washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Here's why Ant Group is about to shatter IPO records

HONG KONG ( AP ) - Stella Su , who lives and works in Shanghai , has used an ATM only once in the past year .
Instead of cash , in recent years she has done almost all her business using the digital wallet Alipay –- shopping in a mall , buying stuff online or transferring money to friends .
“ Now when I go out , I don ’ t even need to carry my wallet , all I need is my phone , ” said Su , one of over a billion Alipay users in China and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Group , is the world ’ s largest and most valuable financial technology ( fintech ) company and one of two dominant Chinese digital wallets in China , the other being rival Tencent ’ s WeChat Pay .
Thanks to the huge scale and potential of China ’ s fintech landscape , Ant Group is poised to raise about $ 34.5 billion in the world ’ s largest share offering , beating Saudi Aramco ’ s previous record of $ 29.4 billion .
Ahead of the IPO , the company will be valued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tap both Chinese and global investors , Ant Group is listing its shares both in Shanghai and Hong Kong .
It is due to begin trading in Hong Kong on Nov. 5 .
The Shanghai debut has yet to be announced .
Even before announcing its IPO plans , Ant Group was the world ’ s most valuable fintech company , with a valuation of $ 150 billion after a 2018 fundraising round .
“ Ant Group is much more than PayPal which only processes financial payments .
It has a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services that would help 1.3 billion people in China , ” Jackson Wong , asset management director at Amber Hill Capital Ltd. , said in an interview .
“ We are betting that Ant Group will be able to grow at a very high pace in the future.
” Alipay and WeChat Pay have helped make Chinese society virtually cashless , at least in big cities , with consumers and merchants alike relying on digital payments using their phones .
“ Think of Alipay as Visa , MasterCard , Citibank , Fidelity… all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shaun Rein , founder and managing director of China Market Research Group in Shanghai .
“ On the Alipay platform , you pay for things , you buy insurance , you buy wealth management .
Your whole life revolves around Alipay.
” Walk into a supermarket in China and one would be hard-pressed to find a customer digging around for loose change to pay for groceries .
Instead , cashiers scan a QR code on a customer ’ s smartphone to deduct money from their Alipay or WeChat Pay digital wallets .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups of friends often split the bill by transferring money to each other using their digital wallets , similar to how the Venmo app is used in the U.S. “ Ant Group is so valuable because Alipay is used on a day to day basis by a billion people on all of their purchases , ” said Rein .
“ The scale of fintech in China dwarfs the regular financial transaction potential in the United States.
” Alipay evolved from e-commerce giant Alibaba , which was founded by Jack Ma in 1999 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fast growing market .
When Alibaba launched consumer e-commerce platform Taobao to rival eBay in China , Alipay was introduced as a payments method to boost users ’ trust in the platform .
Today , Alipay ’ s reach extends to almost every aspect of life related to money .
Ma ’ s foresight has made him the wealthiest person in China , with a fortune estimated at $ 58.8 billion according to the Hurun Research Institute , which follows the country ’ s wealthy .
Alipay was created in 2004 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buyers and sellers on Alibaba ’ s e-commerce consumer platform Taobao .
It held funds from buyers to be released to sellers after goods were received .
Alipay ’ s revenue mostly comes from transaction fees charged to merchants .
Users can link their bank cards directly to Alipay to top up their wallets , and transfers can also be withdrawn from users ’ bank accounts .
Alibaba , which currently owns a third of Ant Group , spun off Alipay in 2011 .
The company was later rebranded as Ant as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services .
One of those is Zhima Credit – -a private credit-scoring system that rates the trustworthiness and creditworthiness of its users based on data such as whether users pay their bills on time via Alipay .
Zhima Credit scores can help people take out small loans from Ant Group ’ s consumer credit services Huabei and Jiebei to finance such things as iPhone purchases or school expenses .
Such loans are hugely popular in China , where credit card usage is low and most people have no official credit history and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Group ’ s money market fund , called Yu ’ e Bao -– one of the world ’ s largest –- lets people put idle cash in their Alipay wallets to work and reap returns on investments as small as 100 yuan ( $ 15 ) .
“ In the past , wealth management products offered by banks had many requirements , maybe a minimum of 50,000 yuan ( about $ 7,500 ) , ” said Chen Zhoumin , who works in a bank in Zhengzhou , a city in central China ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made it very convenient to invest money , because it made wealth management accessible and convenient.
” To compete with Yu ’ e Bao , banks have begun providing more flexible investment products with lower capital requirements , said Chen , who often invests idle cash in Yu ’ e Bao since it ’ s easy to do .
“ Digital wallets like Alipay and WeChat have revolutionized payments in China , ” he said .
“ Now , there ’ s also less worry that we might get counterfeit notes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or robbed since everything is done digitally now.
” AP journalist Alice Fung in Hong Kong and researcher Chen Si in Shanghai contributed to this report .

HONG KONG (AP) - Stella Su, who lives and works in Shanghai, has used an ATM only once in the past year. Instead of cash, in recent years she has done almost all her business using the digital wallet Alipay –- shopping in a mall, buying stuff online or transferring money to friends.
“Now when I go out, I don’t even need to carry my wallet, all I need is my phone,” said Su, one of over a billion Alipay users in China and abroad.
Alipay, operated by Ant Group, is the world’s largest and most valuable financial technology (fintech) company and one of two dominant Chinese digital wallets in China, the other being rival Tencent’s WeChat Pay.
Thanks to the huge scale and potential of China’s fintech landscape, Ant Group is poised to raise about $34.5 billion in the world’s largest share offering, beating Saudi Aramco’s previous record of $29.4 billion. Ahead of the IPO, the company will be valued at about $280 billion.
To tap both Chinese and global investors, Ant Group is listing its shares both in Shanghai and Hong Kong. It is due to begin trading in Hong Kong on Nov. 5. The Shanghai debut has yet to be announced.
Even before announcing its IPO plans, Ant Group was the world’s most valuable fintech company, with a valuation of $150 billion after a 2018 fundraising round.
“Ant Group is much more than PayPal which only processes financial payments. It has a lot of businesses in other areas and with other services that would help 1.3 billion people in China,” Jackson Wong, asset management director at Amber Hill Capital Ltd., said in an interview. “We are betting that Ant Group will be able to grow at a very high pace in the future.”
Alipay and WeChat Pay have helped make Chinese society virtually cashless, at least in big cities, with consumers and merchants alike relying on digital payments using their phones.
“Think of Alipay as Visa, MasterCard, Citibank, Fidelity… all rolled up into one,” said Shaun Rein, founder and managing director of China Market Research Group in Shanghai. “On the Alipay platform, you pay for things, you buy insurance, you buy wealth management. Your whole life revolves around Alipay.”
Walk into a supermarket in China and one would be hard-pressed to find a customer digging around for loose change to pay for groceries. Instead, cashiers scan a QR code on a customer’s smartphone to deduct money from their Alipay or WeChat Pay digital wallets. The transaction takes seconds.
In restaurants, groups of friends often split the bill by transferring money to each other using their digital wallets, similar to how the Venmo app is used in the U.S.
“Ant Group is so valuable because Alipay is used on a day to day basis by a billion people on all of their purchases,” said Rein. “The scale of fintech in China dwarfs the regular financial transaction potential in the United States.”
Alipay evolved from e-commerce giant Alibaba, which was founded by Jack Ma in 1999 to help match buyers and sellers in China’s fast growing market. When Alibaba launched consumer e-commerce platform Taobao to rival eBay in China, Alipay was introduced as a payments method to boost users’ trust in the platform. Today, Alipay’s reach extends to almost every aspect of life related to money.
Ma’s foresight has made him the wealthiest person in China, with a fortune estimated at $58.8 billion according to the Hurun Research Institute, which follows the country’s wealthy.
Alipay was created in 2004 to serve as an escrow service between buyers and sellers on Alibaba’s e-commerce consumer platform Taobao. It held funds from buyers to be released to sellers after goods were received. Alipay’s revenue mostly comes from transaction fees charged to merchants. Users can link their bank cards directly to Alipay to top up their wallets, and transfers can also be withdrawn from users’ bank accounts.
Alibaba, which currently owns a third of Ant Group, spun off Alipay in 2011. The company was later rebranded as Ant as the company expanded the range of its financial services.
One of those is Zhima Credit – -a private credit-scoring system that rates the trustworthiness and creditworthiness of its users based on data such as whether users pay their bills on time via Alipay.
Zhima Credit scores can help people take out small loans from Ant Group’s consumer credit services Huabei and Jiebei to finance such things as iPhone purchases or school expenses. Such loans are hugely popular in China, where credit card usage is low and most people have no official credit history and are unable to borrow from banks.
Ant Group’s money market fund, called Yu’e Bao -– one of the world’s largest –- lets people put idle cash in their Alipay wallets to work and reap returns on investments as small as 100 yuan ($15).
“In the past, wealth management products offered by banks had many requirements, maybe a minimum of 50,000 yuan (about $7,500),” said Chen Zhoumin, who works in a bank in Zhengzhou, a city in central China’s Henan province. “But Alipay has made it very convenient to invest money, because it made wealth management accessible and convenient.”
To compete with Yu’e Bao, banks have begun providing more flexible investment products with lower capital requirements, said Chen, who often invests idle cash in Yu’e Bao since it’s easy to do.
“Digital wallets like Alipay and WeChat have revolutionized payments in China,” he said. “Now, there’s also less worry that we might get counterfeit notes, or that our wallets may get stolen or robbed since everything is done digitally now.”
-
AP journalist Alice Fung in Hong Kong and researcher Chen Si in Shanghai contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Alek Skarlatos, Paris train attack hero, makes bid for Congress from Oregon

