thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Kentucky lawmaker arrested during protests in Taylor case

LOUISVILLE , Ky. - A Kentucky lawmaker who spent a night in jail after her arrest during protests demanding justice for Breonna Taylor said Friday that she ’ ll redouble her push for criminal justice reforms .
State Rep. Attica Scott was arrested and charged Thursday evening with first-degree rioting , a felony , and two misdemeanour counts : unlawful assembly and failure to disperse .
The Black lawmaker on Friday called the charges “ ludicrous “ and said those arrested were “ traumatized ” by Louisville police .
“ Right now I ’ m very disgusted and angry that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would levy these false charges against me ... and other folks , “ Scott told reporters .
While protesting again Friday night , Scott told a reporter her arrest was terrifying .
She was live-streaming at the time , and saying : “ They ’ re going to kill us , they want to kill us , ” and she believed that .
They marched through city streets peacefully Friday night , and as they neared an intersection it was jammed with police cars .
Suddenly officers in riot gear appeared , holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the crowd .
Few knew what was happening or what caused the police to suddenly intervene .
The terror of the night before came surging back for Scott .
Officers were lined up on either side of the block and it looked like demonstrators had nowhere to go .
In the end , the police let them pass peacefully and the crowd headed back to the square .
Last month , the Louisville Democrat unveiled legislation she dubbed “ Breonna ’ s Law “ that would ban no-knock search warrants in Kentucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Scott said Friday she ’ s more determined now to push it through when Kentucky ’ s Republican-controlled legislature reconvenes .
“ Justice was not served for Breonna or her family or her community this week , so we have to make sure that we are turning our protests into policy , ” she said .
Scott was with protesters seething that grand jury hearings into Taylor ’ s death led to no charges against police officers who killed the Black woman during a March drug raid at her apartment .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a neighbouring apartment , but no drugs were found in Taylor ’ s residence .
Scott said she and her daughter joined protesters gathered downtown Thursday evening , following them in a car as they started marching .
They were headed to a church that offered refuge to protesters , she said , but police blocked the route they were going to take so she said they parked and walked .
As they walked up the ramp of a library near the church , police converged to make arrests before a curfew took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swarmed us , “ Scott said .
“ They started yelling , ‘ Circle ‘ em , circle ‘ em.
’ They wouldn ’ t let us leave to go back to our vehicle .
And they wouldn ’ t let us literally cross the street to get to the church and sanctuary.
” While making the arrests , one officer accidentally discharged his pepper ball gun , and everyone dropped to the ground , she said .
Scott said she sat on a sidewalk for about an hour before being taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a holding cell for hours .
“ We were traumatized , “ she said .
“ We were shocked .
It was unbelievable.
” Scott was released Friday morning .
Her arraignment is set for Oct. 6 , the Courier Journal reported .
Police said Scott was in a group that was ordered to disperse but failed to do so .
Members of the group damaged multiple buildings , including setting fire to a library , police said .
Scott told reporters Friday that there ’ s “ no way that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage the library.
“ She said that as a lawmaker she champions funding for libraries .
Kentucky ’ s top-ranking House Democrat , Rep. Joni Jenkins , said in a statement that she ’ s known Scott for more than 20 years and that her colleague is “ incapable of any kind of violent act.
” “ What I do know , “ Jenkins said , “ is that she is doing everything in her power to help Louisville heal during these difficult times.
” Associated Press reporters Angie Wang and Claire Galofaro @ @ @ @ @

Bruce Schreiner And Piper Hudspeth Blackburn - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--California virus hospitalizations could surge in next month

SACRAMENTO , Calif. - California has begun to see concerning upticks in coronavirus data after a sustained period of decline , the state ’ s top health official said Friday , urging people to renew efforts to prevent spread .
The increases include the rate of cases per capita , hospital emergency department visits for COVID-19 and new hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected cases , California Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly said .
The trends appear to be attributable to gatherings and activities around the Labor Day holiday , Ghaly said .
Other factors could include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildfires that forced evacuations and millions to change their routines because of unhealthy air .
A troubling short-term forecast sees an 89 % increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations from the current 2,578 — the lowest figure since early April — to just under 5,000 by Oct. 25 , Ghaly said .
An added concern is the upcoming flu season .
Ghaly noted that the state was heading into another hot weekend , which could lead to more people congregating with others and providing more opportunities for transmission of the virus .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do what helped us get to a lower risk .
safer , lower transmission environment across our state , ” he said .
Ghaly urged people to wear face coverings , maintain physical distancing , avoid mixing with others , get a flu shot and to “ use good judgment.
” “ All of those tools that we have in our toolkit should be used this weekend and moving forward so we can really bring these upward trends back down , and even bring them further down , ” he said .
Ghaly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent review of potential COVID-19 vaccines , signalling its distrust of the Trump administration ’ s accelerated initiative .
The state state will assemble a review board of leading scientists to assess the safety and effectiveness of any vaccine candidate , he said .
“ We think it is an appropriate approach to take , especially because things are moving so quickly , ” he said .
“ We want to make sure — despite the urge and interest in having a useful vaccine — that we do it with the utmost safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , more of California was cleared to reopen additional businesses , including most of the San Francisco Bay Area .
The lifting of some restrictions in counties that have shown improvement comes as California tries for a second time to recover from the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on business .
An earlier effort to reopen more quickly backfired with a surge in cases and hospitalizations in late spring and early summer .
California has the most confirmed cases in the country with 801,000 , and the fourth-most deaths with 15,461 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University .
The statewide infection rate for the last week was 2.8 % , the lowest since the start of the pandemic , But it has started rising again in parts of the state .

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thetorontostar--2020-09-25--California braces for power shutoffs and warm, windy weekend

SAN FRANCISCO - Firefighters and officials at California ’ s largest utility company braced for hot , dry and windy weather in northern and central areas of the state this weekend that may fan the flames of several major wildfires or ignite new ones .
Pacific Gas & Electric warned Friday it may cut power from Sunday morning to Monday , potentially affecting 97,000 customers in 16 counties , during which forecasters said a ridge of high pressure will raise temperatures and generate gusts flowing from the interior to the coast .
PG & E initially warned that approximately 21,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning Saturday evening but expanded the potential shutoff when the forecast changed .
The utility is tracking the weather to determine if it would be necessary to shut off power to areas where gusts could damage the company ’ s equipment or hurl debris into lines that can ignite flammable vegetation .
When heavy winds were predicted earlier this month , PG & E cut power to about 167,000 homes and businesses in central and Northern California in a more targeted approach after being criticized last year for acting too broadly when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires .
PG & E equipment has sparked past large wildfires , including the 2018 fire that destroyed much of the Sierra foothills town of Paradise and killed 85 people .
Firefighters battling the state ’ s largest wildfire braced for the change in weather by constructing fuel breaks on Friday to keep the flames from reaching a marijuana-growing enclave where authorities said many of the locals have refused to evacuate and abandon their maturing crops .
The wildfire called the August Complex is nearing the small communities of Post Mountain and Trinity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kilometres ) northwest of Sacramento , the Los Angeles Times reported .
Law enforcement officers went door to door warning of the encroaching fire danger but could not force residents to evacuate , Trinity County Sheriff ’ s Department Deputy Nate Trujillo said .
“ It ’ s mainly growers , ” Trujillo said .
“ And a lot of them , they don ’ t want to leave because that is their livelihood.
” As many as 1,000 people remained in Post Mountain and Trinity Pines , authorities and local residents estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have linked bigger U.S. wildfires to global warming from the burning of coal , oil and gas , especially because climate change has made California much drier .
A drier California means plants are more flammable .
The U.S. Forest Service ’ s Pacific Southwest Region announced Friday that it is extending the closure of all nine national forests in California due to concerns including fire conditions and critical limitations on firefighting resources .
The threatened marijuana growing area is in the Emerald Triangle , a three-county corner of Northern California that by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest cannabis-producing region .
People familiar with Trinity Pines said the community has up to 40 legal farms , with more than 10 times that number in hidden , illegal growing areas .
Growers are wary of leaving the plants vulnerable to flames or thieves .
Each farm has crops worth half a million dollars or more and many are within days or weeks of harvest .
One estimate put the value of the area ’ s legal marijuana crop at about $ 20 million .
“ There ( are ) millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of marijuana out there , ” Trujillo said .
“ Some of those plants are 16 feet ( 5 metres ) tall , and they are all in the budding stages of growth right now.
” Gunfire in the region is common .
A recent night brought what locals dubbed the “ roll call ” of cannabis cultivators shooting rounds from pistols and automatic weapons as warnings to outsiders , said Post Mountain volunteer Fire Chief Astrid Dobo , who also manages legal cannabis farms .
Hundreds of migrant workers typically pour into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help trim and harvest the plants , but it ’ s uncertain whether that population dwindled due to the coronavirus pandemic , said Julia Rubinic , a member of the Trinity County Agriculture Alliance , which represents licensed cannabis growers .
Mike McMillan , spokesman for the federal incident command team managing the northern section of the August Complex , said fire officials plan to deliver a clear message that ” we are not going to die to save people .
That is not our job.
” “ We are going to knock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , ” McMillan said .
“ However , if they choose to stay and if the fire situation becomes , as we say , very dynamic and very dangerous … we are not going to risk our lives.
” A firefighter was killed and another was injured on Aug. 31 while working on the fire .
Diana Jones , a volunteer firefighter from Texas , was among 26 people who have died since more than two dozen major wildfires broke out across the state last month .
A memorial service was held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morton , 39 , a squad boss with the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Crew who died Sept. 17 while battling the El Dorado Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest east of Los Angeles .
“ I know that Charlie was a very skilled , in fact extraordinary , firefighter and a fire leader , ” U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen told the gathering at The Rock Church in San Bernardino .
“ He committed himself , often for weeks and months on end , to protecting lives , communities and natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fellow Americans.
” The Butte County Sheriff ’ s Office on Friday released the identity of another of the 15 people killed in a rampaging forest fire earlier this month .
The remains of Linda Longenbach , 71 , of Berry Creek , were found on Sept. 10 in a roadway about 10 feet from an ATV , close to the body of a man previously identified as Paul Winer , 68 .
A relative told investigators the victims were aware of the fire and chose not to evacuate .
Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Woman accused in QAnon kidnapping plot pleads not guilty

