thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Nigeria protesters break curfew amid gunfire, chaos in Lagos

LAGOS , Nigeria - Nigerians protesting against police brutality stayed on the streets in Lagos on Wednesday , breaking the government curfew following a night of chaotic violence in which demonstrators were fired upon , sparking global outrage .
Shots were fired Wednesday as young demonstrators set up barricades by the Lekki toll plaza in Lagos , where protesters had been fired upon Tuesday night , causing numerous injuries although officials said no deaths .
Gunfire could be heard across Lagos , Nigeria ’ s largest city of 14 million , including on the highway to the airport , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offices of a television station and at the Lekki tollgates .
Smoke could be seen billowing from several points in central Lagos .
Demonstrations and gunfire were also reported in several other Nigerian cities , including the capital city , Abuja .
The nationwide # EndSARS protests against police brutality have rocked Nigeria for more than two weeks .
They started after a video circulated of a man being beaten , apparently by officers of the police Special Anti-Robbery Squad , known as SARS .
In response to the protests , the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which Amnesty International says has been responsible for many cases of torture and killings .
The demonstrators ’ demands have widened to include calls for accountable government , respect for human rights and an end to corruption in Africa ’ s most populous nation of 196 million .
Despite massive oil wealth and one of Africa ’ s largest economies , Nigeria ’ s people have high levels of poverty and lack of basic services , as a result of rampant corruption , charge rights groups .
Nigerians are reeling from several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll plaza in which protesters could be heard singing the national anthem in the darkness .
Shots are heard followed by sounds of people running away .
It ’ s not clear who was firing the shots heard in the videos , but Nigeria ’ s security forces have been blamed for at least 10 deaths during the protests by Amnesty International , which has accused the police and military of using excessive force against the demonstrators .
There have also been widespread reports of the youthful protesters being attacked by armed gangs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police to break up the protests .
The Lagos governor Wednesday confirmed more than 20 injuries from the Lekki shootings , but said that no one had been killed .
He said he went to hospitals and mortuaries throughout the city .
Speaking in a televised address , Lagos governor Obajide Sanwo-Olu said he has ordered an investigation into the actions of the military at Lekki plaza , an indication that the army may be responsible .
“ For clarity , it is imperative to explain that no sitting governor controls the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have nonetheless instructed an investigation into the orders and the adopted rules of engagement employed by the officers and men of the Nigerian army that were deployed to the Lekki tollgate last night , “ the governor said .
“ This is with a view to taking this up with a higher command of the military and to seek the intervention of Mr. President in his capacity as a commander in chief to unravel the sequence of events that happened yesterday night.
” “ This is the toughest night of our lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to make dark notes in our history , but we will face it and come out stronger .
I ’ ve just concluded visits to hospitals with victims of this unfortunate shooting incident at Lekki , “ the governor tweeted earlier Wednesday .
He had also warned on Twitter that the protests against police brutality had “ degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society.
” President Muhammadu Buhari has been largely silent on the protests and violence sweeping across the country .
Nigeria ’ s spiraling crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden who on denounced the shootings .
“ I urge President Buhari and the Nigerian military to cease the violent crackdown on protesters in Nigeria , which has already resulted in several deaths , ” wrote Biden .
“ My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one in the violence .
The United States must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy .
I encourage the government to engage in a good-faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-standing grievances and work together for a more just and inclusive Nigeria.
” Before the shootings at Lekki , Nigeria ’ s police statement warned that security forces would now “ exercise the full powers of the law to prevent any further attempt on lives and property of citizens.
” The reports of fatal shootings in Lekki come after two chaotic weeks of mounting protests leading to more widespread social unrest .
On Tuesday , authorities said nearly 2,000 inmates had broken out of jail after crowds attacked two correctional facilities a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was deploying anti-riot police across Nigeria and ordered forces to strengthen security around correctional facilities .
The curfew in Lagos began Tuesday afternoon and most businesses and shops are closed across the city but the demonstrators are erecting barricades in the streets .
The curfew was announced after a police station was burned down in the city and two people were shot dead by police .
Lagos has been the centre of the protests , with demonstrators at times blocking access to the airport and barricading roads leading to the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went into effect in Benin City after a pair of attacks on correctional facilities that left 1,993 inmates missing .
Interior Ministry spokesman Mohammed Manga said large , armed crowds had attacked the two prisons , subduing the guards on duty .
It was unclear what the prisons ’ exact populations had been before the attack .
“ Most of the inmates held at the centres are convicted criminals serving terms for various criminal offences , awaiting execution or standing trial for violent crimes , ” he said in a statement .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video circulated showing a man being beaten , apparently by police officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad , known as SARS .
Young protesters marched in cities across Nigeria , under the banner # EndSARS .
In response , the government announced it would ban the anti-robbery squad , which for several years human rights groups have blamed for widespread abuses , including torture and killings .
The demonstrators have not been satisfied with the disbandment of the SARS unit and are demanding an end to abuses and respect for human rights in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The protests have stopped traffic in Lagos , the capital Abuja and many other large cities in Nigeria , a country of 196 million people .

Sam Olukoya And Lekan Oyekanmi - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Turkey: Police officers on trial for 2015 killing of lawyer

ISTANBUL - Three police officers went on trial Wednesday in southeastern Turkey for the killing of a prominent lawyer and human rights defender nearly five years ago .
Lawyer Tahir Elci was shot and killed while making a press statement on the destruction of a historic mosque in the Sur district of Diyarbakir province .
The officers are charged with “ causing death by foreseeable negligence ” in Elci ’ s Nov. 28 , 2015 death and face possible prison sentences of two to six years in prison .
The police officers are attending the proceedings through video conference and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , Sur and other areas in the southeast had seen intense clashes between Turkish security forces and members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers ’ Party , or PKK , and round-the-clock curfews .
Two PKK militants shot and killed two police officers in a nearby street and ran toward the streets where the news conference was held , exchanging gunfire with other police officers .
Turkish officials previously said Elci got caught in the crossfire .
A fourth suspect on trial , an alleged member of the PKK who is not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of the two police officers , the foreseeable intentional killing of Elci and “ disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state.
” The 40-page indictment said the bullet that killed Elci was never found and therefore the gun could not be identified .
It said the three police officers as well as two militants had fired their guns .
Elci , 49 , was the head of the Diyarbakir bar association .
An ethnic Kurd , he received death threats and was to go on trial for “ terror propaganda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political movement rather than a terrorist organization during a television program .
Elci worked as a human rights lawyer in southeastern Turkey , handling cases involving enforced disappearances and killings by security forces during the 1990s when the conflict between Turkey and the PKK was at its bloodiest .
Research group Forensic Architecture , which published a detailed analysis of Elci ’ s killing , said the 2015 slayings of the police officers and Elci should be considered separate incidents .
The research group , based at the University of London , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed Elci could have only come from one of the police officers .
Human Rights Watch said there were “ huge obstacles ” to an effective investigation , including the alleged failure by investigators to collect evidence at the crime scene or to inspect the officers ’ firearms .
“ For five years , the family and friends of Tahir Elci have pushed for an effective investigation of his killing and for his killers to be brought to justice , ” Human Rights Watch deputy program director Tom Porteous said .
“ Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and internationally will be focused on whether the conduct of the trial is designed to reveal the full circumstances of Elci ’ s killing or instead to try to exonerate the police at all cost .
”

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thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Syria president orders new tax breaks amid rising hardship

DAMASCUS , Syria - Syria ’ s president decreed a new income tax exemption on Wednesday intended to provide relief to low-income earners at a time of deepening economic hardship in the war-ravaged country .
The decree exempts those making 50,000 liras ( $ 40 ) a month or less from paying income tax .
The limit was previously set at 15,000 liras ( $ 12 ) .
It also reduced the level of taxes paid in the lowest bracket to 4 % from 5 % .
“ The new amendment reduces the tax burden on those with low incomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not clear how many people would benefit from the tax break .
The Syrian economy , already battered by years of conflict and corruption , has suffered in recent months from an unprecedented plunge in the value of the local currency .
That has led to increasing shortages of imported basic goods such as oil and wheat .
Economic activities were hard-hit by restrictions imposed to face the coronavirus pandemic .
The cash-strapped government has meanwhile progressively removed subsidies on fuel .
This week , the price of industrial fuel doubled as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifted .
Many Syrians are struggling to meet basic needs , with long lines outside bakeries while many shut down because of wheat shortages .
Rare protests against the government and corruption erupted last summer , reflecting rising public anger .
Syria has been under heavy U.S. and European sanctions for years .
The sanctions , most imposed because of the government ’ s bloody crackdown on protests in 2011 , have recently been tightened to include senior officials of the government of President Bashar Assad , as well as family members .