SALEM , Ore. ( AP ) — In 2015 , Alek Skarlatos and two friends thwarted an attack by a gunman on a Paris-bound train , a dramatic and heroic action that was made into a movie by Clint Eastwood in which the trio starred as themselves .
Now , Skarlatos , 28 , is hoping to ride his moment of fame to get a seat in Congress , representing Oregon ’ s 4th Congressional District in the House of Representatives .
To do that , the Republican candidate will need to unseat Democratic incumbent Peter DeFazio , the longest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , in the Nov. 3 election .
This summer , the worst wildfires on record burned in Oregon , with climate change and overgrown forests worsening fire conditions .
As smoke smothered Skarlatos ‘ hometown of Roseburg , he took interest .
“ It was really the lack of forest management that got me interested ( in running ) , because it is a federal issue .
And our forest policy is made 3,000 miles away , in D.C. , ” Skarlatos said in an interview .
Winning the election seems like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised more than $ 3.7 million in campaign contributions , compared to DeFazio ’ s nearly $ 3.3 million , according to the Federal Election Commission .
The last time a Republican was elected to the seat that represents the southern half of Oregon ’ s coastal counties was in 1972 , and the GOP is eager to deal a blow to Democratic control of a district that includes swaths of rural , conservative areas as well as more liberal bastions in the college towns of Eugene and Corvallis .
A possible factor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University , who would normally vote in those towns , are learning remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic .
If Skarlatos flips the seat , it would likely give the GOP two of Oregon ’ s five House seats in this blue state , with the GOP almost certain to retain control of the 2nd Congressional District covering eastern and central Oregon .
Both of Oregon ’ s senators are Democrats , as is the governor .
Democrats have a supermajority in the Legislature .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV news reports on how he , two longtime friends , and two other men foiled the attack on Aug. 21 , 2015 , by Islamic extremist Ayoub El-Khazzani on a high-speed train with 500 passengers aboard .
In the interview , Skarlatos recalled how a normal day turned into a life-or-death struggle .
Skarlatos , who was in the Oregon Army National Guard and had recently completed a tour in Afghanistan - was messaging people back home and following the train ’ s progress on Google Maps .
“ We just crossed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gunshot , breaking glass and a train employee ran away from the noise at a full sprint , ” Skarlatos said over the phone .
“ I look back to see what he ’ s running from and there ’ s a shirtless man with an AK-47 ( style rifle ) .
” Skarlatos ‘ friend Spencer Stone charged El-Khazzani , who aimed the rifle at Stone and pulled the trigger .
The round was faulty and the gun didn ’ t fire .
Spencer fought him and Skarlatos and another friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was also armed with a pistol and knife .
Skarlatos hit El-Khazzani in the head with the barrel of the rifle until he lost consciousness under Stone ’ s chokehold .
The train heroes were presented with the Legion d ’ Honneur by French President Francois Hollande and received at the White House by President Barack Obama .
Then came a book written by the trio , followed by the movie “ The 15:17 to Paris.
” Skarlatos returned to Roseburg .
In 2018 , he ran for Douglas County Commissioner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only so far , said Christopher McKnight Nichols , associate professor of history at Oregon State University .
“ He ’ s not a John McCain prisoner-of-war type , ” Nichols said , referring to the late Republican senator who was shot down over North Vietnam , was captured and endured torture for years .
But this time , running for Congress , Skarlatos has attracted attention beyond Oregon .
Of his campaign war chest , over 60 % comes from out of state , DeFazio said during their debate .
Some came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Skarlatos took his own shot at DeFazio ’ s campaign funding , saying most comes from political action committees .
DeFazio responded that among them are ones representing Oregon teachers , carpenters and realtors .
“ Those are people who banded together to promote the interests of their business , ” said DeFazio , who is seen as a moderate .
DeFazio is the powerful chairman of the House Transportation Committee , and has tried to depict his younger challenger as a Trump acolyte who would back repealing Obamacare .
The veteran congressman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 an hour national minimum wage , investing hundreds of billions of dollars in national infrastructure improvements and his pro-choice stance on abortion .
In the debate , DeFazio described how he had three bills this Congress , which he described as the most divided since the post-Civil War era , that passed with support from Republicans .
The Democratic Party of Oregon has hinted that Skarlatos is affiliated with right-wing extremists , tweeting an article that raised questions about his appearance at a Timber Unity rally .
The group has attracted QAnon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Timber Unity ’ s core followers are loggers and others who lost jobs when the timber industry hit hard times .
Several GOP state lawmakers display the group ’ s regalia in their Capitol offices .
“ Timber Unity seems to be a group that encompasses a whole lot of different positions , ” Nichols said .
Skarlatos ‘ hometown of Roseburg remembers the days when timber was king .
With the industry having waned , logging in 2.4 million acres of forests in western Oregon owned by the U.S. government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Congress in 1937 for “ forest production , ” with 50 % of revenue from timber sales going to certain counties .
That revenue also plunged .
Skarlatos wants the land to generate revenue for the counties again .

