newyorkpost--2020-08-13--2020 events so far: Yep, these major world events all happened this year

If you ’ re loving Le Creuset ’ s Factory to Table Sale , then ...

Australian bushfires Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk is seen with a koala rescued at a burning forest near Cape Borda on Kangaroo Island. Reuters The country faced one of its most devastating wildfire seasons as the blazes continued from December 2019 into the new year and burned a record 47 million acres, displaced thousands of people and killed at least 34 people.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit royal family Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Getty Images The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shocked both sides of the pond on Jan. 8 when they announced they were stepping down as “senior” royals.
COVID-19 pandemic A doctor looks at a lung CT image in Wuhan. AFP via Getty Images The World Health Organization announced Jan. 9 that a deadly coronavirus had emerged in Wuhan, China. In a matter of months, the virus has spread across the globe to more than 20 million people, resulting in at least 751,000 deaths.
Kobe Bryant's death Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Getty Images The legendary Los Angeles Lakers player was killled along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others when their helicopter crashed in Calabasas, Calif., on Jan. 26.
Impeachment of President Donald Trump Trump speaks about his impeachment trial. AFP via Getty Images The president faced an impeachment trial in January on charges that he asked Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. He was ultimately acquitted by the Senate on Feb. 5.
"Parasite" sweeps the Oscars Bong Joon Ho poses with his Academy Awards. AFP via Getty Images Bong Joon Ho’s film took home the most awards, landing Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film on Feb. 9. It marked the first time a non-English-language movie won Best Picture.
Harvey Weinstein verdict Harvey Weinstein walking into his trial. Steven Hirsch The disgraced Hollywood kingmaker was convicted Feb. 24 of raping an aspiring actress and sexually abusing a TV and film production assistant. The verdict was celebrated by his dozens of accusers and their supporters as a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement.
Stock market crash 2020 Meric Greenbaum, Designated Market Maker IMC financial looks up at the board before the opening bell right before trading halted on the New York Stock Exchange on March 9. AFP via Getty Images The coronavirus pandemic triggered a global recession as numerous countries went into lockdown. The Dow Jones industrial average suffered its worst single-day point drop ever on March 9.
Black Lives Matter protests People gather at a memorial mural painted outside the Cup Foods store on Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis where George Floyd died. AP The police-involved killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor this year sparked a wave of peaceful — and sometimes violent — demonstrations and riots across the world to demand an end to police brutality and racial injustice. More protests erupted in August when 29-year-old Jacob Blake was shot by a Kenosha, Wisconsin, cop and paralyzed from the waist down.
Kim Jong Un death rumors Kim Jong Un cuts a ribbon in May. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image The North Korean supreme leader fueled speculation that he was either gravely ill or dead after he missed events commemorating his grandfather Kim Il-sung on April 15. He reemerged 20 days later in photos released by state media at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The despot, however, faced a new wave of skepticism over his health in August when a South Korean official claimed all of the appearances were faked and he was in a vegetative state.
Biden becomes Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden AP The former veep clinched the party’s nomination in June despite a crowded primary field. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg were also among the more than two dozen Democratic hopefuls in the race.
Twitter hack Graham Clark poses in a police booking photo. HCSO/MEGA A group allegedly spearheaded by a Florida teen took over the Twitter accounts of prominent business and political figures — including Joe Biden, Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Kanye West — in a bitcoin scam.
Ghislaine Maxwell arrest Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell Getty Images Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged madam was nabbed July 2 on sex-trafficking charges while holed up in a luxury home on a 156-acre estate in New Hampshire.
"Murder hornets" arrive in US A murder hornet. Reuters The invasive insect, known as the Asian giant hornet, was spotted for the first time stateside when they invaded Washington state. Measuring up to two inches, the hornets can wipe out entire bee colonies within hours.
Beirut explosion A man reacts to the explosions in Lebanon's capital of Beirut. IBRAHIM AMRO/AFP via Getty Images A massive explosion at a Beirut port, sparked Aug. 4 by the accidental detonation of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, killed at least 190 people and injured thousands of others.
Kamala Harris chosen as Democratic VP candidate Kamala Harris. AFP via Getty Images Biden announced Aug. 11 that he selected the California senator as his running mate, making her the first black woman and the first Asian woman on a major party’s presidential ticket.
Chadwick Boseman's death Chadwick Boseman Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP “Black Panther” actor Chadwick Boseman died at age 43 after a four-year battle with colon cancer. His death on Aug. 28 shocked fans, since he had completed several blockbuster films while keeping his diagnosis private.
West Coast wildfires via REUTERS Deadly wildfires erupted from California to Washington state, burning millions of acres and displacing hundreds of thousands of people since mid-August.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Washington Post via Getty Images The Supreme Court Justice and unrelenting trailblazer for gender equality died Sept. 18 at the age of 87. She was the second-ever woman appointed to the high court.
Trump tests positive for COVID-19 President Trump unmasks at the White House after his arrival from the Walter Reed Medical Center. AFP via Getty Images President Trump announced Oct. 2 that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus. He was hospitalized for three days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center before he was discharged to continue his recovery at the White House.
Eddie Van Halen's death Eddie Van Halen on stage in 1984 Ebet Roberts/Getty Images Rock legend Eddie Van Halen, 65, died following a decades-long battle with cancer on Oct. 6. The iconic guitarist, known for hits such as “Jump” and “Hot for Teacher,” had been first diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000.
Joe Biden becomes president-elect Joe Biden AP Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Nov. 7, defeating President Trump with a critical assist from his birth state, Pennsylvania, which delivered the votes to propel him to victory and end one of the most contentious elections in recent memory.
Alex Trebek's death Alex Trebek ABC via Getty Images “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek died Nov. 8 following his battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Trebek educated and entertained millions on the beloved quiz show as its host for 36 years.
COVID-19 vaccine rollout Sandra Lindsay, left, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Mark Lennihan/AP The first Americans were vaccinated against the coronavirus Dec. 14 after the US Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot on Dec. 11. The country’s second inoculation, developed by Moderna, was then given FDA approval a week later on Dec. 18 — with states receiving the jab Dec. 21. The arrival of the two vaccines, which were developed in less than a year, was touted as one of the greatest scientific accomplishments in US history.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--9/11 ‘Tribute in Light’ memorial in NYC canceled amid COVID-19 concerns

The iconic Lower Manhattan 9/11 memorial display that features twin beams of light to honor victims of the terror attacks will not shine this year over coronavirus concerns , organizers said Thursday .
The annual “ Tribute in Light ” display requires a large crew to pull off , the 9/11 Memorial and Museum said on its website , posing health risks this year that “ were far too great.
” The museum said it was an “ incredibly difficult decision ” to nix the lights , but announced an alternative citywide initiative to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , dubbed the “ Tribute in Lights , ” will feature buildings across the city lighting up their facades and spires in blue on 9/11 .
“ In a spirit of unity and remembrance , the city will come together for a “ Tribute in Lights ” to inspire the world and honor the promise to never forget , ” the museum said .
“ Many iconic New York City buildings will be lighting their spires and facades in blue to honor those killed on 9/11.
” The decision to cancel the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the museum this year also scrapped the in-person reading of 9/11 victims at the annual Ground Zero ceremony .
But last week , a nonprofit , The Tunnel to Towers Foundation , announced their own separate Lower Manhattan ceremony where select family members of 9/11 victims will be permitted to read the names of their loved ones .

The iconic Lower Manhattan 9/11 memorial display that features twin beams of light to honor victims of the terror attacks will not shine this year over coronavirus concerns, organizers said Thursday.
The annual “Tribute in Light” display requires a large crew to pull off, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum said on its website, posing health risks this year that “were far too great.”
The museum said it was an “incredibly difficult decision” to nix the lights, but announced an alternative citywide initiative to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
The new plan, dubbed the “Tribute in Lights,” will feature buildings across the city lighting up their facades and spires in blue on 9/11.
“In a spirit of unity and remembrance, the city will come together for a ‘Tribute in Lights’ to inspire the world and honor the promise to never forget,” the museum said.
“Many iconic New York City buildings will be lighting their spires and facades in blue to honor those killed on 9/11.”
The decision to cancel the “Tribute in Light” memorial comes after the museum this year also scrapped the in-person reading of 9/11 victims’ names at the annual Ground Zero ceremony.
But last week, a nonprofit, The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, announced its own separate Lower Manhattan ceremony where select family members of 9/11 victims will be permitted to read the names of their loved ones.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--NCAA axes fall championships as major football marches on

Health is priceless , but the decision to prioritize it was ...

