washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Pritzker says lack of veto session won’t stop work on budget

CHICAGO ( AP ) - Efforts to identify cuts that can be made to Illinois ’ budget will continue despite the postponement of the General Assembly ’ s veto session , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday .
Pritzker also said he will try to convince the nation ’ s credit rating agencies not to downgrade Illinois ’ bonds to junk status .
The possible action is the result of rejection by the state ’ s voters of a proposed graduated income tax amendment to the Illinois constitution .
Pritzker has said the COVID-19 pandemic could result in state revenues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders announced Tuesday the veto session scheduled to start next week was canceled because of surging COVID-19 cases around the state .
“ I ’ m already convening the leaders .
There ’ s a great deal of work that needs to be done , ” Pritzker said .
“ We ’ ve trimmed across the executive branch throughout the last two years and there ’ s more to be done than just trimming .
Now we ’ re going to have to make some serious and , frankly , painful cuts.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if House Democrats try to raise taxes to balance the budget , there will not be any House Republican support for the effort .
Pritzker said he is disappointed the fall legislative session was canceled because of the work that needs to be done beyond the budget , including criminal justice reform , an issue the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus had hoped to address during the veto session .
House Speaker Michael Madigan says medical experts will be consulted before the postponed session is rescheduled .
“ I ’ ve been assured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get right at it as soon as we can in January , ” Pritzker said .
The 101st General Assembly wraps up business in January when the members of the 102nd General Assembly will be sworn in .

CHICAGO (AP) - Efforts to identify cuts that can be made to Illinois’ budget will continue despite the postponement of the General Assembly’s veto session, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday.
Pritzker also said he will try to convince the nation’s credit rating agencies not to downgrade Illinois’ bonds to junk status. The possible action is the result of rejection by the state’s voters of a proposed graduated income tax amendment to the Illinois constitution.
Pritzker has said the COVID-19 pandemic could result in state revenues falling by billions of dollars. Legislative leaders announced Tuesday the veto session scheduled to start next week was canceled because of surging COVID-19 cases around the state.
“I’m already convening the leaders. There’s a great deal of work that needs to be done,” Pritzker said. “We’ve trimmed across the executive branch throughout the last two years and there’s more to be done than just trimming. Now we’re going to have to make some serious and, frankly, painful cuts.”
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin has warned that if House Democrats try to raise taxes to balance the budget, there will not be any House Republican support for the effort.
Pritzker said he is disappointed the fall legislative session was canceled because of the work that needs to be done beyond the budget, including criminal justice reform, an issue the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus had hoped to address during the veto session. House Speaker Michael Madigan says medical experts will be consulted before the postponed session is rescheduled.
“I’ve been assured by the leaders that we’ll get right at it as soon as we can in January,” Pritzker said.
The 101st General Assembly wraps up business in January when the members of the 102nd General Assembly will be sworn in.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Nevada marks Veterans Day as coronavirus surges

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - The unrelenting spread of the coronavirus forced Nevada to cancel most of its in-person Veterans Day events to protect former service members and their families , adding a degree of solemnity and underlining how the pandemic has penetrated all segments of society .
Nevada has more than 200,000 veterans who served in wars in Korea , Vietnam , Iraq and Afghanistan as well as World War II .
They make up about 10 % of the state population , Nevada Department of Veterans Services Director Kat Miller said .
Nevada has two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sparks and Boulder City , and neither have been spared .
In total , the two homes have reported 100 cases and six deaths among residents and staff since the start of the pandemic .
“ It has had a huge impact on our skilled nursing facilities - as it has on all skilled nursing homes in Nevada , ” Miller said .
“ We have to test everyone , every week at least once .
And when the positivity rate is about 10 % , we have to test twice a week.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ older than 65 , making them disproportionately vulnerable to the coronavirus .
In August , the state Department of Veterans ’ Services created a task force to combat loneliness and isolation among veterans .
Miller said her department has worked with organizations like the American Legion to expand support networks for veterans , using “ buddy checks ” and leveraging help from volunteers to ensure veterans have social support and human interaction as the pandemic keeps many isolated and disrupts their routines .
The virus has strained state programs and non-profits that provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Veterans Fund in Las Vegas , which helps ensure former service members have stable housing .
As the Dec. 31 end of the U.S. eviction moratorium nears , the state Department of Veterans Services estimates from 25,000 to 40,000 veteran households could face eviction .
Stephanie Helms , executive director of the Kline Veterans Fund , said the number of calls to her office grows as the deadline approaches .
“ Our traditional client asking for help prior to COVID would be a gentleman in his 70s .
Probably of the Vietnam era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she told KTNV Las Vegas .
“ And what we ’ re seeing now is a much younger skew in the age group .
We ’ re hearing from people in their 30s , 40s and 50s with young families at home.
” The coronavirus has taken almost 250,000 lives in the United States and more than 4,200 veterans have died from the virus at homes and hospitals overseen by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs , the agency reported .
Miller said the well-being of Nevada ’ s veteran community depends largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain the virus to ensure it doesn ’ t make its way to veterans ’ homes and hospitals .
“ The virus just doesn ’ t magically manifest in a ( veterans ) home .
It ’ s brought in from community contact .
So , if we can keep the coronavirus at bay in the community , we ’ re going to limit the number of our staff members who come in contact with it and then potentially bring it into our residences , ” Miller said .
Sam Metz is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - The unrelenting spread of the coronavirus forced Nevada to cancel most of its in-person Veterans Day events to protect former service members and their families, adding a degree of solemnity and underlining how the pandemic has penetrated all segments of society.
Nevada has more than 200,000 veterans who served in wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as World War II. They make up about 10% of the state population, Nevada Department of Veterans Services Director Kat Miller said.
Nevada has two long-term care facilities for veterans, in Sparks and Boulder City, and neither have been spared. In total, the two homes have reported 100 cases and six deaths among residents and staff since the start of the pandemic.
“It has had a huge impact on our skilled nursing facilities - as it has on all skilled nursing homes in Nevada,” Miller said. “We have to test everyone, every week at least once. And when the positivity rate is about 10%, we have to test twice a week.”
Almost half of Nevada veterans are older than 65, making them disproportionately vulnerable to the coronavirus. In August, the state Department of Veterans’ Services created a task force to combat loneliness and isolation among veterans.
Miller said her department has worked with organizations like the American Legion to expand support networks for veterans, using “buddy checks” and leveraging help from volunteers to ensure veterans have social support and human interaction as the pandemic keeps many isolated and disrupts their routines.
The virus has strained state programs and non-profits that provide assistance to veterans, including the Kline Veterans Fund in Las Vegas, which helps ensure former service members have stable housing.
As the Dec. 31 end of the U.S. eviction moratorium nears, the state Department of Veterans Services estimates from 25,000 to 40,000 veteran households could face eviction. Stephanie Helms, executive director of the Kline Veterans Fund, said the number of calls to her office grows as the deadline approaches.
“Our traditional client asking for help prior to COVID would be a gentleman in his 70s. Probably of the Vietnam era who lives in affordable housing,” she told KTNV Las Vegas. “And what we’re seeing now is a much younger skew in the age group. We’re hearing from people in their 30s, 40s and 50s with young families at home.”
The coronavirus has taken almost 250,000 lives in the United States and more than 4,200 veterans have died from the virus at homes and hospitals overseen by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the agency reported.
Miller said the well-being of Nevada’s veteran community depends largely on the state’s ability to contain the virus to ensure it doesn’t make its way to veterans’ homes and hospitals.
“The virus just doesn’t magically manifest in a (veterans) home. It’s brought in from community contact. So, if we can keep the coronavirus at bay in the community, we’re going to limit the number of our staff members who come in contact with it and then potentially bring it into our residences,” Miller said.
___
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Black Lives Matter inspires Nigerians to protest police tactics