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — In 2015, Alek Skarlatos and two friends thwarted an attack by a gunman on a Paris-bound train, a dramatic and heroic action that was made into a movie by Clint Eastwood in which the trio starred as themselves.
Now, Skarlatos, 28, is hoping to ride his moment of fame to get a seat in Congress, representing Oregon’s 4th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. To do that, the Republican candidate will need to unseat Democratic incumbent Peter DeFazio, the longest serving House member in Oregon’s history, in the Nov. 3 election.
This summer, the worst wildfires on record burned in Oregon, with climate change and overgrown forests worsening fire conditions. As smoke smothered Skarlatos’ hometown of Roseburg, he took interest.
“It was really the lack of forest management that got me interested (in running), because it is a federal issue. And our forest policy is made 3,000 miles away, in D.C.,” Skarlatos said in an interview.
Winning the election seems like a long shot, but Skarlatos has raised more than $3.7 million in campaign contributions, compared to DeFazio’s nearly $3.3 million, according to the Federal Election Commission.
The last time a Republican was elected to the seat that represents the southern half of Oregon’s coastal counties was in 1972, and the GOP is eager to deal a blow to Democratic control of a district that includes swaths of rural, conservative areas as well as more liberal bastions in the college towns of Eugene and Corvallis. A possible factor in Skarlatos’ favor: Thousands of students at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, who would normally vote in those towns, are learning remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic.
If Skarlatos flips the seat, it would likely give the GOP two of Oregon’s five House seats in this blue state, with the GOP almost certain to retain control of the 2nd Congressional District covering eastern and central Oregon. Both of Oregon’s senators are Democrats, as is the governor. Democrats have a supermajority in the Legislature.
One of Skarlatos’ campaign videos features TV news reports on how he, two longtime friends, and two other men foiled the attack on Aug. 21, 2015, by Islamic extremist Ayoub El-Khazzani on a high-speed train with 500 passengers aboard.
In the interview, Skarlatos recalled how a normal day turned into a life-or-death struggle. Skarlatos, who was in the Oregon Army National Guard and had recently completed a tour in Afghanistan - was messaging people back home and following the train’s progress on Google Maps.
“We just crossed the border with France. I heard a gunshot, breaking glass and a train employee ran away from the noise at a full sprint,” Skarlatos said over the phone. “I look back to see what he’s running from and there’s a shirtless man with an AK-47 (style rifle).”
Skarlatos’ friend Spencer Stone charged El-Khazzani, who aimed the rifle at Stone and pulled the trigger. The round was faulty and the gun didn’t fire. Spencer fought him and Skarlatos and another friend, Anthony Sadler, helped subdue El-Khazzani, who was also armed with a pistol and knife.
Skarlatos hit El-Khazzani in the head with the barrel of the rifle until he lost consciousness under Stone’s chokehold.
The train heroes were presented with the Legion d’Honneur by French President Francois Hollande and received at the White House by President Barack Obama. Then came a book written by the trio, followed by the movie “The 15:17 to Paris.”
Skarlatos returned to Roseburg. In 2018, he ran for Douglas County Commissioner but lost.
His name recognition went only so far, said Christopher McKnight Nichols, associate professor of history at Oregon State University.
“He’s not a John McCain prisoner-of-war type,” Nichols said, referring to the late Republican senator who was shot down over North Vietnam, was captured and endured torture for years.
But this time, running for Congress, Skarlatos has attracted attention beyond Oregon. Of his campaign war chest, over 60% comes from out of state, DeFazio said during their debate. Some came from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Skarlatos took his own shot at DeFazio’s campaign funding, saying most comes from political action committees.
DeFazio responded that among them are ones representing Oregon teachers, carpenters and realtors. “Those are people who banded together to promote the interests of their business,” said DeFazio, who is seen as a moderate.
DeFazio is the powerful chairman of the House Transportation Committee, and has tried to depict his younger challenger as a Trump acolyte who would back repealing Obamacare. The veteran congressman also touts his advocacy for a $15 an hour national minimum wage, investing hundreds of billions of dollars in national infrastructure improvements and his pro-choice stance on abortion. In the debate, DeFazio described how he had three bills this Congress, which he described as the most divided since the post-Civil War era, that passed with support from Republicans.
The Democratic Party of Oregon has hinted that Skarlatos is affiliated with right-wing extremists, tweeting an article that raised questions about his appearance at a Timber Unity rally. The group has attracted QAnon believers and members of the Proud Boys.
But Timber Unity’s core followers are loggers and others who lost jobs when the timber industry hit hard times. Several GOP state lawmakers display the group’s regalia in their Capitol offices.
“Timber Unity seems to be a group that encompasses a whole lot of different positions,” Nichols said.
Skarlatos’ hometown of Roseburg remembers the days when timber was king.
With the industry having waned, logging in 2.4 million acres of forests in western Oregon owned by the U.S. government dropped. That land was set aside by Congress in 1937 for “forest production,” with 50% of revenue from timber sales going to certain counties. That revenue also plunged.
Skarlatos wants the land to generate revenue for the counties again.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Election 2020 Today: Biden hits road, Barrett's 1st cases

Here ’ s what ’ s happening Tuesday in Election 2020 , one week until Election Day : HOW TO VOTE : AP ’ s state-by-state interactive has details on how to vote in this election .
ON THE TRAIL : President Donald Trump will be in Michigan , Wisconsin and Nebraska ; Democratic challenger Joe Biden will be in Georgia ; Vice President Mike Pence will be in North Carolina and South Carolina ; and Biden ’ s running mate , Kamala Harris , will be in Nevada .
BIDEN HITS ROAD : Joe Biden intends to use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on offense , heading to Georgia and planning travel that may put President Donald Trump on defense in other states he won four years ago .
The Democratic presidential nominee plans to hit Florida , Iowa and Wisconsin after a pair of stops in Georgia .
The Republican president returns to Wisconsin , sandwiched by stops in Michigan and Nebraska .
While Biden rarely travels to more than one state per day , the president has maintained a whirlwind schedule .
VIRUS SURGE : The coronavirus is getting worse in states that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is bearing much of the brunt of new infections surging across the U.S. That includes Wisconsin , where Trump is fighting to catch Biden in a state Trump narrowly won in 2016 .
Also seeing a surge is Iowa , where Trump is now in a toss-up race with Biden after carrying the state by 9.4 percentage points four years ago .
Both states are in the top 10 of those with the fastest-growing number of cases per capita over the past two weeks .
WHAT AWAITS BARRETT : Newly confirmed Justice Amy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court could include two big topics affecting the man who nominated her .
The court is weighing a plea from Trump to prevent the Manhattan district attorney from acquiring his tax returns as well as appeals from the Trump campaign and Republicans to shorten the deadline for receiving and counting absentee ballots in the battleground states of North Carolina and Pennsylvania .
WISCONSIN RULING : The Supreme Court is siding with Republicans to prevent Wisconsin from counting mailed ballots that are received after Election Day .
In a 5-3 order , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court order that called for mailed ballots to be counted if they are received up to six days after the election .
The three liberal justices dissented from the order .
Democrats argued that the flood of absentee ballots and other challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic makes it necessary to extend the deadline .
QUOTABLE : “ I will do my job without any fear or favor.
” - Barrett after she was confirmed to the Supreme Court by a deeply divided Senate .
Counting the vote : Will we know who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ?
Pelosi thinks so , and reaches for more

Here’s what’s happening Tuesday in Election 2020, one week until Election Day:
HOW TO VOTE: AP’s state-by-state interactive has details on how to vote in this election.
ON THE TRAIL: President Donald Trump will be in Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska; Democratic challenger Joe Biden will be in Georgia; Vice President Mike Pence will be in North Carolina and South Carolina; and Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris, will be in Nevada.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES:
BIDEN HITS ROAD: Joe Biden intends to use the final week before Election Day to go on offense, heading to Georgia and planning travel that may put President Donald Trump on defense in other states he won four years ago. The Democratic presidential nominee plans to hit Florida, Iowa and Wisconsin after a pair of stops in Georgia. The Republican president returns to Wisconsin, sandwiched by stops in Michigan and Nebraska. While Biden rarely travels to more than one state per day, the president has maintained a whirlwind schedule.
VIRUS SURGE: The coronavirus is getting worse in states that Trump needs the most. The upper Midwest is bearing much of the brunt of new infections surging across the U.S. That includes Wisconsin, where Trump is fighting to catch Biden in a state Trump narrowly won in 2016. Also seeing a surge is Iowa, where Trump is now in a toss-up race with Biden after carrying the state by 9.4 percentage points four years ago. Both states are in the top 10 of those with the fastest-growing number of cases per capita over the past two weeks.
WHAT AWAITS BARRETT: Newly confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s first votes on the Supreme Court could include two big topics affecting the man who nominated her. The court is weighing a plea from Trump to prevent the Manhattan district attorney from acquiring his tax returns as well as appeals from the Trump campaign and Republicans to shorten the deadline for receiving and counting absentee ballots in the battleground states of North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
WISCONSIN RULING: The Supreme Court is siding with Republicans to prevent Wisconsin from counting mailed ballots that are received after Election Day. In a 5-3 order, the justices refused to reinstate a lower court order that called for mailed ballots to be counted if they are received up to six days after the election. The three liberal justices dissented from the order. Democrats argued that the flood of absentee ballots and other challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic makes it necessary to extend the deadline.
QUOTABLE: “I will do my job without any fear or favor.” - Barrett after she was confirmed to the Supreme Court by a deeply divided Senate.
ICYMI:
Counting the vote: Will we know who won on election night?
House already won? Pelosi thinks so, and reaches for more
Barrett ads tied to interest groups funded by unnamed donors
Trump eyes hosting election night party at his DC hotel


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Millennial Money: Picking a pandemic side gig takes hustle

