thetorontostar--2020-10-10--The Latest: Sheriff says Lake Charles area remains dangerous

NEW ORLEANS - The Latest on Hurricane Delta ( all times CDT ) : LAKE CHARLES , La .
— A Louisiana parish heavily hit by Hurricane Delta is experiencing rising waters from heavy rain .
Sheriff Tony Mancuso of Calcasieu Parish told KPLC-TV early Saturday that vehicles were overturned on Interstate-10 westbound and said area residents who evacuated should not be in a rush to return .
He said the situation remains “ dangerous.
” Still , he said anyone who can not afford to be gone for more than several days can head back , but with caution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use some good common sense.
” He said rising water is the biggest problem , and areas prone to flooding have been flooded .
MIAMI — Tropical Storm Delta is sliding over northern Louisiana with weakening winds after dropping several inches of rain in the state .
Maximum sustained winds were at 40 mph ( 65 kph ) Saturday morning , according to the National Hurricane Center .
The system is expected to further weaken to a tropical depression later in the day .
Delta is centred about 45 miles ( 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The storm is forecast to continue moving to the north-northeast over parts of Mississippi and into the Tennessee Valley through Sunday .
MIAMI — Wind speeds associated with Tropical Storm Delta are decreasing as the system moves inland over Louisiana and Mississippi .
The National Hurricane Center says in its Saturday morning update that maximum sustained winds are at 45 mph ( 75 kph ) .
That ’ s down significantly from when the storm came ashore Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Delta were discontinued in the 4 a.m. advisory .
Forecasters say the system will continue its path over northern Mississippi Saturday morning and into the Tennessee Valley throughout the rest of the weekend .
The threat for tornadoes remains Saturday for eastern Mississippi , Alabama , the Florida Panhandle , and western and central Georgia , forecasters said .
MIAMI — Delta has been downgraded from a once powerful hurricane to a tropical storm as it moves inland across the U.S. South .
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Delta came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Category 2 hurricane but quickly weakened and has become a tropical storm as it moves inland .
By Saturday morning , it had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph ( 95 kph ) .
Forecasters say the storm is moving to the north-northeast on a track across central and north Louisiana that is expected to continue through Saturday morning .
The system is expected to become a tropical depression later Saturday as it moves across northern Mississippi into the Tennessee Valley .
Power outages in Louisiana and neighbouring Texas neared 600,000 homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tracking website PowerOutage.us .
Almost 40,000 outages were reported in Mississippi .
Forecasters say Delta remains barely a hurricane with top sustained winds of 75 mph ( 120 kph ) .
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Delta is moving further inland over southwestern Louisiana as a weak Category 1 hurricane .
Approaching 10 p.m. CDT Friday , the storm was located about 70 miles ( 110 kilometres ) northeast of Cameron , Louisiana .
It is moving to the north-northeast at 15 mph ( 24 kph ) .
The storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be downgraded to a tropical storm in coming hours .
It ’ s expected to continue moving over central and north Louisiana in coming hours .
After that , the system is forecast to move across northern Mississippi and into the Tennessee Valley .
Hurricane Delta cut through parts of Louisiana ’ s Acadiana region — a unique part of the state named after the French emigrants kicked out of Nova Scotia hundreds of years ago who eventually settled in south Louisiana .
It ’ s a region where food — even in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was evident when reporter Gerald Gruenig with KLFY television was out reporting on the storm Friday night .
Gruenig hosts a weekly segment called Acadiana Eats .
He was interviewing a man driving in the town of Abbeville about the weather when conversation turned to food .
“ I got some fresh rabbit , ” the man answered before driving away with Gruenig calling after him to be careful .
” That ’ s what a hurricane smells like , roux baby , ” Gruenig said , referring to the savory fat-and-flour sauce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rain from Delta also pummeled the Louisiana city of Lafayette , further east from where the hurricane came ashore , and one apartment owner described it as “ pretty scary.
“ Jeanne-Marie Gove could hear debris hitting her front door and her patio gate banging open and shut .
She lives in an apartment in Lafayette , about 75 miles ( 120 kilometres ) east of Lake Charles closer to the hurricane ’ s centre .
The National Hurricane Center said strong winds were spreading inland across Louisiana at 9 p.m. CDT Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 80 mph ( 128 kph ) .
“ The wind is much worse than what Hurricane Laura brought , ” Gove said in a message on Twitter , referring to the storm that battered southwest Louisiana six weeks ago .
The roof from a trailer at the mobile home park behind Gove ’ s apartment was torn off and tossed down the sidewalk .
Power was out for many residents .
Meanwhile , some 400,000 customers were reported without power in Louisiana and southeastern Texas .
Hurricane Delta is driving further inland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southwest Louisiana coast .
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Delta was centred at 8 p.m. CDT about 20 miles ( 35 kilometres ) east-northeast of Lake Charles , the main city in the region .
Maximum sustained winds have dropped to 85 mph ( 140 kph ) and forecasters say Delta is expected to weaken to a tropical storm in coming hours as it heads deeper into the South .
The hurricane centre warns heavy rainfall remains a threat in parts of Louisiana through Saturday as the storm crosses the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major river flooding .
Additional flooding is possible elsewhere this weekend around the central Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi Valley , according to the forecast .
LAKE CHARLES , La .
— The mayor of Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana says tarps that were put up to protect buildings damaged six weeks ago by Hurricane Laura are now flying off in Hurricane Delta ’ s strong winds .
Mayor Nic Hunter told The Associated Press tarps were being ripped away from rooftops .
He was hunkered down in a secure location in downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blown off all throughout the city , ” Hunter said by phone after Delta made landfall Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane .
He added : “ I ’ m in a building right now with a tarp on it and just the sound of the tarp flapping on the building sounds like someone pounding with a sledge hammer on top of the building .
It ’ s pretty intense.
“ He said piles of unsecured debris from Laura are also being tossed about in Delta ’ s high winds .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the streets and floating in water .
LAKE ARTHUR , La .
— Hurricane Delta ’ s winds are so strong they are pulling away shingles from L ’ Banca Albergo Hotel , an eight-room boutique hotel in the Louisiana town of Lake Arthur .
“ I probably don ’ t have a shingle left on the top of this hotel , ” said owner Roberta Palermo .
She said the electricity was out and , across the street , she could see pieces of metal coming off the roof of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flying around on the streets .
Palermo is a long-time Louisiana resident who has grown up with hurricanes .
“ It ’ s been a long time since I ’ ve ridden one out .
I don ’ t think I ’ ve ever been in one like this , ” she said .
“ I think my building is pretty safe but it ’ s intense , for sure.
” One of her guests was Johnny Weaver , a meteorology student from San Francisco State University .
He was living at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online and decided to travel to the region to see and study the storm firsthand .
“ There is a lot of power lines down all over the place , there ’ s ... really deep water in certain spots , ” he said from the hotel ’ s front porch , adding , ‘ ’ there is just shingles flying everywhere.
“ GALVESTON , Texas -- The effects of Hurricane Delta were felt as far west as Galveston , Texas , where winds gusts toppled two houses under construction .
Galvestan is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from where Delta made landfall on the southwest Louisiana coast Friday evening .
A spokeswoman for Sullivan Brothers Builders told The ( Galveston ) Daily News that the houses were in their early framing stages and still lacked windstorm construction reinforcements .
Elizabeth Rogers-Alvarado said there were no injuries .
Trees and signs were toppled around the region .
And beach dunes flattened by Hurricane Laura in August and Tropical Storm Beta last month allowed storm surge to reach beneath the raised beach houses in Galveston ’ s West End .
Thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated many will remain blacked out until after midnight .
Large swells and rip currents prompted officials to close some Texas beaches as far west as Corpus Christi and the mouth of the Rio Grande .
Padre Island beaches remained open .
Hurricane Delta has weakened to a Category 1 storm as it moves inland along Louisiana ’ s southwestern coast .
Delta made landfall as a Category 2 storm about 6 p.m. Friday near Creole , with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 km/h ) .
An hour later , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 145 km/h ) .
The storm was about 25 miles ( 40 kilometres ) west-southwest of the town of Jennings and moving north-northeast at 14 mph ( 22 km/h ) .
Delta blew ashore in an area where devastation remains widely evident from Hurricane Laura , which caused at least 27 deaths in late August .
Hurricane Delta has made landfall as a Category 2 storm in southwestern Louisiana .
The centre of the storm hit land at 6 p.m. Friday near Creole , with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an area where devastation remains widely evident from Hurricane Laura , which caused at least 27 deaths in late August .
Piles of wreckage could go flying and many homes remain unrepaired , with only blue tarps on rooftops to withstand the fury of yet another hurricane .
Delta is the 10th named storm to hit the continental United State this year , breaking a century-old record .
The above item has been updated to correct that Delta ’ s maximum winds were 100 mph at landfall .
MIAMI — Forecasters expect Hurricane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the next few hours .
The National Hurricane Center in Miami says in its latest advisory Friday that Delta is about 35 miles ( 55 kilometres ) south of Cameron , Louisiana , and is moving north-northeast at 14 mph ( 22 km/h ) .
The Category 2 hurricane has maximum sustained winds of 105 mph ( 165 km/h ) .
The Hurricane Center expects Delta to continue along the same path until Saturday morning and then move to the northeast .
The centre says some weakening is possible before landfall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Forecasters say Hurricane Delta has continued to weaken and is now a strong Category 2 storm .
In its latest update Friday afternoon , the National Hurricane Center said Delta has winds of 110 mph ( 175 kph ) .
Forecasters have said they expect the weakening trend to continue until Delta makes landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast , but they caution that it remains a dangerous storm .
Delta is expected to make landfall Friday evening and could strike in the same general area in southwest Louisiana as Hurricane Laura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 80 miles ( 130 kilometres ) south-southwest of Cameron , Louisiana , the Hurricane Center said .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says the Federal Emergency Management Agency is prepared as Hurricane Delta churns toward the U.S. Gulf Coast .
Trump tweeted Friday that he ’ d been briefed on Delta and said FEMA “ is there and ready !
!
!
” Delta is expected to make landfall Friday evening and could strike in the same general area in southwest Louisiana as Hurricane Laura did in late August .
In its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Hurricane Center says Delta was about 130 miles south-southwest of Cameron , Louisiana .
The storm had sustained winds of 115 mph ( 185 kph ) , making it a Category 3 hurricane .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Aid group says Libyan militia is holding hostage 60 migrants

