thetorontostar--2020-08-21--The Latest: Wisconsin extends ban on utility disconnections

MADISON , Wis. — State regulators have extended a ban on utility disconnections in Wisconsin during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Public Service Commission voted 2-1 Thursday to continue a moratorium on shutoffs until Oct. 1 .
That will temporarily prevent more than 93,000 customers from losing their utility service next month .
A PSC survey of nearly 200 utilities shows about a third of Wisconsin ’ s 1.4 million households are behind on their utility bills .
In comparison , 13 % of residential customers were behind in April of the two previous years .
Last month the PSC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : — Virus cases reported at 41 schools in Berlin two weeks after children return — Papua New Guinea questions Chinese company claim to use COVID-19 vaccine — In U.S. , 1 in 5 nursing homes short on PPE and staff — The European economy ’ s rebound from coronavirus lockdowns slowed in August , suggesting the reopening of businesses is proceeding slowly and the outlook for jobs is precarious .
— Lebanon has began a two-week partial lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharply following an explosion in Beirut that killed and injured thousands .
— Saved by suburbs : Food trucks hit by virus find new foodies .
The food trucks have long been seen as an urban treasure but are finding new customers during the coronavirus pandemic .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : BRATISLAVA , Slovakia — Slovakia has registered the highest day-to-day increase of COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic .
Health Ministry figures show 123 were infected in the last 24 hours .
The second-highest number was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Slovakia has a relatively low number of infections .
A confirmed total of 3,225 have tested positive for the virus and 33 have died .
Officials didn ’ t immediately offer an explanation for the jump in cases but numbers have been increasing in neighbouring countries , driven by returning vacationers and social events .
HONG KONG — Hong Kong will offer free , universal testing to its residents starting Sept. 1 .
The testing program , which will last two weeks , is on a voluntary basis .
Hong Kong leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to support from Beijing , which provided resources such as laboratory staff to boost capacity in the semi-autonomous city .
The program is aimed at identifying individuals who are infected but have exhibited no symptoms .
The city , with a population of 7.5 million , has conducted over 1.2 million tests so far .
Critics of the universal testing program say there may be potential privacy concerns , given the program is supported by the Chinese Communist Party .
Lam brushed aside such concerns , stating no matter what the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who come up with conspiracy theories .
BERLIN — At least 41 schools in Berlin have reported students or teachers are infected with the coronavirus — not even two weeks after they reopened in the German capital .
The daily Berliner Zeitung published the numbers on Friday and the city ’ s senate for education confirmed them to The Associated Press .
Hundreds of students and teachers are in quarantine , the newspaper reported .
Elementary schools , high schools and trade schools are affected .
There are 825 schools in Berlin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of virus clusters building up there and spreading to families and into communities has been a matter of concern .
Berlin was one of the first places in Germany to reopen schools after summer holidays .
Children are obliged to wear masks in hallways , during breaks , and when entering the classroom , but they can take them off once they sit down .
Some critics say the measures in Berlin are too relaxed and both students and teachers should wear masks .
Coronavirus cases in Germany have been going up again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vacationers and social events .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday there are too many different regulations in place across the country and “ people simply don ’ t understand ” why they ’ re allowed to do one thing in Berlin that may be banned in Bavaria .
On Friday , Germany ’ s disease control centre registered 1,426 new cases .
According to a tally by Johns Hopkins University , Germany ranks No .
20 in the world in confirmed cases with 231,626 and No .
16 in deaths with 9,264 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has welcomed as “ great news ” the U.K. ’ s decision to end the mandatory quarantine for travellers arriving from Portugal on Saturday .
British authorities added Portugal to a safe list of destinations .
The southern European country is reporting between 200 to 300 new daily cases this week , although the spread of contagion seems to have receded since early July .
Rebelo de Sousa , who is on a work holiday tour visiting all Portuguese regions to show his support for the tourism sector , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially in the southern Algarve region where he expects that U.K. citizens will make bookings for the late summer season in September and October .
The president says the measure would benefit some 300,000 Portuguese citizens who live and work in the U.K. Portugal acted swiftly in the pandemic ’ s early days but experienced significant clusters when it ended its lockdown .
Since the beginning of the pandemic , the country has confirmed nearly 55,000 infections and 1,788 deaths .
TOKYO — The governor of Iwate in northern Japan has criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” campaign to encourage travel with discounts , noting the growing number of coronavirus cases .
Gov .
Takuya Tasso says to start it in July was “ a bit too soon ” as preparations weren ’ t complete .
He says the tourism campaign “ was carried out too soon , and so I think it can be called a failure.
” Iwate has had the fewest cases of COVID-19 among Japan ’ s prefectures at 11 confirmed cases .
The first case was reported just a month ago .
Since then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection being brought in from outside Iwate , as well as about discrimination toward infected people .
Tasso credited low population congestion , lack of travel from abroad and the rest of Japan , and the cautious nature of residents for Iwate ’ s success .
Tasso says the experience of the 2011 tsunami made the Iwate people more in tune with crisis management .
Japan , which has never imposed a lockdown , has about 1,100 deaths and 60,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
It is trying to keep the outbreak under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tokyo has reported several hundred confirmed daily cases .
DUBAI , United Arab Emirates — A health official in the United Arab Emirates is warning nighttime curfews and lockdowns could resume in parts of the country as coronavirus case numbers spike .
Dr. Saif al-Dhaheri of the UAE ’ s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority made the comments late Thursday in an interview aired on a state-owned television channel .
Asked if those measures could be taken , al-Dhaheri said : “ Yes .
If we found that the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we could.
” Returning to lockdowns could hurt Dubai , the skyscraper-studded city that ’ s reopened for tourists just a few weeks ago .
It also could affect the UAE ’ s efforts to host the Indian Premier League next month .
On Wednesday and Thursday , the UAE discovered more than 400 confirmed cases of the virus , its highest numbers in about a month amid an aggressive testing campaign .
Officials have blamed the rise in infections on the public not taking wearing masks and social distancing .
CANBERRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister says his government has avoided a major second wave of coronavirus infections on the scale of France , Germany or Britain by limiting international travel .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison described infection rates in those three countries as “ rather alarming.
” He says they occurred because “ people left , went to areas on leave , on holiday , where the virus was moving again and now they ’ re bringing it back.
” He says the Australian government has created “ some real hardship ” by restricting numbers of Australians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government is blocking three out of four applications for Australians to leave the country for fear they could spread COVID-19 when they return .
Australians who want to return home are limited to 4,000 a week .
Morrison says , “ As we ’ ve just seen in Europe , I think the wisdom of that approach has been borne out .
That is not one problem that we have at the moment.
” Australia ’ s main coronavirus hot spot , Victoria state , on Friday recorded its lowest daily tally of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has reported 324 new cases of the coronavirus , its highest single day total since early March as the recent surge of COVID-19 in the greater capital area now appears to be spreading nationwide .
Friday was the eighth consecutive day that South Korea has reported a triple-digit daily increase , for an eight-day total of 1,900 infections .
Most of the recent new cases have been in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan region .
But officials said Friday the latest new infections were recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The daily increase was the highest since 367 cases were reported March 8 .
The country ’ s caseload stands at 16,670 , and 309 confirmed deaths .
HONOLULU — Hawaii ’ s unemployment rate declined slightly last month but large numbers of people are out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations says Hawaii had a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 13.1 % in July , down from 13.4 % in June .
The state ’ s jobless rate was just 2.4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many hotels to close , crippling the tourism industry that is Hawaii ’ s biggest employer .
The labour department says the tourism industry continued to shed jobs in July but the education and health services sectors added workers .
MELBOURNE , Australia — Australia ’ s hard-hit Victoria state is reporting its lowest tally of new coronavirus cases in more than six weeks , following two weeks of unprecedented lockdown of the state capital , Melbourne .
Victoria ’ s Health Department reported on Saturday that the state had 179 new infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period .
That is the lowest count since 131 new infections were reported July 8 .
Victoria had recorded 240 new cases Thursday and 216 Wednesday .
State authorities say the daily infection rate will have to fall to single digits or low double digits before Melbourne ’ s lockdown is relaxed .
ROME — The Venice Film Festival is requiring participants at the first in-person cinema showcase of the COVID-19 era to wear facemasks during screenings and take a coronavirus test if they ’ re arriving from outside Europe .
Fans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the red carpet during the Sept. 2-12 festival .
Movie-goers will have to buy tickets and reserve seats online to ensure every other seat is left vacant .
Nine gates set up at various points around the Venice Lido will take temperatures of movie-goers and media .
Festival-goers attending indoor events will be tracked to guarantee contact tracing , if necessary .
Venice is the first film festival to get under way since the pandemic .
The guidelines were worked out with local health officials .
BATON ROUGE , La .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing some symptoms of COVID-19 .
The Republican senator is in quarantine in Louisiana .
His spokesperson says the 62-year-old senator is experiencing “ mild symptoms that began this morning.
” Cassidy , a physician , says in a statement he was tested after being notified Wednesday night that he ’ d been exposed to someone infected with the coronavirus .
The senator says he is adhering to medical guidance and notifying people with whom he may have come into contact .
Cassidy is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cassidy ’ s announcement came a day after he was in north Louisiana , visiting a veterans hospital in Shreveport .