LAGOS , Nigeria — Victoria Ayebo , 38 , gathered family , friends and colleagues in a hall in Nigeria ’ s most populous city to pay their final respects to her cousin , Joseph Oluwa , who was gunned down by police in October during the countrywide protests against police brutality and extrajudicial killings .
On this late October day , many donned black and white T-shirts , hoodies and caps emblazoned with “ Youths Lives Matter ” in honor of the 22-year-old college student .
Some young people knelt as others raised their hands , honoring the life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Stop killing us !
” Ms. Ayebo chanted from the pulpit during the funeral .
“ We are tired — this government is against its citizens .
They should stop police brutality .
It is shocking that young people are losing their lives due to police violence.
” On the streets , hundreds of thousands of demonstrators carried placards calling for the abolition of the federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS ) , which has long been accused of extortion and the intimidations and killings of many young Nigerians .
The confrontation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new level of instability to Africa ’ s most populous nation , shows striking parallels to the U.S. unrest this summer , when thousands of Black Lives Matter protesters took to the streets — and at times battled police and federal forces — to protest the death of George Floyd , a Black man , while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers .
“ I can ’ t breathe , ” read some of the signs in Nigeria , echoing the last words of Floyd as a white policeman put his knee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nine minutes .
Oluwa was among dozens who died during protests against police brutality that have rocked the country for weeks and have now broadened to include more than just unemployed youths or families of victims .
At the same time , the protests have transformed into a broader movement against government mismanagement and corruption .
The nationwide demonstrations that began Oct. 8 were sparked by a viral video supposedly showing SARS officers killing a young man in the southern Delta state .
Authorities denied the video was real .
The man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provoking even more anger .
Under the hashtag # EndSARS , thousands of young people took to the streets as part of a movement that supporters are calling a “ national awakening.
” “ Young people of this country have no right to freedom of speech , ” said Ms. Ayebo .
“ Therefore , we are going to fight for our rights even if the police decide to kill all of us .
We can not continue to live in a country which does not care about its people .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The rights group Amnesty International said at least 56 people in the country have been killed in the unrest , including a dozen protesters shot by security forces in Lagos at the Lekki tollgate .
Four more protesters were detained from a demonstration Friday .
Responding to the protesters , the government of President Muhammadu Buhari dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad on Oct. 11 , but officials acknowledge the move has not calmed the anger .
“ The disbanding of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to extensive police reforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the protection of lives and livelihoods of our people , ” Mr. Buhari said .
“ We will also ensure all those responsible for misconduct or wrongful acts are brought to justice.
” But some analysts say Mr. Buhari , who was elected to a second term in early 2019 , has displayed an uncertain hand in the face of the most serious challenge to his government to date .
“ Buhari ’ s tone and delivery was reminiscent of the ghosts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including himself when he served , ” Muhammad Fraser-Rahim , an assistant professor at The Citadel in South Carolina , wrote recently on the website Lawfare .
“ His silence on the Lekki toll gate massacre was even more glaring .
For many , including the younger generation , the president seems out of touch with the present moment.
” The State Department said it has raised concerns about the political violence with top Nigerian officials , and presumptive Democratic President-elect Joseph R. Biden said during his campaign that the U.S. “ must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy.
” Even so , what has angered many in Nigeria is the formation of a Special Weapons and Tactics ( SWAT ) team to replace SARS .
The protesters say the government is just putting a new face on the old unit and have pledged to stay on the streets until real reforms are implemented .
“ They are just renaming the police unit , but they are the same people who are going to continue killing us , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Lekki , a city in Lagos State .
“ We are calling for an end to police brutality .
We want the government to release all arrested protesters and compensate families of the deceased , those victims of brutality.
” Analysts say the protests have become about more than just the police but also about reform .
Many are now also calling for more sweeping changes such as an end to corruption and economic mismanagement in the West African nation , which has the largest number of people living in extreme poverty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment rate .
According to a recent report by the World Poverty Clock , the nation of more than 200 million has overtaken India with more than 100 million Nigerians living in extreme poverty , 50 % of its estimated population .
Meanwhile , Nigeria ’ s unemployment rate climbed to 27.1 % in the second quarter of 2020 , the highest on record .
The nation has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and a plunge in oil prices .
“ The high rate of unemployment and extreme poverty clearly shows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the police unit has been there for decades and people have lived with it , ” said Macharia Munene , a professor of history and international relations at the United States International University-Africa in Nairobi , Kenya .
“ The government needs to address the root causes of violent protests because people are still angry about the way they live.
” At the same time , the leaderless # EndSARS movement is considering its next steps as the country grapples with its worst economic recession in more than three decades , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second quarter .
Mr. Munene said the dangerously high levels of unemployment and poverty considerably increase the likelihood of more political instability , from protesting and rioting to terrorism and civil wars .
He warned that such protests have not only toppled several rulers who had governed for decades but also sparked brutal civil wars .
“ The government should not provoke hungry and poor protesters , because we have seen them topple several rulers , ” he said , referring to the uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spring and which ousted leaders who had governed for decades .
“ The impact of such uprisings is civil wars that have been witnessed in countries such as Yemen , Syria and Libya.
” Ms. Ayebo , who lost her cousin to police violence , also cautioned that Nigeria ’ s leaders should be careful in how they respond to protests .
“ The majority of young people are suffering because they have no jobs and live in poor conditions , ” she said .
“ They are very angry with this government @ @

Tonny Onyulo - Special to The Washington Times

LAGOS, Nigeria — Victoria Ayebo, 38, gathered family, friends and colleagues in a hall in Nigeria’s most populous city to pay their final respects to her cousin, Joseph Oluwa, who was gunned down by police in October during the countrywide protests against police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
On this late October day, many donned black and white T-shirts, hoodies and caps emblazoned with “Youths Lives Matter” in honor of the 22-year-old college student. Some young people knelt as others raised their hands, honoring the life of Oluwa.
“Stop killing us! Stop killing us!” Ms. Ayebo chanted from the pulpit during the funeral. “We are tired — this government is against its citizens. They should stop police brutality. It is shocking that young people are losing their lives due to police violence.”
On the streets, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators carried placards calling for the abolition of the federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which has long been accused of extortion and the intimidations and killings of many young Nigerians.
The confrontation, which analysts fear could bring a new level of instability to Africa’s most populous nation, shows striking parallels to the U.S. unrest this summer, when thousands of Black Lives Matter protesters took to the streets — and at times battled police and federal forces — to protest the death of George Floyd, a Black man, while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers.
“I can’t breathe,” read some of the signs in Nigeria, echoing the last words of Floyd as a white policeman put his knee on Floyd’s neck for close to nine minutes.
Oluwa was among dozens who died during protests against police brutality that have rocked the country for weeks and have now broadened to include more than just unemployed youths or families of victims. At the same time, the protests have transformed into a broader movement against government mismanagement and corruption.
The nationwide demonstrations that began Oct. 8 were sparked by a viral video supposedly showing SARS officers killing a young man in the southern Delta state. Authorities denied the video was real.
The man who captured the footage was arrested, provoking even more anger. Under the hashtag #EndSARS, thousands of young people took to the streets as part of a movement that supporters are calling a “national awakening.”
“Young people of this country have no right to freedom of speech,” said Ms. Ayebo. “Therefore, we are going to fight for our rights even if the police decide to kill all of us. We cannot continue to live in a country which does not care about its people. It’s time to change this government.”
The rights group Amnesty International said at least 56 people in the country have been killed in the unrest, including a dozen protesters shot by security forces in Lagos at the Lekki tollgate. Four more protesters were detained from a demonstration Friday.
Responding to the protesters, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad on Oct. 11, but officials acknowledge the move has not calmed the anger.
“The disbanding of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to extensive police reforms in order to ensure that the primary duty of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the protection of lives and livelihoods of our people,” Mr. Buhari said. “We will also ensure all those responsible for misconduct or wrongful acts are brought to justice.”
But some analysts say Mr. Buhari, who was elected to a second term in early 2019, has displayed an uncertain hand in the face of the most serious challenge to his government to date.
“Buhari’s tone and delivery was reminiscent of the ghosts of military leaders of a bygone era, including himself when he served,” Muhammad Fraser-Rahim, an assistant professor at The Citadel in South Carolina, wrote recently on the website Lawfare.
“His silence on the Lekki toll gate massacre was even more glaring. For many, including the younger generation, the president seems out of touch with the present moment.”
The State Department said it has raised concerns about the political violence with top Nigerian officials, and presumptive Democratic President-elect Joseph R. Biden said during his campaign that the U.S. “must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy.”
Rebranding anger
Even so, what has angered many in Nigeria is the formation of a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to replace SARS. The protesters say the government is just putting a new face on the old unit and have pledged to stay on the streets until real reforms are implemented.
“They are just renaming the police unit, but they are the same people who are going to continue killing us,” said David Orji, who owns a restaurant in Lekki, a city in Lagos State. “We are calling for an end to police brutality. We want the government to release all arrested protesters and compensate families of the deceased, those victims of brutality.”
Analysts say the protests have become about more than just the police but also about reform. Many are now also calling for more sweeping changes such as an end to corruption and economic mismanagement in the West African nation, which has the largest number of people living in extreme poverty in the world and a massive youth unemployment rate.
According to a recent report by the World Poverty Clock, the nation of more than 200 million has overtaken India with more than 100 million Nigerians living in extreme poverty, 50% of its estimated population. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s unemployment rate climbed to 27.1% in the second quarter of 2020, the highest on record. The nation has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and a plunge in oil prices.
“The high rate of unemployment and extreme poverty clearly shows that these protests are not just about SARS because the police unit has been there for decades and people have lived with it,” said Macharia Munene, a professor of history and international relations at the United States International University-Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. “The government needs to address the root causes of violent protests because people are still angry about the way they live.”
At the same time, the leaderless #EndSARS movement is considering its next steps as the country grapples with its worst economic recession in more than three decades, with the economy contracting by 6.1% in the second quarter.
Mr. Munene said the dangerously high levels of unemployment and poverty considerably increase the likelihood of more political instability, from protesting and rioting to terrorism and civil wars. He warned that such protests have not only toppled several rulers who had governed for decades but also sparked brutal civil wars.
“The government should not provoke hungry and poor protesters, because we have seen them topple several rulers,” he said, referring to the uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East that came to be known as the Arab Spring and which ousted leaders who had governed for decades. “The impact of such uprisings is civil wars that have been witnessed in countries such as Yemen, Syria and Libya.”
Ms. Ayebo, who lost her cousin to police violence, also cautioned that Nigeria’s leaders should be careful in how they respond to protests.
“The majority of young people are suffering because they have no jobs and live in poor conditions,” she said. “They are very angry with this government.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Police: Cop fatally shoots suspect in domestic disturbance

