thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Kenosha unrest causes $2M in damage to city-owned property

KENOSHA , Wis. - Damage to city-owned property from violence that erupted over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha is estimated at nearly $ 2 million so far , a city official said .
The city ’ s public works director , Shelly Billingsley , provided the estimate to local leaders Monday night on what it would cost to replace garbage trucks , street lights and traffic signals , among other things that were destroyed or damaged in the unrest over the last week .
The estimate was made as some Kenosha residents fear Tuesday ’ s planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more emotions and cause more violence and destruction in the southeastern Wisconsin city after several days of peace .
Others , however , welcomed the president ’ s trip .
Trump ’ s visit comes as demonstrators are calling for the Kenosha officer who shot Blake seven times in the back Aug. 23 to be fired and face attempted murder charges , and more than a week after authorities say a 17-year-old from northern Illinois shot and killed two protesters .
Blake , a 29-year-old Black man , was shot while police responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His family on Tuesday plans to hold a community gathering at the site where he was shot that is to include a community clean-up , food drive and voter registration effort .
Mayor John Antaramian has said the city will request $ 30 million in aid from the state to help rebuild in the aftermath of the unrest .
Some of the city ’ s garbage trucks , which were parked downtown to provide security and limit movement by protesters , were set on fire during the demonstrations .
Billingsley said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with the insurance company to log damage information , the Kenosha News reported .
Some of the trucks , which had functioned as snow-plow vehicles in the winter , were also destroyed .
Billingsley said she hoped that the setback would not affect snow plow operations this winter .
She told the Public Works Committee the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors could affect the timeline in obtaining the new trucks .
City staff continues to compile numbers from the damage , Billingsley said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Belarus: Students detained while protesting nation’s leader

KYIV , Ukraine - Belarusian authorities resumed detaining protesters in the country ’ s capital Tuesday as university students took to the streets to demand the resignation of the country ’ s authoritarian leader after an election the political opposition has denounced as rigged .
Hundreds of students gathered outside universities in different parts of Minsk and marched through the city centre to the national Education Ministry , continuing a fourth straight week of mass post-election protests in Belarus .
President Alexander Lukashenko , who has run the ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for 26 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puppets .
The demonstrators protesting Tuesday chanted “ Go away !
, “ referring to Lukashenko , and held banners demanding freedom for political prisoners .
Police moved to break up the crowds and detained some of the protesters .
Belarusian media reported that at least 18 students were detained .
Minsk police confirmed there were detentions but didn ’ t say how many .
According to the Viasna human rights centre , several university professors were also detained , and riot police beat up many of the detained students .
Valentin Stefanovich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Viasna centre , called the beatings “ an untoward reaction of the authorities to a peaceful protest.
” “ Students and universities in general are a highly explosive group , ” Stefanovich told The Associated Press .
“ The authorities are really scared of strikes starting in universities and are carrying out demonstrative intimidation acts.
” After a ferocious crackdown on demonstrators in the first days after the Aug. 9 election generated international outrage , the Belarusian government has avoided large-scale violence against demonstrators and sought to end the protests with threats and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizers of strikes at top industrial plants have been detained .
On Tuesday , people started gathering near several large plants in support of the striking workers .
Belarusian prosecutors have opened a criminal probe against the opposition ’ s Coordination Council set up after the election by the opposition to try to negotiate a transition of power , accusing its members of undermining the country ’ s security .
Last week , the country ’ s courts handed 10-day jail sentences to two council members and summoned several others for questioning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ literature laureate .
Another council member , Lilia Vlasova , was detained on Monday .
Authorities on Monday also denied entry to the Roman Catholic archbishop of Minsk and Mohilev , who was returning to Belarus from Poland .
Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz strongly criticized the Belarusian police last week .
The Belarusian president accused Konrdusiewicz on Tuesday of “ delving into politics and dragging believers , Catholics ” into it and “ receiving orders from Poland.
” The United States and the European Union have criticized the Aug. 9 election that gave Lukashenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair and urged Belarusian authorities to engage in a dialogue with the opposition .
The president bristled at the idea and alleged the opposition would wage “ a massacre ” on his allies if it takes power in Belarus .
“ It wouldn ’ t be a purge , like some say .
It would be a massacre , ” Lukashenko said Tuesday .
Following a fierce dispersal of peaceful demonstrators in the days after the vote that left nearly 7,000 people detained , hundreds injured by police rubber bullets , stun grenades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead , police stopped interfering with the demonstrations for the following two weeks , but last week again cranked up the pressure on demonstrators and began breaking up rallies .
The Belarusian government also cracked down hard on the news media , deporting some foreign journalists from the country and revoking the accreditation of many Belarusian journalists .
Two Moscow-based Associated Press journalists who were covering the recent protests in Belarus were deported to Russia on Saturday .
In addition , the AP ’ s Belarusian journalists were told by the government that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Belarusian Association of Journalists said over the weekend that accreditation rights were also taken away from 17 Belarusians working for several other media , including Germany ’ s ARD television , the BBC , Reuters and AFP , and U.S.-funded radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said five of its journalists lost their accreditation .
U.S. and EU officials have strongly condemned the media crackdown .
The detention of hundreds of demonstrators didn ’ t deter the opposition from mounting another massive rally on Sunday , which saw an estimated 100,000 flood the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police presence .
Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this report .
Follow AP ’ s coverage of the political crisis in Belarus at https : //apnews.com/Belarus

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thetorontostar--2020-09-01--LA County Sheriff’s Department investigating after Black man is shot and killed by deputy

LOS ANGELES - Two deputies fatally shot a black man who scuffled with them after they tried to stop him for riding a bicycle in an unlawful manner , the Los Angeles Sheriff ’ s Department said .
A crowd gathered and marched to the sheriff ’ s station after the Monday afternoon shooting , demanding justice .
Sheriff ’ s Lt. Brandon Dean said two deputies from the South Los Angeles station were driving when the saw a man riding his bicycle in violation of vehicle codes , according to the Los Angeles Times .
It was not known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dean said .
When deputies tried to stop the man , he dropped his bike and ran , with deputies in pursuit , Dean said .
Deputies again tried to make contact with the man , and Dean said he punched a deputy in the face .
The man then dropped a bundle of clothes he ’ d been carrying and they spotted a black handgun in the bundle , at which point both deputies opened fire , Dean said .
The man was pronounced dead at the scene .
Police say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured .
Family members at the scene identified the dead man as Dijon Kizzee , 29 , CBS-Los Angeles reported .
Protesters gathered demanding answers , and more than 100 people marched to a sheriff ’ s station on Imperial Highway .
Some said they didn ’ t think the shooting was justified while others chanted , “ Say his name ” and “ No justice , no peace ” the Times reported .
Arlander Givens , 68 , lives in the neighbourhood .
He questioned why deputies fired at a man who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official , wasn ’ t holding a weapon .
“ If he reached down to grab it , that ’ s different , ” Givens told the Times .
“ But if it ’ s on the ground , why shoot ?
That means he was unarmed.
” The Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department tweeted in a statement that multiple independent investigations began at the scene , as is customary with deputy-involved shootings .
This story has been corrected .
The dead man ’ s reported surname is Kizzee , not @ @


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--With Kushner in UAE, Iran’s leader decries Israel-UAE ties

AL-DHAFRA AIR BASE , United Arab Emirates - Jared Kushner and U.S. officials visited a major air base in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday , speaking to Emirati and American pilots on the tarmac , as Iran ’ s supreme leader called the UAE ’ s recognition of Israel “ treason that will not last for long.
” The U.S.-brokered deal to establish diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE reflects a changing Middle East in which shared concerns about Iran have overtaken traditional Arab support for the Palestinians .
While the U.S. says the deal will promote regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei underlined the risks inherent in the rapprochement .
The U.S. delegation , headed by Kushner , arrived in the UAE on an El Al plane on Monday in the first-ever direct commercial passenger flight between the two countries .
The flight followed an agreement brokered by the Trump administration last month that saw the two countries agree to establish diplomatic relations .
The Israeli delegation was returning home on Tuesday after a quick visit that included a series of high-level meetings .
While at the base near Abu Dhabi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert O ’ Brien met Emirati Maj. Gen. Falah al-Qahtani , a top defence official .
Thousands of American troops work at the base .
“ Our relationship has been built on trust and mutual support , ” al-Qahtani told reporters .
“ We have stood together to fight extremism in all of its forms.
” O ’ Brien added that the U.S. expected a “ significant security aspect ” in the Israel-UAE normalization , without elaborating .
Journalists also toured a joint command centre run by both the U.S. and the UAE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing a facemask amid the coronavirus pandemic , shook hands with the U.S. and Emirati pilots gathered for the event .
He also left a written message at the base .
“ May the relationship with America continue to grow and together , through strength , will benefit as we bring more peace and prosperity to the Middle East and beyond !
” he wrote .
But as the visit drew to a close , state media in Iran begin broadcasting Khamenei ’ s remarks , which referred the UAE ’ s recognition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the country .
“ The United Arab Emirates committed treachery against either the Islamic world or Arab nations and regional countries , as well as Palestine , “ Khamenei said .
“ The treason will not last for long.
” Both the UAE and Israel share a mutual suspicion of Iran .
The UAE ’ s day-to-day ruler , Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , long has warned about Iran ’ s intentions , particularly its nuclear program .
That ’ s a concern shared by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is only for peaceful purposes .
But since Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal , Tehran has broken all the limits the accord placed on its program amid a series of escalating incidents in the region .
“ The path to peace and prosperity is not through incitement and hate speech , ” Foreign Ministry official Jamal al-Musharakh said .
“ That kind of rhetoric is counterproductive to peace in the region.
” The journalists ’ visit to Al-Dhafra shows the change in the relationship between the Emirates and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UAE , a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula , amid the 1991 Gulf War .
Emirati special forces deployed to Afghanistan after the 2001 American-led invasion that followed the Sept. 11 attacks .
But the U.S. military for years only vaguely referred to Al-Dhafra as a base in “ southwest Asia.
” In recent years , the UAE has been far more willing to acknowledge the U.S. presence here and elsewhere in a country that hosts some 5,000 American troops .
Dubai ’ s Jebel Ali port also is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of call outside of America .
Al-Dhafra has hosted U.S. Air Force F-35 stealth warplanes for years , as well as surveillance aircraft , armed drones and refuelling planes .
The American delegation ’ s visit to the base during the this tour suggests a sale of the F-35s to the UAE , which has long coveted the advanced aircraft , could be a key part of the deal .
The UAE has touted the normalization deal as a tool to force Israel into halting its contentious plan to annex parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their future state .
It also may help the Emiratis acquire advanced U.S. weapons systems that have been previously unattainable , such as the F-35 fighter jet .
Currently , Israel is the only country in the region with the stealth warplanes .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied any connection between the normalization deal and the U.S. providing advanced weaponry to the UAE .
The U.S. has said it is reviewing a longstanding UAE request for the warplanes , while remaining committed to maintaining Israel ’ s qualitative military advantage over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied agreeing to halt his plan to annex West Bank territory as part of the deal .
He says he agreed to delay it , but insists he still intends to carry out the annexation in the future .
The Palestinians have fiercely opposed the normalization as weakening traditional Arab refusal to form ties with Israel before the establishment of an independent Palestinian state .
That past Arab support was one of the Palestinians ’ few advantages in moribund peace talks with Israel .
Palestinians have held public protests and burned the UAE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netanyahu issued a statement saying the two countries signed an agreement on banking and finance .
“ These understandings will help us advance mutual investments and broad co-operation , ” Netanyahu said .
Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran , Iran , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Sheriffs slam governor’s plan to curb Portland violence

