washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Activist fined for dislodging African art from Paris museum

PARIS ( AP ) — A Congolese activist was fined 2,000 euros ( $ 2,320 ) Wednesday for trying to take a 19th-century African funeral pole from a Paris museum in a protest against colonial-era injustice that he streamed online .
The Paris court convicted Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza and two other activists of attempted theft , but the sentence stopped far short of what they potentially faced for their actions at the Quai Branly Museum : 10 years in prison and 150,000 euros in fines .
Activists and defense lawyers viewed the case as a trial about how former empires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s museum action took place in June , amid global protests against racial injustice and colonial-era wrongs unleashed by George Floyd ’ s death on May 25 in the U.S. at the knee of a white policeman .
In the Quai Branly protest , Diyabanza and other activists dislodged the funeral pole from its perch while he gave a livestreamed speech about plundered African art .
Guards quickly stopped them .
The activists argue that they never planned to steal the work but just wanted to call attention to its origins .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on the specific funeral pole incident and that his court wasn ’ t competent to judge France ’ s colonial era .
French officials denounced the Quai Branly incident , saying it threatens ongoing negotiations with African countries launched by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2018 for legal , organized restitution efforts .
Diyabanza has staged similar actions in the Netherlands and the southern French city of Marseille .
He accuses European museums of making millions on artworks taken from now-impoverished countries like his native Congo , and said the funeral pole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be among the works returned to Africa .

PARIS (AP) — A Congolese activist was fined 2,000 euros ($2,320) Wednesday for trying to take a 19th-century African funeral pole from a Paris museum in a protest against colonial-era injustice that he streamed online.
The Paris court convicted Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza and two other activists of attempted theft, but the sentence stopped far short of what they potentially faced for their actions at the Quai Branly Museum: 10 years in prison and 150,000 euros in fines.
Activists and defense lawyers viewed the case as a trial about how former empires should atone for past crimes. Diyabanza’s museum action took place in June, amid global protests against racial injustice and colonial-era wrongs unleashed by George Floyd’s death on May 25 in the U.S. at the knee of a white policeman.
In the Quai Branly protest, Diyabanza and other activists dislodged the funeral pole from its perch while he gave a livestreamed speech about plundered African art. Guards quickly stopped them. The activists argue that they never planned to steal the work but just wanted to call attention to its origins.
The presiding judge insisted the trial should focus on the specific funeral pole incident and that his court wasn’t competent to judge France’s colonial era.
French officials denounced the Quai Branly incident, saying it threatens ongoing negotiations with African countries launched by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2018 for legal, organized restitution efforts.
Diyabanza has staged similar actions in the Netherlands and the southern French city of Marseille. He accuses European museums of making millions on artworks taken from now-impoverished countries like his native Congo, and said the funeral pole, which came from current-day Chad, should be among the works returned to Africa.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Nagorno-Karabakh fighting raises threat of deadly escalation

MOSCOW ( AP ) — A Russian attempt to broker a cease-fire to end the worst outbreak of hostilities over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in more than a quarter-century has failed to get any traction , with rivals Azerbaijan and Armenia trading blame for new attacks .
The failure of the truce that was supposed to begin Saturday reflects the uncompromising positions of the two South Caucasus nations that have stymied decades of diplomatic efforts .
The escalation of fighting raises the specter of a wider conflict that could draw in Russia and Turkey and threaten Caspian Sea energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and geopolitical aspects of the conflict and its potential fallout : Nagorno-Karabakh , populated mostly by Armenians , was an autonomous region inside Azerbaijan during the Soviet era .
Historic tensions between Christian Armenians and mostly Muslim Azerbaijanis , fueled by memories of the 1915 massacre of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks , exploded in the final years of the Soviet Union .
In 1988 , the region sought to join Armenia , triggering hostilities that morphed into an all-out war as the USSR collapsed in 1991 .
By the time a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated 30,000 people had been killed and up to 1 million were displaced .
Armenian forces not only held Nagorno-Karabakh itself but also seized substantial chunks of land outside the territory ’ s borders .
Nagorno-Karabakh , a forested , mountainous territory that covers about 4,400 square kilometers ( 1,700 square miles ) , the size of the U.S. state of Delaware , has run its own affairs ever since , relying on Armenia ’ s support .
Ever since Armenian forces routed Azerbaijani troops in the war , international mediators have sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States and France , which co-sponsored the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , have put forward numerous peace initiatives , but Armenia ’ s stiff resistance to surrendering any land has been a key stumbling block .
Azerbaijan , meanwhile , has relied on its oil wealth to modernize its military and now argues that it has the right to reclaim its land by force after nearly three decades of failed international mediation .
While separatist forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aging Soviet-built weapons , Azerbaijan has completely revamped its arsenal with state-of-the-art attack drones and powerful long-range multiple rocket systems supplied by its neighbor and ally , Turkey .
More than two weeks of fighting has shown that Azerbaijan has clearly outgunned the Nagorno-Karabakh forces and put them on the defensive .
Azerbaijani troops have made significant advances in several areas around Nagorno-Karabakh and showered its towns with rockets and artillery shells .
Armenian forces have countered with Soviet-built howitzers , antiquated BM-21 rocket launchers and obsolete Tochka-U missiles that lack the punch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modern weapons .
Unlike previous outbursts of hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh , NATO-member Turkey , which has close ethnic , cultural and historic bonds with Azerbaijan , took a higher profile and vowed to help Azerbaijan reclaim its territory .
Turkey ’ s newly assertive role reflects President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s ambitions to expand his nation ’ s clout .
Armenian officials say Turkey is directly involved in the conflict and is sending Syrian mercenaries to fight on Azerbaijan ’ s side .
Turkey has denied deploying combatants to the region , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition activists have confirmed that Turkey has sent hundreds of Syrian opposition fighters to fight in Nagorno-Karabakh .
Armenian authorities also charge that Turkey provides Azerbaijan with intelligence and even air cover , claiming that a Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down an Armenian warplane .
Turkey and Azerbaijan have denied the claim , but Azerbaijan ’ s president admitted that Turkish F-16s have stayed on in Azerbaijan weeks after a joint military exercise .
He insisted that they have remained grounded .
While Armenia aims to preserve the 1994 status quo in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contain the damage and regroup , Azerbaijan , with Turkey ’ s blessing , clearly is bracing for a long fight , hoping to bleed Armenia and force it to make concessions .
The escalation of fighting is a major challenge for Russia , which has a military base in Armenia but also has sought to maintain good ties with Azerbaijan and avoid a showdown with Turkey .
Russia and Turkey have learned to accommodate mutual interests in Syria and Libya and have developed strong economic ties , but the fighting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan and Turkey have accepted Russia ’ s mediation and grudgingly agreed to a truce , but they have made it clear that see the cease-fire as temporary until Armenia agrees to pull back its forces from Nagorno-Karabakh .
Landlocked Armenia , emaciated by three decades of Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades , lacks resources for a drawn-out conflict .
But it can ’ t be expected to yield to pressure .
Patriotic sentiments run high , and Armenians of all trades and ages have volunteered to go the front lines .
If Armenian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia could raise the stakes in the conflict by recognizing the separatist region ’ s independence — something it hasn ’ t done yet — and openly challenging Azerbaijan militarily .
So far , Armenian officials have denied making any strikes on Azerbaijan from its territory , a claim contested by Azerbaijan .
Armenia has several high-precision Iskander surface-to-surface missile systems supplied by Russia .
It hasn ’ t used the powerful weapon yet , but it could be tempted to if Armenian forces face the prospect of losing Nagorno-Karabakh .
Armenian authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan ’ s infrastructure , including an oil pipeline carrying its Caspian crude to Turkey and on to Western markets , but their calculus may change if Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh are cornered .
If the Armenian forces target the strategic pipeline , Azerbaijan could also up the ante .
During the previous escalation of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan in July , Azerbaijan ’ s Defense Ministry boasted of its state-of-the-art missile systems that are capable of striking Armenia ’ s Metsamor nuclear power plant — a threat the Armenian authorities at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If Azerbaijan openly strikes Armenian territory , Moscow would be obliged by its military pact with Yerevan to intervene militarily to protect its ally .
Turkey could hardly be expected to stay idle , too .

