washingtontimes--2020-12-07--AP sources: Biden picks Lloyd Austin as secretary of defense

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - President-elect Joe Biden will nominate retired four-star Army general Lloyd J. Austin to be secretary of defense , according to four people familiar with the decision .
If confirmed by the Senate , Austin would be the first Black leader of the Pentagon .
Biden selected Austin over the longtime front-runner candidate , Michele Flournoy , a former senior Pentagon official and Biden supporter who would have been the first woman to serve as defense secretary .
Biden also had considered Jeh Johnson , a former Pentagon general counsel and former secretary of homeland defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed by four people with knowledge of the pick who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the selection hadn ’ t been formally announced .
Biden offered and Austin accepted the post on Sunday , according to a person familiar with the process .
As a career military officer , the 67-year-old Austin is likely to face opposition from some in Congress and in the defense establishment who believe in drawing a clear line between civilian and military leadership of the Pentagon .
Although many previous defense secretaries have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two - George C. Marshall and James Mattis - have been career officers .
Marshall also served as secretary of state .
Like Mattis , Austin would need to obtain a congressional waiver to serve as defense secretary .
Congress intended civilian control of the military when it created the position of secretary of defense in 1947 and prohibited a recently retired military officer from holding the position .
One of the people who confirmed the pick said Austin ’ s selection was about choosing the best possible person but acknowledged that pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color and that Austin ’ s stock had risen in recent days .
Austin is a 1975 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served 41 years in uniform .
Biden has known Austin at least since the general ’ s years leading U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq while Biden was vice president .
Austin was commander in Baghdad of the Multinational Corps-Iraq in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected president , and he returned to lead U.S. troops from 2010 through 2011 .
Austin also served in 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff of the Army , the service ’ s No .
2-ranking position .
A year later he assumed command of U.S. Central Command , where he fashioned and began implementing a U.S. military strategy for rolling back the Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria .
Austin retired from the Army in 2016 , and he would need a congressional waiver of the legal requirement that a former member of the military be out of uniform at least seven years before serving as secretary of defense .
That waiver has been granted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case of Mattis , the retired Marine general who served as President Donald Trump ’ s first Pentagon chief .
The Mattis period at the Pentagon is now viewed by some as evidence of why a recently retired military officer should serve as defense secretary only in rare exceptions .
Although Mattis remains widely respected for his military prowess and intellect , critics say he tended to surround himself with military officers at the expense of a broader civilian perspective .
He resigned in December 2018 in protest of Trump ’ s policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 years in senior staff positions at the Pentagon and the National Security Council , said she understands why Biden would seek out candidates with a deep understanding of the military .
However , she worries that appointing a general to a political role could prolong some of the damage caused by Trump ’ s politicization of the military .
“ But retired generals are not one-for-one substitutes of civilian leaders , ” she said .
“ General officers bring different skills and different perspectives , and great generals do not universally make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for strong leadership , integrity and a sharp intellect .
He would not be a prototypical defense secretary , not just because of his 41-year military career but also because he has shied from the public eye .
It would be an understatement to say he was a quiet general ; although he testified before Congress , he gave few interviews and preferred not to speak publicly about military operations .
When he did speak , Austin did not mince words .
In 2015 , in describing how the Islamic State army managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian border to grab control of large swaths of northern and western Iraq , Austin said the majority of Iraqi Sunnis simply refused to fight for their government .
“ They allowed - and in some cases facilitated - ISIS ’ s push through the country , ” Austin said .
He earned the admiration of the Obama administration for his work in Iraq and at Central Command , although he disagreed with Obama ’ s decision to pull out of Iraq entirely in December 2011 .
Austin was involved in the Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served as an assistant commander of the 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and oversaw the withdrawal in 2011 .
When Austin retired in 2016 , Obama praised his “ character and competence , ” as well as his judgment and leadership .
One person familiar with the matter said Biden was drawn to Austin ’ s oversight of the Iraq pull-out , especially given the military ’ s upcoming role in supporting the distribution of the coronavirus vaccines .
Like many retired generals , Austin has served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the board of directors of Raytheon Technologies .
Word of Austin ’ s selection broke a day before a meeting between Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and civil rights groups , many of whom had pushed the president-elect to pick more Black Cabinet members .
The Rev .
Al Sharpton , the civil rights activist , said Monday : “ It ’ s a good choice that I think many in the civil rights community would support .
It ’ s the first time we have seen a person of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something , in a global view , especially after such an antagonistic relationship we had with the previous administration.
” Sharpton , who is set to be in the meeting with Biden on Tuesday , called the choice “ a step in the right direction but not the end of the walk.
” Lemire reported from Wilmington , Del .
AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace contributed to this report .

ROBERT BURNS, MICHAEL BALSAMO, JONATHAN LEMIRE and ZEKE MILLER

WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Joe Biden will nominate retired four-star Army general Lloyd J. Austin to be secretary of defense, according to four people familiar with the decision. If confirmed by the Senate, Austin would be the first Black leader of the Pentagon.
Biden selected Austin over the longtime front-runner candidate, Michele Flournoy, a former senior Pentagon official and Biden supporter who would have been the first woman to serve as defense secretary. Biden also had considered Jeh Johnson, a former Pentagon general counsel and former secretary of homeland defense.
The impending nomination of Austin was confirmed by four people with knowledge of the pick who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the selection hadn’t been formally announced. Biden offered and Austin accepted the post on Sunday, according to a person familiar with the process.
As a career military officer, the 67-year-old Austin is likely to face opposition from some in Congress and in the defense establishment who believe in drawing a clear line between civilian and military leadership of the Pentagon. Although many previous defense secretaries have served briefly in the military, only two - George C. Marshall and James Mattis - have been career officers. Marshall also served as secretary of state.
Like Mattis, Austin would need to obtain a congressional waiver to serve as defense secretary. Congress intended civilian control of the military when it created the position of secretary of defense in 1947 and prohibited a recently retired military officer from holding the position.
One of the people who confirmed the pick said Austin’s selection was about choosing the best possible person but acknowledged that pressure had built to name a candidate of color and that Austin’s stock had risen in recent days.
Austin is a 1975 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served 41 years in uniform.
Biden has known Austin at least since the general’s years leading U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq while Biden was vice president. Austin was commander in Baghdad of the Multinational Corps-Iraq in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected president, and he returned to lead U.S. troops from 2010 through 2011.
Austin also served in 2012 as the first Black vice chief of staff of the Army, the service’s No. 2-ranking position. A year later he assumed command of U.S. Central Command, where he fashioned and began implementing a U.S. military strategy for rolling back the Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
Austin retired from the Army in 2016, and he would need a congressional waiver of the legal requirement that a former member of the military be out of uniform at least seven years before serving as secretary of defense. That waiver has been granted only twice - most recently in the case of Mattis, the retired Marine general who served as President Donald Trump’s first Pentagon chief.
The Mattis period at the Pentagon is now viewed by some as evidence of why a recently retired military officer should serve as defense secretary only in rare exceptions. Although Mattis remains widely respected for his military prowess and intellect, critics say he tended to surround himself with military officers at the expense of a broader civilian perspective. He resigned in December 2018 in protest of Trump’s policies.
Loren DeJonge Schulman, who spent 10 years in senior staff positions at the Pentagon and the National Security Council, said she understands why Biden would seek out candidates with a deep understanding of the military. However, she worries that appointing a general to a political role could prolong some of the damage caused by Trump’s politicization of the military.
“But retired generals are not one-for-one substitutes of civilian leaders,” she said. “General officers bring different skills and different perspectives, and great generals do not universally make good appointees.”
Austin has a reputation for strong leadership, integrity and a sharp intellect. He would not be a prototypical defense secretary, not just because of his 41-year military career but also because he has shied from the public eye. It would be an understatement to say he was a quiet general; although he testified before Congress, he gave few interviews and preferred not to speak publicly about military operations.
When he did speak, Austin did not mince words. In 2015, in describing how the Islamic State army managed a year earlier to sweep across the Syrian border to grab control of large swaths of northern and western Iraq, Austin said the majority of Iraqi Sunnis simply refused to fight for their government.
“They allowed - and in some cases facilitated - ISIS’s push through the country,” Austin said.
He earned the admiration of the Obama administration for his work in Iraq and at Central Command, although he disagreed with Obama’s decision to pull out of Iraq entirely in December 2011.
Austin was involved in the Iraq War from start to finish. He served as an assistant commander of the 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and oversaw the withdrawal in 2011. When Austin retired in 2016, Obama praised his “character and competence,” as well as his judgment and leadership.
One person familiar with the matter said Biden was drawn to Austin’s oversight of the Iraq pull-out, especially given the military’s upcoming role in supporting the distribution of the coronavirus vaccines.
Like many retired generals, Austin has served on corporate boards. He is a member of the board of directors of Raytheon Technologies.
Word of Austin’s selection broke a day before a meeting between Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and civil rights groups, many of whom had pushed the president-elect to pick more Black Cabinet members.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist, said Monday: “It’s a good choice that I think many in the civil rights community would support. It’s the first time we have seen a person of color in that position. That means something, in a global view, especially after such an antagonistic relationship we had with the previous administration.”
Sharpton, who is set to be in the meeting with Biden on Tuesday, called the choice “a step in the right direction but not the end of the walk.”
Politico first reported Biden’s selection of Austin.
___
Lemire reported from Wilmington, Del. AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--Families of shooting victims sue sellers of 'ghost guns'