CAIRO - A Libyan armed group is holding hostage at least 60 migrants , including two dozen children , in “ appalling ” conditions after abducting them almost two weeks ago , an aid group said on Saturday .
Masked militiamen abducted the migrants on Sept. 28 from the town of al-Ajaylat , around 80 kilometres west of the capital , Tripoli , according to Medecins Sans Frontieres .
The statement said that the armed group initially took hostage around 350 migrants , mainly from West Africa , but that most of the migrants managed to escape while some others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it had notified the Libyan government ’ s agency for combatting illegal migration two days after the abduction , and later visited the warehouse where the migrants were held .
“ We found over 350 women , children , and men sleeping on the ground in appalling living conditions without access to water , showers , or toilets , ” said Guillaume Baret , MSF ’ s head of mission in Libya .
The militia stole valuable items and identification documents from the migrants , before taking them to a warehouse guarded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Sabratha , the biggest launching point for the mainly African migrants who make the dangerous voyage across the Mediterranean Sea , the group said .
The Switzerland-based organization , also known as Doctors Without Borders , said that the remaining hostages are being held by the militia at a former military base .
Two Sabratha residents and one migrant said most of the armed men belong to a militia known as Al-Ammu , which the U.N. Panel of Experts on Libya identified in 2017 as main facilitators of human trafficking .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking ransom from families of the held migrants , or to sell them to other traffickers .
Al-Ammu and another militia , called the Brigade 48 , are headed by two brothers from the area ’ s large al-Dabashi family .
Both militias are affiliated with the U.N.-supported government in Tripoli .
The residents and migrant spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals .
A spokesman for the Tripoli-based interior ministry did not answer phone calls and messages seeking comment .
The aid group said its medics were only allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captive migrants , and they were not allowed to treat men .
A shooting reportedly broke out following an attempted escape on Oct. 2 , and at least three people were killed , it said .
“ The situation at the warehouse was tense , with armed men firing shots into the air , ” the group ’ s statement added .
The migrants ’ abduction shows the perils that refugees and migrants face in war-torn Libya , with those trapped in the country unable to “ escape violence or find safety , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged as a major transit point for African and Arab migrants fleeing violence and poverty to Europe , after the North African country collapsed into civil war following the overthrow and killing in 2011 of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi .

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thetorontostar--2020-10-10--New Zealand PM votes early in general election

WELLINGTON , New Zealand - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has voted in the nation ’ s general election , two weeks before polls officially close .
Ardern cast her vote in her Auckland district on Oct. 3 after visiting a market in the heavily Polynesian south Auckland suburb of Otara , where she was thronged by supporters .
Ardern ’ s Labour Party has governed since the 2017 general election , when it was able to forge a narrow majority in New Zealand ’ s 120-seat Parliament in a coalition with the left-wing Greens and right-wing New Zealand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more comfortable result this year , with the Labour Party leading the National Party , led by 61-year-old conservative Judith Collins , by as many as 13 points .
Ardern ’ s visit to Otara was an effort to get out the vote in an electorate in which Labour out-polls National by around four votes to one .
“ We ’ re seeing really high turnout at the moment for advance voting , ” Ardern said .
“ We want to make sure everyone uses their voice until election day.
“ Voters have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are picking a candidate to represent their electorate and choosing which party to give their “ party vote.
” Seats in Parliament are allocated on the basis of seats won and the percentage of the vote won by each party .
Voters also face two referendums .
They will vote on the decriminalization of cannabis and on the legalization of “ assisted dying ” in limited cases .
This story has been corrected to show that Ardern voted on Oct. 3 , not Oct. 10 .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Kyrgyzstan bans rallies, imposes curfew to end turmoil

MOSCOW - Authorities in Kyrgyzstan on Saturday banned rallies and imposed a curfew in the Central Asian nation ’ s capital , seeking to end a week of turmoil sparked by a disputed parliamentary election .
The declaration of the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. curfew in Bishkek followed President Sooronbai Jeenbekov ’ s decree on Friday announcing a state of emergency in the city until Oct. 21 .
He also ordered the military to deploy troops to the capital to enforce the measure .
Convoys of military trucks were seen driving into the city .
Jeenbekov has faced calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who stormed government buildings a night after pro-government parties reportedly swept parliamentary seats in Sunday ’ s vote .
The demonstrators also freed former President Almazbek Atambayev , who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in June on charges of corruption and abuse of office that he and his supporters described as a political vendetta by Jeenbekov .
The turmoil marks a third time in 15 years that protesters have moved to topple a government in Kyrgyzstan , a Central Asian nation of 6.5 million that is one of the poorest to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As in the uprisings that ousted Kyrgyz presidents in 2005 and 2010 , the current protests have been driven by clan rivalries that play a dominant role in the country ’ s politics .
After an initial attempt to break up protesters in the hours after the vote , police have pulled back and refrained from intervening with the demonstrations .
Residents of the capital began forming vigilante groups to prevent looting that accompanied previous uprisings in the country .
Under pressure from protesters , the Central Election Commission has overturned the parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly to form a new government .
An emergency parliament session on Tuesday named lawmaker Sadyr Zhaparov as new prime minister , but the move was immediately contested by other protest groups , plunging the country into chaos .
On Friday , supporters of Zhaparov assailed pro-Atambayev demonstrators on Bishkek ’ s central square , hurling stones and bottles .
A man with a pistol fired several shots at Atambayev ’ s car as it sped away , but the former president was unhurt .
Two other politicians affiliated with Atambayev also had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the square , their party said .
They weren ’ t injured .
Another politician was badly injured amid the clashes on the square , and several other people were also hurt .
Jeenbekov , who kept a low profile for most of the past week , used the infighting between his foes to dig in .
He met with the new chief of the military General Staff Friday , saying that he relies on the armed forces to help restore order .
“ We are witnessing a real threat to the existence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement late Friday .
“ The peaceful life of our citizens mustn ’ t be sacrificed to political passions.
” Kyrgyzstan is strategically located on the border with China and once was home to a U.S. air base used for refuelling and logistics for the war in Afghanistan .
The country is a member of Russia-dominated economic and security alliances , hosts a Russian air base and depends on Moscow ’ s economic support .
The Kremlin voiced concern about the turmoil in Kyrgyzstan , emphasizing the need to quickly stabilize @ @ @ @ @ @

Vladimir Isachenkov - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Freed Malian politician details months as al-Qaida hostage

BAMAKO , Mali - Malian politician Soumaila Cisse ’ s captors kept him constantly on the move in the inhospitable desert , he told French television , describing his six months with al-Qaida-linked militants as “ near permanent physical and moral isolation.
” His interview with TV5 Monde came as Swiss authorities confirmed that another hostage held by the same group was dead .
The militants freed Cisse in the past week along with French hostage Sophie Petronin and Italians Nicola Chiacchio and the Rev .
Pierluigi Maccalli days after Mali ’ s government released nearly 200 jailed jihadists in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Swiss Foreign Ministry said French authorities had informed them that Swiss hostage Beatrice Stoeckli had been killed about a month ago .
Authorities had been trying to negotiate her release since she was kidnapped four years ago .
There was no immediate information about the four other foreign hostages still being held by the group known as JNIM : Australian doctor Ken Elliott , Colombian nun Gloria Cecilia Narváez Argoti , South African national Christo Bothma and Romanian citizen Julian Ghergut .
It was not known whether a ransom had been paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their operations with such payments from European governments .
Cisse , 70 , who was abducted while campaigning in northern Mali for re-election as a parliament member , told TV5 Monde that his captors moved them by motorcycle , boat , even camel .
“ I was detained most of the six months in the Sahara , in more than 20 different locations , I can ’ t tell you exactly where — south and north , west and east , “ he said .
While he said he was not abused physically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions in the desert , and said he lacked the medication he needed .
He said he was kept apart from the European hostages .
Cisse said he was able to listen to the radio and was angered by news of the Aug. 18 military coup that overthrew Mali ’ s democratically elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita .
On Friday , the French and Italian hostages returned to Europe , where they were greeted by dignitaries and family members .
Petronin , 75 , said she had been treated well by her captors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going by the name Mariam , not Sophie .
“ I was always highly respected during my captivity , “ she told TV5 Monde .
Petronin has said she was allowed to listen to the radio , and her guards shared messages and videos with her , including one from her son .
“ I hung on — I prayed a lot because I had a lot of time , ” Petronin told reporters at the French Embassy in Bamako .
“ I transformed detention ... into a spiritual retreat , if one @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Police detain protesters in Russian city of Khabarovsk

MOSCOW - Police in a far eastern Russian city detained several dozen protesters on Saturday , the first such crackdown since rallies against the arrest of the provincial governor started three months ago .
Khabarovsk Gov .
Sergei Furgal was arrested on July 9 on suspicion of involvement in murders and taken to jail in Moscow .
Furgal , a former businessman , denied the charges , which his supporters say are a vendetta by his rivals .
Since his arrest thousands of demonstrators have regularly rallied in Khabarovsk , a city of 600,000 near the border with China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protested Furgal ’ s jailing and demanded that his trial is held in the city .
The protests are a strong challenge to the Russian government , which usually doesn ’ t hesitate to disperse unsanctioned demonstrations .
The authorities ’ reluctance to use force appeared to reflect concerns of provoking even wider discontent as well as hopes that the demonstrations will eventually fizzle .
But the regular demonstrations in Khabarovsk have continued , and their participants have increasingly adopted a broader agenda challenging President Vladimir Putin ’ s rule .
On Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of protesters marched across the city , but later detained about 30 demonstrators when they set up tents on Khabarovsk ’ s central square .
For the Russian authorities , any such encampments are a reminder of massive protests that toppled Ukraine ’ s former Moscow ’ s friendly leader in 2014 .
The Kremlin responded by annexing Ukraine ’ s Crimea and supporting a separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine , the actions that triggered Western sanctions .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Meeting the moment: Queen Elizabeth honours pandemic’s heroes