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian attempt to broker a cease-fire to end the worst outbreak of hostilities over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in more than a quarter-century has failed to get any traction, with rivals Azerbaijan and Armenia trading blame for new attacks.
The failure of the truce that was supposed to begin Saturday reflects the uncompromising positions of the two South Caucasus nations that have stymied decades of diplomatic efforts. The escalation of fighting raises the specter of a wider conflict that could draw in Russia and Turkey and threaten Caspian Sea energy exports.
A look at some military and geopolitical aspects of the conflict and its potential fallout:
ROOTS OF THE CONFLICT
Nagorno-Karabakh, populated mostly by Armenians, was an autonomous region inside Azerbaijan during the Soviet era. Historic tensions between Christian Armenians and mostly Muslim Azerbaijanis, fueled by memories of the 1915 massacre of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks, exploded in the final years of the Soviet Union.
In 1988, the region sought to join Armenia, triggering hostilities that morphed into an all-out war as the USSR collapsed in 1991. By the time a 1994 cease-fire ended the fighting, an estimated 30,000 people had been killed and up to 1 million were displaced. Armenian forces not only held Nagorno-Karabakh itself but also seized substantial chunks of land outside the territory’s borders.
Nagorno-Karabakh, a forested, mountainous territory that covers about 4,400 square kilometers (1,700 square miles), the size of the U.S. state of Delaware, has run its own affairs ever since, relying on Armenia’s support.
FAILED PEACE INITIATIVES
Ever since Armenian forces routed Azerbaijani troops in the war, international mediators have sought a political settlement.
Russia, the United States and France, which co-sponsored the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, have put forward numerous peace initiatives, but Armenia’s stiff resistance to surrendering any land has been a key stumbling block.
Azerbaijan, meanwhile, has relied on its oil wealth to modernize its military and now argues that it has the right to reclaim its land by force after nearly three decades of failed international mediation.
MILITARY DISPARITY
While separatist forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian military continue to rely mostly on aging Soviet-built weapons, Azerbaijan has completely revamped its arsenal with state-of-the-art attack drones and powerful long-range multiple rocket systems supplied by its neighbor and ally, Turkey.
More than two weeks of fighting has shown that Azerbaijan has clearly outgunned the Nagorno-Karabakh forces and put them on the defensive. Azerbaijani troops have made significant advances in several areas around Nagorno-Karabakh and showered its towns with rockets and artillery shells.
Armenian forces have countered with Soviet-built howitzers, antiquated BM-21 rocket launchers and obsolete Tochka-U missiles that lack the punch and precision of Azerbaijan’s more modern weapons.
TURKEY’S NEW ROLE
Unlike previous outbursts of hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh, NATO-member Turkey, which has close ethnic, cultural and historic bonds with Azerbaijan, took a higher profile and vowed to help Azerbaijan reclaim its territory. Turkey’s newly assertive role reflects President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ambitions to expand his nation’s clout.
Armenian officials say Turkey is directly involved in the conflict and is sending Syrian mercenaries to fight on Azerbaijan’s side. Turkey has denied deploying combatants to the region, but a Syrian war monitor and Syria-based opposition activists have confirmed that Turkey has sent hundreds of Syrian opposition fighters to fight in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenian authorities also charge that Turkey provides Azerbaijan with intelligence and even air cover, claiming that a Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down an Armenian warplane. Turkey and Azerbaijan have denied the claim, but Azerbaijan’s president admitted that Turkish F-16s have stayed on in Azerbaijan weeks after a joint military exercise. He insisted that they have remained grounded.
CONFLICTING GOALS
While Armenia aims to preserve the 1994 status quo in the region and desperately needs a cease-fire to contain the damage and regroup, Azerbaijan, with Turkey’s blessing, clearly is bracing for a long fight, hoping to bleed Armenia and force it to make concessions.
The escalation of fighting is a major challenge for Russia, which has a military base in Armenia but also has sought to maintain good ties with Azerbaijan and avoid a showdown with Turkey. Russia and Turkey have learned to accommodate mutual interests in Syria and Libya and have developed strong economic ties, but the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh could now shatter their alliance.
Azerbaijan and Turkey have accepted Russia’s mediation and grudgingly agreed to a truce, but they have made it clear that see the cease-fire as temporary until Armenia agrees to pull back its forces from Nagorno-Karabakh.
LOOMING ESCALATION
Landlocked Armenia, emaciated by three decades of Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, lacks resources for a drawn-out conflict. But it can’t be expected to yield to pressure. Patriotic sentiments run high, and Armenians of all trades and ages have volunteered to go the front lines.
If Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh start losing ground, Armenia could raise the stakes in the conflict by recognizing the separatist region’s independence — something it hasn’t done yet — and openly challenging Azerbaijan militarily. So far, Armenian officials have denied making any strikes on Azerbaijan from its territory, a claim contested by Azerbaijan.
Armenia has several high-precision Iskander surface-to-surface missile systems supplied by Russia. It hasn’t used the powerful weapon yet, but it could be tempted to if Armenian forces face the prospect of losing Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenian authorities so far have vowed not to target Azerbaijan’s infrastructure, including an oil pipeline carrying its Caspian crude to Turkey and on to Western markets, but their calculus may change if Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh are cornered. If the Armenian forces target the strategic pipeline, Azerbaijan could also up the ante.
During the previous escalation of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan in July, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry boasted of its state-of-the-art missile systems that are capable of striking Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear power plant — a threat the Armenian authorities at the time denounced as “genocidal.”
If Azerbaijan openly strikes Armenian territory, Moscow would be obliged by its military pact with Yerevan to intervene militarily to protect its ally. Turkey could hardly be expected to stay idle, too.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--UK urged to conclude trade deal with EU to limit Brexit cost

LONDON ( AP ) - A leading international economic watchdog urged the British government to conclude a free trade agreement with the European Union in the coming days and weeks to support the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic .
In its latest survey of the the British economy , the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Wednesday that a trade deal that ensures a close relationship will minimize the costs of Brexit .
The OECD , which monitors and advises its 37 member countries , said the British economy will likely end this year 10.1 % smaller than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a national lockdown was imposed to suppress the coronavirus outbreak .
Though the British economy recovered around half the output lost during the summer , when the lockdown was eased , the resurgence of the virus in the past few weeks has led to further government restrictions on businesses , both nationally and locally .
As a result the economy is set to lose steam and potentially fall back into recession during the winter .
The OECD warned that the economy will be further hobbled by a rise in unemployment , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a wage support program .
With that ending this month , the OECD is forecasting a spike in unemployment to 5.3 % by the end of this year from 4.3 % at present .
The organization warned that the economy won ’ t have recovered all the ground lost during the pandemic by the end of 2021 as it is estimating growth of 7.6 % for next year - assuming the U.K. and the EU will have reached a free trade arrangement .
Alvaro Pereira , on OECD director , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brexit “ obviously compounds ” the economic effects of the pandemic but that a trade deal would “ help minimize the impact.
” Though the U.K. left the bloc on Jan. 31 , it is in a transition period that sees it remain within the EU ’ s tariff-free single market and customs union until the end of this year .
A trade deal would ensure there are no tariffs and quotas on trade in goods between the two sides , but there would still be technical costs , partly associated with customs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the OECD , even a smooth trade deal would see the British economy around 3.5 % smaller in coming years than it would have been had it remained within the EU .
That would more or less double if the talks collapse and there is no deal .
The OECD said a no-deal outcome would have “ a major negative impact on trade and jobs.
” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had set a summit of EU leaders on Thursday as the deadline for a trade deal , but the talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few more weeks .
Follow AP ’ s full coverage of Brexit and British politics at https : //www.apnews.com/Brexit

LONDON (AP) - A leading international economic watchdog urged the British government to conclude a free trade agreement with the European Union in the coming days and weeks to support the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
In its latest survey of the the British economy, the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Wednesday that a trade deal that ensures a close relationship will minimize the costs of Brexit.
The OECD, which monitors and advises its 37 member countries, said the British economy will likely end this year 10.1% smaller than it started following the spring slump when a national lockdown was imposed to suppress the coronavirus outbreak.
Though the British economy recovered around half the output lost during the summer, when the lockdown was eased, the resurgence of the virus in the past few weeks has led to further government restrictions on businesses, both nationally and locally. As a result the economy is set to lose steam and potentially fall back into recession during the winter.
The OECD warned that the economy will be further hobbled by a rise in unemployment, which has been largely held in check this year by a wage support program. With that ending this month, the OECD is forecasting a spike in unemployment to 5.3% by the end of this year from 4.3% at present.
The organization warned that the economy won’t have recovered all the ground lost during the pandemic by the end of 2021 as it is estimating growth of 7.6% for next year - assuming the U.K. and the EU will have reached a free trade arrangement.
Alvaro Pereira, on OECD director, said in a news conference that any form of Brexit “obviously compounds” the economic effects of the pandemic but that a trade deal would “help minimize the impact.”
Though the U.K. left the bloc on Jan. 31, it is in a transition period that sees it remain within the EU’s tariff-free single market and customs union until the end of this year.
A trade deal would ensure there are no tariffs and quotas on trade in goods between the two sides, but there would still be technical costs, partly associated with customs checks and non-tariff barriers on services.
According to the OECD, even a smooth trade deal would see the British economy around 3.5% smaller in coming years than it would have been had it remained within the EU. That would more or less double if the talks collapse and there is no deal. The OECD said a no-deal outcome would have “a major negative impact on trade and jobs.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had set a summit of EU leaders on Thursday as the deadline for a trade deal, but the talks are widely expected to continue for a few more weeks.
___
Follow AP’s full coverage of Brexit and British politics at https://www.apnews.com/Brexit


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Edmunds: Car value myths, busted

