thetorontostar--2020-08-10--Health officials are quitting or getting fired amid outbreak

PROVIDENCE , R.I. - Vilified , threatened with violence and in some cases suffering from burnout , dozens of state and local public health leaders around the U.S. have resigned or have been fired amid the coronavirus outbreak , a testament to how politically combustible masks , lockdowns and infection data have become .
One of the latest departures came Sunday , when California ’ s public health director , Dr. Sonia Angell , was ousted following a technical glitch that caused a delay in reporting hundreds of thousands of virus test results — information used to make decisions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New York City ’ s health commissioner was replaced after months of friction with the Police Department and City Hall .
A review by the Kaiser Health News service and The Associated Press finds at least 49 state and local public health leaders have resigned , retired or been fired since April across 23 states .
The list has grown by more than 20 people since the AP and KHN started keeping track in June .
Dr. Tom Frieden , former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflect burnout , as well as attacks on public health experts and institutions from the highest levels of government , including from President Donald Trump , who has sidelined the CDC during the pandemic .
“ The overall tone toward public health in the U.S. is so hostile that it has kind of emboldened people to make these attacks , ” Frieden said .
The last few months have been “ frustrating and tiring and disheartening ” for public health officials , said former West Virginia Public Health Commissioner Dr. Cathy Slemp , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Jim Justice in June .
“ You care about community , and you ’ re committed to the work you do and societal role that you ’ re given .
You feel a duty to serve , and yet it ’ s really hard in the current environment , “ Slemp said in an interview Monday .
The departures come at a time when public health expertise is needed more than ever , said Lori Tremmel Freeman , CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here to stop a pandemic , and you can ’ t afford to hit the pause button and say , ‘ We ’ re going to change the leadership around here and we ’ ll get back to you after we hire somebody , ’ “ Freeman said .
As of late Monday , confirmed infections in the United States stood at over 5 million , with deaths topping 163,000 , the highest in the world , according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University .
The confirmed number of coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 734,000 deaths .
Many of the firings and resignations have to do with conflicts over mask orders or social distancing shutdowns , Freeman said .
Despite the scientific evidence , many politicians and others have argued that such measures are not needed , no matter what health experts tell them .
Some health officials said they were stepping down for family reasons , and some left for jobs at other agencies , such as the CDC .
Some , like Angell , were ousted because of what higher-ups said was poor leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Others have complained that they were overworked , underpaid , unappreciated or thrust into a pressure-cooker environment .
“ To me , a lot of the divisiveness and the stress and the resignations that are happening right and left are the consequence of the lack of a real national response plan , “ said Dr. Matt Willis , health officer for Marin County in Northern California .
” And we ’ re all left scrambling at the local and state level to extract resources and improvise solutions ... in a fractured health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health system.
” Public health leaders from Dr. Anthony Fauci down to officials in small communities have reported death threats and intimidation .
Some have seen their home addresses published or been the subject of sexist attacks on social media .
Fauci has said his wife and daughters have received threats .
In Ohio , the state ’ s health director , Dr. Amy Acton , resigned in June after months of pressure during which Republican lawmakers tried to strip her of her authority and armed protesters showed up at her house .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that GOP Gov .
Mike DeWine became the first governor to shut down schools statewide .
Acton also called off the state ’ s presidential primary in March just hours before polls were to open , angering those who saw it as an overreaction .
The executive director of Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department in Colorado found her car vandalized twice , and a group called Colorado Counties for Freedom ran a radio ad demanding that her authority be reduced .
Kim Gonzales has remained on the job .
In West Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resignation over what he said were discrepancies in the data .
Slemp said the department ’ s work had been hurt by outdated technology like fax machines and slow computer networks .
Tom Inglesby , director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins , said the issue amounted to a clerical error easily fixed .
Inglesby said it was deeply concerning that public health officials who told “ uncomfortable truths ” to political leaders had been removed .
“ That ’ s terrible for the national response because what we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , is the truth .
We need data , and we need people to interpret the data and help political leaders make good judgments , “ Inglesby said .
Since 2010 , spending on state public health departments has dropped 16 % per capita , and the amount devoted to local health departments has fallen 18 % , according to a KHN and AP analysis .
At least 38,000 state and local public health jobs have disappeared since the 2008 recession , leaving a skeletal workforce for what was once viewed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health systems .
Another sudden departure came Monday along the Texas border .
Dr. Jose Vazquez , the Starr County health authority , resigned after a proposal to increase his pay from $ 500 to $ 10,000 a month was rejected by county commissioners .
Starr County Judge Eloy Vera said Vazquez had been working 60 hours per week in the county , one of the poorest in the U.S. and recently one of those hit hardest by the virus .
“ He felt it was an insult , ” Vera said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health commissioner and state epidemiologist have been replaced since the outbreak began in March .
In rural Colorado , Emily Brown was fired in late May as director of the Rio Grande County Public Health Department after clashing with county commissioners over reopening recommendations .
The person who replaced her resigned July 9 .
Brown said she knows many public health department leaders who are considering resigning or retiring because of the strain .
The months of nonstop and often unappreciated work are prompting many public health workers to leave , said Theresa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health Officials .
“ It will certainly slow down the pandemic response and become less co-ordinated , ” she said .
“ Who ’ s going to want to take on this career if you ’ re confronted with the kinds of political issues that are coming up ?
” Weber reported from St. Louis .
Associated Press writers Paul Weber , Sean Murphy and Janie Har , and KHN writer Anna Maria Barry-Jester contributed reporting .
Weber is a reporter with Kaiser Health News .
This story is a collaboration between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a non-profit news service covering health issues .
It is an editorially independent program of KFF ( Kaiser Family Foundation ) that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

Michelle R. Smith And Lauren Weber - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-10--Governor gives few details on top California official’s exit

SACRAMENTO , Calif. - A day after announcing that California ’ s public health director suddenly resigned , Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Monday dodged questions about her departure even as he stressed the importance of transparency and accountability .
“ Decisions were made , and we ’ re moving forward , “ he said of the Sunday night resignation by Dr. Sonia Angell .
“ No one ’ s trying to hide that , no one ’ s trying to mask that .
We ’ re owning that.
” The remarks came during Newsom ’ s first news conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the data error , which led to a lag in the reporting of nearly 300,000 coronavirus test results .
He last spoke to the public one week earlier .
The backlog has been resolved and the state expects to be able to finish updating its statewide virus trends in the next two to three days , he said .
In a letter to staff , Angell did not give a reason for her resignation as director and state public health officer at the California Department of Public Health .
The state released the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer Monday when reporters inquired whether he asked her to resign .
But he said that he and Dr. Mark Ghaly , secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency , made “ changes “ and “ adjustments ” to the state ’ s leadership team .
Angell could not be reached for comment .
Two county public health officials said Angell had been a collaborative partner to local officials throughout the pandemic .
“ She wrote a resignation letter , and I accepted her resignation .
We ’ re all accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underneath us , “ he said .
“ If it ’ s not obvious , then I encourage you to consider the fact that we accepted her resignation.
” When the pandemic began , Angell appeared often during news conferences about California ’ s response to the coronavirus , but her presence at Newsom ’ s briefings diminished as time went on .
Sandra Shewry , vice-president of external engagement for California Health Care Foundation , will fill the role of acting health director , the health and human services department said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointed state epidemiologist , will be the acting state public health officer .
Ghaly announced the backlog in data last week .
The problem affected the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange , known as CalREDIE .
The state eliminated the backlog over the weekend and counties will now be able to process the data , he said .
Newsom said the newly added data doesn ’ t appear to change the positive trends he announced last week .
As of Monday , the state ’ s hospitalizations decreased 19 % over a two-week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
The state will recalculate the test positivity rate , a key indicator of how widespread the virus is , within two to three days after counties finish processing the backlogged data .
All of those data pieces are used to determine when businesses and schools can reopen and which counties stay on the state ’ s “ county watch “ list .
Statewide , more than 10,300 people have died from the coronavirus , with the great majority in Los Angeles County .
There are more than 560,000 confirmed coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The number of infections is thought to be higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
Dr. Matt Willis , the health officer in Marin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news of Angell ’ s departure .
“ Speaking for at least the regional health officers , we had a lot of respect for her approach and felt supported by her , ” Willis said .
Though the state has corrected the data error , Riverside County will perform quality assurance checks to make sure it ’ s perfect before updating the county ’ s virus trends , said Kim Saruwatari , the county ’ s public health director .
She said the county is getting what seems to be good data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive test results .
“ The state acted really quickly once it was raised to the high level , ” she said .
Dr. Eric Topol , head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego , said the data collection problem was part of a bigger issue : The state ’ s failure to stay closed longer .
California appeared to be on a “ golden path ” by shutting down early and leading the way nationally in efforts to contain the virus , but has made “ one mistake after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sectors of the economy to reopen , he said .
The surge of cases that followed was compounded by more deaths , inadequate testing to identify cases and try to control the spread , and having more data than the state could process .
“ It ’ s not just reopening early that led to a surge but reopening early led to a lack of data flow that was optimal .
This is far from optimal .
This is embarrassing , “ he said .
He noted that it ’ s surprising that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology concentration in the world , was unprepared .
Newsom said the state must improve its IT system around infectious disease reporting .
Since his election , he ’ s undertaken numerous revamps of the IT systems .
The Employment Development Department , which is under fire for slowly processing unemployment payments , is expected to put out a contract for a major IT overhaul in October .
Associated Press writer Janie Har contributed to this story from San Francisco .