The NCAA called off fall championship events — a move Thursday that does not affect major college football — because not enough schools will be competing in sports such as men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball during the first semester.
NCAA President Mark Emmert made the announcement in a video posted on Twitter, but it has been clear this was coming as more and more conference canceled fall sports seasons because of the coronvirus pandemic.
“Sadly, tragically that’s going to be the case this fall. Full stop,” Emmert said. “That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t and can’t turn toward winter and spring and say, ‘How can we create a legitimate championship for those students?’ There are ways to do this. I am completely confident we can figure this out. If schools and conferences want to move forward … let’s do it.”
Emmert said the NCAA would prioritize staging championships in winter and spring sports because those — including the NCAA basketball tournaments— were canceled when COVID-19 first spiked across the United States in March.
Moving fall sports to the spring still must go through the Division I Council, which is comprised of representatives of all 32 conferences, and be approved by the DI Board of Directors.
“If we modify the model, which we need to do anyway because of the virus, shrink the bracket sizes, do everything in predetermined sites instead of running kids around the country. Use predetermined sites, move toward a bubble or semi-bubble models,” Emmert said. “Will it be normal, of course not. Will it create other conflicts and challenges, of course. But is it doable? Yeah.”
Last week the NCAA Board of Governors said championship events in a sport would canceled if fewer than 50 percent of the teams competing in that sports played a regular season.
Divisions II and III almost immediately followed by canceling their fall championships. Division I — which is comprised of 357 schools — held on, but as conference after conference canceled their fall seasons the tipping point came.
Falls sports also include field hockey, cross country and water polo. Schools in conferences that have not yet canceled their fall seasons could conceivably try to stage regular-season competition over the next few months.
The highest tier of Division I football, the Bowl Subdivision, is not impacted. The College Football Playoff is run by the conferences and six of those leagues are still moving toward having a season, including the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12.
Earlier in the day, the NCAA’s chief medical officer and two of its infectious disease expert advisers warned the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States remains an enormous obstacle for college sports to overcome.
“I feel like the Titanic. We have hit the iceberg, and we’re trying to make decisions of what time should we have the band play,” said Dr. Carlos Del Rio, executive associate dean at Emory University.
Del Rio, a member of the NCAA’s COVID-19 advisory panel, appeared with NCAA chief medical officer Dr. Brian Hainline on a webinar hosted by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
“We need to focus on what’s important,” Del Rio said. “What’s important right now is we need to control this virus. Not having fall sports this year, in controlling this virus, would be to me the No. 1 priority.”
The United States has had more than 5 million COVID-19 cases.
Earlier this week, the Big Ten and Pac-12 became the first Power Five conferences to decide not to play football, or any sports, this fall. Emmert called a devastating blow to college sports.
College sports administrators and coaches have been making the case schools are providing structured environments with frequent testing and strict protocols that make athletes safer than the general population.
“We had some positive tests when our student-athletes first came back,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said. “We had a dramatic decrease since they’ve gotten under our umbrella and that’s good. Basically we have our student-athlete under our umbrella. On a college campus where students are going to class, it’s hard to create a bubble.”
Hainline said about 1-2 percent of college athletes who have been tested by schools have been positive for COVID-19.
Del Rio said conferences are coming to different decisions not because they have different information, but because they are assessing risk differently.
“Some conferences will say, we’ll go forward. It’s a very narrow path, hopefully they’ll be no infections and if there are infections we’ll be able to detect them, and we we’ll be able to stop them and we won’t have an outbreak,” Del Rio said. “But other conferences say, no. Our tolerance is for zero risk and therefore we will not have it. It’s exactly the same data just being looked at in different ways.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Topless woman arrested after allegedly throwing cigarettes at Nashville protesters

She should have butted out of this one .
A 54-year-old topless woman was arrested in Nashville for allegedly throwing @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s downtown Wednesday afternoon , a local ABC affiliate reported .
The woman @ @ @ @ @ exposure after police found her shouting profanities several blocks from the Tennessee State Capitol building @ @ @ @ @ the Metro jail and held on a $ 1,000 bond .
It was not immediately @ @ @ @ @ was targeting .
Though protesters have for months camped outside of the Capitol building in @ @ @ @ @ the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor .
The protesters have called for the @ @ @ @ @ the state Legislature has instead opted to criminalize the demonstrations .
On Wednesday , the @ @ @ @ @ a controversial bill targeting the protesters , making it a felony to camp on state @ @ @ @ @ grounds .

She should have butted out of this one.
A 54-year-old topless woman was arrested in Nashville for allegedly throwing cigarettes at protesters in the city’s downtown Wednesday afternoon, a local ABC affiliate reported.
The woman has been charged with indecent exposure after police found her shouting profanities several blocks from the Tennessee State Capitol building.
She was booked at the Metro jail and held on a $1,000 bond.
It was not immediately clear what demonstrations the woman was targeting. Though protesters have for months camped outside of the Capitol building in protest against police brutality over the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
The protesters have called for the defunding of police — but the state Legislature has instead opted to criminalize the demonstrations.
On Wednesday, the state’s lawmakers passed a controversial bill targeting the protesters, making it a felony to camp on state property, including the Capitol grounds.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Listen to Episode 18 of ‘Amazin’ But True’: McNeil’s Knee, Nido’s Game feat. Dwight Gooden

The Mets picked up back-to-back wins against the Nationals to work out a split of the four-game set at Citi Field this week .
Unfortunately , they lost Jeff McNeil in the process .
On the latest episode of the “ Amazin ’ But True ” podcast with Nelson Figueroa and I , we talk about everything going on in Mets land .
Figgie and I open up the show talking about Jeff McNeil ’ s knee injury and when we could expect him back .
We then react to the “ Tomas Nido Game , ” after he belted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slam , driving in six , leading the Mets to an 8-2 victory Thursday .
Did anyone on the planet ever see that coming from the Mets ’ light-hitting backup catcher ?
We also get into some decisions ahead for Luis Rojas with the lineup .
How will he get Robinson Cano in along with J.D .
Davis , Amed Rosario , Andres Gimenez and Dom Smith ?
We also talk about what has changed with Pete Alonso as his bat is hot now and he approaches batting his weight at .240 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the Phillies and then give our thoughts on Marcus Stroman ’ s surprising decision to opt out of the season .
1986 World Series champion , Mets legend and friend of the program Dwight “ Doc ” Gooden then joins us .
Doc talks about the state of the Mets ’ starting pitching staff right now and Steven Matz ’ s inconsistency .
He then gives us his honest take on the opt outs from Stroman and Yoenis Cespedes .
He believes Stroman did it because he didn ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and calls Cespedes ’ decision a “ weak move.
” He then responds to me asking about the potential ownership change coming and why it could be a good thing for the franchise , although he has always liked the Wilpons .
Gooden then discusses the job Brodie Van Wagenen has done as GM and why he should get another chance next season .
Doc then explains why the Mets might have to consider trading Jacob deGrom after this season .
He closes by telling us he believes the Mets could make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadline .
Doc is an incredibly candid interview and he had a lot of fantastic stuff to say .
Catch up on all episodes of “ Amazin ’ But True , ” a New York Mets podcast , by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts .
Follow Jake on Twitter @ JakeBrownRadio and Nelson @ FiggieNY .
The next episode of the show drops Monday .

The Mets picked up back-to-back wins against the Nationals to work out a split of the four-game set at Citi Field this week. Unfortunately, they lost Jeff McNeil in the process. On the latest episode of the “Amazin’ But True” podcast with Nelson Figueroa and I, we talk about everything going on in Mets land.
Figgie and I open up the show talking about Jeff McNeil’s knee injury and when we could expect him back. We then react to the “Tomas Nido Game,” after he belted two home runs, including a grand slam, driving in six, leading the Mets to an 8-2 victory Thursday. Did anyone on the planet ever see that coming from the Mets’ light-hitting backup catcher? We also get into some decisions ahead for Luis Rojas with the lineup. How will he get Robinson Cano in along with J.D. Davis, Amed Rosario, Andres Gimenez and Dom Smith? We also talk about what has changed with Pete Alonso as his bat is hot now and he approaches batting his weight at .240. We look ahead to the weekend series against the Phillies and then give our thoughts on Marcus Stroman’s surprising decision to opt out of the season.
Subscribe on:
1986 World Series champion, Mets legend and friend of the program Dwight “Doc” Gooden then joins us. Doc talks about the state of the Mets’ starting pitching staff right now and Steven Matz’s inconsistency. He then gives us his honest take on the opt outs from Stroman and Yoenis Cespedes. He believes Stroman did it because he didn’t want to get hurt and not for COVID-related reasons and calls Cespedes’ decision a “weak move.” He then responds to me asking about the potential ownership change coming and why it could be a good thing for the franchise, although he has always liked the Wilpons. Gooden then discusses the job Brodie Van Wagenen has done as GM and why he should get another chance next season. Doc then explains why the Mets might have to consider trading Jacob deGrom after this season. He closes by telling us he believes the Mets could make a move for Johnny Cueto before the trade deadline. Doc is an incredibly candid interview and he had a lot of fantastic stuff to say.
Catch up on all episodes of “Amazin’ But True,” a New York Mets podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Jake on Twitter @JakeBrownRadio and Nelson @FiggieNY. The next episode of the show drops Monday.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--MLB setting its game dials on Self-Destruct: Here’s the latest proof

The long day , reduced as it was , began like how ...

