thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Some gardeners in a pickle over scarce canning supplies

MARSHFIELD , Vt. - It ’ s the time of year when gardeners are turning their ripe tomatoes into sauces and salsas and cucumbers into pickles .
But a boom in gardening and preparing food at home during the coronavirus pandemic has led to a scarcity of supplies with which to preserve them .
From Maine and Vermont to Louisiana and West Virginia , gardeners have reported being in a pickle when it comes to finding certain sized glass jars , the special lids to safely seal them , or the bands with which to screw them on .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some have given in to paying higher prices online for certain precious so-called canning supplies .
“ We have been everywhere , ” said Vanessa Ware of Hurricane , West Virginia , who said she went to at least a half-dozen stores after running out of supplies for her tomatoes , peppers , corn and sauerkraut canning .
She still had enough leftover jars and lids but not the bands , so she started looking — and looking .
And a search of online retail sites proved to be frustrating due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has seen an unprecedented demand for supplies as more consumers prepare meals at home during the pandemic , said a spokesperson for Newell Brands , owner of Ball , which produces Mason jars and other supplies .
“ The demand has resulted in supply constraints , extended lead times and recently limited product availability at stores and online , ” the spokesperson said .
To replenish the stock as quickly as possible , the company said it ’ s increased glass production , found additional lid manufacturers and expanded its pack out locations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elizabeth Andress , project director for the National Center for Home Food Preservation .
“ There seem to be more people canning than ever before -- from the much higher number of inquiries coming into the National Center for help than in the past , and from the large number of participants I hear are attending virtual food preservation classes that Extension educators around the country have been offering , “ said Andress , a professor and Extension food safety specialist at the University of Georgia .
More people put in gardens or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of initial fears of a possible food shortage or apprehension about going to the grocery store during the pandemic .
The master garden helpline at the University of Vermont Extension has received more than 500 emails and phone calls since mid-March from new gardeners , those who are expanding their gardens or seeking help with plant disease issues , a jump from previous years , said Lisa Chouinard , the helpline assistant .
“ I do believe this is due to COVID as more people are wanting to grow their own food , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are in need , ” she said by email .
Ware , in West Virginia , was finally able to find some bands for her canning .
Her mother-in-law , two hours away , brought them to her .
She ’ s since been able to get more , but only after paying extra because the bands were sold in a package of 12 with the jars and lids , which she didn ’ t need .
“ We don ’ t need all those jars when we already had them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raby contributed to this report from Charleston , West Virginia .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Ships, aircraft fight new fire on oil tanker off Sri Lanka

COLOMBO , Sri Lanka - Ships and aircraft from Sri Lanka and India intensified efforts to extinguish a new fire on an oil tanker off Sri Lanka ’ s coast on Tuesday , two days after the previous three-day blaze was doused , the navy said .
The MT New Diamond is carrying nearly 2 million barrels of crude oil and Sri Lankan officials have warned of possible massive environmental damage to Sri Lanka ’ s coast if the ship leaks or explodes .
The navy had said the initial fire began in an engine room boiler but did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storage area and no leak had been reported .
Navy spokesman Capt .
Indika de Silva said the new fire started Monday evening and firefighting efforts were enhanced .
“ The new fire reached up to the previous level , but it has now been contained , but flames are still there , ” de Silva said .
High winds , extreme temperatures and sparks reignited it , the navy said in statement .
Ships , tugboats and helicopters from Sri Lanka and neighbouring India were part of the firefighting efforts .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and injured another , but the rest escaped uninjured .
The tanker had 23 crew members — 18 Filipinos and five Greeks .
Twenty other crew members were brought to the southern port city of Galle on Tuesday .
The captain remained on a ship at the location of the fire to help firefighting efforts , de Silva said .
The tanker had drifted to within 20 nautical miles ( 37 kilometres ) of Sri Lanka ’ s eastern coast before a tugboat towed it farther out to sea .
The navy said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles off the coast .
As the new fire rages , a team of scientists sent by the government visited the ocean area near the burning ship on Tuesday to determine whether the fire has damaged the marine environment .
The scientists , from state agencies and universities , will prepare a risk assessment , including the potential for an oil leak , said Terney Pradeep , general manager of Sri Lanka ’ s Marine Environment Protection Authority .
The authority has said it plans to take legal action over the fire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including rescue operation specialists , disaster evaluators and legal consultants , reached the scene and were waiting to board the tanker to begin a salvage mission .
The experts were sent by New Shipping Ltd. , the commercial owner of the New Diamond in Athens , Greece , the navy said .
The tanker was transporting crude oil from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait to the Indian port of Paradip , where the state-owned Indian Oil Corp. has a refinery .

Bharatha Mallawarachi - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Last 2 journalists working for Australian media leave China

CANBERRA , Australia - The last two journalists working for Australian media in China have left the country after police demanded interviews with them and temporarily blocked their departures , marking a further twist in China ’ s increasingly troubled relationship with the foreign media .
The absence of Australian media from China for the first time in four decades comes during a low point in the two countries ’ relations , and the events that led to the journalists ’ departures were seen as evidence of an increasing risk to foreign journalists working in China .
Australian Broadcasting Corp. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Financial Review ’ s Michael Smith landed in Sydney on Tuesday after flying from Shanghai on Monday night , both news outlets reported .
Both journalists had sheltered in Australian diplomatic compounds in recent days .
They left after Australia revealed last week that Australian citizen Cheng Lei , a business news anchor for CGTN , China ’ s English-language state media channel , had been detained .
Both journalists were told they were “ persons of interest ” in an investigation into Cheng , The Australian Financial Review reported .
Seven uniformed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Beijing and Shanghai at 12:30 a.m. Thursday , the newspaper said .
Birtles said he knew Cheng , “ but not especially well , ” and Smith had met her once in his life .
“ I believe the episode was more one of harassment of the remaining Australian journalists rather than a genuine effort to try and get anything useful for that case , ” Birtles said from his Sydney pandemic quarantine hotel room .
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters Tuesday that Cheng was “ suspected of carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security.
“ “ Compulsory measures have been imposed on Cheng and she has recently been investigated by relevant authorities , ” Zhao said at a daily briefing .
As part of that investigation and in accordance with the law , China ’ s “ relevant authority “ demanded to question Birtles and Smith “ which is normal law enforcement , ” Zhao said .
He had no details on the circumstances of the departure of the two Australians , but said China protected the legitimate rights and interests of news gathering staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the laws and regulations in China.
“ “ As long as foreign journalists conduct news reporting in accordance with laws , they should have nothing to worry about , ” Zhao said .
Australian Embassy officials in Beijing told Birtles last week that he should leave China , ABC reported .
Birtles was due to depart Beijing on Thursday and was holding a farewell party on Wednesday when police came to his apartment and told him he was banned from leaving the country , ABC said .
He was told he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to be questioned about a “ national security case , ” his employer said .
Birtles went to the Australian Embassy , where he spent four days while Australian and Chinese officials negotiated .
Smith had similarly holed up at the Australian Consulate in Shanghai .
Birtles and Smith both agreed to give police a brief interview in return for being allowed to leave the country .
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Cheng ’ s detention was part of the reason her government had advised the journalists to leave .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It is disappointing that after many years , Australia will not have a media organisation present in China for some period of time , ” Payne said .
She said Australia would not retaliate by revoking the visas of Chinese journalists working in Australia .
“ Australia operates according to law and in our national interests and unless individuals are breaching laws in Australia , then that would not be an approach that we would take , ” Payne said .
Australia ’ s travel warning of the risk of arbitrary detention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she added .
ABC news director Gaven Morris said Birtles was brought back to Australia on the Australian government ’ s advice .
“ This bureau is a vital part of the ABC ’ s international news-gathering effort and we aim to get back there as soon as possible , ” Morris said .
“ The story of China , its relationship with Australia and its role in our region and in the world is one of great importance for all Australians and we want to continue having our people on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
The newspaper ’ s editor-in-chief , Michael Stutchbury , and editor , Paul Bailey , described the situation as “ disturbing.
” “ This incident targeting two journalists , who were going about their normal reporting duties , is both regrettable and disturbing and is not in the interests of a co-operative relationship between Australia and China , ” they said in a statement .
Relations between China and Australia were already strained by Australia outlawing covert interference in politics and banning communications giant Huawei from supplying critical infrastructure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for an independent inquiry into the origins of and international responses to the coronavirus pandemic .
Australia ’ s journalist union , Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance , said China was no longer safe for foreign reporters .
“ These outrageous attacks on press freedom place any foreign correspondents reporting from China at risk , ” union president Marcus Strom said .
Birtles told reporters at Sydney ’ s airport that his departure was a “ whirlwind and ... not a particularly good experience.
” “ It ’ s very disappointing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a relief to be back in a country with genuine rule of law , ” Birtles said .
Smith told his newspaper : “ The late-night visit by police at my home was intimidating and unnecessary and highlights the pressure all foreign journalists are under in China right now.
” Smith said at the airport that he had felt “ a little bit ” threatened in China .
“ It ’ s so good to be home , so happy , I can ’ t say any more at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief to be home , so really happy , ” Smith said .
“ It was a complicated experience but it ’ s great to be here , ” he added .
The Foreign Correspondents ’ Club of China strongly condemned what it called the government ’ s “ unprecedented harassment and intimidation “ of the two .
“ This effort to keep foreign journalists in China against their will marks a significant escalation of an ongoing , sustained Chinese government assault on media freedoms , “ the club said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign journalists in the first half of 2020 and recently delayed renewing the press cards of five others working for U.S. outlets — putting them at risk of expulsion — in tit-for-tat retaliation for Washington ’ s limits on Chinese reporters operating in the U.S. and delays in renewing the visas of others .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--The Latest: Retiree in Austria gets U.S. virus relief check

