December 2019 – Page 124 – GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Trump suspends plan to classify Mexican cartels as terrorist groups

December 7, 2019 | News | No Comments

Mexico City —

The United States will not classify Mexican drug cartels as international terrorist organizations — at least for now.

President Trump tweeted Friday afternoon that he was holding off on the designation at the request of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, “a man who I like and respect, and has worked so well with us.”

The decision came a day after U.S. Atty. Gen. William Barr met in Mexico City with López Obrador.

After that meeting, the Mexican president said he was confident that Barr understood that the prospective designation — and the possible deployment of U.S. troops on Mexican soil — would be a breach of Mexican sovereignty.

“Our constitution establishes … that we cannot permit that foreign forces use our territory for military purposes,” López Obrador told reporters Friday morning.

In his Twitter message, Trump said that “all necessary work” had been completed to classify Mexican drug gangs as terrorist groups, but that both nations had instead agreed to “step up our joint efforts to deal decisively with these vicious and ever-growing organizations!”

It was not immediately clear whether Mexico had made any new promises. López Obrador has signaled his openness to enhancing binational security efforts.

When Trump first floated the idea of the terrorist designation in a radio interview with conservative pundit Bill O’Reilly, it caused a furor in Mexico.

Any U.S. interference in domestic affairs is a political red line in Mexico, where interventions in the 19^th and 20^th centuries are still viewed as humiliating episodes in the country’s history.

Following Trump’s announcement on Friday, the Mexican foreign secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, tweeted: “Cooperation won out and there will be good results.”

Tens of thousands of Mexicans have been killed in recent years in cartel-related violence, despite an enforcement strategy relying on the military. López Obrador, who took office a year ago, has largely rejected the militarized approach as counterproductive.

Despite his cordial relations with López Obrador, Trump is still deeply unpopular here for what many view as his Mexico-bashing rhetoric, including his signature border wall initiative and his public denigration of Mexican immigrants in the United States as criminals and rapists.

Special correspondent Cecilia Sánchez in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Click Here: cheap nrl jerseys

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Nikki Haley says Charleston church shooter 'hijacked' meaning of Confederate flag

December 7, 2019 | News | No Comments

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said in an interview that a man who gunned down nine worshipers at an African American church in her state in 2015 “hijacked” the ideals many connected to the Confederate battle flag.

Haley told conservative political commentator and Blaze TV host Glenn Beck that the flag had meant “service and sacrifice and heritage” to some. An interview excerpt on social media Friday drew criticism from many who said the flag represents treason and racial hatred.

As governor, following the murders at the church in Charleston, Haley openly backed removal of the flag that had flown over the South Carolina Statehouse.

In the Beck interview, Haley, a former United Nations ambassador for President Trump, praised the people who were murdered by Dylann Roof as “amazing people” who loved their church and community. Then she discussed Roof, an avowed white supremacist who had appeared in online photos with the flag.

“And here is this guy that comes out with this manifesto holding the Confederate flag, and had just hijacked everything that people thought of — and we don’t have hateful people in South Carolina. There’s always the small minority that’s always going to be there. But, people saw it as service and sacrifice and heritage. But once he did that, there was no way to overcome it,” Haley said.

Critics included state Sen. Marlon Kimpson. “I find these comments ignorant of history and the facts,” he said on Twitter.

Friday afternoon, Haley posted a tweet saying she stands by her 2015 call to remove the flag. She included a link to her 2015 remarks backing removal of the flag, saying it was revered by many in the state, while many consider it “a deeply offensive symbol of a brutally oppressive past.”

Click Here: Fjallraven Kanken Art Spring Landscape Backpacks

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Iran frees Chinese American scholar for U.S.-held scientist

December 7, 2019 | News | No Comments

TEHRAN —

Iran and the U.S. conducted a prisoner exchange Saturday that saw a detained Princeton scholar released for an Iranian scientist held by America, marking a rare diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Washington after months of tensions.

In a trade conducted in Zurich, Switzerland, Iranian officials handed over Chinese American graduate student Xiyue Wang, detained in Tehran since 2016, for scientist Massoud Soleimani, who had faced a federal trial in Georgia.

While the exchange represents a rare win for both countries, it comes as Iran still faces crushing American sanctions and the aftermath of nationwide protests that reportedly saw over 200 people killed. Meanwhile, Western detainees from the U.S. and elsewhere remain held by Tehran. They are likely to be used as bargaining chips for future negotiations amid Iran’s unraveling nuclear deal with world powers.