NEDERLAND , Texas ( AP ) - A police officer in Southeast Texas fatally shot an armed man who may have fled the scene of a domestic disturbance , authorities said .
The shooting happened shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday in Nederland , a suburb of Beaumont , about 85 miles ( 140 kilometers ) east of Houston .
Police in neighboring Port Neches received a report of a domestic disturbance that described a 29-year-old man leaving the house with a gun .
Nederland Police Chief Gary Porter said in a statement that one of his officers spotted a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down a Nederland street .
The officer chased the man on foot and tried to stop him using a stun gun .
When that failed , the officer shot the man dead , Porter said .
Police withheld the man ’ s identity until his family could be notified .
Officer Tanner Thompson , 26 , a four-year veteran of the Nederland police force , has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Texas Rangers and the Jefferson County District Attorney ’ s Office .
Asked if he believed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Port Arthur News : “ It would be unethical to interject my opinion while the Texas Rangers and the D.A.
’ s office are investigating this.
” The officer-involved shooting was the first on record in the city of more than 17,000 residents .

NEDERLAND, Texas (AP) - A police officer in Southeast Texas fatally shot an armed man who may have fled the scene of a domestic disturbance, authorities said.
The shooting happened shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday in Nederland, a suburb of Beaumont, about 85 miles (140 kilometers) east of Houston.
Police in neighboring Port Neches received a report of a domestic disturbance that described a 29-year-old man leaving the house with a gun. Nederland Police Chief Gary Porter said in a statement that one of his officers spotted a man matching the description of the suspect walking down a Nederland street.
The officer chased the man on foot and tried to stop him using a stun gun. When that failed, the officer shot the man dead, Porter said. Police withheld the man’s identity until his family could be notified.
Officer Tanner Thompson, 26, a four-year veteran of the Nederland police force, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Texas Rangers and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.
Asked if he believed the shooting was justified, Porter told the Port Arthur News: “It would be unethical to interject my opinion while the Texas Rangers and the D.A.’s office are investigating this.”
The officer-involved shooting was the first on record in the city of more than 17,000 residents.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Defense bill faces cloudy prospects in upcoming congressional session

As the world watches to see whether and how the executive branch hands off power between President Trump and presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden , the legislative branch is wrestling with what to do with a mammoth defense policy bill in the coming lame-duck session .
But Congress races against the clock to approve the must-pass annual National Defense Authorization Act , they could hit a wall if Mr. Trump follows through on his threat to veto the NDAA over language to rename U.S. military bases that honor Confederate leaders .
The provision — which has gathered bipartisan support from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renewed push this week when a group of 37 Senate Democrats wrote a letter urging the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committee to protect the provision to change the names of military bases honoring figures such as Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg .
Lawmakers are preparing to return to talks next week for the bill , which sets spending targets for the Pentagon but also weighs in on a slew of defense issues , including military pay rates , addressing racism in the ranks , veterans health care and Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troop presence in Germany by nearly one-third .
The NDAA has traditionally passed with sizable bipartisan support .
Mr. Biden has said he supports the renaming of such bases , but Mr. Trump shows no signs of backing down following last week ’ s election .
“ The Senate and House strongly supported the inclusion of this requirement by passing their bills with overwhelming , veto-proof , bipartisan majorities , ” the Democratic senators wrote .
“ Renaming these bases does not disrespect our military — it honors the sacrifices and contributions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better reflects our nation ’ s diversity and values.
” The House and Senate Armed Services panels are gearing up for late-stage negotiations for the massive $ 740.5 billion NDAA , and the renaming provision looms as a key sticking point for a deal .
Both the Senate and House versions of the bill include provisions that require the secretary of defense to rename at least 10 military bases that honor leaders of the Confederacy .
The Senate bill authorizes the changes to be implemented over a three-year period , while the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the NDAA ’ s passage .
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe , Oklahoma Republican , has reportedly moved to dismiss the provision from the crucial legislation behind closed doors .
“ The question is whether those majorities would hold … in the event of a presidential veto , ” said Seamus Daniels , a defense budget analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies .
He said that Mr. Trump ’ s threat could complicate the process , but it ’ s still likely the NDAA will pass by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Realistically , given how much bipartisan support there is , for that provision , I think it would be very difficult to actually strip that from the final version of the bill , ” he said .
Another fight over defense spending is brewing on Capitol Hill as the Defense Department appropriations bill .
A Senate GOP blueprint released Tuesday calls for $ 696 billion in spending for the fiscal year , including a 3 % pay raise for the troops but also $ 68.7 billion in a “ contingency ” fund that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund ” allowing the Pentagon to bypass congressional spending caps and shift money to favored programs .
The debate over fund seemingly came to a head last year , when the Pentagon requested a whopping $ 164 billion for the account — a 140 % increase than the amount requested a year earlier — among fears that a large chunk would be spent on construction for Mr. Trump ’ s controversial border wall .
Pentagon officials have argued that dollars in the defense budget — whether in the main spending plan or the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American national security , military readiness , and more recently , implementation of the Trump administration ’ s 2018 National Defense Strategy .
But specialists argue that ’ s exactly why it is time to rethink the Pentagon ’ s budget practices and move the money back into the military ’ s main budget request .

As the world watches to see whether and how the executive branch hands off power between President Trump and presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden, the legislative branch is wrestling with what to do with a mammoth defense policy bill in the coming lame-duck session.
But Congress races against the clock to approve the must-pass annual National Defense Authorization Act, they could hit a wall if Mr. Trump follows through on his threat to veto the NDAA over language to rename U.S. military bases that honor Confederate leaders.
The provision — which has gathered bipartisan support from lawmakers in both chambers — got a renewed push this week when a group of 37 Senate Democrats wrote a letter urging the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committee to protect the provision to change the names of military bases honoring figures such as Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg.
Lawmakers are preparing to return to talks next week for the bill, which sets spending targets for the Pentagon but also weighs in on a slew of defense issues, including military pay rates, addressing racism in the ranks, veterans health care and Mr. Trump’s plan to slice the U.S. troop presence in Germany by nearly one-third.
The NDAA has traditionally passed with sizable bipartisan support.
Mr. Biden has said he supports the renaming of such bases, but Mr. Trump shows no signs of backing down following last week’s election.
“The Senate and House strongly supported the inclusion of this requirement by passing their bills with overwhelming, veto-proof, bipartisan majorities,” the Democratic senators wrote. “Renaming these bases does not disrespect our military — it honors the sacrifices and contributions of our service members in a way that better reflects our nation’s diversity and values.”
The House and Senate Armed Services panels are gearing up for late-stage negotiations for the massive $740.5 billion NDAA, and the renaming provision looms as a key sticking point for a deal.
Both the Senate and House versions of the bill include provisions that require the secretary of defense to rename at least 10 military bases that honor leaders of the Confederacy. The Senate bill authorizes the changes to be implemented over a three-year period, while the House would require the changes within one year of the NDAA’s passage.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican, has reportedly moved to dismiss the provision from the crucial legislation behind closed doors.
“The question is whether those majorities would hold … in the event of a presidential veto,” said Seamus Daniels, a defense budget analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said that Mr. Trump’s threat could complicate the process, but it’s still likely the NDAA will pass by the end of this year.
“Realistically, given how much bipartisan support there is, for that provision, I think it would be very difficult to actually strip that from the final version of the bill,” he said.
Another fight over defense spending is brewing on Capitol Hill as the Defense Department appropriations bill. A Senate GOP blueprint released Tuesday calls for $696 billion in spending for the fiscal year, including a 3% pay raise for the troops but also $68.7 billion in a “contingency” fund that many lawmakers decry as a “slush fund” allowing the Pentagon to bypass congressional spending caps and shift money to favored programs.
The debate over fund seemingly came to a head last year, when the Pentagon requested a whopping $164 billion for the account — a 140% increase than the amount requested a year earlier — among fears that a large chunk would be spent on construction for Mr. Trump’s controversial border wall.
Pentagon officials have argued that dollars in the defense budget — whether in the main spending plan or the contingency account — all go to support American national security, military readiness, and more recently, implementation of the Trump administration’s 2018 National Defense Strategy.
But specialists argue that’s exactly why it is time to rethink the Pentagon’s budget practices and move the money back into the military’s main budget request.
— Ben Wolfgang contributed to this story.
• Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Joe Biden Cabinet candidates include Obama officials, never-Trumpers