BERLIN -- A retiree in Austria says he received a U.S. government coronavirus relief check for $ 1,200 , despite not having lived in America for over half a century .
The check , with President Donald Trump ’ s name on it , is part of a massive federal stimulus program .
But the money also has been sent to people who aren ’ t eligible -- including deceased U.S. taxpayers .
Austrian public broadcaster ORF reports the 73-year-old man from Linz , who worked as a waiter in the United States for two years in the 1960s , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His wife , who never worked or lived in the United States , got one too .
ORF reports banks in Austria confirm they ’ ve cashed dozens of checks for residents of the Alpine country .
It ’ s unclear how many were entitled to the money .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK — Xi praises China , WHO for battling coronavirus , in a repudiation of U.S. criticism — Fearing virus , parents in Spain rise against return to schools — Organizers , IOC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tokyo Olympics HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : JAKARTA , Indonesia — The Indonesian government announced the country has surpassed 200,000 coronavirus cases on Tuesday .
The National Task Force for COVID-19 Mitigation reported 3,046 new coronavirus cases in Indonesia , bringing the total to 200,035 confirmed cases .
It reported 100 people died in the last 24 hours , reaching a confirmed death toll of 8,230 .
National COVID-19 Mitigation Task Force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito says , “ We have to pay attention to our condition today as President Joko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care of the health affairs first so the economic situation can get better.
” Indonesian government imposed large-scale social restrictions in the regions of the country in April .
The regional governments lifted the restrictions and reopened the business activities in June .
HONG KONG — Hong Kong is further relaxing social distancing measures , as the territory ’ s number of new coronavirus cases dwindles .
Hong Kong reported another six cases of the virus on Tuesday .
From Friday , the limit on public gatherings will be relaxed to four people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoor and outdoor sports facilities , as well as museums will be allowed to re-open .
The city has seen its coronavirus cases dwindle after a surge in locally-transmitted infections in July .
Hong Kong has reported a total of 4,896 infections since the pandemic began , with 99 deaths .
Hong Kong officials said Tuesday that the city is in talks with 11 countries about setting up travel bubbles , which would allow residents to travel internationally even amid the pandemic .
Such travel bubbles would include a pre-flight coronavirus test that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong and the partnering country .
BERLIN — Austria ’ s leader says he wants to keep both ski resorts and schools open this winter as the country tries to keep coronavirus infections down while supporting the tourism industry .
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said during a visit to Slovenia on Tuesday that the government will do everything to ensure that safe skiing is possible .
The Austrian ski resort of Ischgl became an early European hot spot as the pandemic took off in March .
The Austria Press Agency reported that Kurz said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as normal a life as possible in all areas of our life ” and added that “ winter tourism and skiing will be possible.
” Asked whether skiing areas might have to be closed so that schools can remain open longer , he said : “ I would not like to play schools the economy off against each other.
” Kurz said that post-skiing partying won ’ t be possible in the way it was previously , but didn ’ t give details .
NEW DELHI — India has reported 1,133 deaths from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , its highest single-day total .
The Health Ministry on Tuesday also reported 75,809 new cases , raising India ’ s reported tally to nearly 4.3 million — second only to the United States and maintaining an upward surge amid an ease in nationwide restrictions to help mitigate the economic pain .
The country ’ s death toll now stands at 72,775 .
The rise in cases is partly due to increased testing .
The number of daily tests conducted across the country has risen to more than a million .
Nearly 3.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 so far .
The pandemic has been economically devastating for India .
Its economy contracted nearly 24 % in the second quarter , the worst among the world ’ s top economies .
SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has reported 136 new cases of the coronavirus , mostly in the greater capital area , where authorities have tightened dining restrictions and shut down certain businesses to slow the viral spread .
The figures released by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday brought the nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21,432 .
Five patients , between the ages of 75 and 90 , died in the past 24 hours , bringing the death toll to 341 .
KCDC said 100 of the new cases came from the Seoul metropolitan area , home to half of the country ’ s 51 million people , where restaurants are currently required to provide only deliveries and takeouts after 9 p.m. After-school academies and indoor sports facilities such as fitness centres and billiard clubs have also been ordered to close to slow the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases in Egypt has passed 100,000 .
The Health Ministry reported 178 new cases late Monday .
Since the pandemic began Egypt has recorded 5,541 virus deaths .
Egypt has recently relaxed most of its restrictions taken to stem the speed of the virus .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Belarus activist resists authorities’ push to leave country

KYIV , Ukraine - A leading opposition activist in Belarus was held on the border Tuesday after she resisted an attempt by authorities ’ to force her to leave the country , part of government efforts to end a month of protests against the reelection of the country ’ s authoritarian leader .
Maria Kolesnikova , a member of the Coordination Council created by the opposition to facilitate talks with longtime leader President Alexander Lukashenko on a transition of power , was detained Monday in the capital , Minsk , along with two other council members .
Early Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where authorities told them to cross into Ukraine .
Kolesnikova refused , and remained on the Belarusian side of the border in the custody of Belarusian authorities .
Two other council members , Ivan Kravtsov and Anton Rodnenkov , crossed into Ukraine .
Some reports said that Kolesnikova ripped up her passport to avoid being forced to move to Ukraine .
Anton Bychkovsky , spokesman for Belarus ’ Border Guard Committee , confirmed that Kolesnikova is in the custody of Belarusian authorities , but refused to give any details of what happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar tactics with other opposition figures , seeking to end a month of demonstrations against the reelection of Lukashenko in a vote that protesters see as rigged .
Lukashenko has ruled the country for 26 years , relentlessly stifling dissent and keeping most of the economy in state hands .
The 66-year-old former state farm director has rejected criticism from the United States and the European Union , which said the Aug. 9 election was neither free nor fair and shrugged off their demands to engage in a dialogue with the opposition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Lukashenko , left for Lithuania a day after the election under pressure from authorities .
Addressing the Council of Europe ’ s Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday , Tsikhanuskaya called for international sanctions against Lukashenko and other government officials .
“ We need international pressure on this regime , on this one individual , desperately clinging onto power , “ she said .
Tsikhanouskaya stated that Lukashenko doesn ’ t have any legitimacy after stealing the vote , warning other countries against making any deals with the Belarusian government .
“ He does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
After a brutal crackdown on protesters in the first few days after the vote that stoked international outrage and swelled the ranks of protesters , authorities in Belarus have switched to threats and selective arrests of opposition activists and demonstrators .
Last week , Pavel Latushko , a former minister of culture and ambassador to France who joined the opposition council , travelled to Poland after facing threats and being questioned .
His departure came a day after Lukashenko warned that Latushko had crossed a “ red line ” and would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top associate of Tsikhanouskaya , Olga Kovalkova , also moved to Poland after the authorities threatened to keep her in jail for a long time if she refused to leave the country .
Kovalkova said agents of the Belarusian State Security Committee put her into a car , where she was told lie on the floor , unaware where they were taking her .
She was dropped off in no-man ’ s land between the Belarus and Poland border , and Polish border guards asked a bus driver driving into Poland to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make opposition activists leave the country come amid a criminal probe against members of the Coordination Council .
Belarusian prosecutors have accused them of undermining the country ’ s security by calling for talks on a transition of power .
Several council members were arrested and some others called for questioning .
Last week , Kolesnikova announced the creation of a new party , Together .
She said the move will help overcome the current crisis , but the party founders ’ call for constitutional changes has stunned some other opposition council members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention from the main goal of getting Lukashenko to step down .
Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow , and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw , Poland , contributed to this report .
Follow all AP stories on the developments in Belarus at https : //apnews.com/Belarus


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Environmental education program adding more Detroit students

DETROIT - An outdoor learning program is expanding to more Detroit high schools .
Sixty students will be in the @ @ @ @ @ Program this fall , the National Wildlife federation said , doubling last year ’ s @ @ @ @ @ offers workshops , discussions , field trips and student-led sustainability projects .
Students get experience @ @ @ @ @ and environmental justice , and learn how they can make a difference in their communities @ @ @ @ @ University Prep Academy , Marygrove and Western participated in the program last year .
More @ @ @ @ @ fall .
Concerns about the spread of the coronavirus have changed the way the program @ @ @ @ @ will take place outdoors , and classroom workshops will be offered online rather than in @ @ @ @ @ that outdoor activities , with proper safety protocols , are low risk and promote physical @ @ @ @ @ said Mike Shriberg , Great Lakes regional director at the National Wildlife Federation .
“ @ @ @ @ @ connections with nature are important for youth living in cities .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Church known for its architecture lands grant for repairs