Kathleen Ronayne And Brian Melley - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-08-10--In virus talks, Pelosi holds firm; Mnuchin wants a deal

WASHINGTON - Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not about to blink .
The Democratic leader has been here before , negotiating a deal with the White House to save the U.S. economy , and lessons from the Great Recession are now punctuating the coronavirus talks .
With Republicans again balking at big government bailouts , the Democrats believe they have the leverage , forcing President Donald Trump into a politically risky standoff over help for millions of Americans .
“ It ’ s impossible to know whether she has overplayed her hand until we see if there is a COVID package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former top aide to then-Speaker John Boehner .
Monday brought no new talks between Trump ’ s team and negotiators on Capitol Hill as the president tries a go-it-alone strategy .
Over the weekend , he launched a series of executive actions that give the appearance of a White House taking charge but may end up providing little help for ordinary Americans .
The president ’ s orders seek to reverse the devastating fallout from unemployment assistance , eviction protections and other aid that has expired .
But there are limits , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end run around the legislative branch .
Pelosi dismissed Trump ’ s proposals Monday as an “ illusion ” in an interview on MSNBC .
Trump acknowledged he ’ s still quite open to a deal with Congress .
“ So now Schumer and Pelosi want to meet to make a deal .
Amazing how it all works , isn ’ t it , ” he tweeted Monday .
“ They know my phone number.
” With Trump now having played his hand , however , Democrats appear in no rush to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if not weeks , to sort out what Trump intended with his executive actions , as guidance from the administration is sent to the states .
Already , the Department of Labor is telling governors that Trump ’ s promised $ 400 weekly jobless benefit boost will actually amount to just $ 300 if states are unable to provide the rest , according to information obtained Monday by The Associated Press .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the Trump ’ s administrative actions as “ all sizzle and no steak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glue.
” In the meantime , countless Americans are already feeling the squeeze .
What had been a $ 600 weekly unemployment benefit boost is gone , as are federal eviction protections .
Schools that had been eyeing federal help now face the prospect of reopening on shoestring budgets .
The virus shows no signs of easing , with more than 5 million infections and 160,000 deaths nationwide and stark new evidence that many Americans ’ jobs may never return .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , on a conference call with governors on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the administration ’ s “ first choice.
” Mnuchin and Vice-President Mike Pence urged the governors to reach out to congressional leaders and push for legislation , according to audio of the call obtained by AP .
“ Anytime they want to meet — and they ’ re wiling to negotiate and have a new proposal — we ’ re more than happy to meet , ” Mnuchin said later at the White House .
He confirmed he has not spoken to the Democratic leaders since talks collapsed Friday .
Pelosi has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last recession , when George W. Bush ’ s Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson dropped to a knee at the White House and all but begged her not to let a financial rescue plan fail in Congress .
Democrats provided the bulk of the votes in 2008 for Bush ’ s bank bailout and , with the majority in both the House and Senate , they also approved President Barack Obama ’ s economic recovery plan in 2009 .
They often see that era as mopping up after a Republican president .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the raging virus and economic shutdown — Pelosi is standing firm .
She told The Associated Press earlier this year that Mnuchin is a “ good listener ” and they have a good rapport , having negotiated a relief package in March .
But she said , “ When President Bush was president he would say to me , ‘ Secretary Paulson speaks for me.
’ This case , I don ’ t - I ’ m not sure.
“ Negotiations over the latest coronavirus bill shifted with the arrival of Mark Meadows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff , a conservative former head of the House Freedom Caucus who is widely seen as a counter-force to Mnuchin .
During days of closed-door talks , Meadows often declares one issue after another a “ nonstarter , ” according to an aide granted anonymity to discuss the private sessions .
Another aide said both Meadows and Mnuchin used that phrase several times as they pushed back against the Democratic proposals .
Pelosi has said repeatedly that Trump and the Republicans don ’ t grasp the gravity of the situation facing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their latest compromise offer on the table , dropping their $ 3 trillion-plus package of relief by $ 1 trillion to $ 2.5 trillion , and asking the White House to do the same , raising its $ 1 trillion proposal to at least $ 2 trillion .
That was rejected last week .
The GOP leader , who has chosen to stay on the sidelines in the talks , has a weakened hand because unlike the Democratic leaders , who have most of their rank-and-file behind them , his Republican majority is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefer no new aid at all .
“ Democrats think they smell an opening , ” he said .
McConnell nevertheless can play an influential role if and when he decides to bring the votes he ’ s sure of to the table .
That could lead to one path for an eventual deal .
Associated Press writer Alan Suderman in Richmond , Virginia , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-10--Anchorage seeks court contempt hearing against defiant diner

ANCHORAGE , Alaska - An Anchorage diner owner who kept his restaurant open for dine-in service in defiance of an order meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus said the business would be open for takeout only amid concerns with possible fines .
Andy Kriner , who with his wife owns Kriner ’ s Diner , in a Facebook video post Sunday said the restaurant can not afford to pay daily fines that could grow in size , the Anchorage Daily News reported .
The diner ’ s Facebook page said it was open for curbside delivery and takeout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requested a contempt of court hearing after the restaurant ’ s owners defied a judge ’ s ruling to halt indoor dining service and comply with the city order .
The motion filed Saturday requested contempt sanctions against the diner and its owners .
City attorneys said they do not want the defendants jailed but are trying to make sure the restaurant stops indoor dining service to protect the health of Anchorage residents .
The motion also accuses the restaurant ’ s attorney , Blake Quackenbush , of encouraging and participating in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctioned .
Mayor Ethan Berkowitz issued an emergency order temporarily prohibiting indoor dining at restaurants and breweries as the number of confirmed cases increased .
The order encouraged takeout , curbside and delivery options instead .
Kriner ’ s Diner continued dine-in service after the order went into effect Aug. 3 and the business was issued a stop-work order .
Quackenbush argued the order violates the Alaska Constitution and said the city has not shown evidence that the diner ’ s business practices contributed to the spread of the virus .
Superior Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s motion for a temporary injunction against Kriner ’ s on Friday .
Kriner ’ s was open Saturday with a line of customers waiting outside .
The restaurant was crowded all week with diners supporting its stand .
The diner was closed Sunday .
Anchorage spokesperson Carolyn Hall said in a statement that officials were disappointed the owners “ continue to choose to flout the law ” when they have the opportunity to make a case in court against the order .
Katie Payton of Blake Fulton Quackenbush Family Law said Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling the diner “ a great client with a great business.
” Kriner has said half of the diner ’ s revenue would be lost with takeout service .
On Monday , Superior Court Judge Erin Marston ordered the Little Dipper Diner in Anchorage to stop indoor service .
The Little Dipper Diner , on its Facebook page , said it would be closed Monday for “ much needed rest.
“ The voicemail for the diner ’ s number did not accept new messages Monday afternoon .
The city has issued stop-work orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dine-in service in spite of Berkowitz ’ s order , including Kriner ’ s Diner and the Little Dipper Diner .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus without feeling sick .


thetorontostar--2020-08-10--Virginia man who drove through BLM protest: 6 years in jail

RICHMOND , Va. - A Virginia man who a prosecutor described as a leader of the Ku Klux Klan and who drove through a Black Lives Matter protest in June was sentenced Monday to six years in jail .
Harry H. Rogers , 36 , was convicted of six misdemeanours and sentenced to a year in jail for each charge , the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported .
Rogers still faces three felony charges of attempted malicious wounding in connection with the June 7 incident .
The three felony counts were certified Monday to a grand jury by the same Henrico County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty of four simple assaults , property damage and hit-and-run .
The felony charges will be heard by a grand jury in September , the newspaper reported .
The judge didn ’ t uphold hate crime enhancement on four simple assault charges , agreeing with the defence argument that the three victims , all of whom are white , were not targeted because of their race .
Two people who were struck by Rogers testified .
A third victim was only identified at John Doe .
The prosecution played Facebook Live video captured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of driving through the crowd .
During a hearing the day after the incident , Henrico County Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Shannon Taylor said in a statement that based on his social media posts and by his own admission , Rogers was a Klan leader .


thetorontostar--2020-08-10--Cow chase leads to helicopter rescue of California couple

SAN FRANCISCO - A confrontation between an elderly couple and a cow and her calf required the intervention of the @ @ @ @ @ California this weekend .
Authorities said on Facebook that the unidentified couple had fallen to @ @ @ @ @ gave chase to them in the Lynch Canyon Regional Park .
They were hoisted into @ @ @ @ @ angry bovine .
In a minutes-long video taken by highway patrol mid-air , a cow @ @ @ @ @ feet away from the couple on the barren trail .
As the chopper hovers above @ @ @ @ @ is seen rearing its head and bellowing , while the calf stands nearby .
Highway @ @ @ @ @ cow by sounding the helicopter ’ s alarm , CHP wrote in a Facebook post @ @ @ @ @ 75 feet ( 22.8 metres ) into the air and transported them to a hospital @ @ @ @ @ There was no word on what happened to the mother cow or her calf .


thetorontostar--2020-08-10--California judge rules Uber, Lyft drivers are employees