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--As fighting rages in Nagorno-Karabakh, coronavirus spreads

People infected with the coronavirus pack into cold basements along with the healthy to hide from artillery fire in Nagorno-Karabakh , while doctors who have tested positive do surgery on those wounded in the shelling .
These are the grim realities of the pandemic in a region beset by weeks of heavy fighting .
Nagorno-Karabakh , which lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia for more than a quarter-century , is facing the largest escalation of hostilities since a war there ended in 1994 .
In just over three weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two attempts at cease-fires have failed to stop the conflict .
The fighting has diverted the region ’ s scarce resources from containing the outbreak , which spread unchecked during the first two weeks of fighting that began on Sept. 27 .
Contact-tracing ground to a halt , and intense artillery and rocket strikes forced people into overcrowded bunkers , where it was impossible to separate the sick from the healthy .
Health workers have been hit particularly hard .
“ Almost everyone got infected , some had it in a light form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Malvina Badalyan , chief doctor at the infectious disease clinic in the regional capital of Stepanakert , said of health workers in the region .
But in the middle of a war , with wounded people flooding into hospitals , there ’ s nothing to do but keep working .
“ Many doctors and nurses knew that they were infected , but they kept mum about it , ” said Ararat Ohanjanyan , the health minister for Nagorno-Karabakh ’ s regional government .
“ They may lie down in a corner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get up and continue to perform surgeries.
” “ No one has the right now to step aside , ” he added .
When the the latest escalation of fighting started , medical workers had no time or resources to deal with the outbreak , Ohanjanyan said .
“ We didn ’ t have time to track down those infected while Stepanakert came under heavy shelling , and it allowed contagion to spread , ” he said .
Ohanjanayan himself tested positive for the virus just over a week ago — and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running a fever and fighting pneumonia .
In the past week , the shelling of Stepanakert has become less intense , and ambulance crews have finally been able to visit shelters and basements to track down the sick , Ohanjanyan said , adding that regular testing and isolation of the infected has resumed .
Patients in the most serious condition have been sent to Armenia , while others have been admitted to hospitals or received treatment at their homes in the region .
But Ohanjanyan said authorities still don ’ t have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected .
Armenia , which supports the separatist region via a land corridor , has also seen a sharp increase in cases over the past weeks .
The seven-day rolling average of daily new infections has nearly tripled since early October to 44 per 100,000 people on Oct. 20 .
As Nagorno-Karabakh ’ s medical system faced a massive challenge , regular residents and health workers alike volunteered to deliver medicine to people hiding in basements and to help track down those who had become infected .
Aram Gregorian , a doctor who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shelling , said the cramped conditions in bunkers helped fuel the virus ’ s spread .
“ Constant shelling forces people to stay in tight groups in basements , and they can ’ t self-isolate , “ he said .
” Even those who have a fever and clinical signs of COVID-19 can ’ t get treatment or go to the hospital.
” Irina Musaelyan , a Stepanakert resident who was hiding in a basement along with her neighbours , said that the war overshadowed the virus outbreak .
“ We just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about coronavirus , ” she said .
Even at the infectious disease clinic in Stepanakert , coronavirus patients were forced to shelter in the basement .
Arevik Israelyan , who was visiting her husband who is hospitalized at the clinic with the virus , said the outbreak is challenge — but people mostly worry about the war .
“ People get infected , but we will live through it , “ she said .
“ The main thing is that there is no war .
”


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Ericsson earnings boosted by 5G network rollouts

STOCKHOLM - Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson has reported upbeat third quarter earnings , helped mainly by the rollout of 5G wireless networks in China and a strong U.S. market .
The Stockholm-based company said Wednesday that net profit for the July-September period was 5.6 billion kronor ( $ 640 million ) , compared with a loss of 6.9 billion kronor the previous year .
Sales were up 1 % at 57.5 billion kronor .
Ericsson CEO Borje Ekholm said the company ’ s contracts for the next generation 5G networks in mainland China “ have developed according to plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are expected to improve further ” .
Ekholm also pointed to the North American market where “ underlying business fundamentals remain strong , ” driven by consolidation in the market and increased demand for 5G , the new generation rapid mobile networks .
Ericsson competes in the 5G business with China ’ s Huawei and Finland ’ s Nokia , the two other main global network suppliers .
South Korea ’ s Samsung has , too , made inroads to the network business in the past few years and recently scored a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. carrier Verizon Wireless .
Ericsson said it now has 112 commercial 5G agreements with 65 live networks with different operators .
Nordic rival Nokia plays catch up , saying on its webpage that it has secured 101 commercial 5G deals with 36 live networks as of Oct. 21 .
However , the Nordic duo still trails market leader Huawei in confirmed 5G deals .
Ericsson and Nokia said separately on Wednesday that they ’ ve landed a network deal with the Swedish telecom operator Telia , the Nordic region ’ s leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after Sweden banned Huawei from 5G networks over allegations it can allow the Chinese government to snoop on data .
Huawei denies the allegations .
Ericsson said it would upgrade Telia ’ s 4G network in Sweden and Estonia , while Nokia said it would deploy 5G network for Telia in Finland and and act as a supplier to its 5G stand-alone networks in various countries in the region .
Nokia will report its third quarter earnings on Oct. 29 .


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Trump ups pressure on Barr to probe Bidens as election nears

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on Attorney General William Barr to immediately launch an investigation into unverified claims about Democrat Joe Biden and his son Hunter , effectively demanding that the Justice Department muddy his political opponent and abandon its historic resistance to getting involved in elections .
With just two weeks to go before Election Day , Trump for the first time explicitly called on Barr to investigate the Bidens and even pointed to the nearing Nov. 3 election as reason that Barr should not delay taking action .
Trump has been levelling accusations of corruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but is stepping up the pressure in the final days of the campaign .
“ We ’ ve got to get the attorney general to act , ” Trump said in an interview on “ Fox & Friends.
” “ He ’ s got to act , and he ’ s got to act fast .
He ’ s got to appoint somebody .
This is major corruption , and this has to be known about before the election.
” Julian Zelizer , a presidential historian at Princeton University , suggested that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has moved into uncharted territory for presidential politics .
“ The question is , Does Barr erode the guidelines and reforms from the post-Watergate era and move forward with this ?
” Zelizer said .
“ We are seeing a total politicization of the justice system in the final stages of an election.
” Trump ’ s pressuring of Barr comes as national and battleground polls show him facing an increasingly narrow path to reelection .
The president has repeatedly cited Hunter Biden ’ s past —often with unsubstantiated claims — as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden in the White House .
The president has been promoting an unconfirmed New York Post report published last week that cites an email in which an official from Ukrainian gas company Burisma thanked Hunter Biden , who served on the company ’ s board , for arranging for him to meet Joe Biden during a 2015 visit to Washington .
The Biden campaign has rejected Trump ’ s assertion of wrongdoing and noted that Biden ’ s schedule did not show a meeting with the Burisma official .
Trump has yet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have committed , but that has not stopped him from going as far as suggesting to voters that Biden belongs in jail .
The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment on the president ’ s call for an investigation .
The president ’ s attempts to darken Biden ’ s reputation in the final lap of the election echo his “ lock her up ” attacks in 2016 on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton , who faced FBI scrutiny in the final months of the campaign over her use of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business .
Trump is trying to use all levers of power at his disposal as he struggles to gain ground on Biden .
He has also expressed increasing anger over the resistance of the Justice Department to some of his appeals .
In addition to his call for a Biden probe , the president has become frustrated with Barr over the pace of the Justice Department ’ s investigation into the origin of the Russia probe , which will not be completed by Election Day .
Trump and his allies had high hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Attorney John Durham , betting it would expose what they believe is wrongdoing when the FBI opened a case into whether the Trump campaign was co-ordinating with Russia to sway the 2016 election .
But a year and a half in , there ’ s been only one criminal case : a former FBI lawyer who pleaded guilty to altering a government email about a former Trump campaign adviser who was a target of secret FBI surveillance .
Trump ’ s hasn ’ t hidden his frustration .
He recently retweeted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the love of GOD ARREST SOMEBODY.
” During a rally in Arizona on Monday , he suggested Biden would be in prison if Barr wasn ’ t such “ a very nice man.
” “ I know people that would have had him locked up five weeks ago , ” Trump said .
“ Bill Barr is a very nice man and a very fair man .
And in many ways , it doesn ’ t make some of us happy.
” Barr has privately expressed frustration over the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in agreement with Trump on the need to investigate the origins of the Russia probe , he ’ s often bemoaned Trump ’ s lack of understanding about the intricacies of the legal system and the steps that need to be taken to complete an investigation .
As the election nears , Barr has kept a lower profile , limiting his time in front of the cameras to avoid facing direct questions from the media about Trump ’ s demands for greater Justice Department involvement in the election .
The department on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against tech giant Google , but Barr was in Florida speaking at a law enforcement conference .
Barr also has remained relatively quiet after U.S. attorneys announced charges against a group of men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a Democratic ally of Biden ’ s .
“ He ’ s toned it down , but it ’ s hard to know what else might be going on behind the scenes , ” Carl Tobias , a constitutional law expert at the University of Richmond , said of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower profile in recent week , he has publicly sided with Trump on election matters .
He said foreign nations could print counterfeit ballots , something intelligence officials say there ’ s no evidence of and would be nearly impossible .
After Trump encouraged North Carolina voters to vote twice to try to test the system , which is illegal , Barr declined to definitively say it was illegal , instead saying he wasn ’ t familiar with the laws in every state .
Trump ’ s call for a Justice Department investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after 11 GOP House members sent a letter to Barr calling for a special prosecutor to probe whether Biden received foreign money during his tenure in the Obama administration and if he allowed Hunter Biden “ to peddle access to his father with foreign business entities.
” R. Michael Cassidy , a legal ethics expert at Boston College ’ s law school , said the push might be at odds with the department ’ s historical resistance to getting involved in shaping elections , but he added that Barr — much like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a willingness to bend norms .
“ Remember , this is the same attorney general who said that stay-at-home orders imposed at the state levels were the greatest intrusion on civil liberties since slavery , ” Cassidy said .
“ He is a norm breaker .
He ’ s not a traditional attorney general.
” Madhani reported from Chicago .
Associated Press writers Mike Balsamo and Deb Riechmann in Washington contributed to this report .