On YES last Friday, David Cone said it as a brief aside, as if it were a throwaway thought barely worth his breath.
In the bottom of the sixth of a scoreless game, Rays catcher Mike Zunino squared to bunt on the first two pitches, both balls. He then flew out on a 2-0 count.
“He’s normally a power hitter,” Cone said, “not sure if he has been asked to bunt a whole lot in his career. But that’s the state of the game, right now.”
Oh, well. And now back to the current state of the game that has left baseball so badly diminished that the abandonment of fundamentals — so often the difference between winning and losing — is dismissed with a short sigh.
The stuff we’re now supposed to find both sensational and enlightening came the next day on YES, when Gary Sanchez batted in the second inning with one out, bases loaded in a 0-0 game.
Parroting a graphic, Michael Kay said of Sanchez, “Now he hasn’t been hitting, but when he hits, he hits the ball very hard. His average exit velocity is 94.5 mph, the eighth-highest in MLB.”
Wow! Is he ever smashing that baseball! So what if at the time he was batting .086, with 19 strikeouts in 34 at-bats. Ridiculous wins again!
And then on a 3-2 count with the bases loaded, Sanchez took a grand slam swing, whiffing on a pitch a foot above the strike zone. The Yankees would not score in what became a one-run loss.
Friday, the Yanks lost to the Rays, 1-0. Thus Saturday early in Game 1 of a seven-inning doubleheader, YES threw it to Paul O’Neill for his “Keys To The Game.” Such inserts often produce “Well, no fooling” head shakes from viewers, and O’Neill, aided by pre-fab show-and-tell graphics, delivered.
Key No. 1: Win Game 1 of the DH.
Key No. 2: Get the offense going.
Key No. 3: Have fun.
Well, alrighty, then!
Sunday on YES, more new-age baseball — the totally unintended use of the replay rule, which, predictably, is how it’s overwhelmingly applied by sports that chose time-wasting perceived populism over applicable foresight.
In the eighth inning of a tie game, first the Rays won a reversal based on nothing more conclusive than second-opinion guesswork on a slide and tag at second. Minutes later, the Yanks won a reversal on the closest of coin-flip calls at first.
And then the weekend’s telltale box scores:
Three batters struck out three times in Blue Jays-Red Sox, a game featuring the usual modern action — 27 strikeouts. Angels outfielder Jo Adell went oh-for-four, all strikeouts, against the Rangers. In that 7-3 loss to Texas, 12 pitchers were used in 3 hours, 36 minutes. Against Milwaukee, Cincinnati’s leadoff batter, Shogo Akiyama, K’d three times. Against the Mets, Marlins leadoff batter Jonathan Villar struck out four times.
Good thing for MLB that it doesn’t have to sell tickets this season, just worry about TV and gambling income. MLB has set its dials on Self-Destruct, full speed ahead. And David Cone, as a mere aside, said, “But that’s the state of the game.”
Sterling revs up for Ford
Whatever it is, John Sterling still has it!
Saturday after the Yankees’ Mike Ford hit a homer, Sterling proudly piped, “For the Yankees, there’s a Ford in their future!” He wasn’t done being John Sterling. Next came, “Mike is Ford tough!”
As reader Mike McIntee noted, Ford’s home run, as the first in the game, was sponsored by Kia, and, “The Yankees’ radio network is driven by Jeep.”
Giancarlo Stanton gave it a shot — he tried to take a knee on his other knee, but couldn’t hold it for the length of the national anthem, so he went on the IL.
First CBS dumped reliable, sensible Dan Fouts as an NFL analyst, now it has split the steady team of Greg Gumbel and Trent Green. CBS is “promoting” Green to work with “Hollerin’ ” Kevin Harlan, who occasionally knows what he hollers about.
Hard to believe the Knicks passed on Barry Trotz.
Reader Doug Heimowitz on the Yankees’ 4-3 loss to the Rays on Sunday: “Who knew that after six innings and a 3-0 lead, the Yanks’ win probability would be zero percent?”
And reader Greg Gillen asks why none of the cardboard cutouts of fans at MLB games include those seen on their cellphones? Answer: to avoid teams billing them for roaming charges.
PGA Championship coverage misses in every fair way
TV has clearly purchased the right to do as it pleases to PGA events.
Sunday, late in the PGA Championship, winner Collin Morikawa eagled the short par-4 16th after his drive finished seven feet short of the pin.
Soon, bomber Dustin Johnson, still in the hunt, would give the 16th a whack. He missed, but CBS never showed it — not even on tape.
Also Sunday, Jim Nantz noted the “leader in the clubhouse” was Matthew Wolff — and that’s how PGA, USGA, R&A and TV scoreboards for decades listed the leaders. But CBS, likely recognizing Wolff is widely unknown, listed him fourth among those at -10.
It seemed a version of TV’s transparent Tiger Woods game — when he’s listed first among those with the same score, whether tied for first or 40th.
And we saw more tape of Woods in CBS and PGA promos than live or taped coverage of Brooks Koepka’s collapse.
Wise men who have lost their money on slow horses (and often fast women) will tell you that every trip to the track includes something they’d never before seen.
Saturday, from the couch as opposed to the rail, the MSG feed of live racing from Saratoga provided such a scene.
The eighth race was won by Imprimis, ridden by Jose Ortiz. But, as the bemused announcers explained, an impeded run claim was lodged by the rider of the horse that finished third. That jockey was Irad Ortiz — Jose’s brother!
The claim was approved, thus brother Jose’s horse went from first to third and Irad’s went from third to second. After all, bloodlines count for horses, not riders.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Trump says he wants son Barron back in school

President Trump on Thursday said he wants his 14-year-old son Barron to return to school soon .
Barron Trump ’ s private school in Maryland , St. Andrew ’ s Episcopal School , recently said it will have online-only classes next month , despite the president urging schools to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I ’ d like to have him go back and I understand they ’ re gon na go — they ’ re doing computer for a little while , they ’ re doing the laptop deal .
And , you know , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Post during an exclusive Oval Office interview .
“ I ’ d prefer that he go back .
They ’ re doing it , I think , just a little bit — they ’ re delaying it a little bit , right ?
From what I understand , my son ’ s school , they will be delaying it .
I just heard that , which is too bad , which is too bad , ” Trump said .
The president on Wednesday said that schools must reopen because “ virtual is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual is just not the same thing.
” Asked if would be hiring a tutor for Barron , who is set to start ninth grade , Trump said , “ probably will .
Either that , or I don ’ t know — he likes the school very much .
You know , so we just sort of leave him at a school he likes , and it ’ s a good school and they ’ ve done a very nice job.
” “ I think they ’ re doing a delayed start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t run the school , and they ’ ve done a really good job .
But I would prefer that he went back right at the beginning , if it was up to me.
” Trump administration health officials last month outlined recommended best practices for reopening schools , encouraging masks , lots of cleaning and the strategic limiting of social interactions .
Administration officials argue that children are less susceptible to the virus , though Trump urged elderly teachers to stay home .

President Trump on Thursday said he wants his 14-year-old son Barron to return to school soon.
Barron Trump’s private school in Maryland, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, recently said it will have online-only classes next month, despite the president urging schools to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’d like to have him go back and I understand they’re gonna go — they’re doing computer for a little while, they’re doing the laptop deal. And, you know, it’s too bad,” Trump told The Post during an exclusive Oval Office interview.
“I’d prefer that he go back. They’re doing it, I think, just a little bit — they’re delaying it a little bit, right? From what I understand, my son’s school, they will be delaying it. I just heard that, which is too bad, which is too bad,” Trump said.
The president on Wednesday said that schools must reopen because “virtual is not as good as being there — virtual is just not the same thing.”
Asked if would be hiring a tutor for Barron, who is set to start ninth grade, Trump said, “probably will. Either that, or I don’t know — he likes the school very much. You know, so we just sort of leave him at a school he likes, and it’s a good school and they’ve done a very nice job.”
“I think they’re doing a delayed start,” Trump said. “I don’t run the school, and they’ve done a really good job. But I would prefer that he went back right at the beginning, if it was up to me.”
Trump administration health officials last month outlined recommended best practices for reopening schools, encouraging masks, lots of cleaning and the strategic limiting of social interactions.
Administration officials argue that children are less susceptible to the virus, though Trump urged elderly teachers to stay home.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Trump says he considered selling DC hotel — but will never part with Trump Tower

President Trump ’ s company is considering selling its DC hotel near ...

WASHINGTON — President Trump on Thursday confirmed that he had considered selling his hotel in Washington, DC, after spending more than $250 million renovating the iconic Beltway building — but said he has changed his mind.
“I was thinking about it,” he told The Post during an exclusive Oval Office interview.
The Trump family purchased a 60-year lease on the 19th-century Old Post Office in 2013 before Trump won his White House bid.
Reports emerged in 2019 that the family was exploring selling the Trump International Hotel due to criticism they were breaking ethics laws by profiting from the posh property, with world leaders and other executive-branch officials making hundreds of trips there.
But the president said he ultimately decided against it.
“I like it. It does well,” he said.
In a statement to the Wall Street Journal in October 2019, son Eric Trump, an executive at the Trump Organization, said the family was open to cashing out.
“Since we opened our doors, we have received tremendous interest in this hotel and as real estate developers, we are always willing to explore our options,” he said. “People are objecting to us making so much money on the hotel, and therefore we may be willing to sell.”
One property the president is a lot less willing to part with, however, is his iconic Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue.
He may have officially decamped to Florida, but Trump told The Post on Thursday that he would never sell it.
“No, I don’t want to sell it,” he said of the Manhattan skyscraper he developed as a young property mogul in 1979 and where he resided in an opulent penthouse until becoming president in 2016.
“It’s always been good. It’s always been really nice. You build it from the ground up and I have a lot of stuff in New York. No, I wouldn’t want to sell it,” he said in the interview, where he also called the Big Apple a “cherished diamond.”
The president described his Financial District skyscraper at 40 Wall St. — dubbed “The Trump Building” — as a “great building” and said he wouldn’t be inclined to sell even as he feuds with the city’s leaders over rising crime.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Cardi B launches OnlyFans page, with caveats

Cardi B is launching an OnlyFans page .
But she says that fans of the site ’ s X-rated content @ @ @ @ @ excited .
“ And to be clear , no I ’ m not going to @ @ @ @ @ or my p—y , or my ass , just straight up real-life content s - @ @ @ @ @ be mad nosy when it comes to my life , ” she said .
The @ @ @ @ @ but users have to pay to subscribe to feeds .
It was set up for @ @ @ @ @ but celebs have been using it as a way to cash in on their fame @

Cardi B is launching an OnlyFans page. But she says that fans of the site’s X-rated content shouldn’t get too excited.
“And to be clear, no I’m not going to be showing my t—ies, or my p—y, or my ass, just straight up real-life content s - - t, you guys be mad nosy when it comes to my life,” she said.
The site is similar to Instagram but users have to pay to subscribe to feeds. It was set up for adult performers and influencers, but celebs have been using it as a way to cash in on their fame.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Random barbarousness is becoming NYC’s new norm

Winston Ortiz , 18 , was stabbed twice in the back and ...