SACRAMENTO , Calif. - A judge on Monday ordered ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft to treat their California drivers as employees instead of independent contractors , a shift that would guarantee benefits like overtime , sick leave and expense reimbursement for workers who make up much of the freewheeling gig economy .
But the ruling from San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan P. Schulman won ’ t take effect right away as both Uber and Lyft said Monday they will immediately appeal to a higher court , which could put the ruling on hold as the case continues .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ milestone in their fight to apply traditional worker protections to a fast-growing segment of the labour force .
But the companies criticized the decision , saying it threatens to shut them down during a pandemic-induced economic downturn where many people who have lost their jobs turn to the ride-hailing companies to make money .
“ Our elected leaders should be focused on creating work , not trying to shut down an entire industry during an economic depression , ” Uber spokesperson Davis White said .
The lawsuit was filed by California Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles , San Diego and San Francisco under a new California law that says companies can only classify workers as contractors if they perform work “ outside the usual course ” of their business .
The law has wide-reaching implications across a number of sectors , but none more so than the ride-hailing industry .
The companies have already challenged the law in federal court , where their efforts to stop it from taking effect have , so far , failed .
And they have pledged to spend more than a hundred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November that , if approved by voters , would exempt them from the law .
Lawyers for Uber and Lyft say drivers are not fundamental to the business , arguing the companies are “ multi-sided platforms “ whose activities encompass much more than transportation .
But Schulman rejected those arguments , writing in a 34-page opinion that the argument “ flies in the face of economic reality and common sense.
” “ To state the obvious , drivers are central , not tangential , to Uber and Lyft ’ s entire ride-hailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have argued Uber and Lyft ’ s behaviour hurts more than just drivers , noting the companies don ’ t pay into the state ’ s unemployment insurance fund that covers benefits for people when they lose their jobs .
The state ’ s fund was quickly depleted following huge job losses because of the pandemic , resulting in the state borrowing billions of dollars from the federal government .
“ Our state and workers shouldn ’ t have to foot the bill when big businesses try to skip out on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Democratic attorney general , said “ We ’ re going to keep working to make sure Uber and Lyft play by the rules.
” But ride-haling companies have been hurt by the pandemic , too .
Uber announced last week it lost $ 1.78 billion in the past three months as millions of people stayed home during the pandemic .
Uber said it did not anticipate any immediate disruptions because of the ruling for its more than 100,000 drivers in California .
Lyft , meanwhile , turned its attention to the November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe this issue will be decided by California voters and that they will side with drivers , ” Lyft spokesperson Julie Wood said .


thetorontostar--2020-08-10--Hate crime victim arrested at protest won’t be prosecuted

PORTLAND , Ore. - A Black woman who became a leading activist in the Black Lives Matter movement after she was assaulted by a white supremacist three years ago won ’ t be charged after her arrest early Monday fueled anger among protest leaders in Portland , Oregon , authorities said .
Demetria Hester , 46 , was booked on suspicion of disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer during the protest that began Sunday night .
The Multnomah County district attorney ’ s office later said Hester would not be prosecuted but offered no further details .
Hester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from national Black Lives Matter activists , who are increasingly focusing on demonstrations in Oregon ’ s largest city .
After her release , Hester said at a news conference that she would keep protesting and joined others in announcing plans for a fundraiser to send Black mothers to Washington , D.C. “ I was born and bred to do this .
This is a dream come true , ” Hester said , tearing up as the crowd cheered .
“ This is a revolution and we ’ re getting reparations .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baby !
“ Hester and 15 other people were arrested during Portland ’ s 73rd consecutive nights of protest .
A group of about 200 demonstrators gathered at a park and then marched to the police union headquarters , where some people set fires outside the building and launched fireworks at officers .
Two officers were injured , including one who was burned on the neck when a firework exploded , police said .
President Donald Trump once more seized on the protests and said on Twitter that Portland was “ out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kate Brown to bring in the Oregon National Guard .
Protests that attracted thousands of people in July — when Trump sent U.S. agents to protect the federal courthouse — have dwindled to nightly crowds of about 200 , with a small number committing acts of vandalism and violence .
Peaceful demonstrations with speeches , chanting and singing also occur in the city every day and night at various locations and don ’ t require a police presence .
On Monday , civil rights groups in Portland and members of the international Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portland , decried Hester ’ s arrest and said the city was at the centre of the racial justice protest movement .
The hashtag # freedemetria gained momentum on Twitter long after Hester had been released from jail .
“ The struggle here in Portland has become almost ground zero because what we ’ ve seen under this administration is the kind of flexing that we haven ’ t really seen in our generation , ever , “ said Janaya Khan , co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto .
” People only protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to protect them .
That is the only time that people protest , risking life and limb.
” Hester gained prominence in 2017 when she was assaulted by a white supremacist while riding a light-rail train .
The man who attacked Hester , Jeremy Christian , stabbed two men to death the following night and critically injured a third man when they came to the defence of two Black woman — one of them wearing a Muslim head-covering — who were being harassed by Christian as they rode the train .
Hester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s murder trial — testimony that took a dramatic turn when Christian threatened to kill her in an outburst that ended with him getting dragged from the courtroom .
She also publicly criticized the police for failing to arrest Christian that night , which allowed him to commit the murders the following day .
Christian was convicted and given two life sentences without possibility of parole .
Hester has reappeared in public this summer as one of the main organizers of the “ Wall of Moms , ” a group of mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesting nightly .
She and others are demanding that the City Council defund the Portland Police Bureau and reinvest the money in the Black community .
Hester became more visible in the group about two weeks ago when the original “ Wall of Moms ” group disbanded under accusations from some Black leaders that the white founders were seeking to monetize the Black Lives Matter movement and weren ’ t listening to Black voices .
Since then , she has been leading a smaller number of moms on marches each night , using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice cracking with fatigue .
Hester spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday , before her arrest , and said that the “ Wall of Moms ” — now called “ Moms United for Black Lives ” — had regained its focus after the internal leadership struggle .
“ Our life is in danger just because we want to express the fact that we are being abused , killed , raped and no one is doing nothing about it .
And that ’ s why we ’ re protesting and we will never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equal as people , ” she said .
She did not return a call or text message on Monday seeking further comment .
Hester ’ s arrest was captured on video and posted on Twitter .
Hester , wearing a yellow backpack , is seen standing in the street when an officer in riot gear approaches her and says , “ You ’ re under arrest.
” Hester does not resist and is led away .
The Oregon chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called her “ one of the bravest people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they didn ’ t believe her , and now they ’ ve erred again in targeting her , ” CAIR Oregon tweeted Monday , referencing the light-rail stabbings .
“ She has every reason to be upset .
If they believed her , maybe two lives would still be with us today.
” The protests in Portland have happened nightly since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The unrest reached an apex when protesters targeted a federal courthouse last month that was defended by federal agents who lobbed tear gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks of nightly confrontations .
Associated Press reporter Suman Naishadham in Atlanta contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-10--UN envoy says Guinea-Bissau in fragile state after elections

TANZANIA , Tanzania - The U.N. envoy for Guinea-Bissau said Monday the “ political crisis and the parliamentary paralysis ” following elections this year have left the impoverished West African nation in a fragile state as the United Nations prepares to end its peace-building mission at the end of the year .
Rosine Sori-Coulibaly told a virtual Security Council meeting that recent political developments have led to “ a politically charged atmosphere with mounting mistrust ” among political players .
Guinea-Bissau , a nation of of just over 1.6 million inhabitants located between Senegal to the north and Guinea to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been beset by instability , corruption and drug trafficking .
Since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974 it has experienced four coup d ’ etats and more than a dozen attempted coups .
In the 2000s , Guinea-Bissau became known as a transit point for cocaine between Latin America and Europe as traffickers profited from corruption and weak law enforcement .
But the drug trade has become less prominent with increasing enforcement .
In a run-off presidential election in December , former army general and prime minister Umaro Cissoko Embalo topped the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contested by losing candidate Domingos Simoes Pereira , another former prime minister from the long-ruling PAIGC party who challenged the result in the Supreme Court .
Embalo had himself sworn in as president in late February after dismissing the former government , and despite a pending Supreme Court decision to annul the election results .
He started forming a new government with support from the military , which according to published reports took control of all state institutions and the national broadcast media .
According to those reports , former PaIGC prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several ministers , as well as PAIGC presidential candidate Simoes Pereira , left the country because of concerns for their personal safety .
Sori-Coulibaly said “ mutual accusations and reported acts of intimidation against those opposing the new political ” order “ have created a hostile environment , making it difficult to reach a compromise for the sake of political stability and consensus building around national peace-building priorities.
” She said that while president Embalo and his supporters are focused on consolidating power , the PAIGC party is contesting the June 29 parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new prime minister , Nuno Gomes Nabiam .
Embalo has expressed a desire to form a broad-based government but prospects are low because of strong opposition from PAIGC , Sori-Coulibaly “ Concerns about insecurity and human rights abuses , such as the July 26 raid on Radio Capital FM , which is considered allied to the opposition , as well as the arbitrary arrests , intimidation and detention of persons and political figures perceived as opposing the current administration have been reported , ” she said .
“ These occurrences have heightened political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliamentary paralysis have prevented the U.N. mission from supporting urgent reforms including the review of the Constitution , the electoral law and the law on political parties .
The U.N. special representative said Embalo ’ s desire to change the system of government — from semi-presidential to presidential — under the new constitution , “ if not carefully managed and widely discussed ” may further compound “ an already fragile situation.
” The United Nations has had a peace-building operation in Guinea-Bissau since 1999 .
The Security Council in late February confirmed an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Dec. 31 , 2020 .
Sori-Coulibaly told the council the mission is starting to wind down , but stressed that U.N. support for Guinea-Bissau “ will remain crucial.
” She called for a strengthened U.N. country team to continue peace-building efforts and protect and promote human rights .
“ Funding will be essential for averting a financial cliff , ” she said .


