washingtontimes--2020-11-29--The Latest: French places of worship reopen with limits

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis is encouraging people to try to take away something good “ even from the difficult situation that the pandemic forces on us.
” Addressing faithful gathered a safe distance apart in vast St. Peter ’ s Square on Sunday , Francis offered these suggestions : “ greater sobriety , discrete and respectful attention to neighbors who might be in need , some moments of prayer in the family with simplicity.
” Francis said that “ these three things will help us a lot.
” During the COVID-19 pandemic , the pontiff has often highlighted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : - With no action by Washington , states race to offer virus aid - North Korea toughens rules of entry to sea to fight virus -When Turkey changed the way it reports COVID-19 infections , it confirmed what many long suspected : The country faces an alarming surge of cases .
-The European plazas where people gather at Christmas are new just empty squares due to the pandemic..
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : PARIS - French churches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors again to worshippers , but only a few of them , as France cautiously starts reopening after a second virus lockdown .
Some churches may defy the 30-person limit which they believe is too unreasonable , and other sites may stay closed until they can fully reopen .
Farid Kachour , secretary general of the association running the mosque of Montermeil , a heavily immigrant suburb northeast of Paris , says that his mosque simply wouldn ’ t open as long as there is a 30-person limit .
“ We can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for prayer .
“ We don ’ t want to create discontent among the faithful , ” he said .
Kachour noted that Muslims pray five times a day and that the mosque would need 40 services a day to allow all the faithful to pray .
BAGHDAD - Iraq has reopened its schools amid a raging pandemic that has claimed more than 12,000 lives across the country , with kids returning to socially-distanced classrooms and other safety measures Sunday .
Students will be attending school only one day per week according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the spread of the new coronavirus , according to the Education Ministry .
Iraq , like much of the rest of the world , has resorted to distance learning after schools closed in February due to the virus outbreak .
But online education is out of reach for many in a country with poor infrastructure that has suffered decades of war .
Iraq has the second-highest outbreak and number of deaths in the Middle East region after Iran , with more than 500,000 confirmed cases , according to Health Ministry figures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day - a slower rate than in previous weeks - but health workers say the number may be higher as many Iraqis with symptoms choose to stay home and avoid hospitals to get tested .
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has recorded 43 more deaths and 2,829 new COVID-19 cases .
With the new figures , Pakistan ’ s tally of COVID-19 deaths is now 7,985 .
HONG KONG - Hong Kong has reported 115 new coronavirus infections , the first time it has seen cases in the triple digits since Aug. 2 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at kindergarten , primary and secondary schools will be shut for the rest of the year in light of the worsening coronavirus situation in the city .
Of the 115 infections reported Sunday , 24 were untraceable .
Another 62 were linked to recent outbreaks in dance studios across the city , taking the total number of infections in that cluster to 479 , health officials said .
Employees and recent guests at three restaurants in the city have also been ordered to undergo compulsory testing after multiple positive cases had been linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported 6,239 coronavirus infections since the pandemic began , with 109 deaths .
PRAGUE - The Czech government has announced it is easing measures imposed to contain coronavirus infections .
Sunday ’ s move was made possible by the falling numbers of new confirmed cases .
Health Minister Jan Blatny says all stores , restaurants and bars can reopen on Thursday while a ban on Sunday ’ s sales is lifted .
Restaurants can be opened 6 a.m.-10 p.m. with their capacity limited to 50 % .
Stores and shopping canters still have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An overnight curfew and a ban on drinking alcohol in public are also lifted .
Services such as hair salons , fitness centers and gyms are allowed to reopen together with zoo parks , museums and galleries .
The day-to-day increase of new cases reached 2,667 on Saturday .
The country of almost 10.7 million has had 518,649 confirmed cases since the pandemic began , with 8,054 fatalities .
SEOUL , South Korea - South Korea is shutting down indoor gyms offering intense workout classes and banning year-end parties at hotels in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday authorities will also ban the operation of private music institutes teaching singing and wind instruments and saunas at public bath houses in the capital area .
He said fitness centers , cafes and libraries operating inside apartment complexes will also be closed .
The new steps will be effective from Tuesday .
The country reported 450 new cases on Sunday .
South Korea on Thursday registered more than 500 new virus cases for the first time in eight months .
PHOENIX - University of Arizona researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak will present the state with a hospital crisis that could become a disaster unless the state takes steps such as ordering a three-week stay-home shutdown and implementing a statewide mask mandate .
Members of the university ’ s COVID Modeling Team said failing to take such steps would be like facing a major forest fire without evacuation orders .
It also recommends providing economic aid to affected small businesses and families and preventing evictions and foreclosures .
The team has tracked the outbreak since last spring and made its recommendations in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Services .
Many local governments have imposed mask mandates since Gov .
Doug Ducey last summer lifted a prohibition on such orders .
The local mandates cover an estimated 90 % of the state ’ s population but enforcement is lax or nonexistent in some places .
Arizona on Saturday reported 4,136 additional known COVID-19 cases and 36 more deaths .
SALEM , Oregon - The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,669 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Saturday , the state ’ s largest daily case count since the start of the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon has now surpassed 72,000 and the death toll stands at 896 .
The number of COVID-19 related hospitalizations also continues to surge with 529 people hospitalized - a 209 % increase since the start of the month .
In an effort to slow down the spread of the virus , Gov .
Kate Brown implemented a statewide two-week “ freeze.
” Until Dec. 3 , restaurants are limited to take-out only , social gatherings can not be more than six people and gyms , among other facilities , are closed .
CARSON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported nearly 3,000 additional known COVID-19 cases as related hospitalizations continued in large numbers .
The state ’ s coronavirus dashboard reported 2,912 additional cases and 24 more deaths , elevating the statewide totals to more than 146,000 cases and nearly 2,100 deaths .
As of Friday , 1,338 people confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 were hospitalized in Nevada .
The state set a record Wednesday with 1,414 COVID-19 patients .
Concerned by the virus ’ continued spread , Gov .
Steve Sisolak on Nov. 22 announced the state ’ s most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capacity at casinos , restaurants , bars and many other businesses from 50 % to 25 % .
OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma health officials reported a one-day record of more than 6,000 newly confirmed coronavirus cases Saturday as experts warned the Thanksgiving holiday may make testing numbers erratic .
The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 6,257 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 more deaths linked to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
The record daily case count comes as the pandemic has grown worse across the state .
Infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause spikes in testing and delays in processing that may make the resulting figures difficult to interpret .
PHOENIX - Arizona reported 4,136 additional known COVID-19 cases and 36 more deaths on Saturday .
That increases the state ’ s totals to 322,774 cases and 6,624 deaths .
The Department of Health Services ’ coronavirus dashboard also reports that hospitalizations related to COVID-19 reached 2,383 as of Friday , including 553 patients in beds in intensive care units .
Seven-day rolling averages of daily new cases , daily deaths and COVID-19 testing positivity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks .
That ’ s according to data from The COVID Tracking Project and Johns Hopkins University .

