumbed to their wounds .
The flashes of violence in Darfur have threatened to destabilize the country ’ s fragile political transition .
In April of last year , a sweeping pro-democracy protest movement toppled longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ composed of civilian and military leaders .
Al-Bashir is imprisoned in the capital , Khartoum , on corruption charges , although the International Criminal Court has sought for a decade to arrest him on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity over his role in the Darfur conflict .
Sudan ’ s government has vowed to end the conflicts in the country ’ s far-flung provinces in hopes of slashing military spending , which eats up 80 % of the national budget .
Rebel groups from Darfur and southern Sudan have for months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a wider effort to hold former officials to account , the public prosecutor has pledged to investigate alleged atrocities in Darfur .
Yet sporadic violence continues , with each new attack fueling fears that ruling authorities may not deliver on their promises .
“ The militia that committed this crime is supported by the old regime , ” al-Nayer said , referring to the Rapid Support Forces , a paramilitary unit drawn from the Janjaweed militias accused of mass killings and rapes in Darfur in the 2000s , The group continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hamdan Dagalo , the unit ’ s commander , is deputy head of Sudan ’ s ruling council .
There was no immediate comment from the Rapid Support Forces about Thursday ’ s attack .
“ We are calling on the government to play its role in protecting civilians , arresting criminals and disarming the militias , ” al-Nayer said .
Sit-ins have sprung up across Darfur in recent weeks as people , mostly those displaced by the waves of fighting in Darfur , press demands for unhindered access to their farmlands and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who they say fail to protect them against frequent paramilitary attacks .
A government delegation earlier this week visited the protest camp of Fata Borno in North Darfur , the site of the recent deadly crackdown .
There , Gen. Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo , deputy commander of the Rapid Support Forces , pledged to launch an investigation into the dispersal of the sit-in and deploy forces to better protect farmers during the agricultural season , according to Sudan ’ s state-run news agency .
Yet soon after the delegation met , footage surfaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried on a stretcher with a bullet lodged in her head , homes torched in an alleged arson attack - and later - shrouded bodies lowered into a mass grave .
Meanwhile , a several hours ’ drive north , around 32 activists were arrested in a dragnet targeting protesters and displaced people this week , said Regal , the camp spokesman .
In a statement Friday , the Khartoum-based Darfur Bar Association confirmed that several advocates had been swept up in North Darfur , including one of its own attorneys providing legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security forces dispersed another protest camp last week .
The arrests of lawyers and advocates sends “ a clear message ” that transitional authorities are continuing the same repressive Bashir-era tactics , the association said .

CAIRO (AP) - A Sudanese paramilitary group attacked civilians in the war-scarred region of South Darfur, killing at least seven people and wounding 20 more, local activists and a rebel group said Friday.
The assault in the troubled province came a week after government-linked armed groups stormed a protest camp in North Darfur and killed 13 people.
The latest attack was staged Thursday by armed men who opened fire on people headed to their farms in the town of Gereida, some 107 kilometers (66 miles) south of South Darfur’s provincial capital, said Mohamed Abdel-Rahman al-Nayer, a spokesman for a rebel group known as the Sudan Liberation Movement.
Seven people were killed, said Adam Regal, a spokesman for a local organization that helps run displacement camps in Darfur.
Late Friday, al-Nayer put the death toll at 15, saying several more people had succumbed to their wounds.
The flashes of violence in Darfur have threatened to destabilize the country’s fragile political transition. In April of last year, a sweeping pro-democracy protest movement toppled longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir, ushering in a transitional government jointly composed of civilian and military leaders.
Al-Bashir is imprisoned in the capital, Khartoum, on corruption charges, although the International Criminal Court has sought for a decade to arrest him on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity over his role in the Darfur conflict.
Sudan’s government has vowed to end the conflicts in the country’s far-flung provinces in hopes of slashing military spending, which eats up 80% of the national budget.
Rebel groups from Darfur and southern Sudan have for months engaged in peace talks. As part of a wider effort to hold former officials to account, the public prosecutor has pledged to investigate alleged atrocities in Darfur.
Yet sporadic violence continues, with each new attack fueling fears that ruling authorities may not deliver on their promises.
“The militia that committed this crime is supported by the old regime,” al-Nayer said, referring to the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary unit drawn from the Janjaweed militias accused of mass killings and rapes in Darfur in the 2000s.
The group continues to wield power in Khartoum. Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the unit’s commander, is deputy head of Sudan’s ruling council.
There was no immediate comment from the Rapid Support Forces about Thursday’s attack.
“We are calling on the government to play its role in protecting civilians, arresting criminals and disarming the militias,” al-Nayer said.
Sit-ins have sprung up across Darfur in recent weeks as people, mostly those displaced by the waves of fighting in the region, press demands for unhindered access to their farmlands and the resignation of provincial security officials, who they say fail to protect them against frequent paramilitary attacks.
A government delegation earlier this week visited the protest camp of Fata Borno in North Darfur, the site of the recent deadly crackdown. There, Gen. Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, deputy commander of the Rapid Support Forces, pledged to launch an investigation into the dispersal of the sit-in and deploy forces to better protect farmers during the agricultural season, according to Sudan’s state-run news agency.
Yet soon after the delegation met, footage surfaced online from Gereida, showing a woman carried on a stretcher with a bullet lodged in her head, homes torched in an alleged arson attack - and later - shrouded bodies lowered into a mass grave.
Meanwhile, a several hours’ drive north, around 32 activists were arrested in a dragnet targeting protesters and displaced people this week, said Regal, the camp spokesman.
In a statement Friday, the Khartoum-based Darfur Bar Association confirmed that several advocates had been swept up in North Darfur, including one of its own attorneys providing legal aid for detainees in Kutum, where security forces dispersed another protest camp last week.
The arrests of lawyers and advocates sends “a clear message” that transitional authorities are continuing the same repressive Bashir-era tactics, the association said.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Asia Today: SKorea records 113 new cases, most from overseas

