thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Protesters arrested in Charlotte as GOP delegates arrive

CHARLOTTE , N.C. - Several people were arrested in Charlotte , North Carolina , after some demonstrators skirmished with authorities late Friday , as delegates arrived for the start of the Republican National Convention , police said .
The arrests happened after a group of about 60 demonstrators left a park and began a march throughout uptown Charlotte at about 9 p.m. , authorities said .
Police said the group briefly trespassed onto light rail tracks , temporarily disrupting service .
Demonstrators later impeded traffic by surrounding a vehicle that was attempting to travel through an intersection , police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with impeding traffic , disorderly conduct and resisting a public officer , police said .
Police say demonstrators surrounded another vehicle as they continued to march , and three more people were arrested shortly after .
Nolan Strout was charged with two counts of assaulting a government official and resisting a public officer , police said .
Antonio Marotta and Olivia Turley were arrested and charged with assault on a government official and resisting a public officer , police said .
While police were making the arrests , several demonstrators started interfering with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spray , authorities said .
GOP officials in Charlotte are expected to vote to renominate President Donald Trump in a small in-person session on Monday .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Protests against Israeli PM continue with momentum

JERUSALEM - Thousands of Israelis protested outside the prime minister ’ s official residence Saturday as summer-long demonstrations against Benjamin Netanyahu maintained their momentum .
The protesters want the embattled Netanyahu to give up his post while he is on trial for corruption charges .
The government ’ s mishaps in handling the coronavirus crisis after relative success in its early stages has also fueled the demonstrations .
Saturday ’ s protest comes ahead of Tuesday ’ s deadline in which the coalition government must agree on a budget plan or trigger new elections that would be the fourth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggestions for alternative routes , the protesters marched from several parts of Jerusalem through key roads trying to reach Netanyahu ’ s residence on Balfour Street .
Outside the residence , they hoisted giant balloons depicting smeared heads of Netanyahu and his rival-turned-coalition partner Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White party , waved Israeli flags and the black flag of one of the grassroot protest movements .
A sign read “ Balfour is in our hands , ” referring to the residence address .
Other signs called on Netanyahu to quit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crime Minister.
” Israeli police said they arrested seven protesters “ on suspicion of violating public order and assaulting police officers.
“ Last week , Netanyahu announced a U.S.-brokered deal to normalize ties with the United Arab Emirates , making it the third Arab country to establish full relations with Israel .
The historic breakthrough has not helped calm the demonstrations against him .
Netanyahu has rejected calls to step down while he is on trial and claimed the protests are the work of leftists and the media .
Israel appeared to contain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring , but the quick reopening of the economy led to a spike in cases .
Over 100,000 Israelis have tested positive for the virus .
The pandemic has caused unemployment numbers to hover over 20 % .
Netanyahu was charged last year with bribery , fraud and breach of trust in three long-running corruption investigations .
In January , the trial will move to a witness phase with three sessions a week .

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thetorontostar--2020-08-22--2,000 Brazilians flee homes after water pipe ruptures

BRASILIA , Brazil - About 2,000 people in northeastern Brazil were living away from their homes Saturday after a pipe in a water diversion project ruptured , damaging a dam and flooding the project ’ s power plant , authorities said .
Rogério Marinho , minister of regional development , told The Associated Press that the people were told to leave home as a precaution late Friday afternoon after the concrete conduit broke open in the city of Jati , in Ceara state .
He said water shooting from the ruptured conduit damaged about 40 metres ( 130 feet ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the dam holding the reservoir fed by the pipeline .
Workers needed about 4 1/2 hours to contain the spill , he said .
“ The situation of the dam is absolutely fine and we have already started work to restore the structure ’ s wall , ” Marinho said by telephone from the accident site .
He said the evacuated residents should be able to return home within 72 hours .
The dam is part of an enormous project to divert water from the Sao Francisco , the most important river @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions in three states .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Maryland GOP received permit for Pence Fort McHenry speech

BALTIMORE - The Maryland Republican Party received a “ special use ” permit allowing Vice-President Mike Pence to use Baltimore @ @ @ @ @ as a backdrop for his political address during the Republican National Convention .
The Baltimore @ @ @ @ @ a copy of the National Park Service permit , which says a replica of the @ @ @ @ @ when the vice-president delivers a speech Wednesday night in an outdoor area of the popular @ @ @ @ @ National Park Service property on the Patapsco River .
While details about the speech have @ @ @ @ @ newspaper reports that the permit calls for construction of a stage , shuttle service from @ @ @ @ @ carts to help spectators get around .
The coronavirus pandemic has prevented both parties from @ @ @ @ @ delegates during a presidential election year .
The Democratic National Convention featured many speeches with @ @ @ @ @ audience .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Two tropical storms heading for double blow to U.S. Gulf Coast

SAN JUAN , Puerto Rico - Two tropical storms advanced across the Caribbean on Saturday as potentially historic threats to the U.S. Gulf Coast , one dumping rain on Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands while the other was pushing through the gap between Mexico ’ s Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba .
Tropical Storms Laura and Marco were both projected to approach Louisiana at or close to hurricane force just two days apart next week .
Two hurricanes have never appeared in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time , according to records going back to at least 1900 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phil Klotzbach .
The last time two tropical storms were in the Gulf together was in 1959 , he said .
The last time two storms made landfall in the United States within 24 hours of each other was in 1933 , Klotzbach said .
The projected tracks from the U.S. National Hurricane Center on Saturday afternoon pointed to both storms being together in the Gulf on Monday , with Marco hitting Louisiana and Laura making landfall in the same general area Wednesday .
But large uncertainties remain for that time span , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the two storms .
“ We are in unprecedented times , ” Mississippi Gov .
Tate Reeves said at a news conference Saturday as he declared a state of emergency .
“ We are dealing with not only two potential storms in the next few hours , we are also dealing with COVID-19.
” He urged residents to prepare for the storms and , if possible , find places to evacuate that are not public shelters .
A hurricane watch was issued for Intracoastal City , Louisiana , eastward to the Mississippi-Alabama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores to stock up on food , water and other supplies .
Raymond Monday of Gretna , though , had only a generator on his cart at Sam ’ s Club .
“ We ’ ve got a freezer full of food ” at home , along with large containers of water , he said .
Laura flung rain across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Saturday and was expected to drench the Dominican Republic , Haiti and parts of Cuba through Sunday on its westward course .
Puerto Rico Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and warned that flooding could be worse than what Tropical Storm Isaias unleashed three weeks ago because the ground is now saturated .
The storm knocked down trees in the island ’ s southern region , and left more than 200,000 clients without power and more than 10,000 without water across the U.S. territory .
“ No one should be out on the streets , ” she said .
The storm was centred about 200 kilometres east-southeast of Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic , late Saturday afternoon , with maximum sustained winds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 30 kph .
Officials said they were most concerned about the thousands of people in Puerto Rico who still have been living under blue tarps since 2017 ’ s Hurricane Maria and the hundreds of families living along the island ’ s southern coast in homes damaged by a string of strong earthquakes this year .
As the storm approached Hispaniola , crews in the Dominican Republic began evacuating dozens of families in flood-prone areas .
Marco , meanwhile , was strengthening while centred about 85 kilometres west of Cuba ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 20 kph .
It had maximum sustained winds of 100 kph and was expected to become a hurricane later Saturday .
Carlos Joaquín González , governor of Mexico ’ s Quintana Roo state , celebrated that Marco ’ s changed trajectory spared his state ’ s beaches , including those in Cancun , the country ’ s top tourist destination .
The National Hurricane Center said it expected the storms to stay far enough apart to prevent direct interaction as the region braces for the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both storms were expected to bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to areas they were passing over or near , threatening widespread flooding across a vast region .
“ A lot of people are going to be impacted by rainfall and storm surge in the Gulf of Mexico , ” said Joel Cline , the tropical program co-ordinator for the National Weather Service .
“ Since you simply don ’ t know , you really need to make precautions.
” It seems fitting for such an unusual twin threat to arrive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy .
“ Of course , we have to have two simultaneously land-falling hurricanes , ” McNoldy said .
“ It ’ s best not to ask what ’ s next.
” ) Forecasters said that while atmospheric conditions were favourable for Laura to grow , its passage over Puerto Rico and the mountains of Haiti , the Dominican Republic and Cuba could tear it apart or weaken it before it entered warm Gulf waters conducive to growth .
Officials in the Florida Keys , which Laura might pass over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared a local state of emergency Friday and issued a mandatory evacuation order for anyone living on boats , in mobile homes and in campers .
Tourists staying in hotels should be aware of hazardous weather conditions and consider altering their plans starting on Sunday , Monroe County officials said in a news release .
Citing both storm systems , Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Friday night .
“ It is too soon to know exactly where , when or how these dual storms will affect Louisiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our people to prepare for these storms , ” Edwards said in a statement .
Laura had earlier forced the closure of schools and government offices in the eastern Caribbean islands of Anguilla and Antigua , according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency .

DáNica Coto And Seth Borenstein - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--California wildfires: Five dead, thousands evacuated as firefighting crews make slow progress

SAN FRANCISCO - Firefighters in California were racing to slow the spread of wildfires that burned nearly one million acres in a week and destroyed hundreds of homes as weekend weather threatened to spark new fires and overwhelm the state ’ s firefighting ability .
Responding to the emergency , President Donald Trump issued on Saturday a major disaster declaration to provide federal assistance .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said in a statement that the declaration will also help people in counties affected by the fires with crisis counselling , housing and other social services .
Two clusters of wildfires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old records to become the second- and third-largest wildfires in recent state history by size .
Light winds , cooler and more humid nighttime weather helped fire crews make a bit of progress , but their efforts could be hurt by warm , dry weather , erratic wind gusts and lightning in the forecast , state fire officials said .
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning of high fire danger across the Bay Area and along the Central Coast , beginning from Sunday morning to Monday afternoon .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in a battle rhythm , ” California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Chief Thom Porter tweeted .
Since thousands of lightning strikes began on Aug. 15 , the state responded to 585 wildfires that have burned nearly a million acres , or 1,562 square miles ( 4,046 square kilometres ) , according to CalFire .
Many were small and remote .
The bulk of damage was from three clusters of fire “ complexes ” that were ravaging forest and rural areas in the San Francisco Bay Area and wine country north @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,045 square miles ( 2,700 square kilometres ) .
The third one was burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains and along the coast of San Mateo County , south of San Francisco .
The fires have killed five people , torched nearly 700 homes and other structures and forced tens of thousands from their houses .
“ Tuesday night when I went to bed I had a beautiful home on a beautiful ranch , ” said 81-year-old Hank Hanson of Vacaville .
“ By Wednesday night I have nothing but a bunch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire officials in charge of each of the major wildfires said they were strapped for resources .
Some firefighters were working 72-hour shifts instead of the usual 24 hours .
By Friday , the approximately 13,700 firefighters on the line began to get help on the ground and in the air from 10 states , along with the National Guard and U.S. military .
Those fires were a top priority .
But in a sign of how overburdened the state ’ s firefighting agency is , fire officials said only 1,400 firefighters were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire in wine country , which was only 15 % contained .
In comparison , about 5,000 firefighters were assigned to the Mendocino Complex fire in 2018 , the largest fire in recent state history .
“ All of our resources remain stretched to capacity that we have not seen in recent history , ” said Shana Jones , the chief for CalFire ’ s Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit .
“ We are making progress , but we are not out of the woods , ” she said .
Underscoring the danger the fires pose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office released dramatic video of the helicopter rescue Friday night of two firefighters trapped on a ridge line at Point Reyes National Seashore .
They were hoisted to safety as flames advanced .
“ Had it not been for that helicopter , those firefighters would certainly have perished , ” Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick said .
Containment for a fire that destroyed nearly 100 structures in the Santa Cruz mountains south of San Francisco grew slightly from 2 % to 5 % .
Firefighters established a fire break aimed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santa Cruz campus and the surrounding area .
“ It ’ s not a silver bullet .
But it gives us a really good stronghold to keep the fire from moving south toward those communities , ” Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Brunton said .
This version corrects that the official speaking about the fire in the Santa Cruz mountains was Mark Brunton , not Mike Smith .

Daisy Nguyen And Adam Beam - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Milbury steps away from broadcasting rest of NHL playoffs

Mike Milbury is stepping away from broadcasting the rest of the NHL playoffs after his on-air comment that there were no women in the league ’ s quarantined bubble to disrupt concentration drew widespread criticism .
The former player , coach and general manager released a statement through NBC Sports on Saturday , saying : “ I do not want my presence to interfere with the athletes as they try to win the greatest trophy in sports.
” An NBC Sports spokesman confirmed it was Milbury ’ s decision to leave and that the analyst remains employed by the network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals , broadcasters were discussing the environment inside the bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton , Alberta .
After Brian Boucher talked about it being “ the perfect place ” for players who enjoy playing hockey and being with their teammates for long periods of time , Milbury responded there are “ not even any women here to disrupt your concentration.
” The league said it condemned the “ insensitive and insulting ” comment that “ did not reflect the NHL ’ s values and commitment to making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NBC Sports said it was disappointed and addressed the situation with Milbury .
He apologized by saying : “ It was not my intention to disrespect anyone .
I was trying to be irreverent and took it a step too far .
It was a regrettable mistake that I take seriously.
” Earlier in the playoffs , Milbury seemed to compare no fans at these games to women ’ s college hockey .
He also drew some criticism for his remarks about Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask opting out and leaving the bubble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 68 , has worked for NBC Sports since 2008 after coaching the Bruins and serving as coach and general manager of the Islanders .
NBC Sports in December suspended Jeremy Roenick indefinitely without pay for making inappropriate comments about coworkers on a podcast , and the former player announced in February he would not be returning .
Last year , former NHL coach Don Cherry was fired by Canada ’ s Rogers Sportsnet over an anti-immigrant rant on the air .
Earlier this week , Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman was suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--U.S. senator calls for postmaster general’s resignation on day of national protests

HARTFORD , CONN.—During a day of nationwide protests , U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal called Saturday for the resignation of the U.S. Postmaster General because of recent slowdowns in mail delivery and fears about the potential effect on the presidential election .
Blumenthal and more than 75 others gathered at a rally in downtown Hartford to decry the cutbacks in postal operations by U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , a major donor to President Donald Trump who has held the job for less than three months .
Blumenthal and a coalition of activists are highly concerned about delays in absentee ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to be a close contest in many states between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden .
“ We need someone who will protect and preserve the postal service , not dismantle or degrade it so Donald Trump can privatize it and sabotage the election .
Postmaster DeJoy , resign now , ” Blumenthal said as the crowd cheered .
Despite the outcry , DeJoy spoke strongly Friday at a high-profile Senate hearing that various changes will not be happening as originally stated .
Since the changes were announced , some Democratic lawmakers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want further details about how DeJoy was hired in the key post .
During the hearing in front of U.S. senators , DeJoy said flatly that he was “ extremely , highly confident ” that postal workers will be able to handle the large volume of ballots across the country in the days and weeks leading to the November election .
DeJoy has been under fire to ensure voters that the postal service will remain a reliable source for moving the mail .
Military veterans and the elderly have also expressed concerns about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medications .
In a recent case , a Suffield woman reported that she had sent her brother ’ s cremated remains to her sister in Maryland , but the boldly marked , two-day shipping package was lost for 12 days .
Jean Egan said that her 68-year-old brother ’ s remains finally arrived in Maryland without detailed explanation about the reasons for the extensive delay .
“ The postmaster general owes the Egan family an apology , ” Blumenthal said Saturday .
“ The postmaster general owes America an apology .
And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we should pass legislation to restore and protect the postal service so that America can vote without doubt or credibility , without Donald Trump ’ s sabotage so that America can have confidence again that , regardless of the weather , regardless of the party in power , regardless of who is president , the postal service will be counted and credible.
” Various unions and activists organized the nationwide rallies .
“ Trump ’ s attack on the postal service can not stand , ” said Lindsay Farrell , state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party .
“ His open , brazen sabotage of the USPS to prevent people from voting him out of office is a direct attack on our democracy and our local infrastructure .
We are determined to make our voices heard — both this weekend in Hartford , and every day until we get him out of the White House.
” State attorney general William Tong and other attorneys general have filed a lawsuit regarding the problems with postal deliveries .
The postal service has told states that it “ can not guarantee all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election will arrive in time to be counted.
” In Connecticut , nearly 60 per cent of the ballots during the August 11 presidential primary were absentee — far higher than the average of about 7 per cent over the past 25 years .
DeJoy , though , has defended the postal service and says flatly that it will be ready for record numbers of ballots in the mail in October and November .
“ There has been no changes to any policies with regard to election mail , ” DeJoy said during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the election season , I want to assure this committee and the American public that the Postal Service is fully capable and committed to delivering the nation ’ s election mail securely and on time.
” The ongoing controversy began when the postal service said it was making various cost-cutting moves for an agency that has long had financial troubles .
Congress has been under pressure to increase funding and provide billions of dollars on an emergency basis .
The Democratic majority in the U.S. House was preparing to vote Saturday for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Senate has not committed to passing the same bill .
But DeJoy said that fundamental , cost-cutting moves must be made at the postal service to ensure its long-term financial survival instead of short-term moves .
“ If we just throw $ 25 billion at us this year and we don ’ t do anything , we ’ ll be back in two years , ” DeJoy said during Friday ’ s hearing .
DeJoy , who told senators that he never talked to Trump about the changes at the postal service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of another Congressional committee on Monday .

