washingtontimes--2020-10-11--Israel unease on F-35 sales to UAE tests Trump Mideast breakthrough

Ensuring that Israel maintains military superiority over its neighbors has been a principle of U.S. foreign policy for decades , but concerns are mounting in Jerusalem and Washington that President Trump ’ s breakthrough Middle East diplomacy is putting that principle to the test .
The U.S.-brokered normalization accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates last month — the first such accord with an Arab state in decades — has been accompanied by a push from the UAE to buy Lockheed Martin ’ s state-of-the-art F-35 Lightning II fighter jets for its military .
Mr. Trump told Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with selling the F-35s to the UAE , especially on the heels of the Gulf nation ’ s historic decision to sign the Abraham Accords , normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel .
“ They would like to order quite a few F-35s .
It ’ s the greatest fighter in the world , ” the president said at a White House press conference .
“ They ’ ve definitely got the money to pay for it.
” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed the sale , and his aides have tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal was the private price for the normalization accord .
Israel right now is the only military in the region with F-35s in its fleet .
Israel ’ s supporters in Congress are also raising fears that the sale could tip the balance of power in the region in ways that will be hard to predict — or contain .
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick , Pennsylvania Republican , and several other lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that would reiterate America ’ s commitment to maintaining Israel ’ s qualitative military edge .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Israel to ensure that any of their concerns are settled and report to Congress within 60 days on the impact of the sale .
“ For decades , Israel has been a key strategic ally and friend of the United States , and it is crucial that we do everything we can to support our allies , ” Mr. Fitzpatrick said .
“ Despite the incredible steps towards peace that have been made , there are still plenty of entities that wish to harm Israel.
” Officials with the Washington-based Jewish Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Israel ’ s military leadership , like Mr. Netanyahu , have strong reservations about the F-35 sale to the UAE .
“ They did not seem to be in the loop in the negotiations , ” JINSA President Michael Makovsky said last week during an online discussion about the deal .
The UAE is not the only country seeking to end Israel ’ s exclusive claim to the F-35 .
The Reuters news agency reported late last week that Qatar also had put in a request to purchase the fighter jet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a former deputy commander of U.S. European Command , said he has always been a supporter of ensuring that Israel has a clear technological advantage over any other nation in the Middle East .
“ I think Israel ’ s [ qualitative military edge ] is not necessarily threatened by this sale to the UAE , ” he said .
“ I think their air force is the best air force in the world — including ours — from the standpoint of capability.
” Israel became the first country to select the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Military Sales program in October 2010 .
It received its first F-35 , known in Israel as the “ Adir , ” Hebrew for “ Strong One , ” six years later .
The Israeli air force plans to purchase at least 50 more .
“ Israel always gets top-notch equipment .
Nothing is held back , ” Gen. Wald said .
He isn ’ t surprised that other countries such as the UAE are eager to get their hands on F-35s .
Its only resemblance to previous-generation fighter jets , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wings and an engine .
“ It is basically a flying computer .
It ’ s able to penetrate into enemy territory , soak up massive amounts of information and send that information to other people who need it — rapidly , ” Gen. Wald said .
“ The F-35 is almost like a quarterback .
It ’ s a game-changer.
” The Arab world is in the midst of a massive arms race , driven primarily by Iran and to a lesser extent Turkey .
Israel has three neighbors — Egypt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are among the world ’ s largest buyers , said Jonathan Ruhe , JINSA ’ s director of foreign policy .
“ These countries are willing to spend amply on defense .
Most of those are highly advanced weapon systems , ” Mr. Ruhe said .
“ The Arab arms race is a big factor.
” Despite its clear military superiority , Israel also is surrounded by potential adversaries and hot spots .
“ Israel is caught in the middle , ” Mr. Ruhe said .
Turkey was once a major Israeli ally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since nationalist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took power .
His government sharply criticized the normalization accords last month with the UAE and Bahrain as a betrayal of the Palestinians .
But Gen. Wald was dismissive of Ankara ’ s ability to cause any serious trouble for Israel .
“ I ’ ve been around Turkey a lot .
I ’ ve had them under my command .
The last thing the Israelis need to worry about is Turkey ’ s air force .
They ’ re not very good , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are pretty decent fighters , but Israel would kick their butt.
” Israeli strategists are concerned that — as was the case with Turkey — today ’ s ally could become tomorrow ’ s adversary .
Mr. Makovsky said he believes the F-35 deal with the UAE will eventually be completed but that the Pentagon and White House could take steps to ease Israeli concerns .
The Obama administration signed a deal granting Israel $ 3.3 billion worth of U.S. military hardware , but the funding is doled out over a decade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the money , Mr. Ruhe said .
“ It ’ s effectively a line of credit to buy U.S. defense equipment .
This wouldn ’ t add a dollar to the cost to the U.S. taxpayer , ” he said .
The arms deal memorandum of understanding between Israel and the U.S. expires in 2027 .
JINSA officials recommend beginning the discussions now to put together the next program .
The United States maintains an arms depot in Israel that is left over from its competition with the Soviet Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cold War to surge U.S. forces to the Persian Gulf when we thought there was a clear Soviet threat to the region , ” Mr. Ruhe said .
But most of the munitions stored in the depot , such as nonprecision-guided “ dumb ” bombs , have inevitably become obsolete .
The Pentagon never had much interest in upgrading the depot , he said .
“ We recommend that the U.S. replenish and upgrade that stockpile , ” Mr. Ruhe said .
“ It would have to have precision-guided munitions in it that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw on during wartime.
” The United States could also elevate Israel ’ s intelligence-sharing status to put it on the level with countries such as Australia or Britain , which are part of the “ Five Eyes ” alliance , Mr. Ruhe said .
It will likely take six years or more before any F-35 Lightning fighters become operational in the UAE ’ s air force .
But Israel has immediate concerns in the region that must be addressed , Mr. Makovsky said .
“ We ’ ve got to do whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns about its ability to defend itself by itself , ” he said .

Ensuring that Israel maintains military superiority over its neighbors has been a principle of U.S. foreign policy for decades, but concerns are mounting in Jerusalem and Washington that President Trump’s breakthrough Middle East diplomacy is putting that principle to the test.
The U.S.-brokered normalization accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates last month — the first such accord with an Arab state in decades — has been accompanied by a push from the UAE to buy Lockheed Martin’s state-of-the-art F-35 Lightning II fighter jets for its military.
Mr. Trump told Fox News that he “had no problem” with selling the F-35s to the UAE, especially on the heels of the Gulf nation’s historic decision to sign the Abraham Accords, normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel.
“They would like to order quite a few F-35s. It’s the greatest fighter in the world,” the president said at a White House press conference. “They’ve definitely got the money to pay for it.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed the sale, and his aides have tried to shoot down press reports that the deal was the private price for the normalization accord. Israel right now is the only military in the region with F-35s in its fleet.
Israel’s supporters in Congress are also raising fears that the sale could tip the balance of power in the region in ways that will be hard to predict — or contain.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania Republican, and several other lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that would reiterate America’s commitment to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge. The measure would require the president to consult with Israel to ensure that any of their concerns are settled and report to Congress within 60 days on the impact of the sale.
“For decades, Israel has been a key strategic ally and friend of the United States, and it is crucial that we do everything we can to support our allies,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said. “Despite the incredible steps towards peace that have been made, there are still plenty of entities that wish to harm Israel.”
Officials with the Washington-based Jewish Institute for National Security of America said some members of Israel’s military leadership, like Mr. Netanyahu, have strong reservations about the F-35 sale to the UAE.
“They did not seem to be in the loop in the negotiations,” JINSA President Michael Makovsky said last week during an online discussion about the deal.
The UAE is not the only country seeking to end Israel’s exclusive claim to the F-35. The Reuters news agency reported late last week that Qatar also had put in a request to purchase the fighter jet.
Retired Air Force General Chuck Wald, a former deputy commander of U.S. European Command, said he has always been a supporter of ensuring that Israel has a clear technological advantage over any other nation in the Middle East.
“I think Israel’s [qualitative military edge] is not necessarily threatened by this sale to the UAE,” he said. “I think their air force is the best air force in the world — including ours — from the standpoint of capability.”
Israel became the first country to select the F-35 through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program in October 2010. It received its first F-35, known in Israel as the “Adir,” Hebrew for “Strong One,” six years later. The Israeli air force plans to purchase at least 50 more.
“Israel always gets top-notch equipment. Nothing is held back,” Gen. Wald said.
He isn’t surprised that other countries such as the UAE are eager to get their hands on F-35s. Its only resemblance to previous-generation fighter jets, he said, is that it has two wings and an engine.
“It is basically a flying computer. It’s able to penetrate into enemy territory, soak up massive amounts of information and send that information to other people who need it — rapidly,” Gen. Wald said. “The F-35 is almost like a quarterback. It’s a game-changer.”
Regional arms race
The Arab world is in the midst of a massive arms race, driven primarily by Iran and to a lesser extent Turkey. Israel has three neighbors — Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — that are among the world’s largest buyers, said Jonathan Ruhe, JINSA’s director of foreign policy.
“These countries are willing to spend amply on defense. Most of those are highly advanced weapon systems,” Mr. Ruhe said. “The Arab arms race is a big factor.”
Despite its clear military superiority, Israel also is surrounded by potential adversaries and hot spots.
“Israel is caught in the middle,” Mr. Ruhe said.
Turkey was once a major Israeli ally, but the relationship has grown cold since nationalist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took power. His government sharply criticized the normalization accords last month with the UAE and Bahrain as a betrayal of the Palestinians. But Gen. Wald was dismissive of Ankara’s ability to cause any serious trouble for Israel.
“I’ve been around Turkey a lot. I’ve had them under my command. The last thing the Israelis need to worry about is Turkey’s air force. They’re not very good,” he said. “Their ‘ground guys’ are pretty decent fighters, but Israel would kick their butt.”
Israeli strategists are concerned that — as was the case with Turkey — today’s ally could become tomorrow’s adversary. Mr. Makovsky said he believes the F-35 deal with the UAE will eventually be completed but that the Pentagon and White House could take steps to ease Israeli concerns.
The Obama administration signed a deal granting Israel $3.3 billion worth of U.S. military hardware, but the funding is doled out over a decade. It would help if the U.S. dispersed the rest of the money, Mr. Ruhe said.
“It’s effectively a line of credit to buy U.S. defense equipment. This wouldn’t add a dollar to the cost to the U.S. taxpayer,” he said.
The arms deal memorandum of understanding between Israel and the U.S. expires in 2027. JINSA officials recommend beginning the discussions now to put together the next program.
The United States maintains an arms depot in Israel that is left over from its competition with the Soviet Union.
“We built it in the Cold War to surge U.S. forces to the Persian Gulf when we thought there was a clear Soviet threat to the region,” Mr. Ruhe said.
But most of the munitions stored in the depot, such as nonprecision-guided “dumb” bombs, have inevitably become obsolete. The Pentagon never had much interest in upgrading the depot, he said.
“We recommend that the U.S. replenish and upgrade that stockpile,” Mr. Ruhe said. “It would have to have precision-guided munitions in it that the U.S. could use and Israel could draw on during wartime.”
The United States could also elevate Israel’s intelligence-sharing status to put it on the level with countries such as Australia or Britain, which are part of the “Five Eyes” alliance, Mr. Ruhe said.
It will likely take six years or more before any F-35 Lightning fighters become operational in the UAE’s air force. But Israel has immediate concerns in the region that must be addressed, Mr. Makovsky said.
“We’ve got to do whatever we can to mitigate Israel’s concerns about its ability to defend itself by itself,” he said.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-11--New York City coronavirus rule violations net $150K in fines

