Sonoma County survivalist charged with mysterious killings on Jenner beach

 Investigators believe 38-year-old Shaun Gallon is responsible for the double murder of a couple in Jenner in 2004. Investigators believe 38-year-old Shaun Gallon is responsible for the double murder of a couple in Jenner in 2004. Photo: Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Photo: Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Sonoma County survivalist charged with mysterious killings on Jenner beach 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

 A Sonoma County survivalist who has long been known for strange and violent behavior, and who already stands accused of gunning down his brother, has been charged with murdering a young engaged couple in August 2004 as they lay in sleeping bags on a beach in Jenner.

 Shaun Michael Gallon, the lead suspect in the Jenner case for the past year, faces two counts of murder in the gunshot killings of Lindsay Cutshall, 22, of Fresno, Ohio, and her 26-year-old fiance, Jason Allen of Zeeland, Mich.

 Gallon, 39, is eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted, but Sonoma County prosecutors have not said whether they will seek execution. Prosecutors also charged Gallon with attempted murder in a separate package bomb case in Monte Rio in 2004.

 Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Brady said Gallon was never ruled out as a suspect in the cold-case murders.

 “After he was in custody for the death of his brother, the Sheriff’s Department developed new evidence that linked him to the 2004 murders of Jason and Lindsay,” Brady said. He added that prosecutors wouldn’t elaborate on the new evidence entailed until Gallon’s preliminary hearing.

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 The Sonoma County public defender’s office, which is representing Gallon, could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

 The charges, filed last week, are a major step in a long-running cold case. Sonoma County sheriff’s investigators spent more than a dozen years pursuing the beach gunman, searching for suspects across the country while looking at gun records and eyeing serial killers.

 Gallon was long considered a “person of interest” in the slayings, but the break in the case did not come until March 24, 2017, when Gallon allegedly killed his younger brother in Forestville, shooting him several times.

 Investigators said Gallon, after being arrested, told police enough to tie him to the killings of Cutshall and Allen. But prosecutors held off on filing charges as detectives continued to dig into the case.

 The allegations say Gallon, who was 25 at the time, shot the pair with a .45-caliber Marlin rifle at close range as they slept on secluded Fish Head Beach near the mouth of the Russian River.

 The couple had been working that summer at a Christian youth camp along the American River in El Dorado County and had gone on a three-day sightseeing trip up the coast that would have taken them through Forestville.

 Investigators said Cutshall and Allen didn’t know Gallon, though it’s unclear whether they might have had an interaction with him before their deaths.

 The biggest cold cases in the Bay Area The biggest cold cases in the Bay Area Photo: Michael Macor Photo: Michael Macor Image 1 of / 13 Caption Close The biggest cold cases in the Bay Area 1 / 13 Back to Gallery

 A motive has been elusive in the beach killings, as in the shooting of Gallon’s brother.

 On that day, the mother of the two men called for help, saying 36-year-old Shamus Gallon had been shot with a rifle at the home where the family lived on the 9800 block of River Road. The family had moved to the home from Guerneville after the brothers’ father killed himself in 2013.

 The mother reported that Shaun Gallon had left the house with the rifle and driven away in his minivan, officials said. He was swiftly apprehended and charged with murder.

 It wasn’t Gallon’s first brush with the law. He was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon for shooting an arrow at a man in Guerneville, just west of Forestville, on Jan. 27, 2009.

 Gallon, described by investigators in that case as a survivalist, served a three-year sentence — spending some of his time at San Quentin State Prison — after wounding James McNeil of Monte Rio, who was sitting in a parked convertible on Mill Street when an arrow came through the soft top of the car and grazed his head.

 Gallon had convictions in his 20s for resisting arrest, weapons possession, theft, drunken driving and hunting abalone without proper paperwork, records show.

 The new attempted-murder charges stem from a package bomb that exploded on June 10, 2004, when 27-year-old Parvoneh Leval picked up a box left on her boyfriend John Robles’ car. Leval was treated for severe cuts and bruises on her hand and arm.

 Cutshall and Allen were killed sometime after nightfall on Aug. 14, 2004, and before sunrise Aug. 16, officials said. Their bodies were found in their sleeping bags Aug. 18. Both were shot in the head. Cutshall and Allen were killed just weeks before they were to return to the Midwest to get married.

 Detectives on the case pursued a number of possible motives in the killings — from sexual assault to murder-suicide, all of which were ruled out.

 Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy ||||| Read a 2014 Sonoma Magazine story on the 10-year anniversary of the killings and the life-changing effect they had on former Sheriff Steve Freitas here . ____ For past coverage of the slayings go here

 Shaun Michael Gallon, the Forestville felon named more than a year ago as the lone suspect in the shooting deaths of a young Midwestern couple on a Jenner beach in 2004, has been charged by Sonoma County prosecutors with the two murders, marking a pivotal moment in a shocking case of violence that vexed sheriff’s detectives for years.

 Gallon, 39, has been held in Sonoma County Jail since he was arrested in March 2017 in the slaying of his younger brother in their family home. His detention led to jailhouse interviews with investigators in the Jenner case, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, and just weeks later, in May 2017, then-Sheriff Steve Frietas identified Gallon as the gunman who killed Lindsay Cutshall, 22, and her fiance, Jason Allen, 26, as they lay in sleeping bags at secluded Fish Head Beach.

 Gallon, who was known in the Russian River area where he grew up for strange behavior and run-ins with law enforcement, was interviewed by sheriff’s officials at the time but never detained in connection with the case.

 Sheriff Rob Giordano said the Jenner killings were “horrific” for the Cutshall and Allen families and for Sonoma County — a cold case that defined careers for many of the hundreds of Sheriff’s Office personnel involved in the search for the gunman.

 “Unfortunately, there are evil people in our community, not many, but he is one of those people,” Giordano said. “I’m just really glad he’s off the street now.”

 On Friday, prosecutors filed documents in Sonoma County Superior Court charging Gallon with killing Cutshall and Allen. He was arraigned on those charges Monday morning in a brief court hearing. Prosecutors also charged him with one count of attempted murder in a separate case dating to 2004, when he is alleged to have left on top of a car a package bomb that exploded, injuring a Monte Rio woman. He did not enter a plea.

 Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Staebell said prosecutors received an essential set of reports from the Sheriff’s Office on May 1, including documents from 13 years of investigative work, and after reviewing the files they were able to charge Gallon with the killings.

 “It was a very thorough investigation,” Staebell said.

 Prosecutors, led by Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Brady, are still reviewing whether to seek the death penalty in connection with the double murder.

 Details in a spate of criminal cases against Gallon dating to 2004 cast him as a darkly troubled man, a self-taught survivalist and weapons fanatic who in 2009 shot a man with a hand-fashioned bow and arrow. In addition to the bombing, Gallon now stands accused of shooting to death three people, including his brother, Shamus Gallon, in their family home in Forestville last year, and Cutshall and Allen on the Jenner beach 14 years ago.

 His suspected motives remain unknown.

 “There is no question that he suffers from mental illness,” Sonoma County Public Defender Kathleen Pozzi said.

 Pozzi said she’s still not convinced Gallon was involved in the Jenner killings, and she may file a motion requesting the two murder cases and attempted homicide case be handled separately because they are unrelated.

Summary: – A man already accused of killing his brother is now charged with the 2004 murders of an engaged couple found in sleeping bags on a California beach. Baffled authorities have continually sought the culprit in the August 2004 shooting deaths of 22-year-old Lindsay Cutshall of Ohio and 26-year-old Jason Allen of Michigan in Jenner, but with little success. After 39-year-old Shaun Gallon was arrested for allegedly shooting his younger brother to death in Forestville in March 2017, however, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department "developed new evidence that linked him to the 2004 murders," Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Brady tells the San Francisco Chronicle. While Brady wouldn't elaborate on the evidence, NBC Bay Area reports Gallon told police information that only the couple's killer would know. He was named as a suspect in the killings last May. At the time of their deaths, Cutshall and Allen had left the Christian summer camp they were working at for a three-day sightseeing trip that would've taken them through Forestville, 20 miles from Jenner. They were both shot in the head at close range weeks before they were to return to the Midwest to get married. It isn't clear what contact, if any, they had with Gallon. In addition to murder charges, Gallon also faces attempted-murder charges related to a package bomb that injured a woman in Monte Rio in June 2004 as she tried to remove it from her boyfriend's car. "Unfortunately, there are evil people in our community, not many, but he is one of those people," a sheriff tells the Press Democrat of Gallon. "I'm just really glad he's off the street."


(RNS) The news that New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the nation's most prominent Catholic prelate, will deliver the closing blessing to the Republican National Convention in Florida next week was seen as a huge coup for Mitt Romney, the party's presumptive nominee. But the move has also prompted a sharp debate within the church over the increasingly close ties between leading bishops and the GOP.

 "The cozy relationship between a sizable portion of U.S. bishops and the Republican Party should be cause for concern, and not just among progressive Catholics," Michael O'Loughlin wrote in a post on the website of America magazine, a leading Catholic weekly published by the Jesuits.

 "Cardinal Dolan's appearance in Tampa will damage the church's ability to be a moral and legitimate voice for voiceless, as those who view the Catholic Church as being a shill for the GOP have just a bit more evidence to prove their case," O'Loughlin concluded.

 Similarly, David Cruz-Uribe, a member of the Secular Franciscan Order and a professor of mathematics at Trinity College, wrote on the Vox Nova blog that Dolan's decision "will only drag the Church further into a partisan divide and fuel the perception (true or not) that the Catholic Church wants to replace the Episcopalians as the Republican party on its knees."

