thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Congo sees increase in plague, at least 10 deaths this year

KINSHASA , Congo - Congo is seeing an upsurge in cases of the plague , as the vast Central African nation also battles outbreaks of COVID-19 and Ebola .
Since June , Congo has recorded at least 65 cases of the plague , including at least 10 deaths , in the eastern Ituri province according to Ituri provincial chief of health Dr. Louis Tsolu .
While the plague is endemic in Ituri province , the number of cases is increasing and has already surpassed the total recorded in 2019 which had 48 cases and eight deaths , according to WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have started in June when a 12-year-old girl in the Rethy health zone died with symptoms related to the plague — headache , cough , enlarged lymph nodes , and a fever .
More deaths in that area were later recorded with symptoms of the plague , which manifests in three different forms : Bubonic , septicemic and pneumonic .
The transmission of bubonic plague between humans usually occurs when people do not take preventive measures , especially in Congo when they follow traditional burial practices in which they wash and touch the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease , authorities say .
The plague is initially transmitted to humans who are bitten by fleas living on rodents .
Antibiotics are usually used in treatment .
This year health workers are finding it difficult to assist people in eastern Congo because of insecurity caused by armed militias .
The plague cases have also increased while Congo is also fighting COVID-19 , which has infected more than 10,100 people and killed at least 260 .
There is also an Ebola outbreak in the western Equateur province , which has killed 43 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing to an end a larger Ebola outbreak in the east that lasted for nearly two years and killed nearly 2,300 people .
The plague is mostly endemic in Congo , Peru and Madagascar , which saw a large outbreak in 2017 with more than 2,300 cases and 202 deaths , according to WHO .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Charlie Hebdo terror attack suspects go on trial in Paris

PARIS - Thirteen men and a woman go on trial Wednesday over the 2015 attacks against the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper and a kosher supermarket in Paris that marked the beginning of a wave of violence by the Islamic State group in Europe .
Seventeen people and all three gunmen died during the three days of attacks in January 2015 .
Later that year , a separate network of French and Belgian fighters for Islamic State struck Paris again , this time killing 130 people in attacks at the Bataclan concert hall , the national stadium , and in bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France ’ s terrorism court are accused of buying weapons , cars , and helping with logistics .
Most say they thought they were helping plan an ordinary crime .
Three , including the only woman accused , are being tried in absentia after leaving to join Islamic State .
The attacks from Jan. 7-9 , 2015 , started during an editorial meeting at Charlie Hebdo , whose offices had been unmarked and guarded by police since the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad years before .
Brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vehicle and fleeing .
They claimed the attacks in the name of al-Qaida .
Two days later , on the eve of the Jewish Sabbath , Amedy Coulibaly stormed the Hyper Cacher supermarket , killing four hostages in the name of the Islamic State group as the brothers took control of a printing office outside the French capital .
The attackers died that day during near-simultaneous police raids .
It took days more for investigators to realize that Coulibaly was also responsible for the seemingly random death of a young policewoman the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unravel the network of petty criminals and neighbourhood friends linking the three attackers .
By then , Coulibaly ’ s wife had left for Syria with the help of two brothers also charged in the case .
Most of the 11 who will appear insist their help in the mass killings was unwitting .
“ Since 2012 , terrorism capitalized on the prevailing delinquency there is around these terrorists , “ said Samia Maktouf , a lawyer for one of the attack survivors .
“ They are not second fiddles , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you provide a weapon it ’ s not to go and party.
” Despite a global outpouring of support , the attacks were also seen as a massive intelligence failure .
French authorities ended a phone tap on one of the Kouachi brothers a few months before they stormed the editorial offices .
At least one had trained with al-Qaida in Yemen and been convicted of an earlier terrorism offence .
The brothers walked away from the carnage they had caused , escaping easily and drove through multiple dragnets before being trapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed .
If the intelligence services had done their job , this would not have happened , ” said Isabelle Coutant-Peyre , lawyer for the only person in court facing a life term .
“ The victims don ’ t just want a guilty verdict , but real justice .
The truth must come out .
It ’ s not a justice of vengeance , but a justice to know.
” Wednesday ’ s trial opened under tight security , with multiple police checks for anyone entering the main courtroom or the overflow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest issue of Charlie Hebdo appeared , defiantly reprinting the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed cited by the gunmen who killed so many of the publication ’ s editorial staff .
“ They died so that you journalists could do your jobs , ” said Richard Malka , lawyer for Charlie Hebdo .
“ Let us not be afraid .
Not of terrorism , not of freedom.
” The only person in the courtroom facing a life sentence is Ali Riza Polat , who is accused of serving as the link between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at each stage of planning the attack , according to the judicial investigation , organizing secure phone lines , checking the price of explosives and ammunition , and travelling with Coulibaly to Belgium .
Polat was the first among the accused to speak Wednesday , briefly confirming his name and date of arrest .
Patrick Klugman , a lawyer for the hostages at the supermarket , said he regretted that the outpouring of support for free speech after the Charlie Hebdo killings was not matched by a similar outpouring over the anti-Semitic nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss a word , a word that has disappeared from this procedure : anti-Semitism .
When you attack a kosher market , you are hitting people in their daily lives , their culture , their rituals ... they knew that on this day , they were hitting Jews at the most sacred , most familial moment of the week.
” He said that without those being charged “ there would be no Coulibaly .
”

Lori Hinnant And Nicolas Vaux-Montagny - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-09-02--French leader in Baghdad, urges Iraqis to guard sovereignty

BAGHDAD - French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that Iraq is facing multiple challenges with the two biggest problems being foreign interference in Iraqi affairs and the Islamic State group militants .
In brief comments after meeting top Iraqi leaders on his first visit to Baghdad , Macron emphasized the need to safeguard the country ’ s sovereignty , and said France will continue to support Iraq .
“ Iraq is going through a time of challenges .
We will continue to be at Iraq ’ s sides , ” he said .
Macron is the first head of state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi , Iraq ’ s former intelligence chief , formed a new government in May .
The French leader , who arrived after a two-day visit to Beirut met with him and with Iraqi President Barham Salih .
Macron ’ s visit comes amid a severe economic crisis and a pandemic that has put a huge strain on Iraqi politics .
Iraq has also been caught up in tensions between its two allies , the United States and Iran .
The country hosts more than 5,000 U.S. troops , and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whom want those U.S. forces to leave .
There has also been a spike in attacks by militants from the Islamic State group in recent months , as it takes advantage of a drawdown of U.S. troops and the pandemic .
Macron said the fight against IS is not over , even if there are retreats from some territory .
“ The fight against IS , which France is fully invested in as part of international coalition , will continue , “ he said .
The second challenge is “ foreign interference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lasted for many years and some that is more recent , “ Macron said .
He added that France fully supports a project to “ consolidate the ( Iraqi ) state ” in the economic , military , educational and cultural sectors , describing it as a “ project for Iraqi sovereignty.
” He did not elaborate .
“ I come to Baghdad , which I am happy to visit for the first time , to show our support for Iraq in a time of challenges , ” Macron tweeted after arrival .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to guarantee Iraq ’ s sovereignty in all dimensions , economic and security-wise , internally and in the region.
” “ Our collective security and regional stability depend on this .
Our soldiers are fighting side by side to ensure the definitive defeat of the jihadis , ” Macron added in his tweet .
Speaking in Lebanon on Tuesday night , Macron said he would discuss in Iraq , among other things , the case of French citizens who fought with the Islamic State group , which was defeated in Iraq in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been sentenced to death before Iraqi courts .
Al-Kadhimi , who is backed by the United States , assumed office on May 7 when Baghdad ’ s relations with Washington were precarious .
The January killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and a top Iraqi militia leader , Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis , in an American drone strike in Baghdad prompted demands by Shiite lawmakers that U.S. forces leave Iraq .
Al-Kadhimi , as previous Iraqi leaders , has had to walk a tightrope amid the U.S.-Iran rivalry .
He visited Washington last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump .
He has said his administration is committed to introducing security sector reforms as rogue militia groups stage near-daily attacks against the seat of his government .
Al-Kadhimi ’ s administration inherited many crises .
State coffers in the crude oil-dependent country were slashed following a severe drop in prices , adding to the woes of an economy already struggling with the global coronavirus pandemic .
Much like Lebanon , which is teetering on the brink of collapse and where Macron spent the day Tuesday urging the political class to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and financial mismanagement that has squandered the country ’ s vast oil wealth , leaving citizens to struggle with electricity and water shortages and poverty .
Iraqis rose up last October , staging mass demonstrations that called for the downfall of a political establishment that they say doesn ’ t prioritize them .
Hundreds were killed and thousands wounded in a fierce security crackdown .