Aamer Madhani And Colleen Long - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--AP Explains: Trump seizes on dubious Biden-Ukraine story

WASHINGTON - Looking to undermine rival Joe Biden two weeks before the election , President Donald Trump ’ s campaign has seized on a tabloid story offering bizarre twists to a familiar line of attack : Biden ’ s relationship with Ukraine .
But the story in the New York Post raised more questions than answers , including about the authenticity of an email at the centre of the story .
The origins of the story also trace back to Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani , who has repeatedly pushed unfounded claims about Biden and his son , Hunter Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are legitimate , they don ’ t validate Trump and Giuliani ’ s claims that Biden ’ s actions were influenced by his son ’ s business dealings in Ukraine .
A look at the development : HOW DID BIDEN ’ S SON BECOME A CAMPAIGN ISSUE ?
Hunter Biden joined the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma in 2014 , around the time his father , then U.S. vice-president , was helping conduct the Obama administration ’ s foreign policy with Ukraine .
Senate Republicans said in a recent report that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of interest , but they did not present evidence that the hiring influenced U.S. policies .
Trump and his supporters , meanwhile , have advanced a widely discredited theory that Biden pushed for the firing of Ukraine ’ s top prosecutor to protect his son and Burisma from investigation .
Biden did indeed press for the prosecutor ’ s firing , but that ’ s because he was reflecting the official position of not only the Obama administration but many Western countries and because the prosecutor was perceived as soft on corruption .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ SAY ?
The main email highlighted by the Post is an April 2015 message that it said was sent to Hunter Biden by Vadym Pozharskyi , an adviser to Burisma ’ s board .
In it , he thanks the younger Biden “ for inviting me to DC and giving an opportunity to meet your father and spent ( sic ) some time together .
It ’ s realty ( sic ) an honour and pleasure.
” The wording makes it unclear if he actually met Joe Biden .
The Biden campaign said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s schedules from the time and that no meeting as described by the newspaper took place .
HOW DID THE POST OBTAIN THE EMAILS ?
It ’ s a tangled saga .
The Post says it received a copy of a hard drive containing the messages from Giuliani , who has pushed the idea that Ukraine was trying to interfere with the 2016 election and that the younger Biden may have enriched himself by selling his access to his father .
The Post says the emails were part of a trove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was dropped off at a computer repair shop in Delaware in April 2019 .
It says the customer , whom the owner could not definitively identify as Hunter Biden , never paid for the service or retrieved it , and says the owner made a copy of the hard drive that he provided to Giuliani ’ s lawyer .
The owner of the Wilmington shop declined to comment last week to The Associated Press , but in news media interviews he has said he contacted the FBI through an intermediary and provided agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s contents .
ARE THE NEW EMAILS AUTHENTIC ?
Hunter Biden himself has not spoken publicly in the last week , including to confirm whether or not the laptop is his .
The Biden campaign has also not addressed that question , though a lawyer for Hunter Biden , George Mesires , said in a statement last week that “ we have no idea where this came from , and certainly can not credit anything that Rudy Giuliani provided to the NY Post.
” Some former national security officials and other experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a possible foreign disinformation effort , especially given the involvement of Giuliani and his active role in promoting an anti-Biden narrative on Ukraine .
But John Ratcliffe , the director of national intelligence , knocked down that idea in a Fox News interview Monday , saying , “ The intelligence community doesn ’ t believe that because there ’ s no intelligence that supports that.
” The FBI appeared to endorse Ratcliffe ’ s position in a letter to a Senate committee that had requested information on the laptop .
“ Regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have nothing to add at this time to the October 19th public statement by the Director of National Intelligence about the available actionable intelligence , ” wrote Jill Tyson , director of the office of Congressional Affairs , in the letter to Sen. Ron Johnson , the Republican chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee .
Tyson also said she could not confirm or deny the existence of any investigation , in keeping with Justice Department practice .
IF AUTHENTIC , ARE THESE EMAILS DAMAGING TO BIDEN ?
The suggestion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Burisma representative is consequential , because he has repeatedly insisted that he never discussed his son ’ s business with him .
But the emails provide no details on whether Pozharskyi and Biden actually met and , if so , what they discussed .
If Biden did meet with Pozharskyi , he was not the only U.S. official who may have done so .
Pozharskyi was part of a Burisma delegation that lobbied congressional officials in 2014 in an attempt to show that the firm was not a corruption risk .
HOW @ @ @ @ @ @ @ STORY ?
Companies like Twitter and Facebook , already under pressure to police their platforms ahead of the election , quickly flagged the article and moved to restrict its accessibility online — an action decried as censorship by Trump and his supporters , including congressional Republicans .
Facebook spokesman Andy Stone announced on Twitter that the company was working to reduce the distribution of the article on its platform .
Twitter began banning its users from sharing links to the article in tweets and direct messages because it violated the company ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later changed its approach and allowed users to share links to the Post story .
With two weeks until Election Day and polls showing him trailing Biden , Trump appears to be returning to the subject of his opponent ’ s family to energize his base .
But in an election dominated by concerns about the coronavirus pandemic , it ’ s less certain Trump ’ s strategy will appeal to the voters he needs to win back , including moderate Republicans and suburban women .
Trump ’ s called for a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter and with Pozharskyi .
Trump said in an interview with Newsmax that the Post had caught Biden “ cold ” with “ serious ” allegations .
Biden ’ s campaign , meanwhile , pointed to the recent Republican-led Senate investigation that found no evidence of wrongdoing on Biden ’ s part with regard to Ukraine .
It also pointedly noted the involvement of Giuliani , saying his “ discredited conspiracy theories and alliance with figures connected to Russian intelligence have been widely reported.
” Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz in Chicago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jaffe in Washington , Barbara Ortutay in Oakland , Calif. , and Bill Barrow in Wilmington , Del.
, contributed to this report .

Eric Tucker And Stephen Braun - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Asia Today: Philippines allows foreign travel to resume

MANILA , Philippines - The Philippines on Wednesday lifted a ban on non-essential foreign trips by Filipinos , but the immigration bureau said the move did not immediately spark large numbers of departures for tourism and leisure .
The government has gradually eased travel restrictions to bolster the economy , which slipped into recession in the second quarter following months of lockdown and quarantine to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
Travellers to other countries are required to show confirmed roundtrip tickets , travel and health insurance , a declaration acknowledging the risks of travel and trip delays , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that clears them of COVID-19 .
Aside from tedious pre-departure requirements , many countries still restrict the entry of travellers from nations with high number of coronavirus infections , including the Philippines .
The Department of Health has reported more than 360,000 confirmed cases , the second-highest in Southeast Asia , with at least 6,690 deaths .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : — Prime Minister Narendra Modi says laxity could lead to a new surge in infections , as India reported 54,044 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million .
The Health Ministry on Wednesday also reported 717 additional deaths for a total of 115,914 .
Deaths and new cases per day have been declining in India since last month , but Modi is urging people to continue wearing masks and observing social distancing until a vaccine is available .
Health officials have warned about the potential for the virus to spread during the ongoing religious festival season that includes huge gatherings in temples and shopping districts .
— Australian authorities say they ’ re treating a COVID-19 case in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The only coronavirus case reported in the former hot spot of Victoria state on Tuesday had also tested positive in July .
Victoria Premier Dan Andrews said Wednesday an expert panel ’ s decision to classify the case as a reinfection reflected “ an abundance of caution ” rather than conclusive evidence .
Melbourne has been in lockdown since early July , but restrictions in Australia ’ s second-largest city are easing this week as daily infection tallies remain low .
Victoria reported three new cases on Wednesday .
The state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections in a day in early August .
— Eighteen fishing crewmen who last week flew to New Zealand from Moscow have tested positive for the coronavirus , underscoring the difficulty New Zealand faces in trying to import needed workers while remaining virtually virus free .
A total of 235 crew from Russia and Ukraine were on the flight chartered by three fishing companies .
Before leaving Moscow , they were supposed to have self-isolated for two weeks and tested negative for the virus .
All remain in quarantine at a Christchurch hotel @


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Face to face: Trump and Biden to meet for final debate