 Conservative Catholics have, not surprisingly, welcomed Dolan's appearance and hope it augurs well for Romney.

 "I now predict that if Mitt Romney wins the White House in 2012 there will be a very healthy relationship between a Romney administration and the U.S. Bishops, led by a close working relationship between Cardinal Dolan and President Romney," said Thomas Peters, who writes for CatholicVote.org, which has endorsed Romney and his Catholic running mate, Paul Ryan.

 Romney disclosed the news of Dolan's planned blessing on Wednesday (Aug. 22) during an interview on the conservative Catholic cable channel EWTN. He did so in the context of a discussion about his shared opposition with the bishops to the Obama administration's controversial birth control mandate.

 By tradition, the local bishop often delivers a prayer at the party convention meeting in his city, but it is highly unusual for another bishop -- and the leader of the hierarchy -- to fly in to deliver a benediction, as Dolan will do on Aug. 30, right after Romney is formally nominated.

 Philadelphia's Cardinal John Krol did so in 1972 when he was president of the bishops' conference and went to Miami for the Republican convention that nominated Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. But that seems to be the only modern precedent.

 Whether Dolan's appearance will have any actual effect in swinging Catholic voters to Romney is unclear. Obama is holding a slim lead among Catholics at this point, and Catholics often ignore the hierarchy's advice on political matters.

 Dolan's spokesman has sought to portray the cardinal's appearance as purely nonpartisan: "It's as a priest going to pray," said Joseph Zwilling, director of communications for the Archdiocese of New York.

 Zwilling reiterated that point in a statement released on Thursday, and added that Dolan "would be willing to accept a similar offer from the Democratic Party as well."

 But the Democrats seem unlikely to extend an invitation to Dolan, who is among dozens of Catholic leaders suing the administration over the contraception mandate. It's also very possible that Dolan would not receive a warm welcome when the Democrats hold their convention in Charlotte, N.C., a week after the GOP nominates Romney in Tampa, Fla.

 Dolan and the bishops have become increasingly critical of Obama as policy differences over gay marriage and abortion rights have provided ammunition for fierce rhetorical blasts from many bishops and their allies, who have compared Obama to a totalitarian dictator, or worse.

 Earlier this month, Baltimore Archbishop William P. Lori, an up-and-coming voice in the hierarchy who has led the campaign against the administration's contraception policy, gave an interview that was widely viewed as indicating that a good Catholic could not vote for a candidate who supports abortion rights, as Obama does.

 At the same time, Romney's selection of Ryan as his running mate has brought an outpouring of praise from several bishops. Some of them like Ryan's proposals on cutting entitlements and taxes, despite the conflict that other bishops see between those policies and Catholic teaching.

 Others, like Dolan, who was archbishop of Milwaukee before coming to New York in 2009, have close personal ties to Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman. Dolan has often taken a softer line on Ryan's policies than other Catholic leaders, and his praise has grown as Ryan's visibility has increased.

 Dolan recently told a radio program that he is "happy" Ryan is on the GOP ticket and called him a "great public servant."

 "We go way back, Congressman Paul Ryan and I," Dolan said. "I came to know and admire him immensely. And I would consider him a friend. He and his wife Janna and their three kids have been guests in my house; I've been a guest at their house. They're remarkably upright, refreshing people."

 Ryan's own bishop, Robert Morlino of the Diocese of Madison, has also emerged as a strong defender of Ryan's Catholic bona fides.

 Morlino wrote a column this month expressing pride in Ryan's "accomplishments as a native son, and a brother in the faith." And on Tuesday he told a radio program that Ryan is an "excellent Catholic layman of the very highest integrity" who "understands the principles of Catholic social teaching" and applies them "very responsibly."

 There was at least one bit of good news for Catholic Democrats this week, however. Organizers of next month's Values Voter Summit in Washington, a major political rally for the religious right, announced that Cardinal Dolan had been invited to speak. But Zwilling said that wouldn't happen.

 "He has not received an invitation as far as we can tell," Zwilling said. "In any event, he is not going."

 Click through the slideshow to see most and least Catholic states in the United States:

 Most and Least Catholic States In America

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Summary: – New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan is headed to the Republican National Convention to deliver a benediction, a rarity in modern times: Not since 1972 has an out-of-town bishop flown in to bless a party convention. While observers at first called it a win for Mitt Romney, now some Catholics are raising questions about the move, the Huffington Post reports. The bishop's appearance "will damage the church's ability to be a moral and legitimate voice for voiceless," notes a post on the website of America, a top Catholic weekly. "Those who view the Catholic Church as being a shill for the GOP have just a bit more evidence to prove their case." But conservative Catholics applaud the move. If Romney wins the election, "there will be a very healthy relationship between a Romney administration and the US Bishops, led by a close working relationship between Cardinal Dolan and President Romney," predicts a writer at CatholicVote.org. A rep for Dolan says his appearance is apolitical: "It's as a priest going to pray." Head to HuffPo for more.


By Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto and Fred Backus

 Just over a week after U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was freed by the Taliban, a CBS News Poll shows 45 percent of Americans disapprove of the deal that saw him released in exchange for five Taliban militants, while 37 percent approve of it. About one in five do not have an opinion.

 Views differ by political party: most Republicans disapprove of the deal, while just over half of Democrats approve. Among those who have served in the military, 55 percent disapprove of the prisoner swap.

 Most Americans -- 56 percent -- say the U.S. paid too high a price to secure Bergdahl's release. Among veterans, that figure rises to 65 percent.

 Republicans and independents say the deal cost the U.S. too much, while Democrats are more divided: 42 percent think the terms of the agreement were reasonable, but almost as many -- 39 percent -- say the U.S. paid too high a price.

 The president has been criticized by some members of Congress for not informing them of the prisoner exchange at least 30 days before it was carried out, as required by U.S. law.

 The administration has defended the decision to move hastily with the swap, arguing there was an urgent risk to Bergdahl's health, and that any leak of the plans could have presented an additional threat to his safety.

 Americans give the president low marks for his handling of the release of Sgt. Bergdahl - just 35 percent approve, while 49 percent disapprove. He gets support from Democrats -- 61 percent approve of his handling of the matter, but most Republicans disapprove.

 The poll finds a clear majority -- 72 percent -- think President Obama should have notified Congress in advance, and that includes 55 percent of people identifying themselves as Democrats.

 Historically, CBS News Polls have often shown that Americans prefer a president seek the approval of Congress on military matters.

 There are reports that Bergdahl left his military base in Afghanistan before his capture, but many Americans (40 percent) have yet to form an opinion on whether he deliberately abandoned his post. Among those with an opinion, 35 percent think Bergdahl deliberately left (including 43% of military veterans), while 25 percent say he did not.

 Most Americans - 56 percent - think the U.S. paid too high a price in the agreement to get Bergdahl released. Among veterans, that figure rises to 65 percent.

 Republicans and independents think the deal cost the U.S. too much, while Democrats are more divided: 42 percent think the terms of the agreement were reasonable, but almost as many - 39 percent -say the U.S. paid too high a price.

 Some Americans express concern about terrorism amid the release of the Taliban prisoners. The poll shows 49 percent think the prisoner exchange will increase the threat of terrorism against the U.S., while 40 percent say it will have no effect. Only 3 percent say the exchange will result in a reduced threat of terrorism against the U.S.

 This poll was conducted by telephone June 8-9, 2014 among 1,013 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher Results based on the sample of veterans is plus or minus eight points. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls

 ||||| Senate Democrats are mounting their strongest defense yet of President Barack Obama’s decision to free Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in exchange for five Taliban detainees from Guantánamo Bay.

 They are ridiculing the notion that Obama should have given Congress a 30-day heads up — as required by law — on the impending transfer. And Democrats are expressing growing confidence that public support for the deal will grow as more details emerge.

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 The debate over Bergdahl’s release is unfolding as administration officials took to Capitol Hill for the fourth time in a week on Tuesday to defend the deal — this time in a classified meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said providing lawmakers advance notice was an “impossible” task that would have endangered Bergdahl’s life, given the chance of leaks.

 (Also on POLITICO: John Boehner: "Americans less safe" after Bergdahl prisoner swap)

 “I can’t believe anyone’s arguing that as soon as we knew there was a transfer we had to wait for Congress to think it over for 30 days,” Durbin told reporters. “I will just tell you this: They knew a day ahead of time that the transfer was going to take place, they knew an hour ahead of time where it was going to take place.”

 Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said Congress should not have been surprised that Obama evaded the 30-day law — citing warnings Obama had in mind when signing the law that he might not be able to comply with the requirement if “there were circumstances which didn’t give him enough time.”

 “That’s exactly what happened here,” Levin said.

 Meanwhile, Democrats are pressing the administration to be more forthcoming under the belief that disclosure will put to bed Republicans’ attacks on the transfer that often take the form of unanswered questions.

 “We believe that as people understand the circumstances of his imprisonment, it will help explain why the president considered this such a priority,” Durbin said.

 (Also on POLITICO: Steny Hoyer: "Wise" to inform Hill about prisoner swap)

 Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said as she left the briefing that open discussions in Congress would help clear up Republicans’ and Democrats’ different interpretations of the prisoner exchange.

 “It’s always helpful to be as transparent as possible. And I think this is a case where there’s information that has been mischaracterized or not fully released that would be helpful to the public,” she said.

 Democrats have reason to be worried over the political implications of the deal. A poll released Monday by the Pew Research Center and USA Today found 43 percent believed it was wrong for the administration to exchange the five Taliban detainees for Bergdahl. Nearly two-thirds of respondents in the poll said Obama should have notified Congress about these types of decisions.

