thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Sullivan, Gross advance in Alaska US Senate primaries

JUNEAU , Alaska - Independent Al Gross won the Democratic Alaska U.S. Senate primary Tuesday , advancing to challenge Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan in this fall ’ s general election .
Gross , an orthopedic surgeon who was endorsed by the state Democratic party and gained national attention bested Democrat Edgar Blatchford , a university professor and former state commerce commissioner , and Chris Cumings , a registered nonpartisan like Gross .
“ Independent ” is a term often used to describe those registered as nonpartisan or undeclared in Alaska .
“ The fight won ’ t be easy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I ’ m not in it alone , ” Gross told supporters outside an Anchorage union hall late Tuesday .
Sullivan , 55 , said the stakes for the general election “ couldn ’ t be higher for our state and country.
” He said having Democrat Joe Biden as president and a Democratic-led Senate would threaten to unravel what he sees as progress in recent years on resource development , military and other issues that are part of an “ Alaska agenda.
” He cites moves toward allowing oil and gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and investments in the military as issues the Trump administration has supported and issues Sullivan believes many Alaskans support , too .
He said he has a good relationship with President Donald Trump .
“ It ’ s not what he says and what he puts out with regard to tweets , but what he ’ s done , what his administration has done in conjunction with the Congress , ” Sullivan said .
Sullivan , a former state natural resources commissioner and attorney general , was elected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Begich in an expensive and closely watched race .
Sullivan said a reason he ran in 2014 was because he believed the federal government , during the Obama administration , “ was not supporting us .
It was an obstacle , not a partner with regard to our economy.
” Biden was Obama ’ s vice-president .
Gross called Sullivan a “ puppet ” for Trump , who carried the state in the 2016 presidential election .
Gross has won support from The Lincoln Project , which includes current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and those in Congress seen as allied with him .
The group has taken aim at Sullivan .
Gross , whose father , the late Avrum Gross , was an attorney general under Gov .
Jay Hammond in the 1970s , in an interview said the state has fared poorly economically the last several years .
He said he would be a strong proponent of responsible resource development , including in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge .
“ I have no intention of trying to stop resource development in the state , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look beyond that and find ways to diversify our economy in addition to responsible resource development.
” Gross , 58 , has said he would push for changes intended to improve healthcare and help bring down costs .
He said he supports a public option for individuals and small businesses on the health insurance exchange as a “ starting point towards developing a more comprehensive public system.
” Financial disclosures show Gross had $ 2.9 million available at the end of July and had put more than $ 700,000 toward his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available .
Blatchford and Cumings had not reported raising any money .
Liz Gifford , a photographer and guide who biked to her Juneau polling place Tuesday , said she favoured Gross .
Gifford , a Democrat , said it was time to shake-up who was in office .
“ There was nothing holding me back from voting , honestly , ” she said , adding she felt comfortable with the precautions state elections officials took , which at her polling station at a high school included spacing voting booths and marking Xs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among waiting voters .
Richard See said he initially biked to the wrong polling station before being directed to the high school location .
He said he voted for Blatchford , saying he liked Blatchford ’ s past experience as a mayor and his roots in Alaska and saw him as straightforward in laying out his policy positions .


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Lives Lost: ‘Warrior’ fought for slave descendants in Brazil

ARMAÇÃO DE BÚZIOS , Brazil - Carivaldina Oliveira da Costa was the steward of history in her Brazilian community on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro state , and for two decades fought for their land rights as descendants of escaped slaves .
Known as Dona Uia , she was the matriarch who signed off on all decisions of her community , Rasa , one of Brazil ’ s many so-called quilombos .
Uia worked tirelessly for the roughly 700 families to be recognized rather than marginalized , according her daughter Nally Oliveira .
“ I would like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good-hearted warrior woman who battled , and always taught us what was right and wrong , ” said Nally , 41 , Uia ’ s only daughter .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE : This is part of an ongoing series of stories remembering people who have died from the coronavirus around the world .
Uia was born in Armacao dos Buzios in 1941 , when it was just a district of a seaside city discovered by Amerigo Vespucci .
It wasn ’ t until the mid-1960s that a visit by French actress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and kicked off its transformation into the elite escape comprised of 23 glistening beaches .
Uia ’ s mother had told her stories – stories she ’ d heard from her own mother – of a bygone era .
It was a time when Portuguese ships unloaded enslaved Africans at an outcropping called Father Vitorio Point .
They were marched to a hilltop church to be christened , casting off names they received on the opposite side of an ocean , then put to work on sugarcane farms .
Still today there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this appears in the history section of Buzios ’ official website .
“ Buzios only tells about Brigitte Bardot , not its real history , ” Nally said .
“ Before Brigitte Bardot came to discover the place , there were people here : fishermen and people who didn ’ t even know they were in quilombos , and were descendents of slaves.
” Brazil was the last country in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery , in 1888 .
The quilombo communities persisted , though not until a century later did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognize their right to the lands they occupied .
Often disconnected from urban life even within city limits , quilombos have relatively high poverty and can be confused by outsiders with other poor neighbourhoods .
And securing title is a years-long process .
To facilitate government COVID-19 aid , Brazil ’ s national statistics and geography agency in April released its estimate of how many quilombos exist nationwide — almost 6,000 — as well as their locations .
The number of people living within them remains uncertain ; the agency planned to count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 census , but the pandemic forced its delay until next year .
Many , including residents of Rasa , for decades weren ’ t certain of their origins .
As a girl , Uia ’ s family planted beans , manioc , banana and fruit trees on their land to feed themselves , Nally said .
It wasn ’ t enough to survive , however , and at age 13 she set off to Rio de Janeiro , then the nation ’ s capital .
Working as a live-in nanny , Uia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child helping to raise other children in an apartment visited by politicians of the day .
At 20 , Uia returned to Buzios , where she married and for almost four decades helped support eight children working as a maid .
She quit not long after founding an association to fight for Rasa ’ s traditional rights , sparked by historical research her brother conducted in Portugal .
Uia held meetings and debates , dug up information , travelled across the state for conferences and seminars , and brought her niece , Rejane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight for land .
Rejane remembers Uia pacing out the boundaries of Rasa with a representative from the government ’ s agrarian reform institute , which has been processing the community ’ s claim for 16 years .
Uia ’ s energy never flagged .
“ She brought something to Rasa that no politician would bring : self-confidence .
Self-confidence came from her , the fight for land , the question of rights , ” said Rejane , who lives in a nearby quilombo and is Rio state ’ s representative in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Uia ’ s advanced diabetes was attacking her vision before she contracted the coronavirus .
She was admitted to hospital with a symptom believed to be associated with high blood sugar , and died the same day , according to Nally , who contracted the virus herself .
Nally says what hurts most is she hadn ’ t an inkling she was about to lose her mother , and didn ’ t get to say goodbye .
Dona Uia died June 10 , at the age of 79 .
Her death certificate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Buzios ’ mayor decreed three days of official mourning , describing her as a pioneer and a leader in quilombo residents ’ fight .
However , restrictions on activity due to the pandemic meant it wasn ’ t possible to carry out an official ceremony , City Hall said in an email .
Rasa mourned her passing , and took it as a call to continue her work .
“ She rescued the history of the ancestors .
And today , my mom not being here , there ’ s a loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have to carry that legacy and pass on to young people what our mother passed to her kids .
Tell them about our roots , where our ancestors came from .
”

David Biller And Lucas Dumphreys - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Japan’s leader says hospital trip was just for checkup

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe brushed off lingering worries about his health Wednesday , saying he went to the hospital only for a checkup .
“ I got a checkup a day before yesterday to make absolutely sure I ’ m healthy , ” he told reporters .
“ I ’ m getting back to work now , and I hope to keep working hard .
Thank you.
” He walked off , without responding to reporters ’ follow-up questions about the checkup .
Abe was seen Monday sitting in a car that drove into Keio University Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later .
At that time , neither he nor his office made comments .
The visit raised a flurry of speculation in Japanese media about his health , coming after a top ruling party politician said publicly that Abe was overworked and needed rest .
Abe , 65 , stepped down in 2007 , during his earlier stint as prime minister , citing health problems , but was elected for the second time as leader in 2012 .
He is the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history .
Japan is a nation known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , often resigning amid scandal .