COLUMBUS , Ind .
- A historic Indiana church that became one of the nation ’ s first Modernist churches in the 1940s has landed a $ 500,000 grant to repair its iconic bell tower .
The grant from the National Park Service moves First Christian Church closer to the $ 2.4 million needed to repair the Columbus church ’ s 160-foot ( 48-meter ) tower .
“ Though we ’ re still a long way from the finish line , and we still need a lot of community support to get us there , this award definitely gives the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeff Logston , chairman of the First Christian fundraising committee .
The church , designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen and completed in 1942 , began the south-central Indiana city ’ s storied commitment to Modernist architecture , The ( Columbus ) Republic reported .
The box-like building features a grid of raised limestone panels on its main facade , while its soaring bell tower includes a similar grid pattern .
The church in the city about 40 miles ( 64 kilometres ) south of Indianapolis was designated a National Historic Landmark by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2018 , water leaks in the tower were repaired , but experts found that cracks in mortar joints were allowing rain to get in , causing damage .
“ The First Christian Church is an architectural gem in the Columbus community and it is our duty to help preserve national historic landmarks such as this , ” said U.S. Rep. Greg Pence , R-Ind .
In December , Pence , the brother of Vice-President Mike Pence , wrote a letter endorsing the church ’ s grant application in their hometown and gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for the project .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--DOJ asks to defend Trump in rape accuser’s defamation suit

NEW YORK - The Justice Department is asking to take over President Donald Trump ’ s defence in a defamation lawsuit from a writer who accused him of rape , and federal lawyers asked a court Tuesday to allow a move that could put the American people on the hook for any money she might be awarded .
After New York state courts turned down Trump ’ s request to delay E. Jean Carroll ’ s suit , Justice Department lawyers filed court papers aiming to shift the case into federal court and to substitute the U.S. for Trump as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government , rather than Trump himself , might have to pay damages if any are awarded .
The move to intervene is in keeping with a Justice Department that time and again has advanced a broad vision of executive power and has moved to shield Trump from legal exposure , most notably by arguing that actions taken to choke off the Russia investigation fell within the scope of his constitutional authorities and were therefore permissible .
It also comes amid concerns that Attorney General William Barr has gone out of his way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or his allies .
Barr tried to decrease the amount of prison time his office sought for Trump ally Roger Stone following a criminal trial where he was found guilty .
( Stone ’ s sentence was later commuted by Trump . )
Barr ’ s Justice Department has acted to dismiss its own case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn .
“ It offends me as a lawyer and offends me even more as a citizen , ” she said in a statement .
Carroll , meanwhile , said the developments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible , including using the full powers of the federal government , ” to try to stop the case .
The filing complicates , at least for the moment , Carroll ’ s efforts to get a DNA sample from the president as potential evidence and to have him answer questions under oath .
Justice Department lawyers argue that Trump was “ acting within the scope of his office ” when he denied Carroll ’ s allegations , made last year , that he raped her in a New York luxury department store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments — including that she was “ totally lying ” to sell a memoir — besmirched her character and harmed her career .
“ Numerous courts have recognized that elected officials act within the scope of their office or employment when speaking with the press , including with respect to personal matters , ” the Justice attorneys wrote .
It will be up to a federal judge to decide whether to move the case to federal court from state court and to allow the U.S. to become the defendant .
Carroll is trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see whether it matches as-yet-unidentified male genetic material found on a dress that she says she was wearing during the alleged attack and didn ’ t don again until a photo shoot last year .
Her suit seeks damages and a retraction of Trump ’ s statements .
The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly .
Associated Press Writer Colleen Long contributed to this report from Washington .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--With 7 dead, California pot ranch is tied to organized crime

AGUANGA , Calif. - An illegal marijuana growing operation where seven people were fatally shot in a small , rural Southern California town had the markings of organized crime , authorities said Tuesday .
More than 20 people lived on the property , which had several makeshift dwellings , a nursery and vehicles used in production , Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said .
Marijuana was processed to honey oil , a highly potent concentrate made by extracting the high-inducing chemical THC from cannabis .
All seven victims and witnesses were Laotian , Bianco said .
Six people were found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman who was shot there died later at a hospital .
“ This was not a small operation , “ Bianco said .
“ This is a very organized-crime type of an operation.
” Illegal grows are common in and around Aguanga , a single stop-sign town of about 2,000 people north of San Diego with horse ranches along dirt roads .
Still , the scale of the Labor Day massacre stunned residents and showed how violence permeates California ’ s illegal marijuana market .
The state broadly legalized recreational marijuana sales in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is thriving — in part because hefty legal marijuana taxes send consumers looking for better deals in the illegal economy .
Before dawn Monday , Riverside County sheriff ’ s deputies responded to a 911 call of an assault with a deadly weapon and shots fired at the Aguanga home .
Investigators seized more than 1,000 pounds ( 454 kilograms ) of marijuana and several hundred marijuana plants .
Despite there being no arrests or identified suspects , the sheriff ’ s statement called the deaths “ an isolated incident ” that did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eaten pizza sat in boxes in a circular dirt driveway of the dilapidated two-bedroom house where the shootings occurred .
Three cars were parked outside — one with its front doors open .
Cases of bottled water were stacked on the front porch , which was strewn with clothing and plastic bags .
A black tarp was stretched atop poles in the fenced backyard , indicating a small growing operation .
Unlike many neighbouring homes , it had neither a gate nor a “ no trespassing ” sign at the entrance .
Reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed surprise , saying he didn ’ t know a shooting had taken place at either of the rentals , a mobile home and the house .
He said he had tried to visit Monday to check on the well during the recent heat wave , but he was turned away by a deputy who wouldn ’ t tell him what was going on .
He said he left his phone number , but authorities never called .
McKay said he didn ’ t know the tenants or their names — the rentals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
But he said the home had been rented for three years and the mobile home for two without incident .
“ I ’ m kind of unaware of anything right now , ” McKay said .
“ For two and three years , they ’ ve been there — perfect .
Never had an issue.
” Aguanga , with its post office , general store and real estate brokerage , is in an area dotted with vineyards and horse ranches that have given it some traction as a weekend getaway for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Temecula , a bedroom community for San Diego and Los Angeles .
Deputies in February seized more than 9,900 plants and collected 411 pounds ( 186 kilograms ) of processed marijuana and firearms from suspected illegal marijuana sites in the Aguanga area .
Four people were arrested .
Law enforcement surveillance in the area has spawned nicknames like “ Marijuana Mondays , ” “ Weed Wednesdays ” and “ THC Thursdays , ” said Mike Reed , a real estate broker and 28-year Aguanga resident .
Reed said he does real-estate business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in his gated community .
Residents move to Aguanga for “ peace and solitude , “ Reed said .
“ People live here because it ’ s not in the city.
” Aguanga ’ s isolation , however , may have made it prone to illegal marijuana sales and cultivation .
The sheriff said almost every marijuana operation in the mountainous communities is illegal .
Adam Spiker , executive director of the Southern California Coalition , a cannabis industry group , said the shootings were a reminder that the sprawling illegal marketplace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of us : It seems we have one foot in and one foot out on regulating this industry , ” Spiker said .
Many California communities have not established legal marijuana markets or have banned commercial marijuana activity .
Law enforcement has been unable to keep up with the illicit growing operations .
“ This risk is inherent in the underground market , ” said Los Angeles marijuana dispensary owner Jerred Kiloh , who heads United Cannabis Business Association , an industry group .
“ When you have money and high returns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you.
” Kiloh said most illicit market crimes go unreported because farmers who have been robbed can not turn to authorities .
Laotian involvement in illegal marijuana harvesting has grown over the last decade in California ’ s agricultural heartland .
People from the relatively small community account for much of the pot growing in backyards and on prime farmland .
Large cannabis growing operations typically have hundreds of thousands of dollars of product at each site , making them attractive targets for criminals .
“ That ’ s why the violence becomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Blood reported from Los Angeles .
Associated Press writer Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed .
This story has been corrected to show that Aguanga was misspelled in two instances .

Elliot Spagat And Michael R. Blood - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Man accused of making bomb threat during Zoom lecture

HOUSTON - A man has been arrested after being accused of making a bomb threat against the University of Houston during a Zoom lecture .
Ibraheem Ahmed Al Bayati made an initial court appearance Tuesday in federal court in Houston .
Al Bayati , 19 , was accused by federal authorities of joining a university lecture on Zoom on Sept. 2 and interrupting it by saying “ what does any of this have to do with the fact that UH is about to get bombed in a few days ?
” Al Bayati , who identified himself as Abu Qital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was also accused of uttering an Arabic a phrase that means the “ Islamic State will remain , ” according to a criminal complaint .
Investigators allege his discussion about the “ Islamic State ” was a reference to the terrorist organization .
After Al Bayati repeated the phrase , he left the call to the gasps of students , according to the criminal complaint .
He was arrested on Friday .
Court records did not list an attorney for him .
Al Bayati , a U.S. citizen who lives in Richmond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kilometres ) southwest of Houston , told investigators the incident was a joke devised by him and a friend , according to the complaint .
Authorities also accuse Al Bayati of being a recruiter for the Islamic State .
Al Bayati has been charged with making threats or conveying false information to destroy by means of fire or explosives and making a threat over interstate commerce .
If convicted , Al Bayati faces up to 10 years in prison .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Trump planning to withdraw more US troops from Iraq

WASHINGTON - The Trump administration will announce Wednesday that it is withdrawing additional troops from Iraq , as President Donald Trump tries to make good on his campaign promise to disentangle the country from “ endless wars.
” A senior administration official discussed the draw-down with reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday night , on condition of anonymity .
The official said the administration is also looking to announce the withdrawal of additional troops from Afghanistan in the coming days .
The planned announcements come as the president has been trying to make the case that he has fulfilled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he tries to secure a second term .
There are more than 5,000 American troops in Iraq now .
In July , the top U.S. general for the Middle East said he believed the U.S. will keep a smaller but enduring presence in the country .
Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie , the commander of U.S. Central Command , said he believes the Iraqis welcome the U.S. and coalition troops , especially in the ongoing fight to keep IS fighters from taking hold of the country again .
Trump told reporters two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day when we don ’ t have to be there.
“ The comments came during an Oval Office meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi .
However , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized at that same meeting that a full withdrawal of U.S. troops would only occur once “ we can complete the mission.
“