 And Republicans continue to hammer the White House on the deal. Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday that people could die because of it.

 “We’ve made Americans less safe here and all around the world,” Boehner told reporters. “And we’re going to pay for this. There is not any doubt in my mind there are going to be costs.”

 As is becoming typical of these closed briefings, Senate Republicans left the Tuesday briefing insisting they have more questions than answers and that little was revealed that is not already public.

 Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will appear before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday and will most likely face a litany of criticism from the Republican-led House. Senate Republicans are pushing Democrats to do the same after a series of closed briefings.

 “If they could release the five [classified] files of the Taliban dream team, then we can have a full open hearing, just on the national security implications of the transfer,” said Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), who attended Tuesday’s briefing. “That’s important for the people of this country to understand.”

Summary: – Americans generally aren't too pleased with the Bowe Bergdahl prisoner exchange, especially if they're veterans or Republicans, according to a new CBS poll. Specifically, most in the poll (56%) think the US paid too high of a price by exchanging five Gitmo detainees. Some highlights: Disapprove: 45% disapprove of the deal in general, while 37% approve, and 18% don't have an opinion. By party: 22% of Republicans approve of the deal and 65% disapprove; for Democrats, it's 53% vs. 27%; and for independents, 33% vs. 47%. Veterans: 31% approve of the deal and 55% disapprove. High price: 56% overall think the swap was too high of a price; the figure is higher among Republicans (75%) and veterans (65%) than Democrats (39%) and independents (58%). A majority of respondents (72%) think President Obama should have notified Congress before making the deal, and Politico reports that the White House was sending seven representatives to Capitol Hill today for a closed-door briefing with senators to try to smooth things over. The session comes ahead of tomorrow's open hearing in the House.


See more of Bright Beginnings, Inc. on Facebook ||||| Every once in a while, you meet someone who greatly affects your life. For those of us who were lucky enough to know her, that person was Miyah.

 Miyah, born Damiyah Telemaque-Nelson, was a young D.C. resident battling Burkitt's Lymphoma. Unfortunately, Miyah succumbed to her battle with cancer on Monday, December 8, 2014. She was just five years old. “It’s just another angel that God put behind me.” Those are the words of Wizards star John Wall, who opened up about his friendship with Miyah following her passing.

 John was introduced to Miyah through a mutual friend. Soon after, John got word that Miyah wanted to meet megastar, Nicki Minaj and receive one of her infamous pink wigs. John wanted to help so he created a social media campaign, where he encouraged his fan and followers to use the hashtag #PinkWig4Miyah to get Nicki Minaj's attention. A few days later Nicki reached out to John and arrangements were made to grant Miyah's wish.

 Miyah wasn't on this earth for long, but her story was no less amazing. Cancer is a struggle at any age, but for a young child to deal with it, and keep a smile on her face during the process, speaks measures to her strength and spirit.

 To honor Miyah, The John Wall Family Foundation is sponsoring “Miyah’s Troupe” at the 2015 Washington, DC Light The Night Walk.

 The Light The Night Walk brings together families and communities to honor blood cancer survivors, as well as those lost to the diseases, and our team is helping to shine a light on the importance of finding cures and providing access to treatments for blood cancer patients. Funds raised from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Light The Night Walk help support the research of blood cancer treatments that save lives.

 Please join our team's effort today by registering to walk or by making a donation. Your participation in the Light The Night Walk will save lives not someday, but today. ||||| John Wall is one of the best point guards in the NBA, but his impact on society stretches beyond the basketball court. The 25-year-old is extremely generous with both his time and money.

 One might remember when Wall broke down after a Wizards win last season, upon hearing a 6-year old cancer patient whom he’d met and befriended had died. Wall cares.

 The Washington Wizards guard’s philanthropy continued Friday, when Bright Beginnings, a child development center in Washington D.C., revealed a $400,000 donation from Wall, to help ongoing efforts to fight homelessness.

 More information can be found on Bright Beginnings’ Facebook page. And here’s an official statement from the organization’s Executive Director Dr. Betty Jo Gaines:

 “Support from individuals like Mr. Wall, gives Bright Beginnings the encouragement to continue to provide comprehensive services for homeless children in the District of Columbia. It is evident that John Wall is sensitive and concerned about the plight of homeless children in DC and he wants these children to succeed.”

 (h/t: Bleacher Report) ||||| We already knew that John Wall was motivated to help the less fortunate. After all, this is a man who pledged $1 million to local charities in 2013, just after signing a lucrative contract extension.

 [Best and worst of Wizards Media Day 2015]

 But it’s always nice to get fresh news of generous acts, and Wall committed another one on Friday, when he made a surprise appearance at a D.C. organization that helps homeless children. Oh, and the Wizards guard brought with him a donation of $400,000.

 Thank you @JohnWall for your generous donation to BBI's second child development center in SE DC! #JWFF pic.twitter.com/LfNnARk37J — Bright Beginnings (@sunnystarts) September 25, 2015

 A Facebook post by Bright Beginnings, Inc., thanked Wall for his contribution. Here is what the group, which describes itself as “nationally accredited child and family development center that offers a bright start for homeless infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their families,” had to say:

 “This morning, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall surprised our organization and BBI Executive Director Dr. Betty Jo Gaines with a generous donation of $400,000. This phenomenal contribution will significantly impact the development of Bright Beginnings’ second child development center at 3418 4th Street SE in Ward 8. “‘Support from individuals like Mr. Wall gives Bright Beginnings the encouragement to continue to provide comprehensive services for homeless children in the District of Columbia. It is evident that John Wall is sensitive and concerned about the plight of homeless children in DC and he wants these children to succeed.’ – Bright Beginnings Executive Director, Dr. Betty Jo Gaines. “Proudly displayed at the new BBI center will be the John Wall, Wall of Achievement, highlighting the everyday moments of greatness Bright Beginnings students accomplish, in addition to the legacies left behind by high school and college graduates who were once BBI toddlers and preschoolers. Bright Beginnings will also name a classroom in Mr. Wall’s honor. The new Bright Beginnings child development center is scheduled to open its doors in 2017.”

 It’s clear that Wall is particularly concerned about the plight of children in need. Last year, he was visibly upset after a Wizards game by news that a 6-year-old girl he had befriended, Miyah Telemaque-Nelson, had lost her battle with cancer.

 The Wizards are about to kick off training camp, and Wall is hoping to lead his team deeper into the playoffs than last season, when Washington was eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by Atlanta. Wall was hobbled by an injury he suffered at the start of that series, and if he’s hoping for better luck going forward, well, one would have to think that all the good karma he’s creating can’t hurt.

Summary: – John Wall is only 25 years old and he's already achieved great success with the Washington Wizards, including being called by Fox Sports "one of the best point guards in the NBA." He can also check "philanthropist" off his list after his surprise visit Friday to a DC child-development center for homeless kids, where he visited with the children and donated $400,000 to the organization. The staff at Bright Beginnings Inc. was stunned by his move. "It is evident that John Wall is sensitive and concerned about the plight of homeless children in DC and he wants these children to succeed," the executive director says on the group's Facebook page, where heartwarming pictures of Wall interacting with the BBI kids are also displayed. It's not the first time Wall has shown his soft spot for kids: He still raises funds in honor of a 6-year-old cancer patient he befriended who passed away last year, the Washington Post notes. (Here are some everyday items you can donate to make a difference.)


CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood risks political elimination, with the new army-backed government threatening to ban the Islamist organization after launching a fierce crackdown on its supporters that has killed hundreds.

 Struggling to stamp its authority on Egypt following the ousting last month of President Mohamed Mursi, the country's new rulers have upped the rhetoric, saying the Arab world's most populous nation is at war with terrorism.

 More than 700 people have died, most of them backers of Mursi, in four days of violence. That has earned Egypt stiff condemnation from Western nations, uncomfortable with Islamist rule but also with the overthrow of an elected government.

 The crackdown has, however, drawn messages of support from key Arab allies like Saudi Arabia, which have long feared the spread of Brotherhood ideology to the Gulf monarchies.

 Blaming a defiant Brotherhood for the bloodshed, Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi proposed dissolving the group in a move that would force it underground and could usher in mass arrests of its members countrywide.

 The government said it was studying the possibility.

 "There will be no reconciliation with those whose hands have been stained with blood and who turned weapons against the state and its institutions," Beblawi told reporters.

 A statement from the United Nations said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned attacks on churches, hospitals and other public facilities and called for both sides to resolve the violence.

 "The secretary-general believes that preventing further loss of life should be the Egyptians' highest priority at this dangerous moment," the statement said. "With such sharp polarization in Egyptian society, both the authorities and the political leaders share the responsibility for ending the current violence."

 Violence flared briefly on Saturday as backers of Mursi exchanged fire with security forces in a central Cairo mosque, where scores of Muslim Brotherhood protesters had sought refuge from clashes the day before that killed 95 in the capital.

 Police finally cleared the building and made a string of arrests, with crowds on the street cheering them on and harassing foreign reporters trying to cover the scene.

 "We as Egyptians feel deep bitterness towards coverage of the events in Egypt," presidential political adviser Mostafa Hegazy said, accusing Western media of ignoring attacks on police and the destruction of churches blamed on Islamists.

 FADING POPULARITY

 Founded in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood has deep roots in the provinces and won all five elections that followed the overthrow in 2011 of the autocratic Hosni Mubarak, appearing to cement themselves in the heart of Egyptian power for years to come.