Christopher Keating - The Hartford Courant


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--Top West Africa envoys meet in Mali with junta after coup

BAMAKO , Mali - Top West African officials met with the junta leaders and Mali ’ s deposed president Saturday in the capital trying to negotiate a return to civilian rule after a coup this week .
The mediation efforts came a day after thousands of Malians took to the streets of Bamako , the capital , to celebrate the coup that ousted elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita .
The West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has strongly condemned the coup and said the high-level delegation will work “ to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order.
” ECOWAS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ECOWAS had said it ’ s mobilizing a regional military force , an indication it ’ s preparing for a military intervention in Mali in case negotiations with the junta leaders fail .
The international community has expressed alarm about the coup d ’ etat , which deposed Mali ’ s democratically elected leader who still had three years left in his term .
Mali has been fighting against Islamic extremists with heavy international support for more than seven years , and jihadists have previously used power vacuums in Mali to expand their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Nigeria ’ s former president , Goodluck Jonathan , held talks with the junta , including Col. Assimi Goita , who has declared himself the group ’ s leader .
The regional delegation also met with Keita and the other detained officials .
After the brief meetings , few details were given , but Jonathan did say that Keita was doing well .
“ We have seen the president IBK and he is very well , ” Jonathan said , referring to Keita as many do by using his initials .
Keita @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the custody of the coup leaders .
The widespread support for the coup seen Friday means the junta may argue to the ECOWAS delegation that they enjoy popular support .
The coup took place Tuesday , when soldiers detained the president and forced him to resign and to dissolve the National Assembly and government .
By Wednesday , soldiers from the junta calling itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People had declared they were in charge of the West African nation and would work toward a civilian transitional government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ landslide the year after a similar military coup — saw his popularity plummet after his 2018 reelection as the Malian army faced punishing losses from jihadist attacks .
Then after dozens of legislative elections were disputed this spring , demonstrators began taking to the streets calling for his resignation .
He offered concessions and regional mediators intervened , but his opponents made it clear they would accept nothing short of his departure .
On Friday , they welcomed the week ’ s developments but insisted they remained “ deeply attached to democracy.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country to civilian rule but has given no time frame for doing so .
Mali was not due to have another election until 2023 .
Military juntas across West Africa have not always been in a rush to hand over power even when promising to do so — after the country ’ s March 2012 coup , the first democratic election was not held until the following August .
Mahmoud Dicko , an imam who led the political opposition to Keita ’ s presidency , told supporters Friday that he was ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he did not rule out a return to politics entirely , saying : “ I am an imam , I wish to die an imam , but I won ’ t keep quiet about injustice.
” Associated Press writer Carley Petesch in Dakar , Senegal , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-22--2 bodies found, 2 missing after explosion in Texas port

CORPUS CHRISTI , Texas - The bodies of two missing crew members of a dredging boat were found Saturday following an explosion a day earlier in the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas , according to the U.S. Coast Guard .
Two other crew members of the dredging vessel Waymon L Boyd remain missing and the search for them continues , Coast Guard Capt .
Jason Gunning said during a Saturday afternoon news conference .
The explosion happened at about 8 a.m. Friday when the vessel struck a submerged pipeline , according to the Coast Guard , and Port of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural gas pipeline .
“ Our thoughts and prayers go out to the impacted crewmen and their families , ” Sean Strawbridge , CEO , Port of Corpus Christi , said Saturday .
“ A full investigation is underway ; however , search and rescue efforts are our first priority .
It will not be clear for some time the cause of this accident , and any definitive statements to the contrary would be premature , “ Strawbridge added .
The Waymon L Boyd is owned by Houston-based marine construction contractor Orion Marine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and other responders in their efforts to recover our missing crewmen , ” Orion CEO Mark Stauffer said in the statement .
The fire onboard the vessel was first extinguished Friday afternoon , but sparked again and was finally put out at approximately 10 p.m. Friday , shortly before the vessel broke apart and sunk , the Coast Guard said .
The vessel carried a maximum of about 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel , said Brent Koza , the regional manager for the Texas General Land Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have identified and are preparing for that as our worst case discharge scenario , ” and diesel is being recovered from the channel and around environmentally sensitive areas , Koza said .
Brooke West , spokeswoman with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality , said air quality tests have found no air pollution and testing of the waterway is planned .
“ TCEQ will collect water samples from the ship channel near the site of the incident ... this is still an active emergency response event , ” West said .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--The Latest: EU trade chief under pressure for golf event

LONDON — The EU ’ s trade commissioner is coming under intense pressure to step down after attending a golf event despite a ban on public gatherings during the pandemic .
The job of Phil Hogan , an Irishman who is expected to play a key role in trade talks with the U.K. , is under threat amid a growing crisis stemming from a golf society dinner in the west of Ireland that was attended by more than 80 people .
A surge in coronavirus cases recently prompted Ireland to reimpose restrictions on public gatherings that were eased in early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaker of the Senate resigned last week after confirming they were at the event .
Hogan offered a “ fulsome and profound apology “ over the incident .
The deputy head of government , Leo Varadkar , said he shared the public ’ s anger at the golf event , but said the apology helps .
He told RTE that Hogan may not have been as familiar with the coronavirus situation in Ireland because he was not based in the country .
Varadkar said that “ he also needs to account for himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might arise , not just in relation to the dinner but also his movements around the country.
“ “ If he can not do that , he needs to consider his position , “ he said .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : — Miami ICU nurse : I have never in my life seen so many deaths — India ’ s use of cheaper , faster but less accurate tests for the coronavirus highlights some of the inherent pitfalls of a strategy that the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
— Germany held a pop concert Saturday to see how those attending could spread coronavirus if they had it .
Researchers studying COVID-19 packed part of a Leipzig arena with volunteers , collecting data in a “ real life ” simulation of a pop concert but one with strict health and safety controls .
— Several dozen aging U.S. veterans will gather on a ship in Pearl Harbor next month to mark the 75th anniversary of Japan ’ s surrender , even if it means the vulnerable group may be risking their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : LONDON — Britain ’ s top medical officers say children are more likely to be harmed by staying away from school than from being exposed to the coronavirus .
England ’ s chief medical officer on Sunday joined his counterparts in Scotland , Northern Ireland and Wales in saying that children are less likely to contract the virus than adults and have “ an exceptionally low risk ” of dying from COVID-19 .
By contrast , they said studies show that not going to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in life and may worsen physical and mental health problems .
“ Very few , if any , children or teenagers will come to long-term harm from COVID-19 due solely to attending school , ” they said in a statement .
“ This has to be set against a certainty of long-term harm to many children and young people from not attending school.
” The statement comes as parents and teachers express concern about reopening schools next month amid fears that social distancing measures won ’ t keep children safe .
ISLAMABAD — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new COVID-19 fatalities in the past 24 hours , the fewest deaths since March .
The announcement raises hopes that Pakistan is on the right path to fully containing the coronavirus despite having a fragile health system .
The National Command and Control Center also reported 591 new cases , increasing the country ’ s caseload to 275,836 , including 6,275 deaths .
Pakistan witnessed a sudden spike in infections and deaths in June , but confirmed cases and fatalities have gradually declined since then .
The latest development comes days after Pakistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing of a Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine .
Pakistan hopes it will get the vaccine on priority from neighbouring China if its clinical trials show success .
ROME — Sicily ’ s governor is ordering all migrants who reach the island by sea be transferred from the Mediterranean island as part of measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 .
The ordinance , signed by Gov .
Nello Musumeci , went into effect Sunday and stipulates that all centres housing migrants awaiting processing of asylum applications be shut down by the end of Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 , also forbids any boat , including charity vessels , to bring migrants to the island .
While in past years the great majority of migrants reaching Italy were rescued at sea by humanitarian groups , cargo ships or military vessels , this year , nearly 80 % of arrivals reached Italian shores autonomously , most setting sail from Tunisia instead of Libya , where human traffickers are based .
Many come ashore on tiny Lampedusa island , but its migrant centre is dangerously overcrowded .
So Italy has taken to quarantining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sicily .
On Saturday , one-third of Sicily ’ s 48 one-day total of new confirmed coronavirus infections occurred in migrants .
MOSCOW — Yulia Tymoshenko , the former Ukrainian prime minister and a key figure in the 2004 Orange Revolution protests , has contracted COVID-19 .
Her spokeswoman Marina Soroka said in a Sunday post on Facebook that Tymoshenko is in serious condition with a fever of 39 C ( 102 F ) , but did not specify if she has been hospitalized .
Tymoshenko captured attention worldwide for her speeches to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrations that forced the rerun of a disputed presidential election .
After Viktor Yushchenko won the election rerun , Tymoshenko became prime minister , but was dismissed amid quarrels and then returned to the office .
Under subsequent President Viktor Yanukovych , she was imprisoned for three years on a conviction of abuse of power .
BEIJING — China on Sunday reported 12 new confirmed coronavirus cases and no additional deaths .
The National Health Commission said 422 patients were being treated , including 16 in critical condition .
The death toll in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December , stands at 4,634 .
SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has added 397 new coronavirus cases , counting its tenth straight day of triple-digit increases as the speed of viral spread nears the levels the country saw during the worst of its outbreak in spring .
The resurgence , which began in the densely populated capital area before spreading to practically every major city and provincial town over the past week , is a major setback for the country that had been eager to tout its hard-won gains against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures because of concerns over a fragile economy , officials have now banned large gatherings , closed nightspots , beaches and churches and removed fans from professional sports in a desperate effort to stem transmissions .
Sunday ’ s daily jump in infections marked the third-consecutive day of over 300 and the highest since the 483 cases reported on March 7 , when the country was dealing with a spike of transmissions in its southeastern region .
The KCDC linked 297 of the new cases to the Seoul metropolitan area , home to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million population , where health workers have struggled to track infections tied to various sources , including churches , schools , restaurants and workplaces .
Cases were also reported in other major cities such as Busan .
Gwangju , Daejeon and Daegu , the epicenter of the country ’ s previous major outbreak in late February and March .
TUSCALOOSA , Ala. — The University of Alabama has issued a temporary prohibition on student events , including off-campus parties and fraternity and sorority gatherings .
The university says its issuing a 14-day moratorium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classroom instruction .
Social gatherings are prohibited both on and off campus and the common areas of dormitories and fraternity and sorority houses are closed , according to the new guidelines .
The announcement came less than a week after city and school officials raised the alarm about large crowds waiting outside bars .
Alabama has confirmed nearly 2,000 deaths in the state , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
BOSTON — More cases of coronavirus have been traced to a recent wedding reception in Maine .
Health officials say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 7 reception in Millinocket .
A hospital says one person associated with the outbreak has died .
The reception at the Big Moose Inn exceeded the state ’ s indoor gathering limit , among other violations of state rules .
About 65 people attended the event .
The limit was 50 .
Thirty-two new cases and one additional death was announced Saturday by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention .
Maine has reached nearly 4,320 cases and 131 deaths .
MIDDLETON , Wis. — A Middleton coffee shop has lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mask mandate .
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Helbachs Coffee Roasters and Kitchen will close on Aug. 31 .
The shop says in an Instagram post Thursday its landlord has refused to renew its lease and the decision to close comes on the heels of “ enforcement action , negative public statements and continued vindictive and hostile behaviour ” by county health officials toward the shop .
Public Health Madison and Dane County issued the shop three citations for violating the order .
The shop was facing revocation of its food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to abide by the order .
The shop responded with a lawsuit , declaring itself “ a mask-free zone.
” TALLAHASSEE , Fla — Florida recorded 4,300 new cases and 106 coronavirus deaths on Saturday .
The state is registering an average of 156 coronavirus deaths per day this month , which likely makes COVID-19 the state ’ s No .
1 killer during that period .
Cancer and heart disease each average about 125 deaths per day , according to the Florida Department of Health .
The number of new cases continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases per day a month ago .
During the past week , the state ’ s positivity rate on tests has been 10.8 % .
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have been declining .
On Saturday , 4,773 patients were treated for the disease in Florida hospitals compared to Friday ’ s 4,909 and Thursday ’ s 5,340 .
That number has fallen from a peak above 9,500 on July 23 .
Overall , the state has nearly 600,000 confirmed cases since March 1 and 10,410 deaths .
PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 68 confirmed coronavirus deaths on Saturday .
That increased the state ’ s totals to 197,895 cases and 4,756 deaths , as reports of infections and deaths continued to slow .
The coronavirus hospitalization numbers from the health department showed a downward trend , posting levels from late May and early June before Arizona became a national hot spot .
New case and death reports have dropped since mid-July .
The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases dropped from 1,578 on Aug. 7 to 740 on Aug. 21 .
The rolling average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 38 .
ROME — Vacationers returning to the Italian mainland from Sardinia helped push Italy ’ s daily new coronavirus caseload far past 1,000 on Saturday , reaching the high for the first time since early May .
Confirmed cases increased from 947 on Friday to 1,071 on Saturday , with many infections confirmed in travellers who were tested as they disembarked from airplanes or ferries .
Authorities in Lazio , the south-central region including Rome , say 45 per cent of its 215 new cases Saturday were from people returning from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked to discos or private parties on the posh Emerald Coast resort area .
While the average age of infection early in the outbreak hovered near 70 , it ’ s now 30 .
Italy has more than 258,000 confirmed cases .
With three more deaths , the known total has reached 35,400 .
NEW YORK — The world hit a grim coronavirus milestone Saturday with 800,000 confirmed deaths and close to 23 million confirmed cases .
That ’ s according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
Governments have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health .
Officials believe the true numbers are far higher because of a lack of testing and reporting .
In the U.S. , the nation with the most infections , health officials believe there may be 10 times more cases than the confirmed 5.6 million .
The U.S. also leads the world in deaths , with more than 175,000 .
The news comes as South Korea , once considered a coronavirus success story , banned large gatherings , shut nightspots and churches and banned fans from professional sports to slow a viral resurgence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , reported a four-month high of more than 2,000 cases on Saturday .
Schools there reopened two weeks ago , and at least 41 schools this week reported students or teachers were infected .
In the U.S. , schools have begun to reopen , with coronavirus outbreaks triggering sudden closings , quarantines and anxiety among parents .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--As shoppers stay away, small stores seek refuge online