It has become common wisdom in Washington that one of the first things presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden plans to do upon arriving at the White House is flush the Trump administration ‘ s “ America First ” doctrine down the drain — but the extent to which it happens will depend on the support team Mr. Biden chooses as his top foreign policy and national security advisers .
With the deepest Washington experience of any incoming commander in chief in decades , Mr. Biden has a well-established bench from which to draw his lineup .
First on the list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Biden camp , is former Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken , who is under consideration for either national security adviser or secretary of state .
Mr. Blinken , 58 , rose to prominence as a national security adviser to Vice President Biden and later as the State Department ’ s No .
2 in the Obama administration .
Conservatives have more recently known him as an Obama-era Washington establishment figure who told CBS News that President Trump ‘ s withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal has been an “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Blinken is broadly respected among national security centrists , and his reputation is not so different from that of Michele Flournoy , another former Obama administration official widely seen as Mr. Biden ‘ s likely pick to become the first female secretary of defense .
Like many being floated for top national security posts , Mr. Blinken and Ms. Flournoy are well-established creatures of Washington .
Both have rotated out of government into lucrative consultancy roles in recent years while waiting for the possibility of returning to a Democratic administration at higher-level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jake Sullivan , 43 , another Obama-era standout , who worked on Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .
Mr. Sullivan succeeded Mr. Blinken as Vice President Biden ‘ s national security adviser in 2013 and is now reported to be under close consideration for a key foreign policy advisory post .
But with Mr. Biden under pressure to diversify and expand his circle of advisers , big questions remain over who will ultimately be nominated for such critical posts as secretary of state , CIA director , secretary of defense and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clutch positions will influence how a Biden administration reshapes America ’ s image and geopolitical standing .
Insiders told The Washington Times that the presumptive president-elect has yet to formally alert anyone of whether they will be nominated .
“ Right now , he ’ s is ruthlessly focused on COVID , economic recovery and a major health care strategy , ” one source said .
“ He ’ s just not focused on the major national security positions yet.
” There is , however , a list with some prominent names .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morell , a career U.S. intelligence analyst who served as the agency ’ s deputy director from 2010 to 2013 .
Also in the running are Thomas Donilon , who was national security adviser from 2010 to 2013 and worked on Mr. Biden ‘ s failed 1988 presidential campaign , and Avril Haines , who served as deputy CIA director from 2013 to 2015 .
For director of national intelligence , a job Mr. Trump has filled with five different officials since 2016 , three of them on an acting basis , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career Defense Intelligence Agency official who bears the rare distinction of being respected deeply by both sides of the aisle in Washington .
Mr. Cardillo , presently a professor at Georgetown University , served as DIA deputy director early in the Obama years and later as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency , a position he held well into Mr. Trump ‘ s term before stepping down in 2019 .
Mr. Biden is casting a wider net for secretary of state .
Fellow Delaware Democrat Christopher A. Coons , a member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a top candidate .
Mr. Coons , who has good working relations with Republican friends in the Senate , would likely have an easier confirmation than others who have been floated for secretary of state .
That includes Susan E. Rice , who served as ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser in the Obama administration and often had polarizing relationships with top Republicans .
William J. Burns , the career American diplomat , former ambassador to Russia and former deputy secretary of state , is also being considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coons may be the front-runner .
He has already emerged as a kind of Biden transition team surrogate for foreign dignitaries to meet during visits to Washington .
Mr. Coons tweeted a photo of himself with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Tuesday , a day after Ms. Kang met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
Mr. Coons said he and Ms. Kang had “ an excellent discussion.
” Mr. Biden ‘ s calculus will hinge on whether Mr. Coons may be more effective staying in the Senate .
The senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tapped but recently told Politico that he will accept the nomination if offered .
“ If [ Mr. Biden ] surprises me by asking me to consider serving in his Cabinet , I ’ d be honored to do so , ” he said .
“ But I could also understand how he might say , ‘ Look , we ’ re at a moment where folks who can deliver on bipartisanship in the Senate are at a premium , and I need you to stay there.
’ ” Obama-era officials figure prominently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside observers say the presumptive president-elect could draw from the top echelons of the Washington establishment and may even pick from the ranks of moderate Republicans who either were never-Trumpers or have broken with the president over the past four years .
“ After the last four years , President-elect Biden is going to have a wealth of talent willing to work on his national security and foreign policy teams from across the spectrum , because a range of people saw the Trump administration as a wake-up call that we really need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Brian Katulis , a senior fellow with the left-leaning Center for American Progress think tank .
“ Literally from across the spectrum , from progressive Democrats who favor diplomacy and disengaging from wars to traditional Republicans who saw the threat that Trump posed to our democracy , if Biden wants , he could have the A-team helping him out in solving the world ’ s problems , ” Mr. Katulis said .
While Trump supporters fear a 180-degree reversal of some of Mr. Trump ‘ s signature foreign policy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisers have made it clear that they reject many of the items on Mr. Trump ‘ s “ America First ” agenda — on trade , China , NATO and relations with traditional allies in Europe and Asia .
But some longtime foreign policy operatives say the extent of the rollback may be overblown .
Daniel Hoffman , a former CIA officer and Moscow station chief , said Wednesday that predictions of a major shift from both sides are off the mark .
“ It ’ s always ‘ America First , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an occasional column for The Washington Times .
“ We were America First back when my grandfather fought in World War I .
That was America First when they went over there to protect their new country , America .
“ It ’ s just a question of how you approach it , ” Mr. Hoffman said .
“ Biden ‘ s approach is going to be to work more collaboratively with allies and to keep some disagreements — such as frustration that the Germans don ’ t pay enough for NATO or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay enough to support U.S. troops — those things will be kept behind the scenes.
” Despite uncertainties about the U.S. policy toward Iran , Mr. Hoffman said , Mr. Biden strongly favors international partnerships .
“ He ’ s going to be really focused on shoring up alliances , ” Mr. Hoffman said , “ because he gets the core issues that Russia has always tried to undermine our relationship with NATO and that China wants to drive a wedge between the U.S. and our allies in Asia.
” Mr. Hoffman added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s economic predation all over the world impacts our workers in the United States .
I think he understands that Chinese state-backed companies steal intellectual property from America and its allies , and conduct espionage — I mean full-throttled espionage — against the United States .
“ Biden ‘ s advisers , all the ones I know at least , get that totally , ” Mr. Hoffman said .
“ The question is : What kind of policy do they conceive ?
”