NEW YORK ( AP ) - New York City handed out 62 tickets amounting to more than $ 150,000 in fines during a weekend crackdown on violators of newly imposed restrictions in coronavirus hot spots , the city government Twitter account said Sunday .
Among those issued summons by New York City Sheriff Joseph Fucito ’ s office were a restaurant and at least five houses of worship in areas designated “ red zones , ” where COVID-19 infection rates are highest .
New restrictions imposed by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo took effect Thursday in hot spots in Brooklyn and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Rockland counties .
The restrictions limit attendance at all houses of worship in the hot spots to 25 % capacity or a maximum of 10 people .
The rules also prohibit mass gatherings and close schools and nonessential businesses .
In his briefing Sunday , Cuomo said the percentage of New Yorkers testing positive for COVID-19 statewide dipped below 1 % Saturday for the first time in weeks , but the number hospitalized with the virus has doubled since early September .
Of about 118,000 tests reported to the state on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 820 people hospitalized with the virus on Saturday , twice as many as on Sept. 5 .
Cuomo connected the rise in hospitalizations to hot spot communities where infection rates are higher than the state average .

NEW YORK (AP) - New York City handed out 62 tickets amounting to more than $150,000 in fines during a weekend crackdown on violators of newly imposed restrictions in coronavirus hot spots, the city government Twitter account said Sunday.
Among those issued summons by New York City Sheriff Joseph Fucito’s office were a restaurant and at least five houses of worship in areas designated “red zones,” where COVID-19 infection rates are highest.
New restrictions imposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo took effect Thursday in hot spots in Brooklyn and Queens as well as Broome, Orange and Rockland counties. The restrictions limit attendance at all houses of worship in the hot spots to 25% capacity or a maximum of 10 people. The rules also prohibit mass gatherings and close schools and nonessential businesses.
In his briefing Sunday, Cuomo said the percentage of New Yorkers testing positive for COVID-19 statewide dipped below 1% Saturday for the first time in weeks, but the number hospitalized with the virus has doubled since early September.
Of about 118,000 tests reported to the state on Saturday, 1,143 were positive. There were 820 people hospitalized with the virus on Saturday, twice as many as on Sept. 5. Cuomo connected the rise in hospitalizations to hot spot communities where infection rates are higher than the state average.


washingtontimes--2020-10-11--1 killed, 1 hurt in shooting outside New Orleans-area mall

GRETNA , La .
( AP ) - A man was killed and another person was critically wounded in a shooting outside of a New Orleans-area shopping mall Sunday afternoon , according to authorities .
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff ’ s Office responded to the parking lot of the Oakwood Center mall in Gretna at around 3:30 p.m. after multiple shots were fired , Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said at a news conference .
Officers who were working a detail at the mall found the two inside a car near the food court entrance , Lopinto said .
A man in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene , and the person in the driver ’ s seat was taken to a hospital for surgery , the sheriff said .
He added that investigators think two groups met on the back side of the mall and the shooting happened before the car was relocated to the opposite entrance .
The people who were shot were not immediately identified and authorities did not name any suspects .
It was unclear whether the two also fired weapons .
Officers were reviewing mall security video and the investigation remained ongoing , according @ @ @ @

GRETNA, La. (AP) - A man was killed and another person was critically wounded in a shooting outside of a New Orleans-area shopping mall Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to the parking lot of the Oakwood Center mall in Gretna at around 3:30 p.m. after multiple shots were fired, Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said at a news conference.
Officers who were working a detail at the mall found the two inside a car near the food court entrance, Lopinto said.
A man in the passenger seat was pronounced dead at the scene, and the person in the driver’s seat was taken to a hospital for surgery, the sheriff said.
He added that investigators think two groups met on the back side of the mall and the shooting happened before the car was relocated to the opposite entrance.
The people who were shot were not immediately identified and authorities did not name any suspects.
It was unclear whether the two also fired weapons.
Officers were reviewing mall security video and the investigation remained ongoing, according to the sheriff.


washingtontimes--2020-10-11--Border Patrol rips Los Angeles Times 'villainize' of agents

The Border Patrol ’ s top brass lashed out Sunday at what they called a “ false ” report in the Los Angeles Times that agents separated an illegal immigrant mother and her newborn baby , saying the paper skewed the facts as it “ sought to villainize ” the agents .
The woman , a repeat illegal immigrant , jumped the border while in labor specifically to deliver her child on American soil , according to acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan and Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott .
In a joint statement they acknowledged the woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week , but said it was due to the baby ’ s medical complications and coronavirus restrictions at the hospital , and wasn ’ t intended to be long-term .
“ We are sick and tired of our agents being villainized for placing their own personal safety and security behind that of others , and for enforcing the Congressionally-enacted laws of the United States , ” the two agency leaders said .
They released a detailed timeline of events , beginning with the call from Mexican authorities at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They responded to the location given and found an illegal immigrant , alone , who ’ d just given birth .
Both were taken to a local hospital where the child ran into complications , and the mother was told she couldn ’ t stay because of coronavirus protocols .
Agents took her back to the Border Patrol station for processing early Thursday morning .
Later that day the child was flown to a hospital in San Antonio , but there was no room on the flight for the mother .
Agents didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would allow the mother to stay — and , according to the LA Times , that hospital ’ s policy would have allowed it .
The border officials , in their statement , acknowledged that error , but said they made a “ reasonable assumption ” based on the other hospitals they work with .
The illegal immigrant was released from custody early Saturday , after the newspaper ’ s first story , and connected with a charity organization that took the woman to San Antonio and reunited her with her baby .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviews this entire illegal entry and the subsequent actions taken by the agents involved will come to the same conclusion that we did ; these agents did everything in their power to ensure the safety of the baby , as well as the mother , who chose to illegally enter the United States , at night , in a relatively remote area , while in labor and ultimately giving birth in a field just north of the Rio Grande River , ” the two officials said .
The vehement response from border officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family separations is , following the 2018 “ zero tolerance ” policy implemented by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions and then-Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen .
That policy involved prosecuting illegal immigrant parents who jumped the border with children , hoping to take advantage of loopholes in U.S. policy that called for relaxed treatment of families that illegally entered .
Because there are no family facilities in the federal criminal justice system , the parents and children were separated — but the administration was not prepared to reunited them .
Thousands of children were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolved , some remain separated to this day .
In this latest incident the LA Times reported that the woman , who is from Honduras , had jumped the border earlier this year with a 6-year-old child and attempted to claim asylum , but was sent back to Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocols this administration instituted to cut down on bogus claims .
The two border officials , though , said the woman has jumped the border three times before , including once when she crossed the Rio Grande with the 6-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along the river inside the U.S. ” and swam back to Mexico .
“ Eagle Pass agents did indeed find the little girl , an unaccompanied minor at that time , and worked to place her with relatives in California , ” the officials said .