PORTLAND , Ore. - A plan by the governor of Oregon to use sheriff ’ s deputies from surrounding counties to help patrol Portland following the deadly shooting of a right-wing Trump supporter was sharply criticized by law enforcement officials who said it wouldn ’ t end the “ cycle of violence ” in the city that ’ s approaching 100 consecutive nights of often-violent Black Lives Matter protests .
Gov .
Kate Brown , a Democrat , announced the plan Sunday to temporarily use deputies from two counties , as well as Oregon State Police troopers , to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to regain its footing in the glare of the national spotlight .
But the sheriffs in both counties said Monday they would not send deputies to Portland , where only hours later , police declared another riot after people broke windows , burglarized a business and lit a fire in an occupied apartment building .
Officers reported seeing rocks and paint balloons thrown at them , and eventually made 19 arrests as they worked for hours early Tuesday to disperse the crowd , according to a Portland police statement .
Clackamas County Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more law enforcement would never work because Portland ’ s newly elected district attorney has dismissed charges against hundreds of protesters arrested for non-violent , low-level crimes .
Roberts and Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett also said the liability for their deputies would be too great .
“ The same offenders are arrested night after night , only to be released by the court and not charged with a crime by the DA ’ s Office .
The next night they are back at it , endangering the lives of law enforcement and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roberts said .
“ The criminal justice system will need do its part and hold offenders accountable.
” Charles Boyle , the governor ’ s chief-of-staff , said : “ It is up to each county to determine the personnel and resources they have available to volunteer for this effort.
” Boyle said the governor appreciated Clackamas County ’ s willingness to backfill calls normally taken by state police while troopers are in Portland .
The rejection of Brown ’ s plan leaves state and city police to work the protests in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump supporter Aaron J. Danielson .
It also leaves uncertainty about the future in Portland as President Donald Trump puts the chaos in his campaign crosshairs .
Danielson , 39 , of Portland was shot in the chest late Saturday as protesters clashed with supporters of Trump who drove in a caravan through the city .
No one has been arrested in the shooting .
Trump has made Portland and its Democratic leadership a frequent target and the centerpiece of his “ law and order ” re-election campaign theme .
He demanded that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Guard after Saturday ’ s fatal shooting .
Brown has so far declined to send the Guard to Portland but instead announced the planned coalition of law enforcement agencies .
In a statement , she said right-wing groups like Patriot Prayer had come to Portland “ looking for a fight ” and she vowed to stop more bloodshed .
Portland police also drew criticism Monday for not doing more to keep the dueling groups apart and for letting the situation get out of control .
Police Chief Chuck Lovell defended his officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump supporters were spread over many city blocks and the shooting took just seconds .
“ While it ’ s easy to cast blame on paramilitary and alt-right groups on the one side , or anti-fascist and Black Lives Matter groups on the other , the responsibility to safeguard communities rests with government , ” said Eric Ward , executive director of the non-profit Western States Center , which helps marginalized communities organize social justice campaigns around the West .
“ In Portland , law enforcement has regularly failed to keep our city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saud .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--UN agency laments summer’s ‘deep wound’ to Earth’s ice cover

GENEVA - The United Nations weather agency says this summer will go down for leaving a “ deep wound ” in the cryosphere -- the planet ’ s frozen parts -- amid a heat wave in the Arctic , shrinking sea ice and the collapse of a leading Canadian ice shelf .
The World Meteorological Organization said Tuesday that temperatures in the Arctic are rising twice as fast as the global average , provoking what spokeswoman Clare Nullis called a “ vicious circle.
” “ The rapid decline of sea ice in turn contributes to more warming , and so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not stay in the Arctic , ” Nullis said during a regular U.N. briefing in Geneva .
The weather agency said in a statement that many new temperature records have been set in recent months , including in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk .
The town , located in Siberia above the Arctic Circle line , reached 38 degrees Celsius ( 100 F ) on June 20 .
“ What we saw in Siberia this year was exceptionally bad , was exceptionally severe , ” Nullis said .
She noted a heat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildfires in Siberia , nearly record-low sea ice extent , and the collapse of one of the last fully intact Canadian ice shelves .
“ The summer of 2020 will leave a deep wound on the cryosphere , ” the World Meteorological Organization statement said , pointing to a “ worrisome trend ” of floods resulting from the outburst of glacier lakes that are becoming “ an increased factor of high-risk in many parts of the world.
” In late July , an 81-square-kilometre ( 30-square-mile ) section of Canada ’ s Milne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total area of the ice shelf by 43 % , the weather agency said .
The consequences include the loss of a rare ecosystem , possible acceleration of glaciers sliding into the ocean and contributing to sea level rise , and creation of new “ drifting ice islands , ” it said .
The WMO is preparing to release on Sept. 9 a report on the impact of climate change on the cryosphere .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--When debt relief does more harm than good

In a crisis , long-term planning may lose out to quick and dirty solutions — regardless of the consequences .
As the pandemic and its economic fallout continues , more cash-strapped consumers could fall into this trap if the Great Recession is any indicator .
A recent report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that from 2007 through 2010 , debt settlements — which can be financially risky — increased .
Meanwhile , credit counselling , a debt relief option that keeps consumers in good standing with their creditors , declined .
Before you hit a moment of crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt relief options .
WHY DEBT SETTLEMENT ISN ’ T ALL IT ’ S MARKETED TO BE You ’ ve probably heard the radio ads or maybe received a robocall promising a solution to your debt that can cut what you owe by 50 % or more .
Debt settlement claims are as lofty as the industry ’ s marketing budget .
But these programs aren ’ t all they ’ re hyped up to be — and the ads gloss over the downsides .
With debt settlement , you stop making payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the debt settlement company , which holds it in an escrow account .
Then , typically after several months , the company contacts your creditors and haggles to cut a deal where the creditor accepts less than originally owed .
This period of waiting between when you stop paying creditors and the debt is settled ( which isn ’ t guaranteed ) is where things can go awry .
“ There ’ s no free lunch , ” says Glenn Downing , a Miami certified financial planner .
“ There really are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d try to make it a last resort.
” — LEAVING YOURSELF OPEN TO LAWSUITS : When you stop making payments to creditors and debts go delinquent , you can be sued by the original creditor or by a debt collector who purchases the debt .
Until the debt is resolved , either through full payment , settlement or bankruptcy , you ’ re at risk of being sued .
— OWING A TAX BILL : The IRS considers any amount of debt settled as taxable income .
— SAVING LESS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies often take a fee of around 30 % of your original debt balance .
So even if you did settle for 50 % of what you originally owed , you won ’ t come out as far ahead as you might expect after you pay the fee to the settlement company .
Additionally , your debt can continue to grow when you stop making payments , as late fees and interest are added to your balance .
— CREDIT DAMAGE : Missing payments and defaulting on your debts are among the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These marks stay on your credit reports for around seven years and will make you look risky to future creditors , which can result in you not being approved for credit or having to pay higher interest rates .
A BETTER CHOICE FOR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL HEALTH What if there was a way to roll multiple credit card payments into one , at a lower interest rate — while preserving your good standing with your creditors ?
That ’ s what credit counselling from non-profit credit counselling agencies offer .
These organizations have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide a lower interest rate in exchange for regular monthly payments over three to five years to resolve your debt .
But many consumers aren ’ t aware of these benefits , according to a 2018 Harris Poll survey commissioned by Money Management International , a non-profit credit counselling agency .
It found that 62 % of the 2,012 respondents didn ’ t know credit counselling can roll multiple credit card debts into one payment .
And 73 % weren ’ t aware that credit counselling offers lower interest rates on credit card @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You typically need a regular income to qualify , and if you miss a payment , the agreement can be dissolved , leaving you to manage on your own .
But for the long-term health of your credit profile , credit counselling is the clear winner .
This debt relief tool generally keeps consumers in good standing with creditors since they ’ re making good on their obligations .
The only harm to their credit profile would come from closing credit accounts , which some agencies require .
To find a reputable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that has been certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or the Financial Counseling Association of America .
KNOW WHEN A THIRD OPTION MIGHT BE BEST Before choosing debt settlement or credit counselling , consider whether : — Your monthly debt payments — excluding student loans and housing costs — exceed 40 % of your take-home pay .
— Your debt burden is interfering with your quality of life , for instance keeping you up at night .
If so , you might want to consider bankruptcy .
Although it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tool can resolve what you owe faster than credit counselling or debt settlement .
In addition , credit scores can start to rebound quickly in the months after filing .
This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet .
Sean Pyles is a writer at NerdWallet .
Email : spyles @ nerdwallet.com .
Twitter : @ SeanPyles .
NerdWallet : Debt Relief : Understand Your Options and the Consequences http : //bit.ly/nerdwallet-debt-relief