LOS ANGELES — More than 7,400 people are hospitalized for coronavirus in California, the state’s highest number yet.
The state reported 7,415 coronavirus hospitalizations on Sunday, citing the most recently available data from the previous day. More than 1,700 of those patients were in intensive care units. California’s previous record was 7,170 in July.
As of Sunday, California has had nearly 1.2 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 19,000 deaths since the pandemic began. The state reported around 15,600 new cases on Saturday.
Counties statewide are preparing for stricter COVID-19 restrictions that will take effect Monday amid surging cases and Thanksgiving travel. Health officials are preparing for a wave of cases in the next two or three weeks that could be tied to holiday gatherings.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
-Fauci: US may see ‘surge upon surge’ of virus in coming weeks
-U.K. stocks up on vaccines, hopes to start virus shots within days
-NYC to reopen schools, even as virus spread intensifies
- Federal judges uphold Kentucky governor’s virus school order
-When Turkey changed the way it reports COVID-19 infections, it confirmed what many long suspected: The country faces an alarming surge of cases
-The European plazas where people gather at Christmas are new just empty squares due to the pandemic.
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Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
LOS ANGELES — Counties across California will begin stricter COVID-19 restrictions on Monday as cases surge statewide and Thanksgiving travelers return home.
Health officials are preparing for a wave of cases in the next two or three weeks that could be tied to holiday gatherings.
Los Angeles County will impose a lockdown calling for its 10 million residents to stay home beginning Monday.
Santa Clara County is banning all high school, collegiate and professional sports and imposing a quarantine for those traveling into the region from more than 150 miles away.
San Francisco and San Mateo counties moved to the most restrictive purple tier in the state’s pandemic blueprint for the economy.
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CHICAGO - Public health officials in Illinois on Sunday reported 57 more deaths from COVID-19, as well as 7,178 new confirmed and probable cases.
There have been 720,114 COVID-19 cases in Illinois since the pandemic began. The death toll has reached 12,193 people.
The state reported 62,740 tests in the past 24 hours with more than 10.4 million tests overall.
Currently, 5,858 people in Illinois are being hospitalized for COVID-19, with 1,185 people in intensive care units.
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NEW YORK — New York City will reopen its school system to in-person learning and increase the number of days a week many children attend class even as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies in the city.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday that some elementary schools and pre-kindergarten programs will resume classes Dec. 7. Others will take longer to reopen their doors. The announcement marks a major policy reversal for the nation’s largest school system.
It comes just 11 days after de Blasio announced that schools were shutting down because of a rising number of cases. The plan for reopening middle and high schools is still being developed.
Some elementary schools and pre-kindergarten programs will resume classes Dec. 7, a week from Monday, the mayor said. Others will take longer to reopen their doors.
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INDIANAPOLIS: Public health officials in Indiana say 24 more people have died from the new coronavirus for a total of 5,418 deaths in the state.
The Indiana Department of Health reported 4,335 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. The overall number of cases in the state is 333,312.
Public health officials say there are another 267 people who likely died from COVID-19 based on clinical diagnoses but for whom there’s no positive test on record.
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BEIRUT - The recorded coronavirus death toll in Lebanon has topped 1,000, just as the small Mediterranean country of about 6 million plans to ease a two-week nationwide lockdown.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported 13 new deaths on Sunday, raising the toll to 1,004. An additional 1,266 new infections have brought registered infections to 126,903 since February.
Health Minister Hassan Hamad said the government plans to ease a two-week lockdown that ends Monday. Hamad said the lockdown has given the battered health sector some breathing room, allowing the government to expand ICU capacity in the country.
The lockdown included a curfew from sunset to sunrise.
Lebanon is facing a crippling financial and economic crisis which had preceded the coronavirus restrictions and was only deepened by a massive explosion in Beirut’s port. The damage from the blast has further strained limited resources, particularly in the health sector.
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ISTANBUL- Turkey’s COVID-19 fatalities continued to rise Sunday, hitting another record with 185 new deaths.
The death toll has reached 13,558, according to health ministry statistics. The number of critically ill patients has climbed over 5,000.
The ministry said 29,281 people had tested positive in the past 24 hours. The Turkish government resumed reporting all positive cases this week after only reporting symptomatic patients for four months.
Nighttime curfews over the weekend are in effect for a second week across the country but media reports show packed public spaces during the day.
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ATHENS, Greece - Greek authorities announced 1,193 new coronavirus cases Sunday, a significantly lower daily figure than recently.
The total number of cases since the pandemic began is 104,227.
There were also 98 deaths over the past day, pushing the total number of fatalities to 2,321.
Despite the drop, the public health system remained close to capacity, as far as the number of specialized intensive care units go. There are 603 patients on ventilators, authorities said.
In the northern city of Thessaloniki, where most of the new cases have occurred recently, patients are now being transferred to private clinics requisitioned for the purpose. The first transfers took place Sunday.
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BERLIN - Austria’s defense minister has tested positive for the new coronavirus, becoming the second member of the country’s Cabinet to be infected.
The Austria Press Agency reported that her ministry said Sunday Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner is doing well and will work from home. She had already been in quarantine for 10 days because she had been in contact with another person who tested positive.
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg tested positive for the virus in mid-October and returned to his ministry later that month after showing no symptoms.
Austria on Nov. 17 deepened lockdown measures in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. They are due to run though Dec. 6.
Infection rates have declined in the Alpine country, but Chancellor Sebastian Kurz cautioned in an interview with Sunday’s edition of the Kleine Zeitung newspaper that Austrians will still have to live with “massive restrictions” after that.
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ROME - For a second straight day, the number of additional deaths of COVID-19 patients dropped considerably in Italy, according to Health Ministry statistics released Sunday.
Also lower were the number of beds occupied by hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
There were 541 deaths of persons with confirmed coronavirus infections since Saturday, compared to 686 on the previous day and 827 on the day before that.
Since the pandemic began, Italy has tallied 54,904 known deaths. Daily new caseload numbers also dropped considerably – 20,648 on Sunday, compared to 26,323 on Saturday — but as often happens on weekends, there were far fewer COVID-19 swab tests performed since the previous day. Italy’s total of confirmed cases in the pandemic rose to 1,585,178.
Doctors and other health experts are urging the Italian government to maintain most of the current anti-COVID-19 restrictions in the run-up before Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. They fear that crowds of travelers, shoppers and revelers would trigger another surge in contagion.
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HONOLULU — A group of Hawaii leaders launched a campaign Sunday to promote the islands as an appealing location for a remote office with a view.
Now that many companies, especially in the tech industry, allow employees to work from anywhere during the pandemic, they hope Hawaii will be alluring.
They’re also throwing in roundtrip tickets to Honolulu for the first 50 approved applicants.
Some say high-paid workers will bolster an economy decimated by dramatically fewer tourists.
Others worry what those with Silicon Valley money will mean for housing, especially when there’s already a crunch for affordable places to live.
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PRAGUE - The Czech government said Sunday it is easing measures imposed to contain the new coronavirus due to falling numbers of new confirmed cases.
Health Minister Jan Blatny said all stores, restaurants and bars can reopen on Thursday and a ban on Sunday sales is lifted.
Restaurants can be open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., though they are limited to 50% of their capacity. Stores and shopping centers also must limit the number of customers.
Hair salons, fitness centers and gyms are allowed to reopen, as are zoos, museums and galleries.
The Czech Republic was among the hardest hit by a new wave of infections in the fall, but the number of new cases has been on a decline since Nov 4.
The country of almost 10.7 million had 518,649 confirmed cases with 8,054 fatalities. The day-to-day increase of new cases reached 2,667 on Saturday.
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PARIS - France’s highest administrative court on Sunday ordered a rethink of a 30-person attendance limit for religious services put in place by the government to slow down the spread of coronavirus.
The measure took effect this weekend as France relaxes some virus restrictions, but it faced opposition by places of worship and the faithful who called it arbitrary and unreasonable. Even before the ruling, several bishops had announced they would not enforce the restrictions and some churches were expected defy it.
The Council of State has ordered that Prime Minister Jean Castex modify the measure within three days.
French churches, mosques and synagogues started opening their doors again to worshippers this weekend - but only a few of them, as France cautiously starts reopening after its latest virus lockdown.
Many people expressed irritation outside several Paris churches where priests held services for groups that numbered over 30.
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BAGHDAD - Iraq has reopened its schools amid a raging pandemic that has claimed more than 12,000 lives across the country, with kids returning to socially-distanced classrooms and other safety measures Sunday.
Students will be attending school only one day per week according to a rotation system meant to prevent crowding and the spread of the new coronavirus, according to the Education Ministry.
Iraq, like much of the rest of the world, has resorted to distance learning after schools closed in February due to the virus outbreak. But online education is out of reach for many in a country with poor infrastructure that has suffered decades of war.
Iraq has the second-highest outbreak and number of deaths in the Middle East region after Iran, with more than 500,000 confirmed cases, according to Health Ministry figures.
Daily infection rates average 2,400 cases per day - a slower rate than in previous weeks - but health workers say the number may be higher as many Iraqis with symptoms choose to stay home and avoid hospitals to get tested.
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ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has recorded 43 more deaths and 2,829 new COVID-19 cases.
With the new figures, Pakistan’s tally of COVID-19 deaths is now 7,985.
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HONG KONG - Hong Kong has reported 115 new coronavirus infections, the first time it has seen cases in the triple digits since Aug. 2.
The government on Sunday also announced that classes at kindergarten, primary and secondary schools will be shut for the rest of the year in light of the worsening coronavirus situation in the city.
Of the 115 infections reported Sunday, 24 were untraceable. Another 62 were linked to recent outbreaks in dance studios across the city, taking the total number of infections in that cluster to 479, health officials said.
Employees and recent guests at three restaurants in the city have also been ordered to undergo compulsory testing after multiple positive cases had been linked to the venues.
Hong Kong has reported 6,239 coronavirus infections since the pandemic began, with 109 deaths.
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SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea is shutting down indoor gyms offering intense workout classes and banning year-end parties at hotels in the greater Seoul area to fight the virus.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday authorities will also ban the operation of private music institutes teaching singing and wind instruments and saunas at public bath houses in the capital area. He said fitness centers, cafes and libraries operating inside apartment complexes will also be closed. The new steps will be effective from Tuesday.
The country reported 450 new cases on Sunday. South Korea on Thursday registered more than 500 new virus cases for the first time in eight months.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Dave Prowse, actor who played Darth Vader, dies at 85

LONDON ( AP ) - Dave Prowse , the British weightlifter-turned-actor who was the body , though not the voice , of arch-villain Darth Vader in the original “ Star Wars ” trilogy , has died .
He was 85 .
Prowse died Saturday after a short illness , his agent Thomas Bowington said Sunday .
Born in Bristol , southwest England , in 1935 , Prowse was a three-time British weightlifting champion and represented England in weightlifting at the 1962 Commonwealth Games before breaking into movies with roles that emphasized his commanding size , including Frankenstein ’ s monster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ films .
Director George Lucas saw Prowse in a small part in “ A Clockwork Orange ” and asked the 6-foot-6-inch ( almost 2-meter ) actor to audition for the villainous Vader or the Wookie Chewbacca in “ Star Wars.
” Prowse later told the BBC he chose Darth Vader because “ you always remember the bad guys.
” Physically , Prowse was perfect for the part .
His lilting English West Country accent was considered less ideal , and his lines were dubbed by James Earl Jones .
Prowse donned Darth Vader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Star Wars ” ( 1977 ) , “ The Empire Strikes Back ” ( 1980 ) and “ Return of the Jedi ” ( 1983 ) .
He expressed some regret that , thanks to Vader ’ s mask , “ I can walk around with complete anonymity.
” “ All actors crave recognition and I ’ d like to have some like Luke Skywalker and Han Solo , ” he told The Associated Press in 1980 .
“ Fortune tends to follow fame.
” Prowse also worked as a trainer for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the Man of Steel in hit 1978 film “ Superman.
” Prowse was also known to a generation of British children as the Green Cross Code Man , a superhero in a series of road safety advertisements during the 1970s and ‘ 80s .
He was a regular at “ Star Wars ” fan events , but was banned from official conventions by Lucas in 2010 after the pair fell out .
Mark Hamill , who played Luke Skywalker in the “ Star Wars ” films , tweeted that Prowse was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Darth Vader.
” Hamill said the actor “ loved his fans as much as they loved him .
# RIP ” “ Ant-Man ” director Edgar Wright also paid tribute to Prowse on Twitter .
“ As a kid Dave Prowse couldn ’ t be more famous to me ; stalking along corridors as evil incarnate in the part of Darth Vader & stopping a whole generation of kiddies from being mown down in street as the Green Cross Code man , ” he wrote .
“ Rest in Peace , Bristol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by his wife Norma and their three children .