 But accusations that they were incompetent rulers intent only on monopolizing government tarnished their reputation.

 Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians took to the streets in June to denounce Mursi and the army says it removed him from office on July 3 to avoid a civil war.

 Since then, the state media has turned ferociously against the group and there appeared to be little sympathy for the Brotherhood faithful amongst many ordinary Egyptians.

 "Democracy did not work for Egypt, I am afraid," said Hussein Ahmed, a 30-year-old banker in Cairo, who had protested against Mubarak in the 2011 uprising.

 "Yes, the Brotherhood were elected, but they never cared about rights or freedoms of anyone but their own group. Why should we feel sorry for them now?"

 Brotherhood leaders accuse the military of deliberately sabotaging their time in office and plotting their demise.

 After two pro-Mursi protest camps were crushed by police on Wednesday, the Brotherhood launched a "Day of Rage" on Friday, and clashes left at least 173 dead. They have urged their supporters to take to the streets daily in the week ahead.

 There were no reports of major rallies on Saturday.

 The Interior Ministry said police had arrested more than 1,000 Muslim Brotherhood "elements" following Friday's riots. The group said daughters and sons of the leadership had been targeted in an effort to gain leverage over the organization.

 The state news agency said 250 Brotherhood followers faced possible charges of murder, attempted murder and terrorism.

 The government has ordered a dawn-to-dusk curfew that looks set to last until the middle of September, leaving the normally crowded streets of major cities eerily deserted at sundown.

 Looking to regain some semblance of normality, banks were due to re-open on Sunday for the first time since Wednesday's carnage, and the stock exchange will also resume business, with trading cut to three hours from four because of the instability.

 (Additional reporting by Tom Perry, Michael Georgy, Tom Finn, Mohamed Abdellah, Ahmed Tolba and Omar Fahmy; Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Andrew Roche and Bill Trott) ||||| CAIRO Egyptian prosecutors have placed 250 Muslim Brotherhood supporters under investigation for murder, attempted murder and terrorism, the state MENA news agency said on Saturday.

 Police arrested more than 1,000 Brotherhood sympathizers in the wake of clashes on Friday that pitted followers of deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi against the security forces. More than 170 people died nationwide in the violence that day.

 (Reporting by Yasmine Saleh, writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Jon Boyle) ||||| Egyptian security forces stormed a Cairo mosque Saturday after a heavy exchange of gunfire with armed men shooting down from a minaret, rounding up hundreds of supporters of the country's ousted president who had sought refuge there overnight after violent clashes killed 173 people.

 An Egyptian army armored vehicle and a riot police truck are seen on a bridge over the Nile river at Zamalek District in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013. Authorities say police in Cairo are negotiating... (Associated Press)

 Egyptians security forces standby at the al-Fatah mosque, after hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters barricaded themselves inside the mosque overnight, following a day of fierce street battles that... (Associated Press)

 Egyptians security forces escort an Islamist supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood out of the al-Fatah mosque, after hundreds of Islamist protesters barricaded themselves inside the mosque overnight, following... (Associated Press)

 Mostafa Hegazy, political adviser to Egyptian Interim President Adly Mansour, talks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013. Security forces raided... (Associated Press)

 Egyptians security forces provide a cordon around the al-Fatah mosque, after hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters barricaded themselves inside the mosque overnight, following a day of fierce street... (Associated Press)

 A man leaves the al-Fatah mosque, after hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters had barricaded themselves inside overnight, following a day of fierce street battles that left scores of people dead,... (Associated Press)

 Pro-government crowds gather outside the al-Fatah mosque, after hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters barricaded themselves inside the mosque overnight, following a day of fierce street battles that... (Associated Press)

 A group of Egyptians gather at the al-Fatah mosque, after hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters barricaded themselves inside the mosque overnight, following a day of fierce street battles that left... (Associated Press)

 An Egyptian army armored vehicle is seen on a bridge over the Nile river at Zamalek District in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013. Authorities say police in Cairo are negotiating with people barricaded... (Associated Press)

 Egyptians security forces provide a cordon around the al-Fatah mosque, after hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters barricaded themselves inside the mosque overnight, following a day of fierce street... (Associated Press)

 The raid on the al-Fath mosque on Ramses Square was prompted by fears that deposed President Mohammed Morsi's group, the Muslim Brotherhood, again planned to set up a sit-in, security officials said, similar to those that were broken up Wednesday in assaults that killed hundreds of people.

 The arrest of the brother of al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahri came in connection to the raid on the mosque. Officials said that he planned to bring in armed groups to provide support to those holed up inside the mosque.

 Mohammed al-Zawahri, a Morsi ally, is the leader of the ultraconservative Jihadi Salafist group which espouses al-Qaida's hardline ideology. He was detained at a checkpoint in Giza, the city across the Nile from Cairo, the official said.

 The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to brief journalists about the arrest.

 The Egyptian government meanwhile announced it had begun deliberations on whether to ban the Brotherhood, a long-outlawed organization that swept to power in the country's first democratic elections a year ago.

 Such a ban _ which authorities say is rooted in the group's use of violence _ would be a repeat to the historic and decades-long power struggle between the state and the Brotherhood.

 For more than a month since the July 3 military overthrow of Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters have attacked and torched scores of police stations and churches, in retaliation. Shops and houses of Christians have been targeted.

 Such attacks spurred widespread public anger against the Brotherhood, giving the military-backed government popular backing to step up its campaign against the Islamist group. It reminded people of a decade-long Islamist insurgency against Mubarak's rule in the 1990s which only strengthened security agencies and ended up with thousands of Islamic fundamentalists in prisons.

 The assault on the al-Fath Mosque began Friday, as pro-Morsi protesters and armed men fled into the worship center to avoid angry vigilantes and arrest. They piled furniture in the mosque's entrance to block authorities and enraged anti-Morsi protesters from reaching them.

 The mosque served as a field hospital and an open-air morgue as a Brotherhood-called day of protests descended into violence. By daybreak Saturday, security forces and armored personnel carriers had surrounded the mosque and it appeared that military-led negotiations might defuse the standoff.

 A post on the Facebook page of the army spokesman, Col. Mohammed Ali, accused gunmen of firing from the mosque at nearby buildings, located on Ramses Square in central Cairo. The upper floors of a commercial building and blood bank towering over the square caught fire during the mayhem, with flames engulfing it for hours.

 A Muslim cleric, Sheik Abdel-Hafiz el-Maslami, told The Associated Press that people were afraid to leave the mosque out of fear of detention or being assaulted by the crowd outside. He said there were armed men inside the mosque at one point but protesters had forced them out.

 "We lost control over things," the cleric said. "There were men with arms in the mosque who were forced out of the mosque but we can't control things here."

 He said there were ongoing negotiations with the military to enable the protesters to safely leave. State television showed small groups emerging from the mosque by late Saturday morning.

 However, local journalist Shaimaa Awad who was trapped in the mosque with the Islamists said the talks failed after three women were detained by the military after agreeing to get out early Saturday morning.

 An AP reporter said that thousands of anti-Islamist protesters rallied outside the mosque, chanting: "God take revenge on Morsi and those standing behind him!"

 Army tanks and soldiers closed off the main entrances to Ramses Square as soldiers sealed off the area with barbed wire.

 By midday Saturday, gunmen took over a mosque minaret and opened fire on the security forces below, the state-run MENA news agency said. The crowd around the mosque panicked as soldiers opened fire with assault rifles, the chaos broadcast live on local television channels.

 Several security officials told The Associated Press that ending the standoff at the mosque was essential after receiving information that the group planned to turn it into a new sit-in protest camp. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

 On Wednesday, riot police, military helicopters, snipers and bulldozers broke up two sit-in protests in Cairo by Morsi supporters, leaving more than 600 people dead and thousands injured. That sparked days of violence that killed 173 people and injured 1,330 people on Friday alone, when the Brotherhood called for protests during a "Day of Rage," Cabinet spokesman Sherif Shawki said.

 Among those who died Friday was Ammar Badie, a son of the Brotherhood's spiritual leader Mohammed Badie, the group's political arm said in a statement.

 Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi, who leads the military-backed government, later told journalists that authorities had no choice but to use force in the wake of recent violence.

 "I feel sorry for valuable blood shed," el-Beblawi said. However, he cautioned that there will be no "reconciliation with those whose hands are stained with blood or those who hold weapons against the country's institutions."

 Signaling the Brotherhood's precarious political position, Shawki said the government was considering ordering that the group be disbanded. The spokesman said the prime minister had assigned the Ministry of Social Solidarity to study the legal possibilities of dissolving the group. He didn't elaborate.

 Mustafa Hegazy, a political adviser to interim President Adly Mansour, told a press conference Saturday that the current Egyptian leadership is not in a "political dispute or difference" with the Brotherhood, instead, "we are in a war against treason and some sort of terrorism."

 He added that Egyptians took to the streets on June 30 _ the day that led to Morsi's ouster _ to revolt against "religious fascism."

 The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in 1928, came to power a year ago when Morsi was elected in the country's first free presidential elections. The election came after the overthrow of autocrat Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising in 2011.

 The fundamentalist group has been banned for most of its 85-year history and repeatedly subjected to crackdowns under Mubarak's rule. While sometimes tolerated with its leaders allowed to be part of the political process, members regularly faced long bouts of imprisonment and arbitrary detentions.

 Disbanding the group, experts say, would mean allowing security forces to have a zero-tolerance policy in dealing with the group's street protests, as well as going after its funding sources. That could cripple the Brotherhood, though it likely wouldn't mean an end to a group that existed underground for decades

 The possible banning comes amid calls by pro-military political forces to brand the Brotherhood a "terrorist organization."