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Families of those killed and wounded in a rural California shooting rampage three years ago are suing manufacturers and sellers of “ ghost gun ” kits that provide easy-to-assemble firearm parts that make it difficult to track or regulate owners .
A pair of wrongful death lawsuits filed last month in separate state courts accuse 13 defendants of negligence , public nuisance and violation of business codes .
The cases were brought by Brady United , the national nonprofit that advocates against gun violence , which said Monday that the suits are the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ghost guns , which are cobbled together with various parts often purchased separately , have long been popular among hobbyists and firearms enthusiasts .
The weapons that contain no registration numbers that could be used to trace them and require no background checks increasingly have shown up at crime scenes , gun control advocates say .
“ There is an ample and thriving gun market in this country in which law abiding citizens can get guns thru proper channels .
This is an industry that appears aimed at supplying people who can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s chief counsel Jonathan Lowy said Monday .
Cody Wilson , the director of Ghost Gunner Inc. , one of the defendants , called the suits “ low effort attempts to confuse the public and frustrate the lawful purpose of making your own firearms in California.
” The other 12 defendants , most of them online retailers , didn ’ t immediately respond to requests for comment .
The plaintiffs include the families of Michelle McFayden , Diana Steele , Daniel Le , and Joseph McHugh , who died in the November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who suffered serious injuries .
Investigators say the shooter , Kevin Neal , manufactured an unregistered rifle used in the rampage with ghost gun parts despite being ordered by a judge to surrender all his weapons as part of a restraining order .
Neal , 44 , killed his wife and four others before he died by suicide while being chased by deputies in Northern California ’ s Tehama County .
Neal targeted an elementary school while randomly shooting at homes and motorists in a sprawling rural subdivision about 130 miles ( 209 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defendants knew when they entered this business that they would foreseeably be supplying criminals , killers , and others whose possession of firearms pose an unacceptably high threat of injury or death to others , ” the California court filings say .
Their marketing materials “ intentionally targeted prohibited persons and other dangerous individuals like Neal .
Such tactics and practices were unfair , immoral , unethical , oppressive , and unscrupulous.
” The cases were filed in Superior Court of Orange County and San Bernardino County .
It ’ s possible the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single trial , Lowy said .
The court filings ask for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages .
“ Companies who evade state and federal gun safety laws in order to market gun kits to people who can not lawfully buy or possess guns in California should face liability for their negligence , ” said Brady United co-counsel Amy Van Zant .
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives doesn ’ t consider the do-it-yourself kits to be firearms , so buyers don ’ t have to undergo the usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guns are not required to have serial numbers .
In September California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to order ATF to change its policy , arguing that it violates the common definition of a firearm under federal law .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Families of those killed and wounded in a rural California shooting rampage three years ago are suing manufacturers and sellers of “ghost gun” kits that provide easy-to-assemble firearm parts that make it difficult to track or regulate owners.
A pair of wrongful death lawsuits filed last month in separate state courts accuse 13 defendants of negligence, public nuisance and violation of business codes. The cases were brought by Brady United, the national nonprofit that advocates against gun violence, which said Monday that the suits are the first of their kind in the nation.
Ghost guns, which are cobbled together with various parts often purchased separately, have long been popular among hobbyists and firearms enthusiasts. The weapons that contain no registration numbers that could be used to trace them and require no background checks increasingly have shown up at crime scenes, gun control advocates say.
“There is an ample and thriving gun market in this country in which law abiding citizens can get guns thru proper channels. This is an industry that appears aimed at supplying people who can’t legally have guns,” Brady’s chief counsel Jonathan Lowy said Monday.
Cody Wilson, the director of Ghost Gunner Inc., one of the defendants, called the suits “low effort attempts to confuse the public and frustrate the lawful purpose of making your own firearms in California.” The other 12 defendants, most of them online retailers, didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The plaintiffs include the families of Michelle McFayden, Diana Steele, Daniel Le, and Joseph McHugh, who died in the November 2017 shooting, and Francisco Cardenas, who suffered serious injuries.
Investigators say the shooter, Kevin Neal, manufactured an unregistered rifle used in the rampage with ghost gun parts despite being ordered by a judge to surrender all his weapons as part of a restraining order.
Neal, 44, killed his wife and four others before he died by suicide while being chased by deputies in Northern California’s Tehama County. Neal targeted an elementary school while randomly shooting at homes and motorists in a sprawling rural subdivision about 130 miles (209 kilometers) north of Sacramento.
“Defendants knew when they entered this business that they would foreseeably be supplying criminals, killers, and others whose possession of firearms pose an unacceptably high threat of injury or death to others,” the California court filings say. Their marketing materials “intentionally targeted prohibited persons and other dangerous individuals like Neal. Such tactics and practices were unfair, immoral, unethical, oppressive, and unscrupulous.”
The cases were filed in Superior Court of Orange County and San Bernardino County. It’s possible the two lawsuits could be consolidated into a single trial, Lowy said.
The court filings ask for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
“Companies who evade state and federal gun safety laws in order to market gun kits to people who cannot lawfully buy or possess guns in California should face liability for their negligence,” said Brady United co-counsel Amy Van Zant.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives doesn’t consider the do-it-yourself kits to be firearms, so buyers don’t have to undergo the usual background checks and in most states the guns are not required to have serial numbers.
In September California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to order ATF to change its policy, arguing that it violates the common definition of a firearm under federal law.


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--Pakistan team released from managed isolation in New Zealand

WELLINGTON , New Zealand ( AP ) - The Pakistan cricket squad has been allowed to leave managed isolation to begin its preparation for Twenty20 and test series against New Zealand .
All members of the squad tested negative on the 12th day of their 14-day stay in isolation and will be allowed to travel to the South Island resort of Queenstown , where they can now train as a group .
The team ’ s exemption to train in smaller groups after the third day in isolation was revoked by New Zealand health authorities when players breached protocols by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Six members of the 53-strong squad tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival and two more subsequently returned positive tests and were moved to the quarantine wing of their hotel .
New Zealand ’ s Ministry of Health reported 52 members of the Pakistan squad will be released from the quarantine facilities in Christchurch on Tuesday .
“ One case will remain in the Christchurch quarantine facility until fully recovered , ” the ministry said in a statement .
“ One person repeatedly tested negative and is being released from the Auckland quarantine facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on arrival as a precaution.
” That person is reported to have shown symptoms of COVID after arriving in New Zealand from Dubai but has since tested negative .
“ After extensive testing and completion of their time in managed isolation in Christchurch , the … medical officer of health is satisfied these people pose a very low risk to the community , ” the ministry said .
Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq earlier was quoted as saying his Pakistan players had suffered “ mentally and physically ” during their time in isolation .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prepare so that they can perform at the minimum expected levels every time they represent their countries , ” Misbah said in a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board .
He said Pakistan players and officials “ respect and understand ” the health and safety regulations implemented in New Zealand to protect the community against COVID-19 .
New Zealand is currently leading a two-test series against West Indies , and will host Pakistan in three T20s on Dec. 18 , 20 and 22 before a two-test series starting Dec. 26 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed to all but returning New Zealand citizens and residents , though exemptions have been allowed in the case of the touring West Indies and Pakistan teams .
New Zealand has had only 25 deaths from COVID-19 and currently has no community cases .
“ There is no denying the fact that the implementation of certain regulations has affected our athletes , both mentally and physically prior to an international series , ” Misbah said .
“ I want to compliment my players and the management team for their patience , sacrifices and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they not only lead the safe resumption of international cricket during the COVID-19 pandemic but also try to give their best every time they step on the field .
”