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Asia Today: 623 virus cases linked to South Korea church

SEOUL , Korea , Republic Of - SEOUL , South Korea — South Korean health workers have found more than 600 coronavirus infections linked to a Seoul church led by a vocal opponent of the country ’ s president as officials began restricting gatherings in the greater capital area amid fears that transmissions are getting out of control .
Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said Wednesday that health authorities are also seeking location data provided by cellphone carriers while trying to track thousands who participated in an anti-government protest on Saturday , which worsened the virus ’ s spread .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sarang Jeil Church and its ultra-right pastor , Jun Kwang-hun , who has been hospitalized since Monday after testing positive .
Kwon Jun-wook , director of South Korea ’ s National Health Institute , said 623 cases have been linked to church members after the completion of some 3,000 tests .
Police are pursuing around 600 church members who remain out of contact .
Transmissions from the church have already spread through various places through the activities of members , including call centres , nursery homes and other churches .
The country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , its biggest daily rise since March 8 .
It was the sixth straight day the country reported daily increases in triple digits , with most of the cases coming from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area .
Officials have enforced stronger social distancing restrictions for Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province and the city of Incheon , prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors .
Nightclubs , karaoke rooms , buffet restaurants , computer gaming cafes and other “ high-risk ” facilities will be shut , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services online .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : — India reported 1,092 new fatalities from COVID-19 on Wednesday , its highest single-day total .
The country has the fourth-most deaths in the world and the third-most cases , with over 2.7 million — including more than 64,000 new infections reported Wednesday .
The actual numbers , like elsewhere in the world , are thought to be far higher due to limited testing .
Four of India ’ s 28 states now account for 63 % of total fatalities and 54.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of Maharashtra and the southern states of Tamil Nadu , Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are the country ’ s worst-hit regions .
— Authorities imposed a one-week lockdown in Nepal ’ s capital and surrounding districts Wednesday after a surge in coronavirus cases .
People are prohibited from leaving their homes , offices and businesses are closed and traffic halted except for essential and emergency movement .
All outdoor religious activities and ceremonies are also not allowed .
Violators face one month in jail and a fine of 500 rupees ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases recorded Tuesday was its highest daily spike .
Kathmandu had 205 of the new cases .
A national lockdown imposed in March lasted for 120 days before being lifted last month .
The country has confirmed 28,257 cases and 114 deaths from the coronavirus .
— Australia has a deal to manufacture and distribute a potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca .
“ Under the deal , every single Australian will be able to receive the University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for free , should trials prove successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement .
“ If this vaccine proves successful , we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians , ” he said .
The deal came as Australia ’ s hard-hit Victoria state announced its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in more than five weeks .
The Victoria state Health Department said Wednesday that 216 new virus cases and 12 deaths were reported in the latest 24-hour period .
— New Zealand appeared to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Auckland after just five new community infections were reported Wednesday amid record levels of testing and contact tracing .
A sixth infection was found in a quarantined traveller who had returned from Qatar .
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said 500 more military personnel would be deployed to quarantine hotels as the nation looks to reduce the number of private security guards it employs and tighten its border controls .
Health authorities have still not figured out how the outbreak began after the country went 102 days without the virus spreading in the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week prompted authorities to put the nation ’ s largest city into a two-week lockdown .
— Japan ’ s exports in July plunged 19.2 % from a year ago , as the coronavirus pandemic continued to slam the world ’ s third largest economy , government data showed Wednesday .
The Finance Ministry ’ s provisional numbers showed Japan ’ s imports fell 22.3 % in July .
Exports to the U.S. especially suffered , declining 19.5 % last month , as exports fell in plastic goods , iron and steel and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first trade surplus in four months on the back of a recovery in China .


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Harlem Globetrotter gets apology after banana thrown at him

A Black member of the Harlem Globetrotters said two white news anchors threw fruits , including a banana , at him while he was performing basketball tricks on an Alabama news show earlier this year .
Maxwell Pearce spoke about the matter Saturday on social media , a day after WBRC-TV aired a show that featured an interview with Pearce about the January incident on Good Day Alabama .
During that same newscast , WBRC News Director Shannon Isbell offered an on-air apology to Pearce .
“ In a moment of levity during a segment , two members of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a basketball , ” Isbell said during the show .
“ One of them threw a banana without knowing the racial implications of that action.
” An edited version of the segment posted on Pearce ’ s YouTube page shows a tangerine being thrown at him during the show by Mickey Ferguson , a weather forecaster on the show .
Pearce , 24 , hands the tangerine back to Ferguson before someone behind the camera once again throws the fruit back at Pearce .
The video then shows the banana being thrown at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fruit , I was so stunned and shocked that I didn ’ t even know how to react , ” Pearce told The Associated Press .
He was on the show promoting an upcoming game with the Globetrotters , an exhibition team known for its combination of comedy and athleticism .
He notified the team about the incident , and he says it reached out to the Birmingham news station back in February .
The Harlem Globetrotters did not immediately respond to AP ’ s request for comment .
“ Fox ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive an apology from the news director , and not from the actual anchors who threw the fruit , ” Pearce said .
The director , Isbell , expressed remorse about the incident during an initial call to the team though a conversation between her and Pearce never occurred , according to Andrea Price , Pearce ’ s manager .
He also did not receive an apology from the anchors .
A few months later in June , Pearce revisited the issue amid the spotlight on racism arising from national protests against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hear stories like that , you think about your own experiences , ” he said .
“ We were told a public apology would be issued by the news anchors who threw the fruits.
“ The basketball player said that never happened .
Instead , he says the news station offered him an interview with Clare Huddleston , the anchor he accuses of throwing the banana at him .
“ It would have been opportunity to educate her on why this act was offensive , ” he said .
Those plans were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pearce went on to have the interview , which aired on Friday , with Isbell .
In a statement to AL.com , Isbell said both parties wanted the interview to be a learning moment .
“ Implicit bias is real , ” the news outlet quotes her as saying .
“ A lack of cultural awareness exists in many of us .
I want to encourage others to look for those blind spots and learn from our mistake.
” During the taping , Pearce said he “ explained in detail why this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the history of Black people in human zoos.
“ Both Pearce and Price say the interview that aired omitted parts of the conversation where Pearce spoke about the historical context behind the incident .
“ I think this was an unfortunate incident for Max , ” Price said .
“ He never reacted irrationally to what happened , and I think he was always trying to get to a point or a situation where something meaningful and impactful could come from this experience.
“ Isbell has also offered a statement apologizing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlet .
“ An on-air segment promoting a Globetrotters event with Mr. Pearce in January was intended to be lighthearted , “ she said .
” However , it became something deeply hurtful to our guest as the result of our lack of understanding .
We are grateful for the several enlightening , educational conversations we have had with Max over the last two months .
I was happy to have him on our show about racial inequality and faith that aired last Friday .
”


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Alcohol rules again loosen as Dubai seeks economic recovery

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates - Dubai again has loosened laws governing alcohol sales and possession of liquor as the sheikhdom tries to claw its way out of an economic depression worsened by the coronavirus pandemic .
The outbreak of the virus exacerbated the already-gathering economic storm engulfing the emirate , which has seen mass layoffs thin the ranks of its foreign workforce and empty homes even amid slight signs of recovery .
Even now , experts warn the sheikhdom ’ s crucial real-estate market is on track to hit record lows seen in the 2009 Great Recession .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and there ’ s no hiding from that for any business — particularly those in the hospitality industry , ” Mike Glen , managing director for the United Arab Emirates and Oman for alcohol distributor Maritime and Mercantile International , told The Associated Press in an emailed statement .
Alcohol sales have long served as a major barometer of the economy of Dubai , a top travel destination in the UAE , home to the long-haul carrier Emirates .
Ice-cold bottles of beer tempt tourists on hotel beaches , while decadent Champagne-soaked brunches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The sales also serve as a major tax revenue source for Dubai ’ s Al Maktoum ruling family .
In Dubai , alcohol sales in general reflect the confidence of buyers in their own finances and in turn , the economy .
Pre-pandemic , those sales already showed the trouble Dubai faced amid falling global energy prices and a weakening real estate market .
Dubai also postponed its Expo 2020 , or world ’ s fair , to next year , another major blow .
Overall sales of alcohol by volume fell sharply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 34 million gallons ) , down some 3.5 % from 133.42 million litres ( 35.2 million gallons ) sold the year before , according to statistics from Euromonitor .
The 2019 sales are down nearly 9 % from 2017 , which saw 141.51 million litres ( 37.3 million gallons ) sold .
Amid the lockdown , Dubai ’ s two major alcohol distributors began legal home deliveries of alcohol for the first time in hopes of boosting the sales .
Now , the city-state has changed the very system granting permission to residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , non-Muslim residents are supposed to carry red plastic cards issued by the Dubai police that permit them to purchase , transport and consume beer , wine and liquor .
Otherwise , they can face fines and arrest — even though the sheikhdom ’ s vast network of bars , nightclubs and lounges never ask to see the permit .
Those red cards now have been replaced with a black card and a simplified application process only requiring an Emirati national ID card .
An application no longer requires an employer ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-Muslims from obtaining a card even if an employee qualified for it — which happened for some expats working for Emirati companies whose owners had religious objections to alcohol .
Purchase restrictions based on salaries also have been eased .
Previously , residents would get around those restrictions by travelling to five of the other seven sheikhdoms that make up the UAE .
Sharjah , the UAE ’ s seventh emirate that borders Dubai to the north , outlaws alcohol , as do the nearby nations of Iran , Kuwait and Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dubai also now allows tourists and visitors to buy alcohol from distributors simply by using their passports , closing a loophole that made visiting imbibers unable to get a permit subject to arrest for possessing alcohol .
The UAE as a whole still faces the challenge of the coronavirus — with some 64,000 confirmed cases and 360 deaths .
But Dubai has been aggressively advertising itself as reopened to tourism and now appears set to host Indian Premier League cricket , beginning in September .
There have been signs of a tentative and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In July , Dubai ’ s non-oil sector saw its first improvement in five months , according to a monthly survey by IHS Markit and Emirates NBD bank .
But that appeared driven by deep cuts in price discounts , particularly in travel and tourism , the report said .
“ The recovery in activity has not been sufficient to prevent firms continuing to lay off workers as they seek to reduce costs , ” wrote Khatija Haque , the head of research and chief economist at Emirates NBD .
Those layoffs struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s state investment firm , particularly hard with thousands of employees fired .
That ’ s not counting all the other businesses large and small through the city similarly hurt by the virus — particularly in its bubble-or-bust real estate market .
Dubai ’ s biggest private real estate company , DAMAC , which operates President Donald Trump ’ s eponymous golf club in the UAE , just reported a net loss of $ 105 million for the first half of 2020 .
The company ’ s chairman , Hussain Sajwani , blamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Resulting travel restrictions impacted the economy and the real estate sector , and we will see a difficult market for the coming 18 to 24 months , ” Sajwani said .
Meanwhile , the mass layoffs have seen a noticeable number of for-rent and sales signs in front of homes and apartments across the city .
The Dubai firm Property Monitor said in a report this week that real estate prices likely will set new record lows by the end of the third quarter of this year .
Rental listings have risen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45,000 new residential units have entered the already soft market , according to REIDIN Data and Analytics , which tracks the market .
Another 120,000 units are expected to come into the market in the next two years , further pushing down prices , REIDIN said .
Both sales and rental prices have dropped about a third since a market high in 2014 , when Dubai announced it would be hosting the Expo .
The “ current pandemic , coupled with oversupply in the market and reduced occupancy levels , caused and increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for both apartment and villas especially in the second quarter , ” said Ozan Demir , the director of operations and research at REIDIN .