 "We are calling for declaring the Brotherhood as a terrorist group," said Mohammed Abdel-Aziz, one of the leaders of the Tamarod youth movement that had organized mass rallies calling for Morsi's ouster.

 The military-backed government has declared a state of emergency and imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew since Wednesday, empowering army troops to act as a law enforcement force. Top Brotherhood leaders, including Morsi, remain held on a variety of charges, including inciting violence.

 Since Morsi was deposed in the popularly backed military coup, the Brotherhood has stepped up its confrontation with the new leadership, rallying thousands of supporters in sit-ins and vowing not to leave until Morsi is reinstated.

 After security forces broke up the protest camps, Islamist supporters stormed and torched churches and police stations. In response, authorities authorized Egypt's security forces to use deadly force against those attacking vital government institutions.

 On Saturday, Egypt's Interior Ministry said in a statement that a total of 1,004 Brotherhood members had been detained in raids across the country and that weapons, bombs and ammunition were confiscated from the detainees.

 Several foreigners were also rounded up including Sudanese, Pakistanis and Syrians, the Internior Ministry said.

 Morsi himself has been held incommunicado since his ouster. Top Brotherhood leaders including General Guide Deputy Khairat el-Shater were detained last month.

Summary: – With more than 700 now dead in four days of violence, Egypt's PM has proposed a ban on the Muslim Brotherhood, and the government says it's now looking into the possibility, Reuters reports. "There will be no reconciliation with those whose hands have been stained with blood and who turned weapons against the state and its institutions," says Hazem el-Beblawi. The ban could result in mass arrests and force other supporters underground, says Reuters. Egyptian authorities say they have arrested more than 1,000 Brotherhood supporters after yesterday's violence, and 250 are now being investigated for murder, attempted murder, and terrorism, Reuters reports. Earlier today, security forces raided the the al-Fatah Mosque in Cairo, where hundreds had barricaded themselves in overnight. State media reports that armed men were shooting down from the mosque's minaret, while soldiers fired back from outside. Security forces say they acted because they feared the Brotherhood was setting up another sit-in, the AP reports. Today's arrest of the brother of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahri was reportedly related to the raid—officials say Mohammed al-Zawahri planned to bring armed back-up for the mosque.


HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Chinese scientist at the center of an ethical storm over what he claims are the world’s first genetically edited babies said on Wednesday he is proud of his work and revealed there was a second “potential” pregnancy as part of the research.

 He Jiankui, an associate professor at Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China, addressed a packed hall of around 700 people attending the Human Genome Editing Summit at the University of Hong Kong.

 “For this case, I feel proud. I feel proudest,” He said, when challenged by several peers at the conference.

 Asked whether there were any other edited gene pregnancies as part of his trials, He said there was another “potential” pregnancy and replied “yes” to a follow-up question as to whether it was a “chemical pregnancy”, which refers to an early-stage miscarriage.

 It was unclear whether the pregnancy had ended or not.

 He, who said his work was self-funded, shrugged off concerns that the research was conducted in secrecy, explaining that he had engaged the scientific community over the past three years.

 “This study has been submitted to a scientific journal for review,” He said. He did not name the journal and said his university was unaware of his study.

 In videos posted online this week, He said he used a gene-editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 to alter the embryonic genes of twin girls born this month.

 Scientist He Jiankui attends the International Summit on Human Genome Editing at the University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, China November 28, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

 He said gene editing would help protect the girls from infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

 But scientists and the Chinese government have denounced the work that He said he carried out, and a hospital linked to his research suggested its ethical approval had been forged.

 The conference moderator, Robin Lovell-Badge, said the summit organizers were unaware of the story until it broke this week.

 CRISPR-Cas9 is a technology that allows scientists to essentially cut and paste DNA, raising hope of genetic fixes for disease. However, there are concerns about safety and ethics.

 (Graphic explaining CRISPR gene editing technique, tmsnrt.rs/2ReKG1R)

 The Chinese Society for Cell Biology in a statement on Tuesday strongly condemned any application of gene editing on human embryos for reproductive purposes and said that it was against the law and medical ethics of China.

 More than 100 scientists, most in China, said in an open letter on Tuesday the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit the genes of human embryos was dangerous and unjustified. “Pandora’s box has been opened,” they said.

 Slideshow (2 Images)

 INFORMED CONSENT

 He, who said he was against gene enhancement, said eight couples were initially enrolled for his study while one dropped out. The criteria required the father to be HIV positive and the mother to be HIV negative.

 Scientists at the conference pressed He to prove that those taking part in the trial were aware of all the risks involved in the process.

 He said that all the participants had a “good education background” and went through two rounds of discussions with him and his team.

 A 23-page English translation of an informed consent form for the potential mother said that the costs of the procedure covered by the team would be up to 280,000 yuan ($40,200) per couple.

 The consent form mentions multiple risks, but there is little detail on potential complications of the gene-editing process itself, including for the child. It does not mention that such an experiment has never been done before.

 David Baltimore, President Emeritus and the Robert Andrews Millikan Professor of Biology at the California Institute of Technology, spoke after He’s speech, saying it was irresponsible to have proceeded until safety issues were in order.

 “I don’t think it has been a transparent process. Only found out about it after it happened and the children were born,” Baltimore said.

 He Jiankui said his results could be used for millions of people with inherited diseases. He said he would monitor the two newborns for the next 18 years and hoped they would support continued monitoring thereafter.

 Shenzhen Harmonicare Medical Holdings Limited (1509.HK), named as being involved in He’s project in China’s clinical trial registry, sought to distance itself by stating the hospital never participated in any operations relating to the gene-edited babies and no related delivery had taken place.

 In a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday, the group said preliminary investigations indicated the signatures on the application form circulated on the internet are “suspected to have been forged, and no relevant meeting of the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital in fact took place”.

 The Guangdong province Health Commission announced on its website on Wednesday that it and Shenzhen city had set up a joint team to investigate the case. ||||| Image copyright AFP Image caption Prof He's university has denied any knowledge of the research, which has not been peer-reviewed

 A Chinese scientist who claims to have created the world's first genetically edited babies has defended his work.

 Speaking at a genome summit in Hong Kong, He Jiankui said he was "proud" of altering the genes of twin girls so they could not contract HIV.

 His work, which he announced earlier this week, has not been verified.

 Many scientists have condemned his announcement. Such gene-editing work is banned in most countries, including China.

 Professor He's university - the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen - said it was unaware of the research project and would launch an investigation. It said Mr He had been on unpaid leave since February.

 Prof He confirmed the university was not aware, adding he had funded the experiment by himself.

 What has the scientist claimed?

 Prof He announced earlier this week that he had altered the DNA of embryos - twin girls - to prevent them from contracting HIV.

 On Wednesday, he spoke at the Human Genome Editing Summit at the University of Hong Kong for the first time about his work since the uproar.

 He revealed that the twin girls - known as "Lulu" and "Nana" - were "born normal and healthy", adding that there were plans to monitor the twins over the next 18 years.

 He explained that eight couples - comprised of HIV-positive fathers and HIV-negative mothers - had signed up voluntarily for the experiment; one couple later dropped out.

 Image copyright EPA Image caption Prof He has defended his work after widespread condemnation by the scientific community

 Prof He also said that the study had been submitted to a scientific journal for review, though he did not name the journal.

 He also said that "another potential pregnancy" of a gene-edited embryo was in its early stages.

 But he apologised that his research "was leaked unexpectedly", and added: "The clinical trial was paused due to the current situation."

 What do experts make of the claim?

 By Robin Brant, BBC News, Hong Kong

 No-one really knew if he was going to show. The auditorium was packed by the time He Jiankui walked on stage. This is the man who says he has given China a world first.

 The handful of experts I spoke to, after they'd sat and listened to him, said they believed him. They believe this happened. But the big, big problem was that his speech and answers afterwards were scant on detail.

 At times he was evasive, failing to give anything like the detail about his work - what he did, how he did it, who knew - that is required of any scientific project wishing to be regarded as credible.

 He talked about the stigma attached to HIV/Aids in China and how important the family is to society, but he didn't give the names of "some experts" he claimed had reviewed his work and offered feedback.

 Why is it this controversial?

 The Crispr gene editing tool he claims to have used is not new to the scientific world, and was first discovered in 2012.

 It works by using "molecular scissors" to alter a very specific strand of DNA - either cutting it out, replacing it or tweaking it.

 Gene editing could potentially help avoid heritable diseases by deleting or changing troublesome coding in embryos.

 But experts worry meddling with the genome of an embryo could cause harm not only to the individual but also future generations that inherit these same changes.

 Prof He's recent claims were widely criticised by other scientists.

 Hundreds of Chinese scientists also signed a letter on social media condemning the research, saying they were "resolutely" opposed to it.

 "If true, this experiment is monstrous. Gene editing itself is experimental and is still associated with off-target mutations, capable of causing genetic problems early and later in life, including the development of cancer," Prof Julian Savulescu, an ethics expert at the University of Oxford, told the BBC.

 "This experiment exposes healthy normal children to risks of gene editing for no real necessary benefit."

 Many countries, including the UK, have laws that prevent the use of genome editing in embryos for assisted reproduction in humans.

 Scientists can do gene editing research on discarded IVF embryos, as long as they are destroyed immediately afterwards and not used to make a baby.

 Prof He's experiment is prohibited under Chinese laws, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Xu Nanping told state media.