thetorontostar--2020-08-10--Trump wants to host G-7  -  and Russia  -  after election

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Monday that he wants to host the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations after the November presidential election and still wants to invite Russia , which was kicked out of the G-7 after it annexed Crimea .
“ I ’ m much more inclined to do it sometime after the election , ” Trump told reporters at a White House briefing , adding that due to the coronavirus pandemic , the meeting could be held in person or via teleconference .
He said he told his staff on Sunday that he ’ d rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said that would give everyone more time to think about the important meeting .
In June , the European Union joined a growing chorus of G-7 members insisting that Russia must not be allowed back into the fold .
Trump , as host of this year ’ s summit , is in charge of the guest list and has said he plans to invite Russia , Australia , South Korea and India .
The G-7 members are Canada , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , the United Kingdom and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 nations , also takes part in the meeting .
Russia was suspended in 2014 from what was then the G-8 following its invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Video: Police tried to cuff young boy at Florida school

KEY WEST , Fla. - A civil rights lawyer plans to sue the police and school district in Key West over the arrest of a crying 8-year-old boy accused of punching a teacher .
Police video of the 2018 arrest , posted on social media by the lawyer , shows officers lecturing the boy and escorting him out on a felony battery charge .
Tallahassee attorney Benjamin Crump said in a statement on Twitter that he and civil rights attorney Devon Jacobs plan to file a federal lawsuit this week against the police department and the Monroe County School District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s mother , Bianca N. Digennaro .
“ Unbelievable !
!
@ KWPOLICE used “ scared straight ” tactics on 8yo boy with special needs .
He ’ s 3.5 ft tall and 64 lbs , but they thought it was appropriate to handcuff and transport him to an adult prison for processing !
!
He was so small the cuffs fell off his wrists !
” Crump tweeted .
Key West Police Chief Sean T. Brandenburg said in a statement Monday that his officers did nothing wrong : “ Based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed , ” he said .
The video was posted Monday by Crump , whose client list of people alleging police abuse has grown since he began representing the family of George Floyd , the Black man who died at the hands of a Minneapolis officer in May .
Crump accused the officers of trying to “ shame and terrify the small child , ” who he said had behavioural and emotional disabilities .
The Miami Herald reported that the incident in Grace Adams Elementary School began when the boy was not sitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a teacher asked him several times to sit down out of concerns for his safety .
According to School Resource Officer Michael Malgrat ’ s arrest report , which the newspaper obtained , the teacher then told the boy to set next to her , and he refused , saying “ Don ’ t put your hands on me.
” Then she told him to walk with her , and the boy said , “ My mom is going to beat your a -- , ” and punched her with his right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school ’ s administrative office when the teacher and the boy arrived , wrote that the boy “ had his hands clenched into fists and he was postured as if he was ready to fight.
” Two more officers were called , and they lectured him in a hallway before booking him into Key West ’ s juvenile justice facility on a felony battery charge .
The video footage shows officers telling the sobbing boy that he ’ s “ going to jail.
“ They frisk him and then have him experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were too big for his wrists .
“ You understand this is very serious , OK ?
I hate that you had to put me into this position to do this .
The thing about it is , you made a mistake .
Now it ’ s time for you to learn about it and to grow from it , not repeat the same mistake again , ” one of the officers says as they escort him out .
The Monroe County School District said it can ’ t comment because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not , and has not , been involved in litigation about this incident , ” an emailed statement reads .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Asia Today: New Zealand reports 1st local cases in 102 days

WELLINGTON , New Zealand - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday that authorities have found four cases of the coronavirus in one Auckland household from an unknown source , the first reported cases of local transmission in the country in 102 days .
Ardern said Auckland , the nation ’ s largest city , will be moved to Alert Level 3 from midday Wednesday through midnight Friday , meaning that people will be asked to stay at home , while bars and many other businesses will be closed .
“ These three days will give us time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure we have widespread contact tracing so we can find out more about how this case arose and make decisions about how to respond to it once we have further information , ” Ardern said at a hastily called news conference late Tuesday .
“ I know that this information will be very difficult to receive , ” Ardern said .
“ We had all hoped not to find ourselves in this position again .
But we had also prepared for it .
And as a team , we have also been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Auckland will be banned unless people live there and are travelling home .
She said the rest of the country will be raised to Level 2 through Friday , meaning that mass gatherings will be limited to 100 attendees and people would need to socially distance themselves from each other .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : — An outbreak in Australia ’ s second-largest city held steady Tuesday , raising hopes the strict lockdown in Melbourne was working .
Victoria state , which includes Melbourne , reported 331 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , equaling the record number of deaths set a day earlier .
The number of new infections was less than half the peak days in recent weeks .
Meanwhile , health authorities in Sydney were investigating a growing cluster of cases centred around a private Catholic school .
The state of New South Wales , which includes Sydney , reported 22 new cases , including eight that are linked to the school cluster .
— Mainland China and semi-autonomous Hong Kong saw declines in their recent outbreaks Tuesday .
The number of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all in the northwestern region of Xinjiang .
Hong Kong counted 69 new cases .
The mainland also saw 31 new cases brought by Chinese travellers from abroad .
China requires testing and a two-week quarantine of all new arrivals and has barred most foreigners from entering the country .
The National Health Commission said 794 people are in treatment for COVID-19 , while another 288 are being monitored in isolation for showing signs of the illness or testing positive for the virus without displaying symptoms .
— Taiwan ’ s foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other COVID-19 assistance to foreign countries surreptitiously so the recipients wouldn ’ t face China ’ s wrath .
China has sought to diplomatically isolate the island it claims as its own territory , and Joseph Wu described Taiwan ’ s efforts to help while facing that pressure as “ increasingly difficult.
” Wu was meeting with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , the highest-level American to visit Taiwan in four decades .
China ’ s efforts include excluding Taiwan from global health forums , but Azar said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Especially during a pandemic , but at all times , international organizations should not be places to play politics.
” The U.S. has announced it will withdraw from the World Health Organization , accusing it of not properly handling the response to the pandemic .
— U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar says it ’ s more important to have a safe and effective vaccine against the coronavirus than to be the first to produce a vaccine .
Azar , on a visit to Taiwan , was asked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s announcement that it had become the first country to register a vaccine against the virus .
He replied : “ The point is not to be first with a vaccine .
The point is to have a vaccine that is safe and effective for the American people and the people of the world.
” He said it ’ s important to have transparent data on the vaccine to prove its safety and efficacy , and noted that the U.S. has six vaccines in development under the Operation Warp Speed initiative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and case count in the world , with more than 163,000 deaths and over 5 million cases .
Azar also repeated accusations that China failed to adequately warn the rest of the world after the coronavirus was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year .
China ’ s ruling Communist Party “ had the chance to warn the world and work with the world on battling the virus , ” Azar said in a speech .
“ But they chose not to , and the costs of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Azar ’ s trip to Taiwan made him the highest-level U.S. official to visit the self-governing island since the U.S. severed formal diplomatic relations in 1979 in deference to China .
— India reported 53,601 new cases of coronavirus Tuesday as its total infections neared 2.3 million .
The Health Ministry also said 871 deaths were newly reported , raising total fatalities to 45,257 .
India has been posting an average of around 50,000 new cases a day since mid-June .
Its total infections are third in the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The three countries account for half of the world ’ s 20 million cases .
The true numbers around the world are thought to be much higher because of factors including low testing and the possibility the virus can be spread by people who don ’ t have symptoms .
The Indian Council of Medical Research , India ’ s top medical research body , said nearly 25 million samples have been tested .
Health experts , however , say the country needs to test more people given its big population .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been conducting a little less than 18,000 tests per million population .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Global coronavirus cases top 20M as Russia approves vaccine