Edmunds: Car value myths, busted

You ’ ve probably heard over the years a number of tips or myths regarding the value of your car .
They might involve how quickly a new vehicle depreciates , for instance , or the biggest factor that influences the value of your used vehicle .
But are they true , especially this year because of new pandemic-related market trends ?
Edmunds ’ experts analyzed the most popular car value myths to find the truth behind them .
MYTH : NEW CARS LOSE 20 % THE MOMENT THEY DRIVE OFF THE LOT True .
“ The first hit on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Richard Arca , director of vehicle valuations and analytics for Edmunds .
If you traded in your vehicle within a week or so , you ’ re losing the sales tax and fees you paid on the car - about 11 % .
Plus , the dealership will offer you less since the car is no longer new and it needs to make a profit on the sale .
That will lead to a further drop of 8 % -10 % , Arca said .
Ultimately , the dealership will plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than what a new one would go for , he added .
On average , a new vehicle depreciates by 30.5 % in its first year , 7.7 % in the second and 6.8 % in the third year , according to Edmunds data .
This depreciation figure is an average among all brands , but as a general rule , luxury vehicles will depreciate faster , while vehicles with higher resale value ( a Toyota Tacoma , for example ) will be closer to 20 % in the first year .
MYTH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TRADE-IN VALUE False .
The truth is there is no magic number .
Mileage does play a role in a vehicle ’ s value , but not as much as you might think .
As a general rule , the value of your vehicle will drop slightly with every 10,000 miles you add .
But according to Edmunds data , there is no major drop-off at any certain milestone .
Even the infamous 100,000-mile mark is not a value-killer as long as the vehicle is in good shape .
What matters more to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your vehicle is likely to retain 60 % to 70 % of its original value if it is only a few years old .
This remains true even if you racked up the miles .
Cars that are more than 5 years old are less likely to reach those figures , even if you went easy on the miles .
The condition of your car does matter .
If your older car is in good shape , it will retain value - dealers can often resell older vehicles much more quickly than newer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting the most money for your trade-in , newer is better .
MYTH : WAIT UNTIL THE END OF YEAR TO MAXIMIZE YOUR CAR ’ S VALUE True and false .
End-of-the-year sales might be the best time for buying a new car , but the trade-in numbers favor a different time of year .
Values tend to be higher in the first two quarters of the year , with larger drops in the final two quarters .
There are more buyers in the market early in the year , and dealerships need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Also , a used car feels more new when it is eight or 10 months away from turning a model year older rather than just two or four months away .
These are good things to keep in mind when you ’ re looking to either time your trade-in or negotiate with a salesperson in March instead of October .
That said , 2020 is an exception because we ’ ve seen an upward curve in used car values .
Now really is the best time to maximize your car ’ s value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MYTH : BUYING OUT YOUR LEASE IS A BAD VALUE False .
Some experts will tell you not to buy your lease at the end of the term for a number of reasons .
The price is often non-negotiable , the prices can be sometimes out of touch with the market , and none of your lease payments have counted toward this purchase .
But here ’ s why you should reconsider .
This year ’ s market has been thrown off due to the pandemic and used car prices remain high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to what the same car might cost at the dealership .
And there ’ s no research to be done on the car .
You should already know if you love it and you know its history since you are the first owner .
This takes away much of the guesswork with finding a used car .
EDMUNDS SAYS : Many factors affect a vehicle ’ s value , but ultimately a car that ’ s in good shape will command a larger sum than one with multiple dings and a messy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do for your car ’ s value is to take care of it .
This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds .
Ronald Montoya is a senior consumer advice editor at Edmunds .
Twitter : @ ronald_montoya8 .
-3-Year-Old Vehicles Ranked by Retained Value and Trade-In Value : https : //edmu.in/3nbqNsP -Start With an Online Offer When Selling or Trading In Your Car : https : //edmu.in/3im7OZh -Edmunds : Now is a great time to sell or trade in your car : https : //bit.ly/36sTWKf

You’ve probably heard over the years a number of tips or myths regarding the value of your car. They might involve how quickly a new vehicle depreciates, for instance, or the biggest factor that influences the value of your used vehicle. But are they true, especially this year because of new pandemic-related market trends? Edmunds’ experts analyzed the most popular car value myths to find the truth behind them.
MYTH: NEW CARS LOSE 20% THE MOMENT THEY DRIVE OFF THE LOT
True. “The first hit on the car is basically immediate,” said Richard Arca, director of vehicle valuations and analytics for Edmunds.
If you traded in your vehicle within a week or so, you’re losing the sales tax and fees you paid on the car - about 11%. Plus, the dealership will offer you less since the car is no longer new and it needs to make a profit on the sale. That will lead to a further drop of 8%-10%, Arca said.
Ultimately, the dealership will plan to sell it for around 4% less than what a new one would go for, he added.
On average, a new vehicle depreciates by 30.5% in its first year, 7.7% in the second and 6.8% in the third year, according to Edmunds data. This depreciation figure is an average among all brands, but as a general rule, luxury vehicles will depreciate faster, while vehicles with higher resale value (a Toyota Tacoma, for example) will be closer to 20% in the first year.
MYTH: MILES HAVE THE BIGGEST EFFECT ON TRADE-IN VALUE
False. The truth is there is no magic number. Mileage does play a role in a vehicle’s value, but not as much as you might think. As a general rule, the value of your vehicle will drop slightly with every 10,000 miles you add. But according to Edmunds data, there is no major drop-off at any certain milestone. Even the infamous 100,000-mile mark is not a value-killer as long as the vehicle is in good shape.
What matters more to a dealership? The model year. Your vehicle is likely to retain 60% to 70% of its original value if it is only a few years old. This remains true even if you racked up the miles. Cars that are more than 5 years old are less likely to reach those figures, even if you went easy on the miles.
The condition of your car does matter. If your older car is in good shape, it will retain value - dealers can often resell older vehicles much more quickly than newer ones. But when it comes to getting the most money for your trade-in, newer is better.
MYTH: WAIT UNTIL THE END OF YEAR TO MAXIMIZE YOUR CAR’S VALUE
True and false. End-of-the-year sales might be the best time for buying a new car, but the trade-in numbers favor a different time of year. Values tend to be higher in the first two quarters of the year, with larger drops in the final two quarters.
There are more buyers in the market early in the year, and dealerships need more cars to feed the demand. Also, a used car feels more new when it is eight or 10 months away from turning a model year older rather than just two or four months away. These are good things to keep in mind when you’re looking to either time your trade-in or negotiate with a salesperson in March instead of October.
That said, 2020 is an exception because we’ve seen an upward curve in used car values. Now really is the best time to maximize your car’s value if you plan on trading it in.
MYTH: BUYING OUT YOUR LEASE IS A BAD VALUE
False. Some experts will tell you not to buy your lease at the end of the term for a number of reasons. The price is often non-negotiable, the prices can be sometimes out of touch with the market, and none of your lease payments have counted toward this purchase. But here’s why you should reconsider.
This year’s market has been thrown off due to the pandemic and used car prices remain high. Your lease may be a bargain compared to what the same car might cost at the dealership. And there’s no research to be done on the car. You should already know if you love it and you know its history since you are the first owner. This takes away much of the guesswork with finding a used car.
EDMUNDS SAYS: Many factors affect a vehicle’s value, but ultimately a car that’s in good shape will command a larger sum than one with multiple dings and a messy interior. The best thing you can do for your car’s value is to take care of it.
___
This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Ronald Montoya is a senior consumer advice editor at Edmunds. Twitter: @ronald_montoya8.
Related links:
-Edmunds car appraisal tool: https://edmu.in/3n8w2JZ
-3-Year-Old Vehicles Ranked by Retained Value and Trade-In Value: https://edmu.in/3nbqNsP
-Start With an Online Offer When Selling or Trading In Your Car: https://edmu.in/3im7OZh
-Edmunds: Now is a great time to sell or trade in your car: https://bit.ly/36sTWKf


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Pakistan says soldier killed by firing from Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD ( AP ) - Pakistan ’ s military on Wednesday said a soldier was killed and another wounded in the country ’ s northwest by fire from across the Afghan border , a sign of increasing violence in an area that until recent years served as a base for Pakistani and foreign militants .
The attack hit a border security post in Bajur district , a former tribal region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province .
The military statement said the shooting came from the Afghan side of the frontier , and did not speculate on who was behind the attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed two Pakistani soldiers in July and September , respectively .
Pakistan ’ s border areas served as a base for the Pakistani Taliban and other militants until a few years ago , when the army said it cleared the region of insurgents , but occasional attacks have continued .
Such attacks have raised fears that the Pakistani Taliban are regrouping .
Pakistan and Afghanistan often accuse each other of turning a blind eye to militants operating along the porous frontier , which stretches 2,400 kilometers ( 1,500 miles ) across rugged mountainous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July said more than 6,000 Pakistani insurgents were hiding in Afghanistan , most belonging to the Pakistani Taliban .
Also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan , they are a separate insurgent group from the Afghan Taliban , although Pakistan ’ s militant groups are often interlinked with those across the border .
Pakistan ’ s military has been waging a decades old battle with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan , some of whom have aligned themselves with the Islamic State affiliate headquartered in Afghanistan .
In September , two Pakistani soldiers were killed in a shootout with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waziristan district , which also borders Afghanistan .
Earlier that month , the Pakistani Taliban took responsibility for a powerful roadside bombing in the same district that targeted a military vehicle , killing three soldiers and wounding four .

ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan’s military said seven troops were killed in separate incidents on Wednesday in the country’s northwest, in a region along the Afghan border that until recent years had served as a base for Pakistani and foreign militants.
Six soldiers, including an officer, died in North Waziristan, when their army patrol struck two roadside bombs, while a seventh soldier was killed in a firing incident in the border Bajur region. The military said the shooting had come from the Afghan side of the frontier.
The attack in North Waziristan also wounded several others, and a second soldier was wounded in the Bajur attack on a border security post. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Both Bajur and North Waziristan are former tribal regions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Earlier this month, the Pakistani Taliban took responsibility for a powerful roadside bombing in North Waziristan that targeted a military vehicle, killing three soldiers and wounding four. Similar cross-border attacks in in July and September in Bajur killed two Pakistani soldiers.
Pakistan’s border areas served as a base for the Pakistani Taliban and other militants until a few years ago, when the army claimed it cleared the region of insurgents, though occasional attacks have continued, raising fears the Pakistani Taliban are regrouping.
Pakistan and Afghanistan often accuse each other of turning a blind eye to militants operating along the porous frontier, which stretches about 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) across rugged mountainous terrain.
A United Nations report in July said more than 6,000 Pakistani insurgents were hiding in Afghanistan, most belonging to the Pakistani Taliban. Also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, they Pakistani Taliban are a separate insurgent group from the Afghan Taliban, although Pakistan’s militant groups are often interlinked with those across the border.
Pakistan’s military has been waging a decades old battle with the Pakistani Taliban, some of whom have aligned themselves with the region’s Islamic State group’s affiliate, headquartered in Afghanistan.
Two Pakistani soldiers were killed in a shootout with militants during a search operation in September, also in North Waziristan.
____
Associated Press writer Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Germany agrees to allocate $662 million to aid Holocaust survivors