NASHVILLE - President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger , Joe Biden , are set to square off in their final debate Thursday , one of the last high-profile opportunities for the trailing incumbent to change the trajectory of an increasingly contentious campaign .
Worried about losing the White House , some advisers are urging Trump to trade his aggressive demeanour from the first debate for a lower-key style that puts Biden more squarely in the spotlight .
But it ’ s unclear whether the president will listen .
Biden , who has stepped off the campaign trail in favour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get intensely personal .
The former vice-president and his inner circle see the president ’ s approach chiefly as an effort to distract from the coronavirus , its economic fallout and other crises .
With less than two weeks until Election Day , Biden is leading most national polls and has a narrower advantage in the battleground states that could decide the race .
More than 42 million people have already cast their ballots .
The debate , moderated by NBC ’ s Kristen Welker , is a final chance for both men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience of tens of millions of voters .
“ The rule is that last debates before the election have a big impact , ” said presidential historian Michael Beschloss , who made clear the legacy of the candidates ’ first faceoff : “ That was the most out-of-control presidential debate we have seen.
” Trump , who staged a remarkable comeback in the closing days of the 2016 campaign , believes he can do it again by using the power of the presidency to attack his rival .
Trump on Tuesday called on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an investigation into unverified claims about Biden and his son Hunter , effectively demanding that the Justice Department muddy his political opponent and abandon its historic resistance to getting involved in elections .
The president has promoted an unconfirmed New York Post report published last week that cites an email in which an official from Ukrainian gas company Burisma thanked Hunter Biden , who served on the company ’ s board , for arranging for him to meet Joe Biden during a 2015 visit to Washington .
The Biden campaign has rejected Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Biden ’ s schedule did not show a meeting with the Burisma official .
Some former national security officials and other experts said the episode raised multiple red flags of a possible foreign disinformation effort , especially given the involvement of Rudy Giuliani , Trump ’ s personal attorney , and Giuliani ’ s active role in promoting an anti-Biden narrative on Ukraine .
But John Ratcliffe , the director of national intelligence , dismissed that disinformation theory .
And the FBI appeared to endorse Ratcliffe ’ s position in a letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information on a laptop purportedly belonging to Hunter Biden .
Trump ’ s attacks on the Biden family have been relentless , including his efforts to get Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden , which led to Trump ’ s impeachment .
It ’ s part of a determined , yet so-far-unsuccessful effort to drive up his opponent ’ s negatives , as he did with Hillary Clinton four years ago .
Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said , “ Trump is still the political outsider , while Biden is the ultimate insider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his son to sell access to him while he was vice-president.
” While Biden will defend his own record and his son , aides have said , he hopes to focus on making the case that Trump is unfit for office and let the nation down during a confluence of crises .
“ He knows that people want to hear about how we ’ re going to help working families get through the end of the month and pay the rent , ” his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris , said Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what people care about , and one of the things I love about Joe Biden — he doesn ’ t take on or talk about other people ’ s kids.
” The one-two punch of the first debate and the president ’ s three-day hospital stint after contracting COVID-19 rattled his base of support and triggered alarm among Republicans who fear the White House and Senate could be slipping away .
The initial debate was the most tumultuous in modern history , with a belligerent tone that was persistent and somehow fitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
Amid heated clashes over the pandemic , the Supreme Court and the integrity of the election itself , Trump refused to condemn white supremacists who have supported him , telling one such group known as the Proud Boys to “ stand back and stand by.
” The two men frequently talked over each other with Trump interrupting , nearly shouting , so often that Biden eventually snapped at him , “ Will you shut up , man ?
” Aides have urged Trump , who has skipped debate prep , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden to speak more and get himself in trouble with verbal gaffes and lapses .
But the president has made no promises .
“ Some people think , ‘ Let him talk , ’ because he loses his train ( of thought ) , he just loses it and he doesn ’ t speak the train of thought , ” Trump said in a town hall discussion taped at the White House Rose Garden and aired by Sinclair Broadcast Group on Wednesday evening .
“ But we ’ ll see what happens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be there.
” It was two days after the first debate in Cleveland when Trump tested positive for the coronavirus .
The White House has refused to reveal when the president had last tested negative before the debate , raising questions as to whether he was already infected when he took the stage .
After the diagnosis , the Commission on Presidential Debates ruled that the second debate , which was to have been held last week , be virtual .
Trump balked , leading to the cancellation of the debate and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , speaking at the same time more than 1,000 miles ( 1,600 kilometres ) apart .
On the debate stage Wednesday , two large plexiglass shields had been put in place in front of the candidates ’ lecterns .
On Thursday night , in an effort to curtail interruptions , Trump and Biden will each have his microphone cut off while his rival delivers an opening two-minute answer to each of the six debate topics , the commission announced .
The mute button won ’ t figure in the open discussion portion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Trump .
“ The mute is very unfair , ” he said Wednesday as he left the White House for a campaign rally .
Lemire reported from Washington .
Barrow reported from Atlanta .
Additional reporting by Alexandra Jaffe and Zeke Miller in Washington and Aamer Madhani in Chicago .

Jonathan Lemire, Bill Barrow And Steve Peoples - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--The Latest: S Korea cases jump week after restrictions eased

SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has 121 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus , its first triple-digit daily jump in a week amid concerns about the country easing social distancing restrictions just last week to cope with a weak economy .
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Thursday that South Korea ’ s caseload is now at 25,543 for the pandemic , including 453 deaths .
Hundreds of recent infections have been tied to hospitals in major cities such as Seoul and Busan .
Officials are testing 130,000 workers at hospitals , nursing homes and senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reduce outbreaks .
South Korea has enforced its lowest level of social distancing measures since Oct. 13 , allowing high-risk businesses and karaoke bars to reopen and fans to return to professional sports .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : — North Dakota Republican governor calls National Guard to help with test results — Next up in hunt for COVID-19 vaccine : Testing shots in kids .
Pfizer received permission last week to test its vaccine in U.S. kids as young as 12 .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to rising coronavirus cases in the city .
— Brazil President overrules own health minister , rejecting purchase of 46 million doses of a potential coronavirus vaccine tested in Sao Paulo state .
Follow all of AP ’ s coronavirus pandemic coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : MEXICO CITY — Mexican health officials estimated Wednesday that the country has risen above 1 million coronavirus cases , though the figure includes both confirmed infections as well as suspected cases .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from COVID-19 at 102,293 , again including cases in which patients were not tested for the virus .
The Health Department says its pandemic caseload tally has reached 1,005,938 .
That includes people who have displayed symptoms of COVID-19 but were not given tests or whose samples could not be processed .
Test-confirmed cases total 867,559 .
The agency attributes 102,293 deaths to the pandemic , adding in deceased patients who weren ’ t tested but had symptoms judged to be caused by COVID-19 .
Test-confirmed deaths stand at 87,415 .
LANSING , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the state has more confirmed daily cases of the coronavirus than ever , and notes there has been a sharp increase since the state Supreme Court invalidated her sweeping restrictions earlier this month .
Confirmed infections had been gradually rising for months prior to the Oct. 2 ruling — from a seven-day average of 119 in June to 984 — as the governor loosened economic restrictions and allowed schools to reopen .
Since the court decision , the seven-day average has nearly doubled to 1,818 , although surrounding states without legal rulings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whitmer said Wednesday that “ these numbers are moving in the wrong direction ” and are putting Michigan “ in a dangerous moment , ” though she did not indicate whether another lockdown might be necessary .
COEUR D ’ ALENE , Idaho — Health officials in Idaho say people with COVID-19 in the northern part of the state soon may have to be sent for treatment in Seattle or Portland , Oregon , because the region ’ s hospitals are nearing capacity .
Kootenai Health said in a statement Wednesday that its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients that need medical or surgical care .
Chief Physician Executive Karen Cabell told KREM that the hospital nearing capacity is “ unprecedented.
” Idaho is seeing its largest spike in confirmed coronavirus infections since the pandemic began .
Newly reported cases have increased statewide by 46.5 % over the past two weeks .
MISSION , Kan. — Kansas Gov .
Laura is again calling for a statewide mask mandate as coronavirus infections climb in rural parts of the state that don ’ t require face covering .
Kelly said Wednesday that two-thirds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now are outside the Wichita and Kansas City region .
Over the summer , the governor issued an order requiring Kansas residents to wear masks , but more than 90 counties chose to opt out .
Kelly says she plans to discuss with legislative leaders on working toward a bipartisan requirement with more teeth .
The state health department says Kansas had 1,488 new confirmed coronavirus cases since Monday , an increase of 2 % that brought the total number of infections for the pandemic to 74,456 .
Kansas has had 952 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alabama ’ s lieutenant governor , who has called the state face mask order a government overstep during the pandemic , says he has tested positive for the coronavirus .
Lt. Gov .
Will Ainsworth said Wednesday that so far , he has no symptoms .
He said he took the test earlier in the day after being notified that a member of his Sunday school group had been infected .
Ainsworth has criticized mandatory mask orders , but he personally wears one .
He says that “ because I follow social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church and in my daily interactions , the positive result shows that even those of us who are the most cautious can be at risk.
” Data show coronavirus virus infections appear to be rising in Alabama again weeks of improvement .
SANTA FE , N.M. -- Health officials in New Mexico have reported a single-day record of 827 newly confirmed coronavirus cases .
The increase reported Wednesday raised the state ’ s total of confirmed cases during the pandemic to 38,715 .
There have been 950 deaths linked to COVID.19 .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus infections was 819 reported Friday .
BEAVER , Pa. -- A large , for-profit Pennsylvania nursing home where dozens of residents died of COVID-19 has been sued over allegations that it failed to take basic steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County near the Ohio border was among the hardest-hit nursing homes in the state .
It had more than 330 residents infected and 73 deaths .
It has been under a federal and state criminal investigation .
The lawsuit was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents and the families of 10 residents who died .
Brighton says it is working to “ closely follow the guidance ” of health officials .
ATLANTA — The deputy director for infectious diseases for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the United States is seeing a “ distressing trend ” with coronavirus cases increasing in nearly three-quarters of the country .
Dr. Jay Butler said at a briefing Wednesday one factor in the rises , particularly in the Midwest , is that people are spending more time indoors with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ that smaller , more intimate gatherings of family , friends and neighbours may be driving infections as well ” at which people pay less attention to the need for face coverings and social distancing .
Butler says it ’ s important for people not to let down their guard .
He says : “ I recognize that we are all getting tired of the impact that COVID-19 has had on our lives .
We get tired of wearing masks .
But it continues to be as important as it ’ s ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The number of Iowa residents dying from the coronavirus is quickly rising again after weeks of increasing hospitalizations and outbreaks at nursing homes .
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 31 new COVID-19 deaths Wednesday , the highest daily figure since the beginning of the pandemic .
The deaths didn ’ t all happen in a 24-hour period , but were only confirmed to state officials .
At the state ’ s peak for deaths in May , an average of about 14 people were dying daily from the coronavirus .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six deaths a day , and the rate has climbed to about nine a day over the last two weeks .
In all , 1,582 people have died since March .
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota has reported 35 new COVID-19 deaths , equaling the state ’ s single-day high set May 28 .
It ’ s possible that some of the 35 deaths reported Wednesday did not happen during the previous 24 hours because it can take several days for deaths to be reported to the Minnesota Department of Health .
The seven-day rolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risen over the past two weeks from 9.71 to 11 as of Tuesday .
The latest deaths raised the state ’ s cumulative toll to 2,281 .
About 70 % of the deaths have occurred among residents of long-term care facilities .
MADISON , Wis. — Wisconsin has recorded its highest one-day total of new COVID-19 deaths and the first patient was admitted to a field hospital near Milwaukee that opened last week to help hospitals coping with the influx of patients .
The surge that began in early September showed no signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday and a whopping 43 % of those tested coming back as positive .
There have been 1,681 deaths to date from the coronavirus pandemic while nearly 183,000 people have tested positive , the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported .
That is up by 4,205 from the day before , although department spokeswoman Jennifer Miller said there was still some backlog in the reporting of positive cases following a data upgrade over the weekend .
The seven-day average of new confirmed cases also reached a new record high of 3,444 , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month ago and nearly five times what it was two months ago .
On Wednesday , the state reported its first patient to the field hospital on the state fairgrounds in West Allis outside of Milwaukee .
The state health department declined to reveal any details about the patient , citing privacy concerns .
ROME — The Italian region of Lazio , which includes Rome , is imposing an overnight curfew to combat surging coronavirus infections .
Lazio ’ s Gov .
Nicola Zingaretti , who was ill with COVID-19 early in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Starting at midnight Friday and for the next 30 days , people in Lazio won ’ t be allowed to leave their homes from midnight to 5 a.m. daily , except to go to or return from work or other urgent reasons such as health issues .
Earlier on Friday , Premier Giuseppe Conte , briefing senators , appealed to Italians to “ limit ” what he called “ unnecessary ” moving from place to place as well as “ superfluous actions , ” which he didn ’ t define .
With Conte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoiding any unpopular return to Italy ’ s severe lockdown earlier this year , regional leaders have been scrambling in recent days to devise their own strategy .
PHOENIX — An Arizona State University researcher says Arizona is seeing a surge in coronavirus cases that resembles the early stages of the summer spike that made the state one of the world ’ s worst hotspots .
Dr. Joshua LaBaer of the ASU Biodesign Institute said Wednesday the latest spike can be attributed to fatigue with masks and social distancing .
He says holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the disease .
Arizona on Wednesday reported 975 new confirmed coronavirus cases and another 17 deaths .
Hospitals reported 832 beds used by COVID-19 patients , the highest number since late August but well below the peak of about 3,500 in July .
HONOLULU — Honolulu police have issued warnings or citations to thousands of people in violation of coronavirus protocols since Hawaii launched a pre-arrival testing program to reopen to tourists .
The Honolulu Police Department says officers issued 4,500 warnings and 470 citations for not wearing masks or failing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the traveller testing program Thursday .
Police say they do not separate visitors and residents on their list of citations and warnings .
Officers also arrested several people for violations of the city ’ s emergency orders .
Supporters of reopening say tourists pose fewer risks than large gatherings of residents .
TRENTON , N.J. — New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy and the first lady tested negative for coronavirus on Wednesday , just hours after he abruptly left an event .
The Democrat was speaking at a workforce development event his office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Camden County College when he learned a recent contact had tested positive .
The 63-year-old governor say he has no symptoms and last tested negative on Monday .
Murphy spokesperson Mahen Gunaratna says Tammy Murphy also tested negative on Wednesday afternoon .
The governor and first lady will quarantine until the end of the weekend and take a test before resuming any in-person events .
The state ’ s daily coronavirus figures have doubled in the past month , state officials said this week .
New Jersey has reported more than 222,000 positive @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Watch: Obama holds drive-in rally for Biden, blasts Trump's response to COVID-19 crisis