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Shares advance in Asia after S&P 500 logs all-time high

Asian shares were mostly higher Wednesday after the S & P 500 logged a fresh all-time high .
Markets in Hong Kong were closed due to a tropical storm .
Japan ’ s Nikkei 225 index gained 0.3 % to 23,121.32 after the country reported its exports fell 19 % in July from a year earlier , better than expected and an improvement over a 26.2 % drop in June .
An 8.2 % rise in exports to China , the first since early-2019 , suggests the recovery there is helping offset weak demand in other markets , said Marcel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 % decline in exports to the U.S. was much better than the 50.6 % slump in May , with strong demand for technology allowing people to work from home helping sustain exports of computer chips and electrical machinery , he said .
“ But car exports , which were down 30 % year-on-year , remain Japan ’ s Achilles heel , “ Thieliant said in a commentary .
Worries over trade tensions between the U.S. and China , which threaten to further disrupt trade between the two largest economies , initially pulled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early afternoon it was less than 0.1 % higher , at 3,452.38 .
Tech stocks have stumbled recently amid worries that China could retaliate against U.S. moves against network equipment maker Huawei , social media company ByteDance and other Chinese technology giants by targeting U.S. chip makers and others .
The S & P/ASX 500 in Australia jumped 1 % to 6,182.40 .
Overnight , Wall Street clawed back the last of the dizzying losses unleashed by the new coronavirus , as the S & P 500 picked up 0.2 % to 3,389.78 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 3,386.15 .
It was set on Feb. 19 , before the pandemic shut down businesses around the world and knocked economies into their worst recessions in decades .
The S & P 500 ’ s milestone caps a furious , 51.5 % rally that began in late March .
The index , which is the benchmark for many stock funds at the heart of 401 ( k ) plans , is now up nearly 5 % for the year .
The stock market ’ s sprint back to an all-time high also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % plunge for the S & P 500 from Feb. 19 through March 23 was the quickest bear market on record , clocking in at just one month .
The average bear market takes 19.6 months to bottom out , according to S & P Dow Jones Indices .
Tremendous amounts of aid from the Federal Reserve and Congress helped launch the rally , which has progressed on signs of budding growth in the economy .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2 % on Tuesday to 27,778.07 and is still 6 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Nasdaq composite had already returned to a record , thanks to huge gains for the big tech stocks that dominate it .
It hit a new one Tuesday , climbing 0.7 % , to 11,210.84 .
The prolonged rally that has restored much of what was lost in the spring “ has to be the most curious outcome ever witnessed in the annals of global markets , ” Stephen Innes of AxiCorp .
said in a commentary .
“ Given the immense issues of where the real economy sits as families struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fill up their cars with gas , not to mention we are nowhere near restoring pandemic economic losses as we are still adding those costs up , ” he said .
Many investors acknowledge the disconnect between the stock market and the broader economy , but they say the rally has been built on top of several supports .
The Federal Reserve and Congress have plowed trillions of dollars into the economy to keep it from plunging even more deeply and to prevent a full-blown financial crisis .
The markets ’ recovery is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world , with more than 5.4 million known cases and 170,000 deaths in the United States alone .
Investors are still waiting to see if Congress and the White House can put aside their differences and agree on more aid that analysts say is needed to sustain the recovery that investors have been assuming is on the way .
That assumption is a huge reason the stock market is as high as it is .
On Tuesday the government reported that construction of new U.S. homes surged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight month of gains .
With such budding economic improvements in hand , investors are looking ahead to later this year or 2021 when profits recover further and a vaccine for COVID-19 hits the market .
Still , there are signs of skepticism .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury dipped to 0.65 % from 0.67 % late Tuesday .
In March , the yield had touched its record low just beneath 0.34 % .
Last year , it was over 1 % .
In energy trading , benchmark U.S. crude for September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange .
It was unchanged at $ 42.89 per barrel on Tuesday .
Brent crude , the international standard , lost 34 cents to $ 45.12 per barrel .
The U.S. dollar bought 105.53 Japanese yen , up from 105.46 yen on Tuesday .
The euro rose to $ 1.1939 from $ 1.1932 .

Elaine Kurtenbach - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Millions of women lose contraceptives, abortions in COVID-19

NEW DELHI - Millions of women and girls globally have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Now the first widespread measure of the toll says India with its abrupt , months-long lockdown has been hit especially hard .
Several months into the pandemic , many women now have second-trimester pregnancies because they could not find care in time .
Across 37 countries , nearly 2 million fewer women received services between January and June than in the same period last year , Marie Stopes International says in a new report — 1.3 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 900,000 unintended pregnancies worldwide as a result , along with 1.5 million unsafe abortions and more than 3,000 maternal deaths .
Those numbers “ will likely be greatly amplified ” if services falter elsewhere in Latin America , Africa and Asia , Marie Stopes ’ director of global evidence , Kathryn Church , has said .
The World Health Organization this month said two-thirds of 103 countries surveyed between mid-May and early July reported disruptions to family planning and contraception services .
The U.N. Population Fund warns of up to 7 million unintended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , supply chain disruptions , the massive shift of health resources to combat COVID-19 and fear of infection continue to prevent many women and girls from care .
A surge in teen pregnancies was reported in Kenya , while some young women in Nairobi ’ s Kibera slum resorted to using broken glass , sticks and pens to try to abort pregnancies , said Diana Kihima with the Women Promotion Center .
Two died of their injuries , while some can no longer conceive .
In parts of West Africa , the provision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % compared to the same period last year , said the International Planned Parenthood Federation .
“ I ’ ve never seen anything like this apart from countries in conflict , ” said Diana Moreka , a co-ordinator of the MAMA Network that connects women and girls to care across 16 African countries .
Calls have increased to their hotlines , including those launched since the pandemic began in Congo , Zambia and Cameroon .
More than 20,000 women have called since January .
Like others , Moreka predicts a coming baby boom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The pandemic ... has taken us many years backwards “ in family planning services , she said .
Some countries didn ’ t deem sexual and reproductive health services as essential under lockdown , meaning women and girls were turned away .
Even after NGOs in Romania pressured the government to declare the services essential , many hospitals still weren ’ t providing abortions , said Daniela Draghici , a member of the IPPF European network ’ s executive committee .
“ The impact in some cases is like what used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get an abortion from somebody who claims to be a medical provider ... and pray , ” she said .
In India ’ s megacity of Mumbai , one woman was unable to find a pregnancy testing kit after the lockdown started in March , and then couldn ’ t find transport to reach care in time , said Dr. Shewetangi Shinde , who attended to her in a public hospital .
By then , medical abortion wasn ’ t an option since the pregnancy was too advanced .
India listed abortions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weren ’ t aware , said Shinde , who is part of the India Safe Abortion Youth Advocates organization .
The pandemic has highlighted how difficult it already was for many women to safely access abortion services , said Dr. Suchitra Dalvie , a gynecologist in Mumbai and co-ordinator of the Asia Safe Abortion Partnership .
“ All these people ... the marginalized groups , the vast invisible majority .
This is how life is , ” she said .
In January , India began amending laws to allow certain women to obtain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 .
But the pandemic interrupted it .
No one expected the lockdown to continue for months , Dalvie said .
Now many women face second-trimester abortions , which are more expensive and complicated , especially “ because everyone who is involved needs to wear PPE.
” Abortion access has improved in India , but the pandemic resulted in abortion pill shortages in several states surveyed by Foundation for Reproductive Health Services India .
Only 1 % of pharmacies in northern states like Haryana and Punjab had them , 2 % in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % in the central state of Madhya Pradesh .
In Delhi it was 34 % .
Some contraceptives are still delayed by supply chain disruptions , said Chris Purdy , CEO of the DKT International social marketing organization for family planning products .
Production is back online , but shipping routes are crowded and ports clogged with back orders , he said .
Meanwhile , women ’ s health providers have scrambled to find solutions such as telemedicine , home deliveries of contraceptives and home-based medical abortions .
But even now , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are down ” as public health facilities struggle because thousands of staffers have been infected with the virus , said Marion Stevens , director of the South Africa-based Sexual & Reproductive Justice Coalition .
Her group and others wrote to the health minister about women turned away from care .
The real global measure of lockdowns ’ effects will come when health ministries report annual data , experts say .
But it will be incomplete .
In Haiti , the health ministry reported a 74 % drop in births at health facilities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Many women are delivering at home , but deaths there are not reported .
“ Small examples can tell us a lot , ” said Nondo Ejano , co-ordinator for the Women ’ s Global Network for Reproductive Rights Africa .
In Tanzania , he said , a major maternity hospital in Dar es Salaam was converted into a COVID-19 response centre .
“ You can ask yourself , ” he said of women seeking care , “ where would they go ?
” At a school he visited last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girls had become pregnant in the past few months .
“ One school .
Five girls .
Definitely the rate of pregnancy is up , “ he said .
“ I feel like right now we just have a tip of the situation , and when lockdowns are lifted we will see things clearly , ” said Phonsina Archane , a co-ordinator of the MAMA Network .
“ We should prepare ourselves for that time.
” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is solely responsible for all content .