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Neo-Nazi pleads guilty over threats to journalists

SEATTLE - A Neo-Nazi has pleaded guilty in federal court in Seattle to a charge that he conspired to threaten journalists .
Johnny Roman Garza , 21 , of Queen Creek , Arizona , entered the plea by video conference Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to one count of conspiracy to mail threatening communications , to commit cyberstalking and to interfere with a federally protected activity .
Garza was one of four members of the Neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division charged early this year with having cyberstalked and sent Swastika-laden posters to journalists and an employee of the Anti-Defamation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been visited by your local Nazis , ” “ Your Actions have Consequences , ” and “ We are Watching.
” Garza admitted that as part of the conspiracy he located the Phoenix apartment complex where a member of the Arizona Association of Black Journalists lived and went there last January intent on leaving the threatening posters .
According to the plea agreement , however , Garza could not find a suitable place to put the poster .
He then travelled to the home of an editor at a local Jewish publication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window .
The same day , other members of the conspiracy mailed or delivered posters to targets in Washington state and Florida , authorities said .
Investigators warned several of the intended victims before they received the intimidating communications , indicating that they were monitoring the people making the threats .
Garza faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in December .
The trial date for the other defendants has been delayed by the COVID pandemic .
They include Kaleb J. Cole , against whom Seattle police obtained an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall , seizing nine guns from his home .
They said Cole had “ gone from espousing hate to now taking active steps or preparation for an impending ‘ race war.
’ ” Those steps including organizing paramilitary-style “ hate camps ” in Nevada and Washington , investigators said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--ASEAN talks tackle pandemic, sea feud amid US-China rivalry

HANOI , Vietnam - Southeast Asia ’ s top diplomats are holding their annual talks by video Wednesday to discuss the immense crisis wrought by the coronavirus pandemic and rising tensions in the South China Sea amid the escalating rivalry between Washington and Beijing .
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations ministerial meetings have been delayed by a month and were being held online due to continuing health risks posed by COVID-19 .
The 10-nation bloc ’ s foreign ministers will meet Asian and Western counterparts , including those from the U.S. and China , for talks later in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forum .
Vietnam , which has seen a resurgence in COVID-19 infections , is hosting the talks as this year ’ s chairman of the diverse regional group .
It organized an austere opening ceremony in the capital Hanoi to be led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and attended by a few dozen diplomats .
The pandemic has delayed or cancelled dozens of meetings and shut out the colorful ceremonies , group handshakes and photo-ops that have been the trademark of ASEAN ’ s annual gatherings .
Vietnamese deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the talks would continue to focus on a regional response to the pandemic and ways to help member states recover economically .
The contagion has devastated the region ’ s manufacturing , export , travel and tourism industries and sparked the worst economic recessions in decades across the region of 650 million people .
Southeast Asian nations have been impacted by the pandemic differently , with hard-hit Philippines grappling with more than 240,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections , including nearly 4,000 deaths , and the tiny socialist state of Laos reporting just 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have more than double the infections counted in China , where the outbreak started late last year .
A key project is establishing a COVID-19 response fund to help ASEAN member states buy medical supplies and protective suits .
Thailand has pledged to contribute $ 100,000 and ASEAN partners , including China , Japan and South Korea , were expected to announce contributions , according to a senior Southeast Asian diplomat .
A regional stockpile of medical supplies has also been approved , and a study to be financed by Japan will research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on public health emergencies .
A long-thorny issue on the agenda is the territorial disputes in the South China Sea involving China , Taiwan and ASEAN members Brunei , Malaysia , the Philippines and Vietnam .
In July , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that Washington regards virtually all of China ’ s maritime claims in the disputed offshore region outside of its internationally recognized waters to be illegitimate .
Although it remains neutral in territorial disputes , the Trump administration was in effect siding with the four ASEAN claimant states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all opposed China ’ s claims to virtually the entire waterway .
China then accused the U.S. of sowing discord in the strategic region and last month , its military reportedly test-fired two missiles in the South China Sea during exercises .
At the ASEAN Regional Forum on Saturday , Pompeo and his Chinese counterpart , Wang Yi , have confirmed their attendance to Asia ’ s largest security forum , which will also be done by video .
North Korea ’ s foreign minister will skip the forum but its representative to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vietnam ’ s foreign ministry .
Associated Press journalist Jim Gomez contributed to this report from Manila , Philippines .

Hau Dinh And Yves Van Dam - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Police vow to work with probe of shooting of autistic boy

SALT LAKE CITY - A police department vowed Tuesday to co-operate with multiple investigations of the shooting of a 13-year-old autistic boy by officers in the Salt Lake City area .
The Salt Lake City Police Department said the officers were called to a home in Glendale , Utah , Friday night with a report of a boy who had threatened people with a weapon .
The boy reportedly ran and was shot by an officer after being pursued by police .
The Salt Lake City Police Department said in the statement Tuesday that each time there is an shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocol team made up of officers from multiple agencies with no ties to the Salt Lake City Police Department conducts an independent investigation .
We are co-operating fully with the protocol team assigned to this case.
” The department added that the city ’ s “ Civilian Review Board and our own Internal Affairs will also conduct parallel separate investigations.
“ The boy ’ s mother , Golda Barton , told KUTV-TV that her son has autism and she had called police because he was having a breakdown and needed a crisis intervention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her son was unarmed and warned them that he did not know how to regulate his behaviour .
A few minutes after two officers who had arrived went through the front door of the home , Barton said she heard an order to “ get on the ground “ and several gunshots .
No weapon was found Friday , the Salt Lake Tribune reported .
The boy was recovering in the hospital and listed in serious condition .
He had injuries to his shoulder , ankles , intestines and bladder , Barton said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement late Sunday that the shooting was a tragedy and called for a swift and transparent investigation .
More details are expected to be released within 10 business days when police body camera footage is released , as required under a city ordinance .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Rochester police leaders retire after suffocation death

Top police leaders in Rochester , New York , announced their retirements Tuesday amid nightly protests over the handling of the suffocation death of Daniel Prude , whose family filed a federal lawsuit alleging a coverup by law enforcement .
Police Chief La ’ Ron Singletary , Deputy Chief Joseph M. Morabito and two commanders retired , while two more deputy chiefs and a commander gave up top leadership positions and returned to lower ranks .
The outgoing chief accused critics of trying to “ destroy my character and integrity.
” Mayor Lovely Warren said during a video call with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not ask Singletary , 40 , to resign , but that his abrupt decision to step down came after “ new information that was brought to light today that I had not previously seen before.
“ She did not elaborate .
While the “ timing and tenor ” of the retirements were difficult , Warren said later at a brief news conference , “ I truly believe that we will get through this.
” The sudden announcements came more than five months after the death of Prude , a 41-year-old Black man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with police March 23 in New York ’ s third-largest city .
There have been nightly protests in the city since the video ’ s release Wednesday .
“ The events that have unfolded today have taken us completely by surprise , as they have everyone else , ” the Rochester police union , known as the Locust Club , said in a prepared statement .
The union blamed the “ problems of leadership “ on the mayor .
“ The members of the Rochester Police Department and the Greater Rochester Community know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for , “ Singletary said in his own prepared statement .
” The mischaracterization and the politicization of the actions that I took after being informed of Mr. Prude ’ s death is not based on facts , and is not what I stand for.
” Singletary , who spent his entire career in the Rochester Police Department , was appointed chief in April 2019 .
He will stay on through the end of the month , Warren said .
Both the mayor and Singletary are Black .
“ This is great news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Free the People ROC , which has held protests since details of Prude ’ s death emerged .
“ It says to the people that people are able to move things and to shape things .
The police chief wouldn ’ t retire if it weren ’ t for something that he felt he was accountable to.
” But , she said , nightly protests will continue to push other demands , including the resignation of the mayor , defunding and demilitarizing of police , and development of a state law barring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crises .
Officers found Prude running naked down the street in March , handcuffed him and put a hood over his head to stop him from spitting , then held him down for about two minutes until he stopped breathing .
He died a week later after he was taken off life support .
His brother , Joe Prude , had called 911 seeking help for Daniel Prude ’ s unusual behaviour .
He had been taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation earlier that night but was released after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His death sparked outrage after his relatives last week released police body camera video and written reports they obtained through a public records request .
Seven police officers were suspended a day later , and state Attorney General Letitia James said Saturday she would form a grand jury and conduct an “ exhaustive investigation ” into Prude ’ s death .
In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday , Prude ’ s family alleged that it took more than 90 seconds for officers to notice he had stopped breathing because they were chatting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prude ’ s sister , Tameshay , sued as executor of his estate and named the city of Rochester , Singletary and officers involved in the arrest as defendants .
Prude ’ s family contends his death and a coverup stem from longstanding police department policy and practice that “ condones and encourages officers to use excessive force as a matter of course , and to lie in official police paperwork and sworn testimony to justify their unlawful actions.
” The lawsuit alleges the police department sought to cover up the true nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with what Warren said was Singletary reporting to her early on that Prude had an apparent drug overdose .
The lawsuit also argues officers used force against Prude at a time when he “ obviously posed no threat to the safety of the officers or anyone else.
” “ Mr .
Prude was in the midst of an acute , manic , psychotic episode , ” the lawsuit states .
“ Mr .
Prude was unarmed , naked and suffering .
He needed help.
” Police union officials have said the officers were @ @ @ @