It has become common wisdom in Washington that one of the first things presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden plans to do upon arriving at the White House is flush the Trump administration’s “America First” doctrine down the drain — but the extent to which it happens will depend on the support team Mr. Biden chooses as his top foreign policy and national security advisers.
With the deepest Washington experience of any incoming commander in chief in decades, Mr. Biden has a well-established bench from which to draw his lineup.
First on the list, according to three separate sources close to the Biden camp, is former Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is under consideration for either national security adviser or secretary of state.
Mr. Blinken, 58, rose to prominence as a national security adviser to Vice President Biden and later as the State Department’s No. 2 in the Obama administration. Conservatives have more recently known him as an Obama-era Washington establishment figure who told CBS News that President Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal has been an “abject failure.”
Despite such assertions, Mr. Blinken is broadly respected among national security centrists, and his reputation is not so different from that of Michele Flournoy, another former Obama administration official widely seen as Mr. Biden’s likely pick to become the first female secretary of defense.
Like many being floated for top national security posts, Mr. Blinken and Ms. Flournoy are well-established creatures of Washington. Both have rotated out of government into lucrative consultancy roles in recent years while waiting for the possibility of returning to a Democratic administration at higher-level positions.
The same is true of Jake Sullivan, 43, another Obama-era standout, who worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Mr. Sullivan succeeded Mr. Blinken as Vice President Biden’s national security adviser in 2013 and is now reported to be under close consideration for a key foreign policy advisory post.
But with Mr. Biden under pressure to diversify and expand his circle of advisers, big questions remain over who will ultimately be nominated for such critical posts as secretary of state, CIA director, secretary of defense and director of national intelligence. Those four clutch positions will influence how a Biden administration reshapes America’s image and geopolitical standing.
Insiders told The Washington Times that the presumptive president-elect has yet to formally alert anyone of whether they will be nominated. “Right now, he’s is ruthlessly focused on COVID, economic recovery and a major health care strategy,” one source said. “He’s just not focused on the major national security positions yet.”
Prominent names
There is, however, a list with some prominent names.
For the CIA, it includes Michael Morell, a career U.S. intelligence analyst who served as the agency’s deputy director from 2010 to 2013. Also in the running are Thomas Donilon, who was national security adviser from 2010 to 2013 and worked on Mr. Biden’s failed 1988 presidential campaign, and Avril Haines, who served as deputy CIA director from 2013 to 2015.
For director of national intelligence, a job Mr. Trump has filled with five different officials since 2016, three of them on an acting basis, Mr. Biden is considering Robert Cardillo, a career Defense Intelligence Agency official who bears the rare distinction of being respected deeply by both sides of the aisle in Washington.
Mr. Cardillo, presently a professor at Georgetown University, served as DIA deputy director early in the Obama years and later as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a position he held well into Mr. Trump’s term before stepping down in 2019.
Mr. Biden is casting a wider net for secretary of state. Fellow Delaware Democrat Christopher A. Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is reported to be a top candidate.
Mr. Coons, who has good working relations with Republican friends in the Senate, would likely have an easier confirmation than others who have been floated for secretary of state. That includes Susan E. Rice, who served as ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser in the Obama administration and often had polarizing relationships with top Republicans.
William J. Burns, the career American diplomat, former ambassador to Russia and former deputy secretary of state, is also being considered, although there are signs that Mr. Coons may be the front-runner. He has already emerged as a kind of Biden transition team surrogate for foreign dignitaries to meet during visits to Washington.
Mr. Coons tweeted a photo of himself with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Tuesday, a day after Ms. Kang met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Mr. Coons said he and Ms. Kang had “an excellent discussion.”
Mr. Biden’s calculus will hinge on whether Mr. Coons may be more effective staying in the Senate. The senator has played down expectations he might be tapped but recently told Politico that he will accept the nomination if offered.
“If [Mr. Biden] surprises me by asking me to consider serving in his Cabinet, I’d be honored to do so,” he said. “But I could also understand how he might say, ‘Look, we’re at a moment where folks who can deliver on bipartisanship in the Senate are at a premium, and I need you to stay there.’”
Reaching out
Obama-era officials figure prominently in the transition speculation, but some outside observers say the presumptive president-elect could draw from the top echelons of the Washington establishment and may even pick from the ranks of moderate Republicans who either were never-Trumpers or have broken with the president over the past four years.
“After the last four years, President-elect Biden is going to have a wealth of talent willing to work on his national security and foreign policy teams from across the spectrum, because a range of people saw the Trump administration as a wake-up call that we really need to course-correct in our approach to the world,” said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow with the left-leaning Center for American Progress think tank.
“Literally from across the spectrum, from progressive Democrats who favor diplomacy and disengaging from wars to traditional Republicans who saw the threat that Trump posed to our democracy, if Biden wants, he could have the A-team helping him out in solving the world’s problems,” Mr. Katulis said.
Trump supporters fear a 180-degree reversal of some of Mr. Trump’s signature foreign policy and economic stands. Many are warning that a Biden administration will quickly turn soft on Iran and seek to pander to European allies by pushing for a U.S. reentry into the Iranian nuclear deal.
Others worry Mr. Biden will cast aside what have been the Trump administration’s bare-knuckle efforts to rally allies and adversaries alike around the view that China’s Communist government is the leading threat to economic, political and religious freedom in the world.
But some longtime foreign policy operatives say the extent of the rollback may be overblown.
Daniel Hoffman, a former CIA officer and Moscow station chief, said Wednesday that predictions of a major shift from both sides are off the mark.
“It’s always ‘America First,’” said Mr. Hoffman, who writes an occasional column for The Washington Times. “We were America First back when my grandfather fought in World War I. That was America First when they went over there to protect their new country, America.
“It’s just a question of how you approach it,” Mr. Hoffman said. “Biden’s approach is going to be to work more collaboratively with allies and to keep some disagreements — such as frustration that the Germans don’t pay enough for NATO or that the South Koreans don’t pay enough to support U.S. troops — those things will be kept behind the scenes.”
Despite uncertainties about the U.S. policy toward Iran, Mr. Hoffman said, Mr. Biden strongly favors international partnerships.
“He’s going to be really focused on shoring up alliances,” Mr. Hoffman said, “because he gets the core issues that Russia has always tried to undermine our relationship with NATO and that China wants to drive a wedge between the U.S. and our allies in Asia.”
Mr. Hoffman added: “I think Biden understands that China’s economic predation all over the world impacts our workers in the United States. I think he understands that Chinese state-backed companies steal intellectual property from America and its allies, and conduct espionage — I mean full-throttled espionage — against the United States.
“Biden’s advisers, all the ones I know at least, get that totally,” Mr. Hoffman said. “The question is: What kind of policy do they conceive?”
• Guy Taylor can be reached at gtaylor@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Man arrested in hit-and-run suspected of assaulting witness

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - A Milwaukie man who was arrested on suspicion of fatally hitting a pedestrian has been taken into custody again after officials said he assaulted a witness in the case .
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Kevin Derrick was arrested Sept. 24 on suspicion of criminally negligent homicide and failing to perform the duties of a driver in the Sept. 19 death of 59-year-old Robert Keys , according to the Clackamas County Sheriff ’ s Office .
Authorities found Derrick ’ s car in Northeast Portland and he was booked into the Clackamas County Jail and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After his release , investigators said Derrick and his girlfriend , Alysha Esser , “ confronted , physically assaulted and injured a witness in the case.
” The sheriff ’ s office said in a statement in a statement Wednesday it is believed the assault was intended to deter the witness from testifying against Derrick .
Derrick was arrested again and is again in jail , this time with bail of $ 1 million .
Authorities are searching for Esser , a 28-year-old Gresham resident , and officials said a felony warrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It wasn ’ t immediately known if Derrick has a lawyer to comment on the case .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Milwaukie man who was arrested on suspicion of fatally hitting a pedestrian has been taken into custody again after officials said he assaulted a witness in the case.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Kevin Derrick was arrested Sept. 24 on suspicion of criminally negligent homicide and failing to perform the duties of a driver in the Sept. 19 death of 59-year-old Robert Keys, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities found Derrick’s car in Northeast Portland and he was booked into the Clackamas County Jail and later released on bail, officials said.
After his release, investigators said Derrick and his girlfriend, Alysha Esser, “confronted, physically assaulted and injured a witness in the case.”
The sheriff’s office said in a statement in a statement Wednesday it is believed the assault was intended to deter the witness from testifying against Derrick.
Derrick was arrested again and is again in jail, this time with bail of $1 million.
Authorities are searching for Esser, a 28-year-old Gresham resident, and officials said a felony warrant has been issued for her arrest.
It wasn’t immediately known if Derrick has a lawyer to comment on the case.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Ronna McDaniel bid to remain as RNC chair by Trump

President Trump backed Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to remain as the head of the national party , as his campaign battles in court over election results in several states .
“ I am pleased to announce that I have given my full support and endorsement to Ronna McDaniel to continue heading the Republican National Committee ( RNC ) , ” the president tweeted .
“ With 72 MILLION votes , we received more votes than any sitting President in U.S. history - and we will win !
” The president ’ s announcement came a day after his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a CNN report that he and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle were preparing to shake up the leadership at the RNC .
Ms. McDaniel , former chair of the Michigan GOP , was elected to a second two-year term to lead the RNC in January 2019 .
The president ’ s show of support also came after Ms. McDaniel posted a tweet earlier in the day that implied Mr. Trump had lost the election .
The tweet , since deleted , said Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris would be the deciding vote in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia .
On Wednesday night , Ms. McDaniel tweeted , “ The American people deserve free and fair elections where every legal vote is counted.
” While the president earned far more votes than he did in 2016 , he received about 5 million fewer votes this year than presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden .

President Trump backed Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to remain as the head of the national party, as his campaign battles in court over election results in several states.
“I am pleased to announce that I have given my full support and endorsement to Ronna McDaniel to continue heading the Republican National Committee (RNC),” the president tweeted. “With 72 MILLION votes, we received more votes than any sitting President in U.S. history - and we will win!”
The president’s announcement came a day after his son, Donald Trump Jr., refuted a CNN report that he and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle were preparing to shake up the leadership at the RNC.
Ms. McDaniel, former chair of the Michigan GOP, was elected to a second two-year term to lead the RNC in January 2019.
The president’s show of support also came after Ms. McDaniel posted a tweet earlier in the day that implied Mr. Trump had lost the election. The tweet, since deleted, said Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris would be the deciding vote in the Senate if Democrats win both runoff elections in Georgia.
On Wednesday night, Ms. McDaniel tweeted, “The American people deserve free and fair elections where every legal vote is counted.”
While the president earned far more votes than he did in 2016, he received about 5 million fewer votes this year than presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--North Korea calls UN nuclear watchdog `a marionette' of West

UNITED NATIONS ( AP ) - North Korea called the U.N. ’ s nuclear watchdog “ a marionette dancing to the tune ” of hostile Western countries Wednesday , rejecting its information about the country ’ s nuclear program as “ grossly distorted ” and based on “ guesswork and fabrication.
” North Korean Ambassador Kim Song delivered the rebuke at a U.N. General Assembly meeting where the International Atomic Energy Agency ’ s executive director , Rafael Grossi , called Pyongyang ‘ s nuclear activities “ deeply regrettable ” and “ a clear violation ” of Security Council resolutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Democratic People ’ s Republic of Korea — North Korea ’ s official name — since Pyongyang expelled them in 2009 .
The agency said in a Sept. 1 report that it continues to prepare for inspectors to return should leader Kim Jong Un decide to re-admit them .
Grossi said the IAEA monitors North Korea ‘ s nuclear activities using satellite imagery and open source information , and he said “ the agency is intensifying its readiness to play its essential role in verifying the DPRK ’ s nuclear program.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ impartiality and objectivity ” as an international organization and being “ no more than a political tool of the Western countries.
” “ This is our appraisal of the IAEA at present , as it was more than 20 years ago , ” he told the 193-member assembly .
“ We left the IAEA long ago and have not forgotten its despicable acts of having sided with the hostile forces in their maneuvers to put pressure on us , raising ` suspicions ’ about the DPRK ’ s peaceful nuclear facilities earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ d like to make it clear once again that the DPRK will never have any business to deal with the IAEA so long as it runs short of impartiality and objectivity , the lifeline of its activities , and remains a marionette dancing to the tune of the hostile forces against the DPRK.
” Grossi called on North Korea to comply with Security Council resolutions , cooperate with the nuclear agency , implement the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement , “ and resolve all outstanding issues , especially those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency inspectors from the country.
” It is known that North Korea has facilities to produce both plutonium and highly enriched uranium , two key ingredients to manufacture bombs , at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex north of the capital , Pyongyang .
In a report in September , the IAEA said there were no signs that North Korea had been reprocessing fuel from its main nuclear reactor into plutonium over the past year , but Pyongyang appeared to still be enriching uranium , which could potentially be used in a nuclear weapon @

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - North Korea called the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog “a marionette dancing to the tune” of hostile Western countries Wednesday, rejecting its information about the country’s nuclear program as “grossly distorted” and based on “guesswork and fabrication.”
North Korean Ambassador Kim Song delivered the rebuke at a U.N. General Assembly meeting where the International Atomic Energy Agency’s executive director, Rafael Grossi, called Pyongyang’s nuclear activities “deeply regrettable” and “a clear violation” of Security Council resolutions.
The IAEA has not had inspectors in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — North Korea’s official name — since Pyongyang expelled them in 2009. The agency said in a Sept. 1 report that it continues to prepare for inspectors to return should leader Kim Jong Un decide to re-admit them.
Grossi said the IAEA monitors North Korea’s nuclear activities using satellite imagery and open source information, and he said “the agency is intensifying its readiness to play its essential role in verifying the DPRK’s nuclear program.”
Song accused the IAEA of lacking “impartiality and objectivity” as an international organization and being “no more than a political tool of the Western countries.”
“This is our appraisal of the IAEA at present, as it was more than 20 years ago,” he told the 193-member assembly.
“We left the IAEA long ago and have not forgotten its despicable acts of having sided with the hostile forces in their maneuvers to put pressure on us, raising `suspicions’ about the DPRK’s peaceful nuclear facilities earlier in the 1990s,” Song said. “I’d like to make it clear once again that the DPRK will never have any business to deal with the IAEA so long as it runs short of impartiality and objectivity, the lifeline of its activities, and remains a marionette dancing to the tune of the hostile forces against the DPRK.”
Grossi called on North Korea to comply with Security Council resolutions, cooperate with the nuclear agency, implement the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement, “and resolve all outstanding issues, especially those that have arisen during the absence of agency inspectors from the country.”
It is known that North Korea has facilities to produce both plutonium and highly enriched uranium, two key ingredients to manufacture bombs, at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex north of the capital, Pyongyang.
In a report in September, the IAEA said there were no signs that North Korea had been reprocessing fuel from its main nuclear reactor into plutonium over the past year, but Pyongyang appeared to still be enriching uranium, which could potentially be used in a nuclear weapon.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Hong Kong legislature opens; democracy bloc set to resign

HONG KONG ( AP ) - Hong Kong ’ s legislature opened Thursday ahead of the planned mass resignation of its pro-democracy bloc , one day after the government ousted four of its members .
One of the pro-democracy lawmakers , Lam Cheuk-ting , unfurled a banner from a balcony of the legislative council building saying the city ’ s leader Carrie Lam had brought disaster to Hong Kong and its people .
The group had said they would hand in resignation letters on Thursday , but it was not immediately clear when they would do it or even what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the removal of their four colleagues could sound the “ death knell ” for democracy in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory .
The resignation of the 15 remaining pro-democracy lawmakers would ratchet up tensions over the future of Hong Kong , a former British colony , regional financial hub and bastion of Western-style civil liberties where China ’ s government has increasingly tightened its control .
A new national security law imposed by Beijing this year has alarmed the international community .
The mass departure would also leave Hong Kong ’ s legislature with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a majority but would be able to pass bills favored by Beijing without much opposition .
The lawmakers announced their decision hours after the Hong Kong government said it was disqualifying the four legislators - Alvin Yeung , Dennis Kwok , Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung .
The ousters came after China ’ s National People ’ s Congress Standing Committee passed a resolution this week saying that any lawmaker who supports Hong Kong ’ s independence , refuses to acknowledge China ’ s sovereignty over the city , threatens national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city ’ s affairs should be disqualified .
“ This is an actual act by Beijing … to sound the death knell of Hong Kong ’ s democracy fight because they would think that , from now on , anyone they found to be politically incorrect or unpatriotic or are simply not likable to look at , they could just oust you using any means , ” lawmaker Claudia Mo told reporters .
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defended their removal , saying legislators must act properly and that the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We can not allow members of the Legislative Council who have been judged in accordance with the law to be unable to fulfill the requirements and prerequisites for serving on the Legislative Council to continue to operate in the Legislative Council , ” Lam said .
Lam said that the legislature would not become a rubber-stamp body , and that diverse opinions are welcome .
The U.S. , U.K. and Australia denounced the move .
President Donald Trump ’ s national security adviser , Robert O ’ Brien , said it leaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party ( CCP ) has flagrantly violated its international commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its promises to the people of Hong Kong… .
‘ One Country , Two Systems ’ is now merely a fig leaf covering for the CCP ’ s expanding one party dictatorship in Hong Kong.
” Australia said the disqualification of the four lawmakers “ seriously undermined ” Hong Kong ’ s democratic processes and institutions .
“ Australia calls on authorities to allow the Legislative Council to fulfil its role as the primary forum for popular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remain a key pillar of the rule of law and the “ One Country , Two Systems ” framework , ” Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement .
Britain also said the decision raised further concerns .
“ This campaign to harass , stifle and disqualify democratic opposition tarnishes China ’ s international reputation and undermines Hong Kong ’ s long-term stability , ” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement .
In recent months , Beijing has increasingly clamped down on Hong Kong , despite promising when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory ’ s more open legal and economic systems intact for 50 years until 2047 .
Beijing imposed a national security law in June that some have labeled draconian after anti-government protests rocked the city for months last year , and it has used it to crack down on opposition voices .
In response , the U.S. leveled sanctions on several officials , including Lam .
Several Western countries have suspended their extradition treaties with the territory , and Australia and Britain have offered Hong Kongers easier paths to settle in those countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it calls gross foreign interference in Chinese politics .
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Wednesday that the disqualification was necessary to maintain rule of law and constitutional order in Hong Kong .
“ We firmly support the ( Hong Kong ) government in performing its duties in accordance with the Standing Committee ’ s decision , ” he said .
Earlier in the year , the four lawmakers were barred from seeking reelection in a vote originally scheduled for September - but remained in their posts .
They were disqualified over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions on Hong Kong and Beijing .
The government eventually postponed the planned September election by a year , citing the coronavirus , but the pro-democracy camp criticized the move as an attempt to block them from taking a majority of seats in the Legislature - which was a possibility in the coming election .
Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann in Washington contributed to this report .