NEW YORK - For small retailers across the country , the coronavirus outbreak has turned an already challenging business environment into never-ending uncertainty .
Amy Witt might have 20 customers on a good day in her Dallas women ’ s clothing store , and then none the next .
“ It ’ s a rollercoaster we ride every day , ” says Witt , whose store , Velvet Window , reopened May 1 after being closed since March .
“ We ’ re doing everything we can to cover expenses and keep the store stocked with inventory.
” Many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shy about going into stores , especially since the virus has resurged in Texas .
As she reopened the store in May , Witt told The Associated Press she planned to use services like private shopping hours to encourage reluctant customers to come in .
The strategy has helped but sales remain well below Witt ’ s expectations .
She hopes to boost sales by selling at an outdoor market where shoppers can feel more comfortable .
Still , Witt is grateful to be open — there are empty stores in the shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Small retailers , especially those selling non-necessities like apparel , are still struggling months after state and local governments lifted shutdown orders aimed at containing the virus .
With the virus far from under control in many areas , however , consumers worried about getting sick are staying home and doing their purchasing online or , if they venture out , going to big stores like Walmart and Target where they can do one-stop shopping .
The weak sales and erratic customer traffic have forced store owners to be creative in hopes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order from a big online retailer .
But for some owners , disappointing sales and an uncertain outlook have forced them to close their stores for good and stake the future of their businesses on the internet .
Washington was one of the first epicenters of the virus , and one of the first states to shut down its economy .
Ambika Singh felt the impact immediately : Her company , Armoire , rents clothing to professional women .
Her customers , suddenly stuck at home , no longer needed outfits for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singh has permanently closed her two stores in Seattle , knowing they couldn ’ t be sustained .
She ’ s adapted her online business to meet customers ’ rapidly changing needs — they wanted different clothes , like luxury loungewear or more dress shirts to look business-like on videoconferences even as they wore sweatpants Having lost customers due to the weakened economy , Armoire ’ s revenue is down about 35 % from February , which was its best month ever .
One of Singh ’ s biggest challenges now is marketing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replace the shoppers who left .
“ As we ’ ve lost the physical connection with customers , can we rebuild ?
” she says .
The internet has been a refuge for many retailers during the pandemic , says Carlos Castelan , managing director of The Navio Group , a retail consultancy based in Minneapolis .
He noted that Shopify , a company that hosts e-commerce websites , had a 71 % increase in new stores in the second quarter compared to a year earlier .
“ They ’ re urgently setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers , ” he says .
The most recent retail sales tallies from the government show sales at clothing sellers , which tend to have physical locations , fell nearly 36 % from May through July .
But online and other non-traditional retailers saw their sales soar 26 % .
Small retailers have also learned to be more customer-friendly .
They ’ re using , for example , texts to communicate with shoppers and making pickups easier by setting aside dedicated parking spaces so people can grab and go , Castelan says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are trying to keep everyone safe .
“ The primary driver has been as much about convenience and safety .
That ’ s more the story rather than merchandising , ” he says .
The internet has been a lifeline for Antonelli ’ s Cheese Shop .
The Austin , Texas , store remained open during the government-ordered shutdown , but many consumers stayed home , sharply reducing store traffic .
The shop also sells to restaurants , which stopped ordering as they were forced to close .
The shop ’ s business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John and Kendall Antonelli say they ’ ve managed to survive by taking the events they normally run on their premises , like cheese tastings , and putting them online .
They ’ ve had as many as 150 people take part in a tasting , with many people ordering cheese in advance and picking it up curbside .
More recently , with fewer people sheltering at home , they ’ ve been more likely to get 50 people , but that is still about double the number of attendees they had pre-pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local customers can order a la carte instead of pre-selected packages — that ’ s more expensive for the store , but it keeps people happy and shopping .
The Antonellis have learned that several cheese shops in other cities have gone out of business , so they know they too could be at risk .
“ We are potentially considered one of the success stories — and what I mean by that is we ’ re still operating , ” Kendall Antonelli says .
Business has been slow since Mallory Shelter ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopened in June .
Shelter , whose store bears her name , responded to the pandemic and shutdown by pouring her marketing efforts into her website .
It now accounts for 75 % of her revenue , up from 8 % before the virus struck , but her overall revenue is down by half .
She also has changed her product mix , focusing more on custom items that can have a more personal meaning for buyers .
A big question is whether her in-store business will recover in time for the holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This is the month when I ’ m preparing for the holidays .
But that looks really hard when you don ’ t know if you ’ re going to be open , if there ’ s going to be another wave of the virus or what people ’ s spending will be like , ” Shelter says .

Joyce M. Rosenberg - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--Execution of Native American man stirs emotion within tribe