Aniruddha Ghosal And Cara Anna - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--The Latest: Gross wins Alaska Democratic US Senate primary

The Latest on the 2020 primary elections ( all times local ) : Independent Al Gross has won the Democratic primary in Alaska ’ s U.S. Senate race .
Gross , 58 , will face first-term Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan in the November general election .
Sullivan was unopposed in his primary .
Politically unaffiliated candidates — those registered as nonpartisan or undeclared and who in Alaska are often described as independents — can run in Alaska ’ s Democratic primary .
Gross , who is a nonpartisan , previously won the party ’ s endorsement .
Gross faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cumings , neither of whom mounted significant campaigns .
Gross , an orthopedic surgeon , said he left his full-time practice in 2013 and increasingly got involved in health care advocacy after seeing what he called injustices in the system .
He said he supports a public option for individuals and small businesses on the health insurance exchange as a “ starting point towards developing a more comprehensive public system.
” He also said he ’ s interested in working on issues related to climate change and renewable energy .
Gross has won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes current and former Republicans working to defeat President Donald Trump and those in Congress seen as allied with him .
The group has taken aim at Sullivan .
Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan advanced to the November election , emerging unopposed from his primary Tuesday .
Sullivan , 55 , will face the winner of the Democratic primary , which featured nonpartisan candidate Al Gross , an orthopedic surgeon who has gotten national attention and was the only candidate on that side to mount a significant campaign .
Sullivan , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was elected to the Senate in 2014 .
He ousted Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Begich in an expensive and closely watched race .
Leading to this year ’ s primary , Sullivan ran an ad focused on efforts to provide pandemic relief and one that was more biographical , featuring his wife .
One of Sullivan ’ s campaign events was marred by protesters , one of whom attempted to hand him a caribou heart .
Sullivan campaign manager Matt Shuckerow described the incident as unnerving , as the woman approached the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an object , later identified as the heart .
Two of those involved said they had not intended any harm and wanted to send a message about Sullivan ’ s support for drilling in a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge .
University of Wyoming ecology professor and climate activist Merav Ben-David has won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Wyoming .
Ben-David , 61 , of Laramie , beat two Democrats who actively campaigned : social justice and environmental activist Yana Ludwig , of Laramie ; and climate-change think-tankvice-president Nathan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to replace Republican Sen. Mike Enzi , who is retiring after four terms .
Ben-David will face Republican former U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis in the November election .
Lummis is a 65-year-old former Cheyenne Frontier Days Miss Frontier who has been active in Wyoming politics for over 40 years .
Lummis is a former state treasurer and state legislator in addition to serving in Congress .
Lummis beat nine less-known opponents to win the GOP primary .
Ben-David ’ s research over the years includes studying how polar bears are responding to climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy to encourage new energy technologies .
Ben-David says concern about climate change motivates her to run for office .
Sheriff Gregory Tony has claimed victory in the Broward County Democratic primary over his predecessor who was fired after the Parkland massacre .
Tony replaced Scott Israel in 2019 after Gov .
Ron DeSantis dismissed Israel over his handling of the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 dead .
Tony ’ s campaign drew criticism of its own over his failure to disclose that in 1993 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 14 in Philadelphia .
He was convicted of no crime , but he did not disclose what happened to his subsequent employers .
Northern Arapaho tribal member and indigenous women ’ s advocate Lynnette Grey Bull has won the Democratic nomination for Wyoming ’ s lone seat in the U.S. House .
Grey Bull , 43 , of Fort Washakie , beat Carl Beach , an educator who has spent years teaching at American schools overseas .
Grey Bull in November will face Republican U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney , who ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 54 , easily beat a little-known challenger , Blake Stanley , of Banner , who did little campaigning for the GOP House nomination .
Grey Bull is vice-president of the Global Indigenous Council , a human rights advocacy organization made up of over 200 tribes .
Grey Bull also advocates for reducing violent crime against indigenous women .
Grey Bull has called for boosting public transportation , improving access to public lands and establishing a “ treatment to works ” program for opioid addicts .
Republican former U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate seat in Wyoming in November .
Lummis seeks to replace Republican Sen. Mike Enzi , who is retiring after four terms .
Lummis beat nine less-known opponents to win Wyoming ’ s GOP primary .
They included Converse County Commissioner Robert Short , of Douglas , and Sheridan businessman and retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bryan Miller .
Lummis in November will face the winner of a Democratic primary featuring three active candidates .
They include University of Wyoming ecology professor and climate activist Merav Ben-David , 61 , of Laramie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ludwig , 49 , of Laramie ; and climate-change think-tankvice-president Nathan Wendt , 39 , of Jackson .
Lummis is a 65-year-old former Cheyenne Frontier Days Miss Frontier who has been active in Wyoming politics for over 40 years .
She served two terms as state treasurer and four as Wyoming ’ s lone congresswoman .
Lummis also served in the Wyoming Legislature in the 1980s and 1990s .
Liz Cheney has won the Republican nomination to seek re-election to a third term as Wyoming ’ s lone congressperson .
The elder daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little-known challenger , Blake Stanley , who campaigned little and only raised a couple thousand dollars against Cheney ’ s over $ 2 million .
Cheney in November will likely face either of two Democrats running for U.S. House : Global Indigenous Council Vice-President Lynnette Grey Bull , of Fort Washakie , or overseas educator Carl Beach , of Ryan Park .
Cheney beat her Democratic opponents by wide margins in 2016 and 2018 .
She ’ s heavily favoured to win again in GOP-dominated Wyoming .
Cheney has quickly risen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job in the U.S. House .
Her job as Republican Conference Chair gives her considerable influence over communicating Republican priorities in Congress .
Some Republican colleagues recently criticized Cheney ’ s support of Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious-disease expert , which they said was disloyal to President Donald Trump .
Florida Lakeland City Commissioner Scott Franklin defeated U.S. Rep. Ross Spano in a Republican primary in Florida on Tuesday .
Franklin is a former Navy pilot and insurance business owner who challenged Spano because of ethics issues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago .
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Spano for alleged campaign finance violations .
The House Ethics Committee was looking into allegations that Spano borrowed more than $ 100,000 from two friends and then loaned the money to his campaign .
But it paused the review when the criminal investigation began .
Franklin said during the campaign that he doesn ’ t disagree with Spano on policy , but his decision to run was based on questions about Spano ’ s ethics .
“ Politically , ideologically we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the ethics and the investigations hanging over him it just really made the seat vulnerable , and that was my concern , “ Franklin said .
“ This has been a conservative , strong conservative seat , for decades and I was fearful of that seat being flipped in November.
” District 15 sits east of Tampa in central Florida .
Franklin ’ s victory may give Republicans a better chance at winning in November .
The district has traditionally voted Republican .
Democrats were largely targeting Spano and hoped the ethics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chance to flip the seat .
Spano is a lawyer who was elected to the state House in 2012 and served until he was elected to Congress in 2018 .
Kat Cammack has won the GOP primary for the Florida congressional seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho .
The 32-year-old Cammack owns a political consulting firm and previously served as Yoho ’ s deputy chief of staff and his former campaign manager .
She prominently featured her connection to Yoho during the campaign .
Cammack beat a Republican field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the next member of Congress for District 3 , a firmly Republican north Florida district that runs from Ocala to just south of Jacksonville .
Yoho opted not to seek reelection after four terms in Congress .
A supporter of term limits , he stuck to an original campaign pledge to serve only eight years .
In each of his four elections , he easily beat his Democratic opponents .
Cammack will face Democrat Adam Christensen , Philip Dodds or Tom Wells in November .