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - The Pakistan cricket squad has been allowed to leave managed isolation to begin its preparation for Twenty20 and test series against New Zealand.
All members of the squad tested negative on the 12th day of their 14-day stay in isolation and will be allowed to travel to the South Island resort of Queenstown, where they can now train as a group.
The team’s exemption to train in smaller groups after the third day in isolation was revoked by New Zealand health authorities when players breached protocols by mingling in corridors and sharing food. Six members of the 53-strong squad tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival and two more subsequently returned positive tests and were moved to the quarantine wing of their hotel.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health reported 52 members of the Pakistan squad will be released from the quarantine facilities in Christchurch on Tuesday.
“One case will remain in the Christchurch quarantine facility until fully recovered,” the ministry said in a statement. “One person repeatedly tested negative and is being released from the Auckland quarantine facility today, where they had been transferred on arrival as a precaution.”
That person is reported to have shown symptoms of COVID after arriving in New Zealand from Dubai but has since tested negative.
“After extensive testing and completion of their time in managed isolation in Christchurch, the … medical officer of health is satisfied these people pose a very low risk to the community,” the ministry said.
Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq earlier was quoted as saying his Pakistan players had suffered “mentally and physically” during their time in isolation.
“Top professional athletes require a certain environment to prepare so that they can perform at the minimum expected levels every time they represent their countries,” Misbah said in a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
He said Pakistan players and officials “respect and understand” the health and safety regulations implemented in New Zealand to protect the community against COVID-19.
New Zealand is currently leading a two-test series against West Indies, and will host Pakistan in three T20s on Dec. 18, 20 and 22 before a two-test series starting Dec. 26.
New Zealand’s borders have been closed to all but returning New Zealand citizens and residents, though exemptions have been allowed in the case of the touring West Indies and Pakistan teams. New Zealand has had only 25 deaths from COVID-19 and currently has no community cases.
“There is no denying the fact that the implementation of certain regulations has affected our athletes, both mentally and physically prior to an international series,” Misbah said. “I want to compliment my players and the management team for their patience, sacrifices and the hardships they have endured to ensure they not only lead the safe resumption of international cricket during the COVID-19 pandemic but also try to give their best every time they step on the field.”
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--Report shows how New Zealand mosque shooter eluded detection

WELLINGTON , New Zealand ( AP ) - A comprehensive report into the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in which 51 Muslim worshippers were slaughtered sheds new light on how the gunman was able to elude detection by authorities as he planned out his attack .
The nearly 800-page Royal Commission of Inquiry report released Tuesday shows that the attacker , Brenton Tarrant , kept a low profile and told nobody of his plans .
It concludes that despite the shortcomings of various agencies , there were no clear signs the attack was imminent - aside from the manifesto Tarrant sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting , which came too late for agencies to respond .
But the report does detail failings in the police system for vetting gun licenses , and says that New Zealand ’ s intelligence agencies were focused on the threat posed by Islamic extremism rather than white supremacists .
Among 44 recommendations , the report says the government should establish a new national intelligence agency .
New Zealand currently has one intelligence agency that focuses on domestic threats and one that focuses on international threats .
Often those agencies are focused on immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The report recommends establishing a new , well-financed intelligence and security agency that ’ s more strategic in nature and can focus on emerging threats and developing a counter-terrorism strategy .
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the government has agreed to implement all of the recommendations and apologized for agency shortcomings .
Tarrant , who is Australian , was sentenced in August to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to 92 counts of terrorism , murder and attempted murder .
The report details the extensive world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had almost no meaningful interactions with people in New Zealand because he was introverted and didn ’ t work .
As a child , Tarrant had unsupervised access to the internet and became interested in video games from the age of six or seven , the report says .
He began expressing racist ideas from a young age and told his mother he started using the 4chan internet forum from age 14 .
He put on a lot of weight as a teenager before starting to exercise compulsively at gyms and going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 110 pounds ) .
His father Rodney was diagnosed with lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and in 2010 killed himself at home , leaving an inheritance of 457,000 Australian dollars ( $ 339,000 ) to Tarrant .
The gunman worked for about three years as a personal trainer at a gym in the Australian town of Grafton , but stopped working after an injury and then used his inheritance to live and travel .
He visited dozens of countries around the world , including India , China , Russia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa and Europe .
He moved to New Zealand in 2017 and focused on planning for his attack .
The report said he only had superficial interactions with people at a gym and the rifle club where he practiced rapid-fire shooting .
Yet when needed , Tarrant could present himself to others in a way that didn ’ t arouse suspicion .
Tarrant told investigators that although he frequented extreme right-wing discussion boards on websites like 4chan and 8chan , he found YouTube a far more significant source of information and inspiration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leaders at YouTube “ directly ” about how the gunman had become inspired by videos on the site .
In 2018 , Tarrant was treated at Dunedin Hospital for injuries to his right eye and thigh after telling doctors he accidentally fired a gun while cleaning it at his apartment , the report says .
He got government compensation for his injury , which wasn ’ t reported to the police .
The hospital registrar said the accident appeared to be careless and “ a little unusual ” but otherwise didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities also wrote that Tarrant was taking illicit steroids and injecting testosterone after he was treated for abdominal pain , but they didn ’ t report that to the police either .
As part of the process for getting a gun license , Tarrant was required to provide to police the names of two referees who could speak to his good character .
He gave them the name of a friend he knew mostly online from gaming together , along with that friend ’ s father .
Vetting officers interviewed Tarrant and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his license .
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said that in deciding whether Tarrant was “ fit and proper ” to hold a gun license , “ we could have done more to consider whether the two referees knew the individual well enough to serve as referees.
” The report also found that the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service , the domestic spying agency , had chosen to concentrate scarce counter-terrorism resources on the threat of Islamist extremist terrorism inspired by groups like Islamic State at the expense of other threats .
Despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concludes , there was no plausible way Tarrant ’ s plans could been detected “ except by chance .
”

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - There were no clear signs that an attack last year on two New Zealand mosques was imminent, but police should have done a better job vetting the lone gunman when he applied for a gun license, and intelligence agencies should have focused more on threats such as white supremacism, according to a new report.
Among 44 recommendations, the report released Tuesday says the government should establish a new national intelligence agency.
The report details how the attacker, white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, was able to live a solitary, almost ghostlike existence by relying on an inheritance that was fast dwindling when he killed 51 Muslim worshippers in Christchurch.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry report runs nearly 800 pages. It says that New Zealand’s intelligence agencies were far too focused on the threat posed by Islamic extremism at the expense of other threats including white supremacism.
It found that despite the shortcomings of various agencies, Tarrant hadn’t told anybody about his plans or left any clues - until he emailed out his manifesto just eight minutes before he began shooting, which came too late for agencies to respond.
New Zealand currently has one intelligence agency that focuses on domestic threats and one that focuses on international threats. Often those agencies are focused on immediate events such as keeping visiting dignitaries safe. The report recommends establishing a new, well-financed agency that’s more strategic in nature and can focus on developing a counter-terrorism strategy.
New Zealand’s liberal prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said the government has agreed to implement all of the recommendations and apologized for agency shortcomings. Immediately after the attacks, Ardern helped push through new laws banning the deadliest types of semiautomatic weapons.
But conservative opposition leader Judith Collins said the report’s recommendations need to be scrutinized and the nation must tread carefully to safeguard rights and liberties.
Abdigani Ali, a spokesperson for the Muslim Association of Canterbury, told reporters in Christchurch that his community should have been kept safe.
“The report shows that institutional prejudice and unconscious bias exists in the government agencies and needs to change,” he said.
The 30-year-old gunman, who is Australian, was sentenced in August to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to 92 counts of terrorism, murder and attempted murder.
The report details his extensive world travels but also shows he had almost no meaningful interactions with people in New Zealand because he was introverted and didn’t work.
As a child, Tarrant had unsupervised access to the internet and became interested in video games from the age of 6 or 7, the report says. He began expressing racist ideas from a young age and told his mother he started using the 4chan internet forum from age 14.
He put on a lot of weight as a teenager before starting to exercise compulsively at gyms and going on a diet, losing about 50 kilograms (110 pounds). His father, Rodney, was diagnosed with lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and in 2010 killed himself at home, leaving an inheritance of 457,000 Australian dollars ($339,000) to Tarrant.
The gunman worked for about three years as a personal trainer at a gym in the Australian town of Grafton, but stopped working after an injury and then used his inheritance to live and travel. He visited dozens of countries around the world, including India, China, Russia, North Korea and many countries in Africa and Europe.
He moved to New Zealand in 2017 and focused on planning for his attack. The report said he only had superficial interactions with people at a gym and the rifle club where he practiced rapid-fire shooting. Yet when needed, Tarrant could present himself to others in a way that didn’t arouse suspicion.
Tarrant told investigators that although he frequented extreme right-wing discussion boards on websites like 4chan and 8chan, he found YouTube a far more significant source of information and inspiration.
Ardern said she planned to speak to the leaders at YouTube “directly” about how the gunman had become inspired by videos on the site.
In 2018, Tarrant was treated at Dunedin Hospital for injuries to his right eye and thigh after telling doctors he accidentally fired a gun while cleaning it at his apartment, the report says. He got government compensation for his injury, which wasn’t reported to the police. The hospital registrar said the accident appeared to be careless and “a little unusual” but otherwise didn’t set off alarm bells.
Health authorities also wrote that Tarrant was taking unprescribed steroids and injecting testosterone after he was treated for abdominal pain, but they didn’t report that to the police either.
As part of the process for getting a gun license, Tarrant was required to provide to police the names of two people who could speak to his good character. He gave them the name of a friend he knew mostly online from gaming together, along with that friend’s father. Vetting officers interviewed Tarrant and the referees, and recommended he be given his license.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said that in deciding whether Tarrant was “fit and proper” to hold a gun license, “we could have done more to consider whether the two referees knew the individual well enough to serve as referees.”
The report also found that the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, the domestic spying agency, had chosen to concentrate scarce counter-terrorism resources on the threat of Islamist extremist terrorism inspired by groups like the Islamic State at the expense of other threats.
Despite the shortcomings of various agencies, the report concludes, there was no plausible way Tarrant’s plans could have been detected “except by chance.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--Japan's economy grows 22.9% in 3Q, bouncing back from COVID