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Kenyan police teargas anti-corruption protesters in Nairobi

NAIROBI , Kenya - Kenya ’ s police have teargassed protesters holding a peaceful demonstration against alleged corruption including the theft of supplies for the fight against COVID-19 At least 12 demonstrators from a group of 100 protesting in different parts of Nairobi , the capital , were arrested by police , said central business district police chief Mark Wanjala .
Picketing and protesting are rights guaranteed by the Kenyan constitution but police argue that they dispersed Friday ’ s demonstrations because of concerns that large gatherings could lead to the spread of the coronavirus .
However , protest organizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumer watchdog site on Twitter called ‘ Buyer beware , “ charged that police were being used to silence demonstrators .
“ We can not continue like this .
Others are balling ( enjoying ) from proceeds of theft and we are dying , ” she said .
“ The reason we are being overtaxed is because they ( government leaders ) want to cover this big hole in the economy caused by theft of public resources.
” Independent rights activist Ndungi Githuku , lamented that activists were being treated like criminals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as committing a crime ; it ’ s because we are being ruled by criminals , “ he said .
Kenyans have expressed outrage throughout the week on social media platforms over the announcement that the anti-corruption agency is investigating the theft of millions of dollars of supplies from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority .
Officials are investigating the alleged theft of supplies of personal protective equipment worth millions of dollars donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma , according to the announcement .
reports .
Kenya is ranked as one of the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position of 137 out of 180 countries on the annual survey by the global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International .
Kenyan anti-corruption activists say the country loses as much as 30 % of its $ 27 billion annual budget to graft .
Separately Friday , doctors in Nairobi started a strike over working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of health insurance .
Nairobi governor Mike Sonko appealed to the doctors to resume work saying that COVID-19 is a challenge to all health workers and urged their union to engage in talks @

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thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Global stock markets slide on gloomy economic data

TOKYO - Global shares turned lower on Friday after new economic data showed a slowdown in Europe ’ s economy and amid worries about a resurgence in coronavirus cases in many countries .
European stocks fell after a survey of businesses found that growth in economic activity eased in August after a jump in July , when businesses were reopening from coronavirus lockdowns .
The so-called PMI survey suggests that a steady rise in new coronavirus cases is undermining growth , and that the outlook for jobs remains dim .
It also follows U.S. data on Thursday that showed weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any economic recovery will be gradual .
France ’ s CAC 40 fell 1.2 % to 4,852 , while Germany ’ s DAX also dropped 1.2 % to 12,674 .
Britain ’ s FTSE 100 slipped 1 % to 5,954 .
U.S. shares were set to slide on the open with Dow futures down 0.5 % and S & P 500 futures 0.6 % lower .
Earlier , Asian benchmarks close higher , riding on momentum from Wall Street the previous day , with big technology companies benefiting from people staying home during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nikkei 225 gained 0.2 % to finish at 22,920.30 .
South Korea ’ s Kospi edged up 1.3 % to 2,304.59 .
Australia ’ s S & P/ASX 200 inched down 0.1 % to 6,111.20 .
Hong Kong ’ s Hang Seng added 1.3 % to 25,113.84 , while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.5 % to 3,380.6 .
Reports that Pfizer ’ s vaccine is on track to seek October regulatory review boosted sentiment temporarily despite uncertainty about global growth , said Jingyi Pan , market strategist at IG in Singapore .
Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take their COVID-19 vaccine candidate with the fewest side effects into final-stage testing .
It ’ s one of a handful of experimental vaccines to reach end-stage tests around the world .
“ But this morning brief moment of vaccine excitment was tempered by the fact COVID -19 flashpoints are still happening around the globe , which is the current real-time litmus test , whereas the vaccine is still a bit of pie in the sky at this juncture , ” Stephen Innes , chief global market strategist at AxiCorp , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking to U.S.-Chinese diplomatic tensions .
China ’ s Commerce Ministry on Thursday said that Chinese and U.S. trade envoys will hold a meeting by phone “ in the near future ” to discuss an agreement aimed at resolving their tariff war .
No details on timing were given .
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the talks were part of the process of implementing the U.S.-China trade deal .
Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 45 cents to $ 42.37 a barrel .
Brent crude , the international standard , slipped 44 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The dollar slipped to 105.84 Japanese yen from 105.87 yen Thursday .
The euro cost $ 1.1773 , down from $ 1.1842 .


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Fire kills 9 workers at hydroelectric plant in south India

HYDERABAD , India - A massive fire at a government-run hydroelectric plant killed nine workers in southern India , an official said Friday .
Telangana state Power Minister Jagdish Reddy said rescuers have recovered the bodies of all nine workers who were trapped when the fire erupted Thursday night .
He said 30 workers were inside the plant in Srisailam .
Fifteen left through a tunnel and six others were taken out by rescue teams .
The cause of the fire hasn ’ t been established , Reddy said .
Rescuers from the National Disaster Relief Force joined the search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dam about 220 kilometres ( 140 miles ) south of Hyderabad , the state capital .
News 18 TV channel said the fire caused an explosion in one of the six generating units at the hydroelectric plant .
Smoke from the blaze engulfed all six units , hampering rescue operations .
Fire engines took several hours to extinguish the fire , it said .
Prabhakar Rao , chairman of the Telangana State Power Generation Corp. , said the fire was limited to one of the six units and the damage is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were killed and 16 injured when a boiler exploded at a government-run electricity plant at Neyveli in the southern state of Tamil Nadu .


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Turkey discovers large natural gas reserve off Black Sea

ANKARA , Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the discovery of a large natural gas reserves off the Black Sea coast , days after he promised “ good news ” that would usher in a “ new era ” for the energy dependent country .
Erdogan said Friday that the amount of gas discovered is 320 billion cubic meters , adding that he hopes to start extracting and using the gas by 2023 .
If confirmed as recoverable resources , the reserves could ease the country ’ s dependence on costly energy imports and could ease the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s currency plummet to record lows this summer .
The Turkish drilling ship , Fatih , had been carrying out exploration operations in the Tuna-1 sector in the western Black Sea for the past month .
The sector is near where Romania has also found gas reserves .
The discovery comes as tensions between NATO allies Turkey and Greece are running high over oil and gas exploration in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean .
Greek and Turkish warships have been shadowing each other after Turkey sent a research ship to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deposits .
The Turkish ship is scheduled to search for energy reserves there until Aug. 23 .
Separately , Turkey is also at odd with Cyprus over energy exploration around the island .
It has dispatched warship-escorted vessels off Cyprus ’ s coast to drill for gas , insisting that it ’ s acting to protect its interests and those of Turkish Cypriots to the area ’ s natural resources .
The Greek Cypriot government of the ethnically split island has slammed Turkey for encroaching in its waters and economic rights .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come as a welcome respite for the country which is dependent on Iran , Iraq and Russia for its energy and is grappling with economic woes .
Last year , energy imports cost the country $ 41 billion .
The Turkish lira has tumbled to record lows this months , fueled by high inflation , a wide current account deficit and the Turkish government ’ s push for cheap credit to drive an economy that was already fragile before the COVID-19 pandemic hit .
The currency however , recovered some losses following reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Biden vows to defeat Trump, end US ‘season of darkness’