The Border Patrol’s top brass lashed out Sunday at what they called a “false” report in the Los Angeles Times that agents separated an illegal immigrant mother and her newborn baby, saying the paper skewed the facts as it “sought to villainize” the agents.
The woman, a repeat illegal immigrant, jumped the border while in labor specifically to deliver her child on American soil, according to acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan and Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott.
In a joint statement they acknowledged the woman and baby were separated for 45 hours last week, but said it was due to the baby’s medical complications and coronavirus restrictions at the hospital, and wasn’t intended to be long-term.
“We are sick and tired of our agents being villainized for placing their own personal safety and security behind that of others, and for enforcing the Congressionally-enacted laws of the United States,” the two agency leaders said.
They released a detailed timeline of events, beginning with the call from Mexican authorities at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday to agents in Eagle Pass, Texas. They responded to the location given and found an illegal immigrant, alone, who’d just given birth.
Both were taken to a local hospital where the child ran into complications, and the mother was told she couldn’t stay because of coronavirus protocols. Agents took her back to the Border Patrol station for processing early Thursday morning.
Later that day the child was flown to a hospital in San Antonio, but there was no room on the flight for the mother. Agents didn’t inquire about whether that hospital would allow the mother to stay — and, according to the LA Times, that hospital’s policy would have allowed it.
The border officials, in their statement, acknowledged that error, but said they made a “reasonable assumption” based on the other hospitals they work with.
The illegal immigrant was released from custody early Saturday, after the newspaper’s first story, and connected with a charity organization that took the woman to San Antonio and reunited her with her baby.
“We believe any rational person that reviews this entire illegal entry and the subsequent actions taken by the agents involved will come to the same conclusion that we did; these agents did everything in their power to ensure the safety of the baby, as well as the mother, who chose to illegally enter the United States, at night, in a relatively remote area, while in labor and ultimately giving birth in a field just north of the Rio Grande River,” the two officials said.
The vehement response from border officials shows just how touchy the issue of family separations is, following the 2018 “zero tolerance” policy implemented by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions and then-Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
That policy involved prosecuting illegal immigrant parents who jumped the border with children, hoping to take advantage of loopholes in U.S. policy that called for relaxed treatment of families that illegally entered. Because there are no family facilities in the federal criminal justice system, the parents and children were separated — but the administration was not prepared to reunited them.
Thousands of children were separated, and while most cases were resolved, some remain separated to this day.
In this latest incident the LA Times reported that the woman, who is from Honduras, had jumped the border earlier this year with a 6-year-old child and attempted to claim asylum, but was sent back to Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocols this administration instituted to cut down on bogus claims.
The two border officials, though, said the woman has jumped the border three times before, including once when she crossed the Rio Grande with the 6-year-old girl, then “left her alone along the river inside the U.S.” and swam back to Mexico.
“Eagle Pass agents did indeed find the little girl, an unaccompanied minor at that time, and worked to place her with relatives in California,” the officials said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-11--Thousands in Los Angeles protest hostilities against Armenia

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Thousands of people protested Sunday in Los Angeles to condemn Azerbaijan and Turkey ’ s role in hostilities against Armenia in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region .
The protest came as Azerbaijan and Armenia accuse each other of violating a cease-fire deal , brokered by Russia , that took effect at noon Saturday .
The deal stipulated that the truce should pave the way for talks on settling the conflict .
Crowds gathered in front of the Turkish Consulate in California ’ s largest city Sunday afternoon , waving Armenian flags , chanting and toting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” among other messages .
Earlier , groups gathered along streets , with some climbing on top of cars to wave the banners .
The demonstrations appeared to be largely peaceful .
Southern California is home to the largest Armenian population in the United States and an East Hollywood neighborhood was designated Little Armenia in 2000 .
The recent bout of fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces started Sept. 27 and left hundreds of people dead in the biggest escalation of the decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh since a separatist war there ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia .
Armenians refer to it as Artsakh .
Turkey is supporting Azerbaijan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently said “ our Azerbaijani brothers are now waiting for the day they will return to their land.
” As protestors gathered Sunday , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted in support , also attaching a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from a group of mayors across the country urging the United States to help deescalate tensions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceasefire and it must be respected , ” Garcetti tweeted .
“ We need our national leadership to step up ( and ) help bring peace to the region .
Turkey must disengage.
” Thousands blocked freeways recently in the Los Angeles area , and assembled in front of the buildings of CNN and the Los Angeles Times and demonstrated outside the Azerbaijan Consulate , the Los Angeles Times previously reported .
Several Armenian Americans have returned to the region to volunteer for their home country .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Thousands of people protested Sunday in Los Angeles to condemn Azerbaijan and Turkey’s role in hostilities against Armenia in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region.
The protest came as Azerbaijan and Armenia accuse each other of violating a cease-fire deal, brokered by Russia, that took effect at noon Saturday. The deal stipulated that the truce should pave the way for talks on settling the conflict.
Crowds gathered in front of the Turkish Consulate in California’s largest city Sunday afternoon, waving Armenian flags, chanting and toting signs that said “peace for Armenians,” among other messages. Earlier, groups gathered along streets, with some climbing on top of cars to wave the banners.
The demonstrations appeared to be largely peaceful.
Southern California is home to the largest Armenian population in the United States and an East Hollywood neighborhood was designated Little Armenia in 2000.
The recent bout of fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces started Sept. 27 and left hundreds of people dead in the biggest escalation of the decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh since a separatist war there ended in 1994. The region lies in Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia. Armenians refer to it as Artsakh.
Turkey is supporting Azerbaijan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently said “our Azerbaijani brothers are now waiting for the day they will return to their land.”
As protestors gathered Sunday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted in support, also attaching a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from a group of mayors across the country urging the United States to help deescalate tensions in the conflict.
“We welcome the ceasefire and it must be respected,” Garcetti tweeted. “We need our national leadership to step up (and) help bring peace to the region. Turkey must disengage.”
Thousands blocked freeways recently in the Los Angeles area, and assembled in front of the buildings of CNN and the Los Angeles Times and demonstrated outside the Azerbaijan Consulate, the Los Angeles Times previously reported. Several Armenian Americans have returned to the region to volunteer for their home country.


washingtontimes--2020-10-11--Tom Wolf coronavirus restrictions push Democrats to back Trump

WALNUTPORT , Pa. — The coronavirus restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania Gov .
Tom Wolf , a Democrat , have turned Pauline Grady from a lifelong Democrat into a registered Republican who is voting for President Trump .
“ I was always ‘ blue ’ across the board , ” Mrs. Grady , 44 , said of her voting habits .
“ Tom Wolf tipped me over the edge .
I started opening my eyes a little more.
” The second-term governor isn ’ t on the ballot this year , but his handling of coronavirus shutdowns and the slow pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events , restaurants and other businesses have sparked widespread anger .
Even some Democrats worry that it will cause a backlash at the polls that could help Mr. Trump , who is trailing Democrat Joseph R. Biden in the key swing state .
“ Definitely , there ’ s a frustration with the restaurants and high school sports , ” said state Sen. Lisa Boscola , a Democrat representing Northampton County .
“ I think it could help Trump a little bit .
I don ’ t think it ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like they got an unfair shake from Gov .
Wolf , and I don ’ t think they ’ re voting for any Democrats.
” The state ’ s unemployment rate in August was 10.3 % , compared with 8.4 % nationally .
The president is returning to Pennsylvania on Tuesday night to hold a campaign rally in Johnstown .
It will be Mr. Trump ’ s fifth visit to the state since Aug. 20 .
Mr. Wolf announced last week that the state is easing restrictions on public gatherings , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school football games and other sporting events .
He announced a new formula that is based on a percentage of a facility ’ s capacity instead of limits of 25 people indoors and 250 people outdoors .
The governor said Pennsylvanians must wear masks and engage in social distancing until further notice .
State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said that “ we can and will dial back these new limits ” if state officials find that the expanded gatherings are causing new outbreaks of the illness .
No region of Pennsylvania has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative Lebanon County .
County officials this summer decided to reopen from the state lockdowns without the governor ’ s approval .
Mr. Wolf responded by withholding $ 12.8 million in federal coronavirus aid from the CARES Act .
“ Don ’ t come and say you want something from the state when you haven ’ t followed the rules , ” Mr. Wolf said .
“ There are consequences .
These are the consequences.
” State Rep. Russ Diamond , a Republican from Lebanon County , said of the residents in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dutchmen.
” He was referring to the “ Pennsylvania Dutch ” territory of German ancestry .
He said Democrats on the ballot will soon see political backlash from the governor ’ s heavy-handed actions .
“ The great thing is that people understand that they have to vote all Republican because it ’ s a vote against Tom Wolf , even though he ’ s not on the ballot , ” Mr. Diamond said in an interview .
“ This election really is a referendum on Wolf rather than a referendum on Trump.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one concerned about backlash since his complete and utter failure to lead caused 210,000 people to die , and then he minimized their deaths , ” said Jeffrey Sheridan , principal at GPS Impact and a political adviser to Mr. Wolf .
Matt Brouillette , a Republican from Lebanon County and founder of Commonwealth Partners , a membership organization for state and local businesses , said Mr. Wolf engaged in political payback against Mr. Diamond and his other Republican detractors in Lebanon after they challenged his leadership .
“ Lebanon County got into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very outspoken legislators , businesses and the district attorney saying we won ’ t prosecute [ violators ] , ” Mr. Brouillette said in an interview .
“ The elected officials said it ’ s ridiculous that you are keeping our county in lockdown when the cases and hospitalizations and ventilator uses were so low .
Other counties that had worse numbers were being opened while Lebanon was being mistreated.
” Mr. Wolf released the federal aid in August with the stipulation that the county spend $ 2.8 million of it on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks .
The result : a campaign called “ Mask Up Lebanon , ” which appears to be off to a slow start .
Its Facebook page had about 370 “ likes ” as of late Sunday .
“ We worked it out .
It was like $ 20 per resident of Lebanon County , ” said Mr. Brouillette .
“ I think goes to Wolf ’ s vindictiveness , because Russ Diamond has been the chief mask opponent in the state .
So the governor forces the county to spend a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks , and I suspect it was to thumb his nose at Russ Diamond.
” Mr. Diamond agrees with Mr. Trump that “ the cure is worse than the disease.
” “ We ’ re not just talking about people losing their jobs , which is horrible , ” Mr. Diamond said .
“ And then not being able to get unemployment , which is even adding insult to injury .
But you look at some of the other societal impacts of this , which is heightened tensions between people , increased domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse reports from mandatory reporters because a lot of mandatory reporters aren ’ t on the job .
The psychological impact of this is far worse than the virus itself.
” He predicted that Pennsylvanians will reject Mr. Biden and other Democrats on the ballot because of their governor .
“ When people talk to me about the Biden commercials that are running , that all this is Trump ’ s jobless rate or , under Trump we have all these racial riots , people are saying , ‘ Trump is tough , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re pointing at [ Democrats ] on all that stuff .
They understand .
They can discern the difference between what Wolf did and what Trump did.
” The state ’ s limits on scholastic sporting events have been frustrating for Mrs. Grady , whose elder son plays football in middle school .
Until now , parents were not allowed to attend away games .
“ Your kid gets hurt , and you ’ re 20 or 30 miles away ?
” she said .
The restrictions on businesses , difficulties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s business waiver decisions that many call arbitrary persuaded Mrs. Grady to switch her party affiliation in May .
“ I felt like I had this allegiance to my [ Democratic ] Party affiliation for the longest time because I do still have some liberal views , ” she said .
“ But on this , I realized you can vote Republican and still have liberal ways .
I am definitely voting for Trump , which is a huge thing for me .
Even though I didn ’ t vote for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as far as saying that I hated the man .
“ Somebody said to me , ‘ So now you ’ re a Trump supporter.
’ And I said , ‘ No , I ’ m a Trump tolerator.
’ I will tolerate him because he is clearly for the American people.
” Partly because of the coronavirus crisis and partly in response to urban rioting , Mrs. Grady and her husband bought their first firearm this year .
When their local hardware and gun store received a shipment of scarce ammunition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was out the door .
As far as the governor ’ s restrictions , Mrs. Grady has come to accept the argument of her husband , Rick , that Mr. Wolf is “ punch drunk with power right now.
” “ My husband ’ s a registered Republican , staunch Republican , his whole family , ” she said .
“ And I would argue , but we always were civil about it .
And he always said to me , ‘ Open your eyes.
’ Well , I did .
And it @ @ @ @ @ @