LONDON - Queen Elizabeth II has used her delayed birthday honours list to celebrate the selfless work of people — some more famous than others — in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic .
In addition to honouring the work of doctors and nurses , the queen handed awards late Friday to delivery drivers , fundraisers and volunteers .
In total , 1,495 honours make up this year ’ s list , with health and social care workers making up 14 % .
The list is also the most diverse ever , with 13 % of recipients from a minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was awarded an OBE for her services to nursing during the pandemic , making her an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire .
She said it is “ timely and appropriate ” that people from ethnic backgrounds are being recognised for their efforts during what is Black History Month in the U.K .
The U.K. has experienced Europe ’ s deadliest outbreak with more than 42,500 deaths .
The pandemic has disproportionately affected people from Black , Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds , particularly those working in hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associate director of nursing at King ’ s College NHS Foundation Trust in London , supported nurses from ethnic backgrounds during the pandemic by delivering webinars and raising issues surrounding personal protective equipment .
“ You can ’ t ignore the fact people have laid down their lives during this pandemic , “ she said .
” It is only right , proper and fitting to honour them and honour those who continue to serve.
” Mustafa Kemal Koksal received a Medal of the Order of the British Empire for services to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed at least one volunteer duty every day over the two months he couldn ’ t work as a bus supervisor , totalling more than 80 trips to fetch shopping or collect prescriptions for elderly and disabled people in York .
Though more people from ethnic backgrounds are being recognized , the honours system continues to draw criticism over the lack of diversity .
Kehinde Andrews , professor of Black studies at Birmingham City University , said the honours system reflected “ how we think history works by picking out the winners.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postponed from June in order to include people battling the virus .
British honours are also awarded at New Year ’ s .
The winners are actually chosen by civil servants committees based on nominations from the government and the public .
The awards are usually given out by the queen or a senior royal acting in her place during investitures at Buckingham Palace , but the pandemic has changed all that , not least because the queen is self-isolating at Windsor Castle .
Sports coach Joe Wicks , who effectively became the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown through his popular YouTube videos , received an MBE award that makes him a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire .
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford , 22 , also received an MBE for his campaign to ensure children in need could receive meals across the summer during the pandemic .
His efforts prompted the government to announce a policy change .
“ This is a very special moment for myself and my family , but particularly my mum who is the real deserving recipient of the honour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight to protect our most vulnerable children is far from over.
” Also honoured was Mary Berry , the food writer and former judge of the hugely popular Great British Bake Off , who became a dame .
Berry said she was “ absolutely overwhelmed ” at receiving a damehood .
Phil Redmond , the creator of some of the most popular television shows of the past four decades , such as “ Grange Hill , ” “ Brookside ” and “ Hollyoaks ” , has been knighted for services to broadcasting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , widely known as Britain ’ s “ first rock n roll star , ” was also knighted for services to entertainment and charity , as has David Suchet , who played Agatha Christie ’ s Hercule Poirot on television for almost 25 years .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--The Latest: Czech Republic sees surge in new infections

PRAGUE — The Czech Republic and neighbouring Slovakia have registered big jumps in new coronavirus infections , setting a new record for the fourth straight day .
The Health Ministry says the day-to-day increase reached 8,618 confirmed cases on Friday , over 3,000 more than the previous record set a day earlier in the nation of over 10 million .
The Czech Republic has had a total of 109,374 cases since the beginning of the pandemic with 905 deaths .
Of those , almost 27,000 have tested positive in the first five days of this week while 146 have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s figures .
The government has responded to the record surge by imposing a series of new restrictive measures .
Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Friday he can not rule out a lockdown of the entire country .
In Slovakia , the health ministry reported 1,887 new cases of infection on Friday , over 700 more than the day before .
Prime Minister Igor Matovic says the government is preparing further restrictive measures that will be announced on Sunday .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have saved him from virus — WHO reports new daily high in global COVID-19 cases — Trump official says vaccine expected starting in January — Canada ’ s most populous province is prohibiting indoor dining in restaurants and bars in Toronto and Ottawa and closing gyms and theatres as Ontario marked a record 939 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday .
— Intensive care wards across France are filling up again with COVID-19 patients .
Doctors are scrambling to create new ICU beds elsewhere to accommodate the sick , and asking what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the federal government will offer the help of soldiers and public health experts to German cities that are seeing a sharp rise in coronavirus cases .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : DELHI — India ’ s confirmed coronavirus cases are nearing 7 million with another 73,272 reported in the past 24 hours .
The Health Ministry on Saturday also reported 926 additional deaths , taking total fatalities to 107,416 .
The deaths have remained below 1,000 for the seventh straight day .
India is seeing a slower pace of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections touched a record of 97,894 cases .
It ’ s averaging more than 70,000 cases daily so far this month , while the recovery rate has exceeded 85 % .
But health experts have warned that congregations during major festivals later this month and in November have the potential for the virus to spread .
“ We have to work aggressively to make sure that during winter months and during the festive season coronavirus cases don ’ t rise dramatically , ” said Dr. Randeep Guleria , a government health expert .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ system has been bolstered in recent months but could still be overwhelmed by an exponential rise in cases .
Consumer activity is gradually rebounding and millions of factory workers who had fled cities when India imposed a 2-month-long rigorous lockdown on March 25 are returning .
SANTA FE , N.M. -- New Mexico is losing ground in efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 as newly reported daily infections hit a record of 488 cases .
Three additional deaths from the pandemic also were disclosed Friday by state health officials as fatalities from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the state ’ s most populous urban area , accounted for 135 new cases , while Dona Ana had 81 .
Lea and Chaves counties together accounted for 77 new cases .
The state ’ s infection and positivity rates for the spread of the virus are climbing as the administration of Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham holds the line on emergency public health restrictions .
WINDOW ROCK , Ariz. -- Enrolled members of the Navajo Nation will be eligible for payments of up to $ 1,500 as part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President Jonathan Nez and Vice-President Myron Lizer on Friday approved the $ 49 million plan adopted by the tribal council .
The funding comes from the tribe ’ s share of federal coronavirus relief funding .
Adults will be eligible for payments of $ 1,500 while minors are eligible for $ 500 .
Nez said in a statement that there isn ’ t enough funding to cover payments for all enrolled members of the tribe , so the money should be directed to elders and those most in need .
PROVIDENCE , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has issued a two-week shelter-in-place order for fraternity and sorority houses because of a high number of coronavirus cases .
The school sent the notice Friday in tandem with its Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association .
Students may leave Greek housing only for medical visits and other essential services , such as grocery shopping and essential employment .
The students will take classes virtually while sheltering .
Students and chapters that don ’ t follow guidelines could be suspended or dismissed .
The school says it based its decision on statistics showing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students in Greek housing at over 11 % than in total off-campus housing at under 4 % or in the total on-campus population at 0.65 % .
ALBANY , N.Y. -- A federal judge has refused to block New York ’ s plan to temporarily limit the size of religious gatherings in COVID-19 hot spots .
U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto issued the ruling Friday after an emergency hearing in a lawsuit brought by rabbis and synagogues who said the restrictions were unconstitutional .
They had sought to have enforcement delayed until at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The rules limit indoor prayer services in certain areas to no more than 10 people .
The judge said the state had an interest in protecting public safety .
RENO , Nev. -- A recent spike in COVID-19 cases at the University of Nevada , Reno is prompting the school to suspend all in-class instruction effective Nov. 30 .
UNR officials also are telling most students not to return to residence halls after Thanksgiving .
School officials said Friday they plan for students to return to dormitories for the spring semester and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instruction Jan. 25 .
But during the period in between , all classes will be conducted remotely .
Only students facing extenuating circumstance will be allowed to live in campus housing .
In recent weeks , one-out-of-nine of the county ’ s new cases have been tied to UNR .
ANCHORAGE , Alaska — Health officials in Alaska ’ s largest city on Friday recommended up to 300 people associated with a youth hockey tournament quarantine or isolate after “ a cluster ” of COVID-19 cases were identified .
The Anchorage Health Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of south-central Alaska and Juneau attended the tournament , which was held Oct. 2-4 .
The department said it encouraged everyone who attended who does not have symptoms to quarantine for 14 days , except to get tested , and encouraged those with symptoms to isolate for 10 days , except to get tested .
Dr. Janet Johnston , the department ’ s epidemiologist , said that means the department is recommending up to 300 isolate or quarantine .
Heather Harris , the department ’ s director , could not provide “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the tournament .
She said the tournament organizers said they tried to enforce masking guidelines and kept a contact log of participants .
Contact trace investigations indicated “ significant close contact in indoor spaces , including locker rooms , with inconsistent use of face coverings , ” the city health department said in a release .
CHARLESTON , W.Va. — Gov .
Jim Justice announced Friday that bars around West Virginia University in Morgantown can reopen next Tuesday , a month after images of maskless college students packing bars led them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alcohol regulators will step up enforcement in the college town , Justice said at a coronavirus press briefing .
The Republican governor abruptly ordered Monongalia County bars to close indefinitely on Sept. 2 — just two days after allowing them to reopen — as many patrons lined up without social distancing .
The owners of 12 restaurants and bars sued the governor and local officials in Morgantown last month in federal court over the shutdown .
“ Bars that don ’ t enforce these guidelines , where we see a bunch of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will be shut down again , ” Justice said , adding establishments risk having their licenses suspended .
County officials previously required bars to cut indoor seating occupancy by half , close dance floors and discontinue live performances and entertainment .
Restaurants in the county had been able to continue dine-in service without operating their bars .
Morgantown city officials did not immediately return a request for comment .
OKLAHOMA CITY — The number of people hospitalized in Oklahoma due to the coronavirus surged to a record one-day high of 749 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health .
The number hospitalized either with the virus or under investigation for infection surpassed the previous high of 738 reported on Wednesday .
The department also reported 1,524 newly confirmed cases of the virus , the second highest daily increase since 1,7,14 new cases were reported on July 21 , and 97,088 total cases .
There are six additional deaths due to COVID-19 , the illness caused by the virus , bringing the total to 1,091 .
There were 13,515 active cases of the virus on Thursday , and 82,482 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health department .
NATCHEZ , Miss .
-- A brother and sister in Natchez have both died of the coronavirus , Adams County Coroner James Lee said .
On Friday , Oct. 2 , a 73-year-old woman died of the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus , and her 69-year-old brother died two days later , Lee told the Natchez Democrat .
“ I ’ ve seen an increase in COVID deaths in Adams County in the past month and it ’ s very scary to me , ” Lee told the Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25-year-old granddaughter was hospitalized with the coronavirus .
“ I won ’ t lie .
I ’ m very afraid of this virus and what I see .
I just wish we ’ d take this thing seriously.
” Mississippi is one of the top 20 states with the most new cases per capita in the U.S. , according to Johns Hopkins University data analyzed by The Associated Press .
The data was evaluated over a 14-day period .
Mississippi ’ s state Department of Health said Friday that Mississippi , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had more than 103,000 reported cases and at least 3,000 deaths from COVID-19 as of Thursday evening .
That ’ s an increase of 862 confirmed cases and six deaths from numbers reported the day before , with the deaths occurring between Sept. 19 and Oct. 8 and recorded later using death certificates .
HELENA , Mont .
— Montana reported more than 700 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday and has topped 200 deaths since the pandemic began in mid-March .
An increasing number of cases in the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be facing more restrictions to stop the spread of the respiratory virus .
On Monday , Yellowstone County Health Officer John Felton announced case benchmarks that would lead to county health officials to limit the allowed capacity of bars , restaurants and churches to 25 % .
If the county topped a daily average rate of 40 cases per 100,000 people by the last week in October , the restrictions would begin Nov. 2 , he said .
However , if the county topped an average rate of 50 cases per day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , the restrictions would begin immediately , Felton said .
Businesses that serve alcohol would be required to close at 10 p.m .
The county has confirmed 439 cases from Monday through Thursday , including 155 on Thursday , health department spokesperson Barbara Schneeman said Friday .
If 126 more cases are confirmed Friday and Saturday — the numbers would be reported Saturday and Sunday — the restrictions would be put in place .
The county would likely announce the restrictions Monday but give businesses some time to make adjustments , Schneeman @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Asia Today: India cases approach 7 million amid slower pace