LONDON (AP) — Dave Prowse, the British weightlifter-turned-actor who was the body, though not the voice, of arch-villain Darth Vader in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, has died. He was 85.
Prowse died Saturday after a short illness, his agent Thomas Bowington said Sunday.
Born in Bristol, southwest England, in 1935, Prowse was a three-time British weightlifting champion and represented England in weightlifting at the 1962 Commonwealth Games before breaking into movies with roles that emphasized his commanding size, including Frankenstein’s monster in a pair of Hammer Studios horror films.
Director George Lucas saw Prowse in a small part in “A Clockwork Orange” and asked the 6-foot-6-inch (almost 2-meter) actor to audition for the villainous Vader or the Wookie Chewbacca in “Star Wars.”
Prowse later told the BBC he chose Darth Vader because “you always remember the bad guys.”
Physically, Prowse was perfect for the part. Yet his lilting English West Country accent was considered less than ideal and his lines were dubbed by James Earl Jones.
PHOTOS: Celebrity deaths in 2020: The famous faces we've lost
Prowse donned Darth Vader’s black armor and helmet for “Star Wars” (1977), “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) and “Return of the Jedi” (1983).
He expressed some regret that, thanks to Vader’s mask, “I can walk around with complete anonymity.”
“All actors crave recognition and I’d like to have some like Luke Skywalker and Han Solo,” he told The Associated Press in 1980. “Fortune tends to follow fame.”
Lucas said Prowse “brought a physicality to Darth Vader that was essential for the character.”
“He made Vader leap off the page and on to the big screen, with an imposing stature and movement performance to match the intensity and undercurrent of Vader’s presence,” the director said in a statement on the official “Star Wars” website.
“David was up for anything and contributed to the success of what would become a memorable, tragic figure. May he rest in peace.”
Prowse also worked as a trainer for other actors, helping Christopher Reeve prepare to be the Man of Steel in hit 1978 film “Superman.”
Prowse was also known to a generation of British children as the Green Cross Code Man, a superhero in road safety advertisements during the 1970s and ‘80s.
Prowse suffered from arthritis for many years and campaigned to raise money for research into disease. In 1999 he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to charity and road safety.
He was a regular at “Star Wars” fan events but was banned from official conventions by Lucas in 2010 after the pair fell out.
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the “Star Wars” films, tweeted that Prowse was “a kind man & much more than Darth Vader.” Hamill said the actor “loved his fans as much as they loved him. #RIP.”
“Shaun of the Dead” director-writer Edgar Wright also paid tribute to Prowse on Twitter.
“As a kid, Dave Prowse couldn’t be more famous to me; stalking along corridors as evil incarnate in the part of Darth Vader & stopping a whole generation of kiddies from being mown down in street as the Green Cross Code man,” he wrote. “Rest in Peace, Bristol’s finest.”
Prowse is survived by his wife Norma and their three children.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Afghan officials say 34 killed in separate suicide bombings

GHAZNI , Afghanistan ( AP ) - At least 34 people were killed on Sunday in two separate suicide bombings in Afghanistan that targeted a military base and a provincial chief , officials said .
There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks , which took place as Afghan government representatives and the Taliban hold face-to-face talks in Qatar for the first time to end the country ’ s decades-long war .
In eastern Ghazni province , 31 soldiers were killed and 24 others wounded when the attacker drove a military humvee full of explosives onto an army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to an official in Afghanistan ’ s National Security Council , who spoke anonymously because he was not permitted to speak directly to the media .
Ghazni ’ s provincial health department chief , Zahir Shah Nikmal , also confirmed the death toll and casualty figures from the attack .
Afghanistan ‘ s Defense Ministry released a statement claiming 10 soldiers were killed and nine wounded .
The ministry also offered a different account of what happened than the official at the National Security Council , saying the vehicle exploded near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire on the car .
It was not immediately clear why there was a discrepancy .
Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said a suicide bombing took place , though he did not provide further details .
The soldiers stationed at the base were responsible for conducting night raids , providing support to the army and police forces under siege , and taking part in large-scale operations against the Taliban and Islamic State group in eastern and southern provinces of Afghanistan .
The base is located in a desert region , about three miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ghazni .
Parts of the base and a nearby police building were partially destroyed by the powerful explosion .
Windows were also blown out in buildings of the city near to where the bombing occurred .
In southern Afghanistan , another suicide car bomber targeted the convoy of a provincial council chief in Zabul province , killing at least three people and wounding 21 others , including children , according to provincial spokesman Gul Islam Sial .
The council chief , Attajan Haqbayat , survived Sunday ’ s attack with minor injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among those killed , said provincial police spokesman Hikmatullah Kochai .
There has been a sharp rise in violence this year and a surge of attacks by the Taliban against Afghanistan ’ s beleaguered security forces since the start of peace talks in September .
There have also been deadly attacks this month claimed by Islamic State militants in Afghanistan , including a horrific attack on Kabul University that killed 22 people , most of them students .
The U.S. , meanwhile , plans to withdraw an estimated 2,500 troops before the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Afghanistan as part of America ’ s longest war .
Afghan officials , however , have expressed concerns that a rapid reduction in American troops could strengthen the negotiating position of the Taliban .
The U.S. has been pressing in recent weeks for a reduction in violence , while the Afghan government has been demanding a cease-fire .
The Taliban have refused , saying a cease-fire will be part of negotiations , although the group have held to their promise not to attack U.S. and NATO troops .

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (AP) - At least 34 people were killed on Sunday in two separate suicide bombings in Afghanistan that targeted a military base and a provincial chief, officials said.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks, which took place as Afghan government representatives and the Taliban hold face-to-face talks in Qatar for the first time to end the country’s decades-long war.
In eastern Ghazni province, 31 soldiers were killed and 24 others wounded when the attacker drove a military humvee full of explosives onto an army commando base before detonating the car bomb, according to an official in Afghanistan’s National Security Council, who spoke anonymously because he was not permitted to speak directly to the media.
Ghazni’s provincial health department chief, Zahir Shah Nikmal, also confirmed the death toll and casualty figures from the attack.
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry released a statement claiming 10 soldiers were killed and nine wounded. The ministry also offered a different account of what happened than the official at the National Security Council, saying the vehicle exploded near the army base after security forces opened fire on the car. It was not immediately clear why there was a discrepancy.
Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said a suicide bombing took place, though he did not provide further details.
The soldiers stationed at the base were responsible for conducting night raids, providing support to the army and police forces under siege, and taking part in large-scale operations against the Taliban and Islamic State group in eastern and southern provinces of Afghanistan.
The base is located in a desert region, about three miles (five kilometers) outside the city of Ghazni. Parts of the base and a nearby police building were partially destroyed by the powerful explosion. Windows were also blown out in buildings of the city near to where the bombing occurred.
In southern Afghanistan, another suicide car bomber targeted the convoy of a provincial council chief in Zabul province, killing at least three people and wounding 21 others, including children, according to provincial spokesman Gul Islam Sial.
The council chief, Attajan Haqbayat, survived Sunday’s attack with minor injuries, although one of his bodyguards was among those killed, said provincial police spokesman Hikmatullah Kochai.
There has been a sharp rise in violence this year and a surge of attacks by the Taliban against Afghanistan’s beleaguered security forces since the start of peace talks in September. There have also been deadly attacks this month claimed by Islamic State militants in Afghanistan, including a horrific attack on Kabul University that killed 22 people, most of them students.
The U.S., meanwhile, plans to withdraw an estimated 2,500 troops before the middle of January, leaving about 2,000 soldiers in Afghanistan as part of America’s longest war. Afghan officials, however, have expressed concerns that a rapid reduction in American troops could strengthen the negotiating position of the Taliban.
The U.S. has been pressing in recent weeks for a reduction in violence, while the Afghan government has been demanding a cease-fire. The Taliban have refused, saying a cease-fire will be part of negotiations, although the group have held to their promise not to attack U.S. and NATO troops.
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Akhgar reported from Kabul, Afghanistan.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Afghan officials say 34 have been killed in separate suicide bombings in country's east and south

KABUL , Afghanistan ( AP ) - Afghan officials say 34 have been killed in separate suicide bombings in country @ @ @ @ @ .