Abdulrahman Zeyad - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Strong rains hit southern Japan as Koreas ready for typhoon

TOKYO - An offshore typhoon brought torrents of rain to southern Japan on Wednesday as it headed to the Korean Peninsula , while another storm in the Pacific grew stronger .
Typhoon Maysak was west of Japan , maintaining sustained winds of 162 kilometres ( 100 miles ) per hour with higher gusts , the Japan Meteorological Agency said .
Japan ’ s main southern island of Kyushu was warned of heavy rainfall , fierce winds and possible mudslides .
Maysak had halted trains and knocked out power to hundreds of homes when it crossed Okinawa on Tuesday .
Hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of Maysak , while North Korea scrambled to protect its buildings , roads and crops from the second typhoon to hit the peninsula in as many weeks .
Maysak was passing south of South Korea ’ s southern resort island of Jeju before making landfall near the southern mainland port of Busan early Thursday .
South Korea ’ s weather agency said the typhoon will affect most of the country and warned of potential damage from “ very strong winds and very hard rain.
” The storm was already lashing Jeju as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 2,100 homes , toppling or damaging traffic signs , snapping trees , breaking windows and flooding highways .
Cars splashed through wet roads amid heavy rain in the mainland coastal city of Gangneung .
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said there were no immediate reports of casualties .
At least 439 domestic flights in and out of Jeju and airports across the mainland were cancelled as of Wednesday afternoon , the Korea Airports Corp. said .
Authorities also closed national parks and moved more than 36,000 fishing boats and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s official Korean Central News Agency said officials were working urgently to minimize damage from the typhoon , which was forecast to graze its eastern region before reaching land near the northeastern city of Chongjin .
KCNA said officials were examining buildings , roads , railways , cropland and drainage systems and moving fishing boats to safety .
“ Scrupulous ” protective measures were being applied to power stations to ensure stable power supply during the storm , the report said .
Another storm in the Pacific was blowing north and forecast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tropical Storm Haishen , with sustained winds of up to 90 kph ( 56 mph ) , could gain in ferocity before slamming into Japan ’ s southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku before reaching the Korean Peninsula on Monday .
Last week , Typhoon Bavi damaged homes , buildings and crops in the Koreas .
South Korean authorities said no casualties were reported , and North Korean state media did not mention any deaths or injuries .
Storms coming so close together bring great risk to disaster-prone regions .
Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea , contributed to this report .
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https : //twitter.com/yurikageyama


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Thailand hits 100 days with no local virus transmissions

BANGKOK - Thailand ’ s prime minister on Wednesday congratulated his countrymen on the nation having achieved 100 days without a confirmed locally transmitted case of the coronavirus , even as security along the border with Myanmar is being stepped up as a measure against the disease .
Health officials did not highlight the milepost , but Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha described it as a “ good accomplishment ” toward making the country safe .
He used the occasion to urge the government and people to work together to bring the country out of the COVID-19 crisis .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , none of us can move forward and the country can ’ t move forward , and the people will suffer more than they already have , ” he said .
Thailand has sustained relatively light health damage from the pandemic , even though in January it was the first country outside China to confirm a case .
But its economy has been devastated by the absence of foreign tourists , who are banned from entry , and a drop in exports .
Thai health authorities reported eight new coronavirus cases on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s total to 3,425 , including 58 deaths .
The country ’ s last locally transmitted case was confirmed on May 24 and announced on May 25 .
According to the Department of Disease Control , it involved a 56-year-old Thai woman who had end-stage kidney disease , diabetes and hypertension as underlying conditions .
She was admitted to the hospital with difficulty breathing and tested positive for the coronavirus , dying the same day as the test results .
Only one more person has been listed as dying from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vietnam are two other major countries that have had similar long streaks of no reported cases of local transmission .
New Zealand went 102 days before discovering new cases last month , and Vietnam went about 99 days before there was a new local outbreak .
New Zealand reinstituted restrictions after its new outbreak , including a lockdown of the city of Auckland .
Taiwan also has gone over 100 days without local transmission .
Thailand has gradually eased most of the virus-fighting restrictions it imposed starting in March , with the significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitors .
The government has been wary of reopening the country , scuttling or postponing several plans .
However , there is the possibility that a pilot project allowing a small number of foreign tourists into the southern tourist island of Phuket under strict conditions may soon be implemented .
Most recently , Thai authorities have been alarmed by surges in cases in neighbouring Myanmar .
Thai officials announced this week that they were temporarily closing several checkpoints on the border with Myanmar in the north and west that have been open mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up as well against possible illegal entry across the river that marks much of the border .
Controls were also ordered tightened at Thai camps near the border that house thousands of refugees from Myanmar .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Cosmic Legos: Black holes merge into never before seen size

Black holes are getting stranger — even to astronomers .
They ’ ve now detected the signal from a long ago violent collision of two black holes that created a new one of a size that had never been seen before .
“ It ’ s the biggest bang since the Big Bang observed by humanity , ” said Caltech physicist Alan Weinstein , who was part of the discovery team .
Black holes are compact regions of space so densely packed that not even light can escape .
Until now , astronomers only had observed them in two general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones called stellar black holes that are formed when a star collapses and are about the size of small cities .
And there are supermassive black holes that are millions , maybe billions , of times more massive than our sun and around which entire galaxies revolve .
According to astronomers ’ calculations , anything in between didn ’ t quite make sense , because stars that grew too big before collapse would essentially consume themselves , leaving no black holes .
Star collapses couldn ’ t create stellar black holes much bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sun , scientists thought , according to physicist Nelson Christensen , research director of the French National Centre for Scientific Research .
Then in May 2019 two detectors picked up a signal that turned out to be the energy from two stellar black holes — each large for a stellar black hole — crashing into each other .
One was 66 times the mass of our sun and the other a husky 85 times the mass of the sun .
The end result : The first ever discovered intermediate black hole , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lost in the collision was an enormous amount of energy in the form of a gravitational wave , a ripple in space that travels at the speed of light .
It was that wave that physicists in the United States and Europe , using detectors called LIGO and Virgo , captured last year .
After deciphering the signal and checking their work , scientists published the results Wednesday in Physical Review Letters and Astrophysical Journal Letters .
Because the detectors allow scientists to pick up the gravitational waves as audio signals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the violence and drama , the signal lasted only one-tenth of a second .
“ It just sounds like a thud , ” Weinstein said .
“ It really doesn ’ t sound like much on a speaker.
” This crash happened about 7 billion years ago , when the universe was about half its current age , but is only being detected now because it is incredibly far away .
Black hole collisions have been observed before , but the black holes involved were smaller to begin with and even after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the size of typical stellar black holes .
Scientists still don ’ t know how supermassive black holes at the centre of galaxies formed , Christensen said , but this new discovery may offer a clue .
Perhaps , like playing Legos , smaller blocks combine to make bigger ones and those combine to make even bigger ones , said Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb , who wasn ’ t part of the study but said the results chart new astronomical territory .
And indeed the bigger of the two black holes involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an earlier merger , both Weinstein and Christensen said , further bolstering that theory .
“ It ’ s conceivable that this pair of black holes formed entirely differently , possibly in a dense system with lots of dead stars whizzing about , which allows one black hole to capture another during a fly by , ” said Barnard College astronomer Janna Levin , who wasn ’ t part of the research and is author of the book “ Black Hole Survival Guide.
” On the other hand , scientists can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , flying around the universe , would meet so many others to merge again and grow ever bigger .
It could instead be that supermassive black holes were formed in the immediate aftermath of the Big Bang .
“ In astrophysics we ’ re always faced with surprises , ” Weinstein said .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Video in Black man’s suffocation shows cops put hood on him

A Black man who had run naked through the streets of a western New York city died of asphyxiation after a group of police officers put a hood over his head , then pressed his face into the pavement for two minutes , according to video and records released Wednesday by the man ’ s family .
Daniel Prude died March 30 after he was taken off life support , seven days after the encounter with police in Rochester .
His death received no public attention until Wednesday , when his family held a news conference and released police body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a public records request .
“ I placed a phone call for my brother to get help .
Not for my brother to get lynched , ” Prude ’ s brother , Joe Prude , said at a news conference .
“ How did you see him and not directly say , ‘ The man is defenceless , buck naked on the ground .
He ’ s cuffed up already .
Come on.
’ How many more brothers got ta die for society to understand that this needs to stop ?
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken off his clothes , complying when police ask him to get on the ground and put his hands behind his back .
Prude is agitated and shouting as he sits on the pavement in handcuffs for a few moments as a light snow falls .
“ Give me your gun , I need it , ” he shouts .
Then , they put a white “ spit hood ” over his head , a device intended to protect officers from a detainee ’ s saliva .
At the time , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
Then the officers slam Prude ’ s head into the street .
One officer , who is white , holds his head down against the pavement with both hands , saying “ calm down ” and “ stop spitting.
” Another officer places a knee on his back .
“ Trying to kill me !
” Prude says , his voice becoming muffled and anguished under the hood .
“ OK , stop .
I need it .
I need it , ” the prone man begs before his shouts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers appear to become concerned after he stops moving , falls silent and they notice water coming out of Prude ’ s mouth .
“ My man .
You puking ?
” one says .
One officer notes that he ’ s been out , naked , in the street for some time .
Another remarks , “ He feels pretty cold.
” His head had been held down by an officer for just over two minutes , the video shows .
The officers then remove the hood and his handcuffs and medics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s loaded into an ambulance .
Spit hoods have been scrutinized as a factor in the deaths of several prisoners in the U.S. and other countries in recent years .
A medical examiner concluded that Prude ’ s death was a homicide caused by “ complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint.
” The report lists excited delirium and acute intoxication by phencyclidine , or PCP , as contributing factors .
Prude was from Chicago and had just arrived in Rochester for a visit with his brother .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to Rochester , in Depew , “ due to his unruly behaviour , ” according to an internal affairs investigator ’ s report .
Rochester police officers took Prude into custody for a mental health evaluation around 7 p.m. on March 22 for suicidal thoughts -- about eight hours before the encounter that led to his death .
But his brother said he was only at the hospital for a few hours , according to the reports .
Police responded again after Joe Prude called 911 at about 3 a.m. to report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The city halted its investigation into Prude ’ s death when state Attorney General Letitia James ’ office began its own investigation in April .
Under New York law , deaths of unarmed people in police custody are often turned over to the attorney general ’ s office , rather than handled by local officials .
James said Wednesday that investigation is continuing .
“ I want everyone to understand that at no point in time did we feel that this was something that we wanted not to disclose , ” Rochester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing .
“ We are precluded from getting involved in it until that agency has completed their investigation.
” One officer wrote that they put the hood on Prude because he was spitting continuously in the direction of officers and they were concerned about coronavirus .
Activists demanded that officers involved be prosecuted on murder charges and that they be removed from the department while the investigation proceeds .
“ The police have shown us over and over again that they are not equipped to handle individuals with mental health concerns .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to deescalate .
These officers are trained to ridicule , instead of supporting Mr. Daniel Prude , ” Ashley Gantt of Free the People ROC said at the news conference with Prude ’ s family .
Protesters gathered Wednesday outside Rochester ’ s Public Safety Building , which serves as police headquarters .
Demonstrators remained as night fell .
Free the People ROC said several of its organizers were briefly taken into custody after they entered the building while Warren was speaking to the media .
They were released on appearance tickets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the NYCLU , who was among those taken into custody .
Prude , known to his big Chicago-based family by the nickname “ Rell , ” was a father of five adult children and had been working at a warehouse within the last year , said his aunt Letoria Moore .
“ He was just a bright , loving person , just family-oriented , always there for us when we needed him , ” she said , and “ never hurt or harmed anybody.
” Prude had been traumatized by the deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent years , having lost another brother before that , Moore said .
In his last months , he ’ d been going back and forth between his Chicago home and his brother ’ s place in Rochester because he wanted to be close with him , she said .
She knew her nephew had some psychological issues .
Still , when he called two days before his death , “ he was the normal Rell that I knew , ” Moore said .
“ I didn ’ t know what was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he was going through that night , but I know he didn ’ t deserve to be killed by the police , ” she said .
The fatal encounter happened two months before the death of George Floyd in Minnesota prompted nationwide demonstrations .
Floyd died when an officer put his knee on his neck for several minutes during an arrest .
Hill reported from Albany .
Associated Press writers Mary Esch , Michael R. Sisak , Jennifer Peltz and Dave Collins contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Venezuela opposition politician breaks with US-backed Guaidó