DENVER - A Colorado woman accused of plotting with supporters of QAnon to have her son kidnapped from foster care pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping on Friday .
Cynthia Abcug ’ s lawyer , Ara Ohanian , entered the plea during an online court hearing .
Abcug , who has been released from jail , appeared by video too but did not speak during the short hearing .
Judge Patricia Herron denied Ohanian ’ s request to have Abcug ’ s GPS monitor removed or to change an order that prevents her from having contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son was removed by social workers from their home in Parker in suburban Denver in January 2019 after Abcug was suspected of lying about his health problems .
She lost custody of her daughter last fall after the then 15-year-old told her therapist that her mother was working with QAnon supporters to kidnap her brother .
Her comments led police to open their investigation .
Christina Brigham , a lawyer who represents Abcug ’ s children in separate court proceedings over who should have custody of them , told Herron that Abcug is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gain the ability to visit her children .
However , she said the GPS monitor was an important part of maintaining the children ’ s placements because of “ worry and concern.
“ She did not elaborate .
QAnon is a wide-ranging conspiracy fiction spread largely through the internet , centred on the baseless belief that President Donald Trump is waging a secret campaign against enemies in the “ deep state ” and a child sex trafficking ring run by satanic pedophiles and cannibals .
It is based on cryptic postings by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government insider .
Prosecutors have not laid out what Abcug ’ s role was in the alleged scheme .
The vast majority of the evidence presented against her so far has come from her daughter , who admitted to learning to “ tune out ” her mother and was unable to provide many details about the plot .
She told police that her brother ’ s foster family had been portrayed as “ evil Satan worshippers ” and “ pedophiles.
” She also said two men came to their house to provide security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Abcug is scheduled to go on trial Feb. 8 , 2021 .
This story has been corrected to change the crime Abcug is charged with to conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--At UN, Pakistani leader says India sponsors anti-Muslim hate

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday assailed India ’ s Hindu nationalist government and its moves to cement control of Muslim-majority Kashmir , calling India a state sponsor of hatred and prejudice against Islam .
Khan said at the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders that Islamophobia rules India and threatens the nearly 200 million Muslims who live there .
“ They believe that India is exclusive to Hindus and others are not equal citizens , ” he said in a prerecorded speech to the U.N. General Assembly , which is being held virtually amid the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s remarks “ a new low ” in diplomacy .
“ We saw lies , misinformation , warmongering and malice spread through this assembly , ” Mijito Vinito , a diplomat with India ’ s U.N. mission , said as the two countries traded barbed rebuttals in the assembly hall Friday night .
Such exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have been common at recent U.N. General Assembly meetings .
Khan has frequently criticized the August 2019 decision by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strip Jammu and Kashmir ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and remove inherited protections on land and jobs .
India ’ s action and a security clampdown that followed have sparked protests .
U.N.-appointed independent experts have called on India to take urgent action .
Residents of the heavily militarized Indian-controlled region of Kashmir say security forces have arrested thousands of young men , raided people ’ s homes , inflicted beatings and electric shocks , and threatened to take away and marry their female relatives .
Thousands of protesters over the past year have been wounded by shotgun pellets , including hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For seven months , until March , the area was under a communications blackout , with social media and internet access banned .
“ The international community must investigate these grave violations and prosecute the Indian civil and military personnel involved in state terrorism and serious crimes against humanity , ” Khan said .
Vinito retorted later : “ The leader of Pakistan today called for those who incite hate and violence to be outlawed .
But , as he went on , we were left wondering , was he referring to himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ split between India and Pakistan , which have fought two wars over the territory .
India accuses Pakistan of arming and training insurgents fighting for Kashmir ’ s independence from India .
Pakistan denies the charge and says it offers only diplomatic and moral support to the rebels .
Khan , as he did in his speech before the world body last year , also condemned the targeting of Muslims in many countries .
He noted provocations and incitement , such as the Qur ’ an being burned or offensive depictions of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the name of free speech.
” Despite Khan ’ s outcry at the treatment of Muslims worldwide , Pakistan has not criticized China ’ s assault on its Muslim minority Uighur population .
China has been accused of incarcerating tens of thousands of Uighurs in so-called reeducation camps aimed at indoctrinating them in China ’ s communist ideology and away from their Islamic beliefs .
Pakistan ’ s silence , like that of other influential Muslim nations , is linked to its economic ties to China .
Pakistan is heavily indebted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long history of military co-operation .
China has provided Pakistan with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads .
Khan also used his speech to call for debt relief for poor nations amid the pandemic .
He said COVID-19 illustrated that “ no one is safe unless everyone is safe.
” He said lockdown measures by richer countries have triggered a global recession that has hit poor countries the hardest .
He touted his government ’ s decision not to impose a wide-scale lockdown , which he said would have led to more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ However , we are still not out of the woods , like no country is out of the woods today , ” Khan said .
Pakistan , with a population of about 220 million , has recorded 6,444 COVID-19 deaths from around 309,000 infections since February .
Khan said a push by the Group of 20 leading rich and developing countries to suspend debt repayment of poorer nations and rapid finance efforts by the International Monetary Fund are not enough .
He called for the creation of at least $ 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing nations .
Modi is scheduled to address the General Assembly in prerecorded remarks tomorrow .
Batrawy reported from Dubai , United Arab Emirates .
Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed from New York .

Munir Ahmed And Aya Batrawy - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--NYPD should stop making traffic stops, attorney general says

New York ’ s attorney general on Friday recommended the New York Police Department get out of the business of routine traffic enforcement , a radical change she said would prevent encounters like one last year in the Bronx that escalated quickly and ended with an officer fatally shooting a motorist .
Attorney General Letitia James , who acts as a special prosecutor appointed to investigate certain police killings , argued that traffic stops for minor infractions often end in violence and that Allan Feliz ’ s death last October after he was pulled over for a seat belt violation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change.
” James ’ office concluded that the NYPD ’ s use of deadly force was justified but that the sequence of events leading to Feliz ’ s death would never have happened if police hadn ’ t stopped him in the first place .
Police further heightened tensions by attempting to arrest Feliz on outstanding warrants for low-level offences such as spitting , littering and disorderly conduct , James ’ office said .
Feliz initially complied when an officer asked him to get out of his car , but then jumped back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ office said in a report on his death that included the recommendation about police yielding traffic stop duties .
Sgt .
Jonathan Rivera then fired a stun gun at Feliz and climbed into the car , warning , “ Yo , boss , I am going to ( expletive ) shoot you , ” as Feliz shifted the vehicle into gear and began moving .
Rivera shot Feliz once in the chest , killing him .
James ’ office concluded Rivera was justified in shooting Feliz in part because he feared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer standing nearby , the report said .
“ The officer ’ s alleged justification is a fairy tale , ” said Robert Vilensky , a lawyer for the Feliz family , which is suing the NYPD .
“ The car which they say was moving was at best moving 2 mph .
That wouldn ’ t knock over a fly .
“ The justification is a made-up story to rationalize killing an unmarked civilian , ” he said .
The NYPD has a separate unit of personnel who are not officers but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — but who also have limited interaction with the public .
James ’ recommendation is aimed at officers who stop people for things like speeding , seat belt infractions and other issues .
If police officers are to remain involved in traffic enforcement , James ’ office said , the police department should drop a policy that encourages officers to arrest any motorist who is found to have an open warrant .
Instead , the report said , drivers with open warrants should be arrested only with a supervisor ’ s approval if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were a danger to the community .
“ It is highly unlikely that the incident involving Mr. Feliz ... would have escalated in the manner it did in the absence of this automatic arrest policy , “ James ’ office wrote .


