skynewsus--2020-12-26--Judge delays execution of only woman on death row in US

A federal judge has delayed the execution of the only woman on death row in the US .
Lisa Montgomery was convicted of strangling an eight-months pregnant woman in 2004 and cutting her baby out with a kitchen knife .
The child survived the attack and prosecutors said Montgomery took the child with her and attempted to pass it off as her own .
Montgomery 's lawyers say she suffers from serious mental illness after years of physical and mental abuse .
She was due to be executed by lethal injection in Indiana this month , but judge Randolph Moss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and asked for more time to file a clemency petition .
The judge has now scrapped an order by the director of the Bureau of Prisons that set another execution date for 12 January .
He said it was not made `` in accordance with law '' because a stay of execution was in effect when the decision was made .
The Bureau of Prisons is now barred from setting a new date for the 52-year-old 's execution until at least 1 January - and an inmate must generally get 20 days ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the execution being scheduled for after Joe Biden 's inauguration as president on 20 January .
Mr Biden opposes the death penalty and a spokesperson has said he would try to get it scrapped when he takes office .
However , it is not known whether Mr Biden will pause all executions when he comes to power .
President Donald Trump 's administration restarted federal executions after a 17-year pause in July and has since carried out 10 death sentences , including two earlier in December .
It has executed more people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 130 years .
In a statement , one of Montgomery 's lawyers , Sandra Babcock , said : `` Given the severity of Mrs Montgomery 's mental illness , the sexual and physical torture she endured throughout her life , and the connection between her trauma and the facts of her crime , we appeal to President Trump to grant her mercy , and commute her sentence to life imprisonment . ''
Two other federal inmates are also scheduled to be put to death next month but have tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also seek a stay of execution .

A federal judge has delayed the execution of the only woman on death row in the US.
Lisa Montgomery was convicted of strangling an eight-months pregnant woman in 2004 and cutting her baby out with a kitchen knife.
The child survived the attack and prosecutors said Montgomery took the child with her and attempted to pass it off as her own.
Image: Montgomery killed Bobbie Jo Stinnett, 23, in Skidmore, Missouri, in December 2004
Montgomery's lawyers say she suffers from serious mental illness after years of physical and mental abuse.
She was due to be executed by lethal injection in Indiana this month, but judge Randolph Moss delayed it after her lawyers caught coronavirus and asked for more time to file a clemency petition.
The judge has now scrapped an order by the director of the Bureau of Prisons that set another execution date for 12 January.
He said it was not made "in accordance with law" because a stay of execution was in effect when the decision was made.
The Bureau of Prisons is now barred from setting a new date for the 52-year-old's execution until at least 1 January - and an inmate must generally get 20 days' notice.
It raises the possibility of the execution being scheduled for after Joe Biden's inauguration as president on 20 January.
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Mr Biden opposes the death penalty and a spokesperson has said he would try to get it scrapped when he takes office.
However, it is not known whether Mr Biden will pause all executions when he comes to power.
Image: The execution may be rescheduled after the inauguration of Joe Biden, who opposes the death penalty
President Donald Trump's administration restarted federal executions after a 17-year pause in July and has since carried out 10 death sentences, including two earlier in December.
It has executed more people in a year than any other administration in more than 130 years.
In a statement, one of Montgomery's lawyers, Sandra Babcock, said: "Given the severity of Mrs Montgomery's mental illness, the sexual and physical torture she endured throughout her life, and the connection between her trauma and the facts of her crime, we appeal to President Trump to grant her mercy, and commute her sentence to life imprisonment."
Two other federal inmates are also scheduled to be put to death next month but have tested positive for coronavirus, prompting their legal teams to also seek a stay of execution.


skynewsus--2020-12-26--Home of 'person of interest' searched in Nashville blast investigation

Detectives investigating a huge explosion in Nashville , Tennessee have been searching the home of a possible `` person of interest '' after revealing they had narrowed down their search .
Investigators have received more than 500 leads and are now putting together the `` giant jigsaw puzzle '' behind the incident .
The blast - which happened on Christmas morning - came from a motorhome which had broadcast a warning that it was going to detonate within 15 minutes , sending people racing to evacuate .
Three people were taken to hospital , although it is believed they did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of nearby buildings were damaged .
It is not yet known what the motive was for the attack .
US attorney Don Cochran said the scene was `` like a giant jigsaw puzzle created by a bomb '' and that investigators from the FBI and ATF were working to piece together what happened .
On Saturday , FBI Special Agent Jason Pack said after receiving information relevant to the investigation , investigators from multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies visited a home in Antioch , a suburb of Nashville .
It came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down their search to just one person of interest .
Images taken at the scene show agents looking around the property and searching the garden .
Authorities added on Friday they had found `` tissue '' which could be human remains near the site of the explosion , but they did not comment further on this during the news conference .
The next day , the Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed the tissue was human remains and work was underway to identify whom the remains belonged to .
There are roughly 250 FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation and specialised bomb technicians are in the city .
Speaking at a news conference the day after the blast , FBI special agent Doug Korneski said there was no indication of more explosive threats and no other devices had been found .
NBC correspondent Shaq Brewster , who was at the scene in Nashville , told Sky News the blast site is `` large '' and `` goes for blocks '' .
`` FBI agents are combing through it , going through it piece by piece , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in downtown Nashville at around 1.30am on Christmas morning .
At about 5.30am , police were called to reports of a shooting , which a resident told NBC had sounded like `` automatic rifle gunfire '' .
Officers then discovered the motorhome , which was blaring out a warning telling people to evacuate .
Half an hour later - following an automated countdown - the blast went off .
Officials praised the actions of police officers for ensuring more were not injured , as they tried to lead as many citizens as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Cochran said the officers `` literally ran to danger '' , adding he was `` quite confident their actions are one of the reasons there was less loss of life '' .
The blast sprayed shattered glass and debris into the air and damaged around 40 nearby buildings , with videos showing rooms shaking and people crying out in distress .
Authorities have said the explosion was a `` deliberate '' act intended to `` bring chaos and fear in this season of peace and hope '' .
A three-day state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene of the blast , preventing people from entering .
US businessman Marcus Lemonis has offered a $ 250,000 ( £186,832 ) reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator .

Detectives investigating a huge explosion in Nashville, Tennessee have been searching the home of a possible "person of interest" after revealing they had narrowed down their search.
Investigators have received more than 500 leads and are now putting together the "giant jigsaw puzzle" behind the incident.
Image: Law enforcement officers searched a house in Antioch, Nashville, on Saturday
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:47 Devastation after explosion in Nashville
The blast - which happened on Christmas morning - came from a motorhome which had broadcast a warning that it was going to detonate within 15 minutes, sending people racing to evacuate.
Three people were taken to hospital, although it is believed they did not suffer serious injuries - and dozens of nearby buildings were damaged.
It is not yet known what the motive was for the attack.
US attorney Don Cochran said the scene was "like a giant jigsaw puzzle created by a bomb" and that investigators from the FBI and ATF were working to piece together what happened.
On Saturday, FBI Special Agent Jason Pack said after receiving information relevant to the investigation, investigators from multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies visited a home in Antioch, a suburb of Nashville.
It came hours after officials said they had narrowed down their search to just one person of interest.
Images taken at the scene show agents looking around the property and searching the garden.
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Authorities added on Friday they had found "tissue" which could be human remains near the site of the explosion, but they did not comment further on this during the news conference.
The next day, the Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed the tissue was human remains and work was underway to identify whom the remains belonged to.
Image: Armed officials were also spotted at the property
Image: Investigators work at the scene of the blast on Boxing Day
There are roughly 250 FBI agents, analysts and staff working on the investigation and specialised bomb technicians are in the city.
Speaking at a news conference the day after the blast, FBI special agent Doug Korneski said there was no indication of more explosive threats and no other devices had been found.
Image: There is a three-day state of emergency at the scene
Image: The explosion happened on Christmas Day
NBC correspondent Shaq Brewster, who was at the scene in Nashville, told Sky News the blast site is "large" and "goes for blocks".
"FBI agents are combing through it, going through it piece by piece," he said.
The motorhome had arrived at 2nd Avenue in downtown Nashville at around 1.30am on Christmas morning.
At about 5.30am, police were called to reports of a shooting, which a resident told NBC had sounded like "automatic rifle gunfire".
Image: This is the motorhome that exploded on Christmas Day. Pic: Metro Nashville Police Department
Officers then discovered the motorhome, which was blaring out a warning telling people to evacuate.
Half an hour later - following an automated countdown - the blast went off.
Officials praised the actions of police officers for ensuring more were not injured, as they tried to lead as many citizens as possible to safety after the threat was reported.
Mr Cochran said the officers "literally ran to danger", adding he was "quite confident their actions are one of the reasons there was less loss of life".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:40 Nashville explosion: Aerials reveal scale of damage
The blast sprayed shattered glass and debris into the air and damaged around 40 nearby buildings, with videos showing rooms shaking and people crying out in distress.
Authorities have said the explosion was a "deliberate" act intended to "bring chaos and fear in this season of peace and hope".
A three-day state of emergency has been imposed at the scene of the blast, preventing people from entering.
US businessman Marcus Lemonis has offered a $250,000 (£186,832) reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator.


skynewsus--2020-12-27--Wrestler and former WWE star Jonathan Huber dies at 41

Wrestler Brodie Lee - who previously appeared in the WWE under the name Luke Harper - has died aged 41 .
The father-of-two , whose real name was Jonathan Huber , died on Boxing Day `` after a hard fought battle with a non-COVID related lung issue '' , according to his wife .
Amanda Huber , herself an ex-wrestler who performed under the name Synndy Synn , posted a series of photos of her husband on Instagram , showing him both in the ring and at home with his family .
She wrote : `` My best friend died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out those words .
My heart is broken .
`` The world saw him as the amazing @ brodielee ( fka Luke Harper ) but he was my best friend , my husband , and the greatest father you would ever meet .
`` No words can express the love I feel or how broken I am right now .
He passed surrounded by love ones after a hard fought battle with a non Covid related lung issue . ''
She thanked the doctors and nurses who she said cared for him at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After fighting on the independent wrestling circuit , Huber joined WWE as The Wyatt Family enforcer Luke Harper , debuting on NXT .
Performing for WWE from 2012 to 2019 , he won both the Intercontinental Championship and the SmackDown Tag Team Title at WrestleMania 34 .
WWE payed tribute to Huber on its Twitter page , extending condolences to his family , friends and fans , and retweeting messages mourning his loss .
WWE wrestlers including Randy Orton , John Cena and the Bella Twins also payed tribute to the star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , fighting under the name Brodie Lee , but had been forced to take time away from the ring due to illness .
Subscribe to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker One of Huber 's final Instagram posts was a poster promoting his fight with Orange Cassidy in October .
Huber leaves behind Amanda , his wife of 12 years , and their two young sons Brodie and Nolan .

Wrestler Brodie Lee - who previously appeared in the WWE under the name Luke Harper - has died aged 41.
The father-of-two, whose real name was Jonathan Huber, died on Boxing Day "after a hard fought battle with a non-COVID related lung issue", according to his wife.
Amanda Huber, herself an ex-wrestler who performed under the name Synndy Synn, posted a series of photos of her husband on Instagram, showing him both in the ring and at home with his family.
She wrote: "My best friend died today. I never wanted to write out those words. My heart is broken.
"The world saw him as the amazing @brodielee (fka Luke Harper) but he was my best friend, my husband, and the greatest father you would ever meet.
"No words can express the love I feel or how broken I am right now. He passed surrounded by love ones after a hard fought battle with a non Covid related lung issue."
She thanked the doctors and nurses who she said cared for him at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
After fighting on the independent wrestling circuit, Huber joined WWE as The Wyatt Family enforcer Luke Harper, debuting on NXT.
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Performing for WWE from 2012 to 2019, he won both the Intercontinental Championship and the SmackDown Tag Team Title at WrestleMania 34.
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WWE payed tribute to Huber on its Twitter page, extending condolences to his family, friends and fans, and retweeting messages mourning his loss.
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WWE wrestlers including Randy Orton, John Cena and the Bella Twins also payed tribute to the star.
Huber joined All Elite Wrestling earlier this year, fighting under the name Brodie Lee, but had been forced to take time away from the ring due to illness.
Subscribe to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
One of Huber's final Instagram posts was a poster promoting his fight with Orange Cassidy in October.
Huber leaves behind Amanda, his wife of 12 years, and their two young sons Brodie and Nolan.


skynewsus--2020-12-28--Trump signs COVID relief bill to avert government shutdown

Donald Trump has signed a COVID relief and spending bill , restoring unemployment benefits to millions of Americans and averting a partial federal government shutdown .
The $ 2.3trn ( £1.7trn ) pandemic aid and spending package had been approved by Congress last week but Mr Trump had threatened to block the bill .
He had wanted to increase the one-off payments to struggling Americans from $ 600 ( £442 ) each to $ 2,000 ( £1,475 ) but the larger amount had been rejected by his fellow Republicans .
But the US president , who leaves office on 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from both sides of the political spectrum .
In a statement about the bill signing , Mr Trump complained about what he considered to be `` wasteful spending '' .
But politicians were left confused , as the bill had been worked on for months and the White House had given assurances that the president was happy with it .
Mr Trump said : `` I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed . ''
These notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , and the bill as signed will not necessarily be changed .
Meanwhile , the signing of the bill will mean that unemployment benefits being paid to about 14 million people through pandemic programmes will restart , having lapsed on Saturday .
The bill also includes $ 1.4trn ( £1.03trn ) to fund government agencies through to September , as well as other priorities such as money for struggling transit systems and an increase in food stamp benefits .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said : `` The compromise bill is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians ( his home state ) and Americans across the country who need help now . ''

Donald Trump has signed a COVID relief and spending bill, restoring unemployment benefits to millions of Americans and avoiding a partial federal government shutdown.
The $2.3trn (£1.7trn) pandemic aid and spending package had been approved by Congress last week and it was understood that the White House was happy with its contents.
But then Mr Trump threatened to block it, saying he wanted to increase the one-off payments to struggling Americans from $600 (£442) each to $2,000 (£1,475).
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:34 23 Dec: 'The bare minimum': Trump criticises coronavirus relief package
The larger amount had been rejected by his fellow Republicans.
Mr Trump, who leaves office on 20 January, backed down late on Sunday under intense pressure from both sides of the political spectrum.
In a statement about the bill signing, Mr Trump complained about what he considered to be "wasteful spending".
He said: "I will sign the Omnibus and COVID package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed."
These notes would only be suggestions to Congress, however, and the bill as signed will not necessarily be changed.
Mr Trump also said the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives planned to vote on Monday to increase the one-off payments and that the Senate would "start the process" of approving them.
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Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the president needed to encourage Republicans to "end their obstruction" and to support increasing the payments to $2,000.
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COVID-19 has killed more than 333,000 people in the US, infected almost 20 million and left millions more without jobs.
The signing of the bill will mean that unemployment benefits being paid to about 14 million people through pandemic programmes will resume, having lapsed on Saturday.
The bill includes $1.4trn (£1.03trn) to fund government agencies through to September, as well as other priorities such as money for struggling transit systems and an increase in food stamp benefits.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said: "The compromise bill is not perfect, but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians (his home state) and Americans across the country who need help now."