Winston Ortiz, an 18-year old Bronx resident, was lured Wednesday into a stairwell by someone he had a dispute with. He was stabbed, doused with gasoline and set on fire. Ortiz died in the hospital Wednesday. Just the latest depravity in an increasingly depraved city.
Each day brings reports of fresh horror. More than 1,000 people have been shot so far this year, which is shaping up to be twice as bloody as 2019. There have been four murders on the subway — usually there are one or two a year — and felony assaults underground are way up, even as ridership is way down.
Random barbarousness is our new normal.
The streets have become filthy, as growing numbers of vagrants inhabit empty doorways. Open-air drug sales and shooting galleries — the sort of thing Gotham hadn’t seen in decades — are common sights.
What happened that caused the mainspring of public order and safety to break and unwind so quickly? Mayor de Blasio likes to wave his hands in the air and talk about deep-seated economic inequality, or anger over the death of George Floyd, or a slowdown in the court system. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seems to think that people are scrabbling for loaves of bread for their hungry children à la “Les Misérables.”
But none of these crimes — zero — can be connected to inequality or the need for anything except maybe vengeance, prestige or the satisfaction of a psychotic itch. When a man punches someone eating dinner outside, without even a hint of incitement or the possibility of a misunderstood insult, what’s the societal root cause we can blame on “Reaganomics,” as de Blasio does reflexively?
Authority has clearly retreated. The streets belong to whoever feels empowered enough to assert himself as the strongman of the moment. This has been a long time coming and dates to the first month of de Blasio’s mayoralty, when he dropped the city’s appeal of Judge Shira Scheindlin’s flawed judgment against New York’s stop-question-frisk policy. Things didn’t come undone all at once; they never do. But the first dominoes in a chain of disaster were flicked over in January 2014.
Since then, the city has meticulously untied all the knots that hold the forces of chaos at bay. Progressives decriminalized quality-of-life offenses, including public urination and smoking marijuana. They valorized arrest-resisters and signaled to criminals that it’s OK to tell the police to leave you alone when they are legally arresting you.
The same crowd diverted illegal-gun cases to alternatives-to-incarceration programs and passed a slate of bail “reforms” that make it impossible to hold people arrested even for serious crimes. They emptied out the jails and prisons and have the gall to tell us that has had nothing to do with the rise in shootings, even though most of those shootings haven’t been cleared yet.
Advocates for criminals love to claim that they are dedicated to evidence-based social science. So, since we haven’t yet figured out how recently the criminals who are shooting people were last in jail, the advocates claim there’s no “data-driven” basis to blame it on bail reform.
It’s true that correlation doesn’t imply causation — but it sure does imply correlation.
Our leaders have also told cops that if in the course of arresting someone they apply pressure to their back, they will face harsh discipline, including the possibility of jail time. People were furious about reports that cops sat back and watched a mob of girls in Harlem beat up another girl on Sunday night. But in the current climate, what were the officers supposed to do — wade in and start tearing apart a gang of violent teens?
The last time that happened, in October 2019, the cops tried to break up a melee on a Brooklyn subway platform and were attacked by the pugnacious youths. Ever tried to break up a fight? It doesn’t look pretty, and when captured on video, it gives the anti-cop crowd more fodder for their campaign against supposed police brutality.
The cops are in a double bind, which is exactly where the #DefundtheNYPD people want them. We are facing a dedicated force of anarchists who literally believe that New York City is a fascist police state. For some reason, the political class is afraid of these lunatics. The silent majority of non-lunatic New Yorkers needs to speak up and demand that our streets be made safe and livable again.
Seth Barron is associate editor of City Journal. Twitter: @SethBarronNYC


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Food delivery apps already violating Big Apple fee cap

Lookout Grubhub and Uber Eats , you ’ re under scrutiny by NYC lawmakers — again .
The NYC Councilman behind a measure to limit the fees food delivery apps can charge restaurants during the pandemic is now demanding the city agency in charge of enforcing the law seek out violators and slap them with hefty fines .
The demand emerged Thursday when Christian Klossner , executive director of Mayor De Blasio ’ s Office of Special Enforcement , revealed at a hearing that it ’ s received at least two complaints about overcharges since the city cracked down on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unnamed delivery app appear to have charged one restaurant a 10-percent commission for a pickup food order — or more than twice the rate permitted by legislation intended to help struggling eateries survive the pandemic .
In another instance , an app charged a credit card processing fees that exceeded what ’ s allowed .
“ The company that charged 10 percent for a pick up has agreed to refund it , ” Klossner said when asked what OSE was doing to rectify the first situation .
But that didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who heads up the small business committee that drew up the legislation .
He demanded OSE consider fining the offending company — and raised concerns that the practice might be widespread .
“ If these companies have done it to one restaurant , it must be widespread , ” Gjonai said at the hearing .
“ You would not know that this is a problem unless you are told by restaurants ?
How are you getting the word out to the thousands of businesses that they need to bring this to your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over plans to extend the legislation , which has capped at 5 percent the fees apps can charge Big Apple restaurants for pick-up orders made through their technology .
Fees for food deliveries are limited to 15 percent .
Klossner ’ s testimony was followed by two restaurateurs — Andrew Ding of The Expat and George Constantinou of four restaurants including Bogota Latin Bistro — who said they continue to be charged fees for calls through Grubhub ’ s app that never resulted in orders , which is also banned .
Grubhub declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman Amy Healy said Grubhub — which owns Seamless — has been unfairly penalized by the cap .
Healy ’ s testimony also said the cap has also hurt restaurants through a 13-percent decrease in orders for independent restaurants .
Not so , said the four restaurant owners who testified , including Evan Franco of Brookyn Crepe & Juice , who said that he has already saved $ 7,500 in fees from Grubhub .
“ We need long term caps , ” he said .

Lookout Grubhub and Uber Eats, you’re under scrutiny by NYC lawmakers — again.
The NYC Councilman behind a measure to limit the fees food delivery apps can charge restaurants during the pandemic is now demanding the city agency in charge of enforcing the law seek out violators and slap them with hefty fines.
The demand emerged Thursday when Christian Klossner, executive director of Mayor De Blasio’s Office of Special Enforcement, revealed at a hearing that it’s received at least two complaints about overcharges since the city cracked down on delivery fees in May.
Klossner said an unnamed delivery app appear to have charged one restaurant a 10-percent commission for a pickup food order — or more than twice the rate permitted by legislation intended to help struggling eateries survive the pandemic. In another instance, an app charged a credit card processing fees that exceeded what’s allowed.
“The company that charged 10 percent for a pick up has agreed to refund it,” Klossner said when asked what OSE was doing to rectify the first situation.
But that didn’t sit well with NYC Councilman Mark Gjonaj, who heads up the small business committee that drew up the legislation. He demanded OSE consider fining the offending company — and raised concerns that the practice might be widespread.
“If these companies have done it to one restaurant, it must be widespread,” Gjonai said at the hearing. “You would not know that this is a problem unless you are told by restaurants? How are you getting the word out to the thousands of businesses that they need to bring this to your attention?”
The hearing was called over plans to extend the legislation, which has capped at 5 percent the fees apps can charge Big Apple restaurants for pick-up orders made through their technology. Fees for food deliveries are limited to 15 percent.
Klossner’s testimony was followed by two restaurateurs — Andrew Ding of The Expat and George Constantinou of four restaurants including Bogota Latin Bistro — who said they continue to be charged fees for calls through Grubhub’s app that never resulted in orders, which is also banned.
Grubhub declined to comment but in written testimony its spokeswoman Amy Healy said Grubhub — which owns Seamless — has been unfairly penalized by the cap. Healy’s testimony also said the cap has also hurt restaurants through a 13-percent decrease in orders for independent restaurants.
Not so, said the four restaurant owners who testified, including Evan Franco of Brookyn Crepe & Juice, who said that he has already saved $7,500 in fees from Grubhub.
“We need long term caps,” he said.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--The pushback in Chicago as blacks grow sick and tired of looters and anarchists

A majority of African Americans want the police presence in ...

The police have been scorned, demonized, despised and depleted by the woke crowd calling the shots in New York City. Lawlessness, homelessness and hopelessness once again threaten to transform this town into an open-air restroom by day, with mayhem and shootings reigning by night. There is, however, something we can do to stop what seems to be an inevitable slide into the abyss.
New Yorkers must band together and fight the madness, like the good citizens of the city of Chicago. They’re mad as hell about the politician-endorsed chaos infesting the streets, and they’re refusing to sit back quietly and take it.
It’s been frightening, for sure. On Monday night, sick kids and their families, more than 30 groups in all, cowered in fear inside a Chicago Ronald McDonald House as looters smashed the front door while trying to get inside.
But on Tuesday, residents of the Windy City’s South Side neighborhood of Englewood decided they’d had enough. In that nabe, a black man allegedly initiated a gun battle with police on Sunday, sparking unrest and widespread looting. But good people joined forces to drive out Black Lives Matter protesters and others who aim to leave police as helpless as ailing children and ordinary folks.
“If you ain’t from Englewood, get the f - - k out of here,” local resident Darryl Smith railed at protesters.
“Y’all don’t come out when a kid gets shot. Y’all come out when it’s got something to do with the f - - king police,” he shouted, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He demanded that marchers take up their beefs with authorities and leave everyone else alone.
But then, as protesters made their way to a police station, locals pushed back against the mob. This caused marchers to disperse, as one neighborhood fought back against the outside agitators they believe ruin things for everyone.
Good for them.
These small heroics prove that not every person living in a neighborhood populated mainly by minorities wishes to burn it down. So when Chicago BLM organizer Ariel Atkins excused weekend lootings as “reparation,” a quieter but even more insistent voice responded, “Hell, no.”
The truth is that most people just want the same things: Jobs. Safety. Respect. Most people also know that the vast majority of police officers aren’t out to kill them. And for those not in the top 1 percent of this country’s earners, cops are the only ones standing between them and trouble.
As a result of George Floyd’s brutal slaying by Minneapolis police, the mayors of Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as leaders of other cities, have announced plans to defund the police. In Gotham, the City Council, with the full support of Mayor Bill de Blasio, has cut or diverted more than $1 billion from the Police Department’s nearly $6 billion annual budget. Hizzoner’s wife, Chirlane McCray, whom he has called his closest adviser, envisioned a police-free Big Apple as “like a nirvana, a utopia …”
It comes as little surprise that a key group of folks, for the most part, disagrees: black people.
In a Gallup poll released Aug. 5, black Americans had been asked whether they want the police to spend more time, the same amount of time or less time than they currently do in their areas. A clear majority — 61 percent — said they want the police presence to remain the same as it is now.
Another 20 percent want police to spend more time in their neighborhoods. Just 19 percent want to see them less. The definition of nirvana appears to change with one’s bank account and status.
For everyone, the marginalization and intimidation of police is having a sudden and dramatic effect. After decades of near-peace, New York is suffering a terrible spike in shootings.
Last weekend, the city surpassed 1,000 shooting victims. A week earlier, the number of shooting incidents throughout the city eclipsed the total number for 2019 — with five months left in the year. On top of everything, homeless vagrants have been dumped in hotels on the Upper West Side and Chelsea in an effort to shield street people from COVID-19, forcing those who live in the two neighborhoods to deal with public urination, masturbation and drug use, plus the presence of convicted pedophiles near places where children play.
It was nice to see the red beret-wearing Guardian Angels patrolling the Upper West Side, like a vision out of an earlier, grittier, nastier New York.
Still, we can all do more.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Beyoncé-endorsed Burna Boy makes Afrobeat go international