WILMINGTON , Del .
- Joe Biden accepted the Democratic presidential nomination with a vow to be a unifying “ ally of the light ” who would move an America in crisis past the chaos of President Donald Trump ’ s tenure .
In his strongest remarks of the campaign , Biden spoke Thursday night both of returning the United States to its traditional leadership role in the world and of the deeply personal challenges that shaped his life .
Virtually every sentence of his 22-minute speech was designed to present a sharp , yet hopeful , contrast with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I give you my word : If you entrust me with the presidency , I will draw on the best of us , not the worst .
l ’ ll be an ally of the light , not the darkness , ” Biden said .
“ Make no mistake , united we can and will overcome this season of darkness in America.
” For the 77-year-old Biden , the final night of the Democratic National Convention was bittersweet .
He accepted a nomination that had eluded him for over three decades because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who proved more dynamic .
But the coronavirus denied him the typical celebration , complete with the customary balloon drop that both parties often use to fete their new nominees .
Instead , Biden spoke to a largely empty arena near his Delaware home .
Afterward , fireworks lit the sky outside the arena , where supporters waited in a parking lot , honking horns and flashing headlights in a moment that finally lent a jovial feel to the event .
The keynote address was the speech of a lifetime for Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected if he defeats Trump in November .
Trump , who is 74 , publicly doubts Biden ’ s mental capacity and calls him “ Slow Joe , ” but with the nation watching , Biden was firm and clear .
Still , the convention leaned on a younger generation earlier in the night to help energize his sprawling coalition .
Tammy Duckworth , an Illinois senator who lost her legs in Iraq and is raising two young children , said Biden has “ common decency.
” Cory Booker , only the ninth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Biden believes in the dignity of all working Americans .
And Pete Buttigieg , the 38-year-old former South Bend , Indiana , mayor and a gay military veteran , noted that Biden came out in favour of same-sex marriage as vice-president even before President Barack Obama .
“ Joe Biden is right , this is a contest for the soul of the nation .
And to me that contest is not between good Americans and evil Americans , ” Buttigieg said .
“ It ’ s the struggle to call out what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , Biden focused on uniting the nation as Americans grapple with the long and fearful health crisis , the related economic devastation , a national awakening on racial justice — and Trump , who stirs heated emotions from all sides .
Biden ’ s positive focus Thursday night marked a break from the dire warnings offered by Obama and others the night before .
The 44th president of the United States warned that American democracy itself could falter if Trump is reelected , while Biden ’ s running mate , Kamala Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Jamaican and Indian immigrants , warned that Americans ’ lives and livelihoods were at risk .
Biden ’ s Democratic Party has sought this week to put forward a cohesive vision of values and policy priorities , highlighting efforts to combat climate change , tighten gun laws and embrace a humane immigration policy .
They have drawn a sharp contrast with Trump ’ s policies and personality , portraying him as cruel , self-centred and woefully unprepared to manage virtually any of the nation ’ s mounting crises and policy challenges .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ several morning talk shows , criticized Democrats as presenting “ a very grim picture of the United States ” and said the Republican National Convention next week will focus on what Trump has accomplished , including on the economy and with his coronavirus response .
Voting was another prime focus of the convention on Thursday as it has been all week .
Democrats fear that the pandemic -- and Trump administration changes at the U.S .
Postal Service -- may make it difficult for voters to cast ballots in person or by mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of many Democrats for her videos lip syncing Trump ’ s speeches , put it bluntly : “ Donald Trump doesn ’ t want any of us to vote because he knows he can ’ t win fair and square.
” Biden ’ s call for unity comes as some strategists worry that Democrats can not retake the White House simply by tearing Trump down , that Biden needs to give his sprawling coalition something to vote for .
That ’ s easier said than done in a modern Democratic Party made up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race and ideology .
Though he has been in the public spotlight for decades as a Delaware senator , much of the electorate knows little about Biden ’ s background before he began serving as Obama ’ s vice-president in 2008 .
Thursday ’ s convention served as a national reintroduction of sorts that drew on some of the most painful moments of his life .
“ I know how mean and cruel and unfair life can be sometimes , ” Biden said .
He added : “ I found the best way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find purpose.
” As a schoolboy , Biden was mocked by classmates and a nun for a severe stutter .
He became a widower at just 30 after losing his wife and infant daughter to a car accident .
And just five years ago , he buried his eldest son , who was stricken by cancer .
From such hardship , Biden developed a deep sense of empathy that has defined much of his political career .
And throughout the convention , Biden ’ s allies testified that such empathy , backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him the perfect candidate to guide the nation back from mounting health and economic crises .
His allies Thursday included Brayden Harrington , a 13-year-old boy from Concord , New Hampshire .
The boy said he and Biden were “ members of the same club , ” each with a stutter they ’ re working to overcome .
He noted that Biden told him about a book of poems he liked to read aloud to practice his speech and showed the boy how he marks his speeches so they ’ re easier to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a regular kid , and in a short amount of time , Joe Biden made me more confident about a thing that ’ s bothered me my whole life , ” Harrington said .
The end of the carefully scripted convention now gives way to a far less-predictable period for Biden and his Democratic Party as the 2020 election season speeds to its uncertain conclusion .
While Election Day isn ’ t until Nov. 3 , early voting gets underway in several battleground states in just one month .
Biden has maintained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year , but it remains to be seen whether the Democratic nominee ’ s approach to politics and policy will genuinely excite the coalition he ’ s courting in an era of uncompromising partisanship .
Biden summed up his view of the campaign : “ We choose a path of becoming angry , less hopeful and more divided , a path of shadow and suspicion , or we can choose a different path and together take this chance to heal .
”

Steve Peoples And Alexandra Jaffe - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Libya’s government announces cease-fire, calls for elections

CAIRO - Libya ’ s U.N.-supported government Friday announced a cease-fire across the oil-rich country and called for demilitarizing the strategic city of Sirte , which is controlled by rival forces .
In a separate statement Aguila Saleh , speaker of the rival east-based House of Representatives , also called for a cease-fire .
The announcements came amid fears of an escalation in the more than 9-year-old conflict .
Fayez Sarraj , head of the Government of National Accord in the capital Tripoli , also announced parliamentary and presidential elections would be held in March .
Both administrations said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposed by the camp of military commander Khalifa Hifter since earlier this year .
Hifter is an ally to the parliament speaker .
They also called for oil revenues , the country ’ s main source of revenue , to flow into the bank account of the National Oil Corporation outside Libya .
Powerful tribes in eastern Libya loyal to Hifter closed oil export terminals and choked off major pipelines at the start of the year in an effort to pressure the Tripoli-based government .
The developments come amid international pressure on both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the chaotic proxy war , as the rivals mobilize for a battle over Sirte , the gateway to the country ’ s major oil export terminals .
Both statements called for demilitarizing the city of Sirte and the Jufra area in central Libya , and for a joint police force to be responsible for security there .
There was no immediate comment form Hifter ’ s army , but Hifter agreed on an Egyptian initiative in June that included a cease-fire .
The U.N. support mission in Libya welcomed both statements and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces and mercenaries in Libya .
Both sides of the conflict are supported by thousands of mercenaries .
“ The two initiatives have created hope for forging a peaceful political solution to the longstanding Libyan crisis , a solution that will affirm the desire of the Libyan people to live in peace and dignity , ” said Stephanie Williams , acting head of the U.N. mission .
Libya was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi , who was later killed .
The country has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , each backed by armed groups and foreign governments .
Hifter ’ s forces launched an offensive in April 2019 to try and capture the Tripoli .
But his campaign collapsed in June when the Tripoli-allied militias , with Turkish support , gained the upper hand , driving his forces from the outskirts of Tripoli and other western towns .
The chaos in the oil-rich country has worsened in recent months as foreign backers increasingly intervene , despite pledges to the contrary at a high-profile peace summit in Berlin earlier this year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ United Arab Emirates and Russia .
Turkey , a bitter rival of Egypt and the U.A.E .
in a broader regional struggle over political Islam , is the main patron of the Tripoli forces , which are also backed by the wealthy Gulf state of Qatar .
Hifter ’ s offensive on Tripoli deeply polarized the already divided country and aborted U.N. efforts to hold a peace conference more than a year ago .
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on Twitter welcomed both statements as “ an important step on the path of @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Spain: 5 more migrants die on dangerous Canary Islands route

ARGUINEGUIN , Spain - Five more migrants have died while trying to reach the southern Canary Islands from west Africa , bringing to 20 the number of who lost their lives this week attempting to navigate perilous migration routes to Europe , Spanish authorities said Friday .
Maritime rescuers and police patrols based in Spain picked up a total of 141 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean within 48 hours , the country ’ s official maritime rescue service said .
The rescue operations included a wooden boat located some 110 miles south of the Canaries archipelago with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Two of the survivors were evacuated by helicopter and one of them later died at the hospital , according to the Spanish government ’ s delegation in the islands .
The bodies of 15 other migrants who were found dead in another boat earlier in the week , some floating in sea water their vessel had taken on , were transported Thursday to Grand Canary Island .
A plane spotted the boat as it searched for a missing boat that had left Mauritania on August 15 with around 40 people .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located is the one reported missing .
The route from western Africa to the Spanish islands in the Atlantic Ocean is notoriously dangerous , but in recent times it has increasingly attracted migrants wanting to reach European shores as authorities have cracked down on migrant boats setting out on Mediterranean routes .
Without counting the latest new fatalities reported on Thursday and Friday , at least 190 migrants have died since the beginning of the year trying to reach the Canary Islands , according to the U.N. migration agency ’ s Missing Migrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived on the archipelago so far in 2020 , five times the figure seen in 2019 , according to the tally kept by Spain ’ s Interior Ministry .
The route to Spain across the Mediterranean , meanwhile , has seen a drop of about 30 % in arrivals compared to the previous year , with some 10,000 arrivals so far .


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--In moving speech, boy says Biden helped him overcome stutter

WASHINGTON - Even in a week filled with emotional endorsements of Joe Biden , Brayden Harrington ’ s stands out .
The 13-year-old boy sat in his home , speaking to a cellphone camera and reading , carefully , from a piece of paper .
He looked up and told the world how the former vice-president , by speaking about his own experience , had helped him overcome a difficult challenge .
“ We stutter , ” Brayden said in a video that aired Thursday , shortly before Biden accepted his party ’ s presidential nomination on the final night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Concord , New Hampshire , teen got stuck briefly on the “ s ” sound and bravely worked his way through the word .
His face showed strain but also determination to force out the sound .
“ It ’ s really amazing to hear that someone became vice-president ” despite stuttering , Brayden said .
“ He told me about a book of poems by Yeats that he would read out loud to practice.
” Biden has spoken frequently about how overcoming a stutter was one of the hardest things he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden met at a February CNN town hall in Concord , where Biden spoke about overcoming a severe childhood stutter .
He ’ s talked frequently publicly through the years about the anger and frustration of being mocked by classmates and a nun in Catholic school — and how that motivated him to work to overcome it .
“ It has nothing to do with your intellectual makeup , “ he said at the town hall .
After the event , Biden invited Brayden backstage to talk more about learning to control a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d practiced by speaking as he looked at himself in the mirror .
He also gave the boy a speech he ’ d prepared for delivery , complete with markings he ’ d made on its pages that showed where he had time to take breaks and pauses so that the words would come out more smoothly .
Brayden held up that speech for convention viewers on Thursday .
“ I ’ m just trying to be a kid , “ Brayden said .
“ And in a short amount of time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about something that ’ s bothered me my whole life .
Joe Biden cared .
Imagine what he could do for all of us.
” “ Kids like me are counting on you to elect someone we can all look up to , ” he added .
Biden has talked about his stutter frequently on the presidential campaign trail and how it sometimes returns on certain words , especially if he ’ s tired .
After he talked about it during a Democratic primary debate in December — and even started to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House press secretary Sarah Sanders ridiculed Biden on Twitter .
The tweet was later deleted and Sanders apologized .
Biden said afterward that he had no regrets “ because I know what it ’ s like to be humiliated .
”


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--U.S. Postal Service board creates panel to oversee mail-in voting