NEW DELHI - India ’ s confirmed coronavirus cases are nearing 7 million with another 73,272 reported in the past 24 hours .
The Health Ministry on Saturday also reported 926 additional deaths , taking total fatalities to 107,416 .
The deaths remained below 1,000 for the seventh straight day .
India is seeing a slower pace of coronavirus spread since mid-September , when the daily infections touched a record of 97,894 cases .
It ’ s averaging more than 70,000 cases daily so far this month , while the recovery rate has exceeded 85 % .
But health experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later this month and in November have the potential for the virus to spread .
“ We have to work aggressively to make sure that during winter months and during the festive season coronavirus cases don ’ t rise dramatically , ” said Dr. Randeep Guleria , a government health expert .
Experts say India ’ s fragile health system has been bolstered in recent months but could still be overwhelmed by an exponential rise in cases .
Consumer activity is gradually rebounding and millions of factory workers who had fled cities when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 25 are returning .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--With Americans anxious to go out, walking tours pick up pace

CINCINNATI - With an eerily quiet and empty stadium plaza behind him , the tour guide tried to help people picture what they would have seen there more than 160 years earlier .
His audience of eight , all on foot , peered over masks at maps as he described hundreds of groceries , saloons , blacksmiths and 100,000 people living across two square miles — one of the pre-Civil War United States ’ most congested areas .
The area had an open secret then : It was filled with stations on the Underground Railroad for slaves trying to reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those paths .
For so many Americans , this is a time of being cooped up , of being unable to interact with fellow humans and , in many cases , with the landscape itself .
COVID-19 and its impact — more than 200,000 Americans dead — have kept many away from air travel , cruise ships and crowded beaches .
Enter a decidedly unplugged alternative , a very concrete antidote to a suddenly more virtual life : the walking tour .
Maybe not the most exciting outlet , but far better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Our mental health matters also , and it ’ s very important for us ... when we ’ re really feeling extremely alienated from each other and feeling trapped in our homes , to walk our streets , in the safest way possible , ” said Rebecca Manski of Social Justice Tours in New York City .
Such tours have picked up in popularity for people seeking outdoor social activity while maintaining health safety precautions and staying in small groups .
The Cincinnati walking tour , for example , was among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum .
The goal : to offset a pandemic-abbreviated baseball season that didn ’ t allow fans in the ballpark .
Normally , Bob Doherty , 61 , said , his family would have been inside the stadium that Sunday afternoon , rooting for the Reds in their playoff-race game against the Chicago White Sox .
The tour , which combined the roots of professional baseball and the city ’ s abolitionist history , “ is the next best thing , ” he said .
Others concurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get outside and be with family , ” said Mack Doherty , 28 .
They were in a group of five including his father , his sister and her boyfriend .
His girlfriend , Avery Helwig , 28 , concurred : “ So nice to get out.
” Manski ’ s New York group , like many tour companies , halted in-person tours as the pandemic took hold in March .
She said the jarring sound of ambulance sirens as new COVID-19 victims were rushed to hospitals added to the obstacles of education-focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offerings , and other groups have been offering small , private group tours or self-guided tours with audio and GPS information provided .
“ It ’ s an interesting time to be in the travel industry , ” said Riley Pearce , of Berkeley , California-based Backroads Tours .
“ Nobody knows what people are going to want , because people don ’ t really don ’ t know what they want yet.
” With pandemic worry reducing participants on Backroads ’ walking , hiking and bike tours by as much as 90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business with family- and private-group expeditions with a variety of approaches .
The Reds Hall of Fame Museum , in the city that pioneered professional baseball in 1869 , has also done walking tours about the 1919 “ Black Sox ” World Series betting scandal and about the former Riverfront Stadium that hosted the “ Big Red Machine ” teams of the 1970s .
For fall , it ’ s launched “ Brunch , Brews and Baseball ” that includes a brewery tour .
But executive director Rick Walls said the non-profit museum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular ballpark tours or reap the visits and merchandise purchases by fans coming to games in the adjacent stadium .
“ It ’ s been a pretty big hit , ” Walls said .
The museum couldn ’ t host its popular ballpark tours this summer , although they are resuming now that the Reds ’ season has ended .
The museum has replaced in-person autograph sessions and discussions for its 5,000-strong membership base with Zoom calls with former Reds stars Walls said have “ really stepped up ” to help with free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ museum to sell .
Like other visitor-dependent businesses , the museum is hoping for a normal 2021 , but making contingency plans in case the pandemic continues .
“ We will be better coming out of this , ” Walls said .
“ We ’ ll have created some new ways we operate internally and ultimately , we ’ ll have a successful season.
” Pearce said his company believes there is a lot of pent-up demand for visiting places such as Grand Teton National Park because they remind people that while “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” there are still spectacular sites , some thousands of years old , that have been untouched by the pandemic .
So while the walking tours are in small groups for now , they could well become very big when the world comes back .
“ I think that ’ s the same thing that a lot of people are craving right now , ” Pearce said .
“ When everything else feels totally upside down , going into nature and going for a hike , sleeping under the stars ; it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just this incredible world out there to explore .
And it ’ s going to be waiting for us , as soon we ’ re ready .
”


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Lithuanians to choose new parliament amid virus tensions

VILNIUS , Lithuania - Lithuanian voters will choose a new parliament Sunday for a nation that has seen a recent surge in COVID-19 cases and whose centre-right coalition government has faced strong criticism over soaring virus-related unemployment .
The Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union , the party that leads a majority coalition with three smaller partners , hopes to remain in power in the southernmost Baltic republic .
Pre-election polls showed they are marginally ahead of the opposition conservative Homeland Union-Christian Democrats , the Social Democrats , the populist Labor party and the centre-right Liberal Movement .
Five or six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % threshold to enter the 141-seat Seimas parliament but none is likely to get more than 20 % support , so horse-trading talks to form a coalition are expected after the election .
The recent sharp rise in virus infections and new restrictions may force many voters to stay at home , affecting turnout among Lithuania ’ s 2.4 million registered voters .
A second round of voting has been set for Oct. 25 in constituencies where no candidate gets a majority .
Many Lithuanians complain that government did not do enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus lockdown , as the unemployment rate jumped from 9 % in February to more than 14 % in October .
Others say the strict health regulations focused on fighting the virus left thousands of other patients without proper access to health services .
Supporters of the ruling coalition say this coastal Baltic country was among the lucky ones that suffered relatively lightly in the pandemic .
So far Lithuania has seen 5,500 confirmed coronavirus cases and and just above 100 deaths .
Lithuania has kept strong democratic traditions since regaining independence from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also played a major role as the protests in neighbouring Belarus unfold against that nation ’ s authoritarian leader .
Lithuania has granted shelter to Belarus opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya , who fled Belarus after challenging President Alexander Lukashenko in the country ’ s Aug. 9 presidential vote .
Officials said Lukashenko won a sixth term in office but opposition members say the election was riddled with fraud .
Together with its Baltic neighbours Estonia and Latvia , Lithuania swiftly imposed sanctions against Belarusian leaders , and the European Union — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations — eventually followed suit with sanctions .
Belarus is not an EU member .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Doctor says Trump no longer at risk of transmitting virus