WALNUTPORT, Pa. — The coronavirus restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, have turned Pauline Grady from a lifelong Democrat into a registered Republican who is voting for President Trump.
“I was always ‘blue’ across the board,” Mrs. Grady, 44, said of her voting habits. “Tom Wolf tipped me over the edge. I started opening my eyes a little more.”
The second-term governor isn’t on the ballot this year, but his handling of coronavirus shutdowns and the slow pace of reopening the state’s sporting events, restaurants and other businesses have sparked widespread anger. Even some Democrats worry that it will cause a backlash at the polls that could help Mr. Trump, who is trailing Democrat Joseph R. Biden in the key swing state.
“Definitely, there’s a frustration with the restaurants and high school sports,” said state Sen. Lisa Boscola, a Democrat representing Northampton County. “I think it could help Trump a little bit. I don’t think it’s going to be the deciding factor. Certain people feel like they got an unfair shake from Gov. Wolf, and I don’t think they’re voting for any Democrats.”
The state’s unemployment rate in August was 10.3%, compared with 8.4% nationally. The president is returning to Pennsylvania on Tuesday night to hold a campaign rally in Johnstown. It will be Mr. Trump’s fifth visit to the state since Aug. 20.
Mr. Wolf announced last week that the state is easing restrictions on public gatherings, which will allow more people to attend high school football games and other sporting events. He announced a new formula that is based on a percentage of a facility’s capacity instead of limits of 25 people indoors and 250 people outdoors.
The governor said Pennsylvanians must wear masks and engage in social distancing until further notice. State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said that “we can and will dial back these new limits” if state officials find that the expanded gatherings are causing new outbreaks of the illness.
No region of Pennsylvania has rebelled more loudly against Mr. Wolf than conservative Lebanon County. County officials this summer decided to reopen from the state lockdowns without the governor’s approval. Mr. Wolf responded by withholding $12.8 million in federal coronavirus aid from the CARES Act.
“Don’t come and say you want something from the state when you haven’t followed the rules,” Mr. Wolf said. “There are consequences. These are the consequences.”
State Rep. Russ Diamond, a Republican from Lebanon County, said of the residents in his region, “we’re stubborn Dutchmen.” He was referring to the “Pennsylvania Dutch” territory of German ancestry.
He said Democrats on the ballot will soon see political backlash from the governor’s heavy-handed actions.
“The great thing is that people understand that they have to vote all Republican because it’s a vote against Tom Wolf, even though he’s not on the ballot,” Mr. Diamond said in an interview. “This election really is a referendum on Wolf rather than a referendum on Trump.”
A spokesman for Mr. Wolf rejected that argument.
“Donald Trump should be the one concerned about backlash since his complete and utter failure to lead caused 210,000 people to die, and then he minimized their deaths,” said Jeffrey Sheridan, principal at GPS Impact and a political adviser to Mr. Wolf.
Matt Brouillette, a Republican from Lebanon County and founder of Commonwealth Partners, a membership organization for state and local businesses, said Mr. Wolf engaged in political payback against Mr. Diamond and his other Republican detractors in Lebanon after they challenged his leadership.
“Lebanon County got into Wolf’s crosshairs because of the very outspoken legislators, businesses and the district attorney saying we won’t prosecute [violators],” Mr. Brouillette said in an interview. “The elected officials said it’s ridiculous that you are keeping our county in lockdown when the cases and hospitalizations and ventilator uses were so low. Other counties that had worse numbers were being opened while Lebanon was being mistreated.”
Mr. Wolf released the federal aid in August with the stipulation that the county spend $2.8 million of it on an educational campaign emphasizing the importance of wearing face masks. The result: a campaign called “Mask Up Lebanon,” which appears to be off to a slow start. Its Facebook page had about 370 “likes” as of late Sunday.
“We worked it out. It was like $20 per resident of Lebanon County,” said Mr. Brouillette. “I think goes to Wolf’s vindictiveness, because Russ Diamond has been the chief mask opponent in the state. So the governor forces the county to spend a big chunk of money for education on masks, and I suspect it was to thumb his nose at Russ Diamond.”
Mr. Diamond agrees with Mr. Trump that “the cure is worse than the disease.”
“We’re not just talking about people losing their jobs, which is horrible,” Mr. Diamond said. “And then not being able to get unemployment, which is even adding insult to injury. But you look at some of the other societal impacts of this, which is heightened tensions between people, increased domestic violence, a huge decrease in child abuse reports from mandatory reporters because a lot of mandatory reporters aren’t on the job. The psychological impact of this is far worse than the virus itself.”
He predicted that Pennsylvanians will reject Mr. Biden and other Democrats on the ballot because of their governor.
“When people talk to me about the Biden commercials that are running, that all this is Trump’s jobless rate or, under Trump we have all these racial riots, people are saying, ‘Trump is tough,’” Mr. Diamond said. “They’re pointing at [Democrats] on all that stuff. They understand. They can discern the difference between what Wolf did and what Trump did.”
The state’s limits on scholastic sporting events have been frustrating for Mrs. Grady, whose elder son plays football in middle school. Until now, parents were not allowed to attend away games.
“Your kid gets hurt, and you’re 20 or 30 miles away?” she said.
The restrictions on businesses, difficulties with inconsistent school instruction and the state’s business waiver decisions that many call arbitrary persuaded Mrs. Grady to switch her party affiliation in May.
“I felt like I had this allegiance to my [Democratic] Party affiliation for the longest time because I do still have some liberal views,” she said. “But on this, I realized you can vote Republican and still have liberal ways. I am definitely voting for Trump, which is a huge thing for me. Even though I didn’t vote for him in 2016, I would never go as far as saying that I hated the man.
“Somebody said to me, ‘So now you’re a Trump supporter.’ And I said, ‘No, I’m a Trump tolerator.’ I will tolerate him because he is clearly for the American people.”
Partly because of the coronavirus crisis and partly in response to urban rioting, Mrs. Grady and her husband bought their first firearm this year. When their local hardware and gun store received a shipment of scarce ammunition, she said, the line of customers was out the door.
As far as the governor’s restrictions, Mrs. Grady has come to accept the argument of her husband, Rick, that Mr. Wolf is “punch drunk with power right now.”
“My husband’s a registered Republican, staunch Republican, his whole family,” she said. “And I would argue, but we always were civil about it. And he always said to me, ‘Open your eyes.’ Well, I did. And it’s quite clear.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-11--Trump rallies resume after Sean Conley clears president

President Trump prepared to launch himself onto the campaign trail Monday in a mad dash to make up ground against Democratic challenger Joseph R. Biden , announcing that he is now immune from COVID-19 after the virus sidelined him for a week .
The president ’ s doctor cleared him to emerge from quarantine over the weekend after deeming him symptom-free and “ no longer considered a transmission risk to others.
” “ A total and complete sign off from White House Doctors yesterday .
That means I can ’ t get it ( immune ) , and can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know !
!
!
” Mr. Trump tweeted Sunday .
Twitter quickly flagged Mr. Trump ’ s immunity claim as “ spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19.
” The extent to which COVID-19 survivors develop immunity is unclear , though scientists agree that survivors develop limited protective immunity .
Medical studies have found that survivors are unlikely to be reinfected with COVID-19 because antibodies remain in the system for roughly three months .
The president has insisted that roughly 10 days after coming down with COVID-19 symptoms , he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he is no longer on medication .
“ Now you have a president who doesn ’ t have to hide in a basement , ” Mr. Trump said in a jab at Mr. Biden , who until recently was staging almost all of his events remotely from home .
For more than a week , however , Mr. Biden had the campaign trail to himself .
He took full advantage by barnstorming across the county in battlegrounds such as Michigan and Arizona .
The president returns to the stump with rallies Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday in Iowa .
He has been itching to get back in front of the massive crowds that are the hallmark of his campaign rallies and whip up excitement among the die-hard fans he is counting on for another surprise win on Nov. 3 .
The president ’ s allies cheered the move .
They said it ’ s important for the American people to hear from the candidates in the final weeks before the election .
Arkansas Gov .
Asa Hutchinson , a Republican , told CNN that the events can proceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer masks .
They do screenings , ” he said .
Mr. Trump made his first in-person appearance in front of supporters Saturday at a White House event .
He told a crowd of several hundred mostly minority supporters that Black and Hispanic voters are passing on the Democratic Party ’ s turn toward socialism in favor of his law-and-order message .
“ Black and Latino Americans are rejecting the radical socialist left , and they are embracing our pro-jobs , pro-worker , pro-police … and pro-American agenda , ” Mr. Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House balcony overlooking the gathering on the South Lawn .
Despite the president ’ s display of good health and clearance from his doctor , the second presidential debate has been canceled ostensibly because he contracted the coronavirus .
The debate had been scheduled for Thursday in Miami and would have been the second Trump-Biden debate .
The Commission on Presidential Debates changed the format to a virtual debate , and Mr. Trump refused to attend .
Mr. Biden now will attend a town hall Thursday hosted by ABC News .
The next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashville , Tennessee .
“ We had every intention of showing up on the 15th .
He — Donald Trump — refused to participate , ” Kate Bedingfield , the Biden deputy campaign manager , said on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union.
” “ We have every intention , we will be there on the 22nd as well .
“ We are not going to let him rewrite the rules , ” she added .
Dr. Sean P. Conley , the White House physician , told reporters Saturday that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debate had been canceled by that time .
“ He is no longer considered a transmission risk to others , ” Dr. Conley wrote in a memo released by the White House .
He said the president now meets “ CDC criteria for the safe discontinuation of isolation.
” He said Mr. Trump has been “ fever free for well over 24 hours.
” The doctor released the report hours after the campaign-style speech from the White House balcony .
The doctor ’ s memo stops short of saying that Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not say whether he tested negative in the past two days .
He said diagnostic tests show there is “ no longer evidence of actively replicating virus ” and that testing throughout his illness since Oct. 1 has shown “ decreasing viral loads .
”