skynewsus--2020-12-27--Nashville bombing suspect died in Christmas Day explosion, police say

The man suspected of being behind a bomb in the US city of Nashville is believed to have died in the explosion , federal authorities have said .
The Christmas morning blast came from a motorhome which had broadcast a warning that it was going to detonate within 15 minutes , sending people fleeing for their lives .
Three victims were taken to hospital , although it is believed their injuries were not serious , and dozens of nearby buildings were damaged .
Authorities said on Sunday that DNA samples recovered from the scene matched those of Anthony Quinn Warner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby Antioch was searched by federal agents on Saturday .
Donald Cochran , US attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee , said : `` We 've come to the conclusion that an individual named Anthony Warner is the bomber and he was present when the bomb went off and that he perished in the bombing . ''
Warner 's motive is still unclear and officials have said it is too early for this to be discussed publicly .
The owner of Fridrich & Clark Realty , Steve Fridrich , told the Tennessean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warner had come into the office roughly once a month to provide computer consulting services .
Earlier in December , however , he had quit by email without giving a reason .
Mr Fridrich said : `` He seemed very personable to us - this is quite out of character , I think . ''

The man suspected of being behind a bomb in the US city of Nashville is believed to have died in the explosion, federal authorities have said.
The Christmas morning blast came from a motorhome which had broadcast a warning that it was going to detonate within 15 minutes, sending people fleeing for their lives.
Three victims were taken to hospital, although it is believed their injuries were not serious, and dozens of nearby buildings were damaged.
Image: The explosion happened on Christmas Day and dozens of buildings were damaged
Authorities said on Sunday that DNA samples recovered from the scene matched those of Anthony Quinn Warner, 63.
Warner's home in nearby Antioch was searched by federal agents on Saturday.
Donald Cochran, US attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, said: "We've come to the conclusion that an individual named Anthony Warner is the bomber and he was present when the bomb went off and that he perished in the bombing."
Warner's motive is still unclear and officials have said it is too early for this to be discussed publicly.
The Memphis FBI tweeted an appeal in the early hours of Monday for information about Warner.
The owner of Fridrich & Clark Realty, Steve Fridrich, told the Tennessean newspaper that for four or five years Warner had come into the office roughly once a month to provide computer consulting services.
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Earlier in December, however, he had quit by email without giving a reason.
Mr Fridrich said: "He seemed very personable to us - this is quite out of character, I think."


skynewsus--2020-12-27--Wonder Woman nets biggest US opening since COVID shut cinemas - but fraction of usual takings

Wonder Woman 1984 raked in around $ 36.1m at cinemas worldwide over the Christmas holiday weekend , Warner Bros has said .
It is believed that $ 16.7m of that came from US and Canadian venues .
That makes it the highest domestic box office opening since the coronavirus pandemic shuttered cinemas in March , though the numbers were a fraction of those typical for a big-budget action movie .
To put that into context , Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker hauled in $ 374m globally during the weekend of its release in December 2019 .
Millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2017 's Wonder Woman - at home in the US , where the movie was made available to stream via WarnerMedia 's HBO Max .
Total viewing hours on the streaming service tripled on Friday compared with a typical day in the previous month , according to Warner Bros .
The film has not been made available to watch on demand in the UK .
It released in cinemas here on 16 December , however much of the country is in Tier 4 - meaning cinemas are shut .
It is due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK next month , but people will have to pay to watch it .
Following the news of its box office takings , Warner Bros said it would accelerate development of a second sequel .
The film will again be written and directed by Patty Jenkins , and star Gal Gadot as the lasso-wielding warrior .
Read Sky 's Bethany Minelle 's review of Wonder Woman 1984 here .
It comes after Warner Bros said it will make all of its 2021 movies available on its streaming service on the same day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - angering some of the industry 's biggest creative talents .
The cinema industry has struggled massively during the pandemic , with Cineworld having taken the drastic action to shutter all of its venues after James Bond film No Time To Die was delayed for a second time .

Wonder Woman 1984 raked in around $36.1m at cinemas worldwide over the Christmas holiday weekend, Warner Bros has said.
It is believed that $16.7m of that came from US and Canadian venues.
That makes it the highest domestic box office opening since the coronavirus pandemic shuttered cinemas in March, though the numbers were a fraction of those typical for a big-budget action movie.
Image: Gal Gadot reprised her role as Wonder Woman in the new film. Pic: Warner Bros Pictures
To put that into context, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hauled in $374m globally during the weekend of its release in December 2019.
Millions of people also watched WW84 - a sequel to 2017's Wonder Woman - at home in the US, where the movie was made available to stream via WarnerMedia's HBO Max.
Total viewing hours on the streaming service tripled on Friday compared with a typical day in the previous month, according to Warner Bros.
The film has not been made available to watch on demand in the UK.
It released in cinemas here on 16 December, however much of the country is in Tier 4 - meaning cinemas are shut.
It is due to be released for home viewing in the UK next month, but people will have to pay to watch it.
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Following the news of its box office takings, Warner Bros said it would accelerate development of a second sequel.
The film will again be written and directed by Patty Jenkins, and star Gal Gadot as the lasso-wielding warrior.
Read Sky's Bethany Minelle's review of Wonder Woman 1984 here.
Image: Patty Jenkins is set to write and direct a third instalment. Pic. Warner Bros
It comes after Warner Bros said it will make all of its 2021 movies available on its streaming service on the same day as they are released in the cinema - angering some of the industry's biggest creative talents.
The cinema industry has struggled massively during the pandemic, with Cineworld having taken the drastic action to shutter all of its venues after James Bond film No Time To Die was delayed for a second time.


skynewsus--2020-12-28--Trump backs down and signs COVID relief bill after surprise threat to block it

Donald Trump has signed a COVID relief and spending bill , restoring unemployment benefits to millions of Americans and avoiding a partial federal government shutdown .
The $ 2.3trn ( £1.7trn ) pandemic aid and spending package had been approved by Congress last week and it was understood that the White House was happy with its contents .
But then Mr Trump threatened to block it , saying he wanted to increase the one-off payments to struggling Americans from $ 600 ( £442 ) each to $ 2,000 ( £1,475 ) .
The larger amount had been rejected by his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaves office on 20 January , backed down late on Sunday under intense pressure from both sides of the political spectrum .
In a statement about the bill signing , Mr Trump complained about what he considered to be `` wasteful spending '' .
He said : `` I will sign the Omnibus and COVID package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed . ''
These notes would only be suggestions to Congress , however , and the bill as signed will not necessarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives planned to vote on Monday to increase the one-off payments and that the Senate would `` start the process '' of approving them .
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the president needed to encourage Republicans to `` end their obstruction '' and to support increasing the payments to $ 2,000 .
COVID-19 has killed more than 333,000 people in the US , infected almost 20 million and left millions more without jobs .
The signing of the bill will mean that unemployment benefits being paid to about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resume , having lapsed on Saturday .
The bill includes $ 1.4trn ( £1.03trn ) to fund government agencies through to September , as well as other priorities such as money for struggling transit systems and an increase in food stamp benefits .
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said : `` The compromise bill is not perfect , but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians ( his home state ) and Americans across the country who need help now . ''


skynewsus--2020-12-27--Nashville bombing suspect pictured - as police say he died in Christmas Day explosion