WASHINGTON - The White House doctor said Saturday night that President Donald Trump was no longer at risk of transmitting the coronavirus but did not say explicitly whether Trump had tested negative for it .
The diagnosis came as the president prepared to resume campaign rallies and other activities .
In a memo released by the White House , Navy Cmdr .
Dr. Sean Conley said Trump met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for safely discontinuing isolation and that by “ currently recognized standards ” he was no longer considered a transmission risk .
The memo did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
But sensitive lab tests — like the PCR test — detect virus in swab samples taken from the nose and throat .
Dr. William Morice , who oversees laboratories at the Mayo Clinic , said earlier this week that using the PCR tests , the president ’ s medical team could hypothetically measure and track the amount of virus in samples over time and watch the viral load go down .
Some medical experts had been skeptical that Trump could be declared free of the risk of transmitting the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness .
Just 10 days since an initial diagnosis of infection , there was no way to know for certain that someone was no longer contagious , they said .
The memo followed Trump ’ s first public appearance since returning to the White House after being treated for the coronavirus .
Hundreds of people gathered Saturday afternoon on the South Lawn for a Trump address on his support for law enforcement from a White House balcony .
Trump took off a mask moments after he emerged on the balcony to address the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first step back onto the public stage with just more than three weeks to go until Election Day .
He flouted , once more , the safety recommendations of his own government just days after acknowledging that he was on the brink of “ bad things “ from the virus and claiming that his bout with the illness brought him a better understanding of it .
His return was a brief one .
With bandages visible on his hands , likely from an intravenous injection , Trump spoke for 18 minutes , far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He appeared healthy , if perhaps a little hoarse , as he delivered what was , for all intents and purposes , a short version of his campaign speech despite the executive mansion setting .
Though billed as an official event , Trump offered no policy proposals and instead delivered the usual attacks on Democrat Joe Biden while praising law enforcement to a crowd of several hundred , most of whom wore masks while few adhered to social distancing guidelines .
“ I ’ m feeling great , ” said Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good wishes and prayers as he recovered .
He then declared that the pandemic , which has killed more than 210,000 Americans , was “ disappearing ” even though he is still recovering from the virus .
In either an act of defiance or simply tempting fate , officials organized the crowd just steps from the Rose Garden , where exactly two weeks ago the president held another large gathering to formally announce his nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
That event is now being eyed as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen people in attendance have contracted the virus .
Trump had hoped to hold campaign rallies this weekend but settled for the White House event .
But even as his health remained unclear , he planned to ramp up his travel with a rally in Florida on Monday , followed by trips to Pennsylvania and Iowa on subsequent days .
It was not clear if Trump posed a risk to those he would fly with on Air Force One or encounter at the rally sites .
Before the speech , White House officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whether the president was tested for COVID-19 , meaning he made his first public appearance without the White House verifying that he ’ s no longer contagious .
Security was stepped up around the White House before the event , which was called a “ peaceful protest for law & order ” and predominantly attended by Black and Latino supporters .
Police and the Secret Service closed surrounding streets to vehicles and shut down Lafayette Square , the park near the White House that has long been a gathering place for public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health — and Democratic opponent Joe Biden steps up his own campaigning — Trump has more frequently called into radio and TV programs to speak with conservative interviewers , hoping to make up for lost time with just over three weeks until Election Day and millions already voting .
Biden ’ s campaign said he again tested negative on Saturday for COVID-19 .
Biden was potentially exposed to the coronavirus during his Sept. 29 debate with Trump , who announced his positive diagnosis barely 48 hours after the debate .
The president had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than in White House-produced videos — since his return five days ago from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , where he received experimental treatments for the coronavirus .
On Saturday , all attendees were required to bring masks or were provided with them , and were given temperature checks and asked to fill out a brief questionnaire .
Some in the crowd removed their mask to listen to Trump .
Trump ’ s Monday event in Sanford , Florida , what he ’ s described as a “ BIG RALLY , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 2 , the day after he tested positive .
Ahead of his Saturday event , Trump used Twitter to share news articles about problems with mail-in ballots in New Jersey , Ohio and Texas .
Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims that universal mail-in voting is beset by widespread fraud .
Trump ’ s return to public activity came as Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government ’ s top infectious-disease expert , cautioned the White House again to avoid large-scale gatherings of people without masks .
He said of the Barrett event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ I was not surprised to see a superspreader event given the circumstances.
“ That means “ crowded , congregate setting , not wearing masks .
It is not surprising to see an outbreak , ” he said .
District of Columbia virus restrictions prohibit outdoor gatherings larger than 50 people , although that rule has not been strictly enforced .
Masks are mandatory outdoors for most people , but the regulations don ’ t apply on federal land , and the Trump White House has openly flouted them for months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovers , Trump spent sizable chunks of the past few days making the rounds of friendly conservative media , calling in to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday night and spending two hours live on air with radio host Rush Limbaugh on Friday in what his campaign billed as a “ radio rally.
” Holding court on his reelection battle , his fight against the coronavirus and revived negotiations with Democrats to pass an economic stimulus bill , Trump made a direct appeal to his base of loyal supporters , whom he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in droves .
In a Friday night interview on Fox ’ s Tucker Carlson ’ s show , Trump was asked if he has been retested for COVID-19 .
“ I have been retested , and I haven ’ t even found out numbers or anything yet .
But I ’ ve been retested , and I know I ’ m at either the bottom of the scale or free , “ he said .
White House officials , however , have declined to answer when Trump last tested negative for the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about lung scans taken while Trump was hospitalized .
Aides to the president insist that it is safe for Trump to return to his regular activities , including campaigning .
CDC guidelines call for the infected to wait at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms , Fauci noted in the AP interview .
That onset for Trump was Oct. 1 , according to his doctors .
Conley added that Trump was showing no evidence of his illness progressing or adverse reactions to the aggressive course of therapy he has received .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are rare , the CDC recommends that even people who recover from the disease continue to wear masks , stay distanced and follow other precautions .
It was unclear if Trump , who has refused mask wearing in most settings , would abide by that guidance as he resumes his campaign .

Jonathan Lemire And Aamer Madhani - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Tentative settlements  in WVa veterans’ hospital deaths

CHARLESTON , W.Va. - Tentative settlements have been reached in several civil lawsuits filed on behalf of the families of veterans who died at a West Virginia hospital where a former nursing assistant admitted to intentionally killing seven people with fatal doses of insulin .
The settlements were disclosed by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia on Saturday as well as in federal court filings stemming from the deaths of six veterans at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg .
The proposed settlement amounts range from $ 700,000 to $ 975,000 .
The court filings said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manchin said in a statement that the tentative settlement “ is further evidence that the VA and the Clarksburg VAMC were negligent in the murders that happened under their watch.
” The veterans ’ deaths involved in the settlements occurred in 2018 .
Fired hospital nursing assistant Reta Mays pleaded guilty in July to intentionally killing seven patients with wrongful insulin injections .
Mays , 46 , faces up to life in prison for each of seven counts of second-degree murder .
No sentencing date has been set .
Mays admitted at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , injecting them with unprescribed insulin while she worked overnight shifts at the hospital in northern West Virginia between 2017 and 2018 .
Her motive is still unclear .
U.S. Attorney Bill Powell said authorities did not receive a “ satisfactory response ” to questions about the reasoning behind her actions .
It is not clear whether Mays admitted a connection to Navy veteran Russell R. Posey Sr. ’ s death .
But in addition to her second-degree murder pleas , she also pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veteran R.R.P.
” — Posey ’ s initials .
Tony O ’ Dell , a Charleston attorney representing families in five of the six settled cases , said he also has filed a notice of a pending wrongful death lawsuit involving veteran Charles Dean , who died at the hospital in April 2017 , The Exponent Telegram reported .
It would mark the earliest death at the hospital for which a claim has been filed .
O ’ Dell said his firm also is looking into 11 other deaths at the facility .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the veterans who currently rely on The Louis A Johnson VA Medical Center for much needed care , ” O ’ Dell said in a statement .
The VA is the government ’ s second-largest department , responsible for 9 million military veterans .
The agency ’ s former director was fired in 2018 in the wake of a bruising ethics scandal and a mounting rebellion within the agency .
Robert Wilkie took over as Veterans Affairs secretary in July 2018 .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Australian navy ship tows unexploded bomb out to sea

SYDNEY , Australia - Australian navy divers have removed an unexploded 45-kilogram ( 100-pound ) bomb on a reef off the southeastern coast and a ship towed it to deeper waters because it posed a “ significant risk ” to the public .
The bomb was found by a fisherman on Elizabeth Reef near Lord Howe Island , about 550 kilometres ( 340 miles ) off New South Wales state .
He photographed his discovery and reported it to authorities .
Divers aboard the HMAS Adelaide carefully removed the abandoned explosive by floating it to the surface and towing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropped into 550-meter ( 1,800-foot ) deep waters .
“ That depth is really safe .
It ’ s not going to ever get washed back up onto the reef , ” Senior Marine Parks Officer John Pritchard said .
“ There ’ s no deep-sea fishing or trawling allowed out there .
It ’ s a recreational fishing zone only .
The chances of that UXO ( unexploded ordinance ) ever coming back to the surface is negligible.
” The origin of the bomb is not known and divers couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a spokesman for Environment Minister Sussan Ley said .
Bombs of that size were used as long ago as World War I , sometimes dropped from aircraft to target submarines .
There were also bombings off the Australian east coast during World War II .
Ley said the fisherman and navy divers had potentially saved lives and one of Australia ’ s most important reefs .
“ The device was regarded as live by the navy and the consequences could have been quite frightening , ” Ley said in a statement on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s precious ecosystem is safe and most importantly so are future visitors.
” Elizabeth Reef is about 160 kilometres ( 100 miles ) north of World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island .
Along with nearby Middleton Reef , Pritchard said it is the southernmost coral reef platform in the world .
“ There ’ s been 125 corals identified there ( and ) over 300 species of fish , ” Pritchard said .
“ It ’ s quite a unique environment and , because it ’ s so far from anywhere , it ’ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--28 arrested, tear gas used in Wisconsin protests