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Probe into ‘discarded’ ballots becomes campaign outrage fuel

HARRISBURG , Pa. - The news release from a U.S. attorney in Pennsylvania was provocative : Nine mailed-in military ballots had been “ discarded ” by the local election office in a swing county of one of the most important presidential battleground states .
All of them were marked for President Donald Trump , it said .
Then came another news release with key details changed — the presidential choice was unknown on two of the ballots because they had been resealed — but still little explanation of what had happened and whether investigators believed a criminal act had occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House press secretary told reporters “ ballots for the president ” had been “ cast aside.
” The Trump campaign ’ s rapid response arm pushed out the release from Trump ’ s own Justice Department under the headline “ Democrats are trying to steal the election ” — ignoring the fact that the local government , Luzerne County , is controlled by Republicans .
Conservative voices used the news release as rocket fuel to amplify the investigation on social media .
Thursday ’ s kerfuffle and accompanying internet outrage over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what ’ s to come in the month left before the presidential election , which is being held amid a global pandemic that has triggered a wave of absentee ballot requests as Trump continues to launch unsubstantiated attacks on mail voting .
It was Trump , after being briefed on the case by Attorney General William Barr , who first revealed publicly that the discarded ballots had been cast for him .
He did so in an interview earlier Thursday with Fox News Radio in which he used the investigation to further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio interview was hours before the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Pennsylvania issued its news release about the probe to reporters .
“ If past is prologue , we will see more , ” said Wendy Weiser , an elections expert and director of the democracy program at the Brennan Center for Justice .
“ We are in an unprecedented situation where a sitting president of the United States and a candidate for reelection is and has long been actively seeking to undermine the election and discredit it.
” Weiser said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about any voting issues that arise , which happen every election cycle .
For instance , officials with the U.S .
Postal Service said this week they are investigating a report that an unknown number of ballots were among other mail found in a ditch near a highway intersection in Wisconsin , another presidential battleground state .
Officials have so far released little information in that case , including whether the ballots were blank and on their way to voters or if they had been completed and were being returned to the local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of information in these cases opens the door to speculation and conspiracy theories .
By Friday , more details had emerged in the Pennsylvania case .
Federal officials were considering whether a recently hired , temporary election worker may have mishandled the ballots .
Aside from the unknowns about the investigation itself , questions persist over how the Justice Department handled the matter .
The first word of a federal investigation into unspecified “ issues with a small number of mail-in ballots ” came in a statement Tuesday by the local district attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mention of Trump , and there was little attention to the case beyond local news reports .
That all changed when the office of U.S. Attorney Dave Freed issued Thursday ’ s statement , an unusual step given U.S. Department of Justice guidance to refrain generally from commenting on any investigation — especially one involving an election in which voters already are casting ballots .
In addition , the mention of which presidential candidate the ballots favoured raised concerns among election law experts and voter advocacy groups ( ballots include races for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just the race for president ) .
The U.S. attorney ’ s office in Pennsylvania notified senior officials at Justice Department headquarters earlier this week about a small number of ballots that were found to be discarded , a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press .
Barr told Trump that the Justice Department was going to look into the matter before the department publicly confirmed the investigation , the person said .
The U.S. attorney ’ s office had received inquiries from local reporters about the ballots , the person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which included specific details about the ballots — after Trump revealed the existence of the investigation in the interview with Fox News Radio .
The person could not discuss the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity .
The Justice Department is permitted to advise the White House of pending investigations or cases , but according to a memo dictating the scope of such contacts , that notification is to be made “ when — but only when — it is important for the performance of the President ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement perspective.
” The memo acknowledges that such communication may be more regular when it comes to matters of national security , such as a terrorist attack .
“ This is clear politicization of the Justice Department ’ s work in the middle of an active general election , ” said Kristen Clarke , executive director of the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law .
“ It seemed like a thinly veiled attempt to breathe life into President Trump ’ s false claims about mail ballot fraud.
” The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discarded ballots quickly skyrocketed , receiving nearly 900,000 interactions — likes or comments — in less than 24 hours , according to Facebook ’ s CrowdTangle , which tracks public posts .
Many of the most popular posts about the discarded ballots were made by the Trump campaign , pro-Trump accounts or conservative news outlets and used to support the doubts Trump has cast on the mail-in voting process .
Notably , the ballots involved were from military personnel , who are sent their ballots earlier than other voters in every election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in a letter sent late Thursday to the local elections office that the FBI had recovered nine military ballots from a trash bin .
Seven of them were completed ballots without the envelopes voters had mailed them in , and all were cast for Trump .
The two other ballots had already been put back into envelopes by unnamed elections workers , Freed said .
Four other empty absentee ballot envelopes also were recovered .
Freed said Pennsylvania law prohibits elections offices from opening mail-in ballots before Election Day .
Investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and absentee request envelopes were so similar that election workers “ believed that adhering to the protocol of preserving envelopes unopened ” would result in them missing ballot applications , so they opened them .
It still wasn ’ t clear , however , how or why they ended up in the trash .
A statement by the county manager on Friday characterized it as “ an error “ discovered by a public servant and reported to law enforcement .
When asked why he disclosed information about which presidential candidate the voters supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AP that the ballot information was factual and it was “ vital that voters who have sent in military ballots are informed of the possibility that their ballot was opened and discarded.
” J.J. Abbott , executive director of Commonwealth Communications , a liberal advocacy group , said he was concerned that Freed provided information about the Trump ballots without much context about what had occurred .
“ I just think , given how highly charged the rhetoric , particularly from the president , has been about mail-in voting , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detail provided , ” Abbott said .
Cassidy reported from Atlanta .
Associated Press writers Mike Balsamo and Eric Tucker in Washington ; Scott Bauer in Madison , Wis. ; Anthony Izaguirre in Lindenhurst , New York ; and Amanda Seitz in Chicago contributed to this report .
AP ’ s Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early , by mail or absentee from each state : https : //interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/

Christina A. Cassidy And Mark Scolforo - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Judges: Alaska Native corporations ineligible for aid funds

JUNEAU , Alaska - Alaska Native corporations are not eligible to receive a share of the $ 8 billion in federal coronavirus relief funding set aside for tribes , a federal appeals court panel ruled Friday in overturning a lower-court decision .
The three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit found an Alaska Native corporation can not qualify as an Indian tribe under the federal Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act unless it has been “ recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been recognized as such , according to the ruling .
The decision parses the language from the 1975 law and delves into what it says have been shifting positions on the “ political status ” of Alaska Natives by the federal government since the Alaska Purchase of 1867 .
The federal coronavirus aid package , passed earlier this year , references the 1975 law to define an Indian tribe .
The decades-old law defines the term as “ any Indian tribe , band , nation , or other organized group or community , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ... , which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians , “ according to the ruling .
Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson said she agreed with her colleagues on Friday ’ s ruling but believed the decision was “ an unfortunate and unintended consequence of high-stakes , time-sensitive legislative drafting , ” referring to the speed with which the coronavirus relief package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is “ indisputable ” that services Alaska Native corporations provide their communities “ have been made only more vital due to the pandemic , ” adding she could think of no reason that Congress would exclude them from receiving and spending aid dollars .
Congress may have believed the definition it used included Alaska Native corporations but it did not , she said , leading to a “ harsh result.
” Riyaz Kanji , an attorney for some of the tribal plaintiffs , by email said his clients appreciated the court ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statutory and historical factors making it clear that Alaska Native Corporations are not Indian Tribes , a term restricted to sovereign Tribes enjoying a government-to-government relationship with the United States.
” It was not immediately clear if the decision would be appealed .
After-hour messages were left for the U.S. Justice Department .
In a joint statement , Alaska U.S. Sens .
Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young said they disagree with Friday ’ s ruling .
“ It is unconscionable that COVID-19 aid would be withheld from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the unique tribal system that exists in Alaska , ” they said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--US Rep. Craig asks supporters to vote despite snag in race

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota congresswoman whose race has been roiled by the death of a third-party candidate urged supporters Friday to vote for her and the rest of the Democratic ticket on the November ballot , even though votes in her race won ’ t count under current circumstances .
In a statement , Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig urged voters to mark their ballots in her race anyway .
Minnesota began early voting and started mailing absentee ballots Sept. 18 .
Craig is running for reelection against Republican challenger Tyler Kistner in a district that includes suburban and rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Also on the ballot is Adam Charles Weeks , of the Legal Marijuana Now Party , whose death this week triggered a provision in Minnesota law that postpones the contest until a special election in February .
“ At this stage , there are still many outstanding questions , “ Craig said .
” You should continue to vote for the entire ballot , including for this congressional race .
I can assure you that I am working tirelessly to get these answers as quickly as possible.
” Secretary of State Steve Simon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special election if a major-party nominee dies within 79 days of Election Day .
Legal Marijuana Now has major-party status in Minnesota .
Simon said the special election would be Feb. 9 .
The seat would become temporarily vacant when Craig ’ s term ends .
Craig hinted that a legal challenge to the special election may be getting planned .
David Schultz , an election law expert at Hamline University and the University of Minnesota , said the strongest argument for challenging the need for a special election may be that federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the first Tuesday of November .
Someone could argue that the state law violates that federal law , he said .
The question would then become whether the federal court would agree , or say a state is able to set its procedures for handling the death of a candidate , he said .
Kister issued a statement saying he had directed his campaign to suspend all advertising out of respect for Weeks ’ family and friends .
The statement did not indicate whether he might be contemplating a challenge .
Campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state was “ very clear ” about the law , and they didn ’ t want to discuss hypotheticals .
Minnesota law was changed in 2013 to avoid a repeat of the state ’ s frenetic U.S. Senate election in 2002 , when incumbent Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash less than two weeks before the election .
Democrats replaced him with former Vice-President Walter Mondale , who lost to Republican Norm Coleman .