WASHINGTON—The governing board of the U.S .
Postal Service , under intense scrutiny over its ability to handle a surge of mail-in voting in the November elections , is creating a panel to oversee the process .
The board acted amid a furor raised by Democrats about impact on voting of cutbacks at the agency and President Donald Trump ’ s repeated and unsubstantiated assertions that voting by mail would taint or delay results of the presidential election .
The panel “ will use its oversight role to reinforce the strong commitment of the Postal Service to the mail as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s democratic process , and will regularly monitor execution of USPS ’ s work on election mail to ensure that our part of this election process is implemented in the most effective way possible , ” the Board of Governors said in a statement Friday .
The oversight panel will be headed by Donald Moak , who fills one of the Democratic slots on the Board of Governors .
Ron Bloom , another Democrat , and John Barger , who holds one of the Republican seats , will make up the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump and confirmed by the Senate .
The statement was released several hours after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , a Trump donor , sought to assure the Senate Homeland Security Committee that there has been no political interference in post office operations and that mailed ballots would delivered on time .
“ The Postal Service is fully capable and committed to delivering the nation ’ s election mail fully and on time , ” DeJoy told lawmakers .
The House is set to vote Saturday on legislation that would roll back service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year and provide $ 25 billion in new funding for the Postal Service .
The governors said in a statement that DeJoy , a wealthy North Carolina businessman who assumed his role a few months ago , has their “ full support ” “ He was selected to help bring needed changes to the Postal Service , which has experienced over a decade of financial losses and faces the need for fundamental reform , ” the governors said .
The board said that mail-in ballots are expected to account for less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from mid-September until Election Day but that the coronavirus pandemic could pose unique problems for the practice .

John Harney - Bloomberg News,Daniel Flatley


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--The Latest: S Korea mulls nationwide pandemic restrictions

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says he would do whatever was needed to keep the country safe amid the coronavirus pandemic even if that meant shutting down the country .
Biden made the comment in an interview with ABC .
The interview airs Sunday night , but clips were provided Friday .
Biden says , “ I will be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives because we can not get the country moving until we control the virus.
” He adds that if scientists recommended shutting down the country , “ I would shut it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools to reopen and people to get back to work .
The U.S. has had more than 5.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases , with more than 175,000 deaths .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : — Several aging U.S. veterans will gather in Pearl Harbor next month to mark the 75th anniversary of Japan ’ s surrender , despite the coronavirus pandemic — University of Wyoming reports 61 cases of the coronavirus — A U.S. count of deaths from all causes during the seven-month period yields @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more alarming — picture of the disaster and its racial dimensions .
— California added more than 140,000 jobs in July and lowered its unemployment rate to 13.3 % .
But the unemployment rate is still higher than it ever was during the Great Recession a decade ago .
— Major League Baseball has postponed this weekend ’ s Subway Series to allow time for more testing and contact tracing after two members of the New York Mets tested positive for the coronavirus .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts say the number of new coronavirus cases in the state has dropped over the past month , but the decline hasn ’ t been enough for schools to safely open .
The state is averaging about 250 new cases a day , and health officials say that needs to drop to about 60 for schools to reopen .
Gov .
Kate Brown said Friday that residents will have to continue to follow and enforce current statewide pandemic mandates or else bars and restaurants may have to close and travel restrictions will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate , schools won ’ t be able to reopen until April .
HARTFORD , Conn. — Connecticut is doubling the amount of federal coronavirus money dedicated to rental assistance .
But housing advocates contend it falls far short of what is needed to help as many as 130,000 households estimated to face possible eviction between now and Dec. 31 because of the pandemic .
In comparison , there were about 20,000 eviction filings in all of 2019 .
Gov .
Ned Lamont announced Friday that $ 10 million will be added to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent program .
His office says the amount that can go to the rent program is limited by Congress .
Lamont said he also will soon sign an executive order extending the moratorium on residential evictions until Oct. 1 .
OLYMPIA , Wash. — Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee is asking Canada for help with U.S. residents of a small peninsula who have been marooned by the pandemic-related closure of the U.S.-Canada border .
Point Roberts is part of Washington state , but it juts out from the Canadian mainland south of Vancouver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Washington .
About 1,300 people live there .
In a letter Friday to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , Inslee suggests that residents of Point Roberts be given special travel permits allowing them to drive directly to and from the Washington state mainland .
HARRISBURG , Pa. — The governing body for Pennsylvania interscholastic sports decided Friday to move forward with the fall season , rejecting the governor ’ s recommendation that all youth sports be postponed until 2021 to help stop the spread of the coronavirus .
The board of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of fall sports by two weeks after Gov .
Tom Wolf on Aug. 6 urged that scholastic and recreational youth sports be put off until January , citing the pandemic .
The PIAA had said it was blindsided and “ tremendously disappointed ” by Wolf ’ s recommendation — which was not binding — and insisted that fall sports could be held safely .
For his part , Wolf has pointed out that major collegiate leagues have independently cancelled fall sports .
The board voted 25-5 on Friday to allow high school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hockey and other fall sports to go on as planned , starting Monday .
Among those voting no : board members representing professional associations of school boards , superintendents and principals .
SALT LAKE CITY — The annual Christmas concert by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ’ choir has been cancelled because of lingering concerns about the coronavirus pandemic .
The cancellation of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square ’ s holiday concert announced Friday by church officials is the latest sign that disruptions to normal religious activity will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously announced it would hold its twice-yearly signature conference in October without in-person audience as it did at the April conference .
LITTLE ROCK , Ark .
— Arkansas on Friday reported its largest single-day increase in deaths from the illness caused by the coronavirus as the state moved closer toward resuming in-person classes at public schools .
The Department of Health reported 22 people had died from COVID-19 , bringing the state ’ s total fatalities from the illness since the pandemic began to 663 .
The department reported 887 new confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s total to 55,652 .
The department said half of the new deaths occurred in nursing homes .
Four of the deaths occurred in July and were late reports .
The spike in deaths comes days before Arkansas ’ public schools are scheduled to reopen .
Schools are allowed to offer virtual classes or a hybrid option that includes some onsite classes , but the state is requiring schools to be open five days a week for students who need in-person instruction .
BLOOMINGTON , Ind .
— The size of private gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people under an emergency executive order by Mayor John Hamilton .
The order took effect immediately Friday .
The previous maximum crowd size was 50 .
Hamilton issued the order after photos and videos shared on social media showed Indiana University students gathering in large groups without masks or practicing social distancing .
Hamilton urged residents to report any violations of the new order to the Bloomington Police Department .
The mayor also also ordered people attending gatherings to practice social distancing and to use face coverings .
IOWA CITY , Iowa — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not begin the year with fully remote learning and must offer at least 50 % in-person instruction despite a worsening coronavirus pandemic , the state said Friday .
Des Moines Public Schools , which has 32,000 students and 5,000 employees , blasted the decision by Republican Gov .
Kim Reynolds ’ administration to deny its request for a waiver to allow for 100 % online learning .
The district announced that it would file a lawsuit to challenge the state ’ s order to reopen schools , a prospect that it said was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Unfortunately , the governor and her agencies have decided to ignore the local decision-making authority set out in the law to try and force their will on school districts to do things we all know are simply not safe at this time , ” said Kyrstin Delagardelle , the chair of the school board .
The Iowa Department of Education denied the district ’ s waiver request on Thursday .
The agency said the denial would still allow parents to choose 100 % virtual learning for students , and the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students get 50 % in-person learning and the rest online .
DETROIT — Educators in Detroit concerned about exposure to the COVID-19 virus in classrooms and hallways have given their union the OK to call a “ potential safety strike ” in which teachers would agree to teach and work remotely .
The Detroit Federation of Teachers insists the strike would not be a work stoppage with the start of the school year looming , and said the aim is to press the public school district to implement science-based safety protocols during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled to start Sept 8 .
Friday is the deadline for parents to complete a survey on whether they want online or face-to-face learning for the first quarter .
A district spokeswoman says teachers also can choose face-to-face or online instruction .
PHOENIX — Arizona has reported a 20 % increase in deaths in the first seven months of this year .
Public health experts say not all have been directly linked to the coronavirus .
They say possible explanations include overdoses and suicides by those struggling with isolation or unemployment during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to chronic diseases after postponing hospital visits because of fears about contracting the virus there .
Or deaths from Arizona ’ s regular flu season in October to April .
A more complete understanding is expected after health officials review death certificates .
TOPEKA , Kan. — The largest school district in Kansas moved classes online for its middle and high-schoolers while public health officials in Topeka imposed stricter crowd size limits to stem the spread of the coronavirus .
The Wichita school district , with more than 50,000 students , will give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of taking classes in person or online .
But older students will be online only when classes begin Sept. 8 , the district ’ s board of education decided Thursday in a 5-2 vote .
The district also is the latest to cancel sports and extracurricular activities .
Wyandotte County called off football , volleyball and soccer , as well as marching band , last week .
And the Shawnee Mission School District , which is the state ’ s third largest with 27,000 students , decided to suspend sports and extracurricular activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oklahoma State Department of Health reported an increase of 1,077 coronavirus cases and six deaths in the last 24 hours .
Also , the health department and the state Department of Education announced Friday a plan that provides public school teachers and school support staff with free coronavirus testing in their areas .
Gov .
Kevin Stitt in July issued an executive order for the state health and education departments to develop a plan for teachers to be tested monthly for the virus .
BOISE , Idaho — Idaho will remain in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brad Little ’ s plan to reopen for at least another two weeks as coronavirus infection rates and hospitalizations remain above a threshold .
The Republican governor says the state has sufficient ICU beds , ventilators and personal protective equipment .
He also says the number of people being admitted to hospitals is stabilizing .
Little spoke at the Idaho Foodbank in Boise , where he emphasized the need to support food banks during the pandemic when many people have lost jobs .
Idaho had more than 29,000 coronavirus infections and 297 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LARAMIE , Wyo .
—Officials say the University of Wyoming has reported 61 confirmed cases of the coronavirus .
The university tested more than 10,000 students and staffers ahead of the fall semester , which is scheduled to begin on Monday .
Out of the 61 confirmed cases reported Thursday , 46 are still active and 15 people have recovered .
Two of the 46 active cases are students who were living in the dorms .
They have since been isolated .
Other students who were in close contact with the infected students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Eight of the active cases are university employees who live off campus .
The final 36 of the active cases are students who live off campus , many of whom officials say don ’ t live in Laramie .
LONDON — The head of the World Health Organization says he hopes the world can end the coronavirus pandemic in less than two years — less time than it took for the 1918 flu pandemic to be stopped .
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described COVID-19 as a “ once-in-a-century health crisis ” and says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread quicker than the flu did in 1918 , there was also now the technology to stop it that hadn ’ t been available a century ago .
“ We hope to finish this pandemic ( in ) less than two years , especially if we can pool our efforts , ” he said Friday .
WHO ’ s emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan noted the 1918 pandemic hit the globe in three distinct waves and that the second wave , which started during the fall of 1918 , was the most devastating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a similar wave-like pattern , ” he said .
“ When the virus is not under control , it jumps straight back up.
” Ryan adds while pandemic viruses often settle into a seasonal pattern , that didn ’ t appear to be the case for the coronavirus .
Currently , there are more than 22 million confirmed global cases and more than 795,000 deaths from the coronavirus , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
The United States leads the world with 5.6 million confirmed cases and more than 174,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as 215,000 more people than usual died in the U.S. during the first seven months of 2020 , suggesting the number of lives lost to the coronavirus is significantly higher than the official toll .
Half the dead were people of colour — Blacks , Hispanics , Native Americans and Asian Americans .
That ’ s according to an analysis of government data by The Associated Press and The Marshall Project , a non-profit news organization .
People of colour make up just under 40 % of the U.S. population but accounted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excess deaths ” above normal through July .
At that time , the official death toll in the U.S. from COVID-19 was about 150,000 .
It has since increased to more than 174,000 dead , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Ex-CIA chief Brennan interviewed in Russia probe review