FLAGSTAFF , Ariz. - Late on a fall evening in 2001 , Alyce Slim and her granddaughter stopped at a gas station on the Navajo Nation after searching for a traditional healer for leg ailments .
There , in an area where hitchhiking is common , Slim agreed to give two males a ride .
They got into her pewter-colored pickup truck and when she stopped later to let them out , they didn ’ t budge .
Instead , Lezmond Mitchell and Johnny Orsinger stabbed Slim 33 times and placed her lifeless body next to the 9-year-old in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abandoned sheep camp .
They told Tiffany Lee to prepare to die and slit her throat .
She was still breathing , so they dropped rocks on her head , killing her , too .
As the 38-year-old Mitchell sits on federal death row , his execution scheduled for Wednesday , the Navajo government is asking officials to spare his life on the basis of cultural beliefs and sovereignty .
The stance is pushing up against the wishes of some of the victims ’ family for the execution to move forward , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye for an eye , ” the girl ’ s father , Daniel Lee told The Associated Press .
“ He took my daughter away , and no remorse or anything like that .
The Navajo Nation president , the council , they don ’ t speak for me .
I speak for myself and for my daughter.
” Under federal law , Native American tribes can decide whether they want their citizens subjected to the death penalty for a set of crimes involving Natives on tribal land .
Nearly all 574 federally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have opted out .
Mitchell was the first Native American sentenced to death since the resumption of the federal death penalty in 1994 and the only Native American currently awaiting execution .
He ended up on death row because he was convicted of carjacking resulting in death — a crime that carries the possibility of capital punishment regardless of where it happens .
His upcoming execution is the first of a handful set after the government said it would carry out executions following an informal 17-year moratorium .
The case has stirred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the grisly crime .
Mitchell and others used Slim ’ s truck in an armed robbery .
He and Orsinger returned to where they dumped the two bodies , mutilated them and buried some of the remains while dragging others into the woods .
They burned the victims ’ belongings and washed their knives in a stream nearby .
Days later , tribal police found the pickup truck abandoned in Tsaile where many tribal members make a living by ranching , farming and doing arts and crafts .
Mitchell and others tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ windows were rolled up and the fire had no oxygen .
“ All they did was make a smoky mess on the interior of the truck and leaving all the relevant evidence related to the murder , the carjacking and the robbery behind , ” said former FBI agent McDonald Rominger , who worked the case .
Navajo Nation lawmaker Carl Slater , whose grandparents testified against the death penalty in Mitchell ’ s case , said the details of the crime make defining a just punishment uncomfortable .
Still , the tribal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grant Mitchell clemency .
“ We can never lose sight of the big picture , be forward-looking , “ Slater said .
“ Every action creates precedent , especially when you ’ re a governing body .
This is not just going to impact the Navajo Nation .
It ’ s going to impact all of Indian Country.
” More than a dozen tribal leaders across the country and individual Native Americans have supported the Navajo government ’ s request .
Federal criminal jurisdiction on tribal land dates back to 1885 and stems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribal nation settled a killing with restitution to the victim ’ s family — money , horses and a blanket .
The federal authority is still disputed today .
Slim ’ s daughter and Tiffany ’ s mother , Marlene Slim , initially opposed putting Mitchell to death .
The tribe has used her previous statements in pushing for Mitchell ’ s sentence to be reduced to life in prison .
Earlier this month , attorneys for some of Slim ’ s family and Lee wrote to tribal officials saying they support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the execution .
“ Mr .
Mitchell ’ s actions destroyed this family , “ the letter read .
” Mr .
Mitchell did not consider or have any respect for the Navajo cultural teachings that stress the sanctity of life.
“ Mitchell has long maintained he wasn ’ t the aggressor in the killings .
Orsinger , now 35 , had a criminal record but was a juvenile at the time and could not be sentenced to death .
He is serving life in prison in Atlanta .
Letters that Mitchell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clemency petition paint him as a troubled kid who was shuffled around homes but was high-achieving , played varsity football and was a problem-solver .
“ He was a good kid and he always took care of the children , always protected the children , so when he was involved in a crime against a child , it was really hard to believe , “ said Mitchell ’ s uncle , Auska Mitchell .
Putting Mitchell to death would “ break my heart , ” he said .
“ I do hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even worse is I can ’ t see the guy.
“ Mitchell has lost all of his appeals so far , a point U.S. Attorney General William Barr reiterated in announcing Mitchell ’ s latest execution date .
“ The Justice Department upholds the rule of law , and we owe it to the victims and their families to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system , “ Barr has said .
Alyce Slim was nearing retirement after driving a school bus for 30 years in the district around the Navajo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Family , friends and her co-workers spent days searching for her and Tiffany when they didn ’ t return home from their trip and posted pictures of them around the region .
Julie McCabe , whose sister was close friends with Marlene Slim , said Alyce Slim was gracious , strong , spiritual and hard-working .
She had a way of speaking to others without making them feel inadequate or small , McCabe said .
“ And the students on her route were just very lovable to her , ” McCabe said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths that she would miss out on watching Tiffany grow .
Mitchell ’ s attorneys declined a request to interview him .
They have made multiple requests lately to delay his execution as they argued over protocol and sought to interview jurors over potential racial bias .
“ If the execution were to proceed , Mr. Mitchell will be the first , and only , Native American sentenced to death and executed by the federal government in modern history , ” his attorneys said .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--Tensions heightened over fatal police shooting of Black man

LAFAYETTE , La .
- Community activists said they will present their frustrations and demand racial justice from the leaders of a Louisiana city on Sunday , following a night of violence that erupted after police shot and killed a Black man .
Dozens of people took to the streets of Lafayette on Saturday in response to the death of Trayford Pellerin , 31 .
On Friday night , officers followed Pellerin on foot as he left a convenience store where he had created a disturbance with a knife , Louisiana State Police said .
Stun guns failed to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he tried to enter another convenience store , still with the knife , according to a news release .
The shooting was captured on video , and the state ACLU condemned what it described as a “ horrific and deadly incident of police violence against a Black person.
” Both the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center quickly called for an investigation .
Saturday afternoon ’ s protest started peacefully , but violence broke out as night fell — leading to officers clearing the crowd with smoke canisters , Trooper Derek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference late Saturday that fireworks had been shot at buildings and fires set in the median of a road where demonstrations had taken place .
“ Our intent is not going to be to just let people disrupt our town and put our citizens and our motorists and our neighbourhoods in danger , ” Interim Police Chief Scott Morgan said .
Arrests were made , Morgan said , but an exact number wasn ’ t immediately available .
“ We do support people ’ s First Amendment rights , ” Lafayette Parish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when it comes to the destruction of property , we are not going to have Lafayette set on fire.
” The activists attempted to attend the news conference but were “ escorted out ” because Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory said it was private , Lafayette NAACP President Marja Broussard said .
They planned to confront Guillory on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Lafayette City Hall .
Activist Jamal Taylor said the demonstrators who caused destruction Saturday night came from out of town .
“ They picked the wrong city to do this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you ’ re one of these bad actors that comes in and sets fires and throws rocks and pops firecrackers , you ’ re not welcome here in Lafayette.
” The activists also expressed discontent that leaders did not offer condolences to Pellerin ’ s family at the news conference .
“ Josh Guillory is lower than a dog for that , ” Taylor said .
Tensions surrounding the fatal shooting follow a global reckoning over police tactics and racial injustice that stem from the death of George Floyd on May 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officer .
National civil rights attorney Ben Crump said he was representing Pellerin ’ s family , and that he and Baton Rouge attorney Ronald Haley have begun their own investigation by interviewing witnesses .
“ The officers involved should be fired immediately for their abhorrent and fatal actions , ” Crump said in a statement Saturday .
Pellerin ’ s mother said her son was intelligent , shy and had sought therapy for social anxiety .
Pellerin became anxious in groups and may have been frightened by the officers , Michelle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought professional help earlier this year , she said .
The family believes Pellerin may have been having a mental health crisis , Crump said .
Lafayette police asked state police to investigate — standard procedure in the state for shootings by local officers .
Rikasha Montgomery , who took a video of the shooting , told The Advertiser that a man holding what looked like a knife kept walking down the highway while some officers fired stun guns at him .
Officers holding guns shouted at him to get onto the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they fired when the man reached the door of a Shell gas station .
“ When I heard the gunshots , I couldn ’ t hold my phone like I was first filming , ” she said .
“ I feel kind of scared about it .
I ’ m traumatized .
You ’ re so used to hearing about this , but I never thought I would experience it.
” The incident was the third shooting by Lafayette police since mid-July .
State police said a man was critically wounded last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with police .
Another man was in stable condition after being shot during a burglary investigation earlier this month .
Haley told The Advocate that he and Crump will be seeking reform and policy changes in the police department as well as damages .
“ We want policy changes as well , so that Ben and I are not in the living room with another family in Lafayette dealing with this , ” Haley said .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--13 die in Peru disco stampede after police lockdown raid

LIMA , Peru - Thirteen people died in a stampede at a disco in Peru after a police raid to enforce the country ’ s lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic , officials said Sunday .
The stampede happened at the Thomas disco in Lima , where about 120 people had gathered for a party on Saturday night , the Interior Ministry said .
People tried to escape through the only door of the second-floor disco , trampling one another and becoming trapped in the confined space , according to authorities .
After the stampede , police had to force open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those who attended the party , told local radio RPP that the police raid started at 9 p.m. and that authorities told the party-goers to let the women exit first .
“ People got excited and started to go down , and then they said that the people in front were suffocating , ” he said .
Police have detained 23 people .
Police chief Gen. Orlando Velasco said no firearms or tear gas were used during the raid .
Night clubs have been prohibited from operating since March because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on June 30 in an effort to get the economy moving again , and the daily reported number of virus infections has doubled to more than 9,000 in recent weeks .
Peru has reported about 27,500 deaths from the new coronavirus .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--TS Marco in Gulf aiming at Louisiana, TS Laura also on way