Burna Boy is , well , on fire .
As you can imagine , the Nigerian artist felt like worldwide royalty when he was approached by the Queen B — um , yes , Beyoncé — to work with her on last year ’ s “ The Lion King : The Gift ” album .
Now , as people all over the planet are still streaming Bey ’ s “ Black Is King ” on repeat — and hearing Burna Boy ’ s smooth but funky jam “ Ja Ara E ” — the international sensation , born Damini Ogulu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his new album , “ Twice as Tall , ” out Friday .
“ It ’ s a time when everybody has to be the best version of themselves and the strongest version of themselves , ” Burna , 29 , tells The Post on the phone from London , where he has made his first trip from his Lagos , Nigeria , home base since the pandemic to launch his album .
The Grammy-nominated singer — and two-time winner of the BET Award for Best International Act — made his new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Wonderful ” is exactly what the world needs to uplift beat-down spirits right now .
“ But that wasn ’ t really the inspiration behind the song , ” he said .
“ I ’ d been on tour for the past three years nonstop , so this pandemic was like a blessing and a curse , ’ cause I got to spend more time with my family and myself than I have in years .
So that ’ s where ‘ Wonderful ’ comes from .
I recorded it in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first got home … not really knowing the full extent of how long [ it would be ] .
” The way he ’ s been bringing the heat , Burna Boy is sure living up to the moniker he got from his late friend Gambo in 2010 .
“ I ’ ve lived up to the name since before you knew the name , ” he says with a laugh .
“ It ’ s nothing new for me.
” Growing up in Port Harcourt , Nigeria — with a dad who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was a translator — Burna Boy was groomed for his own kind of greatness .
And clearly music was in his blood : His younger sister , Nissi , is also a singer , and his grandfather , music journalist Benson Idonije , once managed Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti .
“ [ Music ] is something that ’ s generational , ” he says of his family legacy .
“ It ’ s very special to me and my family.
” As a kid , Burna was schooled on American hip-hop artists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And after moving to London to further his studies , he embraced dancehall , grime and other musical genres .
That led Burna to create what he describes as “ Afro-fusion ” music .
“ It has Afrobeat as the base , the foundation , ” he said .
“ And then you have a bunch of other genres sprinkled on top , just depending on the mood — hip-hop , R & B , reggae , dancehall , whatever.
” Burna brings his Afro-fusion flavor to a new collaboration with Sam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” So how exactly did this unlikely pairing come about ?
“ I ’ ve always been a big fan of Sam Smith , ” he said .
“ He hit me up to do the song , and I said yes .
It was a no-brainer.
” And with his mom Bose Ogulu — also known as Mama Burns — as his manager , Burna Boy will no doubt be making more big moves .
“ She makes sure my business is right , ” he said , adding with a laugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money .
”

Burna Boy is, well, on fire.
As you can imagine, the Nigerian artist felt like worldwide royalty when he was approached by the Queen B — um, yes, Beyoncé — to work with her on last year’s “The Lion King: The Gift” album.
Now, as people all over the planet are still streaming Bey’s “Black Is King” on repeat — and hearing Burna Boy’s smooth but funky jam “Ja Ara E” — the international sensation, born Damini Ogulu, is embracing his own ascending stardom with his new album, “Twice as Tall,” out Friday.
“It’s a time when everybody has to be the best version of themselves and the strongest version of themselves,” Burna, 29, tells The Post on the phone from London, where he has made his first trip from his Lagos, Nigeria, home base since the pandemic to launch his album.
The Grammy-nominated singer — and two-time winner of the BET Award for Best International Act — made his new LP during lockdown. His joyous single “Wonderful” is exactly what the world needs to uplift beat-down spirits right now. “But that wasn’t really the inspiration behind the song,” he said. “I’d been on tour for the past three years nonstop, so this pandemic was like a blessing and a curse, ’cause I got to spend more time with my family and myself than I have in years. So that’s where ‘Wonderful’ comes from. I recorded it in the beginning of the pandemic, when I first got home … not really knowing the full extent of how long [it would be].”
The way he’s been bringing the heat, Burna Boy is sure living up to the moniker he got from his late friend Gambo in 2010. “I’ve lived up to the name since before you knew the name,” he says with a laugh. “It’s nothing new for me.”
Growing up in Port Harcourt, Nigeria — with a dad who managed a welding company and a mom who was a translator — Burna Boy was groomed for his own kind of greatness. And clearly music was in his blood: His younger sister, Nissi, is also a singer, and his grandfather, music journalist Benson Idonije, once managed Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. “[Music] is something that’s generational,” he says of his family legacy. “It’s very special to me and my family.”
As a kid, Burna was schooled on American hip-hop artists such as Naughty by Nature and DMX. And after moving to London to further his studies, he embraced dancehall, grime and other musical genres.
That led Burna to create what he describes as “Afro-fusion” music. “It has Afrobeat as the base, the foundation,” he said. “And then you have a bunch of other genres sprinkled on top, just depending on the mood — hip-hop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, whatever.”
Burna brings his Afro-fusion flavor to a new collaboration with Sam Smith on the single “My Oasis.” So how exactly did this unlikely pairing come about? “I’ve always been a big fan of Sam Smith,” he said. “He hit me up to do the song, and I said yes. It was a no-brainer.”
And with his mom Bose Ogulu — also known as Mama Burns — as his manager, Burna Boy will no doubt be making more big moves. “She makes sure my business is right,” he said, adding with a laugh: “She makes sure I make money.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Trump wins the Nobel Prize for Israel-UAE peace deal (not)

Fresh off a surprise ballot-box victory in November that stunned pundits and pollsters back home , and by turns baffled and enraged his Democratic opponents , a newly re-elected President Trump accepted the Nobel Peace Prize Thursday in the Norwegian capital .
The Norwegian Committee awarded the prize to the 45th president for his role in brokering the historic normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates in August — and , “ more generally , for not launching idiotic invasions , not drawing the United States into bloody quagmires and not ponderously lecturing other countries about liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ award citation was unusually blunt ; then again , these are unusual times . )
For his part , Trump used his Nobel Lecture to remind the gathered dignitaries that his “ America First ” posture — emphasizing national sovereignty and the well-being of the American working class — had paradoxically proved more conducive to stability and world peace than had the high-minded “ democratization ” and “ liberal-world-order ” vision that had long animated America ’ s post-Cold War strategy .
Without mentioning Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the past ” had made catastrophic mistakes that , among other things , “ alienated reliable American allies , gave succor to our enemies and plunged much of the Middle East and North Africa into civil war and disorder.
” The “ Arab Spring , mindlessly supported by many in the American elite , ” Trump said , had  “ empowered radical nonstate actors like the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic State ” and resulted in the “ utter decimation ” of the region ’ s indigenous Christian communities .
He added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheered the regional ferment from the safety of their luxe apartments in Dupont Circle and Midtown Manhattan , while millions of actual Middle Easterners had paid the price in the form of failed states , civil wars and the world ’ s largest refugee crisis since World War II.
” The president went on to lay out his own achievements by contrast .
“ During my first term , ” the president noted , “ America didn ’ t devote precious blood and treasure to foolish attempts to remake other societies in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Davos Man.
’ American might didn ’ t sway to the false promise of globalism ” — but marched to the “ sound and steady rhythm ” of “ American national interest.
” The Trump administration “ dealt with the world as it really is , ” he added , “ rather than as we might have wished it to be.
” In practice , that meant “ dispensing with the fictions that had long deluded American power , ” he said .
“ We recognized , for example , that Jerusalem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Jewish state ” — and while “ many , many predicted that doing so would set the region on fire , nothing of the sort transpired.
” At the same time , “ we also recognized that if there is any hope of stabilizing the Middle East , it lies in strengthening the Arab state system , rather than having America ’ s sons and daughters patrol shattered streets and fraught ethnic and sectarian fault lines in Iraq and Syria.
” His policy , the president said , had put Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footprint in the Middle East , while remaining vigilant against the Tehran regime — including by “ raining death from the skies on terror masters like Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
” Here , the president appeared to momentarily veer off script : “ Soleimani ?
You won ’ t hear from him no more.
” ( Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel was seen shaking her head . )
None of this is true , of course , nor will any of it ever transpire .
But it would be true if there were any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least , if good sense reigned among the men and women who preemptively awarded a Peace Prize to Obama .
Sohrab Ahmari is The Post ’ s op-ed editor and author of the forthcoming book “ The Unbroken Thread : Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos .
”