ROME - The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide topped 20 million , more than half of them from the United States , India and Brazil , as Russia on Tuesday became the first country to approve a vaccine against the virus .
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that one of his two adult daughters had already been inoculated with the cleared vaccine , which he described as effective .
“ She ’ s feeling well and has a high number of antibodies , ” Putin said .
Russia has reported more than 890,000 cases , the fourth-highest total in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hopkins University tally that also showed total confirmed cases globally surpassing 20 million .
It took six months or so to get to 10 million cases after the virus first appeared in central China late last year .
It took just over six weeks for that number to double .
An AP analysis of data through Aug. 9 showed the U.S. , India and Brazil together accounted for nearly two-thirds of all reported infections since the world hit 15 million coronavirus cases on July 22 .
Health officials believe the actual number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher than the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University , given testing limitations and that as many as 40 % of those with the virus show no symptoms .
As a result , the race to develop and deliver a vaccine has topped the global health care and geopolitical agenda , even as the United Nations has warned that any vaccine must be safe and made available to all , not just the wealthy .
Putin said the Russian vaccine underwent the necessary tests and offered a lasting immunity from the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that rushing to start using the vaccine before Phase 3 trials — which normally last for months and involve thousands of people — could backfire .
“ The point is not to be first with a vaccine , “ U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday during a visit to Taiwan when asked about the Russian vaccine .
“ The point is to have a vaccine that is safe and effective for the American people and the people of the world.
” The U.S. has a half-dozen vaccine candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an experimental vaccine and European countries have several trials underway .
In Europe , countries that appeared to have gotten their outbreaks under control during nationwide lockdowns and lifted many public restrictions worked to prevent a resurgence of the virus .
Finland joined France and Germany in announcing it would test travellers from at-risk countries upon arrival .
Spain , which along with Italy was hardest hit when the virus first exploded on the continent , now has the most confirmed cases in western Europe at nearly 323,000 .
The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since its strict , three-month lockdown ended on June 21 , reaching 1,486 on Monday .
In Greece , which imposed strict lockdown measures early and kept its reported cases low during the height of the European epidemic , the government announced new measures Monday to prevent an outbreak .
It ordered bars , restaurants and cafes in several regions to shut between midnight and 7 a.m .
The number of new cases reported daily continues to rise in India , hitting a rolling seven-day average of 58,768 .
In the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million confirmed cases , the daily average has decreased since July 22nd , but remains high at over 53,000 .
South Africa has more than a half-million cases .
In the country with the world ’ s largest number of HIV-positive people , the virus has disrupted the supply of antiretroviral drugs that a United Nations agency says could lead to 500,000 additional AIDS-related deaths .
In the 45 days it took reported coronavirus cases worldwide to double to 20 million , the number of reported virus deaths climbed to 736,191 from 499,506 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an average of more than 5,200 a day .
About one-fifth of reported deaths , or more than 163,000 , have been in the U.S. , the most in the world .
Caseloads are still rising quickly in many other countries , including Indonesia and Japan .
In Mexico , President Andrés Manuel López Obrador , like Brazil ’ s President Jair Bolsonaro and U.S. President Donald Trump , seldom wears a mask and has resisted calls for a strict lockdown , saying Mexicans should be persuaded to observe social distancing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or fines .
With nearly 500,000 cases and more than 50,300 deaths , Mexico has struggled with how to curb outbreaks given that just over half its people work off the books with no benefits or unemployment insurance .
A full lockdown would prove too costly for people with little savings and tenuous daily incomes , said Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell , the president ’ s point man on the epidemic .
“ We do not want a solution that would , in social terms , be more costly than the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s relatively high death rate results partly from the country having one of the world ’ s highest rates of obesity and diabetes .
There has also been relatively little testing .
Of all tests done , 47 % are positive , suggesting that only seriously ill people are getting tests .
That has hindered contract tracing .
India reported 53,601 new cases Tuesday as its count of total infections neared 2.3 million .
Its reported case mortality rate , at 2 % , is much lower than in the U.S. and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no confirmed deaths and very few cases to battling fresh outbreaks that emerged in the seaside city of Danang .
New Zealand , which has been praised for quickly getting the virus under control , on Tuesday reported the first cases of local transmission in the country in 102 days .
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said authorities found four cases of the coronavirus in one Auckland household from an unknown source .
Meanwhile , outbreaks in mainland China and semi-autonomous Hong Kong declined , with the number of new community infections in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northwestern region of Xinjiang .
Hong Kong counted 69 new cases .
Border closures , masks , lockdowns and infection data are now the new way of life for much of the world , not the politically combustible topics they are in the U.S. A review by the Kaiser Health News service and The Associated Press found that at least 49 state and local public health leaders have resigned , retired or been fired since April across 23 states .
The list has grown by more than 20 people since the AP and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kurtenbach reported from Mito , Japan .
Stevenson reported from Mexico City .
Associated Press journalist Nicky Forster in New York contributed to this report , as did other AP journalists from around the world .

Nicole Winfield, Elaine Kurtenbach And Mark Stevenson - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Lebanon marks one week since deadly Beirut explosion

BEIRUT - A nation still burying its dead Tuesday marked a week since the explosion in Beirut that flattened much of the Lebanese capital ’ s port , damaged buildings and left thousands of people dead and injured .
Several events , including a moment of silence at 6:08 p.m. local time when the blast happened , were planned to commemorate the explosion .
It was caused by the ignition of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been sitting at Beirut port for more than six years .
A candlelight vigil was also planned for later Monday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s top political leaders and security agencies , and led to the resignation of the government on Monday .
In the wake of the disaster , documents have come to light that show that top Lebanese officials knew about the existence of the stockpile in the heart of Beirut near residential areas , and did nothing about it .
It still wasn ’ t clear what caused the fire in a port warehouse that triggered the explosion of the chemicals , which created a shockwave so powerful it was felt as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 200 kilometres ( 180 miles ) across the Mediterranean .
“ From one minute to the next , the world changed for people in Beirut , ” said Basma Tabaja , deputy head of the International Committee of the Red Cross ’ s delegation in Lebanon on Tuesday .
The explosion , which obliterated the capital ’ s port , damaged thousands of apartments and offices in the capital and came on top of an unprecedented economic and financial crisis the country the country has been mired in since late last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collective distress .
Meanwhile , behind the scenes contacts got underway Tuesday for the formation of a new government , a day after Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned .
Diab ’ s government , which was supported by the militant group Hezbollah and its allies , unraveled after the deadly blast , with three ministers announcing they were quitting .
Diab ’ s government was formed after his predecessor , Saad Hariri , stepped down in October in response to anti-government demonstrations over endemic corruption .
It took months of bickering among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lebanese have demanded an independent Cabinet not backed by any of the political political parties they blame for the mess they are in .
Many are also calling for an independent investigation into the port explosion , saying they had zero trust in a local probe .
Lebanese officials have rejected an international investigation .
The government , in the last decision it made before resigning Monday , referred the case to the Supreme Judicial Council , Lebanon ’ s top judicial body , which handles crimes infringing on Lebanon ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state security crimes .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Activist’s arrest in Portland galvanizes Black Lives Matter

PORTLAND , Ore. - The arrest during a Portland , Oregon protest of a Black woman who became a leading activist in the racial justice movement after she was assaulted by a white supremacist three years ago has galvanized local and national Black Lives Matter groups .
Demonstrators took to the streets again Monday night and police broke up a protest outside a police precinct substation after they said protesters shined strobe lights at officers and hurled eggs and water bottles at them .
Nine people were arrested when clashes broke out , with some protesters throwing rocks and golf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered an arm injury in a scuffle for which she was treated and released from a hospital , Portland police said in a statement Tuesday morning .
Portland has endured more than two months of often violent , nightly protests since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis .
Authorities said Demetria Hester , 46 , won ’ t be charged following her predawn Monday arrest after a protest that started Sunday night and turned violent outside the union headquarters for Portland ’ s police .
She had been booked on suspicion of disorderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the protest .
Hester ’ s arrest drew a sharp rebuke from national Black Lives Matter activists , who are increasingly focusing on demonstrations in Oregon ’ s largest city .
After her release , Hester told reporters that she would keep protesting and joined others in announcing plans for a fundraiser to send Black mothers to Washington , D.C. “ I was born and bred to do this .
This is a dream come true , ” Hester said .
“ This is a revolution and we ’ re getting reparations.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested during Portland ’ s 73rd consecutive nights of protest , when a group of about 200 demonstrators gathered at a park and then marched to the union headquarters building , where some people set fires outside the building and launched fireworks at officers .
Two officers were injured , including one who was burned on the neck when a firework exploded , police said .
Police declared that the event was a riot shortly after 10 p.m. and began arresting people , including Hester .
President Donald Trump again seized on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harshly criticized local Democratic officials and said on Twitter that Portland was “ out of control.
” He urged Democratic Gov .
Kate Brown to bring in the Oregon National Guard .
Civil rights groups in Portland and members of the international Black Lives Matter organization , who travelled to Portland , decried Hester ’ s arrest and said the city was at the centre of the racial justice protest movement .
“ The struggle here in Portland has become almost ground zero because what we ’ ve seen under this administration is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t really seen in our generation , ever , ” said Janaya Khan , co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto .
“ People only protest when politicians and policies and police have failed to protect them .
“ Hester gained prominence in 2017 when she was assaulted by a white supremacist while riding a light-rail train .
The man who attacked Hester , Jeremy Christian , stabbed two men to death the following night and critically injured a third man when they came to the defence of two Black women — one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were being harassed by Christian .
Hester gave emotional testimony this spring at Christian ’ s murder trial .
Christian was convicted and given two life sentences without possibility of parole .
Hester has reappeared in public this summer as one of the main organizers of a group of mostly white parents who have been protesting nightly .
She leads marches each night , using a bullhorn to chant in a voice cracking with fatigue .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Police probe claims that Indian army faked Kashmir gunbattle