CARACAS , Venezuela - A popular opposition politician in Venezuela broke on Wednesday with U.S.-backed leader Juan Guaidó , whose coalition has vowed to boycott the crisis-torn nation ’ s upcoming congressional elections claiming they ’ re rigged .
Henrique Capriles said he ’ s determined to fight for fair elections on Dec. 6 , despite obstacles created by socialist President Nicolás Maduro .
“ We aren ’ t going to hand over the National Assembly to Maduro as a gift — never , ” Capriles said .
“ If he ’ s going to take anything away from us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do it by force , which only looks bad for him.
” Capriles , 48 , said he ’ s forging a new path that will offer struggling Venezuelans an option to standing on the sidelines as Maduro gains a monopoly on power amid an opposition election boycott .
Venezuelans have no other option but to press for political change , he said .
Capriles himself can ’ t run in the elections since he ’ s been banned from politics by Venezuelan authorities , though he remains an important player behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unclear how he would field candidates or what his decision to break with the boycott will concretely imply .
Following his comments , his Justice First party tweeted that it will meet on Thursday .
“ In the face of the events that have occurred in recent days , we want to announce to Venezuelans that tomorrow our National Directorate will gather to establish a position in front of Venezuelans , ” it said .
But Venezuela ’ s Supreme Court , loyal to Maduro , recently ordered the takeover of several influential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First party .
The move included suspending and replacing the board of directors of each party .
It was unclear what the party leaders gathering Thursday can do .
Capriles ’ announcement shattered a streak of unity spanning 18 months for Venezuela ’ s opposition movement .
The coalition in early 2019 rallied around Guaidó , who claimed he would oust Maduro and quickly won backing from dozens of nations , including the United States .
This moment of hope , however , fizzled when Guaidó ’ s initiatives failed to remove Maduro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maduro maintains power with key international supporters , including Russia and Iran , as well as the backing of Venezuela ’ s military .
In an hour-long speech live streamed online , Capriles criticized Guaidó without naming him .
He said Maduro clearly holds power in Venezuela while opposition lawmakers maintain an “ internet government , ” holding online meetings .
Hardly a political newcomer , Capriles led the Justice First party in 2012 when he lost the presidential election to Hugo Chávez and again the next year after Chávez ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s credited in recent days with negotiating with Maduro to win pardons for dozens of political dissidents , including several jailed as what the opposition called political prisoners .
Capriles said he knows he ’ s up against steep challenges in the upcoming election .
“ No one is saying that with this election we are going to solve our political , economic and social crisis , ” Capriles said .
“ What I do know is that if we don ’ t fight it will be even more difficult for us @ @


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--The Latest: ‘The Rock,’ family test positive for coronavirus

LOS ANGELES -- Dwayne “ The Rock ” Johnson says he and his family tested positive for the coronavirus .
Johnson announced their diagnosis in an 11-plus minute video on Instagram on Wednesday .
The actor says he was shocked after hearing their positive tests .
He called the ordeal “ one of the most challenging and difficult things we ’ ve had ever to endure.
” The actor said he along with wife , Lauren Hashian , and two young daughters contracted the virus , but have now recovered .
He says his daughters “ bounced back ” after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But for Johnson and his wife , he says they both had a “ rough go.
” HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK — Health departments say they lack the staff , money and tools to distribute , administer and track millions of vaccines , most of which will require two doses , when a vaccine becomes available .
— The U. S. federal budget deficit is projected to hit a record $ 3.3 trillion due to COVID-19 costs and the recession .
— The Venice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , few A-list celebrities and fewer fans on the premises .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State University has halted in-person classes for a month after dozens of students were infected with the coronavirus .
The school announced Wednesday that about 200 course offerings , some of them lab classes , will move to virtual learning .
On-campus housing will remain open .
San Diego County health officials say there have been 64 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 among SDSU students since classes resumed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , of the infections were linked to other cases at the university .
Some involve students who live off-campus .
California State university at Chico also halted classes this week .
SANTA FE , N.M. -- A top state health official is warning that COVID-19 infections are far more prevalent in low-income areas of the New Mexico , potentially straining Medicaid health care .
Human Services Secretary David Scrase said Wednesday that an analysis of infection rates by census tract shows that highly impoverished areas have infection rates seven times higher than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Children Youth and Families Secretary Brian Blalock gave a briefing on public health trends and the state ’ s coronavirus response .
State health officials are wary that festivities over the Labor Day holiday weekend could lead to renewed surges in COVID-19 infections .
URBANA , Ill. — The University of Illinois is ramping up enforcement of restrictions on student activity after more than 330 COVID-19 cases in two days on the school ’ s Urbana-Champaign campus , school officials said Wednesday .
In an email to students , Chancellor Robert Jones said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their in-person interactions to only the most essential activities ” for the next two weeks starting Wednesday evening .
“ These include things like taking twice weekly COVID-19 tests , attending class , purchasing groceries and food , going to work , engaging in individual outdoor activity , attending religious services and seeking medical attention , ” Jones wrote .
The University of Illinois isn ’ t the only university in the state seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases .
Illinois State University in Normal is reporting about 1,025 students have tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks ago , nearly 5 % of the student body .
Since students returned to the Urbana-Champaign campus Aug. 16 , more than 1,000 people on campus have tested positive .
University officials say about 800 people are currently in quarantine .
ATLANTA — With more than 3,000 public university students and employees across Georgia testing positive for COVID-19 since Aug. 1 , some schools are taking action to slow the spread of the respiratory illness .
Georgia Tech is encouraging students to convert to single rooms , moving out roommates over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
Both Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia announced they are renting more off-campus rooms to isolate or quarantine students who have been infected or exposed to the virus .
The University of Georgia reported 821 new infections for the week ended Saturday , a number that President Jere Morehead said Wednesday is “ concerning.
” He urged students to “ continue to make every effort to prioritize their health and safety by taking the proper steps to avoid exposure to this virus .
Around 4 % of all cases recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been associated with university campuses , according to figures kept by The Associated Press .
The number could be higher because some schools , including the state ’ s largest — Georgia State University — are not posting full reports publicly .
The rising campus infection numbers come as new cases in the rest of Georgia decline .
The total number of cases rose to near 275,000 Wednesday , according to state data , but the average number of cases has fallen below 2,000 a day .
BATON ROUGE , La .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state to select an independent health monitor to track the safety of inmates in the coronavirus outbreak .
They also urged Gov .
John Bel Edwards ’ administration to do more furloughs because of the health risks .
Lawmakers on the House criminal justice committee heard the suggestions Wednesday , but it was unclear if the recommendations would be followed .
A furlough program the Department of Corrections used earlier this year released only a few dozen people .
It drew criticism that it did too little to lessen the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of serious harm from the coronavirus illness .
Early results from an experimental coronavirus vaccine show no major safety problems and suggest that it spurs the desired immune system responses , researchers reported Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine .
The U.S. government has awarded Novavax , a company based in Gaithersburg , Maryland , $ 1.6 billion to help develop and make the vaccine , which is given as two shots , three weeks apart .
It includes a protein from the coronavirus to prompt the immune system to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested two dose levels in 108 healthy people and compared responses to 23 others who got placebo shots .
Most of those given vaccine also received an adjuvant -- a substance often included in vaccines to boost the immune system ’ s response and stretch a limited supply .
The adjuvant seemed safe ; those who got it with the lower dose made antibodies in far greater numbers than what ’ s typically seen in people recovering from natural infection with COVID-19 , researchers reported .
The work was sponsored by the Coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on increasing vaccine availability worldwide .
Three other experimental vaccines are in late-stage testing in the United States .
PARIS — New daily coronavirus cases in France have tipped above 7,000 for the second time in five days .
The daily count adds weight to French authorities ’ worries about the virus spreading further as the nation ’ s schools reopened their doors on Tuesday and numerous businesses were following suit .
Wednesday ’ s daily count put new cases at just over 7,000 , still below Friday ’ s count of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 43 new clusters in 24 hours .
The figures remain well under those at the peak of the pandemic that forced France into a strict two-month lockdown until mid-May .
Paris joined with some other cities in requiring everyone to wear masks outdoors and now also is requiring masks be worn in work places .
New cases began climbing again in France with the summer holidays .
The coronavirus has killed more than 30,600 people in France .
SIOUX FALLS , S.D .
— A Minnesota man who attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from COVID-19 , Minnesota health officials reported on Wednesday .
The death is the first reported that is possibly linked to the biker rally that drew hundreds of thousands of people .
Infections among rallygoers have been reported among 269 people in 12 states spanning coast to coast , according to a survey from the Associated Press .
The rally went forward despite fears it could become a super-spread event , with South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem welcoming bikers and the tourist dollars they spend .
Rallygoers crowded into bars and rock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Few wore masks .
TEMPE , Ariz. — Arizona State University says some students living on the college campus will be moved to other residence halls for social distancing because of an increase in coronavirus cases .
The university says it wants to reduce the density in the dorms .
There are 5,000 spaces available in the residence halls to begin shifting students housing arrangements , officials say .
The university reported 775 students and 28 faculty members tested positive for coronavirus on Monday , shortly after in-person classes started Aug. 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday reported 591 new coronavirus cases and 21 more deaths , raising the statewide totals to 202,861 cases and 5,065 confirmed deaths .
The seven-day rolling average of statewide cases dropped from 883 on Aug. 18 to 438 on Tuesday , while the average of daily deaths went from 47 to 42 .
UNITED NATIONS — The top U.N. official for Libya says the coronavirus pandemic “ appears to be spiraling out of control ” in the conflict-torn north African country .
Acting special representative Stephanie Williams told the U.N. Security Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has more than doubled in the last two weeks , with 15,156 cases and 250 recorded deaths as at Sept. 1.
” She says the country is at “ a critical juncture ” and community transmission has been reported in Libya ’ s main cities , including Tripoli and Sebha .
Williams says constraints in dealing with the coronavirus include a shortage of medical supplies , workers and funding .
LITTLE ROCK , Ark .
— Arkansas reported its largest single-day increase in deaths from the illness caused by the coronavirus on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new deaths from COVID-19 , bringing the state ’ s total fatalities since the pandemic began to 841 .
Thirteen of the new deaths were late reports , with one of them dating back to May .
Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero also urged college students to avoid large parties and gatherings as the state continues to see a rise in campus cases .
OKLAHOMA CITY — A face mask requirement in Oklahoma City has been extended by six weeks to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
The City Council voted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until Oct. 20 .
Oklahoma City had a reported 11,222 total virus cases as of Tuesday , the highest among cities in the state , according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health .
A similar mask ordinance in Tulsa will expire Nov. 30 .
Oklahoma Gov .
Kevin Stitt said Tuesday that he won ’ t issue a statewide mask mandate .
The health department has confirmed 60,118 total virus cases and 821 deaths .
That includes 719 cases and 12 deaths reported Tuesday .
NEW YORK — Gyms in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of virus-related restrictions , the latest step in a phased reopening .
Gym members must wear a mask and stay 6 feet apart .
Gyms can only operate at one-third capacity and group fitness classes are not permitted .
Gyms in other parts of the state opened at restricted capacity on Aug. 24 .
New York City officials delayed the reopening until Sept. 2 so the health department could conduct safety inspections by video .
Indoor restaurant dining is still prohibited in the city .
That ’ s resulted in more outdoor dining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
WICHITA , Kan. — The state ’ s largest school district in Wichita has overturned its decision to call off all fall sports and activities because of the coronavirus .
The Board of Education for the 50,000-student district reversed itself Tuesday after members were flooded with emails and phone calls that sports be held .
District schools will compete against each other during the regular season but would remain eligible for post-season play .
Some of the state ’ s other large districts called off fall sports , including Shawnee Mission and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district is allowing sports and re-evaluate on Sept. 10 .
Statewide , Kansas reported 1,328 coronavirus cases from Monday to Wednesday , bringing the state ’ s confirmed total to 43,940 .
That includes 15 sports clusters with 119 cases .
ANKARA , Turkey — Turkey ’ s health ministry says the country is experiencing the second peak of the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak and blamed gatherings at weddings and holidays .
Health minister Fahrettin Koca says the government has been advised to consider expanding restrictions imposed on social gatherings such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nights in more than a dozen provinces to the entire country .
The minister says nearly 30,000 health sectors workers have contracted the virus since the outbreak and 52 have died .
Koca says the capital Ankara has the highest active coronavirus cases , overtaking Istanbul .
More than 273,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Turkey since March , including 1,596 in the last 24 hours .
Another 45 have died in the last day , bringing the confirmed total to 6,462 .
ROME — Italy ’ s former prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus after a precautionary check .
His press office says he ’ s currently isolated in his Arcore residence , near Milan .
He ’ ll continue to work from there as he completes the necessary quarantine period .
The three-time-premier and media tycoon had been recently pictured with his friend and businessman Flavio Briatore , who was recently hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus last month .
The 83-year-old Berlusconi had tested negative at the time .
ROME — Italy registered a new surge in coronavirus infections , which rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s up from 978 a day before , according to the latest Health Ministry figures .
The data confirm the rising trend in new cases observed in the country over the past month , but also reflect the wider number of swab tests performed daily , which for the first time topped the 100,000 level .
The testing reached almost 103,000 in the past 24 hours .
Italy now has 271,515 confirmed infections and 35,497 known deaths , including six in the last day .
Health experts are encouraging Italy to boost testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected before schools open on Sept. 14 .
DUBAI , United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates has reported 735 cases of coronavirus , the country ’ s highest one-day increase in over three months .
That brings the total number of recorded infections to 71,540 and 387 confirmed deaths .
Students are returning to schools across the country for in-person instruction and tourists are trickling back to the skyscraper-studded city of Dubai .
The steadily rising infections have some concerned that authorities could reinstate lockdowns in parts of the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s largest city , Yangon , returned to lockdown on Wednesday , after an increase in cases of the coronavirus .
Authorities imposed a stay-at-home order on seven townships and set up checkpoints to prevent entry .
The order exempts those working for government organizations and people working in companies , factories and workshops .
Only one person from a family is allowed out shopping , while a maximum of two people are permitted to go for medical treatment .
Authorities say offenders will face legal action .
Myanmar has seen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with most occurring in Rakhine State , where a lockdown and curfew were imposed last week .
There have been 163 new cases reported since Monday nationwide , bringing the total to 938 and six deaths .
BRUSSELS -- The head of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control says the coronavirus doesn ’ t seem to be spreading significantly in schools that opened early in Europe .
Many students returned to classrooms around Europe this week , but some partly opened before the end of June .
A few countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors for the new school year in August .
ECDC director Andrea Ammon told EU lawmakers Wednesday that anti-virus measures like social-distancing , hand washing , avoiding mass gatherings and the confinement of suspect cases among students and staff should be enough to limit the spread of the disease .
She made no mention of wearing masks .
Ammon says , “ closing the schools should be really the last measure that you take.
” Belgium has one of the highest per capita death rates in the world from the coronavirus .
Nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 11.5 million .
Belgium has 85,393 cases , according to the ECDC .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Work starts to stop sewage flows into California from Mexico

SAN DIEGO - Work has begun to stop a decades-old problem of millions of gallons of sewage from Tijuana , Mexico , flowing into the United States and polluting San Diego County beaches , the Trump administration ’ s top environmental protection official said Wednesday .
For more than 40 years , wastewater from Tijuana ’ s dilapidated system has spilled across the border and polluted the waters off Imperial Beach , a city of about 30,000 south of San Diego .
The pollution has posed health risks to surfers , Border Patrol agents and even Navy SEALs who train @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , a $ 10.6 million project was completed and will keep 4.5 million gallons of sewage per day from entering the Tijuana River , which flows into the Pacific Ocean in front of Imperial Beach , said Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler at a news conference in San Diego .
His agency contributed $ 3.9 million to that project .
A second , $ 6 million project will pay for improvements to Tijuana ’ s pumping and collection system to prevent further spills from entering the United States .
Mexico is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pollution flows are already being reduced , Wheeler said .
The agency is also funding work in coming months that will replace a mile of old , leaking pipes that should further stop the sewage from overflowing , Wheeler said .
In addition , two other short-term projects funded by $ 25 million in federal grants will help by diverting 10 million gallons a day of Tijuana wastewater to an international treatment facility , and by capturing trash and sediment with a new system on the border .
The projects are short-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government designs a more permanent fix that it will fund with $ 300 million allocated for environmental border projects from Congress under President Donald Trump ’ s revised NAFTA agreement , now called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement .
Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina , an avid surfer , told reporters Wednesday he already is seeing a difference : His city has been able to open its beaches , which had been closed since November , ahead of the the Labor Day weekend .
He said his city had faced a “ sewage apocalypse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year the beaches there had to be closed because of the pollution .
He said a permanent fix is vital and Mexico must continue to make improvements and ensure that there is “ zero flow from Tijuana going anywhere near the ocean.
” The actions come after Imperial Beach and other local governments sued the agency in 2018 to demand the EPA do something about the problem .
They agreed earlier this year to put the legal action on hold for a year after the EPA indicated it would help .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Tom Seaver, heart and mighty arm of Miracle Mets, dies at 75

NEW YORK - Tom Seaver , the Hall of Fame pitcher who steered a stunning transformation from lovable losers to Miracle Mets in 1969 , has died .
He was 75 .
The Hall said Wednesday night that Seaver died Monday from complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19 .
Seaver spent his final years in Calistoga , California .
Seaver ’ s family announced in March 2019 he had been diagnosed with dementia and had retired from public life .
He continued working at Seaver Vineyards , founded by the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner and his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acres at Diamond Mountain in the Calistoga region of Northern California .
Seaver was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 1991 , and it reoccurred in 2012 and led to Bell ’ s Palsy and memory loss , the Daily News of New York reported in 2013 .
“ He will always be the heart and soul of the Mets , the standard which all Mets aspire to , ” Mike Piazza , a former Mets catcher and Hall of Famer , tweeted when Seaver ’ s dementia diagnosis was announced .
Nicknamed Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a five-time 20-game winner and the 1967 NL Rookie of the Year .
For his career , from 1967-86 , he had a 311-205 record with a 2.86 ERA , 3,640 strikeouts and 61 shutouts .
He became a constant on magazine covers and a media presence , calling post-season games on NBC and ABC even while still an active player .
“ He was simply the greatest Mets player of all-time and among the best to ever play the game , ” Mets owner Fred Wilpon and son Jeff , the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
Seaver was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992 when he appeared on 425 of 430 ballots for a then-record 98.84 % .
His mark was surpassed in 2016 by Ken Griffey Jr. , again in 2019 when Mariano Rivera became the first unanimous selection by baseball writers , and in 2020 when Derek Jeter fell one vote short of a clean sweep .
His plaque in Cooperstown lauds him as a “ power pitcher who helped change the New York Mets from lovable losers into formidable foes.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the standings but the team ’ s stature in people ’ s minds .
“ Tom was a gentleman who represented the best of our national pastime , ” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement .
“ He was synonymous with the New York Mets and their unforgettable 1969 season.
” “ After their improbable World Series championship , Tom became a household name to baseball fans — a responsibility he carried out with distinction throughout his life , ” he said .
Seaver pitched for the Mets from 1967 until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cincinnati after a public spat with chairman M. Donald Grant over Seaver ’ s desire for a new contract .
It was a clash that inflamed baseball fans in New York .
“ My biggest disappointment ?
Leaving the Mets the first time and the difficulties I had with the same people that led up to it , ” Seaver told The Associated Press ahead of his Hall induction in 1992 .
“ But I look back at it in a positive way now .
It gave me the opportunity to work in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threw his only no-hitter for the Reds in June 1978 against St. Louis and was traded back to New York after the 1982 season .
But Mets general manager Frank Cashen blundered by leaving Seaver off his list of 26 protected players , and in January 1984 he was claimed by the Chicago White Sox as free agent compensation for losing pitcher Dennis Lamp to Toronto .
While pitching for the White Sox , Seaver got his 300th win at Yankee Stadium and did it in style with a six-hitter in a 4-1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1986 Boston Red Sox team that lost to the Mets in the World Series .
“ Tom Seaver was one of the best and most inspirational pitchers to play the game , ” Reds Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini said in a statement .
“ We are grateful that Tom ’ s Hall of Fame career included time with the Reds .
We are proud to count his name among the greats in the Reds Hall of Fame .
He will be missed.
” Supremely confident -- and not necessarily modest about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seaver was a 12-time All-Star who led the major leagues with a 25-7 record in 1969 and a 1.76 ERA in 1971 .
A classic power pitcher with a drop-and-drive delivery that often dirtied the right knee of his uniform pants , he won Cy Young Awards with New York in 1969 , 1973 and 1975 .
The club retired his No .
41 in 1988 , the first Mets player given the honour .
“ From a team standpoint , winning the ’ 69 world championship is something I ’ ll remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ From an individual standpoint , my 300th win brought me the most joy.
” Seaver limited his public appearances in recent years .
He did not attend the Baseball Writers ’ Association of America dinner in 2019 , where members of the 1969 Mets were honoured on the 50th anniversary of what still ranks among baseball ’ s most unexpected championships .
Five months later , as part of a celebration of that team , the Mets announced plans for a statue of Seaver outside Citi Field , and the ballpark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41 Seaver Way in a nod to his uniform number .
Seaver did not attend those ceremonies , either , but daughter Sarah Seaver did and said her parents were honoured .
“ This is so very appropriate because he made the New York Mets the team that it is , ” said Ron Swoboda , the right fielder whose sprawling catch helped Seaver pitch the Mets to a 10-inning win in Game 4 of the ’ 69 Series .
“ He gave them credibility.
” Seaver ’ s death was announced , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beat the Orioles in an interleague game .
When the Mets closed their previous home , Shea Stadium , on the final day of the 2008 regular season , Seaver put the finishing touches on the nostalgic ceremonies with a last pitch to Piazza , and the two walked off together waving goodbye to fans .
George Thomas Seaver was born in Fresno , California , on Nov. 17 , 1944 , a son of Charles Seaver , a top amateur golfer who won both his matches for the U.S. over Britain at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a star at the University of Southern California and was drafted by Atlanta in 1966 .
He signed with the Braves for $ 51,500 only for Commissioner William Eckert to void the deal .
The Trojans already had played exhibition games that year , and baseball rules at the time prohibited a club from signing a college player whose season had started .
Any team willing to match the Braves ’ signing bonus could enter a lottery , and Eckert picked the Mets out of a hat that also included Cleveland and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams from their expansion season in 1962 , the Mets lost more than 100 games in five of their first six seasons and had never won more than 73 in any of their first seven years .
With cherished Brooklyn Dodgers star Gil Hodges as their manager , a young corps of pitchers led by Seaver , Jerry Koosman , Gary Gentry and a still-wild Nolan Ryan , and an offence that included Cleon Jones and Tommie Agee , the Mets overtook the Chicago Cubs to win the NL East with a 100-62 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aaron and the Atlanta Braves in the first NL Championship Series to reach the World Series against highly favoured Baltimore , which had gone 109-53 .
Seaver lost the opener 4-1 in a matchup with Mike Cuellar , then pitched a 10-inning six-hitter to win Game 4 , and the Mets won the title the following afternoon .
Perhaps his most memorable moment on the mound was at Shea Stadium on July 9 , 1969 , when he retired his first 25 batters against the Chicago Cubs .
Pinch-hitter Jimmy Qualls looped a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inning before Seaver retired Willie Smith on a foulout and Don Kessinger on a flyout .
“ I had every hitter doing what I wanted , ” Seaver recalled in 1992 .
“ Afterward , my wife was in tears and I remember saying to her : ‘ Hey , I pitched a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts .
What more could I ask for ?
’ ”


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--DC police fatally shoot young Black man

DC police fatally shoot young Black man

WASHINGTON - Police officers in Washington , D.C. , fatally shot a young Black man Wednesday , amid increased nationwide and local scrutiny over police tactics .
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham said uniformed officers approached a vehicle Wednesday afternoon , acting on information that there were weapons in a car in the area .
As they approached the vehicle , Newsham said , two passengers fled on foot .
The wounded man was taken to a local hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
The age of the victim was unclear Wednesday night , but he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years old .
The shooting comes as police killings of Black people have sparked nationwide protests and calls for sweeping police reform .
Newsham said it would be “ improper ” to speculate on what prompted the officers to open fire , but he said two firearms were recovered from the scene .
“ We believe the suspect had a gun at the time , ” Newsham told reporters during an impromptu news conference .
Members of the community on the scene disputed that contention .
The local Black Lives Matter affiliate called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPD ’ s 7th District headquarters , stating in a tweet , “ DC police murdered a Black man today.
” The shooting comes in the wake of new police reform legislation in Washington , designed to bring greater transparency to such incidents .
In June , amid nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis , the D.C. Council passed emergency legislation requiring the MPD to release any body camera footage from any fatal shootings or use-of-force incidents within five days .
The department must also release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In July , the city released body camera footage from three separate fatal incidents dating back to 2018 .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Recount affirms loss for Coghill in Alaska Senate primary

JUNEAU , Alaska - A recount of ballots Wednesday affirmed a narrow loss by Republican state Sen. John Coghill in @ @ @ @ @ last month .
Results of the recount , released by the state Division of Elections @ @ @ @ @ with 1,739 votes and Coghill with 1,725 .
That is unchanged from the result that @ @ @ @ @ Coghill , a longtime lawmaker from North Pole who has served in the House and @ @ @ @ @ the division “ does pretty good.
” “ But you just have to review and @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s that close , ” he said .
“ The voters have spoken @ @ @ @ @ the person who won and wish them the best and be glad that I served @ @ @ @ @ I did.
” Myers faces two non-affiliated candidates in the November general election : Evan @ @ @ @ @ who serves on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Pelosi says hair salon should apologize for ‘set-up’ visit

SAN FRANCISCO - A testy Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday she takes responsibility for trusting the word of a San Francisco hair salon that it was OK to come in for a solo visit — even though the city still does not allow indoor beauty services because of the coronavirus pandemic .
But the Democratic House Speaker called Monday ’ s visit a “ set-up “ and said the salon owes her an apology for misrepresenting city health orders .
“ I take responsibility for trusting the word of a neighbourhood salon that I ’ ve been to over the years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said ... we ’ re able to accommodate people one person at a time , and that we can set up that time , I trusted that , “ Pelosi told reporters Wednesday .
“ As it turns out , it was a set-up.
” “ I take responsibility for falling for a set-up , “ she said .
Pelosi is facing fierce backlash after Fox News Channel aired surveillance footage from the salon that showed her walking through the salon with her hair wet and with a mask around her neck rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clip , a masked stylist follows her .
Critics , including President Donald Trump , called her a hypocrite and asked why she did not know the coronavirus-related rules in her home city .
Erica Kious , owner of ESalon SF in the city ’ s upscale Cow Hollow district , told Fox News that she rents chairs to stylists and one of them informed her in advance that Pelosi wanted a wash and blow dry .
California guidelines on salons vary by county , but stringent San Francisco officials have not yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she considered Pelosi getting her hair done “ a slap in the face ” to struggling business owners .
She did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press .
Health order violations can be punished by a fine , imprisonment or both .
But San Francisco has stressed education over enforcement and has been reluctant to penalize businesses and individuals .
Pelosi said Wednesday she would not answer any more questions about the visit and asked at one point whether reporters had any questions “ about the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HEROES Act legislation she called the news conference to address .
A reporter asked why she was not wearing a mask in the brief clip .
“ I just had my hair washed .
I don ’ t wear a mask when I ’ m washing my hair .
Do you wear a mask when you ’ re washing your hair ?
I always have a mask , “ Pelosi said .
Associated Press news associate Cheyanne Mumphrey in Phoenix contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Biden: Trump ignores pandemic, stokes unrest, solves neither

WILMINGTON , Del .
- Joe Biden is calling the struggle to reopen U.S. schools amid the coronavirus a “ national emergency ” and accusing President Donald Trump of turning his back to stoke passions instead about unrest in America ’ s cities .
The Democratic presidential nominee ’ s broadsides came a day ahead of his own trip to Kenosha , Wisconsin , where Biden said he wants to help “ heal ” a city reeling from another police shooting of a Black man .
The wounding of Jacob Blake and subsequent demonstrations have made the political battleground state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and protest violence , as well as the actions of vigilante militias .
Biden assailed Trump for his vilifying of protesters as well as his handling of the pandemic that has killed nearly 190,000 Americans and crippled the national economy , leaving millions out of work , schools straining to deal with students in classrooms or at home and parents struggling to keep up .
An American president , Trump ’ s challenger declared , should be able to lead through multiple crises at the same time .
“ Where is the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this ?
, ” Biden asked .
“ We need emergency support funding for our schools — and we need it now .
Mr. President , that is your job .
That ’ s what you should be focused on — getting our kids back to school .
Not whipping up fear and division — not inciting violence in our streets.
” Trump answered almost immediately with his own event in North Carolina , where he continued casting the protests generally as “ violent mobs here at home ” that must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ These people know one thing : strength , ” he said .
If local leaders would ask for federal muscle , Trump said , “ We ’ ll have it done in one hour.
” Trump later tweeted , “ My Administration will do everything in its power to prevent weak mayors and lawless cities from taking Federal dollars while they let anarchists harm people , burn buildings , and ruin lives and businesses.
” To that end , he signed a memorandum directing agencies to review federal funding sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Portland , Oregon .
The opposing Biden and Trump events reflected the clear fault lines of the general election campaign .
Each man casts the other as a threat to Americans ’ day-to-day security , but Trump uses “ law and order ” as his rallying cry while Biden pushes a broader referendum on Trump ’ s competence , temperament and values .
Biden said Wednesday that he ’ d use existing federal disaster law to direct funding to schools to help them reopen safely , and he urged Trump to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deal ” with Congress on more pandemic aid .
He repeated his assertions that a full economic recovery isn ’ t possible with COVID-19 still raging , and that reopening schools safely is a necessary part of both limiting the virus ’ spread and allowing parents to return to work .
The Trump campaign noted in reply that the president has asked Congress for $ 105 billion in aid for schools .
Addressing the ongoing unrest over racial injustice and policing , Biden told reporters he believes the Kenosha officer who shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden also called for charges in the death of Breonna Taylor , a Black woman killed in her Louisville , Kentucky , home by police in March .
Biden did not name specific charges and said authorities must conduct full investigations .
Biden also called for legal action on citizens who ’ ve committed violence as part of civil unrest , a direct answer to Trump ’ s continued assertions that Biden backs violent protests .
The former vice-president said he plans to meet in Kenosha with civic and business leaders and law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the Blake family ; he ’ s already talked with some of them by phone .
Blake remains hospitalized after he was shot seven times in the back by police as he was trying to get into a car while authorities were trying to arrest him .
“ We ’ ve got to put things together , bring people together , ” Biden said , adding that he was “ not going to tell Kenosha what they have to do ” but instead would encourage citizens to “ talk about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said , “ keeps throwing gasoline on the fire ” and ” encouraging people to retreat to their corners.
” Trump made his own foray to Kenosha on Tuesday , underscoring his blanket support for law enforcement , while blaming “ domestic terror ” for looting and arson that ’ s taken place in the city .
The violence included the burning of several buildings and the killing of two protesters by a 17-year-old , who said he went to Kenosha , armed , to help protect businesses .
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , Biden and his wife , Jill , a longtime community college professor and former high school teacher , met with public health experts .
He emerged saying Trump ’ s inaction on school aid has left a haphazard response nationally .
Biden said he doesn ’ t want to usurp local authorities ’ power to decide how to conduct classes .
But he said the federal government should make local systems financially whole as they incur considerable costs from software for virtual instruction , personal protective equipment for on-site employees and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools that bring students to campus .
As Trump and Biden dueled Wednesday , presidential debate organizers announced moderators for the fall .
Chris Wallace of Fox News will lead the Sept. 29 debate , followed Oct. 15 by Steve Scully of C-SPAN and NBC ’ s Kristin Welker on Oct. 22 .
Also ahead of his Wisconsin trip , Biden ’ s campaign launched a $ 45 million advertising buy for a one-minute ad featuring his condemnations of violence during a speech Monday , along with his assertions that Trump is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has English and Spanish language versions , is running on national cable networks and in local markets across Arizona , Florida , Michigan , Minnesota , Nevada , North Carolina , Ohio , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin .
“ Violence will not bring change .
It will only bring destruction , ” Biden says in the ad .
Trump , he says , “ shows how weak he is ” by “ his failure to call on his own supporters to stop acting as an armed militia.
” It ’ s an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his allies : “ You won ’ t be safe in Joe Biden ’ s America.
” Indeed , when in Kenosha , Trump toured a block charred by protesters ’ fire , called the destruction “ anti-American ” and suggested Biden ’ s election would ensure similar scenes in U.S. cities across the country .
The ad was launched as the Biden campaign announced a record $ 360 million fundraising haul for August .
Biden said Wednesday the money will allow an aggressive ad campaign to counter “ lies ” from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s erroneous claims that Biden has not denounced violent protesters and that he wants to “ defund the police.
” Trump ’ s advisers hope his stances shift attention away from the pandemic that has all but crippled the nation during the president ’ s fourth year in office .
They also believe the tactics help Trump attract white voters in suburbs and exurbs , key slices of his 2016 coalition .
Trump won Wisconsin by less than 1 percentage point in 2016 , becoming the first Republican to win the state since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s trip Thursday will be the first time since 2012 that a Democratic presidential nominee campaigns in Wisconsin .
Hillary Clinton did not campaign in the state after she lost the primary in 2016 , one of the reasons often cited for Trump ’ s narrow victory .
Barrow reported from Atlanta .
Associated Press reporters Jonathan Lemire in Washington , Scott Bauer in Madison , Wisconsin , and Kevin Freking in Wilmington , North Carolina , contributed .

Bill Barrow And Will Weissert - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--75th anniversary of end of WWII is mostly virtual amid virus

HONOLULU - When Japanese military leaders climbed aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2 , 1945 , the battleship was packed with U.S. sailors eager to see the end of World War II .
On Wednesday , the 75th anniversary of the surrender , some of those same men who served the United States weren ’ t able to return to the Missouri in Hawaii ’ s Pearl Harbor because of the world ’ s new war against the coronavirus .
The commemoration initially was supposed to be a blockbuster event with parades , movie premieres , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veterans in their 90s or beyond , some who may be marking the milestone for the last time .
Because of the threat of the virus , the ceremony was scaled down to about 50 people , with local veterans and government officials gathering on the USS Missouri in masks .
The names were read of surviving WWII veterans , including 14 who were on the ship the day the Japanese surrendered .
Jerry Pedersen , 95 , was one of them , watching history unfold as a young Marine .
He and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. had to watch a livestream of the ceremony from home instead of on the decks of the battleship as planned .
“ Well , I was very disappointed , yes .
I was hoping to maybe see a friend or two , ” he said .
“ I just want to share with at least my family and a couple of other folks some of the feelings that I was going to express when I got there.
” Those feelings are complicated , said Pedersen , who dedicated his life to peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must not happen again , ” he said , recalling the words uttered by Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the day the Japanese surrendered .
But “ we ’ re still oscillating on many of the things that are necessary to bring us peace.
” Pedersen wore a blue Marine uniform recently sent to him for the ceremony as he watched the event from a laptop at his son ’ s house in rural West Sacramento , California .
His three adult children , their spouses and some grandchildren gathered around the computer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called .
Pedersen smiled and gave a fist pump .
“ For me , it was the end of the killing , the war that had taken millions of soldiers and many , many , many millions of civilians in wars in Europe and finally in the Pacific that came to an end that day .
And we were celebrating , ” he told The Associated Press .
“ I had the feeling that day .
I made a pact with myself that I ’ m going to be a peacemaker in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to college after the war , got his doctorate and became a minister .
He watched remotely as WWII-era “ warbirds ” flew over Pearl Harbor and video messages played from veterans and others in a tribute to those who couldn ’ t attend or had passed away .
Defence Secretary Mark Esper said he was honoured to “ commemorate and reflect on the sacrifices and victories of our service members and allies who helped fight for and secure peace.
“ At the end of his keynote address , he built a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future .
“ We honour the legacy of those who came before us and recommit ourselves to defending today ’ s international rules and norms so that the road is safer and is better for generations yet to come , ” Esper said .
“ The United States ’ commitment to the role today is the same one we made to the freedom-loving people of the world in 1941 — that we will remain ready to fight any foe and defend any friend.
” The U.S. entered the war after Japanese warplanes attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thousands of service members were killed and wounded , about half of them dying on the USS Arizona , which still sits submerged in Pearl Harbor next to the USS Missouri Memorial , a floating museum .
Four years later , after massive losses on both sides that included the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki , the Japanese indicated they would surrender on Aug. 15 , then met with Allied forces aboard the Missouri on Sept. 2 to sign the Instrument of Surrender .
Hawaii Gov .
David Ige @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veterans about targeting the problems of our time .
“ Some compare fighting a pandemic akin to fighting a global war , ” Ige said .
“ What I do know is that we can not go wrong in following their example in the face of any adversity .
Their courage under fire , strength of character , resilience over time provides a clear roadmap for us to follow in all that we do , whether we are fighting a social injustice or a virus .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Typhoon pummels South Korea with flooding, damaging winds

SEOUL , Korea , Republic Of - A powerful typhoon ripped through South Korea ’ s southern and eastern coasts with tree-snapping winds and flooding rains Thursday , knocking out power to thousands of homes and leaving at least one person dead .
Packing winds with maximum speed of 140 kilometres per hour , typhoon Maysak was offshore east of the city of Gangneung on Thursday morning and heading toward North Korea , South Korea ’ s weather agency said .
North Korea ’ s state TV showed widespread flooding in the eastern coastal cities of Wonsan and Tanchon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report any casualties .
More than 2,200 South Koreans evacuated their homes due to the storm that toppled scores of trees , utility poles and lampposts , ripped off signboards , and damaged or flooded dozens of homes and vehicles .
A woman in the southern city of Busan died after being injured by shattered window glass .
Four nuclear power reactors near Busan automatically shut down because of electricity supply issues , but no leak of radioactive materials was detected , South Korea ’ s Ministry of the Interior and Safety said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have managed to restore electricity to about one-third of the 121,949 homes that lost power .
The outages were mainly in southern mainland regions including Busan and the southern resort island of Jeju .
North Korea ’ s official Korean Central News Agency had said officials were working urgently to minimize damage from Maysak , which was forecast to make landfall in the country ’ s northeastern region in the afternoon .
KCNA said buildings , roads , railways , cropland and drainage systems were examined and fishing boats were moved to safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were applied to power stations to ensure stable power supply during the storm .
Maysak caused mostly minor damage on the Japanese island of Okinawa on Tuesday and is the second typhoon to hit the Korean Peninsula in as many weeks .
Typhoon Bavi damaged homes , buildings and crops on the peninsula last week but caused no apparent casualties .
Another storm in the Pacific was blowing north and forecast to affect northern Asia by the weekend .
Tropical Storm Haishen , with sustained winds of up to 90 km/h , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku before reaching the Korean Peninsula on Monday .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Former Catholic brother returned to face Mississippi charges

A former Catholic brother has been extradited from his home state of Wisconsin to Mississippi , where he faces sexual battery charges in a case involving two impoverished Black boys who say they were pressured as men into accepting paltry payouts to settle their abuse claims .
The men have accused Paul A .
West , once a Franciscan Friar and fourth-grade teacher , of molesting them in Mississippi , Wisconsin and New York while they were elementary school students .
West , 60 , did not contest his extradition at a hearing in Outagamie Country , Wisconsin on Aug. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Jail in Greenwood , Mississippi , earlier this week following an investigation by the Mississippi attorney general ’ s public integrity division .
West also has been charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child in Wisconsin .
The men making the allegations , La Jarvis Love and Joshua Love , both 37 , are cousins who grew up together and encountered West in the 1990s , when he was a teacher and later the principal at the St. Francis of Assisi School in Greenwood , Mississippi .
Three years ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them on school grounds and on road trips , including one to a New York summer camp established by the Franciscans , a Roman Catholic religious order .
As The Associated Press first reported , nearly two years ago La Jarvis Love and Joshua Love each agreed to settle their claims for $ 15,000 — far less than most clergy abuse victims receive .
A third man , Joshua ’ s younger brother , Raphael , also alleged West sexually abused him and reported the abuse to church authorities in 1998 , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Love rejected a settlement similar to those signed by his brother and cousin .
In November , La Jarvis Love and Joshua Love filed a lawsuit in federal district court in New York , claiming the Franciscans pressured them into signing low-ball settlements that required their silence about their allegations .
At the time they signed the settlements , they were not represented by an attorney .
“ They felt they could treat us that way because we ’ re poor and we ’ re Black , ” Joshua Love told the AP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when settling clergy sex abuse claims , they would stop using nondisclosure agreements because they may contribute to clergy abuse coverups .
However , religious orders such as the Franciscans are not bound by the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People , which contains the provision on nondisclosure agreements .
On Wednesday , La Jarvis Love said he was pleased to learn West was in custody , adding that the experience of stepping forward to identify West had taught him courage .
“ It ’ s crazy that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ It took a lot of courage to come forth because you never know how people are going to take this kind of thing.
” Mark Belenchia , the Mississippi co-ordinator of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests , lashed out at the Jackson Diocese and the Franciscan order for failing to take more decisive action against West in 1998 , after the first abuse allegation , and for offering La Jarvis Love and Joshua Love low-ball settlements with nondisclosure clauses after they reported their abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they were harmed as adults , “ Belenchia said of the Love cousins .
” The Diocese of Jackson and the Franciscan order ought to be ashamed of their performance.
“ A Wisconsin attorney who represented West at his extradition hearing did not return calls .
Father James Gannon , the leader of a Wisconsin-based group of Franciscan Friars , negotiated the settlements .
Last summer , he denied that racism or the Loves ’ poverty were factors in the amount of money offered or the confidentiality agreements .
“ Absolutely not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday , he did not return a call seeking comment on West ’ s arrest .
In 2006 , the Catholic Diocese of Jackson , which includes Greenwood , settled lawsuits covering 19 victims — 17 of whom were white - for $ 5 million .
That average payout of $ 263,000 for each survivor is 17 times that offered to each of the Loves .
Payments in more recent settlements nationally have ranged far higher .
Gannon also attempted to negotiate a similar agreement with Raphael Love , Joshua Love ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two life sentences in a Tennessee prison for a double homicide he committed as a juvenile .
Raphael Love refused Gannon ’ s offer because , he said , the amount was not enough to hire a criminal attorney willing to argue that he deserves a new trial .
The Franciscan Friars , based in Wisconsin , have been travelling in their trademark brown robes and sandals to serve the poor among the Mississippi Delta ’ s Black citizenry since the early 1950s .
Like other Catholic religious orders , Franciscans are subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the diocese in which they work , but they report to their leaders in the U.S. and at the Vatican .
Last year , when the Jackson diocese released a list of priests and brothers credibly accused of child sex abuse , West and a second Franciscan brother , Donald Lucas , were among them .
Joshua Love alleges he was also sexually abused by Lucas , who was found dead at St. Francis Church in 1999 , in an apparent suicide .
Rezendes reported from New York .
Follow him at https @ @


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Officer charged in shooting death of Black man in a Walmart

SAN FRANCISCO - A San Francisco Bay Area police officer was charged Wednesday with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a Black man inside a Walmart store in April .
The charge was filed Wednesday in the April 18 killing of Steven Taylor , 33 , when San Leandro Police Officer Jason Fletcher , 49 , responded to a call about an alleged shoplifter inside the store who was holding a baseball bat .
A 20-year veteran , Fletcher did not wait for backup and instead tried to grab the bat from Taylor , then fired his Taser and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 40 seconds , Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O ’ Malley said in a news release .
“ Officer Fletcher ’ s actions , coupled with his failure to attempt other de-escalation options rendered his use of deadly force unreasonable , “ O ’ Malley said .
Police were called to the store by a security guard who reported a possible robbery .
Fletcher , the first officer to arrive , clarified with the security guard that it was not a robbery , then he relayed that information through his police radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not wait for his cover officer and immediately contacted Mr. Taylor in the shopping cart area , ” they said .
Surveillance video showed Fletcher pulled out his service pistol at the same time he tried to take the bat from Taylor .
Taylor pulled the bat from Fletcher ’ s grasp and stepped away .
Shortly after , Fletcher shot Taylor twice with his taser .
As Taylor struggled to remain standing , Fletcher shot him in the chest with his service weapon just as another officer arrived in the store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review of the statements of witnesses and involved police officers , physical evidence and the review of multiple videos of the shooting shows that at the time of the shooting it was not reasonable to conclude Mr. Taylor posed an imminent threat of death or great bodily injury to Officer Fletcher or to anyone else in the store , ” O ’ Malley said .
Taylor ’ s family has said that he had mental health issues and the officers should have tried to de-escalate the situation without firing .
“ Yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had mental issues .
Yes , he was Black , ” his grandmother , Addie Kitchen , said at a rally last month for Taylor .
“ But does that mean we murder homeless people ?
That police can kill people with mental issues ?
I want to see that nothing like this happens again.
” San Leandro Police Chief Jeff Tudor said in a statement it was important to allow “ the judicial process to take its course ” and referred all questions to the district attorney ’ s office .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I know the loss of Steven Taylor has deeply affected this community , ” Tudor said .
Fletcher is expected to be arraigned Sept. 15 .

Olga R. Rodriguez - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Colombia arrests 3 Venezuelans tied to anti-Maduro plot

MIAMI - Police in Colombia have arrested three Venezuelans who were part of a failed plot organized by a former U.S. Green Beret to sneak across the border and oust President Nicolás Maduro , The Associated Press has learned The three were arrested in simultaneous raids early Wednesday in the capital of Bogota , a person who was in contact with the men at the time of their arrest told AP .
The person , who insisted on anonymity to discuss the continuing investigation , said the three were picked up on charges of arms trafficking and training to carry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men , Maj. Juvenal Sequea and Capt .
Juven Sequea , are the older brothers of the confessed commander of the failed May 3 incursion , Capt .
Antonio Sequea , who is jailed in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas .
The third , Rayder Ruso , is a civilian who has long sought Maduro ’ s overthrow .
All three lived for months in rustic camps along Colombia ’ s Caribbean coast where Jordan Goudreau , an American war veteran , was helping organize a volunteer army for a rapid cross-border strike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ragtag effort , known as Operation Gideon , months before the beach assault was launched , viewing it as a suicide mission that lacked the necessary support from the U.S. What was dubbed the “ Bay of Piglets ” — after the failed 1961 invasion of Cuba by anti-communist exiles — ended in a propaganda victory for Maduro with the capture of dozens of would-be combatants , including two of Goudreau ’ s former special forces buddies , Luke Denman and Airan Berry , who quickly pleaded guilty and were sentenced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump OK ’ d my murder , I am not exaggerating , and they are trying to send a group of snipers or hire snipers in Venezuela to kill me , ” Maduro said Tuesday , recalling the bizarre attack .
The U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó was also linked to the plot when it was revealed that two of his aides in Miami signed last fall a 42-page contract with Goudreau ’ s Florida company , Silvercorp USA , to carry out regime change .
The aides said they backed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mix of differences with Goudreau and a change in strategy .
They said no money changed hands except $ 50,000 to cover Goudreau ’ s initial expenses .
A full telling of the plot and what , if anything , U.S. officials knew in advance has been elusive despite questions from Democrats in Congress angry over the raid .
There were media reports that a fourth person , Yacsy Álvarez , who served as Goudreau ’ s translator and assistant in Colombia , had also been arrested Wednesday in Colombia for aiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirm whether she had been arrested .
In January , Álvarez flew with the three Americans from Miami to Colombia on a plane owned by her one-time boss , Franklin Durán , a wealthy businessman with a history of close ties to Maduro ’ s predecessor and mentor , the late Hugo Chávez .
Durán was arrested in May on charges connected to the plot , including treason , rebellion , conspiracy with a foreign government and arms trafficking and terrorism .
Álvarez was also an associate of Goudreau ’ s would-be partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cliver Alcalá , who like Álvarez had been living in Colombian city of Barranquilla after breaking with Maduro and fleeing his homeland in 2018 .
Alcalá surrendered to U.S. authorities in March on unrelated drug charges , just a few days after Colombian police seized a cache of assault rifles , tactical helmets and night vision goggles that he said belonged to the rebel cadre that he and Goudreau were readying to bring down Maduro .
It was not clear if U.S. officials played any role in Wednesday ’ s arrests .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associates of Goudreau as part of their own investigation into whether he violated U.S. laws that require any U.S. company supplying weapons or military equipment , as well as military training and advice , to foreign persons to seek State Department approval .
Goudreau did not immediately respond to a request for comment .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--New video shows fatal police shooting of Black man in LA

LOS ANGELES - A grainy video posted Wednesday shows the fatal shooting of a Black man by Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies after he was stopped on a bicycle for a traffic violation , but the video does not confirm the police allegation that he “ made a motion “ for a gun .
Dijon Kizzee was shot and killed Monday afternoon in South Los Angeles .
The video , obtained by the Los Angeles Times , shows the 29-year-old Kizzee scuffling with a deputy on a sidewalk .
Kizzee broke free , stumbled and fell to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police have said a gun fell out when Kizzee dropped a jacket as he fell to the ground and he “ made a motion ” for the weapon — prompting deputies to open fire .
But the video does not confirm whether that happened because a fence obstructs the view at that period in the sequence of events .
Kizzee ’ s death came after another police shooting victim , Jacob Blake , was hit in the back and paralyzed last month in his hometown of Kenosha , Wisconsin .
Blake ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenosha .
There have been two much smaller , peaceful protests in Los Angeles for Kizzee .
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump , the Blake family ’ s lawyer , announced Wednesday that he also is representing Kizzee ’ s relatives and denounced the fatal shooting “ We stand with Dijon ’ s family in demanding justice and transparency into this despicable and tragic killing perpetrated by Los Angeles County officers , “ Crump said in a statement .
” When officers shoot first and ask questions later , precious lives are lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those they are sworn to protect.
” The sheriff ’ s department provided no new information about the case on Wednesday but a department statement Tuesday said deputies tried to stop Kizzee for riding his bicycle in violation of vehicle codes , without specifying the alleged infraction .
Kizzee got off his bike and ran and the deputies briefly lost sight of him , the statement said .
The video shows a police SUV stop in a street .
A deputy gets out , runs around a parked car and appears to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sidewalk .
They tussle , standing , and move down the street together for several seconds .
Kissee appears to throw a punch .
Police have said he hit the deputy in the face but that ’ s not clear from the video .
The video then shows Kissee breaking free , stumbling and falling to the ground .
A second deputy arrives .
Within about 2 seconds , they repeatedly open fire .
Police have not said how many shots the deputies fired .
The video obtained by the Times does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a front door camera that does not show the shooting captured the sound of about 15 rounds fired .
Kizzee ’ s relatives have described him as devoted to his late mother and 18-year-old brother .
They said he was an energetic man who loved go-karts , cars and music and that he was working toward becoming a plumber .
The Los Angeles Sheriff ’ s Department , the largest in the nation , does not have body cameras for deputies , though that soon will change .
The county Board of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first group of deputies will be equipped with cameras next month .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva offered his condolences to Kizzee ’ s relatives on Tuesday , who he said includes a cousin who is a Sheriff ’ s Department member .
Villanueva did not offer any updates on the investigation during a live social media event on Wednesday .
He did not respond to repeated questions about the fatal shooting posted by The Associated Press during the event .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--TS Nana barrels toward Belize, could become hurricane

PUNTA GORDA , Belize - Tropical Storm Nana barrelled westward Wednesday just off the coast of Honduras on a collision course with the Central American nation of Belize , where thousands of people were stocking up on food , water and construction materials .
Long lines stretched through supermarkets and hardware store shelves were nearly bare as Belizeans bought materials to board up windows and doors ahead of Nana ’ s expected landfall late Wednesday night or early Thursday , possibly as a hurricane .
The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Nana was located about 100 miles ( 160 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum sustained winds of 60 mph ( 95 kph ) .
The storm was moving at 15 mph ( 24 kph ) and was expected to strengthen throughout the day .
Belize issued a hurricane warning for its coastline .
Nana was 50 miles ( 80 kilometres ) north-northwest of the Honduran island of Roatan , a popular tourist destination .
Heavy rains were expected in Belize , as well as in northern Honduras and throughout Guatemala as the storm crosses the isthmus Thursday .
Local leaders in rural villages in the southernmost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Emergency Management Organization to open hurricane shelters .
As evening approached , dark clouds hung on the horizon as uneasy residents awaited the storm ’ s arrival .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Former UN official charged with lying about rape in Iraq

NEW YORK - A former United Nations official accused of drugging and sexually assaulting several women has been charged with lying to the FBI .
Karim Elkorany , who worked as a telecommunications specialist in Iraq , was arrested Wednesday on two counts of making false statements to federal law enforcement agents .
Elkorany ’ s defence attorney , Dawn Cardi , denied the charges and said her client plans to “ vigorously fight ” them in Manhattan federal court .
Elkorany , 37 , of West Orange , New Jersey , resigned from the U.N. in early 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him outside his home about a woman who accused Elkorany of drugging and raping her in Iraq in 2016 .
Elkorany “ expressed familiarity ” with the woman ’ s claims , authorities said , but falsely denied drugging and raping her .
An indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges Elkorany engaged in a pattern of similar conduct involving at least five women since 2009 .
All of the women had been rendered unconscious after drinking alcoholic drinks prepared by Elkorany , the authorities said .
Elkorany worked in international aid , development and foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also previously worked for the U.N. Children ’ s Fund in Iraq , officials said .
A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the U.N. referred the criminal allegations to U.S. authorities and “ co-operated extensively ” with the investigation .


thetorontostar--2020-09-02--Ex-leaders of troubled care centre charged with money crimes

PHOENIX - Two former executives from an Arizona care facility where an incapacitated woman was raped have been indicted on financial charges , Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Wednesday .
Former Hacienda HealthCare CEO Bill Timmons and Chief Financial Officer Joseph O ’ Malley bilked the state out of millions of dollars through fraudulent billing practices over a six-year period , using the money to boost salaries and benefits , state prosecutors allege .
Hacienda agreed to repay the state nearly $ 11 million plus a $ 1 million fine .
Its new chief executive , Perry Petrilli , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently involved with Hacienda was aware ” of the billing practices .
“ Although the $ 12 million repayment and fine included in the civil settlement represent an extreme financial hardship for the company , we agreed to it voluntarily because it ’ s the right thing to do – and because it gives Hacienda a chance to move forward honourably , ” Petrilli said .
The organization will make an initial $ 7 million payment followed by monthly installments of $ 50,000 .
Joseph Chornenky , an attorney representing Timmons , didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon seeking comment on his client ’ s behalf .
It ’ s unclear whether O ’ Malley has an attorney , and there was no listed phone number for his home in Dewey .
Timmons and O ’ Malley are accused of overbilling the state and using tax dollars meant to fund its intermediate care facility , where the incapacitated woman lived , to fund other parts of its operation .
Prosecutors allege they used a company associated with Hacienda and located at the same address to buy supplies , which were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markup , including a delivery fee .
They are also accused of reusing vials of a vaccine but billing insurance companies for a full vial .
Hacienda came under scrutiny after a resident with physical and intellectual disabilities gave birth on Dec. 29 , 2018 .
A licensed practical nurse , Nathan Sutherland , has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual abuse and abuse of a vulnerable adult .
He ’ s awaiting trial in Maricopa County Superior Court .