Wang’s release had been rumored over recent days, with one lawyer involved in his case tweeting out a Bible verse about an angel freeing the apostle Peter just hours before Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif broke the news in his own tweet.

“Glad that Professor Massoud Soleimani and Mr. Xiyue Wang will be joining their families shortly,” Zarif wrote. “Many thanks to all engaged, particularly the Swiss government.”

President Trump shortly after acknowledged Wang was free in a statement from the White House, saying the Princeton scholar would be “returning to the United States.”

“Mr. Wang had been held under the pretense of espionage since August 2016,” Trump said. “We thank our Swiss partners for their assistance in negotiating Mr. Wang’s release with Iran.”

The Swiss Embassy in Tehran looks out for America’s interests in the country as the U.S. Embassy there has been closed since the 1979 student takeover and 444-day hostage crisis.

Brian Hook, the U.S. special representative for Iran, accompanied the Iranian scientist Soleimani to Switzerland to make the exchange and will return with Wang, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity as the information had yet to be released. Hook and Wang were en route to Landstuhl in Germany where Wang will be examined by doctors, the official said. Hook is expected to return to the U.S. from Germany alone, as Wang is expected to be evaluated for several days.

Although Hook was present for the swap, the official said Trump’s national security advisor Robert O’Brien played the lead role in the negotiations dating from his time as the special representative for hostage affairs at the State Department.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency later reported that Soleimani was with Iranian officials in Switzerland. Soleimani was expected to return to Iran in the coming hours. Zarif later posted pictures of himself on Twitter with Soleimani in front of an Iranian government jet and later with the two talking on board.

Wang was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran for allegedly “infiltrating” the country and sending confidential material abroad. His family and Princeton University strongly denied the claims. Wang was arrested while conducting research on the Qajar dynasty that once ruled Iran for his doctorate in late 19th and early 20th century Eurasian history, according to Princeton.

Hua Qu, the wife of Xiyue Wang, released a statement saying “our family is complete once again.”

Click Here: Fjallraven Kanken Art Spring Landscape Backpacks

“Our son, Shaofan, and I have waited three long years for this day and it’s hard to express in words how excited we are to be reunited with Xiyue,” she said. “We are thankful to everyone who helped make this happen.”

Princeton University spokesman Ben Chang said the school was aware of Wang’s release.

“We are working with the family and government officials to facilitate his return to the United States,” Chang said.

Iran’s Revolutionary Court tried Wang. That court typically handles espionage cases and others involving smuggling, blasphemy and attempts to overthrow its Islamic government. Westerners and Iranian dual nationals with ties to the West often find themselves tried and convicted in closed-door trials in these courts, only later to be used as bargaining chips in negotiations.

Soleimani — who works in stem cell research, hematology and regenerative medicine — was arrested by U.S. authorities on charges he had violated trade sanctions by trying to have biological material brought to Iran. He and his lawyers maintain his innocence, saying he seized on a former student’s plans to travel from the U.S. to Iran in September 2016 as a chance to get recombinant proteins used in his research for a fraction of the price he’d pay at home.

Tensions have been high between Iran and the U.S. since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018. In the time since, the U.S. has imposed harsh sanctions on Iran’s economy. There also have been a series of attacks across the Mideast that the U.S. blames on Iran.

Zarif in September said in an interview with NPR that he had pushed for an exchange of Wang for Soleimani.

“I have offered to exchange them, because as foreign minister I cannot go to our court and simply tell them, ‘Release this man,’” Zarif said then. “I can go to the court and tell them, ‘I can exchange this man for an Iranian,’ and then … have a legal standing in the court.”

However, it remains unclear whether this exchange will have a wider effect on Iranian-U.S. relations. Iran has accused the U.S. without evidence of being behind the mid-November protests over gasoline prices. Meanwhile, the U.S. has said it seized Iranian missiles bound for Yemen, where Tehran backs rebel forces there that have been fighting a years-long war with Saudi Arabia. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out direct talks between the nations.

In June, Iran released Nizar Zakka, a U.S. permanent resident from Lebanon who advocated for internet freedom and has done work for the U.S. government. The U.S. deported Iranian Negar Ghodskani in September, who had been brought from Australia and later sentenced to time served for conspiracy to illegally export restricted technology from the U.S. to Iran.

Other Americans held in Iran include the octogenarian businessman Baquer Namazi who has been held for over two years and diagnosed with epilepsy.