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Under virus strain, Europe’s leaders plead at UN for unity

PARIS - Struggling to contain resurgent virus infections , European leaders decried a collective failure to vanquish the pandemic and told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday that the time has come for countries to reinvent international co-operation .
This year ’ s unusual work-from-home General Assembly — with leaders communicating only in prerecorded speeches — comes as COVID-19 cases escalate in many regions but especially in Europe , where some of the world ’ s most advanced hospitals in some of the world ’ s richest countries are again under strain .
“ This emergency has , more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us suddenly realize that we are part of one single world , ” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez .
The pandemic “ has also revealed the fragility of countries that thought they were strong .
It has thrown us all into the same sudden battle , against the same common enemy , ” EU Council President Charles Michel said .
And it has exposed weaknesses within the European Union , which like the U.N. was founded on the ashes of World War II to avert new conflict and encourage co-operation — co-operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The EU has fought internally about access to equipment and vaccines , erected barriers among neighbours to keep out virus infections , and struggled to agree on collective solutions to fight COVID .
Italy ’ s prime minister , whose country became a global symbol of the crisis as the first in the West to face a vast wave of infections , said the pandemic should offer world governments “ the opportunity for collective renewal.
” “ This tragedy has changed us , but has also offered us the opportunity for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to seize , “ Giuseppe Conte said .
Worldwide , the confirmed COVID-19 death toll is nearing 1 million , though experts believe the real toll is likely higher .
In times of global crisis , Europe ’ s rich governments are often looked to for financial and material aid for poorer ones .
But this time , they ’ re preoccupied with troubles of their own .
As infections tick up , EU countries are again imposing quarantines on visitors from neighbouring nations .
Britain and Spain are imposing local lockdowns , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and COVID intensive care units in the Mediterranean city of Marseille are reaching saturation .
Meanwhile the pandemic has wrecked livelihoods and darkened the world ’ s economic outlook , and damaged the whole concept of multilateralism that European leaders have long embraced .
“ In every corner of the world today , there is a young man , a young woman , looking at their cellphone screen .
In the most secluded streets of Naples , in a fish market in Instanbul , in the Zócalo in Mexico City , in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India .
These young people have seen their fathers , their mothers , work ceaselessly , ” Sanchez said .
“ And maybe these young people wonder why their fathers , their mothers , work ceaselessly if nothing changes around them.
” “ Exactly when did we decide that the expression ‘ to change the world ’ had lost all sense and meaning ?
I wonder if any of those millions of young people are watching us right now , on their mobile phones .
I wonder what they ’ re thinking of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lamented the extra toll the virus has taken on women , “ who have taken on the greatest burden of care and attention.
” Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said it ’ s time for Europe to “ redefine its role in the world , “ and took aim at the World Health Organization ’ s management of the virus .
Other leaders called for boosting the WHO ’ s powers and its funding .
Greece ’ s prime minister appealed for more international help for its migrant crisis after feeling abandoned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to refugees washing up on Greek shores .
And EU Council President Charles Michel used the virtual U.N. pulpit to lash out at Britain for its threats to renege on parts of the Brexit treaty it signed with the EU .
Such treaties are seen as a cornerstone of the international system that the U.N. represents , and Britain ’ s threats are seen as a further unraveling of that structure in a time of growing nationalism worldwide .
In his speech Saturday , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will call for countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to stop slapping export controls on essential goods to help prevent future pandemics , his office said .
The prime minister ’ s 10 Downing Street office said Johnson , who in the spring was hospitalized with COVID-19 , plans to tell world leaders that nine months into the pandemic “ the very notion of the international community looks tattered.
“ Pope Francis said the world has a choice to make as it tries to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis and address the grave economic impact it has had on the planet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and multilateralism , or a self-retreat into greater “ individualism and elitism.
” Echoing many speakers at this week ’ s virtual gathering , the Dutch leader said the pandemic should be a wake-up call for the world and the U.N. itself .
“ If we ’ re truly going to defeat this virus we ’ ll have to do even more to enhance international co-operation , ” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said .
“ We can ’ t tackle today ’ s challenges with yesterday ’ s structures.
” Other leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention to conflicts from Kashmir to the Mideast to Georgia in the Caucasus .
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday called for an international conference next year to launch a “ genuine peace process ” for his region .
Raf Casert in Brussels , Nicole Winfield in Rome , Barry Hatton in Lisbon , Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem and Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed to this report .
Longtime Associated Press international correspondent Angela Charlton is the AP ’ s Paris bureau chief .
Follow her on Twitter at http : //twitter.com/acharlton


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Japan’s new prime minister vows to host Olympics next year

TOKYO - Japan ’ s new prime minister said Saturday that he ’ s determined to host the Tokyo Olympic Games next summer as “ proof that humanity has defeated the pandemic.
” The 2020 Games were postponed as the coronavirus spread worldwide , and there ’ s been widespread doubt about their future .
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in a prerecorded speech at the U.N. General Assembly that he will “ spare no effort in order to welcome you to Games that are safe and secure.
” Surveys have shown that a majority of Japanese companies and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will , or should , happen next year .
A poll published in June by Japanese broadcaster NHK said two-thirds of sponsors were undecided about extending for another year .
Keeping domestic sponsors on board is financially critical , and Japanese leaders have been eager to signal the Games ’ viability next year .
Recruited by Japanese advertising agency Dentsu Inc. , domestic sponsors have paid a record $ 3.3 billion — at least twice any previous Olympics — to the local organizing committee .
That ’ s on top of a dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term with the International Olympic Committee .
Some also have individual contracts with Tokyo organizers .
Japanese organizers are saying little , however , about how 15,400 Olympic and Paralympic athletes , staff and officials will be safe with no vaccine or treatment for the virus yet available .


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Feds: Relax protections for woodpecker endangered since 1970