WASHINGTON - Former CIA Director John Brennan was interviewed Friday by U.S. Attorney John Durham ’ s team as part of its inquiry into the investigators and intelligence officials behind the 2016 Russia election interference probe .
The interview took place at CIA headquarters and lasted for eight hours , said Nick Shapiro , Brennan ’ s former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser .
“ Brennan was informed by Mr. Durham that he is not a subject or a target of a criminal investigation and that he is only a witness to events that are under review , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brennan led the CIA under the Obama administration as it and other intelligence agencies arrived at the conclusion that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Donald Trump .
Durham ’ s interest in speaking with Brennan underscores the extent to which he and his team are continuing to examine how U.S. intelligence officials reached that assessment , which Trump has long resisted .
Brennan appeared voluntarily for the interview and has previously said he welcomed the chance to be questioned and felt he had nothing to hide .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the truth is going to come out and the individuals who have mischaracterized what has happened in the past will be shown to have deceived the American people , “ Brennan said in a May interview on MSNBC .
During the interview , Brennan offered details on the efforts made by the intelligence community to “ understand and disrupt “ Russia ’ s efforts to interfere in the election , and answered questions related to a “ wide range of intelligence activities ” undertaken by the CIA in the run-up to November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answered questions about the January 2017 intelligence community assessment that blamed Russia for the interference .
Attorney General William Barr last year appointed Durham , the U.S. attorney for Connecticut , to examine the decisions that were made by government officials as they investigated ties between the Trump campaign and Russia .
Exhaustive reports by former special counsel Robert Mueller and the Republican-led Senate intelligence committee have detailed extensive ties between Russians and Trump associates during the 2016 campaign , but Barr has challenged the idea that the FBI had sufficient basis to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mandate that empowered him to look into the actions of other agencies too .
Brennan questioned why the CIA ’ s findings and tradecraft were now being scrutinized by the Justice Department given that the Mueller report and the bipartisan Senate report validated the conclusions of Russian interference , Shapiro said .
“ Brennan also told Mr. Durham that the repeated efforts of Donald Trump and William Barr to politicize Mr. Durham ’ s work have been appalling and have tarnished the independence and integrity of the Department of Justice , making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals to carry out their responsibilities , “ according to Shapiro ’ s statement .
A spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined to comment .
Brennan , who has emerged as a vocal critic of Trump , testified before Congress in 2017 that he had personally warned Russia against interfering in the election and that he was so concerned about Russia ’ s contacts with people involved in Trump ’ s campaign that he convened top counterintelligence officials to focus on the issue .
He told the House intelligence committee at that hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone that Russia brazenly interfered in our 2016 present election process , “ though he said he didn ’ t have enough information to know whether it was colluding with the campaign .
“ But , “ he said , “ I know there was a basis to have individuals pull those threads.
” Mueller ’ s investigation found that the Trump campaign embraced Russia ’ s help and expected to benefit from it , though he did not allege a criminal conspiracy between the two .
Durham brought his first criminal charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused of altering an email related to the secret surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page .
The attorney , Kevin Clinesmith , pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a false statement charge .


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Once in a lifetime: Two hurricanes, same time, same place

ORLANDO , FLA.—As if the 2020 hurricane season needed another reason to be remembered , meteorologists are now predicting two hurricanes may hit near the same location at about the same time .
The phenomenon is one that has never been recorded before , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
On Friday , the National Hurricane Center forecast Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Depression 14 to both hit the Gulf Coast hours apart ; Laura as a Category 1 hurricane and TD 14 as a tropical storm .
“ The odds of something like that happening are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WOFL-TV meteorologist Jayme King .
King also noted the phenomenon is so rare , that in 23 years of covering weather , he ’ s never seen it happen .
“ When you think about the water basin size of the Gulf of Mexico , that alone is a novelty itself .
It ’ s such a small confined area .
I mean think about the Atlantic and other oceans .
The Gulf looks like a pond compared to those , and now you have two circulating storms sandwiched into one basin ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The accumulation of all that cyclonic energy all in one place is very rare.
” It ’ s another strange milestone in the 2020 season , which was predicted to have between 19 and 25 named storms — the largest forecast ever made by the NHC .
Also , the season was reported to have the earliest 10th named storm ever observed by the NHC — typically the 10th named storm of the year does not develop until around mid-October .
If TD 14 does develop , it will receive the name Marco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 hurricane Sunday night .
It should de-escalate into a tropical storm and make landfall on the Texas coastline early Tuesday .
Meanwhile , Laura is predicted to strike the Florida panhandle , Alabama , Mississippi and Louisiana coastlines by early Wednesday .
While the phenomenon is unique , other situations have come close to earning the record first , according to NOAA records .
The first close-call occurrence was on Sept. 4 , 1993 when a major hurricane was over South Florida and another major hurricane was over the western Gulf of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not however be the first two storms to tango in the Gulf together .
That honour belongs to Hurricane 8 and Hurricane 11 , which overlapped by four hours on Sept. 5 , 1933 .
It happened again on June 18 , 1959 with Tropical Storm Beulah and Hurricane 3 , which overlapped with each other for eight hours .
The most recent occurrence was between Sept. 5 and Sept. 6 , 2002 , with Tropical Storm Fay and Tropical Depression Edouard when they took a dip together in warm Gulf waters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 occurrences of two hurricanes making landfall in the United States within days of each other .
One such event took place in 1933 when Hurricane 8 and Hurricane 11 made landfall one day apart in Texas and Florida .
Still , days lie in between the next week ’ s forecast and the time either storm could make landfall .
Land mass between Tropical Storm Laura and the Gulf states ’ coast lines could weaken or shift the storm ’ s trajectory , King said .
When King saw the NHC ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prediction , but was slightly disappointed the storms weren ’ t predicted to observe a different phenomenon — one of the strangest weather events known as the “ fujiwhara effect , ” which is when two nearby cyclonic storms begin orbiting each other in a meteorological ballet .
“ You know our mission is to keep people safe first and foremost , ” King said .
“ But deep down , as a weather guy , to see a feat like that is slim .
It doesn ’ t happen often .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m just saying , I wouldn ’ t be disappointed.
” The only example of the phenomenon on record was in 2017 between hurricanes Hilary and Irwin .
Nothing has been ruled out for next week ’ s forecast which could see the development of two hurricanes .
King noted that while the storms are two separate systems , they aren ’ t isolated to each other .
If Tropical Depression 14 becomes strong enough it could have a detrimental effect on Tropical Storm Laura .
“ If that happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve as a conveyor belt of wind shear to Laura ’ s western side , ” King said .
“ It ’ s a very interesting scene in the Gulf .
Get your popcorn .
”


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Former Green Beret charged with divulging military secrets to Russia