Both Namazi and his son Siamak Namazi, also a dual national who has been held for over three years, are serving a 10-year sentence after they were convicted of collaborating with a hostile power.

An Iranian American art dealer Karan Vafadari and his Iranian wife, Afarin Neyssari, received 27-year and 16-year prison sentences, respectively. Also held is U.S. Navy veteran Michael White.

Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing as well. Iran says that Levinson is not in the country and that it has no further information about him, but his family holds Tehran responsible for his disappearance.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while saying Wang would soon be able to go home to his family, acknowledged other Americans remain held by Iran.

“The United States will not rest until we bring every American detained in Iran and around the world back home to their loved ones,” Pompeo said in a statement.

By GETAWAYTHEBERKSHIRES

Racing! Los Alamitos opens short meeting

December 7, 2019 | News | No Comments

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome to our horse racing newsletter as we welcome back Michael Wrona to race calling in Southern California.

Los Alamitos is back and running Friday in a short seven-day thoroughbred meeting. This week is Friday through Sunday and next week is Thursday through Sunday. Weekday posts are 1 p.m. with 12:30 p.m. on the weekends.

Next year during this timeframe it will be a three-week meeting run under the auspices of the L.A. County Fair. It will be the first time in more than 70 years that this meeting will not be run in September.

Los Al was a casualty in the California Horse Racing Board’s attempt to reduce racing dates in California. It is going from eight weeks to five. Forgive me if you’ve heard this before, but it is in the financial interest of the state to have as much racing at the big tracks as it can. It just generates more money for everyone. And, that’s a good thing. So, intellectually you can understand why Los Al gets screwed.

But those of us with a memory will remember how Los Alamitos stepped up big after Hollywood Park closed. The local racing calendar was in tatters. Santa Anita and Del Mar took more dates but there were stll gaps. That when Ed Allred and the late Brad McKinzie engineered a plan to expand the track to a mile. Let’s face it, Doc Allred’s first love is the quarters but he did what was best for racing in Southern California.

Given what’s happened I think it’s apropos to bring up one of my favorite expressions and I think it applies here to Doc Allred. “Other than that one thing, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?”

I know I just argued both sides. And it could have been worse, Los Al was originally cut to four weeks but Santa Anita’s Aidan Butler, the acting executive director for California racing for the Stronach Group (maybe we should just use AEDCRTSG as his title?) stepped up and surrendered a week costing TSG about a million bucks. The track wasn’t going to race then but it owned the simulcast signal that week.

Now, I’m sure I’ll be cursing that decision when I don’t get a week off before Christmas next year. Oh, well, Allred deserved a “W.”

Back to this year. Saturday is a really big day with the Grade 1 Starlet and Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. Now, we know the fields have been small for the Futurity—in fact, this year it is four—but some mighty fine horses have come out of that race dating back to Hollywood Park. We’ll talk more about those races on Saturday. But, if you plan to go one day this meeting, make it Saturday.

Finally, we welcome back the popular Michael Wrona to his new gig at Los Alamitos. He’ll be calling the thoughbreds for two weeks and starting Dec. 27 will also be calling the nighttime races after the legendary Ed Burgart retires.

Michael, as you remember, was calling at Santa Anita when then boss Tim Ritvo sent him, and subsequently racing secretary Rick Hammerle, packing. Wrona has been doing some short meets around the country including Kentucky Downs.

Wrona was replaced by Frank Mirahamadi, who by everyone’s opinion, did a fantastic job at Santa Anita. The racing office hasn’t been as smooth a transition.

Now there is no doubt that Wrona will do an equally exceptional job at Los Alamitos. Think about it, we’ve got Burgart, for a few more days, Mirahamadi and Wrona. It just doesn’t get any better than that. Anywhere.

Change in our email

You might notice a familiar but different email on this newsletter as we’ve switched back to the latimes.com address. I’m not going to bore you with why, but we’re hoping the change will provide more reliability with the newsletter getting to its intended destination.

Los Alamitos preview

Not surprisingly, it’s not a card that has the big “wow factor,” but the field size is pretty decent. There are eight races, starting at 1 p.m. Of course, there are no turf races because there is no turf course. Five are claiming races and a starter allowance basically makes it six.

The feature is an allowance optional claimer for fillies and mares going six furlongs for a purse of $45,000. Tijori is the 5-2 favorite for trainer Simon Callaghan and jockey Flavien Prat. She’s only one-for-four lifetime, including a fourth at the Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park. But what gives her some street cred is that Kaleem Shah paid $525,000 for her at a 2-year-old sale.