AK-House-1-nominated

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thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Typhoon Higos hits China, weakens to tropical storm

BEIJING - Typhoon Higos made landfall on China ’ s southern coast on Wednesday , bringing high winds and rain @ @ @ @ @ tropical storm .
The typhoon came ashore at Zhuhai , a city in Guangdong province @ @ @ @ @ of 126 kilometres per hour ( 78 miles per hour ) , China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ The winds had fallen to 108 kph ( 67 mph ) three hours later as @ @ @ @ @ neighbouring Guangxi region .
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries .
There @ @ @ @ @ city of Meizhou in northeastern Guangdong province on Tuesday night after trees fell into power @ @ @ @ @ said .
More than 65,000 people were evacuated , schools were closed and many fishing @ @ @ @ @ the affected coast , according to Chinese media reports .
The typhoon knocked over trees @ @ @ @ @ the city escaped major damage .


AK-Senate-nominated


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Hillary Clinton returns to DNC championing women in politics

CHICAGO - After more than four decades in public life , Hillary Clinton will return to the Democratic National Convention to cement her legacy as a champion of women in politics .
Clinton , who lost the presidency to Donald Trump in 2016 despite winning the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes , is a complicated figure in American political culture .
She ’ s despised by many Republicans and viewed warily by some progressives who are increasingly assertive in shaping the modern Democratic Party .
But four years after she made history as the first woman nominated for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will nod to another enduring legacy : the millions of women inspired by her 2016 bid who marched , ran for office and have become a powerful force in taking on Trump .
Her presence Wednesday night comes as Sen. Kamala Harris becomes the first Black woman to accept a spot on a major presidential ticket and one day after the 100th anniversary of women ’ s suffrage .
That ’ s expected to send a message about staying in the fight to women across the country for whom 2016 was a turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Supermajority , which formed in 2019 to train and mobilize female activists .
“ The fact that she hasn ’ t given up , I think , has encouraged a lot of women to not give up , ” said Richards , the former president of Planned Parenthood .
“ I think there ’ s an important role she has to play in saying , ‘ OK , she ’ s getting up every morning and doing this work and we can , too.
’ I think it ’ s an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dust yourself off and and keep going.
” After Trump ’ s election , millions turned out for women ’ s marches and women ran for — and won — office in record numbers , helping Democrats take control of the U.S. House in 2018 .
A record number of women , including Harris , sought this year ’ s Democratic presidential nomination .
And the number of women running for the House and the U.S. Senate set a record again this year , as did the number of women of colour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Women and Politics at Rutgers University .
“ Since 2016 we ’ ve seen these waves of women stepping up “ at all levels of government , said Adrianne Shropshire , president of BlackPAC , a national organization that works to mobilize Black voters .
“ You have this ‘ Before Hillary ’ and ‘ After Hillary , ’ when things are very , very different.
” Shropshire called Clinton a “ trailblazer ” who made a way for other women while enduring attacks dating from her time as first lady in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a campaign in which Trump often led rally crowds in chants of “ lock her up.
” She said the Democratic Party also has shifted since 2016 to lean more into the base of Black voters and progressives , and to look more like the country .
Wednesday ’ s speech will be Clinton ’ s sixth to the Democratic National Convention .
In 1992 her husband , longtime Arkansas Gov .
Bill Clinton , was the nominee , but Clinton didn ’ t speak at that year ’ s convention .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the then-first lady faced criticism about the Whitewater scandal and for having too much influence on administration policy .
In 2000 , Clinton spoke as a candidate for the Senate , and in 2004 the then-senator from New York introduced her husband .
She was on stage in 2008 after her first presidential bid , backing Barack Obama , the man to whom she lost the nomination and in whose administration she later served as secretary of state .
In 2016 she was the nominee and told delegates , “ We just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceiling yet.
” Karen Finney , a former Clinton press secretary and senior adviser to her 2016 campaign , said Clinton represents the arc of history for women and women in politics , from a first lady who wasn ’ t supposed to publicly exert influence to a presidential nominee .
Clinton has noted that while women won the right to vote in 1920 , that right wasn ’ t extended to Black women and other women of colour until decades later , Finney said .
“ To then have a Black woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrates how far we ’ ve come .
But we ’ re also at a moment in history where we really aren ’ t where we should be , ” she said .
Finney expects Clinton to speak Wednesday about the significance of the moment for women and the conversations happening around racial injustice .
She ’ s also hoping to hear Clinton ’ s unique perspective on what already is a bruising 2020 race .
“ She certainly has some of the best insight about what it ’ s like to run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Afghan officials: Sticky bomb attacks in Kabul kill 2 people

KABUL - Two sticky bombs targeted Afghan government employees in Kabul early on Wednesday , killing two people , including a police officer , and wounding two others , police said .
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks .
According to Kabul police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz , one of the sticky bombs was attached to a police vehicle , while the second was attached to a car belonging to the education ministry .
A police investigation was underway , Faramarz said .
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said he was not aware of the explosions .
Meanwhile , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortar attack on Tuesday in Kabul that wounded at least 10 civilians , including four children , as Afghans were marking the country ’ s Independence Day .
The militant group said it fired 16 mortar shells , targeting the presidential palace , embassies and Afghan government offices in Kabul .
Authorities said most of the shells hit residential homes .
The attacks come amid new uncertainties over the start of talks between the Taliban and the Kabul political leadership .
The government said it would not release the last 320 Taliban prisoners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captured Afghan soldiers .
The decision went against that of a traditional Afghan council held earlier this month — the Loya Jirga — and is likely to further delay intra-Afghan peace talks sought by the United States .


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--DNC Day 3: Biden/ Harris campaign surrogates issue call to action on immigration, guns, climate