MITO , Japan ( AP ) - Japan ’ s economy expanded at a 22.9 % annual rate in the last quarter , as businesses and personal spending recovered from pandemic-related shocks in the spring and early summer .
Economists said the upward revision released Tuesday was in line with forecasts and suggests Japan ’ s economy , the world ’ s third largest , is on the mend from the recession that started in late 2019 , even before coronavirus outbreaks hit .
“ The sizeable upward revision to Q3 GDP and the sharp rise in ‘ core ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Japan ’ s economy will recover from the pandemic faster than the consensus expects , ” Tom Learmouth of Capital Economics said in a commentary .
“ We think GDP will rise by another 2.1 % ( quarter-to-quarter ) in this quarter and surprise to the upside next year , ” he said .
Core household spending excludes costs for housing and purchases of vehicles and other volatile expenditures and is thought to best reflect consumer demand .
As is true for most major economies , the setback dealt by the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level of economic output , 3.9 % below the level of the last quarter of 2019 , Learmouth said .
The expansion in the July-September quarter coincided with a push to encourage domestic spending to make up for the loss of foreign tourism with “ Go To Travel ” and “ Go To Eat ” programs offering steep discounts on hotels and dining out .
The economy contracted at a 29.2 % annualized pace in April-June , when the government declared a state of emergency and sought to quell virus outbreaks with various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work from home .
With international travel at a near standstill , the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed .
The economy grew at a 5.3 % quarterly pace , revised upward from the earlier 5.0 % estimate .
Most of the extra growth came from consumer and corporate spending .
Household spending outpaced retail sales , suggesting many people were making purchases online .
Government spending also was slightly higher than earlier reported .
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced an additional stimulus package worth about $ 700 billion on Tuesday .
That followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Japan has sought to keep businesses running more or less as usual while urging people to wear masks , use hand sanitizer and maintain social distancing .
But the number of virus cases has surged in recent weeks , leading some local areas to urge residents to stay home as much as possible .
In some places , authorities have asked bars and restaurants to close early .

MITO, Japan (AP) - Japan’s economy expanded at a 22.9% annual rate in the last quarter, as businesses and personal spending recovered from pandemic-related shocks in the spring and early summer.
Economists said the upward revision released Tuesday was in line with forecasts and suggests Japan’s economy, the world’s third largest, is on the mend from the recession that started in late 2019, even before coronavirus outbreaks hit.
“The sizeable upward revision to Q3 GDP and the sharp rise in ‘core’ household spending in October support our view that Japan’s economy will recover from the pandemic faster than the consensus expects,” Tom Learmouth of Capital Economics said in a commentary.
“We think GDP will rise by another 2.1% (quarter-to-quarter) in this quarter and surprise to the upside next year,” he said.
Core household spending excludes costs for housing and purchases of vehicles and other volatile expenditures and is thought to best reflect consumer demand.
As is true for most major economies, the setback dealt by the pandemic has left Japan still at a lower level of economic output, 3.9% below the level of the last quarter of 2019, Learmouth said.
The expansion in the July-September quarter coincided with a push to encourage domestic spending to make up for the loss of foreign tourism with “Go To Travel” and “Go To Eat” programs offering steep discounts on hotels and dining out.
The economy contracted at a 29.2% annualized pace in April-June, when the government declared a state of emergency and sought to quell virus outbreaks with various precautions including urging businesses to let people work from home. With international travel at a near standstill, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed.
The earlier estimate showed a 21.4% expansion.
The economy grew at a 5.3% quarterly pace, revised upward from the earlier 5.0% estimate.
Most of the extra growth came from consumer and corporate spending. Household spending outpaced retail sales, suggesting many people were making purchases online.
Government spending also was slightly higher than earlier reported.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced an additional stimulus package worth about $700 billion on Tuesday. That followed $2.2 trillion in earlier stimulus measures.
Japan has sought to keep businesses running more or less as usual while urging people to wear masks, use hand sanitizer and maintain social distancing. But the number of virus cases has surged in recent weeks, leading some local areas to urge residents to stay home as much as possible. In some places, authorities have asked bars and restaurants to close early.


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--Religious schools sue to stop Michigan coronavirus order

LANSING , Mich. ( AP ) - Nonpublic schools sued Monday after Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s administration extended a coronavirus order that prevents in-person instruction at Michigan high schools , saying it violates the First Amendment right to practice religion .
The federal lawsuit , filed in Michigan ’ s Western District , was brought by a group representing more than 400 nonpublic schools across the state , as well as three Catholic high schools and 11 parents .
The state health department lengthened the restriction by 12 days , through Dec. 20 .
It took effect Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools and all colleges and universities .
The plaintiffs include Lansing Catholic High School , Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor and Everest Collegiate Academy in Clarkston .
They said they can safely provide face-to-face learning and sought an injunction to block enforcement of the order .
“ The state ’ s latest order inhibits the faith formation of students and violates their constitutional right to practice religion while leaving open secular businesses where transmission of COVID-19 is more likely to occur , ” said Brian Broderick , executive director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A spokeswoman said Whitmer ’ s office does not comment on pending litigation .
An email seeking comment was sent to the state Department of Health and Human Services late Monday .
Director Robert Gordon told lawmakers last week that there is significantly more risk of the virus spreading in high schools than in lower grades , and the educational loss from online learning is more detrimental to younger students than it is to high schoolers .

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Nonpublic schools sued Monday after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration extended a coronavirus order that prevents in-person instruction at Michigan high schools, saying it violates the First Amendment right to practice religion.
The federal lawsuit, filed in Michigan’s Western District, was brought by a group representing more than 400 nonpublic schools across the state, as well as three Catholic high schools and 11 parents. The state health department lengthened the restriction by 12 days, through Dec. 20. It took effect Nov. 18 and also applies to public high schools and all colleges and universities.
The plaintiffs include Lansing Catholic High School, Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor and Everest Collegiate Academy in Clarkston. They said they can safely provide face-to-face learning and sought an injunction to block enforcement of the order.
“The state’s latest order inhibits the faith formation of students and violates their constitutional right to practice religion while leaving open secular businesses where transmission of COVID-19 is more likely to occur,” said Brian Broderick, executive director of the Michigan Association of Nonpublic Schools.
A spokeswoman said Whitmer’s office does not comment on pending litigation. An email seeking comment was sent to the state Department of Health and Human Services late Monday.
Director Robert Gordon told lawmakers last week that there is significantly more risk of the virus spreading in high schools than in lower grades, and the educational loss from online learning is more detrimental to younger students than it is to high schoolers.
___
Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--Vivek Murthy, Xavier Becerra signal gun control path for Joe Biden

Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden sent a clear signal about his gun control agenda as he named his picks for top health care policy posts Monday , announcing his intent to nominate vocal proponents of stricter firearms controls to key positions in the incoming administration .
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra , Mr. Biden ‘ s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , has spent the past several years defending his state ’ s strict gun laws in court and has championed tighter restrictions for much of his lengthy career in public office .
Dr. Vivek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reprise his role as U.S. surgeon general , made the case during the Obama administration that gun violence should be treated as a public health issue as Mr. Biden helped lead the charge for stricter controls when he was Mr. Obama ’ s vice president .
Brandon Combs , president of the California-based Firearms Policy Coalition , said Mr. Becerra initially seemed more approachable on gun rights issues than presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris , who was Mr. Becerra ‘ s predecessor as California attorney general .
“ That being said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies , ” Mr. Combs said .
“ But he was a politician in D.C. for years , and that ’ s exactly kind of what we expect.
” Before becoming California ’ s attorney general , Mr. Becerra represented Los Angeles in Congress from 1993 to 2017 .
In recent years , Mr. Becerra ‘ s office has defended state restrictions in court such as California ’ s ban on military-style “ assault ” weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines .
Lawyers working with Mr. Combs ’ group filed a brief last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s laws that generally ban people younger than 21 from buying guns .
Dr. Murthy , meanwhile , attracted scorn from gun rights activists during his confirmation process in 2013 and 2014 for saying that gun violence should be treated as a public health issue .
“ Tired of politicians playing politics w/guns , putting lives at risk b/c they ’ re scared of NRA .
Guns are a health care issue , ” he tweeted in October 2012 , about two months before the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controlled by Democrats , confirmed Dr. Murthy as surgeon general in December 2014 on a 51-43 vote .
His nomination had languished for more than a year because of opposition from groups such as the National Rifle Association .
“ America is facing down two intertwined crises right now — COVID and gun violence — and Attorney General Becerra and Dr. Murthy understand that we need to tackle both at the same time , ” said John Feinblatt , president of the group Everytown for Gun Safety .
Beyond guns , Mr. Becerra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rod for conservative opposition .
He played a leading role in defending Obamacare in the health care law ’ s most recent high-profile test in the courts .
The case in question is before the U.S. Supreme Court .
“ In Congress , I helped pass the Affordable Care Act .
As California ’ s Attorney General , I defended it , ” Mr. Becerra said Monday in a post on Twitter .
As California ’ s chief law enforcement officer , Mr. Becerra has filed or joined more than 100 lawsuits against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decidedly liberal views on issues including health care , abortion rights and illegal immigration .
California has spent at least $ 43 million suing the Trump administration during Mr. Becerra ‘ s time as attorney general over illegal immigrant “ Dreamers , ” emission regulations and other issues .
His office defended those costs by saying the legal actions saved California billions of dollars in funding it would have otherwise lost .
“ Every single case is based on Donald Trump and his administration doing something against the law , ” Mr. Becerra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We didn ’ t wake up in the morning and say , ‘ Wouldn ’ t it be fun to sue Donald Trump again ?
’ ” If confirmed , Mr. Becerra would be the first Hispanic to lead HHS , which will play a significant role in combating COVID-19 and facilitating the delivery of vaccines .
Mr. Biden has been facing pressure to tap more Hispanic and Black candidates for leading roles in his administration .
The California Legislature voted to confirm Mr. Becerra to his current post in January 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s appointment to fill the job that Ms. Harris left after she won election to the U.S. Senate in 2016 .
Before that , Mr. Becerra spent a good portion of his 12 terms as a congressman rising through the ranks of House Democratic leadership .
He was chairman of the House Democratic Caucus from 2013 to 2017 and is a past chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus .
Mr. Becerra is a longtime supporter of a “ Medicare for All ” government-run health care plan championed by Mr. Biden ‘ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont .
He got crosswise with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , California Democrat , in 2009 during the drafting of Obamacare when he suggested that Democratic leadership gave up too quickly on pushing for a government-run public health insurance option to be added to the bill .
“ I understand I have tire tracks on my back because Xavier threw me under the bus , ” Mrs. Pelosi was quoted as saying at the time , according to Politico .
In addition to Mr. Becerra and Dr. Murthy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picks for top posts related to health care : ⦁ Dr. Rochelle Walensky , chief of the infectious diseases division at Massachusetts General Hospital , for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
⦁ Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith , a co-chair of Mr. Biden ‘ s COVID-19 advisory board and associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine , for chair of a COVID-19 Equity Task Force .
⦁ Jeffrey Zients , a co-chair of Mr. Biden ‘ s transition team and top economic adviser during the Obama administration , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 response and a counselor to the president .
⦁ Natalie Quillian , a deputy campaign manager for Mr. Biden and former White House and Pentagon adviser , for deputy coordinator of the COVID-19 response .
⦁ Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , for chief medical adviser on COVID-19 .

Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden sent a clear signal about his gun control agenda as he named his picks for top health care policy posts Monday, announcing his intent to nominate vocal proponents of stricter firearms controls to key positions in the incoming administration.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Mr. Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has spent the past several years defending his state’s strict gun laws in court and has championed tighter restrictions for much of his lengthy career in public office.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, Mr. Biden’s pick to reprise his role as U.S. surgeon general, made the case during the Obama administration that gun violence should be treated as a public health issue as Mr. Biden helped lead the charge for stricter controls when he was Mr. Obama’s vice president.
Brandon Combs, president of the California-based Firearms Policy Coalition, said Mr. Becerra initially seemed more approachable on gun rights issues than presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris, who was Mr. Becerra’s predecessor as California attorney general.
“That being said, it didn’t change any policies,” Mr. Combs said. “But he was a politician in D.C. for years, and that’s exactly kind of what we expect.”
Before becoming California’s attorney general, Mr. Becerra represented Los Angeles in Congress from 1993 to 2017.
In recent years, Mr. Becerra’s office has defended state restrictions in court such as California’s ban on military-style “assault” weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
Lawyers working with Mr. Combs’ group filed a brief last week as part of a lawsuit challenging the state’s laws that generally ban people younger than 21 from buying guns.
Dr. Murthy, meanwhile, attracted scorn from gun rights activists during his confirmation process in 2013 and 2014 for saying that gun violence should be treated as a public health issue.
“Tired of politicians playing politics w/guns, putting lives at risk b/c they’re scared of NRA. Guns are a health care issue,” he tweeted in October 2012, about two months before the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
The Senate, then controlled by Democrats, confirmed Dr. Murthy as surgeon general in December 2014 on a 51-43 vote. His nomination had languished for more than a year because of opposition from groups such as the National Rifle Association.
Gun control advocates hailed Mr. Biden’s selections of Mr. Becerra and Dr. Murthy.
“America is facing down two intertwined crises right now — COVID and gun violence — and Attorney General Becerra and Dr. Murthy understand that we need to tackle both at the same time,” said John Feinblatt, president of the group Everytown for Gun Safety.
Beyond guns, Mr. Becerra is shaping up to be a lightning rod for conservative opposition.
He played a leading role in defending Obamacare in the health care law’s most recent high-profile test in the courts. The case in question is before the U.S. Supreme Court.
“In Congress, I helped pass the Affordable Care Act. As California’s Attorney General, I defended it,” Mr. Becerra said Monday in a post on Twitter.
As California’s chief law enforcement officer, Mr. Becerra has filed or joined more than 100 lawsuits against the Trump administration and has staked out decidedly liberal views on issues including health care, abortion rights and illegal immigration.
California has spent at least $43 million suing the Trump administration during Mr. Becerra’s time as attorney general over illegal immigrant “Dreamers,” emission regulations and other issues.
His office defended those costs by saying the legal actions saved California billions of dollars in funding it would have otherwise lost.
“Every single case is based on Donald Trump and his administration doing something against the law,” Mr. Becerra told The Sacramento Bee in August. “We didn’t wake up in the morning and say, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to sue Donald Trump again?’”
If confirmed, Mr. Becerra would be the first Hispanic to lead HHS, which will play a significant role in combating COVID-19 and facilitating the delivery of vaccines. Mr. Biden has been facing pressure to tap more Hispanic and Black candidates for leading roles in his administration.
The California Legislature voted to confirm Mr. Becerra to his current post in January 2017.
He accepted then-Gov. Jerry Brown’s appointment to fill the job that Ms. Harris left after she won election to the U.S. Senate in 2016.
Before that, Mr. Becerra spent a good portion of his 12 terms as a congressman rising through the ranks of House Democratic leadership. He was chairman of the House Democratic Caucus from 2013 to 2017 and is a past chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Mr. Becerra is a longtime supporter of a “Medicare for All” government-run health care plan championed by Mr. Biden’s more liberal 2020 rivals, such as Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont.
He got crosswise with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, in 2009 during the drafting of Obamacare when he suggested that Democratic leadership gave up too quickly on pushing for a government-run public health insurance option to be added to the bill.
“I understand I have tire tracks on my back because Xavier threw me under the bus,” Mrs. Pelosi was quoted as saying at the time, according to Politico.
In addition to Mr. Becerra and Dr. Murthy, Mr. Biden on Monday formally named other picks for top posts related to health care:
• Dr. Rochelle Walensky, chief of the infectious diseases division at Massachusetts General Hospital, for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, a co-chair of Mr. Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board and associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine, for chair of a COVID-19 Equity Task Force.
• Jeffrey Zients, a co-chair of Mr. Biden’s transition team and top economic adviser during the Obama administration, as coordinator of the federal government’s COVID-19 response and a counselor to the president.
• Natalie Quillian, a deputy campaign manager for Mr. Biden and former White House and Pentagon adviser, for deputy coordinator of the COVID-19 response.
• Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for chief medical adviser on COVID-19.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--UN urges Russia to immediately withdraw forces from Crimea