PORT-AU-PRINCE , Haiti - Tropical Storm Marco is swirling over the Gulf of Mexico heading for a possible hit on the Louisiana coast as a hurricane , while Tropical Storm Laura knocked utilities out as it battered Hispaniola early Sunday , following a track forecast to take it to the same part of the U.S. coast , also as a hurricane .
It would be the first time two hurricanes appear in the Gulf of Mexico simultaneously , according to records dating to at least 1900 , said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach .
Haitian civil protection officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10-year-old had died when a tree fell on a home in the southern coastal town of Anse-a-Pitres , on the border with the Dominican Republic .
It was the first reported death from the storm .
A hurricane watch was issued for the New Orleans metro area , which Hurricane Katrina pummeled in August 2005 .
The projected tracks from the U.S. National Hurricane Center late Saturday pointed to both storms being together in the Gulf on Monday , with Marco hitting Louisiana ’ s coast around midday and Laura making landfall in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was still much uncertainty surrounding the forecasts for the two storms .
“ It ’ s entirely possible that the volatile shifts seen in the models could continue , ” the hurricane centre said .
Laura was centred about 40 miles ( 65 kilometres ) north-northeast of Port-au-Prince , Haiti , Sunday morning , with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph ( 75kph ) .
It was moving west-northwest at 18 mph ( 30 kph ) .
Crews armed with megaphones in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo had urged dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laura ’ s heavy rains hit .
The storm left more than 100,000 people without water in the Dominican Republic on Saturday night , while earlier it snapped trees and knocked out power to more than 200,000 customers in neighbouring Puerto Rico .
It was forecast to move over Cuba on Sunday night or Monday .
Officials in the Florida Keys , which Laura might pass over on its route into the Gulf , declared a local state of emergency and issued a mandatory evacuation order for anyone living on boats , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staying in hotels were warned to be aware of hazardous weather conditions and consider changing their plans starting Sunday .
Marco , meanwhile , was centred about 360 miles ( 580 kilometres ) south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and was moving to the north-northwest at 13 mph ( 20 kph ) .
It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph ( 110 kph ) and could become a hurricane sometime Sunday .
New warnings were added Sunday morning — including a storm surge warning from Morgan City , Louisiana to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurricane warning from Morgan City to the mouth of the Pearl River .
A tropical storm warning included Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana , and metropolitan New Orleans .
A storm surge of up to 6 feet ( 2 metres ) was forecast for parts of coastal Louisiana and Mississippi .
Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards , who declared a state of emergency Friday , asked President Donald Trump for a federal emergency declaration .
“ The cumulative impact of these storms will likely have much of Louisiana facing tropical storm/hurricane force impacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than it would with any one hurricane , ” he wrote .
People in Louisiana headed to stores to stock up on food , water and other supplies .
Raymond Monday of Gretna , though , had only a generator on his cart at Sam ’ s Club .
“ We ’ ve got a freezer full of food ” at home , along with large containers of water , he said .
Both storms were expected to bring 3 to 6 inches ( 8 to 15 centimetres ) of rain to areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatening flooding .
The hurricane centre said the storms were not expected to interact as the region faces an unusually active hurricane season .
“ We are in unprecedented times , ” Mississippi Gov .
Tate Reeves said at a news conference Saturday as he declared a state of emergency .
“ We are dealing with not only two potential storms in the next few hours , we are also dealing with COVID-19.
” Coto reported from San Juan , Puerto Rico .
Associated Press writers Freida Frisaro in Miami and Janet McConnaughey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Evens Sanon And DáNica Coto - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--South Korea elevates distancing as virus nears spring levels

SEOUL , Korea , Republic Of - Churches were closed and professional baseball games were played in empty stadiums on Sunday as South Korea stepped up measures nationwide to fight a resurgence in coronavirus cases that has raised concerns that the epidemic is getting out of control .
The 397 new cases reported by South Korea ’ s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , or the KCDC , marked the 10th straight day of triple-digit increases and indicated that the speed of the virus ’ s spread was nearing levels seen during the worst of the outbreak in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the densely populated Seoul area before reaching practically every major city and provincial town over the past week , is a major setback for a country that had been eager to tout its hard-won gains against the virus .
After avoiding stringent social distancing measures because of concerns about hurting the economy , officials stepped up restrictions nationwide on Sunday .
They banned gatherings of more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors and shut nightclubs , karaoke rooms , buffet restaurants and computer-gaming cafes .
Churches can hold online services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professional sports , just weeks after baseball and soccer teams had been allowed to sell limited portions of their seats .
Such measures were first implemented in the greater Seoul area on Wednesday , but officials announced Saturday that they would be expanded nationwide after it became clear that the outbreak was spreading throughout the country .
KCDC Director Jeong Eun-kyeong said things will probably get worse before they get better .
The daily jumps could become even bigger in the coming days because health workers are increasingly struggling to keep up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trace and test the contacts of virus carriers , she said .
“ We don ’ t see the current state as the peak ... we believe that infections could further increase , ” Jeong said during a virus briefing .
“ Patients are increasing not only in the Seoul metropolitan region , but also across the 17 ( major ) cities and provinces throughout the country , pushing us on the verge of a massive nationwide outbreak.
” The Seoul city government announced Sunday that it will require people to wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting Monday .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear how the capital could effectively enforce such requirements .
Seoul has been mandating masks on mass transport since May , but enforcement has been relatively lax as it depends on bus drivers and subway station workers .
There ’ s a possibility that government officials this week could further elevate social distancing measures to “ Level 3 , ” which could include prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people , shutting schools , halting professional sports and advising private companies to have employees work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Level 3 ’ practically means the stoppage of all daily activities aside of essential social and economic activities , and that would bring painful results to all our people and the economy as a whole , ” senior Health Ministry official Yoon Taeho said during a separate briefing .
He called for vigilance by citizens to slow the spread of the virus , and pleaded that people cancel or push back large events such as weddings .
Sunday ’ s jump in infections marked the third consecutive day they ’ ve crossed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have come from the Seoul area , home to half of the country ’ s 51 million people .
Cases were also reported in other major cities such as Busan , Gwangju , Daejeon and Daegu , the epicenter of the previous major outbreak in late February and March .
The country managed to stabilize the situation in the Daegu area by April through aggressive testing and contact tracing .
That approach worked because many of the infections had been tied to a single church congregation with thousands of members .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be as effective now , with the virus spreading nationwide .
“ With the number of virus patients rising rapidly , it has become difficult for anti-virus measures alone to contain the outbreak — the reduction of human-to-human contact is crucial , ” Jeong said .
Churches have constantly been a major source of infection .
More than 840 cases so far have been linked to a Seoul church led by a bitter critic of the country ’ s president .
The spread worsened after thousands of anti-government protesters , including members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pastor , Jun Kwang-hun , marched in downtown Seoul last week despite official pleas to stay home .
Jeong said at least 136 infections have so far been linked to the protest .
Jun has been hospitalized since Monday after testing positive for the virus .
Health workers have used cellphone location data to identify some 50,000 people who spent more than 30 minutes on the street during the Aug. 15 protest 15 and have been urging them to get tested .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--Israeli lawmakers negotiate ahead of looming budget deadline

JERUSALEM - Israeli lawmakers were trying to negotiate a last minute deal on Sunday to push back a looming budget deadline and avoid sending the country to its fourth parliamentary elections in less than two years .
The current political crisis pitting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against rival-turned-partner Defence Minister Benny Gantz is ostensibly over the country ’ s national budget .
By law , if the government does not pass a national budget by 90 days after it is formed , the Knesset automatically dissolves .
That deadline expires on Monday night .
But the crisis has deeper roots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gantz , economic troubles stemming from the country ’ s coronavirus outbreak and the prime minister ’ s ongoing corruption trial .
Critics accuse Netanyahu of using the budget battle to force a new election in hopes of securing a friendlier parliament that could help solve his legal troubles .
After three deadlocked elections , Netanyahu and Gantz reached a power-sharing agreement in April to form a government to address the virus crisis .
As part of their coalition deal , Netanyahu ’ s Likud party and Gantz ’ s Blue and White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Netanyahu has insisted on passing a budget to cover only the remainder of 2020 , saying it will provide immediate assistance to the economy .
Gantz is adamant that the government honour its agreement and pass one for 2020 and 2021 .
Their disagreement has again brought the country to the brink of political meltdown .
Zeev Elkin , a Likud party minister in Netanyahu ’ s Cabinet , told Army Radio on Sunday that “ there was a dialog between the parties ” and that “ we are trying to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Knesset ’ s finance committee convened later Sunday to discuss a bill to postpone Monday ’ s deadline by 100 days , until Dec. 3 .
If the committee approves the deferral , it must pass two rounds of voting in parliament before Monday night ’ s deadline .
But pushing back the deadline would only kick the budget crisis down the road .
The two parties are at loggerheads over several key issues — including judicial appointments and the annexation of West Bank settlements — and the government has been beset by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left him and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in the dark about the deal announced earlier this month to normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates .
If the budget deadline is not deferred , and new elections are triggered , it would plunge the country into political chaos during a deep economic and public health crisis and while the prime minister is on trial for corruption .
Netanyahu is charged with fraud , breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases .
His criminal trial began in June , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and denies any wrongdoing .
At the same time , Israel has recorded more than 100,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 800 deaths .
Unemployment remains over 20 % despite the government ’ s reopening of the economy in May , following a more than month-long lockdown .
Netanyahu has faced intense criticism over his government ’ s handling of the crisis , and the largest sustained protests against his rule in nearly a decade .
On Saturday , an estimated 10,000 people took part in a weekly protest outside the prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , calling on Netanyahu to resign .
Nonetheless , recent polls indicate Netanyahu would score a sizable victory if snap elections were held .
By dissolving the government , Netanyahu would avoid giving Gantz the premiership in November 2021 as required by the coalition agreement .
Netanyahu appears determined to remain prime minister — and therefore not legally obligated to resign while under indictment — through the duration of his trial , which is expected to last several years .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s distortion on Dems and the pledge