SRINAGAR , India - Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir said Tuesday they are investigating allegations by three families that three of their relatives were killed by the military in a staged gunbattle and buried as unidentified militants .
Police are taking “ all necessary steps to ascertain facts ” in the case , said Amritpal Singh , the police chief in Shopian district , where the Indian army said the gunbattle took place on July 18 .
The families said the three young men — cousins age 18 , 21 and 25 — went to Shopian to work as labourers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 .
On Sunday , the families said they were shown photographs that circulated on social media of three bodies that , according to the Indian army , were “ unidentified terrorists ” killed during the Shopian gunbattle .
They recognized the bodies as their missing relatives and filed a report with police .
“ They had not even a remote connection with militancy , “ said Mohammed Yousuf , the father of one the men .
He said his son spoke to his wife on July 17 and from the next day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ switched off .
He called for “ a probe , verification of their call records and background checks ” to prove their innocence .
A police statement on July 18 said soldiers killed three unidentified militants during a counterinsurgency operation in Shopian and buried their bodies in a remote graveyard .
An Indian army spokesman , Col. Rajesh Kalia , said in a statement late Monday that “ the three terrorists killed during the operation have not been identified and the bodies were buried based on established protocols.
” He said the army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the operation at Shopian ” and was investigating the matter .
Lal Din Khatana , a resident of Amshipora village in Shopian where soldiers said the three men were killed , told reporters that only a few shots were fired on July 18 , followed by a loud explosion .
He said the soldiers later asked villagers to identify the men but they couldn ’ t recognize them .
“ Their faces were burnt .
Two were unrecognizable .
One face was in good shape but they couldn ’ t recognize him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the shots seemed more like one-sided firing than an exchange of gunfire .
The incident could further ratchet up anti-India anger in the disputed region , where Indian forces have repeatedly been accused of targeting civilians .
In 2010 , a massive uprising erupted in Kashmir after a police investigation found Indian soldiers had killed three civilians in a staged gunbattle and then said the victims were militants in order to claim a reward .
The army responded by suspending two officers .
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan .
Rebel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kashmir to demand that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country .
Emergency laws give Indian forces in Kashmir sweeping powers to search homes and make arrests without warrants and to shoot suspects on sight without fear of prosecution .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Opposition candidate leaves Belarus, urges end to protests

MINSK , Belarus - The top opposition candidate in Belarus ’ presidential vote , who initially refused to concede her defeat amid a massive police crackdown on anti-government protesters , said Tuesday she has left for Lithuania and called on her supporters to end demonstrations .
Looking haggard and distressed , Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya , a former teacher and political novice , apologized to her supporters in a video statement and said it was her own choice to leave the country .
“ It was a very hard decision to make , ” she said .
“ I know that many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others will condemn me and some will even hate me .
But God forbid you ever face the choice that I faced.
” In another video statement released later on Tuesday , she urged her supporters to respect the law and avoid clashes with police .
Her campaign aides said she made the unexpected move under duress .
Tsikhanouskaya ’ s husband has been at a Belarusian jail since his arrest in May .
“ It ’ s very difficult to resist pressure when your family and all your inner circle have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a top figure in Tsikhanouskaya ’ s campaign .
Tsikhanouskaya previously dismissed the official results of Sunday ’ s election showing authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko winning a sixth term by a landslide .
Thousands of opposition supporters who also protested the results met with a tough police crackdown in Minsk and several other Belarusian cities for two straight nights .
On Monday , a protester died amid the clashes in Minsk and scores were injured as police used tear gas , flash-bang grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throw an explosive device , but it blew up in his hand and killed him .
The ministry said Tuesday that more than 2,000 people were detained across the country for taking part in unsanctioned protests on Monday evening and overnight .
It added that 21 police officers were injured in clashes with protesters , and five of them were hospitalized .
The previous day , the ministry reported more than 3,000 detentions and said 89 people were injured , including 39 law enforcement officers .
Tsikhanouskaya , a 37-year-old former English teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the race after her husband , an opposition blogger who had hoped to run for president , was arrested in May .
She has managed to unite fractured opposition groups and draw tens of thousands to her campaign rallies — the largest opposition demonstrations in Belarus since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union .
In the video statement posted on her Facebook , Tsikhanouskaya thanked her supporters for backing her candidacy , but added that “ the people of Belarus have made their choice.
” “ Belarusians , I ’ m urging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the law , ” she said , reading a text without raising her eyes from the paper .
“ I don ’ t want blood and violence .
I ’ m asking you not to confront the police and not take to squares to put your lives in danger .
Take care of yourselves and your relatives.
” Hours before that , Tsikhanouskaya disputed the vote results and submitted a formal request for a recount to the Central Election Commission .
She stayed in the commission headquarters for hours and faced senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign aides .
One aide , Olga Kovalkova , said the about-face came under pressure from the authorities who made Tsikhanouskaya read a prepared statement and then drove her out of the country .
“ We don ’ t know what kind of pressure she was subjected to and how they tried to break her , ” Kovalkova said .
“ She couldn ’ t have said it on her own .
She was reading a prepared text.
” She said that Tsikhanouskaya left the country with her campaign chief , Maria Moroz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend .
Several other campaign aides have remained in custody .
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said the videos posted by Tsikhanouskaya had been recorded in Belarus before her journey to Vilnius .
Lukashenko , who has ruled the ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist since 1994 , derided the opposition as “ sheep ” manipulated by foreign masters and vowed to continue the tough crackdown on protests despite Western rebukes .
Election officials said Lukashenko won a sixth term in office with 80 % of the vote , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election results on Monday and vowed to demand a recount .
“ We have official protocols from many polling stations , where the number of votes in my favour are many more times than for another candidate , ” she told the AP .
When asked Monday if she was planning to go abroad to avoid being arrested , Tsikhanouskaya said she had no such plan and saw no reason why she would be arrested .
But hours later she went to Belarus ’ Central Election Commission to submit a formal request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen again until showing up in Lithuania on Tuesday .
She previously had sent her children there after receiving threats early in the campaign .
“ I thought that the campaign had tempered me and make me so strong that I could resist anything , ” Tsikhanouskaya said in the first of her two videos , her face haggard and her voice breaking .
“ But it appears that I have remained the same weak woman that I was before.
” Economic damage caused by the coronavirus and Lukashenko ’ s swaggering response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed as “ psychosis , ” has fueled broad anger , helping swell the opposition ranks .
The post-election protest , in which young demonstrators — many of them teenagers — confronted police , marked a previously unseen level of violence .
Rumours that Tsikhanouskaya had left the country began circulating among the protesters as they confronted police overnight , but the news didn ’ t discourage them from continuing their resistance .
“ She had a clear choice : to be in a Belarusian jail or to remain free in Lithuania , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tsikhanouskaya has called herself a symbol of change , but they are forcing us to continue living as before.
” Another protester , 20-year-old Anna Vitushko , said that protests will continue .
“ People are protesting against the crude falsifications , and her departure doesn ’ t mean anything , “ Vitushko said .
“ If Lukashenko won 80 % , why does he need riot police , rubber bullets and water cannon ?
They can cheat a few per cent of the population , but they can ’ t cheat the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minsk ’ s central squares and avenues didn ’ t stop the demonstrators from gathering around the downtown for the past two nights , chanting “ Freedom !
” and “ Long live Belarus !
” Motorists were blaring horns in a sign of support , and some used their cars to block police vehicles ’ passage .
The Interior Ministry responded by warning Tuesday that such vehicles will be impounded and their owners could face criminal charges .
More rallies are expected later in the evening .
The crackdown on protesters drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States and will likely complicate Lukashenko ’ s efforts to mend ties with the West amid tensions with his main ally and sponsor , Russia .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the election was not “ free and fair , ” and added : “ We strongly condemn ongoing violence against protesters and the detention of opposition supporters.
” The European Union condemned the police crackdown and called for an immediate release of all those detained .
Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Liudas Dapkus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Virus surge makes US weak link in global economic recovery