Sean Pyles Of Nerdwallet - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Trump to wade into racial tensions with visit to Kenosha

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is diving head-first into the latest eruption in the nation ’ s reckoning over racial injustice with a trip Tuesday to Kenosha , Wisconsin , over the objections of local leaders .
The city has been riven by protests since the Aug. 23 shooting of Jacob Blake , a Black man hit seven times in the back by police .
On the eve of his visit , Trump defended a teenage supporter accused of fatally shooting two men in Kenosha last week and accused Democrat Joe Biden of siding with “ anarchists “ and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Democratic governor , Tony Evers , who deployed the National Guard to quell demonstrations in response to the Blake shooting , pleaded with Trump to stay away for fear of straining tensions further .
The White House said the president was expected to meet with law enforcement and tour “ property affected by recent riots.
“ “ I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing , ” Evers wrote in a letter to Trump .
“ I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claiming the mantle of the “ law and order ” candidate , is offering himself as the leader best positioned to keep Americans safe .
Biden , in turn , has assailed him over the deadly protests that have sprung up on his watch .
Trump insisted his appearance in Kenosha could “ increase enthusiasm ” in Wisconsin , perhaps the most hotly contested battleground state in the presidential race , as the White House said he “ wants to visit hurting Americans.
“ He was expected to take credit for calling in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Evers — and for surging federal law enforcement to the city to restore the peace .
The White House said Trump was not going to meet with Blake ’ s family .
“ I am a tremendous fan of law enforcement and I want to thank law enforcement , ” Trump told Fox News in an interview Monday night .
“ They ’ ve done a good job.
“ Trump suggested that some police officers “ choke ” when faced with challenging situations and compared them to golfers who “ miss a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most direct attacks yet , accused Trump earlier Monday of causing the divisions that have ignited the violence .
He delivered an uncharacteristically blistering speech in Pittsburgh and distanced himself from radical forces involved in altercations .
Biden said of Trump : “ He doesn ’ t want to shed light , he wants to generate heat , and he ’ s stoking violence in our cities .
He can ’ t stop the violence because for years he ’ s fomented it.
” Trump , for his part , reiterated that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Biden .
But when he was asked about one of his own supporters who was charged with killing two men during the mayhem in Kenosha , Trump declined to denounce the killings and suggested that the 17-year-old suspect , Kyle Rittenhouse , was acting in self-defence .
After a confrontation in which he fatally shot one man , police say , Rittenhouse fell while being chased by people trying to disarm him .
A second person was shot and killed .
“ That was an interesting situation , “ Trump said Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was trying to get away from them , I guess , it looks like , and he fell .
And then they very violently attacked him .
...
He was in very big trouble .
He would have been — he probably would ’ ve been killed.
” Biden saw Trump ’ s impact far differently , accusing the president of “ poisoning ” the nation ’ s values .
In a statement after Trump ’ s news conference but before his Fox News remarks , Biden said : “ Tonight , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t even repudiate one of his supporters who is charged with murder because of his attacks on others .
He is too weak , too scared of the hatred he has stirred to put an end to it.
” Trump and his campaign team have seized upon the unrest in Kenosha , as well as in Portland , Oregon , where a Trump supporter was shot and killed , leaning hard into a defence of law and order while suggesting that Biden is beholden to extremists .
Trump aides believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that the more the national discourse is about anything other than the coronavirus , the better it is for the president .
In the interview with Fox , Trump insisted that if he were not president , “ you would have riots like you ’ ve never seen.
” In Pittsburgh , Biden resoundingly condemned violent protesters and called for their prosecution — addressing a key Trump critique .
“ It ’ s lawlessness , plain and simple .
And those who do it should be prosecuted , ” Biden said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ career in politics to defend himself against Republican attacks .
“ You know me .
You know my heart .
You know my story , my family ’ s story , “ he said .
” Ask yourself : Do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters ?
Really ?
” The former vice-president also tried to refocus the race on what has been its defining theme — Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic , which has left more than 180,000 Americans dead — after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team to make the campaign about the violence rattling American cities .
Worried Democrats , including some inside his own campaign , have pushed Biden to deal with the violence head on and at greater length , though he had previously condemned it .
With Trump pounding the issue in his convention speech , which was then followed by more bloodshed over the weekend , many in Biden ’ s party , still shell-shocked by the 2016 loss , urged Biden to get ahead of the rare issue that has broken through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared that even as Trump is “ trying to scare America , ” what ’ s really causing the nation ’ s fear is Trump ’ s own failures .
“ You want to talk about fear ?
They ’ re afraid they ’ re going to get COVID , they ’ re afraid they ’ re going to get sick and die , ” Biden said .
Weissert reported from Pittsburgh .
Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report .

Zeke Miller, Alexandra Jaffe And Will Weissert - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Thai finance minister quits 1 month after appointment

BANGKOK - Thailand ’ s finance minister resigned unexpectedly Tuesday after less than a month in the job , in @ @ @ @ @ helping restore an economy slammed by the coronavirus .
The Royal Gazette said in a @ @ @ @ @ Prayuth Chan-ocha had accepted the resignation of Predee Daochai .
Thai media reported earlier without @ @ @ @ @ , 61 , had resigned for health reasons , but no officials were willing to @ @ @ @ @ who was chairman of the Thai Bankers ’ Association ahead of his Cabinet appointment , @ @ @ @ @ co-president of Thailand ’ s Kasikorn Bank before joining the government .
Predee ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 6 , was part of the formation of a new team in the Cabinet @ @ @ @ @ Thailand ’ s economy has been badly shaken by the coronavirus , which has battered @ @ @ @ @ industry .
The Asian Development Bank forecast that Thailand ’ s economy will contract by @ @ @ @ @ compared to its December 2019 projection of 3.0 % growth .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Iran’s supreme leader denounces UAE’s recognition of Israel

TEHRAN , IRAN—Iran ’ s supreme leader has called the United Arab Emirates ’ recognition of Israel “ treason that @ @ @ @ @ , ” the state media in Iran reported on Tuesday .
The comments by Ayatollah @ @ @ @ @ a joint U.S.-Israeli delegation wrapped up a trip to Abu Dhabi on the first Israeli @ @ @ @ @ nations .
Khamenei said the “ treachery ” was committed against the entire Islamic world @ @ @ @ @ Israel and the UAE view Iran with suspicion .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--It’s class time again across Europe, virus or no

PARIS - Tugging on their masks or dashing to hug long-unseen friends , millions of children returned to school across Europe and beyond Tuesday in a mass experiment aimed at bridging inequalities and resuscitating economies — despite the persistent pandemic .
The virus threat lurked in the shadows as children kissed their parents goodbye in France , shyly greeted their teachers in Israel , settled into spaced-out desks in England , and raised their hands in Russia .
While acknowledging “ a bit of fear , ” Jerome Continent brought his first-grader Baptiste to school Tuesday anyway in the Paris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of first-day excitement was even more intense than usual after the coronavirus upended the previous school year .
“ I know we are being careful , ” he said .
“ The children also have to live.
” With France reporting thousands of new infections daily — more than any of its neighbours — all French schoolchildren 11 and over must wear masks all day , recess and music class included .
Similar rules are in place in Balkan countries , while other countries are more lax about masks .
Some classrooms look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plastic shields around desks and virus warning signs plastered everywhere .
While many U.S. school districts started class online only and others introduced a mix of online and face-to-face learning , in-person class is the norm as Europe goes back to school .
Governments are trying to show that life goes on despite a virus that has infected at least 25 million people worldwide and killed more than 800,000 .
France ’ s prime minister sat with elementary school children at a school Tuesday , and the president wished kids well in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Gavin Williamson sent an open letter to parents saying school “ really is the best place for them to be .
Nothing can match being in a classroom with a real teacher to inspire them and their friends to share their discoveries.
” Hundreds of thousands of British schoolchildren are heading back to classrooms , with parents facing fines if they refuse to send their kids back .
Schools have introduced measures to reduce contact between children , such as staggering break times and keeping pupils in “ bubbles ” with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization is advising governments on how to resume in-person schooling safely , and acknowledged Monday that while the virus remains a real threat , school closures have hurt children ’ s mental health and social development , especially those from low-income families , with disabilities or in an abusive home environment .
“ We can not let children become the hidden victims of this pandemic by denying them the opportunities they so fundamentally deserve , ” WHO Europe said in a statement .
Medical experts say the risk of opening schools depends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community and what safety measures are taken .
Evidence suggests young children don ’ t spread the disease very easily , while kids aged 10 and up may transmit as easily as adults .
But while children appear less likely to get infected than adults , severe cases and deaths have occurred .
The return to school isn ’ t working smoothly everywhere .
A middle school class in northern France ordered all its pupils into two-week quarantine after a student tested positive last week .
And in Serbia , the complicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , about 95 per cent of parents have decided to send their children to schools anyway .
In Estonia , back-to-school day looked almost normal , with students wearing their finest dresses or neat school uniforms and donating flowers to teachers .
As in many former Soviet republics , Sept. 1 marks a national day to celebrate education , with musical performances and speeches .
Schools remain closed in most of Africa and several Asian countries , but have resumed elsewhere - notably in China , where the last groups of students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks without new cases of local transmission in the country .
In the Belgian capital Brussels , anxious parents brought enthusiastic children back to primary school Tuesday .
“ I have a good feeling about today , “ said Faouzia Hariche , Brussels alderwoman in charge of education .
“ I can see that children are happy to return to school , teachers are all present so we will try to organize things in the most natural way possible.
” Jeffrey Schaeffer in Roissy-en-Brie , France , Sylvain Plazy in Brussels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Prague , Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade , Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Duterte orders customs chief to shoot, kill drug smugglers