President Trump prepared to launch himself onto the campaign trail Monday in a mad dash to make up ground against Democratic challenger Joseph R. Biden, announcing that he is now immune from COVID-19 after the virus sidelined him for a week.
The president’s doctor cleared him to emerge from quarantine over the weekend after deeming him symptom-free and “no longer considered a transmission risk to others.”
“A total and complete sign off from White House Doctors yesterday. That means I can’t get it (immune), and can’t give it. Very nice to know!!!” Mr. Trump tweeted Sunday.
Twitter quickly flagged Mr. Trump’s immunity claim as “spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19.”
The extent to which COVID-19 survivors develop immunity is unclear, though scientists agree that survivors develop limited protective immunity.
Medical studies have found that survivors are unlikely to be reinfected with COVID-19 because antibodies remain in the system for roughly three months.
The president has insisted that roughly 10 days after coming down with COVID-19 symptoms, he is immune. He also told Fox News that he is no longer on medication.
“Now you have a president who doesn’t have to hide in a basement,” Mr. Trump said in a jab at Mr. Biden, who until recently was staging almost all of his events remotely from home.
For more than a week, however, Mr. Biden had the campaign trail to himself. He took full advantage by barnstorming across the county in battlegrounds such as Michigan and Arizona.
The president returns to the stump with rallies Monday in Florida, Tuesday in Pennsylvania and Wednesday in Iowa. He has been itching to get back in front of the massive crowds that are the hallmark of his campaign rallies and whip up excitement among the die-hard fans he is counting on for another surprise win on Nov. 3.
The president’s allies cheered the move. They said it’s important for the American people to hear from the candidates in the final weeks before the election.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, told CNN that the events can proceed safely with social distancing.
“They offer masks. They do screenings,” he said.
Mr. Trump made his first in-person appearance in front of supporters Saturday at a White House event. He told a crowd of several hundred mostly minority supporters that Black and Hispanic voters are passing on the Democratic Party’s turn toward socialism in favor of his law-and-order message.
“Black and Latino Americans are rejecting the radical socialist left, and they are embracing our pro-jobs, pro-worker, pro-police … and pro-American agenda,” Mr. Trump said in an 18-minute address from a White House balcony overlooking the gathering on the South Lawn.
Despite the president’s display of good health and clearance from his doctor, the second presidential debate has been canceled ostensibly because he contracted the coronavirus.
The debate had been scheduled for Thursday in Miami and would have been the second Trump-Biden debate. The Commission on Presidential Debates changed the format to a virtual debate, and Mr. Trump refused to attend.
Mr. Biden now will attend a town hall Thursday hosted by ABC News. The next debate is scheduled for Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
“We had every intention of showing up on the 15th. He — Donald Trump — refused to participate,” Kate Bedingfield, the Biden deputy campaign manager, said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We have every intention, we will be there on the 22nd as well.
“We are not going to let him rewrite the rules,” she added.
Dr. Sean P. Conley, the White House physician, told reporters Saturday that the president is no longer contagious, though the debate had been canceled by that time.
“He is no longer considered a transmission risk to others,” Dr. Conley wrote in a memo released by the White House. He said the president now meets “CDC criteria for the safe discontinuation of isolation.”
He said Mr. Trump has been “fever free for well over 24 hours.” The doctor released the report hours after the campaign-style speech from the White House balcony.
The doctor’s memo stops short of saying that Mr. Trump is completely free of the virus and does not say whether he tested negative in the past two days.
He said diagnostic tests show there is “no longer evidence of actively replicating virus” and that testing throughout his illness since Oct. 1 has shown “decreasing viral loads.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--US Navy holding remembrance of 2000 USS Cole terror attack

NORFOLK , Va. ( AP ) - A ceremony at Virginia ’ s Naval Station Norfolk will honor the 17 @ @ @ @ @ terrorist attack on the USS Cole .
WAVY-TV reports that the remembrance was scheduled for @ @ @ @ @ Guest speakers were to include 17 Gold Star families of sailors who were killed as @ @ @ @ @ and helped to save the ship .
The event will include a wreath laying and @ @ @ @ @ Gunn said the pain of losing 22-year-old Cherone Gunn to the attack in October 2000 @ @ @ @ @ “ You ’ re not supposed to outlive your children , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ don ’ t want people to forget the sacrifice that we ’ ve made by @ @ @ @ @ child serving our country.
” The country of Sudan recently agreed to pay a $ @ @ @ @ @ 17 families of the victims .
It was in an effort to get removed from @ @ @ @ @ of state sponsors of terrorism .

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A ceremony has been held to honor the 17 sailors who died in the terrorist bombing attack on the USS Cole 20 years ago.
The Virginian-Pilot reports the ship’s bell tolled Monday morning for each sailor who died.
A sailor from the destroyer solemnly read aloud each victim’s name and hometown. The crew was lined up in dress blues on every deck and snapped a salute. A rifle squad fired a three-volley salute.
The remembrance was held at Naval Station Norfolk near Virginia’s coast. Old shipmates and families who lost loved ones gathered together. And they saw how the legacy of the Oct. 12, 2000, tragedy remains alive.
The ship’s current captain, Cmdr. Edward Pledger, told the families and old crew members that the 17 golden stars on the bulkhead by the ship’s mess line are kept polished and shining. He said they continue to inspire his own shipmates today.
The Cole was attacked by suicide bombers in an explosives-laden boat while refueling at the Yemeni port of Aden.
Retired Adm. Rob Natter recalled how isolated the Cole’s sailors were right after the attack and how they were unsure if another attack was coming.
But he said the Cole’s sailors answered the call of duty that day. And “after two backbreaking, sweltering weeks, they got Cole underway, sending a clear unmistakable message … she left with her battle ensign flying high and our national anthem blaring … everyone in and around Aden Harbor knew that Cole was coming back.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Patrol: 9-year-old boy killed in western Missouri crash

LONE JACK , Mo .
( AP ) - A 9-year-old boy has been killed and three others - including @ @ @ @ @ been injured in a crash near the western Missouri town of Lone Jack , authorities @ @ @ @ @ around 12 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 and a county road @ @ @ @ @ State Highway Patrol .
Investigators said a northbound car , driven by a 31-year-old Leavenworth @ @ @ @ @ and pulled in front of an eastbound car driven by a 28-year-old Wichita man , @ @ @ @ @ A 9-year-old boy in the northbound car was thrown from the vehicle and died at @ @ @ @ @ , the patrol said.. His name has not been released .
The Leavenworth man driving @ @ @ @ @ the car where taken to a hospital with injuries .
Another 9-year-old boy in the @ @ @ @ @ and also was taken to a hospital , officials said .
Lone Jack is about @ @ @ @ @ City .

LONE JACK, Mo. (AP) - A 9-year-old boy has been killed and three others - including two other children - have been injured in a crash near the western Missouri town of Lone Jack, authorities said.
The crash happened around 12 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 and a county road, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Investigators said a northbound car, driven by a 31-year-old Leavenworth man, failed to yield and pulled in front of an eastbound car driven by a 28-year-old Wichita man, leading to the crash.
A 9-year-old boy in the northbound car was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene of the crash, the patrol said.. His name has not been released. The Leavenworth man driving and a 12-year-old boy in the car where taken to a hospital with injuries. Another 9-year-old boy in the eastbound car suffered minor injuries and also was taken to a hospital, officials said.
Lone Jack is about 25 miles southeast of Kansas City.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--NYC virus lockdown protest leader arrested on riot charge

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A leader of protests against new coronavirus restrictions in Brooklyn has been arrested on charges of inciting people to riot and unlawful imprisonment of a journalist who was chased and trapped by a crowd , police said .
Heshy Tischler , a City Council candidate and activist in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Borough Park , was taken into custody Sunday evening in connection with his actions during an Oct. 7 street protest .
Video shows a crowd of men , egged on by Tischler , surrounding , jostling and taunting Jewish Insider journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on resistance to social distancing in the neighborhood .
Tischler , who was not wearing a mask , can be seen screaming in Kornbluh ’ s face .
Kornbluh , who is also an Orthodox Jew , said he was struck and kicked during the incident .
Tischler called his arrest a “ political stunt ” on Twitter .
He has said he believed his interactions with Kornbluh were protected by the First Amendment .
In another act of intimidation , several dozen men gathered outside the reporter ’ s apartment late Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Large protests erupted in Borough Park last week after Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced new restrictions on schools , businesses and houses of worship in areas where coronavirus infection rates have increased .
The majority of the areas facing lockdowns are home to large Orthodox Jewish populations , and religious leaders have complained of being singled out .
The spike in cases coincided with the back-to-back Jewish holidays in late September .
Cuomo said Sunday that the so-called cluster areas contain 2.8 % of the state ’ s population , yet have had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported this past week .
The Democratic governor urged people living in those areas to abide by the restrictions even though the new rules ban large gatherings in synagogues .
Tischler has led some of the opposition , cutting the chains off playgrounds in the spring after they were ordered closed by the state and recently disrupting a news conference by the head of the city ’ s hospital system .