Mary Esch, Michael Hill And Michael R. Sisak - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Greece: Migrants flee burning camp during lockdown

ATHENS , Greece - Authorities on the Greek island of Lesbos say a large number of migrants have fled a camp under COVID-19 lockdown early Wednesday after multiple fires broke out around the site .
The fires broke out overnight , police and Fire Service officials on the island told the Associated Press , adding the cause of the blazes remained unclear .
They did not confirm local reports that the fires had been set deliberately in protest at the lockdown measures but said firefighters had “ met resistance ” from some camp residents .
There were no immediate reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Moria camp and the surrounding area , where additional restrictions have been imposed over the past week after a Somali resident tested positive for COVID-19 .
Health authorities on Tuesday said 35 cases of the virus had been confirmed so far after a major testing drive was ordered at the overcrowded facility .
Early Wednesday , riot police were deployed around the camp and along the 5-kilometre route to the island ’ s main town of Mytilene , in an apparent effort to block migrants from reaching the port .
Lesbos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2015-16 for illegal migration during a massive westward movement of refugees , many fleeing war in Syria and Iraq and travelling through Turkey .
Firefighters on Lesbos were also battling two other forest fires on the west of the island .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Gov. Chris Sununu easily defeats GOP primary opponents

CONCORD , N.H. - Two Concord attorneys hoping to upgrade their Statehouse experience are competing in Tuesday ’ s Democratic gubernatorial primary , while Republican Gov .
Chris Sununu easily defeated two longshots on the GOP ballot .
Democrats Dan Feltes and Andru Volinsky both have emphasized their blue-collar upbringings and early experience as lawyers .
Feltes worked as a legal aid attorney before being elected to the state Senate in 2014 .
Volinsky was the lead counsel in a landmark education funding lawsuit in the 1990s before being elected to the Executive Council in 2016 .
That lawsuit led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s obligation to provide and pay for an adequate education , but the lack of progress since then drove Volinsky into the governor ’ s race .
Unlike Feltes , he did not take the traditional pledge to veto a sales or income tax , and believes all options should be on the table .
On the Executive Council , Volinsky has been a vocal opponent of many of Sununu ’ s appointments , including the governor ’ s failed nomination of Attorney General Gordon MacDonald as state Supreme Court chief justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporate loopholes would provide enough revenue to boost funding for schools , and highlights the current state budget , which significantly increased education funding .
In his three terms in the Senate , he sponsored legislation on paid family medical leave , clean energy , worker protection and other Democratic priorities .
But many of his bills got vetoed by Sununu , who has called both Democrats out of touch and unprepared to lead New Hampshire .
In the GOP primary , Sununu faced longtime conservative activist Karen Testerman , of Franklin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officially changed his name from Rich Paul .
Though his opponents criticized him , Sununu has enjoyed widespread support for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as he seeks a third , two-year term .
In a statement , he said he was humbled and grateful for his win Tuesday night .
“ We put a great team together for our state and provided the leadership necessary to guide New Hampshire through these unprecedented times , ” he said .
“ Many of our biggest challenges still lay ahead , and in 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to promote businesses , keep our state safe , and invigorate economic opportunity for families .
Others just talk — I believe in results .
We will keep getting the job done.
” The son of a former governor , Sununu was the youngest governor in the country when he took office in 2017 at age 42 .
While fellow Republicans held a majority in the Legislature during his first term , Democrats won majorities in 2018 , prompting him to set a record for vetoed legislation .
Sununu has been a supporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not attend the president ’ s recent rally in Londonderry beyond greeting him as he arrived .
Trump lost New Hampshire to Hillary Clinton in 2016 , and Democrats hold all four seats in the state ’ s Congressional delegation .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Lawsuit challenges Alaska witness requirement for ballots

JUNEAU , Alaska - A lawsuit filed Tuesday asks a judge to block election officials from enforcing during the COVID-19 pandemic a requirement that Alaska absentee voters have someone witness them signing their ballots .
The plaintiffs are the Arctic Village Council , a tribal government ; the League of Women Voters of Alaska ; and two individuals that the lawsuit says have health concerns .
The lawsuit seeks to have the witness requirement declared “ unconstitutionally burdensome ” on the plaintiffs ’ right to vote amid the pandemic .
Maria Bahr , a state Department of Law spokesperson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the complaint .
The lawsuit names as defendants Lt. Gov .
Kevin Meyer , who oversees elections ; Gail Fenumiai , director of the Division of Elections ; and the division .
Groups representing the plaintiffs — including the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska ; Native American Rights Fund ; and Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law — last week asked Meyer and Fenumiai to not enforce the witness requirement this fall .
Meyer , in response , said making exceptions to the law , “ even on a piecemeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Alaskans have built their faith in the election process.
” He also encouraged voters to “ think creatively ” about how to fulfil the witness requirement “ in a safe manner .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Myanmar army deserters confirm atrocities against Rohingya

BANGKOK - Two soldiers who deserted from Myanmar ’ s army have testified on video that they were instructed by commanding officers to “ shoot all that you see and that you hear ” in villages where minority Rohingya Muslims lived , a human rights group said Tuesday .
The comments appear to be the first public confession by soldiers of involvement in army-directed massacres , rape and other crimes against Rohingya in the Buddhist-majority country , and the group Fortify Rights suggested they could provide important evidence for an ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bangladesh since August 2017 to escape what Myanmar ’ s military called a clearance campaign following an attack by a Rohingya insurgent group in Rakhine state .
Myanmar ’ s government has denied accusations that security forces committed mass rapes and killings and burned thousands of homes .
Fortify Rights , which focuses on Myanmar , said the two army privates fled the country last month and are believed to be in the custody of the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands , which is examining the violence against the Rohingya .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tun , 33 , and Zaw Naing Tun , 30 , who served in separate light infantry battalions , gave “ the names and ranks of 19 direct perpetrators from the Myanmar army , including themselves , as well as six senior commanders ... they claim ordered or contributed to atrocity crimes against Rohingya.
“ The videos were filmed in July while the soldiers were in the custody of the Arakan Army , an ethnic guerrilla group in Rakhine engaged in an armed conflict with the government , and included subtitled translations into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They were posted on Fortify Rights ’ page on a video-sharing site , where the Associated Press viewed them .
The AP was not able to independently corroborate the soldiers ’ accounts or ascertain whether they made their statements under duress .
However , UN agencies and human rights organizations have extensively documented atrocities carried out against the Rohingya by Myanmar security forces .
The International Court of Justice agreed last year to consider a case alleging that Myanmar committed genocide against the group .
The court ’ s proceedings are likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long considered Rohingya Muslims to have migrated illegally from Bangladesh , even though their families have lived in Myanmar for generations .
Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982 , effectively rendering them stateless .
They are also denied freedom of movement and other basic rights .
In separate videos , the two soldiers were shown seated stiffly in military uniforms with a sheet covering the background , as an off-screen male voice asked them questions .
The details in the questions , as well as the ready answers about events that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it evident the content was prepared , if not actually rehearsed .
However , the violent acts the men described echoed the vast number of accounts of atrocities collected by UN investigators and independent human rights workers from Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh .
After answering questions about his name , serial number and military units , Myo Win Tun said the commander of the 15th Military Operations Center , whom he named as Col. Than Htike , gave an order to “ shoot all you see and all you hear ” when raiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation , they killed and buried 30 people : “ eight women , seven children and 15 men and elderly.
” He asserted that Col Than Htike ordered his unit to “ exterminate all Kalar ” — a derogatory name for the Rohingya — and that they shot the men in their foreheads and kicked their bodies into a hole .
They also raped the women before killing them and he admitted to carrying out one rape .
He said his unit appropriated mobile phones and laptops , and also seized cattle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Staring directly at the camera with barely any perceptible movement , Zaw Naing Tun recounted how his unit “ wiped out ” 20 Rohingya villages .
The soldier said about 80 people in all were killed , including children , adults and the elderly of both sexes .
The killings were sanctioned by his battalion commander , Lt. Col Myo Myint Aung , he said .
In one incident , 10 villagers suspected of belonging to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army , the Rohingya insurgent group , were captured and tied up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a captain , he said , acknowledging that he was one of the shooters .
Zaw Naing Tun said he was present when a sergeant and a corporal raped three Rohingya women in the course of searching houses , but asserted he did not carry out any rapes .
He acknowledged taking part in looting , saying his unit officer declared “ what you take is what you get ” ahead of a raid on a market .
“ We entered into the market , destroyed locks and doors , and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , food and mobile phones , ” he said .
Fortify Rights said the two deserters arrived at Myanmar ’ s border with Bangladesh in mid-August and asked Bangladesh authorities for protection .
Bangladesh officials then notified the International Criminal Court about their presence , and said they are no longer in Bangladesh , according to Fortify Rights .
Asked about the two soldiers Tuesday , the ICC ’ s Office of the Prosecutor said it does not comment on its ongoing investigations , adding in a statement that it has been “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variety of sources regarding the alleged atrocity crimes.
” “ These confessions demonstrate what we ’ ve long known , which is that the Myanmar army is a well-functioning national army operating with a specific and centralized command structure , ” Fortify Rights chief Matthew Smith said in a statement .
“ Commanders control , direct , and order their subordinates in all they do .
In this case , commanders ordered foot soldiers to commit genocidal acts and exterminate Rohingya , and that ’ s exactly what they did.
” Under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers are held responsible for heinous acts carried out by those serving under them .
That the two men described similar atrocities in separate areas also “ may indicate operational consistency between battalions , co-ordination , and intent to commit genocide , ” Fortify Rights said .
It said the video confessions appeared to be credible because their content was consistent with other evidence previously unearthed by the group and other investigators , such as the UN-empowered Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar .
Fortify Rights urged that the two former soldiers be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court put them in a witness protection program .
“ It is reasonable to assume Myo Win Tun and Zaw Naing Tun could plead guilty to the crimes to which they confessed in exchange for becoming ‘ insider witnesses ’ for future trials .
Such a development would significantly advance efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for atrocity crimes against Rohingya , ” the group said .
The International Court of Justice is the UN ’ s top court .
It settles disputes between nations and does not prosecute individuals .
The International Criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for crimes , has not issued any public indictments in the investigation it is conducting .
Both courts are based in The Hague in the Netherlands .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Israel, UAE to sign deal at White House next week