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghan officials say 34 have been killed in separate suicide bombings in country’s east and south.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Kerouac House has a new owner who will preserve its history

ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. ( AP ) - For the first time ever , the house at 5169 10th Ave N. in St. Petersburg has a long-term owner who is not Jack Kerouac or a member of the beatnik author ’ s family .
But the new owner ’ s plan for the house where Kerouac lived from 1965 until he died in 1969 is still undecided - other than to preserve and make it accessible to the public .
William and Gina Burchenal purchased the 1,760-square-foot home on a whim .
The Pinellas County Clerk of Court ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Largo couple read in the Tampa Bay Times that the three-bedroom , three-bathroom home was for sale and that there was an open house on Oct. 17 .
“ We thought we ’ d go look at it , but just as an excuse to go to St. Pete so we could grab some good seafood , ” William Burchenal , 60 , said .
“ But we loved the house .
The next day , we made an offer and it was accepted .
We then looked at each other and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
’ We don ’ t yet have a vision .
We just want to save it for posterity and in perpetuity.
” The retired Burchenal , a former University of South Florida professor who later headed the University of Texas ’ Humanities Department , has followed the home ’ s story over the years .
A local nonprofit wanted to purchase it from the Kerouac Estate but could not come up with the funding .
“ They had good ideas on how to use the house so the community could celebrate Jack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We will explore those options.
” Those include turning it into a writer ’ s retreat or renting it for literary events .
It will not become a museum .
“ I don ’ t think that works for the neighborhood , ” Burchenal said .
Over the years , Kerouac fans have broken into the house to celebrate the author .
They ’ ve had parties and held séances .
“ We can ’ t have that going on anymore , ” Burchenal said .
So , a caretaker will soon move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand delivered letters to the house .
“ Maybe we will install a giant metal mailbox out on the front lawn so people can put their messages in , ” Burchenal said .
He and his wife are also interested in having the house designated a local or national historic landmark .
Such designation might require that the structure ’ s exterior looks how it did when Kerouac resided there .
John H. Shen-Sampas , who oversees parts of the Kerouac Estate that once included the St. Petersburg home , said that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On The Road author died .
Shen-Sampas also said he has yet to see what , if any , changes were made by the previous owner , who bought it to flip .
The previous owner , Flip Side , has said they restored the house without altering its look .
Still , Shen-Sampas said , “ Without the approval of the estate , no one could say this is the original house in which Jack lived.
” Kerouac moved to St. Petersburg in 1964 with his third wife , Stella , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place near the home and befriended the man who built most of the residences in the neighborhood .
The builder meant to live in house at 5169 10th Ave. N. but got divorced and sold it to Kerouac .
Kerouac was 47 when he died from liver cirrhosis on Oct. 21 , 1969 , at St. Anthony ’ s Hospital in St. Petersburg .
His mother died in 1973 and his wife in 1990 .
Kerouac ’ s brother-in-law John Sampas then became the home ’ s owner and used it sparingly for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made regular travel difficult .
He died in 2017 and passed the home on to his son , Shen-Sampas , who sold it to Flip Side for $ 220,000 in June .
Flip Side previously told the Times that they had to rid the home of a rodent infestation and fix collapsing ceilings .
“ It is in great condition now , ” Burchenal said .
“ It ’ s a good house , but we would not have bought it if it was not Jack Kerouac ’ s house .
So now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and find a way for the community to celebrate it .
”

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - For the first time ever, the house at 5169 10th Ave N. in St. Petersburg has a long-term owner who is not Jack Kerouac or a member of the beatnik author’s family.
But the new owner’s plan for the house where Kerouac lived from 1965 until he died in 1969 is still undecided - other than to preserve and make it accessible to the public.
William and Gina Burchenal purchased the 1,760-square-foot home on a whim. The Pinellas County Clerk of Court’s website reports they paid $360,000.
The Largo couple read in the Tampa Bay Times that the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home was for sale and that there was an open house on Oct. 17.
“We thought we’d go look at it, but just as an excuse to go to St. Pete so we could grab some good seafood,” William Burchenal, 60, said. “But we loved the house. The next day, we made an offer and it was accepted. We then looked at each other and thought, ‘Oh, now what?’ We don’t yet have a vision. We just want to save it for posterity and in perpetuity.”
The retired Burchenal, a former University of South Florida professor who later headed the University of Texas’ Humanities Department, has followed the home’s story over the years.
A local nonprofit wanted to purchase it from the Kerouac Estate but could not come up with the funding.
“They had good ideas on how to use the house so the community could celebrate Jack Kerouac,” Burchenal said. “We will explore those options.”
Those include turning it into a writer’s retreat or renting it for literary events. It will not become a museum.
“I don’t think that works for the neighborhood,” Burchenal said.
Over the years, Kerouac fans have broken into the house to celebrate the author. They’ve had parties and held séances.
“We can’t have that going on anymore,” Burchenal said. So, a caretaker will soon move in.
Fans have also mailed or hand delivered letters to the house.
“Maybe we will install a giant metal mailbox out on the front lawn so people can put their messages in,” Burchenal said.
He and his wife are also interested in having the house designated a local or national historic landmark.
Such designation might require that the structure’s exterior looks how it did when Kerouac resided there.
John H. Shen-Sampas, who oversees parts of the Kerouac Estate that once included the St. Petersburg home, said that it was remodeled by the widow after the On The Road author died.
Shen-Sampas also said he has yet to see what, if any, changes were made by the previous owner, who bought it to flip.
The previous owner, Flip Side, has said they restored the house without altering its look.
Still, Shen-Sampas said, “Without the approval of the estate, no one could say this is the original house in which Jack lived.”
Kerouac moved to St. Petersburg in 1964 with his third wife, Stella, and his mother.
They originally rented a place near the home and befriended the man who built most of the residences in the neighborhood. The builder meant to live in house at 5169 10th Ave. N. but got divorced and sold it to Kerouac.
Kerouac was 47 when he died from liver cirrhosis on Oct. 21, 1969, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. His mother died in 1973 and his wife in 1990.
Kerouac’s brother-in-law John Sampas then became the home’s owner and used it sparingly for vacation. He stopped visiting when age made regular travel difficult. He died in 2017 and passed the home on to his son, Shen-Sampas, who sold it to Flip Side for $220,000 in June.
Flip Side previously told the Times that they had to rid the home of a rodent infestation and fix collapsing ceilings.
“It is in great condition now,” Burchenal said. “It’s a good house, but we would not have bought it if it was not Jack Kerouac’s house. So now it is our motivation to preserve it and find a way for the community to celebrate it.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Farm Tour hits 39 years, features sheep, local agriculture

DELAND , Fla. ( AP ) - Ormond Beach resident Linda Sullo peeked through the fence at Bob , a Katahdin sheep .
Bob moved ever closer to his pasture fence to get a closer look at Sullo , her friend Anne Rogers , and about six other visitors who had trekked out to nearly the county line in Pierson to learn about shepherding , Volusia County-style .
Sullo said in the five years she ’ s been attending the annual Volusia County Farm Tour , this was the first time she got to see a sheep farm .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had sheep farms .
“ The first year we did this I was in shock , ” said Sullo of Friday ’ s annual tour , which is in its 39th year .
She said she had no idea there were so many farms throughout Volusia County .
And every year , she finds one farm on the tour she never knew was a possibility in the area .
“ There ’ s always one surprise , ” said Sullo .
The self-guided farm tour has been an annual tradition in the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension and the Volusia County Farm Bureau .
And while one may often think of the beach and coastline when thinking of Volusia County , there are more than 1,500 local farms dispersed throughout the area , contributing more than $ 780 million to the local economy , according to the agricultural extension .
Four and Change Farm , Sally Mangra ’ s Katahdin sheep farm off State Road 40 , was one of eight different farms or producers that opened their doors to the public Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other produce growers like Benedict Farms in New Smyrna Beach and Common Ground Farm in DeLand .
Out in Pierson , tourists got a chance to listen to Mangra explain what it takes to raise little lambs .
She ’ s been raising Katahdin sheep for almost 10 years .
As visitors trickled into the farm , Mangra explained sheep production in Florida and how she markets her products to consumer and youth livestock exhibitors .
Mangra , who is also president of the Florida Meat Sheep Alliance , got into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said she decided on sheep farming because they ’ re extremely docile animals , and the Katahdin sheep she raises are perfect for Florida , economical and less labor-intensive than traditional wool sheep .
“ These are hair sheep , ” Mangra said .
“ They don ’ t have wool , so you don ’ t have to shear them .
These are meat sheep.
” They ’ re also fairly prolific .
Mangra said she often welcomes twins into the world at her farm .
“ This year I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many of Mangra ’ s flock will likely end up on someone ’ s dinner plate .
But , like “ Bob , ” the sheep still have names .
“ Oh yes .
They all have names , ” said Mangra , pointing out Ester , who helped serve as Mangra ’ s example for visitors , and Thor , the farm ’ s ram .
Glenwood resident Stephen McGehee , a former farmer himself for a time , listened intently to Mangra as she rattled off each animal ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only disappointment about the annual farm tour is that there ’ s just not enough time to visit every farm and learn about all of them .
“ This is only my second year .
Both times I just stumbled across it , ” said McGehee .
“ But I love these things .
”

CASMIRA HARRISON, The Daytona Beach News-Journal

DELAND, Fla. (AP) - Ormond Beach resident Linda Sullo peeked through the fence at Bob, a Katahdin sheep.
Bob moved ever closer to his pasture fence to get a closer look at Sullo, her friend Anne Rogers, and about six other visitors who had trekked out to nearly the county line in Pierson to learn about shepherding, Volusia County-style.
Sullo said in the five years she’s been attending the annual Volusia County Farm Tour, this was the first time she got to see a sheep farm. She didn’t know Volusia County even had sheep farms.
“The first year we did this I was in shock,” said Sullo of Friday’s annual tour, which is in its 39th year. She said she had no idea there were so many farms throughout Volusia County. And every year, she finds one farm on the tour she never knew was a possibility in the area.
“There’s always one surprise,” said Sullo.
The self-guided farm tour has been an annual tradition in the county since 1981 and is jointly sponsored by the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension and the Volusia County Farm Bureau. And while one may often think of the beach and coastline when thinking of Volusia County, there are more than 1,500 local farms dispersed throughout the area, contributing more than $780 million to the local economy, according to the agricultural extension.
Four and Change Farm, Sally Mangra’s Katahdin sheep farm off State Road 40, was one of eight different farms or producers that opened their doors to the public Friday.
Others included Vo-LaSalle Farms in DeLeon Springs and other produce growers like Benedict Farms in New Smyrna Beach and Common Ground Farm in DeLand.
Out in Pierson, tourists got a chance to listen to Mangra explain what it takes to raise little lambs.
She’s been raising Katahdin sheep for almost 10 years. As visitors trickled into the farm, Mangra explained sheep production in Florida and how she markets her products to consumer and youth livestock exhibitors.
Mangra, who is also president of the Florida Meat Sheep Alliance, got into the business after she retired in 2013. She said she decided on sheep farming because they’re extremely docile animals, and the Katahdin sheep she raises are perfect for Florida, economical and less labor-intensive than traditional wool sheep.
“These are hair sheep,” Mangra said. “They don’t have wool, so you don’t have to shear them. These are meat sheep.”
They’re also fairly prolific. Mangra said she often welcomes twins into the world at her farm.
“This year I had triplets,” she said.
Ultimately, many of Mangra’s flock will likely end up on someone’s dinner plate. But, like “Bob,” the sheep still have names.
“Oh yes. They all have names,” said Mangra, pointing out Ester, who helped serve as Mangra’s example for visitors, and Thor, the farm’s ram.
Glenwood resident Stephen McGehee, a former farmer himself for a time, listened intently to Mangra as she rattled off each animal’s name.
Later, McGehee said his only disappointment about the annual farm tour is that there’s just not enough time to visit every farm and learn about all of them.
“This is only my second year. Both times I just stumbled across it,” said McGehee. “But I love these things.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--AP PHOTOS: Pandemic calls off Christmas markets in Europe