WAUWATOSA , Wis. - Police used tear gas on demonstrators and arrested 28 people during a third straight night of protests over the lack of charges against a suburban Milwaukee police officer who fatally shot a Black teen , authorities said , as they took to Twitter on Saturday to outline what they called an “ escalation in force by the protesters.
” About 100 people gathered outside City Hall on Friday past Wauwatosa ’ s 7 p.m. curfew and refused multiple orders to disperse , according to police .
Police said they used tear gas on the crowd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Saturday , the Wauwatosa Police Department posted on Twitter that people have been asking valid questions about the police response over three nights of protests .
Police posted a picture of bottles they said were found in a backpack , including a bottle of lighter fluid , noting that the materials can be used to start fires .
“ Over the past three nights , we have seen an escalation in force by the protesters .
Our law enforcement response is in reaction to this escalation , ” police tweeted .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had Molotov cocktails and other fire starting supplies and guns were spotted in the crowd .
Protesters have gathered every day since prosecutors announced Wednesday that they would not charge Officer Joseph Mensah in 17-year-old Alvin Cole ’ s death .
Mensah , who is Black , shot Cole after a foot chase outside a Wauwatosa mall in February .
The police department ’ s tweets come as some have chastised authorities for the way they have handled the protests .
During Thursday night ’ s demonstration , police arrested Alvin Cole ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his sisters .
Family attorney Kimberly Motley criticized the way police treated the family , noting Tracy Cole had to be treated for injuries .
In a tweet addressing the police chief and mayor on Friday , Motley said “ due to your failed leadership you have turned Wauwatosa into a war zone !
’ About an hour after Friday ’ s curfew went into effect , law enforcement began advancing toward the crowd .
Police said they used chemical irritants , which they described as tear gas , as well as pepper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocks were thrown at them .
Video posted to Twitter by local reporters showed heavy smoke in the air as police advanced , and multiple people taken into custody .
Windows were broken at a Snap Fitness centre , police said .
Police said two of Friday ’ s 28 arrests were for felonies , one was for a misdemeanour and 25 were for municipal citations .
Police noted that some of the people arrested were blocking traffic , others had tried to start fires , and one person had materials to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group posted a picture of himself with a handgun , authorities added , though it was not clear if he was among those arrested .
Two people arrested were evaluated for minor injuries , police said .
One of the arrestees was driving in one of three vehicles that had come to the Wauwatosa Police Department early Saturday .
The vehicle almost hit an officer , according to police .
The driver got into a second vehicle , and police arrested the person after a short chase , authorities said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exists among those closely affected by recent events , ” police said in a statement Saturday .
They asked people to continue to comply with the 7 p.m. curfew , which was to be in effect again on Saturday and Sunday nights .
The National Guard is assisting local police .
The protests in Wauwatosa are just the latest in a series of demonstrations against police racism and brutality that have erupted across the country since George Floyd ’ s death .
Floyd , who was Black , died in May after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee into his neck as Floyd gasped that he couldn ’ t breathe .
The co-founder and publisher of The Daily Caller said two of his reporters were beaten and detained by police in Wauwatosa on Thursday as they were videotaping Tracy Cole ’ s arrest .
Numerous journalists have been injured or arrested while covering protests nationwide in recent months .
Neil Patel , who founded the conservative news outlet with Tucker Carlson , said in a statement that reporters Shelby Talcott and Richie McGinniss “ were brutally beaten with clubs for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sentinel reported .
A message seeking comment from the Wauwatosa Police Department was not immediately returned to The Associated Press .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Biden warns of potential ‘chicanery’ at polling stations

Joe Biden sowed doubt about the integrity of the presidential election by suggesting Saturday that the only way he can lose is if there ’ s “ chicanery ” at polling stations .
“ Make sure you vote .
Because the only way we lose this is by the chicanery going on relative to polling places , ” the Democratic presidential nominee told supporters in Erie , Pennsylvania .
It was a line that echoed President Donald Trump ’ s repeated efforts to question election integrity .
The president , who ’ s trailing Biden in most national and battleground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that mail-in ballots are subject to widespread fraud , and is preparing to potentially challenge results that don ’ t go his way .
“ The only way we ’ re going to lose is if there ’ s mischief , ” Trump said last month .
Biden has been urging his supporters to vote in numbers that give him a clear victory so that Trump has no grounds to contest the outcome .
But the former vice president ’ s comments Saturday came off as a warning about bad things happening at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning for which he ’ s chastised Trump .
At a fundraiser in July , Biden warned of the potential for “ chicanery ” and said his campaign had built a network of lawyers to fight for the integrity of the election .
In a September Facebook post , Donald Trump Jr , the president ’ s son , urged “ able-bodied ” supporters to join an “ army for Trump ’ s election security.
” Biden spoke in Pennsylvania hours after a district judge there rejected the Trump campaign ’ s challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail procedures , as well as the campaign ’ s attempt to allow poll watchers who don ’ t live in the county they want to monitor .
Separately , Pennsylvania Republicans are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to require that all mail-in ballots in the state be counted by Election Day .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Mexican president asks Pope Francis for conquest apology

MEXICO CITY - Mexico ’ s president published an open letter to Pope Francis Saturday calling on the Roman Catholic Church to apologize for abuses of Indigenous peoples during the conquest of Mexico in the 1500s .
In the letter , President Andrés Manuel López Obrador also asks the pope to lend Mexico ancient pre-Hispanic Mexican or colonial-era documents .
“ The Catholic Church , the Spanish monarchy and the Mexican government should make a public apology for the offensive atrocities that Indigenous people suffered , “ the letter states .
López Obrador asked the pope to make a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 19th-century independence leader who was once believed to have been excommunicated by the church for his involvement in the uprising .
However , researchers later said it appeared that Hidalgo had confessed his sins before he was executed and thus was not excommunicated .
López Obrador said : “ I think it would be an act of humility and at the same time greatness ” for the church to reconcile posthumously with Hidalgo .
The letter comes as Mexico struggles with how to mark the 500th anniversary of the 1519-1521 conquest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a large part of the country ’ s pre-Hispanic population .
In 2019 , López Obrador asked Spain for an apology for the conquest , in which millions of Indigenous people died from violence and disease .
Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said at the time that Spain “ will not issue these apologies that have been requested.
“


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Brazil reaches 150,000 deaths from COVID-19 milestone

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil ’ s count of COVID-19 deaths surpassed 150,000 on Saturday night , despite signs the pandemic is slowly retreating in Latin America ’ s largest nation .
The Brazilian Health Ministry reported that the death toll now stands at 150,198 .
The figure is the world ’ s second highest behind the United States , according to the tally maintained by Johns Hopkins University .
The milestone has rekindled the pain of Naiane Moura , a sales consultant , who lost her father Elivaldo to COVID-19 in April .
The 58-year-old postman had no prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a public hospital in Manaus , Brazil ’ s largest city in the Amazon .
“ When I see 150,000 , I see my father alongside many other faceless bodies , ” Moura said by phone .
“ I didn ’ t imagine that we would reach that number .
I don ’ t believe that we will ever be able to totally overcome this.
” Brazil ’ s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro played down the severity of the virus while deaths mounted rapidly in Brazil .
The 65-year-old president flouted social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during outings from the presidential residence .
Bolsonaro rejected governors ’ and mayors ’ lockdowns and other tough measures to contain the virus ’ spread , even after he contracted it himself in July , and insisted that shutting down Brazil ’ s economy would pitch the nation into chaos .
“ Life goes on .
Brazil needs to produce , ” he said on July 7 in Brasilia when he announced he was infected .
Moura ’ s hometown of Manaus became a horror show early on in the pandemic .
Between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collapsed in the city as patients were turned away from full hospitals and overwhelmed cemeteries were forced to dig mass graves .
The capital of Amazonas state has had 122 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants , far above the national average of 71 per 100,000 .
The nation of 210 million people surpassed 5 million confirmed infections on Wednesday , according to official data .
There have been recent signs of relief in Brazil .
Over the last month and a half , the viral curve has dropped .
The average number of deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , the lowest level since the beginning of May .
The mayors of large cities such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro continue to reopen activities like cinemas and schools , even as public health experts warn of possible new outbreaks .
Manaus , where restrictions were relaxed , registered an increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks that led to speculation of a possible second wave .
Local authorities reinstituted restrictions on commerce and activity , and shut down the riverside beach .
Moura said she holds federal authorities responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A lot of lives could have been saved if our leaders had taken rigorous measures in the beginning , ” she said .
Bolsonaro has faced fierce criticism of his handling of the health crisis , and changed health ministers twice in the midst of the pandemic .
Yet his popularity is at its highest since he took office in January 2019 , which political analysts attribute to his distribution of emergency cash to help tens of millions of poorer Brazilians withstand the economic downturn .
Some 40 % of Brazilians surveyed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or excellent , according to a poll published Sept. 24 that has a margin for error of 2 percentage points .
“ Bolsonaro helped the population to open their eyes .
Health has to go hand in hand with the economy , ” said Paulo Gomes , 54 , a taxi driver who supports Bolsonaro .
In Sao Paulo , Ricardo Vieira , a doctor working in one of the city ’ s largest working-class neighbourhoods known as favelas , said the government ’ s COVID-19 cash transfer program wasn ’ t enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have scarce access to healthcare .
To remedy the lack of support in the Paraisopolis favela , an NGO called G10 hired three private ambulances and eight health professionals , among them Dr. Vieira , who has been there since March .
“ We are dealing with lives , and when we came to a poor community we saw that the government can not reach these people.
“ Vieira told The Associated Press .
Despite the difficulties and the lack of resources , Vieira continues to fight to contain the pandemic ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can , I do my best , ” Vieira said , as tears welled up then rolled down his cheek .
“ And I don ’ t know what else I could do .
”