BERLIN ( AP ) — Germany has agreed to provide more than a half billion euros to aid Holocaust survivors struggling under the burdens of the coronavirus pandemic , the organization that negotiates compensation with the German government said Wednesday .
The payments will be going to approximately 240,000 survivors around the world , primarily in Israel , North America , the former Soviet Union and Western Europe , over the next two years , according to the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany , also referred to as the Claims Conference .
With the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past , Holocaust survivors are all elderly , and because many were deprived of proper nutrition when they were young today they suffer from numerous medical issues .
In addition , many live isolated lives having lost their entire families and also have psychological issues because of their persecution under the Nazis .
“ There ’ s this kind of standard response for survivors , that ‘ we ’ ve been through worse , I ’ ve been through worse and if I survived the Holocaust , through the deprivation of food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ ll get through this , ’ ” said Greg Schneider , executive vice president of the Claims Conference , in a telephone interview from New York with The Associated Press .
“ But if you probe deeper you understand the depths of trauma that still resides within people.
” Many are also on the poverty line , and the additional costs of masks and other protective gear , delivery groceries and other pandemic-related expenses has been crushing for many , Schneider said .
“ You ’ re teetering between making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Having to decide between food , medicine and rent.
” The new funds are targeted to Jews who aren ’ t receiving pensions already from Germany , primarily people who fled the Nazis and ended up in Russia and elsewhere to hide during the war .
Schneider said about 50 % of Holocaust survivors in the U.S. live in Brooklyn and were particularly hard-hit when New York was the center of the American outbreak , but now numbers are looking worse in Israel and other places .
Each of those survivors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 1,400 ) over the next two years , for an overall commitment of approximately 564 million euros ( $ 662 million ) to some of the poorest survivors alive today .
The funds come on top of an emergency $ 4.3 million the Claims Conference distributed in the spring to agencies providing care for survivors .
In addition to the coronavirus-related funds , Germany agreed in the recently concluded round of annual negotiations to increase funding for social welfare services for survivors by 30.5 million euros ( $ 36 million ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 651 million ) for 2021 , the Claims Conference said .
Germany ’ s Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment on the latest round of negotiations .
The money is used for services including funding in-home care for more than 83,000 Holocaust survivors and assisting more than 70,000 with other vital services , including food , medicine , transportation to doctors and programs to alleviate social isolation .
As a result of negotiations with the Claims Conference since 1952 , the German government has paid more than $ 80 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conference ’ s annual negotiations also includes working with Germany to expand the number of people eligible for compensation .
This year , the German government agreed to recognize 27 “ open ghettos ” in Bulgaria and Romania , enabling survivors who were in those places to receive compensation payments .

BERLIN (AP) — Germany has agreed to provide more than a half billion euros to aid Holocaust survivors struggling under the burdens of the coronavirus pandemic, the organization that negotiates compensation with the German government said Wednesday.
The payments will be going to approximately 240,000 survivors around the world, primarily in Israel, North America, the former Soviet Union and Western Europe, over the next two years, according to the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also referred to as the Claims Conference.
With the end of World War II now 75 years in the past, Holocaust survivors are all elderly, and because many were deprived of proper nutrition when they were young today they suffer from numerous medical issues. In addition, many live isolated lives having lost their entire families and also have psychological issues because of their persecution under the Nazis.
“There’s this kind of standard response for survivors, that ‘we’ve been through worse, I’ve been through worse and if I survived the Holocaust, through the deprivation of food and what we had to go through, I’ll get through this,’” said Greg Schneider, executive vice president of the Claims Conference, in a telephone interview from New York with The Associated Press.
“But if you probe deeper you understand the depths of trauma that still resides within people.”
Many are also on the poverty line, and the additional costs of masks and other protective gear, delivery groceries and other pandemic-related expenses has been crushing for many, Schneider said.
“You’re teetering between making it every month,” he said. “Having to decide between food, medicine and rent.”
The new funds are targeted to Jews who aren’t receiving pensions already from Germany, primarily people who fled the Nazis and ended up in Russia and elsewhere to hide during the war.
Schneider said about 50% of Holocaust survivors in the U.S. live in Brooklyn and were particularly hard-hit when New York was the center of the American outbreak, but now numbers are looking worse in Israel and other places.
“It’s a rolling calamity,” he said.
Each of those survivors will receive two payments of 1,200 euros ($1,400) over the next two years, for an overall commitment of approximately 564 million euros ($662 million) to some of the poorest survivors alive today.
The funds come on top of an emergency $4.3 million the Claims Conference distributed in the spring to agencies providing care for survivors.
In addition to the coronavirus-related funds, Germany agreed in the recently concluded round of annual negotiations to increase funding for social welfare services for survivors by 30.5 million euros ($36 million), to a total of 554.5 million ($651 million) for 2021, the Claims Conference said.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment on the latest round of negotiations.
The money is used for services including funding in-home care for more than 83,000 Holocaust survivors and assisting more than 70,000 with other vital services, including food, medicine, transportation to doctors and programs to alleviate social isolation.
As a result of negotiations with the Claims Conference since 1952, the German government has paid more than $80 billion in Holocaust reparations.
Part of the Claims Conference’s annual negotiations also includes working with Germany to expand the number of people eligible for compensation.
This year, the German government agreed to recognize 27 “open ghettos” in Bulgaria and Romania, enabling survivors who were in those places to receive compensation payments.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Egyptian actor Mahmoud Yassin dies at age 79

CAIRO ( AP ) - Mahmoud Yassin , an Egyptian actor and pillar of the country ’ s film industry during the second half of the 20th century , has died .
He was 79 .
Yassin had suffered age-related health problems in recent years and was pronounced dead in Cairo early Wednesday , according to his family .
His son Amr Mahmoud Yassin , also an actor , said his father ’ s funeral would take place Thursday .
“ He was not only a great star , but also a great father , ” he wrote in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of Egypt ’ s most lauded movie stars and filmmakers during a career that first took off in the 1960s , including Faten Hamama , Shadia and Soad Hosni .
He went on to play leading roles 1970s and 1980s , decades when critics say some of Egypt ’ s best movies were produced .
Yassin had over 150 films to his name , with diverse roles ranging from romantic to serious , and from emotionally disturbed to upbeat and patriotic .
His films included several based on stories by renowned Egyptian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Naguib Mahfouz and Ihsan Abdel Quddous .
Egypt ’ s Culture Minister Inas Abdel-Dayem mourned Yassin ’ s passing and offered condolences to his family and fans .
“ The creative field has lost one of its icons and a golden star who sincerely expressed the issues of society in his works , which have left enduring marks in the history of acting , ” she said in a statement .
Born in 1941 in the Mediterranean province of Port Said , Yassin studied law at Cairo ’ s Ain Shams University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stage when he joined the country ’ s national theater in 1963 .
He starred in several films during what was regarded as the “ golden age ” of Egyptian cinema - a time roughly stretching from the 1940s to the 1970s .
He is widely known for his patriotic roles in films portraying the 1967 and 1973 Middle East wars , such as “ The Bullet is Still in My Pocket , ” and “ Ascent to the Abyss , ” a film that portrayed Heba Selim , who worked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and executed by Egypt .
His famous roles included films like “ Where Is My Mind ” with Soad Hosni , “ We Do Not Sow Thorns ” with Shadia , and “ Mouths and Rabbits ” with Faten Hamama .
He also starred in a handful of TV dramas .
In the 21st century , he appeared in the 2007 action film of “ The Island , ” and the 2012 comedy “ Grandpa , My Darling.
” He was also an Ambassador Against Hunger for the U.N. World Food Program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darfur region .
Yassin is survived by his wife , the actress Shahira , their daughter Rania and son Amr .

CAIRO (AP) - Mahmoud Yassin, an Egyptian actor and pillar of the country’s film industry during the second half of the 20th century, has died. He was 79.
Yassin had suffered age-related health problems in recent years and was pronounced dead in Cairo early on Wednesday, according to his family. His son Amr Mahmoud Yassin, also an actor, said his father’s funeral would take place on Thursday.
“He was not only a great star, but also a great father,” Amr Mahmoud wrote in an Instagram post.
Mahmoud Yassin worked with some of Egypt’s most lauded movie stars and filmmakers during a career that first took off in the 1960s, including Faten Hamama, Shadia and Soad Hosni.
He went on to play leading roles in the 1970s and 1980s, decades when critics say some of Egypt’s best movies were produced.
Yassin had over 150 films to his name, with diverse roles ranging from romantic to serious, and from emotionally disturbed to upbeat and patriotic. His films included several based on stories by renowned Egyptian novelists, such as Nobel Prize laureate Naguib Mahfouz and Ihsan Abdel Quddous.
Egypt’s Culture Minister Inas Abdel-Dayem mourned Yassin’s passing and expressed his condolences to his family and fans.
“The creative field has lost one of its icons and a golden star who sincerely expressed the issues of society in his works, which have left enduring marks in the history of acting,” she said in a statement.
Born in 1941 in the Mediterranean province of Port Said, Yassin studied law at Cairo’s Ain Shams University. He embarked on an acting career on the stage when he joined the country’s national theater in 1963.
He starred in several films during what was regarded as the “golden age” of Egyptian cinema - a time roughly stretching from the 1940s to the 1970s.
He is widely known for his patriotic roles in films portraying the 1967 and 1973 Middle East wars, such as “The Bullet is Still in My Pocket,” and “Ascent to the Abyss,” a film that portrayed Heba Selim, who worked for the Mossad in 1960s and was arrested and executed by Egypt.
His famous roles included films like “Where Is My Mind” with Soad Hosni, “We Do Not Sow Thorns” with Shadia, and “Mouths and Rabbits” with Faten Hamama. He also starred in a handful of TV dramas.
In the past two decades, he appeared in the 2007 action film “The Island,” and the 2012 comedy “Grandpa, My Darling.” He was also an Ambassador Against Hunger for the U.N. World Food Program, visiting war-torn areas like Sudan’s Darfur region.
Yassin is survived by his wife, the actress Shahira, their daughter Rania and son Amr.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Police: Man killed brother at south Wichita apartment

WICHITA , Kan. ( AP ) - A 61-year-old man has been arrested , accused of fatally shooting his older @ @ @ @ @ complex earlier this week , police said .
Thomas Harris was booked early Tuesday morning @ @ @ @ @ murder and criminal possession of a firearm in the death of 68-year-old Troy Harris , @ @ @ @ @ Police said the shooting happened around 1 p.m. Monday at the complex in the southern @ @ @ @ @ The two brothers were in an apartment when they began fighting , and Thomas Harris @ @ @ @ @ fleeing the apartment , police said .
The older brother managed to walk down the @ @ @ @ @ and into the parking lot to call 911 to report he had been shot , @ @ @ @ @ medics found him with a gunshot wound to his upper body .
He was taken @ @ @ @ @ where he later died .