Side gig .
Side job .
Side hustle .
It goes by many names and serves many purposes .
For some , it ’ s a way to keep the lights on .
For others , it ’ s an opportunity to save for a goal or follow a passion .
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic , millions of Americans have become unemployed .
Many are turning to the gig economy to make money .
And it ’ s booming .
“ Obviously online shopping has become huge , and so delivery services are packed .
You ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into each other , ” says Kathy Kristof , editor at SideHusl.com , a website that reviews hundreds of online money-making platforms .
Before you rush into a side gig , scrutinize the risks , the pay and other important details .
Here ’ s how to choose the right pandemic side job for you .
As you begin searching for a side hustle , think about your experience , skills and interests .
But more importantly , consider what you ’ re comfortable doing .
Are you willing to be in close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you prefer a socially distant position ?
Are you part of a high-risk group for COVID-19 ?
What would happen if you got sick and couldn ’ t work ?
The answers to these questions will help you decide what jobs to pursue .
If either your health or financial life could be ravaged by illness , you ’ re going to have to be more careful than the people without those risks , Kristof says .
“ Somebody who doesn ’ t have that same sort of risk might feel completely comfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or any of these other delivery services , ” Kristof says .
“ But somebody who is high risk , you want an online job like online tutoring.
” “ Side gig ” has become synonymous with a handful of jobs : dog walking , delivering groceries and driving for Uber or Lyft .
But these aren ’ t the only opportunities occupying the space .
You can teach a virtual yoga class , for example , sell clothing online or work as a freelance designer .
Through services like TaskRabbit , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like yard work and assembling furniture .
Side and part-time jobs tend to rise during economically uncertain times , according to Brie Weiler Reynolds , career development manager at FlexJobs , a job-search site for remote and flexible jobs .
Chances are there ’ s something up your alley .
Roles outside the gig economy can be worth exploring , too .
Features typically associated with side gigs , including flexible schedules and the ability to work from home , are increasingly spilling over into professional roles .
Remote jobs posted on FlexJobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales and project management have increased over 50 % since March , according to a recent analysis from the site .
“ Because we ’ ve never had to do this from home before , there was never as much acceptance .
Now you ’ re getting widespread acceptance from the whole of corporate America , ” Kristof says .
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FINANCES Once you narrow down your choices , dig into the details .
Get a sense for what it ’ s like to work in a role , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re likely to earn before you commit .
You can avoid surprises by looking up a company ’ s Better Business Bureau rating , reading through the fine print on its website and checking out reviews on sites like SideHusl and Indeed .
“ Let ’ s say you ’ re interested in delivery jobs , and you ’ ve got DoorDash , Instacart and Postmates .
You want to look at each site and see what the fees are , ” Weiler Reynolds says .
Many platforms charge registration , listing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into your earnings .
Some gigs also require you to pay expenses like gas and insurance for your vehicle .
If you ’ re a rideshare driver , delivery driver or mover , your personal auto insurance policy doesn ’ t cover you for commercial risk , Kristof says .
“ Some online platforms automatically cover you with a commercial policy .
Others do not .
So you should always look for that if you ’ re working for an online platform , ” Kristof says .
Still , that won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as when you ’ re en route to pick up an order .
Talk to your insurance company to ensure you get the proper protection .
You ’ ll also want to find out whether you ’ ll be classified as an employee or independent contractor .
This determines how you ’ ll pay taxes and whether or not you ’ ll be entitled to certain benefits .
Independent contractors need to set aside a portion of their pay for taxes themselves .
Employers automatically withhold income taxes for employees and usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) matches or paid time off .
Weiler Reynolds says freelancers or contractors may also have to pay taxes quarterly , which can be a bigger time investment .
Don ’ t forget to make safety a priority .
Find out what protective measures the company or local government requires while you ’ re on the job .
If you ’ re unable to avoid contact with others , prepare to take appropriate precautions , such as wearing a mask or gloves .
This column was provided to The Associated Press by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a writer at NerdWallet .
Email : lschwahn @ nerdwallet.com .
Twitter : @ lauren_schwahn .

Side gig. Side job. Side hustle. It goes by many names and serves many purposes. For some, it’s a way to keep the lights on. For others, it’s an opportunity to save for a goal or follow a passion.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans have become unemployed. Many are turning to the gig economy to make money. And it’s booming.
“Obviously online shopping has become huge, and so delivery services are packed. You’ve got Amazon Flex trucks practically ramming into each other,” says Kathy Kristof, editor at SideHusl.com, a website that reviews hundreds of online money-making platforms.
Before you rush into a side gig, scrutinize the risks, the pay and other important details. Here’s how to choose the right pandemic side job for you.
ASSESS YOURSELF FIRST
As you begin searching for a side hustle, think about your experience, skills and interests. But more importantly, consider what you’re comfortable doing.
Are you willing to be in close contact with other people, or would you prefer a socially distant position? Are you part of a high-risk group for COVID-19? What would happen if you got sick and couldn’t work? The answers to these questions will help you decide what jobs to pursue.
If either your health or financial life could be ravaged by illness, you’re going to have to be more careful than the people without those risks, Kristof says.
“Somebody who doesn’t have that same sort of risk might feel completely comfortable doing contact-free deliveries for Grubhub or Dumpling or any of these other delivery services,” Kristof says. “But somebody who is high risk, you want an online job like online tutoring.”
EXPAND YOUR DEFINITION OF ‘SIDE GIG’
“Side gig” has become synonymous with a handful of jobs: dog walking, delivering groceries and driving for Uber or Lyft. But these aren’t the only opportunities occupying the space.
You can teach a virtual yoga class, for example, sell clothing online or work as a freelance designer. Through services like TaskRabbit, you can get paid to do odd jobs like yard work and assembling furniture.
Side and part-time jobs tend to rise during economically uncertain times, according to Brie Weiler Reynolds, career development manager at FlexJobs, a job-search site for remote and flexible jobs. Chances are there’s something up your alley.
Roles outside the gig economy can be worth exploring, too. Features typically associated with side gigs, including flexible schedules and the ability to work from home, are increasingly spilling over into professional roles. Remote jobs posted on FlexJobs in career categories such as marketing, sales and project management have increased over 50% since March, according to a recent analysis from the site.
“Because we’ve never had to do this from home before, there was never as much acceptance. Now you’re getting widespread acceptance from the whole of corporate America,” Kristof says.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FINANCES
Once you narrow down your choices, dig into the details. Get a sense for what it’s like to work in a role, what the requirements are and how much you’re likely to earn before you commit.
You can avoid surprises by looking up a company’s Better Business Bureau rating, reading through the fine print on its website and checking out reviews on sites like SideHusl and Indeed.
“Let’s say you’re interested in delivery jobs, and you’ve got DoorDash, Instacart and Postmates. You want to look at each site and see what the fees are,” Weiler Reynolds says.
Many platforms charge registration, listing or commission fees, which can cut into your earnings. Some gigs also require you to pay expenses like gas and insurance for your vehicle. If you’re a rideshare driver, delivery driver or mover, your personal auto insurance policy doesn’t cover you for commercial risk, Kristof says.
“Some online platforms automatically cover you with a commercial policy. Others do not. So you should always look for that if you’re working for an online platform,” Kristof says.
Still, that won’t necessarily cover you in all circumstances, such as when you’re en route to pick up an order. Talk to your insurance company to ensure you get the proper protection.
You’ll also want to find out whether you’ll be classified as an employee or independent contractor. This determines how you’ll pay taxes and whether or not you’ll be entitled to certain benefits. Independent contractors need to set aside a portion of their pay for taxes themselves. Employers automatically withhold income taxes for employees and usually offer health insurance, 401(k) matches or paid time off.
Weiler Reynolds says freelancers or contractors may also have to pay taxes quarterly, which can be a bigger time investment.
Don’t forget to make safety a priority. Find out what protective measures the company or local government requires while you’re on the job. If you’re unable to avoid contact with others, prepare to take appropriate precautions, such as wearing a mask or gloves.
_________________________________
This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Lauren Schwahn is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: lschwahn@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lauren_schwahn.
RELATED LINKS:
NerdWallet: 25 ways to make money http://bit.ly/nerdwallet-make-money


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--2 arrested in Bosnia for wartime killing of 78 civilians

SARAJEVO , Bosnia-Herzegovina ( AP ) - Authorities in Bosnia have detained two people suspected of taking part in the @ @ @ @ @ civilians during the 1992-95 war , the prosecutor ’ s office said on Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ in the area of Banja Luka , the main town in the Bosnian Serb-run part @ @ @ @ @ to a statement .
They are suspected of crimes against humanity over June 1992 killings @ @ @ @ @ Velagici .
Bosnian Serbs slaughtered imprisoned Bosniak civilians , who are mainly Muslims , outside @ @ @ @ @ weapons .
The victims ’ bodies were later driven away in trucks and dumped in @ @ @ @ @ exhumed in 1996 .
More than 100,000 people died during the war in Bosnia , @ @ @ @ @ rebelled over the country ’ s independence from the former Yugoslavia and moved to carve @ @ @ @ @ own , expelling Bosniaks and Croats from the territory .