FALLS CHURCH , Va. - A former Army Green Beret living in northern Virginia was arrested on Friday , charged with divulging military secrets about his unit ’ s activities in former Soviet republics during more than a decade of contacts with Russian intelligence .
Peter Rafael Dzibinski Debbins , 45 , told Russian intelligence he considered himself a “ son of Russia , ” according to an indictment made public after his arrest .
“ Debbins thought that the United States was too dominant in the world and needed to be cut down to size , ” prosecutors alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was motivated in part because of bitterness over his Army career and a desire to establish business contacts in Russia .
The espionage took place from 1996 to 2011 , prosecutors say .
The case against Debbins is the second Justice Department prosecution announced this week accusing a government or military official of transmitting U.S. secrets to a foreign country .
The other case , in Hawaii , charged a former CIA officer with spying for China .
The two prosecutions “ demonstrate that we must remain vigilant against espionage from our two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Assistant Attorney General John Demers , the Justice Department ’ s top national security official , said in a statement .
Debbins ’ mother was born in the Soviet Union , and Debbins met his wife in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk , where they were married in 1997 , according to the indictment .
Debbins , of Gainesville , periodically met Russian intelligence beginning in 1996 , when he was an ROTC student at the University of Minnesota , through 2011 .
As far back as 1997 , he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence agents — Ikar Lesnikov — after signing a statement saying that he wanted to serve Russia , according to prosecutors .
Debbins received nominal payments for his information , even though he initially refused the money .
In one meeting with Russian intelligence , he accepted a bottle of Cognac and a Russian military uniform as payment , according to the indictment .
“ When service members collude to provide classified information to our foreign adversaries , they betray the oaths they swore to their country and their fellow service members , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia , whose office is prosecuting the case .
” As this indictment reflects , we will be steadfast and dogged in holding such individuals accountable.
” Debbins , who was arrested Friday , will have an initial court appearance on Monday .
Online court records remained sealed , so it was unclear whether Debbins has an attorney .
He is charged under the Espionage Act with providing national defence information to those not entitled to receive it .
He could face up to life in prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secret security clearances during the time of his criminal conduct , and served in the Army Special Forces as well , according to the indictment .
The indictment alleges Debbins ’ espionage began in late 1996 when he gave one of his Russian handlers the names of four Catholic nuns he had visited while in Russia .
He was assigned to a chemical unit in South Korea in 1998 and 1999 , and the indictment says he provided his Russian handlers information about that deployment .
He later deployed with his Special Forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also allegedly provided information and names of his fellow Special Forces members .
On multiple occasions , the Russian handlers asked Debbins for U.S. military field manuals .
Debbins explained that he was unable to provide them because he believed that carrying the manuals would prompt Homeland Security to stop him at the airport and seize his electronic devices .
The indictment states that Debbins lost his security clearance and command of his unit for an unspecified security violation in 2004 or 2005 , and then left the military in 2005 with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through 2010 in Minnesota for a Ukrainian steel manufacture and a transportation company .
His security clearance was restored in 2010 by an Army adjudicator , according to the indictment , though the reinstatement came with a warning that his family and business connections to Russia might make him ” the target of a foreign intelligence service.
“ Debbins had told his Russian handlers as far back as 1997 that he wanted to leave the military , but they encouraged him to stay .
They also encouraged his decision to join the Special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no use to the Russian intelligence service as an infantry commander.
” According to the indictment , military officers questions Debbins about his travel after visits to Russia in 2000 and 2003 , but he failed to disclose his interactions with Russian intelligence .
The court papers do not explain what led prosecutors to bring charges now or how he came to be under criminal investigation .
Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--California wildfires some of largest in state history

SAN FRANCISCO - Lightning-sparked wildfires in Northern California exploded in size Friday to become some of the largest in state history , forcing thousands to flee and destroying hundreds of homes and other structures as reinforcements began arriving to help weary firefighters .
More than 12,000 firefighters aided by helicopters and air tankers are battling wildfires throughout California .
Three groups of fires , called complexes , burning north , east and south of San Francisco have together scorched 780 square miles ( 2,020 square kilometres ) , destroyed more than 500 structures and killed five people .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The number of personnel assigned to the sprawling LNU Complex — a cluster of blazes burning in the heart of wine country north of San Francisco — doubled to more than 1,000 firefighters Friday , Cal Fire Division Chief Ben Nicholls said .
“ I ’ m happy to say there are resources all around the fire today .
We have engines on all four sides of it working hand-in-hand with the bulldozers to start containing this fire , putting it to bed , ” Nicholls aid .
Fire crews with help from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were working Friday to stop a large blaze from reaching communities in the West Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County , he said .
The blazes , coming during a heat wave that has seen temperatures top 100 degrees , are taxing the state ’ s firefighting capacity but assistance from throughout the country was beginning to arrive , with 10 states sending fire crews , engines and aircraft to help , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said .
“ We have more people but it ’ s not enough .
We have more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not enough and that ’ s why we need support from our federal partners , ” Newsom said .
Newsom thanked President Donald Trump ’ s administration for its help a day after pushing back on Trump ’ s criticism of the state ’ s wildfire prevention work , saying that he has a “ strong personal relationship with the president.
” “ While he may make statements publicly , the working relationship privately has been a very effective one , ” Newsom said .
There are 560 fires burning in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are about two dozen major fires , mainly in Northern California .
Many blazes were sparked by thousands of lightning strikes earlier in the week .
Tens of thousands of homes were threatened by flames that drove through dense and bone-dry trees and brush .
Some fires doubled in size within 24 hours , fire officials said .
With firefighting resources tight , homes in remote , hard-to-get-to places burned unattended .
CalFire Chief Mark Brunton pleaded with residents to quit battling fires on their own , saying that just causes more problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last night three separate rescues that pulled our vital , very few resources away , ” he said .
An anxious Rachel Stratman , 35 , and her husband , Quentin Lareau , 40 , waited for word Friday about their home in the Forest Springs community of Boulder Creek , in Santa Cruz County , after evacuating earlier this week .
She knew one house burned but received conflicting information about the rest of the neighbourhood .
“ It ’ s so hard to wait and not know , “ she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if I want people to be going back to the area and videotaping .
I know they cause the firefighters distraction , but that ’ s the only way we know.
” The couple were in a San Jose hotel with medication she needs after undergoing a transplant surgery last month .
She collected her mother ’ s ashes and some clothes while her husband closed windows and readied the home before they evacuated Tuesday .
“ I kept looking at things and kept thinking I should grab this or that , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave .
I didn ’ t bring any official documents and I didn ’ t bring my house deed or car title .
No passport , “ she said .
The ferocity of the fires was astonishing so early in the fire season , which historically has seen the largest and deadliest blazes when dry gusts blow in the fall .
But the death toll already had reached at least six since the majority of blazes started less than a week ago .
Five deaths involved fires burning in wine country north of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a helicopter pilot who crashed while dropping water on a blaze in Fresno County .
Henry Wofford , spokesman for the Napa County Sheriff ’ s Office , said three of the bodies were found Thursday in a burned home .
The area was under an evacuation order due to “ very , very heavy “ fire that he said burned multiple homes .
He said authorities are trying to determine the identities .
In neighbouring Solano County , Sheriff Thomas A. Ferrara reported the death of a male resident .
The other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utility worker who was found dead Wednesday in a vehicle in the Vacaville area .
At least 14,000 people in Solano County remained under mandatory evacuation Friday , Solano County Undersheriff Brad DeWall said .
He said 119 homes have been destroyed in his county .
At least two other people were missing and more than 30 civilians and firefighters have been injured , authorities said .
Smoke and ash billowing from the fires has fouled the air throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and along California ’ s scenic central coast .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of San Francisco started Tuesday and the slightly smaller LNU Lightning Complex burning in wine country that was sparked a day earlier already have become among the 10 largest wildfires in state history .
Firefighters had only contained a small portion of the wildfires by Friday afternoon .
In Napa County , Crosswalk Community Church has transformed its sanctuary and gymnasium into an evacuation shelter , filling the floor with cots spaced at least 6 feet ( 1.8 metres ) apart .
Pastor Peter Shaw said the church has seen a steady stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were just looking for information , while others needed gift cards for food and basic needs .
“ COVID-19 complicates everything , ” Shaw wrote in an email to The Associated Press .
“ Socially distanced cots drastically decreases our capacity.
” A few people have stayed the night , Shaw said , adding several people parked their RVs in the church parking lot .
“ The longer the evacuations stay in place , I suspect the more people we will see , ” he said .
Eric Swensen packed early and got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burned leaves and charred bark fall around his family ’ s home in Boulder Creek earlier this week .
He , his 11-year-old son , girlfriend Gundy Sartor , and neighbour Lesley Wludyga packed a pet lizard and important documents and headed north to Redwood City .
But as of Friday , he still hadn ’ t heard if his home had survived .
He read on social media that firefighters had to retreat from the area .
“ Obviously , the current resources dedicated to the fire are nowhere near enough , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burning , and they are doing what they can , ” Swensen said .
Associated Press writers Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz , Camille Fassett in Redwood City and John Antczak in Los Angeles contributed to this report .