BERLIN ( AP ) - The European plazas where people would usually gather at crowded stalls to partake in hot mulled wine , gingerbread , sausages and other delicacies are just empty squares .
Christmas markets , a cherished tradition in Germany and neighboring countries , have joined the long list of annual traditions that were canceled or diminished this year because of the coronavirus pandemic .
November saw many European countries impose partial or tougher lockdowns as new virus cases soared .
The restrictions are either being retained or only partially loosened as Advent begins Sunday .
Nuremberg ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Germany ’ s best known holiday markets and traditionally a big tourist draw , was called off a month ago .
Markets across the country - including in Frankfurt , Dortmund and many in Berlin - have suffered the same fate , with authorities canceling the events or organizers concluding that it didn ’ t make sense to push ahead with their plans .
Over the border in France , the roughly 300 stalls of Strasbourg ’ s popular Christmas market won ’ t go up this year .
And it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital , Brussels .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

BERLIN (AP) - The European plazas where people would usually gather at crowded stalls to partake in hot mulled wine, gingerbread, sausages and other delicacies are just empty squares.
Christmas markets, a cherished tradition in Germany and neighboring countries, have joined the long list of annual traditions that were canceled or diminished this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. November saw many European countries impose partial or tougher lockdowns as new virus cases soared. The restrictions are either being retained or only partially loosened as Advent begins Sunday.
Nuremberg’s sprawling, bustling Christkindlesmarkt, one of Germany’s best known holiday markets and traditionally a big tourist draw, was called off a month ago. Markets across the country - including in Frankfurt, Dortmund and many in Berlin - have suffered the same fate, with authorities canceling the events or organizers concluding that it didn’t make sense to push ahead with their plans.
Over the border in France, the roughly 300 stalls of Strasbourg’s popular Christmas market won’t go up this year. And it’s the same story in the Belgian capital, Brussels.
___
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Iran newspaper: Strike Haifa if Israel killed scientist

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) - An opinion piece published Sunday by a hard-line Iranian newspaper urged Iran to attack the Israeli port city of Haifa if Israel carried out the killing of the scientist who founded the Islamic Republic ’ s military nuclear program in the early 2000s .
Though the hard-line Kayhan newspaper has long argued for aggressive retaliation for operations targeting Iran , Sunday ’ s opinion piece went further , suggesting any assault be carried out in a way that destroys facilities and “ also causes heavy human casualties.
” Israel , suspected of killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has not commented on the brazen slaying of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh .
A military-style ambush Friday on the outskirts of Tehran reportedly saw a truck bomb explode and gunmen open fire on the scientist , killing him and a bodyguard .
U.S. intelligence agencies and U.N. nuclear inspectors have said the organized military nuclear program that Fakhrizadeh oversaw disbanded in 2003 , but Israeli suspicion of Tehran ‘ s atomic program and his involvement has never ceased .
Kayhan published the piece written by Iranian analyst Sadollah Zarei , who argued Iran ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that killed Revolutionary Guard forces in Syria did not go far enough to deter Israel .
He said an assault on Haifa also needed to be greater than Iran ’ s ballistic missile attack against American troops in Iraq following the U.S. drone strike in Baghdad that killed a top Iranian general in January .
Striking the Israeli city of Haifa and killing a large number of people “ will definitely lead to deterrence , because the United States and the Israeli regime and its agents are by no means ready to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confrontation , ” Zarei wrote .
While Kayhan is a small circulation newspaper in Iran , its editor-in-chief Hossein Shariatmadari was appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has been described as an adviser to him in the past .
Haifa , on the Mediterranean Sea , has been threatened in the past by both Iran and one of its proxies , the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah .
Such a strike likely would draw an immediate Israeli retaliation and spark a wider conflict across the Mideast .
While Iran has never directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has conducted attacks targeting Israeli interests abroad in the past over the killing of its scientists , like in the case of the three Iranians recently freed in Thailand in exchange for a detained British-Australian academic .
Israel also is widely believed to have its own nuclear weapons , a stockpile it neither confirms nor denies possessing .
The Iranian parliament on Sunday held a closed-door hearing about Fakhrizadeh ‘ s killing .
Afterward , parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said Iran ‘ s enemies must be made to regret killing him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it except with a strong reaction , ” he said in a broadcast on Iranian state radio .
A public session of lawmakers saw them chant : “ Death to America !
” and “ Death to Israel !
” They also began the review of a bill that would stop inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency .
The nuclear watchdog has provided an unprecedented , real-time look at Iran ’ s civilian nuclear program following the country ’ s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers .
The deal has unraveled after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. from the accord .
Iran ’ s civilian atomic program has since continued its experiments and now enriches a growing uranium stockpile up to 4.5 % purity .
That ’ s still far below weapons-grade levels of 90 % , though experts warn Iran now has enough low-enriched uranium to reprocess into fuel for at least two atomic bombs if it chose to pursue them .
The proposed bill reportedly also would require Iran ’ s civilian atomic program to produce at least 120 kilograms ( 265 pounds ) of uranium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technical step to 90 % .
Iran ‘ s 290-seat parliament is dominated by hard-liners who likely would support the bill .
It ultimately would have to be approved by Iran ‘ s Guardian Council .
Khamenei also has final say on all matters of state .
Khamenei has called Fakhrizadeh “ the country ’ s prominent and distinguished nuclear and defensive scientist ” and has demanded the “ definitive punishment ” of those behind the killing , without elaborating .
Fakhrizadeh headed Iran ’ s so-called AMAD program that Israel and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at the feasibility of building a nuclear weapon .
The IAEA says the “ structured program ” ended in 2003 .
U.S. intelligence agencies concurred with that assessment in a 2007 report .
Israel contends Iran is still intent on developing a nuclear weapon .
It argues Iran ‘ s ballistic missile program and other research could help build a bomb if it pursued one - especially as provisions of the 2015 nuclear deal expire .
Iran long has maintained its nuclear program is peaceful and that it has no plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a one-time head of Israeli military intelligence who now serves as the director of Tel Aviv University ’ s Institute for National Security Studies , alleged Fakhrizadeh ran “ all covert activities with weaponization of the program.
” The damage of his death “ can not be measured since nobody knows exactly the scope and the depth what the Iranians are doing covertly , ” Yadlin said .
“ But no doubt that he was the core source of authority , knowledge and organization of this program.
” Fakhrizadeh ‘ s killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , who has said his administration will consider reentering Tehran ’ s nuclear deal with world powers .
It also raises the risk of an open conflict in President Donald Trump ’ s final weeks in office , as any retaliation could provoke an American military response , Yadlin said .
“ I highly recommend to the officials to keep their mouths closed and not leak anything .
They ’ ve already spoke too much , ” he said , referring to cryptic remarks by Israel ‘ s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discuss everything he did last week .
“ Any more evidence that will help the Iranians to decide on retaliation against Israel is a mistake , ” Yadlin said .
Gambrell reported from Dubai , United Arab Emirates .
Associated Press writers Joseph Krauss and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report .