WASHINGTON - Former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren says Joe Biden can hold his own on having a plan for nearly every policy challenge , large and small .
The Massachusetts senator said Wednesday night in her Democratic National Convention speech : “ I love a good plan , and Joe Biden has some really good plans — plans to bring back union jobs in manufacturing and create new union jobs in clean energy.
“ Warren spoke from an early education centre in Springfield , Massachusetts , and said Biden will guarantee affordable , quality child care for all families .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ another central theme of her presidential campaign , that the nation ’ s economic system “ has been rigged to give bailouts to billionaires and kick dirt in the face of everyone else.
” She says , “ Joe ’ s plan to ‘ build back better ’ includes making the wealthy pay their fair share , holding corporations accountable , repairing racial inequities and fighting corruption in Washington.
” HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WEDNESDAY ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION : — Here ’ s what to watch on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama to speak at DNC from Museum of the American Revolution HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is accusing President Donald Trump of “ disrespect for facts , for working families and for women in particular , ” disrespect she says she ’ s “ seen firsthand.
” Pelosi spoke Wednesday night during the Democratic National Convention with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop .
She said Trump ’ s disrespect is “ written into his policies toward our health and our rights , not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as having a “ heart full of love for America ” against Trump ’ s “ heartless disregard for America ’ s goodness.
” Pelosi also listed a litany of bills House Democrats have passed , including LGBTQ protections , gun violence measures and a coronavirus relief bill and charged that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Trump are “ standing in the way ” of those reforms .
She closed by predicting this fall that Democrats will increase their majority in the House and win back control of the Senate .
Hillary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss despite winning 3 million more votes than Donald Trump as she urges Democrats not to sit the election out so he can ’ t “ sneak or steal his way to victory.
” Addressing the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday from her home in Chappaquiddick , New York , Clinton says she hoped Trump would put his ego aside and be the president America needs , but that hasn ’ t happened .
Recalling a moment when Trump asked Black voters in 2016 what they had to lose by supporting him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Clinton says she knows about “ the slings and arrows ” that vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris will face as a Black woman on the ticket .
“ Believe me : This former district attorney and attorney general can handle them all , ” she added .
Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords is calling on Americans to speak out to combat gun violence , “ even when you have to fight to find the words.
” Struggling to speak herself , Giffords recounted her difficulty recovering from the 2011 shooting that nearly took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night : “ Confronted by paralysis and aphasia , I responded with grit and determination.
” The former congresswoman added : “ Today I struggle to speak .
But I have not lost my voice.
” Since the shooting , Giffords has become a leading gun control advocate and frequently speaks out on the issue .
She told viewers that Joe Biden was there for her after the shooting and that they must participate in the November election to be “ on the right side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shooting continue , or we can act , ” she said , adding : “ We can vote.
” Kamala Harris kicked off the third night of the virtual Democratic National Convention by saying viewers may have heard “ about obstacles and misinformation , and folks making it harder for you to cast your ballot.
” “ I think we need to ask ourselves why don ’ t they want us to vote , ” Harris said Wednesday .
“ When we vote , things get better .
When we vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be treated with dignity and respect in our country.
” She did not say what those possible obstacles were , but Democrats have accused President Donald Trump of deliberately trying to disrupt operations at the Postal Service in a year when more people are expected to vote by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Harris urged viewers to send a text message to the Biden campaign to receive information on how to vote and deadlines for obtaining mail-in ballots , which vary by state .
Later Wednesday , she is expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump is pushing back against a reproach from former President Barack Obama , who is set to speak at the Democratic National Convention .
Trump said in a Wednesday evening news conference that the reason he is now in the White House is because Obama and Joe Biden , his opponent this November , did not do a good job .
Trump said , “ They did such a bad job that I stand before you as president.
” He said if they had done a good job , he wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
He says , “ I would have been very happy .
I enjoyed my previous life very much.
” Excerpts of Obama ’ s remarks released ahead of Wednesday ’ s convention show he will portray his successor as having unleashed America ’ s “ worst impulses ” and treated the presidency as a reality show “ to get the attention he craves.
” Kamala Harris plans to use her history-making speech at the virtual Democratic National Convention to say she will help Joe Biden promote “ a vision of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where all are welcome , no matter what we look like , where we come from , or who we love.
” The California senator will become the first Black woman to accept a spot on a major party ’ s presidential ticket when she formally becomes Biden ’ s running mate with her address later Wednesday .
Her party hopes the moment can galvanize Democratic voters heading into the fall campaign against President Donald Trump .
She will call on the country to elect a “ president who will bring all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latino , Asian , Indigenous — to achieve the future we collectively want , ” according to excerpts released beforehand .
“ We must elect Joe Biden.
” Harris also plans to criticize Trump , saying , “ Right now , we have a president who turns our tragedies into political weapons.
” ” Joe will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose , ” Harris will say .
Former President Barack Obama is set to implore voters to back his former vice-president for the nation ’ s top job , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the line .
Obama will address the virtual Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia .
Excerpts of his speech were released in advance .
Obama says President Donald Trump has “ shown no interest in putting in the work ” or “ treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.
” Convention organizers have titled the third night of their event “ United America , ” saying speakers will reflect Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris , can unify the country after a divisive four years under Trump .
Hillary Clinton is using her return to the Democratic National Convention to issue a stark warning about the 2020 election .
According to excerpts released Wednesday , Clinton plans to reflect in her speech on her 2016 election loss to President Donald Trump and urge Americans not to take the election ’ s outcome for granted .
She will say , “ For four years , people have said to me , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was.
’ ‘ I wish I could go back and do it over.
’ Or worst , ‘ I should have voted.
’ Well , this can ’ t be another woulda coulda shoulda election.
” Four years after she made history as the first woman nominated for president by a major party , Clinton will nod to another enduring legacy : the millions of women inspired by her 2016 bid who marched , ran for office and have become a powerful force in taking on Trump .
Her presence Wednesday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first Black woman to accept a spot on a major presidential ticket and one day after the 100th anniversary of women ’ s suffrage .
President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are finalizing their plans for next week ’ s convention .
Trump and the GOP are closely watching this week ’ s Democratic National Convention to figure out what works and what doesn ’ t work .
The GOP plans a mix of live speeches , videos and virtual content .
While Democrats ’ mix of live and taped video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drew widespread praise , Republicans will have conducted the formal vote in a small in-person session in Charlotte on Monday morning .
Still , the party plans to highlight each of its convention delegations in some format .
Trump plans to deliver his nomination acceptance speech from the South Lawn of the White House .
Former President Barack Obama will deliver his live address to the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia .
Obama is among the headliners on the convention ’ s third night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris , Joe Biden ’ s running mate .
Harris and Obama are both barrier-breaking figures , he as the nation ’ s first Black president and Harris as the first Black woman on a major party ticket .
Obama is expected to make the case that the cornerstone of American democracy is at stake in the election as he implores voters to back Biden and Harris .
Obama is also expected to make a personal appeal on behalf of his former vice-president .
The two men forged a close personal relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House .
Democratic Party officials are characterizing as an “ oversight ” the appearance of uniformed military officers in a roll call as part of this year ’ s national convention .
In a video segment shown during Tuesday night ’ s virtual convention , people from U.S. states and territories participated in a roll call of the delegates allocated to the presidential candidates , culminating in the nomination of Vice-President Joe Biden .
During American Samoa ’ s segment , two uniformed Army soldiers were seen on either side of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. military are allowed to support candidates and attend political events but are not supposed to do so while in uniform .
Asked about the video during a call with reporters on Wednesday , Democratic Party spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said “ the production of that was just an oversight.
” Hinojosa also said each state and territory chose how to set up its segment to reflect its area , “ and that is one that the American Samoa delegation wanted to highlight.
” The White House says Melania Trump will address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham says Melania Trump will speak live Tuesday night from the Rose Garden , which has been undergoing a weekslong renovation at the first lady ’ s direction .
Mrs. Trump sought to introduce herself to voters with a speech at the Republicans ’ 2016 national convention .
But the address was later found to have included lines similar to what Michelle Obama said in her speech at the 2008 Democratic national convention .
A speechwriter for the Trump Organization – President Donald Trump ’ s company – ended up taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to formally accept his party ’ s nomination for reelection in a speech from the White House lawn a week from Thursday .


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Trump weighs F-35 jet sales to UAE over Israeli objections

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Wednesday the U.S. is considering selling advanced American F-35 warplanes to the United Arab Emirates over the objections of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
Trump told reporters at a White House news conference that the Emiratis had expressed interest in buying “ quite a few ” of the stealth fighter jets .
He said such a sale was “ under review ” given the new dynamic between Israel and the UAE since the two nations agreed to normalize relations last week .
Perhaps just as important , Trump said , is that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They have the money and they would like to order quite a few F-35s , “ Trump said .
“ It ’ s the greatest fighter jet in the world , as you know , by stealth , totally stealth.
” “ They ’ d like to buy F-35s , we ’ ll see what happens , ” Trump added .
“ It ’ s under review , but they made a great advance in peace in the Middle East.
” Netanyahu said Tuesday he would oppose the sale despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that the normalization accord that Trump brokered included language to supply the Arab Gulf nation with advanced U.S. weapons systems .
The Yediot Ahronot daily , citing American and Emirati sources , reported that Israeli acquiescence to the sales had clinched the deal for the Emiratis .
Further , it reported that Netanyahu had made the deal behind the back of the Israeli defence establishment and kept Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi , both former military chiefs , in the dark about it .
In a statement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister has opposed the sale of F-35s and other advanced weapons to any country in the Middle East , including Arab countries that have peace agreements with Israel .
Maintaining Israel ’ s regional military supremacy has been a hallmark of Israeli policy for decades , and Israel has used its close ties with Washington to ensure that certain sophisticated weapons are not sold to neighbouring countries .
The UAE has long been reported to be interested in acquiring U.S.-made F-35 stealth fighter jets and attack drones like those the Israelis have .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his opposition to F-35 sales just weeks ago .
But as part of his various corruption scandals , Netanyahu has been accused by critics of bypassing Israel ’ s defence establishment in regards to a German sale of advanced submarines to Egypt .
In security-obsessed Israel , confirmation that military-related strings are attached to the deal could temper some of the excitement that has widely surrounded it thus far .
Gantz seemed to question Netanyahu ’ s denial in a televised statement , saying he was only informed of last week ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who also serves as the alternative prime minister and is Netanyahu ’ s chief coalition partner , is supposed to replace Netanyahu as premier next year .
Gantz vowed to maintain Israel ’ s qualitative military edge at any price .


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Reports: Michigan reaches $600M deal in Flint water crisis

Michigan has reached a $ 600 million agreement to compensate Flint residents whose health was damaged by lead-tainted drinking water after the city heeded state regulators ’ advice not to treat it properly , multiple news outlets reported Wednesday .
Details will be released later this week , according to reports by The Detroit News , MLive.com and WXYZ-TV .
The offices of Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel have been negotiating for more than 18 months with attorneys for thousands of Flint residents who have filed lawsuits against the state .
Ryan Jarvi , a spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports of a deal Wednesday night .
“ We and the other parties are bound by a federal court order to maintain the confidentiality of detailed settlement and mediation communications until we reach a certain point , ” Jarvi said .
“ We have not yet reached the point where we can discuss a potential settlement.
” The settlement is intended to resolve all legal actions against the state for its role in a disaster that made the impoverished , majority-Black city a nationwide symbol of governmental mismanagement .
A state-appointed emergency manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ switched its water source from the city of Detroit to the Flint River to save money .
State officials advised the city not to apply corrosion controls to the water , which was contaminated by lead from aging pipes .


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Democrats pound their message: To oust Trump, you must vote