The red-cockaded woodpecker , a bird declared endangered in 1970 and surviving today in 11 states ’ scattered longleaf pine forests , has recovered enough to relax its federal protection , officials said Friday .
But not all wildlife advocates agree .
“ The red-cockaded woodpecker has flourished to the point that today we can propose to downlist them from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act , ” Aurelia Skipwith , director of the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service , said during a news conference Friday with Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the non-profit Defenders of Wildlife , said nothing released to the public so far justifies the change announced Friday at Fort Benning , Georgia , one of 13 military installations working to conserve the cardinal-sized bird .
“ We ’ re still short of recovery goals and certainly have not seen threats be abated , ” he said .
Noah Greenwald , endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity , called the bird ’ s recovery “ a tremendous victory for the Endangered Species Act ” and not the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former lobbyist for the oil and gas industry and other special interests , has been an absolute disaster for endangered species , ” Greenwald said in a news release .
Although the Fish and Wildlife Service told landowners in April there was a chance of entirely dropping all protection for the woodpeckers , it didn ’ t do that .
Still , it is also requesting comment on future “ de-listing , ” according to the news release .
The bird ’ s recovery from the brink of extinction is a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need continued protection , said Jeff Walters of Virginia Tech , co-author of a “ species status report ” about the woodpeckers .
He said their survival if the proposal is approved will depend on rules still to be written .
The Trump administration changed Endangered Species Act rules to end automatic continued protection when a species is moved from endangered to threatened , he noted .
Now a threatened species is only protected if special rules are written to describe such requirements .
“ That allows us to carefully craft and carefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our energy and resources and time we feel best to further the recovery of this one species , ” Bernhardt said .
He did not go into detail .
The news release said the government is proposing a rule to protect current habitat , forbidding damage to trees with woodpecker holes , harassment of the birds during breeding season and the use of insecticides near clusters .
The species status assessment will be published with the proposal in the Federal Register , triggering a 60-day period for public comment , the federal news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a monthslong push by President Donald Trump ’ s Cabinet chiefs into states where Democrat Joe Biden is making a strong play in the presidential race .
Trump won Georgia by 5.1 percentage points in 2016 , but some polls suggest a closer race this time , and it ’ s among several states where Biden is upping his campaign spending .
Once found from New Jersey to Florida , west to Texas and north to Missouri , Kentucky and Tennessee , red-cockaded woodpeckers now live only in coastal states from southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Arkansas and Oklahoma .
The federal government spent $ 408 million on red-cockaded woodpeckers from 1998 to 2016 , making the species one of the most expensive on the endangered list .
It is the only North American woodpecker that carves living quarters inside live trees , which takes years .
And because the longleaf pines it favours were logged out and replaced with faster-growing pines , the birds ’ range nearly disappeared as the forests shrank from 90 million acres to about 3 million ( 36.4 million hectares to 1.2 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let other trees grow too close for the birds ’ comfort .
By the late 1970s , there were only 1,470 clusters -- breeding pairs and young males which live nearby and help their parents care for nestlings .
Fish and Wildlife experts now estimate there are nearly 7,800 clusters .
Scientists credit the recovery largely to two programs developed after 1989 ’ s Hurricane Hugo hit South Carolina and destroyed 87 per cent of the woodpeckers ’ trees in what was then their second-largest colony .
One program installs prefabricated woodpecker houses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cavities for the birds .
Another moves young woodpeckers into areas where only a few adults live .
The government also credited safe harbour agreements , in which landowners can manage their land with minimal federal oversight if they agree to help a protected animal on it .
Other programs have added more than 1.3 million acres ( 526,000 hectares ) of new longleaf pine stands in the past 10 years , the news release said .
The total is now 4.7 million acres ( 1.9 million hectares ) , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands won ’ t help the birds for decades , Walters said .
“ The trees have to be 60 years old before they ’ re good to forage on and 100 years to be good for cavities , “ he said .
McConnaughey reported from New Orleans .
Ellen Knickmeyer contributed from Oklahoma City .

Janet McConnaughey - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Police: Officer suspended for handling of a traffic stop

CHARLOTTE , N.C. - A police officer in North Carolina has been suspended for his handling of a traffic stop last year in which officers drew their weapons , broke car windows and that resulted in the driver of the vehicle suffering a broken elbow .
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said in a news release Thursday that a review board in April determined that the arresting officer ’ s actions were consistent with department training and policy , but that his management of the encounter violated department policy .
The unidentified officer received an 80-hour unpaid suspension , is ineligible for promotion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been reassigned from his specialty unit , according to police .
On Dec. 5 , 2019 , officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department stopped a car near the Charlotte Douglas International Airport for what police believed was a fictitious license plate .
Three officers with their weapons drawn approached the car after the motorist initially didn ’ t stop for the blue light and siren .
A video released by the police department of the encounter shows officers repeatedly yelling at the driver to open the car door and threatening to break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screaming at them .
Ultimately , two of the officers used their batons to break the windows after the driver refused to lower them .
According to the police statement , the driver resisted arrest , leading the officer to use physical force .
As the occupants of the car were taken out , one man was heard yelling , “ What have I done ?
” Later in the video , a man who was being handcuffed was shown shouting in pain , and saying , “ The handcuffs hurt !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black , was placed in the back of a police vehicle and taken to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff ’ s Office , where charges were filed , police said .
Once he was released , Caldwell drove himself to the hospital to have his arm pain examined .
According to police , he suffered a fractured elbow , The Charlotte Observer reported .
Caldwell ultimately filed a complaint against the arresting officer , and the CMPD launched an internal investigation .
The review also determined two other officers violated department policy .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s door on Caldwell ’ s foot and then failed to report the incident to a supervisor .
WBTV reported that the officer received a 24-hour unpaid suspension and also reported that a sergeant on the scene , who police said violated the department ’ s Rules of Conduct , was issued a written reprimand for not speaking with Caldwell when he asked to speak with a supervisor .
The incident comes amid months of protests nationwide against the treatment of African Americans by police and accusations of systematic brutality .


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Las Vegas Review-Journal wins NPA’s general excellence award

CARSON CITY , Nev. - The Nevada Press Association released its complete list of 2020 award winners on Thursday and the Las Vegas Review-Journal won the General Excellence Award in the urban category .
Review-Journal reporter Arthur Kane won outstanding journalist and photographer L.E .
Baskow won visual journalist of the year .
Yasmina Chavez of the Las Vegas Sun was honoured for photo of the year and Michael Ramirez of the Review-Journal for the best editorial cartoon .
John Kerr of the Review-Journal won the award for the best editorial , which argued that city fire officials had ignored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Alpine Motel Apartments that killed six and injured 13 .
Michael Scott Davidson , Lauren Flannery and Rachel Aston of the Review-Journal were awarded story of the year for a series on evictions and the state policies governing them .
The Reno Gazette-Journal ’ s Anjeanette Damon won podcast of the year for her work on The City Season 2 , which documented fights over a downtown strip club against a larger backdrop of urban transformation as tech titans expand their presence in Reno .
Awards in major categories were announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at an in-person ceremony due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Entries were judged by a panel of members of the Utah Press Association .
The press association inducted five new members into its Hall of Fame , including reporter-editor Dennis Myers , former Review-Journal editor Don Diglio , editor Thomas Mitchell , Reno reporter-columnist Cory Farley and Nellie Mighels Davis , the first woman to cover the state Legislature in 1877 .
The Review Journal ’ s Rico Lacanlale was named “ Journalist of Merit.
” The Nevada Current ’ s Jeniffer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for feature writing and business feature , respectively .
The other general excellence awards went to Edible Reno-Tahoe for magazines and the Elko Daily Free Press for rural publications .
A full list of winners will be available at the Nevada Press Association website : https : //nevadapress.com/


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--UAE: Iran’s aggressive policies made Arabs look at Israel

TANZANIA , Tanzania - The United Arab Emirates didn ’ t need peace with Israel to counter Iran , a top UAE official said Friday , but he said Iran ’ s aggressive policies over three decades alarmed many Arab countries and made them look at their relationship with Israel “ with fresh eyes.
” Anwar Gargash , the UAE ’ s minister of state for foreign affairs , acknowledged at a virtual briefing on the sidelines of the equally virtual U.N. General Assembly ’ s annual meeting of world leaders that this may not have been Iran ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact in the region , he said , though he wouldn ’ t speculate on whether other Arab countries would follow the UAE and Bahrain in establishing relations with Israel .
“ The only thing I want to say is the more strategic the Israelis look at these relationships , the more doors will open to them , ” Gargash said .
“ If they look at it very ` transactionally ’ , I think that it is not going to send a very good omen for normalizing relations with many of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s message to Israel is to “ look at these opportunities and build strategically , and think long term rather than short term ” — and prove wrong the countries who say that because of the Israeli political system its decision-makers think only tactically .
A month after the U.S.-brokered diplomatic agreement with Israel signed at the White House , Gargash said the two countries are negotiating “ what I would call normal bilateral relations.
” He said the UAE has sent several agreements to the Israelis on protecting investments , double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re waiting for them to come back to us , because it is essential for a relationship to be built on these solid bases , ” Gargash said .
Looking back at the UAE ’ s decision to normalize relations with Israel , Gargash said the government decided it was strategically good for the country , “ and will make the UAE more of a global presence.
“ The government also predicted the reaction “ very accurately ” — enthusiasm in Europe , bipartisan support in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many other countries in Africa and Asia , he said .
But the Arab world and the region remain polarized , Gargash said , though “ I would like to say we haven ’ t lost a single friend.
” The UAE minister called the Iranian reaction “ very alarming.
“ And he called Turkey ’ s opposition to the agreement “ pure hypocrisy , ” accusing Ankara of “ trying to take advantage of the Palestinian plight for narrow regional considerations.
” He noted that 550,000 Israelis visited Turkey last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in trade annually , and that Turkey has had an embassy in Israel for decades .
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas criticized the UAE and Bahrain for establishing diplomatic ties with Israel in his prerecorded speech to the General Assembly later Friday and called for an international conference early next year to launch a “ genuine peace process.
” The UAE expected Palestinian opposition , Gargash said , adding that he thinks they ’ re “ sulking ” right now .
He said the UAE still supports the two-state solution and an end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’ s government politically .
“ But we need to open channels of communications because the Arab experience of having no communication with Israel has not really yielded any results , ” Gargash said .
Gargash said he believes the actions of the two Gulf nations “ bring a new dynamism ” to the Israeli-Palestinian situation .
“ The Palestinians right now are angry , but I think they will see the benefit in the medium term , “ he said , .
Edith M. Lederer , chief U.N. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been covering world affairs for nearly a half-century .
Follow her on Twitter at http : //twitter.com/EdithLedererAP