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) - Authorities in Bosnia have detained two people suspected of taking part in the killing of at least 78 civilians during the 1992-95 war, the prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday.
The two men were apprehended in the area of Banja Luka, the main town in the Bosnian Serb-run part of the country, according to a statement.
They are suspected of crimes against humanity over June 1992 killings in the northwestern village of Velagici. Bosnian Serbs slaughtered imprisoned Bosniak civilians, who are mainly Muslims, outside the school building with automatic weapons.
The victims’ bodies were later driven away in trucks and dumped in a mass grave that was exhumed in 1996.
More than 100,000 people died during the war in Bosnia, which erupted when Bosnian Serbs rebelled over the country’s independence from the former Yugoslavia and moved to carve up a mini-state of their own, expelling Bosniaks and Croats from the territory.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--RI to start releasing mail-ballot results on election night

PROVIDENCE , R.I. ( AP ) - The Rhode Island Board of Elections has unanimously approved a plan to start releasing mail ballot counts at 11 p.m. on election night .
The move approved Monday was made because of the large number of mail-in ballots this year prompted by the coronavirus pandemic , board Chairman Robert Rapoza said .
After the initial count , a second count will be released on Nov. 4 , and a third count will be released once all mail ballots are counted , Rapoza said .
Because voters are given seven days to fix deficiencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a fourth release of any remaining mail ballot results the week after the election , or Nov. 10 , he said .
Usually , the board waits until all mail ballots had been tabulated to add them to the publicly-reported vote totals .
More than 126,000 mail ballots have been returned so far out of roughly 175,000 requested , Rapoza said .
The board also unanimously approved allowing voters to use expired Rhode Island driver ’ s licenses or state-issued identification cards with an expiration date of March 1 or later at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Motor Vehicles began extending renewal deadlines on that date due to the pandemic .

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island Board of Elections has unanimously approved a plan to start releasing mail ballot counts at 11 p.m. on election night.
The move approved Monday was made because of the large number of mail-in ballots this year prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, board Chairman Robert Rapoza said.
After the initial count, a second count will be released on Nov. 4, and a third count will be released once all mail ballots are counted, Rapoza said. Because voters are given seven days to fix deficiencies in their mail ballot, there will be a fourth release of any remaining mail ballot results the week after the election, or Nov. 10, he said.
Usually, the board waits until all mail ballots had been tabulated to add them to the publicly-reported vote totals.
More than 126,000 mail ballots have been returned so far out of roughly 175,000 requested, Rapoza said.
The board also unanimously approved allowing voters to use expired Rhode Island driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards with an expiration date of March 1 or later at the polls. The state Division of Motor Vehicles began extending renewal deadlines on that date due to the pandemic.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Alaska man charged with virus violation dies in shooting

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - A man who was the first among a few Alaska residents to face charges for violating a coronavirus quarantine order was killed in a shooting .
Duane Fields , 48 , died Oct. 21 at the Anchorage hotel where he lived and worked , Alaska Public Media reported Monday .
Fields helped another employee break up a fight before the start of his night shift at the Chelsea Inn , hotel owner Soo Seo said .
One of the people involved in the fight left , then came back and shot Fields through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ door , Seo said .
Police were not able to immediately make any arrests and detectives believed the shooting was an isolated event .
Fields was the ninth homicide victim of 2020 in Anchorage .
Federal prosecutors had charged Fields in May with ignoring a mandate to quarantine in Alaska upon his release from California ’ s Terminal Island prison in Los Angeles County , where there was a large outbreak .
Fields received compassionate release that reduced his sentence for a drug dealing conviction because he had cancer and was considered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fields provided Alaska Public Media with documents showing he tested positive for the virus a day before prison officials sent him home to Alaska , but he said he was unaware of the results until days after he arrived and he never had symptoms .
His parole officer learned Fields was at his mother ’ s home instead of the hotel and prosecutors charged him with violating his quarantine order .
The charge was later dismissed .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A man who was the first among a few Alaska residents to face charges for violating a coronavirus quarantine order was killed in a shooting.
Duane Fields, 48, died Oct. 21 at the Anchorage hotel where he lived and worked, Alaska Public Media reported Monday.
Fields helped another employee break up a fight before the start of his night shift at the Chelsea Inn, hotel owner Soo Seo said.
One of the people involved in the fight left, then came back and shot Fields through windows in the hotel’s front door, Seo said.
Police were not able to immediately make any arrests and detectives believed the shooting was an isolated event. Fields was the ninth homicide victim of 2020 in Anchorage.
Federal prosecutors had charged Fields in May with ignoring a mandate to quarantine in Alaska upon his release from the federal Terminal Island prison in California’s Los Angeles County, where there was a large outbreak.
Fields received compassionate release that reduced his sentence for a drug dealing conviction because he had cancer and was considered to be at high risk from the virus.
Fields provided Alaska Public Media with documents showing he tested positive for the virus a day before prison officials sent him home to Alaska, but he said he was unaware of the results until days after he arrived and he never had symptoms.
His parole officer learned Fields was at his mother’s home instead of the hotel and prosecutors charged him with violating his quarantine order. The charge was later dismissed.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
___
This story has been corrected to show that the Terminal Island prison in California is a federal facility.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Judge: US can't replace Trump in columnist's slander suit

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A federal judge on Tuesday denied President Donald Trump ’ s request that he be replaced as the defendant in a defamation lawsuit alleging he raped a woman in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s .
The decision by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan came after the Justice Department argued that the United States - and by extension U.S. taxpayers - should replace Trump as the defendant in a lawsuit filed by the columnist E. Jean Carroll .
The government ’ s lawyers contended that the United States could step in as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to her lawsuit to prove he was physically and mentally fit for the job .
The judge ruled that a law protecting federal employees from being sued individually for things they do within the scope of their employment didn ’ t apply to a president .
But even if it did , Kaplan ruled , Trump ’ s public denials of the rape allegation would have come outside the scope of his employment .
Lawyers for Carroll had written that “ only in a world gone mad could it somehow be presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slander a woman who he sexually assaulted.
” The Justice Department relied solely on written arguments after its lawyer was banned from a Manhattan federal courthouse last week because he had not quarantined for two weeks after traveling to New York from a state on a list of those whose coronavirus test rates were high .
Carroll , a former longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine , said in her lawsuit that in the fall of 1995 or spring of 1996 she and Trump met in a chance encounter when they recognized each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said they engaged in a lighthearted chat about trying on a see-through lilac gray bodysuit when they made their way to a dressing room , where she said Trump pushed her against a wall and raped her .
Trump said Carroll was “ totally lying ” to sell a memoir and that he ’ d never met her , though a 1987 photo showed them and their then-spouses at a social event .
He said the photo captured a moment when he was standing in a line .
Carroll , who wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s statements , also seeks a DNA sample from Trump to see whether it matches as-yet-unidentified male genetic material found on a dress that she says she was wearing during the alleged attack .
The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly , as Carroll has done .

NEW YORK (AP) - President Donald Trump’s request that the United States replace him as the defendant in a defamation lawsuit, which alleges he raped a woman in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s, was denied Tuesday by a federal judge.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan came after the Justice Department argued that the United States - and by extension the American people - should replace Trump as the defendant in a lawsuit filed by the columnist E. Jean Carroll.
The government’s lawyers contended that the United States could step in as the defendant because Trump was forced to respond to her lawsuit to prove he was physically and mentally fit for the job.
A lawyer for Carroll, Roberta Kaplan, called it a clear victory for her client.
“The simple truth is that President Trump defamed our client because she was brave enough to reveal that he had sexually assaulted her, and that brutal, personal attack cannot be attributed to the Office of the President,” Kaplan said in a statement.
Messages were left on Tuesday for lawyers for Trump and the Justice Department seeking comment.
The judge ruled that a law protecting federal employees from being sued individually for things they do within the scope of their employment didn’t apply to a president.
“The President of the United States is not an employee of the Government within the meaning of the relevant statutes,” Kaplan wrote. “Even if he were such an employee, President Trumps allegedly defamatory statements concerning Ms. Carroll would not have been within the scope of his employment.”
Lawyers for Carroll had written that “only in a world gone mad could it somehow be presidential, not personal, for Trump to slander a woman who he sexually assaulted.”
The Justice Department relied solely on written arguments in the dispute after its lawyer was banned from a Manhattan federal courthouse last week because he had not quarantined for two weeks after traveling to New York from a state on a list of those whose coronavirus test rates were high.
Carroll, a former longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine, said in her lawsuit that in the fall of 1995 or spring of 1996 she and Trump met in a chance encounter when they recognized each other at the Bergdorf Goodman store.
She said they engaged in a lighthearted chat about trying on a see-through lilac gray bodysuit when they made their way to a dressing room, where she said Trump pushed her against a wall and raped her.
The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done.
Trump said Carroll was “totally lying” to sell a memoir and that he’d never met her, though a 1987 photo showed them and their then-spouses at a social event. He said the photo captured a moment when he was standing in a line.
In a statement responding to the ruling on Tuesday, Carroll said: “When I spoke out about what Donald Trump did to me in a department store dressing room, I was speaking out against an individual. When Donald Trump called me a liar and denied that he had ever met me, he was not speaking on behalf of the United States.”
Carroll, who wants unspecified damages and a retraction of Trump’s statements, also seeks a DNA sample from Trump to see whether it matches as-yet-unidentified male genetic material found on a dress that she says she was wearing during the alleged attack.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Federal judge denies Trump's request that US replace him as defendant in rape accuser's defamation l

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Federal judge denies Trump ’ s request that US replace him as defendant in @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit .

NEW YORK (AP) - Federal judge denies Trump’s request that US replace him as defendant in rape accuser’s defamation lawsuit.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Charges filed in theft of phone from dying woman

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - A man is facing felony charges for allegedly stealing a cellphone from a collapsed @ @ @ @ @ a St. Louis sidewalk .
Authorities say 35-year-old Brian Davenport was arrested Monday and is @ @ @ @ @ He does not yet have a listed attorney .
Police say the 64-year-old jogger collapsed @ @ @ @ @ in the Soulard neighborhood .
Davenport was arrested after surveillance video showed a man getting @ @ @ @ @ taking the phone and leaving the woman on the sidewalk .
The woman later died @ @ @ @ @ name has not been released .

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A man is facing charges for allegedly stealing a cellphone from a collapsed jogger who was dying on a St. Louis sidewalk.
Brian Davenport, 35, was arrested Monday and is charged with felony stealing, authorities said. He does not yet have a listed attorney.
The 64-year-old jogger collapsed around 1 p.m. Oct. 18 in the city’s Soulard neighborhood, police said. Davenport was arrested after surveillance video showed a man getting out of a van, taking the phone and leaving the woman on the sidewalk.
The woman later died at a hospital. Her name has not been released.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Greece, Israel eye closer cooperation amid East Med tension

ATHENS , Greece ( AP ) - Greece ’ s government said Tuesday it wants to expand trade , energy , and military partnerships with Israel and other countries in the region to counter what it considers the hostile policy of neighbor Turkey .
Greece , Israel and Cyprus , which all are at odds with Turkey over energy boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean , hold regular meetings to promote cooperation in defense and energy .
They pledged Tuesday to increase cooperation .
“ Our region is not going back to the 19th century , ” Greek Foreign Minister Nikos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his counterparts from Israel and Cyprus , Gabi Ashkenazi and Nikos Christodoulides .
Cooperation projects include a planned electricity grid interconnection between Israel , Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete by undersea cable by the end of 2023 .
Tension in the region has spiked since the summer after Turkey expanded its oil and gas maritime research missions to waters in which Greece says it has jurisdiction .
Ankara argues that it has been largely excluded from regional energy exploration , insisting that Greek islands near its coastline should not project maritime @ @ @ @ @

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece’s government said Tuesday it wants to expand trade, energy, and military partnerships with Israel and other countries in the region to counter what it considers the hostile policy of neighbor Turkey.
Greece, Israel and Cyprus, which all are at odds with Turkey over energy boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, hold regular meetings to promote cooperation in defense and energy. They pledged Tuesday to increase cooperation.
“Our region is not going back to the 19th century,” Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said after meeting in Athens with his counterparts from Israel and Cyprus, Gabi Ashkenazi and Nikos Christodoulides.
Cooperation projects include a planned electricity grid interconnection between Israel, Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete by undersea cable by the end of 2023.
Tension in the region has spiked since the summer after Turkey expanded its oil and gas maritime research missions to waters in which Greece says it has jurisdiction.
Ankara argues that it has been largely excluded from regional energy exploration, insisting that Greek islands near its coastline should not project maritime zones for commercial exploitation.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--After high court ruling, DOJ wants census challenges stopped

Now that the Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to end the 2020 census count , the courts should not interfere with efforts to meet a year-end deadline for turning in numbers used for divvying up congressional seats by state , Department of Justice attorneys said in court papers ahead of a hearing Tuesday .
All further court challenges to the Trump administration ’ s numbers-crunching methods for the 2020 census should be suspended as the U.S. Census Bureau works toward turning in apportionment numbers by a congressionally-mandated Dec. 31 deadline , Trump administration attorneys said ahead of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in San Jose , California .
Critics say that is not enough time .
Koh last month issued a preliminary injunction that allowed the head count to continue through Oct. 31 instead of Sept. 30 , and the numbers-crunching to proceed through the end of April 2021 instead of Dec. 31 .
The district judge sided with a coalition of local governments and advocacy groups that had sued the Trump administration , arguing that minorities and others in hard-to-count communities would be missed if the counting ended in September .
An appellate court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relates to the numbers-crunching deadline at the end of the year , and the Supreme Court two weeks ago halted the entire preliminary injunction , allowing the field operations for the 2020 census to end .
Tuesday ’ s hearing is the first one on the case since the Supreme Court ’ s ruling .
“ This Court and the parties previously expended extraordinary efforts to litigate and adjudicate Plaintiffs ’ challenges at a breakneck pace only to have the Supreme Court rightly undo that hard work , ” the Trump administration said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no need to repeat that fruitless process.
” Attorneys for the coalition of local governments and advocacy groups said ahead of Tuesday ’ s hearing that the Supreme Court ruling provided no guidance on the case since the justices did not offer an explanation for their decision , which does not conflict with any of the rulings from the lower courts on several issues .
Because of that , the case should move forward toward a trial and final ruling by the district judge , especially since the litigation has raised questions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Census Bureau can even meet the Dec. 31 deadline , the attorneys for the coalition said .
The census is used to determine how many congressional seats each state gets , in a process known as apportionment , as well as the distribution of $ 1.5 trillion in federal spending annually .

Now that the Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to end the 2020 census count, the courts should not interfere with efforts to meet a year-end deadline for turning in numbers used for divvying up congressional seats by state, Department of Justice attorneys said recently in court papers.
All further court challenges to the Trump administration’s numbers-crunching methods for the 2020 census should be suspended as the U.S. Census Bureau works toward turning in apportionment numbers by a congressionally-mandated Dec. 31 deadline, Trump administration attorneys said.
The Trump administration filed the court papers in response to a request from U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California over how the case on the census’s timetable should proceed following the Supreme Court ruling. A hearing on the matter had been set for Tuesday but it was postponed until next month.
Koh last month issued a preliminary injunction that allowed the head count to continue through Oct. 31 instead of Sept. 30, and the numbers-crunching to proceed through the end of April 2021 instead of Dec. 31. The district judge sided with a coalition of local governments and advocacy groups that had sued the Trump administration, arguing that minorities and others in hard-to-count communities would be missed if the counting ended in September.
An appellate court suspended Koh’s order as it relates to the numbers-crunching deadline at the end of the year, and the Supreme Court two weeks ago halted the entire preliminary injunction, allowing the field operations for the 2020 census to end.
“This Court and the parties previously expended extraordinary efforts to litigate and adjudicate Plaintiffs’ challenges at a breakneck pace only to have the Supreme Court rightly undo that hard work,” the Trump administration said in court papers. “There is no need to repeat that fruitless process.”
Attorneys for the coalition of local governments and advocacy groups said in their response that the Supreme Court ruling provided no guidance on the case since the justices did not offer an explanation for their decision, which does not conflict with any of the rulings from the lower courts on several issues.
Because of that, the case should move forward toward a trial and final ruling by the district judge, especially since the litigation has raised questions about the thoroughness of the count and doubts about whether the Census Bureau can even meet the Dec. 31 deadline, the attorneys for the coalition said.
The census is used to determine how many congressional seats each state gets, in a process known as apportionment, as well as the distribution of $1.5 trillion in federal spending annually.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--English soccer recruitment code aims to increase diversity