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A 61-year-old man has been arrested, accused of fatally shooting his older brother at a Wichita apartment complex earlier this week, police said.
Thomas Harris was booked early Tuesday morning on suspicion of second-degree intentional murder and criminal possession of a firearm in the death of 68-year-old Troy Harris, television station KAKE reported.
Police said the shooting happened around 1 p.m. Monday at the complex in the southern part of the city. The two brothers were in an apartment when they began fighting, and Thomas Harris allegedly fired several shots before fleeing the apartment, police said.
The older brother managed to walk down the stairs of the apartment complex and into the parking lot to call 911 to report he had been shot, officials said. Officers and medics found him with a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
Thomas Harris has prior felony convictions, police spokesman Charley Davidson said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Sudan inflation hits new record in September as prices spike

CAIRO ( AP ) - Sudan ’ s annual inflation has hit a new record peak as prices of bread and other staples keep surging , according to official figures released on Tuesday .
The country ’ s Central Agency for Statistics said the annual inflation in September rose to 212.29 % from 166.83 % in August .
The high record was driven by hikes in prices of bread and vegetables , and the jump in transportation fares , it said .
Inflation has been rising in Sudan since before the military ’ s overthrow of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The economy has suffered from decades of U.S. sanctions and mismanagement under al-Bashir who had ruled the country since the 1989 Islamist-backed military coup .
The transitional government is struggling to revive the economy amid a huge budget deficit and widespread shortages of essential goods , including fuel , bread and medicine .
Sudan has close to $ 60 billion in foreign debt , and debt relief and access to foreign loans are widely seen as its gateway to economic recovery .
But access to foreign loans is linked to the removal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s listing by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror .
President Donald Trump ’ s administration has linked the removal from the list to normalizing relations with Israel , an issue that has divided the county ’ s fragile interim government .
The International Monetary Fund last month signed off on the government ’ s economic reform program , which could eventually allow Sudan to get debt relief and move ahead with rebuilding the battered economy .
The reform program includes a gradual lifting of energy subsidies , which eat up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget .
The national currency has plunged dramatically .
The Sudanese pound has been selling for more than 250 to the dollar on the black market , with the official rate remaining at 57 Sudanese pounds to $ 1 .
The coronavirus pandemic and recent seasonal flash floods have added to the calamity .
Authorities in September declared an economic emergency , said the country was a natural disaster area and imposed a three-month state of emergency .

CAIRO (AP) - Tribal clashes erupted on Wednesday in eastern Sudan over the prime minister’s decision to sack a provincial governor, killing at least six people, a medical group said.
The violence came a day after authorities announced that annual inflation has hit a new record as prices of bread and other staples keep surging, according to official figures. Both the clashes and the high inflation threaten Sudan’s fragile transition to democracy in the aftermath of the ouster last year of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Tuesday fired Saleh Ammar, the newly appointed governor of Kassala province, following recent sporadic protests against his appointment that at times turned deadly.
Ammar, who hails from the Beni Amer tribe, was named governor of Kassala in July, when Hamdok appointed civilian governors for the country’s 18 provinces. He was nominated by the pro-democracy movement that was behind the uprising against al-Bashir.
But protests, mainly by a rival tribe that opposed his appointment, barred Ammar from entering Kassala, so he remained in the capital, Khartoum. The demonstrations escalated in August, when at least five people were killed and over three dozen were wounded.
Clashes broke out Wednesday between opposing tribes in the city of Suakin, in neighboring Red Sea province, with 6 people killed and at least 27 wounded including three in critical conditions, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Committee, which also campaigned for al-Bashir’s ouster. The group said the clashes subsided late Wednesday.
Local authorities imposed 16-hour curfews in Suakin and the city of Port Sudan, hotbeds of deadly clashes, after angry protesters blocked major roads there, according to the official SUNA news agency.
On Tuesday, Sudan’s Central Agency for Statistics said the annual inflation in September rose to 212.29% from 166.83% in August. The increase was driven by hikes in prices of bread and vegetables, and the jump in transportation fares, it said.
Inflation has been rising even before the military’s overthrow of al-Bashir in April 2019 amid a popular uprising. The economy has suffered from decades of U.S. sanctions and mismanagement under al-Bashir, who had ruled the country since the 1989 Islamist-backed military coup.
The transitional government is struggling to revive the economy amid a huge budget deficit and widespread shortages of essential goods, including fuel, bread and medicine.
Sudan has close to $60 billion in foreign debt, and debt relief and access to foreign loans are widely seen as its gateway to economic recovery. But access to foreign loans is linked to the removal of sanctions related to the country’s listing by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror. President Donald Trump’s administration has linked the removal from the list to normalizing relations with Israel, an issue that has divided the county’s fragile interim government.
The International Monetary Fund last month signed off on the government’s economic reform program, which could eventually allow Sudan to get debt relief and move ahead with rebuilding the battered economy. The reform program includes a gradual lifting of energy subsidies, which eat up 36% of the government’s budget.
The national currency has plunged dramatically. The Sudanese pound has been selling for more than 250 to the dollar on the black market, with the official rate remaining at 57 Sudanese pounds to $1.
The coronavirus pandemic and recent seasonal flash floods have added to the calamity. Authorities in September declared the country a natural disaster area and imposed a three-month state of emergency.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--EU to tackle methane gases, boost energy efficiency

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - The European Union unveiled Wednesday new plans to help slow down global warming , including a strategy to tackle highly polluting methane gas emissions and a plan to renovate millions of old buildings around the 27-nation bloc to make them more energy efficient .
The EU ’ s executive arm , the European Commission , also made public a scheme to limit environmental damage from dangerous chemicals , and to restrict their use in toys , cosmetics , detergents and products that might touch food .
The EU sees itself as a world leader in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to slash greenhouse gas emissions to at least 55 % of what they were in 1990 over the next decade .
That goal is a stepping-stone toward the broader aim of producing zero net polluting emissions across Europe by 2050 .
“ Tackling climate change and caring for our environment requires us to rethink the way we live , ” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said before the new plans were made public .
“ We are taking the steps , one by one , to get there.
” One of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas emissions , second only to carbon dioxide , and the gas also causes serious health problems .
Most emissions come from the energy , agriculture and waste sectors .
“ To reach our 55 % ambition we would need to reduce our methane emissions by one third , ” EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told reporters , as EU leaders prepare to thrash out on Thursday an agreement on how to move forward on the climate targets by the end of the year .
A key priority of the strategy is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reported , and use EU satellites to locate major emitters or find major gas leaks .
Energy companies would be pressed to repair leaks more quickly and new rules proposed to limit the release and burning of waste gases .
Reducing farm emissions would also focus on better data collection about the problem and sharing ideas about the best kinds of animal diets , breeding management techniques and methane reducing technologies .
Cutting landfill gases or using them as an energy source is the focus for the waste sector .
EU Greens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not go far enough to meet the bloc ’ s goals .
“ The European Commission is only scratching the surface and limiting itself to minor issues , such as the obligation to plug leaks and producing statistics , ” said Dutch lawmaker Bas Eickhout .
” Just counting emissions alone will not help when we urgently need action to reduce them.
” With its renovation strategy , the Commission aims to double the number of old buildings that are made energy efficient over the next 10 years .
It estimates that 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 160,000 “ green ” jobs in the construction sector and helping to reduce energy bills .
“ It ’ s not going to be easy .
It ’ s not just throwing money at it , we need to get the right legislation in place ” and the best kinds of projects , said Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans .
But he said that if it can be done , “ everybody wins , ” especially small businesses that get the work contracts .
The Commission ’ s chemicals strategy aims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Harmful substances that damage people ’ s immune and respiratory systems would be phased out of consumer products , and a closer eye kept on chemicals that pose health risks when used in a cocktail with other substances .
It also seeks to raise public awareness about chemical use , and ensure that the laws on how they ’ re handled are better enforced .

BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union unveiled Wednesday new plans to help slow down global warming, including a strategy to tackle highly polluting methane gas emissions and a plan to renovate millions of old buildings around the 27-nation bloc to make them more energy efficient.
The EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, also made public a scheme to limit environmental damage from dangerous chemicals, and to restrict their use in toys, cosmetics, detergents and products that might touch food.
The EU sees itself as a world leader in climate and environmental policy. It wants to slash greenhouse gas emissions to at least 55% of what they were in 1990 over the next decade. That goal is a stepping-stone toward the broader aim of producing zero net polluting emissions across Europe by 2050.
“Tackling climate change and caring for our environment requires us to rethink the way we live,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said before the new plans were made public. “We are taking the steps, one by one, to get there.”
One of the biggest causes of climate change is methane gas emissions, second only to carbon dioxide, and the gas also causes serious health problems. Most emissions come from the energy, agriculture and waste sectors.
“To reach our 55% ambition we would need to reduce our methane emissions by one third,” EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told reporters, as EU leaders prepare to thrash out on Thursday an agreement on how to move forward on the climate targets by the end of the year.
A key priority of the strategy is to improve the way methane emissions are measured and reported, and use EU satellites to locate major emitters or find major gas leaks. Energy companies would be pressed to repair leaks more quickly and new rules proposed to limit the release and burning of waste gases.
Reducing farm emissions would also focus on better data collection about the problem and sharing ideas about the best kinds of animal diets, breeding management techniques and methane reducing technologies. Cutting landfill gases or using them as an energy source is the focus for the waste sector.
EU Greens party lawmakers insist that the proposals do not go far enough to meet the bloc’s goals.
“The European Commission is only scratching the surface and limiting itself to minor issues, such as the obligation to plug leaks and producing statistics,” said Dutch lawmaker Bas Eickhout. ”Just counting emissions alone will not help when we urgently need action to reduce them.”
With its renovation strategy, the Commission aims to double the number of old buildings that are made energy efficient over the next 10 years. It estimates that 35 million buildings could be refurbished, creating up to 160,000 “green” jobs in the construction sector and helping to reduce energy bills.
“It’s not going to be easy. It’s not just throwing money at it, we need to get the right legislation in place” and the best kinds of projects, said Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans. But he said that if it can be done, “everybody wins,” especially small businesses that get the work contracts.
The Commission’s chemicals strategy aims to encourage the production of safer chemicals. Harmful substances that damage people’s immune and respiratory systems would be phased out of consumer products, and a closer eye kept on chemicals that pose health risks when used in a cocktail with other substances. It also seeks to raise public awareness about chemical use, and ensure that the laws on how they’re handled are better enforced.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Victim identified in fatal fire in southern Maine

LEBANON , Maine ( AP ) - A woman who died in a fire at a home in the southern @ @ @ @ @ been identified .
April S. Patch , 46 , of Lebanon , died from smoke @ @ @ @ @ examiner concluded .
Rescuers found her body in an apartment over a garage ; she @ @ @ @ @ scene early Sunday evening .
The cause of the fire remains under investigation..