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s legislature opened Thursday ahead of the planned mass resignation of its pro-democracy bloc, one day after the government ousted four of its members.
One of the pro-democracy lawmakers, Lam Cheuk-ting, unfurled a banner from a balcony of the legislative council building saying the city’s leader Carrie Lam had brought disaster to Hong Kong and its people.
The group had said they would hand in resignation letters on Thursday, but it was not immediately clear when they would do it or even what the proper procedure was. One said the removal of their four colleagues could sound the “death knell” for democracy in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.
The resignation of the 15 remaining pro-democracy lawmakers would ratchet up tensions over the future of Hong Kong, a former British colony, regional financial hub and bastion of Western-style civil liberties where China’s government has increasingly tightened its control. A new national security law imposed by Beijing this year has alarmed the international community.
The mass departure would also leave Hong Kong’s legislature with only pro-Beijing lawmakers, who already make up a majority but would be able to pass bills favored by Beijing without much opposition.
The lawmakers announced their decision hours after the Hong Kong government said it was disqualifying the four legislators - Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung.
The ousters came after China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee passed a resolution this week saying that any lawmaker who supports Hong Kong’s independence, refuses to acknowledge China’s sovereignty over the city, threatens national security, or asks external forces to interfere in the city’s affairs should be disqualified.
“This is an actual act by Beijing … to sound the death knell of Hong Kong’s democracy fight because they would think that, from now on, anyone they found to be politically incorrect or unpatriotic or are simply not likable to look at, they could just oust you using any means,” lawmaker Claudia Mo told reporters.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defended their removal, saying legislators must act properly and that the city needs a body comprised of patriots.
“We cannot allow members of the Legislative Council who have been judged in accordance with the law to be unable to fulfill the requirements and prerequisites for serving on the Legislative Council to continue to operate in the Legislative Council,” Lam said.
Lam said that the legislature would not become a rubber-stamp body, and that diverse opinions are welcome.
The U.S., U.K. and Australia denounced the move.
President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, said it leaves “no doubt that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has flagrantly violated its international commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its promises to the people of Hong Kong… . ‘One Country, Two Systems’ is now merely a fig leaf covering for the CCP’s expanding one party dictatorship in Hong Kong.”
Australia said the disqualification of the four lawmakers “seriously undermined” Hong Kong’s democratic processes and institutions.
“Australia calls on authorities to allow the Legislative Council to fulfil its role as the primary forum for popular political expression in Hong Kong, and to remain a key pillar of the rule of law and the “One Country, Two Systems” framework,” Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement.
Britain also said the decision raised further concerns. “This campaign to harass, stifle and disqualify democratic opposition tarnishes China’s international reputation and undermines Hong Kong’s long-term stability,” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.
In recent months, Beijing has increasingly clamped down on Hong Kong, despite promising when it took control in 1997 to leave the territory’s more open legal and economic systems intact for 50 years until 2047.
Beijing imposed a national security law in June that some have labeled draconian after anti-government protests rocked the city for months last year, and it has used it to crack down on opposition voices.
In response, the U.S. leveled sanctions on several officials, including Lam. Several Western countries have suspended their extradition treaties with the territory, and Australia and Britain have offered Hong Kongers easier paths to settle in those countries.
Beijing has lashed out at what it calls gross foreign interference in Chinese politics. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Wednesday that the disqualification was necessary to maintain rule of law and constitutional order in Hong Kong.
“We firmly support the (Hong Kong) government in performing its duties in accordance with the Standing Committee’s decision,” he said.
Earlier in the year, the four lawmakers were barred from seeking reelection in a vote originally scheduled for September - but remained in their posts. They were disqualified over their calls for foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and Beijing.
The government eventually postponed the planned September election by a year, citing the coronavirus, but the pro-democracy camp criticized the move as an attempt to block them from taking a majority of seats in the Legislature - which was a possibility in the coming election.
____
Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann in Washington contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Central Texas teacher accused of shooting teenage son dead

WACO , Texas ( AP ) - A Central Texas schoolteacher is jailed under a murder charge in the fatal shooting of her teenage son as she was driving him to his first day at a new school .
Sarah Elizabeth Hunt , 39 , remained Wednesday in McLennan County Jail in Waco under a $ 500,000 bond , charged with murdering her 17-year-old son Garrett Hunt .
Jail records do not list an attorney for Sarah Hunt .
McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said deputies and police in the small town of Riesel were called just before 8 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Farm Road 1860 about 3.5 miles ( 5.5 kilometers ) east of Riesel .
They arrived to find a minivan with its engine running and Garrett Hunt ‘ s body in the front passenger seat with multiple gunshot wounds .
They also found a .40-caliber handgun , a .40-caliber magazine and cartridges on the floorboard and on the ground outside the vehicle , McNamara said .
“ She emptied the pistol into his body , 10 rounds .
He never had a chance , ” McNamara told KWTX-TV in Waco .
Two people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who told them her son needed help and was “ with her mother in heaven , ” according to an arrest affidavit .
“ What have I done… this is not real , ” she told the two people .
Later , under questioning , “ she would respond by sobbing , saying ‘ I didn ’ t mean to , I didn ’ t mean to , ’ ” the affidavit stated .
“ She said she didn ’ t know why she did it , but I say you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 40-caliber handgun and not know why you ’ re doing it .
“ One shot , maybe , but not 10 , and the gun was empty because the slide was locked back , ” McNamara said .
Hunt was in her first year as fifth-grade social studies and science teacher at Lake Air Montessori Magnet School , according to the Waco Independent School District .
She had previously worked as a teacher in the Andrews school district in West Texas .
The Hunt family had just moved to the Waco area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her son to Riesel High School to enroll .
“ She picked him up at his father ’ s home and started toward ( Riesel High School ) because it was the first day and she was going to register him , ” McNamara said .
“ Then she pulled over , got out of the car , stepped back and shot the boy dead.
” Investigators still have not determined a motive , he said .

WACO, Texas (AP) - A Central Texas schoolteacher is jailed under a murder charge in the fatal shooting of her teenage son as she was driving him to his first day at a new school.
Sarah Elizabeth Hunt, 39, remained Wednesday in McLennan County Jail in Waco under a $500,000 bond, charged with murdering her 17-year-old son Garrett Hunt. Jail records do not list an attorney for Sarah Hunt.
McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said deputies and police in the small town of Riesel were called just before 8 a.m. Monday to a vehicle reported stalled on Farm Road 1860 about 3.5 miles (5.5 kilometers) east of Riesel. They arrived to find a minivan with its engine running and Garrett Hunt’s body in the front passenger seat with multiple gunshot wounds.
They also found a .40-caliber handgun, a .40-caliber magazine and cartridges on the floorboard and on the ground outside the vehicle, McNamara said.
“She emptied the pistol into his body, 10 rounds. He never had a chance,” McNamara told KWTX-TV in Waco.
Two people encountered the mother walking along the road, who told them her son needed help and was “with her mother in heaven,” according to an arrest affidavit.
“What have I done… this is not real,” she told the two people. Later, under questioning, “she would respond by sobbing, saying ‘I didn’t mean to, I didn’t mean to,’” the affidavit stated.
“She said she didn’t know why she did it, but I say you can’t shoot someone 10 times with a 40-caliber handgun and not know why you’re doing it. “One shot, maybe, but not 10, and the gun was empty because the slide was locked back,” McNamara said.
Hunt was in her first year as fifth-grade social studies and science teacher at Lake Air Montessori Magnet School, according to the Waco Independent School District. She had previously worked as a teacher in the Andrews school district in West Texas.
The Hunt family had just moved to the Waco area and Hunt was thought to be taking her son to Riesel High School to enroll.
“She picked him up at his father’s home and started toward (Riesel High School) because it was the first day and she was going to register him,” McNamara said. “Then she pulled over, got out of the car, stepped back and shot the boy dead.”
Investigators still have not determined a motive, he said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Police say Amish teen killed when buggy is rear-ended by SUV

GEORGETOWN , N.Y. ( AP ) - An Amish teenager was killed when the horse-drawn buggy he was driving was @ @ @ @ @ vehicle in central New York , police said .
The crash happened at 5:15 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ Georgetown in Madison County .
Seventeen-year-old Rudy Hershberger was driving a buggy on State Route @ @ @ @ @ rear-ended by an SUV , state police said .
Hershberger was ejected from the buggy @ @ @ @ @ of the road , they said .
He was taken to a hospital , where @ @ @ @ @ The SUV driver , 19-year-old Taylor Manwarren , told troopers she did not see the @ @ @ @ @ .
She was not injured .
Tests found that Manwarren was not impaired by alcohol @ @ @ @ @ .
No charges have been filed .
The investigation is continuing .