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - An opinion piece published Sunday by a hard-line Iranian newspaper urged Iran to attack the Israeli port city of Haifa if Israel carried out the killing of the scientist who founded the Islamic Republic’s military nuclear program in the early 2000s.
Though the hard-line Kayhan newspaper has long argued for aggressive retaliation for operations targeting Iran, Sunday’s opinion piece went further, suggesting any assault be carried out in a way that destroys facilities and “also causes heavy human casualties.”
Israel, suspected of killing Iranian nuclear scientists over the past decade, has not commented on the brazen slaying of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. A military-style ambush Friday on the outskirts of Tehran reportedly saw a truck bomb explode and gunmen open fire on the scientist, killing him and a bodyguard.
U.S. intelligence agencies and U.N. nuclear inspectors have said the organized military nuclear program that Fakhrizadeh oversaw disbanded in 2003. Israel insists Iran still maintains the ambition of developing nuclear weapons.
Kayhan published the piece written by Iranian analyst Sadollah Zarei, who argued Iran’s previous responses to suspected Israeli airstrikes that killed Revolutionary Guard forces in Syria did not go far enough to deter Israel. He said an assault on Haifa also needed to be greater than Iran’s ballistic missile attack against American troops in Iraq following the U.S. drone strike in Baghdad that killed a top Iranian general in January.
Striking the Israeli city of Haifa and killing a large number of people “will definitely lead to deterrence, because the United States and the Israeli regime and its agents are by no means ready to take part in a war and a military confrontation,” Zarei wrote.
While Kayhan is a small circulation newspaper, its editor-in-chief Hossein Shariatmadari was appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has been described as an adviser to him in the past.
Haifa, on the Mediterranean Sea, has been threatened in the past by both Iran and one of its proxies, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city, is home to a major port and power plant.
Such a strike likely would draw an immediate Israeli retaliation and spark a wider conflict across the Mideast. While Iran has never directly targeted an Israeli city militarily, it has conducted attacks targeting Israeli interests abroad in the past over the killing of its scientists, like in the case of the three Iranians recently freed in Thailand in exchange for a detained British-Australian academic.
Israel also is widely believed to have its own nuclear weapons, a stockpile it neither confirms nor denies possessing.
Israeli officials remained silent about the scientist’s death on Sunday. But Lt. Gen Aviv Kohavi, commander of the Israeli military, traveled to northern Israel for what the army said was a routine visit with commanders along the front with Syria. Earlier this month, Israeli warplanes struck Iranian-linked targets in Syria after Israel uncovered roadside bombs that it said were planted with Iranian guidance.
“I came here to evaluate the current state of security, with an emphasis on the Iranian entrenchment in Syria,” Kohavi said. “Our message is clear: We will continue to act as vigorously as necessary against the Iranian entrenchment in Syria, and we will remain fully prepared against any manifestation of aggression against us.”
The Iranian parliament on Sunday held a closed-door hearing about Fakhrizadeh’s killing. Afterward, parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said Iran’s enemies must be made to regret killing him.
“The criminal enemy does not regret it except with a strong reaction,” he said in a broadcast on Iranian state radio.
A public session of lawmakers saw them chant: “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”
They also began the review of a bill that would stop inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The nuclear watchdog has provided an unprecedented, real-time look at Iran’s civilian nuclear program following the country’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
The deal has unraveled after President Donald Trump’s unilateral 2018 withdrawal of the U.S. from the accord. Iran’s civilian atomic program has since continued its experiments and now enriches a growing uranium stockpile up to 4.5% purity.
That’s still far below weapons-grade levels of 90%, though experts warn Iran now has enough low-enriched uranium to reprocess into fuel for at least two atomic bombs if it chose to pursue them. The proposed bill reportedly also would require Iran’s civilian atomic program to produce at least 120 kilograms (265 pounds) of uranium enriched to 20% - a short technical step to 90%.
Iran’s 290-seat parliament is dominated by hard-liners who likely would support the bill. It ultimately would have to be approved by Iran’s Guardian Council. Khamenei also has final say on all matters of state.
Khamenei has called Fakhrizadeh “the country’s prominent and distinguished nuclear and defensive scientist” and has demanded the “definitive punishment” of those behind the killing.
Fakhrizadeh headed Iran’s so-called AMAD program, which Israel and the West have alleged was a military operation looking at the feasibility of building a nuclear weapon. The IAEA says the “structured program” ended in 2003. U.S. intelligence agencies concurred with that assessment in a 2007 report.
Israel contends Iran is still intent on developing a nuclear weapon. It argues Iran’s ballistic missile program and other research could help build a bomb if it pursued one - especially as provisions of the 2015 nuclear deal expire. Iran long has maintained its nuclear program is peaceful.
Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence who is now director of the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think tank, alleged Fakhrizadeh ran “all covert activities with weaponization of the program.”
The damage of his death “cannot be measured since nobody knows exactly the scope and the depth what the Iranians are doing covertly,” Yadlin said. “But no doubt that he was the core source of authority, knowledge and organization of this program.”
Fakhrizadeh’s killing likely complicates the plans of President-elect Joe Biden, who has said his administration will consider reentering Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers. It also raises the risk of an open conflict in Trump’s final weeks in office, as any retaliation could provoke an American military response, Yadlin said.
“I highly recommend to the officials to keep their mouths closed and not leak anything. They’ve already spoken too much,” he said, referring to cryptic remarks by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his supporters that he could not discuss everything he did last week.
“Any more evidence that will help the Iranians to decide on retaliation against Israel is a mistake,” Yadlin said.
___
Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Joseph Krauss and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Turkey's new virus figures confirm experts' worst fears

ANKARA , Turkey ( AP ) - When Turkey changed the way it reports daily COVID-19 infections , it confirmed what medical groups and opposition parties have long suspected - that the country is faced with an alarming surge of cases that is fast exhausting the Turkish health system .
In an about-face , President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s government this week resumed reporting all positive coronavirus tests - not just the number of patients being treated for symptoms - pushing the number of daily cases to above 30,000 .
With the new data , the country jumped from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe to one of the worst-hit .
That came as no surprise to the Turkish Medical Association , which has been warning for months that the government ’ s previous figures were concealing the graveness of the spread and that the lack of transparency was contributing to the surge .
The group maintains , however , that the ministry ’ s figures are still low compared with its estimate of at least 50,000 new infections per day .
No country can report exact numbers on the spread of the disease since many asymptomatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way of counting made Turkey look relatively well-off in international comparisons , with daily new cases far below those reported in European countries including Italy , Britain and France .
That changed Wednesday as Turkey ’ s daily caseload almost quadrupled from about 7,400 to 28,300 .
The country ’ s hospitals are overstretched , medical staff are burned out and contract tracers , who were once credited for keeping the outbreak under check , are struggling to track transmissions , Sebnem Korur Fincanci , who heads the association , told The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfect storm , ” said Fincanci , whose group has come under attack from Erdogan and his nationalist allies for questioning the government ’ s figures and its response to the outbreak .
Even though the health minister has put the ICU bed occupancy rate at 70 % , Ebru Kiraner , who heads the Istanbul-based Intensive Care Nurses ’ Association , says intensive care unit beds in Istanbul ’ s hospitals are almost full , with doctors scrambling to find room for critically ill patients .
There is a shortage of nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she added .
“ ICU nurses have not been able to return to their normal lives since March , ” she told the AP .
“ Their children have not seen their mask-less faces in months.
” Erdogan said , however , there was “ no problem ” concerning the hospitals ’ capacities .
He blamed the surge on the public ’ s failure to wear masks , which is mandatory , and to abide by social distancing rules .
Demonstrating the seriousness of the outbreak , Turkey last month suspended leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resignations and early retirements during the pandemic .
Similar bans were also put in place for three months in March .
The official daily COVID-19 deaths have also steadily risen to record numbers , reaching 13,373 on Saturday with 182 new deaths , in a reversal of fortune for the country that had been praised for managing to keep fatalities low .
But those record numbers remain disputed too .
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said 186 people had died of infectious diseases in the city on Nov. 22 - a day on which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the whole of the country .
The mayor also said around 450 burials are taking place daily in the city of 15 million compared with the average 180-200 recorded in November the previous year .
“ We can only beat the outbreak through a process that is transparent , ” said Imamoglu , who is from Turkey ’ s main opposition party .
“ Russia and Germany have announced a high death toll .
Did Germany lose its shine ?
Did Russia collapse ?
” Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has rejected Imamoglu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I want to underline that all of the figures I am providing are accurate.
” Last week , Erdogan announced a series of restrictions in a bid to contain the contagion without impacting the already weakened economy or business activity .
Opposition parties denounced them as “ half-baked.
” He introduced curfews for the first time since June , but limited them to weekend evenings , closed down restaurants and cafes except for takeout services and restricted the opening hours of malls , shops and hairdressers .
Both Fincanci and Kiraner said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contain transmissions .
“ We need a total lockdown of at least two weeks , if not four weeks which science considers to be the most ideal amount , ” Fincanci said .
Koca has said that the number of seriously ill patients and fatalities is on the rise and said some cities including Istanbul and Izmir are experiencing their “ third peak.
” Turkey would wait , however , for two weeks to see the results of the weekend curfews and other restrictions before considering stricter lockdowns , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement to receive 50 million doses of the vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company SinoVac and hopes to begin administering it to medical staff and the chronically ill next month .
It is also in talks to purchase the vaccine developed by Pfizer in cooperation with the BioNTech pharmaceutical company .
A Turkish-developed vaccine is scheduled to be ready to use in April .
Erdogan said he had also spoken with Russia ’ s president , Vladimir Putin , over the possibility of procuring a vaccine developed by that country .
Zeynep Bilginsoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - When Turkey changed the way it reports daily COVID-19 infections, it confirmed what medical groups and opposition parties have long suspected - that the country is faced with an alarming surge of cases that is fast exhausting the Turkish health system.
In an about-face, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government this week resumed reporting all positive coronavirus tests - not just the number of patients being treated for symptoms - pushing the number of daily cases to above 30,000. With the new data, the country jumped from being one of the least-affected countries in Europe to one of the worst-hit.
That came as no surprise to the Turkish Medical Association, which has been warning for months that the government’s previous figures were concealing the graveness of the spread and that the lack of transparency was contributing to the surge. The group maintains, however, that the ministry’s figures are still low compared with its estimate of at least 50,000 new infections per day.
No country can report exact numbers on the spread of the disease since many asymptomatic cases go undetected, but the previous way of counting made Turkey look relatively well-off in international comparisons, with daily new cases far below those reported in European countries including Italy, Britain and France.
That changed Wednesday as Turkey’s daily caseload almost quadrupled from about 7,400 to 28,300.
The country’s hospitals are overstretched, medical staff are burned out and contract tracers, who were once credited for keeping the outbreak under check, are struggling to track transmissions, Sebnem Korur Fincanci, who heads the association, told The Associated Press.
“It’s the perfect storm,” said Fincanci, whose group has come under attack from Erdogan and his nationalist allies for questioning the government’s figures and its response to the outbreak.
Even though the health minister has put the ICU bed occupancy rate at 70%, Ebru Kiraner, who heads the Istanbul-based Intensive Care Nurses’ Association, says intensive care unit beds in Istanbul’s hospitals are almost full, with doctors scrambling to find room for critically ill patients.
There is a shortage of nurses and the existing nursing staff is exhausted, she added.
“ICU nurses have not been able to return to their normal lives since March,” she told the AP. “Their children have not seen their mask-less faces in months.”
Erdogan said, however, there was “no problem” concerning the hospitals’ capacities. He blamed the surge on the public’s failure to wear masks, which is mandatory, and to abide by social distancing rules.
Demonstrating the seriousness of the outbreak, Turkey last month suspended leave for health care workers and temporarily banned resignations and early retirements during the pandemic. Similar bans were also put in place for three months in March.
The official daily COVID-19 deaths have also steadily risen to record numbers, reaching 13,373 on Saturday with 182 new deaths, in a reversal of fortune for the country that had been praised for managing to keep fatalities low. But those record numbers remain disputed too.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said 186 people had died of infectious diseases in the city on Nov. 22 - a day on which the government announced just 139 COVID-19 deaths for the whole of the country. The mayor also said around 450 burials are taking place daily in the city of 15 million compared with the average 180-200 recorded in November the previous year.
“We can only beat the outbreak through a process that is transparent,” said Imamoglu, who is from Turkey’s main opposition party. “Russia and Germany have announced a high death toll. Did Germany lose its shine? Did Russia collapse?”
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has rejected Imamoglu’s claims, saying: “I want to underline that all of the figures I am providing are accurate.”
Last week, Erdogan announced a series of restrictions in a bid to contain the contagion without impacting the already weakened economy or business activity. Opposition parties denounced them as “half-baked.” He introduced curfews for the first time since June, but limited them to weekend evenings, closed down restaurants and cafes except for takeout services and restricted the opening hours of malls, shops and hairdressers.
Both Fincanci and Kiraner said the measures don’t go far enough to contain transmissions.
“We need a total lockdown of at least two weeks, if not four weeks which science considers to be the most ideal amount,” Fincanci said.
Koca has said that the number of seriously ill patients and fatalities is on the rise and said some cities including Istanbul and Izmir are experiencing their “third peak.” Turkey would wait, however, for two weeks to see the results of the weekend curfews and other restrictions before considering stricter lockdowns, he said.
Meanwhile, the country has reached an agreement to receive 50 million doses of the vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company SinoVac and hopes to begin administering it to medical staff and the chronically ill next month. It is also in talks to purchase the vaccine developed by Pfizer in cooperation with the BioNTech pharmaceutical company. A Turkish-developed vaccine is scheduled to be ready to use in April.
Erdogan said he had also spoken with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, over the possibility of procuring a vaccine developed by that country.
___
Zeynep Bilginsoy in Istanbul contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--US reports several explosions heard in Eritrea's capital