UNITED NATIONS ( AP ) - The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution Monday urging Russia to immediately withdraw all its military forces from Crimea “ and end its temporary occupation of the territory of Ukraine without delay.
” The vote in the 193-member world body was 63-17 with 62 abstentions , close to the vote on a similar resolution adopted last year .
The measure , which is not legally binding but a reflection of world opinion , was supported by Western nations and their supporters and opposed by Russia and its supporters including China , Cuba , Venezuela @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Crimea and annexed the peninsula in 2014 .
It has supported separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine in a six-year war that has killed 14,000 people .
An uneasy cease-fire has been in effect since late July .
The resolution condemned the occupation of Crimea and the city of Sevastapol by Russia and reaffirmed “ the non-recognition of its annexation.
” It affirmed that “ the seizure of Crimea by force is illegal and a violation of international law , ” and said it must be “ immediately returned.
” The General Assembly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international organizations to cooperate with the U.N. and support efforts to end Russia ’ s occupation of Crimea “ as rapidly as possible.
” The global body reiterated its “ grave concern over the progressive militarization of Crimea ” by Russia , and its transfer of advanced weapon systems “ including nuclear-capable aircraft and missiles , weapons , ammunition and military personnel to the territory of Ukraine.
” It urged Russia “ to stop such activity without delay.
” The resolution condemned Russia ’ s use of seized Ukrainian military industry enterprises in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its efforts to extend jurisdiction over nuclear facilities and material in Crimea , and opposed Russia ’ s conscription of Crimea residents including those with Ukrainian citizenship .
It also condemned Russia ’ s construction of warships in Crimea and called on Moscow to refrain from impeding lawful navigation under international law in the Black Sea , the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait .

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution Monday urging Russia to immediately withdraw all its military forces from Crimea “and end its temporary occupation of the territory of Ukraine without delay.”
The vote in the 193-member world body was 63-17 with 62 abstentions, close to the vote on a similar resolution adopted last year.
The measure, which is not legally binding but a reflection of world opinion, was supported by Western nations and their supporters and opposed by Russia and its supporters including China, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and Syria
Russia sent troops into Crimea and annexed the peninsula in 2014. It has supported separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine in a six-year war that has killed 14,000 people. An uneasy cease-fire has been in effect since late July.
The resolution condemned the occupation of Crimea and the city of Sevastapol by Russia and reaffirmed “the non-recognition of its annexation.” It affirmed that “the seizure of Crimea by force is illegal and a violation of international law,” and said it must be “immediately returned.”
The General Assembly called on all U.N. member nations and international organizations to cooperate with the U.N. and support efforts to end Russia’s occupation of Crimea “as rapidly as possible.”
The global body reiterated its “grave concern over the progressive militarization of Crimea” by Russia, and its transfer of advanced weapon systems “including nuclear-capable aircraft and missiles, weapons, ammunition and military personnel to the territory of Ukraine.” It urged Russia “to stop such activity without delay.”
The resolution condemned Russia’s use of seized Ukrainian military industry enterprises in Crimea, called on Moscow to stop its efforts to extend jurisdiction over nuclear facilities and material in Crimea, and opposed Russia’s conscription of Crimea residents including those with Ukrainian citizenship.
It also condemned Russia’s construction of warships in Crimea and called on Moscow to refrain from impeding lawful navigation under international law in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--Montana legislators clash over rules for legislative session

HELENA , Mont .
( AP ) - Republicans and Democrats clashed Monday over contrasting visions for how to hold Montana ’ s upcoming legislative session safely amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Republicans , who hold majorities in both the house and the senate , voiced support for forming a leadership panel that would make decisions on safety precautions once the session begins , eliciting concern from Democrats that the session would exacerbate the existing public health crisis that has strained Helena health care providers .
Democrats want to decide on a plan of action before the session begins Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postpone the session until a vaccine is widely available , hold the session remotely , or implement mandatory safety measures that would include mask wearing , social distancing , and a regular COVID-19 testing program .
All were met with opposition or skepticism from Republicans during a hearing of the joint house and senate rules committee .
Rep. Derek Skees , R-Kalispell , chair of the House Rules Committee , came down strongly against any effort to hold the session entirely remotely .
Skees claimed the state is heading towards herd immunity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people can become immune to certain viruses after surviving infection or being vaccinated .
Typically , at least 70 % of a population must be immune to achieve herd immunity .
Montana health officials have reported 68,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 , or about 7 % of the state ’ s population , though reported cases don ’ t account for people who may have had the virus but haven ’ t been tested .
How long immunity lasts varies depending on the virus , and it ’ s not yet known how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Herd immunity is not a strategy for protecting the health and safety of Montanans , ” said Sen. Jill Cohenour , a Democrat from Helena who is a chemist in the Department of Public Health and Human Services .
“ People will die to get us to herd immunity.
” The Republican-backed proposal would form a panel made of legislative leadership – six Republicans and two Democrats – who would have the authority to make decisions on the legislature ’ s COVID-19 protocols during the session .
Legislators would be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the permission of their caucus leaders .
The proposal did not include any specific requirements for masks , social distancing , or following other public health protocols , eliciting criticism from Democrats .
“ I ’ m just deeply concerned about this concept of COVID being fluid , ” said Sen. Bryce Bennett , D-Moiese .
“ There ’ s not going to be magically a day when it goes away .
So I ’ m concerned about a committee that is just going to be reactionary.
” Rep. Sharon Stewart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hit hard by the pandemic , slammed Republicans for talking about the pandemic “ abstractly.
” “ Are we above the law ?
Are we above social expectation ?
I hope not , ” she said .
Rep. Barry Usher , a Republican from Billings , decried the use of masks , saying that “ facts and science differ based on whatever Facebook lets you see.
” “ We have kowtowed to you all to give you the opportunity to be remote and be safe if you feel you need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argue about these amendments ?
It ’ s ridiculous , ” Usher said , addressing the Democrats in the room , who were all wearing masks .
Some Democratic committee members participated in the meeting virtually .
Among Republican committee members , several wore masks while most did not .
“ Do what your constituents want you to do , because I can tell you my constituents laugh if I bring up masks in the room , ” Usher said .
The joint rules committee will meet again Tuesday morning to determine which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , which will take place Dec. 16 .
The new rules will be formally adopted when the full legislature convenes in early January .
Samuels is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Republicans and Democrats clashed Monday over contrasting visions for how to hold Montana’s upcoming legislative session safely amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Republicans, who hold majorities in both the house and the senate, voiced support for forming a leadership panel that would make decisions on safety precautions once the session begins, eliciting concern from Democrats that the session would exacerbate the existing public health crisis that has strained Helena health care providers.
Democrats want to decide on a plan of action before the session begins Jan. 4 and offered three different proposals: postpone the session until a vaccine is widely available, hold the session remotely, or implement mandatory safety measures that would include mask wearing, social distancing, and a regular COVID-19 testing program.
All were met with opposition or skepticism from Republicans during a hearing of the joint house and senate rules committee.
Rep. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell, chair of the House Rules Committee, came down strongly against any effort to hold the session entirely remotely. Skees claimed the state is heading towards herd immunity.
Herd immunity refers to the concept that people can become immune to certain viruses after surviving infection or being vaccinated. Typically, at least 70% of a population must be immune to achieve herd immunity. Montana health officials have reported 68,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, or about 7% of the state’s population, though reported cases don’t account for people who may have had the virus but haven’t been tested.
How long immunity lasts varies depending on the virus, and it’s not yet known how long COVID-19 survivors might have that protection.
“Herd immunity is not a strategy for protecting the health and safety of Montanans,” said Sen. Jill Cohenour, a Democrat from Helena who is a chemist in the Department of Public Health and Human Services. “People will die to get us to herd immunity.”
The Republican-backed proposal would form a panel made of legislative leadership – six Republicans and two Democrats – who would have the authority to make decisions on the legislature’s COVID-19 protocols during the session. Legislators would be able to participate remotely if they chose to, with the permission of their caucus leaders.
The proposal did not include any specific requirements for masks, social distancing, or following other public health protocols, eliciting criticism from Democrats.
“I’m just deeply concerned about this concept of COVID being fluid,” said Sen. Bryce Bennett, D-Missoula. “There’s not going to be magically a day when it goes away. So I’m concerned about a committee that is just going to be reactionary.”
Rep. Sharon Stewart Peregoy, D-Crow Agency, whose tribe was hit hard by the pandemic, slammed Republicans for talking about the pandemic “abstractly.”
“Are we above the law? Are we above social expectation? I hope not,” she said.
Rep. Barry Usher, a Republican from Billings, decried the use of masks, saying that “facts and science differ based on whatever Facebook lets you see.”
“We have kowtowed to you all to give you the opportunity to be remote and be safe if you feel you need to be, and you’re going to argue about these amendments? It’s ridiculous,” Usher said, addressing the Democrats in the room, who were all wearing masks.
Some Democratic committee members participated in the meeting virtually. Among Republican committee members, several wore masks while most did not.
“Do what your constituents want you to do, because I can tell you my constituents laugh if I bring up masks in the room,” Usher said.
The joint rules committee will meet again Tuesday morning to determine which proposals will move forward for a final vote, which will take place Dec. 16. The new rules will be formally adopted when the full legislature convenes in early January.
___
Samuels is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
___
The story has been corrected to reflect that Sen. Bryce Bennett represents Missoula, not Moiese.