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) - South Korea has reported 113 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours , its first daily jump over 100 in nearly four months .
But the rise was predictable as health authorities had forecast a temporary spike driven by imported infections found among cargo ship crews and hundreds of South Korean construction workers airlifted out of virus-ravaged Iraq .
The figures released by South Korea ’ s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Saturday brought the national caseload to 14,092 , including 298 deaths .
The KCDC said 86 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international arrivals while the other 27 were local transmissions .
It said the imported cases included 36 South Korean workers who returned from Iraq and 32 crew members of a Russia-flagged cargo ship docked in the southern port of Busan .
South Korean officials consider imported cases as less threatening than local transmissions as they mandate tests and enforce two-week quarantines on all overseas arrivals .
Kwon Jun-wook , director of South Korea ’ s National Institute of Health , said during a briefing Friday afternoon that the newly reported cases the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time since April 1 and urged the public not to be overly alarmed by it .
He said 89 of the 293 South Korean workers who arrived home Friday aboard two military planes from Iraq were exhibiting symptoms .
South Korea has been dealing with a virus resurgence since easing social distancing guidelines in mid-April .
Health authorities over the past week have found new clusters tied to churches , welfare centers , office buildings and a front-line army unit .

NEW DELHI (AP) - India began its first human trials of a coronavirus vaccine candidate as the world’s second-most populous country recorded nearly 49,000 new cases.
The additional infections reported Saturday raised India’s total to more than 1.3 million, with surges seen in a quarter of the country’s 36 states and union territories.
India has tallied 31,358 deaths, including 757 in the last 24 hours. It has reported a much lower death rate than the world’s two other worst-hit countries, the United States and Brazil. Johns Hopkins University showed that the U.S. has more than 4.1 million cases, while Brazil has a caseload of nearly 2.3 million.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a premier teaching hospital in New Delhi, said it administered the first dose of a trial coronavirus vaccine on Friday.
The candidate vaccine, Covaxin, is among nearly two dozen that are in human trials around the world. AIIMS is among the 12 sites selected by the Indian Council for Medical Research for conducting the two-phase randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials of Covaxin.
Countries are making giant bets on various vaccine candidates, entering into purchasing agreements with pharmaceutical companies for delivery if and when regulators deem the doses safe and effective.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
- South Korea reported 113 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, its first daily jump over 100 in nearly four months. Health authorities had forecast a temporary spike driven by imported infections found among cargo ship crews and hundreds of South Korean construction workers airlifted out of virus-ravaged Iraq. The figures released by South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Saturday brought the national caseload to 14,092, including 298 deaths. The KCDC said 86 of the new cases were linked to international arrivals while the other 27 were local transmissions. It said the imported cases included 36 South Korean workers who returned from Iraq and 32 crew members of a Russia-flagged cargo ship docked in the southern port of Busan. South Korean officials consider imported cases as less threatening than local transmissions because of mandatory tests and a two-week quarantine for all overseas arrivals.
- Five more Victoria residents died from COVID-19 as the Australian state recorded 357 new cases in the past 24 hours. Premier Daniel Andrews refused to rule out further restrictions but said Saturday the mandatory wearing of masks was the current strategy to stop the spread. “If they are worn by everybody, we may not need to go further,” Andrews said. “We can’t rule out going further with rule changes, but it’s a big game changer.” There are now nearly 4,000 active cases in the state and of those, 313 are health care workers. The deaths take the state toll to 61 and the national figure to 145. Victoria recorded 300 new cases on Friday, down from 403 on Thursday.
- China on Saturday reported 34 new confirmed coronavirus cases. The total reported in the 24 hours through midnight Friday includes five people who caught the virus abroad, the National Health Commission said. No additional deaths were reported, leaving China’s fatality toll at 4,634.