OSLO, December 10, 2020 — Fresh off a surprise ballot-box victory in November that stunned pundits and pollsters back home, and by turns baffled and enraged his Democratic opponents, a newly re-elected President Trump accepted the Nobel Peace Prize Thursday in the Norwegian capital.
The Norwegian Committee awarded the prize to the 45th president for his role in brokering the historic normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates in August — and, “more generally, for not launching idiotic invasions, not drawing the United States into bloody quagmires and not ponderously lecturing other countries about liberal democracy.” (The language of the award citation was unusually blunt; then again, these are unusual times.)
For his part, Trump used his Nobel Lecture to remind the gathered dignitaries that his “America First” posture — emphasizing national sovereignty and the well-being of the American working class — had paradoxically proved more conducive to stability and world peace than had the high-minded “democratization” and “liberal-world-order” vision that had long animated America’s post-Cold War strategy.
Without mentioning Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, Trump archly hinted that “some American leaders of the past” had made catastrophic mistakes that, among other things, “alienated reliable American allies, gave succor to our enemies and plunged much of the Middle East and North Africa into civil war and disorder.”
The “Arab Spring, mindlessly supported by many in the American elite,” Trump said, had “empowered radical nonstate actors like the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic State” and resulted in the “utter decimation” of the region’s indigenous Christian communities.
He added that the “American opinion class had cheered the regional ferment from the safety of their luxe apartments in Dupont Circle and Midtown Manhattan, while millions of actual Middle Easterners had paid the price in the form of failed states, civil wars and the world’s largest refugee crisis since World War II.”
The president went on to lay out his own achievements by contrast.
“During my first term,” the president noted, “America didn’t devote precious blood and treasure to foolish attempts to remake other societies in her own image or in the image of ‘Davos Man.’ American might didn’t sway to the false promise of globalism” — but marched to the “sound and steady rhythm” of “American national interest.”
The Trump administration “dealt with the world as it really is,” he added, “rather than as we might have wished it to be.”
In practice, that meant “dispensing with the fictions that had long deluded American power,” he said. “We recognized, for example, that Jerusalem is and will remain the enduring capital of the Jewish state” — and while “many, many predicted that doing so would set the region on fire, nothing of the sort transpired.”
At the same time, “we also recognized that if there is any hope of stabilizing the Middle East, it lies in strengthening the Arab state system, rather than having America’s sons and daughters patrol shattered streets and fraught ethnic and sectarian fault lines in Iraq and Syria.”
His policy, the president said, had put Washington on the path to permanently reducing its footprint in the Middle East, while remaining vigilant against the Tehran regime — including by “raining death from the skies on terror masters like Gen. Qassem Soleimani.” Here, the president appeared to momentarily veer off script: “Soleimani? You won’t hear from him no more.” (Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel was seen shaking her head.)
***
None of this is true, of course, nor will any of it ever transpire. But it would be true if there were any justice in global affairs — or at least, if good sense reigned among the men and women who preemptively awarded a Peace Prize to Obama.
Sohrab Ahmari is The Post’s op-ed editor and author of the forthcoming book “The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos.”
Twitter: @SohrabAhmari


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Neighbors say sketchy hotel has ruined this NYC community

President Trump continues to be his own worst enemy : On ...

Carl Campanile, Khristina Narizhnaya, Jorge Fitz-Gibbon

A Kew Gardens “flophouse” hotel has neighbors and elected officials up in arms — and they want City Hall to do something about it.
The Umbrella Hotel on Queens Boulevard was supposed to be an upscale hotel with luxury rentals when it opened its doors in 2017, but has instead lapsed into a cut-rate hotel with cheap rentals that have turned the neighborhood upside down, locals and officials told The Post.
“This isn’t our nice little neighborhood anymore,” neighbor Charles Foehner said. “People come down the block and key a car as they pass it. Drug deals are going on in the lobby.”
“Six weeks ago two people got shot, and not even a week ago they came by — and I don’t know if it’s auto or semi-auto or full-auto fire, I don’t know — but someone shot at the hotel,” Foehner said. “This is not how I want my neighborhood.”
One neighbor said parties can go on until 6 a.m., with revelers even tossing bottles from the building.
Locals aired their gripes during an emergency meeting Thursday at Queens Borough Hall, where several elected officials joined the chorus of complaints.
“People are renting rooms and holding parties and turning the hotel into an unofficial nightclub,” said state Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal (D-Queens), who convened the meeting. “We should close the hotel down.”
He said he and other elected leaders would write Mayor Bill de Blasio demanding action.
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement Charles Foehner, a neighbor of the Umbrella Hotel in Kew Gardens, Queens Dennis A. Clark Outside the Umbrella Hotel Dennis A. Clark Advertisement
“We need the mayor to take this problem seriously,” Rosenthal said. “There’s been two shootings in two months. I don’t know what else has to happen.”
According to a local resident who asked not to be identified, the project was first pitched in 2008 as a mixed-use building — but it never materialized. Instead, the building became a hotel that went through several incarnations, from Hotel Louie, to a Comfort Inn, and eventually the Umbrella.
That’s when things went south, she said in a letter on the issue.
“Since the (coronavirus) pandemic began and tourism has bottomed out, the owners have repurposed the hotel into a flophouse for raucous, noisy all-night parties which last until 6 a.m.,” she wrote. “The revelers hang out of the windows in the early morning hours screaming.”
A manager at the hotel declined to comment.
The property’s listed owner, Gus Karayianis, and officials in the mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-08-13--Lose the nasty words, Mr. President — it does you no good

President Trump continues to be his own worst enemy : On Thursday , he stooped to calling presumptive vice-presidential nominee @ @ @ @ @ woman.
” That doesn ’ t promote his agenda .
It doesn ’ t help @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t shore up his image as worthy of the nation ’ s highest @ @ @ @ @ just , as Trump would say , mean and nasty .
Sure , Harris isn @ @ @ @ @ of Trump ’ s ad hominem attacks or over-the-top language .
But making everything personal @ @ @ @ @ off voters who like his policies but dislike his rhetoric .
Surely there are enough @ @ @ @ @ hit Harris and running mate Joe Biden : their views on crime , the economy @ @ @ @ @ .
Why not focus on that , Mr. President — instead of resorting to callous @ @ @ @ @ good ?
Your goal is to get reelected , right ?

President Trump continues to be his own worst enemy: On Thursday, he stooped to calling presumptive vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris a “mad woman.”
That doesn’t promote his agenda. It doesn’t help him with women. It doesn’t shore up his image as worthy of the nation’s highest office.
It’s just, as Trump would say, mean and nasty.
Sure, Harris isn’t the first target of Trump’s ad hominem attacks or over-the-top language. But making everything personal is unbecoming. It turns off voters who like his policies but dislike his rhetoric.
Surely there are enough substantive issues on which to hit Harris and running mate Joe Biden: their views on crime, the economy, foreign policy … Why not focus on that, Mr. President — instead of resorting to callous insults that do you no good?
Your goal is to get re-elected, right?


newyorkpost--2020-08-14--Trump reacts to Post editorial about New Yorkers fleeing city

President Trump reacted Friday to an editorial in The Post about New Yorkers fleeing the city — saying the Big Apple had been “ showing signs of future problems.
” In a tweet linking to the editorial headlined “ A mad rush for the exits as New York City goes down the tubes , ” the president added that Gotham “ was so good when I left 4 years ago.
” The editorial describes how the coronavirus pandemic was the “ last straw ” that prompted residents to ditch the city – amid the shootings , lootings , homelessness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pols like Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov .
Andrew Cuomo.
” In an exclusive interview with The Post on Thursday , the commander in chief said his campaign is “ putting New York in play ” against Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election .
Trump said he believes a surge in violent crime and sky-high taxes can help him win his home state in an upset against Biden and running mate Kamala Harris .
“ Over the last six months what ’ s happened is insane .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to try very hard to win New York and that will be the first time — is that since Ronald Reagan , I guess ?
Since Ronald Reagan , ” the president said .