NAIROBI , Kenya ( AP ) - The U.S. Embassy in Eritrea says six explosions were heard Saturday night in the capital , Asmara .
It follows an embassy report of another “ loud noise , possibly an explosion ” in the city on Friday , nearly two weeks after the government of neighboring Ethiopia ’ s defiant Tigray region confirmed firing missiles at the city during its war with Ethiopian federal forces .
The latest explosions came just hours after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared victory in his government ’ s fighting against forces of the Tigray People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the northern Tigray region bordering Eritrea .
The army said it was in “ full control ” of the regional capital , Mekele , but the government said TPLF leaders remain on the run .
The TPLF leader earlier this month asserted that Eritrean forces were involved in the fighting in Tigray at the invitation of Ethiopia ’ s government , something Addis Ababa has repeatedly denied .
Fears have grown that 96,000 Eritrean refugees in camps just over the border in Ethiopia are at risk .
The U.S. has accused the TPLF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly conflict in which humanitarians say several hundred people have been killed , including civilians .
The U.S. Embassy statement overnight advises American citizens to exercise caution and be aware “ of the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region.
” It also advises citizens to “ monitor local news ” in a country regarded by watchdogs as being highly repressive and having no independent media .
The fighting has threatened to destabilize Ethiopia , which has been described as the linchpin of the strategic Horn of Africa , and its neighbors .
Food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have run desperately low .
Nearly 1 million people have been displaced , including more than 40,000 who fled into Sudan .
Camps home to 96,000 Eritrean refugees in northern Tigray have been in the line of fire .

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The U.S. Embassy in Eritrea says six explosions were heard Saturday night in the capital, Asmara. It follows an embassy report of another “loud noise, possibly an explosion” in the city on Friday, nearly two weeks after the government of neighboring Ethiopia’s defiant Tigray region confirmed firing missiles at the city during its war with Ethiopian federal forces.
The latest explosions came just hours after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared victory in his government’s fighting against forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which runs the northern Tigray region bordering Eritrea. The army said it was in “full control” of the regional capital, Mekele, but the government said TPLF leaders remain on the run.
The TPLF leader earlier this month asserted that Eritrean forces were involved in the fighting in Tigray at the invitation of Ethiopia’s government, something Addis Ababa has repeatedly denied. Fears have grown that 96,000 Eritrean refugees in camps just over the border in Ethiopia are at risk.
The U.S. has accused the TPLF of seeking to “internationalize” the deadly conflict in which humanitarians say several hundred people have been killed, including civilians.
The U.S. Embassy statement overnight advises American citizens to exercise caution and be aware “of the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region.” It also advises citizens to “monitor local news” in a country regarded by watchdogs as being highly repressive and having no independent media.
The fighting has threatened to destabilize Ethiopia, which has been described as the linchpin of the strategic Horn of Africa, and its neighbors. Food, fuel, cash and medical supplies have run desperately low. Nearly 1 million people have been displaced, including more than 40,000 who fled into Sudan. Camps home to 96,000 Eritrean refugees in northern Tigray have been in the line of fire.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Asia Today: Cambodia tracks contacts after family infected

PHNOM PENH , Cambodia ( AP ) - Cambodian officials say a family of six and another man tested positive for the coronavirus in a rare case of local infection , and Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed concern that the woman believed to be the source had traveled extensively in the country , including the capital .
The 56-year-old woman ’ s husband works at the Interior Ministry in charge of prisons .
Hun Sen , who himself just emerged from isolation after he was exposed to the infected Hungarian foreign minister , said his three Cabinet ministers will get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement that the woman tested positive three days after becoming feverish .
She had been traveling between Siam Reap and Phnom Penh .
Hun Sen also ordered the temporary shutdown of a mall in Phnom Penh , which the woman visited last week .
Cambodia has had 315 confirmed cases of the virus since the pandemic began , most of them acquired abroad .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : - Hong Kong has reported 115 new coronavirus infections , the first time it has seen cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The government on Sunday also announced that classes at kindergarten , primary and secondary schools will be shut for the rest of the year in light of the worsening coronavirus situation in the city .
Of the 115 infections reported Sunday , 24 were untraceable .
Another 62 were linked to recent outbreaks in dance studios across the city .
Employees and recent guests at three restaurants in the city have also been ordered to undergo compulsory testing after multiple positive cases had been linked to the venues .
Hong Kong has reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 109 deaths .
- South Korea is shutting down indoor gyms offering intense workout classes and banning year-end parties at hotels in the greater Seoul area to fight the virus .
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday authorities will also ban the operation of private music institutes teaching singing and wind instruments and saunas at public bath houses in the capital area .
He said fitness centers , cafes and libraries operating inside apartment complexes will also be closed .
The new steps will be effective from Tuesday .
The country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - India has reported 41,180 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours , with the daily toll staying below the 50,000-mark for the fourth week .
New Delhi also got some respite as it added fewer than 5,000 cases for the first time in a month .
The New Delhi government decided that half its employees , barring senior officials , will be allowed to work from home starting Monday .
India reported another 496 deaths in the past 24 hours , raising the death toll to 136,696 .
India ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 9.3 million , second behind the U.S. - A Chinese factory owned by South Korean semiconductor firm SK Hynix has halted operations after an employee was found to be infected with the coronavirus .
According to state-owned Xinhua News Agency , the South Korean national worked in a plant in the southwestern city of Chongqing .
He traveled to South Korea on Thursday .
He displayed no symptoms , but was found to be infected with the virus when he was tested at Incheon airport in Seoul .
The factory has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolated and tested , Xinhua reported .
The hotel where the employee lived in Chongqing has also been temporarily shut and hotel employees and recent guests were tracked down and tested .
Chongqing has so far tested 3,283 people , and 2,674 have been found to be negative .
China has so far reported a total of 86,512 confirmed coronavirus infections , with 4,634 deaths .
China does not include asymptomatic cases in its tally .