MANILA , Philippines - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte publicly ordered the country ’ s top customs official to shoot and kill drug smugglers in one of his most overt threats during a deadly four-year campaign that has been the centerpiece of his presidency .
Duterte has steadfastly denied authorizing extrajudicial killings but has repeatedly and openly threatened drug dealers with death .
He and the national police , which has led enforcement of his anti-drug campaign , have said most of the suspects killed by police during the campaign fought back and threatened the lives of law enforcers .
Duterte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero in televised remarks from a Cabinet meeting on the coronavirus pandemic Monday night .
Guerrero , a retired army general and former military chief of staff , was not present when Duterte spoke , but the president said he met Guerrero and two other officials earlier Monday at the presidential palace in Manila .
“ Drug is still flowing inside the country through customs , ” Duterte said , adding he has earlier approved Guerrero ’ s request for firearms .
“ I approved the purchase of firearms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even one ?
I told him , ‘ Shape up.
’ ” “ I told him straight , ‘ Drugs is still flowing in .
I ’ d like you to kill there ... anyway , I ’ ll back you up and you won ’ t get jailed .
If it ’ s drugs , you shoot and kill .
That ’ s the arrangement , ” Duterte said without elaborating .
More than 5,700 mostly poor drug suspects have been killed under Duterte ’ s anti-drug crackdown , which has alarmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparked an examination of alleged crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court .
Duterte has vowed to continue the deadly crackdown in his remaining two years in power .
The human rights groups have said their investigations showed some suspects were killed mercilessly then police officers altered the scene and placed firearms in the victims ’ hands to make it appear that they fought back .
Police have said the rights groups and critics should file criminal complaints in court if they have evidence against officers .
Duterte had placed the corruption-plagued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 after two large shipments of illegal drugs slipped past the agency through the port of Manila .
A congressional investigation into how the large shipments of suspected methamphetamine slipped through the tightly watched port ended with recommendations of charges against some customs officials and internal reforms in the customs bureau .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Who’s next? Abe’s party manoeuvrs to pick Japan’s next PM

TOKYO - With Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announcing his plans to step down due to health reasons , members of his ruling party are furiously manoeuvring ahead of an internal vote that will ultimately decide his successor .
Executives of Abe ’ s ruling Liberal Democratic Party met Tuesday and decided that the Sept. 14 vote for party leader — and with it almost assuredly prime minister — will be limited to lawmakers and not broader members of the party .
Some younger lawmakers had called for the latter to be included in order to make the process more open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fill in for the rest of Abe ’ s term , until September 2021 .
The next prime minister will face a number of challenges , including the ongoing fight against COVID-19 , managing the Tokyo Olympics that has been postponed to next summer , setting Japan ’ s security policy in the face of an increasingly assertive China , and dealing with the results are of the presidential election in the U.S. , Japan ’ s key ally .
Here are the three candidates , including two who have announced their intention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so : YOSHIHIDE SUGA : Japan ’ s top government spokesman and Abe ’ s longtime right-hand man , the 71-year-old Suga has emerged as the favourite among ruling party heavyweights .
Suga has been pegged by the party secretary general as the best caretaker who can ensure the continuation of Abe ’ s policies .
The son of a farmer in the northern prefecture of Akita , Suga is a self-made politician , rare in Japan ’ s largely hereditary world of politics .
As chief cabinet secretary , Suga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abe .
He is also the public face of Abe ’ s government , doing twice-daily televised media briefings .
He ’ s become known as “ Uncle Reiwa ” after he was tasked with unveiling the new imperial era name for Emperor Naruhito last year .
Suga has been a loyal supporter of Abe since his first stint as prime minister from 2006-2007 and helped his return to power in 2012 .
Suga had previously denied that he would run , but on Tuesday simply told reporters he would not comment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Japan-U.S. security alliance within the limits of Japan ’ s pacifist constitution .
FUMIO KISHIDA : Abe ’ s foreign minister from 2012-2017 , the 63-year-old Kishida had once been considered the party ’ s preferred choice to become the next prime minister .
His status has slipped , however , after he was seen as fumbling some of the party ’ s response to the coronavirus in his role as policy chief .
In formally announcing his candidacy Tuesday , Kishida said he would be a leader who listens to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been criticized for not doing enough .
A low-key lawmaker from Hiroshima with somewhat dovish stance on security issues , he has been less supportive of Abe ’ s longtime push to rewrite Japan ’ s war-renouncing constitution .
Kishida struck a 2015 settlement with South Korea on “ comfort women , ” victims of Japan ’ s wartime sexual abuse .
Kishida in 2017 helped arrange then-President Barack Obama ’ s visit to Hiroshima , a first for a serving American leader .
SHIGERU ISHIBA : A former defence minister seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party , the 63-year-old Ishiba is the public ’ s favourite for the next prime minister in media surveys .
Ishiba ’ s vocal criticism of Abe , however , has hurt his popularity among ruling party lawmakers .
Ishiba has criticized Abe ’ s rule as autocratic and raised concerns about growing poverty .
A soft-spoken banker-turned-politician , Ishiba is known as a defence hawk and says Japan should have stronger military capability within the current constitutional limitations .
In addition to defence minister , Ishiba has also held top ministry posts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost to Abe twice in party elections in 2012 and 2018 .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Pope: Use pandemic to give the environment a vital “rest”

VATICAN CITY - The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how the Earth can recover “ if we allow it to rest ” and must spur people to adopt simpler lifestyles to help a planet “ groaning ” under the constant demand for economic growth , Pope Francis said Tuesday .
In his latest urgent appeal to help a fragile environment , Francis also renewed his call for the cancellation of the debts of the most vulnerable countries .
Such action would be just , he said , since rich countries have exploited poorer nations ’ natural resources .
“ In some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to rediscover simpler and sustainable lifestyles , ” Francis said in a written message .
“ Already we can see how the Earth can recover if we allow it to rest : the air becomes cleaner , the waters clearer , and animals have returned to many places from where they had previously disappeared , ” he wrote .
“ The pandemic has brought us to a crossroads.
” The pontiff urged people to seize the opportunity to reflect on their habits of energy usage , consumption , transportation and diet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth and an endless cycle of production and consumption are exhausting the natural world , ” the pope said , adding , “ Creation is groaning.
” People must be aware of their rightful place in nature , never thinking themselves masters of what Francis described as the “ interconnected web of life.
” Disintegrating biodiversity , climate disasters and the “ unjust impact of the current pandemic on the poor and the vulnerable ” amount to a “ wakeup call in the face of our rampant greed and consumption , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indigenous brothers and sisters who live in harmony with the land and its multiple forms of life.
” He urged protection for these communities from companies , particularly multinational ones , which carry out “ destructive extraction ” of such resources as fossil fuels , minerals and timber .
Citing the medical , social and economic crises triggered by the pandemic , Francis said it was “ time for restorative justice.
” “ We also need to ensure that the recovery packages being developed and deployed at global , regional and national levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , without naming any particular nations or regions .
Drawing attention to Earth ’ s fragility is a hallmark of Francis ’ papacy .
He poignantly stressed people ’ s pressing responsibilities to heal and care for the environment in a 2015 encyclical .
The pontiff issued his appeal on Tuesday to mark the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation , an annual occasion that was established for Christians in the wake of the encyclical Laudato Si ’ .
Francis invited all nations to “ adopt more ambitious national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Massachusetts voters to decide Markey, Kennedy primary fight