Olga R. Rodriguez And Janie Har - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Birth of panda cub provides ‘much-needed moment of pure joy’

WASHINGTON - Delivering a “ much-needed moment of pure joy , ” the National Zoo ’ s giant panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a wiggling cub Friday at a time of global pandemic and social unrest .
An experienced mom , “ Mei Xiang picked the cub up immediately and began cradling and caring for it , ” the zoo said in a statement .
“ The panda team heard the cub vocalize.
” Panda lovers around the world were able to see the birth on the zoo ’ s Panda Cam .
Zookeepers also were using the camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baby .
“ Giant pandas are an international symbol of endangered wildlife and hope , and with the birth of this precious cub we are thrilled to offer the world a much-needed moment of pure joy , ” said Steve Monfort , John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian ’ s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute .
Monfort said Mei Xiang ’ s age — 22 — made her chances of giving birth to a cub slim .
“ However , we wanted to give her one more opportunity to contribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
She is the oldest giant panda to successfully give birth in the United States .
The oldest in the world gave birth in China at age 23 .
Mei Xiang has three surviving offspring , Tai Shan , Bao Bao and Bei Bei , that were transported to China at age 4 under an agreement with the Chinese government .
The zoo has reopened to visitors on a limited basis , but the Panda House is closed .
Mei Xiang gave birth in a small den , where she created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the place looks tiny for a big panda , the zoo said giant pandas in wild give birth in small dens .
“ They stay in these dens for about the cub ’ s first 100 days , “ the zoo said on Instagram .
The zoo had given notice earlier in the day that Mei Xiang appeared to be in labour , noting her restlessness and body-licking .
Earlier this week , the zoo , part of the Smithsonian Institution , posted an image from Mei Xiang ’ s ultrasound that confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crossed !
” the zoo posted , reporting that the fetus was “ kicking and swimming in the amniotic fluid.
” “ We need this !
We totally need this joy , ” zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson said when the pregnancy was confirmed .
“ We are all in desperate need of these feel-goods.
” Giant pandas at birth are about the size of a stick of butter .
They ’ re pink and hairless ; the distinctive black and white fur markings of giant pandas come later .
The zoo said Mei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process which was heavily affected by precautions over the COVID-19 pandemic .
The procedure was conducted shortly after the entire zoo shut down on March 14 .
Rather than using a combination of stored frozen sperm and fresh semen , the zoo inseminated Mei Xiang only with thawed-out semen to minimize the number of close-quarters medical procedures .
It was the first successful procedure of its kind in the U.S. using only frozen sperm .
Associated Press writer Ashfraf Khalil contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Apology at sentencing deepens mystery of Golden State Killer

SACRAMENTO , Calif. - Just before receiving multiple consecutive life sentences , Joseph James DeAngelo , the former California police officer who lived a double life as the murderous sociopath dubbed the Golden State Killer , broke his silence to tell a hushed courtroom filled with victims and their family members that he was “ truly sorry ” for the crimes .
It was such an unexpected moment that it brought gasps from those in the gallery , many of whom sat through an extraordinary four-day sentencing hearing filled with graphic and heart-wrenching testimony from dozens of victims .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what DeAngelo would do and who he was , which helps explain how he eluded detection for four decades while committing at least 13 killings and dozens of rapes .
The 74-year-old DeAngelo spoke for only a few seconds after rising from a wheelchair that newly released jail video shows he doesn ’ t need .
“ I listened to all your statements , each one of them , and I ’ m truly sorry for everyone I ’ ve hurt , ” he said , putting aside the weak , quavering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also admit to multiple other sexual assaults for which the statute of limitations had expired .
Prosecutors and victims said it was more evidence of a manipulative and vicious criminal who fooled investigators and his own family until he finally admitted victimizing at least 87 people at 53 separate crime scenes spanning 11 California counties .
He was finally unmasked in 2018 with a pioneering use of DNA tracing .
“ I think that he is truly diabolical and he is constantly masked , whether it ’ s a physical mask , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a decent guy in the community and having people around him who love him , ” said Debbi Domingo McMullan ?
, the daughter of murder victim Cheri Domingo .
“ One hundred per cent ‘ Jekyll & Hyde , ’ ” added Jane Carson-Sandler , one of DeAngelo ’ s first rape victims .
“ It ’ s like he was living two completely different lives .
...
He probably , somehow in his mind , didn ’ t feel that he was committing these crimes — it was someone else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family members broke their silence in the case , writing in letters read to the judge that the “ monster , ” “ devil , ” “ beast ” and “ madman ” described by prosecutors is the polar opposite of the man that one niece saw as a loving father figure and another as her “ hero ” who took her camping and fishing .
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman was unmoved .
He said DeAngelo should die in prison with “ no mercy ” from his jailers after pleading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 rape-related charges that spanned much of California between 1975 and 1986 .
The plea deal spared him the death penalty .
“ When a person commits monstrous acts , they need to be locked away so they can never harm an innocent person , ” the judge said to applause from DeAngelo ’ s victims .
Investigators in the case pioneered a new method of DNA tracing that involves building a family tree from publicly accessible genealogy websites to narrow the list of suspects .
They linked nearly 40-year-old DNA from crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and eventually to a discarded tissue they surreptitiously lifted from DeAngelo ’ s garbage can in suburban Sacramento .
The same technique has since been used to solve 93 murders and rapes across the nation , said Ron Harrington , whose family has been obsessed with solving the 1980 slayings of youngest brother Keith Harrington and his new wife , Patrice Harrington .
It led oldest brother Bruce Harrington to champion a ballot measure passed by California voters in 2004 that expanded the collection of DNA samples from prisoners and those arrested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 81,000 identifications .
Bowman told DeAngelo he was moved by the courage and strength of the victims and their family members — “ all qualities you clearly lack ” — who told how they endured sadistic , hours-long assaults .
DeAngelo ’ s rapes and eventual murders followed the same pattern of binding couples he surprised while they slept and assaulting the woman as the man lay helpless .
He would place dishes on the man ’ s back , warning that he would kill them both if the dishes rattled .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their image of the man they loved .
“ I personally feel that someone else is inside him who I do not know , ” a niece said in a letter read by defence attorneys .
DeAngelo ’ s sister and a close friend each wrote that he was abused as a boy by an emotionally distant , disciplinarian father .
Prosecutors said they had found no evidence of abuse , but Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said they learned he was a teenager “ who was blowing up animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His ex-wife , Sacramento attorney Sharon Huddle , said in her own court filing that she was fooled by his excuses of working nights , leaving for pheasant hunts and visiting his parents , though many victims have wondered aloud how she could not have known of her husband ’ s double life .
“ No compassion , no empathy , no remorse , ” Schubert said .
“ He has and always will be a sociopath in action.
” Former fiance Bonnie Colwell Ueltzen said , “ I didn ’ t see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know now he was a burglar and a Peeping Tom before I ever knew him.
” She broke off their teenage engagement when DeAngelo became abusive .
Investigators have said one rape victim ’ s recollection that her assailant shouted “ I hate you , Bonnie ” helped lead them to DeAngelo .
“ Maybe I ’ m part of his cover .
Maybe his family ’ s part of his cover , “ Ueltzen said after DeAngelo was sentenced .
“ We ’ re all props in his big story , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underneath .
”


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Lawyers: Autopsy suggests inmate suffered during execution

CHICAGO - An inmate suffered “ extreme pain “ as he received a dose of pentobarbital during just the second federal execution following a 17-year lag , according to court filings by lawyers representing one of the inmates scheduled to be executed next .
The claim Wesley Purkey may have felt a sensation akin to drowning while immobilized but conscious is disputed by Department of Justice attorneys .
They insist the first three lethal injections since 2003 were carried out without a hitch last month at the federal prison in Terre Haute , Indiana .
This month ’ s filings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ execution of Keith Nelson , convicted in the 1999 rape and strangulation of 10-year-old Pamela Butler .
Prosecutors said he pulled her into his truck as she skated on rollerblades back to her Kansas home after buying herself cookies .
Nelson ’ s execution is set for Aug. 28 .
The execution of Lezmond Mitchell , the only Native American on federal death row , is scheduled for Aug. 26 .
His lawyers have made similar arguments .
Purkey was convicted federally of kidnapping and killing a 16-year-old girl before dismembering and dumping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first federal execution last month was of Daniel Lewis Lee , convicted of killing an Arkansas family in a 1990s plot to build a whites-only nation .
Here ’ s a look at issues surrounding the use of pentobarbital : A : An autopsy performed by a Michigan-based pathologist a week after the 68-year-old Purkey was put to death found evidence of “ severe bilateral acute pulmonary edema ” and “ frothy pulmonary edema in trachea and mainstem bronchi , ” filings by the attorneys allege .
Those findings mean fluid quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his airway up to his trachea , causing “ a near-drowning “ sensation , said Dr. Gail Van Norman , a medical expert retained by Nelson ’ s lawyers to interpret the autopsy .
“ These are among the most excruciating feelings known to man , ” she said in a filing .
Flash pulmonary edema , where fluid enters the lungs and airways , can only occur when someone is alive , she said .
“ It is a virtual medical certainty , that most , if not all , prisoners will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drowning and suffocation ” from pentobarbital , she added .
The autopsy wasn ’ t official .
It was performed by a Western Michigan University pathologist , Dr. Joyce L. deJong , at the behest of Purkey relatives .
Autopsies weren ’ t performed of the others executed last month , Nelson ’ s lawyers said .
Q : HOW DID GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS RESPOND IN FILINGS ?
A : They ’ ve said the execution of Purkey and the other inmates last month “ were implemented without any pentobarbital-related complications.
” They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pentobarbital injections are humane .
And even if some pain is involved , that doesn ’ t render an execution method inhumane , the government attorneys argued , citing a 2008 Supreme Court ruling .
“ Simply because an execution method may result in pain , either by accident or as an inescapable consequence of death , does not establish the sort of ‘ objectively intolerable risk of harm ’ that qualifies as cruel and unusual , ” the high court said .
Q : WAS IT CLEAR DURING THE EXECUTION THAT PURKEY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weren ’ t obvious outward signs he was in pain .
An Associated Press reporter who served as a media witness described Purkey taking several deep breaths and blinking repeatedly as the pentobarbital was injected .
The other inmates also twitched for several minutes before their breathing slowed , then stopped .
But death-penalty foes say the paralyzing effects of pentobarbital may make it impossible for the condemned to grimace or thrash around , even if they are feeling excruciating pain .
Q : WHY IS PENTOBARBITAL USED ?
A : Pentobarbital is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system and that , given in a high dosage , causes the heart to stop .
It doesn ’ t have widespread medical uses , though is often used by veterinarians to anesthetize or euthanize animals .
For three federal executions in the early 2000s , a cocktail of drugs was used : sodium thiopental , which has a similar affect as pentobarbital ; pancuronium bromide , which paralyzes the body and potassium chloride , a drug that induces cardiac arrest .
But pharmaceuticals later refused to allow those drugs to be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many state governments to seek an alternative .
Attorney General William Barr last year approved reworked execution protocols that called for using pentobarbital alone .
A : Nelson ’ s lawyers ideally want all executions suspended for good .
But legal precedent requires , when arguing one form of execution is cruel , that they offer what they believe are more humane alternatives .
Among the alternatives they suggested : a firing squad .
“ Historically , the firing squad has resulted in significantly fewer ‘ botched ’ executions , ” they say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firing squad is both swift and virtually painless .
”