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is accusing the Democrats of taking God out of the Pledge of Allegiance at their national convention .
He ’ s distorting what happened .
TRUMP : “ The Democrats took the word GOD out of the Pledge of Allegiance at the Democrat National Convention .
At first I thought they made a mistake , but it wasn ’ t .
It was done on purpose .
Remember Evangelical Christians , and ALL , this is where they are coming from-it ’ s done .
Vote Nov 3 !
” — tweet Saturday .
THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusation .
The central programming of the convention featured the entire pledge , complete with “ under God.
” The first night of the Democratic National Convention , Joe Biden ’ s grandchildren said the pledge , followed by the convention ’ s chorus of “ The Star Spangled Banner.
” On the second night , it ’ s stated by a diverse group of Americans ; same with the third night .
On the fourth night , it ’ s recited by Cedric Richmond Jr. , the son of Rep. Cedric Richmond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in each rendering .
The convention also devoted a segment to showcasing Biden ’ s religious faith .
During two caucuses before the evening conventions started , the Muslim Delegates and Allies Assembly and the LGBTQ Caucus meeting , both Tuesday , left out “ under God , ” from the pledge .
The party ’ s series of caucus meetings was livestreamed but not part of the prime-time convention broadcast .
The pledge was written in 1892 and altered in the 1920s .
“ Under God ” was added in 1954 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so .
Those two words have prompted a debate at times over whether people who do not practice religion should be expected to pledge allegiance to a country under God .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE — A look at the veracity of claims by political figures .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--California ‘dream house,’ decades in the making, is in ashes

VACAVILLE , Calif. - When he closes his eyes at night , Hank Hanson hears sirens in his dreams -- a byproduct of living nearly 30 years in the wildfire-prone wilderness of Northern California between San Francisco and Sacramento .
But about 1 a.m. Wednesday , Hanson knew he wasn ’ t dreaming when he looked to the hills above his home .
The ridge line , where he and his wife in daylight tracked the sun ’ s shifting seasonal paths , was lit up as if someone had strung lights across it and plugged it in .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waterfall , ” Hanson , 81 , said .
The fire was one of the more than 500 wildfires ignited across California this week from what state firefighting officials are calling a “ lightning siege ” — summer thunderstorms that produce little or no rain but have prompted nearly 12,000 lightening strikes across sun-scorched terrain .
More than 13,700 firefighters are battling the blazes , the most severe of which are focused in Northern California west of the state capital in Sacramento and east of the San Francisco Bay .
The extraordinary reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the point “ we have not seen in recent history , ” said Shana Jones , chief of the Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit of the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
With firefighting crews stretched thin , there was no evacuation warning for Hanson and his neighbours .
Luckily , Hanson was awake because his electricity was out and the stifling 95-degree ( 35C ) temperature prevented him from sleeping .
He quickly woke up his wife , and the two raced in their diesel truck down the road .
The air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to wake up their neighbours .
Hanson and his wife made it to a hotel room in the nearby community of Fairfield , grateful they were alive .
They found out later that their house was destroyed by the fire .
The house was really two houses .
The first was a small redwood home originally built in Vacaville in the 1930s but later moved to the property .
Hanson , who owned a business that made patio enclosures , bought the property in 1974 .
He spent weekends there for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peach , fig and eucalyptus trees .
In 1991 , he completed a 3,000 square-foot ( 279-square-meter ) addition to that house .
It had a wine cellar , indoor and outdoor pools plus three fireplaces .
The fires this week have grown quickly and , collectively , have destroyed nearly 700 homes and other structures across the state .
Most of the homes that were levelled were burned by the fire that took Hanson ’ s home , the so-called LNU Lightning Complex fire .
It ’ s the second-largest wildfire in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 490 square miles ( 1,270 square kilometres ) .
Hanson said he is treating the fire as “ an adventure “ and talks excitedly when describing his harrowing escape .
But his voice catches when he talks about the house , especially when he says he won ’ t rebuild .
“ I worked on it for 30 years .
It was pretty nice , ” he said .
“ I wouldn ’ t want to do it on a lesser scale , and I don ’ t got time to top the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn the lot into a park and a campground for himself and his friends for the next few years .
But first , he had some shopping to do .
His tomatoes , surprisingly , did not burn .
He bought some hoses and plans to return to the ranch in an attempt to water them , assuming the deer haven ’ t eaten them first .
“ They escaped the whole deal , ” he said .
“ About the only thing I have left in the world is tomatoes .
@

Adam Beam And Noah Berger - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--Army: Soldier missing from Fort Hood reported sexual abuse

KILLEEN , Texas - A soldier who is missing from Fort Hood in Texas had transferred units after reporting sexual abuse , an Army official said in a statement .
Sgt .
Elder Fernandes , 23 , was reported missing on Wednesday .
Killeen police said he hasn ’ t been seen since Monday when his staff sergeant dropped him off at home .
Fort Hood public affairs officer Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam said in a statement that there is an “ open investigation of abusive sexual contact ” involving Fernandes .
“ The unit sexual assault response co-ordinator has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ensuring he was aware of all his reporting , care , and victim advocacy options , “ Brautigam said in the statement .
Brautigam said Fernandes had been transferred to another unit ” to ensure he received the proper care and ensure there were no opportunities for reprisals.
” The man ’ s family and the U.S. Army are asking for the public ’ s help in finding the missing soldier .
Fernandes is the third solider from Fort Hood to go missing in the past year .
Vanessa Guillén ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disappearance in April .
A fellow soldier killed himself after being confronted by police the day 20-year-old Guillén ’ s remains were found , officials said .
A 22-year-old civilian woman is charged with helping that soldier dispose of Guillén ’ s body .
Guillén ’ s family has said she was sexually harassed by the soldier suspected of killing her , but the Army has said there is no evidence to support that .
There is an ongoing investigation .
Pfc .
Gregory Morales , 24 , was reported missing in August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June .
Killeen police and Army officials are still investigating his death and foul play is suspected .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--Trump delivered on some big 2016 promises, but others unmet

WASHINGTON - He ’ s broken his pledge never to take a vacation or play golf for pleasure .
His plan to update the nation ’ s infrastructure has become a running punchline and he ’ s dropped his threat to throw Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl out of a plane without a parachute .
But behind the drama , chaos and tumult that has defined President Donald Trump ’ s administration , the president has fulfilled a wide range of promises he made during his 2016 campaign .
It ’ s a theme that will play a major role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president tries to convince a weary nation that he deserves a second term , even when millions of Americans have been infected by the coronavirus , the economy is in tatters and racial tensions are boiling over .
“ I ’ m the only candidate that gave you more than I promised in the campaign .
It ’ s true .
I ’ m the only one ever , maybe ever , ” Trump said at a rally in battleground Arizona last week .
Back in 2016 , Trump was criticized for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those of his rival , Hillary Clinton .
What Trump did do was lay out a vision for a new America — one driven by a nationalist self-interest and disregard for Democratic norms .
In the years since , Trump has acted on that vision , making good on his nativist immigration rhetoric , tearing back regulations on business and transforming America ’ s role in the world by abandoning multilateral agreements and upending decades-old alliances , cheered on by many of his most loyal supporters and generating great alarm among his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 175,000 Americans have died and more than 5.5 million have been infected by a virus that has hit the U.S. far harder than other industrialized nations ?
“ I think the golden egg of Trump ’ s reelection effort is going to be the promises kept , such as getting two Supreme Court justices in power and keeping America out of foreign wars like Afghanistan and Iraq , ” said Douglas Brinkley , presidential historian at Rice University .
“ The problem he has is that his COVID response wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s gotten poor marks on how he ’ s handled the pandemic .
So that ’ s put a wrinkle in his promises kept talking points.
” Arguably Trump ’ s biggest impact has been on immigration .
While Mexico never did pay for the “ big , beautiful wall ” Trump pledged to build along the 2,000-mile southern border — the signature promise of his 2016 campaign — the project is now underway , with 450 miles expected to be completed by the end of December .
( Only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been built along stretches where no barrier stood before . )
And Trump has succeeded in fundamentally transforming the nation ’ s immigration system , despite resistance from the courts and little co-operation from Congress .
Using more than 400 executive actions , according to a recent analysis by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute , Trump has effectively shut down the asylum system at the southwest border and slashed refugee admissions .
At the same time , Trump has imposed a slew of new restrictions on legal immigration , with the pandemic spurring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being processed and immigration fees collected , the U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services has all but run out of money and is about to furlough large swaths of its workforce .
Some specific promises on immigration went unfulfilled : Trump failed to create a new “ deportation force , ” never met his pledge to deport millions , didn ’ t end funding for sanctuary cities that don ’ t co-operate with immigration authorities and didn ’ t move to end the constitutional right to birthright citizenship .
But he did clamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of immigrants in the country illegally , enhance background screening of migrants and move to suspend immigration from a host of majority-Muslim nations — an evolution of the Muslin ban he floated during his campaign .
“ They have used the tools that the executive branch has on immigration really to their ultimate extent .
And they ’ ve been successful , ” said Doris Meissner , the director of the Migration Policy Institute ’ s U.S. Immigration Policy Program and a former commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarkably so because there ’ s been very stiff resistance all the way.
” In other areas , Trump ’ s record has been more mixed .
On health care , Republicans in Congress did repeal the Obama-era individual mandate forcing people to buy health insurance , but he failed to replace the Affordable Care Act with an alternative , despite frequent promises to present his own plan .
On the economy , Trump and congressional Republicans pushed through a promised tax cut early in his term that dramatically slashed the corporate tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and doubled the estate tax threshold , but did not eliminate it .
He also did not meet his pledge to reduce the number of individual income tax brackets from seven to three to simplify the tax code , and efforts to bolster manufacturing jobs began to stall by his third year in office .
Trump had promised to boost economic growth to 3.5 % per year on average .
But he never surpassed 3 % growth in any year , and progress on lowering unemployment has been annihilated by the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the Great Depression .
Some of Trump ’ s more controversial promises have fallen by the wayside , such as his pledge to eliminate gun-free zones at schools and on military bases and to establish a national right to carry concealed weapons that would trump local restrictions .
He has all but ignored the spiraling cost of college education and the plans he had proposed to make student loan repayment more affordable .
He never made good on his pledge to push a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a massive $ 1 trillion effort to rebuild the nation ’ s infrastructure , including airports , roads and bridges , has become a running punchline .
He also quickly abandoned his promise never to take a vacation while president , making frequent trips to his properties in Florida and New Jersey .
And while he claimed he would only play golf with those who might help him govern and never with friends , he has now paid more than 270 visits to golf clubs since his inauguration , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is often photographed playing with pros .
But he delivered on other fronts .
He immediately enacted a federal hiring freeze , as he had promised , and mandated that for every new federal regulation enacted , two be eliminated .
He launched an aggressive campaign to roll back environmental protections passed by the Obama administration , including those that protected waterways , encouraged cleaner energy , reduced auto emissions and restricted offshore drilling and oil exploration on federal land .
At the same time , he has prioritized tapping the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas and coal reserves .
However , courts are undoing many of Trump ’ s environmental rollbacks , calling them poorly reasoned and illegal .
On trade , Trump renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement and withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership , but failed to decrease the U.S.-China trade imbalance while starting a trade war with the country .
On the international front , the impact has been enormous as he has put his “ America First ” policy into practice , fundamentally redefining America ’ s place in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military , joined the race to weaponize space , all but abandoned efforts to curb nuclear proliferation , and has threatened U.S. membership in the landmark alliances of the 20th century , including NATO .
At the same time , he has pulled the U.S. from participation in a host of landmark accords , including the Paris Climate Agreement and the Iran nuclear deal ( though he failed to bring Iran back to the negotiating table to broker a replacement deal , as he had pledged . )
At international summits , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Russia ’ s Vladimir Putin , while picking fights with longstanding allies like the U.K. and Canada .
In a sign of just how far he has broken from the global community , he stopped funding the World Health Organization in the midst of the pandemic earlier this year .
Jeremy Shapiro , a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution , said Trump has altered U.S. foreign policy in ways that go beyond what he outlined before taking office .
“ I don ’ t think he was really preparing people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t say , ‘ I don ’ t care about human rights ’ on the campaign trail .
He didn ’ t say , ‘ I don ’ t care about democracy.
’ He didn ’ t say , ‘ I don ’ t care about alliances , ’ “ Shapiro said .
While Trump complained the U.S. had gotten a raw deal in so many areas , he has failed , Shapiro argued , to negotiate improvements , aside from perhaps the new NAFTA .
“ It ’ s easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s much harder to create a better one .
And he hasn ’ t done that , ” Shapiro said .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--Afghan official: Bomb kills 7 civilians in eastern province