BOSTON - Massachusetts voters are set to decide one of the higher profile battles on this year ’ s primary ballot — the contest pitting incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Markey against U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III .
The 39-year-old grandson of Robert F. Kennedy , promising a new generation of leadership , is hoping to become the next Kennedy to take a seat in the U.S. Senate by ousting the 74-year-old Markey .
While the two agree on many policies , each has tried to paint the other as out of touch on key issues .
Kennedy has gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inequity , criticizing his initial opposition to school desegregation efforts in Boston in the 1970s and noting criticism of Markey by the father of Danroy “ DJ ” Henry , a young Black man from Massachusetts killed by police 10 years ago .
Kennedy has also highlighted his family ’ s political legacy , in part in response to Markey , who during one debate told Kennedy he should tell his father — former U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy II — not to help fund a political action committee that was going after Markey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Markey who he said attacked him on social media , including tweeting “ that Lee Harvey got the wrong Kennedy ” — a reference to JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald .
Markey called the tweet unacceptable .
Markey has portrayed Kennedy as a “ progressive in name only , “ in one debate faulting him for deciding early in his career to work as a prosecutor for Michael O ’ Keefe , a Republican district attorney .
Markey has tried to tout his progressive chops by pointing to his introduction of the Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also referenced his own family story growing up in working-class Malden , where his father drove a truck for the Hood Milk Co. “ I could see my mother and father trying to figure out how to pay the bills at the kitchen table , ” Markey recalled .
The race has not been cheap , with both candidates raising and spending millions .
Early on , Markey and Kennedy were also forced to grapple with the coronavirus , which limited their campaigning .
Recent polls have given Markey an edge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle of sorts between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
Pelosi has endorsed Kennedy while Ocasio-Cortez has backed Markey , with whom she introduced the Green New Deal climate change initiative .
A Kennedy has never lost a race for Congress in Massachusetts .
President John F. Kennedy was elected three times to the U.S. House and twice to the U.S. Senate before being elected president .
Edward Kennedy was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962 and re-elected every six years until he died in 2009 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s old House seat in 1986 , won , and was reelected every election until he opted not to run in 1998 .
While Tuesday is primary day , many Massachusetts voters have already cast their ballots at early voting locations , mailing them or depositing them in drop boxes due to fears of spreading the virus .
Some Democrats worried early on that the race would siphon attention and dollars away from their top goals — defeating President Donald Trump and regaining control of the Senate .
Whoever wins will head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district that has historically favoured Democrats .
The candidate will face the winner of a low-key GOP Senate primary pitting Kevin O ’ Connor , a lawyer , against fellow Republican Shiva Ayyadurai , who ran a failed campaign for Senate in 2018 .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Appeals court to hear arguments in Trump tax return fight

NEW YORK - A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments Tuesday in President Donald Trump ’ s latest attempt to prevent a New York prosecutor from getting his tax returns .
Trump ’ s lawyers appealed to the 2nd U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals last month after a district court judge rejected their renewed efforts to invalidate a subpoena issued to his accounting firm .
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. has agreed not to enforce the subpoena until after the appeals court makes a ruling .
Neither the district court judge , Victor Marrero , nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has blasted the long-running quest for his financial records as a “ continuation of the most disgusting witch hunt in the history of our country ” and predicted the case would again end up before the Supreme Court .
The Supreme Court ruled last month that the presidency in itself doesn ’ t shield Trump from Vance ’ s investigation .
But the high court returned the case to Marrero ’ s courtroom to allow Trump ’ s lawyers to raise other concerns about the subpoena .
They did , arguing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might have been politically motivated and amounted to harassment .
Even if Vance does get Trump ’ s tax records , they would be part of a confidential grand jury investigation and not automatically made public .
Vance ’ s attorneys have said they are legally entitled to extensive records to aid a “ complex financial investigation.
” Vance , a Democrat , began seeking the Republican president ’ s tax returns from his longtime accounting firm over a year ago , after Trump ’ s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , insurers and business associates about the value of his assets .
Congress is also pursuing Trump ’ s financial records , though the Supreme Court last month kept a hold on the banking and other documents that Congress has been seeking and returned the case to a lower court .
Trump is the only modern president who has refused to release his tax returns .
Before he was elected , he had promised to do so .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--French paper attacked in 2015 reprints Mohammed caricatures

PARIS - The French satirical paper whose staff was decimated in a violent attack by Islamic extremists in 2015 is reprinting caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed cited by the killers , declaring “ history can not be rewritten nor erased.
” The announcement on Tuesday came on the eve of the first trial for the January 2015 attacks against Charlie Hebdo and , two days later , a kosher supermarket .
The killings touched off a wave of violence claimed by the Islamic State group across Europe .
Seventeen people died — 12 of them at the editorial offices — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men and a woman accused of providing the attackers with weapons and logistics go on trial Wednesday .
In an editorial this week accompanying the caricatures , the paper best known for vulgar irreverence said that although it had declined to publish caricatures of Mohammed since the attacks , doing so for the opening of the trial was necessary .
“ The only reasons not to stem from political or journalistic cowardice , ” the editorial said .
As the attackers , brothers Chérif and Said Kouachi , walked away from the carnage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avenged the Prophet.
” Claiming the attacks in the name of al-Qaida , they then killed a wounded policeman point-blank and drove away .
Two days later , a jailhouse acquaintance of theirs stormed a kosher supermarket on the eve of the Jewish Sabbath , killing four hostages and claiming allegiance to the Islamic State group .
The Kouachi brothers had by then holed up in a printing office with another hostage .
All three attackers died in near-simultaneous police raids .
The caricatures re-published this week were first printed in 2006 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off sometimes violent protests by Muslims who believe depicting Mohammed is blasphemy .
Charlie Hebdo , which was then little-known outside France and regularly caricatures religious leaders from various faiths , republished them soon afterwards .
The paper ’ s Paris offices were firebombed in 2011 and its editorial leadership placed under police protection , which remains in place to this day .
Laurent Sourisseau , the paper ’ s director and one of the few staff to have survived the attack , named each of the victims in a foreword to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are those who , five years later , dare oppose the demands that are still so pressing from religions in general , and some in particular , ” wrote Sourisseau , who is also known as Riss .
Three of the accused , including the wife of one of the attackers , will not be at the trial because they are abroad and it ’ s not known if they ’ re alive or dead .
Most of the 11 who will appear in court say they knew it was for a crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was for mass killings .
Among those inside the market was Lassana Bathily , an employee whose home village in Mali was just 20 kilometres from that of Coulibaly ’ s .
Bathily hid a group of the store ’ s Jewish customers in a cold room and slipped out to warn police about the terror attack inside .
Eleven days later , the unlikely hero was granted French citizenship .
He is among nearly 200 plaintiffs at the trial .
“ We want to know what really happened even if the terrorists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope that those who worked with them , helped them financially will be punished for what they did .
That ’ s the only thing we expect , “ Bathily said .
“ We want to know the truth because we don ’ t know anything , we ’ ve heard nothing for the past five years.
” The world rallied behind France in the days after the killings .
Leaders from around the world joined millions of people who poured into Paris ’ enormous République plaza and other gathering spots in France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am Charlie.
” But the January 2015 attacks were seen as a colossal intelligence failure for France .
At least one of the Kouachi brothers had travelled to Yemen to train with al-Qaida .
Chérif Kouachi , the younger , acknowledged as much in an interview with a French television network during their final siege .
Said Kouachi was under surveillance until mid-2014 .
In a 2008 interview with Le Monde newspaper , Coulibaly himself described prison , where he met Chérif Kouachi then awaiting trial on terrorism charges , as “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is among those scheduled to testify .
Afterwards , the French government reorganized its intelligence structure , raised the national security budget and hired hundreds more investigators to monitor homegrown extremists .
“ The opening of this trial is the moment to remember that the fight against Islamist terrorism is a major priority of the government , “ Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said Monday in a speech at the French intelligence headquarters .
” We will fight relentlessly.
” The trial will be filmed for posterity , a rarity in France reserved for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the three absent defendants is Hayat Boumedienne , Coulibaly ’ s wife who fled to Syria days ahead of the attacks .
She took a starring role in one of Islamic State ’ s propaganda blitzes , urging French Muslims , men and women alike , to follow her path .
French media reported that a woman who returned from Syria encountered Boumedienne last year at the enormous al-Hol camp for Islamic State families , living under an assumed name .
Since then , the camp has seen numerous escapes .

Lori Hinnant And Nicolas Vaux-Montagny - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Kentucky launching new tourism campaign

Kentucky launching new tourism campaign

FRANKFORT , Ky. - Kentucky officials are launching a new tourism campaign aimed at safe in-state travel .
The “ @ @ @ @ @ ” marketing initiative reminds residents they don ’ t have to travel far to experience @ @ @ @ @ .
It encourages safe travelling during the coronavirus pandemic while emphasizing the importance of community @ @ @ @ @ with this campaign is to generate a greater awareness of Kentucky as a safe and @ @ @ @ @ ” said Kentucky Department of Tourism Commissioner Mike Mangeot , adding that “ even those @ @ @ @ @ home can find something new to discover.
“ The campaign will focus on outdoor recreation @ @ @ @ @ are unique to Kentucky .
Mangeot said the state has a variety of offerings , @ @ @ @ @ , historic battlefields and horse farms , among other attractions .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Joe Kennedy III concedes defeat to US Sen. Edward Markey