- Vietnam has reported the first local case of COVID-19 in over three months. The 57-year-old man from central Da Nang city was hospitalized on Thursday with a fever and respiratory distress. The Health Ministry says his condition worsened and he was put on a ventilator. Health workers have not been able to trace the source for his infection. For over a month, he did not travel outside his hometown, where no case of COVID-19 has been reported since April. Da Nang city authorities have isolated the hospital he had visited and those who had been in contact with the man in the past weeks. His family members and over 100 others have initially tested negative for the coronavirus. The news of a local infection after most activities had resumed in mid-May caused many to cancel or prematurely end their holidays in Da Nang, one of Vietnam’s most popular beach destinations. Vietnam has reported 416 confirmed cases and no deaths.
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--Michael W. Mosman rejects Oregon Attorney General's request to stop feds from arresting rioters

A federal judge denied Friday a request from the Oregon attorney general to stop federal agents from arresting rioters , ruling that the state lacked standing to sue on behalf of the protest crowds laying siege to federal buildings in Portland .
U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman , appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush , said that Oregon had relied on a “ purely hypothetical ” argument about the risk of “ kidnappings ” by federal authorities or counter-protesters .
The judge said that Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum would have needed to demonstrate “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standing ” for “ an injunction against future conduct.
” “ Because it has failed to do so—most fundamentally , because it has not shown it is vindicating an interest that is specific to the state itself — I find the State of Oregon lacks standing here and therefore deny its request for a temporary restraining order , ” Judge Mosman said in the 14-page decision .
Democrats led by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler have blasted the Department of Homeland Security for bringing in federal law-enforcement officers to protect the federal buildings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Chad Wolf has said Portland officials have done nothing to block the fire-setting , window-breaking vandals .
In a statement , the Democrat Rosenblum said she was “ disappointed ” in the ruling .
“ The stakes in this case are high , and I am disappointed that Judge Mosman did not rule in favor of a TRO and found instead that we lacked standing to bring the case in the first place , ” said Ms. Rosenblum .
“ I believe all Oregonians have a right to know which federal law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and why they are detaining peaceful protesters .
”

A federal judge denied Friday a request from the Oregon attorney general to stop federal agents from arresting rioters, ruling that the state lacked standing to sue on behalf of the protest crowds laying siege to federal buildings in Portland.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman, appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush, said that Oregon had relied on a “purely hypothetical” argument about the risk of “kidnappings” by federal authorities or counter-protesters.
The judge said that Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum would have needed to demonstrate “a very particularized showing in order to have standing” for “an injunction against future conduct.”
“Because it has failed to do so—most fundamentally, because it has not shown it is vindicating an interest that is specific to the state itself — I find the State of Oregon lacks standing here and therefore deny its request for a temporary restraining order,” Judge Mosman said in the 14-page decision.
Democrats led by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler have blasted the Department of Homeland Security for bringing in federal law-enforcement officers to protect the federal buildings in Portland from attacks, while DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf has said Portland officials have done nothing to block the fire-setting, window-breaking vandals.
In a statement, the Democrat Rosenblum said she was “disappointed” in the ruling.
“The stakes in this case are high, and I am disappointed that Judge Mosman did not rule in favor of a TRO and found instead that we lacked standing to bring the case in the first place,” said Ms. Rosenblum. “I believe all Oregonians have a right to know which federal law enforcement agencies are policing our streets, and why they are detaining peaceful protesters.”
The AG’s statement on today’s decision by Judge Mosman denying her request for a temporary restraining order (TRO).
A TRO would have immediately stopped federal authorities from unlawfully detaining Oregonians from the streets of downtown Portland. ⬇https://t.co/659oMnG98V pic.twitter.com/c9QnYlFHoB — Ellen Rosenblum (@ORDOJ) July 24, 2020
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--US sued over expulsion of migrant children detained in hotel