Marcelo De Sousa And Tatiana Polastri - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--GOP activists continue virus backlash with Abbott protest

AUSTIN , Texas - Activists and leaders from the right wing of the Texas Republican Party on Saturday continued their backlash against Gov .
Greg Abbott ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic , staging a protest outside his home as they criticized his orders as overbearing and unlawful .
State party chairman Allen West , Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and some GOP lawmakers were among an estimated 200 people gathered outside the governor ’ s mansion to blast Abbott ’ s executive orders — including a continued statewide mask mandate and lockdowns .
“ Quite frankly , governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease , ” Miller said , The Texas Tribune reported .
West , who has criticized some of Abbott ’ s efforts to stem the spread of the virus , read a resolution that the State Republican Executive Committee passed last month calling for Texas to reopen .
“ We call upon the governor to do what is right by the people of the great state of Texas so that Texas can continue to be a leader , ” West said .
“ And if the governor did not get this resolution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right here , at the gates of the Governor ’ s Mansion.
” The crowd also marched around the mansion carrying signs such as “ Open Texas Now ” and “ Exile King Abbott.
” Abbott was scheduled for a Saturday morning campaign event in Dallas and shortly after noon tweeted a photo of himself at the Texas-Oklahoma football game in Dallas .
COVID-19 has killed more than 16,500 people in Texas , according to the state ’ s official count , and is closing in on 800,000 confirmed cases since the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those who have been infected is likely higher because many people haven ’ t been tested and studies suggest they can be infected and not feel sick .
The demonstration on Saturday came days before Texas voters begin early voting and as the nation ’ s largest red state has refused to expand mail-in voting , which has gained popularity nationwide during the pandemic .
Polls show unusually tight races in America ’ s biggest red state , putting Republicans on the offensive as Democrats see their best chance of seizing control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time in two decades .
In September , West and others escalated their feud with Abbott by filing a lawsuit straight to the Texas Supreme Court looking to stop the governor ’ s six-day extension of early voting .
They argue Abbott was not authorized to do so without input from the state Legislature , which is out of session this year and won ’ t meet again until January .
West has suggested without evidence that expanding voting in any form will invite fraud .
Voter fraud is exceedingly rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , Abbott lifted his shutdown order on bars that has been in place since June , though he gave county leaders control to keep them closed locally .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Judge throws out Trump campaign’s Pennsylvania lawsuit

HARRISBURG , Pa. - A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Saturday threw out a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump ’ s campaign , dismissing its challenges to the battleground state ’ s poll-watching law and its efforts to limit how mail-in ballots can be collected and which of them can be counted .
The ruling by U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan — who was appointed by Trump — in Pittsburgh also poured cold water on Trump ’ s claims that Pennsylvania is fertile ground for election fraud .
Trump ’ s campaign said it would appeal at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barely three weeks to go until Election Day in a state hotly contested by Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
The lawsuit was opposed by the administration of Gov .
Tom Wolf , a Democrat , the state Democratic Party , the League of Women Voters , the NAACP ’ s Pennsylvania office and other allied groups .
“ The ruling is a complete rejection of the continued misinformation about voter fraud and corruption , and those who seek to sow chaos and discord ahead of the upcoming election , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
The state ’ s attorney general , Josh Shapiro , a Democrat whose office fought the Trump campaign ’ s claims , called the lawsuit a political stunt designed to sow doubt in the state ’ s election .
“ We told the Trump campaign and the president , ‘ put up or shut up ’ to his claims of voter fraud in Pennsylvania , “ Shapiro told The Associated Press .
” It ’ s important to note they didn ’ t even need to prove actual voter fraud , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they couldn ’ t even do that.
” Trump ’ s campaign said in a statement that it looked forward to a quick decision from the appeals court “ that will further protect Pennsylvania voters from the Democrats ’ radical voting system.
” The lawsuit is one of many partisan battles being fought in the state Legislature and the courts , primarily over mail-in voting in Pennsylvania , amid concerns that a presidential election result will hang in limbo for days on a drawn-out vote count in Pennsylvania .
In this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court to bar counties from using drop boxes or mobile sites to collect mail-in ballots that are not “ staffed , secured , and employed consistently within and across all 67 of Pennsylvania ’ s counties.
” Trump ’ s campaign said it would appeal the matter of drop boxes .
More than 20 counties — including Philadelphia and most other heavily populated Democratic-leaning counties — have told the state elections office that they plan to use drop boxes or satellite election offices to help collect the massive number of mail-in ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign also wanted the court to free county election officials to disqualify mail-in ballots where the voter ’ s signature may not match their signature on file and to remove a county residency requirement in state law for certified poll watchers .
In guidance last month , Wolf ’ s top elections official told counties that state law does not require or permit them to reject a mail-in ballot solely over a perceived signature inconsistency .
Trump ’ s campaign had asked Ranjan to declare that guidance unconstitutional and to block counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case , Ranjan wrote that the Trump campaign could not prove their central claim : that Trump ’ s fortunes in the Nov. 3 election in Pennsylvania are threatened by election fraud and that adopting changes sought by the campaign will fix that .
Ranjan wrote Trump ’ s campaign could not prove that the president has been hurt by election fraud or even that he is likely to be hurt by fraud .
“ While plaintiffs may not need to prove actual voter fraud , they must at least prove that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ” Ranjan wrote .
“ They haven ’ t met that burden .
At most , they have pieced together a sequence of uncertain assumptions.
” Ranjan also cited decisions in recent days by the U.S. Supreme Court and the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in hot-button election cases , saying he should not second-guess reasonable decisions by state lawmakers and election officials .
The decision comes as Trump claims he can only lose the state if Democrats cheat and , as he did in 2016 ’ s campaign , suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be watched closely for election fraud .
On Friday , Trump ’ s campaign lost a bid in a Philadelphia court to force the city to allow campaign representatives to monitor its satellite election offices .
Democrats accuse Trump of trying to scuttle some of the 3 million or more mail-in votes that are expected in the Nov. 3 election in Pennsylvania , with Democrats applying for mail-in ballots by an almost three-to-one rate over Republicans .
AP ’ s Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--The Latest: Remnants of hurricane spread wind, rain in South