BOSTON - Massachusetts voters on Tuesday were deciding one of the higher profile battles on this year ’ s primary ballot — the contest pitting incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Markey against U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III .
The 39-year-old grandson of Robert F. Kennedy , promising a new generation of leadership , is hoping to become the next Kennedy to take a seat in the U.S. Senate by ousting the 74-year-old Markey .
While the two agree on many policies , each has tried to paint the other as out of touch on key issues .
Kennedy has gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inequity , criticizing his initial opposition to school desegregation efforts in Boston in the 1970s and noting criticism of Markey by the father of Danroy “ DJ ” Henry , a young Black man from Massachusetts killed by police 10 years ago .
Kennedy has also highlighted his family ’ s political legacy , in part in response to Markey , who during one debate told Kennedy he should tell his father — former U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy II — not to help fund a political action committee that was going after Markey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Markey who he said attacked him on social media , including tweeting “ that Lee Harvey got the wrong Kennedy ” — a reference to JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald .
Markey called the tweet unacceptable .
Markey has portrayed Kennedy as a “ progressive in name only , “ in one debate faulting him for deciding early in his career to work as a prosecutor for Michael O ’ Keefe , a Republican district attorney .
Markey has tried to tout his progressive chops by pointing to his introduction of the Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also referenced his own family story growing up in working-class Malden , where his father drove a truck for the Hood Milk Co. “ I could see my mother and father trying to figure out how to pay the bills at the kitchen table , ” Markey recalled .
The race has not been cheap , with both candidates raising and spending millions .
Early on , Markey and Kennedy were also forced to grapple with the coronavirus , which limited their campaigning .
Recent polls have given Markey an edge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle of sorts between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
Pelosi has endorsed Kennedy while Ocasio-Cortez has backed Markey , with whom she introduced the Green New Deal climate change initiative .
A Kennedy has never lost a race for Congress in Massachusetts .
President John F. Kennedy was elected three times to the U.S. House and twice to the U.S. Senate before being elected president .
Edward Kennedy was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962 and re-elected every six years until he died in 2009 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s old House seat in 1986 , won , and was reelected every election until he opted not to run in 1998 .
While Tuesday is primary day , nearly 1 million Massachusetts voters had already cast their ballots at early voting locations , mailing them or depositing them in drop boxes due to fears of spreading the virus .
Some Democrats worried early on that the race would siphon attention and dollars away from their top goals — defeating President Donald Trump and regaining control of the Senate .
Whoever wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a district that has historically favoured Democrats .
The candidate will face the winner of the GOP Senate primary , lawyer Kevin O ’ Connor , who defeated fellow Republican Shiva Ayyadurai on Tuesday .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--DC task force targets monuments, prompting fierce blowback

WASHINGTON - A task force commissioned by the Washington , D.C. , government has recommended renaming , relocating or adding context to dozens of monuments , schools , parks and buildings because of their namesakes ’ participation in slavery or racial oppression .
Among the targets are the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial .
Some of the proposals in the report released Tuesday are definite non-starters , as many of the most prominent monuments and statues stand on federal land , outside D.C. government control .
Still , the recommendations have already prompted fierce reactions amid an ongoing national debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As long as President Trump is in the White House , the mayor ’ s irresponsible recommendations will go absolutely nowhere , and as the mayor of our Nation ’ s capital city — a city that belongs to the American people — she ought to be ashamed for even suggesting them for consideration , ” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement Tuesday .
The task force , known as DCFACES ( District of Columbia Facilities and Commemorative Expressions ) , was formed by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nationwide wave of protests over police brutality and systemic racial inequities that included Washington as one of its epicenters .
It released a 24-page executive summary Tuesday .
Some of the group ’ s recommendations were widely expected ; for example , Woodrow Wilson High School has been a prime candidate for a name change for years due to Wilson ’ s open public support for segregation .
Others are more controversial , such as proposals to rename schools named for Thomas Jefferson , Benjamin Franklin and “ The Star-Spangled Banner ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple statues and monuments on federal land , the committee advises Bowser to ask the federal government to “ remove , relocate , or contextualize ” landmarks such as the Washington Monument , Jefferson Memorial and the statue of Christopher Columbus outside Union Station .
The task force , in its summary , explained that it focused on “ key disqualifying histories , including participation in slavery , systemic racism , mistreatment of , or actions that suppressed equality for , persons of colour , women and LGBTQ communities and violation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t go into detail about how “ re-contextualizing ” would work , but there have been recent recommendations that plaques be added to the monuments to Jefferson and Washington , explaining that their namesakes were longtime slave-owners .
Bowser , in a Tuesday tweet , said she looked forward to reviewing the recommendations from the task force , which she had tasked with “ evaluating public spaces to ensure the namesake ’ s legacy is consistent with # DCValues.
” Bowser has very little power to control what happens on federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fought for years to have a statue of former Confederate general Albert Pike removed ; they were unsuccessful because the statue sits on federal land .
In June , hundreds of protesters toppled the Pike statue while officers from the Metropolitan Police Department looked on and kept their distance .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Baltimore police moving to encrypt scanner transmissions, keeping public from hearing calls

BALTIMORE—As part of a planned upgrade of its radio systems , the Baltimore Police Department is switching to encrypted transmissions , eliminating the ability for most of the public to listen in .
The preparations were confirmed by city councilman Yitzy Schleifer , head of the public safety committee .
He said the upgrade has been planned since last year and has been delayed by COVID-19 .
But officials have not publicly discussed that the new technology would feature encrypted communications .
Police issued a statement Tuesday night saying : “ In following national best practices , the Baltimore Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communications channels to protect potential victims and witnesses , while also enhancing officer safety .
We will be providing equipment to established media outlets , as we work to be transparent while balancing public safety and privacy.
” While some smaller sheriff ’ s offices in Maryland encrypt their communications , Baltimore Police would become one of the first large jurisdictions in the state to limit public access to police radio transmissions .
Hundreds of agencies throughout the country have made the switch , however , including the Washington , D.C. , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2011 .
New Orleans , where Baltimore police commissioner Michael Harrison served as police chief until early 2019 , encrypted its communications system last year .
Police radios have been public for decades , though in recent years technology has made the communications easier to access : There are free apps that stream police transmissions , while others use what they hear to populate Twitter accounts , like Scan the Police , and apps , like Citizen .
Those pushing to encrypt radio transmissions say it ’ s necessary to prevent suspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as to prevent the broadcasting of someone ’ s personal information .
Notably , police already have secure channels that they can switch to , and officers can often be heard co-ordinating to take conversations to their cellphones .
Schleifer said the city is planning to provide radios to the media , provided that they sign a “ memorandum of understanding ” that would put some limitations on what information can be shared .
It was unclear whether other interested individuals or groups would be able to take part as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t monitor Denver police communications because the city insists on a purchasing agreement with two provisions deemed unacceptable by news organizations — one letting city officials examine newsroom records related to the scanner and another indemnifying the city if there is a lawsuit related to information from a police radio , according to the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--US agents seize record $27M in cash on ship bound for USVI

SAN JUAN , Puerto Rico - Federal authorities announced Tuesday that they seized $ 27 million in undeclared cash aboard @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Virgin Islands , the largest such seizure ever in the region .
U.S. Customs @ @ @ @ @ dog inspecting cargo on Saturday aboard a ship docked in Puerto Rico alerted agents to @ @ @ @ @ moving boxes destined for St. Thomas .
No one has been arrested .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Virtual learning in Miami-Dade halted by cyberattack, glitch

MIAMI - A cyberattack and a software glitch plagued Florida ’ s largest school district during the first two days @ @ @ @ @ the school year , officials said Tuesday .
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho @ @ @ @ @ that the district suffered a distributed denial of service attack Monday morning as a software @ @ @ @ @ district ’ s servers , the Miami Herald reported .
The glitch and DDoS attack @ @ @ @ @ features useless and teaching nearly impossible .
The FBI and Secret Service have been called @ @ @ @ @ district ’ s internet provider , Carvalho said .
He added that the glitch has @ @ @ @ @ .
Whoever conducted the cyberattack did not hack in or penetrate district servers , officials @ @ @ @ @ t known who initiated the attack , but Carvalho said he wants them prosecuted to @ @ @ @ @ law .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Airline crews report jetpack flier near Los Angeles airport

LOS ANGELES - The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday it is investigating reports from airline pilots that someone was flying in a jetpack as they approached Los Angeles International Airport to land last weekend .
“ Two airline flight crews reported seeing what appeared to be someone in a jetpack as they were on their final approaches to LAX around 6:35 p.m. PDT Sunday , ” the FAA said .
The statement did not elaborate .
Fox 11 Los Angeles obtained recordings of communications between the aircraft and the tower .
“ Tower , American 1997 , we just passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pilot said .
“ American 1997 , OK , thank you , were they off to your left side or your right side ?
” the controller asked .
“ Off the left side at maybe 300 yards or so at our altitude , ” the pilot said .
“ We just saw the guy pass by us in the jetpack , ” he said .
The controller then advised another aircraft flight crew to use caution .
“ Person in a jetpack reported 300 yards south of the LA final at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 10-mile ( 16-kilometre ) final , ” the controller said .
Industry expert David Mayman was dubious that it was a jetpack spotted by the pilots .
“ It ’ s very , very unlikely with the existing technology , ” said Mayman , CEO of the Los Angeles-based company Jetpack Aviation .
“ I ’ m open to being surprised .
But I don ’ t think there ’ s anyone working on technology that could do a flight from ground level to 3,000 feet and then come back down again.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a drone , but he added that 3,000 feet was on the high end of what most drones were capable of .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--L.A. County Sheriff’s Department investigating after Black man is shot and killed by deputy