FRANKFURT - People in China are back to buying German luxury cars .
Europe ’ s assembly lines are accelerating .
Now the global economy is waiting for the United States to get its coronavirus outbreak under control and boost the recovery , but there ’ s little sign of that .
The United States ’ fumbling response to the pandemic and its dithering over a new aid package is casting doubt on its economic prospects and making it one of the chief risks to a global rebound .
After springtime restrictions , many U.S. states prematurely declared victory over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economies , leading to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases .
Confirmed infections are rising in most states , and many businesses have had to scale back or even cancel plans to reopen .
And while it does not dominate global commerce like it did 20 years ago , America is still by far the biggest economy - accounting for 22 % of total economic output , versus 14 % for No .
2 China , according to the World Bank .
That makes its handling of the pandemic and its economy crucial for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producer of luxury handbags in Bologna , Italy , that sells 60 % its vintage motorcycle-inspired satchels to U.S. customers .
Company owner Allison Hoeltzel Savini said retail sales dried up during the spring .
She had already suffered a blow when Barneys , her main client , went bankrupt and didn ’ t pay for the spring-summer collection that had shipped .
Hoeltzel Savini said she has had to hold off on new hires , and hasn ’ t been able to do her usual sales trip to the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ find consumers directly through newsletters and social media , but remains cautious about the future , as she sees the U.S. market for her goods continuing to slow down .
“ I am really concerned for the next season , if wholesale clients will be placing orders , ’ ’ she said .
Same for of Shenzhen Aung Crown Industrial Ltd. , which makes baseball hats .
The company usually sells about 60 % of its output to the United States .
“ We can ’ t afford to lose the U.S. market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It is difficult to find other markets that could digest such a great amount of high-quality hats ... We have no alternative but to focus on the U.S. market.
“ The United States is unlikely to pull the world economy out of its rut as it did in past downturns such as after the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s .
“ The U.S. won ’ t be the locomotive , ’ ’ said Nariman Behravesh , chief economist at IHS Markit .
The American economy shrank at an annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June , by far the worst quarter on record .
The numbers are expected to bounce back strongly in the second half but to leave the U.S. economy well short of where it stood at the beginning of 2020 .
Talks in Congress to pass another round of federal coronavirus aid have failed , piling pressure on state and local authorities to keep basic services running .
U.S. stock markets are nevertheless near record highs , but analysts attribute that largely to the Federal Reserve ’ s commitment to keep interest rates low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced the number of contagions more effectively than the U.S. , saw its economy shrink at a similar pace but is forecast to grow more quickly next year .
And government support for workers has contained the rise in unemployment for now .
China , meanwhile , was the first major economy to resume growth since the pandemic struck , recording a 3.2 % expansion during the April-June period from the quarter before .
If the U.S had done a better job managing the outbreak , “ the rebound would have been stronger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no doubt in my mind about that.
’ ’ Hopes for a strong and quick recovery have largely been dashed by the country ’ s inability to bring the virus under control .
The United States ’ diminished ability to drive global growth isn ’ t just related to its coronavirus response .
Its share of global economic output - and growth - has been eroding .
China ’ s economy has consistently grown faster than America ’ s and has steadily narrowed the gap between them .
From 2009 through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of global economic growth ; the United States , just 17 % .
“ We ’ re in a multi-polar world in which there are multiple locomotives -- China , Europe ’ ’ as well as the United States , Behravesh said .
Germany ’ s carmakers , who dominate the global market for expensive cars , are already seeing their sales buoyed by China .
BMW saw car sales in China rise 17 % in the second quarter , compared with a year earlier - before anyone had heard the term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenues in China rose 15 % during the same period from a year earlier while they sagged 36 % in the U.S .
Economist Philipp Hauber at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy said that “ in fact China has been the locomotive of the global economy in recent years .
That does not mean that the development of the economy in the U.S. is inconsequential .
Both economies are about the same size , depending on how one measures ... and the two of them are the biggest trading partners for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weak U.S. economic rebound is the greatest risk to the eurozone and world economy , along with a second wave of coronavirus contagions .
Chinese exporters already were looking for alternatives to the U.S. market after President Donald Trump raised tariffs on their goods in 2018 .
That has helped Chinese exports grow faster than the world average , taking away market share from other developing countries .
But markets in Asia , Europe and Latin America usually buy lower-priced , less profitable goods .
The ruling Communist Party has been trying for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reliance on exports and to encourage economic growth based on consumer spending at home .
Businesses around the globe are hoping America gets its act together , and soon .
The general manager of Yiwu Sinohood Bags Factory , which makes canvas tote bags , said it usually exports 40 % to the United States , but sales in America have dropped to zero .
“ We tried to develop the European market , but Europe has also been hit hard by the epidemic , ” said the manager , David Hu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us , and I am not confident about finding a replacement.
” Wiseman reported from Washington and McDonald from Beijing .
Colleen Barry in Milan , Italy , also contributed to this report .

David McHugh, Paul Wiseman And Joe McDonald - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Taliban warn against attacks on freed prisoners going home

ISLAMABAD - Ahead of an upcoming release of Taliban detainees held in Afghan prisons , the insurgent group warned the government in Kabul on Tuesday against any attacks on those released , saying such incidents would jeopardize the peace talks .
A Taliban spokesman told The Associated Press there have been at least 11 such attacks in the past several months — instances when freed Taliban figures were killed , harassed and re-arrested by government forces .
Kabul officials denied unwarranted attacks on freed Taliban .
The prisoner release is part of a deal the insurgents signed with the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 400 Taliban prisoners remain in government prisons .
Over the weekend in Kabul , an Afghan traditional council , known as the Loya Jirga , agreed to free the final 400 imprisoned Taliban , paving the way for an early start to negotiations between Afghanistan ’ s warring sides .
The council agreed to an “ immediate ” release of Taliban prisoners but by Tuesday , they had not been freed .
Negotiations between Kabul ’ s political leadership and the Taliban are expected to begin within weeks — and will be held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the Taliban maintain a political office .
The Taliban said the talks could begin within a week of the final prisoner releases .
Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen warned that attacks on newly freed prisoners will drive them back to the battlefield despite orders from their leaders “ to stay at home , with their families.
” Attacks on their homes will “ make it impossible for them to stay in their homes , “ Shaheen said .
“ Such incidents have happened that they have been re-arrested and also killed.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freed prisoners in line with the deal the Taliban signed with Washington on Feb. 29 to bring an end to decades of war .
The government was to free 5,000 — and has already released all but the last 400 .
The Taliban freed the 1,000 members of the government forces and Afghan officials they had held captive .
Shaheen said the Taliban would be ready “ within one week to sit at the negotiating table “ with Kabul ’ s political leadership to first negotiate a cease-fire and then start the complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a post-war Afghanistan .
But he said the moment is critical .
For some it compares after the 9-11 attacks , when the 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban in who had harboured al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden .
Then tens of thousands of Taliban who gave up arms to return to their homes at the time were targeted by Afghan groups and warlords they had once fought seeking revenge .
In December , 2001 a convoy of Afghan elders , including former Taliban , were targeted en route to welcome U.S.-backed President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack later rejoined the Taliban .
In southern Zabul province , more than 2,000 ethnic Pashtuns , the backbone of the Taliban movement , tried to join the newly formed Afghan army in 2002 , only to be humiliated by Kabul government forces .
Most rejoined the Taliban .
“ After 2001 , when some former Taliban attempted to join the ‘ new order , ’ they were persecuted and humiliated .
And some who were just from Taliban areas were accused of being supporters and attacked and driven out of their land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asia director of the Human Rights Watch .
“ Many eventually joined the insurgency.
” Gossman said unless a strategy is devised and a system put in place there is a danger that attacks on the tens of thousands of former fighters on both sides of the conflict could unravel a fragile peace process .
“ Given the enormous amount of mistrust ... old grievances can easily erupt into more violence , ” she said .
Sediq Sediqqi , spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani , has denied that any released Taliban were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , last month a government air strike in western Herat killed 14 people when hundreds of elders had gathered to greet a returning Taliban figure newly freed from prison .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Nigeria singer sentenced to death in north for blasphemy

LAGOS , Nigeria - A young musician in northern Nigeria ’ s Kano state has been sentenced to death by hanging for blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad .
An Upper Shariah Court found Yahaya Sharif , 22 , guilty for circulating a song described as insulting Prophet Muhammad on WhatsApp in March .
He has 30 days to appeal the judgment .
Lawan Muhammad of Kano state ’ s religious police , Hisbah , told The Associated Press Tuesday he is satisfied with the judgment .
“ It was the kind of judgment we hoped for when we arrested him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the singer ’ s family house after he circulated the song .
Kano is one of about 12 states in Northern Nigeria where Shariah law is in place .
Many people have been condemned to death under Shariah law since it was first introduced in Kano in 1999 , but so far only one execution has been carried out .
That was in 2002 when a man was put to death after being convicted of killing a woman and her two children .
Many people convicted of theft have had their limbs @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--What do the kids say? K-12 students sound off on school