President Trump reacted Friday to an editorial in The Post about New Yorkers fleeing the city — saying the Big Apple had been “showing signs of future problems.”
In a tweet linking to the editorial headlined “A mad rush for the exits as New York City goes down the tubes,” the president added that Gotham “was so good when I left 4 years ago.”
The editorial describes how the coronavirus pandemic was the “last straw” that prompted residents to ditch the city — amid the shootings, lootings, homelessness, high taxes and “the sheer obliviousness of pols like Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.”
In an exclusive interview with The Post on Thursday, the commander-in-chief said his campaign is “putting New York in play” against Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
Related Video New Yorkers keep moving out of the city to suburbs, other states
Trump said he believes a surge in violent crime and sky-high taxes can help him win his home state in an upset against Biden and running mate Kamala Harris.
“Over the last six months what’s happened is insane. It’s insane. So we’re going to try very hard to win New York and that will be the first time — is that since Ronald Reagan, I guess? Since Ronald Reagan,” the president said.


newyorkpost--2020-08-14--Weezer teams with Wyld Stallyns for first song from ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’

Weezer has unveiled the first song from the next installment of “ Bill & Ted ’ s Excellent Adventure.
” The song “ Beginning Of The End ( Wyld Stallyns Edit ) ” soundtracks “ Bill & Ted Face the Music , ” which opens on Aug. 28 in select theaters and on demand .
Wyld Stallyns , the fictional band of Theodore “ Ted ” Logan ( Keanu Reeves ) and Bill Preston Esq .
( Alex Winters ) returns in this third film from the franchise , only now the stoner buddies are married ( not to each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one last mission : to find and record the song that will save music and unite the world .
They have 78 minutes to do so .
As they travel throughout history on their quest , they encounter musical notables like Big Black Delta , Mastodon and Lamb of God , all of whom appear on the soundtrack .
Weezer teased a snippet from “ Beginning Of The End ” on the band ’ s Twitter earlier this week with lead vocalist Rivers Cuomo riffing on guitar .
The song is now available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will also be releasing the soundtrack for the film .
Weezer has unveiled the first song from the next installment of “ Bill & Ted ’ s Excellent Adventure.
” The song “ Beginning Of The End ( Wyld Stallyns Edit ) ” soundtracks “ Bill & Ted Face the Music , ” which opens on Aug. 28 in select theaters .
• Blame My Youth – “ Right Where You Belong ” • Wyld Stallyns – “ That Which Binds Us Through Time : The Chemical , Physical and Biological Nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meaning of Meaning , Part 1 ”

Weezer has unveiled the first song from the next installment of “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” The song “Beginning Of The End (Wyld Stallyns Edit)” soundtracks “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” which opens on Aug. 28 in select theaters and on demand.
Wyld Stallyns, the fictional band of Theodore “Ted” Logan (Keanu Reeves) and Bill Preston Esq. (Alex Winters) returns in this third film from the franchise, only now the stoner buddies are married (not to each other) with children and they have one last mission: to find and record the song that will save music and unite the world. They have 78 minutes to do so.
As they travel throughout history on their quest, they encounter musical notables like Big Black Delta, Mastodon and Lamb of God, all of whom appear on the soundtrack.
Weezer teased a snippet from “Beginning Of The End” on the band’s Twitter earlier this week with lead vocalist Rivers Cuomo riffing on guitar.
The song is now available across digital platforms via 10K Projects, which will also be releasing the soundtrack for the film.
Weezer has unveiled the first song from the next installment of “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” The song “Beginning Of The End (Wyld Stallyns Edit)” soundtracks “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” which opens on Aug. 28 in select theaters.


newyorkpost--2020-08-14--Watch Miley Cyrus’ sexy self-directed video for ‘Midnight Sky’

Miley Cyrus has released “ Midnight Sky , ” her first song of 2020 .
Cyrus self-directed her brazen new music video , which dropped in tandem with the track .
The new clip and song was inspired by female music icons including Stevie Nicks , Joan Jett and Debbie Harry , according to a statement .
However , that inspiration may be rooted more in attitude than sonics .
In the new visual , Cyrus boldly showcases her independence .
“ I was born to run , I don ’ t belong to anyone , ” she sings over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disco ball above , while she broadly twirls her mic cord .
The star started hinting at something through her social media platforms last week , posting part of the music video for “ Start All Over , ” a guitar-driven pop/rock song that a 15-year-old Cyrus first released as Disney character Hannah Montana in 2008 .
She captioned the post “ Meet Miley Cyrus… again .
# SheIsComing # ButForRealThisTime , ” throwing in black-heart and guitar emojis for good measure .
By last Wednesday , she had released a 15-second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Instagram Reels , the app ’ s brand new tool that allows users to digitally stitch together videos and set them to music .
In doing so , Cyrus became the first big star to tease music through Reels , which launched last week .
( Unfortunately for Instagram , even Cyrus couldn ’ t save the app from the public shaming it received for poorly ripping off TikTok . )
Cyrus — who further built anticipation by sharing a photo of herself in the studio with Dua Lipa and Ozzy Osbourne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — then encouraged fans to make their own Instagram Reels using the song , sparking instant interaction with the just-introduced functionality .
But the marketing doesn ’ t stop there .
Also last week , fans started posting screenshots of text conversations with an unknown 323 telephone number .
Cyrus — or perhaps someone on her team — instructed fans to call the number , addressing them by their first names .
When they ’ d understandably ask who was texting them , the person on the other end responded with two words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” If fans went as far as to actually call the number , they ’ d hear 15 seconds of the not-yet-released “ Midnight Sky ” before the call dropped .
( Multiple alarmed fans admitted on Twitter that they probably signed up for text updates through her website at some point and had forgotten . )
“ Midnight Sky ” marks Cyrus ’ first new music since 2019 , when she released the EP “ She Is Coming.
” At the time , Cyrus said the EP would be the first of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would comprise a new album , She Is Miley Cyrus .
That specific project , however , never materialized and was partially delayed after Cyrus was hospitalized for tonsillitis in October , and later underwent vocal surgery .
While she didn ’ t end up treating fans to any parts of the promised album , she did release “ On a Roll ” — which she recorded for Netflix show Black Mirror — an original single called “ Slide Away , ” which appeared to be a one-off and was never serviced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t Call Me Angel , ” a collaboration with Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey for the latest Charlie ’ s Angels film .
Over the past few months , Cyrus has stayed busy with a variety of projects during the COVID-19 lockdown .
She briefly hosted a talk show on Instagram live , covered Pink Floyd on an at-home episode of Saturday Night Live , directed a music video in quarantine for Cody Simpson ’ s new song , “ Captain ’ s Dance With the Devil ” and performed the Beatles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empty Rose Bowl Stadium for the Global Citizen Global Goal : Unite for Our Future livestream .

Miley Cyrus has released “Midnight Sky,” her first song of 2020. Cyrus self-directed her brazen new music video, which dropped in tandem with the track.
The new clip and song was inspired by female music icons including Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett and Debbie Harry, according to a statement. However, that inspiration may be rooted more in attitude than sonics. In the new visual, Cyrus boldly showcases her independence. “I was born to run, I don’t belong to anyone,” she sings over rhythmic programming — her blasé expression juxtaposing the disco ball above, while she broadly twirls her mic cord.
The star started hinting at something through her social media platforms last week, posting part of the music video for “Start All Over,” a guitar-driven pop/rock song that a 15-year-old Cyrus first released as Disney character Hannah Montana in 2008. She captioned the post “Meet Miley Cyrus… again. #SheIsComing #ButForRealThisTime,” throwing in black-heart and guitar emojis for good measure.
By last Wednesday, she had released a 15-second audio clip of “Midnight Sky” through Instagram Reels, the app’s brand new tool that allows users to digitally stitch together videos and set them to music. In doing so, Cyrus became the first big star to tease music through Reels, which launched last week. (Unfortunately for Instagram, even Cyrus couldn’t save the app from the public shaming it received for poorly ripping off TikTok.)
Cyrus — who further built anticipation by sharing a photo of herself in the studio with Dua Lipa and Ozzy Osbourne’s Ordinary Man producer Andrew Watt — then encouraged fans to make their own Instagram Reels using the song, sparking instant interaction with the just-introduced functionality. But the marketing doesn’t stop there.
Also last week, fans started posting screenshots of text conversations with an unknown 323 telephone number. Cyrus — or perhaps someone on her team — instructed fans to call the number, addressing them by their first names. When they’d understandably ask who was texting them, the person on the other end responded with two words: “It’s Miley!” If fans went as far as to actually call the number, they’d hear 15 seconds of the not-yet-released “Midnight Sky” before the call dropped. (Multiple alarmed fans admitted on Twitter that they probably signed up for text updates through her website at some point and had forgotten.)
“Midnight Sky” marks Cyrus’ first new music since 2019, when she released the EP “She Is Coming.” At the time, Cyrus said the EP would be the first of three six-song EPs, which, together, would comprise a new album, She Is Miley Cyrus. That specific project, however, never materialized and was partially delayed after Cyrus was hospitalized for tonsillitis in October, and later underwent vocal surgery.
While she didn’t end up treating fans to any parts of the promised album, she did release “On a Roll” — which she recorded for Netflix show Black Mirror — an original single called “Slide Away,” which appeared to be a one-off and was never serviced to radio, and “Don’t Call Me Angel,” a collaboration with Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey for the latest Charlie’s Angels film.
Over the past few months, Cyrus has stayed busy with a variety of projects during the COVID-19 lockdown. She briefly hosted a talk show on Instagram live, covered Pink Floyd on an at-home episode of Saturday Night Live, directed a music video in quarantine for Cody Simpson’s new song, “Captain’s Dance With the Devil” and performed the Beatles’ “Help!” in an empty Rose Bowl Stadium for the Global Citizen Global Goal: Unite for Our Future livestream.


newyorkpost--2020-08-14--European Commission orders AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine

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The European Commission has placed its first official order for a coronavirus vaccine with a deal to buy 300 million doses of AstraZeneca ’ s experimental shot , officials said Friday .
The body plans to donate vaccines to lower- and middle-income countries through its agreement with the British drugmaker , which gives it the option to buy another 100 million doses on behalf of European Union states , officials said .
The commission is also in talks to order a combined 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials said : one from Johnson & Johnson , and a joint effort between Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline .
All three candidates still have to complete final clinical trials to prove they ’ re safe and effective against COVID-19 .
“ We will continue to work tirelessly to bring more candidates into a broad EU vaccines portfolio , ” Stella Kyriakides , Europe ’ s commissioner for health and food safety , said in a statement .
“ A safe and effective vaccine remains the surest exit strategy to protect our citizens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus.
” AstraZeneca has also inked an up to $ 1.2 billion deal to provide the US government with 300 million doses of the shot that it ’ s developed with the University of Oxford .
European officials did not reveal the price of their order , but they said the money will come from a 2.7 billion euro ( about $ 3.2 billion ) emergency fund that aims to battle the pandemic .
“ With production in our European supply chain soon to be started , we hope to make the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first doses to be delivered by the end of 2020 , ” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said in a statement .
AstraZeneca ’ s vaccine is one of 29 candidates going through clinical studies around the world , according to the World Health Organization .
The Cambridge , UK-based company has started a crucial Phase 3 trial of the vaccine in Brazil and plans to kick off a similar late-stage study in the US this month .
AstraZeneca ’ s US-listed shares were down 0.4 percent in premarket trading Friday at $ 55.55 @ @ @ @ @