The man suspected of being behind a bomb in the US city of Nashville is believed to have died in the explosion , federal authorities have said .
The Christmas morning blast came from a motorhome which had broadcast a warning that it was going to detonate within 15 minutes , sending people fleeing for their lives .
Three victims were taken to hospital , although it is believed their injuries were not serious , and dozens of nearby buildings were damaged .
Authorities said on Sunday that DNA samples recovered from the scene matched those of Anthony Quinn Warner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby Antioch was searched by federal agents on Saturday .
Donald Cochran , US attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee , said : `` We 've come to the conclusion that an individual named Anthony Warner is the bomber and he was present when the bomb went off and that he perished in the bombing . ''
Warner 's motive is still unclear and officials have said it is too early for this to be discussed publicly .
The Memphis FBI tweeted an appeal in the early hours of Monday for information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Clark Realty , Steve Fridrich , told the Tennessean newspaper that for four or five years Warner had come into the office roughly once a month to provide computer consulting services .
Earlier in December , however , he had quit by email without giving a reason .
Mr Fridrich said : `` He seemed very personable to us - this is quite out of character , I think . ''


skynewsus--2020-12-28--Biden hits out at 'irresponsible' Trump over failure to share national security information

US President-elect Joe Biden has said the lack of information provided to his team by the Trump administration is `` nothing short of irresponsible '' .
The Democrat said those working on the transition ahead of his inauguration next month were still not getting the defence and national security details they needed - more than a month after his election win was declared .
`` We encountered obstruction from the political leadership of that department [ the Pentagon ] , '' he said , adding : `` And the truth is many of the agencies that are critical to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of them have been hollowed out - in personnel , capacity and in morale . ''
President Donald Trump has had a tempestuous relationship with the US intelligence community since his election , going so far as to suggest he trusted Vladimir Putin more than his own intelligence services regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Intelligence briefings for presidential candidates and incoming administration officials in the US are done at the courtesy of the sitting president , but Mr Trump continues to contest Mr Biden 's victory on Twitter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has been formally elected by the members of the US electoral college and is set to be inaugurated on 20 January - just 23 days away .
The Trump administration only authorised cooperation with the Biden transition team on 23 November .
Earlier this month , the Biden team said Pentagon officials were resisting their requests for information .
The Pentagon previously disputed these claims , with a senior official last week stating it had conducted 163 interviews and responded to 181 requests for information for the incoming administration .
They added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide information and meetings , although Mr Biden 's latest comments suggest that this has not been happening to his team 's liking .
Speaking to the CBS News podcast Intelligence Matters , former CIA officer and intelligence briefer David Preiss explained how the briefings were aimed at preventing candidates saying something `` galactically stupid on the campaign trail '' that could get in the way of their own foreign policy should they win .
In a long interview , Mr Preiss added that he was `` very worried '' about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House under another Trump administration , but added that he was hopeful the relationship could be re-established under Mr Biden .
`` It appears that he was a respectful recipient of the intelligence information he had , '' Mr Preiss said , adding `` most of the signs are positive that Joe Biden understands the role of intelligence in a democratic society and understands how to use it effectively as a senior policymaker '' .
`` We do n't know what all of his priorities would be , but it would n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be to , in a sense re-establish the groundwork , re-establish the foundation [ of the relationship between the White House and the intelligence community ] , '' he added .

US President-elect Joe Biden has said the lack of information provided to his team by the Trump administration is "nothing short of irresponsible".
The Democrat said those working on the transition ahead of his inauguration next month were still not getting the defence and national security details they needed - more than a month after his election win was declared.
"We encountered obstruction from the political leadership of that department [the Pentagon]," he said, adding: "And the truth is many of the agencies that are critical to our security have incurred enormous damage.
"Many of them have been hollowed out - in personnel, capacity and in morale."
Image: Joe Biden said the US intelligence community had been 'hollowed out' under Trump
President Donald Trump has had a tempestuous relationship with the US intelligence community since his election, going so far as to suggest he trusted Vladimir Putin more than his own intelligence services regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Intelligence briefings for presidential candidates and incoming administration officials in the US are done at the courtesy of the sitting president, but Mr Trump continues to contest Mr Biden's victory on Twitter.
Despite Mr Trump's claims, Mr Biden has been formally elected by the members of the US electoral college and is set to be inaugurated on 20 January - just 23 days away.
The Trump administration only authorised cooperation with the Biden transition team on 23 November. Earlier this month, the Biden team said Pentagon officials were resisting their requests for information.
The Pentagon previously disputed these claims, with a senior official last week stating it had conducted 163 interviews and responded to 181 requests for information for the incoming administration.
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They added that the Department of Defence would continue to provide information and meetings, although Mr Biden's latest comments suggest that this has not been happening to his team's liking.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:41 Trump vetoes $900bn pandemic relief package
Speaking to the CBS News podcast Intelligence Matters, former CIA officer and intelligence briefer David Preiss explained how the briefings were aimed at preventing candidates saying something "galactically stupid on the campaign trail" that could get in the way of their own foreign policy should they win.
In a long interview, Mr Preiss added that he was "very worried" about the relationship between the intelligence community and the White House under another Trump administration, but added that he was hopeful the relationship could be re-established under Mr Biden.
"It appears that he was a respectful recipient of the intelligence information he had," Mr Preiss said, adding "most of the signs are positive that Joe Biden understands the role of intelligence in a democratic society and understands how to use it effectively as a senior policymaker".
"We don't know what all of his priorities would be, but it wouldn't surprise me if one of those priorities would be to, in a sense re-establish the groundwork, re-establish the foundation [of the relationship between the White House and the intelligence community]," he added.


skynewsus--2020-12-28--Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell denied bail

Ghislaine Maxwell , the former girlfriend of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein , has been denied bail .
The British socialite is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn , New York .
In a bail application filed with the US District Court in Manhattan , Maxwell said she and her husband would post a $ 22.5m ( £16.5m ) bond towards a $ 28.5m ( £21m ) bail package , secured by all their assets , with most of the remaining funds coming from friends and family .
The proposed package included home confinement with electronic monitoring and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and would not escape .
However , judge Alison Nathan , who previously denied the 59-year-old bail in July , said she `` again concludes that no conditions of release can reasonably assure the defendant 's appearance at future proceedings '' .
She said federal prosecutors had persuaded her that Maxwell `` poses a flight risk '' .
She was arrested in an FBI raid at her secluded New Hampshire home in July over claims she played a central role in procuring underage girls for Epstein to abuse in the mid-1990s .
Epstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal jail in Manhattan , where he was awaiting trial without bail .
Maxwell is due to face trial in July .
She denies the charges .

Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, has been denied bail.
The British socialite is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York.
In a bail application filed with the US District Court in Manhattan, Maxwell said she and her husband would post a $22.5m (£16.5m) bond towards a $28.5m (£21m) bail package, secured by all their assets, with most of the remaining funds coming from friends and family.
The proposed package included home confinement with electronic monitoring and 24-hour guard to ensure she remained safe and would not escape.
However, judge Alison Nathan, who previously denied the 59-year-old bail in July, said she "again concludes that no conditions of release can reasonably assure the defendant's appearance at future proceedings".
She said federal prosecutors had persuaded her that Maxwell "poses a flight risk".
She was arrested in an FBI raid at her secluded New Hampshire home in July over claims she played a central role in procuring underage girls for Epstein to abuse in the mid-1990s.
Epstein killed himself in August 2019 at a federal jail in Manhattan, where he was awaiting trial without bail.
Maxwell is due to face trial in July. She denies the charges.


skynewsus--2020-12-29--US 'falling behind' on COVID vaccines as new variant found in Colorado

Joe Biden has warned the US is `` falling far behind '' in its attempts to vaccinate people against COVID-19 .
At the current pace , the president-elect said it could take `` years , not months '' , to inoculate the American people .
Shortly after Mr Biden addressed the nation , it emerged that a case of the more transmissible variant of coronavirus , first detected in the UK , had been discovered in Colorado .
It is the first known example to be found in the US .
Mr Biden said he had just been briefed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toughest '' months of the pandemic are ahead , adding that `` things will get worse before they get better '' .
`` Hospitals are being stretched beyond capacity , '' he said , calling on Americans to `` steel our spines for what 's ahead '' and predicting that improvement may not arrive `` until well into March '' .
Turning to vaccines , Mr Biden , who will be inaugurated on 20 January , said the current government 's plan to distribute them is `` falling behind - far behind '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago the Trump administration suggested that 20 million Americans could be vaccinated by the end of December .
`` With only a few days left in December , we have only vaccinated a few million so far .
`` At the pace the vaccination programme is moving now , it would take years , not months , to vaccinate the American people . ''
The Biden-Harris administration will `` spare no effort '' in ensuring that people receive a jab , he said , adding that one of his objectives in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get 100 million shots administered .
That would require giving one million doses a day - five to six times the current number , Mr Biden said .
In Colorado , the case of the new variant was found in a man in his 20s with `` no travel history '' , an update from the governor 's office said .
He is in isolation and will `` remain there until cleared by public health officials '' .
`` The Colorado state lab was the first in the country to quickly identify the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the update added .
`` There is a lot we do n't know about this new COVID-19 variant , but scientists in the United Kingdom are warning the world that it is significantly more contagious , '' Governor Jared Polis said .
`` The health and safety of Coloradans is our top priority and we will closely monitor this case , as well as all COVID-19 indicators , very closely . ''

Joe Biden has warned the US is "falling far behind" in its attempts to vaccinate people against COVID-19.
At the current pace, the president-elect said it could take "years, not months", to inoculate the American people.
Shortly after Mr Biden addressed the nation, it emerged that a case of the more transmissible variant of coronavirus, first detected in the UK, had been discovered in Colorado.
It is the first known example to be found in the US.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:12 VP-elect Harris gets COVID-19 vaccine
Mr Biden said he had just been briefed by experts and warned that "maybe the toughest" months of the pandemic are ahead, adding that "things will get worse before they get better".
"Hospitals are being stretched beyond capacity," he said, calling on Americans to "steel our spines for what's ahead" and predicting that improvement may not arrive "until well into March".
Turning to vaccines, Mr Biden, who will be inaugurated on 20 January, said the current government's plan to distribute them is "falling behind - far behind".
He added: "A few weeks ago the Trump administration suggested that 20 million Americans could be vaccinated by the end of December.
"With only a few days left in December, we have only vaccinated a few million so far.
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"At the pace the vaccination programme is moving now, it would take years, not months, to vaccinate the American people."
Image: Mr Biden said 'maybe the toughest' months of the pandemic are ahead
The Biden-Harris administration will "spare no effort" in ensuring that people receive a jab, he said, adding that one of his objectives in his first 100 days in office is to get 100 million shots administered.
That would require giving one million doses a day - five to six times the current number, Mr Biden said.
In Colorado, the case of the new variant was found in a man in his 20s with "no travel history", an update from the governor's office said.
He is in isolation and will "remain there until cleared by public health officials".
"The Colorado state lab was the first in the country to quickly identify the variant through sophisticated analysis of testing samples," the update added.
"There is a lot we don't know about this new COVID-19 variant, but scientists in the United Kingdom are warning the world that it is significantly more contagious," Governor Jared Polis said.
"The health and safety of Coloradans is our top priority and we will closely monitor this case, as well as all COVID-19 indicators, very closely."


skynewsus--2020-12-29--Harry and Meghan's son Archie speaks publicly for first time in couple's new podcast

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex 's son Archie has spoken publicly for the first time - with a slight American accent - in the royal couple 's new podcast for Spotify .
The half-hour `` Holiday Special '' features celebrities , including singer Sir Elton John and TV host James Corden , and other guests reflecting on the past year and `` sharing lessons , reflections and hopes for 2021 '' .
In a surprise twist at the end , the couple 's son Archie wished listeners a happy new year .
`` After me .
Ready ?
Happy… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toddler .
`` New , '' the duke and duchess said .
The episode includes `` personal anecdotes and inspirational stories '' , with guests chatting to Harry and Meghan about their own life experiences .
Among those who featured on the show were activists and campaigners who had been asked by the couple to record audio diaries looking back on the year .
The podcast venture follows a high-profile Netflix deal to become film and TV producers , after announcing they wanted to step away from royal life and become financially independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the audio show , they pay tribute to those who `` have experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss '' during a difficult year , and thank healthcare workers for their sacrifices .
The couple - who have been married for two and a half years and now live in Montecito , California - also expound the value of love , telling their listeners `` love wins '' .
Harry said : `` We 're glad you 're here .
As we all know , it 's been a year .
And we really want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has helped so many people get through it . ''
Meghan added : `` And at the same time , to honour those who have experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss .
Our thoughts have been with you , especially during this holiday season . ''
In his audio diary for the podcast , Sir Elton John said : `` We were in the middle of a tour and then COVID started and we came back to England in May , and it was very strange because we were going full pelt , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a halt .
`` I 'm 73 years old , and I 'm a semi diabetic , so I 'm in a risky area there , I have an underlying condition as they say .
I 've seen my immediate family - Zachary , Elijah and David - all the time .
`` But my relatives , who I love , have n't been able to see much of them at all , and I 've only stayed connected with him by phone , of course , and by Zoom . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zoom , calling the technology a `` lifesaver '' .
Reflecting on 2020 , he called it `` the worst year I 've ever known '' , saying , `` let 's just go onwards and upwards and have the best year in 2021 . ''
Late-night talk show host and actor James Corden said the pandemic taught him that he 's `` very happy staying in '' as the pandemic forced him to record from home .
`` I could lose a day just staring at the corner of a rug , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andres said he shed tears when he had to close his restaurants - but then decided to repurpose his staff to provide meals for those who need it most , like healthcare workers and the homeless .
The show ends on a romantic note , featuring This Little Light of Mine - the song which was played at the end of their wedding at St George 's Chapel , Windsor Castle in May 2018 .
Meghan said : `` From us I 'll say no matter what life throws at you guys , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wins . ''
The podcast is Archewell Audio 's first offering in a multi-year partnership with the streaming service , as part of their charitable foundation Archewell .
The royal couple 's `` audio-first production company '' is expected to deliver a complete series next year .
Harry and Meghan have appeared on a number of different podcasts as guests , including the Teenage Therapy podcast to mark World Mental Health Day , where Meghan described how `` in 2019 , I was the most trolled person in the entire world '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times about the experience of losing her second child , in a bid to break down the stigma around talking about miscarriage .