 China allows in-vitro human embryonic stem cell research for a maximum period of 14 days, Mr Xu clarified. ||||| Facing Backlash, Chinese Scientist Defends Gene-Editing Research On Babies

 Enlarge this image toggle caption Kin Cheung/AP Kin Cheung/AP

 Updated at 6:15 a.m. ET

 The scientist who stunned the world by claiming he created the first genetically modified babies defended his actions publicly for the first time on Wednesday, saying that editing the genes of the twin girls while they were embryos would protect them from contracting HIV.

 He Jiankui of the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China, addressed hundreds of scientists gathered at an international gene- editing summit in Hong Kong that has been rocked by ethical questions swirling around his research.

 Earlier, He surprised the scientists just as they were gathering for the meeting with his claim, which he outlined in a series of YouTube videos. With the announcement, He bypassed scientific norms of first subjecting his experiment to scrutiny by other scientists.

 "First, I must apologize that this result was leaked unexpectedly," He told some 700 attendees. "This study has been submitted to a scientific journal for review."

 He faced a skeptical, incensed audience at the 2nd International Summit On Human Genome Editing, which was organized to try to reach a global consensus on whether, how and when it might be permissible to create children from genetically altered human embryos.

 In yet another unsettling revelation, He said that "there is another potential pregnancy" involving a gene-edited embryo, but that it is still at an early stage.

 As soon as He finished his initial 15-minute presentation, American Nobel Prize-winning biologist David Baltimore, who chairs the conference, got up to speak.

 Baltimore noted that scientists had agreed that it would be irresponsible to try to create genetically modified babies until there was much more research to make sure it was necessary and safe and until a consensus had been reached that it was prudent.

 "I don't think it has been a transparent process," Baltimore said. "We've only found out about it after it's happened and the children are born. I personally don't think it was medically necessary."

 "I think there has been a failure of self-regulation by the scientific community because of a lack of transparency," he added.

 University of Wisconsin bioethicist Alta Charo, who helped organize the summit, issued an even harsher critique of He's work, calling it "misguided, premature, unnecessary and largely useless."

 "The children were already at virtually no risk of contracting HIV, because it was the father and not the mother who was infected," she said.

 "The patients were given a consent form that falsely stated this was an AIDS vaccine trial and which conflated research with therapy by claiming they were 'likely' to benefit," Charo said. "In fact, there is not only very little chance these babies would be in need of a benefit, given their low risk, but there is no way to evaluate if this indeed conferred any benefit."

 Enlarge this image toggle caption Kin Cheung/AP Kin Cheung/AP

 She spoke after Harvard Medical School Dean George Daley alluded to He's claims as "missteps" that he worried might set back a highly promising field of research. "Scientists who go rogue carry a deep, deep cost to the scientific community," Daley said.

 Still, Daley argued that He's experiment shouldn't tar the potential work of other scientists. "Just because the first steps into a new technology are missteps doesn't mean we shouldn't step back, restart and think about a plausible and responsible path forward," Daley said.

 "The fact that the first instance came forward as a misstep should in no way leave us to stick our heads in the sand and not consider the very, very positive efforts that could come forward," Daley said. "I hope we just don't stick our heads in the sand."

 Daley stressed that the world hasn't reached a scientific consensus on how to ethically and safely use new gene-editing techniques to modify embryos that become babies.

 But Daley argued that a consensus was emerging that "if we can solve the scientific challenges, it may be a moral imperative that it should be permitted." The most likely first legitimate use of gene-edited embryos would be to prevent serious genetic disorders for which there are no alternatives, Daley said.

 "Solving and assessing these deep issues [is] essential," Daley says.

 Daley also defended the fact that scientists have long relied on self-regulation to prevent the abuse of new technologies. He's claims represented "a major failure" that called for much stronger regulation and possibly a moratorium on such research, Daley said. "I do think the principle of self-regulation is defensible."

 He and his colleagues say they used the gene-editing technique CRISPR to make changes in day-old embryos in a gene called CCR5. The CCR5 gene enables HIV to enter and infect immune system cells. Scientists have long searched for ways to block this pathway to protect people from HIV.

 However, critics say there are many other ways to protect people against HIV and expressed bafflement at why He would chose this as the first scenario to try creating genetically modified human babies.

 A group of 122 Chinese scientists issued a statement calling He's actions "crazy" and his claims "a huge blow to the global reputation and development of Chinese science."

 He is now facing investigation by a local medical ethics board to see whether his experiment broke Chinese laws or regulations.

 The university where He worked issued a statement that officials were "deeply shocked" by the experiment, which it stressed was conducted elsewhere. He, the statement says, has been on unpaid leave from the university.

 In a statement posted Tuesday morning, China's National Health Commission said it had "immediately requested the Guangdong Provincial Health Commission to seriously investigate and verify" He's claims.

 CRISPR enables scientists to make precise changes in DNA much more easily than before. The technique is revolutionizing scientific research and raising high hopes for major breakthroughs, including preventing and treating many diseases.

 But making changes in human DNA that could be passed down from generation to generation has long been considered off-limits. One reason is that a mistake could introduce a new disease that could be passed down for generations. Another is that it could open the door to "designer babies" — children that are modified for nonmedical reasons, such as to be taller, stronger or smarter.

 Other scientists have previously used CRISPR to edit genes in human embryos and are continuing to explore ways to correct genetic defects in embryos. At the summit, Paula Amato of the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland Ore., said her group planned to try to correct defects that increase the risk for breast cancer and Huntington's disease.

 "If this ... process is ultimately determined to be safe, why wouldn't we want to do this?" she said.

 But no one had ever attempt to implant edited embryos into a woman's womb to allow them to develop into babies, and other scientists still maintain that it is far too early to be trying that. ||||| He Jiankui, a Chinese researcher, center, speaks during the Human Genome Editing Conference in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. He made his first public comments about his claim to have helped make... (Associated Press)

 He Jiankui, a Chinese researcher, center, speaks during the Human Genome Editing Conference in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. He made his first public comments about his claim to have helped make the world's first gene-edited babies. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) (Associated Press)

 HONG KONG (AP) — A Chinese researcher who claims to have helped make the world's first genetically edited babies says a second pregnancy may be underway.

 The researcher, He Jiankui of Shenzhen, revealed the possible pregnancy Wednesday while making his first public comments about his controversial work at an international conference in Hong Kong.

 He claims to have altered the DNA of twin girls born earlier this month to try to make them resistant to infection with the AIDS virus. Mainstream scientists have condemned the experiment, and universities and government groups are investigating.

 The second potential pregnancy is in a very early stage and needs more time to be monitored to see if it will last, He said.

 Leading scientists said there are now even more reasons to worry, and more questions than answers, after He's talk. The leader of the conference called the experiment "irresponsible" and evidence that the scientific community had failed to regulate itself to prevent premature efforts to alter DNA.

 Altering DNA before or at the time of conception is highly controversial because the changes can be inherited and might harm other genes. It's banned in some countries including the United States except for lab research.

 He defended his choice of HIV, rather than a fatal inherited disease, as a test case for gene editing, and insisted the girls could benefit from it.

 "They need this protection since a vaccine is not available," He said.

 Scientists weren't buying it.

 "This is a truly unacceptable development," said Jennifer Doudna, a University of California-Berkeley scientist and one of the inventors of the CRISPR gene-editing tool that He said he used. "I'm grateful that he appeared today, but I don't think that we heard answers. We still need to understand the motivation for this."

 Doudna is paid by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which also supports AP's Health & Science Department.

 "I feel more disturbed now," said David Liu of Harvard and MIT's Broad Institute, and inventor of a variation of the gene-editing tool. "It's an appalling example of what not to do about a promising technology that has great potential to benefit society. I hope it never happens again."

 There is no independent confirmation of He's claim and he has not yet published in any scientific journal where it would be vetted by experts. At the conference, He failed or refused to answer many questions including who paid for his work, how he ensured that participants understood potential risks and benefits, and why he kept his work secret until after it was done.

 After He spoke, David Baltimore, a Nobel laureate from the California Institute of Technology and a leader of the conference, said He's work "would still be considered irresponsible" because it did not meet criteria many scientists agreed on several years ago before gene editing could be considered.

 "I personally don't think that it was medically necessary. The choice of the diseases that we heard discussions about earlier today are much more pressing" than trying to prevent HIV infection this way, Baltimore said.

 The case shows "there has been a failure of self-regulation by the scientific community" and said the conference committee would meet and issue a statement on Thursday about the future of the field, Baltimore said.

 Before He's talk, Dr. George Daley, Harvard Medical School's dean and one of the conference organizers, warned against a backlash to gene editing because of He's experiment. Just because the first case may have been a misstep "should in no way, I think, lead us to stick our heads in the sand and not consider the very, very positive aspects that could come forth by a more responsible pathway," Daley said.

 "Scientists who go rogue ... it carries a deep, deep cost to the scientific community," Daley said.

 Regulators have been swift to condemn the experiment as unethical and unscientific.

 The National Health Commission has ordered local officials in Guangdong province to investigate He's actions, and his employer, Southern University of Science and Technology of China, is investigating as well.

 On Tuesday, Qui Renzong of the Chinese Academy of Social Science criticized the decision to let He speak at the conference, saying the claim "should not be on our agenda" until it has been reviewed by independent experts. Whether He violated reproductive medicine laws in China has been unclear; Qui contends that it did, but said, "the problem is, there's no penalty."

 He called on the United Nations to convene a meeting to discuss heritable gene editing to promote international agreement on when it might be OK.