NEW YORK (AP) - A leader of protests against new coronavirus restrictions in Brooklyn was ordered Monday to stay away from a journalist who was chased and trapped by a crowd.
Judge Edwin Novillo told Heshy Tischler, who is charged with inciting people to riot and unlawful imprisonment of a journalist, that he would be subject to getting arrested again if he had any contact - or had someone else get into contact on his behalf, including through social media - with Jewish Insider journalist Jacob Kornbluh
Tischler, a City Council candidate and activist in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Borough Park, had been arrested in connection with his actions during an Oct. 7 street protest.
Video shows a crowd of men, egged on by Tischler, surrounding, jostling and taunting Kornbluh, who has been reporting on resistance to social distancing in the neighborhood. Tischler, who was not wearing a mask, can be seen screaming in Kornbluh’s face. Kornbluh, who is also an Orthodox Jew, said he was struck and kicked during the incident.
Tischler called his arrest a “political stunt” on Twitter. He has said he believed his interactions with Kornbluh were protected by the First Amendment.
In another act of intimidation, several dozen men gathered outside Kornbluh’s apartment late Sunday to protest Tischler’s arrest.
On Monday, during the video hearing, Tischler’s attorney Abraham Hoschander protested against the judge implementing the order of protection against his client, saying he “poses no danger whatsoever.”
Tischler was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return to court on April 27.
Large protests erupted in Borough Park last week after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new restrictions on schools, businesses and houses of worship in areas where coronavirus infection rates have increased.
The majority of the areas facing lockdowns are home to large Orthodox Jewish populations, and religious leaders have complained of being singled out. The spike in cases coincided with the back-to-back Jewish holidays in late September.
Cuomo said Sunday that the so-called cluster areas contain 2.8% of the state’s population, yet have had 17.6% of all positive confirmed cases reported this past week.
The Democratic governor urged people living in those areas to abide by the restrictions even though the new rules ban large gatherings in synagogues.
Tischler has led some of the opposition, cutting the chains off playgrounds in the spring after they were ordered closed by the state and recently disrupting a news conference by the head of the city’s hospital system.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Man charged with murder in college student's shooting death

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) - The man charged in the shooting death of an Ohio State University student @ @ @ @ @ to make his initial court appearance on Tuesday .
Kintie Mitchell Jr. , 18 , @ @ @ @ @ with murder in the death of Chase Meola , 23 , who was found dead @ @ @ @ @ , authorities said .
The shooting occurred after some people were asked to leave a @ @ @ @ @ ’ s campus and an altercation occurred outside the residence , authorities said .
No @ @ @ @ @ the shooting .
Meola was a fifth-year marketing major from Mahwah , New Jersey .
@ @ @ @ @ if he was involved in the altercation that led to the shooting .
It wasn @ @ @ @ @ Mitchell has retained an attorney .

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The man charged in the shooting death of an Ohio State University student from New Jersey is due to make his initial court appearance on Tuesday.
Kintie Mitchell Jr., 18, of Columbus, is charged with murder in the death of Chase Meola, 23, who was found dead early Sunday in an alley, authorities said. The shooting occurred after some people were asked to leave a house party near the school’s campus and an altercation occurred outside the residence, authorities said.
No other injuries were reported in the shooting.
Meola was a fifth-year marketing major from Mahwah, New Jersey. It wasn’t clear if he was involved in the altercation that led to the shooting.
It wasn’t known Monday if Mitchell has retained an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Norway's aging king discharged after heart surgery

COPENHAGEN , Denmark ( AP ) - King Harald V of Norway was discharged from the main hospital in Oslo @ @ @ @ @ operation to replace a heart valve .
“ The king is in good shape , @ @ @ @ @ doctor , Bjoern Bendz , said after the surgery at the Rikshospitalet ’ s Cardiovascular @ @ @ @ @ palace earlier had said that the intervention was necessary to improve the 83-year-old king ’ @ @ @ @ @ , the king was hospitalized with breathing difficulties .
Doctors ruled out COVID-19 .
Harald @ @ @ @ @ this month , the palace said .
His son and heir to the throne , @ @ @ @ @ stepped in and taken over his father ’ s duties .
In 2005 , the @ @ @ @ @ was replaced by an artificial heart valve .
Such valves have a lifespan of between @ @ @ @ @ the royal household had said .

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - King Harald V of Norway was discharged from the main hospital in Oslo on Monday after a successful operation to replace a heart valve.
“The king is in good shape,” the monarch’s doctor, Bjoern Bendz, said after the surgery at the Rikshospitalet’s Cardiovascular and Lung Clinic.
The palace earlier had said that the intervention was necessary to improve the 83-year-old king’s breathing. Last month, the king was hospitalized with breathing difficulties. Doctors ruled out COVID-19.
Harald will be on sick leave this month, the palace said. His son and heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, has stepped in and taken over his father’s duties.
In 2005, the king’s aortic valve was replaced by an artificial heart valve. Such valves have a lifespan of between 10 and 15 years, the royal household had said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Twilio buys Segment for $3.2B as demand for cloud tech booms

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - Twilio is buying customer data start-up Segment in a stock deal valued at about @ @ @ @ @ for cloud technology surges during the pandemic .
Both companies are based in San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ of the cloud computing company .
“ By joining forces and applying our customer data @ @ @ @ @ engagement cloud , we ’ ll be able to make the entire customer experience seamless @ @ @ @ @ co-founder and CEO Peter Reinhardt said in a prepared statement Monday .
The boards of @ @ @ @ @ deal , which is expected to close in the fourth quarter .
Twilio Inc. has @ @ @ @ @ demand for cloud technology growing as millions work from home with COVID-19 infections unchecked in @ @ @

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Twilio is buying customer data start-up Segment in a stock deal valued at about $3.2 billion as demand for cloud technology surges during the pandemic.
Both companies are based in San Francisco and Segment will become part of the cloud computing company.
“By joining forces and applying our customer data platform to Twilio’s engagement cloud, we’ll be able to make the entire customer experience seamless from end-to-end,” Segment co-founder and CEO Peter Reinhardt said in a prepared statement Monday.
The boards of both companies have approved the deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter.
Twilio Inc. has grown explosively this year with demand for cloud technology growing as millions work from home with COVID-19 infections unchecked in the U.S.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Police: Driver in wrong-way crash arrested

MANCHESTER , N.H. ( AP ) - A driver who was traveling south on northbound Interstate 293 in Manchester was @ @ @ @ @ charge following an accident , New Hampshire State Police said .
Police said the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ at about 2 a.m. Monday , left the interstate and then landed on its roof @ @ @ @ @ No one was hurt and there were no other vehicles involved .
Police arrested the @ @ @ @ @ 25 , of Nashua , and took her to the state police barracks .
She @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
It wasn ’ t immediately known if she had a lawyer .

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - A driver who was traveling south on northbound Interstate 293 in Manchester was arrested on a drunken driving charge following an accident, New Hampshire State Police said.
Police said the vehicle was traveling the wrong way at about 2 a.m. Monday, left the interstate and then landed on its roof in the rollover accident. No one was hurt and there were no other vehicles involved.
Police arrested the driver, Breanna Trudeau, 25, of Nashua, and took her to the state police barracks. She was expected to be arraigned Monday. It wasn’t immediately known if she had a lawyer.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Belarus ramps up crackdown on protests, detains over 700

KYIV , Ukraine ( AP ) - Over 700 people were detained in Belarus during mass protests against reelection of the country ’ s authoritarian leader , in the harshest crackdown in weeks on proteters .
The Belarusian Interior Ministry reported Monday that a total of 713 people were detained during rallies across the country a day before , and 570 of them remained in custody waiting to face a court .
The protests demanding the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko spanned several cities on Sunday , with the largest crowds gathering in the capital , Minsk .
The Viasna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people took part in the Minsk rally .
Police quickly moved to disperse the protest with water cannons , stun grenades and truncheons , preventing groups of people in different parts of the city from merging into one large gathering .
Dozens of people sustained injuries in what human rights advocates said was the harshest dispersal of a Sunday demonstration since August .
Mass protests have rocked Belarus since Aug. 9 , when the results of the presidential election handed Lukashenko a victory with 80 % of the vote and his main challenger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her supporters refused to recognize the results of the vote , saying it was manipulated .
The largest rallies have been held on Sundays and have drawn up to 200,000 people .
In the first days of the protests , Belarusian authorities cracked down brutally on protesters , with police detaining thousands and injuring scores with truncheons , rubber bullets and stun grenades .
The violent response to the rallies prompted international outrage .
The European Union and the United States slapped dozens of Belarusian officials with sanctions for their role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests , but didn ’ t target Lukashenko , who has run the country for 26 years with an iron fist .
The government has since scaled back on the violence but has maintained the pressure , detaining hundreds of protesters and prosecuting top activists .
Prominent members of the opposition ’ s Coordination Council , formed to push for a transition of power , have been arrested or forced to leave the country .
Over 40 journalists were detained over the weekend , 25 of them in Minsk , the Belarusian Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face 15 days of administrative arrest for disobeying police officers .
Many had their equipment seized .
“ The authorities are trying to prevent coverage of the protests by beating up and detaining journalists , withdrawing their accreditation and creating catastrophic working conditions , ” Andrei Bastunets , head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists , told The Associated Press .
Earlier this month Belarusian authorities rescinded the accreditation of all journalists working for foreign news outlets and said they must apply for new credentials , which some foreign outlets received last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspended the media credentials of the most popular Belarusian news site that has been extensively covering the protests .
Tsikhanouskaya , who is currently in exile in Lithuania after leaving Belarus under pressure from the authorities , urged the EU to expand sanctions against Lukashenko and his allies , in comments to the AP Monday “ Yesterday we have seen the escalation of violence on the part of the authorities .
Once again , hundreds of people are detained , beaten up , injured and crippled .
Despite the peaceful nature of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tsikhanouskaya said .
Lukashenko and his associates need to be added to the sanctions list along with law enforcement officers who take part in crackdown on protesters , she added .
“ I call on our European partners to act quickly and decisively , ” Tsikhanouskaya said .