LOS ANGELES - A Black man was shot and killed by Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies after he was stopped for a traffic violation while riding a bike , then ran from police , punched one officer and dropped a bundle that included a gun , authorities said .
The Monday afternoon shooting death of Dijon Kizzee in South Los Angeles prompted a peaceful protest hours later and Black Lives Matter began marching Tuesday evening from the scene to a sheriff ’ s precinct station .
The killing came on the heels of the police shooting in Kenosha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is also Black , paralyzed and spurred days of protests , reinvigorating the national debate on racial injustice and policing .
Also Tuesday , the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to ask the coroner to conduct an inquest into the fatal deputy shooting of 18-year-old Andres Guardado on June 18 .
Guardado was shot five times in the back after deputies said they saw him with a gun and he ran .
Guardado ’ s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Monday against the county , the Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shooting .
Kizzee ’ s family and friends created a small memorial for him at the shooting scene in the Westmont neighbourhood — leaving flowers , balloons and candles just feet away from first responders ’ discarded blue medical gloves and rolled bandages .
The Sheriff ’ s Department has not released Kizzee ’ s name , but two relatives confirmed his identity .
In interviews with The Associated Press , they remembered the 29-year-old Kizzee as an energetic man with many friends and expressed anger at the shooting .
“ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t take care of us , ” said Kizzee ’ s aunt , Fletcher Fair , addressing the Sheriff ’ s Department .
“ He was a sweet and loving young man .
He had his whole life ahead of him and it was cut short by rogue sheriffs.
” Kizzee ’ s uncle , Anthony Johnson , 33 , said they grew up together and were as close as brothers .
Johnson said he often warned his nephew that , as a Black man , he had to be especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target on your back , just by being you , ’ ” Johnson remembered telling Kizzee as recently as a few weeks ago .
“ He was like , ‘ Yeah , all right , uncle , ’ like he always says.
” Sheriff ’ s Lt. Brandon Dean said Monday that investigators had not yet interviewed the two deputies involved , but he gave this account : When deputies tried to stop Kizzee for riding his bicycle in violation of vehicle codes , he dropped his bike and ran .
When they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them in the face and dropped a bundle of clothes he was carrying .
The deputies spotted a handgun in the bundle and opened fire .
“ He was in possession of a firearm and did assault a deputy , ” Dean said .
Dean did not describe the alleged violation that prompted the stop and the Sheriff ’ s Department did not provide any additional information about the investigation on Tuesday .
Neighbourhood resident Arlander Givens , 68 , questioned why deputies fired at a man who , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t holding a weapon .
“ If he reached down to grab it , that ’ s different , ” Givens told the Los Angeles Times .
“ But if it ’ s on the ground , why shoot ?
That means he was unarmed.
” Police said the handgun was recovered and no deputies were injured .
TV news helicopters showed a gun near the body .
Dean said investigators had not yet interviewed witnesses or reviewed any surveillance or cellphone video .
“ Give us time to conduct our investigation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get all of the facts of this case and eventually present them.
” The Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department , the largest in the nation , does not have body cameras for deputies , though that soon will change .
The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved funding and the first round of deputies will be equipped with cameras next month .
Ed Obayashi , a use-of-force consultant to law enforcement agencies and a deputy sheriff in Plumas County , said the Los Angeles County deputies will need to explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat even though his weapon was on the ground .
“ For the officers to justify their shooting of Mr. Kizzee , they are going to have to articulate that they reasonably feared for their safety , ” Obayashi said .
It will be important for the deputies to be specific , he said .
“ What made you believe that he was an ongoing , immediate threat to the public ?
” Obayashi said .
“ Did you believe he was still armed ?
Why ?
And if he was armed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for feeling that he constituted a threat to yourselves or the public ?
” Fair described her nephew as “ a mother ’ s child , “ saying Kizzee took care of his mother after a car crash until her death in 2011 from a heart attack .
After that , he took care of his younger brother , Sean Jones , who is 18 and a recent high school graduate .
Fair lives near where Kizzee was killed and couldn ’ t believe the circumstances surrounding her nephew ’ s death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a bicycle ?
” she asked .
“ I stayed here until they picked his body up .
I didn ’ t want to leave .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Khmer Rouge’s chief jailer, guilty of war crimes, dies at 77

PHNOM PENH , Cambodia - The Khmer Rouge ’ s chief jailer , who admitted overseeing the torture and killings of as many as 16,000 Cambodians while running the regime ’ s most notorious prison , has died .
Kaing Guek Eav , known as Duch , was 77 and had been serving a life prison term for war crimes and crimes against humanity .
He died at a hospital in Cambodia early Wednesday morning , said Neak Pheaktra , a spokesperson for the tribunal in Phnom Penh that handled the trials over the regime ’ s crimes .
Duch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after developing difficulty breathing Monday at the Kandal provincial prison , said Chat Sineang , chief of the prison where Duch had been transferred from the tribunal ’ s prison facility in 2013 .
He added that the body would be examined for a cause of death before being handed to his family .
Duch , whose trial took place in 2009 , was the first senior Khmer Rouge figure to face the UN-backed tribunal that had been assembled to deliver justice for the regime ’ s brutal rule in the late 1970s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1.7 million people — a quarter of Cambodia ’ s population at the time .
The commander of the top-secret Tuol Sleng prison code-named S-21 was one of the few ex-Khmer Rouge who acknowledged even partial responsibility for his actions , and his trial included his own wrenchingly graphic testimony of how people were tortured at the prison .
Men , women and children seen as enemies of the regime or who disobeyed its orders were jailed and tormented there , and only a handful survived .
“ Everyone who was arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already , ” he testified in April 2009 .
Torturers under Duch beat and whipped prisoners and shocked them with electrical devices , Duch admitted to the court , but still he denied accounts from survivors and other trial witnesses that he took part in torture and executions himself .
The offspring of detainees were killed to ensure the next generation could not take vengeance .
Duch called himself “ criminally responsible ” for babies ’ deaths but blamed his subordinates for battering the young bodies against trees .
He said the prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed for small mistakes and showed rare emotion on the witness stand in June 2009 while speaking of seeing his fellow revolutionaries locked in the cells of his prison .
Confessing to betraying his own friends , he said : “ That was beyond cowardly.
” When a guilty verdict was finally delivered against him in July 2010 , he was sentenced to 35 years , shortened to just 19 due to time served .
The judges said they considered the Cold War context of the atrocities and Duch ’ s co-operation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But outraged survivors feared he could one day walk free .
On appeal , the sentence was lengthened in 2012 to life in prison for his “ shocking and heinous ” crimes against the Cambodian people .
Like many key members of the Khmer Rouge , Duch was an academic before he became a revolutionary .
The former math teacher joined Pol Pot ’ s movement in 1967 , three years before the U.S. started carpet-bombing Cambodia to try to wipe out Northern Vietnamese troops and Viet Cong inside the border .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately attempted a radical transformation of Cambodia into a peasant society , emptying cities and forcing the population to work on the land .
They backed up their rule with ruthless elimination of perceived enemies , and by 1976 , Duch was the trusted head of its ultimate killing machine , S-21 .
Tribunal judges said he signed off on all executions there and was often present when interrogators used torture to extract confessions , including pulling out prisoners ’ toenails , administering electric shocks , and waterboarding .
Despite his denials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken part in the torture and executions himself .
The torture and executions that took place at Tuol Sleng were routinely recorded and photographed , and when the Khmer Rouge were forced from power in 1979 , the thousands of documents and film negatives left at the prison became proof of the regime ’ s atrocities .
Duch fled , disappearing for almost two decades in northwestern Cambodia and converting to Christianity until a chance discovery by a British journalist in 1999 led to his arrest .
Duch has several times asked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to face a public stoning .
But his surprise request on the final day of the trial to be acquitted and freed left many wondering if his contrition was sincere .

Sopheng Cheang And Jerry Harmer - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Barr tightens rules on surveillance of political candidates

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced new restrictions Tuesday for conducting any national security surveillance of candidates for federal office or their staff members and advisers .
The restrictions , announced by Attorney General William Barr in a pair of memos , are part of broader changes to the FBI ’ s surveillance procedures implemented in response to problems during the 2016 investigation into ties between Russia and President Donald Trump ’ s campaign .
Coming just two months before the presidential election , the changes are designed to ensure that law enforcement officials have to clear additional hurdles before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was conducted four years ago on a former adviser to Trump ’ s 2016 campaign .
Barr is acting on an issue that has provoked loud concerns from Trump ’ s allies , who have seized on errors in the surveillance process to attack the underpinnings of the Russia probe even as reports from the Justice Department ’ s watchdog and the Senate intelligence committee have laid out extensive contacts between Russia and Trump associates during the 2016 presidential contest .
The policy changes concern how the FBI goes about seeking permission from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to eavesdrop on someone it suspects of being an agent of a foreign power , such as a potential spy or terrorist .
FBI Director Chris Wray has ordered more than 40 corrective actions after the Justice Department inspector general found major errors and omissions in surveillance applications targeting a former Trump aide during the Russia probe .
One new restriction outlined Tuesday would require the FBI to consider briefing a federal candidate or staffer that the person is possibly being targeted by a foreign power before applying for a warrant from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under the policy , no application for surveillance of a candidate or staffer may be submitted unless the FBI director has decided that a defensive briefing is not appropriate and has said so in writing .
Applications must also be approved by the attorney general and must include a “ full and complete statement as to whether other less intrusive investigative measures have been tried and failed.
” The FBI had contemplated giving such “ defensive briefings ” to Trump campaign officials in 2016 but decided against it for fear of compromising an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department inspector general report .
“ We did not identify any Department or FBI policy that applied to this decision and therefore determined that the decision was a judgment call that Department and FBI policy leaves to the discretion of FBI officials , ” the report stated .
The FBI in 2016 and 2017 applied for warrants to monitor former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page because of concerns about his contacts with Russia , but Inspector General Michael Horowitz identified errors and omissions in those applications and also found more pervasive problems with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Page was never charged with any wrongdoing .
The new policy will also tighten controls aimed at ensuring the accuracy of applications submitted to the court .
It is imperative that the Justice Department make “ accurate and complete representations “ when applying for surveillance warrants , Barr wrote .
“ When those activities involve federal elected officials , federal political candidates , or their respective staff members , the Department must be especially vigilant , ” he added .
“ Such intelligence activities must be subject to rigorous review to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are based on full and complete information , take into account the significant First Amendment interests at stake , and do not undermine the political process.
” In a separate memo , Barr announced the creation of the FBI Office of Internal Auditing , which will conduct routine audits of the FBI ’ s national security activities .
The FBI has been working to implement dozens of corrective steps , Wray said .
“ The additional reforms announced today , which we worked on closely with the Attorney General ’ s office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to bolster its compliance program , ” Wray said in a statement .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Portland protesters target city’s mayor amid rising tensions