The second favorite, at 3-1, is a Love a Honeybadger for Peter Miller and Abel Cedillo. She is five-for-14 lifetime. Like Tijori, she also won her first race and has been running mostly at the allowance level. One big difference is Love a Honeybadger was purchased for $10,000. Post is around 3:30 p.m.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 6, 6, 6, 10, 9, 7, 10, 10.

Ciaran Thornton’s Lrc picks of the day

Race Three: No. 3 Rineshaft (12-1)

Race Four: No. 3 Buster Douglas (10-1)

Rineshaft won at this distance in October for trainer Hector Palma with Tiago Pereira riding. Next out at Del Mar in a jump to an allowance race the horse ran 11th. Win jockey Tiago hops back on and they dropped the horse into this claimer for the paycheck. 12-1 morning line is great value with Tiago returning. Has the top speed in this race as well.

Buster Douglas makes his first start since last year and tries dirt for the first time and takes a huge plunge in class for a winless small trainer. The 57-second claim bait workout last week and a sharp work prior for a small stable intrigues me. I hope we get 12-1 but watch the early money here, if there is a drop in odds the horse is live. The class towers above the rest of these so why not swing in this low-level claimer. I am going two deep in my value plays today because these are it on the card. Let’s also try a small daily double using these two plus the favorites in each race.

Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.

Golden Gate weekend preview

Here’s our weekly look at the best racing going on at Golden Gate Fields. As with the last meeting, we’re delighted to have race caller and all-around good guy Matt Dinerman as our host for previews and other musings. So, take it away, Matt.

“We’ll start with a quick update: Mugaritz won the marquee race of the Golden Gate fall meet, the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap, by a decisive 3 ½ lengths. His trainer, Jonathan Wong, confirmed Mugaritz exited Saturday’s 1 1/16 mile contest in good order. His next start is undetermined.

“’More likely than not, his next race will be in 2020,’ Wong said. ‘We’re leaving all options on the table at this point. We want to continue to run him in graded stakes races. We’re even thinking of sending him over to Dubai for a race. We’ll see.’

“This week, our feature race comes on Saturday with the $75,000 Gold Rush Stakes for 2-year-olds. A full field of 10 is entered and one also eligible looks for a single defection: #11 Ajourneyofreedom, the half sibling to El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate. He showed promise in a better-than-looked runner up finish last time out.

“Golden Nugget Stakes winner Bettor Trip Nick makes his route debut for trainer Bill Delia and is certainly the local contender with the most class. The son of first-crop stallion Boat Trip sports a three for four sprint record heading into the Gold Rush. Recent maiden winners Final Final, Indian Peak and Sacred Rider may also get play.

“From Southern California, trainer Andrew Lerner sends up Rager and Absolute Weapon. Rager, to be ridden by Luis Reyes, broke his maiden at first asking in a maiden special weight at Santa Anita before finishing fourth in his most recent start, The Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar. Absolute Weapon, with Southern California jockey Aaron Gryder set to navigate, raced two-turns for the first time on Oct. 31 in a starter optional claiming race at Santa Anita and won by more than six lengths.

“Post time for the Gold Rush is about 4:15 p.m. and goes as the eighth race in a 10-race card on Saturday.

“Lastly, we wish Golden Gate Fields based 2-year-old Anneau D’Or the very best in his third lifetime start, the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Saturday. He drew the rail with regular rider Juan Hernandez slated to ride. Most recently, Anneau D’Or finished second behind Storm the Court in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“’After the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he came back to the barn and was tearing the place down,’ joked trainer Blaine Wright. “He was full of energy and bounced out of [the race] in great shape. He’s worked three times since the Juvenile and every time he worked well. His blood count is good, his weight is good and we’re looking at a pretty happy and healthy horse heading into the Los Al’ Futurity.’”

Los Alamitos weekend preview

It’s time to turn things over to marketing and meda guru Orlando Gutierrez, who will tell us about the upcoming weekend at Los Alamitos. Orlando, the floor is yours.

“Doubleheaders are back at Los Alamitos Race Course, as nighttime action follows the daytime thoroughbred racing program. Friday’s eight-race program will start at 7 p.m., while Saturday’s card is set for 6 p.m. Sunday’s first post at night will be about 5:30 p.m.