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Authorities in Belarus said Monday they detained 713 people during mass protests a day earlier against the reelection of the country’s authoritarian leader in a disputed election - the harshest crackdown in weeks on demonstrators.
The Interior Ministry reported that out of those detained Sunday, 570 of them were still in custody awaiting a court hearing. In a separate statement, the ministry threatened to use firearms against the protesters “if need be,” saying that the rallies “have become organized and extremely radical.”
Despite the detentions, protests in Belarus continued Monday, with the elderly taking to the streets in several Belarusian cities, demanding Lukashenko’s resignation. More than 2,000 people marched through Minsk, chanting “Go away!” and carrying signs saying “Grandmothers (stand) with the people” and “Our souls are scarred with terror.” Several people were detained.
The protests demanding the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko spanned several cities on Sunday, with the largest crowds gathering in the capital, Minsk. The Viasna human rights center estimated that around 100,000 people took part in the Minsk rally. Police quickly moved to disperse the protest with water cannons, stun grenades and truncheons, preventing groups of people in different parts of the city from merging into one large gathering.
Dozens of people sustained injuries in what human rights advocates said was the harshest dispersal of a Sunday demonstration since August.
Mass protests have rocked Belarus since Aug. 9, when the results of the presidential election handed Lukashenko a victory with 80% of the vote and his main challenger Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya only 10%. Tsikhanouskaya and her supporters refused to recognize the results of the vote, saying it was riddled with fraud, and some poll workers have backed up that claim.
Both the European Union and the United States have said that presidential election was neither free nor fair.
In the first days of the protests, Belarusian authorities cracked down brutally on protesters, with police detaining thousands and beating scores.
The violent response to the rallies prompted international outrage. The EU and the United States slapped dozens of Belarusian officials with sanctions for their roles in the alleged vote-rigging and the crackdown on protesters, but didn’t target Lukashenko, who has run the country for 26 years with an iron fist.
The government has since scaled back on the violence but has maintained the pressure, detaining hundreds of protesters and prosecuting top activists. Prominent members of the opposition’s Coordination Council, which was formed to push for a transition of power, have been arrested or forced to leave the country.
Over 40 journalists were detained over the weekend, 25 of them in Minsk, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said. Fifteen Belarusian journalists face 15 days of administrative arrest for disobeying police officers. Many had their equipment seized.
“The authorities are trying to prevent coverage of the protests by beating up and detaining journalists, withdrawing their accreditation and creating catastrophic working conditions,” Andrei Bastunets, head of the journalists’ association, told The Associated Press.
Earlier this month Belarusian authorities rescinded the accreditation of all journalists working for foreign news outlets and said they must apply for new credentials, which some foreign outlets received last week. In September, the authorities also suspended the media credentials of the most popular independent Belarusian news site that has been extensively covering the protests.
Tsikhanouskaya, who is currently in exile in Lithuania after leaving Belarus under pressure from authorities, urged the EU to expand sanctions against Lukashenko and his allies.
“Yesterday we have seen the escalation of violence on the part of the authorities. Once again, hundreds of people are detained, beaten up, injured and crippled. Despite the peaceful nature of the protests, repressions are intensifying,” Tsikhanouskaya told the AP on Monday.
Lukashenko and his associates need to be added to the sanctions list along with law enforcement officers who take part in crackdowns on protesters, she added.
“I call on our European partners to act quickly and decisively,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
EU officials on Monday said they saw no improvement in Belarus and were ready to impose further sanctions on top Belarus officials, including Lukashenko.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said a meeting of foreign ministers of the bloc that there has been “a complete lack of will from Lukashenko’s side to engage in negotiations, contacts on anything that could bring a democratic, a peaceful solution to the situation in Belarus.”
The ministers warned that “the EU stands ready to take further restrictive measures, including against entities and high-ranking officials, including A. Lukashenko.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, meanwhile, was “concerned by some of the violence that we’ve seen” and “has said on a number of occasions it’s very important that there be an inclusive democratic dialogue involving all stakeholders in Belarus to try to get out of this crisis,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
“It’s imperative that people have the right to demonstrate freely, that security services need to show restraint to ensure people can exercise the right to demonstrate freely,” he said.
Dujarric said that since the beginning of the protests. the U.N. team on the ground in Belarus “has been urging the authorities to release everyone who has been detained for exercising their human rights and to stop torture and other forms of ill-treatment of detainees.”
___
Follow all AP stories about developments in Belarus at https://apnews.com/Belarus


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Election 2020 Today: Trump resets, Biden harnesses history

HOW TO VOTE : AP ’ s state-by-state interactive has details on how to vote in this election .
TRUMP RESETTING CAMPAIGN : President Donald Trump is running out of time to recover from a series of setbacks that has rattled his base of support and triggered alarm among Republicans , who fear the White House is on the verge of being lost to Democrat Joe Biden .
The one-two punch of Trump ’ s coronavirus diagnosis and his widely panned debate performance also has Republicans worried they could lose control of the Senate .
BIDEN HARNESSES HISTORY : Presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most important one that voters have faced in their lifetime .
Biden goes bigger .
The Democratic nominee portrays 2020 as an entanglement of social , economic , political , environmental and public health crises as threatening to America ’ s stability as the Civil War and the Great Depression .
JAMAICANS CELEBRATE HARRIS : After following her career for years , Kamala Harris ’ extended family in Jamaica is elated at her rise to a historic nomination .
In South Florida , members of the 300,000-strong Jamaican-American community celebrated just as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s running mate .
$ 57 MILLION RAISED IN S.C. SENATE RACE : South Carolina Democrat Jaime Harrison has shattered congressional fundraising records , bringing in $ 57 million in the final quarter for his U.S. Senate campaign against Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham .
Harrison ’ s campaign says the total was the largest during a three-month period by any Senate candidate .
VISION 2020 : Trump has been urging his supporters to go the polls and “ watch very carefully , ” raising concerns about possible voter intimidation .
Monitoring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most states , but rules vary , and it ’ s not a free-for-all .
States have established rules , in part , to avoid any hint that observers will harass or intimidate voters .
There is a long history of white people intimidating and preventing Black people from voting in the South .
And the Republican Party had been prohibited from employing poll monitors until recently because of its own history of using them as a strategy for intimidation .
McConnell tries to salvage Senate majority with court vote

Here’s what’s happening Monday in Election 2020, 22 days until Election Day:
HOW TO VOTE: AP’s state-by-state interactive has details on how to vote in this election.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES:
TRUMP RESETTING CAMPAIGN: President Donald Trump is running out of time to recover from a series of setbacks that has rattled his base of support and triggered alarm among Republicans, who fear the White House is on the verge of being lost to Democrat Joe Biden. The one-two punch of Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis and his widely panned debate performance also has Republicans worried they could lose control of the Senate.
BIDEN HARNESSES HISTORY: Presidential hopefuls tend to declare every upcoming election the most important one that voters have faced in their lifetime. Biden goes bigger. The Democratic nominee portrays 2020 as an entanglement of social, economic, political, environmental and public health crises as threatening to America’s stability as the Civil War and the Great Depression.
JAMAICANS CELEBRATE HARRIS: After following her career for years, Kamala Harris’ extended family in Jamaica is elated at her rise to a historic nomination. In South Florida, members of the 300,000-strong Jamaican-American community celebrated just as hard when Harris was chosen as Biden’s running mate.
$57 MILLION RAISED IN S.C. SENATE RACE: South Carolina Democrat Jaime Harrison has shattered congressional fundraising records, bringing in $57 million in the final quarter for his U.S. Senate campaign against Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham. Harrison’s campaign says the total was the largest during a three-month period by any Senate candidate.
VISION 2020: Trump has been urging his supporters to go the polls and “watch very carefully,” raising concerns about possible voter intimidation. Monitoring the votes at polling places is allowed in most states, but rules vary, and it’s not a free-for-all. States have established rules, in part, to avoid any hint that observers will harass or intimidate voters. There is a long history of white people intimidating and preventing Black people from voting in the South. And the Republican Party had been prohibited from employing poll monitors until recently because of its own history of using them as a strategy for intimidation.
ICYMI:
A senior warning sign for Trump: ‘Go Biden’ cry at Villages
McConnell tries to salvage Senate majority with court vote
Specter of election chaos raises questions on military role


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Vermont plans first jury trials since COVID suspensions

MONTPELIER , Vt. ( AP ) - Champlain Orchards in Addison County has reopened after an outbreak of the coronavirus infected more than two dozen of its seasonal apple pickers .
The orchards were back to regular hours for pick-your-own apples this past weekend .
A total of 28 of the orchards ’ migrant apple pickers have tested positive for COVID-19 , the illness caused by the virus .
Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine has said the virus is contained to the site and emphasized there was no known risk to the public .
He also said there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other products that were grown or produced from the orchards .
Champlain Orchards said Saturday that staff had undergone a third round of testing with no new positive cases .
In other developments related to the coronavirus : Criminal jury trials are set to restart in Vermont after being suspended in March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
The first trials will be in Windham County in December , according to a statement from the Vermont Judiciary .
Jury drawings are scheduled Dec. 7 in Windham County , the Rutland Herald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be required of everyone in courthouses and courtrooms will be sanitized daily and hand sanitizer will be available for jurors and others .
Plans were announced in July to resume criminal trials in Vermont , but were tentative because many courthouses had to make facility changes to hold trials safely .
One concern was that each courthouse had to have an air-handling system that was sufficient , especially with winter coming , said Karen Carroll , associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court and co-chairwoman of a committee formed to restart jury trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done of some of the buildings , and Windham ended up being one that could be safely designated to hold a trial not only as far as the air-handling system goes but layout and size of the courthouse itself , ” Carroll said .