LEBANON, Maine (AP) - A woman who died in a fire at a home in the southern Maine community of Lebanon has been identified.
April S. Patch, 46, of Lebanon, died from smoke inhalation, the state medical examiner concluded.
Rescuers found her body in an apartment over a garage; she was pronounced dead at the scene early Sunday evening.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation..


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Inmate escapes during medical appointment, later found

EXETER , N.H. ( AP ) - An inmate who escaped from police custody in New Hampshire during a medical @ @ @ @ @ police said .
George Moses , 46 , escaped county corrections officers Tuesday while being @ @ @ @ @ building in Exeter , police said .
He was missing for about two hours .
@ @ @ @ @ into custody after a police dog found him hiding behind a house in Exeter .
@ @ @ @ @ bail at the Rockingham County Jail on charges of second-degree assault , criminal threatening , @ @ @ @ @ had been arrested in August .
It wasn ’ t immediately known if Moses had @ @ @

EXETER, N.H. (AP) - An inmate who escaped from police custody in New Hampshire during a medical appointment has been apprehended, police said.
George Moses, 46, escaped county corrections officers Tuesday while being treated at a medical office building in Exeter, police said. He was missing for about two hours.
Police said he was taken into custody after a police dog found him hiding behind a house in Exeter.
Moses was being held without bail at the Rockingham County Jail on charges of second-degree assault, criminal threatening, and domestic violence. He had been arrested in August.
It wasn’t immediately known if Moses had an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Frost doesn't mean the gardening season's over

Cleaning up some frosted bean and marigold plants the other day , I thought of a weather report I heard recently on the radio .
The announcer stated : “ Freezing temperatures are predicted for tonight , thus ending the gardening season.
” His deadpan delivery of this dramatic — for gardeners — statement , as well as what he said , tells me that he was no gardener .
Freezing temperatures do not end the gardening season .
Despite that frost , aren ’ t there still leaves on trees , some of them still to turn spectacular , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t consider trees part of my “ garden , ” how about some shrubs in the flower beds ?
Butterfly bush is still coughing out a few fragrant blossoms .
Rhododendrons and heaths look as spry the morning after the freeze as they did during the warm day before it .
Okay , so maybe the guy on the radio meant vegetables and herbaceous flowers when he was talking about gardening .
Yes , bean and marigold plants definitely froze to death as recent night temperatures plummeted to 29 degrees Fahrenheit at my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zinnias , corn , peppers , cosmos and bachelor ’ s buttons .
But even weekend gardeners grow more than just these tender vegetables and annuals .
Black-eyed Susans are still dressed up like it ’ s summer , and ’ mums — doesn ’ t just about everybody plant mums ?
— are unfolding new blossoms .
Perennial flowers generally are unfazed by temperatures down into the 20s .
Among annual flowers , there are plenty that likewise are unfazed by freezing temperatures .
Strawflowers , for example , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These latter two are actually perennials that are grown as annuals this far north , and they survive our winters if temperatures don ’ t dip too low .
Look around and you might even find some tender annual flowers still treading water through the frosty spell .
A wall , paving or tree canopy each prevent temperatures nearby from dropping as low as in more exposed locations .
In a flower bed butted up against the west wall of my house , zinnias and marigolds still look spry .
Let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although freezing temperatures snuffed the life from tender veggies , there are plenty of cold-hardy ones in the garden .
Kale , spinach , broccoli , lettuce and radishes look fine after a night or a few nights of below-freezing temperatures .
In fact , these vegetables look and taste better during this kind of weather than they do in summer heat .
With a bit of planning , a fall freeze doesn ’ t need to leave the vegetable or flower garden looking forlorn .
If you have planted plenty of hardy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the garden the way a developing solution acts on a photograph : As tender plants wilt and are cleared away , hardy plants come into prominence .
Effecting this transformation means choosing hardy plants and giving them enough time to grow .
With sunlight at a premium this time of year , all plants , whether hardy or tender , make little growth .
That weather reporter might more correctly have stated that the growing season , not the gardening season , was drawing slowly to a close .
Not because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writes regularly about gardening for The Associated Press .
He has authored a number of books , including “ Weedless Gardening ” and “ The Ever Curious Gardener.
” He blogs at http : //www.leereich.com/blog .
He can be reached at garden @ leereich.com .

Cleaning up some frosted bean and marigold plants the other day, I thought of a weather report I heard recently on the radio. The announcer stated: “Freezing temperatures are predicted for tonight, thus ending the gardening season.”
His deadpan delivery of this dramatic — for gardeners — statement, as well as what he said, tells me that he was no gardener. Freezing temperatures do not end the gardening season.
Despite that frost, aren’t there still leaves on trees, some of them still to turn spectacular, fiery colors? If I can’t consider trees part of my “garden,” how about some shrubs in the flower beds? Butterfly bush is still coughing out a few fragrant blossoms. Rhododendrons and heaths look as spry the morning after the freeze as they did during the warm day before it.
HARDIER VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS
Okay, so maybe the guy on the radio meant vegetables and herbaceous flowers when he was talking about gardening. Yes, bean and marigold plants definitely froze to death as recent night temperatures plummeted to 29 degrees Fahrenheit at my upstate New York home, as did zinnias, corn, peppers, cosmos and bachelor’s buttons.
But even weekend gardeners grow more than just these tender vegetables and annuals. Black-eyed Susans are still dressed up like it’s summer, and ’mums — doesn’t just about everybody plant mums? — are unfolding new blossoms. Perennial flowers generally are unfazed by temperatures down into the 20s.
Among annual flowers, there are plenty that likewise are unfazed by freezing temperatures. Strawflowers, for example, as well as snapdragons and pansies are still perky. These latter two are actually perennials that are grown as annuals this far north, and they survive our winters if temperatures don’t dip too low.
MICROCLIMATES
Look around and you might even find some tender annual flowers still treading water through the frosty spell. A wall, paving or tree canopy each prevent temperatures nearby from dropping as low as in more exposed locations. In a flower bed butted up against the west wall of my house, zinnias and marigolds still look spry.
Let’s go back to the vegetables now. Although freezing temperatures snuffed the life from tender veggies, there are plenty of cold-hardy ones in the garden. Kale, spinach, broccoli, lettuce and radishes look fine after a night or a few nights of below-freezing temperatures. In fact, these vegetables look and taste better during this kind of weather than they do in summer heat.
With a bit of planning, a fall freeze doesn’t need to leave the vegetable or flower garden looking forlorn. If you have planted plenty of hardy vegetables and flowers, the freeze acts on the garden the way a developing solution acts on a photograph: As tender plants wilt and are cleared away, hardy plants come into prominence.
Effecting this transformation means choosing hardy plants and giving them enough time to grow. With sunlight at a premium this time of year, all plants, whether hardy or tender, make little growth. That weather reporter might more correctly have stated that the growing season, not the gardening season, was drawing slowly to a close. Not because of one frosty night though.
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Lee Reich writes regularly about gardening for The Associated Press. He has authored a number of books, including “Weedless Gardening” and “The Ever Curious Gardener.” He blogs at http://www.leereich.com/blog. He can be reached at garden@leereich.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Sheriff: Body of 70-year-old man found in Pomona Lake

POMONA , Kan. ( AP ) - The body of a man was pulled from Pomona Lake in east-central Kansas @ @ @ @ @ there said .
The body of Floyd Moehlman , 70 , of Pomona , was @ @ @ @ @ received reports of a capsized boat at the lake , Topeka television station KSNT reported @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Office said deputies , medics and firefighters arrived at the lake around 6:30 @ @ @ @ @ had capsized near the Carbolyn Park boat ramp , and soon found Moehlman ’ s @ @ @ @ @ dead at the scene .