HOUSTON ( AP ) - Legal groups sued the U.S. government Friday to try to stop the expulsion of children detained in hotel rooms by the Trump administration under an emergency declaration citing the coronavirus .
The owners of the Hampton Inn & Suites in McAllen , Texas , said Friday night that they ended any reservations on rooms used to detain minors .
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also confirmed that all children had been taken away from the hotel , two days after The Associated Press reported that it was one of three hotels used nearly 200 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 .
But ICE repeatedly refused to answer questions about where contractors have taken the children .
“ The Trump administration is holding children in secret in hotels , refusing to give lawyers access to them so it can expel them back to danger without even a chance for the children to show they warrant asylum , ” said Lee Gelernt , a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union , which filed suit on behalf of the Texas Civil Rights Project .
Gelernt said suing on behalf of unnamed children was necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide any information about the children.
” The lawsuit was filed in Washington federal court , and Gelernt said he would seek to include any minors detained at the hotel as of Thursday .
Government data obtained by AP shows children were detained 123 times at the McAllen hotel in April and June .
Castle Hospitality , which operates the McAllen location , refused to say how many rooms had been booked for use by ICE or its private contractor , MVM Inc .
The other Hampton Inns are near the airports in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the data obtained by AP .
Under federal anti-trafficking law and a court settlement , most children who cross the U.S.-Mexico border are supposed to go to facilities operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and eventually placed with family sponsors .
But the Trump administration says it must expel children to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , citing an emergency declaration in March by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
At least 2,000 children have since been expelled without getting the chance to seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are as young as 1 and others have been held in hotels two weeks or longer , according to government data obtained by AP for April and June .
Roberto Lopez of the Texas Civil Rights Project said when he entered the hotel last Friday , he saw people in scrubs going room to room on the fourth and fifth floors of the Hampton Inn caring for children .
He saw one small child holding on to a gate in a doorway as an adult on the other side played with him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the group went to the fourth floor , three men dressed in plainclothes stopped him , according to a video the group posted online .
After the men asked for his identity , the advocate yelled in Spanish that he was a lawyer trying to help .
The video shows the men in plainclothes shoving him and forcing him into an elevator , repeatedly refusing to identify themselves .
On Friday , ICE described the lawyer and another person with him as people who “ attempted to forcefully gain access ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A group of Congressional Democrats wrote Friday to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf expressing “ deep alarm ” about the detention of children in hotels .
“ We are gravely concerned that the CDC order is being grossly misused to circumvent asylum and child welfare protections , ” the letter said .