NEW YORK - Parents have weighed in on reopening schools .
Teachers have weighed in .
Public health experts , too , along with cities , states and President Donald Trump .
But what about the kids themselves ?
As the grown-ups fret , kindergartners to high schoolers faced with a range of scenarios for virtual and in-person classes are expressing both fear and glee over leaving home to learn .
Many said they ’ re most worried about fellow students breaking the rules on wearing masks and keeping their distance , especially in areas that are hot spots for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be home in a month , ” said a skeptical Peter Klamka , an eighth-grader in Las Vegas , in a county that logged 95 % of new coronavirus cases reported in Nevada early last week .
The 13-year-old will return to his private school in about three weeks .
“ Some kids will be more responsible than others .
I ’ m not looking forward to it but I ’ ve got to go school so I ’ d rather be there in person , ” Peter said .
Not yet 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connecticut , will begin her first big-kid year on Zoom after finishing preschool at home .
That may change later in the year .
“ I ’ d rather go to school because it has more toys and it ’ s more fun , ” she said as she munched on animal crackers and sipped from a juice box .
Anxious parents around the country are looking to schools that have already opened for signs of how it might go .
One , North Paulding High School in suburban Atlanta , rescinded a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photos and video of crowded hallways and few students in masks after doors opened this month .
The school has since suffered an outbreak of COVID-19 , along with other schools in hard-hit Georgia .
Nearly 50 miles away in Alpharetta , Georgia , 10-year-old Collier Evans will attend school remotely when he begins fifth grade Aug. 17 .
He could have gone in person full time or picked a blended option but said he was anxious about returning to school .
“ My parents and me , we said we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , get sick and then I ’ d bring it home and get my family sick , ” Collier said .
As for distance learning , he said : “ I hope it ’ s going to go better than last year .
You had to wait in a queue for like 30 minutes to ask the teacher one question.
” In Tuscon , Arizona , 10-year-old Simon Joubeaud Pulitzer returned to his private school Aug. 3 , his blue button-down uniform shirt and tie in place .
He was happy to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his teachers .
“ Not the first day but after , yes , I felt a bit safer , ” Simon said .
“ All kids were following the rules.
” Those rules include masks worn indoors , socially distanced desks and only two kids per outdoor picnic table at either end for lunch .
Most American parents said it was unsafe to send their children back to school , with more than 80 per centfavouring school conducted at least partly online , according to a new Washington Post-Schar School survey conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the quality of online instruction .
As summer winds down , the mixed feelings mirror the lack of consensus around the country on how to balance virus risks and schooling .
Some Scandinavian countries with far fewer cases than in the U.S. reopened schools with new safety protocols and have had no outbreaks connected to their operations .
In Israel , schools that reopened when virus activity was low ended up shutting down a few weeks later when cases spiked .
In the U.S. , some school districts plan a mix of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain social distancing .
Other districts , including those in Miami , Houston and Los Angeles , are starting classes online only .
Ella Springer , 14 , of Kenosha , Wisconsin , will start her sophomore year of high school at home after her school board rescinded an in-class option to open the fall semester .
That could change as the year progresses .
“ At first I was wanting to go back to school in person but I feel like , watching the numbers in Wisconsin , it makes more sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rising , ’ ’ she said .
“ It ’ s pretty boring at home but what can you do ?
Last year the virtual was easier for me to slack off at home because it was a loose kind of thing , but I feel like this year will go a lot better since they ’ ve had the whole summer to prepare.
” Aiden Anderson , 11 , in Orlando , Florida , will begin sixth grade at home for two weeks , then happily head out to school in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation ’ s worst hot spots for the virus .
“ I don ’ t like that there ’ s two weeks online , “ he said .
“ At home it ’ s so easy to get distracted.
” In Littleton , Colorado , 8-year-old Will Asbury is going into third grade .
School starts Aug. 24 and he ’ ll be there in person .
There was a distance learning option but Will and his little sister , Luca , wanted to go .
“ I ’ m going to feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends .
Masks are a bummer but at least we get to play with our friends during recess and see them at lunch , ” he said .
Of distance learning , 6-year-old Luca got right to the point : “ I didn ’ t like it.
” She ’ s hoping for a unicorn mask to wear when she returns to the classroom .
Alec Blumberg is a high school freshman and his sister , Amelia , a high school senior in Great Neck , New York .
Their school , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at-home learning to start in September with a possible staggered approach in person later on , allowing half the students in at a time .
“ I really want to go back .
It would be nice to interact with people and have a more separate life at school and home , ” Alec said .
“ But if the school lays out a plan , will the kids follow it ?
I ’ m really not sure.
“ Amelia , 17 , said exactly how responsible students will be is what worries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s seen among peers .
“ Some people aren ’ t as careful as others , ” she said .
“ They aren ’ t following any type of safety measures , which really scares me .
But I really want to go back .
It ’ s the last year .
We didn ’ t even get to say goodbye to any of our teachers when we left last year.
“ School for Indianapolis , Indiana , seventh-grader Maria Beck started July 30 .
The 12-year-old is attending online full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district was going to offer some in-person instruction , then changed its mind .
There ’ s been a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in her area .
“ I ’ m a big extrovert , ” Maria said of missing face-to-face school .
“ But so far , it ’ s been going very well .
I do hope we get to go back some day.
“ Her third-grade sister , 8-year-old Felicity , said she , too , is OK with distance learning .
Among the things she misses most about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d be scared that I ’ d get sick , ” she said of returning to school , “ but I ’ d be really happy that I ’ d be able to go back .
”


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Police say 19 inmates, guards killed in Somalia prison riot

NAIROBI , Kenya - A Somali police officer says at least 19 people were killed during a riot in the @ @ @ @ @ s capital on Monday evening .
Abdiqani Mohamed Qalaf , spokesman for the police force @ @ @ @ @ told reporters the dead included 15 inmates and four guards .
He said the situation @ @ @ @ @ but he gave no details .
Gen. Mahad Abdirahman , commander of the custodial corps @ @ @ @ @ violence started when an inmate grabbed an officer ’ s gun and went on a @ @ @ @ @ chaos , other inmates , including some sentenced on terrorism charges , recovered guns from @ @ @ @ @ holds some members of the al-Qaida-linked extremist group al-Shabab .
It was the first such @ @ @ @ @ recent memory .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--US producer prices up 0.6% in July, biggest jump since 2018

WASHINGTON - U.S. wholesale prices shot up an unexpected 0.6 % in July , biggest gain since October 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ higher .
The Labor Department said Tuesday that the jump last month in its producer @ @ @ @ @ inflation before it reaches consumers — followed a 0.2 % drop in June .
Wholesale @ @ @ @ @ % in July .
Excluding the volatile food and energy prices , producer prices rose @ @ @ @ @ past year , producer prices are down 0.4 % , and core prices are up @ @ @ @ @ recession caused by the coronavirus outbreak has constrained inflation .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Hurricane Elida grows off northern Mexico, no threat to land

MEXICO CITY - Hurricane Elida strengthened a little off Mexico ’ s northwestern coast on Tuesday , but forecasters said @ @ @ @ @ pose a threat to land .
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said storm @ @ @ @ @ the evening before , had grown to have maximum sustained winds of about 90 mph @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
It was centred about 250 miles ( 405 kilometres ) southwest of the @ @ @ @ @ California Peninsula and was heading to the west-northwest at 14 mph ( 22 kph ) @ @ @ @ @ remain out to sea while weakening .
It ’ s the second hurricane of the @ @ @ @ @ last month ’ s Hurricane Douglas .


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Oklahoma deputy fatally shoots man after brief chase

TULSA , Okla. - A northeastern Oklahoma sheriff ’ s deputy fatally shot a man who tried to grab another @ @ @ @ @ a brief chase early Tuesday , a sheriff said .
The chase began when a @ @ @ @ @ man for having no rear lights about 2 a.m. on the eastern edge of Tulsa @ @ @ @ @ Scott Walton .
The man led deputies on a slow-speed chase before ramming a patrol @ @ @ @ @ fighting with deputy , Walton said .
The man then tried to grab one deputy @ @ @ @ @ shot by another deputy .
The deputies , who were not injured , were placed @ @ @ @ @ said .
No names were immediately released and Walton did not immediately return a phone @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-08-11--Turkey vows to press ahead with energy search amid tensions

ANKARA , Turkey - Turkey vowed Tuesday to press ahead with searching for oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean Sea , saying it plans to issue new exploration licenses for the area despite an escalating dispute with Greece over drilling rights .
The Greek government , meanwhile , was calling for an emergency meeting of the European Union ’ s Foreign Affairs Council on the situation .
Tension remained high between NATO allies Greece and Turkey , both of which have warships shadowing a Turkish research vessel that was sent to carry out seismic research for energy resources in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continental shelf .
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey planned to conduct search operations “ on the western edges ” of Turkey ’ s continental shelf .
He said the work would be done on behalf of both Turkey and Turks in ethnically divided Cyprus , which also has objected to Ankara ’ s exploration activities .
“ We are fully determined to continue our seismic research and drilling efforts , ” Cavusoglu said during a joint news conference with his visiting Azerbaijani counterpart .
“ We will defend to the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean and in Cyprus , and we will make no concessions.
” The Turkish government announced on Monday that its research vessel Oruc Reis and two support vessels would be operating in the Mediterranean Sea between Cyprus and Greece until Aug. 23 .
The vessel arrived in the area Monday morning , escorted by Turkish warships .
Greece slammed the decision as an illegal act that infringed on its sovereign rights , saying the Turkish research vessel was inside an area covered by the Greek continental shelf .
Greek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitoring the Oruc Reis , and the military was on alert , officials said .
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ’ s office said the country ’ s foreign minister be requesting an emergency meeting of the European Union ’ s foreign affairs ministers .
The spokesman for the EU ’ s executive arm , Peter Stano , said such requests were “ always an issue of consultations among the member states ” and that the appeal would be reviewed once Greece makes a formal request .
“ We agree that the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and needs to be solved in dialogue and not in a series and sequence of steps that are increasing the escalation and the tension , ” Stano said .
Omer Celik , the spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s ruling party , criticized Athens for calling on the EU .
“ As usual , Greece has called the European Union to a meeting to support its unfair , unlawful and aggressive policies , “ Celik said on Twitter .
” The European Union should not allow Greece to turn the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theatre , ’ ” he said on Twitter .
Greece and Turkey have traditionally had testy relations and have been at odds for decades over a wide variety of issues .
The two have come to the brink of war three times since the mid-1970s , including once over drilling exploration rights .
Recent discoveries of natural gas and drilling plans across the east Mediterranean have led to renewed tension .
Cavusoglu said Turkey last month had agreed to halt its search efforts in the region “ as a gesture ” following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Greece did not respond “ in a positive way.
” “ No one can accuse Turkey of not displaying goodwill , but on the opposite side , there is a country with bad intentions .
If they are to blame anyone , they must blame Greece , ” Cavusoglu said .
Ankara was angered by a deal Greece signed with Egypt last Thursday delineating their bilateral maritime boundaries and exclusive economic zones for rights to the exploitation of resources .
Last year , Turkey signed a similar deal with the U.N.-backed Libyan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greece , Egypt and Cyprus , which said the agreement infringed on their economic rights in the Mediterranean .
The EU said the deal was a violation of international law that threatened regional stability .
At the heart of the issue is how a country ’ s continental shelf is calculated and whether islands should be included in the calculation .
Turkey argues they should not , a position that Greece says violates international law .

Suzan Fraser And Elena Becatoros - The Associated Press