English soccer ’ s efforts to increase gender and ethnic diversity in coaching and senior leadership positions intensified Tuesday with targets set for recruitment .
The Football Leadership Diversity Code is voluntary but every Premier League club apart from Southampton has already signed up to it .
When men ’ s professional clubs are hiring new coaches , the English Football Association wants a quarter of the positions to be filled by Black , Asian or mixed-heritage candidates and at least 10 % of senior roles .
In the professional women ’ s game , the code envisages half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black , Asian or mixed-heritage coaches .
Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolverhampton is currently the only Black manager across the 20 Premier League teams .
Away from the field , 15 % of the senior leadership of team operation appointments should be Black , Asian or mixed-heritage executives and 30 % women .
“ If you look at all the positive action programs out there , there isn ’ t a structure that holds clubs to account , ” Paul Elliott , the chair of the FA ’ s inclusion advisory board , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just the start .
It ’ s a real solid foundation to build on … for a diverse and inclusive workforce .
“ So I think it ’ s important also from a coaching perspective , when you speak to the three generations of players that we ’ ve lost and the current generation that we want one thing - it ’ s called equal opportunity and to have a role based on meritocracy , not tokenism.
” Elliott has risen to positions of power in football after a playing career in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Chelsea , Aston Villa , Celtic and Pisa .
The code was in part inspired by Manchester City and England forward Raheem Sterling in June calling for more Black , Asian and minority ethnic leaders or coaches in the game .
The lack of opportunities for Black coaches was also highlighted by former England striker Jermain Defoe as the sport grappled with inequalities in society highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement which intensified after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May .
“ Many discussions were about systemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elliot said .
“ Raheem Sterling resonated , I thought , when he said publicly when he looks up , he doesn ’ t see people that look like him .
That was a very , very compelling statement and , thereafter , when Jermain Defoe said he ’ s not sure if he ’ s going to get qualifications because he doesn ’ t think he ’ s going to get any opportunity to get a coaching job .
Now , for me , they ’ re big defining moments when people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Clubs abiding by the code should include at least one male and one female Black , Asian or mixed-heritage candidates on shortlists if they meet the specifications required .
“ It ’ s about creating clear processes and transparency that people can apply for jobs and so there is equal opportunity for all , ” said Edleen John , co-partner for equality diversity and inclusion at the FA .
“ I think it ’ s fair to say that there are many industries that have really struggled with actually people being hired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of people they know .
And I don ’ t think that football is any different to other industries that have struggled with that challenge .
“ This code really helps us to move forward … this is a really pivotal moment for the world of football .
I think it ’ s a code that brings about change that will be delivered through action and also accountability .
”

LONDON (AP) - English soccer’s efforts to increase gender and ethnic diversity in coaching and senior leadership positions intensified Tuesday with targets set for recruitment.
The Football Leadership Diversity Code is voluntary but every Premier League club apart from Southampton has already signed up to it.
When men’s professional clubs are hiring new coaches, the English Football Association wants a quarter of the positions to be filled by Black, Asian or mixed-heritage candidates and at least 10% of senior roles. In the professional women’s game, the code envisages half of new hires being female and 15% Black, Asian or mixed-heritage coaches.
Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolverhampton is currently the only Black manager across the 20 Premier League teams.
Away from the field, 15% of the senior leadership of team operation appointments should be Black, Asian or mixed-heritage executives and 30% women.
“If you look at all the positive action programs out there, there isn’t a structure that holds clubs to account,” Paul Elliott, the chair of the FA’s inclusion advisory board, told The Associated Press. “This is just the start. It’s a real solid foundation to build on … for a diverse and inclusive workforce.
“So I think it’s important also from a coaching perspective, when you speak to the three generations of players that we’ve lost and the current generation that we want one thing - it’s called equal opportunity and to have a role based on meritocracy, not tokenism.”
Elliott has risen to positions of power in football after a playing career in England, Scotland and Italy, including at Chelsea, Aston Villa, Celtic and Pisa.
The code was in part inspired by Manchester City and England forward Raheem Sterling in June calling for more Black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders or coaches in the game. The lack of opportunities for Black coaches was also highlighted by former England striker Jermain Defoe as the sport grappled with inequalities in society highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement which intensified after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
“Many discussions were about systemic, structural, institutional racism,” Elliot said. “Raheem Sterling resonated, I thought, when he said publicly when he looks up, he doesn’t see people that look like him. That was a very, very compelling statement and, thereafter, when Jermain Defoe said he’s not sure if he’s going to get qualifications because he doesn’t think he’s going to get any opportunity to get a coaching job. Now, for me, they’re big defining moments when people with such influence are making those statements.”
Clubs abiding by the code should include at least one male and one female Black, Asian or mixed-heritage candidates on shortlists if they meet the specifications required.
“It’s about creating clear processes and transparency that people can apply for jobs and so there is equal opportunity for all,” said Edleen John, co-partner for equality, diversity and inclusion at the FA. “I think it’s fair to say that there are many industries that have really struggled with actually people being hired because of their own personal networks or because of people they know. And I don’t think that football is any different to other industries that have struggled with that challenge.
“This code really helps us to move forward … this is a really pivotal moment for the world of football. I think it’s a code that brings about change that will be delivered through action and also accountability.”
Southampton said it hasn’t signed up to the code because it is waiting for the Premier League to update its own equality standard.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--UK judge to rule Nov 2 on Depp's libel suit against tabloid

LONDON ( AP ) - A British judge will rule next week on whether Johnny Depp was libelled by a tabloid newspaper that branded him a wife-beater - an accusation his lawyer called a “ reputation-destroying , career-ending ” false allegation .
Britain ’ s judicial office announced Tuesday that judge Andrew Nicol will deliver his verdict in writing on Nov. 2 , without a hearing at the High Court , where Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard had a dramatic three-week legal showdown in July .
The case , with its accusations of drug abuse , emotional turmoil and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the private lives of the celebrity couple , who met on the set of 2011 comedy “ The Rum Diary ” and married in Los Angeles in 2015 .
They separated the following year and divorced in 2017 .
“ Pirates of the Caribbean ” star Depp sued News Group Newspapers , publisher of The Sun , and the newspaper ’ s executive editor , Dan Wootton , over an April 2018 article that accused him of assaulting Heard .
Over several days in the witness box , Depp , 57 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and claimed Heard was the aggressor during their volatile relationship .
“ He has never hit a woman in his entire life - period , full stop , nada , ” Depp ’ s lawyer David Sherborne said in closing arguments .
Heard , 34 , testified as the main witness for the defense , saying Depp turned violent under the influence of alcohol and drugs .
She alleged 14 separate incidents between 2013 and 2016 in which he hit , slapped and shoved her , pulled her hair and threw bottles at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t want to do this , I did not want to expose this totality of what really happened to me , ” Heard said in court .
“ I didn ’ t want to talk about everything that happened in our marriage and happened in our relationship.
” The Sun ’ s lawyer , Sasha Wass , said in her summing up that there was no doubt Depp “ regularly and systematically abused his wife.
” But Depp ’ s lawyers accused Heard of fabricating evidence , calling her an unreliable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whatever way the judge rules , it ’ s unlikely to be the end of the legal drama .
Depp is also suing Heard for $ 50 million in Virginia over a Washington Post story about domestic violence .
The trial is due to be held next year .

LONDON (AP) - A British judge will rule next week on whether Johnny Depp was libelled by a tabloid newspaper that branded him a wife-beater - an accusation his lawyer called a “reputation-destroying, career-ending” false allegation.
Britain’s judicial office announced Tuesday that judge Andrew Nicol will deliver his verdict in writing on Nov. 2, without a hearing at the High Court, where Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard had a dramatic three-week legal showdown in July.
The case, with its accusations of drug abuse, emotional turmoil and drunken fights, cast a stark light on the private lives of the celebrity couple, who met on the set of 2011 comedy “The Rum Diary” and married in Los Angeles in 2015. They separated the following year and divorced in 2017.
“Pirates of the Caribbean” star Depp sued News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun, and the newspaper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an April 2018 article that accused him of assaulting Heard.
Over several days in the witness box, Depp, 57, branded he allegations a “hoax” and claimed Heard was the aggressor during their volatile relationship.
“He has never hit a woman in his entire life - period, full stop, nada,” Depp’s lawyer David Sherborne said in closing arguments.
Heard, 34, testified as the main witness for the defense, saying Depp turned violent under the influence of alcohol and drugs. She alleged 14 separate incidents between 2013 and 2016 in which he hit, slapped and shoved her, pulled her hair and threw bottles at her “like grenades.”
“I didn’t want to do this, I did not want to expose this totality of what really happened to me,” Heard said in court. “I didn’t want to talk about everything that happened in our marriage and happened in our relationship.”
The Sun’s lawyer, Sasha Wass, said in her summing up that there was no doubt Depp “regularly and systematically abused his wife.”
But Depp’s lawyers accused Heard of fabricating evidence, calling her an unreliable witness and “a compulsive liar.”
Whatever way the judge rules, it’s unlikely to be the end of the legal drama. Depp is also suing Heard for $50 million in Virginia over a Washington Post story about domestic violence. The trial is due to be held next year.