PORTLAND , Ore. - Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland , Oregon , shifted their focus to the city ’ s mayor , and police declared a riot as people broke windows , vandalized a business and set a small fire inside the upscale apartment building where Mayor Ted Wheeler lives .
The demonstration that began late Monday and extended into Tuesday fell on Wheeler ’ s 58th birthday and featured shiny golden alphabet balloons that protesters used to spell out an expletive .
They sang on the street outside the mayor ’ s building , some wearing party hats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bundle of newspapers in a store housed on the ground floor of Wheeler ’ s building .
There were no reports of major damage or injuries .
Wheeler , who is also police commissioner , has come under fire for his failure to bring the violence in Oregon ’ s largest city under control and for heading up a police force that has used tear gas multiple times against demonstrators .
Some also blame the mayor for engaging in a war of words with President Donald Trump instead of focusing on local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Democrat-led cities in the crosshairs of a “ law and order ” re-election campaign theme — a move that ’ s escalated tensions in the city and drawn the attention of right-wing Trump supporters .
A supporter of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer was killed Saturday during clashes between dueling protesters .
A caravan of Trump supporters , estimated at about 600 cars , encountered Black Lives Matter protesters as they drove through the downtown and skirmishes broke out .
Police have not announced an arrest in the slaying of Aaron J.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have said nothing about what led up the shooting .
Police Chief Chuck Lovell denounced the vandalism and said it was an escalation of previous protester actions .
“ The families that live inside have done absolutely nothing to provoke a threat to their lives .
As I ’ ve stated repeatedly , the nightly violence is coming at increased cost , ” he said .
Lovell added : “ This is impacting the safety of our entire City and urgent action is needed .
Our elected officials need to do their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sand and to hold people accountable .
The violent behaviour must end.
“ Wheeler said late Tuesday on his Facebook page that the vandalism negatively impacted a minority-owned business .
“ Arson and terrorizing families with children does nothing except steal , and distract from , the important message of the racial justice movement .
Organizations in the community who encouraged or condoned these actions are complicit , ” he said .
Wheeler added : “ The community must rise up and say ‘ enough is enough ’ and hold all of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on together and make the positive changes we want to see until this violence is stopped .
All violence.
” Protesters were angered last Sunday when Wheeler held a news conference about the shooting and traded barbs with Trump , who was watching the conference live on TV and tweeted insults at Wheeler .
Many said afterward that they wanted to hear about solutions to the violence and how to keep the city ’ s Black residents safe .
They complained that the mayor instead engaged in “ political theatre “ with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wheeler , the son of a wealthy timber scion , is seeking a second term against Sarah Iannarone , a candidate to the left of him who has marched repeatedly with protesters .
Wheeler said at the news conference that he does not believe in completely defunding the police , would not resign and would not turn over the Portland Police Bureau to Jo Ann Hardesty , the city ’ s first Black councilwoman .
“ He used that press conference to try to score political points with a president we already know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point-blank what could have been done to prevent this , what could we do better in the future , and he did not have concrete strategies , ” said Cameron Whitten , founder of the Black Resilience Fund and a longtime activist in the city .
“ It truly was appalling.
“ The situation grew more uncertain Monday , when two suburban counties and a nearby city refused to send deputies and officers to help the Portland police keep the peace .
The Oregon State Police and sheriff ’ s deputies from Multnomah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — are bolstering the city ’ s force .
But officials in Clackamas and Washington counties and the city of Gresham said they would not send law enforcement personnel to Portland .
Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts said flooding the city with more law enforcement would never work because Portland ’ s newly elected district attorney has dismissed charges against hundreds of protesters arrested for nonviolent , low-level crimes .
Roberts and Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett also said the liability for their deputies would be too great .
“ The same offenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be released by the court and not charged with a crime by the DA ’ s office .
The next night they are back at it , endangering the lives of law enforcement and the community all over again , ” Roberts said .
Gov .
Kate Brown , a Democrat , has so far declined to send the National Guard to Portland , as Trump has suggested .


thetorontostar--2020-09-01--Mnuchin says Trump still wants virus deal with Democrats

WASHINGTON - Pressed by Democrats to quickly negotiate a new coronavirus relief package , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday the administration remains willing to work on a bipartisan agreement to help small businesses , the unemployed , children and schools .
Democratic leaders in Congress are holding it up with hardened positions , he said .
“ Let ’ s move forward on a bipartisan basis on points we can agree upon , “ Mnuchin urged at a hearing by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis .
“ The president and I want to move forward.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s recovery has strengthened in recent weeks , citing improved consumer spending , growth in manufacturing and a rebounding housing market .
It ’ s the failure of some states to reopen activity that is holding back the economy , he said .
But Democrats insisted that dire economic conditions persist for many .
“ Millions of Americans are now facing eviction , debt and hunger , “ said the panel ’ s chairman , Rep. James Clyburn , D-S.C. “ As the pandemic drags on , states , cities and businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming.
” The subcommittee ’ s Democratic staff , meanwhile , said it has identified lapses pointing to possible fraud and abuse in a signature piece of the administration ’ s relief effort , the $ 660 billion-plus small business loan program — including more than $ 1 billion awarded to businesses that received multiple loans .
The staff investigators said in a report that a lack of government oversight and accountability for the program “ may have led to billions of dollars being diverted to fraud , waste and abuse , rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” With bipartisan agreement , Congress enacted an unprecedented $ 2.3 trillion pandemic rescue package in March .
Now the Trump administration and top congressional Democrats have been in a months-long stalemate over new relief legislation , with the two sides trillions of dollars apart .
Lawmakers left Washington for the August recess without an agreement .
The impasse left millions of jobless people without a $ 600-per-week pandemic bonus unemployment benefit that had helped families stay afloat , left state and local governments seeking fiscal relief high and dry , and held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school aid package .
An estimated 27 million people are receiving some form of unemployment benefits , according to the Labor Department , though the figure may be inflated by double-counting by states .
Mnuchin identified additional spending on aid to small businesses as the area where Democrats and Republicans are most likely to agree .
In sometimes sharp exchanges , he and Democrats on the panel disagreed over the state of the economy and traded blame for the impasse over new rescue legislation .
Mnuchin pinned the blame on a refusal to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer .
While touting the economy ’ s partial recovery , he acknowledged that “ we have more work to do.
“ Still , Mnuchin showed some openness to negotiating and even agreed , under prodding from Rep. Maxine Waters , D-Calif. , to phone Pelosi right after the hearing .
He said he doesn ’ t support the Democrats ’ position for $ 2.2 trillion in spending in the next package , which contrasts with Republicans ’ stance of $ 1 trillion .
He added , however : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... getting money to American workers , American families , kids .
There are tremendous areas of agreement , and that ’ s what we should be doing right away.
“ “ I would publicly say I am willing to sit down at the negotiating table with the speaker with no conditions whatsoever any time , “ Mnuchin said .
After talking with Mnuchin Tuesday evening , though , Pelosi released a statement saying , “ Sadly , this phone call made clear that Democrats and the White House continue to have serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that America ’ s working families are facing.
” Under questioning from Democrats on the panel , Mnuchin again denied any involvement in the hiring of new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy .
Democrats are looking into how DeJoy was hired as they scrutinize a series of operational changes at the Postal Service that have resulted in widespread mail delays and fears that the agency will not be able to handle an expected surge in mail-in ballots this fall as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
Democrats also want to learn more about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief met with members of the Postal Service Board of Governors while the selection of the new postmaster general was underway .
Mnuchin said he knew DeJoy , a former supply chain CEO and a top Republican donor , from the 2016 Trump campaign .
But he said he had not seen or spoken to DeJoy before he was hired to lead the Postal Service this spring .
“ I had no specific conversations with him about that job until the ( search ) committee updated me that he was one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I was quite surprised when I found out that he was a candidate .
Again I had no involvement in that process whatsoever.
’ ’ The Small Business Administration ’ s Paycheck Protection Program was a key piece of the government ’ s economic aid program responding to the pandemic .
The nation ’ s small businesses received a gut punch in the spring as huge swaths of the economy were shut down , millions lost jobs and consumers curtailed spending .
Economists generally credit the small business program with helping prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The loans are forgivable if businesses use the money to keep employees on the payroll or rehire workers who have been laid off .
The program ran from April through early August , awarding about 5 million loans totalling some $ 520 billion .
The program “ is supporting an estimated 51 million jobs , representing 80 % of small business payroll in all 50 states and six territories , “ the Treasury Department and SBA said in statements when asked for comment on the congressional report .
“ We worked around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record time , under one week , because Americans needed immediate economic relief .
Any program of this scope and size will encounter issues , and we have moved quickly to respond as they arise.
” Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed to this report .