WASHINGTON - Israel and the United Arab Emirates will sign their historic deal normalizing relations at a White House ceremony on Sept. 15 , officials said Tuesday .
Senior delegations from the two countries will be led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan , the brother of Abu Dhabi ’ s powerful crown prince .
U.S. officials , who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity , said the ceremony would either be on the South Lawn , the Rose Garden or inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netanyahu tweeted he “ was proud to leave for Washington next week at the invitation of President Trump and to participate in the historic ceremony at the White House ” to sign the deal with the UAE .
The UAE ’ s state-run WAM news agency acknowledged Sheikh Abdullah would lead the Emirati delegation to the signing .
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , the UAE ’ s day-to-day ruler named in the joint announcement of the U.S.-brokered deal , apparently will not attend .
Sheikh Mohammed has not travelled to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counsel Robert Mueller ’ s report on President Donald Trump and Russian interference in America ’ s 2016 election .
His inclusion stemmed from his mysterious role in a 2017 meeting between a Trump associate and a Russian middleman for Vladimir Putin in the Seychelles .
The UAE-Israel ceremony will come just a month after the agreement to establish full diplomatic relations was announced on Aug. 13 .
The historic deal delivered a key foreign policy victory to Trump as he seeks re-election , and reflected a changing Middle East in which shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional Arab support for the Palestinians .
That announcement was followed by the first direct commercial flight between the countries and the establishment of telephone links .
The UAE also announced the end of its boycott of Israel , which allows trade and commerce between the oil-rich Emirates and Israel , home to a thriving diamond trade , pharmaceutical companies and tech start-ups .
The Palestinians have rejected the deal as trading away one of the few cards they have in moribund peace talks with Israel to establish its own independent state — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UAE presented the agreement as taking Israel ’ s planned annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank off the table .
But Netanyahu insisted the pause was “ temporary.
” Abu Dhabi also hopes the deal will allow it to purchase advanced American weaponry , like the F-35 stealth fighter jet .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--North-South Korean couples try to bridge 75-year division

SEOUL , Korea , Republic Of - On their second date last year , feeling a little drunk at a seaside restaurant , Kim Seo-yun let slip a revelation to her South Korean love interest : She had fled North Korea a decade ago , something that sometimes made her feel ashamed in a country where North Korean defectors can face discrimination .
Her companion , Lee Jeong-sup , jokingly asked if she was a spy but then told her there was nothing wrong with coming from North Korea .
Lee proposed in March and in June they got married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s family , still in North Korea , obviously couldn ’ t attend .
“ In South Korea , my husband is my everything .
I have no one else here .
He told me that he would play the role of not only my husband but also my parents , ” Kim , 33 , said .
“ I feel much more stable now.
” More than 70 per cent of the 33,000 North Koreans who have fled to South Korea are women , a reflection in part of North Korea ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While there are no official numbers on how many North Korean defectors have married South Korean men , a 2019 government-funded survey of 3,000 North Koreans living in the South suggested that 43 per cent of married women were living with South Korean husbands , up from 19 per cent in 2011 .
Arriving from a nominally socialist , extremely repressive society , these women often struggle to adjust to fast-paced , capitalistic lives in South Korea .
They also face widespread discrimination , bias and loneliness .
Some said they looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought they would help them navigate their sometimes bewildering new lives .
“ I feel like my marriage is letting me acclimate to this society more deeply without too much hard work , ” Hwang Yoo-jung , 37 , said about her 2018 union with a South Korean man .
The number of matchmaking companies specializing in pairing North Korean women with South Korean men has seen an explosion , with 20 to 30 such agencies now operating , up from two in the mid-2000s .
“ I get a big sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also came here alone and know ( the suffering ) of other refugees , ” said Kim Hae-rin , who runs a match-making agency in Seoul .
“ I also think I ’ m creating small inter-Korean unifications.
” Many women who flee North Korea turn to matchmaking agencies , often run by fellow defectors , to find South Korean husbands .
The companies typically charge South Korean men three million won ( $ 2,520 U.S. ) for several blind dates in a year ; most women aren ’ t charged .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defectors , who often marry other North Koreans or live alone .
Kim runs another one of those companies , called Unikorea , though she met her husband , Lee , at a dinner arranged by a friend .
“ When I talked with her , I felt we could develop a special relationship , ” said Lee , 32 , who works for a food company .
“ Whether she came from North Korea doesn ’ t matter much .
I told her I ’ d be fine as long as she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a secret baby or a criminal record.
” There are , however , rough patches for some of the couples , who share a language and ethnicity but can often seem like exotic foreigners to one another .
They are , after all , attempting to bridge a 75-year-old division of the Korean Peninsula .
Lee said he tries to use less of the English loan words favoured in the South during conversations with his wife , who sometimes baffles him by using North Korean slang that he doesn ’ t totally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ really , really happy ” when her husband Seo Min-seok , 39 , takes her to a gathering of his friends and their wives , where she faces many questions about North Korea .
Seo said he doesn ’ t usually ask Hwang about her past in North Korea .
Husbands sometime tease their wives with North Korea-themed jokes .
So Yu Jin , said her South Korean husband told her , “ You ’ re just like Kim Jong Un , ” the North Korean leader , when she made a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She said he still likes hanging around with her North Korean friends , who he says are more forthright about their feelings than South Koreans .
Ahn Kyung-su , a researcher with a private institute studying health issues in the North , said some of the North Korean defectors he ’ s interviewed told him that their South Korean husbands looked down on them and abused them .
For many of the women who fled to South Korea , there is also the lingering heartache of being separated from families left behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she misses her parents and younger sister in North Korea and hopes to reunite with them one day .
She said her mother sometimes calls her from a mountain where she pays a broker for the use of an illegal Chinese cellphone .
When her mother called her in March , Kim told of her upcoming marriage , saying that she would marry “ a tall guy who cares for me a lot.
” In early June , Kim ’ s mother called Lee for a one-minute conversation .
Lee said he didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother-in-law was saying because of her strong North Korean accent .
After hearing a recording , Kim told Lee that her mother asked him to take care of her daughter .
“ Now , my husband is filling my heart .
My mother-in-law treats me well .
So does my sister-in-law .
It ’ s like having strong supporters in my life , and I ’ m happy now , ” Kim said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Trump, Biden and the road to 270 electoral votes