GEORGETOWN, N.Y. (AP) - An Amish teenager was killed when the horse-drawn buggy he was driving was rear-ended by a sport utility vehicle in central New York, police said.
The crash happened at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday in the town of Georgetown in Madison County.
Seventeen-year-old Rudy Hershberger was driving a buggy on State Route 26 when the vehicle was rear-ended by an SUV, state police said. Hershberger was ejected from the buggy and landed on the shoulder of the road, they said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The SUV driver, 19-year-old Taylor Manwarren, told troopers she did not see the buggy until she hit it. She was not injured.
Tests found that Manwarren was not impaired by alcohol or drugs, police said. No charges have been filed. The investigation is continuing.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--DeSantis pushes "anti-mob" proposal in response to protests

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. ( AP ) - An “ anti-mob ” legislation drafted by Gov .
Ron DeSantis and aimed at police brutality protests sprouting up in other cities would expand Florida ’ s Stand Your Ground law , a move critics say would allow bystanders to shoot and kill looters .
DeSantis announced the proposal Tuesday , continuing his pledge from September to “ crack down on violent and disorderly assemblies ” in response to police brutality protests in other cities that occurred after the death of George Floyd , a Black man killed by Minneapolis police officers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ anti-mob legislation draft ” would expand the list of “ forcible felonies ” under Florida ’ s self-defense law to include property crimes .
It would justify the use of force against citizens who are “ interrupting or impairing ” business during “ violent or disorderly assembly.
” The proposal would also increase criminal penalties for people involved in “ disorderly assemblies , ” make it a third-degree felony to block traffic during protests and provide immunity to drivers who “ unintentionally ” hit protesters blocking traffic .
Miami Beach Mayor Dan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an invitation to incite violence.
” Gelber has been a critic of the Stand Your Ground law since it passed in 2005 .
Former Miami-Dade prosecutor Aubrey Webb said the draft is vague and could lead to deaths for minor infractions .
“ It dangerously gives armed private citizens power to kill as they subjectively determine what constitutes ‘ criminal mischief ’ that interferes with a business , ” Webb said .
“ Someone graffiti-ing ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ on a wall ?
Urinating behind a dumpster ?
Blocking an entrance ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sarasota Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters both said they were interested in the proposal but have not said whether they will sponsor the bill .
As of Tuesday , the proposal is still a draft .
No bills have been filed in either the House or Senate .

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - An “anti-mob” legislation drafted by Gov. Ron DeSantis and aimed at police brutality protests sprouting up in other cities would expand Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, a move critics say would allow bystanders to shoot and kill looters.
DeSantis announced the proposal Tuesday, continuing his pledge from September to “crack down on violent and disorderly assemblies” in response to police brutality protests in other cities that occurred after the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by Minneapolis police officers, news outlets reported.
The proposal titled “anti-mob legislation draft” would expand the list of “forcible felonies” under Florida’s self-defense law to include property crimes. It would justify the use of force against citizens who are “interrupting or impairing” business during “violent or disorderly assembly.”
The proposal would also increase criminal penalties for people involved in “disorderly assemblies,” make it a third-degree felony to block traffic during protests and provide immunity to drivers who “unintentionally” hit protesters blocking traffic.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said the proposal “sounds like an invitation to incite violence.”
Gelber has been a critic of the Stand Your Ground law since it passed in 2005.
Former Miami-Dade prosecutor Aubrey Webb said the draft is vague and could lead to deaths for minor infractions.
“It dangerously gives armed private citizens power to kill as they subjectively determine what constitutes ‘criminal mischief’ that interferes with a business,” Webb said. “Someone graffiti-ing ‘Black Lives Matter’ on a wall? Urinating behind a dumpster? Blocking an entrance?”
Incoming Senate President Wilton Simpson and Sarasota Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters both said they were interested in the proposal but have not said whether they will sponsor the bill.
As of Tuesday, the proposal is still a draft. No bills have been filed in either the House or Senate.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Women, Islamists suffer setbacks in election in Jordan

AMMAN , Jordan ( AP ) - The already small number of female legislators in Jordan ’ s parliament dropped even further on Thursday , while Islamist opposition parties also lost seats as officials announced results from this week ’ s parliamentary elections .
Khalid Al Kalaldeh , chairman of the Independent Election Commission , said the number of female lawmakers dropped from 20 to 15 .
Fifteen seats are reserved for women under a quota system , and no women were elected in competitive races , the commission said .
In all , voters chose 130 members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seats reserved for women , nine for Christians and three for minority Chechens and Circassians .
The government in Jordan , a close U.S. ally , is more representative than others in the Middle East , but most power is held by King Abdullah II , who appoints the government and all members of the senate and can dissolve parliament at any time .
The electoral system favors pro-monarchy tribal representatives , businessmen and independents who are loyal to the king .
The Islamic Action Front , which is linked to the Muslim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compared to 15 seats in the previous , 2016 election .
The party has complained the electoral system is unfair .
It forged electoral alliances with Christian , ethnic minority or tribal candidates in some areas .
More than 4.5 million Jordanians were eligible to vote in 23 constituencies .
But only 1.38 million people , or 29.9 % , voted , down from 36 % turnout in 2016 .
The election came at a time when the country is dealing with a coronavirus pandemic that has badly hit the economy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Syria and Iraq , and hosts large numbers of Syrian and Palestinian refugees .
The kingdom , which has a population of around 10 million , has confirmed over 126,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 1,500 deaths .

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - The already small number of female legislators in Jordan’s parliament dropped even further on Thursday, while Islamist opposition parties also lost seats as officials announced results from this week’s parliamentary elections.
Khalid Al Kalaldeh, chairman of the Independent Election Commission, said the number of female lawmakers dropped from 20 to 15. Fifteen seats are reserved for women under a quota system, and no women were elected in competitive races, the commission said.
In all, voters chose 130 members of the lower house of parliament, with 15 seats reserved for women, nine for Christians and three for minority Chechens and Circassians.
The government in Jordan, a close U.S. ally, is more representative than others in the Middle East, but most power is held by King Abdullah II, who appoints the government and all members of the senate and can dissolve parliament at any time.
The electoral system favors pro-monarchy tribal representatives, businessmen and independents who are loyal to the king.
The Islamic Action Front, which is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood group, won only 10 seats, compared to 15 seats in the previous, 2016 election. The party has complained the electoral system is unfair. It forged electoral alliances with Christian, ethnic minority or tribal candidates in some areas.
More than 4.5 million Jordanians were eligible to vote in 23 constituencies. But only 1.38 million people, or 29.9%, voted, down from 36% turnout in 2016.
The election came at a time when the country is dealing with a coronavirus pandemic that has badly hit the economy and its key tourism industry.
Jordan borders both Syria and Iraq, and hosts large numbers of Syrian and Palestinian refugees.
The kingdom, which has a population of around 10 million, has confirmed over 126,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 1,500 deaths.


washingtontimes--2020-11-12--Nurse charged with murder of 8 babies in UK held in custody

LONDON ( AP ) - A nurse accused of killing eight babies and trying to kill another 10 at a @ @ @ @ @ remanded into custody Thursday , a day after she was charged with murder and attempted @ @ @ @ @ 30 , was remanded in custody after appearing via video link during a brief 10-minute @ @ @ @ @ Court .
She sat behind a desk , next to her lawyer , and confirmed @ @ @ @ @ birth and home address .
No pleas were entered and Letby will appear at Chester @ @ @ @ @ Letby was arrested Tuesday following an investigation into deaths at the neonatal unit of the @ @ @ @ @ south of Liverpool .
The deaths relate to the period between June 2015 and June @ @ @ @ @ investigation into the deaths of a number of babies at the hospital in May 2017 @ @ @ @ @ for the third time in connection with the deaths .
She was previously arrested in @ @ @ @ @ both times was released on bail pending further investigation without being charged .

LONDON (AP) - A nurse accused of killing eight babies and trying to kill another 10 at a hospital in northwest England was remanded into custody Thursday, a day after she was charged with murder and attempted murder.
Lucy Letby, 30, was remanded in custody after appearing via video link during a brief 10-minute hearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court. She sat behind a desk, next to her lawyer, and confirmed her name, date of birth and home address.
No pleas were entered and Letby will appear at Chester Crown Court on Friday.
Letby was arrested Tuesday following an investigation into deaths at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital, south of Liverpool. The deaths relate to the period between June 2015 and June 2016.
Police launched an investigation into the deaths of a number of babies at the hospital in May 2017. Letby was arrested Tuesday for the third time in connection with the deaths. She was previously arrested in 2018 and 2019, and both times was released on bail pending further investigation without being charged.