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--Donald Trump calls Bryan Cutler, Pennsylvania House speaker, in bid to overturn election

President Trump personally called the Pennsylvania state House speaker for help in overturning the state ’ s certified election result , the speaker ’ s office told reporters Monday .
Two calls were made in the past week , the office of House Speaker Bryan Cutler , a Republican , told The Washington Post .
“ The president said , ‘ I ’ m hearing about all these issues in Philadelphia , and these issues with your law , ’ ” Cutler spokesman Michael Straub told the Post in describing his boss ’ s two conversations with Mr. Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fix it ?
’ ” According to Mr. Straub , Mr. Cutler told the president that the legislature can not overturn the slate of electors chosen in the state ’ s popular vote , which presumed President-elect Joseph R. Biden won by 80,000 votes .
The calls mark the third state , after Michigan and Georgia , in which Mr. Trump has directly asked local Republicans to overturn his loss of that state to Mr. Biden .
They came after Mr. Trump lost numerous legal challenges , in both state and federal court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count based on claims of fraud and equal-protection violations .

President Trump personally called the Pennsylvania state House speaker for help in overturning the state’s certified election result, the speaker’s office told reporters Monday.
Two calls were made in the past week, the office of House Speaker Bryan Cutler, a Republican, told The Washington Post.
“The president said, ‘I’m hearing about all these issues in Philadelphia, and these issues with your law,’” Cutler spokesman Michael Straub told the Post in describing his boss’s two conversations with Mr. Trump. “‘What can we do to fix it?’”
According to Mr. Straub, Mr. Cutler told the president that the legislature cannot overturn the slate of electors chosen in the state’s popular vote, which presumed President-elect Joseph R. Biden won by 80,000 votes.
The calls mark the third state, after Michigan and Georgia, in which Mr. Trump has directly asked local Republicans to overturn his loss of that state to Mr. Biden.
They came after Mr. Trump lost numerous legal challenges, in both state and federal court, attempting to overturn the Pennsylvania vote count based on claims of fraud and equal-protection violations.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--Ability to overcome mistakes prolongs Saints' winning streak

NEW ORLEANS ( AP ) - The New Orleans Saints have played well enough lately to withstand not only the absence of record-setting quarterback Drew Brees , but even the types of mistakes that might cost a lesser team a game .
On Sunday in Atlanta , the Saints missed a field goal , had a dropped pass on a fourth-down conversion attempt and lost a fumble that squandered a drive to the Atlanta 5 in the fourth quarter .
Yet the Saints , now playoff bound for a fourth straight season , managed to narrowly overcome those plays for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program , and what we ’ ve been doing here and what our goals are , we ’ re looking for more than just clinching a playoff spot , ” Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk said Monday .
“ We still want a lot more.
” And during their streak , the Saints have demonstrated the depth , talent and resilience to make a deep playoff run .
Quarterback Taysom Hill has won all three starts since the Saints placed Brees on injured reserve with fractured ribs and a punctured lung .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passes .
His first went to a wide-open Tre ’ Quan Smith .
But the second required more timing , accuracy and zip ; tight end Jared Cook caught it as two defenders converged in the end zone .
“ I ’ ve just seen a guy come in and handle his situation very well , ” Saints receiver Michael Thomas said of Hill .
“ He ’ s improved week in and week out .
He ’ s getting more comfortable , obviously .
You can see that.
” Meanwhile , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running game with 207 yards and New Orleans prolonged its run of strong defensive play .
The Saints defense gave up just their second touchdown in five games , limited Atlanta to 70 yards rushing , sacked Matt Ryan three times and broke up two passes in the end zone - one on fourth down and the other as time expired - that could have given the Falcons a late lead .
“ We ’ re a very energetic group .
We like to play with tons and tons of swag , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have a group of guys that get excited for the other guys that are making plays .
And so , it ’ s just a great brotherhood to be a part of and we ’ re flowing right now .
We ’ ve just got to keep it going.
” The running game has become a three-headed monster featuring the shifty Alvin Kamara , bruising Latavius Murray and quick , rugged Hill .
They ’ ve combined to help the Saints eclipse 200 yards rushing in each of the past two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game if Wil Lutz struggles to recover from an off day that saw him miss his only field-goal attempt when his plant foot slipped , causing the normally reliable kicker apparent discomfort in his left leg .
While he remained in the game after initially consulting with team training staff , the Saints subsequently decided against trying a 53-yard field goal and kept the offense on the field on fourth-and-7 .
However , Lutz did return for two successful extra points and two kickoffs that he booted into the end zone for touchbacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regaining the form that made him the 2019 AP Offensive Player of the Year .
Largely because he missed six games with ankle and hamstring injuries ( along with a one-game benching over behavior at practice ) , Thomas had just 10 catches through New Orleans ’ first nine games .
On Sunday in Atlanta , he had nine catches for 105 yards , marking the second time in New Orleans ’ past three games that Thomas has had nine receptions for more than 100 yards .
“ He ’ s still trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Payton said .
“ He ’ s come up with some big plays here .
And for a quarterback , new in the lineup , you know , to have that target in someone who is going to come down with the ball , make plays , that ’ s a big deal.
” Rookie interior offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz , the club ’ s 2020 first-rounder , he was removed from the starting lineup in favor of veteran Nick Easton .
The move was precipitated in part by the return of left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Easton went to right guard and Ruiz to the sideline .
Cornerback Patrick Robinson left Sunday ’ s game with a leg injury and there has been no update on his condition .
The Saints will have to keep an eye on Lutz ’ s ( non-kicking ) left leg .
Meanwhile , Brees is eligible to come off injured reserve this week after missing three games , but whether he will remains unclear .
“ I honestly wouldn ’ t be able to give you a time frame , ” Payton said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handful of the other guys that are down there working their tails off to get back healthy.
” 200.7 - The Saints ’ average yards rushing during the past three games without Brees in the lineup .
The Saints try to retain their perch atop the NFC when they visit struggling Philadelphia on Sunday , then return home for a potential Super Bowl preview against the Kansas City Chiefs .