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son Archie has spoken publicly for the first time - with a slight American accent - in the royal couple's new podcast for Spotify.
The half-hour "Holiday Special" features celebrities, including singer Sir Elton John and TV host James Corden, and other guests reflecting on the past year and "sharing lessons, reflections and hopes for 2021".
In a surprise twist at the end, the couple's son Archie wished listeners a happy new year.
Image: Harry and Meghan have released their first podcast with streaming platform Spotify
"After me. Ready? Happy…" Harry said, coaching the 19-month-old toddler.
"Happy," Archie repeated.
"New," the duke and duchess said.
"New… Year," the toddler replied, giggling.
The episode includes "personal anecdotes and inspirational stories", with guests chatting to Harry and Meghan about their own life experiences.
Among those who featured on the show were activists and campaigners who had been asked by the couple to record audio diaries looking back on the year.
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The podcast venture follows a high-profile Netflix deal to become film and TV producers, after announcing they wanted to step away from royal life and become financially independent at the start of 2020.
Image: Archie and his parents in September 2019
In the audio show, they pay tribute to those who "have experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss" during a difficult year, and thank healthcare workers for their sacrifices.
The couple - who have been married for two and a half years and now live in Montecito, California - also expound the value of love, telling their listeners "love wins".
Harry said: "We're glad you're here. As we all know, it's been a year. And we really want to honour the compassion and kindness that has helped so many people get through it."
Meghan added: "And at the same time, to honour those who have experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss. Our thoughts have been with you, especially during this holiday season."
Image: The couple tied the knot back in May 2018
In his audio diary for the podcast, Sir Elton John said: "We were in the middle of a tour and then COVID started and we came back to England in May, and it was very strange because we were going full pelt, and then all of a sudden we ground to a halt.
"I'm 73 years old, and I'm a semi diabetic, so I'm in a risky area there, I have an underlying condition as they say. I've seen my immediate family - Zachary, Elijah and David - all the time.
"But my relatives, who I love, haven't been able to see much of them at all, and I've only stayed connected with him by phone, of course, and by Zoom."
He attended his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings on Zoom, calling the technology a "lifesaver".
Reflecting on 2020, he called it "the worst year I've ever known", saying, "let's just go onwards and upwards and have the best year in 2021."
Image: Harry and Meghan also have a contract to produce content for Netflix
Late-night talk show host and actor James Corden said the pandemic taught him that he's "very happy staying in" as the pandemic forced him to record from home.
"I could lose a day just staring at the corner of a rug," he said.
Celebrity chef Jose Andres said he shed tears when he had to close his restaurants - but then decided to repurpose his staff to provide meals for those who need it most, like healthcare workers and the homeless.
The show ends on a romantic note, featuring This Little Light of Mine - the song which was played at the end of their wedding at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in May 2018.
Meghan said: "From us I'll say no matter what life throws at you guys, trust us when we say, love wins."
The podcast is Archewell Audio's first offering in a multi-year partnership with the streaming service, as part of their charitable foundation Archewell.
The royal couple's "audio-first production company" is expected to deliver a complete series next year.
Harry and Meghan have appeared on a number of different podcasts as guests, including the Teenage Therapy podcast to mark World Mental Health Day, where Meghan described how "in 2019, I was the most trolled person in the entire world".
And last month Meghan wrote in The New York Times about the experience of losing her second child, in a bid to break down the stigma around talking about miscarriage.


skynewsus--2020-12-29--Jazz musician claims woman assaulted his son after false theft accusation

An investigation has been launched after a 14-year-old black teenager was allegedly tackled by a white woman who falsely accused him of stealing her phone .
Keyon Harrold , a Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter , posted a video of the confrontation , which shows a woman shouting and demanding her phone be returned while a hotel manager tries to intervene .
He said the unidentified woman scratched him and grabbed his son , Keyon Harrold Jr , at the Arlo SoHo Hotel in New York on Saturday , where they were guests .
The woman appears to rush forward at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm not going to let him walk away with my phone ! ''
Her phone was later found in an Uber , according to Mr Harrold .
The trumpeter criticised the hotel manager for allegedly asking his son to show his phone to the woman .
Mr Harrold said the incident was `` traumatic '' for Keyon .
`` He 's the sweetest , most genuine kid you could ask for , '' he said in an interview .
`` I was just appalled at how he was treated . ''
Mayor Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism .
Plain and simple . ''
`` It would be horrific at any age , but it 's especially offensive that it happened to a child , '' he said in a tweet .
Prosecutors in Manhattan are now investigating the incident .
In a statement , the parents of Keyon Harrold Jr and civil rights lawyer Ben Crump called on the Manhattan district attorney to bring assault and battery charges against the woman `` to send the message that hateful , racially motivated behaviour is unacceptable '' .
They also called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arlo SoHo Hotel for its `` implicit '' bias in the way it treated Kenyon .
The hotel said they reached out to Harrold and his son to apologise .
`` We 're deeply disheartened about the recent incident of baseless accusation , prejudice , and assault against an innocent guest of Arlo Hotel , '' they said in a Facebook post .
They said the manager on duty called the police and hotel security intervened to prevent further violence .

An investigation has been launched after a 14-year-old black teenager was allegedly tackled by a white woman who falsely accused him of stealing her phone.
Keyon Harrold, a Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter, posted a video of the confrontation, which shows a woman shouting and demanding her phone be returned while a hotel manager tries to intervene.
He said the unidentified woman scratched him and grabbed his son, Keyon Harrold Jr, at the Arlo SoHo Hotel in New York on Saturday, where they were guests.
The woman appears to rush forward at one point, saying, "I'm not going to let him walk away with my phone!"
Her phone was later found in an Uber, according to Mr Harrold.
The trumpeter criticised the hotel manager for allegedly asking his son to show his phone to the woman.
Mr Harrold said the incident was "traumatic" for Keyon.
"He's the sweetest, most genuine kid you could ask for," he said in an interview. "I was just appalled at how he was treated."
Mayor Bill de Blasio said: "This is racism. Plain and simple."
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"It would be horrific at any age, but it's especially offensive that it happened to a child," he said in a tweet.
Prosecutors in Manhattan are now investigating the incident.
In a statement, the parents of Keyon Harrold Jr and civil rights lawyer Ben Crump called on the Manhattan district attorney to bring assault and battery charges against the woman "to send the message that hateful, racially motivated behaviour is unacceptable".
They also called for a civil rights investigation into the Arlo SoHo Hotel for its "implicit" bias in the way it treated Kenyon.
The hotel said they reached out to Harrold and his son to apologise.
"We're deeply disheartened about the recent incident of baseless accusation, prejudice, and assault against an innocent guest of Arlo Hotel," they said in a Facebook post.
They said the manager on duty called the police and hotel security intervened to prevent further violence.


skynewsus--2020-12-30--Boeing 737 MAX aircraft resume passenger flights in the US

Boeing 737 MAX aircraft have resumed passenger flights in the US for the first time since a 20-month safety ban was lifted last month .
American Airlines flight 718 , carrying around 100 passengers , landed at New York 's LaGuardia Airport on Tuesday after departing from Miami earlier in the day .
The airline and plane manufacturer Boeing have sought to reassure the public over the safety of the 737 MAX after it was cleared by US regulators to resume flights in November .
The MAX airlines were grounded in March 2019 for 20 months after two fatal crashes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ethiopia - killed a total of 346 people .
In both crashes , the system caused the nose of the aircraft to be pushed down repeatedly based on faulty sensor readings , and pilots were unable to regain control .
That was lifted by the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) last month after Boeing agreed to software upgrades and new safety precautions on a flight control system linked in both crashes .
The flight comes after a host of measures by the airline , including flight control updates , maintenance work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crews to explain Boeing 's changes and address concerns .
American is the third airline to globally resume flights after Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes and Grupo Aeromexico earlier in Decemeber .
All three have said customers will have the chance to change flights if they are uncomfortable with the MAX aircraft .
It currently has 31 737 MAX aircraft after it received seven more of the jets following the lifting of the safety ban .
The COVID-19 crisis has landed the airline industry into its worst crisis , with hundreds of planes grounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2019 levels .
Airlines are also deferring deliveries of 737 MAX aircraft because of the pandemic .
Boeing has lost billions during the grounding because it has been unable to deliver new planes to customers , and orders for the aircraft have plummeted .