WILMINGTON , Del .
- The Democrats ’ historic boundary breakers joined forces Wednesday night at the party ’ s national convention , pleading for Joe Biden ’ s diverse coalition to put voting ahead of everything else this fall to save the nation from the chaotic leadership of President Donald Trump .
Their overriding message : Don ’ t just complain about Trump ; vote because your lives and democracy itself may be at stake .
Hillary Clinton , the first woman nominated for president by a major party , spoke ahead of Barack Obama , the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris , Biden ’ s running mate and the first Black woman on a major party ticket .
“ For four years , people have said to me , ‘ I didn ’ t realize how dangerous he was.
’ ‘ I wish I could go back and do it over.
’ Or worst , ‘ I should have voted , ’ ” Clinton said .
“ Well , this can ’ t be another woulda coulda shoulda election.
” She added : “ Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third night of the Democrats ’ all-online four-day convention focused on the party ’ s commitment to progressive values on issues like gun violence and climate change , while highlighting speakers most likely to connect with women and people of colour , voters whose energy this fall could ultimately decide the outcome .
Democrats targeted Trump ’ s policies and personality throughout , casting him as cruel in his treatment of immigrants , disinterested in the nation ’ s climate crisis and over his head in virtually all of the nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was an urgent focus on voting .
Harris , a 55-year-old California senator whose parents are Jamaican and Indian , made a surprise appearance early in the program , calling on Biden ’ s supporters to have a specific “ voting plan ” to overcome the obstacles to voting raised by the coronavirus pandemic and postal slowdowns .
“ When we vote things change , when we vote things get better , when we vote we address the need for all people to be treated with dignity and respect , ” Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs a plan , a voting plan.
” Harris was to deliver her full remarks later in the night following Obama in a political hand-off that could help shape the next generation of Democratic politics .
Just 76 days before the election , Biden faces the difficult task of energizing each of the disparate factions that make up the modern-day Democratic Party – a coalition that spans generation , race and ideology .
And this fall voters must deal with concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic that has created health risks for those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leads many polls , but his supporters report being motivated far more by antipathy toward Trump than genuine excitement about Biden , a 77-year-old white man who has spent nearly a half century in politics .
Democrats hope that Harris and Obama in particular can help bridge the divide between those reassured by Biden ’ s establishment credentials and those craving bolder change .
The pandemic has forced Biden ’ s team to abandon the traditional convention format in favour of an all-virtual affair that has eliminated much of the pomp and circumstance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic convention will build to a finale Thursday night when Biden will deliver his acceptance speech in a mostly empty convention hall near his Delaware home .
And after two nights that featured several Republicans , Democrats on Wednesday emphasized their party ’ s values on issues like climate change and gun violence , issues that particularly resonate with younger voters .
On guns , Biden wants to repeal a law shielding firearm manufacturers from liability lawsuits , impose universal background checks for purchases and ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden has proposed a $ 2 trillion plan to invest in clean energy and end carbon emissions from U.S. power plants by 2035 , even though his proposals don ’ t go as far as activists ’ preferred “ Green New Deal.
” A face of the the Democrats ’ support for gun control , former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords reflected on her own journey of pain and recovery from a severe brain injury nearly a decade after being shot in the head while meeting with constituents .
She urged America to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak , but I have not lost my voice , ” Giffords said .
“ Vote , vote , vote.
” The president , who abandoned plans to host his convention in North Carolina and Florida , is expected to break tradition and accept his nomination from the White House lawn .
Trump spent much of this week hosting campaign events in battleground states in an attempt to distract from the Democrats ’ virtual festivities .
While he did not travel on Wednesday , the Republican president railed against Biden and his party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theory group that claims Trump ’ s opponents have links to satanism and child sex trafficking .
“ We ’ re saving the world from a radical left philosophy that will destroy this country , ” Trump said .
“ And when this country is gone , the rest of the world would follow.
” Hyperbole and praise for far-right extremists has become a hallmark of Trump ’ s presidency , which has inflamed tensions at home and alienated allies around the world .
Harris , in her prepared remarks , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , struggling under Trump ’ s “ chaos , ” “ incompetence ” and “ callousness.
” “ We can do better and deserve so much more , “ Harris says .
“ We must elect a president who will bring something different , something better , and do the important work .
A president who will bring all of us together — Black , White , Latino , Asian , Indigenous — to achieve the future we collectively want.
” Obama , who remains perhaps the biggest star in the Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Harris , from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia .
American democracy might not survive another four years of Trump , he warns in excerpts released in advance .
He urges voters to “ embrace your own responsibility as citizens – to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure .
Because that ’ s what is at stake right now .
Our democracy.
” In remarks remarkable for their dismissiveness of a U.S. president by his predecessor , Obama declares , “ Donald Trump hasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t. ” He hopes to serve as a bridge between those reassured by Biden ’ s lengthy resume and more moderate record , and a younger generation of Democrats agitating for more dramatic change .
Obama confidants say that the former president ’ s support for Biden is unequivocal , but he does worry about enthusiasm among younger voters , particularly younger voters of colour .
Democrats concede that one of the reasons Trump won the presidency in 2016 was because those voters didn ’ t show up in the same large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot .
In excerpts of his remarks , Obama calls Biden his “ brother.
” He also savages the Trump presidency in a rare public rebuke from one president to his successor .
“ I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president , “ Obama says .
“ I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies .
I did hope , for the sake of our country , that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care.
” Beyond the carefully scripted confines of the virtual convention , there were modest signs of tension between the moderate and progressive wings of Biden ’ s Democratic Party .
In particular , some progressives complained that pro-Biden Republicans such as Ohio Gov .
John Kasich have been featured more prominently than the party ’ s younger progressive stars like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
Climate activists also complained that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the platform that calls for an end to fossil fuel industry subsidies and tax breaks .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren , a favourite of progressives for demanding bold change , was expected to speak Wednesday night , but only for a few minutes .
It remains to be seen whether the unconventional convention will give Biden the momentum he ’ s looking for .
Preliminary estimates show that television viewership for the first night of the virtual convention was down compared with the opening of Hillary Clinton ’ s onsite nominating party four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vegas and Peoples from New York .
AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace contributed to this report .

Steve Peoples, Michelle L. Price And Alexandra Jaffe - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Haitian official says at least 14 drown when boat sinks

PORT-AU-PRINCE , Haiti - At least 14 people drowned and more appeared to be missing after a packed sailboat sank @ @ @ @ @ Haiti and an outlying island Wednesday , a Haitian official said .
Jose Rethone , @ @ @ @ @ office in Haiti ’ s Northwest Department , told The Associated Press that the boat @ @ @ @ @ people returned to the Île de la Tortue from market day in the town of @ @ @ @ @ ’ s trip across the La Tortue channel .
Nine survivors were rescued from the @ @ @ @ @ number remained lost at sea , Rethone said .
He said it was unclear how @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 to board the boat , but such vessels often hold dozens of people @ @ @ @ @ Coast Guard was unable to respond to calls for aid , and his office had @ @ @ @ @ to help .
He said weather was calm and waves were small at the time @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--Democratic convention takeaways: Make history, pound Trump

There has been one persistent theme in the Democratic National Convention so far : to portray President Donald Trump in highly personal ways as one unsuited for the White House both in skills and temperament .
And no one , not even former President Barack Obama , has been holding back .
Here are some key takeaways from the third night of the convention .
Former President Barack Obama came to power on the airy notions of “ hope and change.
” He governed with a largely calm and cerebral air , and continued that in his post-White House years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decorum and folkways and delivered a direct hit on Trump .
“ Donald Trump hasn ’ t grown into the job because he can ’ t , ” Obama said , according to his prepared remarks .
“ And the consequences of that failure are severe .
170,000 Americans dead .
Millions of jobs gone .
Our worst impulses unleashed , our proud reputation around the world badly diminished , and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.
” Obama followed his wife , Michelle , and former President Bill Clinton , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal traits , a tactic Trump has deployed against them and others throughout his first term .
The former president spoke from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia , a calculated venue for his warning that his successor is a threat to democracy in the United States .
That ’ s been a theme of the entire Democratic Convention , but having the most recent former president make it explicit demonstrates that this time Democrats are taking Trump seriously , and literally .
HARRIS : MORE THAN THE ATTACK ROLE Making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major party national ticket , vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris sought to show she ’ s more than the designated attacker of Joe Biden ’ s campaign .
She did an impromptu cold open to the convention ’ s third night , imploring Americans to vote and asking them to text a number to the campaign to get information as she questioned why Trump would not want people to vote .
Her prepared remarks showed flashes of the toughness she displayed as a former prosecutor and aggressive questioner on Capitol Hill .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadly complementing arguments Biden was making well before Harris joined the ticket .
She joined the growing list of Democrats who excoriated Trump .
“ Donald Trump ’ s failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods , ” she said in one excerpts .
In another : “ The constant chaos leaves us adrift .
The incompetence makes us feel afraid .
The callousness makes us feel alone .
It ’ s a lot.
” Yet her remarks tried to set that criticism in the broader context of what ’ s possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a country where we may not agree on every detail , but where we are united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth , deserving of compassion , dignity and respect — a country where we look out for one another.
” Her place in history is assured .
Now the challenge will be for her to further excite women of colour and draw anti-Trump , college-educated whites in metro areas , as Biden hopes .
Harris ’ formal introduction could serve notice that she should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backup .
It wasn ’ t the year of the woman for Democrats — during the party ’ s hard-fought primary , Biden and his main rival , Sen. Bernie Sanders , easily bested several female aspirants for the party ’ s presidential nomination .
But it ’ s been the convention of the woman .
The first two nights were hosted by prominent actresses of colour and capped by powerful speeches from two famous political spouses , Michelle Obama and Jill Biden .
Numerous speakers have talked about the power of Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party showed off the first female Speaker of the House , its vice-presidential nominee and its prior presidential nominee — the first woman to have that role for a major party .
Speakers referenced the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment , which gave many women the right to vote .
And Biden himself has repeatedly been described as a champion of women ’ s rights and sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act .
The Democratic party is increasingly dependent on female voters , as a gender gap grows in U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because there are more women voting than men .
And the combination of Trump and the # MeToo movement has turned that gap into a chasm .
Even if their nominee is a 77-year-old man who bested numerous avowed feminists on his way to the party ’ s nomination , it ’ s in Democrats ’ interest to keep women front and centre .
GIFFORDS CALL ON VOTERS TO SPEAK OUT Former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords , shot in the head in a mass shooting in 2011 , provided an emotional high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the attack , struggled to walk and speak and founded a gun control group in her name .
On Wednesday , a video showed her playing the French horn and labouring to put together sentences .
Then she looked directly to the camera and spoke about the importance of grit and not giving up .
“ Words once came easily , today I struggle to speak , but I have not lost my voice , “ she said , in remarks her office said took hours to prepare because of her disability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak out , even when you have to fight to find the words.
” Of Biden , Giffords said in her slow , careful new voice : “ He was there for me .
He ’ ll be there for you , too.
” Her husband , former astronaut Mark Kelly , is the Democratic Senate candidate in Arizona .
Giffords was joined Wednesday by other powerful Democratic women , all of them at one time or another called “ nasty ” by Trump : House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , 2016 presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s running mate , Kamala Harris .
For a historic candidate who won the presidential popular vote by more than 3 million ballots but lost in the Electoral College , Hillary Clinton seemed more like a convention footnote .
But she was there Wednesday to offer a clear reminder that every vote matters , and that staying home or choosing a third-party candidate could hand Trump a second term .
Clinton was only allotted five minutes to speak , a reminder that , while she remains popular with a segment of the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a flawed politician who blew a winnable race to Trump .
Her speech was laden with regret .
“ For four years , people have said to me , ‘ I didn ’ t realize how dangerous he was.
’ ‘ I wish I could go back and do it all over.
’ Or worse , ‘ I should have voted , ’ ” Clinton said .
“ Well , this can ’ t be another woulda coulda shoulda election.
” She ruefully alluded to how she won the popular vote , yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose .
Take it from me .
So we need numbers so overwhelming Trump can ’ t sneak or steal his way to victory.
” She did take a swing at Trump : “ I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president , because America needs a president right now.
“