HOUSTON (AP) - Legal groups sued the U.S. government Friday to try to stop the expulsion of children detained in hotel rooms by the Trump administration under an emergency declaration citing the coronavirus.
The owners of the Hampton Inn & Suites in McAllen, Texas, said Friday night that they ended any reservations on rooms used to detain minors. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also confirmed that all children had been taken away from the hotel, two days after The Associated Press reported that it was one of three hotels used nearly 200 times for detention of children as young as 1.
But ICE repeatedly refused to answer questions about where contractors have taken the children, citing a potential security risk.
“The Trump administration is holding children in secret in hotels, refusing to give lawyers access to them so it can expel them back to danger without even a chance for the children to show they warrant asylum,” said Lee Gelernt, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed suit on behalf of the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Gelernt said suing on behalf of unnamed children was necessary “because the government is refusing to provide any information about the children.” The lawsuit was filed in Washington federal court, and Gelernt said he would seek to include any minors detained at the hotel as of Thursday.
Government data obtained by AP shows children were detained 123 times at the McAllen hotel in April and June. Castle Hospitality, which operates the McAllen location, refused to say how many rooms had been booked for use by ICE or its private contractor, MVM Inc.
The other Hampton Inns are near the airports in Phoenix and El Paso, Texas, according to the data obtained by AP.
Under federal anti-trafficking law and a court settlement, most children who cross the U.S.-Mexico border are supposed to go to facilities operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and eventually placed with family sponsors.
But the Trump administration says it must expel children to prevent the spread of COVID-19, citing an emergency declaration in March by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 2,000 children have since been expelled without getting the chance to seek refuge in the U.S.
Some children are as young as 1 and others have been held in hotels two weeks or longer, according to government data obtained by AP for April and June.
Roberto Lopez of the Texas Civil Rights Project said when he entered the hotel last Friday, he saw people in scrubs going room to room on the fourth and fifth floors of the Hampton Inn caring for children. He saw one small child holding on to a gate in a doorway as an adult on the other side played with him.
But on Thursday, when another advocate from the group went to the fourth floor, three men dressed in plainclothes stopped him, according to a video the group posted online. After the men asked for his identity, the advocate yelled in Spanish that he was a lawyer trying to help. The video shows the men in plainclothes shoving him and forcing him into an elevator, repeatedly refusing to identify themselves.
On Friday, ICE described the lawyer and another person with him as people who “attempted to forcefully gain access” to an area its contract officers were restricting.
A group of Congressional Democrats wrote Friday to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf expressing “deep alarm” about the detention of children in hotels.
“We are gravely concerned that the CDC order is being grossly misused to circumvent asylum and child welfare protections,” the letter said.


washingtontimes--2020-07-24--In-store dancing leads to Hawaii visitor quarantine arrest

HONOLULU ( AP ) - Investigators with the Hawaii attorney general ’ s office arrested a 20-year-old woman after seeing videos of her dancing in a store and dining out when she was supposed to be obeying a traveler quarantine the state mandated to protect against the spread of the coronavirus .
Anne Salamanca arrived in Honolulu on July 6 and four days later , the Hawaii Tourism Authority learned she was out in public , in violation of the 14-day quarantine , the state said in a news release Friday .
The tourism authority informed attorney general special agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dancing and dining .
The state ’ s news release said Salamanca is from Birmingham , Alabama .
She ’ s also a “ social media influencer ” in the Philippines who goes by Mika Salamanca and arrived from Manila , KITV reported .
The Honolulu news station reported she apologized on social media , but she claimed law enforcement came to the house where she ’ s staying and told her if she had a negative COVID-19 test , she could go out .
“ None of my investigators would convey that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors said .
“ The fact Ms. Salamanca has so many followers makes her actions that much more dangerous and concerning .
The spread of misinformation can have very severe consequences during an emergency situation like we are in now.
” Salamanca was arrested and released on $ 2,000 bail .
She declined KITV ’ s request for comment .
The Associated Press couldn ’ t immediately reach her Friday .
It wasn ’ t clear if she has an attorney .

HONOLULU (AP) - Investigators with the Hawaii attorney general’s office arrested a 20-year-old woman after seeing videos of her dancing in a store and dining out when she was supposed to be obeying a traveler quarantine the state mandated to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.
Anne Salamanca arrived in Honolulu on July 6 and four days later, the Hawaii Tourism Authority learned she was out in public, in violation of the 14-day quarantine, the state said in a news release Friday.
The tourism authority informed attorney general special agents, who were shown videos of her dancing and dining.
The state’s news release said Salamanca is from Birmingham, Alabama. She’s also a “social media influencer” in the Philippines who goes by Mika Salamanca and arrived from Manila, KITV reported.
The Honolulu news station reported she apologized on social media, but she claimed law enforcement came to the house where she’s staying and told her if she had a negative COVID-19 test, she could go out.
“None of my investigators would convey that information, as it is incorrect,” Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors said. “The fact Ms. Salamanca has so many followers makes her actions that much more dangerous and concerning. The spread of misinformation can have very severe consequences during an emergency situation like we are in now.”
Salamanca was arrested and released on $2,000 bail. She declined KITV’s request for comment.
The Associated Press couldn’t immediately reach her Friday. It wasn’t clear if she has an attorney.