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Stocks post solid gains as technology shares lead rally

Stocks shook off another bout of volatile trading and finished solidly higher Friday , led by gains in technology and health care companies .
Despite the rally , the S & P 500 still posted its fourth straight weekly loss , extending Wall Street ’ s September swoon .
The S & P 500 rose 1.6 % after flip-flopping between small gains and losses a few times in the early going .
Stocks have been erratic this month , with indexes setting new highs to start the month and then falling sharply as investors worried that values for some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The benchmark index ended the week with a 0.6 % loss for its first four-week losing streak in more than a year .
The index is now down 5.8 % for September , following five straight months of gains .
The S & P 500 came within striking distance of a 10 % drop from its all-time high earlier this week , what Wall Street calls a correction .
Friday ’ s gains reflect , in part , traders taking advantage of the selling to snap up stocks at lower prices , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J.P. Morgan Private Bank .
“ You ’ re getting a market that got close to a 10 % correction , so you ’ re starting to see buyers step in to buy the dip , ” Lyon said .
Fund managers also tend to make moves toward the end of a quarter to bolster their portfolios , another reason for the end-of-the-week buying spree , he said .
The S & P 500 rose 51.87 points to 3,298.46 .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 358.52 points , or 1.3 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 241.30 points , or 2.3 % , to 10,913.56 .
Smaller stocks also notched gains .
The Russell 2000 index of small-cap stocks picked up 23.09 points , or 1.6 % , to 1,474.91 .
Stocks have struggled this month amid a long list of concerns .
Chief among them is that stocks may have gotten too expensive following their record-breaking run through the summer , after storming 60 % higher .
Critics say Big Tech stocks in particular rose too high , even after accounting for their tremendous growth even as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , and the month of September , is really what we ’ re calling the give-back month , ” Lyon said .
” ( Stock ) valuations got expensive and this is a natural settling of the market , kind of giving back some of those advance returns that were probably ahead of themselves.
” Big Tech stocks recovered from an early slide .
Apple gained 3.8 % , Microsoft rose 2.3 % and Google ’ s parent company added 1.1 % .
Traders also bid up shares in cruise lines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the S & P 500 , vaulting 13.7 % .
Carnival jumped 9.7 % and Royal Caribbean Group climbed 7.7 % .
Recently , investors ’ frustration has also grown with the inability of Congress to deliver more aid to the economy after weekly unemployment benefits and other stimulus expired .
Democrats in the House of Representatives are paring back their proposal for stimulus in hopes of jumpstarting talks with the White House , but investors are skeptical something can happen soon .
Deep partisan divisions have kept Congress from acting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the sudden vacancy on the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
President Donald Trump has also declined to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the upcoming election , though other Republicans have pushed back on that idea .
“ This stimulus deal needs to go through , ” Stephen Innes of AxiCorp said in a commentary .
“ With the risks building up everywhere you look , it doesn ’ t seem to be a great time to be trying to pick the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief bill will go a long way to nudging the market along.
” Yet another report on Friday suggested that the economy ’ s recovery is slowing without the support from Capitol Hill .
Growth for U.S. orders of machinery and other long-lasting goods was just 0.4 % last month , down from 11.7 % in July .
The figure on durable goods was much weaker than economists had forecast , though several said they saw a mixed picture underneath the headline numbers .
Among other concerns for markets are rising tensions between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility that investors ’ expectations for a COVID-19 vaccine arriving early next year may prove to be too optimistic .
On top of all the market ’ s concerns are the pandemic and worries that worsening trends could lead to more profit-choking restrictions on businesses .
Novavax surged 10.9 % after it said it began a late stage trial of its potential COVID-19 vaccine in the United Kingdom .
Investors pulled $ 22.8 billion out of stock funds in the week ending Sept. 23 , the largest outflow since March , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street ’ s rally started in late March after the Federal Reserve and Congress pledged massive amounts of support for the economy .
Budding economic improvements later in the spring helped accelerate the gains as widespread shutdown orders lifted .
The Fed has pledged to continue to hold short-term rates at nearly zero for years , but its chair Jerome Powell said repeatedly in testimony on Capitol Hill this week that the recovery will likely need more help from Congress as well .
In Europe , stocks closed mostly lower .
Germany ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France ’ s CAC 40 fell 0.7 % .
The FTSE 100 in London rose 0.3 % .
In Asia , Japan ’ s Nikkei 225 rose 0.5 % and South Korea ’ s Kospi added 0.3 % .
Hong Kong ’ s Hang Seng fell 0.3 % , and stocks in Shanghai slipped 0.1 % .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury held steady at 0.66 % .

Stan Choe, Damian J. Troise And Alex Veiga - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Kansas college president who cancelled Ivanka speech resigns

TOPEKA , Kan. - A state university president in Kansas whose decision in June to cancel a virtual speech by Ivanka Trump angered donors and others resigned Friday , after less than a year in the job .
The Board of Regents , which oversees Kansas ’ higher education system , did not say why Wichita State University President Jay Golden stepped down , offering no details on what led up to it .
The university received national attention — and plenty of criticism — for dropping a virtual speech by President Donald Trump ’ s elder daughter for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is thankful for his service , “ a statement from Bill Feuerborn , the regents ’ chairman , said .
“ We are appreciative of his hard work and dedication to the university and are grateful for his commitment to serving students .
We wish him well in all his future endeavours.
” Wichita State referred questions to a Board of Regents spokesman who did not return a telephone message from The Associated Press .
A home phone number for Golden could not be found .
Regent Jon Rolph , a Wichita restaurateur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s resignation was not related to the Ivanka Trump controversy .
“ Being a part of the conversations around accepting Jay ’ s resignation today , that was clear , ” he said .
However , Rolph said state privacy laws prohibit him from discussing the circumstances of the resignation , but added that there was “ no impropriety.
” Steve Clark , a former Kansas regent from Wichita , sought Golden ’ s ouster in June and sent a letter then to board members saying Golden ’ s decision to cancel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multimillion-dollar relationship with Koch Industries , the vast conglomerate led by billionaire and conservative political donor Charles Koch .
Clark said Friday that Golden , who previously served as vice chancellor and professor of engineering at East Carolina University in North Carolina , “ wasn ’ t a good cultural fit for our Midwest values here.
” “ I don ’ t think he was very good at balancing the interests of all the university stakeholders , the students , alums , faculty and donors and considering all things , ” Clark said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better for him and much better for the university.
” Clark is the chairman and CEO of a Wichita investment firm and served as chairman of search committees for both Golden and his predecessor , John Bardo .
Golden became president in January , after Bardo died in March 2019 .
Clark told the regents in June that cancelling Trump ’ s speech damaged the school ’ s reputation with high-profile donors and relationships could be restored only if Golden left .
“ There were numerous issues , ” Clark said Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ upset at the Trump decision .
He had his own agenda and he appeared to maybe not take , as I said , all stakeholders ’ interests into consideration.
” But Kansas House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer , a Wichita Democrat , said the announcement caught him by surprise and that Golden appeared to be popular with students .
“ I certainly hope it has nothing to do with the Trump thing , ” he said .
“ I would be disappointed if somebody would lose their job over that.
” Wichita State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at its technical school and is home to a national institute on aviation research .
Parts of Wichita and its suburbs are politically conservative , and Donald Trump carried the county in 2016 by 18 percentage points .
Ivanka Trump visited WSU Tech last year to promote its training programs .
The regents ’ statement said Wichita State Provost Rick Muma will serve as acting president while the board considers options for an interim president .
Associated Press reporter Roxana Hegeman contributed to this report from Belle Plaine , Kan .


thetorontostar--2020-09-25--Florida reopens state’s economy despite ongoing pandemic