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links.
The European Commission has placed its first official order for a coronavirus vaccine with a deal to buy 300 million doses of AstraZeneca’s experimental shot, officials said Friday.
The body plans to donate vaccines to lower- and middle-income countries through its agreement with the British drugmaker, which gives it the option to buy another 100 million doses on behalf of European Union states, officials said.
The commission is also in talks to order a combined 500 million doses of two other potential vaccines, officials said: one from Johnson & Johnson, and a joint effort between Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline. All three candidates still have to complete final clinical trials to prove they’re safe and effective against COVID-19.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to bring more candidates into a broad EU vaccines portfolio,” Stella Kyriakides, Europe’s commissioner for health and food safety, said in a statement. “A safe and effective vaccine remains the surest exit strategy to protect our citizens and the rest of the world from the coronavirus.”
AstraZeneca has also inked an up to $1.2 billion deal to provide the US government with 300 million doses of the shot that it’s developed with the University of Oxford.
European officials did not reveal the price of their order, but they said the money will come from a 2.7 billion euro (about $3.2 billion) emergency fund that aims to battle the pandemic.
“With production in our European supply chain soon to be started, we hope to make the vaccine available widely and rapidly, with the first doses to be delivered by the end of 2020,” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said in a statement.
AstraZeneca’s vaccine is one of 29 candidates going through clinical studies around the world, according to the World Health Organization. The Cambridge, UK-based company has started a crucial Phase 3 trial of the vaccine in Brazil and plans to kick off a similar late-stage study in the US this month.
AstraZeneca’s US-listed shares were down 0.4 percent in premarket trading Friday at $55.55 as of 7:26 a.m.


newyorkpost--2020-08-14--Pennsylvania headed for mail-in ballot mess for November election

President Trump on Thursday evening broadened his attack on widespread ...

Mail-in ballots for November’s election in Pennsylvania may not be delivered on time because of the battleground state’s tight deadline, prompting officials there to request an extension, the US Postal Service revealed this week.
Thomas J. Marshall, the USPS’s general counsel and executive vice president, warned Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, whose office oversees elections, of the possible disenfranchisement in a July 29 letter made public Thursday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The letter was part of a filing Boockvar submitted to the state Supreme Court, asking that mail-in ballots received up to three days past Nov. 3 be counted. Under state law, ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on election day.
If the extension is granted, it would mean the results of the presidential election would hang in the balance for days after the election.
In his letter, Marshall wrote that “certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots are incongruous with the Postal Service’s delivery standards.”
“This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them,” he added.
Mail-in ballots can be requested up to seven days before the election.
The Keystone State faced this issue in the primary election, when more than 14,600 ballots arrived after the deadline, though certain counties had received extensions, according to the Inquirer.
In 2016, President Trump won Pennsylvania by 44,000 votes — or about 0.7 percent of 6 million cast.
Trump has repeatedly ripped mail-in ballots, saying the system could delay the results of the election by “years” and cause voter fraud. He’s also suggested postponing the Nov. 3 election — but wouldn’t be able to do so without Congress’ backing.


newyorkpost--2020-08-14--Palestinian officials recall UAE ambassador, slam Israel peace deal as ‘betrayal’

The Palestinian Authority has recalled its ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in protest over the country ’ s peace agreement with Israel – calling the deal a “ betrayal ” of its cause , including its claim to Jerusalem as the capital of a future state .
“ At the request of President Mahmud Abbas , the Palestinian foreign ministry has decided to immediately recall its ambassador to the United Arab Emirates , ” Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki said in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse .
The Palestinians also demanded an emergency Arab League meeting to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a phone call among President Trump , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed , crown prince of Abu Dhabi .
The three leaders said they had “ agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
” They said Israel would “ suspend declaring sovereignty ” over occupied West Bank territories — an idea proposed in Trump ’ s controversial earlier plan to resolve the conflict .
But Netanyahu said in a televised address later that he had only agreed to delay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plans remained “ on the table ” and that he would “ never give up our rights to our land , ” according to AFP .
The Israel-UAE peace agreement also was also rejected by Hamas , the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip and is a rival of Abbas ’ Fatah party .
Abbas and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh spoke after the deal ’ s announcement , despite tensions between the two camps , a Hamas source told AFP .
“ All Palestinian factions are united to reject normalization ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the news outlet .
Abbas spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeinah called the agreement a “ blow to the Arab Peace Initiative and the decisions of the Arab and Islamic summits , as well as an aggression against the Palestinian people , ” Newsweek reported .
“ The Palestinian leadership rejects what the United Arab Emirates has done and considers it a betrayal of Jerusalem , the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause , ” he said , calling it “ a de facto recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the right to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people .
The Palestinian leadership shall allow nobody to interfere in the Palestinian affairs or decide on their behalf regarding their legitimate rights in their homeland , ” Rudeinah added , according to Newsweek .
Hamas released a statement about a phone call between Abbas and Haniyeh .
“ They clearly affirmed the rejection of this declared agreement , considering that it is a non-binding agreement for the Palestinian people , and will not be respected , and stressed that all components of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or recognizing the occupation at the expense of our people ’ s rights , ” according to the readout , Newsweek reported .
“ They also stressed during the call that no one is allowed to make Palestine , its sanctuary , its most remote places , its martyrs and the suffering of its people a bridge for normalization with the enemy , ” it added .
“ They agreed to continue constant communication and to strengthen joint coordination within the Palestinian national arena to face the developments of this situation.
” Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hamas , also lashed out at the UAE ’ s “ betrayal.
” “ While betraying the Palestinian cause to serve its narrow interests , the UAE is trying to present this as a kind of act of self-sacrifice for Palestine , ” the Turkish foreign ministry said , according to AFP .
The Iranian foreign ministry said Palestinians would “ never forgive the normalizing of relations with the criminal Israeli occupation regime.
” But other world leaders expressed hope Friday that the historic deal could kickstart stalled Middle East peace talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ framework by the Israeli authorities to suspend the annexation of Palestinian territories is a positive step , which must become a definitive measure , ” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian , AFP reported .
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt , which signed a treaty with Israel in 1979 , praised the deal on “ the halt of Israel ’ s annexation of Palestinian land , ” and said he hoped it would result in “ peace.
” Among other American allies in the Gulf , both Bahrain and Oman also @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The Palestinian Authority has recalled its ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in protest over the country’s peace agreement with Israel – calling the deal a “betrayal” of its cause, including its claim to Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
“At the request of President Mahmud Abbas, the Palestinian foreign ministry has decided to immediately recall its ambassador to the United Arab Emirates,” Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse.
The Palestinians also demanded an emergency Arab League meeting to address the peace deal, which was finalized during a phone call among President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi.
The three leaders said they had “agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.”
They said Israel would “suspend declaring sovereignty” over occupied West Bank territories — an idea proposed in Trump’s controversial earlier plan to resolve the conflict.
But Netanyahu said in a televised address later that he had only agreed to delay, not cancel, the annexations, adding the plans remained “on the table” and that he would “never give up our rights to our land,” according to AFP.
The Israel-UAE peace agreement also was rejected by Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip and is a rival of Abbas’ Fatah party.
Abbas and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh spoke after the deal’s announcement, despite tensions between the two camps, a Hamas source told AFP.
“All Palestinian factions are united to reject normalization (with Israel),” the source told the news outlet.
Abbas spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeinah called the agreement a “blow to the Arab Peace Initiative and the decisions of the Arab and Islamic summits, as well as an aggression against the Palestinian people,” Newsweek reported.
“The Palestinian leadership rejects what the United Arab Emirates has done and considers it a betrayal of Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause,” he said, calling it “a de facto recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
“Neither the Emirates nor any other party has the right to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian leadership shall allow nobody to interfere in the Palestinian affairs or decide on their behalf regarding their legitimate rights in their homeland,” Rudeinah added, according to Newsweek.
Hamas released a statement about a phone call between Abbas and Haniyeh.
“They clearly affirmed the rejection of this declared agreement, considering that it is a non-binding agreement for the Palestinian people, and will not be respected, and stressed that all components of our people stand together in rejecting normalization or recognizing the occupation at the expense of our people’s rights,” according to the readout, Newsweek reported.
“They also stressed during the call that no one is allowed to make Palestine, its sanctuary, its most remote places, its martyrs and the suffering of its people a bridge for normalization with the enemy,” it added.
“They agreed to continue constant communication and to strengthen joint coordination within the Palestinian national arena to face the developments of this situation.”
Meanwhile, Iran and Turkey, both supporters of Hamas, also lashed out at the UAE’s “betrayal.”
“While betraying the Palestinian cause to serve its narrow interests, the UAE is trying to present this as a kind of act of self-sacrifice for Palestine,” the Turkish foreign ministry said, according to AFP.
The Iranian foreign ministry said Palestinians would “never forgive the normalizing of relations with the criminal Israeli occupation regime.”
But other world leaders expressed hope Friday that the historic deal could kickstart stalled Middle East peace talks.
“The decision taken within this framework by the Israeli authorities to suspend the annexation of Palestinian territories is a positive step, which must become a definitive measure,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, AFP reported.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, which signed a treaty with Israel in 1979, praised the deal on “the halt of Israel’s annexation of Palestinian land,” and said he hoped it would result in “peace.”
Among other American allies in the Gulf, both Bahrain and Oman also issued statements backing the peace deal.