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Cambodian officials say a family of six and another man tested positive for the coronavirus in a rare case of local infection, and Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed concern that the woman believed to be the source had traveled extensively in the country, including the capital.
The 56-year-old woman’s husband works at the Interior Ministry in charge of prisons. Hun Sen, who himself just emerged from isolation after he was exposed to the infected Hungarian foreign minister, said his three Cabinet ministers will get tested and self-quarantine.
The Health Ministry said in a statement that the woman tested positive three days after becoming feverish. She had been traveling between Siam Reap and Phnom Penh.
Hun Sen also ordered the temporary shutdown of a mall in Phnom Penh, which the woman visited last week.
Cambodia has had 315 confirmed cases of the virus since the pandemic began, most of them acquired abroad.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
- Hong Kong has reported 115 new coronavirus infections, the first time it has seen cases in the triple digits since Aug. 2. The government on Sunday also announced that classes at kindergarten, primary and secondary schools will be shut for the rest of the year in light of the worsening coronavirus situation in the city. Of the 115 infections reported Sunday, 24 were untraceable. Another 62 were linked to recent outbreaks in dance studios across the city. Employees and recent guests at three restaurants in the city have also been ordered to undergo compulsory testing after multiple positive cases had been linked to the venues. Hong Kong has reported 6,239 coronavirus infections since the pandemic began, with 109 deaths.
- South Korea is shutting down indoor gyms offering intense workout classes and banning year-end parties at hotels in the greater Seoul area to fight the virus. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday authorities will also ban the operation of private music institutes teaching singing and wind instruments and saunas at public bath houses in the capital area. He said fitness centers, cafes and libraries operating inside apartment complexes will also be closed. The new steps will be effective from Tuesday. The country reported 450 new cases on Sunday.
- India has reported 41,180 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, with the daily toll staying below the 50,000-mark for the fourth week. New Delhi also got some respite as it added fewer than 5,000 cases for the first time in a month. The New Delhi government decided that half its employees, barring senior officials, will be allowed to work from home starting Monday. India reported another 496 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 136,696. India’s confirmed cases since the pandemic began are more than 9.3 million, second behind the U.S.
- A Chinese factory owned by South Korean semiconductor firm SK Hynix has halted operations after an employee was found to be infected with the coronavirus. According to state-owned Xinhua News Agency, the South Korean national worked in a plant in the southwestern city of Chongqing. He traveled to South Korea on Thursday. He displayed no symptoms, but was found to be infected with the virus when he was tested at Incheon airport in Seoul. The factory has been closed, and employees have been isolated and tested, Xinhua reported. The hotel where the employee lived in Chongqing has also been temporarily shut and hotel employees and recent guests were tracked down and tested. Chongqing has so far tested 3,283 people, and 2,674 have been found to be negative. China has so far reported a total of 86,512 confirmed coronavirus infections, with 4,634 deaths. China does not include asymptomatic cases in its tally.
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Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Constitutional change could spur neighborhood development

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) - A small tweak to Nebraska ’ s Constitution that voters overwhelmingly approved this month could have a big impact in bringing redevelopment to economically distressed Omaha neighborhoods .
The change , once legislation is approved by state legislators , will give real estate developers 20 years to pay back their tax-increment financing ( known as TIF ) loans , instead of the current 15 , in neighborhoods with high unemployment and high poverty .
The longer repayment period has the potential to make a big difference , said a veteran of residential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Omaha .
“ In some projects , it will be the difference between it happening or not , ” said Michael Maroney , president of the Omaha Economic Development Corp. “ It means you ’ ll probably have to borrow less money on a project , which means it has a better opportunity , a better chance to succeed.
” The constitutional change was on the Nov. 3 ballot as Amendment 2 .
It was approved by 65 % of Nebraska voters .
Its passage means the Legislature can now enhance TIF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that cities designate as “ extremely blighted.
” That is defined as having more than 20 % unemployment and a poverty rate over 20 % .
It ’ s expected to be used most in parts of North and South Omaha , but also could apply to such other cities as Lincoln , Grand Island , Scottsbluff , South Sioux City and Fremont , according to the Omaha World-Herald .
State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha , who pushed to place the amendment on the ballot , said he will introduce legislation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ award the enhanced TIF .
“ After that we ’ ll just be ready to go , get people out there and see what kind of extra projects we can spur up here , ” Wayne said .
Tax-increment financing has been on the books in Nebraska for decades and has been frequently used by real estate developers and the City of Omaha to boost urban renewal .
It is not a direct subsidy .
But it does indirectly divert potential tax dollars into private development .
The funding mechanism allows developers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s future increased property taxes to pay for certain upfront costs , such as site preparation and street and sewer improvements .
Developers are supposed to demonstrate that their projects would not be doable without TIF and then obtain a private loan for the city-approved TIF amount .
For up to 15 years , instead of paying those increased property taxes to support local government , they use that money to repay their TIF loan .
Wayne has acknowledged that some uses of TIF have been seen as questionable but said this change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can do the most good .
“ As long as you can provide the same financial benefit whether you do 108th and Dodge or North 30th Street , businesses are going to gravitate toward 108th and Dodge or 72nd and Dodge , and you ’ ll never be able to develop those areas in North or South Omaha , ” Wayne said .
“ So I hope that this additional tool , this extra time , will allow these developments to occur in North and South Omaha.
” Wayne did not know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use the enhanced TIF .
Neither did two city officials , Maroney or two other developers who are active in the eastern third of Omaha .
But the City of Omaha has already taken a big step toward using the enhanced TIF .
The City Council voted in December to approve extremely blighted areas .
The descriptive phrase isn ’ t popular but has stuck around because it ’ s codified in state law .
The designation was mainly for a $ 5,000 tax credit for people who buy homes in those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omaha areas will already be defined when the state passes new TIF legislation .
Bridget Hadley , economic development manager in the City Planning Department , has been talking up the added incentive to developers .
“ The intent for that extension is really to give the development community an incentive to do a project in these areas instead of going out west , ” she said .
Will it be enough ?
She hopes so , but added , “ Only time will tell.
” Kevin Andersen , who is Mayor Jean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for economic development , said the new measure “ could have a really good impact ” - especially on affordable housing developments - by lowering a developer ’ s bottom line and thus the cost to homebuyers .
Maroney said he could see developers using the incentive for multifamily housing as well as commercial development .
It takes “ multiple layers of financing ” to make developments work in economically stressed areas , he said , and this added incentive may help developers attract financing for projects .
“ It ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside are looking in and they don ’ t see all the positives they ’ d like to see in a deal and it becomes harder to finance , ” Maroney said .
“ I look forward to the Legislature creating the legislation that will allow it to go forward , and hopefully it ’ s done in a way that has the greatest impact on the areas with the greatest need .
”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A small tweak to Nebraska’s Constitution that voters overwhelmingly approved this month could have a big impact in bringing redevelopment to economically distressed Omaha neighborhoods.
The change, once legislation is approved by state legislators, will give real estate developers 20 years to pay back their tax-increment financing (known as TIF) loans, instead of the current 15, in neighborhoods with high unemployment and high poverty.
The longer repayment period has the potential to make a big difference, said a veteran of residential, commercial and retail redevelopment projects in North Omaha.
“In some projects, it will be the difference between it happening or not,” said Michael Maroney, president of the Omaha Economic Development Corp. “It means you’ll probably have to borrow less money on a project, which means it has a better opportunity, a better chance to succeed.”
The constitutional change was on the Nov. 3 ballot as Amendment 2. It was approved by 65% of Nebraska voters. Its passage means the Legislature can now enhance TIF with the extended payback time in areas that cities designate as “extremely blighted.” That is defined as having more than 20% unemployment and a poverty rate over 20%.
It’s expected to be used most in parts of North and South Omaha, but also could apply to such other cities as Lincoln, Grand Island, Scottsbluff, South Sioux City and Fremont, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, who pushed to place the amendment on the ballot, said he will introduce legislation in the 2021 session to enable cities to award the enhanced TIF.
“After that we’ll just be ready to go, get people out there and see what kind of extra projects we can spur up here,” Wayne said.
Tax-increment financing has been on the books in Nebraska for decades and has been frequently used by real estate developers and the City of Omaha to boost urban renewal. It is not a direct subsidy. But it does indirectly divert potential tax dollars into private development.
The funding mechanism allows developers to use a portion of a project’s future increased property taxes to pay for certain upfront costs, such as site preparation and street and sewer improvements. Developers are supposed to demonstrate that their projects would not be doable without TIF and then obtain a private loan for the city-approved TIF amount. For up to 15 years, instead of paying those increased property taxes to support local government, they use that money to repay their TIF loan.
Wayne has acknowledged that some uses of TIF have been seen as questionable but said this change should lead to it being used where it can do the most good.
“As long as you can provide the same financial benefit whether you do 108th and Dodge or North 30th Street, businesses are going to gravitate toward 108th and Dodge or 72nd and Dodge, and you’ll never be able to develop those areas in North or South Omaha,” Wayne said. “So I hope that this additional tool, this extra time, will allow these developments to occur in North and South Omaha.”
Wayne did not know of any developments waiting in the wings to use the enhanced TIF. Neither did two city officials, Maroney or two other developers who are active in the eastern third of Omaha.
But the City of Omaha has already taken a big step toward using the enhanced TIF. The City Council voted in December to approve extremely blighted areas. The descriptive phrase isn’t popular but has stuck around because it’s codified in state law. The designation was mainly for a $5,000 tax credit for people who buy homes in those areas as their primary residence. Those Omaha areas will already be defined when the state passes new TIF legislation.
Bridget Hadley, economic development manager in the City Planning Department, has been talking up the added incentive to developers.
“The intent for that extension is really to give the development community an incentive to do a project in these areas instead of going out west,” she said.
Will it be enough? She hopes so, but added, “Only time will tell.”
Kevin Andersen, who is Mayor Jean Stothert’s deputy chief of staff for economic development, said the new measure “could have a really good impact” - especially on affordable housing developments - by lowering a developer’s bottom line and thus the cost to homebuyers.
Maroney said he could see developers using the incentive for multifamily housing as well as commercial development. It takes “multiple layers of financing” to make developments work in economically stressed areas, he said, and this added incentive may help developers attract financing for projects.
“It’s not easy, particularly when people on the outside are looking in and they don’t see all the positives they’d like to see in a deal and it becomes harder to finance,” Maroney said. “I look forward to the Legislature creating the legislation that will allow it to go forward, and hopefully it’s done in a way that has the greatest impact on the areas with the greatest need.”