PHILADELPHIA - Former President Barack Obama blasted President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus , his culpability in national discord and his overall fitness for the job on Wednesday as he made his first in-person campaign pitch for his former vice-president , Joe Biden .
With less than two weeks before Election Day , Obama used a drive-in campaign rally in Philadelphia to assure voters that Biden and his running mate , Kamala Harris , can mend a fractured country .
He lauded the merits of democracy and citizenship as “ human values ” that the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good and decent place , but we ’ ve just seen so much nonsense and noise that sometimes it ’ s hard to remember , ” Obama said , after spending much of his 35-minute speech upbraiding Trump as “ incapable of taking the job seriously ” and interested only in himself .
“ I ’ m asking you to remember what this country can be , ” Obama said .
“ I ’ m asking you to believe in Joe ’ s ability and Kamala ’ s ability to lead this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help us build it back better.
” Obama ’ s visit to Philadelphia underscores the significance of Pennsylvania , the Rust Belt state that helped deliver Trump the White House four years ago .
Pennsylvania is the battleground state that Biden has visited the most this campaign season .
Trump has prioritized the state as well , aware that his path to victory would narrow considerably without the state ’ s 20 electoral votes .
The president on Wednesday was in Erie , one of a handful of Pennsylvania counties that Obama won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama paid heed especially to disillusioned voters , including Black men and progressives wary of Biden .
He urged them not to sit out the Nov. 3 election , warning that complacency from some liberal voters is what helped Trump get elected four years ago .
“ What we do these next 13 days will matter for decades to come , ” Obama said .
“ The fact that we don ’ t get 100 % of what we want right away is not a good reason not to vote.
” As with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , Obama pulled no punches on his successor .
This time , though , he employed humour , sarcasm and outright incredulity befitting the trappings of a campaign rally .
Tieless and with his sleeves rolled up , Obama stood on a stage facing car-bound supporters watching him on screen and rewarding his attack lines with a cacophony of honking horns .
Beneath the scorn was a defence of his own record .
“ I never thought Donald Trump would embrace my vision or continue my policies , but I did hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he might show some interest in taking the job seriously , ” Obama said .
Trump “ wants full credit for the economy he inherited and no blame for the pandemic he ignored.
“ He disparaged the GOP ’ s “ shameful ” attempts to gut the 2010 Affordable Care Act while always promising a replacement .
“ It ’ s been ‘ coming in two weeks ’ for the last 10 years .
Where is it ?
Where is this great plan to replace Obamacare ?
” he asked .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never had one.
” Noting Trump ’ s penchant for insulting “ anybody who doesn ’ t support him , ” Obama vouched for Biden ’ s “ empathy ( and ) decency , ” and he argued the distinction matters beyond style .
“ Why would we accept this from the president of the United States , and why are folks making excuses for that ?
” Obama said .
“ There are consequences to these actions .
They embolden other people to be cruel and divisive and racist.
” Four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s closing argument in Philadelphia — at a rally for thousands the night before Election Day on Independence Mall .
With his reprisal for Biden , Obama reminded voters of 2016 , when Trump upset Clinton narrowly in Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin to forge an Electoral College majority despite losing the popular vote nationally .
“ I don ’ t care about the polls , ” Obama said .
“ There were a whole bunch of polls last time .
Didn ’ t work out because a whole bunch of folks stayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not this time .
Not this election.
” The roundtable was a personalized version of the same message , with the nation ’ s first Black president urging Black men not to give into apathy .
The host city , Philadelphia , is among the Democratic bastions in key battleground states where Black turnout four years ago fell off from Obama ’ s 2012 reelection in large enough numbers to tip the election in Trump ’ s favour .
Obama said he understood young voters ’ skepticism and disinterest .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 years old , I wasn ’ t all that woke , ” he said , adding that young Black men are “ not involved because they ’ re young and they ’ re distracted.
” But he said not voting gives away power because politicians respond to and reflect the citizens who cast votes .
“ One of the biggest tricks that ’ s perpetrated on the American people is this idea that the government is separate from you , ” Obama said .
“ The government ’ s us .
Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It wasn ’ t always for all of us , but the way it ’ s designed , it works based on who ’ s at the table.
” Despite the smaller scale , Democrats say Obama remains perhaps the party ’ s greatest campaign asset , including for Biden , given their personal ties .
Obama already had hosted virtual events geared to younger voters and lent his name to texts and emails encouraging supporters to register to vote and donate money to the campaign .
He has also been a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual fundraiser he headlined with Biden in June brought in $ 7.6 million , and he ’ s raised money and appeared in ads for down-ballot Democrats .
He is also planning to campaign for Biden in Miami on Saturday .
Obama said the future of the country is at stake .
“ We ’ ve got to vote like never before , ” he said in Philadelphia , “ and leave no doubt.
” AP ’ s Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early , by mail or absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Alexandra Jaffe And Bill Barrow - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Puerto Rico shutters 911 call centres amid coronavirus cases

SAN JUAN , Puerto Rico - All of Puerto Rico ’ s 911 call centres were shut down Wednesday night after several employees tested positive for the coronavirus , officials announced .
Public Safety Secretary Pedro Janer said people should call the island ’ s emergency management agency at 787-724-0124 or police at 787-343-2020 in an emergency .
He said both agencies are operating 24 hours a day .
However , people calling the first number that Janer provided get a recording asking them to call 911 for an emergency .
Then the recording provided callers with a directory .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lugo , president of Puerto Rico ’ s Association of Emergency Managers , told The Associated Press .
He said he was shocked at the government ’ s temporary plan to handle emergencies in the U.S. territory of 3.2 million people .
Lugo said officials should patch 911 calls through to another number , rather than forcing people to call a long number that they would have to read read or hear about on the news .
“ Response times will definitely be affected , “ he said .
It is the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary and secondary 911 call centres .
Janer said the buildings will be thoroughly cleaned and that he will soon announce when operations at the 911 call centres will resume .
It was unclear how many employees tested positive .
A spokeswoman did not return a message asking for comment .
Puerto Rico has reported more than 29,700 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections .
It has had more than 770 deaths from COVID-19 , the disease that can be caused by the virus .