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Champlain Orchards in Addison County has reopened after an outbreak of the coronavirus infected more than two dozen of its seasonal apple pickers.
The orchards were back to regular hours for pick-your-own apples this past weekend.
A total of 28 of the orchards’ migrant apple pickers have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine has said the virus is contained to the site and emphasized there was no known risk to the public. He also said there is no risk from eating apples or any other products that were grown or produced from the orchards.
Champlain Orchards said Saturday that staff had undergone a third round of testing with no new positive cases.
_____
In other developments related to the coronavirus:
JURY TRIALS
Criminal jury trials are set to restart in Vermont after being suspended in March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The first trials will be in Windham County in December, according to a statement from the Vermont Judiciary. Jury drawings are scheduled Dec. 7 in Windham County, the Rutland Herald reported.
Social distancing and masking will be required of everyone in courthouses and courtrooms will be sanitized daily and hand sanitizer will be available for jurors and others.
Plans were announced in July to resume criminal trials in Vermont, but were tentative because many courthouses had to make facility changes to hold trials safely.
One concern was that each courthouse had to have an air-handling system that was sufficient, especially with winter coming, said Karen Carroll, associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court and co-chairwoman of a committee formed to restart jury trials safely.
“We started having evaluations done of some of the buildings, and Windham ended up being one that could be safely designated to hold a trial not only as far as the air-handling system goes but layout and size of the courthouse itself,” Carroll said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--5th night of Wisconsin police shooting protest more peaceful

WAUWATOSA , Wis. ( AP ) - Demonstrators protested for a fifth night in a Milwaukee suburb following a prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ charge a police officer who fatally shot a Black teenager .
About two dozen demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ Wauwatosa on Sunday night past the 7 p.m. curfew .
Police warned the protesters several @ @ @ @ @ assembled .
Most left the area , but the few who remained were arrested , @ @ @ @ @ , Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm cleared Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah , who @ @ @ @ @ the Feb. 2 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole outside Mayfair Mall .
The gathering @ @ @ @ @ than protests last week in Wauwatosa , where demonstrators clashed with police who used tear @ @ @ @ @ disperse larger crowds .
City Hall was expected to open Monday after it was closed @ @ @ @ @ of unrest .

MILWAUKEE (AP) - The police chief of a Milwaukee suburb that has seen protests and unrest since an officer was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a Black teenager in February said Monday that he sees no reason why the officer should be fired.
Joseph Mensah, who is also Black, fatally shot 17-year-old Alvin Cole on Feb. 2 outside the Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa. Cole was the third person Mensah shot and killed since joining the police force five years ago.
Milwaukee County’s district attorney announced last week that like the first two fatal shootings, Mensah would not be charged in Cole’s death. In his report, he noted that officers said Cole pointed a gun at them and refused to drop it, and that Mensah could successfully argue he fired in self-defense.
Although Mensah won’t face charges, the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission is considering firing him. The commission asked an independent investigator, former U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic, to look into a complaint filed by the family of one of the men Mensah killed.
In a report provided to The Associated Press by Cole’s family’s attorney, Biskupic recommended that Mensah be fired because he felt the risk was too great that Mensah would fatally shoot someone else, which would create “an extraordinary, unwarranted and unnecessary risk” to the city and police department.
After five nights of protests and sporadic unrest, police Chief Barry Weber said during an online news conference Monday that he disagrees with Biskupic’s recommendations because Mensah was found to have acted legally when he used deadly force in all three shooting deaths.
“I’ve never heard of any police officer ever being disciplined for something they may or may not do in the future,” Weber said, noting that the decision is ultimately up to the commission to decide.
“Joseph Mensah’s been cleared by the district attorney in three different cases. There’s been no reason to this point, and none that I can see, (for why) he should be removed from the force,” the chief said.
Kimberley Motley, the Cole family’s attorney, rejected Weber’s position, again calling Mensah “unfit” and renewing her call that he and the chief be fired.
“I think that position of the chief is another reason why he needs to be terminated as well,” Motley said, adding: “Joseph Mensah is not credible and neither is Chief Weber.”
Mayor Dennis McBride, who also spoke at the news conference, openly questioned in the past whether Mensah should remain on the force. But on Monday, he declined to say where he now stands, explaining that he didn’t want to put additional pressure on the police and fire commissioners.
“I’m not a police officer, I’m not a psychologist. I’m a mayor, I’m a lawyer. Those things don’t qualify me to judge (the) fitness of police officers,” McBride said.
Mensah’s attorney, Jonathan Cermele, did not immediately return a call for comment.
The decision to not charge Mensah in Cole’s death sparked five nights of protests in Wauwatosa, including a gathering Sunday that was much more peaceful than protests last week in which demonstrators clashed with police, who used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse them.
Cole was the third person Mensah has killed on the job since he joined the force in 2015. He shot Antonio Gonzales in 2015 after police said Gonzales refused to drop a sword. A year later, Mensah shot Jay Anderson Jr. in a car parked in a park after hours. Mensah said he saw a gun on the passenger seat and thought Anderson was reaching for it. He was cleared of wrongdoing in each case.
The protests in Wauwatosa are just the latest in a series of demonstrations against police racism and brutality that have erupted across the country since George Floyd’s death. Floyd, who was Black, died in May after a white police officer in Minneapolis pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes despite Floyd’s pleas for air.
___
Associated Press writer Doug Glass contributed from Minneapolis.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Chinese foreign minister begins SE Asian tour in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH , Cambodia ( AP ) - China and Cambodia signed a free trade agreement on Monday as China ’ s foreign minister visited Phnom Penh as part of a four-nation Southeast Asian tour .
China ’ s foreign ministry announced that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will make official visits this week to Cambodia , Malaysia , Laos and Thailand , along with a transit visit to Singapore .
Cambodia is Beijing ’ s most loyal ally in the region , and its economic growth has depended on aid and investment from China .
The two nations also have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by their ruling parties over concerns about human rights .
Wang ’ s tour comes as China and the United States are contending for influence in Southeast Asia .
Historically , the U.S. has been the more popular partner , but Beijing has made great inroads as China ’ s growing wealth and confidence allow it to woo allies with no human rights strings attached .
In Cambodia ’ s case , this has won Beijing a supportive Cambodian voice in international and regional forums .
There is also strong suspicion , mainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China the right to use a strategic naval base in its territory on the Gulf of Thailand .
Cambodian and Chinese officials deny there is any such deal .
The signing of the Cambodia-China free trade agreement was witnessed by Wang and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen , who held a meeting earlier .
Details of the agreement were not released , but Commerce Ministry spokesperson Seang Thay said China would give tariff-free status covering about 98 % of its imports from Cambodia , while up to 90 % of China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tariffs .
The Cambodian exports that are covered are mostly agricultural .
China is Cambodia ’ s main market for rice , mangoes and bananas .
The pact ’ s significance is as much symbolic as practical , since it is being framed as a sort of replacement for preferential tariff terms the European Union withdrew from Cambodia because of what it called “ serious and systematic concerns related to human rights.
” The E.U .
withdrew duty-free privileges amounting to about one-fifth of the 1 billion euros ( $ 1.2 billion ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe each year .
Hun Sen has acknowledged that Cambodia ’ s economy would be affected by the move , but said the country could manage and he would not bend to Western pressure .
China also agreed to provide $ 140 million in new aid for Cambodia for urgent development , including infrastructure .

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - China and Cambodia signed a free trade agreement on Monday as China’s foreign minister visited Phnom Penh as part of a four-nation Southeast Asian tour.
China’s foreign ministry announced that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will make official visits this week to Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Thailand, along with a transit visit to Singapore.
Cambodia is Beijing’s most loyal ally in the region, and its economic growth has depended on aid and investment from China. The two nations also have an ideological affinity, stressing tight control by their ruling parties over concerns about human rights.
Wang’s tour comes as China and the United States are contending for influence in Southeast Asia. Historically, the U.S. has been the more popular partner, but Beijing has made great inroads as China’s growing wealth and confidence allow it to woo allies with no human rights strings attached.
In Cambodia’s case, this has won Beijing a supportive Cambodian voice in international and regional forums. There is also strong suspicion, mainly from Washington, that Cambodia has granted China the right to use a strategic naval base in its territory on the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodian and Chinese officials deny there is any such deal.
The signing of the Cambodia-China free trade agreement was witnessed by Wang and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who held a meeting earlier.
Details of the agreement were not released, but Commerce Ministry spokesperson Seang Thay said China would give tariff-free status covering about 98% of its imports from Cambodia, while up to 90% of China’s exports to Cambodia would be exempt from tariffs. The Cambodian exports that are covered are mostly agricultural. China is Cambodia’s main market for rice, mangoes and bananas.
The pact’s significance is as much symbolic as practical, since it is being framed as a sort of replacement for preferential tariff terms the European Union withdrew from Cambodia because of what it called “serious and systematic concerns related to human rights.”
The E.U. withdrew duty-free privileges amounting to about one-fifth of the 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) worth of Cambodian exports that go to Europe each year.
Hun Sen has acknowledged that Cambodia’s economy would be affected by the move, but said the country could manage and he would not bend to Western pressure.
China also agreed to provide $140 million in new aid for Cambodia for urgent development, including infrastructure.