Boeing 737 MAX aircraft have resumed passenger flights in the US for the first time since a 20-month safety ban was lifted last month.
American Airlines flight 718, carrying around 100 passengers, landed at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Tuesday after departing from Miami earlier in the day.
The airline and plane manufacturer Boeing have sought to reassure the public over the safety of the 737 MAX after it was cleared by US regulators to resume flights in November.
The MAX airlines were grounded in March 2019 for 20 months after two fatal crashes in five months - in Indonesia and Ethiopia - killed a total of 346 people.
Image: Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 crashed into a field 30 miles from the airport in Addis Ababa in March 2019
In both crashes, the system caused the nose of the aircraft to be pushed down repeatedly based on faulty sensor readings, and pilots were unable to regain control.
That was lifted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last month after Boeing agreed to software upgrades and new safety precautions on a flight control system linked in both crashes.
The flight comes after a host of measures by the airline, including flight control updates, maintenance work, fresh pilot training and meetings with flight crews to explain Boeing's changes and address concerns.
American is the third airline to globally resume flights after Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes and Grupo Aeromexico earlier in Decemeber. All three have said customers will have the chance to change flights if they are uncomfortable with the MAX aircraft.
It currently has 31 737 MAX aircraft after it received seven more of the jets following the lifting of the safety ban.
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The COVID-19 crisis has landed the airline industry into its worst crisis, with hundreds of planes grounded and demand hovering at around 30% of 2019 levels.
Airlines are also deferring deliveries of 737 MAX aircraft because of the pandemic.
Boeing has lost billions during the grounding because it has been unable to deliver new planes to customers, and orders for the aircraft have plummeted.


skynewsus--2020-12-30--COVID-19 variant discovered in UK reaches California

The new highly infectious variant of COVID-19 first discovered in the UK has now been detected in southern California , according to the state 's governor .
Gavin Newsom declared that the more transmissible version of the coronavirus had reached the US western coast on Wednesday , a day after the first case was documented in Colorado .
Governor Newsom confirmed the finding at the start of an online discussion about the COVID-19 pandemic alongside Dr Anthony Fauci , one of the country 's leading experts .
Dr Fauci said he was `` not surprised '' that the new variant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't think Californians should think that this is odd .
It 's to be expected , '' he said , before adding that he expected additional cases to surface in other states .
It follows the first variant case in the US being announced by Colorado Governor Jared Polis earlier this week .
Governor Polis said it affected a National Guard soldier in his 20s who had been assigned to help deal with a coronavirus outbreak at a nursing home in semi-rural area .
California 's governor did not give any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected .
According to Dr Greg Armstrong , who directs genetic sequencing at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , suspicious samples from the states of Massachusetts and Delaware are also being analysed .
Dr Armstrong said the CDC is working with a national lab that gets samples from around the country to broaden the search for the variant with its first results expected within days .
Scientists believe the variant , first discovered in the UK as a result of genomic sequencing , is 70 % more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has now been detected across Europe , as well as in Australia , Canada , India , and Japan , among other countries .
Although it is not expected to be any more resistant to vaccines , the increase in transmission means it could lead to a surge in patients in hospitals , potentially overwhelming healthcare services .
This is the case in the UK where there are rising numbers of people going into hospital with COVID-19 , especially in the South East and London where the new variant is making @ @ @ @ @ @

The new highly infectious variant of COVID-19 first discovered in the UK has now been detected in southern California, according to the state's governor.
Gavin Newsom declared that the more transmissible version of the coronavirus had reached the US western coast on Wednesday, a day after the first case was documented in Colorado.
Governor Newsom confirmed the finding at the start of an online discussion about the COVID-19 pandemic alongside Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the country's leading experts.
Dr Fauci said he was "not surprised" that the new variant had been detected in America.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:01 Trump mocks immunology expert Dr Fauci
"I don't think Californians should think that this is odd. It's to be expected," he said, before adding that he expected additional cases to surface in other states.
It follows the first variant case in the US being announced by Colorado Governor Jared Polis earlier this week.
Governor Polis said it affected a National Guard soldier in his 20s who had been assigned to help deal with a coronavirus outbreak at a nursing home in semi-rural area.
California's governor did not give any details about whom the state's case affected.
Image: India has found six new cases of the UK coronavirus variant
According to Dr Greg Armstrong, who directs genetic sequencing at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suspicious samples from the states of Massachusetts and Delaware are also being analysed.
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Dr Armstrong said the CDC is working with a national lab that gets samples from around the country to broaden the search for the variant with its first results expected within days.
Scientists believe the variant, first discovered in the UK as a result of genomic sequencing, is 70% more contagious but not more severe in symptoms.
It has now been detected across Europe, as well as in Australia, Canada, India, and Japan, among other countries.
Although it is not expected to be any more resistant to vaccines, the increase in transmission means it could lead to a surge in patients in hospitals, potentially overwhelming healthcare services.
This is the case in the UK where there are rising numbers of people going into hospital with COVID-19, especially in the South East and London where the new variant is making up the majority of cases.


skynewsus--2020-12-21--Ex-NFL player who inspired Kaepernick says football fans' booing 'sign of hate and anger'

The former US special forces soldier who helped inspire `` taking a knee '' to protest against racial injustice has criticised football fans in England for booing players who kneel in support of the anti-racism campaign .
Nate Boyer , who served as a Green Beret in Iraq and Afghanistan before making it as a player in the NFL , says the boos are disrespectful and a sign of the `` hate and anger '' in the world .
In 2016 , Boyer criticised then NFL star Colin Kaepernick for protesting racial injustice by sitting during the pre-game national anthem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss other ways to protest that would not offend members of the military .
Hours after that meeting , the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback knelt for the first time during the playing of the anthem before a game .
Boyer stood next to him .
The gesture became symbolic of the Black Lives Matter movement and has been re-energised following the killing of George Floyd under a police officer 's knee in May .
Boyer clearly remembers the reaction when he stood alongside Kaepernick in 2016 .
He said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drowned out the singing .
I was shocked in that moment .
`` I just felt uncomfortable and I ca n't imagine what Colin actually felt and what anyone who takes a knee feels because they know it is directed at them . ''
It informs what he feels about fans who boo when players take a knee to honour the Black Lives Matter campaign in England .
`` It 's not surprising , it 's sad , '' he said .
`` Why ca n't you just respect somebody 's opinion ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to yell out a boo over what somebody else is doing when it is supposed to be a moment of silent reflection ?
There 's just so much hate in the world and anger . ''
Boyer says the willingness to listen was a lesson from his meeting with Kaepernick .
He said : `` I will never know what it is like to be a person of colour but someone who did n't serve in the military is n't going to know what it 's like to fight for this country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want people to listen , you 've got to listen to them .
We did n't have opposing opinions just opposing experiences . ''
The protests around the world after George Floyd 's death have intensified the focus .
`` There was so much on the edge that was bubbling just under the surface and that broke ground and everything just released at once .
There was so much frustration , people had just kind of had it , '' he added .
It put into context what happened in that meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've got nothing but respect for him as a human being .
There are still things today that he does or says that I do n't necessarily agree with but that 's okay , you can still have love for your fellow man , '' he said .
`` Even though he was an incredible player , almost won a Super Bowl , what he 's a part of now , what he 'll be remembered for , is not a single down on the football field , it is something much bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their eyes and realised that things are n't just perfect and equal and easy for everybody in this country . ''