washingtontimes--2020-10-27--Police bill plays big role in Connecticut legislative races

HARTFORD , Conn. ( AP ) - While Democratic candidates for the General Assembly contend they have a strong record to run on , despite COVID-19 greatly limiting legislative successes in 2020 , Republicans have latched onto the police accountability legislation that passed in a special session , believing voters will agree it goes too far .
The bill cleared the Democratic-controlled legislature in late July along mostly party lines .
GOP incumbents and challengers throughout the state argue it ’ s an overreach that makes it more difficult for officers to do their jobs .
“ Police officers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning made their point very clearly that passage of that bill would be harmful for the police community and to police officers individually , ” said Rep. Jason Perillo , R-Shelton .
“ Quite frankly , the Democrats who supported the bill either didn ’ t hear it or didn ’ t care .
And people took note of that.
” But Democrats contend the new law , which attempts to change police procedures and policies in light of the killing of George Floyd and other Black people , has been mischaracterized to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re the party with the pro-union record , not the Republicans .
“ There ’ s really nothing in the bill that a hardworking , honorable police officer should fear , ” said Senate President Martin Looney , D-New Haven .
Among other things , the wide-ranging bill removes governmental immunity protections for officers in certain serious situations , creates a new inspector general to investigate police use-of-force cases , and requires periodic mental health screenings for officers .
Looney noted that Democrats helped negotiate long-awaited , bipartisan legislation in 2019 with unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year of workers ’ compensation coverage to police and firefighters suffering with post traumatic stress-related psychological injuries , without having had a physical injury .
The legislation is being touted by Democratic lawmakers as they seek reelection this year .
“ At that time , the police were extraordinarily grateful to us and they were saying it was something that they would always remember and that it was something that they had been looking for for years , ” said Looney .
Democrats currently control both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House of Representatives .
While the Senate ’ s membership was split evenly between Democrats and Republicans after the 2016 election , the Democrats rebounded in 2018 .
It ’ s unclear whether the GOP will have enough momentum this year to capture control of the chamber , especially in a presidential year with a Republican president at the top of the ticket who is relatively unpopular here .
Besides the PTSD bill , Democrats are also campaigning on other major bills from the 2019 session , including legislation providing most workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to care for a family member , a new child or their own serious health condition by 2022 ; and a new minimum wage law that incrementally increases the rate to $ 15 an hour by 2023 and then ties future increases to the employment cost index , which is calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor .
Some Democratic candidates are also holding themselves out as protectors against Trump administration policies .
With the appointment of conservative Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court , they ’ re pointing to state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affordable Care Act , including protections for people with preexisting conditions , as well as legislation passed years ago which codified provisions of the Roe v. Wade abortion decision in state law .
“ State legislatures are the first line of defense to protect citizens ’ rights and Democracy , ” State Sen. Alex Kasser , D-Greenwich , promises on her website .
Her opponent Ryan Fazio , like other Republicans , has focused on the pitfalls of Democrats retaining large majorities in the General Assembly .
On Facebook , he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools , limits on local zoning and implementation of highway tolls - all issues raised by other GOP candidates during this year ’ s election season , as well .
But no issue appears to have been embraced more by Republicans , both incumbents and challengers , than the police reform debate .
And they have welcomed the political endorsements from local police , some candidates promising they ’ ll work to revisit the issue when the General Assembly reconvenes in 2021 .
Some police union leaders , however , contend they didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s not about political affiliation .
We ’ ve never been involved .
And we try to stay out of it because , politically , it ’ s a difficult task to balance , ” said Sgt .
John Milligan , president of the New Canaan police union .
A Democrat himself , he noted that his party tends to be more supportive of collective bargaining rights than the GOP .
But Milligan said the police reform legislation went too far “ to the left ” in trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in other states , not Connecticut .
“ There ’ s so many good men and women in this state that are doing a great job and we ’ re being punished , ” he said .
Sgt .
Anna Tornello , president of the police union in Wilton , agreed .
“ We ’ re not endorsing candidates just for their political affiliation , ” she said of the slate of Republicans her union is backing for the first time in recent memory for the state legislature .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have asked to understand .
”

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - While Democratic candidates for the General Assembly contend they have a strong record to run on, despite COVID-19 greatly limiting legislative successes in 2020, Republicans have latched onto the police accountability legislation that passed in a special session, believing voters will agree it goes too far.
The bill cleared the Democratic-controlled legislature in late July along mostly party lines. GOP incumbents and challengers throughout the state argue it’s an overreach that makes it more difficult for officers to do their jobs.
“Police officers, unions from across the state from the beginning made their point very clearly that passage of that bill would be harmful for the police community and to police officers individually,” said Rep. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton. “Quite frankly, the Democrats who supported the bill either didn’t hear it or didn’t care. And people took note of that.”
But Democrats contend the new law, which attempts to change police procedures and policies in light of the killing of George Floyd and other Black people, has been mischaracterized to create alarm, and argue they’re the party with the pro-union record, not the Republicans.
“There’s really nothing in the bill that a hardworking, honorable police officer should fear,” said Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven. Among other things, the wide-ranging bill removes governmental immunity protections for officers in certain serious situations, creates a new inspector general to investigate police use-of-force cases, and requires periodic mental health screenings for officers.
Looney noted that Democrats helped negotiate long-awaited, bipartisan legislation in 2019 with unions and local municipal leaders to provide one year of workers’ compensation coverage to police and firefighters suffering with post traumatic stress-related psychological injuries, without having had a physical injury. The legislation is being touted by Democratic lawmakers as they seek reelection this year.
“At that time, the police were extraordinarily grateful to us and they were saying it was something that they would always remember and that it was something that they had been looking for for years,” said Looney.
Democrats currently control both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly; 22-14 in the Senate and 91-60 in the House of Representatives. While the Senate’s membership was split evenly between Democrats and Republicans after the 2016 election, the Democrats rebounded in 2018.
It’s unclear whether the GOP will have enough momentum this year to capture control of the chamber, especially in a presidential year with a Republican president at the top of the ticket who is relatively unpopular here.
Besides the PTSD bill, Democrats are also campaigning on other major bills from the 2019 session, including legislation providing most workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a family member, a new child or their own serious health condition by 2022; and a new minimum wage law that incrementally increases the rate to $15 an hour by 2023 and then ties future increases to the employment cost index, which is calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Some Democratic candidates are also holding themselves out as protectors against Trump administration policies. With the appointment of conservative Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, they’re pointing to state legislation that incorporates much of the federal Affordable Care Act, including protections for people with preexisting conditions, as well as legislation passed years ago which codified provisions of the Roe v. Wade abortion decision in state law.
“State legislatures are the first line of defense to protect citizens’ rights and Democracy,” State Sen. Alex Kasser, D-Greenwich, promises on her website.
Her opponent Ryan Fazio, like other Republicans, has focused on the pitfalls of Democrats retaining large majorities in the General Assembly. On Facebook, he’s raised concerns about the possible regionalization of schools, limits on local zoning and implementation of highway tolls - all issues raised by other GOP candidates during this year’s election season, as well.
But no issue appears to have been embraced more by Republicans, both incumbents and challengers, than the police reform debate. And they have welcomed the political endorsements from local police, some candidates promising they’ll work to revisit the issue when the General Assembly reconvenes in 2021.
Some police union leaders, however, contend they didn’t intend to just endorse Republicans.
“It’s not about political affiliation. We’ve never been involved. And we try to stay out of it because, politically, it’s a difficult task to balance,” said Sgt. John Milligan, president of the New Canaan police union. A Democrat himself, he noted that his party tends to be more supportive of collective bargaining rights than the GOP.
But Milligan said the police reform legislation went too far “to the left” in trying to address problems that he said are happening in other states, not Connecticut.
“There’s so many good men and women in this state that are doing a great job and we’re being punished,” he said.
Sgt. Anna Tornello, president of the police union in Wilton, agreed.
“We’re not endorsing candidates just for their political affiliation,” she said of the slate of Republicans her union is backing for the first time in recent memory for the state legislature. “I’m endorsing candidates who have approached me and have asked to understand.”