POMONA, Kan. (AP) - The body of a man was pulled from Pomona Lake in east-central Kansas earlier this week, officials there said.
The body of Floyd Moehlman, 70, of Pomona, was found Monday evening after officials received reports of a capsized boat at the lake, Topeka television station KSNT reported.
The Osage County Sheriff’s Office said deputies, medics and firefighters arrived at the lake around 6:30 p.m., where a boat had capsized near the Carbolyn Park boat ramp, and soon found Moehlman’s body. He was declared dead at the scene.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Father, daughter survive tree crashing through their home

BAKER , La .
( AP ) - A woman and her father lived to tell their tale after a tree crashed through their Louisiana home during Hurricane Delta and almost crushed them .
Coral Anne Dunn and her father Thomas Dunn were sitting on two reclining chairs Friday when the roof came down , trapping them under the rubble , WAFB-TV reported .
“ God is so good because there ’ s no reason we should be alive in here , ” Coral Dunn said .
“ God put his hand down and said , ‘ Baby , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet.
’ ” Thomas Dunn , U.S. Navy veteran , said the incident happened suddenly but soon after , he was screaming his daughter ’ s name to get her attention .
Coral Dunn said she blacked out for a brief moment , then woke up to see her father buried under the rubble .
Coral ’ s daughter was in the home and able to call 911 .
Emergency crews arrived quickly and were able to pull the pair from the rubble .
“ They got me out and we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you just don ’ t think it ’ s going to happen to you , ” Coral said .
The Dunns are staying at a hotel and waiting for assistance .
Coral Dunn said although the house was destroyed , she ’ s walked away with something great : community support .
“ There are good people in the world and the world is still a good place because people we don ’ t know have helped even a little bit , and that means so much and it means our world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
An earlier version of this report incorrectly said it happened on Saturday instead of Friday .

BAKER, La. (AP) - A woman and her father lived to tell their tale after a tree crashed through their Louisiana home during Hurricane Delta and almost crushed them.
Coral Anne Dunn and her father Thomas Dunn were sitting on two reclining chairs Friday when the roof came down, trapping them under the rubble, WAFB-TV reported.
“God is so good because there’s no reason we should be alive in here,” Coral Dunn said. “God put his hand down and said, ‘Baby, it’s not your time to go yet.’”
Thomas Dunn, U.S. Navy veteran, said the incident happened suddenly but soon after, he was screaming his daughter’s name to get her attention. Coral Dunn said she blacked out for a brief moment, then woke up to see her father buried under the rubble.
Coral’s daughter was in the home and able to call 911. Emergency crews arrived quickly and were able to pull the pair from the rubble.
“They got me out and we’re safe. This could happen to anybody, you just don’t think it’s going to happen to you,” Coral said.
The two suffered minor injuries.
The Dunns are staying at a hotel and waiting for assistance.
Coral Dunn said although the house was destroyed, she’s walked away with something great: community support.
“There are good people in the world and the world is still a good place because people we don’t know have helped even a little bit, and that means so much and it means our world is going to be okay,” she said.
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An earlier version of this report incorrectly said it happened on Saturday instead of Friday.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Russia vows in-kind response to EU sanctions over Navalny

MOSCOW ( AP ) - Russia ’ s foreign minister said Wednesday that Moscow will respond in kind to the European Union ’ s sanctions over the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny .
Navalny , a corruption investigator and longtime foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin , is in Germany recovering from what German authorities said was a nerve agent poisoning .
This week , EU foreign ministers agreed to impose sanctions on Russian officials and organizations blamed over the incident .
“ The Germans are not planning to provide any facts , despite all international and legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is diplomatic practice , ” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview Wednesday .
Navalny fell ill on Aug. 20 during a domestic flight in Russia , and was flown to Germany for treatment two days later .
Last week , tests conducted at labs designated by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed that the poison used on Navalny was Soviet-era Novichok .
Navalny asserted that his poisoning couldn ’ t have been ordered without Putin ’ s involvement , an accusation the Kremlin vehemently denied .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , France and Germany urged their EU partners to freeze the assets of those suspected of involvement and ban them from traveling in Europe under sanctions to combat the use and spread of chemical weapons .
The move elicited harsh reaction from Moscow .
Lavrov on Tuesday said Russia might freeze its contacts with the 27-nation bloc , as officials there “ don ’ t understand the need for mutually respectful dialogue.
” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday echoed this sentiment .
“ The Kremlin has always advocated resuming and continuing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But you know , … one can ’ t tango alone , ” Peskov said .

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia’s foreign minister said Wednesday that Moscow will respond in kind to the European Union’s sanctions over the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Navalny, a corruption investigator and longtime foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is in Germany recovering from what German authorities said was a nerve agent poisoning. This week, EU foreign ministers agreed to impose sanctions on Russian officials and organizations blamed over the incident.
“The Germans are not planning to provide any facts, despite all international and legal obligations. We respond in kind, this is diplomatic practice,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview Wednesday.
Navalny fell ill on Aug. 20 during a domestic flight in Russia, and was flown to Germany for treatment two days later.
Last week, tests conducted at labs designated by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed that the poison used on Navalny was Soviet-era Novichok. Navalny asserted that his poisoning couldn’t have been ordered without Putin’s involvement, an accusation the Kremlin vehemently denied.
At Monday’s meeting in Luxembourg, France and Germany urged their EU partners to freeze the assets of those suspected of involvement and ban them from traveling in Europe under sanctions to combat the use and spread of chemical weapons.
The move elicited harsh reaction from Moscow. Lavrov on Tuesday said Russia might freeze its contacts with the 27-nation bloc, as officials there “don’t understand the need for mutually respectful dialogue.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday echoed this sentiment. “The Kremlin has always advocated resuming and continuing a constructive dialogue based on mutual respect. But you know, … one can’t tango alone,” Peskov said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--More than 133,000 have voted by absentee ballot in Maine

PORTLAND , Maine ( AP ) - With the election three weeks away , more than 133,000 Mainers already have @ @ @ @ @ Democrats outpacing Republicans in both requesting and returning ballots .
Mainers are being encouraged to @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic to limit the spread of the coronavirus , including by reducing congestion at @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats had requested 188,280 ballots compared to 67,405 for Republicans , and Democrats had @ @ @ @ @ just over 24,000 by Republicans as of Tuesday , the Portland Press Herald reported .
@ @ @ @ @ absentee voting will be Friday , Oct. 30 ; mailed ballots must arrive by the @ @ @ @ @ counted .
In all , 345,660 absentee ballot requests have been fulfilled by local election @ @ @ @ @ election , which features the presidential race and a closely watched battle for one of @ @ @ @ @ Senate seats .
Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap has estimated as many as 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 1.06 million registered voters will cast their ballots remotely .

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - With the election three weeks away, more than 133,000 Mainers already have voted by absentee ballot with Democrats outpacing Republicans in both requesting and returning ballots.
Mainers are being encouraged to vote via absentee ballot during the pandemic to limit the spread of the coronavirus, including by reducing congestion at polling places on Election Day.
Democrats had requested 188,280 ballots compared to 67,405 for Republicans, and Democrats had returned about 78,000 compared to just over 24,000 by Republicans as of Tuesday, the Portland Press Herald reported.
The last day for in-person absentee voting will be Friday, Oct. 30; mailed ballots must arrive by the time polls close to be counted.
In all, 345,660 absentee ballot requests have been fulfilled by local election officials for the Nov. 3 election, which features the presidential race and a closely watched battle for one of Maine’s two U.S. Senate seats.
Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap has estimated as many as 500,000 to 600,000 of the state’s 1.06 million registered voters will cast their ballots remotely.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Wells Fargo posts $2 billion profit in 3Q, reversing 2Q loss

Wells Fargo says it earned $ 2 billion in the third quarter , less than half of what it made @ @ @ @ @ year but a significant improvement from this year ’ s second quarter , when it @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco bank said Wednesday that it earned 42 cents per share , less than @ @ @ @ @ analysts were expecting .
Wells reported revenue of $ 18.86 billion in the quarter , @ @ @ @ @ ’ s third quarter when it took in $ 22 billion .
Wall Street analysts @ @ @ @ @ post $ 18 billion in revenue .
Wells Fargo said its net interest income was @ @ @ @ @ $ 2.3 billion from last year ’ s period .
Noninterest income of was $ @ @ @ @ @ 891 million from 2019 .

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - Wells Fargo says it earned $2 billion in the third quarter, less than half of what it made in the same period last year but a significant improvement from this year’s second quarter, when it posted a loss as the coronavirus swept through the U.S.
The San Francisco bank said Wednesday that it earned 42 cents per share, down from 92 cents per share a year earlier and less than the 44 cents Wall Street analysts were expecting.
Wells reported revenue of $18.86 billion in the quarter, also down from last year’s third quarter when it took in $22 billion. The bank’s revenue for the quarter surpassed Wall Street projections of $18 billion.
Wells set aside $769 million in the third quarter for loan loss provisions, which is the money set aside to cover potentially bad loans. That’s just a fraction of the billions it set aside in the previous quarter when the coronavirus shuttered the economy, forced millions of people out of work and jeopardized the ability of businesses and individuals to make loan and mortgage payments.
Wells Fargo lost $2.4 billion in the second quarter, the first quarterly loss for the bank since the real estate crash of 2008.
Wells Fargo said its net interest income was $9.4 billion, down $2.3 billion from last year’s period. Noninterest income of was $9.5 billion, down $891 million from 2019.
As the coronavirus outbreak persists in many areas of the U.S. and with a cold-weather resurgence possible in many others, many fear that potential business closures this fall and winter could throw the U.S. economy into a tailspin similar to last spring.
Charlie Scharf, Wells Fargo’s chief executive officer, acknowledged the boost his bank got from the government’s injection of trillions of dollars in loans and relief into the U.S. economy, giving consumers the power to spend and helping many businesses stay afloat. But with another aid package stalled in Congress, the country’s economic future is cloudy.
“As we look forward, the trajectory of the economic recovery remains unclear as the negative impact of COVID continues and further fiscal stimulus is uncertain,” Scharf said.
On top of the difficulties presented by the virus pandemic, Wells has been in seemingly constant trouble with regulators for years. The nation’s biggest mortgage lender, Wells has been operating under strict federal guidelines due to a series of scandals, limiting its ability to grow.
In 2018, the Fed capped the size of Wells Fargo’s assets beginning in 2016 with the uncovering of millions of fake checking accounts its employees opened to meet sales quotas. The Fed lifted that cap in April as part of the federal government’s Payroll Protection Program because many of Wells’ small business customers were getting shut out from applying.
Shares in the consumer bank fell about 2% in pre-market trading.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Authorities: Man fatally shoots sister, himself inside home

ALLEGHENY , Pa. ( AP ) - A man fatally shot his sister in their family ’ s western Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ turned the gun on himself , authorities said .
Allegheny police told KDKA-TV that the @ @ @ @ @ during a dispute late Tuesday night , and she reported the incident to police .
@ @ @ @ @ but could not locate the man .
Authorities later learned the man had stopped at @ @ @ @ @ station , but no officers were in the building at the time .
He ultimately @ @ @ @ @ left by the time officers had returned .
The shooting was reported shortly before 2 @ @ @ @ @ arrived at the home and found the sister had been shot several times before the @ @ @ @ @ names have not been released .
The siblings ’ mother apparently was in the home @ @ @ @ @ but she was not injured .