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Watch: NASA spacecraft makes contact with asteroid Bennu, sending rubble flying

CAPE CANAVERAL , Fla. - NASA ’ s Osiris-Rex spacecraft crushed rocks and sent rubble flying as it briefly touched an asteroid , a strong indication that samples were collected for return to Earth , officials said Wednesday .
Scientists won ’ t know until next week how much was gathered at asteroid Bennu — they want at least a handful of the cosmic rubble .
But close-up pictures and video of Tuesday ’ s touch-and-go operation raised hopes that goal was achieved .
“ We really did kind of make a mess on the surface of this asteroid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the kind of mess we were hoping for , ” said lead scientist Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona at Tucson .
It was the first asteroid-sampling effort by the U.S. , coming four years after the spacecraft rocketed from Cape Canaveral and two years after it reached Bennu .
Japan has taken asteroid samples twice .
The carbon-rich Bennu is a time capsule believed to contain the original building blocks of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago and , as such , can help scientists better understand the origins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Osiris-Rex scored a near bull ’ s-eye , reaching down with its robot arm to within a yard ( meter ) of its intended target zone in the centre of boulder-rimmed Nightingale Crater .
The sampling container on the arm made contact with the black , crumbly terrain for about six seconds and pushed at least three-quarters of an inch ( 2 centimetres ) into the ground , crushing a large rock in the process , officials said .
As planned , pressurized nitrogen gas fired onto the surface a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of debris so the spacecraft could suck up as much dust and as many pebbles as possible .
The spacecraft quickly backed away and , by Wednesday , was a safe 50 miles ( 80 kilometres ) from Bennu .
Several hours passed before the pictures started pouring in .
Lauretta said he was up until the wee hours Wednesday , overjoyed at what he saw .
He watched the touch-and-go video about 100 times — “ it ’ s just so cool ” — then went to sleep .
“ I dreamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particles floating all around me , ” he said .
Over the next few days , a camera on the spacecraft will aim at the sampler on the end of the robot arm , looking for signs of asteroid residue .
If the lighting is right , the camera might even be able to peek into the sample chamber .
The spacecraft will also be put into a slow spin , with its arm extended , to provide a more accurate measure of the precious payload .
Based on the images , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as good as we could have imagined it would , and I think the chances that there ’ s material inside ... have gone way up , ” Lauretta said .
If fewer than 2 ounches ( 60 grams ) were collected , the team must decide by Oct. 30 whether to try again .
A second attempt would not occur until January — at another location .
The plan calls for Osiris-Rex to depart Bennu in March , which would put the samples on track for a touchdown in the Utah desert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nowhere near the end , ” cautioned Thomas Zurbuchen , head of NASA ’ s science missions .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Wanna go for a walk? Westminster dog show leaves NYC for ‘21

NEW YORK - The Westminster dog show is set to take a long walk .
The nation ’ s top pooch pageant will be held outdoors at an estate about 25 miles north of Manhattan on June 12-13 because of the pandemic , the Westminster Kennel Club said Wednesday .
The shift to the Lyndhurst site along the Hudson River in Tarrytown , New York , will mark the first time in more than 100 years that best in show at Westminster hasn ’ t been awarded at Madison Square Garden .
In 1920 , the top prize was presented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Four different versions of the Garden have hosted Westminster since 1880 -- the show began three years earlier .
The show is typically held in February , around Valentine ’ s Day .
“ The wide-open outdoor space at this extraordinary venue allows us to hold a dog show safely while following current social distancing guidelines and public health regulations , ” WKC President Charlton Reynders III said in a statement .
Breed and group judging will be held both days , and best in show will be chosen June 13 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site has hosted dog shows over the years .
There will be 207 breeds eligible at the next Westminster , including three newcomers : the Belgian Laekenois , the dogo Argentino and the barbet .
Siba the standard poodle won best in show last February at the Garden .


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Whitmer: Michigan at ‘dangerous moment’ as virus cases spike

LANSING , Mich. - Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer warned Wednesday that Michigan has more confirmed daily cases of the coronavirus than ever , noting a sharp increase since the state Supreme Court invalidated her sweeping orders earlier this month .
The number of COVID-19 cases had been gradually rising for months prior to the Oct. 2 ruling , from a seven-day average of 119 in June to 984 — as the Democratic governor loosened economic restrictions and allowed schools to reopen .
Since the court decision , the seven-day average is up to 1,818 — surpassing the April peak and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago — though surrounding states without legal rulings have also seen similarly big spikes over the same time period .
Virus-related hospitalizations , roughly 1,000 , are double what they were a month ago but about a quarter of the April high .
The daily death rate has nearly doubled to 20 , while remaining far below the high point .
The seven-day average of tests coming back positive , 4.64 % , was last that high five months ago .
Whitmer , whose administration has quickly reinstituted virus measures under a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confusion , pleaded with people to wear a mask and maintain distance from others .
“ These numbers are moving in the wrong direction , ” she said , not indicating whether another lockdown may be necessary .
“ We are in a dangerous moment where there ’ s the possibility of it just becoming community spread that becomes out of control .
We ’ re seeing that in a lot of our neighbouring states .
That ’ s what we ’ re trying to avoid.
” For the first time at one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept her mask on while speaking .
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun , Michigan ’ s chief medical executive , urged people who dine with non-household members to keep their face covering on except to put food in their mouth .
Also Wednesday , a chiropractor in western Michigan challenged the state ’ s face covering rule , saying Whitmer ’ s health department has no authority to make it mandatory .
It is one of the first lawsuits since the Whitmer administration issued new orders following the defeat at the high court .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Claims , claims the health agency can regulate gatherings under state law but can not order masks , which are widely promoted as a way to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Semlow Peak Performance Chiropractic in Grand Haven .
The Ottawa County health department told the clinic that it must follow the state order .
“ We live in a representative republic and are not ruled by one person , ” owner Kirk Semlow said .
“ My business is not a health threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions in providing our services to patients.
” Patients are told that masks are optional , though most wear them , attorney David Kallman said .
“ It ’ s the principle of it , ” Kallman said .
“ They just can ’ t take a statute , which gives a narrow scope of authority , and apply it in 15 other different ways .
Go to the Legislature and get a law passed that says people need to wear masks.
” Spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin said the health department is confident that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of major health , business , labour and university leaders on Wednesday backed the mask mandate , gathering limits and other orders issued by the health department and Michigan ’ s workplace safety agency in an open letter to elected officials in Lansing .
“ What we need most , as we face a potential serious second wave , is complete unity of purpose and a strong collective response across our state , ” they wrote .
Whitmer urged the Republican-led Legislature , which challenged her former executive orders in court after she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval , to “ recognize the science and the importance ” of the restrictions .
Separately , her administration said it will allow indoor visits at nursing homes and other residential care facilities for the first time in seven months .

David Eggert And Ed White - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--US officials link Iran to emails meant to intimidate voters

WASHINGTON - Iran is responsible for emails sent to Democratic voters in multiple states aimed at intimidating the recipients into voting for President Donald Trump , U.S. officials said Wednesday night in calling out both Tehran and Russia for activities meant to interfere in the upcoming presidential election .
The activities attributed to Iran mark a significant escalation for a nation that some cybersecurity experts regard as a second-rate player in online espionage .
Most public election interference discussion has centred on Russia , which hacked Democratic emails during the 2016 election , and China .
The announcement at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks before the election underscored the concern within the U.S. government about efforts by foreign countries to spread false information meant to suppress voter turnout and undermine American confidence in the vote .
“ These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries , ” said John Ratcliffe , the government ’ s top intelligence official , who , along with FBI Director Chris Wray , insisted the U.S. would impose costs on any foreign countries that interfere in the 2020 U.S. election and that the integrity of the election is still sound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your vote counts , ” Wray said .
“ Early , unverified claims to the contrary should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism.
” Wray and Ratcliffe did not describe the emails linked to Iran , but officials familiar with the matter said the U.S. has linked Tehran to messages sent to Democratic voters in at least four battleground states that falsely purported to be from the neo-fascist group Proud Boys and that warned “ we will come after you ” if the recipients didn ’ t vote for Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hurt Trump , though he did not elaborate on how .
An intelligence assessment released in August said : “ Iran seeks to undermine U.S. democratic institutions , President Trump , and to divide the country in advance of the 2020 elections .
Iran ’ s efforts along these lines probably will focus on online influence , such as spreading disinformation on social media and recirculating anti-U.S. content.
“ Trump , speaking at a rally in North Carolina , made no reference to the press conference but repeated a familiar campaign assertion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He promised that if he wins another term he will swiftly reach a new accord with Iran over its nuclear program .
“ Iran doesn ’ t want to let me win .
China doesn ’ t want to let me win , ” Trump said .
“ The first call I ’ ll get after we win , the first call I ’ ll get will be from Iran saying let ’ s make a deal.
” Both Russia and Iran also obtained voter registration information , though such data is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used the information to send out the spoofed emails , which were sent to voters in states including Pennsylvania and Florida .
Asked about the emails during an online forum Wednesday , Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar said she lacked specific information .
“ I am aware that they were sent to voters in multiple swing states and we are working closely with the attorney general on these types of things and others , ” she said .
While state-backed Russian hackers are known to have infiltrated U.S. election infrastructure in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has ever done so .
The voter intimidation operation apparently used email addresses obtained from state voter registration lists , which include party affiliation and home addresses and can include email addresses and phone numbers .
Those addresses were then used in an apparently widespread targeted spamming operation .
The senders claimed they would know which candidate the recipient was voting for in the Nov. 3 election , for which early voting is ongoing .
Federal officials have long warned about the possibility of this type of operation , as such registration lists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These emails are meant to intimidate and undermine American voters ’ confidence in our elections , ” Christopher Krebs , the top election security official at the Department of Homeland Security , tweeted Tuesday night after reports of the emails first surfaced .
Bajak reported from Boston .
Associated Press writers Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta and Michael Balsamo , Colleen Long and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report .