NEW ORLEANS - The Latest on Delta ( all times CDT ) : MIAMI — The remnants of Hurricane Delta are now spreading rain and winds across parts of Mississippi , Arkansas and Alabama as the tropical depression heads inland .
The National Weather Service said Saturday afternoon that between 3 and 6 inches ( 7 and 15 centimetres ) of rain could fall in spots around the Southeast in coming hours , raising the risk of flash flooding and isolated minor river flooding .
Places in the forecast path of the storm include the Appalachian region of far northeast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia .
Forecasters say parts of northern Alabama and the Tennessee Valley into the MidAtlantic region could see between 1 and 3 inches of rain ( 2.5 and 7.6 centimetres ) of rainfall from the remnants .
Delta crashed ashore Friday evening in southwest Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane and then began weakening quickly over land .
MIAMI — A handful of counties in Alabama and Georgia , including those encompassing the cities of Montgomery and Atlanta , are under a tornado watch until Saturday evening .
The National Weather Service said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. local time .
A tornado watch means weather conditions are favourable for tornadoes .
A warning means a tornado has been indicated or seen on a weather radar .
Delta stormed ashore late Friday as a Category 2 hurricane , but has weakened significantly since .
The centre of the storm hit land at 6 p.m. Friday near Creole , Louisiana , with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 kph ) .
Delta is the 10th named storm to hit the continental United State this year , breaking a century-old record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ashore in Louisiana less than 24 hours ago has weakened to a tropical depression and is bringing heavy rain to western Mississippi .
The National Hurricane centre says maximum sustained winds of what was once Hurricane Delta were clocked at 35 mph ( 55 kph ) at around 10 a.m. local time Saturday .
Delta was centred about 65 miles ( 105 kilometres ) north-northwest of Jackson , Mississippi , and was moving northeast at 16 mph ( 26 kph ) .
Hurricane Delta made landfall as a Category 2 storm in southwestern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit land at 6 p.m. Friday near Creole , with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 kph ) .
Delta is the 10th named storm to hit the continental United State this year , breaking a century-old record .
LAKE CHARLES , La .
— A Louisiana parish heavily hit by Hurricane Delta is experiencing rising waters from heavy rain .
Sheriff Tony Mancuso of Calcasieu Parish told KPLC-TV early Saturday that vehicles were overturned on Interstate-10 westbound and said area residents who evacuated should not be in a rush to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous.
” Still , he said anyone who can not afford to be gone for more than several days can head back , but with caution .
He said people just need “ to use some good common sense.
” He said rising water is the biggest problem , and areas prone to flooding have been flooded .
MIAMI — Tropical Storm Delta is sliding over northern Louisiana with weakening winds after dropping several inches of rain in the state .
Maximum sustained winds were at 40 mph ( 65 kph ) Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center .
The system is expected to further weaken to a tropical depression later in the day .
Delta is centred about 45 miles ( 70 kilometres ) east of Monroe , Louisiana .
The storm is forecast to continue moving to the north-northeast over parts of Mississippi and into the Tennessee Valley through Sunday .
MIAMI — Wind speeds associated with Tropical Storm Delta are decreasing as the system moves inland over Louisiana and Mississippi .
The National Hurricane Center says in its Saturday morning update that maximum sustained winds are at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s down significantly from when the storm came ashore Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 kph ) .
All watches and warnings for Delta were discontinued in the 4 a.m. advisory .
Forecasters say the system will continue its path over northern Mississippi Saturday morning and into the Tennessee Valley throughout the rest of the weekend .
The threat for tornadoes remains Saturday for eastern Mississippi , Alabama , the Florida Panhandle , and western and central Georgia , forecasters said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a once powerful hurricane to a tropical storm as it moves inland across the U.S. South .
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Delta came ashore Friday evening in southwest Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane but quickly weakened and has become a tropical storm as it moves inland .
By Saturday morning , it had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph ( 95 kph ) .
Forecasters say the storm is moving to the north-northeast on a track across central and north Louisiana that is expected to continue through Saturday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tropical depression later Saturday as it moves across northern Mississippi into the Tennessee Valley .
Power outages in Louisiana and neighbouring Texas neared 600,000 homes and businesses early Saturday , according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us .
Almost 40,000 outages were reported in Mississippi .
Forecasters say Delta remains barely a hurricane with top sustained winds of 75 mph ( 120 kph ) .
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Delta is moving further inland over southwestern Louisiana as a weak Category 1 hurricane .
Approaching 10 p.m. CDT Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 110 kilometres ) northeast of Cameron , Louisiana .
It is moving to the north-northeast at 15 mph ( 24 kph ) .
The storm is expected to continue rapid weakening and be downgraded to a tropical storm in coming hours .
It ’ s expected to continue moving over central and north Louisiana in coming hours .
After that , the system is forecast to move across northern Mississippi and into the Tennessee Valley .
Wind and rain from Delta also pummeled the Louisiana city of Lafayette , further east from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one apartment owner described it as “ pretty scary.
“ Jeanne-Marie Gove could hear debris hitting her front door and her patio gate banging open and shut .
She lives in an apartment in Lafayette , about 75 miles ( 120 kilometres ) east of Lake Charles closer to the hurricane ’ s centre .
The National Hurricane Center said strong winds were spreading inland across Louisiana at 9 p.m. CDT Friday as Delta still had top sustained winds of 80 mph ( 128 kph ) .
“ The wind is much worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gove said in a message on Twitter , referring to the storm that battered southwest Louisiana six weeks ago .
The roof from a trailer at the mobile home park behind Gove ’ s apartment was torn off and tossed down the sidewalk .
Power was out for many residents .
Meanwhile , some 400,000 customers were reported without power in Louisiana and southeastern Texas .
Hurricane Delta is driving further inland as strong winds continue to hammer the southwest Louisiana coast .
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Delta was centred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 35 kilometres ) east-northeast of Lake Charles , the main city in the region .
Maximum sustained winds have dropped to 85 mph ( 140 kph ) and forecasters say Delta is expected to weaken to a tropical storm in coming hours as it heads deeper into the South .
The hurricane centre warns heavy rainfall remains a threat in parts of Louisiana through Saturday as the storm crosses the state .
It says that could lead to major river flooding .
Additional flooding is possible elsewhere this weekend around the central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the forecast .
LAKE CHARLES , La .
— The mayor of Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana says tarps that were put up to protect buildings damaged six weeks ago by Hurricane Laura are now flying off in Hurricane Delta ’ s strong winds .
Mayor Nic Hunter told The Associated Press tarps were being ripped away from rooftops .
He was hunkered down in a secure location in downtown Lake Charles .
“ Tarps are being blown off all throughout the city , ” Hunter said by phone after Delta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 hurricane .
He added : “ I ’ m in a building right now with a tarp on it and just the sound of the tarp flapping on the building sounds like someone pounding with a sledge hammer on top of the building .
It ’ s pretty intense.
“ He said piles of unsecured debris from Laura are also being tossed about in Delta ’ s high winds .
He said some of the debris was moving into the streets and floating in water .
GALVESTON , Texas -- The effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ west as Galveston , Texas , where winds gusts toppled two houses under construction .
Galvestan is about 100 miles ( 160 kilometres ) from where Delta made landfall on the southwest Louisiana coast Friday evening .
A spokeswoman for Sullivan Brothers Builders told The ( Galveston ) Daily News that the houses were in their early framing stages and still lacked windstorm construction reinforcements .
Elizabeth Rogers-Alvarado said there were no injuries .
Trees and signs were toppled around the region .
And beach dunes flattened by Hurricane Laura in August and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge to reach beneath the raised beach houses in Galveston ’ s West End .
Thousands of customers lost electric power and Centerpoint Energy estimated many will remain blacked out until after midnight .
Large swells and rip currents prompted officials to close some Texas beaches as far west as Corpus Christi and the mouth of the Rio Grande .
Padre Island beaches remained open .
Hurricane Delta has weakened to a Category 1 storm as it moves inland along Louisiana ’ s southwestern coast .
Delta made landfall as a Category 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 km/h ) .
An hour later , its wind speed had dropped to 90 mph ( 145 km/h ) .
The storm was about 25 miles ( 40 kilometres ) west-southwest of the town of Jennings and moving north-northeast at 14 mph ( 22 km/h ) .
Delta blew ashore in an area where devastation remains widely evident from Hurricane Laura , which caused at least 27 deaths in late August .
Hurricane Delta has made landfall as a Category 2 storm in southwestern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit land at 6 p.m. Friday near Creole , with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 km/h ) .
Delta blew ashore in an area where devastation remains widely evident from Hurricane Laura , which caused at least 27 deaths in late August .
Piles of wreckage could go flying and many homes remain unrepaired , with only blue tarps on rooftops to withstand the fury of yet another hurricane .
Delta is the 10th named storm to hit the continental United State this year , breaking a century-old record .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Delta ’ s maximum winds were 100 mph at landfall .
MIAMI — Forecasters expect Hurricane Delta to make landfall in southwest Louisiana in the next few hours .
The National Hurricane Center in Miami says in its latest advisory Friday that Delta is about 35 miles ( 55 kilometres ) south of Cameron , Louisiana , and is moving north-northeast at 14 mph ( 22 km/h ) .
The Category 2 hurricane has maximum sustained winds of 105 mph ( 165 km/h ) .
The Hurricane Center expects Delta to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then move to the northeast .
The centre says some weakening is possible before landfall , with rapid weakening after landfall .
MIAMI — Forecasters say Hurricane Delta has continued to weaken and is now a strong Category 2 storm .
In its latest update Friday afternoon , the National Hurricane Center said Delta has winds of 110 mph ( 175 kph ) .
Forecasters have said they expect the weakening trend to continue until Delta makes landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast , but they caution that it remains a dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landfall Friday evening and could strike in the same general area in southwest Louisiana as Hurricane Laura did in late August .
Delta is about 80 miles ( 130 kilometres ) south-southwest of Cameron , Louisiana , the Hurricane Center said .
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says the Federal Emergency Management Agency is prepared as Hurricane Delta churns toward the U.S. Gulf Coast .
Trump tweeted Friday that he ’ d been briefed on Delta and said FEMA “ is there and ready !
!
!
” Delta is expected to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same general area in southwest Louisiana as Hurricane Laura did in late August .
In its latest advisory late Friday morning , the National Hurricane Center says Delta was about 130 miles south-southwest of Cameron , Louisiana .
The storm had sustained winds of 115 mph ( 185 kph ) , making it a Category 3 hurricane .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--Texas attorney general seeks stay of mail-in ballot order

AUSTIN , Texas - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Saturday filed a request for an emergency stay of a @ @ @ @ @ that blocked Gov .
Greg Abbott ’ s order dramatically reducing places where voters could @ @ @ @ @ early voting in the November elections .
The motion , filed with the Fifth District @ @ @ @ @ contends that U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman lacks jurisdiction and calls the injunction he issued @ @ @ @ @ s Oct. 1 order allowed only one mail ballot drop-off site per county , no @ @ @ @ @ the judge said likely violates the right to vote .
In a statement , Paxton @ @ @ @ @ order would improve the security of the ballots .
“ The district court ’ s @ @ @ @ @ , disrupts the democratic process , and will only lead to voter confusion .
It @ @ @ @ @ Paxton said .
“ Mail-in ballots are particularly vulnerable to fraud , “ added Paxton @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly made by President Donald Trump .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--2 small aircraft collide in France, killing 5 people

PARIS - An ultra-light airplane collided on Saturday with another small plane , killing five people as the two aircraft @ @ @ @ @ small town in France .
The collision occurred in the skies above Loches , about @ @ @ @ @ ) from Tours , southeast of Paris , according to the mayor , Marc Angenault @ @ @ @ @ the France Bleu radio station .
According to Nadia Seghier , head of the prefecture @ @ @ @ @ the Indre-et-Loire region , the ultra-light plane fell around a home near the town ’ @ @ @ @ @ on the ground .
The tourism aircraft , reportedly a four-seat single engine plane , @ @ @ @ @ .
Two of the dead were in the ultra-light plane and the three others in @ @ @ @ @ There were no reports of survivors .
About 50 firefighters and 30 gendarmes rushed to @ @ @ @ @ , as well as aviation specialists , the radio station said .
The reason for @ @ @ @ @ known , and an investigation to determine the cause was opened .


thetorontostar--2020-10-10--2 charged in Michigan plots served in US Marines

DETROIT - The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed Saturday that two men charged in plots against Michigan ’ s government spent time in the military .
Officials are “ aware of the circumstances surrounding ” Daniel Harris and Joseph Morrison and will assist in any way in the investigation , the Marine Corps said in an emailed statement .
Harris is one of six men charged federally with conspiring to kidnap Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer before the Nov. 3 elections .
Morrison , 26 , is one of seven men charged under the state ’ s anti-terrorism law for allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignite a “ civil war.
” Authorities say he was a founding member of the “ anti-government , anti-law enforcement ” Wolverine Watchmen .
Harris ’ s military file shows he was a rifleman , serving from 2014 until last year .
He attained the rank of corporal E-4 in 2019 and his final duty assignment was at Camp Lejeune , North Carolina .
Morrison was a lance corporal and served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 2015 until Thursday , the day he was arraigned on state charges .
The Marine Corps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ unrelated to ( his ) current situation.
” Morrison ’ s last assignment was with the 4th Marine Logistics Group in Battle Creek , Michigan .