 Meanwhile, more American scientists said they had contact with He and were aware of or suspected what he was doing.

 Dr. Matthew Porteus, a genetics researcher at Stanford University, where He did postdoctoral research, said He told him in February that he intended to try human gene editing. Porteus said he discouraged He and told him "that it was irresponsible, that he could risk the entire field of gene editing by doing this in a cavalier fashion."

 Dr. William Hurlbut, a Stanford ethicist, said he has "spent many hours" talking with He over the last two years about situations where gene editing might be appropriate.

 "I knew his early work. I knew where he was heading," Hurlbut said. When he saw He four or five weeks ago, He did not say he had tried or achieved pregnancy with edited embryos but "I strongly suspected" it, Hurlbut said.

 "I disagree with the notion of stepping out of the general consensus of the scientific community," Hurlbut said. If the science is not considered ready or safe enough, "it's going to create misunderstanding, discordance and distrust."

 ___

 Marilynn Marchione can be followed at http://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP

 The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Summary: – The Chinese researcher who has rattled the scientific world with his claim that he created the world's first genetically edited babies spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday, and he made a revelation, though an unclear one at that. While speaking at the Human Genome Editing Summit in Hong Kong, He Jiankui was asked if his trials included other pregnancies like that which resulted in the birth of twins Lulu and Nana, whose DNA he claims to have altered to make them resistant to HIV. The answer was yes, but it's murky: The AP reports he said the pregnancy was in its early weeks and therefore unclear if it will last. Reuters describes He as calling it a "potential" pregnancy but then answering in the affirmative when asked if it was a "chemical pregnancy," which means an early miscarriage. Reuters reports the status of the pregnancy is unclear. "I feel proudest," He said of his work. The BBC reports that He said seven couples—in each case the father was HIV-positive—voluntarily agreed to participate in his trial, and that he zeroed in on HIV, rather than a fatal inherited disease, because no vaccine exists for it. But a bioethicist points out to NPR that the twins' risk of inheriting HIV was next to nil because the mother was not infected. An ethics expert was one of many condemning the choice: "This experiment exposes healthy normal children to risks of gene editing for no real necessary benefit." The DNA changes are inheritable: As NPR puts it, "a mistake could introduce a new disease that could be passed down for generations." Officials in China's Guangdong province, as well as He's employer, Southern University of Science and Technology of China, are investigating.


South Nassau Hospital alerting 4,247 patients of possible blood contamination

 South Nassau Communities Hospital is sending out 4,247 letters to patients recommending they be tested for hepatitis B and C and HIV because of the risk of infection from an insulin pen.

 In the letter dated Feb. 22, the Oceanside hospital said the patients may have received insulin from an insulin pen reservoir -- not the pen's single-use disposable needle -- that could have been used with more than one patient.

 An insulin pen for those with diabetes is a pre-filled syringe meant to be used to dispense insulin in a single patient. Because of potential backflow of a patient's blood into the pen cartridge after injection, using a pen on multiple patients may expose them to blood-borne infections.

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 Hospital spokesman Damian Becker said no one was observed reusing the insulin pen reservoir on more than one patient, but a nurse was heard saying it was all right to do so.

 "Once that was said, we then followed through with a report to the state Department of Health," Becker said.

 The hospital said risk of infection is "extremely low."

 "Nonetheless, out of an abundance of caution, the hospital is recommending that patients receiving the notification be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. While the testing is voluntary, it is recommended," the hospital said.

 Becker said Tuesday the hospital, which is sending the letters out in phases, has received about 200 phone calls so far. The last letters should be received by March 17, Becker said.

 It will take patients about two weeks to receive test results, he said.

 The hospital said it has since banned the use of insulin pens and permits only the use of single-patient-use vials.

 The state Department of Health said that last year three health facilities reported potential insulin pen re-use: two state-regulated facilities and the Veterans Administration's medical center in Buffalo.

 South Nassau is offering free and confidential blood testing and has set up a dedicated telephone line for those patients notified. To arrange a test, call 516-208-0029.

 Insulin pen misuse is not uncommon.

 In May 2008, Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow notified 840 patients that nurses may have been using insulin pens on multiple patients.

 In 2009, following reports of improper use of insulin pens in hospitals, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert reminding health care workers that insulin pens are meant for use on a single patient only.

 In 2012, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that "in spite of this alert, there have been continuing reports of patients placed at risk through inappropriate reuse and sharing of insulin pens," and it put out a clinical reminder on their proper use.

 Last year, the VA issued an alert systemwide following the report of insulin pen misuse at its Buffalo hospital. Of 395 patients tested, 12 were found with hepatitis B and six with hepatitis C. ||||| Patients at South Nassau Communities hospital are being urged to get tested for hepatitis and HIV after a possible contamination of insulin shots. Greg Cergol reports. (Published Wednesday, March 12, 2014)

 A Long Island hospital says some patients may be at risk of exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV after authorities found that an insulin pen may have been used on more than one patient.

 South Nassau Communities Hospital says the risk of infection is extremely low but is recommending that patients get tested.

 The hospital sent a letter to that effect to more than 4,000 patients, according to Newsday. It is offering free blood testing and has set up a toll-free hotline that patients can call to schedule a blood test.

 The number is 516-208-0029.

 Newsday reports that no one was observed reusing the insulin pen reservoir but a nurse was heard saying it was OK to do so.

 "Once that was said, we then followed through with a report to the state Department of Health," hospital spokesman Damian Becker told the newspaper.

 In the meantime, the hospital has instituted a policy banning the use of insulin pens, permitting only single-use vials to administer prescribed insulin treatments to patients.

Summary: – More than 4,000 people on Long Island are getting the most unwelcome kind of letter from a local hospital—a warning that they might have been inadvertently exposed to HIV. As ABC News explains, the risk is low, but it stems from improper use of an insulin pen. It seems a nurse at South Nassau Communities Hospital was overheard saying, incorrectly, that it was OK to reuse the pen on multiple patients, reports Newsday via NBC News. "Once that was said, we then followed through with a report to the state Department of Health," says a spokesperson. The hospital is urging all those who might have been exposed to get tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. In the meantime, the hospital is ditching the pens—which can indeed be used multiple times provided it's the same patient—in favor of single-use insulin vials.


Taiwan has been governed separately from the mainland since 1949, when the American-supported Nationalist forces retreated to the island after being defeated in the Chinese civil war by the Communists.

 Evan S. Medeiros, who until this year was the top official overseeing Asia at the National Security Council, said that the explicit threat of sanctions against companies differed from earlier sales, when the threat was more implicit. At the same time, Mr. Medeiros noted, earlier arms sales resulted in the suspension of meetings between the two militaries, which was not part of China’s initial response to the sale this time.

 Mr. Medeiros, who now leads the Asia practice for the Eurasia Group in Washington, said that the timing of the sale, coming before next month’s presidential elections in Taiwan, helped to reduce the diplomatic fallout.

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 Taiwan’s president, Ma Ying-jeou, has sought to improve ties with mainland China and met last month in Singapore with President Xi Jinping of China, the first time the leaders of Taiwan and China had ever held a summit meeting. But Mr. Ma’s party, the Kuomintang, is expected to lose the presidency to the Democratic Progressive Party, which favors a more distant relationship with the mainland and the assertion of Taiwan’s own identity.

 “The timing clearly was calibrated to avoid having to do it after the election,” Mr. Medeiros said, speaking in a telephone interview from Taiwan, where he was meeting officials. “That would have been particularly provocative.”

 The sale is significantly smaller than the $5.8 billion package approved by the United States in 2011, and it is not expected to alter the military balance across the Taiwan Strait, which has tilted in Beijing’s favor after years of large increases in military spending by the mainland, whose annual military budget is now more than 13 times greater than Taiwan’s. Absent from the arms package is any assistance from the United States to help build diesel-electric submarines, a top priority for Taiwan, which wants to replace its aging fleet.

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 The proposed sale includes two Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, ships first commissioned by the United States Navy in the 1970s; data link systems; surface-to-air missiles; antitank missiles; amphibious assault vehicles; and shipborne rapid-fire guns intended to counter missiles.

 Any sanctions against military contractors would most likely be limited because American weapons makers have been banned for more than a quarter-century from selling arms to mainland China. The United States and the European Union imposed arms embargoes on China after the deadly crackdown on student protests and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989.

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 Still, some military contractors, such as Boeing and United Technologies, have extensive nonmilitary businesses in China.

 The companies that manufacture the weapons systems the United States government announced on Wednesday include Raytheon, which makes antitank missiles, a shipborne close-in weapons system and the shoulder-launched Stinger antiaircraft missile. Lockheed Martin makes the Javelin antitank missile with Raytheon, which was also part of the proposed sale.

 “The Chinese can react to this as they see fit,” John Kirby, a spokesman for the State Department, told reporters in Washington on Wednesday. “This is nothing new. Again, it’s a cleareyed, sober view of an assessment of Taiwan’s defense needs. And that’s what drove this. There’s no need for it to have any derogatory effect on our relationship with China, just like there was no need in the past for it to ever have that effect on China.”

 The weapons sale to Taiwan is subject to congressional approval. Members of both the Republican and Democratic parties have expressed support for the sale. ||||| The U.S. on Wednesday approved its first major sale of weapons to Taiwan in four years and shrugged off criticism that it had held up the proposed $1.83 billion deal to limit expected criticism from China.

 The State Department notified Congress of the long-discussed sale, which comes a month ahead of Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections and includes two decommissioned Navy frigates, air and ground missiles, amphibious vehicles and communications systems.