Eric Tucker And Frank Bajak - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Remains found in search for 1921 Tulsa race massacre victims

OKLAHOMA CITY - At least 10 bodies were found Wednesday in an unmarked mass grave at a Tulsa cemetery where investigators are searching for the remains of victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre , Oklahoma ’ s state archaeologist said .
“ What we were finding was an indication that we were inside a large area ... a large hole that had been excavated and into which several individuals had been placed and buried in that location .
This constitutes a mass grave , ” state archaeologist Kary Stackelbeck said .
Investigators found 10 wooden coffins containing what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each , Stackelbeck said .
She said further examination of the coffins and remains , which have not been removed , was needed .
“ Those skeletal remains are not in great condition , ” Stackelbeck said .
“ They ’ re not the worst condition we have seen ... but they ’ re not the best.
” Combined with one set of remains found nearby on Tuesday , there have now been at least 11 bodies discovered , according to Stackelbeck .
University of Florida forensic anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield , a descendent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the search , said patience is needed before anyone can expect to know the identities of the remains or the cause of deaths .
“ We will need considerable time to investigate them because the preservation , teeth have been showing up OK , but non-dental structures “ have deteriorated , Stubblefield said .
Stackelbeck said it was too early to say definitely that the remains are victims of the massacre , even though they were found near an area known as the “ Original 18 , ” where funeral home records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are two headstones in the Original 18 marking the graves of two massacre victims , but the area where the remains were found Wednesday is unmarked .
“ We have not yet made our assessment to say that these do actually represent the massacre victims , ” Stackelbeck said .
“ Whether they are associated with the same event or the same time period of burial is something that we are still in the process of assessing.
” Tulsa Mayor G.T .
Bynum , who in 2018 proposed looking for victims of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund it after previous searches failed to find victims , called the discovery significant in the city ’ s history .
“ What we do know as of today is that there is a mass grave in Oaklawn cemetery where we have no record of anyone being buried , ” Bynum said .
The latest search at Oaklawn began Monday .
An earlier excavation of another part of the cemetery ended in July without any significant discoveries .
The violence took place on May 31 and June 1 , 1921 , when a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall Street , killing an estimated 300 mostly Black people and wounding 800 more , while robbing and burning businesses , homes and churches .
The massacre — which happened two years after what is known as the “ Red Summer , ” when hundreds of African Americans died at the hands of white mobs in violence around the U.S. — has been depicted in recent HBO shows “ Watchmen ” and “ Lovecraft County.
” It also received renewed attention after President Donald Trump selected Tulsa as the location for a June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutality and racial violence .
Trump moved the date to avoid coinciding with a Juneteenth celebration in the Greenwood District commemorating the end of slavery .


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Supreme Court puts curbside voting on hold in Alabama

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Wednesday put on hold a lower court order that would have permitted curbside voting @ @ @ @ @ The justices ’ vote was 5-3 , with the court ’ s three liberals dissenting @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court acts on an emergency basis , the justices in the majority did @ @ @ @ @ It was not clear how many counties might have offered curbside voting , allowing people @ @ @ @ @ by handing their ballot to a poll worker .
Justice Sonia Sotomayor , in a @ @ @ @ @ Breyer and Justice Elena Kagan , described the lower court ’ s order allowing curbside @ @ @ @ @ modest , ” and she said she would not have put it on hold .
@ @ @ @ @ all counties to adopt curbside voting ; it simply gives prepared counties the option to @ @ @ @ @ respects both the right of voters with disabilities to vote safely and the State ’ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said , noting that 28 states permit curbside voting .


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Man faces state, federal charges in death of Houston officer

HOUSTON - A man accused of fatally shooting a Houston police officer during a domestic disturbance call is facing both state and federal charges and could face the death penalty , authorities announced on Wednesday .
In state court , Elmer Manzano is facing a capital murder charge for the death of 65-year-old Sgt .
Harold Preston .
Manzano , 51 , has also been charged in state court with attempted capital murder for shooting and injuring Officer Courtney Waller in addition to aggravated assault for shooting and injuring his 14-year-old son .
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said Manzano @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in the country illegally .
U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick announced that his office in Houston has also filed federal charges of an alien in possession of a firearm and a felon in possession of a firearm .
Manzano had a prior felony conviction for evading in a motor vehicle in Harris County , where Houston is located , and two misdemeanour convictions in Dallas County for assault of a family member .
“ This is a very evil person , ” Acevedo said of Manzano .
Manzano , Waller and Manzano ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all in stable condition , Acevedo said .
Court records did not list an attorney for Manzano .
Prosecutors have filed a motion asking that Manzano be held without bond once he is released from the hospital .
The district attorney ’ s office has said it will probably seek the death penalty against Manzano , but no final decision has been made yet .
The shooting happened Tuesday morning when officers were called to an apartment in southwest Houston after Manzano ’ s wife had reached out to police on a domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her apartment but Manzano would not let her in , police said .
The teenage son and police went to the apartment and when he opened the door , Manzano came out and began shooting at officers , according to police .
Acevedo said Wednesday that Preston , who was shot multiple times , was able to return fire and hit Manzano in the abdomen .
Manzano barricaded himself in the apartment but later surrendered to authorities .
Preston , who had been with Houston police for 41 years , was about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Waller has been with the police department for three years .
Before Tuesday ’ s shooting , Manzano ’ s wife had filed a family disturbance report with police on Saturday and officers had responded to a domestic disturbance call at the apartment on Sunday .
Acevedo said that as part of his agency ’ s investigation , it will review whether charges could have been filed against Manzano prior to Tuesday ’ s shooting .
“ Based on what I ’ ve seen so far in our review we did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew at the time and so did the DA ’ s office , ” Acevedo added .
“ We didn ’ t have enough for them to accept charges.
” Police will also review whether letting Manzano ’ s son open the door to the apartment was the best approach by officers at the scene , he said .
“ But right now , let ’ s just be real clear .
There ’ s only one person responsible for the death of a police officer ... and that person ... is Manzano @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The shooting came amid an uptick in domestic violence in Houston and other cities as the coronavirus pandemic has forced people to spend more time in their homes .
Acevedo said Manzano prevented his wife from leaving him by threatening to reveal to authorities that she was in the U.S. illegally .
“ I want her to know and all victims of domestic violence to know , that this department is here for you , ” Acevedo said .
“ It doesn ’ t matter if you are rich or poor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... and it doesn ’ t matter whether you are documented or undocumented .
”


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Alabama lieutenant governor tests positive for COVID-19

MONTGOMERY , Ala. - Alabama ’ s lieutenant governor , who has called the state ’ s mask order a government overstep , announced Wednesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 .
Republican Lt. Gov .
Will Ainsworth said he had a positive test result but so far , he has no symptoms .
He said he took the test after being notified Wednesday that a member of his Sunday school church group had acquired the coronavirus .
Ainsworth has criticized mandatory mask orders , although he says he personally wears one .
“ Because I follow social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church and in my daily interactions , the positive result shows that even those of us who are the most cautious can be at risk , ” Ainsworth said in a statement .
Ainsworth said he “ will quarantine for the appropriate period and seek follow-up tests to ensure the virus has run its course before resuming public activities.
” “ I appreciate the words of support that have already begun to be extended and am thankful for the prayers that are being offered for my recovery , ” he said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s COVID-19 response under Republican Gov .
Kay Ivey .
In March , he criticized what he said at the time was the state ’ s slow response to prepare for a possible “ tsunami of hospital patients.
” He has also been critical of the state ’ s mandatory mask order .
He said last month that “ masks should be voluntary , not mandatory.
” Numbers show the coronavirus pandemic appears to be worsening again in Alabama after weeks of improvement .
Nearly 175,000 people in Alabama have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and at least 2,805 have died .
The virus has been spreading at a quickened pace since early October , figures show , and around 840 people have been hospitalized a day over the past week , compared to around 750 a day in late September .
While the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms for most people , it can be deadly for the elderly and people with other health problems .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--US urges countries to withdraw from UN nuke ban treaty