WAYZATA , Minn. - For such a volatile year , the White House race between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden has been remarkably consistent .
With Election Day just eight weeks away , Biden is maintaining the same comfortable lead in most national polls that he enjoyed through the summer .
He also has an advantage , though narrower , in many of the battleground states that will decide the election .
Trump remains in striking distance , banking on the intensity of his most loyal supporters and the hope that disillusioned Republicans ultimately swing his way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the prospect of sudden changes ahead , particularly as Trump makes an aggressive pitch to white suburban voters focused on safety and fear of violent unrest .
It ’ s unclear how well his rhetoric will resonate , but Democrats insist it can ’ t be ignored , especially in the upper Midwest .
That ’ s especially true in Minnesota , a state that hasn ’ t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1972 .
Democrats there say they ’ re increasingly concerned that the state is genuinely in play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota , ” said Rep. Dean Phillips , who in 2018 became the first Democrat to win his suburban Minneapolis district since 1960 .
“ It ’ s real .
It ’ s absolutely real.
” While Trump ’ s campaign is touting a play for Minnesota as a way to expand the electoral map , the president is playing defence in a host of the other battleground states he needs in order to secure the 270 Electoral College votes to keep the White House .
Biden ’ s campaign is laser-focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by that Trump flipped in 2016 -- Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania -- and also making a robust play for Arizona , a state that hasn ’ t backed a Democratic presidential candidate since 1996 .
Biden is also redoubling his focus on Florida , the biggest prize among the perennial battlegrounds and a state that would virtually block Trump ’ s reelection if it swings Democratic .
Biden ’ s allies hoped the devastating toll of the pandemic would put them in a strong position there , but a poll released on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris , Biden ’ s running mate , will make the campaign ’ s first in-person appearance in Florida on Thursday .
Beyond Florida , recent polls suggest close races in Pennsylvania and North Carolina , while a Fox News poll conducted after the recent national conventions gave Biden an advantage in Wisconsin .
Polls conducted earlier in the summer also suggested a Biden lead in Michigan .
Another post-convention Fox News poll found a Biden advantage in Arizona .
Still , polls that showed competitive races or even Democratic advantages in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicators for Democrats in 2016 .
Biden ’ s aides are bullish about competing on a broad map that includes multiple states Trump won in 2016 , including Florida , Arizona , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin .
“ There ’ s a number of combinations that will allow us to get where we need to go and get over the 270 hump , ” Jennifer O ’ Malley Dillon , Biden ’ s campaign manager , told reporters last week .
But Trump has some important organizational advantages .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollar for dollar on television advertising nationwide through Election Day — each side has reserved $ 149 million in TV ads — but the money isn ’ t distributed evenly , according to the ad tracking firm Kantar/CMAG .
In Minnesota , for example , Trump is scheduled to spend four times as much as Biden .
Trump has been far more willing to invest his time with swing-state voters on the campaign trail .
His rally last month in Mankato was his fifth appearance in Minnesota since taking office .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
And while Biden resumed in-person campaigning last week after months of avoiding significant travel because of the pandemic , Trump is expected to embrace a much more aggressive campaign schedule than Biden in the coming weeks .
Republicans claim another practical advantage on the ground : People .
Trump ’ s team has thousands of paid staff and volunteers across the country courting voters face-to-face , while Democrats are still conducting their canvassing efforts almost exclusively by phone and online .
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows claims increased momentum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as Trump was returning to Washington from a rally in Pennsylvania that drew thousands despite public health concerns , Meadows said : “ It just continues to build bigger and bigger each time we go , Minnesota or Wisconsin or Pennsylvania or North Carolina .
It just — the crowds keep getting bigger and bigger.
” Trump ’ s advisers say they are no longer writing off Michigan — and their $ 13.8 million in advertising reserves in the state , not far behind Biden ’ s $ 16.3 million , reflect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic about Pennsylvania , Florida , Wisconsin and Minnesota .
The race could ultimately come down to swing state suburbs , where many educated voters who have traditionally voted Republican have turned away from Trump ’ s GOP .
The shift has fueled gains for Democrats in state elections since he took office , yet Trump ’ s team is betting that the focus on protest-related violence will scare some voters into giving him a second chance .
The balance for Democrats between embracing the Black Lives Matter movement and criticizing violence aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The state has emerged as a centre of the nation ’ s civil unrest following the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake , a Black man , in Kenosha and subsequent protests that sometimes became destructive .
Trump was a regular presence in Wisconsin even before the unrest , while Biden made his first stop of the campaign just last week .
Trump and his allies have also been a more visible presence in Pennsylvania , although Biden is catching up .
The Democrat hosted a campaign event in the state on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear in Shanksville on Friday to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks .
Terri Mitko , the Democratic Party chairwoman in Beaver County , one of the Democratic-leaning counties in western Pennsylvania where Trump pounded Hillary Clinton in 2016 , predicted that most Trump voters would not abandon the president .
She expects some independents and many new voters , however , to support Biden .
Still , she would like to see Biden emerge as a more visible presence .
“ In Beaver County , we certainly would like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ People are asking for that.
” On Tuesday , Trump visited Winston-Salem , North Carolina , a top battleground state that became the nation ’ s first to send absentee ballots to voters late last week .
Biden ’ s campaign boasts that it ’ s already made 4 million calls to North Carolina voters , while Trump ’ s Tuesday appearance is one of a half-dozen he or the vice-president has made in recent weeks .
The calculus for many voters is complicated as the nation struggles under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic fallout and sustained civil unrest .
Minnesota , which Trump lost by just 45,000 votes four years ago , offers a window into the nuanced debate .
During a recent afternoon in Wayzata , Simone Metzdorff , a 52-year-old operations manager at an insurance company , conceded that she doesn ’ t know which candidate she ’ ll support .
She cast her ballot for Trump in 2016 , largely because she considered him “ the lesser of two evils.
” But she continues to think he ’ s “ vulgar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not appealing.
” She says the protests are unlikely to decide her vote .
She ’ s “ appalled ” by what happened to Floyd but also “ 110 % supportive of the police.
” Her husband ’ s view of the Democrats is not ambivalent .
John Metzdorff , a retired service technician , former Marine and Republican , said the day after Biden visited Kenosha : “ Democrats , all of the sudden they change their tune .
People are tired of rioting , and all of the sudden now Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from New York .
Associated Press writers Alexandra Jaffe and Zeke Miller in Washington ; Tom Beaumont in Des Moines , Iowa ; Scott Bauer in Madison , Wisconsin ; Jonathan Drew in Raleigh , North Carolina , and David Eggert in Lansing , Michigan , contributed .

Steve Peoples, Kathleen Hennessey, And Jill Colvin - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Victims, feminists take over Mexico human rights office

MEXICO CITY - A group of feminists and crime victims has taken over the offices of Mexico ’ s governmental Human Rights Commission , leading to a stand-off Tuesday in which both sides expressed worries about rights violations .
The dozens of activists who seized the offices last week have refused to leave , and vow to turn the commission ’ s historic building in Mexico City ’ s colonial-era downtown into a shelter for victims .
They said they took over the building because the government has been slow to protect or support women who have suffered abuse or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The activists have taken framed paintings of Mexican heroes from the building ’ s walls and defaced them with graffiti , drawing the ire of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador .
They also emptied a freezer case of expensive steaks and displayed them , claiming they showed that rights officials enjoyed luxuries , something López Obrador has campaigned against .
The rights commission , for its part , has voiced concern about the safety of case files kept in the building .
The names and locations of victims of rights abuses are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are worries that revealing them could put those people in danger .
The commission is funded by the government but has a measure of independence .
It can make recommendations to government agencies , which are usually followed .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Computer glitches disrupt classes as schools return online

HOUSTON - Students across the U.S. ran into computer glitches Tuesday as they began the school year with online instruction at home because of the coronavirus , adding to the list of problems that have thrust many a harried parent into the role of teacher ’ s aide and tech support person .
The online learning platform Blackboard , which provides technology for 70 of the nation ’ s 100 biggest districts and serves more than 20 million U.S. students from kindergarten through 12th grade , reported that websites for one of its learning products were failing to load or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to register on the first day of school .
Blackboard , which hit four times its year-to-date user average by 8 a.m. , wasn ’ t the only tech company running into issues Tuesday .
Websites that track internet outages like downdetector.com also recorded spikes in reported problems for services like Microsoft Teams and Google Drive , many spiking around 9 a.m. Three of Texas ’ largest districts — Houston , Dallas and Fort Worth — were hit with technical problems , as were school systems in places such as Idaho and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Hartford , Connecticut , to postpone Tuesday ’ s start of virtual and in-person classes .
A Blackboard spokesperson said the problems with the company ’ s website content management system occurred because of a big morning surge in online traffic .
D ’ Anthony White said the system was restored by about 1:15 p.m. and the company was working on refining its approach to prevent further problems .
He apologized for the disruption .
“ While we planned for a surge in traffic greater than a typical back-to-school period , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” White wrote in an email to The Associated Press .
Elsewhere across the country , Seattle ’ s system crashed last week .
An online learning program used in Alabama and other places recently went down .
And North Carolina ’ s platform crashed on the first day of classes last month .
Amanda Mills ’ 8-year-old son , Rowan , woke up excited to start his first day of third grade , even though it was online through Idaho ’ s largest school district , based in the town of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ran into trouble even after practicing logging in smoothly on Monday .
“ Whatever happens , we ’ ll figure it out and we ’ ll make it work however we can , and rely on the patience of those teachers who are up against their own obstacles , “ Mills said .
“ It ’ s a weird , wild world right now.
” Summer break gave school districts time to iron out kinks that cropped up when the virus forced them to switch to online classes in the spring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been plagued by some of the same problems , with no end in sight to the outbreak that has infected more than 6.3 million people and killed 189,000 in the U.S. Erik Rasmussen , a Falls Church , Virginia , resident who has three children taking online classes , said he regularly copes with computer glitches and short attention spans .
The divorced dad has his children half the time .
“ You put your kids in front of the computer , and then I go to do my work , but kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn off the video function and start playing a game , ” he said .
In the Houston school system , with 209,000 students , a web hosting service went down , causing problems for families as they tried to sign into the district ’ s main classwork portal .
Families were given a different link to access the portal until the problems were resolved by about noon .
The Dallas and Fort Worth districts said they were working to fix problems with their phone lines and websites .
“ In this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flexible and quickly adapt to changing conditions and circumstances like we noticed this morning , ” Houston interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said .
Florida ’ s largest school district , in Miami-Dade County , had assured parents that it had consolidated different programs into one platform that would be easier to navigate .
But software glitches and cyberattacks disrupted the first week of the new school year that started Aug. 31 .
A high school student was arrested and accused of orchestrating a series of network outages .
School administrators believe other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rodriguez , 36 , said her third- and fourth-grade boys ’ classes struggled with connection problems during the first week of school .
“ Four full days were lost , ” she said .
“ Either somebody is not able to go on , or the screen goes blank , or the teacher can ’ t hear the kids , so the teacher then just logs off and then sends a message to the parents.
” Rodriguez said she has been forced to work until late at night because her children need help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are frustrated .
The kids are frustrated .
I hope that they soon open up schools , ” she said .
Another parent , Alessandra Martinez , said her 7-year-old son has struggled with logins , passwords and connection problems .
He had a meltdown Friday when he was moved to a smaller breakout group but didn ’ t see the teacher and didn ’ t know what he was supposed to be doing .
“ At their age , everything is amplified , and it feels like a big deal , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the school district using a product commonly employed by parents who home-school .
“ This is a home-schooling program , but for parents who are working from home and have multiple children , it is a bit overwhelming , ” she said .
“ We have this set up as a one-size-fits-all , and it doesn ’ t work for everybody.
” In Hartford , where the start of the school year was pushed back to Wednesday , parents were upset at what they called the last-minute notice of the delay .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem since the weekend .
Kate Court said her 13-year-old son was already dressed and ready to go to the bus stop when she learned of the postponement .
The shipping warehouse employee counted herself lucky that her mother could watch over the teen and his younger brother so she didn ’ t have to miss work .
“ This is crazy , ” Court said .
“ We ’ re looking for normalcy again , whatever that may be.
” This story has been corrected to delete mention of Rasmussen having a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Licon reported from Miami , Boone from Boise , Idaho .
Associated Press writers Michael Kunzelman , R.J. Rico in Atlanta and Dave Collins in Hartford , Connecticut , contributed to this report .