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--2 storms pose possible double threat to US Gulf Coast

Two tropical systems could become almost simultaneous threats to the U.S. Gulf Coast early next week .
They could even get sucked into an odd dance around each other .
Or they could fall apart as they soak the Caribbean and Mexico this weekend .
Tropical Storm Laura and a depression that is likely to become Tropical Storm Marco have such bad and good environments ahead of them that their futures were not clear Friday .
Computer forecast models varied so much that some saw Laura becoming a major hurricane nearing the U.S. , while others saw it dissipating .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laura is forecast to head toward the central Gulf Coast around Louisiana , Mississippi , Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle , while the other system aims at Texas .
The National Hurricane Center ’ s late Friday afternoon forecast pushed both farther west and slowed Laura ’ s track .
“ A lot of people are going to be impacted by rainfall and storm surge in the Gulf of Mexico , ” said Joel Cline , the tropical program co-ordinator for the National Weather Service .
“ Since you simply don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions.
” Two hurricanes have never appeared in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time , according to records going back to at least 1900 , said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach .
The last time two tropical storms were in the Gulf together was in 1959 , he said .
Because the hurricane centre slowed Laura ’ s entrance into the Gulf and moved its track westward , the two storms are now forecast to be together in the Gulf on Tuesday , just before the weaker western storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit less than a day later .
The hurricane centre on Friday issued tropical storm warnings for the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico .
Laura was forecast to smack Puerto Rico on Saturday morning , go over or near the Dominican Republic and Haiti late Saturday and Cuba on Sunday .
Laura , which set a record for the earliest 12th named storm of a season , was moving through the northern Leeward Islands on Friday evening , about 250 miles ( 415 kilometres ) east-southeast of San Juan , Puerto Rico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45 mph ( 75 kph ) and was heading west at 17 mph ( 28 kph ) .
The hurricane centre also issued a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for part of Mexico ’ s Yucatan Peninsula because the other storm system , called Tropical Depression 14 , was predicted to strengthen into a tropical storm by Saturday .
On Friday evening , it was centred about 210 miles ( 340 kilometres ) southeast of Cozumel , Mexico , with 35 mph ( 55 kph ) winds .
It was headed northwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the two storms make it , they could be crowded in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time Tuesday about 550 miles apart .
That would leave open some weird possibilities , including the storms rotating around each other in a tropical two-step , pulling in closer to each other , nudging each other , weakening each other or — far less likely — merging .
The last time two storms made landfall in the United States within 24 hours of each other was in 1933 , Klotzbach said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this type of twin threats , said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy .
“ Of course , we have to have two simultaneously land-falling hurricanes , ” McNoldy said .
“ It ’ s best not to ask what ’ s next.
” On Friday morning , a hurricane-hunting airplane found Laura ’ s centre to be dozens of miles farther south and better formed than satellite images showed .
That triggered a shift in the forecast track , putting Caribbean islands more at risk and an upgrade to tropical storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Puerto Rico and the mountains of Haiti , the Dominican Republic and Cuba could tear it apart and not make it much of a threat to the mainland United States , meteorologists said .
But if it misses or skirts land , it could head into warm waters conducive to strengthening as it approaches Florida , meteorologists said .
With competing scenarios , the hurricane centre is forecasting a middle range for Laura of a weak hurricane heading into the eastern Gulf of Mexico .
Officials in the Florida Keys , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the Gulf , declared a local state of emergency Friday and issued a mandatory evacuation order for anyone living on boats , in mobile homes and in campers .
Tourists staying in hotels should be aware of hazardous weather conditions and consider altering their plans starting on Sunday , Monroe County officials said in a news release .
Citing both storm systems , Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Friday night .
“ It is too soon to know exactly where , when or how these dual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the time for our people to prepare for these storms , ” Edwards said in a statement .
Meteorologists said Tropical Depression 14 has a better chance of surviving its early land encounter , then strengthening to a minimal hurricane over warm water , but the hurricane centre was forecasting it to weaken before it reaches the U.S. Gulf Coast because of decapitating high winds .
Associated Press reporter Freida Frisaro in Miami contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Kansas City police officer indicted on felony assault charge

LIBERTY , Mo .
- A Kansas City police sergeant has been indicted on a felony charge of third-degree assault after he allegedly kneed a 15-year-old boy on his neck and head and forced his head into the pavement while the teenager repeatedly said “ I can ’ t breathe , “ a Missouri prosecutor announced Friday .
The juvenile was handcuffed , kneeling and co-operating when Sgt .
Matthew Neal injured him in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in eastern Kansas City on Nov. 14 , 2019 , Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breathe ) have become very infamous words but those were his words back when this occurred , ” Baker said .
The phrase has been a rallying cry for protesters since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , who said he couldn ’ t breathe several times as an officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck .
The juvenile , whose name was not released , was treated at a hospital for broken teeth and a gash on his head .
“ This use of force , injuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — I think we can all agree this is not a provocative statement — just can ’ t be tolerated , ” Baker said .
“ We should all agree about that.
” Baker said police video captures part of the incident but not Neal ’ s handling of the juvenile .
But she said there was audio of the incident and eyewitnesses also provided information .
She said a second officer was involved and the investigation was continuing .
Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith said in a statement the department became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was filed with department ’ s internal affairs unit .
He said after reviewing the investigation , the information was sent to federal prosecutors , the FBI and Baker ’ s office .
Neal , an 18-year veteran of the department has been on administrative leave since the investigation and will remain on leave pending the outcome of the case .
“ All of us want justice , ” Smith said .
“ And we remain committed to the legal process going forward.
” Baker said she was disturbed that the incident occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made aware of it until late spring , and she credited a lawyer who represents the juvenile and his mother with being instrumental in moving the case forward .
“ Needless to say , learning of incidents like this more quickly increases the chance the we ’ ll find additional evidence , ” Baker said .
“ So it ’ s important , timing is important on these .
That kind of speaks for itself.
“ A grand jury affidavit said the incident began when an officer tried to stop the 15-year-old and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 7-Eleven because he suspected a robbery might occur .
The driver fled until the vehicle was stopped at the fast-food restaurant .
The driver and the teenager got out of the car , knelt down and had their hands above their head , Baker said .
When Neal arrived , the juvenile , who was unarmed , was on his stomach and did not struggle , the affidavit said .
Neal put his knee on the back of the teenager ’ s head and forced his face into the cement .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ juvenile , who repeatedly said he couldn ’ t breathe , according to the affidavit .
No charges were brought against the juvenile .
Neal has been served with a summons to appear in court on a date that has not been scheduled .

Margaret Stafford - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-21--Mexico’s famous floating gardens reopen after virus shutdown

MEXICO CITY - The famous “ floating gardens ” of Xochimilco reopened to visitors Friday after a five-month lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic .
The canals that run through man-made islands created by the Aztecs on what is now the south side of Mexico City provide a popular day trip for tourists , with flat-bottom boats plying the water and mariachis playing music .
Seeking to reassure people , the borough government cleaned and disinfected the flower-decked boats and docks , and enforced special hygiene rules , but there were few tourists or revelers for the reopening .
That contrasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like 2015 , when about 2 million people visited the floating gardens .
The tourism industry in Mexico accounts for 8.7 % of the country ’ s gross domestic product , and has been left gasping by the pandemic as both domestic and foreign tourists stay home .
Mexico City , which has nearly 90,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and about 10,000 deaths , is still on the second-highest form of alert .
Tourism has long been particularly important for Xochimilco , where borough officials have long struggled to defend the islands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encroaching development .
People build houses on the unstable islands , which were created by the Aztecs by laying down woven reed mats , covering them with dirt and planting trees or other plants to root the floating islands to the bottom of the shallow lake .
As he poled his boat , known as a “ trajinera , ” through the waterways with a long barge pole , one boatman noted ruefully that even once people feel reassured about Xochimilco health precautions , many Mexico City residents may no longer have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic ’ s economic blow .
The borough government sent squads of workers in protective suits through the boats , docks and surrounding markets early Friday to spray disinfectant .
Boat personnel are required to wear face masks and face shields , and to limit crowd size there is a ban on the traditional practice of tying up two boats so passengers can party in larger groups .
The boats can usually hold about 20 passengers in a pinch , but are now limited to 12 passengers .
The tradition is to order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eat , drink and listen to mariachi music .
The boats will be allowed to operate only between 9 a.m and 5 p.m .
In the market , only every other artisan stall can be open on a given day .
However , there may be a bright side to Xochimilco ’ s dilemma : With all bars and nightclubs in Mexico City closed due to the pandemic , the boats , floating gardens and nearby market may be one of the few places in the city of almost 9 million inhabitants where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home .
With so many people locked up at home for months , there are hopes that many city residents will want to go to Xochimilco and soak up the atmosphere — and a “ michelada , ” a local drink of beer , salt , sauce and lime .