TANZANIA , Tanzania - The United States is urging countries that have ratified a U.N. treaty to ban nuclear weapons to withdraw their support as the pact nears the 50 ratifications needed to trigger its entry into force , which supporters say could happen this week .
The U.S. letter to signatories , obtained by The Associated Press , says the five original nuclear powers -- the U.S. , Russia , China , Britain and France -- and America ’ s NATO allies “ stand unified in our opposition to the potential repercussions ” of the treaty .
It says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on verification and disarmament and is dangerous ” to the half-century-old Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty , considered the cornerstone of global nonproliferation efforts .
“ Although we recognize your sovereign right to ratify or accede to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons ( TPNW ) , we believe that you have made a strategic error and should withdraw your instrument of ratification or accession , ” the letter says .
The treaty requires that all ratifying countries “ never under any circumstances ... develop , test , produce , manufacture , otherwise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or other nuclear explosive devices.
” It also bans any transfer or use of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices — and the threat to use such weapons -- and requires parties to promote the treaty to other countries .
Beatrice Fihn , executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons , the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize-winning coalition whose work helped spearhead the nuclear ban treaty , told The Associated Press Tuesday that several diplomatic sources confirmed that they and other states that ratified the TPNW had been sent letters by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the “ increasing nervousness , and maybe straightforward panic , with some of the nuclear-armed states and particularly the Trump administration ” shows that they “ really seem to understand that this is a reality : Nuclear weapons are going to be banned under international law soon.
” Fihn dismissed the nuclear powers ’ claim that the treaty interferes with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty as “ straightforward lies , to be frank.
” “ They have no actual argument to back that up , ” she said .
“ The Nonproliferation Treaty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons and eliminating nuclear weapons , and this treaty implements that .
There ’ s no way you can undermine the Nonproliferation Treaty by banning nuclear weapons .
It ’ s the end goal of the Nonproliferation Treaty.
” The NPT sought to prevent the spread of nuclear arms beyond the five original weapons powers .
It requires non-nuclear signatory nations to not pursue atomic weapons in exchange for a commitment by the five powers to move toward nuclear disarmament and to guarantee non-nuclear states ’ access to peaceful nuclear technology for producing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nuclear weapons ban treaty “ a very welcome initiative.
“ “ It is clear for me that we will only be entirely safe in relation to nuclear weapons the day where nuclear weapons no longer exist , “ he said in an interview Wednesday with AP .
“ We know that it ’ s not easy .
We know that there are many obstacles.
” He expressed hope that a number of important initiatives , including U.S.-Russia talks on renewing the New Start Treaty limiting deployed nuclear warheads , missiles and bombers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty , “ will all converge in the same direction , and the final objective must be to have a world with no nuclear weapons.
“ “ That the Trump administration is pressuring countries to withdraw from a United Nations-backed disarmament treaty is an unprecedented action in international relations , ” Fihn said .
“ That the U.S. goes so far as insisting countries violate their treaty obligations by not promoting the TPNW to other states shows how fearful they are of the treaty ’ s impact and growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on July 7 , 2017 by a vote of 122 in favour , the Netherlands opposed , and Singapore abstaining .
Among countries voting in favour was Iran .
The five nuclear powers and four other countries known or believed to possess nuclear weapons — India , Pakistan , North Korea and Israel — boycotted negotiations and the vote on the treaty , along with many of their allies .
The treaty currently has 47 ratifications and needs 50 ratifications to trigger its entry into force in 90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 countries that are trying very hard to ratify to get to 50 , “ and we know that there are a few governments that are working towards Friday as the date .
... We ’ re not 100 per cent it will happen , but hopefully it will.
” Friday has been an unofficial target because it is the eve of United Nations Day on Oct. 24 which marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the U.N. Charter .
The day has been observed since 1948 and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founding of the U.N. Fihn stressed that the entry into force of the treaty will be “ a really big deal ” because it will become part of international law and will be raised in discussions on disarmament , war crimes and weapons .
“ And I think that over time pressure will grow on the nuclear-armed states to join the treaty , ” she said .


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Alaska US senator says he will support Barrett nomination

JUNEAU , Alaska - Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said he will support the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court , calling her an “ exceptional jurist.
” Sullivan announced his support Wednesday , as the Republican-led Senate pushes to confirm Barrett in the coming days .
In 2016 , Sullivan agreed with fellow Republicans in not advancing then-President Barack Obama ’ s nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court , which was made months ahead of that year ’ s election .
At the time , Sullivan said the decision was about principle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midst of an important national election.
” President Donald Trump , who was elected that year , nominated Barrett in late September , just over five weeks before the Nov. 3 election in which he is seeking re-election .
Sullivan last month said the “ historical precedent and principle of an election year nomination ” is that the Senate “ has generally confirmed a President ’ s nominee from its own party and not confirmed one from the opposing party.
” He said Trump was within his authority to put forth a nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who also faces re-election , said he met with her , read decisions she had written and listened to and read comments from Alaskans for and against her nomination .
Al Gross , an independent running with Democratic support in challenging Sullivan , said he opposes Barrett ’ s nomination .
Gross cited concerns with how Barrett would vote on the Affordable Care Act and abortion issues .
Gross supports abortion rights and has said he will oppose any Supreme Court decision that “ weakens or threatens ” the health care law , @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-21--Thai protesters march in show of strength against government

BANGKOK - Student-led protesters in Thailand defiantly marched to the streets near the prime minister ’ s office on Wednesday night , repeating their demand that he step down even as he urged them to let Parliament deal with their calls for democratic reforms .
The demonstrators pushed through lines of police who , though equipped with riot gear and standing behind portable metal barriers and barbed wire , did not put up a serious fight .
Police had pushed the protesters out of the same area just a week earlier .
Protesters handed government representatives what they said was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chan-ocha to sign , and also demanded freedom for their comrades arrested in connection with earlier protests .
If their demands were not met , they said , they would return in three days .
They then dispersed peacefully .
The protesters ’ long-term demands also include a more democratic constitution and reforms to the monarchy .
The implicit criticism of the royal institution has stirred controversy because it traditionally has been treated as sacrosanct and a pillar of national identity .
In a speech televised Wednesday evening , Prayuth offered a concession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lift the state of emergency he declared in Bangkok last week “ if there are no violent incidents.
” Withdrawing the emergency decree has been another of the protesters ’ demands .
The state of emergency was declared to allow police to break up the group ’ s gathering outside the prime minister ’ s office last Thursday before dawn .
Earlier Wednesday , a group of university students went to a Bangkok court to seek to have the emergency decree revoked on the grounds that it abridged freedom of assembly .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
Prayuth , in his speech broadcast at about the same time the protesters marched , pleaded with his countrymen to resolve their political differences through Parliament .
“ The only way to a lasting solution for all sides that is fair for those on the streets as well as for the many millions who choose not to go on the streets is to discuss and resolve these differences through the parliamentary process , ” he said , according to an official English-language text of his remarks .
The government on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a special session on Oct. 26-27 to deal with the political pressures from the protests .
Wednesday marked the eighth straight day of demonstrations by a movement that was launched in March .
It went into a lull as Thailand dealt with a coronavirus outbreak , and slowly revived in July .
In the past week especially , protest have spread to other provinces .
In his television appearance , Prayuth charged that some protesters had staged “ brutal attacks ” against police at a rally last Friday , but acknowledged that many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaking the law , were still peaceful , well-meaning people who are genuine in their desire for a better society and a better nation.
” He decried the violence , but also said that the use of water cannons by the police , who used the tactic to break up Friday ’ s rally , was not a way “ to get to a better society.
” The police ’ s use of force was widely criticized , and garnered more support for the protesters , who generally use nonviolent tactics .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the demands of protesters , I can not run the country based on protester or mob demands , ” Prayuth said .
He ended his remarks with a plea : “ Let us respect the law and parliamentary democracy , and let our views be presented through our representatives in Parliament.
” The protesters charge that Prayuth , who as then-army commander led a 2014 coup , was returned to power unfairly in last year ’ s general election because laws had been changed to favour a pro-military party .
The protesters also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under military rule is undemocratic .
The demonstrations have continued even though many top protest leaders have been detained and the state of emergency bans public gatherings of more than four people .
On most days , police have not confronted the protesters directly , instead trying to disrupt their gatherings with shutdowns of Bangkok ’ s mass transit systems and by seeking to block their online organizing activities .
Royalists , meanwhile , have stepped up their presence online and held a small rally Wednesday in Bangkok , with clashes breaking out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monarchy .
There were bigger royalist rallies in several other provinces , the first major turnouts by crowds that are easily distinguished by the yellow shirts they wear that represent the royal colour .
In many cases , these rallies were led by local officials and also served to mark devotion to the royal family on the anniversary of the birth of King Maha Vajiralongkorn ’ s late grandmother .
The authorities on Wednesday suffered a legal setback when a judge barred them from implementing banning orders on several media outlets because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had announced Monday that they were seeking to impose censorship on media reporting of the protests , citing what they called “ distorted information ” that could cause unrest and confusion in society .
They sought to block access to the online sites of four Thai news organizations and one activist group that broadcast live coverage of the protests .
They had also proposed a ban on over-the-air digital television coverage of one of the broadcasters , Voice TV .
A fresh arrest was made Wednesday morning in connection with last week ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third person to be accused of involvement with acts of harm against the queen when her motorcade passed a small crowd of demonstrators .
Depending upon exactly what he is charged with by a court , he could face a life sentence if convicted .
The incident did not involve any violence , according to witnesses and video footage , but a small group of people made the protesters ’ three-finger protest gesture and shouted slogans at the car carrying Queen Suthida , shocking many Thais .