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. - Gov .
Ron DeSantis lifted all restrictions on restaurants and other businesses in Florida on Friday , and banned local fines against people who refuse to wear masks as he seeks to reopen the state ’ s economy despite the spread of the coronavirus .
The Republican governor ’ s order unleashed fresh debate in the politically divided state , where pandemic responses have become intertwined with the upcoming presidential election .
DeSantis , a major ally of President Donald Trump , acknowledged that the pandemic is far from over , but he said the threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen for business after six months of “ people twisting in the wind.
” The governor ’ s announcement Friday allows restaurants across the state to immediately reopen at full capacity — and prevents cities and counties from ordering them to close or operate at less than half-capacity , unless they can justify a closure for economic or health reasons .
“ We ’ re not closing anything going forward , ” DeSantis said , while insisting that the state is prepared if infections increase again .
The governor , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % capacity , but added that he was “ not going to stand in the way ” of allowing them to fully reopen .
As part of his reopening plan , the governor barred cities and counties from collecting fines on people who violate social distancing rules or don ’ t wear face masks .
The governor ’ s order virtually nullifies local ordinances put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
“ I think we need to get away from trying to penalize people for not social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeSantis said .
Florida Democrats have bemoaned the governor ’ s push to reopen as hasty .
“ No one is advocating for a full-scale lockdown in Florida .
But we have been and continue to ask for common sense prevention measures such as face masks , which are essential to preventing further spread , ” state Sen. Audrey Gibson said Thursday .
Some local officials appealed to the governor for continued authority to control the outbreak .
“ We ’ re hoping that the governor will allow us to have deeper restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have a greater spread of the virus in South Florida than other parts of the state , “ Broward County Mayor Dale Holness told WLRN , a public radio station in Miami .
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said in a statement Friday that DeSantis ’ order allows him to continue restricting restaurants to half their capacity .
But he acknowledged the county will no longer fine people for not wearing masks .
Gimenez said he was consulting with the county attorney regarding the mask mandate at businesses to ensure compliance with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a COVID-19 hotspot , with nearly 700,000 confirmed virus cases since the pandemic began in March .
Nearly 14,000 Floridians have died .
The governor reluctantly closed bars and nightclubs on St. Patrick ’ s Day due to the outbreak , and days later , restricted restaurants to takeout dining .
Amusement parks ground to a halt .
The closures battered the economy , leaving hundreds of thousands of Floridians unemployed .
Since March 15 , More than 2.5 million Floridians have sought unemployment benefits .
DeSantis slowly reopened the state for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars to reopen at half capacity , while deferring to local officials who advocated reopening more slowly in the pandemic ’ s epicenters in South Florida .
“ We ’ ve been able to put a lot of people back to work over the last few months , and obviously we have more to do , ” the governor said .
The governor had resisted imposing a statewide mask mandate , but had allowed cities and counties to do so and impose stricter measures than he was willing to do , including closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus from spreading .
The governor ’ s action does not preclude private businesses , such as grocery stores and sports venues , from requiring masks .
In February , Florida will again host the Super Bowl .
With the economy and his political standing foundering , DeSantis has been under pressure to revive the economy .
As the state has reopened , DeSantis and tourist-dependent businesses have been trying to woo back visitors .
Like Trump , DeSantis has questioned the efficacy of closures , arguing that states that had more aggressively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fared no better .
“ The state of Florida is probably the most open big state in the country , ” he boasted Friday .
California has had more than 800,000 coronavirus cases and more than 15,000 deaths associated with the outbreak .
While California has suffered slightly more infections and deaths , its population is nearly twice that of Florida .
Earlier this week , the country surpassed 200,000 deaths from COVID-19 , as the outbreak intensified in the U.S. heartland .
New infections in Florida have steadily declined since the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida added 2,847 confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday , pushing the statewide total since March 1 to 695,887 .
The state also announced 120 new virus deaths , pushing its total to 14,038 .
Hospitalizations declined by 34 to 2,137 people .

Bobby Caina Calvan - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-26--Poland’s ruling party signs new coalition deal with partners

WARSAW , Poland - The three parties in Poland ’ s conservative coalition government signed a new coalition agreement on Saturday , putting aside disagreements sparked by a power struggle .
However , they gave no details about the agreement and took no questions from journalists , leaving lingering uncertainty about how the Cabinet will look in practice after an expected reshuffle .
Jaroslaw Kaczynski , the head of the senior party , Law and Justice , told reporters in Warsaw that he and the leaders of two junior parties reached an agreement that would allow them to govern together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next scheduled general election .
Amid the crisis , Law and Justice had warned it might try to govern without them , as a minority government , or even call for early elections .
But on Saturday Kaczynski declared : “ We have a good future ahead of us.
“ He signed the deal alongside the the hard-line justice minister , Zbigniew Ziobro , who heads a right-wing party , United Poland , and Jaroslaw Gowin , leader of the more moderate conservative group , Agreement .
Gowin said that pluralism had always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also internal unity.
” Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki , who was also present , expressed satisfaction that unity and stability were being preserved .
Tensions have been building for some time in the coalition over ideological issues as Ziobro has pursued a hard line against LGBT rights and threatened to withdraw Poland from an international convention protecting women from domestic violence .
Polish political commentators say there ’ s also a power struggle between Ziobro , 50 , and Morawiecki , 52 , for eventual control of Poland ’ s political right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepares to withdraw from front-line politics .
Kaczynski did not address claims made days earlier that he would also formally join the government as a deputy prime minister .


thetorontostar--2020-09-26--Maine lobster business salvaged its summer despite pandemic

PORTLAND , Maine - Maine ’ s lobster fishermen braced for a difficult summer this year because of the coronavirus pandemic , but then the unexpected happened .
They kept catching lobsters , and people kept buying them .
The pandemic has posed significant challenges for the state ’ s lobster fishery , which is the nation ’ s largest , but members of the industry reported a steady catch and reasonable prices at the docks .
Prices for consumers and wholesalers were low in the early part of the summer but picked up in August to be about on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maine lobster industry is in the midst of a multiyear boom , and fishermen have caught more than 100 million pounds ( 45,360,000 kilograms ) for a record nine years in a row .
It ’ s hard to guess whether they ’ ll reach that total again , but summer 2020 hasn ’ t been half bad for a season in which many fishermen expected collapse , said Kristan Porter , president of the Maine Lobstermen ’ s Association .
“ Especially early in the season when nothing was open , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be a complete disaster , ” Porter said .
“ If it stays like this , we can struggle through and have a season , and then get ready to fish next year.
” Lobster fishermen harvest the seafood species using underwater traps , and the busiest part of the season is the summer .
Maine ’ s lobster fishery is by far the largest in the country .
Lobsters are also closely tied to tourism in Maine , which also took a hit from the pandemic .
The lobster industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many consumers who typically eat lobster in restaurants started buying them retail , said John Sackton , an industry analyst and founder of SeafoodNews.com .
The catch might have been less than recent summers , but that kept prices from falling , he said .
Live lobsters were selling in the $ 8 range in the wholesale market in mid-September , not too far off from recent seasons .
“ Even with Maine travel and quarantine restrictions , there was probably heavier tourist usage in Maine than it appeared that there would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses pivoted to a direct-to-consumer model during the early stages of the pandemic in an attempt to keep moving product .
That allowed the industry to weather the months in which shipping was disrupted and restaurants were almost completely shut down .
And lobsters remained easy to find in Maine supermarkets throughout the summer .
Across the border in Canada , there ’ s been a revival of a long-standing dispute between non-Indigenous fishermen and Mi ’ kmaq in southwestern Nova Scotia .
Fishers with the Sipekne ’ katik First Nation allege non-Indigenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend .
Canada ’ s highest court and its federal government have affirmed Mi ’ kmaq have a constitutionally protected treaty right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood , even during times when non-Indigenous fishers aren ’ t allowed to catch lobster .
Farther from home , the slow reemergence of China as a market for the seafood also bodes well for the lobster business ’ s future , industry members said .
Lobster has been a major piece of President Donald Trump ’ s trade hostilities with China .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobster to China through July — far less than the record year of 2018 but more than $ 6.5 million ahead of the 2019 pace .
That allowed Stephanie Nadeau , owner of The Lobster Co. in Arundel , to rehire most of her crew , which she laid off during the disruptions of the trade war .
It has been a hectic year , she said , but the increase in international shipping is a positive sign .
“ It ’ s like riding a bucking bronco , “ she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bronco ’ s going to break.
” — with files from The Canadian Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-26--In Breonna Taylor’s name: Devastation and a search for hope

LOUISVILLE , Ky. - Chea Woolfolk searched the crowd until she found the face of the woman she ’ d come to regard as a second mother .
And then she watched the tears roll down Rose Henderson ’ s cheeks .
Looking into Mama Rose ’ s eyes , Woolfolk could see that her heart was breaking .
This formidable woman looked off balance , like she might topple .
Mama Rose has been the matriarch of “ Injustice Square , ” a block downtown that protesters , many of them Black women , have occupied for 120 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police together , arrested , threatened online , shot with pepper bullets .
They lost jobs and friends and homes to show up every day because they had hope : that there would be justice for Breonna Taylor , the 26-year-old emergency medical technician shot and killed by police when they burst into her house in the middle of the night in a botched raid .
And that in that justice America would signal that their lives and the lives of other Black women have value .
Now they were standing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kentucky announced no charges would be filed against officers for Taylor ’ s death .
“ That broke me , ” Mama Rose cried , and that agony rippled across the country , as protesters took to the streets for days to say Taylor ’ s name , and to display rage , despair , powerlessness , exhaustion .
“ It was like sitting at a funeral , it was a collective feeling like someone died , and everyone was grieving , ” said Woolfolk , a 45-year-old radio personality who documented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She didn ’ t expect then that she would be back every day for four months , and that she would come to refer to the protesters as “ us.
” That she ’ d be enveloped in what would become a family .
“ It was probably one of the heaviest moments I ’ ve ever felt in my life , ” Woolfolk said .
Beyond Louisville , the decision reverberated widely across Black America .
For months , Taylor ’ s name has been a rallying cry for activists who hoped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands of police would finally receive the same attention given to cases concerning the extrajudicial killing of Black men .
And to some degree , that has happened .
Famed musicians , actors , athletes and politicians said her name and called for the arrests of the officers involved in the raid that killed Taylor .
Then , on Wednesday , the grand jury decision c ame down to charge one officer with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing wildly into the apartment building .
But the charges were for endangering Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged in connection with Taylor ’ s death .
There followed the kind of coast-to-coast protests not seen since the start of summer , along with a rising sense of doom and despair .
On social media , some noted that the decision came 65 years to the day after an all-white jury acquitted white men of murdering Emmett Till , a Black teen from Chicago who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after he was said to have whistled at a white woman .
“ I am completely mortified that our criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her family and friends , and frankly , it has failed our country , ” said Patrisse Cullors , co-creator of Black Lives Matter and executive director of its network of BLM chapters .
The grand jury ’ s decision was “ just another reminder of how the system doesn ’ t value Black life , ” said Zellie Thomas , a BLM organizer in Paterson , New Jersey , who led a vigil Thursday night , in the aftermath of the announcement .
“ Breonna got featured on covers of magazines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets named after her , ” he said .
“ But she didn ’ t get justice .
All these things seem nice , but it ’ s nothing compared to justice.
” For the Rev .
Starsky Wilson , the grand jury ’ s failure to indict in Taylor ’ s death was all too familiar .
He was a co-chair of the Ferguson Commission , which recommended wide-ranging policy reforms after the 2014 police shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson , Missouri .
The announcement that the officer who killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uprising by residents in the majority Black city .
Wilson , incoming president of the Children ’ s Defence Fund , said the system “ was never designed to give people the kind of care or sense of accountability that people are looking for.
” The Taylor case “ is a watershed moment for the Black Lives Matter movement , ” said Alvin Tillery Jr. , an associate professor of political science at Northwestern University .
“ The activists are going to have to supplement their disruptive protests with political organizing and voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment in Kentucky.
” Some Louisville activists say their goals remain unchanged .
They want the immediate firing and revocation of the pensions of the officers involved in the raid that killed Taylor ( one of whom has been fired already ) , defunding or divesting from the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department and creating independent civilian oversight of police .
But to the stalwarts in the Louisville square , Taylor is much more than a rallying point .
Even if they never never met her , they feel that they ’ ve know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been any one of them .
“ It ’ s reiterating to me that my life does not matter , that I ’ m unsafe , ” said Millicent Cahoon , a therapist who started a counselling network for the movement .
For months , protesters came to her describing panic attacks and nightmares ; they couldn ’ t eat or sleep .
Some don ’ t know how to process their experience and what it means about their city and their world .
“ How do I tell my kids ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatigue and hopelessness could settle in .
Her group is offering free therapy to any protester who is struggling .
“ You get tired of fighting after a while , ” she said .
“ We want to make sure hope stays alive , so we can keep going.
” The night the decision was announced , Rose Henderson was tending to the memorial to Taylor : a portrait that stands nearly 8 feet tall , circled by signs , painting and flowers that others have left in tribute .
This is her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be peaceful and to take care of themselves so they can keep up the fight : Pull up your mask , she tells them , drink more water .
But around her , people were angry .
Some set small fires , and threw plastic bottles at police .
About a mile away , two police officers were shot and wounded , and that , too , broke Henderson ’ s heart .
She felt like she ’ d lost control .
Lines of officers in riot gear descended on the square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disperse , threatening to use chemical agents if they stayed .
She and Woolfolk both cried themselves to sleep , and cried again when they awakened the next morning .
Though Henderson had barely missed a day at the square , Woolfolk worried she might not come back right away ; it had been a hard day .
But then Mama Rose walked in , arranged the memorial just right , scolded people to pull up their masks and drink more water .
Woolfolk asked her if she was OK. “ No , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ but I ’ m going to keep going.
” Morrison , who reported from New York , is a member of AP ’ s Race and Ethnicity team .
Follow him on Twitter : https : //www.twitter.com/aaronlmorrison .
Galofaro is a National Writer based in Louisville .
Follow her on Twitter : https : //www.twitter.com/clairegalofaro .

Claire Galofaro And Aaron Morrison - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-26--In leaders’ UN videos, the backgrounds tell stories, too

TANZANIA , Tanzania - Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the world to “ reject attempts to build blocks to keep others out ” as an image of his country ’ s storied Great Wall hung behind him .
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte used photos and videos to illustrate what he was talking about .
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison shared his policy views — and his scenic view of Sydney Harbor .
If the annual U.N. General Assembly meeting of national leaders is always a window on the world , this year the window is opening directly onto their desks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home because of the coronavirus pandemic , they are speaking by video , adding a new layer of imagemaking to the messages and personas they seek to project .
“ They have to be authentic , they have to be believable , and this is even more of a challenge virtually .
But it need not be , if you ’ re able to think about how to use your background creatively , ” says Steven D. Cohen , a Johns Hopkins University business communication professor who has coached politicians .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to complement those messages , to break through the glass of the computer and connect through stories , through visions , “ he says .
The General Assembly hall ’ s podium has provided decades of presidents , prime ministers and monarchs with a coveted portrait of statesmanship — and a setting conducive to it .
While it ’ s no secret that many speeches are aimed largely at domestic audiences , sideline encounters and the prospect of live reactions from the international community can be “ a factor for nudging people into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding common cause , ” said Richard Ponzio , a former U.S. State Department and U.N. official and now a fellow at the Stimson Center , a foreign policy think-tank .
Many leaders lamented that they can ’ t convene in person this year .
“ Thankfully , we can make optimal use of modern technology , ” said Suriname ’ s new president , Chan Santokhi , one of several speakers whose videos featured introductory music .
Others enhanced their presentations with subtitles or even cable-news-style chyrons , like “ HOW WE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ WE MUST LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND ” to underscore key messages from eSwatini ’ s prime minister , Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini .
Duterte overlaid parts of his speech with relevant photos and videos of coronavirus test centres , storms and more , going well beyond the maps and pictures that leaders occasionally hold up at the assembly podium .
Without the hall , some speakers opted for a more approachable posture .
Pope Francis , for example , eschewed a podium to stand close to the camera in a bookcase-lined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitor .
Many leaders sat at desks , sometimes giving the world a glimpse of personal photos , stacks of books and other presumably carefully curated workaday items , including a coffee cup for Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador .
Speaking from a desk connotes being “ friendly , conversational , trying to connect with people , ” said Jim Bennett , executive director of the Virtual Meetings and Events Association , an event planners ’ clearinghouse .
But desks — especially large ones — also can signal authority .
Morrison chose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sunny spot overlooking the city ’ s famous harbour and opera house , with boats passing in the background .
Morrison , who has complained in the past about international institutions bossing countries around , called the virus a reminder of the importance of multinational co-operation , though he added that international institutions need to be “ accountable to the sovereign states that form them.
” Fiji ’ s prime minister , Frank Bainimarama , had a crowd in the background of his speech for a special session on the U.N. ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fiji ’ s role in peacekeeping missions and ocean preservation efforts , he and the spectators gave the U.N. a birthday cheer .
To be sure , many leaders spoke the traditional visual language of political speechmaking , flanked by flags with TV-friendly plain backdrops .
Many others appeared in well-appointed offices and ceremonial rooms that could provide plenty of fodder for the decor-ranking that took flight online this spring as the pandemic forced TV commentators and other public figures to work from home .
Kausea Natano , the prime minister of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the global audience a picture of its tropical shore .
For heads of state , of course , a backdrop often speaks to more than individual taste .
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ’ against a panorama of the Acropolis and the Parthenon .
In the background as Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong spoke was a bust of revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh — who , Trong said , aspired to see Vietnam join the U.N. long before it did in 1977 , after decades of conflict .
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American independence leader Simón Bolivar and invoked him while lashing out at the United States , which doesn ’ t recognize Maduro as Venezuela ’ s president .
U.S. President Donald Trump , for his part , used the White House diplomatic reception room to film an uncommonly brief address focused on criticizing China .
Palau ’ s president , for one , used his video to send a more up-close-and-personal message in his final U.N. speech after serving as the Pacific island nation ’ s leader for 16 of the last 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the background — a U.N. environmental award and baseball and basketball trophies from teams on which he played — and a bright pink polo shirt instead of the dark suits he wore to the assembly rostrum over the years , Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. reflected on what the group has and hasn ’ t tackled since he first addressed it in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks in 2001 .
“ My message then was one of unity , ” he said , and “ this call remains apt today.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johannesburg contributed to this report .
Follow New York-based AP reporter Jennifer Peltz on Twitter at http : //www.twitter.com/JennPeltz