KABUL - A roadside bombing on Sunday in eastern Afghanistan killed seven civilians , a provincial official said , the latest in relentless deadly violence in the country amid new uncertainties over the start of talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government .
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing in Ghazni province ’ s Jaghatu district .
Three women , two children and two men died when their vehicle struck the roadside bomb , said Wahidullah Jumazada , a spokesman for the provincial governor .
Afghan civilians continue to bear the brunt of the war across their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and find a road map for post-war Afghanistan .
According to a United Nations report released in July , 1,282 people were killed in violence in Afghanistan in the first six months of 2020 and hundreds more were wounded .
Women and children continue to be disproportionately affected by the direct and indirect impacts of the armed conflict , comprising more than 40 % of the total civilian casualties , meaning both the killed and the wounded , the U.N. had said .
The expected start of talks between the Afghan government and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would not release the last 320 Taliban prisoners it holds until the insurgents free more captured Afghan soldiers .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--Comatose Russian dissident visited by wife, aide in Germany

BERLIN - Alexi Navalny ’ s wife and a top aide visited him Sunday in a Berlin hospital where the comatose Russian dissident is being treated by German doctors after a suspected poisoning .
Navalny was flown to Germany on Saturday from Siberia after doctors determined he was stable enough to be brought to the capital ’ s Charité hospital for treatment .
After his arrival , hospital spokeswoman Manuela Zingl said the 44-year-old would be undergoing extensive diagnostic tests and that doctors wouldn ’ t comment on his illness or treatment until they were able to evaluate the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife , Yulia Navalnaya , and aide Leonid Volkov visited the Russian opposition leader in the hospital , making no comments to reporters .
Navalny , a politician and corruption investigator who is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s fiercest critics , was admitted to an intensive care unit in the Siberian city of Omsk on Thursday .
His supporters believe that tea he drank was laced with poison — and that the Kremlin is behind both his illness and a delay in transferring him to Germany .
Navalny fell ill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Siberia on Thursday and was taken to the hospital after the plane made an emergency landing .
While his supporters and family members insist that Navalny was poisoned , doctors in Omsk have denied that , theorizing a metabolic disorder was the most likely diagnosis and that a drop in blood sugar may have caused Navalny to lose consciousness .
Russian health authorities on Saturday said that tests done so far haven ’ t shown any poisons in his system .
When German specialists arrived aboard a plane equipped with advanced medical equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behest , Navalny ’ s physicians in Omsk initially said he was too unstable to move .
The dissident ’ s supporters suggested that was just a ploy to delay his departure until the poison was out of his system .
The Kremlin denied that resistance to the transfer was political , with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that it was purely a medical decision .
However , the reversal to allow him to leave came as international pressure on Russia ’ s leadership mounted .
Navalny ’ s own doctor , Yaroslav Ashikhmin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the politician has always been in good health , regularly went for medical checkups and didn ’ t have any underlying illnesses that could have triggered his condition .
Like many other opposition politicians in Russia , Navalny has been frequently detained by law enforcement and harassed by pro-Kremlin groups .
In 2017 , he was attacked by several men who threw antiseptic in his face , damaging an eye .
Last year , Navalny was rushed to a hospital from jail where he was serving a sentence on charges of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected poisoning then .
Doctors said he had a severe allergic reaction and sent him back to detention the following day .
If he was poisoned , it would not be the first time a prominent , outspoken Russian was targeted in such a way — or the first time the Kremlin was accused of being behind it .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--Iran: UN nuclear chief’s visit to Tehran no link to US push

TEHRAN , Iran - Iran said Sunday that an upcoming visit this week by the head of the U.N. ’ s atomic watchdog agency to Tehran has nothing to do with a U.S. push to impose so-called “ snapback ” sanctions on Iran .
The Trump administration last week dismissed near-universal opposition to its demand to restore all U.N. sanctions on Iran , declaring that a 30-day countdown for the “ snapback ” of penalties eased under the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers had begun .
U.S. allies and foes have joined forces to declare the action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. argues that Iran has violated the restrictions imposed on its nuclear program under the 2015 deal , a charge Tehran has dismissed .
Iran ’ s official IRNA news agency quoted on Sunday Iran ’ s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA , Kazem Gharibadadi , as saying that the visit this week is “ neither related to the snapback mechanism nor the U.S. demand.
” Gharibabadi said the visit by the IAEA chief Rafael Grossi comes within “ the framework of Iran ’ s invitation.
” “ We do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ he said , adding that Iran ’ s trust in the IAEA has been “ damaged in recent months.
” He expressed hope Grossi ’ s visit will lead to building trust .
“ It is important to assure Tehran that the agency will move based on impartiality , independence and professionalism , ” said Gharibabadi .
The IAEA said on Saturday that Grossi will head to Tehran to press Iranian authorities for access to sites where the country is thought to have stored or used undeclared nuclear material .
Gharibabadi said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials on both Tuesday and Wednesday .
The landmark 2015 nuclear deal was endorsed by a U.N. Security Council resolution and includes the snapback provision .
President Donald Trump pulled America out of the accord in 2018 and imposed severe U.S. sanctions on Iran .
Last week , Iran ’ s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a letter to the U.N. Security Council said the U.S. has no right to demand the restoration of U.N. sanctions , arguing that the U.S. lost the right to make demands when it withdrew from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispute with the U.S. administration — Russia , China , Britain , France and Germany — remain supporters of the nuclear deal to rein in Iran ’ s nuclear program and prevent its development of nuclear weapons .
The five nations and Iran will meet in Vienna on Sept. 1 .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--New Austrian coronavirus measures snarls traffic at border

BERLIN - Traffic was backed up for as much as 12 hours on Austria ’ s southern border after new @ @ @ @ @ on all travellers entering the country , authorities said Sunday .
Police told the Austria @ @ @ @ @ backed up for up to 12 hours at the Karawanks Tunnel and seven hours at @ @ @ @ @ as vacationers returning from Croatia and Slovenia tried to enter the country .
Amid a @ @ @ @ @ in a large part to returning tourists , Austria imposed new rules this weekend requiring @ @ @ @ @ all travellers be recorded at the border , even if just passing through Austria .
@ @ @ @ @ primarily of German and Dutch tourists on their way home , APA reported .
By @ @ @ @ @ were forced to relax the new restrictions to get the traffic moving again , performing @ @ @ @ @ vehicles , Austria ’ s ORF broadcaster reported .
Waiting times at the border were @ @ @ @ @ .


thetorontostar--2020-08-23--Large fire rips through Philadelphia warehouse

More than 200 firefighters were battling the flames , including some on ladder trucks , news outlets reported .
There @ @ @ @ @ the fire .
No injuries were reported .
Images from the scene showed flames shooting @ @ @ @ @ plumes of smoke wafting above .
The fire erupted around 2 a.m. , news outlets @ @