“It’s been a solid 2019 season for owner Martha Wells. The accomplished quarter-horse owner has enjoyed stakes wins with Yanque and has been a part of graded stakes finals with runners such as Tell Cartel, Red Hawk Cartel, Chicks Fayvorite and Fire By Night.

“Wells enjoyed a runner-up effort by Tell Cartel in the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity, while Red Hawk Cartel was second as well in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and will next race in the Grade 2 Southern California Derby next Friday night. Yanque has won a pair of 550-yard stakes, while Chicks Fayvorite is a multiple winner at the Orange County track.

“It’s now Fire By Night’s turn as he’ll be one of the favorites in the seventh on Friday night. Fire By Night will be hoping for a better result than his last start when he was disqualified from second and placed fifth for interference in a trial to the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity. While still a maiden after seven career starts, Fire By Night showed his promise by finishing second in a trial that featured the outstanding filly Geothermal, third place finisher in the Ed Burke Million Futurity earlier this year. Ruben Lozano retains the mount aboard Fire By Night for Friday’s event at 330 yards.

“Jest Famous, who was so impressive when winning the Town Policy Handicap against 3-year-olds on Nov. 9, will make his final tune-up before the trials to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship when he faces six in the First Down Dash Handicap for 3-year-olds and up Saturday night.

“Trained by Chris O’Dell and ridden by Cody Jensen, Jest Famous was outstanding in his first local start, as he won the Town Policy by a half-length as the even-money favorite. Jest Famous had excellent freshman campaign, winning the Southwest Juvenile Championship last year after running third in the $1 million Ruidoso Futurity. Bred by Jon and Donna McPherson, the Louisiana-bred son of Mr Jess Perry will enter with seven wins in 12 starts.

“Los Alamitos will have a special post-position draw about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11 for the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and Grade 1 Champion of Champions. The draw will take place in the Finish Line Room at Los Alamitos and will be televised by TVG.

“Everyone is invited to attend the draw. Los Alamitos track announcer Ed Burgart will also announce the morning line for the Dec. 14 Champion of Champions and Dec. 15 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity. Burgart will call both races for a final time before retiring from the announcer’s booth on closing night, Dec. 15.”

Ed Burgart’s LA pick of the day

EIGHTH RACE: No. 2 Alamode (3-1)

Entered not to be claimed after 18 months on the sidelines, this 4-year-old gelding was ultra impressive in beating a $12,500 claiming field by a neck five weeks ago despite missing the break by nearly one length. I loved his acceleration midway and trainer John Cooper shows confidence by raising him to the $16,000 claiming level. He broke super in his final two 2018 outings.

Final thought

If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter you can click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more. Tell your friends, or even people you don’t like that much.

Any thoughts, you can reach me at [email protected] You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa.

Now, the star of the show, Friday’s entries.

#racing_entries {
width: 100%;
}

#racing_entries .race_number {
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
}
#racing_entries table, #racing_entries p {
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 16px;
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
}

/* mobile styling */
@media screen and (max-width: 550px) {
#racing_entries table {
width: 100%;
}
#racing_entries table tr td {
display: block;
text-align: left;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 18px;
}

#racing_entries table tr {
margin: 0 0 20px;
display: block;
}

/* hide race header row */
#racing_entries table tbody tr:nth-child(1) {
display: none;
}

#racing_entries table tbody tr td:nth-child(1), #racing_entries table tbody tr td:nth-child(2) {
display: inline;
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: bold;
}

/* hyphen between horse number and name */
#racing_entries table tbody tr td:nth-child(1):after { content: ” – “; }

/* prepend Jockey */
#racing_entries table tbody tr td:nth-child(3):before { content: “Jockey: “; }

/* prepend weight */
#racing_entries table tbody tr td:nth-child(4):before { content: “Weight: “; }

/* prepend trainer */
#racing_entries table tbody tr td:nth-child(5):before { content: “Trainer: “; }

/* prepend odds */
#racing_entries table tbody tr td:nth-child(6):before { content: “Odds: “; }

/* prepend claim amount */
#racing_entries table tbody tr td:nth-child(7):before { content: “Claim: $”; }

}

#racing_results {
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 16px;
}

#racing_results table {
font-size: 14px;
width: 100%;
max-width: 500px;
}

#racing_results table tr td {
white-space: nowrap;
}

#racing_results .race_number {
font-weight: bold;
}

@media screen and (max-width: 550px) {

#racing_results table {
font-size: 12px;
}