ALLEGHENY, Pa. (AP) - A man shot and killed his sister and then turned the weapon on himself in their western Pennsylvania home early Sunday, authorities said.
John Dufford, 59, and 62-year-old Karen Dufford, 62, were involved in a physical altercation in the Allegheny Township residence shortly after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Westmoreland County coroner said.
Coroner Kenneth Bacha said the altercation escalated and the man discharged a firearm, hitting the woman multiple times. The man then shot himself, Bacha said. A deputy coroner pronounced both dead at the scene.
Karen Dufford’s death was ruled a homicide and John Dufford’s death a suicide.
.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--IRS places tax lien against Baltimore prosecutor, lawmaker

BALTIMORE ( AP ) — A $ 45,000 tax lien for three years of unpaid federal taxes has been filed against the property of Baltimore State ’ s Attorney and her husband , a state lawmaker who is the Democratic nominee for Baltimore City Council president .
Records show the IRS filing from February seeks to collect taxes from the prosecutor , Marilyn Mosby , and Maryland Del .
Nick Mosby for 2014 , 2015 and 2016 , news outlets reported .
Nick Mosby said in a statement that he ’ s been “ in ongoing conversations with the IRS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawal from his retirement savings plan “ to support unplanned expenses after a series of family tragedies.
” “ I expect to have the issue resolved in the coming days , ” the statement said .
The couple previously had a $ 5,000 state tax lien placed on their property in 2013 , The Baltimore Sun reported .
That was paid off in two months .
Marilyn Mosby told the newspaper she was unaware of the filing .
The city ’ s Inspector General ’ s Office is reviewing companies the prosecutor created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against herself in July after drawing criticism for her trips and business arrangements .
Her husband is favored to win the race for City Council president , facing Republican challenger Jovani Patterson in the November election .

BALTIMORE (AP) — A $45,000 tax lien for three years of unpaid federal taxes has been filed against the property of Baltimore State’s Attorney and her husband, a state lawmaker who is the Democratic nominee for Baltimore City Council president.
Records show the IRS filing from February seeks to collect taxes from the prosecutor, Marilyn Mosby, and Maryland Del. Nick Mosby for 2014, 2015 and 2016, news outlets reported.
Nick Mosby said in a statement that he’s been “in ongoing conversations with the IRS” about taxes related to an early withdrawal from his retirement savings plan “to support unplanned expenses after a series of family tragedies.”
“I expect to have the issue resolved in the coming days,” the statement said.
The couple previously had a $5,000 state tax lien placed on their property in 2013, The Baltimore Sun reported. That was paid off in two months.
Marilyn Mosby told the newspaper she was unaware of the filing.
The city’s Inspector General’s Office is reviewing companies the prosecutor created last year, an investigation she initiated against herself in July after drawing criticism for her trips and business arrangements.
Her husband is favored to win the race for City Council president, facing Republican challenger Jovani Patterson in the November election.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--After outrage, Indian brand pulls ad with interfaith couple

NEW DELHI ( AP ) - The advertisement by the popular Indian jewelry brand featured a Muslim man and his Hindu wife preparing for a Hindu-style baby shower .
Its tagline read : “ A beautiful confluence of two different religions , traditions and cultures.
” But just days after the 45-second advertisement aired , the Tanishq brand withdrew it from TV channels and its social media platforms on Tuesday , following a backlash from Hindu nationalists , including members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party .
They said the ad promoted “ love jihad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radical Hindu groups who accuse Muslim men of converting Hindu women by marriage .
The withdrawal of the ad drew sharp criticism from many in India who said the company was succumbing to right-wing extremists .
It also shed light on the country ’ s growing religious polarization under Modi , whose party and supporters envision the country as a Hindu nation and are accused by critics of normalizing anti-Muslim sentiment .
Tanishq said in a statement Tuesday that the ad was meant to celebrate diversity but that it decided to withdraw it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reactions.
” It said the decision was made keeping in mind the “ well-being ” of the company ’ s employees and partners .
The jewelry brand is part of the Tata Group , one of the largest conglomerates in India .
This isn ’ t the first time an Indian brand has faced the ire of Hindu nationalists .
Last year , an ad for a detergent powder faced backlash after it sought to promote its brand showing Hindu-Muslim harmony .
It showed a Hindu girl saving her Muslim friend from getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ festival of Holi .
The ad drew calls for a boycott and was accused of being “ Hindu-phobic.
” A lawmaker from the opposition Congress party , Shashi Tharoor , who posted the Tanishq ad to his Twitter account on Tuesday , said , “ Hindutva bigots have called for a boycott for highlighting Hindu-Muslim unity through this beautiful ad.
” If the ad “ irks them so much , ” Tharoor wrote , “ why don ’ t they boycott the longest surviving symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity - India ?
” Critics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of diversity has come under attack since his Hindu nationalist BJP won power in 2014 .
The party denies the accusation .
But an apparent mood of fear , anger and disenchantment is growing among ordinary Indian Muslims , who say Modi and his party are slowly disenfranchising them , leaving the community reckoning with a future as second-class citizens .
At the heart of this feeling are the policies and rhetoric of Modi ’ s party and some of its leaders who have publicly given hate speeches against Muslims .
India is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making up about 14 % of its 1.4 billion people .

NEW DELHI (AP) - The advertisement by the popular Indian jewelry brand featured a Muslim man and his Hindu wife preparing for a Hindu-style baby shower. Its tagline read: “A beautiful confluence of two different religions, traditions and cultures.”
But just days after the 45-second advertisement aired, the Tanishq brand withdrew it from TV channels and its social media platforms on Tuesday, following a backlash from Hindu nationalists, including members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. They said the ad promoted “love jihad,” a conspiracy theory used by radical Hindu groups who accuse Muslim men of converting Hindu women by marriage.
The withdrawal of the ad drew sharp criticism from many in India who said the company was succumbing to right-wing extremists. It also shed light on the country’s growing religious polarization under Modi, whose party and supporters envision the country as a Hindu nation and are accused by critics of normalizing anti-Muslim sentiment.
Tanishq said in a statement Tuesday that the ad was meant to celebrate diversity but that it decided to withdraw it due to the “divergent and severe reactions.” It said the decision was made keeping in mind the “well-being” of the company’s employees and partners.
The jewelry brand is part of the Tata Group, one of the largest conglomerates in India.
This isn’t the first time an Indian brand has faced the ire of Hindu nationalists.
Last year, an ad for a detergent powder faced backlash after it sought to promote its brand showing Hindu-Muslim harmony. It showed a Hindu girl saving her Muslim friend from getting smeared with colored powder during the Hindu festival of Holi. The ad drew calls for a boycott and was accused of being “Hindu-phobic.”
A lawmaker from the opposition Congress party, Shashi Tharoor, who posted the Tanishq ad to his Twitter account on Tuesday, said, “Hindutva bigots have called for a boycott for highlighting Hindu-Muslim unity through this beautiful ad.”
If the ad “irks them so much,” Tharoor wrote, “why don’t they boycott the longest surviving symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity - India?”
Critics of Modi say India’s tradition of diversity has come under attack since his Hindu nationalist BJP won power in 2014. The party denies the accusation.
But an apparent mood of fear, anger and disenchantment is growing among ordinary Indian Muslims, who say Modi and his party are slowly disenfranchising them, leaving the community reckoning with a future as second-class citizens. At the heart of this feeling are the policies and rhetoric of Modi’s party and some of its leaders who have publicly given hate speeches against Muslims.
India is a predominantly Hindu country, with Muslims making up about 14% of its 1.4 billion people.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Burglary reported at Richmond mayor's campaign headquarters

RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) - A TV was stolen during a break-in at the campaign headquarters of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney , according to a campaign official .
Campaign documents or records were not taken , but materials were thrown and displaced in the room , Kevin Zeithaml , the mayor ’ s re-election campaign manager , told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Tuesday .
Richmond police responded to a report of a burglary at the office after an official found the office door broken on Tuesday morning , the newspaper reported .
Police said the break-in happened overnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism over his handling of protests and the removal of Confederate monuments in the city .
He is currently seeking a second term in office .
“ While it ’ s our hope that this crime was not politically motivated , it underscores the need for a more civil political discourse as we close out this election cycle , ” Zeithaml said in a statement .
“ On behalf of our team , thank you to the Richmond Police Department for their quick , professional , and thorough response.
” Richmond police did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motivated .

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A TV was stolen during a break-in at the campaign headquarters of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, according to a campaign official.
Campaign documents or records were not taken, but materials were thrown and displaced in the room, Kevin Zeithaml, the mayor’s re-election campaign manager, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Tuesday.
Richmond police responded to a report of a burglary at the office after an official found the office door broken on Tuesday morning, the newspaper reported. Police said the break-in happened overnight on Tuesday.
Stoney has faced intense criticism over his handling of protests and the removal of Confederate monuments in the city. He is currently seeking a second term in office.
“While it’s our hope that this crime was not politically motivated, it underscores the need for a more civil political discourse as we close out this election cycle,” Zeithaml said in a statement. “On behalf of our team, thank you to the Richmond Police Department for their quick, professional, and thorough response.”
Richmond police did not say whether the break-in was politically motivated.