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The New Orleans Saints have played well enough lately to withstand not only the absence of record-setting quarterback Drew Brees, but even the types of mistakes that might cost a lesser team a game.
On Sunday in Atlanta, the Saints missed a field goal, had a dropped pass on a fourth-down conversion attempt and lost a fumble that squandered a drive to the Atlanta 5 in the fourth quarter.
Yet the Saints, now playoff bound for a fourth straight season, managed to narrowly overcome those plays for their ninth straight victory.
“This program, and what we’ve been doing here and what our goals are, we’re looking for more than just clinching a playoff spot,” Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk said Monday. “We still want a lot more.”
And during their streak, the Saints have demonstrated the depth, talent and resilience to make a deep playoff run.
Quarterback Taysom Hill has won all three starts since the Saints placed Brees on injured reserve with fractured ribs and a punctured lung. And Hill finally threw his first career touchdown passes. His first went to a wide-open Tre’Quan Smith. But the second required more timing, accuracy and zip; tight end Jared Cook caught it as two defenders converged in the end zone.
“I’ve just seen a guy come in and handle his situation very well,” Saints receiver Michael Thomas said of Hill. “He’s improved week in and week out. He’s getting more comfortable, obviously. You can see that.”
Meanwhile, the Saints continued to get production in the running game with 207 yards and New Orleans prolonged its run of strong defensive play. The Saints defense gave up just their second touchdown in five games, limited Atlanta to 70 yards rushing, sacked Matt Ryan three times and broke up two passes in the end zone - one on fourth down and the other as time expired - that could have given the Falcons a late lead.
“We’re a very energetic group. We like to play with tons and tons of swag,” linebacker Demario Davis said. “And we have a group of guys that get excited for the other guys that are making plays. And so, it’s just a great brotherhood to be a part of and we’re flowing right now. We’ve just got to keep it going.”
WHAT’S WORKING
The running game has become a three-headed monster featuring the shifty Alvin Kamara, bruising Latavius Murray and quick, rugged Hill. They’ve combined to help the Saints eclipse 200 yards rushing in each of the past two weeks.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Maybe the kicking game if Wil Lutz struggles to recover from an off day that saw him miss his only field-goal attempt when his plant foot slipped, causing the normally reliable kicker apparent discomfort in his left leg. While he remained in the game after initially consulting with team training staff, the Saints subsequently decided against trying a 53-yard field goal and kept the offense on the field on fourth-and-7. However, Lutz did return for two successful extra points and two kickoffs that he booted into the end zone for touchbacks.
STOCK UP
Lately, Thomas seems to be regaining the form that made him the 2019 AP Offensive Player of the Year. Largely because he missed six games with ankle and hamstring injuries (along with a one-game benching over behavior at practice), Thomas had just 10 catches through New Orleans’ first nine games. On Sunday in Atlanta, he had nine catches for 105 yards, marking the second time in New Orleans’ past three games that Thomas has had nine receptions for more than 100 yards.
“He’s still trying to get to 100%,” Payton said. “He’s come up with some big plays here. And for a quarterback, new in the lineup, you know, to have that target in someone who is going to come down with the ball, make plays, that’s a big deal.”
STOCK DOWN
Rookie interior offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz, the club’s 2020 first-rounder, he was removed from the starting lineup in favor of veteran Nick Easton. The move was precipitated in part by the return of left guard Andrus Peat from a concussion. Easton went to right guard and Ruiz to the sideline.
INJURED
Cornerback Patrick Robinson left Sunday’s game with a leg injury and there has been no update on his condition. The Saints will have to keep an eye on Lutz’s (non-kicking) left leg. Meanwhile, Brees is eligible to come off injured reserve this week after missing three games, but whether he will remains unclear.
“I honestly wouldn’t be able to give you a time frame,” Payton said. “He’s like a handful of the other guys that are down there working their tails off to get back healthy.”
KEY NUMBER
200.7 - The Saints’ average yards rushing during the past three games without Brees in the lineup.
NEXT STEPS
The Saints try to retain their perch atop the NFC when they visit struggling Philadelphia on Sunday, then return home for a potential Super Bowl preview against the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Follow Brett Martel at www.twitter.com/brettmartel
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-12-07--Capsule with asteroid samples arrives in Japan for research

TOKYO ( AP ) - A small capsule containing asteroid soil samples that was dropped from space by Japan ‘ s Hayabusa2 spacecraft and landed in the Australian Outback arrived Tuesday in Japan for research into the origin of the solar system and life on Earth .
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said its capsule , tightly sealed and carefully stored in a container box , arrived in Japan on a flight from Australia attended by a group of JAXA officials and was later taken its research facility in Sagamihara , near Tokyo .
At the end of its yearlong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 300 million kilometers ( 190 million miles ) from Earth , Hayabusa2 released the capsule Saturday from 220,000 kilometers ( 136,700 miles ) in space , successfully sending it to land on a targeted area in a sparsely populated desert in Woomera .
The extremely high precision work at the end of Hayabusa2 ’ s six-year mission thrilled many Japanese .
Launched in December 2014 , the unmanned Hayabusa2 spacecraft touched down twice last year on the asteroid Ryugu .
Despite an unexpectedly rocky surface that even forced the mission ’ s team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successfully collected data and soil samples from two locations - on the surface and from underground .
Scientists say the samples , especially ones taken from under the asteroid ’ s surface , contain data from 4.6 billion years ago unaffected by pace radiation and other environmental factors .
They are particularly interested in studying organic materials in the samples to learn about how they were distributed in the solar system and if or how they are related to life on Earth .
The samples will be treated in a clean room at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact , and the work is expected to start soon .
After initial studies and curation in Japan , some of the samples will be shared with NASA and other international scientists for further study .
Outside the JAXA ’ s facility in Sagamihara , senior members of the Hayabusa2 team and local fans lined up at the gate Tuesday and welcomed the arrival of the capsule , transported from the airport on a truck , some holding up a sign saying “ Welcome back !
” “ It ’ s really like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Hayabusa2 project manager .
“ After 5.2 billion kilometers ( 3.2 billion miles ) of space journey which took six years , ( the capsule ) has returned and now it ’ s in front of me.
” The capsule is set to be analyzed at the facility beginning later this month .

TOKYO (AP) - Japanese space agency officials were delighted Tuesday by the return of a small capsule containing asteroid soil samples obtained by their Hayabusa2 spacecraft and were anxiously waiting to look inside after preparations are complete.
Hayabusa2 dropped the capsule from space and it landed as planned in the Australian Outback over the weekend. It arrived in Japan on Tuesday and will be studied for insights into the origins of the solar system and life on Earth.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the capsule, tightly sealed and carefully stored in a container box, arrived at its research facility in Sagamihara, near Tokyo, for analysis.
“It’s really like a dream,” said Yuichi Tsuda, the Hayabusa2 project manager. “After 5.2 billion kilometers (3.2 billion miles) of space journey which took six years, (the capsule) has returned and now it’s here with us.”
Mission officials will have to wait until next week to look inside.
“I’m anxious to find out if the samples are really inside and how much is there,” mission manager Makoto Yoshikawa said.
At the end of its yearlong journey from asteroid Ryugu, more than 300 million kilometers (190 million miles) from Earth, Hayabusa2 released the capsule Saturday from 220,000 kilometers (136,700 miles) in space, successfully sending it to land in a targeted area in a sparsely populated desert in Australia.
The extremely high precision work at the end of Hayabusa2’s six-year mission thrilled many Japanese.
Launched in December 2014, the unmanned Hayabusa2 spacecraft touched down twice last year on the asteroid. Despite an unexpectedly rocky surface that forced the mission team to revise landing plans, the spacecraft successfully collected data and soil samples from two locations - on the surface and from underground.
Scientists say the samples taken from under the asteroid’s surface are likely to contain data from 4.6 billion years ago unaffected by space radiation and other environmental factors. They are particularly interested in studying organic materials in the samples to learn about how they were distributed in the solar system and if they are related to life on Earth.
Usui said depending on the amount of the samples, priorities in research will be placed on an analysis of minerals, the variety of organic materials and their structures, and a chronology of the samples.
(asterisk)Everyone is interested in organic matters, including myself,” Usui said, adding that he hopes to find out how they evolved while being transported to Earth and Mars. (asterisk)We want to find proof, not theory, of hypotheses.”
Tsuda said he is hoping for surprises. “I’m looking forward to finding unexpected organic matter that we never thought of, those with complex molecular geometries, or minerals containing water.”
The samples will be treated in a clean room at the Sagamihara facility to avoid any external impact. After initial studies in Japan for about a year, some of the samples will be shared with NASA and other international scientists for further study beginning in 2022.
An initial inspection at a quick check facility in Australia detected unidentified gases from the capsule, a sign they are related to solar wind or samples from Ryugu. JAXA will further analyze the gases, which could provide information about organic elements and water.
Outside the JAXA facility in Sagamihara, senior members of the Hayabusa2 team and local fans lined up at the gate Tuesday to welcome the arrival of the capsule, transported from the airport on a truck, some holding up a sign saying “Welcome back!”
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Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi