thetorontostar--2020-09-06--Typhoon unleashes rain, strong winds in southern Japan

TOKYO - The second powerful typhoon to slam Japan in a week unleashed fierce winds and rain on southern islands on Sunday , blowing off rooftops and leaving homes without power as it edged northward into an area vulnerable to flooding and mudslides .
Weather officials warned that the rainfall from what could be a record storm would be fierce .
Warnings were issued days in advance for people to be ready to take shelter and stock up on food and water .
Several rivers on the main southwestern island of Kyushu were at risk of overflowing , officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warnings were issued for more than 50,000 people in Okinawa and Kyushu , including Kagoshima and and Nagasaki prefectures .
News footage showed people in Kyushu starting to gather at gymnasiums , before winds gather momentum in the evening .
Social distancing will be in place to guard against the coronavirus pandemic , officials said .
The Japan Meteorological Agency said Typhoon Haishen , which means “ sea god ” in Chinese , was packing sustained winds of up to 162 kilometres ( 100 miles ) per hour after battering Okinawa and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .
Alerts for strong winds , waves , high tides , rainfall and lightning were issued for Amami Oshima alongside evacuation orders .
There were no immediate reports of any injuries in Okinawa , home to more than half of the roughly 50,000 U.S. troops based in Japan under a bilateral treaty .
Haishen was not only powerful — equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane — but also large in its reach , according to the meteorological agency .
Bullet trains were temporarily halting services , and dozens of flights were cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue Monday and possibly on Tuesday for flights in southern Japan , such as Yamaguchi , Kochi and Fukuoka .
Haishen ’ s projected course has it hitting the Korean Peninsula later in the week .
Haishen ’ s course is similar to Typhoon Maysak , which lashed southern Japan last week , injuring dozens of people and cutting power to thousands of homes .
A cargo ship carrying 43 crew members and 5,800 cows from New Zealand capsized off the coast of Japan .
Two people were rescued , and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been halted because of Haishen .


thetorontostar--2020-09-06--Beirut search effort sparked by dog stops, no survivor found

BEIRUT - A search operation of a building that collapsed during last month ’ s deadly blast in Beirut stopped on Sunday after rescue workers said they did not find any survivors .
The operation in the historic Mar Mikhail district had gripped Lebanon since Thursday , sparking hope that a survivor might be found under the rubble a month after the blast on Aug. 4 that killed 191 people and wounded nearly 6,500 .
Seven people remain missing .
The devastating explosion of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate at the port of Beirut caused widespread damage to several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reeling from the blast , with a quarter of a million people made homeless by the impact of the explosion on apartment buildings .
The latest rescue operation began Thursday when a dog used by a Chilean search-and-rescue team signalled the detection of a possible human pulse under the rubble of a collapsed building during a tour of streets in the area .
Rescue workers used cranes , shovels and their bare hands in a meticulous search after a pulsing signal was then detected by a device .
The black-and-white 5-year-old dog named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day as aid workers removed debris .
Photos of Flash , in red shoes to protect its paws , circulated on social media and the dog became a hero to many Lebanese .
The head of the Chilean team , Francisco Lermanda , told journalists at the scene late Saturday they had not found any bodies amid the rubble .
Lermanda said the pulsing signals heard might have come from of a member of the rescue team .
In past days , the Chilean team had urged people on the streets , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phones and remain quiet for several minutes at a time to avoid interfering with their instruments .
Lermanda said they will search a sidewalk after which they will declare the operation over .
It was not clear if a search for bodies would continue .
Two days after the explosion , a French rescue team and Lebanese civil defence volunteers had searched the same building , which had a bar on the ground floor .
At the time , they had no reason to believe anyone was still at the site .

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada
Postal Code


thetorontostar--2020-09-06--Hungary to unveil statue of late President George H.W. Bush

BUDAPEST , Hungary - A statue of former U.S. President George H.W .
Bush will be unveiled in October in Budapest ’ s Liberty Square , officials said Sunday .
In 1989 , Bush became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hungary .
He died in 2018 at the age of 94 .
The statue , to be inaugurated on Oct. 23 , “ expresses our mutual appreciation and gratitude for the statesman , who contributed to shaping the future of Europe and within Hungary through his commitment and strong morals , and through his advocacy for democracy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint statement from U.S .
Ambassador David B. Cornstein and Gergely Gulyas , Prime Minister Viktor Orban ’ s chief of staff .
The statue of the 41st U.S. president is being created by Hungarian sculptor Istvan Mate , whose larger-than-life statue of former President Ronald Reagan was unveiled in Liberty Square in June 2011 .
“ It is fitting that the statue will be located close to that of U.S. President Ronald Reagan in Budapest , which will symbolize the joint fight of these two leaders to defeat , in President Reagan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empire , ’ ” the officials ’ statement added .
Liberty Square is surrounded by several key institutions , including the National Bank of Hungary , the U.S. Embassy and a huge building which housed Hungary first stock exchange during the first half of the 20th century .


thetorontostar--2020-09-06--Berlusconi responding to virus drugs but in “delicate” phase

ROME - Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is responding “ optimally ” to COVID-19 treatment but is the most vulnerable type of patient and is in “ the most delicate phase ” of the virus , his personal doctor said Sunday .
Dr. Alberto Zangrillo repeated Sunday that he nevertheless remained “ cautiously optimistic ” about Berlusconi ’ s recovery .
The three-time premier turns 84 in a few weeks and has had a history of heart problems that required being fitted with a pacemaker several years ago .
He checked into the San Raffaele hospital in Milan early Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the week .
At the time he had the early stages of a lung infection .
“ The patient is responding optimally to treatment , “ Zangrillo told reporters outside the hospital .
“ This doesn ’ t mean we can claim victory because , as you know , he belongs to the most fragile category , ” given his age .
Data from Italy ’ s Superior Institute of Health indicates that men aged 80-87 have the highest COVID-19 death rate among all cases in Italy , at 47 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ released anytime soon , recalling that the virus “ requires adequate treatment and takes its time.
” Berlusconi spent some of his summer vacation at his seaside villa on Sardinia ’ s Emerald Coast .
Many of Italy ’ s recent cases of COVID-19 have been linked to clusters in people who vacationed in Sardinia .
Zangrillo , Berlusconi ’ s longtime doctor , is head of intensive care at San Raffaele .
To date , Berlusconi is believed to still be in a VIP ward of the clinic .
Zangrillo has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of May , when Italy ’ s lockdown had greatly slowed its rate of new infections , that “ clinically speaking the virus doesn ’ t exist anymore.
“ Zangrillo has since acknowledged that statement was too strong and “ off-key ” and was based merely on observing that fewer patients required intensive care at the time .


thetorontostar--2020-09-06--WikiLeaks’ Assange to fight US extradition bid in UK court

LONDON - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to fight for his freedom in a British court after a decade of legal drama , as he challenges American authorities ’ attempt to extradite him on spying charges over the site ’ s publication of secret U.S. military documents .
Lawyers for Assange and the U.S. government are scheduled to face off in London Monday at an extradition hearing that was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic .
American prosecutors have indicted the 49-year-old Australian on 18 espionage and computer misuse charges adding up to a maximum sentence of 175 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ politically motivated abuse of power that will stifle press freedom and put journalists at risk .
Assange attorney Jennifer Robinson said the case “ is fundamentally about basic human rights and freedom of speech.
” “ Journalists and whistle-blowers who reveal illegal activity by companies or governments and war crimes – such as the publications Julian has been charged for – should be protected from prosecution , ” she said .
American prosecutors say Assange is a criminal , not a free-speech hero .
They allege that Assange conspired with U.S. army intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon computer and release hundreds of thousands of secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan .
They also say he conspired with members of hacking organizations and sought to recruit hackers to provide WikiLeaks with classified information .
“ By disseminating the materials in an unredacted form , he likely put people -- human rights activists , journalists , advocates , religious leaders , dissidents and their families -- at risk of serious harm , torture or even death , ” James Lewis , a British lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hearing in February .
Assange argues he is a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection , and says the leaked documents exposed U.S. military wrongdoing .
Among the files released by WikiLeaks was video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people , including two Reuters journalists .
His lawyers argue the prosecution is an abuse of process by a Trump administration that wants to make an example of Assange .
They say he would be held in inhuman conditions and would not get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journalism organizations and human rights groups have called on Britain to refuse the extradition request .
Amnesty International said Assange was “ the target of a negative public campaign by U.S. officials at the highest levels.
” “ If Julian Assange is prosecuted it could have a chilling effect on media freedom , leading publishers and journalists to self-censor in fear of retaliation , ” said Amnesty ’ s Europe Director , Nils Muižnieks .
The four-week extradition hearing is part of a twisting saga rife with competing claims of hacking , spying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim the U.S. intelligence services directed a private security firm to spy on him while he was living in Ecuador ’ s London embassy -- a case currently being heard in a Spanish court .
Assange also alleges he was offered a pardon by the Trump administration if he agreed to say Russia wasn ’ t involved in leaking Democratic National Committee emails that were published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 U.S. election campaign .
The White House denies that claim .
Assange ’ s legal troubles began in 2010 , when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sweden , which wanted to question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women .
He refused to go to Stockholm , saying he feared extradition or illegal rendition to the United States or the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba .
In 2012 , Assange sought refuge inside the Ecuadorian Embassy , where he was beyond the reach of U.K. and Swedish authorities -- but also effectively a prisoner , unable to leave the tiny diplomatic mission in London ’ s tony Knightsbridge area .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually soured , and he was evicted from the embassy in April 2019 .
British police immediately arrested him for jumping bail in 2012 .
Sweden dropped the sex crimes investigations in November 2019 because so much time had elapsed , but Assange remains in London ’ s high-security Belmarsh Prison as he awaits the extradition decision .
Supporters say the ordeal has harmed Assange ’ s physical and mental health , leaving him with depression , dental problems and a serious shoulder ailment .
Assange ’ s partner Stella Moris , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lived in the embassy , said he looked thinner and was in “ a lot of pain ” when she visited him in prison in late August for the first time since March .
The extradition hearing opened in February but was put on hold when the U.K. went into lockdown in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
It is resuming with social distancing measures in court and video feeds so that journalists and observers can watch remotely .
Assange is expected to be brought by prison van from Belmarsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hearing , which is due to run until early October .
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser is likely to take weeks or even months to consider her verdict , with the losing side likely to appeal .


thetorontostar--2020-09-06--California wildfire traps campers in national forest

SHAVER LAKE , Calif. - More than 60 people were rescued from a California campground by military helicopter , including two who were severely injured in one of three fast-spreading wildfires that sent people fleeing as a brutal heat wave pushed temperatures into triple digits in many parts of the state .
The fire trapped campers Saturday at a reservoir in the Sierra National Forest .
Of the 63 people rescued , two were severely injured , 10 were moderately injured and 51 others had minor or no injuries , according to a tweet by the Fresno Fire Department .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations , ” the agency posted .
“ Unknown how many more.
” The wildfire burning near Shaver Lake exploded to 56 square miles ( 145 square kilometres ) , jumped a river and compromised the only road into the Mammoth Pool Campground , national forest spokesman Dan Tune said .
At least 2,000 structures were threatened in the area about 290 miles ( 467 kilometres ) north of Los Angeles , where temperatures in the city ’ s San Fernando Valley reached 117 degrees ( 47 degrees Celsius ) .
The Madera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tweet earlier Saturday that about 150 people were at the campground ’ s boat launch , and 10 of them were injured .
“ All are safe at this time , “ the department tweeted .
Officers also were evacuating Beasore Meadows , a large ranch in the Sierra National Forest , on Saturday night , the department tweeted .
Agencies were co-ordinating an aircraft rescue for crews to safely evacuate them , The Fresno Bee reported .
Tune said the campers were told to shelter in place until fire crews , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to the site .
Tune said he didn ’ t know how close the fire was burning to the campsite .
“ All our resources are working to make that escape route nice and safe for them , ” he said .
The lake 35 miles ( 56 kilometres ) northeast of Fresno is surrounded by thick pine forests and is a popular destination for boating and fishing .
Bone-dry conditions and the hot weather fueled the flames .
“ Once the fire gets going , it creates its own weather , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Tune said .
The fire broke out Friday evening .
Crews worked through the night , but by Saturday morning authorities issued evacuation orders for lakeside communities and urged people seeking relief from the Labor Day weekend heat to stay away from the popular lake .
“ Adjust your Labour Day weekend plans .
Access to Shaver Lake is completely closed to the public due to the # CreekFire , ” the Fresno County sheriff ’ s office tweeted after announcing evacuation orders for campsites and communities by the lake .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to only allow access for emergency responders and evacuees .
In Southern California , a fire in the foothills of Yucaipa east of Los Angeles prompted evacuation orders for eastern portions of the city of 54,000 along with several communities , including Oak Glen , Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls .
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , also known as Cal Fire , said the fire scorched at least 1.5 square miles ( 3.9 square kilometres ) and was burning at a “ moderate to dangerous ” rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gorgonio Wilderness was closed , and hikers were urged to leave .
In eastern San Diego County , fire officials warned a fire near Alpine was burning at a “ dangerous rate of speed ” after spreading to 400 acres ( 0.6 square miles ) within an hour .
A small community south of Alpine in the Cleveland National Forest was ordered to evacuate .
Cal Fire said nearly 12,500 firefighters were battling 22 major fires in the state .
Despite the heat , firefighters were able to contain two major fires in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 900 wildfires since Aug. 15 , many of them started by an intense series of thousands of lightning strikes .
The blazes have burned more than 1.5 million acres ( 2,343 square miles ) .
There have been eight fire deaths and nearly 3,300 structures destroyed .
The heat wave was expected to spread triple-digit temperatures over much of California through Monday .
Officials urged people to conserve electricity to ease the strain on the state ’ s power grid .
Pacific Gas & Electric , the state ’ s largest utility , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power starting Tuesday because of expected high winds and heat that could create even greater fire danger .
Some of the state ’ s largest and deadliest fires in recent years have been sparked by downed power lines and other utility equipment .


thetorontostar--2020-09-06--The Latest: Berlusconi in ‘most delicate phase’ of the virus

ROME — Silvio Berlusconi ’ s doctor says that the hospitalized former Italian premier is responding “ optimally ” to COVID-19 treatment , but that he belongs to the most vulnerable category of patients and is in “ the most delicate phase ” of the virus .
Dr. Alberto Zangrillo , who is head of intensive care at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan , repeated Saturday that he nevertheless remained “ cautiously optimistic ” about Berlusconi ’ s recovery .
“ The patient is responding optimally to treatment , “ he said .
” This doesn ’ t mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , he belongs to the most fragile category ” given his age .
He also suggested Berlusconi would not be released anytime soon , recalling that the virus “ requires adequate treatment and takes its time.
” The three-time premier turns 84 in a few weeks and has had a history of heart problems that required being fitted with a pacemaker several years ago .
He checked into San Raffaele Friday after testing positive for the virus earlier in the week .
Zangrillo said at the time that he had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Data from Italy ’ s Superior Institute of Health indicates men aged 80-87 have the highest COVID-19 lethality rate among all cases in Italy , at 47 % .
Berlusconi spent some of his summer vacation at his seaside villa on Sardinia ’ s Emerald Coast .
Many of Italy ’ s recent cases of COVID-19 have been linked to clusters in people who vacationed on Sardinia .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK — Thanks , but no : Small businesses shun payroll tax deferral — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ferry from a tiny Italian island to relieve severe overcrowding during the coronavirus pandemic at a residence for asylum-seekers — India ’ s coronavirus caseload has surpassed 4 million , deepening misery in the country ’ s vast hinterlands , where surges have crippled the underfunded health care system .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : MELBOURNE , Australia — The premier of Australia ’ s Victoria state announced a slight easing of restrictions in Melbourne but the country ’ s second-largest city will remain in lockdown until at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protester with assault after an officer suffered cuts to the head during an anti-lockdown rally in Melbourne on Saturday .
Police said that seven others have been charged with breaching COVID-19 directions after about 200 gathered at the Shrine of Remembrance and Albert Park .
Scuffles between protesters and police resulted in more than 160 fines for contravening lockdown measures or not wearing a mask .
“ Despite all the warnings , it was disappointing to see individuals turn out to protest in the city , putting the lives of Victorians at risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Sunday , health officials said Victoria recorded 63 new cases and five more deaths .
It takes the state ’ s total fatalities to 666 and the national death toll to 753 .
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said that from Sept. 13 , the nightly curfew will start an hour later at 9 p.m. and run until 5 a.m. People living alone can nominate a friend or family member who can visit them .
Two hours of daily exercise will be allowed , including social interactions such as a picnic at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beach .
NEW DELHI — India saw another record surge of 90,632 cases in the past 24 hours , as infections spread to smaller cities and parts of rural India .
According to the Health Ministry , India ’ s caseload reached 4,113,811 , slightly short of Brazil ’ s confirmed 4,123,000 infections .
Brazil is the second worst-hit country after the United States with 6,245,112 cases .
The ministry on Sunday also reported 1,065 deaths for a total of 70,626 .
More than 1 million cases have been detected in India in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India ’ s daily testing exceeds 1 million now .
Dr. Randeep Guleria , a government health expert , said India is seeing a resurgence with over 70 % of its nearly 1.4 billion people still susceptible to infections .
“ We could say that we are seeing some sort of a second wave in certain parts of the country.
” India ’ s recovery rate was 77.23 % , leading to a decline in fatality rate to around 1.73 % , the ministry said .
With the economy contracting by a record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving millions jobless , the government is continuing to relax restrictions except in high-risk areas .
It announced that subway will resume service on Monday after more than five months with restrictions on the number of people on board .
Guleria also noted the country is experiencing a COVID behaviour fatigue with many people crowding public places without masks and the streets back to traffic jams .
Six of India ’ s 28 states — Maharashtra , Andhra Pradesh , Tamil Nadu , Karnataka , Uttar Pradesh and Delhi — remain the worst-hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and nearly 65 % of total cases .
CARSON CITY , Nev. — Nevada health officials on Saturday reported 390 additional COVID-19 cases and 13 new deaths , bringing the statewide totals to 71,102 confirmed cases and 1,388 deaths .
The vast majority of cases and deaths in Nevada have occurred in Clark County , which includes metro Las Vegas .
In other developments , Reno officials said a one-day closure of a small section of a downtown street for limited on-street food and drink service would be a test for helping restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass gatherings .
Reno ’ s experiment Saturday follows the lead of other cities .
PHOENIX — A suburban school district in metro Phoenix has put off its plan to return its high school to in-person instruction from remote learning starting Tuesday .
Cactus Shadows High School Principal Tony Vining announced late Friday that Cave Creek Unified School District ’ s sole high school didn ’ t “ have enough staff to safely open and will need to revert to our distance learning model.
” Some Arizona schools have reopened for in-person instruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Tan Valley , was thwarted last month because numerous teachers called in sick while voicing concerns about the safety of reopening schools .
The state Department of Health Services on Saturday reported 836 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases with 36 additional deaths , increasing the statewide totals to 205,516 cases and 5,207 deaths .


thetorontostar--2020-09-06--Germany: 800 mourn death of 5 kids allegedly killed by mom

BERLIN - More than 800 people came together for a memorial for the five children who were allegedly killed by their mother at their home in the western city of Solingen , the German news agency dpa reported Sunday .
Neighbours , friends and others mourning the deaths of the five young children lit candles Saturday night in front of the building where they had lived .
They brought flowers , toys and balloons with the names of the dead children them : Melina , Leonie , Sophie , Timo and Luca , dpa reported .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to express your sadness , ” Hans-Peter Harbecke , a neighbourhood organizer , told public broadcaster WDR .
“ ” It ’ s easier when you ’ re together , it ’ s more intensive as a community.
“ Prosecutors have charged the 27-year-old mother of the five children , who were found dead at their home on Thursday , with murder .
The killings have caused widespread shock in Germany .
Investigators have said that postmortem examinations on the children , who were between 1 to 8 years old , showed signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was still unclear how exactly they died .
The woman sent a sixth child , her eldest , to stay with his grandmother Thursday before attempting to take her own life by jumping in front of a train at the Duesseldorf railway station .
She suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries , and investigators have not questioned her yet , officials said .
The 11-year-old boy is still with his grandmother and both are receiving trauma counselling , dpa reported .
Local media reported that the mother separated from the father of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that the mother had been showing signs of being stressed and overwhelmed by her situation for a while .


thetorontostar--2020-09-06--Unruly Portland protests not abating after 100 straight days

PORTLAND , Ore. - Hundreds of people gathered for rallies and marches against police violence and racial injustice Saturday night in Portland , Oregon , as often violent nightly demonstrations that have happened for 100 days since George Floyd was killed showed no signs of ceasing .
Molotov cocktails thrown in the street during a march sparked a large fire and prompted police to declare a riot .
Video posted online appeared to show tear gas being deployed to clear protesters from what police said was an unpermitted demonstration .
Arrests were made , but it wasn ’ t immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community member was injured , police said .
A person ’ s shoes caught fire after flames broke out in the street , video showed .
People were “ engaging in tumultuous and violent conduct thereby intentionally or recklessly creating a grave risk of causing public alarm , ” the department tweeted .
“ Fire bombs were thrown at officers.
” Protesters , most wearing black , had gathered around sunset Saturday at a grassy park in the city .
Wooden shields were placed on the grass for protesters to use as protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May after the police killing of Floyd in Minneapolis .
During the clashes , some have broken windows , set small fires and pelted police with rocks and other objects .
On the 100th day of protests in Portland , demonstrators vowed to keep coming into the streets .
Tupac Leahy , a 23-year-old Black man from Portland , said he had probably been out to protests for about 70 of the 100 days of demonstrations .
Leahy said he wanted to see a significant reduction to the local police budget , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said the demonstrations would continue for some time .
“ I think it ’ s going to keep going on until the election , ” Leahy said .
“ I don ’ t see it slowing down.
” Chelsea Jordan , 30 , of Portland , said : “ I feel the people here have a lot of heart and a lot of commitment.
“ Jordan was helping spray yellow paint on cutouts to mark the names of Black people killed by police .
“ I want to keep at it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so I think it ’ s going to be a long fight , ” she said .
Earlier Saturday , hundreds of people gathered in a park just north of Portland in Vancouver , Washington , for a memorial service for Aaron “ Jay ” Danielson , a supporter of a right-wing group called Patriot Prayer , who was killed Aug. 29 .
The suspect was himself shot and killed by police Thursday .
Families showed up at the event with their kids , lining up for the free BBQ and picnicking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As various speakers addressed the audience on stage , attendees waved their flags enthusiastically , occasionally breaking out into chants of “ U-S-A !
” Many of the crowd were President Donald Trump supporters , wearing MAGA hats and shirts or holding Trump-Pence flags .
Some also waved flags and wore T-shirts showing support for the police .
The crowded regularly erupted in boos with any mention of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown , whom Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson demanded apologize to Danielson ’ s family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portrayed .
“ This is about truth and lies , ” Gibson said .
“ Jay was not a white supremacist.
” The documents included shots of security footage that showed the suspect , Michael Forest Reinoehl , ducked into a parking garage and reached toward a pocket or pouch at his waist before emerging to follow the victim .
Danielson was holding bear spray and an expandable baton and had a loaded Glock handgun in a holster at his waist , according to the documents .
Witnesses told police that just before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ wan na go , ” which is frequently a challenge to a fight .
Danielson , 39 , was shot in the chest and died at the scene .
The court documents were filed to support second-degree murder charges against Reinoehl , who was a supporter of antifa — shorthand for anti-fascists and an umbrella description for far-left-leaning militant groups .
Late Friday and early Saturday morning protests continued in Portland , with police declaring an unlawful assembly and arresting 27 people .


thetorontostar--2020-09-06--Pope: Gossiping is “plague worse than COVID”

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis said Sunday that gossiping is a “ plague worse than COVID ” that is seeking to divide the Catholic Church .
Francis strayed from his prepared text to double down on his frequent complaint about gossiping within church communities and even within the Vatican bureaucracy .
Francis didn ’ t give specifics during his weekly blessing , but went on at some length to say the devil is the “ biggest gossiper ” who is seeking to divide the church with his lies .
“ Please brothers and sisters , let ’ s try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Gossip is a plague worse than COVID .
Worse .
Let ’ s make a big effort : No gossiping !
” Francis ’ comments came as he elaborated on a Gospel passage about the need to correct others privately when they do something wrong .
The Catholic hierarchy has long relied on this “ fraternal correction ” among priests and bishops to correct them when they err without airing problems in public .
Survivors of sexual abuse have said this form of private reprimand has allowed abuse to fester in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superiors who covered up for them escape punishment .


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Food banks: USDA program helped but better ways to meet need

DES MOINES , Iowa - As she inched ahead in her rusty Chevy pickup , Brianna Lordz bemoaned that engine problems had prevented her from making it to the last few drive-up produce giveaways organized by a Des Moines food pantry .
But Lordz managed to coax her old truck to a former Sears parking lot , where she waited behind dozens of other vehicles spread across four lanes and lined up at a semi-trailer stocked with 20-pound boxes of cabbage , onions , peppers , carrots and other veggies provided by the federal government .
The giveaways are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time when the coronavirus pandemic has caused jobs to dry up and grocery prices to soar .
“ This is amazing .
This is something the government did , and let ’ s talk about taking care of the people , “ she said .
“ Everything about the COVID-19 , it ’ s just a bad thing but you can ’ t blame nobody for it.
” Across the country , people like Lordz have picked up roughly 75 million food boxes this summer through the program overseen by the U.S. Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spring when efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus caused food demand at restaurants and schools to plunge .
That left farmers with little choice but to dispose of produce , meat and dairy products even as millions of people desperately turned to help from overwhelmed food banks .
The Farmers to Families Food Box Program was intended to help farmers , distributors and people who had lost their jobs .
After a few hiccups , it has largely succeeded .
The USDA recently added another $ 1 billion to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2.5 billion .
Anti-hunger advocates say that while they appreciate the delivery of fresh , high-quality food , many more people could be helped if the federal government would increase spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , or SNAP .
Democrats in Congress have been seeking a 15 % increase in funding for SNAP , the federal government ’ s main anti-hunger program , which lets people buy food at grocery stores and provides an estimated nine meals for each one offered by the nation ’ s food banks .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed , leaving food bank leaders cautioning that there is a limit to how many people they can help .
They warn of problems ahead now that a $ 600 weekly federal jobless payment has expired and many states haven ’ t approved even $ 300 in extra payments .
Across the country , more than 14.5 million people are collecting unemployment benefits , compared to 1.7 million a year ago .
“ Everyone sees we ’ re meeting the need and thinks maybe we don ’ t have to come up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take care of it , “ said Mutt Unger , CEO of the Des Moines Area Religious Council , which operates 14 pantries and mobile operations .
“ But that ’ s not what we ’ re meant to be .
We ’ re not supposed to be here in place of solving problems .
We ’ re a stopgap measure.
” Feeding America , a Chicago-based network of more than 200 food banks , expects a 10 billion pound gap between demand and supply of food this year , made worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s about double the gap the organization saw last year .
“ Increasing SNAP benefits is just the most efficient way we can make sure people have the food they need and reduce demand at food banks , “ said Kate Leone , Feeding America ’ s chief government relations officer .
“ That kind of intervention is the only way to bend the demand curve down in a meaningful way.
” Despite those concerns , officials at food banks said the federal food box program has undoubtedly helped .
Brian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Heartland in Omaha , Nebraska , said at times this summer , his food bank was giving away nearly twice as much food as normal , and the food box program accounted for roughly 20 % of its supply .
“ It ’ s been awesome , ” Barks said .
“ The amount we have been receiving has been very , very helpful.
” At the FIND Food Bank in the Palm Springs , California , area , the 2 million pounds of food being distributed monthly is roughly double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since March , the food bank has distributed a total of 11.8 million pounds of food , and the food box program provided 2.7 million pounds of that , said Debbie Espinosa , president and CEO of the food bank .
“ We ’ re very thankful the boxes came when they did because we needed the extra food support , ” Espinosa said .
The federal food box program initially faced questions because some of the companies that won contracts weren ’ t food distributors and the contracts didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food banks incurred .
Despite coming together quickly , Greg Ibach , the USDA under secretary overseeing the effort , said its contractors “ delivered all or above 90 % of the boxes that they had proposed to deliver.
” Although food banks had to absorb the cost of delivering the prepackaged food boxes the program provided , they were able to use money they would have spent buying the produce and other products .
“ It was a bit of a scramble to get it going and get it out .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , and we made it all work in the end , ” said Rachelle Mesheau with the Redwood Empire Food Bank in northern California .
The USDA is tweaking the program in the third round of bidding to try to address some of the concerns that have been raised .
“ The USDA definitely learned a lot from phase one and phase two , so in phase three they are really tightening up some aspects of it , ” said Robin Safley with Feeding Florida food banks .
The new contracts will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food boxes are delivered to underserved rural areas .
For example , the West Texas Food Bank in Odessa didn ’ t receive any food boxes during the first two rounds of contracts because no distributors nearby won contracts .
Michelle Book , CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa , welcomed the program but hopes for more distributors .
“ We would take more if we could get more .
”

Scott McFetridge And Josh Funk - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Almost 300 Rohingya found on beach in Indonesia’s Aceh

BANDA ACEH , Indonesia - Almost 300 Rohingya Muslims were found on a beach in Indonesia ’ s Aceh province on Monday after months at sea , officials said .
The group arrived at Ujong Blang beach from one boat and were reported by local residents .
Officials arrived and found that the Rohingya had dispersed into three groups after landing , Banda Sakti Subdistrict Military Commander Roni Mahendra said .
“ We persuaded them and asked the local residents to help until they gathered again , ” Mahendra said .
The 181 women , 100 men and 14 children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local residents , police , military and health providers .
“ Now we are still waiting for further instruction from our supervisors , ” Mahendra said .
Indrika Ratwatte , the director for Asia and the Pacific for UNHCR , the U.N. refugee agency , said the Rohingya had survived about seven months at sea in desperate conditions , with some needing medical treatment .
About 330 Rohingya are understood to have embarked on the journey in Cox ’ s Bazar in Bangladesh in February , he said .
“ Over 30 are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ratwatte said .
The group tried repeatedly to disembark over more than 200 days at sea but were not permitted to land , he said .
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar due to a military crackdown , and many live in densely crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh .
Rights activists fear large numbers of Rohingya have gone to sea , fleeing ongoing persecution in Myanmar and hardship in the camps in Bangladesh , where traffickers may promise them a better life abroad .
Amnesty International Indonesia Executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still willing to risk everything in search of safety .
“ It is appalling that the Indonesian authorities are waiting for local fishermen to take the initiative in carrying out these rescues .
The government , not private individuals , should have saved these lives , “ Hamid said .
“ The central government of Indonesia must now ensure those disembarked get the protection they are entitled to , including food , shelter , and essential health services -– including protection from COVID-19 .
They should assist the local government in handling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also urged Indonesian authorities to co-ordinate with other countries in the region to search for and rescue Rohingya at sea .
In June , Indonesian fishermen discovered 94 hungry , weak Rohingya on a wooden boat adrift off Aceh , Indonesia ’ s westernmost province .


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Climate activists block Warsaw street against gov’t inaction

WARSAW , Poland - A few hundred Polish climate activists blocked traffic in downtown Warsaw Monday to spur the government @ @ @ @ @ environment .
It was the second action since Saturday by Poland ’ s chapter of @ @ @ @ @ protection group that says world leaders are not doing enough to counter climate change .
@ @ @ @ @ “ We are Rebelling in Order to Live , ” the group blocked a major @ @ @ @ @ up morning traffic .
The police checked their documents and carried them to the side @ @ @ @ @ Largely powered by coal , Poland has some of Europe ’ s worst quality air @ @ @ @ @ many of its rivers and lakes is below the required quality standards .


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Labor Day bringing Biden to Pa., Harris and Pence to Wis.

WILMINGTON , Del .
- Democratic candidate Joe Biden is collecting a trio of Labor Day endorsements from organized labour while running mate Kamala Harris and Vice-President Mike Pence are set to campaign in Wisconsin as the 2020 presidential race , disrupted for months by the pandemic , enters its final phase .
Biden was heading Monday to Harrisburg , Pennsylvania , for an AFL-CIO virtual town hall with union President Richard Trumka .
President Donald Trump had no public events on his holiday calendar .
Both campaigns see Wisconsin as a prize that could be pivotal .
Harris will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners in Milwaukee , while Pence will tour an energy facility in La Crosse .
Trump ’ s narrow win in Wisconsin in 2016 helped to send him to the White House .
According to details shared first with The Associated Press , the Biden campaign will announce three union endorsements : the Laborers ’ International Union of North America , the International Union of Elevator Constructors and the National Federation of Federal Employees , collectively representing hundreds of thousands of union workers nationwide who can be mobilized to support the campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could help get out the vote in states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania .
Labor Day typically marks the unofficial start to the fall campaign season as candidates accelerate their activity for the final sprint to Election Day .
But Monday ’ s events are playing out this year against the backdrop of a pandemic that has upended campaigning , forcing much of the candidates ’ traditional activity online .
Indeed , this marks Harris ’ first solo foray out on the campaign trail for in-person events since she was announced as Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Biden himself has stepped up his campaigning over the past week , travelling to Pittsburgh and Kenosha , Wisconsin , and holding two news conferences .
Aides say to expect both Biden and Harris to increase their campaigning for the remaining weeks .
While the presidential campaign was roiled this past week by multiple reports recounting comments Trump allegedly made disparaging fallen soldiers , as well as the police shooting and violent protests in Kenosha , the focus on Labor Day is likely to return to the issue that polls consistently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minds : the economy .
A strong economy that was Trump ’ s biggest asset for reelection has now become a potential liability , brought down by the coronavirus .
The Biden campaign has emphasized the economic damage wrought by what Biden argues was an inadequate response to the pandemic that resulted in more loss of life and jobs than necessary .
It ’ s a line both Biden and Harris are likely to push while speaking to union voters .
The U.S. economy has been steadily rebounding from its epic collapse in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rehired some laid-off employees .
Yet the recovery is far from complete .
Only about half the 22 million jobs that vanished in the pandemic have been recovered .
Economic inequalities also appear to have widened , with lower-income and minority workers suffering disproportionately while affluent Americans have lost fewer jobs and even benefited from rising stock and home prices .

Alexandra Jaffe And Kathleen Ronayne - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--2 top Thai pro-democracy protesters released from jail

BANGKOK - Two top leaders of Thailand ’ s pro-democracy protest movement were released from jail on Monday after police agreed that they no longer needed to be detained for investigation .
Bangkok Criminal Court last Thursday ordered Arnon Nampha and Panupong Jadnok to be held in Bangkok Remand Prison at the request of police , who arrested them for allegedly violating the terms under which they had been previously freed on bail .
They had been granted bail last month on charges including sedition arising from a protest rally in Bangkok in July .
Police said their continued involvement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release .
Both men have remained defiant , and again on Monday said they would continue their public protest activities .
Noraseth Nanongtoom , a lawyer for the legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights , said the two confirmed that they intended to take the stage again at a rally scheduled for Sept. 19 that is expected to be the biggest so far .
Protest organizers say more than 10,000 people attended an Aug. 16 protest .
Police cancelled their remand request at the court ’ s suggestion , the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police request was withdrawn because their investigation had progressed enough that the two no longer needed to be held .
They could have been held for up to 48 days without formal charges .
The protest movement , spearheaded by students , has declared three core demands : holding new elections , amending the constitution and ending the intimidation of government critics .
It says the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha came to power undemocratically , Prayuth , then army commander , staged a coup in 2014 and became prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under rules that were widely seen as favourable to him .
Arnon and several other activists have pushed harder , calling for far-reaching reforms to the country ’ s monarchy .
The royal institution has traditionally been sacrosanct and is protected by a lese majeste law that provides for up to 15 years ’ imprisonment for defaming the monarchy .
Arnon and Panupong are among more than 30 protest leaders who have been arrested .
The two were told last week they could apply again for bail , and Panupong was offered it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but they decided to accept their detention .

Tassanee Vejpongsa - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Greece to boost military amid tension with neighbour Turkey

ATHENS , Greece - Greece will be bolstering its military with new armament programs , a boost to military personnel and the development of the country ’ s defence industry , the government spokesman said Monday , as a tense stand-off with neighbouring Turkey has led to concerns of open conflict between the two NATO allies .
Ankara is currently facing off against Greece and Cyprus over oil and gas exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean .
Greece and Turkey have deployed naval and air forces to assert their competing claims in the region .
“ The Turkish leadership is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , threats of war and makes provocative statements against Greece , ” Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said .
“ We respond with political , diplomatic and operational readiness , determined to do whatever is necessary to protect our sovereign rights.
” Petsas said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis would be announcing details of plans to upgrade the country ’ s military , during his annual state of the economy speech on Saturday .
“ We are in contact with friendly countries in order to reinforce the equipment of our armed forces , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised 2.5 billion euros ( $ 2.96 billion ) in a bond auction as the country seeks to increase military spending and raise funds for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic .
Greek media have reported the purchases may include French-made Rafale fighter jets and at least one French frigate .
Petsas said Mitsotakis would be meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday on the sidelines of a meeting in Corsica of European Union Mediterranean countries .
Last Saturday , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece to enter talks over disputed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences .
“ They ’ re either going to understand the language of politics and diplomacy , or in the field with painful experiences , ” he said .
On Monday , a senior NATO official met with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and senior military officials in Ankara , and discussed the standoff as well as a NATO initiative aimed at avoiding the risk of accidents and conflict between the two allies .
A statement from Akar ’ s office said the Turkish minister conveyed to Gen. Stuart Peach , the chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey backs the NATO initiative , attaches importance to “ dialogue and good neighbourly relations ” for the resolution of problems but that the country was determined to protect its rights in the eastern Mediterranean .
In Athens , Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said Turkey was the only regional country “ that threatens its neighbours with war when they want to exercise their legal rights — in blatant violation of the U.N. Charter.
” Speaking after a meeting with visiting Maltese Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo , Dendias said Greece was “ always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but a dialogue based on international law , and on the only pending issue , the delimitation of the continental shelf.
” Turkey , he said , “ has a clear choice : dialogue without threats or sanctions.
” Greece and Turkey have come to the brink of war three times since the mid-1970s , including once over exploration rights in the Aegean Sea .
The current dispute escalated when Turkey sent seismic research vessel Oruc Reis , accompanied by warships , to prospect for oil and gas reserves in an area between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Athens claims as its own continental shelf .
Greece sent its own warships to the area and put its armed forces on alert .
Derek Gatopoulos in Athens , Greece and Suzan Frazer in Ankara , Turkey , contributed .


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--During pandemic, Black families put trust in Black doctors

JACKSON , Miss .
- Dr. Janice Bacon was exactly the person Kay McField hoped to talk to when she found herself spending most of her days in bed , feeling too depressed to get up as the coronavirus pandemic threatened those around her .
As she watched those closest to her test positive for the virus — a goddaughter and her uncle , whom she cares for , among them — McField said she was terrified that she or her daughter , who both suffer from autoimmune diseases , would fall ill .
When she wasn ’ t in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning her house compulsively .
“ It was just this constant panic , “ she said , her arms pressed to her chest .
“ I wanted to talk to someone I knew was going to listen , who I could trust.
” A Black primary care physician practicing in Mississippi for nearly four decades , Bacon works at an all-African American-run trio of community health centres in Hinds County , where the population is overwhelmingly Black — and where the most coronavirus cases have been reported in the state .
Most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 50 other doctors , nurses and social workers serve are African American , low-income and living with health conditions like heart disease , diabetes and asthma that are more common among Black Americans .
Even before the coronavirus , many were dealing with depression and anxiety , Bacon said .
During the pandemic , those problems have been exacerbated .
Many clinic patients are essential workers expected to work in-person even as coronavirus cases have skyrocketed in Mississippi .
While testing is free for community health centre patients , delays are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some families waiting up to two weeks for results .
Bacon said she has seen people scrape together $ 187 to pay for a rapid test at other clinics that don ’ t accept Medicaid , in hopes of returning to work faster and not losing their jobs .
“ There ’ s this feeling of , ’ I just can ’ t handle it all , ’ ” Bacon said .
“ We are seeing serious mental health consequences.
” Meanwhile , families are struggling to find child care and put food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest school districts in the area decided to start virtually , creating more barriers for families that don ’ t have internet access , or if they do , don ’ t know how to use devices for online learning or can ’ t afford them .
Research suggests Black patients have better outcomes when treated by Black doctors and nurses .
Yet , only 5 % of doctors nationwide are Black , and only 2 % are Black women , according to the Association of American Medical Colleges .
The Central Mississippi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the campus of Tougaloo College , a historically Black institution that was a gathering place for civil rights activists in the 1960s .
As part of the national network of community health centres , it receives federal funding to serve communities designated as medically under-served areas , with fees adjusted based on ability to pay .
Over generations , Bacon has built trust in a community generally skeptical of the health care system and made her Black patients feel they have a safe place to go for medical care .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of by someone who looks like you , who understands you , ” McField said .
“ Other doctors go into the exam room , and they don ’ t ask your name .
And me , when I go there and be treated that way , I ’ m not going back no more.
” Raised 90 miles from Jackson in Natchez , Mississippi , Bacon suffered from severe asthma .
Her pediatrician would treat her at his house when she would have attacks , even in the middle of the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community doctor .
In her office , Bacon has a portrait of Michelle and Barack Obama on the wall , and photos of her patients on a bulletin board .
McField ’ s daughter Ella ’ s high school graduation photo is among them .
Ella , who is starting college this fall , says she has wanted to be a doctor or a nurse since she was little because of Bacon .
Bacon has cared for McField ’ s family for generations .
She was the doctor for McField ’ s mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she looks after their children .
McField said her brother drove three hours from Memphis so his children could be seen by Bacon .
When she has gone elsewhere for medical care , McField said , she has been talked down to , misdiagnosed or dismissed by doctors .
Bacon said there is still a lot of implicit bias in the health care system , and she has seen how it hurts her patients .
When McField opened up to Bacon about her depression during the pandemic , the doctor introduced her to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coping strategies — writing in a journal , taking a break from watching the news and praying .
She said she ’ s doing a lot better .
Clinic staff members say they see their role as more than treating their patients ’ physical health .
They work with food banks , churches and other social services to make sure people have access to food and clean drinking water while in isolation , as well as transportation when they can venture out again .
“ They can get your high blood pressure medication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hallway and talk about why it was up 20 points this week , ” said social worker Chinnika Crisler .
“ Maybe it ’ s because the unemployment stimulus just ended , and ‘ I really don ’ t know how to pay my rent next month , so now I ’ m not sleeping.
” ’ The pandemic has made running some of the centre ’ s normal programming challenging .
Nutrition sessions for preteens and their parents at risk for obesity were halted in person .
Respite care for parents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bacon knows is desperately needed right now — has been on pause until providers find a safe way to visit patients ’ homes .
But there is still much to do .
On one recent day , Crisler was helping a single mother of three apply for benefits through the Family and Medical Leave Act because she wasn ’ t able to balance working and taking care of her three kids at home by herself .
Clinician and social worker Lisa Williams said that although the pandemic has made a lot of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they aren ’ t anything new .
“ People have been struggling for a long , long time , “ she said .
Leah Willingham is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues .


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Bold hopes for virus antibody tests still unfulfilled

WASHINGTON - At the height of the coronavirus lockdown , President Donald Trump and his top health advisers trumpeted a new test that would help Americans reclaim their lives — one that would tell them if they already had the virus and were protected from getting it again .
Their arrival would help “ get Americans back to work ” by showing those who might have “ the wonderful , beautiful immunity , ” said Trump , a point repeated at the daily briefings last April .
Months later , the U.S. is awash in the tests but the bold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ materialize .
“ There was definitely a lot of wishful thinking that there was going to be a magical test that was going to save us all , but we ’ re not there yet , ” said Dr. Allison Rakeman of New York City ’ s Public Health Laboratory .
The tests check the blood for antibodies the body makes to fight off an infection .
Scientists are still working to figure out how well antibodies for the coronavirus may shield someone from another infection , or how long that protection might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity fades fast ; research published last week was more promising , suggesting that antibodies last at least four months after diagnosis and do not fade quickly .
For now , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association explicitly warn that antibody tests should not be used to make decisions about returning workers to the office or students to school , though some labs still promote them for those uses .
The CDC recommends everyone — even those who were sick and recovered — take precautions to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say it was probably unrealistic to expect answers to key immunity questions early in the outbreak .
Those questions have traditionally been answered only through long-term animal or human studies , said Mark Jenkins of the University of Minnesota .
The National Institutes of Health and universities are conducting some of this work , but much of it has taken a back seat to the rapid development of vaccines in the middle of a pandemic .
“ Everyone ’ s impatient and I can see why , ” Jenkins said .
“ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this knowledge ” about immunity .
Antibody tests are different from the standard nasal swab tests that diagnose active infections .
Instead , they use a blood sample or finger-prick of blood to look for signs of a past infection , whether the person was sick or had no symptoms at all .
Based on other viruses , experts expect those with coronavirus antibodies to be at least partly immune for several months , if not longer .
Dr. Anthony Fauci and other members of the White House task force said early on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if “ you have the antibody , you ’ re protected ” but added that there wasn ’ t proof .
To get that proof , scientists first run experiments in animals .
Human trials come next and can take even longer .
Researchers track people who had an infection and developed antibodies to see if they become reinfected .
Their antibodies are measured to to gauge the level needed for immunity .
Jenkins and others said it ’ s entirely possible that an effective vaccine will arrive before coronavirus antibody studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the key questions .
Vaccines spur the production of antibodies , and a number of coronavirus vaccines are now being tested around the world .
In the meantime , experts say antibody tests are useful for two things : Large studies in the general population to see how widely the coronavirus has spread , and screening people who may be able to donate their antibody-rich blood plasma , which is used as an experimental treatment for COVID-19 .
But those uses were not the focus of White House briefings last spring , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cable TV viewers daily , according to Nielsen .
A spokesperson for the White House coronavirus task force did not provide a response to requests for comment .
Expecting massive demand , the Food and Drug Administration chose a “ flood-the-zone ” strategy , allowing more than 170 tests to launch with little oversight .
At the same time , Trump highlighted his administration ’ s “ fantastic progress ” bringing antibody tests to market , some officials were raising concerns .
Reports of European governments forced to discard millions of faulty tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be very careful to make sure that when we tell you you ’ re likely immune from the disease ... the test really said that , ” said Admiral Brett Giroir , the administration ’ s “ testing czar.
” The FDA pulled back on its lax policy for antibody tests in May , requiring companies to begin submitting data on accuracy .
The FDA has authorized about 40 thus far , while dozens more await review .
Despite the precautions from regulators , some testing companies continue to advertise the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laboratories , including LabCorp and Quest , offer the tests to employers , along with other services like temperature checks .
“ We are aware of the CDC ’ s guidance , “ Quest spokeswoman Kimberly Gorode said in a statement .
“ That is why we recommend that employers use antibody testing as part of a holistic approach to bringing their employees back to the office.
” LabCorp said in a statement : “ As knowledge grows there may be benefit in having access to this information.
“ At testing sites in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Somos — a medical non-profit serving low-income communities — told people who tested positive for antibodies that they could safely return to work , although they acknowledged “ nothing is 100 % .
” In a recent interview , the group ’ s founder , Dr. Ramon Tallaj , defended the testing .
He said the workers would have been expected to go back anyway .
The antibody tests simply provided “ one extra layer of protection , ” he said .
The CDC and state public health agencies continue to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus in the U.S .
So far , in most areas studied , fewer than 5 % of the population have antibodies .
That ’ s far below the levels that most experts think will be needed for herd immunity against coronavirus , underscoring the need for a vaccine .
For now , Jenkins doesn ’ t recommend spending the money to get tested for antibodies unless a doctor recommends it .
“ Even the research community can ’ t really tell you what the result means , ” Jenkins said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to this report 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--2020-09-07--EU warns Serbia, Kosovo over Israel embassy move

BRUSSELS - The European Union warned Serbia and Kosovo on Monday that they could undermine their EU membership hopes by moving their Israeli embassies to Jerusalem , as U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s surprise announcement about the change left officials in Belgrade and Pristina scrambling to limit the political fallout .
In an unexpected move last week , Trump said that Serbia and Kosovo had agreed to normalize economic ties as part of U.S.-brokered talks that include Belgrade moving its embassy to Jerusalem , and mutual recognition between Israel and Kosovo .
It surprised the Europeans , who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former territory of Kosovo on improving their long-strained relations , while Serbian officials appeared to be watering down their commitment to Trump , and Kosovo sought to allay concerns among Muslim countries .
The 27-nation EU ’ s long-held policy is that Jerusalem ’ s status should be worked out between Israel and the Palestinians as part of broader peace negotiations , and that Serbia — as a candidate to join the bloc — should respect that .
“ There is no EU member state with an embassy in Jerusalem , ” European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Any diplomatic steps that could call into question the EU ’ s common position on Jerusalem are a matter of serious concern and regret.
” Praising what he said was “ a major breakthrough ” and “ a truly historic commitment , ” Trump — deep into campaigning ahead of November ’ s presidential election — announced Friday that “ Serbia and Kosovo have each committed to economic normalization.
” Trump also said that Serbia has committed to open a commercial office in Jerusalem this month and move its embassy there in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel ’ s capital in late 2017 and moved the U.S. embassy there in May 2018 .
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Serbia ’ s president and confirmed that Israel and Kosovo , a predominantly Muslim country , will establish diplomatic relations .
He said Pristina also will open its embassy in Jerusalem .
Stano , speaking as Serbian President Aleksander Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minster Avdullah Hoti were holding a new round of talks in Brussels on normalizing their relations , said the EU was told in advance only about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not about movements in Jerusalem .
In Belgrade , Serbian officials appeared to be stepping back from the embassy pledge , with Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic saying the final decision will still have to be discussed by the government and will depend on “ a number of factors ” including future development of ties with Israel .
Kosovo ’ s President Hashim Thaci , meanwhile , was on the phone with Turkey ’ s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , trying to assuage fears about the decision to recognize Israel expressed by Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Such a recognition will not violate under any circumstances the strategic , friendly and fraternal partnership with Turkey , ” Thaci said after the conversation .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the deal that establishes diplomatic relations with Kosovo , and would have both Kosovo and Serbia open embassies in Jerusalem .
They would join the U.S. and Guatemala as the only countries with embassies in the contested city , whose eastern sector is claimed by the Palestinians as the capital of a future state .
“ We will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transfer their embassies to Jerusalem , ” Netanyahu said Friday .
He noted that Kosovo becomes the first Muslim-majority country to open an embassy in Jerusalem .
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008 , around a decade after Belgrade sent troops into its former territory to crush an uprising by ethnic Albanian separatists .
Serbia refuses to recognize Kosovo ’ s statehood , and tensions have simmered ever since .
The EU-facilitated negotiations , which the Europeans say is the only way to address their membership hopes , started in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen agreements , but most of them have not been observed .
The talks stalled in November 2018 and only resumed in July after a parallel U.S. negotiating effort began .
But as they met again on Monday , Vucic and Hoti recommitted to the European track , saying “ that they attach the highest priority to EU integration and to continuing the work on the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.
” In what was described as a “ joint statement ” issued by the office of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell , Vucic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to redoubling their efforts to ensure further EU alignment in accordance with their respective obligations.
” They appeared to play down Friday ’ s announcement , by saying that “ the recently agreed documents in Washington , D.C. , building on previous Dialogue-related commitments undertaken by the two parties , could provide a useful contribution to reaching a comprehensive , legally binding agreement on normalization of relations.
” Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade , Llazar Semini in Tirana , Albania , and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--In pandemic, Nigerian teacher can ‘teach the whole world’

LAGOS , Nigeria - For many 12th graders , the closure of Nigeria ’ s public schools to combat the spread of COVID-19 presents a particular problem : How to prepare for crucial , final exams ?
Basirat Olamide Ajayi , a math teacher in Lagos , Nigeria ’ s biggest city , came up with a solution .
She began offering free mathematics classes online via Twitter , WhatsApp and Instagram .
And now , after almost six months , more than 1,800 students at various levels are taking her classes -- across Nigeria and even internationally .
Students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 5 minutes long -- and respond to her questions .
She will send them homework , and occasional assignments .
And she grades them .
“ Sometimes , I stay awake till 2 a.m. going through their assignments !
” she said .
“ COVID is here with both negative and positive impacts .
The positive impact is that we can use technology to teach our students , which I am very , very happy about , ” she said .
When Ajayi , 36 , started her online classes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white sheets of paper .
Then a parent saw how she was conducting the class and donated a whiteboard .
Her free classes are attracting students from all over Nigeria , and now students abroad are joining .
A recent request came from Canada .
Ajayi says she is beginning to see herself as a global teacher .
“ The online teaching has made me feel that I can actually teach the whole world mathematics , ” she said .
“ On Twitter people see me all over the world , not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They see me all over the world and that is enough to give me innermost joy.
” But not all students in Nigeria have easy access to her lessons .
“ Some of them don ’ t even have data to access the class , and that is not giving me joy at all , as a teacher that wants students to be online , ” she said .
Ajayi said she pays for data for some of the students from her own pocket to allow them to be online .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Ajayi encourages parents to share their phones .
Fortune Declan , 17 , said Ajayi has made it easier for him to grasp mathematics .
“ Originally when I started learning differentiation on my own it was kind of twitchy , ” he said .
“ But when I joined the online maths platform , I started slow at first , but with the way my maths teacher was teaching , holding the sessions , I started learning differentiation rapidly.
” Her dedication is noteworthy , said Adedoyin Adesina , chairman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Teachers .
“ Teaching students virtually was a new experience to everybody , ” he said .
“ There is the problem of slow internet , the cost of data and the unco-operative attitude of parents who were not familiar with what teachers are doing.
” Faced with the new challenges , Ajayi has shown real dedication , he said , especially as “ she was not provided with money , data or any teaching material.
” Although she misses being in the classroom , Ahayi said she is gratified to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more I give , the more society will benefit from me and people can say ‘ Mrs .
Ajayi has done this to the whole world.
’ ” Ahayi is on Twitter ( @ mathseducator1 ) , Instagram ( @ mathseducator ) , and YouTube ( https : //www.youtube.com/channel/UCGrJmgrZ8eW0SlWbH9SPn1Q ) .
While nonstop news about the effects of the coronavirus has become commonplace , so , too , have tales of kindness .
“ One Good Thing ” is a series of AP stories focusing on glimmers of joy and benevolence in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //apnews.com/hub/one-good-thing


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Virus still throwing theme park attendance for a loop

TOLEDO , Ohio - Theme park operators who spent months installing hand sanitizing stations , figuring out how to disinfect roller coasters seats and checking the temperatures of guests at their gates so they ’ d come back in the midst of the pandemic are finding many reluctant to return .
Some parks have reduced operating days , slashed ticket prices , and closed early for the year because of lower-than-hoped attendance — expectations weren ’ t high to begin with — along with the uncertainty of what ’ s to come with the coronavirus .
A few parks have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all because of state and local health restrictions .
Disney this week will begin cutting an hour or two out of each day at its four Florida theme parks .
It already called off its annual after-hours Halloween party at the Magic Kingdom .
Neighboring Universal Orlando also nixed its Halloween Horror Nights .
Amusement parks across the South that had their seasons delayed by virus outbreaks in the spring deal with a second punch with the summer flareups across the Sun Belt .
Some , including Kings Dominion in Virginia and Carowinds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t this year .
Cedar Fair Entertainment , which operates those two , has reopened just half of its 13 amusement parks and water parks across North America .
The company , based in Ohio , expected attendance to stay at no more than 25 % of normal levels through the rest of the year at its parks that are operating , CEO Richard Zimmerman said in early August .
Despite the lower numbers , those parks are still able to make a profit , the company said .
Cedar Point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Sandusky , Ohio , scaled back to weekends only in mid-August and did away with online admission reservations to manage the daily crowds .
California ’ s parks haven ’ t been open — except for a few food festivals — since mid-March and are pushing the state to issue guidelines on how and when they can allow guests back .
“ Disneyland has been ready to roll since July awaiting guidance from the state ’ s governor on what the reopening protocols will be , ” Jim MacPhee , Walt Disney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said two weeks ago .
Kennywood , an amusement park near Pittsburgh , delayed its opening twice this year , cut ticket prices in half and then decided to end its season early on Labor Day .
“ It ’ s hard to predict what ’ s going to happen in a few months , ” said park spokesman Nick Paradise , explaining why they cancelled the popular Phantom Fright Nights and Holiday Lights events .
“ The safest thing is to finish on a high note.
” The park ’ s attendance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picked up as people began feeling more comfortable with the safety measures in place , he said .
The industry put in long hours just to restart this season , adding constant reminders about social distancing , from decals on the pavement in queues to roving “ social distance squads ” at Disney World .
Six Flags added touch-free bag checks with high-tech , walk-through machines .
Six Flags expects its numbers to rebound when the health crisis settles down , Mike Spanos , the company ’ s CEO said at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks around the U.S. has gone up and down depending on whether there are coronavirus surges in those areas , he said .
“ We ’ re surveying guests every week and what they ’ re telling us is when they see a flattening of the curve , they want to get out , ” Spanos said .
“ And we also see a chunk of guests that are saying when they ’ re comfortable with the vaccine , they want to get out.
” Some people opposed to mask-wearing requirements also have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diminishing , ” said George Frantzis , co-owner of Quassy Amusement & Waterpark in Middlebury , Connecticut .
“ We still get a few everyday who don ’ t believe in it.
” While business has remained slow during the week , the park has hit its capacity on a few weekends , he said .
“ Saturdays have been a little bit busy because there ’ s not a lot else to do out there , ” Frantzis said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Search for a bison after it attacked tourist in Poland

WARSAW , Poland - Employees of the Bialowieza nature reserve in eastern Poland were searching for a male bison Monday after it injured a vacationer .
Local police chief , Tomasz Krupa , said that a 61-year-old man was hospitalized with injuries after he was attacked by the animal while taking an early morning walk in the Bialowieza Forest .
Head of the Bialowieza National Park , Michal Krzysiak , told The Associated Press that he later saw traces of a single large bison at the site , most probably a male .
He said the man and the animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unlucky accident , among the low-growing shrubbery , and “ being the larger of the two , the bison attacked the man.
” He said the bison , which are Europe ’ s biggest mammals and under strict protection , are currently in the mating season , which makes them specially agitated and aggressive .
Some 770 bison live wild in the Bialowieza reserve and its neighbourhood .
There are some 1,800 bison in all of Poland and some 7,000 in the world .
Krzysiak said the attack was a rare occurrence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reserve ’ s employees are looking for the animal in an effort to prevent similar occurrences , and to check the animal ’ s condition .


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Philippine leader pardons US Marine in transgender killing

MANILA , Philippines - The Philippine president pardoned a U.S. Marine on Monday in a surprise move that will free him from imprisonment in the 2014 killing of a transgender Filipino woman that sparked anger in the former American colony .
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a tweet that President Rodrigo Duterte “ granted an absolute pardon ” to Lance Cpl .
Joseph Scott Pemberton “ to do justice , ” but did not elaborate .
Duterte was to deliver televised remarks Monday night where he would discuss Pemberton ’ s case , presidential spokesman Harry Roque said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Karapatan , immediately condemned the pardon as a “ despicable and shameless mockery of justice and servility to U.S. imperialist interests.
” Pemberton was convicted of homicide and has been serving a prison term of six to 10 years for the killing of Jennifer Laude in a motel in Olongapo city , northwest of Manila .
His lawyer , Rowena Garcia-Flores , told The Associated Press that Pemberton was already aware of Duterte ’ s decision when she called him .
“ I heard the news , ” Garcia-Flores quoted the 25-year-old Pemberton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very happy.
” Meeting Pemberton in detention a few days ago , she said he expressed his willingness to apologize to the Laude family even belatedly .
Roque , who once served as a lawyer for the Laude family , said the presidential pardon would mean the immediate release of Pemberton from detention .
“ The president has erased the punishment that should be imposed on Pemberton .
What the president did not erase was the conviction of Pemberton .
He ’ s still a killer , ” Roque told reporters .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olongapo city , which handled Pemberton ’ s case , ordered authorities to release him early from detention for good conduct , but Laude ’ s family appealed the order , blocking the Marine ’ s early release .
Roque said the Department of Justice was planning to block Pemberton ’ s early release with a separate appeal .
The court order rekindled perceptions that American military personnel who run afoul of Philippine laws can get special treatment under the allies ’ Visiting Forces Agreement , which provides the legal framework for temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for large-scale combat exercises .
Pemberton , an anti-tank missile operator from New Bedford , Massachusetts , was one of thousands of American and Philippine military personnel who participated in joint exercises in the country in 2014 .
He and a group of other Marines were on leave after the exercises and met Laude and her friends at a bar in Olongapo , a city known for its nightlife outside Subic Bay , a former U.S. Navy base .
Laude was later found dead , her head slumped in a toilet bowl in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she and Pemberton had checked in .
A witness told investigators that Pemberton said he choked Laude after discovering she was transgender .
In December 2015 , a judge convicted Pemberton of homicide , not the more serious charge of murder that prosecutors sought .
The Olongapo court judge said at the time that she downgraded the charge because factors such as cruelty and treachery had not been proven .
Pemberton has been serving his sentence in a compound jointly guarded by Philippine and American security personnel at the main military camp in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was agreed to under the terms of the Visiting Forces Agreement , although Laude ’ s family had demanded that he be held in an ordinary jail .
Garcia-Flores said his detention was shortened by authorities under a Philippine law that allows the reduction of prison terms for good conduct .
A lawyer for the Laude family , Virginia Suarez , said the law can not apply to Pemberton , who has been detained alone in a military camp and given other special privileges under the VFA .
The case has led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end the U.S. military presence in the country , a former American colony with which Washington has a mutual defence treaty .


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--UK police arrest teenager after shooting of 15-year-old boy

LONDON - British police said a teenager in eastern England has been arrested in connection with the shooting on Monday of a 15-year-old boy on his way to school .
Suffolk Constabulary said in a statement that officers were called just after 8:40 a.m. Monday morning to reports of a shooting in the small town of Kesgrave and that the victim sustained “ serious injuries.
” It said that the boy was airlifted to Addenbrooke ’ s Hospital in Cambridge , around 60 miles ( 95 kilometres ) away .
The boy is said to be receiving “ urgent ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested a teenage boy and that he has been taken into police custody for questioning .
“ We have now made an arrest as part of the investigation and are working with our partners in Suffolk and our schools to ensure that everyone feels safe when they are collecting their children from school this afternoon , “ Assistant Chief Constable Rob Jones said .
Keswick High School said in a tweet that the victim was heading to school at the time of the incident and that students in school “ will be kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Tunisia arrests 7 suspects after deadly weekend attack

TUNIS , Tunisia - Tunisian authorities say that they have arrested seven people suspected of links to a deadly weekend @ @ @ @ @ officer dead and another injured .
The attacked occurred on Sunday in the Tunisian resort @ @ @ @ @ rammed their vehicle into security officers and attacked them with knives .
National guard spokesman @ @ @ @ @ Radio Shems that seven suspects are being held by anti-terrorism authorities .
On Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ alleged attackers .
Among the seven detained is the wife of one of the dead @ @ @ @ @ of another .
Jbabli said that a preliminary investigation showed that the attackers had developed @ @ @ @ @ to find out how to make explosives .
Sousse was the site of Tunisia ’ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , when a massacre killed 38 people , most of them British tourists .
@ @ @ @ @ blow to Tunisia ’ s tourism sector , a pillar of the North African nation @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Russian FM in Syria, meets Assad in first visit since 2012

DAMASCUS , Syria - Russia ’ s foreign minister has met with Syrian President Bashar Assad shortly after landing in the Syrian capital on Monday , his first visit since 2012 .
Russia has been a close ally of Assad in Syria ’ s devastating nine-year civil war , lending his government in Damascus vital military , economic and political support .
Russian troops have been fighting alongside Syrian government forces since 2015 , and President Vladimir Putin has visited the war-torn country twice , including in January this year .
The visit by Sergey Lavrov comes amid a severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
The Syrian pro-government Al-Watan newspaper reported that a high-ranking Russian delegation , headed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov , arrived in Syria on Sunday .
A joint press conference was to be held by Lavrov and Syria ’ s Foreign Minister , Walid al-Moallem , later Monday .
The newspaper quoted Syria ’ s ambassador to the Russian Federation , Riad Haddad , as saying that the Russian delegation ’ s visit “ is of special importance , given the political and economic files that will be discussed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the work of a committee to discuss possible amendments to the Syrian constitution and Western sanctions on Syria , as well as efforts to fight terrorism .
Talks between government , opposition and civil society delegations resumed in Geneva late last month , discussing a possible new constitution for the war-battered country .
The U.N. ’ s envoy for Syria , Geir Pedersen has called the talks a prospective “ door-opener ” to a final resolution of Syria ’ s long-running conflict .
The pandemic forced the postponement of an earlier meeting in @ @


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--Belarus activist goes missing, colleagues fear detention

KYIV , Ukraine - A leading opposition activist and several other members of an opposition council in Belarus went missing Monday and their colleagues feared they were detained as part of the authorities ’ efforts to squelch nearly a month of protests against the re-election of the country ’ s authoritarian leader .
Maria Kolesnikova , a member of the Coordination Council created by the opposition to facilitate talks with President Alexander Lukashenko on a transition of power , was reportedly put on a minibus in the capital , Minsk , and driven away by unidentified people .
Her disappearance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an estimated 100,000 protesters pushing for the resignation of Lukashenko , who extended his 26-year rule in the Aug. 9 election that the opposition sees as rigged .
A council member , Maxim Znak , said Kolesnikova ’ s colleagues fear she was detained .
Two other members of the council also couldn ’ t be reached on Monday , according to Znak .
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius tweeted that Kolesnikova ’ s disappearance is part of the Belarusian authorities ’ effort to “ cynically eliminate one by one ” and called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interior Ministry said it hasn ’ t detained Kolesnikova , while other law enforcement agencies have kept mum .
After a brutal crackdown in the first few days after the vote that stoked international outrage and swelled the ranks of protesters , the authorities have switched to threats and selective arrests of opposition activists and demonstrators .
Sunday ’ s demonstrations in Minsk and other cities went on despite the authorities ’ warning that participants could face reprisals .
The Interior Ministry said 633 people were detained Sunday for taking part in unsanctioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian prosecutors have opened a criminal probe of the Coordination Council that opposition activists set up after the election to try to negotiate a transition of power .
Two of its members were given 10-day jail sentences on charges of staging unsanctioned protests last week .
One of them , Olga Kovalkova , said she was pressured to leave for Poland over the weekend after being threatened with a longer jail term .
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya , the main opposition challenger in the election , who moved to Lithuania a day after the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Kolesnikova ’ s disappearance marked another attempt by the government to intimidate the opposition .
“ It ’ s an attempt to derail the work of the Coordination Council , but we will not be stopped , ” she said .
“ The more they try to scare us , the more people will take to the streets .
We will continue our struggle and push for the release of all political prisoners and a new , fair election.
” Last week , Kolesnikova announced the creation of a new party , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help overcome the current crisis , but the party founders ’ call for constitutional changes has stunned some other opposition council members , who argued that it could divert attention from the main goal of pushing for Lukashenko to step down .
Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen , Denmark , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--WikiLeaks’ Assange in UK court to fight US extradition bid

LONDON - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared in a London court on Monday to fight a U.S. extradition request , at a high-stakes hearing that was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic .
Assange , who has spent almost a year and a half in a British prison , sat in the dock at the Old Bailey criminal court and formally refused the U.S. demand he be extradited to face trial on espionage charges .
He wore a dark suit , white shirt and maroon tie , with glasses perched atop his neatly trimmed white hair .
Several dozen supporters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s partner , Stella Moris , gathered outside the courthouse , chanting , banging drums and calling his prosecution a threat to press freedom .
“ Julian Assange is the trigger , he is shining the light on all the corruption in the world , “ Westwood said .
American prosecutors have indicted the 49-year-old Australian on 18 espionage and computer misuse charges over Wikileaks ’ publication of secret U.S. military documents a decade ago .
The charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison .
American authorities allege that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chelsea Manning to hack into a Pentagon computer and release hundreds of thousands of secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan .
In a new indictment filed in June , U.S. prosecutors also say he conspired with members of hacking organizations and sought to recruit hackers to provide WikiLeaks with classified information .
That indictment expanded the U.S. case against Assange but did not add any new charges .
Assange ’ s lawyers say the prosecution is a politically motivated abuse of power that will stifle press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at risk .
They argue that Assange is a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection , and say the leaked documents exposed U.S. military wrongdoing .
Among the files released by WikiLeaks was video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people , including two Reuters journalists .
“ Journalists and whistle-blowers who reveal illegal activity by companies or governments and war crimes — such as the publications Julian has been charged for — should be protected from prosecution , ” Assange attorney Jennifer Robinson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal troubles began in 2010 , when he was arrested in London at the request of Sweden , which wanted to question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women .
He refused to go to Stockholm , saying he feared extradition or illegal rendition to the United States or the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba .
In 2012 , Assange sought refuge inside the Ecuadorian Embassy , where he was beyond the reach of U.K. and Swedish authorities — but also effectively a prisoner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in London ’ s tony Knightsbridge area .
The relationship between Assange and his hosts eventually soured , and he was evicted from the embassy in April 2019 .
British police immediately arrested him for jumping bail in 2012 .
Sweden dropped the sex crimes investigations in November 2019 because so much time had elapsed , but Assange remains in London ’ s high-security Belmarsh Prison as he awaits the extradition decision .
Supporters say the ordeal has harmed Assange ’ s physical and mental health , leaving him with depression , dental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The hearing is expected to include expert psychiatric evidence about his mental state .
Journalism organizations and human rights groups have called on Britain to refuse the extradition request .
Amnesty International said Assange was “ the target of a negative public campaign by U.S. officials at the highest levels.
” The extradition hearing opened in February but was put on hold when the U.K. went into lockdown in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
It is resuming with social distancing measures in court and video feeds so that journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case is due to run until early October .
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser is expected to take weeks or even months to consider her verdict , with the losing side likely to appeal .


thetorontostar--2020-09-07--If doing less means saving more, try these 5 money moves

The coronavirus has upended countless jobs , schools and bank accounts .
But while undoubtedly more people are struggling than not , those who are still working may have seen their expenses actually drop due to cancelled travel , limited dining options and more time at home .
If you ’ ve managed to end up with extra money during the pandemic , here ’ s how to take advantage of those savings .
1 .
START OR FILL OUT AN EMERGENCY FUND 2020 has served as a stark reminder that unexpected things can happen , and when they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be prepared .
“ We say if you have a steady job , your contingency fund should be three to six months of expenses , ” says Tara Unverzagt , certified financial planner and founder of South Bay Financial Partners in Torrance , California .
“ I would bulk it up even more because of uncertainty .
I ’ ve never known anyone to be upset because they had too much cash , but have known lots of people who were upset they didn ’ t have enough.
” That level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ; an extended period of reduced expenses may provide you with the opportunity to finally reach it .
Establishing an emergency fund is one of the best things you can do for your future self , and if you put it in a high-yield online savings account , it will benefit from a higher interest rate than a regular savings account .
You don ’ t want to invest your emergency fund because your primary goal for that money is accessibility , not growth .
The stock market goes up and down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk that it could go down just when you need the money .
At best , that could mean having to sell your investments at a loss to pull cash out .
At worst , it could mean your money won ’ t be there when you need it most .
If you haven ’ t ventured into the world of investing yet , it may feel like a scary time to start given all the volatility in the market lately .
The good news is that volatility doesn ’ t cause much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long-term goal like retirement : The peaks and valleys due to the coronavirus will likely appear much smaller over time .
If you haven ’ t started investing , there are two easy jumping-off points : your employer ’ s 401 ( k ) if it offers one and an IRA .
Both are accounts that can help you invest for retirement with some tax benefits .
Roth IRAs , for instance , allow your money to grow and be taken out in retirement tax-free .
Even if you ’ re already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or an IRA , you may want to consider upping that contribution .
Every extra bit you can put toward retirement goes a long way .
Let ’ s say your reduced expenses mean you can save an extra $ 500 a month over the next year .
If you have 30 years until retirement and you earn a 6 % return , that $ 6,000 you invest could add over $ 34,000 to your retirement balance — a significant boost .
And because you can always change how much you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re putting toward retirement if and when your spending habits return to normal .
Retirement is a common goal , but it likely isn ’ t the only one you have .
If you ’ re on track for retirement , consider putting extra funds toward other things : college for your kids , a new car or a dream vacation ( which you ’ ll have plenty of time to save for , since most people aren ’ t travelling right now ) .
Investing can help you achieve those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep in mind that you generally don ’ t want to invest money you ’ ll need within five years .
( Like an emergency fund , savings for near-term goals should go into safer options , like a high-yield savings account ) .
On the other hand , if you ’ re starting a college fund for a newborn , that money will have approximately 18 years to take advantage of the market ’ s returns .
If you ’ ve found yourself in a position of privilege during this global pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra money , you may also want to consider increasing your charitable contributions .
Keep in mind , you may be able to deduct your charitable donations when tax time rolls around .
If you ’ re interested in investing in real estate , you don ’ t have to start renovating an old barn or putting up shiplap .
One of the easiest ways to invest in real estate is to invest in real estate investment trusts .
REITs are companies that own ( and sometimes operate ) real estate that generates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Publicly traded REITs are bought and sold on exchanges , just like stocks , and have similar liquidity , meaning you can sell them with relative ease .
5 .
GET SOME HELP When you suddenly find yourself with extra money , it can be difficult to figure out the best way to put it to use .
Financial advice is widely available these days , and it ’ s often inexpensive .
Online financial advisors and robo-advisors have brought the cost of investment management and financial planning down significantly , and both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re feeling lost .
These advisors can also help you stay hands-off with your portfolio during turbulent times in the market by ensuring that your investments are aligned with your risk tolerance .
Robo-advisors offer investment management and typically charge between 0.25 % and 0.50 % of your assets per year .
If you need assistance developing a more comprehensive financial plan in addition to investment management , it may be a good idea to enlist the help of a financial advisor .
This article originally appeared on the personal finance website NerdWallet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NerdWallet .
Email : abenson @ nerdwallet.com .
NerdWallet : Individual Retirement Account ( IRA ) Definition , How It Works & How to Start One http : //bit.ly/nerdwallet-ira NerdWallet : What Is Investment Management , and Do You Need It ?
http : //bit.ly/nerdwallet-investment-manage NerdWallet : How to Choose a Financial Advisor http : //bit.ly/nerdwallet-advisor-choice

Alana Benson Of Nerdwallet - The Associated Press