The former US special forces soldier who helped inspire "taking a knee" to protest against racial injustice has criticised football fans in England for booing players who kneel in support of the anti-racism campaign.
Nate Boyer, who served as a Green Beret in Iraq and Afghanistan before making it as a player in the NFL, says the boos are disrespectful and a sign of the "hate and anger" in the world.
In 2016, Boyer criticised then NFL star Colin Kaepernick for protesting racial injustice by sitting during the pre-game national anthem.
Kaepernick asked to meet the veteran to discuss other ways to protest that would not offend members of the military.
Image: Colin Kaepernick began taking the knee after a discussion with Nate Boyer
Hours after that meeting, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback knelt for the first time during the playing of the anthem before a game. Boyer stood next to him.
The gesture became symbolic of the Black Lives Matter movement and has been re-energised following the killing of George Floyd under a police officer's knee in May.
Boyer clearly remembers the reaction when he stood alongside Kaepernick in 2016. He said: "The amount of boos I heard just drowned out the singing. I was shocked in that moment.
"I just felt uncomfortable and I can't imagine what Colin actually felt and what anyone who takes a knee feels because they know it is directed at them."
Image: Boyer had initially criticised the former 49ers quarterback for sitting during the national anthem
It informs what he feels about fans who boo when players take a knee to honour the Black Lives Matter campaign in England.
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"It's not surprising, it's sad," he said. "Why can't you just respect somebody's opinion?
"How is that not more disrespectful to yell out a boo over what somebody else is doing when it is supposed to be a moment of silent reflection? There's just so much hate in the world and anger."
Image: Kaepernick has not played for an NFL team since his decision to protest against racial injustice
Boyer says the willingness to listen was a lesson from his meeting with Kaepernick.
He said: "I will never know what it is like to be a person of colour but someone who didn't serve in the military isn't going to know what it's like to fight for this country.
"It's very important that if you want people to listen, you've got to listen to them. We didn't have opposing opinions just opposing experiences."
Image: Boyer says Kaepernick is now remembered for more than being an NFL quarterback
The protests around the world after George Floyd's death have intensified the focus.
"There was so much on the edge that was bubbling just under the surface and that broke ground and everything just released at once. There was so much frustration, people had just kind of had it," he added.
It put into context what happened in that meeting with Kaepernick in 2016.
"I've got nothing but respect for him as a human being. There are still things today that he does or says that I don't necessarily agree with but that's okay, you can still have love for your fellow man," he said.
"Even though he was an incredible player, almost won a Super Bowl, what he's a part of now, what he'll be remembered for, is not a single down on the football field, it is something much bigger.
"A lot of people opened their eyes and realised that things aren't just perfect and equal and easy for everybody in this country."


skynewsus--2020-12-31--Most prolific serial killer in US history dies in hospital

A convicted murderer , considered by the FBI to be the most prolific serial killer in US history , has died at a hospital in California .
Samuel Little , who had been serving three consecutive life sentences for the killing of three women in Los Angeles County during the 1980s , ultimately confessed to killing 93 people .
The state corrections department said the 80-year-old died on Wednesday , but that an official cause of death would be determined by the county medical examiner 's office .
Little was convicted of the three murders in September 2014 after his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Before that , he served two sentences , including a four-year term ending in 1987 for assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment , and another spell of around 14 months ending in April 2014 .
When interviewed by a Texas Ranger in his California prison cell in 2018 , Little began confessing to further murders , according to the FBI .
He ultimately admitted strangling dozens of people across the country between 1970 and 2005 , and drowning one of his victims .
The agency says investigators have since verified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many more needing final confirmation , making him the deadliest US serial killer on record .
Little is said to have targeted mostly vulnerable , young black women - many of them prostitutes or drug addicts , whose deaths escaped the headlines and in some cases were not recorded as homicides .
According to the only FBI profile of him , many of his victims ' deaths were originally ruled overdoses , or considered accidental .
Some causes of deaths were undetermined and some bodies were never found .
FBI videotapes made during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrubs and a cap , appearing to be bemused or smiling as he recounted the killings .
In a statement , the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said he had been incarcerated in Lancaster , California , north of Los Angeles , but died early yesterday morning at a hospital outside the prison .

A convicted murderer, considered by the FBI to be the most prolific serial killer in US history, has died at a hospital in California.
Samuel Little, who had been serving three consecutive life sentences for the killing of three women in Los Angeles County during the 1980s, ultimately confessed to killing 93 people.
The state corrections department said the 80-year-old died on Wednesday, but that an official cause of death would be determined by the county medical examiner's office.
Image: FBI videotapes made during his confessions showed Little smiling as he recounted the killings
Little was convicted of the three murders in September 2014 after his DNA was found at the crime scenes.
Before that, he served two sentences, including a four-year term ending in 1987 for assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment, and another spell of around 14 months ending in April 2014.
When interviewed by a Texas Ranger in his California prison cell in 2018, Little began confessing to further murders, according to the FBI.
He ultimately admitted strangling dozens of people across the country between 1970 and 2005, and drowning one of his victims.
The agency says investigators have since verified 50 of his 93 confessions, with many more needing final confirmation, making him the deadliest US serial killer on record.
Little is said to have targeted mostly vulnerable, young black women - many of them prostitutes or drug addicts, whose deaths escaped the headlines and in some cases were not recorded as homicides.
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Image: A sketch of a victim Little said was the only person he killed by drowning in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1982
According to the only FBI profile of him, many of his victims' deaths were originally ruled overdoses, or considered accidental. Some causes of deaths were undetermined and some bodies were never found.
FBI videotapes made during his confessions showed Little wearing blue prison scrubs and a cap, appearing to be bemused or smiling as he recounted the killings.
In a statement, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said he had been incarcerated in Lancaster, California, north of Los Angeles, but died early yesterday morning at a hospital outside the prison.


skynewsus--2020-12-31--Health worker sacked after deliberately spoiling 500 vaccine doses

A health worker in Wisconsin has been sacked after deliberately spoiling 500 doses of a coronavirus vaccine .
Police , the FBI and the US Drug Administration are all investigating after the worker removed the doses from where they were being refrigerated at the Aurora Medical Center on the outskirts of Milwaukee .
Detectives said they had been told about the tampering on Wednesday evening .
As of Thursday there had been no arrests .
In a statement , the Aurora centre said the employee involved had `` acknowledged that they had intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ motive .
It said : `` We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic .
We are more than disappointed that this individual 's actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine . ''
The number of coronavirus cases in Wisconsin is on the rise , following a brief slowdown at the start of December .
Johns Hopkins University states that there have been 516,226 total cases of the virus in the state , with 5,192 deaths .
Around 47,157 people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a total population of around 5.8million .

A health worker in Wisconsin has been sacked after deliberately spoiling 500 doses of a coronavirus vaccine.
Police, the FBI and the US Drug Administration are all investigating after the worker removed the doses from where they were being refrigerated at the Aurora Medical Center on the outskirts of Milwaukee.
Detectives said they had been told about the tampering on Wednesday evening. As of Thursday there had been no arrests.
In a statement, the Aurora centre said the employee involved had "acknowledged that they had intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration".
The statement made no mention of a motive.
It said: "We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that this individual's actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine."
The number of coronavirus cases in Wisconsin is on the rise, following a brief slowdown at the start of December.
Johns Hopkins University states that there have been 516,226 total cases of the virus in the state, with 5,192 deaths.
Around 47,157 people have been vaccinated in Wisconsin, out of a total population of around 5.8million.