Juan Lozano, Adriana Gomez Licon And Rebecca Boone - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Sturgis Motorcycle Rally linked to more than 265,000 cases of COVID-19, study says

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally might be rolling into the record books as the largest known coronavirus super-spreader event in the U.S. to date .
A new study that analyzed cellphone pings for rally attendees and the COVID-19 case numbers in the communities they returned to estimates that more than 265,000 infections confirmed between Aug. 2 and Sept. 2 trace back to the massive gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts in South Dakota .
“ We found that for counties that had a lot of people going to Sturgis , after the rally , their case numbers starting taking off relative to similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people going to Sturgis , ” Andrew Friedson , an economics professor at the University of Colorado Denver and one of the study ’ s authors , told the New York Daily News Tuesday .
He said the 266,796 cases of COVID-19 linked to Sturgis represent 19 per cent of the 1.4 million new coronavirus cases confirmed in the U.S. during the study time frame .
“ To my knowledge , this is the largest single super-spreading event .
I don ’ t know of anything larger , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ close might be a study done after Spring Break .
But that was not a single event.
” The rally that drew hundreds of thousands of attendees from all over the country has officially been linked to hundreds of coronavirus cases in several states and at least one death .
The new research report from the IZA Institute of Labor Economics and affiliated with the Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies at San Diego State University said the 10-day rally that started Aug. 7 drew more than 460,000 people to a South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7,000 .
“ We find that counties that contributed the highest inflows of Sturgis attendees saw COVID-19 cases rise by 10.7 per cent following the Sturgis event relative to counties without any detected attendees , ” the 63-page report said .
“ We conclude that the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally generated substantial public health costs , which we calculate to reach at least $ 12.2 billion ( U.S. ) , ” it said .
“ The estimates in this paper , if confirmed , would place Sturgis as the largest studied super spreading event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner now at the American Enterprise Institute , said in a Twitter post Tuesday .
According to the report , more than 90 per cent of Sturgis attendees this year came from outside South Dakota , with 18.6 per cent driving in from border states and 72.1 per cent travelling from the remainder of the country .
Media reports and photographs showed scenes with minimal mask wearing and social distancing .
South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem blasted the research report in a series of Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t science .
It ’ s fiction .
Under the guise of academic research , it ’ s nothing short of an attack on those who exercised their personal freedom to attend Sturgis , ” she tweeted .
“ At one point , academic modelling also told us that South Dakota would have 10,000 COVID patients in the hospital at our peak .
Today , we have less than 70 , ” she said .
“ Her criticism is that we are doing models , and that ’ s not what this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News .
“ We ’ re looking at actuals — and we ’ re making some assumptions if a place sent a lot of people to Sturgis , ” he said .
“ If there ’ s a break from the common trend , we ’ re assigning it to Sturgis , ” he explained .
“ You can say you don ’ t believe it , but calling this a model-based fantasy is a lack of understanding science .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine study paused after one illness

Late-stage studies of AstraZeneca ’ s COVID-19 vaccine candidate are on temporary hold while the company investigates whether a recipient ’ s “ potentially unexplained ” illness is a side effect of the shot .
In a statement issued Tuesday evening , the company said its “ standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.
” AstraZeneca didn ’ t reveal any information about the possible side effect except to call it “ a potentially unexplained illness.
” The health news site STAT first reported the pause in testing , saying the possible side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An AstraZeneca spokesperson confirmed the pause in vaccinations covers studies in the U.S. and other countries .
Late last month , AstraZeneca began recruiting 30,000 people in the U.S. for its largest study of the vaccine .
It also is testing the vaccine , developed by Oxford University , in thousands of people in Britain , and in smaller studies in Brazil and South Africa .
Two other vaccines are in huge , final-stage tests in the United States , one made by Moderna Inc. and the other by Pfizer and Germany ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ differently than AstraZeneca ’ s , and the studies already have recruited about two-thirds of the needed volunteers .
Temporary holds of large medical studies aren ’ t unusual , and investigating any serious or unexpected reaction is a mandatory part of safety testing .
AstraZeneca pointed out that it ’ s possible the problem could be a coincidence ; illnesses of all sorts could arise in studies of thousands of people .
“ We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s likely the unexplained illness was serious enough to require hospitalization and not a mild side effect such as fever or muscle pain , said Deborah Fuller , a University of Washington researcher who is working on a different COVID-19 vaccine that has not yet started human testing .
“ This is not something to be alarmed about , ” Fuller said .
Instead , it ’ s reassuring that the company is pausing the study to figure out what ’ s happening and carefully monitoring the health of study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University said via Twitter that the significance of the interruption was unclear but that he was “ still optimistic ” that an effective vaccine will be found in the coming months .
“ But optimism isn ’ t evidence , ” he wrote .
“ Let ’ s let science drive this process.
” Angela Rasmussen , a virologist at Columbia University in New York , tweeted that the illness may be unrelated to the vaccine , “ but the important part is that this is why we do trials before rolling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During the third and final stage of testing , researchers look for any signs of possible side effects that may have gone undetected in earlier patient research .
Because of their large size , the studies are considered the most important study phase for picking up less common side effects and establishing safety .
The trials also assess effectiveness by tracking who gets sick and who doesn ’ t between patients getting the vaccine and those receiving a dummy shot .
The development came the same day that AstraZeneca and eight other drugmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uphold the highest ethical and scientific standards in developing their vaccines .
The announcement follows worries that President Donald Trump will pressure the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve a vaccine before it ’ s proven to be safe and effective .
The U.S. has invested billions of dollars in efforts to quickly develop multiple vaccines against COVID-19 .
But public fears that a vaccine is unsafe or ineffective could be disastrous , derailing the effort to vaccinate millions of Americans .
Representatives for the FDA did not immediately respond to requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s U.S.-traded shares fell more than six per cent in after-hours trading following reports of the trial being paused .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--Mexico threatens charges over auction of historic papers

MEXICO CITY - Federal prosecutors in Mexico threatened Tuesday to bring criminal charges against a local auction house for a @ @ @ @ @ including letters from the country ’ s Independence heroes .
The Attorney General ’ s @ @ @ @ @ the planned auction that the sale was illegal and that it could seize the lots @ @ @ @ @ were part of Mexico ’ s historical legacy .
The Morton auction house said the @ @ @ @ @ Miguel Hidalgo and other leaders of the 1810-1821 independence struggle .
The company did not @ @ @ @ @ comment , but the online auction indicated that the Hidalgo letter had been withdrawn from @ @ @ @ @ that while private individuals can own such documents , they can ’ t sell them @ @ @ @ @ could face fines or criminal charges .


thetorontostar--2020-09-08--North Korea’s Kim urges quick recovery from typhoon damage

SEOUL , Korea , Republic Of - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for urgent efforts to rebuild thousands of homes and other structures destroyed by a typhoon that slammed the country ’ s eastern region last week , state media said Wednesday .
Kim during the Workers ’ Party meeting Tuesday also said the damage from Typhoon Maysak has forced the country to reconsider unspecified year-end projects , the North ’ s official Korean Central News Agency said .
The storm has inflicted further pain on an economy already ravaged by U.S.-led sanctions over Kim ’ s nuclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic and unusually heavy summer flooding that likely worsened the country ’ s chronic food shortages .
KCNA said Maysak left “ severe damage ” in the eastern town of Komdok , destroying or flooding more than 2,000 homes and dozens of public buildings and paralyzing transport systems .
More than 60 kilometres ( 37 miles ) of roads in the region were “ washed away , ” while 59 bridges collapsed .
Several miles of railroads were damaged in mining areas , the report said .
During Tuesday ’ s meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Komdok a national priority to revive “ important arteries of the national economy , “ and ordered that the rebuilding of homes , roads and railways be completed by Oct. 10 , when the ruling party celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding .
During another political conference last month , Kim displayed unusual candour by acknowledging that his plans to improve the country ’ s dismal economy aren ’ t succeeding .
During that meeting , the ruling party scheduled a rare congress in January to set development goals for the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mobilizing of the military and Pyongyang elites are examples of Kim ’ s responsiveness but the damage is testing state capacity and resources , said Leif-Eric Easley , a professor at Ewha University in Seoul .
“ The political risk to Kim of failing to deliver promised reconstruction may be limited , but an accumulation of economic failures will strain his regime , “ Easley said .
KCNA said an unspecified number of party members left Pyongyang on trains Tuesday to help the recovery efforts in typhoon-hit areas .
Trucks carrying construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to such sites , the agency said .
Kim had visited typhoon-stricken areas in the country ’ s northeast over the weekend .
Experts say Kim is likely trying to project an image of a leader looking after his people ’ s livelihoods as he seeks to bolster internal unity in face of economic setbacks and U.S.-led sanctions and pressure .