Bill Barrow And Nicholas Riccardi - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--California slammed by wildfires, heat, unhealthy smoky air

SAN FRANCISCO - Northern Californians were confronted with multiple threats as wildfires , unhealthy smoky air , extreme heat , the looming possibility of power outages and an ongoing pandemic forced many to weigh the risks of staying indoors or going outside .
Ash sprinkled the ground and smoke from several wildfires cast an eerie glow over much of the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday , creating unhealthy air quality and heightening concerns about people most prone to respiratory illnesses .
As ozone pollution reached unhealthy levels in some places , the region ’ s air district and public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with windows and doors shut until the smoke subsided .
There was no relief in sight : the forecast for Thursday called for some of the worst air in the world , with the air quality index doubling in the densely populated parts of the Bay Area .
The region ’ s air district extended a “ Spare the Air ” alert through Sunday , which makes it illegal to burn wood .
Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways , causing coughing , a dry scratchy throat and irritated sinuses .
Elevated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wheezing in those who suffer from asthma , emphysema or COPD .
“ I ’ m feeling lightheaded and I ’ m a healthy 30-year old .
Imagine what it ’ s like if you ’ re an older person or have asthma , ” said Kyle Laurentine of San Mateo .
“ I worry , especially in the COVID-19 era , that we ’ re in a state of respiratory vulnerability.
” But with a statewide call to conserve energy to avert another rolling power outage , people sweltering in a prolonged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose between cranking their fans and air conditioners or shutting them down to conserve energy .
“ These disasters need solutions that are in direct conflict with each other , “ said Jennifer K. Balch , a fire scientist at the University of Colorado .
“ COVID-19 is forcing us outside to reduce transmission risk while extreme wildfire smoke is forcing us back inside where the air is better .
We ’ re running out of options to cope , under the weight of compound disasters.
” If it gets too hot indoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air Quality Management District suggested visiting cooling centres where they are available or any indoor space with filtered air while following mask-wearing and social distancing protocols .
“ It ’ s also important to note that bandannas and masks used to protect yourself from the coronavirus do nothing to protect against smoke from wildfires , ” she added .
The Bay Area has seen unhealthy levels of air pollution the last four consecutive years from smoke blowing from huge wildfires that devastated wine country in 2017 and the town of Paradise in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year .
Wednesday ’ s poor air quality came on quickly as the Bay Area was socked in by exploding wildfires to the north , south and east .
Scientists said over the decades climate change ’ s warmer , drier weather is making much more of California burn .
Exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to real health problems , including asthma and heart attacks , said Colorado State University atmospheric scientist Jeff Pierce , who has worked with epidemiologists on the health effects of wildfires .
“ Very unhealthy ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asthma but it may be different this year with people afraid to go to the hospital because of the coronavirus , he said .
Smoke can even penetrate homes , making it hard for vulnerable people , including those sick from coronavirus , to escape , Pierce said .
Scientists said a top health concern with smoke are the fine particles that get deep into the lungs .
“ I consider wildfire smoke kind of like tobacco smoke without the nicotine , ” said Dr. John Balmes , a professor of pulmonary medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and environmental health at University of California , Berkeley .
Recent studies from China and Europe suggest such particles can increase the risk of progression for patients who have milder conoravirus cases to more severe symptoms , he said .
The particles can damage the lung lining , triggering the body ’ s natural immune system to overreact with inflammation to fight off a non-existent infection .
In that way it makes the injury worse , he said .
Other immune system responses can also cause more problems than the smoke itself , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
The coronavirus was on Fae Gershenson ’ s mind when she opened her 70-acre ranch to people fleeing a lightning-sparked wildfire north of Santa Cruz Tuesday evening .
She had the space for evacuees ’ tents , stalls for their farm animals and an outdoor composting toilet to allow for physical distancing .
But when a family arrived with a 95-year-old grandmother , Gershenson said she was worried about the smoke ’ s effect on older people and invited the woman into her house .
“ We talked about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone ’ s conscious about wearing masks , ” Gershenson said .
She said wildfires have threatened her property in the Santa Cruz mountains a few times before , and with a neighbour helping manage her children ’ s distance learning , she has the ability to help evacuees .
“ I have no idea how people can do it right now , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s going to be normal for quite some time .
”

Daisy Nguyen And Seth Borenstein - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-08-19--N.C. judges listen to challenge over restoring voting rights

RALEIGH , N.C. - Attorneys for convicted felons urged North Carolina judges on Wednesday to block a state law that keeps felons from voting until their full sentences — not just prison time — are complete , arguing in part that the law is racially discriminatory .
If voters ’ rights activists are successful , the decision could lead to an influx of voters in a hotly contested election year and potentially affect close races , including the race for president and for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Thom Tillis .
Florida has faced a similar ongoing legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed a law requiring all fines , fees and restitution to be paid before felons — who some activists call “ returning citizens ” — could be allowed to vote .
In North Carolina , a state law overhauled in the 1970s is being challenged by groups that help ex-offenders .
Several people barred from voting because they are still serving punishments out of prison are also part of the lawsuit .
The restrictions mean more than 56,000 non-incarcerated residents are unable to cast ballots , preventing them from being heard and participating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daniel Jacobson told a judicial panel in a video conference hearing .
Black residents are disproportionately affected , he said .
The judges must decide whether to grant the plaintiffs ’ request to declare the law unconstitutional for preventing an offender from voting until the person completes probation or parole , or when a suspended sentence is over .
The judges also could block enforcement of this prohibition simply if they determine those who sued are likely to win during a trial .
State lawyers representing legislative leaders and state elections board members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t unconstitutional because it treats all people convicted of felonies the same by withholding the right to vote .
It also serves the government ’ s interest to regulate voter qualifications , simplify how voting rights are restored and to encourage the offenders to make restitution to crime victims , the lawyers wrote in a brief .
Superior Court Judge Lisa Bell , the presiding judge on the panel , scheduled several hours of oral arguments .
Bell said she didn ’ t anticipate an immediate ruling , but expected one by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law is tainted by racial bias , pointing to the state ’ s history of denying Black residents the right to vote through felony disenfranchisement starting with Reconstruction .
He argued the disenfranchisement under the law continues even now — African Americans represent 42 % of the people on probation , parole and post-release supervision and are unable to vote , even though they make up 21 % of the state ’ s voting-age population .
“ There can be no genuine dispute of facts that race is at least a motivating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even when they are not incarcerated , ” he told the judges .
Completing probation or parole also requires burdensome fees and restitution that can extend their punishment time if not paid , the plaintiffs said in court documents .
The defendants ’ lawyers acknowledged the state ’ s history in denying African Americans the right to vote .
But they said the motivation of the law changes in the early 1970s , sought by Black legislators at the time , were designed to “ overcome the discriminatory intent ” of earlier versions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting rights .
The state ’ s attorneys , cited an expert witness who found the percentage of Black residents on probation , parole and post-release supervision and are disenfranchised was close to the percentage of felony convictions in the state involving Black defendants .
Keegan Callanan , a professor at Vermont ’ s Middlebury College , concluded that the law doesn ’ t contribute “ to the discrepancies in the racial distribution of those voters who are disenfranchised , “ a brief for the legislative defendants said .
” Rather , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are convicted of felonies that contributes to the discrepancy.
” The judges declined on Wednesday to remove Callanan ’ s report from the case .
The plaintiffs argued the professor lacked the necessary experience on North Carolina voting matters .
North Carolina is among 17 states where people are barred from re-registering to vote until they complete probation or other close supervision , according to the Brennan Center for Justice .
Last December , New Jersey and Kentucky eased voting restoration restrictions .

Gary D. Robertson - The Associated Press