 ... ||||| WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration announced a $1.83 billion arms sale to Taiwan on Wednesday, drawing an immediate rebuke and threats of retaliation from Taipei's rival Beijing.

 FILE - IN this Sept. 10, 2015 file photo, Taiwan's military fire artillery from self-propelled Howitzers during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Hsinchu, north eastern Taiwan. China on Wednesday, Dec.... (Associated Press)

 The arms package is the first offered by the U.S. to the self-governing island in four years. Even before its announcement, Beijing, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory, demanded it be scrapped to avoid harming relations across the Taiwan Strait and between China and the U.S.

 That was followed by a formal diplomatic protest late Wednesday, although at a lower level than in previous such instances.

 "China resolutely opposes the sale of weapons to Taiwan by the U.S.," Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said in a meeting with Washington's second-highest ranking diplomat in Beijing.

 "In order to safeguard the nation's interests, the Chinese side has decided to take necessary measures, including the imposition of sanctions against companies participating in the arms sale to Taiwan," Zheng said, according to a statement posted on the ministry's website.

 Such sanctions have been threatened in the past, although there's no evidence they've had any meaningful effect. American and European Union companies are banned from selling military technology to China, and Chinese companies have extensive links with major overseas firms that often have weapon-making divisions.

 A U.S. Embassy spokesman, speaking on routine condition of anonymity, declined to comment on the meeting, saying, "we don't get into the content of our diplomatic discussions."

 The U.S. maintained there's no need for it to hurt the relationship, which has also been strained by China's island-building in the South China Sea and alleged cybertheft.

 The administration notified Congress that the proposed arms package includes two decommissioned U.S. Navy frigates, anti-tank missiles, amphibious assault vehicles and Stinger surface-to-air missiles. There's also support for Taiwan's capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and a weapons system to defend against anti-ship missiles.

 Congress has 30 days to review the sale, but it's unlikely to raise objections. There's been mounting bipartisan concern that Taiwan is inadequately armed to defend itself against an increasingly powerful mainland China.

 U.S. lawmakers welcomed the announcement. There were calls from both parties for more frequent arms sales to Taiwan.

 New York Rep. Eliot Engel, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the sale would contribute to peace and stability across the strait. "I wish we would see them on a regular basis," he said.

 The committee's Republican chairman, California Rep. Ed Royce, said the administration had "needlessly dragged out" the approval process, and that other Taiwanese requests "have still not seen the light of day."

 Sen. John McCain, Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. should avoid extended periods during which "fear of upsetting the U.S.-China relationship may harm Taiwan's defense capabilities."

 Taiwan's Foreign Ministry cheered the announcement as a sign of healthy ties between Taipei and Washington and rejected claims it would harm relations with Beijing.

 The sale will "help maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and increase our confidence as we engage in dialogue and improves relations across the Taiwan Strait," the ministry said in a statement.

 "It also highlights the fact that U.S.-Taiwan relations are indeed at their best ever," the statement said.

 However, a pro-Taiwan business group in the U.S. lamented the amount of time taken to process the sale and questioned whether it was adequate in the face of China's rapid military advancements.

 "While China has deployed new fighters, submarines, and missiles during the last four years, the U.S. has consistently refused to consider providing Taiwan access to similar platforms, or even aiding their indigenous development," Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, said in a statement.

 The administration has announced more than $12 billion in arms sales to Taiwan since 2010, but none since $5.9 billion in sales in September 2011 that included upgrades for Taiwan's F-16 fighter jets. That drew a high-level diplomatic protest from Beijing, which suspended some military exchanges with the United States. It did not seriously impair ties.

 In the meantime, President Barack Obama has sought greater cooperation with China on issues such as climate change, and the two sides have increased military exchanges to reduce the risk of conflict.

 State Department spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. was in contact with both Taiwan and China about the sale, which he said was consistent with U.S. support for Taiwan's ability to defend itself under the Taiwan Relations Act.

 "There's no need for it to have any derogatory effect on our relationship with China," Kirby told reporters. "We still want to work to establish a better, more transparent, more effective relationship with China in the region and we're going to continue to work at that."

 Relations across the Taiwan Strait have undergone a steady improvement over the past two decades, especially under the China-friendly administration of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou.

 ___

 Bodeen reported from Beijing. ||||| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration formally notified Congress on Wednesday of a $1.83-billion arms sale package for Taiwan, including two frigates, anti-tank missiles, amphibious assault vehicles and other equipment, drawing an angry response from China.

 AAV-P7A1 amphibious assault vehicles of the Taiwan Marine Corps are seen as part of a parade during Taiwan's National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei October 10, 2011. REUTERS/Pichi Chuang

 The authorization, which Reuters on Monday reported was imminent, came a year after Congress passed legislation approving the sale. It is the first such major arms sale to Taiwan in more than four years.

 The White House said there was no change in the longstanding U.S. “one China” policy. Past U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan have attracted strong condemnation in China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province.

 The White House said the authorization followed previous sales notifications by the administration totaling more than $12 billion under the Taiwan Relations Act.

 “Our longstanding policy on arms sales to Taiwan has been consistent across six different U.S. administrations,” a National Security Council spokesman, Myles Caggins, said. “We remain committed to our one-China policy,” he added.

 Although Washington does not recognize Taiwan as a separate state from China, it is committed under the Taiwan Relations Act to ensuring Taipei can maintain a credible defense.

 The sales come at a period of heightened tension between the United States and China over the South China Sea, where Washington has been critical of China’s building of man-made islands to assert expansive territorial claims.

 China summoned the U.S. charge d’affaires in Beijing, Kaye Lee, to protest and said it would impose sanctions on the companies involved, state news agency Xinhua reported.

 “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. China strongly opposes the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan,” Xinhua quoted Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang, who summoned Lee, as saying.

 Zheng said the sales went against international law and basic norms of international relations and “severely” harmed China’s sovereignty and security.

 “To safeguard our national interests, China has decided to take necessary measures, including imposing sanctions against the companies involved in the arms sale,” Zheng said.

 The U.S. State Department said Raytheon (RTN.N) and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) were the main contractors in the sales.

 Related Coverage China says no cooperation with U.S. firms selling Taiwan arms

 It was not clear what impact sanctions might have on the companies, although in 2013, Lockheed Martin signed a pact with the Thailand-based Reignwood Group to build an offshore plant to supply energy for a luxury resort on Hainan island in southern China.

 “U.S. companies participating in arms sales to Taiwan gravely harm China’s sovereignty and security interests,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

 “China’s government and companies will not carry out cooperation and commercial dealings with these types of companies.”

 However, previous Chinese sanction threats have not been followed up by Beijing.

 China’s Defense Ministry said the sale would also inevitably affect military-to-military ties, but did not elaborate.

 Taiwan’s defense ministry said the new weapons would be phased in over a number of years and would enable Taiwan to maintain and develop a credible defense.

 U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said the decision was based solely on Taiwan’s defense needs.

 “The Chinese can react to this as they see fit,” he said. “This is nothing new. ... There’s no need for it to have any derogatory effect on our relationship with China.”

 Kirby said Washington wanted to work to establish a “better, more transparent more effective relationship” with China in the region and had been in contact with both Taiwan and China on this on Wednesday. He declined to elaborate.

 David McKeeby, another State Department spokesman, said the arms package included two Perry-class guided-missile frigates; $57 million of Javelin anti-tank missiles made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin; $268 million of TOW 2B anti-tank missiles and $217 million of Stinger surface-to-air missiles made by Raytheon, and $375 million of AAV-7 Amphibious Assault Vehicles.

 The State Department said the frigates were being offered as surplus items at a cost of $190 million. The package also includes $416 million of guns, upgrade kits, ammunition and support for Raytheon’s Close-in Weapons System.

 Analysts and congressional sources believe the delay in the formal approval of the sales was due to the Obama administration’s desire to maintain stable working relations with China, an increasingly powerful strategic rival but also a vital economic partner as the world’s second-largest economy.

 U.S. Republican lawmakers said on Wednesday they were pleased the administration had authorized the sale but called for a more regular process for such transactions.

 John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said this would “avoid extended periods in which fear of upsetting the U.S.-China relationship may harm Taiwan’s defense capabilities.”

Summary: – The US stands by the "one-China" policy, but that doesn't mean it can't sell weapons directly to Taiwan, citing ithe Taiwan Relations Act to ensure Taiwan can adequately defend itself—and China isn't happy about it. The Obama administration announced a $1.8 billion arms package sale to Congress on Wednesday, Reuters reports, including guided-missile frigates, anti-tank missiles, Amphibious Assault Vehicles, and $416 million worth of guns, ammo, and other supplies. The announcement came amid reports that the US had stalled the sale to avoid hearing about it from China, which still claims Taiwan as a territory, per the Wall Street Journal. Reuters notes the sale comes as US-China relations simmer over the latter's man-made islands in the South China Sea and US patrols in those waters. China notes it's going to sanction the companies involved in the sale (including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon), with a foreign ministry official telling Xinhua that the sale flouts international rules and "severely" damages China's sovereignty. "China's government and companies will not carry out cooperation and commercial dealings with these types of companies," a ministry spokesman says. A Pentagon spokesman gave the equivalent of an eyeroll Wednesday, per the New York Times, noting, "The Chinese can react to this as they see fit. … It's a [clear-eyed], sober view of an assessment of Taiwan's defense needs. … There's no need for it to have any derogatory effect on our relationship with China." Meanwhile, the AP notes that China has issued similar threats before, with "no evidence they've had any meaningful effect." (All this despite a lengthy handshake last month.)